Jeff Ayers - Guest Blogger - The Death of Books and Libraries

I hope the first day of the work week didn't come too soon for the lot of you! Here we are again at another Guest Blogger Monday, today's guest is Jeff Ayers. If you've read any of our books, I'm sure you have seen a few of his reviewed 'blurbs' on the back of our titles like Rogue Threat and Silver via Author Magazine. This is certainly an important topic he is hitting on so we hope you take the time to read and comment on his non-fiction piece:

The Death of Books and Libraries

It seems to be in the news every day now: Borders on the verge of bankruptcy, Barnes and Noble is up for sale, Amazon sold more e-books than physical books, etc. So the printed book is dead. Libraries, facing huge budget cuts, are not buying books anymore, adding to the demise of the book industry. Besides, people aren’t reading anymore – why would they when they can watch one of zillion TV channels, game online and Twitter their time away?

Seriously?

I’m a librarian in my day life, and I see readers of all ages coming into the building every day and checking out books. I see people sitting at tables reading. I see new books arriving every day. It might not be the same quantity from two years ago, but new ones are still coming in.

Let me tackle some of the arguments:

Libraries are irrelevant: Not true. In these grim economic times, even though the government would like all of us to think things are improving, libraries are being used more than ever. I accessed the July 2010 statistics of my library system and compared them to July 2009. Total number of visitors increased by 3%. Circulation was down by 4%, but downloadable audio and eBooks increased by 93%. As the majority of libraries offer internet access and free Wi-Fi, many folks are using libraries to job search, work on their resumes, and learn basic computer skills. Libraries are becoming a default social service, so I would say that libraries are even more necessary now than before. The library system adapts to the needs of its users. Libraries been declared irrelevant before, but have always survived and been innovators in the process. I can’t even begin to fathom what libraries will look like in five years, but I guarantee they will still be around, heavily used by all ages, and a necessary part of the community.

eBooks are on the rise and so the printed book is dead: Partly true. eBooks are definitely becoming more standard, but it is premature to sign the death warrant of physical books. Nothing can replace the feeling of holding a book, from cracking open the crisp cover and pages of one freshly printed to the soft, well worn pages of a favorite that it falling apart after being passed from person to person. Even with the drastic increase in downloaded material at my library, the majority of our users still prefer the physical book. Also, people like me who do read eBooks don’t read them exclusively. I’m sure if the statistics were available from Amazon and other eBook sources, they would show that people who buy eBooks also buy printed books. (And sometimes the same title in both).

People are not reading anymore: Definitely not true. People are reading more than ever, although the way we read is clearly changing. If no one is reading, then why are eBooks and eBook readers becoming the rage? Why have so many people who bought an iPad downloaded books from the iBooks store? I don’t think they spend money to download a title just so they can tell their friends they have books to read on it. Some people tell me e-reading has made it easier for them to find time to read. I can’t even begin to tell you how many librarians that I know have Kindles, Nooks, etc. My device has the Kindle App, the Nook App, and the iBooks App. I read from all three of them and still will have a book in hand. Just depends on my mood, or if I have a deadline for a review.

Bookstores are dead: I don’t think so. I do think they will have to adapt to survive in order to meet the demands of their customers, and I see a need for bookstores to have community events, recommending good titles to read, and…Oh. Sounds like what libraries are doing without the corporate funding. Bookstores are definitely going to have to work hard and be creative if they want to compete in the e-publishing era.

When this decade is over, it will be interesting to look back and see how much has changed from what we are just beginning to experience. What I can say with confidence, however, is that libraries will still be around, bookstores will still exist, and people will definitely be reading.


Great insight, Jeff. I'm glad to hear that you are optimistic based on your industry experience. To find more out about Jeff Ayers, visit his website voyagesofimagination.com. You can also check him out on Facebook, or any number of his reviews via Library Journal, Author Magazine and Publisher's Weekly (archived).

Librarians: Are there any more of you out there who would like to put in your two cents (maybe a nickle now with inflation...)? We would love to hear about your library and whether it is benefiting from this dip in the economy with an increase in member signed-out material or not.

Bookstore Owners/Operators: Whether you are a part of big chain or a "mom and pop" establishment, what is your take on the decline in bookstore revenue? Is it the economy? Is it online stores like Amazon? Is it something different, or a combination of factors?

Everyone: If one thing were to actually fade into oblivion (bookstores, libraries, paper books) what is the one you couldn't live without?

David McAfee - Guest Blogger - 1000 Books

Thursday is upon us, Zealots! Here to share in the second-to-last day of the week is Guest Blogger, David McAfee. Self-publishing is a fickle beast and this is his spin on how he has been successful at it.

1,000 Books.

I’m not sure what the actual numbers are for self published authors. It seems like almost everyone has a statistic they are ready to share. “Most self-published books don’t even sell 50 copies,” or “95% of all self published books only sell copies to family and friends,” or more of the same. Basically, the gist of it seems to be that self publishing your book is a sure-fire way to condemn it to obscurity and low sales.

But that’s not always the case.

Amanda Hocking has sold over 10,000 copies of her YA Vampire books in just a few months. The first book in the series, My Blood Approves, stays near the top of the Amazon Kindle Store. I think it rented a condo in the top 1,000 and is reluctant to leave until its lease is up. Miss Hocking just recently quit her day job to devote her energies to writing full time.

Imagine that. 10,000 books, part time! I shudder to think what she is going to come up with as a full time author. I’m sure it will be amazing.

My own self-published book, 33 A.D., has sold over 1,000 copies on the Kindle since March 9, 2010. While not nearly as successful as Amanda’s work, I am still proud of that milestone. Many authors would look at 1,000 sales and be unimpressed, but it’s just a beginning. The beautiful thing about the Kindle is that the book will never go out of print. It’ll keep selling and selling and selling. You have to love that.

The secret to selling a thousand or more books as an independent author? You ready? There IS a secret, and I am going to share it with you, ‘cause that’s the kind of guy I am. Write a good book. Polish the hell out of it. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? It isn’t. Self published books have a tremendous stigma attached to them, so there are many hurdles to overcome. The writing itself should not be one of them. Many writers toss out whatever they write, unedited and unformatted, and send it out into the world long before it’s ready. If you are at the point where self publishing is your best option, don’t be one of those writers.

It’s still better to have a publisher to market your work. A publisher has avenues that writers just don’t, especially poor writers like me. But sometimes you have to give yourself a jumpstart. Just make sure the work is actually ready before you do. Who knows? That extra time spent revising and editing might just be the difference between selling 50 books and selling 10,000.


