NaNoWriMo 2010

For those in the know, each November is "National Novel Writing Month."  Writers spend the month throwing together a book of 50,000 or more words.  This is a contest I have never officially entered, but this year I have decided to bite the bullet and actually try it.

I am no stranger to self-imposed deadlines.  Last December, I produced an 80,000 word novel in approximately 3 weeks, but that was when I had nothing else to do.  I was able to sit down and do nothing but write for that time.  At present, I am still working some physically draining and time consuming jobs, which will hamper my writing.  I do not know if I'll be able to pull off an entire novel this November, but I will do my best.

If I should fail to achieve this laudable goal, I will still be a step ahead, with a good hunk of another novel ready to be finished, and it'll all be good fun.

Enough with this pesky blog post.  I have to prepare for the big event!

Vote for Paul LePage

The following is an appeal to my fellow Mainers:

The race for Maine's Governor has never been as crucial as it will be this November.  With the economy in shambles, and a multi-billion dollar deficit looming, it is important that we pick the right candidate to keep our state solvent, while also preserving our traditional values and way of life.

When people say Libby Mitchell is the person for the job, I have to laugh.  She's been in the legislature in one form or another for over 30 years!  She's one of the crooks responsible for the mess we're in. She's already had her chance to fix things, and she has done the opposite, voting for higher taxes on everyone, imposing onerous regulations on our businesses, and wasting valuable time pushing social issues like same-sex marriage.  If you like what Baldacci has been doing for the last eight years, she's your choice, but if you want a genuine change, and to actually get this state back on track, you must look elsewhere.

Some folks are saying Eliot Cutler is a good alternative to the traditional party politicians, but if you examine Cutler's positions on the issues, and his planned "solutions," you'll see he is virtually a carbon copy of Mitchell.  He's playing on his "Independent" status, even though he was a life-long Democrat before choosing to run for governor.  His work with Jimmy Carter helped spawn the hyper-inflation of the late 1970's, and his prospective plan is to create more government bureaucracy to further regulate the way we live.  It's more of the same.

When it comes down to it, Paul LePage is only really independent choice for Maine voters.  He's proven that he knows how to fix the economy, because he's done it as the Mayor of Waterville and as the General Manager of Mardens.  He believes in standing up for our traditional rights, and cutting the red tape and high taxes that block small business from expanding in our state.  Best of all, when you ask him a question, he gives you a straight answer, which is something you rarely get from any of the other candidates.

If you want lower taxes and accountability from Augusta, vote for LePage.  It's that simple.  If you want to know more about him, visit http://www.lepage2010.com/

Acceptance!

I am pleased to announce that another one of my short stories has been accepted for publication.  "A Dwarf at High Noon" has been chosen to appear in Hall Brothers Entertainment's "Villainy" anthology, which will be coming out early next year.

This story was something I'd thought about writing for quite a while, and I finally put it together last August, as part of a writing competition.  It takes some traditional fantasy elements and transposes them into the Wild West, to create something of a "Tolkien Western."  I don't want to give away too much at this point, but I'll keep you updated on the publication progression.

I'm hoping for more good news in the near future regarding some other story submissions.  Keep your fingers crossed!

Silence Is Death

Reviews are where it's at, as they say in the advertising biz.  Whether it's movies, music, or books, successful marketing hinges largely on word-of-mouth, and the best form of publicity is customer reviews.  If enough people speak up and post reviews, a song can soar to the top of the charts, a movie can become a blockbuster, and a book may hit the bestseller list.  On the flipside, if people keep their mouths shut, that popular piece of media will fall into obscurity, regardless of how good or bad it is.

As a writer, I've found that reviews are the hardest thing to get.  I am very grateful for those of you who have taken the time to post reviews of my books, and you've shown a true desire to spread the word about my work.  You're the best!

Reviews sell books.  It's that simple.  Even books that have mixed reviews are liable to sell more copies, as one person's negative could be another person's positive, and other readers grow curious to see what the reviewers saw.  However, when a book doesn't get reviewed, prospective readers take it as a sign that the work isn't worth their time.  The silence speaks volumes, and often no reviews are worse than bad reviews.

This is why I need your help today.  Please, if you've read any of my books, put together a review.  I'm not asking for an in-depth analysis; just a brief note, saying what you liked (or didn't like) about whatever you've read.  Tell the world what you love about my books, or tell them why they weren't for you.  It will spur interest, for certain, and help buyers make a more educated decision.

You are the true power behind my writing.  Success or failure hinges on each and every person who reads my books.  If enough of you speak up, others will take notice, and if those others then speak up, things could really snowball.  I know, it's a lot of pressure, but I'm sure you can handle it.  Now, get out there and throw together a review for Amazon.com, or some other site (and let me know about it when you do).



Don't stab me, bro!



October Book Bomb!

For the entire month of October, I'm running a special sale at my AuthorStore.

Buy 2 or more copies of a single title, and get the books for my actual cost.  This is a cost-neutral self-promotion tactic which I hope will get more people reading my work.  For full details about this special, and details on how to order, visit the AuthorStore today!

This notice has been brought to you by The Worlds of Martin T. Ingham.  Visit today for great Sci-Fi & Fantasy!

