Tag: youtube vlog

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I have Returned and Here’s the Upcoming Plans

I can’t believe we’re already twenty days into November!

by John Irvin

Okay, so I thought I’d already blogged the first week into November, but come to find out, no it’s not here. Weird.

Time gets away from me these days.

I have an excuse for last week’s absence. I was literally absent from my computer. I took the annual camping trip with friends to Oak Mountain State Park in Alabama.

But, now I’ve returned with more zest to accomplish more goals. I love how nature does that to me. It’s like a natural refresh or recharge. Not that I’m a robot or anything.

Anyhoo, you ever get something done and think, phew! I feel so accomplished and I made it through. Then you listen to the work you finished and the audio seems so quiet you’re disappointed with your life?

Yeah, me too.

That’s what happened to today’s YouTube vlog. It took a lot of gathering pictures and audio recording and background music. Then I published it and listened and… YUCK!

I can barely hear myself.


So, for today, I’ll just share the transcription below and next week, hopefully, I’ll do better. Thanks for understanding!

YouTube Episode 123 Transcription:

It’s been over a month since I last posted a vlog. There was a reason for that. You recall how my vlog normally coincides with my blog?

Well, the past few weeks, the blogs have been a sub-series about my dream cast for the first three books in my Longevity series. And, since I would have to post pictures, in order to keep away from copyright issues, I decided to forgo the vlog side of it.

My readers could simply google the actors and actresses while they read the articles.

It was enjoyable and I’d love to see these movies come about within the next couple of years. Of course, I’d have to have a little face time in each one, I’d be a random Scotsman in a kilt running across the background in a scene or plowing a field in France in another scene, depending on which movie.

Then I finished that fantasy and went on a camping trip with friends last weekend, so there was no blog either.

We’ve returned safe and sound and now I’ve been working on an outline for my upcoming work.

I’m finishing up the first draft to an old book idea I conceived years ago. It’s called Strangers to the Realm. It has elves, orcs, faeries, ancient prophecies, parallel realms, and blossoming romance.

I plan to finish that before the end of November—this is possible, I only have four chapters left to write.

Then I’ll switch gears and work on a short proofreading book for my independent proofreading business. I’ve been told by several entrepreneurs and influencers that this would do well for the credibility for my business, so I’m going to try it.

Then it’s finally back to the world of Longevity. A brief summary again.

Longevity, Book 1: Revelation is about Sir Ihon Iraes discovering he is not human, he’s from the Wolf-Born Race. Then he goes on his first adventure. There’s love, grief, self-discovery, action, and mystery.

Book 2: Independence: Sir Ihon returns to the world of men to find his native country in the middle of a war for independence. He meets the famed Sir William Wallace and becomes best friends. There’s plot twists and world travelling as with the first book.

Book 3: Wandering: Still not out in print, but in ebook format, that will be fixed soon. Sir Ihon finds himself in inner and outer turmoil thanks to Zandra the Immortal. It takes wandering throughout the world and meeting so many different renowned historical figures for him to find himself again.

And when I return to that world next month in December, I plan to start where I left off. I’ve already written the first draft for Book 4: Revolution. So, I’ll begin with the first draft of Book 5: Treason and over the next year make my way through Book 6: Discovery and Book 7: Premonition to finally completing the first draft of the final book in this main series, Book 8: Extinction.

This series has been eleven years in the making. One more year to go—I can’t believe I’m this close. Of course, it’ll probably take a whole year after that to get through the second and third drafts then editing and proofreading and designing cover art. But who knows, we shall see! I’m excited.

Well, there’s the plan, y’all. And hey Magic’s Time Split was ten books and I finished and published all those, so this is possible for the foreseeable near future.

Until next time, sign up for my newsletter and get your free copy of Magic’s Time Split, Book 2: When Kingdoms Arise.

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

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A Question-and-Answer Session for today’s Blog

What am I? I’m an Author.

By John Irvin

First, before we start, I want to bring up the fact that I did publish the series finale for my Patreon-exclusive Ikkilion Chronicles last weekend. It felt so good and a bit bittersweet to say farewell to Pwyll and Fea Libane. But I’m happy I accomplished something else.

