The Ramblings of D. A. Adams

Tuesday Morning Ramblings

D. A. Adams — Tue, 29 May 2012 14:06:21 +0000

Here are a few pics from the vacation. I plan on writing more about the trip to Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest tonight or tomorrow, but for now, I need to get out to the farm and make a little progress.

I have to find it, but I have this same pic from my previous trip 20 years ago. Those trees are at least 200-250 years old.

I can’t even guess how tall that tree is.

Mistakenly thought these were the two trees from the picture above. These are much younger and smaller.

On the high seas, kind of.

I was having a blast driving the boat.

Fontana Lake.

Fontana Dam.

Friday Afternoon Ramblings

D. A. Adams — Fri, 25 May 2012 17:24:42 +0000

This weekend, I’m doing something I haven’t done in at least 10 years. I’m going on vacation. Sure, it’s only a three day weekend, but for the next three days, I will have virtually no responsibilities or obligations other than resting and relaxing. The only exception is that I do plan on writing a little each night, but to me that is relaxing, so I don’t consider that a violation of any vacation rules or etiquette. I’ll be in the mountains, far away from the farm and without a phone signal. If you try to reach me, don’t be surprised if you don’t get a response until late Monday or early Tuesday.

Ten years is a long time to go without a vacation. Sure, I’ve had trips to conventions and with the boys, but I don’t count those as vacations. For one, when I’m at a convention, I’m working, usually pretty hard, and even though I enjoy that, it’s still work. When I’m with the boys, even when we’ve traveled somewhere cool and fun, I’m so busy chasing after and playing with them that I’m not resting or relaxing. This weekend, I plan to put my feet up and unwind a little. On Tuesday, I’ll return to the farm and hit it pretty hard again, but until then, I’m taking it easy.

The more I think about it, the more I need this trip. I’ve worked damned hard for the last decade and have not taken nearly enough time simply to enjoy myself. I hope to hear some live music, go fishing, hike a little, and maybe even swim. Other than that, I have no plans or expectations. I’m simply going to be still and exist for a bit. I need this, and I’ve earned it. It’ll be hard not to think about book sales and promotions, and I’ll probably have to resist the urge to check on everything, but I need a break. So for the next three days, don’t expect anything from me because I’ll be hidden away in the mountains.

Hope everyone has a great Memorial Day weekend.

Thursday Morning Ramblings

D. A. Adams — Thu, 24 May 2012 12:25:57 +0000

May has been a great time for the series. It started with the free promotion at the beginning and has continued throughout the month. Again, a huge thank you to everyone who shared links and helped out during the campaign. We’ve reached more people this month than ever before, and hopefully that momentum will continue to roll throughout the summer. I also attended the convention in Morristown and have had several online interviews. For today, I thought I’d share links to some of the reviews and interviews, just in case you missed them.

Reviews:

http://watchplayread.com/fantasy-nerd-book-review-brotherhood-of-dwarves/

http://alisbookshelfreviews.blogspot.com/2012/04/review-brotherhood-of-dwarves-by-da.html

http://www.amazon.com/The-Brotherhood-of-Dwarves-ebook/product-reviews/B0076OCAKG/ref=cm_cr_pr_top_recent?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending

Author Interviews:

http://www.ingasilbergbooks.com/2012/05/my-biggest-influences-are-not-writers.html

http://readingawaythedays.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/author-interview-daadams.html

Character Interviews:

http://iansrealandmore.blogspot.com/2012/05/join-us-we-interview-d.html?spref=fb

http://bunnysreview.com/2012/05/character-interview-with-roskin-in-the-brotherhood-of-dwarves/

http://www.babsbookbistro.net/blog/2012/05/d-a-adams-guest-post.html

Hope everyone has a great day.

Wednesday Morning Ramblings

D. A. Adams — Wed, 23 May 2012 13:49:40 +0000

The creek bank by mushroom grove

I’m about to head out to the farm and hopefully get a lot done between raindrops. Right now, progress has been great, as the land is transforming from a tangled mess of honeysuckle and poison oak to a vibrant, useful space. We still plan to get the indoor facility launched for the hydroponic growing, but for right now, we’re going to have to start with a few things outdoors to build up some capital for all of the equipment. It may take a little more time, but long-term, I think we’ll get it up and running. Each day I’m out there, I feel one step closer to realizing this dream.

