What do you mean creativity?

Have you ever created something and when you looked at it later, you were struck by an odd feeling of dissociation?

I don't mean you painted something and then when you looked at it, you hated every fibre and stroke.

I mean, you looked at something you created and honestly didn't feel like it was yours? Like it had been done by someone else? You remember creating it, you definitely didn't have any help. But for some reason, there is no connection. When you think about it, you still think it's a great piece of whatever, but it doesn't feel like your baby.

That may sound weird to some people. Most writers, artists, or other creators (even my coder friends!) will tell you that when they create something there is a piece of them that goes into making it. They feel that as the process is happening, then can almost feel the blood pouring from them to the piece like a transfusion of life. It doesn't always happen in huge amounts, but whenever they look back, they still feel like the work is tied to them. They feel the connection with the piece of them that was left behind with the finished fill-in-the-blank.

For some reason, I occasionally can't associate with my work after I'm finished. I can't go back and look at past content or achievement and feel something from it. If anything, it almost always feels oddly disconnected. Worse, the better the project is by objective standards, the harder it is to think of it as "mine". I recently wrote some new material and it got some really positive feedback, which is always great. But when I went back to reread, edit, etc. all I could think was "I didn't write this. It's good. It's funny and well-written but it wasn't 'me'. Maybe I'm possessed or something."

Jokes aside, I'm just curious if anyone else feels like this. Do you paint something and look back thinking, "It's too good I don't know what happened by that can't be my work" even when it is? Do you write a song and hear it a few months down the road and for a few bars you can't recognize that it's your song? Let me know in the comments.

February 1st 2016

I would love to say I'm back with a fresh perspective and a new attitude, ready to tackle the new year and post tons of great content and really interact with my readers.

I would. Really. Love to say that. But I kinda can't.

I have been struggling with blog ideas lately. After taking some time off to do holiday things and get a bit of a break, I really thought it would just kind of naturally come back to being fun and exciting and worth reading. But I don't know if it will.

When I first started this blog, I wanted to really share my views on Nonsteading and why technology is our friend. In the past 6 months or so, I've written over 100 posts and the most popular ones were a breaking news story and a Top 10 list of British TV shows. Occasionally I would post something that really connected with someone, and that was great. But am I really writing enough stellar material to justify publishing something every day?

I used to get so frustrated looking over my Twitter feed, seeing authors and creative types resharing the same blog post for a week. It really seemed like you should post your stuff, share it around on the social sites the day it came out and maybe for one additional day, but then leave it alone. I never felt right trying to force people to read my words, and I guess I still don't. I also hate feeling like I'm "selling" someone on my point of view. If you want to see what I've written, well, there's links to stuff, enjoy. I always felt like people would get sick of seeing me link the same blog post 300 times in one week, because I had not posted any new content.

I guess what I'm really wondering is, am I alone in this? Does anyone else feel like you should only market fresh work? Does anyone else mute/unfollow people who post the same link over and over every few hours? Should you publish something everyday, just to have new material or should you wait until there's some real gem and only publish once or twice a month? Should you only blog about big events like releases and preorder dates?

Until my holiday break I was getting about two thousand unique views a month here, and I felt like that was great. What I'm wondering now is, what made you visit? Was it an interesting tag line? Was it the title of the blog post? Was it the repetition of the link? Was it that you actually enjoyed reading what I wrote? What exactly should I be aiming for?

Now, yes, that may seem lazy, asking readers to tell me what they want to read, but I am honestly curious as to the draw. If everyone told me that Caturday was my biggest pull, that doesn't mean I'm going to just turn the blog into one giant Caturday machine. I'm more curious in honest feedback about what I've done so far, and what people would like to see more of. Most of the time I don't get any comments on these posts (maybe a few +1's on G+) so hopefully someone will take pity and leave their thoughts.

Hope

Guest Post from Scott McGowan - NaNoWriMo 2015: A Winner's View

A Winner's View of NaNoWriMo

(National Novel Writing Month)

Scott McGowan

Introduction:

Before I begin, I should say that this is my second year attempting the NaNoWriMo challenge. Last year I was only available for a single week so, due to my stubbornness, I attempted to write the full 50,000 words in seven days. This was not a good idea and I would never suggest it to anybody.

By the third day, lunchtime, of NaNoWriMo 2014, I had written around 17,500 words and my brain decided that enough was enough and shut down. I was not able to concentrate on my writing at all and even found it difficult to create a decent flowing sentence.

