The joy of accomplishment sure is a good feeling when it hits you. Usually you feel it right away, but sometimes it can take a while to catch up. That is what I experienced today with Planet of Eden. You would think after having written, edited, and proofread the manuscript, designed the pages, did the layout, photographed and designed the cover, published the book as an independent author, directed a book trailer, and then engaged in an ambitious marketing campaign…
There have been so many times in my life when all I wanted was to see a sign that things would change. I am sure you can relate. All it takes is one big crisis. You are faced with a major decision, you don’t know what to do, and you become confused, frightened, and full of doubt. Then, as a last resort, you send a prayer up to Heaven like this: “God, if you would just show me a sign,…
Besides creating a gripping story, realistic characters, and fantastic worlds, when writing my new novel, Planet of Eden, I also wanted to include themes that would be both familiar and challenging. One such theme is the idea of men being “real men.” I have admitted that I am a fan of classic love stories, and, in my opinion, there is nothing more romantic than a man expressing his love to a woman through his innate strength and manhood. Whether by…
I have met many people who tell me in either words or body language that they value their independence above all else. When self-reliance becomes our highest ideal, though, is that not being dependent on independence? On the eve of Independence Day here in the US, I am especially drawn to this idea. Independence implies liberty. Whether as a nation or an individual, to be dependent on no one means having total freedom. When our freedom is threatened, we tend…
A few weeks ago, I stretched myself creatively by singing a classic Frank Sinatra song at karaoke night: “The Best is Yet to Come.” Until then, my singing repertoire included mostly classic rock and modern country music. It was time, however, for me to try something different, and this song had a message for me. For the past year, I have been using three things as healthy distractions to help me overcome grief: singing, learning to play the guitar, and…
Are you ready to “find a better planet?” Planet of Eden officially launches today! Available on Amazon and through booksellers everywhere, this novel will transport you to a world where the impossible is possible, perfection has been preserved, and the lost can be found. Experience this story of adventure through the eyes of its characters. A secret alien mission. An accidental abduction. A forced trip to an unbelievable world. If Eden still existed, would you want to find it? This…
Why another book about UFOs and alien abductions? That’s easy: people love UFOs. We enjoy the mysterious. We like to speculate and dream. We wonder what else might be beyond our beautiful, blue planet. Yes, the UFO craze is still alive and well, my friends. I have been writing about it in this blog for several years now. That is partly from a personal fascination, but I also do it to show how UFOs are still a hot topic. My…
Many authors describe publishing a book in terms of pregnancy; you have conception, gestation, development, labor, and then—“Here it comes!”—the birth. I’ve been through two pregnancies and have two wonderful sons to show for it. Alright, so I was not the one who actually carried them for nine months, but, as a father, I had an important role to play just the same. Today, I am the one giving birth—to a 500-page novel that was conceived nearly twenty years ago,…
You’ve heard the saying often enough: “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Yet we all make judgements based on outward appearances, don’t we? It is a difficult thing to avoid, especially for visual learners, astute observers, artists, and those who just seem to have been hardwired with aestheticism. For example, how do you not make a judgement when presented with something beautiful? Beauty must be appreciated before it becomes beautiful. The idiom “don’t judge a book by its cover,”…
I recently learned an important lesson from someone very special to me: beauty can come from brokenness. “Here,” she said jokingly, placing a red, plastic shard into my hand. It was a piece of her damaged tail light. We had been talking about how a careless driver clipped the corner of her Ford F-150, denting the fender and cracking the big lens. “Aww. Thanks!” I said in mock appreciation. I had no idea then that her funny gesture was about…
