When you're a novelist, you do lots of things that aren't writing novels. For most of us, writing won't pay the bills, so we find part-time work to fill in the gaps.
Over the past three decades, I've worked as newspaper reporter, humor columnist, freelance editor and college professor, all while busily cranking out novels and short stories. During most of that time, I also was a househusband, doing the lion's share of the housework and yardwork while my wife pursued her careers.
These days, I'm essentially working FIVE part-time jobs:
1) Still a househusband. Doing laundry right now.
2) Looking after things for my Mom, who has Alzheimer's disease. She lives in a nursing home in Hot Springs, AR, and I drive there every three or four months and spend a few days. I'm on the phone a lot.
3) Still teaching my writing seminar at the Honors College at the University of New Mexico. The class meets only once a week, but it produces a lot of papers that must be graded.
4) Still an author, though I took a break from writing for much of 2018. I've started work on a new novel, but even when I'm not writing, I'm busy BEING an author -- email, social media, signing contracts, managing my e-book empire. (All my e-books are currently on sale on Kindle for 99 cents each!)
5) Working as one of the clerks/co-owners of Organic Books, the new used bookstore in Albuquerque's historic Nob Hill neighborhood. Business is good, and we just updated our website. We host events with local authors and poets nearly every weekend.
My pal Cecilia Wessinger stopped by the other day and snapped a photo of me with the prominent display of my books.
Though we've been open less than five months, Organic Books is one of the finalists for Best Bookstore in the Weekly Alibi's "Best of Burque" annual poll. You can see all the nominees (and vote) here. I'm also nominated in the Best Local Author category, which has never happened before. Guess it helps to have your own bookstore.
I'm just starting on the new crime novel (tentative title: HIJACKERS), so publication is probably a year away, but I will have short stories in three different anthologies during 2019. I'll update this blog with more info as we get closer to publication dates.
In June, we'll celebrate the 25th anniversary of the publication of my first novel LONELY STREET (the Bubba Mabry debut later made into a movie). Assuming I can finish it, HIJACKERS will be my 32nd published book.
Not bad for a part-time job.
Happy reading!
