The Other Side of the Hayfields by R. T. Douglass

2/25/2024

The John Bailey Saga (Book 1)

Multivolume, multi-genre author, John Bailey introduces us to the first volume in the John Bailey Saga, “The Other Side of the Hayfields”:
As the clouds of the civil war rise, a young man becomes entangled in a slave dispute and struggles to find the path to justice.

John Bailey lives on a humble Virginia farm. He discovers the world around him with his younger brother Benjamin and his best friend Danny, who lives at the plantation across the fields. As the years roll on, Mr. Kraus tutors them at the plantation home, but as John grows older, he grapples to understand the greed and prejudice among some of the ruling class, including his best friend.

Questions run deep in his heart as he sees his family farm struggle. Dismay haunts him as plantation owners use slaves to bask in their wealth. John also wrestles with a deepening attachment to Sarah, who lives on the plantation. It’s a secret friendship – she’s a slave. But how can he tell her he must leave the farm? He seeks to build his own life.

Then one brutal night, just before John is to leave, he is confronted by the horrors of slavery and must make a choice: Live with the moral consequences of standing silent in a world where the lines of right and wrong are becoming increasingly blurred or choose the dangerous and deadly road to justice. Ill-prepared for the consequences, John flees with Sarah and her brother Josiah to navigate the treacherous waters of a divided society. Will the common man help them? Will John be able to uncover the mysterious underground railroad? Can he survive the wrath of slave owners and bounty hunters as he holds dear to his dreams, and those he loves?

The Other Side of the Hayfields is a gripping historical novel that explores the moral dilemmas of a young man facing poverty, war, and social injustice while a nation is torn apart with the clouds of civil war rising on the horizon.

This is a wonderful story, examining the immediate world of a teenage boy on the cusp of manhood in the mid-1800s and how circumstances force many changes on him and those around him.
I love the story and the writing. The author varies the pace from a casual stroll to a frenetic race against time and enemies. I also love how the author weaves local and faraway historical events to move the story on its path.
Very good story, I look forward to more. 4.8 stars from me.

You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Other-Side-Hayfields-John-Bailey-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/-the-other-side-of-the-hayfields

You can follow the author:
https://www.rtdouglass.com
https://www.twitter.com/rtdouglassLit
https://www.facebook.com/rtdouglassAuthor
https://www.instagram.com/rtdouglass.author
https://www.threads.com/rtdouglass.author

American historical fiction, United States, suspense, action, underground railroad, slavery, North, South, Civil War

Copyright © 2024 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction

51 Comments

Robert Douglass link

2/26/2024 09:37:07 am

Thanks for the wonderful review!
I wanted to place the audience in the quiet settings of the farmland, only to be challenged by the chaos of the cities. It's a story that burst with possibilities. The people, the places, and scenes filled with a historical backdrop to match the times.

Mike

2/29/2024 02:00:29 pm

What type of research did he do for this book, if any?

2/29/2024 03:04:04 pm

Hi Mike,

What a great question!

I put a lot of research into the novel. I enjoy learning about the times and since I’m planning on a series; I thought the extra I put in the history would be beneficial. From the hills of Kentucky, to the trains, ships and steamboats, lots or research to give a warm feel for the time. The cities also, portrayed accurately to the times, hopefully placing the audience in the middle of the scenes. There’s some famous people who were part of the story and I’ll let the audience discover them in the pages. There’s also a barber shop scene. The barbers and their shops were a critical part of the underground railroad and have a distinguished honor in history.

