Changes for Shiver and Fears

  Ever since Shiver and Fears started it was always because I wanted to make a real actual book. After one was published I got caught in a few things. I wanted the royalty checks, I wanted the fame, I wanted to be all over the network.

   Long story short- Why did I write these books? To have my written story out in public. That all. It wasn't for fame, it wasn't for the money. Just to have a book published from me and in the hands of others. The question is, do I have that? The answer is with Shiver and Fears at the library, online book stores, multiple websites, so yes. 

   So what does this mean for Shiver and Fears books? No more? Not with all these new story ideas in my head, not to mention, I wouldn't want to leave everyone hanging with Magical Times. As of now Shiver and Fears will publish the 30thbook later this year and then the rest will be posted at Wattpad.

Why this sudden change? What's wrong? Let me just say this, There are people in life who thing being a writ is pointless, and without a thought of encouragement, they will say things to make you feel worthless. Now I have over 200 fans who wouldn't want to stop reading a Shiver and Fears book for nothing, so why is this one critic getting to me?

   Well, it's not really the critic, it's more of his reason. My own cash has gone to dozen of marketers who know the skills to get the word out about people's work. But spending money and not getting anything back out of it, but more views, I guess is pointless. I mean what would you want 1000 people who know your name? Or 1000 who enjoy your work? Because 1000 people who know your work means you say AJ Hard and you know about his work, But 1000 people who know your work means they've seen what you've done and want more from you.

   I don't really have that, and no one knows how to have that, not even me! So why work so hard to become famous if all everyone is going to say is "AJ Hard writes books" and not "I loved his story, can't wait for the next one."? But if you're still receiving "Keep writing, you love it" and of course it's true should you really throw all your work away? NO of course not! 

   Maybe in ten years, when I learn the steps of R.L. Stine I might go back to publishing my work. For right now I've done what I wanted to do. And I just have to remember that!

Let's Meet an Author

We're doing a thing where we take a moment to give attention to other authors. Many authors would like recognization and some people don't consider that. Well, this author wants to give notice to an author at least once a month.

So meet:

Tabatha Smith Waybright

Her book is called On Mystic Mountain

You can get your copy here: https://amzn.to/2VOT4dG

She enjoys reading, writes, sews and cares for my Grandkids!

learn more about this author at Tabathaswaybright.com

She writes fantasy but enjoys reading faith-based books, fantasy, and Sci-Fi

check out our next author in May!

Think Positive

So I was thinking about everyone and how they may be a little bummed this month. Well, I chatted with my new friend Issac Brown and we came up with an idea to send a positive message to those around us. This is what we put together:

We are sending this video to what I like to call the 3 F's: family, friends, and fans! We want to be sure that everyone doesn't look at this as a bad thing. Those with overhead schedules, can now finally relax. Those who get distracted by friends can finally focus on their school work, and those who feel like there's nothing else to do can learn something new.

For me, I've decided to run on a schedule. With me being at home all day, I 've come to notice I live a repetitive life when I' at home. So why not make it into a daily routine? 

For those of you who don't know, Shiver and Fears is working on another book: The Happiest Show Ever. It's pretty ironic, I got the idea when watching Jimmy Neutron. When you hear about it, you think it's kind of awkward for a horror fiction book to include being happy, but like many horror fiction storytellers, we know how to make even the happiest story have a grey dark side to it!

Want more? Check out Facebook! and remember, just tell those grey skies turn around, and look over that mountain! (watch this)

What's up Writer?

A few days ago Shiver and Fears 29 book was published. It's about a boy and his friends coming encounter with the town's legend The Burning Ghost. Things had been crazy lately. I spent a week in a hospital, then right when I was released was the moment the virus started to attack. Life is like a horror story itself now. I feel like I'm part of a zombie attack, aboard Noah's ark, or just hiding from the world itself.
I wasn't sure with this disaster if The Burning Ghost was going to get published in time. What was the hold-up? Once I returned from the hospital I spent a few days recovering from a sickness I wasn't even sure I had. Then I heard a virus was spreading all over the world, killing over 1000 people in its path. At this point, it was a depressing time. I mean it seemed like even the Earth itself couldn't even splash a light of sunshine without the darkness clouding over it.
Gruesome story huh? You would think with a story that gruesome Shiver and Fears would be inspired to write another book. Truth is, as much as I want to write the next story: The Happiest Show Ever or Magical Times without Granny what's really the point? Everyone is mostly at home spreading depression with stupid jokes about toilet paper and the virus and how April will be a total fun sucker, so they aren't really interested in to the contests and books I have to offer.
Plus I just finished The Burning Ghost after rushing the ending, I don't think now is a good time to start another book. I mean I wrote a couple of children fables on Wattpad and they only took 30 minutes. Am I really that good? Or am I just not enthused to write?
Work has been deadly slow lately. I work three jobs and now because of Virus X (That's what I call it), I'm on work lock-out. Maybe with everyone doing nothing I can sell a few audiobooks... We'll see.

