I'm excited to announce that I'll be doing an author's booksigning for Mage's Burden at Katy Budget Books on Saturday, September 27, at 1pm! This is definitely something I'll check off of my bucket list! I'm very much looking forward to it, to say the least. This will be the first (and maybe the only) bookstore that will be offering my book, and I couldn't be more pleased. I've shopped there for many years, so this is pretty cool for me. If you're in the Katy area that day, stop by and say hi!
I've had another author interview published, as well. You can find it here: http://www.thetimewarriors.co.uk/blog/?p=30974
Still more news! I've found an armorer willing to finish construction of my own version of the weapon, the Jidaan, that I created for the story. The blade is fine, and although the current pommel works just fine in terms of balance and movement, I still wanted to find something more along the lines of what I see in my mind's eye. I like the sketches so far, so I'm looking forward to seeing what http://www.dragonsbreathforge.com/ can do with this project.
Work on Book 2 continues, albeit at a slower pace than I'd like. There is an awful lot going on with Jade Mountain at the moment, what with the upcoming move and all. Even so, I'm managing to get in a bit of work here and there. As always, I'm having a ton of fun with the story. I've recently likened my writing to surfing YouTube on a slow connection. Sometimes, I can see the scenes very clearly and I write a lot, while other times, there's a lot of buffering going on, and it takes forever for me to get things moving. Either way, it's fun. I'll keep y'all posted! One of these days, Book 2 will be ready for publishing as well!
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Monday, August 18, 2014
Some Thoughts on Suicide
No, I'm not thinking of taking my own life...instead, the recent death of comic icon Robin Williams has sent me into contemplation on the topic. I've long held certain beliefs on the sanctity of life and I've had my own strong opinions of the people who have taken their own lives. I'm writing about it because I've come to some realizations on the subject that changed my way of thinking.
Please don't judge me too harshly for my thoughts...they are my own, after all, and I figure that we're always learning and growing. I'm sure there are many folks who think far differently than I. I share my thoughts this time because I just feel that maybe it could help someone be more positive about the subject.
In the past, I always felt that folks who committed suicide were selfish, that it was a permanent solution to what I figured was always a temporary problem. To be honest, I felt that they were weak in some way. Having been through a certain amount of difficulty and tragedy in my life, I just couldn't fathom what they might be thinking to make that decision.
Then Robin Williams took his own life. This was a man beloved by so many for his amazing humor and so many acts of kindness and generosity, a man who apparently even knew how much he was loved, a man with money in the bank, a loving family, and an extremely successful career with no end in sight. In the past, Robin had trouble with addiction and depression, but everyone thought he'd conquered those obstacles, and we cheered him for it. He had everything.
I read somewhere that someone else had asked the obvious question, "What could possibly have been going on in his mind to bring him to do that? I just can't even imagine what it would take..." And the answer was "You should be grateful that you don't understand, that you don't know firsthand what kind of pain he was in."
That's what struck me. I know my own mind very intimately. Suicide would simply not be an option for me. I strongly believe that I can weather pretty much anything by breathing in, breathing out, repeating that process, and moving forward as much as possible through whatever obstacles might arise in life. That's how my mind works. I don't suffer from depression. My brain just doesn't work that way. Robin's apparently did. The man was a genius, and an absolutely wonderful human being, but there was a lot going on in that amazing mind of his that we may never understand. It doesn't make him a lesser man than me, just different. It could even be said that he's a stronger man than I for fighting his demons for as many years as he did. I haven't had to fight the same battles as he. I can't even imagine what he might have gone through. Not only was he fighting his own battles, but he still found it within himself to be kind, thoughtful, and generous to pretty much everyone who ever crossed his path. I don't know that I could be that strong.
Knowing that a man as intelligent, talented, kind, and well-loved as Robin Williams could go to a place where suicide seemed like an option, in fact, the ONLY option, made me realize that maybe I don't have a full understanding of what might go on in such a person's mind. Maybe I'm not quite as knowledgeable about such things as I had previously thought. And just maybe I need to be a bit more understanding and compassionate towards folks who may be fighting battles that I may never be able to fully grasp.
Robin Williams certainly left his mark, both with his life and with his death. I still get misty-eyed when I read more about what a wonderful person Robin was. Heck, tears spring to my eyes just seeing a picture of him at this point, and it'll be awhile before that goes away. After all of this, I simply resolve to be strong enough to be kinder to everyone, both in my deeds and my thoughts. I owe that much to Robin just for all the times he brought laughter to my life. Thanks, Robin. We love and miss you.
Please don't judge me too harshly for my thoughts...they are my own, after all, and I figure that we're always learning and growing. I'm sure there are many folks who think far differently than I. I share my thoughts this time because I just feel that maybe it could help someone be more positive about the subject.
