R. Kirk White's Blog
March 5, 2015
Becoming a Writer

In my first post written exclusively for Goodreads I’d like to answer that age old question: Why did I become an author? I’d be lying if I said I had not thought about it over the years.I love literature, I really do. Not in an academic way, but as a window to new places, or a journey that helps me draw closer to the person I’d always hoped I’d be. Novels are a way out: out of the mundane, out of the restrictions of everyday life, out of the limits we impose upon ourselves. However, writing a novel is time intensive with no guarantee of any discernible economic reward. So, by necessity, sustenance took center stage over literary ambitions for a large block of my adult life. Interestingly, I found that the longer I put financial considerations above everything else the easier it got. The further I got from paycheck-to-paycheck living the more life opened up and the harder it was for me to get off the treadmill.
And then it was over. The treadmill broke. My stable work situation was suddenly not so stable. Work that had become so demanding no longer seemed worth the effort. Life was finite and it was passing me by. A summer opened up and my excuses ran out. I knew if I was ever going to write it was now or never.
Starting the long road to authorship was a particularly daunting challenge. I was well aware it would take incredible discipline, sacrifice, and focus. Long hours would be spent toiling in obscurity often wondering if I had what it takes, or if what I did would ever really matter. Yet, I knew in my heart, I would regret it if I let this opportunity pass me by. So it began.
Yes, I thought about quitting a number of times; like when I was stuck not being able to envision a satisfying way to move the story along, or when I would wake up and see that what appeared to be so brilliant the night before had dissolved into mediocrity in the morning light. But I have always been stubborn and persistent. So, I’d dust myself off, pick myself up and head back to the laptop.
My ace in the hole was my rock-hard faith that I had a great premise for the science/fiction adventure I wanted to create. I have always been a science buff finding nanotechnology particularly fascinating. If physicists are ever able to actually create self-replicating nanobots, that build matter up from the molecular level, they will surely open up a Pandora’s Box. Nanobots have the potential to eventually provide for nearly all of mankind’s material needs, or they could just as easily wipe out all life on earth if they were specifically designed to do that.
Now suppose that tomorrow some obscure physicist announces that he has made the breakthrough. What would happen to this world we’re all so familiar with after the first viable nanobot is created? Would these tiny machines be used for good or evil? Would the foundation of a utopia start to take shape or would a power-hungry oligarchy design nanobots with nefarious intent? What about ordinary individuals just going about their daily lives who get caught in the crossfire? Would they look the other way as evil became the norm, or would they risk everything to oppose it?
I can’t tell you the exact moment when I knew I would see this project through to completion. As the plot unfolded and the characters took shape the story took on a life of its own. I would follow inspiration where ever it led as it branched out to new and necessary scenes ushering in unexpected characters along the way. At other times, I’d hit a dead end and be forced to circle back to pick up the story-line again. Yet, through it all, the anguish and the elation, the world that I was creating was coming into focus.
Five years later the "Square_World Trilogy" was complete. I’d love to invite you into to this adventure. A new and exciting world awaits and all it takes on your part is the same thing I needed to begin the journey: A leap of faith.