Do not try this at home.

Learning Difficulties:

Having a learning difficulty should not dissuade anyone from attempting the NaNoWriMo challenge. I, myself, am Dyslexic and have had issues because of it for most of my life. I have come to a point in my life where I can stand above it and light-heartedly inform people that I’m just a Dalek Sec.

Always remember that the idea of the competition is to see if you are able to write 50,000 words in four weeks. These words don’t have to be perfect or even spelled correctly. The grammar is also supposed to be messed up until after you have completed it. What you write, during the month of November, is only supposed to be a first draft and nowhere near a finished work. In writing this article, I have had to correct a great many spelling mistakes and grammatical errors and, I’m quite sure, Hope has found many more that I missed.

Yet, even with my dyslexia, I was able to complete this year’s NaNoWriMo within three weeks. I have since read through it again and fixed any errors that I could find and have sent it off to the kind Eleanor Watson for proof reading.

Never let a disability stop you from achieving your dreams. Agatha Christie had Dysgraphia; John Irving, Stephan J. Cannell and F. Scott Fitzgerald is/were Dyslexic; George Bernard Shaw and Jules Verne both suffered from ADD; and even Lynda La Plante has always had trouble with the written word, getting every last word checked before it goes out, whether it be a book or simply a letter or email.

Working Space:

I am blessed to have a decent partner desk to work on. It is five feet long and holds everything I need while I write. I have my laptop in front of me with my USB mouse to my right. I find these much easier to use than the touch pad on the laptop. I get very annoyed when my thumb accidentally hits said pad and I start typing into a previously completed paragraph. It is always a pain to have to go back and edit a paragraph again when you thought that you were done with it.

On the other side of my mouse sits my iPad. This is perfect for checking information, studying up on subjects and getting translations. On my left, I have a television screen which has Spotify streaming through it. It is somewhat of a luxury but it helps me.

Below the television, I have a monitor, connected to a separate and very old desktop machine, where I can have my concentrated notes up at all times and don’t have to keep switching between open programmes. I just look to my left and the info is there. I also have on my desk, a tin of juice or a mug of tea, depending on the time of day, and a wee snack-box, holding biscuits and cakes. It is always good to keep your energy up.

Whatever setup you have, make sure it adheres to whatever makes you the most comfortable and free from any distractions.

Before You Start:

A lot of people forget this but it is perfectly alright to plan your NaNoWriMo piece before November hits. It is true that most like to dive straight in, on the 1st, and just see where it takes them. You do not have to do this, if you don’t want to, and there is nobody who would think any the worse of you for it.

In October, around midway, I decided I would write a novella, entitled “The Guild Rally”. I made a few short notes and a list of the first few chapter titles I would need, just to give me a running start. I knew where everything was going to start and end; and I even had a few ideas about what I wanted to happen throughout the story. This gave me a chance to start writing as soon as the NaNoWriMo clock started.

I would suggest that everyone does this, at least on their first try. It really does help and can take a lot of the pressure off of you when you start to write, in November. Also, you only have to maintain a word-count of 1,667 a day. Some days are more fruitful than others but if you can keep to this average, you will be fine.

The Time to Write:

Everyone has busy lives and it is sometimes difficult to find the time to write after all the events of the day. If you are to complete NaNoWriMo, you will need to try and find the time to put into it. I have found it essential to have a specific time in the day when I write. I always prefer to write at night when there are no distractions and no humans running around the place. The world is quiet and asleep and I am able to write.

That being decided, I chose to write from 8pm till 3am every night, where possible. I took the middle two weeks off of work, as a holiday, which allowed me to do this. I found that, in doing this, I was able to get my word-count for the day by midnight and, after midnight, I managed to get a head start for the next day’s count. This worked exceptionally well and I was writing between 2,500 and 5,000 words a day.

Again, the time you choose is entirely up to you. Find a time that suits you the best. Maybe it’s a couple of hours a night, after the kids have gone to their beds,; maybe it’s a couple of hours before you would normally get up in the morning; or possibly it’s an hour at lunchtime and another hour or two at night. Pick a time that allows you to put yourself fully into your story and have no foreign influences.

Day One:

On the 1st of November, at 00:00, the fun begins and you are allowed to start writing. If you have your brief notes, drink, snacks and, if you partake, tobacco, you are more than prepared to begin.

