R.E. McDermott's Blog, page 3
March 24, 2012
English – A 10 Minute History
An amusing look at the evolution of English.
March 15, 2012
Don't Swallow Your Bubblegum
Apologies in advance to the easily offended. I saw this and couldn't resist sharing.
March 12, 2012
Safely Out to Sea
We've all seen it. The blow-dried weatherman with his multi-colored radar map of the coastline, all smiles as he pronounces that the latest devastating storm has turned "safely out to sea." I certainly can't fault people for being happy about that, but the next time you hear that phrase, stop a moment and hold a good thought for some people that might have a slightly different perspective.
March 10, 2012
Lessons We Can Learn From Dogs
This post has nothing to with ships, or writing, or humor. It's the
Rascal 1987-2004 RIP
text of an email forwarded to me by a reader, and very much in the category of 'things that interest me.' I don't know the veterinarian describing this incident. I suspect his name was lost as this message ping-ponged about the internet. Profound apologies if you've seen this before, but I read it for the first time a few days ago. I found it moving, and thought you might as well. Thanks to Virgil Carey for sharing it.
A Dog's Wisdom
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.
I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.
As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.
The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker 's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.
The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."
Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try to live.
He said,"People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life — like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?"
The Six-year-old continued,
"Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.
Take naps.
Stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you're not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
*****
There comes a time in life
When you walk away from all the drama
And people who create it
You surround yourself with people who make you laugh
You forget the bad and focus on the good
So, love the people who treat you right
Think good thoughts for the ones who don't
Life is too short to be anything but happy
Falling down is part of LIFE
But getting back up is LIVING.
January 27, 2012
Deadly Straits at 50% Off
I'm pleased to announce that Deadly Straits is Thriller of the Week on Kindle Nation Daily from January 27 to February 2, 2012. In conjunction with that promotion, I've reduced the price of the ebook by 50% to only $1.49 on Amazon US and Barnes and Noble. There are corresponding price reductions on Amazon UK and the various Amazon European sites.
Deadly Straits will revert to full price on Friday, February 3, 2012.
Deadly Straits continues to be the No.1 rated Men's Adventure, based on Amazon reader reviews, and with 81 reviews and growing, we closing on the top spot in the Technothriller category.
This is a great chance to get an already reasonably priced book at giveaway prices. Please help spread the word via Face Book, Twitter, etc.
January 1, 2012
You’ll shoot your eye out kid
No Christmas in the McDermott household feels complete without watching Jean Parker Shepard’s A Christmas Story. We all know the dialogue by heart, but it never seems stale — great stories well told are timeless.
This year, like Ralphie, I harbored a secret Christmas wish. Not for a Red Rider, 200 shot, Range Model Air Rifle (with a compass in the stock), but for something much more elusive — a gift that could neither be given by a loved one nor delivered by a benevolent Santa. I wanted a readership for my first book.
I thought long and hard before I self-published Deadly Straits last summer. Though the prejudice against self-publishing is melting away as authors deliver quality self-published books, it’s still there in literary circles. As little as six months ago, you didn’t have to look very far to find assertions that self-published authors weren’t “real writers,” or that self-publishing would destroy any chance I had of getting a “real” (i.e. traditional) publishing deal. “You’ll shoot your eye out, kid” adult version.
I shook off the self-doubt, swallowed my fears, and put the book out there, not really knowing what to expect. I had no real sales targets, but instead concentrated on reviews. I distributed review copies widely, hoping for 50 reviews on Amazon prior to Christmas. As Summer moved into Fall, and Christmas approached, good reviews began to mount up, and I hit the magic number 50 on December 21st, my Mom’s birthday. I wish she’d been alive to share that milestone.
Good reviews drove sales, and on Christmas Day, as December sales moved toward the 3,000 mark, I realized that I’d cleared enough money to cover all my development costs — editing, cover design, website development, production, everything. Over 4,500 folks had plunked down hard-earned money to buy something I wrote, and a small but growing number were kind enough to send me nice emails. I was in the black with a growing readership, so apparently I hadn’t shot my eye out after all.
As I sit here on New Year’s Day, it’s a bit like a second Thanksgiving. The family is all well and happy, and 2011 brought fulfillment of a very old dream. I’m thankful to a lot of folks, most of all my wife Andrea, who read every word of every revision (all 13 of them), even the horrible first versions that were 1,100 pages long. I’ll add to that list the numerous beta readers who read and commented. There are far too many to list individually, but you know who you are and know you have my thanks.
I’m grateful also to the following publishing professionals that helped me along the way. Peter Gelfan of The Editorial Department diplomatically pointed out that my ‘final, final draft,’ was still far short of the mark, and showed me how to fix it. If a picture is nominally worth a thousand words, then Jeroen ten Berge’s cover designs are encyclopedic — his wonderful cover for Deadly Straits conveys the feel of the story far better than any blurb I could write. Neal Hock provided much early encouragement, and the final manuscript benefited greatly from his eagle-eyed proofreading, just as the ebook versions benefited from Guido Henkel’s wonderful formatting. On the support front, MaAnna Stephenson of BlogAid designed my website at a price so reasonable I thought it was a billing error.
