The Brilliance of Wisdom

Title: 365 Days of Wisdom
Author: Dr. Yomi Garnett
ISBN: 978-1-61658-653-9
Genre: Resource
Pages: 371
Reviewed By: Brian Knight
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“It is not enough to have a good mind. The main thing is to use it well.” Rene Descartes – French Philosopher

Knowledge is often gained through the study of books. Wisdom is gained through the practice of life and expressed in the execution of knowledge. It is a remarkable thing to gain wisdom through the study of knowledge. To summarize, you can read a book and learn but wisdom is found in the experiences of life. “365 Days of Wisdom” is, in a word, brilliant; it delivers quotes from some of the greatest minds the world has ever known and stories that deliver a strong message of morality and common sense. What sets this book apart from the others in this genre is the coupling of those quotes and stories with supporting scripture. It is awe inspiring to read the words of man and then see them verified and supported by scripture.

Dr. Yomi Garnett delivers this motivational guidebook with an elegant hand. The knowledge and wisdom contained on the pages of “365 Days of Wisdom” is greatly complimented by Dr. Garnett’s care, passion and humble personality. Dr. Garnett does not share his wisdom as much as he shares the stories, examples and quotes in which he utilized in his own life. It is this endearing quality that makes this book unique when compared to other inspirational and motivational books.

I applaud Dr. Garnett for the extensive research he demonstrated with the writing of this book. It is a shining example of his character. I feel comfortable in saying that “365 Days of Wisdom” is the best of it’s genre that I have had the pleasure of reading.

“365 Days of Wisdom” is a wonderful resource providing the reader with the option of reading it as a daily devotional or as an inspirational guide that will not only uplift the reader but will condition the mind for progressive thinking. Knowledge is power but wisdom is superior still. The knowledge and life lessons contained in this book will better prepare the reader to make wiser decisions along the path of their life.

Take a moment and visit Dr. Garnett's blog -> http://www.dryomigarnett.com/

The Art of the Short Story

Today we are looking at the views and thoughts of two authors regarding short stories. One author is very well known; you can listen to him on the Youtube video below and the second is not as well known yet but has two books published. His account is included below as a special excerpt for the post.

Short stories are a comprised novel. Instead of sixty plus thousand words to tell your story with you only have approximately twenty thousand. That may sound like a lot but it is not. There is very little room for error or even a wasted word. It truly is an art and craft to write a functioning short story; one that grabs the attention, holds the attention and delivers a strong ending. At one point in time short stories were in high demand but now they seem to be losing their luster. Why? I'm not sure but it may have to do with the true complexity and skill involved in writing one. I believe the demand from publishers has dwindled because of the difficulty involved in collecting enough short stories to publish an anthology. So, what does author Simon Marshland have to say about short stories? Well, let's see:

The short story went into decline when so many of the magazines that supported them died. That is not to say there are not short story magazines around from the prestigious New Yorker and possibly Harper’s to the leading newcomer Amazon for online stories. But in the main the rest of them now cater for science fiction and horror which narrows the horizons for most aspiring short story writers. That said there are a number of online publishers of short stories but few of them pay and for those that do the remuneration is hardly worthwhile.



Many dismiss the short story in favour of the novel which is understandable for in comparative terms one is a full blown dinner while the other is just a snack. That said the creation of a good short story requires just as much skill as a novel, possibly even more, as there is less room for mistakes. A novel can survive a sloppy passage or run the risk of boring the reader provided his interest is recaptured in the next chapter. While the short story can afford no such luxury, for it must grab the readers attention at the very start, hold it through the middle and satisfy it with a solid conclusion often within the confines of two to three thousand words. The novel is a mansion in comparison with many rooms some magnificent and some more mundane, whereas the short story though a humble cottage must be spic and span throughout with great pictures and highly polished copperware.


