BLOG TOUR | Guest Post - Portland Book Review

Thanks for all your support with my new novel, Between These Walls. What a thrill to learn the book has been well received. Publishers Weekly wrote, "Herrick will make waves...with this tale."

And I'm thrilled to have you along for the blog tour! The latest stop is a guest post at the Portland Book Review. Are you a writer or creative individual and find yourself unable to move forward on your project? Or are you stuck in a job that doesn't make sense? My guest post shares some of the concepts I learned in the Information Technology world that turned out to be the keys I needed to complete my first book. I still use them today.

The post is titled "Nothing Goes to Waste: How a Noncreative Career Provided a Creative Framework." You can find it here: http://tinyurl.com/q8wu45d

Looking for more encouragement? You can download my nonfiction book 8 Reasons Your Life Matters for FREE at most retailers! All the details about Between These Walls, 8 Reasons, and the other books are at John Herrick online.

Thanks to the Portland Book Review for allowing me to stop by! The post will be syndicated later at the San Francisco Book Review.

Love you guys! I appreciate you.

Never give up!

John Herrick
johnherrick.net
johnherricknet.blogspot.com
facebook.com/JohnHerrickBooks
@JohnHerrick

Today's Playlist:  "Hero" by Family of the Year

BLOG TOUR | Latest Stops

You're looking at a thankful author here! The initial buzz for my new novel, Between These Walls, looks positive. Meanwhile, the blog tour continues. The latest stops are linked below, including interviews and a guest post at The Writer's Life. They came in a flurry!

The Story Behind the Book
Examiner.com
Straight from the Author's Mouth
Blogger News
The Writer's Life (They requested an interesting post title for this guest post. They got it!)

Thanks for reading. You can grab your copy of Between These Walls in hard copy or e-book formats at Amazon, B&N, and the usual retailers. And if you haven't checked out my nonfiction book, 8 Reasons Your Life Matters, you can grab the e-book free at most retailers.

Never give up!

John Herrick
johnherrick.net
johnherricknet.blogspot.com
facebook.com/JohnHerrickBooks
@JohnHerrick

Today's Playlist:  Different Lifestyles by Bebe & Cece Winans

New Book Cover Unveiled

I'm so excited to unveil the book cover for my new novel, Between These Walls, which hits shelves on February 10, 2015:

Book details are forthcoming. For those who like to preorder books so they can receive them on the release date, retailers will begin offering that availability around November/December.

In the meantime, the nonfiction 8 Reasons Your Life Matters is available as a free e-book on Amazon and other retail sites.

Thanks for all the messages sent through my website. Knowing the books encourage you is an encouragement to me as well. Love you all!

Never give up!

John Herrick
johnherrick.net
johnherricknet.blogspot.com
facebook.com/johnherrickbooks
@JohnHerrick

Today's Playlist:  Night Visions by Imagine Dragons

NEWS | New Novel Title

Early Thursday morning, I finished the final revision for the latest novel! The manuscript is now done, done, DONE.

No better time to announce the novel's title:  Between These Walls.

Barring any unforeseen changes, the book is scheduled to hit shelves in winter 2015, around the February timeframe. Details will be released down the road, closer to the shelf date. As even my family can tell you, this manuscript—right down to its premise—has been on total lockdown. The concept came to me three years ago. I started developing the story a year later. That's how long the secret has remained intact, except for a couple of individuals who were key in its coming to life, of course. Once the story's premise comes forth, many people will understand why I've held it back.

I'm totally old school with how I track some things. I grab a napkin or paper, write a note, and it becomes my official log because I fail to take the time to organize it. If you want to know just how old-school this writer's mind works, here's a look at my ratty paper showing revision page progress:

Pretty sad, huh? It hit the trash can this morning. The photo above was BEFORE crumpling it up for the wastebasket. On second thought, maybe I should've auctioned it... ;-)

Meanwhile, what a thrill to hear from so many of you who have read 8 Reasons Your Life Matters! The e-book is on the verge of crossing the 100,000 downloads mark. Recently, a consultant decided to incorporate the paperback into her program package. Both were unexpected and amazing to see happen. It was just a little side project intended to perhaps encourage a few people out there.

