My Debut Novel: Perfect Pawn - Kickstarter Campaign

Welcome, I’d like to take a moment to thank you for reading this. I hope that when you are done you will consider helping to fund my Kickstarter campaign to self-publish my debut suspense / thriller novel Perfect Pawn.

As many of you know, I completed the manuscript for Perfect Pawn awhile back. However, it was not until after the actual writing was completed that I began to see how much work actually was ahead of me. After much consideration and research, I have decided to self-publish the book. I have taken the time to outline the reasons below.

I have decided to utilize a  Kickstarter campaign. Kickstarter is a crowd-funding campaign. What this does is allow you to pull together a diverse group of individuals who invest in your project. That investment can be as little as $1.00 or as much as you care to give. There are two things to Kickstarter that I thought were unique. One is you can provided rewards to your investors based on their financial support. The other is that Kickstarter is all or nothing, meaning that if I don’t get to the goal I set for the campaign, no one gets charged.

Right now you might be asking why I am choosing to do this campaign. In fact, this was not an easy decision to reach. So I’d like to take a moment to explain the reasons for this choice.

If you had asked me a year ago what I thought was the hardest thing about writing I probably would have told you that it was the writing. As the months rolled along what I found was that the writing part actually came quite easy to me. I could close my eyes and watch the scene play out in my head and it was just a matter of putting what I saw onto the paper, or in this case typing them onto the computer screen.

What I didn’t know was that the hard work would only begin when the manuscript was completed. It was then that I began to do my research into agents, querying, publishing houses, etc. I spoke to a number of my fellow writers, soliciting their advice based on their experiences. While many were happy to sing the praises of going the traditional publishing route, a growing number seemed to be decidedly against. Here is a breakdown of what I learned.

On average the time it takes for a perfect book to go from manuscript to published is 18-24 months. Mind you that is the perfect book and the perfect scenario. Meaning the stars aligned and you immediately found an agent who loved you, dropped most of their other projects to shop yours, and then found the perfect publishing house that green lighted your project and put it on the fast track. So what are the actual odds of this happening? Well, let’s just say that you might want to go grab one of those lotto tickets.

Consider that Stephen King’s Carrie was rejected 30 times and Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With The Wind was rejected 38 times.

So what does self-publishing entail? Well, a lot more work then the actual writing.

I take on the roll of editor, graphic designer, formatter, agent, advertising, and publisher.

Does that seem like a lot of work to you? It does to me. However, there is a benefit as well. For me, self-publishing gives me something that the traditional road doesn’t:  Autonomy.

What does that mean to the reader? Well, they get an authors story the way it was intended to be. Right now, Perfect Pawn is almost 117k words. If I had opted to go the traditional publishing route it is entirely possible that at least 17k words would need to be removed. Why you ask, because paper is money and those extra words take up a whole lot of paper in a book. Traditional publishers are less likely to take a risk with a debut author and the cutoff is generally 100K words. In my book, 17k words are equal to about three whole chapters. I can’t imagine removing even one chapter let alone three. I personally think that I would be cheating my readers if I did this. I’m a story teller and I have had a number of people beta read this manuscript. Not one time did someone say “you put too much information in it.” Quite the contrary, most were beating down my inbox to get the next chapters to read.

So now I have the responsibility of making my book the very best it can be, which is why I need your help. Here are the things that your funding will help me accomplish:

• Editing: The book has already gone through a half dozen edits, but now it needs to be done by a professional copy editor.
• Graphics: I have done the conceptual graphic artwork for the cover, but now I need to have a professional graphics artist refine it and format it for both the paperback as well as the hardcover jacket.
• Formatting: One of the most important things, aside from having a great story, is to ensure that the reader has an enjoyable experience. That means that the book is formatted correctly. Ever read a book that had bad indentations, line spacing, etc? It’s horrible. In the age of self-publishing, it is important not to over look this, especially since each format: e-book, paperback, hard cover, etc., uses different formatting.
• Production: Physical creation of the actual books. Despite what many people think, authors, at least not those just starting out, don’t get heaps of books thrown on them. Remember, paper is money. This is especially true for self-publishing. You have to pay to get them printed.
• Advertising: This is one of the biggest factors. I don’t care how great your book is, if you don’t advertise your book, you don’t stand a chance. Not only do I want your help financially, but I hope that after reading the excerpt (see the link below), that you will forward it to all your friends on Facebook, Twitter and E-Mail.

Perfect Pawn is the perfect debut novel. It has a bit of everything, for almost every reader. It mingles traditional Police / Crime with some Mystery, Suspense & Thriller elements, with a dash of Romance, and a splash of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.

With a readers background I knew what I liked and I wanted my readers to feel the same enjoyment I got when I read what I liked to call “roller coaster” books. Those are the ones that you kick yourself for starting in the evening because at 3 a.m. you’re still turning pages.

So that’s why I am self-publishing, to give you the full story and character development as I intended them to be.

