Forever ME Nominated for Best YA Novel of 2013!

One of the great surprises of being a writer is when you see one of your friends get recognized for their work. Naturally you are excited for them, because it shows their quality of storytelling has reached someone and inspired them in a way that it merits being publicly awarded or acknowledged. What's even more exciting when you find out attention has been called to your work as well!

Such was the case for me yesterday. My long time personal friend and fellow author, M.E. Franco announced her book, "Where Will You Run" was nominated for an award with the eFestival of Words Virtual Book Fair, recognizing the best in Indie writing for 2013. She provided a link, like you do when you want people to know, you're not just talking out of your bee-hind. So I looked and sure enough there she was! (Not that I ever would have doubted her word.) So I see the list of nominees and to my happiness I see more author friends being called to attention too. Michelle Muto, For "The Haunting Season" in Horror, (A great book that I loved reading this year.) Muto is also up for best YA for "Don't Fear The Reaper" another favorite novel of mine.

So it was great seeing my friends and their works getting noticed, because without a doubt they all deserve it. They work very hard at their craft and do not slack at all. But then something astounding happened. As I was looking at the YA category I saw MY name and MY book, "Forever ME"....what? Wait? Is that possible? Sure enough it was....Now mind you I didn't even know this organization existed and how I got nominated is a complete mystery to me, but I am grateful, and humbled by it.

When I was in the theatre, I belonged to an organization that competed over 100 theaters against one another and I was privileged to be nominated as an actor many times, but I always wanted to win as a playwright. Because It meant more to me to have my writing acknowledged than it did my acting. Several of my plays were up for an award but sadly I never got one.  I used to think If I could just get that damn award, I would be vindicated as a writer. But my business partner pointed out to me, "You are vindicated every time an audience comes back and pays to see a show you've written. They know it's your show, your name is on the program. When you hear the laughter, that's your award, the applause, that's your award."  He was right!

So this time, I can truly be happy with just being nominated, I don't need to win to know, someone out there believes in my writing. Thank you who ever it was who made this possible for my friends and I and I promise to keep writing the best books I can!

Good Luck to all the fellow nominees, I am honored to be mentioned among you!

An Apple For Zoë Almost hits top 100 on Amazon!

Friday night was pins and needles to be sure! Those amazing folks over at ENT were very kind and gave me a PR love. The result after 8 hours An Apple For Zoe was ranked at #183 in the entire Amazon store!! I gasped OMG can I actually get into the top 100 (paid). Well that was as close as I got..but in the immortal words of Commander Cody from Hot Rod Lincoln...."Man, what a ride!"

I know some of you may be saying "almost" only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. But when you're an indie author it does count to you. You can write the best book in the world and it doesn't matter one bit if it can't the right exposure or the breaks to get past the point of no return.

I even noticed at one point I was in 2nd place in Horror to Stephen King...The Kingster...really? Wow. Of course  I'm proving photos to prove I was there. Otherwise it didn't happen right?

So you can see on pic #1 I'm in the # 2 spot and in pic #2 I'm at #183 in the entire Amazon Store!!



































Now For me, what I of course would love to happen is (yes get on the top 100 list) but just be able to sell enough books everyday to allow me to work freely as a writer.  If certain other Kindle authors have managed it, then why can't I? Why can't you?  Only circumstances get in our way and our own fears.
So thank you everyone who bought the book, tweeted me, liked me, and commented. All of this is because of your generosity!
Thanks!

Your friendly neighborhood writer man!