opinion – Beware of Monsters

Have you every thought one of my novels was horrible, but didn’t know how to tell me? Do you have opinions about what you’d like to see me write next? By answering the survey, you will not only help me improve my stories and products, but you will help determine the course of what I write in the coming years. Which books deserve sequels? Which series deserve continuing? What genres should I focus on, or give up? The survey covers just about every aspect of writing and publishing and all of your answers will be sent to me for assimilation and will play a serious part in what I write and publish next. And it’s totally anonymous, so you can be honest without fear of being blocked on Facebook (I wouldn’t do that either way) or killed horribly in one of my novels (chances are, I’ll still do this).

To take the survey (should only take about 5 minutes) just follow this link.

Thank you to all who take part. Looking forward to seeing what the future holds!

Two weeks ago, I skipped three big cons: Thrillerfest in NYC, San Diego Comic Con, and G-Fest (for Godzilla fans, many of whom are Nemesis fans). And as I watched the photos scroll in on Facebook, I wondered, why didn’t I go to any of those cons? “Because you don’t like flying and you don’t sleep well in hotels,” is the quick response from the surface of my mind, and both are true. I’m not the best traveler, and after a convention, no matter how fun it is, I’m off my A game for a good two weeks afterwards. But I’ve gone to conventions before. I’m not incapable, and I will go to cons in the future, maybe even next year. So why didn’t I go this year?

gfest-xxii Because I’ve got my eyes on the prize. I spent that week of missed cons writing 20,000 words and getting ahead of schedule, which is where I like to be. And honestly, I probably had as much fun writing those 20,000 kaiju-filled words as I would have had at a con.

Before we go any further, I’m going to acknowledge that “keeping your eyes on the prize” sounds like motivational speaker talk, but I’m far from a motivational speaker, life coach, or member of the glee squad. Despite how corny it sounds, if you were sitting across from me and we were having a conversation about what I’m about to jump into, I’d be perched forward, elbows on knees, and talking to you with a straight face. Why? Because this stuff is serious. Life changing, even. Excuse me for a moment while I go flagellate myself (in a non-Fifty Shades of Grey way, sicko) for sounding like a motivational speaker again.