What am I going to do next for Patreon? The only way that can be answered is if you become a sponsor here on my page:

Patreon Irvinnovelist

While I’ve been steadily writing steadily every day in my Strangers to the Realm novel, I’m also looking at getting to know more people on mostly Instagram and LinkedIn. It really is all about engagement and content creation and making connections.

So, here’s a little Q&A for today’s blog. I’ll also work on this for my YouTube vlog for today as well. Here is the link for your viewing pleasure.

            First question: Have you ever gotten reader’s block?

            Answer: Yes, I’ll admit, there have been days where I simply don’t feel like reading. That’s mostly from exhaustion, I think. So, I understand—to a point—when my friends say they just don’t feel like reading. But there does come a point where I make myself get back into reading and I find I wonder why I’d been blocked in the first place.

            Second question: If you could tell your younger writer self anything, what would it be?

            Answer: Have patience. Don’t be so quick to self-publish a book. Make sure to hire a better editor and be willing to wait and save up for a good artist. Quality takes time.

            Third question: As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?

            Answer: That’s easy, I’ve already chosen. A wolf. Many of my books have variations of werewolves. They are such magnificent creatures and can teach us humans a thing or two, such as loyalty, faithfulness to one’s spouse, community, etc.

            Fourth question: What does literary success look like to you?

            Answer: I think I’ve finally decided what this looks like to me. Literary success, to me, would look like me being able to buy a house with the book royalties alone and paying off the mortgage in less than ten years.

            Fifth and last question: Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?

            Answer: Yes, I definitely read all my books’ reviews. So far, I’ve had one bad one and it was ridiculous. I don’t respond to negative reviews, I’ll laugh and move on. Good reviews are highly encouraging and I appreciate them so much. If there is good constructive criticism in a review, I’ll take it to heart.

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

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News, Updates, and Goals

The Twentieth Episode is out on Patreon, and My Brain is Out Planning the Rest of the Summer

By John Irvin

            So, you know about my Patreon. I’m a creator over on that artist-focused website. I’ve got my own profile and my own single tier level. I call it my tip jar. But, it only works if people actually tip.

            Do I sound like I’m desperate? Because I’m actually not, I’ve been doing all right running and working my independent proofreading business. But when it comes to my writing life, it is definitely a reward to see my work is appreciated.

            The Ikkilion Chronicles is Patreon-exclusive, which means, it will not be published anywhere else. The only way you can read it is to subscribe as a one-dollar-a-month patron. There will also be extra goodies in the near future too. So, don’t miss out.

            Before I continue, here’s the link to my Patreon, so you can join in the world:

https://www.patreon.com/irvinnovelist

            If you’ve been keeping up with my author journey, you’ll know that I’m also running a YouTube channel. I may not post EVERY week, but I do try to post often. They usually run about two to three minutes long just giving updates or promoting one of my books or a book I’ve been reading.

            Make sure you subscribe by clicking through the link below.

            In other news, I’ve started the first draft for The First of All, a legend novella in the Longevity series world. If you know about Longevity, you know there have been three books published. Revelation and Independence (Books 1 and 2) are in hardcover, paperback, and ebook format. Book 3, Wandering, is in ebook only for now. If I remember correctly, it is the latest book I’ve published and that was last year.

            I’ve taken a break from publishing anymore as I want to see more love. But, people can refuse to buy my books and, though that breaks my heart, it will not deter me from writing. I will keep writing until I die, if the good Lord sees fit.

            On that note, I have three books that I’ve pulled off the back shelf. I started work on them predominately back in 2017 and then shelved them for a bit. I’ve got an itch to get back into those worlds and finish the work. And here lately, on top of continuing the Ikkilion Chronicles and starting The First of All, I’ve been doing a bit of work here and there with those three. I’ll share the titles at a later time.      

          And for your viewing pleasure, here’s the video for today’s episode:

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

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Should I Return to the Galaxy?

