Konn Lavery's Blog: Posts from konnlavery.com, page 6

Who Is the Captain Of The Ship?

At some point in everyone’s life, we should ask ourselves what is important. Who is the captain of the ship? Is it you or the tides of life? I have just finished my two-week yearly time off from my graphic design and web development business. I always title it “wandering mind” in the calendar because I use it to catch up on writing, reflect, and see where I’d like the New Year to take me. Let’s talk about some of the exciting writing coming this year. We’ll also dive into this philosophical ship concept for you to reflect upon.

Welcome To Another Edition of Unprocessed Thoughts

Looking at your life is essential. It doesn’t matter when you do it. It might be as clich��d as mine ��� at the beginning of the year ��� or in the middle of a summer night. What matters is spending that time and being honest with yourself to decide if your current state is what you want.

For myself, the two weeks off is a requirement to better me as a creative professional. This applies to both my writing and my graphic design business. Of course, the two weeks were also used to pick up the fallen pieces after my girlfriend and I crash-landed in Vancouver in September.

As per usual, with the fall onwards, I can barely keep the wheel in hand. The crew takes over the ship, the tides of life are violent, and the captain is deemed worthless. My time is used up, it’s unbillable, I get sick, and the list goes on. Everyone has excuses.

I’ve been doing this cycle since the birth of my design business in 2014. Maybe 2023 will be different.

Exciting Writing Coming This Year

I finished my new dark urban fantasy novel with the working title of Ash Born. Currently, it is in beta readers’ hands, then off to the editor with a spring launch (fingers crossed). Keep an eye out for more news on that.

I’ve also been accepted into the 14th edition of The Horror Collection, The Lost Edition, with my short story He. That should be coming out in March.

I am also expanding upon a short story that was accepted into an anthology. However, the project folded. This new horror story will become a novella or novel. I plan to write the first draft throughout February while beta readers dig their teeth into Ash Born.

It’s been a busy two weeks of writing. I also used the time to see where 2023 will go. I asked myself some of these questions:

Who Is the Captain of the Ship? Is It you, Or the Crew?

This is important because what happened to me at the end of 2022 can happen to you. It can also happen to people on a much grander scale, taking you decades into some strange direction or career. This is why you should ask yourself what you want out of life.

It Is Okay to Say No, Or Yes

Usually, when people lose control of the ship to the crew and tides of life, it is due to not knowing when to say yes or no. Some people are shy and introverted. They have a difficult time saying yes to things. Extroverts have issues saying no and take on too many things. You can also commit to the wrong things by saying yes or no when it doesn’t align with your goals.

Take A Hard Look at Yourself and Ask Yourself, Where’s The Ship Going?

You might not know the end destination, but some clich��s hold true. It is in the destination accounts, but the journey. We have all heard this one before, and it is true. If you know the destination too well, planning the path backwards, you may miss essential opportunities along the way. Discover the journey and stay true to yourself.

Adapt and Steer the Ship

Sometimes what you think you want isn’t always right. Accept being wrong and steer the ship accordingly. You don’t know if something is for you until you try it. This includes big life decisions.

Regaining Control of The Ship

My two weeks off always lets me clean up the mess from September to December. I have gained control of the ship ��� for now ��� and steering in a new direction after a solid eight years of my graphic design and web development business. My old mentor and good friend helped me figure out how to slowly pivot myself professionally. That starts by building a new portfolio separate from my Reveal Design site.

It’s why I moved to Vancouver. I want to work in industries more related to entertainment, further from corporate energy, and closer to writing. So, with all the exciting writing coming out, I’m also re-pivoting my design business. Perhaps I can marry the two skills.

Beer Note: Main Street Brewing Kingpin Pale Ale

For this month, I will highlight another Main Street Brewing beer. I’m at this brewery quite frequently and previously featured the Pilsner. This month we are showcasing the Kingpin Pale Ale. I had fun with Pilsners and am looking for a beer with hops. Not too hoppy like modern IPAs. The Kingpin Pale Ale is a good mix of keeping the hop flavours while maintaining traditional beer flavour. I’m not an overly big fan of hazy beers. I don’t mind this one because it’s not over the top. Overall the Kingpin Pale Ale reminds me of IPAs from a good decade ago.

The post Who Is the Captain Of The Ship? appeared first on Konn Lavery.

Lurking For Legends 098 with Konn Lavery

I was back on the live Lurking for Legends show to discuss my work, the Macrocosm, and do a live reading with authors Richard H. Stephens, David M. Kelly, and Christie Stratos.

