F. Scott Andison's Blog, page 3
March 7, 2019
Giveaway Bust
Well my Giveaway for Death of the Republic certainly went nowhere! Out of 100 copies given out I've had one rating - and that without a text comment! One out of 100? And no sign whatsoever of any increase in Kindle select reading like I got with Fall From Grace? I jokingly said to my wife I hope it's a conspiracy to supress the book as the only other reason it got so little attention is that it sucks! Still scratching my head over it!
And so it goes...
And so it goes...
February 28, 2019
The way of Tao
Poem Seven
Out of the haze
The misty mountains loom
Dominating monuments
To ancient forces
Their power rises from existence
Their majesty from the seer's eye
To know their nature
Is to know the ways of the unknowable
Ever the same ‑ yet ever changing
Forever secure ‑ yet always moving
Immortal, everlasting ‑ yet slowly yielding
The way of Tao
Out of the haze
The misty mountains loom
Dominating monuments
To ancient forces
Their power rises from existence
Their majesty from the seer's eye
To know their nature
Is to know the ways of the unknowable
Ever the same ‑ yet ever changing
Forever secure ‑ yet always moving
Immortal, everlasting ‑ yet slowly yielding
The way of Tao
February 27, 2019
Glowing, Flowing, Radiant
I like the way some of these words work together.
Poem Six
Points of light
break through my mind
and close the gap
between ignorance
and strength.
Cold winds
of death
blow an
icy grip
that terrorizes
children
but teaches much.
Deep and green,
blue and fluid,
a frightened babe
rests all hope
upon an outside
world.
Anew
and blooming
against the odds
comes glowing,
comes flowing,
comes radiant
with life
onto the globe.
Poem Six
Points of light
break through my mind
and close the gap
between ignorance
and strength.
Cold winds
of death
blow an
icy grip
that terrorizes
children
but teaches much.
Deep and green,
blue and fluid,
a frightened babe
rests all hope
upon an outside
world.
Anew
and blooming
against the odds
comes glowing,
comes flowing,
comes radiant
with life
onto the globe.
February 26, 2019
Opening
I think I wrote this after my first child was born, blown away by the magic of that moment. The energy that comes with birth is, I think, the most powerful force in our world. For whatever reason, a birth or two always crop up in my novels. In truth, my only real regret at not being born female is not being able to have a baby.
Poem Five
Opening,
the myriad
of miracles
and wonders
Opening,
a new pair
of eyes
in the world
Opening,
the mind
to the consciousness
of being.
Opening,
like a blossom
glowing in the sun.
Poem Five
Opening,
the myriad
of miracles
and wonders
Opening,
a new pair
of eyes
in the world
Opening,
the mind
to the consciousness
of being.
Opening,
like a blossom
glowing in the sun.
February 25, 2019
Update #6
Nearing the end of February here and it can't come too soon! This time of year is always the low point for me – wet, cold and still not nearly enough daylight! To top it all off, my health and the weather have both been horrible over the last couple of weeks. Okay enough complaining and on to the update.
I'm almost done with my first read of Lost & Found since I finished writing it. It's actually better than I thought it would be but I'm still a little concerned the book's final chapters are a bit weak. I guess we'll see! It's a pretty soppy affair to be honest but it is a romance so what do I expect? Once I've read it and made some minor changes I'll put it out for some feedback. A Goodreads member has agreed to be one of the people who gives me feedback on the draft. I have a little trepidation about doing this (as I've never gone that far afield to get feedback before) but I'm really looking forward to seeing how it turns out! After that process I'll put the book on hold until September when I'll do some major edits/re-working and try to publish it by year's end.
I ran a Giveaway on Goodreads for the first book in my Derrik Chu Series, 'Death of the Republic', and so far had disappointing results. Very different outcome from the Meghan O'Byrne - Fall From Grace Giveaway I did that was so heartening. I think it's the fact that thriller readers (tending to be men) don't really like my anti-hero. He's tough and all but he thinks too much and is sort of girly (sorry if that offends anyone – but I'm sort of girly myself so I figure I can get away with it). Anyway, I think that will be my last attempt to promote the series. Feels like I'm flogging a dead horse. It's too bad because the story really is pretty fantastic if not a bit off the wall.
