So I Wrote a Novel.

[edjr 7,197]

novel peace prize

[MikeMatt 598]

Where did you come up with the character names ?

[NorthernVike 2,126]

Just curious, is it based in ND or MN?   

[TheNewGirl 1,679]

@mmmmm...beer

I’ll read it 

[mmmmm...beer 843]

11 hours ago, NorthernVike said:

Just curious, is it based in ND or MN?   

It's based out of Minnesota.   Most of it in or around Bemidji/Redlake Reservation area.

[mmmmm...beer 843]

5 hours ago, TheNewGirl said:

@mmmmm...beer

I’ll read it 

 

12 hours ago, MikeMatt said:

Where did you come up with the character names ?

I knew a guy named Mike Black.. and a guy named Marcus something or other... both worked for BIA back when I started.  The others... well.. just  names from around the reservations I've worked.

[kutulu 1,733]

Link?

[mmmmm...beer 843]

5 hours ago, TheNewGirl said:

@mmmmm...beer

I’ll read it 

Sent

[mmmmm...beer 843]

12 hours ago, MikeMatt said:

Where did you come up with the character names ?

Well... what did ya think?

[mmmmm...beer 843]

Just now, kutulu said:

Link?

I don't have it published yet brother.  Just throwing out samples.... like the crack someone mentioned.  Haha

[cmh6476 1,251]

[MikeMatt 598]

1 hour ago, mmmmm...beer said:

Well... what did ya think?

I liked the style for sure. Easy read. Easy to follow and I sure want to know what happens next ! Like I said. Like crack. First taste is free. 
 

Reason I asked about character names was one of them Dan Reeves. Thought maybe you were a fan. LOL.  

[mmmmm...beer 843]

So one of the agents I sent a Query and 5 pages to asked for the full manuscript!  So that's cool!

[mmmmm...beer 843]

Ohhhh another agent asked for the full manuscript.  This guy a pretty heavy hitter.  Supposedly reps a few of the big names. 

Aaannd... a got a form letter rejection.  She didn't say anything negative, just she "didn't think she was the right agent for my project".  Which... cool.  Mean's she probably at least read the synopsis.

[mmmmm...beer 843]

So... The guy who started Stephen King into paperbacks replied.  He said he got the the full manuscript and he's got one of his "colleagues" giving it a first read.

So... That's cool.

When I was sending out queries to folks I researched agents that requested thrillers or #ownvoices.  Which is like cultural insiders writing their stuff.

One of the guys I really wanted to query is a Native guy himself out of Canada.  But he has been "closed" for queries since I started the process, even though he wants indigenous authors.

So... I went to the lit agency and found out his boss was accepting queries.   Figuring the style of the book with this author... Maybe he'd just throw it to him.

So yup... I threw it to his boss and my guy emailed me an hour later saying he read it and my pages and asked for the full manuscript.

So that's three agents now that have the full in about 10 days.

Could never hear a thing again... But sorta stoked.

 

[MikeMatt 598]

15 minutes ago, mmmmm...beer said:

So... The guy who started Stephen King into paperbacks replied.  He said he got the the full manuscript and he's got one of his "colleagues" giving it a first read.

So... That's cool.

When I was sending out queries to folks I researched agents that requested thrillers or #ownvoices.  Which is like cultural insiders writing their stuff.

One of the guys I really wanted to query is a Native guy himself out of Canada.  But he has been "closed" for queries since I started the process, even though he wants indigenous authors.

So... I went to the lit agency and found out his boss was accepting queries.   Figuring the style of the book with this author... Maybe he'd just throw it to him.

So yup... I threw it to his boss and my guy emailed me an hour later saying he read it and my pages and asked for the full manuscript.

So that's three agents now that have the full in about 10 days.

Could never hear a thing again... But sorta stoked.

 

[mmmmm...beer 843]

4th request... Heating up.

[Fnord 2,816]

On 1/28/2026 at 3:54 AM, mmmmm...beer said:

So... The guy who started Stephen King into paperbacks replied.  He said he got the the full manuscript and he's got one of his "colleagues" giving it a first read.

So... That's cool.

When I was sending out queries to folks I researched agents that requested thrillers or #ownvoices.  Which is like cultural insiders writing their stuff.

One of the guys I really wanted to query is a Native guy himself out of Canada.  But he has been "closed" for queries since I started the process, even though he wants indigenous authors.

So... I went to the lit agency and found out his boss was accepting queries.   Figuring the style of the book with this author... Maybe he'd just throw it to him.

