A welcome goodbye to 2020.
We have just bid farewell to the worst year America has endured over my lifetime, and I was born during the second Truman Administration.
2020 ended with numerous new historical records we’d hope to never see: a raging, worst-ever, out of control pandemic, a brutally blundered and mismanaged vaccine rollout, greatest number of jobs lost, greatest number of food deficient people since the Great Depression, more Americans facing eviction or foreclosure than ever before; hospitals overwhelmed everywhere, resorting to triage. Did I mention the Russians are wandering about our cyber-secrets as if they owned the place. (With Donald J. Trump in the White House, they sort of do-but for only sixteen days more.)
It is no surprise the American people elected a new President; what is unfathomable is the number of Americans who refuse to accept this, and spout delusional conspiracy talk that Trump’s landslide victory was denied him by Venezuelans, some deceased, and conservative Republican officials.
Amidst the death, illness, and suffering, there wasn’t a great deal to applaud in 2020. Knowing there are vaccines, and that a rational government is being empowered in two weeks, was certainly a more uplifting end to a dismal year. Tampa Bay sports fans have been thrilled with the Bolts winning the Stanley Cup, the Rays making into the Series, and the Bucs…well, they have Tom Brady, what more need be said?
Since the pandemic gave us its first slap in the face back in March, yours truly has been pretty much isolated. I’ve kept in touch by Skype, Zoom, and Whats App, and used some of the free time to improve guitar (no place to go but up.)
I also spent more time on my writing. Bangkok Whispers, the second novel in the NJA Club series, was released in late August, and since then, the first book, Bangkok Shadows, has dramatically improved in sales and KU readers. What I care most about is having readers, and hearing from them in some form. I’ve given away thousands of free downloads of both books, and it’s worked well, each promoting a sale of the other. There has been a big jump in reviews and ratings on Amazon and Goodreads, overwhelmingly favorable, very few unhappy. Readers enjoy following the adventures of American expat lawyer Glenn Murray Cohen, and his mysterious friends from Bangkok’s strange NJA Club. That’s good, because I assure, you, some time this year, the third NJA novel will be released. Glenn, The General, Sleepy Joe, and Oliver will face new and equally dangerous challenges, in what the author describes as “exotic noir thrillers”.
Over the last few months of 2020, post release of Bangkok Whispers, I began working on a very different kind of novel, set in New York City in the late sixties and early seventies. I’m not giving away much more right now, other than to say it is best described as “literary” or “historical” fiction. (The latter genre was discussed in WHAT MAKES WRITING “HISTORICAL FICTION” ? ) This untitled and unfinished novel will be released sometime this year, after the third NJA book. It will be interesting to see if readers of the Bangkok series are drawn to this new and different novel, and if readers of the new book are drawn to the NJA series. Quite likely both, because while the settings and genres may be different, the author’s voice remains the same.
Looking at 2021.
A goodly chunk of 2021 has been discussed above: the release of a third NJA novel sometime this year, to be following several months later with the release of the work-in-progress. I will be doing a lot more as well.
It is my intention to engage more with readers. This blog is one avenue, and there will be more posts, both literary and political subjects, plus travel, once we are able to do so again. There is also a plan to expand my email list, sent a few times a year when there is a new work or other news to report.
2021 will be devoted to novel writing, rather than short stories. Until I wrote Bangkok Shadows, short stories were all I’d written; one or two half-hearted attempts at novels went nowhere. Less time than before will be spent on short stories. Novel writing requires an intense concentration, especially where there is some research required. Getting short stories published requires a considerable investment of time: researching the right publications, sending them off; sometime the magazines will allow simultaneous submissions, but others want the exclusive option, which prevents others from looking at it while they take their time. They won’t even let you post your story on your own website until they say you can! The author is likely to submit to several places, and wait months for a reply, then, if accepted, months to see it published. After all of this, unless the magazine is a well-known and well-read publication, total readership of the piece never exceeds a few score, if that many. More people read my stories on this blog, and they are always available. I have a healthy backlog of stories, most ready to be published, or close to it. I will periodically put one up on this blog, secure in the knowledge that shortly after pressing the send button, people will be reading it. However, I am eternally grateful to small publications that first published my post- retirement work, and send them stories to consider, because I like them and respect their mission of publishing unknown as well as recognized writers.
