A final post of the year

Happy New Year!  The editing continues...go check out the Smashwords sale if you have nothing better to do to ring in the new year!

Blue light special?

I've dropped the prices on many of my older books, many are now free!  Enjoy!

While you wait

Still here are you?  I'll be slogging through edits for a few months yet, so you must be patient, I know it is hard, but you could be learning the lyrics to 'Lo How a Rose' in the original German while you wait...or something equally exciting!

Something old, something new?

I've finished revising the 'In Shadow' series, but need to finish Book I of 'Serpent' before I republish the compendium, boy my writing has improved a bit in 11 years (started my first book in 2007)!  It's much more fun rereading the later books, the originals aren't bad, but...it's sort of like taking a look at an old eighth grade writing assignment when you are about to graduate from college!

Holiday to-do list

While you are waiting on the edge of your seat for me to finish updating my extensive portfolio, I'd highly recommend a nice cup of cocoa (with plenty of marshmallows) and your favorite Christmas CD.  You can get extra credit if you indulge such nonsense in a darkened room with only the Christmas lights or candles or a fire (or all three) for illumination.

Grammar fiends rejoice!

I've finally convinced my editorial staff to revise my numerous writings: correcting spelling, punctuation, or grammatical errors that have otherwise escaped notice.  It is a rather lengthy process, but for all you grammar fiends out there, hopefully the coming year will see a very minor improvement in the grammatical prowess of my various works, for everybody else, I highly doubt you'll notice any change at all.

New book is out and a coupon!

Go over to smashwords.com and use code NN56W to get my new book, 'Of Tea...and Things' for free, enjoy!

Still working

The book that should have been done a while back has been interrupted by life, but it will come eventually, sort of like the apocalypse, though probably not as exciting, though that's probably a good thing!

Reader Beware

Yes, it is that time of year again so be warned.  I know everyone gets aggravated by stores that put out the Christmas stuff the day after Halloween or was that after back to school?  But I can't help myself. If you've ever been part of a musical ensemble that performs during the Christmas season, this is prime practice season and you can't help getting the music in your head, if not your blood.  And it doesn't go away, ever.  So mid-October I break out the Messiah CDs and torment my family with various chorale or instrumental numbers, happily not involving hippos or teeth, but the true 'reason for the season,' a song which I hope stays in the hearts of the hearers long after the season has passed.  So reader beware, you never know when a quote might pop up here or there or anywhere!

Cover Release

Strike up the band, gather the press, the moment of revelation has come...in case anybody in the entire known universe is curious, here's a sneak peak at the cover of the impending book:

Unanticipated project

So I'm writing another book, completely unanticipated, it started as a little story and has since grown into a novel length project, perhaps even a series.  Perhaps the best way to sum it up is 'Northanger Abbey' meets the 'Greylands.'  It will be interesting, at least, in a good or bad way is yet to be seen!

New book coming out!

Strike up the band, order a cake and a dancing kangaroo!  The event of the season is upon us folks, 'Legends of Shadow' comes out Sept. 30th, also watch for an update for Amazon and the complete set as I haven't got around to those yet.

Cover release!

Here's what nobody has been waiting for (no, not the November midterm elections!): the cover of my new book, set to come out as soon as I finish it.  Which should be sometime this century...

2/3 Done

Well, the book is coming along, hopefully in the next month or so there'll be a new arrival (that no one will ever read...).  But as long as you are reading something, that's quite alright!

At long last!

It's official, or as official as anything gets when one is a self-published no-name author (not to mention cover designer, editor, and in charge of publicity!): there's a new book coming out.  I'm working on a compilation of short stories from my 'In Shadow' series, so start counting the days.  I've got to go do a huge interview on this much anticipated new release...as soon as I self-publish a literature magazine!

