Crazy Adventures Kindle Promotion

Here's something to smile about:

Beginning tomorrow at some point Crazy Adventures: Preteen Stories and Fantasies will be available for free at the Amazon Kindle store.

This promotion runs through Sunday, October 25th. Get your kids something to read, including some short stories perfect for Halloween. I'm talking about the fun scary and not traumatizing scary.

First Edition...Ho!

This book is now officially published. It is intended for children. I'm not sure when it will be available on Amazon. I don't have a Kindle version as of yet. The main character is in third grade and eight years old.

More Cover Prototypes

Magic Brain Shoes is soon to be published. I have a prototype for both the front cover and back cover.

Eclipse Magic

Sunday night was the Supermoon lunar eclipse. It was mostly cloudy in Michigan, but there had been some brief moments of clearing. As you may or may not be aware, I love a good conspiracy theory/end-of-the-world scenario. Monday was supposed to be the Rapture. It's when Jesus comes and takes all the faithful to Heaven. Either I missed the Rapture train or it never happened. I woke up and had coffee like always. It was quite delightful coffee, too. Starbucks Italian dark roast. Maybe I am in Heaven based on the coffee. However, while I was out driving, the traffic reminded me that Heaven isn't filled with large trucks in your way or those jerk drivers whose sole mission in life is to wake up and be jerks.

Another thing that was supposed to happen was the collapse of the American economy. The American stock markets slumped Monday, but now their going strong. So far, no asteroids have collided with Earth. An asteroid strike was another event that was going to happen. Maybe Superman showed up and stopped it.

I planned on posting earlier in the week, but I had some things I had to do in regards to a potential job. In a couple of weeks, I could be a substitute teacher. It's part of my plan to raise funds to market and sell more books. I had a training and had to get fingerprinted. All my paperwork has to get processed. My next flea market won't be until October 31...Halloween. Do I show up in costume? Do I pass out candy? Stay tuned! I may answer these questions in time.

Be good to yourselves!

Permanent Ebay Links

Remember, international readers hoping to get their hands on autographed copies of my books, the Ebay links are permanently located in the side panels. From time to time, I'll have to reset them  on Ebay. I'll do everything I can to remember to update the links, if necessary. Of course, American readers may also use Ebay instead of directly ordering off this blog. Happy Reading!

Book 3 Progress

This is an update. Anything you read will never be used against you in a court of law! Duh-duh-duh.

At present, Jimmy Miller the Super Powerful, Book 3 is moving at a snail's pace. However, it is moving. Of course, this is in addition to the other book projects I'm working on. I'm starting to set up my Goodreads author account. I never had done it. One snag was that when I published Crazy Adventures, I did so under David M. Lichty instead of David Lichty. The Goodreads system assumed we were two different authors. However, it's getting straightened out. The old covers to Books 1 and 2 are what you will find if you check me out over on Goodreads. I do want to get that updated, too.

This concludes this update.

Selfie Safety

While the selfie craze roars on, here are some safety tips that might help should you become a part of this madness without experiencing life-threatening medical trauma.

• Keep loaded guns from pointing at your own head
• No matter how much you're excited, venomous snakes will not share your level of selfie enthusiasm
• Crocodiles and sharks are not really smiling. You probably should avoid a selfie with these guys, especially the ones prone to biting you in half
• You will want to avoid flammable liquids, such as gasoline
• Fireworks are often more powerful than you think
• Leave chainsaw juggling to the professionals
• Wood chippers--leave these guys out of it; it's hard to take a selfie if you've become human mulch

Now, get out there and keep taking those pictures of yourself. Here's a selfie of me without coffee.

Another Illustration Done

This one doesn't sit well with my son Brayden. In Michigan, kids don't go back to school until after Labor Day. It's the state law. However, soon Brayden might be like Alex in this picture.

I still have several illustrations to add. It's coming along.

Possible cover

This cover for my new children's novel is a work in progress. You have already met my new main character. If not, let me introduce you to Alex.

 

Let's Get Ready to Ebay

 All right. At 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Crazy Adventures: Preteen Stories and Fantasies will be live on Ebay. Go here for details. At the same time Jimmy Miller Books 1 & 2 combo pack will also go live. Click this.  I'm offering Jimmy Miller books only as a combo package on Ebay. These are autographed print copies. Hurry while I have them in stock! And, they'll ship internationally. Be patient! They'll get there.

Some Illustrations

Let me introduce you to Alex. He's in big trouble. He also is the main character in my soon-to-be published children's novel. Before, I had mentioned that I planned to have this traditionally published. What had changed my mind? Sales for Crazy Adventures, that's what. So far, Crazy Adventures sales have gone well for an author who is unknown.

Like the illustrations in Crazy Adventures, these are nothing more than doodles. Yes, there are children who draw way better than this. Talented children are everywhere. My hope is that these illustrations help young readers get an idea of what's going on in each chapter.

Alex gets in a fight at recess.

Alex in trouble again, nursing a bloody nose.

A quick update on the Amazon Marketplace:

Okay, I'm just going to use Ebay  for sales beyond the United States because I'm most familiar with their system more than Amazon's system. So, it's in the works.

To Market

I'm still looking for a way to ship autographed print books internationally. Very soon, I plan on offering them through Amazon Martketplace. This will at least broaden my shipping options to Canada. Of course, if anyone in other places wishes to fly me to his or her nation, providing room and board, then I could just set up shop there. I wouldn't have to worry about shipping because people could line up and buy them off of me. Just dreaming...

Anyway, I need to set up with Amazon first. I'll let you know when that happens. I will have a limited inventory, though. As of last Saturday, after selling at the flea market, I have eight Crazy Adventures left and four of each book of the Jimmy Miller series. I still have several copies of the Jimmy Miller books with old covers on them.

