Okay, we'll try this again! I've tried to write this blog entry twice and both times I've f**ked up and lost everything I wrote. So, this time I'm going to write w/out using fancy bullet points and just get on with.

Let's see what's been going on with me and my attempt at a career in writing:

* First of all, I've recently gotten on Google+ so, if you're on there and think I'm awesome (as you should), add me. You can find me by clicking HERE.

* As most of you probably know (and if you don't know now you know) Humanity's Ultimate Battle (H.U.B.) Volume 3: The Tipping Point is completed and ready to be released on 9.10.11. You can find all things HUB related by visiting www.whatishub.net Be sure to pick up Volumes 1 and 2 today so that you'll be caught up when the Tipping Point arrives. I'm really excited about this volume of the series as I feel my writing has definitely gotten better since volume 2. I'm starting to hit my vampire stride!

* Head Above Water, my romance novel that pre-dates the H.U.B. series by about a decade, is FINALLY ready to be released upon the world and I'm looking at a late 4th quarter 2011 release date. This is a sharp turn from my work on H.U.B. so I'm interested to see the reviews on it. I'm currently awaiting feedback from a select few who I have sent it to. This book is really my baby and it's time for it to spread its wings and take flight.

* The Clan of the Flying Pens project (http://www.theclanoftheflyingpens.weebly.com ) is almost here. 6 different writers, all of different writing styles/genres, coming together to showcase their work is going to be a BEAUTIFUL thing. I've read some of the Clan members work and it's really, really good. Not sure exactly what I'm going to be contributing (probably some poetry, segments of Head Above Water, portions of H.U.B. 3, etc...) but it's going to be FIRE, that I can assure you! SHOUT OUT to the Clan!

* While it's on my mind, big SHOUT OUT and THANK YOU to all my buds on Twitter, especially my writer/artists out there. I've met some real bad ass folks on there and for some of them to actually tell me that I inspire them is an AWESOME feeling. I enjoy people actually wanting ME to read THEIR work and give my feedback on it. Who would've thought?!?!

* I'm knee deep in work on The Girl In The Red Balloon, the novel I've decided to write while taking a break between volumes 3 and 4 of H.U.B. I'm not sure how the story is going to end yet but I'll figure that out in a few months. Be sure to check back for more info on this story later.

* Beginning to think of festivals/conventions that I can hit up next year to continue to get my writing brand out. Just this morning I got an email in regards to a festival next March that I'm interested in attending. Once things are confirmed I will be sure to post information on them. Speaking of confirmed, I will be having a book signing on 9.10.11 at the Camelot bookstore in Little Elm, TX from 12-6. Also, I will be having a book signing at the Little Elm Library on October 24th from 11-2. If you would like more info on either of these hit me up at ben(at)whatishub.net

* I have made a few booksales over the last few weeks (thanks to all of you for your purchase - each book sold helps to make my dream a reality) and the traffic to my sites has been awesome so thanks to everyone who has visited.

* Follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/maddwriter

That's all I can remember right now but, if there's something I forgot, I will make another post. More later.....

*Below is my interview that was conducted by the fine folks at Getfanged.com.

"My name is Benjamin Jones and I'm what's known as an independent (for the time being) author who is working tirelessly to make this dream of mine to be the world's greatest writer a reality. Right now I'm simply the greatest writer that 99.99998% of the world hasn't heard of, but I'm working to get that percentage a little lower."

Tell us a detail about the real Ben Jones, not the writer, but the man, which defines you. I’m SUPER competitive and that competitiveness sinks its claws into EVERY aspect of my life, be it in writing or playing Playstation. I have a drive to the best at whatever I do and it’s so bad that I don’t even let my kids win at games – if they beat me then they know they will have earned that win but they should also know that I’m going to be coming at them harder the next game!

You have a fascination with vampires, but what exactly is it about the vampire, as a creature, which has you drawn to them? The part of vampires that fascinates with me is the humanity within them. I don’t look at them as monsters, I look at them as humans that have become monstrous and, underneath it all, there’s still a bit of humanity left within them.
 
In your series “Humanity’s Ultimate Battle” (H.U.B.) you pit vampires against human beings, but they are vampires we are not familiar with. In 10 words or less, describe your vampires for us.
Misunderstood. A minority trying to live peacefully. Dangerous when provoked.

