Mark R. Hunter's Blog, page 69
July 7, 2016
Sometimes You Just Have to Judge
I’m taking time off from my writing stuff to work on someone else’s writing stuff: specifically, I’ll be busy the next few days judging 4-H entries.
For those who don’t know, 4-H is an organization that gives hands-on learning experiences to young people. (That’s the way-short version!) I’d always thought of it as farm related—showing animals, and such. Turns out it’s way more than that, and a few years ago I was approached about helping with an area close to my heart, creative writing.
How good are the entries? In a few years, these kids will be helping me with my writing.
For those who don’t know, 4-H is an organization that gives hands-on learning experiences to young people. (That’s the way-short version!) I’d always thought of it as farm related—showing animals, and such. Turns out it’s way more than that, and a few years ago I was approached about helping with an area close to my heart, creative writing.
How good are the entries? In a few years, these kids will be helping me with my writing.
July 6, 2016
How Do You Say Book Review In German?
Here’s something odd: So far, a full half of the Amazon reviews for Hoosier Hysterical have come from Germany!
https://www.amazon.de/review/R29SUBVF...
Or maybe not so odd, since I’ve only gotten two reviews so far.
https://www.amazon.de/review/R29SUBVF...
Or maybe not so odd, since I’ve only gotten two reviews so far.
July 5, 2016
author interview ... with me. Hey, I'm an author!
Would you like to know some background stuff about me and my writing history?
You wouldn’t? Oh.
Well, for the rest of you, here’s a piece on Fiona Mcvie’s author interview blog:
https://authorsinterviews.wordpress.c...
It’s a bit lengthy—Fiona asks a lot of questions!—but think of it as an interview novella, rather than an interview short story. She pries out of me how I came to be me, author-wise: a six year old fanfic writer, Star Trek theft, how a science fiction writer got published in the romance genre, and why my main influence is still a children’s author, among other things … all the way up to my retirement plans. Oh, and there’s a sample of Hoosier Hysterical, titled “Facts is Facts”.
Well, I thought it was interesting to write. Like therapy, only without the insurance bill.
You wouldn’t? Oh.
Well, for the rest of you, here’s a piece on Fiona Mcvie’s author interview blog:
https://authorsinterviews.wordpress.c...
It’s a bit lengthy—Fiona asks a lot of questions!—but think of it as an interview novella, rather than an interview short story. She pries out of me how I came to be me, author-wise: a six year old fanfic writer, Star Trek theft, how a science fiction writer got published in the romance genre, and why my main influence is still a children’s author, among other things … all the way up to my retirement plans. Oh, and there’s a sample of Hoosier Hysterical, titled “Facts is Facts”.
Well, I thought it was interesting to write. Like therapy, only without the insurance bill.
July 4, 2016
Independence Day
On this Independence Day, please remember that while we all have differences, we’ve always had differences. We’re still all human beings, and far more alike than we are different. I think most of us—at least, most of us outside the Beltway—still want to keep this country free and great, even if we disagree on how to do so. So disagree, but try to find areas of agreement, and respect each other.
In this time of world war with no end in sight, we need each other now more than ever.
In this time of world war with no end in sight, we need each other now more than ever.
July 2, 2016
ALL-IN author booth photos
Here are a few photos from last Saturday’s author appearance at the ALL-IN Block Party. It was a 200th birthday party for Indiana, and my new humor book is about Indiana, so showing up was pretty much a given.
http://markrhunter.blogspot.com/2016/...
I’ll post some other photos from the overall event later.
http://markrhunter.blogspot.com/2016/...
I’ll post some other photos from the overall event later.
June 29, 2016
Brother Update
Jeff tells me he has all his chest tubes out, and so is tube free and is now running and jumping and dashing around … well, he’s tube free. And he sure is happy about it!
He does have some rest and recovery to work on though. If you know Jeff, you understand why that’s work—I expect Cathy’s biggest need the next couple of weeks is going to be a supply of duct tape to keep him secured to a chair.
He does have some rest and recovery to work on though. If you know Jeff, you understand why that’s work—I expect Cathy’s biggest need the next couple of weeks is going to be a supply of duct tape to keep him secured to a chair.
June 28, 2016
After-Action Report
Well, Saturday was the official debut of our eighth—count ‘em, eight—published work in just five years. That doesn’t by itself explain my exhaustion, but it helps. The good news is that it didn’t blow rain in on fifteen writers sitting under a canopy, and we also didn’t set any high temperature records, and a good time seemed to be had by all.
