Beem Weeks's Blog, page 9
August 26, 2013
Leap The Wild Water
What indie author Jenny Lloyd has accomplished with the publication of Leap The Wild Water is nothing short of gorgeous brilliance. With both delicate and harsh brush strokes, Ms. Lloyd paints a moving and beautiful portrait of lives trying to be lived against an early 19th century Welsh backdrop. This is a time when women were considered little more than the property of fathers or husbands, given lives that left them anchored to the family home, preparing meals, doing the wash, with no hope of escape—especially for those without financial means.
Young Megan Jones seeks to break those confining chains of familial servitude by marrying the man with whom she has long been in love. Megan has secrets, though; secrets that could bring shame and shunning upon the woman and her family should news get around.
With wonderful description, Jenny Lloyd builds a tale of love and loss, of pregnancy outside of marriage in an era where such events were viewed through judgmental eyes, of hope and redemption, and the chance of a better life. But this is also a bleak story at times, sharing in the hopeless struggles women of the era often engaged in, usually ending up on the losing side.
Even Morgan Jones, the brother of Megan, fights a daily battle just to keep the family farm from failing, possibly forcing the Jones’s into the streets.
This story is not a fast-pace ride; it is a steady rhythmic tale that captures the harsh living those who came before us were meant to endure. Leap The Wild Water is a fantastic example of solid storytelling, never once veering into that territory of the boring. This is well written and well researched, lending a taste of authenticity splashed across each and every page. I can and do recommend this novel to anybody who appreciates brilliant authors. Jenny Lloyd is certainly one of my new favorites.
Young Megan Jones seeks to break those confining chains of familial servitude by marrying the man with whom she has long been in love. Megan has secrets, though; secrets that could bring shame and shunning upon the woman and her family should news get around.
With wonderful description, Jenny Lloyd builds a tale of love and loss, of pregnancy outside of marriage in an era where such events were viewed through judgmental eyes, of hope and redemption, and the chance of a better life. But this is also a bleak story at times, sharing in the hopeless struggles women of the era often engaged in, usually ending up on the losing side.
Even Morgan Jones, the brother of Megan, fights a daily battle just to keep the family farm from failing, possibly forcing the Jones’s into the streets.
This story is not a fast-pace ride; it is a steady rhythmic tale that captures the harsh living those who came before us were meant to endure. Leap The Wild Water is a fantastic example of solid storytelling, never once veering into that territory of the boring. This is well written and well researched, lending a taste of authenticity splashed across each and every page. I can and do recommend this novel to anybody who appreciates brilliant authors. Jenny Lloyd is certainly one of my new favorites.
August 14, 2013
A Rock And Roll Review
The Dirt: Confessions Of The World's Most Notorious Rock Band by Tommy LeeMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Sex, drugs, and rock n' roll. Nobody did it bigger or better than the guys from Motley Crue. They certainly didn't invent debauchery--even the Romans can't lay claim to that notion--but the Crue did their part in taking it to levels not seen since the early days of the Mighty Led Zeppelin.
Each chapter of The Dirt is a narrative from one band member or another, in their own words, sharing their own recollections. Bassist Nikki Sixx gives us all an inside look at the life of a functioning junkie. Drummer Tommy Lee tells all about being married to Hollywood stars. Guitarist Mick Mars, well, let's just say he's filled with his own complex theories as to how things work. And then there's lead singer Vince Neil, sharing his pain over the death of his five-year-old daughter Skylar, a victim of cancer. Even managers, past and present, get a few words in. But it's the back stage exploits that really gives this book teeth. Groupies, drugs, groupies, booze-fueled-excess, groupies, fights, fired personel, and, lest we forget, groupies.
Those of us who remember reading Circus Magazine, Hit Parader Magazine, or Rolling Stone Magazine back in the 80's know all too well the crazy world that was Motley Crue. Most of the lurid tales in this book are simply rehashed stories from the aforementioned magazines. But to bring them all together, between two paperback covers, is system overload. It's surprising that all four original members are still alive to tell what they know.(Temporary drummer Randy Castillo died of cancer.)
The Dirt dishes on the excess of the 80's, the firing of lead singer Vince Neil--or maybe he quit, depending on which side you take--and the slow transition into the elder statesmen of rock n' roll they've become. This may not be your cup of filth--I don't recommend it for any reader under the age of eighteen--but it is entertaining, to say the least. I saw them in concert twice back in the day. You always got your money's worth at a Crue show. Same goes for this book. Long live Motley Crue.
