EXPLORATION—FINDING MY AVENUE. I Tried Freelance Along With My Own Writing

By John Irvin

            When I started out as a “full-time writer,” I signed up for Upwork.com and Wealthy Affiliates. W.A. helped me start my first website. I had no idea what I was doing then—looking back, I see the direction I could have gone.

            Funny how you can always look back with 20/20 vision.

            But I now see the whole first year and a half for what it was.

            Exploration.

            I was finding myself you might say. Exploring the avenues of freelance writing, proofreading, copyediting, etc.

            Reading a couple books on being a writer—such as: Make Money As A Freelance Writer–I found the life of a freelance writer is nothing but cold pitching a 100 times every single day. Sadly, that’s not really in me.

Make Money as a Freelance Writer by Gina Horkey and Sally Miller

            Then came the scammers—the thieves, the perverts, the liars. Yeah, I have to state it here. Half of those who offered jobs, either via Upwork or email, were scams. I learned a lot for those experiences though.

            After that year and a half was over, I ended my subscription and my freelance website closed out a month later.

            It took a few months before I found someone to help me start from scratch—I was now focusing on my own books, mine alone. So I need an author website.

            That’s when I found Joanna Penn at the TheCreativePenn.com (Check her out if you’re an author looking for freedom!) She is literally stocked with information and podcasts and everything I needed to begin my Author-Entrepreneur Career!

            I signed on,

got the first free book as the incentive for that, loved it so much I’ve been collecting the rest of the Author Career series since. Only one or two books left!

            Getting my website up and running was easy with her help, the video guide she shares at her site aided me for the most part. Yes, there is room for you to explore on your own. I did that, I’m still learning a few tricks to it, but I like where I’m at. Yes, I know, I’ll change my mind later and want to change up something on the site—but that’s normal.

            Since that new day about a year ago now, I know what my career goal is and what I am now. I am 100% an authorpreneur. Do I have other side hustles? Yes! There is one quote I read, Every millionaire has at least 7 sources of income.

            Now, my goal isn’t to be a millionaire—although that would always be amazing—but rather to be financially independent. Passive income is where it is at!

            Passive income is basically “Money flowing in while you sleep.” It’s scalable income. Non-scalable income is you trading your time for money. That’s your every-day 9-5 normal job. That will get you nowhere.

            Here’s a great starter on ideas for Passive incomes: Passive Income Freedom. I’ll be sharing others as well on the subject in the near future.

            Along with my affiliate blog, I also have my books—each book is a passive income source. So, eventually, I’ll be reaching my independence goal.

            Whatever your dream job is, I believe you can do it. Through trial and error or through the help of others who’ve been where you’re at, whatever your way is. Wherever your journey leads you, never ever give up. Keep going.

            Every one of us has been given a mountain or two in our lives to show they can be moved.

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How Did I Become an Author Entrepreneur—Authorpreneur?

Find Your Passion and Figure out How to Make Money from It

By John Irvin

            When I graduated high school, I thought I was off to college to complete a Pre-Medicine degree. Then it would be off to Medical School after that and finally a three or four year Residency, etc. etc.

            After writing somewhere around 10 or 15 books in High School, I figured my writing was over for the rest of my life. Because who has time for writing books when the real life is where it’s at? A “real” job is what we’re supposed to do. Right?

            Funny how life throws you curves and next thing you know, you’ve graduated college with a Bachelor’s Degree of Arts in Humanities and you’re thinking, Well, maybe I could take the class and obtain a Medical Assistant’s Certification?

            Wrong again.

            I lived with one of my brother’s in Kentucky for the year following my college graduation. I worked a warehouse job dragging in 40 to 50 hours of overtime—sometimes more—per week. I was making good paychecks, but I had no life. I somehow managed to write one book though.

            I decided I had enough in 2014 and moved back to Pensacola, Florida. I worked an Emergency Room Patient Access job as well as pizza delivery for the next couple years, before one friend asked me this question.

            “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”

            I did some soul searching, found some books. By then I knew I wanted to write, but could I really make a living off of my writing? Thankfully, there are more and more books out there on that very subject.

            The answer, yes, you can.

            I quit my full-time job in December of 2016, just a few days before Christmas.

            It has taken trial and error and more trials—tons of reading and researching how to make a website, how to self-publish books, how to write better, how to keep motivated, how to be an Authorpreneur.

            I have to throw in Business for Authors by Joanna Penn is one of my top go-to books. She’s an Authorpreneur with more experience than me. She’s also one of the many examples that you CAN make a living off of writing books.

Business for Authors by Joanna Penn

            I’m reading more and more about how to run this business of mine and I’m slowly seeing promise and potential.

            I haven’t reached my goal yet, but all great things take time.

            You need to find out what your passion is and figure out how to make money doing it. Life is too short to work a job you hate. Life isn’t about working 9-5, go home, binge Netflix and pay bills, then repeat every day, except maybe weekends.

            Yes, it is hard. Yes, there is a huge struggle. Yes, you will wake up barely able to breath from the stress—but you learn to let it go like the ice princess says. You learn to smile when it dawns on you, this is just the first chapter of living your dream!