Listed below may be a bit much, but here’s the reference list if interested.
Reference Material
Finseth, I., 2007, The Underground Railroad, Dover Publications
Buckman, D., 1907, Old Steamboat Days on the Hudson, Grafton Press
Wyld, L., 1962, Low Bridge! Folklore and the Erie Canal, Syracuse University Press
Abbott, J., 1987, Marco Paul’s Travels on the Erie Canal, Heart of the Lakes Publishing
Foner, E., 2015, Gateway to Freedom, W. W. Norton & Company
Vandewater, R., 1835, The Tourist, Harper & Brothers
Franklin, J., Schweninger, L., 1999, Runaway Slaves, Oxford University Press
Burgess, R., Wood, H., 1968, Steamboats Out of Baltimore, Tidewater Publishers
Nevins, A., Steele, H., 1942, A Pocket History of the United States, Little, Brown & Company
Catton, B., 1955, This Hallowed Ground, Doubleday & Company
Foote, S., 1958, The Civil War: A Narrative – Fort Sumter to Perrysville, Random House
Many, many websites. A few I wanted to mention.
Thanks to www.wikipedia.org for the many articles.
A special thanks to www.friendsofalbanyhistory.wordpress.com for their tremendous website and ‘chatting’ with me to better understand the barbers, their shops and their significance in history.
A special thanks to Doug Grant for his amazing website about the city of Brockville in Ontario, Canada. www.brockvillehistoryhandbook.wordpress.com

Mark

2/29/2024 03:14:48 pm

That is a great question! Thanks for asking it.

2/26/2024 12:14:42 pm

You're welcome.

I love how you planned that out. I grew up on a small farm in a small town. After high school I moved to San Francisco. I understand well the overwhelming chaos you were presenting.

First question.

Please, tell us more about yourself. Perhaps something a little bit beyond your bio.

2/26/2024 01:53:24 pm

I live in a small town in Ohio. Main street is lined with brick buildings and the community is surrounded by cornfields.
Apparently, there's a bit of gypsy in my soul. I've lived in many areas of the United States. I grew up on the east coast, have lived in Iowa, Kansas, Texas, Arizona, Colorodo, amoung others. Lots of road trips in these areas.

Here's an old road trip from many years ago:
Late Seventies, east coast, Wet Willie (his name is Bill, but nic-names ruled) wanted to go to a Rolling Stones concert. We got tickets and drove a couple hours to Philly in his green Ford Pinto. We were barely old enough to drive but showed up for the tailgate party, a day before the event, with a cooler of beer. We didn't think of anything logical, like food or water, just beer. We didn't care - it was Friday night, at least a thousand people having a party in front of the big stadium, were the Eagles still play today.

At four in the morning, some fool started screaming they were about to open the gates. Everyone grabbed their stuff and soon all of us were getting crushed at the front gates. The pressue was getting serious until I noticed I was looking at someone's belt. I was getting pushed into the Incredible Hulk. Yeah, his belt was almost at my eye level. I tapped on his massive back and he turned and growled at me. I told him if he told people to move back, they would listen. He grunted and then with true Hulk voice made the proclamation: MOVE BACK! The crowd dispersed.

When the gates finally opened at ten in the morning, the rushing crowd caused the same problem. The pressure became so intense I was getting pushed up, my feet not on the ground any longer, trying to hang on to the cooler still loaded with beer. Suddenly, I heard "hey, little buddy" and the Hulk lifted me with my cooler on his shoulder. I stayed on his shoulder until I passed my ticket down to the guy at the gates and then entered the stadium. I found Wet Willie and we found seats for the Rolling Stones - Some Girls tour. Tall tale - but every word true!

2/26/2024 05:17:18 pm

Great story! I used to have a dark blue Ford Pinto many solar cycles ago. What an awesome experience!

New questions.

Are you a full-time or part-time writer?

What kind of work do you do if you are a part-time writer? Feel free to skip that question, if you would rather not answer.

2/26/2024 06:47:03 pm

The covid shockwave of '20 suddenly gave me plenty of time. I started writing full time, something I had always wanted to do. I loved it.

The learning curve was steep - jiminy crickets! Could I ever make it as a writer? All the learning made sense, but applying it to build an entertaining novel was like wrestling the greased pig at the county fair.

One day, I saw the growth in my life and that was all the wind in the sail that I needed. I didn't need a compass. I could read the stars and I've been sailing (and still studying the art of writing) ever since. Full-time writer is the new gig.

2/26/2024 08:38:56 pm

You are the envy of so many writers! They want to write fulltime also.

You are correct, learning to write well has a steep learning curve. There is always room for improvement. To that end, I have a variety of guest blogs elsewhere on my website dealing with different aspects of writing. Some of those might be useful for you. I also have a long list of blog links covering many perspectives on writing and the business of writing.