I was thinking of this saga the other day, how I haven’t finished it and how there are more adventures awaiting, what do you think of them?

By John Irvin

          I’m sitting here this morning, my mind flying to the old story of a group of friends, comrades-at-arms, who stood as freedom fighters against a worldwide tyranny.

          They realized the cause of freedom needed something new.

          How about a whole new world? Like, I mean, an actual different planet! Yes, this is what these Liberators are on mission for in the two prequels and the majority of the first novel.

          I’m talking about my StarQuest saga. Check out its page on my website: page

          The novel was the first official book I published. It’s gone through an edition or two. But since then, I published two ebooks that are set as prequels to the novel.

          The idea is to write and published another ebook that will be set after the novel. But then, there are plenty of other adventures the team goes on. I’m wondering if maybe I could get a few more ebook novellas out of them.

          There is also a plan for a sequel novel that will be set several years after the first.

          Oh, did I mention the novel is actually being sold at my local bookstore here in Pensacola, Florida. Yes, that’s right, the wonderful Bodacious Bookstore & Café has been hosting my book on its shelves for the past several months.

          If you’re ever in town, check them out!

          By the way, here’s the video for today’s episode:

          Johan Eryn is a commanding officer in the Liberator movement. This is one of those “ragtag” militia movements that seek freedom by overthrowing a tyrannical government. But, they discovered this was a doomed cause unless they could find a totally new place to rebuild their nation.

          So, their scientists set about to build a spaceship that would take a team on a mission into the rest of the Milky Way Galaxy to find a habitable planet. Once they laid claim to one, they would return for the rest of their people and disappear from the Earth forever.

          Unbeknownst to these freedom-fighters-turned-space-explorers there are dozens and dozens of habitable worlds being civilized.

          Apparently, thousands of years ago, space exploration was in vogue. Then a worldwide catastrophe cut off all connections with Mother Earth and those extraterrestrial human colonies went on alone.

          Most have made their own histories, cultures, and languages—surprisingly they are very similar to Earth’s, okay, maybe not so surprising.

          Check it out:

https://amzn.to/31mx0sf

So why not do that? Click the affiliate link above and order your copy today! And once you read it, I want you to tell me if you want me to continue this saga.

Just a note, I have an author team helping me prepare for my debut Spring 2021 Toward the Pacific Book Tour. We greatly desire your support to help us take books out of that good ole comfort zone and find more readers.

          The more you are able to donate, the more possible it is for me to take my books on a trip across the continent and grow our reading tribe while promoting books for the public!

          So click through:

gf.me/u/xp24cf

And if you know any authors, please, have them shoot me an email at john@johnirvinauthor.com. I have plenty of spots open for the episodes!

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

Another note, I have to make sure to let you know, all links I use for my fellow authors’ works are affiliate links because why not?

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Why Wouldn’t You Grab a Free Book?

Yes, this Ebook is Permanently Free, so, I’m not sure why you wouldn’t snatch it up. Doesn’t matter if you can’t read it now, you’d always have it downloaded and ready whenever you can make time.

By John Irvin

          I’ve come to find there are two main series that I like to talk about when focused on my own published books.

          Longevity is one series—though it is not yet complete. I’ve recently finished the fourth book’s first draft. After that, there are still four more books to go before that wonderful dark fantasy serial is finished.

          The second series—the one in today’s limelight—is the Magic’s Time Split series. This serial is only in ebook format, unlike the previous series which is and will be in Hardcover, Paperback, and Ebook. But that doesn’t take away any of my second main serial’s illustriousness.

          I enjoyed writing this ten-book collection as much as I’m enjoying writing the other one. You could say it has hints of dark fantasy, but it’s also an alternate timeline type of fiction and even starts with a good little time travel jump.

          If you’ve been keeping up with my blog and YouTube vlog, you would probably know that this serial is about a group of settlers who head back in time to the year 1815 and the place known as Hidden Lake in the Montana territory (which wasn’t even under US governance at the time and thus was not called by that name).

