Jess Steven Hughes's Blog, page 6
December 20, 2017
Book Signing Follow-up
Saturday, Dec. 16th, I experienced another book signing success at Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Spokane Valley, Washington. Met a lot of interesting people, passed out all my information packets and sold lots of books. Being so close to Christmas, the store was packed all day. I received many compliments on the book cover portraits painted by Katrina Brennan Art and Artist Tal Dibner.
I want to thank store manager, Leslie, assistant managers, Bryan and Kelsy, associate, Christy, and the rest of the associates who contributed this successful event. No more signings until next year. Will notify at the appropriate times.
I want to thank store manager, Leslie, assistant managers, Bryan and Kelsy, associate, Christy, and the rest of the associates who contributed this successful event. No more signings until next year. Will notify at the appropriate times.
Some Thoughts on Being a Writer
I originally posted this on Face Book, but I think it is also appropriate here.
I hope this doesn't bore you. Many of you know me on FB as a writer of historical novels. You may also know I am one who likes model railroading, Roman history, horses, weight lifting, etc.
For many years my first passion has been writing. I realize a lot of you have no interest in that or any other literary activities. I respect that, we all have different interests. But at age seventy-five, like my other activities, it gives me reason to live and keep going on, I'm not one to sit around doing nothing.
I have a confession to make. I am not a natural-born writer. Every page I write is a struggle of creation. Every page means re-writing and more re-writing. And I am not the most eloquent writer. I am slow; a plodder. It takes me a long time to produce a compelling (I hope), readable work. It is why I continue to attend the writers support group, Red Ink Fictioneers, for so many years. This group of established authors keeps me honest; learning about writing fiction.
Over the years I have observed many perspective writers who were endowed with far greater talent than mine, who gave up before completing what would have been great books. Why? Because they were quitters, they lacked self-discipline and persistence.
In the meantime, I kept plugging away, continuing to learn from my mistakes, despite one set-back and rejection after another.
I am grateful to have found a publisher, Sunbury Press www.sunburypress.com, a traditional small press, who believed in me, and gave me a chance to succeed. Even then, the editors assigned to my novels, made sure to get the best out of me. In each one of my four published novels, I did major rewrites of chapters, added new chapters and changed endings. The goal was not a good novel but a great novel.
Whether or not I have succeeded, I am not sure. However, I will continue to promote my novels (some of you FB friends find it boring) and will to continue to write. This is my passion, and this with the support of my wife, Liz, an my other interests keeps an old guy like me going.
I hope I haven't bored you too much. I know the writers out there will understand, if no one else does.
I hope this doesn't bore you. Many of you know me on FB as a writer of historical novels. You may also know I am one who likes model railroading, Roman history, horses, weight lifting, etc.
For many years my first passion has been writing. I realize a lot of you have no interest in that or any other literary activities. I respect that, we all have different interests. But at age seventy-five, like my other activities, it gives me reason to live and keep going on, I'm not one to sit around doing nothing.
I have a confession to make. I am not a natural-born writer. Every page I write is a struggle of creation. Every page means re-writing and more re-writing. And I am not the most eloquent writer. I am slow; a plodder. It takes me a long time to produce a compelling (I hope), readable work. It is why I continue to attend the writers support group, Red Ink Fictioneers, for so many years. This group of established authors keeps me honest; learning about writing fiction.
Over the years I have observed many perspective writers who were endowed with far greater talent than mine, who gave up before completing what would have been great books. Why? Because they were quitters, they lacked self-discipline and persistence.
In the meantime, I kept plugging away, continuing to learn from my mistakes, despite one set-back and rejection after another.
I am grateful to have found a publisher, Sunbury Press www.sunburypress.com, a traditional small press, who believed in me, and gave me a chance to succeed. Even then, the editors assigned to my novels, made sure to get the best out of me. In each one of my four published novels, I did major rewrites of chapters, added new chapters and changed endings. The goal was not a good novel but a great novel.
Whether or not I have succeeded, I am not sure. However, I will continue to promote my novels (some of you FB friends find it boring) and will to continue to write. This is my passion, and this with the support of my wife, Liz, an my other interests keeps an old guy like me going.
I hope I haven't bored you too much. I know the writers out there will understand, if no one else does.
December 5, 2017
Book Signing Follow-Up
Book signing follow-up, Sat. December 2nd, @ Barnes & Noble, Blossom Hill, 5353 Almaden Expressway, San Jose, California. This was another successful signing. Met lots of interesting people both locally and from the Pacific Rim. Passed out a lot of information packets and received many compliments on the book/art covers painted by Katrina Brennan Art and Artist Tal Dibner. And I signed many books.
Management was very complimentary of my efforts. Store Manager, Kate, said it was a pleasure to have me at the store and return anytime I want. Business Manager, Chelsea, said, "you always do so well at our store." Asst. Manager, Jonathan, said, "Nobody sells as many books at our store in one as you do." I will return to the store in either March or April for another encore when I am in San Jose visiting my son, Chris 'toadman' Hughes and his family.
I want to thank Store Manager, Kate, Business Manager, Chelsea, Assistant Manager, Jonathan, and the other associates to help make this another successful event.
