Two posts in one day? This must mean something is coming down the pipeline, but what can it be. Well, the title and picture might be a big clue, so I hope there are people willing to participate.
I like doing character interviews where people leave questions. I know everything about them, so I don’t know what people would like to learn. This makes any interviews I make up with my characters rather empty and dull. Besides, I love having some interaction on this blog and that includes my characters getting in on the conversations.
So, please leave questions for Ichabod Brooks in the comments. It could be about a specific adventure, his career, his family, advice, or certain friends. A post will go up on Friday with the questions and answers. Simple and fun.
Most people who choose a career in writing first imagine ourselves as novelists or memoirists, not nonfiction writers.
But these days, writers, even novelists, can’t just write books. We need to start “A Multi-Media Author Business.” And that involves writing a lot of nonfiction. Especially on blogs.
Some of the “multi-media” advice is over the top, in my opinion–writers need to eat and sleep and have friends like other people–but I do think starting a blog is a good choice for most authors, even novelists. (Although I don’t think novelists need to blog more than once a week. I’m a big fan of Slow Blogging.)
Since I started blogging nearly eight years ago, I’ve watched a lot of author-bloggers succeed as writers. They may not have had huge success as novelists (although some have). But for all of them, the blog was the first step to a…
Ever have one of those weeks that you can label a comedy of errors? That happened starting around Monday. I’m going to try and change the way I do these posts though too, so hold on. Mostly, I’m doing section labels instead of a spew of paragraphs.
Freedom and Disease!
For those paying attention, I still don’t have my laptop. So, I’ve had to use the communal desktop to get work done. Hasn’t gone well, but Tuesday through Thursday saw me having the house to myself. What could go . . . BLARGH! I felt off on Monday, but I thought it was the heat and me not sleeping well. One bite of yogurt proved that it was something a lot worse and I had a steady decline. It culminated in a night where I couldn’t keep food down, felt like I had a fever, stomach ached, head spun, and had chills that bordered on full body convulsions. Thankfully, it was a 24-hour stomach bug and I was functional as long as I mainlined Pepto Bismol on Tuesday. Was that the end?
No, but what kind of husband would I be if I didn’t share? My wife starting feeling it around midnight. Mint tea helped her survive and she started early enough that she could eat by the end of the day. She managed to avoid the bulk of the symptoms, but my wife doesn’t do sick very well. Fatigue settles in and stays for days. So, I got hit worse than her, but she took longer to recover. This is actually a running gag for the last two years. I can’t get sick without her joining or one-upping me. What’s a guy gotta do to get pampered while diseased?
Gets better! My parents had gone on a trip . . . and my mom fell to it before they could get home. Yeah, it’s been one of those weeks. On the plus side, the kid didn’t even get a hiccup. He wouldn’t slow down or play nice unless we snapped at him, but at least he wasn’t sick. Hope that holds through the weekend.
The Laptop
I was checking the updates that never came and getting emails that swore the unit arrived at the depot. Suddenly, I get a message that the laptop is fixed, the OS didn’t have to be reinstalled, and it should be back Monday. Probably only have to charge it and make sure nothing funny happened on the way back. The problem was that a speaker either blew, became unseated, or the wiring went bad. So, the speaker was replaced. I can finally get back to writing in privacy and at night next week, which means I might actually finish Derailing Bedlam before August.
Derailing Bedlam
Cassidy and Lloyd’s next adventure is moving along slowly because of the technology and time limitations. I’m working on chapter 4 of 17 this weekend, which involves a city-sized water park filled with mermaids. This one is more enjoyable to write than the one on the blog because I’m not doing anything with politics. Just the usual antics of traveling for a cause and running into trouble at every stop. I’m still trying to figure out how to add Reese into this since this happens only a few months after Protecting Bedlam. Not sure where he would have wandered off to or if he even left that hunting lodge. I need to read over that too because I keep forgetting everything about him. This might just be a cameo too since I didn’t have him in the original idea.
I’m going to be honest here too. I just can’t see Reese traveling with Cassidy and Lloyd. He isn’t needed since Cassidy can do most road repairs. His temperament would get him killed in the first firefight or sent away afterwards because they don’t want to get hurt trying to protect him. I saw a few people call him a mascot, but that makes me think they just want him around because he’s adorable. As comical and silly as Bedlam is, there is a brutality there. Reese would either have to avoid or succumb to this. The former makes me think he’d be a running gag or a figure that sucks more reality out of the scene the Lloyd. Not in a fun way since it would him simply not getting hurt no matter what happens. The latter would upset people since it sounds like many consider him a human puppy. Not supposed to kick those.
