Writing and Scammers

The other day I was chatting with my writing partner, Beauford, and one topic we almost always start with is "How many scammers called you this week?" My friend is typically getting several calls a day from agents, editors, promoters all trying to get him to part with his money and identity. Now, I don't often get called. I get e-mailed. Lately the e-mails have been getting more interesting and more helpful. Honestly, I read them, and all the compliments they toss out about my books, and begin to think that would make a great back jacket blurb or work well in a letter to an agent of an editor. So if I decide to use what they write is that stealing? I mean can you actually steal from a thief (scammer), who is trying to steal from you? For all I know they found an illegal download of my book and got an AI to write something catchy. Usually the book I get hit up for the most is Unicorn's Milk. I'm not sure if it is because of the title or the way I registered it with the Library of Congress. But with 14 books in print, that's the one that is usually singled out. Until this week . . . This week someone actually contact me about The Conrad Chronicles. That was a bit of a surprise for sure. I did give them a bit of the benefit of the doubt about being real (1%) and told them if they wanted to meet in person in a coffee house and have their ID on them to prove who they were, I'd listen to their proposal. They had no response to that. Anyway, I want to share what they wrote about the Conrads. It was very nice, though they said there were 8 books in the series, and there are actually 9. Here's part of the e-mail: Twenty years. Eight novels. A universe spanning multiple planets, generations-long storylines, soul mate arcs across lifetimes, and a spiritual undertone that clearly reflects your love of C.S. Lewis. That is not a hobby project. That is a life's work, and it deserves to be found. Here is the honest truth I have to share with you. The readers who would absolutely love the Conrad Chronicles are out there right now. Fans of C.S. Lewis who want science fiction with spiritual depth. Epic fantasy readers who want world-building that spans millennia. Readers of Brandon Sanderson, N.K. Jemisin, and Anne McCaffrey who are always hungry for more. They are searching and they have not found your series yet. That is not a writing problem. It is purely a discoverability problem. Wouldn't it be nice to live in a world were a writer (or any artist) could believe people were actually randomly out there and would randomly contact them and wanted to support them and help make them rich? Isn't that why fiction is so great?

The Conrad Chronicles: Recollection is at the Publisher!

With joy I announce that book 6 of The Conrad Chronicles is now being printed and I am awaiting the proof copy. This is the one book in the series you can read without reading any of the other books before or after it. It is a stand alone story that connects to the series, and will help any reader understand the The Conrad Chronicles in full, yet it can be enjoyed without the others. In fact if you skip chapter 1 and the last chapter you can pretend it has nothing to do with the series (but then what is the fun of that?) Here's the back jacket. On a quest to discover more about her Conrad heritage and her mother's murderer, Captain Lucy Gloria Vasilis seeks out the ancient being known as The Keeper of Paths. While sitting around an otherworldly fire, The Keeper of Paths draws Lucy's spirit into the past, to a life she never knew she had lived. Once more she lives her life as Evette Mardon, thrust into the ancient court life of Godstone Castle on the planet Karna, where her life quickly becomes entangled with Prince Lukiel, the Duke of Fallan, and heir to the kingdom of Gallan. Her father’s and the king’s disapproval are merely thorns compared to the obsession Clovis, the Duke of Rostin’s son, thrusts into their path. Her first life now revealed, Lucy Lucas is forced to sort the pieces and is left with one burning question: how is this knowledge going to help her stop Xavier of the House of Baldemar, her mother’s murderer and a full-fledge Conrad, from destroying the planet Karna, the Moultons, Earth, and all she loves?

Happy Reading!

Writing: Interview and New Book Published

Despite the ice storm I wrote about last blog, much else has been occurring. Just prior to the storm I was interviewed about my writing on Work it Wednesday with Tita Freytag.  You can watch the 35 minute interview via the link below. I had a great fun doing it as it has been a few years since I've been interviewed on my writing  and thoughts on how to write.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAiSb43X5Ms&feature=youtu.be

In addition, the fifth Conrad book has now been published and is available for purchase. This one is titled The Conrad Chronicles: Regrets. You should be able to purchase it anywhere you regularly purchase books or you can can it directly from my publisher at the link below.

https://www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/heather-hobson-and-charles-berton/the-conrad-chronicles-regrets/paperback/product-dp95k4.html?page=1&pageSize=4

As this book as some intense content, I recommend it for only those over 18. I also have it marked as such with Lulu, so if you don't find it right away, you might to click on the over 18 link they have on the side of the screen.

Happy Reading!

Months and Months

You think with being home more, I would be blogging more, instead it has been a lot less. It took a friend to point out to me I hadn't blogged since April and that was back in June. Now we are nearly at the end of July.

I did have ideas for blog posts, and kept meaning to write them, but each day has past by me. Between adapting to working 100% from home and new writing ideas, blogging fell between to the cracks. So today, before I allow myself to fall into complete distraction I shall blog.

The fifth Conrad novel is almost finished. It is in the final stages of editing. When done it is off the printers and an examination of the proof. Then POOF! It is released.

