Interview with Mike Angley, Award-Winning Author of the Child Finder Trilogy

As a retired Air Force officer, what made you decide to write novels following your first career?

“I’ve always loved to write, but I postponed my long-term goals while I pursued my Air Force career. In hindsight, I think that was a good thing because it allowed me to focus on my writing with the precision it needed. I retired as a Colonel having spent 25 years as a Special Agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, or OSI for short. The OSI is the Air Force version of NCIS, so I had plenty of rich experiences to inspire my writing, from running felony-level criminal investigations, as well as counterintelligence and counterterrorism operations around the world. In my last assignment, I was the Commander of OSI Region 8, at Air Force Space Command. I like to tell people, ‘If it entered or exited Earth’s atmosphere, then I had a dog in the fight!’”



What is the Child Finder Trilogy about?

“The trilogy is a mystery/suspense series with paranormal and religious edges. It features a protagonist, Air Force Special Agent Patrick S. O’Donnell, who is as tough as 24’s Jack Bauer, but with the endearing, family-values heart of 7th Heaven’s Eric Camden. He’s an early-thirties Air Force Major assigned to the Pentagon when the 9/11 terrorist attacks take place.



In the debut novel, Child Finder, Agent O’Donnell’s haunting dreams about missing children reveal a hidden psychic gift which the government eagerly exploits, drawing him into a Top Secret program to find missing kids. But to make matters complicated, Uncle Sam has other ideas in mind for his unique paranormal talents…after all, there is a War on Terror underway. One thing’s for sure—ever since joining this new, secret community, he is surrounded by murder, and the very real threat of harm to his own family!”



And the second book?

“Child Finder: Resurrection launched in November 2009. It has been a year and a half since Agent O’Donnell left the secret child rescue program after it went horribly off-track, resulting in murder and endangering his own family. And just when he thinks he’s comfortably put this painful past behind him, he receives a call from his mentor. The murky, shadowy Top Secret community where he once was center-stage has been revised, revamped, resurrected!

The government needs his psychic skills more than ever. A sick, twisted, menacing child killer is on the loose, and no one but Pat can stop him. But Agent O’Donnell soon discovers this new nemesis is more than he bargained for. Nothing can prepare him for the psychotic genius he must fight…and the life and death cat-and-mouse game that entraps him! Once again, Pat must call upon his faith and strong spiritual connection with God to sustain and guide him, especially during his darkest hours as he battles…pure evil.”

When will the third and final story publish, and what happens in it?

“Child Finder: Revelation (to publish circa December 2010), is the grand finale, so to speak. Many people believe the saying, ‘The truth is out there.’ But as my website says, ‘The truth is in here, and it’s not what you think!’ Patrick O’Donnell is dispatched to Korea on a sensitive mission to crack the disturbing abduction of a high ranking U.S. official’s children. What he discovers about their sudden disappearance — especially where they have been taken — shocks the foundation of international relations. But more intriguing is what makes these particular children so special. What O’Donnell learns about them, and himself, involves sensitive government secrets he regrets ever knowing. These new revelations will rock his faith, his concept of life, and his understanding of his place in the universe.”



How did you develop the character of your protagonist?

“I took a chance. I realized that most protagonists in this genre are rough and tough, and rarely show a soft side. I wanted both! Pat is a family man (has two small children), a deeply-faithful Christian, happily-married, and has an incredibly strong moral/ethical compass. At the same time, he is a ‘kick-ass’ investigator and counterterrorism operator. These contrasts come into play as he enters this Top Secret program – he finds himself pulled in many directions where he must make tough moral/ethical decisions (is everything he is asked to do actually legal?). He wants to save kids, but at what price? I also used his faith for contrast as well. He is a man who grew up with an unfulfilled sense of calling – is it the psychic gift and rescue of children? He’s not sure, so he grapples with what it all means.”



Please talk more about your military career.

“I retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2007 at the rank of Colonel. I was a career OSI Special Agent, and served on thirteen different assignments throughout the world. Among these were five tours as a Commander of different units, to include two squadrons and a wing.



