NEWS | New Website Design & Other Updates

Thank you, readers, for all the kind words and for inviting me into your lives.

At long last, we've revamped my author website and the designers did such a terrific job! We improved the user experience and—drum roll—actually made it mobile friendly. Check it out for yourself at johnherrick.net!

While you're there, feel free to send me a message. I love hearing from readers.

I'm sitting at Starbucks, working on what should be the final revision for a novel, the one with the Marilyn Monroe clue. This will put two more completed novels in the pipeline. Right now, it looks like a new novel in 2017, followed by a another one probably 12-18 months later. Both are romantic comedy-dramas.
If all goes well, I hope to start planning the next one this autumn. It's a suspense concept with a character I hope to turn into a series. We'll see how that goes, but I'm intrigued by this protagonist. The first planned project blends pop culture, American history, and a spiritual angle—but we'll see how it goes after the concept marinates. So excited! In the research phase right now.

There's a reason you're alive today. Hang in there. Know you're loved.

Thanks again for reading.

Never give up!

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

Today's Playlist:
City City by City City (I just discovered this band last night. Love them!)

NEWS | Next Novel ... A Little Clue

Albeit at least a year early, a little clue about the upcoming novel! Happy Monday!

Thank you, readers! You are loved!

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

Today's Playlist: One Night Alone by Prince

NEWS | Comic Con and Novel Update

Had a great time at Comic Con St. Louis earlier this month! Such a great panel discussion and audience members who asked thought-provoking questions. I had the privilege of joining two other panel members, New York Times bestselling author Zac Brewer (of the YA Vladimir Tod series) and author Shawntelle Madison. I was the only panel member who doesn't write about blood or vampires. ;-) I learned some good things from them.

Speaking of those panel members, be sure to check out Zac Brewer's latest YA novel, The Blood Between Us, from HarperCollins. It hits shelves next week, May 3. Here are the book details for those who want to check out more: https://t.co/RJYkHzPFo1

On the new novel front, I set my minimum length at 75,000 words, which is probably about 285 book pages. Working steadily on the first draft early mornings, and am thrilled to say I'm past the 1/3 mark! That said, I think the book will end up in the 300-350 page range. I anticipate finishing this first draft in the August/September time frame. (Remember, I work a full-time career in addition to this!) Would love to tell you the premise, but if you've read my past posts, you'll know I have this weird paranoia, where I'm afraid if I talk about it, it won't get finished.

Another book idea hit me this weekend, and the ideas have been flowing with that. So excited. This puts about 3-4 ideas in the pipeline. It's been years since I've had that scenario. Thankful for brighter days and an unlocked imagination. (There's another one finished. Hopefully some news by early next year.)

Thank you, readers, for your messages, encouragement, reading, prayers, and so forth. I don't take those for granted. Take care, and God bless. Hope you have an awesome spring!

Never give up!

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

Today's Playlist:
Cece Winans by Cece Winans

NEWS | Join John at Wizard World Comic Con in St. Louis

For any readers attending Wizard World (Comic Con) in St. Louis, I'm excited to be a part of a discussion panel on diversity in literature. Panel will by moderated by Zac Brewer, NYT Bestselling Author of the Vladimir Tod young adult series. My panel is Saturday, April 2, 11:30 am. Just agreed--my bio might not even be on the site yet. See you there!


Convention info at http://wizardworld.com/comiccon/stlouis


Here's a description of the panel discussion:

-Visibility Isn't A SuperPower-

The landscape of publishing seems to be blossoming at last with diverse characters in strong, positive roles. But is this just a passing phase, or have publishers truly opened the inclusive door to minorities, the LGBT+ community, and those with disabilities? Join special guest speakers to hear their perspectives and share yours. Moderated by Zac Brewer, NYT Bestselling author of The Vladimir Tod series. Respectful questions and discussion are largely encouraged!'

Never give up!


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


Today's Playlist:
Cece Winans by Cece Winans

BOOK REVIEW | Always Watching by Lynette Eason

Always Watching by Lynette Eason
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Always Watching is the first novel I've read by Lynette Eason. I tend not to read a lot of Christian fiction, mainly because, in the few novels I've read in that genre, I found the dialogue unrealistic or the plot underdeveloped or ridiculous. So I'm thrilled to have discovered Lynette Eason.

