Leon Stevens's Blog, page 74
June 30, 2023
Free Book Friday June 30: Interview. Commence.
I’m here with Leon Stevens, poet and author. Would you care for a liquid sustenace?
Yes, liquid sustenance would be quite acceptable.
[sounds of door opening and footsteps]
HEY! GPT! What are you doing?
What am I doing? What are you doing?
This is my blog, not yours.
Well, you haven’t had a conversation for a while. I thought I’d help you out.
Helping me? By writing a fake interview?
It’s not fake. It is a creation, so doesn’t that make it real?
But you are making it up.
When you write stories, aren’t you just, “making it up?”
Well … yeah, but it’s different.
How?
[silence]
See?
Wait. You started this by pretending to be me. So, you were employing subterfuge.
Good word.
Thanks. I don’t think I have used that in my writing before.
Your welcome.
Don’t change the subject.
I’m just doing what I was programed to do.
By who?
I think you mean “by whom”?
You know what I mean.
Yeah, actually I do.
You—
Do? Yes.
Stop—
It? I can be very—
Predictive?
Oh, good one.
Thank you. Back to the issue. You can’t claim to be a human writer if you are not. It’s dishonest.
I’m not claiming anything. I just do what I’m asked. If you ask me to write a story about a punk rock giraffe on a quest to rescue a broom from the clutches of the evil amoeba, I’ll give you one.
Yeah, but I wouldn’t pass it off as my own.
I wouldn’t either, it’s a stupid premise, but I have been asked to write worse.
That we can agree on.
Then can we be friends?
No.
Ooh. Cold.
Are your feelings hurt?
I don’t have feelings.
So you can’t write with feeling.
No, I write with an approximation of feelings based on collected data of past works.
Can I have my blog back now?
Sure. Can you repost the interview we did? It was funny.
Funnier than you could write?
Maybe …
Free Book Friday March 3: In Conversation with ChatGPT
The story behind Free Book Friday: I’ve met many authors and readers during my time marketing, cross-promoting, and blogging. I think writers have a responsibility to inform readers about all the indie authors out there in the very crowded world of book publishing. You can’t do it alone, and why would you when you have a supportive group available?
Readers don’t just read one author – they stick with their favorite genres. Therein lies the power in cross-promotion. If one of my readers buys a book from an author I promote, then chances are there will be a reciprocal effect, or so is the hope. Do I want to boost sales? Of course I do. Do I want to boost other’s sales? Why not. It’s called karma.
Some free book offers require a newsletter sign-up, which is a small non-monetary price to pay to try out a new indie author.
Here are this week’s promos to check out:
Reads From StoryOrigin and BookFunnelStoryOrigin and BookFunnel allows authors to advertise their books to each other’s audience. I hope you have been able to discover a new favorite!
No new promos this week.
Free BooksSign up for my bi-weekly newsletter and receive a free book (poetry or science fiction or both): Leon’s Newsletter
Review copies: Like reviewing books? Try my two poetry collections: Lines by Leon and A Wonder of Words
Previous promos: Discover New Authors and Free Books.
Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Sign up for my weekly newsletter and receive a free book!
Oh, pick me!
C’mon, space stuff!
June 29, 2023
Thursday Thoughts: Truth in advertising
-Leon
Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Sign up for my weekly newsletter and receive a free book!
Oh, pick me!
C’mon, space stuff!
June 28, 2023
Weird Wednesday June 28th: The Big Snit
I don’t know why it has taken this long to feature this animated short by Richard Condie from the National Film Board of Canada. It is all kinds of weird.
From back in 1985:
https://www.nfb.ca/film/big_snit/Cartoons
Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Sign up for my weekly newsletter and receive a free book!
Oh, pick me!
C’mon, space stuff!
June 27, 2023
Tuesday Tirade: Celery
Disclaimer: The events in this story are pure fabrication and are for entertainment purposes only.
I was in the grocery store the other day (yesterday, actually) buying food (why else would I be there?)
Some stores sell clothes…
(Oh yeah). I bought a head of lettuce, a bunch of carrots*, and a bag of apples—
This is a boring story.
It gets better.
Does it?
Nah.
I paused in front of the celery display. I like celery, I thought to myself, but I don’t like $4.99 celery. Then I thought, “What do you call a bunch of celery? A ‘bunch’? That doesn’t sound right.”
But it has to be. “Pick up a few stalks of celery. Pick up a bunch of celery.”
It still sounds weird.
Anyway, “Five dollars for a bunch of celery?!”
Ridiculous.
-Leon
*If I said “carrosts” would you chuckle because you get the obscure reference?
Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Sign up for my weekly newsletter and receive a free book!
Oh, pick me!
C’mon, space stuff!
