S.C. Mitchell's Blog, page 39

Slow and Steady…

I’m blogging today over at the Soul Mate Author blogsite. Stop by: http://smpauthors.wordpress.com/2013/09/29/slow-and-steady/

A new weapon in the war against the rampaging, mindless undead.

I have written before about my role in the crisis that looms just over the horizon. See my blog Gardening and the coming Zombie Apocalypse at: http://scmitchell.wordpress.com/2012/09/05/gardening-and-the-coming-zombie-apocalypse/

Well I’m proud to announce that my new weapon of choice in the war against the Zombies is . . . The Blue Lake Pole Bean!!!

Yup, this little beauty will help win the war, and preserve the planet for those of us who survive the rampaging zombie hoards.

Now maybe I’m centered on food growing because I have no skills with a gun, or (and this is my preferred theory) I could be part hobbit. When a crisis looms, I think of my belly first.

In any case, I was out picking this little beauty in my garden just this morning when it occurred to me, the Blue Lake Pole Bean is the perfect food to be growing to feed the masses of starving refugees, and preserve my own skin.

It’s versatile: It can be eaten raw, boiled to tender perfection, or even deep fried as a replacement for unhealthy French fries.

It’s easy to grow: Once you get the vines started, food just appears like magic.

It’s unlimited: Yes, truly, and this is the important point. You probably only need one plant. Go ahead, pick every bean on the vine and eat your fill. Still hungry? Go look again, there’s more. Where did they come from? I’m not sure, probably magic. All I know is that even when I’m sure I found every mature bean on the stalk, I just have to look again to find more. These things pop out faster than bunnies, and hide better than chameleons. There are always more beans to pick.

I’m sure the magical nature of the Blue Lake Pole Bean inspired the wondrous tale of Jack and the Beanstalk. Magic beans indeed, these things are a wonder.

So, to recap: In your Zombie survival kit (you do have one, don’t you?) make sure you add a package of Blue Lake Pole Bean seeds. Plant them as soon as you hear that first ‘strange’ news report of sections of the country suddenly going dark. Water and Nurture. These will be your most effective weapon when the mindless hoards come knocking at your door seeking brains.

Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Stockpile all the guns and ammunition you want, but when your house is surrounded by a sea of mindless undead, and your kitchen cupboards are bare, you’ll realize you can’t eat bullets. Meanwhile I’ll be across the street with my rooftop garden, sitting comfortably, doors locked, windows boarded up, and (as always) full of beans.

Until next time,

Steve

 

It never gets old.

I returned home last night from a wonderful week with friends at the Gen Con Gaming Convention to find a wonderful surprise:

I have received my first shipment of the paperback edition of Son of Thunder.

Even though the ‘book’ has been out since February, it didn’t seem completely real until the moment I held it in my hand.

That incredible feeling of holding your baby in your hand for the first time…that never gets old. Every book I’ve put out, I’ve waited with high anticipation for the paperback edition to arrive. This one took over 6 months, but it was well worth the wait. Now I will have it available for book signings, and can drop one off at my local library.

Okay, enough gloating, I have to get back to work on the next one.

 

Son of Thunder FREE giveaway

Yup, it’s FREE.

Get your FREE Kindle Copy here: http://www.amazon.com/Son-Thunder-Heavenly-Series-ebook/dp/B00BJ64GPY

Son of Thunder – Now in Paperback!

It’s here!

The paperback version of Son of Thunder is out and available here: http://www.amazon.com/Son-Thunder-S-C-Mitchell/dp/1619352818/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

I have some copies on order, and can’t wait to hold my baby in my hands.

 

Also, I hope to have some more big news this coming Thursday.

Stay tuned.

Steve

4 Stars for Son of Thunder

I just got some great news. Son of Thunder received a 4 star review from Night Owl Romance: http://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Reviews/Arianne-reviews-Son-Of-Thunder-by-S-C-Mitchell

 

Love and romance

I’m blogging today over on the Soul Mate Authors Group blog about love and romance. Stop by at: http://smpauthors.wordpress.com/2013/06/09/romance-vs-love/

New Templar Video

New video trailer for The Forsaken Templar:

The video was produced by my daughter, Veronica, and features the music of the amazing Brittney Mitchell (my niece).

You can view the video on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPX0RzpQB7Q&feature=youtu.be

I also posted an updated video trailer for There’s No Such Thing As Werewolves here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIYCHBjxGsw&feature=em-upload_owner

Enjoy!

WisRWA Write Touch Conference special

Well, I’ll be off tomorrow for the Wisconsin Romance Writers of America Write Touch Conference for a weekend of hobnobbing with my fellow writing wizards. You can find out all about it here: http://www.wisrwa.org/conference.html

I am so looking forward to it.

At last year’s conference I gave away a copy of There’s No Such Thing As Werewolves to everyone that attended. This year I’m giving away a copy of the sequel, The Forsaken Templar, to everyone that attends…and to everyone who can’t attend.

That’s right. Even if you can’t attend the conference you can get your free copy of The Forsaken Templar. I’ve put the Kindle version on sale today through Monday for $.00. Free! Go get yours now, before they run out. (Okay, they won’t run out. It’s an ebook.) You can get it here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0081S8LPO

Now, I have to go pack.

Until next time,

Steve

Getting off the hamster wheel and finding my bliss again.

I haven’t been blogging as much. (You might have noticed.) I haven’t been tweeting as much, or spending as much time on Facebook. In short, I haven’t been trying so hard to be a ‘professional author.’

Since the publication of Son of Thunder, I’ve been on a roller coaster ride of publicity, trying to do everything ‘right.’ Then about three weeks ago it hit me. I don’t have to be like other authors. I’m not hungry for fame or fortune (though I wouldn’t turn it down if it found me). I don’t need to be on this hamster wheel.

I’m in the unique situation of not having to make anything from my writing. It’s not the reason I started writing, but somewhere along the way I got caught up in the whole I-need-to-make-money-to-be-successful thing.

I used to write because it made me happy. Stories bubbled up inside me, begging to be put on paper (well, in the computer). I would lose myself for hours in other worlds, exploring characters and the crazy things they did. At some point I lost that bliss. I started regular writing sessions (where many times I would stare at a blank page for hours), scheduling what I was going to write (instead of letting the story draw me in), and avoiding writing by pretending social media was actually part of the writing process. In short, I turned my hobby into my job.

I’ve read a number of articles that state the best way to publicize your published work is by writing your next book. I think that’s a good piece of advice and that’s what I’m going to start doing, losing myself in my writing and finding that bliss again.

So I’ll be blogging less, tweeting less…being less ‘social.’ I was never very good at it anyway.

Oh, I’ll still post here occasionally, but only when I really have something to say, not because I have to maintain my ‘platform.’

So, thanks for stopping by, but I have to go. There are characters screaming in my head that I need to go socialize with.

Until next time,

Steve