Bill

September 15, 2009 - The Speech I Wish I'd Given

A young man came up to me at a book signing yesterday and asked me if I was the man who wrote Plastic Gods. I acknowledged to him that I was and he told what a great book it was and how much he'd enjoyed it. My signing had been a little slow, so it lifted my spirits to find out my book had meant a lot to this young man. As I stood waiting for the next person to stroll by I thought about my own high school days decades earlier. Being second in my class at Buena High School I was asked to address my fellow graduates. At the time I was lacking in experience and the wisdom experience brings. I didn't really know what to say, so it turned out mediocre at best. I sighed, wishing I'd of known then what I knew now. Then I started to formulate in my mind what I would have said to my fellow classmates had that been the case.

Fellow seniors, I stand before you today to warn you of a great peril that you will face the moment you step out into the world on your own. It's a danger that will threaten your health, your happiness, your marriage and even your very freedom. The reason this risk is so dangerous is that it is perfectly legal. There are no laws to protect you, no warnings from family and friends, and you won't know that you are a victim until its too late.

What I'm warning you about today is the credit trap—the lure to buy now and pay later, to live above your means, to accumulate possessions of every sort that you don't need. It's an unfortunate fact of life that our economy is driven by credit and you will be expected to do your patriotic duty and help drive the economy forward. This pressure will be manifested by a deluge of credit card applications, offers of financing for new fancy cars, a barrage of advertising trying to lure you into buying expensive home, clothes, cosmetics, travel packages, you name it.

You won't feel any pain the first few years after you fall into the credit trap. You'll be enjoying everything you've purchased on credit. Minimum payments on credit cards are low and you can draw on your credit cards or credit line if you come up short. It won't be long though until you'll find yourself in serious trouble. Lets say you have $50,000 of family income. If you did a budget you'd discover that you were probably spending $70,000. That means you're going in debt at the rate of $20,000 per year plus interest.

Interest at first may be reasonable, but the first time you miss a payment it will be jacked up to 28% and every time you go over your limit or make a payment late you'll be charged outrageous fees in above this high interest rate. Soon, in addition to your car and house payment you'll have credit card debt exceeding your car and house payment combined. You'll live with this as long as you can, borrowing from Peter to pay Paul, but eventually it will be too much and the only way out will be bankruptcy.

It's an established fact that financial stress is the leading cause of divorce. After a few years when creditors start to call, your credit goes in the dumpster, and it gets difficult to even pay basic bills, you'll start blaming your spouse, arguments will ensue, and love will turn to bare tolerance. It's very common for bankruptcy to be followed by divorce. Some law firms ofter a combination package, bankruptcy and divorce all for one low fee.

So, you've been warned. Don't fall into the credit trap. If you do, at best you'll lose your financial freedom and at worst you'll end up alone in the bankruptcy courts. Don't live above your means. The only credit you'll ever need is for a house, a car and perhaps your children's education. Pay cash for everything else.

Now here's my final piece of advice. If you follow it you'll never experience the tragedy I've just described. When you get your first job and go out on your own, prepare a budget and follow it no matter what. Change it whenever your income changes, and put in a budget item for savings. Ten percent is the amount you should save each month. Do this without fail and you'll preserve your financial freedom, greatly improve the chances of having a successful marriage and go a long way in insuring your future happiness and well being.

That's the message I wish I'd of given my fellow students back in 1969 or I wish someone would have given me. I fell into the credit trap just like millions of other American's have done over the years and suffered greatly on account of it. It's only been in the past few years that I've managed to escape and become debt free.

I wrote Plastic Gods as a way to communicate this message in a way that would be entertaining but still effective. The young man I met tonight wasn't the first person who's thanked me for Plastic Gods, but it felt good to know someone had benefited from my work.

When I started writing I was a lawyer and I'd heard you should write about what you know, so it only seemed natural to write about the law. This also made sense since time was at a premium with practicing law full time and raising a big family. I didn't have a lot of time to do research, so writing mysteries and legal thrillers came easily and naturally.

But I'm not the kind of person who likes routine. I get bored easily and enjoy doing a variety of things. So, each of the first six volumes Stan Turner Mysteries had as much adventure, romance and political intrigue as they did mystery. But, even with this variety, after ten mysteries I was burnt out and needed something dramatically different. I'd always loved science fiction, but didn't know if I could write that genre since it required much more creativity and time consuming research.

In order test my abilities in the science fiction arena I decided to do a cross genre. This was Cactus Island where Stan is asked to defend a teenager who things he saw an alien spacecraft. In order to prove him innocent of negligent homicide, he had to prove alien life existed. This turned out so well, I continued the experiment with Act Normal. Act Normal turned out even better and even was written up in a feature article in Library Journal.

