Edward Lorn's Blog, page 81

You Might Need to Read This. Maybe.

Sometimes the words come and it’s easy. Sometimes the words come and it’s hard. But all it takes is one smile, one tear, one nod of the head, to make everything worth it. You might stumble, and you might fall, but these things pass. You might run up the side of a mountain��that seems never ending, but that’s okay too. Because someone else has been there. Someone else has stepped in that line and waited. Someone else has wondered what’s the point. Someone else has poured their heart and soul into the nothing with��the hopes of creating something only to realize that not everyone is going to appreciate that something. And you know what? That’s okay, too. Because not everyone needs to understand. Not everyone needs to realize that this meant the world to you. Sometimes all it takes is one. One nod. One smile. One tear. And that makes everything worth it.

Be that one to someone and stop worrying about the rest.

Love,

E.

Ferguson Part Two: Your argument is broken

Now Facebook is alive with the idiocy that is “You didn’t see white people riot when OJ was acquitted.” You’re right, they didn’t. Because white people only riot for bullshit reasons, like their sports team losing.

I provide you with Exhibit A. I shall call this one, “White People Don’t Riot.”

And leave you with my favorite piece of evidence, Exhibit B, entitled, “White People Don’t Loot.”

That guy in the polo shirt looks like a tried and true thug, does he not?

I’m done. Your argument is either racist or idiotic. Quite a few of my “friends” showed their true colors today, or should I say that they showed they don’t like colors if they’re darker than peach. It’s depressing the fuck out of me. I wish I could hug the dumb out of some of you. I’m going to go read, because the real world sucks ass.

Ferguson

Okay, I’m going to say my piece. The same people I also see posting about “freedom” and “justice” and “patriotism” are the same people bitching and joking about Ferguson. You scream and rant and holler about your rights to bear arms so that you can fight an unjust government uprising, should that uprising ever occur. Then you sit on your high horse and judge a group of people who are doing EXACTLY what you would do in this situation. They are fighting a corrupt system. Yes, during this time there will be shits that take advantage of the violence, there will be looters, and these fuckers will get the majority of the press, but there are also those who are protesting for change, peacefully. And trust me, White America, if this happened to a Good ol’ Boy from Alabama or Mississipi, white folks would be in the streets with their legal guns, ready to shoot the first fucker that crossed their path. And yes, there would also be rednecks and hillbillies looting and burning shit to the ground. I grew up in California. I was there for the L.A. riots, and I watched neighborhood stores fall to flames and people being beaten in the streets. You have no idea what it’s like until you’ve been there. You people joking are heinous fucking human beings. You people bitching would do the same thing if your kid was shot in the street and then written off.

Public Service Announcement for Aspiring Authors

Stay away from Author Solutions. Everything they offer can be found freelance at a quarter of the price, and these freelance editors and graphic artists will give more of a fuck than Author Solutions. Just because AS is a part of Penguin Publishing Group, do not be fooled into thinking you will be getting the Big Six (Five) treatment. They only want your money.

This is vanity publishing, nothing more. They are charging outrageous fees for services you can find anywhere. If you need help finding editing or cover design, ask me. I know some of the best in the business, and I won’t charge you a finder’s fee.

E.

Ruminating On: Faith in Humanity

Sit with me for a minute. Let me tell you a story. What I’m about to tell you happened to me about an hour ago. Dig it:

First, a little back story. My doctor, the lovely lady that attempts to keep me pain free month in and month out, is in different city than the one I reside in. In fact, she’s over a hundred and fifty miles away. The last time I saw Doctor Amy was a month ago. During this appointment she wrote me one prescription, and then another prescription for the same medicine with the caveat that I could not fill the second one until after the 16th of November. This is because the laws have recently changed and she is no longer allowed to write refills for Class 2 narcotics. Knowing I cannot make the trip down to see her every month, she did this out of consideration for my condition. My back does not take long car rides well, and it takes a week for me to recuperate after riding down for my appointments. I know you’re asking yourself, “Well, why doesn’t E get someone local?” and the answer is this: drug abusers. People who abuse the type of medicine I need to function throughout the day. I don’t hate these people. In fact, I used to be one (I guess in a way I will always be one), but things have gotten out of control.

Fast forward to yesterday afternoon. I attempted to fill that prescription Doctor Amy so kindly wrote me. Unfortunately, she wrote in the note section that it should be filled after the 16th and not on. Being that I only get a thirty day supply and there was 31 days last month, that means I’ve been out of my pain pills since the 15th. Not cool, but I can deal. Been through worse, and I know relief is coming. The pharmacist told me to come back after midnight. I thanked her and went home.

Now to the present. I rode down to Walgreens and went inside.I handed the overnight pharmacist my prescription. She glances at the location and automatically says, “This isn’t from our geographic location. I won’t be able to fill this.” I explained my situation to her, but she remained firm. She went on to explain to me all the new rules and regulations that kept her from making an exception for me.

