Beem Weeks's Blog - Posts Tagged "books"

The only thing good about winter is staying indoors. This gives me more time to read and write. But lately it's been more reading than actual writing.

I'm a slow writer to begin with. It's a deliberate act. Creativity should never be rushed. I am a firm believer in rewrites, rewrites, and more rewrites. Of course there are occasions when the first draft of a story nails it. But even then I comb through the piece just to be sure (and usually find things to change.)

I aim for perfection but have never even come close to achieving it. If I'm not interested in something I've written, I can't expect anybody else to give a damn about it either.

I've got several start-and-stop pieces that will never see publication. They sounded interesting when I conjured up the idea. But once on paper, well, they suck. And that's okay. Writers never bat a thousand--especially this writer. But I aim for it each time out--though never at the risk of becoming bogged down in one story. That's what makes creating something new so exciting--trial and error. The thing to remember is: Just keep writing.

I read a tweet the other day from an author posting a comment he'd received regarding one of his novels. The comment went something like this: "Great story, but way too much sex." In all honesty, I've not read the book in question. But the issue of sex in literature has long been a thorn to some, a crime to others, and a selling point to many.

D.H. Lawrence faced all sorts of legal issues concerning his novel Lady Chatterley's Lover upon it's original release back in 1928. That book--and much of his other works--was banned in England and the United States for decades. The Free World at its finest. I understand some people prefer "clean" stories. There are many classics that carry a solid G rating that have been favorites for hundreds of years.

Today, with the advent of self-publishing, writers of erotica have found an audience--some with great success. I don't write erotica, nor do I read it. But that doesn't mean there isn't a place for it. There is sex in my novel. Sexuality is a human trait--indeed a trait of most living creatures. There is the romantic element, which gives rise to the romance novel. For those who want their sex without love, there's lust. Lust is a strong emotion that everybody experiences at some point in life--though some would deny they've ever been guilty of that sort of sin.

Then we come to sex for curiosity's sake. A girl kisses another girl just to see what it's like. A guy cheats on his wife of twenty years just to satisfy an urge to know what it would feel like to be with somebody else. Sex and sexuality is part of being human. It's part of being alive. It's real life. It's what gives breath to the fictional characters authors create. To deny it is to deny our humanity.

Now that doesn't mean you have to read about it in some novel that makes you uncomfortable. That's why we still love the classics.

So if you're not into sex in your story, pick up a copy of Little Women, Moby Dick, or A Farewell to Arms. A great book is always a great book.

Is it such a terrible thing to self-publish that novel you've spent hundreds of hours perfecting? Some authors think so. There are those who believe self-publishing is selling out the dream for baubles and beads. Others claim it's a shortcut that's not been earned. I beg to differ.

I chose the self-publishing route because of a desire to get my work to readers in a quick and timely fashion. And it worked! Jazz Baby, my first novel, is available all over the world in print as well as in ebook formats. The downside of this form of publishing is the lack of a big-budget advertising campaign. That's where social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads come in handy.

But not all self-publishers are equal. The cheaper you go, the lower the quality you can expect. I'm reading an excellent self-published novel that suffers from poor punctuation. Without a solid editor to comb through your manuscript, you can expect errors to reach your readers. Some readers might not care--or even notice. Others will, and they'll fault the writer. This will cost that author in the long run.

Sure, even the big publishing houses let slip an error here and there. But online publishers who don't offer professional editing really do the industry a serious disservice. These are the ones who take your money and publish your work, warts and all.

Don't shy away from this wonderful medium. If you're tired of rejection letters, try the indie route. It's a growing industry with a bright future. Just take your time when shopping. Beware of hidden fees, make sure they offer professional editing, and be ready to work your tail off to sell your product to the world. Because writing it is no longer the difficult part of the deal. Letting the world know you wrote it is.

Jazz Baby http://www.tinyurl.com/bbj4my7

Slivers of Life http://www.amazon.com/Slivers-Life-Co...

