Contacting Authors

Fans seemed to be afraid to contact authors for fear they will be some sort of bother. I don't know about other authors, but I love to hear from fans. Perhaps some of the biggest names might be overwhelmed, but most of us aren't. I rarely receive an email and have never received a phone call. Messages and comments on social media are more frequent, but even they have never been overwhelming.

Hearing from fans give me much-needed feedback. I remain so close to all my books that I have no perspective and depend on readers to let me know how I'm doing. I love to talk about writing and books, and my family and friends get tired of hearing it, so questions are always welcomed. I find acclamations and praises encouraging and inspiring, and criticisms help me to know what I need to work on or change. I've heard some authors say they never read their books' reviews. I read everyone of mine, and sometimes I go back and reread them when I need a lift or some encouragement. Thankfully, so far, all eight of my published books have a five-star average on Amazon.

My contact information is posted under the top picture on the homepage of this blog. I feel that when authors give a way to reach them, it's okay to contact them. Writing is a very solitary profession, and it's good to hear from others about how I'm doing and what about my writing does or doesn't appeal to them. This is one way to keep improving and meeting my readers' expectations. It'll make me a better writer.

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The Numbers Behind Memorial Day

May 29, 2017, is Memorial Day, the day the United States has set aside to honor those who gave their lives to protect our nation and its interests. The holiday was established in 1868 but called "Decoration Day" at first, because the day was to be used to decorate the soldiers' graves. In fact, more Americans died fighting in the Civil War than in any other war, and nearly half those from all the wars we've fought died during this War Between the States.

Here are the rounded numbers of fatalities from all the major wars:

• Revolutionary War - 5,000
• War of 1812 - 2,000
• Mexican War - 13,000
• Civil War - 500,000
• Spanish American - 2,000
• World War I - 117,000
• World War II - 400,000
• Korean War - 54,000
• Vietnam War - 90,000
• Persian Gulf War - 2,000                                 
•  *Statistics from the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans' Affairs
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So today, lets remember these men and women and their families who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Let us never take that lightly and never squander what's important with pettiness. 

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Old Testament Salvation

For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteous (Romans 4:3).

As an older child, I often wondered how people in the Old Testament were able to go to heaven since Jesus hadn't yet come to earth and died on the cross. Genesis 15:6 gives us a clue in talking about Abraham. "And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness." Some have interpreted this to mean Abraham's great faith got him into heaven. This is only partially true.

Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness (Galatians 3:6).

There is nothing that Abraham could have done to earn his salvation or get himself into heaven. This is why it was necessary for Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. No matter how good we tried to be, we were unable to meet God's perfect standards. However, God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. God bestowed His grace on men of faith like Abraham, took favor with them, and allowed their faith to count as righteous. It wasn't that their faith was enough but that God's grace was. Just like today, salvation was a free gift from God and there's nothing we can do to earn it.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: It is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).

However, this is the greatest gift you'll ever receive, and all you have to do is ask Christ into your life and believe. But this has to be heartfelt and sincere. When you belong to Christ, He will change your life, and you must let Him - want Him to.

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Grammar Matters

More and more, writers are getting the idea that grammar isn't important. Perhaps the explosion of self-publishing has contributed. I've had writers tell me that people didn't need grammar rules anymore, because they could put what sounded right, and it was all up to the writer. I disagree. I can and have edited for other writers, but I would never think about publishing something without having it edited first. I can catch other people's mistakes but not my own.

Grammar rules are there for a reason. They make writing uniform in much the same way Noah Webster made spelling uniform in America in the early 1800's. Without either, reading would be much more difficult. Correct grammar makes understanding clearer, comprehension faster, and reading smoother. Readers don't have to slow or stop to comprehend. Today, however, even the supposedly educated people use incorrect grammar more and more.

Here are some of the most common mistakes I'm finding:

• Using a nominative pronoun when an objective case is needed. Example: He gave it to Sue and I.
• Using an adjective instead of an adverb to modify an action verb. Example: He ate his lunch quick.
• Incorrect singular possessive nouns ending in an "s" (you still add an apostrophe "s"). Example: James' suit should be James's suit.
• Misuse of homonyms. Examples: "you're" for "your" or "complement" for meaning to praise, "compliment."
• Incorrect punctuation, which often changes meaning and understanding.