I enjoyed an exciting and dangerous career, experiencing all things imaginable as a criminal investigator and a counterintelligence and counterterrorism operator. Following the 1996 Khobar Towers terrorist attack in Saudi Arabia, I was dispatched to command all OSI units throughout the Middle East, with responsibility for 23 countries. During my tenure my teams and I effectively neutralized numerous terrorist threats to U.S. forces in the region, to include an imminent threat to senior Department of Defense officials. In 2004, I commanded all OSI units in South Korea where we countered a classified target in Seoul. I was honored when the President of South Korea presented me with a Presidential Citation and medal, and the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) Commissioner decorated me with the KNPA Medal of Cooperation.



Earlier in my career, while commanding an OSI unit in northern Japan, I conducted an operation that effectively blocked a KGB agent’s efforts to steal critical U.S. technology, and thereby stymied Soviet military advances for years. In 1999, I was the Chief of Counterintelligence within the Directorate of Intelligence, U.S. Strategic Command. My office competed for the prestigious Killian Award, a White House level honor that annually recognizes the very best intelligence unit in the entire U.S. government. We came in as first runner-up for this significant honor!



Did any of your experiences in law enforcement factor in to the Trilogy plot at all?

“Generically, yes. The main reason I decided on this concept for the series was because of the number of crimes against children I worked in the Air Force. Every one of them literally broke my heart, and as a dad myself, it made it even tougher on me. In some respects, Child Finder is a kind of catharsis, enabling me to save some kids even if fictional.”



Obviously Pat O’Donnell stars in all three books, but what about other characters? Will any of them migrate over to the other two books?

“Pat would be nowhere without his team! His career mentor, Colonel John Helmsley, accompanies him on his journeys, as well as the team psychiatrist, Dr. Woodrow ‘Woody’ Davis.”



When Child Finder debuted it received a glowing review from the Library Journal, and earned placement on its Summer Reads List. Were you nervous about the review process?

“VERY nervous! As a debut author, I had zero experience with reviews until then. While everyone involved in my writing projects has been supportive and positive, getting my first impartial review flooded my gut with butterflies.”



What about the award your debut novel received?

“I am thrilled that Child Finder won the Silver Medal for fiction in the 2009 Military Writers Society of America’s Annual Awards program. This was such a huge honor for me, and from what I have been told by the MWSA community, competition was tough this year with the largest number of fiction submissions in the society’s history.”



What do you want readers of your books to walk away with?

“Inspiration. Plain and simple, I want them to be inspired by my protagonist and his exceptional moral grounding. I want them inspired by his love of wife and children, his love of God, his dedication and devotion to his country. I want readers to believe again in the goodness of people. And with regard to Child Finder: Revelation, I want them to challenge everything they have come so comfortably to believe about life.”

Mike Angley, Special Agent, USAF (ret), Colonel, USAF (ret)
Award-Winning Author of the Child Finder Trilogy
www.childfinder.us

Clash of the Titans - Movie Review

What can I say? The dude that played Perseus (Sam Worthington) was hot. I think that added some points to my overall rating. The story starts off with a fisherman finding a baby. That kid, Perseus is taught to be a fisherman like his adopted father. After the death of his family due to a mishap of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, he's on a mission to kill or destroy Hades. Now, okay, I can see why he would want to go against this underworld god. But it's just not super realistic. He's a fisherman that was never taught or trained as a warrior - and he decides he has what it takes to destroy the Kraken and a god? Anyway, he goes to the town that ends up having to sacrifice their innocent princess to the kraken only to be named as a demigod and be blamed for the towns misfortune. He teams up with the warriors who go to find a way to stop the Kraken and Hades. The overall story was rather weak. Okay, very weak. The special effects, fight sequences and action was great! I actually believe the story in the older version of this movie was a lot better, but hey I stayed in the theatre because of the awesome effects. By the way, I love the way they did Medusa. I really like that character and would love for them to do a movie about her. My rating for this movie is a 3 out of 5. I'll definately buy it because sometimes you just want an awesome ride, not a thought provoking film. This is a great ride.