We read a sample of Mortal, found within the dark fantasy series Mental Damnation. Props, costumes, and character voices are used during the scene. It was a lot of fun playing out the action-filled chapter. Watch the whole episode below:

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Red Gate

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Three eBooks to dive into The Macrocosm
Monthly Short Stories in Written and Audiobook Format
Access to drafts, works-in-progress, and writing updates
High Rez Short Story Artwork for Phone Backgrounds
Your name in the thank you section of the next Macrocosm short story collection
Access to The Macrocosm Wiki

You're basically buying me a drink every month, fueling me to craft more stories!

Let's not forget you will get a copy of the Into the Macrocosm eBook to jump-start you into this strange world of fantasy, horror, thrillers, scifi, and bizarre.To view this content, you must be a member of Konn's Patreon at $5 or more - Click "Read more" to unlock this content at the source

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2022 in Review

We���re almost done with another trip around the sun! 2022 was a life-changing ride, and I���m glad to move on. For this Unprocessed Thoughts, we���ll give the year are good summary and look at what���s coming in 2023. This is . . . 2022 in Review.

Welcome to Another Edition of Unprocessed Thoughts

I���ve done a lot of writing this year, despite only publishing one choose your own path book. That���s okay because next year I will catch the white whale. In addition, most of this year was dedicated to things I���ve always wanted personally. You only live once and might as well take a chance at doing something you love.

2022 in Review

Philosophical talk aside, let���s do a bullet list summary, shall we? They���re easier to scan:

I moved to Vancouver in British Columbia from Edmonton, Alberta. This was a significant time vampire. The deed is done. Onwards and upwards.I published one book. Beyond the Macrocosm: Interactive Short Stories of Dread and Wonder further explores the Macrocosm with plenty of dark fantasy, horror, and sci-fi thrills. Unfortunately, this book isn���t only intended for fans of the Macrocosm. Thus, it was only a soft release. I didn���t submit it to any award programs because it doesn���t wedge into a genre.I finished writing the white whale of my life. I���ve been working on the Ash Born series for a long time. It���s entirely written, nearly done with revisions, and it is coming out next year.I accidentally wrote the first fifth of a new horror novel. It was intended for a short story collection. The project ultimately folded. After reviewing the short, it���s clear it will make a fun novel.I reworked the entire newsletter and learned online marketing. This is in preparation for the Ash Born series next year.Rave and Into the Macrocosm had some award recognitions.Into the Macrocosm hit Amazon best seller in Horror Short Stories.

There we go. That���s the short and sweet summary of what I did this year. I did a lot of extra bits, such as continually growing my graphic design business. I have had new clients and learned new industry tools and tricks. None of that is related to writing, though.

2023: Onwards and Upwards

I���m excited about what the future holds in 2023. With Ash Born destined to come out, working on a new horror novel, and some short story submissions, I hope to enter the New Year with a bang.

Thank you all for the support this year as I sort out my life and continue to write. Expect more releases next year as we continue to explore the Macrocosm.

Beer Note: Steam Works Pale Ale

I���m pretty sure I���ve talked about this in previous Unprocessed Thoughts. It���s the only beer I have because I keep drinking it. That speaks volumes about its good taste and repeatability.

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Red Haven

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Click Here to Join Konn's Patreon Today

Konn's Popular Membership:
Monthly Short Stories + eBook for $5/mo CAD
$0.16 a day.



Three eBooks to dive into The Macrocosm
Monthly Short Stories in Written and Audiobook Format
Access to drafts, works-in-progress, and writing updates
High Rez Short Story Artwork for Phone Backgrounds
Your name in the thank you section of the next Macrocosm short story collection
Access to The Macrocosm Wiki

You're basically buying me a drink every month, fueling me to craft more stories!

Let's not forget you will get a copy of the Into the Macrocosm eBook to jump-start you into this strange world of fantasy, horror, thrillers, scifi, and bizarre.To view this content, you must be a member of Konn's Patreon at $5 or more - Click "Read more" to unlock this content at the source

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Attack of the Static Flood

November is one helluva busy month. We have NaNoWriMo, Movember, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, American Thanksgiving, and Canadian Remembrance Day. Before that, there is Inktober, Halloween, and Canadian Thanksgiving. A month before is September’s back-to-school rush and the end of the summer holidays. I’m sure I’m missing a ton of special days and events. Then . . . there’s the looming December where Mariah Carey haunts the halls of retail stores, ravaging the ears of poor workers.

Christmas follows, then Boxing Day, and finally New Year’s, where people make false promises to themselves. In between all the special days, marketing campaigns are rampant in every industry. Advertising buzzes wide on all broadcasting mediums. Accountants wish to square off their budgeting books for the end of their fiscal year and dump money into massive projects. Small, medium, and large corporations try to sell you on their things.

