Muse: one of the nine inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts in Greek mythology.
If any of you have watched the movie Xanadu, Olivia Newton-John played a muse named Kira (Terpsichore, the Muse of Dance) who inspired Gene Kelly's character (Danny McGuire) back in the 1940s) and Michael Beck's character (Sonny Malone) in 1980. Hopefully, she helped others before the 1940s and in the years between then and the 1980s.
There was a time when I began putting my stories together for e-publication when my muse must have been hanging around night and day. The ideas and words flowed like a raging river.
Lately, I think she may be busy helping others and only drops by from time to time. I haven't done much writing in the last two weeks (or advertising for that matter). Then yesterday, I wrote 4 1/2 pages of new material for the sequel to Death Haunts the Stars. And, I feel like I've got a couple/few more pages in me today!
Well, we'll see...
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Sales and Kindle Reads have dropped slightly on the existing books. I guess the half of the population that would agree with my stories are now extremely happy and those who wouldn't agree with them are suffering mind numbing depression over recent events. (Not that they would buy my books anyway!)
I've put together a script for my first videos for my Amazon Authors Page and for my Facebook Authors page. Just waiting for a nice day to shoot them outside. Tuesday's forecast looks good!
My current novels can be purchased as e-books at my Amazon Authors Page at www.amazon.com/author/jeffreyfortney. Don't forget, if you have a Kindle Unlimited subscription, you can download and read my books as part of that subscription.
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Spring is not quite here yet. It's been warm enough in Oklahoma that the Red Cedars and Bradford Pear trees are blooming. Have I mentioned that I'm deathly allergic to the Red Cedars and none too fond of the Bradford Pears? This year, my allergies resulted in an upper respiratory infection. Yuck! But I'm finally on the mend. Now the weather is turning cold again. Hopefully, I won't get a cold...
That's enough for now. Stay safe out there!
Jeffrey
© Jeffrey M. Fortney - 2017
Greetings and salutations, everyone!
Wow! What a great week on so many levels. Lots to report, so let's get to it:
I made some great progress this past week on photography, photo selection, and drafting illustrations for Essentials of Fire Fighting, 7th edition. Still lots to do but am proceeding at a good clip! I also got to represent Fire Protection Publications at Oklahoma State University's Author's Recognition Luncheon. Always fun and good eats, too!
I also made some really good progress on two writing projects at home. I got several more pages written on the screen play I'm writing. I'm not ready yet to say what it is I'm writing about but sometime down the line I will.
Made some real progress on the sequel to Death Haunts the Stars! Several new pages written and came up with some interesting ideas for the rest of the book. I've created some new and different characters and added some more natural humor to the story.
Also on the personal writing front, I've begun setting up things on my computer to layout my e-books for print-on-demand. Kindle Direct Publishing has begun a print-on-demand program where the print costs are included in the purchase price thus reducing the upfront costs for the authors dramatically. It's going to take some significant reformatting but it's doable. I've got some other things to do before I begin the reformatting but it's now officially on my 2017 to do list!
Sales and Kindle Unlimited subscription reads have been real really slow. I don't know if this is a post-election burnout lull or what. Meanwhile, I ask each of you to keep telling your family, friends, acquaintances, and everyone else you know about my stories! You've been fantastic and I greatly appreciate you and yours for your help! My current books can be found on my Amazon Author's Page at www.amazon.com/author/jeffreyfortney.
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Well, Spring is just around the corner. Things have been so warm in Oklahoma that plants are blooming and pollinating like crazy! Why...oh, why...does Oklahoma have to be home to so damn many Red Cedars? And why do I have to be allergic to them? The meds are barely holding this at bay this year.
Well, enough for today! Stay safe out there!
Jeffrey
© Jeffrey M. Fortney - 2017
Howdy Everybody!
Sorry I missed last week's blog post...I really didn't have much to write about.
Well this week, I have some things to write about:
1) Work on Essentials of Fire Fighting (7th edition) and Facility Fire Brigades (2nd edition) continues apace. You read the last part of that correctly...Industrial Fire Brigades is now called Facility Fire Brigades in keeping with changes made to the NFPA standards relating to the manual.
2) I've gotten several new pages written on the sequel to Death Haunts the Stars. It seems that the writer's block on that novel is beginning to clear. (Thank You, My Muse!)
3) I've gotten 10 pages written on a movie script! Yes, I said a MOVIE SCRIPT! Don't know if it will ever be completed or produced, but by Gadfrey, I will get it written!
4) I've written a script for a short introductory video I plan to shoot and post to my Amazon Author's Page soon. (I may shoot an alternate version for my Author's Facebook page, too!)
