In the Zone

This week, I’m publishing my first novel, Sheep Among Wolves (You can purchase it here:   http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IRTQ1FE ).   I co-wrote it with my friend Tony Harmon.   It has literally been a labor of love. However, this week, it becomes more than that.   As I place it on sale, I want people to purchase it and read it and like it.   As I’ve looked at various marketing strategies on how to effectively sell the book, one thing kept coming up over and over and over again:   Reputation matters. If the book is filled with errors, people will tell you so and you will earn a poor reputation.   If the book is boring or too long or underwhelming, people will write bad reviews and you will earn a poor reputation.   A poor reputation often equals poor sales.   There is a reason Stephen King, J. K. Rowling, and Tom Clancy sell a lot of books.   They have a good reputation.   A bad reputation, even at the start, can ruin a budding writing career. Your reputation matters.

When I was in college, I got a job freelance writing for a local newspaper.  It wasn't much money, but it was my first paid writing gig.  I was excited. Each week I would call the editor to get my assignment.  Shortly thereafter, I'd call the person or the lead, set up an interview and start researching.  A few days later, I'd submit my story for publication. In the midst of all that, I was taking introductory journalism classes in college.  I learned the importance of hard leads and reverse pyramid structuring and capturing relevant details first.  While those are great for hard new stories--like crime, government and tragedy--they don't work so well for feature stories, which is what I was mostly assigned. I wrote a for a few months, applying all that I was learning in school.  As the weeks went by, I noticed less and less of my stories making the cut.  Then one day I called asking for another assignment.  The response was stern:  no more stories would be coming

I love snowstorms. Yes, I'm the guy you revels in a good, snowy forecast.  I love to look out at the landscape and see nothing but pristine white powder covering everything and anything in sight.  I love snow. Here's why.  Snow brings us together.  We don't rush off to a movie or the store or a soccer game.  We aren't in a hurry to get out on the roads.  We, as families, are trapped inside our homes for an indefinite period of time. Snow has a way to force us to spend time together as a family - talking, watching TV or playing games.  It's God's way of focusing us on each other and taking some of the frantic hustle and bustle out of life.  I was reminded of that on Monday.  After a big storm hit my town, my wife, a teacher, didn't have school.  My daughter's day care was closed.  I had no good reason to brave the roads to head into the office.  For once, as a family, we sat at home.  We played and talked and enjoyed being a family.  We didn&#