This was all I needed to give me the courage to start the Tarizon Trilogies. Writing science fiction is very different than writing mysteries and much more challenging, but I'm glad I took the plunge and plan to write more in this genre, but I'm not giving up mysteries. I just needed a break. Now that I'm almost done with the Tarizon Trilogies, my next project will be most likely be a mystery.

It was a year or so after I started writing that I discovered that you needed a good agent to get placed with a major publisher, so I began my search for an agent. I sent query letters to hundreds of agents asking them to look at my new book, In Search of A Virgin, and waited, and waited, and waited. Then several months later the rejections started coming in one by one until there were only a very few left unanswered. I was about to give up hope and on the verge of falling into a deep depression, when a big fat letter showed up from the Aardvark Literary Agency of Absarokee, Montana. The letter started out, Dear Mr. Manchee, I have read your most extraordinary book and would love to represent you. Now, you may wonder what a literary agent is doing way out here in Montana. Well, that's a good question and the answer is, with today's technology I can sit in my study overlooking the majestic Yellowstone Mountains and still be as close as a phone call or fax to all the big publishing houses in New York City. He went on to say that he had inherited the literary agency from his father who had taught him all the subtle nuances of the business.

Also contained in the envelope were testimonials from numerous other authors who the agency had supposedly represented in the past and a proposed contract. Well, after receiving 98 rejections I was, of course, elated that someone thought my novel was "Extraordinary," so I read the contract proposal eagerly. My spirits sank quickly when I read that he wanted $1800 to do some polishing of the novel and that it would take 1 year for him to get the polishing done.

Part of me said, "throw the letter in the trash," but another part of me said "well, maybe it does need work and this guy can get it in shape." After checking around, I found that editors often did charge $1,800 to edit a novel, so I started getting used to that idea, but there was no way in hell I could wait one year for it to get done. I'd go nuts. So, I wrote Mr. Broome back and told him I'd pay the money but he only six months to do the work. He agreed and I had an agent.

A few days later I sent him the manuscript and the money and waited. Six months later he still hadn't finished the job or presented the novel to a single publisher. So I wrote him a letter inquiring about his progress. He replied promptly and said he was so swamped with work that he hadn't quite finished yet, but he was close. Two months later I got the finished manuscript back in the mail. I read it eagerly and scratched my head, because I really couldn't see he had changed all that much. But I was too busy to compare, line by line, the old with the new so I told him to just get on with the submissions to publishers. He said he would. Well, months went by and I heard nothing so I called him this time. His secretary answered and put me through. He was cordial, positive and said he had sent a query letter out. I said, "One query letter?" He replied, "Yes, I usually submit a work to only one publisher at a time. I suggested that might be a slow way to do it, but he assured me that's the way his father had taught him and he’d been very successful.

About a year later I decided to go to the Pacific Northwest Bookseller's Assn Spring Trade Show in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho. One reason I wanted to go there was for the opportunity to go visit the Sherwood Broome Literary agency. After the show was over my wife and I got in our car a started the 150 mile journey to Absarokee, Montana. The town didn't show up on the map, so I called Mr. Broome for directions. It was a long drive through rain and show. The snow was so bad at one point we weren't sure we were going to get through some of the high passes along the way. When we got to Columbus, Montana, I took highway 78 south to Absarokee and turned back west on a narrow mountain road that led up toward majestic Mt. Douglas. After traveling for thirty minutes I didn't see that road we were supposed to turn onto, so I stopped at a tavern and asked to use the phone. I got Mr. Broome on the line and he told me to keep on going another couple miles and stop at a gas station—he'd meet me there. By this time we were climbing higher and higher into the mountains. We kept driving and driving and thought we must have passed the gas station but kept on going. We were about to turn around when we spotted a gas station up ahead. When we pulled in, sure enough a smiling Mr. Broome was there to greet us.

He had a nice four wheel drive Jeep Cherokee and we followed down a dirt road. I was expecting to come up to a magnificent mountain lodge looking over Mt. Douglas, but instead he turned down a narrow gravel road that took us across a small stream. I held my breath as the water got deeper and deeper. Finally we pulled up over the riverbank and drove down into a trailer park. After following him a half-mile through the mobile homes we came upon a big doublewide with sign proudly mounted above the door that read. "Sherwood Broome Literary Agency."

Needless to say, The Sherwood Broome Agency never placed my novel. So, finding an agent itself isn't good enough, you need to find a "good and reputable" agent, and watch out for predators.

April 29, 2009. TOP TEN REVIEWERS - Well its that time again. Time to send out galleys to the top ten reviewers and keep my fingers crossed...

