Clancy Tucker's Blog, page 253

13 July 2015 - TIPS FOR SELF-PUBLISHED AUTHORS

TIPS FOR SELF-PUBLISHED AUTHORS
G'day folks,
Here is a guest post, courtesy of Betty Kelly Sargent of Bookworks. It can be a jungle out there for self-publishers. Just try Googling “publishing an e-book," and you get a staggering 54,400,000 results. If you search “self-publishing an e-book” you come up with 2,510,000 results and if you ask for “self-publishing advice” you will be directed to a sweet 3,070,000 offerings.

We decided to simplify matters by going to some of the leaders in the self-publishing world and asking them one simple question: If you could give someone starting out in self-publishing only one piece of advice, what would it be? As it turns out, the key is to know what you want, and to be patient.

Jane Friedman, professor, speaker, blogger, and publisher of Scratch magazine had this to say:

“The most important advice I can offer is don’t rush. Many first-time authors make a lot of mistakes along the way -- some of which are inevitable -- but I find that some authors don’t even have a clear idea of what their goals are. I tell authors: Before you do it, take time to understand why you’re doing it, to research your options, and to hire experts if needed to help you achieve your goals. Take enough time to produce a product that’s worth your reader’s time and money.”

When we asked writer, blogger, and consultant Joel Friedlander what advice he has to offer, he said:

“Know your goals. Be absolutely clear about what those goals are and how you plan to achieve them. Self-publishers need to understand why they are writing this book, who it is for, how they will reach those people, who they will have to hire to help, what their budget is, and what they want to get out of all this. So many times I’ve seen authors spend thousands of dollars unnecessarily and run into dead-end after dead-end because they simply didn’t have a clear set of goals in mind when they started out.”



Hugh Howey, celebrated author of the Wool and Silo series and self-publishing expert, offered this advice:

  “My one piece of advice would be patience, both in publishing and in expectations of sales. Make sure your work is as amazing as you can make it before putting it out there, and once you do publish, don't worry about how the work sells out of the gate. Books are now available forever. Start writing that next book. Don't be in a hurry.”

For Ron Martinez, founder of the direct retail and social media marketing service Aerbook, the author/reader relationship should take center stage. He said:

“Remember that the most important relationship in the book business is the one between author and reader. Make your books as widely available as possible in our increasingly networked world. There has never been a better time for books to find their readers.”

Carla King, blogger, writer, adventurer, and self-publishing guru, had this advice for people new to self-publishing:

 “Premature distribution is one of the most embarrassing mistakes made by self-published authors. Avoid it by starting small, publishing beta versions of your book, and growing your author platform as you perfect it. You don't want to publish and then discover copy-editing errors, realize you should have invested in a better cover design, or wish you'd spent more time on marketing copy, metadata, and back of book information. So upload your book in places that allow you to publish, sell, remove, revise, and republish in just minutes.”

Cindy Ratzlaff, social media strategist and brand evangelist, said:

 “My first piece of advice would be to write every day. But my second piece of advice would be to hire an editor. Even the best writer needs the trained eye of a professional editor.”

And finally, author-marketing expert Penny Sansevieri put it this way:

“Self-publishing should be treated as a business. You would never open up a brick and mortar store without doing some competitive research and having a business plan and a marketing plan in place. Yet it amazes me how many times authors launch a book with no idea of the market or how they plan to get it out there.”



 So there you have it. According to these experts, self-publishers need to be patient; know their goals; make their books the best they can be; network to find readers; avoid premature distribution; write every day and hire an editor; and research your competition. Sage advice, indeed, and it sure beats sifting through the 3,070,000 suggestions offered by Google.



Clancy's comment: Hope these points have been helpful. Grateful thanks to Betty Kelly Sargent who is the founder and CEO ofBookWorks.

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12 July 2015 - JORDAN SPIETH

JORDAN SPIETH
G'day guys,
Today, I introduce a modern day whirlwind on the golf course. In 2015, American professional golfer Jordan Spieth delivered a record-setting performance to become the second-youngest champion in Masters history.


Synopsis

Born on July 27, 1993, in Dallas, Texas, golfer Jordan Spieth twice won the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship before starring at the University of Texas. After turning pro in late 2012, he became the youngest man in 82 years to win a PGA Tour event the following summer. In April 2015, Spieth became the second-youngest champion in Masters history with a record-tying score of 18-under 270.



Childhood and Amateur Success

Jordan Spieth was born on July 27, 1993, in Dallas, Texas. The first of three children of father Shawn, a former college baseball player who founded a media analytics startup, and mom Chris, a college basketball player turned computer engineer, Spieth inherited his parents' athletic capabilities. He grew up playing soccer, baseball, football and basketball, with golf eventually taking precedence in the pecking order.

At 9, Spieth mowed a section of the family lawn as low as possible to practice his putting, spurring his parents to join the Brookhaven Country Club to give him access to proper facilities. At 12, the budding champion began taking lessons from former golf pro Cameron McCormick.

As a student at St. Monica Catholic School and Jesuit College Preparatory School, Spieth established himself as a golf prodigy. He won the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship in 2009 and 2011, making him just the second golfer, after Tiger Woods, to win the event twice. He also accepted an exemption to play in the PGA Tour's HP Byron Nelson Championship in 2010, where he tied for 16th among the field of professionals.

As a freshman at the University of Texas, Spieth was named Big 12 Player of the Year and a first-team All-American as he led the Longhorns to the NCAA Championship. He earned low amateur status at the Masters in 2012, and at the end of the year the 19-year-old turned professional.



Professional Stardom

Spieth finished in the Top 10 in each of his first two events on the Web.com Tour. He then displayed terrific form at a pair of PGA events, finishing tied for second at the Puerto Rico Open and tied for seventh at the Tampa Bay Championship, earning temporary status on the PGA Tour for the remainder of 2013.

 Just before turning 20 in July, Spieth triumphed at the John Deere Classic to claim his first PGA title and become the tour's youngest winner since 1931. Awarded full membership status, the phenom went on to notch runner-up finishes at the Wyndham Championship and the Tour Championship. He was named PGA Tour Rookie of the Year and was picked for the Presidents Cup team.

Spieth opened 2014 by placing second at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. He then delivered an eye-opening performance at the Masters in April, entering the final day of competition tied for the lead, before finishing tied for second. A few weeks later at the Players Championship, the 20-year-old again made a serious bid at a major title before finishing tied for fourth.