I would suggest to everyone that they take their time. Don’t worry about spelling or grammar, although the wee red squiggly lines that appear all over my text can be annoying. You can take a breather, every so often, to quickly fix these, if you so wish. The main idea is that you create your scene and get your stage set.

If you don’t manage the 1,667 words on your first day, do not be concerned. Everyone starts off at different speeds and you have plenty time to catch up. NaNoWriMo is a marathon, not a sprint and should be attempted as such. Because I took a couple of weeks off in the middle of the month, I was able to knock out a higher word-count than required and so completed it in three weeks, instead of four. It made things easier, not having to worry about having to go to work or any of the other things that I would usually have to do. Any housework or shopping could be done in the afternoons and the evenings were left for writing into the early hours of the morning.

Not everyone is able to do this. With many people trying to use their paid holidays up at the end of the year, it can be difficult to get the time off that you were looking for. Also there are some who have young families and so need their holidays for time away with them. If you can’t take time off, it’s still very rewarding if you are able to find a couple of hours each day to attempt this challenge.

The Writing:

Once you begin, you can feel like you’re pushing a boulder up a hill. Don’t worry, there are other’s out there to give you encouragement and help in any way they can. Thousands upon thousands of people, all over the world, participate in NaNoWriMo and many of them are on Twitter, tweeting their daily scores and how their doing with the overall task, so far. They are all open to random people messaging them their questions or asking for advice. Many of them enjoy helping out other writers. It is a strong community and you should not be afraid to join in with any conversations you see going on. Comment on other people’s posts, ask them questions or maybe even provide them with a piece of knowledge which they’re looking for. You may know something that others don’t.

If you wish to utilise Twitter, you can see other people’s posts by typing “#NaNoWriMo2015” into the Twitter search bar. If you are unsure how to do this then ask around to see if someone can show you. It can be a great daily boost to see how others are faring in their own progress and getting daily words of wisdom from previous winners throughout the month is superbly uplifting.

Completion:

When you get to the end of the month, it is hoped that you will have found your writing muse and have 50,000 words completed. If so, once you copy your text into the validator, you are an instant winner and can have all the bragging rights that come with it. Achieving the 50,000 mark is an extraordinary achievement and you should be very proud of your accomplishment.

However, if you have not managed to complete your work on time, please do not fret. There is nothing stopping you continuing, as you have been, and finishing the story. There is always another year of NaNoWriMo coming up, too, and the excitement as the time rolls over for the arrival of another November, is almost as exciting as the event itself. Never give up, never surrender and always make sure to get back up on that horse again.

I am so delighted that I have managed to complete my NaNoWriMo 2015 challenge. It was a lot of fun and helped me in my writing a great deal. I will be attempting it again next year and the year after that and so on and so forth, until the day my typing fingers have no more to give.

Lastly and most of all, enjoy yourself. NaNoWriMo is designed to be a fun event and I have found it to be that and so much more.

Good luck for the 2016 event, if you decide to give it a go, and may all the words come a flowing. Come find me at my Twitter handle, ‘@AuthorMcGowan’, when you do.

Author Interview Jeremy Ephe

Today, I'd like to introduce you to Jeremy Ephe. This expat is merrily dancing along the line between poet and novelist. He has a growing following on Twitter and a rather interesting slant on writing. I hope you enjoy his interview as much as I did! Let's get started!

Top 3 favorite foods?

#1 has to be mom’s lasagna, especially when she uses the spicy sausage. Yes I am comfortable enough with my sexuality to say “spicy sausage”.

#2 is my wife’s cooking, not because I have to say that either. She isn’t afraid to try new dishes all the time and makes sure I eat healthy foods.

#3. Is tequila a food group yet?

Top 3 favorite movies or TV shows?

Top 3 movies are easy and I could rant about any of them for an obnoxiously long (boring) period of time. “Life is Beautiful” “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” and “Into the Wild”.

Top 3 authors and why?

ee cummings is the reason I write, hands down. That man has a way with words that continues to inspire me. The dark side of me really enjoys to sit down with Cormac McCarthy. It has just recently been pointed out to me how much reading Ayn Rand when I was younger influenced my formidable philosophies on life. She might not be my first choice as a mentor today, but I am not going to start fibbing about my roots this early in an interview.

Where can we find previous written work?

