I have sent the final chapters of Tramp from the final edit. The whole manuscript goes off to the publisher tomorrow AM for a March 3 release.
We pick up where Tramp and his associates have freed the last of the stolen talented animals and contacted the law.
Any comments should be directed to the next book of Tramp, A T.K. & Associates Mystery.
I would really like those suggestions.
What is the next caper? Can he meet a Sherlock Holmes character?
The blurb support has been amazing. Alison McGhee, Marsha Q., Will Weaver and a long time neighbor from Kenwood. This is her blurb,
""I knew Tramp! And I cheer his charm as it streams into this story out of the heart of his whimsical owner, author Bill Kennedy. I feel the same goose-bumps I got pulling for Pinocchio and the sweet Poky Puppy. He’s Nancy Drew in furry pants! The setting is real, and so is the magic. The children talk to the animals and they talk right back. This may be fiction but it has a pulse we know."
The trick in today's publishing world is to get as many kids, teachers and librarians talking about the book. My nephew teaches 5th grade in Elgin, Ill. Of course, he will get a copy.
I speak to the ND Reading Association on April 3, and the B&N in Edina on April 24th. Maybe Birchbark bookstore in Tramp's neighborhood that same weekend.
Any marketing ideas are also encouraged for all of our benefits.
All I can tell you is it is a crazy time.
Bill,
ReplyDelete"He’s Nancy Drew in furry pants!" I love it! The urban dog detective thing is a real winner. And your cast of characters includes great supporters who help keep Tramp at the center.
One thing that struck me in this piece is the concept that being able to communicate with the animals has to do with trust, and that trust has to go both ways. The animal has to trust the human and the human has to trust the animal. If the trust only goes one way then the communication only goes one way. In some ways that’s not too different than any strictly human relationship. I also like that that trust is a choice. And it’s not necessarily always earned. In the case of Officer Johnson, Tramp seems to decide to trust the officer first and then his trust is rewarded afterwards with better treatment from the officer as well as trust in return. Tramp then seems to win over Officer Johnson by showing empathy for the officer’s old wound. It’s after that that Tramp is able to communicate his plan to Johnson.
Is Tramp thinking the plan? Whatever he’s doing, the plan gets picked up by Johnson who then presents it as if it’s his idea. This seems kind of like telepathy, but maybe more like an empathic link. Am I getting this right, Bill?
If there’s anything I would like to see more of, I think it would be more Tramp. I liked how in chapter 46 we hear more from our rascal friend. I wouldn’t mind hearing more from him throughout; maybe get in his head more and see more from his point of view. Although, maybe there’s more of that in the front and middle parts of the book.
Another thing that impressed in the last twenty pages is the great teamwork dynamic that’s going on. There’s the teamwork among the animals and then the teamwork that the animals and humans share. I like teamwork, and when it’s evident in the middle of bunch of stuff that’s going south, it’s even more powerful.
Keep Tramp going. He’s a force to reckon with. I know I’d feel saver with him in my neighborhood.
Does he still mess with stinky carp?
Alan
I echo Alan's praise--especially of the team dynamic between Tramp, Colin, and Shannon! Also, I echo Alan's description of how trust seems to be the trigger for communication, and how the telepathic connection seems to be an empathic one. Very cool.
ReplyDeleteI would also like more Tramp, but as Alan said, we have gotten Tramp a lot so far (as I recall from reading previous drafts, we do). It's an awesome thing that I'm wanting more of the main character, here at the end of the first book!
And I'll do a little brainstorming here on out for future capers.
You've done an excellent job of creating a cast of many characters--even the bit characters could have recurring bit roles. More of the singing mice, for example? Also very cool is that as Tramp and friends pursue truth and justice, they'll be making allies and making enemies. They'll be able to call in "favors"--again, maybe they need some mice to do something, and they can call on the singing mice they helped free. Also, their friends may be a vulnerability--antagonists may strike out at Tramp's friends to get to Tramp. And of course there will be enemies looking to settle the score!
I wonder if Tramp might make some not-quite-trustworthy friends, as many PIs seem to make. I'm thinking of characters like Rockford's friend Angel, who's always got his own schemes going. And because Tramp is a domesticated animal, I wonder if might have any "Baker Street Irregulars" who might be wild animals (squirrels, raccoons, possums, etc.) or even feral domestic animals (I don't know why, but I'm thinking of Catwoman, who's obviously a human, but there's something feral and defiant about her personality--and it's interesting how at times she helps Batman and at other times she helps him).