That is a great inspiration, Dave. But you are oh-so-true, sending out something polished will succeed that much better over something that is not. Sure, it may cost some money to get a decent cover done and to get the interior edited and formatted (be sure to utilize friends, local college English departments and the kitchen sink for editing), but how many books does it take to recover that... 150 or 200 printed books (of course more as a Kindle as the price point and return is much less)? That certainly isn't that many if you think about it - I'm sure your goals are much higher than that - and it will begin to break the stigma one book at a time. As much as there is competition within the book world, there is also a brotherly and sisterly comradery to want to see everyone succeed. There is a lot of great work out there that gets overseen (quite possibly yours!) and hopefully with David's advice you get to the next stage towards your final goal. To find out more about David McAfee and his book 33 A.D, be sure to to head over to mcafeeland.wordpress.com. Thanks again!

Those of you out there who have become a well-established self-pub author, are there any 'trade secrets' you wish to share? Don't make me a liar... drop the rivalry and share some goodness =)>.

As always, thanks for stopping by and reading.

Back From a CRAZY Week!

Hey folks!

Sorry for being nearly non-existent last week. I was working on the final version of GRIM REAPER: End of Days - and all I can say is wow! It is such a powerful book that regardless of if you are a horror/thriller/suspense reader or not, it is a must-read as the main character fights for his survival, physically and spiritually, along with the survival of his wife, child and the city of NY.


Related to this, Steve just had an interview with The Authors Speak, and it was a great piece. They talked about MEG, Grim, and a handful of other things. Definitely a fun read and thanks to Eric Mays for a job well done.

Last Wednesday, AJ Tata made an appearance on the Jim Bohannon Show talking about the 'end of combat' phase of Iraq. If you want to listen just to him, jump ahead to about 2/5ths through the audio file. As always, Tony did a great job. The next day, he made a stop at The Early Show (link coming, the one I had seemed to be defective from CBS) to talk more about the withdraw of troops from Iraq. Fingers crossed I get the vid soon to let you know.

Now, if you haven't come to realize, Rick Chesler finds his way into many venues to talk about his well-received WIRED KINGDOM. Here is another one via Number One Novels. Thanks so very much to Rebecca Chastain for coming up with the premise for NON and for bringing Rick on for a great interview. Also, he made a stop at Kindle Author for an interview with questions related to Kindles. All good stuff.

Well, that's it for now. Thanks for tuning in. We would love to hear your input in the interviews, the artwork and whatever else you want to weigh in on. Have a good 'un.

John Fitch V - Guest Blogging - Is Writer's Block Real?

Wow, another weekend come and gone, but we are glad to have you back at another Guest Blogging session. Today's guest is John Fitch V - someone to certainly keep your eye on. Topic: Writer's Block ... is it for real and how to overcome it.


When Stan asked me to jot down some thoughts for this blog, I jumped at the chance to reach some new readers. My only question was: What the heck am I going to write about?

I paced my office for hours. I doodled. I stared at my computer screen.

“I gots nothin’,” I said to myself, a look of abject horror spread across my face.

It was a sad day, especially for someone who doesn’t believe in writer’s block.

Yes, it’s true. I believe this term is meaningless. Like ghosts, I haven’t believed in it for some time, and I want to tell you why. Writer’s block is the killer of creativity; it is the killer of stories. Yet, it's purely self-created, more than a little self-indulgent, and is also an excuse for procrastination. As you may have surmised, the “I can’t think of anything to write!” complaint doesn’t sit well with yours truly.

I learned how to eliminate writer’s block a few years ago. Prolific author Kevin J. Anderson listed 11 tips on his old MySpace page, and the second one sticks with me to this day: Defy The Empty Page. Anderson used the movie THROW MOMMA FROM THE TRAIN as an example: Billy Crystal played an author who had trouble coming up with his opening line. He paced and paced, staring at his typewriter as he attempted to write the hook necessary to grab his readers. Anderson’s message in this tip is simple: A writer cannot let the first sentence be a hang up, especially when you’re only writing a first draft. As Anderson writes, “You’ve got to start your fingers typing, or your pen writing, or your tape recorder recording.”

Earlier this year, I found a sure-fire method for curing a block. I was in the process of brainstorming/outlining my first thriller novel and I have to admit, I got a little stuck. In order to get out of this sticky situation, I opened an e-mail and began to type a message to Steven Savile, one of my best friends in publishing. I typed what had just happened in my outline when it came to me: “His agents have NOT left the country!” It opened up new scenes in my mind. I couldn’t stop writing after that. It was my ability to get the fingers going—in the e-mail—that made all the difference. I came up with an idea, and I ran with it.

Simply put, I don’t allow writer’s block to invade my writing process. If it comes anywhere near my office, I beat it back with a stick. But I digress…

The goal of any writer is to get your story into prose. It doesn’t matter if it’s good or bad during the brainstorming/first draft stage. If it’s bad, delete it and it won’t exist ever again. Or copy and paste it into a different file; you never know, it may be useful in a different novel.

In a nutshell, the best way of overcoming writer’s block is to deny it from happening. A writer just needs to get the story moving somehow, even if one has to type “I can’t think of anything to write!” over and over again until an idea comes into focus.

Now that I’ve got this blog post out of the way — what am I going to write about for my next novel?


Great post, John! Thanks for sharing your tips on breaking that cycle.

John Fitch V is an independent author specializing in the YA, fantasy, and thriller genres. His web site is www.johnfitchv.com, be sure to check him out there and hook up with him on Facebook and Twitter as he has lots of great stuff he shares with his friends, both stories and playful banter. His baseball time travel novel, TURNING BACK THE CLOCK, (Go Sox!) recently spent time in the Kindle Store’s Top 500. This fall, he’ll release his seventh novel. Continued best of luck to him and we look forward to seeing more of him, both here and in the industry!

So folks, what are your thoughts the big WB? What are some tips you can give to break the cycled that John hasn't provided here? We are looking forward to your input.

Thanks for your continued readership and we will talk again soon.

David Niall Wilson - Guest Blogger - Never Give Up On Things You Love

Good Thursday, all. I hope you have had a great week so far! Today's guest is David Niall Wilson - a writer, an electronic guru, and all around good guy. He has decided to take the inspirational route for this post talking about a past novel and low-crawling the trenches to making it what it should be.

Vampires and Undead Novels – Never Give Up on Things You Love

A long time ago I set out to write a vampire novel. I was new to the writing thing. Though I had a small pile of magazines and a couple of anthologies who had printed my work, and I'd sold five novels, four of which were licensed work in other people's universes, I only had one novel of my own, "This is My Blood," and that book took forever to actually make it to print. What I needed, I told myself, was to capitalize on that first book – which was about Vampires and Mary Magdalene and Judas, and on the small pile of Dark Ages vampire novels I'd sold (but not yet written) to White Wolf Publication's World of Darkness. I needed a stand-alone vampire novel of my own with sequel potential. That's when I started writing about Klaus.


