A word to the wise: when you write an email...

With the advent of phone texting it seems that people everywhere have trashed well-written sentences and thoughtfully-composed emails. I recently pointed out to my wife the difference between two emails I had received. One was from an individual looking for professional advice, and the other was from a reader of my blog.

The first individual wrote in complete sentences but never capitalized and grouped all sentences into one very long paragraph. Considering that this individual was looking for my advice it would have come off far better to me if he had taken the time to make his message look professional. It is possible that he supposed it would seem less imposing and more friendly... I suppose.


On the other hand, the second individual wrote in a well-formatted manner with capitalizations. And the impression I had of this individual was that he wrote to me with great respect and consideration of my time.

Of the two individuals I would have expected the first to take the greater care with the composition of his email. He needed questions answered and I was willing to give him advice.

(Please note: I am not saying this to bash the first individual. I just want people to think about something many take for granted nowadays). In fact, I have received many other emails formatted in a similar fashion. But an email can and should reflect the nature of your attitude when you are approaching a professional.

A word to the wise: When you write an email consider how it will appear to the editor, agent, or author who is receiving it. We do notice those seemingly mundane details and they can make a world of difference in the validity of your correspondence.

Why Windows 8 is frustrating

Windows used to be a practical interface for the desktop computer (which is my machine of choice). But with the introduction of Windows 8 Microsoft has earned my ire. Why?

1. I am not a touch-screen person when it comes to my desktop or laptop experience. Win8 is all about the touch-screen experience. I do not want to be constantly cleaning my Work Machine of fingerprints and the like. I want to interface with a touchpad and/or my mouse because I am working with text for hours at a time.
2. TOO BUSY! Win8 operates on an app-style platform, thus when I open my computer it keeps active apps updated in the background while I run other programs. But I want my computer's power dedicated solely to the programs I have instructed it to run.
3. Swiping shortcut gestures are frustrating, to say the least! At one point I was working in three windows: Photoshop, MSWord, and Internet Explorer. Every time I swiped for a certain action in Photoshop the program would close and open the previous program because its "intuitive" system determined that is what I wanted.
4. SIMPLER IS BETTER and Win8 is like a toy with too many buttons designed for the hobbyist, not the professional

My conclusion: if Microsoft continues in this direction they will lose my business, and if an upstart company can come up with a smart alternative to Windows they can gain the edge in this limited market. I am seriously considering downgrading to Windows 7.

Strange moments in the sentimental zone

I just had the strangest thing happen to me, well, I think it was strange. The timing was too perfect, so I think it was a God-sent test.

I grew up in a rural home in northeast Connecticut and I have always had this dream of buying back that house someday if it ever became available. Today I found out that the house is on the market for a great price. It caused a wild rage of emotion. I deeply wanted to make it happen: buy the house so that my wife and I could raise our kids in the same surroundings I so loved in my growing up years. But as many of you know, God has led my wife and I to set out Full-Timing in an RV motorhome. It seems like the timing of this was perfectly tuned to test my resolve as to what I would put first: the spiritual benefits to the lifestyle we've chosen, or settling down in a comfortable house. It was a battle for me to stick to my conviction that materialism can stand between my family and God.

But my wonderful wife (even though she was as tempted as I was by the promise of stability) reminded me of the reasons we are going to RV. I am so thankful to God for her.

Come 2015 we will be hitting the road on non-stop book tour and neither of us can wait. We have been hunting for the right RV and researching like crazy. Here is our favorite so far: 2008 Damon Astoria Bunkhouse Pacific Edition

"Neverqueen" A new series ready to begin!

That satisfied feeling I have right now is because Neverqueen the first book in the new series is finished today!

Also, the cover underwent a minor change that has made it 'pop' better. The heroine's eyes needed to be glowing. All part of the story. And a key part of the story!

Story pitch line is next and a summary to tease all the Fantasy lovers out there.

Coming November 2013!

Getting rid of it!

Clutter. We have so much of it in our lives, don't we?

