Andy Holloman – Dad, Writer, Goofball

So, a funny thing happened on the way to publishing my book.  I made friends.  I posted a few weeks ago about how much I have valued Twitter as a resource for connecting with other writers, most of whom are self-published.  By getting out there and mingling, I have connected with about a dozen writers that I now consider to be friends.

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By Scott Bury

The best part of being a writer, for me, is writing.

I have heard people say “I don’t like writing; I like having written.” I like both. I like being able to look over something I have written and feeling satisfied with the outcome. But I also very much like the process, the practice of writing itself. (more…)

If anyone had told me back in the Spring, when I re-joined Twitter, that I was going to shout out to the world what a great place Twitter is, I would have been rolling on the floor laughing!  Twitter?  What the heck is good about this social media site?  I poked around with it a few years ago and found nothing of value.  Well, guess what?  This dude has truly changed his tuned – Twitter is THE Place for Writers. (more…)

A well-worn philosophical thought experiment asks, “If a tree falls in the forest and there’s no one there to hear it, does it make a sound?” Well, plain logic tells us such an event certainly creates sound waves. However, if there is no ear drum, human or otherwise, upon which those waves can pound, does the tree-falling event really happen? (more…)

WOW    WOW     WOW   WOW !    The response to our “pre-lauch” special has been HUGE.  I’m overwhelmed with joy and grateful to all of you that placed an order.  I never expected to hear from some many folks. (more…)

I wanted to send out a short and sweet post to say “THANK YOU” to everyone for their support and purchases of  “Shades of Gray”  during this brief period that we are running the Pre-Launch special. (the Pre-Launch promotion will likely end in about a week)  (more…)

It’s such a pleasure to be here! When Andy mentioned that he was reaching out to writers and asking them to write guest posts about readers and their impact, I thought it was a brilliant idea. Now HERE is a topic that I can embrace!  (more…)

Thanks for dropping by.  My novel is not yet out in bookstores, Amazon, or B&N….  but you can get a copy for Christmas. (and buy some for your friends)

During this pre-launch period, we’re also offering some cool freebies, so check them out too.

And remember,  I LOVE MY READERS !   So after you make your purchase, send me an email.  I want to thank you personally!

Order your copies here –    BOOK Launch (click to order)

A group of readers that I reach out to are friends of mine on Goodreads.    I have not met them in person, but I depend on them and I call them friends.  Here’s why:

I have found it very important to listen to my readers and see exactly what they want.  Being a new author, I craved reviews with a vengeance.  I wanted to know what people thought, what they liked and didn’t like, and which  characters  they related to and which ones they were happy to see go.

As my first reviews started to come in, I started asking questions.  I specifically went to readers that I didn’t know.  I am well aware that if friends want to continue to be my friend, they needed to say they liked my book, lol.. ) No, I’m just kidding. I know that everyone has a preference in their reading, so not everyone that reads my books will like them.   I started “friending”  people on Goodreads that had my book on their “to read” list or people that were currently reading the book.  I asked them to provide feedback on the book by alerting me to sections they felt were strong and sections they felt needed sprucing up.

In doing that, I began to see a trend with one of the main characters in book 1, My Blood Runs Blue.  In book 2, Blue Blood for Life, he was back as more of a supporting character, but I learned that most people really loved him and  they wanted to see more of him.  Keeping that in mind as I started to write book 3, which is currently unnamed, I am keeping him a supporting character and I plan to run him into a major character again in book 4 of the series.  I think that book 4 will revolved around him quite a bit.

I know that by questioning my readers on Goodreads, and by reading the reviews, I learned what my readers wanted.    Some (but not all) of the suggestions will certainly find their way into my future writing.