Masters of the short story include Poe, Fitzgerald, Flannery, O'Connor, Hemingway, Carver, Cheever and O’Henry. But every writer should give it a try, if nothing else it will enhance their writing discipline and probably improve their paragraphs. I have tried to emulate these great writers in my own humble way with a published ebook called A Case of Black Rock and other stories on Kindle where readers can sample it for free. Hopefully some will like what they read and go on to buy the book which of course is the reason for this blog.

Simon makes some really good observations regarding the differences between novels and short stories. It is clear that he has a good understanding about the structure of a short story which makes his new book all the more compelling. If you have ever read any of his work you will agree that short stories will fit his style well.

Next we hear from one of the most prolific authors of all time. It might surprise some to find out that he got his start with short stories. It is also interesting to hear his passion, love and appreciation of the short story. Let's take a moment and listen to the thoughts of Stephen King:



If anything we have learned that short stories have a very valid place in the writing world. I, for one, am encouraged by that thought because writing short stories can only sharpen our writing skills. We should not turn away from writing short stories; perhaps they can even help with writer's block or help develop novels as King mentioned in his video. Do you write short stories? Do you enjoy writing them or reading them?

Are You Ready For Thief Creek?

Title: Thief Creek
Author: Jeremy Soldevilla
ISBN: 978-0-9833164-5-9
Genre: Crime/Action
Pages: 219
Reviewed By: Brian Knight
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Actions make the person; not their appearance.

Newlyweds Steve and Heather Kimble are on their honeymoon. Their destination is nestled in the forested mountains of Montana; the Thief Creek Inn. But in the nearby town of Lame Elk a storm is brewing. No, not a storm that blows in on the wind but one that drives into town in a stolen Mustang. Butch, Tommy, JP and Jesse – the Toomey brothers - escaped from the local prison and are now on the run. Their road to freedom takes them right to the front door of the Thief Creek Inn. In ‘Thief Creek,’ we see, first hand, the collision between the desire to escape and the need to survive.

‘Thief Creek’ delves into the confidence and insecurities of mankind. From Heather’s inner strength to Mike’s low self-esteem each character brings a unique set of flaws and strengths to the story. Set in the surreal landscape of Montana ‘Thief Creek’ is a nonstop thrill ride of action and adventure on the surface but deep within the pages of this story is a character study of human needs and desires.

Will the devastation left behind by the Toomey brothers be stopped? Will Steve and Heather end up victims as all the others who cross the path of the Toomey’s?

From the first word, Jeremy Soldevilla weaves a colorful tapestry with rich settings, strong plot and believable characters. With each passing page, it is virtually impossible not too fear for Steve and Heather as they strive to survive. However, the more you read the more you discover the connections shared with the inner demons of the Toomey brothers.

Jeremy displays his intimate knowledge of Montana through his descriptions of small town life, weather patterns, wildlife and the seclusion of the forest. To sharpen the stories believability and hold true to characters he interviewed the local law enforcement on the protocols used to apprehend escaped convicts. This knowledge and research adds a refreshing layer to the story. I applaud his effort to go the extra mile while preparing his story.

Author Jeremy Soldevilla’s debut novel ‘Thief Creek’ delivers an action packed adventure. I recommend this novel for adventure seekers who enjoy humor, action and a pinch of romance. One thing is certain; the Thief Creek Inn will never be the same.

If you would like to know more about this author and his book you can by going HERE.

New Book From Award Winning Author

Title: Hot Issues Cool Choices
Author: Sandra McLeod Humphrey
ISBN: 978-1-59102-569-6
Genre: Self-help
Pages: 133
Reviewed By: Brian Knight
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The Golden Rule is an old rule but a good one to live by.

“You can be a part of the group if you ditch her.” “I’m afraid to log on because I don’t want to read what they are saying about me.” “I hide until the coast is clear because they throw me into the trash can or locker.” These are but a few things children say about their time at school. Bullies, peer pressure and popularity anxiety are prevalent in today’s school; from elementary to high school. In “Hot Issues Cool Choices,” we see these scenarios and the situations but we are also invited to think about them and how to best handle them.

