By Scott Nicholsonhttp://www.hauntedcomputer.com
Those who spend any time reading my thoughts know I’m a taoist.
And Microsoft Word always tries to capitalize “tao,” formalizing it as a movement or philosophy. Of course, the tao isn’t formal, and doesn’t call attention to itself, and it always sounds like bragging to even apply the label. I don’t do it out of a smug belief that this belief is better, or even a belief. It’s just a simple way of looking at the world. One of my least-favorite phrases sums it up: “It is what it is.”
And that goes to gratitude. Writing is an ego game. You put words on paper and then talk about words on paper. Or words on the screen. And then you talk about what people say about your words, or tell people where they can buy your words, and all the time you suspect your words are really not all that special but you can’t say that. Because there are plenty of others willing to do that for you.
So just the writing is enough. And the people who show up. On this particular turn of the wheel, I am better aware of how people are helping. All the generous book bloggers who opened their virtual homes to this Kindle Giveaway Blog Tour, all you friends who visit and comment, all who spread the word about my work and created my success. See, I knew this was going to be a success, and that’s not bragging. I knew it would bring some cool people together at cool places, and that’s about the best one can hope for.
Others who have gone the extra mile: the writers, Christa Polkinhorn, the informal den mother of the tour who always let me know about boo-boos and broken links; Vicki Tyley, who nearly singlehandedly encouraged me to release Disintegration when I wasn’t sure it deserved an audience; Bentley Little, who gave me my first blurb solely because, like him, I had a beard and worked as a reporter and has been a supporter ever since; J.A. Konrath for being Joe; Debbi Mack, Zoe Winters, David Niall Wilson, William Meikle, and Joseph Nassise for sharing promo energy and ideas; Neal Hock, Gail Lang, and Pamela Haworth for advance reading; Stephen James Price, Neil Jackson of Ghostwriter Publications, Ludeshka, Kewber Alves, and Sergio Castro for art and design contributions; and plenty of others who would run this blog entry to several pages. In the business, John Scognamiglio at Kensington Books gave me the keys to New York; my agents Elyse Tanzillo and Heather Baror are working hard on my behalf; and I can’t forget Jeff Bezos for making Amazon the best connector of writers and readers in the history of the written word.
Thanks for the tireless support of friends like Shawn, known to the tour followers as Monster a Go Go, who send me Halloween treats even when I wasn’t a bestselling writer; those battling it out for #1 fanship, Jeanne Coleman and Virginia Roseman; and my family at the Mountain Times for great security and fun.
Most of all, thanks to Brian, Miranda, Mom, and the dear little Lefthanded Puppeteer for making it all make sense. And God. That’s tao. But God can have the capital G. That’s cool, too.
--------------
Scott Nicholson is author of 12 novels, including the YA paranormal romance October Girls and Cursed! with J.R. Rain and the thrillers Disintegration, As I Die Lying, Speed Dating with the Dead, Drummer Boy, Forever Never Ends, The Skull Ring, Burial to Follow, and They Hunger. His revised novels for the U.K. Kindle are Creative Spirit, Troubled, and Solom. He’s also written four comic series, six screenplays, and more than 60 short stories. His story collections include Ashes, Curtains, The First, Murdermouth: Zombie Bits, and Flowers.
To be eligible for the Kindle DX or Kindle 3, simply post a comment below with contact info. Feel free to debate and discuss the topic, but you will only be entered once per blog. I’m also giving away a Kindle 3 through the tour newsletter and a Pandora’s Box of free e-books to a follower of “hauntedcomputer” on Twitter. Thanks for playing. Complete details at http://www.hauntedcomputer.com/blogtour.htm
119 comments:
This is so generous of you. I am so thankful for writers like you that do extra things for their audience of readers, and for the bloggers that give them a voice.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
What a sweet post. I love getting to know authors via posts like this. Thanks for the great giveaway Scott. I've been following the tour, it's been wonderful.
nmreviews@gamil.com
Thanks for doing this on parajunkee.com Scott, I really appreciate it. I love your post BTW.
It is what it is...is actually a favorite phrase of mine, started because of a Learn How To Speak SPanish commerical. Spanish is easy, learn how to say "It is what it is" in Spanish...spell SOCKS
S - O - C - K - S
So now I look smart when I say that phrase in spanish. *snicker*
Scott, thank YOU for the fun and advice. Have a great Thanksgiving. And, of course, count me in for the Kindle!
Paul
mrluckyATcharterDOTnet
PS: That must be Monstet A Go Go, right? With your "promotional" tooth...
