Author Journey – Page 20 – John Irvin, Author

September 17, 2020September 14, 2020

Writing, Listening, and Observing.

Writers are meant to listen and observe the world around us so we cane have more substance for our writing…

By John Irvin

I find the more I observe people and situations, the more I have to write about later. People don’t realise the unsaid messages they give off.

At present, I’m listening to three different podcasts to help me along this business journey with my two jobs as writer and freelance proofreader.

Joanna Penn and her “The Creative Penn Podcast” has always had a wealth of information and ideas for this indie author. She’s a fellow indie author who has taken her business to the six figures! I’m always finding goodies on that show.

I’ve been collecting her books as well and claim her as a authorpreneur mentor.

The second podcast would be the “Six Figure Authors” podcast, hosted by Andrea, Joseph, and Lindsay. They’ve been a funny trio, answering questions from their listeners as well as discussing various ideas on how to market your books.

The third channel I have tuned in on my podcast app is Work-At-Home Heroes by Caitlin Pyle, she is an advanced freelance proofreader with a side hustle of helping others enjoy the freedom of the freelance world.

I’ve conversed with Caitlin before and find her an encouraging mentor in this side hustle of mine. Her podcasts always have good info to chew on as well.

Speaking of ideas and information, I’ve been considering returning to an every-single-day-blog-and-vlog phase taking my readers to new heights as I advance this blog and my YouTube vlog over the hill.

I’m thinking, after 169 articles, returning to a 90-day run, posting every day, maybe I’ll be able to launch this business higher. The thing is, I need to write all those blogs and film all those episodes first in advance.

Just throwing ideas at the wall right now as I prepare to market my books in the bookstore now as well as that upcoming Book Tour, hope you don’t mind.

Speaking of that Book Tour—the Toward the Pacific Author Book Tour for Spring 2021—we’re making our way to the first milestone and with your help we can get there. You can join our supporters who have already donated and launch my team to new heights!

What do you say?

Toward the Pacific Author Book Tour 2021

Click through this link or the picture and it’ll take you to our homepage and you add to our climbing pile as we prepare for an amazing Book Tour this coming spring!

gf.me/u/xp24cf

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!

I’ve now been hosting a YouTube channel called John Irvin, Author Journey Series. Check it out at YOUTUBE.COM/AUTHORJOURNEY

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

September 10, 2020September 7, 2020

Reading Books, Drafting Books, and Publishing Books

Which Books am I reading now and what about my second drafts?

By John Irvin

For this one-hundredth-and-sixty-eighth blog post, I’m going to chat a little about what’s going on in my book life.

Last week, on the 3^rd of September—a week ago—my third novel in the Longevity series, Wandering, finally came out in Hardcover through IngramSpark.

Ihon Iraes travels through time and lands, searching for the true source of who he is. He’s lost so many loved ones, he’s not sure what makes him tick anymore. Somehow, through all his wandering, he discovers friendships in each place that propel him forward.

Will he find what he’s looking for? Will he at least find a reason to settle down again?

While this book was coming out and last week’s blog popped up on the internet, I was flying up to visit my family in Kentucky. I’m up here for another week and enjoying the time spent with them.

But, I’m keeping my writing going—I hold to the old adage: a non-writing writer is a monster courting insanity—so I’m happy. I can spend time with my brothers and parents yet still keep my writing going.

Magic’s Time Split has six books published and four more to come soon!

I’ve finished the first drafts of the last four books in the Magic’s Time Split series, it’s now the second drafts round and I’m steadily working through that. Thankfully, I’m still on track and this series will be published on time it appears!

Though I’m making sure to spend more time this vacation with the family, I’m keeping my reading up. Every man and woman should read for at least fifteen minutes EVERY single day!

For now, it’s only fiction books on my list—yes, I usually have a reading list, most of the time it’s three books at a time. Sometimes I’ve read up to four at a time. I usually read a chapter in each per day. I feel more accomplished that way, I guess.

But, right now, being on vacation, it’s only two.

Tyrant’s Tomb in the Trials of Apollo series by Rick Riordan and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling.

Both great works of fiction and I recommend each series!

Make sure you keep your reading up and grow your mind. Like the body, the mind needs exercise and reading is that exercise.

In other news, remember that artist website called Patreon? It is a place people can go to support creatives like myself by sending either monthly payments or per-work payments.

I started off with $5 per month tiers and gave those supporters a weekly short story serial, but that was cancelled at the beginning of this year.

