Writer's Revolution

Anthony Charles-Preview

2013-07-23T17:32:00.001-04:00

Welcome everyone to the first installment of our summer interview series. I am your host, the man behind The Phoenix Blade, Andrew Hess. Today we're going to preview the upcoming interview with Anthony Charles, a man of many talents including; guitarist, songwriter, producer, interviewer, instructor, and actor. So let's take a closer look at the man behind the Anthony Charles Podcast.

Anthony Charles has grown up in the greater New York Area. He is an accomplished musician and songwriter; in which he released a concept album under the name Gnosis, with the album "Awakening." Since then he has helped produce a few indie artists, created the Anthony Charles Podcast, and started a career as an actor. His most recent role was the real life Civil War Captain, Robert Newlin Verplank in a historical drama "On the Side of the Angels," which was written and directed by Joanne Zipay (Founder and Artistic Director/Producer of the Judith Shakespeare Company). This play has received lots of attention that culminated in the winning of the 2012 GHHN Award of Excellence; a ceremony held at the Revered Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park, NY.

As stated earlier, Anthony is also the creator and host of the Anthony Charles Podcast. A show all about creative professionals and the lives they lead; where you learn about the tools. motivations, and desires that lead you to a successful creative career.

Join us tomorrow for part 1 of my interview with Anthony Charles, but for now I'd like to share a couple of the Anthony Charles Podcast episodes to give you further insight into Anthony Charles.

http://anthonycharlespodcast.com/episode-1/
http://anthonycharlespodcast.com/episode-2/

Interviews

2013-07-20T16:37:00.000-04:00

For the last year, I've been posting on this blog about helping writers. I've posted some tips and tricks that I've learned over the years as a way to help others that wanted to know more about writer's block, coming up with ideas, putting out your first book, and of course first book signings. But now I wanted to take this blog to the next level. Within the next two weeks, I will be conducting interviews with various types of writers. Authors, poets, musicians, script writers, and even actors will be my guest. Join us in learning more about these great and inspiring writers and artists.

If anyone would like to be part of this interview series, please contact me at Iamphoenix13@gmail.com, Message me on FB: https://www.facebook.com/#!/TheRealPhoenix13 or follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Iamphoenix13

One Door Closes...Another Opens

2013-07-11T16:02:00.000-04:00

I decided to keep looking over my old poetry and decided to share another. This one comes from 2011 as I approached my final days at one job before starting a new one.

One door closes…Another Opens

By Andrew Hess

Is it weird to be sad?

This road has finally ended.

It’s a joyous thought;

Yet brings tears to my eyes.

Those I’ve encountered;

Will slowly fade;

Making room for newer ones;

Embracing the new associates.

But long and behold;

They are never gone forever.

They will remain like the others;

Never truly departing from my life.

Instead they will merely visit;

Resurface when it’s their time.

Rekindle the friendships;

Living a new life together.

Then why so sad?

Am I afraid of the changes?

The idea of starting something new;

Has me feeling exhilarated.

In my heart;

I know I’m ready.

I can face the challenges;

That lay ahead.

Each day;

Each step;

Has me closer to my dreams;

Slowly making them a reality.

At First Sight

2013-07-09T21:21:00.002-04:00

I wanted to share an intimate poem that I wrote shortly after I met my fiance for the very first time. It's called At First Sight.

At First Sight

By Andrew Hess

It was a surprise;

Something unexpected;

Yet welcomed;

Finding something I believed to be gone.

It was a freezing cold night;

During the warmest winter ever.

A month of talking;

Brought me to this point.

Sitting in my beat-up Sonata;

Waiting eagerly with a friend in the passenger seat;

Looking for a sign or car;

Ready to meet her for the first time.

She was tall; roughly my height;

Blonde and beautiful;

She was sweet, friendly, outgoing;

More than I was expecting.

We sat in a dimly lit coffee house;

Striking up a long conversation;

Forgetting our friends were there;

Only one person mattered.

I lost complete concentration;

But knew what to say.

I never fumbled for words;

Just spoke freely.

The hours ticked by.

The waiter was ready to kick us out;

Glad we left on our own;

So they could replace us with more customers.

Into the cold cloudy night we went;

Standing idly by the truck;

Refusing to break from the conversation;

Letting our time together expand.

Every other though that crossed my mind;

Was how much I wanted to break my rule;

To kiss her right there;

Despite our friends watching.

But the cold overtook the temptation;

Forcing everyone to retreat to their cars.

It took us away from each other;

Longing for just another moment with her.

Revolution of Change

2013-07-08T19:50:00.001-04:00

Lately, one of my friends/associates has been posting older poems. I decided it's been a while since I have looked at any of my old poetry as well and wanted to share one with you tonight. This poem was the spark that ignited the fire that fueled my determination to become a writer and to inspire others to seek out their passions. Hope you enjoy.

The Revolution of Change

By Andrew Hess

Let this be our declaration;

Not of independence of freedom;

But that we have set course;

In an attempt to initiate change.

We have set idly by;

Watched the world unfold;

And the feeble attempts by politicians;

To fix the problems they created.

Oh how different the world once was.

Their means of solving issues were extreme.

People might have been divided into various classes;

But how different is that to today’s culture?

Look to the Renaissance;

Many were revered.

They were put on pedestals;

Now view as icons of their era.

Musicians, writers, actors, and artists;

These were the individuals;

Who gave everything to the world;

Including themselves.

Today is much different.

The men and women representing those fields;

Are solely focused on publicity and money;

Becoming immoral role models.

That notwithstanding;

There are still many known artists;

Who are true and genuine;

Being what society needs.

There is more that’s needed;

Someone needs to represent it;

The movement;

The change that the world needs.

The voiceless shall be heard.

Children will have people to look up to.

The dreamers will have proof it can be reality;

Maybe then others will listen.

Now my brethren;

We shall rise up against injustices;

Our revolution begins today.

Who will fight for this cause?

