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Hello, Reader

One of the big goals for 2023 was to vastly improve things like branding and visibility that will lead to sales of books. That means leading to where I want to be in life - writing full time. There have certainly been challenges, but hopefully I'm laying a base, and yes, that's phrase that used to mean an extra helping of fried chicken and potatoes before we went out drinking all night. In hindsight, this plan sounds healthier.

I hope all of you have had a wonderful Holiday season. I cannot thank you enough for your support. Here's to the very best 2024!

New to View

When 2023 started, I had zero plans to start a history podcast, but I've really been having fun with it. I've resigned myself to the fact that it takes most of 3 days to research, fact check, write, record and edit. The next thing is to get enough followers to make it worthwhile. I'm doing two a month, and I just uploaded episode 8. This one is about our history interacting with animals. Where else can you get a pro-animal rights viewpoint that pisses off vegetarians and P*TA? Find all the episodes on my website under history/podcasts. Or at my hosting platform podbean.

Also, the registration for my Undertold Texas class is live. It's an online class through Rice University's Glasscock School of Continuing Studies. It's a relationship that's over a dozen years old now, and they are terrific folks. I'm almost 5/8 through with writing the book that will go with it. Plan is to release that book in April so I don't spoil too much of the class. :)

What I'm Working On

I mentioned last time, that if all goes well, I will put out four, or even five, new books in 2024. (Right now I'm working on logistics and rounding up funds to pay for things like cover designs and ISBN numbers.) The first book on the way is part one of a novel duology, and I sent it to the last of the beta readers two days ago. It's a tough one to place in a sub-genre since it's a fictional memoir about life, baseball, race and love. It spans the entire 20th century. I've split the original book into two volumes, so the first one ends on a cliffhanger. I know that will annoy some readers, but it's what had to happen.

Book one is called Wingo, and I'm shooting for a release in February. Book two is Wingo's Redemption, and that should be out in the summer. I have a good amount of work left on that one. Once they come out, I'll schedule a couple of very informal and easy book release gatherings. I don't want to call them parties since there will almost surely be no funny hats. I'll keep y'all posted.

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MIKE VANCE - Home

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