A general comment to all IFOGO members

[Bill Cady]

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 formatting changes that site required were enormous. For a guy like me, totally "non-geeky" and uninformed on many things I've learned lately about MS Word, there was a great deal of frustration accompanied by a great learning experience. There was also very little of that commodity known as "spare time". That's changing now, calling for a resounding "Whew!" on my part.

Based on the response to my consecutive posts of The Shimmering Image being not quite up to negligible, I won't bother putting up a second story. Yet, a man of my word and all that, I'll finish this one, which includes 7 more chapters and an "Interview with the Author" that serves as an epilogue of sorts. I certainly do hope none of these posts have been offensive to anyone. It was my hope they'd be enjoyed and, if I was fortunate, critiqued by others. Still, I learned even while still a little boy we don't always get what we want.

At least the SmashWords experience has resulted in some sales, and I hope to see many more. In that regard, I'll call my results to date a win. While I certainly don't expect them now, after 24 days of getting none, any comments on this post will be welcomed and will receive a prompt reply within one day, or less.

Thanx for your time and attention.

Bill Cady

[Bill Cady]

The home I lost was in 2005 and I spent the next four+ years living in my car. Anything you might want to know about that jaunt through hell can be found here: http://atmyfriendsplace.com/my-story

My blog posts on behalf of the homeless are on the same site. I'm renting now but hope to make some significant improvements in that regard soon. Thanks for your concern ... and you really should read those blog posts. The Shimmering Image is a great story. This is the synopsis.


Matt Lieukenjon, a homeless man, sees a dog die in an inane way and gets angry. Complaining while saying his prayers, he’s interrupted by a voice, but all he can see is a Shimmering Image. The image takes him to where the dog’s body lies, ala “Beam me up, Scotty”. He has Matt pat the dog, who comes back to life. Amazed, Matt starts a lengthy discussion with the image which eventually reveals The Shimmering Image is God. He’s chosen Matt to do a job for Him, but won’t say yet what He wants Matt to do. He arranges for Matt to win a huge lottery, sets him up with a splendid house, an Irish Wolfhound named Father, and provides a new life helping the homeless.

In that same city, Oceanside, CA, a Samoan girl is terrorized by Aiano, her gangsta brother, because she had a baby with a Mexican boy. Her brother says Mexicans are slime and wants to kill him, as well as the baby. A priest tries to help but he’s out of his league. Matt interferes as Aiano tries to kill the Mexican, which adds him to Aiano’s “hit list”.

A unique character, Bill Cady, an author, meets Matt and works with him to record the events and solve the problem. Father, the dog, fully adopts his new master and has occasions where he defends Matt at the risk of his own life. When Aiano pushes things to the point someone has to die, The Shimmering Image, Matt, Father the dog, and Matt’s new friend show they can get down “a kickin’ and a gougin’ in the mud an’ the blood an’ the beer”. It comes to an astounding conclusion amidst blazing guns and savage wolfhound bites in the county park where Matt first met The Shimmering Image.


Matt doesn’t know it yet, but The Shimmering Image has a few other “jobs” in line for Matt, the dog, and Matt’s new friend. Only The Shimmering Image knows what will come to pass, and He ain’t tellin’ nobody nothin’. Not yet.

[Janice Hermsen]

Wow, I haven't been on the site for quite some time and I'm very surprised that you have not received more feedback. To be honest, I don't do a lot on this site (and I can also say, I don't really know why I don't). I receive notifications when something is posted to one of the groups to which I belong. I saw your post and thought I would read it. I'm sorry it has not been a good experience for you and I hope you have success in future ventures. You don't have to respond to me. I just felt compelled to comment. I'm sorry to hear about losing your home. So many people in Nevada (where I live) are in the same position. Though Harry Reid said he'd try to get the lenders to cooperate, he has not responded to my question about the results with the lenders. Hope your life is better with time.

[Bill Cady]

Don't be so sure about what'll happen to anyone in these trying times. I had a tragedy in 2004 & my doctor treated me for depression all that year. In January of 2005 I became homeless and stayed that way 4⅓ years until May 29th, 2009.

I now write a blog on behalf of the homeless, http://atmyfriendsplace.com/blog, and if I didn't believe He's still taking care of me, I'd be facing it again this January. If you haven't lost your house yet, maybe you can see someone about a re-fi, or work a deal with your lender.

Believe me, you DO NOT want to be homeless. Most who get that way, if they stay "out there" longer than a year, never make it back.

[Patrick J Schnerch]

Hi Bill

Thank-you for your post. I found it interesting. Good luck on your series. I committed myself to a foolish venture. I took on a 10 book series without allowing any time between for marketing or making enough money to continue my work. Thus, I am in the proccess of losing my house an I spent my first rainy night in the local park last night. I was too worried about achieving my dreams that I lost touch with reality. I know that this will not happen to you, but dreams can turn into nightmares without balance.