You’ve said elsewhere how the concept of the H.U.B. series arose from a response to the soft teen romance popularity of vampires. Is this the only personal issue you see your vampires addressing? No, not at all. The vampires in H.U.B. address many different issues that we go through today. 99% of the vampires in H.U.B. just want to left alone and free to live their lives just like humans; they work, have kids, pay bills, love, etc…, etc… They’re a minority that is far outnumbered and, as such, humans try to press their will on them and the consequences aren’t always what the humans anticipate. I want this series to give readers something new to think about when it came to vampires. There’s more to the life of a vampire than killing or, in the case of Twilight, falling in love. There’s politics, xenophobia, fear, as well as killing and the many other emotions that come with life.
 
You describe yourself as an independent writer, but recently you have collaborated with other writers in diverse genres. Tell us how this works for you as a writer developing your craft? What the collaboration with my group (we call ourselves The Clan of the Flying Pens – www.theclanoftheflyingpens.weebly.com ) does for me is makes me write stronger. When I read something good that one of the other members has written then I know that I have to step my game up and come with something that much better than what they have. At the same time what the group does is expose each other and our varied genres/writing styles to a wider range of audience. Certain readers may be drawn to our book by the crime thriller that one member of the Clan has written but then stumble upon an excerpt of H.U.B. that’s included and really like it (and vice versa).

Due to commitments in work, you write when you can, making your writing part-time. Do you think giving time between writing activity has shaped or affected your writing style? It’s definitely affected my writing in the fact that it makes me know how valuable time is. When I write I tend to write “lean” meaning that my books aren’t these bloated 500 page behemoths with a lot of unnecessary fat to them. I try to get to the point as quickly as possible without sacrificing character development or anything crucial to the story. Other than horror movies and books, what other sources of inspiration do you rely on to charge your creativity? Great question. I’m inspired by all my writing peers, everyone from those like myself that are tying to make names for themselves all the way up to those like Stephen King (who is my idol). Like I’ve said in a previous interview, I love all the writers out there but I’m going to try to outsell you just because my competitive drive is so high.

Going back to your H.U.B. novels, you have the advantage of telling a detailed story in a series, where the plot development is free of the restrictions present in single volumes or trilogies. How does the pace of a series determine the way you explore extra dimensions of your characters? Having the advantage of a series at my disposal I have the freedom to give certain characters the lead in one volume to where you get to know a lot about a certain character but in the next volume the focus shifts on other characters that may not have been in the previous volume or only mentioned in a phone call.

Another thing the pacing does is allow me to space things out the way I want to (no need to rush the impending war) and give the readers the full build up to what’s about to happen and not force feed it so quickly down their throats. I want the reader to get so caught up in everything else going on in the series that, when the war finally does happen, it’s like the icing on the already delicious cake. The first novel is due for release later this year, published after your series H.U.B. How do you think your first novel has prepared you for your writing now in print? The first novel, and all of the handwritten drafts that it went through, gave me the discipline that I need to continue on with the H.U.B. series. Through my work on Head Above Water (the title of my first novel) I was able to take all the lessons I learned writing it (including all the frustration of failed queries) and make my writing on H.U.B. that much better and gave me the confidence to put it out independently. In turn, the work on H.U.B. has provided me with even more lessons that I flipped and used when I ran through the latest re-write of Head Above Water.

You have confessed a liking for paper and pen when writing, and the cursive style when committing your personal thoughts to paper, especially in the letter form. Is it the romance associated with these tools of the trade or do they mean more to you? There is the romance aspect but, most importantly, me writing my books in paper and pen allows me to feel “closer” to the story and the characters in it. It takes a lot – in writing a letter and ESPECIALLY in writing a book – to sit down and write draft after draft after draft using pen and paper. Writing is one of the things where I feel that the technology of computers isn’t always useful (some aspects anyway). It’s infinitely quicker to type up a book than it is to write it, same way that it’s a lot faster and easier to microwave something as opposed to using the oven, but that oven cooked meal is gonna taste so much better once you’ve waited for it to cook just right.

In H.U.B. volume 3, you are still approaching a promised war, and I am sure you won’t disappoint your fans. Without spoiling anything, what can we expect in the future for H.U.B? Volume 3 is called The Tipping Point for a reason because, after this, you know that the war is definitely coming – SOON! Events happen and people die, shaping up the landscape for what was detailed in the prologue in the first volume. There are TREMENDOUS repercussions for actions that take place in volume 3 that will forever change every character involved in the series so far. It’s gonna be a lot of fun.

