Thought I would double up this Sunday's posting with the kickoff to Read an Ebook Week on top of Sample Sunday. So if you're here for the codes to get Spiral X for 50% off and Split for free, that's coming shortly. If you're here for the sample, that's after the jump. Navigate accordingly.
So I didn't know this, and I like to consider myself a repository for useless information, but apparently Ebooks have been around for forty years. Yes, you heard me right, forty years! You can dig into the history of the Ebook by hitting this link, which also happens to double as the official Read an Ebook Week website. I'm all about doubling up today, apparently. Despite how long it's been around though, it is only within the last few years that the Ebook has hit the big time, so it's been an interesting journey. I only hope my journey doesn't take forty years to take off. Just sayin'.
At any rate, as part of this occasion, Smashwords is holding a site-wide celebration, and any author who wanted to could take part in this endeavor by offering between 25-100% off of their books. Since I'm all about promoting myself these days, I have signed up.
So go to here to grab Spiral X for 50% off with the code RAE50.
Go here to grab Split for 100% off (that's FREE!) with the code RAE25.
And hey, while you're at it, go grab a few others. Indies authors need all the support they can get. Happy Read an Ebook Week!
Sunday, March 6
Thursday, March 3
Thirsty Thursday!
Life is all about challenges. Whether you succeed or fail, we set these challenges in front of us all the time. It's the little things, like, "I'm going to get my laundry done today," to bigger things, like, "I'm going to go back to school and get my degree." We set these challenges so that we know where we stand in life, and each success or failure improves us as a person. So I thought I would take today to celebrate the challenges my family and I met this week. Raise a glass, and celebrate Thirsty Thursday!
1. My wife and I had our second parent-teacher conference this year for our son. We came out of it very proud at the progress he's made since starting Pre-K. Not only is he more vocal, he's starting to voice his disagreements more, which is going to be important as he grows up. Overall, he's a very smart, very capable little boy who is growing up way too fast for our tastes. However, I'm looking forward to helping him grow.
2. Two and a half years ago, after the passing of my father-in-law, my wife and I took in her mother and gave over the master bedroom of our house for her to live in. We moved our daughter into my son's room, and my wife and I moved into her room. At the time, it was pink with purple polka dots on the lower half of the wall, plus purple trim. And that is how it stayed for almost two-and-a-half years. Why didn't we change it? Time. Money. Take your pick. Well, this week we finally got fed up enough to do something about it, and over the course of a couple of days, we repainted the room. Three walls are an off-white, while the fourth is a sponged-on dark blue color. It looks awesome, and the room is finally ours.
3. I finished the outline for Book Two and have started the actual process of writing. This is a huge moment for me because this will be the first time I sit down with a book and know exactly how I want it to look from beginning to end. And it should line up so that I won't have to go back and do any major revisions. I'm expecting a few snags along the way, no book project makes it through without them, but overall I'm thrilled to be able to get going on this. I also think people are going to enjoy it immensely, but then I'm biased.
That's it for this week. For me, at least. So tell me, what were your successes this week? What are you raising a glass to?
1. My wife and I had our second parent-teacher conference this year for our son. We came out of it very proud at the progress he's made since starting Pre-K. Not only is he more vocal, he's starting to voice his disagreements more, which is going to be important as he grows up. Overall, he's a very smart, very capable little boy who is growing up way too fast for our tastes. However, I'm looking forward to helping him grow.
2. Two and a half years ago, after the passing of my father-in-law, my wife and I took in her mother and gave over the master bedroom of our house for her to live in. We moved our daughter into my son's room, and my wife and I moved into her room. At the time, it was pink with purple polka dots on the lower half of the wall, plus purple trim. And that is how it stayed for almost two-and-a-half years. Why didn't we change it? Time. Money. Take your pick. Well, this week we finally got fed up enough to do something about it, and over the course of a couple of days, we repainted the room. Three walls are an off-white, while the fourth is a sponged-on dark blue color. It looks awesome, and the room is finally ours.
3. I finished the outline for Book Two and have started the actual process of writing. This is a huge moment for me because this will be the first time I sit down with a book and know exactly how I want it to look from beginning to end. And it should line up so that I won't have to go back and do any major revisions. I'm expecting a few snags along the way, no book project makes it through without them, but overall I'm thrilled to be able to get going on this. I also think people are going to enjoy it immensely, but then I'm biased.
That's it for this week. For me, at least. So tell me, what were your successes this week? What are you raising a glass to?
Sunday, February 27
A Very Special Sample Sunday #7
So last night I hit the first major milestone in Book Two. I finished the outline. This is actually a big deal for me, because when I started in on Spiral X, I had a rough idea of what I wanted to happen. In my head. That didn't work out so well, as it took me about a year to get through the first half of the book, and then it fizzled out. It was only when I had an outline in place for the back half of the book that I was able to push through to the end. The best part? It only took me a month. See the difference? So when I came around to doing Book Two, I resolved to make sure I had an outline in place before I started writing. That goal is now accomplished.
So for today's Sample Sunday, I thought I would commemorate the occasion by releasing what might be the very first line of the book. I say "might" because I can't even be sure it'll make it to the release copy, but I like it, it's been in my head for a few weeks now, and I think it'll be enough to get people to read through. Hit the break to check it out.