In the past, I always felt that folks who committed suicide were selfish, that it was a permanent solution to what I figured was always a temporary problem. To be honest, I felt that they were weak in some way. Having been through a certain amount of difficulty and tragedy in my life, I just couldn't fathom what they might be thinking to make that decision.
Then Robin Williams took his own life. This was a man beloved by so many for his amazing humor and so many acts of kindness and generosity, a man who apparently even knew how much he was loved, a man with money in the bank, a loving family, and an extremely successful career with no end in sight. In the past, Robin had trouble with addiction and depression, but everyone thought he'd conquered those obstacles, and we cheered him for it. He had everything.
I read somewhere that someone else had asked the obvious question, "What could possibly have been going on in his mind to bring him to do that? I just can't even imagine what it would take..." And the answer was "You should be grateful that you don't understand, that you don't know firsthand what kind of pain he was in."
That's what struck me. I know my own mind very intimately. Suicide would simply not be an option for me. I strongly believe that I can weather pretty much anything by breathing in, breathing out, repeating that process, and moving forward as much as possible through whatever obstacles might arise in life. That's how my mind works. I don't suffer from depression. My brain just doesn't work that way. Robin's apparently did. The man was a genius, and an absolutely wonderful human being, but there was a lot going on in that amazing mind of his that we may never understand. It doesn't make him a lesser man than me, just different. It could even be said that he's a stronger man than I for fighting his demons for as many years as he did. I haven't had to fight the same battles as he. I can't even imagine what he might have gone through. Not only was he fighting his own battles, but he still found it within himself to be kind, thoughtful, and generous to pretty much everyone who ever crossed his path. I don't know that I could be that strong.
Knowing that a man as intelligent, talented, kind, and well-loved as Robin Williams could go to a place where suicide seemed like an option, in fact, the ONLY option, made me realize that maybe I don't have a full understanding of what might go on in such a person's mind. Maybe I'm not quite as knowledgeable about such things as I had previously thought. And just maybe I need to be a bit more understanding and compassionate towards folks who may be fighting battles that I may never be able to fully grasp.
Robin Williams certainly left his mark, both with his life and with his death. I still get misty-eyed when I read more about what a wonderful person Robin was. Heck, tears spring to my eyes just seeing a picture of him at this point, and it'll be awhile before that goes away. After all of this, I simply resolve to be strong enough to be kinder to everyone, both in my deeds and my thoughts. I owe that much to Robin just for all the times he brought laughter to my life. Thanks, Robin. We love and miss you.
Monday, August 11, 2014
Robin Williams...you will be missed.
My world tilted badly on its axis tonight. It was a pretty good night at Jade Mountain, classes were running along at full steam, I'd had some visits from some folks that made me pretty happy earlier in the day. Suddenly, I got word that Robin Williams died today. That really rocked me. I grew up watching him on Happy Days, Mork and Mindy, and everything he's ever done since. Heck, I wore Mork from Ork suspenders in one of my school pictures, 4th grade, I think.
His death was tragic, and unnecessary, and my heart aches for him and for his family. Robin brought a great deal of light and laughter into my life over the years. He was gifted as both a comedian and a dramatic actor. Yes, he made me laugh until I thought I'd wet myself, but he also made me cry, made me think, and then made me laugh again with performances that ranged from hilarious to deeply emotional. He always seemed so approachable, and I've long heard tales of his kindness and generosity. He was the sweetest man, and he's gone far too soon.
Facebook is covered with remembrances of Robin at the moment, and every so often, I see something that makes me cry again. I'll just end with this. Christopher Reeve was another one of my favorites from the big screen, a courageous man who showed my generation that a man could fly. He inspired me as a kid, and to this day, I have the Superman theme on my iPhone. When Chris Reeve had his accident, this happened...
"When
Christopher Reeve was in the hospital, awaiting a back surgery that had
a fifty/fifty chance of killing him, a man burst into his room. He was
wearing surgical scrubs, talking in a Russian accent, and said he was
there to give a rectal exam. It was Robin Williams; the two men had been
roommates together at Juilliard. Later Reeve said of his life-long
friend:
“For the first time since the accident, I laughed. My old friend had helped me know that somehow I was going to be okay.”
That's sort of what Robin Williams did for all of us."
Godspeed, Robin. You will be missed so very much.
His death was tragic, and unnecessary, and my heart aches for him and for his family. Robin brought a great deal of light and laughter into my life over the years. He was gifted as both a comedian and a dramatic actor. Yes, he made me laugh until I thought I'd wet myself, but he also made me cry, made me think, and then made me laugh again with performances that ranged from hilarious to deeply emotional. He always seemed so approachable, and I've long heard tales of his kindness and generosity. He was the sweetest man, and he's gone far too soon.
