Dan Krokos

I discovered a link on twitter today, with the help of a few friends.

It shows who has sent you messages by adding @DanKrokos. Little did I know, nearly four thousand people sent me messages of congratulations or questions about my book. I didn’t respond for days.

Now I know how twitter works. Now I can be a real author.

Which got me thinking about other things.

Like what’s the difference between a writer and a writer who has an agent?

Not much.

Before last week, I labored under the delusion that writers became writing gods upon landing an agent. I expected a little fairy with my contract, one that would sit on my shoulder like a parrot, whispering brilliance I could then transfer to the page.

It didn’t happen.

I’m still me. I still have to think about cool stuff for hours and hours, hoping a story blooms from the mess of ideas. Disappointing, but a relief at the same time. Having an agent just means a professional has validated my work, has said, “Yeah, you’re all right.”

Another myth shattered. What’s next?

I started work on a sequel today. That means I wrote things in my little notebook in between customers at work. Maybe a line here, a little crumb of dialogue there. Possible main conflicts. Stuff like that.

I know that doesn’t mean much considering the first book hasn’t sold yet, but I heard the number one Writer’s Rule is BE READY. It bears an eerie similarity to the Boy Scout motto.

I must say it’s nice not having to create another world from scratch. However, relying on the same world without any changes is not an option. This won’t be seven years of Hogwarts.

Possible locations for book 2 include: the moon, an underwater base filled with ninjas who are pissed because they’re in an underwater base, or the Matrix.

Also, a website is in the works. That way you can leave out the .blogspot when typing in the address. Huzzah.

Finally, do the three of you reading this have any questions, or things you’d like me to blog about? Give me ideas. I am a fresh fish. I’m not exactly brimming with ideas for things to write about here, considering I am a novice in all things publishing.

My main concern is: what’s relevant? Let me know.

THE ONES WHO MADE ME is now THE BETTER GUY.

I really liked TOWMM (can I abbreviate my own titles yet?) but it’s a little long.

Also, it sounds like the story is about the ones who made Ford. This is false.

The story is about Ford Kelly, who is the better guy. It’s from a line in the book, one of my favorites.

I tried for ONES WHO ARE MAKING A BETTER GUY, but Janet said nay.

I signed with Janet Reid today.

I know, that’s what I said too.

Maybe I should say a few things about myself. I’m twenty-three. I work at a gas station. I go to school for English (shocker).

I write books when I’m not at either of those places.

My favorite writers are Jeff Somers, Charlie Huston, and Josh Bazell. There are many others, but they are the triumvirate. R. A. Salvatore inspired me to write in the first place.

I write in present tense. But I like past just fine (wrote my first three in past).

What else? I know this is a little choppy–I’m still shell-shocked.

I plan on writing about my path to publication on this blog. I like reading about other authors and how they do the things they do. Plus when I’m writing I like lots of distractions, and this blog will provide another one.

That’s it for now. Thanks for stopping by.

Ford Kelly spends his days driving an ambulance and his nights driving the getaway car for his uncle the contract killer. But when his uncle dies mid-contract, Ford has two choices: also die, or convince his new employers he knows more about taking lives than saving them.

The contract? Snuff out a ring of dirty cops who demand hush money after stumbling across a new drug being prepared for the street. The problem? The last cop on the list is Ford’s wife, who left him after the death of their son a year ago. That’s when Ford discovers how good at killing he really is.

THE ONES WHO MADE ME is 75,000 words. It is my first novel. Thank you for your time and consideration.

queryshark.blogspot.com #124