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November 2010 Blog Posts (47)

Finished NaNoWriMo Contest

I’m back after missing a few Tuesday posts. Blogs about marketing my books are as important to me as the writing experience if I intend to sell my product. But here is a post on my latest writing experience. My competitive side came out while I tried to prove to myself I could succeed at this contest. On Sunday, I pasted into the NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) site what is to be my next book. I modestly put 51,900 words in my word estimate updater. The validater totaled 52,028…

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Added by Fay Risner on November 30, 2010 at 2:49pm — No Comments

Chapter Twenty-Six, The Shimmering Image

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Oceanside, California

Friday, November 21st, 2:29 PM

Bernie got out the passenger door of the Chevy and headed toward Aiano, who was drinking a can of Diet Pepsi outside the grocery-general store at a gas station. He was followed by a large white guy, late forties, dark-haired and muscular. The man looked like he was glad it had been only a few days since he'd needed a shower, happier yet he had a week or so before the next one.

Aiano nodded to… Continue

Added by Bill Cady on November 30, 2010 at 12:15am — No Comments

Chapter Twenty-Five, The Shimmering Image

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Oceanside, California

Friday, November 21st, 10:17 AM

I waited at a table. The same table, actually, where we met before, outside the Starbucks. I smoked and remembered the phone call when I got home last night.

"Matt Lieukenjon," I answered when my cell started ringing. I'd just made it to my new desk and was powering up my laptop.

"Matt? Your friend, Bill Cady. Got a minute?"

"Sure. The cops are already back on patrol.… Continue

Added by Bill Cady on November 28, 2010 at 3:59pm — No Comments

The Problem with Faith

The problem with faiths, all faiths, including all of the world's religions and often including various forms of secularism to include science, comes when belief becomes a substitute for knowledge.

This would not be a problem except when "people of faith" display a complete lack of trust in the god, gods or goddesses they say they believe in. They often act as though their chosen divinity has very little power and needs their help and the help of civil law.

Sadly,…

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Added by Peter Klein on November 28, 2010 at 8:58am — No Comments

Chapter Twenty-Four, The Shimmering Image

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Oceanside, California

Thursday, November 20th, 08:33 PM

I had no idea what kind of man Aiano Matua might be. I knew nothing about him. Never even heard his name until Jorge told me. Never saw the man until I tried to save a poor Mexican kid about to get his ass handed to him in a bloody basket. No previous encounter with him until I used my fender to dump him into another parking lot.

If I hadn't heard Jorge say his name I wouldn't've known it… Continue

Added by Bill Cady on November 27, 2010 at 6:54pm — No Comments

A general comment to all IFOGO members

The past few days, 24 of them to be precise, I've been putting up chapters of The Shimmering Image, the 1st novel in a series of five I call The Shimmering Image series. Being new to this site, I've moved cautiously, unfamiliar with the rules. Counting the next comment I get on these chapters, I'll be up to one. ;-(

My time's been heavily occupied after I read a post on this site by Matthew Sawyer regarding the website Smashwords. The problems I ran into regarding the massive… Continue

Added by Bill Cady on November 26, 2010 at 9:43pm — 4 Comments

Chapter Twenty-Three, The Shimmering Image

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Oceanside, California

Thursday, November 20th, 05:59 PM

Jorge and Sina stopped walking when the white guy in the Viper went past. He waved at the man. Sina just watched. She asked, "Who's that guy?"

"I dunno, Baby. Says his name's Matt. He's pretty nice, though. He ran Aiano's fat ass off'n the road when he was chasin' me, then he stopped an' picked me up." Jorge shrugged. "I ain't got no idea why he done it, but then he brung me over here,… Continue

Added by Bill Cady on November 26, 2010 at 7:47pm — No Comments

Chapter Twenty-Two, The Shimmering Image

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Oceanside, California

Thursday, November 20th, 05:48 PM

I took a fast look in my mirror to be sure I hadn't aroused "Oceanside's Finest" while the car continued slowing to the vicinity of the 45 mph posted speed. All I did to help the cause was downshift to third. The Viper did the rest.

Satisfied I wasn't prison bound for excessive zeal while saving a life, I stuck my hand in the guy's direction. "I'm Matt," I told him. "What's your… Continue

Added by Bill Cady on November 25, 2010 at 9:03pm — No Comments

Chapter Twenty-One, The Shimmering Image

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Oceanside, California

Thursday, November 20th, 04:29 PM

When Father, the Shimmering Image, told me He had things to take care of, I didn't question Him. I suppose, if I had to keep track of and intervene in billions of lives over tens of thousands of years, I might find times I had to work a little OT. My situation was, thankfully, different from His.

With all the things I was putting in motion, it wouldn't be long before my days were filled to… Continue

Added by Bill Cady on November 24, 2010 at 6:31pm — No Comments

Chapter Twenty, The Shimmering Image

CHAPTER TWENTY

Oceanside, California

Thursday, November 20th, 11:26 AM

All three of us made it back home in the "poofmobile". I refilled Father's water dish, got myself a Gatorade, and took a seat in the living room. As usual, I made my way to the Stratolounger® and put my feet up. "You didn't say what You have in mind, but I have some more questions if You're not busy."

