Lary Crews ©
@larycrews.bsky.social
Lary Crews is coming up on 80 this summer.
I will talk about my life here (not again?)
Lauren has her own location. @laurenpatcrews.bsky.social
Stanford Crews, our college-educated cat, is working for the democrats to put a proper president in the US.
I will talk about my life here (not again?)
Lauren has her own location. @laurenpatcrews.bsky.social
Stanford Crews, our college-educated cat, is working for the democrats to put a proper president in the US.
I also established an 8-week follow-up course “Advanced Writing The Novel,” which included scores of files including proposals, timelines, and character biographies.
I gave my students a 20-chapter textbook to download.
It became the basis for my 8th published book, in 2015, Novel Secrets.
I gave my students a 20-chapter textbook to download.
It became the basis for my 8th published book, in 2015, Novel Secrets.
December 5, 2025 at 4:48 PM
I also established an 8-week follow-up course “Advanced Writing The Novel,” which included scores of files including proposals, timelines, and character biographies.
I gave my students a 20-chapter textbook to download.
It became the basis for my 8th published book, in 2015, Novel Secrets.
I gave my students a 20-chapter textbook to download.
It became the basis for my 8th published book, in 2015, Novel Secrets.
I continued teaching the classes every year from 1993 to 2000. At the end of those 7 years, AOL notified me that I’d taught 4,125 students in 26 states how to write novels. I made about $17,000 a year from the classes. America Online even featured me in two books about AOL.
December 5, 2025 at 4:47 PM
I continued teaching the classes every year from 1993 to 2000. At the end of those 7 years, AOL notified me that I’d taught 4,125 students in 26 states how to write novels. I made about $17,000 a year from the classes. America Online even featured me in two books about AOL.
I taught 8-week online courses, live for 2 hours each Monday night. My students could download files and ask me questions via Email. I taught students I’ve never met how to write their first novel. I produced it via the early form of chat rooms and with text libraries and Email.
December 5, 2025 at 4:46 PM
I taught 8-week online courses, live for 2 hours each Monday night. My students could download files and ask me questions via Email. I taught students I’ve never met how to write their first novel. I produced it via the early form of chat rooms and with text libraries and Email.
I was one of America’s first online writing instructors, on the ground floor of Internet Education. With ten years of experience teaching and speaking, AOL hired me. It was a time-consuming job, but the dividends were great. I got paid per student per course and got free time online.
December 5, 2025 at 4:45 PM
I was one of America’s first online writing instructors, on the ground floor of Internet Education. With ten years of experience teaching and speaking, AOL hired me. It was a time-consuming job, but the dividends were great. I got paid per student per course and got free time online.
The head of America Online’s Interactive Education Service asked me to teach a course about writing novels. He said they would pay me with 30 free hours online a month and an additional $50 per student in cash. Of course, I said yes.
December 5, 2025 at 4:44 PM
The head of America Online’s Interactive Education Service asked me to teach a course about writing novels. He said they would pay me with 30 free hours online a month and an additional $50 per student in cash. Of course, I said yes.
I tried America Online and fell in love with its superior graphics, the lack of ads, and the easy navigation system.
I opened my Ask Lary Crews folder, and I was featured in a Channel 8 local TV documentary about online education on August 14, 1993, called FYI: Online.
I opened my Ask Lary Crews folder, and I was featured in a Channel 8 local TV documentary about online education on August 14, 1993, called FYI: Online.
December 5, 2025 at 4:43 PM
I tried America Online and fell in love with its superior graphics, the lack of ads, and the easy navigation system.
I opened my Ask Lary Crews folder, and I was featured in a Channel 8 local TV documentary about online education on August 14, 1993, called FYI: Online.
I opened my Ask Lary Crews folder, and I was featured in a Channel 8 local TV documentary about online education on August 14, 1993, called FYI: Online.
About the time my fame as a novelist began to fade in 1993, something else had grown popular.
At first, they called it the World Wide Web but they changed it to the Internet. I experimented with writing questions on Prodigy and CompuServe, two early Internet companies.
At first, they called it the World Wide Web but they changed it to the Internet. I experimented with writing questions on Prodigy and CompuServe, two early Internet companies.
December 5, 2025 at 4:42 PM
About the time my fame as a novelist began to fade in 1993, something else had grown popular.
At first, they called it the World Wide Web but they changed it to the Internet. I experimented with writing questions on Prodigy and CompuServe, two early Internet companies.
At first, they called it the World Wide Web but they changed it to the Internet. I experimented with writing questions on Prodigy and CompuServe, two early Internet companies.
My first three Veronica Slate mystery novels were published, I knew I had to promote them.
