Climbing up hill

Sigh.
I feel like I'm trudging up a steep hill. I spend each morning going through job leads. After I send out my resumes I then do a "no-no". I browse Facebook and YouTube.

I should be writing. Instead I put it off and never get back to it. I've drifted away from the usual blogs, writing friends and so on. I want to write but I just feel like I'm lost in a cloud somewhere. When I do open my manuscript I peck at it, a paragraph at a time. Distractions pull me away and it's so hard to start back at it.

Last night I googled "Vampire Children" and came across one of my plugs for the book I put on a random web page about vampire children. I posted it in 2011. Almost four years ago! I've had my books online for four years and STILL I haven't gotten anything else put up online. Book 2 needed changes and I'm still doing it. Myths and Multi Mart are half finished.

I need to get my but in gear!

A tribute to my dear friend: Kirby

My friend,

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry. I don't know exactly how old you were. I know you were old, and tired, and blind. You might have been in a great deal of pain, but if you were, you never said anything. It was never your way.

No. Your way was obedience,acceptance, loyalty and love.

You turned blind. You were tired and I don't know how much farther you could handle life. "Life". It wasn't as good as it could have been for you in these last months. I know it was getting harder. And it would've gotten worse.

That's why we let you go today. That's why you left us to go to a world of peace and joy. A world of sight and love. But we can't follow you there. And we miss you. I miss you.

After Sophie was killed we searched for someone to love. We found you and you gave us more love than we imagined we could ever have. When we brought in Coco you jumped right in and trained her. Now she is the best alpha and so very loyal. A trait she learned from you, my friend.

You have been at our side and we will never, ever forget you.

Good bye my friend.

Museslave!

Sorry for the flare. This video could use a lot of improvement. Also, I should have credited Danny Elfman and his Edward Scissorhands score.

But this is my second try at introducing my channel. I'll keep at it.

I have a YouTube channel!

I have a YouTube channel! Two of my children cheated their own channel. They call it the ButterboyDiamondgirl channel. Inspired by them, I tweaked mine. I'm still improving it but here is the link...

Museslave

I call myself "Museslave" because I'm a slave to my muse. I'll be posting random vlogs of my day-to-day life, action figure reviews, and (most important) info on my writing. I'll even read from my book as well.

So watch this space for more videos.

Also, I'll still put up blog entrees when I can.

Quick Update!

Things are continuing on in my world. I was laid off last October and I've been job hunting ever since. Also I created a YouTube channel. More on that in another blog entry.

I've been writing but not as much as I should. This is something I'm taking steps to fix.

More to come!

And the winner is...

Hi guys! Sorry I'm late posting this. Friday got away from me. Thanks to everyone who stopped by. I'm so grateful so many people checked out my page and I'm so very thrilled that so many of you responded!

Once again the 4th Annual Spooktacular Giveaway Hop was a massive success! I wish I could send copies to everyone but alas, I just can't. I'm grateful to all those who would like to read NIGHT CHILDREN: DARK BIRTH. It's a fun story that merges urban fantasy with historical fiction and I know you'll like it.

You can find it on Amazon electronically and paperback and it even has preview pages.  Now onto the winner!

Congratulations to Katie Amanda!

Thanks again everyone!

Happy Holloween 2013!

You'd think on a year that ends with 13 I'd really get into the season. I mean, my wife's birthday is the 13th of this month for Pete's sake!

And Halloween is all about vampires, werewolves and other creatures. All year I post about such things because of my novels, yet this year I've posted very little in October (which is true for the last several months as well).

Every year I change my work and home screensavers to my Halloween folder. Same with my backdrop. Yet this year I only recently changed my home backdrop and screensaver to Halloween and not at all at work.

We decorate the house at the beginning of the month and enjoy the festive look all month. Not a bit this month. I listen to spooky music all month (I have a lot more than the ones you normally hear). This month I only listened to it very sparingly.

Have I just been lazy this year? Nope. Actually the reverse. I was scheduled to be laid off from my job the 18th of this month so most of my time for most of this year (and a lot of my time in September and the first half of October) I have been job hunting.

I got a job here in Utah and have started the last week of the month. I'm still hoping to get that LA job that I interviewed in person for last week. So my fruits have paid off and may continue to do so.

Next year will be different. I vow to really enjoy Halloween next year. I'll decorate and enjoy the music and shows and things of the season. I'll even set up speaking and signing engagements (something I have done for the last few years).

Meanwhile, as I get settled into my new job, I'll post more and return to my true love : WRITING! Watch this space!

p.s. I'll announce the winner of the October blog hop tomorrow night!

4th Annual Spooktacular Giveaway Hop

Guess what? It's once again time for the Annual Spooktacular Giveaway Hop! Yes, that fabled hop put on by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer.