I’ve been listening to a podcast from other authors and they mentioned having a $1 per month tier for people who just enjoy supporting authors—kind of a tip-jar—but don’t really care about receiving anything.

There are people out there like that, one of my Patrons is actually like that. Even after I cancelled the serial until further notice, I reached out to him because I didn’t want him giving me money for nothing. But, he told me he just likes to help me out.

Warms the heart, doesn’t it? Knowing with all the critics out there, some people do actually still believe in me and my dreams!

So, I’m going to set that tier on Patreon for anyone else who would like to do that. I don’t expect much, but I definitely love and appreciate those who do throw dollars at me each month. Those little extra singles do help!

Now to the GoFundMe fundraiser for the Spring 2021 Author Book Tour, it’s still open if you’d rather throw cash at that to help that dream be realised. Now that I’ve got my books in-store at Bodacious Bookstore & Café, I can start preparing to launch the tour next year and start there with the first Author Event.

But this will only be possible with your help! Here’s the link:

gf.me/u/xp24cf

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’ve now been hosting a YouTube channel called John Irvin, Author Journey Series. Check it out at YOUTUBE.COM/AUTHORJOURNEY

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

September 3, 2020August 31, 2020

A Dream Coming True in a Local Bookstore

If you have a dream, don’t ever give up on it, like me with my books!

By John Irvin

If you’ve been following my YouTube or any of my social networks, then you would have seen last week—a week exactly from today—a dream came true for me. Three of my thirty published works have made it into a bookstore here in Pensacola, Florida.

Here is the announcement video on my YouTube channel—it’s not too long, just a couple minutes.

Yes, it was a surreal moment in my life that I’ll never forget. Bodacious Bookstore and Café are already my favourite bookstore in town right now. The people who work there are amazing also and understanding too. They seemed to be as excited as I was while we discussed the deal then the manager, Alina, opened a space on top of the bookcase for me.

She’s awesome.

Then, while she stepped away, I got the film for the announcement and went on my way so I wouldn’t scare any customers away.

From what I know right now, we’ve already sold one copy. There are only six copies there for this first quarter. We’re using them to see which books sell so we’ll know for next quarter.

If you are visiting Pensacola or live in Pensacola, I recommend heading down to Bodacious Bookstore and Café, checking out their menu—they’ve got everything from paninis to coffee to soup!

And, of course, they now have three of my books.

Alina did ask if any of them were stand-alones or part of a series.

The three books on display are Shattered, the Complete Collection, Longevity, Book 1: Revelation, and StarQuest: A Novel—which itself is part of an Anthology which will be growing next year.

So yes, each one is part of its own world.

Speaking of Longevity, have I announced Book 3: Wandering is out in print today? I’ll have to share the link next week.

Right now, while you’re reading this blog, I’m packing for a trip to Kentucky!

Family trip.

Well, I hope you have an amazing rest of your week and enjoy this share I just brought to the table. Believe me, this is proof that dreams do come true. It can only get better from here too!

Keep chasing your dreams, my friend!

Also, while you’re at it, hop on over to my team’s GoFundMe Fundraiser page and join our supporters so, next year when all this mess is cleared up, we’ll have our total goal raised and I can go on my first Book Tour—which, by the way, will be starting at Bodacious Bookstore and Café since they’re the first brick-and-mortar to take on my books!

Here’s the link: gf.me/u/xp24cf

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’ve now been hosting a YouTube channel called John Irvin, Author Journey Series. Check it out at YOUTUBE.COM/AUTHORJOURNEY

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

August 27, 2020August 24, 2020

Finishing Up a Ten Volume Series…

Could humans seriously survive a timeline-altering catastrophe like Magic being unleashed on the globe and killing Technology?

By John Irvin

I can’t believe it! I know it’s cliché, but I seriously feel like it was yesterday when I started out on this adventure with my heroes of the Magic’s Time Split series.

I started writing the dark fantasy/alternate timeline series back in late 2018. I spent the first few months gathering up background information and researching various articles for the time period settings.

I wrote out profiles for the original five main characters—though, one of them didn’t get as much spotlight as I expected he would. Funny how characters do that to us authors many times. They’re stubborn people, just like their creators—sometimes more. I have a set outline, but they have minds of their own.

Anyways, my five characters are Gael Ilan, Jenna Ganne, Levi Vorel, Jessica Biar, and Colin Faller. They lead a group of families back through time to Hidden Lake, Montana Territory in the year 1815.

If you’ve been keeping up with my blog, my newsletter, or the books themselves, you already know what happens.

