Heather Marie Adkins's Blog, page 18
June 29, 2011
IWU Blog Tour #3 - Guest Post by Jack Wallen
Guest post by indie Jack Wallen from right here in my hometown. Enjoy!
Control Issues:
Or why I decided to be an indie author
***
Notice I do not say "Or why I decided to self publish". Why is that? Because "self publishing" carries along with it a stigma that implies a lesser product. That is not the case with "indie author", because we are many, we are mighty, and our "products" are outstanding.
That being said…let me bend your ear a bit about the choice to go "indie".
When I started writing, over two decades ago, I had no idea what I was really doing. Mostly I was writing stage plays that would wind up getting some production. But mostly my writing was serving a very simple purpose – cheap therapy for yours truly. But eventually the writing would take over and I would come to realize the words not only held a powerful sway over me, but others as well. People would "accidentally" read some of my work and beg for more. Short stories started turning into much longer stories and eventually books that would never see the light of day.
Those were the early days where writing a story with a meandering plot and dimension-less characters was okay so long as the emotional connection and conviction was there. And it was – oh how it was. Even though there was much missing in those earlier works, they served as a powerful outlet for the creative monster that lived inside of me. That creative monster would eventually dictate the only path for me that held any sort of truth…indie publishing.
I am not a control freak. Far from it actually. I know the only thing I can control is my reaction to an external stimulus. Outside of that I fully understand we are all just swimming in the chaotic pool of entropy known as life. However….
Thanks to my going the indie route, there is one thing that I can control and that is who has the last say in my work…me. To the core, I am an artist. I love to create. Creativity is the main course in my soul's daily meal and if I neglect to feed that beast, it gets rather irritable. But still, that doesn't fully answer the question – or does it?
Being an indie author gives me license to:
Mingle genres.
Break rules generally not broken.
Create my own covers.
Freely market my books.
Use my content in ways that might not be allowed otherwise.
Draw outside the lines.
Make my own deadlines.
I like those options. But most of all, I like that those options allow me to flex my creative muscles in ways traditional publishing would never allow. How can any creative type pass that up? But that's not all…
When I was an actor I saw the writing on the wall early on. The economy of the country was about to drop the hammer on the arts, which would, in turn, negatively affect small theatres across the land. So, before I wound up becoming a statistic in the dying of the arts, I decided to call it a career. I think a similar death knell is being sounded for traditional publishing. Not that I think, in any way, traditional publishing will go away. It won't. The consuming public still likes their hard back and paper back books. But traditional publishing, as we know it now, is on the outs. The model is broken and must be fixed. What that fix is, I do not know. I strongly believe traditional publishers are somewhat lost as to what to do. The indie author picked up a baton in the book marathon and bolted out of the gate like Usain Bolt chasing after yet another record. Those of us fortunate to jump into the race early won't have to worry about playing catch up or learning the rules…because we are making the rules and that, my dear, feels really good.
We, indie authors, have assumed control and that is a powerful feeling. My creative monster is thrilled by my choice of being an indie author…and so am I. Because of this I now have the following published works:
I Zombie I
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Smashwords
Paperback
A Blade Away
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Smashwords
Paperback
Gothica
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Smashwords
Paperback
Soon, the following titles will be added to the mix:
Shero (super hero satire) Late July, 2011
My Zombie My (second in the "I Zombie" trilogy) August 4, 2011.
Die Zombie Die (third in the "I Zombie" trilogy) Late October, 2011.
Endgame (working title) Late fall 2011.
I also plan on creating a new post-apocalyptic series, based on the "I Zombie" trilogy, which will hopefully see the light of publication early 2012.
For more information on me and/or how to contact me, take a look at these sites:
Get Jack'd: http://www.monkeypantz.net
Twitter: jlwallen
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jlwallen
June 28, 2011
Indie Writers Unite!
I have found a veritable gold mine with Indie Writers Unite! on Facebook.
Self-publishing is a long, hard road. Success is not going to come quickly because, unfortunately, I do believe luck and timing have a lot to do with how well any indie author will do in this field. That being said, I can not even imagine traversing this uncharted (for me) territory without the help and support of my friends and fellow authors over at IWU.