Clancy's comment: Grrr ... Such talent. Makes ya sick, eh?
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11 July 2015 - BEWARE OF KANGAROOS

BEWARE OF KANGAROOS
G'day folks,
Many of you have never been to Australia, and I bet a few of you have never hit a kangaroo with your car. They are extraodinary animals. Trust me. I often have them hop past my house, and many are whoppingly big. Well, here is a real situation a driver found himself in. Driving at 225km/h out near Mitchell (Qld) in his BMW Z4 the Driver hit a Kangaroo. The kangaroo disappeared! The driver stopped and wondered where did the kangaroo go? 

Scroll Down to see what he found:






Clancy's comment: So, be careful. Keep your eyes out should you ever drive in Australia.
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10 July 2015 - J T VALENTINE - Guest Author

J T VALENTINE
G'day folks,
Welcome to an interview conducted with a very accomplished author from the USA who writes humorous mysteries.
Welcome, J T ...


1.   TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR WRITING JOURNEY.
     I was born in Los Angeles, California, in late 1940. The US hadn't yet entered WWII. My mother being a shy person, told me I arrived by bus, and I believed her.  When my father got drafted into the Army a few years later, Mom and I followed him from base to base, mostly through scenic Texas where the wind blows from eternity and they grow cockroaches big enough to saddle and ride. Passenger trains had been turned over to the troops by then, and Mom and I sat in the aisle on our suitcases. She had a big one and I had a little one. It was cute. We were cute, and we usually got a seat. I remember sitting on a young soldier's lap while he peeled an apple all of a piece so it was like a spring. His hair was cut short and bristly and the starch in his collar was sharp. He was probably all of nineteen.  I still think of him and hope he made it home to his family. We travelled a lot at night and the zeitgeist of the times was desperate and romantic. I remember long embraces on station platforms, and the yellow lights from the train windows dashing by like frames of Kodak film. Heads of sweet young soldiers filled each one. I was four. But enough of the early years.
       My dad was a restless, self-made man who moved his family a lot trying to improve his station in life. I lived all over the country, mostly in the West, and was ever the new girl in school, so I read a lot and wrote a lot to please myself, since deep bonds with others were impossible to cultivate.  And that's how it started.  Books gave me a breath-taking intimacy with other minds, and writing helped me sort out my thoughts and give them clarity.  As Wittgenstein duly noted about our sentences, "We cannot be too clear." It's impossible.
      My teachers encouraged me to write and I started winning prizes on my stories in high school.  When I entered my first university, I decided to pursue philosophy as a major much to my father's despair. Loud despair, I might add. He was not a silent sufferer.  He wanted me to be a dentist—they make good money and have reasonable hours—I couldn't imagine anything more dismal. I went my own way even though he insisted I was wasting my time and his money. Standing up to him was a feat. I did it quietly and with respect. After all, I still lived at home. To placate my father, I pursued a double major in literature and creative writing because it was easier to get a job as an English teacher. And I loved it. The pursuit of philosophy also involved writing my head off, as I soon discovered. I lived at my IBM Selectric, watching the cheery little ball cavort around in the wee hours while the rest of the family slept. 
There were times when I wanted to grab the damn thing and hurl it across the room. Mom provided grilled cheese sandwiches and coffee until she went to bed, then I was on my own. Mostly I remember frozen feet, and an impertinent mouse who kept me company at 3am in the den where I could work without disturbing others. He wanted the dog's milk bones, and he squeezed himself under the laundry room door to get them in a way that would make Houdini cry. In those days, I typed my way around the world on nouns alone, I know it. During Easter break and so forth, I wrote funny stories for my own amusement and some of them won prizes in literary contests at school.
     Now that I'm retired from teaching philosophy-- Dad's misgivings were unfounded by the way, I got the first job I applied for-- I'm free to write all day and I generally do. I've chosen humorous mysteries because I like poking around dark places, unravelling secrets, and having fun doing it. .           

2.   WHEN AND HOW DID YOU BECOME A WRITER?
I officially dubbed myself a writer when the first collection of Max Knight mysteries called, "Night Walker and Other Stories," appeared on Amazon as a Kindle ebook on February 24, 2013. It was a cracker barrel ceremony. I think I just drank some champagne that night, probably all by myself. It was cheap stuff and it tasted like used seat cushions. I hadn't seen any of it coming. I was  bored with retirement. I don't like to cook and I'm not a gardener. There was no epiphany; I just suddenly decided to put some stories together. I'd always wanted to write a story involving a dog as the central character, dog lover that I am, so I did.  Then I recalled getting stalked by a male student as a young teacher. It was an incredibly spooky experience, so I drilled down on that for another story. Next I thought it would be clever to have someone commit a crime while talking on the phone. Ideas were popping like fireworks.  Before I knew it, I had five stories, novellas really, that I had edited to death. I asked myself, "How bad can it be?" and, without pausing to answer, I had them published. Voila! JT Valentine was born and she didn't arrive by bus.
3.   WHAT TYPE OF PREPARATION DO YOU DO FOR A MANUSCRIPT? DO YOU PLAN EVERYTHING FIRST OR JUST SHOOT FROM THE HIP?
For me, making an outline is about as pointless as scat singing. My stories take me where they want to go, and I can't know that in advance.  I usually start with a vague notion of what is going to happen to Max and his cohorts, and I make lots of changes as I go along. Sometimes even I don't know who committed the crime until the end. Also, my stories move on witty dialogue, and that can't be planned in advance. I envy the planners, the meticulous outliners. They always know where they're going, and they get there safely and calmly, whereas I wander around, exploring tunnels and mine shafts, trespassing and jumping into mosh pits. It can't be helped. An outline is the antithesis of creativity for me.
      However, I do need a working title. I usually spend some time thinking on that and often it ends up being the final title as well. A nameless story isn't real somehow. It's a bit of primitive word magic: "If you've got the name, you've got the thing," but I don't care. Ditto with my characters. They must be well and truly named, and once they've been given a proper handle, it can't be changed because that's who they are. I can't have an identity crisis with my people. This reminds me of something I once read about Elmore Leonard. He killed off a character and got himself in a bind with his plot as a result. He was lamenting this to a friend who reasonably observed, "Just bring him back to life, Elmore." He replied, "I can't. He's already dead." When you write, some things take on a reality of their own.


4.   WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A WRITER?
I'm a solitary person who loves words and wielding the language to express myself—words are the very texture of our thoughts. Just try thinking without them! I love making them align with reality.  (How do I know that I have? Give me a break. I'm through tussling with philosophical questions.) I'm never happier than when I can single-mindedly focus on getting the right words for the job, whether it's for a bit of dialogue or a description of a face or a fence. It doesn't matter. There's enormous satisfaction in sensing you've captured it. There's power in it too, and understanding. Writing helps illuminate the world for me. High fallutin' but true.