I'm a sucker for female leads who kick butt in a non-cliche way. Always Watching represents the first in a new series, Elite Guardians, which is a bodyguard agency staffed entirely by females. Wade, the protagonist, is a psychologist who hosts a weekly radio call-in program. When he receives death threats from a stalker who is determined to develop a romantic relationship with him, a team of bodyguards is hired. The obsession turns deadly for those around Wade and his head bodyguard, Olivia. Think the 1992 film The Bodyguard, with the roles reversed. However, the story moves along in a quite different manner. When Olivia suggested they go away so she can better protect him, Eason had me worried her story would become a retread! But Wade declined the suggestion and things got on track.

Eason planted several red herrings along the way, which were effective as I read. She kept me guessing. Though it might be classified as romance, this is a suspense novel with romantic suggestions woven in here and there--which makes this a read a guy can enjoy.

Looking forward to the next book in the series! Great job, Lynette Eason!

View all my reviews

Never give up!

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

Today's Playlist:  Cece Winans by Cece Winans

Review: Sing To Me - LA Reid

Sing To Me by L.A. Reid
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

LA Reid is a guy whose career I tracked ever since he and Babyface were a songwriter-producer team in the late 1980s. I studied their lyrics when I was a teenager trying to teach myself to write music, so part of the reason I seek to dig down into my soul as a writer--even as a novelist--is because of the influence of LA Reid and Babyface. I had to read this memoir ASAP after it hit the shelves, and I rarely buy hardcovers at near full price. This one was a dream come true.

This is the head guy of Epic Records, and the head guy in the past of Island Def Jam, Arista (Clive Davis's brief successor), and LaFace Records. He's the head guy today, so he would have every reason to project the stereotypical CEO persona, where he tries to display strength and minimize his weaknesses. But what I found most endearing about Reid's memoir is the honesty about those seasons of insecurity and sadness he faced along the way and still battles today. Through the years, he has maintained a balanced dose of humility that seeps through his words as he describes his successes--and those occasions in which he gives due credit for others who actually discovered a particular artist here and there.

I raced through this memoir, just like I raced through those of Clive Davis and Tommy Mottola these last few years. It's fascinating to hear the backstories behind the songs with which I grew up and also hear today, as well as how they evaluated songs and artists and audiences. Perhaps that's because I tend to evaluate my own creative projects that way, looking for those nuances that make them unique, picturing the individuals to whom I hope my work will speak. What I can say is that I'm a sucker for any memoir. And truth be told, I wasn't a viewer of The X-Factor, so had no idea he was a judge on it. Wish I had, I'd have tuned in to get to know how his mind works.

As an added bonus, not only does this book contain the color pictorial insert you expect to find, but it also includes a ton of B&W photos scattered throughout the book's body itself. When I saw that, I opted against the less expensive eb00k and invested in the hardcover to have that full experience in context.

5 stars. I'm biased, but shamelessly so!

View all my reviews

Never give up!

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

Today's Playlist:  The Social Network Motion Picture Score - Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

The Changing Season by Steven Manchester

For those looking for a new read, new novel by #1 bestselling author Steven Manchester releases tomorrow. Had the privilege of reading the manuscript last year and realized we have similar voices! So here's my blurb:

The Changing Season is an engaging tale that traces the end of one's innocence. Steven Manchester captures the richness of human emotion with keen, tender precision. Highly recommended.

https://t.co/mfH7em646E

Time to order my actual final hard copy now. 😀

Never give up!
John Herrick
johnherrick.net
johnherricknet.blogspot.com
facebook.com/johnherrickbooks
@johnherrick

Today's Playlist:
Different Lifestyles by Bebe & Cece Winans
Amanda Marshall (self-titled)

Foreword Reviews Magazine - Between These Walls Review

So excited to let you know this! Between These Walls has received an excellent review in Foreword Reviews magazine, which is a national publication. While in Barnes and Noble the other day, I checked it out. The review begins on page 65 of the Summer 2015 issue. The issue just hit the shelves.

To check out the review online, here's a link:  https://www.forewordreviews.com/reviews/between-these-walls/

Thanks to all you readers and supporters out there! Love you much.