What's new with you? I hope you're enjoying your summer.

Love you all. Have a wonderful weekend. Thanks for allowing my books into your lives. Feel free to message me on my website's Contact page. Feel free to friend me on Facebook—the icon is at the upper corner of my website.

Never give up!

John Herrick
johnherrick.net
johnherricknet.blogspot.com

Today's playlist:  August and Everything After by Counting Crows

NEWS | 8 Reasons Paperback Now Available

For those who have asked about a hard-copy version of 8 Reasons Your Life Matters, I'm excited to say the book is available NOW as a trade paperback! Distribution is making its way to retailers one by one.

The paperback is already available at Amazon. Here's it's product page: http://tinyurl.com/og92xre
The list price is $5.95, as close as possible to being free for readers. Several people have mentioned wanting to use it for a Bible study, so it should be affordable for that purpose too. (And it's the type of price where, if you're a few dollars short of the free shipping minimum on Amazon, it's enough to push you past the tipping point. I kinda think that's cool!)

The e-book version will continue as a free resource on retail sites and my website. The PDF version is still available for free on my website if you wish to print it out. The book was intended to be a free gift to encourage anyone who might need it, so I don't mind if you exercise either of those options. It will continue to be free in those formats as long as it doesn't conflict with any publishing or distribution arrangements, which as of today, it still does not.

Thanks for everyone who has let me know God has used the book in your life. It has encouraged me these past months. God has a purpose for you. You were not an accident. God bless!

Never give up!
John Herrick
johnherrick.net
johnherricknet.blogspot.com

Today's Playlist:
Shake Heaven by Montell Jordan & Victory World Music
Nothing is Wasted by Elevation Worship

NEWS | 8 Reasons Paperback Coming in April

For those who have asked, I have great news:  8 Reasons Your Life Matters will be available in trade paperback next month, April 2014!


The e-book will remain free. Because printed books involve a cost factor, the paperback will not be free, but will be available at a list price of $5.95 and about 100 pages in length. That means the paperback is priced to cover costs, not make a profit. So my goal as a writer for 8 Reasons remains intact: to get the book into as many readers' hands as possible as an encouragement. I'll share more details as I have them.


In exciting news last week, after lingering at the #2 spot since January, 8 Reasons finally hit #1 on Amazon's (free) Motivational Self-Help list. It has spent #1 on Amazon's Christian Inspiration list, bouncing in and out of that spot, since January. And even more amazing, it also reached Amazon's #1 spot on lists in the U.K., Australia, and India. In India, it was the #1 book for the entire Christianity category back in February. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, READERS!


So God did some crazy stuff beyond what I ever imagined. I've been blessed to hear from readers in the U.S. and Canada, and as far away as Australia and South Africa. Thank you all for contacting me and sharing about your lives, letting me know the book made a difference. I don't take those messages for granted because I know the kind of courage it takes to share your heart. God bless.


What's going on in your life? Hope and pray all is well for you and that some things happen beyond all that you ask or think in the days and years ahead.


Never give up!


John Herrick
johnherrick.net
johnherricknet.blogspot.com


Today's playlist:  Love, Marriage & Divorce by Toni Braxton/Babyface; You Are My World by Hillsong

8 Reasons Hits Amazon #1 Spot

It's a thrill to announce that my free ebook 8 Reasons Your Life Matters officially hit the #1 spot on Amazon's Christian Inspiration (free) bestseller list for Kindle today! It also hit #2 on Amazon's mainstream Motivational Self-Help bestseller list, a position at which the book has bounced in and out for the last month or so. It's an honor, and I hope that position represents people who have received encouragement from the words in the book. Thank you to all who have spent time with the book.


