Why Kids are Awesome

Although I primarily write for the young-adult space, I have just finished the 4^th book in a children’s series (for kids ages 7-10), which is currently being reviewed by a large children’s book publisher.  So what’s the reason I decided to write a children’s series?  Simple.  Because kids are awesome.  Let me tell you why I think that.

Kids have amazing imaginations.  You can put kids from all over the world in any place, whether it be a shopping center, a park, or the middle of the desert, and they’ll find a way to have fun.  Give them a few sticks or just a rock and they’ll make up some sort of a game, or act out a fantasy world of knights and dragons.

Adele and I recently had the pleasure of having our friends stay with us.  They have two young children, one three years old and the other just a baby.  While walking along the beach, we stopped at a little park, so the three-year-old could play on the slide, the merry-go-round, and the net.  She quickly grew bored of those tangible entertainments, and instead turned to her imagination to serve the four of us from her little beachside café.  We could make any request and she would whip it up for us—but only if it was on the menu.  From smoothies, to hot fries, to hot dogs, she provided us with tasty (if invisible) food and drinks.  In her three-year-old mind, the food was very real.  It was a true joy to watch.

I’ve also recently had the pleasure of having my children’s book manuscripts sent home with a work colleague so his kids could read them.  I was delighted to hear the feedback a few weeks later.  His daughter loved my books and she was inspired to write a few of her own.  Every so often my friend brings me a new book she has written (and illustrated) so I can read it.  To be frank, they are inspiring.  Her books are so cute, so creative, and show how truly extraordinary childrens’ minds really are.  I photocopy the books and take them home with me.  I also send her my feedback on a Post-it.  My friend says she’s always so excited to get it. 

I’ve always loved kids and we tend to gravitate towards each other.  My mom calls me the Pied Piper sometimes because kids tend to get along so well with me.  I think it’s just because I pay attention to them.  You know, give them a chance to talk about what’s on their mind, what’s important to them. 

There are so many other distractions in the world today that it is a lot harder to get kids to sit down and read a book.  What with i-everything nowadays, kids have so much entertainment right at their fingertips.  I commend authors like JK Rowling whose Harry Potter series excited, delighted, and entertained an entire generation of kids. 

While I hope to write many YA books over my career, I would love to be known as a great children’s author, too.  If I could bring kids the same excitement and joy that I got when I read books like the Hardy Boys or The Hobbit growing up, then I would feel truly happy. 

Book Bloggers, I Thank You

It was an easy decision to write about book bloggers in this week’s post.  Much has been said about book bloggers by other self-published Indie authors, but I must say I was completely unprepared for the warm reception I have received from the book blogging community.  I’ve had 12 bloggers write reviews on Angel Evolution so far (I’ve listed them below with links), and I’ve been promised reviews from 21 others so far!  And it’s only been seven weeks since I published the Evolution Trilogy!  To be honest, I’ve been blown away by people’s willingness to give a new author a chance—and then to write about it for their own readers.  They receive nothing for their efforts (except perhaps a free e-book copy of the book), and yet they do it with more dedication than most people put into their paid jobs. 

I was also unprepared for the level of seriousness that has begun to pervade this ever growing group of readers turned writers.  The vast majority of book blogs have a Review Policy, which was actually quite helpful as I perused the thousands (literally!) of sites out there.  Most of the review policies are pretty strict, with restrictions on genres of books, book medium (no e-books for example), or types of authors (no self-published authors in many cases).  I mean, who do these people think they are, really!?  Unless their name is Ebert or Roeper (well, at least the book reviewing equivalent of Ebert or Roeper), can they really be that picky?  The answer, in short, is absolutely yes.  Why, you might ask?  Because they are in high demand by authors, both Indie and traditionally published.  Those book bloggers with thousands of followers receive hundreds of requests from authors to review their books, in the hopes that they’ll get high marks and some free advertising.  I know that’s what I’m hoping for.  So yes, I’ve been rejected by a number of book bloggers because I am way too small a fish to fit in their boats, which are looking more and more like triple-decker yachts cruising down the Mediterranean. 

