A Brief Wrap-Up Of 2016!
I’m not going to ramble on about celebrity deaths – no one is going to forget losing Carrie Fisher, George Michael, Glen Fry, David Bowie, or any other name on the awful list created in 2016. It was a rough year for certain, and being the realist that I am, 2017 may be just as awful. The thing people need to realize while they’re mourning one of their favorite stars is to remember that they’re still HERE to mourn. It’s very sad losing a celebrity we’ve grown up with, but at the same time, you’ve made it!
I’ve lost friends this year – a very close friend that I called brother passed away from cancer at the ripe old age of 37. We never know when it’s time to catch the bus and we’re very rarely prepared when it arrives, but the key is NOT waiting for the ride, but enjoying the one we’re on!
With the release of my book in October, I’ve met some amazing people in the indie community: authors, promoters, bloggers, designers, etc. What was once a scary proposition has become much easier, and although I won’t be selling my house and moving to warmer climes, I still feel a very real sense of accomplishment every time I receive feedback on work in the form of a personal message, a social media post, an Amazon review. It makes it all worthwhile sitting in front of a computer for hours a day, pecking away at a new new story, setting up advertising, etc. When people appreciate what I do, it becomes clear that I’ve chosen the right path, and you made 2016 an awesome year for me, amid all the turmoil and personal tragedy, I can still say I’ve followed a dream and made it happen!!
You were all there every step of the way!!
In 2017, barring any unforeseen circumstances, I plan 2 novels and perhaps another novella. The current novel project is about 25% done and should see completion in March. Today, however, is one for wrapping up the previous year and planning for the next!
Happy New Year my friends!
Drinks are on me!
Jeannie
Just finished “the farm”, absolutely loved it. Just purchased the darkening & cannot wait to start reading. Thank you so much, this kind of book is right up my alley and I’m so excited to have a new favorite author to add to my list!!
Chris
I’m so happy you enjoyed it!! Thank you for taking a chance on my writing! There’s much more to come this year!
Mark Bearden
Hi Chris! My name is Mark Bearden, and I just discovered you, and ordered your book “Pine Lakes”! I am looking forward to reading it! I enjoyed reading your blog, and loved the essay you wrote about how you became a published writer because it gave me inspiration for my dream of becoming a full-time writer! I have written four novels (horror-suspense-dark fantasy) and numerous horror/thriller short stories. Four of my horror short stories are published in the online magazine “9 Tales Told in the Dark” and the issues are available on Amazon.com My favorite story of mine is entitled “Those Old Dull Knives” about an old woman who agrees to keep a box of knives for her schizophrenic neighbor because she’s afraid that her son may use them to kill her and his brother. She is only trying to do her neighbor a favor, and that is the worst mistake she has ever made. Anyway, I loved writing it, and have many more to come.
Currently, I am trying to find an agent and a publisher for my horror novel “SNOWY” about an American Eskimo-wolf hybrid who will do anything to protect a teenage boy (who is a comic book writer) and he, also, has a special talent: Snowy eats the bad parts of a person. Wish me luck, and if you have any advice please run it my way.
I can’t wait to read your novel “Pine Lakes” and the rest of your books!
Mark Bearden
Horror writer from Texas
Chris
Mark,
Thank you for taking the time to check out my writing. I really hope you enjoy ‘Pine Lakes’ and look forward to your feedback. The best advice I received from anyone when I was struggling to get my work out there, was this: write every day and don’t give up when you get frustrated. I too tried for a while to find an agent and a publisher, but in the end I decided to self publish my books instead. This gives you full creative control of your work, from the content to the cover art. Self-publishing isn’t for everyone, but it’s certainly worth looking into.
Let me know how it works out for you; I’ll certainly be one of your readers! Off to Amazon now to check out your stories 😉 Thanks for taking the time to write.
Chris
Mark Bearden
Hi Chris, this is Mark Bearden, and thank you for writing me back! I love your writing advice, and I will stick to it, and make time to write every day! Stephen King’s “On Writing” and Ray Bradbury’s “Zen in the Art of Writing” have helped me out a lot, and I read them almost daily. Ray Bradbury said, “Do what you love and love what you do.” That is a philosophy I try to apply to my love of writing as well as my day job as a center consultant at FedEx. I hope to have a full-time career as a writer someday. I will look into self-publishing. Thanks for letting me know.
I can’t wait to read your novel “Pine Lakes” and it should be arriving at my house soon.
I hope you enjoy reading my short stories. Let me know what you think. I have “Those Old Dull Knives” published in “9 Tales Told in the Dark #9”, “Scraps” in “9 Tales Told in the Dark #14”, “First Bite” in “9 Tales Told in the Dark #22” and “Stripe Z.T.” in “9 Tales Told in the Dark #18”. I will have many more to come. Now, I have to work on my novel. Wish me luck!
Keep on writing, Chris. I will follow your work. Have a great day. Keep in touch.
Mark Bearden