I am not so proud a man that I will lie about crying. I’ve been in a great deal of pain the past two days (some of you that follow me on Facebook will know I went to the ER Friday night because the pain had become too great) and emotionally stressed out. I have four projects currently in the works, and one deadline approaching that I absolutely cannot miss. Home life is great as always, and my family is constantly supportive, but I took on far too much. So yes, I began to cry.

And then something changed. This once stoic pharmacist’s posture softened, and a crooked little grin lifted one side of her mouth. She’d laid my script on the counter in front of me, but now she picked it up, and, without another word, moved to the computer and started typing. My blubbering butt was stunned stupid. I know I looked odd standing there gawking at this woman who had just suddenly decided to do a stranger a solid. She filled my prescription, said that she hoped I got to feeling better, and wished me a goodnight. I thanked her and left.

She didn’t have to do that. And though I devolved into tears, I understood her position. The law’s the law, right? I wasn’t going to ask her to risk her livelihood. Shoot, I can’t even call their hotline to commend her because I’d wind up getting her in trouble if I went into detail. She risked her job and license to help a guy she didn’t know from Adam and restored a bit of that man’s faith in humanity.

With all the terrible tales that cycle through the internet on a daily basis, I thought that, for once, you guys would like to hear a pleasant story concerning a good deed.

Maybe we’re not so bad after all. Well, not all of us, anyway.

E.

Pennies for the Damned Cover Reveal!

Pennies for the Damned is coming. This is the sequel to the controversial Hope for the Wicked, and is due out Winter 2015 from Red Adept Publishing. Click HERE or on the cover to find out more.

FOG WARNING Now Available!

The wait is over.

Click on the pic to get your copy today.

Please share, if you’re so inclined. 

Thank you for your support, and I hope you enjoy. 

FOG WARNING Now Available for Pre-Order on Amazon!

I figured I’d try this pre-order doohickey on Amazon and see how it goes. If you’re one of those who are fond of that pre-order button, go clickety-click that bad boy. Share away, you know, if the mood strikes you. Pro-shate it!

Fog Warning Pre-Order!

Ruminating On: The Stigma of Inactivity

I’m an author, so, of course, one of my favorite things to hear is, “Why are you so tired? All you’ve been doing is sitting at a computer all day.” Luckily, my wife doesn’t do this, and neither do my kids, but there are quite a few people out there that actually consider “thinking” to be a lazy man’s profession. Are the keyboard pounders of the world usually out of shape? Yes. Does that mean we’re not active? Ah, now there’s something worth discussing.

Anyone who’s spent any significant amount of time in front of a computer will tell you that it can be exhausting. And no, not just those that frequent porn sites. Aside from Sylvester Strong-Arm, there are plenty of us who pay our bills by working a mouse and keyboard. Whether we be writers, programmers, technicians, or the flotsam that instigate the Saudi Prince emails, we do no less work than the average hole digger. Sure, our pecks and calves aren’t quite as impressive as Johnny Jackhammer, but our brains are flex worthy. Check out this +1 cranium, yo!

But I want to get down to the nitty gritty here. No one ever complains that scientists and lab rats should get off their asses and do something. No one accuses big-name authors of being lazy. But let the person in question be a struggling sort, someone who has yet to make it big, and all you hear is, “Why don’t you spend some time away from the computer? You know, get a life?” What this tells me is that the levels of our bank accounts closely mirror the level of our activity. Meaning, as long as you’re paying the bills, you’re working hard. If you’re attempting to pay the bills, not so much. This even overflows into the “real world”. Think about it. The fast food worker that makes minimum wage (and some of these people are college graduates who can’t find a job elsewhere, so keep your fucking assumptions to yourself) is constantly told they need to find a real job.  There are even memes floating around that say the guy who flips your burgers and cooks your fries doesn’t deserve fifteen bucks an hour. How so? What makes his job easier than, let’s say, a software technician?  On the flip side, what makes the software technician’s job worth more? But still… STILL! … we devalue those that do not succeed. It’s a double standard across the board, and the only set measurement has to do with money and/or success. But the simple fact of the matter is this: The people who work the hardest are usually paid the least. And this is because struggle is not valued. Accomplishment is. And activity is a state of mind.

Am I wrong? Am I right? Am I confusing or simply full of shit? Talk about it in the comments below.

I’ve been E. You’ve been you. Talk at you later!

(Author’s Note: If you found an error in today’s post, a typo or what have you, calm down. These things happen. Take a deep breath, have a coke and a smile, and maybe take up a career as an air traffic controller. This blog is not professionally edited. It’s a conversation, and I plan to keep it that way. Now, the books I sell, that’s a different story. Have a lovely day.)

Bay’s End (Signed Limited Edition Hardcover) is officially coming!

It only took 19 hours for you good people to fund the hardcover edition of Bay’s End. Many thanks to everyone who ordered a copy. As soon as the artist finishes work on the cover, I will do an official reveal.

There are still copies available. Get yours today!  

This is happening, and it’s all because of you. Love yo faces!

E.