End Times Reading List

Stop! This is not a blurb about what to read concerning the End Times. No, I am saying that when stocking your survival bunker, remember to pack something to read. YouTube might be down for a while and so your only source of entertainment might be the books you pack. Don't forget the kids. I mean, bring the kids with you, but give them books to read as well. Hopefully, you have a generator so you can recharge your Kindles, but maybe if YouTube is down, Amazon could be, too. Downloading Kindle books could be a challenge. While Amazon works to reboot their cloud, get some print books. You'll need light bulbs or a source of light. (Of course, I don't really know if this would happen to Amazon, but it sounds truthful.)

I got to thinking about this after the U.S. stock markets slumped a bit. Anyway, get a hold of the Jimmy Miller books. I'm hoping to get Book 3 done before any End Times action. Crazy Adventures would be good for the kids in your survival bunker.

Hurry! Snatch 'em up before were all stuck with snail mail. Of course, I ship my autograph books through snail mail. So, you're covered no matter what. 

I'm selling at the Paw Paw flea market tomorrow. I'll let you know how much I have left in my inventory afterwards. Have a great weekend all. And, let's hope the End Times are far into the future and your survival bunker is just a grand man cave.  Or woman cave.

Commercial Nonsense

Care.com...The kids on Care.com commercials behave like uncontrollable brats. Behind such brats are often parents who failed to establish any kind of boundaries with their kids. And these parents have the gumption to bring in a sitter for their little terrorists? These kids are not coming across as cute. Rather, these kids demonstrate the worse in parenting. Parents who have convinced their kids that the world revolves around them. I've commented on their commercials before. They should consider changing their marketing. Of course, if they are actually making money from it, then, hey, I guess they're on to something.

Amazon Echo...Now your house can be just like the Enterprise from Star Trek. Just shout out your request, and Echo will comply. Unless the command is "bring me more coffee." Of course, a decent smartphone or tablet might be able to do the same tasks, I think. I hate to say it, but it vaguely reminds me of a sophisticated Clapper. (You know, clap on, clap off...the Clapper.) It might be fun for about five minutes...until the novelty runs out. Perhaps, they could make a Chia Echo. The pottery that grows and turns your lights on for you.

Denny's; The Thing Burger...Not appetizing in anyway. The new and improved Thing from the latest Fantastic Four movie looks like...well, since this is a family blog, I better not say. What was wrong with the Thing from the previous Fantastic Four movies? He was entertaining. The new Thing is not anymore realistic. I don't know what happened to this new movie. It's a mess. It's just cause for a Mystery Science Theater 3000 reunion show. Did the creator look at The Green Lantern movie and say, "I think that's the direction I'd like to go." As for Denny's since there's zero interest in the new Fantastic Four movie, maybe you should rename the burger to something more popular. Call it the Trump burger.

I'm working on illustrations for my children's novel, even though I hoped to find someone to provide professional ones. Here's a sample of one:

Be good to yourselves!

 

Autograph Update

For U.S. readers, I've updated the prices for each autographed copy of each book and the combo package. I pay shipping costs and any sales tax. I'm not snubbing the rest of the world. One day I hope to set up a way to send books outside of the U.S. I carry a limited supply of each book, so it's possible I might have to back order them. In this case, orders could take a few weeks to arrive.

Saturday

Tomorrow I will be near Paw Paw, MI selling and signing books. Where will I be exactly? Reits Flea Market. Most of you reading this most likely live nowhere near Paw Paw or anywhere in Michigan. It's not too far from Lake Michigan. Right now, I'm only accepting cash. I hope one day to process credit or debit cards via Paypal Here or Square Reader. I just need a smartphone first.

I like selling directly to readers because they don't have to pay shipping and handling charges. This is definitely a bonus. Anyway, if you happen to be in the area and wish to say "hi," then here's a link to Reits Flea Market to find out where it is. Good luck finding me, though. It's a huge flea market.

Be good to yourselves!

Why Crazy Adventures?

What's the purpose of Crazy Adventures? To give 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders something to read, of course. It's so hard to get kids to read. Crazy Adventures is meant for those kids who want to read, but also want to hurry up and get it over with. Parents and teachers win because they managed to get their kids to read something. And not just anything! These are short stories with plots--beginning, middle, and end. 

Kids win because they can pride themselves on reading something. Many of the stories are just plain goofy. Most kids like humorous tales. Some of the tales are somewhat frightening--perfect for kids at a sleepover hoping to scare themselves silly. What kid doesn't love being scared silly?

Do you know a kid, parent or teacher who could benefit from Crazy Adventures? Let them know. They can even get a buggy ebook version for free (instructions on side panel of blog). For 99 Cents, they get a less buggy version (follow the Kindle link). Maybe they enjoy actual pages in their hands. Ahh! No ebook feels quite like a print copy. For $10.30 ($5.30 including the book price and tax and shipping/handling) they get an autographed copy from me. I'll even throw in a free bookmark. Or, order a non-autographed copy off Amazon or other cool online book sellers (no bookmark included). 

Happy reading!

 

Here It Goes

Okay...I've got an option to buy autographed copies of my books via Paypal. I don't know how well it will work. Remember, I'm not Amazon, so all books will be shipped by snail mail. It will get to you eventually. For now, I'm only selling within the 48 continuous United States. Until I get comfortable with selling books this way, I'll expand beyond the U.S. 

When you process at Paypal, there should be a place where you can tell me where to ship your book. For now, I'm just signing my name. Please, if you ordered a book and want me to put anything more than my name, just leave a comment on the blog. I'm going to brave making the comments open for anyone, including anonymous posters. However, if trolls surface, I'll make it more restrictive.

Also, I carry a small inventory of books, so if I run out, I'll temporarily shut down the Paypal button until I'm replenished. Next mission--I'm going to have YouTube videos explaining each book with me being as entertaining as possible.

Be good to yourselves.

