2817 ratings | 2015 reviews | avg rating:3.22

Peter’s Year In Books

Peter’s 2024 Year in Books

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Peter’s Bookshelves

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Peter Derk

Goodreads Author

Born

in The United States

Website

https://www.helpfulsnowman.com

Twitter

helpfulsnowman

Member Since

February 2009

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Peter Derk doesn't understand why they've never sold a Twix called "Twick" that's just one long bar made of the two bars mashed together. ...more

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Popular Answered Questions

From Yahoo Answers: I keep getting rejected from women, should i just become a homosexual? I know its a sin and ill burn in hell forever. Im just tired of it. So should i become gay and be happy, or deal with fustration from constant rejection from women? I dont think the fustration is worth it.

Peter Derk Can I tell you a story about this?

The first time I was in a gay bar was because of an incident where a friend's car got towed. We walked a ways to mee…moreCan I tell you a story about this?

The first time I was in a gay bar was because of an incident where a friend's car got towed. We walked a ways to meet another friend, a gay guy and his partner, who were going to help us out. They were in a gay bar, and they insisted we have a drink with them first before we got down to business. By which I mean "get a ride home." By which I mean get in a vehicle and drive it...let's just keep going with the story.

I walked in, we had a drink, and I left. And you know what? Nobody hit on me. Nobody talked to me. It was almost like -gasp- pretty much a normal bar.

Now, I fully expected that guys would love me. Because ladies were kind of ho-hum about me, so I figured that meant dudes would be all about it. Because a gay guy is the opposite of a girl, right?

Nope. Turns out, nope, not at all. In fact, a gay gentleman's proclivities really don't have much to do with a woman's. It's kind of like it's own whole thing. Actually, I'll revise that. It's exactly like it's own whole thing.

This was a lesson learned when I was maybe 21. So a little old, but what can I say, I grew up podunk.

So while turning to gay men might seem like an alternative, flipping the switch from OFF to ON, it doesn't really work that way.

Here's my advice to you and really the advice I would give to any young person who is having this sort of problem: Pursue an interest that's NOT having a boyfriend or girlfriend.

Get interested in something. Get a hobby. Seriously. This is the best thing you can do for yourself, and it's going to make your future relationships much richer.

For one thing, you'll become a better, deeper, more interesting person.

For another, if your hobby is pursuing romance, then once you have romance, what then? What do you have left at that point?

Get a hobby. I would possibly suggest some sort of queer studies classes in your particular case. Or model rocketry. (less)

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Pete, why didn't you push "Like" on my 5-star review of your book?

Peter Derk Oh, please. A 5-star review? I wasn't born yesterday.

In all seriousness, or as much seriousness as I can muster for Goodreads, I really do appreciate …moreOh, please. A 5-star review? I wasn't born yesterday.

In all seriousness, or as much seriousness as I can muster for Goodreads, I really do appreciate the nice reviews and things people say about my books. And I get steamed about the bad ones. Because I'm a human man and it doesn't feel good when people say bad things.

I don't hit Like anymore these days because, well, I really do appreciate the nice reviews, but I also know that book reviewers don't necessarily want to have a dialog with me, and...it feels a little creepy.

I do my fair share of reviewing, and I have been contacted by authors a couple times. Both for books I gave middling reviews. And...I didn't love it. It was weird.

I also think it can be a little creepy. I've worked/volunteered a few jobs working with youth. If you're a single, adult man working with youth, you learn to stay as far away from creepsville as is humanly possible. Your creepification monitor is very sensitive. Trust me, this might sound weird to you, but any others who've walked a mile in those shoes know what I'm talking about. So, I am super averse to doing anything remotely creepy, which probably hurts me sometimes because it's good to develop relationships with readers, but I'm going better safe than sorry on this one.

There was another event that made me think this way.

When I put out the first book I put out, a book of poems, someone gave it a 1-star review. I knew this person as a friend of friend of friend kind of thing, and I did think it was extremely uncool to give it a 1-star. I went to this person's profile and was looking at other ratings, and was like, "Wait, if you were this charitable all along, what the hell?"

I was seriously considering clicking "Like" on this review. So the person would know I'd seen it. And maybe think, "Oh, yeah. Real person. Not cool."

But then I took a breath and was like, "Whoa." Not like a Matrix whoa, like a cowboy stopping a spooked horse kind of whoa.

I'm not a professional author, but I can still act like one. And a pro can take it when someone dislikes their book. I learned an important lesson from Rocky Balboa: "It's not how hard you can hit. It's how hard you can GET hit and keep moving forward." Rocky was right. Punch drunk, but right. Being a pro is about getting hit and moving forward, not about hitting back.