View all my reviews
August 7, 2013
A Fine Profession Book Review
A Fine Profession by Sarah Michelle LynchMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Though it’s billed as chick-lit, A Fine Profession by Sarah Michelle Lynch is much more than that simple genre tag allows. What I discovered between these electronic pages is an involved story that’s engaging in ways as to draw the interests of both sexes. To label it as mere chick-lit or erotica serves only to lure a certain segment of readers while keeping others at bay.
This is the story of Lottie, a practitioner of all things sexual, hence the erotica label. But the story delves deeper into the human condition, examining the choices made by this one woman. Lottie is the one telling the story of her own sexual awakening, spilling her secrets to Heath, a private investigator sent to track down this mysterious Chambermaid. The sex scenes certainly call for an audience of 18 years of age and older; but don’t be turned away.
Lynch has crafted a well-written story filled with fleshed-out characters that are as real as any literary characters I’ve ever read. We learn of Lottie’s childhood battle with illness, of her struggles with early-adulthood responsibilities, and of the true love she seeks. But just who sent this private investigator to track down the Chambermaid? You’ll have to purchase your own copy to get answers. This is a book I feel safe in recommending. I don’t normally read erotica, but A Fine Profession offers so much more than simple sex.
View all my reviews
August 4, 2013
Everybody Has A Story
Merrien Josephine Cushman-Vail. It's not a name most people would easily recognize. She lived not too far from my hometown of Lansing, Michigan, USA. Merrien passed away on July 18, 2013 at the age of 100. That, in itself, ought to be somewhat newsworthy. To reach the century mark is quite an accomplishment. But Merrien's story went well beyond triple-digit birthdays.
In any good story there is that jumping-off point, that one big moment that sets the stage for what's to come. For Merrien Josephine Cushman, that big moment came a few weeks before her 14th birthday, way back in 1927. The young girl had achieved such good grades, she didn't need to attend class on a fateful May day. She offered to walk her 7-year-old brother, Ralph, to school that morning, the way she normally did. But the boy declined his big sister's gesture, not wanting the other kids to tease him.
Merrien had busied herself picking flowers when she heard the explosion that ended her little brother's life.
On May 18, 1927, a disgruntled 55-year-old school board treasurer, angry over his defeat in the spring 1926 election for township clerk, rained mayhem upon the tiny community of Bath, Michigan. Andrew Kehoe had spent the better part of a year quietly hiding dynamite and incendiary pyrotol in the basement of the Bath Consolidated School. A timing device ignited the horror that quiet May morning, killing 45 people, 38 of which were children, and injuring 58.
Merrien wondered afterward what would have happened had she gone to school that day with her little brother.
In today's world, such acts of inhumanity seem almost commonplace. Grief counselors are often on call to help children deal with the unimaginable. But way back in 1927, there existed no such occupation as grief counselor. Survivors like Merrien were left to deal with the wounds and scars on their own. But deal with it, Merrien did. She went on to enjoy a full and happy life, marrying Clare Vail and raising a family of five daughters and two sons.
"You just have to make up your mind to get through it, if you want to go on," she told her children whenever they'd experienced tough times. "There's no other choice."
Her obituary came first, mentioning the fact that she had survived this devastating horror that is well-known in my home state--even after 86 years. The newspaper article appeared a couple of weeks later, when somebody decided it merited mention.
Merrien truly was a survivor, having overcome tragedy and loss, to see her 100th birthday.
I read the obituaries every day, often looking to see if somebody I know has passed. And I read them all, too. Why? Because everybody has a story. You'll find some extraordinary lives lived in those few final words some family member or friend thought important enough to share with those who still read their local newspaper.
A hundred years is an awful long time to be present on planet Earth. The advances Merrien Josephine Cushman witnessed would make for amazing stories. But even 7-year-old Ralph had a story to tell. What was he doing just before his life ended? Who were his pals? Did he have a favorite teacher? It seems so unfair to read of one soul making it to a hundred while another soul, a baby, had yet to take those first steps parents are always so eager to record with home video. But nobody can say life is fair. We do the best with what we're given. Just as Merrien Josephine Cushman-Vail has done.
If you'd like to learn more about the Bath School tragedy, click here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bath_Sch...