Klaus was a rock star. I play guitar, and I've been in bands. I understand the dynamics behind groups of musicians pretty well, and I made use of that in this book. Klaus brought his band, made up of the too-educated and very sheltered keyboardist – Sebastian, the huge, bear-like drummer, Peyton, and the dark, brooding guitar virtuoso, Damon, to the small village of Rathburg in Germany. I made very bit of this place up – and I've never been to Germany, though I spent a lot of time in Europe. I don't think it matters. I think it works…time will tell.

Anyway, I started writing, and in time I had a novel. So I told myself. I sent it to agents and editors, and I carried it to conventions. I tried to find a home for that book for a very long time, but no one was biting. It was printed once for a convention in Norfolk, Virginia – a POD nightmare with chapter two included twice and the uncopy-edited manuscript used instead of the proofed copy. By that point I'd changed the title from KLAUS to THE PATH OF THE METEOR – and I'd shifted it from first person to third person. I say that with a rueful grin planted firmly on my chagrined face.

Why? Because it was still a mess. That early book – that masterpiece I'd shaken in everyone's face for years – had two definite qualities. One was that the story was very good, and the ending even better. The other was that it was a freaking mess. There were still more than two dozen instances of first person cropping up. There were passive verbs out the wazoo. There were over and underwritten passages. It needed help. Still…I kept it.

Recently I sent that novel out to five readers. I aggregated their comments, sifted them for a while, and then I set to work. I edited the crap out of it – literally. The novel became leaner, cleaner, and it finally sprouted a new title. Darkness Falling.

I considered sending it out to traditional publishers again, but I have a new philosophy on that. I think you give your energy to what you are writing and doing now. Endlessly pumping old words through leaky hoses is pointless. That said, it's a good, solid novel – a traditional vampire story with rock & roll, sex, ancient evil – the works. What I did was get some killer cover art and format the book for Kindle and other digital book readers. It's an original, no real publication prior to now…and it's available for only $0.99 until September first.

I figure, it's been around this long, and, much like the Count of old, it's refused to die. I might as well pump it full of some more of my blood and put it out there to see what happens.

If you like a good vampire story…this might be the one for you. If you read it, drop me a line and tell me. If you hate it, drop me a line anyway.

There are a lot of digital and audio novels available now through Crossroad Press – my adventure in publishing. It's possible Darkness Falling could see a print edition (paperback and affordable) if there's enough interest – or if some publisher out there sees it taking off and makes me an offer (insert image of me holding an "air phone" up and saying CALL ME).

For now…back to the words, and the new ideas. Are vampires dead? Not in this neck of the woods… (get it? Neck?) and hopefully not for a long time to come.

--David Niall Wilson


It's amazing to see and hear the progression of a novel through the eyes of the author. Thanks to David for sharing his journey and we certainly hope that he gets the deal he deserves for Darkness Falling! Be sure to make a bee-line to his website, and follow him on Facebook and Twitter for up-to-date happenings in his world.

So, to you novelists out there, I'm sure that Dave isn't the only one who has gone thru rewrites and rehashes... let's hear your stories! Has it created a success story, or are you working towards one?

As always, thanks for reading!

Sean Ellis - Guest Blogger - Your New Favorite Adventure Author

Good Monday, folks! I hope you had a relaxing and refreshing weekend and are ready to take this week we aptly named 'bull' by the horns. Today's guest is Sean Ellis. He is a great adventure writer and has written up a piece for your reading enjoyment titled Your New Favorite Adventure Author. Happy reading:

Your New Favorite Adventure Author

Hi, I'm Sean Ellis and I'm inquiring about the position you advertised for "New Favorite Adventure Author"....

Yes, I know you've had a lot of applicants. With so many to choose from, and the economy the way it is, you can only afford to take on the very best. Yes, I really do understand.

But I also know that you are still looking. That's part of the reason you spend hours browsing shelves at the bookstore and combing the Internet for reviews. It's the reason you came here today. You've been looking for something new for quite a while. And with so many of us trying to get noticed, it's harder than ever to find the ideal candidate. But since I've got your attention....

Hah, that's the question I was hoping you wouldn't ask. Can't we start with something simple like:"'What's my most embarrassing moment?" Okay, it's a fair question: Let me paraphrase it: "If I'm such a good author, why haven't I been discovered by a big publishing house?" I used to ask myself the same question. I tried to make it with those big-league publishers for about ten years. Now, the obvious answer might be that I'm actually not that good an author, but none of the rejection letters I got said that....

Maybe. Maybe they were just being polite. Still, quite a few them were very positive in tone. Their response was usually: "We just don't think there's a market for it." You see, the publishing industry is a business like any other. They have to be able to sell a lot of books to justify their investment. The decision of the publisher when dealing with the huge quantity of manuscripts they receive is based at least as much on economic parameters, as it is on creative or qualitative value. And that's just one of the pitfalls for today's up and coming authors.

Let me tell you a quick story.

When I was a sophomore in high school...Yes, it was a long time ago... a few select members of my class were invited to attend a writer's conference. I only remember two things about the experience: the food was awful; and I got to meet a local author who had some months before signed a contract with a publisher for the first book of a planned science-fiction/fantasy trilogy.

From my teen-aged perspective, this was an unbelievably cool thing. I was in the presence of greatness. Oh, sure, the guy was no Frank Herbert, but he was a "published author" which was, I was pretty sure, what I wanted to be someday.

But unfortunately there was more to his story. Before the book was actually distributed to stores, the publisher closed down the imprint that had signed him. His book had gotten published in the literal sense, but never distributed. All his hard work in clearing every single obstacle along the way to becoming a "published author" had gotten him nowhere. Oh, he might have gotten to keep whatever token advance he was given (or maybe not) and of course, a box of complimentary copies, but he was denied the one thing that I'm pretty sure he wanted more than anything else: readers. He never published another word.

I want people to read my stories. I want you to read my stories. In fact, I want to be your "New Favorite Adventure Author." But more than that, I want you to be able to make the decision, not some literary agent or corporate publishing house editorial board that, understandably, has to make a pragmatic decision based on economic factors. That's why I stopped beating my head against the wall of the big mainstream publishers and started looking at smaller independent publishing houses. The "indies" don't operate with the same kind of margins as those big corporate entities. It's true, I won't see the same kind of sales numbers, and the book probably won't make it into the permanent inventory of most bookstores, but the important thing is that the books will be there for people to read. Independent publishers are doing this for a lot of underappreciated and unrecognized authors; they're getting good books, books that would otherwise vanish into oblivion, into the hands of readers.