I didn't hit that Like button. And I decided not to hit the positive ones either. I'm just not like some big time guy, like a Stephen King. If Stephen King liked my 5-star review, I'd be pretty happy. But Peter Derk? Who gives a shit?

I think reviews are for readers. They help readers make good choices on how to spend their time and money. Sure, I look at 'em. And I'm heartwarmed when I see a glowing one. But I have to assume that even the nice reviews were not written to make me feel good, they were written to tell people about a good book. Unless they're by friends and family. Then I figure they're at least kinda meant to make me feel good, and I'm 100% fine with that.

I'm very grateful to anyone who reads my books, whether they end up liking them or not. There are a lot of choices for people out there, lots of ways you all can spend your time, and I'm honored when you choose to spend your time with my books. If you want to be chummy with me, tag me in your review on Twitter or Instagram, or email me. I'm helpfulsnowman on Twitter, Instagram, and gmail. Pretty much everywhere. Also, feel free to chat me up on reviews I do of other books, books I didn't write.

As for reviews of my books, I'll be there, but not in a creepy way. Maybe just looking down like Mufasa from the clouds. Except not dead. And not a lion. And none of you are my kids. I do suspect that some of you have tried to strike up a relationship with a fun meerkat/warthog duo, but that's because you're weird. (less)

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Peter Derk’s books

Average rating: 3.96 · 203 ratings · 87 reviews · 32 distinct works • Similar authors

	Pete's Exhaustive Review of Modelland 4.22 avg rating — 45 ratings — published 2016 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Ghost Dick: Private Eye 3.64 avg rating — 22 ratings — published 2018 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Harold's Coming 3.10 avg rating — 20 ratings — published 2021 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Heist-est Heist Ever Heisted: A Heist Story of a Heist: Special Editor’s Edition really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 14 ratings — published 2021 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Barehanded: poems really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 13 ratings — published 2011 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Dear Runaway: a novel in letters 4.70 avg rating — 10 ratings — published 2019 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Ninja Sons 4.09 avg rating — 11 ratings — published 2015 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Skeleton Army: a novel of an army of darkness of skeletons really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 2015 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	My Mother's Silver Bowl 4.17 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 2021 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Tough Shoot: a short essay 3.83 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 2014 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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31 posts
Peter Derk's Blog

A Post so Jason Can Have a Link

Apparently Goodreads will not allow non-Goodreads links in comments. I guess this is because they would probably be almost entirely links for things that nobody wants.

Which isn't to say that people are rushing to read what I offer, but ONE PERSON has indeed requested this link.

Jason, here you go:
https://helpfulsnowman.substack.com/p...

I promise I'm very pleasant in real life and not normally this Read more of this blog post »

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Published on January 08, 2025 15:22

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Series by Peter Derk

Digitally Stimulated (4 books)
by

Peter Derk (Goodreads Author)

4.20 avg rating — 10 ratings

The LitReactor Years (4 books)
by

Peter Derk (Goodreads Author)

