Guest Post: Mike Lackey on his journey with The Bad Seed

     Well first of all, I love writing. I love the whole aspect of telling a good story. I started writing The Bad Seed about three years ago. The moment I first wrote actual story content I was so excited, so fulfilled. As the writing process continued, more and more words flooded my pages and I thought "I can do this, I can write a book!"

      The day came for me to click that button and unleash The Bad Seed into the world. I was a nervous wreck. I had amazon down to a one click process. Then reality set in. No one knows who I am or that I wrote a book! How was I going to change this? Social media madness! I took to Twitter, Instagram and even Tumblr flooding my followers with a blast of my book in their face. Did it work? Yes, to some extent. I have met a lot of very nice people on social media, many willing to give me their hard earned money to read my story, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

      I called every bookstore in my area, most saying they didn't know me and since I was self published they really couldn't help me. Some understood. The Barnes and Noble stores in Chattanooga, TN, Tuscaloosa, AL and Boaz, AL said yes. THEY SAID YES!!! I couldn't believe my book was going on the shelves of a national bookstore. But still, just because they are on the shelf that doesn't mean they will sell. The world of being a writer is hard. Being a self published writer with no money to promote and get the word out is even harder. I believe that dreams are worth hard work. I believe you have to get dirty and sweaty putting in the man hours and foot work to push your dreams where they need to go. I will not stop. I will not give up. Why? Because I want this. I have seen my name on the cover of a book and I love it. So if you're on Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr or Facebook and see an Indie author pouring his or her heart out, listen to them. If you have the extra coin, stop by Amazon and purchase an ebook, most are under $4 we can all spare that! So until next time, let the Light shine through you. You may be the reason someone's day is a little brighter.      I wrote this on my website in January of 2016. The Bad Seed was just a month old and I had no clue what I was doing. Some things have changed, some not so much. In addition to the Barnes and Noble stores in Chattanooga, TN, Tuscaloosa, AL, and Boaz, AL I now have my book in Barnes and Noble stores in Los Angeles, CA and Las Mesa, CA. have sold to people around the world: Australia, Germany, India, Canada, Mexico, Japan and Europe. Adding to the list of accomplishments I was chosen as the author of the month for July 2016 at the Barnes and Noble in Chattanooga, TN. A self published unknown as the author of the month! I started this journey in the dark. No idea where to turn or what I was going to face, but I did not let myself quit. Anyone reading this that has a story just bursting inside you, trying to get out take it from someone who knows; take it from someone without a college degree or background in writing. You can do this. Let your story out to meet the world, we want to hear it.
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    Recently I have signed with a new and promising publishing company; The Polyethnic Publishing Co. I made it. Say it with me, all together; I MADE IT!  This company isn't a big 5 in New York... yet. I knew this going in. I have faith and confidence with the talent they have signed, one day we will be and I was there from the start. I am releasing the second edition of The Bad Seed on January 1st from my new publishing company (still sounds great saying it). I am sharing the new cover here with you as well as some inside the writer's office pictures. Thank you so much, Alyssa for this opportunity for me to be heard. Please, everyone reading this, go to your local bookstore, your Amazon account on your reading device or the world wide web and find an indie author and show them some love, we need it.