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Archive for the ‘Mind Master Chronicles’ Category

11/30/25 writing update

It’s almost Christmas! It’s been a long time since I’ve seen so many ads for Christmas and Thanksgiving shown. Of course, most ads don’t mention Christmas. It’s holidays, seasonal, festive. Oh, well. At least they’re not too good for our money yet. That’s when you know you’re in real trouble.

The Smashwords End of the Year sale begins Dec. 8. I am adding more editing to my routine. I’m starting editing stage 2 on Butterfly and continuing typing/ editing stage 1 on Book 5. I’m still trying to establish a more consistent routine for the writing. The typing will soon begin on Contagion Phase 3, the true sequel to Beginnings with Becca, Derek and Patrick. It and Contagion Phase 4 have already been written.

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11/26/25

I feel slow, but really what do I have to compare it to? I finally got Contagion Phase 2: Beginnings done and published. I am starting the editing on Mind Master Chronicles: Butterfly (Book 4). I’m not sure when I’ll be done with that one as the content of Book 5 got mixed in with Book 4. Mainly, my time has been limited by the four trips I’ve had to the hospital this past year. I’ve also been doing a lot of physical therapy for Super Stump (right leg/ amputee) and Lefty (left leg/ stroke survivor). God helped me figure out I have a beef allergy in addition to my gluten allergy. Both flare my ulcerative colitis. Usually, it’s hard to pinpoint a trigger. This time I was able to. And before this I didn’t realize one could be allergic to beef. I’m still writing as much as I can. Right now, it’s four books but not every day. I’m entering my six e-books into the Smashwords End of the Year sale for free.

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The writing/ typing/ editing/ and proofreading are going well. I’m about a third of the way through the Contagion Phase 2: Beginnings final round of editing. Mind Master Chronicles 4: Butterfly is about a third of the way through typing/proofreading. Then, the three rounds of editing will begin. I’m trying to write a page in Contagion Phase 3 six days a week. It’s almost done and is ready for typing … as is Mind Master Chronicles 5: For the other four books, my goal is writing 3 pages per week.

I’m giving up my GoDaddy site since they’ve integrated AI into it. My domain name will eventually redirect here (WordPress).

I’m participating in the Smashwords Summer/Winter Sale! It lasts the entire month of July. All five of my currently published books will be free. Here is the address: https://www.smashwords.com/shelves/promos/

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I’ve added more books to my writing regime, but I’m only doing a page a day of any one book. My priority is getting Biosphere 3 done regularly, but I’m chipping away at four others now. It keeps things interesting, and I don’t want to lose that inspirational feeling. Writing is a discipline like exercise, it becomes easier to establish a routine with it the more you do it. But notice that is easier not easy.

I am almost done with round 2 of 3 of editing of Beginnings. Butterfly typing has been increased to 4 pages a day. I proofread 5 pages a day of the typed pages to catch up on the time I lost.

Physical therapy takes a lot of time. Super Stump and Lefty (left foot) are making a lot of progress with standing. I’m opting for a walker rather than a prosthetic.

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When I shelved books at a local library (in the liberal state of Minnesota) years ago, young adult was Sweet Valley High. The content is a lot more mature now. Bookstores have mature content in the children’s section. That’s why I decided to list all my books as adult fiction. I figure no one will know what ya means anymore.

Meanwhile, I’ve gotten back into a routine of writing, editing and typing. So, I’m making progress.

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On Jan 29th, I wound up at the hospital with a painful, blue and cold right foot. On Feb 3rd, my foot had to be amputated due to peripheral artery disease. Now I have a below-the-knee stump I’m very attached to: Super Stump! I’ve had to postpone my two pre-orders as Super Stump prepares for his prosthetic.

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Writing Update

11/18/24

Hi. Just a reminder that the Goodreads Giveaway for the dystopian novel Mind Master Chronicles (Book 3): The Pretender ends on November 19, 2024. Enter now to win a free ebook copy of Mind Master Chronicles: The Pretender!

https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/399518-mind-master-chronicles-the-pretender

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It’s about time for the Smashwords Store sale, which is starting July 1st and lasts all of July. All my books, including my new one, Contagion Phase 1: Biosphere, will be free.