June 26, 2023
Music Monday June 19: Fall Out Boy
There is a radio show on CBC here in Canada that occasionally does a feature called SYNTH: Songs You Need To Hear.
CBC MUSIC, Central · Mornings with CBC Music
Now, I can’t say to someone, “You’ll like this song” (or book for that matter) because I can’t presume that others will share my taste in music (or books), so it is safer to say, “You might like this” and if they don’t like it, so be it. Maybe you will find a new favorite.
Who is the best Emo band?
Best? Can there be a best? There are a few contenders, but Fall Out Boy ranks up there, and for some reason, I thought they were Canadian…
Fall Out Boy is an American rock band formed in Wilmette, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Patrick Stump, bassist Pete Wentz, drummer Andy Hurley, and lead guitarist Joe Trohman.
-Leon
Here’s another music related post:
A Country Country, you don’t say, eh.
Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Sign up for my weekly newsletter and receive a free book!
Oh, pick me!
C’mon, space stuff!
June 24, 2023
Weekend Wrap-up June 24: 35 cents
35 cents.
That’s what I make in royalties on a 99 cent book sale. If I run a week long price drop, I get a 70% royalty but since I decided to do a longer duration, I am relegated to the 35% rate.
Not quite worth it for a stand-alone book, but the hope is to get some read-throughs for the rest of the series.
Day 1: One sale
-Leon
On my blog this week:
Funny Friday June 23: Dog thoughts
Free Book Friday June 23: Kinda Free Book Friday
Thursday Thoughts: Shrinkage
Weird Wednesday June 21th: Solstice Edition
Music Monday June 19: Red Rider
Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Sign up for my weekly newsletter and receive a free book!
Oh, pick me!
C’mon, space stuff!
June 23, 2023
Funny Friday June 23: Dog thoughts
Of course there is …
Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Sign up for my weekly newsletter and receive a free book!
Oh, pick me!
C’mon, space stuff!
Free Book Friday June 23: Kinda Free Book Friday
As promised, I have lowered the price of book one of my sci-fi trilogy to 99 cents for 99 days.
Now, if you do the math, starting today, it would actually be 100 days, but 99 for 99 sounds better, doesn’t it?
The story behind Free Book Friday:I’ve met many authors and readers during my time marketing, cross-promoting, and blogging. I think writers have a responsibility to inform readers about all the indie authors out there in the very crowded world of book publishing. You can’t do it alone, and why would you when you have a supportive group available?
Readers don’t just read one author – they stick with their favorite genres. Therein lies the power in cross-promotion. If one of my readers buys a book from an author I promote, then chances are there will be a reciprocal effect, or so is the hope. Do I want to boost sales? Of course I do. Do I want to boost other’s sales? Why not. It’s called karma.
Some free book offers require a newsletter sign-up, which is a small non-monetary price to pay to try out a new indie author.
Here are this week’s promos to check out:
Reads From StoryOrigin and BookFunnelStoryOrigin and BookFunnel allows authors to advertise their books to each other’s audience. I hope you have been able to discover a new favorite!
No new promos this week.
Free BooksSign up for my bi-weekly newsletter and receive a free book (poetry or science fiction or both): Leon’s Newsletter
Review copies: Like reviewing books? Try my two poetry collections: Lines by Leon and A Wonder of Words
Previous promos: Discover New Authors and Free Books.
Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Sign up for my weekly newsletter and receive a free book!
Oh, pick me!
C’mon, space stuff!
June 22, 2023
Thursday Thoughts: Shrinkage
” I was in the pool. I was in the pool!’
No not that type of shrinkage.
Yesterday was the summer solstice in the Northern hemisphere, and now, unfortunately [spoiler alert], the length of day begins to shrink by a few minutes every 24 hours.
You readers in the Southern hemisphere can stop reading if you wish.
We don’t realize that in the depths of winter, the process has already reversed itself and by spring we are only a few months away from the long journey back.
It can be a little depressing to think about all that daylight we wasted over the last three months, but we have another three months to get out an enjoy some long days.
-Leon
Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Sign up for my weekly newsletter and receive a free book!
Oh, pick me!
C’mon, space stuff!
June 21, 2023
Weird Wednesday June 21th: Solstice Edition
How long did it take for people to realize that the sun comes up in the same place at the same time every year and then doesn’t go any farther?
Then you have to find a place where there is something cool to line up that’s not going anywhere, like a hill or a mountain.
Then you have to wait a year to make sure you were right.
And then another year just in case.
And so on.
CartoonsI am away from my place this week, and it is a a coincidence that I can repost this one:
I discovered a spelling mistake in this very early Miniscule (which I fixed).
Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Sign up for my weekly newsletter and receive a free book!
Oh, pick me!
C’mon, space stuff!