          By the way, speaking of YouTube, here’s the video for today’s episode:

          Anyways, back to the story, these travellers discover there’s an ulterior motive in the minds of two of the five leaders. This secret plot costs greatly, but also unleashes Magic on the world. This supernatural act kills Technology and starts a whole new timeline.

          A timeline where Magic rules and Technology never advances.

          But why would anyone want to do that? What would their ultimate reason be for such a gross act? Is it simply the powers they are endowed with by the shattered Egyptian idol of Thoth, the god of Magic and writing? Or is there something else?

          The only way you’d be able to discover the why is to read the books.

          But, guess what, this serial is special. How? I’ve set the first book to be Permanently FREE! Yes, you read that right. I know I’ve brought this up before, but I want to tell you again.

          I published these ten books on Amazon’s Kindle and Barnes & Noble’s Nook. Nook allowed me to set it at $0.00 without my having to contact them. I then wrote Amazon and informed them they better match the price. They did. And now you can simply download your copy and try it out for free. You get to meet a gang of friends I made along the way and find out more goodies inside!

https://amzn.to/3r20kid

So why not do that? Click the affiliate link above and download your FREE copy today!

Just a note, I have an author team helping me prepare for my debut Spring 2021 Toward the Pacific Book Tour. We greatly desire your support to help us take books out of that good ole comfort zone and find more readers.

          The more you are able to donate, the more possible it is for me to take my books on a trip across the continent and grow our reading tribe while promoting books for the public!

          So click through:

gf.me/u/xp24cf

And if you know any authors, please, have them shoot me an email at john@johnirvinauthor.com. I have plenty of spots open for the episodes!

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

Another note, I have to make sure to let you know, all links I use for my fellow authors’ works are affiliate links because why not?

Posted on

Returning after a Week of Randomness

Another book I’m reading for this month has a mystifying tale of fantastic intrigue you don’t want to miss out on

By John Irvin

          Yes, I know, I missed last Saturday. Several things came out of nowhere and I was unable to produce the blog and YouTube episode. Now, today, I’m going to talk a little bit about Teardrop.

           I’m only a few chapters into the book by Lauren Kate and already I’m caught up in a suspenseful tale. Why on earth are these sea people or whatever they are trying to kill Eureka?

          I don’t want to hurt Lauren’s possible sales so I’m not going to give away any spoilers.

          All I want to say, if you’re into Young Adult Fantasy with some great mystery, you’ll want to collect this book.

          Eureka’s mother instilled a rule so deeply in her, it’s impossible to break it: never cry.

          Why?

          Isn’t crying good for you? Letting all those pent-up emotions out?

          And why is this tall and pale boy always wherever she goes? His name is Ander, by the way.

          To stay safe from giving spoilers, you’ll want to read the partial description I’ve added below from Amazon’s page! Or, if you’d like, here’s the cover photo with the affiliate link to go ahead and buy it!

Cover #2: Teardrop by Lauren Kate

Here’s the description from Amazon:

“Everywhere Eureka goes he is there: Ander, a mysterious blond boy who tells her she’s in danger. Ander knows things about Eureka she doesn’t yet know herself, but not her darkest secret: ever since her mother drowned in a freak accident, Eureka wishes she were dead, too. She has little left that she cares about, just her friend Brooks and some heirlooms—a locket, a letter, a mysterious stone, and an ancient book about a girl who got her heart broken and cried an entire continent into the sea.

“But Ander has some secrets of his own. The haunting tale is more than a story. It’s real.
And Eureka’s life has far more evil undercurrents than she ever imagined.”

Just a note, I have an author team helping me prepare for my debut in Spring 2021 Toward the Pacific Book Tour. We greatly desire your support to help us take books out of that good ole comfort zone and find more readers.

          The more you are able to donate, the more possible it is for me to take my books on a trip across the continent and grow our reading tribe while promoting books for the public!

          So click through:

gf.me/u/xp24cf

And if you know any authors, please, have them shoot me an email at john@johnirvinauthor.com. I have plenty of spots open for the episodes!

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

Another note, I have to make sure to let you know, all links I use for my fellow authors’ works are affiliate links because why not?