Writing updates!

Just a quick update to my followers on what I’ve been up to lately. After a long four months of constant re-writing, editing, and evaluation, my middle grade sci/fi-fantasy series The Galactic Warrior Series is finally complete and for sale on Amazon. The stories are tight, exciting, and I believe; totally and completely original. Check them out.

Also, I’ve spent several weeks re-doing my descriptions on Amazon for my other books. Instead of merely summarizing the story my descriptions are now more of a ‘come hither and check this out’ blurb. Already changing the blurb for DROP OUT boosted sales. If you have the time, check them out. https://www.amazon.com/author/ndostroff

Lastly, I’ve outlined what I believe may become my next novel project. It is tentatively titled NEVER BORN and is about a human soul who never gets born and what its’ existence is like. It is a completely original idea and I am very excited to get started on the manuscript.

I am also planning a major marketing/promotional blitz for my other books in early summer. I will keep everyone updated. Thanks.

Beginning and end of everything!

It has finally happened. I knew it would. It destroyed the music industry why wouldn’t the publishing industry be next? What am I talking about? Piracy!

My wonderful online writers group has just informed me that almost all of my books are being pirated by “legal” websites. This means that with enough research nearly anyone can download my books for free. This being a relatively new menace, I doubt most people know of these sites but it is only a matter of time before all published books will be able to be read for free with a click of the mouse much like a song can be heard instantly through Utube with no royalties going to the artist. This sucks.

Back in the mid-1990’s the band Pearl Jam lost millions trying to fight the same powers eventually shutting down the most popular music sharing site at the time, Napster for copyright infringement. The result was hundreds of new music sharing sites popping up without abandon. This is now happening with ebooks and it is a tide no artist can stop.

Writing books is in my blood and cannot be quelled much like a musician has to make music and a painter must paint. So what can I as a writer do and how do I accept this unalterable change in the industry? I’ve already watched my sales slowly dwindle through the months and my royalties getting less even though I am publishing more books and my audience, blog hits, and followers continues to grow. Should I get angry and rant and rave that none of this is fair? That I spent twenty-five years writing furiously to reach this point in my career only to have it sideswiped by the never ending throes of technology? Or should I be flattered that I am popular enough in the world to even have my books pirated on these sites? Do I just give up? These are questions I cannot answer right now.

Distractions

Well, here I am again finally having time to post what I’ve been up to. As I’ve mentioned before I’ve been busy re-writing my three-book middle-grade sci-fi/fantasy series. This series should be available by the beginning of summer which is perfect timing for the summer reading/vacation season. I’ve also begun to outline a new literary/fantasy/spiritual novel tentatively titled, NEVER BORN. This title accurately describes the gist of the novel. Should be a fun write… if I can get to it.

Being a natural writer (meaning I’ve always done it and can’t imagine not) I now find it starting to become a burden (perhaps that’s too strong a word how about ‘chore’) to find the energy to write. It’s not that I’ve lost the continuous inner voice, it’s that life is now handing me many more distractions than ever before. But this is a good thing.

You see, I’ve recently purchased a new home in New Jersey on the back bay. Whereas my life before living in a small town was mainly writing with the occasional mowing of the lawn, I am now afforded everything from fishing, boating, and crabbing; to walking the beach, watching sunsets, and listening to the surf. I am beginning to find these things as satisfying to my soul as writing.

I believe all serious writers come to a moment in their lives where they wonder if all the alone time, all the sacrificing of social events, and friendships, and relationships are worth the effort to create stories. There is always the inner voice and always the sudden impulse to jot notes or record something observed, but as life chugs constantly forward and you realize your time on this planet is running down, you begin to understand what is most important in life; doing what makes you most happy. I touched heavily on this subject in both my books DROP OUT and AS IT IS IN HEAVEN, and I believe it with all my heart.

As my fifth year anniversary of parting ways with my NY agent and becoming an indie writer comes to fruition, I am humbled by the fact that over 90,000 copies of my books have been downloaded. I have fulfilled my childhood obsession of getting my stories into the hands of readers and I am content. Emails I’ve received from readers will sustain my hard work and I am honored that so many have been affected. Although I may not have gotten rich (there’s still time) I have brought joy and adventure into people’s lives.

As I spend more of my time living out life on the waterways and beaches of south Jersey I refuse to feel guilty that my writing time and marketing has diminished by a few hours a week. I will still pump out books (it would be impossible for me not too) but they may come fewer and farther between. I just can’t see myself locked in my office on beautiful sunny days anymore when there is so much to do in the world. I can still pump out five books in two years as I’ve done in the past, but at what sacrifice? You only live once and you can’t get that time back. Not all distractions are bad.