I have been blogging for three years now and it has been one of the most rewarding and enjoyable experiences of my life. The blogging community is amazing and I have learned from and met some incredible people. During this time a number of you have suggested that I ought to write a book, but keeping up with blogging while running a business and having a life has taken me to my maximum speed limit. However, I have finally reached one of those magical “now or never” moments when desire and opportunity find themselves alone together and the deal is consummated. I will attempt to write the book during the same time I allocated to blogging. While it’s possible that I will find a way to combine the two activities, I currently doubt that this will be feasible. As to the book, more anon 🙂
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“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” Ernest Hemingway
Malcolm's Corner 
May 11, 2015 at 7:36 pm
Congratulations and best wishes 😉
May 11, 2015 at 10:47 pm
Thank you IB. You are so productive that you would write a book in no time at all!
May 11, 2015 at 7:51 pm
Good news, Malcolm, yet, you will be missed. Smiles.
May 11, 2015 at 10:49 pm
Bonnie, thank you. I’m sure I’ll be back but possibly in a new reincarnation. Keep up your wonderful poetry.
May 14, 2015 at 10:03 am
Thank you, Malcolm. I’m convinced you’re ready for the challenge. Smile.
May 11, 2015 at 7:54 pm
About time! Be sure to let me know when it’s available 🙂
May 11, 2015 at 10:51 pm
Jon, of course. You were the first person person to suggest this to me online. Let’s stay in touch.
May 11, 2015 at 7:56 pm
What an adventure, writing a book! Go for it. It’s not often that desire and opportunity find themselves alone together. You will be missed around here though. Please do check in from time to time, and let us know how things are going. Best of luck, Malcolm. Love and hugs.
May 11, 2015 at 10:57 pm
Jhana, we haven’t known each other long but we did have somewhat of a meeting of minds. I do hope to stay in touch periodically so it’s à bientôt and not au revoir.
May 12, 2015 at 4:54 am
We didn’t have a somewhat meeting of the minds, Malcolm. We had a somewhat meeting of the heart. Not in a romantic sense, of course, but just in a person to person sense. à bientôt
May 11, 2015 at 8:06 pm
Best wishes on your endeavor Malcolm. I’ll still look out for blog posts even if there’ll be a long wait, and I look forward to finding out what your book is about! 🙂
May 11, 2015 at 11:00 pm
Thank you L.P. I enjoyed our virtual office simulation together and hope to keep in touch.
May 11, 2015 at 8:18 pm
Let me just say that I hear blogging is a great way to promote your book when (note I said when and not if) it is published so don’t give it up! I have enjoyed connecting with you and will find it difficult to bear if you disappear completely.
May 11, 2015 at 11:11 pm
Given the amount of serious drama in your work life I cannot imagine the loss of a blogger making too much of a dent in your imperturbability. However, I do appreciate your heartfelt sentiments and am confident that I will not disappear completely 🙂 I also agree with your comment about blogging to promote a book, which is why I know I will return, albeit in a different guise.
May 12, 2015 at 3:14 am
Bloggers that I find interesting and entertaining are dropping off all of the time and it does leave a hole. Best of luck!
May 11, 2015 at 8:28 pm
Well, good for you. Let us know how it’s going, when you can.
May 11, 2015 at 11:22 pm
Thank you Matt. Will do. I appreciate all your support over the years.
May 11, 2015 at 8:47 pm
Ah, our hearts pine for similar goals! Best wishes and take a break from the blogging break occasionally so I know you are alive and well 🙂
May 11, 2015 at 11:25 pm
Cindy, I think you will still see me around. My wife can’t understand why my choice of films has improved so dramatically so I have no choice but to return to your blog periodically 🙂
May 12, 2015 at 5:03 am
Ha ha. Three cheers to your wife! And best wishes, Malcolm. What are you writing? Fiction? Essays?