            Another work, I haven’t read yet except for snippets is Turning Pro: Tap your inner power and create your life’s work by Steven Pressfield.

Turning Pro: Tap Your Inner Power and Create Your Life's Work by Steven Pressfield

            So, chase your passion, chase your dreams. Determine to NEVER give up. You’re just one more day away from success.

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I’m also a Patreon artist–the cool thing about Patreon is it allows people to support artists by monthly pledges which allow the artists to have more time to work on their own passions. Here is my account: PATREON.COM. If you’d like to support me, I would be eternally grateful!

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When You Change Paths, But Keep The Same Destination (My Author Book Review is Changing to my Author’s Corner)

By John Irvin

            Today will be my 104th blog post. The previous 103 are all book reviews. But I’m going to be honest with you. From the experience, I’ve seen, no matter how much I advertised my blogs, the only ones that made any difference, were actually the commentaries on my own published books.

            Yesterday, there was no posting, because I did no blogging. Instead, I did much thinking. Finally, today, as you can see, I’ve decided to change directions with this author blog. I won’t be doing book reviews anymore—at least for awhile.

            I’m keeping my goal though—still trying the affiliate marketing.

            But I will now focus only on my own books and on my author life. It does seem more related to my website—I’ve been wondering if the niche was just not right for my author website so people were just being confused.

            I will keep my Archive though. The Book Reviews are still there, available for anyone wanting to read them. But now I’m jumping onto the new path.

https://johnirvinauthor.com/

            I’m excited. Feeling a little timid, but bearing the determination of a maelstrom within me.

            Today I won’t talk about any books, only wanted to announce my decision and change the title of my blog. I’m calling in John’s Author Corner—not too original, I know. But I think it fits.

            I’ll also be dropping down to only three posts a week. I need more time to focus on my writing as I have several works due over the coming months. So Monday, Wednesday, and Friday will be my new schedule.

            Those of you who’ve subscribed for my newsletter, I’m still going to be sending that out on Friday.

            Hey, changing this focus of my blog will actually help in the near future when I start going on my Book Tours or visiting my bucket list places around the world! Now that I’m no long just writing book reviews, I’ll be able to let folks know what’s going on in my life.

            Although, maybe every once in awhile, I’ll add a little review of a book that I absolutely have to share. But, again, that won’t be the focus.

            It’s a new day, a new week, so many exciting things can happen. Make sure to live life, enjoy and learn from every moment. Chase your dream, whatever it is. We only get one life, make sure it counts.

If you enjoyed this post, you should sign up for my newsletter! I don’t spam and you can unsuscribe at any time. I only send out emails on Fridays. Sign up here: SIGN UP!

I’m also a Patreon artist–the cool thing about Patreon is it allows people to support artists by monthly pledges which allow the artists to have more time to work on their own passions. Here is my account: PATREON.COM. If you’d like to support me, I would be eternally grateful!

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A ONCE UPON A TIME TALE: REAWAKENED, A Review

by Odette Beane

Published by Hyperion

A review by John Irvin

CLICK HERE TO GO AND BUY REAWAKENED!!!

“And where’s home?’ … ‘Storybrooke.’”

            From the back cover blurb:

Emma Swan’s life has been anything but a fiary tale. She’s been on her own since she was abandoned as a baby—that is, until the night of her twenty-eighth birthday, when Henry, a ten-year-old boy, shows up on her doorstep. He’s the son Emma gave up for adoption, and this surprise visit turns her life upside down.

Henry takes Emma back to his home in Storybrooke, Maine, where, Henry claims, all the residents are actually fair tale characters who can’t remember their true identities. And if Henry’s right, that means that his sweet-natured, lonely schoolteacher Mary Margaret Blanchard is really Snow White, the iconic princess…and also Emma’s long-lost mother.

In Fairy Tale Land, we meet Snow White as a bandit on the run, forced into exile by her stepmother, the Evil Queen. Snow’s a young woman learning to become a hero, who will do anything to live happily ever after with her one true love, Prince Charming.

Back in Storybrooke, the closer Emma and Henry become, the harder it is for her to ignore the dark curse that haunts this small New England town and binds her to Mary Margaret. If Emma can learn to accept her destiny as Storybrooke’s savior and break the curse, she just might get the family reunion she’s dreamed about her entire life.

A Once Upon A Time Tale: Reawakened by Odette Beane, A Review

            I have been a fan of Once Upon A Time since shortly after the first season aired years ago. I’ve collected most of the DVDs and re-watch the show. Of course, I don’t know about you, but the way they ended the sixth season was a bit of a disappointment.

            I don’t think “remaking” the entire story went well for them. They could have ended it soundly right then and there. But I had nothing to do with it and I still love the show!

            I adore it so much, I bought this fantastic book—it covers the first season of the show. Not only do I get to smile when I recognise a scene, it’s also vivid in my mind who the characters are and what they look like.

            It’s a great addition to a Once Upon A Time fan’s collection.

            It’s also a sweet romance, fairy tale fantasy adventure for any lovers of that genre. Complete with curses, saviors, dwarves, dragons, swords and sorcery—I find it invigorating.