Diary of A Wimpy Kid - Movie Review

Let's just say my kids dragged me to this one. All but three of the four actually read the book. The movie was most enjoyed by my 13yr old who gave it the highest ranking. Poor Greg never, ever seems to get a break. The movie is comprised of let down after let down for him and his group of friends. The one aspect of the movie that all of my kids stated made it less enjoyable than the book was the fact that the kid never seemed to get a true victory from his brother's abuse, the abuse of the kids at school, or any of his mishaps - and when he did, it didn't add up to the amount of let downs he had. I asked them if they liked the book better and why. They all agreed that the book was better due to the quirky drawings created by the illustrator. Those drawings took away the depressing nature of the overall story. Now at the end he does get a small break or two, but after the many let downs my kids said they left the movie still on a sad note. My kids scored the movie 2 out of 5. So, if you are dying to go see it, just go with an open mind. It's kinda dry if your kids are action seekers like mine.

TEENS WHO THINK OF SUICIDE AS THE ANSWER

Being a Young Adult Writer, I often times have to ponder over my childhood. Sometimes I like the memories, and sometimes I want to forget them. However, I chose not to because I believe other kids can learn from my dumb mistakes.

WHY DO SOME KIDS DO IT?

I know the answer to this personally. Why? Because I spent two days in a hospital program that evaluated teens that decided to try their hand at suicide. Boy, was I surprised.

Many of the teenagers there did it just for the attention that their parents or friends gave them because of it. Others attempted it because they truly wanted to give up – they thought that life was just too hard to keep fighting away at it. Lastly, there were the other few kids, like myself, that just threatened to do it. Just to make a point to their parents.

I personally never tried to commit suicide. Although, when I was 15yrs old, I threatened to do it when I got into a fight with my mother. Oh, she got me good. She checked my tail into the hospital and refused to take me out until I realized just what it was, I was threatening to do.

A REAL REASON NOT TO DO IT!

I remember sitting there with these other teens. The teens who desperately argued that whenever they got the chance they would finish the deed; I felt great sadness for them. Why, because those kids were extremely depressed, had horrible home lives, or were so tormented by their peers that they felt defeated. Even at that age, it broke my heart. I usually had some great advice to give to my friends, but for these kids I could say nothing to change their minds. Also, with what they were going through, I truly felt ashamed to put my family through my little tantrum.

One question I asked them was, “Well, if you are going to commit suicide to teach someone else a lesson... They’ll live on, able to forget you, improve their lives, and have everything you wanted but gave up too easily to attain.”

Suicide is giving up. It’s taking away any chance you have at happiness, recovery, and victory over your problems.

Everyone else that is left alive, heals. The poor kid that died never gets the chance to heal or to enjoy all the things life had to offer. It’s like they squandered there blessing before they had a chance to collect it.

WHAT I LEARNED

After my mother finally allowed me to come home, I learned that throwing around threats like that only hurt myself. Also, it proved to others that I wasn’t as strong as I believed myself to be. Lastly, I resolved that giving up, only hurt me, because for everyone else – LIFE GOES ON.

WHAT I HOPE

I hope that any teen or person that feels that life is just too hard to continue on fighting through it. Dig deep, and realize, that tomorrow will be better. That you’ll grow stronger, and that you are never alone.

Call: 1-800-273-TALK (8255): for help.

Movie Reviews by Movie Diva - Monique

Check out her site: http://moniqueblog.net/


Warner Brothers has added the early ‘90s film Arizona Dream to their Archive Collection and downloadable DVD selection. The film, which was highly rated when it first came out, stands up against the test of time.

The film, starring Johnny Depp and Faye Dunaway, is about a young man named Axel who is taken by his cousin Paul (Vincent Gallo) from New York City to Arizona to be Best Man at his uncle Leo (Jerry Lewis)’s wedding. However, his uncle wants him to work in the family car business. While in Arizona, Axel becomes entangled with the aptly named Elaine and Grace Stalker (Lili Taylor), a mother and daughter duo that don’t see eye to eye and are both trapped in their lives. In fact, all of the characters are trapped, and Axel’s recurring dream of an Inuit fishing family only highlights the characters’ sadness. Through the haunting events that occur through the film, Axel comes to terms with the differences between his imagination and his reality and realizes how to find freedom in life.



