The people have spoken and we have our theme for the next ‘cast!

“I washed the blood from my hands…”

Well, the theme is selected, you know what happens next—a short original story, written by YOU and recorded for inclusion in the next Word Count.

Submission Guidelines (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY)

PROMPT: “I washed the blood from my hands…”

GENRE: Any.

DEADLINE: I must receive your submission by MIDNIGHT (Eastern Time) Friday 27th January 2012

THE DETAILS:The work must be an original of yours. It could be a poem, short story, song—anything really as long as you write something based on the stated theme (“I washed the blood from my hands…”). Do NOT exceed ten minutes. As this is a podcast, I need to receive a file of YOU, a friend or multiple friends reading (singing or otherwise performing) your work. MP3 FORMAT, please attach your MP3 file to an e-mail. The e-mail should also contain the following:

• Your pen name
• Your bio
• Links to your websites
• Your Twitter name (if you have one)
• A photo I can use for the show notes
• Permission to use your recording in the podcast

At the end of the recording, please add the following: “The is <YOUR NAME> author of <YOUR WORK(s)> and you’re listening to The Word Count Podcast”

Send your file to me@rbwood.com by Friday the 27th of January. You can also e-mail me with questions before hand. I do reserve the right NOT to post your submission, but will communicate that to you should it be the case. I add the ‘Explicit’ tag to the ‘cast, so if your story uses adult themes or language that’s ok—but it should be necessary for the story.

It’s a New Year so it’s time for a new themed show!

Off to the LEFT, you can select what you’d like to see for the next Word Count. I’ll close the poll next Tuesday (17 January) so come back each day and vote…

Your Selection this week is “Starting Lines…” from the first person perspective:

“I awoke to find myself in the smoldering wreckage…”

“I washed the blood from my hands…”

“It was the first time a woman had ever done that for me…”

“Before he could say another word, I had the sword in my hand…”

“I’d been haunting the keep for centuries…”

Pick your favorite and get ready to write!

Peace

So, we are now into a New Year. It’s a time to set goals for 2012 and look at the longer-range plans and modify them accordingly. I thought I’d share a few of my goals with all of you for two reasons:

1. To write down goals that I consider to be realistic and achievable.
2. To publicize them so you all can guilt me into success. 🙂 

I, of course, have personal resolutions which my partner and I share every New Year’s Eve. And those things will remain private. Believe-you-me, we will encourage and support each other as we have for the last five years. I have no doubts about that.

These are my writer-goals. And in no particular order, I list all ten here for your comment and laughter. 🙂

1. Publish TWO books of the Arcana Chronicles this year. Yes, I said TWO. Book two is about 35% written and I have a goal of July 1 for “go live.” I’d like to get Book 3 ready by Christmas.
2. Publish THREE short stories (There is one anthology already in the works)
3. Make a final decision on the future of The Word Count Podcast– Submissions have dropped dramatically for the last few episodes, to the point where I actually had to cancel 2011’s Holiday Show. Do I change formats? Get a co-host? Or close it down all together.
4. 2012 publishing strategy
5. Collaborative writing-I have been bouncing ideas around with Emmett Spain and others for months now. I’d like to get moving on some of these
6. Attend ReaderCON and one other writing conference
7. Review and publicize more of my fellow Indie writer’s work
8. Be available to help along newbie writers when possible
9. Participate on Social Media in a social way, less sales blasts
10. Read twice as many books as I did in 2011

Will I achieve all of the above? I’ll let you know at the end of December, assuming the Mayan calendar hoopla is wrong.

Happy 2012. My your dreams become reality this year!

Peace

It’s New Year’ Eves; and it has been (thankfully) a slow week at work, giving me time to ponder the rather bi-polar year I’ve had in 2011.

Focusing on the good:

I watched my son graduate middle school and start in High School this year.  He’s growing up so quickly, and as I don’t see him or his sister as much as I’d like, so credit goes to my ex-wife for how she’s raised them both.  This year, my daughter made the honor role for the first time; so from a school perspective I couldn’t be prouder of both my children.  

From EVERY perspective I’m proud of them.

My mom and dad are doing well, despite being in their upper 80’s.  In fact my mother and sister spent three weeks in Alaska this year…take THAT ‘old age!’