There are several people who have gone above and beyond what I expected. Talia Jager, Michelle Muto, Shea Macleod, Cheryl Shireman, and Julia Crane stand out as the nicest, kindest indies I've had interactions with. They embody the spirit of community and support that I feel the Indie publishing world should share. We are not competitors; there are plenty of readers out there for all of us! These ladies understand that, as well as understanding that word-of-mouth is what's going to get us all sales. By helping each other, we help ourselves.
I am in awe of IWU. Other people like Cheryl Bradshaw, Lizzy Ford, Lin Welch, Michael Edward McNally, and a slew of other indie authors are just as awesome as those I've already spoken of; I couldn't list everybody if I tried. So, this is a webverse shout out to all my IWU fellows - I adore you all! I adore the conversations we have, the debates that fire, and the ever-constant support we give each other, whether it's by answering questions or offering pep talks on bad days. I hope each and every one of you have great success and happiness. I'm so proud to know you all 
It is so exciting to finally be self-published, but it's even more exciting to have made the friends and connections I have so far. I can not wait to see where time will take all of us.
June 26, 2011
Indie Author Spotlight – Julia Crane
by Julia Crane (Goodreads Author), Kadri Umbleja (Illustrator)
From Goodreads:
Sixteen-year-old Keegan is struggling to keep her huge secret from her friends-she's an elf, descended from a long line of elves that live in secrecy alongside humans.
In elfin society, mates are predetermined but not allowed to meet until they are eighteen. Against tradition, Keegan's brother Thaddeus told her Rourk's name because his visions warned him she'd need Rour k's protection, especially since Keegan will play a key role in the coming war between the dark and light elves.
Rourk finds himself drawn to Keegan's side every time she thinks his name. He wants to talk to her but remains in the shadows, silently guarding her every time she mentally beckons him. A twist of fate thrusts the two of them together when Rourk is forced to step up his protection and make his presence known.
An ancient prophesy deeply entwines Keegan's family and the future of their society. Somehow they must find a way to thwart fate and win the battle…without losing Keegan. With war brewing, and dark forces aligning, will Keegan and Rourk ever have the life together that they both desire?
Some people just have what it takes to write YA novels (if we're going to be honest, I do NOT; too much sex and too many f-bombs). Julia Crane has what it takes.
This book hooked me from the beginning. I love the first chapter, where we meet Keegan and Rourk and learn of their unique connection. Keegan is a great character – she's a typical high school teenager with a cell phone and a giggly gaggle of girlfriends, but she's also burdened by the responsibility of being an Elf in an unbalanced world. Rourk is strong and courageous, and his deep love of Keegan could make any hard-hearted woman swoon. And Keegan's family? They felt like home. Just as crazy but loyal as mine.
Julia's ability to weave a story is perfect. If I hadn't been so distracted by my own projects, Coexist is a page-turner that would have kept me reading until the end (instead of taking me a ridiculously long time to read it). Once the climax hits, it is especially action-packed – with an unexpected twist that left me gasping! Not only that, but it has a cliffhanger ending, so I'm dying for more.
Julia's ebook is wonderfully formatted and the cover is just freaking gorgeous. I can't wait to follow the career of this Indie author.
Buy Julia's books here:
Amazon
B&N
Smashwords
Find her online:
http://coexistjuliacrane.blogspot.com/
Indie Author Spotlight - Julia Crane
by Julia Crane (Goodreads Author), Kadri Umbleja (Illustrator)
From Goodreads:
Sixteen-year-old Keegan is struggling to keep her huge secret from her friends-she's an elf, descended from a long line of elves that live in secrecy alongside humans.
In elfin society, mates are predetermined but not allowed to meet until they are eighteen. Against tradition, Keegan's brother Thaddeus told her Rourk's name because his visions warned him she'd need Rour k's protection, especially since Keegan will play a key role in the coming war between the dark and light elves.
Rourk finds himself drawn to Keegan's side every time she thinks his name. He wants to talk to her but remains in the shadows, silently guarding her every time she mentally beckons him. A twist of fate thrusts the two of them together when Rourk is forced to step up his protection and make his presence known.
An ancient prophesy deeply entwines Keegan's family and the future of their society. Somehow they must find a way to thwart fate and win the battle…without losing Keegan. With war brewing, and dark forces aligning, will Keegan and Rourk ever have the life together that they both desire?
Some people just have what it takes to write YA novels (if we're going to be honest, I do NOT; too much sex and too many f-bombs). Julia Crane has what it takes.
