Patrick Jones's Blog, page 47
July 9, 2014
It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood…
A home is not a home without a gnome
After my heart operation last summer I was healed enough to get a job. The book, “The Wolf’s Moon“, was still selling but due to my need to put the world back into perspective, I applied and was hired as a substitute janitor.
At first, it was at the high school. I swept and mopped floors, scrubbed desktops and whatever else it took for the students and teachers to have a clean environment.
During my months there, I had the pleasure of getting to know the teachers and staff.
They are some of the hardest working people I have ever met. Everything they do isn’t “just for a paycheck.” They do what they do for more – each and every student.
When many people finish their eight hours (unless they are paid overtime pay), they are on the way to “Miller Time.”
I can’t tell you the countless hours the teachers spend after the kids leave. Yes, they do get paid extra for doing things like coaching or cheer-leading practice.
Still, it’s not that much for the hours invested.
It isn’t just after school but weekends as well.
If they aren’t working on the next day’s lesson plan, they are grading papers and then they take care of their own families. Making suppers, washing clothes and all the things that go with home life.
Then there are the people that hold everything together – the office staff and counselors.
Everyone from the superintendent on down to the cafeteria staff works for one end – the students to succeed.
Then I worked at the Middle School and the Elementary School.
What was really interesting is that I found no difference in the caliber of teachers or staff. The principal at the Middle School was always on hand – even at away games. The school nurse was there to assist if the need arose.
In a small school district what makes such a difference?
It is an easy question to answer – the people who sit on the school board. They work on the board for one reason. Again, it is for each and every student from preschool through seniors in high school.
All the work, all the time and effort by each and every person involved in the teaching of the students is rewarded by the standards the students live up to each day.
Many of the seniors are going on to college. They have all been properly prepared.
One of my young men from the basketball team was appointed to West Point.
I was lucky to get a job, making a paycheck and regaining my confidence. Most of all I found a high and profound respect for each person in this school district.
By themselves they are wonderful, together, they are the best.
Any doubts, ask the students. They will be more than happy to tell you.
April 29, 2014
99 Top Forums/Blogs to Post Your Book FREE
Doris has a wealth of knowledge!!
Originally posted on Savvy Writers & e-Books online:
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There are more than 46 Top Websites …, more than one road to success and here you get enough material to work on for many months. Remember: as more your books information, order links and its cover is visible online, as more people will notice it. Take advantage, that on some sites, for example on Pinterest, Google+ and some communities you can show your books cover more than once. However read carefully the guidelines on forums you want to join, and their policies.
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http://pinterest.com/111publishing/
http://bit.ly/VmtVAS
http://bit.ly/1e1pCCN
http://bit.ly/1a827Xv
http://bit.ly/13NFyBT
http://bit.ly/HwcJpA
http://bit.ly/1dy6IU9
http://bit.ly/1dy6IU9
http://www.kindlemojo.com
http://www.Wattpad.com
http://blog.booksontheknob.org/
http://www.askdavid.com/
http://www.goodreads.com/
http://www.booktalk.org/
http://www.booktalk.com/authors/
http://www.librarything.com/
http://www.shelfari.com/
http://authonomy.com
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums
http://forums.onlinebookclub.org
http://www.bookandreader.com
http://thebookmarketingnetwork.com/forum
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April 28, 2014
Part 2, Grants for Writers
Part 2 of Grants for Writers
Originally posted on Savvy Writers & e-Books online:
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Would you like a free work-vacation stay, maybe in Paris, France or in Bellagio, Italy? Sometimes even paid… as a Writer-in-Residency? Book mark these tips and links and check periodically the deadlines for grants, fellowships or writers residencies. Besides accommodation, writers often receive a stipend and travel expenses paid. A great way for writers to get out of their routine, find time to write, solitude and possibilities to advance their career. See also Part 1 of Grants for Writers.
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Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio, Italy, Residencies
Four-week residencies between March 10 and July 31, 2015. Open to composers, novelists, playwrights, poets, video/filmmakers and visual artists from around the globe, with the goal of bringing together people of diverse expertise and cultures in a thought-provoking creative environment. Spouses/life partners may accompany the resident, or may apply for a concurrent residency. The Center also offers collaborative residencies for two to four persons…
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Upcoming Grants for Writers
Always great information from Doris!
Originally posted on Savvy Writers & e-Books online:
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Are you living in the USA, Canada or United Kingdom? The following grants, fellowships or writers residencies are mostly offered on a yearly basis, sometimes even twice a year. Bookmark their links and check periodically their deadlines. Besides accommodation, writers often receive a stipend and travel expenses paid. A great way for writers to get out of their routine, find solitude and time to write in order to advance their career.