MonsteR A Go Go...
Must...get...coffee...now...
This was a great Post!! I really enjoyed reading it! It was fun to read!
kristen_babygurl@hotmail.com
Kristen
My Bloody Fairy Tale
Hope you and your sweet family enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving, Scott. varbonoff22 at cox dot net
I agree with the others - that was a very nice post (and you sure know a lot of people).
emilyking630 at yahoo dot com
Great post! Count me in for Kindle. Happy turkey day!!
Lovely post. It takes a village to raise a child and an army to propel a career. It's all about people and I love it. Count me in for
the Kindle contest. Thanks!
jenma76 at hotmail dot com
"Informal den mother" LOL!! That's a new one. I'll add that to my resume!
It's been a lot of fun stalking Scott around the many great blogs and meeting all those nutty, wonderful people. And Monster A Go-Go with his amazing imagination added the proper spice to the goat tour, eh, I mean ghost tour, or whatever.
I started to read "Cursed!" I think that little old lady in SoCal is going to be one mean, dangerous broad.
Christa
cpolkinhorn(AT)msn(Dot)com
Scott,
After such a wonderful, thoughtful posting, I'm wondering if I should do my daily Scott "outing"/translation of your blog posting (which I found today--thanks to Christa--despite your best attempt to thwart readers by putting up a broken link on your website. Hint! Hint!). Hmmm... YES, of COURSE I will tell everyone what you are really confessing to here today--because that's what I signed on for this tour for! :)
Discussing your "tao"-ness... Although you may CALL it taoism, true toaists shun you like the plague. It's true! What you are trying to pass off as taoism, is actually a thinly disguised perverted religon of your own -- and you all but spelled it out in the final paragraph of today's entry:
"And God. That’s tao. But God can have the capital G."
What you follow isn't Taoism -- it's Goatism! That capital G and tao turned backwards (how you ususally approach goats--from the rear) spell it out. It's o' soooo OBVIOUS! And now you no longer have to keep it a secret. (AND you can amend your post and add a thank you to Babette, the goat of your dreams who has been your constant source of solace and comfort in this cold, creul world.)
Happy Thanksgiving, Scott. I hope you and Babette have a wonderful day together.
PS Who is that freak in the photo? Some random fan? I don't know... You may want to think about getting a restraining order or something. He looks quite...unstable. Look how easily amused he is by a tooth! God knows what other body parts of yours he is plotting to get! EEK!
Cheers!
What a wonderful giveaway. Count me in.
Ah oh! This sounds like things are wrapping up. It's almost over. What am I going to do without my daily updates from Scott. I know I will be reading his books on my new Kindle.
Scott, just let me know if you need my address. :-)
Have a good T-Day.
Randymir@gmail.com
Thank you so much for this post. I appreciate your words. And, thanks for doing the Kindle giveaway.
me@jennielyse.com
Great post, Scott. :)
I agree with you that Christa makes an awesome informal den mother. :P
-Neal
It takes many people and much support to be a writer. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com
That was a wonderfully sweet post. I wish you and your loved ones a wonderful holiday season.
Cmeghanb@gmail.com
Nice post. Happy Thanksgiving!
kt1969 at comcast dot net
Scott-Wonderful post! Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
stolbert24@yahoo.com
hufflepuffgrl13 at yahoo dot com
So much to be Thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving.
dwdorow@gmail.com
thrillersrus.blogspot.com
Very nice post, it shows that no man is an island and that your connections are important, even the seemingly minor ones.
I'm thankful for my family, of course, and my job, which has turned out to be almost the perfect job when it started out to be pretty stressful (I say almost because of the commute).
I'm very thankful that my husband gave me my Kindle last Christmas, it has opened up a whole new world of indie authors in genres I would have never read before by browsing through Barnes and Noble. It has also opened my mind to the world of ebooks and publishing, it's been a very interesting ride so far.
My Kindle also is another connection to my daughter, the only other bookworm in the family. We just got her a Kindle for her birthday so now we can share. I have been helping her collect free books and a few others like Scott's October Girls in anticipation of her Kindle.
Lastly, I'm thankful for Scott and the fun he's provided through this blog tour and his books. It's become a daily habit for me, what will I do when it's over?
lorraine_lanning[at]yahoo[dot]com
this is very telling of you Scott! I feel like I get to know you a bit better each day!
anamlgrl@yahoo.com
It's hard to believe that there are only a few days left before this blog tour comes to a close. Also hard to believe you've maintained your sanity.