But yes, I finished Book 9’s first draft—When Gods Battle—and am working my way through the final installation: Fallen Star’s Rebirth. Some mysteries are being uncovered before my own eyes and a few plot twists have taken me by surprise in the shower.

This is usually where I get my plot twists, by the way. It’s either in the shower or late at night when I’m trying to fall asleep.

I’m interested in seeing what plays out with this last book in the series. I wonder what the epilogue is going show.

After I’m finished, it’ll be the revision and editing stage, then I’ll begin publishing these last four volumes one after the other by the end of November of this year. It’s been a long, but swell ride. I’m going to miss my friends.

Now what exactly would happen if Magic was unleashed on the world and Tech was obliterated? Or at least, what is my perspective? By reading this series, you get to see a variation of said perspective. Naturally, there are things that would go differently, I’d think, if this scenario truly did play out.

Personally, I wonder how Gael and Colin managed to build the time machine at the very beginning. Oddly, I saw things going in a different direction with that, but never mind.

When the Red Crystal was shattered the Magic stirred something deep within the bowels of this planet. Being the year of 1815, technology was pretty advanced, but not as advanced as today…naturally. They had guns, they had electricity, but still hadn’t come up with air travel or the train!

These United States were still infants and their federation under the new Constitution was tense at best. The President at the time was James Madison and only the fourth in the office. He was two years away from ending his term.

So would America survive a Magical take-over? Who knows? Would any nations of Earth survive such a world-wide event? I mean, they did have magic thousands of years ago…according to ancient legends and myths. But, with modern man—especially in the early 1800s—Magic was taboo. Ever heard of Salem?

You can imagine the panic in the streets, the riots, the insanity. With mythical creatures suddenly flooding out of the forests around them, I’m pretty sure a lot of the States probably managed to get wiped out quickly, at least cut in half. I’ve portrayed this in a very different light in Book 5, Beasts Will Change.

Not to mention the US Government always seems to enjoy tampering with things that don’t belong to them. So leave it to them to unleash a viral agent turning themselves into Vampires like in Book 4, When Nights Bleed.

Over in Europe, I’m sure there would still be a few strong countries able to survive the monsters and creatures of their nightmares. But, many of the humans to succumb to the various viruses or diseases or mutations that come with Magic’s reign.

I actually start to share maps of the world regions in the later books. I’ll share two of them here in this post.

So, in answering the question: yes, I believe mankind could survive a new timeline ruled by Magic. But there would be so many other sentient races arriving on the scene with this new era. Like the were-Beasts and, my favourite, the Fae. Tir Na Nog—the home realm of the Faerie peoples is reconnected with Earth, its portals opening back in the ancient moors of Ireland and reawakening to bring a major plot role.

Then, of course, there are the Immortals. The Ancients are one faction while the newbies build a home there at Hidden Valley, Montana—which, by the way, becomes a new kingdom of its own.

For more information, check out the series page: MAGIC’S TIME SPLIT.

This series—though only in ebook format on Kindle and Nook—will be coming with me on the Book Tour in Spring 2021! Please, join my team’s supporters by donating and helping us reach out funding goal for the Tour. Click through this link gf.me/u/xp24cf and send us your gift.

We’re hoping to send out gifts to all our donors, but we won’t be able to do that unless we reach our total goal. Thank you ahead of time!

Have a safe rest of your week.

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’ve now been hosting a YouTube channel called John Irvin, Author Journey Series. Check it out at YOUTUBE.COM/AUTHORJOURNEY

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

August 20, 2020August 17, 2020

Life Gives and Life Takes Away.

The longer I go through life, the more I see everything comes in waves, you learn to surf those waves or get pulled under.

By John Irvin

Speaking of waves, this past week has been one sucker punch and one Christmas present back and forth with me.

Okay, some of you who’ve been following me, know that my other job is freelance proofreading. It helps paying the bills while the book royalties can’t for the present.

I also enjoy reading and I’ve always been a secret grammar police. Here lately, it’s been less than secret.

Well, I started the freelance proofreading business back when I left my pizza delivery job in February. The official start date was New Year’s Day of 2020.

Thing is, I use an iPad for that work and basically the whole proofreading persona in order to keep it separate from my author persona. Having the iPad has been a blessing and a half and made life so much easier.

By the way, if you’re a writer and need an extra pair of eyes from someone who cares about words, you can check out my website at IrvinProofreading.com or go to my Fiverr profile for some steep discounts: www.fiverr.com/irvinproofreade

That being shared, because of Covid and a slew of financial setbacks, I’m having to return the iPad for now. It hurts, y’all! I’ve had the thing since December 2019, so yeah, tough setback there. But, you roll with the punches.

