Monday Music - Forever May Not Be Long Enough

I know it's Tuesday, and I know I forgot my Monday Music post.  Despite being bad about that, I am still going to post a music video.  I'm trying to stay with the theme for the my current work in progress.  I'll give more info on that in later posts.

In good news.  The proof copy for "Island of Regrets" arrived.  It is well on track to be released very soon.

Ok, so here is the video.

Friday social - Fighting a cold

I don't have much for today. I was planning on something about the NFL draft. Instead I am fighting a cold and calling it a day.

 

Have a great weekend everyone.

Wednesday Writing - Chapter Headings

This week I am very focused on editing 'Island Of Regrets'.  I have every intention of getting the draft uploaded to create space (where it is published) so that I can order Proof copies this weekend.  One copy will go to an editor who in town.  One will stay with Teri and I.  We will get out the red pen and get to work on finding and correcting as many mistakes as we possibly can.  Once we and the other editor get through our respective copies, I will go through and update the book with the corrections, and set an official release date.

As I go through the book this week, I am breaking it up into chapters.  The last book I wrote, I did actual chapter headings and a table of contents.  That concept doesn't quite fit this book, so I am going with a different idea.

I am not going to put in chapter headings, or even numbers, or anything like that to identify the chapters.  I am not going to have a table of contents in the book either.

I'm super excited because this project is moving along very well right now, and I am way more than happy with the outcome of the story after I read it again for myself.  I'm getting back to work.  Have a great Wednesday everyone.

Monday Music - Free

This is from my Island of Regrets music playlist.  There were 21 songs that I put together for keeping the right mood while I wrote.

Friday Social - Boston

Honestly, there are no words I can say for those who endured the horror that happened on Monday.  There are no words I can say for those who have stayed indoors since last night because of the events still unfolding in that city.

I have lost loved ones.  I understand what that feels like, and that understanding is how I know there are no words I can put here.  I've been in a war zone in the Middle East, and that is enough for me to know there are no words that will suffice.

If anyone has been through a traumatic event or lost a loved one, then you and you alone know how incredible hard it is for you right now.  Lean on people you know and trust and let them support you.  There is no weakness in letting yourself be held.  There is no weakness in tears, and there is no weakness in feeling afraid.

May the fear come to an end very soon.

Wednesday Writing - Upcoming items

In my now very normal and typical fashion.  I feel very rushed to do everything I want to do and to accomplish all I want to accomplish.  I am determined to see it all through though.  In no particular order, here are things that are upcoming in the world of writing for me.

1. Complete and edit a short story ("The Thirteenth God") and submit the short story for approval to be published in an upcoming anthology compiled by The Northwest Independent Writers Association (NIWA for short and I am a member).

2.  Go through the comments my proofreader gave me and make changes to Island of regrets and get it set up so I can get a printed proof copy.  I am meeting with a reporter next month (as long as she doesn't have to cancel).  I am hoping to give her the proof copy and God willing get another fabulous review in a real newspaper.

I need the edit on Island completed no later than April 28 to give me time to get the proof copy ordered (without having to rush the order).  That's actually quite a bit of writing and editing and formatting (and more details you probably aren't all that interested in) that have to be completed in a short time while holding down a full time job and also finding time to at least have a little entertainment in my life.  Such is the life of a writer who needs a full time job to support his writing habit.

Happy writing, and happier reading everyone.

Monday Music - Bloodletting

Sometimes you just need the right musical inspiration to write about vampires.

Social Friday - The true Apology

I am running behind schedule, but it's not midnight yet (where I am sitting anyway), so that means I can still do my Friday post and meet my commitment.  I have to keep it brief though, because I am going fishing in the morning (Salmon), and it's going to be an early start on the day.

It is my opinion that a true apology has three critical elements.  If ever one of the three elements is missing, then the apology is not complete.  The person receiving the apology may need all three elements in order for the hurt they feel to heal, and they may only need one of the three elements.  Everything is a case by case basis.

Element One:  Say the apology.  Whether it is by voice, text, email, handwritten, or any of the numerous means of communication.  Just make sure you actually say it.  Don't say you felt bad, or that it wasn't your intention or anything else to get out of saying the words.  It is critically important that you actually say the words "I'm sorry", or "I apologize".

Element Two:  Really mean it when you say it.  Otherwise what you have said is nothing more than words and words can be used in any way.  When you mean that you are sorry, it also means that you will do your best to not let it happen again.  If you have hurt someone and do not let them know you won't do it again, they will clearly hear the message that they should be ready for you to hurt them again.  Very often, that means they will move out of your life to avoid being hurt again.

Element Three:  Make amends.  Make up for what you did that required the apology in the first place.  Show that you care about the person(s) and their feelings.  Find a way to undo the damage done, or to give them something to replace what was lost.  It could be emotional, or something physical.  In the end, it comes down to what the persons involved need.

I want to make one last comment about apologies.  Very often when we apologize, the person who benefits the most is the one giving the apology, not the one receiving it.  If you don't make an apology that truly rebuilds the bridge, then you have lost something from your life when you didn't have to.

