Christmas Intervention (A Dialogue)

Thanksgiving-ChristmasChristmas–  This doesn’t look like a Secret Santa Meeting.

Labor Day– Sit down, Christmas. We really need to talk.  Please keep in mind that we love you and worry about you. Many people take joy from you, but we fear that things have been going too far for too long.

Thanksgiving–  Nobody remembers me!

Christmas– To be fair, Black Friday is more responsible for that than me.

Black Friday– And proud of it!

Halloween– Get out of here! You’re not even a real holiday.  *hurls Black Friday through a window*  And tell your siblings to stay away too!

Labor Day– Sorry about that. Now, Christmas, we really do think you have to stop growing.  People saw Santa displays during my weekend.  Last year saw barely anything for Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving–  The world is so cold and bleak.

Halloween–  Stop pussy-footing around. You need to stay in December, big boy.  We’re fine with you having that month.  Just leave the rest of us alone.

Christmas–  You’re declaring war on me!

Easter– I know I’m too far away to have a real opinion, but that really isn’t the case.  It isn’t really you that we want to stop.  It’s how you’ve gone from a weekend event, to a week, to a month, and now you’ve taken over nearly two entire seasons.  Do you know how miserable Frosty is when you have him go out before Winter?  That isn’t sweat coming off him.

Christmas– I thought we were bros, Easter.  Is this because people understand me better than an egg-laying rabbit or a bread boycott?

Passover–  You really don’t want to go there.  I’ve got 10 Plagues, a really long movie, and no problem using them on you.

Christmas–  Don’t go threatening me.  Your brother would be nothing without me.

Hanukkah– How is that a good thing?  I’m supposed to be a minor holiday and not the Jewish answer to you.  Chocolate, candles, potato pancakes, and a top.  That’s all I’m supposed to be.

Thanksgiving–  Why does nobody love me?  I’m not an asshole like Columbus Day!

Halloween–  You seem to think the rest of us owe you for . . . what exactly?  You steal our thunder and it gets worse every year.  Independence Day gets freaked out whenever he sees a red shirt during his fireworks displays.  New Years seems to be a mindless continuation of you.  You’ve become very destructive and lost your purpose, which is why we’re here.

Christmas–  Like I’m going to listen to a Pagan holiday.

Halloween–  I’m Christian you dumbass!  Samhain is the Pagan one and I’m a Christian holiday.  No clue how that got lost over the years.  Besides, aren’t you the Christian answer to Yule?

Christmas–  Never heard of the guy.

Voice from Christmas’s Stomach–  You fucking ate me, you gluttonous bastard!

Christmas–  That proves nothing.  It could easily be a magical gingerbread man.

Labor Day–  We’ve gotten off topic and the yelling is making Thanksgiving cry.  All of us have pieces of our origins that people no longer remember or recognize.  It’s how our existence works.  Each of us has some purpose whether it be for religious or non-religious reasons.  So it is very important that we respect each others boundaries and try not to step on each other.

Easter– There are 12 months in the year and you don’t need all of them.  All we ask is that you dial yourself back to December.  Again, we don’t want you gone.  Just pushed back to a point where people aren’t sick of you by the time you actually start.

Christmas–  Maybe I have been a little too pushy . . . Nah.  You guys suck and I’m awesome.  That’s why there’s Christmas in July and places named after me.  It’s why people leave their lights up all year long.  People love me and those that don’t are jealous of my success.  So I’ll keep doing what I’m doing.  See you, losers!

Halloween–  This is why I only drink Pepsi.

Labor Day–  Well, we tried.  Sorry, Thanksgiving.  Maybe we can move you to August or something when people entirely forget about you.

Thanksgiving–  But I get hay fever during that time of year.

Labor Day–  Then June.  Just calm down and stay away from sharp objects.  What do we have next?

Halloween–  Looks like Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day are upset that most of the country can’t tell them apart any more.  We promised to help them figure something out because the name tags aren’t helping.

Thanksgiving–  He even took away my parade!

