Inside the Author's Head

Don't you sometimes wish you could get inside an Author's head and find out what they're really thinking? What is it that motivates them, that spurs them on to writing great books? Or don't you really care?

I often ask myself, just how did so and so come up with that idea? Or, how did so and so manage to write a particular passage? Unfortunately, I also sometimes think to myself as I read something, how did this person think this was really going somewhere?

I really hope no one ever wants to get inside my head. I don't believe it would be a very pleasurable experience! My head is always so busy, with so many thoughts and ideas, it's a wonder I ever get anything done. Take today for instance. I'm just a couple of weeks away from the launch of my new book and I still have a million things left to do. I have a manuscript. I have a cover. I have a few reviewers lined up. Heck, I even have a PR company engaged. But, there are still a million things I need to do to get the book finalized. There's all the formatting, synopses to write, book-sites to get to, marketing and PR to kick-off (my own that is). There just aren't enough hours in the day. I sometimes wonder just how does a self-published author ever become successful?

I need to make a list. I need to contribute a lot more on book blogs and websites. I need to... The list is endless. Oh, and in between, I need to write a few more blog posts, finish editing my first two Xannu books, perform a first edit on the new, third, Xannu book (which has sat cooking for nearly 6 months now), do some more PR on those books... The list goes on.

So, without further ado this morning, I'm signing off. I also have my day job to attend to (time to jump in the shower already)...

How about showing me a little love today and taking a read of some of my blog articles (just click around a little)? There's lots to read on all sorts of topics. And to entice you further, here's the cover of my latest book, New Blood. Have a great day.

A single kiss can get a girl killed. But what if he's the most irresistible man you've ever met? What would you do?

New Blood is a 16+ Young Adult Urban Paranormal Thriller set in the Pacific North-West. Think equal parts Twilight, Da Vinci Code and Romeo & Juliet. New Blood tells a story that is liberally laced with power, greed, ambition, death and love. What would you be prepared to sacrifice to have it all?

The Lonely Life of an Author - Let's Just Finish Our Goddamned Books!

Authors, like artists, often go through periods of self doubt. How frequently do we write something thinking its fine, only to have self-doubts a day or so later? I know I do. It's perfectly normal.

It's one of the main reasons why many people never actually finish the book they're writing. I mean, if it's finished then other people will read it. And some of those people may not like it! Yes, it feels safe to have an unfinished book.

Well, let me tell you, author, it's not any worse to have a finished book. Quite the opposite. Tying a bow on a book is a liberating experience. Besides, you get the chance to start another, better, book! Who cares if some people don't like what you've written? Does every person in the world think Van Gogh paintings are amazing? Of course not. If a book pleases you, it has served its purpose. As an artist we must create for ourselves, not for others. Creating for others is a slippery slope. Sure, it may earn us some money, but it's not satisfying our inner soul. And come to think of it, if we're creating for others, how different is that to a regular day job? Hmmm. No, an artist creates things for their own pleasure, an expression of something that is important to them and them alone.

If you look at things this way, it actually becomes a little easier to write. There's no pressure to please anyone but yourself. Just get your thoughts down and see where they take you.

Yes, the life of an author can be lonely at times. It can also be scattered with self-doubt. It can seem we are cast alone in a world that doesn't understand us. So, how do we change things? It's very easy. It's actually a two step process:

1. Finish the book
2. Write another

There you have it. Let's all promise ourselves today we'll do something about our loneliness. Let's just finish our goddamned books!

WANTED: Reviewers For 'New Blood' - ARCs Available

Yep, it's that time already. I am looking for a select few bloggers to review my latest book, New Blood, before it hits the mass market at the end of the month.

If you've been following my blog, you'll know that this book is a little of a departure from my usual genre (YA Fantasy). New Blood is a 16+ YA Urban Paranormal Thriller - think equal parts Twilight, Da Vinci Code and Romeo & Juliet - It's set in the Pacific North-West, where I have been living for the past eight years, and will keep you turning pages up until the very end.

New Blood tells a story that is liberally laced with power, greed, ambition, death and love. What would you be prepared to sacrifice to have it all? As my hook says:  'A single kiss can get a girl killed. But what if he's the most irresistible man you've ever met? What would you do?'

So, are you interested in reading it with a view to writing a review? Do you manage a blog with an established audience? If so, post me a comment or drop me an email (john at pauldorset.com). I look forward to your comments. Please Note: The review copy you will receive will be in electronic format (.epub or .mobi).

100,000 Page Views - I Thank You All!

Yep, my blog has had over 100,000 page view in a little over 6 months. That's not too shabby for a new blog. And I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all, my readers. Your visits mean a lot to me, and so do the comments and the feedback - which I have to say, has been resoundingly good. So, it's onwards and upwards to the next 100,000.

In the meantime, there's lots of things happening in my little world, not least of which being the upcoming launch of my new YA 16+ Urban Paranormal Thriller, New Blood. Look out for the full details over the next few weeks. And if you've never read anything I've written, why not click on one of the book links that appear elsewhere on this page, or head over to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords and look me up - Paul Dorset. Thanks for your indulgence.

2011 Goal Check (September) and Dr. Esselstyn

Well, it's now September and another year draws closer to an end. The nights will be arriving earlier and the days taking a little longer to get established. So I thought it would be a good time to look at all the goals I set myself this year and see how I'm doing.

#1 : Read 10 Books - I'm glad to say I have achieved this one already and also met my kicker. Good job
#2 : Write 2 Novels - Also done and dusted and exceeded
#3 : Earnings Goal - On track to hit my goal
#4 : Weight Target - Was well on track earlier in the year, but then fell off the wagon and am back to my beginning of year weight. A lot of effort is needed during the last four months of the year.

