Riley Amos Westbrook's Blog, page 52
March 7, 2016
Cruisin’ through books cause books make life worth living with Aly 3/7/2016 part 1
This book caught my attention with the cover. I love dragonflies! The story line in the book was very interesting and kept me reading on. I was curious to find out how the book would end. But in the end, I still had a few questions and the author left me thinking more was still to come. * 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
March 6, 2016
Day 28 of 90: Haters gonna hate #ASMSG #IARTG #IAN1 #SupportIndieAuthors #Inspiration
There are some people that just want to drag you down. They’re going to look at your work, that you’ve put considerable time and effort into, just to show they have power over you. What do you do at this point?
I have an author friend that’s been suffering with some adversity lately, a Mr. Dwayne Fry. I have to give him credit, though he’s being baited, he’s doing a commendable job of ignoring the chaff and just going with the flow.
Rather than letting this person drag him down, he’s continuing along his path, doing what only he can do. I don’t understand people of the opinion that you can’t do whatever it is you want to do with the English language.
Granted, there are some rules that should be followed, some rules that one should use to maintain a consistent language. The problem with English is, it’s a growing language. Seriously, clickbait became a word. Some people struggle with exactly when and where to use a semicolon instead of a comma, a missed typo, simple things. As B.B. Wynter says, “Dust Bunnies, dust bunnies everywhere.”
Filed under: Musings, My books, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Author, Book, musings, Resources, Riley Amos Westbrook, Support, Support Indie Authors, SupportIndieAuthors
Cruisin’ through books cause books make life worth living with Aly 3/6/2016 part 3
Cogling by Jordan Elizabeth Mierek
Readers who love young adult fantasy and steampunk will enjoy this book. I was taken by this book in the first few pages. The world the author created was great. The characters came alive to me right off the pages. I was thrilled to find such a fun and exciting book to read. Twists and turns keep me coming back for more with this book. * 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
Cruisin’ through books cause books make life worth living with Aly 3/6/2016 part 2
Runaway Deception by Denae Christine
I love the cover of this book. I think this series is very good. I read the first book and I enjoyed it. This book is just as good if not better. I think the characters are great and the story comes alive off the page. I think you should check out this series for yourself and see what you think. Symon struggles to forgive himself and I can understand how hard that can be. * 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 3/6/2016 part 1
Created Darkly by by Gena D. Lutz
This books is a very interesting book about Necromancer/creator. I enjoyed the book and would read more from this series. I think the characters are good and the story is easy to follow and understand. I like Kris and I think this character is very kick ass! I don’t find too many books about Necromancers so I like to read the books I find. I think they are all a little different in their own way. 4/5
Filed under: Musings, Riley Amos Reviews, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Book Review
March 5, 2016
Day 27 of 90: Love being Indie #SupportIndieAuthors #ASMSG #IARTG #IAN1 #Inspiration
There’s one thing I really love about being an independent author, each of my books can be approached in a different way.
With Breath of the Titans, I took it one day at a time. I didn’t try to plan the journey ahead, only starting with a beginning and an end, and writing until I felt the story was complete. It was a lot of hard work, but work that showed me writing can be fun. Before I started writing this series, I never would have thought of pairing my imagination with words. I consider myself a visual thinker, though I have problems drawing a straight line, forgetting how many times I’ve lost myself in my favorite hallucination put onto a page. Breath of the Titans showed me how I could translate my visual thinking to an epic journey.
With Everyone Dies At The End, I did the same thing, but it morphed over the process. As I wrote it, I slowly built a world around it, filling in parts of the story while leaving others to the reader’s imagination. The pacing was meant to be quick, light, and fun. I think I succeeded at my endeavour.
Urban Punk was a story written with my wife’s ideas. I asked her for a basic plot, characters, and then built a world around them. Every morning we would talk about where the story needed to go, and then I would write it. It was interesting trying to write a story from my wife’s head.
Journey From Atremes is one that’s been planned. A basic outline of what I want to happen in each chapter leading to the exciting culmination. An interesting way to write, I ended up having to expand the crap out of this book.
And then there’s Bedlam. Bedlam was a challenge in and of itself, trying to have shifting characters that are there for moments, but gone the next, keeping the reader a little off balance while still giving a story to read.
That’s the number one thing I like about being an independent. I don’t have to stick to one style, I don’t have to stick to one idea, I can jump around and do what I want, and they only people who will hold me accountable are my readers. I look at my writing, and I’m happy with it all. Even the parts that still need a bit of clean up.
Filed under: Musings, My books, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Book, musings, Resources, Riley Amos Westbrook, Support, Support Indie Authors, SupportIndieAuthors
March 4, 2016
Day 26 of 90: Fear #ASMSG #IAN1 #IARTG #SupportIndieAuthors #Inspiration
I saw this quote from Zig Ziglar, and I love it.