Scouting Locations

2013-06-27T18:11:00.001-04:00

Next week I'll be on the road back to one of my old stomping grounds; Poughkeepsie, NY. I will be up there during July 3rd-5th and will be a guest on the Anthony Charles Podcast to promote my new book The Phoenix Blade. While I'm up there, I will also be scouting areas for the sequel for my detective series.

So I guess the big questions are how do you scout areas and how do you choose the areas to scout? In my Phoenix Blade series, I could not afford to physically scout all the areas listed in my books. In that series of books, I used the Internet to scout every location and vehicle. Thanks to Google and the Internet as a whole for aiding writers with finding generalized details about people, places, and things.

A lot can be said for scouting through the Internet. However, my personal preference is to view the areas and locations personally. The Internet can give general details, but you get more intimate details from being there in person. Minor details can unknowingly impact the feel of your book.

So how do you choose which areas to scout?

Most of it depends on your story. First, I would research the area where your story takes place. This is the most important part of your scouting process. Without knowledge of the area for your story, there is more room for error; that is unless you are creating a fictional world. The second thing to do is to use the Internet to find places to scout (this is where the Internet is beneficial). By searching the web, you can find more locations that you can sort through for your story. Once you have a handful of locations picked out, you can personally go there to check them out. Make sure to bring a notepad/notebook, pen, and camera.

When I researched an upcoming book, The Campus Killer, I traveled to the New Paltz/Poughkeepsie areas to look at colleges, towns, and restaurants. It took my attention to detail to a different level by experiencing the settings first hand. My writing had creative and general details in the past, but by seeing the areas and taking pictures, I had first had knowledge of how it looked and a reference point to continuously go back to when writing.

Hope this helps. Stay tuned for more posts coming in the next few weeks.

My First Book Signing

2013-06-18T21:59:00.000-04:00

It was another life goal attained; a milestone that's been reached. The first book signing for The Phoenix Blade has happened and I am still in a state of awe while tying to find the words to describe such a surreal moment; probably one of the greatest moments in my life. My family and friends made it incredibly special for me, and I owe each and every one of them a special thank you for not only supporting my dream, but being there for me to celebrate my achievement.

When I first booked the signing with the Book Revue, I was nervous. I knew it was a shot in the dark and a chance for me to enter the world in which I longed to be a part of. It was an opportunity to share my work with people that were unfamiliar with my writing and build a bigger audience of readers.

I counted down the weeks and then days to my book signing; eagerly waiting for that one moment where I could reflect on as another major step in the right direction of my career. Then I was told I had to make a speech and handle a Q&A session as well. Instinctively, my brain panicked and tried to build up a wall preventing me from rationally handling the situation. Thankfully I had several supporters including my future wife, my mother, and my best friends who all gave me the perfect advise. "Just be you and stop worrying about what you're going to say." I continued dwelling on it for days, but couldn't think of anything to write down to prepare. So I did what they suggested; speak from the heart.

When I entered the building, the nerves disappeared. I was filled with an energy that I still cannot describe. But for a fleeting moment, I wasn't the Andrew Hess that used to be shy and quiet. I was the man I evolved into over the last several years where nothing worried me. The nervous feelings were replaced by confidence and I was ready to go. Once my intro was read, my name was called, and the rest was history.

It took me hours to fall asleep last night. The air of excitement continued to circulate in my mind. I wasn't ready for the night to end, but knew it wouldn't be the last time I would feel this way. This was only the beginning.

I would like to thank everyone again for coming out to make the night special for me.

In the next month, keep an eye out on here, my fan page or my website for my upcoming Virtual Book Tour with the Virtual Book Tour Cafe, an appearance on the Anthony Charles Podcast, and future events/signings.

https://www.facebook.com/#!/ThePhoenixBlade
https://www.facebook.com/#!/TheRealPhoenix13
http://www.phoenixed.biz/
http://www.virtualbooktourcafe.com/3/post/2013/06/the-phoenix-blade-by-andrew-hess.html
http://anthonycharlespodcast.com/

PhoenixED

2013-06-13T10:31:00.000-04:00

Back in 2010/2011, I ha a vision of where I wanted my life to go. The first step in the process was to get my first book out. I pushed hard and sent out nearly a hundred query letters to literary agents; yielding little interest in a brand new writer. I reached out to a well known author to find out what I needed to do to get my name out there and never heard a reply. That was the moment I decided if I ever made it in the writing industry, I would never turn my back on any potential writer trying to find their way. Thankfully I was given advice by my dad's nutritionist about getting into the self publishing world to start my career.

Fast forward three years and three books later. I've been working on finding ways for authors to promote their self published works in order to make a name for themselves; trying marketing strategies, book signings, and pushing myself to use more social media. At the same time, I have been working towards building my company Phoenix Entertainment and Development; a place where writers can find assistance as they learn how to write, self publish, and ways to market your books. This past week I launched the official website for my company www.phoenixed.biz

I urge everyone to check it out and come down to my book signing this Monday June 17th at the Book Revue in Huntington, NY
http://www.bookrevue.com/AndrewHess.html

If you're interested in helping out or interested in learning more about PhoenixED feel free to check out the website or contact me via email. IamPhoenix13@gmail.com

No Problem: A Rebuttle to CBS

2013-06-03T19:59:00.001-04:00

http://youtu.be/THWpa7q1ibI

I was watching CBS on a Sunday morning a few weeks ago and heard a man named Bill Flanagan going on a rant about why he has an issue with people saying the phrase "No Problem" instead of saying you're welcome. Now I can agree that the phrase "No Problem" gets over used and tends to be annoying to constantly hear if uttered on an every other minute basis. But is it really worth it to get so worked up over that you needed to waste time on TV ranting about why you hate the phrase.

Before continuing, I would like to provide the correct definition for No Problem.

prob·lem

noun

1. any question or matter involving doubt, uncertainty, or difficulty.

