One of my favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy authors is a man named . . .

What? Oh, of course. YES, I read Sci-Fi/Fantasy. Didn’t you know? I’m a nerd. Anyway…

…is a man named Robert Salvatore. He goes by R.A.Salvatore, and he has penned dozens of very entertaining books. He is responsible for one of my favorite quotes about being an author.

If you can quit, then quit; if you can’t quit, then you are a writer.

I’ve been thinking about that quote a lot lately as I’m considering my next moves. There is an event in November that it looks like we will be at, at the Downtown Convention Center; and a fourth story–another holiday novella–is in the clean up stages for publication soon; and, through it all, I’m trying to maintain communications with my audience. AND….thanks to the column writing, I have recently had a speaking engagement and been tapped to film a training video for political candidates. Very interesting, slightly schizophrenic times around here.

Did you notice something missing? Yeah–actual WRITING.

Of course, I am stuck in the Salvatore Loop (I just coined that–you like it?) in that I just can’t quit. A day feels incomplete, my mission unfulfilled, unless I get at least a couple hundred words on the page. So -, write I do, every night. Which puts story number 5–full novel number 2–on the clock to be completed some time around the new year. Keep your eyes up for that one and for the holiday novella around Halloween.

Be well!

Whew! What a big deal that was!!  : )

Incredibly blessed by this weekend’s festivities at HeavenFest!  First of all, the unflagging support and assistance of my great friends Jennifer, Steven, Melanie and Jay made the whole thig possible. It’s funny how quickly friends develop into teams, with a rhythm and a style of getting things done. It was actually fun!  And this, coming from someone who does NOT enjoy the business end of this!

Here we are:

What a great crew!  And behind the whole thing, pushing me, encouraging me, helping get me organized, is this wonderful woman (she’s the really pretty one in between the two troublemakers)

And here’s Mandisa performing on Friday

The best part of the whole event, though, was the people!  What an incredible crowd! People were so warm, and genuine, and receptive to my message. Regardless of the final tally of sales for the weekend, the contacts, the connections, and the feedback were invaluable!

Don’t get me wrong–the sales were strong. TOTALLY enough to justify doing the event! Can’t wait for the next time!

Many thanks for all the support and encouragement from everyone.

And now . . . .  back to work writing!

Been a couple pretty exciting days around here. Why, you might ask? Because of the boxes of books now stashed in my garage where my car used to be.

What’s in the boxes? Boy, am I glad you asked. BOOKS, of course! Including, and most notably, #3 “Gameplan: Inside Hell, Inc.” Yes, it is here!!

But, wait—you said “including.” Are there other boxes with other books and what in the world would you need all of those books for?

I’m so glad you asked. Because I (and my posse) are going to have a booth at Heavenfest on August 7th and 8th to try to sell my stories to the crowds coming to Bandimere Speedway for this event.

How big is this event? Over 50 Christian artists, including such big names as Lincoln Brewster, Thousand Foot Krutch, Mandisa, Newsboys, and Skillet. Oh, and, along with an estimated 20,000 fans.

It’s kind of a big. deal.

So, hey, if you’re coming into town for this, or know friends who are, stop by  or tell them to swing in and say “hello!” I’d love to see you!

 

The display freezes.

“Mindi, what’s missing from this picture?”

She looks back at the Administrator nervously. “I don’t think . . . is there . . .”

“I would have thought that this was the moment to introduce to Abby Patrick to her chief antagonist. Where is the girl?”

Mindi starts to laugh, not a deep genuine laugh—a scared laugh. “Well, funny story, sir. You’re gonna laugh . . .”

“Let’s take bets, shall we?”

“Okay,” she gathers herself, places both hands very deliberately on the table, and explains. “You know how we’re always encouraging faceless government entities to intrude into the lives of these people?”

“Yeah,” he replies, his patience fading.

“Well, this is one of those situations where we might have done our jobs too well.”