Over 18 months in 1988-1990, I did eighty-nine book signings at bookstores. I sold 1,691 of my three Veronica Slate mystery novels.
One pretty fan held up Kill Cue and said, "Take a picture."
Over 18 months in 1988-1990, I did eighty-nine book signings at bookstores. I sold 1,691 of my three Veronica Slate mystery novels.
One pretty fan held up Kill Cue and said, "Take a picture."
December 4, 2025 at 7:19 PM
My first three Veronica Slate mystery novels were published, I knew I had to promote them.
Over 18 months in 1988-1990, I did eighty-nine book signings at bookstores. I sold 1,691 of my three Veronica Slate mystery novels.
One pretty fan held up Kill Cue and said, "Take a picture."
Over 18 months in 1988-1990, I did eighty-nine book signings at bookstores. I sold 1,691 of my three Veronica Slate mystery novels.
One pretty fan held up Kill Cue and said, "Take a picture."
One newspaper did a spread called “A Novel Approach to Murder” with the cover of Kill Cue and me.
I designed my own book signing kit: a folding card table, with a blue tablecloth, a wooden chair, a frame for my three books, pens, business cards, and a camera.
I designed my own book signing kit: a folding card table, with a blue tablecloth, a wooden chair, a frame for my three books, pens, business cards, and a camera.
December 4, 2025 at 7:18 PM
One newspaper did a spread called “A Novel Approach to Murder” with the cover of Kill Cue and me.
I designed my own book signing kit: a folding card table, with a blue tablecloth, a wooden chair, a frame for my three books, pens, business cards, and a camera.
I designed my own book signing kit: a folding card table, with a blue tablecloth, a wooden chair, a frame for my three books, pens, business cards, and a camera.
I sold my books by providing free talks at civic events, libraries, schools, and bookstores. I contacted local media to offer myself as a guest.
One local morning TV talk show had me on as a guest as each book came out. Local newspapers were glad to write about a successful Tampa Bay author.
One local morning TV talk show had me on as a guest as each book came out. Local newspapers were glad to write about a successful Tampa Bay author.
December 4, 2025 at 7:16 PM
I sold my books by providing free talks at civic events, libraries, schools, and bookstores. I contacted local media to offer myself as a guest.
One local morning TV talk show had me on as a guest as each book came out. Local newspapers were glad to write about a successful Tampa Bay author.
One local morning TV talk show had me on as a guest as each book came out. Local newspapers were glad to write about a successful Tampa Bay author.
For 5 years I wrote on a Kaypro computer. Because my signing bonus was $9,000, I ditched the Kaypro for an IBM clone computer.
To promote my books I created publicity pictures, advance posters, and releases for newspapers and TV producers to promote me as a paperback writer.
To promote my books I created publicity pictures, advance posters, and releases for newspapers and TV producers to promote me as a paperback writer.
December 4, 2025 at 7:15 PM
For 5 years I wrote on a Kaypro computer. Because my signing bonus was $9,000, I ditched the Kaypro for an IBM clone computer.
To promote my books I created publicity pictures, advance posters, and releases for newspapers and TV producers to promote me as a paperback writer.
To promote my books I created publicity pictures, advance posters, and releases for newspapers and TV producers to promote me as a paperback writer.
June 1987, two years since I had begun to write Kill Cue, I checked with my agent to see who had rejected my novel that month.
To my amazement, he said, "Bantam Books (Lynx Division) wants to sign you to a paperback contract with a hefty advance and a nice royalty figure." I almost passed out.
To my amazement, he said, "Bantam Books (Lynx Division) wants to sign you to a paperback contract with a hefty advance and a nice royalty figure." I almost passed out.
December 4, 2025 at 7:14 PM
June 1987, two years since I had begun to write Kill Cue, I checked with my agent to see who had rejected my novel that month.
To my amazement, he said, "Bantam Books (Lynx Division) wants to sign you to a paperback contract with a hefty advance and a nice royalty figure." I almost passed out.
To my amazement, he said, "Bantam Books (Lynx Division) wants to sign you to a paperback contract with a hefty advance and a nice royalty figure." I almost passed out.
I got a New York agent, and I started writing the first book in the Veronica Slate series in June 1985.
I wrote my novel from 5 to 7 in the morning. It took me eight months of two hours a day, five days a week to write Kill Cue.
I wrote my novel from 5 to 7 in the morning. It took me eight months of two hours a day, five days a week to write Kill Cue.
December 4, 2025 at 7:13 PM
I got a New York agent, and I started writing the first book in the Veronica Slate series in June 1985.
I wrote my novel from 5 to 7 in the morning. It took me eight months of two hours a day, five days a week to write Kill Cue.
