London's Calling

Checking in—this time with a bit more than the usual books and tv.  I made it over the Atlantic to London in addition to what I've been reading and playing, so I have some pictures for this post.

I thoroughly enjoyed the city that I can best describe, no offense meant by the disparity in historical ages, as an amalgamation of New York and Washington D.C.  Due to rebuilding after the bombing in World War II, London has a very modern city vibe, skyscrapers and all, with that financial, busy people doing business things energy.   At the same time, there are scores of tourists crowding the streets and around every corner is a monument, statue, or building that speaks to the city's place as a capital and the United Kingdom's storied and lengthy history as an Empire, Kingdom, and nation.

I had the Rick Steeve's book for London and he mentioned that for Americans traveling to London, and England in general, there is a sense of the familiar, almost a coming home.  I can definitely relate.  Despite some obvious differences, plenty for those like myself who relish the cultural nuances experienced when traveling, there is a great deal of comfort and ease about traveling in London.  There is of course a shared language, but it goes beyond that.  For many Americans, England provides our roots, not only in heritage, but in the formation of our country, its laws, and certainly in our culture.  In addition, I have seen London so many times on big and small screens, read about it through 56 Sherlock Holmes mysteries, and heard about it in history books, the whole trip had a visiting relatives feel about it.

Merry Christmas

First a bit of news.

While I have been hard at work writing Scarlet and the Barrier's Fall (only a hundred pages to go) and playing entirely too much Destiny on the old Xbox One, eating too many Christmas cookies, not exercising enough, and attempting for the world record in procrastination, a few notable things have happened which are quite exciting.
First, the audiobook for Scarlet and the Keepers of Light is finished, read by the talented Harriet Stevens.  The post production has been turned in and all that remains is for it to go live in the world of Amazon.  Book two of the series, Scarlet and the Dragon's Burden is now available for preorder and set for a February 2nd release.  Finally, Scarlet and the Keepers of the Light is currently ranked number 3 on the Amazon Top Sellers List for it's genre.  I couldn't be more thrilled.  A special thank you to all the readers out there who have made this possible and I am overjoyed at how many people have expressed their love for the book and their excitement for the next installment.  According to my sources, it is even better than the first!

Now to some fun.  My daughters and I decided to write a Christmas Story together today and after reading it to their mother, we thought it would be neat to share it with you.  I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday Season.  

New Year's Substitutions: Me + X = happy (solve for X)

