This Is Going to Be the Preface to My Book Revision-(Kind of Self-Explaining Title)

I wrote a book called If That’s Your Real Name. Don’t go out and buy it. It sucks. I wrote a
couple of short stories I thought were good at the time, and looking back…they aren’t at all. I was writing to say I did something, and to try and climb out a massive life engulfing pit I’ve been in. It’s a horrible, horrible read. Somehow this book is supposed to be better than that one, but let’s be honest, I’m reprinting those little gems out of that book in this one so that you can see for yourself, what I’m talking about. I thought it might make a good monument to lousy writing.
    And I think it this maybe the book that I’ve wanted to write. Oh sure, its got some of my less
than great writings in it, but its me on paper. And that’s what I want to do, leave a message that covers
everything I can think, touch on everything I care about, and squeeze as much out of everything, say
the things that don’t get said, or that are overlooked. Quite the run-on sentence. So. Hopefully you can see if I got any better and hopefully I can see the royalty check.

I Have No New Year's Resolutions

I have prided myself on the fact that I have absolutely no New Year's resolutions.  That's right, I just maintain that same level of excellence year in, and year out... Actually I just have never found the point in trying to do some cliche thing like trying to diet, or run a marathon or something.  If you're not going to make some kind of effort even before a new year starts, the impact of a  new year starting ain't going to matter more than maybe a month.  I'm looking to redo my book, which while I thought I had it edited ended up being pretty crappy.  So I'm trying to do something about now, and have been for a little while trying to "fix" it.  Why wait till 2012 when 2011 isn't over?  Of course 2011 only has one week left in it...

It's Christmas

Bah humbug.  Apparently I'm in the mood for writing, as I started work on one of my projects for my book revision.  I really can't say too much right noe, but its likely after women read it, I'm not going to be well liked by women for a while.

Wow

I'm at the point where, I'm not sure I care too much today. Nope, nope, nope, just tired of life today.  I tried to be a little productive, but just haven't been getting a lot done.  I am unmotivated today.  And on top of that the complete stupidity of the trade/non-trade involving Chris Paul to the Lakers was a complete fiasco.  Don't know what to say I am in a funk of all funks... I am really looking forward to a new year, with new things, new projects, that I'm trying to get excited about.  Maybe its just the cold weather thats making me grumpy. 

2012

I'm thinking next year may be the biggest of my life.  I've got some projects, that should get finished, and I'm hoping to try and go back to school, and get a master's degree too.  Also a girlfriend would be nice too...

After Thanksgiving Motivation

I am completely unmotivated right now.  Don't want to do anything.  I think I'd just like to vegitate and actually have a day where I'm doing nothing at all...  I'm not really a big fan of Thanksgiving, and now I'm trying to recuperate from that.   Oh well...  Back to the grindstone.  I got my project list up to about 20, maybe I should actually take some time, and work on some them...  I can almost say that without laughing now.

Book Ideas

I'm starting work on my political book tonight.  I think it should be the shortest project I have going on right now, and that's what I gotta get started on something somewhere, instead of looking at things, and wondering what to do next.  I am excited by many of the things I'm trying to undertake.  Makes you feel like you're getting something done...of course that may just be the sugar rush talking

Book Ideas

Got a couple of more book ideas today.  Man, I am so much better than Shakespeare.  Seriously.

Today is Tuesday.

I am thinking of branching out on this crappy little blog, and maybe talk about other things that matter to me too.  I'm not really sure what to do exactly.  Perhaps I can talk about my plans for world domination...

Book Ideas.

I've been getting a bunch of ideas for books, which is very cool.  I'm also very impatient, and want them all to be done by next year, but alas, that's impossible.  So I'll do my best to have them all done in the next ten year or so.  Some of this stuff requires tons of historical research, for some historical fiction, and things like that. I keep going back and forth about how much to read, but I think I'm going to do as much as I can so I know what I'm talking about in whatever I write.  I have about 6 or 7 ideas right now, and its very energizing to me, to start to turn all these projects out, and do something with some sort of value to it.

A Poet is Born

I think I might try to write a book of poetry.  I know kinda crazy right?  But I feel inspired, sort of...  I wonder how many poems I'm supposed to write for a book like that anyway...

Wednesday

Is today Wednesday?  I think so....  Anyhoo, I'm busy trying to finish my research, and get down some more good ideas for some stories.  Well, hopefully they're good ideas...

The Bookstore

I live in the San Fernando Valley here in what is considered part of Los Angeles. Ten years ago there was a probably something close to a dozen used book stores that I had seen personally, but I know there were more I haven't. I've seen many of them disappear, and as far as I know there's only three on my side of the Valley. Its very sad, because some of the most things to read are no longer in print. Which in some cases makes something more valuable, depending on the rarity of it, and when a book was published.  Seems like places Amazon, and other websites, are driving bookstores out of business.  Though it seems to me that bookstores ain't offering any discounts, unless its your birthday or you bought a certain amount of Harry Potter crap.  The used bookstore is still a great place to find things, sometimes there are some real literary gems just waiting to be found out there.  For the most part the physical needs to keep in mind what they're charging isn't what the internet is charging, and often times the internet is still cheaper even after you factor in shipping. 

The moral of the story is that the used bookstore, and really bookstores in general shouldn't be going anywhere, but on occasion,they'll be closing because there's some diehards who refuse to change, or just can't even if they wanted to.  The advantage that the internet has the physical bookstore, is most likely you're going to find what you're looking for.  With a physical bookstore, you're not always to be able to find to what you want, and that's what hurts them.  Most booksellers are getting with the times, and have an internet presense which will keep them afloat, and can double as advertising for them. 

