My debut novella is free on Amazon through this weekend. I hope all can take advantage of the offer and take a chance on “Green”.
“Near Fall”, the continuation of the story begun in “Green”, sits comfortably at about the halfway mark as I pause for a ghostwriting assignment, but I plan to post another excerpt soon, and will be aiming for a release, appropriately enough, near Fall of this year.
Thanks to all who continue to spread the word and tolerate my relentless shilling. More to come… \m/
Enter for a chance to win 1 of 10 paperback copies of “Green: A Pro Wrestling Novella” through the Goodreads Giveaway. Opens for entries Jan.10- 18th. Thank you and good luck.
Enter for a chance to win 1 of 10 paperback copies of “Green: A Pro Wrestling Novella” through the Goodreads Giveaway. Opens for entries Jan.10- 18th. Thank you and good luck.
According to one man’s rumor mill, Charles LeoGrande is on the list of those being considered for a writer’s position with WWE.
When asked for his comment, LeoGrande explained, “Well, I filled out the application.” LeoGrande went on to tell the story of the storied wrestling company stopping at a Long Island coliseum for an event during which they would select a “Fan of the Night”. “I saw some company guys walking around the crowd, looking for their fan, and shouted to them, “Hey, you know who I am?” LeoGrande says they shrugged dumbfounded and he told them he was the “fan of the night”. “Starting my own rumor worked,” recalled LeoGrande. “By intermission, having found no better candidate, it was made official, so who knows? Maybe there’s something to this rumor-starting stuff.”*
World Wrestling Entertainment has yet to respond, but for more Pro Wrestling Fiction, “Green: A Pro Wrestling Novella” is still FREE until 12/25 on Amazon Kindle.
*true story.
Sometimes guidance comes from the publisher…
Dear Charles,
Thank you for submitting to Better-than-You Press, and we are honored that you considered us to read your work. These are horribly hard decisions for us, but we are unfortunately going to pass on “Green.” This line of work is all so subjective, and another editor is sure to disagree with us, but ultimately, we have to connect fully with every aspect of the book, and we didn’t connect in the way that we must in order to represent it.
It’s with regret that we pass on Green. The author’s writing here is competent—at times quite strong—and the action of the plot is constantly driving. But from the start, we felt a heart lacking from it, and that never filled in. There’s a lack of complication through the first third of the novella that prevents the story developing beyond the bonds of simple anecdote.We think the author could really have something here, with some more work and complication.
We do hope you’ll submit to our press again in the future, and thank you for all your talents, time, and consideration. We look forward to watching you grow and bloom in the literary scene.
Sincerely,
Jane Q. Dunwithew
Editor-in-Chief
Better-than-You Press
As in Part I of this series on self-publishing, a steady diet of correspondence like this may lead you where it led me, to Amazon, where right now “Green: A Pro Wrestling Novella” is FREE on Kindle until 12/25…. Click here to grab yours now.
…was aided and abetted by query responses from agents like this one:
RE: Query
Thank you for giving me a chance to consider your work. Unfortunately I don’t believe I’m the right person to represent this effectively.
Publishing is a subjective industry by nature so don’t be discouraged. I wish you the best of luck finding an agent who can represent your work with the enthusiasm it deserves.
Best,
Passing Agent
Not Interested and Company
New York, NY 10003
Enough of those and the path to publication leads to Amazon, where my new eBook Green: A Pro Wrestling Novella is FREE until 12/25. Like the book, this publishing advice today is on the house.
Best,
Charles LeoGrande
Tis the season for reading. Please take advantage of my FREE offer for “Green: A Pro Wrestling Novella”, available NOW on Amazon. Giving IS better than receiving, so give yourself a freebie and enjoy.
A helpful guide to the New Year’s books-to-film offerings. Tops on my personal list is “Wilson”, due out in March and based on the graphic novel of the same name by Daniel Clowes; true ‘laugh-out-loud’ writing and I am looking forward to seeing Woody Harrelson take on the title role. Check out the list of others… 2017 Books-to-Film
an excerpt from “Green: A Pro Wrestling Novella”
“Ay,” he said to me, tugging the ropes, “is gonna be a coun’out— da bot’ of us outside. I tell you when. You jus’ coun’ ten, eh?”
“Count-out?” I said. “I thought …”
“You taught nuttin’! Jus’ count when I tell you!”
They announced his opponent and the guy came out to cheers— smiling, dark-haired and muscled and shaking hands in the aisle. I didn’t see or even feel him leave the ring, but under the guy’s ovation, Frenchie pounced on him from behind— mauling him onto the aisle floor and peppering him with both fists. Fans threw trash, aiming for Frenchie as he kept on their man— pulling his ring jacket up over his head and jabbing his ribs with kicks.
He left the guy in a pile in the aisle, scrambling back inside the ring.
“C’mon referee!” someone yelled out. “Throw that bum out!”
Frenchie answered him and the others, turning and flipping his fist at him. It made the whole place holler.
“Start da count,” French said. “— not so fast,” so I started to. Between five and six I asked French if the guy was getting up.
“Don’ know,” he said, laughing. “We see!”
At seven though the guy got up, propping himself on the rail— and at eight, with a burst, he ran for the ring— sliding inside like a bullet. He tore off his jacket and charged Frenchie— but French, a step ahead of him, beat it through the ropes and out of the ring— circling and riling everyone up at ringside. It carried back to the walls. The whole place was hot.
The guy chased after and eventually caught up to Frenchie, hurling him back in the ring and battering him down with dropkicks and a slam. He backed Frenchie to the buckles and climbed the ropes, balanced above French while he brought his fist down a dozen times to his face. French brought his hand up, as if to slow or block the barrage— but it fell to his side and blood began to trickle down his forehead to the bridge of his nose. Punch drunk, French looked defenseless as the guy hooked his head and hoisted him off his feet, bringing him down in the center of the ring— both their backs hitting the mat heavy.
My eyes followed the guy, getting the fans excited again as he pumped a fist in the air and ran to the corner. Starting to climb, the cheers got louder.
“Dis is it!” French said. Blood had crawled across and down the sides of his skull— to his temples, staining his sideburns and striping his face.
“Dis time coun’ ten!”
Check out National Public Radio’s list of 2016’s Great Reads; long enough to last well into the New Year. Happy Reading.
Charles LeoGrande 