Never forget.

It's been a while.

Mythic Blood has be released for the world to read. Despite the setbacks and sadly roadblock, the book finally has it chance to be everything I hope for it to be.

Looking back though, I remember when this whole fascination with writing started. Today, I had a chance to revisit the one who ignited my passion. My former grade school teacher from grade 6 has moved on to a high school and is guiding students. But I will never forget what he has done for me. It was a simple assignment when I was young. We were told to make a how to take care of pet book, the catch was the animal couldn't be anything ordinary like a dog or cat. It needed to be exotic.

I chose a T-Rex.

Instead of a how to care book, I ended up writing a story about my experience taking care of a large dinosaur. It was so well received by not just my teach, but others as well. I went from class room to class room reading out loud my story. From then on I figured out I had something special.

My teacher however didn't stop there. He was trying to get the book published! He went as far as calling Scholastic books to see if there was any interest. I remember clearly talking to the people of Scholastic books, as they gently explained to me that they only publish books that won an award. I thought I had, since I was the only child in my class going from room to room reading aloud how to take care of a dinosaur!

Sadly, the story didn't get published, but I still have it.

Today I gave thanks to the teacher that started it all. Mr. Leonard, if you are reading this. You know I said it to you in person, but wish to say it again.

THANK YOU!

At a time where I felt I wasn't good at anything, came this magnificent gift. I could tell a story with some help. Since then, I have moved on and toned my craft with fan fiction stories, and now my first published work.

Would I have become a writer if this school project wasn't as good as I thought it was? Hard to say, but in my heart of hearts, I know that because of it, it sparked something. It sparked idea, passion and a means of escape when high school became somewhat of a personal hell. A story to lift my spirits with a life I wish I could have, but knew it wasn't possible. Yet when you see it on paper and could believe it could be, it made the world seem a little brighter. It was a land where those who did make fun of me, could never enter or change it.

An escape that became a passion, which brings me to here and now.

I have many other books in my mind, ready to be released. It will take time for them to get onto paper, but it appears that these stories have a bright future ahead of them.

I say this now to you who read this blog. Don't forget the teachers who inspired you. They are just as much part of your journey, I have one other I wish to meet, I just hope I can find her.

For now, I have thanked but one of many teachers who have inspired me.

I hope to thank the rest in the near future.

Until then...

Hurt and feeling broken

            Emotionally drained, and creatively crippled. It’s the best way to describe how I feel about now. It seems no matter what I try to do, no matter how patient I wait or understanding I am, I cannot feel any less than taken advantage of. I know and understand life happens, I live it too! And yet when one thing after another occurs beyond my control, I cannot help but feel helpless.

            In truth, I have had a quarter of my yearly income sink into my book for purposes of making it a better story, to have it become something more than I couldn’t bring it to be. Promise after promise was made, and I understood, I didn’t mind waiting a few weeks more, a few months more. Yet, when it comes down to the wire, when it was PROMISED to be completely… I felt betrayed.

            GREATLY betrayed.

            Did I not give enough notice? Was this all my doing?

            How could someone who has a book for nearly a year not have it ready?

            Am I nothing more than an unknown author, whose project could wait another day as other, more established authors get their work completed? Did they even really start on this project or was this a back burner deal? Was it because I had no choice but to pay in installments, and yet still worked my ass off to get the money to them as fast as I could with the sense that my work would be treated the same way?

            It has become a harsh lesson and experience for me. Whether or not I will be requiring this editor’s services again will depend on the book itself when it finally returns to my hands and I see a difference in it since sending it on its way. I have come close to breaking down in tears, for those who know me, it’s not something I do. Yet time and time again, I have come close. Even as I write this I can feel the tears welding in my eyes.

            Over 14 years of work, 14 years of my life has gone into that single book, that one piece of work. I only feel denied to have it.

            I cannot hold any negativity in this, it does me no good or anyone else. I will not go on and smear the name of the editor I hired. As I said, life happens and I do not hold it against them.

            I only wished that they didn’t constantly get my hopes up, make me promises not even they could keep. If they had too many project to do, I would have understood instead of preparing to have books ready for this single event I plan for months in advance.

             I have great intent on going to a local comic con this year with the book in hand to gain hopefully some sort of interest. I don’t even know if it will happen anymore. There are people I admired who never come to Canada, and yet they are here for the first time in ten years or so doing public appearances. The one time I have to give them a book as a thank you for the inspiration, the years of creativity and for being an unlikely muse.

            I may never get another chance like this.

            It was the whole reason I took time off of work, despite my hours no longer being there. It’s the reason why I paid the extra money to go for a day or two more in hopes of seeing everyone I wanted to see and giving my thanks. It is the one place I have on making connections and hope to farther my book for the better.