Every year, four or five months prior to publication, authors or publishers go through a ritual of sending out galleys to the top reviewers. These are the ones who can make or break a new title. You know the ones, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, the New York Times, Booklist, etc. A review from one, whether good or bad, is critical to have any chance of a descent distribution. A review from two or more will insure distribution to libraries and bookstores across the nation which is essential for a book to be successful.

Each year with the number of published authors skyrocketing, it gets harder and harder to snag one of these reviews. At least for those of us published by small presses. So, once again I'll go through this ritual and hope fate will smile upon me and at least one of these reviewers will pick up Tarizon: Civil War and give it a read.

December 23, 2008 - On the road with William Manchee

Since Its Release in September Tarizon: The Liberator has received much critical acclaim. This first book of the Tarizon Trilogy is targeted for an audience of 12 years and up and is available in hardback and audio CD.

THE TARIZON TRILOGY
by William Manchee
Title: Tarizon: The Liberator, Vol 1, September 2008
Tarizon: Civil War, Vol 2, September 2009
Tarizon: Target Earth, Vol 3, September 2010
Websites: http://williammanchee.com / http://tarizon.com
345 pages * Science Fiction / Fantasy / Adult / Young Adult
Hardback $23.00 ISBN 978-1-929976-48-5
Audio CD: $29.00 ISBN 978-1-929976-49-2 * 9 CDs 10:44hrs

When a teenager discovers his father is working on a secret government project with aliens from the planet Tarizon, the project is compromised and Peter Turner must accept exile or be killed.

Tarizon is recovering from a series of super volcanic eruptions that nearly destroyed all life on the planet. It is slowly recovering ecologically but the political situation is volatile. The fight is between the Purists who want to rid Tarizon of a growing mutant population and eliminate all non-human intelligent life-forms, and the Loyalists who want to restore the Supreme Mandate that guarantees freedom and basic rights for all humans and other sentient beings.

Videl Lai has become Chancellor in a tainted election. Once in power, he renounces Tarizon's constitution, The Supreme Mandate, and orders the extermination of all non-human life forms.

The Loyalist party anticipating Videl's rise to power, has been planning a civil war to restore rule under the Supreme Mandate and stop the genocide. But the Loyalist Party is weak and there is little hope it will be able to defeat Videl Lai and his formidable army. The only hope seems to be a prophecy that foretells of the arrival of a Liberator from Earth who would lead a revolt to rid Tarizon of a ruthless dictator.

Peter, much to his shock and dismay, soon learns that many on Tarizon believe that he is this Liberator and is expected to lead the revolution against Videl Lai and free the Nanomites, Mutants and Seafolken from bondage.

"Steve Anderson, AmericaJr . . . Tarizon: The Liberator is a blistering read . . . There's plenty of action to be had here and several nifty plot points, including the use of provoked downtrodden wildlife. . . It's very clever, and highly engaging. . . . getting a copy of Tarizon: The Liberator is a worthwhile move.

Reeden Wright
Galley Call: So. Independent Bookseller's Assn (SIBA). . . "The young adult science fiction audience will go for William Manchee's Tarizon: The Liberator, the first book in his new trilogy. It reminds me of the Star Wars series, Among the Hidden (Margaret Peterson Haddix), Dancing With An Alien (Mary Logue), and Ender's Shadow (Orson Scott Card. This book has everything a sci-fi fan could want: an alien world, mutants, conflict and civil war, spaceships, super-technology and chapters full of action! There is even romance for young Peter."

Harriet Klausner, Alternative Worlds" . . . readers will enjoy this action-packed exciting thriller . . . William Manchee has created a fascinating world in trouble that anchors this exhilarating powerful morality tale. "

Molly Martin, Midwest Book Reviews. . . Characters are fresh, exciting, filled with vivacity. Dialog is fitting, often gritty, hard hitting potent. Storyline is attention-grabbing, engaging and out of the ordinary. Settings are nicely detailed, reader is drawn into the action, and interest is compelling from beginning to end. Plot twists, subterfuge, stratagem, and chicanery abound, heroes are heroic, and villains are down right vicious."

Since Tarizon's September launch Manchee has appeared all across America. First he attended two regional tradeshows, the Pacific Northwest Bookseller's Association in Portland, Oregon and the Southern Independent Booksellers Association in Biloxi, Ms. There has been numerous book signings at Barnes & Noble stores, TV appearances in Chicago, Biloxi, and Tyler, and radio appearances in Ohio, North Dakota and Colorado. Tarizon was also featured in an article in ForeWord Magazine entitled ForeSight Feature: The Hero's Crossroads: That Fateful Moment of Decision by: Todd Mercer, November/December 2008 Category: Young Adult.