This book hooked me from the beginning. I love the first chapter, where we meet Keegan and Rourk and learn of their unique connection. Keegan is a great character - she's a typical high school teenager with a cell phone and a giggly gaggle of girlfriends, but she's also burdened by the responsibility of being an Elf in an unbalanced world. Rourk is strong and courageous, and his deep love of Keegan could make any hard-hearted woman swoon. And Keegan's family? They felt like home. Just as crazy but loyal as mine.
Julia's ability to weave a story is perfect. If I hadn't been so distracted by my own projects, Coexist is a page-turner that would have kept me reading until the end (instead of taking me a ridiculously long time to read it). Once the climax hits, it is especially action-packed - with an unexpected twist that left me gasping! Not only that, but it has a cliffhanger ending, so I'm dying for more.
Julia's ebook is wonderfully formatted and the cover is just freaking gorgeous. I can't wait to follow the career of this Indie author.
Buy Julia's books here:
Amazon
B&N
Smashwords
Find her online:
http://coexistjuliacrane.blogspot.com/
Death Be Not Proud
There's no explanation for why bad things happen.
Two years ago, my cousin Cory was abruptly taken from this life in a car accident - after surviving two tours in Iraq. It completely uprooted my family. Cory was a Marine, a firefighter, and an amazing man who should have had an entire life ahead of him.
Yesterday, Cory's 6 year old brother was found unresponsive at the bottom of a public pool. The doctors kept his body alive overnight, but this morning, they told my aunt and uncle that Keegan was brain dead.
So they took him off life support.
6 years old.
How does a parent a survive this? My uncle has now lost two sons. My cousin Jacob has now lost BOTH his brothers. And my aunt, Keegan's mom, has to live the rest of her life with the guilt that comes from knowing your child died right under your nose.
It was terrible when it was Cory, but at 6 years old??? Keegan's life was stolen before he ever had a chance to live it.
It makes me furious.
Now, I'm a deeply spiritual person. I've been Wiccan for almost 9 years now and it is the cornerstone of my existence. I believe the goddess has an agenda quite contrary to our own and if someone is taken, it is for a reason.
I'm NOT okay with her reasoning right now.
6 year old children should not die. They're the truest innocence of our race. A child dying is innocence dying and how can this be a lesson learned? How is this supposed to make someone stronger???
It can't.
Like two years ago when I spent some time cursing Her deeply, I am now doing it again. I am forever a child of this universe, but sometimes, I just don't understand.
I'll never understand.
June 25, 2011
This is it!
THE NOVEL IS LIVE!!
It's only a first edition, because the real cover wasn't done on time. My sister is going to do a lovely watercolor for me, so that will replace this one eventually. Until that time, I just had to do it. I couldn't wait any longer to put it out there.
The Temple
Smashwords (coming soon)
Vale Avari has a mysterious past and a laundry list of super-powers, but that's nothing compared to what she finds upon moving from small town U.S.A to jolly-good England.
A chance dart throw lands her in Quicksilver, an off-the-map place with a big problem - people are dying, and word is, it's supernatural.
At her new place of employment, a temple dedicated to the ancient Mother Goddess, Vale learns something even more shocking - women guards are disappearing at an alarmingly patterned rate; women who possess special gifts like her own.
Supernatural powers aside, Vale isn't ready to believe in the Wild Hunt as the culprit, and she's determined to prove the deaths are acts of human violence.
Plagued by a brute with a history of domestic violence and lusting after a dark-eyed man with a secret, Vale has a limited amount of time to discover the killer before he strikes again. In the process, she'll learn things aren't always what they seem and the supernatural might not be so extraordinary after all.
The Hunt could ride for her.
June 22, 2011
IWU Blog Tour #2 – Christopher M. Thompson
Christopher M. Thompson
Today, I am hosting a hilarious Indie author named Christopher M. Thompson.
From your blog's About the Author page: a "thermonuclear family"? You must elaborate, I'm intrigued…What has this kind of life done for your writing?
Well, not to spread any dirt around, I was raised by my biological mom and the only guy on the planet that I call Dad. It wasn't until I was in my teens when I discovered that Dad and I didn't share DNA. I grew up with one sister and, for most of my life that is all that I knew. In 2008, a co-worker of mine, who had grown up in what used to be termed a "nuclear family" (original bio-parents married with 2 kids, one boy one girl, etc.) was completely baffled at the fact that I had never looked up my bio-dad or even been the slight bit curious. I did have a name, an old photograph, and some info, so I went searching. When I found him, it was like looking at an age-progression picture of myself.