            I need a miracle.

            Simple as that.

            

Update!!

I never thought I would be on the other side of this kind of subject.

Before I got accepted for Mythic Blood, I found myself seeking any and all authors for advice as to what I should do, where to go and how to promote myself. Most recently though, I found myself on the other side, where people have come to ask me for advice and what they should be doing.

It’s rather interesting, so I thought I would share this with you.

After I got picked up for publication, I began looking into advertisement. Vista Print in my option has some of the best methods of promoting your work. Banners, business cards, postcards, magnets and so much more. Keep an eye on this site and subscribe to their emails. Some times they have AWESOME deals. One such instance was a .99 sale! Granted it’s .99 for a certain item and only one of them. But you can make multiple orders, and shipping isn’t bad.

Second, make certain your book is everything it is and can be. Most recently I had invested in an editor, even though my book is already out, it had come to my attention that some errors had slipped through the cracks. It was decided with agreement from my publisher that the book was in need of a redo. That has started, and the new version will hopefully be out by March.

It’s going to be a long and interesting year. I will be going to the World Horror Convention as a published author for the first time. I cannot wait on that, as well my publisher wants to have a convention for his authors in California. And I have a long overdue visit to my artist in France. He and his family have asked me for three years to come and visit, and I have yet to make it. This year though, I hope I will!

Speaking of my artist friend, Alexandre Tuis.

He has made the cover for the second book… oh… and the second book is due out sometime this year if you can believe it! But for now, here’s a teaser of GRIMSHAW!

let me assure you, when you see the full image of him, he will take your breath away!

But for now, this is all I have to offer. I hope you enjoy the update and perhaps a future post... I really should get back into blogging.

Until then....

News update

I should have written this a LONG time ago… well at least by the end of February.

            As I had mentioned in pervious blogs, I was waiting to see if my book, Mythic Blood was going to be picked up. I had submitted to a small press publisher in the states by the name of Black Bed Sheets. Well, near the end of February… I got the response.

            Mythic Blood had been accepted and would be released this fall!

            Man, why I delayed in telling you this to my… five blog readers… oh… right… you guys are on twitter and got the news there.

            Needless to say, I have been preparing now for what will come. I have already looked into marketing ideas, I have saved up money for the next Comic con in Toronto for 2013 and have looked into personalized M&Ms for marketing purposes.

            With that in mind, my focus has turned to the second book, and yet I have found myself in a little trouble with it, mainly the lack of inspiration to write it. Although, looking over it now, I see that I may need to remove some characters and save them for another story to tell. Until I can work out the kinks and see what can be done, the story has come to me in bits and pieces. Soon though, I hope to find my inspiration and have something second novel worthy.

            Believe it or not, the third and fourth book are nearly done! I have had the third one written for a while but haven’t touched it in a few years. Perhaps it’s time to look it over… once the second book is completed.

            Until then, I shall leave the blog as it.

            That is until I can get my ass in gear and write the second book! -.-

On my mind... and there's a lot.

Sometimes you just need to vent.

            I don’t know about you, but nothing makes me feel lower than learning that a new carpet is more important than health and safety of a worker at my work place. Just recently as you may have guess, we got a new carpet! Yet with the way our stock arrives (on skids that can be hundreds of pounds on a single load) is left down at the end of the hallway when it has to be taken across to the other side of the building.

            Before, it was placed before the doorways of the room they were destined to be in, since the deliveryman had an electrical lift to do it. But since the new carpet (that apparently costs 50,000 dollars) head office wants to keep it ‘in the best condition possible for as long as possible’.

            In other words, everything had to be moved by hand down a hallway on small carts and at least twenty trips.

            My brother works hard and normally he can get this done on his own in half the time when everything is where it needs to be. But now, my own workplace is more concerned about the damn carpet that WILL be thrown up on in just a matter of time, than to have the stock placed away properly, safety and more efficiently.

Nice to know where the employees stand on the ‘food chain’ of priorities.

            We’re below the carpet.

            Well I am going to sit down and see what I can write out tonight, to be honest, I haven’t written anything in a few months. Some other things have been on my mind, but it’s about time I sit down and start writing again. Who knows, it can be my way out!

            As an update, my campaign on Indiegogo has finished, I didn’t raise any donations, but I am not the least bit upset or concerned. Sometimes it’s best to do things yourself when you really want it. Besides, perhaps it means that I shouldn’t rush it.

            Recently I have sent the novel of Mythic Blood to Black Bed Sheets for consideration to be published for their 2012 line of books for the summer. Keep your fingers crossed for me and hope for the best. I really like what they have to offer and know the people who run Black Bed Sheets. They are more than willing to lend you an ear and give their honest opinion. Here’s hoping and I will keep you posted.

