On Writing

Japan Times Article

2008-02-24T07:53:00.003+09:00

Apologies needed again . . . it has been over year. Have been rather occupied with HOPE and things.

During that time, Never Too Late has been published into a fourth Language ..... Portugues! and various of the titles have been mentioned in a number of publications including yesterday in the Japan Times. The link is below. My mother and her books even gets a mention. I thought the interview was over when we just started chatting!

here is the link

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20080223a1.html

All is well Down Under

2007-01-30T16:27:00.000+09:00

Apologies for the absence. Have been working on a book proposal (actually 2) with my publisher and my work with HOPE has been much greater of late.

Have just returned from New Zealand where I was at various meetings for HOPE and thanks to my books which seem to be doing well, I was interviewed on both radio and tv, where I was able to talk about the plight of the poor in addition to topics flowing out of my book NEVER TOO LATE.

Sold in Russia

2006-11-25T16:48:00.000+09:00

Never Too Late has now been released in Russian. Check it out by clicking below

Ozon.ru - Никогда не поздно | Книги / История. Психология. П

rich kid / poor planet

2006-10-07T18:53:00.000+09:00

My publisher and I are discussing a eco-parenting book. If you have any thoughts or ideas, please communicate them to me.

Christmas

2006-09-12T12:10:00.000+09:00

Looking for a book that will help you get the most out of the Christmas scene . . . check out WHEN THE TIME WAS RIGHT by my friend Stephen Rand. you can check it out at www.brf.org.uk/product/BRFOFFSR06.htm

�For its reforms, India deserves a thumbs-up�

2006-09-04T08:39:00.000+09:00

Tthis is an interesting read, by a controversial yet respected scholar on the future of poverty. Notice the contrast of India where poverty is diminishing and sub saharan africa where it is on the increase.

�For its reforms, India deserves a thumbs-up�

slippery summer

2006-09-04T05:50:00.000+09:00

my, the last two months have slipped by and now writing. i had meant to slap down another 15,000 words on the 'missiological thriller' i am working on but failed.

plenty of other things happened though such as, youngest son takes flying lessons and solo's after 17 hours, oldest son settles into his new life as a university student and emerging businessman, mother in law breaks her hip a few hours after my wife arrives for a visit, youngest son breaks his leg in an atv accident and we have to evacuate him from a mountain trail to a hospital 30 k away .....

french rights

2006-07-28T03:30:00.000+09:00

LION/Monarch the publisher of Never Too Late, informed me today that the french rights have been sold. I have had a previous book published in france, and another released in japanese, but this is the first book which will have been released in 3 languages: English, Russion and French.

radio interview down under

2006-07-20T09:03:00.000+09:00

My New Zealand friends may want to tune into the morning program on Rhema over the next day or two. Tim Sisarich, the host phoned me in Vancouver to interview me about Never Too Late.

great idea for a book club

2006-07-16T23:39:00.000+09:00

if you have not already done so, check out bookcrossings.com. BookCrossing - The World's Biggest Free Book Club - Catch and Release Used Books

coming of age . . . .

2006-06-05T16:54:00.000+09:00

I spent some time over the weekend writing a letter to my son. The occasion was his high school graduation commencement service. The letter is mostly private but here is an excerpt . . .

My time of raising a child is over. My life participating with a man, who is my son, is just beginning. Many more words will be said between us in the coming years, but they are the words of two men, spoken in love and mutual respect.

Today, as I watch you walking down the aisle, I will not only see a student, who has earned his diploma, but I will be celebrating a boy, my boy, becoming a man.

writers block

2006-05-10T15:29:00.000+09:00

Am churning out about 3000 words a week at the moment. Will keep you posted.

Here is an excerpt from the prologue

Setting the Scene

The theological war raging in Europe was churning up bad blood on the other side of the world. The Catholics, a strong and fervent missionary force, were unrelenting in their push of the Christian Frontier. From bases in Goa, the Philippines and Macau, the push further forward was penetrating even the mysterious world of the shogun.