I met him, my family and I stayed with him for a bit, and I got to know him and my other siblings pretty well, going from the oldest of two to the oldest of seven. I often joke (although the sibs don't find it as funny) that since I have three half-sisters and three half brothers, technically I have one brother, one sister, and a hermaphrodite as siblings. My bio-dad passed away in 2010.
We are a pretty wacky bunch at times, all of my siblings and I, and they are sometimes a source of inspiration for my writing, mostly as a springboard to creating characters who – in the end – don't resemble them at all.
Is there a story behind "The Book of Chaophim" the name of your blog?
Actually, there is, and it ties in with my upcoming "Gardener of Eden" trilogy. The main character is a Chaophim – which is both a 'race' of angel as well as a rank. The name is pseudo-Greek, a play off of the title Seraphim (the burning ones), etc. Many of the angelic ranks end with the suffix of -phim or -bim and since Aerin is basically an angel of chaos (more on that later) I lopped off the 's' and tried the -phim suffix on for size, enjoying the edgy feel that 'chaophim' had on my tongue.
When naming the blog, I looked at all of my works in progress, etc., and thought to myself "Since 'Gardener of Eden' is what I consider to be my magnum opus, it should have something to do with that." I had just written a scene for book 2 (I never write my stuff in order – I write it as it comes) where Aerin was trying to explain to someone how the prophet Enoch had cataloged all of the angels but Aerin was left out due to obscurity. The other character, dubious, joked "The Lost Book of Chaophim…" Again, I liked the sound of it, except for the 'lost' part and it stuck. To add more weight to the "Gardener of Eden" theme, I added one of the four pictures that I have composited of Aerin and myself in the header.
Parker Jesus and how awful he is in 100 words or less…
That would be fairly easy if I were the type to use profanity in an interview as I am ex-Navy and have the juvenile hobby of picking up profanity in other languages. Granted, it wouldn't make a lot of sense, but I do have 100+ choice words to describe Parker Jesus that way. Here we go with the 'clean & makes sense' attempt though: "It all boils down to me growing up a geek and being bullied. When I came out of my shell and learned to fight back, I kept my hatred of bullies. H. A. Parker is a bully."
Tell me about your writing process. Do you set time aside each day? What are your biggest distractions?
My writing process makes sense to me (and to a lot of women, which is understandable because my muse is female and I am her bit…err…her 'keyboard monkey') but overwhelms and confuses many others. I write for whatever mood I am in at the time on any of eleven current works in progress which include three screenplays, six novels, a children's book, and a non-fiction writer's guide about my process and other tidbits.
I do set aside time each day for dedicated writing, usually from 8:00pm or 9 (the children's bedtime) and midnight (my bedtime) although it is an easier schedule to keep when school is in session as my little weasels tend to wear me out during a full day.
My biggest distractions are Facebook and real life, the latter more than the former as I am a single father, currently lacking transportation, and split my time between parenting, housekeeping, and looking for 'work from home' opportunities that don't involve telemarketing or going out to party in order to blog bout the town's nightlife, etc.
What authors influence you the most?
I would have to say that, novel-wise, it's "the four Wills"… William Shakespeare, William Gibson, William C. Dietz, and Walter Jon Williams.
Self-Publishing your first book: any big surprises along the way? Has your experience with Breakfast Anytime been an enlightening one?
Actually, the fact that I *could* self-publish was the biggest shock of them all. I knew that I wanted to get "Gardener of Eden", which was just one book at the time, in print and was working hard on it, taking the traditional route of waiting until I was nearly done (still not quite at that point yet) to start shopping it around. My oldest sister, the one I had grown up with, mentioned that her college professor had self-published on Smashwords. After checking into it, I saw a chance to go ahead and get my name out there without the ulcer of some publisher saying "Poetry doesn't sell, especially poetry loaded with f-bombs and such" (not all of them have that, by the way, and I did publish a censored version as well) and so I snagged up all of my poems, formatted them, and submitted.
I don't remember much about the night that I lost my sexual virginity, but I can tell you exactly what I was wearing and how big I was smiling when I lost my publishing virginity. It felt SO good to delete the word 'aspiring writer' off of my hobbies and put "Author of the poetry anthology Breakfast Anytime" on my resume. Yes, it has been very enlightening as far as self-publication and marketing goes and is greasing the tracks for other works to come along right behind it.