5.   WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING A WRITER?
Everything about being a writer is hard: The hours of solitude, the times when the words won't come out right, the constant need to market and promote yourself, the competition for a declining readership, the coffee nerves and tired eye balls that feel like they're going to fall out and roll around on the desk the moment you try to rest your weary head, and so forth ad nauseam. The fact that I write humorous mystery stories to entertain doesn't make it a less serious business, or any easier.

6.   WHAT WERE YOU IN A PAST LIFE, BEFORE YOU BECAME A WRITER?
     A case can be made that I was always a writer but just never punched my ticket until now. It's a protean notion, so I'll let it go. As a young woman fresh out of university with a master's degree, I taught philosophy in a college for a long time to a lot of young people, most of whom didn't care about the enduring questions of existence, they just wanted an A or thought I was cute. However, a small percentage actually did care, and that made it worthwhile for me. Eventually I decided to marry, and was able to spend many more meaningful years as a wife and mother. I loved this time. I raised two wonderful sons, Jeff and Todd, who are responsible for the initials in my pen name, among other things.

7.   WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST WRITING ACHIEVEMENT?
Wow! In logic we call that a complex, or a "have-you-stopped-beating-your-wife," question. I don't have a greatest writing achievement. At least I don't know about it, if I do. There's a learning curve to almost everything, including parachute jumping, and I have no idea where I am on the writing achievement curve. How does anyone know this except in retrospect? I'll just say I sure hope mine is still to come.



8.   WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT?
   Well, I'm working on a story about a woman who saw something she doesn't know she saw, and now her life is threatened, because other people do know what she saw. Bad people. Furthermore, she suffers from heterochromia, which means in her case, she has one blue eye and one brown one. This condition, albeit rare, applies to humans as well as dogs and cats. The working title of the story is, "Unlucky Eyes." 

9.   WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
Honestly, anything and everything. I don't care to write about friends and family because it's limiting and uninteresting. The facts of my family life are what they are, and I don't want to rehash them in a story. My emotions give a sigh and cover their ears, as it were. Besides, I have no desire to embarrass or hurt anyone. Somerset Maugham used his friends as story fodder constantly. I can only conclude they were somewhat dim. If someone dropped a dime on me, I wouldn't accept another invitation to dinner, would you?
10.    WHAT GENRE DO YOU WRITE?
   So far humorous mysteries have grabbed my imagination. But I'm not through. I'll try something different soon. All of my stories are novellas, meaning they don't have chapters, and are somewhere between 17,500 and 40,000 words in length. I don't pad the narrative with peripheral descriptions of scenery and so forth unless it's necessary to the story. I see this done a lot and I suspect the reader tends to skip over them. That being said, I'd like to create a novel someday that's not written as if I get paid by the word—something lean and fast-paced and full of humor.

11.     DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS?
Just the obvious. I've read books with tips and they are as eccentric and as varied as the writers themselves. Patricia Highsmith, who gave us the Mr. Ripley series, drank gin for breakfast and collected snails as pets. They soothed her. Who knew? The romantic poets all seemed to have been inspired by long afternoon walks—Wordsworth, Keats and Shelley waxed eloquent about their walks. I also noticed that they had doting wives who cooked for them, did their laundry and kept the children quiet so they could indulge their poetic genius unimpaired by practical concerns. Flash forward to modern day and we see poets and writers like Sylvia Plath and Alice Munro who had to squeeze in a couple of hours of writing early in the morning before the family got up and they had to fix breakfast and get the children off to school. The thing is, as a writer you need lots of quiet time and the will to carve it out. You have to believe what you have to offer is worth the effort and you have to keep at it on bad days. Everybody has them. Dogged perseverance seems to be a key consideration.



12.    DO YOU SUFFER FROM WRITER’S BLOCK?
I haven't suffered from writer's block yet, but if this is in my future, give me the cyanide pill now. I relax for a week or so between stories to celebrate the fact that I actually finished the last one, and to catch up on laundry. By then I'm down to wearing the yoga pants I bought ten years ago on a whim. I didn't take the class and I shouldn't be wearing the pants. My interest in a new story often builds slowly. As my mind becomes preoccupied with it, I start making little notes about plot points, dynamite lines for Max, and so forth, and leaving them all over the house. This behaviour builds until I find myself back at the computer fully engrossed, with only the dog to remind me that it's dark outside and past time for dinner.

13.    DO YOU HAVE A PREFERRED WRITING SCHEDULE?
Not really. I write almost every day for most of the day. I get up around seven and have coffee, read the papers, get dressed and get going. I usually quit around three in the afternoon, but often go back to writing in the evening. If I have to run errands or shop, I do it, grudgingly. I really dislike shopping. It reminds me that life is too expensive. (I can hear George Burns saying, "Consider the alternative.")  I can rarely find what I want in the stores, and the parking lot at the local shopping center reminds me of playing bumper cars at the amusement park.

14.    DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE WRITING PLACE?
  Yes. I write in my study on an antique desk my father left to me. I use a laptop computer that I thought would make me more mobile, but it's planted on the desk. I thought I might take it in the kitchen and write standing up like Hemingway. I tried it once, but I hated it. The study helps me get in a creative mood. There's a wing chair and some book cases and some nice art on the walls. I really like the room. It's small and safe. I can think about anything I want to in there, even talk to myself with complete abandon.

15.     WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST JOY IN WRITING?
 I don't have a greatest joy, and I find questions involving superlatives really hard to answer. I think it's because I have a lot of life experience behind me. Sorting out the greatest this-and-that's requires some truth serum or maybe hypnosis. I could make something up but that would be arbitrary. I think people do that a lot, actually.



16.     WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE AUTHOR AND WHY?
 I don't have one. My tastes are quite stretchy. In school I was enamoured of both D. H. Lawrence and Jane Austen. I don't care for the post-modern nihilism of many current novelists. Their books seem highly forgettable and not about much of anything. I can't think of one to name. There's your evidence.

17.  WHAT’S THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT YOU EVER RECEIVED FROM A READER?
 Referring to the Max Knight series, perhaps the compliment that impressed me the most was from a reader who had read all of the books and looked forward to each as it came out: "I love the author's mind. It's so great getting fix after fix…"  I liked the idea there was a meeting of the minds between the reader and me. She got me and it was great.