Remember, this is only the first book in a series. I’m already about 1/3 of the way through on the sequel. If I can get this project funded, I can concentrate on writing more.

I have posted a portion of the books Prologue for you to read: Perfect Pawn – Prologue (Partial)

If you like what you read, I would really appreciate your support by visiting by Kickstarter campaign site: Perfect Pawn - Kickstarter Campaign

If you can’t financially support me would you please consider sharing this with your friends and family through E-mail, Facebook or on Twitter.

Thank you for your support and God Bless,

Andrew

Happy Independence Day

As we gather today with family and friends to enjoy BBQ's, watch fireworks, or just relax at some sun soaked beach, let us never forget the reason why we have this day to celebrate.

On this day in 1776 we declared our independence from the King of England. But the reality is that this declaration was just the beginning and many lost their lives fighting for this independence. Not just during the Revolutionary War, but in many conflicts thereafter.

As we go about enjoying this day, may we never forget the sacrifices of our military personnel.

In the immortal words of John Adams, “I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure it will cost us to maintain this declaration, and support and defend these states. Yet through all the gloom I see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is worth all the means. This is our day of deliverance.”

May God continue to Bless America. 

Trusting God

“In God We Trust”

Great slogan that, as Americans, appears in our lives on a daily basis.

It’s our national motto. It’s etched in our currency, noted on license plates and written in the Star Spangled Banner.

Many people say it, but do they really understand it?

How do you know when you are really trusting in God?

You know it in your heart when that same heart is breaking under the weight of trials and tribulations, and your world seems to be crumbling. And at that moment, instead of praying to God to make it better, to take the pain away, and to make everything right again, you say “Your will Father, not mine.”

It is not about God making all the wrongs of life better, but trusting the fact that no matter how bad things get, how deep the hurt and pain is inside you, God will be there at your side and will not leave you.

John 16: 33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

No More Political Parties – Change we CAN believe in

"The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge natural to party dissention, which in different ages & countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders & miseries, which result, gradually incline the minds of men to seek security & repose in the absolute power of an Individual: and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of Public Liberty." — George Washington, September 19, 1796

I piss people off.

My 17, going on 70, year old daughter will attest to that little fact.

I don’t try to, but there comes a point when you need to speak up and state, unequivocally, where you stand on issues.

I think Washington, D.C. needs a dose of this.

The other day I got pulled into a sports conversation and I admitted that I have adopted the George Carlin position on sports:

“I decided it's not necessary to suffer and feel crappy just because my teams suck. What I do now is cut 'em loose for awhile. I simply let them go about losing, as I go about living my life. Then, when they've improved, and are doing well once again, I get back on board and enjoy their success. Yeah, I know, I can hear it: diehard, asshole loyal sports fans screaming, "Front-runner!" Goddamn right! Don't be fuckin' juvenile. Teams are supposed to provide pleasure and entertainment, not depression and disappointment.

…. Why on earth would you place your happiness and peace of mind in the hands of several dozen strangers? Listen, folks, if they win, fine; if they lose, fuck 'em! Let 'em practice more.”

Does that sound harsh?

I hope so, because it is the truth.  I've talked about it before. Political Parties Explained.

Every day I turn on the TV and I become depressed. Why you ask? Because politicians have turned into Athletes.

Rather then practice more, they have adopted the status quo and now just point fingers at the other guy.

Remember when EVERYONE hated the Yankees?

Why?

Because they fielded the best team possible. Period. End of story.

Well, we, as Americans, have been duped into rooting for two opposing teams, but the fact that they both suck doesn’t seem to mean much to them. They just point their finger at the other team and expect you to believe them.

But they are lying to your face and worse YOU actually believe them.

I’m not going to get into who lies more, Republican or Democrat. I’m just going to give you one sample because I think it fits into the discussion we are having in America right now over the whole NSA issue.

In May 2006, then Senator Joseph Biden said

"I don't have to listen to your phone calls to know what you're doing. If I know every single phone call that you've made, I'm able to determine every single person you talk to; I can get a pattern about your life that is very, very intrusive."

"The real question here is what do they do with this information they collect that does not have anything to do with Al-Qaida? We're going to trust the president and vice president of the United States that we're doing the right thing? Don't count me in on that."

So, how exactly is that working out for you? Bet you'd love to have those words back, huh Joe?

You see, my point is this, both sides lie to you. Without remorse or fear because they know you will continue to vote by party lines. But what would happen if we did away with the parties? What would D.C. look like if we removed the political party finger pointing?

Wouldn’t it be a novel idea if we forced people to run a campaign based, not on which party band wagon they have hoped on, but the issues.

Honestly, how many of you ever bothered to find out where the “other” guy stood on issues before going into the polling booth? Most likely you voted the following:

PARTY LINE.

I’m not condemning you. We have been ingrained to think this way.

But have you ever wondered if that’s exactly why we are in the position we are today?