The best part of being published as an indie though, is the inspiration it has sparked off in my daughter who is compiling copies of her poems and drawings (still trying to get the concept of 'copyright' through her head on that one as her argument is "But I *did* draw these, daddy!") so that she can publish her own book (under my account) and earn a tiny allowance if she decides not to just give it away free. She also works on short stories, so I'm glad that even with my personal life as strained as it is now with going through my second divorce, I am still a role model for her and her 'hero'.
The big question of the post: the Indie movement – your thoughts? Will it continue to grow and prosper? Will more and more authors choose this route and be able to make a living off it? What do you really want to tell the world about self-publishing?
Ask Pandora…lol I think there is going to be no putting the Indie movement back into the box, and neither do the stores, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and others all clamoring to suckle at the Indie teat as writers dig themselves out of mountains of rejection letters and self-publish. The Big Six had their day in the sun and will still get clients, to be sure, but now that Print-On-Demand has been stirred into the mix and Indies have discovered niche jobs like cover designers, etc., about the only thing that the Big Six will soon be able to offer are advance checks and some PR that you don't have to do yourself.
The days of lying awake at night with nightmares of an expensive agent trying to dig your work out of a publishers "Important! Must read now!" wastebasket are nearing an end, I think. That means that more Indies, and not less, will probably be picked up by the Big Six as the Big Six's influx of submissions (and the paychecks that come with them) begin to dwindle, forcing them to go on the hunt instead of having authors hunting them out.
To finish up, I love the relationship you have with Aerin, the character you've created over a lifetime. I also feel like my girls are mine. Who is Aerin, and when will we be able to meet her? (also known as, what are you working on and when can we expect to see you published again?)
Yeah – both ex-wives had a love-hate relationship with Aerin since I talked about her incessantly and often even dreamed about her – to them, it was like being in a polygamous relationship except neither could choke the life out of the other woman. In fact, she is such a big part of my life that I have had her tattooed on my left leg and given her her own Facebook page, setting the two of us in an "It's complicated" relationship status.
I am trying to finish up the edits on one of my screenplays (a romantic comedy about a 'normal' trying to infiltrate the 'geek' subculture) and I have limited my work within the past month at getting "Gardener of Eden: Sowing the Seed" on virtual bookshelves hopefully by August or September, pushing all of my other WIPs to the back of the virtual bookshelf. The lovely Ms. Seleratus is a fickle bi…err…muse though, and likes to toss ideas for the other stuff at me randomly despite my wishes, but I *am* trying to focus…hehehe
Thank you very much for the interview, and I had a blast answering the questions.
Last note from Heather: This indie has one of the funniest blogs I follow. I can not wait to see his Gardener of Eden series come to life (nor can I wait to read it!) He is surely one to keep an eye on.
Find "Breakfast Anytime":
Breakfast Anytime Cover
Follow his blog at http://chaophim.blogspot.com/
IWU Blog Tour #2 - Christopher M. Thompson
Christopher M. Thompson
Today, I am hosting a hilarious Indie author named Christopher M. Thompson.
From your blog's About the Author page: a "thermonuclear family"? You must elaborate, I'm intrigued…What has this kind of life done for your writing?
Well, not to spread any dirt around, I was raised by my biological mom and the only guy on the planet that I call Dad. It wasn't until I was in my teens when I discovered that Dad and I didn't share DNA. I grew up with one sister and, for most of my life that is all that I knew. In 2008, a co-worker of mine, who had grown up in what used to be termed a "nuclear family" (original bio-parents married with 2 kids, one boy one girl, etc.) was completely baffled at the fact that I had never looked up my bio-dad or even been the slight bit curious. I did have a name, an old photograph, and some info, so I went searching. When I found him, it was like looking at an age-progression picture of myself.
I met him, my family and I stayed with him for a bit, and I got to know him and my other siblings pretty well, going from the oldest of two to the oldest of seven. I often joke (although the sibs don't find it as funny) that since I have three half-sisters and three half brothers, technically I have one brother, one sister, and a hermaphrodite as siblings. My bio-dad passed away in 2010.
We are a pretty wacky bunch at times, all of my siblings and I, and they are sometimes a source of inspiration for my writing, mostly as a springboard to creating characters who - in the end - don't resemble them at all.
Is there a story behind "The Book of Chaophim" the name of your blog?
