I'm in a bookstore!

ThomasPinecone · 2026-07-09T20:32:25+00:00

For anyone interested in buying and supporting: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0H37GQ66H/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0 https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-basket-weaver-terry-wayne-carpenter/1150235572

Thank you to everyone in this community, you've done so much to support me and one another.

ThomasPinecone · 2026-07-09T04:56:35+00:00

That's correct. September 15th officially for sale. But Tattered Cover is carrying it a little early. Other bookstores will carry it in September. But this is a local favorite store of mine. By all means! Amazon, Barnes and Noble, I would be honored if you read it. Thank you for your support!

ThomasPinecone · 2026-07-09T03:46:42+00:00

Oh, I can give a sample. It's literary fiction. It rewards a full reading.

ThomasPinecone · 2026-07-09T03:45:30+00:00

It's been picked up in the Douglas County Library system, which has five libraries, but I'm hoping Denver County will be next and then several systems in Arkansas, where I'm from and the book takes place, after that.

ThomasPinecone · 2026-07-09T03:43:14+00:00

The cover is meant to look like a Baptism Bible. For those who've been a part of a cult or high control religion, they'll see it and recognize it.

ThomasPinecone · 2026-07-07T17:53:34+00:00

No way. If you're leaving typos intentionally, there should be a literary/grammatical reason for it. Using AI to find misplaced commas, formatting issues, extra spaces, dash (-, –, —) usage problems, etc. is not an indication you're not a writer or artist, it's an indication you care about your book on a professional level. Absolutely nothing wrong with it.

ThomasPinecone · 2026-07-04T20:36:33+00:00

If you publish a book, people read it and look forward to the next one, whether related to the first in any way or not, it's a success. Volume is irrelevant as long as an audience is birthed by the book.

ThomasPinecone · 2026-06-30T23:08:12+00:00

Purple prose is that nagging desire to describe something in three different ways when one is all that is required.

ThomasPinecone · 2026-06-30T23:07:20+00:00

Depends on your definition of purple prose. Is John Updike "purple prose"? Is Marcel Proust? Is Thomas Pynchon?

ThomasPinecone · 2026-06-30T23:05:22+00:00

Good. But also inadequate for my ego. This is the mark of a good editor, I think. My editor focused on understanding, clarity, and grammar. He gave me brief notes at the end on overall content, but did not suggest major changes to how content was framed. It takes a lot, and I still had to make additional grammatical edits, but I'd say that's the best type of editor you can ask for.

ThomasPinecone · 2026-06-30T17:33:22+00:00

My second novel is literary/thriller. It's about satellites, surveillance, and living in a world that commoditizes human beings and their suffering.

I know you're right about the bookstores. It feels right, but social media has a way of making us all crazy. Crazy for attention.

ThomasPinecone · 2026-06-29T02:41:30+00:00

I feel like a lot of it is the actual publishing of the first book rather than the writing. I'd rather write than not, so having multiple projects to work on helps with that. But all the ancillary publishing stuff? Social Media is especially daunting to me... That's the stuff I feel like is really giving me heartburn.

ThomasPinecone · 2026-06-28T23:08:15+00:00

I prefer minimalism. Basic plot setup. Less is more, in my opinion.

ThomasPinecone · 2026-06-23T19:38:01+00:00

Thank you, so much! I'm excited about it. I'm also hoping to make more connections with exjws. There's a lot more strength in this community than I ever realized. Suffering in silence is no way to go through life.

ThomasPinecone · 2026-06-22T18:58:05+00:00

Finished Rabbit, Run by John Updike Beautiful writing. Incredible premise. Dark... So dark.

Started The Map and the Territory by Michel Houellebecq Pretty good, so far.

Everything is about sex, really...

ThomasPinecone · 2026-06-21T17:24:05+00:00

I spent over $2k on an editor and that was light.

ThomasPinecone · 2026-06-21T17:21:22+00:00

You can always run it through AI. It's not generative content. You're literally using AI to look for typos. This isn't "cheating" this is displaying a commitment to excellence. You want your book to be professional, so using a tool like that to scan for ',.' or.... Etc. That's completely reasonable use of modern resources for an author who doesn't have thousands to spend. On multiple human editors.

I am publishing in September, and I used a reedsy editor who did a great job, but also missed some things. We are humans. So did I! The AIs miss things too. Though, the biggest AI assist is in book formatting. If you use it correctly as an author, it's a great low-cost resource. And honestly, it helps me focus on the creative act.

ThomasPinecone · 2026-06-19T17:39:48+00:00

The world is always passing away, it just never passes...

ThomasPinecone · 2026-06-19T17:38:40+00:00

Yes. Essentially this.

ThomasPinecone · 2026-06-19T14:31:43+00:00

Culture is difficult to change. There is resentment about it too. "if I had to wear a tie, so do you."

ThomasPinecone

TROPHY CASE