Remember, the Jimmy Miller the Super Powerful Books are young adults for 6th grade readers on up. Crazy Adventures is a collection of goofy short fantasy stories mainly for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. Although, older readers have been known to buy Crazy Adventures. So, what do I know?

Business News

I've been mulling a way to sell autographed copies of my books. Ordering off Amazon will get you a print copy, but my signature won't be a part of it. So, in the near future I will experiment with a Paypal button. What I have to figure out is how potential buyers can let me know what to write on the inside--unless my name is sufficient. Also, shipping methods and costs are something to consider. Of course, I will let you know when and if I get it set up. 

Be good to yourselves!

Paperback Buttons Are Back

Links to the paperback versions on Amazon for Books 1 & 2 are back! So...click away.

It's a Friday Update!

I'm slowly bringing Book 3 to life in rough draft form. I have to be strategic in how I write it. One wrong move and the story will have me checkmated. What does that mean? I don't know for sure.  

My time is very limited. Because of a cooler, wetter than normal summer, my yard is threatening to transform into a jungle. All I have is a lawn mower, clippers, and other equipment. It is growing so fast. I can't even wait a week before mowing again. If I do, the lawn becomes thick. It clogs my mower. I have to say, it's worse than snow removal in the winter.

Not only that, but the mosquito population has exploded. You've heard of Jurassic World. Well, my backyard is Mosquito World. I use near 100 percent deets Deep Woods Off. And they just laugh at my pathetic attempt to ward them away. Someone forgot to tell them that they're supposed to be repelled by that stuff.

I'm proud to say I set off fireworks on the Fourth of July and didn't blow up any parts of me. I didn't burn down my house or anyone else's. We have a large enough space in our backyard to keep them away from homes--as long as I don't do anything stupid. I bought a hundred dollars worth of fireworks and shot them off in ten minutes time. Shopping for fireworks has almost surpassed Christmas shopping in terms of cost. They were a bit lame when they burst in the air. My formula for launching fireworks and not causing bodily injury is simple--light the fuse and run like hell. I also have a brick that stays nice and level. Luckily, it wasn't windy. I'd be afraid the launching tubes might blow over just as a shell shoots off. 

Speaking of the deep woods, next week I'm off to Webelos Scout Camp with my son and my den. Being the Den Leader, I get to go, too. It's only for three days and three nights. So, I won't be doing much writing. And the coffee is wretched. Other than that, it should prove to be a great time. 

Soap Box Time! I have to vent. WHAT THE HELL ARE WE DOING TO OUR CHILDREN!? There's a family court judge here in Michigan who sent three children to juvenile detention for refusing to spend time with their father. I know court orders should be followed, but for this? Locking up our children for no real offense should be illegal. So, the court system kidnapped these children and are holding them hostage. That's how I view it. That's it, I'm voting Libertarian. 

Well, that's enough updating and venting for now. Don't you hate Windows Updates. They just take over your computer, ready or not. Be good to yourselves.

Ample Avoidance

Being a super powerful writer means not following the crowd, regardless if it's marketable or not. The following is a list of things I avoid, although it may ruin sales.

• I avoid stories involving zombies and vampires. These have been so overdone. 
• I avoid dark fiction that is dark, but doesn't really have a point. Dark fiction should be dark for a reason other than "let's be dark, even if the plot suffers."
• I avoid foul language in my writing. Since I was nine, I fell into the swearing habit. I thought I was being more grown-up. Only, it led to a lifetime of cursing. I think going through life never swearing is crazy. Life just brings the worst out of a person. However, swearing like a sailor isn't necessary. If I use foul language, I try and be purposeful. So, kids, just avoid this nasty habit.
• I avoid erotic language or sexual content. Since much of my writing is geared towards the young and young at heart, I try and keep it clean.
• I avoid politics. Politics...who needs 'em?

Well, that's it. Happy Independence Day to my fellow Americans! Happy weekend to all!

In the Know

To keep all of you informed, I must point out that I had temporarily removed the links to the Paperback versions of Books 1 & 2. I'm still getting the new covers to update and it is taking longer than anticipated. Once the books with the new covers are listed on Amazon, I will bring back the links. 

Now that it's summer, the TV is tuned to kid channels more often. I must say, the Kool-Aid commercials are truly disturbing. Quirky humor might be the popular things nowadays, but is it really needed for something such as Kool-Aid? I had to vent about this. Why not whine about it here?

I finally got around to picking up Earth Awakens by Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston. It's the third book in a prequel series to Ender's Game. I spotted a homophone error. It was a "then" vs. "than" error. Remember, "than" is for contrast and comparison, not for sequence. It's professionally edited. So, this is proof that traditionally published books are not always error-free. It's still a good book, though.

99 Cents Sale

I'm not sure when it will be listed on Amazon, but the Kindle version of both books will eventually be 99 Cents each for the rest of the summer. When I mean summer, I mean through Labor Day here in the USA. Spread the word. Know someone who needs something to read during the summer? It's Jimmy Miller the Super Powerful to the rescue!

Any publishers and/or agents reading, I'm always willing to consider any offers.

New Pricing

Soon after the free ebook promotion is over, Books 1 & 2 will be available for 99 Cents each for the rest of the summer.

I hope your summer is going well, so far. Rainy and cool here in the Cereal City. Soggy, like a bowl of...well, you know. Last weekend I had been in this large city called Chicago with the Battle Creek Boychoir. My sons sing in it and went on tour. Here in Battle Creek if you want a taxi, you must call them on a phone or something. In Chicago, you only have to wave. But, we went on a charter bus everywhere, so a taxi was not even needed. My boys sampled one of the city parks in Chicago near the Water Tower Place, a seven-story mall. In conclusion, Chicago is a great large city. They were celebrating Donald Trump's exciting presidential campaign by slapping his name on one of the skyscrapers. I never realized Chicago was so into Trump. And, they were also celebrating the winning of the Stanley Cup by the Chicago Blackhawks. It's an ice hockey thing.