Make no mistake about the business of writing. It is a business in every sense of the word, especially if you are a self-publishing writer. Even if you are traditionally published writer, you are responsible for every jot and tittle on the contract you signed giving the publisher license to publish your book. And you are also most likely responsible for the lion's share of marketing and promoting your book. That is why you are here, on the Word Refiner channel, of course. We will talk more about some of that this week.

New questions.

What is your favorite genre to read for pleasure?

Has writing changed the pleasure of reading for you?

2/27/2024 11:38:13 am

Novels are a ton of fun to read. I enjoy the many writing styles. From the Godfather to Where the Crawdads Sing, the stories are fascinating.

"Kristin Harmel is my newest love. I'm finishing The Room on Rue Amelie. I love her style and how she presents the story. She has a unique way to paint the picture and capture the heart."

The pleasure of reading has increased. So many ways to present a story. It captures me. How did they fill me with emotion?

2/27/2024 11:44:48 am

There are so many books to read. I remember being in the sixth grade and visiting the public library in the small town, population of 1,365, we had just moved into. I was awed by all of the books. I wanted to read them all. That dream has never been realized, of course.

Good writing does a lot for a topic that may not be as interesting as some other.

New questions.

Why do you write?

How has writing changed your life?

2/27/2024 01:27:43 pm

Years ago, in Arizona, my wife and I shared a house with a wonderful woman, Deanna, and her ten-year-old boy, Tyler. One day, I told Tyler a story about growing up in the north.

“In the summer, we had followed a path through the woods until we reached a wide opening, carved out so the electric company could install the long path of power lines. The power lines went up and over a hill, but erosion on one side made for a very steep decline. That very steep decline, we decided, would become the new sledding hill for the winter.
All of us “borrowed” tools from our dad’s workshop. And yes, we got in lots of trouble when they were missing and damaged! We plotted and planned and determined making a bob-sled path down the steepest part made the most logic. After all, Junior High kids were very intelligent. This continued for days as we made the track smooth and built a secure edge on both sides to keep the sled on course. Towards the end of building this super structure bob-sled course, one of us mentioned a ramp halfway down might be a nice addition. We congregated, worked the details and soon had built a solid ramp, all made from soil. It was five feet long and only a foot tall. What could go wrong? A little air—to have some fun.”

The winter arrived and finally … a heavy blanket of snow. School was canceled and all of us marched out to the hill with our sleds. Now the bob-sled course looked intimidating and a debate arouse on who would go first. I was confident. I volunteered. I was five-foot-three, well under one hundred pounds. I had a Flexible Flyer sled built just after the great war. The sled was five feet long, weighed almost as much as me, a solid tank of divine craftsmanship.
I stretched out on the sled, grabbed the handles at the front and carefully creep over the top of the course. The sled slowly tilted over the incline as if I could control slow motion. It tilted and the first ten feet were straight down from the erosion. Speed accelerated quickly, but I was on the track and heading straight toward the ramp. I lifted off the ramp and was feeling good. I hit it straight on course and my weight was even and balanced on the sled, but I caught air like those dudes in the Olympics! I was only five to ten feet in the air, but I was flying and I could see I was veering off course. I had air; I had time, so I leaned on the sled, hoping to sail me back on the bob-sled course. A noble idea, but I finally landed towards the bottom of the hill, off course, now running through bramble bushes until I hit a small tree the electric company hadn’t cut down yet. The sled stopped. I went flying again. I finally got on my feet. My winter jacket shredded by the brambles, scratches on my face, but I was all smiles. I dragged the sled to the top of the hill to encourage the others, but I had sailed so far, no one else had the courage, or good sense, to try the hill. I would hold the distinction of such bravery. The only run.”

Tyler loved the story. He said, “You have the best stories. You should be a writer.” I had heard the comment from other people, but this time it was special. It sparked something in my heart, and I decided one day I would become a writer.

Has writing changed my life? Yeah, I’m chasing dreams (with wisdom–I had to wait until I had enough time and savings) like a kid again–building bigger and better sled runs.

2/27/2024 04:51:43 pm

What a great story!

Growing up on a small, non-working farm, we had hills aplenty. One hill in particular we called dead man's hill. It was very steep and littered with large boulders and many saplings. If you made it to the bottom there was only about 25 feet before you were greeted by the barb wire fence. I am proud to say we didn't lose anyone.