“Again, you wanna take bets?”

“Our girl is not here at this meeting because her plane got delayed.”

The anger from a few minutes ago is starting to come back, but the Administrator clamps it down—for the moment. “Why . . .did her plane get delayed? Can’t we account for things like the weather when we lay out our strategies?”

“Well, sir, it wasn’t the weather.”

“It wasn’t?”

“No, sir.”

He scratches his head, trying find anything to dampen his growing anger. “Well, then, Mindi, what was it?”

“The plane couldn’t take off. It was missing some equipment, and, y’know, one of our rules that the, that, um, the people we have in the machinery put in place was that planes can’t fly without all their equipment.”

He nods, taking it in. “You couldn’t account for this? What was it? The landing gear was missing a widget?”

Mindi smiles nervously, and answers, keeping her eyes down on her hands. “No, sir. It was . . . ashtrays. The plane was missing some of its ashtrays.”

The other members of the team start to fidget nervously. William even conjures up a thick file folder and makes a point of flipping through the papers.

But the Administrator can see where this is going, and can only shake his head. “Ashtrays? The plane couldn’t fly . . . because the ashtrays?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Correct me if I’m wrong, anybody, but, um, aren’t all flights within the Stronghold NON-smoking flights?”

Marcus answers quietly, “Yessir,” not bothering to look up from the arm of his chair, which he is pretending to adjust.

“So, let me get this straight: one of our key players is not at the first meeting of our principals because her flight was delayed because the plane was missing a part, the only use for would be to do something illegal? Is that the gist of this?”

Marcus and Seth mutter yeses while Mindi shrinks in her chair, trying to disappear.

The Administrator closes his eyes for just a second, takes a deep breath, and then explodes. Literally. All of the parts of his body to burst outward at supersonic velocity, . . .

. . . the committee begins to look around at each other, silently sharing their thoughts. After a time, the Chairman sits forward out of the deeper shadows he has been in and brings the proceedings to a conclusion. This demon is, of course, the Master of all demons, a man all black, of enormous beauty, a perfect obsidian Apollo.

“Very well, Lewis. We will give this assignment to you and your team. Understand that you are on a short leash, and we will be expecting regular updates to the whole committee.

“We are close to the dawn of a new Dark Age—the entirety of humankind will be ours for the taking. If your team fails, we will have to contend with a new ReAwakening, and the Enemy will reinforce His Stronghold.

“Do. Not. Fail.”

And with that, the entire committee disappears in a variety of blinks and clouds and warpings. When the room is completely empty and quiet, the Administrator lets out a big breath, and slumps in exhaustion. But soon, he regains himself, smiles a slight, dark smile, and fades into a cloud of black vapor which quickly flows out of the room.

I’ve been a little quiet on this blog lately. But don’t mistake that for lack of productivity; rather, think of it as prioritization.

If you know what I mean….

I suppose it has to happen every once in a while. I consider regular updates of this blog part of maintaining the business end of being a writer, and, well, nobody has ever accused me of being good at business. But the writing end of being a writer proceeds apace. Here’s what’s in the works:

:I’m in the final stages of editing “Gameplan,” targeting a late June rollout of that one. If you haven’t read the teaser at the end of “Enemies Unseen,” this one is a satire. And yes, that was the sound of my wife rolling her eyes, constantly surprised that I still aim at humor after falling so short so often

:I’m also working on editing another holiday story, hoping to have it ready in time for, well, the Holidays.

:And then there’s actual writing, which is moving along. One project, a suspense story which I’m tentatively saying will be a trilogy, is progressing nicely, while two other projects are in the works and I’m gathering my thoughts and some information along the way.

On top of that, the last month has featured my busiest season at my day job, and coaching my son’s soccer team occupies more grey matter than you would think, primarily because I have to work pretty hard at it, coaching soccer not exactly being in my regular toolbox.