Published on March 05, 2015 19:25
Becoming a Writer

I wanted to say hello to everyone at Goodreads. This online forum is a great place for authors and readers to interact, to give recommendations and advice, to exchange ideas. What a great site for loves-of-the-written-word to hang out!
In my first post written exclusively for Goodreads I’d like to answer that age old question: Why did I become an author? I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about it over the years. I love literature, I really do. Not in an academic way, but as a window to new places, or a journey that helps me draw closer to the person I’d always hoped I’d be. Novels are a way out: out of the mundane, out of the restrictions of everyday life, out of the limits we impose upon ourselves. However, writing a novel is time intensive with no guarantee of any discernible economic reward. So, by necessity, sustenance took center stage over literary ambitions for a large block of my adult life. Interestingly, I found that the longer I put financial considerations above everything else the easier it got. The further I got from paycheck-to-paycheck living the more life opened up and the harder it was for me to get off the treadmill.
And then it was over. The treadmill broke. My stable work situation was suddenly not so stable. Work that had become so demanding no longer seemed worth the effort. Life was finite and it was passing me by. A summer opened up and my excuses ran out. I knew if I was ever going to write it was now or never.
Starting the long road to authorship was a particularly daunting challenge. I was well aware it would take incredible discipline, sacrifice, and focus. Long hours would be spent toiling in obscurity often wondering if I had what it takes, or if what I did would ever really matter. Yet, I knew in my heart, I would regret it if I let this opportunity pass me by. So it began.
Yes, I thought about quitting a number of times; like when I was stuck not being able to envision a satisfying way to move the story along, or when I would wake up and see that what appeared to be so brilliant the night before had dissolved into mediocrity in the morning light. But I have always been stubborn and persistent. So, I’d dust myself off, pick myself up and head back to the laptop.
My ace in the hole was that I knew I had a great premise for the science/fiction adventure I wanted to create. I have always been a science buff finding nanotechnology particularly fascinating. If physicists are ever able to actually create self-replicating nanobots, that build matter up from the molecular level, they will surely open up a Pandora’s Box. Nanobots could eventually provide for nearly all of mankind’s basic necessities, or they could just as easily wipe out all life on earth depending on what they are designed to do.
Now suppose that tomorrow some obscure physicist announces that he has made the breakthrough. What would happen to this world we’re all so familiar with after the first viable nanobot is created? Would these tiny machines be used for good or evil? Would the foundation of a utopia start to take shape or would a power-hungry oligarchy design nanobots with nefarious intent? What about ordinary individuals just going about their daily lives who get caught in the crossfire? Would they look the other way as evil became the norm, or would they risk everything to oppose it?
I can’t tell you the exact moment when I knew I would see this project through to completion. As the plot unfolded and the characters took shape the story took on a life of its own. I would follow inspiration where it led as it branched out to new and necessary scenes ushering in unexpected characters along the way. At other times I’d hit a dead end and be forced to circle back to pick up the storyline again. Yet, through it all, the anguish and the elation, the world that I was creating was coming into focus. Five years later the Square_World Trilogy was complete. I’d love to invite you into to this adventure. A new and exciting world awaits and all it takes on your part is the same thing I needed to begin the journey: A leap of faith.
Published on March 05, 2015 14:51
February 13, 2015
The Square_World Trilogy is Complete

Published on February 13, 2015 15:52
August 19, 2014
Near Death Experiences: Is Death the End?

I researched Near Death Experiences many years ago after reading the book Life After Life. So many 1st & 2nd hand accounts of N.D.E.s have been uploaded to the web that it's getting harder to tell the truth from half-truths from the crap. More recently many videos have been posted on YouTube from people who have experienced the phenomenon. In general, the personal ones where someone is telling his, or her, story without embellishment, and without trying to get you to buy their book, are the most believable.
Now, as to whether or not Near Death Experiences are real, or if there is some other rational explanation for them the very best site I found on the subject was written by a nurse, Penny Sartori, who has been treating critically ill patients for a long time. She has taken a scientific approach to trying to understand what happens when people report leaving their physical bodies when clinically dead or near death. I am providing the link to this site so those of you who are interested can check it our for yourself. Here is the link Near Death Experiences .
I am a Christian, but I'm not pushing any agenda here. Just check out the site when you have the time and draw your own conclusion. If you approach this with an open, analytical mind I think you will come out with a greater appreciation for life.
Published on August 19, 2014 13:14
July 18, 2014
Be Flexible

The problem was finally resolved when I joined a Flex League.
The concept is simple. Everyone pays a fee and signs up for seasonal leagues with players who are around the same skill level. One week I am designated the home team and another week I am the visiting team. We play all over Broward County. I pick where we play when I'm the home team and my opponent picks the courts when I am the visitor. At the end of the season the top players make the playoffs.
So far the league had been a blast. Most of the guys I've played have been nice, and I've played on a number of new courts all over the county. It's a great excuse to get out and enjoy summer. There's none of the snobbishness of the country clubs, or the self-promotion of the U.S.T.A., which is a joke. You pay a annual fee to join the United States Tennis Association and get sales pitches for overpriced gear and for discount tickets to matches nobody wants to see and not much else. So, if you want to get in shape, meet new people, and play at new venues check out the Flex Leagues. See you on the courts:)