In any good story there is that jumping-off point, that one big moment that sets the stage for what's to come. For Merrien Josephine Cushman, that big moment came a few weeks before her 14th birthday, way back in 1927. The young girl had achieved such good grades, she didn't need to attend class on a fateful May day. She offered to walk her 7-year-old brother, Ralph, to school that morning, the way she normally did. But the boy declined his big sister's gesture, not wanting the other kids to tease him.
Merrien had busied herself picking flowers when she heard the explosion that ended her little brother's life.
On May 18, 1927, a disgruntled 55-year-old school board treasurer, angry over his defeat in the spring 1926 election for township clerk, rained mayhem upon the tiny community of Bath, Michigan. Andrew Kehoe had spent the better part of a year quietly hiding dynamite and incendiary pyrotol in the basement of the Bath Consolidated School. A timing device ignited the horror that quiet May morning, killing 45 people, 38 of which were children, and injuring 58.
Merrien wondered afterward what would have happened had she gone to school that day with her little brother.
In today's world, such acts of inhumanity seem almost commonplace. Grief counselors are often on call to help children deal with the unimaginable. But way back in 1927, there existed no such occupation as grief counselor. Survivors like Merrien were left to deal with the wounds and scars on their own. But deal with it, Merrien did. She went on to enjoy a full and happy life, marrying Clare Vail and raising a family of five daughters and two sons.
"You just have to make up your mind to get through it, if you want to go on," she told her children whenever they'd experienced tough times. "There's no other choice."
Her obituary came first, mentioning the fact that she had survived this devastating horror that is well-known in my home state--even after 86 years. The newspaper article appeared a couple of weeks later, when somebody decided it merited mention.
Merrien truly was a survivor, having overcome tragedy and loss, to see her 100th birthday.
I read the obituaries every day, often looking to see if somebody I know has passed. And I read them all, too. Why? Because everybody has a story. You'll find some extraordinary lives lived in those few final words some family member or friend thought important enough to share with those who still read their local newspaper.
A hundred years is an awful long time to be present on planet Earth. The advances Merrien Josephine Cushman witnessed would make for amazing stories. But even 7-year-old Ralph had a story to tell. What was he doing just before his life ended? Who were his pals? Did he have a favorite teacher? It seems so unfair to read of one soul making it to a hundred while another soul, a baby, had yet to take those first steps parents are always so eager to record with home video. But nobody can say life is fair. We do the best with what we're given. Just as Merrien Josephine Cushman-Vail has done.
If you'd like to learn more about the Bath School tragedy, click here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bath_Sch...
August 1, 2013
FREE Ebook Giveaway
Novelist and Retired Attorney Offers Free E-book: Two Friends, Too Old. and Non-fiction Lifelong Pals Face One’s Mental Decline and Dangerous Violence While the Other Makes Tough Choices.
Robert Scott and Fresh Ink Group announce the unlimited free e-book downloads of his first novel, Two Friends, Too Old, through Amazon.com August 8-11, 2013. “Frank” is a 65-year-old enjoying his golden years until he finds old friend Clay savagely beating his own dog, the first symptom of a dangerous spiral into creeping dementia and unprovoked bursts of horrific violence. Frank’s wife, Lucille, adapts to aging with quiet grace, unaware of any threat Clay might pose to her family. Dirt-poor farmer Will strives for simple dignity in coping with his own wife’s terminal illness—until he crosses paths with Clay at his very worst. Pharmacist Matt knows risky psychotropic drugs might help Clay, but Frank figures Clay will resist, so he makes potentially tragic choices about what to do and how much to say.
The Two Friends characters are each conflicted by multiple motives, author Scott explains. “If one motive is good and the other is bad, is that character a good person or a bad person?” The story is grounded in friendship, even as it explores the darker edges of aging and growing dangerously selfish. It looks at how fate shapes our lives, and the consequences of lies, even told for the best of reasons.
“I was planning to write a light short story about two old friends spending a day with one granddaughter,” Scott explains, “but then the story turned dark, and I began to develop characters around that theme.” Indeed, Frank desperately wants to prevent what seems inevitable, but as sweet little Shelley gets caught in the middle, her grandfather’s options narrow and everybody runs out of time.
At 67, Robert Scott had to squeeze writing his first novel into an active outdoors lifestyle. Living in North Central Washington State, he spends much of his time adventurously, including skiing back-country and paddling rivers as far as Oregon, British Columbia, the Arctic, and even Cambodia. After a long law career immersed in telling “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth” plus writing law-review articles and non-fiction for an on-line magazine, he enjoyed “unshackling myself from facts to venture into the realm of fiction.”
