“The Odessa Chronicles”
Writing fiction can be a very interesting experience, particularly when the fictional characters start talking to you! As soon as I realized that there was a dialogue possibility between the characters and myself, I decided to take advantage of the situation and proceeded to arrange for two interviews with the namesake of the book … Odessa! Continue reading
“So Long Ago”
“So long ago” was a Post from “long ago”, and considers how perceptions of time will vary with any given event. My subject for that Post was our beloved Ray, and how the time when our year was pre-occupied with his heart-worm treatment program seemed like only “yesterday”. Continue reading
“Time to say Goodbye”
For many of us, neither the song nor the singers need any introduction. Enjoy! Continue reading
“Theme from Harry’s Game”..
Such a simple sound generating a mystical ambience. Continue reading
Self educating!
It’s an interesting concept isn’t it? Forget the formal education process and simply self-educate!
Sadly, there are more issues with that concept than I have candles on my birthday cake … and that’s lots but, outside of our respective formal education systems, self-education is a very viable and rewarding habit to get into. Continue reading
“Microsoft Windows Waltz”!
I have always admired creativity. It proves that we, as a species, really are mentally alive despite evidence that sometimes suggests otherwise. Continue reading
Self Publishing/Marketing
One inherent and major challenge with self-publishing, is the marketing aspect. No book is going to sell if nobody knows it exists … and that is where the marketing comes in. If you happen to be a celebrity, then your marketing issues are quite possibly going to go away as some publishing and/or marketing company will happily take on those responsibilities but … for the rest of us? We tend to be on our own, developing our own strategies, and trying to come up with something that is financially feasible.
A professional publicist did offer to take on the marketing responsibilities for “Who Said I was up for Adoption?” for $18,000.00/year (if I recall correctly). To “break even” would dictate selling over 3500 copies per year however, as all net profits will be donated to the Oakville & Milton Humane Society (our local shelter who rescued Ray and worked with him to make him a feasible candidate for adoption), the questions all revolved around investing such a significant value into a high risk venture. Should I take the chance, and be prepared to write-off the $18,000.00 if necessary? My answer to myself was a decisive “No!”
The most economical method of reaching people is via the various social media platforms and, of course, through blogging. A local library here agreed to carry “Who Said I was up for Adoption?” in their inventory, and our local newspaper has promoted it on a number of occasions.
“Who Said I was up for Adoption?” is quite simply a tribute to our beloved Ray. It documents, in considerable detail, the emotional roller coaster ride that was the first eighteen months of Ray living with us. He gave us many challenges, not the least of which was testing positive for heart-worm, and our first summer with him was subsequently dictated by his heart-worm treatment program. He was distrusting of all people and other dogs and would bark loudly to show his displeasure and “make them go away”! He would misread body language and react inappropriately. and would do so many other challenging things that we used a considerable amount of professional help in order to get him comfortable in his new environment. All of this is detailed in “Who Said I was up for Adoption?”
For marketing, I will simply say that it can be purchased in eBook, paperback and hardcover formats, and is available world-wide through all the usual on-line book retailers. It is currently on special pricing of $4.99, $11.99 and $19.99 (for the three formats respectively) if ordered direct from the FriesenPress Bookstore (link below):
Finally, there are numerous reviews on amazon.com. for anybody trying to decide whether Ray’s story is for them!
“Unfinished Life”
This is totally not what I was thinking for today’s song, but I came across Kate Wolf (1942-1986) quite by accident not too long ago, and found this song particularly haunting and thought provoking. Sadly, she is no longer with us.
It’s an unfinished life, that I find lies before me
An open-ended dream, and I don’t want to wake
I’ve crossed so many rivers in search of crystal fountains
I’ve found the truest paths always lead through mountains
I’ve seen water on the sky, and fire burning on the lake
You said to me “I cannot make you happy
Like a wounded bird you must find the strength to fly
Time can paint the tree tops with colours of the rainbow
But you cannot find the end, no matter how you try”
It’s a journey with my soul … that I am taking
One that only goes from the cradle to the grave
Going ’round in circles like painted dancing horses
Up and down we ride, on the wooden courses
And light from a lover’s eyes is all that I can save
You said to me “I cannot make you happy
Like a wounded bird, you must find the strength to fly
Time can paint the tree tops with colours of the rainbow
But you cannot find the end, no matter how you try
So I’ll take the day and run out across the open fields
Where the grass grows high and the shadows fall
Where my eyes can see all the colours in the air
So quiet that the wind whistles in my hair
And takes the rising dust and carries it away
You said to me “I cannot make you happy
Like a wounded bird, you must find the strength to fly
Time can paint the tree tops with colours of the rainbow
But you cannot find the end, no matter how you try”
A New Direction Perhaps? 