I've begun the revision process for the fourth novel, which is expected to be the third novel to hit shelves. It has turned out to be a cleaner first draft than my first couple of novels. It's cool to see that you've grown as a writer. In truth, after several years spent revising your work—books and otherwise—you develop a sharper eye while writing your first draft. Aware of things to look for and past areas of weakness, I tend to edit myself as I write that first draft. That can lengthen your draft process, but it means less revision later on.


Do I have a title? Off the record: Yes, I've had a title since day one. On the record: No, I don't have a title until the book is complete. (Read into the paranoia however you choose!)


I hope your new year is going well and pray 2014 is full of joy for you and me. Cheering you on. Love you guys.


Never give up!


John Herrick
johnherrick.net
johnherricknet.blogspot.com


Today's Playlist:  10 by Mercy Me

Fourth Novel Done

As it turns out, there are advantages to getting snowed in. I just finished the fourth novel a few minutes ago—the first draft, anyway! Very pleased with how it turned out. It clocked in at 434 pages and a total of 113,249 words, which is also my longest by far. That said, the prologue no longer seems to fit, so that's 8 pages that will probably get nixed during the revision process. The book should hit shelves next year.

On the e-book front, the response to the free nonfiction book 8 Reasons Your Life Matters is beyond what I imagined. About 30,000 copies have been downloaded since its May release. But the exciting thing is the messages people have sent to let me know the book hit their hands at the right moment. I consider messages private, so I don't show them to anyone else (not even my family), but it reminds me of why I want to write. Thanks for entrusting those words to me. Your life has a plan.

Happy new year. And if it applies to you, happy frigid snow day!

Never give up!

John Herrick
johnherrick.net
johnherricknet.blogspot.com

Today's Playlist:  The Blessed Unrest by Sara Bareilles

Novel Back on Track!

Happy Thanksgiving (soon) to everyone! Taking a little lunchtime pause to post this.

Early this morning, I sketched the final chapters for the fourth novel. With that complete—and after a few days off next week—I'll resume writing the rest of the novel. The latest, firmer estimate puts the book around the 450-page mark. Eager to resume writing!

This week, I've enjoyed listening to St. Louis radio station Joy FM. The station is fully listener-supported, and at last ratings check I saw, it was the third-highest station in the market. This week marked their autumn pledge-a-thon to make their annual payment on the towers and to launch a second station for teens and young adults. Their spring pledge-a-thon covers the year's operating costs for the station. I became a Joy FM financial supporter last year and remain so. When you hear stories from listeners of how the station and its listening community impacted their lives, it brings new perspective. When you help support the station, you got to sow a seed into that person's life. I love that. For those curious, the station website is www.joyfmonline.org.

Incidentally, I received news a few months ago that a chapter of my e-book 8 Reasons Your Life Matters was used by a staff member at Joy FM for one of their staff devotional times. Couldn't believe it when I heard that. As a writer, if I can write material that encourages people, it's an honor and so exciting. (Thanks to those of you who contact me on my website to let me know you've read the book and to share your life situation. Also a true honor to hear!)

8 Reasons Your Life Matters is available free in e-book formats. You can find a bunch of retailer links at www.johnherrick.net/8reasons/buybook.htm. I also have a PDF version for those who prefer to read on paper.

I'm thankful for you! Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving holiday this year.

Never give up!

John Herrick
johnherrick.net
johnherricknet.blogspot.com

Today's Playlist:  First Christmas by Bebe and Cece Winans

Novel Progress Update

Continued good news on the fourth novel! I passed the 75,000 word mark this week, which is my personal minimum goal for novels. It looks like the manuscript will surpass the 300 page mark next week. Final length estimate is 400-450 pages. (I must admit, I still need to sketch out the final 1/3 of the story, but most of its content is known.) As a writer, I have a solid gut feeling that this story is effective and will encourage readers. We'll see if that gut feeling pans out!