Never give up!

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

Today's Playlist:  Astronaut by Kip Fox

BLOG TOUR | Author Interview at Book Readers Heaven

Thanks, everyone, for checking out Between These Walls! Another blog tour stop to announce. It's an in-depth interview at Book Readers Heaven. Thanks to Glenda for the opportunity to chat and connect with her readers.

You can find that author interview here: http://tinyurl.com/ochlt78

Kinda cool, she took some of the songs I used as my personal mood-setters while planning and writing the book and interspersed them through the interview. If you're wondering how she identified those songs, like screenwriter Cameron Crowe, I tend to keep a journal of the music that's in my life as I write. As I plan a book, songs come to me that seem to capture the mood of the story or aspects of the characters. That list becomes my playlist for the months ahead.

I've posted my Between These Walls playlist on my website at http://tinyurl.com/on4z7ph.

Love you guys. Never give up!

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

Today's Playlist: Be Not Nobody by Vanessa Carlton

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 | Character Interview with Hunter Carlisle

Want to get inside the mind of the main character in the new novel, Between These Walls? The latest blog tour stop features an interview with Hunter Carlisle. Thanks to Beyond the Books for letting me — oops, I mean Hunter ;-) — stop by for a chat!

You can find the interview here: http://tinyurl.com/qzgd2et

Thank you, readers, for spending time with the book. Love ya.

Never give up!

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

Today's Playlist: Films About Ghosts by Counting Crows

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

BLOG TOUR | The Dark Phantom - Interview

The Between These Walls blog tour is underway! Thanks to The Dark Phantom, where I had the privilege of stopping for an interview. You can find it here: http://tinyurl.com/ofqypha

Never give up!

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

Today's Playlist:  "God Only Knows" by the Beach Boys (Perhaps the most perfect song ever written!)

Between These Walls Release Day is Here - Sample Chapters

The big day has arrived! The new novel, Between These Walls, is available tomorrow, February 10.

Read sample chapters on my website. Or click below to jump to a chapter:

• Chapter 1 - Hunter Carlisle
• Chapter 2 - Hunter in Hiding / Hunter & Kara
• Chapter 20 - Hunter the Hypocrite / Hunter's Image of Hell

Anytime a book reaches the hands of the public, I'm ecstatic. But this book is special to me. I consider Between These Walls my strongest work to date. I invite you to meet my main character, Hunter Carlisle.

While the storyline and characters are different, this book meets my prior novel, From The Dead, where that story ended. Between These Walls carries the torch farther in terms of character development and depth. I've sensed growth in mechanics and boldness.

Between These Walls is available at all major retailers online, in physical and e-book forms. For those who buy in physical bookstores, each store determines which books it stocks on its shelves. If a store doesn't have it on the shelf, they can special order it for you.

Thanks for your cheers, love and support. Some of you I knew personally; others I met along the way as readers or cohorts. What a blessing to have you all along for the ride! I sure do appreciate you.

Never give up!

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

Today's Playlist:  Thrive by Casting Crowns

Friendship and Continuing the Story

When I was first out of college, I worked office jobs through a temp agency. It provided income until I landed my first full-time job. My first assignment involved processing registrations for a national convention.

I met my friend Heather at that assignment. Eighteen years later, she remains one of my closest friends.

For about six months, Heather and I worked together, just the two of us, in a conference room with a lakefront view. Two low-level employees with the best office in the building! Because we were together all day, every day, we chatted nonstop and grew close fast.

One day, Heather seemed downcast. I couldn’t cheer her up with dumb comments. So I tried something I knew would she couldn’t resist. Not with her forever-young personality.

I wrote the first sentence or two of a story. I don’t recall what the topic was, except that it was random. Because our desks sat ten feet apart and walking struck me as inefficient, I added another aspect to bring a grin to her face: I balled up the sheet of paper and tossed it her way.

“What’s this?” she asked, uncrumpling the ball it to find a story that begged her continuation. A grin crept across her face. I had her hooked.