I  know that one of the biggest parts of being an author is being available for your readers.  Letting them see you as a person and not just someone who can make up a story.  Someone that maybe they can relate to and have a friendship with.  I cherish my readers and I will continue to communicate with them so that I can stay in touch with what they want.  If it wasn’t for them, my writing would just be for me. (well and those friends I told you about earlier lol…)

Come Join me on Goodreads and ask a few questions yourself! I have a Q & A with Stacy Eaton you are welcome to join! http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/47993.Q_A_with_Stacy_Eaton

My readers have always mattered because I take their advice as well as praise seriously. For example: my first readers, all 56 of them, were drawn from relatives, friends, IT colleagues, a few grief counselors associated with Hospice, and my local community. Some people read slower than others because they informed me that my first book entitled Mom’s on the Roof and I Can’t Get Her Down had a HARD topic to digest. That book described terminal cancer along with my mother’s Christian Near Death Experiences. I understood my readers when they explained to me that the nonfiction nature of my writing made my text very relatable. HOWEVER- sometimes- due to the cancer saga unfolding- some individuals connected to the storyline in a bad way and could not forger through the reality of my words- until LATER. It wasn’t the miracles or afterlife journey full of wonders and mystic experiences that bothered their psyche; it was the realty of death that slowed my reader’s rates. My audience did inform me that the short, journal-like sections eased their tension as did my dry sense of humor scattered throughout as comedic relief. They cried as they laughed and vice versa; my text was cathartic for them.

Those first readers were important to me because- when they hit The End (of the book and mom’s life) – they saw the fuller picture of life and death; they readily shared their similar experiences with me. Some even called my first story a master piece- to which I humbly responded, “because it is The Master’s piece!” Often, I quipped that tale was written while I was in The Spirit. I felt like that as I feverously wrote my memories of my parent’s last days of life- here on Earth- and detailed the small miracles as well as prophecy during those moments of ‘life after death’ revelations from God. As people read my life script, they felt a Supreme Presence in my words, which means the goal of that book was achieved despite my novice errors as a writer.

As that book went out in grief sessions and groups, I worried for my reader’s still prone to tears then marveled at their responses to my book. Years later, as I wander through central Florida living out my days, I come across some of my early readers. Some are in from other parts of the country; as they gingerly approach, many say they felt God would cross our paths that day. Then, they’d exclaim that in the crowds of a mall, airport, or theme park- they searched for my face; they only had the book cover picture to go by to recognize me. As we chat, I can tell I uplifted their life with my text especially during their own traumas.

Some readers- that I personally gave copies to when they experienced a loss- tell me every time someone dies they reread my saga. Referring to my book about my mother’s journey to Heaven and Back before she died, some individuals call her tale a Christian Near Death Experience. I sense that they are on the right path with that thought; more importantly, it feels good to know that my story has inspired others; some of my readers go on to write their accounts about God, miracles, their afterlife journeys, angles they’ve encountered, and so on. Many simply tell me their short story, which encouraged me to write His Story. I’ve found so many people hungering for inspirational stories like my books contain; over the years, my reader’s desire has motivated me to write more, ghostwrite for others, and co-author books about NDEs, Faith Healings, Journeys to Heaven, and other miracles. Seven non-fictions later, other people as well as God still move my spirit to write more of these types of tales. My books are unbounded by time- because 20 years later- my first story about mom’s journey to Heaven still inspires readers while sustaining those folks through their own plagues, I know I was supposed to influence those people on their journey. I’m happy that when life is at its gloomiest, my nonfiction inspirational sagas lead my readers out of darkness into the light.

Meanwhile, as many of my new readers come from the social networks of the internet; it’s amazing how my collection of non-fictions touch their souls as well. After reading my books, many people feel instant community with me referring to me as friend. It’s NOT easy to be an indie author, but the empathy and wonderment in life that I enjoy with my readers keeps us going- especially me! That’s why my readers are very important to me!

FINALLLY- my readers are very important to me when they buy gift books or help sale my titles to their acquaintances; see my author web page at http://mchanson714.weebly.com  for links to my publishing sites.