Riley Amos Westbrook's Blog, page 49

Cruisin’ through books cause books make life worth living with Aly 3/18/2016 part 2

The Witchhunter: Red shadow by Zoltán Pósfai

I was not really sure in this book why the witch hunter was kills witches but I like it!  I love a good mystery as well as some supernatural and this book made me think of “the Last Witch Hunter” just a little bit.  I think I really got into this book!  * I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
 4/5
Filed under: Musings, Riley Amos Reviews, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Book Review

Cruisin’ through books cause books make life worth living with Aly 3/18/2016 part 1

Night Things: Dracula versus Frankenstein by Terry M. West

This book was very different from anything I have read before.  I enjoyed the twists that I didn’t expect and how fun and scary this book was to read.  I am a big horror fan so this book was right up what I like.  You should check it out if you like horror, too.  * I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*  5/5
Filed under: Musings, Riley Amos Reviews, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Book Review

Day 40 of 90: Lessons learned #ASMSG #IARTG #IAN1 #SupportIndieAuthors #Inspiration

If you would have told me I would write a book when I was a kid, I would think you were nuts. If you had told me 5 years ago, I would have laughed in your face. If you told me 3 years ago, I would shake my head in disbelief. And after I started writing my first books, if you told me there would be more, I still would have problems believing it.

I am not your typical author. Growing up, I never enjoyed writing. It was a tedious chore I suffered through during school days, and not many others. If you were a teacher, and set a pen in my hand, asking me to “let my mind flow” you were liable to get the same word until my page was full, or a profanity laden tirade about why writing sucks.

If only I had known better.

The joy of creating my own world, changing the laws of physics if I feel the need. Creating a group of people, and giving them all personalities. Placing them in harrowing situations, then rescuing them or leaving them to their fate. I’ve learned creating is addictive.

I used to be a Certified Nurses Assistant at a psychiatric hospital working nights. I’ve seen people at their worst, and watched those same people lift themselves up from rock bottom. The one thing that was consistently the same was the shift in perspective.

I could tell when a patient was on the right track. There were lots of cues, but the biggest one was how they woke up in the mornings. At their worst, clients would argue and fight, digging in with the actions that put them in the hospital to begin with. In the mornings, these are the people who cursed me, threatened my family, and generally carried themselves with a menacing air. They’re unwilling to listen to outside ideas, and close themselves away from anyone and everyone. And who can blame them? Some of them have suffered horrendous traumas. I saw their hurts and how they dealt with it. It taught me to deal with my own.

I watched as they progressed through treatment, some lifting themselves without help. These people all shared one perspective, and it’s the one I have set a goal to cultivate. That’s determination. It sounds cliche, but it’s true. Once you set your mind, do the hard work and persevere through the learning curve, success lies there. I’ve seen it too much in my life, watched too many success stories. I try to learn from others’ experiences.

Others need a bit of a hand up before they respond. These people taught me lessons as well, the one perspective they shared was hope. Even at their worst, these people were always ready with a smile. They were willing to learn from their mistakes and move forward with those lessons in the forefront. From them I learned to keep my head high, and be a shining light. Your only mission in life is to be a better person than you were yesterday.

The people who never changed after treatment shared a perspective as well. It was a feeling of being trapped. When you get locked inside of a building 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, it’s not hard to see why. The lesson I learned from them was we build our own prisons. That’s not to say you can’t be imprisoned, you can be. You can choose how to react to that imprisonment. You can be stuck in a box, and still have as much freedom as you are willing to accept. Again, it’s a matter of perspective. Some patients thrive under stifling rules, but fall apart with freedom. Others chafe at the rules, but truly have their best growth without impediments.

The last group of patients were the ones that never wanted to get better. They taught me the most important lesson. You never fail until you give up. They never set themselves attainable goals, and didn’t move on when they failed. They dwell on the past, and that keeps them from having a future.

I can honestly say, without these lessons I would never have written a book. I didn’t have the perspective to do so.

Go out and experience life, attempt to place yourself in other perspectives. Watch people and learn how they act, and why they act that way.

When I first hurt myself and was unable to return to a job I loved, I had nothing to turn to. Adrift and aimless, I buried myself in the stories of others.

Eventually, characters of my own started to pester me. What began as a wild leap away from boredom has morphed into a monster I don’t want to stop.

One word at a time, one step at a time. That’s the greatest advice I can give you. No matter your writing method, the story is still written one word at a time.

Filed under: Musings, My books, Resource, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Author, Book, musings, Resources, Riley Amos Westbrook, Support, Support Indie Authors, SupportIndieAuthors

Monday Musings: Always Going Forward, Always Looking Back a.k.a. Progress, But Don’t Forget

Awesome post about progressing, yet never forgetting who you are.