it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 5 ratings

Peter is Currently Reading

Peter Derk is currently reading

The Complete Stories

by Flannery O'Connor

bookshelves: currently-reading, 2018

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Feb 20, 2018 06:33PM

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Peter’s Recent Updates

Peter Derk made a comment on his review of Gnome Cave " Long legs: I liked quite a bit. I have no idea what that “I have my long legs on” line meant, and it was creepy as hell. Oddity: mostly liked it. Mayb ...more "
Sep 29, 2025 08:55PM · see review
Peter Derk rated a book it was amazing Gnome Cave by James Rolfe	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I'm giving this 5 stars to start because I feel like there's some pretty unfair ratings going on here. For those not in the know, James Rolfe is also known as The Angry Video Game Nerd, a pioneer in the online video/YouTuber kind of realm. Which isn't ...more
Sep 29, 2025 03:54PM · 2 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Gnome Cave by James Rolfe. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Gnome Cave by James Rolfe <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Peter Derk rated a book it was amazing The Grass Is Greener by Stephen M. Park	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I liked High and Dry, so of course this one was also great. I may have liked it better, I don't know, maybe the writing style felt a little clearer or just honed or something. Park was a weed grower for many years, and while I have nothing against wee ...more
Sep 10, 2025 01:52PM · 1 like · like · see review
Peter Derk made a comment on his review of Karate Prom " digital high five "
Sep 04, 2025 05:58PM · see review
Peter Derk made a comment on his review of Dandadan, Vol. 1 " Mir wrote: "Congrats on scoring a kind and attractive wife!" Thank you! I was about to say something like, "She's a keeper," and then that seemed weird ...more "
Sep 04, 2025 05:55PM · see review
Peter Derk rated a book really liked it Fifty in Reverse by Bill Flanagan	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
My ultimate fucking nightmare, to wake up back in junior high. I would just end it. I'm NOT telling people in junior high to do that. Everyone has the psychic energy to get through junior high ONCE. You can do it, I believe in you. But once you're thro ...more
Sep 02, 2025 04:22PM · 4 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Fifty in Reverse by Bill Flanagan. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Fifty in Reverse by Bill Flanagan <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Peter Derk rated a book really liked it Plumbers Don't Wear Ties (Worlds Unlimited, #1) by Mike Drucker	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I mean, the idea alone, the novelization of a terrible game, is great. I would recommend watching a let's play of the game before you read because, honestly, the game is so stupid that it's kind of hard to tell which things are added by Mr. Drucker a ...more
Sep 02, 2025 04:18PM · 1 like · like · see review
Peter Derk rated a book it was amazing Good Game, No Rematch: A Life Made of Video Games by Mike Drucker	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I loved this book, loved the audiobook, and I think Mike Drucker did my favorite nonsensical pandemic thing. I would love to make an anthology called like, "My Nonsensical Pandemic Thing I Did." This would not be medical stuff or about masks or whate ...more
Sep 02, 2025 04:17PM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Good Game, No Rematch by Mike Drucker. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Good Game, No Rematch by Mike Drucker <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Peter Derk and 11 other people liked Marc Dark Reader with a Thousand Young! Iä!'s status update Marc Dark Reader with a Thousand Young! Iä! is on page 211 of 320 of Stormlight: “Things are back to normal,” he announced to the room full of staring men. “She’s lost all her clothes again!” That quote is the book’s review.
Aug 31, 2025 01:00PM · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Stormlight by Ed Greenwood. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Stormlight by Ed Greenwood <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Peter Derk rated a book liked it Pine & Merrimac (Pine and Merrimac) by Kyle Starks (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
It's the most grounded Kyle Starks book I've read, and it features a cult and some mystical bullshit, so that's really saying something about where his books tend to go and my undying affection for them. Speaking of undying affection, if the dude in t ...more
Aug 25, 2025 11:29AM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Pine & Merrimac by Kyle Starks. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Pine & Merrimac by Kyle Starks <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

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Quotes by Peter Derk (?)

“You might have to hurt yourself if you want to really be alone for a little while.”
― Peter Derk, Dear Runaway: a novel in letters

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“All I did one summer was lay down on a shitty 70's couch and listen to bands I won't even talk about because they're too embarrassing. A whole summer like that. Okay, fine. It was Staind.”
― Peter Derk, Dear Runaway: a novel in letters

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“I try really hard not to live how people think I live.”
― Peter Derk, Dear Runaway: a novel in letters

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Turn of a Page: March Weekly Readathon 11th-17th (Closed)	55	81	Mar 18, 2022 07:24AM
Turn of a Page: March Monthly Readathon	91	115	Apr 01, 2022 10:25AM
Turn of a Page: Shandra's Thread	60	28	Dec 29, 2022 08:16AM

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Peter’s Quotes

“Game shows are designed to make us feel better about the random, useless facts that are all we have left of our education.”
― Chuck Palahniuk, Invisible Monsters

tags: education, game-shows, trivia

643 likes

“Remember; no matter how desperate the situation seems, time spent
thinking clearly is never time wasted.”
― Max Brooks, Zombie Survival Guide, The: Complete Protection From The Living Dead

123 likes

“Why do people have to be this lonely? What's the point of it all? Millions of people in this world, all of them yearning, looking to others to satisfy them, yet isolating themselves. Why? Was the earth put here just to nourish human loneliness?”
― Haruki Murakami, Sputnik Sweetheart

tags: isolation, loneliness, sadness

5878 likes

“Fuck concepts. Don't be afraid to be confused. Try to remain permanently confused. Anything is possible. Stay open, forever, so open it hurts, and then open up some more, until the day you die, world without end, amen.”
― George Saunders

187 likes

“All these weirdos, and me getting a little better every day right in the midst of them. I had never known, never even imagined for a heartbeat, that there might be a place for people like us.”
― Denis Johnson, Jesus' Son

66 likes

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