It can not be right when one party does it and then wrong when another party does it.

That’s disingenuous and if the people in “your” party are telling you “well it’s complicated” they are lying to you.

The complicated issue is that you got caught doing the same thing you railed against.

In other words “the other team really didn't "stack the deck, we just suck right now.”

I don’t know about you, but I am not going to vote by party any longer, I am going to vote by person.

There’s a campaign slogan I can get behind: PERSON, NOT PARTY.

Follow me on Twitter: @Huntzmanblog

Benghazi - 9 months later and still nothing

White House: September 12th, 2012 - "......And make no mistake, we will work with the Libyan government to bring to justice the killers who attacked our people."

President Obama then went to Las Vegas for a campaign event where he told the assembled audience "We had a tough day today as some of you know"

Now, I understand that the administration currently has a lot on their plate, mainly: NSA / Prism Scandal, IRS Scandal, Secret Service Prostitution Scandal, Fort Hood Work Place Violence Scandal, State Department Prostitution Scandal, DOJ Media Scandal, ATF Fast & Furious Scandal, GSA Scandal, Pigford Scandal, the whole Green Energy $$$ Debacle and oh yeah, and just in case you forgot, unemployment is still close to eight percent.

However, is it wrong to wonder what is being done to address the attack on our diplomatic facility and the murder of four Americans, including our Ambassador? Not to mention those injured.

Where is the outcry for justice from the left?

So far, all I have seen is a brave man, Gregory Hicks, former deputy chief of mission in Benghazi, demoted for having the audacity to speak the truth. While our vaunted UN Ambassador, Susan Rice, has been elevated to the post of National Security Advisor for going out and lying on behalf of the administration.

Justice? or Just Us?

When questioned about this Gregory Hicks made the following comments before Congress:

“In hindsight, I think it began after I asked the question about Ambassador Rice’s statement on the TV shows,” Hicks said of the criticism during a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on the attack.

Hicks said he asked Assistant Secretary Beth Jones why Rice made the statements that she did on the 9/16/13 Sunday talk shows.

“Her reaction was ‘I don’t know,’ and it was very clear from the tone that I should not proceed with any further questions,” he told lawmakers.

Jones eventually “delivered a blistering critique of my management style,” Hicks said, “and even exclaimed “I don’t know why Larry Pope [the top U.S. diplomat in Libya] would want you to come back.”

But what about Jones? On September 12, Jones had emailed Hicks and several other State Department officials stating that she told the Libyan government that the Benghazi attack had been carried out by a terrorist group.

“I spoke to the Libyan ambassador and emphasized the importance of Libyan leaders continuing to make strong statements. I told him that the group that conducted the attacks, Ansar al Sharia, is affiliated with Islamic terrorists.”

But if she sent that email, then why did Susan Rice say what she did several days later?

Face it folks, it is one more lie you are being told. When are you going to wake up and demand that, if nothing else, we recognize that we lost four Americans needlessly?

Everyone in the administration has said “help would not have arrived in time…….”

My question is “How did you know when the attack was going to end?”

If we don’t get any other answers, we need to know whether or not the President of the United States, on September 11^th, when he was notified of the attack, ever gave authorization to the United States Military to respond to Benghazi to help.

Very simple answer: Yes or No

They Deserve It !!!!!

 Follow me on twitter @Huntzmanblog

Out of Touch - Washington DC

There are times when I jump up on my soap box and preach about how out of touch the folks in Washington, D.C. have become. Sometimes I feel as if I am preaching to the choir, other times I feel as if my pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

We are in a really bad place here. 40% of the country feels we are being lied to and 40% feel as if we are being told the "God's honest truth" while another 20% have absolutely no clue and think Ben Ghazi is that guy who was in the Iron Man 3 movie. I remember when I was young and the average "unsure" percentage was in the single digits. People seemed to be better informed.

Please watch this video, listen to the words being expressed. It doesn't matter whether you are an (R) (D) (I) (Whatever)......... you know what he is saying is true. I'm not a big fan of attorney's, but sometimes you find the one person who seems to get it.

Lying to ourselves has gotten us here, ignoring the truth is only going to make it worse.

D-Day - June 6th, 1944

When I got up this morning I turned on the TV, as I am habitually prone to do, and began watching the talking heads spouting off about one scandal or another that is going on in the swamp none as Washington D.C.

What I noted was that there was virtually nothing about what truly separates this day apart from all the others. I guess political scandal trumps all others.

For those who served and for all those lost at Pointe Du Hoc and Sword, Juno, Gold, Utah & Omaha beaches, a reminder that you will never be forgotten.

I can't help but wonder, as I watch the antics in D.C. and the disgusting "massaging" of the words someone said or didn't say, if those young men storming the beaches knew what would happen, would they have risked it all? Are we minimizing their sacrifice as we hold our elected officials to such a low  threshold.

Did the greatest generation give us the lamest generation?

Follow me on Twitter @Huntzmanblog