In preparation for creating a mobile family lifestyle, my wife and I are de-cluttering. Really we do not have a lot of stuff, but even so it is amazing how many things we do have! (-: Does that sound conflicted?

God is glorified more the less value we place on material things. This is one reason we are excited to live out of an RV beginning in 2015 and travel the country again selling books while I speak wherever the opportunity is presented. In preparation for that we are starting to get rid of things we do not need. I sold a couple of PC games for $10 and that modest amount is the start of our "RV Fund." I also have a violin to sell and a loveseat. We are going to digitize my very large movie collection, so I will sell the DVDs, too. I am even going to make a valiant attempt to get rid of a large number of my books, but we'll see how that goes.

I am excited about this. I place a lot more value in my possessions than I like to admit. Some of these things are gods in my life, and God will only bless as we seek to follow His will in our lives. We want to turn away from the material to better focus on connecting to God and the world around us.

BTW, we watched the movie "RV" last night (Robin Williams). Yep, that was a funny movie!

The G-word

Our culture thinks it is becoming so good. After all, it will no longer tolerate racial slurs. Yep, I am thinking of Paula Deen. A lawsuit because she used the n-word. That is good, right? It means that people are becoming more ethical. The US is becoming a tolerant culture that does not discriminate.

Let me point out one sad fact: I have never heard of a lawsuit over someone using the name of God in vain, and I have never heard of one in association with the blaspheming of the holy name of Jesus Christ.

The other day at work I was utterly horrified to hear an employee combine a crude word with the name of Jesus Christ. It sank so ugly deep into my gut that I immediately confronted the individual. But the sad thing is, I don't think they fully realized what they had done even after they apologized to me for using those words.

Our culture has backslidden so far that even many professing Christians think nothing of using OMG in their vocabulary.

We need to stand up for the name of God and the name of Jesus Christ for what they are: Holy and Sacred. Do not desecrate the very name that has given you hope of salvation! Do not stand by and let those around you think that it is ok to use those names in derogatory, offensive, or crude manners. Stand up to the fallen world around you! Let them see the light of Christ with patience and authority.

"... the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain."

What is a discerning reader?

"A story for discerning readers." This was something that I wrote as part of the original marketing material for my first novel. In my mind I was trying to catch the eyes of conservative Christians who should "discern" that my book was wholesome. However, many people were confused by that phrase and, in fact, took it to mean that my novel contained material not suitable for many readers... So I disposed of that marketing line in favor of a more simple approach! But to this day I still am creating books for discerning readers.

While it is not possible have an ideal human culture in this present world, I like to look for the things in life that better our society and make us better human beings. We can and we should strive to become the godly culture that leads people toward high ideals of justice, love, and commitment.

That is part of why I write fantasy novels. I can create characters that stand up for what is right no matter the cost to themselves and show the contrast of those who make wrong choices and follow the wrong ideals. Sadly I often fail to meet that ideal in my personal life but I have discovered that the more I look up to those who are stronger than I am spiritually, the better a person I become. And the more I participate in the culture of worldliness when I am away from home, the more I despise that culture and the person it pushes me to become.

The old testament prophets stood out as examples to the people to whom they ministered and led them to desire righteousness. Today we need more than ever to glorify the pursuit of righteousness. Think on those things that are good and noble.

So here is my encouragement to readers everywhere, and to the other writers out there: Put forth the good stories, challenge yourselves with righteous characters, and learn to discern the bad from the good. Do not accept everything at face value; instead analyze the books you read and the entertainment you watch. Do not always drink only the milk, but eat the meat as well. There is right and there is wrong in all of our entertainment, and that is the way it needs to be... so that we can be intelligent in our approach to this Ever Fallen World.

For parents: consider that if you are not teaching your children about the Wrongs in this world, the people in the world will. So teach them to discern with a godly understanding. The world is waiting for your children and it is adept at taking the naïve mind and twisting it toward the devil's path with promises of pleasure. Show them those pleasures for the superficial things they are and the eternal consequences they bring.

Thoughts anyone?