F. Scott Andison's Blog
March 23, 2024
Cancel culture???
I have to take a couple of minutes to complain. Last month I ran a Goodreads Giveaway for Death of the Republic paying to give away 100 copies. 990 people requested the book. To date, of the 100 people who won, exactly 3 have taken the time to rate the book. Two gave it a 4 with no comments. The person who did take the time to leave a review gave it a 1.
Now 1 ratings have a significant impact on the overall score for a book, particularly when there are a limited number of ratings. Fair ball of course, as people have a right to their opinion.
The bothersome thing to me is that the person giving the 1 rating proudly states they only read the first few pages of the book. When they hit a racist slur coming from the mouth of a racist character they stopped reading, closed the book and gave it the lowest possible score they could.
To put this in context, the hero in the book is an FBI agent of very mixed ancestry (Japanese, Chinese, White and Black). The book is anything but racist but apparently having a “bad guy” character in the book being racist to my hero was a good enough reason to abandon the book 15 pages in. Reading history must be a real problem for this person. All sorts of bad, racist things happened. There are racists still. I guess we can’t have them as characters in books because they might say some racist things!
I really don’t know whether to laugh or cry. What is funny is that this person thinks it’s legitimate to put a rating on a book they admit they haven’t read. All because they hit a word that was offensive to them in the very first few pages of a 300 plus page novel.
Is this an example of “cancel culture” thinking? I’m not sure, but it appears very narrowminded to me.
There - complaining done. Enjoy the day!
Now 1 ratings have a significant impact on the overall score for a book, particularly when there are a limited number of ratings. Fair ball of course, as people have a right to their opinion.
The bothersome thing to me is that the person giving the 1 rating proudly states they only read the first few pages of the book. When they hit a racist slur coming from the mouth of a racist character they stopped reading, closed the book and gave it the lowest possible score they could.
To put this in context, the hero in the book is an FBI agent of very mixed ancestry (Japanese, Chinese, White and Black). The book is anything but racist but apparently having a “bad guy” character in the book being racist to my hero was a good enough reason to abandon the book 15 pages in. Reading history must be a real problem for this person. All sorts of bad, racist things happened. There are racists still. I guess we can’t have them as characters in books because they might say some racist things!
I really don’t know whether to laugh or cry. What is funny is that this person thinks it’s legitimate to put a rating on a book they admit they haven’t read. All because they hit a word that was offensive to them in the very first few pages of a 300 plus page novel.
Is this an example of “cancel culture” thinking? I’m not sure, but it appears very narrowminded to me.
There - complaining done. Enjoy the day!
February 4, 2024
Giveaway
Another giveaway for the second book I wrote, Death of the Republic. I hope the people who won a copy enjoy the book. It's a pretty wild tale. The first book in a series of four.
My tenth book is slowly progressing. And I do mean slowly. But the image of what I want to convey is emerging and becoming fuller. The people more real in my mind and that for me is the most important part.
My tenth book is slowly progressing. And I do mean slowly. But the image of what I want to convey is emerging and becoming fuller. The people more real in my mind and that for me is the most important part.
April 8, 2022
Geting ready
I've been writing a new book in my head over the past few months. I'm starting to understand the characters and where they want to go. Now I have to cut out the time to write it. I figure a thousand hours to write and a thousand hours to edit, or more or less what's considered a full-time work year.
I mean to write it in the first person, which will be a first for me. I'm reading a few books in the first person now to get the feel of the method.
Once I do finish the book, and I aim to because I kinda love the story, the real challenge will be marketing. Will I produce something I can really push as great? I hope so but only time will tell.
This'll be my tenth book. I've really had enough practice, haven't I???
I mean to write it in the first person, which will be a first for me. I'm reading a few books in the first person now to get the feel of the method.
Once I do finish the book, and I aim to because I kinda love the story, the real challenge will be marketing. Will I produce something I can really push as great? I hope so but only time will tell.
This'll be my tenth book. I've really had enough practice, haven't I???
January 4, 2021
Grateful
I'm grateful for the people who read my books and even more grateful to those who take the time to rate them or even make a comment. Thanks.
January 2, 2021
Just in case
My New Year's resolution is to post something regularly here just in case someone does read it!