Another major benefit of working out there has been the boost to my creative energy. Three weeks ago, my tank was dry. From the grind of two grueling semesters back to back and from the lingering effects of my neurological symptoms, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to get back on track with book four. Today, I’ve nearly completed the first four chapters, and the story is flowing as well as I’ve ever written in my life. Chapter four is freaking intense, too. Only time will tell if it’s as strong as I think, but so far, I have a good feeling about this book.

Overall, life is pretty good at the moment. I feel strong and healthy, vibrant and alive. And tho think that a mere six months ago I was honestly in fear for my life. Right now, all of that feels like a bad dream, and I’m going to ride this positive upswing for as long as it lasts. Between the farm and book four, I may not be online as much as I’d like for promotion, but I’ll still do my best to keep putting out Ramblings and providing updates on both fronts.

One final thought: congratulations to my dual enrollment students from Pigeon Forge High School students who graduated last night. You guys are the best, and I wish each and every one of you much success for your futures. You made last fall and the health scare bearable, and for that, I’ll always remember you guys. It was a joy to teach you, and each of you has an opportunity to do great things in your life. Enjoy this moment, but don’t forget the foundations for success: good practice habits, hard work, and persistence. I love you guys. Thank you for being such a wonderful group of students.

That’s all for now. Have a great Wednesday.

Monday Night Ramblings

D. A. Adams — Tue, 22 May 2012 03:08:36 +0000

Here’s another day in pictures.

The creek bank a few days ago.

Different angle, but the creek bank today.

A few days ago.

Today.

One of three new red buds planted along the property line.

A neighborly visit that ended peacefully.

Today wasn’t quite as productive as I’d hoped for, but a lot still got accomplished. Tomorrow should be even better. It’s almost time for me to head off to write. Hope everyone has a great night.

Sunday Afternoon Ramblings

D. A. Adams — Sun, 20 May 2012 16:45:21 +0000

Yesterday was pretty special for me. I attended my first convention in Morristown, my hometown. The show was small, mostly a comic book and collectible vendor show, and the crowd was modest, but it was still special because I got to reconnect with some old friends and meet a few readers I’d never gotten to know before. One of the friends I got to catch up with was John Stone, owner of Mountain Empire Comics in Johnson City. John was one of the first people who truly reached out to help me when book one first came out. He invited me to his shop for numerous events, promoted me, and treated me like I was somebody, all because John is one of the kindest, most generous people I’ve ever known.

Another good friend in attendance was Charlie Aiken, who owns a collectibles shop at the 407 Flea Market. Charlie and I met through John, and Charlie was just as gracious to me. Many times, he let me set up at his booth and sell books, and he was instrumental in getting me into many shows in the early days. Like John, Charlie is a generous guy, and I’m grateful to him for all that he did for me before my books had any measure of credibility.

Several people, at least a dozen, stopped by my booth and told me how much they had enjoyed book one, people who had bought copies from John, Charlie, and Farmhouse Antiques. One gentleman made my day by telling me it was one of his all-time favorite books. I’ve written on here a few times about the long journey of the last decade, of the doubts and difficulties, the ups and downs. Meeting these people yesterday healed a lot of old wounds and reconfirmed the validity of my decision to self-publish to launch my career. It reminded me that while there were many naysayers and critics, there were also many, many supporters and readers who enjoyed my work. Yesterday, I felt all of the hard work and grassroots efforts were worth much more than I had ever known.

Because of my divorce and the difficulties that created, I’ve spent much of the last four and a half years disconnected from my local audience. It’s hard to explain, but revisiting those little shops and small local shows reminded me too much of the disintegration of my marriage and loss of my children. I purposefully avoided retracing my footsteps to avoid remembering those last two years of pain. Today, I’m a little ashamed of myself for disconnecting like that. Maybe it was necessary for my own healing, but I turned my back on people who love and support me, and that isn’t right. Yesterday, I vowed to myself to do a better job of getting back out in my community and beating the drum locally for the series and to give more back to the people who were with me in the early days.

Book four is coming along nicely, and last night, I wrote with renewed enthusiasm. I feel an energy and intensity to this one that’s beyond anything I’ve produced before. Part of it has to do with how the sub-plots are coming together and reaching their boiling points, and part of it has to do with where I am as a writer. Only time will tell if I’m right, but this book, though still early in the rough draft stage, feels special, and I’m working feverishly to keep the momentum rolling. I’m enjoying writing this one more than anything I’ve worked on before, and I hope that enthusiasm translates into the quality of the prose.

That’s all for now. Hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday.

