William Amerman's Blog, page 6
March 7, 2014
Personification of guilt
...comes in a forty-four inch rod-like device. This implement cost $###.## before tax and was an impulse buy. It also hit a little white ball over 300 yards on the simulator. I actually left the store without buying it. Yes, me, bastion of wise economic choices. Even after ripping off all those towering shots.
However, three minutes later I pulled off the road into the Aqui Mexican restaurant parking lot and sat idling for a good ten minutes, weighing my decision, checking my phone for online reviews. After lurking like a predator in this dark parking lot, I couldn't take it anymore. I drove back to the store and told Daniel, the limping salesman who had first laid the filthy golf club in my hands with the words, "this bad-boy was born angry, man," that I would take it.
And now I have it. Only in real life and not on the simulator it does not hit the little white ball 300 yards. More like 270. Which is just about how my old driver performed. This fact is a bit distressing.
However, I console myself with the knowledge that Daniel works on commission, and I have surely made his week. In fact, once I summon the courage to tell the wifely half of our household, I think I will focus on this aspect of the commercial transaction. It is almost as if I've made a donation to charity. Yes, this will be the story in this, the spring of my deception.
However, three minutes later I pulled off the road into the Aqui Mexican restaurant parking lot and sat idling for a good ten minutes, weighing my decision, checking my phone for online reviews. After lurking like a predator in this dark parking lot, I couldn't take it anymore. I drove back to the store and told Daniel, the limping salesman who had first laid the filthy golf club in my hands with the words, "this bad-boy was born angry, man," that I would take it.
And now I have it. Only in real life and not on the simulator it does not hit the little white ball 300 yards. More like 270. Which is just about how my old driver performed. This fact is a bit distressing.
However, I console myself with the knowledge that Daniel works on commission, and I have surely made his week. In fact, once I summon the courage to tell the wifely half of our household, I think I will focus on this aspect of the commercial transaction. It is almost as if I've made a donation to charity. Yes, this will be the story in this, the spring of my deception.
February 17, 2014
A surprising twist
I've been heavily researching book review blogs these past few days. Most of them have updates such as one might expect from an isolated farmhouse enduring epic floods. Yes, my fellow Indie authors are nothing if not persistent and the review sights are besieged. Apparently, though, many of them are rude as well because I've read quite a few updates berating all the rude people asking for book reviews.
Recently, I've veered away from book review sites and looked at blogs that review many things, not just books. These blogs are more personal in nature and people post things from their personal lives. There are some thoughtful, intelligent, real people out there blogging. One mother posted a letter she wrote to her infant son about the problems they were having with their extended family. It was one of the most touching things I've read in a long time. I've really got to stop being such a misanthrope, elitist (asshole?). People expressing things on their blogs that in years past might have only made it to their diaries is something I did not expect to find on the interwebs.
Recently, I've veered away from book review sites and looked at blogs that review many things, not just books. These blogs are more personal in nature and people post things from their personal lives. There are some thoughtful, intelligent, real people out there blogging. One mother posted a letter she wrote to her infant son about the problems they were having with their extended family. It was one of the most touching things I've read in a long time. I've really got to stop being such a misanthrope, elitist (asshole?). People expressing things on their blogs that in years past might have only made it to their diaries is something I did not expect to find on the interwebs.
February 11, 2014
Descriptions of Nick's world
Writing a blurb for a book is one of the hardest things I face. It's tough enough to write openings, make characters likeable or at least relate-able, because every word counts and the best writing makes the words do double or triple duty for description and meaning. Why make readers slog through a thousand words when you can, to use the cliche, paint a mental picture using only a hundred?
So back to the blurb. In writing to the reviewers I've solicited to read then review Sky1 - Foundation, I've had to expand upon the simple blurb. The funny thing is, the more I do it, the easier it becomes. It helps that I find the premise of the book--the way that a population decided to wall itself off from the rest of humanity--to be compelling. Ah, yes, that is a rather self-aggrandizing claim to make! But trust me, as an author, you want to be interested in the stuff you're wrighting about. Heck, more than interested, passionate.