Look at me droning on about the trials and woes of the publishing business. What I really wanted to do was tell you about my stories, in order to convince you that I'm the best choice to be your "New Favorite Adventure Author."

But you know what? I don't want you to make that decision based on anything I've said here. I just want you to take a look at my "resume".

Website


The Shroud of Heaven


The Adventures of Dodge Dalton in the Shadow of Falcon's Wings

If you go to Amazon, you can download free excerpts from two of my published novels. It's a good way to browse them, though they're available to order from most booksellers, probably even your favorite local book retailer. The Shroud of Heaven is a contemporary thriller about a former military officer who becomes involved in a search for holy relics in the early days of the Iraq war, and along the way discovers that he's part of a much bigger conspiracy. The Adventures of Dodge Dalton is the first in a series inspired by the pulps of the 1930's. At my website, you can download two complete novellas to your computer or ebook reading device for free. One features the hero from The Shroud of Heaven. The other is an original story featuring a classic hero from the pulp magazines that inspired the Dodge Dalton series. They're not as polished as my published work, but they are pretty good examples of what I write, high-adventure with a lot of slam bang action, and a bit of "out there" thrown in for seasoning--Indiana Jones stuff. If you like Matt Reilly, Clive Cussler, or James Rollins, then you're exactly the kind of reader I'm looking for.

Maybe you're looking for something a little different than what I write. Maybe what you want is espionage, or military fiction, or a psychological thriller...yeah, I get that. But you know what, there are a lot of authors writing those stories who have traveled the same road I have. I'm sure they'd appreciate being considered for the position. More than anything else, what I hope you'll remember to think about is the independent publishers, and the authors they showcase--there are a lot more of them out there than you probably realize--when deciding who will be your New Favorite Adventure Author.


Great piece of literature, Sean. He is right though, there are so many great undiscovered authors out there, and in turn hard-working publishers (hint-hint), that are trying to give these ladies and gents shots at the success they truly deserve. Thanks so very much to Sean, and I hope you take the time to see what he has to say on his website and Facebook.

It sounds as though Sean has been an aspiring author for quite some time, and now he has accomplished this and is reaching for bigger and better goals. I know that not all of you are writers out there, but you must have had goals as a kid, and now today as adults. What did you strive for and did you accomplish it? Is it still a work in progress or did your direction change upon the realization that it wasn't what you truly wanted?

We look forward to your thoughts.

Friday the 13th - No Bad Luck!

Hey folks,

One of my personal favorite days of the year, Friday the 13th, has come, and has brought some great news with it over the past few days. Let's start with this great image:


Thanks to everyone who made it happen to get SILVER on the poster for ...

... hold on, is this a farce? Doh! Well, it deserves to be there anyway, so enjoy the view.

Next, Kristina Schram was interviewed over at KentHollawayOnline.blogspot.com. As always, Kent asks some great questions to get her mental juices flowing. Here are a few things as posted on the blog that you may find interesting:

Blurbs & Reviews -

"An amazing adventure to a unique and mysterious subterranean world."
-- Jeremy Robinson, bestselling author of Raising The Past and Antarktos Rising

"This was a great book--really packed with adventure and suspense. I can't wait to read the next one when it comes out!"
-- Dan U.

"I really enjoyed the strange creatures and mythical world! I especially liked Vesuvius and Ellie."
-- Elizabeth S.

"The Chronicles of Anaedor is a wonderful literary ride for all ages. A real page turner! Can't wait for the next book!"
-- Danielle MacDonald

Lastly, on the topic of blurbs, here are 3 pieces of advanced praise for Steve Alten's Grim Reaper: End of Days (coming 10-10-10):

"Steve Alten has become a master of non-stop thrill rides in
uncomfortably real settings. With 'Grim Reaper: End of Days,' his
chilling descriptions of biological warfare recall the terrifying
accounts in Richard Preston's 'The Hot Zone.'"
-- Andrew Tallackson, Entertainment Editor, Michigan City News-Dispatch

"Readers will connect on many levels with Steve Alten's 'Grim Reaper'
- an apocalyptic tale of a world hurtling toward a horrifying but
believable doom, and a moving commentary on the centuries-old struggle within the very souls of men."
-- Chip Minemyer, Editor, The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa.

"With GRIM REAPER: END OF DAYS, Steve Alten deftly spins ancient evil, human corruption and a deadly pandemic into a truly terrifying modern thriller. Highly recommended!"
-- Jonathan Maberry, NY Times Best-selling author of ROT & RUIN and THE DRAGON FACTORY

Be sure to check out the contest that is going on for Grim Reaper as well! Win your place in infamy forever. Even if you don't win, you get to take part in another top-quality Alten production and viral video campaign. It's going on now, so don't wait, use the weekend to stake your claim.

Lark Neville - Guest Blogger - Persona

Good Thursday!

With the week quickly coming to an end, I thought I'd share this with you. It's a short story from Lark Neville, a veritable queen of the internet, titled Persona.

Persona

by Lark Neville

“Please,” Resa pleads, all pigtails and puppy dog eyes. “Just a little more?”

I have settled on the couch as she drew from me. I open my heavy-lidded eyes to meet hers. Hungry. God. She’s always hungry.

Her fingertips trail down my bare arm. Electricity dances between us in her touch. That pulse is life, connection. I long for it as much as I hate it. She licks her lips with anticipation. It’s an obscene contrast to the beautiful child’s face.

“No, Resa,” I answer. “No more tonight.”

For just an instant her innocent mask breaks. She flashes teeth and hisses. It’s there and over so fast that others would question if they’d even seen it. But I know better.

This creature that sits before me, wearing the face of my eight-year old self and being addressed by my name, is not sugar or spice or anything nice.

“Don’t be mad,” I say. “I’m just too tired tonight. I can’t give you anymore. I can barely stay awake as it is.”

She cocks her head studying me. My legs tremble as I make my way down the hall to the bedroom. With each motion I wonder more if I should have just stayed on the couch. I have to stop every few steps and rest against the wall. My heart beats hard and fast. I can’t catch my breath.

“It’s all right,” she says, taking my hand.

So cold. Her grip is strong, revealing her true nature. It feels like ice water begins to creep from the point of contact, up my arm, and finally chills my entire 5’5” frame. But oddly, I begin to feel stronger. My breathing quiets, and I no longer feel my heartbeat. I brace myself for what’s to come. Resa always follows physical aid with a psychic chaser that isn’t half as kind.

