Soly Hucking Fhit!

Just got a letter from Barnes and Noble saying they're going to distribute the first book on their network! I'm so happy. I feel like high fiving a thousand angels, or doing tequila shots with the devil, either one, it's all good. The first book is available to any book stores for distribution but I have yet to upload the second book to that network.

You can buy the second book through the Amazon direction but I want it to be available to the independent book stores, as  well as any other store which may not want to deal with Amazon's distribution network. I was waiting until I edited another series I'm working on (TBA) and want to upload them all at once. I'm guessing before the Christmas season starts, fingers and eyes, crossed.  I have to say, even if only one copy sells, I'm happy just making it this far, In spite of sounding like an artist, I have to say it's not all about selling a million copes and getting a movie deal and all that shit. Yes, that would be nice, but to me, it's like giving birth to something good and wanting to send it out into the world instead of it living in your basement for 40 years  and masturbating to free WiFi.

Book 5?

Finished another cover. This is for book 5. Book 4 was going to be the last one but there were a couple of loose ends I felt the character would want to confront before she felt her goals were at least at a resting place if not solved. I hate stories that wrap everything up in a bow at the end but I also hate the stories where you're like: "But what about______? and____?
 I'm going to go around to a couple of the book stores to see if they'll carry a physical copy of book. The digital version was selling well enough but my goal is to have the physical copy in book one and  one day do a book signing. But, for now. My goal is to write, do art and enjoy the ride.

IT"S HERE!

Book #2 Now Available!!!!!

Pam Pam

Book 3 and 4 are in the proofing stage.  Book 2 is being aimed for a February release date. I think it will be perfect if I can get it done by Valentine's day because of the title " Flaming Jackass, In Love". Book 3 introduces one of my favorite characters:

Pam Barlow.

Age: 28

Job: part timer at the University Of Neopolitan Medical Center, Reproduction Sciences. Freelancer, Graphic Artist and Programmer for Naughty Little Devil Girl Graphics.

Pam is based on a girl used to work with at an art supply store and is best described in the novel as: "… ‘Robert Crumb’ girl type, after the style of the underground cartoonist that loved to draw thick, tall Amazon-like girls. Pam wasn’t that much taller than Erin but she was built in a broad, borderline plump way and always sported big clopping motorcycle boots." Pam is an only child of religious, conservative parents. She grew up 50 miles South of Neopolitan and like Erin had some very rocky teen years. At one point in her teen years, Pam was caught stealing her mom's Valiums. Instead of fessing up that she was taking them to get high, she lied and said she was trying to commit suicide. As a response, her parents sent her to one of those re-hap, troubled teen asylums. While there, she met a boy. They fell in love and escaped the camp where Pam ended up spending the entire Summer on the rough streets of Neopolitan, begging for spare change and sleeping in abandoned buildings. After her boyfriend was arrested for selling pot, she  was left to fend for herself. This was at the time there was a serial killer on the loose in the city known as Big F.S.O.B., targeting young street punks. When one of the girls she hung out with disappeared, Pam had had enough. She returned home to her extremely happy parents who spoiled her  rotten, while keeping a tight rein on her. As part of this arrangement, she was given a computer. This became her first love and she emerged herself in programing and graphic arts and a desire to be successful and rich. Pam is loving, uncouth, unapologetic and  will always tell you the truth, no matter if you want to hear it or not. In the novel, she offers a new perspective to Erin's craziness as Lashell does in the first two books. She is also roommates with Allen, another voice of truth but this time the male perspective that bounces off Erin's illogic. Book 3 and 4 focuses a lot of her and Allen's lives and turns Erin into a spectator while occasionally bringing her problems forward in a sort of tag team wrestling match.

Special BOOK STORE edition

Book Two is now in the editing process and hopefully will be up and selling by next year. I've also finished book 4 which I think (for now) will be the final chapter. I say for now because when it comes to telling some one's life story, your story never really ends. You can always kill off a character and that can usually end a story but, in real life, when your parents die, if you're still living, there's still a sequel in there (No I'm not giving  hints for what happens to the main characters in the book) but I don't think  there should be these stupid fairy tale, wrap everything up in a bow ending unless it's a sci-fi or horror story where you finally blow up or killed that asshole that's been causing so much trouble.

I've also been prepping the first book for a special "Book Store edition" version because apparently, bookstores only deal with certain publishers and anything for sale on Amazon is frowned upon by the Hipster Dipster bookstores. So I had to re-do and republish the first book.On the plus side, I was able to add some bells and whistles to the cover such as a picture of Lashell on the back. I think I may do that to all of the books and add a side character in that spot because I have lots of illustrations of other characters.It also sports  the bad-ass little logo for Rabboks publishing (Rabbooks also has a web page in the works here: Rabbooks )If all goes well, I'll have a lot more muscle in the publishing world as this will be made available to a lot more channels than Amazon.

It's All About the Books

The First book is up and running and available for purchase on Amazon and Createspace. Either in regular book form or electronic style. My goal for the book is to get 1000 units out there.  I don't care if it's a regular book sale or the Kindle version (which are selling more than the book version) , but it doesn't matter. As nice as it would be, it's not about making lots of money and quitting my day job. That's the unrealistic dream of psychopaths living in castles in the sky. If the book sells a lot, of course I'd be happy but even with a great novel, there's no way you can guarantee  thousands of book sells and retire like those New York Times Best Seller people. Even most of them never make enough money to quit their day jobs unless there's a movie deal in the works. HBO, if you're listening, call me. Flaming Jackass would make a great series! No, my goal is to do art. If I can sell enough art or books to keep on doing it, THAT is my goal. to keep this thing going. 1000 units is a nice round number that says, 1000 people will probably buy the second and third and fourth books and make doing this worth it. This fan base is the most encouraging and in my opinion, appreciated people in the world. For someone to take a chance on an unknown artist or writer or even musician, and patronize them is an awesome thing and I thank you!!!

I have created a logo for my Publication company called Rabbooks Publishing. Now for some business cards:

 

Speaking of future books. I've already finished the cover art for books #2 and #3. The second book: In Love is in the editing process right now and hopefully will be out before Christmas. As for #4 (working title Detox), the first chapter is written and it's a big one that takes up 1/4 of the book. Here are the cover illustrations for #2 and #3:

Flaming Jackass; Book #2

 Book #2,  is due by Christmas 2016. This could be called the book when everything hits the fan that's already covered in shit.

Flaming Jackass; Book #3

You may have noticed her change of hairstyle on the cover of book #2. That's not the only change in that book. New characters and situations appear to further complicate Erin's life.

Character Files

Lashell Bronson

Lashell Bronson

Age: 21

Occupation: 

Cashier/Cook at F. J. Pizza parlor.
Student at Neopolitan Community College studying Medical Billing. 

Personality:

 Lashell is Erin's best friend and one of the few female fiends Erin has. She can always be counted on to tell Erin exactly what she's is doing wrong in an uncensored way. Lashell is a very resposible person and it drives her nuts with the idioic decisions that Erin makes. She also loves Erin and would do anything to help her out, especially get Erin and her out of the pizza parlor and into college.

Lashell has a temper, is impatient and argumentative. She lives at home with her mom, her single mother, sister and her niece. Lashell is closer in personality to her mother who, even tough they live in the rough part of South Neopolitan, has managed to provide for her daughters and made sure they never fell trough the societal cracks. Lashell is very clean cut: No smoking drinking or drugs creating, a complete contrast to Erin. In a way, Erin is like a social worker's project to her and she feels almost obligated  to do charity, but at the same time, she likes the way Erin makes her life interesting.