Welcome, everyone. This is my monthly newsletter about a teacher, ex-journalist, and part-time novelist from eastern Iowa (me, Jason Liegois) and what’s been going on with me, especially when it comes to my writing and myself.
Let’s get started.
What I’m Writing Right Now
[NOTE: For more detailed summaries/synopses of the works in progress I discuss below, go to this link.
Also note, all titles except those of my series are working titles. This is the reason for that.]
The Land, The River, and The Waste
This is my environmental sci-fi horror tale situated in the type of quiet Mississippi River town in Iowa I’ve grown up and lived in most of my life. In a state where agricultural pollution and its effects on the people and environment are a big deal, I thought a horror story might be appropriate for the times. Also, as a writer from Iowa, I wanted to finally set one of my stories in a familiar setting.
Status: Right now this is the top creative priority for me. I got started on it on Halloween Night of last year and I’m already at 31,000 words for the rough draft. One of my goals is to have at least the rough draft wrapped up by Halloween of next year. I have no idea of how it’s getting published or where it’s coming out, but I believe in this story. It’s coming out, one way or another.
The Fool 2
This is the sequel to my first book, The Holy Fool. It follows the adventures of ex-Chicago newspaper columnist turned independent blogger journalist Sam “Sonny” Turner, as he and his correspondents struggle to get the news out about America during troubled times.
Status: This is the number two priority for me right now. I am in the strange situation of writing a historical novel, so to speak, in real time. I am picturing a book beginning in November 2024 and ending in November 2026, so I feel the need to observe what is happening before I wrap up the story. 4 July 2026 will be an important date to observe as well, because this will be Sonny Turner’s 50th birthday1. There’s no projected date.
The Yank Striker 3
This is the third in a series about DJ Ryan, a one-time high school and college football star turned prospective pro soccer player for the underdog Donford FC of London. After facing a setback in his climb to success, he’s relentless in seeking an opportunity to get back on the winning road.
Status: I still believe in this project, but I don’t want to have three/fourths of my books to be The Yank Striker series. I want to make sure I have some other back catalogue (so to speak) before putting another Yank Striker book out there. Not that I don’t believe in the series, but I want to be more than that. I’m guessing the story won’t be coming out until at least 2027 at this point2.
Kayfabe Stories Part 1
The first in a series of stories featuring Robbie Traynor, a creative writing grad student at the University of Iowa. His thesis project is a novel about a young man seeking to reconnect with his father, a professional wrestler. Robbie himself is from a family of pro wrestlers, but has had little connection with the art – until his research for the novel pulls him closer to a life that horrifies and fascinates him all at once.
Status: Not actively adding to this project, but I am revising it based on the feedback I have been receiving from my writing groups (especially the Midwest Writing Center, shout out to them). With more than 50,000 words into the rough draft, there’s no way I’m abandoning this project, even if I have to self-publish it on Ingram Sparks or whatever.
I’m thinking at least a trilogy and two spin-off novels spanning from 1954 to 2019. Can’t wait to share them with you.
What I’m Doing Having to do With Writing
For once, I have some new events to announce.
- This week, at 11 AM Saturday, Feb 21, I’ll be making my first appearance at The Corner, Mediapolis’ new indie bookstore right on 703 Main St. It’ll be my first appearance there, although they already have my books.
- On Saturday Feb. 28, I’ll be back at @beaverdalebooks , one of my favorite indie bookstores in Iowa, for their local author fair. That’ll run between 1-3 PM. I’m looking forward to being back there in Des Moines once again, and am looking forward to the DSM Bookfair as well. See you there!
The Home Front
Not too much to say.
My wife is trying to sort out her mother’s home now that she’s passed. Whenever people die, there’s always circumstances which have to get sorted out. People who have passed on have a certain momentum, if you will.
My son’s going to get married this July. His future bride is a good girl, and I hope he has as much happiness as I’ve had with his mother and my wife.
For those complaining about the weather: it’s a hell of a lot better than 100 degree days in the summer.
All the rest of it I’ll keep to myself for now.
Writing Quote(s) of the Month:
This first one is from one of my favorite writers (and creators) in the realm of film.
To be an artist means never to avert one’s eyes.
― Akira Kurosawa
I haven’t read any of his works, but I think his philosophy on writing style approaches my own philosophy.
People often ask me why my style is so simple. It is, in fact, deceptively simple, for no two sentences are alike. It is clarity that I am striving to attain, not simplicity.
Of course, some people want literature to be difficult and there are writers who like to make their readers toil and sweat. They hope to be taken more seriously that way. I have always tried to achieve a prose that is easy and conversational. And those who think this is simple should try it for themselves.― Ruskin Bond, Best Of Ruskin Bond
When and What I Post
Check this out for when and what I post on a regular basis.
How to support me😊.
As always, go to the links on the side if you are reading this on a desktop/laptop or the links on my profile on mobile. If you follow the links, you will be able to buy both the paperback and ebook versions of my books on Amazon. If you just put “Jason Liegois” in Google. you’ll find them on the first page of search results.
I have quite a few places that now carry at least some of my books, some of the many great and fantastic independent bookstores in Iowa and the Midwest.
These are the bookstores you’ll find at least some of my work3:
- Bent Oak Books, 619 7th St. Fort Madison.
- Burlington By The Book, 301 Jefferson St, Burlington.
- The Corner and More, 703 Main St., Mediapolis.
- Green Point Mercantile, 217 E. 2nd St., Muscatine.
- The Brewed Book, 1524 Harrison St., Davenport.
- The Black Rose, 116 W. Main St., West Branch
- Beaverdale Books, 2629 Beaver Ave. # S1, Des Moines.
- Pella Books, 824 Franklin St, Pella.
- The Atlas Collective, 1801 5th Ave, Moline, Illinois.
I’m always looking for some new places to place my books, so feel free to hit me up in the comments if you have a suggestion.
For those who are budget conscious among all of you, my books are part of the collections of the Fort Madison, Burlington, and eventually at the Musser (Muscatine) public libraries.
My poetry book The Flow and the Journey is available at Bent Oak, Green Point, Burlington By the Book, and The Corner and More, but it is also available online but not on Amazon. See below.
Final Thoughts:
Take care and see you around, everyone.
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While I do appreciate you following this blog, I really would like you to subscribe to my Substack page. By subscribing to that page, you’ll not only be receiving my Substack newsletter, The Writing Life With Jason Liegois (the companion blog to this one), but you’ll also be signing up for my email list. Just click the button below.
- This does mean Sonny Turner was born 4 July 1976. And yes, there’s a thematic reason for this; you’re welcome. ↩︎
- For subsequent updates, I may not discuss other what I might call “inactive” projects every month. So, news on these projects might be more few and far between. ↩︎
- All Iowa locations unless otherwise noted. ↩︎