I mailed the "Wanda's Footprints" manuscript this morning. It should arrive on Monday, the 7th, @ 9am. Hoping to get it back by Friday, the 18th, and publish by Friday, the 25th.  

 I have completed my first novella, which is a short story totaling 27,000 words. When published, it will be about 103 pages long. Tomorrow, I will be sending it off for proofreading and editing. I’m looking forward to seeing how readers respond to such a short book. I should be publishing "Wanda's Footprints" sometime around August 1, 2025.

The story is inspired by real and extraordinary events that unfolded in September 2024. It is set in the stunning mountainous regions near Chimney Rock, North Carolina, and along Interstate 40. This tale pays tribute to the raw power of nature and the resilience of the human spirit.

That evening, relentless rivers overflowed into small towns, reshaping the landscape and the lives of those affected. Highways disappeared, homes and vehicles were swept away, and entire communities faced the aftermath of devastating flooding.

What stood out most amid the devastation was the resilience of the people—their courage, compassion, and determination to rebuild.

Just in case you ever wondered how much I am making from my ebooks, this is from someone who read one of my ebooks. And, yeah, this happens maybe once a month. $$$ Now I can buy that bubble gum I wanted. LOL!

 New artwork for book cover.

 

Wanda's Footprints

 After an extended break, I am finally working on “Wanda’s Footprints” again. It’s a story of resilience and determination as she fights for survival in a national forest. The story unfolds when a sudden flood in North Carolina leaves her stranded on the wrong side of the river. It is her story and the story of the heroic efforts of the search team sent to find her.

It's time for me to dig out the brushes and get back to painting. This is one I painted back in 2017. 

 During the ice and fridge temperatures, we took a vacation to Cayman Brac (one of the three Cayman Islands). While there, I had the opportunity to visit with a guy (Harvey Sizemore) from our hometown (Pine Bluff, AR). He lives on the island.

 

I've chosen to leave the new book website  as it is for now. While I’m eager to enhance it, I have several exciting projects demanding my attention. My current novel is calling me, but with an adventure just around the corner in less than two weeks, I need to prioritize organizing my SCUBA diving gear and packing essentials. Today, I'm charging batteries for dive lights and cameras, creating a thorough packing list, and exploring car and scooter rentals at Cayman Brac. It’s shaping up to be an exhilarating time, and I can’t wait to dive into both my writing and the upcoming adventure!

At a recent book signing, I saw an author who had a painting on display. This painting was used for the cover of their book. I’m considering painting the cover for my current writing project, "Wanda’s Footprints."

 "Wanda’s Footprints" narrates the inspiring journey of a young woman’s fierce determination to thrive in the wilderness amidst a devastating natural disaster. Her story weaves together her personal struggles, the relentless efforts of the rescue team committed to finding her, and the heartfelt worries of her family. It’s a powerful tale of resilience and hope.

Estimated Arrival: May, 2025

"Wanda's Footprints"

 Here's how to pay me via cask app:

David's Cash App Link

 Amazon Author page: I tried to update bio and they said it violated policy?????

KDP Author Page

 Did a little searching on the internet today. Some of my novels are available on the Walmart website. Not sure why the others are missing.

Prophet X

 New Beginnings

Recently, I read a novel by an author from England. The story was engaging, and I enjoyed the experience. However, I often stumbled over words and expressions that were completely unfamiliar to me. Some of these were slang used in dialogue, but a significant portion appeared in the narrative as well. I’m not someone who typically checks punctuation, sentence structure, or verb usage while reading, but the presence of words and expressions I had little or no understanding of was distracting. I mentioned to my wife that I wished the author had enlisted someone in the U.S. to proofread the book. This led me to wonder if I might be making the same mistake in my own novels. While I aspire to write books with international appeal, I realize that my primary audience will likely always be in America.

 I'm thrilled to share some exciting news! After months of dedication and hard work, my novel “Magiel” is finally available on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DP4ZK825). I can’t wait to share his story with you!

At 26 years old, he knew exactly what he wanted: a simple life, the roll of the sea beneath his feet, fishing, and solitude. He left home and settled on a small, remote island in the Caribbean Sea to turn his dream into reality.

Everything was smooth sailing in his life until she entered the picture, turning his once straightforward existence into a whirlwind of chaos and complexity.

Join me in this unique story as a young man from Arkansas reluctantly discovers romance, love, and laughter amidst dangerous chance encounters with a Chicago mob. Deception and death suddenly flourish with the sudden prosperity on the small island. As his situation spirals out of control, he desperately clings to his newfound love. With no other alternative, he is forced to do the very thing he hates. Sometimes, you have to fight for the things you love.

I find it puzzling that a large number of seemingly legitimate publishing companies prefer to offer only bundled packages. A more effective business model would be to provide à la carte services. For instance, an author who is also a web designer may not need web design services, but those services are included in a package along with other potentially unnecessary offerings. I personally have never bought any of these package deals for precisely this reason.

 I love crafting fictional stories about ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances that transform how they view Christ in their daily lives. Profound transformation often occurs on the precipice of disaster or at the end of that proverbial rope. This is where the human experience genuinely intersects with our Maker, sometimes for the first time.

I am about 70% finished with 25 days left on my current novel ("Magiel"). 100% is when I have a published book in my hands. It's a 90K word novel with minimal art work. From conception to delivery is an estimated 127 days. I work on this about 40 hours a week.

I’m writing the final chapter of ‘Magiel”. At this point I have the ending planned and have started vacillating between writing and editing. Soon, all that will be left to do is edit (my least favorite part). Perhaps I will find a sub-plot to expound on. Most skilled writers write in the style they have been taught or the style of the books they like to read. Me, I write in the style of the movies I like to watch. As I write I describe scenes, action, and dialog. Yes, I'm twisted in the head that way. But apparently my style of writing makes for an interesting read.

The book signing at the Saline County Library was fun. I managed to sale a few books and generally had a great time meeting people. I learned some things that worked well and a few things I need to change. All in all, it was a respectable presentation (in other words I managed NOT to embarrass myself, LOL!).