I'm currently perusing that big box of books I've collected and read over the past twenty years or so, with the intention of reviewing them here on Goodreads.

Some are quite memorable, an easy review to post. Others, well, truth be told, I've forgotten plots, characters, or whether or not they were any good.

The cool thing is rediscovering a great read I'd let lapse from memory. In some cases it's as if I'm reading it again for the first time. I think that would be a phenomenal gift to possess: the ability to read a great novel, erase the mind, and read it again. And it would work for amazing movies as well. I'd use it for the Nicole Kidman film The Others. What a twist at the end--which is only a twist with that first viewing. If you haven't seen that film, I highly recommend it. (Yeah, it's a slow build, but the payoff at the end is worth every second invested.)

Anyway, I've read some really fantastic novels over the years--some awful ones as well. I used to order books by the bulk from a catalog some years back. The main thing I learned from that experience is that a hardcover book that sells for $1.99 is usually worth less. I didn't keep those bad ones around, so I won't be reviewing them. And that's a shame. It would have been quite fun to put the screws to truly horrible examples of writing--like the novel that began chapter one with the word "the" used no less that fifty times within the opening scene. (No joke. This scene only covered a page and a half.)

So as I continue digging out those dusty remains from decades past I'll post my recollections on my Goodreads page. Hopefully these reviews will encourage others to give a read to one or more of my favorites. Keep reading--and writing!

You've finished writing your book, allowed an editor to comb through it, even invited a few trustworthy colleagues to proofread the manuscript. Everything checks out. You send it to the publisher. It's only after it's been published, made available through Amazon, and been reviewed by a site or two, that you suddenly realize the world didn't have laptops back in 1969!

Sounds silly, right? Everybody knows laptops are a recent creation. But what about other inventions, simple items we take for granted, like car radios? Here's the thing: I read a great novel from a really good writer several years ago. The story took place in 1928. The main characters spent a lot of time tooling around those dusty roads in various automobiles of that particular era, listening to the radio, singing along to the songs of the day. Then it happened. A month or so later, while watching a documentary on the History Channel, I found the truth of the matter. Automobiles didn't begin to have radios until 1932.

Hmmm! I hadn't known that while reading the book. It really stands out now. The point of this posting is all about researching a subject, an era, or a person before you set pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard). Nothing can kill a great story quicker than inaccuracy.

Younger authors today, those who are 20 or 25 years of age, can't comprehend that not-too-long-ago time when the internet was merely a nerd's ideal dream. The olden days saw pay phones on every corner, in most parking lots, and any other place the public might congregate. Why pay phones? Because cell phones didn't exist!

Imagine a 20-year-old author setting his/her story in, say, 1977. Not that long ago, really. The plot concerns the woman who found Elvis slumped on the throne. She tries to wake the king, gets no reaction; what does she do? She reaches into her pocket, snatches hold on her smart phone, snaps a picture, uploads it to her YouTube account, texts a message to the local paparazzi, and then finally calls 911. Sounds like a fine story--to a 20-year-old who failed to research the era. Most people will know that smart phones didn't exist in 1977. Neither did YouTube. 911 began it's life back then, but wasn't in every community at that time. Some cities had seven digit numbers for police, fire, ambulance.

When preparing to write my novel, Jazz Baby, a historical fiction piece set in 1925, I took a great deal of time researching the 1920s, Mississippi, New Orleans, Jim Crow racial relations, speakeasies, automobiles, the laws of prohibition, and many other relevant issues of the day. My protagonist, Emily Ann, is 13 years old in the Roaring Twenties--which is quite different from being 13 years old in, say, 2013. In 1925, a girl could be married off. College wouldn't likely have been an option. Careers for girls just didn't exist.

