How shall I spend today?

Hi everyone,

As many of you know, my work week is from 6:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. It used to be from 6:00 – 6:00 but when Sandy retired from her gift store in 2018, I cut back on my hours. I’m strictly a freelance writer. If I don’t write it, it doesn’t get sold. If I don’t submit it, it doesn’t get sold. If I don’t find an editor who wants it, it doesn’t get sold. That’s how the system works. I tried an agent for about a year in 1984, a second one in 2017, and a third in 2019. All three left me eventually because they weren’t selling enough of my stories and poems. Among the three of them, they placed a total of two of my things. Otherwise I’ve represented myself from my first submissions in 1959 and have, so far, placed 111 books on my own.

My average for books sold per year since the first one was published in 1969 is 2 (113 titles divided by 57). Some years are better than others. Four titles came out in 2024, none in 2025, two will be out this year. The market changes over time to reflect societal trends. The writer changes too. I was 32 when The Boy with a Drum made me an author. When Pumpkin on the Vine is released this September, I’ll be 89. I am a very different man and writer than I was at 32. Then I lived in Kansas and worked for Hallmark Cards. Sandy and I had two children, Robin (9) and Jeff (5). Now our children are grown and lead their own lives. Soon my youngest grandson will be 32. Sandy and I have lived in Springfield for 53 years. I’ve been my own boss since 1973.

One of these days something will happen and my writing will go silent. For now, I have no plans beyond the next idea, the next submission, and, hopefully, the next acceptance. To all of you who follow me on this blog or elsewhere, thank you for coming along. I am now of a vintage when I can say, and mean it, I love you.