Bryan T. Clark's Blog, page 5
August 24, 2014
Stockton Pride Fest
I had a great day at Stockton's (California) Pride Fest. Although the drive was about two hours, it was well worth it if only to just support our sister community. I spent the day with my husband, big sister, my niece and her daughter. I was a day of positive thinking and bonding.
Life is too short to spend it with negative people and haters so avoid those people if you can, as they can be toxic.
You may be able to always come up with a good reason why you can't avoid the toxic person in your life, BUT you do have a choice in who and how you surround yourself with. Some of those choices are harder than others and we can stand to lose something by making that choice, but it is your choice.
Garbage in=Garbage out
Positive thinking=Healthy living
Life is too short to spend it with negative people and haters so avoid those people if you can, as they can be toxic.
You may be able to always come up with a good reason why you can't avoid the toxic person in your life, BUT you do have a choice in who and how you surround yourself with. Some of those choices are harder than others and we can stand to lose something by making that choice, but it is your choice.
Garbage in=Garbage out
Positive thinking=Healthy living
August 10, 2014
Thank You
Now going into its sixth month, I am pleased to share that Ancient House of Cards is still doing well. The reviews have been exceptional. For those of you that took the time to write a review on either Amazon or Barns & Nobles.com, thank you, I really do value them.
I was not naive to think that I would jump straight to the New York Times bestsellers list with my first book, (Although it would have been nice) but so far, sales have been all over the world; Canada, Mexico, Germany, Great Britain, Australia, India, South Africa as well as across the United States.
The marketing of a new book as an unknown author is the true work. Just keeping the book alive and thinking of new ways to generate interest takes many hours each night. Oh how I wish I could just write and not have to worry about the business end of being a Published Author.
With that being said, this week I have turned over my current ‘Work In Progress’ (WIP in the writing world) to my Beta Reader. ‘Swimming with Sharks’ is now in his hands for its initial read-through by a second party.
So what is a Beta Reader you might ask? It is the job of the Beta Reader to look over the material to find and improve elements such as grammar and spelling, as well as suggestions to improve the general style of the story, its characters, or its setting.
Although Swimming with Sharks is not a sequel to Ancient House of Cards, it is also a story of moral dilemma, the fine line between right and wrong. I am excited about bringing this novel to you, and over the several months will start to introduce some of the main characters.
I was not naive to think that I would jump straight to the New York Times bestsellers list with my first book, (Although it would have been nice) but so far, sales have been all over the world; Canada, Mexico, Germany, Great Britain, Australia, India, South Africa as well as across the United States.
The marketing of a new book as an unknown author is the true work. Just keeping the book alive and thinking of new ways to generate interest takes many hours each night. Oh how I wish I could just write and not have to worry about the business end of being a Published Author.
With that being said, this week I have turned over my current ‘Work In Progress’ (WIP in the writing world) to my Beta Reader. ‘Swimming with Sharks’ is now in his hands for its initial read-through by a second party.
So what is a Beta Reader you might ask? It is the job of the Beta Reader to look over the material to find and improve elements such as grammar and spelling, as well as suggestions to improve the general style of the story, its characters, or its setting.
Although Swimming with Sharks is not a sequel to Ancient House of Cards, it is also a story of moral dilemma, the fine line between right and wrong. I am excited about bringing this novel to you, and over the several months will start to introduce some of the main characters.
June 30, 2014
5 Stars-MM Good Book Reviews
What GiGi said: Where to begin? I really enjoyed this book, and even though it may not matter to most people, and pen names mask gender, I truly feel the masculine perspective when reading this story. Ancient House of Cards isn’t really a romance in the bodice ripper/tight pants tradition, though there are sensual scenes and chemistry between the characters. This story is familiar to anyone who lived with abuse, whether as a child or as an adult trying to handle their own psychological problems. This story is about trying to break the cycles of abuse, and how very difficult that really is.
Ian may have vowed to himself never to be the abusive man his father was, or to put up with abuse for so long like his mother had, but even when we take positive steps to change the obvious cycles of abuse, we can easily overlook the more subtle effects of abuse. Like Ian setting himself up to fail, going back to a partner who abuses his trust repeatedly. Only to repeat those behaviors himself when he develops a new relationship with Sebastian Morales. There are so many layers to abuse, so many long-term effects, that seeing Ian face them, and get help is so real, so hard, and so great.
The drama here is heart wrenching, and so very honest. Though Ian has finally left his unhealthy relationship with his cheating ex, and built a new home and plans a new direction for his life and his career, it seems he can’t help but make bad mistakes just as life is moving forward. Two steps forward one step back they say.
Ian isn’t the only one in an unhealthy state of mind here. Father Sebastian Morales is hiding from many truths in his own heart. He’s conflicted for sure by his attraction to Ian, disagrees with many tenants of his faith, yet still feels the calling to be part of the church. He denies such a big part of himself that when it finally erupts he’s sick with dread, physically and mentally distraught with coming to terms with what it means to be a gay man and his commitment as a priest in the Catholic Church. He begins to lie, to others, to himself, and as any reader can predict it all comes crumbling down on him.
I won’t give away the big game changer, but this story is an extremely important one. The moral of the story, for me anyhow, is that you first must be happy and healthy with yourself before you can be happy with another person. You cannot count on another person for your own happiness.
I also like the way Bryan ended this story, one can imagine many different outcomes for themselves.