New question.

Does your work, past or present, have any influence on your writing?

2/27/2024 07:35:50 pm

I've met many people at work, but most were really great people - nothing much to add to a novel! Perhaps why novels are so desired! Take me from the everyday and let me peek into an unknown world!

2/27/2024 08:56:12 pm

Okay. Some people find lots of inspiration or people with character traits that they borrow for their novels. Others are not so lucky.

New question.

Have you ever seen a ghost or had some other type of supernatural experience?

2/28/2024 09:03:26 am

Halloween parties in the big barn. Haunted corn maze. Hordes of kids traveling through town carrying on the trick or treat tradition. I'm afraid to say that's the only scary, supernatural experience.

2/28/2024 11:25:26 am

Very good. Scary and a good time. The best kind.

New questions.

Who was the first person to inspire you to write?

What inspired you to write this book?

2/28/2024 01:07:13 pm

I really don't have a specific person who inspired me to write. I've always spent a lot of time reading, and since I can remember, I've always wanted to write.

I'm fascinated by the American Civil War. It is such a modern time compared to the colonial times and the American Revolutionary War. The new rifles were extremely lethal compared to the old ball and musket. Instant communication from great distance (the telegraph), the ability to move regiments fast, and at great distances (train) were all modern marvels. It was a new, fast-paced world, but filled with many problems. My goal on the John Bailey series is to take the audience back to that time, so they can live in it and feel the emotions of success and defeat.

2/28/2024 03:33:20 pm

I never thought about how new technology was so influential in that time. I recall studying Morse code as a boy scout and learning to key short messages.

You captured the era quite well and John's reactions made it obvious he was overwhelmed by the new-fangled gadgets.

New question.

Why did you choose this genre, or do you feel the genre chose you?

2/28/2024 05:35:48 pm

I definitely chose the genre. I like history, the research, and dropping a story in a time period.

2/28/2024 07:10:35 pm

That certainly makes sense. Hist-fic is my third favorite genre for reading. Right behind Science fiction and fantasy.

New question.

Have you ever seen a UFO or UAP, Unidentified Aerial Phenomena?

2/28/2024 09:36:00 pm

A long time ago, early 60s, before pilots had the technology on board to measure wind sheer, my family took a flight from NYC to Florida. I was the youngest of the boys, 4 or 5 years old.
The plane powered down the runway and lifted into the air. It kept rising for the next minute, but then a dramatic drop. People would have slammed into the ceiling, but fortunately, they were still buckled in their seats. I didn't understand, life was only fun and games for me, so I yelled out, "We're gonna crash!!!"
Everyone gasped, then went from white to pale white, but I still didn't understand and laughed like kids do. The adults started breathing again. The plane worked its way to proper altitude. The rest of the flight was less dramatic.
Aaahh, but you ask if I have ever seen a UFO? Sorry to disappoint, but no.

2/29/2024 09:30:28 am

That is a dramatic experience! Wind shear is scary and has caused more than one airplane to crash. I have never experienced that aerial anomaly either.

My dad owns a couple of planes and has flown planes all his life for the military and civil aviation. I have had several flying lessons but never accrued enough hours to get my pilot's license.

I don't recall ever seeing a UFO either, but my sisters swear we saw one as children. I have no memory of the event.

New question.

How many drafts did your book go through before publishing?

2/29/2024 12:23:35 pm

Sandra Haven Herner edited the first novel I wrote, The Little Town of Summerville: A Dog Named Chubby. It was a story of innocence, a story of life. Very hard to write but I welcomed the challenge. It had many glaring errors. I worked her notes, bought many books on writing and made changes, re-writing and adding sections. It’s published on Amazon.

Next, I started on the John Bailey series. The Other Side of the Hayfields is the first of the series. After much time in the writing books, I put together a well-balanced story filled with the challenges of life and what people will do, both good and bad, to reach their goals. I must have self-edited the manuscript forty times before I sent it to Sandra. She liked the story and listed items and areas I could improve the story. After making the updates, I sent the manuscript to Kathleen Costello for the copy-edit. Not only is Kathleen amazing with copy-edit, she had reviewed draft #1 of the story and provided me with tremendous insight to form the story. After completing her copy-edit suggestions, I published.

