I started this blog on August 21, 2012, with the release of my first book, Titan Encounter. Most of those posts are now in what I call the “Early Blog.” I’m gradually updating their format and bringing them into this new journal. Back then the sole purpose of the blog was to promote my books, but gradually that changed.
That’s how it started but, over the years, I’ve mused about other things that are important to me, such as my family, my farm, rural life, and occasionally about politics and country. However, I try to limit the politics in this journal. If you want to know more about my political leaning go to The Conservative Alternative.
In most ways yesterday didn’t stand out from the normal. Dreary and wet are what you get in the northwest this time of year. But living on a farm with forest all around means that you’re going to interact with animals and they often make the day interesting.
Read MoreThe Inklings have been meeting for nearly twenty years.
Recently our local paper, The Chronicle, ran a front-page story about a critique group that has been in existence for nearly two decades and that I’ve attended for about twelve years. As my friend Julie McDonald Zander questioned me about the group for the upcoming story, I dug through old pictures and information to find answers.
Read MoreWe had a week of cold and snow on the farm.
The weather made for some beautiful pictures, which you can see on the Facebook page, but it got very cold. On a mild day this week, my wife came in from outside and said, “There’s no activity in the apiary.”
I first met Houston two years ago when I spoke about writing as a career at Centralia High School. I read some of his work and noticed a definite writing talent. Then a few weeks ago my friend Julie Zander asked if I’d like to help her mentor a writer as part of the local Rotary/TRiO program.
Read MoreThis morning the ebook edition of A Time to Endure went on sale for 99 cents.
For our first promotion of 2017, we’re featuring the second book in the Strengthen What Remains series, A Time to Endure.
Read MoreThis time of year I like to take a Janus look at my goals.
Janus was the Roman god of beginnings and endings. He looked into the future and to the past. So, as we end one year and begin another, I like to take a Janus look both back and forward in time.
I write goals every year and, as the year winds to an end, I enjoy looking back at those old goals and seeing how I have done.
Read MoreAt least not on Christmas Day.
I posted this earlier because, on this day when we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus, I’m going to be with family and friends and hopefully have a joyful Christmas day.
Read MoreAs I gazed at three recent pictures it occurred to me that each had something to say about where and how I live.
The first picture is of my friend Pat and me (blue shirt) standing in the middle of the dirt road that passes in front of his house. We were waiting for a friend who had never been there before and the road seemed like a good place to keep an eye out for her.
Read MoreI enjoy National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).
During the month of November, the NaNoWriMo goal is to write 50,000 words of a novel. I have a strong internal editor that always wants to correct or improve what I’ve written, so I’ve never been able to write 50,000 words in a month. But, I love the comradery of fellow authors and enjoy watching as they work to achieve their writing goals.
Read MoreI had to deal with a crime a few days ago.
I’ve done well as a writer. Every year I sell more books than the previous year, but I’m still small enough to know all of my online book distributors, Amazon, Nook, Kobo, Google Play, iTunes, and a few more. So, when I received word that my novel Through Many Fires was available on Behance.net I was immediately suspicious.
Read MoreI am a happy man.
Author rankings change constantly, and I tend to be more focused on writing and sales than my position on Amazon, but when I break into the top 10—well, I’ve just got to lean back and enjoy the moment.
Read MoreScary things are a natural part of Halloween.
So, my contribution to this frightening time is to make the ebook edition of Through Many Fires available to more people. Now and through the end of Halloween, Through Many Fires is available for 99 cents.
Read MoreLiving close to nature means that there are annual chores that must be performed.
On a sunny day last week, I took some time off from writing and prepared the farm for winter. I opened the one beehive we have this year and made sure the colony was healthy. The workers had sealed every crevice and joint with propolis, a good sign. I added a special insulation box to the top and slid in a bottom board. Winter is a hard time for bees, but the colony is now as ready as it can be.
Read MoreThis year’s Southwest Washington Writers Conference is over and we’re already being asked if there will be one next year.
Yes. As some of you know I’ve been involved in the planning of this conference from the start and this year, like those past, it did well. The organizing committee quickly decided to proceed with the fourth annual conference.
Read MoreThe third annual Southwest Washington Writers Conference was held this last weekend in Centralia, a nearby town to where I live in western Washington state. I’ve been involved in the planning and operation of this conference all three years, and believe this conference was the best one yet.
Read MoreI’m excited to announce that the print editions of my novels are now available on Walmart.com.
Since writing is my business I work hard to expand the distribution of my stories, but I didn’t have anything to do with the addition of Walmart distribution. I didn’t even realize my books were on Walmart.com until a fellow author mentioned that their books were. So I checked.
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