I used a few tools to make writing a series of books a little easier. I tried to stick with simple tools, but I knew that I needed a way to organize a variety of information and make it easy to access.

The first tool I used was Evernote. As each character was introduced, I started an entry for them in a collection. I started with a birth date and progressed to a physical description and then character description. For most of the characters, I also found a picture to refer to when I was looking through the files.

The next tool I used was Excel. Because my books are organized by date, I input a small description of what happened on each date. I haven’t published the fourth book yet, but the spreadsheet REALLY started to shine when I was working on that. The stories in that book are around, between and concurrent with the stories in the other books, so I had to make sure that I didn’t have date conflicts.

For the cover artwork, I used Adobe Spark. I wanted to hire a graphic designer (among other professionals) but I didn’t have a budget. If the books produce some sales, I can think of a few different professional I might want to get involved, but in the meantime, I knew I had to do it on my own.

The final “tool” I employed was several “Beta Readers.” I hate referring to them as tools, but they were an absolute boon to my writing. Between grammatical suggestions and other more critical ideas, they REALLY helped turn up the quality of the books. They also provided encouragement when I needed it most.

As a final note, THOSE are the people I’d like to thank the most.

For the books in the Jack Dixon Series, much of the action takes place in and around Hampton, VA. Not all of it… but a lot of it.

There are two aspects of that. First, the general area. Second, the places around there that the characters frequent.

Some of them are real, and others are made up. To begin with, I didn’t want to trash any real business. So, the businesses that might have had a negative connotation attached to them by the actions of the character were made up. In other cases, I simply couldn’t recall a business in the area that was active in the time frame in which I was working.

I lived in Hampton from 1976 until 1983. Places like Smitty’s, Chi-Chi’s, Capri Italian and Darryl’s were places I went. Darryl’s and Chi-Chi’s are both gone now, but Capri and Smitty’s are going strong.

Hampton is obviously a real place, as are Carova (the 4×4 beaches north of Corolla, NC), Taos and most of the other areas in the books.

Personally, I found it easier to write utilizing real places. I could pull up a map and work out distances and travel times and routes. It also gave me a head start on describing places.

All that said, I have another book (or series) kicking around a little in my head right now, and it won’t be set in a real place. I do find that more challenging. In the end, I will likely need to create maps and artwork to use to keep everything consistent as they are described.

One of the biggest questions I have been asked about my books is “Who are the characters based on?” (The next post will be about the other popular question…)

Here is the fast answer… “Nobody… Everybody.”

Admittedly, a lot of people I have known over the years have found their way into my books. But only as little pieces. I have not lifted a whole person into one of the story characters. Perhaps the closest I have come is in a couple of walk-ons. But even then, it is only because my experience with that individual comprises a small portion of what they are likely like as a person.

But at the same time, any given character, especially the major ones, is comprised of MANY of the people that have been around me.

Now, names are a different thing altogether. And I’m going ot pick on one person here… Scott Jones. The character in Dig Two Graves is almost nothing like the real Scott. To begin with, he hasn’t ever been a pilot… and he hasn’t spent a lifetime restoring World War One bombers. And he isn’t nearly as old as the character. But when he was walking across his back yard, it was Scott’s image I saw in my mind.

Aside from him, the character names are all made up. Granted, I know people with most of the names I used… at least first names or last names… but not both at the same time. And for a bunch of the names I used a name generator. It was cleaner and easier than making up names… My well wasn’t dry, but I wanted names that were completely different.

BTW, while some characters have a little more of one person or another in them, I didn’t use the name of the person the character was partially modeled on…

Next up… Oh the Places We’ve Been…

Thank you to all that downloaded my book during the FREE promotion over the weekend. I hope you will enjoy reading it and I’d love for you to follow it up with one of my other books on Kindle… or maybe even get a copy in print.

Planning Vengeance, the book that was free this weekend, is now in print from Amazon. The second part, Dig Two Graves is currently only available on Kindle, but will also soon be in print!

If you weren’t able to take advantage of the free promo, it’s only $2.99. Or, if you are a Kindle Unlimited reader, it is currently free there!

It’s my youngest son’s birthday, so to celebrate I’m, giving away the Kindle edition of Planning Vengeance all weekend. Of course it’s free on Kindle Unlimited, but you can download a copy without KU all weekend. Get it here! <LINK

Normally the book is $2.99.

Bill Prince and Ed Dixon are retired Special Forces Operators. Now they mostly teach their skills and support Operators in the field. But when their kids are threatened, they team up to deal with the threat.

Jack Dixon and Amy Prince are star-crossed teens. They met when they were younger, but circumstances pushed them apart. But when those circumstances end and they get together, Amy’s old flame is not happy. Unfortunately, he is also violent and strays into dangerous territory.

Part One is Planning Vengeance. Part Two is Dig Two Graves.

Print on Demand copies of Planning Vengeance are now available on Amazon.

This was my first Kindle book and launched the rest of the books in the series… currently at three published and one more waiting in the wings.

On the face, it is about Jonathan “Jack” Dixon and his relationship with Amy Prince, but underlying it is the story of Ed Dixon and Bill Prince. They are former SpecOps that have become instructors. When their kids end up in danger, they do what dads do… they dig in and protect. Enlisting the help of Gunny, a friend and Jack’s Scoutmaster, they do their best to keep Amy and Jack safe.

But Paul Murphy is a smart and wily foe, eluding all of the forces hunting him… except Antonio Sky. But will Sky help or hinder Paul?

Along with Dig Two Graves, Planning Vengeance (also on Kindle) is an exciting roller-coaster of a story.