Saddle Up!

While I was selling my murder mysteries, Evil in the Mirror and Day Stalker, at Reader's Oasis Books in Quartzsite, Arizona, yesterday, I met a fellow author who is 83 years old. He is a spry gentleman, very opinionated, and still tough as nails. As a WWII vet, which is becoming a rare species indeed, he has seen and heard just about everything under the sun.

We started talking about the weather and soon we hit on politics. I mentioned in passing that we shouldn’t talk about politics or religion. We then proceeded to talk about both in earnest. Of course, he thought the world had gone to hell in a hand basket, which it has, and that the Holy Bible was his co-pilot, which is OK with me.

Our conversation finally rested on John Wayne and Ronald Reagan. “If those two men were president and vice president we could get something done in Washington,” my new friend declared. I nodded in agreement while pondering the possibilities. I wondered outloud which one would be president. “Why that’s simple,” he said. “They would arm wrestle for the honor!” I’m seeing both men, in my mind’s eye, arm wrestling on national TV for the honor of being President of the United States of America. “Who do you think would win?” I asked. “The Duke would, hands down,” was the answer. I let the subject go for fear of having to arm wrestle my author friend right then and there to settle the question. It would be embarrassing to be whipped by an 83 year old in front of everyone and their mothers.

The conversation then turned to the young people of America. My friend spoke up loudly, “Damn kids today are lazy. They need to get off their fat butts and 'saddle up' just like the Duke would have.” I immediately thought of the “old man” on Pawn Stars telling Chumlee to get to work. No sense saying anything to my new friend; I was sure he didn’t watch the program, so I nodded in agreement.

We both sat at our tables feeling the warm sun hit our faces while looking up at a beautiful blue sky. I had no way of really knowing what my friend was thinking during our silence, but I am sure he was thinking about how things used to be. Personally, I was thinking about how I would vote for my new author friend to be president in a heart beat!

I’m just saying,

Mittster

The Chicken and the Egg

Question: Where do your ideas come from? This is a common question from readers who want to start their own blog or write a book.

Answer: For my blogs, I usually depend on Google. I Google cartoons or maybe a catch phrase like “dirty laundry.” Something interesting always pops up and I just go from there. It’s a great tool for finding the spark that ignites the writing fire. If I think of an original idea, I still Google it just to be better informed about the premise. By the way, humor is always a good idea for blogs. I like to alternate between informative and whacky humor. It’s OK to try and pass on things you have learned, but occasionally humor goes a long way in the teaching process.

Writing books is not quite as easy. Picking a genre is most important. It’s not wise to write about something that only a very small part of the population is interested in. When you decide on what you want to write about, it needs to fit a large audience. I picked murder mysteries because they are popular and lots of folks like a good mystery. The same could be said about romance novels, but they are not my kind of books. My passion is “who done it” murder mysteries.

Speaking of passion, without passion your journey is finished before it begins. Writing without passion is like eating food without spice; you soon tire of mush – and so does everyone else. If your passion is biology, don’t write a book about the subject. There are more than enough text books concerning biology. Instead, write about the biology of dogs and cats, with a splash of humor injected throughout. Many people love dogs and cats and will read anything interesting and humorous about their pets.

I like writing B & B (blogs and books), and I am hooked on both equally. I have noticed that when I tire of working on my current murder mystery, The Phoenix Code, I can be just as satisfied writing a blog. Blogs are like little mini-books and they get published just like a novel. It’s the best of both worlds!

Write on,

Mittster

X-ray Vision!

I was sitting at the kitchen table working on the laptop this morning, minding my own business, when my mind went on safari, which is typical of the man brain. I hate it when this happens because I am at the age when you would think these kinds of thoughts were a thing of the past. To make it worse, my wife and I are celebrating our sixteenth wedding anniversary today, and she always proofs my blogs. Happy anniversary, darling….

Earlier, I had looked up from the laptop and stared at a Betty Boop doll that was lying on the couch. For some unknown man reason, I wished I had X-ray vision. It was just one of those flashes from the brain that cause embarrassing moments. I was grateful that no one but I was aware of what had just happened. The problem is now I can’t help but write about it. This is also typical of the man brain; why not shoot myself in the foot with an elephant gun on our anniversary!

Of course, after some research, it was inevitable that I would discover that X-ray vision is no different than going to the doctor for a look-see at a broken bone. I realized that Superman could have not seen Lois Lane’s blue panties anymore than I could see Betty’s pink ones; of course I am only assuming Betty has pink ones.

In any case, the whole X-ray blog thing was an exercise in futility, but I still finished the blog. My wife proofed it and had only one comment--again, “Mitt, you’re an idiot!”

No doubt,

Mittster

Imagination Rules!

I was raised in Escondido, California, which is a very conservative community even today. My battles with the powers that be started in the first grade and lasted until I moved away in 1968. My twin brother and I were considered outcasts and we had a very difficult time in high school. “Watch out for the twins; they are so different!”