My siblings and cousins are all in good form.  Sis has been inundated with her business, and my cousin Di started her new venture.  My great editor of a brother turned 51 this year, but still teaches ballroom dancing 10 hours a day.  He looks like he’s in his early thirties—it really isn’t fair.  

And especially my cousin Bette who’s gotten me through a rather rough patch between jobs.  She’s always been there for me.

The family is good…no major crisis’ this year.  And of course my partner, Tina, is perfect in every way.

The “day job” market remains challenging.  Wound down a 5+ year gig and went from part time to the new full time gig I wanted (knew it would be a challenge).  Really enjoying it so far—although my new boss calls my fondness for the job “Stockholm Syndrome.”  Heh.  I have to use that somewhere in my next book.  It was only supposed to run until December, but I’ve been extended through the end of February so the holidays weren’t as depressing as expected.

My first book, The Prodigal’s Foole came out in October and sales have been better than I’ve hoped, taking into account the fact that I’m a new author with a small press.  I’m about a third into the follow up—The Young Practitioner.

Last but not least, the number of new friends I’ve made in the last year—especially in the writer world—has been unbelievable, and very humbling.  The list goes on quite long, but you know who you are.  Facebookers, Tweeters, ReaderCON crazies, talented blokes and brilliant women.  THANK YOU to each and everyone who have supported, advised, critiqued and comforted me in 2011!

So many blessings for 2011 that the low points seem less “points” and more “bumps.”  It’s all how you look at things, right?

2012 is almost upon us, and barring Mayan calendar issues; let’s all make it a great one.  From my family to yours, have a very productive, fun and healthy New Year.

Peace

I can’t believe it’s December already.  Where did the year go?

The Holidays this year will be spent quietly with my partner.  The kids will be going skiing with their mom, my family will converge at my sisters in DC (Tina and I have to work this year so no trips for us) and at my cousins down south.

I’ll be working on book two of the Arcana Chronicles, already about 20,000 words in as of this writing.

There will be a few holiday-related specials as well.

The Prodigal’s Foole for Kindle has been lowered to just 99 cents for the Christmas season, and I’ll be participating in the Indie Book Club’s holiday blowout this year. Loads of great books dropped to 99 cents and a Kindle give away. So check that out.

The Holiday edition of The Word Count Podcast is in its final week of submissions, (details can be found HERE) and I expect the show to go live for free download on the 18^th of December. All past episodes are free as well, so head to my podcast page to find links and show notes.

Pfoxchase is offering up TWO free copies of the paperback version of The Prodigal’s Foole for free via Goodreads. Check out the giveaway and enter to win.

You may not hear from me much for a little while. Shopping, working and writing will dominate my waking hours…so let me wish all the readers of my blog and the many friends I’ve met during this writing journey a wonderful holiday, Merry Christmas and The Happiest of New Years.

Peace

A little book promotion for today (7 December 2011) ONLY!

Pickup a copy of The Prodigal’s Foole for your KINDLE TODAY (7 December 2011 ONLY) and if I sell TEN or more copies, I’ll be sending ONE lucky purchaser a $10 Amazon Gift certificate.

How do you enter this little holiday promotion?

1) Purchase a KINDLE version of The Prodigal’s Foole via AMAZON (The link is: http://www.amazon.com/Prodigals-Foole-Arcana-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B005WKF71U/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1323264075&sr=8-2)

2) Send me a COPY of the receipt to me@rbwood.com

3) That’s it!  on 8 December I’ll announce the winner and e-mail the Gift Certificate to you!

Go.  Buy.  Enter to win.  At the very least you have a fun read in your digital library.

Peace

www.amazon.com/Prodigals-Foole-Arcana-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B005WKF71U/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1323264075&sr=8-2

Voting is done and we have our WINNERS as voted on by the readers!

Without further ado, here they are in reverse order:

3^rd Place (Winner of the $25 Amazon Gift Certificate): PATTI LARSEN

Read her blog tour entry HERE

2^nd Place (Winner of the $50 Amazon Gift Certificate): STEVE UMSTEAD

Read his blog tour entry HERE

1^st Place (Winner of the $100 Amazon Gift Certificate): EDEN BAYLEE

 Read her blog tour entry HERE

Congrats to all the winners and thank you for everyone who participated in the tour!

Peace

The Magical Mystery Blog Tour-Time to vote!