Well, continue to embrace your summer. If you had read my Doomsday post, we only have three months...maybe, possibly, or maybe not. Maybe we have longer. Who knows? This is the Super Powerful Author signing off.

Promotions!

Beginning tomorrow, June 23, 2015, the ebook versions of Jimmy Miller the Super Powerful: Forecast Acid Rain (book1 ) and Jimmy Miller the Super Powerful: Project Evolution (book 2) will be available for free through Saturday, June 27, 2015. Follow the links at the side panels. You can also find Book 1 here: click this. You can find Book 3 here: click that.

Currently Unavailable

The ebook versions of Book 1 and 2 are currently unavailable as they transition from the previous front covers to the new. This will take almost a day to complete. The print versions won't be available for maybe a week. I will keep up the links to the books, but you might not be able to purchase them until the process is finished.

A Wednesday Update

Here are new back covers for both books.

Book 1:

Book 2:

Another Possible Cover Change

In my quest to get my covers as eye appealing as possible, I have new designs for the front covers of book 1 and 2.

 Book 1:

Book 2:

Sometime this week, I'll get new back covers and replace the other covers.
 

Doomsday?

If you're like me, you're probably happy that Doomsday did not happen in 2012. For a while there, I thought maybe that was it for this little pebble in the Cosmos. I kept posted on updates of the Planet X-Nibiru-brown-dwarf-star thing that was supposed to wreak havoc. It never showed up. There were some really cool YouTube videos describing the horrors that were going to befall us. Those people worked so hard in putting those together.

Yeah, I'm glad we're still here, but a bit disappointed. I mean, the Grey aliens were a no-show. No "take me to your leader" kind of thing. Come on Greys, what's keeping you? Are you just camera shy?

While your reading this sipping on you coffee or hot beverage of your choice, you're probably wondering why bring up all this? It's been three years. Well, brace yourself because there's a new Doomsday lurking. It's sometime in September. Look, there's a final blood moon in a series of four! So...calamity! This could put a damper on your Christmas shopping plans. Perhaps Amazon will offer Doomsday specials. The real buzz is in regards to a collapse of the American economy. Yes, it was predicted to collapse every year before 2015, but this time we have a lunar eclipse. That should do it. However, Planet X is now predicted to swing by, finally. An asteroid is on track to strike the Earth according to someone who studied Sir Isaac Newton. Apparently, the guy who invented gravity foresaw an asteroid striking the Earth in 2015. And you know, if an object is in motion, it does something like end life as we know it!

What does it mean for me? Well, it might disrupt the completion of  Book 3 of the series, but it might not. I'm hoping the Greys will brave the media and step forward. Please, don't be offended by me calling you Greys, if you're reading this. Don't atomize me or whatever you people do. Oh, wait! You guys probe. I don't think I'm prepared for that. 

One question: if the economy collapses, will we still have to pay our mortgage? I don't think I'll get that lucky. 

Anyway, enjoy your summer. Once the autumnal equinox gets here, perhaps it's all bad news from then on. Great for CNN since they thrive on bad news. Although, as long as there's decent coffee available, it shouldn't be all doom and gloom. However, should coffee cease to exist, then I say, let Doomsday happen. Tell others about my books in the meantime. They'll help those poor Earthlings pass the time. Be good to yourselves.

Super Powerful Summer

My kids are out of school. It's light when I wake up and birds do what birds do. They are quite noisy, but it's a good kind of noise. Hearing birds in the morning, drinking my coffee, is so relaxing. I've been reading the prequel series to Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. The prequels were written by Card and a movie screenwriter, Aaron Johnston. I'm on the second book titled Earth Afire. Card and Johnston think much like me. I'm surprised at how the characters are developed. Anyway, it's a nice read for science fiction fans. Although, for a book written by a well-known, established author and professionally edited by a traditional publisher, I've caught some errors that should have been obvious. The continuity is solid, but there are some typos and I think I came across a homonym error. Most readers would probably not even catch them. If the story is engaging, like this one is, it's easy to skip over such errors.

At my last flea market, I sold three books, one of each title. I've become more conservative in handing out bookmarks. I only give them out to those who actually browse the books. Not an aggressive strategy, but who wants a pushy sales person.

A note concerning the covers of my books: They are not professionally done for one good reason--I don't have enough money. So, I did them myself. If only I had enough...I've considered doing a GoFundMe page, but it's not really a charity. I read where the cover art is vitally important. I hesitate to pick up books with breathtaking art work. What if the story on the inside doesn't live up to the art work? Perhaps breathtaking art is important to picture books. I don't know...for novels?

Every post, I keep saying, I'm so close to finishing revising the manuscript to my children's novel (well, more like a novelette). I'm happy to report that--I'm so close to finishing revising the manuscript to my children's novel.

Well, that's all for now. Enjoy your summer, eat lots of hot dogs and ice cream, and pretend none of it causes cancer or diabetes. I have no idea if hot dogs and ice cream cause cancer or diabetes, but eat them with care and at your own risk.

Be good to yourselves!

I'm Back

My hiatus is over. I'm back to writing and editing. My children's novel is only a few days away from being ready for a literary agent to review. Of course, I'll have to prepare a query letter. I had hoped to get a blog post earlier, but I had stuff to do. On May 30th I'll be back on the flea market scene selling both Jimmy Miller books and Crazy Adventures. It's at the Kalamazoo County Expo Center.

I'll write more later. I just wanted to let you, my blog readers, know I'm back! Go get a coffee or a hot beverage of your choice and reread this post. As always...my blog posts are best when accompanied with a great cup of coffee.

Be good to yourselves!