In between the chaos is the individual. People are bombarded with a great white noise. It washes over their lively senses, seeping into their well-being and sapping all energy from their soul. The physical senses are numbed from the continual bombardment.

This is the seasonal attack of the static flood.

Welcome to Another Edition of Unprocessed Thoughts

Dramaticism is such fun. The fall, leading up to the winter, is busy for all walks of life. It’s the ramp-up to the year when the big boys come out and play, stomping the entire market. This is both a positive and negative thing, depending on where your life is.

For me, it is a wonderful time for my graphic design and web development business. Everyone spontaneously grows money off trees and has projects for me to work on. I get to eat dinner!

On the flip side, as a writer, I’m a tiny, microscopic organism in the vast sea of the book industry. At the end of the year, it is nearly impossible to gain new readers. The static flood is relentless, washing away the attention span of many and bringing in new types of predators with big budgets that consume all media. The fangs and deep pocketbooks are too powerful for those with limited resources.

Evolve or DIE

The attack of the static flood is nothing new. It happened every year, far before the rise of the Internet. This is Western culture. Many of us are a drop in the ocean. It’s up to us to decide how we wish to evolve. Or don’t, and let the tides of others dictate your life.

I noticed the static flood way back when I worked retail at . . . get ready . . . Walmart. It was also prominent when I first started pursuing writing professionally in 2012. The convention seasons were usually spring and summer, trickling off in the fall. After that, the flood washed everyone’s attention spans away.

Specifically, in entertainment, blockbuster movies and big-time novels do make their spotlight known in the second half of the year. I’ll admit, sometimes those things catch my eye too. There���s great work out there.

For years, I trimmed down marketing books in October, November, and December. The return on investment basically plummets to one-fourth or lower. These months I focus on writing, tidying up the Macrocosm, and planning for the following year.

Beyond the Horizon of the Static Flood

Thankfully, all things pass with time. The continual re-occurring static flood always washes away. There is a horizon beyond the noise, and the sun will shine again. That’s because spring is coming due to the Earth���s orbit moving closer to the sun. Literalness aside, the time and energy aren’t worth pushing through the holiday season.

Yes, this contradicts what marketing experts and gurus will tell you. Perhaps you will succeed more, and this ramble is bogus to you. For me, the energy is far better spent prepping the next book and having a polished release for the following year’s spring. My dollar goes a lot further when buying media space as well.

Keep on Writing

November is a wonderful time for writers to celebrate. All levels of writers get together and share their updates about what they are working on. NaNoWriMo has always been a wonderful time for me and I am glad to participate this year. I hit the 50,000 words in 12 days, which I believe is a new record ��� woo hoo! Whatever you do, keep writing.

Beyond that, you don’t have to write only in November. Writing is a healthy habit that most of us do daily through emails and texts without much thought. Writing something for you is not a big jump. You���d be amazed at what it can do for your psyche, especially during the attack of the static flood. Nurture your soul.

Beer Note: Steamworks Brewing Pilsner

Once again, I fail to take photos. There are so many breweries in Vancouver. They have tasty ones too. I’ve decided to highlight Steamworks Brewing Company, specifically their Pilsner. Steamworks Brewing is a well-recognized brand in the city; you can practically find them on tap anywhere.

I’ve highlighted the Pilsner because it is on tap at my local pub, where I tend to do writing weekly. Light, crisp, and delicious. It’s precisely what you’d be looking for in a Pilsner.

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Invasion of the Remake Episode 367

I’m pleased to have talked to Invasion of the Remake during the Calgary Horror Con 2022. We chat about writing, my work, horror, and the convention! Check it out on Spotify or on their website.

Listen on their Website

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Red Mountain

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Click Here to Join Konn's Patreon Today

Konn's Popular Membership:
Monthly Short Stories + eBook for $5/mo CAD
$0.16 a day.



Three eBooks to dive into The Macrocosm
Monthly Short Stories in Written and Audiobook Format
Access to drafts, works-in-progress, and writing updates
High Rez Short Story Artwork for Phone Backgrounds
Your name in the thank you section of the next Macrocosm short story collection
Access to The Macrocosm Wiki

You're basically buying me a drink every month, fueling me to craft more stories!

Let's not forget you will get a copy of the Into the Macrocosm eBook to jump-start you into this strange world of fantasy, horror, thrillers, scifi, and bizarre.To view this content, you must be a member of Konn's Patreon at $5 or more - Click "Read more" to unlock this content at the source

The post Red Mountain appeared first on Konn Lavery.

