My Lakehurst book is here, so that’s pretty cool

My Lakehurst book is here, so that’s pretty cool

Posted inWorks by Eric, Writing
Even though the real work now begins -- I frickin' hate promotion -- I feel like I've come to the end of a long road. See, Lakehurst: Barrens, Blimps & Barons, my book on the history of the Pine Barrens town best known for the Hindenburg disaster, is finally ready for public consumption. I've been pecking away at this book since 2002, first as a short series of articles for a local newspaper, later as an expanded series of more in-depth stories on local history, and finally as this book. It is not only comprehensive and (I hope) engaging to…
So I have this book coming out next week…

So I have this book coming out next week…

Posted inWorks by Eric, Writing
After three books I've authored or coauthored, each released by traditional publishers, Lakehurst: Barrens, Blimps & Barons will be my first self-published book (not counting the Pitched! comics, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2). That means with a little help from my friends, I had to do it all, from writing to editing to layout to cover design... Looks pretty cool, no? This book will officially be available by December 1, but if you read this blog or follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you'll have first crack at it. I expect it to be ready for sale in a week…
Complaining about things I shouldn’t complain about, aka Writing can be boring

Complaining about things I shouldn’t complain about, aka Writing can be boring

Posted inRants, Writing
Leaning forward with a glass of bourbon and ice next to me, hair frazzled. A human drama plays itself out in the background, all loud voices and chaos, but I can't pay attention because I'm under the spell of inspiration, and as those words hit the page each sparkles like a shiny gold coin. Each sentence is a hundred dollar bill constructed with the power of my words. The keyboard is on fire with the rush of my work. It's invigorating. Nah. The above scene is bullshit. Writing for pay is not always interesting. In fact, sometimes it's downright boring.…
J.R.R. Tolkien is the reason why I write

J.R.R. Tolkien is the reason why I write

Posted inBooks & Authors, Geek Stuff, Writing
I've no interest in writing epic fantasy, have gotten past the days when I wanted to construct a complex mythology, and hell, haven't even rolled a 20-sided die in many years. Yet I would not be writing today in any capacity were it not for the work of J.R.R. Tolkien. Middle-Earth first entered my consciousness in the sixth grade or so. The Hobbit was assigned reading. Unlike most students, I didn't consider assigned reading a form of torture. (Well, except when the books sucked -- which they often did.) I liked reading, and the books we had to read were…

WRITING: Blank books, book sales, and expectations

Posted inWriting
A blank book reaching #44 on Amazon? Yep. It happened. A blank book -- blank -- became a top seller. They spend years writing a book, then even more years trying to get a literary agent and publisher to back it and then, when their book finally comes out, the author breathes a huge sigh of relief and assumes that their book will be discovered, widely read and will sell around the world in bucketloads. Well, any new author needs to wake up and smell the rankings. Most books, however well written, hardly sell many copies at all. And that's…