First a distraction: 
Second is good news for Prodigy of Rainbow Tower:
- #86 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Fantasy > Epic
- #97 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Fantasy > Sword & Sorcery
Third is to explain:
Thank you to Green Embers for the dedication and to Ionia for rallying the positive energy. I’m home now after an afternoon/evening in the ER. Basically, my stomach pain came back with an unholy vengeance. It’s stress-based and I was home alone with the toddler. Needless to say it isn’t fun being on the floor whimpering and crying in severe pain while your four-year-old son pats you on the head. He also thought I said paints at one point and brought me his paints. Then he tried to make me feel better by pretending to have pain in his tummy. Finally son note, I managed to stand up and got a ‘Daddy stood up! Hurray for daddy!’ from him.
I called the doctor and it ended up being a trip to the ER as soon as my son had someone to watch him and I had a ride. I did start feeling better at this point, which proves that this is stress. My pain was at 5 by the time they let me in, but my blood pressure was at the point of insanity. So, they had to IV me and keep an eye on me. Long story short:
It has all the signs of spastic colon with stress-induced muscle spasms. It doesn’t even take much stress to take me down. It’s prolonged stress it seems. After all, the first attack was when Beginning of a Hero debuted and the previous ones happened soon after I had three days of stress. Unfortunately, the ER doctors can’t do anything without a diagnosis and I don’t see a specialist until the 22nd. So, I have a long month ahead of me unless I can get in earlier.
What can I do? Stop obsessing about the rankings and simply be happy that I’m selling books. I do my morning/noon/evening tweets and Facebook posts. Then I do my editing. I’m going to be taking it easy tomorrow, so I’ll be around, but might not be as active. I see a bunch of napping in my future. Though, the iPhone might help here.
Thanks to everyone that cares and I’m home now.
Legends of Windemere 
Get plenty of rest Charles! Your plan sounds really good! Watch some TV, maybe a dumb talk show or something inane.
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I have DVD’s, but I’m not sure what to watch. Daytime TV will be the death of society.
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Take it easy, young man. Your book is doing great. Your doing better. And that kid of yours … out of this world!
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Thanks. I definitely have to take it easy. Tomorrow will be a start of recovery. Stupid thing here: I ‘celebrated’ the release of my first book by breaking a wisdom tooth on a piece of popcorn. Now, I ‘celebrated’ the release of my second book with a trip to the ER.
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You may want to stay away from a third book. 😉
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It’s already written and in beta reading stage. Just need the cover art for it. I think by that point, I’m going to stop caring about the lists. It will be an interesting test to see if I can market a book that starts at $2.99.
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We missed you severely. Ionia had to take us all on a camping trip. The color orange was strangely missing from the WordPress palette for hours.
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I’m sorry to worry everyone. I’m hoping to get this taken care of sooner and not get floored again. Scary part is that I wasn’t stressed when it started.
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Your mind did not know that you were, but your body did.
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Even my body was relaxed before I felt the first dull pang. The problem is that it’s stress-induced, so it feeds itself. The pain was so much that I couldn’t relax and my son being there made it worse, which is why it finally got to the point of an ER visit. By the time we got to the ER, the stress and pain was cut in half.
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On the one hand, I’m offended that I wasn’t invited on this camping trip. On the other, I’m strangely relieved. 😉
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Don’t worry. I was left behind too.
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Yes, but you had stomach issues.
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I see. So no gastrointestinally challenged allowed on this trip. So cruel. 🙂
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Well, yeah, you ever go on a camping trip with somebody gastrointestinally challenged?
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No, but my sounds of death could keep the bears away. And S’mores cure everything.
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You never said you were bringing S’mores. By the way, I’m not sure I’ve ever had S’mores. Not sure I get the concept. The chocolate needs to be melted. I don’t that happens with S’mores.
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It’s how you do it. Cook the marshmallow and put it piping hot on the chocolate, which is already on a graham cracker. Then top the sandwich and press the hot marshmallow into the chocolate to melt.
