by john | Dec 29, 2010 | The Chosen, Writing
I want to sell books. I want to sell a LOT of books. One of the ways I can sell a lot of books is by getting noticed by a lot of people. Right now, Goodreads.com is having a Best of 2010 contest, and I’d like all of you to write in The Chosen for Best Debut Author. Most of you have told me you liked the book, and it would increase my recognition quite a bit to make the top ten or so on the list. Also feel free to vote me in on any other categories that make sense. I promise it won’t hurt my feelings.
So please take a moment and click the widget below or on the right side of the page. Then click on Debut Author, scroll down to the bottom, and write in my name. When The Chosen pops up, click on it and vote! And hurry – you only have until January 5th to make it happen! But you guys rock, so I have faith in your ability to click a button!
And thanks.
by john | Dec 28, 2010 | Real Life, Writing
I suppose as I look around and see a bunch of my friends putting up year in review blogs that it’s time to either look back and evaluate the year that was, or look forward into the future and see what kind of year I want to have. Since the immediate past sucks, let’s look forward, shall we? Here are my goals for the year 2011, and since I didn’t make any type of resolutions in 2010, I have nothing to compare it to.
Writing – I want to keep it up. I’ve published two novels and a collection of poetry in 2010, and my current plan for 2011 is to write two more books in The Black Knight Chronicles series, and maybe go back and hack some more on Return to Eden, an epic fantasy trilogy that I’ve started and abandoned a couple of times. I’m getting the itch to revisit those characters, though, so I might touch on them some this year as well. But definitely two novels in 2011, and some more convention appearances and things of that nature.
Weight loss – I gotta start it. A few years ago I managed to lose over 50 lbs, which was great. Except that in the years since I’ve managed to find 60 brand new pounds! So Suzy got us an exercise room for Christmas, complete with treadmill and recumbent bike. Monday I’m starting on the Couch to 5K program with several co-workers, and I hope that the social aspect in addition to the outlay of cash will motivate me to exercise. My goals in this area are 50 pounds lost this year, and to complete a 5K, 10K and half-marathon run. I was initially planning to do a marathon this year, but realized that I need to spread my goals out over a longer period of time, or I’ll plow through them and then have no impetus to continue exercising.
Podcasting – you forgot I co-hosted a podcast, didn’t you? Well, for a little while so did I. But Special K and I are back in the saddle and ready to go, so with the help of the greatest online poker site in the world, The Gambling Tales Podcast has all sorts of cool things coming your way in 2011.
Existing books – I plan to sell books at the Heroes Con in June, which is one of my favorite cons to attend as a fan. It’ll be a whole new world sitting on the other side of the table, but I had a blast at the NC ComiCon with folks like Rob from Panda Dog Press and Chris from Capes n’ Babes, so I’m really looking forward to Heroes.
Travel – I want to go to at least one place I’ve never been before. Work may be taking me to Wisconsin in early 2011, so that gives me a chance to fly into Chicago and then spend the weekend there once my training is done, so that could take this one off my list early.
Friends – I had a great time in Vegas spending time with all my internet friends, and the outpouring of support and love that has come from all of you folks in my brother’s time of troubles has been so amazing, I gotta make it a point to see you guys more. I did a better job of hanging out this year at the WPBT gathering instead of playing poker all the time, so that’s a trend that’s likely to continue.
Family – I gotta help get my bro back on his feet. That’s the most important thing right now, and not likely to change. My sister is in pretty good shape after two hip replacement surgeries this year, and my dad is doing well. Mom is batty as hell, but that’s just a situation that won’t ever really get any better, so I need to just treasure what time I have left with my folks while they’re still around.
That’s what I’m trying to do in 2011, I know it seems pretty ambitious, but I’m nothing if not self-confident, right? What do you have planned?
by john | Dec 28, 2010 | Uncategorized
If you got here through the linky, give us a read then keep on hopping!
by john | Dec 27, 2010 | Real Life
First I’d like to say thanks to everyone who has linked to the story on Facebook and a huge thanks to folks who have donated already! My invisible internet friends came up with several hundred bucks in just a couple of hours, and I appreciate everything. I can’t tell you how touched we all were with the community efforts this weekend, and I continue to be amazed at what everyone is doing. I’ll never be able to thank everyone enough, but I’ll try to start here.
