R.W. Raymond's Blog
July 24, 2019
Saving the USA
Salvation USA
When I began thinking about my next book, a Science Fiction story about a man from the future who goes back into the past to help the citizens of the USA. I never dreamed that my fictional character would solve the problems that we citizens have with our government.
When voted into office, Politicians will not work together to solve any of the horrible problems plaguing the citizens and the country. This has been going on forever. Why the citizens put up with it is a mystery.
The Bill of rights tells us exactly what we ought to do.
'We hold these Truths to be self evident, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government.’
Unfortunately, the politians knew that one day the citizens would have enough of them, so they passed laws to try to prevent us from enacting the Bill of Rights. It’s all in Salvation USA and so many more horrible things that the politians have put into law. Please tell your family and friends and everyone and tell them to get the word out before the USA is no more.
I shall give away Salvation USA on GoodReads and on Amazon.
God help us if we do not try to save the country.
When I began thinking about my next book, a Science Fiction story about a man from the future who goes back into the past to help the citizens of the USA. I never dreamed that my fictional character would solve the problems that we citizens have with our government.
When voted into office, Politicians will not work together to solve any of the horrible problems plaguing the citizens and the country. This has been going on forever. Why the citizens put up with it is a mystery.
The Bill of rights tells us exactly what we ought to do.
'We hold these Truths to be self evident, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government.’
Unfortunately, the politians knew that one day the citizens would have enough of them, so they passed laws to try to prevent us from enacting the Bill of Rights. It’s all in Salvation USA and so many more horrible things that the politians have put into law. Please tell your family and friends and everyone and tell them to get the word out before the USA is no more.
I shall give away Salvation USA on GoodReads and on Amazon.
God help us if we do not try to save the country.
April 12, 2018
Free: Forest Club 4/12-16
The Forest Club has been recently edited. It is free Today 4/12 -16. Take a look land gives me a review. Thanks for the help.
Bob
Bob
February 25, 2018
The Far Empty
I found a good book to read at the public Library yesterday. The FAR EMPTY by J. Todd Scott. The opening sentence - My father has killed three men. Only six words! But enough to make me read more.
I like books that are different then most others out there. I guess I am a little prejudice. I can not help it. Those are the kind of books that I write.
My first published ebook, POISON FRUIT opens : Through my jail cell window I can see the galllows where tomorrow I shall hang.
Scott's book describes each character, but without over doing it.
Scott has one page chapters, several two and three page chapters.
Fast reading and interesting. I like that.
I have not finished the last few chapters so I do not know if he ends this book with a surprise ending, as I enjoy ending mine. I'll let you know. you can go to my author page and view my books or you can go my page. tiny.cc/59knmy
I like books that are different then most others out there. I guess I am a little prejudice. I can not help it. Those are the kind of books that I write.
My first published ebook, POISON FRUIT opens : Through my jail cell window I can see the galllows where tomorrow I shall hang.
Scott's book describes each character, but without over doing it.
Scott has one page chapters, several two and three page chapters.
Fast reading and interesting. I like that.
I have not finished the last few chapters so I do not know if he ends this book with a surprise ending, as I enjoy ending mine. I'll let you know. you can go to my author page and view my books or you can go my page. tiny.cc/59knmy
February 21, 2018
Poison Fruit
Feb 21 to Feb 27
My Historical Romance is now on a count down sale. Starting today at 99 cents-Save $4 today.
Great reviews. Many suprises.
My Historical Romance is now on a count down sale. Starting today at 99 cents-Save $4 today.
Great reviews. Many suprises.
July 4, 2017
Beginning
Biography
R.W. Raymond Author
While I was stationed at Fort Stewart Georgia for my last year before discharge, I picked up a book at the library. Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea. I loved that book and then and there, I decided I’d give writing a try.
I did not know how to type and so I went to night school on the base and I banged away until I learned the key board and I was only making typos every other word.
I found a junk shop in Savanna and I bought a very used Royal typewriter and I continued to bang away on it in the evenings.