Actually, there is, and it ties in with my upcoming "Gardener of Eden" trilogy. The main character is a Chaophim - which is both a 'race' of angel as well as a rank. The name is pseudo-Greek, a play off of the title Seraphim (the burning ones), etc. Many of the angelic ranks end with the suffix of -phim or -bim and since Aerin is basically an angel of chaos (more on that later) I lopped off the 's' and tried the -phim suffix on for size, enjoying the edgy feel that 'chaophim' had on my tongue.
When naming the blog, I looked at all of my works in progress, etc., and thought to myself "Since 'Gardener of Eden' is what I consider to be my magnum opus, it should have something to do with that." I had just written a scene for book 2 (I never write my stuff in order - I write it as it comes) where Aerin was trying to explain to someone how the prophet Enoch had cataloged all of the angels but Aerin was left out due to obscurity. The other character, dubious, joked "The Lost Book of Chaophim…" Again, I liked the sound of it, except for the 'lost' part and it stuck. To add more weight to the "Gardener of Eden" theme, I added one of the four pictures that I have composited of Aerin and myself in the header.
Parker Jesus and how awful he is in 100 words or less…
That would be fairly easy if I were the type to use profanity in an interview as I am ex-Navy and have the juvenile hobby of picking up profanity in other languages. Granted, it wouldn't make a lot of sense, but I do have 100+ choice words to describe Parker Jesus that way. Here we go with the 'clean & makes sense' attempt though: "It all boils down to me growing up a geek and being bullied. When I came out of my shell and learned to fight back, I kept my hatred of bullies. H. A. Parker is a bully."
Tell me about your writing process. Do you set time aside each day? What are your biggest distractions?
My writing process makes sense to me (and to a lot of women, which is understandable because my muse is female and I am her bit…err…her 'keyboard monkey') but overwhelms and confuses many others. I write for whatever mood I am in at the time on any of eleven current works in progress which include three screenplays, six novels, a children's book, and a non-fiction writer's guide about my process and other tidbits.
I do set aside time each day for dedicated writing, usually from 8:00pm or 9 (the children's bedtime) and midnight (my bedtime) although it is an easier schedule to keep when school is in session as my little weasels tend to wear me out during a full day.
My biggest distractions are Facebook and real life, the latter more than the former as I am a single father, currently lacking transportation, and split my time between parenting, housekeeping, and looking for 'work from home' opportunities that don't involve telemarketing or going out to party in order to blog bout the town's nightlife, etc.
What authors influence you the most?
I would have to say that, novel-wise, it's "the four Wills"… William Shakespeare, William Gibson, William C. Dietz, and Walter Jon Williams.
Self-Publishing your first book: any big surprises along the way? Has your experience with Breakfast Anytime been an enlightening one?
Actually, the fact that I *could* self-publish was the biggest shock of them all. I knew that I wanted to get "Gardener of Eden", which was just one book at the time, in print and was working hard on it, taking the traditional route of waiting until I was nearly done (still not quite at that point yet) to start shopping it around. My oldest sister, the one I had grown up with, mentioned that her college professor had self-published on Smashwords. After checking into it, I saw a chance to go ahead and get my name out there without the ulcer of some publisher saying "Poetry doesn't sell, especially poetry loaded with f-bombs and such" (not all of them have that, by the way, and I did publish a censored version as well) and so I snagged up all of my poems, formatted them, and submitted.
I don't remember much about the night that I lost my sexual virginity, but I can tell you exactly what I was wearing and how big I was smiling when I lost my publishing virginity. It felt SO good to delete the word 'aspiring writer' off of my hobbies and put "Author of the poetry anthology Breakfast Anytime" on my resume. Yes, it has been very enlightening as far as self-publication and marketing goes and is greasing the tracks for other works to come along right behind it.
The best part of being published as an indie though, is the inspiration it has sparked off in my daughter who is compiling copies of her poems and drawings (still trying to get the concept of 'copyright' through her head on that one as her argument is "But I *did* draw these, daddy!") so that she can publish her own book (under my account) and earn a tiny allowance if she decides not to just give it away free. She also works on short stories, so I'm glad that even with my personal life as strained as it is now with going through my second divorce, I am still a role model for her and her 'hero'.
The big question of the post: the Indie movement - your thoughts? Will it continue to grow and prosper? Will more and more authors choose this route and be able to make a living off it? What do you really want to tell the world about self-publishing?