The world has changed a great deal over the past 88 years. Understanding what came before is key to writing a good, solid story. If I put Nike running shoes on the girl's feet, had her dreaming of owning a shiny Corvette, and tucked an iPod into her hip pocket, most readers would dump the book in the trash can after--or even before--the end of the first chapter. Why? Because if there are glaring inaccuracies afoot, it kills even the most entertaining of stories.

And even little things like lingo can detract from your novel. Emily Ann wouldn't greet a friend with, "'Sup, fool? Yo, peep this: Dog says Micky D's running a two-for-one on Big Macs. Wanna go get our grub on?" It's an awful lot of work to research such matters. But time and effort will be rewarded. Serious readers appreciate a solid read. Don't scrimp when it comes to getting the scene and the story right.

It's a common theme among indie authors, this struggle of marketing our work to potential readers. It's a tough and clogged market, no doubt about it. But whoever said it would be easy? I think we all fantasize about being that one author who sells a million copies, capturing the attention of major publishing firms. That happens very rarely. So once the book is released, we adjust the fantasy, scaling it back to selling a hundred thousand copies. And after that first year passes, we adjust yet again, hoping to sell a few thousand, with hopes that word of mouth and reviews will add to those totals.

I've already written blogs on this subject. But I feel compelled to do so again. The worse thing a writer can do is to grow frustrated by lack of sales. Frustration just comes at us, though. It's often something we can't control. But what we can control is the destiny of our work. This little invention that I'm using to tell you these very words you're reading, this Dell laptop computer, has the potential to reach hundreds of millions around the world. You are where you're at, and I'm sitting here in Lansing, Michigan, USA, sharing my thoughts with you.

While my sales of Jazz Baby aren't up to the level of my fantasy, I do receive emails and reviews from readers all across the world. It's mind-blowing to receive a message from Tehran, Iran, or Wales, or Ireland, or South Africa, or Australia, or Florida here in the States, messages from people who have actually read the very words I spent years molding and shaping into a story.

But a handful doesn't equal those big sales numbers I imagined. So what to do? Hmm. How did those few people around the world come to hear about Jazz Baby, a historical fiction/coming-of-age novel by a relatively unknown indie author called Beem Weeks? The answer is: the internet. Now, if I can see the full width this little invention reaches, I need to figure out how best to exploit it.

There are thousands of possibilities available to us indie authors. Koobug.com is a growing site that really has gotten it right. They support and promote indie writers and their work. They aren't corporate-owned. They accept zero money from advertisers (though if they ever do, to pay the bills, that shouldn't be an issue). It truly is about authors.

Twitter reaches something like 500 million people across the world. Sell to a tenth of that and you're set for life. But who do you follow, and who follows you? That's a biggie. If I'm selling my book, do I follow other authors, those who are selling their work as well? Sure. It's always good to get a fellow author's perspective, maybe learn a few tricks. But that should never be your core following. In selling a product, the seller must seek out those who are interested buyers.

On Twitter, each account offers a profile letting potential followers know what interests this particular person. Find those who tell you that they are avid readers, they love books and stories, they're always looking for the next great novel. These wonderful people are out there. The author just has to do the leg work.

But Twitter isn't the only option. Blogging is vital to getting word out about your work. I don't have a Beem Weeks blog site. I don't need one--yet. I use two main sites where I post these little tirades or tantrums:Koobug.com and GoodReads.com. As I stated earlier, Koobug is growing by leaps and bounds, and they are doing it the right way. GoodReads reaches millions. But I also use other sites like writing.com, readwave.com, and authorsden.com to post my short stories and to sprinkle breadcrumbs leading readers to my hard work. My publisher even has a Beem Weeks page at freshinkgroup.com. Every little bit helps.

Then there are the reviews. Book reviews are often the catalyst in igniting a reader's interest in your work. Somebody who has read it already is recommending this novel to others. The internet is filled with bloggers willing to read and review your work. Sometimes you'll have to send the reviewer a copy or a PDF of the work, but that's a worthwhile exchange. It's up to you, the author, to hunt for these blog reviewers. Avoid those who offer to review your book for a fee. They aren't worth the money or the knowledge that you've paid somebody to say something nice about your story.