You people are all amazing!
Shannon Jones Anderson, one of my dearest friends from college
StB, who despite his love for the Cowboys is one of the best guys I know
Boy Genius, who chipped in some of his last American dollars before moving Down Under
BadBlood, who is always welcome at my table and in my home
WolfsHead, a great guy who tries to put on a gruff exterior (and fails, you big softy!)
Doc Chako, my very favorite war hero
Stuart, the best Horton in the world
Angie and Charlie Flynn McIver, who produce some of the greatest theatre in the Carolinas and have hearts as big as their talent
And John Lee from New York, who I don’t even know if I know, but since enough people have re-linked to the original post, I appreciate the kindness of a friend of a friend
All these folks have answered my call for help for my brother and his wife, and I can’t thank you guys enough. I’ll be back in a day or so with an update, and with some plans for the new year, which include there being a whole lot less Falstaff to love in 2011! And more Falstaff to read!
But again, I can’t say it enough and it doesn’t really come close, but thank you all.
by john | Dec 26, 2010 | Uncategorized
Because it was all supposed to be pretty smooth. My sister Bonnie had been dropped off at her daughter’s place, Suzy and I had exchanged gifts (she got me a treadmill and a recumbent bike, so hopefully there will be less of me to love in 2010), and Suzy was off to get a pedicure Friday morning while I was chilling in the recliner watching Netflix with a cat in my lap.
Then, as so often happens, the phone rang and it went all pear-shaped.
My sister’s ringtone is Dierks Bentley’ cover of the Bob Dylan tune “Senor,” so when she called I answered with lyrics – “Where we headed? Lincoln County Road or Armageddon?” When she answered, I knew it was bad. Her voice was shaking, and she said, “it is Armageddon. Tommy’s house is on fire.”
My brother’s house went from a home to a pile of rubble in the time it took for him to go finish his Christmas shopping. We believe the problem started in the wiring, but no one is really sure. What we are sure of is that on Christmas Eve everything he and his wife owned, including their two incredibly loving Jack Russel Terriers, went up in smoke.
So I packed two suitcases, one full of clothes that are two small for me so that Tom would have something to wear, and another full of my clothes and toiletries in case I needed to stay down there for the weekend. I got in touch with Suzy, and we decided that she would follow me later, and I hit the road.
I grew up a volunteer firefighter, and the smell of a house fire is something you never forget. It’s a mix of wood, plastic and dreams, all mixed in with cold air and tears. I was only seven when my older brother Bob’s house burned 30 years ago, so I don’t remember much about that time, but this was fresh. I spent a ton of time in that house as a kid, playing Nintendo with my nephew or even a little babysitting for Tom’s kids. So it was a devastating loss for the whole family, especially given the crappy timing.
The rest of the day was a lesson in small-town caring. The community came out in droves before the coals were even cold, bringing food, clothing and money to my parents’ house. The love and compassion shown by that community of working-class people blew me away and brought tears to my eyes and those of my entire family.
Tom and his wife Sherry are now settled into my parents’ guest room for the time being while they fight over insurance and work hard to rebuild their lives. There are things lost that are irreplaceable like Sherry’s parents’ wedding bands and all her photos of her deceased mother, their poor dogs, and all of their keepsakes and memories. Clothes have pretty much been replaced with everything that has come in, but the sheer volume of stuff that it’s going to take to get their place rebuilt and refurnished is astounding. Even with insurance, it won’t cover everything. It might cover the note on the house, and maybe some of the contents, but it’s doubtful that they can get everything rebuilt and refurnished with what insurance will pay out.
That’s why I’m writing this. Time and again, my community of invisible internet friends has chipped in to help someone in need, and this time it’s my family. I’m putting a paypal button here on the page so that people can donate to help out. This goes to my account for now, but I will be setting up a special account for them as soon as I get all the details like internet access for Sherry set up, since my parents don’t have internet and her computer is now a pile of melted plastic. So if Santa left a little something in your stocking this year, please chip in and help out my brother, who got left a lump of coal where his home used to be.
And thanks.