Facebook is covered with remembrances of Robin at the moment, and every so often, I see something that makes me cry again. I'll just end with this. Christopher Reeve was another one of my favorites from the big screen, a courageous man who showed my generation that a man could fly. He inspired me as a kid, and to this day, I have the Superman theme on my iPhone. When Chris Reeve had his accident, this happened...
“For the first time since the accident, I laughed. My old friend had helped me know that somehow I was going to be okay.”
That's sort of what Robin Williams did for all of us."
Godspeed, Robin. You will be missed so very much.
Sunday, August 10, 2014
JUKE is now available!!
Brian Briscoe is more a brother to me than a friend. I've known the guy for literally as long as I can remember. I believe we met through our parents when I was 2 and he was 4, and we've been close ever since. I only tell you this so that you'll know why I'm thrilled to announce that his novel is finally available on Amazon!!
"Juke is the debut novel by Brian Briscoe. Set in Texas over the course of several decades, Juke follows troubled Mitch Casey and blues musician Juke Mills. Mitch finds himself on the wrong side of the tracks one night and follows the sound of music to Juke, long thought to be dead. A young man trying to make sense of his turbulent upbringing, Mitch is entranced by Juke’s tales of music and murder."
http://www.amazon.com/JUKE-Blues-Novel-Brian-Briscoe-ebook/dp/B00ML7806G
He's an amazing writer, and if you prefer something with guitars instead of swords, music instead of magick, then BUY THIS BOOK!!!
"Juke is the debut novel by Brian Briscoe. Set in Texas over the course of several decades, Juke follows troubled Mitch Casey and blues musician Juke Mills. Mitch finds himself on the wrong side of the tracks one night and follows the sound of music to Juke, long thought to be dead. A young man trying to make sense of his turbulent upbringing, Mitch is entranced by Juke’s tales of music and murder."
http://www.amazon.com/JUKE-Blues-Novel-Brian-Briscoe-ebook/dp/B00ML7806G
He's an amazing writer, and if you prefer something with guitars instead of swords, music instead of magick, then BUY THIS BOOK!!!
Thursday, August 07, 2014
Still more info on Mage's Burden
I just got news today that our local bookstore, Katy Budget Books, has agreed to have me come in and do a new author booksigning. I've shopped at that bookstore ever since I moved here 15 years ago, and it's been one of my favorite places to visit, so I am thrillllled!!!! This will be an item checked off my bucket list for certain. We're working out the details at the moment, but I hope to have a date and time scheduled within the next few days.
I don't think I've posted information on my official book Facebook page, so I figured I should get right on that. I like the idea that I can have a page devoted to nothing but those characters, the story, and other sword and sorcery stuff that catches my eye. I'd love for more folks to Like it...just sayin'. Here's the link:
Fire of the Jidaan Facebook Page
A quick word about the word "Jidaan". I made it up. It refers to the magickal weapon that the Guardians in the story use. I have since discovered that it may mean 'hen's egg' in Chinese, which is fine with me because it could be said that the magickal gemstones that empower the jidaan are roughly egg-shaped. The word has another meaning in Hindi, I think, but I'm having a heck of a time figuring out what it is. I just thought it sounded somewhat exotic and interesting.
Working on book two yesterday, I got a bit cranky at chapter 9, so I decided to ignore it for awhile and start chapter 10. Sometimes, that works pretty well for me. As I go along, the rest of chapter 9 will reveal itself, so there's no sense in staring at the blank page for too long. I'm looking forward to the next battle scene, but there are some great opportunities for excitement between here and there. I'll just keep plugging away and see what happens. I'll keep y'all posted.
I don't think I've posted information on my official book Facebook page, so I figured I should get right on that. I like the idea that I can have a page devoted to nothing but those characters, the story, and other sword and sorcery stuff that catches my eye. I'd love for more folks to Like it...just sayin'. Here's the link:
Fire of the Jidaan Facebook Page
A quick word about the word "Jidaan". I made it up. It refers to the magickal weapon that the Guardians in the story use. I have since discovered that it may mean 'hen's egg' in Chinese, which is fine with me because it could be said that the magickal gemstones that empower the jidaan are roughly egg-shaped. The word has another meaning in Hindi, I think, but I'm having a heck of a time figuring out what it is. I just thought it sounded somewhat exotic and interesting.
Working on book two yesterday, I got a bit cranky at chapter 9, so I decided to ignore it for awhile and start chapter 10. Sometimes, that works pretty well for me. As I go along, the rest of chapter 9 will reveal itself, so there's no sense in staring at the blank page for too long. I'm looking forward to the next battle scene, but there are some great opportunities for excitement between here and there. I'll just keep plugging away and see what happens. I'll keep y'all posted.
