W.J. Thompson | Updates

Finally. A writing update.

W.J. Thompson — Tue, 4 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I'm keeping this update short...

I've recently started working on the final draft of the next novel (I'd share the name, but I've been torn between two...). I was hoping to have this ready to print by the end of summer, and I will, but probably just the dozen or so proof copies.
Writing this story has been so much fun. There might have been some subconscious foot-dragging as I've gotten close to the end just because I'm not ready to say goodbye to these characters and this world.
Not sure if it's related to the point above, or I'm just looking for another creative outlet, but I've been adding small sketches to each chapter of the book.

That's all for now.

Don't stop reading,

]]>

No More Pierogi

W.J. Thompson — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Every Christmas, for as far back as my memory goes, our family had a set of traditions centered on Christmas Eve dinner. Beginning days earlier, my grandmother would start the process of making hundreds upon hundreds of Polish pierogi from scratch. As kids, my brothers and I loved helping out, though that usually just meant rolling the extra little dough scraps into ‘fingers’ and tossing them into the boiling water. I don’t remember ever seeing her reference notes or a recipe of any kind, but she knew exactly how much of everything she needed to make the tastiest potato, cheese, and cabbage pierogis you’ve ever tried. And when I say she knew exactly how much she needed, what I meant was she knew exactly how much she needed if she wanted to cover every available flat surface in our house with sheets and flour to lay the pierogi on. This often included ironing boards, the dining room table, all kitchen counters not being used for rolling the dough, and anything else that was flat and available.

What I’m saying is, she made a lot of pierogi.

And I’m still having trouble processing that I won’t have any this year.

Theresa Sherno was 97 years old when she passed on July 5th, but few who met her believed she was a day over 85. She was active, sharp, highly opinionated, kind, loving, and a ton of other great things.

My sons and I would make the drive down to the Poconos every other Christmas, or so. They developed about the same taste for pierogis as I did when I was a kid (‘they didn’t taste the greatest on their own, but knowing they meant Christmas morning was coming added a little something to the flavor’). They’re both teenagers now. I feel so lucky to know they had that many years with their great-grandmother.

Throughout my life, she was always there. From the stories I’ve been told, it began the day I was born, when she flew from Atlanta in high heels through a blizzard to a small airport in the Michigan Upper Peninsula to help my mom with a newborn. A few years later, after my father abandoned the family to move west, leaving my mom alone with 2 toddler sons, my grandma moved in and helped. For most of my brother’s and my childhoods, she was as much a part of our daily life as our mom and stepdad.

That never changed.

Her influence in my life, in ways subtle and outstanding, will always be there. My eclectic music taste? She loved Neil Diamond and the Beach Boys, and both have always found their way onto my playlists. Her strong Catholic faith? Although I no longer practice, the tenets of that religion have shaped most of my values. Her love of reading and good stories? I’ve been hooked my whole life.

I know how lucky I am to have had 47 years of great memories with my grandma. Some people only get stories and pictures. She loved animals and gardening and nature and I hope everyone remembers those things about her. She baked amazing chocolate chip cookies. She tried to feed every wild animal that was fortunate enough to cross her path.

And every Christmas, she made enough pierogi to feed a small village. Just in case.

]]>

10,000 Pages Read on Kindle!

W.J. Thompson — Thu, 3 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Hello everybody!

As we enter spring, I'm filled with a sense of renewal and growth. Cheesy, right? Actually, 'filled' may be a bit of an overstatement. It's more of a less-than-empty feeling if I'm being honest. But that's progress, and these days, any small bit of inching forward is a good thing.

Now, this may seem insignificant, but since I began writing, my only hope was that people would read my books and enjoy the stories. In the first 22 months after publishing 'Misplaced and Forgotten', I had some sales and a handful of mostly positive reviews, but both seemed to stall out after the first few months. I made the book available for free on Kindle Unlimited at the same time as it went to print and got excited when I saw over 1000 pages read back in May 2023. I thought it was just the start of making a name for myself as a new writer. [Side note: "Page Read" counts on Kindle Unlimited pay the author a fraction of a penny per page read.]

Then, crickets.

I was disappointed that so few people were reading my book, but I didn't let it get to me. I love telling stories, so even if I'm only telling them to a few family and friends, it's worth it. Hell, if I'm the only one that ever reads one of my books, I'd still keep at it. I'm not above laughing at my own jokes. The thought of giving up never really crossed my mind.

Enter 2025.

I decided to update the cover and make a few revisions to 'Misplaced and Forgotten' as I was waiting for my proof copies of the book I had just finished writing, 'Beyond the Great Divide'. With the new book set to release at the end of January, I figured that maybe there'd be a few people who would pick up the first one around that time. Instead, 'Misplaced and Forgotten' started getting read as soon as the year began. And then continued being read more and more. As I write this blog during the first week of April, I've had three straight months of my highest page read counts since publishing.

If you had asked me late last year about my lifetime goal of pages read, I'm not sure I could have honestly considered 10,000 even possible. Now, thanks to those who have taken a chance on an unknown story by a no-name writer, I've surpassed that number and then some (and have been getting more reviews too!). I'm not sure where this will end up, but if I can finish 2025 at 20,000, I'd be beyond thrilled.

So, if you're reading this, THANK YOU. If you've read one of my books, THANK YOU MORE! I'm still in the early stages of the next story, but I can't wait to share more details. Until then, keep moving forward.

W.J.

]]>

Hello people

W.J. Thompson — Sat, 1 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Welcome to my site! I wanted to share a few notes about what you can expect to find here...eventually. Kinda sparse at the moment.

My books! Duh. It's an author site.
Updates on my writing. Not much to share right now. Beyond the Great Divide: Book 1 went on sale a week ago, and I'm working on the story map for Book 2.
Blog posts about my life or ideas or philosophy...maybe. Don't really know if they would be the least bit interesting, so I'll play that one by ear.
There's also a section to contact me. Feel free to use it. I'll be sure to respond to any questions you may have about my stories. I'd love to hear them.

Lastly, and I hate asking (who does?), but if you've read and enjoyed one of my books, please leave a review. Goodreads, Amazon, scrawled on the door of a rest stop bathroom... it doesn't matter. Reviews are the lifeblood of independent authors, and seeing one pop up somewhere is pretty damn cool.

Until next time,

]]>