18.    WHAT WAS THE WORST COMMENT FROM A READER?
Honestly, I don't have a worst comment. My readers have been very kind, and I don't have that many. A "worst comment" will accompany greater sales, and be welcomed because of it.


19.   WRITERS ARE SOMETIMES INFLUENCED BY THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THEIR OWN LIVES. ARE YOU?
 Yes. Buddha observed that at any moment we are all the sum of what we have done and thought. I agree with him. All of my life experience goes into my writing, but it comes out in a new way that isn't found in any particular thing that has happened to me. I hope that makes sense. ..

20.    OTHER THAN WRITING, WHAT ELSE DO YOU LOVE?
Being alive is pretty wonderful, but hey, that's just me…I love my children. They're grown men now and lovely people.

21.   DID YOU HAVE YOUR BOOK / BOOKS PROFESSIONALLY EDITED BEFORE PUBLICATION?
No. I do it myself. I think I'm ruthless, but I'm probably in for a surprise there.


22.     DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT DAY.
Most of my days are just right. I like living in the real world. I wouldn't mind stretching them out a bit, adding a couple of extra hours of sunshine.

23.    IF YOU WERE STUCK ON A DESERT ISLAND WITH ONE PERSON, WHO WOULD IT BE? WHY?
I don't know anybody well enough to choose to be stuck with them. I think I'd rather be alone unless I can have my children with me, but there are two of them. I'd love to talk to Winston Churchill but he'd have to come with a sufficient supply of brandy and champagne to keep his wit lubricated. I am thinking of the mature, seasoned Winston we see in old news clips and read about in books when he was Prime Minister of Great Britain. And it should go without saying I wouldn't want the dead one.

24.   WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO SPEAK TO WORLD LEADERS?
I don't believe a world leader would give a fig for what I have to say about anything. And frankly, most of them are second-rate politicians.  Make that third-rate… I'll save my breath to cool my porridge, as Jane Austen would say.


25.    WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?
To keep on doing what I'm doing. Writing, and then writing some more. And getting better at it, I hope.

26.      WHAT FIVE BOOKS WOULD YOU TAKE TO HEAVEN?
I'm not taking "War and Peace" or "Angela's Ashes" or "Death in Venice" to Heaven! For one thing, I don't believe in heaven and, for another, earthly books are not relevant to eternal life, albeit "War and Peace" took a small eternity to read. Even the movie seemed to go on for at least a century. I had to renew my driver's license when I got out of the theatre.  The notion of doing anything forever is totally depressing and quite meaningless.  Living forever is a contradiction in terms since living is a temporal process i.e., it has a beginning, a middle and an end, like a Greek tragedy. I would take a big book of quotations though. I love reading the wit and wisdom of the ages all packaged up and alphabetized, and hurled at you in non-stop fashion. It's a literary pellet gun.

27.    DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN ANY OF YOUR CHARACTERS?
Yes. Max is the ideal me, or so I fancy. His values, his attitude toward life, his wit, his willingness to go off the grid to help people…When I envisioned the series, I didn't think a female detective would have the freedom or the gravitas of a male lead.

28.    DOES THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY FRUSTRATE YOU?
I don't pay much attention to it. I think the digital revolution is changing publishing for the better in spite of the "tsunami of crap" that's out there. There's also lots of good writing out there. The five legacy publishing houses in New York publish 250,000 books a year on average. That's it. Thanks to digital, several million books now get published in a year. No more frustrated writers papering their walls with rejection slips, and starving on free restaurant soda crackers. There's no need for such torture anymore.
                    

29.    DID YOU EVER THINK OF QUITTING?
No. I'm damaged goods. I can't.

30.    WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE MANUSCRIPT TO WRITE? WHY?
The latest one is always my favorite. I push myself and the latest is always a bit harder, more complex, sleeker, smoother.  In the Max Knight series, "Murder on Merchant Street" is the latest and the plot is more complex and the characters more fully developed than in some of the earlier stories. It was really hard to do, and at times I thought it was going to get away from me.  But I pulled it together and I'm proud of it.

31.     HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE ‘SUCCESS’ AS A WRITER.
I think I'm a success already insofar as my stories are well-written, well-researched, fun to read, and never a cheat. But they're certainly not perfect. I want to improve and grow as a writer and increase my readership. That will do. It's a never-ending story.
32.   WHAT SHOULD READERS WALK AWAY FROM YOUR BOOKS KNOWING? HOW SHOULD THEY FEEL?
 They should feel like they just read a ripping good story. I would hope they might pocket a few facts here and there, have some solid values reinforced, and have some fun. I want them to approach one of my books knowing they are about to have a good time. People don't laugh enough these days. I think laughter has intrinsic value. Life is short. It's easy to get wrapped up in stuff that won't matter five hours from now, let alone five months or five years. Settling in with a good story and a cup of tea or a drink can lower the stress bar, especially if there's humor in it. It helps us to stop taking ourselves so seriously, after all nobody else does.


 

33.    HOW MUCH THOUGHT GOES INTO DESIGNING A BOOK COVER?
Book covers are very important. I work with an incredible artist named Laurie Longenecker who lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She's a genius with stock photos. I give her a rough idea of what I want and she manages to find the  photo that suggests the essence and mood of the story perfectly without giving too much away. Sometimes she doctors the photo or puts two together, then she adds the graphics. My covers don't cost much but they look great because of her taste and skill. If you've got a good book going, investing in a professional looking cover is never a waste. In fact, it's a necessity.


34.  WHAT’S YOUR ULTIMATE DREAM?
Maybe I've lived too much already, but I don't have ultimate dreams. The future is now for me. Every day's a new day and I make the most of it. I'm not waiting for anything, I don't hold back. I sleep on my best sheets, I wear my good jewelry. This is it. I just want more of it. More time with my children, more quiet time in my little study to write more stories.


35.       WRITING IS ONE THING. WHAT ABOUT MARKETING YOU, YOUR BOOKS AND YOUR BRAND? ANY THOUGHTS?
Marketing is the big stumbling block for me. I have certainly been disabused of the notion, "If you write it, they will come." I've tried to convince Jon Stewart that we went to school together but he's not buying it. Oprah doesn't return my calls either, and I do a pretty good Michelle Obama imitation. On a more constructive note, I have had colorful business-card-size cards made with a thumb-nail picture of my book on it, and a brief description of where to buy the book and how to contact me. I have a separate card for each book, and I hand them out to people and leave them on bulletin boards, and in bowls in private libraries, community centers, and so forth. 



