Monday Musings: New Year, New Word, New Books!

Hey folks!  Let me take this quick moment to thank those who have supported my work, through Patreon, purchasing my books, or just regularly reading the blog.  I won’t even get started about those who have gone above and beyond to help with the actual writing, editing, and art aspects of it all.  To all of you, thank you, deeply and sincerely!

As for the year coming, there is a lot going on.  I’ll be making my first few official convention appearances.  I should have one new book out before March and at least two more released before year’s end, if not more.  I’ve got a ton of reviews coming.  All is pretty good in the world!

That being said, I apologize to authors who have been inundating me with review submissions.  As it says plainly on the submissions page, the gates are still closed, as I have at least 100 submissions to get through on my TBR list.  That’s at least a year’s worth of work there, so it is unlikely I will be able to take new ones for several more months.  Just be patient and wait for official word!  I don’t have the time to write each of you back with a message saying you should have read the review submission guidelines.

Anyway, it’s back to revisions for me!  Until next time, good reading, good writing, and good luck!

Book News: New Projects and A Strange Plea a.k.a. My Apology, No Comedy Title Today

No alumni Starving Interview today, folks, though I hope to rectify this next week!  Instead, we present an offer of new things in the future, followed by yours truly begging at your feet like a kicked puppy.  AWESOME!

Right, let’s start with the less embarrassing part.  My latest writing project, the start of a brand new series, has actually begun.  There is a lot about this new book that stray away from the works I’ve done in the past, but I think that will give this series a unique place in my portfolio.  I think it’s too early yet to start dropping teasers and such, but if you’re a fan of fantasy mystery romance post-magical-apocalypse LGBT dramas with film noire and cyberpunk influences, you’ll want to read this one.  If that giant pile of mish-mash appeals to you, then feel free to contact me directly via e-mail (jbgarner58@gmail.com) or through any social media and we’ll see if you want to take the plunge to be an alpha/beta reader!  Otherwise, expect the first full blown teasers, as well as the rough drafts of the first few ‘chapters’, next month.

Book News: A new review for The Tale of the Tape, Indefatigable revised, and OMG PATREON!

There’s a lot on the plate today!

First up, here’s another cool unsolicited review for The Tale of the Tape up on Amazon.com!  Check it out here.

Second, I’m proud to announce that the full revised edition of Indefatigable is now published.  This means that all of my books have now been cleaned up to the professional standards I have learned over this past year of blood, sweat, and tears.  A big thanks to everyone who has been both supportive and critical over this time!  Now I can move on to NEW BUSINESS!

Lastly and perhaps most importantly, I have now started a Patreon campaign to help support both my writing and my blogging.  There will be some nice rewards for Patrons, such as a Patreon-only serial novel.  The main thing that regular readers of this blog will see is that the last Starving Review each month will be Patreon-powered, reviewing a book chosen by Patreon supporters.  These Patreon reviews will start in June for sure, but may start this month if there is sufficient patronage by then.

Check out the page and hopefully I can count on your support!

Good reading, good writing, and good luck!

Monday Musings: Finding A Spot In The Sun

There are many days where I wonder if all the work I’ve put out in the past two years have been worth the time spent.  Writing novels has cost more than time, to be honest.  It’s cost money, it’s caused tensions with friends and family, and it hasn’t precisely made my life any easier.  Even with the writing done (for the immediate moment), the strain continues, though this time it is struggling to breakthrough to where there is even the slightest chance for someone to take notice of what I have accomplished.

How do you deal with being swallowed up by the darkness of so many other louder voices?  How do you continue slugging onward, hoping to be that one-in-a-million writer who actually manages to make a hardscrabble living on the power of your words alone?  It would certainly easier to give up on it, to take the satisfaction of the attempt made as reward enough.  I doubt anyone would blame me for it.

I can’t say I have answers for those questions.  I can see why many writers are crushed under the despair of their situation and simply give up.  For some reason, though I keenly feel that darkness rushing in, I can’t help but stubbornly throw another rock at the wall blocking out the sun, hoping to chip a hole through.  Every day, I tell myself, maybe this rock rolling around in my hands will be the one to bring the light in.

I’m probably deluding myself, I know.  The amount of books I would have to sell each month to make a living is staggering, if you do the math.  I think the inevitability is that I will be dragged down into the darkness, just like almost all the others.  Deprived of my creative outlet, these best years of my life will fade out into the sepia-toned pictures of nostalgia.

Until then, though, I am going to pitch another rock at the wall.

Next month, I’ll start writing my seventh novel.  Later this week, I’m going to finish setting up a Patreon system to hopefully gather more money for that process.  Maybe this next one will do it.

Good luck, good reading, good writing, and may you find your spot in the sun.