One of the items I wanted to show on my blog, but failed to was all the beautiful flowers that popped up in yard at the end of April and early May. Luckily, I snapped some photos of them. Here they are:

The Conrad Chronicles

With a joyous smile I finished writing the first draft of book 8 of The Conrad Chronicles today. When I started penning words this afternoon, I knew I was near the end of the book, but didn't realize I'd finish. Usually when I sit down to write with my cup of vanilla piece tea, I write one scene. Today I knocked out the last three and then jotted down notes so I begin writing book 9, which will be the finally book in the series.

Of course, I still need to get books 5 through 7 finished and published. The plan is to publish 5 this year, which will happen as it only needs formatting and one more proof reading after that. I shall have published in the Fall for sure, maybe sooner.

Happy reading!

All my books are on sale

Right now if there are any titles of my books that you are desiring, they are on sale at Lulu.com. Today, Cyber Monday, Lulu is offering all books at 30% off, that includes mine. In addition, I have set all my novels for another 10-25% off. So if you haven't read, this is the best time to get them:

Stubby, the Magic Pencil
Unicorn's Milk
A Tale of Butts, The Story of a Couch (under pen name Echo Ryan)
Callings: Tales of the Conrads of Karna

or any of the The Conrad Chronicles:
Revolt
Realizations
Rejections
Rebirth

Just go to Lulu.com and type in Heather Hobson (or Echo Ryan) and my books will pop up.

Happy Reading!

Last Day of July!

Well, if I blog today I will just make my quota of at least two blogs a month. So here it goes.

My writing has dropped to managing to pen out two to three scenes of book 8 of The Conrad Chronicles. I should be formatting book 4 and editing book 5 too, but other projects have taken over.

The big task has been emptying the spare room that has been used for a combination of arts and crafts, extra furniture, and linens. That room needs to be converted to a bedroom (more to come on that later), so a great task of juggling has been occurring (This is one reason that the wall needed to be added to the living.

Thanks to Craiglist I managed to score a great shelving cabinet unit. As a result all the dolls were moved to live inside it, while the stuffed animals that had been in the spare room migrated into the closet in my office where the dolls had been. Of course, this meant everyone need a bath, and their clothes needed washing too.

Now that the washing and shuffling of dolls and stuffies has transpired, the framed pictures and tubs of crafts are being sorted and relocated. A few items are not being given a home in a new tub, and those are going in the box for the yard sale we will have this Saturday.

So, as you can see, I've been very busy, the yard has been neglected and my writing only finds its way to paper when I flee the house and head to the coffee shop so I can't see any of the projects.

Spring 2019 Writing Update and Where to Purchase My Books

For all those who are interested in my writing, and not the other topics I pen about here, I thought I would give you an update.

Currently I am formatting book 4 in The Conrad Chronicles, editing book 5, and writing the first draft of book 8. Of the three tasks, I prefer the writing of the first draft, followed by the editing. Formatting, which means fighting headers and footers so they end up in the right place, is always a real chore.

Since it has been a while, and the information is in a blog that is at least a year old, I'm going to post links to my novels here.

In The Conrad Chronicles series:

Revolt

Best place to buy as a paperback
http://www.lulu.com/shop/heather-hobson/the-conrad-chronicles-revolt/paperback/product-23411235.html

or

Available as an e-book here:
https://www.amazon.com/Conrad-Chronicles-Revolt-Heather-Hobson/dp/1387319159/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=Heather+Hobson&qid=1555614845&s=gateway&sr=8-2




Realizations

Best place to buy as a paperback
http://www.lulu.com/shop/heather-hobson/the-conrad-chronicles-realizations/paperback/product-23554369.html

or

Available as an e-book here:https://www.amazon.com/Conrad-Chronicles-Realizations-Heather-Hobson-ebook/dp/B07BQCMJ3L/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=Heather+Hobson&qid=1555615301&s=books&sr=1-5


Rejection

Best place to buy as a paperback
http://www.lulu.com/shop/heather-hobson/the-conrad-chronicles-rejection/paperback/product-23875263.html







My Other Books: 

Callings: Tales of the Conrads of Karna:

Best place to buy as a paperback
http://www.lulu.com/shop/heather-hobson/callings-tales-of-the-conrads-of-karna/paperback/product-21450992
.html

or

Available as an e-book here:
https://www.amazon.com/Callings-Conrads-Heather-Tom-Lewis-ebook/dp/B01AB8FYHO/ref=sr_1_13?keywords=Heather+Hobson&qid=1555614845&s=gateway&sr=8-13


Unicorn's Milk

Best place to buy as a paperback
http://www.lulu.com/shop/heather-hobson-lewis/unicorns-milk/paperback/product-22386624.html


or

Available as an e-book here:https://www.amazon.com/Unicorns-Milk-Heather-Hobson-Lewis-ebook/dp/B016SK8J1W/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=Heather+Hobson&qid=1555615301&s=books&sr=1-6