Here's a sample of the latest description I used. Unfortunately, I didn't edit it before I submitted to the guy's "I review books!" blog, but it's something I can work with. Would love to hear what you think of it:
In a post-apocalyptic world, Nick Burke has been allotted 389 square feet of living space by the government. Disease spreads quickly when people are packed together so tightly. Quarantines have been imposed in an effort to contain the spread of infection.
When a quarantine is imposed on Nick's Ground, he and his family are trapped. The only way out is to break laws that carry a penalty of death.
Fearing for his life and the safety of his family, Nick joins forces with a local group to move to another Ground. But can he trust his new friends?
***
I thought of this series while recovering from a hangover in bed in Holland in 1997, looking up at the (late) morning sky through a skylight in the bedroom. The premise was simple; what would happen if Holland's population continued to boom but there was no land left to expand? The conclusion I reached was that they would have to expand upward, connecting their cities.
The world I have crafted exists seven hundred years in the future, where generations have grown up in this self-contained enormous building that houses over eighty million people. Over these centuries, the history of how and why the world was built has been lost to the citizens. Eventually, the series will deal with these questions, including what (and who) lives outside their world and what environmental changes are about to bring a very nasty surprise. This book is a pretty straight-forward thriller, a page-turner that allows me to set-up the rest of the series.
*********
That was it. What do you think? There are an incredible number of book review sites out there so I have plenty of time to tweak this description for maximum effect.
So back to the blurb. In writing to the reviewers I've solicited to read then review Sky1 - Foundation, I've had to expand upon the simple blurb. The funny thing is, the more I do it, the easier it becomes. It helps that I find the premise of the book--the way that a population decided to wall itself off from the rest of humanity--to be compelling. Ah, yes, that is a rather self-aggrandizing claim to make! But trust me, as an author, you want to be interested in the stuff you're wrighting about. Heck, more than interested, passionate.
Here's a sample of the latest description I used. Unfortunately, I didn't edit it before I submitted to the guy's "I review books!" blog, but it's something I can work with. Would love to hear what you think of it:
In a post-apocalyptic world, Nick Burke has been allotted 389 square feet of living space by the government. Disease spreads quickly when people are packed together so tightly. Quarantines have been imposed in an effort to contain the spread of infection.
When a quarantine is imposed on Nick's Ground, he and his family are trapped. The only way out is to break laws that carry a penalty of death.
Fearing for his life and the safety of his family, Nick joins forces with a local group to move to another Ground. But can he trust his new friends?
***
I thought of this series while recovering from a hangover in bed in Holland in 1997, looking up at the (late) morning sky through a skylight in the bedroom. The premise was simple; what would happen if Holland's population continued to boom but there was no land left to expand? The conclusion I reached was that they would have to expand upward, connecting their cities.
The world I have crafted exists seven hundred years in the future, where generations have grown up in this self-contained enormous building that houses over eighty million people. Over these centuries, the history of how and why the world was built has been lost to the citizens. Eventually, the series will deal with these questions, including what (and who) lives outside their world and what environmental changes are about to bring a very nasty surprise. This book is a pretty straight-forward thriller, a page-turner that allows me to set-up the rest of the series.
*********
That was it. What do you think? There are an incredible number of book review sites out there so I have plenty of time to tweak this description for maximum effect.
February 9, 2014
Review requests
What a hoot it is to seek out honest reviews for a book that will be released next week. Yes, sarcasm. Self-promotion is a weakness of mine. Hell, more than a weakness; it's a detested necessity that makes my shoulders cramp from tension after only five minutes. My abhorrence of self-aggrandizement has been solved at the "real job" over the years by finding a boss who understands and appreciates true hard work, not someone who always seeks to shine the spotlight on themselves. What is the literary analogue to this? Yes, probably plain dumb luck.
So, to help luck along, I have journeyed over the inter-webs to find an arrangement whereby I provide a book to someone who promises, when they get a chance, to read it and post their honest opinion. This sounds spiffy, a true win-win. Book reviewer has free material and gains exposure by writing a review. Book author gets a precious review that hopefully will lead to more book sales. As long as the book doesn't suck. So. Does it suck?
During this long exploration through a variety of book review sites, I came across requests made by other authors in the comments sections of these blogs. The wording of the plea for a review was always something like, "my masterpiece is done!! I know you would love to read my book. My Mom/Spouse/Best Friend/Chiropractor read it and just Loved it!"
