The Chiles-Havel Connection: Online Now

http://www.tampabay.com/features/lawton-chiles-prague-spring/1212046

My newest guest column at the Tampa Bay Times (formerly the St. Petersburg Times) is now available online.

The column relates how the late Vaclav Havel--Czech president, playwright, and human rights champion--influenced the political development of Lawton Chiles. This successful intellectual partnership is a platform for a discussion of how ideas and innovation can play a role in securing Florida's future.

More bulletins will follow as book publicity is organized in the state of Florida and nationally.

Thank you for your interest.

The Chiles-Havel Connection

My new opinion piece in Tampa Bay Times came out yesterday in the print edition.

The online edition is forthcoming. I will post it once available.

New Chiles Legacy Article

Stay tuned for a link to a new opinion column of mine on the Chiles legacy--appearing this Sunday in the Tampa Bay Times.

The late Vaclav Havel--Czech president, playwright, and human rights champion--was an important inspiration for Chiles.

It's not a story many people know but it's fascinating. More details to come.

Max Perkins: Editor of Genius

I just finished A. Scott Berg's biography of Maxwell Perkins, the beloved jack-of-all-trades editor at Scribner's and Sons in New York City.

What a treasure trove for a writer!

Perkins was influential in so many nervous scenarios where an author was stumped on a chapter title or a book title or a chapter ending or a plot twist.

Early January Work Kick-Off

It's been a busy day with the red pen.

But it's been instructive.

I have a better sense of what sections to highlight during my next long session on the computer, working with the manuscript document. I will peruse the script, chapter by chapter, correcting the mistakes I've marked with a pen.

Also, I feel inclined to change at least one chapter title. It's nail-biting because it's so important and symbolic, but one of them just feels out of place--even this late in the game.

End of December Progress Report

The editing should finish Friday, resulting in a new final draft for printing in hard copy. Then more changes with a red pen.

Also, a new op-ed is in development--hopefully to see publication in early January.

Stay tuned!

December Progress Report

I am moving along, making final touches to the manuscript and compiling the strongest photo album possible.

There is much work to do to make sure the photos are high-resolution and high-quality. And permissions must be sought for certain copyrighted photos.

In a few days I will print out a spiral bound hard copy of the manuscript and conduct one last proofreading session before a "final" version goes to the publisher.

Sometime soon, I will begin work again on publicity. There are more op-eds to write!