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Welcome to November . . . I’m Not Thrilled About It Either

Now we begin the infamous month where everything seems to slow down.  Weather gets much colder, family starts mentioning the holidays, a jolly fat guy in red keeps peeking around the corner, ads for ‘Forget Your Family’ sales days are flowing into the email, and book sales take a nosedive.  This year has seen a lot of that across the board from what I’ve read.  My books aren’t doing too hot if you look at the rankings.  Keep in mind that rate of sales are part of the algorithm (I think), so the amount of sales in a period of time is an important factor.

By the way, everyone should buy a copy of His Revenge by John W. Howell.  Click the cover.

His Revenge front final

CLICK THE COVER!

I’ve been doing an Amazon Campaign for The Merchant of Nevra Coil.  I’m happy to say that no sales have come from it . . . wait . . . I think I used a wrong word in there.  Disappointed?  Meh?  I hate saying this again, but I’m not sure what to do.  People have suggested taking a break from the series and doing something new.  Yet I also have people telling me that I have to maintain what little momentum I have with the series.  Others have mentioned Facebook and blog tours, but neither of those have worked.  As far as the latter goes, I see them all over the place, so I’m no longer sure how much attention they get.  It’s the thought that everyone is doing the same thing, so you get saturation.  Feels too late in the year to lament or anything.

As far as the writing side, I’m hoping to finish writing The Spirit Well in 2 weeks and then move on to do a final edit of The Mercenary Prince.  I’m really hoping to release that book in December and I plan on using the last of November, all of December, and maybe a bit of January to just outline.  If anything I’ll write the next Ichabod Brooks short story.

Crossing Bedlam is being slated for February, but I need to figure out what to do about cover art.  With the wife unemployed, I no longer have the comfortable funds to go for a higher level on 99designs.  I’m afraid that going with the lowest level will give me a choice of a bunch of Mad Max clones, which isn’t this.  You say ‘post-apocalyptic’ and that’s what everyone thinks.  I might just say in the description that ‘This is NOT a Mad Max world, except for one region’.  Every territory is rather unique, which makes this even more difficult.  Since this might be another big, ongoing series of mine (1 book released a year like Ichabod Brooks) then I need to be careful.  Cover art is very important.

West Park Asylum

West Park Asylum

Another thing I have to think about is Raven’s Hold, which was rather successful. At least it looked that way.  Having put it out for free, I’d feel weird doing a sequel and charging money for it.  There is an idea rattling around to bring Corvus and Dawn back to the blog.  Though they might only be an October thing with a rare Teaser Tuesday appearance.  Thanks to everyone who enjoyed and commented.  I’m always up for opinions on how to go about continuing this one in terms of blog, Amazon, October only, etc.

I asked a question last week that didn’t really get answered, so I’m going to try again:

What do people think of making December all Retro Posts?

It would be my older stuff from 2013 and 2014 that newer readers probably never saw.  A big reason is that I’m burning out and need to focus on big projects.  The only other thing that I might have at that time is Hype for the next Windemere book if all the pieces fall into place.  We all know something always goes wrong with that.

Beyond that, Halloween was fun and there’s plenty of candy in the house.  Changing the clocks sucks when your body doesn’t really understand, so you wake up at 4:30 AM.

Here’s the obligatory list:

  1. Continue writing The Spirit Well.
  2. Plan dinners for the week when parents are away.  Not as easy one would think, but the reason would lead to a rant that would get me in trouble.
  3. Local elections on Tuesday, so son will be home.  Looking forward to this only because those commercials will finally end.  Can we have a national holiday where it’s legal to pimp smack politicians?  Everyone gets one shot and no sneak attacks.
  4. Should really finish reading one of the books I started.
  5. Brace myself for more crap being hurled at my face by the universe.
  6. Fight medical insurance because god forbid they do what I pay them for.
  7. Think more about the next ‘Raven’ book.  Ravens’ Game?
  8. Maybe sleep in at some point since I conked out for a few minutes while writing this.  *hears chaos in other room*  This might change to ‘drink coffee and red bull’ before too long.
Kid in Costume

Kid in Costume

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A terrific giveaway! Along the Infinite Sea by Beatriz Williams

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Want to Win an absolutely beautiful hard cover book? I kid you not–these are some of the prettiest hardcovers I have ever seen, and a great story too. If you are not familiar with Beatriz Williams yet, or if you are, and are just hungering for her new book–you’ve come to the right place. I’ve got two giveaway copies Courtesy of Penguin Random House. US entries only, please.