There we have it. It looks like my weight is letting me down (or weighing me down). Still, I've made a great decision over the last couple of weeks and yesterday my wife and I started on our new eating lifestyle. Over the past couple of years, like a lot of people, my weight has see-sawed between good and not so good. I've tried to find a way of eating that I could maintain and also control my weight. You name the diet and I've probably tried it. So this time around I've decided it's time for a complete overhaul.

I came across a book recently by Dr. Esselstyn that advocates a heart healthy diet that almost guarantees you'll never have a heart attack. Sounds too good to be true? I was a little skeptical too. But I read all the testimonials and studies and it all seems pretty convincing. The diet is pretty strict though, so I didn't know if I would be able to stick to it or not. But, what the heck, I thought I'd give it a try. After all, nothing else has really worked. Dr. Esselstyn's diet restricts food intake to Vegetables, Fruit, Grains, Pulses, Seeds and Legumes (Beans). That means no dairy, no eggs, no meat, no nuts and NO OIL. Tough.

Yesterday, after putting the kids back on a plane to England, my wife and I cleaned out our cupboards of everything that was not allowed on our diet (There was a lot of things that made it to the trash!). Then we went to the store and stocked up on the 'good stuff.' Yesterday was a little weird at mealtimes, working out exactly what to eat, but I'm sure it will get easier over the next couple of weeks. I'll let you know.

Back to my 2011 goals. I have 22lbs to lose in 16 weeks. I'm optimistic I can do it. And if I do, this will be a major achievement for me - hitting all my yearly goals. The possibility of reward is spurring me on. And if I get the added benefit of a healthier heart, lower cholesterol and lower triglycerides, well that can't be a bad thing either. Here's to living healthier...

Picture of the Week (#12) - Hurricane Irene

Today I am continuing my weekly series that shows my picture of the week. It's just something that struck a chord with me for whatever reason. This week it's a picture of Hurricane Irene. From time to time we are all reminded of the power of nature; something none of us have any control over. Wherever we live in the world there is always the possibility of some kind of natural disaster around the corner and we must live our lives as best we can without paying heed to potentials. We share our planet with forces much bigger than ourselves and that's the way it should be.

Have a great weekend!

(Click picture for original size)

Picture from Boston.Com

New Blood - Melrose Part One

It's nearly done... Just a few more weeks now until my latest novel hits the streets. I'm excited. New Blood is a departure for me from my usual epic fantasy fare. This novel is the first in an Urban Paranormal Thriller series, written for the 16+ YA Market. It is set in the Pacific North-West and could be described as a vampire story with a twist. New Blood tells a story that is liberally laced with power, greed, ambition, death and love. What would you be prepared to sacrifice to have it all? As my tag says:

A single kiss can get a girl killed. But what if he's the most irresistible man you've ever met? What would you do?

This weekend sees final edits and then it's off to the proofers and some more early readers, in order to get production-ready. I'm already salivating at the thought of letting you all get your sticky hands on it. As always, this is a novel that works on many different levels. Of course there's the story, but underneath there's something bigger going on (there always is). Will you dig down deep, or just gloss over while getting caught up in the page-turning story? We'll have to see.

Expect more news over the coming weeks as I finalize this hard-hitting novel. I'll finish the post with a quote from an early reader. Have a great weekend.

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"New Blood reads like season one of an addictive paranormal TV series. The premise takes the power of relationships beyond even the vampire thrill. The characters are fleshed out (except the victims, who are left convincingly dry) and we care enough about our heroine Lucy to dread her ESP-laced migraines almost as much as she does. Add in a paranoia about the people who are really in power - the Anons - and... well, the temptation is to call it a formula for a long and satisfying series. However, Paul Dorset rises above formulaic prose with writing so compelling that only after you catch your breath do you realize the craftsmanship. He tells stories. And as with the best paranormal fiction, the fantasy serves to illustrate some basic truths of the human condition." (reader comment)

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What's To Do? - September

WoW! It's September already and the year is pushing along at a great clip towards its finale. This means it is time to get organized and get some things done. So, what's on my list?

1. New Blood (Melrose Part One): My upcoming YA 16+ Paranormal thriller has fully cooked and is now ready for final edits and preparation for release. The cover is also nearly complete. This means the book will be ready for ARCs in about two weeks and hopefully for release by the end of the month. I am really looking forward to this new book launch
2. Xannu - The Prophecy: The first in my Xannu series, The Prophecy, is currently undergoing a re-edit to make it tighter and close up a few things I've noticed over the years. It's a long job but I'm already halfway through and should be done within the next two weeks. Then it'll be a reprint (with a new publisher) and relaunch to the public as a second edition
3. Xannu - The Healing: The second in my Xannu series, The Healing, is awaiting the same treatment as my first. I'm thinking at this stage this will be an October job.
4. Xannu - The Portal: The latest in my Xannu series, The Portal, is now fully baked and awaiting final edits and tidy up. It was my original intention to launch this book earlier in the year, but circumstances have moved things around a little. My current hope is to have this book market-ready by December

On top of all this, I have my never-ending day job (helping me put money in the bank), the youngest kids return to England, my oldest son comes out in October, my wife and I are off looking for a new place to live (in a new city - more on that another day), the Seattle Sounders are coming down to the wire at the end of a great season, and it's time to do a check on all my original 2011 goals I set back in January.

We all have things we need to do. I'm sure I am no busier than any one of you, my readers. It just seems that way sometimes. Have a great day!