Other option is to make sandwiches on a tray or grating that you put over the fire.
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Wait! I have S’mores poptarts around here somewhere . . . it’s not midnight yet.
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I’m there. Directions?
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Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, start.
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Clearly, you have a four-year-old in the house.
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Yeah . . . the 4-year-old . . . must be it.
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We went to Goodreads and started a thread. It is right here if you would like to join us. http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1441876-why-must-we-compare-in-fantasy?utm_medium=email&utm_source=comment_instant#comment_80248438
Sorry. It was an open invitation on her blog http://www.readfulthings.wordpress.com
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Oh! That camping trip.
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First and foremost, rest and take care of yourself. We need you to keep Ionia under control.
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I’ll do my best. I’ll be resting with my editing, television, and iPhone tomorrow. Seriously that’s resting for me.
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Don’t make me send the flying monkeys to make you rest!
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I won’t. I’ll behave. I just can’t be without you guys for a full day. Also, laying around is boring.
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Feel better soon, Charles (and with a sweet child like that, you have a lot of reasons to smile!).
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Thanks. I’ll be limping along for a bit, but it’ll pass.
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take care Charles… Do you know the Serenity prayer…??? gist accept what you can do nothing about… if you can do something about it then do it… know the difference… hope all goes well on the 22nd
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Thanks. I took to standing under a warm shower and repeating the word ‘relax’ over and over again. I do have to learn that Serenity prayer. Sounds useful.
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god grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change
the courage to change the things I can
and the wisdom to know the difference…
that’s the Serenity Prayer right there… just use it as a mantra when you are stressing…
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Beats the mantra I was using earlier:
Make this fucking pain go away!
Please don’t repeat that bad word to your mother.
If only I was joking on that one.
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I’ve got the flight screen up on my laptop right now. You let me know if anything changes.
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I’ll keep you posted. I’m doing good now. Sore and tired, but not in pain. Knowing people care helps me make it through.
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Best of luck with your recovery. Hope you get plenty of rest.
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Me too. Need to pick a DVD set to watch, so I don’t get bored and problematic.
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Just keep writing. Keep writing because that is an important reason for living for you…not THE REASON…but a blasted important reason TO YOU. Believe in yourself, Charles. All of us do, too. Just write…that’s all I can say. Don’t become sick over this internet age of instant sort of knowing – really not knowing – what your worth as a writer is. It is what it is to YOU. I know that sounds old fashioned and corny 🙂 But I do believe it’s true. Just write and love writing.
Ellespeth
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That’s the plan. Just need to take things more in stride and get stuff settled. I tend to have bad luck. For example, I was promised Subway sandwich when I got out of the hospital. They were out of meatballs, which is the only sub I like. See? I just couldn’t win today. 🙂
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It’s not even taking it is stride. It’s just – dammit – about writing for the love of writing. That is the greatest gift you can give yourself – and your health. We all love you so, Charles. Get well soon – create a spastic colon hero. Love,
Ellespeth
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I’m talking more about the Amazon list rankings, bad reviews, and the stuff that I shouldn’t get as worried about as I do. That’s probably what put me over the edge.
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BTW – I’m laffin about the Subway sammich thang. Damned Subway! It’s their fault 😛 I’m happy you even felt like eating 🙂
Ellespeth
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Me too. Had to settle for pita bread and hummus.
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Oh! I forgot to say – 😛 – I’m glad it just seems stress related. You can deal with that. I was very worried.
Ellespeth
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Me too. Still need scans to make sure it’s nothing serious, but they ruled out a lot of bad stuff.
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Good. Good. I’m so glad. What would you expect it to be this particular week. Pick up your wife and dance and be joyful for the love of each other.
Ellespeth
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I’m not doing much dancing and she’s not one to be picked up. I’m just going to take this day by day until I can get real help.