Here’s what you gotta do:

Reblog or share this post with your favourite social media site and drop a comment by to let me know you did. Two random winners will be chosen on Wednesday of next week (November 4th) and notified of their win.

Keep reading to find out more about this fabulous book.
Along the Infinite SeaAlong the Infinite Sea by Beatriz Williams

Each of the three Schuyler sisters has her own world-class problems, but in the autumn of 1966, Pepper Schuyler’s problems…

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Guest Post: Why on Earth would you write Fantasy by Georgina Lee

“Why on earth would you write fantasy?” That question has been posed to me over and over. Often from the same people who ask, “Why do you like Star Trek? What’s wrong with you?”

Now, I’m not daring to equate my stories to those imaginings from the late great Gene Roddenberry, but rather that I like both my stories and all things Star Trek. The latter fired my young imagination, pushed the limits of my muse later on, and gave me the strength to write fantasy.

There have been ups and downs along the way, through the pain of an editor determined to extinguish the fire of imagination, and a detour to contemporary, mystery and even historical stories as I honed my craft. When I finally returned to those fantasy stories after a sojourn of nearly two decades, they still rang true for me. They still delved into the foibles that may be part of the human spirit, but are part of my aliens’ lives as well. They also dipped into a well of myths and legends as old as their distant solar system, with creatures and celestial bodies as unique as any we have ever seen.

Seven stories in three anthologies later, the history is complete. From when we first learn of the covert Fa-shonians, aliens more myth than material, to the demi-god that returns to destroy all life in that solar system, we understand the warnings and have invested in the lives of the people on all four planets.

I hope you’ll enjoy The Gifts of Argostar Part 1 and The Gifts of Argostar Part 2. Part 3 will be out this winter.

Who is Georgina Lee?

Georgina Lee.

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Bio:

Georgina Lee is the pen name for Barbara Phinney when she is writing sci-fi adventure stories, time travels and mysteries. Her time travel novella, The Time Star, takes a peek at winter in nineteenth-century life in rural Ontario.
Her mysteries are quirky retakes on Sherlock Holmes plus the Bay of Fundy romantic suspense stories, Cape of Secrets, which is a gothic mystery set in Nova Scotia, and Death on the Ocean Floor, set in New Brunswick.
When the evil Georgina isn’t plotting to embarrass Barbara, she is living in eastern Canada with her husband and barn cats to help fill her empty nest.

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ARgostar 1The Gifts of Argostar  Part One The Catch, The Lure, The Demand by Georgina Lee

Far away in a distant solar system-

Worlds hang in the delicate balance between war and peace. Their fate hinges on a handful of people and the unique abilities given to them by the deity known as The Mother of Vatrel, a mysterious creature who warned the people, eons ago, to put aside their selfish ways.

But selfishness is never easy to relinquish…

***

Argostar 2The Gifts of Argostar – Book Two..The Alliance, The Rescue by Georgina Lee

The epic stories continue from where The Gifts of Argostar – Part One ended. The Gifts of Argostar – Part Two has two novellas. In the first, entitled The Alliance, the twin planets must unite to end a war, but the unification brings two powerful leaders nose to nose. Then in The Rescue, pride gets in the way when the ceasefire is rejected. Two more exciting fantasy stories to enjoy!

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Coffee with Barb & Lisa Burton—Spokesmodel Robot from CS Boyack’s tales

Hang out with Lisa Burton.

barbtaub's avatarBarb Taub

This is a safe place…

coffee with Barb

Welcome to our morning-after-Halloween coffee. I know. You were up all night sneaking the Chocolate Peanut Butter Pumpkins out of your kid’s candy bags and you deeply regret mixing them with the pumpkin spice vodka.

Don’t worry. Nobody here is wearing so much as a mask. Our coffee is pure and unflavored. Even the cream is just the way it came out of the cow. You’re in a safe place.

But it hasn’t been easy setting things up for today. I’ve been living in the UK for years now, so I had no idea that an insidious drug cult has taken over America. My first clue was when the plane landed in Atlanta. A group of young women screamed as they entered the terminal. No, really. Screamed. “PUMPKIN SPICE LATTES!” When my next flight landed in DC, several passengers menaced a Dunkin’ Donuts employee who was attempting to close down for…

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10 Statements – Allie Potts

Karen's avatarMy train of thoughts on...