So for today's Sample Sunday, I thought I would commemorate the occasion by releasing what might be the very first line of the book. I say "might" because I can't even be sure it'll make it to the release copy, but I like it, it's been in my head for a few weeks now, and I think it'll be enough to get people to read through. Hit the break to check it out.
Friday, February 25
Follow Friday #2
- (Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { Parajunkee.com} and any one else you want to follow on the list
- (Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers - http://nakeshabrown.blogspot.com/
- Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.
- Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments
- Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI"
- If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
- If you're new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!
Q. Share your current fav television show! Tell us a bit about it...
Archer on FX. Absolutely hilarious and wrong in all the right ways.
Sunday, February 20
Accolades and PubIt! Button
I have added two more things to this blog. The first is a new menu item called "Accolades". This is partially for me to keep a single repository of all the blog reviews I have received, but also largely for visitors to see what people are saying about Spiral X and Split. Mayhaps a quote or two will sway them to give either story a shot.
The second addition is a button for PubIt!, which is Barnes & Noble ebook publishing platform. It's a direct link to Spiral X's B&N page. So anyone looking for a link to get Spiral X for the Nook need look no further.
The second addition is a button for PubIt!, which is Barnes & Noble ebook publishing platform. It's a direct link to Spiral X's B&N page. So anyone looking for a link to get Spiral X for the Nook need look no further.
Sample Sunday #6
Before I get into today's Sample Sunday, I want to link Black Lagoon Reviews, who is currently conducting a giveaway of Spiral X. It's very simple to enter, and the competition is light, so there's a good chance you might win. Best of luck!
One of the things I've been praised on in Spiral X is how each of the characters feel real and complete, something that isn't an easy feat to pull off. For the most part, all the characters are in my head, but as the series goes on, it will become impossible to keep track of them all (since more are always being added), so with Book Two I've taken to keeping a character file. Today I peel back the curtain and give you a preview of a minor character who's sole purpose in life is to make Cheryl's corporate life as difficult as possible. I also give a glimpse into one or two things that have happened since the events of Spiral X.
Hit the break to meet Joseph Redmond.
One of the things I've been praised on in Spiral X is how each of the characters feel real and complete, something that isn't an easy feat to pull off. For the most part, all the characters are in my head, but as the series goes on, it will become impossible to keep track of them all (since more are always being added), so with Book Two I've taken to keeping a character file. Today I peel back the curtain and give you a preview of a minor character who's sole purpose in life is to make Cheryl's corporate life as difficult as possible. I also give a glimpse into one or two things that have happened since the events of Spiral X.
Hit the break to meet Joseph Redmond.
Wednesday, February 16
Wednesday Musings
Saw Tron: Legacy last night. I thought it was pretty good, and the more I think about it, the more I like it. I don't think it's Oscar material, and I don't think it's anything more than escapism, but it was worth the time and was a good date night movie for the wife and I. I've read the complaints about how nothing really happens or that there isn't very much plot, and I say that the first was almost exactly the same way. The only reason the first gets a pass on this is because it was original and fresh and it was 1982 when it came out. It was also a self contained story whereas Legacy is blatantly one of at least two films. So obviously anything made in 1982 isn't going to be original and fresh in 2010, and we've become numb to special effects and pretty pictures so the visual style isn't anything new either, and a lot of people are turned off by anything that is so blatant in terms of creating a series. It doesn't take away from the experience for me though, and Legacy just might end up being a future collection buy.
I've been saying that February was going to be a good month for me, and that has so far remained true. I won't get into how certain things have gone, since they're personal in nature, but it has been a huge month of growth for me in terms of the number of people who have seen and read Spiral X and have genuinely enjoyed it in the process. One of the worst things an author can feel is ambivalence towards their writing, the question of whether or not it's worth the monumental effort it takes to put a book together. Every time I see a comment that asks whether a second book is coming, or how they don't normally take to that particular genre and that it didn't matter in this case, or just people I know saying they didn't know how good a writer I was, it gives me fuel. Incentive to make it through the blocks, the slow downs, the questions so that I can provide a compelling tale that almost everyone can read and feel like they got good use of their time. Every author needs validation, and February has been a good month for that.
At any rate, that's actually about it for today. I'll see you guys later, and may the day see you well.
I've been saying that February was going to be a good month for me, and that has so far remained true. I won't get into how certain things have gone, since they're personal in nature, but it has been a huge month of growth for me in terms of the number of people who have seen and read Spiral X and have genuinely enjoyed it in the process. One of the worst things an author can feel is ambivalence towards their writing, the question of whether or not it's worth the monumental effort it takes to put a book together. Every time I see a comment that asks whether a second book is coming, or how they don't normally take to that particular genre and that it didn't matter in this case, or just people I know saying they didn't know how good a writer I was, it gives me fuel. Incentive to make it through the blocks, the slow downs, the questions so that I can provide a compelling tale that almost everyone can read and feel like they got good use of their time. Every author needs validation, and February has been a good month for that.
At any rate, that's actually about it for today. I'll see you guys later, and may the day see you well.
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