Damon Alan's Blog, page 3

New Social Media

Hi everyone,

There is more to the world than Facebook and Twitter. The social media world that is. I have deleted my account with Twitter because they are anti-free speech. Personally, I feel that social media should be, by law, brought under the auspices of the 1st Amendment and free speech rights guaranteed there by the government. When Twitter suspended then banned James Woods, that was it for me.

I’m very concerned that Facebook might follow the same path. And if there is one thing I have, it’s conviction. If Facebook does, I’ll be leaving there as well. I’m not talking Alex Jones, that guy brings his own troubles on. But people like James Woods? No. He has a right to speak and I expect my social media to let him be heard.

This is why I’ve opened up another social media account, a Facebook alternative just in case.

My MeWe Author Page

MeWe is a social media site much like Facebook, but they’ve promised to protect the rights of free speech.

I’m a conservative, but I’d be doing the same if they were banning Bill Maher. Why? Because this country is built on a diversity of ideas and it’s up to us all to take a stand to preserve that.

I’ll be looking for a Twitter replacement next. I may have already left Twitter, but I have no intention of leaving Facebook unless they go the Twitter route.

Just keeping you all informed.

Also: Book 7 in the Dark Seas Series is nearing first draft completion. I will be writing the final few chapters this week and over the weekend, then it’s just a matter of getting them to the critique group.

Next in line: Book 3 of the Worlds at War Series.

‘Til next time,

Me.

 

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Glamping

So for about three weeks I’ve been planning a writing retreat. A glamping (camping) retreat with a nice big tent, a wood stove, a comfy place to sleep, good food, my dog and his bed, some shooting, some archery at some point, fishing, and writing on my laptop.


 


I’m talking comfortable stuff, the sort of camping that nomadic peoples do, with every comfort they can muster. Electricity, water, a chainsaw to get wood, beer, soda, snacks, carpet on the floors, lighting, movies on blu-ray, music, trips to the store, and a place that will be warm even if it’s -20 outside.


 


I have a generator that burns 2.5 gallons of gas a day. 200W of solar panels and a battery that will run all my stuff for at least 2 days. I’m trying to set everything up here at home to be as easy to set up at camp as possible, including the solar panels.


 


I plan on adding to this story as the weeks pass by and the words get written. I don’t plan on coming home until book 7 of the Dark Seas series is written and book 3 of the Worlds at War series is done in 1st draft.


 

Why would it be necessary to do something like this? Because writing is a frame of mind, and sometimes that frame of mind is illusive. Kids mess it up, or your spouse’s work, or events at groups you’re in… the list goes on. The goal is simply to get away, live simply, and write.



Building the solar panel control system for the tent.



Plug and play when it’s all done.



Running a fire through the wood stove for the first time to burn off anything I don’t want to smell in the tent.

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Colorado Springs Comic Con

Hello everyone!

Hey, if you’re a local and are going to the Colorado Springs Comic Con this weekend, make sure you stop by and say hello. This is my last convention of the year, and it’s in my town so that makes it awesome.

My wife and I will be there at our booth talking to fans of space opera and fantasy, signing books, and just generally having fun and eating things that are bad for us.

After this convention is over the rest of the year will be writing and getting book 7 out for the Dark Seas series, then I plan on concentrating on two books for the Worlds at War series. I can’t guarantee two of them by the end of the year, but I don’t think one will be a problem with another to soon follow.

This is my first year for big conventions, and I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure if I’d like them. They don’t make an author money, it’s pretty much a loss leader in an effort to make lifelong fans. But they do put a face on the fans, and they get to have a face to go with the authors they read. And, after a few years of regular attendance, they know they can stop by and talk to someone about their questions, ideas, or love for the genre.

I’ll be at Denver Comic Con, GenCon, and Colorado Springs Comic Con again next year.

I need to add one more, I think. Somewhere easy enough to drive to. Salt Lake City Comic Con?

If you have any ideas, toss them out. I feel like four a year is a great way to get the name out and have a good time doing it.

 

 

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Gen Con, Audible, and Tigers, Oh MY!

I know, it’s been a while.

Why? Because I’ve been busy and haven’t had access to a desktop for a while. I do all my real writing on a desktop, because I can barely even see the screen of my phone anymore without reading glasses. Fat fingering the iPhone keyboard gets old too.

So what’s been happening you ask?

Thanks for asking!

Gen Con

From July 27th until August 6th my wife and I were traveling. We went to Indianapolis to check out GenCon, the #1 convention for gaming. We had a booth there, selling books. Several good things came from that, the first is we sold books and gained readers in a new part of the country. The second is that we networked with artists and authors. The third is that we got an inquiry from a gaming company about writing novella sized pieces for their wargames. That last bit sounded really cool, I’m hoping that it pans out.

We saw family there, we ate great food. Indy really does have good restaurants, we didn’t even get to go to all the ones we wanted. We learned that middle aged people should not eat White Castle based on their fond memories of that restaurant alone. White Castle food has a vendetta against anyone that isn’t young, it seems. I won’t go into details. You’re welcome.

Audible

In other news, I found a narrator on Audible for The Dragons of Dunkirk, so hopefully that is being worked on right now and my first audiobook will be released by the end of September. I don’t like counting chickens before they’re hatched, but there’s a contract and so it should happen. I’ll certainly post up here when it does.

Tigers

Also, I don’t like to get political on my blog, but I quit Twitter today. I deactivated my account because Twitter is suspending the accounts of prominent Libertarian and Conservative voices. I’m not talking Alex Jones, I don’t care about him. I do, however, care about Rand Paul and his right to have his say. For Twitter to suspend a Rand Paul account was the final straw for me, but I’m one for free speech for all. I feel that when you stifle a voice, you’ve harmed the national discussion even if I don’t agree.

