Happy New Year, Modern Philosophers!
I have no idea what 2022 will bring for the blog. I have the impression that blogs are slowly going extinct, but I will do my best to keep this one up and running in some form.
After all, where else on the internet can you hang out in a toga and share your Deep Thoughts with like minded individuals?
I decided to kick off 2022 with a run, and I’m excited to report I saw something I’d never before seen in all my years living in Maine.
There was a Coast Guard cutter out on the Penobscot River, breaking through the ice.
It was pretty awesome for the Coast Guard to come out and support me on my very first run of the year, and it was cool to watch the cutter do its job. Over time, people gathered along the route to take photos of what was happening. I’d like to think they were there to see me, but I’m pretty sure they were there to admire the Coast Guard.
Of course, this Modern Philosopher couldn’t help but wonder if this event was a metaphor for the coming year. I am a true believer in signs, so were the Fates telling me that I needed to find a way to smash through the ice that was slowing down my progress, and force my way upstream?
I’m not one for making New Year’s Resolutions, but I did set one major goal for myself in 2022:
I am going to query book agents with the intention of turning the Detective Bruno Serials into a series of novels.
Writing the Detective Bruno Serials for the blog was definitely my writing highlight of the year. If you haven’t yet read The Vanishing Corpse or The Vanishing Santa, I highly recommend them.
My head is swimming with ideas for the next Detective Bruno adventure, and I’d like for that story to take place in novel form. I’ve never been good (or comfortable) at selling myself to agents, but I truly love writing for these characters, and believe there is a larger audience for them.
Thankfully, I also have the help of a friend who has encouraged me to make this leap, and has been helping me research the querying process.
Sure, I’d love to accomplish so much more in 2022, but I’m going to start the year by setting one goal and focusing on turning that into a reality.
Thanks to everyone who takes time out of their day to read my silly stories. May 2022 be amazing and a vast improvement over the year that just ended!
What goals have you set for the New Year? Does anyone have any tips about querying agents?
The Return of the Modern Philosopher 
HAPPY NEW YEAR. NONE OF US KNOWS WHAT THIS ONE WILL BRING, BUT HERE’S HOPING IT WIL BE BETTER THAN THE LAST.
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year, Austin!
I am so excited for you to start the querying process, and to watch your goal become a reality. We’ll be celebrating your book release, soon!
Oh, my goodness! Running on New Year’s Eve in the snow – you are awesome, Austin! As for the stories, I must admit, I have not been reading them. My brain is mush these days! HOWEVER, I consider myself to be an average person, and your style of writing is incredibly readable. Forge ahead with this resolution; you may surprise yourself.
Thank you, Glenda. Happy New Year! If you get a chance to read the serials, I’d love to know what you think. 🙂
Will do, mister.
Thank you, Glenda!
I’ve been reading the Santa one. I haven’t finished them all yet, but I will. Love it.
I’m glad you’re enjoying it. I hope everything makes sense since so much about these characters was introduced in the first serial… 🙂
maybe I need to backtrack? Hardest part for me is I get horrid headaches when reading online so have to do it in small chunks lol.
Well The Vanishing Corpse introduces all the characters, so you might not understand some of the references if you read The Vanishing Santa first. 🙂
I’m so glad to read you are taking action with your writing, and look forward to your next chapter.
Thank you, Beth. I just finished the first draft of my query letter. This really isn’t my strength, but I’m going to do my best!
And why not?)
I have faith in your writing finding widespread success, Austin. Chip and Walter should be the ones, paving the way for Aaron and Holly and the folks at the diner, too. I see your novels having their own space in the fiction section in the library where I work, in fact. Happy 2022!
Thank you, Mark. That’s an incredibly kind thing to say. I just wish I had a better handle on this querying process because I hate the idea of trying to beg someone to read my writing and then represent me.
Also, Bruno is going to let you slide on calling him Chip because you said such nice things with your other word choices. 🙂
Here’s wishing you a Happy New Year and the best of luck on finding an agent! My fingers are crossed for you!
Thanks, Lisa. Thanks for your input on my query letter! 🙂
You’re welcome!
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