MamminaBooks

Sunday, November 30, 2014

My Thanksgiving: A Humble Author's Gratitude

This Thanksgiving was a very special one for me, as it was my first spent with my lovely wife at my home.  As a union, her family and mine had come together under one roof to eat and celebrate each others company.  We, like the two of us, were one in spirit.  That was a sobering moment for me to reflect on.  Without our marriage, these two family entities would not have ever broken bread.  Making this short, it was the largest and most memorable Thanksgiving I can personally remember.  The food tasted better, the wine was refreshing and the dessert made us heavy enough to stay seated in each others presence for even longer than expected.  This is what this holiday is really about.  Yet, on the same token, I must give thanks to those who came to visit me at my little book signing before Thanksgiving on Nov. 23rd.  It was an absolute honor to meet excited fans of some self-published fantasy author, just trying to break out and share his work with people.  There was a great joy in my heart as I discussed my work with them and watched them look over the book they purchased for themselves or someone else with longing to journey into its pages or have the chance to tell their loved ones on Christmas that, "I got it signed by the author for you!"  So, let me take this time to give thanks to God, my wife, my family and friends for making me a better man--but also to my "fans," or generous supporters, who shared that special day with me.  They gave me their time, their ears, their kind words and good tidings.  As a self-published author, that is the very fuel that drives me to climb further up the mountain.  I have no more fear or doubt about my destiny as a writer.  Great things are coming, no matter how far the climb is, I thank all of you for helping me up.  When I make it to the peak, we will celebrate Thanksgiving together.

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Self-editing: The Marathon of the Modern Day Self-Publisher

   Having written seven novels and an array of poems and short stories, it has become evident that I am (not to toot my own horn) quite an excellent story teller.  I love writing dark fantasy and I believe it shows in my work.  However, nearly every novel of mine contains that blemish.  It is the dreaded editing mishap.  Perhaps it is a misspelled word or a grammar mistake--maybe even an indent put where it doesn't belong.  In the long passionate process of writing a novel that can inspire readers and die hard fans of the genre, it happens.  I miss one.  Maybe two.  Maybe, how many you said???  Best practice is to follow your heart with the story, but let a friend read it over first.  Give it to an objective reviewer you are close to.  To cover every base, hire an editor to give it the professional once or twice over.  Its your work, and you can't catch 'em all.  But, then again, a few here and there never killed the impact of the story...one hopes.  I mean, movies have their inconsistencies in filming even the highly acclaimed and most watched.  Every game, especially the most played and celebrated have their glitches. I love playing Skyrim, but, man, those glitches!!!  Still, I love the game.  Why?  The experience.  Its my hope that if you do come across a blemish in my work, smile and find the humility in it.  I am not one to easily accept grammatical flaw in my stories, no matter how rare.  I am still so grateful for all those who have read and are reading my work now.  Your support and kind words mean everything to me.  Criticizing my editing is a part of the self-publishing process and I've grown from it.  Thanks for that--and thanks for having faith in my novels.  Positive feedback is the fuel I use to keep writing.  And, boy, I don't think that fuel will ever run out.  Its been on full for a long, long time. 

p.s. I'm still trying to get over the "K" in Mortal Kombat.  Why the heck is there a--oh never mind.

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Ebola has left the building

Well, that was scary.  Ebola, the dark, sinister force come to take the world by force, has shied away from the headlines.  But, was it every really a threat?  The media made it seem like a zombie apocalypse had come calling.  The bells rang and everyone was talking about it.  "It's here!  Ebola is here!"  Well, its gone now and it left through the back door like a second cousin who came uninvited to a party after spilling a drink.  It is truly amazing how mass hysteria can change conversations, water cooler dialogue.  I wonder if the public would have responded that way if the report was, "Ebola is in the country, but it is of no real threat to the public.  We have it under control."  Heck, who am I kidding?  Just announcing it is enough to make the society believe that it is even worse than it seems.  I guess what I'm getting at here is: Do your research.  Read up on things.  The media is one of the best fantasy and science fiction authors around, second to politicians of course.