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When not finding ways to squeeze in 72 hours into a 24 day or chasing after children determined to turn her hair gray before its time, Allie enjoys stories of all kinds. Her favorites, whether they are novels, film, or simply shared aloud with friends, are usually accompanied with a glass of wine or cup of coffee in hand.

Find me…

Blog:   www.alliepottswrites.com

Twitter:  @alliepottswrite

Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/alliepottswrites

Google+:   http://plus.google.com/117880279044201443030

My personal motto:

“When you are just over five foot tall you learn quickly how to appreciate the little things in life.”

10 statements

A typical work day begins with… starring bleary eyed at the alarm clock hoping beyond realistic hope that I simply forgot to turn it off and it is in fact a Saturday followed by large quantities of coffee.

I lose track of time… when left alone to read a great book. Unfortunately my uninterrupted…

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Introducing the Second John Cannon Thriller – His Revenge

The sequel to ‘My GRL’ is finally here. Grab your copy today.

John W. Howell's avatarFiction Favorites

His Revenge front final Click Cover to visit Amazon US

Click for Amazon UK

Click for Amazon Canada

Click for Amazon Australia 

The second John J Cannon story continues John’s wish to bring the terrorist Matt Jacobs to justice. In the first book, My GRL John was able to thwart the plot to destroy the Annapolis midshipmen on their summer cruise. Of course, terrorists being what they are not content with just one try to embarrass America. In His Revenge, Matt Jacobs takes his hatred for America and John Cannon to another level. The action moves from a barrier Island off the coast of Texas to Washington DC, then to Northern California, and finally to Ecuador. John is on the receiving end of an offer he cannot, refuse. His avowed enemy Matt Jacobs now wants John to help him shake the reputation of the US in the world political arena. If John refuses, Matt…

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Book Reviewer Blogs

Karen's avatarMy train of thoughts on...

Dear book reviewers, if you would like your blog to be added here – just drop me a line, providing your name, review genre(s) and the link to your blog.

Entries will be added as of November 6, 2015. I am looking forward to your feedback. This blog post will always be available in the menu on top.


McNeilsReviews
Non-fiction
http://mcneilsreviews.com/


Name
Genre(s)
Link


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Raven’s Hold After Thoughts

First, I always try to post this video around Halloween:

So, Raven’s Hold ended last night and I’m writing this post on September 8th under the assumption that somebody finished reading it.  I could very well be wrong, but that’s the risk we take with these ventures.

All I will ask is this:

What did you think?

Also, Happy Halloween!

Add-Ons:

As people read it, I noticed a lot of compliments for Dawn Addison.   I’m wondering if I should find a way to shift her to Windemere or the Bedlam series.  There’s another option that would require me to think really hard and not mention too much out loud.  Before the story scared me, I had plans for a sequel.  If I gather the strength then I might write it and do this again next year.  With this whole thing on my blog, I can’t really publish it on Amazon for a price.  It’s a tough genre to compete in too since it’s rather niche and I’m already going to be battling in fantasy and whatever ‘Crossing Bedlam’ is.  Again, toying with ideas and trying to remain vague in public.

Maybe this could be an October thing here?  Just a raw thriller story until I run out of stories?  A lot to think about.

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Halloween Blog Party!

suzie81speaks's avatarSuzie Speaks

Halloween blog partyIt’s Halloween, and while many people are preparing for a party with their loved ones, or getting ready to go trick-or-treating and annoying their neighbours, I thought it would be a fun idea to host a virtual party here in the blogosphere.

For those of you who have never participated in a blog party before, the rules are simple (PLEASE READ THESE FIRST BEFORE POSTING)…

1. Choose your favourite post from your own blog. The subject of the post can be anything you like – blogging, food, parenting, life, travel, thoughts, photography… Note: This should be only one post at a time or it will get sent straight to the ‘spam’ folder and I may not be able to find you for a while. You can share up to three links, and for maximum impact I would suggest that you wait a little while in between posting them rather…

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