Published on July 18, 2014 09:55
May 15, 2014
Announcing a science/fiction e-novel review exchange

The premise is simple. Any novelist who would like to have someone review his, or her work, would submit a request by filling out the contact form at the bottom of this page. (This information will only be shared with like-minded novelists). All review requests will be listed on this forum. If another novelist decides to read and review your work, you would, in turn, agree to read and review his, or her, work. Both parties would agree to download, read, and review each other's e-novel and post the reviews on Amazon. This would get new readers for both participants and new reviews. (Yea, it would cost you a few dollars to download a book, but you would also be selling your book.)
To participate in this exchange you must agree to be polite, courteous, respectful, and nice. No derogatory or profane comments permitted. Remember, we have all worked very hard on our stories. If there are major flaws in the work you read, in spelling, formatting, or simple logic please share this information privately with the party involved. It is my hope that this added exposure will uncover some truly original and deserving e-novels and novelists. Name * First Last Email * Comment * Submit
Published on May 15, 2014 16:19
April 4, 2014
The Square Root of Evil



The Square_World I write about is our world a few months in the future. A breakthrough in nanotechnology has opened the door to paradise on hell-on-earth depending on how it is used. In Square Water , the first e-novel of the series, Dr. Harrison, a physicist, designs the first viable nanobot that builds water up from the atomic level by snapping together 2 hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom (H2O). His discovery has the potential to end water shortages the world over. However, nanobots can be incredibly beneficial or unimaginably destructive depending on what they are designed to do. A secret international criminal alliance plots to kidnap Dr. Harrison and steal his discovery. (For Square Water I used R Kirk White as author.)
In The Square Root of Evil a mercenary who used to work for the world elite has started hunting and assassinating the one-percent. He calls himself Judgment Day. His modus operandi is to kidnap his targets, inject them with a lethal drug, and ask if there is anything they would like to be forgiven for in few minutes they have left. One victim confesses that he put out a terminate-with-extreme-prejudice contract on Dr. Harrison. The inventor of the Square Water nanobot designed a new nanobot, Hydrogen Squared, that produces hydrogen. This new, clean-burning, fuel source threatens to make gasoline powered engines obsolete. An international oil consortium allocates vast sums of money to hire mercenaries and to pay off members of Congress to sanction the murder of Dr. Harrison, his family, and his friends. The Judgment Day killer must decide whether to continue his vendetta against the one-percent or risk exposure by trying to save the physicist from some very dangerous adversaries. (For The Square Root of Evil I used my full name Richard Kirk White as author.)
Published on April 04, 2014 16:59
February 1, 2014
Be Nice and see where it leads

Published on February 01, 2014 15:51
December 20, 2013
What I'm Thankful For

Published on December 20, 2013 10:39
November 8, 2013
Bullies & Incognito

I have heard some people speaking against confronting the bully saying things like, "so you confront the bully and you get your ass kicked, then what?" What this boils down to is simple: do you want to be in charge of your life or not? You have to make the bully understand that he will come out on the losing end if he continues to harass you. If you get in a fight with a bully and lose, you can buy pepper spray for less than $20 bucks. the next time you see the bully pepper spray him, then beat the shit out of him. Let him know he ever comes after you again you will put him in the hospital, and is that doesn't stop it, the grave. Screw 'em. Nobody has the right to bully you. It's everyone's basic right to defend himself.
Now things get complicated if you are being bullied at work by a superior. In that case, document every abusive comment and action. Once you can demonstrate that the bullying is a recurrent pattern go the bully's boss with your evidence and make it clear if it doesn't stop you will seek legal counsel. The one thing companies fear is lawyers: translation-losing money.
Intimidation and bullying are part of life. Isn't that what most of us writers write about, someone facing up to threats and intimidation and find a way to overcome them? It's your life. Take it back!
Published on November 08, 2013 11:26