May 12, 2015 at 5:42 pm
It’s going to be historical but that’s all I’m prepared to say at the moment 🙂
May 11, 2015 at 9:35 pm
Malcolm:
The blog has been, and I am sure will manifest itself in the book, a joy and inspiration. I’ve read posts from topical to personal, libertarian to outrageous, and all the way back to specifically about your friends and family. Sometimes too close to home, but always heartfelt. Some days the truth hurts doesn’t it?
Well done on making a timing call. Go for it I say!
At a certain point that is the only most precious resource we have left, our own time. What we do with it, who we spend it with, or without in some cases, is our best gift to others.
I trust a long hike, an arduous climb or a lazy night in a tent listening to the bears rustle your food will help spark more topics. If not, I might be solo this year.
Good luck.
John
May 11, 2015 at 11:35 pm
John, what a pleasant surprise. Your first comment on my last post, although, as you know, you were the subject of one of them. I certainly did cover some ground in terms of subjects and how right you are to say “Some days the truth hurts doesn’t it?”
I’m not deserting you. Count me in for some more crazy climbs or bears on the trail.
May 12, 2015 at 3:49 am
Go for it. I will miss your articles, but I will read your book.
May 12, 2015 at 5:37 pm
Thank you my friend. I’m not a great correspondent but we’ll keep in touch.
May 12, 2015 at 4:16 am
Best wishes. I hope it the writing goes well. I think it will!
May 12, 2015 at 5:39 pm
I appreciate the vote of confidence. I must say I’m looking forward to getting my teeth into it.
May 12, 2015 at 6:00 am
Dang, a whole book in which to indulge your extraordinary skills! I would wish you luck, but I doubt you’ll need it. I’ll miss your blog, but look forward to reading your book.
May 12, 2015 at 5:53 pm
That’s praise indeed coming from you Mikels and I’ll make sure to give the prospective publisher your name so they can ask you about those “extraordinary skills” of mine 🙂 Maybe you would be willing to comment on some of the drafts at some point? I would appreciate your critique.
May 13, 2015 at 6:43 am
I would be delighted, as long as they’re fed to me slowly.
May 15, 2015 at 2:11 pm
Mikels, they will be slow and a long time in coming. Many Thanks.
May 12, 2015 at 6:42 am
Excellent! I’m sure it will be a brilliant read, but I will definitely miss your posts.
May 12, 2015 at 7:55 pm
Thanks Brett and I expect great things from you in academia.
May 12, 2015 at 7:59 am
That’s great! It’s so fun writing books. Good Luck!
May 12, 2015 at 7:57 pm
Adrienne, for you it’s fun but Hemingway called it “bleeding”. I’ll let you know my take soon 🙂
May 13, 2015 at 4:54 am
Blood is life–you bleed that on to the page, it’s true, but (and this is literally true) I never felt so alive as when I once almost bled to death. Writing novels allows for a slightly safer version of getting close to the essence or source of that life blood. (I think Hemingway was being a bit of a drama queen–though I adore his Nick Adams stories).
So have fun or bleed!
All the best, Malcolm.
May 12, 2015 at 10:45 am
Go Malcolm! Tell us when you’re publishing, and keep us apprised. We’re eager for a sneak peek once in a while, too
May 12, 2015 at 7:59 pm
Will do Nico. Keep up the icy suicidal cycling in a blizzard that you revel in so much.
May 12, 2015 at 12:17 pm
You go, Malcolm! As an author and book coach/instructor, I always say, there is no better time than NOW! As a matter of fact, probably the most important thing I teach my writing students is how to PRIORITIZE their time. Looks like you’ve done a good job with that, and I will be looking forward to reading your book; though I will miss reading your blogs and your blogging support.
May 12, 2015 at 8:20 pm
I can guarantee I’ll be making plenty of use of the Serenity Prayer during the book writing process! Thank you for your support.
May 12, 2015 at 1:40 pm
I love your blogs and am sorry that I found you just in time to bid you farewell. I do look forward to reading your book, and send wishes for great success in your new journey.
May 12, 2015 at 8:14 pm
Thank you for your kind sentiments and good wishes. I am sorry to be leaving.
May 12, 2015 at 3:29 pm
What a nice thing it is to have a fine book to look forward to!