When I read one of the above errors, it slows me down to consider the mistake, I come out of the story, and the flow is broken. And of course, some of the problems change the meaning, like the wrong homonym. I would encourage all writers to strive to get it right and then get a good editor to make sure. Your readers will thank you with better sales and more positive reviews.

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The Oregon Trail Begins

On May 22, 1843, the first line of covered wagons pulled out of Independence, Missouri, headed for Oregon. About 900 people were willing to make the 2,200 mile trek across rugged, dangerous terrain. They followed foot trails set by fur trappers, and some of the forts along the way were first established for the fur trade.

Scotts Bluff, Nebraska, on the Oregon Trail

This group, as well as those who followed, would wait in Independence for the prairie grass to green up enough to support the livestock. There had been earlier trains that didn't go all the way to Oregon but ended in other locations more to the east, so the conditions ahead weren't totally unknown. Ever since Lewis and Clark explored the territory to the Pacific Ocean, the western lands had held promise. From 1846-1869, about 400,000 emigrants would attempt the journey.

Settlers to both Oregon and California used the first half of the trail, and then the California trail would fork off and go its separate way. After the first transcontinental railroad was up and running, travel on the trail began to decline. However, the trail left behind tales of danger, adventure, perseverance, and undaunted spirits that help form the country.

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Whose Will?

In Jeremiah 12, the remnant left in Judah fear the Chaldeans will come back and take them, too, so they decide to flee to Egypt. However, they go to Jeremiah first and ask him to pray for them, despite the fact that Judah had turned from God.

Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the Lord thy God, even for all this remnant; for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us. That the Lord thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do (v. 2-3).

Jeremiah agrees to pray for them, and then they promise:

The Lord be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all the things for which the Lord thy God shall send thee to us. Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the Lord our God… (v. 5-6).

God answered them through Jeremiah:

If ye will still abide in this land, then I will build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up; for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you. Be not afraid of the King of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith the Lord; be not afraid of him saith the Lord; for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand. But if ye say, We will not dwell in this land, neither obey to voice of the Lord your God Saying, No; but we will go into the land of Egypt, where we shall see no war, not hear the sound of the trumpet, nor have hunger of bread, and there will we dwell. Then it shall come to pass, that the sword, which ye feared shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine whereof ye were afraid, shall follow close after you there in Egypt, and ye shall die {v. 10-11, 13-14, & 16).

After asking for God’s direction and receiving a clear answer, what do these people do? They go to Egypt. Before we judge them too harshly, think of the times you knew you should do one thing in order to be obedient, but you did something else based on what you wanted. We all have been there, especially if we’ve been Christians for a long time. Of course, what God told them would happen did. Disobedience always has consequences. Thankfully, we live in a time where we can have grace and forgiveness, but it’s important to learn from our mistakes and know that life is so much better when we obey. Following God’s will shouldn’t be an option for us, but He did give us free will. Therefore, don’t be like his remnant from Judah, refusing to give up the plans that seemed best to them. Choose to always follow God and His will for your life.

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Buying Reviews

I've been reluctant to give away books for the promise of the recipient leaving me a review. I question how ethical such a practice is, but it's what most other authors and many publishers do. Some have a team established who read a book early and post reviews as soon as it's published. Amazon allows this as long as the reviewer states it in their review, but most people still don't do that.

As a result, many of my books have very few reviews. In fact, Cleared for Planting, the book with the most reviews only has 23. Peace, the last one out, doesn't have any yet. The reviews I have, however, are very good, averaging 5 stars, the best rating. And most of them are not from family and friends. I have a really difficult time getting most of them to leave reviews, too. I don't think they realize how important they are or how much they mean. The best way to thank and author is to leave a review.

The books on Amazon that have the most reviews are the always free ones or those offered free often. I haven't done that either, although mine have been put on sale for 99 cents occasionally. I have 4,000 books stored on my kindle waiting to be read, and most of them have been free. If readers are able to get all the books they can possibly read for free, why buy them at all?

Perhaps I'm looking at this all wrong. I'm certainly no expert on marketing. And maybe what other writers are doing works better. However, my books are selling steadily in both print and ebooks, I'm enjoying writing and presenting, and I've established a solid fan base. Now if I could just get more good reviews.
(I would love to hear what you think, so please leave comments.)

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