WORKS IN PROGRESS & MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS
This is the page where you can read about my works-in-progress, some of my stories and other odd-ball stuff I write. I don't claim it's particularly good, but it's what I do. I don't know if my writing will ever be completed - I'm getting older and the memory is starting to go, but mostly, my damned characters won't behave. I've started writing a couple of mysteries so I can kill some of them off; that'll teach em. Anyway, just click on the links below to see my stuff.
The Jesus Cow This is a synopsis of my novel about Coyote County, the mythical lost county of Oklahoma. I've included a couple of the chapters - very rough and unedited - which may give you a feel for the story. This story is going slowly because the local newspapers print real stories about Oklahoma that make me feel my characters should be more bizarre.
Tory Stone The opening chapter of a mystery involving my detective, Tory Stone, a tough-minded, capable young lady who lives on an old stern-wheel boat on the Mississippi. She cheats the crooks and helps herself. This story is progressing nicely, but I don't know where it's going. Someday it'll end - I hope.
Growing Paines A family history about growing up on the plains of South Dakota - a collection of short items dealing with a variety of subjects, from the uses of cow flops to my sister's drowning to attacks by farm animals. I haven't published all of the short pieces and probably never will; I add more every few days.
Coyote Howls A short newspaper with some of the latest news from Coyote County, the mythical Oklahoma County in the Jesus Cow, above. Read all about what happens when the flood hits Coyote Creek. This paper is not often revised; I lack the imagination for it.
Molly Banford's Ghost This is one of my Halloween stories and might be best read aloud. I'm still in the process of revising and polishing it. You get to see the unpolished version, and lay off the "polish" jokes. I'm Scotch, Irish and English.
Short Stuff This section contains a variety of short things that I haven't had time to format and enter properly. Some funny, some good, some not.
Finally, there are the projects that haven't yet gotten off the ground for one reason or another. I am planning a unique cookbook to be sold along Route 66 and it may be promoting Coyote County. The working title is, "Cow Chips and Other Damned Good Redneck Grub"; I'm going into small towns along Route 66 and asking who is the best cook in town - then I ask them for the recipes. Incidentally, Cow Chips are damned good chocolate chip cookies made with lots of butter, cream and chips.
I'm slowly outlining another novel, tentatively titled, "Apparition in the Holy Land." Briefly, it involves two golfing buddies - a Catholic priest and a Baptist minister - whose friendship it tested when an apparition of the Virgin appears above the altar of a Baptist church in the Holy Land (south Tulsa). Hordes of Catholic pilgrims arriving at the church should make things interesting. I'm thinking: faith healing, speaking in tongues, attempted arsons, demonstrations, and a bit of sex. Hopefully, I can make it work.