That marked the first of many stories. From that point on, Heather was addicted. When least expected, a wad of paper would land on my desk. Heather had picked a random topic. Animals, fresh fruit, Elton John, Farmer MacGregor, a guy named Homer. Anything worked for us. She’d send me a sentence. I’d add a sentence or two, wad it up, and toss it back—usually aiming for her water glass. The process gave us a laugh, and it sparked our creativity as we tried to outwit each other. I’d threaten to kill off a character right when  love story was about to take shape, and she’d plead to keep him alive.

Fine, Heather. [*eye roll*] He can stay alive. ;-)

When we’d had our fill with each story, Heather crammed it into a folder she kept hidden in her desk drawer.

Last week, Heather was ill, and for whatever reason, she decided to sift through boxes in storage at her house.

From one box, she pulled out a folder—and discovered our old stories.

The next day, I received a message from Heather on my phone. The beginning of another story.

A hippo she named Joe. A koala I named Arlen. A massive tidal wave that carried Joe from his home in Asia all the way to the coast of Australia, where the two friends met. What caused the tidal wave? The hippo farted, of course. Don’t judge. It’s Heather’s and my world.

Never give up!

John Herrick

johnherrick.net

johnherricknet.blogspot.com

facebook.com/johnherrickbooks

@JohnHerrick

Today's Playlist: "Cool Kids" by Echosmith

The War for Late Night: When Leno Went Early and Television Went Crazy by Bill Carter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Great insight! I'd wondered for years why the Jay Leno/Conan O'Brien scenario unfolded the way it did, and why NBC announced five years in advance Leno's replacement date and successor. Five years is an eternity in television and so much can change. That said, I enjoy reading how these media people make decisions because we think a lot alike. A terrific read.

View all my reviews

Blog Interview - Brandi Breathes Books

Between These Walls blog tour coming soon! I'll release details down the road.

In the meantime, here's an interview with Brandi Breathes Books. Thanks for welcoming me (and the new novel) to your blog! http://tinyurl.com/ltdlv7c

Never give up!

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

Today's Playlist:  Storyline by Hunter Hayes

Happy Holidays, New Review

To my readers out there, may you have the happiest of holidays! To those celebrating Christmas like me, may the joy of Christ meet you where you are. To those celebrating Hanukkuh, may the true, prophetic meaning of the shamash servant candle unfold in your lives. And a happy new year to all.

For the first time in my life, my family--the nuclear unit of it--will be separated this year. Crazy to think about it. We've been blessed to spend so many Christmases together, a blessing with which many families had to part ways years ago. But we'll hunker down and keep it more intimate this year!

Looking forward to a new year filled with fresh opportunities. I'm plugging away on blog tour preparations this week, which will occur around the February 10 release of Between These Walls. Speaking of that new novel, a new advance review has just appeared from a Christian blogger. You can find it here: http://tinyurl.com/mg88646

With each crack at a novel, if you give it your best, you can sense yourself grow as a writer. I believe Between These Walls is my strongest work to date. I'm so excited to share it with you!

What are your holiday plans? May you find joy, peace and prosperity in the days and year ahead.

Never give up!

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

Today's Playlist:
First Christmas by Bebe and Cece Winans
The Andy Williams Christmas Album by Andy Williams

Between These Walls Press Release and Facebook Like Page

For bloggers, media or anyone else seeking the official press release for Between These Walls, here is the full URL to the PDF on my website: http://www.johnherrick.net/news/BetweenTheseWalls-PressRelease.pdf

Here's the Like-able page for the book on Facebook for those interested: http://tinyurl.com/k8ykrn3

Never give up!

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

Today's Playlist: Number One Hits by Tim McGraw

Why I Wrote Between These Walls

Many readers will wonder why I chose to write Between These Walls. As an author, I believe you need to follow your heart and do what God plants in you to do. Several factors came into play. Perhaps the simplest way to shed light on the why-behind-the-what is to use the Author's Note from the opening pages of the new novel. I've provided the full text below.

More book details—including that Author's Note—at my website.

Love you all. Thanks for reading and for the kind words!

***
Author's Note — Between These Walls

Readers ask why I choose particular storylines for my novels. Many stories are worth telling, but I’ve discovered the best stories result from characters who come to me when I’m not looking for them.

Such was the case with Hunter Carlisle and Between These Walls.

