by john | Jan 5, 2011 | Real Life, Writing
So on the first check-in day of ROW80 (Round 1), I should be at either 2,000 or 3,000 words, depending on whether I’ve gotten my quota for the day in or not. So where am I really?
3,795 words.
That’s right, kids, I’m almost a full day ahead of schedule, with the possibility of taking an extra day off on Friday, or forging ahead and getting a huge head start on next week. I won’t get any writing done tonight, most likely, because there’s an errand I’ve got to run to SC that will take up most of my night. but I pounded out 1,117 during lunch and I’m at that magic point of the book where I know where it’s going and how to get there, I just need to get my butt in front of a keyboard and write it.
I’ve also started using Scrivener for this project and have become totally enamored with it. I love how it organizes notes for me, and I really love how it makes converting to ebook super-easy. Since starting the trial I’ve uploaded a collection of poetry and a short story to Kindle, and I’ve re-formatted Returning the Favor and re-published it. I’m also probably changing the prices of all my books after my Kindle giveaway contest, so buy the novels now while they’re cheap! Once the contest is over my pricing structure is going to look something like this – short stories for $.99, short story collections $2.99-4.99 depending on length, novels $4.99-6.99 depending on length, with a loss leader of $.99 intro books in series. But those changes won’t kick in until April 1, so you’ve got plenty of time (and I have time to change my mind elebenty million times by then).
And today I finished my second workout in the Couch to 5K regimen. I have a little shin splint that’s really cutting down how much actual running I’m doing, but I did better today than I did Monday, so that’s progress. I only managed to run for about 6 of the 9 segments, but Monday I think I only did 4. Hopefully Friday I’ll be able to do all 9, but I may give myself an extra recovery day and do the run on my own Saturday.
And here’s another way to earn entries into the Win A Kindle Giveaway!
For every $10 you donate to my 24 Hours of Booty page, I’ll give you one entry into the contest. So go read about this great fundraising ride for cancer, and donate generously. You might win a Kindle for your trouble!
by john | Jan 4, 2011 | Real Life, Writing
Now through March 2011, I’m accepting entries into a contest to win a brand new Kindle 3 or Nook e-reader! That’s right, kids, just for being cool and commenting on this here blog you could win almost $200 worth of swanky electronic toys! And to make it better, I’ll load my books onto the device for you, so you don’t have to do anything but take it out of the box and start to enjoy it! This contest will run through the end of March, 2011, and here’s a sweetener for those of you who already own e-readers – if you win and decide you don’t want a Kindle or a Nook, let me know and I’ll send you a $200 Amazon gift certificate! So no matter what, you can get some cool stuff!
Here are the rules for the contest –
1) No Purchase is necessary. You may earn an entry into the contest by simply commenting on this blog post. You will earn one entry for commenting here. You will not earn multiple entries for multiple comments.
2) You can earn multiple entries, and this is how you do that. You earn two entries for each copy of my books you buy, no max. Just send me an email with the Amazon/Apple/BN order confirmation and your name. Please block out confidential information like where you live.
3) You can earn multiple entries by answering trivia questions about the books, and those will be posted below. You get one entry for each correct answer. Please don’t share the answers, the whole point is to generate readers. That said, if you borrow the book from someone, you can still get all the entries for the correct answers.
4) You can get two entries for posting a review on Amazon, regardless of whether you liked the book or not. If you hate it and give it a review (must be at least 100 words, and no bs like “I hated it” 34 times) I’ll give you two entries. That’s two entries per book reviewed, so the more reviews you write, the more entries you get. Obviously you can only review each book once, because to do anything else skews the review process. And I really do want honest responses, so if you think it’s crap, don’t be afraid to tell me. I’ll just curl up under my keyboard any cry, that’s all.
Please email any questions or entries to johnhartness AT gmail DOT com. You know what to do with that.
Trivia Questions – one entry per correct answer
The Chosen
1) In The Chosen, what is Adam’s Irish love’s name?
2) In what famous American town did Cain play cards with Lucky?
3) What apostle was really Adam?
4) Name any three musical acts/musical artists mentioned in the novel.
Hard Day’s Knight
5) Where did Greg and Jimmy go to college?
6) What is Father Mike’s last name?