Both of my books have been self-published on Amazon (one poetry collection and one novella) and can be found under my name Jeremy Ephe.  I continue to post new poetry on the site Allpoetry.com under the penname WV smooth.

What have you been working on more lately, poetry or fiction? Or something else?

I am always playing with poetry. My next work of fiction is in the works and is maybe two thirds of the way complete. It is going to be my first full length novel, and it is much more straight forward than my first stab at prose. I am learning the hard way that audiences don’t like to be so freaked out by an author right out of the gate. Let them know you are sane for you convince them you are crazy.

How long have you been writing?

The first time I ever got attention for my writing was in the eighth grade. I wrote a short story called “The Shoe” that was really just a metaphoric account of the death of my dog. Family members threaten to try and get it published as a children’s book to this day…twenty some years later. I can wait.

What was the first book you really loved reading and why?

I remember reading “Where the Red Ferns Grows” in middle school and bawling my eyes out. Any book that can evoke such a strong emotional response at an age when it wasn’t cool to cry has to be given accolades.

What sort of audience do you write for (YA, Adult, both)?

I don’t really write for an age range as much as mindset. My poetry challenges your attention span for sure. I think that if readers let go of a lot of the literal interpretation, the overall feel will hit them and stick.

When it comes to prose, I think I look to challenge an audience there too. My book, “Love as 8” should repulse its audience. I wanted to write a book in which there were no likable characters but I still wanted to hear laughter and cheers.

I know the books you have listed on Amazon are available in paperback. Do you think it is important for readers to have a physical copy?

Absolutely. I haven’t told many people (friends) that I write at all. Over the past year, I have bought copies of my books and mailed them to old friends out of the blue. Even if they can’t figure out how to contact me, I think it is a cool surprise to receive a random book in the mailbox. Sending that kind of magic out into the world makes me smile.

What are your thoughts on digital publishing? In your opinion, are physical books always going to exist or are they dying out?

I like to read with a pen in my hand. I make notes and revisit excerpts that I have highlighted. No doubt it is digital world, but a sand filled soggy copy of Charles Bukowski is a perfect companion for Sunday beach days.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Nighttime is never long enough. The world finally shuts up so the creative voice in my head can finally start preaching.

What would you say your week looks like? Do you have a set time to work, or is it more organic? Do you write every day?

I am totally going to steal a line from Hunter Thompson from when he was asked a similar question. “I consider myself a binge writer”. When the juices are flowing, I hit the keyboard. When the words don’t flow, I don’t force it and usually relegate myself to editing previously written chapters.

Do you write full time, or still hold down a day job?

I am an American living as an expat in a small beach town in Mexico. Life is slow, simple, and beautiful, but I need to hustle to make a buck. Writing doesn’t put many tacos in my belly.

If you had to only write one type of material, one genre for the rest of your career what would you choose?

I would love to be able to introduce myself as a poet.

Do you have a website or social media for people who would like to find out more? What’s the best way for fans to stay informed?

I have signed up on quite a few writer’s networking sites, all under the name Jeremy Ephe. I lean towards Twitter mostly to try and grab attention.

Are there any upcoming projects that you are particularly excited about?

“Cry Me Rutabaga” is upcoming novel. I am putting everything I got into that show pony.

Bookstores

Does anyone here watch Bones?

I was catching up on the latest season when I heard something that really caught my attention.

"Bookstores are the hubs of true, complex critical thought."

Temperance Brennan has a point!

When I was younger, book stores were always a sort of magical place. You could learn things you didn't even know you were searching for. You could experience new things in rapid, rabid succession. There was a freedom in bookstores that didn't exist in the library.

Looking around today, there's only one bookstore and it's not really convenient to get to. Books are such an important part of life, it's almost impossible to imagine that some day we might not have access to these vital intersections of ideas.

I remember the first bookstore I ever shopped at was a small, second-hand affair in a strip-mall. It was dark and dusty and only had the one window at the front of the shop. You could buy books there, used of course, and then sell them back when you were finished for a ten percent return on the original cost of the book. It was the perfect revolving door of reading and I loved it. I would carry home brown paper grocery bags full of books, read each one, then take the majority back for someone else to enjoy. If I happened to fall in love with one, which occurred once out of every thirty books or so, I could simply keep that book.

