Tag Archives: Books

My Writing Genre

2013-10-19 11.06.56

My first book to come out is a children’s chapter book. Yet I don’t consider myself a children’s author but more along the lines of an author who wrote a children’s book. When I look at my other manuscripts that need to be revised and edited only one fits this genre. Though it had no choice since it’s volume two to the book that came out in September of this year.

People from my writing groups, those I know online and in real life are putting me in that genre specifically. Not only that but they will correct me if I disagree with the label. If my first book to come out had been about a new world in space would I be considered a sci- fi writer? This world loves to label things, whether those things are materialistic or human. We do it as well to others and ourselves. The range of genre that I write in if you go through my manuscripts are as follows just to name a few:

-A futuristic world where the way we know it no longer exists.

-An action adventure story that involves criminals and a hint of the mob.

-A true story about my battle with my backyard squirrels.

-A true story about racism among college students in the South.

I have a multitude of short stories that range from mystery, animals to paranormal. I don’t stay inside the box when it comes to my writing. They say write on what you know. Whether that is an idea that expanded into a short story and then moved on to a novelette or novella. In my case full novels. I write on what I enjoy, what comes to mind and things that I come across in real life.

I am not just a color in a box of crayons. I am the whole rainbow and then some.

My Badge of Honor: Trolls

Troll_clip_art_medium

Trolls, gotta love them. My book came out the 7th of September of this year. On the 9th I got a one star rating attached to a rather mean review. I was confused for the book had just came out two days ago. Not wanting to start a war on my book page I left it alone. Every one told me it happens, it is no reflection on you, move on. My publisher felt that this was a person who was trying to help their friend out, who might be in the same genre, by lowering my book. She had seen this before I believe. I was wowed.

I can handle a one star review if you read the book but I truly did not think it was plausible they did. So I decided to dispute it. The comment complained about the pricing being to high however he/she placed the same review for my ebook and the one in print. I disputed first the ebook. I said this review does not match since they are complaining it is to high at 13.99 yet the book was listed at 5.99.

I then went to the print book to dispute that review. I mentioned how the book had only been out two days. Even if it was in print there was no way it would have been shipped out that fast for this person to have read and review. I did not think that was possible. Plus my publisher said no book had been sold via Amazon at that time. If they had purchased from her again they would not have gotten it that soon.

I placed both remarks to Amazon and moved on. I figured I did the best I could. This past Monday a friend texted me to say the reviews had been removed. I am not sure if my disputing the comments had any thing to do with it, I like to think so.

Writers alike this is a win for us. It is. I will not be able to get rid of every troll, it will happen, it is part of the game. But I am wearing this badge of honor for this time I got rid of one.

Stephen King and I

logo

My home town, a population a little over 800, got their first library a few years ago. It is just one room. But that one room represents a whole new world to the children of my town. I got to visited it this past trip to Maine in June and fell in love with it. It is run by a retired nun. After finishing using their computer we talked for hours about how the library got established.

There is so much to say but the one that shout at me was this. They wrote Maine’s famous son, Stephen King. With no fanfare, calls or letters he soon sent a check for 50k to start-up the library. He is the reason my library in my home town got off the ground. I tweet and status on FB my adoration for this man. He is the reason I love reading horror and watching horror. But this is the epitome of why I love him so.

It turns out a lot of small libraries in my home state have gotten started by King and we are all grateful. I will be writing him soon to share my thanks for what he has done for my small town. Will it get read I do not know but I will still send off a letter.  Yes 50K is chump change to him but too us it is a library that has open the minds of children and adults in a region that is starving for it.

They are already looking to expand as grants are sent off in hopes of finding the money to do so. But we got our foot in the door, we got our one room. Soon it will be something to boast about. Heck it is something to boast about right now.

But it all got started by my favorite author and home town boy Stephen King. He has sealed the deal for me. Mr. King thank you so very much.