Photo: July wine trip, California, Navarro Winery before 31st wedding anniversary and a bunch of other junk
My most recent book, Indiana Wineries, was written with my wife, Becky. Since she snapped many of the photos in the book, and often accompanied me on the winery visits around the state, I thought it was important to have her name on the cover . . . that, and we could then divide our time at book signings, appearances, and other winery visits once the book was published.
A great plan.
But working with a wife, any wife, is not what it's cracked up to be. Now, instead of being this independent writer who is footloose and fancy free (isn't this the definition of freelancer?) I am bombarded with questions like:
"So, when is our next book signing?"
"Why did you schedule it then?"
"What were you thinking?"
"You did what?"
"You Idiot!"
This experience has taught me one thing: I admire those married couples who can work together for long expanses of time . . . such as a full day or a swing shift. Being able to work with your spouse demonstrates a certain resolve. But believing that you can work with your spouse for days-on-end demonstrates a proclivity toward insanity.
Don't get me wrong. I love my wife. She's my best friend, my confidant, my sometimes-cook and cleaning lady. She's also the principal breadwinner and my lover (at least twice a year and always on my birthday if she doesn't have a headache). You do the math. We were meant for each other. She doesn't even care if I forget an anniversary or two. What a woman!
But going on a book-signing tour together was not God's design for marriage. Rather, God intended for literary couples to write from their respective cubicles and holler at each other late at night: "How do you spell olfactory?"
The fact is, we are just getting started on our book tour around the state. I have miles to go before I sleep . . . and I was getting very little of it before I began working with my wife.
But folks who are looking for entertainment should seek us out at these book signings. Chances are, we'll be there together, and patrons can catch us mid-argument, or perhaps wrestling with deeper frustrations that involve split infinitives or choice adjectives. We might even toss in a noun.
Just don't forget to ask us about Indiana wines. That will help. My wife knows more about these things than I do. I'm just along for the ride. And I try to keep my mouth shut unless I'm tasting.
~Todd Outcalt
Writers often discover success like bananas--in bunches. And this past week was an interesting, and eclectic bunch, for sure.
In addition to completing a few new essays for submission in 2016, some of my older essays found their way to readerships at YouthWorker and elsewhere. I was also overjoyed when two editors said "yes" to some of my poems--all of which were fast-tracked to publications before year end.
And then there's science fiction. A couple of week's ago I had a nod from an editor in London (thanks, Adam) who has been very kind to me over the years, accepting my short story "The Superannuated Man". Last week I placed a second story, "The Last Man on Earth", in a newer publication.
Often, it takes weeks like this to keep a writer writing . . . but that's part of the struggle and the fun. Nothing comes easy.
It is also fun to ask: "What's next?" Much yet to write.
And eating a banana now and then doesn't hurt, either.
~Todd Outcalt
Photo: (Wine tour, Northern California, July 2015)
Last week Becky and I heard Joyce Carol Oates speak at Clowes Hall, Butler. A remarkable experience as she read for an hour from her new memoir and afterwards entertained questions. Although nominated several times for awards such as the Pulitzer and National Book Awards, and having authored more than 150 titles, I doubt that 1% of the American population have heard of this remarkable wordsmith.
Ah, but such is the life of a writer.
In the course of her talk, Oates noted that she is always working on various books, stories or essays . . . all in various states of dress or undress. Writers who write every day know the drill.
Last week I completed a manuscript for InterVarsity Press--a book to be entitled The Seven Deadly Virtues. It will be published some time in 2016. That's an end for me (or perhaps a fresh start, depending upon how one looks at it, as now I can begin another book).
I'm also in the middle of finalizing a final draft version of a novel written over a year ago . . . but it should be out in a week or two. Middle? End?
And I have two or three new stories that I'm working on, each in the beginning stages of production . . . work that is seeking clarity and direction in the wee hours of the night (or is it morning?) when I am hammering away at the keys in the dark.
Right now, Becky and I are enjoying our publishing foray into the world of wines (Indiana Wineries, Blue River Press) and some of the appearances and signings that will afford us a chance to meet the public and scratch our names onto the title page. It is always important to have fun while it lasts . . . as all good things eventually come to an end.
So until the next beginning. . .
~Todd
Sometimes writers can--just like sports teams or race cars--find themselves "running hot". Momentum, clarity, or even perseverance can all play in part in the streak.
Over the past two months I've learned the value of patience and revision, especially as it pertains to essays, short stories and poems. I've had several short stories that have found their way into print, including one romance story, "The Tall Girl's Wedding", and a quirky piece of flash fiction that I entitled, "The Tall Man". (The "tall" in the titles is purely coincidence.)
Last week I also learned that a Science Fiction and Fantasy magazine in London will be publishing my science fiction story, "The Superannuated Man"--a story that I've worked on for some years now and rewrote from top to bottom a few months ago. I knew it was a good story, I just had to perfect the tone, pace, and point of view.
