Category Archives: The Writing Life

Steven Womack’s reflections on the writing life, publishing, and the journey…

SEMWA Online Interview/Podcast Is Now Available!

On Thursday, June 1st, I had a new adventure. I was the guest of a monthly gathering of the Southeast Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America. Only it wasn’t an in-person meeting. We all checked into a website and it was all done over that new-fangled Internet thingy.

My thanks to the wonderful Beth Terrell for putting it together and my thanks to SEMWA for letting me put a link up so everyone can listen. It was a fun time and let’s all go support MWA!

https://recordings.join.me/ZKyd_G5G-0eXPFe4FvHu-w

On The Beauty of Indie Publishing…

I’ve been very quiet on the blog and news front lately, but only because I’ve been so busy on other fronts. The fourth, fifth, and sixth Harry James Denton novels are in the publication pipeline. The fourth, Chain Of Fools, is ready to go. The fifth, Murder Manual, is with the copy editor, and I’m putting together the files for Dirty Money.

My wonderful book cover designer, Dawn Charles at BookGraphics.net, is working on the covers as we speak.

And here’s the beauty of the independent publishing movement–twenty years or so ago, when the Harry James Denton novels were originally published by Ballantine Books, I lost two different battles over titles. My editor didn’t like my original title for the fourth novel, so he vetoed it and called the book Chain Of Fools. I think he was trying to maintain some kind of music riff after Dead Folks’ Blues and Torch Town Boogie.

But when I hear that title, all I can think of is the Aretha Franklin hit from 1968. In fact, if you Google Chain Of Fools, that’s what you get: All Aretha/All The Time…

So since I’m now the publisher as well as the author, I’m reverting back to the original title for that novel, Nobody’s Chain Lays Straight.

Hope everyone likes it. Same with the title to the fifth novel, Murder Manual. The original title for that one was Life’s Little Murder Manual.

So that’s what it’s going back to.

Enjoy…

Harry James Denton Returns March 31st!

Harry James Denton Returns March 31!

Dead Folks’ Blues, Torch Town Boogie, Way Past Dead EBook Editions Available From All Major Distributors

The first three installments of the Edgar and Shamus-Award winning series featuring Nashville P.I. Harry James Denton will be reissued by Spearhead Press in digital editions on March 31, 2017.

The books will be available from all major EBook distributors, including Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and Apple.com/iBooks.

The books will be available for pre-order approximately one week before pub date.

“I’m thrilled to see these three books available to mystery fans again,” author Steven Womack said. “Harry was a great character to write and I want to see him back again.”

The last three books in the series–Chain of Fools, Murder Manual, and Dirty Money–will be published in late May. Trade paperback editions will also be available at a date to be announced later.

The Harry James Denton novels were published from 1993-2000. Each of the six installments in the series either won or was nominated for a major mystery award.

 

 

Harry James Denton Returns!

For the past several months, I’ve been very quiet on my blog, mainly because–in addition to teaching full-time and the rest of life–I’ve been working to republish the first three Harry James Denton novels under the Spearhead Press imprint.

I’m thrilled to say that the first three novels, Dead Folks’ BluesTorch Town Boogie and Way Past Dead are nearly ready to go! The covers have been redesigned by the wonderful BookGraphics.net. Here are the first two:

And the cover for Way Past Dead will be ready in January.

I’d love to hear what you think. Shoot me a line.

Meantime, more to follow!

 

Why Politics Sucks Available for Pre-order

Why Politics Sucks: With Just A Few Modest Proposals That Might Make It All Suck A Little Less

…my first venture into nonfiction in a long time, is up for pre-order with a publication date–appropriately enough–of July 4, 2016.

WPS WEB PROMO largeWhy Politics Sucks: With Just A Few Modest Proposals That Might Make It All Suck A Little Less is the first in a series of eight “broadsides” that will take a good, long, hard look at what’s gone wrong in our society. From Health Care to Wealth Inequality to the role of Religion, the failure of Higher Education, our broken Legal System and out-of-control Corporate Behavior, it seems like every major facet of American society is stumbling, if not downright falling. So over the next few months, we’re going to take each one of these topics and shed a little analysis, make a few “modest proposals” and generally engage in an insightful, thorough, smart-assed rant.

Why Politics Sucks: With Just A Few Modest Proposals That Might Make It All Suck A Little Less will be released in Ebook form only. When all eight broadsides have been published, I’ll compile them into a printed book that will be widely available.

You can find Why Politics Sucks at the following major Ebook distributors:

Amazon-Buy-Buttonemail-publishing-logo-ibooksemail-publishing-logo-kobo B&N Button

 

Steven Womack’s Seven Rules Of Success

Steven Womack’s Seven Rules Of Success

1) Be The Luckiest Son Of A Bitch On The Planet!

Nothing—not talent, determination, or effort—trumps luck, and if you’re not lucky, then that’s evidence you’re not worthy of success!

2) Always Be Right!

Winners are always right! Only losers are ever wrong!

3) Never, Ever, Make A Mistake!

If you make mistakes, then you’re a loser. The only thing worse than making a mistake is admitting you made a mistake.

4) Always Have Only The Good Stuff Happen To You!

If nothing bad ever happens to you, then by definition you are a success!

5)Never Fail At Anything!

Losers fail. Winners win. End of story.

6) Make A Ton Of Money!

After all, that’s how we measure it, right?

7) Never, Ever Pay Any Attention To Stupid Lists Of Rules of Success

Figure it out on your own. Everyone’s path is different. When you’re successful, you’ll know it.

The Clarksville Writers Conference Is Almost Here…

I’ve been working feverishly the past couple of days getting ready for the 2016 Clarksville Writers Conference, which starts tomorrow at Austin Peay State University.

I’m doing two presentations. Tomorrow, June 2nd, at 2:45, I’m giving a presentation on the changing face of publishing and how to get started as an independent publisher. I’m calling it The Writer’s Survival Camp.

On Friday, June 3rd, I’m doing The Detective’s Journey, a panel on how classic mythic dramatic structure works in crime and detective fiction. It’s at 2:45 as well.

You can check out the CWC website by clinking on the logo below:

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