Called For Music

I had a short playlist of songs to listen to while writing Natalie's Hunt.  That meant that I was listening to the songs over and over and over again (and again).

So I sent out a request for some vampire songs and people have come through.  The playlist is growing very nicely and has a very nice mix of songs that fit the mood I want to be in when I am writing on Natalie's Hunt.

Tomorrow I have a book signing at a locally owned bookstore.  The owner is amazingly friendly.   I couldn't be happier about being there for the book signing.  Just to share with everyone it will be at Interstellar Overdrive books 7732 NE Hazel Dell Ave, Vancouver, WA.  Would love to see you there.

I'll go back to finding some more music for Natalie's Hunt.  Have a great night.

Natalie's Hunt is progressing

I've turned my attention to writing the scenes I know are going to happen in the book.  I know there is something more to the book that I haven't discovered within me yet.  It's just there waiting to be discovered, brought up, nurtured as it were, and transferred into written images.

I am working on editing a small story and providing some feedback to the young author.  It has gotten me to thinking about my own writing and making sure I follow the same suggestions I would give to another author.  Such as maintaining point of view, giving good background description, maintaining a good story flow, and who knows what else I would say (these are things that have been said to me already).

So I'm pretty excited on Natalie's Hunt.  I like that it is progressing again.  I feel like I really am going somewhere and I keep discovering new and exciting things in the story line (that's how I write - I don't really know everything until I start writing it down - then it sometimes surprises me).

I have characters having conversations, taking care of business, and working toward specific events I know will happen.  Like, I said.  It's exciting.

Modern Love

Here is a nice song from the 80s, that was redone into something completely different, and in my humble opinion, quite amazing.  Enjoy

I missed Friday - Ooops

I feel bad that I missed putting up a post on Friday.  I made a commitment and I am supposed to honor my commitments.  Or at least have a decent excuse for when I can't.  I don't have a decent excuse, unless you count going to bed at 7pm in the evening due to not feeling well as an excuse.  I'm not going to count it for now and say that I really want to give my best to doing what I say I will do.

In personal news I am making a commitment to find a way to have more time for me to write.  I could write a full size novel, or two novellas per year if I could write full time.  I may be able to write even more than that, who knows.  But the idea that I could have a multitude of books published is an awesome thought indeed.

On Saturday I sold two books (one Jeremy's Kiss and one Island Of Regrets) to a mother and daughter.  The daughter aspires to be writer, and she asked me to sign the book for her, and very shyly asked me if I would be willing to read something she has written.

I realized if I had the chance to meet and speak with authors I admire and look up, I would be beyond honored for them to read what I have written and give me feedback.

I don't know how those authors would feel, but I know how this young woman made me feel.  Very honored.

I hope I hear from her and get to read what she has written.  I will give her honest and sincere feedback and do everything I can to help her see her dreams come true.  I know how difficult it is to be a writer.  I know the struggling hours, and I know that the pay is not very good until one achieves name recognition.  The passion is still there though.  The stories are in my head and simply need to be written down (and thoroughly edited, and formatted, and fixed, and finally published).

Sequels and More

The reviews on Island Of Regrets keep coming in, and there are two things that are amazingly consistent from the reviewers.

1.  The book is good.

2.  Will there be a sequel?

When I first wrote this story, it was my intention to walk a very fine line of making the story complete so that it could stand on it's own, while at the same time leaving room for a potential sequel.

I know how the sequel to the book will go.  I am taking notes so that I know what I will be writing.  This is very important, because right now I am immersing myself in the sequel to Jeremy's Kiss (working title is Natalie's Hunt).

It's too bad I can't leave my day job and write during the daytime every day.  Alas the bills do need to be paid, so I must continue to find free time when and where I can.

I think sometime in the near future I will start doing interviews with characters from the books.  It shouldn't take me too long to get through interviews with the characters from Island Of Regrets.  Jeremy's Kiss may take longer, especially since I have to wait for sundown to talk to most of them and with summer here the sun stays up pretty late.

Shot In The Dark

It's not the Ozzy Osbourne one though. I do like Ozzy's song, and may bring it up later. For now, I am going with Within Temptation. This isn't a cover of Ozzy's song either. It just happens to have the same title and there is something about the song that I like.

Tebow has a job

And it's in the NFL too.

I am a football fan and my team is the Denver Broncos. So I either would have to stop being a fan or be aware of Tim Tebow. I know when he came in and played for Denver, they went on a winning streak that took them to the playoffs where they upset the Pittsburgh Steelers in overtime.