Management was very complimentary of my efforts. Store Manager, Kate, said it was a pleasure to have me at the store and return anytime I want. Business Manager, Chelsea, said, "you always do so well at our store." Asst. Manager, Jonathan, said, "Nobody sells as many books at our store in one as you do." I will return to the store in either March or April for another encore when I am in San Jose visiting my son, Chris 'toadman' Hughes and his family.
I want to thank Store Manager, Kate, Business Manager, Chelsea, Assistant Manager, Jonathan, and the other associates to help make this another successful event.
November 13, 2017
Best-Sellers
My historical, THE SIGN OF THE EAGLE, was number three in sales for the month of October for Sunbury Press's (www.sunburypress.com) Milford House (imprinthttp://sunburypress.com/j-geoffrey-ba...) . My other historicals, The Wolf of Britannia, Part I and II, and the Broken Lance were also in the top ten as well.
Book Signing Follow-Up
Book signing follow-up, weekend success. This last Friday and Saturday, I conducted book signings at Yoke's Fresh Market, Liberty Lake, Washington (Friday) and Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Spokane Valley, WA (Saturday). I met a lot of very interesting people, handed out many flyers, receive many compliments on the artwork by Katrina Brennan Art and Artist Tal Dibner and signed many copies of my novels. I met another lovely English lady, who recently moved here from Oxford and now teaches at Eastern Washington University (just west of Spokane). Met a retired lieutenant from the Polish navy who was visiting the USA for the first time. Both of these people bought copies of my books (among others). I am also getting repeat customers, who had bought previous copies and returned to buy my latest novel, THE BROKEN LANCE.
I want to Yoke's store manager, Dan Dicicco, B&N store manager, Leslie, Asst. managers, Bryan & Kelsey and all the associates who contributed to these successful events.
Next signing: EntertainMART, Coeur d'alene, Idaho, Saturday, Nov. 18th.
I want to Yoke's store manager, Dan Dicicco, B&N store manager, Leslie, Asst. managers, Bryan & Kelsey and all the associates who contributed to these successful events.
Next signing: EntertainMART, Coeur d'alene, Idaho, Saturday, Nov. 18th.
Book Signing Follow-Up
I want to Yoke's store manager, Dan Dicicco, B&N store manager, Leslie, Asst. managers, Bryan & Kelsey and all the associates who contributed to these successful events.
Next signing: EntertainMART, Coeur d'alene, Idaho, Saturday, Nov. 18th.
October 29, 2017
Book Signing Follow-Up
Book signing follow-up @ B&N, Spokane, Washington, Oct. 28th. This was another successful event. I met a lot of interesting people from around the region and points east, including a lady from the Basque region of Spain (she now lives in Spokane Valley), who bought my set of four books, THE BROKEN LANCE and THE SIGN OF THE EAGLE trilogy, and gave out many information packets. The portrait pictures of my book covers painted by Katrina Brennan Art and artist Tal Dibner, received many compliments.
I want thank store manager, Leslie, assistant store managers, Kelsey and Meera, and all the associates who contributed to another successful event.
I will return for another event at this store, Saturday, November 11th.
I want thank store manager, Leslie, assistant store managers, Kelsey and Meera, and all the associates who contributed to another successful event.
I will return for another event at this store, Saturday, November 11th.
October 26, 2017
Book Signing Reminder
Book signing double-header. For those of you who live in the greater Spokane, Washington/North Idaho area, I will be signing copies of my latest historical novel, THE BROKEN LANCE, and copies from THE SIGN OF THE EAGLE trilogy at the following stores this weekend:
1. Liberty Lake Chevron, 1109 N. Liberty Lake Rd., Liberty Lake, WA, Friday, Oct. 27th, 11 am/5 pm.
2. Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 15310 E. Indiana Ave., Spokane Valley, WA, Saturday Oct. 28th, 11 am/5 pm. If you are unable to attend, you can order my books from Sunbury Press (Milford House imprint www.sunburypress.com), Amazon, bn.com or by ordering them at your local brick and mortar store. They are also available on Kindle.
1. Liberty Lake Chevron, 1109 N. Liberty Lake Rd., Liberty Lake, WA, Friday, Oct. 27th, 11 am/5 pm.
2. Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 15310 E. Indiana Ave., Spokane Valley, WA, Saturday Oct. 28th, 11 am/5 pm. If you are unable to attend, you can order my books from Sunbury Press (Milford House imprint www.sunburypress.com), Amazon, bn.com or by ordering them at your local brick and mortar store. They are also available on Kindle.
My Novels Under a New Imprint
My historical novels, THE BROKEN LANCE and those from THE SIGN OF THE EAGLE TRILOGY are now listed under Sunbury Press's (www.sunburypress.com) new Milford House imprint (https://www.facebook.com/Milford-Hous...).
Book Signing Success
Last Saturday, Oct. 21st, I conducted another successful book signing @ Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Northtown Mall, Spokane, Washington. I passed out a lot of flyers, received compliments of my book cover portraits painted by Katrina Brennan Art and Artist Tal Dibner and met a lot of interesting people. I signed copies of historicals, The Broken Lance and The Sign of the Eagle trilogy for people not only from Idaho and Montana, but people from Arizona, Ohio and even Northern Italy.
I want to thank store manager, Kelly, and assistant manager Owen, for their support in making this a successful signing.
I want to thank store manager, Kelly, and assistant manager Owen, for their support in making this a successful signing.