Now just three months after the release of Tarizon: The Liberator, production has begun on volume two, Tarizon: Civil War, due out next September. Although it's been a difficult and unfamiliar road, I'm pleased with the reaction to the trilogy so far and believe it will become more and more popular as time goes on. On the positive side I certainly couldn't have asked the critics for better reviews. They have been quite generous. On the negative side, a crashing economy never does much for a book launch. My strategy now is to focus on getting the word out that the Tarizon Trilogy is an exciting adventure that readers of all ages will truly enjoy. Hope to see you out there on the road.

March 25, 2005 - The Stan Turner Mysteries

Hi. Thanks for dropping by. Today I wanted to introduce myself and tell you a little about the Stan Turner Mystery series. I'm an attorney by trade practicing in Dallas with my son. My true passion, however, is writing fiction.

If you are not familiar with my work I have a mystery series called the Stan Turner Mysteries. Stan Turner is the protagonist and he's a young attorney who has a propensity for attracting impossible cases and getting in over his head. The stories are inspired by actual experiences and cases from the past so they are quite realistic.

Undaunted is the first of the series and it is the story of how Stan Turner becomes an attorney. It's the late 50's in Southern California and Stan goes to the Ventura County Fair and they have the old Univac Computer programmed to tell fortunes. He has his fortune told and it's a very ominous one warning him that his life will be a perilous one and fraught with danger. About this time he has a brush with the law, gets interested in the legal system and decides he wants to be an attorney. Well, his fortune becomes a prophecy and he is confronted with every imaginable problem---the worst being when he enlists in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War he inadvertently befriends a serial killer.

When I wrote Undaunted I hadn't planned for it to be the beginning of a series, but when it was finished I knew I had many more stories to tell and this was the ideal way to do it. So, in Brash Endeavor Stan is in Dallas having finally graduated from law school. It's the late 70's and Stan is very anxious to start his law practice. Unfortunately, he's broke so he starts his practice with a $2,000 cash advance from his American Express Card. It's a boom time and their are a lot of shady oil and gas and real estate investors around. A couple of these become clients and get Stan in serious trouble fast and his wife, Rebekah, ends up on trial for murder.

As I said much of what happens in the Stan Turner Mysteries is based on actual experiences. One of these experiences led to the creation of a character named Mo. I handle bankruptcies from time to time and on one occasion I'd just finished up a case with a client and while we were leaving the courthouse he made the comment that the agency was pleased with how I'd handled his case and they'd be sending me more business. I didn't immediately understand what he was saying and he was gone before I could quiz him more about it. It may have just been a joke, but either way it was an interesting idea. So, I introduced Mo to the series in book 3, Second Chair.

Second Chair was inspired by a murder trial my daughter was a witness in. Stan is called up to Sherman, Texas where a college girl is accused of killing her baby. It looks like an impossible case because the girl has no memory of what happened and Stan probably shouldn't be handling a murder trial since he's only been practicing law for a year or so. But he agrees to do it on the condition his law professor act as second chair, not realizing that his law professor is a drunk and probably won't show up for trial.

A missionary who couldn't pay his bill was the inspiration for Cash Call. The missionary had been in a car accident without insurance and needed me to defend him. When I was done he advised me he had no money, but could give me some ancient Costa Rican pottery as payment. He assured me the pottery was worth as much as he owed me. The only embellishment I added to the story for Cash Call was that unbeknownst to Stan there were diamonds worth millions embedded in the pottery.

Deadly Distractions was based on a long battle one of my clients had with the IRS. He'd been a tax protestor and when an agent threatened to come on his property to seize a tractor, he told him if he did he'd kill him. Obviously this didn't go over too well with the agent and he made sure my client paid dearly for it for the next ten years. In the novel Stan is called back from vacation when a client is cornered in a barn by the FBI, allegedly having killed an IRS agent. It looks like a slam dunk case for the government because they have a witness who claims to have seen Dusty standing over the body with shotgun in hand. Dusty, however, professes his innocence and has been a hard luck client, so Stan agrees to defend him.

The stock market crash of October 1987 is the setting for Black Monday. This was a difficult time for Dallas and I remember it well. In the novel there's been three murders in Dallas that night. The chairman of and S&L and his girlfriend are found with their throats slashed and old lady is found asphyxiated along with her 11 dogs. Stan's partner Paula ends up defending the defendant in the double homicide and Stan discovers he's the executor over this girl's estate and must figure out who killed her in such a bizarre fashion and why.

So, that brings us to Cactus Island, book 7 in the series which I'm currently promoting. It marks a temporary shift in the series from legal mystery to legal sci fi. In this episode Stan's CIA connection comes back to haunt him. This summer the second and last of the 2 legal sci fi novels, Act Normal, book 8 in the series will be out.

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March 25, 2005 - The Stan Turner Mysteries