2. a question proposed for solution or discussion.

3. Mathematics . a statement requiring a solution, usually by means of a mathematical operation or geometric construction.

adjective

4. difficult to train or guide; unruly: a problem child.

5. Literature. dealing with choices of action difficult either for an individual or for society at large: a problem play.

In the video, Mr. Flanagan took two examples of using the term "No Problem" that he found to be irritating and annoying. The first had to do with a former employee who came in late every day. When he was spoken to about his tardiness, the employee said no problem. Now in my opinion, this situation is where the term should not be used and the employee was wrong for saying it. But then Mr. Flanagan said that person was no longer employed by him. I feel that comment was unnecessary due to it leading the viewer to believe the person was no longer employed due to both his lateness and for using the term. I can see the point he was trying to make. However, it almost makes you question if the employee changed his ways and showed up on time or early to work but continued saying "No Problem" in the wrong context, would Mr. Flanagan have fired that employee anyway for just being annoying.

The second example was about a waitress who asked what kind of water Mr. Flanagan wanted. He said tap water please in which she replied no problem. Mr. Flanagan was annoyed by this due to him saying as if there could have been a problem. This was an example I took issue with. In my opinion, this is where "No Problem" would be appropriate. It's not something that an over emphatic emotion of gratitude and was something that was indeed not a problem. But who knows; there could have been an issue that appeared. He wanted tap water, and at that very moment there could be an issue in which they could no longer access the tap water or find something wrong with it.

Now in the video, Mr. Flanagan said using the term "No Problem" is a way to say you have gone out of your way; not to feel indebted. The examples he used in the video for proper ways to use the term were; stopping your car in the rain to help someone fix a flat tire, lending ten thousand dollars to a friend so the bank doesn't foreclose on their house, and donating your kidney to someone who needs it.

I understand why Mr. Flanagan feels the term could be used in these examples. However in my opinion, I would find it more irritating if I thanked someone for doing something that important and just said no problem. That would make the action seem so unimportant due to the person saying something that is nonchalant. Now maybe that has something to do with how often the phrase is used; maybe it doesn't.

Now I can agree with Mr. Flanagan that the term gets overused and that it does have a lot to do with the younger generation misusing and overusing the phrase. However, I feel that Mr. Flanagan himself did not provide accurate examples of how to use the phrase.

I guess the points I'm trying to make are simple. The first is that Bill Flanagan has a point in talking about the misuse and overuse of the phrase "No Problem." However, the examples used are not clear cut right and wrong ways to use the phrase. In general it comes down to how people perceive the phrase. I don't think it is something to get worked up over, criticize someone for, chastise someone, or even make a big deal on TV about.

Interviews

2013-05-30T11:02:00.000-04:00

As promised, I was on the Anthony Charles Podcast where I called into the show to promote my new book The Phoenix Blade.

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DeZr30JtrF3U%26feature%3Dyoutu.be&h=fAQGMJLbm

Here are my past appearances on the show as well. You should check them out.
http://soundcloud.com/anthonycharlespodcast/episode-5-andrew-hess-writer

http://soundcloud.com/anthonycharlespodcast/episode-20-andrew-hess-author

The Anthony Charles Podcast is a great show that is all about helping and promoting artists of all types (Writers, Musicians, Comedians, Stuntmen, Directors, Pin-up Models and the list goes on and on. Go back and check out all the other past episodes. I'm sure you'll find them enlightening, and who knows you might learn something.

http://anthonycharlespodcast.com/

Big Things Coming

2013-05-28T11:25:00.001-04:00

It's been less than a month since I released my third book, The Phoenix Blade: Project Justice, and it's been an interesting and fun ride since. There are three big announcements regarding The Phoenix Blade.
1. I will be conducting a book signing/launch event in Huntington NY at the Book Revue (313 New York Ave, Huntington, NY) at 7pm.
2. I will be on the Anthony Charles Podcast in the upcoming weeks to talk about and promote The Phoenix Blade.
3. I will be going on my first Virtual Book Tour (which is in the process of being setup as we speak).

I wanted to take some time to share a few things since releasing the book.

The first has been that nothing comes easy. The things in life you want the most, you have to work very hard for.

The second goes hand in hand with the first. There is no such thing as an overnight sensation or success. Actors/Actresses, Writers/Authors, Musicians, Producers/Directors, and Athletes have spent countless years trying to get where they are today. It's taken me eight years just to reach this level in my literary career and it feels like I'm just starting.

The third has been about self publishing and promoting. The self publishing part is easy when you know where to go and what to use. I suggest avoiding anything that requires you to spend a lot of money for their paid services. If you need an editor or someone to read your work over, there are other options out there for less money. I made this mistake once; on my first book, Chamber of Souls. I used IUniverse thinking it was the least costly way to self publish. They were helpful, but could not get the cover the exact way I wanted it without it costing more money than I already paid. The cover still came out nice, but not the exact way I wanted it. The next issue was in regards to royalties. They only gave me 20% Royalties on any book sold on their website or on Kindle; which provided very little profit for me. It was only until I purchased my books in bulk and sold them that I began making money. The final issue was advertising the book. They offered to help you advertise your book, but for another high end fee. I chose not to use them again, but will still get a call almost every month for the last two years with them trying to sell me on one of their advertising programs or to get me to order more copies of my book.

Now I'm not saying you shouldn't go with them, I'm saying there are better alternatives to getting your work into the hands of your potential readers. Since the release of my first book, I have put out two other books by using CreateSpace. This site works directly with Amazon.com to help you publish your book for free. The only times payment have been required were if I wanted to open up additional channels for distribution ($25), if you need them to design your cover for you ($399), and then when you need to buy copies of your own book to sell. It is also free to publish on Kindle. You choose what percentage you get on your royalties 30% or 70%.

When you self publish, you handle the advertising for your book. The best ways to promote your book are through LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest, and PinYourBook.com. There are also other ways to promote. Blogging has become one of the best ways to get attention for your books, and finding other blogs to do guest posts on or author interviews.