But that’s OK.  The strength of the support I have received has far outweighed the rejections, and so, I continue to plod along, making connections and getting excited each and every time I get a new “Like” on my Facebook page, a new Follower on Twitter, a new Follower on my blog, or a new sale of one of my books.  (Yes, I am still checking all of these things daily because they move upwards very slowly; like I said, I’m still just a small fish). 

But most of all, I am continuing to write books--I’ve just finished my 8th (5 are unpublished)--and trying to focus on what I love the most: the words.  As always, I welcome any and all feedback and questions from readers and will respond to each and every piece of correspondence I get.  Keep on reading!

A HUGE thank you to the growing list of book bloggers who were willing to give Angel Evolution a chance!!

1) Becca Pressnall:  http://theabckidz.blogspot.com/2011/11/ebook-angel-evolution-review-giveaway.html

2) Mary Bearden:  http://www.mmbearcupoftea.com/2011/12/angel-evolution-book-review.html

3) Lisa DuVal:  http://www.ifeelsounnecessary.com/2011/11/book-review-angel-evolution-by-david.html

4) Danielle Tallent:  http://mixxedreviews.net/2011/11/angel-evolution-e-book-review-black-friday-rafflecopter-giveaway-200-winners/

5) Silvana Veli:  http://books-are-my-life-silvy.blogspot.com/2011/12/angel-evolution.html

6) April:  http://letthemalleatcake.blogspot.com/2011/12/angel-evolution-book-one-by-david-estes.html

7) Maghon Thomas:  http://magluvsya03.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/nothing-like-a-guardian-angel/
8) Celine: http://forget8me8not.blogspot.com/2011/12/34-book-review-angel-evolution.html
9) Emma: http://crazedbookie.blogspot.com/2011/12/angel-evolution-by-david-estes.html
10) Laura Shea: http://www.agoddessoffrugality.com/2011/12/angel-evolution-book-review.html
11) Nancy: http://tumblingbooks.blogspot.com/2011/12/review-angel-evolution.html
12) Marissa and Jasmine: Review of Angel Evolution:  http://beneaththemoonandstars.blogspot.com/2011/12/angel-evolution-joint-review-and.html
Review of Demon Evolution:  http://beneaththemoonandstars.blogspot.com/2011/12/demon-evolution-joint-review.html
Review of Archangel Evolution:  My first book blogger review of the final book in my trilogy!!!  Thank you so much Marissa and Jasmine :)
http://beneaththemoonandstars.blogspot.com/2011/12/archangel-evolution-joint-review.html

Why I Love Writing

Although I have a full time 9-5 job, I manage to sneak in at least 2 hours of writing each and every day, and they are 2 of my favorite hours (besides TV time with my beautiful wife, Adele--Yes, we never miss our favorite shows like the Mentalist and Merlin!).  At about noon, my friends at work know it's time for me to head down to my favorite cafe, GGs, and work on my newest book.  By the end of the hour, I am usually lost in a fictional world of my own invention, creating colorful (and often bizarre or even scary) characters, who make me laugh (yes, I get a chuckle from my own writing at times), sweat (during the suspenseful parts), and occasionally even cry (there's a scene near the end of Archangel Evolution that made me tear up as I was writing it and reading it back to myself).

You are probably wondering what any of that has to do with the title of this blog--why I love writing.  I am getting to that, I promise.  You see, I love writing because I love reading even more.  When I can escape into a magical world of fantastical people and creatures, I just feel happy.  It's the same with writing.  Creating worlds full of characters that entertain, excite, or delight my readers makes me incredibly happy and I get immense satisfaction from it. 

All it takes is one reader to enjoy something I have written to make all the hours writing, revising, formatting, rewriting, editing some more, working with cover artists, and editing, editing, editing completely worth it.  I have received a few positive comments and reviews in the month since publishing the Evolution Trilogy, and each and every one of them has filled my heart with joy.  For me, that is enough.  That's what it's all about.  And that is why I love writing :)  I look forward to continuing to connect with my readers in any way that I can.  Keep on reading!  I know I will ;)