Scott cites Theodore Dreiser’s novel An American Tragedy and the Mike Nichols film based on Edward Albee’s play Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? as inspiration for this taut tale of conflicting loyalties and the consequences of secrets as means to an uncertain end. He hopes the story resonates with people over 65, and those with family and friends approaching the years where issues of aging catch many by surprise.
Scott enjoys hearing from people about Two Friends, Too Old as well as their own experiences and stories, so he looks forward to more readers discovering this compelling novel through the free e-book giveaway. Contact him through his pages at http://www.freshinkgroup.com/authors/..., or through his Facebook and Twitter accounts. “If nobody likes what I wrote,” Scott quips, “maybe I’ll take up another profession like longhaul trucking.”
Free e-book editions are available only through Amazon.com August 8-11. Published by Fresh Ink Group, Two Friends, Too Old (ISBN: 978-1-936442-11-9) is also available now as a 128-page perfect-bound trade paper edition cover-priced at $9.70 through all major e-tailers and print distributors worldwide.
Fresh Ink Group is an imprint of The Fresh Ink Group, LLC, a multi-media publisher and collective of authors, artists, and content experts who work together to help enhance, produce, and promote each other’s best work. Fresh Ink Group offers myriad streams of author support and how-to guidance such as the GeezWriter.com writers’ community, plus newsletters and more. Contact Fresh Ink Group at (817) 488-1448, info(at)FreshInkGroup(dot)com, or P.O. Box 525, Roanoke, TX 76262.
Robert Scott and Fresh Ink Group announce the unlimited free e-book downloads of his first novel, Two Friends, Too Old, through Amazon.com August 8-11, 2013. “Frank” is a 65-year-old enjoying his golden years until he finds old friend Clay savagely beating his own dog, the first symptom of a dangerous spiral into creeping dementia and unprovoked bursts of horrific violence. Frank’s wife, Lucille, adapts to aging with quiet grace, unaware of any threat Clay might pose to her family. Dirt-poor farmer Will strives for simple dignity in coping with his own wife’s terminal illness—until he crosses paths with Clay at his very worst. Pharmacist Matt knows risky psychotropic drugs might help Clay, but Frank figures Clay will resist, so he makes potentially tragic choices about what to do and how much to say.
The Two Friends characters are each conflicted by multiple motives, author Scott explains. “If one motive is good and the other is bad, is that character a good person or a bad person?” The story is grounded in friendship, even as it explores the darker edges of aging and growing dangerously selfish. It looks at how fate shapes our lives, and the consequences of lies, even told for the best of reasons.
“I was planning to write a light short story about two old friends spending a day with one granddaughter,” Scott explains, “but then the story turned dark, and I began to develop characters around that theme.” Indeed, Frank desperately wants to prevent what seems inevitable, but as sweet little Shelley gets caught in the middle, her grandfather’s options narrow and everybody runs out of time.
At 67, Robert Scott had to squeeze writing his first novel into an active outdoors lifestyle. Living in North Central Washington State, he spends much of his time adventurously, including skiing back-country and paddling rivers as far as Oregon, British Columbia, the Arctic, and even Cambodia. After a long law career immersed in telling “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth” plus writing law-review articles and non-fiction for an on-line magazine, he enjoyed “unshackling myself from facts to venture into the realm of fiction.”
Scott cites Theodore Dreiser’s novel An American Tragedy and the Mike Nichols film based on Edward Albee’s play Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? as inspiration for this taut tale of conflicting loyalties and the consequences of secrets as means to an uncertain end. He hopes the story resonates with people over 65, and those with family and friends approaching the years where issues of aging catch many by surprise.
Scott enjoys hearing from people about Two Friends, Too Old as well as their own experiences and stories, so he looks forward to more readers discovering this compelling novel through the free e-book giveaway. Contact him through his pages at http://www.freshinkgroup.com/authors/..., or through his Facebook and Twitter accounts. “If nobody likes what I wrote,” Scott quips, “maybe I’ll take up another profession like longhaul trucking.”
Free e-book editions are available only through Amazon.com August 8-11. Published by Fresh Ink Group, Two Friends, Too Old (ISBN: 978-1-936442-11-9) is also available now as a 128-page perfect-bound trade paper edition cover-priced at $9.70 through all major e-tailers and print distributors worldwide.