So yup... I threw it to his boss and my guy emailed me an hour later saying he read it and my pages and asked for the full manuscript.

So that's three agents now that have the full in about 10 days.

Could never hear a thing again... But sorta stoked.

 

Good luck man! That's awesome.

[Frozenbeernuts 2,565]

On 1/18/2026 at 11:03 PM, mmmmm...beer said:

I wrote a book. Thriller. FBI agent, reservations,  missing kids, some Ojibwe spirit stuff.

Got some pretty good feedback from my ARC folks I sent it out to.  Several were LEO's and Indians.  Lots of positive responses.  So I guess I got those parts right.  

I cleaned it up and sent it out to a handful of agents.  We'll see how she goes.

Anyone readers for fun and leisure?

I have a few series planned.  Mostly procedural cop/supernatural stuff set in Indian Country.  Think Darkwinds meets Jack Reacher.

As we are both avid fiction readers, I started writing like 5 different books. 4 of which were novels.

One was a comedy cultivation novel. When I was in the zone, I was laughing out loud at myself. But the inspiration left for each after a while. I have another idea for a novel that I want to start on. Idk why my brain works like this.

[Frozenbeernuts 2,565]

21 hours ago, mmmmm...beer said:

4th request... Heating up.

Have you kept up with Defiance of the Fall? JF Brink has such an insane writing schedule for the series. As soon as I finished the latest book I went back to the first in the series. On book 3 now for the re read

[mmmmm...beer 843]

11 hours ago, Frozenbeernuts said:

Have you kept up with Defiance of the Fall? JF Brink has such an insane writing schedule for the series. As soon as I finished the latest book I went back to the first in the series. On book 3 now for the re read

I think I'm a book, maybe two back.  Not because I didn't like it.  Because I forgot what the heck was going on.  It is suffering from what I see almost all the big litrpg epics have.  Got too big to fast.  Now they are godlike fighting some other godlike creature in a different galaxy etc.... sheesh.  

I actually have a lite lit-rpg series started... I have 8 books drafted... Maybe I'll have you read them after I get a decent edit on the first few.

Hahah I also have the first book drafted in ANOTHER series ... 

And another planned... But it's going to be straight cop/agent stuff.  No supernatural in that one 

[mmmmm...beer 843]

Nevermind...

[MikeMatt 598]

1 hour ago, mmmmm...beer said:

Nevermind...

????

[Frozenbeernuts 2,565]

8 hours ago, mmmmm...beer said:

I think I'm a book, maybe two back.  Not because I didn't like it.  Because I forgot what the heck was going on.  It is suffering from what I see almost all the big litrpg epics have.  Got too big to fast.  Now they are godlike fighting some other godlike creature in a different galaxy etc.... sheesh.  

I actually have a lite lit-rpg series started... I have 8 books drafted... Maybe I'll have you read them after I get a decent edit on the first few.

Hahah I also have the first book drafted in ANOTHER series ... 

And another planned... But it's going to be straight cop/agent stuff.  No supernatural in that one 

That's part of the reason I went back. It's a lot. The goal seems to be to get him to the terminus. Which is a lot of grinding.

I read a series called The Twelve Apocalylses about a guy who wakes up in a demon army. It was a good series. The author just flat out ended it. He said the main goals were achieved, and there honestly isn't a goal to reach any more. He said continuing on wouldn't make sense even though he didn't end it properly.

That feels similar to what is happening here. Even more so in Silver Fox Western Hero. What is the goal? Though I still think JF Brink is doing a better job of creating new goals as the series goes on since he set the scene well for how the upper portions of the power structures work.

The last book I read I was unsure at times of what he was talking about. Idk how he keeps it all straight. Maybe he isn't and I just didn't realize it.

[mmmmm...beer 843]

11 hours ago, MikeMatt said:

????

I had thrown out an example of my query letter... In case others wanted to see it working.  But thought meh... That maybe too like... Much.

[mmmmm...beer 843]

5th agent request!  Weeeee.... At least we know I can write a pitch!

[MikeMatt 598]

18 minutes ago, mmmmm...beer said:

I had thrown out an example of my query letter... In case others wanted to see it working.  But thought meh... That maybe too like... Much.

Good. I was afraid you were giving up !
Keep plugging away dude. 

[mmmmm...beer 843]

So.... 6 agents requests for full manuscript now.   I know it's only been like three weeks since I threw out a few, and then periodically sent more out to other agents.  But the glacial pace that this whole process takes is enough to make my ADD brain fizzle out.  That being said.  I have several other books rough drafted now.  At least it's keeping me occupied.