Well, for whatever reason, I'm getting more email lately asking if I'm writing another story. I figure I should address the issue for all who care. For those of you with ADD, the short answer is yes, and you can skip the rest. 

For those wanting to know what's taking so long, the answer is a bit more complex. Although, there were a few other factors that played a part. I'll just focus on the big ones.

First, the process of writing, publishing, and promoting Marysvale, really took it out of me. I'd spent nearly all my available time working on some aspect of the series. After nearly 5 years of writing, editing, querying agents, publishers, promoting, emotional roleercosters, and so on, I just wanted a break. I'd forgotten what it was like to have free time, time to pursue other interests. I had worked on Marysvale for so long, I had a hard time remembering what I did for fun. Go ahead and laugh, but it's true. It was quite the adjustment. There were times I literally sat there trying to think of what I did in the past for fun. 5 years of neglected house projects got me started.

I originally planned on only taking one year off. However, once I got going, I found that I didn't really miss writing. Before I knew it, the year stretched to two. I found that I had some soul searching to do. Should I quit for good, or start writing again? There were times I found myself solidly in both camps. It took quite a bit of time to settle that question. Many of your letters helped me. And they are sooo appreciated!! Even the nagging ones, and you know who you are!

I decided to start writing again. The problem is, by the time I decided, I was already in the middle of another multi year project. I really don't have the time, desire, or energy to work on both. I'm close to being complete with said project and want to finish it before dedicating lot's of time to another story. Although, I do occasionally write nowadays.

So, what's the project that's taking so much free time? Well, I've been fascinated by tiny homes. I've talked about building one, but more in a future, bucked list sort of context. I mentioned a few times that someone could even start with a cargo trailer and customize it like a tiny home. It would be light weight, much lighter than a traditional tiny home. Something that could be moved easily behind an average half ton truck. In other words, my truck. Sort of like a travel trailer. But more useful and custom to what I needed, and of higher quality than your run of the mill trailer.

Unlike a travel trailer, it could be truly off the grid. Most travel trailers still rely on the grid. Eventually you need to refill propane to run your furnace, water heater, and fridge. You need to fill water, drain waste holding tanks, etc.. And because most trailers are not insulated, they are not capable of cold weather duty. Well, after hearing me talk about it, my wife said one day, "Why don't you do it?"

It kind of took me by surprise. Surprised because it was just conversation, something I planned on doing someday in the future. But once she said it, it took hold. A few days later, I sold my travel trailer and ordered a new cargo trailer. One that fit what I had in mind. 

That was a few years ago, after many hours, it's getting close. About 3/4th done. I hope to have it completed by summer. Since I always underestimate things, it could realistically be fall.

Maybe I'll post some photos of it sometime. 

I have been touched by many of you. I love reading your letters, speaking to you, and having the privilege of meeting some of you. It's been fun to watch Marysvale grow and hear how it made you cry, scared you, angered you (toward some of the characters), and even made you think about the messages contained in the books. I've felt your love for me and my work, and I'd like to return the favor in some small way. 

Over the years I've tried to pass on some of that love by donating books to libraries, schools, troops, and other charity events. I want to expand that invitation publicly to any charity or fundraising event that supports a nonprofit organization or club of some kind. If you are involved in such an activity and would like copies of Marysvale and Alyth, I'd love to pay the shipping costs and send you free copies for your organization. I've had some in the past ask if they can sell the books and keep all the proceeds for their organization. I'm okay with that as long as 100% of the proceeds goes to the nonprofit.

Unfortunately, I don't have unlimited copies, but those I do have, at least while supplies last, are yours if you would like them. If you are interested, please drop me a note by clicking on the contact portion of my website.

Best wishes,
Jared

Many bad things are bound to happen in life. It doesn't matter if you are a writer, or someone else. You will be rejected. You may create the most amazing product and be the most amazing person, yet someone will find something to criticize. Often they will even go out of their way to do so. It's sad and it doesn't have to be that way.

So, how do I personally deal with rejection? The short answer is - I don't. I don't handle it well at all, or at least I didn't. I'm not sure if every new author is like this, but when Marysvale came out, I scoured the internet for reviews. On one popular site I found a review with one star by someone who only read the first chapter. At that time the first chapter was all there was of Marysvale for free. I was angry. My mind was pulling an inner John Wayne and telling me to "toughen up pilgrim", but I felt crushed. I tried balancing it by reading some good reviews. After a short time I learned that, for me, reading any reviews was a bad idea. My moods were being influenced by others. I was giving others control over me. Buy why avoid good reviews? Well, to find the good ones, I was bound to stumble across the bad ones and curiosity often got the better of me. For me, until I learned how to not let others determine my mood, avoiding reviews worked.

Over time I learned something more important: many good things are bound to happen in life as well. Which ones are you going to give ear to?


"Some people feel the rain. Others just get wet." - Roger Miller, Bob's Dylan & Marley. 

Don't gloss over that point. It's human nature to expect the worse. The challenge and reward comes in seeing the good. Even when it just simply looks bad. Until time passes, it's hard to claim something was truly bad. Getting laid off work is the worst thing right? Hugely successful businesses have started from individuals who have been laid off. Businesses that would not have happened if the eventual founder hadn't been forced out the door. I know of an individual who, while hiking alone in the winter, survived two avalanches, broke his hip, crawled for days, was dehydrated, starving, cold, etc.. Finally he collapsed, unable go on. Couldn't get any worse, right? Well, It started to snow. In utter exhaustion and defeat he passed out. It snowed so much that it buried him, allowing him to rest, and insulating him enough that he didn't die of hypothermia. He continued on and survived to tell the tale. 

Expect the worst and you will find it. Expect the best and you will find it.

A healthy dose of reality and perspective may help you as well. If only 1% of the population loves you and the rest hate you, guess what? You will still be a very successful author. 1% of the U.S. population is roughly 30 million. Royalties from 30 million copies isn't bad! However, success based on one's bank account is a very shallow definition.

I believe you are your work.  Don’t trade the stuff of your life-time for nothing more than dollars.  That’s a rotten bargain.  Rita Mae Brown, Author

No, I'm not working on a new book just yet, at least not actively.  I'm talking about my website. After years of neglect, I've updated the site. Yeah, it was long overdue. I hope you like it. I'd like to add more content, and need your help. I'm thinking about adding some multimedia stuff, such as answering questions you may have about the books, how I came up with the concept, am I writing anything else, do I still refuse to tweet, etc.. I'd also like to have a forum where we could discuss not only my books, but other books as well. Anyway they're just thoughts. If there are any of you still here after all my years of shunning all things social, tell me what you think. What would you like to see? 

Okay, so I'm not going to move my old blog to my new site. It's just way too much work. So, if you want the old one, here is the link.