2020 didn't just bring me and the world Covid, it also brought me a huge upheaval in my personal life that ground my writing to a standstill. I even wonder at this point if I really am a writer. I've given it a dozen years, albeit half-hearted at times, produced 9 books - 8 of which you can find on Amazon in both print and Kindle editions, and determined that I at least have the discipline to actually bring my conceptions to reality.
My books are eclectic to say the least. One four book series attempts to be a political thriller but really turns into a shaggy dog love story. In another three book series I attempt to chronicle the life of a female saint - but again the series turns into a very convoluted story about complex love relationships. My last book is a straight out romance, and time travel to boot! I started writing that one in university almost five decades ago.
Perhaps romance is the genre I should write within for my next book - if there is a next one. I've got a notebook full of ideas but can't get excited about bringing any of them to fruition. If you don't know, writing a book is hard, particularly when you have to proof and edit it yourself. Goodreads reader Valeta S. kindly helped improve my Lost & Found novel for which I am very grateful.
So, on the very slim chance someone reads this, drop me a line and let me know what story you'd like to read. Maybe I'll write it!
2020 didn't just bring me and the world Covid, it also brought me a huge upheaval in my personal life that ground my writing to a standstill. I even wonder at this point if I really am a writer. I've given it a dozen years, albeit half-hearted at times, produced 9 books - 8 of which you can find on Amazon in both print and Kindle editions, and determined that I at least have the discipline to actually bring my conceptions to reality.
My books are eclectic to say the least. One four book series attempts to be a political thriller but really turns into a shaggy dog love story. In another three book series I attempt to chronicle the life of a female saint - but again the series turns into a very convoluted story about complex love relationships. My last book is a straight out romance, and time travel to boot! I started writing that one in university almost five decades ago.
Perhaps romance is the genre I should write within for my next book - if there is a next one. I've got a notebook full of ideas but can't get excited about bringing any of them to fruition. If you don't know, writing a book is hard, particularly when you have to proof and edit it yourself. Goodreads reader Valeta S. kindly helped improve my Lost & Found novel for which I am very grateful.
So, on the very slim chance someone reads this, drop me a line and let me know what story you'd like to read. Maybe I'll write it!
December 31, 2020
Happy New Year
I wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year. 2020 has been a year fraught with challenges and setbacks for sure but perhaps has rid us our complacency. I hope 2021 brings forth a new sense of renewal and growth for each of us as individuals and for the world as a whole.
December 26, 2020
Recent Giveaways
Thanks to all the people who entered my Giveaways. Hope those of you who won will actually read the book! I think you'll enjoy it. Regardless, please leave a review or rating if you do. It helps to get feedback!
Happy Holidays to everyone, everywhere!
Best wishes for a better year in 2021!
Scott
Happy Holidays to everyone, everywhere!
Best wishes for a better year in 2021!
Scott
August 9, 2019
Up and running
Well just finished adding the last two books in the Meghan O'Byrne series! Ordered a couple of copies so I can do some final edits but I thought I'd release them into the wild now as I can do minor edits/revisions when I find them in my next read through (I'd like to think that I won't find any but I know they're bound to be some - I hope not too many!).
August 4, 2019
So close and yet so far
Just about to publish (well self publish more accurately) the final two books in my Meghan O'Byrne Chronicle trilogy. It feels good even though I realize some more editing/polishing would really help both books. When I decided to get the books out on a schedule I knew it would feel like this. They'll never be perfect, of course, but I would have preferred if they were 'perfecter'!
July 6, 2019
Ascension
Picked up the a proof copy of the third and final book in the Meghan O'Byrne Chronicle entilted - Ascension. Cover looks great and with a few minor adjustments will do nicely. Looking forward to reading it after I've finished the second book - Redemption.
Like the second book I've done away with chapters in Ascension as it's really hard to parse the story up in that fashion. I think I'll do the same for the next iteration of Fall From Grace because I'm not really happy with the way chapters work for that book.
I must admit it's very cool putting the three books side by side and seeing the three piece set together. Regardless of any external measures of success I'm proud to have written the story. Just a bit more work (80 - 100 hours of effort) and they'll be ready to publish.
Like the second book I've done away with chapters in Ascension as it's really hard to parse the story up in that fashion. I think I'll do the same for the next iteration of Fall From Grace because I'm not really happy with the way chapters work for that book.
I must admit it's very cool putting the three books side by side and seeing the three piece set together. Regardless of any external measures of success I'm proud to have written the story. Just a bit more work (80 - 100 hours of effort) and they'll be ready to publish.