It would be most pleasing if these efforts yield more interaction with readers, which includes anyone reading this post! There’s a comment space at the end of this post, in addition to posting on Amazon or Goodreads.
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Make 2021 the year you share your thoughts with this author.
There is nothing an author wants more than to hear from their readers. It’s the only way to really know how their work is received. Sales might be a result of a good book cover, good will from prior books, effective promotion. Who knows how many actually read it cover-to-cover? Readers telling you what they liked or didn’t like, what they’ like to see more of, or just to weigh in on literary, political, or travel thought expressed by me-that is what any author hopes to experience. After all, we write for our readers, and would love to know what they thought. It can be a comment on this blog, or a rating or review on Amazon or Goodreads, whatever works. I just want to har what you thought of my work or my posts.
Wishing all a safe, healthy, and prosperous 2021!
In 2021, let’s beat the pandemic once and for all, and restore the economy and sanity in America and elsewhere.
It’s no secret that I’m a progressive Democrat who believes Donald Trump belongs out of the White House and into the Big House. Whatever one’s political beliefs, we must all strive towards this goal of beating the pandemic. In a matter of two weeks, the lies end, the anti-science drivel will be replaced by Dr. Fauci as Chief Medical Adviser, and the hard-hearted willingness to let people die for the Dow or Trump’s reelection gone back to the sewers from whence they sprung. Since the pandemic emerged, I’ve been regularly tweeting the hashtags #TrustScience, #FollowThe Fauci, #VoteBlue4Ever.
I see little reason to discontinue those hashtags.
Things we all look forward to this new year when we beat COVID:
Hugging loved ones. Dining out. Traveling the nation and the world. Attending concerts, sporting events, going to clubs and coffeehouses to hear live music in small venues. Museums. Going door-to-door and setting up tables to advance my politics. Attending religious and cultural events.
Going to the gym and yoga classes. Playing music with others. In person writing groups.
Putting my masks in the souvenir section of my closet.
I cannot wait for your third Bangkok novel. My friends and fellow fans will be delighted to hear the news!
Just read a quick tease of Bangkok Shadows on Amazon. I had to stop because it was off to a rollicking start and I want to buy the kindle book and start from the beginning. I’ve been following travel vlogs and reading books set in South East Asia to fill in the adventure travel gap caused by the present global circumstances. Can’t wait to dive in fully and absorb some reflected glow from Thailand through your work. I am reading another series set in SEAsia and when I finish up the latest book, I’ll be back on Amazon. And great news to hear you are planning on a 3rd book in the series. Best of luck with that. Happy & Healthy New Year to you and yours!
Happy New Year to you and yours
as well! Thank you for your words, and I hope you enjoy reading the novels!
Thoroughly enjoyed Bangkok Shadows and happily got what I bargained for: an entertaining and compelling read that pulled me into Thailand…and thusly away from the present New York deep freeze. Stayed up a little later than I anticipated reading one chapter more for several nights. Which usually led to one more one more. Finished it up a couple of nights ago and jumped onto Amazon the next night to pick up Bangkok Whispers to grab my seat at the NJA Club and see what the boys are up to. Thank you for your efforts and talent. Stay safe and keep up the good work. Well done!
Thank you! A third is one the way!
I saw in the Stuyvesant Alumni newsletter that you wrote two novels. Congrats. Hope the Shaiken family is doing well. My mother passed away a year ago yesterday just 10 months short of 100. Charlie had Covid but survived.
The co-op apartments went private and are selling from 300g to 400g. I am living in the Lake George area and retired from NY State Tax Department for nearly 13 years.
Hello, Herb! I am delighted to hear from you. I hope you and my dear old friend Charlie are well. Yes, we know the coop sold well; Ron sold it after my father passed in 2006. After living in the SF Bay Area for over thirty five years, we are living in Tampa. Ron is here too, Elliot in Maryland. It’s beautiful where you live. Stay in touch, regard to Charlie!