“Fear has two meanings, ‘Forget Everything And Run’ or ‘Face Everything And Rise’”
I love that saying. The past few days I’ve had several authors approach me saying they’re shy and don’t know if they can bring themselves to send out review copies, let alone try to find an interview or something to introduce themselves to new potential readers. They’re worried that they won’t get a good review, or that they’ll come across in a way they don’t want to.
I don’t understand this thinking.
My advice to them was simple. We are all given this life to share ourselves with the world. You never know where life is going to take you, but you’ll never find out if you don’t take the next step.
If you find yourself in a similar situation, remember that you have already done the hard part when you wrote the book.
And with publication, it’s out there for the world to see. It’s there for people to love or hate as they will. Your precious work is able to be scrutinized, poured over, re-read, and graded like a school exam. I guess I understand the shyness, if you don’t want anyone to read your work.
Our biggest fight as indie authors is getting the word out. You can waste your time, worrying about what ifs and what mays. Or you can rise up and face your fear, and use it to guide you to greatness.
Don’t hide yourself from the world, stand in its view and loudly proclaim your accomplishments.
Filed under: Musings, My books, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Author, Book, musings, Resources, Support, Support Indie Authors, SupportIndieAuthors
March 3, 2016
Day 25 of 90: We aren’t perfect #ASMSG #IARTG #IAN1 #SupportIndieAuthors #Inspiration
On a roll! Haven’t missed a day yet. It might not seem like much, after all we’re not even halfway done with this, but keeping this going has really helped me get back on the right track. I’m back to meditating, eating right, and exercising everyday.
Just like a book, your life is lived one moment at a time. Every second of the day adds to your life and experiences. There’s no one like you in the world. No one has your smile, your sparkling personality, your unique perspective on life. Not a single person can tell your story the way you can.
I wrote Breath of the Titans as a way to escape boredom. I didn’t really have a plan, nor did I want one. The freedom that afforded me led to its own set of problems, but they’re problems that can be conquered with hard work and a willingness to improve.
None of us are perfect, and we’re all learning as we go. Anyone who tells you different is trying to sell you something. That’s not to say that people aren’t experts, but that experts generally don’t work for free.
How did that person become an expert, anyways? With hard work, dedication, and an open mind that let them accept they lack knowledge. You can learn just about anything if you put your mind to it. Afterall, I learned to write books.
Filed under: Musings, My books, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Author, Book, musings, Resources, Riley Amos Westbrook, Support, Support Indie Authors, SupportIndieAuthors
March 2, 2016
The Marching Lambs
As lambs we are marching towards the slaughterhouse,
through blood and gore, forests, rocks and vast deserts’ sands,
since the dawn of man to satisfy lust and greed
whose cloak has always been woven with threads of want
or need. In the beginning, it was with bare hands,
then with wood and stone but since the time of bronze came
the sheer scale has been rising up in leaps and bounds
until the Little Boy gave us nuclear liberty.
(We must leave due blood and fame for the Fat Man too!)
Still our march towards the slaughterhouse never stops,
for the men in power need these wars to remain,
should God need the strength of men to defend His name!
So we march ahead and the crimson river too;
give birth to saints women, not generals, will you!
.
Filed under: Musings
Day 24 of 90: Sleep #IARTG #IAN1 #ASMSG #SupportIndieAuthors #Inspiration
I know that most days I wake up bright, shining, and bursting with energy, but some people just don’t.
I don’t understand it, and I find it hard to fathom it. My roommates and I were talking this morning about how light of sleepers they are. There was a bit of excitement at our house from family issues, and it really affected his ability to function throughout the day.
I didn’t even realize anything had happened until the next morning when I saw the hustle and bustle from the night before. There had been people in and out of the house all night long, and I hadn’t even noticed one bit of it as I slumbered through the worst of it.
Now he’s dragging his butt and all but falling asleep on the couch watching a show, while the wife and I plan what we’re going to do tonight.
Sleep is a very important piece of the puzzle, too little and everything is hazy and difficult to keep in focus. Too much of it and you’re left feeling just as bad as if you haven’t had enough sleep. I find that I work best with six hours sleep, and a couple hours meditation. Not really 8 hours of sleep, but 8 hours of purposeful rest.
Once you start to clear away the fog from lack of sleep, you start to see the world with clearer eyes. And before you know it, you’re articulating your points with poignant words, instead of mumbling your way through the day.
So, get a good night’s sleep tonight.
Filed under: Musings, My books, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Author, Book, musings, Resources, Riley Amos Westbrook, Support, Support Indie Authors, SupportIndieAuthors