When someone asks me about a book of mine it's nice to be able to give them something tangible so they remember the title and have a picture of it. People seem to like the cards and dutifully tuck them away in their pocket or purse. Whether they fling them into the trash the second they get home I can't say, but I like the transactional aspect of handing them the card so they don't forget who I am and what I wrote. Vista Print does a nice job on these for very little money. I keep a stock of them in my own handbag and scatter them in my wake like a literary Johnny Appleseed.

36.     ARE YOUR BOOKS SELF-PUBLISHED?
Yes, and I love it. My first collection, "Night Walker and Other Stories," was published for me by Wasteland Publishing in Kentucky. All the others I've done myself with Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing. They provide you with a step-by-step process that's slick and easy to use.


37.      DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN FIVE WORDS.
I am a view point.



38.     WHAT PISSES YOU OFF MOST?
Dishonesty


39.     WHAT IS THE TITLE OF THE LAST BOOK YOU READ? GOOD ONE?
"Watch Me," A memoir by Anjelica Huston. She's a gracious and generous woman who has led a very interesting life. I liked the book. When I'm writing, I'm too fatigued mentally to read anything heavy.


40.    WHAT WOULD BE THE VERY LAST SENTENCE YOU’D WRITE?
My epitaph: "I was here and I didn't figure anything out."

41.     WHAT WOULD MAKE YOU HAPPIER THAN YOU ARE NOW? CARE TO SHARE?
More success as a writer, in terms of growth, recognition and a wider readership. I want to see both of my children settled and happy. They are on their way.

42.    ANYTHING YOU’D LIKE TO ADD?
 You ask a lot of questions, Clancy! Thank you.


AMAZON BOOKS


Clancy's comment: Thank you, JT. Great to meet another self-published author. Humorous mysteries sound fascinating. The book you're working on also sounds fascinating. Keep going.

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9 July 2015 - TIPS FOR EMERGING AUTHORS

TIPS FOR EMERGING AUTHORS
G'day folks,
Today, I offer some top tips for emerging authors. Hope they help to inspire you.

“I have advice for people who want to write. I don’t care whether they’re 5 or 500. There are three things that are important: First, if you want to write, you need to keep an honest, unpublishable journal that nobody reads, nobody but you. Where you just put down what you think about life, what you think about things, what you think is fair and what you think is unfair. And second, you need to read. You can’t be a writer if you’re not a reader. It’s the great writers who teach us how to write. The third thing is to write. Just write a little bit every day. Even if it’s for only half an hour — write, write, write.” ― Madeleine L’Engle




“Let the writer take up surgery or bricklaying if he is interested in technique. There is no mechanical way to get the writing done, no shortcut. The young writer would be a fool to follow a theory. Teach yourself by your own mistakes; people learn only by error. The good artist believes that nobody is good enough to give him advice. He has supreme vanity. No matter how much he admires the old writer, he wants to beat him.” ― William Faulkner


“Read Becoming a Writer  by Dorothea Brande. Then do what it says, including the tasks you think are impossible. You will particularly hate the advice to write first thing in the morning, but if you can manage it, it might well be the best thing you ever do for yourself. This book is about becoming a writer from the inside out. Many later advice manuals derive from it. You don’t ­really need any others, though if you want to boost your confidence, “how to” books seldom do any harm. You can kick-start a whole book with some little writing exercise.” ― Hilary Mantel




“Start telling the stories that only you can tell, because there’ll always be better writers than you and there’ll always be smarter writers than you. There will always be people who are much better at doing this or doing that – but you are the only you.” ― Neil Gaiman


“Becoming a writer is about becoming conscious. When you’re conscious and writing from a place of insight and simplicity and real caring about the truth, you have the ability to throw the lights on for your reader. He or she will recognize his or her life and truth in what you say, in the pictures you have painted, and this decreases the terrible sense of isolation that we have all had too much of.” ― Anne Lamott




“I am always chilled and astonished by the would-be writers who ask me for advice and admit, quite blithely, that they “don’t have time to read.” This is like a guy starting up Mount Everest saying that he didn’t have time to buy any rope or pitons.” ― Stephen King


Clancy's comment: As I said, I hope these inspire you. My tips are simple: Just do it. Write it down and get it out of your head. Also, find something you are passionate about and write passionately about it.
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8 July 2015 - LEN RUTLEDGE - Guest Travel Writer

LEN RUTLEDGE
- Guest Travel Writer -
G'day folks,
Welcome to an interview conducted with my first travel writer. Len Rutledge is a very experienced writer and journalist, and this post could be ideal for any of you planning a trip.
Welcome, Len ...


1.    TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR WRITING JOURNEY.
 I started by writing the occasional newspaper piece when I was still at university. This became a full-time job some years later when I became editor and CEO of a newspaper that I started. Eventually I became travel editor of two other newspapers and started a tourist magazine. Since then I have written for newspapers and magazines on four continents, written over 30 travel books, and contributed to numerous web sites. I have worked with Viking Penguin, Berlitz, Pelican Publishing, the Rough Guide, the Nile Guide and others but now work independently as a freelance writer.
2.    WERE YOU A GOOD READER AS A KID?
No not particularly. I was more interested in sport than reading


3.    WHEN AND HOW DID YOU BECOME A TRAVEL WRITER? WHAT INSPIRED YOU?
When I started a newspaper I was reluctant to pay the journalists to write timeless copy that could be inserted to fill the inevitable holes that sometimes remained close to press time. As I had been travelling overseas for two years prior to this I had plenty of experiences to call on and I started writing travel pieces. These were popular when they were published and it just grew from there.
4.    WHAT PLACES HAVE YOU WRITTEN ABOUT?
I’ve been very fortunate to have visited more than 100 countries and I guess I have written about just about all of them at some time.
5.    WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A JOURNALIST?
I don’t regard myself as being a journalist these days although I still like to include current issues and actions in the stories where possible. As a writer I enjoy the opportunity to put my slant on a place and see readers respond to that.
6.    WHAT WERE YOU IN A PAST LIFE, BEFORE YOU BECAME A WRITER?
I studied engineering at university then later economics and regional planning. In later life I completed a PhD in tourism so that I could add further depth to my writing.


