Best Books

Best Books

I wrote seven fiction books before I wrote my first non-fiction novel. And the reason I wrote The Best Book on How to Write Publish and Market Your Novel into a Best Seller is because, like many of my fellow novelists, I lost my book deal shortly after the Great Recession hit in 2010 and my publisher ran into financial trouble.

I didn't think much of it at the time because the book Frostie the Deadman was selling well and I figured I wouldn't have any problem getting another publisher.

I was wrong. The writers strike had hit and all those striking writers took that time to write novels of their own, flooding the market.

Again no big deal, I decided I could make more money with my own publishing company, Ari publishing What I didn't take into account was that I didn't know a thing about the publishing business.

BIG MISTAKE.

So I set out to learn all I could. And when I did I was startled at how different the publishing industry was from what I thought it was. So much so that I felt a need to inform all my fellow writers that getting a book deal required a hell of a lot more than simply writing a great book. And so The Best Book on How to Write Publish and Market Your Novel into a Best Seller was born.

But it didn't stop there. During my research I learned what I considered priceless information on how to recover when your life crashes and burns. So much so I created a website that caters to the needs of people who are recovering from emotional and physical difficulties. http://howtobeginagain.com 

Then I wrote a book on how to survive a divorce, how to sell ANYTHING on the internet, how to make money online and what you REALLY NEED TO KNOW before you agree to marry someone.

And I was having a great time doing it! And I was making money, especially once I turned them into audiobooks. 

But the problem was that, at heart, I am a fiction writer and I really missed it.

So I decided to write book 5 of my Revolution in America series. But as I was preparing, two characters I had used in a few satirical articles in my blog, kept tugging at my sleeve demanding that I tell their story, not just bits and pieces of it.

Those characters were Gam'pa and Bosco O'Bama the Third.  To be honest, I had no idea what kind of story they had to tell. Most of my fiction novels are action/adventure, featuring men and women in facing danger and almost insurmountable odds. A book about a elderly retiree and a four-year-old boy clearly did not fit into that mold.

But they wouldn't let go, so I started writing a book where I had absolutely no idea how it was going to turn out or even what genre it would be in. And that book became Whateverland

At first, it appeared to be a comedy, there are some funny bits in the first chapters and I thought it would continue that way.

But then it turned with the arrival of two new characters, Gam'pa's daughters Anne and Eleanor. Their input brought a seriousness into the topic of caregiving to dementia patients, which led to the horror of dementia patients realizing the information their brains are giving them is not only wrong, but dangerous and self destructive. 

Then it occurred to me that just because a family member is ill doesn't erase all the other daily difficulties that challenge us all. And the more their individual stories came to light the more I felt for them. Gam'pa, Bosco, Anne, Eleanor and even the difficult Mrs. Tuttle became people I dearly cared for.

I think you will care for them too.

Whateverland is temporarally priced at 99 cents in the hope of attracting reviewers. Once aquired, the price of the e book will rise to $7.99 The soon to be released paperback will be priced at $12.99. The audiobook version should be released by March of this year.

Amazon gives readers the opportunity to read the first few chapters to see if a certain book is tailored for them. You can get a taste of Whateverland by clicking on the TRY IT FREE link on the lower right of the page to download a sample
http://www.amazon.com/Whateverland-Zackary-Richards-ebook/dp/B00S9XKLMW/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1421511321&sr=1-1&keywords=zackary+richards

Enjoy

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Hobbies-Why having one is important

Why is having a hobby important? Because it instills in us a feeling of accomplishment and self-worth. Few things feel as good as looking back on something we’ve done and experiencing the pride of having completed it. The more we accomplish the better we feel. It keeps us from falling into depression, wards off anxiety and promotes good health.

Its as simple as that.

Choosing a Hobby

This requires some thought and a willingness to step outside your comfort zone. And trust me on this: It’s well worth it.

My hobby is writing books, designing book covers, playing and recording music and online marketing. Immersing myself in those activities has got me through some very difficult periods of my life.

But how to select YOUR hobby? Here are some of the most popular hobbies with links to additional information and hobby accessories.