Then there’s the positive. Saturday morning I got the confirmation from Bodacious Bookstore and Café here in Pensacola, Florida that I can come in on 27 August and hand in the consignment paperwork along with copies of three of my printed books! That was amazing. I felt things were finally happening.

Honestly, having my books in actual brick-and-mortar bookstores has been on my wishlist for years! Now it’s about to come true. If they sale great, then the consignment will renew with better conditions and also, perhaps I can take this new ammo to the other bookstores in town who’ve rejected previously!

Things are looking up in that direction.

I’m also hoping, with those facts, people will see that I’m actually serious about this whole thing and actually start donating to the Book Tour fundraiser over on GoFundMe! We have almost $9,000 to go. You could really help out with that part of the dream by sending us a gift.

Click through to join our Supporters and Donate to the Book Tour Fundraiser!

So, basically, life comes in waves. There’s the ebb and the flow and the mountains and valleys. You learn to roll with them. Be willing to let some things go while better things come in.

You trip, you fall, you get beat up, but what you do is: never give up.

Until next week, y’all have a great life.

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’ve now been hosting a YouTube channel called John Irvin, Author Journey Series. Check it out at YOUTUBE.COM/AUTHORJOURNEY

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

August 13, 2020August 11, 2020

The End of the World and the Land of My Childhood.

How Ukraine had a role in one of my favourite novellas set in a nuclear apocalypse about two people driven together by destiny.

By John Irvin

I can’t believe we’re already halfway done with August. Dude, those Romans sure knew how to make the calendar seem like time was racing faster and faster!

Here is this month’s YouTube episode!

Anyone who has known me for a little while, will begin to notice, sometimes I start spouting what sounds like mumbo-jumbo at random times. Usually, I try to explain what I’ve said and in what language I’ve said.

Usually, I get weird looks.

What can I say, I’ve lived in a different world than most Americans.

This language that is dear to my heart is native to another land that is dear to my heart: Ukraine.

I was gifted with a childhood in Eastern Europe and the majority of those years was spent in the nation of Ukraine—the breadbasket of the region. Though it’s been over a decade since last I saw her, I spent enough of my life to always cherish that beautiful country.

The first year my family and I lived in Ukraine we spent it at the Capital of Kyiv. We then moved to the western major city of L’viv (City of the Lion). There are many statues of lions all over that history-rich place!

One of my favourite spots to visit in L’viv was an ancient castle ruin at the crest of a mountain in the middle of the city. We found many castles on our road trips in Ukraine.

There’s another place, the Carpathian Mountains, we could see just a tiny bump of their chain from our bedroom window where we lived. We lived in a two-story stucco house with a metal roof. It was seated on about an acre of land in the middle of a village outside the city of L’viv.

I am proud to say, I grew up a country boy and I have stories—though I’m only thirty years old at the time of this blog writing—that I can relate to stories from American grandparents. There have been many times, a group of elderly people will be chatting about “back in the day” and I’ll jump in. They’ll look at me and comment how I’m too young to have such experiences.

I get to say, “I cheated, I grew up in a third world country.”

Thankfully, I can say, Ukraine is no longer third world and has seen much prosperity. That was until Russia invaded her a few years back. But, this isn’t a political post.

Because I miss the land of my childhood, sometimes it will pop up at random intervals in my book journey.

Like in the short novella, Pochatok, which is set in San Fransisco and stars a young man who is the son of a military leader and is thrust together in a life-altering-world-ending experience with a high school flame who happens to be a Ukrainian transplant.

Her name is Lynda Brodunvich and she’s got red hair. Her parents brought her over to these United States and she remembers the hero from high school.

The attacks take our young couple deep into the bowels of an old war bunker where they wait out the nuclear holocaust. In the intensity of the situation, the old flame is reignited. Will it be up to them to repopulate the world? Are they the only humans left on the planet?

Check out this crazy little book here:

**$1.99 on Kindle ($0.00 on Kindle Unlimited!)**

Speaking of links, remember that Author Book Tour Fundraiser my team and I were talking about recently on social media? You can click through the photo or link below to go join our supporters and help us realize this dream for Spring 2021!

**Click through to join our Supporters!**

Until next week, y’all have a great life.

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’ve now been hosting a YouTube channel called John Irvin, Author Journey Series. Check it out at YOUTUBE.COM/AUTHORJOURNEY

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