When I was discharged from the army, thanks to the GI Bill I signed up for a course from Famous Writers School out of Connecticut and I graduated a year later. I thought that I was ready to write my first book. I came up with a story idea and I typed into the night.
My neighbor who was a typewriter repair man sold me a used electric IBM. It was a very large machine. I began typing. What a pleasure that machine was. When I removed the typewritten page it was full of typos. I got out my bottle of white-out and I typed over my mistakes. Next I reinserted the page, lining it up just so and I typed over the white-out and when I finished I removed the paper and I looked at it. It looked horrible.
Try as I did long into many nights I continued to make typo’s. I just could not send a manuscript that looked that bad to anyone and so finally, I had to quit typing. I wrote long hand. Then years later the computer came along. Thank God for the computer!
Many authors have never took a writing course, but you can bet they have studied countless books. Both Fiction and how to books. My best advice is to keep reading and studying and write everyday.
I have been getting up at three o’clock in the morning for more than ten years to write undisturbed. During some of those years I was going to work at seven-thirty in the morning to earn a living.
People often ask me how I get ideas for my stories. When I’m watching or listening to the news or when I’m researching or talking with my girl friend complaining or surprised at what I’ve heard, something clicks and I have another great idea for a novel.
A few words about writers block. I never have it. My muse starts running and I try to keep up. I’ve heard that if you suffer from writers block you should just start typing. I do not know if that works, but if I suffered from writers block, I’d give that a try.
Book covers. I use on line cover artists on Fiverr. Usually I give them a hint about what I think might make a good cover, but I let them do their thing and usually I like the book covers that they design for me and it does not cost me a fortune.
I self publish on Amazon and Smashwords and I plan to use some of the others in the future. Most traditional publishers want you to do all or most of the marketing anyway.
I have three books published and I shall publish ‘The Forest Club’ this month, Years ago I wrote eight novels and the Forest Club was one of them. I recently edited and I rewrote it on my computer.
I do not limit myself to a certain genre. I know that it is considered wise to work in just one genre, but when I get an idea that I want to explore I do not care what genre it is, as long as it satisfies me.
Of all the books I have written which book do I think is my best? Good question. I have a couple of Historical Fiction titles, ‘Poison Fruit’ and ‘Famine to Civil War’. I really like ‘Poison Fruit’ because it is really quiet different. It is a colorful story with many characters, love and tragedy, revenge and a wonderful surprise ending.
I have just started a new book yesterday and I am researching and coming up with ideas and logging them into my computer. I’m really excited about this new book. I believe that I am going to make it a series of three books.
If you’d like to check out some of my books you can find them on Amazon Books or Good Reads or FaceBook.
R.W. Raymond Author
While I was stationed at Fort Stewart Georgia for my last year before discharge, I picked up a book at the library. Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea. I loved that book and then and there, I decided I’d give writing a try.
I did not know how to type and so I went to night school on the base and I banged away until I learned the key board and I was only making typos every other word.
I found a junk shop in Savanna and I bought a very used Royal typewriter and I continued to bang away on it in the evenings.
When I was discharged from the army, thanks to the GI Bill I signed up for a course from Famous Writers School out of Connecticut and I graduated a year later. I thought that I was ready to write my first book. I came up with a story idea and I typed into the night.
My neighbor who was a typewriter repair man sold me a used electric IBM. It was a very large machine. I began typing. What a pleasure that machine was. When I removed the typewritten page it was full of typos. I got out my bottle of white-out and I typed over my mistakes. Next I reinserted the page, lining it up just so and I typed over the white-out and when I finished I removed the paper and I looked at it. It looked horrible.
Try as I did long into many nights I continued to make typo’s. I just could not send a manuscript that looked that bad to anyone and so finally, I had to quit typing. I wrote long hand. Then years later the computer came along. Thank God for the computer!
Many authors have never took a writing course, but you can bet they have studied countless books. Both Fiction and how to books. My best advice is to keep reading and studying and write everyday.