For those interested, my nonfiction e-book 8 Reasons Your Life Matters is available for free at your usual retail outlets. What a blessing to hear from individuals who have read the book and taken the time to contact me with their life situation and how the book brought encouragement or help. For me, that means God answered a prayer that it would reach the people it should reach.

If you'd like to contact me, I love hearing from my readers! Feel free to contact me at johnherrick.net/contact.htm. I promise every message gets read; the online form is designed to prevent spam messages.

On a personal note, I'm grateful for the opportunity to spend a week at the beach a few weeks ago. It inspires me to write, and looking out at the ocean reminds me of how big God is. If He can hold that huge ocean in His arms, He can handle the details in my life and yours. This self-pic relaxes me, so I'll share it here, just for fun.

What's going on in your life? Let me know! As always, THANK YOU to those who take the time to read the books and those who probably say a prayer or two for me. You're such a blessing.

Never give up!

John Herrick
johnherrick.net
johnherricknet.blogspot.com

Today’s Playlist: This Time Around by Heather Williams

Sunrise Mornings and Novel Progress

I should’ve known God would rock my boat. I’m a night owl. I seldom watch a sunrise. I don’t like early mornings. I described it all in detail in 8 Reasons Your Life Matters, the ebook released a mere two months ago.

Just when we think we have ourselves figured out, God introduces us to something new.

I started work on the fourth novel last week. And as with the third novel, I would sit down to write at the end of my day, for a couple of hours before bed. And as with that third novel, I caught myself thinking, “I’ve worked all day. I feel worn out. I do not feel like sitting down to work again.” It worked fine the first two novels, but that schedule does have its cumulative effects over the years.

So last week, the thought hit me: Could I begin the day writing the book? I’d still be tired, but I’d be fresh. I could give the novel my first and my best. Plus, due to scheduling placement, I would gain extra hours of writing each week.

Not only has it worked well, but I’ve discovered unexpected benefits, as well.

On that book front, I’m thrilled to report that on Thursday of last week, after six days, the novel surpassed its 10% goal in minimum length. My goal length is 75,000 words, about 320 pages. Barring an unexpected development, I believe the final length will be in the 400-450 page range though. If this early morning schedule remains intact, especially if the per-day progress rate increases—which usually happens with the books—a first draft could be complete sometime between late September/early October. We’ll see.

The unexpected benefits: Because I drive somewhere to write instead of working at home, I get to drive into the sunrise each morning. The cool of the day and the near-empty streets have had a calming effect in the mornings. Here’s a glimpse from the car one morning:

Rather than ending the day doing what I love, I now begin the day doing what I love. And that minor tweak has set the tone for the entire day and resulted in a much better attitude.

If you’ve pondered making a minor tweak in your life to see if a positive result occurs, you might discover more good things than you bargained for!

The story seems to have flown well. Unlike past books, I haven’t fully planned this novel in advance. I’ll need to plan the second half in a month or so. But I’m excited about where the book is headed and pray it reaches the hands of the people God wants it to reach.

For those who happen to pray for me as an author, thank you! They are treasured and helpful.

Never give up!

John Herrick
johnherrick.net
johnherricknet.blogspot.com

Today’s Playlist: Promises and Lies by UB40

My Desert Island Top 10 List

Many people have a desert island list, the list of albums you'd want to keep handy if you ever found yourself stranded on an island. I'd never compiled one before but thought it would be fun to see what would wind up on it. Perhaps it would shed some light on the perspective or tone of my books, who knows! It wound up as diverse as my music shelves.