“No, don’t,” I plead. My blue eyes ice over with dread.

“I must. I am sorry,” she says with a kindness I almost believe.

My vision goes black, a fleeting void, before she starts to flood my mind with memories. They hit.

I’m nine-years old, standing in the schoolyard. The cold and rain have chilled me. My hair, soaked and muddied, clings to my back and face. My torn shirt with the Holly Hobby appliqué clings to my tiny frame. She forces me to meet the hideously smiling eyes and hear the laughter of these youthful torturers. Their kicks paint my flesh in black and blue tenderness.

I’m 13-years old, all awkward coltishness. I am lying in bed, my back to the door. My breath is held as I feign sleep and listen to the house. The creak of my door being opened by my stepfather screams in the night. He whispers my name as the darkness takes the room again.
She lets me relive his rough groping and crushing kisses for a brief time before breaking the link to the past. Of course, it is never completely gone.

Tears stream down my face. A toxic mix of shame, self-hate, anger, and grief fills me. I let loose a scream to release the emotions, but they are so strong. I want to claw at my skin to let them out. So I do.

By the time I’m done, I’ve gouged both forearms with my fingernails. Blood flows from the wounds, warm and slick. I feel a blessed sense of disconnection as I stare down at my handiwork.
She reaches out and takes my hand again. I wipe the tears away and let her lead me toward the master bedroom and adjoining bathroom.

“You should know better,” she chides. “You forced me to stop the flow. You didn’t get all you needed.”

“I got enough. Believe me.”

“Not, not, not, says the kettle to the pot,” Resa sing songs as she attends to my wounds.

“Stop that.”

“Stop what?”

“The rhymes, pretending like you’re just a little girl. I don’t like it.”

She laughs. “Ah but I am.”

She catches my glare of disbelief and shakes her head. “You’ve never understood.”

She’s right about that.

* * *

I want to wake up, laugh off this bad dream. Resa’s a monster that should vanish in dawn’s light. But she doesn’t. She remains. Always. Flashing that sickeningly sweet smile at me.

It’s been nearly a year now. Every day I wake to her beside me, waiting for me to rise and begin our dance once more. She chirps and demands like a baby bird till I offer up my essence.

So I do.

She feeds. When she gives the energy back it’s transformed. It’s purified. It’s empowered. The price of the strength she gives me, is the past she conjures for me to relive.

Each time the memories are harder to bear. I don’t know how much more I can take. So I pray when I wake to be alone. I pray to be haunted by myself no longer.

But with each sunrise, my doubt that she will ever leave grows.

* * *

I wake to find Resa lying on her stomach, her chin resting in her hands as she waits for me to rise. She looks like she’s posing for a photo. She is actually quite cute.

“Sleepy head,” she chides.

“Mmm. It’s Sunday. It’s allowed,” I say, my eyes blinking in the morning sunlight.

“I’ve been quiet and waited, but I’m hungry.”

“You always are. Let me wake up a bit more and take a shower.”

The warm water seems to wash away the remaining fuzzy edges from my thoughts. I look at the bandages on my forearms and contemplate stripping them off as I feel the glue loosen and their hold become tenuous. I decide to wait. I am not sure I want to face the damage I did to myself just yet.

“Go ahead,” Resa says through the curtain. She is doing a little tap dance on the bathroom’s blue and white tile.

So I do. Carefully. Slowly. Ready to stop at the slightest pinch of skin being reopened. But no pain comes. The aftermath of the unraveling leaves me speechless.

I shut off the water and grab the towel. Resa is sitting on the toilet swinging her legs. She eyes my arms — perfect, bloodless, scarless, healed. She smiles. “Understand now?”

“No, how…” I stammer.

“You give. I take.”

“Take what?”

“Your pain.”

She extends her forearms to me. Scars now line her alabaster skin.

“See? You give. I take.”

“I see.”

But understanding it all still has me at a loss.

* * *

I dine on liver and onions. Resa is pinching her nose and making faces at me. She enjoys taunting me, the vegetarian, for breaking my spiritual beliefs in answer to my body’s craving for blood and protein.

I am a bit repulsed, but I can’t deny that it’s restoring the balance my body lost through last night’s bloodshed. So I finish it.

“Me now!” she jigs excitedly.

“Fine. Bedroom.”

Once I lie down, she takes my hands. Her eyes close. Her chin slowly drops to her chest like someone under hypnosis. Then I feel the tug, as though she’s grabbed a bit of my aura and is pulling it into her. She gasps very slightly and her head goes back.

I close my eyes too and relax into the flow. There isn’t anything else to do. I breathe slowly in and out along with the waves of energy. I sink into the darkness like a mother’s arms. The world quiets down to just sound of my heartbeat, a primal drum marking time. Peace. Stillness. As close to the bliss of nothingness I’ll know while I live.

I’m half ready to fall asleep when she lightly shakes my hands. I open my eyes.

“Ready? I have to give this to you now.”

After a couple of deep breaths I nod. “Go ahead.”

I’m three-years old, lying in the hospital bed. Dozens of staples close the long incision that had been made down my back. A chest tube pokes out from between my left ribs, filled with my open-heart surgery’s bloody run-off. My mother stands over me weeping. “I can’t do this,” she tells my father. She leaves and he quickly follows after her. It’s my turn to cry, to scream. No one hears.

I’m 17-years old, watching as Tony downs another beer. Megan and Brian have left us alone in the basement game room while they make use of an upstairs bedroom. The alcohol on his breath as he kisses me smells like my stepdad and before I know what I’m doing I slap Tony. Bitch, he yells as he backhands me. His full weight comes down on me as he fumbles with the zipper of my jeans, pressing his lips into mine.

“Please,” I plead in the present and the past for this moment to stop, to save me from being ripped open, bruised, betrayed by this boy I loved. But neither Resa nor Tony listen.

When it’s finally over and the past fades to present, I’m as shell-shocked as I’d been then. An ineffable pain seizes me, so intense that all I know is a void where my heart should beat.

“You lied,” I managed to say at last. “You don’t take pain, you give it.”

She shushes me. Then the glacial chill once again flows through my arms, courses through my body. I feel centered – the blissful sense of being weightless and grounded all at once.

When she finishes she gives me a smile. “That was it. Those were the worst. I saved them for last.” She moves away from me, but with the deliberate, slow movements of someone trying to regulate her own pain. As she turns from me, the dip in the back of her dress reveals she now bares the same scar I have.

“Stop!” She jumps at my barked command and turns to look at me.

I sit up and move gingerly over to her.

“Can I see?” I ask. She nods without hesitation. I gently pull the dress away from her skin. The raw, freshly knitted scar crosses most of her back. “Oh, Resa. You poor thing. Does it hurt?”