This movie was made early in Depp’s career, but his performance shows his depth and range as an actor, not to mention that he hasn’t aged since the early 90s! (How does he still look the same today!?) Dunaway also gives a stellar performance as an older woman who seems caught in her childhood dreams and Taylor is convincing as a depressed woman who can only find solace in death.

Gallo and Lewis are great supporting actors, also playing characters who have issues to deal with-Paul is stuck in the imaginary world of movies, constantly reciting lines and monologues, and Leo is not only trapped in his car business, but also by his own guilt due to the deaths of Axel’s parents.



The movie is very surreal, illustrating how Axel and the others long for freedom and happiness. For some, it might take two viewings to understand how the surreal pieces fit with the narrative of the movie. Overall, this is a great movie for any Johnny Depp or Faye Dunaway fan.

Arizona Dream will be officially released on the Warner Archive starting March 16, but if you can’t wait until then, the film is also available for pre-order and on sale (pre-order only) at 20% Off. Click here to start downloading!

HOW TO GET PUBLISHED

Wow, getting published. What does that mean? I ask that because getting published means different things to different people. First of all if you love writing, and you do it for the shear pleasure of the art, then publishing can happen for you. You just have to have an open mind, tough skin, and love your art. If you write because you want to be the next big author, who rakes in millions of dollars for your first book, then I am about to hit you over the head with a cold block of reality. That is like hitting the lotto, so if you don’t write because you love it, you are in for lots of frustration.

The steps to becoming published are completely from my point of view, and realize that there are lots of other sources out there and different ways to become published, just make sure that you are open to all.

FINISH THE DARNED THING!

First you need to finish your book. If you are planning on writing Young Adult fiction, start writing in 12-point courier font, double spaced. Aim for around 69K-77K words. Writers are unique people, and everyone has their own time table. However, if you want to get published, and this is your first time pursuing getting published YOU NEED TO FINISH YOUR MANUSCRIPT.

EDIT IT YOURSELF FIRST – AT LEAST 4 TIMES

Before you send your baby out to the world, you need to beautify it. After you wrote it, start writing a new manuscript, take a break from it. I mean it – step away from your newborn masterpiece for at least two weeks. Then print it out (I like to get mine printed in 6x9 book format at a local printer – like Staples) and read it, mark it up in red, and correct it. Please, please, please repeat this at least 3 more times, before you send it off to your BETA READERS they will greatly appreciate it.

FIND GINEA PIGS – BETA READERS TO READ IT

Ok, find people you trust to read your work. If you can try to find any friends, family, or colleagues that are willing to review it for you. Then join a critique group, check out some writers website that offer reviews of your work (www.absolutewrite.com is my favorite) or a class that will allow you to present your work for review, as well as read works. Put on your armor and don’t be sensitive (I know it will be hard). Note all the feedback, and keep what is useful while discarding comments that may be just a matter of the reader's personal taste.

EDIT IT AGAIN WHILE UTILIZING FEEDBACK FROM BETAS

You must edit it again. Realizing that your manuscript is a work of art, it must be improved, tightened, and clean up to look as though it is a finish work. Make sure your plot sticks, your grammatical errors are cleared away, and your work reads like a published work of art.

LEARN THE PUBLISHING BUSINESS

You have got to research, research, read and research again the publishing business. You must decide WHAT YOU WANT to do with your work.

- Whether you want a Large Publishing House to manage your work?

- A small publishing house to manage your book?

- What type of Agent you want?

- What type of book you wrote? YA? Fiction? Chic Lit? Sci-Fi?

- Whether your book is specific to your work, or a knowledge area?

- Whether you want to publish the book yourself?