It is critical that teachers and parents understand what children endure on a daily basis and how to relate to those things. In “Hot Issues Cool Choices” teachers and parents are given a guide and a tool to allow them to talk with children. It is through this support and guidance that we help those being bullied and those that are bullies.

Are you a bully? Are you a victim? Have you encountered a bully? How did you handle that situation?

From the first word, Sandra McLeod Humphrey weaves a group of stories that are not only easy to connect with but thought provoking and instructional. With each passing page, it is virtually impossible not too reflect on just how you would handle the multiple situations and environments offered with each scenario. The more you read the more you discover the importance to talk with children and make them aware that they are not alone and there is help.

‘Hot Issues Cool Choices’ is not only highly praised and critically acclaimed but it is also an award winner. It has been selected for the Mom’s Choice Award Honoring Excellence, Young Voices Foundation Award, 2009 Award Winner Readers Favorite, and USA Book News Best Books Award Winner. This collection of short stories embodies the struggles, hardships and stresses that kids are exposed to. If you are a teacher, parent, instructor, teenager or a child in elementary school; this book should be on your desk or on your shelf.
 
Author Sandra McLeod Humphrey, the author of ‘If you Had to Choose, What Would You Do?,’ now delivers the thought provoking ‘Hot Issues Cool Choices.’ This collection of stories will grab your attention and give you reason to talk to your children about bullies, peer pressure, popularity and put-downs.

This is a cool book that I believe teens and adults alike will enjoy. You can learn more about this award winning author at her Goodreads Profile until her website redesign is complete.

The Blood Chronicles: Expansion into the Unknown

The Blood Chronicles: Expansion into the Unknown: "As I continue to wait...patiently.....ever so patiently for my edits and cover art I am focused on two things: the sequel and expanding my p..."

The Writing Tsunami

Recently I was reading through a forum when a topic caught my attention. I clicked on it and read all the responses and let me tell you - there were a fair number of responses. It flashed me all the way back to the beginning of this journey which is to say, the main reason why I started this blog. Yes, writing is the ultimate reason but there is another.

The reason was (and still is) because I needed a life raft to get me over the tsunami of information out there. That is precisely what the discussion on the forum was about; the overwhelming amount of information regarding how to write. I agree, there is a mountain and then some to be found out there. Many share rules and guidelines while others refer to books written by authors on how to write. One author in the forum actually gets worried about her own writing after reading some of the how-to's and do-not's on the multiple sites.

I'm not saying there isn't a place on the Internet for sites offering help because I am one of those sites; however, I am saying that there is a lot of information out there and most of it contradicts each other. How do you separate the helpful information from the restrictive information? It comes down to listening to your gut. The reason why I stay away from books written about writing is simply because their style and voice does not match mine for one and what works for them may not work for me. Now before you hammer me with comments I will say that these books will and do provide great information about the general aspects of writing and the elements needed for a powerful story. This is where we need to draw the line because after that we run the risk of impacting our own style and voice.

Once we establish our style and voice we instinctively shift gears and focus on our weak points. We all have them and we need to work on them. To do this we need to research and discover options to sharpen those skills. We find this information on blogs, sites and books; however, if we discover information that doesn't match our style and voice it really doesn't matter if it came from your favorite blog or even author we need to leave it. This can be hard because we want to follow what best sellers say about writing but we need to ignore what doesn't work and find what does.

I believe some of the best sites not only give information and advice but also encourage writers to explore their own style and voice. They should support new authors as they identify their strengths and weaknesses. It is more helpful, in my opinion, that a blog or site offer more then just advice. To sum this all up, don't get discouraged by all the information out there. Identify what you need to research and look into those items. Finally, if you find a handful of blogs that you enjoy and find helpful hold on to them. Also, remember writing comes from within and is unique to the author. You can't get it from a blog or a book.

