(To listen to the audio of this blog post, use the purple play button.) Chicken Thief Flew the Coop By Jim Potter Click to enlarge image One-cent postcard sent to Sheriff at Wellington, KS, postmarked April 1, 1908, from Winfield, KS. My WANTED postcard offers a reward of $25 for the arrest of John Hawkins. He escaped from the Cowley County, Kansas, jail in Winfield the night of March 31, 1908. Hawkins, who had many aliases, was one of three men who had been convicted of … [Read more...] about Broke Jail – John Hawkins – $25 Reward
J. Alex Potter
Book Reviews: If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.
(To listen to the audio of this blog post, use the purple play button.) Book Reviews: If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. I’ll never be hired to write professional book reviews. I only review books I enjoy. My mantra is this: If I can’t say anything nice, I won’t say anything at all. Most published authors crave book reviews, not just for their ego, but because they believe that more book reviews will lead to more sales. Amazon.com is always advising authors to … [Read more...] about Book Reviews: If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.
Gratitude
(To listen to the audio of this blog post, use the purple play button.) Gratitude Now that we’ve published K-9 Kudzu: Observations of a Working Dog Who Loves to Play and we've had our first book signing with steady sales, I want to thank everyone who has helped me. Some of you are mentioned on the acknowledgement page of K-9 Kudzu and others are promoted on my blog posts, but you’re all important. Thank you! I’ve often said that only a published author knows what it feels like to … [Read more...] about Gratitude
The Ballad of K-9 Kudzu
(To listen to the audio of this blog post, use the purple play button.) The Ballad of K-9 Kudzu Art Hughes, a friend of mine, recommended I use videos to help promote my children's book, K-9 Kudzu: Observations of a Working Dog Who Loves to Play. He also suggested using OpenShot Video Editor to create the videos. So, I wrote a song titled The Ballad of K-9 Kudzu. Here it is: The Ballad of K-9 Kudzu Lyrics by Jim Potter Chorus: K-9, K-9 Kudzu, a working dog who loves to … [Read more...] about The Ballad of K-9 Kudzu
Publishing My Children’s Book in Six Months: Printed and Published
(To listen to the audio of this blog post, use the purple play button.) Printed and Published We picked up 250 copies of K-9 Kudzu: Observations of a Working Dog Who Loves to Play on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at POD Print in Wichita. The long wait was over. K-9 Kudzu is printed and published. For the special event, we wore our colorful, promotional, K-9 Kudzu T-shirts. Examining the boxes of books was a joy Alex and I will always remember, but we asked John Kush to take our photo to … [Read more...] about Publishing My Children’s Book in Six Months: Printed and Published
Publishing My Children’s Book in Six Months: Sales Technology
(To listen to the audio of this blog post, use the purple play button.) Sales Technology When it comes to technology, I might as well be Amish. I’ve never used an ATM machine, owned a debit card, or scanned a QR code. Like the Amish, I’m not against technology, I’m just slow to adapt to it. People change for a reason. Sometimes circumstances require it. Fifteen years ago, I purchased my first smart phone when I realized I was supervising younger people who used the technology to … [Read more...] about Publishing My Children’s Book in Six Months: Sales Technology
Publishing My Children’s Book in Six Months: Final Proof Approved
(To listen to the audio of this blog post, use the purple play button.) Final Proof Approved Finally! We’ve approved Proof #2 of K-9 Kudzu: Observations of a Working Dog Who Loves to Play. Now, the children’s book is in line for printing at POD Print. We’re hoping to have copies in hand within two weeks. Creating this book has been like a five-act play. If Act 1 was writing the book, and Act 2 was editing the book, then Act 3 was the process of developing the color illustrations with … [Read more...] about Publishing My Children’s Book in Six Months: Final Proof Approved
Publishing My Children’s Book in Six Months: Collaboration
(To listen to the audio of this blog post, use the purple play button.) Collaboration Copyright 2023 © by Jim Potter I call myself a cave dweller. My computer cave room is where I, alone, write blogs and books. But, at some point, I do collaborate. While writing my books, I read my new chapters to Alex—my wife—and she regularly encourages me and improves my work. Currently, I’m collaborating with Gina Laiso, Integrita Productions, as she creates colorful illustrations for my first … [Read more...] about Publishing My Children’s Book in Six Months: Collaboration
Publishing My Children’s Book in Six Months: Author Talk
(To listen to the audio of this blog, use the purple play button.) Author Talk Copyright 2023 © by Jim Potter When a friend invited me to be a speaker at an upcoming AMBUCS (American Business Clubs) meeting, he suggested I talk about my law enforcement career. I preferred to talk about my writing. We agreed that I’d discuss my transition from being a deputy sheriff to a published author and how writing offense reports was instrumental in my literary … [Read more...] about Publishing My Children’s Book in Six Months: Author Talk
Publishing My Children’s Book in Six Months: Reevaluating Schedule
(To listen to the audio of this blog post, use the purple play button.) Reevaluating Schedule Copyright 2023 © by Jim Potter Hello Gina, It's time for me to admit to you that I need a change of schedule on publishing Kudzus' Guide to Law Enforcement. I apologize to you for asking you to fit my book into your busy work schedule and then delaying sending you a final draft so you can begin blocking, etc. I'm working hard at it but when I reread it, I … [Read more...] about Publishing My Children’s Book in Six Months: Reevaluating Schedule
