Getting Registered and Set Up to Continue College!

I was accepted and have 41 days before starting to finishing my bachelor's degree.

It’s going to be a busy week here at the homestead, as you can probably tell, since this post is going out a bit later than normal. Usually, I like to have the newsletter out on Mondays, but things kind of went…awry…yesterday. It’s all good, and I had a bit of an epiphany about myself and where I want to go, both personally and professionally.

It was a hard day, but a very good one.

Anyway, this week is going to be full of good things on multiple levels. Between school, the blogs, the YouTube channels, and prepping for BrewDog in Denver, I’m looking forward to creating some awesomeness.

Going to CU in the Fall

Barring anything out of the ordinary (which is a distinct possibility here), I’ll be attending CU in the fall. Classes start August 18th, and I’m pretty excited. It’s been about 24 years since I went to college for graphic design. I wasn’t able to finish because the financial department screwed a lot of folks, which is one of the reasons the college went belly-up after a class-action lawsuit.

Anyway, here I am again, ready to hit the books and study at a university for Creative Writing. While it may not alter the course I’m already on in terms of a career path, it will help solidify expertise, additional knowledge, and bragging rights.

After all, I’m not just stopping at a BA. The plan is to obtain my master’s and then possibly keep going for a PhD. But we’ll have to see about a doctorate, though. There’s a lot that can happen between now and then. Let’s just focus on finishing the bachelor’s program first and moving on to my master’s. The PhD thoughts can wait for a few years down the road.

In any case, I’m excited to get out of the house and mingle a bit. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing inherently bad about doing online courses. For a lot of people, it may be the only way to get a good education. However, I would rather attend in-person classes and meet people face to face. Virtual sessions just don’t have the same impact as sitting in a room of peers.

That’s kind of funny, coming from someone who has lived as a hermit for the past 25 years. But maybe I’m just done being cooped up in the house. After all, I’d love to have an actual office space outside of my home. I miss commuting, believe it or not.

Will I Keep Writing Books in the Meantime?

I have no intention of slowing down how often I write and self-publish books. I have a lot of stories to tell, and I love writing. The difference is that there may be significant changes in quality throughout the next couple of years. I know the differences between Kingmaker and Shadows of Atlantic City are night and day. And theoretically, there should be vast improvements as I continue working on the bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

I plan on going back and rewriting Kingmaker with a remastered version after the Witcham series is complete. By then, I should have a bachelor’s degree, at least. Shadows is part of a seven-book series, and I’ll probably have a master’s by the time I wrap up that one. In both cases, readers will be able to see the vast differences between the books in how I grow and develop my skills from university classes.

Of course, every author gets better with every book he or she writes, depending on whether anything is learned during the process. Too many folks think they are perfect and don’t consider expanding their knowledge to improve their writing prowess. Personally, I’m always in a state of development and growth. That means I am constantly developing into a much better author and blogger every week.

Regardless of how things unfold, I have no intention of slowing down my writing. Like I said, I have a ton of stories to tell, whether they’re being sold on Amazon or published as fan fiction on Wattpad and Inkitt.

I’m nowhere near being done.

Getting Set Up for BrewDog on the 19th

I will be at BrewDog on the 19th of July for an author book-signing event. It’ll be my third outing as an author, and I’m pretty excited. A brewery is right up my alley, as most who watch my Monday night shows would attest. The establishment looks amazing, and I’m excited to be a part of it.

Unfortunately, the last few weeks kind of fell apart as I had plans to take a lot of fun stuff with me for the event. I would have liked to have had Shadows published, a few glasses from the online store, and maybe a few fun extras to sell. Between a lack of time and a severe lack of money, it’s just not going to happen.

I’m going to print some QR codes and whatnot so people can buy books and merch online, but it’s disappointing that I won’t have any sample goods on the table.

I am going to work on having a few things ready for Read Between the Stars in October, though. With any luck, I might have Fury (Kingmaker’s sequel) published by then. I would love to have two books in the series published before Halloween.

Will I Ever Finish Shadows of Atlantic City?

I would love to have Shadows of Atlantic City done before my birthday, but that will be up to two important factors: beta reader feedback and my own personal final edits. See, I’m not just waiting for others to read through the book. I always put in a few final touches before actual publishing, and right now, I am a tad behind myself.

The nice thing is that the cover is virtually done. I just want to make a few tweaks here and there before sharing it with everyone. It’s nothing major, as I think the font blends in too much with the background. Not to mention the fact that I need to print it on paper to ensure that it’s light enough. The first run of Kingmaker was so dark that you could barely see the details on the cover.

Theoretically, Shadows could be finished before I go to BrewDog. At that point, I’ll at least buy a copy and use it as a sample with a QR code to buy it online. I doubt Amazon would ship enough copies to sell at the event if I publish the book in the next week or so. The last time I ordered author copies, it took about three weeks.

What Are You Doing to Make This Week a Good One?

I am working diligently to keep in a positive mindset while looking toward the future in both my personal and professional lives. For the longest time, I viewed everything under a microscope of skepticism, always anticipating the proverbial shoe to drop. Now, there’s nothing wrong with skepticism. It can protect you from being scammed or taken advantage of. However, I dialed it to 11 to the point where I trusted few circumstances and even fewer people.

It’s not a good way to live, actually. In fact, it can ultimately damage the best relationships of your life when you assume everyone is out to get you. Not everyone is your enemy, and a lot of folks just want to see you succeed and be happy.

So, this week, focus on the interactions of those around you. Your friends and family are your greatest cheerleaders. Let them know it’s appreciated and let them help you achieve the things you want most in life.