So, in case anyone was wondering, I’m still here, and still writing. Just not paying as much attention to the blog as I should. But keep coming back here—I don’t have any excuses now that summer is here!

Why do you fight? You fight because, sometimes, God calls you to witness to a lost and confused people, and the people who want you to just shut up and fade back into the woodwork are legion. You fight because it’s the right thing to do. You fight because, whether you believe in yourself or not, God asked you to fight.

And so you fight—and you fight using the gifts you have and with the abandon of a Warrior of Light.

[if I may borrow a Law & Order meme . . . ]

In 1987, Thomas Wolfe published a novel called “Bonfire of the Vanities” which, while amusing and well-written, nobody really thought was a reflection of reality. I mean, in what kind of a world would a whole media frenzy and mob mentality form around the wrongful allegations of a racially-inspired crime?

And then, literally months later, Tawana Brawley appeared on the scene, with her sensational allegations about being gang raped by six white men, her slick, preacher spokesperson (Al Sharpton), and a media frenzy.

Um . . . . Mr. Wolfe, reality calling on line 4.

All along, I knew I might have to defend elements of “Enemies Unseen” against charges that it just wasn’t realistic. In what kind of a world would false allegations of racism lead to mobs and deprive a person of their livelihood?

Ask Darren Willson.

In what kind of a world would a professional journalist just make stuff up in pursuit of a story?

Ask Brian Williams.

What kind of a persecution complex does it take to think that anybody in the culture would target you because of your Christian faith?

Ask Memories Pizza.

I didn’t know, when I started writing this story, that it would ever be anything other than a worst-case scenario, dramatized to make a point. I had no idea that it would turn out to be so . . . mundane.

But if you like your stories with a twist of reality, I guess this one’s for you. And, by the way, if you’ve finished my little story, send me some feedback! The website needs some new content, and I don’t feel like formatting the next book yet.

First of all, again, I need to thank everybody who came out to the book signing this Saturday!  What a great time! I am amazed and impressed by the willingness of people to go out of their way to say a kind word. Thank you all!

And, once again, a special thanks to Debbie and all the great people at 40 Weight Coffee for hosting me on Saturday. You guys rock!

The book is getting out there, and people are reading it at an astonishing clip! I am so gratified that it holds your attention. And the feedback I’ve been getting so far has been very positive. I am looking forward to posting up some reviews when people get all the way to the end!

If you have it, and you like it, tell people about it! please. I have a pathetically small marketing budget to work from, so I am absolutely dependent on word of mouth.

That is all for now. Soon, I will begin formatting work on “Gameplan,” which I’m aiming to have out in the summer.

The first week of sales of “Enemies Unseen” is just about completed, and the best news of the whole week is that the good folks (i.e. Debbie) at 40 Weight Coffee have welcomed me back for another book signing! This Saturday, March 21, from 9 am to noon, I will be sitting and selling and signing. COME JOIN ME! The coffee is great, they have Santiago’s burritos, and the atmosphere and the people are wonderful! They’re in the shoppette on the northeast corner of 64th and Ward  Rd in Arvada. Would love to see you all there!

Here’s the weirdest part, for me, of independent publishing: I need help. Those of you who know me, know that that is an uncomfortable thing for me to say. The reality is, I need so much help in my day-to-day existence that it’s not even funny–just ask my wife. But I don’t like asking for it. Unfortunately for me, the greatest tool of the independent publisher is word of mouth, and that is something I cannot accomplish on my own.

So I’m asking for help!

okay. that wasn’t so bad. . . .

If you have read and enjoyed “The Accidental Christmas,” I would love it if you would share the news of my book signing with your friends; if you know people who enjoy losing themselves in a good story, especially on a week such as Spring Break, encourage them to come get one straight from me on Saturday morning; or, if you just support small/independent businesses on principle, come to 40 Weight on Saturday morning, enjoy a good cup o’ joe, and take a look at the book–see if it’s something you want.

I look forward to saying “hello” to everyone Saturday morning!!