The nascent protestant churches of Northern Europe, yet to implement a global missionary strategy, were more concerned with trade routes than church planting. Zealous protestant businessmen and their companies devised plans to undermine the hold of catholic trade on the far away places of gold. Deception, schemes and various forms of subterfuge were in full swing.

writing month coming up

2006-04-02T20:38:00.000+09:00

Most years, I devote early mornings during the month of April to writing. This year will be no exception. I will be working on the novel I began last summer. However, unlike other books I have written, I am writing this one without a contract, and content to write for the sheer delight of creating a story.

a photo from Cambodia

2006-02-20T16:49:00.000+09:00

a thought about cambodia

2006-02-18T14:59:00.000+09:00

cambodia a land plenty
cambodia a land of pain
cambodia a land of memory
desparately needs rain

back country cambodia

2006-02-13T18:07:00.000+09:00

have had a break from blogging for two weeks while in the back country of cambodia cycling. back now and need a good nights sleep.

oprah take down

2006-01-28T12:22:00.000+09:00

Oprah ambused Frey on her program and caused a 'shudder through the publishing' world. OK. I am getting bored with this.

Frey

2006-01-25T13:08:00.000+09:00

I see the controversy with Frey keeps popping up. Now it seems, the folks that run drug treatment centres accuse him of exaggerating his experiences while in the center. They say that if he purports it to be true, families will be less likely to 'send their loved ones'. One of thing he cites is being refused anesthetic when he has a tooth removed, for according to the dentist, he is prohibited to use any kind of drug while at the center.

Getting Published 101 . . . . fiction or non fiction

2006-01-21T13:01:00.000+09:00

To Propose or not to Propose.

We will talk about how to get the attention of agents, editors and publishers later but before you even think of contacting anyone about a book idea, you need to decide whether you are writing fiction or non fiction. The reason for this is that although your contact with key people in the publishing world will begin with a query letter/message you will need to have on hand either
1. A book proposal if you are writing Non Fiction
2. The full edited manuscript if you are writing Fiction.

More in the next post about how to write an smart, effective proposal that will impress an editor / agent.

memoirs

2006-01-21T12:46:00.000+09:00

The controversy over James Frey and is alleged life story in A Million Little Pieces, seems to me to be a storm in a tea pot. It is over a week since his appearance on Larry King and Oprah's surprise call to the show and endorsement of his book (although it seemed qualified) but there continues to be copy in various newspapers around the world.

At the end of the day, he did nothing criminal. He did exercise poetic license, and probably made the mistake in live interviews to talk about the book as if it was his true life story.

Getting Published

2006-01-18T13:46:00.000+09:00

I consider myself blessed to have had several books published. There are many writers more skilled than me have neither been published. But recieving a writing contract is not all luck. To be published one must do more than write well and/or dream of writing a bestseller. Over the next several posts I am going to attempt to write down what I have learned about 'getting a publishing contract.' I welcome your comments.

Challenge

2006-01-14T15:22:00.000+09:00

I return to Cambodia Feb 1 - 12th to lead a group of cyclists from Canada, Australia and Japan (8 in total) on a sponsored ride. Each cyclist is committed to raising 5000 dollars for HOPE in addition to paying thier own costs. We will visit remote areas where HOPE is working alongside the neglected poor providing clean water.

Muchos Gracias to Pipe Dream Cycles who are sponsoring me by providing a custom built brand new 29er for me to ride. Check out www.hopeglobalchallenge.com to find out more about the challenge and if you want to check out the excellent bikes at Pipe Dreams click here

Celebrating in Cambodia

2006-01-14T15:16:00.000+09:00

Well I got a bit of summer over Christmas as I was in Thailand and Cambodia with my family. My eldest son celebrated his 18th birthday scuba diving near Sihanoukville and Kande and I celebrated 25 years of marriage . . . . . and yes we did fulfill the expectations of tourists and went on an elephant trek.

longing for summer already

2005-12-12T21:04:00.000+09:00

With the first snow of winter arriving this evening, jumping in 'the river' just a half hour from our home in Nagoya is a distant memory.

canada release

2005-12-07T18:58:00.000+09:00

It's confirmed: NTL will be released in Canada at the same time as the US release next April. Apologies to those who have told me they have preordered copies from amazon.ca. They are available now from amazon.co.uk though.