Inspiration is everything. If the timing, atmosphere, environment or mood isn't in sync with what you are trying to accomplish, then you are undertaking a task in futility. That being said, if productivity is essential then the situation must be remedied. You can't force it. Use images, music or videos to assist your mind to focus on the idea at hand. Then close your eyes and let the inspiration in. Breath in deeply and hold it. Then let it out slowly through your mouth. This helps you connect to your source. Release anxiety and find your inner peace. Creativity comes from this place. Throughout your day, take notes when something inspires you because you may forget it later. Dreams, interactions and everyday life inspires all of us if we quiet our ego. The thoughts which downplay everything and looks for trouble come from the ego. The place that society programmed into us. By finding the creativity and beautiful things in life, you starve the ego. The self sabotaging part of your brain that needs to be subdued. Then we can create and live a fulfilling, joyful life.

Alive Inside Clip of Henry.m4v

This is what music can do for the human soul. The same goes for reading great works. The human psyche has a wonderful connection to the creative arts. It can't be explained completely in scientific terms. However, scientists do know that the connection exists. Music Therapy is a career where music is used to help the mentally or physically challenged. I find that music, art and reading opens up something inside me. When exposed to great works, I find my own creativity sparked. Anyone who has a passion understands the symbiotic relationship between the passion and the soul. Here's to music and all the creative arts! May the world live its passion and give up its destruction. Love, not hate is what makes the world go 'round!

Promotions and new ideas

The free book promotion was a great success! I made it to #2 on Amazon's best selling children's science & nature books. Sure it was free but it isn't easy getting people from all over to download enough to make it to the top. Giving your book away for free has its advantages. You garner interest in your writing. You get people, who would otherwise not read your work, to actually read your work. I met other authors on the list. I made contact with an agent and met tons of new readers. Hopefully the new contacts will mean future books sales. Regardless, it was a learning experience. Obviously you wouldn't want to give away new books. This book, however, has been out long enough to merit a free give away. Also, the second book in the series will be out soon and I wanted to introduce the public to the story line. The one thing I've learned about the whole literary business is to never give up. That is, assuming, it is your passion. Whatever it is that makes life worth living, follow it. Because that's what its all about, isn't it? Living life to the fullest and following your passions.

Free book this weekend!

The Wormhole Adventures

If you don't have a kindle, don't fret. Here's the free kindle PC app. Amazon offers many free classic books since they're public domain. I love Charles Dickens, Jane Austin, Oscar Wilde, just to name a few. They also offer many free promotional books. Authors do this in order to get people to read their book. This weekend only, my book The Wormhole Adventures: Travel Is Relative will be available free for the kindle! Yes, that's right, free! It is a special promotion since the sequel will be coming out soon. So check it out before April 1st. You can't go wrong with free.

A New Chapter

I've just come from the aether where thoughts, writing and ideas take over. I've been seriously writing, editing and creating. Sometimes a person needs to dive into many projects all at once. The inspiration kept tugging at me until it finally engulfed my very being. I have been driven to finish long forgotten projects and start new ones. Anyone who has ever had a passion about something understands what I'm talking about. Its like the outside world disappears and all that you see is your object of desire. You can no longer function until you release all of your creative energy into your obsession. I feel free and clear now that I've allowed myself a sabbatical. I'm ready to face the literary world head on. I truly believe that there is a "soul agent/ publisher" out there for me. I am fortunate that my first book continues to sell well. I've always known that there was a market for truly educational children's books. So many of these types of books gloss over information and sometimes even misinform. My second book in the Wormhole series is complete. I need to find a new publisher for a myriad of reasons and shall leave no stone unturned. My Allegory novel is complete as well. It is like a weight has lifted off my shoulders.
So here's to following the road of inspiration in all its glorious forms.

A World of Dreams

Kids are prompted to follow their dreams. Yet, sometimes, when they do they are ridiculed. One case in point is the Rebecca Black phenomenon. Her mother bought her a music video. She made it and posted it on You Tube. The rest, as they say, is history. Being hailed as the worst video in history, Ms. Black has had to endure countless taunts. NPR has covered the follow up to her fame here. I think they cover it well. She is just a 13 year old girl. Fortunately she is a mature 13 year old. She is holding her head high and not succumbing to the jeers.
  I can't imagine if I would have been able to handle it as well at that age. I have to say, honestly, I've seen worst videos. We had a record, back in the 60's which was absolutely horrible. It was by a girl named Brenda Holly. It seems that this young girl's parents paid for her to make a record.It was made locally and distributed far and wide. Someone put one of her songs on You Tube. She must have made several songs because the one I heard was much worse. I can't imagine what would have become of her had You Tube been around in the 60's.
   I started writing stories when I was very young. Thank goodness no one posted them on the internet. If the internet had existed back then, I'm sure my older brother would have posted my stories. Suffice it to say, they weren't very good. They were corny and tripe and, well, the product of a youthful imagination. Young people have dreams. Sometimes they grow and change their minds. Meanwhile, they leave a trail of leftover drawings, essays, songs, etc. That's how life works. We dream, we love, we evolve. When we really love something, we will learn about it. We will sharpen our skills through trial and error. Anyone who feels the urge to attack someone who is just trying to follow a chosen path, should take a hard look at themselves. If you don't like something, then don't read, listen or look at it. If it isn't good, then it will go away on its own. I'm not talking about sought out constructive criticism. I'm talking about personal attacks and taunts. Usually, those who feel it necessary to do such a thing have their own issues. They may have their own insecurity problems or worse, superiority complexes. I've seen writers who have made the mistake to strike back at critics. This is a huge mistake. They are alienating their readership as a whole. Not only that, their work has a target market. It isn't supposed to appeal to everyone, assuming that was even possible. So, readers, if you enjoy a work, say so, if not, let it go. Writers, if you do not like a criticism, let it go. Its part of the process when you expose yourself to the world.
   So, here's to dreams in all their wonderful forms!

The new age in reading.

I've taken a hiatus from here due to extensive writing elsewhere. I am still busy, which is a good thing. Recently, the media is saying quite a bit about millionaire e-book authors. They make it sound so easy and mysterious. Amanda Hocking is a young writer who has happened to become very successful writing e-books. She makes it clear that it wasn't easy but a lot of time and hard work went into her writing. She isn't the only success story. These self-made millionaires are the exception and not the rule. One of the main reasons is that not everyone can write a compelling story that millions want to read. Also, some authors do not successfully promote their work. There is a fine line between promotion and spamming. You don't want to be annoying. You do want to let people know where your work is and how they can obtain it. They need to know something about you and why your books are worth reading. The e-book industry is booming. My book is selling 3 to 1 on the kindle vs. paper. I have a major novel making the rounds. It deserves only the best. However, the sequel to my children's book will become an ebook. I've already written it. I have a DTP account with Amazon. The rest is just a matter of fine tuning and submitting it. I would prefer it to be in a paper form too. Yet, putting it as an e-book does have its advantages. I will, of course, have to acquire a nook publishing account as well. This is a new age of publishing. Getting your work read can be easier than ever before. You must be able to write well and keep the reader's attention. Beyond that, the sky's the limit.