DECIDE ON WHAT YOU WANT FROM WRITING

Some people feel that getting with a huge publisher is the final stamp of approval. However, there are lots of people who just want to write and share their story, and they don’t care if they make millions of dollars from it. So, I say that to make you think deeply about what you want to do with your work. There is one author that published chapters of her book via her blog, and another who published free chapters of his book as a free podcast. They were happy with their choices, because they just loved to write and wanted to share their story.

However, I must say, before you give your work away, please try to pursue getting a Literary Agent, and then landing a traditional publishing company to manage your work. If that doesn't work in your personal time limit, get creative, plow your own path, and do what in the end will make you and only you happy. Remember: if you plow your own path, do your research, map out what success is to you, and at the very least you will learn from your experiences.

WRITE A QUERY LETTER TO SEND TO AGENTS

This is where only the strong survive. The query letter, or as I say ‘Sales Letter’ that you send to Literary Agents to sale them on the idea of representing you and your book is harder to write than your book. I suggest taking a query writing class, going to author websites and look at examples, or going to author websites and getting their feedback on your letter. The author websites offer free advice, guidance and support. Again, I say be strong, because at this stage - only the strong survive.

QUERY LETTER READY? SALE THAT BABY!

Be prepared for a lot of rejection. So suck it up! Got on your armor? Remember, it’s a sales game! Toughen up and never say die! After you have fine tuned and cleaned up your query letter, send it out to agents that represent your genre. Mail out at least five a week, and keep a list of agents that respond and agents that don’t. If you get to about twenty rejection letters, you may want to revise your query letter before sending it out again. Keep querying, until you get signed by an agent.

NO AGENT IS BITING? SALE DIRECTLY TO PUBLISHER.

Then look up publishers that don’t require that you have an agent in order to submit your manuscript. There are several books, websites and writers organizations that have this information available. My first offer for publishing came from a small publisher who didn’t require agent only submissions.

STILL NO BITES?

Keep writing, while you continue to submit your first work. Also, re-evaluate the different publishing options available to you. Attend Author Conferences in order to mingle with publishers, agents, and other authors. Join writer's association and personally meet writer's that may have trailed a different path as you have. Re-evaluate what you want from your writing. Pursue contest, writing for magazines, anthologies.

KEEP WRITING!

Always keep writing. Do this in order to improve, have more products to sell, and to grow as an author.

WRITING THROUGH THE ROUPH SPOTS

Many writers struggle with what they call writer’s block. I call it road block. I don’t tend to have writer’s block. There’s a reason why. The main reason is, as an engineer we are trained to look past the problem, troubleshoot it and move on.

When I’ve spoken to other writers that say they are having a tough time finishing their book because they’ve reached a roadblock, I can usually say – they didn’t do an outline. Everyone has a different method of writing. Why? Well because we are all different. We require different stimulus in order to be creative. However, there are writer’s that write stuff that they hate – yet they finish it. How do they do it?

OUTLINING through it.

Outlining a novel is a sure fire way to actually completing it. The outline is quick and dirty. My outlines are real basic, just a chapter outline. Then I just jot down the major things that have to happen in that chapter. Now I will admit that I go rogue on my outline. When that happens I rework it – even though I just want to write. I also give myself a time limit for reworking outlines.

WRITE through it.

The other method I use is, I just write through it. Yeah, what I write I know sucks – but remember – it’s only a first draft. I will change it, but by writing through it, I can finish my manuscript.

ASK for help.

If you’re at a part in your manuscript that you just don’t know how to set it up. Ask for help. Research online, post a question in your forums, or ask your beta readers or friends. I’ve been able to work through tons of rough spots by just asking someone what they would do.

WORK while on an active break.

Set a time for your break. I use these times to take a class. Work with a critique group. I personally don’t take more than a week if I’m not doing the above. During that time, I may beta read someone else’s stuff. Edit my other works. Research the issue. Read a good book.

Writer’s block isn’t a block. It’s when you’ve come to a point in your manuscript that you don’t know how to play something out. Writing through it works best because you will edit the thing anyway. Remember, you are not tied to your draft copy. The first draft in all cases is never the final. Well written material is usually changed over twenty or so times before it even gets to the point where it’s ready to sell.