You clearly have a good support team behind you. Being a lone wolf may be cool, but having friends and supporters is better.
I've seen you describe yourself as a "small-t taoist" and a "small-l libertarian," which tells me we're probably on the same page about most things. One more reason I'm so glad you're editing my next book!
Great Contest!!
monacart32 at hotmail dot com
It has been a wirlwind of a tour. Lots of good stuff and has become a part of my daily reading.
Happy Thanksgiving !!!
dalelmurphy(at)gravesidetales(dot)com
Enter me please!
ashleysbookshelf at gmail dot com
Count me in on this one too! First time I have been here and nice post, go tao!
Please enter me for the kindle,
hobsessed@gmail.com
Happy Almost Thanksgiving, Scott and everyone. :)
calseeor (at) gmail (dot) com
What a great post, and a wonderful way to say thank you to those special someone's who helped you along the way.
caity_mack at yahoo dot com
Thanks for a great giveaway.
Great post. Happy Thanksgiving. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com
Another great post. Have a great Thanksgiving!
NewBorrowedUsed@gmail.com
Happy Thanksgiving! Great post!
vicky.vak8(at)gmail.com
A touching post.
blue_krista83@hotmail.com
Thanks for writing.... now go enjoy your family!! All us stalkers will still be here Friday!!
nedsped at verizon dot net
Thank you for this post, Scott :) And thank you to all the people behind the scenes!
Chrizette
baychriz at gmail dot com
Enjoy Thanksgiving. Another nice stop on the tour.
Nadine stacypilot at yahoo dot com
Have a great Thanksgiving. :)
bluefrog62@yahoo.com
Thanks for the post and the give-away! I wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving!
susanm2@prodigy.net
Thank you so much for the contest!
midnytereader@gmail.com
Thanks for the giveaway!
Ramblingcick@gmail.com
at book-kritik.blogspot.com
Great post. Thanks for sharing it!
bacchus76 at myself dot com
Wonderful post. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
Gail in Florida
cowgirl3000 AT gmail DOT com
What a lovely post!
chey127 at hotmail dot com
What a great contest, that you so much! Happy Thanksgiving.
atomicxrawr@yahoo.com
Aw that's nice. However, I have to say that microsoft is the devil. ;)
books (dot) things (at) yahoo (dot) com
Thanks for the post
eddiem11@ca.rr.com
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, Scott!
I hope all your shout out people get to read this and get warm fuzzies!
b(dot)cardone(at)hotmail(dot)com
Wow - you're on tour for Thanksgiving - that's so sad! I hope you have a happy turkey day anyway!
Email address is in blogger profile
Scott's writing is wicked! Please enter me
gwendolyn_gwen@hotmail .com
Happy holiday, everyone--one week left and we don't know WHICH blogs will provide the winners, so don't drop out yet (1 in 90 chance for each blog, and then your odds depend on how many entries are at that particular blog). So stick around for one more week!
Thank you all for joining the party and for Parajunkee's hostessing.
Scott
Very sweet post just in time for Thanksgiving!
candace_redinger at yahoo dot com
Love it!
josephafisch@gmail.com
Joe F.
Really, thank you for entertaining us with your books and the blog tour!
Thanks to Amazon for the Kindle. Without it, I'd never have discovered great books by great writers such as Scott!
It is time to count our blessings and thank God for them. I am blessed and am thankful! As many have said before, have a great Thanksgiving! God bless us, every one! (appropriate all the time!)
Jeff White.... whitejw@ameritech.net
What a great concept and way to live by. Good things come to those who activly seek it. Good luck with everything and much success.
hmhenderson AT yahoo DOT com
Happy Thanksgiving Scott!!
purposedrivenlife4you at gmail dot com
Thanks for the great post. Still with the tour.
byonge@lonepinetv.com
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
Christa
Have a wonderful holiday all - I have had so much fun following this tour - I hate to see it end :)
deedeekm@gmail.com
listening to book so comment: HI spvaughan@yahoo.com
Following your tour. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
Sue B
katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com
I'm enjoying all this blog jumping. Don't know what I'm going to do when it's over!!
dulcibelle [at] earthlink [dot] net
Such awwww
teawench at gmail dot com
Happy Thanksgiving!
lesly7ch(at)yahoo(dot)com
Happy ThanksGOATing
First off, Happy Thanksgiving. No matter one's circumstances, there is always something to be thankful for. I have had fun jumping on your blog tour and finding out that even though I am a serious chicken/baby I am really interested in a new genre of books! The kindle giveaway is a perk and of course much like a carrot in front of a horse...but it honestly has been great "meeting" you!