I just wasn't buying into the Tim Tebow phenomenon though. To begin with, he was drafted by Josh McDaniels. Please don't get me wrong, I don't want to come across as bad mouthing anyone, but when it comes to being a head coach, I have nothing good to say about what Josh McDaniels did in Denver. So that is the first thing I was disliking about Tebow in Denver.

Then things in Denver changed. Tebow was given a chance, and the talent of the team around him (especially a dominating defense) made him a winner for the season. It didn't make him a better quarterback though. He didn't learn to do the things that make the great quarterbacks (Montana, Stauback, Manning, Marino, Favre, Elway, and a few more). He could find the holes and run like a running back. He could take a hit. He could throw a long bomb. He couldn't keep his passing percentage above 50%. He couldn't sustain drives. He couldn't manage the ball and keep possession for the majority of the game. And the list goes on.

Does all this make him a bad quarterback? No. The list of Superbowl winning quarterbacks includes names of men who were not considered elite NFL quarterbacks. In my mind, it made him less competitive than other men competing to play in that position.

So now he had a fresh start with a no nonsense team. There will be no Tebow mania circus. The entire Patriots team will not put up with it, and that is exactly the way the Patriots fans want it. They have their Golden boy right now in Brady. They are not going to let Tebow come in and change that unless Tebow really proves himself. Luck is not going to play a factor for Tebow (tongue in cheek - Indianapolis has the monopoly on that). When it comes to playing for New England, he will have to demonstrate the skillset that will move the ball consistently, and he will have to display the leadership that an elite team will expect. The Patriots belong to Bill Belichick, and that will not change no matter what player comes to town (just ask Randy Moss - he can explain it quite well I am sure).

As for me. I hope Tebow grows in New England and becomes a good quarterback. I don't wish anything bad on him. When it comes to playing Denver, I will very thoroughly cheer for my Broncos.

Thinking of doing an Interview (and adding music)

The music first.  I forgot to do the Monday Music post - so here it is the song.



Ok. While you enjoy that song. Here is what I am thinking about doing for an Interview.

This isn't an interview for me. Rather it will be me conducting an interview of characters from my books.

What do you think? Would you like for me to bring in a character and do an interview with them? Let them tell a bit more of their story? It's just a thought, and before I go about just giving it to you, I figured you should have the chance to share your opinion. So into the comments you go and tell me what you think.

Successful Launch

For today's social post.  I am going to try and avoid discussing the book (and writing) as much as I can manage, while at the same time discussing the launch of said book (talk about a fine line to walk on).

I think the launch party was a success.  We sold more books than I expected.

What I remember most about it is the people though.  I graduated from high school in 1986 in Amarillo, TX.  I now live in the Portland, OR metro area.  One of my class mates and his wife came to the launch party.  Turns out they live here in the Portland area too.  So we did a little bit of catching up.

I sat and talked with an employee at Pizza Hut who may now be my biggest fan there.  She greets me and Teri and with the biggest smile and by name every time she sees us.

I met new people who are hearing about me (and my writing) for the very first time.  It was such an amazing feeling to talk about something I created with someone who was expressing excitement about reading that creation.

I think I understand now why writers love to meet with their fans.  It's an amazing experience.  One I look forward to enjoying many more times.

Available NOW!!!

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

Today is the day.  "Island Of Regrets", a romance story of redemption is officially on sale.  You can now buy your copy from one of four places.

Amazon.com

Kindle

Nook

Or contact me to request a signed copy.

It's time to spread the word and tell everyone you know.  Get your copy today.

Lost For Words (by Pink Floyd)

I can't believe the launch party is just two days away.  Not because time has flown by, but because I am so ready and anxious for it to be here.  Publishing Jeremy's Kiss was a brand new adventure for me.  This second book is even more exciting for me than the first.  I am not sure why.  I think part of it is because I am past the initial nervousness and I am willing to believe in me now.

When I first published Jeremy's Kiss, I didn't really believe in me.  I didn't believe in my story.  It took amazing friends, awesome family, and one or two amazing reviews to open my eyes and see that I had created a compelling story.

The feedback I have on Island is every bit as amazing to me.  Here is a song from my "mood" playlist that I played over and over while I wrote.  The title itself gives meaning to my feelings too.  I am still at a loss for words that Island is becoming as real as Kiss.