The key really was the ten percent return. If I bought a used paperback for lets say ninety-nine cents, and it originally cost $4.99, I would get a forty-nine cent return on my original investment. Since the stock was always circulating, there was never a shortage of things to pick up and I really felt there was value in trading them back in for others to read. Of course, this trade in price only worked if you wanted store credit to buy more books. If you wanted to simply sell them for cash, you got ten percent of the actual price you paid for the book. It was a pretty great system.

I haven't seen a store like that in years. Where else could you find erotica stashed next to Shakespeare? What other place could you meet a wide range of people, even as a child? Where else could you have discussions, sometimes heated, over the change in authors behind some beloved franchise?

I really wish we could bring back the small trade-in friendly bookshop. Anyone still have one by them?

Wolfe on Women

"It has been many years since any woman has slept under this roof. Not that I disapprove of them, except when they attempt to function as domestic animals. When they stick to the vocations for which they are best adapted, such as chicanery, sophistry, self-adornment, cajolery, mystification and incubation, they are sometimes splendid creatures."

- Nero Wolfe, The Rubber Band (1936) pg. 94

"Not like women? They are astounding and successful animals."

-Nero Wolfe, Too Many Cooks (1938) p. 107

Wolfe has always seemed remarkable to me. I've been enthralled with the way he views one whole half of the species. There is a second, better example of this train of thought, in a later book. I'm working my way through another rereading, this time meticulously hunting for that quote.

I finally found it but forgot to write down which book, "Orchids were his concubines, insipid, expensive, parasitic and temperamental." I think Archie actually says it, but the thought is the same: Wolfe has flowers so that he can avoid having a woman.

The main impression that you get from Wolfe is that he doesn't hate women, he merely disapproves of their abilities insofar as they interfere with his life. Even his cleaning staff are a troupe of males. I was recently reading Over My Dead Body and it was such an interesting avenue for his disdain to explore. Now that he has a "shapely responsibility" to consider, he doesn't seem to change his thoughts in the slightest. It probably doesn't help that this particular example is a walking example of his prejudices.

In any case, this mentality just fascinated me since it was obviously designed by a man who didn't appear to hate women (Rex Stout). More so, this came about in an era where women were not often seen as capable of anything, certainly not something complicated like mystification. This was such a unique view to have at this point in time, because even though it is clear that Wolfe wants women nowhere near his home, he still respects their inherent danger.

This led me to have a really interesting thought, on the nature of women as Wolfe might see them in the light of the 21st century.

Women are feline by nature. If they are born with domestic inclinations, then they may be quite happy with a domesticated existence, much like the indoor house cat. They might enjoy the freedom of being an outdoor cat, running around before always returning home to familiar surroundings. If they are born feral, you will only get yourself hurt trying to capture them. If they are born wild like a lioness, they can never truly be domesticated. They can have their spirit broken and become even more dangerous. Once you have failed to dominate this apex predator, you can never turn your back on them.

Experience, Guided By Intellegence

I have read the new Nero Wolfe novels, which continued the story after Rex Stout passed away. They are interesting stories, and anyone who loves Wolfe wants him to continue having adventures, but it's just not quite the same.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote Sherlock Holmes, and he was brilliant. Millions of others have borrowed him since Sir Arthur made him public domain, and he remains brilliant. I believe this is because as smart as Holmes was, he was not smart about people. Writing a character that understands humanity and chooses to keep himself insulated through staff, blubber and scheduling requires a passionate love for not only the character but his fellow man as well.

Wolfe is not thorny because he hates, he is thorny because he loves. He often comments that his pounds are insulation against feelings. He must remain aloof because his romantic nature would drive him to ruin, and likely has in the past.

The newer books lack this heart. They are pastiches, wonderful pastiches, and credit is due to anyone who takes up the mantle of a character they did not create, and therefore cannot know intimately. I often think that is why Sherlock is so easy to scribe for. We did know know him well, and thus, he can be the shell for a variety of fillings.

Wolfe does not share that expansiveness. We know him. But we do not know him as well as Rex Stout did. The same problem applies to Archie. New efforts have made Archie sound false. In reading the prequel story, all I could think the entire time was, "No. This is not Archie." I just feel that the Wolfe we read in the new novels is a zombie. The body is there, the actions correct, the schedule maintained, but the heart, the life, is missing.