Make Time for Writing. NaNoWriMo 2022: Ash Book 2

NaNoWriMo is just around the corner. Are you ready? I���m pleased to share that I will participate in NaNoWriMo for the first time since 2020. Unfortunately, the event doesn���t always line up with the writing schedule. I am doing NaNoWriMo this year because I will make time for writing.

Welcome to Another Edition of Unprocessed Thoughts

Yes, I���m still slaving away on book 1 of the Ash series. The revisions are going great, and I can already see where book 2 is going. The plot is fresh in my mind, and NaNoWriMo 2022 is right here. It���s a perfect storm that I can use to keep the momentum going for the story.

Crystal Moths: Ash Series Book One

For you lovely readers? That means the dark urban fantasy series is growing. I���m still aiming to get book one out for next year with a potential early Patreon access, chapter by chapter.

Crystal Moths is in great shape, and I���ll have more about it to come early in 2023. Right now, the story has revisions I���m applying. The interior photo illustrations and cover art are coming along too. They���re still in the conceptual phase, which will define the artwork for the entire series. The title, Crystal Moths and Ash for the series is a work in progress. I have more research to do on the genre and will be taking votes from you, wonderful people.

For now, the working title stays as is. Book 1 is shaping to be the largest novel I have written.

The series is a flagship for the entire Macrocosm universe, housing the fantastic past, horrific present, and cosmic-dread future. As it is now, there are loose connections seen in the novels. They���re clarified more in the short story collections, Into the Macrocosm and Beyond the Macrocosm. The wiki also helps.

All of that changes with Crystal Moths: Ash Series Book 1. The Macrocosm connections will be clear as day. If you haven���t read the one-sentence pitch before, check it out below.

Crystal Moths One Sentence Synopsis

Lola, a fugitive after exposing the law���s connection to the notorious Crystal Moths, has her life and family destroyed, igniting her need for revenge and plunging her into a forgotten old world of greed, legend, and mythology.

Make Time for Writing Now

NaNoWriMo can be a challenge. We���re reaching the end of the year, and the world is open. Schedules are packed as we tried to jam in as much as possible, playing catch-up from 2020 and 2021.

Time management is key when you need to make time for writing. If you plan on participating in NaNoWriMo 2022, I���ve previously written handy resources for you on the blog. These are good tips and tricks you can apply beyond November.

Tips on How to Make Time for WritingTime Management for WritingGuard Your TimeDistractions and Time Management for WritingAll Writing Posts

In addition, I have a few NaNoWriMo-specific blog posts that can help you prepare for the impending November first date.

NaNoWriMo TipsFinish NaNoWriMo in Two WeeksPre-Planning Your Novel for NaNoWriMo

I preach about time management a lot on the blog and have written plenty of posts on the craft of writing, as shown above. It seems pointless to repeat myself since those articles still stand. If you have questions or some insight into making time, do let me know in the comments.

I���ll Make Time for Writing

The great migration west has been a success. I am beyond thankful that September was a quiet month for freelance graphic design. It gave me time to settle into the new province, learn the neighbourhood, and get into a new routine.

The wheels are in motion. Already I am providing estimates for potential projects. Existing clients are coming back with some new work needed for the holidays. The former state of limbo dwindles, and it���s time to buckle in for the escalating yearly crunch. Still, I���ll make time for writing. I hope you do too. Add me on NaNoWriMo.

Beer Note: Strange Fellows Brewing Beldame

Like last month, I���ve tried so many beers I keep forgetting to take a photo of them. So, here���s another good Strange Fellows Brewing ale. The Beldame is a German Pilsner I frequently have on Fridays to finish the week. It���s light, refreshing, bitter taste, and not foggy. The beer is quite effective at quenching a growing thirst from the week.

The post Make Time for Writing. NaNoWriMo 2022: Ash Book 2 appeared first on Konn Lavery.

Revenge of the Witchfinder by Simon Rose ��� The Stone of the Seer Book 3

I���m please to welcome Simon Rose back who has a brand new novel, Revenge of the Witchfinder. It���s final book in The Stone of the Seer series. Previously we had Simon in July talking about Blood Royal and back in February for the debut novel The Stone of the Seer.

Simon Rose is from Calgary and has published eighteen novels for children and young adults, eight guides for writers, more than a hundred nonfiction books, and numerous articles on a wide range of topics.

Although this is the final part of the Stone of the Seer series, remind us of what it���s all about?