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I’m very glad to hear this. As writer’s we are just a sensitive bunch. We take ourselves so seriously. And others as well. Take care, Charles. Let me know if – well – you need a kick in the butt or anything…
Ellespeth
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I’ll let everyone know. Right now I think I need sleep.
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Where was I? 😛
Ellespeth
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Take care! I hope you feel better soon. And do not be stressed about your books. I will be looking forward to your updates regarding your health.
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Thanks. I’ll be keeping the health news sparse. Mostly because no news is good news at this point.
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I think you just self diagnosed, chill Charles and let the universe do its thing.
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Actually, this is from a long discussion with my doctor and using my history. I was diagnosed with IBS in high school, but its been quiet for so long that they need to confirm.
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Take care of yourself!
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That’s the plan. Since it’s all stress-based, I can only do so much. Still feel borderline today.
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My girlfriend gets terrible pains too and they’re sometimes stress-related, although not always. From seeing her in pain on a daily basis and seeing what helps her push through them, you’re very lucky to have such an adorable kid with you!
Take it easy and do some googling on what they think it is and how to reduce the problem yourself. We discovered that less Coke and less wheat products lessen her pains for some reason. Also, you could get some stress balls for when the pains strike, squeezing them within an inch of their lives can help deal with the really bad pain spells. I found her one that is one of the Pacman ghosts, so you can definitely find mildly amusing ones!
Take it easy for now and let your body settle back down, the blogging world will be waiting patiently for your inevitable return. 🙂
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I did my research and tried the stress balls. The problem is that it starts soft and I try to cut it off with a warm shower and rest. Unfortunately, the moment I get out of the shower, I’m bombarded by the chaotic home life. Yesterday was really bad because I was home alone with my son and he was acting up. So, there was no way to get out of the situation. Then I went down and he got involved.
With it being stress and pain, it’s a horrible cycle until something snaps. The stress causes pain, which causes more stress, which causes more pain, etc. I’m glad it’s over and hope I don’t get a repeat.
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Hope you feel better.
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Slowly, but surely. Taking it slow for the rest of the week.
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Feel better friend, its just too bad you can’t get in to see a specialist any sooner, no one should have to suffer like that. Are you still exercising regularly, I know you had been, maybe that would help relieve some of the stress. Any I hope that you get back on your feet soon. 🙂
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I was exercising, but I’m taking a break until my body is back to 100%. The specialist thing is annoying since it’s all because of insurance.
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Those evil bastards “Insurance Company”, no we don’t need any healthcare reform in the country.
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Of course not. The you’re too poor to live system works ‘perfectly’.
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Take it easy Charles. Relax and have a rest. Stress is a killer.
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It really is. Doing good so far today. Not getting much done, but no pain. Won’t hear from the doctor until tomorrow, so I’ll have to wait and see.
Not obsessing about the lists and trying to take the approach of ‘toss marketing out and walk off’ is helping. Need to do another round of Facebook posts soon.
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Awesome news about the rankings. In addition to the rankings you listed you are #54 in Fantasy Hot New Releases.
All of this should help ease your ills.
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It should. Could you send a link for that New Release list? I saw the Epic Fantasy and Sword & Sorcery Hot New Release and I was in the teens. Didn’t see the other list.
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Here you go.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/new-releases/digital-text/158576011/ref=zg_bs_tab_t_bsnr#3
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Very cool. Thanks. I’ve only been checking the best seller lists. I’m hanging out in the middle of the Wheel of Time books on the Epic Fantasy list.
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Elsewhere I’ve commented that I hope you’re feeling better. Stress-related illnesses are vicious and they put you into a seemingly endless loop. I’m sorry to hear you’ve had IBS. How can you not get stressed with you have a stress-related condition? I hope they don’t find anything that can’t be resolved with some good drugs 🙂
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Me too. Horrible cycle and I hope it’s settled by the end of the month. Drugs should help.
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And your son is adorable … although I’m sure his adorableness varies depending on his mood 😉
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It does.
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