Life update

This blog is not meant to be a blog to teach the craft of writing. I have always wanted to set an informal tone here. There are a plethora of "professional bloggers" out there as if it was a job. Perhaps they make money. Maybe it is a job for some. I'm not out to be one of those bloggers. I want a blog to highlight the books I have and will write in the future. I want to give a glimpse at my journey as a writer which includes events happening in my personal life. To my blog readers, I want to give you something to read while enjoying a cup of coffee or beverage of your choice. Perhaps this blog is your go to bathroom reader.

Over the past year, I've been a substitute teacher. Sometimes it's a full-time job. I'm also a parent of a young man in middle school and another in high school. The latter has high-functioning autism. The other one in middle school is busy on the swim team, Boy Scouts, youth group, and I know there are other things. So, after a day of working and shuttling kids around, it leaves little time for writing, unless I sacrifice sleep. I'm at an age where I can't just stay up late anymore and function the next morning.

My wife, who is a special education teacher, has been battling esophageal cancer. I take the time to keep my own health up. Life has placed frustrating constraints on my time. It has sucked my energy. Anyway, I keep coming up with different directions to take Jimmy Miller. Totally revamp it or just finish book 3. I'm doing both. Book 3 is coming along, but the closer I get to the end, the more difficult it is to finish it.

I feel like I'm ranting. Well, I am a bit of a ranter, if "ranter" is a real word. Anyway, this is a brief update. I hope to do more blog writing later. Now, I'm doing two of them.

Be good to yourselves!

No More Ads--at least on this blog

Since I started a new health and fitness blog, I'll leave any Amazon advertising there. The only advertising on this blog will be for my own works. So, if you're looking to build a new, healthier you using a common sense approach, check it out.

Yesterday, I finally went out to sell at Reit's Flea Market outside of Paw Paw, Michigan. I was hoping to be there earlier in the season. Besides selling my own books, I was offering some other titles I acquired at a liquidator wholesaler. Most of the books are in fair to good condition. I made a whole 20 bucks. It's exciting getting out and meeting different folks. The weather was nice, but a bit on the blustery side. Humidity stayed low.

Hope your summer has been a good one! (If you're in the southern hemisphere, then enjoy your winter.)

New Works in Progress

Besides working on Book 3 of the Jimmy Miller series, I have two new stories I'm developing. One is a children's novel similar to age-level and word length as Magic Brain Shoes. In fact, it is set in the same town, same school, and same classroom as Magic Brain Shoes. So, it's happening in that world. It is not a sequel to Magic Brain Shoes. The main character is not all that connected to Alex Tyndall, the MC in Magic Brain Shoes. Alex does appear in this story, but only has a small role. He has very little impact on the plot. In this new novel, the main character is a girl. I have already finished the first draft of chapter 1. It should be around ten chapters and a 100 pages, give or take ten.

My other work is a more ambitious project. If you checked out my piece of flash fiction, The Comedian, on Wattpad, I'm taking that and expanding it into a novel. I will not be adding new chapters on Wattpad, since they will be rough drafts to the extreme. I don't quite know the direction of this new novel. I'm excited by some of the new characters I'm developing for it. The flash fiction piece is more an adult story. I'm not sure yet if this novel will be for young adults or an adult audience. It depends on how the story unravels.

I hope to have the new children's book ready by Christmas. I don't know how long the other will take me.

Have a great week!

Raising Summer Cash

This summer I had hoped to come up with some money making opportunity, such as a job, while I wait for the next school year to start when I can be a substitute teacher once more. Being an up-and-coming writer who is still up and coming, my writing won't really support me financially. I have sold some books this summer at flea markets when I can get there. I have on occasion played both the Mega Millions and Powerball. I never came close. My biggest desire is to have enough funds to just stay home, write books, and drink coffee.

Let me say something about politics. I avoid bringing political ramblings on my blog for a few reasons. Since I am American, I don't keep up with politics from other places around the world. Well, that's not entirely true. I do stay up on current news and once in a while politics outside the U.S. pops up. However, if it doesn't have a direct impact on my life, I tend to consider it as unimportant. For instance, the decision for the UK to leave the EU. Let's just say, my one big issue is the term Brexit. It should be banned. When anyone mentions or writes using that term, I imagine myself being like that kid from the Twilight Zone episode who has the power to wish people away into a corn field, turning them into grotesque objects or something like that. 