Yes, this is in fact going to be a post about New Year's Resolutions, but I promise, it won't be without a twist or two. You see, I've avoided making any kind of resolution year after year for the simple fact that rarely are they kept by anyone and anyone certainly has better resolve than I do. It's not a good way to look at life, I know. One should never use the failures of others as an excuse not to put forth their own valiant effort. After all, there would be little in the way of invention and discovery if that was the case and I for one appreciate indoor plumbing. But this year, I'm making a few, if only because I now have this blog and by writing them down for the world to see, I'll look like a real chump if I don't make an attempt to keep them.
So rather than beat around the bush, I'm going to start out with the big one. The resolution made by so many year after year, that it surely has a permanent place in the resolution hall of fame when one day a few people actually keep it and it finally can retire. I'm loosing weight. "Come on, really. You're going to lead off with that?" Yes, that's what I'm leading off with. You see, if you were to ask anyone who has known me since I was young, and there are in fact a select few who have stuck around that long, you would find out that in my youth I was always a physically fit, active, even...chiseled, I'll dare to say...young man. Those who have known me only in my thirties are all calling bull at this moment, but I do have proof. Unfortunately, this state of physical near perfection was not do to any effort on my part. Unfortunately you say. Yes. You see when one has always had to work at staying fit, they learn how to do it. They appreciate the condition of fitness and work daily to maintain it. When you are fit through the transitory blessing of genetics, you take it for granted and when, inevitably, you get older, your stomach starts creeping over your belt and in shock you wonder "now what?" Well I have decided to take a stand and go to war while I can still see my toes. I made a preemptive strike before Thanksgiving, trimming down from 205 to 180. Only twenty pounds from my goal. Then...came...the cookies. And not just the cookies. There was apple cream pie, candy canes, mashed potatoes and candied yams. They came with a vengeance, flanking me like some well disciplined Spartan army. 180 became one hundred and ninety two. It was a really good Christmas. So...resolution number one: weigh 160lbs next year when I write some similar blog about other things I really need to do.
Next, sell 30,000 copies of my books in 2012. "Excuse me, did you mean to type four zeroes?" I did. "Okay, a bit ambitious, maybe. Why 30,000?" I'm glad you asked. I chose that number because it is the number which I figure would be commensurate with making a living as a writer. No, I have no intention of quitting my job as a firefighter, but as being a writer has always been my dream, knowing I could do it as my profession is a goal for which I am always striving. In order to achieve that ambitious number, I will have to fulfill my remaining resolutions. They are closely related, but will require a bit of work. I intend, along with Scarlet and the Dragon's Burden's release on the 31st of January, to release an adult fiction novel this coming summer and the third book in the Scarlet series, next Christmas.
So, there are my resolutions, but...as you probably noticed, the title of this post is not New Year's Resolutions. So what do I mean by solve for X. Well, in forming these resolutions I have tried to keep that little equation in mind. Everything we do has a cost benefit relationship and our ability to readily recognize it and act in such a way that the benefits always outweigh the cost is crucial to being a happy person. We don't ultimately do anything that we don't want to do. I'm sure a long list of things came immediately to your mind to refute that statement, but look at those things a little differently and you'll see that I'm right. The easiest example would be work. Say you have a job that you don't like and you don't want to go to work. But you get up in the morning and go anyway. You don't have to. You could stay home if you chose to, but what would be the cost. Eventually you would loose your job (well, you didn't want to go anyway) and then, subsequently, your house, your ability to buy food, cloth yourself, etc... Hmm. You would rather be fed, housed, and clothed than not go to work. The cost is too great for the benefit of staying home. The trick is, to find the right answer for the equation.
The people who are happiest in this world are the ones who are really good at finding the answer to this magic equation. So many of us substitute the wrong thing for X, and while it gets the job done sometimes, its really a 'lesser than' answer rather than equaling happiness. So, taking a look at my resolutions...am I solving for X. Well, the cost of my writing and publishing books is not very great. I love to write. It takes time, but I do most of my writing while everyone else is sleeping, so I'm not really using up time I could be spending elsewhere. The benefits are potentially endless and writing makes me happy so...definitely solving for X there. Ah...but my first resolution. Here's where it gets a bit tricky. I like to eat Snicker's bars, cheeseburgers and pizza. I would really rather eat them than kale and spinach. But I also am rather unhappy being overweight. I don't like the way it makes me feel. I don't like being tired and sluggish. So what is the right answer? I have decided that loosing the weight is the solution. I like being fit more than I like Snicker's. So I plug in fit for X and I am happy, maybe...
See a big part of this whole thing is to check your work. Remember that from math class. Sure you might think you have the right answer, but it pays to give it a once over every now and then. I might find for instance that, after reaching my goal weight, I am miserable. Maybe the answer is a bit more moderation and four pack abs instead of six. I won't know until I try. A word of caution, however. You have to work out the equation first. If you keep changing your answer before you find out if you were right or not, you'll never be right. Don't be afraid to be wrong, just don't be too stubborn to try something different when you are.
Okay, I've rambled on enough. Until next time (remember I my second resolution...if you haven't downloaded or purchased any of my books yet, please do) I hope the New Year finds you healthy, wiser and happy.

A Letter From Santa Clause

Here's a bit of Holiday fun. Merry Christmas and thank you for all your support. Be good, be safe, and Happy Holidays.

Oh, Children Children Young and Old,
A bit worried I am for you.
I'm scratching my beard and checking my list
And find I'm in a stew?

I've warned you many many times,
In stories and in song.
To mind you manners, watch your step,
care for right and wrong.

