S.J. Reisner's Blog, page 76

Almost Done & News!

Yes – I realize I'm posting twice in one day, but some days I just have more to say than others.

Into Darkness is almost done! I really thought this novel would never be finished. Some novels just take longer than others and happen in their own time. I have to thank my editor (and friend!), Wheezy, for putting  up with me and painstakingly going through this one with a fine tooth comb. Switching editors in the middle of the stream with a stubborn novel wasn't easy, but we made it!  I just...

What You Think vs. What Is

It always amazes me how people will sometimes approach me just so they can tell me what I'm doing wrong with my writing career. Trust me – there are a lot of  folks with opinions about this out there.

The two biggest complaints I've gotten is that my non-fiction books need to be in a higher quality hardcover, or that I should not be using Lulu for my non-fiction because Lulu is where two-bit authors who can't write their way out of box go to die.

I think for people to understand why I don't...

Birds, Bees, and Bats!

As my backyard slowly makes its way into something slightly resembling the nature paradise in my imagination, I'm considering more design elements meaning to bring more wildlife into our space. I've never been one of those neat-tidy yard people. I like a little bit of randomness in the garden. Of course right now our backyard is a veritable weeded wonderland.  I thought it would be beneficial, however, to bring in helpful garden bugs to help pollinate my vegetables and perhaps cut back on...

What Can You Really Offer?

I received yet another solicitation from a small press about my Demonolatry titles today. It seems small publishers see my books and immediately think cash cow. They also seem to think that they can use the "you shouldn't have to pay to have your book published" and the promise of "legitimacy" as an author as some sort of author bait.

Ask any of my readers and I have no doubt the majority of them (sans other writers who are still brainwashed by the fantasy that writers aren't legitimate...

The Chilling Effect

As many of you know I'm currently writing on my new bdsm themed novel called Switched. My mind started traveling ahead in the story when, ::gasp:: I realized that several scenes from where I'm currently at – there is a rape scene. And no, it's not rape for titillation. It's actually more of an unfortunate plot point (and it's sad and meant to make the reader angry).

But because ARE and Smashwords are no longer allowed to carry stories with rape in them (erotic romance stories only as I'm...

Are you there Daemon? It's me, Magus.

Recently I've been thinking a lot how some Daemonolaters go through ritual after ritual in some attempt to find and connect with their Patron/Matron (aka Guardian Daemon, Mentor etc…). I am often asked the question, "How do I connect to the Daemonic divine?"  I always answer the same. "You have to work with the Daemons."  Sometimes this can be achieved through extended rituals such as Kasdeya or other forms of extended pathwork.

On the other side of that coin there are those of us who have...

My Websites & Paypal

As of today I have removed Paypal from my webstore here because I cannot, in good conscience, continue to support a credit card processing company that is causing the ban of some of my books through Smashwords and ARE. I would be hypocrite to cry foul and then continue to support them by using them to process transactions on my own websites.

I don't know where I'm going with this yet. I need to find a comparable service to Paypal and sadly it appears Paypal dominates the market.

Alas, I won't b...

Humans Are Sexual Creatures

It's true. Humans are sexual creatures. From the time we hit puberty we're on a mission (albeit sometimes subconsciously) to find sexual partners. It's natural and instinctive and wired into our DNA.  Humans  aren't the only animals who have sex for pleasure, we're just the only ones intelligent enough to express our feelings about it, talk about it and devise methods of being stimulated even when another person isn't involved.

We watch sexually graphic movies, get aroused reading erotic...

Procrastin…. Squirrel!

Many years ago I heard someone say that procrastination is not the cause, but rather the symptom of something else. I tend to agree. Think about it – when you've procrastinated there was probably something more pressing requiring your attention. Or perhaps some truth you were trying to avoid. Let me explain.

I'm one of those folks who, if I'm procrastinating I know that there is something else that needs to be done before I can be productive again. Sometimes it's as simple as vacuuming the...

More Tales From the Writing Life

So earlier this evening I was watching that Siri commercial and thinking, I really need to get my phone to remind me to call the vet to set up the appointment to have the cats shaved. Looks like I really do need that personal assistant after all – even if it is my phone. Now granted my phone doesn't talk to me like Siri, or call me by name (which is creepy anyway), but it does a fabulous job of reminding me to do things provided I set the reminders and turn the volume up.  It also keeps me...