Self publishing

2013-05-08T20:56:00.000-04:00

Since I decided to put out my third book, The Phoenix Blade, by self publishing, I felt like my next post should be about self publishing. I want to talk about why authors choose to self publish, the pros and cons about self publishing, and various sites and groups that can be useful.

So first things first. Why do authors choose to self publish? There are many answers to this question. Some do it because they want to just get their work out there. Others do it because they feel it is the best way for them to get noticed. And many others do it because they want to share their work and ability with the rest of the world.

Now these are valid reasons. But like everything else in this world, there are pros and cons to self publishing.

Pros

You are able to share your work with others.
It can help to get you noticed by publishers and literary agents.
You can generate sales on books that you have worked on for years.
It does not cost much to self publish (There are sites that will allow you do publish for free. Don't spend money with other companies).
It pushes you to work harder for what you want.
There are less people to take a percentage of the sale.

Cons

Because people find it easy and affodable to self publish, everybody rushes to put out their work; even if it's not ready.
People spend hundreds of dollars on sites that encourage people to self publish with their packaged plans.
The best way for your book to sell is pushing advertising for it; which can sometimes become costly.
You have to spend money to buy your books up front to sell them to make a profit or else you make less per book selling online (that is until you get a lot of momentum and following).
It can take a while before a literary agent or publisher takes notice of you.
You have to setup your own book signings.
Because of self publishing there are more authors out there than there was five years ago (can be a good thing and a bad thing).

Now I don't want anyone to think just because you are self publishing that you're in this by yourself; you're not. There are hundreds of authors that are out there going through the same thing you are. There are groups on Linkedin that help authors connect, share stories, share best practices, and even give advice. Here are a list of groups that I found useful information and help with my writing and even promoting my books.
http://www.linkedin.com/groups/AFFILIATED-AUTHORS-65681?trk=myg_ugrp_ovr
http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Book-Marketing-1848415?trk=myg_ugrp_ovr
http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Indie-Authors-3806381?trk=myg_ugrp_ovr
http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Indie-Authors-Publishers-4180273?trk=myg_ugrp_ovr
http://www.linkedin.com/groups/SelfPromoting-Indie-Authors-3945428?trk=myg_ugrp_ovr
http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1799488&trk=myg_ugrp_ovr

Another useful social media site to use is Twitter. You can connect with other writers, literary agents, publishers, even celebrities. It doesn't guarantee anything, but has a possibility to lead to something greater.

The Phoenix Blade

2013-05-06T10:59:00.000-04:00

So here we are. The official release of the Phoenix Blade was last week and have been receiving a lot of positive feedback from it.
http://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-Blade-Project-Justice-ebook/dp/B00CLIH0TS/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_1_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1367851796&sr=8-1&keywords=Phoenix+Blade%2C+Andrew+Hess

http://www.amazon.com/The-Phoenix-Blade-Andrew-Hess/dp/1482052733/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367851796&sr=8-1&keywords=Phoenix+Blade%2C+Andrew+Hess

I am currently setting up my first book signing event for the beginning of June in Huntington, NY (stay tuned for more details). I will also be on an episode of the Anthony Charles Podcast. In the meantime, feel free to check out my past interviews on the Anthony Charles Podcast.

http://anthonycharlespodcast.com/episode-5-andrew-hess-writer/

http://anthonycharlespodcast.com/episode-20-andrew-hess-authorpoetblogger/

I will keep everyone posted on any upcoming signings, on my virtual book tour, and will write a few new blog posts.

I would also like to encourage any writers to check out the Author Writing Club. It is a site that helps writers promote their books with thousands of readers.

http://authormarketingclub.com/members/featured-member-books/

Sneak Peak

2013-04-23T21:54:00.000-04:00

So here it is; eight years in the making. My novel, The Phoenix Blade is getting the finishing touches before it is fully published and ready for the world to see.

Follow the journey of Andrew Lancaster and his friends as they are thrown in the middle of the biggest government conspiracy to hit the United States. After a joking about ridding the world of all the evil people, Andrew gets a call from a man known only as the Benefactor.; claiming to be a government official that has been monitoring Lancaster and his friends. He is told they have enough to arrest them for treason, but would like to hire them instead for a top secret government project. As a bonus the Benefactor says he will reveal something Lancaster has wanted to know for the last six years. Who killed his mother.

I wanted to give my readers a brief glimpse at the Phoenix Blade and hope you all enjoy.

Bright white lights. It was the first thing I noticed when I opened my eyes.

“Just relax Mr. Lancaster,” a stern woman’s voice said as she laid a hand on my chest; forcing me back to the bed. “You’ve been through a major ordeal and need your rest.”

I tried to push myself up on the bed, but found my arms tied down with restraints.

“What’s going on? Where am I?”

“Relax, you’re in good hands.”

I craned my neck to look through the window on a solid door. I thought I saw a woman with short brown hair. She looked familiar. I continued to fight the restraints. I was always claustrophobic and being pinned to a plain white bed didn’t help that feeling.

“Mr. Lancaster, you need to relax,” the woman said.

My eyes cleared; allowing me to see a tall heavy set woman dressed in white standing over my bed. Her surgical mask told me something was off. I struggled to get free, but was locked in too tight. The woman reached for a syringe and placed it into my IV.

“This should calm you down.” My vision blurred and my body felt limp. The woman’s voice sounded like she was yelling down a long hallway. “He should be out any minute.”

“Good bring him downstairs,” a stern male voice said. My eyes closed as I was wheeled out of the room forcefully.

When I awoke, I was back in my parent’s old house; sprawled out on the old brown living room carpet. The TV clicked on and recaps of last night’s baseball games were playing. I looked up and saw a teenage boy lying on the couch with the remote in hand.

“Steve,” I asked while pulling myself off the floor. He didn’t flinch or respond when I called his name. His eyes were fixated on the TV and wouldn’t budge.