            So, take my recommendation and click this link to go buy it: REAWAKENED.

As a side note, I am required to inform you that my links provided are affiliate links to the said products. Hey, I’ve got to pay the bills somehow. I hope this is understandable!

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I’m also a Patreon artist–the cool thing about Patreon is it allows people to support artists by monthly pledges which allow the artists to have more time to work on their own passions. Here is my account: PATREON.COM. If you’d like to support me, I would be eternally grateful!

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SHATTERED, Volume 1: Collapse

by John Irvin

A commentary by John Irvin

CLICK HERE TO GO AND BUY ALL SHATTERED COLLAPSE!!!

The solar flare just hit us with an EMP” –Sam Turnover

Book Description:

When a solar flare knocks out the world’s power, world empires shatter into pieces. Anarchy reigns, terror ignites. Will the pieces survive?

A band of former Alabamans join together and form a new country. Rising up against the tyrannical local government with its military cronies, Samuel Turnover and his group of rebels ignite the foundation of an already crumbling society.

Will they be able to build a new country? Will they be able to hold back the tide of oppression? This is a story of the death and rebirth. The old becomes something new. A fiery bird rising from the ashes. What was has to collapse…

Shattered, Volume 1: Collapse by John Irvin, A Commentary/Review

            This is the first installment of my Shattered series—a series about the death of an old empire and her children’s birth of new free and independent nations. The geography of North America will never be the same.

            I must say, even though this was one of the first series I wrote for Kindle and therefore I didn’t know all the ropes at the time—I’m still learning those—this is a favorite of mine.

            This one is the first of five books. Funny thing, I’m going to finally start writing the fifth and final chapter either starting tomorrow or Sunday.

            Once that is finished, I plan to clean the whole series up then put them together in a Complete Collection. That’ll be awesome.

            In the meantime, if you’d like to read this first installment to get a feel for the series, check it out at this link: SHATTERED: COLLAPSE.

As a side note, I am required to inform you that my links provided are affiliate links to the said products. Hey, I’ve got to pay the bills somehow. I hope this is understandable!

If you enjoyed this review, you should sign up for my newsletter! I don’t spam and you can unsuscribe at any time. I only send out emails–usually just focused on whatever book review I’ve written that day–on Fridays. Sign up here: SIGN UP!

I’m also a Patreon artist–the cool thing about Patreon is it allows people to support artists by monthly pledges which allow the artists to have more time to work on their own passions. Here is my account: PATREON.COM. If you’d like to support me, I would be eternally grateful!

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HOW DID IT BEGIN?: The Origins of Our Curious Customs and Superstitions, A Review

by Dr. R. & L. Brasch

Published by MJF Books

A review by John Irvin

CLICK HERE TO GO AND BUY HOW DID IT BEGIN!!!

“The gift of a lock (of hair) was an act of surrender, based on the ancient superstition that the hair was the seat of one’s vital spirit. Whoever had even a single strand of it was able to influence or bewitch the person to whom it belonged.”

            From the back cover blurb:

            Why do we say that cranky people got out of bed on the wrong side?

            Why is it bad luck to whistle at sea?

            What are crocodile tears?

            And what is a grass widow?

            Where did the expression to eat one’s hat come from?

            What is the origin of the best man?

            Why are horseshoes lucky?

            And why do we all eventually kick the bucket?

            Divided into themes like courtship and marriage, table manners, and drinking customs, right through to the extraordinary rituals connected with the armed services, medicine, and the law, How Did It Begin? is wide-ranging, idiosyncratic, erudite, and engaging.

How Did It Begin? The Origins of Our Curious Customs and Superstitions by Dr. R. & L. Brasch

            I saw this book sitting on a shelf in Barnes & Noble and thought it would be so cool to buy that because I simply love learning where various customs or rituals originated.          

            So I grabbed it and am so thankful I did.

            I enjoyed reading this informative, somewhat comical, work on how so many different traditions were started.

            For instance, I never knew why we “break a leg” when we’re about to do something. Or why do we hang lights on our Christmas trees? Why is there a Christmas?

            Where did the idea that opening an umbrella inside brought bad luck? Why do we send Valentine’s Cards?

            There are so many amazing and intriguing questions asked with answers given. If you enjoy learning the when and why about so many different cultural habits, this book is a definite need to add to your shelf!

            So, take my recommendation and click this link to go buy it: HOW DID IT BEGIN?

As a side note, I am required to inform you that my links provided are affiliate links to the said products. Hey, I’ve got to pay the bills somehow. I hope this is understandable!

If you enjoyed this review, you should sign up for my newsletter! I don’t spam and you can unsuscribe at any time. I only send out emails–usually just focused on whatever book review I’ve written that day–on Fridays. Sign up here: SIGN UP!

I’m also a Patreon artist–the cool thing about Patreon is it allows people to support artists by monthly pledges which allow the artists to have more time to work on their own passions. Here is my account: PATREON.COM. If you’d like to support me, I would be eternally grateful!

Follow me on FacebookTwitter, or Instagram. Or email me at john@johnirvinauthor.com