Tag: U.S. Navy SEALS

patience
Authors

Patience: A Lesson Learned From Self-Publishing

Do you have the patience to self-publish?

Self-publishing is a great opportunity for anyone who wishes to become a published author to get their work into the hands of readers. But, understand! Just because you publish a book does not mean it will fly off the shelf at Amazon.com! Self-publishing is not easy. It takes a great deal of work to do it right. Looking back, I made a great many mistakes publishing my first book. Many of them could probably have been avoided with a bit more patience, but hey … as long as you learn from your mistakes and do not keep repeating them, things can only get better.

This is the first in a series of blog posts in which I will share the lessons I learned from self-publishing my first novel. These lessons-learned will certainly be applied in publishing my sequel. If you find anything in this series of posts helpful to you, then I will be happy. And, if you do … I would love to hear from you.

patience
It is also about patience

Have the Patience to do it right!

Not only did I rush to finish my book, Serpents Underfoot, itself, but I had no platform in place to successfully market it. While Amazon does help authors promote books, your book won’t fly off the charts on its own. Their algorithm does not pick up your book until a certain level of sales is reached.  Having the patience to take the time to have a marketing platform and plan in place before publishing your book will be a big help in reaching that level.

This does not mean I am not having success. My book is selling and has gotten some really great reviews along with a couple of not-so-good reviews. But hey, not everyone will like your work! That is life. 

However, there is nothing wrong with learning from the mistakes of others if you can.  Here is a list of things you might want to consider PRIOR to releasing your book:

  1. An author’s website.
  2. Author promotion and help sites such as BookBub, AuthorsDB, Author Connections, Alliance of Independent Authors, Authors Marketing Club, etc.
  3. Building a customer list.
  4. An email service such as Mail Chimp and a newsletter.
  5. Social network marketing such as a Facebook Author’s Page, Instagram, Pinterest or Twitter, and how too best utilize them.
  6. Advance Release Copies for reviews.
  7. Have a long term plan and stick to it.

Success will not just fall into your lap.  These things take time and patience to understand, set up, put in place, and achieve results. There is no “one magic bullet!”  Success is built around a lot of small steps and there is so much to learn. As you can probably see, it will take a good deal of work.  Having some patience will be a real asset.

If you have a minute … 

Check out my novel Serpents Underfoot on Amazon.com

Bad Ass Burger
Authors

Bad Ass Burger at Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar

 Definitely One Bad Ass Burger

bad ass burgerImagine if you will, a massive 10 oz. Angus Beef beef patty cooked to order with American cheese, and buttermilk batter-dipped deep-fried bacon. Then add horseradish mayo, lettuce, tomato, and a pickle. Now that’s a bad ass burger! You don’t even need the fries … but they are excellent as well!  Wash this all down with a draft Red Oak Bavarian Amber Lager and you really can’t get much better than this. It is not a lunch (or supper) for the meek at heart. The number of calories in this burger is a bit scary, but then it’s not something you’d want to eat everyday anyway. You could fast the day before. Then go on a cleansing diet the day after. I am all for eating healthy and many bloggers blog on that very subject. But, hey … a good burger once in awhile can’t hurt!

I first discovered Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar here in Cary, North Carolina in a magazine I was reading while getting the oil changed in my Nissan Xterra. The article covered the Top 25 Burgers in the United States and there, coming in at #14 was the Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar in Cary. Right then and there, I knew I would have to check it out. I am certainly a big burger fanatic. My favorite burger has always been the “Big Nasty” at the Stock and Barrel in Knoxville, Tennessee.  I am not sure I could choose, between the two, which is better.

Another favorite of mine at Bad Daddy’s is the Pastrami Reuben Burger, but that is definitely a story for another time because it is also an amazing burger. Especially if you are a fan of Reubens!.

Speaking of Bad Ass!

You should check out my novel, Serpents Underfoot, available on Amazon.com for $3.99 (Kindle version). It is also available in hardcover and paperback.  It is a bad ass, action-packed story of good versus evil with plenty of heroes and villains, political intrigue, romance, and American pride. And, when you do read it, please take time to leave a review. I am truly interested in your thoughts. They will help me make the sequel even better!