I hesitate to mention brains so closely after a zombie comment, but I think that's the other problem. Rex Stout was a genius and a chameleon, living many lives during his time on this planet. He could write Wolfe because he knew, intimately, how Wolfe, a difficult genius, would behave. Writing the life of a genius is a difficult task, but writing for a genius that is not your own creation may be impossible. I believe that is why the newer novels focus so heavily on Archie Goodwin, the 'every-man' character. And while Archie is a great foil and narrator, respectfully, he is not why I read Nero Wolfe.

Author's Note:
I want to end with a statement that this is in no way a criticism of the new author that took over the Nero Wolfe novels. I applaud the effort and I am thankful Wolfe is allowed to live on, regardless of how. Please, read these books if you get a chance, they are definitely worth your time. This post was merely trying to explain a certain sadness I felt recently when reading the newer work.

http://ow.ly/U751u

Semi-Live Interview with A.J. Trevors, author of The Gaia Chronicles

A.J. Trevors is an up and coming author from Melbourne, who has be gracious enough to grant an interview. We American girls are suckers for an accent, and even more for a good book! Read on to learn about this writer and his newest creation The Gaia Chronicles: Birth of Hope!

Hope: I always like to ease in, so are you a night owl or an early bird when it comes to writing?

Actually, I’m both! When I first started writing this book, I woke up at 7am and wrote until 9.30am before I left my home for uni. However, I realised that this tired me out quickly and was a detriment to my studies. So I switched to writing at night during my second and third year of writing, usually writing from 8pm to 10pm before knocking out at night.

Next up, top three favorite movies or tv shows?

Oh there are too many. Let’s see…

1. Game of Thrones (duh!)
2. Batman: The Dark Knight
3. Dead Poets Society (R.I.P Robin Williams!)

How about your top three authors and why?

1. Brent Weeks (Author of the Night Angel Trilogy) = The first author that eased me into dark fantasy. Despite the fact that his books draw on fantasy aspects, the situation surrounding his characters reflect the malaise of real life e.g. prostitution, child beggars, politics, war etc. whilst you can’t help but fall in love with his characters and the relationship they share with each other.

2. George RR. Martin (Author of the Game of Thrones Series) = What is there not to like about this gregarious old man and his awesome writing? The epitome of how a fantasy epic should be written, with lots of twists, complicated character relationships, politics, awesome battles and a storyline that kills off it’s main characters, with equally able support characters then taking the limelight. The suspense of wanting to know which character is going to die next and growth of existing characters serves the series well.

3. Daniel Silva (Author of the Gabriel Allon series) = The undisputed star of the new wave of action thriller novels, with a mysterious main protagonist backed by an able support crew consisting of some of the most shadiest organisations in the world. Daniel Silva has a direct and curt style of writing, focusing more on delivering a story than building the world that is presented in the book. What happens is that you get a fast-paced novel that keeps your heart beating wildly all the way to the end.

What was the first book you really loved reading and what did you love about it?

I can barely remember what it was! I think it was Huckleberry Fin. I can’t really recall what it was about but the book was my ‘baptism’, so to speak, into a higher category of novels that were more complex in storyline, with more depth and substance, definitely different from the Jane and Peter kid stories I read when I was younger.

Are your stories written for mature readers, young adults, both? Would it be ok to hand this book to a 12 year old?

Most of my stories so far have been written for a general audience. I have two novellas that had been published before Gaia, which are “Stab in the Back”, an action thriller, and “Phae and the Sun Chariot”, a fantasy themed novel. They both contain content that is appropriate for all ages.

I know you're at university, what are you studying? Is it a challenge finding time to write?

I’m currently doing a commerce degree, majoring in accounting and finance (I know it’s weird!) but my passion has always been writing and telling stories. It is sometimes a challenge to find the time to write but I believe that if you passionate at something, there is always time to explore your interests and try to make a career out of it. You are only happy if you do something you love. We live life only once. We might as well live it happy, you know?

What would you say The Gaia Chronicles: Birth of Hope is about?

If you can look past all the cool summoning of monsters, the battles and the strange new world built into the novel, I would say that Gaia is a novel about people. It’s about relationships and the struggle that brings between two people. It’s about hate and how that can bring down even the most righteous of people. Above all, it’s about Damien and how he copes with the responsibility of being the ‘hero’ when he knows that he is just a simple boy at heart yearning to live a simple live devoid of war.

Do you plan on this being a trilogy? If so, how long will your readers have to wait to find out what happens next?