I’m still working the writing books with gusto as I put together the second novel of the John Bailey series. After the dramatic conclusion of the first story, John finally gets to chase his dreams and enter college, but the civil war breaks upon the land and ….

I hope to have the second John Bailey story completed by the end of the summer. It’s got unique insight and pace, trials and tribulation. The audience will love it.

2/29/2024 12:28:26 pm

A book with an entertaining and easy-to-read story is the result of a lot of hard writing. Something you know well know now.

Your team helped you to write a good book.

New questions.

Is there anything unconventional about your writing technique? Why is that?

Who designed the cover of your book? Feel free to drop a link if appropriate.

2/29/2024 01:17:13 pm

gooddesign at 99designs.com made the cover. They’re fantastic. For those who have read the novel, they’ll notice that’s a scene in the story. Gooddesign made a draft of the scene and then let me ask for adjustments and changes until I let them know they had captured it! Great people, highly recommended!

As far as anything unconventional in my writing technique, honestly, I don’t think so, at least not yet. I’m a dreamy kid, always been so, and that’s part of how I form stories. Perhaps in the future I’ll show aspects of writing that are unique or unconventional. That would be a fine feather in my cap!

2/29/2024 03:31:31 pm

I do like the cover and recall the tension-fraught scene quite well. I pondered the cover as to why the slaves were brought aboard the ship in a crate. I think it prevented them from jumping off the gangplank to escape in the river. My best guess.

There is nothing wrong with being dreamy especially if you can be paid for it. I love the saying attributed to Henry Ford, "If you want to find the easiest way to complete a task, give it to a lazy man." That is the gist of the quote if not exact.

You gave Mike a great answer about your research above in the interview.

New questions.

Was it hard to come up with the title?

What was the process?

2/29/2024 09:23:04 pm

I had a few titles in mind and most of them were short and catchy. As the story developed further, I realized the titles revealed too much and would take away from the suspense of the novel. I sent them all to the electronic trash bin.

At one point, working to build the drama in a scene, I asked myself, what does John really want to do with his life? I blurted out, “he wants to get to the other side of the hayfields.” I finished building the scene and was very happy with how it formed and came together. After reading it a few times, I circled back to the “Title” note on top of the first page and typed in: The Other Side of the Hayfields.

3/1/2024 09:25:49 am

I think you really nailed John's heart-felt desire with that title! He wanted to go out into the world and make his way.

I relate to that also. I grew up on a small farm, 35 acres, in a small town, less than 2,000 people. I didn't fit in the small-town culture by any stretch of the imagination.

New questions.

Were the character names difficult to develop?

How did you choose them?

3/1/2024 10:22:29 am

There’s a funny story in that question. I cleaned and polished the manuscript in my best effort to self-edit and sent it to Sandra, the editor. Sandra has been an editor her whole life, is well-versed in the many aspects, kind and soft-spoken. One of her comments was something like: dude? You’ve got to be kidding! Almost everyone’s name in this story starts with a “J.”

I was so close to things; it was the proverbial saying: I couldn’t see the forest from the trees? I couldn’t/wouldn’t change the main characters, John, Sarah and Josiah. But almost every other name that started with a “J” got changed! As I worked through the manuscript, following the rest of her editing guidance, I eventually figured out names and updated the text.

3/1/2024 12:08:18 pm

Great story! I love it. You certainly have a favorite letter.

Hist-fic authors in particular and other authors find names for the era they are writing in by consulting name lists. Many of the websites track the most popular names by decade and go back for hundreds of years. They pore through old tax records, church rosters and birth and death records.

My hat is off to Sandra.

New question.

What reality show, current or not, would you like to be on?

3/1/2024 03:05:49 pm

Yikes! I spend my days hiding behind a book or the screen of the computer. I don’t watch much TV, sometimes a little bit of sports. I’m trying to think of the different reality shows. My mom told me once when I was a kid, I wanted to be on the Bozo the Clown show. Does that work? Probably not, so maybe I’d choose American Pickers. At least then I could find out if they really find all that stuff, or if it’s all staged. And who knows, maybe I’d find something cool for the old workshop out back!