A few times I looked up the book and read a preview on Amazon and most were cringe-worthy. But the real issue isn't that there are a few pleading, needy people writing and trying to sell crappy books. Hell, more than a few. There is an ocean of these type of people out there.
The real issue is that I am freaking LUMPED in with them with no real way to distinguish my own precious, unique genius (sarcasm) without sending out artillery batteries of self-promotion.
Couple this with my annual one month post Superbowl no beer drinking pledge plus the Northern California rain, and I am grumpier than an author with a brand new book should be.
That being said, hell, if you want a free copy of the book and are willing to give an honest review, hit me up!
So, to help luck along, I have journeyed over the inter-webs to find an arrangement whereby I provide a book to someone who promises, when they get a chance, to read it and post their honest opinion. This sounds spiffy, a true win-win. Book reviewer has free material and gains exposure by writing a review. Book author gets a precious review that hopefully will lead to more book sales. As long as the book doesn't suck. So. Does it suck?
During this long exploration through a variety of book review sites, I came across requests made by other authors in the comments sections of these blogs. The wording of the plea for a review was always something like, "my masterpiece is done!! I know you would love to read my book. My Mom/Spouse/Best Friend/Chiropractor read it and just Loved it!"
A few times I looked up the book and read a preview on Amazon and most were cringe-worthy. But the real issue isn't that there are a few pleading, needy people writing and trying to sell crappy books. Hell, more than a few. There is an ocean of these type of people out there.
The real issue is that I am freaking LUMPED in with them with no real way to distinguish my own precious, unique genius (sarcasm) without sending out artillery batteries of self-promotion.
Couple this with my annual one month post Superbowl no beer drinking pledge plus the Northern California rain, and I am grumpier than an author with a brand new book should be.
That being said, hell, if you want a free copy of the book and are willing to give an honest review, hit me up!
February 8, 2014
It seems selfish
It seems selfish to update the blog only when I want to celebrate the completion of milestones. Where was I when ACA was being debated by reading the good Dr. Seuss? When Syria bunny-hopped over that red line to gas its own people? When the Polar Vortex laid waste to the North East (only temporarily, unfortunately).
First book in my Sky series has been written, rewritten, edited by RedAdept, professionally proofread twice, cover done long ago but updated last night and the thing is FINALLY ready to go. I started this book with an idea I had while lying in bed, staring at the roof window or whatever you call that thing. The year was 1997 and the place was Lelystad Holland. The idea this view sparked was what if, in the future, in a certain part of the world, they ran out of room to keep expanding their cities outward and could only expand upward? Over 700 years, how far upward could they expand? How would movement between lower levels and upper levels be handled? Could people freely move up and down or would there be restrictions? Because, as I lay there looking at a crisp blue Dutch sky from my warm bed, eventually a view of the actual sky would be rare and treasured. People who lived near the top of the "World" in this giant building would guard this view jealously. And how far would the people below go in order to have that view for themselves? Or, over time and generations, would they gradually forget that there even existed a world outside the one they'd always known; contained by walls?
And there we go....
First book in my Sky series has been written, rewritten, edited by RedAdept, professionally proofread twice, cover done long ago but updated last night and the thing is FINALLY ready to go. I started this book with an idea I had while lying in bed, staring at the roof window or whatever you call that thing. The year was 1997 and the place was Lelystad Holland. The idea this view sparked was what if, in the future, in a certain part of the world, they ran out of room to keep expanding their cities outward and could only expand upward? Over 700 years, how far upward could they expand? How would movement between lower levels and upper levels be handled? Could people freely move up and down or would there be restrictions? Because, as I lay there looking at a crisp blue Dutch sky from my warm bed, eventually a view of the actual sky would be rare and treasured. People who lived near the top of the "World" in this giant building would guard this view jealously. And how far would the people below go in order to have that view for themselves? Or, over time and generations, would they gradually forget that there even existed a world outside the one they'd always known; contained by walls?
And there we go....
May 27, 2012
Anguish of the Quadruple bogey-update
Hahahahaha! Right after posting this I hit the refresh button on my golf club's news and saw the tournament results. Placed 5th in my flight and won $45. Would have been first without the quadruple and won $120, but hell, I'll take 5th place.