7) What kind of guns does Jimmy usually carry?
8) What is the wi-fi password to Greg and Jimmy’s wireless network?
Red Dirt Boy
9) What is the stripper’s name in Small Caliber Love?
10) Where was Aftermath originally published?
Alright, those be the questions – email me your answers, your screenshots where you bought books, and leave a comment here for your entries. I’ll have somebody (probably Suzy) do the drawing the first week of April, and then announce the winner once I know what you decide your prize should be!
Good Luck!
by john | Jan 3, 2011 | Real Life, Writing
Just got back in from doing the first workout in the Couch to 5K program. Several of us at the office are trying to get into shape, and two laps around the office park pretty much equals two miles and it took us all of thirty minutes to make it. I couldn’t run more than half of the times I was supposed to run, so I think this 9 week program might take a little while longer than that for me and at least one other slacker. But having people at the office to work out with should provide a great motivator for all of us.
I also managed to meet my ROW80 goal for the day, and am trying out Scrivener as a new writing tool. I particularly like the fact that it will compile and create epub and Kindle format ebooks, so that might save me a couple hundo on each future book. I sent out a couple of sample chapters this weekend, and response has been good so far. I’m something like 12,000 words into the book, and just finished the first big fight scene, so I think I’m about a quarter of the way through the book. I’m hoping for a March release on that, then maybe release a couple of short stories later in the spring, especially if Scrivener continues to be as user-friendly as it appears at first glance.
But I promised you the tale of how we almost died on the way home from the poker game, didn’t I? So we’re cruising north on I-85 almost to Gaffney, and I’ve got the cruise control locked in at 70 or so. The speed limit is 60 or 65, and it’s foggy and been raining all day, so I’m feeling pretty good about not being in too big a rush. I’m in the left lane, because traffic is light and even going relatively slowly, I’m still rolling faster than most of the traffic on the road. Out of the corner of my eye I see a little car zip up alongside us in the right lane, and just as I hear Special K say “John, look out!” I hear the little shitbanger’s oversized exhaust rev up and watch him try to shoot the gap and slide into the lane in front of me. I tap the brakes to kill my cruise control as he does, but the doucherocket can’t keep his little overjuiced Civic under control, and he goes off the left side of the road into the median. I swerve to miss him, making the truck bobble a little more than I’m happy about, but regain control and move into the right lane. He does not manage to regain control, and I see him go sideways into the retaining wires and fence at 70 MPH or so. I can hear the plastic parts snapping off of his car as I hear T get on the phone to call 911. And that’s how we started 2011 off with almost dying on I-85. We didn’t stop, largely because I didn’t see a safe way to get back to provide any assistance, and also because I’m not really qualified to provide any type of first aid or medical assistance. We called 911 and let the professionals take care of it. Part of me hopes the idiot was okay, since I don’t want to wish ill of anyone, but part of me also hopes that he can never drive again, because he was a dangerous driver.
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 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 7, 2010 | Real Life
There are a lot of preparations going on around the Casa de Hartness this week. Not only am I getting ready to head off to Vegas to play poker and drink like a college kid with some of my best friends (most of whom I see once a year if I’m lucky), but we’re also getting ready for a houseguest.
An invalid houseguest.
While I’m gone.
And it’s my sister.
If there was any question about the sainthood of my wife, it goes away when I tell you that for the second time in three months, my sister is staying with us after she has hip replacement surgery. She had the first hip done a little over two months ago, and now that the first leg is healed enough, it’s time to get the second one done.
Tomorrow.
So I’m picking her up tonight and she’ll spend tonight at our house, and Suzy will take her to the hospital tomorrow morning in the predawn frost. I’ll go off to work like normal, stop by and visit her tomorrow night, and then Thursday I’ll head west for my annual weekend of ridiculousness. I expect Bonnie will get home Friday, and if it’s anything like the last time, my wife will play nursemaid for the week while I cavort in Vegas and then come home and work just like nothing’s out of the ordinary. Because she does that. Suzy’s got the caregiver gene that I am apparently totally missing, and she takes such great care of anyone who’s sick, be it her relative or mine.
So I might need advice from a couple of my girly friends this weekend on a suitable gift to bring home, don’t ya think?