The Stone of the Seer is young adult historical fantasy series. The exciting story is mostly set in the mid-seventeenth century during the English Civil War. In The Stone of the Seer, the first book in the series. Lady Elizabeth Usborne, Kate, and Tom encounter a magical stone, mysterious parchments and manuscripts, and an incredible time viewing device. In part two, Royal Blood, Lady Elizabeth, Kate, and Tom are in London, witnessing the political turmoil at the time of the Civil War, including the king���s trial and execution. In both novels, the main characters are threatened by the witchfinder, Daniel Tombes. There are numerous twists and turns, until the story���s cliffhanger ending, but all is resolved in the final installment.

Sounds amazing. So how much can you tell us about the story���s conclusion?

Well, without giving too much away, Revenge of the Witchfinder takes place in multiple time periods. The story features weird dreams, disturbing visions, parallel lives, and a bewildering identity crisis, as the lead characters discover to their horror that not even the passage of centuries can prevent a bloodthirsty witchfinder from the 1640s from seeking his deadly revenge. Readers will consistently be engaged and unable to put the book down until they reach the dramatic conclusion.And of course, people will now be able to buy all three books in the series.

And there���s quite a story behind the story, isn���t there?

The story and main characters in the series may be fictional, but they���re based on real events and characters. In the 1640s, Charles I and Parliament went to war over how the country should be governed. The English Civil War led to the king���s defeat, trial, and execution in 1649. There was no monarchy for eleven years, but then Charles II, son of the former king, was restored to the throne in 1660. However, things were never the same again and it had been established that an English king or queen had to have the consent of Parliament to rule the country.

As with the first two books in the series, did you engage in a great deal of historical research for this one?

I did lots of research into the English Civil War, Charles I, the trial of the king and so on, as well as into the other time periods that are a part of the overall story, such as the Viking era, for The Stone of the Seer and Royal Blood. For the third installment, I researched things such as archaeology and excavations, how London has changed from how it looked during the Civil War compared to today, how some areas were damaged or in some places totally destroyed during the Blitz in World War II, all of which was vital to ensure that the story was as perfect as possible.

As I did in The Stone of the Seer and Royal Blood, I���ve included a glossary at the end of Revenge of the Witchfinder. Readers can learn more about the historical events, settings, and characters that feature throughout the story. On my website, there���s a page dedicated to each book in the series, along with links to separate pages featuring information regarding each book���s historical background and links to many online sources. All of this should be even more fascinating for readers, now that the entire series is available for them to enjoy.

Do you have any current projects?

Right now, I���m working on another historical fantasy novel series, this time set in the early years of World War II. I���m also working on another story that takes place in the later stages of World War II, as well as more books in the same genre as my previously published paranormal Flashback series. You can learn more about those books at www.simon-rose.com. I also continue to work on the adaptations of my Shadowzone series into screenplays for movies and TV shows, as well as teaching writing courses at the University of Calgary.

Anyone interested in keeping up to date with the projects that I���m working on is always welcome to subscribe to my monthly newsletter, which you can do at www.simon-rose.com.

You still do other work related to writing and publishing, right?

Yes, I offer coaching, editing, consulting, and mentoring services for writers of novels, short stories, fiction, nonfiction, biographies, and in many other genres, plus work with writers of scripts and screenplays. I���m also a writing instructor and mentor at the University of Calgary and served as the Writer-in-Residence with the Canadian Authors Association. You can find details of some of the projects I���ve worked on with other authors, along with some references, at www.simon-rose.com.

So where can people buy Revenge of the Witchfinder, Royal Blood, and The Stone of the Seer?

I���ll be making some personal appearances at local events in the fall, where people can buy autographed copies of all the books in the series, as well as all the other novels. The latest series can also be purchased at most of the usual places, as follows:

Revenge of the Witchfinder

Ebook: Amazon Canada,��Amazon USA, Kobo,��iBooks,��Barnes and Noble, Smashwords

Paperback: Amazon Canada, Amazon USA

Royal Blood

Ebook: Amazon Canada,��Amazon USA, Kobo, iBooks, Barnes and Noble,��Smashwords

Paperback: Amazon Canada, Amazon USA

The Stone of the Seer

Ebook:��Amazon Canada,��Amazon USA,��Kobo,��iBooks,��Barnes and Noble,��Smashwords��

Paperback:��Amazon Canada, Amazon USA

Thanks Simon, for being my guest here today and the very best of luck with Revenge of the Witchfinder, and indeed with the entire Stone of the Seer series. I hope that all the books sell thousands and thousands of copies in the coming months.

You can learn more about Simon and his work on his website at www.simon-rose.com, where you can also link to him on social media and at other locations online.

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