hmmm

Hello. Thanks for the "Hi"!

you wellcome

Felix, I do apologize for being so negative on this space. Good day to you.

Hi Lexi and Bernard,

If I might address Bernard's statement first...don't be dismayed at all. Worldwide (i just checked) there are over 680,000 new books published yearly on average. A few of them are by very well-known and revered writers, but percentage-wise, and I don't know the exact figures on these, the number is small. Those "famous" authors' books get purchased, both print and ebook. The remainder of authors struggle to build an audience, and thereby sell some copies. I don't know how long you've been writing, Bernard, but it takes time and PERSISTENCE. Quality isn't the greatest factor vis a vis popularity...there are some really shitty books on the market that do extremely well, but I will say this; cover art, catchy blurbs and titles help a lot. Beyond that, however, the old rule still holds true: professional editing and a firm grasp on the mechanics of grammar, spelling, and punctuation are essential if an author is really serious, and wants to be taken seriously. Poetry is a tough sell these days. Readers don't like to have to think very deeply, and so much poetry requires that effort.

I began seriously writing in 1998 when I sat down at the computer and typed the first lines of my book, "The Redemption of Marvin Fuster." I'd recently read and fallen in love with a now-famous author's second or third novel, and I thought, "I want to write something as beautiful as that." And so I began. Seven years later I finally finished the first draft, certain in my mind that with its publication I would join the ranks of Steinbeck, Irving, et. al. i didn't :) I finished the first draft in 2005, by the way. I completely tore the book apart over the ensuing years, and finally finished what I thought was a first-class Fantasy/Romance in 2012. Prior to 2010 i swore I would NEVER self-pub. I based that desire on the reputation of Vanity Presses. But of course authors such as Amanda Hocking destroyed that image, and the explosion of self-publishing was well under way by then. I self-pubbed.

Oddly, thankfully, whatever, I do fairly well at Amazon, but it's with my short stories. "Dear Diary, A Journal From Hell" took off in 2010 (I think it was) at Amazon, as did my next offering, "Checkmate." They still bring me a small check each month. But my novels languish. Sigh. That's okay.

Regarding Bookrix, or any other writers site: I've found that very, very few members will invest the time, and certainly not the money, to read an entire novel, but they often WILL read that same novel if it is published here free in increments of no more than 30 or 40 Bookrix pages. You'll notice that most of my "books" here are free to read. Purchases by members, at least for me, are few and far between. That's okay. I write because I love to tell stories, and I want people to read them.

Lexi,

I find it gratifying that a published author would communicate with you:) If that wasn't too many years ago, try to casually maintain the connection. I say casually:) Who knows, Cynthia Freeman might do you the honor of either reviewing, or writing a back jacket recommendation for a future book! Some authors, I hazard the guess, might even mentor you. Wouldn't that be nice!

As I said in a previous message, many of my 87 books here are chapter adaptations from Marvin, One Year On Meade Street (my second novel), or Cathedral, an unfinished novel.

To clarify a statement i made to Bernard, I began writing very early in my life...pencil and legal pad, lol. Underwood typewriter. Thank GOD for Word:) My first novel (unfinished) was a book about the revolt in Heaven as seen through the eyes of a minor angel, living in a Tolkien-type "world". I was 19. I later became enamored with C.S. Lewis, particularly the Space Trilogy, The Screwtape Letters (marvelous still), and The Great Divorce, a book every serious author should read. All his books are thinly-disguised Christian apologetics, but his themes and brilliant writing style are important in every era. My Dear Diary, A Journal From Hell, written I believe in 2010 or 2011 was a resurrection of a short story/novella I had written in my C.S. Lewis phase. Can't even remember the name of that early work! But briefly, how does a soul escape Hell? CAN he (or she)? ANYTHING is possible for a writer, IF the writer can make the reader suspend disbelief. I changed the plot entirely, keeping only the main character, Terence, and made the journey to find Lucifer more interesting--lurid and graphic in portions to some extent. It worked.

Well, that's me. Like many, many writers here (and everywhere), we fall in love with terrific stories, and so set out on a journey to write something marvelous. I'm happily married (my wife is a writer/member here), live in Southern California, have three grown children--none of whom writes!--and someday I might break through...if I keep the faith and don't give up:)

Oh, and I work full-time, six days a week.

Patrick

Thank you for this. I have just read a short story, and needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed it! Once again, thank you!

Yes Hannah, I'll try. It will have to wait (forgive me) until after the 25th. I'm also helping another good friend, but I'll do what I can:)

Merry Christmas!

Patrick

Thanks, T:) You are, of course, absolutely correct! (Can a person be almost correct, lol?)
Knowing Laz, I think his idea was tongue-in-cheek anyway:) :) :)
And thanks for the kudo vis a vis my (terrible) poem:) A poet I ain't, lol.

Roses mostly are red
Violets are a nicety
Let's then go guys and,
Resurrect "Dead Poets' Society.'

(free verse)

I don't read much poetry, but your lines where clean and simple to understand :). And if you think I was almost correct, then that's fine lol.

:) Back at ya'!

Hi Kathryn.
Romance Novels? I think straight romance would have to be Cathedral...unfinished here, and in serious edit, lol. I took a chapter from 2/3 of the way through the manuscript and created a pretty straight forward romance set in modern times: http://www.bookrix.com/_ebook-patrick-sean-lee-the-book-of-angelina/
Many of my books/stories are romances, although I would have to classify them as fantasy romance, such as Marvin, set in 1998. Well, kind of modern, lol.
http://www.bookrix.com/_ebook-patrick-sean-lee-the-redemption-of-marvin-fuster-4/

I will be happy to check out your book and follow the links that you provided. Fantasy romance is good. I just watched the fantasy movie The Life of Pi this weekend and thought it was awesome.

:) Hello. A nice Hi is always warm and cheery on a chilly Sunday morning.

Gracias por todo, Peter:)
Let me take a moment and see what you have been up to!