Hiatus

Fiction writing has been a wonderful outlet for me. As eager as I am to finish the Jimmy Miller series, there is a reality. I need an income and I want a meaningful career to to fulfill this need. Therefore, I am planning on being part of a teacher training program through Michigan Teacher Corps (Teach for America). The track I am on requires my full attention. This means I will place my writing on hold for the moment. I hope to return when my life becomes more settled. As for this blog, I will post from time to time. However, I will post with less frequency.

Thank you to all who take the time to read this blog. My books are still available at Amazon. Just follow the links. Be good to yourselves.

St. Patrick's Day Update

Just one last chapter and the rough draft to my kid's book is complete. Then, it's revision/editing time and off to search for a literary agent. The difficulty is placing words that a third grader would understand. I have to keep the sentence structure simple but interesting. Challenging them is one thing, but there are some words kids just don't use.

Time slows down when I get to the end chapter. It's hard to stop a train and a novel's resolution is much like that. Since I'm not self-publishing this title, I won't worry about developing a cover. That's one less item I off my to-do list. However, it does mean...getting a polished query letter together. Agents are particular folk, so it has to be exactly as they expect it.

I do intend on getting part 2 to "The Skateboard" completed. My target is Friday, but I have to get blood work done for an upcoming physical. It may be Friday evening when I finish it. Have a great St. Patrick's Day to all of you.

Before I close, I must note it was ten years ago my son was diagnosed with a high-functioning form of autism called PDD-NOS. Since no one knows what that is, we just say autism. My younger son was a little more than a month old. Anyway, be good to yourselves and if you find a leprechaun, be good to him, too.

Dreaming

One of my favorite activities is dreaming. Inherently, sleeping is a big part of it. My dreams are vivid and I often can't tell that they are just dreams at the time. They can be exciting, weird, but never scary. As much as I think I'll remember them, as soon as I wake, I forget most of them. I can recall only bits and pieces. This type of dreaming is better than daydreaming because I never know what's coming.

Obviously, dreams are coming from somewhere. If they are from God and are meant to be visions, then I hope He can help me remember them. The source of my dreams are most likely from my unconscious. I'm surprised I have no nightmares since I had a nightmarish childhood at times. My mind is often preoccupied with plenty of worries. I know, I shouldn't worry about anything, but pray about everything. If only I had the spiritual strength to live this out. So, I'll stop calling them worries, but anxieties. See...I'm not worrying, I just have a lot of anxiety. (Really, though, it's worry.)

When I write fiction, much of it is done with a great deal of free association, a Freudian concept. I try to let my unconscious come out and give me dreams that I can write down and remember. Then, I tailor them in hopes others might enjoy these same "dreams." I try to get my worries down, too. In the Jimmy Miller series my worries are deeply embedded in it. 

There are plenty of worries for me. I did have a previous post where I listed my fears. Well, fears are worries and worries are fears. Here's a list of current worries (not an exhaustive list, mind you):

• Will Russia engage in a sneak nuclear attack on the U.S. and our allies? Is there another "reset" button?
• Is Netanyahu right about Iran? Can anyone really stop them from getting the Bomb? Is he the Winston Churchill in all of this?
• Am I being abducted by aliens at night and could that explain my vivid dreams? If so, how are they getting in?
• Will I ever pay off my student loans?
• Can my son with autism lead a life of independence?
• Will the world ever run out of coffee? I mean, good coffee?
• Will America stop voting for village idiots, also known as Republicans and Democrats?

Well, there you go. I hope this helps with my anxiety. Have a great, worry free weekend everyone!

It's Sprinter

Sprinter is now here. That's what I call the period of late winter and early spring. Signs of a warm-up are everywhere, but I know in the back of my head cold and snow can come back at anytime. Once the snow can all melt then there's a better chance of warmer temperatures. As for Jimmy Miller, sales of both books so far are pretty chilly. Hopefully, this will change. 

I still have the same writing projects in process. My sleep cycle needs to get adjusted to the missing hour. Really, I don't have too many new things to report. Most important to me is that you all have a wonderful sprinter, which for me will lead to decent maple syrup production. Of course, if you live in the Southern Hemisphere then you're not experiencing sprinter, but have a great season wherever you find yourself.

Be kind to yourself and neighbors!

The Skateboard

I have a new short story for you faithful blog readers. It is part one. I call it "The Skateboard." It's part of my mission to give you something to read in a non-threatening environment while you sip on your coffee (or hot beverage of your choice).

The Skateboard Part I 
Glad to finally be home from school today, I went inside and dumped my backpack in the middle of the kitchen. I knew one of my parents would yell at me to hang it up...yeah, it's a game I like to play with them. They think they're teaching me something. Parents have to feel like parents and all. My stomach growled and I searched for a snack. Nothing on the shelves, the cupboards, or the fridge.

"Mom!" I yelled. "Dad!" How strange no one was home. I thought I heard a car pull into the driveway, so I went back outside. Must have been hearing things. "Hey, a skateboard," I noted. It wasn't there when I came home from school. Looking around to see who might have left it, I saw no signs of anyone. This thing was something the pros used.

A sign taped to the back instructed me to "step on." I found my bicycle helmet, strapped it on, and placed my feet on the surface. Without any push from me, the skateboard moved and I waved my arms to keep my balance. It continued rolling past the driveway and across the street. I checked for cars and stayed on the skateboard.

The skateboard scooted into my neighbor's driveway directly across from ours. Their driveway sloped upwards, but the skateboard showed no signs of stopping. As I cut into my neighbor's backyard, I caught the last glimpse of my house before it became hidden from my view. I hadn't locked the doors, so I hoped no one breaks in.

Grass and weeds did not slow the ride. I should have jumped off the board and ran away for my life. A skateboard powered by some mysterious force needed to be avoided, but I wondered where it planned on taking me. What I never realized that the lawns across the street had a paved back alley. The skateboard hung a left. I don't how fast it traveled. As fast as I could pedal my bike and I stayed on like a pro. Regardless of how I tried, I couldn't steer it to where I wanted to go. It decided on its own course.