5) I've even found some time to have fun on World of Tanks and Star Trek Online!
It's been quiet on Kindle Direct lately. Maybe people are burned out following the election or maybe some are relieved my common thesis of my two series has not come to pass (yet?). Please take a moment to speak with your family and friends about my novels! You've been a terrific advertising force for me and, believe me, I greatly appreciate each and every one of you for helping me with this! My current books can be found on my Amazon Author's Page at www.amazon.com/author/jeffreyfortney.
For now, here's wishing you a safe week! Get out and have a great time!
Jeffrey
© Jeffrey M. Fortney - 2017
Greetings Family, Friends, and Readers!
Just a quick update on things...
My projects at work are moving along nicely. My committee and I recently validated four chapters for Industrial Fire Brigades, 2nd edition and I was able to post Chapter 12 for their review and comment on Friday. This next week will be spent selecting photos and creating storyboards for Essentials of Fire Fighting, 7th edition. With recent photo shoots, I'll have a lot to select from!
Writing on the sequel to Death Haunts the Stars is coming along in fits and spurts. I just wrapped up Chapter 7 and have begun Chapter 8. I'm about 90 pages into it and there's lots more to come! I'm shifting to a new phase in the story.
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Don't forget to continue to let folks know about my current books that are available through my Amazon Author Page at www.amazon.com/author/jeffreyfortney.
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Let's be careful out there, folks!
Jeffrey
© Jeffrey M. Fortney - 2017
Nothing much has happened in the last week or so!
My current e-books are available through Amazon.com. Check 'em out at www.amazon.com/author/jeffreyfortney.
Be safe out there!
Jeffrey
© Jeffrey M. Fortney - 2017
Wow!
Another day off from the office due to weather...that really did not turn out to be as bad as predicted! This past Friday we got an ice day, which a friend promptly declared a (N)Ice Day. Cars, structures, and plants were icy but the roads were surprisingly (and pleasantly) clear. No matter...it gave me time with the Missus, the father-in-law, the dogs, and...World of Tanks!
Now for my next confession: I've been playing a LOT of World of Tanks. A LOT! Which means I'm not doing as much writing as I would like. But: 1) It's been cathartic and relaxing. (Well, except when my tank goes BOOM!). And 2) It's given me an idea for a new story!
Which brings up the next topic...stories. Writers have two problems when it comes to stories: 1) A lack of new ideas and 2) an excess of new ideas! Right now, I have a folder that is rapidly filling with new ideas and no idea if I'll ever get to them. But that's okay! I'd rather have too many than too few.
I am committed to completing the new sci-fi novel (sequel to Death Haunts the Stars) then I'll finish Quest for the Obsidian Blade. After that I'd like to start on the Young Adult (YA) steam punk story. And now I can add a spy/thriller novel AND a tanker/gamer novel to the list. Plus, I think Kyle and I have (at least) one more Terra-Bravo story in us.
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My current list of e-books are still available through Amazon.com. Check them out on my Amazon Author Page at www.amazon.com/author/jeffreyfortney.
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With the Winter weather vacillating between pleasant and foul, please be careful out there!
Jeffrey
© Jeffrey M. Fortney - 2017
What a week!
It was my first week back to work following the Christmas/New Years Holidays. Returned to work on Tuesday and jumped back into preparing for more photo shoots for Essentials of Fire Fighting, 7th edition.
Late Thursday night/early Friday morning it snowed here in Stillwater. Not much, about an 1 1/2 inches here. I woke up, shoveled snow from around the front porch, the car, and part of the driveway then went and picked up Julie from work. Returned home and finished brushing snow from the other cars and shoveled the rest of the snow from the driveway then put down some ice melt. Went back into the house, showered, shaved, and got dressed for work. I was heading out the door when I received a text message from the university that they were closed due to the snow! Then I received an e-mail, a phone call, and another e-mail alerting me of the same thing. SNOW DAY!
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During the week, I was able to write several pages of new material for the sequel to Death Haunts the Stars! It's coming along nicely, just not as fast as I would like. I'm only about 70 pages into it. Still, it's a first draft.
As always, I want to thank my family and friends for being such wonderful ambassadors of my works to others. Please keep up the great work!
My current novels are available as e-books through Amazon.com. Just to remind everyone, if you have a Kindle Unlimited Subcription, you can check out my e-books and read them at no additional cost to you. It's all part of your subscription!
My current e-books are available through my Amazon Author Page at www.amazon.com/author/jeffreyfortney.
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Time to wrap things up for this week. Remember, we still have several weeks of winter to go and chances for snow are still great for many places, so be very careful out there!
Jeffrey
© Jeffrey M. Fortney - 2016
