Leon Stevens's Blog, page 80
April 19, 2023
Weird Wednesday April 19th: Sports and Cartoons
Well, the playoffs are here. Hockey, if you have to ask.
Are you a bandwagon jumper or do you support your team through the good times and the excruciatingly bad? Many sports fans will look down upon the fair weather fan, but I don’t care. Buy the jersey, go to your first game, buy the $20 beer, and yell:
Go [insert favorite team name here (but not the Leafs)] Go!
Good things can happen. Eventually.
Last week, The Untitled celebrated it’s 100th (102nd actually) cartoon. You can see them all here: https://linesbyleon.com/theuntitled/
Then, on Monday, The Miniscules celebrated their 200th (231nd due to a horrible miscount)
It is still National Poetry Month:
The View from Here is officially complete!
1681743600days
hours minutes seconds
until
The Final View Release
-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.
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April 17, 2023
The Trilogy is done!
This morning, The Final View went out to all the pre-purchasers, marking the end of the trilogy.
Watch the trailer:
Start the adventure here:
Or purchase the complete series: The View from Here Trilogy
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.
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Welcome to the WordCrafter “Poetry Treasures 3: Passions” Book Blog Tour — Writing to be Read
Welcome to the WordCrafter Poetry Treasures 3: Passions Book Blog Tour! This is a very special tour, because at each stop, you will meet not one, but two of the contributing poets of the anthology. We’ve got a great tour planned with readings and inspiration posts from the authors, and book reviews. (Scroll down for […]
Welcome to the WordCrafter “Poetry Treasures 3: Passions” Book Blog Tour — Writing to be Read
Miniscule Monday: 200
The very first one.On my Instagram account (@lines_by_leon) I post my cartoon, The Miniscules, under the hashtag, MinisculeMondays. On Wednesdays, I post my other cartoon, The Untitled. Not to leave my WordPress followers out of the somewhat amusing and often eyerolling and headshaking fun, I created Weird Wednesdays to share both cartoons in one place.
Last week I posted my 100th The Untitled cartoon, and as I was putting them all on one page, I discovered there were 102. You can see them all here: The Untitled
The Miniscules was my first foray into cartooning, and because everyone enjoys a good (or just a) origin story, I wasted quite a few hours creating a short origin story video to go along with this post: Weird Wednesday: The Miniscules-Origins
Now onto the celebration. 200 cartoons. That’s a lot.
“Did you count all the ones you did for Inktober in 2021?”
Oh. Right. I did not.
Congratulations, The Miniscules, for turning 231.
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.
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April 16, 2023
Sunday: Book Release Eve.
[Originally posted on Under The Radar SSF Books]
I didn’t set out to write over sixty thousand words. The longest story I wrote before I started this trilogy was the short story The View from Here, clocking in at a whopping 3900 words which made it into my first science fiction book, The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. As with many short stories, it had an open ending that allowed the reader to extrapolate what would befall the characters. Although I was happy with the story, it did leave me wanting more.
I considered myself a short story writer. Perhaps because I am a slow writer, I don’t tend to write long, detailed descriptions, and many of my story ideas come to a natural conclusion on their own. I accepted the fact that this might be my calling.
Enter NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month. It was suggested to me that I give it a try, the challenge being to write 1600 words per day for thirty days. Now, I have done challenges before, National Poetry Month (thirty poems in thirty days) and Inktober (thirty ink sketches in thirty days), but trying to write fifty-thousand words was definitely going to be a challenge. I already had a head start with my short story and now I had incentive.
I set an obtainable goal: Write every day. And I did. I wrote over a thousand words in one day, which is a record I have yet to break. Needless to say, I didn’t write the next great novel, but I had a good start on a pretty good story. So, as November passed, I kept writing until the novella, The View from Here, was complete.
It was meant to be a stand-alone, but I still had some ideas for the characters, and I knew the next NaNoWriMo was coming up, so I began to write the sequel, The Second View. As I was getting close to the 30K word mark, and far from the conclusion I had in mind, I made the decision that this would become a trilogy. Now, some readers don’t like cliffhangers being sprung on them, so I published book two with the subtitle, Book Two of The View from Here Trilogy. So, no surprises.