REPO MEN - Movie Review

This movie was on my must-see list. Why? Because as a science fiction author I love science fiction movies. I loved the concept of this sick tale of repo men coming to take back organs. It had potential to be a good movie. It got off to a great start with great actors Forest Whittaker and Jude Law – definitely a great combination. It shows their friendship, their job of going after organs recipients who don’t pay their bills, and it’s brutal – did I say brutal?

Okay, then it happens. The movie makes a turn in such a predictable way that you can tell the writers got lazy. That’s when I wanted to get up. I mean it’s such a bad transition that the movie stops making sense. It just gets – well kinda boring (but gory nasty to boot).

The redeeming quality of this movie – which made me give it a 3 out of 5 stars and say it’s – Okay, was the ending. They totally threw me for a loop with the very ending, and the funny part was – it fit. So if you are in the mood for a violent, twisted, sometimes stupid scifi action flick – check out Repo Men.

Olympic Gold for Cat and Toby - Book Review

Please enjoy the book review below by Carol Upton, my guest reviewer from
Dreams Aloud Promotions, www.dreamsaloud.ca



Olympic Gold for Cat and Toby
Sharon Kay Roberts
ISBN: 1-60838-275-2
Available at www.horse-books-pony-stories.com and on Amazon

Reviewed by Carol M. Upton

What am I doing? I’ve never jumped a horse before! I don’t know what to do. What if he refuses and I fall off. I don’t have a hard hat on. No! Mustn’t think that way. Jessie says throw your heart over the jump and the horse will follow.
~ Sharon Roberts

This engaging book is unusual in the world of teen horse fiction, since fourteen-year-old Caitlin is not horse-addicted nor does she even have any interest in them. She has devoted her life to figure skating in the hope of capturing Olympic Gold. After a deadly car accident in which her father is killed and her own leg amputated below the knee, Cat begins her road to recovery. When her doctor suggests equine-assisted therapy, Cat initially shrugs it off as a waste of time.

Cat’s attitude shifts, as she spends more time with the horses, learning to groom and ride. Jumping becomes her dream, one that is far too ambitious from her mother’s point of view. Cat is spirited and determined to prove herself, yet keenly disappointed over her first attempts in the show ring.

When an abused pinto arrives at the stable, Cat is drawn to him and sets out to win his trust. Toby has natural athletic ability, but he is also challenging to handle. Cat struggles with doubt, yet she believes in Toby. Together, they develop the skills to attempt Cat’s goal of competitive jumping.

Olympic Gold for Cat and Toby is skillfully written and flows easily with a strong pace. Schooling and show sessions are highly realistic – the rider’s body gets sore and falls do happen. Teen and adult readers alike will find a lifetime of inspiration in this story, where difficult obstacles, both literal and figurative, are overcome, and a young girl’s personal dreams realized.

Sharon Kay Roberts has a lifelong passion for equines, starting with the ponies that walk the endless circles at fairs when she was just four. Reading about horses filled the hours she couldn’t be with them. An independent author, Roberts has created a website for independent equestrian authors at www.horse-books-pony-stories.com.

SHUTTER ISLAND – Movie Review

I don’t know where to start. I really wanted to see this movie. It looked like it would be exciting, suspenseful - kinda like one of my favorite movies of this sort, The Sixth Sense (my absolute favorite). In a word – I was disappointed.
I checked the reviews and figured they were decent. (Truth is – I would have gone anyway.)

The movie got off to a pretty good start. Leonardo and his partner set off to investigate an mysterious escape from Alcatraz. They questioned the prisoners, hurt some too, and slowly we saw Leonardo sink into a dismal conspiracy. Unfortunately, it was downright boring. If I hadn’t have spend my $10 I would have left about halfway through the movie. Really, I would have, and I really like Leonardo.

The good part of this boring journey was the twist at the end (If you want to call it a twist – because my spoil sport husband figured out the ending about 1/4th through the movie). All that corny dullness led up to an ending that made seeing the movie worth it. Because the ending was so good, I give this movie 2 starts out of 5. Wait for the video (rent it).

