Book Trailer for Wet Spots & Tear Drops!

I finally put together the trailer for my poetry book, Wet Spots & Tear Drops: Poems!  Check it out, share it, and most importantly, BUY THE FRIGGN BOOK so you can support my non-existent drug habit!

My Goals for 2013

Forget making resolutions, that’s so 2011.  I’m making year end goals!

By the end of this year, I’d like to:

• Sell more of my books.
• Publish my first nonfiction paperback.
• Yell at my children less.
• Find a lasting solution for my acne (lemon juice is probably best for folks with mild acne).
• Sleep more than seven hours a night.
• Drink more water.
• Read at least one book per month.

I believe I can manage to accomplish four of these items.  Sure, I’d like to master all seven, but why put that kind of pressure on myself?

Do you have any year end goals or resolutions for 2013?  If so, tell me!  Maybe we can root for each other

 

Let It Break Has a Book Trailer!

I finally sat  myself down long enough to put together a book trailer for Let It Break, a book of short stories I published earlier this year.

When you self publish, as I have, it’s all on you to do the marketing, so you have to make time and money for it!  Luckily, my long time friend Jontae was able to provide me with a live testimonial.  I originally had planned on having more, but it’s difficult getting people scheduled and prepped for a video shoot, even if they’re doing it from the comfort of their own homes.

I’m hoping that this trailer garners interest in people that didn’t know the book existed, and for those that heard of it, but wasn’t sure if it was worth reading.

I had a good time making this trailer (shooting, directing, making the props, coming up with the “storyline”, editing, and creating the graphics), and I learned a few things as well.   I hope you’ll have a good time watching it…and that you’ll go buy the book, of course

Some People Don’t Enjoy Smut

As a self-published author, I don’t expect everyone to enjoy my writing.  I accepted before I began writing with any intent to publish, that there may be more criticisms than praise, that my fan club may be limited.  Fact is, I’m not looking for a fan club, per say, just a few folks who enjoy how I handle a pen and paper (or keyboard and MS doc?).  Someone who understands that the stories I tell, poetry, fiction, or otherwise, are for entertainment, not to make some grand statement or emulate other authors with supreme success in the world of writing.

I write because I fancy it, it helps me sort out all the tainted thoughts and luscious ideas in my head.  Basically, writing gives me a mental outlet.  Know, that if I’m not working on a book or blogging, than I could be updating my journal or doing something else along the lines of creativity.  I try to keep my scattered brain amused for as long as possible.  I believe I suffer from a mild case of ADD sometimes.

I’ve always wanted to have at least one book published before I became worm food.  Thus far, aside from my Kindle books, I have published two paperbacks.  I’ll be working on a third later this year, my first non-fiction piece.

In this day and age, you can usually read a sample of a book, to get an idea of what the book’s tone, diction, and situations will be like.  This isn’t always true, but I feel like the first couple of pages indicates how the rest of the story will be told.  Hence why, it ruffled my feathers a bit when a recipient of the Goodreads giveaway  of my book Let It Break, gave my book a one-star review.   She could’ve easily searched for my book on Amazon, read a sample, and determined based on the sample, whether or not it was a book she could sink her teeth into.  The one-star rating didn’t bother me as much as her comment [BEWARE: SPOILER ALERT!]:

 

 

BUT, I did get these great reviews [BEWARE: ANOTHER SPOILER ALERT!]

 

Even though I received one bad review, the good ones truly outweigh that one bad comment.  But will that ONE comment deter a reader that may be interested in reading my book?  That, my friend, is the issue at hand.

Read more reviews on Goodreads of Let It Break here if you like.

Get LaRae in Waiting FREE on #Kindle!

Today and tomorrow only, I’ll be giving my new Kindle book, LaRae in Waiting, away for free on Kindle.

Here’s a description of the book: In this short drama, a single mother of two deals with living a life of unemployment and the struggle to be independent. The constant waiting for something better becomes a priority, amongst her troubles with her young son, and a lackluster love life. Through her own personal trials and beliefs, she tries to maintain hope, but is hope enough when the odds are stacked against her?