7.    WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST WRITING ACHIEVEMENT?
Being published at all is an achievement. Negotiating the rapid change in the industry from hot type to cold type, from longhand and shorthand to typewriters and computers, from literary agents to self publishing and so on without giving up is something that is often overlooked.
Certainly one of the memorable moments was to receive a letter (yes, it was that long ago) from an international publishing house that I had no previous contact with, asking if I would write a book for them. After recovering from the shock, I completed the manuscript and this lead to a further five books for the same publisher.
8.    DO YOU ENJOY WRITING / REPORTING FOR A MEDIA CORPORATION?
In the past I have enjoyed working in large organisations but these days I prefer to be a freelance and write for these bodies only when commissioned. The rest of the time I spend writing on where I choose and publishing in my own time.
9.    WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE TOPICS / PLACES TO COVER?
I love writing about places and the people who live there. I have never been to a place which has no charm but of course I have some favourites. Norway is probably my favourite place to visit but Ireland, Italy, USA and Thailand all tug the heart strings. Australia is home and nothing beats the clear blue skies and vast horizons of this amazing place.


10. WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST JOY IN WRITING?
Seeing or hearing something, writing about it, seeing the story published then receiving positive feedback from readers. That whole process is very enjoyable.
11. WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE AUTHOR AND WHY?
I’m not a great reader of fiction so my reading is mainly restricted to travel books and autobiographies. I have great admiration for both Paul Theroux and Colin Thubron and always enjoy their captivating phrases and great descriptive skills.
12. DO YOU WORK AS PART OF A TEAM, FREELANCE OR BOTH?
These days I work entirely freelance which I admit can sometimes be rather lonely but at least I am completely my own boss.
13. WHAT’S THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT YOU EVER RECEIVED FROM A READER?
I was doing a speaking and book signing tour of the USA and at the second event after completing my talk I asked for audience questions. A lady near the front row was the first to respond with the statement “I have read eight books on ..... in the past few months.” My heart sank as I certainly hadn’t read that much on the destination in question. Fortunately she went on to say, “and yours in the only one that recommends ... and ... which as far as I am concerned makes it the best guide on the market.”


14. WHAT WAS THE WORST COMMENT FROM A READER?
A reader emailed me regaling me because I hadn’t covered this and that which she regarded as the most important places in this country. “If you can’t cover these important places the rest of your book must be rubbish”, she said. It gave me some satisfaction to write back and point out that neither place she had mentioned was in the destination I was writing about but were in an adjacent country.
15. WRITERS ARE SOMETIMES INFLUENCED BY THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THEIR OWN LIVES. ARE YOU BY THE STORIES YOU COVER?
I probably would not be a travel writer if I had not been given a scholarship to go to the United Kingdom a few years after completing my university studies. This started my international travel and opened my eyes to the wider world. Since then I have never stopped watching, listening and learning from the places I visit and people I meet. I am sure this has made me a much more aware, curious and compassionate person and I hope this shows in my books and articles.
16. HAVE YOU WON ANY PRIZES OR AWARDS?
It is not too difficult to win some awards during a writing career that spans over 40 years.


17. WHAT DID THEY MEAN TO YOU?
Honours such as the PATA Award and the Hall of Fame Award were important because I had no idea they were coming. The awards were made by independent bodies and were judged on a body of published work. I am much less keen on awards where you are required to enter your choice of story (sometimes with a fee) as I see these mainly as an ego trip for those who will loudly proclaim their victory.
18. ANY OVERSEAS WORK? WHERE?
Travel writing has taken me around the world and for that I will be forever grateful. As well as short stays in many places I have been able to actually live in the United Kingdom, USA, Thailand, Philippines, Laos, Serbia, Mongolia, Cambodia, Bangladesh and Palau.
19. OTHER THAN WRITING, WHAT ELSE DO YOU LOVE?
One of my greatest pleasures is staying home with my wife, Pensri, enjoying a quiet life in our beachside house with its lovely view of palms, sand, sea and islands. We help a Coastcare group, do some charity work, garden, and enjoy wine and cheese while watching the sunset from a favourite rock.
Two adult sons and two delightful grand daughters are truly loved as is music, theatre, eating out with friends, and the occasional game of Australian Rules football.


20. WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS / ASPIRATIONS FOR THE FUTURE?
I currently have eight travel eBooks in the Experience Guide series. I would like to expand this to ten and improve them all so that they are increasingly recognised as a ‘first-choice’ series.  I am just in the process of publishing one of them in hard copy and hopefully others will follow.
Separately I would like to become involved with the books proposed by my wife. Some of these will be in a foreign language so that will add a further layer of complication and she is also investigating adding video to the mix.



21. WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
As I age I find people have become more important than places. It might be locals, fellow travellers or someone I will only know for a few minutes. Everyone has a story and many are inspirational. Whether I am meeting a poor villager or a head of state, the result can be the same: a story that can touch me and hopefully my future readers. I continue to be amazed by human endurance, perseverance, and adaptability and this inspires me to further develop my skills in these areas.
22. DO YOU TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS TOO?
I used to take all my own photographs and they have appeared in newspapers, magazines and books. I no longer do this as my wife, Pensri, has become a very competent photographer. This has proved to be a big boon to me as I can concentrate on talking to people and digging for information without having to capture images as well.
Her photographs now appear worldwide and she is planning her own books based around images. It is all very exciting for both of us.
23. WHAT WOULD BE THE LAST SENTENCE YOU’D WRITE?
I would hope it would be something happy because that is the feeling I would like to leave behind. Travel is one of life’s joys and travel writing should reflect that.


24. ANYTHING YOU’D LIKE TO ADD?
I’d like to thank you for the interview. It has been fun. I would also like to thanks those who read my articles and buy my books. Hopefully some of them will read this interview and know that they are truly appreciated. I am always delighted to hear from readers and make a point of responding to their contact.

Web site: www.LenRutledge.com  Google+ site: www.google.com/+LenRutledge  
His current Experience Guide eBook series consists of the following.
1. Norway 2015 - http//www.amazon.com/dp/B00W5BKZJ8
2. Ireland - http//www.amazon.com/dp/B00B4K5CHG
3.Thailand - http//www.amazon.com/dp/B0050643D4
4. Northern Italy - http//www.amazon.com/dp/B007WP9KJS
5. Istanbul - http//www.amazon.com/dp/B00IR1X5K6
6. Myanmar - http//www.amazon.com/dp/B00HPQHC5I
7. Singapore - http//www.amazon.com/dp/B00NBJD2XY
8. India's Golden Triangle - http//www.amazon.com/dp/B00T9KR1I6
These can be downloaded to your Kindle, tablet, smart phone or computer.


Clancy's comment: Thank you, Len. I could chat with you for hours about your trips to far away places. Well done.
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7 July 2015 - WEIRD STUFF

WEIRD STUFF
G'day folks,From time to time I like to spark up your day with some weird stuff. Yep, you guessed it. Today, is one of those days. Check out these pearls.






















































Clancy's comment: I did tell you they were weird. Loved the lil baby having a drink direct from the cow.