I sat down on the love seat and wondered why he couldn’t hear me. A woman’s voice could be heard coming down the hallway. A short woman with shoulder length blond hair entered the room with a slightly chubby sixteen year old boy.

“Now Andrew, you’re in charge while I’m gone. Make sure your brother doesn’t get into any trouble and no rough housing.”

“Yes mom.” I looked at the boy and realized it was a younger version of me.

“Hey mom,” Steven said from the couch. “Can you bring us home lunch?”

“What’s wrong with what’s in the fridge?”

“I’m sick of having soup and making sandwiches. Can you bring us home something different?”

“Fine,” she reached into her purse and pulled out a twenty dollar bill and placed it on the fireplace mantle. “Order yourselves a pizza and try to save me some. I’ll be back in two hours.”

I watched the teenage version of Steven and I waive to our mother through the window as she approached her car. I knew what this was. I dreamt it every night. I stepped through the front door to stop her from leaving. The house was gone, and then found myself standing on the side of the road. A handful of police, fire, and rescue trucks had it blocked off trying to put out a car fire.

“MOM,” I shouted while running towards her overturned car as it burst into flames. Tires, bumper fragments, and glass littered the highway. Police tried to keep everyone away who attempted to get a glimpse of the wreckage. I ran to the car; knowing I couldn’t be stopped.

I pulled the car door open and walked into a funeral home. A long line of people stood along the wall; waiting to pay their respects. There were colorful combinations of flowers lined up around the casket and two large cardboard displays filled with pictures. The younger Steven and Andrew were standing next to the couches; accepting their guests’ condolences. I walked past the line of people; wanting to see my mother one last time.

I looked at the pictures as I made my way to the front. My left hand rested on the kneeler as I looked into the casket. I jumped back immediately; trying to catch my breath. I wanted to scream, but somehow lost my voice. I wasn’t staring at my mother. The body lying in the box was mine.

The Phoenix Blade is now available on Amazon.com or Kindle
http://www.amazon.com/The-Phoenix-Blade-Andrew-Hess/dp/1482052733/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1367867627&sr=8-2&keywords=the+phoenix+blade

Anniversary of sorts.

2013-04-11T15:48:00.000-04:00

While I was driving the other day, I listened to one of my interviews I did for the Anthony Charles Podcast. In it he asked me when did I decide writing was my voice. My answer was it had been six years since I decided to become a writer. The interview was recorded back in 2011/2012 when my first book, the Chamber of Souls was released. The interview made me realize that even in a year or two so much can change; writing styles, the way people talk, the way they dress, and the way they carry themselves in both private and public settings. This can be easily chalked up to the events in ones life helping a person to grow, or a way of maturing.

After six years of working my way into the writing industry, I felt like I was on top of the world. I think everyone does when they reach a major accomplishment or goal in life. But I quickly understood there was much more to learn.

It's been two years later, and this month makes it officially eight years since I decided to become a writer and starter the book that would change my life; The Phoenix Blade (Which I will give my readers more info on in the next post). In the two years that have passed, I have found and connected with more writers and potential writers than I ever realized were out there. People who have great ideas, or just stories from their past; itching to written and shown to the world. A lot has been held back by them because they have been afraid to put themselves out there or didn't know what to write about or how to write it in the first place. And for that I tell people to push yourselves to learn. Put yourselves out there for people to see. If you don't know how to do something, ask for help. Linkedin is a great place to meet other writers and get their opinions. Also take to reading more books about how to develop structure, characters, plots, and the specific genre you want to write about.

The thing that I have learned the most in the eight years of writing is that every moment I spent pouring my heart and soul into everything that I wrote and rewrote has been worth it. Those moments of creating characters, venting into my poetry, working alongside with my brother, and talking to other writers and potential writers I wouldn't trade any of those moments for anything. It is a crazy, hard working, and dedicated business to work your way into, but it has been one of the most rewarding and inspiring business to be a part of and I have only just begun.

Pilot TV Shows

2013-04-04T10:24:00.001-04:00

I know this may be a trivial matter, but it's something I wanted to discuss. After watching the pilot episode of "How to Live With Your Parents for the Rest of Your Life," I came to the realization that I cannot stand over advertised pilot episodes. Maybe it's just me, but lately I've noticed a common trend. Each time a new show advertises its pilot episode, they show the funniest or best clips from the premiere episode and nothing from any other episode they have aired. The end result is seeing the complete episode through the commercial before it ever airs.

Now I know that the pilot episode is meant to be the measuring stick to see if the show gained enough viewers to continue on the season, but most shows get the clearance to shoot additional episodes before it ever airs on TV. If the show succeeds in the first few episodes, the network will tell them to film more, or that they are to come back for a full season next year. If they fail, they are cancelled.

Now I'm not saying networks should change the way they advertise or promote new TV shows. However, I would like to see them leave something to our imagination for the pilot episode. Give us something that we didn't already see in the commercials for the last few weeks. I for one will continue to watch this show because I know Brad Garrett and Sarah Chalke are incredibly funny people and believe the show will be a success. I mean, the first time I saw the promo for their show on TV was hysterical, but seeing it for the fiftieth time dulled the humor behind it.

The two things that I learned from watching this seasons new shows were this. 1. Networks need to learn how to not give away the entire pilot episode in the commercials leading up to the premiere. 2. We as viewers cannot render judgement on a show based on the pilot episode. 3. Sit back and enjoy the first few episodes; you never know if the show will be green lighted to move on to next season or be cancelled on the spot.

Self Sabotage

2013-03-26T21:34:00.001-04:00

This is a topic I wanted to discuss for some time now, but never attempted to write about. Maybe it's difficult to discuss why people sabotage their own lives, or maybe it's because it's hard to admit that we all sabotage our lives.