I have been getting up at three o’clock in the morning for more than ten years to write undisturbed. During some of those years I was going to work at seven-thirty in the morning to earn a living.
People often ask me how I get ideas for my stories. When I’m watching or listening to the news or when I’m researching or talking with my girl friend complaining or surprised at what I’ve heard, something clicks and I have another great idea for a novel.
A few words about writers block. I never have it. My muse starts running and I try to keep up. I’ve heard that if you suffer from writers block you should just start typing. I do not know if that works, but if I suffered from writers block, I’d give that a try.
Book covers. I use on line cover artists on Fiverr. Usually I give them a hint about what I think might make a good cover, but I let them do their thing and usually I like the book covers that they design for me and it does not cost me a fortune.
I self publish on Amazon and Smashwords and I plan to use some of the others in the future. Most traditional publishers want you to do all or most of the marketing anyway.
I have three books published and I shall publish ‘The Forest Club’ this month, Years ago I wrote eight novels and the Forest Club was one of them. I recently edited and I rewrote it on my computer.
I do not limit myself to a certain genre. I know that it is considered wise to work in just one genre, but when I get an idea that I want to explore I do not care what genre it is, as long as it satisfies me.
Of all the books I have written which book do I think is my best? Good question. I have a couple of Historical Fiction titles, ‘Poison Fruit’ and ‘Famine to Civil War’. I really like ‘Poison Fruit’ because it is really quiet different. It is a colorful story with many characters, love and tragedy, revenge and a wonderful surprise ending.
I have just started a new book yesterday and I am researching and coming up with ideas and logging them into my computer. I’m really excited about this new book. I believe that I am going to make it a series of three books.
If you’d like to check out some of my books you can find them on Amazon Books or Good Reads or FaceBook.
June 23, 2017
Suffering the Van Gogh Syndrome
The Van Gogh Syndrome, “Repetitive self-mutilation” is for me and perhaps it was for Vincent Van Gogh, ‘Getting famous after you are dead’.
Vincent sold only one painting while alive.
I’ve sold many more of my paintings then he did, but my paintings and I are not famous yet.
My books are what I am interested in right now.
I have authored and published two Historical Fiction books, ‘Poison Fruit and Famine to Civil War.’
Of the few reviews I’ve managed to get, all but one are five stars and one four stars, but how these reviewers found my books and raved over them I do not know.
I’ve tried Goodreads and Face book and Twitter and so many other sites and I’ve advertised and I giveaway books and still the results stink.
I have red hundreds of blogs of advice that tells me it takes time, lots of time to be discovered. The thing is, I do not have lots of time. At least I do not have lots of years left.
That is why I am, unless a miracle happens, destine to endure the Van Gogh Syndrome and hopefully become famous after I am dead.
Like Van Gogh some entrepreneurial type might one day discover my public domain books and publish them and have the money and the expertise to make readers find my books and then maybe looking down from Heaven or up from Hell I might smile.
Vincent sold only one painting while alive.
I’ve sold many more of my paintings then he did, but my paintings and I are not famous yet.
My books are what I am interested in right now.
I have authored and published two Historical Fiction books, ‘Poison Fruit and Famine to Civil War.’
Of the few reviews I’ve managed to get, all but one are five stars and one four stars, but how these reviewers found my books and raved over them I do not know.
I’ve tried Goodreads and Face book and Twitter and so many other sites and I’ve advertised and I giveaway books and still the results stink.
I have red hundreds of blogs of advice that tells me it takes time, lots of time to be discovered. The thing is, I do not have lots of time. At least I do not have lots of years left.
That is why I am, unless a miracle happens, destine to endure the Van Gogh Syndrome and hopefully become famous after I am dead.
Like Van Gogh some entrepreneurial type might one day discover my public domain books and publish them and have the money and the expertise to make readers find my books and then maybe looking down from Heaven or up from Hell I might smile.
May 4, 2017
Lost and Hopefully Found
I've got to get better using my computer. I really do. I've lost a book that wrote a while back. Well, I guess it is not lost. It's misplaced. Out there in the outer space of the computer world.