And as for essays, a few upcoming book reviews top the list and I also wrote an outdoor article about fishing for Sheep-heads. While I don't personally fish for the dang things, I spent an afternoon earlier this summer watching some teenagers haul them in . . . and I took photos and conducted interviews on the spot. (This was during vacation, so I broke my vow to Becky that I would not do any writing away from home . . . but she'll never know since she doesn't read this blog and certainly won't see the article.)
Finally, a few poems forthcoming in various literary and university journals, including The Lyric.
All in all . . . a rather productive summer for short pieces. Well on my way to having more than 100 essays published for 2015. Now if I can just finish my science fiction novella and my essay about funeral eulogies . . . in addition to the books . . . I might be able to eat that ham sandwich.
Not long ago someone asked me: "How many sermons have you preached?"
"Offhand," I responded, "I don't know." But the question intrigued me and so I set off on a hunt through my files, my history, and my shoddy memory to arrive at a number. However, I quickly bumped up against some roadblocks. Words--and their creation--are indeed elusive commodities.
My search for sermon fodder also took me on other side trips through the far country of word-land, and before I knew it, I was making lists and columns and screaming at my wife: "Where's the calculator?"
(She reminded me that I have one on my cell phone and another on the computer I'm using right now . . . but again, I forget these things. I'm still hunting for the slide rule I used in high school and I nearly flunked calculus.)
Nevertheless, I did eventually arrive at some neatly crafted columns. I'm not sure what these numbers say about me, but I do know that they represent a huge portion of my life--a life spent, often, crafting these things early in the morning or late at night. I cannot begin to estimate the hours represented by them . . . but here they are:
1700 sermons written
3000+ sermons preached
30+ books published
100+ books written
700+ published essays/stories
125 published poems
500+ poems written
As far as other stats go, these might be of interest to some:
5 (number of sermons my wife said were "good")
1000+ (number of times my wife has heard me preach)
2 (number of my books my wife has read)
0 (number of my short stories my wife has read)
0 (number of my books my son has read)
0 (number of my books my son says he will read someday)
0 (number of my books I have read after publication)
12 (number of sermons my parents have heard me preach)
1000+ (number of blog posts I have written)
0 (number of my blog posts my wife has read)
300+ (number of romantic poems written to my wife)
7 (number of romantic poems my wife says are "good")
0 (number of my love poems that produced "results")
As you can see, living life by the numbers is no fun. I'm not a mathematician. I'm not an engineer. I'm not even an author. I'm a writer.
But every time I do the numbers, life doesn't add up.
~Todd
Forgive me father, for I have sinned. It's been several months since my last confession . . . and my last blog posting.
Nevertheless, I want to begin by announcing that I have a new book, Indiana Wineries, fresh from the mint. (Actually, I should say that Becky and I have a new book, as her name is on the cover, too.)
What is this book? Well, it's a five-year project whereby we visited all of the wineries in the Hoosier state, photographed, interviewed, and profiled each and all. The book is beautifully illustrated and photographed--by far the most ornate and eye-appealing book I've done to date (thanks to Blue River Press). The book also contains a history of Indiana vineyards and wineries, wine appreciation, weekend trip suggestions, recipes, tips . . . and so much more. For those who want to know what's now available on the wine scene from Indiana wineries--this is the book.
To accompany the book, we also have a new blog: www.indianawinery.blogspot.com
What's on this blog? Upcoming interviews, profiles, wineries new and old, and plenty more. Check it out and check back often to get the latest on Indiana Wineries.
Finally . . . I noted today, after picking up a used hardback copy of my book, Candles in the Dark, that I had obtained the copy once owned by the New Orleans Public Library. The book was published in 2002, probably stayed in the library in New Orleans for two or three years, and obviously made it out before hurricane Katrina in 2005 . . . ten years ago now.
Anyway, having that copy looking me square in the eye as I write this has set me to thinking about these odd connections. How did something I wrote fifteen years ago make it from New York (published) to New Orleans and then back to my house? How many people--now living or dead--read this copy?
Anyway, I'm still reading, still writing . . . and still waiting. I also hope to write more often right here--and I won't be waiting until the spirit moves me.
~Todd
I don't always post news of my writing endeavors . . . but when I do, I use this blog.
Well, but it has been a wild month of conversations, assignments, potentialities. I'm so grateful to my editor, Sarah, for meeting me in Boulder last week to discuss further marketing ideas for The Other Jesus. And, of course, it was fun to catch up over a cup of coffee.
And many short assignments completed also in March & April. Seven published essays on my count, along with three book reviews and a feature article on rainbow trout. I also received word of two short story acceptances, including one story that I've been trying to find a home for for nearly a decade--a romantic story entitled, "The Tall Girl's Wedding".
And poems? By last count I was elated to receive word that one magazine had accepted five and another three. If I can still do math, that means eight published poems in one month . . . so not too bad.
I'm also elated to have signed on to write a book for InterVarsity Press, a book entitled, The Seven Deadly Virtues. Thank you, Helen and IVPress. I've been getting my notes together, thoughts clarified, and now I'm ready to set out on this journey.
But I've got to get moving. Why, just the time it has taken me to write this blog has been time I could have used in these other endeavors.
That's always the message for writers . . . don't sit and talk about writing. Get writing. Don't sit still. All that jazz . . . .