Established authors also gave help and encouragement. Scott Nicholson, L.C. Fiore, Michael Wallace, Barbara Elsborg, and Debbie Henson were all more than generous with their time and support. New authors (and new friends) Stephen England and Brenda Wallace also were generous in both their support and sharing resources.
Last, but far from least, I’m thankful to those folks that took the chance on an unknown author, and who continue to recommend Deadly Straits to friends and family.
Despite the state of the world, 2011 was (all things considered), a very good year in the McDermott household — full of new challenges, some successes, and new friends. I hope it held some blessings for you as well, and that the coming year holds even more.
In fact, reflecting on it all, it makes me want to burst into song. Click the play button below and sing along!
You'll shoot your eye out kid
No Christmas in the McDermott household feels complete without watching Jean Parker Shepard's A Christmas Story. We all know the dialogue by heart, but it never seems stale — great stories well told are timeless.
This year, like Ralphie, I harbored a secret Christmas wish. Not for a Red Rider, 200 shot, Range Model Air Rifle (with a compass in the stock), but for something much more elusive — a gift that could neither be given by a loved one nor delivered by a benevolent Santa. I wanted a readership for my first book.
I thought long and hard before I self-published Deadly Straits last summer. Though the prejudice against self-publishing is melting away as authors deliver quality self-published books, it's still there in literary circles. As little as six months ago, you didn't have to look very far to find assertions that self-published authors weren't "real writers," or that self-publishing would destroy any chance I had of getting a "real" (i.e. traditional) publishing deal. "You'll shoot your eye out, kid" adult version.
I shook off the self-doubt, swallowed my fears, and put the book out there, not really knowing what to expect. I had no real sales targets, but instead concentrated on reviews. I distributed review copies widely, hoping for 50 reviews on Amazon prior to Christmas. As Summer moved into Fall, and Christmas approached, good reviews began to mount up, and I hit the magic number 50 on December 21st, my Mom's birthday. I wish she'd been alive to share that milestone.
Good reviews drove sales, and on Christmas Day, as December sales moved toward the 3,000 mark, I realized that I'd cleared enough money to cover all my development costs — editing, cover design, website development, production, everything. Over 4,500 folks had plunked down hard-earned money to buy something I wrote, and a small but growing number were kind enough to send me nice emails. I was in the black with a growing readership, so apparently I hadn't shot my eye out after all.
As I sit here on New Year's Day, it's a bit like a second Thanksgiving. The family is all well and happy, and 2011 brought fulfillment of a very old dream. I'm thankful to a lot of folks, most of all my wife Andrea, who read every word of every revision (all 13 of them), even the horrible first versions that were 1,100 pages long. I'll add to that list the numerous beta readers who read and commented. There are far too many to list individually, but you know who you are and know you have my thanks.
I'm grateful also to the following publishing professionals that helped me along the way. Peter Gelfan of The Editorial Department diplomatically pointed out that my 'final, final draft,' was still far short of the mark, and showed me how to fix it. If a picture is nominally worth a thousand words, then Jeroen ten Berge's cover designs are encyclopedic — his wonderful cover for Deadly Straits conveys the feel of the story far better than any blurb I could write. Neal Hock provided much early encouragement, and the final manuscript benefited greatly from his eagle-eyed proofreading, just as the ebook versions benefited from Guido Henkel's wonderful formatting. On the support front, MaAnna Stephenson of BlogAid designed my website at a price so reasonable I thought it was a billing error.
Established authors also gave help and encouragement. Scott Nicholson, L.C. Fiore, Michael Wallace, Barbara Elsborg, and Debbie Henson were all more than generous with their time and support. New authors (and new friends) Stephen England and Brenda Wallace also were generous in both their support and sharing resources.
Last, but far from least, I'm thankful to those folks that took the chance on an unknown author, and who continue to recommend Deadly Straits to friends and family.
Despite the state of the world, 2011 was (all things considered), a very good year in the McDermott household — full of new challenges, some successes, and new friends. I hope it held some blessings for you as well, and that the coming year holds even more.
In fact, reflecting on it all, it makes me want to burst into song. Click the play button below and sing along!
October 18, 2011
Everyday Heroes – An Untold Tale of 9/11
In 1940, rallying to Churchhill's plea, Britons put to sea in anything afloat to rescue Allied troops from the beaches of Dunkirk. Rightly dubbed "The Miracle of Dunkirk," the Brits battled the elements and German air attacks to evacuate 330,000 men in 9 days.
On 9/11/2001, men and women of the NY/NJ waterfront answered a single radio call from the Coast Guard, to evacuate 300 to 500 thousand terrified civilians from Manhattan. In 9 hours.
It was a feat largely unnoticed until Tom Hanks produced this short, but moving documentary. Please take a moment to watch it, if you will, and say a little prayer of thanks for everyone that stepped up to the plate on that tragic day.
October 4, 2011
A Great New Review
Rick Spilman hosts the Old Salt Blog, which he bills as "a virtual port of call for all those who love the sea, whether from the deck of a ship or boat or from the pages of a novel."