Yes, all this news probably belongs in a journal entry rather than here, but oh well. Ok. Back to finishing the outline for the concluding chapters of book two of our upcoming trilogy.
Yes, all this news probably belongs in a journal entry rather than here, but oh well. Ok. Back to finishing the outline for the concluding chapters of book two of our upcoming trilogy.
Anguish of the Quadruple Bogey
Playing a tournament at Turkey Creek yesterday morning. Hitting from the white tees because the old men in the club can't drive it to the corner of the dog legs if we play from the blues. Coming into hole 18, a gimmick hole that has a sort of island fairway that runs out at 245 yards. Hitting driver an iffy proposition, but I've been hitting weak fades all morning right at that distance. So I step up, swing slowly, and hit one of those effortless connected bombs that ends up well past the fairway into the water.
Ok. I can take that. Was only 3 over par after 7 holes by this point (started on 10) and only needed to be max 8 over par for the whole round to place in the cash. I take my drop. Line up a safe 7 iron designed to land on the back of the green because if I hit it fat, I still want to carry the water. Make my swing and SHANK back out into the water. Ah, my suffering soul. Ok. Stay calm. Drop another ball and hit the 7 iron over the green and up the hill.
Get to my ball, now lying 5 (on a par 4 hole), perched maybe 20 feet above the green, ball laying down in some juicy rough, hole cut about 10 feet from the edge from which I'm approaching. Trying to be positive. Let's not lose our cool. Open up the face of the lob wedge and make a nice smooth "Vijay" 1/2 swing. Chunk it, but it bounces in the rough, down onto the fringe, then takes the slope of the green away from the hole and ends up about 20 feet past. Hit the putt coming back to within 5 feet, leaving a tricky sidehiller to make my snowman, but drain it.
Then shoot 38 on the front 9 to end up with 83, probably 4 strokes out of the money), wondering why the hell I woke up at 5:30am to get out there and endure a 5.5 hour round of golf where only 2 swings (out of 83) determined my fate.
Ok. Had to get that off my chest. Happy Memorial Day weekend.
-Bill
Ok. I can take that. Was only 3 over par after 7 holes by this point (started on 10) and only needed to be max 8 over par for the whole round to place in the cash. I take my drop. Line up a safe 7 iron designed to land on the back of the green because if I hit it fat, I still want to carry the water. Make my swing and SHANK back out into the water. Ah, my suffering soul. Ok. Stay calm. Drop another ball and hit the 7 iron over the green and up the hill.
Get to my ball, now lying 5 (on a par 4 hole), perched maybe 20 feet above the green, ball laying down in some juicy rough, hole cut about 10 feet from the edge from which I'm approaching. Trying to be positive. Let's not lose our cool. Open up the face of the lob wedge and make a nice smooth "Vijay" 1/2 swing. Chunk it, but it bounces in the rough, down onto the fringe, then takes the slope of the green away from the hole and ends up about 20 feet past. Hit the putt coming back to within 5 feet, leaving a tricky sidehiller to make my snowman, but drain it.
Then shoot 38 on the front 9 to end up with 83, probably 4 strokes out of the money), wondering why the hell I woke up at 5:30am to get out there and endure a 5.5 hour round of golf where only 2 swings (out of 83) determined my fate.
Ok. Had to get that off my chest. Happy Memorial Day weekend.
-Bill
April 25, 2012
Looking for beta readers
My next projected release is two novels, the first two books in a series, and I am looking for beta readers. Beta readers would read one or both books and give their general impressions on characters, plot, pacing, etc.
The first book is complete, but once I finish the second book by the end of May, I will then spend most of the summer editing them. At that point, I would hand them over to my betas and look for feedback.
The subject of this series is set in a futuristic world where mankind has outgrown the ability to expand outwards into new land, and instead expands upwards into one giant vertical city. People born into this city know no other way of life and believe that mankind has always lived this way. It turns out, though, that there are some very specific reasons the people of this World-City walled themselves off from the rest of the world centuries ago and the three book series explores the gradual revelation of these reasons. The series is not necessarily science fiction, but more of a futuristic thriller with a focus on the characters rather than over-the-top science fiction technology.
