Combating the Snobbery of Traditional Publishing as an Independent Author

Posted on November 15, 2018 by dray0308

This past weekend, my seven year old daughter had an event with her dance group at a local street festival. As we walked around and looked at the various tables, we happened upon an author of children’s books who had some of her work displayed on a table. My daughter saw the books and we stopped at the table and listened to this friendly, grandmotherly figure tell us about her books. They were based on the antics of her grandson and looked very nicely illustrated.

We were about to move on when my wife blurted out that I had written three novels. The author’s first question was not about the genre or the titles. Her first question was, “who’s your publisher?” Before I could get the words DSM Publications (my initials are DSM) out of my mouth, my wife told her I was self-published. Now, I’m not ashamed of being self-published…

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Your smile is your joy

Posted on November 14, 2018 by dray0308

Popsicle Society

“Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” – Thich Nhat Hanh Today I was quite pissed off, one of that days when you feel that nothing is ok, everything is bothering you, and then I looked at the sky, it has just stopped raining and I saw the rainbow 🌈

It made me smile instantly without even realizing it. And everything seemed better!

PopsicleSociety-your smile is your joy Rainbow (Photo credit: Pexels)

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Lessons From The Carrot Patch: Are We Stunting Our Own Growth? – Reclaiming HOPE

Posted on November 14, 2018 by dray0308

Thinning out unhelpful thought processes

Source: Lessons From The Carrot Patch: Are We Stunting Our Own Growth? – Reclaiming HOPE

Lessons from mom

Posted on November 13, 2018 by dray0308

Take It Upon Yourself

While my son and I helped dad pack things up, after my dad was mentally and emotionally able to sell the property and mobile home in south Florida where we’d first landed after relocating in 1985 from West Virginia, I found several things that answered some questions I’d had for many years.

Along with several diary pages that mom had written in the 1960s and 1970s, I found an unsigned letter to her that made me question which is more important taking advice from family or from friends.

The statement in the letter that got me was, “I’m disappointed in you that you feel that your friends understand you better than your family (and me).”

I have an idea of who the letter is from, but I am not sure. It was typed, single spaced on one sheet of paper.

As of this moment, it doesn’t matter to me who…

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I hate these days

Posted on November 13, 2018 by dray0308

Its good to be crazy Sometimes

The way we have been doing the school run is that my partner (I really should give him a better nickname) will either do the drop off or the collection, depending on what he is working.

There have been the odd few days like tomorrow, when his work start him at 9am and finish at 3.30pm

Meaning he can do neither, we have had the conversation about just leaving monkey at school till four and hoping he is ok, but that is frowned upon, as is dumping the poor lad in the playground at 8.15 in the morning.

This means, I have to do it, which results in nights like this when I just stare at the clock ticking down, till I fall asleep with a knot in my stomach.

As I have explained in a previous post the actual doing doesn’t seem to be a problem, but the come…

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Face Front, Marvelites!: RIP Stan “The Man” Lee

Posted on November 12, 2018 by dray0308

cracked rear viewer

I know it’s popular these days among a certain coterie of Comic Book Buffs to bash Stan Lee’s contributions to the medium in favor of artist/collaborators Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko . You’ll never find me in that crowd. Not ever. I learned to read (with the help of my dad) at the tender age of three through comics… simple stuff at first, funny books like YOGI BEAR and BEETLE BAILEY. As I progressed into the realm of superheroes, my vocabulary improved thanks to writers like Gardner Fox, John Broome, and especially Stan Lee, who took me to Asgard and Outer Space with Shakespearean-styled dialog and college-level words that made me keep a dictionary always at the ready. Screw you, Dr. Frederic Wertham!!

The Titanic Trio: Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko

Stanley Martin Lieber was born December 28, 1922, the eldest son of immigrant parents (his younger sibling Larry…

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My Week 216: Brotherly Love

Posted on November 12, 2018 by dray0308

mydangblog

I’m on a boat! Yes, mydangblog is travelling. I’ve been superbusy this week getting work stuff done and then getting packed up to go, so here’s what I have for you. You know I write this blog, and you might know that I’m a published novelist, but I also write short stories. I’ve only ever posted one (Donut Store Memories), but I thought I’d share this one with you just for fun. OK, it’s not particularly funny–in fact, it’s kind of dark, but I hope you like it. I’ll be back next week with tales of my adventures but for now…

Brotherly Love

Jackson Wills had loved Joy Wills from the first moment he’d seen her in the Stag And Horn Pub five years ago. She had come towards him, smiling, hand outstretched. Even from a distance, he could see the delicate bones of her wrist, the porcelain skin, and the fine…

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“There is only 1 race, the Human Race” and other bulls**t: Here and Now Episodes 8 and 9 and the scenes to keep an eye on if you are an adoptive parent with kids of color.

Posted on November 12, 2018 by dray0308

Lifting Taboos

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We are coming to an end with this lovely new HBO show called Here and Now. I have been fascinated with particular scenes in each episode that surround adoption, race and their overall complexities (and there are so many). If you have not read my analysis for the last 1-7, please take the time to find them and read them. If you are an adoptive parent, my thoughts on race-related scenes will hopefully open your eyes and better prepare you for issues that are eminent in adoption and race.

Let’s take a look at 8 and 9.

Episode 8: Yes

Ashley feels she needs to apologize to her adoptive mother so she brings an expensive gift with her and a “truce” for the “outburst” Ashley had. Focus on how her mother does not argue with her after she says “peace-offering. you are the only mom I have even if you…

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Luxurious Mountain Fall

Posted on November 11, 2018 by dray0308

WRITE OUTSIDE

Fall has been fantastic in Western North Carolina this year. And I love everything about it!

I love the sensation of a cool breeze on my skin and the crunch of leaves beneath my feet.

I enjoy long walks with my dog and cat ( yes cat) looking up into the boughs of autumnal colored trees.

I jump on the pumpkin spice train every fall. That’s lattes, breads, doughnuts- anything pumpkin spiced I’ll eat it-without shame.

I rejoice when the temperature drops below 60 degrees and I can dive into my scarf basket. I live for cooler weather so I can play winter dress-up in coats, hats, scarfs and gloves- and then complain it’s too cold!

So here’s some amateur I-phone photography celebrating fall near my home.