After Volume 3 you can expect the action to really get cranked up as the first 3 volumes have been the slow burning fuse to the dynamite that is about to blow up. I’ve been laying out the various scenes that are going to take place in Volume 4: Revenge, Retaliation & Getback (the title should tell the audience what the book will focus on) and I can see it easily being as long as the first two volumes (and maybe the third) put together.

Finally, we all want to know, what’s got you Fanged Ben? What has Ben fanged is the love of the written word – writing has had it’s fangs embedded in my neck for as long as I can recall. What else has me fanged is the opportunity to entertain people and put out the best product that I can so that my readers/fans feel that they’ve gotten their monies worth.


What it all boils down to is that I’m a big kid still chasing my dream and anyone that helps me do that I am forever indebted to and I want to return the love that’s given to me right back. My gratitude is endless.  Please visit www.whatishub.net to find out more about the series and how you can purchase and contact me. I love talking with fans. 


http://getfanged.com/profile/BenjaminJones
www.whatishub.net

Read from the source by visiting http://t.co/bGUAC9M.

Hello all.

Wanted to post something real quick and let everyone know that the progress for Head Above Water is going very VERY well. I am done editing it and right now I am in the process of typing it up and getting it formatted so that it can look decent in the upcoming e-book. I'm hoping to have it released sometime this year after H.U.B. Volume 3 drops, maybe around the first week or so in December. Check back later for an actual date.

I have a print interview with the good folks at Getfanged.com (check them out www.getfanged.com ) coming up very soon and I believe there will be contest for the first three volumes of HUB to correspond with the release of H.U.B. Volume 3: The Tipping Point on 9.10.11!

The 1st Chamber from the Clan of the Flying Pens is coming real soon as well. Lot of good things cooking in my kitchen!

Madeleine is one of my friends on Twitter (follow her at www.twitter.com/madeleinecook ) and I was looking around her site today and stumbled across an entry on her page that I really liked. I tweeted her and asked for her permission to repost it on my site and she agreed so here it is. Find this and other postings on her site by visiting http://www.misscookblogs.wordpress.com :

" Just Know...
that a writer is all I want to be. Writing is all I want to do. The thing is I sometimes feel so young, like, nineteen or whatever, and I wonder if people think I’m too young to know what I want to do for the rest of my life. The thing is I know my experience of life is limited, as is my vocabulary, but what am I supposed to do? Not write until I hit 25 in hope that by THEN I’ll have enough “experience” and I’ll be able to write as good as other writers out there?

I want to represent young writers, and I want to prove that no matter how old you are, if you have a talent you will be noticed. I write with all the experience I have. I’m not saying that I have talent or that I’m any good, but if you don’t tell yourself or believe you have what it takes, you’re never going to get anywhere!!

So here I am, working at Millie’s Cookies, writing when I can, and dreaming that someday I’ll get noticed and will be able to share my stories with the world."

This is pretty much my life as well, granted I'm a few years older than Madeleine. Us writers work a "normal" 9 to 5 by day and then spend our evenings and nights working on what we really want to do - emptying out our imagination onto a page and hoping that the world will take notice of us.

Good post Madeleine and thanks again for the permission to post this!

When's the last time you wrote a letter? Not emailed, texted, Skyped, Facebooked or Tweeted someone but actually put a pen or pencil to paper and wrote your thoughts down? Been that long, huh?

The art of actually writing a letter is on the verge of extinction due to technological "advances," some of which I mentioned above, but, in my humble opinion, there is nothing better than writing a letter to someone and/or receiving a letter from someone. I mean, think about it, you can send out a text/tweet/email/Facebook update to a million people at one time and only takes the minimalist of thought behind it.

A letter, on the other hand, is a personal experience and actually involves "work": finding paper, taking the time to gather your thoughts, putting the letter in an envelope, finding a stamp and then dropping it off in the mailbox. Those acts are infinitely longer than the time it takes to send a text but the payoff is much more impactful.