Fresh Ink Group is an imprint of The Fresh Ink Group, LLC, a multi-media publisher and collective of authors, artists, and content experts who work together to help enhance, produce, and promote each other’s best work. Fresh Ink Group offers myriad streams of author support and how-to guidance such as the GeezWriter.com writers’ community, plus newsletters and more. Contact Fresh Ink Group at (817) 488-1448, info(at)FreshInkGroup(dot)com, or P.O. Box 525, Roanoke, TX 76262.
July 30, 2013
Is Your Work Ready For An Audience?
So you've finished your book or short story or latest blog post. You think it's ready for that audience you're slowly building. You submit the book to Smashwords, upload the short story on Koobug.com, or post your blog piece on your GoodReads page. All done, you think. But then, after a few days, you go back and re-read your work, or, worse yet, you receive notice from others who have been reading this hard-fought creation that there exists within the text an error or two. Maybe it's something as simple as a typo. We're all guilty of that from time to time. Perhaps it's a misspelled word. It could also be a more serious issue, a thing like, oh, I don't know, a sentence that really doesn't make much sense.
This sort of mistake happens often enough to warrant mention. Misplaced commas, missing commas, bad punctuation; these errors seem to find their way into published works sold all across the world through Amazon, Smashwords, or any of the myriad publishing outlets available to us authors.
Just how do these missteps make it into published works? Shouldn't they be cleaned up before they get to the intended audience? Of course they should. That's where editing and proofreading come into play.
Editors are there to clean up typos, poorly constructed sentences, missing or wrongly-added punctuation, and other errors an author might not fully comprehend. Proofreaders are those second and third sets of eyes needed to comb through the work as a reader, checking for errors, making sure the story flows without too many hiccups that drag an otherwise great piece into the dark and murky depths of mediocrity.
Most self-publishers pay the extra sum for these services. Others, filled with all the confidence of master wordsmiths, opt out of such frivolous wastes of money. And you can usually tell which is which by the finished product.
I'm not bashing; I'm just saying, is all. And that doesn't mean the story itself is awful, either. But try to hold on to readers who know those sentences are constructed poorly, or that there's a difference between which and witch, or the proper usage for words like your and you're, or there, their, and they're. Yes, there are plenty of published writers who lack comprehension in even these rudimentary rules of the craft. And we, as readers, become aware that certain writers lack this understanding because they chose to decline the editor option in the publishing package they purchased for the release their work to the world--warts and all.
I understand financial issues may prevent adding those extra expenditures. If that's the case, don't fret; you surely know people that love to read. Use these readers as your proofreaders. But be sure to pick those with a discerning eye for detail, a knowledge of proper English, and an understanding of punctuation. You wouldn't appoint Great Uncle Seamus to translate the Dead Sea Scrolls with his third grade education, would you? After all, the only things on the line are your work, your name, and your reputation.
And just for the record: there were a couple of typos that made it into my novel Jazz Baby. This happened despite a professional edit and a pair of proofreaders.
Here are a few indie novels that pretty much have it right:
Bridge Ices Before Road by Sienna Rose.
http://www.amazon.com/Bridge-Ices-Bef...
The Assassin Princess by Blake Rivers.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Assassin-Pr...
What Sara Saw by Stephen Geez.
http://www.amazon.com/What-Sara-Saw-e...
Papala Skies by Stephen Geez.
http://www.amazon.com/Papala-Skies-St...
Each of these books can be purchased on Amazon. I recommend all four.
This sort of mistake happens often enough to warrant mention. Misplaced commas, missing commas, bad punctuation; these errors seem to find their way into published works sold all across the world through Amazon, Smashwords, or any of the myriad publishing outlets available to us authors.
Just how do these missteps make it into published works? Shouldn't they be cleaned up before they get to the intended audience? Of course they should. That's where editing and proofreading come into play.
Editors are there to clean up typos, poorly constructed sentences, missing or wrongly-added punctuation, and other errors an author might not fully comprehend. Proofreaders are those second and third sets of eyes needed to comb through the work as a reader, checking for errors, making sure the story flows without too many hiccups that drag an otherwise great piece into the dark and murky depths of mediocrity.
Most self-publishers pay the extra sum for these services. Others, filled with all the confidence of master wordsmiths, opt out of such frivolous wastes of money. And you can usually tell which is which by the finished product.