Guns and Reloading

I'm trying to keep controversy out of this blog, but there are some aspects of my life that simply must be known.  If this alienates anyone, or costs me readers, so be it, but I won't deny who I am.  Let it be known that I am a gun owner, and I believe in the right of individual Americans to keep and bear arms.

In the past, I have written extensively about my love and respect for firearms, and touched on various aspects of their existence.  In past columns and letters, I've discussed the rights and responsibilities of gun owners, and I have argued against many restrictions on the individual which have become prevalent in recent years.

Today, I'd like to elaborate on something I mentioned in my last blog: Reloading Supplies."

The price of ammunition has always been a concern for gun owners, particularly those of us who don't have large sums of money.  Recently, the cost has gone through the roof, so the only economical way to shoot is to load your own ammo.  It's really a very fun process, and it isn't dangerous (unless you're an illiterate half-wit, as John Rage would say).

With me, reloading is a necessity.  Many of my guns are chambered in old, obsolete calibers, and it's impossible to get factory ammunition for them.  It is equally enjoyable to reload as it is to shoot.  From casting the bullets to working out the proper powder charge, it is a time consuming, yet satisfying process.

So, if I ever mention reloading supplies again, everyone will know what I'm talking about, in a general sense.  Now that that's out of the way, let's move on...

An example of Remington's Model 8 Autoloading Rifle,
of which Martin is particularly enamored.

Random Update

It's been a week since I posted on the blog, so I'd better throw something on here.

I've been pretty busy since last we spoke.  I spent the weekend going over "Virtual Domination," the sequel to "The Guns of Mars."  I wanted to give it a good proofing before sending it out to market.  It was written back in February-March 2009, therefore it has had time to season.  I hope to get it into print before too long, so keep your fingers crossed.

I'm a little pissed off right now.  I placed an order with MidwayUSA for some reloading supplies, and they haven't arrived.  I had them shipped via UPS, which is usually a very good service, but for some reason the morons dumped my package at the Baileyville post office on Tuesday, rather than bring it to my house like they've always done before.  According to their online tracking, the package was "delivered" on Tuesday morning, but it sure as hell didn't get to me.  I don't know if the USPS is going to forward it along to me eventually, or whether somebody stole the damn thing.  Either way, I am angry, and I will be until I have my valuable goods in hand.  Who do I have to call to get some satisfaction around here?

Kathryn is in great shape.  She's growing fast, and is perfectly healthy, so that is always a relief.  My wife and I are truly blessed with wonderful children.

Other than that, nothing much is going on at the moment.  Work is pretty steady, and I expect to stay fed this winter, so that's always a good thing.  It would be nice to see some more book sales, though.  People can blow $10 going to McDonalds, but they won't spend a few dollars on one of my books?  What is this world coming to?  But I digress...

Have a great week, everyone.

Road Kill Candy Bar

Let me tell you little story 'bout the Snickers I found.

Completely wrapped, but squished on the ground.

Plain as day sittin' right on the tar.

Long and flat 'cause it squished by a car.

Hi, y'all.  Let me tell you this here story now.

I went up to the Walmart today, looking to buy me some cat food.  As any of you feline owning folks out there know, them furry critters eats a lot, even when they be catching plenty o' mice in the field.  So, I went up there, and what did I find when I comes out of the store but a completely wrapped Snickers candy bar (not to be confused with candy bear, which y'all pronounce the same).

Exhibit-A:
Actual Snickers bar discovered
at the Walmart parking lot
in Calais, Maine.

This here candy bar was flat, like somebody done drove over it, but there weren't no holes in it, so I scooped it up and brought it home.  Later on, when I got me a hankerin' for some of that sweet, sweet candy, I done whipped it out and gnawed on it.  It was the sweetest road kill I ever done ate, I tell you what, and no rabies, woo-hoo!

And that was my story 'bout the Snickers bar.

The Star Slavers Online

As many of my loyal fans know, I've been releasing one of my old novels via my website since last December.  "The Star Slavers," is something I wrote shortly after "Virtual Wiles," and it never caught an editor's eye.  I can't say it is my best work, though it's hardly rubbish, so I decided to share it with the world.  Each week, I add another piece of the book on my site, which is free to read by all.

This book began as a short story entitled Nester.  The first 3 segments online comprise the original story I composed even as I was still finishing work on Virtual Wiles back in 2001.  That initial story had an almost traditional "first contact" feel to it, albeit from a more alien perspective.  After writing that initial tale, a larger story unfolded before my eyes, and eventually became an 80,000 word novel called The World So Desired.  That lackluster title was replaced when the first segment of The Star Slavers was posted.

There are many different themes in this curious piece of literature.  We focus a lot on the fledgling Lesher society, as it struggles to advance into an industrial age, even as the citizens hold fast to archaic beliefs.  We also see quite a bit of the Nissites, the Centaur-like aliens who have come from outer space to claim dominance over this primitive world.  All the while, we have a couple of human beings caught in the middle.

There's something for everyone in this tale.  Action, adventure, sociology, philosophy; even a bit of romance, though it's kept strictly PG.  I'm not one for erotica.

The online installments have only taken us halfway through the book thus far, which means there's plenty more to see, but also a decent backlog for you to sample.  Start from the beginning, or jump right in with our latest piece.  Either way, be sure to read it every week.  Hey, you can't beat the price!