May 12, 2015 at 8:17 pm
Ah, there speaks a man with experience. I’m sorry our acquaintance was so brief as I’m certain we would have had some interesting discussions. Maybe another time?
May 13, 2015 at 12:35 pm
Depend on it.
May 12, 2015 at 6:27 pm
Exciting news, Malcolm!
Please don’t hesitate to lean on me for suggestions from my own experience.
May 12, 2015 at 8:26 pm
Will do Michael. You must have learned something from writing all those books 🙂
May 12, 2015 at 9:53 pm
A nice and grand announcement. =) How happy I was, MG. This is big. You’ll be bleeding. (I actually disagreed with Hemingway in one sense, in an old post, but not important at the moment.) I am glad to see you mention a publisher. I think that is the best route for you (what I would do), as opposed to self-publishing. You might find these useful. Chris’ blog is more about striking out on your own but the diagram is helpful.
http://scottberkun.com/2015/28-better-things-about-publishing/
https://chrismcmullen.wordpress.com/index-of-publishing-posts/
Clearly your fans will miss you. Certainly don’t let our blogs distract you from such an important enterprise. Enjoy the journey.
May 12, 2015 at 11:11 pm
Goodbye HW. Thank you for the links. They will be useful just as all your suggestions have been. You’re so talented I’m sure you will write your own bestseller as soon as you have home schooled little Einstein.
May 13, 2015 at 2:15 am
I wish you well and look forward to the hard copy of your book, Malcolm. Thank you for your companionship here in the blogging community. I’ve enjoyed your company. Be well. Audra
May 16, 2015 at 2:50 pm
Thank you Audra, I will also miss the haiku queen but will make sure to let you know about the book. This kind of public commitment makes me fee more accountable and determined not to give up.
May 13, 2015 at 5:40 am
Well said … and best of luck of the book adventure. Stay the course and be well.
May 15, 2015 at 2:32 pm
Thank you. I’m sorry it was such a brief acquaintance. I think I had just got used to your particular brand of humor which is very different from mine. I am determined to stay the course, so hopefully I will be back.
May 15, 2015 at 8:04 pm
My pleasure … and stay the course! 🙂
May 13, 2015 at 7:42 am
Malcolm,
Good luck on this new endeavor! I’ve enjoyed reading your posts and look forward to reading your book in the future. Over the past two years, I’ve learned a lot about writing and publishing, if you have any questions, feel free to comment on SmoothingIt. Comments don’t post unless I approve them, so you’re welcome to include an email address. Best of luck to you, my friend. I’m actually stepping back into SmoothingIt this week and was looking forward to seeing you in the blogosphere again.
May 15, 2015 at 2:14 pm
Duncan, I may very well take you up on your offer. I missed your comments and am sorry that I’m leaving just as you are returning to the blogosphere. However, I am sure I will be back.
May 15, 2015 at 6:53 pm
Sounds good, Malcolm. I’ll be looking forward to it.
May 13, 2015 at 11:05 am
Good luck Malcolm, I hope it goes well and I’ll be interested to see what kind of book you write 🙂
May 15, 2015 at 2:17 pm
Thank you Andrea. The book does have a very strong connection with one of the great figures in English history. I can see that I’m not going to be able to keep the subject under wraps until the book is written 🙂
May 15, 2015 at 2:55 pm
Intriguing, but I enjoy anticipation, so I’ll happily wait to be surprised!
May 13, 2015 at 5:37 pm
This is fantastic Malcolm, look forward to your creation ~ you’ve got a talent with words that does not come around too often. Cheers.
May 15, 2015 at 2:24 pm
Dalo, thank you for all your encouragement and support. Let me know if you are ever visiting this part of the world as I would love to meet up with you for coffee sometime.
May 20, 2015 at 7:06 pm
A cup of coffee would be great ~ I hope to get down there one of these days again, one of my favorite places in the world. Look forward to both updates on the book and of course the final product. Cheers ~
May 14, 2015 at 2:40 pm
Good for you Malcolm. My blogging life is certainly cutting into my publishing time. It’s very hard to juggle so many things. I envy you that you can just cut yourself off. Perhaps I’ll have to toughen up. 🙂 Good luck.