I'm not bashing; I'm just saying, is all. And that doesn't mean the story itself is awful, either. But try to hold on to readers who know those sentences are constructed poorly, or that there's a difference between which and witch, or the proper usage for words like your and you're, or there, their, and they're. Yes, there are plenty of published writers who lack comprehension in even these rudimentary rules of the craft. And we, as readers, become aware that certain writers lack this understanding because they chose to decline the editor option in the publishing package they purchased for the release their work to the world--warts and all.
I understand financial issues may prevent adding those extra expenditures. If that's the case, don't fret; you surely know people that love to read. Use these readers as your proofreaders. But be sure to pick those with a discerning eye for detail, a knowledge of proper English, and an understanding of punctuation. You wouldn't appoint Great Uncle Seamus to translate the Dead Sea Scrolls with his third grade education, would you? After all, the only things on the line are your work, your name, and your reputation.
And just for the record: there were a couple of typos that made it into my novel Jazz Baby. This happened despite a professional edit and a pair of proofreaders.
Here are a few indie novels that pretty much have it right:
Bridge Ices Before Road by Sienna Rose.
http://www.amazon.com/Bridge-Ices-Bef...
The Assassin Princess by Blake Rivers.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Assassin-Pr...
What Sara Saw by Stephen Geez.
http://www.amazon.com/What-Sara-Saw-e...
Papala Skies by Stephen Geez.
http://www.amazon.com/Papala-Skies-St...
Each of these books can be purchased on Amazon. I recommend all four.
Me & Emma (A Book Review)
Me & Emma by Flock ElizabethMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Elizabeth Flock has written a heartbreaking tale of child abuse, human suffering, and the misery of severe poverty. Me & Emma is set against a disturbing North Carolina backdrop, and follows the lives of eight-year-old Carrie Parker, her young widowed mother, a drunken and abusive step-father, and six-year-old Emma Parker.
Flock tells the story through the eyes and narrative voice of Carrie, capturing the innocence of childhood mingled with the horror of those destructive forces that all too often visit the most vulnerable. It's six-year-old Emma who absorbs the abuse (physical and sexual) for older sister Carrie, acting as a buffer between the older girl and the monster that is their step-father. But things here aren't as they seem.
What Flock has done so well is lay a foundation on which she invites the reader to stand, then, when you're good and comfortable, she yanks that foundation right out from under you. It becomes one of those "No way!" moments that so often makes for amazing reads. This truly is a fantastic story, well written, and in need of a big-screen treatment. I highly recommend this to anybody who enjoys a seriously well-told story.
View all my reviews
July 23, 2013
A New Book Review
The Assassin Princess - A Legacy Novel by Blake RiversMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
If you’re into fantasy stories that recall the brilliance of C.S. Lewis, The Assassin Princess is your book. Author Blake Rivers has taken the familiar genre and sprinkled in his own unique spin, avoiding the usual clichés common to such stories. And where The Chronicles of Narnia were aimed toward a younger audience, Blake Rivers nudges his tale into a decidedly grown-up light.
The Assassin Princess opens with our protagonist Ami being yanked from her world and pulled into another. This other reality is still here on planet Earth, though it exists in another layer. She’s the lost princess of a place called Legacy, where she’s expected to reign as the rightful heir to the throne. But trouble ensues when Ami’s half-brother Adam enters the picture, looking to take the throne for himself. Ami, an artist, discovers she has all the powers one would expect of a mythical princess. This girl is not one with which to mess. As she travels through this alternate realm, she learns all about these amazing powers she possesses, putting them on display in a classic battle between good and evil.
Rivers has filled his novel with vivid images of talking unicorns, intricate plot lines, interesting characters, and fantastical scenes that would surely make C.S. Lewis himself jealous. This book is well written and highly entertaining from start to finish. And though I’m not one to normally read the fantasy genre, I can honestly say I enjoyed this novel. I highly recommend it to anybody who does feast on good fantasy stories.
View all my reviews
July 21, 2013
Selling Our Stuff!
It's a common theme among indie authors, this struggle of marketing our work to potential readers. It's a tough and clogged market, no doubt about it. But whoever said it would be easy? I think we all fantasize about being that one author who sells a million copies, capturing the attention of major publishing firms. That happens very rarely. So once the book is released, we adjust the fantasy, scaling it back to selling a hundred thousand copies. And after that first year passes, we adjust yet again, hoping to sell a few thousand, with hopes that word of mouth and reviews will add to those totals.