Yes! It will be a trilogy. The next book is already in the works and I am hoping to release it by the end of 2017.

Have you written anything else, and where can we find it?

I have written two novellas. One is an action thriller entitled Stab in the Back and the other is a fantasy entitled Phae and the Sun Chariot. Both can be found in the iBookstore and on Smashwords.

Will you be participating in any promotional deals, such as Kindle Unlimited or free chapters?

Throughout the month of November, I will be providing teasers in the form of excerpts from the novel. Kindle Unlimited is an interesting deal I would love to explore in the future. Also, the novel will be cheaper if you pre-order the book in November.

Do you have a newsletter, website, Facebook, Twitter, smoke signals, psychic morse code transmitter? What is the best way for your fans to stay informed?

To stay informed, please do follow my Facebook page (facebook.com/andyjamestrevors). I also have Twitter feeds as an author (twitter.com/andyjamestrevor) and for the novel (twitter.com/gaiascifi). These feeds will provide my future readers immediate information on book promos, preorder and release dates!

When and where will The Gaia Chronicles be available?

The Gaia Chronicles will be available for pre order the 15th of January 2016.

Pre-order price is at $2.99 whilst the price after release on 1st of February 2016 is $4.99.

Do make sure to preorder early to obtain the discount! :D

Book Covers and What They Mean

I've been hammering away a new book. It's not complete yet, but that's ok. The important part, the book cover, is already complete. I use the same artist for all of my book covers because I've found someone that I can work with. I trust my artist and that's not something that comes easily.

If you've ever written a book, you know it can be a deeply personal thing, and sharing that creative output is difficult. Finding the cover for your work can be quick and easy, as simple as choosing a generic design or free piece of artwork. But what if you want something special? Something that reflects not only your writing, but your style? What if you want something unique? Well, for that you are going to need someone with actual talent.

I always see posts fly by on Twitter, offering various services such as custom covers, designs on demand, and other kind of cookie-cutter rubber stamps. I would urge everyone to take some time, get to know the artist, and see if they get what you are trying to convey. I don't begrudge people who print up 500 cover ideas and then just sell them off as people find one that sort of fits their book. But that reminds me of those bodice-ripper covers you used to see on certain romance novels in the 80's or 90's. They were fairly generic, just some guy and some girl in similar kind of clothes in some romantic setting like a mountain or in front of a fire, whatever.

My point is those were mass-produced. There are several great, iconic covers that could have been paintings on their own. That is what I think a book cover should be, it should be art, in and of itself. Your cover should feature something that people would want to look at, even if it wasn't associated with your writing at all. Why would you want to work with anyone who didn't value their craft as much as you value yours?

Again, I am in no way belittling the people who churn out cover after cover. It's a rough job and someone has to do it. Generic book covers are a huge market now with digital publishing and ebooks. There's nothing wrong with doing something you like for a living, and I wish you well. I just feel strongly that book covers should be a connection between two artists.


Just my two cents.

What do you think?

It's my birthday and I'll sigh if I want to...

It gets harder and harder every year to think of something fun to do on this date in history.

It's my birthday and I will sigh and eye roll if I want to.
Also, my book is free today to celebrate, grab your copy here.

Almost everyone hits an age where birthdays turn on them.

For some, it happens early, right after 21, when they realize there's not much point in counting any more milestones.

For others, it happens after 29 or 39, when they don't want to tell anyone about depressing milestones.

But whenever it happens, there is usually a distinct lack of  presents.

Buying gifts for an adult is hard. I understand that, and I sympathize. Gift giving for children is a piece of cake. It requires very little effort. That is part of what makes it fun.

That also doesn't mean we should stop trying. Sure, there's always the reliable gift card/cash/voucher type of present, where the recipient is appreciative, Hardly overwhelmed with delight and wonder, but appreciative. I don't suggest you stop giving those gifts, for some of us, that may be our food budget for a month or three, or our heating bill, or our overdue student loan payment.

What if I told you we could make gift buying/giving/receiving fun again for those old enough to rent a car? Because gifts like cash and cards almost always end up being spent on something mundane. No less vital to our survival, but decimating to our sense of fun.