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Iowa Artist Fellowship
The Artist Fellowship provides support to individuals who demonstrate exceptional creativity in the arts and the capacity for continued contributions to the excellence and innovation of the arts in the State. The Artist Fellowship Program seeks to elevate the arts in Iowa by advancing the artistic careers of Iowa artists through funding and professional development. The Iowa Arts Council awards each fellow $5,000 to support the development of their artistic career.
Deadline May 1…
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April 11, 2014
Pay With a Tweet – And How it Works
Originally posted on Savvy Writers & e-Books online:
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A great way to introduce your upcoming book to readers is to write a prequel in form of a short free book, including links to your book sales page or your website. But how to let as many readers as possible know about your free one – and at the same time about your new upcoming book? Use the help of Social Media and let your free book or other written content go viral via Twitter by re-tweeting to your customers friends and followers. Nowadays it’s sometimes more valuable to have people talking about your book than the money you would earn for it.
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Sell Your Free Book for the Price of a Tweet
It’s a service that lets visitors access to your content without having to “pay” for it by giving up any personal information on a form — all they have to do is share…
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September 12, 2013
The Author’s Summer Adventure…Part II…Freebie Friday the 13th and Saturday the 14th
Hello to everyone!
This will be short but I want to thank everyone for their good thoughts, best wishes and prayers.
Since March, it has been something of a go. Not all bad. I hope to be back writing soon. Cardiac Rehab is going well. The doctor says I am doing remarkably well.
2 days ago was my three month anniversary for open heart surgery. The scars are healing physically but putting my life back mentally is a challenge. I have to remember to go slow!! This time next year, the doctor says, I should be much better, maybe never 100% but much better.
I found a family that I thought I lost years ago. I found a deeper faith in God. I found friends I never knew I had.
All I can say is a deep felt thanks and I WILL be writing again soon!!
To celebrate, I am making “The Wolf’s Moon” e-book FREE on Amazon FRIDAY THE 13th and again on SATURDAY THE 14th of September 2013. Please click on the book to go directly to AMAZON. ENJOY and thanks again!
Pat
HURRY! BUY NOW
July 4, 2013
Happy Independence Day America!
Reblogged from Savvy Writers & e-Books online:
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To all Readers, Writers, Publishers, Editors ... just to everyone who loves books: enjoy a wonderful July 4th! Embrace reading, writing, American literature - and the outdoors. Here some tips to do just that:
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100 Best American Authors
Goodreads made a list of American authors who write about the American experience. From F.Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway and Mark Twain to Margaret Mitchell, Jack Kerouac and John Irving - their most famous books are described in this great list of the 100 best American Authors.
Happy 4th of July America! Great tips from Doris-Maria Heilmann to enjoy the occasion!
July 1, 2013
♨ Happy Birthday, Canada!
Reblogged from Bite Size Canada:
More important events have taken place in Canada on July 1 than on any other day of the year, but first place will always be retained by Confederation Day, 1867. This was Canada's birthday, although Canada then included only Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
Most nations were born of adversity, unhappy occasions, often due to war.
Happy Birthday Canada!
June 28, 2013
Update on The Author’s Summer Hospital Adventure!
Good Morning Everyone!
I wanted to make sure to provide an update on Patrick Jones this morning. He has had an incredible summer adventure so far! I am sure he does not think it incredible, but he is alive nonetheless!
Earlier this year, Pat had a bought with pneumonia, or so we thought. It turned out to improve somewhat, but the antibiotics and steroids did not do the trick after 2-3 regiments. Thus began a series of Emergency Room visits that all ended with sending him home with no resolution.
Finally, we changed the ER room to another hospital, where the adventure began! They immediately found an issue with the bladder as well as with the heart. They could not fix the heart issue until they resolved the bladder issue because they did not want to introduce heparin after a cardiac operation for bleeding reasons. So he, in effect, got a double “whammy” with this illness. He had bladder surgery the first of June followed by a CABG x 5 procedure on June 10th. They refer to the cardiac bypass operation as a “CABG” which means cardiac artery bypass graft. Having studied some of the technical information, I have found this to be an extremely complicated and life-saving procedure. I have also googled the cardiac bypass information and watched one of the videos on how they actually perform the procedure. It is incredibly impressive how they even know how to find all of the vessels to fix. Pat had 5 arteries bypassed. He is alive. He was fortunate not to have had a heart attack or stoke beforehand…that is for sure. This also provided him the advantage in the healing process.
http://fmp.cit.nih.gov/hi/ Title: Coronary artery bypass surgery Image ID: 657 B Photographer: Jerry Hecht Restrictions: Public Domain Image Date: 10/1/1981 Slovenščina: Kardiovaskularna kirurgija: koronarni bypass arterije. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Pat was in the hospital for a week with the bladder and then a week and a half latter went through the CABG procedure. He has been out of the hospital now for a week and a half and is not quite ready to begin writing at this point. He is progressing as expected, but it is a long road to recovery. His biggest problem is wanting to go out and mow and weed whack and work in the garden, but the strength he will need is to NOT do those sorts of things right now. It is kind of like keeping a wild animal caged!! 