So how do people self sabotage? There are different situations to consider when asking how. There are personal relationships, office relationships, friendships, careers, and family. Each one has many different ways to push the self destruct button and watch the countdown till the end. But let's start with the easiest one to talk about; family.

Family is one of the easiest categories to sabotage; mostly because we know they tend to forgive more often than turn and walk away. We find ways to pick apart relationships with our siblings due to jealousy, anger over something petty, or even blaming them for something they did or failed to do for you. Parents are a whole other subject. Most of the time kids blame their parents for everything. It starts when they're teenagers that don't get their way. Freud always attributed a child's psychological issues to be based solely on the parents' failure. As adults we tend to gravitate to the continuation of blaming them for our issues or realizing they had our best interest at heart and did the best they could. (The continued debate for this topic can be discussed at a later time).

In terms of careers, there are a few ways to self destruct. For starters, you could keep all the anger and resentment you have towards your company or boss inside until you snap. When it unleashes, it's like verbal diarrhea; spewing uncontrollably until either you have nothing left to say or you're fired and security escorts you from the building. Another way is by being afraid to take chances because you become too complacent in your current job title and performance. This is one of the most common ones. People get too comfortable and don't want to to step up to the next level at work because they feel it will require more work, responsibility or could equate to a higher possibility of scrutiny.

Office relationships and office friendships are typically a time bomb waiting to go off at any moment and are usually self explanatory. Being friends inside and out of the business is fine as long as you remember to stay within the boundaries during work hours and not let it influence your performance or behavior during that time.

Finally the biggest ways to self sabotage are personal relationships and personal life. There are way too many to go into, but I will go over a few examples. The first being the personal life. The biggest issue people face is procrastination which goes hand in hand with laziness. Both start when we're younger. In today's world, most kids are too used to playing their Nintendo, Xbox, and PlayStation when they have free time. It's one of the things they look forward to doing after school. They can play what they want, interact with friends or strangers online and never leave the comfort of their bedroom/house. But by relying on these devices, kids take their focus off of doing work and caring more about play time. It becomes the same when they get older. As a child, the procrastination takes the form of waiting till the last minute to do homework, reports, or studying. As an adult, it takes the form of forgetting to pay bills, accruing high amounts of debt, going late to work, or simply letting simple tasks snowball into something bigger. I have found myself in many of these situations in life and have learned the hard way many times you can't fall into the pit of procrastination.

Finally the personal relationships have a few forms. The first is picking fights based on insecurities, or not getting over past situations from an ex. Everyone goes through theses. Everyone has baggage that they need to deal with and most of the time can't until they work through it in either a rebound, the next relationship, therapy, or other creative ways. The next level deals with insecurities on higher levels. The people in the relationship tend to think the other person is too good for them or think one of them is not good enough for the other. If you put someone too high on a pedestal it makes them feel they have so much to live up to and if they can't be that, then they fail. On the opposite hand if you view them or yourself on a lower level, the person might feel like they're not good enough and tend to walk away. The final level has more to do with the what if situation and cold feet scenarios. The what if situation falls on people who have been in a relationship for a while and wonder what their life would be if they were single. It typically happens when they are either unhappy in the relationship or has many friends that are single. They tend to go out with the single group and hang around them wishing they could live that life once again. The cold feet scenario are found in the people who are about to get married. They're faced with the realization they're about to settle down with one person for the rest of their life and try to come up with any reason not to.

Now if you made it to this point, you're probably asking yourself what the hell is the point of all this or why the hell did you keep reading? My hope is that you did read everything. Did you see yourself in any of those situations? I bet you did. Maybe you found yourself listed a couple of times. The point I wanted to create was that everyone self sabotages their life. We all push the self destruct button at one point or another. But there's always the abort button. We can pull that steering wheel back, avoid the collision, and put ourselves back on course before it's too late. My hope is that by reading this, you can notice when you're being self destructive or sabotaging and correct yourself.

Businesses violating medical rights.

2013-03-21T17:37:00.002-04:00

I've noticed a bit of controversy on the news as of late, and it's something I wanted to vent about on here. There have been news reports about various businesses (that will remain nameless) that are forcing their employees to go to their doctors by a specific date and get physicals done. In my opinion that is something people should be doing on a yearly basis regardless just to make sure they are in good health. However, there is more to this story.

According to employees, they are being forced to report their weight, body fat percentage, cholesterol, blood pressure and blood glucose. If they fail to do so, they are fined an extra $40-$50 every month on their medical insurance which can equal up to $600 a year.

Now correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't medical information supposed to be kept confidential between the doctor and patient? How is this legal for a business to force you to go to the doctors and report your private information to the company?

The answers these companies give is that they want a healthier workfoce and they will not see the medical records or the numbers. My response is, then why force them to report the information in the first place? I believe this is another way for businesses to secretly figure out which employees are too overweight for their company and find alternative ways to terminate their employment.

These companies are telling their employees to go to the doctor and use your medical insurance or pay a fine every month until you do so. How is that legal. When has been the insurance company or place of employment's decision to force their employees to visit a physician?

This is something the government needs to step in and take action against. People who have medical insurance should not be forced to report their medical information to anyone and should not be mandated to visit a doctor before a set date or be penalized and fined for not complying.

Thankfully my employers do not require such a thing and trusts their employees to manage their own lives without having someone standing over them. I urge everyone who reads this to fight back by contacting their local politicians, Congressmen, or Senators and telling them this is unlawful for companies to force their employees to go to the doctors, to report their medical information or pay a fine for not complying.

March...What a year it's been.

2013-03-01T11:30:00.000-05:00

Now this post will not be about writing. Instead it will be a personal note; a momentary glimpse into my life. With today being the first of March, I wanted to take some time to reflect on one of the best years in my life. No this won't be some long rant or discussion recapping the whole year.