Books By DC Gilbert

Great Review of Serpents Underfoot by John Purvis

A Great Review for Serpents Underfoot by blogger, John Purvis!

book signing great reviewCheck out the great review of Serpents Underfoot by John Purvis on  his bog, John’s Notes!  John had some great things to see about the background and character development, and her gave me a 4.5 out of 5!  Awesome!

 

This novel starts with the deep background story of Cordell’s father when he was serving in Viet Nam. It carries forward to JD Cordell’s SEAL Team and other major characters in the plot. Far more background is developed in this novel than you would normally find. I also liked that the characters are down to earth with no “over the top” scenes of heroic combat.

 

While on his blog, please also take the time to check out the many other great posts! Especially if you are a Mac user.

via Review of “Serpents Underfoot”

snooker
Flash Fiction

Snooker Lessons, U.S. Navy SEAL Style!

A Lesson In Snooker … SEAL Style!

JD, Jimmy Stiles, and two other new BUD/S graduates caught a cab to a local beer and snooker joint for some well-deserved R&R. After a few beers, the recounting of memorable moments in their training got a little loud. Their boisterous attitude rubbed a few local boys the wrong way. It did not help that the ladies present began showing more interest in the young SEALs than in them.

Wayne Morrison liked starting trouble so he could watch the fights that usually ensued. He reached over and poked Junior Willis in the ribs. “Hey Junior, you going to let those Navy boys steal our women?” he asked. Junior stood about 6′ 7” and weighed about 300 lb. He was usually easy-going, but tonight he’d consumed enough beer to override the good sense he prided himself on having.

“No fucking way,” he replied. Junior paused the snooker he was playing with his friend, Gordy. “Back in a minute, Gordy.” Junior headed toward the table where the group were still laughing and having a good time. Because of his Asian looks and slighter build, Junior homed in on JD.

“Hey, Shithead! What the fuck do you assholes think you’re doing here? You Navy boys piss me … trying to steal our women.”

“Hey man. We’re just having a good time and drinking a few beers. Why don’t you go back to your snooker game.” Jimmy and the other SEALs pushed their chairs back, turning to get a better look. This promised to be interesting.

“Fuck that!” Junior growled. “I’m going to kick your scrawny little chink ass!” JD stood.

“Don’t hurt him, JD” one of the SEALs advised with a grin.

JD moved away from the table, hands open to show he wanted no trouble.

“Listen, dude. My scrawny little chink ass is drinking a few more beers and then it is going back to the base. How about I buy you a beer and we call it even?”

Junior Willis seemed to weigh this idea for a few seconds. His response came in the form of a huge right fist swung at JD’s head. JD slipped the punch. His right foot kicked out, the toe catching Junior midway up his inner right thigh. The kick did not stop there. JD’s heel smashed into the same spot on the other thigh. Junior let out a surprised grunt. He teetered there for a long second, his two legs splayed out at awkward angles, off-balance and unable to move. JD reached up and shoved against Junior’s sternum, setting him back down on the floor.

Junior’s snooker partner had moved closer to get a better view of the fight. Seeing his friend taken down so easily angered him. Gordy yelled as he swung his pool stick down at JD’s head. JD stepped inside the swing. Both hands met the pool stick, trapping Gordy’s hands on the stick in vise-like grips. JD circled the stick around, giving it a sharp powerful twist. Gordy felt his wrists turned back against themselves. Stepping back, JD gave a sharp tug that left him in possession of the pool stick. Reversing the tug, JD gave Gordy a solid poke in the chest. It rocked Gordy back on his heels. JD shifted his grip on the pool stick, presenting it to its former owner.

“Want to try again?” Gordy was thunderstruck.

“Hell no!” came the reply. The bar was silent. JD set the pool stick down and walked over to where Junior was still sitting on the floor. Reaching down, JD held out his hand.

“Buy you a beer now?” JD asked smiling.

