Stephen Drivick's Blog

I swear....I Didn't Know it Was Going to be This Long

Sometimes We Ran 4: Survival began just like the other three books. A couple of scenes strung together towards a good ending. But then something happened.

It got big.

I wrote and just kept on writing until I had a huge book. Could not believe how much I managed to write. I read through it and took out some things I didn't need or didn't contribute to the story. The result was a still pretty large but more manageable book. At least the ebook version was anyway.

When I got my print copies in the mail, the package seemed to have a weight to it. I took out the copy, and it was a huge print copy. I thought at least people are going to get a lot of story for their money. :)

Hard to believe that was three years ago. To celebrate that fact, Sometimes We Ran 4: Survival the Kindle ebook is going down to .99 cents until New Year's Day. For that price, that is a lot of story for the money.

Check it out on Amazon along with the rest of the series. And as always, Merry Christmas, Zombie Fans.

It's a New Car...or New to Me Anyway

It's been a month with my Buick Regal Sport Touring, and I have to say I am impressed. I really do like this car.

I had some doubts about the 2.0 liter turbo motor, but it has good power all the way up the dial and doesn't lag at all...really puts the "Sport" in "Sport Touring." It's not a muscle car...the dragstrip is not where this car will shine. But on the street, this little beast of an engine (a diminutive 122 cubic inches) works great. The gas mileage is amazing, touching 30 MPG at times. The 6-speed auto transmission works well but can be a bit indecisive at times. Shifts are positive and get this bulky car moving. Haven't tried the "manumatic" shifting yet. Maybe I'll take a Sunday drive somewhere and check it out. Car has fantastic handling...can't believe it's a Buick. Special callout to the steering. I'm not usually a fan of electric power steering, but they got it right on the Regal.

Very comfortable car especially for my large frame. Plenty of room everywhere. Lots of technology, but not so much tech you're afraid it's all going to fail. Love the automatic climate control and the bluetooth phone system. Trunk is enormous. Black Cherry Metallic exterior is growing on me. At first, I feared it might be too purple.

This is the third Buick I have owned, and it's definitely the best one. This might be the best car I ever owned. Sporty and actually kind of fun to drive. It might be (gasp!) better than the Pontiac Firebird Formula that came before. Not as brutally fast as my former daily driver, but I think it could out handle the old bird. I know the Regal is a lot more comfortable to drive. My old knees and back are thanking me for the change.

The Regal is the first new to me car I've bought in sixteen years(!), and I think it's a good one...so far.

Sometimes We Ran - 7 Years Published

It was seven years ago. I sat in a darkened hotel room at a car show (RIP F-Body Gathering) with my finger over the link to my Kindle publishing account. A few hours ago my book, Sometimes We Ran: A Story from the Zombie Apocalypse, had gone live and was for sale.

I hesitated. Would anyone buy my book? Would anyone pay their hard-earned $2.99 for my words? Would I be cursed by the dreaded zero sales for the month? I had to check.

With my heart actually pounding, I tapped the link. My account loaded up, and I went to the sales report. Two people had bought my book in those early hours. Two people were reading the words I wrote. I was actually selling a book on Amazon. The rest of the day just flew by.

Sometimes We Ran: A Story from the Zombie Apocalypse will be set to the low price of .99 cents to mark the occasion. And to the two people who bought my book in those early hours, you made a nervous first time author extremely happy.

Oh...my car also won a trophy at that car show. It was a great weekend.:)

Sometimes We Ran 2: Community - 6 Years Published!

Hard to believe it but Sometimes We Ran 2: Community is six years old.

I've said this before, but I didn't think a sequel was going to happen. The original ending I wrote for Sometimes We Ran was a lot darker. Hint: Nobody makes it to the next book. :) I decided I didn't like that and went in a new direction. Writing a few new paragraphs of the continuing story of John and Claire got the ideas flowing again.

To celebrate, Sometimes We Ran 2 will be on a Kindle Countdown Deal for 99 cents for a another day or so.

Thanks to all that gave my zombie book sequel a chance. :)

Christmas 2019

Christmas is here and to help you get a headstart on your ebook collection, Sometimes We Ran and Sometimes We Ran 2: Community will be 99 cents through 1/1/20. Fight the Red-Eyes from your favorite Kindle or Kindle app. :)

You also might want to pick up Sometimes We Ran 3: Rescue and Sometimes We Ran 4: Survival (newly released) while your hitting up Amazon for those post-Christmas sales. :)

Merry Christmas and we'll see you in 2020.