But there was a problem. The way the book started contradicted the ending of the first book, so the solution was to add an epilogue to The View from Here, allowing the story to flow seamlessly to the next. If you have the first version of the book, hang onto it, it might be a collector’s item in the future. Oh, and that version doesn’t have page numbers either. Oops.
As soon as I published book two, I started on The Final View. With this book, since I ended The Second View on a cliffhanger, I had the beginning—well, the starting point—of the book, and I had already written the ending, so it was just a matter of writing the middle. Halfway through, I had an idea for an epilogue, which I have to admit teared me up as I wrote it. Who would have thought that a 3900-word short story would become a trilogy?
This is not an action story; it is an adventure. I hesitate to say it is akin to a Narnia story, maybe closer to H.G. Wells’ The Door in the Wall, but it is a story of two people navigating their way though a new world, relying on each other, and finding friendship along the way.
I hope you will join in the adventure. You won’t regret it.
-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.
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April 15, 2023
Weekend Wrap-up April 15: So Busy.
What a busy week. My poetry book sale ended, I had a few sales of The View from Here and The Second View, and three more presale purchases for The Final View.
My cartoon, The Untitled turned 100, and The Miniscules are reaching a milestone as well on Monday. I put all of them here: https://linesbyleon.com/theuntitled/
#IndieApril is half over, so make sure you support your favorite or try out a new one!
No, you are not seeing double.
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.
Sign up for my weekly newsletter and receive a free book!
Oh, pick me!
C’mon, space stuff!
April 14, 2023
Free Book Friday April 14: In Conversation with Heidi Skarie
Just a few of Heidi’s books!
Today I have the pleasure of sitting down with author Heidi Skarie. Thanks for dropping by. Can I offer you anything to drink?
Yes, thank you. Sparkling water with lemon would be great. While you’re at it a GF brownie would make my day.
It just so happens I have all of that!
I read that you are from Minneapolis. Did you know I wrote a poem about that wonderful city? Would you like to hear it?
Sure!
[clears throat]
Minneapolis
So many bike paths
So many restaurants
So many trees
So many neighborhoods
And if you look
Many oddities
A tiki bar
(that’s not too far)
Psycho Suzi’s it is called
(actually in St. Paul)
So many lakes
So many paths to take
Go for a week
And you won’t see it all
Oh yes…
There is a mall
Fun poem. Have you ever been to Minneapolis?
I have, not for quite a few years. Beautiful city.
You’ll have to visit and we can go to Psycho Suzi’s together.
It’s a date!
You write in a few different genres, science fiction, historical fiction, and have collaborated on some prose and poetry collections. Can you pick a favorite?
My favorite is science fiction. It allows for a lot of creativity and imagination.
What is your latest project?
I’ve been writing a science fiction series called The Star Rider Universe. The sixth book in the series, Golden Cord of Light, is coming out in a few months. The book continues the fight for freedom in another galaxy.
According to some information on Goodreads, you are also a time traveler.
Care to comment? I mean, if you are going to screw up any timelines, I’ll understand if you can’t.
You’re making a rash assumption. I might have been born in the late 1800s for all you know. Seriously, though the Annoure and the Dragon Ships was published in 2015 not 1915.
What was the first book you read on your own?
The first I remember was the Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss. The book helped me learn to read because it was fun and silly, unlike the boring grade-school book like Dick and Jane.
What authors influenced you?
J. R. R. Tolkiens’ Lord of the Rings, Mary Stewart’s Merline Trilogy, Ken Follett’s Pillars of the Earth and Eye of the Needle, Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind, George Lucas’s Star Wars, and Frank Herbert’s Dune.
Do you have a favorite book?
No, I love lots of books in many genres.
I always like to talk about musical tastes. What are yours?
I like Enya and other Irish music, classical like Beethoven and Mozart, Celtic Woman, Helen Jane Long- piano music
Any local musicians worthy of a shout out?
Bill Mann a singer and guitar player.
I’ll make sure to look him up later.
Are you ready for the lightning round?
Humm what is that?
Just a series of quick questions. Let’s go!
Mall of America. Worth the hype?
They have a big aquarium, Sea Life. Then there is the Nickelodeon theme park for the kids and a movie theater. Another feature is shopping for clothes. We don’t tax clothing here so, yeah, people fly in to shop. It’s close to the airport if you want to come here to buy a new pair of cowboy boots.
Have you ever been to Duluth?