Onward I went, and I passed a wooded area. I emerged in a neighborhood that shouldn't have been there. The back alley led to a residential street where hundreds of other kids had their own skateboards. Unlike mine, these kids didn't have ones that were self-propelled. Who were these kids? I didn't recognize any of them. When they saw me enter the skateboard traffic, some kids would point at me. Some jeered, "Hey, you're riding that wrong!"

"What do you mean?" I protested. "This thing is driving itself."

However, these kids were jerks. They proceeded to taunt me about my skateboard skills. How could they when they weren't any better than me? Wasn't because I didn't have to push mine to keep it going? Of course, they could steer theirs, but mine...it had a mind of its own. In the middle of the skateboarding preteens, a hooded guy stood. He stared at me, but I couldn't make out his face. I assumed he was a guy. He could've been a girl.

I heard him speak in my mind. Get ready...it's coming. Suddenly, the other kids and I became engulfed by a ball of fire so bright I couldn't see anything. Then, came the boom!

The Long Haul

The good news is that the ebook versions of Book 1 and 2 of Jimmy Miller the Super Powerful have both sold a few copies. Between 25 and 30 copies of Book 2 have sold, while Book 1 had between 35 and 40 sold. It's a good start for a self-published title with virtually no marketing, at least not on a large scale. Hopefully, readers will leave reviews with Amazon. Since the end of the free promotion periods for each book, there have been no further purchases. They have a long ways to go before becoming best sellers.

I'm making good progress on a novel for children. It's right on the fine line between early chapter book and middle-grade fiction. This work will have under a hundred pages and 20,000 words. Self-publishing it is out of the question because it requires a level of illustration that is beyond my capabilities. When I did the illustrations for Crazy Adventures, I only did so because I meant it to be an anthology of short stories. I needed a place to store them besides this blog, so I didn't need the illustrations to be professional. My new children's story, though, will not work with me doing the illustrations. Therefore, once I have the manuscript edited, I will seek out a literary agent and get it traditionally published. They can find the right illustrator for it, I'm sure.

Very soon, I'll begin working on Book 3 of Jimmy Miller. I have another rough draft of a novel I finished for NaNoWriMo month. It's a very dark tale for teens. I'm almost afraid of unleashing it into the world. Yes, I'm afraid of my own fiction. Like in Stephen King's The Dark Half in which a writer's fictional character comes to life and...you can only imagine the chaos. If I do go forward with it, I will seek traditional publication for it. 

Finally, I've put an outline together for a Christian novel. My vision is for it to be primarily for Christian readers and for those of the faith. However, people outside of the Christian faith will be welcome to read it, too. It's a daunting task because I don't want the Christian faith to simply be a substitute for magic. So, it won't be a fantasy or science fiction work.

Well, that's it for now. This concludes this super powerful update. Be awesome to yourself and to others.

Remember...

The death of Leonard Nimoy proved that he was truly human after all. If only he had a Vulcan half and could live for centuries...Upon hearing the news of Nimoy's passing, I went right to Netflix. I already have the Original Series of Star Trek queued, and I'm on the third season. Of course, I re-watched Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan because in my mind Leonard Nimoy's death is so much like that of the ending of the movie. James Kirk, who was an admiral at the time, reflected that there are always possibilities. Of course, he hinted that Spock would return, become reborn in the sequels.

The reality is the Spock character will live on by other actors, but Leonard Nimoy's Spock is now forever embedded in our memories--and now he is truly gone. With ghastly atrocities happening every day, the death of this one man has reminded us of the joy we can put into this world.

Leonard Nimoy's Spock showed just how super powerful science fiction can be. He shined a light on what it means to be human--and how humans could be better. That's what science fiction can do. It can pose deep philosophical and theological questions, maybe sometimes answer them. We knew the day would come when Leonard Nimoy would not be with us anymore, at least physically. "Remember," Spock told McCoy before his sacrificial scene at the end of The Wrath of Khan.

Good-bye to Leonard Nimoy. And yes, we will always "Remember."

Be good to yourselves, you readers of this blog and LLAP!

My Super Powerful Life

Being a super powerful writer is quite the daunting career. It's about being a super powerful marketer or marketeer, which I'm really not. Unlike so many good marketers (marketeers), I'm not gifted with the ability to strike up a conversation with just anyone. You have to be a good conversationalist. Conversations are stressful for me. They make me anxious. I don't always know what to say or have a clue of what not to say. People are often easily offended. Also, good marketing has a money component that I just do not have at the moment. Word of mouth is basically my big strategy. Many of you are tremendous conversationalists.

I maintain this blog to offer entertainment as you sip your coffee. Maybe you're on a break from work or something. Also, you can keep up with my progression as an obscure author to hopefully something more than that. Then, you can say, "Hey, that guy there. I remember when no one ever heard of him. Now look at him, Mr. Big Shot author." Let me assure you, I plan on doing this blog no matter how successful I get. I just hope nuclear war doesn't break out in the meantime. Everyone...just put the nukes down and settle this over a cup of coffee.

Well, that's it for now. I had a third point, but I forgot what it was. Hey, any help you can provide to spread the word about my blog and my books is certainly appreciated. A starving writer (okay, I'm not literally starving) is what I am for now. You can make a difference!

Be wonderful to yourself! Despite the evil in our world, remember, there still is good in it. Always search for it. 

I should note how best to leave a comment here, if you're moved to do so. I don't allow anonymous comments, but the next best thing is to click Open I.D. and then you just type whatever name you wish to put in there. At least, I think that's how it works. I've done it on other Blogger Blogs. Believe me, I'm a big supporter of free speech...except for those deliberate trolls out there. I do scan for trolls. Being negative is not the same thing as trolling.