Ask Pandora…lol I think there is going to be no putting the Indie movement back into the box, and neither do the stores, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and others all clamoring to suckle at the Indie teat as writers dig themselves out of mountains of rejection letters and self-publish. The Big Six had their day in the sun and will still get clients, to be sure, but now that Print-On-Demand has been stirred into the mix and Indies have discovered niche jobs like cover designers, etc., about the only thing that the Big Six will soon be able to offer are advance checks and some PR that you don't have to do yourself.
The days of lying awake at night with nightmares of an expensive agent trying to dig your work out of a publishers "Important! Must read now!" wastebasket are nearing an end, I think. That means that more Indies, and not less, will probably be picked up by the Big Six as the Big Six's influx of submissions (and the paychecks that come with them) begin to dwindle, forcing them to go on the hunt instead of having authors hunting them out.
To finish up, I love the relationship you have with Aerin, the character you've created over a lifetime. I also feel like my girls are mine. Who is Aerin, and when will we be able to meet her? (also known as, what are you working on and when can we expect to see you published again?)
Yeah - both ex-wives had a love-hate relationship with Aerin since I talked about her incessantly and often even dreamed about her - to them, it was like being in a polygamous relationship except neither could choke the life out of the other woman. In fact, she is such a big part of my life that I have had her tattooed on my left leg and given her her own Facebook page, setting the two of us in an "It's complicated" relationship status.
I am trying to finish up the edits on one of my screenplays (a romantic comedy about a 'normal' trying to infiltrate the 'geek' subculture) and I have limited my work within the past month at getting "Gardener of Eden: Sowing the Seed" on virtual bookshelves hopefully by August or September, pushing all of my other WIPs to the back of the virtual bookshelf. The lovely Ms. Seleratus is a fickle bi…err…muse though, and likes to toss ideas for the other stuff at me randomly despite my wishes, but I *am* trying to focus…hehehe
Thank you very much for the interview, and I had a blast answering the questions.
Last note from Heather: This indie has one of the funniest blogs I follow. I can not wait to see his Gardener of Eden series come to life (nor can I wait to read it!) He is surely one to keep an eye on.
Find "Breakfast Anytime":
Breakfast Anytime Cover
Follow his blog at http://chaophim.blogspot.com/
June 21, 2011
Quick Update
I've got some serious work to get done tonight, so this is just a quick update on what's going on in my writing world.
Deep in revisions for Abigail - I'm hoping to get it emailed out to my betas before the end of the month. It's still tentatively set for release on Aug 1.
Doing one last read-over of The Temple - have found several errors :( It will not be released today. I have to make the changes, as well as wait until Thursday when the cover will be finalized and ready. Delays, delays.
That's what my week is looking like right about now.
June 20, 2011
Meet the Family!
I write about them all the time - so this is an introduction to my household. Since I have writing on the brain, I am giving them bios like my own 
Tiffany
Tiffany
Tiffany is a 4-year old Pomeranian with a serious attitude problem. She lives for food, belly rubs, and chasing her Frisbee, though not necessarily in that order. She aspires to follow Mom around the house day and night and to give Dad even more gray hair than he already has. According to Tiff's philosophy, the world is small and revolves solely around her needs alone. Heather believes Tiffany is her soulmate.
Shooter
Shooter
Always grumpy and eternally sleepy, Shooter is a bit of a jerk. He lives to steal the ball from the others during Fetch and it isn't a normal day if he hasn't chased the cats around the house. He's very much a daddy's dog; it's his hobby to ignore every order from Mom. The outside world is his absolute most favorite place, so he tries really hard to jet out the front door every time it's opened. His new favorite hobby is circling the chicken coop while barking ferociously. But, in the night when no one is looking, this 4 year old Terrier mix loves to cuddle.
Apollo
Apollo
Apollo is, unfortunately, not very bright. It is the belief of his humans that the hamster meant to be powering the wheel inside his head has either died or ran away screaming. But he is incredibly loyal and loves to chat with Mom and Dad. Incessantly and for no good reason. This three year old hasn't quite caught on to the idea of Fetch, nor can he catch anything at all in his mouth - it usually bounces off his nose and is snapped up by the other dogs. He is a sincere lover dog with the cutest curly tail in the world. He is also Tiffany's bitch.
