Editing

So the sequel to Vanish has gone to Tyndale for editing. The whole process begins with a conference call during which the editorial staff provides some feedback and questions, and some items to consider changing in the overall story. Well, they had a whopper for me this time.

At first, I was dead set against their suggestion but slowly, after a few days to mull it over, I began to see there was some merit in what they were asking me to change. But it certainly wasn't easy as it affects the whole ending. I'm not very sentimental, however some things you just get attached to and it's hard to try to view them in a different light. But I'm learning that's all part of publishing. It's a collaborative process.

I have seen the cover for the sequel and it looks great. Dean Renninger, who designed the cover for Vanish has designed this one as well. There's some similarity but also more depth and color.

I recently received an email from a young woman in South Africa who'd read Vanish and wanted to let me know how it had impacted her. She said she was captivated by the cover and decided to buy the book. Great work Dean! What a thrill to discover how far the book has travelled in such a short time. It's humbling to see God using it in this way.

Well, I need to get back to writing. I have a couple of new chapters to write for the final edit. Overall, I think the changes will make for a more dramatic ending. Meanwhile, I'm also working on some new book ideas.

Here's a teaser for one of the stories:

Three weeks after her husband dies in a corporate jet crash, a young woman begins receiving bizarre late-night phone calls. In what seems to be a recorded message, the voice on the other end says only one word: "Reticulum."

The scary thing is... it's her husband's voice.

Sequel to Vanish Complete

Dear readers,

I apologize for taking so long to update this blog. I've spent this summer and fall working feverishly on the sequel to VANISH. I just finished the manuscript this week and have sent it off to Tyndale House. Now begins the review and editing process. It went relatively smoothly with VANISH but we'll have to see what happens with this one.

The sequel follows the stories of Conner, Mitch and Devon--oh and Howard too, while introducing a couple of new characters as well. I also developed more details around the basic scenario presented in VANISH and added in some new elements of the unknown to keep readers guessing.

The publication date is (tentatively) next summer/fall. I pray you will enjoy it.

Now I plan to take some time to enjoy my family, then I'll start work on developing another proposal. Thanks to all of you who have taken the time to visit this website and write me. If you haven't written yet... feel free to send me an email and I'll add you to my emailing list for future updates, contests and special offers etc.

Thanks again! Come back soon!

Tom

Release Day

I'm currently on vacation with my family, back in Wisconsin. Today is the official release date of my book. I'm planning some promotional stops and look forward to working further on the sequel to "Vanish"

Holding the book in my hand.

It's an odd thing to hold something in my hands that was once just a figment of my imagination.

Any aspiring novelist who sets about putting words on paper (or LCD screen), dreams of one day seeing their story in print. A story starts as nothing more than a vague idea that rattles around in your head for several months before turning into an outline, eventually gets fleshed out in full length on your computer screen. Then if you're fortunate enough to get a publisher interested in it, a small army of editors, artists, marketers, publicists and sales reps gets involved. And after all the editing, all the artwork, the planning, the marketing and printing, you hold in your hands a finished product! The materialization of an idea.

Forgive my self-indulgence, it's just that I have dreamed of getting a book published since I was a kid and to actually have that come to fruition is just a bit of a thrill. It's hard to get my head wrapped around the idea.

But anyway, now it's on to the next story....

My Books Arrived!!

Today, at long last, my 24 copies of 'Vanish' arrived from Tyndale! As part of most book contracts, the publisher provides the author with a quantity of books for family, promotions etc.

I felt like George McFly at the end of "Back To The Future", opening his box to see his first published novel! Woo Hoo!

Very exciting. Coming soon to a book store near you!

Tom

Coming in July 2008

There are times, I still can't quite believe I've actually got a publishing contract. Winning the Operation First Novel Contest last year was one of the most exciting events in my life. The last year has been quite an emotional roller coaster as well.

One month after getting my contract, I learn that my job was being re-located to Columbus Ohio.I had to decide whether to stay with the company or take a severance package and look for a new job.  My wife and I were both born and raised in Wisconsin. This would mean moving away from all of our family and life-long friends. Needless to say, it was a major life decision. 

We flew out to Columbus in June of 2007 to visit the area. My company offered to connect us with a Columbus-based couple to show us around that weekend. I declined that offer. I just wanted to drive around and get to know the place myself. I didn't feel like having to socialize. I remember the HR rep asking a couple of times, "Are you sure?" I made it perfectly clear that I didn't want to be hooked up with a host couple for the weekend.

Needless to say, when we arrived, we found out the HR department had disregarded my wishes and scheduled us for a tour with a couple from the area anyway. But within five minutes of meeting them, we discovered they were Christians who had also recently relocated from Texas. 

Short story was that we had a great time and have since become friends. We also went to church with them on Sunday. They just happened to have a visiting pastor who spoke that week. His message was on how God brought Israel out of Egypt for a purpose: To move them to the promised land. Colette and I just shook our heads. We called that our moving sermon.

We spent that summer selling our home and moved that fall. Then two month's after our move, my sister called me to say my mother had passed away, peacefully in her sleep. She now joins my father who had gone to be with the Lord four years prior. 

2007 was certainly an interesting one. But through it all, the Lord has provided and given peace of mind. We have much to be thankful for.

Around December, we began the editing process of Vanish which proved to be a great learning experience. It was great to work with Kathy Olson and Jeremy Taylor at Tyndale and benefit from their experience and talents.

The next step was creating a website and preparing to market my new novel. In addition, I've begun working on proposals for additional novels. My dream some day is to be a full time novelist. Wear an ascot and smoke a pipe. Well... wear an ascot anyway.

Now with less than three months to go, we're starting to get some early reviews. What an exciting time. Thanks for stopping by my website. I look forward to hearing from you as well.

Tom