Still, we didn’t sell all that many copies of Hoosier Hysterical. Part of that might be that everyone’s attention was split, with so many things going on at once for the ALL-IN Block Party. We did get some sales—about sixteen, if my counting is correct, spread out over all the books.
The surprise for me is that we sold two copies of the anthology My Funny Valentine, which I have a humor piece in. Kind of a seasonal thing—and since I only have one humor piece in that anthology, I don’t even count it as one of mine. If you include it and my short story in the anthology Strange Portals, you could argue I actually have ten books out. I wouldn’t, but you could.
Anyway, between spending the day outside without hydrating and an ill-timed lawn mowing experience the next day I got a bit too much heat—which also helps explain the exhaustion—but I’m glad I was able to experience Noble County’s own celebration of Indiana’s birthday. I still haven’t had a chance to download the photos yet, but they’re coming.
Still, we didn’t sell all that many copies of Hoosier Hysterical. Part of that might be that everyone’s attention was split, with so many things going on at once for the ALL-IN Block Party. We did get some sales—about sixteen, if my counting is correct, spread out over all the books.
The surprise for me is that we sold two copies of the anthology My Funny Valentine, which I have a humor piece in. Kind of a seasonal thing—and since I only have one humor piece in that anthology, I don’t even count it as one of mine. If you include it and my short story in the anthology Strange Portals, you could argue I actually have ten books out. I wouldn’t, but you could.
Anyway, between spending the day outside without hydrating and an ill-timed lawn mowing experience the next day I got a bit too much heat—which also helps explain the exhaustion—but I’m glad I was able to experience Noble County’s own celebration of Indiana’s birthday. I still haven’t had a chance to download the photos yet, but they’re coming.
June 24, 2016
Join us tomorrow—be ALL-IN
The Welcome Center for the Noble County ALL-IN Block Part opens at 9 a.m. tomorrow (Saturday), and the opening ceremony is from 9:30-10 a.m. After that all the Community Partner Booths open, including the 15 (or maybe 16!) authors at the Noble County libraries location, on the southwest corner of the courthouse square in Albion. The entertainment goes on until 3 p.m.
Emily and I tend to be night owls, so be there early to help us stay awake! In addition to our newest book, Hoosier Hysterical, we’ll have copies of all seven of our print books available. Only my e-book story collection, Storm Chaser Shorts, is not available in print.
Hoosier Hysterical is priced at only $10, even with all the photos … and don’t be surprised if we have some deals going for those who want multiple books.
Emily and I tend to be night owls, so be there early to help us stay awake! In addition to our newest book, Hoosier Hysterical, we’ll have copies of all seven of our print books available. Only my e-book story collection, Storm Chaser Shorts, is not available in print.
Hoosier Hysterical is priced at only $10, even with all the photos … and don’t be surprised if we have some deals going for those who want multiple books.
June 23, 2016
Hoosier Hysterical Passes Review
The very first (of many?) review of Hoosier Hysterical: How the West Became the Midwest Without Moving At All. (Hey, can’t I set up an auto-fill for when I type the whole subtitle? Genius!)
https://www.amazon.com/review/R1N96G3...
Although the reviewer makes the mistake of assuming I’m an historian, he clearly appreciates a good beet joke. (You have to read chapter one to get that. And you don’t even have to buy the book—it’s in the Amazon preview.)
https://www.amazon.com/review/R1N96G3...
Although the reviewer makes the mistake of assuming I’m an historian, he clearly appreciates a good beet joke. (You have to read chapter one to get that. And you don’t even have to buy the book—it’s in the Amazon preview.)
June 22, 2016
See you Saturday
I’m not sure if I mentioned this—my original promotion plan being in flux—but we did indeed receive our print order of Hoosier Hysterical. Stop worrying! We’ll have plenty of copies available at the ALL-IN Block Party in Albion Saturday, in addition to the book being out on Kindle. You know you were worried, admit it.
Looks like it’ll be a warm day, which is code for a hot day, so get there before all our books melt … then go see the entertainment, eat the food, see the sights, and enjoy the day around the courthouse square. Believe me, at least for authors doing an outside book signing, heat beats rain any day.
Looks like it’ll be a warm day, which is code for a hot day, so get there before all our books melt … then go see the entertainment, eat the food, see the sights, and enjoy the day around the courthouse square. Believe me, at least for authors doing an outside book signing, heat beats rain any day.
