James M. Vargo Books

  I’ve said it before, I dislike the Year in Review. One of those seemingly unnecessary capsulations by our devoted news channels of events that just happened. Really, it just happened. Let’s hold off the review for a couple more years. Rant over. So, what’s the deal with this hypocritical entry: 2020 – the year in review? Strangely, this is the first time in memory I recall no Year in Review reports on the airwaves. I must have missed them. Maybe it’s my reluctance to turn on the news and face another day of chaos; but even so, I heard no mention of it. Perhaps even the news networks tired of the endless oddity we called “2020”. And what a year it was. Lives of families were altered, from the inconvenienced to the outright torn apart. For those of us blessed to keep some semblance of normalcy, where daily worries consisted of how well my mask is positioned on my face, we have right to be grateful. Many had it much worse. My Year in Review isn’t much of a review, but a commenta...

I recall JRR Tolkien in his biography spelling out the lapsed time between his writings. How he changed 'his country, his house, and his chair' over time, to paraphrase. He seemed as dreadfully a slow writer as I am. Now as I look shamefully at the lapse of time between my own entries, I realized he wasn't alone in change. But this is a book blog, and I have every intention of carrying on what I started many years ago - longer than many of you imagine - and my growing list of Outcasts can carry on with their adventures. So in this busyness of my own doing - happily may I add - a place is setting itself for new surroundings...and  that new chair, among other things. At the right time will come time to begin again (actually, it's book five that needs restarted and hardly a beginning at all). So bear with me a little longer and let's get back to the business of storytelling. the latest chapter....

In an attempt at the world's worst salesmanship, I've made nary an attempt to sell the Lords of Winterfell , let alone market my fourth installment to the Outcast Alliance series. It's what I do (or don't do -- depending on your perspective). In case you think I've slacked, you're wrong...ok, you are once again right, but I have written some stuff. Drum roll,  please... Book Five is at 11k, which only sounds impressive to non-writers. But it's good enough to put me a couple chapters in; I think I'm somewhere into three and four. My wonderful writing software (Scrivener) makes it easier to sort and script simultaneous chapters at once. Will I write faster now? Probably not. But it's a goal. Now the big question: do I have a title? Not at all. Not even a working one. I have a loose outline to follow and a decent idea where this one ends, and yes, then book six begins. My word, six? How many more can we take? Seven. The loose answer is seven book...

What does the average author do after completing and publishing a book? Well, sit on it for two months, of course. Okay, that's not the norm, but that's exactly what happened here. No parties, no banners, or parades...nothing. Well, what did I do? If you read my previous posts you will understand I am a man of my word. Once the Lords of Wintertide got published I was going to redo some things with the first three books -- slight cover changes, minor editing, and formatting nuances. Now they're all perfect! Or, as perfect as they are going to be in this lifetime. So all four books of the Outcast Alliance Series are out and polished, ready for your scrutiny in paperback or Kindle. I'll even pop the Amazon Author Page link right here, and we're off and running (with book five somewhere down the line)...Enjoy! https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B004OOJYJQ

Winter Castle A much-awaited update : The timeline for getting book four done before the new year is on track. One edit is finished. The second edit is also complete thanks to some very helpful writing software (Grammarly, if you're curious). Now comes the final edit, and I am currently several chapters in....give or take a few pages. Needless to say, I am happy how everything is coming along; and more importantly, how the story is progressing. Now a bigger announcement: I've changed the name. I have my reasons, but I wanted something a bit more accessible and curious. Drum roll please -- The Lords of Wintertide . So now the fourth installment of the Outcast Alliance series is coming close to fruition. I even have the cover ready to go so it will be an easy transition. Ok, so now I have some writing software to push me along -- the previously noted Grammarly and organizer extraordinaire, Scrivener. These will certainly help me in the future. But what about...

That homey feel... I finally have something to say. Despite my best efforts at procrastination, I have a book. Book Four, to be exact. I am sticking with the Lords of Nordhiem (tentatively) as the title, as the Outcast Alliance series continues. Now before you run out the door in heated excitement, there's bad news. It's not quite done yet. Please, put down the mouse and iPhone; click off that Amazon site and back away from the computer. I've editing to do. I have apprehensions of even telling you I am finished, because editing is still a laborious event for me --  but oh so necessary if you want something remotely readable! (and yes, I do define my books as remotely readable) But that is where the magic happens -- sometimes literally -- and the story goes from readable to even enjoyable.  So keep your eyes and ears open for more updates, and let's get this done in 2017! Thank you for waiting...and God Bless Texas!!! (hit the road, Harvey)  ...

Nothing harder than writing fiction when real life presses upon you. It's not always bad stuff -- sometimes it's good. In this case, a much needed vacation. Before this the pages were flying along; at least for me. I am quickly nearing the 300 page mark and the end book four. So there it is: the Lords of Nordhiem  update! Now some perspective. My current dilema this time is something I call, the soft ending. You know; the Han Solo being carried off frozen in carbonite type thing. The build-up comes, but not the final part (of many final parts). The Lords of Nordhiem is a bridge book, linking a major transition to the final stroke of war and the enemy, and their opposition. but the break is necessary to carry us into the next phase. Things are getting deep. I hope to resume the writing after my trip and have it finished in a few months. Then comes the final edit; but some of that is already done. I may actually have someone else look at it this time for a better edit. We ...