Case in point: my best friend lives in Michigan which is close to a million miles away from me here in Texas. We talk on the phone a lot (and occasionally via email or text) but, every now and then, I take the time to write him a letter and, as holidays dictate, send him a card in the mail. Why do I do that you ask? Other than the fact that I'm a writer and that I like to see words on paper, I know how HAPPY it makes HIM to receive something in the mail from him. I can hear it in his voice when he calls telling me that he got my letter or card and how he's gonna frame my letter and keep the Father's Day card I sent him up for a year. I'm sure he's exaggerating a bit but I know he's genuinely happy to receive it and that, in turn, makes me happy.

So, I challenge you dear readers of my blog, over the next few days, think of someone that you haven't written a letter to in a while (could be a friend, your grandma, sister, brother, whoever) and buy them a card or write them a letter. It doesn't have to be something long; it could simply say "I love you" or "Thinking about you."

You'd be surprised at how happy it makes both you and them!

This blog is written in support of my writing pal Reena Jacobs. Check it out and support if you feel the urge (and I hope you do).

I've been rambling about I Loved You First for the past few weeks. I'm not ashamed to say, I'm totally digging this novella. If you've seen enough of it, sorry in advance. If you're new to this work, check it:

A little about I Loved You First: My best friend was more than just a best friend to me. Three words summed it up: I heart him. I’d never tell him though. I wasn’t stupid. Besides, what he’d told no one, but me, was a little something I wished I could forget… or ignore. He was gay. I guess gay wouldn’t be bad if I wasn’t so in love with him. Now it was just cruel.

Stereotypes run amok in this college love story: Parties, alcohol, hookups, and breakups. Alexandria Carmichael may find it a bit much as she deals with the unreturned love from the boy who completes her. When all is revealed, not only does she risk losing her best friend forever, but also herself. Without her childhood companion for support, Alexandria takes a journey of self-discovery but fears what she’ll find at the end.

For those looking for a new pitch, great news! I finally put up the first chapter on my blog. Read it, Love it, add it to your Goodreads List. Wait, that was rather bossy... Pretty please. :)

Here's the thing, my good people. I'm gearing up for a Kickstarter campaign to defray some of my publishing expenses. My goal is to launch Friday, sooner if possible. I just have a few things to take care of.

Right now, I'm waiting for the voice over for the simple trailer I created, plus I need to get dressed sometime in the next day or two to create a video pitch. When I say dressed, I mean more than stealing a pair of my husband's long johns and an old t-shirt. Then I need to splice everything together. Apparently the Kickstarter link isn't live until I launch. When it does go live, you can find it here.  Until then, I thought I'd tease you all with the pledge rewards.

Pledge $1 or more My heartfelt gratitude for pushing the project one step closer to the funding goal.

Pledge $10 or more Digital ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of I Loved You First - PLUS - mention on my website with optional link for backers who have a website or blog

Pledge $25 or more (US Only) Everything at the $10 pledge - PLUS - a print copy of I Loved You First // (International) Please add $10 // *Will send an additional unsigned print copy for $10 (US) and $15 (International)

Pledge $50 or more LIMITED REWARD     20 backers (US & Canada only) Everything at the $10 pledge - PLUS - first print, hand numbered (x of 50) signed copy of I Loved You First personalized with a handwritten note of your choice (up to 25 words) - PLUS - name mentioned in the back acknowledgements // (International) Please add $10 // *Will send an additional unsigned print copy for $10 (US) and $15 (International)

Pledge $75 or more LIMITED REWARD     15 backers Everything at the $50 pledge - PLUS - a print copy of my back issue Shadow Cat // *Will send an additional unsigned copy of Shadow Cat for $10 (US) and $15 (International)

Pledge $100 or more LIMITED REWARD     10 backers Everything at the $50 pledge except a mention in the back acknowledgements - PLUS - Special Thanks in front of the book - PLUS - a signed copy of my back issue Shadow Cat personalized with a handwritten note of your choice (up to 25 words) // *Will send an additional unsigned copy of Shadow Cat for $10 (US) and $15 (International)