J. B. Garner - Musings of a Starving Author

I am sitting here, planning for the changes to the blog and my own work habits in the weeks ahead, and I have come to the realization that there is an important balance to walk here.  How much should I change from my old course?  How far should I go and how much should I keep?

The answer is, of course, obvious.  As in most things, balance is called for.  You can’t forget your past, but you can’t stand still either.  I need to keep the things that are vital to me, while pushing past my limitations to move ahead in the places I’m deficient.  I need to hold on to my humility while being confident enough to push myself forward.  I need to be supportive of my colleagues while never forgetting to worry about my own well-being.  It’s the classic ‘you can’t help others until you help yourself first’.

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Filed under: Musings

Day 39 of 90: Boundaries #ASMSG #IARTG #IAN1 #SupportIndieAuthors #Boundaries #Inspiration

I’m a firm believer in pushing your comfort boundaries. Reaching outside of your comfort zone, and inviting others to get to know you. This approach has given me some beautiful relationships in life, ones that wouldn’t have started if I hadn’t taken the time to look outside myself.

I learned a lot from watching other people’s examples in my life. From what to do, what not to do, when to act, when to react, and when to remain calm. I learned from watching other people go through their life experiences. I may not have learned as much as they did first hand, but I learned enough to avoid the bad situations and cultivate the good.

It kept me free of most drugs and alcohol, and helped me to keep the positive relationships in my life, and cast off those that were negative.

That’s not to say that all negativity is bad. I’ve learned a lot of lessons from negative situations, including how to accept adversity. Everyone is different, and what one person considers chaotic another will consider everyday.

If you’re not pushing your comfort zones, you’re not growing. I look at the world around me, and I look for something new to learn all the time. Even if it’s something that shatters a long held belief. You need to stretch your mind, or you’ll stagnate. Why would you ever quit developing yourself? Why would you ever quit trying to grow? Why would you ever want to languish and wallow in what you believe, and shut out the facts that can show you another way.

Filed under: Musings

Cruisin’ through books cause books make life worth living with Aly 3/17/2016 part 4

The Last Victim by Karen Robards

This book was a great book about serial killers and ghosts and serial killer ghosts!  I enjoyed hanging out with Dr. Charlie and all her friends.  I was excited to catch a killer.  I will read more in this series.    5/5

Filed under: Musings, Riley Amos Reviews, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Book Review

Cruisin’ through books cause books make life worth living with Aly 3/17/2016 part 3

Screw, Marry, Kill by Tom Shutt

I love a good vampire book!  This book does not disappoint.  If you like to read everything you can on vampires you need to check this book out.  I enjoyed it!  * I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*  4/5

Filed under: Musings, Riley Amos Reviews, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Book Review

Cruisin’ through books cause books make life worth living with Aly 3/17/2016 part 2

My Abigail: A Psychological Thriller by David Duane KummerMy Abigail: A Psychological Thriller by David Duane Kummer *ARC*

I loved it! This book was a great thriller from the beginning and it kept me reading until the end. I would read more from this author. * I received this book in exchange for an honest review*   5/5
Filed under: Musings, Riley Amos Reviews, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Book Review

Cruisin’ through books cause books make life worth living with Aly 3/17/2016 part 1

Soulless by Ismael Manzano

This was a good book.  I would never give up my soul.  In the supernatural world, that is bad!  There is a very different idea behind this book.  I like a change from the normal I expect to read.  This book had me wanting more.  * I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*  4/5

Filed under: Musings, Riley Amos Reviews, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Book Review

Day 38 of 90: Individuality #ASMSG #IARTG #IAN1 #SupportIndieAuthors

I had an email in my inbox this morning that I was afraid to click. It was a reply from a reviewer, and all I could see of the body was, “I can’t believe you…”

I almost didn’t open it, I wanted to hide from whatever the person wrote. But, my curiosity got the better of me, and I opened it up to find, “…could enjoy writing this as much as I enjoyed reading it.”

Sometimes our fears are unfounded. We worry about things we have no control over, rather than enjoying life. Sometimes we care what people think, and lose sight of the goals we have set before us.

Fear is a silly, fickle beast. One that warns us of dangers, or prepares us for the worst. But fear also freezes people.

We as authors fight fear everyday. We wonder about how people will interpret our words, and wonder if we have the wherewithal to deal with their opinions if they don’t like what we wrote. I know a few authors who let fear get the better of them, and stop them from publishing new works. Either their first book isn’t as well received as they expected, or a scathing review has left them with a gaping wound, they let fear stop them. And when you let fear get the best of you, and stop you from doing whatever it is you want to do, you’ve let it win.

Don’t let fear win, beat it back unmercifully with a stick. Then, once you’ve conquered your fear, continue being you. There’s no one else exactly like you in the world, so embrace your individuality.

Filed under: Musings, My books, Resource, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Author, Book, musings, Resources, Riley Amos Westbrook, Support, Support Indie Authors, SupportIndieAuthors