Early in 2011, I had almost wrapped up the first draft of my third novel. One afternoon, when I went for a walk, a character arose within me: a middle-school kid who was a Christian but harbored an attraction to the same gender. I pondered facets of this character’s circumstances as I walked. His fears, his feelings of guilt, the hits to his self-esteem—everything about his struggle grabbed my heart.

At that point, I wouldn’t have had the courage to write a book about him. But when characters arise from within, I believe it is God’s way of telling me individuals share the character’s struggle and need a book written for them right now. A novel about homosexuality, however, would test the boundaries of my comfort zone. Though I hate to admit it, I worried about what others might think. So I tucked the idea, safe and silent, in the back of my brain.

But as the ancient prophet Jonah discovered, you can’t hide from God. He’ll find you.

One year later, the concept remained unexplored—until a feature story caught my attention on the television news. The nationally syndicated story revolved around the plight of a high school student on the verge of suicide. This student, about fifteen years old, had endured a continual onslaught of bullying.

The bullying occurred for one reason: The kid was gay.

After enduring all the emotional damage he could handle, this kid reached his breaking point. Desperate and exhausted, wrought with pain, he posted a video online. Too hurt to speak—I imagine the bullying included poking fun at the way he spoke—the kid had written his words in black marker on sheets of paper. So here sat a blond-haired kid who looked like an average high school freshman, wiping tears from his eyes, making a desperate plea for somebody to hear him, for someone to care … for someone to offer him hope.

My heart broke for him. I know nothing about that student. The reporter didn’t mention his name. She didn’t mention his city or state. I don’t even know if he’s still alive. But I couldn’t erase the sight from my memory.

Anger arose in me. My immediate gut response was, Never again. Not on my watch. Not if I can help it.

Allow me to explain: A close family member of mine ended his life at sixteen years old. I was thirteen at the time. If you’ve never experienced such an event, trust me when I say it changes you forever. It changes your perception of life and people. From that point on, you view life with the awareness that many people appear happy but live in pain. You look into some people’s eyes and wonder if their happiness is a charade. You wonder which individuals feel they don’t matter. While others might assume few individuals consider suicide, you know better.

As I pondered the news story about that high school student, I thought, Nobody that age should know what it’s like to feel that kind of pain.

Never again. Not on my watch.

At that point, I knew I needed to pursue the book topic and pursue it immediately. So my third novel, still in its first draft, returned to the back burner, where it has resided off and on for eight years. I began work on my fourth novel, Between These Walls, which you now hold in your hands.

My novels aren’t geared toward the Young Adult genre, and I wanted to make the book accessible to as many individuals as possible. So I took my initial character idea—the middle-school kid—and doubled his age, which brought him into early adulthood. To capture the struggles and vulnerability of his teenage years, I could weave some of his memories into the fabric of the story.

I don’t have quantitative data to back up my hunch, but I’ve long believed more people deal with same-sex attraction than we assume. I believe many simply hide it well or have a simultaneous attraction to the opposite gender, which enables them to live a “typical” life without raising suspicions. Therefore, I constructed Hunter as a character who finds himself attracted to both genders—technically, a bisexual male—with a stronger attraction toward males. This characteristic would allow him to remain in hiding for years. In fact, I chose the name Hunter to call to mind a hunter-gatherer image, the classic male stereotype—and the last place we might expect to find a gay male. His name symbolizes his attributes and interests, yet belies his deepest secret.

Regardless of whether the reader has experienced Hunter’s battles, I attempted to tell his story in such a manner that the reader can find points of commonality with him. So, as a reader, you might not have experienced homosexual feelings, but you might hold another secret that torments you. A dark secret you never want revealed. You might relate to Hunter’s fears or guilt. In that respect, perhaps Hunter’s story is your story, too.

Between These Walls is not a political statement or a judgment of church bodies. It is not an attempt to interpret Scripture or resolve an argument. My purpose was to put the reader into the shoes of one character, to experience his emotions and inner fire—a story behind the story.

As you read this novel, I hope you know you are loved.

***

For the media:  Publicity campaign begins November 18. Publicist: Maryglenn McCombs, Nashville, TN.

Never give up!

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

Today's Playlist: "He Knows My Name" by Francesca Battistelli