There are many fantastic sites and blogs out there that provide solid information but it is up to you, as the writer, to pick and chose which advice works best for you. As one comment said "there are no silver bullets when it comes to writing." If you find information that is helpful to you great but if not don't get discouraged just keep moving on to the next avenue of information. You are pretty much like the prince trying to find the girl who fits into the glass slipper.

When I first started this blog I wanted to create a place where people can come and find information on all topics surrounding writing - the publishing side, life of, editing, and concept of writing.

If a Picture is Worth 1,000 Words than a Movie is Worth....

Have you heard the news? Have you seen it yet? Last week I produced my very first book trailer. Actually it is a teaser trailer. I plan to make at least two more; the next will also be a teaser trailer but will build upon this one. The last will be a full scale book trailer and I plan to release that one very near to my novel's release date. I got to be honest, I really enjoyed making this because of the creative freedom it provided. Like writing, you can allow your imagination run wild as you capture the aspects of your story you want to share. For example, every image in this video has meaning and shares insight to 'Born of Blood'.

Take a moment and check it out.



So why no script? I  intentionally left off the script (except for the last two panels). I wanted this teaser trailer to tease your imagination and instill questions in your mind. I wanted to share portions of the book but also give the viewer the freedom to have fun and attempt to connect the dots. The next trailer will have a script as I pull the curtains back a little further on the story.

Yes, I wanted to build awareness about my novel but I also wanted to have a little fun as well. I did and I hope you have fun watching it. It is amazing to see the spin offs from our writing. Through our writing we now have the materials, tools, and developed skills to make videos, websites, blogs, posters...anything our imagination can dream up. Funny thing is, these things have always been inside us but writing gave it that much need voice and original outlet.

What do you think of my teaser trailer? What creative spin off has your writing unleashed? Feel free to give me your thoughts and opinions. I appreciate feedback; it will help with my next project.

You know what.....

Writing is awesome when you don't really write. How is that possible? Well, I'm not really sure but it happens. It is kind of like an out of body experience except you don't see yourself. I blame it on our inner muse. Don't get me wrong; I don't think it a bad thing at all. Actually, it is a great experience because some of our best writing is born from these small moments in time. Have you experienced the inner muse taking over?

It happened to me over the Memorial Day holiday. Speaking of that; I hope all you had a good weekend even if you did not celebrate the holiday. It was nice to have a break from work and enjoy the warm weather outside. Where was I? Oh yes, I had all intentions of writing that day. The strange thing about writing a sequel is that the closer you get to the end the more of your story spills over into you third novel (unless the sequel is it; then you just end it). My sequel will have a follow-up so I am moving rather slow toward the end. There are a lot of strings, characters and ideas that move from novel to novel when writing a series. I'm learning that notes are critical.

This is where my muse stepped in. I believe I wrote maybe five hundred words when out of nowhere I started making notes about how the novel would progress to the end from there and also what was to be in the third novel. I started a new file for the third novel notes and away I went. I was flipping back and forth as I added a note to the second novel that would impact the third and so on. The crazy thing is that the notes flowed so easily; even with all the jumping back and forth it felt natural. Even better than that, the story showed me something I didn't see before that makes the plot even stronger. I finished writing about an hour later. I went back and read over the notes I wrote and remember thinking 'dang, this is good.' The notes provided a path to the end for the second novel but also paved the way deep into the third.

It was exciting because my fingers typed in time with my thoughts. I really didn't have a moment to think about what I needed to write; I just wrote. Usually this happens when we are writing our manuscripts but this time it came as notes. I truly enjoy writing but when these moments come around it is a totally different experience. I'm sure many of you know exactly what I'm talking about but my question today is this - has your inner muse stepped in when you were doing something else (for example outlining, making notes, brainstorming an idea or just looking at something)?