If you like me on my author Facebook page, you can also comment there. Or follow on Twitter. I do try and keep up with Google +, but my mind can only handle so much social media.

Now Available in Paperback

Jimmy Miller the Super Powerful: Project Evolution is now available in paperback. On Amazon, the price is $12.99, otherwise known as 13 dollars (American). I'm not sure what the price is in other monetary denominations such as pounds or euros.  I could look it up, but I have faith the readers of this blog know how to figure out their own pricing needs. Just follow the link at the side panel.

Coffee and Such

With me focusing on Jimmy Miller the Super Powerful series, among other writing projects, I'm still committed to give you something interesting to read with your coffee or hot beverage of your choice--without giving you information fatigue. Unlike other blogs that provide expert advice, I want my guests to relax, take a load off, that kind of thing. 

I hope, however, that the books I have published so far will thrill you and also go great with coffee or whatever. Crazy Adventures I wrote more for kids as the title suggests, and the youngsters out there aren't known for their coffee habits. Kids don't need coffee while they read. You adults out there who like to read kid stories could enjoy them with your coffee or drink coffee while your kids read them.

And now, it's time for a segment I like to call, "What's bugging me now?"

What's Bugging Me Now

Actually, nothing is bugging me at the moment, but I'll let you know when something does. The media so far has lightened up on Brian Williams. I mean, ISIS has been on a rampage of atrocities, but for a while there, the media's main concern was with Brian Williams. 

Oh, there is one thing bugging me...Chuck E. Cheese's commercials. Do the Chucky? Time to set a trap for that mouse. (Hah, just kidding kids!)

It's Alive!

Jimmy Miller the Super Powerful: Forecast Acid Rain (Book 1) is now ready for download on Kindle. From now until February 21st, it is being offered for free and then it goes back to $2.99. The only thing that has changed is the cover. The content is the same. So, now you can read the events that better explain what's going on in Book 2. If you already have read this book with the old cover, you won't miss anything. I haven't changed any of the words. Read, enjoy, and review!

The print version of Book 1 with the new cover is available at Amazon. Costs for the print version have gone up, so it's price is 12.99. I will post a link to it, but will also keep the link to the print version with the old cover. It won't be much longer for the print version of Book 2 to go on sale. There's some proofing I need to do with it. I do know the price of the print version will be 12.99.

Book 1 News

I am in the process of changing the cover to Book 1. A prototype front cover was created and unveiled on a previous post. The new front cover that I will use is very similar.

 The new back cover for the print version is...ta-da:

So, when the revamped Kindle version comes out, I will hopefully have a free promotional deal for it. As for Book 2, there is one more day on that deal. Amazon only allows so many days. I think the promotion is good through February 15, but I'm not sure exactly when it runs out. As always, reviews are welcomed.

I've updated the cover bellow the links for Book 1 along the side panel, but the links themselves will take you to the versions with the previous design.  As I said, the change is in progress.

Project Evolution Live! (At least Digitally)

The Kindle version is now available. It currently is under a free promotion through February 15. At least, it should be. It's regular price is $2.99. Read, enjoy, and review! Follow this link or the one at the side panel of the blog.

Quick Update

Okay, I'm not going to set up links for offers since I'm skeptical of every single one. Here's some good news--Jimmy Miller the Super Powerful: Project Evolution will soon be available on Kindle, like within a day. The print version is still in process. Just like the first book, the Kindle version will be $3, but I'll offer it for $2.99. I know, it's really the same thing. I will establish a link to it like my other books right from here. 

I've got some super powerful excitement.

A Little Business

Soon, I'll be constructing a secondary blog where I plan on pitching products, services and such. They will be items that I believe could be beneficial to you. I will do everything I can to make sure the offers I pitch are legitimate, but as always, buyer beware. Primarily, I want to look for products and services that will help aspiring writers. However, there could be other offers not related to writers.

I will set up a link to that blog once it's up and running. Never will I place you on a mailing list, but  whoever is doing the offers may invite you to be on one that they have.

Why am I doing this? Because even super powerful writers need funds to operate. I also have a favor to ask you. If someone can read my published titles and review it on Amazon, I would appreciate it.

A note on Jimmy the Super Powerful series: The series is not necessarily written for children, despite the protagonist being nine-years-old. However, because of it's potential appeal to kids, I have tailored it as a young adult series and have deliberately curbed some of the violence and cut out any foul language. As I had mentioned previously, it's on the fence of PG and PG-13.

I'm working on the next entry in the fan parade, so stay tuned. By for now and be good to yourself.

Book 2 Prologue Preview

Here is the prologue for Book 2, nearing publication. Quick, grab some coffee or a hot beverage of your choice. Ready? Okay, you may begin.

Dear Pen Pal,

Marcus Welborn, here. Just like you, I’m in fourth grade. Unlike you, I’m not ten yet. I’m nine and a half years old. You think you’ve got exciting things going on, well, I’ve got a superhero for a best friend! Isn’t that cool? His name is Jimmy, but most people call him Jimmy the Super Powerful. Maybe you’ve heard of him, even though you live on the other side of the world.

Jimmy once lived down the street from me and was in my class before getting sent away to a foster home in Bellevue, Michigan, which I think is like an orphanage for kids. The child welfare people are sure that his parents are dead. Even though he’s far away, I still get to see him nearly every day.

He has another best friend who’s a girl, although I think they’re in love since he kissed her on the lips once. Just don’t tell him I told you because Marcus Welborne never gives away embarrassing secrets. Her name is Annie Marshall. She still lives on the same street as me, Appletree Lane right here in Battle Creek. Because Jimmy can run and fly at super speeds, he just zips on over even though he lives far away. One day when they both were in the Sahara Desert, Jimmy accidently turned Annie into a superhero by changing her DNA or something like that. That was when they kissed. Kissing helped to change her, he said. Don’t ask me how . . .