Any of you have that problem?
I'll keep searching and I'll let you know if find it.
Any of you have that problem?
I'll keep searching and I'll let you know if find it.
September 21, 2011
Great Review!
REVIEW Paranormal Romance
"Sad Tale of Love During the Time of Slavery"
Casey is a young mulatto slave who lives with his mom and the other slaves on a plantation. Casey's mom has always told him to stay away from white boys, but the plantation master's sons, Robert and Larry become Casey's childhood friends. As they get older, the differences in their lives become larger and they grow apart. A series of sad events leads to the horrific rape and murder of Casey's fiancee, Alicia, and Casey sets out to get revenge on her killers, Larry and Robert. Casey also recieves help planning his revenge from an unexpected source: Alicia.
This book was wonderful. The characters are very believable, you can even imagine these are real people and you are an observer watching their lives unfold instead of just reading a story about them. The story is told from Casey's viewpoint. I usually do not like novels that are told from the main character's viewpoint, there seems to be a lot of description and not enough dialogue or action. But the writing in this story is great and it keeps you very interested. There are some surprises and laughs along the way, and the author is able to turn a sad ending into a happy one which will leave you reaching for some tissue to wipe away your tears. This story will appeal to many people and I recommend it highly to everyone.
Reviewed by Felicia Wright
Posted September 17, 2011
"Sad Tale of Love During the Time of Slavery"
Casey is a young mulatto slave who lives with his mom and the other slaves on a plantation. Casey's mom has always told him to stay away from white boys, but the plantation master's sons, Robert and Larry become Casey's childhood friends. As they get older, the differences in their lives become larger and they grow apart. A series of sad events leads to the horrific rape and murder of Casey's fiancee, Alicia, and Casey sets out to get revenge on her killers, Larry and Robert. Casey also recieves help planning his revenge from an unexpected source: Alicia.
This book was wonderful. The characters are very believable, you can even imagine these are real people and you are an observer watching their lives unfold instead of just reading a story about them. The story is told from Casey's viewpoint. I usually do not like novels that are told from the main character's viewpoint, there seems to be a lot of description and not enough dialogue or action. But the writing in this story is great and it keeps you very interested. There are some surprises and laughs along the way, and the author is able to turn a sad ending into a happy one which will leave you reaching for some tissue to wipe away your tears. This story will appeal to many people and I recommend it highly to everyone.
Reviewed by Felicia Wright
Posted September 17, 2011
June 10, 2011
ON WRITING
ON WRITING
by
Robert W Raymond
Millions of books have been written; stories have been told and retold. So why are people still writing? Some seek fame and fortune. I write because, I am driven by my muse and I love to write. Why else would I get up at three o’clock every morning, seven days a week, to write, edit, and use my PC to research? I certainly would not work this hard for fame, or money, both of which are fragile, fleeting things.
I assume, you are either a reader, who enjoys reading about authors, or you are now writing, or you are thinking about it, and hope to gain something useful.
If you want to learn to write, there are teachers out there, in college, in correspondence courses, on the internet, and in hundreds of books.
When I finished my service in the army. I completed a correspondence course, with Famous Writers School, thanks to my generous Uncle Sam. I enjoyed the course. I have read many how to, books on writing. Were these helpful? Maybe, but I believe, you learn the craft by reading good books, and by working your tail off writing.
It’s a whole lot easier these days. When I began, I wrote on a secondhand IBM typewriter, laboriously pounding away. Finally, when I finished a page, and I read it, I found many typos’s and misspelled words, and left out commas. To fix these mistakes, out came the bottle of ‘White Out’. I painted away the errors, fed the typing paper back into the machine, being careful to line everything up, I retyped over the white painted out mistakes. When I removed the page, it looked awful, and so, I had to retype it again. Thank God, we have progressed to the computer and word-processor. You young writers, don’t know how blessed you are to be writing now.