Ian may have vowed to himself never to be the abusive man his father was, or to put up with abuse for so long like his mother had, but even when we take positive steps to change the obvious cycles of abuse, we can easily overlook the more subtle effects of abuse. Like Ian setting himself up to fail, going back to a partner who abuses his trust repeatedly. Only to repeat those behaviors himself when he develops a new relationship with Sebastian Morales. There are so many layers to abuse, so many long-term effects, that seeing Ian face them, and get help is so real, so hard, and so great.
The drama here is heart wrenching, and so very honest. Though Ian has finally left his unhealthy relationship with his cheating ex, and built a new home and plans a new direction for his life and his career, it seems he can’t help but make bad mistakes just as life is moving forward. Two steps forward one step back they say.
Ian isn’t the only one in an unhealthy state of mind here. Father Sebastian Morales is hiding from many truths in his own heart. He’s conflicted for sure by his attraction to Ian, disagrees with many tenants of his faith, yet still feels the calling to be part of the church. He denies such a big part of himself that when it finally erupts he’s sick with dread, physically and mentally distraught with coming to terms with what it means to be a gay man and his commitment as a priest in the Catholic Church. He begins to lie, to others, to himself, and as any reader can predict it all comes crumbling down on him.
I won’t give away the big game changer, but this story is an extremely important one. The moral of the story, for me anyhow, is that you first must be happy and healthy with yourself before you can be happy with another person. You cannot count on another person for your own happiness.
I also like the way Bryan ended this story, one can imagine many different outcomes for themselves.
May 11, 2014
What is a Review?
Whether it’s Mary Higgins Clark, Sidney Sheldon or Nora Robert, there are those authors whose writing speaks for itself and reviews do little to nothing to change sales.
But what about the little guy who is just trying to get his/her work out there. The next great novel that nobody knows has already been written.
Before publishing my first book, I will be honest; I never gave it a thought to writing a review on Amazon, Goodreads or an author’s website. Why would I?
An author spends months, sometimes even years perfecting that piece of work, just for you, for your enjoyment. Then the day comes that it is all handed over to you, like a gift. You would never take a gift from a friend or family of that magnitude with saying ‘thank you’. A good review is like a thank you card for an author. A validation that you liked it and it was worthy of you taking that 2 to 3 minutes to write those words.
But what if you don’t like the book, then what? Was it bad writing or the fact that you simply didn’t care for the story. For whatever reason, it’s okay to tell the author that as well. He/she should be open to constructive criticism, as long as it is just that, constructive. A review should never be mean, something that you would never tell that person if you were sitting at the table with them.
Believe me, an author loves receiving a good review, just like the movie producer or the latest pop singer, it’s what feeds us to write that next novel. Constructive criticism can do the same as well. After all, for some of us, it is the very reason we share on work in the first place, for your enjoyment.
But what about the little guy who is just trying to get his/her work out there. The next great novel that nobody knows has already been written.
Before publishing my first book, I will be honest; I never gave it a thought to writing a review on Amazon, Goodreads or an author’s website. Why would I?
An author spends months, sometimes even years perfecting that piece of work, just for you, for your enjoyment. Then the day comes that it is all handed over to you, like a gift. You would never take a gift from a friend or family of that magnitude with saying ‘thank you’. A good review is like a thank you card for an author. A validation that you liked it and it was worthy of you taking that 2 to 3 minutes to write those words.
But what if you don’t like the book, then what? Was it bad writing or the fact that you simply didn’t care for the story. For whatever reason, it’s okay to tell the author that as well. He/she should be open to constructive criticism, as long as it is just that, constructive. A review should never be mean, something that you would never tell that person if you were sitting at the table with them.
Believe me, an author loves receiving a good review, just like the movie producer or the latest pop singer, it’s what feeds us to write that next novel. Constructive criticism can do the same as well. After all, for some of us, it is the very reason we share on work in the first place, for your enjoyment.
Great Reviews on Amazon
What they are saying?
Once I started reading this book, I found it very hard to put down-
Typergirl/Five Stars
I enjoyed this book, but be aware that it is not a HEA in the manner that you would expect-
Nora/Four Stars
OMG! I so love this book. Can’t wait for the next one-
Leighleigh/Five Stars
The deep feelings each character expresses tells quite a powerful story-Sandra/Four Stars
Once I started reading this book, I found it very hard to put down-
Typergirl/Five Stars
I enjoyed this book, but be aware that it is not a HEA in the manner that you would expect-
Nora/Four Stars
OMG! I so love this book. Can’t wait for the next one-
Leighleigh/Five Stars
The deep feelings each character expresses tells quite a powerful story-Sandra/Four Stars
April 26, 2014
What's important?
Flying high this morning. Had a great week in sales but more importantly I learned a ton from authors around the world. Thank you all for the gift of support and friendship.
April 25, 2014
You're my First
Okay everyone, here I go with my very first blog. I remember saying years ago, what is blogging... and what is this thing called Twitter? As the author of Ancient House of Cards, I quickly learned what they were and just how important they are in reaching my readers.
You can't read my book if you don't know it exist, so now I am blogging. Don't laugh it's not funny.
What to say, what to say, what to say....Ancient House of Cards
You can't read my book if you don't know it exist, so now I am blogging. Don't laugh it's not funny.
What to say, what to say, what to say....Ancient House of Cards