The hardest part in the whole publishing experience is the part where we are now expected to market our work to the world--with little or no experience. The fact is, through your computer, the world is at your fingertips. Blog, tweet, seek reviews, use facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, and any other site you can find. The greater your presence on the internet, the greater the chances some reader searching for a new book might give your work a try.

And writing short stories doesn't hurt, either. A short story is a sample platter of what the author is capable of creating. Write and post, let the world know what you can do. And whatever you do as an author, don't get frustrated. You might have to work hard for every copy you sell. If it's a good read, you'll likely have a repeat customer when your next book is ready.

Finally, I'll share a link to the mother-of-all-book-review sites. Click on this link, pull up the list of book reviewers, and get started. http://www.stepbystepselfpublishing.net/ You're likely to find many bloggers willing to review your book. But be patient; some have a pile of books to read and may take awhile to get to yours. Pay attention to what the blogger accepts or doesn't accept. In other words, don't send your steamy erotica to the little old lady looking to review good Christian stories.

Have fun with this. You are in a wonderful position to succeed at something you truly love.

We all know the titles: Lolita, Lady Chatterley's Lover, Naked Lunch. Each of these books have, at times, been the banned by various governments around the world. Today, all three of these works are considered classics among literary scholars.

When first released, The Diary of Anne Frank found resistance in Lebanon due to it's favorable portrayal of Jews and Israel.

John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath met with a brief banning (in the region of California in which the story is set) for its unflattering portrayal of local residents.

It seems just about any book has the potential to offend someone somewhere in the world. These bans range from the silly (Alice's Adventures In Wonderland was banned in China for its depiction of talking animals), to the scary (A death sentence is still in effect against author Salmon Rushdie for his novel The Satanic Verses).

Let's take a look at some other notable victims of super zealous governmental overreach: Brave New World was banned in Ireland for references to sexual promiscuity; Green Eggs and Ham became forbidden literature in The People's Republic of China due to it's portrayal of early Marxism; Frankenstein was labeled "obscene" by the apartheid government of South Africa, rendering the classic horror tale banned.

We can look back at a multitude of other amazing works that were once forbidden in various parts of planet: All Quiet on the Western Front, Animal Farm, Uncle Tom's Cabin. But what about the world in which we live today? Are we still facing far-reaching governmental control over what we are or are not allowed to read? And who are these people making such decisions?

The war to keep smut or politically sensitive materials out of your hands is still being fought in virtually every nation on Earth.

I've read several articles online in recent weeks dealing with attacks on those books commonly known as erotic fiction. Oh, there aren't any outright bans on the works, but, with a growing list of e-retailers refusing to stock these titles, the result is the same: A book unavailable to the public is effectively banned.

But even in this there is the stench of hypocrisy. Where a book dealer will refuse to carry erotic titles by indie authors, they have no problem stocking a big money-maker like Fifty Shades of Gray. Some retailers are even equating shape-shifting werewolf romances with bestiality, thus refusing to carry these novels. Have they refused to sell any of the Twilight series? Not likely; there's too much money to be made.

I don't read erotic fiction. I'm just not a fan. But that doesn't mean I want to see these titles banned or ignored by retailers. These writers work hard to create and market their stories to an ever-growing market. It's a shame to hear about this retailer or that one refusing to sell books, which more often than not, are written by indie authors.

The only form of censorship I can ever agree with is self-censorship. Allow me the chance to check myself. I don't need some politician or religious figure or business person to determine what words will come from my pen.

If you're a fan of erotic fiction written by indie authors, stand up for your rights and the rights of said authors. Let those retailers know you won't be doing business with them as long as they refuse to give you a choice in what you will or will not purchase and read.