Pledge $175 or more LIMITED REWARD     5 backer Everything at the $100 pledge - PLUS - I'll critique 5,000 words or less of your manuscript. // This reward is awesome for up and coming authors as well as established authors needing an extra person to look over their work. I have a critical eye, so be sure to wear your big kid's pants. As a special bonus each critique comes with my disclaimer: I critique as I read. I try to be thorough, so if you see a lot of comments, just know it's my style and not your writing. And above all, my opinions are just opinions. Others may feel differently. It's up to you to decide what to use and what to ditch. :) // And will end with my trademark comment: Keep or trash whatever works for you. // If you're interested in viewing my critiquing style, I encourage you to head to Scribophile and take a look: http://www.scribophile.com/authors/reena-jacobs/critiques/

********

Something interesting my buddies might not realize. I've never sent out a signed copy of ANYTHING... not even Shadow Cat. So though it won't be a first print for Shadow Cat, know you'll have one of the few signed copies out there. :) I'm a typist and avoid handwriting as often as possible. Already I imagine my hands cramping. haha Signed copies will forever be a rare occurrence for me.

Let me start by saying.... AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!  Sorry, just had to scream and get that out.

Now that that's out of the way, for us unsigned/independent authors, especially  those like myself who have spouses and children to support, trying to do everything that you want to do with your book isn't always feasible and, no matter how much you deal with it, it always sucks and hurts.

I was supposed to be attending SoonerCon 20 in Oklahoma City, OK this weekend but, due to a lack of funds, I'm not going to be able to attend. This is the second convention where I've lost money by paying for a table in advance but then not being able to have enough money to either a) finish paying off the balance of the table in time or b) not having enough money for the rental car, hotel & the rising gas costs.

Having to carefully monitor my funds it feels like I have to choose the battles I fight: I can get the copyright but the book cover is going to have to wait until the 15th; I can't get the $20 ad but I can get the $5 ad; it's always something and it's FRUSTRATING!

I really don't know what to do except to keep trying to save and keep writing and know that ONE DAY I will look back on this and laugh. Right now I feel like crying, though.

Hello and welcome back to my wonderful (at least in my eyes) blog.

It's been a minute since I've updated this - had a cruise that I was FORCED to take in which I spent many hours drinking and relaxing - it was terrible I tell ya, truly terrible. :-)

Anywho, I'll start with the "negative" and get those out of the way first. Over the last few weeks I've been working with others (I really HATE having to depend on other people for things) on things that I need to get done and things are not going as planned and it has kinda dampened my spirits a bit.

I also received the first non-glowing review of HUB Volume 1 & 2 which, I know, really isn't a bad thing but, as Erykah Badu so eloquently put it: "I'm an artist and I'm sensitive about my shit!"  (love her!!) Moving on, the person liked the book but there were things that she didn't like which is to expected - you can't please everyone. I do appreciate her for even taking the time to post her thoughts as any publicity/review is a good one. She could very well be 100% accurate in whatever she's saying so it's all good. I will take all her comments (good and bad) into consideration and continue to work on making my writing that much stronger. So, thanks for those that have left their comments and, if you've read HUB and haven't reviewed it, please do so; I would love to hear from you.

Side note to that: if you've purchased any of my work via ebook on Amazon, Kindle or Smashwords PLEASE shoot me an email at ben(at)whatishub.net and let me know who you are so that I can add you to my Wall of Fame which is where I put everyone up who has purchased any of my work as I appreciate and love everyone of you.

Another thing that's been going on is a little thing called life which, as we all know, isn't always good. I've been dealing with some life things that have had me in a not-very-good mood lately but the sun is peeking through the clouds and it's getting better. I'm no longer feeling like BLAH.

Moving on, I have sold a few ebook copies of HUB recently so that's always nice.

Work continues on Head Above Water and I'm really looking forward to getting that out. Right now I'm been pretty much burying myself into the editing of it and I'm roughly 60% completed. After I complete it then I'm going to pass it on to my new editor and hopefully she won't find TOO MANY errors in it. Be on the lookout for the Head Above Water ebook to come by the end of the year.

Waiting for a few more reviews/critiques of HUB Volume 3: The Tipping Point to come in before I finalize that. 9.10.11 is the day!

Reminder that you can purchase my work by visiting HERE. Become a fan of HUB on Facebook by clicking HERE.
Follow me on Twitter by visiting http://www.twitter.com/maddwriter and follow all things HUB on Twitter by following http://www.twitter.com/hubiscoming

Will be back with more goodies later including a new book review from an author I have become friends with through Goodreads. If you're an author that I would like your book reviewed or would like to do a guest blog/posting then shoot me an email at ben(at)whatishub.net

Thank you!