“Just a little. It’s okay. Now you won’t hurt anymore.”

“My scar doesn’t hasn’t hurt for years,” I say.

“But your heart did,” she counters. She fuses with the pleats of her dress. “You won’t dream about all of those things now. You finally felt the pain. So now I can keep it for you. Go look in the mirror! Go see.”

“Okay.”

I pull the hand-mirror from underneath the bathroom sink and lay it on the counter. I slip my sweater off over my head. Angling the looking glass, I can see the reflection of my back in the bathroom mirror. Just the barest trace of my scar remains.

As I dress again, I realize the usual heaviness and pain of my body is gone. I roll my neck and then my shoulders. Gone are the knots from muscles which had tied themselves into bloody Christmas bows. Every action is easier and my senses are wide open. The cashmere kisses my skin as the sweater slides on. I breathe in the scent of lavender soap. Resa’s humming in the other room nearly makes me cry with its sweetness.

Quite honestly I don’t feel like myself. I feel good. God, I feel good. I had forgotten what that is like. I return to the bedroom and flop on the bed beside Resa.

We lie on our stomachs in silence for a time. I stroke her black locks as she plays with a purple iris she’d liberated from the nightstand’s vase.

“Thank you,” I say to Resa. I kiss the top of her head.

“You’re welcome,” she says.

She starts to hum again. I feel like I should know the song but in my drowsy contentment I can’t place it. So I rest my head on my pillow, close my eyes and let her melody wash over me. Sleep soon follows.

* * *

I wake and roll over believing I’ll see Resa watching me expectantly. But instead I find her curled up on the bed beside me seemingly asleep clutching the flower.

“Hey sleepy head,” I say.

When she doesn’t stir, I sit up and study her. She seems too still. It’s then I notice the cracks in her skin, like the remnants of a log that has burned down but, for now, manages to keep its shape.

I reach out and gently touch her face. Her body crumbles filling the air with golden ashes.

I watch as the dust dances in the morning sunlight, and I cry.

I never thought she’d leave.

But I've finally awakened.

Time to create new dreams.


Quite a powerful story! Was it as simple as it was only a dream? Was it a guardian hidden by her mind's eye? Or was it something more complex than that? Let's hear your take.

Thank you so very much, Lark, for sharing such a great piece! I certainly look forward to reading more. Folks, I welcome you to seek her out as she is a great writer, reader, and person. You can find her on her website, LarkNeville.com, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Beyond what your take was on this piece, when dreams and reality mesh to the point of where you can't tell when one stops and the other begins, what do you do with that? Do you write about it? Do you put it in a journal to remember it or look up the potential meaning? Or are dreams only dreams to you and they have no meaning?

J.c. Hutchins - Guest Blog - When Social Marketing Goes Sour

Hey all!

I know many of you out there have heard of J.C. Hutchins - author of a few quite successful traditionally published novels - but his main success got its place with podcasting his well-made audio books, the spark that drove the blaze you might say. Labeled a 'New Media writer', he along with a few of his cohorts have broken the mold of what it means to be published and how to go about doing it. So, without further ado, let's let J.C. do the talking.


To my hyper-connected New Media writer colleagues: Watch this wise video from writer and social media professional Chris Brogan. In it, he talks about spending gobs of time on social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook, and how that investment may pull folks away from other, more important endeavors.

My takeaway from Chris' video is a brass-knuckled buzzkill for Twitter-enamored wordherders, but it's one worth considering: Every sentence you post in the fleeting ether of Twitter and Facebook is one less sentence you're dedicating to your creative work. If you're serious about writing, completing, selling and publishing stories, the best home for your words and creative energy is always your work in progress.

Your creative project will have a permanence, meaning and impact that those tweets and status updates never will. Tweeting about writing isn't writing. Tweeting critiques about others' fiction doesn't put more words on your own pages.

Social media networking sites do indeed provide wonderful places to converse about creativity -- but don't let their cozy, comfortable confines become a lullaby for your own creative efforts. Writers write.

If you're serious about completing your creative work, publishing it, and getting paid for it, now's a good time to recommit yourself to those goals and funnel your words into the best home for them: your work in progress. The most resonant writing doesn't have 140-character limits.


Great post J.C. There is certainly some validity to your post and to what Chris says. Finding that happy place between work and play is always going to be a tough, but one that needs to be made to be sure that your word and work get out there, as ultimately that is your goal. Thanks for the insight.

For more on J.C. Hutchins, be sure to visit his website. Not only does he have a bio worth checking out as well as how to contact and track him, but he also has a bunch of his work posted for your viewing/listening pleasure.

So, what do you do when it comes to social networking? Do you impose a time limit with a kitchen timer? Is it a certain time of the day every day? Do you find that social marketing is more of a poison than a helper to your career? Or are you completely free-form knowing that social networking is the place to be (and if so, does this post change your outlook)?

I Enjoy Sharing Great News

Hey thriller fans,

Some great news from author David Sakmyster - he's all over the net! First thing, check out an interview on The Eerie Digest. It's a great look into the mind of Dave, his interests, his inspirations and his aspirations. Next, he was over at M.J. Rose's blog, Reincarnationist, in a fresh new look on the standard Q & A. It was a great eccentric set that should shed more light on who Dave is (who he was, and who he wants to become again). Lastly, I was just made aware that his screenplay, "The Lazarus Group" is into the semifinals at Scriptapalooza (top 100 of approximately 5000). Congrats to Dave! Winners should be announced in a couple of weeks, so keep everything crossed.

Next, a book we don't hear enough of, Violent Sands made an appearance on the net recently. Stop over to LanguageIsAVirus.com to see what people are saying. Lots of good stuff, of course. It could be a great purchase at $4.99 at the Kindle store, then you like it so much it's off to buy the trade version... I'm just saying.

Last thing, AJ Tata was in a blog recently, but not about what you might think in his Threat series of books. No, this was about his day job, Chief Operations Officer of the Metro DC school system. Titled A Shared Vision for DCPS Food Services, Tony, along with other school officials, parents, food service professionals, and community organizations, weigh in on the schools meal system and how it can be changed for the better. Whether you are a local, or a concerned parent wondering about the food we give our children, this is worth the few minutes to read up on. Hopefully this is the start of something great that can spread to the rest of the nations districts.

Enjoy your weekend folks. Next weeks guests on the blog will be J.C. Hutchins and Lark Neville.

Kristina Schram - Guest Blogger - Developing Your Story Idea

Happy Thursday, peeps,

Today's guest is Kristina Schram. Not only will she have the floor in a moment, but I will have some updates about her at the end.