Friday Afternoon Ramblings

D. A. Adams — Fri, 18 May 2012 16:26:27 +0000

Life is good. This week has been exceptionally productive, both on the farm and with book four. I feel like things are coming together nicely on both fronts. I haven’t had much time to write blog posts because of all the hard work, so please forgive me for getting behind on here. I’ll try harder to carve out a little more time for this site, as I have many topics I’d love to discuss on here.

Tomorrow, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, I’ll be at the Best Western off exit #8 in Morristown for Collectors’ Showcase Comic and Toy Convention. The show was featured on the front page of the Citizen Tribune yesterday and looks to be a fun time. I’m looking forward to meeting Shannon Rhea and all of the others involved with putting this together. If you get the chance, stop by and say hello.

Also, I want to give a big shout-out to my best friend Dagan Smith, who received some much-deserved good news yesterday. He and I have both been through many similar struggles in our personal and professional lives, and there aren’t words for how happy I am for him. My man, you’ve paid your dues and come through the fires one helluva man, and deserve all of the blessings in your life. From the bottom of my heart, I wish you all best as you move into this new chapter of your life. You’ve been my brother for as long as I can remember and, at times, were one of the only people who had my back. You’ve earned this opportunity, and for what it’s worth, I’m proud of you for your perseverance.

That’s all for now. Hope to see some of you tomorrow at the show.

Wednesday Afternoon Ramblings

D. A. Adams — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:09:00 +0000

Sunday and Monday were fairly rough days, as I was dealing first with a bad poison oak rash and then the side effects of a steroid shot to clear it up. Despite disabling me on Monday, the steroids did the trick, and I was back at it with a vengeance yesterday, making a huge dent on the area near the springhouse where we’re going to raise mushrooms and hopefully build a wood burning smoker inside an old brick building. Things are really taking shape in that area and starting to look usable again. It’s a good feeling to once again see real progress on the farm front.

Also, book four is coming along nicely. I’ve been writing fairly steadily each night, again with the exceptions of Sunday and Monday, so hopefully I will stay on track with my deadline for completing the rough draft. I feel like the story is moving in right direction, and the tensions in the story are growing nicely. My goal is to make this the best book of the series so far, and while it will take some polishing to get it there, right now, it feels on track. I’ll know more after getting a couple of first readers to glance over the first couple of chapters to make sure it starts with a bang.

That’s all for now. Time to get outside and work on clearing more poison oak and honeysuckle. Have I ever mentioned just how much I hate them? Well, just as a reminder, they’re both of the devil and will be eradicated from my little corner of this earth to make room for plants that aren’t parasites. Here’s to another day in the sun.

Angelkiller Ramblings

D. A. Adams — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:30:51 +0000

Download FREE today and tomorrow only!

H. David Blalock is one of those people who enriches your life just by knowing him. He’s friendly, humble, wise, and sincere. I met him first at a convention several years ago, and since then, I’ve considered myself fortunate to call him a friend. He goes out of his way to help fellow writers and artists and has personally done more than his share to promote my works. Today and tomorrow, his book, Angelkiller, is available for free on Kindle. Just like before, you DO NOT have to own a Kindle to take advantage of this offer. Just download it, store it to the cloud, and read at your convenience from your laptop, smartphone, or iPad. If you read one book this year, make it this one. David is not only a good person, he’s also one helluva writer, but don’t just take my word for it. Read these reviews and then go download your free copy. You’ll be glad you did:

http://www.ufreviews.com/2012/01/angelkiller-by-h-david-blalock.html

http://cabingoddess.com/2012/03/angelkiller-h-david-blalock/

http://smsand.wordpress.com/2012/03/29/specmusicmuse-review-angelkiller-h-david-blalock/

And here’s one interview with him:

http://bunnysreview.com/2012/05/interview-with-h-david-blalock/

Now, go download the book and find out for yourself why he’s such a compelling writer:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006CR84AI/ref=tsm_1_fb_lk

Late Night Ramblings

D. A. Adams — Sun, 13 May 2012 03:56:57 +0000

I promise a proper post sometime soon, but again, tonight I’m going to let the pictures tell the story.

Smokehouse before

Smokehouse today

View towards springhouse before

View towards springhouse today

Cherry trees before

Cherry trees today

The pictures from today were taken with my phone and don’t really do justice to the difference in the property. I’ll try to get out there with my good camera and take a few more pics to show just how far it’s come from the smokehouse to the springhouse. It’s really starting to take shape after two years of hard work. Check back early in the week for a full post about our progress.