Wait! Before I tell you about her super powers, I had better explain Jimmy’s first. Okay, Jimmy can transform into an adult for six hours at a time and he can turn into a giant over fifty feet high. His powers are different for each form he takes. When he stays a kid, he can run, fly, and swim way over the speed of sound but under the speed of light. However, he can move as if traveling the speed of light, but he does what he calls a run-warp and he leaves regular time and space. It, like, freezes up for him, scrambling up everything around him.

He can control atoms and molecules. What I mean is that he can cause things to change their states of matter. You know, it’s when things are gas, liquid, or solid. He can also change the hardness and density of stuff or make something metal into plastic or paper or anything he wants. Because he can control atoms and molecules, he can heal people from even the most severe injuries, but once they’re dead, he can’t make them live again. And boy is he strong. Lifting two thousand pounds is a cinch for him. Walking through solid objects is another power of his which he calls phantoming. It’s weird because “phantom” isn’t even a verb.

As an adult, Jimmy can still fly and run quickly, but slower . . . only up to one hundred miles an hour. However, he becomes way stronger. He cannot do his phantom power or control matter, except for changing its state. When he grows into a giant colossal man, he can’t fly at all and has super strength and that’s about it. Oh, whether he’s a boy, a man, or a giant, his body is pretty much invulnerable to injury and most illnesses.

Jimmy got these powers from a corporation named Etyouth. They fed him special genetically modified food, whatever that is, in an experiment. The food was created by Jimmy’s dad, who had worked there. Anyway, Jimmy went into a coma for a month. After the coma, Jimmy bounced back to normal—or so it seemed. Oh yeah, his mom died back when he was four of a type of cancer that only affects women. At least everyone thought that she passed away.

As soon as Jimmy’s father found out about what Etyouth was doing, he tried to quit. However, Etyouth locked them in an apartment to prevent Jimmy and his dad from leaving. They escaped, though, when Jimmy discovered he now had super powers. That’s when Jimmy and his dad found a house to live in on Appletree Lane.

I first met him while in third grade, but I never knew he had super powers. None of the other students did—well, except for Annie. He started going to Cherry Orchard Elementary, and he was sort of a dorky kid. Luckily, he and I became friends so I could teach him how to be cool. Before coming to this school, Jimmy had never attended one. While he lived at Etyouth, he had a teacher all to himself, which I guess is called a tutor. There weren’t any other kids there, so he grew up all weird being around just grown-ups.

Well, after nearly a full year, Etyouth tricked Jimmy and his dad into a battle in Arizona and captured them. In charge of Etyouth, William McDonnell convinced Jimmy that they killed his father and planned to do the same to him. Only, Jimmy fled the Etyouth compound once again back to his home. It was kind of stupid because they knew where he lived. He was afraid, though, Etyouth would hurt Annie because she knew too much about him and he wanted to protect her. It was only a matter of time before Etyouth would come after him—and her!

Like I said, while in the Sahara Desert, Jimmy turned Annie into a superhero. He was just trying to make it so she wouldn’t get hurt while flying with him. If they had crashed or turned too fast, Annie could get killed. So, he changed her body so that it could be just as indestructible as his. He hoped to turn her back to normal but failed. Now, they are both a super powered team.

These are Annie’s powers. Just like Jimmy, she can morph into an adult and a giant. Her powers are different for each form. As a girl, Annie has telekinesis so strong that she can hurl objects like boulders weighing megatons for miles! When in contact with any computerized device, her mind will hack into it and even surf the Internet if it can connect in any way. Once on the Internet or any Intranet system, she can bypass all security features on any site.

While Annie is a grown woman and in her giant shape, she has a wicked hair-power and can throw it out like a rope and control each individual strand. Her hair is like steel cables! In these two forms, she can fly and she does have some exceptional physical strength, but not like Jimmy when he’s grown up. She does have some powers she can do in any form. Annie has something called super empathy in which she can read other peoples’ emotions, even their most buried feelings. Then, she can talk them into doing whatever she wants them to do. Before I forget, I have to tell you that she does have super eyesight. You know, she can see through things, spot objects at a far distance, and locate stuff in the dark. However, her most terrifying ability is that she can spit acid, but she has more quantities of it as an adult or a giant.

Annie and Jimmy have super abilities together. Like, they have telepathy and when their spits combine, an explosion happens. Jimmy can fuse his body into Annie’s so that they only look like one person or they can merge into him. When they’re merged, they can use all their powers regardless of the form they take.

Well, Etyouth finally took action and kidnapped Annie’s brother and grandma and Jimmy’s grandparents. They distracted Annie and Jimmy by sending this dude in a robot suit to our school’s playground and there was this battle with explosions and stuff. He even picked me off the ground and I almost pooped my pants.

Anyway, my super-powered buds rescued their families and demolished the Etyouth complex out in New Mexico. It was there that the truth about Jimmy’s parents was found. Neither one had died! Etyouth messed with their brains somehow and now they have entirely new identities complete with two other kids, meaning Jimmy has two younger brothers. One day, Jimmy is hoping to reunite with his parents and help them to remember their true selves and more importantly—their firstborn son.

Meanwhile, Etyouth had managed to create their own military and for a time took over Washington, D.C. Jimmy and Annie went on to rescue the whole city and the U.S. after fighting a giant ape, a rat, and a dog-cat beast while dodging a poop-throwing enlarged orangutan. In the end, the world was safe from Etyouth, and their leader, William McDonnell, went to prison.

Jimmy had to go live in a foster home while Annie made friends with her archenemy at school. My mom and I are working to lose weight, although since Jimmy healed me from that gunshot wound, I started dropping pounds without even doing anything.

Well, that’s all of my exciting news. So far, Jimmy and Annie haven’t battled anything new. Everything is peaceful. If anything else happens, I’ll let you know.

Your Pen Pal in the USA,

     Marcus