Developing Your Story Idea

I wish I had a dollar for every time someone has told me that they would like to write a book someday. I’d have at least a $100 by now. My question is: Why wait? Do you have an idea? Do you have an idea, but have no clue where to start?

Personally, I’ve never had too much of a problem coming up with story ideas. My head is filled with them (perhaps overfilled, one might say). Most writers are the same way. We just can’t turn our imaginations off. Maybe that’s why people look at us funny. Our minds are so stuffed with characters and ideas from our fictional worlds, that sometimes these things just start slipping out. On occasion, my husband has to say to me, "Come back, Kristina. Come back!"

Okay. I’m back. So you’ve got lots of ideas. Now what?

1. Buy a notebook. Make it a nice one, cool or pretty - whatever turns you on - and start considering it as another appendage to your body. In here, you are going to make a list of your story ideas. While doing this, make sure you leave plenty of pages for adding to each idea. Come to think of it, you’d better make it a big notebook.

What’s next…?

2. Pick out an idea that you really, really like. Then figure out if this is a story someone else might care about. The trouble in this day and age is that most of us have to cater to the almighty dollar if we want to get published. Will your idea sell? Will people want to read a book on the topic you want to write about? Yes? Then keep reading. No? Then pick another one.

Special note: I don’t want to discourage you from being innovative and groundbreaking. So if you think you’ve got a unique idea, develop it and don’t worry about the money. Vincent Van Gogh only sold one painting in his lifetime. Yet look at how we revere his work today. Of course, he didn’t have much to eat and he cut off his ear, but he’s considered a genius now!

Seriously, you should write what you love. At the same time, you might want to avoid putting out the same old stuff that is already out there. I sort of ignored that advice when I wrote about Anaedor. I love writing fantasy, but in these days of Harry Potter, everyone else seems to love it, too. I did try to make my story somewhat unique - the angle, the characters, the setting. Yes, I tackled a genre that is filled to the gills with J.K. wannabes, but I tried my best to do a unique take on it. Whether I succeeded or not will be up to the readers. Basically I didn’t follow my own advice, so maybe you shouldn’t even be listening to me.

3. Okay, so you’ve picked out an idea. Now, do your research. See what’s big out there. Or not big and needs to be filled. Here’s a freebie… When I search for books to read to my kids I’m always on the lookout for ones that fit their interests. My one son is a natural-born inventor. But there are not many books aimed at a young, budding scientist, though maybe for good reason. Another one of my sons loves to cook. But I can’t find anything on that kind of thing, and certainly not for a little kid.

If you want to write children’s stories, question parents with young children about what they’re looking for (library storytimes are a great place to find such parents). Or, go to Amazon and type in a genre…see how many books pop up on the subject. Too many? See if you can narrow it down to a unique slant on the genre. For a wacky example, let’s say I want to write about action/adventure. You will discover that there are thousands of action adventure books out there. But how many of them star a rock as the hero? None. Same genre, unique slant. You get to do the area you’re interested in, but are making it sellable by being different.

4. So how do you develop an idea? I spend a lot of time thinking about my stories. Some writers say they will spend years developing an idea. They are writing other books, in the meantime, so don’t use that as an excuse to delay getting started! Think about your idea while you’re showering, while lying in bed, while you’re driving or taking a walk. Imagine yourself in the story. Who do you meet? What’s the conflict? When does it take place (past, present, future, different plane of time)? Where does it take place? Do research on your topic. That’s the beauty of the internet. Get online and type in your idea. There’s so much information out there, that it should stimulate your creative juices. If it doesn’t, consider yourself a hopeless case.

Additionally, I create a special document just for notes on my book. My latest is 80 pages long, almost a book in itself (though a lot of it is cut and paste - just don’t plagiarize the stuff, please - consider the information merely a tool for writing your book and stimulating story ideas). It’s actually quite fun to do and at the very least, you’re learning something.

5. Now that you have a general outline of what you want to do, it’s time to get more specific. Take each character and describe them (what’s their favorite food? If they were to vote, who would they pick? Bad habits? Unique physical characteristics?). Make a map of your setting (whether it be a house, a town, a world, or all of the above). Be as detailed as you can. I actually draw pictures. I’m terrible at drawing, but it helps me to visualize things. Oftentimes, you can get tripped up in your book because you don’t have everything set out. You could end up with a river that flows upstream (which is only okay if you wanted it that way). Or, you might end up with all the characters having similar names - not good. Readers will confuse them. Maybe your main character has green eyes at the beginning and blue eyes by the end. Details matter!

6. To sum up, you develop your story idea by immersing yourself in it and living it. I think the best way to do that is to join that world and be that world. This may cause problems in your real life - you might start confusing fiction with reality, something I often do - but this should be temporary. Until you start working on the next book, that is!

So that’s my take on developing story ideas, for what it’s worth. I hope this blog helped and if it didn’t, then I don’t know what to do for you. I sweated blood writing this blog. I have nothing left to give. Make my efforts worthwhile…get started on developing your story idea!


There is a lot of great info here for those of you who are looking to take the plunge, or needed a new perspective to get the juices flowing. We hope you take this and run with it to see you in the published ranks one day!

For more on Kristina, be sure to swing by her website and/or Facebook page. If you are local to the New Hampshire area, she will be having some events coming in the near future that we would like to share with you. Be sure to pencil them in as not to forget:


August 16, 2010 ~ Blog Talk Radio Interview. Along with one or two other authors, she will be talking with Dellani Oakes about her book and about being an author. She'll also be reading an excerpt from the book. Visit Dellani's Tea Time at 4:00 Central to listen to this family friendly event!

August 19, 2010 ~ Book Signing Event. Kristina will be selling, signing and reading from her book. It will be at Barnes & Noble Book Store in Manchester, NH (across from the mall) at 4:00!

August 25, 2010 ~ Local Authors Night. The Toadstool Bookshop in Keene, NH, at 7:00! There will be two fantasy authors (one is her) and two mystery writers. They willl be selling, signing and talking about their books.

October 23, 2010 ~ New Hampshire AuthorFest 2010. The event will be held at Borders Bookstore in Concord, New Hampshire. Local authors will be attending this important event to help promote literacy. There will be an author meet and greet, author readings, an award presentation and several chances to win signed books and original artwork to help raise money for literacy!

These all sound like great events and we hope to see you there. You can also find a new writeup on her from the ITW Big Thrill e-zine. Thank you to Karen Dionne and the ITW for the opportunity.

Thanks for reading! Before we go though, what are some of the things you do to develop your story? And likewise, what did you try that didn't work? Let's get a list going for anyone and everyone to be able to review time and time again.