May 15, 2015 at 2:27 pm
Thank you. Cutting oneself off is like parachute jumping, you just do it and then look back and wonder how on earth you did it. I just have to prioritize otherwise the book will never get written.
May 16, 2015 at 6:51 am
Wishing you lots of luck and no writer’s block. 🙂
May 15, 2015 at 11:55 am
I wish you all the best and fun with writing the book.
May 15, 2015 at 2:28 pm
Thank you. Much appreciated.
May 18, 2015 at 9:08 pm
What are you going to write about?
May 20, 2015 at 10:49 pm
It’s going to be a 16th century popular history, but that’s all I can say about it at present.
May 20, 2015 at 11:32 pm
Nice. I sincerely hope you present the “unenlightened” viewpoints of your period characters at face value. 🙂
May 19, 2015 at 12:47 pm
Love it, Malcolm!! Really looking forward to see what comes out of it!
Found myself in a similar space; “it’s now.” Not regarding a book (yet) but my photography and who knows where the little simple writing I do, takes me with time…
Oh, and when the time comes, I’ll order a signed one, please 🙂
All the best with it
/Hanne
May 20, 2015 at 10:39 pm
Hanne, thank you and I can certainly see you having exhibitions of your work (you do that already, right?) and maybe a coffee book of your photographs and poems. As to the autograph, it will definitely be a personalized inscription 🙂
May 21, 2015 at 1:33 am
I have them up in a beautiful little Gallery Cafe who shows new artists each month. September I might have a third coming up 🙂
Oh, coffee book is strongly on my mind, just wrote a graphic designer yesterday regarding how to go about it. I’m looking forward to holding a book of yours, Malcolm with a personalised inscription 🙂
May 22, 2015 at 11:08 am
Good luck! I hope it’s an enjoyable and rewarding project. Let us know when it’s finished or maybe even a few updates along the way. 🙂
May 26, 2015 at 10:54 pm
Thanks Mike. It’s a very rewarding project as I love history and I’m writing about two wonderful characters in 16th century Europe. I will certainly try and keep everyone updated.
June 8, 2015 at 3:44 pm
I hope the book is going wonderfully well, Malcolm. It’s great you decided, it’s now or never, and dived in! I wish you the best of luck, and look forward to reading when it’s done. Take care.
June 9, 2015 at 3:38 pm
Thank you Michele and I hope you continue to find time to write your own poetry as editing Verity La must be quite a commitment. Still doing more reading than writing (it’s going to be a popular history book) but will certainly let you know when it’s out.
June 22, 2015 at 4:27 am
I was wondering where you went. I wish you all the best.
[Now quit reading this and get back to work on that book!!]
June 28, 2015 at 10:11 pm
Thank you sir, I’ve enjoyed our interactions which have always remained civil despite some profound differences of opinion.
June 22, 2015 at 12:52 pm
As usual, always late to the party. In this case, we never got to say goodbye. Well, good for you our friend. As you know, we’ve been blogging ghosts for the past year…for that same reason. I told my mother, that if you spend more time on Facebook than your book, it’s time to prioritize. lol I wish you nothing but the best and cannot wait to pick up a copy of your brilliant book. And it will be brilliant as you are Malcolm. Good writing our friend. Btw~luv the Hemingway quote!! 😉 xo
June 28, 2015 at 10:28 pm
Believe me there is plenty of “bleeding” going on this end, but I want to thank you for always having been so supportive. Let’s hope that each of us finds our muse and can eventually exorcise the ghosts and return to the warmth of our blogging relationship.
June 24, 2015 at 2:29 pm
Fantastic news Malcolm, however it will be our loss. We will all miss your presence. Enjoy your new writing experience and I wish you all the success with the project; although I have a sense that you will prosper with the endeavour. Hopefully you will return soon and update us on your progress! All the best, Bex
June 28, 2015 at 10:33 pm
Bex, thank you. I don’t think I can remember blogging without you being there and I always appreciated your “savvy” comments. I know that over the last few years you have experienced much drama in your life so I hope everything is now looking up for you. It’s “Hasta luego”, definitely not “Adios”.