Life and Goals
It goes and I kind of did my rant yesterday in regards to limping sales, rising doubts, and wondering how to translate hype excitement. Really fearing that Path of the Traitors will be the Windemere book to break the Top 100 list trend. Unless I count Top 100 New Releases, but Amazon doesn’t put those on the book sites. They really should though because that could help out. So, what’s the plan for next week?
Continue writing Derailing Bedlam.
Check laptop when it comes back and get back into old habits.
Follow up on the kid’s birthday party guest list. Looking like it will be a small party, which I hope he takes well. Summer birthdays are pains because people go on vacations or to camp.
Possibly hear back about the sleep apnea mouthpiece.
Okay, I know it kinda feels like I’m beating this to death, but last time I had a lot of people coming up to me with their sob stories.
Well… not really.
But it’s never a bad idea to let folks know they can save a few bucks TODAY and not tomorrow. If people discover the contest tomorrow and then see they could have saved money if they’d have entered today, I’ll feel bad.
Probably.
Anyway, I KNOW A LOT OF YOU ARE PROCRASTINATING because your story isn’t finished, so get on the ball. Enter today and use the rest of the month to finish writing your story. (And then enter it. I’m hoping that part was obvious. And enter it before July 31, 2017. Also obvious, I hope.)
You know you want to.
Did you know, most of the winners in the prior contest thought they would not win?…
So, Ichabod Brooks has been out for 10 days. People are complimenting the cover, loving the character, excited by the excerpts, and even enjoying the behind-the-scenes posts I do here. He’s been called relatable and many have asked if I’m going to write more stories with him. This response really makes me happy after all the hard work I put into him and his stories . . .
Also, confused because I’ve only sold 9 copies. (This line is going to cost me with the ‘you need to quit’ crew.)
Now, I know I haven’t done as much promotion as Legends of Windemere, but I have put more hype into it than Chasing Bedlam. Some of this is due to saving money for the last 2 LEGENDS volumes and not having a laptop since late June. The rest is because Ichabod got such a big reaction on the blog that I thought I could garner enough word-of-mouth and pre-hype to boost the book. It really felt that way until I paid attention to sales and ranks. Now, I’m not sure what to think. Maybe Amazon isn’t showing me all of the sales like other authors have reported. It does feel hard to believe that I only got 9 after people were so excited.
Still, it isn’t like this is the first time. People were pumped for Bedlam when they saw excerpts with Lloyd and Cassidy. After I published, I started hearing how the characters were fun, but the violence, language, and comedy weren’t for some of the original supporters. This threw me and made me more cautious about the compliments and praise I get. Still, I thought it wouldn’t happen to the same extent with Ichabod since he was fantasy and ran in the same vein as LEGENDS. In reality, it hasn’t gone this way because nobody has complained about him and suddenly claimed that he isn’t for them. This is an understandable reaction though because not everyone is into action adventure in general, which is what I write.
Here is where I mention something that people might not realize or forget: I AM A FULL-TIME AUTHOR! Unlike many other indies, I’m not working another job beyond parenting here. I’m writing or at least outlining nearly every day because this is the career that makes me happy. So, I have to factor in a lot when I decide on projects to put my time into. When people cheer for an idea, I’ll follow it thinking I have an audience. If that excitement doesn’t pan out then I’m left confused and a little worried. Did I misjudge the reaction? Are people cheering just to be nice? These questions throw doubt into a mixture that already has a heap of anxiety and pessimism in it. I need to figure out the answers in order to move one, especially when I struggle with these:
Do I continue Bedlam even though it gets better blog reactions than sales?
Do I write another Ichabod Brooks collection if this one doesn’t net more sales?
What are the chances of my next series doing well since it seems nothing is reaching the same level of success as Legends of Windemere?
Is 2017 the last year?
I’m not making a fortune here and it seems to have become more difficult since last year for some reason. Most of my royalty money goes back into marketing or is kept for emergencies. Like Ichabod, I need to make a living and I’m trying to do it with the skills that I have. Unlike Ichabod, I’m lacking something that is drawing in enough success to ward off the naysayers. Yes, I think people should write for art and the joy, but there is the business side that always trips me up. Part of that is getting responses from fans and seeing where the wind blows. Not easy to do if the wind I’m following is actually a ceiling fan that somebody keeps playing with.
Honestly, I don’t know what I expect to solve with this post aside from getting this off my chest. I’ve talked to other authors who have run into the same problem. They have an idea that people love and support, but then the sales don’t come in. Have we become a society that loves to cheer and support with words, but stop short of taking that final step of purchasing? Is everybody waiting for books to drop to 99 cents or free? I’m really not sure where the break in the bridge between social media excitement and hitting ‘purchase’ on Amazon is. Like I said, it’s both confusing and has become rather disheartening over the last year.
