Today is the twenty-seventh in a series of posts by San-Diego-based writer Thomas Shess who has decided to keep a journal on his journey to find a publisher for his novel.

Cleaning the Cages-A couple of columns back I moaned and groaned about my PC computer being hacked and slashed and riddled with unwanted pop-up advertisers. This week, I've cleaned house. The PC is now on the sidelines. A writer is nothing without his/her writing tools. While son Mike was home from college over the holidays I happily had him install a new I-Mac G-5. The noise in the background is the bells and whistles going off. So far, not one pop up and no moaning from me.

Why it's Important to Listen-As you might figure from the above paragraph, I took it personally when some hacker destroyed many of my non-fiction files last Fall. When I mentioned it (obviously one too many times), Mike told me to get over it. His reasoning was a bad day on the Internet was like a bad day on the freeway. You can't make everyone obey the traffic laws-so why should it be different on the 'Net?"

OK, Mr. College Frosh I get it. But I still want to bash the worm making worms.

more after the break

Richard Reeves Speaks-Author/writer Richard Reeves was in town last week to pitch his new book on President Reagan: "Triumph of Imagination." Reeves, an ex-reporter on the national political beat with the New York Times and other publications also wrote definitive works on Presidents Kennedy and Nixon. There was no mistaking, Reeves is more liberal than conservative, but he admits he found a renewed respect for the late President's greatness along the way. In his address to the City Club, a group in San Diego that offers a forum for speakers, Reeves gave his insights into what he affectionately calls "his presidents."

The audience of 50 peppered Reeves with questions afterwards. The give and take between audience and author was riveting. Reeves spent five years writing Reagan, four on Nixon and seven with Kennedy. My question was did President Reagan know everything about Iran-Contra even though he denied it at first? Reeves: "Of course, he did." Was it an impeachable offense?, I followed up. "Probably, but the country wasn't in a mood to go through what we did with Nixon and later with Clinton." Reagan got a pass on Iran-Contra. "But 12 years after he left office, Russia or what was left of it was applying for membership in NATO," Reeves concluded.

Reeves also pointed out that Reagan was the last self-appointed president. Meaning he as an individual willed himself to seek the White House. All president's since have been chosen by political machines.

Journey Continues-In my half-year seeking a publisher or an agent to take on my completed novel, I've learned one important fact of life-maybe two. If one is to become a published author, one needs to explore the world of publishing. Learn its truths and follies. Being isolated behind a computer isn't going to expedite success. The days of sending off a mss. on an unmanned life boat across the sea are over. Writers are like a school of two million sardines-we have to swim (a finished work) and we must stand out somehow (market thy work). Like my young son said, sit back and enjoy the journey ignore the jerks and seek out the marvelous souls like Richard Reeves and others.

Closing Line-Edward R. Murrow's famed and uber cool tag line "Good Night and Good Luck" rang in my ears as I left the movie theatre. This column's tagline is far more modest. It can be pegged somewhere between a plea and a business offer. It goes something like I'd like to remind any literary agent that my first recently completed thriller is ready to go. Drop me an e-mail for a pithy synopsis.

* Because it's a jungle out there.