I did another Giveaway for Fall From Grace and have even paid to a bit of advertising for the book on the site. I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's done and we will see what we will see later in March. I'm not sure what else to do at this point. I really want to get on editing/revising the second book in the Meghan O'Byrne series entitled 'Redemption'. I have a writing key and have started the first few lines but I think it will have to wait until I get back from vacation at the beginning of April to start writing in earnest. I'll read the existing draft over again before I take off in mid-March but don't want to start writing in earnest until I have a at least a solid three month block of time in front of me. April through June should do it – I hope!
Think that's about it for now. I'm having fun looking at my old poetry and song lyrics. For whatever reason I'm going to keep 'releasing' them every day until they are gone via my blog. I wonder where they all came from? I wonder if anyone is listening?
I'm almost done with my first read of Lost & Found since I finished writing it. It's actually better than I thought it would be but I'm still a little concerned the book's final chapters are a bit weak. I guess we'll see! It's a pretty soppy affair to be honest but it is a romance so what do I expect? Once I've read it and made some minor changes I'll put it out for some feedback. A Goodreads member has agreed to be one of the people who gives me feedback on the draft. I have a little trepidation about doing this (as I've never gone that far afield to get feedback before) but I'm really looking forward to seeing how it turns out! After that process I'll put the book on hold until September when I'll do some major edits/re-working and try to publish it by year's end.
I ran a Giveaway on Goodreads for the first book in my Derrik Chu Series, 'Death of the Republic', and so far had disappointing results. Very different outcome from the Meghan O'Byrne - Fall From Grace Giveaway I did that was so heartening. I think it's the fact that thriller readers (tending to be men) don't really like my anti-hero. He's tough and all but he thinks too much and is sort of girly (sorry if that offends anyone – but I'm sort of girly myself so I figure I can get away with it). Anyway, I think that will be my last attempt to promote the series. Feels like I'm flogging a dead horse. It's too bad because the story really is pretty fantastic if not a bit off the wall.
I did another Giveaway for Fall From Grace and have even paid to a bit of advertising for the book on the site. I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's done and we will see what we will see later in March. I'm not sure what else to do at this point. I really want to get on editing/revising the second book in the Meghan O'Byrne series entitled 'Redemption'. I have a writing key and have started the first few lines but I think it will have to wait until I get back from vacation at the beginning of April to start writing in earnest. I'll read the existing draft over again before I take off in mid-March but don't want to start writing in earnest until I have a at least a solid three month block of time in front of me. April through June should do it – I hope!
Think that's about it for now. I'm having fun looking at my old poetry and song lyrics. For whatever reason I'm going to keep 'releasing' them every day until they are gone via my blog. I wonder where they all came from? I wonder if anyone is listening?
Words with Meaning
Short, pleasing and to the point!
Poem Four
Green grass on hills,
warm breeze.
Flowers bloom,
towering trees.
Peace rules the world.
Poem Four
Green grass on hills,
warm breeze.
Flowers bloom,
towering trees.
Peace rules the world.
February 24, 2019
Looking Back - Letting Go
It's funny, but some of my poems make more sense to me now than they used to!
Poem Three
The rising sun
The birth of man
The blue-green glow
of earth perceived
Is it real?
It goes so slow
Plummeting to death
an unending flow
Do we know?
They seem so sure
Poem Three
The rising sun
The birth of man
The blue-green glow
of earth perceived
Is it real?
It goes so slow
Plummeting to death
an unending flow
Do we know?
They seem so sure
February 23, 2019
What do you think?
I like this one. I think it's about life (as in it's beginning) but it's been at least 35 years since it came to me so I truly can't remember. Maybe that doesn't matter!
Poem Two
Emerald green,
It grows.
Icy blue,
It flows.
Oh wondrous wave,
It glows.
The universe,
It sows.
Poem Two
Emerald green,
It grows.
Icy blue,
It flows.
Oh wondrous wave,
It glows.
The universe,
It sows.
February 22, 2019
And now for something completely different
Or did I do this before? Really can't bother checking as I'm going to do it anyway. Years ago I wrote a slew of poems and song lyrics and I thought I might as well release them into the wild here. Why not? Sort of like sending up messages in balloons to see where they end up - except these won't run the risk of choking some poor sea creature. Up, up and away!