As some of you may know, I have a BIG fascination with music. I think I  may love it almost as much as I do my writing and I hardly ever write w/out listening to music. Over the last couple of weeks I have found myself listening to one particular song more than any of the other 6,000+ songs on my iPod and that song is Famous by Jazmine Sullivan. Peep the lyrics:

"Famous"

I used to dream about cars and things.
Bout being a star and things.
I thought that I would outgrow this feening.
My dream won't go away.

It's more like a nightmare.
Keepin me up all night,
Like a nightmare.
It's taking over my mind.
My desire burns inside like a flame
And it can't and it won't be contained.

Cause I gotta be famous
I need to be somebody

No one wants to be invisible
Everyone just wants to be seen.
I know one thing is so irresistible
Cause we all need a reason to be.
So I wanna matter.
To the world.
To a girl.
Watching me on tv.
Watching me and I want her to wanna be me.
To be me and I wanna be her dream.
Be hear dream.

So I gotta be famous.
I gotta be somebody.
So I gotta be famous.
I gotta be somebody.

And I'll do anything to get where you are.
I'll do anything to reach the stars.
You don't want what you have,
But I want it so bad.
You say it ain't fair but what ain't fair is no one cares if you ain't famous.
You ain't famous.
Oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh. Oh oh oh.

So I gotta be famous.
I gotta be somebody.
Cause I gotta be famous.
I need to be somebody

Her lyrics so closely mirror my feelings in regards to writing. All I want is to be heard, for people to read my books and have that recognition, not even monetarily (though it helps) butjust to know that people actually have my book on their shelf.

My favorite lines are:

No one wants to be invisible
Everyone just wants to be seen.
I know one thing is so irresistible
Cause we all need a reason to be.
So I wanna matter.
To the world.
To a girl.
Watching me on tv.
Watching me and I want her to wanna be me.
To be me and I wanna be her dream.
Be hear dream.

That's dope when she says that no one wants to be invisible and how she wants to matter to someone and how she wants to be that girls dream and for that girl to want to be her. That's the only way we get to live forever.

Thank you Jazmine Sullivan for making such a wonderful song, one of several that you have. This song is my theme/anthem and will be for as long as I write and am finally tasting my glass of fame. Cheers to all of us chasing that dream!

I am truly in a happy place right now.

I feel SO good with everything that is going on in my life right now in regards to my writing. I'll start by talking about the radio interview that I did on April 16th with Mr. Marc Medley and his radio show. The interview went extremely well and at the end their was a caller that called in and said that the conversation that Mr. Medley and I had inspired him and that is a MAJOR thing to me and made me feel SO GOOD. I'm hoping to have the audio from the interview soon so that I can post it.

Thanks to The Butterfly Effect, S. A. Payne and Profitz for hooking up the book trailer for H.U.B. It turned out so well and exceeded my expectations. You can view it by visiting http://www.youtube.com/user/hubiscoming#p/a/u/0/toE_eSkbVIc. Let me know your thoughts on it. I'm hoping this will draw some attention (and sales) to me for H.U.B. but also give some attention to The Butterfly Effect and Profitz. You can find more about S.A. Payne by visiting http://www.aprilraynestories.webs.com

As you know from my previous postings I sent a copy of my book to a bookstore in Alaska and, lo and behold, the manager, a nice gentleman by the name of Royce, actually CALLED me and discussed his thoughts with me on it. He was very honest and positive with it, liking the story but wanting to see some more/better editing on it which I couldn't complain about it. So, I wrote down all his recommendations and am now putting them to use and working to tighten up not only H.U.B. Volume 1 and 2 but also volume 3 as well.

Speaking of Volume 3: The Tipping Point, the early reviews have been GLOWING and that can't make me happier. Can't wait for it to be released in September. Reminder to visit http://www.whatishub.net to get the latest info on the HUB universe. You can also follow HUB on http://www.twitter.com/hubiscoming

I REALLY want to open a bookstore and have it consist of mostly undiscovered authors like myself but the costs are utterly RIDICULOUS. The cheapest thing I've seen has been around $1400 a month and that's not counting lights, insurance, stock, etc..., etc... If anybody wants to contribute to my bookstore fund then hit me up. ;-)

Anyway, I'll be back with more later. Keep writing and reading. More later...