Would be Writers BEWARE!!

Doing some research the other day, I came across certain happenings that are both absolutely repulsive and fairly commonplace in the publishing field. Every writer, no matter the genre, should familiarize themselves with the phrase 'Vanity Press'. These are would-be publications that fancy themselves as legitimate publishing bodies and the practices they commit on a regular basis should be considered illegal, in my honest opinion. First, there's the bogus letters they send any aspiring author who's ever copyrighted anything with dubious claims of publishing simply because they're expecting such a writer to think with emotion and excitement rather than with logic.
Then, there's the claims of no fees or costs being involved when in all actuality, once they get you to sign a contract, they can, and have, charged up to $11,000.00 to basically do nothing except steal the rights to someone's book. Once they have rights to your book they legally do not have to compensate you with either payment, royalties, or even the use of YOUR name.
The best way to avoid these con men is to remember a very simple rule that if YOU have to pay anything for a publisher, they are not legitimate in the truest sense of the word. A publisher pays you for your work, not the other way around.
The companies that I came across with the most such complaints by so many that had been, in the parlance of our times, 'Ripped Off' by them were:
1).Dorrance Publishing Company, Inc
2).iuniverse
3). Whitmore Publishing

Such a reality makes the already daunting task of becoming a writer seem even more improbable. But, If you know what to look out for, the dream can still become a reality. As for myself, such fools will never come close to dampening my passions.
As I've always said 'If something sounds too good to be true, chances are it is!!'

 

Second part of Third Novel almost done!

With the second part of my third novel 'Homage to Baphomet' nearing completion, to say I'm thrilled doesn't do my true feelings justice. It was only a little while ago that I swore to myself that I would not waste my time with novels and now I'm working on my third, my how the world changes. With this particular novel I have gone back to the core of my interests and have swayed away from anything that doesn't completely resemble the meat and potatoes of my own interpretations regarding horror. Murder, torture, and ritual sacrifice are the main themes consisting with it. Like every book I have done, I did not have the luxury of a concrete idea when starting it, so the ending to myself will be as much of a mystery to those awaiting it. Hopefully, It delivers!

On the subject of Human Will

Its very revealing of our societal value system when we realize how much emphasis is placed on both intellectual and physical capabilities. While both of those elements are indeed important to a degree, in my opinion they both pale in comparison to an aspect of human nature that is usually highly overlooked: The subject of Human will. I find this subject fascinating for so many reasons I can hardly touch on all of them with one simple blog post. This element which is present in all of us yet utilized by so very few can truly make the difference between mere mortals and demigods! I cannot stress how many times I have personally seen people who were talented, physically gifted, and blessed with brilliant intellect throw in the towel in the game of life when fortune turned sour. I cannot recall how many of them fell prey to afflictions so base as substance abuse and never recovered or waste their potential other ways. Yet, take a simple soul with fortitude and determination that is unequally resilient, chances are good they WILL accomplish whatever they set their minds to. In our society we have 'Experts' and 'Specialists' that range in every subject one can imagine, but I'd be hard pressed to find one expert on the subject of Willpower, or one who even mentions it. One name does come to mind though, as far as a pioneer that stressed the importance of it. A man who died years ago.

Aleister Crowley was a rather controversial figure. His name was associated with a wide range of taboo subjects. Sexual deviancy, black magic rituals, and indulgence were just a few. However, his life study was Thelema, or Human Will. His comprehensive findings on the subject could rival any college professor quite easily. It was Crowley that first stated that will was much more important than physical attributes, which fade completely through time, or intellectual capabilities. Considering that basically no one has gone into severe depth on the subject since Crowley, I'd say the man was way ahead of his of time.

 Nevermore was there a more true statement made:Where there's a will, there's a way!

Life's unexpected turns

It's most amusing when life takes a turn one will least expect. I will very soon find myself on a perpetual traveling adventure that's ending will be every bit a mystery as its beginning has been.So, me having writing being just as much a  necessity as breathing is, I intend to document the most meaty tidbits of my experiences on no other than this blog. Having already traveled across the Atlantic over four times and previously lived in two different states than I am right now, I'm no stranger to traveling. To say I'm excited is a definite understatement. After all, more than anything, I'm a collector of memories!