Instead I want to sit and talk about the most spontaneous day of my life that ended in perfection. It started out on a bright and sunny Saturday morning. I drove out to Queens to pick up a girl I had been seeing for a couple of weeks. We had tickets to see the Dead Sea Scrolls at Discovery Times in New York City. I was so nervous, because it had been a long time since I was down this road with someone and felt this strongly about any woman. We took the train in. My knees were popping up and down; causing my body to stumble around on the A train seats. She laughed that I kept falling over with every turn. My hands shook nervously as I grabbed her hand. When I did, all the anxiousness died down and a smile crept over my face.

When we arrived at Discovery Times, we found our tour to be packed full of people. We were one of the last in line from our group and was forced to wait behind others that meticulously examined every clay pot. We stood there trying to do the same; thinking the other person found them of interest. But my annoyance at the people in front of us increased and I grew impatient. I asked her if she really cared about the pots and she replied no. I took her hand and stormed away from the group and headed downstairs to what we really wanted to see; the Dead Sea Scrolls.

It was magnificent to see something from so long ago; still preserved and translated for our viewing pleassure. We looked on and read the full translation of the Ten Commandments and other scriptures.

After our tour concluded, we left the building but didn't want to go home. We saw the Wax Museum on the next block over. I had never been there before and always wanted to check it out. We agreed to go. The second figure we saw and took pictures with was King Kong. I wanted to get a good laugh out of her and made it look like I was really being captured by his hand. We continued this throughout the day and loved every moment of our day.

Once we left, we got ourselves lost looking for Max Brenners and ate homemade cookies that she made for me prior to the day before finally settling on an Applebees.

But it was the walk home from the train that I found most interesting. The nervousness returned. I knew the moment I worried about was coming closer. Our hands were intwined together and I could feel the sweat starting to form. I waited until we were a block away from her house before saying; I know this is going to sound like we're in high school, but will you be my girlfriend. She agreed and the weight lifted off of my shoulders.

Since that moment, I have had the best time of my life. Each day, each moment I see her increases my happiness. I have never met a woman that I cared so much for and love. She has helped me see the beauty in artwork, helped me take a moment to stop and explore the city, and even helped me become more spontaneous. We spent days going into the city for one thing and spending an entire day going off on our own and creating such a memorable time like we did when I asked her out.

So for that I want to say thank you, I love you, and Happy Anniversary to the love of my life.

Opinions

2013-02-11T11:28:00.000-05:00

Everyone has an opinion and I want to share mine on something I noticed this morning. Now before I continue, please don't take this as me knocking someone for their writing ability or telling someone what they should or shouldn't write about. This is my opinion as to how you can improve.

This morning I saw a post from a former friend's sister; ranking the characters of an old TV show that has been off the air for about six years. I don't know if this was done for fun or if it was meant to be a serious topic to write about to get her foot in the door somewhere. It could have been an interesting read, but unfortunately having a short paragraph about fifty-five characters loses it's entertainment value quickly.

Now I know I'm not one to talk. I go on rants from time to time and I'm sure people have their opinions that are good and bad about my writing. I'm okay with that. But here are a few recommendations I would like to add about writing based on these topics especially if you are looking to do something for professional work.

The first is to write about a TV show that is still on air. It is something current and people can still watch. It's not something that was popular once upon a time when you were still a teenager that most people have long forgotten about. If you write about a current show, people will understand what you're saying and take it more seriously (If it's for fun, it's a different story, but will only resonate with the true fans of that show).

Secondly, I would not concentrate on talking about every character that was ever on the show. It will become too much to talk about in one sitting and people will get bored very easily. If anything, break it up into multiple posts where you take ten characters at a time and talk about them, their past on the show, and why you ranked them in that spot.

Finally, if you are looking to make it a more professional piece (especially if this is an older show that is no longer on the air, or one that still is), discuss how you feel the character should go. Create your own future for the character on what you believe should happen, or create a plot arc for a series of characters. There is a lot more creativity in doing this and can truly illustrate your writing ability.

Now again, I don't discredit the person I am referring to or anyone that chooses to put themselves out there. These are merely my opinions based off of a topic I came across. I hope this might eventually help that person or others that contemplate writing a topic such as this.

Updates, Trying New Things, and Getaways

2013-02-10T13:50:00.000-05:00

I know I haven't been on here too much lately. There's been a lot going on, and hopefully some more announcements later on this year. For now, I can safely say I have been very busy with my writing. I am getting closer to releasing my first official novel, and have sent two movie scripts out to a producer in Hollywood. Currently, I am working on my first horror script and outlining my second horror script.

It's ironic that I am now getting into writing within the horror genre. So much of my story ideas, books, and poetry were dangerously close to being considered part of that genre, but lingered on the sides of drama and suspense. This is my first time crossing the line into the horror realm. It's exciting but at the same time it's making me over think things.

Most managers or agents frown upon changing your writing style. But that's more for their clients that have found complete success in the genre they've been writing in for years. But to me, writing a horror script is more than just choosing a different genre or writing style. I spent years watching horror movies and criticizing them. I have a profound respect for them and their writers, but there are also so many that were unfavored by many. My scripts are going to breach the different sub genres. The one I'm working on now is going to be a horror/suspense. I figured it would be the easiest way for me to begin my journey through horror realm. I have several others that go from slasher films, to psychological thrillers, and classic horror. But for now I will focus on one the first script and write an incredible story that you will one day see on the "Big Screen."

The last thing I want to discuss is using a getaway to your advantage. A getaway can be anything from taking a trip out of the country, jumping in the car and going on a long drive to a known or unknown destination, even just changing your normal routine. These getaways are a way to relax, rest up, or even provide motivation and inspiration to create something amazing.

For the last week, I have been away from my normal routine. Despite the constant annoyances and added undo stress, I was able to get more writing done than I have in the previous weeks. Maybe it was being back on my own for the first time in a while, maybe it was the silence that filled the house, or maybe it was derived from pure boredom. In any case, the week alone proved to be beneficial to my writing. So I encourage others who need to find clarity, inspiration, motivation, or just some sort of stress relief to always take time to find some form of a getaway and take full advantage of everything it has to offer.