The first class reunion I attended was in 2001. It took me forty years to understand that it was OK to be liberal in my thinking and actions! The crazy part is that I voted conservative and loved Ronald Regan, who is still my hero. Just following in my parents' footsteps, I suspect.

My twin and I went on to have successful careers in the construction industry, marry, and have families in Tucson, Arizona, which was the city we were born in and migrated back to. My brother still lives there, while I moved on to northern Arizona. My wife and I live in the very small community of Camp Verde, which happens to also be very conservative.

Two years ago, I decided (with the blessing of my wife) to write a murder mystery called Evil in the Mirror. Three months later the work was finished and we then began the proofing, editing and publishing process. While that was going on, I wrote a sequel called Day Stalker. Consequently, both books have been published and let out into the wild. I am now working on the last book of the trilogy, The Phoenix Code, and hope to have it published this summer.

What emerged from these books were very dark, disturbing and scary stories. There is graphic sex and violence, which I maintain is the catalyst for most real life murder stories. My books are not in the genre of Stephen King, but instead, more akin to real life horror stories like Ted Bundy, only worse. They are not for the faint of heart or conservative of mind.

Which brings me to my point; some people can’t or won’t read my books. At first, I took this negative response personally, but now I have come full circle in the realization that the reason my twin and I were shunned was because of our incredible imaginations. We were light-years ahead of everyone else and that fact scared teachers and students alike. In our school days, there was only one way and that was the conservative way!

What I now understand is that we were not alone; there were many kids in our school who had the same problems. Many of them have responded with enthusiasm toward my work. One, a bestselling author, has deemed my work brilliant. It doesn’t get any better than that! Actually, her work is very brilliant also and I am proud to know her.

Well, I am now poised to attend my 50th class reunion in May. I look forward to seeing old friends and making new ones after all these years. I might even sell a few books.

Write on,

Mittster

If I am lying, I'm dying

My wife and I arrived back in Quartzsite, Arizona, yesterday to promote my murder mystery books, Evil in the Mirror and Day Stalker. As you know, we have been here many times in the past, but this time our visit started out weird from the get go. Click on the title of this blog and you will start to understand.

I did not believe in zombies when we started visiting Quartzsite eleven years ago. It was obvious very strange people did indeed migrate to this part of the lower desert for the winter, but I just thought they were from California or possibly Canada. How was I to know that a herd of zombies had a reunion here every year that numbered close to a half million of the crusty critters from all over the country?

The scary part is that every year I get older, I am looking and acting more like the zombies I see mulling around vendors' tents and RV shows. Are zombies contagious? Am I unwittingly turning into a slow driving gawker, barely able to see over the steering wheel? Will I start huddling around a barbeque with other zombies, screeching and snarling while waiting for rare, almost raw meat? And, what about the place where the largest herd gathers? It’s called the Senior Citizen Center. I find myself wanting to go there for cheap pig meat and over easy eggs this visit!

I think I see a pattern here – and it isn’t good. Excuse me while I go look in the mirror; I must know the truth. Oh, my God, it’s true, I am a zombie now! What am I to do? I am now the walking dead and there is no going back! Oh, well, I might as well walk over to the ice cream tent and pig out on a black cherry waffle cone. You have to make the best of life’s little disappointments, you know.

I’m just drooling,

Mittster

Bernie Has Left The Building

Holy cow, can it be true? There seems to be more construction want ads on Monster.com in Arizona. In fact, there are more ads in the newspapers too. I judge the economical health of our state by the health of its construction industry.

After Bernie ripped off America for billions and billions and billions of dollars, even custom home building in Sedona, Arizona, disappeared, never to be seen again by the eyes of man. All the rich folks who wanted to live in the most beautiful place in Arizona suddenly found themselves poor right along with the rest of us that exist lower on the food chain. The impact hurt all of us.

Well, I am here to tell you that things are improving. Again there is opportunity in the industry that I have been a part of for over forty years. I have been through many recessions, although never quite like this one, and I am familiar with the signs of recovery. In fact, a construction opportunity has knocked on my door recently. No, I can’t discuss it, but trust in the fact that it is true. All I can say is that there are people with money looking at the low cost of properties with a hungry eye.

If my fortunes improve, you can bet I will share the wealth with other construction workers who need work desperately to feed their families and pay their bills. For some, this recovery comes too late to save their homes and credit, but it is never too late to rebuild lives, hopes and dreams.
And what about my authoring career? Not to worry, my murder mystery fans, I need to write as much as you need to have the pants scared off you!

Writing on,

Mittster

The Phoenix Code

While I am finishing my newest murder mystery, The Phoenix Code, I was hoping my fans would help me decide on a cover design. Since the book is about the Phoenix rising from the ashes, what do you think about the picture posted on this blog? The cover will still be similar to Evil in the Mirror and Day Stalker, but this time a picture of the Phoenix bird will be centered on the cover.

I thought some color other than white with red blood drops would be a nice change of pace. What do you think?

I’m just asking,

Mittster