Marriages are rare in adventure stories, but only because it’s hard to swashbuckle and disarm traps while cleaning the oven. That and authors seem to love killing off a spouse to get the survivor riled up. Tradition, thy name is revenge story. Anyway, Ichabod has a happy marriage even though he travels for work a lot. He’s also very busy with the release of The Life & Times of Ichabod Brooks. So, he left a note with a few tips on how to stay married when you also have to worry about dragons, fireballs, necrocasters, trolls, harpies, ocean storms, lying bards, lightning bolts, and getting goblin blood on the pair of boots your wife just bought for you. The stain might get out, but we all know the smell will remain.
Always say good-bye and I love you before leaving for a job. Hugs and kisses are good too, but the words are more important. Make your spouse be either the last or second to last one you interact with as you go out the door. Having kids be last can be unavoidable since they cling and it’s hard to be romantic after your wife needs an enchanted crowbar to free your leg. Don’t even get me started on when the kids lurk on the roof and pounce as you leave.
No gesture is too small when you’re home. Although, only one small gesture a day will get you in trouble. What I mean is that even cleaning the dishes or fixing a single floorboard will help your marriage. Especially if you’re out a lot, so doing things at home instead of being an obstacle goes a long way. Keep in mind, I’m saying this when I have a chore list as long as my forearm. So, it doesn’t even have to be a repair or cleaning up. Taking care of dinner is always a safe way to go.
Make time for yourselves. Work is tiring. Parenthood is tiring. Maintaining the house is tiring. Everything is tiring. Still, you need at least some time to be together even if it’s just curled up on the couch with books. Words don’t have to be exchanged because it’s more the act of being together. Besides, there’s something to be said for relaxing in silence.
Spontaneity can keep things exciting, but think before you act. Sure, the dragon-scale armor you found on sale might be just what she was looking for. Yet, she might also appreciate a bouquet of her favorite flowers. Expensive isn’t always better, especially since some of the pricier items lose their luster after a few battles. You can also go out and gather the scales then talk to a blacksmith friend to do the forging. Dragons are happy to share their shed skin for a deal as long as you ask nicely. This tip also includes playful pranks and surprise trips.
It doesn’t hurt to expand your domestic skill set. Look for hints as to what your spouse might want you to improve on. This way you can surprise them when you learn how to sew, cook, or dust. Whatever chores can be shared is appreciated. On the downside of things, it means your chore list can be made longer. We’re talking full length of the arm. Longer if there are warnings at the bottom.
Never be afraid to let each other go off for a solo adventure. Yes, it’s nice to do things as a couple, but you need to maintain some individuality. If you and your spouse are only into the same things or never do anything separately then you could drive yourselves into a rut. Remember that your uniqueness is a factor that attracted you to each other. Always try to maintain that because it makes for more interesting conversations.
If you do find yourselves working together then don’t argue over who’s in charge. You take stock of the situation, consider your experience, and let the person most qualified take the lead. There are a few more stages to this. Debate what constitutes experience in an attempt to puff up your own position. Remind each other who made the last mistake or failed in a similar situation. Bring up something that has nothing to do with the situation. Casually kill the one enemy that always hears the debate and wanders over at the wrong time. Apologize while stuffing the body out of sight. Then, the most qualified person takes the lead and things go wrong instantly because the guard never finished his patrol. Battle your way to victory and agree to pay the babysitter extra since you’re now going to take a quiet day in town. (This one might just be us.)
Today, we welcome Craig Boyack, a fellow writer, blogger and good friend of ours to tell us all about his new book… Over to you Craig!
Thanks for having me over today to talk about my newest book, The Enhanced League. This is a group of short stories that serves to tell an overarching story when read in order. The setting is a professional baseball league where nobody cares about performance enhancing drugs.
While performance enhancing drugs are allowed in this league, not all the players use them. There are a lot of human stories here, and some come to the Enhanced League for other reasons.
You’ll meet Dyrell Pollard, who can play, but is too tall to be taken seriously in the Major Leagues. Dante Montes is an incredible player, but can’t also can’t find a home in the Majors. He’s a left handed catcher, and the prejudice against…
Hi all you mystery lovers, this is Lisa Burton, the robot girl. You’ve landed on Lisa Burton Radio, and my guest today is a real enigma. He’s calling in today from The Relix Club in Las Vegas, and he’s known only as the Buddhist. “Welcome to the show, Buddhist.”
“My humblest of greetings, Lisa. One brief correction, if I may. I am currently in The Relix Club, true enough, but it’s located in Houston, Texas, where I have resided, on and off, for a number of years. The confusion may be that I have only recently returned from North Las Vegas. I flew west, you see, to make right a wrong done to a friend concerning his vehicle and another party’s rather substantial debt. It’s probably best to leaving it at that, at least in such a public forum. Too many people listening in, if you follow my meaning.”
Legends of Windemere 