I’ve been to Duluth many times. There is a beautiful view when you’re driving in and looking over Lake Superior from up high.
Favorite city?
I enjoy the west coast: Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco
Weirdest food you have eaten?
I bought a can of alligator meat in Florida once, but I never had the courage to try it. I had Persian food last night, does that count? It wasn’t weird—but I’m from the land of casseroles, jelly, and potato salad so it doesn’t take much to be weird.
I had alligator sausage in New Orleans.
Cheesiest attraction in America?
How about Wall Drug in South Dakota? I’ve never seen a more advertised place. There are all these billboards when you’re driving to Mount Rushmore. Wall Drug is actually kinda cool. I went there this past September. We needed something from the drug store and wouldn’t you know it, the drug store was closed. But the place is huge so there were lots of other places to see and things to do, including a Western Art Gallery and Buffalo Bill exhibit.
This has been a pleasure. Thanks for chatting.
Thanks for having me. The brownie was great.
Any links you want to share?
https://www.heidiskarieauthor.com/
Read Call of the Wind to join the fight for freedom today!
Reviews of Call of the Wind
“Call of the Wind beautifully oscillates between adventure, romance, and mystique. I was enthralled by the exciting plot that blends in spiritual thoughts. Skarie is a master in weaving her wisdom into stories that remain in your heart even after you have turned the last page.” —Iva Kenaz, author of Manifested
“Call of The Wind,the latest in Skarie’s Star Rider series, is more than a powerful tale of the cosmic battle between good and evil. It’s also a compelling vision of the enlightened transcending the confines of time and space, even death. —Barbara Deese, author of the No Ordinary Women series
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. There 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!
Free Books
Kindle Unlimited
Previous promos: Discover New Authors and Free Books.
Check out this countdown!1681743600days
hours minutes seconds
until
The Final View Release
Start at the beginning: The View from Here
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.
Sign up for my weekly newsletter and receive a free book!
Oh, pick me!
C’mon, space stuff!
April 13, 2023
Thursday Thoughts: Prime Reading
I am a month and a half into my Prime Reading enrollment and I thought I would give an update.
If you are unfamiliar with the program, if you subscribe to Amazon Prime, you have free access to a catalogue of select eBooks.
“Isn’t that just Kindle Unlimited?”
No, there are more traditionally published, new releases, and classics in this one.
“So you are raking in the dough now?”
No, I don’t get paid for these reads.
“Whaaa?!”
I know, I know. Authors used to receive monetary compensation to participate, to make of for loss of royalties but Amazon realized that most author, well, most indie authors will do it for free because it is free exposure, especially if you have a series.
As you can see, the book has maintained a higher ranking in the last 6 weeks. It has also stayed in the Top 100 for Science Fiction, reaching #77 but usually hovering around in the 90s, and high 80s. The hope is that as readers go though the other books available, they will get to mine eventually, and the ones who have read it will buy the rest of the trilogy.
Speaking of which:
1681743600days
hours minutes seconds
until
The Final View Release
Start at the beginning: The View from Here
-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.
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April 12, 2023
Weird Wednesday April 12th: The Untitled’s 100th Cartoon
That’s a lot.
Do you want to see them all?
I’ll be putting them all on one page this week.
1681743600days
hours minutes seconds
until
The Final View Release
-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.
Sign up for my weekly newsletter and receive a free book!
Oh, pick me!
C’mon, space stuff!
April 11, 2023
Tuesday Tirade: Spring
Potholes? Yeah we have some big ones. Loser drivers that get angry when you slow down when driving through a puddle because you don’t know what is lurking below the surface and don’t feel like cracking an axle or rim? Yeah, we have those too.
Speaking of puddles, drivers, please slow down when passing someone on the sidewalk. We don’t need another shower, especially a dirty one. Speaking of dirty ones, drivers, that’s the kind of gesture you are going to get from me if you splash me.
Dog owners, your dog poops. If you don’t like picking up after your pet, what makes you think other people do? You probably shouldn’t own a dog …
Did you know that cities provide garbage cans for your convenience? Judging by the amount of trash emerging from the snowbanks, I guess some of you didn’t get the memo.
To leave on a positive note, the one thing I like about spring is that 5 C ( 36 F) feels like t-shirt weather.
-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.
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C’mon, space stuff!