2013: New Blog, New Topics

2013-01-11T11:14:00.001-05:00

Hello everyone and welcome to my first blog of the new year. I decided this year's blog is going to be a bit different than last years. Starting with me putting a little more of myself and my writing into the blogs and also covering a broader spectrum of topics. So here I go into my first new topic: Karma.

Ever since I was a little kid, I always heard the saying: What goes around comes around. When I was younger, I admit, I didn't really understand the meaning behind it. And then I kept hearing the phrases Life's a bitch, Karma's a bitch, and Karma will come around and bite you in the ass. I kept hearing these phrases and began saying them without comprehending the meaning.

Karma is actually derrived from Indian cultures; especially Hinduism. They view Karma as a means of cause and effect, but is also dependent on the will of God. Another way to look at it is God does not punish without reason and likewise God does not reward without reason. They say God is fair and gives you exactly what you deserve.

Now I cannot say for sure that is how life is. But I believe in the expression you only reap what you sow. You only get what you put into life. Bad things can still happen to good people, but I feel they are a test of your character and will lead you to better things if handled correctly.

So the question still begs to be asked. Does Karma exist or is it just another expression? That is something you need to look to yourself to answer.

So as always, I welcome any feedback, suggestions on future topics, or any kind of comment as long as it does not put someone down. Happy New Year.

My Second Book

2013-01-02T10:50:00.000-05:00

So without further wait, I'd like to take the time to announce that my second book, The Hall of the Forgotten is now available on Amazon.com, Kindle, and CreateSpace.com.

http://www.amazon.com/Hall-Forgotten-Andrew-Hess/dp/1481287664/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1357140651&sr=1-7&keywords=andrew+hess
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FHall-of-the-Forgotten-ebook%2Fdp%2FB00AVS0S9O%2Fref%3Dsr_1_3%3Fs%3Dbooks%26ie%3DUTF8%26qid%3D1357140651%26sr%3D1-3%26keywords%3Dandrew%2Bhess&h=vAQEuQtw1

https://www.createspace.com/4102233

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

2012-12-23T13:08:00.004-05:00

Before the presents are exchanged, the eggnog passed around, and the football games begin, I wanted to take the time to wish everyone a Merry Christmas (Happy holidays for you who don't celebrate) and a Happy New Year to all.

It wasn't long ago that holidays weren't that important to me. There was too much in my life that got in the way. My ego and my past always seemed to get in the way of seeing what holidays were all about. They are about spending time with your family, giving back to others that are less fortunate, and being kind to others. Now I know it's cliche, but it's the truth.

Family will always be your family. You can't get rid of them, you can't change who they are, and let's face it ignoring them won't make things any better. The best thing you can do is accept who they are and make the best of it and move on from there. Yelling, screaming, and fighting about it won't do anything except cause more problems. If there are issues to deal with, the holidays are not the time to choose to argue about them. Take the person or people aside when it's not going to cause a scene and calmly talk about the issues you might have. The holidays are meant to celebrate your love for your family and cherish the moments you will always have; especially during Christmas. I can honestly say, I can still remember Christmas Eve with my family when I was a little kid because my parents always tried to make sure it was the best possible Christmas for us.

Giving back to those less fortunate is a great way to celebrate the holidays. The greatest thing you can do is help give a Christmas to those who cannot afford it or who have lost everything; even if it's buying a toy or two and giving it to a toy drive or a church. Speaking of Church, they always have a giving tree and many people help as much as they can. I would like to send a thank you to everyone who has helped out by sending gifts to the church and would like to encourage more people to do the same. It means so much to the boys and girls who receive those gifts to have something to open up on Christmas. We take something like that for granted every year. So I would like to challenge everyone reading this to help out more in the next year.

Giving back doesn't always mean spending your money on others. You can also devote your time to helping out. There are so many places where you can donate your time to food pantries, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and churches that can use your help. So again I challenge everyone to make a difference in this next year.

Finally be nicer to others. Just because it's the holidays doesn't mean that its okay for you to snap and be crazy driving, shopping, and yelling at other people. I know I'm someone guilty of yelling at people on the road and I shouldn't. But people need to be more considerate and be less in a hurry. Those two things alone can be so helpful to yourself and everyone around you. Take a minute, breathe, and clear your head. It's hard to do at first, but after a while it helps you deal with everything easier and your blood pressure will be a lot lower.

With that being said. I want to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season. Merry Christmas and Happy safe New Year.

Dreams

2012-12-06T15:34:00.000-05:00

Ever wonder where writers get their ideas from? They can come from anywhere or anything. When I started writing poetry, I would be sitting at work; thinking about random things. Sometimes I would come up with nothing, but other times I would have a great idea or remember something from my past. When I did write, people said I went into some sort of trance. I was staring at the wall or out a window. After about ten minutes I was done and ready to type it up on the computer.

My brother has his own way of coming up with ideas. He listens to what people say and gets an idea instantly. He comes up with elaborate storylines in a matter of minutes that would be great to see on the big screen.

Another way of coming up with ideas is through dreams. That has been the way I have been getting new story ideas, and from what I have read a lot of other writers get their plots from dreams they had as well. They are usually weird and abnormal, but most dreams usually are. Sometimes they feel too real. Some have you portraying the main character in the dream and other times you are a spectator watching everything unfold.

There are many more ways people can find ideas on what to write. Taking a walk through the park, the beach, observing people's interactions with each other, interactions with family, old jokes either with friends or family, songs, poetry, reading, and the list can go on and on.

The best piece of advice I can give when it comes to searching for something to write about, is don't discredit anything. Write any and all ideas down; either in a notebook, type it on a computer, or enter it into a cell phone. Don't ignore the thoughts that come to mind. Keep them and look to them when you decide you want to write something. If you think you can expand on it then go for it. If you can't, don't scrap the idea; keep it for another time.