Sunday, March 28, 2010

CHAPTER THREE: Dun dun dun!

Here it is... Why is it that more women care about just about everything and us guys go through life with blinders on? Seems we hide, run, dodge, jump, and every other lame run-a-way tactic.

I do it at times and if I do not watch it I can fall into the trap but I am very aware of it and try to be better... Is this just me or am I off base?

Friday, March 26, 2010

CHAPTER THREE: Yup...

I have been having a bum day as of yesterday and most of today. I told Karissa we were starting the weekend early and that seemed fine with her. I have not felt like doing much yet I want to do a lot, what to do...

Even with no motivation and some setbacks I have been very productive, I think it is a mental thing. Anyone feel me?

Thursday, March 25, 2010

CHAPTER THREE: Shall we dance?

Had a good day yesterday, got a lot done and read through three proposed books. I am not the best writer but I hope one day to be a bestseller. This said all I can give is my personal opinion.

From looking at new authors works coming across my desk and writing myself it is a good way to learn how to write as well as what not to do. I think of myself as a reader, I would call myself an expert because I read on average a book a week and when I was single a book every two days. Because of this I can spot a good book or good writing very fast, but that is way different then writing a good book. I look at my own work and cringe, it does get better but it is all part of learning.

Things I have found that I do or did and others do as well that may not be so hot.

Skipping heads. Talking from point of view and jumping into another characters head. Bad.

Jumping ship. One story to another back to story one and then to some other unrelated story. No flow or reason and instead of helping the story it hurts.

Going to fast. Going from meeting a person to loving them in one chapter.

Knowing things they should not know. A character knows something they shouldn't, or does everything right all the time. Make time fail or fall, I like to see some bad things happen to the hero, don't you?

No hook at the end of the chapters. Put a hook or leave them hanging so it drives them to the next chapter... will make your reader stay up till 2am.

Just some random thoughts... take it or leave it...

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Chapter Three: Time... Is not on my side...

I was going to write yesterday and the day before but time got away from me. Orlando was great, I got to meet some very cool people. We sold 1500 books in two days, sold out we did!

So with all the busy life stuff and working with other authors my own writing has slowed down so I have been working to force myself to sit down and write for me. This can be hard but now that I am getting some feedback on my Airel book new life has been infused into my writing drive. That and I need to get this thing done.

E-book sales are up again this month and I only hope they keep going up every month. Did over 1000 last month and over 1000 this month so far as well, who is buying these?

Saturday, March 20, 2010

CHAPTER THREE: Race or Race?

The event I went to in Orlando was filled with everyone but Americans. One thing I noticed was how excited and loving everyone was. The people of China would kiss me on the cheek and if you were nice to one, they told all their friends and there would come 50 more. It was like we were rock stars even though we really were not.

It is cool to see the different way people show affection, we here in the States are so very reserved compared to most of the rest of the world. I may get a chance to go to China this year and I hope I get to, I can't imagine how it is there if it is this crazy with 3000 of them here.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

CHAPTER THREE: Orlando

I have been in Orlando and I must say... It is crazy! The Asian people love us and want pictures as if we are movie stars. It is insane...

I am helping sell books and so far we have sold 1500 in two days, food is great and the hotel is amazing... Wish Karissa was here.

I will be back Monday and tell you all about it...

Monday, March 15, 2010

CHAPTER THREE: I'm leaving on a jet plane...

I am going to Orlando tomorrow so I may be hit and miss but I will try to get something out each day. I hope the trip goes well and on my return I will let you know what it was all about.

I plan to get some writing done and some work done on a few books I need to look over. I hope they have a gym...

Sunday, March 14, 2010

CHAPTER THREE: Fat!

So I have been feeling a little fat as of late. I am not one to step on a scale but the last time I did was in November. I was at the Gym and wanted to get a update to see if what I was feeling was in fact real or just in my head.

It was real. I am up 20 pounds and no wonder it feels like everything it so tight. What is that about? I am on week thee working out again and I have begun to eat better now that I see what I am at I have a new motivation to keep it up. The problem is not that I don't know what to do, it is just I really like food and candy! Can I give it all up?

No

Why lie? I can't do it, not on my own so in order to keep from getting fatter and risk scaring small children I have to work out much harder and step it up a notch so I can afford to eat some crap now and again without having it all stick around.

I think the combo from going from a active job to sitting around all the time is not helping...

So here is to tight jeans, a fat belly and lots of food!

Cheers!