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6 July 2015 - COMING BOOK RELEASES!

COMING BOOKS
G'day folks,
Today, I thought I'd introduce you to my next three books. All are ready to go to the printer, and to Amazon and Smashwords as e-Books. I will introduce them when they are finally released, but today I'm attempting to whet your appetitite. Two of these are novellas, and all three cover different subjects.

A NOVELLA ABOUT DISABILITIES, LOYALTY AND COURAGE
THE BLURB FOR 'SHEEZA':


Danny Morandi lives in a large Australian country town and is bullied by a local farm boy, Kyle ‘Mad Dog’ Fletcher, because Danny has an artificial leg, wears glasses and wants a sheep dog. Danny’s best friend, Joey, defends him in a fight with the bully and they end up before the school principal.
     Inspired by videos he’s seen about English sheep dogs, Danny earns money by doing odd jobs, and his parents finally agree to him having a sheep dog after some rousing fights. He purchases a female pup born with a deformed hind leg and names her Sheeza. Danny trains her to compete in the Wanganui Sheep Dog Trials and finally enters the prestigious contest. It rains during his presentation, Danny falls over and the bully’s dog deliberately interrupts his trial, but Danny pushes on. Will he finish? Will he win?
     Sheeza is stolen and Danny is heart-broken. Months pass and he loses hope of finding his dog, but Joey remains positive. With the help of friends, Danny appears on talkback radio and later that night on a famous television show, ‘Tonight Live’. His search for Sheeza has caught the attention of the entire nation. People call the station and recall seeing his dog. Then, a dog matching Sheeza’s description is located outside a diner in Bundaberg, Northern Queensland. Is it Sheeza? Will Danny find his dog?
 Comment: This is a great story for any of you who have owned a special dog.


A STORY ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, FISHING AND RETURNED SOLDIERS
BLURB FOR 'MISTER RAINBOW':
 
 Maddie and Toby love fishing, and live in a small mill town where people are dying from ‘Mill Flu’.  Keen to catch the biggest rainbow trout ever, ‘Mister Rainbow’, they disobey orders, fish in the ‘Big Pool’ and find a recluse living in a shack in the bush. Maddie falls into the big pool and almost drowns, but is saved by the recluse. Maddie becomes ill, but Toby continues to fish and finds people pumping toxic waste into the Rainbow River. He contacts the Environment Protection Authority and the police, and investigations begin.


Toby learns that the old recluse is Colonel Bolt, a former soldier who was highly-decorated during the Vietnam War, and an amazing artist who sketches pictures of his war memories. The colonel collapses near his shack, Toby finds him and arranges his transport to hospital. Finding two war medals in his shack, Toby e-mails the army and tells them of the colonel’s plight. Will the army respond? 


Maddie and Toby enter one of Colonel Bolt’s sketches in an art competition, selling Mister Rainbow’s Magic Bait at a local market to earn the entry fee. Then, Toby goes missing. Desperate to find her fishing partner, Maddie calls Colonel Bolt for help. Will they find Toby alive? Will the colonel win a prize in the art competition, and will they catch Mister Rainbow? 
Comment: This story pays special attention to two kids who  appreciate where they live. The same kids also honour a Vietnam Veteran who has been shabbily treated by society.

A STORY ABOUT KIDNAPPING,  DEATH OF A PARENT, AND TEAMWORK
BLURB FOR 'KICK-ASS' TYLER:

Sam Tyler is a feisty 14 year-old girl who lives in a seaside town, and becomes rebellious after the death of her father. Her mother has remarried and Sam conflicts with her stepfather, Max. When a classmate, Zoran Cepnic, is abducted, Sam forms a committee to find him, and the entire school is fired-up to help. Her stepfather helps Sam and their relationship blossoms.


Sam does some investigations of her own, wags school to visit Zoran’s parents, and sneaks out at night and finds Zoran’s watch at a bus stop where he was abducted. Excited, Sam rings the police and forms a good friendship with the leading detective.
Sam is interviewed on national television by a famous broadcaster, Martha Benson. The same day, she is approached by a weird guy on the beach. The next evening, she is also abducted and ends up in an isolated farmhouse with Zoran. He’s alive! Sam and Zoran attempt to escape by removing floorboards, but are stopped by their abductor. Will they escape? How will the police find them?  
Comment: This is book one of a series. Books two and three have already been written: 'Life Sucks' & 'Streetwise'. They follow the life and times of a very gutsy, intelligent and courageous young girl - Sam Tyler.

  
Clancy's comment: There ya go, folks. Stay tuned. And, you guys thought I was just lounging in the sun, sipping on wine. These will be released over the next two months. All three are ideal gifts for your kids and grandkids. 'Kick-Ass' Tyler is highly recommended for young girls ... Especially girls lacking confidence.
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5 July 2015 - MAGICAL FEATHERS

MAGICAL FEATHERS
G'day folks,
Ever looked closely at feathers? Ever wondered what purpose they serve besides flight? Here is a top story about feathers.
After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park , forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage.  One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree.   Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick. When he gently struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings. 
The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise. She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies. 
Then the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small body, the mother had remained steadfast....because she had been willing to die, so those under the cover of her wings would live. Now, check out these masterful pieces of art.




























Clancy's comment: Wow, great story about the mother bird, eh? Also, what wonderful creative skills have painted these feathers.


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4 July 2015 - JOHN QUINLAN - Guest Model

JOHN QUINLAN
- Guest Model -
G'day folks,
Here is an interview with someone interesting. This is my first interview with a male model. Welcome, John ...


TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR MODELLING  JOURNEY.
I have been involved in athletics, professional wrestling, fitness & modeling over the years since the age of 19. I have been an image model for dozens of apparel brands, jewelry and supplement companies over the years along with appearing in television documentaries, commercials, art gallery print work and having my likeness used on children’s literature book covers. I have been a spokes model for supplements, companies and apparel brands as far away as Japan and Asia just to name a few. I am also a Physique competitor and a current Romance Novel Cover model as well. I was the most tattooed male romance cover model in the world 2013-2014.
•      WHEN AND HOW DID YOU BECOME A MODEL? WHAT AGE WERE YOU?
•       I began modeling for fitness brochures and advertisements in my late teens out of the local gyms near Boston, Massachusetts. I just moved on from there into other genres of modeling as time went on.
•      WHAT INSPIRED YOU?
•      Those who still believed in me & supported me at my worst 


•      WHAT TYPES OF MODELLING DO YOU DO?
•      All types
•      WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A FASHION MODEL?
•      The positive feedback I have recieved from so many people all over the globe. I am truly humbled when I get comments that compare me to guys like Beckham. Just so honored.
•      WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING A MODEL?
•      The discipline involved with my diet and exercise regimen, it's not for everyone. You have to love it and live it 100%

•      WHAT WERE YOU IN A PAST LIFE, BEFORE YOU BECAME A MODEL?
•      Just enjoying life playing sports and trying to get stronger with the weights for them. As time went on I began to see how supportive all the power lifters and bodybuildres around me were and I quit the sports I was involved with to be welcomed with open arms in their family.
•      WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?
•      To look back on my life and say I did some things I never dreamed I would ever do but because of hard work and never giving up I achieved the dream.  


WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT?
This past November I was selected for the 2nd time as a featured model in Duemila Magazine of Italy. I would like to personally thank Simone Soldera for believing in me as a model to represent the United States in such a prestigious publication. Being named the official spokesmodel for Sandra Shrewsbury's Addiction Series that campaigns nationwide for awareness against drug addiction is something I am very proud of as well. I was the 2013-2014 most tattooed romance cover model in the world. It was nice to have that title. Regardless of how many tattooed male romance models come along after me, I am proud to say I was the very first guy who broke the tattoo stereotype in the romance world. I paved the way for these guys to showcase their talent to the world where as before they might not have been able to. Looking forward a little bit into the future, 2015 will be a busy year for John Quinlan. I have several Physique competitions as well as a few projects lined up so we will see how they all play out. There is a fitness model reality TV show in the works which I really excited about along with a huge Boston based project set to begin in the spring which I am sworn to secrecy about from agents & lawyers due to copyrights and things of that nature at this time.
I have already been signed on as a featured cover model man of romance at the 2015 Romantic Times Convention in Dallas, TX as well as being invited to appear at several book signings. I have been signed by producer Jillian Bullock to play the character role of Sgt. Jason Garrett, a mixed martial arts instructor, in her 2015 film, 'A Sense of Purpose: Fighting for Our Lives' which is set to begin filming in Philadelphia this summer.

•      WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
•      The underdog, the guy who people never gave a chance to who, through hard work and determination, proved everyone wrong to do the impossible and be successful. 
•      DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR EMERGING MODELS?
•      Don't give up. You will get your fare share of negativity and rejections. Just keep following your heart and your dreams. It will happen for you if you never give up.
•      HOW BUSY IS YOUR LIFE AS A MODEL?
•      Busy is the norm for me. I go 24-7 at 7 days per week. People don't realize it is a constant full-time job because you never really have a break. You always have to be on top of your game as a shoot or guest appearance can be scheduled at anytime and you have to be prepared or the powers that be will simply find another model to replace you.
•      WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST JOY IN YOUR PROFESSION?
•      Meeting so many amazing people along this journey.
•      WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE MODEL AND WHY?
•      I admire Beckham as he did so much ith his life and is a great business man.


•      IS IT DIFFICULT TO BE A FASHION MODEL IN YOUR COUNTRY?
•       It is because there are so many trying to succeed at the same time. I just try and do the very best I can each day and remind myself if I do this success will keep knocking on my door
•      WHAT’S THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT YOU EVER RECEIVED?
"You belong in Hollywood"
•      WHAT WAS THE WORST COMMENT YOU EVER RECEIVED?
•       Can't say, it contained too many bad words. People are crazy, LOL!
HAVE YOU WON ANY PRIZES OR AWARDS?
 Coach Models International Model Agency of New York, 2010VIP Exclusive Fashion Models Company, 2011Mr. USA Next Man Model of The Year, 2011HUF Magazine January Male Fashion Model of The Month, 2011Toot Apparel Image Model, Brand Ambassador and Spokes Model to Japan & Asia via United States, 2011Diego Barberi Apparel Image Model & Brand Ambassador to Switzerland via United States, 2011Official Image Model of the Year for No Limits Brand Underwear, 2012Nutrabolics Supplement Company Image Model & Brand Ambassador, 2012Athletic Xtreme Supplement Company Image Model, Brand Ambassador & Sponsored Athlete, 2012-2013Official Alpha Male Underwear Image Model, 2013Romanticon Convention Romance Cover Model Billboard, 2013Duemila Magazine of Italy Featured Model, 2013Official Cover Model of designed Claudia McKinney via PhatPuppyArt, 2013-2014Most Tattooed Male Romance Cover Model in The World, 2013Most Tattooed Male Romance Cover Model in The World, 2014Duemila Magazine of Italy Featured Model, 2014Elizabeth Grady Company Spokes Model, 2014Sandra Shrewsbury Drug Awareness Campaign Spokes Model, 2014 Romantic Times Convention Featured Romance Cover Model, 2014Romantic Times Convention Featured Romance Cover Model, 20155x-Time NPC Men's Physique Champion

  
•      WHAT DID THEY MEAN TO YOU?
•      They symbolize consistency over time.
•      HAVE YOU WORKED OVERSEAS?
•      No, but I have been a featured model in Japan and Asia.

•      HOW COMPETITIVE IS MODELLING?
•      Very, it is a challenging profession. It can open up a lot of doors if you work hard enough and pay your dues.
•      OTHER THAN MODELLING, WHAT ELSE DO YOU LOVE?
•      Just enjoying life and my 3 young children. Being a good father is very important to me.
•      WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO ALL WORLD LEADERS IF YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY?
•       Let's end all the violence and come together in peace to make things work.
•      DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT DAY.
•      Sunny and 80 degrees getting ready for an all-day cookout with the good people in my life. Enjoying good food being surrounded by happiness, that's my perfect day which is like Heaven on Earth.
•      WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE? A BUCKET LIST?
•      I live for the day as things I have found out in the past that I plan for never happen the way I though. I just try and make every day a good one on the road to whatever success God has in store for me.


•      HAVE YOU MET SOME GREAT PEOPLE ALONG THE WAY?
•      So many and all so supportive of me. I am truly honoured & humbled by it.•       •      HOW DO YOU PROMOTE YOURSELF?
•      Like most I have social media
•      DO YOU MENTOR OTHERS?
•      Every day
ANYTHING YOU’D LIKE TO ADD?


 Here are some links to learn more about me:
Website:  http://www.johnjosephquinlan.com/


Blog: http://www.thejohnquinlanzone.com/

Image Gallery: http://www.flickr.com/photos/75617256@N05/sets

Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uv6OmjY9fqk





Clancy's comment: Thank you, John. Wow, sounds like a busy job. Good luck, and happy fourth of July!
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