Category Archives: Writing Process

Next Book on the Way

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Friends, you’ll be happy to know I’ve started the third book in the Bullets & Doves series. It should be on sale by mid-February. Hope you’re enjoying the first two books. They were so much fun to write. This is a series I’m sure I can go long with, so get ready for many more books. And remember, each one of these novels can be read as standalone books, in any order.

For me, writing the first draft is always the best part of the writing process. It’s better than watching a great movie. I love the feeling of imagining the story and seeing it appear, as if by magic, on my computer screen. It’s one of the most satisfying feelings in the world for me. Have a great day/evening, friends. I’ll be back soon with another update.

G.C. Riley

Update on Hellfire Trail

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It’s only been a week or so, but sales and pages read on Hellfire Trail have been phenomenal. I expected it to be a great book, but I had no idea it would take off so fast. Now I know why they call it a book launch. This novel’s first few days have seen it rise through the clouds, on it’s way into orbit.

For all of you that have read it, thank you so much. Don’t forget to pick up the first book in the Bullets & Doves series titled Outlaw Called Sara: Eli Cooper’s Unfinished Business. You will also be glad to hear that early tomorrow morning, I’ll be starting the first draft of the third book in the series.

I’m sure I’ll have it ready for sale by mid-February. This new, streamlined writing format I’ve been using has a turnaround of approximately one and a half months from book release to book release. As far as the title goes, I think I’ll play it close to the vest for now. I have a working title right now, but it could change in the next few weeks.

Thanks again, friends. All this couldn’t be possible without you. Check back here soon for updates and please sign up for my email list. That way, you will receive an email as soon as I release the next book. You can sign up by clicking the link at the bottom of the Contact page.

G.C. Riley

Hi, I’m back…

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Hello friends. Once again, I’d like to apologize for my absence from this site. The life of an independent writer is filled with a lot of work, and posting on a website probably comes last on the list. There is so much to do when launching a book that firing off a quick post is unfortunately overlooked.

However, I realize that this site is a resource for readers that cannot be taken lightly. I promise I will use this platform more often to keep you informed of what’s going on. For example, I’ve launched not one, but two books since my last post. Yes, two books in three months. It’s a record for me. One that I’m very proud of. Thanks for being patient.

G.C. Riley

My Social Media Dilemma

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Hello friends. I’ve been thinking about my social media presence quite a bit lately. There are so many sites I can use to make sure you all know what I’m doing and when my next book is coming out. However, to post on all those accounts would take an incredible amount of time.

For indie authors like myself, time is something I can’t afford to waste. There’s just way too much to do since we do it all ourselves, so I decided that I’d stick to just a few social media sites for the time being.

First on the list is this blog, of course. I’ll keep it simple here and post updates on my work including other observations that take a lot of explaining. I’ll keep adding to the Books section every time I release a new book, and if you want to contact me, you can use the form in the Contact section or just send me an email.

For day-to-day stuff, I’ll post in Twitter. I’m most familiar with that platform and I usually post a lot of pictures there too. If you’re on Twitter, you can follow me or send me a message. My Twitter handle is @GC_Riley.

I joined Goodreads a while back, but never really got into using it. I see how short-sighted I was now. It’s a great platform and I plan on spending a lot of time there. You can ask me questions, follow me, or send me messages there too. Only thing is, I don’t have a lot of books on my bookshelf yet, so don’t hold it against me. I will certainly add to it as I begin to read those great books on those lists.

Well, that’s it folks. I understand how important social media can be to an author, but when you’re trying to juggle a million things just to get a book out, you have to be as efficient as possible. I think I’ve got it covered if I post on these three sites.

G.C. Riley

Thanks

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Hey friends, I want to thank you all for making my latest book, Last Honorable Cowboy, such a success. It still needs some promotional work, but initial demand for it has been very encouraging, and I have you all to thank for it. It’s always tough to get a new series off the ground, but with readers like you, it feels like a piece of cake.

As for the next book in the series, Cowboy Ranch Hand, I already have a rough outline so I know where I want to take the story. Next week, I will flesh out the story a bit, then start writing the first draft. That’s where I’m at right now. I’ll keep you posted, so stay tuned.

G.C. Riley

Latest on New Series

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Hi folks. I know a lot of you are wondering when my new series is coming out. Okay, I’ve been way too optimistic in the past on time estimates, so I’m not going to do that this time. Taking everything into account, I would say I’m probably going to release it sometime in mid to late February.

I’m 90% through the first draft, so all I have left is to finish the climax and ending, run through it a couple of times in an editing phase, and upload it to Amazon. One of the reasons it took so long is because I tried something new this time. I usually write by the seat of my pants, with a short, one-page plot.

This time, I outlined the whole series in one shot—in detail. Not just the first book, but all three books. (Yes, it’s going to be a trilogy.) The reason I’m doing a trilogy this time is because the series is about three sisters running a cattle ranch in Oklahoma (post World War II), after their parents have passed away. Each book will highlight one particular sister’s story.

