It’s sometimes difficult to believe that we continue to celebrate an essentially agrarian holiday in 21st century America.  The current celebration date was established by President Lincoln in 1863.  However, as early as 1777 the Continental Congress created Thursday December 18th as a day set aside for national Thanksgiving.

Now the holiday is associated with commercialism with “brown” Thursday and “black” Friday.  This evolution is unfortunate and blurs the original intent of the holiday.  In our family we do not shop on either Thursday or Friday, partly for self-protection from crazed mobs, but primarily because we just don’t accept the commercialization of giving thanks.

This year I am thankful that MURPHY’S TROUBLES is published.  More than this accomplishment is how it came about.  As my wife reminds me, this year I learned how much my friends believe and support me.  Without friends MURPHY’S TROUBLES wouldn’t have been published in November or even in 2013.

The lesson I learned is that I am part of a creative, arts community; a community that nurtures an artist way of life.  I am fortunate.  I want to thank each person that has walked this journey with me and will continue to be members of my community.      

On Monday, November 18, 2013 my debut historical thriller, MURPHY’S TROUBLES became available on Amazon.com (www.Amazon.com/Murphy’s-Troubles-Rex-Owens).

Why am I announcing this event on Wednesday, November20th?  Now, there’s a story.  I was surprised to receive the final hardcopy proof with cover late in the afternoon on the 20th.  I didn’t expect the final proof until November 25th.  I sat down and reviewed the last round of corrections I submitted and found everything perfect.  I could have (or should have) taken the time to check everything again.  I’ve reviewed four proofs so I decided to take a leap of faith that another review wasn’t need.

I logged into Create Space and approved the final proof.  Then I selected price, distribution channels, created an account to have royalties deposited and ordered books for my readings on December 14th and 16th.  The instructions noted that after final approval it would take 3-5 business days to have MURPHY’S TROUBLES listed on Amazon.

Just to make sure I understood the timing I called the Create Space customer service.  They explained that they couldn’t provide a date for birth on Amazon, just the 3-5 business day range.  I then asked the typical newbie question, can you guarantee it will be on Amazon by Monday, November 25th?  YES!

I was elated because the book launch was a full week ahead of schedule.  I switched gears to marketing mode and began work on the details of making the big announcement on Monday.  For some reason Tuesday I had an abundance of nervous energy and couldn’t focus.  I distracted myself with mundane jobs like grocery shopping, painting set for our civic theater production and other non-cerebral activities.

Tuesday evening I was watching the last episode of a PBS series I enjoyed but again found I couldn’t concentrate.  I decided, on a whim, to check Amazon.  I went to Amazon books and typed MURPHY’S TROUBLES in the search bar.  It popped up at the top of the page!  How did that happen?  I don’t care.

Having MURPHY’S TROUBLES listed on Amazon is a moment of triumph and the conclusion of a journey that began in 2000.  My nervous energy dissipated and I felt a wave of calmness through my body and could literally feel my tense muscles relaxed.  I hooted at the top of my voice! 

So today I become marketing man and this blog is my first declaration to the world – I DID IT!   

Several years ago the director of our local library asked if I would be willing to serve on the Sun Prairie Library Board.  I was thrilled to be asked and of course accepted.  Before officially being appointed, at the director’s invitation, I attended a Board meeting to meet the other members and observe how a meeting was run and the topics they made decisions on.

Then there was a glitch and I couldn’t be appointed because I live about ¼ mile past the city border.  I was disappointed but said I would be willing to serve on the Friends of the Sun Prairie Library Board.  The Friends don’t have residential restrictions.

A week ago I was asked to serve on the Board of the Friends and accepted the offer over the phone.  On Monday night I attended the annual meeting and along with two other volunteers I was elected.  At our local library the “Friends” raise funds by operating a small bookstore within the library.  The funds are donated for a variety of purposes including maintaining an aquarium ecosystem, the summer reading program, equipment purchases and other special projects.

Growing up in a small community in northwest Indiana our library was a lifeline for me.  I am looking forward to making a commitment to our library in Sun Prairie where my nearly three year old grandson Ross can have the same opportunity I had growing up.  (Ross loves talking to the fish in the aquarium.)      

While I was under contract with a traditional publisher I was comfortable with calling myself an author (or soon to be author when the book was actually published).  Several years ago I attended a presentation at the UW Madison Writer’s Institute by a publication attorney.  He explained that the term “author” has a specific legal definition.  A writer becomes an” author” when there is a contract between a person and a publisher to create a specific work.  Based on this understanding, at the time, I was adamant that anyone who self-published was not an author.

Well, the days of having a contract with a traditional publisher are fading in my rear view mirror.  In a few weeks I will release Murphy’s Troubles on Amazon print- on- demand and used their proprietary Create Space publishing service.  So, by my understanding of the term, I can’t honestly refer to myself as an author.

So, do I call myself a writer?  That term is very broad and doesn’t satisfy me as being descriptive of what I do.  Several years ago when I was developing my LinkedIn profile I used the term:  Novelist and Freelance Writer.  I don’t any longer remember why I chose those words, but I’ve decided it fits.  My first love is the novel and my second freelance non-fiction for my blog, Extra Innings, book reviews and an occasional print magazine.

After Murphy’s Troubles is available on Amazon I’ve settled on calling myself a published novelist.  I think that is accurate and it avoids any legal misunderstanding that may occur by calling myself an author.  This is important to me.  It may seem like I’m splitting hairs.  For me, the distinction is significant.  It’s also a way to answer the question – what do you write – in a simple, elegant way.