I've already written blogs on this subject. But I feel compelled to do so again. The worse thing a writer can do is to grow frustrated by lack of sales. Frustration just comes at us, though. It's often something we can't control. But what we can control is the destiny of our work. This little invention that I'm using to tell you these very words you're reading, this Dell laptop computer, has the potential to reach hundreds of millions around the world. You are where you're at, and I'm sitting here in Lansing, Michigan, USA, sharing my thoughts with you.
While my sales of Jazz Baby aren't up to the level of my fantasy, I do receive emails and reviews from readers all across the world. It's mind-blowing to receive a message from Tehran, Iran, or Wales, or Ireland, or South Africa, or Australia, or Florida here in the States, messages from people who have actually read the very words I spent years molding and shaping into a story.
But a handful doesn't equal those big sales numbers I imagined. So what to do? Hmm. How did those few people around the world come to hear about Jazz Baby, a historical fiction/coming-of-age novel by a relatively unknown indie author called Beem Weeks? The answer is: the internet. Now, if I can see the full width this little invention reaches, I need to figure out how best to exploit it.
There are thousands of possibilities available to us indie authors. Koobug.com is a growing site that really has gotten it right. They support and promote indie writers and their work. They aren't corporate-owned. They accept zero money from advertisers (though if they ever do, to pay the bills, that shouldn't be an issue). It truly is about authors.
Twitter reaches something like 500 million people across the world. Sell to a tenth of that and you're set for life. But who do you follow, and who follows you? That's a biggie. If I'm selling my book, do I follow other authors, those who are selling their work as well? Sure. It's always good to get a fellow author's perspective, maybe learn a few tricks. But that should never be your core following. In selling a product, the seller must seek out those who are interested buyers.
On Twitter, each account offers a profile letting potential followers know what interests this particular person. Find those who tell you that they are avid readers, they love books and stories, they're always looking for the next great novel. These wonderful people are out there. The author just has to do the leg work.
But Twitter isn't the only option. Blogging is vital to getting word out about your work. I don't have a Beem Weeks blog site. I don't need one--yet. I use two main sites where I post these little tirades or tantrums:Koobug.com and GoodReads.com. As I stated earlier, Koobug is growing by leaps and bounds, and they are doing it the right way. GoodReads reaches millions. But I also use other sites like writing.com, readwave.com, and authorsden.com to post my short stories and to sprinkle breadcrumbs leading readers to my hard work. My publisher even has a Beem Weeks page at freshinkgroup.com. Every little bit helps.
Then there are the reviews. Book reviews are often the catalyst in igniting a reader's interest in your work. Somebody who has read it already is recommending this novel to others. The internet is filled with bloggers willing to read and review your work. Sometimes you'll have to send the reviewer a copy or a PDF of the work, but that's a worthwhile exchange. It's up to you, the author, to hunt for these blog reviewers. Avoid those who offer to review your book for a fee. They aren't worth the money or the knowledge that you've paid somebody to say something nice about your story.
The hardest part in the whole publishing experience is the part where we are now expected to market our work to the world--with little or no experience. The fact is, through your computer, the world is at your fingertips. Blog, tweet, seek reviews, use facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, and any other site you can find. The greater your presence on the internet, the greater the chances some reader searching for a new book might give your work a try.
And writing short stories doesn't hurt, either. A short story is a sample platter of what the author is capable of creating. Write and post, let the world know what you can do. And whatever you do as an author, don't get frustrated. You might have to work hard for every copy you sell. If it's a good read, you'll likely have a repeat customer when your next book is ready.
Finally, I'll share a link to the mother-of-all-book-review sites. Click on this link, pull up the list of book reviewers, and get started. http://www.stepbystepselfpublishing.net/ You're likely to find many bloggers willing to review your book. But be patient; some have a pile of books to read and may take awhile to get to yours. Pay attention to what the blogger accepts or doesn't accept. In other words, don't send your steamy erotica to the little old lady looking to review good Christian stories.
Have fun with this. You are in a wonderful position to succeed at something you truly love.
I've already written blogs on this subject. But I feel compelled to do so again. The worse thing a writer can do is to grow frustrated by lack of sales. Frustration just comes at us, though. It's often something we can't control. But what we can control is the destiny of our work. This little invention that I'm using to tell you these very words you're reading, this Dell laptop computer, has the potential to reach hundreds of millions around the world. You are where you're at, and I'm sitting here in Lansing, Michigan, USA, sharing my thoughts with you.