Wednesday Writing - Island Of Regrets Book Cover

[caption id="attachment_155" align="alignnone" width="500"] Island Of Regrets[/caption]

 

Today we are unveiling the now official cover for Island of Regrets.

This cover was created by Carey Abbott of E-Book Cover Designs by Carey.  You can find more on their designs here.

http://safariheatbooktoursandauthorservices.blogspot.com/p/pre-made-covers-for-sale.html

Yes this is very exciting.  The proofreading is about two thirds complete.  Then onto the next step of fixing things that are wrong.  Another proofreading, and then to an editor.  I hope very very soon I can announce an official release date (which will include waiting for all the sales avenues to actually be live with the sales of the book).  I intend at this time to make it available in both print and eBook editions.

Happy Wednesday everyone.

Monday Music - My Little Phoenix

I like this song because it has a haunting sound.  It's just the right kind of music to set my mood for writing "Natalie's Hunt".

I like the video because it is something that is unique.  It's more than simply just showing the singer or the band lip syncing.

Social Friday - Gun Control

It's my first social Friday post and here I go bringing up one of the big items which is highly controversial.  But the stand I am going to take isn't meant to be controversial.  I hope this gives people on both sides of the issue something to think about.

First, I would like to address the side which believes we need more and stronger gun control laws.  I do agree with finding a way to to keep guns out of the hands of people who would commit violent crimes such as what we saw in Portland, OR, upstate NY, and Newtown, CT.  All three of these shootings have things in common that I believe we do not dare ignore.

The first is that in all the cases the guns were obtained illegally.  The laws were already in place to keep guns out of the hands of these three criminals, and the laws did not matter.  In two cases the guns were stolen.  Guns that were purchased by law abiding citizens who had absolutely no intent of anyone ever being harmed by those guns were instead used by violent criminals to commit harm.  The third case the criminal convinced someone else to purchase the guns for him.  That person is now in jail awaiting trial for giving the guns to a known felon.  Once again, the laws were in place, but the laws were not enough to stop the criminal intent.  If we have to contend with criminals who are intent on committing this violence regardless of the law, then it is not the laws that are our biggest concern.  Our concern is how we identify and stop these people from committing these acts of violence.

The second thing these three cases have in common is that they attacked unarmed targets.  Laws prohibited guns at the mall and the school, and the firemen responding were not armed.  Its not just these three cases, but many more.  These violent criminals are intentionally going after men, women, and children who they know cannot fight back.  Their intent is to cause maximum damage as quickly as possible and they cannot do that if even one person can shoot at them.

I believe we need to honestly look at both of these aspects and address them.  We need to address why the laws we have in place were not effective.  We cannot solve this problem if the laws we create are not effective, whether they already exist or we write new laws.  We also need to address how we will defend men, women, and children who need to be defended.  We cannot allow the innocent to be undefended against violent criminals in this manner.  We must have a way to respond very quickly and effectively.

On the other side of the issue is the gun rights issues.  We do have guarantees in the 2nd amendment to the constitution.  We do have millions of legal gun owners who have never committed a crime of any kind.  When I see messages supporting the rights of the people to own guns, and reaffirming the second amendment, and various topics from people who believe we need legal gun owners to be able to stop the criminals, I keep seeing one element missing.  The gun side is not addressing the issue of how much guns are scary.  There are lots of people who are very seriously, very honestly scared of guns and scared of people who own guns.  It is not possible for the country to become unified in the stance on this while there are so many who are so truly scared.  Their fear is sufficient to want all guns removed from society, then they will no longer need to fear them.

I don't blame that fear.  I know how loud guns are.  I am familiar with death, and I am familiar with pain.   I am not afraid of guns themselves, but I am afraid of what could happen.

It's a very difficult path to tread.  I don't know the answers.  I don't know the laws that we need, and I don't know what it will really take to insure we can defend those who need defending.  I just know that our laws and our actions did not work when they needed to work.  It's time for us to truly take a look at this and find what will truly work and prevent this from ever happening again.

Wednesday Writing - Being a Man

Ok, so this is supposed to be a post that has something to do with writing, but I can barely think about writing at the moment.  Of course I'm going to explain myself.

Saturday was a beautiful day.  So I got out the lawn mower and set about the task of mowing the grass short, to be followed by putting a dethatcher attachment on the mower and going over the grass again.  I mowed the yard nice and low, then affixed the attachment.

I started the mower and got in a couple laps worth of dethatching and it died.  It stayed dead too.  I could get it to start, but it would not run more than a few seconds and die.  I opened up the carburetor to clean it out and when I was putting it back the bolt snapped.  Special order item.

New bolt arrived today.  I re-cleaned the carburetor and reattached everything and got it all running and now the mower is running better than ever.  I got the yard done in record time.  Got the fertilizer and weed killer down and in a couple weeks I expect I will have a very beautiful lawn.

I am feeling like a man for being able to fix the mower and everything is all great.

Ok.  I should at least post something about writing.  Latest work in progress now has a new character under development.  I am pretty happy with the character and what she is turning out to be.  I am looking forward to adding more of her background and fulfilling her destiny within the story.

Monday Music - Hello (Evanescence)

This song is deep, moving, and fits the mood of today in which i remember a personal experience.