When I’ve thought of something, I’d like to learn and write about, I do some research. I do not make an outline. I don’t know where the characters shall lead me, but I let them go. I write just as fast as I can. I don’t want the analytical part of my brain slowing me down to dissect every other word. There will be plenty of work for him, when I edit and rewrite my manuscript several times.
A few words about writers block. I don’t know what that is. Here is a trick I stumbled upon. When I am not sure about a character, a plot, or some other thing, I let it go. I go to bed and I sleep peacefully. Here’s the thing. Your subconscious mind never sleeps, and while I do, he's working his butt off solving the problem. When I wake in the morning, his work is done, and my problem of the day before is solved. Try it. Have faith. It works.
Read some of the old masters work. They have much to teach you. What did they do that made their stories so good? That is why you must read them, and copy their tricks of trade. If one day, a reviewer says that you write like Balzac, Faulkner, or Tom Wolfe, pat yourself on the back.
Write stories about what interests you and what you’d like to know about.
My book CASEY’S WORLD came about, from my historical research, for another book I wrote, on the life of the great Indian fighter and President, Andrew Jackson, which now sits in my, ‘someday rewrite’ file draw.
Casey’s World spent a few years in that same file. As did, the FOREST OF GOOD AND EVIL, and the O’BRIEN SAGA. These last two books shall be offered up this year.
God bless, and keep writing.
by
Robert W Raymond
Millions of books have been written; stories have been told and retold. So why are people still writing? Some seek fame and fortune. I write because, I am driven by my muse and I love to write. Why else would I get up at three o’clock every morning, seven days a week, to write, edit, and use my PC to research? I certainly would not work this hard for fame, or money, both of which are fragile, fleeting things.
I assume, you are either a reader, who enjoys reading about authors, or you are now writing, or you are thinking about it, and hope to gain something useful.
If you want to learn to write, there are teachers out there, in college, in correspondence courses, on the internet, and in hundreds of books.
When I finished my service in the army. I completed a correspondence course, with Famous Writers School, thanks to my generous Uncle Sam. I enjoyed the course. I have read many how to, books on writing. Were these helpful? Maybe, but I believe, you learn the craft by reading good books, and by working your tail off writing.
It’s a whole lot easier these days. When I began, I wrote on a secondhand IBM typewriter, laboriously pounding away. Finally, when I finished a page, and I read it, I found many typos’s and misspelled words, and left out commas. To fix these mistakes, out came the bottle of ‘White Out’. I painted away the errors, fed the typing paper back into the machine, being careful to line everything up, I retyped over the white painted out mistakes. When I removed the page, it looked awful, and so, I had to retype it again. Thank God, we have progressed to the computer and word-processor. You young writers, don’t know how blessed you are to be writing now.
When I’ve thought of something, I’d like to learn and write about, I do some research. I do not make an outline. I don’t know where the characters shall lead me, but I let them go. I write just as fast as I can. I don’t want the analytical part of my brain slowing me down to dissect every other word. There will be plenty of work for him, when I edit and rewrite my manuscript several times.
A few words about writers block. I don’t know what that is. Here is a trick I stumbled upon. When I am not sure about a character, a plot, or some other thing, I let it go. I go to bed and I sleep peacefully. Here’s the thing. Your subconscious mind never sleeps, and while I do, he's working his butt off solving the problem. When I wake in the morning, his work is done, and my problem of the day before is solved. Try it. Have faith. It works.
Read some of the old masters work. They have much to teach you. What did they do that made their stories so good? That is why you must read them, and copy their tricks of trade. If one day, a reviewer says that you write like Balzac, Faulkner, or Tom Wolfe, pat yourself on the back.
Write stories about what interests you and what you’d like to know about.
My book CASEY’S WORLD came about, from my historical research, for another book I wrote, on the life of the great Indian fighter and President, Andrew Jackson, which now sits in my, ‘someday rewrite’ file draw.
Casey’s World spent a few years in that same file. As did, the FOREST OF GOOD AND EVIL, and the O’BRIEN SAGA. These last two books shall be offered up this year.
God bless, and keep writing.
