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The Weekly Five: 7/28

I’m going to try a new thing here on the blog every Friday. In the old days of Social Media I would have tweeted or posted these via Facebook. But I still have a desire to keep this place active and two: I want to provide weekly updates outside of my newsletter. So each Friday I’ll be putting these out… We’ll see how it goes.

close up photography of bicycle chain
Photo by Miguel Á. Padriñán on Pexels.com

1. My Social Media Presence

Social media comes, and it goes. Heck remember XANGA, MySpace, and AOL Chat? Twitter and Facebook have been the dominate forces the last few years with Instagram and TikTok quickly growing. The problem is TikTok is probably going to be banned in the interest of national security, and Twitter is a complete disaster right now in my opinion. Personally, I miss the old days of twitter. The truth is I have to think about where my audience is at. So for author related things I’ll be on both Instagram and Threads. For friendships I’ll be on Facebook. If I do post on twitter it’s only going to be occasionally and for updates. I’ll decide at the end of August if it’s worth my time staying or leaving completely. Who really knows. But at the moment I don’t enjoy being there anymore.

2. Podcast Break

The podcast is taking a break. I try to take a break every 20 to 25 episodes. And since I just posted episode 47 I’ve decided to take that break now. I have a lot going on in August and it’s a brutal month to try and post and edit. It will be back in September with episode 48 and we’ll run until sometime in December. I love the podcast and it keeps me active in the pop culture world. So it’s not going away. I may even explore the possibility of turning things over to a guest host once or twice just to get some different content. So if you think you might be interested in hosting, let me know.

3. Kickstarter Fulfillment

The main reason I’m taking a break from the podcast is I’m about to shift into Kickstarter fulfillment mode on Aug 1st. I have a lot to get done and need to stay focused. The Kickstarter was definitely the hardest and most challenging marketing I have ever done. It was a learning experience. I’ll be dropping a blog post soon on the top five mistakes I feel I made.

4. Dusting Off Some Old Stories

Since I won’t be writing much in August other than on the collaboration project I’m doing with Steve Rzasa and Jason Joyner, I’ve decided to dust off some old stories and touch them up over the next month. I’ll be looking for beta readers, so if you are interested in reading a political thriller set in a VR world where gamers compete on behalf of politicians to see which party dominates certain campaign ad space- let me know.

5. What I’m Reading & Watching this Week

Right now I’m reading Star Wars: Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn. I haven’t read this series since the early 2000’s. There is so much I had forgotten so I’m glad for the chance to reexplore this trilogy. I’ve also started a reread of the Wheel of Time on Audible. I’m currently about 25% through the Eye of the World. This will be my fourth time through the Wheel of Time and I learn something new each time.

Since Ashoka is kicking off soon I’m doing a binge watch of Star Wars Rebels! I’ve stoked about this one. Thrawn is hands down my favorite Star Wars character so with Heir, Rebels, and Ashoka I’m pretty much Star Wars geeked out for the month.

That’s all I have for this week! I’ll be back next week to provide some updates on writing plans etc. heading into the fall.

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Reflecting on a Chaotic Summer: Triumphs, Challenges, and Healing

As the summer draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on the whirlwind of events that have shaped these past few months. It’s been a chaotic and busy summer, and unfortunately, my blogging took a backseat amidst the flurry of activities. Nevertheless, I want to take this moment to share some significant highlights and experiences that have profoundly impacted my life.

Embracing Change and Healing

One of the major milestones of this summer was transitioning to a new church after my wife’s remarkable decision to resign from her 15-year stint serving on staff at our previous church. Her courage to step away from an environment that had subjected her to toxic, emotional, and spiritual abuse was both empowering and liberating. Sure our finances took a hit, but it was the right choice. As we embarked on this new chapter together we began attending a new church and despite not knowing many people, we decided to step out of our comfort zone and serve at our Vacation Bible School (VBS). I took on the role of games coordinator, she did snacks! Witnessing our mutual commitment to serving our community brought us immense joy. While I won’t delve deeply into the details of our previous church’s experience right now, it’s essential to acknowledge that we are both on a path of healing, growth, and renewed faith. Though there are still some wounds to tend to, we’re gradually finding solace in each other’s love and support.

Triumph in Publishing – Iggy & Oz Series

Another remarkable achievement this summer was the successful Kickstarter campaign for the fourth book in the Iggy & Oz series. With great pride and gratitude, we were able to not only meet our funding goal but also surpassed it by 200%. The overwhelming support from our readers and fans made this experience truly heartwarming. The Iggy & Oz series has become a passion project close to my heart, and witnessing its continued success brings immense fulfillment.

A Journey of Struggle and Success – Realm Makers Writers Conference

Amidst the busy schedule, I made it a point to attend the esteemed Realm Makers writers conference. This year held special significance for me as my book, “Iggy & Oz: The Living Snot,” was honored with the award for the best middle-grade book. This recognition was particularly meaningful as this book was written during a time when I was battling severe anxiety. The writing process served as a cathartic outlet, and the award felt like a well-deserved acknowledgment of the challenges I had overcome.

Collaborative Creativity – “Interstice Undone”

Currently, I’m engaged in an exciting cowriting project with fellow authors Steve Rzasa and Jason Joyner. Together, we are crafting an epic crossover story that features all our beloved characters. Titled “Interstice Undone,” this collaborative effort is a testament to the power of unity and creativity. Working alongside these talented authors has been an inspiring journey, and we can’t wait to share the final result with our readers.

As I look back on this chaotic and eventful summer, I’m filled with a mix of emotions – from the joy of triumphs to the somber reflections of healing. Through it all, I’m grateful for the love and support of my wife, the encouragement of my readers, and the camaraderie of fellow writers. These experiences have strengthened my faith, fueled my creativity, and reminded me that even amidst chaos, there are moments of triumph and healing worth cherishing. I look forward to the days ahead, where I can continue sharing my journey and stories with all of you. Until then, thank you for being a part of this rollercoaster summer.

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Introducing “Embers of the Dead” – A New Post-Apocalyptic Adventure

I’m excited to share the title of my upcoming novel set to release this fall: “Embers of the Dead.”

My fascination with post-apocalyptic fiction ignited at a young age when I first watched the film “Red Dawn.” It has been my desire to write captivating adventures not only for young boys, but also in the realm of men’s adventure, particularly within the apocalyptic landscape.

After encountering a few false starts over the years and a number of stories that fizzled out, I’m delighted to say that “Embers of the Dead” has made it through the creative journey and is now complete.

To bring this exciting story to life, I have a special treat planned. For the first month, “Embers of the Dead” will be exclusively available as a free serial on my website. This way, you can dive into the tale without any barriers. Following that, the novel will be available as an ebook and paperback on all platforms.

In the coming months I’ll share more details and sneak peeks about “Embers of the Dead.”

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The Okie BookCast

Last week I had the chance to sit down with J Hall from the Okie Book Cast. We chatted about my love for reading, and writing for Middle-Grade boys! You can listen right here.

Podcast Link

The Okie Bookcast is dedicated to helping curious readers like you find your next great read by connecting you to Oklahoma authors and stories. Each episode includes an interview with a contributor to the reading life of Oklahoma – it might be an author, publisher, librarian, reader, bookseller, or other figure. In addition to the interview, each episode includes a review from an Oklahoma author about a book they love. New episodes drop on the first and third Tuesdays of the month. Connect with Okie Bookcast on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok – @okiebookcast.