Torrents Update #8

September 2022 Update #8 “The Beginning of the End”

This will be the eighth update on my journey writing Torrents As Yet Unknown: Exploring Earth’s Great River Gorges.
 
There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning.
--Louis L'Amour

In October 2017, in my first of these irregular updates, I wrote: “What I am anticipating is another two years or so of research, writing, re-writing, agent searching, publisher searching, and more re-writing. Followed by the exciting publication process, and the intimidating marketing process!” Yep, two years. 2019.

Well, two years somehow stretched into five going on six. BUT, I’m happy to say that Torrents has now reached a significant landmark. On 7 September 12, 2022, at 9:49 PM (but who’s counting), I hit the button and sent the first draft of Torrents to Chip Fleischer, my editor and publisher at Steerforth Press.

So what happens now? Even though it feels like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders, and I should now have all the time in the world to go off on deferred paddling trips and other fun stuff, I have no illusions. I expect Chip will do a developmental edit, after which I hope to drive up to New Hampshire to confer face-to-face. Then rewrites, copy edits, illustrations, cover design, preparation for promotion and marketing, and things Chip will tell me that I haven’t even thought of. And if everything goes according to plan, Chip is hoping to publish in fall of 2023 – Christmas gift season.

But just in case I’m wrong, and I do have all sorts of free time, I’ve treated myself to a new canoe, which should arrive in a week or two.

And at this point I would appreciate some help. In the department of shameless self-promotion, this post is the first announcement of my new author’s website at wickliffewalker.com. As this gets off the ground, and well before any serious marketing, your comments, critiques, and troubleshooting tips will be very welcome and useful. So please, if you notice anything, respond to the address listed on the site.

And by-the-way, all the previous Friends of Torrents newsletters are now on the website as well, as a blog under the Torrents tab.
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Holding my breath to see what Chip thinks of my MS,
Wick