Clubbing – TEEN CLUBS

When I was in my teens I grew up in Washington, DC. We didn’t have teen clubs, but we had GoGo’s. They were rented halls that played GoGo bands. A GoGo band was a band of kids that played on trashcans, paint tins and sang popular songs with a street edge.

BACK IN THE DAY

I would beg my grandmother to let me go to these parties. It cost about $5 to get in and we would jam pack ourselves into these little party halls to dance. The band would be up on the stage and we would dance to the beat of the drumming rhythm and harsh songs like ‘Run Joe, Run Joe – Police man at the doh.”

Sweat would run down the walls, the musky order of underarms filled the room, and we would dance until we dropped – or a fight would break out.

UP TO DATE TEEN CLUBS

My kid went to his first night out at a teen party/club night at a local gym. The kid had the time of his life. They didn’t have a live band, but a DJ who played the up to date hip hop music. My son couldn’t stop talking about the dance moves he learned and the many girls he danced with. He’d had a blast.

No fights broke out, no gunfire, and plenty of security. It cost him $10 for a clean safe time.

TODAY and BACK IN THE DAY

I laughed out loud when my husband got on the floor (he’s a lot bigger than he use to be) and showed my oldest son how to do a break dance spin for this party night he was going to. When we were young, break dancing came out and we kids tried to use it as a way to defuse fighting – unfortunately that tactic didn’t last long.

My GoGo days came to an abrupt end when the kids stopped fighting at the parties and started shooting instead. My kid now lives in the suburbs, a quiet town that has lots of resources. Lucky for him, he can still get his party on, because security is tight at the place of the event.

I still am concerned though, but the need to give him a bit of freedom (and his pleading to go partying with his friends) have let me sit back and let him experience his first clubbing experience. I remember him telling me that the party was so live – “It was like I was on an episode of Jersey Shore…”

LOL! I remember feeling the same way when I was his age, shaking my thing at the GoGo.

THE EMOTIONAL RIDE OF A WRITER

As a member of several great writer forums, I see fellow authors go through the same emotional ride during their writing process. I went through them, others also, and it’s a rite of passage so to speak for a writer.

Writing Your First Novel

Initially, you are so happy that you’ve decided to write a novel. You post the beginnings of that story online – and you think at that moment – that it's absolutely perfect. No edits needed. Then it get’s ripped to shreds, and you want to remove your creation from the boards and cry.

The determined writer, sucks it up (after a good cry, some candy, and a pep talk) and actually finishes the darned thing. Other’s fiddle with it, editing the first few pages or so – it never seems quite right – and alas – they never finish their books. Lastly, some workshop that baby to death, for decades and may never release it to the world.

Querying Agents

The newbie, whips up a letter – that they barely review and sends it out to agents with the expectations that the agents will be calling off the hook. The more experienced writer, painstakingly writes several versions of their query letters – sends it out to others to review/rip up. Then they research agents that are legit.

Rejection from Agents

Every author takes this personal. It’s like being passed over in school by the popular kids. We start to question the worth of our writing, story, our very purpose. Problem is – most of us couldn’t stop writing if we wanted to. That’s why the rejection from the first line of acceptance by the publishing world hurts so much.

Some authors figure that after a hundred or so reject letters, their work is no good - they trunk it. They put it away and decide not to ever pursue selling it again. They continue to write and go through this process all over again. Other authors decide to query the publishing companies directly, rework the darned thing, or to pave their own unconventional path to publication.

Acceptance from Agents

Elation, joy, and then a peacock moment. You strut around your house, yell then scream with excitement, because you are now a member of the ‘in’ crowd – you are validated as a writer.

Lesson from the Wise

When you start the writing journey, don’t take any of those tumbles personal for long. Work at improving your work. Grab every comment, feedback, assistance you can to create a better project. Most writers have edited, beta’d, and reworked their manuscript at least twenty or so times before they even query an agent. Keep your chin up and don’t ever give up. In this business, only the strong survive. Be strong, be determined, and find your own way.