Stubby the Magic Pencil

Best place to buy as a paperback:
http://www.lulu.com/shop/heather-hobson/stubby-the-magic-pencil/paperback/product-21959411.html

or

Available as an audio book or e-book here:https://www.amazon.com/Stubby-Magic-Pencil-Heather-Hobson/dp/1312328371/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=Heather+Hobson&qid=1555614845&s=gateway&sr=8-6
and under my pend name Echo Ryan:



A Tale of Butts: The Story of a Couch

Best place to buy as a paperback:
http://www.lulu.com/shop/echo-ryan/a-tale-of-butts-the-story-of-a-couch/paperback/product-15642092.html

or

Available as an audio book or e-book here:
https://www.amazon.com/Tale-Butts-Story-Couch/dp/1257633201/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Heather+Hobson&qid=1555614845&s=gateway&sr=8-1

Christmas Poem 2018

Christmas 2018
by Heather Hobson Lewis

As 2018 closes, my pen writes this holiday poem   
to bring you joy and good cheer.
   
Two small trips marked this year.        
One bore us via Southwest wings
to Dad’s 75th birthday bash
for a jovial time,
while the other sent us to Alturas in search
of our missing friend, Konrad Reichenberger.

Books two and three of The Conrad Chronicles,
Realizations and Rejection,
have found book form,
while Stubby and Tale of Butts
are now alive as audio books on Audible, i-Tunes, and Amazon.

Fern and Boomer enjoy play and happiness every day,
from professional photo shoots to
participating in the Walk-n-Wag to
Fern’s first visit to the beach.
   

Merry Christmas and a magical winter to all!

Fern and Boomer playing on the beach in 2018

Life and Writing update

The late spring and early summer brought a tide of busyness to my life, which led me to neglect this poor blog. Though I am still caught up in all I am doing, I figured I really should make time to write here, since it has been more than a month. My goal of blogging twice a month has been overtaken by a couple of other goals.

Currently I am retraining to enter a new professional industry. While I am passionate about my writing, enjoy writing, and am thrilled to boast I have six books in print (Unicorn's Milk, Stubby, the Magic Pencil, Callings: Tales of the Conrads of Karna, The Conrad Chornicles: Revolt and Realizations, and A Tale of Butts: The Story of a Couch), as well as a seventh book to be released this autumn, I discovered an opportunity that I should explore. Thus, these past two months, I have been taking on-line classes and training in securities. AXA Corporation is sponsoring and guiding me through this process.

At this point I have passed the test to be registered in health and life insurance with the state of Oregon, and have passed my Series 63 securities test. These days I am studying for the Series 7 test, which I shall be taking in July. This is a big test as it boasts 260 questions taken over 6 hours! You can see why my blogging has been put a bit on hold.

I am still writing, just not as much as before I started taking classes. Lately I have been reworking a draft of the fifth Conrad book. The dialogue is strong in the fifth book, but descriptions really need flushing out and detailing.

Enough blogging for now. Enjoy your summer.

Writing Update-ghost book and The Conrad Chronicles

Writing always provides many challenges, especially on the publishing end. The ghost book I mentioned a few months back still hasn't been printed by the publisher. I was really hoping it would be out before Halloween, but it doesn't look like it will be.

Meanwhile, I have been diligently writing the first draft of a new novel which has now over 300 hand written pages.  This is a sequel to another book I wrote earlier this year that I am in the process of typing up.

While all this is going on Revolt, the first of The Conrad Chronicles which was first published many years ago, will be republished. A wonderful artist is working on a cover for the book, while at the same time the manuscript is being formatted as both an e-book and a paperback.  This will be the first time Revolt will be available as an e-book.

My hope is to follow up the publishing of Revolt with the second book in The Conrad Chronicles, Realizations. The cover art for it is being worked on and it is in the process of one last read through before it gets formatted for printing.  With any luck, Revolt with be available again in November and Realizations should be out by the spring, most likely March.

Happy reading!

My new office!

After months of packing, moving, and unpacking, my new office is finally done. Now I can get back to work on my next book project.  I am still deciding if I should tackle the polishing on a romantic sci-fi I wrote a few years back, or get back to the The Conrad Chronicles.


While you wait for my next publication, you can take a gander of the office space I created for myself to work.  It is mostly filled with vintage Battlestar Galactica that is complimented by Star Wars, with just a sprinkling of Indiana Jones and other movie memorabilia I have collected over the years.

Heather Hobson Lewis's Writing Den

Heather Hobson's Lewis's Collection

Publisher is offering deal on book: Callings: Tales of the Conrads of Karna

 My publisher, Lulu.com, is offering a discount on my book, and other books between November 23 and November 27. They are offering 30%. The coupon code is DELIRITAS.

So, if you haven't bought my book yet and are interested, this would be good time to purchase it.  Also, Callings: Tales of the Conrads of Karna would make a good gift for anyone who enjoys science fiction/fantasy.

My friend Echo Ryan also has a book on Lulu.com.  Her book is adult humor (very different than mine). It's entitled A Tale of Butts: The Story of a Couch. The whole book is told from a couches point of view.

Just some thoughts for anyone doing book shopping.

Happy Thanksgiving!