But everyone's so busy now,
they rush from store to store.
They forget to have a bit of joy
and kindness anymore.

Loving should your manner be,
with everyone you meet,
and practice just a little more,
to turn the other cheek.

Ok, I know that guy ahead,
just rudely cut you off,
he's talking on his cell phone,
and eating french fries from a trough.

And yes, your inlaws drive you nuts,
and soon you just might strangle,
anyone who mentions how
your Christmas pies were mangled.

I'm sure that you are frustrated,
by the people at the mall,
Who broke the line and took the last
lala loopsey doll.

That discount tree you bought too early's
dropping needles by the ton?
You'll never have enough time
to get your shopping done.

Your wife your kids your husband
your boss your car your job
all you've got's complaints
try being Santa Claus.

You think that you are busy,
too much left on your plate
try travl'n the world in just one night,
while bending time and space.

Sure you say "it's magic,
I could do with some of that,"
but without belief, there is no magic,
A plain and simple fact.

Less and less believers
will open hearts this year,
and find that inner spirit
that makes Christmas full of cheer.

"You try, and keep festive,
with a mortgage stacking up."
Try clothing forty thousand elves
with hats and scarves and stuff.

"My car is on the fritz again,
the seats are worn and old,
half the time the thing won't start
and the carpets smell of mold."

Well travel sometime by reindeer,
they eat only roughage.
Imagine what it smells like
stuck back here with the luggage.

Suzy wants a pair of skates,
A sled cause Bobby's good,
I wish, i'm crafting home-maid xbox's
Out of only artic wood.

I'm going on a tangent
and loosing fast my purpose,
to wish you Merry Christmas,
and urge you look beyond the surface.

Everyone has problems,
and fits from time to time,
if we can practice a bit of patience,
learn to be a little kind.

Just remember when this Christmas,
You're hustling to and fro,
That Santa still is watching,
You'll get a lump of coal...

Wait a second,
I just was told,
That coal isn't bad at all
My elves said this 'fore they went on strike
They're fans of basketball.

Ok, no coal this Christmas,
I'll make a deal with you,
Believe in the spirit of Christmas,
And I'll have faith in you.

It's My Birthday

Today, I turn 34 years of age and according to my theory of ages, that puts me in the mid-thirty category.  The way I have defined it, when you turn a new decade (we'll use the thirties as our example, but it works for every age past 20) you are simply that number.  "I'm thirty, yeah...kinda of exciting."  When you turn 31, however, you are now in your thirties.  You are also in your early thirties.  31, 32, 33 are all classified as early thirties.  34, 35, 36 therefore are defined as mid thirties.  It of course then follows that 37, 38, and 39 are...the late thirties. 
So I have now crossed over into the mid thirties and unfortunately, with that designation I must firmly accept that I am in fact an adult.  You would think that getting married, having children, buying houses and keeping a job would have done it, but in my case you would be wrong.  I'm a firefighter...it's kinda of like living out a childhood fantasy and most times, does not feel like a job at all.  Anything you used to play pretend at as a kid falls in this category for me.  I married my college sweetheart and we've been together since I was essentially a kid, so no real adjustment there.  I still love toys and games, young adult novels and movies and so my kids are kind of an excuse to be a bit immature.  And finally, I spend a lot of my time lost in my own imagination, which although hopefully translates into great stories and novels, also means I have never really stopped playing pretend.
However, now into my mid-thirties, there really is no denying it.  I'm an adult.  A middle aged man by many definitions.  A third of my life in the can and the dramatic arch left to film.  I must shoulder the responsibilities of a new, ultra mature me, buy some stock options, and plan aggressively for my retirement. 
So...with all that in mind, what am I going to do for my birthday you might ask and I will be happy to tell you.  I'm going to have a Nerf gun fight with my daughters, watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II, eat my wife's homemade Snickers cake, read Percy Jackson and the Battle of the Labyrinth to my girls, spend some time with my college sweetheart and play some video games.
What can I say, I'm a work in progress.