Go get your copy now, and please leave a review on Amazon when you finish reading it!

Get Pizza Gyrl FREE on #Kindle Today and Tomorrow!

My latest short story for Kindle, Pizza Gyrl, is FREE today and tomorrow!  It’s a 90′s romantic dramedy about a thirty-something year old dude recalling his first love at the age of fourteen.  The apple of his eye is an off-beat chick who works in a pizza joint, and reeks of one.  If you’re looking for something to make you laugh and wince, then perhaps you’ll enjoy this story.  Get your FREE copy for Kindle here.

If you miss the two-day giveaway,  you can always buy the book for 99 pennies.  Please leave a review once you complete the story–reviews help get authors and books noticed!

MyMS is an Online Spot for New Writers

 

MyMS, aka My Morning Story, is a place where novice writers can post any type of creative writing, from sci-fi fiction to romantic poetry.  You can socialize, since there is a chat feature on the site, in addition to virtual inboxes.  Users are able to customize their own profile pages, plus comment on the pages of other users, in addition to their writing submissions.  The content submitted by users ranges from G to NC-17, so beware if you’re a certified prude.

MyMS also acts as a publisher.  I published my latest paperback, Let It Break, through the company.  So if you’re interested in having a book published, see if MyMS can help

Currently, MyMS has three areas of art expression: My Morning Story (main site), My Poetry, and My TV, which allows users to upload their own videos.  Eventually, the site will expand and appeal to other types of creative people, such as musicians, fine artists, and actors.

There is a podcast, which I record weekly, providing a sort of book on tape, a verbal version of a post displayed on the site.  You can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes for FREE here.

Like the My Morning Story FaceBook page if you support amateur writers, and love reading compositions by new voices!  The more likes on FB and retweets from followers on Twitter the site gets, the more exposure, which is great for new talent.  Even if you don’t like to write, you can always sign up for an account, and become an avid reader.  Want something to read when you’re away from home?  Then download the free MyMS app here!

I’ve met some great people on MyMS, and I hope its growth continues, so that more creative minds are able to express themselves, and congregate in an online setting.

No Mercy for You

No Mercy For You

Even if the world is on fire,

and you climb to my window,

trying to escape the blazes,

I won’t forget you’re a liar.

I’d kick you back down,

watch as you holler,

and your burning legs swing,

‘Til your body hits the ground.

You really did hurt me,

so I can’t help you,

help is for the weak,

and for you I have no mercy.

I Write; You Read

In case you haven’t noticed, I’m a writer.  I currently have three books (two are only available on Kindle) for sale on Amazon, and two for Nook.  Starting today, and until midnight tomorrow, my  poetry book, Wet Spots & Tear Drops: Poems, will be FREE for Kindle users!  If you don’t own a Kindle, you can always download a Kindle app for your smartphone or iMac for zero dollars and zero cents.

If you’re curious about my work, then check out my Amazon Author Page or click on the Bookz tab at the top of this page to check out all my current works.  Right now, I’m working on a short story to add to my next paperback; the main themes of the book will be love and betrayal.  I’m not capable of being totally serious, so expect some comedy and indecent behavior.  I hope to have this work published before this Spring, so stay tuned!

Morning Stories on Sale!

My Morning Story (mymorningstory.com) is an online writing community for writers of all levels.  You can find a multitude of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction on the site.  Even if you’re not a writer, you can join for free, and become a loyal reader.  Users can post unlimited stories and/or poems, have their own pages, are able to post comments on submissions, and send messages to other users.  You can also chat online with registered users and guests live using the chat feature.

The company has published it’s first book, Morning Stories, which features a collection of fiction ranging from horror to comedy, as well as some spoken word pieces.  I have a short story featured in the book titled Up In Smoke, about an orphaned teenage boy who lives in a cathouse.

If you like surprises and enjoy rooting for the underdogs of the literary world, than purchase a copy of Morning Stories! Oh yeah, like their Facebook page while you’re at it