One of the downsides of the internet is that a book can get lost in shipping.  I've seen this happen a lot working in a bookstore and I'd see kids are trying to beat their local school bookstore, and get cheap textbooks.  And then they drop extra money on having to get a book from the bookstore anyway.

Another thing I hear quite often are things about e-books.  Personally, I like having a tangible book in my hands.  For instance I have a small mystery library in my collection, what am I going to do with an e-book?  I can't read like that for long periods of time, so I personally will never buy an e-book if I can help it.  Plus, how am I supposed to impress people, if I don't have my library on display.  Students need a place to study outside the library, and nervous guys everywhere need a place to take their dates, and feign intelligence. 

Libraries and bookstores are smart and are offering both actual books and e-books.  And I think that what folks need, you gotta have that old-battered copy your favorite book, as well as that new bestseller that you want to download for that long flight. 

Not So Healthy

I've been trying to do research, mainly of the historical kind, for a couple of novels I'm thinking of writing.  But I hurt my back a few weeks ago, and now I caught a cold.  Man, it is so rough to read when you're coughing or trying to stay warm all the time.  Anyhoo, I guess this too, shall pass.  And of course, I'll finish all of about 30 or so books I'm trying to read.  I wanted to be done by the end of January, but that's not likely, but I have finished about 4 so far.  I got some good ideas, but I've got some time to develop them a bit more before I think before I even think of putting anything done.  I feel this urgent need to finish quickly, but I'd like to do it right. I'm kind of at war with myself about it, but I think patience is starting to win out.  I mean let's be honest, you can't rush greatness....just kidding.

And There Goes September

I got a start on my reading and after narrowing it down to about 26 or 27 books to read.  I finished the first one.  That's quite the accomplishment I know.

No Title for This Blog Post

I continue to do research for my next couple of projects.  Hopefully its well worth it.  Stay tuned.

Research Take A Long Time

In an effort to my next few stories historically accurate.  I will be doing research for the next 3 and a half months.  Oh the joys of the inactive social life. 

Sept 11

I remember my mom shouting at the television, was what woke me up that morning.  I came out to see the towers of the World Trade Center on fire.  They showed footage of the first plane flying in, and then later the second plane just disappearing into the second tower.  It was surreal.  I went to work, and thought how quiet it was, there were no planes flying overhead, and we had no customers at the coffee house where I worked at the time.  We lived in one of the flight paths here in LA, so we hear planes all the time, and by the time I got to work, every plane had been grounded.  It was later in the afternoon, that I saw the rest of the footage.  And it was still surreal, this type of thing didn't happen in the United States.  Now ten years later, I am reminded of the people who put their lives, on the line, for strangers, who showed immense bravery in the wake of terrorist attacks on our soil.  I didn't know anybody who died that day, or even anybody really affiliated with the events that day, but I think those who folks who sacrificed themselves for their fellow citizens, show me what courage looks like, and that many of our problems are not so big after all.  God bless America, and God bless those who went through, and go through a great deal for us so that we can be free. 

Who's a Big Creepy Guy?

Sweet fancy Moses, I really need to get back in the swing of things.  I've been taking my time getting back into new writing projects, since I finished my first book.  Man, that's one of the coolest feelings in the world too.  Ever since I saw Dead Poet's Society as a kid, I've wanted to be a writer.  And there you go, a little over 15 years later...  Felt like I climbed a mountain or something.  Now I feel like I'm stuck or something, and trying to figure out what to do, after you finish one of your life's goals.  Like winning at the Olympics, what do you next?  I've been doing some note taking for new ideas and I got a few books to read in research.  I think I might just use that as an excuse...

I'm a published guy now.

As of yesterday, I am an author.  I recently self-published a book called, If That's Your Real Name.  Now I will be definately using that as a pick-up line with women.  My life feels so complete now.  On a serious note, the book has three short stories, a poem, and a letter to my daughter.  Its all very exciting.  Here is the link to it.  http://www2.xlibris.com/bookstore/bookdisplay.aspx?bookid=66160 It should be up as an ebook too at some point.

Finished first book!

I've spent all my time recently trying to finish my little anthology.  I'm finally done with the writng, and I'm just waiting for all the little details of it coming together to happen.  It's also kind of wierd, but not that I'm done, I'm having trouble getting motivated to work on other projects.  I have four or five other things I'd like to do, I'm just going nowhere fast.  I'm hoping that's because I'm trying to do research for some of them, and not because I don't have anything to say.

3 Down 1 To Go

I finished my shortest story yet.  It's only 3 pages.  Barely.  I'm hoping its good.  I've got one more story to finish and then the book is done!

New Projects

Got inspired to do a super-secret project.  And hopefully to work a bit more on a possible novel, or two.  I have something in mind for a potential spy-thriller, but still trying to work out something for a second novel.  Meanwhile, I've been trying to finish up a couple of stories for my first book.  Busy busy busy.

Strong Finish

Got inspired the last couple of days, I'm trying to finish two stories before the end of the month.  Going ok so far.  Stay tuned

Fiction

Still working on my last two stories.  About 75% of the way done with my book now.  Man, that feels good to say.

Still Here

Wow, I forgot I had a blog.  I've been writing like crazy, and researching a lot too, for next book, though maybe I should hold off till researching till I finish the first book.  Nah.  Gotta stay busy.  I think there's about 50 books I'm trying to read in research for the second book. 

First Book

My first book will hopefully be coming out in the fall sometime.  I'm still working on a title, but it's going good so far.  I am excited for all the little pieces that are coming together, and I am absolutely, and without a doubt telling girls that I'm a writer.  It's going to be a great little book of short stories, a little poem I wrote, and a letter.  I'll let you know when it comes out.