I also like Tramp's relationship with Officer Johnson. What's cool is that Tramp has a connection with the police, as every PI needs to have. Sometimes these relationships are strained (as I recall, Rockford's relationship with his cop friend is a bit strained) and sometimes these relationships are deep (Batman has an interesting trust established with Commissioner Gordon). Sometimes these relationships come under great strain when the police character, who has to uphold the law, has to go after their PI friend, who may be trying to find out the truth but in doing so has come under suspicion. Could you imagine if for some reason Officer Johnson had to haul Tramp in? Ahh!
The Sherlock question is an interesting one. Another: Who might Tramp's Moriarty be? Might this nemesis be an animal, maybe--another dog, perhaps? Hmmm...Such a wonderful world you've created here that we can wonder at such delicious possibilities!!!
Thank you for sharing, Bill! I look forward to reading about Tramp's capers!!!
I'm now ready to start the next chapter in the Tramp series. What a great group to belong to. I sing your praises every chance I get. Somehow we find time to really care about each other's writing. And then comment with some of our best writing. Reading your comments is like taking an advanced writing class. Better tell Rockcastle.
ReplyDeleteDear Bill,
ReplyDeleteThough I am arriving late to this party, I have been staying abreast of your wonderful success with Tramp. I am a huge fan of this story (which I hope you know by now) and am so so thrilled to see this caper on a fast track to publication and receiving blurbs from some truly illustrious authors.
You write with amazing forward energy and demonstrate your talent with entertaining, thoughtful storytelling techniques. Tramp's telepathic way of communication tied to this concept of trust is so inspired. It completely makes sense to me and I have no doubt it will resonate with middle grade readers completely. We all think we know what our pets are trying to say sometimes. We just have to believe that and trust them!
Tramp is heroic, smart, empathetic, and a bit slobbery. The perfect hero for me as a boy! He's tested by having to decide whether or not to trust. He's only made it to the end with the help of others, and clearly that is how he's going to catch the bad guy.
The triumphant conclusion makes me feel warm and satisfied with anticipation for new mysteries. The epilogue with the marketing is thrilling and promises us that Tramp and friends are going to be a part of our lives for a long time.
It seems to me that your question of whether we'll see Rodney again means that we probably will. Plus, there's that smile as he's being put into the squad car. Is he part of some larger, syndicated animal napping operation? I see perhaps a new setting for Tramp in the next book. A new city with new friends.
Andy's suggestions about feral, wild animals really catches my imagination. Street dogs and alley cats make great urban allies that may or may not be trustworthy. Trust being a key theme here, I think characters like that would give you a chance to explore issues of friendship and teamwork even deeper.
For the next adventure, I guess I'm thinking most about how Tramp will be tested. Would an unexpected betrayal by an ally be too heavy of a plot twist? That's sort of where my mind is going.
I'm also wondering if maybe one of these new characters has any new skills to teach him? Like a police (or street) dog who has mastered certain scents so well they can smell them a mile off. Or a cat who can pick a lock. It would be exciting to see Tramp continue to develop his detective skills.
As far as marketing. I'm curious, as an aspiring author, to know what your publisher is doing on that front? Seems like goodreads is a good place to invest some time in. Marketing books is an area I have a lot to learn about. I, for one, would be happy to review your book on goodreads or amazon.
Dave et al,
ReplyDeleteMarketing 101 For Emerging Authors,
Go immediately to Amazon, do not pass Go, also Goodreads. I have found a website in Portland, Oregon, "LitPick," that has kids review books. Tramp is on their site. http://www.litpick.com/books/tramp-detectives-story Go there immediately and say nice things.
There are enough ideas from the Dave's comments, and Andy's, and Alan's, to do the next two Tramp books. Now, I ask you all to call your local Barnes & Noble and order Tramp. isbn 978-0-87839-758-7. That is how the book gets out of the B&N warehouse. Also puts a little pressure on the publisher's distributor, "Partners." I will reciprocate for all of you. I am waiting for my box of books. Perhaps Monday.
Thank you all Write Fu'ers