Tyr
Tyr
Aptly named for the Norse God of War, Tyr is the family's guard dog. However, he is also quite possibly the happiest, go-luckiest dog to ever have lived. Of the entire household, he makes the least noise - until someone strange comes near, then he sounds like he could rip them apart. Fetch is also a favorite game, though instead of returning the ball to the humans he often takes it for a stroll around he yard. Mom is probably his favorite human; he loves to crawl under the covers and lay with his head on the pillow next to hers. Tyr is the youngest of the dogs and the most playful.
Bartleby
Bart
Bart is the largest cat in the house, but believes he can fit in to the smallest spaces. He has been affectionately dubbed "Fat Cat" and he loves his mom with a borderline fanatical attitude. Bartleby visits the food dish every fifteen minutes and the litter box every hour, in between sleeping on the back of the couch - his favorite spot. His brother Loki is his best friend and worst enemy; they play and fight equally. Bart has a beautiful face despite his fat ass.
Loki
Loki
Loki isn't much like his namesake, the Norse Trickster God, because frankly, he's too damn lazy. If he isn't lounging across the couch cushions, he can be found high atop Mom's expensive china cabinet. He is a very vocal cat, particularly during the middle of the night when his humans are trying to sleep. Loki is fascinated with the outside world and has forced his humans to chase him across the backyard, in the dark (when he can not easily be seen) many times. While he isn't as fat as his sibling Bart, Loki is also fairly hefty. His nickname is "Black Cat." His favorite game to play is "Will Mom Notice if I Switch Places with Bart?" He usually wins.
Miranda
Miranda
Two words: World Domination. Miranda believes humans are nothing more than swine meant to open the closet containing her food and tend to her every whim. She spends 22 hours a day sleeping and the other two hours planning the demise of her two human servants. She loves the taste of souls and is not opposed to trying brains in the future. Acting is her forte: it's common to see her shoving her butt under a human's hand with an innocent meow, while her eyes promise death and torture.
PB
PB
PB isn't really sure he's a cat. Actually, he's almost positive he might be a new species entirely. During the first few weeks he lived with Heather and Andrew, he didn't come out from under the couch. After relocating to the outside, PB has taken with reckless abandon to his Wild Cat status. He loves to hunt and often leaves bloody presents with exposed intestines on the back porch. He takes may long naps on the back patio where the sun beats down throughout the day. He loves to solicit pets from his humans and gets a little rowdy at feeding time. He is not a good guard cat.
Shera
Shera
Shera has the ability to travel through space and time. Her humans are positive she disappears into other dimensions on a daily basis, where she is probably some type of royalty based on her attitude. She loves attention from her humans and will literally writhe beneath their hands, though she can not stand a dirty litter box and will shit on the floor to make a point. The only indoor/outdoor cat in our family, Shera lives in the garage and travels the neighborhood. She's made friends with the neighbors and tries to avoid PB, who harbors intense dislike for her. Shera is polydactyl, meaning she has thumbs and extra toes on all four of her feet.
The Chinchillas
Midhir and Squirt are polar opposites. While Squirt follows the normality of being a nocturnal animal, Midhir is often awake and running on his wheel in the middle of the day (somebody forgot to tell him his species). Though they look alike, with their big ears and dark grey bodies, their humans can easily tell them apart. Both enjoy their running wheels, but Squirt likes interacting with his humans quite a bit more than Midhir. Mom is 90% positive Midhir has severe psychological problems from the way he bounces off the cage walls any time a human enters the room. Both chins are equally fearless of the cats, all of whom often sit outside the cage with their tails twitching.
The Chickens
Also known as my "cheep cheeps."
Hannah - It is not an impossibility that Hannah is conspiring with Miranda to take over the world. She has a serious attitude problem and isn't afraid to speak her mind. Loudly.
Delia - She may have image issues because her humans were positive she was a rooster. She still struts, but she clucks. She is an Easter Egger hen with cute, fluffy cheeks.
Anita - She does not like pictures. Anita is very shy and timid, and can often be found trailing after Hannah. She has fluffy cheeks and feathered legs; cute as a button.
King Henry VIII - the only rooster, he is a pimp. He irritates his girls and struts around the coop as if he owns it. He gives PB the evil eye and crows if his humans walk away.
Mab - She's much prettier now than this picture does for her. Mab is a quiet bird that exudes intelligence and calm (unless you make a sudden move). She loves to peck at Mom's toe ring.
