Research is the best part of writing a book such as my novel Zeppelins
Over Denver. On second thought, the best part of writing a book is a reader buying it and saying:
"I loved it." Even better is when the book shows up in
a New York Times reading list or another outlet putting you on
"Ten Best Books for the Holidays!" or "Ten Best Historical Novels With Zeppelins." Experts tell me to get on holiday lists before the appearance of pumpkin lattes (oops -- too late).
A friend in Virginia read the book and said it should be a movie. I
agreed, asked him if he knew any Hollywood Movers and/or Shakers. He said he
knew a guy in Santa Barbara who worked on craft crew serving sandwiches and
snacks to actors. That may be as close as I come to the silver screen.
Thus far, I've received three reviews on Amazon. Editors say that upping the algorithms increases your visibility. I went to Amazon's Alexa for Shopping and, feeling frisky and wearing shades to mask my identity, asked if there are actual zeppelins in this novel. Here's her/its/their reply:
That's a great question! Unfortunately, my web search didn't turn up specific plot details about actual zeppelins appearing in Zeppelins Over Denver. Based on the 1919 setting, real zeppelins were very much part of the cultural moment — Germany had used them extensively in WWI for bombing raids, and they were still a symbol of both wonder and threat in the public imagination at that time. The title likely refers to that era of airship anxiety and fascination rather than a literal zeppelin flying over Denver — but it could well feature them as a plot element or symbol. Since you've purchased it multiple times, you may know better than I do!
Snarky Alexa AI knows my buying habits! Yes, I have ordered a couple copies for friends and also to keep an eye on the layout that went astray in the first printing with Ingram Spark. It’s perfectly readable now, thanks to my publisher, The Ridgeway Press of Michigan. Feel free to look it up.
But all is well. From this point forward, I
will order copies of my novel when someone goes to Venmo and replenishes my publishing
account: @hummingbird-minds. I would also be pleased if you bought a copy from
bookshop.org or via Resistance Books in Jacksonville. Yes, I admit I am in cahoots with Amazon and received last night at my darkened doorway a shipment of Biotene lozenges, Dude Wipes, and all-occasion greeting cards. I also am part of The
Resistance (see the sidebar) and, if you care about Florida in particular and the USA in general,
you should be too.
I am contemplating a Substack site. There are so many 'stackers out there that I could get lost in the shuffle. I found an old colleague's Substack and subscribed. The site belongs to Leslie Petrovski and it's called NAKEID. I had one heck of a time explaining the debit to my wife who keeps track of such things. Here's Leslie's description of her site:
A weekly newsletter about knitting, style, and ripening into a new life stage. The not-so-young one.
I liked Leslie's Sept. 6 cross-post by Lindsay Sword because it opened this way: "Someday I want to publish a novel." Lindsay goes on to say she wants to be a romance novelist. I will let her explain the tie-in between romance writing and fashion. You should read it. I have been in writing groups with successful romance writers and they all write better (and dress better) than I do.
Check out NAKEID. Support your favorite writers.