Back to school

My biggest school struggle as a child was finding things to read.  They turned you loose in the library with no guidance or direction, my choices were random at best.  At home, the main goal was not to alert the maternal unit that you even existed, let alone expect guidance or encouragement in the literary realm.  In junior high they assigned books for you to read but never gave you any background on why that particular book was worth reading so to my immature mind they were just lousy stories we had to read for class.  Now I could suggest a whole slew of great books for the age 12+ reader, but what do I do for my 6 year old?  I want him to learn to love reading and stories, not kill that budding love by inane books or too much pressure, but to do that, he needs to discover books he can fall in love with.  That is one advantage of technology: there's a whole world of great stories out there, now closer than ever.  Encouraging the young readers in your life is one of the most important things you will ever do, as the rate of readers in America continues to plummet into a seemingly bottomless abyss!

A tale of two critters

I loved the Little Critter books by Mercer Mayer when I was a kid and it's been fun introducing them to our son.  We bought several of the multivolume sets when he was fairly little and have been enjoying them again and again, well most of them.  I love the wit, whimsy, love, humor, and grace with which these books portray everyday life with small kids, at least in the older books.  Some of the newer ones are a downright bore.  Yep, just another book about eating right and exercising and being nice to people, not that there is anything wrong with that sort of book, it is just rather disappointing after reading the previous generation of books, which addressed similar topics but in a far more attractive manner.  The wit and whimsy have been replaced by the tedious mantras we hear from public service announcements and motivational speakers and internet gurus.  The wit and whimsy can reach the heart and mind of an over-teched and informationally saturated generation but the mantras will just bounce off like rain off an umbrella, so much have they been inundated since their first breath.  But that is the beauty of a book: a good one lives forever, especially in the hearts and minds of its lovers.  And happily there are enough god books in the series to keep the kids of this generation and the previous ones busy for a lifetime!

Killing the dream?

I'm dreading the start of the school year.  They spent all last year teaching my little guy to read and now I'm afraid (after speaking with other parents of older kids) they'll push him to read so much they kill his love for it.  I remember my English classes never inspired a love of literature with their choices of 'educational' material, things like 'Brave New World' and 'Animal Farm' for which my adolescent brain was not ready.  I just wanted a good story with enduring characters and a great plot, I wasn't looking for political metaphor guising itself as a novel.  It didn't enlighten my benighted brain but only managed to confuse me and turn me off to what should be good books.  Now it is even worse, how much and far they push them, demanding so many pages or minutes or words rather than letting a love of reading bud naturally, we throw these developing and delicate sprouts into an artificial hot house and demand they grow, NOW!  They are making it work and not fun, it should be a lifelong enjoyable habit, not just another assignment to check off the list.  The statistics on adult readers in the US are atrocious and this just might be a root cause (technology and other distractions is certainly another).  Let's fight against the machine and read because we want to, not because we have to, and let's teach our kids to do the same!

Summer reading list!

Here's an interesting summer reading list, hopefully your library has a few copies, mine doesn't!  Enjoy!

Is it real?

I read a little article a while back saying something about the reading experience being significantly different with a real book versus a tablet, and while I agree, for most of the penniless author-wanna-bes of the world, I think the ebook revolution surely beats the vanity presses any which way you look at it.  Mostly it has saved us all from becoming like an older gentleman I know, he's published a dozen books at his own expense and spends his life hawking them to unwary strangers (all the locals avert their eyes and speed walk in the other direction lest they be forced to spend another $20 to politely escape the situation!); sort of like when your niece is selling Girl Scout cookies except she's been doing it for 40 years.  But I've sometimes wondered if those books are 'real.'  If we suddenly entered a technological dark age, would there be anything left of our digital work?  But then the paper versions can be just as fickle, indeed, when the world burns, as it one day will regardless of your theology (on this the naturalist and the theologian agree) it will go up in smoke and all come to naught.  I guess there's only one Book worth considering as Real, one that will survive any impending apocalypse: Et verbum Dei manet in aeternum!

Small books, big ideas!