Here's the first poem. I will call it Poem One:
In the dawn before time
At the end of the void
A universe planned
Like a chain link to link
Tying together
Though no knot can be seen
Or an end to the links
Here's the first poem. I will call it Poem One:
In the dawn before time
At the end of the void
A universe planned
Like a chain link to link
Tying together
Though no knot can be seen
Or an end to the links
February 15, 2019
In-between books
The days in-between finishing a book and starting a new one inevitably leave me feeling very odd. I think it's the loss of an imperative. Most people get up and go to work because they have to. There's an outside force pushing them along. When I have a novel on the go it pushes me along. When it's finished I miss the impetus writing gives my daily life.
While admittedly in neutral right now, I'm still trying to keep focus on my work.
Last night my Goodreads Giveaway for 'Death of the Republic' ended. I'm hoping for some renewed interest (or rather any interest) in the series. The story is quite wild/fantastic but the characters and the relationships they form are really understandable – at least to me.
I'm almost halfway through reading the rough draft of my latest novel, 'Lost & Found'. So far, so good. Only found a few places that drag and need re-working. It's pretty soppy but as it is a romance I guess I've got to expect that! Next step will be test running it by some folks to get feedback, then hopefully in the fall cleaning it up and getting it published before the end of 2019.
Next up is adding to/revising/editing 'Redemption', the second book in the Meghan O'Byrne Chronicle. I have to admit I'm feeling a bit lost trying to get my head back into Meghan's story. The current draft as it stands needs a whole new front end that encompasses her entire recovery process, not just the final stages. I want to plunge into some net new writing but I'm not sure how to begin. I've written the opening lines in my head about ten times already. A couple of days ago I came up with a really promising approach I thought I could use but I didn't act on it and now it's gone. I wish I could remember. I plan to publish this book in late summer.
Anyway, I've digressed, what I really wanted to focus on is the in between periods where you've finished one story and need to get on with some new stuff. I know once I start, I get caught up in the process and the story takes over writing itself. I have touch points and a very good idea of where I expect it to go, but along the way there are surprises and that's what I like. And what I miss, I suppose, when I'm not doing it.
And being honest, when I'm not doing 'it' I also have no excuse for not doing other things I'm not so crazy about doing like marketing, and editing, and networking and household chores.
Maybe that's why I want to get 'creative' again?
But it's more than that and something I can't fully explain. It's like a compulsion. A story emerges from inside the mind but comes to life when it is told, not before. For better or worse, I love bringing stories to life. I only wish I had better skill to do them justice.
While admittedly in neutral right now, I'm still trying to keep focus on my work.
Last night my Goodreads Giveaway for 'Death of the Republic' ended. I'm hoping for some renewed interest (or rather any interest) in the series. The story is quite wild/fantastic but the characters and the relationships they form are really understandable – at least to me.
I'm almost halfway through reading the rough draft of my latest novel, 'Lost & Found'. So far, so good. Only found a few places that drag and need re-working. It's pretty soppy but as it is a romance I guess I've got to expect that! Next step will be test running it by some folks to get feedback, then hopefully in the fall cleaning it up and getting it published before the end of 2019.
Next up is adding to/revising/editing 'Redemption', the second book in the Meghan O'Byrne Chronicle. I have to admit I'm feeling a bit lost trying to get my head back into Meghan's story. The current draft as it stands needs a whole new front end that encompasses her entire recovery process, not just the final stages. I want to plunge into some net new writing but I'm not sure how to begin. I've written the opening lines in my head about ten times already. A couple of days ago I came up with a really promising approach I thought I could use but I didn't act on it and now it's gone. I wish I could remember. I plan to publish this book in late summer.
Anyway, I've digressed, what I really wanted to focus on is the in between periods where you've finished one story and need to get on with some new stuff. I know once I start, I get caught up in the process and the story takes over writing itself. I have touch points and a very good idea of where I expect it to go, but along the way there are surprises and that's what I like. And what I miss, I suppose, when I'm not doing it.
And being honest, when I'm not doing 'it' I also have no excuse for not doing other things I'm not so crazy about doing like marketing, and editing, and networking and household chores.
Maybe that's why I want to get 'creative' again?
But it's more than that and something I can't fully explain. It's like a compulsion. A story emerges from inside the mind but comes to life when it is told, not before. For better or worse, I love bringing stories to life. I only wish I had better skill to do them justice.