For more information on what defines a beta reader go to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_reader
If you are interested or think you might be interested, either leave your contact email in the comments section or drop me an email at wamerman@gmail.com.
thanks,
Bill
The first book is complete, but once I finish the second book by the end of May, I will then spend most of the summer editing them. At that point, I would hand them over to my betas and look for feedback.
The subject of this series is set in a futuristic world where mankind has outgrown the ability to expand outwards into new land, and instead expands upwards into one giant vertical city. People born into this city know no other way of life and believe that mankind has always lived this way. It turns out, though, that there are some very specific reasons the people of this World-City walled themselves off from the rest of the world centuries ago and the three book series explores the gradual revelation of these reasons. The series is not necessarily science fiction, but more of a futuristic thriller with a focus on the characters rather than over-the-top science fiction technology.
For more information on what defines a beta reader go to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_reader
If you are interested or think you might be interested, either leave your contact email in the comments section or drop me an email at wamerman@gmail.com.
thanks,
Bill
April 5, 2012
Golf, Arizona, Beer and words per day
Just back from a boys' trip to Arizona. 7.5 rounds of golf in 4 days. 40 mile an hour wind on the last day, a day of 45 freaking holes and a last 9 of beer-fueled, mixed team scramble. I'm worn out. Yes, poor me. Days filled with golf, beer, too much betting and inappropriate guys' talk. How horrible. Do I qualify for pity yet?
Took a full 7 days away from the latest book writing, but happily have recorded about 3,000 words in the last two days. This book, a futuristic thriller, an exploration into what will happen in certain parts of our world when the population keeps expanding, yet there is no more land to expand into. The outline is solid. The plot set. The characters, though, keep growing in ways I have not anticipated. Which delights me because for the first time in writing career it seems like the characters are dictating what I write about them--at least the details--rather than the other way around.
Took a full 7 days away from the latest book writing, but happily have recorded about 3,000 words in the last two days. This book, a futuristic thriller, an exploration into what will happen in certain parts of our world when the population keeps expanding, yet there is no more land to expand into. The outline is solid. The plot set. The characters, though, keep growing in ways I have not anticipated. Which delights me because for the first time in writing career it seems like the characters are dictating what I write about them--at least the details--rather than the other way around.
March 7, 2012
I couldn't resist - new free
After giving away so many copies of Aries at Dawn on Amazon last week, then seeing sales pick up afterwards, I decided to go ahead and do it again this week. I underestimated the enthusiasm that all these transactions would give me that I can apply to my every day writing.
It took so much effort to write this book and so much time with the 20+ rewrites over the years that anything less than outstanding sales felt like failure. That's because it's a good book; maybe not in the sense that I've established some sort of literary new frontier. But it sucks you in and keeps up a fine pace that keeps the pages turning. In fact, sometimes when I pop in to check my memory of a scene, I find myself continuing on into the story, long past that initial scene. Ah, what a self-serving sentence that last one was, eh? Sigh. Probably shouldn't blog after a long day at the office, but then restraint has never been a strength for me.
I think I'm in a similar situation to many authors out there. They've written good, compelling stuff. But unless you crack the Amazon top 100, or turn up in searches for books in your niche, it's hard to get the ball rolling. So. Free it is. Again. Hoping to get the ball rolling even more than it has.
For the next day and a half, you can get it for free at:
http://www.amazon.com/Aries-Dawn-myst...
It took so much effort to write this book and so much time with the 20+ rewrites over the years that anything less than outstanding sales felt like failure. That's because it's a good book; maybe not in the sense that I've established some sort of literary new frontier. But it sucks you in and keeps up a fine pace that keeps the pages turning. In fact, sometimes when I pop in to check my memory of a scene, I find myself continuing on into the story, long past that initial scene. Ah, what a self-serving sentence that last one was, eh? Sigh. Probably shouldn't blog after a long day at the office, but then restraint has never been a strength for me.
I think I'm in a similar situation to many authors out there. They've written good, compelling stuff. But unless you crack the Amazon top 100, or turn up in searches for books in your niche, it's hard to get the ball rolling. So. Free it is. Again. Hoping to get the ball rolling even more than it has.
For the next day and a half, you can get it for free at:
http://www.amazon.com/Aries-Dawn-myst...