What are you reading this summer?  I just finished 'The Once and Future King,' and must now classify where it fits in my pantheon of favorite books.  It is one of those stories you can't just read once, indeed, you must peruse it again and again to even begin to understand it.  I guess it goes on the shelf next to 'The Man Who Was Thursday' and 'That Hideous Strength.'  Both books I'm still trying to wrap my mind around what they are trying to say.  Reading such books is a great way to keep your brain from getting rusty, but I'm not sure mine is ready for gymnastics quite yet.

Warning!

School starts again too soon, better get in a few more elective reading choices!

The weather outside is frightful...

...and a book is so delightful...you get the idea!

A Once and Future Classic?

I've seen the musical 'Camelot' and Disney's 'The Sword in the Stone' is my favorite of their older animated movies so when I ran across a mention of the source material (and how good it was) I finally took the plunge and ordered a copy of 'The Once and Future King.'  I've only read the first half so I shouldn't jump to conclusions, but the article I had read outlining someone's favorite books along with all the lovely reviews certainly got me a bit more excited than I am at present.  Maybe the last half will surprise me.  It isn't a bad book, not by any means, but for all of the hype I was expecting something a little different.  It is definitely worth a read but it likely won't make my personal top ten, which isn't quite fair as there are some classics in that list that have stood the test of centuries, perhaps I should add a section for 'modern favorites?'

Summer Sale!

Starting in July, hop on over to smashwords.com for their summer sale, including some of my books!

Too hot to garden?

Find the nearest tree, ascend, and read that book you've had on your life list since junior high!

Good News!

No News!  You do the math!

And other nonsense!

Your assignment this week is continuing last week's theme of childish lit.  Go peruse the poem, 'The Owl and the Pussy Cat,' and write a 3000 word essay detailing the historical uses of a runcible spoon.

Juvenile Literature?

“A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest.” C.S. Lewis

“Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.” C.S. Lewis

I must agree with the esteemed Mr. Lewis, for some of my favorite books are labeled 'children's stories,' even my preferred genre of writing was once consigned to the kids' department.  I am glad society is finally starting to notice that just because something may be enjoyed by children does not necessarily mean they are the only ones who can benefit from it.  So go dig out your favorite books from your youth or go explore the kids' section at your local bookstore, you never know what you will find!  I'd recommend Shel Silverstein or Sandra Boynton for starters, when was the last time you read a good board book?

The ONLY thing you should be reading

I hope you are out in the garden, even if it is just a pot of basil on the window sill, if you are reading anything, it had better be a gardening book!

Words, words, words...

Your assignment this week is to find the source of the title quote (one of the best answers to an inane question ever!) and thoroughly enjoy the tale, just remember, it is 'Star Wars: Rogue I' in Denmark, so don't get too depressed but rather enjoy all the snarky one-liners!

You aren't doing THAT are you?

You'd better be outside enjoying the nice weather (unless it is raining, then by all means indulge in a book!)...

Comics as literature?

I've seen a few kids from our church wandering around with what we'd call novels back in the old days, except these are full of pictures with word bubbles: comics.  I suppose graphic novel is the correct phrase but I find this new phenomenon rather interesting, albeit my six year old prefers to try reading 'Garfield' comics in lieu of a storybook of late so I can't really be objective on this matter.  But it does remind me of the scene from the animated 'Beauty and the Beast' where Gaston asks how Belle can read that book, 'it as no pictures,' and then accepts 'primeval' as a compliment, love it!  I guess they are reading at least, but when they come out with the comic version of 'Hamlet' or 'Pride and Prejudice,' we can pretty much assume our cultural literacy rate has just hit bottom!

Spring Final Project

Okay folks, the school year is almost over so one last project, go read the Book of Proverbs and get ye wise, then write a 5000 page essay on the subject of your choice therefrom, mine will be about living on the roof...due Friday!

Snow on snow, snow on snow...