Way back when, I kicked off the blog tour for the release of my book The Prodigal’s Foole. You may remember I mentioned prizes for the top ideas for the tour.

Well, a special panel of judges (My partner, myself and 3 non-writer friends) got together to discuss the posts and picked the top eight.

Okay. I’m lying. We got together to have a few beers and to watch a recent New England Patriots game.

BUT. During half time, we did select the top eight contenders.

But since there are only THREE prizes, first, second and third place will be selected by YOU my wonderful readers!

<— YOU CAN VOTE USING THE POLL OFF TO THE LEFT

 And a quick reminder of the prizes:

THIRD PLACE – $25 Amazon Gift card

SECOND PLACE – $50 Amazon Gift Card

FIRST PLACE – $100 Amazon Gift Card

So the eight finalists (in no articular order) are:

• Lakisha Spletzer (See her tour blog posts HERE and HERE)

• Leah Petersen (See her tour post for release day HERE)

• Mercedes M. Yardley (Review of TPF posted on her site HERE)

• Al Boudreau (His interview with me can be found HERE)

• Patti Larsen (another interview-read it HERE)

• Emmett Spain (Review and Six Questions with…HERE)

• Eden Baylee (Who get’s me to say dirty words HERE)

• Steve Umstead (For his marvelous review of TPF found HERE)

So go vote for your favorite. I’ll close to poll down on 4 December and announce the winners on Monday the 5^th.

Thanks again to EVERYONE who participated in the Magical Mystery Blog Tour!

And if you haven’t picked up The Prodigal’s Foole yet, it makes a GREAT holiday present for someone’s eReader! 🙂

Peace

Well, the ‘new author’ glow has faded. The Prodigal’s Foole is out and available (if you want to pick up a copy, head HERE. Wonderful reviews so far—so if you’re an Urban Fantasy fan, take a look). I’ve done a blog tour ( see who participated HERE ), book giveaways and a social media blitz.

So I guess it’s time to focus on the REAL advertising gimmick—another book.

The second book of The Arcana Chronicles, called (for the moment) The Young Practitioner, is underway. I was concerned that it would take me time to get back into Symon Bryson’s head, but when I sat down to actually write, he was standing right where I’d left him.

“Where the hell have YOU been?” he asked, tapping his foot impatiently.

Symon’s back.

It’s amazing how life interferes with the simple pleasure of writing. A new consulting gig started in September, the book release in October, family visits off and on for the last few months.

Hell, I didn’t even do NaNoWriMo this year so I could focus on the book release.

But the guests, gigs and excuses are gone. As my brother, and editor, said to me the other day when I showed him a few versions of TYP’s cover—

“Great. Now how about writing the book?”

So, just so you know, my goal is to get the first draft done and ready for my crit partners by February. After polishing, feedback and a couple of rewrites, it will head off to brother dearest for his sharpened red pen at the end of March.

Beta readers will see it in April—as will my current publisher.

The goal is a July 2012 release.

A lot to do. Other than the Holiday podcast (details below if you want to send in a submission), a few family obligations and the day job—Symon’s next adventure is now on the front burner.

It’s a good thing my partner Tina loves me.

Will let you know about progress.

Peace

Submissions are now OPEN for The Word Count Holiday Podcast!

What…no poll to decide the theme, R.B.?

Not this time, folks.

The theme is “A Holiday Story.”

You want to write a ghost story a la A Christmas Carol? Go for it! An erotic tale of lovers reuniting for a Chanukah tryst? Make it happen! A piece about a Red Ryder bb-gun (you’ll shot your eye out!)? –bring it on, says I!

Make up your own theme and tell the listeners the story you WANT to tell for the holiday.

Submission guidelines and dates below.

Go. Be creative. Wake me when you’re done.

Peace.

THE WORD COUNT PODCAST Episode 21 – The Holiday Spectacular

Well, The Magical Mystery Blog tour has officially ended! What a wonderful ride…enjoyed visiting virtually with so many friends, colleagues and fellow writers!

I wanted to take a moment to thank all those who participated—both posters and readers. I feel the debut of my first novel, The Prodigal’s Foole has gone very well so far and that’s due in part to all of you!

Thank you all so much!

Below, find a list of the participants, their twitter handles and links to their websites. I hope you will continue to visit with them for wit, wonder and marvelous writing.

Peace.