Interviews and Reviews To Love

Hey readers,

Got some cool pieces to share with you that have come in over the past week or so that I'd like to share with you. Let's start off with Jeremy Robinson news, there's a bunch!

Jeremy Robinson
He's had an interview, a review, and a must-see posting on his blog.
--Check out the interview titled From Podcast to Publishing Deal. There has been great response and even weigh-ins from Scott Sigler and Jeffrey Kafer. A good job thumbs-up to Jeff Rivera who headed the review.
--Next, a review of KRONOS has popped up and is a great one! There are too many spots I could post here as a teaser to entice you to go read it, but just go read it if you are looking for a new book and you haven't read this one yet. Thank you to Tera L. Montgomery, Ph.D. and Associated Content for reading and reviewing the title.
--Lastly, for those of you who have an iPhone/iPad and are a Jeremy Robinson fan, this is for you...

Coolest Author App Ever. Period. AuthorWire has arrived!

Filed under: Novels, Technology, Uncategorized, Updates — Tags: .99, app, app store, author, authorwire, ipad, iphone, itunes, novel, noveltracker — Jeremy Robinson @ 11:21 am

Is putting the word, “period” after an actual period redundant?

Anywho… As you’ve probably guessed from the title of this post, I have a new App available for the iPhone and iPad called AuthorWire. And you can get it by clicking here. It’s $.99 for a limited time and includes access to the audiobook editions of BENEATH and KRONOS, this blog, a video channel, my Twitter feed, a gallery of book covers (which will expand as new book covers arrive), a store (to buy the books) AND a unique feature I call NovelTracker, which allows you to view all the GPS locations visited in my books. Get directions to them, see where they are in the world and check out satellite images. Currently, all the locations in PULSE are up. INSTINCT will be going up soon.

Check out more screenshots and details here and then go grab it before the price goes up!

This makes me wish I had an iDevice. I've seen it first hand and it is crazy! For $.99, you can't beat it. So go out and get it to keep up with the newest Robinson goodness. This isn't the only update that is cool, so be sure to click through the link above and check out the rest of his goodness.

Rick Chesler
Rick was invited by Sean Ellis to be a guest on his blog. It is a great interview, nothing new from either of these gents, so be sure to head over and enjoy the sights. There is some great insight on the book, the future of his writing, and TV today.

Targets of Deception
If you haven't picked up this book yet, I don't know what is stopping you! Another great review got posted on the net and it just keeps adding to the legacy that is Targets of Deception.

Targets of Deception (Variance Publishing) is one of those books you will simply not be able to put down once you have started. A riveting thriller as current as today’s headlines, it moves from one fast-paced action scene to the next in that rare blend—irresistible suspense that still causes us to confront the dangerous realities of the world in which we live.

Thank you to Sheila O'Connor and Examiner.com! Be sure to catch the rest of the review and pick up the book at Amazon, Smashwords or your local bookseller today.

Thanks so much for your readership. Don't forget that tomorrow is the next installment of the Guest Blog. Talk to you then.

Shaun Jeffrey - Guest Blogger - When I Grow Up

We have a Monday treat for you on today's edition of Guest Blogger. Shaun Jeffrey, the author of three novels and many shorts, decided to give us a little comic relief with his post today (I wonder if this is something that really happened... it's written well enough to not be a story).

When I Grow Up

“Daddy, when I grow up, I want to visit another planet.”
The boy’s father peered over the top of his newspaper and stared at his son seated on the floor, scribbling in a notebook. “So you want to be an astronaut. I wanted to be an astronaut.”
“No. Not an astronaut. They travel to the stars. I want to reach for them. When I grow up, I want to live in a castle.”
The father smiled. “So you want to be a king?”
The boy shook his head. “Or a queen. When I grow up, I want to visit fairy realms.”
“Queens? Fairy realms?” Was his son having a gender crisis?
The boy scribbled some more, then leaned back, a thoughtful look on his face. “I want to fly.”
“A pilot you mean? Good. Travel the world. Well paid job.”
The boy smiled. “Don’t be silly. I want wings.” He jumped up and ran around the room, flapping his arms.
The father put his newspaper down, the pages rustling like autumn leaves. “That’s, erm, a nice dream I guess.”
The boy came to a stop, panting slightly. “And I want to catch bad guys.”
“Ah, a police officer. That’s good.”
“No, I want to shoot them.” He fired imaginary bullets from his gun-shaped hand.” When I grow up, I want to kill people. I want to make dead people walk. I want to dance with vampires and run with wolves. I want to create monsters. I want to set the world on fire.”
“Stop it. You’re talking crazy.”
“And I want paying for it. But not a lot. I don’t think you get a lot. That’s when you can actually get paid. Some people do it for the love I think.”
The father jumped up, ran across and grabbed his son firmly by the shoulders, smelling the aroma of strawberry shampoo in his hair. “Stop it. Stop talking.”
“And I want to work for myself.”
The father relaxed a little. “That’s better. Much better. Be your own boss.”
“But someone will take my work and cut it and mangle it and hack at it and I’ll hate them for it until I realise it’s for the best.”
“You’re not making any sense. Have you eaten something? Drunk something? Tell me now.”
“But it’ll take years. Many years, and even then I might not make it. But I’ll keep trying. You have to keep trying.”
“That’s enough. I don’t want to hear any more.”
“And sometimes I’ll feel like I want to pull my teeth out.”
The father started shaking the boy.
“And when I do make it, people will criticize me. They will rip me to shreds. Not all of them of course. But some will. Others will praise me. And then every day it will feel like I’m climbing Everest, sometimes climbing fast, and other times crawling. But I’ll love my job. It will be something I’m driven to do—“
“For god’s sake, what, what is it you want to do when you grow up?”
“I want to be a writer.”
The father sank to his knees and started crying. It was worse than he’d feared.


See, I told you it was good! The best comedy is usually solid truths. Thanks Shaun! If you want to check out Shaun Jeffrey's books, be sure swing by his website. There you can see The Kult, Deadfall, and Evilution, along with joining him on all of the social sites he inhabits.

So, those of you who can relate to this story, have you had times like this - whether you were the 'kid' or are raising one? Becoming a published author today isn't for the faint of heart, so-to-speak, with having to get through a roller coaster ride a la the publisher, then edit your work until you're blue in the face and promote yourself to no end to become your own brand barring your fingers and brain don't rot... all the while you are still writing your next big thing - hopefully. You can't just deny that passion, but at the same time, how do you stay realistic (or teach them how to stay that way) without breaking the dream of being 'Writer of the Year'?

Looking forward to your comments!