1 year ago today I was sitting in my den with a snowstorm outside debating about writing my first work of fiction. My previous work had been successful non-fiction including numerous business articles and a Dummies book. While I certainly appreciated telling a good yarn I defintely didn’t consider myself a fiction writer.
2 days earlier I was sharing the new concept I had for an upcoming speech with a prolific business writer/friend Peter Economy. (Yes that’s his real name.) I told him about how my marketing clients were responding to finding a clear and compelling Value Proposition and was discussing the need for business to identify the different types of buyers to whom they were speaking. When I told him I had found a 3500-year-old process I identified from the Jewish Passover Seder he got very excited. He insisted it would make a good parable book.
I balked at writing a story but figured what the heck and sat down December 23rd 2008 to peck out a chapter on my Macbook. I started the opening, which you can read in the SneakPeak. When the chapter was finished I sent it to a close friend Dan Turner who runs a technology company called Turner Consulting Group. They are busy saving the taxpayer $1 billion. Dan is (admittedly) the geekiest person I know. (And I mean that with love and respect.)
He called me and told me he thought it was great and he could make it better. “What?!” I said, “How can you make it better? You’re a computer geek.” “Yes,” Dan replied. “But I also have a creative writing degree from Rutgers.” And that’s how the partnership started.
I spent the next 8 days (just like Hanukah) cranking out a chapter a day. Dan would coach me on back-story and characterization. He would take my rough chapters and enhance them with pithy additions. Together we went on the Internet to find real kosher restaurants and pick items from their menus that sounded tasty.
All in all we were able to get most of the book done. We have of course since added and improved it along the way (53 times to be exact) but the core of the book remains the same. We knew by January 5th from sending it out to friends and critics that ROAR! was something special. Looking back a year ago, seeing all it’s activity, following and the Wiley contract certainly supported our instincts.
The downtime around Christmas and New Years was perfect for providing quiet time to complete the essence of the story. It allowed me to focus and partner with my closest of friends and supporters. In fact it’s such a good writing time I am currently in London researching and writing my next book. The next 9 days should be exciting.
Thanks and Happy Holidays to all my friends and supporters. May you all tap into your creative selves during this special time.
Kevin
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