3/1/2024 05:09:46 pm

I think every child wanted to be on his show, I know I did.

American Pickers was a great show. My wife and I loved it. Were the fabulous finds staged? I would like to know also.

New question.

Have you written and published any short stories before writing your book?

3/2/2024 10:19:53 am

I wrote a short story back in ’21. It was a heartwarming tale. The Old Barn. A couple of kids out adventuring in the neighborhood meet a lonely, elderly man. It’s just under five thousand words so I could place it in a Writers Digest contest.

I’ve learned a lot about writing since I wrote the story. I haven’t looked at in years, but I just read it. It needs to be updated, but I love the concept and direction. I will re-write the piece and give it a new title. Perhaps I’ll even send it back to the Writers Digest writing contest!

3/2/2024 02:22:58 pm

It sounds like a good story and it will be better after the rewrite.

New questions.

How many books are you planning for the series?

Any side stories?

3/2/2024 06:00:38 pm

There’s a lot of room for this series. In the second novel (that I’m currently writing), the American Civil War begins. Maybe two to four novels just to cover the war. After that, if the series becomes popular, I can have John become a lawman. Plenty of room there for stories as well. So, hopefully I can bring it up to a series of five, but if the demand was there, more would be fun!

3/2/2024 07:07:16 pm

How wonderful to have so much to look forward to. That is a lot of writing.

New questions.

What do you think of the current controversy regarding AI?

Did you use AI in any of your writing or planning for your books?

3/2/2024 08:13:11 pm

I should probably be writing about the future instead of writing historical fiction. A lot of things are about to change. AI has just started, and it’s already very powerful. It can and will be used for great good but, if you’ve been tracking it, those coding at google have already proven how immensely corrupt it can become.

But AI is just the beginning. There’s a thing called quantum computing. It’s been theory for decades, but not anymore. It works. The hardware has been proven and there’s a company writing software. You can even buy stock of the software company on Nasdaq, Rigetti Computing. RGTI

To get an idea of how fast quantum performs, here’s an example. All encryption is a mathematical formula and all can be broken. It just takes time. Most programs written to break encryption take decades, but quantum will crack that encryption in seconds. Yes, that’s correct. It’s that fast. So the potential for AI combined with quantum is massive, both good and bad. It will change the world. Think about robotics, banking, education, national defense, etc. Many changes on the horizon.

3/3/2024 07:55:39 am

Artificial intelligence is still a misnomer in my mind. The computer is still only a computer, it can consume and sort through larger amounts of data, but it isn't thinking like a human does. There are many serious issues with the programming as reflected in the output. Human bias is impossible to remove.

Quantum computing is another Pandora's box. It is growing into practical usage very quickly as you point out. Nothing will be secure.

When those two streams merge all bets may be off by then.

I am going to take that as a no. You did not use AI in the writing of your book.

New questions.

Have you encountered a troll reviewing one of your books?

How did you handle it?

3/3/2024 12:59:07 pm

I’ve never had a troll out to demolish my work, but I had a very negative review of my first novel. I had teamed up with NetGalley for ARC readers and reviews. Of course, it was the first review I had received, and they gave me a one star. I was disappointed. I read the review over and over. The person was concerned about the dog. She didn’t like how I handled things, but she also gave away the entire story. A spoiler. NetGalley removed the review as spoilers are not allowed, among other things. Everyone else gave positive reviews!

‘The Other Side of the Hayfields’ has a dog in the story. I was very strategic to show the love for the animal. It’s not a “perfect” dog, but it’s the beloved family dog. The name Skippy, and all of his characteristics, come from actual events. He was my dad’s dog when he grew up in Texas many years ago!

3/3/2024 02:45:41 pm

You are lucky. More than one author has raised the ire of a troll or the troll had a vendetta against that author. It can turn into an ugly situation for the author. The best advice is to ignore the troll. Don't ever respond to troll's review regardless of the review. Sometimes the troll doesn't even bother to read the book and they tend to expose their ignorance in the review. Most people who read reviews recognize what is going on.

I had a book promotion client whose troll came onto the interview and started to disrupt our chat. I found a way to block her IP address and it was smooth sailing after that. That person was very angry at my client.

That is nice that Skippy will live forever in your book.

