Yesterday started with the grandkids swarming in to give us hugs and kisses. Can you think of a better way to start the day? I sure can’t!
I’ve been working on the new issue of the Gypsy Journal, which has been a slow process because the kids love hanging out with us, and it’s hard to type with two little girls sitting on your lap. Not that I’m trying very hard to discourage them, of course.
As much as they love grandpa, I think the girls love their horses just as much. Here they are on Winchester, a very mellow guy who looks like he has some mule in him. For years my dad rode a mule named Tony on the border, and Dad always said he was smarter and more stable than any horse ever was. Personally, I don’t ride anything I can’t put gas in.
Yesterday was Destiny’s birthday and Terry spent most of the day making a cake and other goodies for her party, with a lot of help from Destiny and Hailey. You can see by her smile that she was having a great time.
And here’s the birthday girl with the finished product.
During the evening the girls decided it was time to decorate Grandpa. How do you like my new look? The things a grandpa does to make memories with the little ones! 
Yesterday I had a telephone call from a young woman who is an Acquisitions Editor with Thomas & Mercer, Amazon’s imprint for mysteries and thrillers. She told me that they would like to republish one of my mystery novels, Dog’s Run, under their imprint. We talked about where they wanted to take the book and the marketing plan they had for it, and she made me an offer. I didn’t accept it, but agreed to look over the full proposal, which she will be sending me early next week.
Speaking of books, for an interesting view that integrates science and the Bible, check out Michael L. Dourson’s Messiah’s Star
And today my friend T.R. Harris released A Galaxy To Conquer, the final book in Part 2 of The Human Chronicles Saga. If you like science fiction you’ll love this book, in which all the great forces in the galaxy clash for one final, epic battle to determine who will come out on top. Don’t miss this exciting, final volume of The Human Chronicles Saga — one of the bestselling sci-fi series on Amazon for the past two years.
You still have time to enter our Free Drawing for an audiobook of Big Lake Lynching, the second book in my Big Lake mystery series, set right here in the beautiful White Mountains of Arizona. All you have to do is click on the Free Drawing link and enter your name in the comments section at the bottom of that page (not this one). Only one entry per person per drawing please, and you must enter with your real name. To prevent spam or multiple entries, the names of cartoon or movie characters are not allowed. The winner will be drawn Sunday evening.
Thought For The Day – If you think your wife has a good sense of humor, try leaving a trail of rose petals to a sink full of dirty dishes.
Check Out Nick’s E-Books In Our E-Book Store
Nick Russell
World-Famous, New York Times Best Selling Author, and All-Around Nice Guy!
Wow Nick, congratulations on getting an offer from an outfit as big as Amazon. The way I have always understood book publishing, the author is the one trying to land an agent or to get somebody at a publishing company to even look at a manuscript. And here you have them knocking on your door! That’s unheard of!!
I haven’t paid any attention to any facial photos of you lately but they sure look better than when you had the treatments at the VA.
I don’t want to sound bossy, or offend anyone, but having 40 years of experience in riding and training horses it worries me some that the photos you have shown of your family riding that they are only using the halter rather than a bridle or hackamore. Even the most gentle horses can misbehave sometimes, and you have much better control with some sort of bridle, or at the very least having the rope attached to the sides of the halter. I would be happy to talk to them about choices if they need help.
Nick I don’t quite understand the photo of your “head shot”. This was just as I remember you last time I saw you (at the Escapade in Gillette, I believe). LOL
You have such beautiful granddaughters! No wonder they have you wrapped around their little fingers. 🙂 And what a great life they have with all that room to roam and beautiful horses to ride. Thanks for sharing this bit of your life with us all!
Hard cover – neato! But does that mean you would lose control of Dog’s Run and couldn’t continue to use it in your own marketing plans, which have been hugely successful? Hard cover means it goes to libraries, and that’s a good thing. Leading seminars at Mystery Writers of America conventions. Wine and cheese book signings at bookstores, with tv interviews on morning shows. But the bottom line is still the bottom line, and you’re a good businessman. Still, what a flattering decision to have to make! Congratulations!
How did you get a offer like that for your book? I’ve read a couple of your books and they are okay but nothing spectacular. I have three books and none of them sell more than 2 or 3 a month and I don’t get any reviews. What’s the secret?
Phyllis, if I knew the “secret” I’d write a book about it and live happily ever after on the royalties. I wish you the best of luck with your writing and publishing activities.
Geez, Phyllis, nothing like a little grace and tact, is there? Especially when you’re asking someone for something. Since Nick was very gracious in his reply to you I think I will sum up with two words – talent and hard work. Try them sometime. and oh yeah, you might want to throw in a little bit of that grace and tact, too!
Happy for you that you have this time with your grandchildren and daughter and family. You are privileged in that regard…many families so rarely see each other these days!! And to have a place set up just for you to use too!!! WONDERFUL!!!
I hope Phyllis was exhibiting frustration more than a lack of tact. I agree with Rebecca – talent and hard work.
Nick is a good writer and tells a good story, plus he practices every day. All these blog posts do the same thing over and over: Nick tells us his stories. But they have a bigger influence: they generate a market – us. We buy his books and comment on them. Other readers see our comments; Amazon notices these sales and the positive comments. They’ve read his books, analyzed his sales, and decided they can make a profit.
It’s as simple as it sounds, but it all starts with Nick telling his stories EVERY DAY! That’s a lot of hours and a huge commitment to implementing his writing business’ marketing plan.
For whatever reason, I’m no longer getting your daily updates. This also happened with another blogger I follow. I’m signing up again.
Cat Lady
Nik u have a great time with your family and thank for sharing . You have talked about hanging the keys up someday but didn’t know what you could do. Well I have the answer. Watch those grand children grow up and rent your self out as a Easter Egg you look fabulous
The grand children could do all the decorating and you can sit in the rocker
BowWow upward and onward