He is learning to follow the rules albeit reluctantly, but the extra exertion reinforces the need for rest! For being out of the hospital for a week and a half, he is doing fantastic!
I look forward for him to begin writing again soon in the next couple two or three weeks. Right now his focus is on healing and resting. He wishes everyone well and misses all of you and is anxious to get back in the saddle. Until then, I thought I would write a quick note to let you know why he hasn’t been blogging and writing lately. He should be bionic soon!
Take care and stay well. More information to follow. 
Sandy Jones
May 14, 2013
Gordon A. Long Talks About His New Book, “A Sword Called…Kitten?”
Please Welcome Gordon A. Long to the Blog Hop at The Linden Chronicles! We are all anxious to hear about Gordon’s new WIP! Thanks for visiting, Gordon!
Gordon A. Long is a writer/editor/playwrite/director in Tsawwassen, British Columbia. His fantasy novel, “A Sword Called…Kitten? Is available in paperback and ebook on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/A-Sword-Called-Kitten-ebook/dp/B006QQHTH4/r
The second book in the series, “Excisor” is due in September this year.
His social commentary, “Why Are People So Stupid?” is available as an e-book at
http://www.amazon.com/Why-Are-People-Stupid-ebook/dp/B00A3HU6ZE/ and at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/247418
and in paperback at
http://www.amazon.com/Why-Are-People-So-Stupid/dp/0968883575/
He has two blogs,
http://airbornpress.ca/writing/blogweb/index.php
Are People Really That Stupid?
http://airbornpress.ca/arewestupid/blogweb/index.php
He can be contacted at: gordonlong@airbornpress.ca
What is the working title of your next book?
Excisor. Which means it’s either something about the tax man or the story of a tooth that cuts things out. I’ll leave the reader to imagine which.
Where did the idea come from for the book?
It’s the sequel to “A Sword Called…Kitten?” which was based on the personality of my cat. Then I got a new puppy who is very much a character, but he didn’t get along with the cat. I couldn’t resist.
What genre does your book fall under?
Humorous Fantasy. Or Romantic Comedy. That’s the trouble with being creative. I put a book up on Smashwords, and they ask me to put it in a category, and there’s no category for fantasy humour. I guess they never heard of Terry Pratchet or Piers Anthony.
What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?
A Healer struggles to fulfill the needs of her people and to keep her infant Magic Scalpel under control, hampered by racial prejudice, revolution, and a Magic Sword who won’t be serious.
Since this is a series, the setting must be important. What might interest the reader about the setting?
Inderjorn is a late medieval realm with a disrupted past. About 200 years ago the original people, a blond, nordic-type race, were invaded by the Maridons, a dark-haired, hispanic-type race. The resulting mix has never quite come together. Most nobles are Maridon, but not all. Most commoners are Inderjornese, but not all. Think Norman England, about 1200.
Then, of course, there’s the Magic. Inderjornese of the Blood, or former ruling class, are Sensitive to the emotions of others. Exceptionally talented Magicians can communicate speech, and even sway the minds of weaker people. However, a Sensitive can use an outside agency, such as a Magic Sword, to ease the communication of actual words and images.
The main character is a young Magic Sword with a chequered past of her own and a burning desire for a Name of honour and glory. This she achieves, rather against her will, in the first book of the series.
In the second book, racial tensions erupt. Maridons are becoming Sensitives as well, without the years of lore and social convention that the natives have available to control their Powers. Kitten throws her weight behind Eirlin the Healer, the only one with the Power to Heal the realm. But will Eirlin grow to meet the challenge in time?
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
I’m a starting-up publisher, so my book will be handled by Airborn Press. Which at the moment is me. I am working on some other people’s projects, so I hope to soon have some more authors in my stable. Submissions gladly accepted.
What other books would you compare this to within your genre?
It doesn’t really compare. The curse of originality. I have always been a fan of Terry Pratchett, but my humour is very different from his. I have my own brand of humour, rather sharp and (I hope) witty, with a touch of the ridiculous for colouring. Oscar Wilde was one of my heroes as well. Sorry about the indefinite answer. I guess you’ll just have to read it and find out.
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
I have been an Anne McCafferey fan for ages. One of the universal human fantasies is a powerful animal you can communicate with telepathically. Then I discovered Terry Pratchett. I mean, traditional fantasy has a fairly limited appeal, and one can get sated quite quickly. Adding humour refreshes my interest. Humour and creativity like Pratchett’s has refreshed my interest for about 15 years.
What else about the book might pique the reader’s interest?
A rather unusual love story, a couple of very different sword fights, and a psychotic villainess with dual personalities. Also, this story is completely told from the POV of the Sword
