During the summer of 2003 I was working with a literary agent in Iowa and Adams Media about writing a book on fishing. The agent had seen my web site and contacted me about a proposed book, The Everything Fishing Book. I agreed to write it and signed a contract.

I started on the book on Memorial day and from then until August 18 I spend many hours each week researching and writing. My deadline for 85,000 words was August 18th and I met it. There were days that I did not want to look at a computer screen and keyboard ever again, I just wanted to go fishing. But I finished the book on time.

Adams Media publishes a series of books with the Everything title. There are over 100 different books in this series and they have very specific guidelines on what they want. That really helped me and guided me as I wrote the chapters of the book.

It was quite a thrill to see the book listed at all the big internet book stores like Amazon and Borders. I received some copies and have given them to folks that helped me with the book. Jim Berry has a few copies at his store for sale.

One of the nice things about the contract with Adams is that I was paid up front. I get no more money whether the book sells zero copies or a bunch. So I have no vested interest in it as far as money goes, just my pride.

The book is a guide for adult beginning fishermen. I was told to write it for someone who never fished but decides to start fishing as an adult. It has a lot of basics, like explanations of the different kinds of reels, how to find a place to fish, different kinds of bait and even a glossary of different kinds of fish.

One chapter of the book is on tying good knots, another chapter discusses different kinds of line and which work better in different situations and another chapter is on cleaning and cooking your catch. Most of the information in the book comes from personal experience. All the mistakes I have made gave me good ideas of what to warn people not to do!

Looking back the writing does not seem so bad, now that it is over. And contrary to what some people told me, I do know that many words! Someday I may try it again, when the memory of those long days sitting at a computer when I could be fishing fade a little more.