What should you do? Simply reply to this post with your email or a way I can reach you. That way I can email the winner and get mailing info. I only mail to the US and Canada.

What will I give? Think it's Night Children: Dark Threats like I normally do? WRONG!

No, this will be the BIG one. None other than NIGHT CHILDREN: DARK BIRTH.

283 pages of fun, spooky adventure as you discover the origin of the Night Children, Annabelle and Roland Foresight and thrill to their first adventures. I usually charge $18.99 for the paperback and a couple dollars less locally, but I'm giving one away free to one lucky person who responds with their contact info!

It's the story of two English children who, right after they arrive in the New World in 1692, loose their parents to an evil vampire and almost lose their lives as well. A female vampire saves them from Death's door the only way she knows how.  She turns them into vampires. The children have to learn to use their new vampiric abilities quickly before Dominic (the monster that killed their parents), comes to finish the job with them.

Werewolves, vampires, Sasquatch and witches all pose ongoing threats as the kids discover how to fly, run, hunt, mesmerize others and turn into bats. They also have to rescue a real witch from the Salem Witch Trials!

All of this for free!

And don't forget to visit these fine sites for more!

####UPDATE####

Check here for the winner!

Up from the Depths (Godzilla) by Shyaporn

I love this guy!

The Haunted House and Other Spooky Poems and Tales.

I found it! I found the spooky record that I heard as a child! It was called The Haunted House and Other Spooky Poems and Tales. Oh did these poems stick with me. Especially the Velvet Ribbon!






Here's a picture of the album cover.

 

 

Ah the memories!

 

 

Songs that Inspire Annabelle

Libera Me is one of the songs from the movie Interview With a Vampire. It's hauntingly beautiful and makes me think of characters and a particular setting from Book 3.

Wikipedia's entry on the piece

Three Monsters by Shyaporn.

I love this!

22 Years with my bride!

To my gorgeous, wonderful sweetie. Happy anniversary. 22 YEARS! Here’s to many, many more. An eternity of memories! I love you Janeen Bryan

The Most Honest Three Minutes In Television History

Please forgive the swearing but DON'T YOU DARE ignore the message because of it! Stop telling me what's wrong with the "other side" and LISTEN to this. Yes it's scripted, yes it's from some movie that I don't even know but whomever wrote those lines for Jeff Daniels to say knew what is really going on. We need to fix things. Not point hateful fingers, but FIX things.

Bats vs Crows: Research

Research!

Life! Don't Talk To Me About Life!

This post title comes from the classic silly song,

Life has been crazy for me lately.

I've worked at the same job for the last six years. I'm a CAD drafter for URS. Their Northern Utah branch disposes of hazardous weapons. I use a program called Microstation to produce and edit electrical, piping, mechanical, HVAC and architectural plans.

URS has been under contract to dispose of chemical weapons for the government and we're all done. The lay offs have begun and my RIF (reduction in force) will be October 18th. It's scary. I mean, I'm glad I actually have a date, but what if I can't find a job before then? Sure, they'll give us severance and such, but I'm scared.

So I haven't been able to really find the time to write or edit. A lot of my time is spent on the job hunt or my regular work or my family. When I do have down time I've chosen to relax instead of engaging my brain.

But I'm going to try to do better so all I can do is ask you to bear with me for a bit.

Thanks guys.

Summer Reads For Tweens

Author Mikey Brooks has invited me to take part in his Summer Reads promotion seen here.

 

If you have kids between the ages of 9-14, here’s a great summer reading list for them. I am part of a 99 cent eBook sale taking place next week, Monday through Friday. Check out these great books that will ALL BE JUST $.99 EACH!! Reads for Tweens:

1. Six Degrees Lost, by Linda Benson http://www.amazon.com/Six-Degrees-of-Lost-ebook/dp/B0087XI14E/
2. The Girl Remembered Horses, by Linda Benson http:...//www.amazon.com/The-Girl-Remembered-Horses-ebook/dp/B00635UBW8/
3. The Dream Keeper, by Mikey Brooks http://www.amazon.com/The-Dream-Keeper-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00CPE0PT0
4. Night Children: Dark Threats, by Scott Bryan http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005E59LOC
5. The Secret Sisters Club, by Monique Bucheger http://www.amazon.com/The-Secret-Sisters-Club-ebook/dp/B007IK2WF6
6. Trouble Blows West, by Monique Bucheger http://www.amazon.com/Trouble-Blows-West-Adventures-ebook/dp/B007TYSLF6
7. Through the Mirror and Into Snow (Before Happily Ever After), by Ann T Bugg
8. Michaela’s Gift, by Cordelia Dinsmore http://www.amazon.com/Through-Mirror-Before-Happily-ebook/dp/B00C2HOECO
9. Of Mice and Magic, by David Farland http://www.amazon.com/Ravenspell-Book-Magic-Series-ebook/dp/B006UA85PQ
10. The Sapphire Flute, by Karen E. Hoover http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Flute-Wolfchild-Saga-ebook/dp/B005711LYQ
11. The Armor of Light, by Karen E. Karen Hoover http://www.amazon.com/Armor-Light-Wolfchild-Saga-ebook/dp/B005LA34E8
12. Two Souls Are Better Than One, by Karen E. Hoover http://www.amazon.com/Better-Misadventures-Teenage-Wizard-ebook/dp/B006I0I3QO
13. And the Mountain Burns, by Karen E. Hoover http://www.amazon.com/And-the-Mountain-Burns-ebook/dp/B005LZBPNA
14. The Quill Pen, by Michelle Isenhoff http://www.amazon.com/The-Quill-Pen-ebook/dp/B005XC5O9M
15. Song of the Mountain, by Michelle Isenhoff http://www.amazon.com/Song-of-the-Mountain-ebook/dp/B00A8V6DL6
16. The Color of Freedom, by Michelle Isenhoff http://www.amazon.com/The-Color-of-Freedom-ebook/dp/B004OEILPE
17. Taylor Davis and the Flame of Findul, by Michelle Isenhoff http://www.amazon.com/Taylor-Davis-Flame-Findul-ebook/dp/B00CMA97XC/
18. Gangsterland, by Ansha Kotyk http://www.amazon.com/Gangsterland-Ink-Portal-Adventure-ebook/dp/B009YJT12G
19. Andy Smithson: Blast of the Dragon's Fury, by L.R.W. Lee http://www.amazon.com/Andy-Smithson-Blast-Dragons-ebook/dp/B00CMUMCTS/
20. Slippers of Pearl, by Danyelle Leafty : http://www.amazon.com/Slippers-Pearl-Cobbler-Series-ebook/dp/B008IHKBNI
21. Of Wind and Winter, by Danyelle Leafty http://www.amazon.com/Wind-Winter-Tales-Queen-ebook/dp/B00CIJ88FA
22. The Circle of Law, by Lia London http://www.amazon.com/The-Circle-Ancients-Drandsil-ebook/dp/B008RDKIYU
23. Magian High, by Lia London http://www.amazon.com/Magian-High-ebook/dp/B00AF57F0I
24. A Pony For The Fair, by Inge Moore http://www.amazon.com/Pony-For-Fair-Gypsy-ebook/dp/B00AUA75X0
25. The Hidden Sun, by J. Lloyd Morgan http://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Sun-Bariwon-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00CCJKZI4
26. The Super Spies and the High School Bomber, by Lisa Lisa Orchard http://www.amazon.com/Super-Spies-School-Bomber-ebook/dp/B008P8O7OY
27. The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer, by Lisa Orchard http://www.amazon.com/Super-Spies-Lady-Killer-ebook/dp/B007JZH61K
28. Trapped: A Tale of Friendship Bog, by Gloria Repp http://www.amazon.com/Trapped-Tale-Friendship-Tales-ebook/dp/B00B9L1W7Y
29. A Difference of Purpose: A Novel of the American Civil War, by Terry Soileau http://www.amazon.com/DIFFERENCE-OF-PURPOSE-American-ebook/dp/B008QG0NKW
30. The Mother-Earth Series Omnibus, by Alan Tucker (3 books in one!) http://www.amazon.com/The-Mother-Earth-Series-Omnibus-ebook/dp/B007BSD0H4

Check it out!


//www.amazon.com/The-Girl-Remembered-Horses-ebook/dp/B00635UBW8///www.amazon.com/The-Girl-Remembered-Horses-ebook/dp/B00635UBW8/

Can I Mention Brand Name Products in My Fiction? by Mark Fowler

Mark Fowler over at the RIGHTS OF WRITERS site posted an article awhile back about whether as authors we can mention brand name products in our fiction.

I think this is an important topic because anything we write set in the modern world would be affected. Go check it out!

My Amazon bestseller made me nothing by Patrick Wensink

Patrick Wensink posted a great article on just why the popular thinking about rich authors is way off. You can read it here.

I've never written a word to get rich. I know it will never happen and it's not the right reason to write. I write so I can find out what will happen to these characters. If others like the stories, even better! :)

Why You Should Avoid Succeeding as a Writer by Michael Brent Collings

This article by Michael Brent Collings, found on  the LDS Publisher site, is great for authors who need to find perspective in the writing career.

Instead of trying to be a successful author, think of what makes you happy about writing. Why are you really doing it?

For me it's discovering where these stories lead and sharing them with others. Period. When I think of it this way, it removes the stress and helps me focus on creating the story.