Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Disaster Relief - From The Dead Proceeds

I wanted to let you know that from now until June 10, I will donate 100% of my From The Dead author earnings from Kindle sales toward disaster relief. Currently my novel is priced at 99 cents for maximum convenience. No special coupon codes are required; Amazon provides authors with a tool to monitor Kindle sales, so I can easily locate the total.

As a St. Louis resident, my state and others across the nation have experienced an onslaught of disaster, including floods and tornados. As I write this message, news footage of the Joplin, Missouri, tornado is mind-boggling and the deadliest U.S. tornado in more than 50 years.

For years, part of my attraction to writing books was the hope that I could encourage people and help charity projects. This is my first real opportunity to put it into action. I will donate my Kindle earnings to Service International, a St. Louis-based relief organization. I have participated in Service International projects in the past, have seen its impact firsthand, and believe in it firmly.

From The Dead Kindle link: http://amzn.to/gqGEtr

Service International link: www.serviceinternational.com

Thank you for your consideration, and enjoy the book!


All best,

John Herrick
www.johnherrick.net
johnherricknet.blogspot.com

Monday, May 2, 2011

INSPIRATION | You Alone

Are you an individual who doesn’t fit in with the majority? Did you grow up on the sidelines, an outsider looking in on cliques and groups? Or did you just have a nagging sense that you didn’t fit in?

Perhaps you do things in a way others don’t understand. We seem to celebrate outside-the-box solutions—but not way out there!

If no one’s ever told you this, then I have some good news for you …

You weren’t born to fit in. You don’t want to fit in. You were created unique.

I’ve heard it said that every story has already been told. What makes a story fresh and new is the unique blend—characters, plot details, background and so forth—the author introduces to an old story.

Pick any well-written story and you will discover the main character has a trait that makes him or her unique. Whether a physical trait, an emotional struggle, or an unusual background or life experience, something will set the character apart from others you’ve grown accustomed to.

This is what intrigues us about the character. We look for different. We actually seek it out.

In other words, if the main character doesn’t stand apart from characters in other novels, we tend to gravitate away from the book. Why? Frankly, typical is boring.

We love to cheer for the underdogs. This seems amplified among Americans due to our historical heritage.

We love to see someone break away from the pack or overcome an obstacle.

And such is the case in life.

If you don’t fit in, keep it that way. Maintain your God-given uniqueness. Foster the qualities that cause you to stand out from the crowd.

That’s the type of person about whom stories are written.

Never give up!


johnherricknet.blogspot.com
www.johnherrick.net

Today’s playlist: Gin Blossoms, Major Lodge Victory