Did you miss part one of this article? Then go here. Let’s fast forward a few years from that summer in 1960 when my next-door-neighbor librarian, Mrs. Crabtree bought me a stack of books that would transform me into a joyful lifelong reader. But before we teleport ourselves forward in time, let me explain what I mean by the term, joyful lifelong reader. In this country and throughout much of the world, it’s inevitable that most [...]
That's right. After a successful Kickstarter Campaign to raise the funds for this project we're full speed ahead to produce a tw0-narrator audiobook of the visionary fiction political satire, The Fringe Candidate. Here is a short sample of what the audiobook will sound like provided by my two narrators, Ben Fife and Meg Price. Want to Know More about the Story? A race against evil . . . and time — Delivering a simple truth [...]
One of my fondest and clearest childhood memories is of sitting on one of the many wraparound porches so popular in the South, eating watermelon, listening to the grownups debating various topics. On such lazy summer afternoons, a favorite question often bantered back and forth was which came first? Was Charm House named after an original family whose surname was Charm, that then resulted in the family modeling the house to match its new name, or [...]
The answer to that question is simple. I live in a magical place and I want my readers to share in the magic. Really, I do. And to prove it, here are a few of the pictures I've taken of the area. First, a few pictures that have already inspired stories in the previous two books: And here are ones still waiting to be turned into stories I mean, really, chairs hanging [...]
I grew up reading science fiction and fantasy, going all the way back to the fourth grade. That's, oh my gosh, some sixty years ago! Two of my favorites were the interconnected stories of Ray Bradbury's books like Fahrenheit 451, and The Martian Chronicles, and the original The Twilight Zone. So, I guess it's not all that surprising that I would want to pay homage to these incredible masters of storytelling with my own series of [...]
Let me start by sharing what led me to start the Zak Bates Eco-Adventure Series so you'll understand why this series has such a special place in my heart. My love for reading science fiction and fantasy started the summer before I entered the fourth grade shortly after my widowed mother moved us to Raleigh, North Carolina. It didn't take long before our new neighbor took pity on my harried mom who I was driving crazy [...]
Falling through the Rabbit Hole Nia Gaines and her parents had been shopping for hours which felt like days to Nia. And to think how excited she’d been when her dad, Edwardo Gaines, had invited her to come with them on what he’d described as a combination family vacation and business trip. When does the vacation part start, Nia, wondered? So far, she’d been dragged along from one antique store to another. Beijing China has sounded [...]
NOTE: If you've already read this post previously, scroll down for an update on the FreeForm project. To be honest, I wasn’t going to write about my upcoming relaunch project even though it is a massive undertaking that involves six of my previously published books and a new story that’s a prequel to the whole series. But, I told myself, these books aren’t really visionary fiction, and that's the focus of my 100+ Blog Post Game. [...]
As I begin part two on how the100+ Blog Post Game came about, I know that I am in the midst of a breakthrough, a breakthrough in my self-expression as a visionary author. The term, breakthrough, is both a common term in today's vernacular as well as being a Landmark Education distinction. In Landmark terms, a "breakthrough is often thought of as a one-time event—a quantum leap that moves us 'outside the box.'" From the Landmark [...]
...And I think you will too once you give it a try. Not sure what 'Immersion Reading' is? Simple. According to Audible, it's the ability to "read a Kindle eBook and listen to its professionally narrated Audible companion Audiobook – all at the same time. Not only that, but you get the benefit of real-time highlighting." Not only does it increase comprehension and overall retention of content, but it's also FUN! You can really get into [...]
