Greetings, readers,

I wanted to write to tell you about a decision I made to create a revised 2nd edition of my first book, Impulse.

First, to be clear, as writers, we continue to grow in our craft. The same can be said for any artist. To illustrate, no one could imagine toddler Leonardo Da Vinci painting the Mona Lisa. After many years, though, he could create a masterpiece. No one could imagine Mozart writing symphonies as a… okay, bad example. Still, all artists grow, even if gradually.

In the nine months since I published Impulse, my writing has improved, however gradually. I have taken feedback from a small group of readers who would share their feelings about my work. I am grateful for their contribution toward heading this author in the right direction.

Independence in authorship is something of a trick. Those who publish best-selling authors feel no qualms about letting their books pass through an editor’s fingers first, even if the editor charges upwards of $4,000.

As an Independent Author, I have had to be my own editor. Fortunately I have a fair understanding of the English language after writing regularly for 22 years. Even then, this is generally frowned upon as a practice.

While my work has been praised as devoid of typos, that didn’t make it great. There were certain issues, which I will humbly state. Among these, I have done a fair bit of head-hopping, without giving my readers any indication that I was doing so. There is a right and a wrong way to do this, as I have come to discover. The techniques I have unearthed will continue to guide my writing of this series.

Also, my descriptions were lacking. I had a reason for this; partly I wanted the readers to see my main characters as teenagers first, aliens second. And I trust that most readers, the sort to enjoy a good book, also have a high capacity for imagination, something I didn’t wish to thwart. But I added a few more cues early on to help those with less discernment. (In addition, I’ve been told it helps quite a bit to visit the galleries here on this site. The pieces are still the creative property of those who created them. And I have given each credit as inspiration for my works. But I didn’t feel it would be proper to include the pictures within the books, as the books are commercial property.)

Why, after all of this, would a reader wish to read Impulse? For a few key reasons. First, the story itself hasn’t changed. And I have seen enough favorable reviews to know that it is a good story. It just received some tweaking to make it even better. Second, you can count that I, as an author, am very happy to hear my readers express their views. I will always give you the time of day, something you could not receive from any best-selling author. If my readers make time for me, I make time for them.

What makes Impulse stand out from the crowd? It is a short book that packs a whole lot of adventure. If you haven’t the time for a 700 page book, you can still enjoy a legitimate sci-fi/fantasy adventure. In addition, the characters are vivid, comical at times, emotional at others. They are heroic, even while afraid. They are a team, sticking together in times of adversity. They would risk their lives for one another. Really, we should find more heroes like these in our own world.