Isn’t that remarkable?

We can support the speech rights of those we don’t agree with. So Twitter is gone. Each of us are a tiny voice, but we’re a voice regardless. Join me in standing up for free speech and suspend your Twitter account if it’s not a critical part of your life. They need to know they’re on the wrong path.

Oh, MY!

I’m currently waiting at home for a computer to be delivered. I’m getting a new desktop to write many more words on. And, let’s be honest, to play lots of video games on.

Dune to be remade…. again.

Hasn’t this storyline been ‘dune’ to death?  ROFL!  OMG, how do I do it. Seriously, I’m here for your entertainment, folks.

Legendary Pictures Actively Scouting Locations for ‘Dune’

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Some of my favorite things.

We all have those things that make life worthwhile. Those things that if they were gone from our lives we’d just pack it up and nosedive off a bridge or something.

It’s imperative that we nourish those things. Because they revitalize us. They give us something to look forward to. They keep us sharp, either (or maybe both) mind or (and) body.  I’m not sure I always put enough time into the things that revitalize me, but most of us do what we can.

Here are a few of mine. Not in specific order, but I am putting my wife first because I like when she’s nice.

Spending time with my wife. She’s my best friend. She’s sort of an ass now and then, but who isn’t? I trust her, I love hanging out with her, and we’re growing old and fat together. Which is sort of cool, I guess. Since we’re not immortal.
Driving cars. I love my convertible. It’s fun. Not so much on the scorching days we’ve been having, but when it’s 80 or so and the top is down and traffic is playing nice, it’s a true joy.
My girls. This is a love/wanna smash sort of relationship. They’re so smart, and so talented. Yet they break my shit. Grrrr. Dad SMASH! But then Dad SMILE! Dammit.
My dogs. Dogs are like our neurotic best friends that can’t understand why you’re not with them 24/7 just petting their head. But they love us as much as they want us to love them. It’s a serious bargain deal for us humans.
Computer gaming. Probably the least useful of the things I like to do, although there is a rumor it keeps your mind sharp as you age. I could probably use that help.
Art. I love making it, and more and more so that’s on the computer.
Building. I like working on the house, or welding a sculpture, or just making a stick man out of toothpicks, to be honest.
Cooking. I’m pretty good at this, and getting better. The other day I made Alfredo sauce from scratch, and it was better than store bought. I did a happy dance.
Writing. This is a love/hate thing. Sometimes I live in the worlds I create. Sometimes I want to get as far away from them as possible. Either way, there is always a plot developing in my head for the current or next book.
Hanging out with friends. Playing cards. Or another game. Or going to dinner. Laughing is good for the soul.

What are your favorite things? Have you ever made a list? Or are they just things you unconsciously take care of?

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Denver Comic Con

I’ll be at Denver Comic Con over the weekend, talking sci-fi and fantasy with con attendees.

Should be a good time. Feel free to stop by booth A19 and say hi. Maybe, if you’re interested, pick up a book and get it signed even.

Release is doing pretty well.

By newer author standards anyway.

On the 24th I released The Secrets of Axum to Kindle and print.

If proof is needed that rising waters raise all ships, both The Dragons of Dunkirk and The Secrets of Axum both did well after the release, with Dragons hitting #25,000 on the Amazon store and #90 in its category. Secrets hit #57,000 in the US store today.

Dragons hit #10,200 in the UK store, and Secrets hit #17,000.

I’m finding the trick to selling books seems to simply be to write more books. I don’t have much of a mailing list, I don’t use trailers, videos, or any other thing like a reader magnet (which is free content). I simply write and sell books, advertise on Google Adwords, Amazon Marketing Services, and this week I did my first Facebook ad I’ve done in a long time.

The Secrets of Axum is my 9th novel in print. Within a few months Veil of Reality, book 7 in the Dark Seas Space Opera, should be 10th.

Thanks to everyone who purchased a copy or read them on Kindle Unlimited. Every author has to have readers, and mine are really inspiring me to write more.

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Crossroads….

This year is a crossroads of a sort for me.

I have two major conventions and 2 smaller events coming up as an author. Denver Comic Con, Gen Con, and the smaller Colorado Springs Comic Con and Mountain of Authors.

This year I find out just how far my books can go. Whether or not there is a market for what I write, and if I write it well enough to be a contender in that market.

I’ll be keeping track of sales, expenses, and projecting outward from there.

I believe I mentioned in the Write Brain I did back in November that I had a 5 year plan. I don’t have any requirement on myself to be profitable before 2022. That year, if my books (of which there should be 20 or more by then) can’t sustain their own ads, production, and other marketing, then I’ll be retiring from my second career as a failure.

I would be deeply saddened by that.

This is year 2 of aggressively looking to expand my brand and name. Each year has to show more success than the one prior, and so far 2018 is doing okay.

If it keeps doing so, there will be a 2019 effort to go even further than 2018 did.

Which means… 2019 is sort of a crossroads for me…

 

Damon Alan’s Amazon Author Page

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News of the Word Processing

The Secrets of Axum is going into final editing. The proof will be here on Friday, April 20th. I’m looking forward to seeing the cover on the paperback.

Since I’ve not been able to work on Axum because, well, it’s almost done, I’ve been working on the cover for Book 3 in the series. As I’ve mentioned, I like to have the cover done before I start the book, and base the cover on a scene I would like to put into the book.

Here are Harry and the boys, moving toward the winter stronghold of their allies, the Undek. Clearly they’ve taken to the tools and customs of the world they’re in at the time, because they’re not dressed that much like British soldiers anymore.

This is actually a real place, the Carpathian Mountains in the Ukraine. Perfect for my fantasy setting. 

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