            Recently I have been painting masks for some of my vampire characters, some have turned out great, others I still think I need work on. But that’s what the masks are for, to better visualize the character and personality.

            On a recent note, one has really come to light! Thank to the lead singer David Draiman of Disturbed, quite frankly, I think this character is just for him! We’ll have to wait and see how that turns out, but inspiration can come from anyone and anywhere!

            I hope that my friends and readers in the States have a wonderful and joyous Thanksgiving. Here’s to you, and be careful when it comes to shopping on the black Friday deals!

            In the mean time, I have a free short story for you to read, it’s a lead up to Mythic Blood, it was once the prolog, but found it took up too much space and attention from the main story. I hope you enjoy, and comments are most welcomed.

The sample can be obtained through this link, or (believe it or not) Itunes! Click on the book section of Itunes and type in Shannon Lee or A taste of Mythic Blood. It’s free to download.

Until next time.

Taking a drastic step

            To be honest with you, I hadn’t really thought about going this far.

            Recently I started a fund raising campaign with Indiegogo for my novel.

            It’s all really strange to be asking people to donate money for my book to be released. I had relied on myself if I wanted something badly enough, that I would save up the money to do it. Like everyone else though, times got a little tight. I am not going to make this into a sob story so let’s move on shall we?

            As of late, I had learned that I could hire an editor who is renowned for vampires. They have edited many novels and are one of the most recognizable names in the genre at this time. It just that it would cost me roughly two pay cheques to get enough money to have them read over the book and then the editing that needs to be done. It’s a lot of money, but well worth it.

            Also, I am starting to save up for a new computer. An Imac desktop computer, expensive and yet they are most reliable. As well I can back up my stories onto another hard drive and can go between the one my family currently owns and the one that will be going in my room. I am in need of the peace and quite, as well, I’ve been hogging the computer at home where when it needs to be shared by 5 other people.

            Does anyone else feel the same way as I do?

            Well I am giving it a try to see if there are those who would be interested in helping me out. Sadly I don’t have much to offer them. Except for those who donate in the high numbers. The best I can do for the maximum donation is to make them a vampire in a later story, and if requested, they can be killed off in a blood manner. Apparently a lot of people have asked me this at if they are written into one of my stories, if their character could die a horrible, horrible death. Well, I do my best to keep people happy!

            I will try to post video updates on indiegogo and see if that generates more interest. I am not the best looking person to be in a video, but let’s see what I can do!

            Well, that’s all for now on this end. I shall start my test to see if I can raise the money or start working my ass off and get it myself.

            Wish me luck!

            Oh, if you are interested in the campaign, click blow to see for yourself.

     

           Indie Gogo- Bring Mythic Blood to life!

Gah, writer's block!

            I keep telling myself I am going to sit down and write, I’ll do it by golly. Yet when I get to the computer screen as if late, I draw a blank… seriously, nothing comes to mind nor can I bring myself to write out what needs to be written.

            It’s been going on for nearly two weeks now. I got over some of my old stories and add new details and take some things out. I am glad though the novels I have been looking over still got a ways to go, as of late it appears that I am forcing the story, rather than letting the reader take hold and thinking for themselves.

            Sorry, it’s been a long few days for me as of late. Still, I got to get myself to start writing something, I have to. And yet it is still the second novel that is resisting me! I know what I want to write, I just need the proper words for it.

            Damn, you think this would get easier over time?

            Well Anywho, as a distraction, I’ve set up my garden for the summer time. I am even making a smaller standing garden and it will hopefully be up by the end of the week.

            Funny story about that, and it happened today actually.

            Things had just come together for me when it came to purchasing items. One, at the supermarket, I got some red peper for the night’s dinner. Normally they are 2.99 a pound… so three guesses what I am growing this year!

            Back to the story

            I get up to the cash register and they come in marked down to 1.79!

            Awesome sauce!

            Second, I went to pick up the wood needed for the garden and new curtains for my room. My older brother is a stickler for detail and holding companies to their policies. (he could have been a damn good lawyer if that’s what he wanted to be.) He was getting the same curtains as me. Last ones in the store too. So we get up to the register and they come in at a higher price when they were on sale. So he asked them. “Do you uphold the retail law?”

            The cashier nodded her head and we saved nearly fifteen dollars on the curtains! Nice huh? Oh and I got a free board of wood too! Things were just coming up Shannon today!

            But once I got home… I still couldn’t sit down and write!

            I need to get out of this rut and start something else, find other activities to distract my mind and perhaps the ideas will finally come. Perhaps it’s too many characters? Or I need to do some more reading to get the old brain box working!

            Until next time…