Dancing on Thin Glass

Finally! The first draft of my book, "Dancing on Thin Glass" is available on my website. It is a chronicle of my life's experiences. It has some juicy parts and some boring parts. I am already at work on the second draft. I just hope it doesn't take another year. Enjoy, and as always, I appreciate feedback.

www.terrydec.com

terrydec wrote:....... I appreciate feedback.........

An interesting read Terry.  I always thought you should write a book after reading about some of the random adventures/experiences you've had.

Some suggestions (from a non-writer).  You drop a lot of names like Stephen Stills, Ritchie Heavens, Peter Tork,etc., but you don't put any flesh on them.  What kind of people were they, kind, funny, butt heads....?  I'd like to see you expound on some of the experiences you had with them.  I read Ron Woods book a couple of years ago and it was very cool the way he described his friends (Hendrix,etc...).  

I also got turned off a little by all of the gratuitous sex; I realize a lot of it was a part of your story, but some of it didn't really help.

Shawn seems to get lost somewhere in chapter 49.... he's there in the beginning, but what happens to him after your accident?

You also mention a Carlton Guynasek (a world renowned anthropologist) and the child (that you met) that he put in school.  Unfortunately you don't go into any detail about the boy or how the experiment was doing.  I also could not find any references to Carlton Guynasek.

Finally, from a pure personal perspective was your account of the Kaleidoscope.  I know that one of my favorite bands, Canned Heat, played there and I was hoping for a story or two about them.

But hey, it was an entertaining read and I look forward to checking out some of your other writings when I have time.

Take care,

John

Wow! Thanks. This is the type of feedback I need. I have copied this message to show my editor.

The day that the book was finished, vetted and corrected, and posted, I started work on the second draft. Go figure. This new draft addresses some of these suggestions, including backing off on the sex stuff. I will take all these suggestions into account. Thanks again.
Terry

Okay-
Yeah, the sex thing has been iffy from the beginning. That's why I didn't get more explicit. I am taking out some that I do consider gratuitous. My editor thinks it makes the manuscript 'titillating'. A good selling point.

It took forever, but I did find a reference to Guynashek. Although that might not be the correct spelling. He was a respected anthropologist in the 4o's and 50's.

Yeah, the new draft goes into much more detail.

I have been taking a break from writing, but I just finished a brand new Larry Digger story As soon as my editor vets the grammar and punctuation I'll post it. Now I can get back to work on the book.

My editor is taking a week in New Your to write. Sure wish I could do that.

Thanks again for the critique. Now I just need that kind of response to the stories. So far everybody just says they are good. Nobody has made any comments about them.

Thanks for the 'gratuitous sex' comment. I got 23 hits from this site afterward.

More details, background and explanations-- The second, and hopefully final, manuscript is almost ready. There is a lot more in this story.  There's less gratuitous sex, (aw, boo), and what sex there is has been moderated for a less mature audience.
I've tried to give more information about the people I knew.
Amazon Kindle Self Publishing is waiting for my manuscript, and getting on my case.  The whole manuscript still needs to be proof read, and I need to decide what price to sell it for.  It's actually really exciting.

As a test I have published a preview, (unfinished), copy of my book, "Dancing on Thin Glass" on Amazon. It should be available for purchase in a couple of days. The cost is $2.99.
When I publish the final copy I am throwing one hell of a party. Thanks for everyone's support.