One-year anniversary of my blog

One year ago today, I created this blog and wrote the first item. Here it is, in its entirety:

Coming Sept. 2007: Book One, The Pit

This is my first-ever posting. I recently signed a contract with Rain Publishing Inc., to publish my six-book epic fantasy series, The Death Wizard Chronicles. Book One, entitled The Pit, will debut September 2007, followed by one book a month after that until February 2008.

You've heard this many times, I'm sure, but for me this is the culmination of a lifelong dream. Now comes the business of getting people like you to read my series. In future blogs, I'll publish details on when and how to buy!

The DW Chronicles is not for children and teenagers -- or the faint of heart. But if you like graphic fantasy that crackles with excitement yet still has a lot going on between the lines, I think you'll love my series. In a groundbreaking paradox, the Death Wizard, a champion of good, derives his power from a source traditionally seen as negative -- death. His nemesis, an evil sorcerer, derives his power from the sun, the benevolent source of all life. Their struggle to control the fate of the planet Triken will take your breath away.

In an original twist never before seen in this genre, the Death Wizard is able to enter the realm of death during a "temporary suicide." Through intense concentration, he stops his heartbeat briefly and feeds on death energy, which provides him with an array of magical powers. The series also is a love triangle involving two desperate characters attempting to come together despite the machinations of an all-powerful psychopath with incestuous cravings.

Graphic and action-packed, spanning a millenium of turmoil, The DW Chronicles carries readers on a journey they will never forget. Do you fear death? The Death Wizard does not. Find out why.

So ...... what has changed between then and now?

* My blog has received 8,774 hits. This is no world record, of course. Some blogs receive more hits than that in a single day. But it's not terrible, either.

* Four of my six books are in print, with book five due to come out within two weeks and book six not long after that.

* There have been festivals; conventions; book signings; reviews; video, audio, and print interviews; and a virtual tour of the blogosphere, among other promotional events.

* I've received hundreds of emails, comments, and words of encouragement from pleased readers.

* I've met a lot of writers and readers, both in-person and online.

But I have to be honest. Despite all this, sales have been disappointing. The bottom line is, you can market until your head falls off, and if you're not either a) a big name, or b) with a mega-publisher, then the odds of achieving large sales are heavily against you.

My publisher has tried real hard. I've tried real hard. And neither of us has any plans of not continuing to try real hard. In so many ways, this series deserves better. But in the immortal words of Clint Eastwood: "Deserve's got nothing to do with it."

To any and all of you who have purchased any or all of my books, I offer my most sincere appreciation. It means the world to me, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart.

It's still early. It's not over yet. Rain and I have a lot of fight left. We believe in The Death Wizard Chronicles. In our opinion, it ranks with the best epic fantasy available anywhere from anybody.

But convincing the masses ain't easy, I can tell you that. Come on, Clint ... doesn't deserve count for something?

You live, you learn

Things I find comforting:

* Train whistles.
* Warm blankets.
* Good-natured laughter.
* Purring cats.
* Long back scratches.

Things I find disturbing:

* Smokers.
* Rude teenagers.
* Ultra-conservatives.
* Bad tippers.
* People who litter.

Meme time

Michael Southard, editor of the popular online fantasy magazine Tower of Light, tagged me with this meme.

1. Grab the nearest book of 123 pages or more.
2. Open to page 123.
3. Find the first five sentences and write them down.
4. Invite five friends to do the same.

I chose Chris Stevenson's Once Upon a Goddess.

"Mason went to his bungalow and found Augustus and Felicity seated on the edge of the bed, engrossed with a wrestling Smack Down event. The volume had been turned up unusually high and when Mason glanced around he saw that the furniture had been upended,m and the pillows and bedspread had been flung about. A decorative planter had broken and lay on the floor along with a spray of fertilizer and shards. Augustus had a sleeve missing from his shirt. He and Felicity looked winded."

Okay, I'll tag ... well, Chris.

Book review: The New Feminized Majority

Book Review by Jim Melvin
The New Feminized Majority
By Katherine Adams and Charles Derber
2008 Paradigm Publishers


In one of the most super-charged election years in our nation’s history, along comes a book that will stir up the pot even more.

The New Feminized Majority pulls no punches in its assertions that the “Democratic party can lead America for decades” by embracing the “feminized majority.” Suppressed for most of our nation’s history by male-dominated conservatism, this visionary social movement is on the verge of rocking the political landscape.

Made up mostly of women but also of millions of men, the “feminized majority” represents an “increasingly robust majority of voters in this country who are prepared to support a progressive politics of social justice.” This fundamental shift from masculinized values (competitiveness, aggression, individualism, violence as a tool to solve problems) to feminized values (cooperation, empathy, appreciation for equality, nonviolent solutions to conflicts) will help “transform the country and the world, making a more peaceful, equitable, and sustainable planet.”

This is not a book that will convert Evangelical conservatives — or virtually anyone who leans well to the right. In fact, they probably could not read past the first few pages without angrily tossing The New Feminized Majority into the nearest fireplace. But liberals, centrists, and even moderate conservatives will discover a treasure trove of information within these pages. It’s not an easy read, but it’s an enlightening one — as well as being topically cutting edge.

According to the authors, the feminized majority’s rise to power will be tantamount to a second American Revolution. The key to this vitally important uprising will lie in the hands of the Democrats — namely Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton. By embracing a strategy based on feminized values, the Democratic Party can return to power not just this year, but for the foreseeable future. And if this happens, the United States — and the world — will have much to celebrate.

The New Feminized Majority was printed on recycled paper. Does this please you? If so, then this book probably will please you, too. How smart do you have to be to care for the environment? To be anti-violence? To want to advance the rights of women and minorities? To desire equality and peace in the world?

How smart do you have to be?

Smart enough to read this book.

Smart enough to agree with it.

I need a big favor

Writers always are asking favors of their readers. I'm no exception. To anyone who has purchased any of Books 1-4 on Amazon, would you please leave a reader comment, if you haven't already? This adds a ton to credibility.

Be honest -- in both directions. If you love it, please say so. If you see flaws, feel free to expose them.

Karma is a powerful force. Doing good things for people pays dividends. This would be a good thing ... a very good thing ... for me.

Megacon was Megafun

I'm back from Megacon in Orlando. I've done a book festival and a bunch of other personal appearances, but this was my first-ever comics conference. Overall, it went pretty well. I sold 51 books and talked face-to-face to at least 300 people. To any of you who met me in Orlando and/or bought one of my books, thanks so much for your support. It was a lot of fun! And most of you had some very interesting things to say.

I'm not sure of the totals, but I would guess that at least 15,000 people attended the con over the three-day period. There were hundreds of exhibitors selling everything from bookmarks to authentic swords. I saw a variety of mind-blowing costumes and outfits. Needless to say, the "people-watching" was A+++. It sure made the hours pass fast. Just about everyone seemed to know everyone else, and most everyone was younger than I am. But they were friendly and seemed in fantastic moods.

I enjoyed the entire experience.

Please come to visit at the Megacon in Orlando

To anyone who lives in Orlando and/or Central Florida, I will be at the Megacon in Orlando selling heavily discounted copies of Books 1-4 starting Friday March 7 (noon-7) and also on Saturday (10 a.m.-6) and Sunday (10 a.m.-5). I'd be thrilled if you came by to visit. The event is being held at the Orange County Convention Center (The North/South Building) on International Drive.