Benton's Books

My new western fiction site is up and running.  I you have a chance and like western fiction, pay me a visit by clicking here.  This is my official writing site, so you'll see some of my western novels, as well as some of my other work.   I write a wide variety of things and I have had both fiction and non-fiction published.

People often asked my what the hardest part of being a writer is and I have to laugh.  I suspect, perhaps, the hardest part is breaking into the business.  That first book is a real bear to get a publisher to even consider, muchless look at.  I have found, after four published books, that having a history of published books DOES make a big difference when it comes to publishers considering your work.  It took me over a year to find a publisher WILLING to consider my first book, but only a day to find a publisher for my last book..."Missouri in Flames, I Rode with Jesse james."  Granted, it was the same publisher that will print "Death on the Mountain", but if you think getting published is easy....try it.  I can offer one serious word of advice to a new writer, NEVER GIVE UP!  Keep at it and write each and every day.

Then once you have a publisher the diffificult part comes...editing and proofing your work.  Also, if you're a small time writer you'll usually have to assist in the cover design, but for me (I am a professional graphics man) that is not super difficult, but the image sizing can be a real pain depending on the size of your book cover.  If you run into problems most publishers have a cover artist they can contact.  Additionally, I've got some free art for my newest novels by promising to send the artist an autographed copy of my books.  I also thank each artist in the book, mention their web site, copyright the artwork, and give them some publicity when I am printed.

Well, my spellin' and typin' ain't goin' good tonight, so I'll call it a night and hit the hay.  If you write, continue to write.  If you want to get published, keep contacting those publishers and take what they tell you to heart.  Often, a manuscript is sent in without proofing or checking and it looks poor to the publisher.   Keep in mind, the better your submission is, well, the less work the publisher will have to do and the more likely you work (if it's good stuff) is to be accepted.  Even a rejection can tell you a great deal about what you need to polish up.

Take care, stay safe, and keep a pen in hand,

W.R. Benton

Missouri in Flames now has a publisher, Saga Books, has agreed to print the book!  We expect the contract any day now in the mail and I am excited about this book being published.

The Missouri Ozarks is home for me, so writing about the places comes easy for me, since I know the area.  My Great-Grandma knew the James boys, so that was fairly easy to write as well, except for the research and that was time consuming.

I am not sure what his book will cost, the number of pages, or anything right now.  Once the editiors have bled red ink all over it, I have a better idea.

Not much going on except I am writing a couple of other books, only they are still being done from the get go.  One is a survival (action) novel and the other is about Vietnam, neither is going very quickly, though both are good reads.  I think an author has certain subjects or characters he or she like more than others, which will often make the book easier to write.  I think both of these books are good, but ....perhaps not two of my better books. Then again, I'm kind of partial to mountain man books and neither of these are westerns.  That alone makes them harder for me to write.

I was thinking today, it won't be but a couple of more months and it will be Christmas again.  Seems like it's one continuous Holiday, one right after another, when October rolls around.  I wonder if the old timers, those folks back in the 1800 thought as much about Holidays as we do?  I suspect as a society they were more concerned about staying alive, than what little Jimmy wanted in his stocking.  I would imagine since times were rough the touchy feeling society we have become would have been laughed at back then for being too soft.  Oh, I'm as soft as the next guy, but at times I think we give our kids too much and they may not be the better for all of our giving.  I mean, what was wrong with the way you and I grew up?  Most of us didn't have all we wanted and yet, well, we grew up to be good people. I'm not sure our wanting to always give our kids more is for sure better, for them or us. 

As you can see, I rambling now, so time for me to move on.  Any time I get on my soap box and start talking about trash and not making much sense is a good time for me to shut up....LOL.  I'm not even sure where the comment about the kids came from, except my daughter wants a new MP-3 player, and back when I was a kid 8 track stereo was the latest thing.  Yep, I'm behind the times and a classic, but still, I often daydream of the past and wonder if we would have faced the future with our big smiles if we'd known what was to come.   I imagine most of us would have, because we believe in the future, but I can tell you right now, the principal at my high school graduation was full of it.

Take care and stay safe,