Blog tour finale

My February 2012 blog tour winds down today with my final post over at the site of horror author Ty Schwamberger. Yes, that's another "Ty" in the fiction writing biz. In my post, I talk about the fun of blog touring, but also that it's a lot of work. While you're over there, don't forget to check out some of Schwamberger's books.

Back to the blog tour: About my latest fantasy novel, "Demon Chains"

If you are interested in knowing a little more about my latest epic fantasy novel, Demon Chains, here is your chance. Scottish writer William Meikle is hosting me today for my blog tour, and I give the skinny on the basics of the novel.

William, thanks for hosting me!

Why do writers argue all the time?

It seems the Internet was made for arguing, and the world of books and writers is no different. There are those who argue for and against digital publishing. There are those who argue for and against self publishing. There are those argue for and against book stores. There are those who argue for and against Amazon. I could go on.

All of this arguing, this bickering, consistently baffles me. I simply don’t get it. I understand people have their preferences, but why is all this worth arguing over? Why is it worth allowing your blood to boil and your heart rate to jump? Frankly, why is any of this an either-or situation?

If I decide to self publish with Amazon, why should others act as if I’ve infringed upon their personal rights and kicked their favorite puppy? If I decide to send out a manuscript to a literary agency, why should this offend someone so much they have to curse my name and any spawn I might foist upon the world down to the seventh generation?

Are we really that petty?

For writers, the truth is there is not one solitary road to success. We must all find our own way. What works for me might not work for you. What works for John Locke or Stephen King or Dr. Seuss probably won’t work for me. Picking up advice from other writers is great, but we can’t follow their exact path to success because there is too much open ended within the world of publishing. No one knows for sure what the next “big thing” is going to be. No one. Oh, yes, the next Danielle Steel novel is sure to sell so many millions, but her audience is already built. No one can predict from where the next Harry Potter or Bridges of Madison County or The Da Vinci Code is going to spring.

Since it would be impossible to create a near perfect road to success for a writer, would it not be prudent to keep one’s options open? You can never tell what might lead to that big break. It could come from the traditional publishing world, or from Amazon, or from a celebrity who loves your books, or from sheer dumb luck.

It is not as if any of the many options available to writers is harming anyone. If one writer decides to self publish, it’s not as if they are damaging in any way readers or other writers. The same can be said for writers who continue along the more traditional path to publication.

Opinions are fine, but I often feel in our anxiousness to be heard and in our need to prove we are right, we lose ourselves and we lose our real voices. It’s also quite possible we could lose our readers, because most readers don’t care about all the little in-squabbling that goes on behind the scenes of the publishing world, and those who do pay attention from time to time are more likely to be turned off by what they see than to nod their heads and say, “Yes, that writer is correct about everything.”

Why can’t we all just do our own thing, have our opinions, but not be so vicious about it?

Blog tour: Cover designs are important

Today ye old blog tour takes me over to Publetariat (thanks April!) where it talk about the importance of cover design for books and e-books and for writers and readers.

So enjoy!

After that, I'm taking a break from blog touring for a few days because I've been feeling a little under the weather in the stomach department, and I need a break. But I'll be back!

Books read in 2012: No. 16 - World Without End

by Ken Follett

Started: February 23
Finished: March 6

Notes: I'll probably be at this one for awhile as it's a massive tome of more than 1,000 pages and the type is quite small. This is a sequel of sorts to an earlier medieval novel, Pillars of the Earth, which I read and thoroughly enjoyed upon it's publication more than 20 years ago. World Without End takes place in the 1300s, about 200 years after the events of Pillars of the Earth.

Mini review: This one didn't take me as long to read as I expected. Why? Because it's a damn good novel that sucks you in! Truly some of the best historical fiction writing I've seen of recent years. The style is quite modern, full of intrigue and mostly fast-paced, but also included is enough history and education to please the scholars among us.

Books read in 2012: No. 15 - Yesterday's Gone: Episode 2

by Sean Platt and David Wright

Started: February 22
Finished: February 23

Notes: I just finished the first e-book in this serialized fiction tale and liked it quite a bit, so I thought there was no time like the present to hop right into the next installment.

Mini review: This one didn't quite hold my fascination as much as the first episode in this series, but it was still pretty good. Each episode is supposed to end with a cliffhanger, and this one does as well, but it felt a little cheap to me in this case, almost forced upon the reader. But it was still a pretty good cliffhanger. I'll likely read more in the series, but there's just so much to read, so I'll be moving on for a while. But I think I'll be coming back.

Blog tour: Being an indie writer takes work

To be successful at anything takes two things: 1.) luck, and 2.) hard work. That's the point of my guest post today over at the site of Aaron Pogue named Unstressed Syllables. As can be expected, what I write about is the work it takes to be a successful indie author.

Aaron, thanks for hosting me today!