Break the Leg to Bend the Knee: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1415973

Contagion Phase 1: Biosphere: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1545993

Mind Master Chronicles: Labyrinth: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1353449

Mind Master Chronicles: Puppet on a String: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1386746

Meanwhile, the typing up of Contagion Phase 2: Beginnings is underway. And I’ve completed the first round of editing of the Mind Master Chronicles: The Pretender (Book 3). Here is the summary:

The Mind Master emerges from the shadows in order to play a game. Only it’s not the game he sold to his contestants online. No, that was a simple reality TV show, a promotional tool for their futures. In reality, the Mind Master’s game is a battle of wits to the death.

The editing for Mind Master Chronicles: The Pretender is going faster than it did with Biosphere. I had to make a lot more content changes with Biosphere.

I haven’t been writing as much as I’d like. I read an article recently on budgets — how you can focus on the interest rate or on the balance as your primary goal. I’m an interest rate person since it is the most efficient. Still, when you chip away at a lot of things rather than get fewer things done faster, you oftentimes don’t feel like you’re getting anywhere. And that can affect your morale. Still, I’m planning on continuing to try to do two pages a day per book because it keeps the pacing right for a book length story. Trying to add content later if you find the book is too short tends to harm the book. I will just have to dig deep and try to resume my schedule. Yes, I believe in taking breaks on occasion when I hit blocks. Putting too much pressure on yourself just creates anxiety. But you do have to prod yourself from time to time as well in order to keep the momentum going.

Update: Amazon is again offering up to $3.00 per transaction for Prime No-Rush and Amazon Delivery Day Rewards. The amount of Digital Rewards given seems dependent on the quantity of items purchased and what day of the week you purchase the items. It seems you need to buy four items at a time to qualify for the $3.00. The books I write qualify for Digital Rewards, so in theory you can get one of my eBooks if you get the $3.00 maximum reward once.

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My three Ebooks are free in the Read An E-book Week sale at the Smashwords Store. The sale lasts from 3/3/24 to 3/9/24. Check it Out!

#ebookweek24 #smashwords #booktwt

Labyrinth: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1353449

Puppet on a String: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1386746

Break the Leg to Bend the Knee: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1415973

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Writing Update 5

I’ve decided to do a fourth go over on Biosphere. I’ve decided to make this a pattern for all of my future books. I intend to do five Word pages on days I edit my books. Then, I will do four rounds. It just doesn’t feel like I’ve been thorough enough otherwise. Then, I plan to do the formatting and the cover. My new goal is to have the book up for pre-order in April. The release date goal is set for Monday, April 29th. I figure around May is a good time to release a new book. I think this will give me enough time to get everything to my liking and build up some anticipation for my release as well.

Meanwhile, I’ve decided to set my baseline price for most of my eBooks to $2.99 instead of $3.99. I know it’s hard to find money in the budget for books these days. Labyrinth will still be set to free for most retailers. Biosphere will be $2.99. Of course, I also intend to participate in the Smashwords Store sales when they come up. As far as I know, they’re still having one in July.

I’ve also changed the category of my book series The Mind Master Chronicles from juvenile fiction to regular fiction. I did this because the first two books … Labyrinth and Puppet on a String … could probably fit either category, but the third book, that’s in the editing process, and the fourth and fifth book, which are being written, lean more toward adult fiction. In other words, they are on the edge of adult and really edgy and dark juvenile fiction. But since people tend to view juvenile as a subcategory of children’s books, and I don’t see these as children’s books I decided to move them to adult fiction. Still, since there aren’t any sex scenes in the book, right now I’m not inclined toward the 18 warning / recommendation for the Mind Master Chronicles. I just don’t want people to blindly give books three through five to a five-year-old because they’re listed in the children’s section. And it really didn’t make sense to me to have books in the same series in different categories. Hopefully, this change won’t be too confusing for people.

I want to thank the people who have read my books. It’s probably easier to get books for free at the library. But I think it’s still hard to break into the library system if you’re an independent writer rather than a traditionally published one. So, I appreciate the effort people have made to read my books, even though I don’t have as much access to readers as I could have.

I realized recently how important readers are. They are rare gems to be treasured. It’s really gratifying for a writer when someone actually identifies with your work. Ideally, it truly is a symbiotic relationship where everyone benefits and is made happier as a result.

So, I will continue to make my books as affordable and accessible as possible. And you readers keep up the good work. I am convinced your efforts are appreciated by the authors whose books you read!

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