New question.

What was the first paying job you worked as a kid and how old were you?

3/3/2024 04:48:39 pm

My first paying gig was working in a greenhouse. It grew carnations for the flower shops. I would snap off the sprouts and suckers, so each stem had only one flower. The work was monotonous, to say the least, but the atmosphere was supercharged from all the extra oxygen from the plants. I did it during Junior High and always felt good after working a couple of hours after school.

3/3/2024 06:00:47 pm

That is an interesting job. I never thought about the oxygen effect of working in the greenhouse.

My first job was in agriculture also. Picking strawberries and beans for large farms in the neighboring town. I had to be at the bus stop at 4:30 in the morning. It was almost two miles downhill and seemed like 3 miles uphill going home. I could eat a lot of strawberries, but I didn't get paid for what I ate.

New questions.

Have you done any public speaking?

If so, will you be doing more in the future?

3/3/2024 07:20:01 pm

I’ve done many teachings over the years in a church setting, if that qualifies as public speaking. From short twenty-minute teachings to seminars that cover a broad topic, like a review of the Old Testament. It’s an easy crowd. They arrived to hear about the topic, so proper preparation from the teacher and everything runs smooth. I suppose I’ll get asked to present again, so more speaking in the future.

3/3/2024 08:28:54 pm

Very nice. I have done a little speaking in churches also, but not recently. My last speaking engagement was at a small writer's conference here in Florida. I talked about homophones and proofreading. When I know what I am speaking about the experience is rewarding.

New questions.

Have you entered any writing contests?

Have you won awards of any kind for your writing?

3/3/2024 09:17:49 pm

I placed a short story in the Writer’s Digest contest in the summer of ’21. The Old Barn. A couple of kids out adventuring in the neighborhood meet a lonely, elderly man. I enjoyed writing it. I will re-write the story and enter the contest again.

I’d like to write a short story every year and enter the contest. Life just gets busy. I’ll keep that as a goal and see what I can do.

3/4/2024 06:51:56 am

Short story contests are a good way to exercise your writing muscles. I have recommended to writers that short story writing contests, especially those that provide feedback from the judges, can help a writer improve their writing skills. I do have a warning, there are a lot of shady contests out there. Some want to extract as much as they can from your wallet, others want to steal your intellectual property. Here is a copy-and-paste link about those things: Beware Bogus Writing Contests! Look for These 8 Red Flags. https://annerallen.com/2019/05/beware-bogus-writing-contests. You can also use the search box below to find the link. There are other blogs I have links for on my Highly Regarded Blogs page.

New question.

Among present or past family members and friends how many are or have been writers or authors?

3/4/2024 01:05:49 pm

That's good information about writing short stories. About writing, I'm the only author in the family. However, mom loved to read.

3/4/2024 02:18:14 pm

My mother loved to read also; I think that's where I got my love of reading.

No authors in my family that I am aware of.

Last questions.

I noticed that your book is in Kindle Unlimited. How is that working out for you?

Why did you choose that exclusive venue?

3/4/2024 04:24:07 pm

When I published the book on Amazon, I wanted to get reviews, so I choose to add it to Kindle Unlimited. That was my hope. Big audience, no additional expense, lots of reviews. Up to this point, KU has been my least read. Paperback and Kindle reader have been the most popular. I can go to a wide format, but not now. My primary concern is getting a few novels in the series completed. After all, there’s a civil war about to happen.

3/4/2024 06:16:39 pm

Some authors do well on KU, having a series seems to make a difference. I have talked with a few authors who write a trilogy all at the same time and release each volume a few weeks apart. It sure makes foreshadowing easier.

I know some authors who avoid KU because they want to go wide, they don't want to be stuck in the Amazon ecosystem. Something about not wanting to put all of their eggs in one basket. Frankly, that makes a lot of sense to me.

Thank you again, Robert, for hiring me to help promote your book. I enjoyed the story tremendously and look forward to more. I have another promotion starting tomorrow so I must bring this one to a close. You have been a fabulous guest on the Word Refiner channel and I have enjoyed our chat a great deal.

Until next time, keep on writing.

The Other Side of the Hayfields by R. T. Douglass

The John Bailey Saga (Book 1)

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