If there is a demand for additional books in the series, I can always add those in later on. For now however, it is a trilogy telling the drama/romance tales of each sister, one at a time. Each book will be a standalone, but it would probably be best if read in order to get the full effect of the whole series.

So not only do I have all three books plotted in detail, I have all three covers completed as well. (Yes, I design my covers too.) I know graphical design is better left to the pros, but I seem to have a knack for it. If you’re an aspiring writer and want to design your own covers, I have one piece of advice for you. Keep it simple.

Now, as you can see, even though it took me a while to get going, the subsequent books should be written quite fast. Since I’m a reader myself, I know the feeling when you read a book you love, then have to wait a long time for the next in the series to come out. This way, I’m hoping to avoid that long wait.

So if the first book in the series is almost done, why am I projecting a mid to late February release? It’s because I’m not home in South Florida at the moment. If you’ve been following me on social media, you know that I’m visiting a dear friend in Europe right now. Athens, Greece to be exact. Even though I am getting work done, it is kind of slow-going.

Also, you may be wondering why I’m playing it so close to the vest as far as what this new series is called, and what the books are titled. Rest assured, I have it all worked out, but I’d rather not say anything just yet. It’s not that I’m trying to keep you in the dark. I’m just playing it safe in case I decide to change things around, last minute.

Thanks, love you all — G.C. Riley

Update on Heartbreak Pass

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Hello dear reader. I haven’t posted since I published my last book, Dr. Angela Brooks, U.S. Army. I thought it was about time to let you know what I’ve been up to since then.

I’ve not only started my next book in the Pinewood Valley Series, titled Heartbreak Pass: A Wilderness Survival Romance, I’m actually well into it by now. I use an app to keep track of my daily writing, and according to the metrics it provides me with, I’ve got 20% of it completed already.

I’m at that point in the book every author eventually reaches. You wonder if the current book you’re working on will be able to top the last book you published. You wonder, and you stress over it. But by the time you’re a third of the way through the book, you can see it coming together in a unique and positive way.

We’re looking at a late July, early August release date for Heartbreak Pass. Remember to sign up for my email list if you want to be notified of release dates. You can do so by clicking the link on this page at the top, right hand side.

I hope you all have a terrific summer, and check back here soon for the latest updates. Talk to you soon, and keep reading.

Dr. Angela Brooks, U.S. Army Now on Sale

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I’m happy to announce Dr. Angela Brooks, U.S. Army has been completed and is now on sale at Amazon.com. Before I say anything else, I’d like to thank all my wonderful readers who have already purchased it or read it through Kindle Unlimited. Thank you all so much for making it such a success, and thank you for making the Pinewood Valley Series so popular.

I have one more book coming in the PWV series, and then I want to start a new series I’ve had rattling around in my brain for quite some time now. Stay tuned, folks. I think this new series is going to knock your socks off. One thing at a time, however. Book 4 of the PWV series is in the plotting stages right now, and I should start actually writing it in the next week or so. If you haven’t already heard, it’s called Heartbreak Pass: A Wilderness Survival Romance.

I know Dr. Angela Brooks took a long time to release, but I promise to get Heartbreak Pass out there much sooner—probably sometime early this summer. This writing hobby of mine has turned into quite a serious career, and I am now doing it full-time.

I’m sure many of you are wondering if Heartbreak Pass will be the last book in the PWV Series. That depends on you. It will be the last book for the foreseeable future, but if demand is great enough, I may be coaxed into putting out a few more stories. In the meantime, check back here on this site for updates about my books, where I’m at in the process, and when you can expect a new release.

Once again, thank you for reading my stories, for making my work such a success, and for giving me a new career I’m so, so proud of. I will not let you down. If you haven’t signed up for my email list yet, do so immediately. I promise not to pester you too much. Actually, the only time you will hear from me is when there is a new book that has just been published.

Moving Into the Editing Phase

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Good news. I completed the first draft of my next book in the Pinewood Valley Series last week. Dr. Angela Brooks, U.S. Army is ready to go into the editing phase. My time this weekend was taken up by getting my author’s website up and running. However, I will begin editing the new novel Monday morning.

Some writers love doing the editing work. Personally, it’s not my favorite part of the writing/publishing process. I’d much rather be typing out a new book rather than going over something that needs to be reworked into a polished product, but I guess it has to be done. Too bad I’m more than a little nervous about handing my work over to an editor. I guess it just takes finding the right person. An editor you feel comfortable with. I suppose eventually I’m going to have to find one though.

Sorry this one took so long folks. It went a bit over my projected word count. It’s a much longer book than the first two in the series. Thank you for being so patient. I’m anticipating a mid-March release date if all goes well. More info to come in the next few days.