News organizations, including John Oliver, have insisted I should care about the UK leaving the EU. Oh, they list spurious notions that it will impact the U.S. Presidential Election in some way. Or somehow it'll drag down the U.S. economy. Really, I have no ability to change what has happened. So they got a new Prime Minister out of it. It's the UK's problem. Maybe it'll be good for them or maybe they'll have to resort to eating store brand dog food because regular food becomes too expensive. I don't know what will happen. I don't follow cricket either. Is it wrong to say I don't really care?

Another example is that Australia has a new Prime Minister. So what? I guess if you're Australian, it's important. But as an American I don't even remember who he or she is. I don't know if the PM is a man or woman. Am I supposed to know who it is? Even if I kept up with Australian politics, I still would detest Vegemite. It's hard to believe it's owned by Kraft.

So, I avoid bringing up American politics because international readers may not care. This may come as a shock to Americans, but the rest of the world just simply may not care. I might bring up American sports, but politics? 

With that said, I do have a prediction for the outcome of the U.S. Presidential Election. I think Donald Trump will win by a large margin. Maybe not a landslide, but a substantial margin. Why? Donald Trump is unforgettable. Who's running against him? Oh, yeah. Hillary Clinton. She's that Benghazi lady, right? I don't even know what Benghazi is, but it sounds bad. Does she have her name on buildings? I can't even remember anything else about her. Has she always been in politics? I can't remember. Donald Trump will win in the same way McDonald's and Wal-Mart win in their respective consumer markets--brand recognition. With all the complaining and negativity Trump, McDonald's, and Wal-Mart get, they come out on top. Sorry, Wal-Mart still outsells Amazon.

If you are a Donald Trump supporter, this should come as good news. If you are not, just begin accepting the reality of it. Keep practicing saying President Donald Trump, so you can say it without vomiting or becoming catatonic.

Enough about politics! There are about seven days left for the autographed copies of Crazy Adventures and Magic Brain Shoes listed on eBay. However, even if it ends, you can still get autographed copies of both those books and Jimmy Miller Books 1 & 2. Just visit this page here. 

Wattpad stories

I've updated a short story on Wattpad. I'm posting short stories not for children at Wattpad. The story is called Fruit.
Check it out! Also check out a new flash fiction called The Comedian.

Off to Ebay

Autographed versions of these books are now offered on eBay. Crazy Adventures is $7.00. Go here to find it. Magic Brain Shoes is $5.00. Go here for Magic Brain Shoes. They go on sale tomorrow, June 29. Free shipping!

Flea Market Scene

Selling autographed copies of my books has been rather slow. I must say that both Crazy Adventures and Magic Brain Shoes are selling the best. The only flea market I've sold at this summer is Reits Flea Market in Paw Paw. However, starting in July, I'll be at the flea market in Shipshewana, Indiana in addition to the one in Michigan.

Of course, I haven't sold enough to make book writing and selling a career (yet)! All my sales have been cash. I've been eager to use PayPal Here because I can use my phone for it. It's like a toy. So far, no one this summer is willing to take on debt to purchase my books. Slowly, Jimmy Miller book 3 is churning. Anyway, I'm hoping to secure some other kind of employment besides substitute teaching. Although, substitute teaching isn't a bad job. I actually enjoy it. So, who knows, I may just stick to it and write on the side.

The Summer Solstice is almost here for us Northern Hemisphere folks. It's bittersweet because I like seeing the sun and having daylight early and later. I hate the dark days of winter. Anyway, have a good one. Whatever that means to you.

Magic Brain Shoes for Kindle

Starting June 1, Magic Brain Shoes will be available for free. This promotion lasts until June 5. Oh, the promotion is for the Kindle. Start your child's summer reading list with Magic Brain Shoes. After the promotion, the price will be 99 cents, which isn't too expensive.

Summer 2016--a Brief Update

I have spent many months not writing but working as a substitute teacher. Unfortunately, I haven't written much or kept up with this blog. Well, the school year is nearly over here in Michigan. I'm planning a return to my writing life and selling books. I've been torn recently either to finish the Jimmy Miller series or to revamp it. One thing I'd like to to is reduce the wordiness of the first two books. My original intent was to write the series in first person, which meant writing as if a fourth grader had written with help from a "behind the scenes" adult helping him.

However, I've been reading a science fiction book where the author is not writing as a fourth grader, but is way too wordy. It reminded me of my writing. How can I criticize him when I have done the same thing?

Anyway, I'm planning on bring back book buying options on the blog for those who wish to purchase an autographed copy via eBay. I've gotta run...I've got a sub job to do. Third grade today! Yeah!

Be good to yourselves!

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.