As an author, I’m always trying to find new ways to reach potential readers. It can be a bit to manage, as each vendor has their own rules, back offices, and the like, which can become burdensome if one does not take care. Until now, my standard practice has been to release new works on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited, and then to put that content up on other vendors when the Kindle Unlimited term has run its course. My standard…
Image by Pepper Mint from Pixabay As the last days of summer slip away one more time, I struggle with a mix of nostalgia and surprise. Wasn’t it just June? The long, sunny days passed in a seeming blur, leaving me to wonder, where did they go? Here’s a look back at summer’s highlights and the memories that keep me going as the season fades and winter seems impatient for its turn. 1. Chasing Long Days and Warm Nights Time Outdoors: Summer means…
The process of coming up with new ideas, even for books based on Pride and Prejudice is one I do not find all that difficult. As I have written more than fifty of these, I must assume that most of those out there reading this will understand that. There are so many different ideas to explore, so many instances where if a different path had been taken the ending (and indeed the middle and even the beginning if you go back…
Image by Francesca M from Pixabay In my struggles to complete this post last night, I came across and article about Londoners’ obsession with pig-faced ladies. I kid you not, in 1815, it seems the entire city was caught up in the rumors of people catching glimpses of a woman, either wealthy or not, depending on who was relating the story, whose face bore a striking resemblance to that of a common pig! Now, rather than try and paraphrase the entire article, I…
Image by dlsd cgl from PixabayFirst, First, let me apologize for the delay in preparing my post. I let other tasks get in the way and forgot all about it. I’d like to say it won’t happen again, but I am pathetic at predicting the future. The beautiful city of Medicine Hat and, indeed, large portions of southern Alberta, are in the midst of a heat wave, with temperatures hitting 38° (100° f) yesterday and today. If not for my new efficient windows…
As many of you may already know, I am a summer person. I often comment that I never complain about the heat in the summer because I reserve the right to complain about the cold in the winter. The heat gets a bit uncomfortable at times, but it never bothers me much, as I much prefer being too warm than too cold, which is why I really despise winters. Makes you wonder why I live in the frozen north, where…
Top image by Martin Javorek from Pixabay Image from Pixabay In all honesty, I really don’t have much to say, so I’m going to tell you about a few of my favorite things, In no special order: I love the Minions movies. They are a bit of fun in an increasingly dark world. Watching these inept but surprisingly effective dimwits always improves my mood. To nobody’s surprise, I absolutely adore dogs, of all shapes and varieties. Of course, my border collie…
Image by Amy Art-Dreams from Pixabay I don’t know about anybody else, but it seems I have been working on this story forever. I originally expected to publish in January, but various delays, not the least of which is my own laziness, have slowed me to a crawl. Every time I get going, something happens to pull me away from the computer. Once I start writing, I had better not quit, because I know the chances of returning to the manuscript that day…
I know I have spoken of the outlining process before, but I have recently had an experience with outlining that I feel it is worth discussing. As I have said before, outlining can be the most fickle part of the writing process. There are times when I outline like a demon, going through an entire novel’s planning in the space of a few days, while other times I can look at an outline for hours and not put a single…
Today is the forty-eight anniversary of my marriage. My wife and I are at the stage of our union where we are both retired and satisfied with our lives. I am, at least, and I believe she is also. That’s not to say that we’re content to sit on our duffs and let the world go by. We still have hopes and dreams that won’t come to pass by themselves. She’s given me four beautiful children, who have graced us with…