Junior Willis looked up at JD in disbelief. Suddenly, he grinned. “Why the fuck not!” He took JD’s offered hand and was helped up off the floor. “That was some pretty slick shit you just pulled.”

JD laughed. “Yep. Pretty slick chink shit.”

“Where did you learn that stuff?” Junior asked.

“My mother taught me!” JD replied slapping Junior on the back as they headed toward the bar.

 

Serpents Underfoot Update Review Snooker
Serpents Underfoot
by DC Gilbert

Authors

Learning to Own Your Writing Style!

writing styleLearning to own your writing style takes some understanding …

So, how do you learn to own your writing style? I recently was approached by a lady  in a local convenient store. She walked right up to me and said, “I want to tell you how much I really enjoyed reading your book, Serpents Underfoot. I love your writing style. It is so unpretentious and straight from the heart. And, I would not say that if I did not really mean it.”

I was caught totally off guard and a bit embarrassed by her comments, but I thanked her … telling her how much hearing that meant to me. Then I paid for my diet Mountain Dew and headed out the door. On the way to my car, I started thinking about what she had said … unpretentious and straight from the heart. I began to analyze what she might have meant by that.

So, what exactly did she mean by that …

I think that she was saying that my characters are portrayed with refreshing honesty. Especially the main character, JD Cordell. Other authors probably would have left out the influences in his early life such as church and boy scouts. Both of these institutions have come under attack to varying degrees in the world we live in today. But, how could I leave them out? These influences helped shape the man he became in the story. Even his training in the  martial arts, another key influence in his development as a confident young man, is an individual achievement, and doesn’t play well with all the group think and mob rule we see playing out in today’s news. However, these influences created the very foundation allowing JD to become a U.S. Navy SEAL, a true modern-day warrior.

The more I thought about this and looked back at the characters in my book, I realized something. They are, both good and bad, all independent thinkers and individualists who are able to stand on their own two feet. I think that is something the world needs more of. It is something I very much believe … and so, in that way … it came straight from the heart.

And what might this mean for other new writers?

If you don’t love what you are writing and you are not excited about writing it, I think it would be hard to be good at writing whatever it is you are writing. By being true to yourself and what you believe, you can write write honestly, and straight from your heart. Will everybody like it? Certainly not. But will everybody like what you are writing if you are merely pretending? Certainly not!  See … nothing really changed. Except, that if you love what you are writing, you will be passionate about it. And even people who do not like what you write will be able to see that. So, learn to own your writing style. Be true to yourself.

Authors, Books By DC Gilbert

Serpents Underfoot showcased on North Carolina Writers’ Network Book Buzz!

North Carolina Writers' Network

Serpents Underfoot Showcased on North Carolina Writers’ Network Book Buzz!

The North Carolina Writers’ Network in their section Book Buzz. Now, that is pretty darn awesome if you ask me!

The North Carolina Writers’ Network supports the writers of this state by providing educational resources for the craft and business of writing. They also provide opportunities for recognition and critique of literary work, resources for writers at all stages of development. In addition, they support and advocate for the literary heritage of North Carolina, and provide an active community for those who write.

I attended their Spring Conference last April and it was well worth the time and money. At the conference, I met some great people and most importantly, learned a great deal. In addition, I also had a great time. Unfortunately, I cannot make the Fall conference, but I am looking forward to next Spring! I certainly recommend the North Carolina Writers’ Network and its conferences as a great tool for anyone desiring to become a published writer.

As for, Serpents Underfoot, several people have read it or are now reading it … and the feedback has been great! And, to make things even better … two more people just bought paperback versions.

Goodreads Giveaway

For you Goodreads members out there, I am giving away 10 copies through a Goodreads Giveaway. You can register now at Goodreads. The giveaway runs until December 1st when Goodreads will pick 10 lucky winners and I will send them a signed copy of the book … just in time for Christmas!

Please consider getting a copy! It is available in hardcover for $19.99, paperback for $9.99 and Kindle for $2.99 … the deal of a lifetime! And, if you enjoy my book, please take the time to review it on Amazon, Goodreads, or even my website!