Sunday, October 30, 2005

The Self-Publisher Hat Rack

One of the things I've learned is that a self-published author without much a budget has to wear many hats.

The editor hat is a hat that no author should ever wear but it gets donned when there is no one else to wear it.

A poor author also has to be his or her own proofreader (an impossible job), publicist, agent, advertising copy writer, publisher and worst critic, whether or not any of those hats actually fit.

Wednesday, October 5, 2005

Nuts & Bolts

In my novels I employ science fiction themes such as alien abduction, the artificial creation of life (as opposed to the worn-out, cookie-cutter creation of artificial life theme — two different concepts entirely), time travel, the afterlife, the dreamworld and supernatural phenomena in order to explore these topics for their own merit.

But I also use them as vehicles for exploring many contemporary issues such as copycat business practices, consumer responsibility, unethical health care policies and the need for national health care insurance, racism and bigotry, responsible public behavior, diversity, technological dependency, misplaced values, false patriotism, shadow government activity and unbridled personal ambition.

I do this through in-depth character development, semi-omniscient narration, action and dialogue, all in the third person. Oh, I forgot to mention that I also inject a little foul language (not much compared to most fiction these days), some romance (but no graphic sex whatsoever), violence (only that which is necessary for character and plot development) and a lot of lampooning and humor.

Something for everyone but the biggest offering is adventure for thinkers and seekers.