Saturday, March 13, 2010

CHAPTER THREE: Goodish day.

Went to a book signing and met some really cool people. Came home and hung some pictures, a few hooks for some window dressing and overall it has been a goodish day.

What do you think about made up words, like goodish, or Snug? That is so snug! I think it is fun to put them in a book, having a person have their own made up pet words, sometimes it makes them seem more real.

What do you think?

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

CHAPTER THREE: Walk...

The last few days have been so very busy. This is a good thing in a way but in some ways it can be stressful. I look at the dates as they fly by on the calender and wonder at how fast it all evaporates.

I am a bit stuck on my third book in the WJA series and I am taking a little break from it. I have so much info and I don't want it to seem jumbled or all crammed in. Any thoughts?

Saturday, March 6, 2010

CHAPTER THREE: Oh what a beautiful morning...

The sun is out, the air is not cold and it is a Saturday. This is the kind of weather I love. Spring is trying to get going but there is still the threat of winter still not wanting to run away for another year.

Worked with Andrew on three book covers and I must say, we got a bunch done in 4 hrs. We are re-vamping a cover for Bill and one for Angie. I just hope they like what we came up with.

Yesterday we had a family night and went out to the Tacanos or whatever it is called. The place was so good and Kale was so funny. He would stand up on his seat every time the waiter came around so he could get some more meat. I think most of it ended up on the floor but he was so cute. The little guy just liked the experience.

After we went to Rediscovered Bookshop and lucky me a author was there signing books. I picked one up and got a chance to talk to him a bit. He writes YA adventure and has 10 or so books out. Can anyone guess who it was?

One of his books, the one I got is called IQ...

Well I am off... have a great weekend!

Thursday, March 4, 2010

CHAPTER THREE: Good talk son...

I was talking with Wynette today and we were going over how to start a new novel or keep one going. Some of the things were how we both wanted to learn to write better and wondering if taking the time to stop and take some classes or wait till we mastered the craft before going on with more books. I would love to learn to write like some of the greats but not just like them but like me. To master something takes a lot of practice and patients.

I think one of the best ways to learn to write is to write. I still don't look at myself as a writer, I am a idea-er, if that is a word. I have great ideas and I stumble along and write them down and hope my poor editor can make sense of it all and fix my mess. But does that mean I give up and never write? Do I call it in and never write again because I am not geared to know all the plot and perfect story line to draw the reader in?

I say no... well at least I am not going to do that. I am going to plod along and keep putting the ideas on paper and keep sending crap up to my editor and hope she makes it through all my jumbled up mess and pray at the other end is a story that people will like. If not... well... you can't do this thing called writing for someone else, you have to do it for yourself.

Love it,
or leave it...

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

CHAPTER THREE: Bath and a Book and a Gun!

Story:

One of my writers goes in to the printer that I use or used to use and said printer tries to convince this author that they should not go with me to publish but them! I hear this from the author and because this person is my friend they tall said printer not to go there in so many words.

What is wrong with people? Do you have that low of a moral character that you have to steel people away because you can't stand other people to succeed? One thing you will learn is that people will hate you for two things:

1. If you fail.
2. It you succeed.

So I am going to take a bath and read a good book, I put the gun up for now but don't push me... I kill in my head and taking a action from your mind to real life is a short jump!


Lol... some of you are worried... heehee... Better worry, I do have a gun.. well not just one gun... come on over and find out!

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

CHAPTER THREE: Whatever...

If yesterday never happened that would be just great. I mean wow! Kids are all sick, Klayton is getting three teeth in and his poor bottom is so red and he is just miserable. Kale is snotting and sick up coughing all night and Soleil is feeling neglected because the boys are getting all the attention. This morning she told me she was sick and faked a cough... lol

So I was in a mood, I know never thought I could be in a mood! Ha... I had to leave because I was going to go like a bomb and it would not be nice...

So I have been stuck just a little on a story, what to do? Well one thing I did and it seemed to help was talk to someone about it. Bounce ideas off them and by talking it out it with the old funk and on with the creative juices.

Monday, March 1, 2010

CHAPTER THREE: VOTE VOTE VOTE!

This month and this month only we need your Votes! We are trying to get a grant for a book fair we want to put on here in Boise. Pepsi is giving away money and all you need is the most votes!

Here is where you come in... Go to the link above and register. Then you can vote once per day for the next 30 days! We get the most votes, we get 25k to help put this event on. Please vote every day and please tell everyone you know and bug them to vote as well!


Time to push... time to move!

Thanks to all!