These are the CDs I've tended to dig up often to play in the car. So at the risk of causing some laughter out there, here is my own Top 10 Desert Island List, in no particular order:

Rumours - Fleetwood Mac
Automatic for the People - REM
Labour of Love II - UB40
Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 - Janet Jackson
Lift Him Up - Ron Kenoly
August and Everything After - Counting Crows
Listen Without Prejudice, Volume 1 - George Michael
So Close to You - Kent Henry
What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
One More Story - Peter Cetera

On a book note, if you haven't picked up my free e-book 8 Reasons Your Life Matters, it's available now. Amazon has also marked it free for a limited time, and it's currently #2 on its (free) Christian Inspiration list and in the top 10 of the Motivational Self-Help list.

Thanks readers. Love ya.

Never give up!

John Herrick
johnherrick.net
johnherricknet.blogspot.com

NEWS | Novel Updates

I’m in the planning stage for a fourth novel. No details on it due to my creative paranoia—the fear that if I talk too much about it, I won’t complete it. It’s not done till it’s done. Anyway, I believe it’s a concept ripe for mining, with a rich, layered main character to explore. The concept stirred in me back in 2011. To be honest, it’s a book I didn’t want to write but, like From The Dead, I found myself drawn to the character to the extent of, “I must tell this character’s story.” When a character latches on to my heart like that, I believe it’s God giving you a story and it’s your responsibility to write it. That said, it will be a very vulnerable, uncomfortable book to write. Those seem to be the most effective stories to write, but this story will push the envelope in particular ways. If all continues to run smoothly, I could start writing the first draft this autumn.

Regarding the third novel, the poor thing has suffered so many delays! I started sketching it in late 2005, added some more in 2008, then finished planning it and completed the first draft during 2011-2012. I call it my Artist Novel, because I’m still undecided on a title. It needs to go through the revision process, but is on the back burner so I can focus on the fourth novel mentioned earlier. (Confused yet?) It hasn’t disappeared by any means, but it probably won’t see bookshelves for a few years. It’s a fun love story, but when a character grabs you like the fourth novel’s character—well, you sense God’s destiny at work. So it’ll probably be a reverse-order release, just like From The Dead was released before The Landing, the opposite order of their creation.

In the meantime, be sure to check out my latest (nonfiction) book, 8 Reasons Your Life Matters. It’s available only as an e-book, but you can grab it for free from most retailers.

Thanks so much for sticking with me, readers! I truly appreciate you all. Love you guys.

Never give up!

John Herrick
johnherrick.net
johnherricknet.blogspot.com

Today’s Playlist:  Making Mirrors by Gotye

NEWS | Free New eBook Now Available

Thanks so much for your support, readers and friends!

"If I were to disappear, would anybody notice?"

My first nonfiction book, 8 Reasons Your Life Matters, is now available FREE from most retailers! It is available exclusively in e-book format. It also provides some background into why I choose to write the novels I write.

Because of its short length of 50 pages or so, 8 Reasons isn't available in print. However, for those of you who enjoy reading your books in print, there is a PDF format you can print.

Find out more about 8 Reasons Your Life Matters at http://tinyurl.com/afmo38d.

Bookstore and download links at http://tinyurl.com/b28cz2a.

I hope you find encouragement in its pages. If you do, I'd love to hear about it. That's one of the greatest gifts a writer can receive!

Never give up!

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

Today's Playlist:  Gather Up by Peter Bradley Adams

NEWS | New Book Release Coming Soon

Despite my renewed intention to post to my blog each week, I fell short. But I have a good reason: I turned my attention to my new book, 8 Reasons Your Life Matters, set for release this spring!

8 Reasons Your Life Matters will be an e-book exclusive. It’s a short read and my first nonfiction book, which communicates the overall message I try to convey in my novels: your life has a purpose. You are not an accident. 8 Reasons explores angles you might not have considered. That book concept burned in me for about a year before I fleshed it out. I wanted the chance to speak straight from my heart to yours, just as a voice of encouragement. The book will be available for free—yes, for free—from most e-book retailers.

You can find out more about it on my website.

Never give up!

John Herrick

johnherrick.net

johnherricknet.blogspot.com

Today’s Playlist:  All About You by Christian Porter