June 29, 2015 at 12:51 pm
Many thanks Malcolm. It has been a pleasure to be part and parcel of your blogging life! I am pleased to know that your departure from WP will be temporary, and recommence once more with new words of wisdom to relate. Things are far from tranquil for me, however, compared to what was a few months prior, much improved. Thanks for your kind concern, I appreciate it. Take care and enjoy your new chapter. Bex
June 27, 2015 at 10:28 am
Malcolm, you’ve taken on your very own Ironman. Your endeavor will be just as grueling as any endurance/distance race. Your mental toughness is going to be tested. I have no doubt you will prevail but there will be days where you will not want to continue, I am here to tell you to NOT listen to the voices. It will be through consistency, most especially on the days you will not feel like writing, that you will prevail. Consistency and your will.
All the best to you.
June 28, 2015 at 10:41 pm
Tahira, the Ironman is a great analogy and I realize you know this from experience. I will definitely try and remember this advice whenever the black dog makes an appearance. Meanwhile, make the most of the summer and enjoy your wilderness journeys Tahira. You and I both share that particular passion.
June 29, 2015 at 6:28 am
Congratulations on your decision to write a book. I’m glad this experience is a gift you decided to give yourself. You’re right. It’s now or never.
July 6, 2015 at 5:34 pm
Thank you. Yes, sometimes it feels like a gift but more often it feels like a lead weight 🙂
July 10, 2015 at 6:32 am
I hope the book is going well, Malcolm. But I’d be interested to read anything you’d care to put forward about the Greek economy and the wider Eurozone. Looks to me like a slow painful death is about to begin and drag over two or three decades but I’d welcome the opinion of a professional.
July 25, 2015 at 4:55 pm
Well Done and All the Best -:)!
August 21, 2015 at 8:48 am
Thank you Daniela. It is difficult to keep away from the blogosphere.
August 12, 2015 at 1:05 pm
I hope you’re still reading comments and I want to wish you the best of inspiration in your book writing. I agree it’s a good idea as you have so many interesting things to say.
My own advice, though, would be not to abandon your blogging completely as your blog is always going to be an important marketing platform for the finished book. Having a blog with a well. established fan base is one of the things that helps make literary agents sit up and take more notice.
August 21, 2015 at 8:50 am
Thank you Veronica. That’s wise advice that I need to think about. Just juggling too many balls at the moment. Something you are quite adept at I believe 🙂
August 21, 2015 at 9:54 am
Ah yes, I know how that feels! Well, I love your blog and I am sure I’m one of many who will wait patiently for you to have more time again!
August 22, 2015 at 12:48 pm
Good luck on the book! I started blogging to get back to finishing a book but I haven’t finished it yet. Perhaps I should give up blogging!
September 21, 2015 at 8:54 pm
Thank you for the support. Please don’t give up the blogging. I’m learning that when you have something important to be done you need to give it to a busy person.
September 24, 2015 at 5:17 pm
I missed this news because I’ve been absent from blogging too, but not to write a book! Good for you; stay the course.
November 13, 2015 at 11:17 pm
Thank you for the kind sentiment and I apologize for taking so long to reply but I have tried to stay completely away from the blogosphere. It’s hard, very hard 🙂
October 1, 2015 at 9:20 am
Good luck with your book project. 🙂
November 13, 2015 at 11:17 pm
Thank you. Much appreciated.
January 14, 2016 at 12:04 pm
Belated thanks for your comment.
November 21, 2015 at 4:18 am
Just stumbled by and saw this post. Best of luck with your endeavor. Hope your writing is going well and your bleeding minimal.
January 14, 2016 at 12:03 pm
Belated thanks Tony. The blood is running in the streets.
February 14, 2016 at 7:12 am
Best wishes to your endeavors!!