It is all that and more, spanning topics from Nelson in the Great Age of Sail to current events such as the Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico and challenges faced by women submariners. With links to well over a hundred maritime blogs, websites, magazines, and industry and preservation groups, the Old Salt Blog is the place to be for anyone with an interest in ships or the sea.
I didn't know Rick before I sent him a copy of Deadly Straits and requested a review. To be honest, I figured it was a long shot; many of the books reviewed on the Old Salt Blog are non-fiction, and the novels he does review are primarily historical fiction. I'd have been even less hopeful had I known at the time that he is a self-described "thriller skeptic."
Yesterday, Rick sent me an email with a link to his review of Deadly Straits. I have to say it blew me away. Every author is happy to get a good review, and I'm deeply grateful to everyone who's posted reviews of Deadly Straits on Amazon or their blogs (and hope they continue to do so). However, I'm especially proud of this review, coming as it does from someone with deep roots in the marine industry.
So, if you've got the time, please check it out, and have a look around the Old Salt Blog while you're at it. If you have any interest is the sea at all, you're sure to find something you like.
September 6, 2011
Michael Wallace’s Journey
Michael Wallace is a rising star in the indie world, having just inked a five-book deal with Amazon’s new thriller imprint. He’s also generous, and for months has patiently answered my questions, and offered advice by email. In today’s guest post, he shares his publishing journey
Note: Shortly after Michael sent me this post, Vermont endured disastrous flooding in Irene’s wake. As he joins local volunteer relief efforts, Michael asks readers to consider a small donation to either of the following groups:
Vermont and NH Valley Red Cross
Mad River Valley Community Fund
And now Michael, in his own words:
My success as an indie writer has not been in the realm of the John Locke, J. Carson Black, or Amanda Hocking. Nevertheless, I’ve sold over 60,000 ebooks since January, and my series of polygamist thrillers, The Righteous, was just picked up by Amazon’s new thriller line, Thomas & Mercer. I’ve had enough success as an indie and enjoy the total control of going it solo that I intend to keep publishing my own novels, no matter what happens with on the traditional publishing side.
Here are four pieces of advice I’d give to the aspiring indie writer.
* Work on your opening.
* Don’t be sloppy with editing.
* Pay attention to your cover.
* Polish your blurb.
Readers are no more forgiving than editors or agents. They’ll sample your book and if it doesn’t grab them in a hurry, they’ll drop it and move on to the next story without a twinge of guilt. The biggest cost for a reader is not the price, it’s the hours spent when the reader could be reading something else. Just like you can step up to a display case of pastries and make a decision in a minute or less, so a reader can glance at your cover, blurb, reviews, and sample and decide if this looks worthy of time and money in a moment. You’ll notice that editing, cover, blurb, and opening have something in common. They speak to your desire to be professional.
I made some mistakes with releasing imperfectly edited versions in the early days. Don’t do this. Readers will mention this oversight in reviews, especially if you are an indie. Those reviews will stick there forever, long after you’ve fixed the formatting or the editing mistakes. Look at a couple of the poor early reviews of my books, if you don’t believe me. All the glowing reviews by other readers won’t erase those comments, and that was a totally self-inflicted wound, very unlike the kind of bad review that simply comes from not connecting with a reader.
Your cover and your blurb also give an important impression to the potential buyer. The cover can intrigue in the best of circumstances, but if amateurish or off in some way, tells the reader you’re unlikely to care about the internal packaging of your book, either. Similarly, learn how to write a great hook for your product description. I know that this is a different skill than being able to write a compelling book–if you could tell the story in two paragraphs, why would you have bothered writing the book?–but you’re a writer. Figure out how to make your blurb sound as enticing as possible.
Now, your opening. Don’t give away too much, too soon. Remember, it’s mystery that drives reader interest, not explanation. I think of the opening as a three legged stool: character, situation, and problem. If any one of these is out of balance, the stool will collapse. This is why an opening showing your character clinging to the edge of the cliff doesn’t work any better than having a character wake up in her bed. The situation and problem are either too big or too small for our interest in the character at such an early stage. I like to start with a compelling character in an intriguing situation, trying to resolve some problem that is relatively small in scope. I don’t immediately explain what this problem is, but if the reader sees intent on part of the main character, this is enough. When the time comes to explain this first little mystery, you should also have a bigger mystery waiting in the wings to ramp up reader interest.
Once you’ve got all the ingredients there, what should you try? A little bit of everything that is ethical, inexpensive, and doesn’t take away from your goal of continuing to produce new work. Try giveaways, well-targeted ads like Pixel of Ink or eReader Review. Do guest blogs, visit boards and participate in such a way that doesn’t come across as always talking about your book. Don’t waste your money on advertising that is not carefully targeted.
The good news is that you don’t need to panic if things don’t take off right away. Unlike the limited shelf life of traditional books, your virtual library of offerings will always be there. Any time you’ve got men on base, the next batter has the opportunity to advance all your runners, not just the guy at the plate.
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