The Ultimate Reward

So I was thinking, which I tend to do from time to time, and I decided to add to my previous post about why I give away free books, instead of trying to sell them.  As I mentioned, right now it's all about building that growing fan base, about spreading the word and making friends... but in reality I am getting paid for my free books.  Not by Smashwords or Amazon.  Not by the readers who download the book.  I'm getting paid in reviews!

That's right, reviews are, in my honest opinion, the writer's greatest reward!  They surpass any form of cash payment or deposit.  They mean more than paper and coins.  They are priceless, unique and a true test of your worth as a writer, in any form!  I write this post as I have just received my second review on "December Dead", you can read it HERE.  I get really excited when readers review my books.  It means they had a reason to say something about it.  It means it had some sort of impact.  It means something... right?

So my final word on this is that if you are a reader enjoying Indie books, free or not, please do the author the extreme honor of posting an honest review!  You will make a poor penman happy, and it may just inspire him to write some more!

Love to all!

Wayne.

The Apocalypse Panel Q2 - What draws me to write apocalyptic stories?

So the Apocalypse Panel has taken off rather well - kudo's to Randy for the initiative, I'm sure it will continue to spark a lot of interesting debate and scenario building ideas!  If you're unfamiliar with the whole concept, check it out at THIS LINK.

Basically, I am part of a group of 6 other authors who debate a monthly question, posed by Randy on his website.  Each author answers the question how they see fit, and then Randy posts links back to each of our responses!  It's quite clever.  :)

This month's question is:  What draws you to write apocalyptic stories?

That's an interesting and very open-ended question.  I guess, for me personally, it's all about

Free books? You must be crazy?!?

I've been self-publishing for exactly a year today.  I got the crazy idea from stumbling across the Amazon website, seeing all these unknown authors with their pretty covers and interesting plot summaries, and most importantly all those $$$ signs next to their book titles!  Wow, I thought, this is the answer!  I've always loved writing, it's come easily and naturally to me, so why do I need to be slaving at a day job if I can become a self-published author and get my share of that pie?

So I dived in.  I wrote my first novel, as an adult, over three months while working full time.  I ran it through a buddy for some quick editing, designed my own cover, studied the submission rules at Amazon, and then KAZAAM! Published and ready to sell!  Well...

The Apocalypse Panel

Hi everyone!

A fellow, well respected author and friend, Randy Lindsay, has invited me to join a panel of authors as we discuss the idea of a possible world apocalypse.  You can view the full panel discussion HERE.

Firstly, thanks to Randy for starting this panel! I was honored to be included! I must admit that the idea of an apocalypse is something that has fascinated not only myself, but countless others since the beginning of time! It would be fair to say that the first 'recorded' apocalypse was in the Bible, during Noah's time of the Great Flood. The human race almost entirely extinguished after 40 days and nights of floods. Prior to that, we have the extinction of the dinosaurs, various Ice Ages etc etc. The earth is forever

How to Time Travel via Music

Have you ever heard a song from many years ago, and it immediately sends you back to a specific time in your life, sometimes even a specific moment or memory? The songs that have the ability to do that to you are what I call Life Songs. They are the songs that make up the soundtrack to your life. Some of them result in happy flashbacks, others do the opposite, but all of them are powerful time-travelling machines that instantly make you smile or wipe away a silent tear!

I did this last year, and I think it's an idea everybody should adopt! I made a playlist of songs that have had this impact on my life, selecting ONE song from each year since the year I was born.

How to Survive a Monday

I'll be the first one to admit that Mondays are the worst day of the week! I don't think I'm alone on that one! For me, specifically, it's the busiest of the five working days, which means it's also the longest of the five working days. All the crap that happened over a weekend usually has to be resolved on the Monday, which makes it one of those "fix-up" days. You've also come off a two day break (hopefully) so your body and your mind have just become accustomed to rest and relaxation, before you're thrown cruelly back into the blender! It's quite a challenge mentally!

However, I have worked out a game plan for surviving a Monday, and I'm sharing it with you today:

How to Train your Dragon - I mean, Wife!

Now, if you've opened this post, you're one of two things: You're either a husband/wife with a partner problem, or you're just curious to see what type of idiot would even think it would be safe to call their wife a dragon!

Well, no need to panic! I think I'll take my chances with this one!