What would make a writer forego the traditional road to publication? Why would an author entrust his/her hard-fought creation to the Great Unknown that is the indie publishing industry? The answer, if we’re honest with ourselves, is because indie is the only ones who will have most of us at this point.

The above statement is in no way a reflection on the quality of the works being created by indie authors across the globe. I’ve read many self-published writers that seriously rival traditionally published authors.

The problem is with the middlemen. I’m talking about the agents and publishers who anoint themselves the all-knowing gods of the written word. Agents turn down most manuscripts that cross their desks. They cite this reason or that, making claims that nobody is interested in your sort of story. Maybe if your switch the characters, make them vampires or warlocks, just maybe there might be interest.

An agent is a catch basin for the big publishing houses. The agent will stop any and all garbage from slipping through the cracks. So the agent is the one who holds all the power within the publishing machinery. An author can create a true masterpiece that will never find its audience simply because some agent in a stuffy office has deemed the work unworthy of being sent to a publisher.

Publishers are worse than agents; they won’t even accept your manuscript without agent representation. Why? Well, because these publishers know exactly what readers everywhere want to read (or so they believe). Besides that, they don’t want to be bogged down by piles of pages from hopeful authors looking to be the next big thing, the latest shining discovery of the literary establishment.

But in the words of Bob Dylan: Oh, the times, they are a-changin’. Writers are no longer beholden to the whims of a fickle publishing industry. The need to court the trend setters and decision makers no longer applies to us writers. There are numerous outlets available, each allowing us a reach into the worldwide marketplace. Sure, it may lack the prestige of signing a contract or being able to tell anybody who’ll listen that you’ve got an agent. But keep this in mind: You own your work. You reap the lion’s share of the royalties—which is fantastic if you’re fortunate enough to sell a few thousand copies. Most importantly, you are a published author with a product that’s available to the world, right alongside Stephen King and James Patterson.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a catch basin in the indie world, which means garbage seeps through, tainting the market with its toxic odor. A reader must wade through piles of poorly written tripe in order to discover the gems that most assuredly lie just beneath the surface.

So here’s the question each writer must answer for him- or herself: Are you writing for prestige or are you writing to be read? If the prestige of an agent and a major publisher drives you, then, by all means, hold out for that prize. It might take a while, sure, but there’s also the possibility it may never happen. However, if being read by those who appreciate a good story is your true motivation, then self-publishing in the indie world just might be right for you.

Outshine: An Ovarian Cancer Memoir by Karen Ingalls

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book is more than a simple memoir telling a story. This is a book filled with harrowing moments in the life of the author. Through sharing the darkness of a cancer battle, Karen Ingalls shines light on her faith and the events that led her to courage in the face of deep uncertainty.

Ovarian cancer is a serious issue—as is any cancer diagnosis. In a moment, a person must stand face to face with his or her own mortality. Karen Ingalls not only found victory in her personal battle, she has chosen to share her journey, offering comfort to those who may be fighting adversity in their own lives.

Ingalls writes from a point of view of a gentle friend telling the reader what God has done in her life. She is a deeply spiritual human being. There is much to learn from those who have faced such battles.

In the chapter entitled Spirituality, she writes the following: I believe we always have lessons to learn, and that’s what life’s experiences are about. If we don’t learn our lessons the first time, then life will keep bringing us new opportunities to learn.

That really spoke to me because that’s been my belief for the last twenty-odd years—since I became born again in 1996. It’s a truth that I abide by. Life is filled with lessons designed to make us into the people God intends us to become—the person we’re meant to be. I especially love the way Karen describes the trying times as “opportunities” for us to learn. Growth doesn’t come without struggle. Many of us won’t know the dread of cancer. But our own struggles will come. They can most certainly be strong enough to defeat us. But if we take the mindset and determination that Karen used in facing down her own fears and struggles, we can know we have a fighting chance. If you’re struggling with adversity or have a loved one going through trials, I highly recommend this memoir of perseverance and faith.





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