What's new...

After a late-in-life burst into nonfiction with Diagnosing Jefferson, followed by Asperger’s and Self-Esteem, Norm resurrected a blockbuster newspaper serial of historical fiction to put it into book form, The Jayhawker. Then he collaborated in mystery writing to produce a cozy, Sour Notes, about an opera-savvy, crime-solving piano teacher. That covered 2000-2009.

Now what?

As in "biting off more than you can chew," the goals for Norm's writing appetite may be greater than his capacity for reaching them, but what the hell.

Back burners are currently holding an opera titled The Good Citizen, a Brooklyn-based tragedy of the 1950s; a cheerful musical based on his published serial, Heart Deco, starring a back-to-life Jean Harlow; and a short play, Helen and Cy, based on his mother's suicidal resolution to clashes of class and religion.

A front-burner position for 2010 has gone to The Alcove Bed, historical fiction from Thomas Jefferson's point of view. Norm believes his work on the nonfictional Diagnosing Jefferson gave him special insight for episodic treatment of TJ's love life.

Also in the works is a Sour Notes follow-up book titled Disharmony, featuring relentless and sexy senior Sally Freberg and her oddball companions, who pursue another opera-based solution to murder. This sequel could pattern a series.

 

Upcoming appearances

 

• Saturday, October 2, 9:45-10:45am, Lawrence KS

Kansas Authors Club State Conference, at Holiday Inn. Topic: Writing Suspense into Your Historical Fiction. Contact: Diane Palka, 785-665-7729.

 

• Thursday-Friday, October 14-15, day/time tba, Overland Park KS

Kansas Autism Conference, at Johnson County Community College, 12345 W. College Blvd. Topic: Famous People with Traits of Autism. Contact: Carmaletta Williams, 913-469-8500, ext. 4224.