While my sales of Jazz Baby aren't up to the level of my fantasy, I do receive emails and reviews from readers all across the world. It's mind-blowing to receive a message from Tehran, Iran, or Wales, or Ireland, or South Africa, or Australia, or Florida here in the States, messages from people who have actually read the very words I spent years molding and shaping into a story.
But a handful doesn't equal those big sales numbers I imagined. So what to do? Hmm. How did those few people around the world come to hear about Jazz Baby, a historical fiction/coming-of-age novel by a relatively unknown indie author called Beem Weeks? The answer is: the internet. Now, if I can see the full width this little invention reaches, I need to figure out how best to exploit it.
There are thousands of possibilities available to us indie authors. Koobug.com is a growing site that really has gotten it right. They support and promote indie writers and their work. They aren't corporate-owned. They accept zero money from advertisers (though if they ever do, to pay the bills, that shouldn't be an issue). It truly is about authors.
Twitter reaches something like 500 million people across the world. Sell to a tenth of that and you're set for life. But who do you follow, and who follows you? That's a biggie. If I'm selling my book, do I follow other authors, those who are selling their work as well? Sure. It's always good to get a fellow author's perspective, maybe learn a few tricks. But that should never be your core following. In selling a product, the seller must seek out those who are interested buyers.
On Twitter, each account offers a profile letting potential followers know what interests this particular person. Find those who tell you that they are avid readers, they love books and stories, they're always looking for the next great novel. These wonderful people are out there. The author just has to do the leg work.
But Twitter isn't the only option. Blogging is vital to getting word out about your work. I don't have a Beem Weeks blog site. I don't need one--yet. I use two main sites where I post these little tirades or tantrums:Koobug.com and GoodReads.com. As I stated earlier, Koobug is growing by leaps and bounds, and they are doing it the right way. GoodReads reaches millions. But I also use other sites like writing.com, readwave.com, and authorsden.com to post my short stories and to sprinkle breadcrumbs leading readers to my hard work. My publisher even has a Beem Weeks page at freshinkgroup.com. Every little bit helps.
Then there are the reviews. Book reviews are often the catalyst in igniting a reader's interest in your work. Somebody who has read it already is recommending this novel to others. The internet is filled with bloggers willing to read and review your work. Sometimes you'll have to send the reviewer a copy or a PDF of the work, but that's a worthwhile exchange. It's up to you, the author, to hunt for these blog reviewers. Avoid those who offer to review your book for a fee. They aren't worth the money or the knowledge that you've paid somebody to say something nice about your story.
The hardest part in the whole publishing experience is the part where we are now expected to market our work to the world--with little or no experience. The fact is, through your computer, the world is at your fingertips. Blog, tweet, seek reviews, use facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, and any other site you can find. The greater your presence on the internet, the greater the chances some reader searching for a new book might give your work a try.
And writing short stories doesn't hurt, either. A short story is a sample platter of what the author is capable of creating. Write and post, let the world know what you can do. And whatever you do as an author, don't get frustrated. You might have to work hard for every copy you sell. If it's a good read, you'll likely have a repeat customer when your next book is ready.
Finally, I'll share a link to the mother-of-all-book-review sites. Click on this link, pull up the list of book reviewers, and get started. http://www.stepbystepselfpublishing.net/ You're likely to find many bloggers willing to review your book. But be patient; some have a pile of books to read and may take awhile to get to yours. Pay attention to what the blogger accepts or doesn't accept. In other words, don't send your steamy erotica to the little old lady looking to review good Christian stories.
Have fun with this. You are in a wonderful position to succeed at something you truly love.
July 19, 2013
Funny Stuff
What do you use your blog for? Me? I use mine for whatever crosses my mind. Sometimes I blog writing pointers, other times it might be a reflection on past experiences. A blog doesn't have to follow a formula to be interesting, educational, funny, or all of the above. I discovered this blog on Twitter. Big B is the author. He uses humor to draw in readers. I got a serious bunch of laughs from reading this blog post. Have a read for yourself and see what I mean. He's an indie guy, so remember to always SUPPORT INDIE!
http://bigbsblog.com/2013/05/25/days-...
http://bigbsblog.com/2013/05/25/days-...