Christmas Already?

2019 will forever be known as the year that flew by. It seems only a few days have passed since 90 degree temps and hot sunny days.

Thanksgiving has zoomed on through and now we're on to Christmas. To help fill your new Kindle, tablet, or phone with zombie goodness this holiday the Sometimes We Ran book series is on sale for the low price of 99cents. But you have to hurry...the sale ends CyberMonday.

You may be wondering about Sometimes We Ran 4: Survival. Did it fade away? Was it abandoned? Nope...it's finished. :) The files are made and I am going to post it to Amazon this coming weekend. The digital version should be on Amazon next week. About time...right? :)

I hope everyone has a happy holiday. See you next time.

Happy Halloween 2018

Hard to believe, but it's Halloween already. The stores are attempting to fly right by...White-flocked Christmas trees are in the next aisle. :)

To help fill the zombie apocalypse portion of your Halloween reading, the entire Sometimes We Ran series is on sale until Nov.1. The spooky low price is 99cents, where all fine ebooks are sold. So pick up one, two, or maybe all three. Your whole Halloween night can be filled with reading. You might want to do it with the lights on. :)

Happy Halloween.

Bad Ideas for Breakfast Cereals

Hamburger O's
Crunchy Mushroom Balls
Sugar Frosted Venison Flakes
Cinnamon Roadkill Crunch
Salty Pork Loops
Irregular Captain Crunch
Pine Needles n' Beer
Fluoride Flakes
Vodka Cookie Crunch
Stuff Off the Floor ...now with Marshmallows!
Fruity Goat Loops
Chocolate Frosted Peas
Olive Bran
Extra Fiber Blowout Flakes
Pomegranate Jacks

:)

Working Outside

I read an article last week about the concept of the "Outside Office". It seems our technology (laptops, phones, Chromebooks, routers, etc) has become so portable, people don't work in a conventional office anymore. Employees find inspiration and can refresh their attitude in their outside office among nature.

I wanted to give it a try. I grabbed my Chromebook and an old TV tray, and hit the front porch.

The weather in North Georgia is finally settling on Spring. The pollen storm that envelops us in March has settled to a dull roar, leaving blue skies and clear air. Squirrels and chipmunks race around, fighting for space in the base of the pine trees. We have lizards, too Gray, with pointy noses, they move up and down the walls of the porch. Of course, there are the birds. Too many species to count, all flying around looking for food. Maybe they eat the lizards. All this animal life doesn't seem to be afraid of me either. They come right up to the porch expecting ...something. All I have is conversation. I hope nobody sees me talking to chipmunks and lizards.

Did I find inspiration? I did manage about 200 words on my work in progress, but I don't know if being outside helped that or not. It was nice to be outside writing in nature on a beautiful day. I believe I like the concept of an "Outside Office". If the weather holds out, I think I'll try it again. I better bring some seed of bread next time though. The local wildlife looked very hungry. :)

Sometimes We Ran 3: Rescue - 3 Years Published

Sometimes We Ran 3: Rescue is three years old this week. Time sure flies, doesn't it? :)

Interesting story about SWR 3. I was heading into the middle portion of the first draft ...about 40,000 words or so. Things were going smoothly. I'm talking maybe 500-1000 words per sit-down writing session. The words flowed well, and the events of the story fell into place one by one. The draft was rough, but editing would clean it up nice.

Then ...pain, numbness, pins and needles.

I somehow pinched a nerve in my neck, causing the previously mentioned pain, numbness, and pins and needles in my right hand. It was painful to type, and it got hard to sit at my desk. I watched hopelessly as my production dropped to about 100-250 words. The work slowed to a crawl. A delay was coming.

I made a decision to take a short break. Everything got better, although it didn't go away. I was able to salvage the work sessions, bring up the word count, and make it to the end.

In short, Sometimes We Ran 3: Rescue was a painful book to write ...literally! :)

To celebrate this milestone, Sometimes We Ran 3: Rescue will be at the low, low price of 99 cents for the rest of the month.