I wrote my novel from 5 to 7 in the morning. It took me eight months of two hours a day, five days a week to write Kill Cue.
In 1985, I set a goal of learning to write fiction, while writing nonfiction and working at WDUV radio to make money.
The start of my first novel, Kill Cue, takes place a station like mine. A disk jockey is murdered but no one knows at first because the station is automated, as WDUV was.
The start of my first novel, Kill Cue, takes place a station like mine. A disk jockey is murdered but no one knows at first because the station is automated, as WDUV was.
December 4, 2025 at 7:12 PM
In 1985, I set a goal of learning to write fiction, while writing nonfiction and working at WDUV radio to make money.
The start of my first novel, Kill Cue, takes place a station like mine. A disk jockey is murdered but no one knows at first because the station is automated, as WDUV was.
The start of my first novel, Kill Cue, takes place a station like mine. A disk jockey is murdered but no one knows at first because the station is automated, as WDUV was.
In January 1984, I taught a workshop on 'writing with computers' at the Florida Suncoast Writers Conference in St. Petersburg.
Writing with computers was a new, unusual thing at the time, and I wrote a dozen articles about it in popular computer magazines.
Writing with computers was a new, unusual thing at the time, and I wrote a dozen articles about it in popular computer magazines.
December 4, 2025 at 7:10 PM
In January 1984, I taught a workshop on 'writing with computers' at the Florida Suncoast Writers Conference in St. Petersburg.
Writing with computers was a new, unusual thing at the time, and I wrote a dozen articles about it in popular computer magazines.
Writing with computers was a new, unusual thing at the time, and I wrote a dozen articles about it in popular computer magazines.
My freelance writing career began in October 1983 when I bought my first computer, a Kaypro with two floppy disk drives and a 9-inch green screen.
I worked diligently and success came quickly. Business magazines were hot at the time, and I wrote for three of them regularly.
I worked diligently and success came quickly. Business magazines were hot at the time, and I wrote for three of them regularly.
December 4, 2025 at 7:09 PM
My freelance writing career began in October 1983 when I bought my first computer, a Kaypro with two floppy disk drives and a 9-inch green screen.
I worked diligently and success came quickly. Business magazines were hot at the time, and I wrote for three of them regularly.
I worked diligently and success came quickly. Business magazines were hot at the time, and I wrote for three of them regularly.
While in the hospital awaiting cancer surgery in 1982, I read a copy of Writer's Digest.
I wanted to pursue a new career as a freelance writer. From 1969-1983 I had written "disposable nonfiction" you write it, read it, you throw it away.
Now I'd be writing for business magazines.
I wanted to pursue a new career as a freelance writer. From 1969-1983 I had written "disposable nonfiction" you write it, read it, you throw it away.
Now I'd be writing for business magazines.
December 4, 2025 at 7:08 PM
While in the hospital awaiting cancer surgery in 1982, I read a copy of Writer's Digest.
I wanted to pursue a new career as a freelance writer. From 1969-1983 I had written "disposable nonfiction" you write it, read it, you throw it away.
Now I'd be writing for business magazines.
I wanted to pursue a new career as a freelance writer. From 1969-1983 I had written "disposable nonfiction" you write it, read it, you throw it away.
Now I'd be writing for business magazines.
I spent 30 years staring at VU Meters. A VU meter (volume unit) is an analog device that measures the average audio signal level in decibels (dB). Every radio control board has at least one of them.
I started in 1964 as a disk jockey playing music and then became a broadcast journalist in 1970.
I started in 1964 as a disk jockey playing music and then became a broadcast journalist in 1970.
December 3, 2025 at 3:03 PM
I spent 30 years staring at VU Meters. A VU meter (volume unit) is an analog device that measures the average audio signal level in decibels (dB). Every radio control board has at least one of them.
I started in 1964 as a disk jockey playing music and then became a broadcast journalist in 1970.
I started in 1964 as a disk jockey playing music and then became a broadcast journalist in 1970.
When I became a freelance writer in 1983, I worked for WDUV-FM, running the automation of easy listening music and for WBRD-AM, their sister station.
When WBRD was bought by a Texas millionaire and the format changed to Solid Gospel music in 1997, I was the Program Director.
When WBRD was bought by a Texas millionaire and the format changed to Solid Gospel music in 1997, I was the Program Director.
December 3, 2025 at 3:02 PM
When I became a freelance writer in 1983, I worked for WDUV-FM, running the automation of easy listening music and for WBRD-AM, their sister station.
When WBRD was bought by a Texas millionaire and the format changed to Solid Gospel music in 1997, I was the Program Director.
When WBRD was bought by a Texas millionaire and the format changed to Solid Gospel music in 1997, I was the Program Director.