"Fine. There's plenty of time, Matt. At the moment that priest, Father Pat, is wrestling with… Continue

Added by Bill Cady on November 23, 2010 at 7:50pm — No Comments

Chapter Nineteen, The Shimmering Image

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Oceanside, California

Thursday, November 20th, 9:41 AM

The last few weeks were different. Like that string of days where everything began to change for me was different. Unusual in every respect. However, these days, the past three weeks, were a different different.

No, I haven't been drinking. Not at all.

When these miracles started to unfold, it was a difference in my life as stark as night and day. I went from carefully planning… Continue

Added by Bill Cady on November 22, 2010 at 4:59pm — No Comments

Announcing the Finalists for Allbooks Review Editor's Choice Award for 2011

Shirley A. Roe, managing editor of Allbooks Reviews International is please to announce this year’s finalists for Editor’s Choice Award. Winners will be announced in Jan. 2011. Congratulations to all of these authors.

Inspirational…

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Added by Shirley A Roe on November 22, 2010 at 8:35am — No Comments

Chapter Eighteen, The Shimmering Image

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Oceanside, California

Saturday, October 31, 11:22 PM

It was a dark and stormy night.

Wait a sec. Hold on. That's the way "Snoopy", the dog in Peanuts, starts his novels. In California, the only stormy nights are occasional times in early January, maybe late December. That's when we get our rain. Granted, most of our nights are pretty dark, but that always seems to correct itself by morning.

Therefore, I was half on the money. It was dark,… Continue

Added by Bill Cady on November 21, 2010 at 7:28pm — No Comments

Chapter Seventeen, The Shimmering Image

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Oceanside, California

Saturday, October 31, 9:06 PM

Even if he had to share it with two other guys in the neighborhood, this car was by far the nicest vehicle Jorge Ortiz had ever driven. A 1985 Chevy El Camino, newly painted in pearl white. A hot 305 V-8 that ran like a scalded cat, new cargo cover, perfect body with no dings or dents, power windows and locks. A dream come true. Thankfully, Hector's uncle Roberto signed for the loan. Jorge was paying it off,… Continue

Added by Bill Cady on November 20, 2010 at 5:01pm — No Comments

Book Review: Dead of Knight by William R. Potter

Dead of Knight: A Jack Staal Mystery

William R. Potter

RealTime Publishing (2009)

ISBN 9781849610261

Reviewed by Charline Ratcliff for RebeccasReads (11/10)

I was recently asked if I would be interested in reviewing “Dead of Knight” by author William R. Potter. This book falls into the murder/mystery category and while it’s not my usual reading genre I…

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Added by William R. Potter on November 20, 2010 at 12:25pm — No Comments

Earning money while you write?

I have come to a crossroad where these two important factors hinder each other. I presume that I should take a year off from writting and focus my attention to selling books. I have learned from many great authors on this site about how they did it. Unfortunately, I still want to write full-time, I can't afford a publicist or attract any agents to help me out.

My focus was never on marketing, I am too wrapped up in the writting, it seems difficult to let go of something I…

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Added by Patrick J Schnerch on November 20, 2010 at 5:03am — No Comments

Chapter Sixteen, The Shimmering Image

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Oceanside, California

Saturday, October 31, 02:16 PM

After He dropped that bombshell on me, I needed a break. Something to take my mind off the thought. I tried to think back in my past for a while, walking around in my back yard, smoking. Tried like hell to remember if, at any time, I'd ever violated that one. There certainly weren't a whole helluva lot of rules and laws I hadn't broken at one time or another over the years. I was pretty damned worried about… Continue

Added by Bill Cady on November 19, 2010 at 7:41pm — No Comments

Coping With Feedback

Perspective, only, lends any emotion to input from critics. Feedback is neither good nor bad. Critics offer guidance on what can become a long trip. Unfortunately, most backseat drivers don't see the road the author travels. Authors, who want to stem tides of negative comments, need to do a better job of describing what lays ahead. They also need to be aware of who are their passengers. Don't bother listening to the distraction of screaming children… Continue

Added by Matthew Sawyer on November 19, 2010 at 12:25pm — No Comments

Permanent Vacation Homes on the Lake of Fire

Years ago, I had an unemployed roommate declare that if Hell did exist, he would stand on a hill in the inferno, above the sinners that tormented and refused to help throughout his hard and sad life, and piss on everyone. The man was very enterprising and always made the best of bad situations, even if he manufactured them. His difficulty finding a job soured him against believing any goodness existed in anyone. He consoled himself with curses, saying a great leveling of souls… Continue

Added by Matthew Sawyer on November 19, 2010 at 8:00am — No Comments

Chapter Fifteen, The Shimmering Image

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Oceanside, California

Saturday, October 31, 02:16 PM

The dog kingdom, it appears, has a longstanding feud with humanity. I don't know what started it, or what it's all about, but I've seen the evidence of it countless times. I'll bet you have, too. They have a method of revenge so simple, it's flawless. Most dogs are so good at it, they can inflict it on us two or three times per week, more in some cases.

Picture this: the dog comes into a people… Continue

Added by Bill Cady on November 18, 2010 at 8:51pm — No Comments