Wednesday, August 06, 2014
A little catching up
It's been almost a month since I've been on here, and it's been a busy one. Since my last post, we've managed to (mostly) redo Connor's room with new paint, floor, and furniture, I've finalized and published Mage's Burden as a paperback, we've made progress on the financing for the moving of Jade Mountain, and I've even managed to paint an actual painting. Whew! I know there's more, but it seems like that's a lot for me.
I've really enjoyed the whole publishing process. Now that it's up, I'm working on ways to publicize my book so that more folks can enjoy it. Towards that end, I've hired a fabulous lady and her street team to get the word out, and although it's only been a couple of days, I'm pleased to say that they're a busy and fun bunch! Thank you, Aileen Aroma!!
My dear friend, Brian Briscoe is also about to publish his book, and I'm thrilled for him. It's called "Juke", and will be available soon. "A young musician seeks validation and guidance from an elder statesman of the blues." Brian is a lifelong musician, and knows what he's talking about. Believe me, I'll post about it here and on Facebook the moment it's up and running. And Instagram. And Twitter. I'm just getting used to those other sites, I'm not terribly good at them yet, but working on that. Anyway, Brian has had his book completed for a few years now, and it just lacks a formatting pass and it'll be ready to go. It's funny, all my best friends from Angleton, Texas, where I grew up, are all writers of one sort or other. Brian, Larry Escher, the dearly departed Jason Blankenship...all love to write. We're all different in many ways, but that's one commonality that I really enjoy.
Usually, I have more of a pointed message when I blog. Today, it feels more like a big ramble, just tossing out the events of the month as they occur to me. Oh! I've got the 3rd part of my Krav Maga Instructor Training next month! See? Did it again. Squirrel!
Recently, Connor has begun training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with me. Wow, it's SO much fun having him with me in class, and he'd doing a great job. He has no idea what he's doing half the time, but that's par for the course, and he just does his best every time. He's grown into a tall, sturdy 7th grader, only a fraction of an inch shorter than me, and it's lots of fun to wrestle with him now. Sooner or later, he's going to start giving me real trouble in there! I'm awfully proud of him. He's still going to swim competitively, and I'm all for that...this is finally something that we can actually share together, though. It makes me ridiculously happy.
In other news...well, I can't think of anything at the moment. I'm supposed to be writing on Book 2 right now, but this blog screamed so loudly at me that I had to come on here and post something to shut it up. It does that now and then. Howls like a banshee until I write something. It's awful. Have a great day, folks! Oh, and in case you're interested in picking up the new paperback copy of my book, here's a handy pair of links!!
Amazon:
http://amzn.to/1o9fakM
B&N:
bit.ly/1qRl2fG
I've really enjoyed the whole publishing process. Now that it's up, I'm working on ways to publicize my book so that more folks can enjoy it. Towards that end, I've hired a fabulous lady and her street team to get the word out, and although it's only been a couple of days, I'm pleased to say that they're a busy and fun bunch! Thank you, Aileen Aroma!!
My dear friend, Brian Briscoe is also about to publish his book, and I'm thrilled for him. It's called "Juke", and will be available soon. "A young musician seeks validation and guidance from an elder statesman of the blues." Brian is a lifelong musician, and knows what he's talking about. Believe me, I'll post about it here and on Facebook the moment it's up and running. And Instagram. And Twitter. I'm just getting used to those other sites, I'm not terribly good at them yet, but working on that. Anyway, Brian has had his book completed for a few years now, and it just lacks a formatting pass and it'll be ready to go. It's funny, all my best friends from Angleton, Texas, where I grew up, are all writers of one sort or other. Brian, Larry Escher, the dearly departed Jason Blankenship...all love to write. We're all different in many ways, but that's one commonality that I really enjoy.
Usually, I have more of a pointed message when I blog. Today, it feels more like a big ramble, just tossing out the events of the month as they occur to me. Oh! I've got the 3rd part of my Krav Maga Instructor Training next month! See? Did it again. Squirrel!
Recently, Connor has begun training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with me. Wow, it's SO much fun having him with me in class, and he'd doing a great job. He has no idea what he's doing half the time, but that's par for the course, and he just does his best every time. He's grown into a tall, sturdy 7th grader, only a fraction of an inch shorter than me, and it's lots of fun to wrestle with him now. Sooner or later, he's going to start giving me real trouble in there! I'm awfully proud of him. He's still going to swim competitively, and I'm all for that...this is finally something that we can actually share together, though. It makes me ridiculously happy.
In other news...well, I can't think of anything at the moment. I'm supposed to be writing on Book 2 right now, but this blog screamed so loudly at me that I had to come on here and post something to shut it up. It does that now and then. Howls like a banshee until I write something. It's awful. Have a great day, folks! Oh, and in case you're interested in picking up the new paperback copy of my book, here's a handy pair of links!!
Amazon:
http://amzn.to/1o9fakM
B&N:
bit.ly/1qRl2fG
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