Sports GolfClubs martial arts

Play pool like a pro)

Crafts (woodworking, scrapbook ideas,)

Collecting (model trains, fishing lures

Gardening (landscaping, vegetable gardens and healthy cooking)

Outdoor activities (Radio Controlled Land, Sea and Air Vehicles.)

And those are just some of the most popular. There are literally thousands of hobbies and I’m sure there is at least ONE that will add excitement and happiness to your life.

Get your list of FREE hobby information, step by step guides and FREE video tutorials

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What makes it even more fun is it may be something you never imagined or considered doing.

I’ll give you an example. A buddy of mine took great joy making fun of golf and openly ridiculed anyone who played. And as fate would have it he made a bet where the penalty for losing was to play 18 holes of golf with a golf instructor. And as you likely guessed, my buddy lost and he had to pay up.

Turns out he and the instructor had a lot in common and over the golf lesson became friends. So now my buddy plays golf regularly. You never can tell what may be the next BIG thing in your life.

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Personalities: We have two and one is dangerous

In Billy Joel's song "The Stranger" the lyrics begin with:
Well we all have a face
That we hide away forever
And we take them out and show ourselves
When everyone has gone
Some are satin some are steel
Some are silk and some are leather
They're the faces of the stranger

 

Then at the end of the song he adds:

 

You may never understand
How the stranger is inspired
But he isn't always evil
And he isn't always wrong
Though you drown in good intentions
You will never quench the fire
You'll give in to your desire
When the stranger comes along.

(Billy Joel all rights reserved)

My point is that most, if not all, of us have two very different personalities and like Billy Joel's song, that second personality often leads us into trouble and bad decision making.

The Chinese refer to such duality as Yin and Yang

I have long been aware of my two personalities, whom I have named Stageshow Johnny and The Dullard.

Stageshow is funny, quick-witted, a very entertaining life of the party, acerbic, intolerant, impatient, elitist and vindictive and for a long time I used that quick acerbic wit as a weapon.

And made a lot more enemies than friends in the process.

One the positive side I am also THE Dullard. He is smart, analytical, hard-working, and success oriented. He's the part of me that figures out problems, comes up with solutions and the guy people go to when they need help. He has a small circle of very loyal friends

However he is introverted as hell so people often assume he is a snob.

And that is how the world works

My daughter Jane also has two distinct personalities. One I call Powerhouse Jane and the other Rebel Jane.

Powerhouse Jane is the definition of a winner. First in her Class, Captain of the Cheerleaders, First on the Honor role, Full college scholarship, received an MBA in Business and is presently at the top of her chosen profession.

You would think this would make her happy, but it hasn't

Why? Because Rebel Jane rebels just for the hell of it. She tells herself that she does it to establish her independence. And so every time there is a chance to go against the grain, Rebel Jane takes it. Every chance to buck authority, Rebel Jane's in the thick of it, Opportunities to network, Rebel Jane refuses. Fun outings with co-workers, count her out. No one  tells Rebel Jane what to do, regardless of how beneficial taking that action may be.

Fortunately for both me and Jane, we have acknowledged that Stageshow Johnny and Rebel Jane need to be kept on a tight leash and only allowed to surface when their particular talents can be put to good use. For example: When I'm in a business meeting and Stageshow Johnny sees an opportunity to make a smart-ass remark, I make sure a humorous comment is appropriate in the venue. If not, I remain silent. Now before Jane automatically says no, she takes a minute to see if what she's she's being told is beneficial.

So what about you? Have you discovered The Stranger who lurks inside you? Is he or she under your complete control or are they causing havoc and disrupting your life? If so, TAKE ACTION! Learn to keep those attention whores, rebels without a clue, drama queens, fly off the handle hot-heads, sullen dream killers, alcoholics, lazy procrastinators and any other destructive personality type under your complete control. Once you do, you'll see a noticeable uptick in the quality of your life.

Discover your personality type for FREE

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Always REMEMBER, Personal success comes with consistent and unwavering action. If you need to break out and try new things check out our Hobbies Page If you are struggling with emotional and health issues then Click Here IF you're dealing with divorce, death of a loved on or financial difficulties then View This Website And should you find your self being controlled by OCD, Phobias or anxiety attacks then click on This Website
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