C.P. Murphy's Blog: Inside my thoughts!, page 3

Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children

I just finished reading Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. The book was given to me to read by a coworker when I complained that I didn’t have anything to read. (Plenty of downtime where I work and yes, reading is allowed providing all work is done.) I started out only reading the book while at work but towards the end I couldn’t put it down.

The story goes, like the back cover says, that its main character, Jacob travels to Wales after his grandfathers death and unlocks the truth about stories that he was told as a child. Jacob believed his grandfather, until he was picked on in school, then he just stopped believing. Unfortunately the grandfather dies and uses his last breath to convince to go find out for himself.

Once in Wales, on a small island that his grandfather once lived, Jacob discovers a world he’d never imagined. Jacob is introduced to a group of….well… peculiar children and the bird that cares for them. These children were friends of Jacob’s grandfather as well. Jacob finds himself belonging with them, finds himself to be peculiar too.

Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children is just the beginning to this story. This book gives the readers a background on Jacob and his grandfather, as well as a background on the children themselves. The action really takes off at the end of the book, leaves us hanging for more. Luckily for me, I don’t have to wait long. (Just long enough to go back to work where books two and three of this series waits in my locker.)

This story reminds me of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe in the sense that its children out for an adventure. Books like this take us out of the ordinary life we live and transport us into a new kind of world. Even if this one in particular keeps us here on Earth.

I’m looking forward to the next book.

 

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Quick update

I just wanted everyone to know that after some struggle on my end, I’m finally able to post from my phone. It will be easier for me to post now. 

Holidays 2015

I hope everyone is having a nice holiday season. For myself, they went pretty fast. Seems like just yesterday I was out buying Christmas decorations and a tree but everyone told me that I had to wait at least until Thanksgiving to put them up. Now look, its almost time to take them down again.

Christmas was nice. It would have been nicer if I was able to spend it with my daughters but was unable this year. We will exchange our gifts when I see them in March. Other than that, we had a ton of people over for dinner and that’s always fun. Although I noticed that every Christmas I seem to go to bed earlier and earlier. I felt guilty for lying in bed at 9pm, tried to keep myself awake but it just didn’t happen.

As for New Years Eve, I’ll be working my regular job. I’ll be home by 11:30pm, just in time to see the ball drop, but won’t be celebrating all night. That’s ok though, I’m getting old.

I’m looking forward to 2016! I know I said it before but its going to be a good year for me. Actually, I think the even ones usually are. Is that weird? My goals for 16 are: write at least 1000 words a day, which really isn’t much. Maybe not the same project everyday but as long as I work on something. I also plan on blogging more, reading more, and spending more time getting my name out there. 2016 will bring St. Matthews House, a project that believe it or not has been in the works for 3 plus years now. I’m revising/reworking it right now. Technically if I keep it up, I should have it ready to go within 2 months but I am aiming for a May release. (Gotta give myself time to promote it)

I’m hoping that in 2016 I’ll be able to write reviews for other indy and small press authors. My blog is just picking up, would write more if the WordPress mobile app worked for me, but as it does and I bring followers to it- I’m more than willing to post stuff for fellow authors.

Have a safe and healthy new years!

 

The life of a writer

I’m behind on writing, I’ll be the first to admit that. 8 years ago when I wrote “Amelia’s Story” I stayed home during the day and worked part time evenings. By day, the kids were in school and I was home alone, perfect writing opportunity. But these days are different. I’m working full time with various hours and trying to balance time with loved ones. So when do I write now? Good question. I’m trying to discipline myself to sit down and do it but there always seems to be something, someone and I’m distracted.

Being an Indy author makes it even harder and I don’t think a lot of people realize that.  Writing a book itself is a taunting task, it takes time and patience to get the first draft. But that’s only the beginning. Then there are revisions, edits, more revisions, more edits, ect. until the piece is the way you want it. An Indy author, well any author actually, has to build a following. I’ve heard it called a list, a tribe, a platform which are all basically the same- writers/authors need readers. And it helps to have this following of readers before a book is released. Unfortunately we live in a world where just because a book is published, no matter how, Indy or traditional, doesn’t mean that its going to sell. A writer has to have readers interested before that book release. People who the writer can email and say, “It’s available now,” and they’ll be excited because they’ve been waiting. To build that following, we have to stop the writing process and make a splash on social media, websites, and blogs. We have to let readers know, hey I’m out here and soon I’m going to release a book so please buy it.

Doesn’t sound so easy anymore does it? Write, but pause to promote yourself, keep writing so that you have something worth promoting yourself for. Maybe in time it gets easier, after a couple of published books and a good number of readers who are going to look for new material from you. But as an Indy author, it takes a whole lot to get to that point.

So what kind of a life does a writer have? None! We sit in rooms alone, lock ourselves in for hours or days at a time. Then we attend our jobs so that we have a room to lock ourselves in. Sleep, we don’t always get much of that. I can’t speak for the thousands of authors out there but as for me, my stories talk to me when I try to sleep. Characters complain that they aren’t getting enough attention, ideas on plots pop in my head, ect. Lately, I’m very tired!

Thanks for reading. That was just a little bit inside a writer’s mind. Now if you don’t mind me, I have a novel that I need to keep working on.

Starting all over, basically

Not too long ago I decided it was time to get back into the writing world. I have been spending as much time as I can writing, outlining, planning future books. Then it hit me, I have to restart networking and making myself a name. I hope you bare with me as I get my feet wet, again.

Currently I am giving away free ebooks to anyone who signs up for my newsletter. Visit my website to sign up today. Don’t forget to share with your friends, family, or anyone you know who likes to read.

I’m also trying to build my facebook page so please take a moment to “like” that. To be honest, Facebook hasn’t been much of a help for me. Whenever I create ads, it gives me very few likes or website clicks. My posts are seen by very few. Still they say its a must have so I keep trying.

All in all, I’m just giving this another shot. I hope you feel comfortable connecting with me. Thanks for reading:)

Would you like a free e-book?

If you have any device that holds ebooks, and would like to read "Amelia's Story" for free, we can make a deal. For anyone who wants a copy and is willing to give an honest review, here and on Amazon, I will give you the download information. I only ask that the review be posted within 2 weeks of receiving the book. During a promotional period on Amazon, over 300 e-books were downloaded yet only 1 review given. People have emailed me and told me they liked the story but thats not a review. Serious replies only, send me a message for the download information.

Right now I'm trying to build a following of readers- and am not as concerned about a profit as much as I should be.

Thank you in advance for reading:)

Historical Fiction, or so I'm told!

I wrote several things throughout my life but that one aching rule I always heard was to continue writing within your genre. Great advice, if you knew what genre you wanted. I had no idea, I just wrote whatever story floated in my head. Then I came up with the idea for Amelia's Story and had so much fun writing and researching. Later when the book came out, even before when I gave preview copies out, I had several people tell me I found my genre. Guess I did, it's a complete joy, and my next novel will be a historical too.

But yet I still question it. What exactly defines historical fiction? When searching HF books, I come across stories of kings and queens, stories of Ireland, Scotland, but not often stories of America. Not saying they're not out there, maybe I'm looking in the wrong places. Maybe they're not considered HF?

I like to tell stories during Colonial days, maybe the Revolutionary days, up to the Civil War, and I'm fascinated by early 20th century as well. I read once that if it's over 50 years old, it's HF. If you have any opinions, or think I belong elsewhere in genres, please tell me. Until then, I'm C.P. Murphy, a historical fiction author:)