The Answer to Your Question

Saturday I told you about why I'm not too concerned about editing. You might disagree with my choices, If you do, then understand you haven't left a comment post, so I assume I'm correct!
Now the question I left you with earlier is why am I going after adults when Shiver and Fears is for young readers? Here's your answer:
Who buys books online? Who handles mostly all the money? How many kids themselves have a social media account? Now, you might have an answer I can't disagree with, but once again, no comment means I'm correct.
The answer is mostly parents. Parents spent time shopping online and on social media, parents have hold of all the money (given the choice and give some to their child) So even if I can convince 5 kids to buy a Shiver and Fears book, they wouldn't be able to without a request to their guardian.
There's also another reason too, I grew up reading Goosebumps, it was my choice in reading for years. Now that I'm an adult I try to reach out to other adults my age who have a big chance of loving goosebumps as well. Because if they love Goosebumps, Shiver and Fears might interest them as well. Although they are the ones who would read and complain about grammar, it's important to understand editing isn't as free as publishing or as simple as social media promotion.
It's important to realize authors do their best and judging more on minor spelling and grammar mistakes than the story itself is very poor judgment to me and anyone else who wants to be a simple writer.
 In fact, come back later this month and I'll show you how well a story can be told with minor mistakes!

Keep Writing Simple

I was chatting with a youtube subscriber about Shiver and Fears books. Unlike most critics, he used kind words. One thing he said was how as an author my writing needs editing. And although he made a good point, I had to decline his suggestion. Here's why:
What makes a good story isn't just the grammar and spelling, for example:

now I didn't write this, this was written by some young kid. Now Even though words like "witches, home, corn, stories" are spelled wrong, you can still read it well enough to understand what it's talking about. Here's another:

this is another story some kid wrote, this one isn't better, in fact, you can even see some backward letters. But once again you get pretty much get the idea of the story.

Now here's my point: I don't write like this, nor do I ever mean to write like this. You might read a Shiver and Fears book and see grammar used poorly and words spelled wrong. So you sit and think "Why doesn't this guy check his work?" True is, I do. I double-check it with Grammarly and Microsoft Word autocorrect. So where do these mistakes come from? Well, when typing I might mistype a word that still makes a work EX: "she gets typed as he" or "lots becomes lits" and sentences like "There's lots of room" becomes "There's lits of room" Grammarly doesn't even catch that mistake! But a simple person can read it and understand easily.

Now there are two reasons why I don't hire someone to edit for me:

1. I did some research, Editing sites are mostly charging for word and my chapter books come around 9000 words per chapter book and they cost about $200-$300. Your cheapest choice would be Fiverr which comes to $45 per chapter book. 

Now at this point, I have 30 books, so that would cost me a total of $1350 spent. and paying for a book each month would take 2 years and 6 months. Which might mean a pause in writing any new books. Which means less work for my unpaid partners. TOO MUCH STRUGGLE!

2. Next, understand, I'm working to get young writers like these:

 to have the power to make a real book without the thought of perfection writing. Most kids aren't concerned about 100% perfection in writing. Just the story. Now before you start thinking I encouraging bad grammar let me start by saying, I'm not! Kids aren't always perfect with their grammar and spelling, so does that mean they shouldn't write a books themselves? I grew up thinking books were only published by companies, and you had to contact them and ask for their approval. That's why I started my own book series, to make my own rules in writing and start encouraging the young generation to see the joy of writing not the stress of how to do it right!

Now with that said, you might not like Shiver and Fears books... that's ok because I feel you might be older than what I'm aiming for. Shiver and Fears are targeting juvenile chapter book readers. (That's about 3rd to 5th grade) Then why do I reach for adults on social media? I'll explain that on Friday!

😉

Kyle Massey in the House!

2 months ago, Shiver and Fears published their audiobook starring Kyle Massey. Let me start by introducing Cory with this video:

So in honor of this occasion we placed him in our book No Body Park. Kyle Massey visits his aunt for a few days and noticed an empty park. If there's a park then where are the kids who play on it, it's a mystery Kyle wants to solve, but is he ready for the truth?
Think it's an interesting story? Want to read it? Well after waiting all these months you finally can. For the next two months we are giving away audiobook codes for audio copies of No Body Park. Our narrator Diontae Black was excited not only that he gets to read a Shiver and Fears book, but also one that stars Cory in the House, Kyle Massey.
If you want one, this give-a-way starts now! Comment why you want a Shiver and Fears audiobook and we'll send you one, while supplies last.

BTW: we also have a special guest coming this spring. Let's just say he's a friend of Creeps...