With that in mind, a few simple suggestions, fresh from:

~Non-Steader Philosophy~

1: If you have to/want to/need to give a monetary equivalent* gift-
(*Note: this includes all forms of cash, card or paper voucher type of presents, things which come in envelopes, things you can hand the person and usually require no ribbon or festive paper)

These gifts are always appreciated. In most cases, the recipient feels joy and gratitude. Often the recipient is broke, desperate or has a payment of some kind due, and this gift saves their bacon.

These gifts are important, please keep them coming! Consider some alternatives. Wouldn't taking them to dinner be more personal? If you are giving them cash and you know they will use it on a bill, you probably know the person pretty well. Why not offer to just pay a specific bill for them and then give them something small to actually open?

Any of these would make you stand head and shoulders above anyone else who remembers their birthday.

2: If you have no idea what to get the person or they are hard to buy for-

This can be tough, I know. The first thing: what do they enjoy; second thing: what they do with their time. Do not think this means you can buy your mistress/significant other/spouse a toaster or other appliances, that* always ends badly.
(*Unless they asked for it specifically. That's a whole separate blog post.)

What if they are addicted to Netflix and never leave the house unless it's on fire? Maybe they could use a fluffy place to put their feet up and a place for their drink. If they have to walk to work maybe they need a really perfect umbrella. In England, they call those "brollies". As it should be. These gifts are useful, classic, well-made and on the pricey side.

Try to focus on what they might need, not just what they don't want. You will often hear this adult saying things like "I don't need anything" or "I just don't want another golf glove" or "I have enough polo shirts!"

For these people I always suggest a movie night. You pay a month of their favorite streaming service, bring whatever snacks/drinks/alcohol they might desire and make a fun sleepover-type thing out of it. Alternatively, you can buy a month of their service, maybe offer to babysit their kids for a night (if they have any), and then just give them all the stuff, gift-wrapped and hand-picked. Maybe they would rather be alone, or would like to spend it with someone special. Either way, they have something to open and something to be excited about. It's a win.

3: If they are into a specific hobby, game, TV show, movie, anything with merchandising-

Do. NOT. Buy. Merchandise. Ever. Unless you have specifically heard from this person that they want nothing more than a Bob's Burgers t-shirt, or a Game of Thrones replica tiny sword. That is the only exception. If there is something they really want, and it is affordable, sure, get that. Do not let your relatives just leap on the "Get anything from American Dad" bandwagon.

There are only so many pieces of memorabilia! Even a super-fan has limits. I would love a vintage Emma Peel Lotus Elan model car, but you can't say to people "The Avengers" and expect to get the right stuff. I buy those kind of collectible/specialized/specific objets d'art myself, because I know exactly what I'm looking for; because I'm the fan.

Don't do this to your loved ones, unless they ask. If they ask, pay attention. Listen for specific instructions. There is a huge difference between Sherlock and Elementary. Not all Sherlocks are equal!

4: If they don't even know what they want or you are broke, destitute, poor-

You want to do something amazing but it would require funds. Funds you do not have. Well, you can't spell funds without fun! There is a surprising amount of stuff that is fun and cheap/free.

Hit these websites, sign your friend up a week or two in advance (some require it at least 7 days before the big day), make sure to use their name (a lot of them check ID to prevent fraud). But use your address or a dummy email (you don't want them to get spammed for their birthday/ruin the surprise!). Then let the fun/travel begin! Plan out your day of free things, based on what's in your town, what's available, what's open, etc.

This works for those "difficult to buy for" people as well, since those are the type of people who usually adhere to the "Events and Experiences are always better than things" part of the Non-Steading Philosophy. If they want actual gifts but really don't know what they want, you can always turn it into a scavenger hunt. Pick the best free things you think they will enjoy, make small boxes with the clues inside, wrap them and dole them out over the day. They get to open stuff and get free things!

Non-Steader ProTip: Keep an eye out for "purchase necessary" scams. You only want the freebies!

5: If they gave you anything in a mason jar*, ever, at any point in history, for any birthday-
(*Note: this includes jams, jellies, mixes, pancake batter, homemade glitter, anything but does not cover if you said "I'd love your homemade apple butter for my birthday" that's on you.)

This person is dead to you now. Just walk away.

Websites from #4:
http://thefrugalgirls.com/birthday-freebies
http://www.buzzfeed.com/alannaokun/free-things-you-can-get-on-your-birthday#.beoLDo8r
http://www.thepennyhoarder.com/100-places-will-give-free-stuff-birthday/

Grab a free book today: http://amzn.com/B014OKNOZE

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