I used to live on the tundra (sort of) and then we moved several hundred miles west and south, meaning spring (and winters in general) are a whole lot nicer now, well they were, I think we've had a snow storm every weekend since February.  I think the weather has finally found me, feels just like old times!  Ah well, more time to read!

What do you do with a problem like the Necromancer...?

Yeah, it doesn't have the same ring to it, does it?  If you haven't got the tune in your head, maybe you'd best revisit the 'Sound of Music.'  But whatever you do, maybe actually read 'The Hobbit' before trying the movies, as a mere footnote becomes a rather major subplot and only adds to the chaotic plot.  Even singing hasn't enlightened me with an answer, at least you can marry off the problematic lady, I'm not sure that would be a good idea with the Necromancer!

Still winter...read!

The Good News is that it is still winter, so you can still catch up on your reading...the Bad News is that it's still winter, I guess I'll go read something warm!

Good news...I think

No news is good news, right?  Happy good news!

Choose this day...

What are you planting this year?  I'm afraid one lowly pot of basil is my sole hope of greenery this year.  But hopefully your prospects are um, greener!  So choose this day what ye shall plant...for Spring is soon upon us!  And yes, seed catalogs count towards your course reading requirements...

Fast fleeting the days!

Those long winter nights are quickly giving place to a quickening spring!  Get in one more 'classic' movie or costume drama of your choice ere the season is over or start reading your seed catalogs and dreaming, enjoy!

Read an eBook week!

Head on over to smashwords.com to find some great prices on ebooks, including mine!

I don't care what the ground hog saw!

It's still winter, back to bed with you, and don't forget lots and lots of good books, and cocoa, and maybe a cat...

Go back to bed (with a book!)

The title says it all folks, it's winter and hibernation season is in full swing, make the best of it!

Of warmth and bookishness

What is better than curling up with a good book and a great cup of cocoa on a frozen night of snow and wind?  Nothing, so get busy!

"Yea, and a case to put it into"

I love 'Much Ado About Nothing,' Shakespeare has so much fun with the banter between the various enamored couples and those watching their antics that I truly do envy him.  While Claudio waxes poetic upon his chosen lady, calling her such a wondrous jewel the world can hardly contain it, the unimpressed Benedict adds that not only could the world handle such a wonder but could also provide a convenient box to boot.  Sometimes I feel like the obsessed Claudio about my writing, you know how overly sentimental dog owners and parents of small children get, writers are no different (not that we very often admit as much, even to ourselves) but happily most of the time I'm of the practical Benedict's sentiments on this matter.  Some people have to jog, I write, it's just wired into me, and whether it's worth publishing or not, who knows?  But in this day and age, that 'case to put it into' is accessible (for better or worse) to nearly everyone so why not?  And if you can't stand the flood of modern works churning out of the ebook tsunami, there's always the Bard and the Classics to fall back upon.  Whatever your preference, enjoy a good read!

Semi-obscure Hymn of the Week?

As I didn't annoy you enough over Christmas with traditional carols/old seasonal hymns, I feel obliged to do so just now.  Have you ever heard Lead Me To Calvary/Lest I Forget Gethsemane?  You'd better go do just that then!

The classics for cheaters?

I've only begun to peruse this little volume, but if you've ever wanted a classical education (in six easy lesson?) this book might be for you!

Reader mode

I've been in reader mode lately, mostly because my brain hurts and I daren't trust myself with a pen (or keyboard) at the moment, but don't they also say the best writers are also the best authors?  Then ware, genius at work...I hope!

School is back in session

While I'm braving the tepid waters of required reading for beginning readers, I'll give you a more interesting assignment: read a sequel or spin-off to Jane Austen (and yes, you can watch a movie so long as it is a sequel or spin-off, you don't need an excuse to watch the originals!).  Anyone want to trade homework assignments?

Snowed/Frozen in? Great!

I hope you are snowed/frozen in like we are, if so, this is a great time to catch up on your reading (add cozy blanket/fire/cat/hot cocoa) or even a Jane Austen movie marathon to ring in the New Year.