Cici
cicistheories@gmail.com
The sweet thanksgiving of success...
jamesemr (at) gmail (dot) com
Thank you for offering the Kindle!
iloveegypt602 at yahoo dot com
Thank you for the post. Enter me to win also please tiffypoot @ (aol.com)
Thanks for the giveaway. I'd really like that Kindle. LOL.
what a great thanksgiving post! i.pearson@comcast.net
Happy Thanksgiving, all.
Twitter: MachineTrooper
Happy Thanksgiving! Happy Thursday to non-US friends.
We all have people we should be thankful for -- and most of us haven't thanked them enough.
I think its wonderful that you took time out on the tour to thank the people who've helped you get where you are . . . and Monster A Go Go.
Thanks for the contest,
Greg “The Undead Rat” Fisher
theundeadrat (@) gmail (.) com
I enjoyed the post and the blog tour. I look forward to some more interesting posts.
Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 at gmail dot com
Lovely post, nice to have so many folks to thank. I've really enjoyed this tour.
pjtansey@hotmail.com
I'm thankful that you've kept going with the Kindle giveaways. I'll be even more thankful when you pick me. Thanks for the contest.
This is the perfect post to read this week when everyone is thinking about what they're grateful for. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Margay1122(at)aol(dot)com
Great post Scott. And all of us bloggers out there are glad to have you visit!
Happy Thanksgiving!
shadowfairy13@hotmail.com
You know. These past couple of months, I have been getting to know you. It's almost ove :( Enjoyed this post.
dorcontest at gmail dot com
EEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!! Yay! I can't believe This is real! I love the kindle! Happy Thanksgivin'! Love the contest.
kelsey.gilley@gmail.com
Thanks for the lovely post! :) Love your pic!
You can reach me at luvpinkpanther@gmail.com
Happy Thanksgiving and blessings to you and yours! (You look totally different w/o facial hair! wow!)
inannajourney at gmail dot com
wakincade AT gmail DOT com
Loved the post. Thanks for the awesome contest!!
chickenherder@hotmail.com
I loved the post. It definitely gave me hope that I can reach my goals as a writer.
dealingsofabookjunkie@yahoo.com
I would LOVE a Kindle DX. Thanks for the opportunity to win one! :)
P.S. Click on my name for my contact info. ;)
What a wonderful post , thank you for being so kind.
vampiremistress2010@gmail.com
It may take an ego to be a writer, but a smart one realizes the the ego isn't enough. Neither is talent, although it is necessary. A smart author knows they owe so many other people a thank you for helping them make their dreams a reality. Sounds like you are a smart author.
librarypat AT comcast DOT net
Love the post! Very kind indeed.
Stefanie647@msn.com
"The Tao of Pooh"
Write2Bev AT gmail.com
Thanks for the post!!!
brandy_jolene at yahoo dot com
That was a very thankful Post.I'm thankful to have Read it.Thanks
sasluvbooks(at)yahoo.com
This has been a wonderful tour. I have found new sites to visit and new books to read :)
I think your words are special :)
emily_erickson@yahoo.com
WOW! A kindle!! Please enter me!
yabliss AT gmail DOT com
Sounds good!:)
tirachii@yahoo.com
nice post. Thanks, Scott! Hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving.
dreamer dot ima at gmail dot com
Thanks!
Emily ebdye1(at)gmail(dot)com
Every reminder to be thankful is a good thing. Thanks for today's post.
Writing an ego game? Nah.
Kidding.
You’re breakdown is absolutely correct. There very much is a “look at me” element in book creation, specifically book creation for publication.
However, once a writer crosses that line between them saying, “Look at me,” to readers saying, “Look at him,” then writers have no choice but to jump up and down and flap their arms and get folks to look at their books.
It’s a sick game.
Coscomentertainment [at] gmail [dot] com
www.canisterx.com
POSSESSION OF THE DEAD and ZOMBIE FIGHT NIGHT (and others) at the Amazon Kindle store. Grab your copies here!
great post.
jessangil at gmail dot com
-Jessica
Oh wow. This is really generous of you. :)
hrududu AT hotmail DOT de
you are almost HOME!
hancoci_s at msn dot com
Well said Scott, and congrats on completing the blog run. I may not have visited or even commented on every blog, but on the ones that I did, I hung on to every word as I always have. I've been a Nicholson fan since book 1, and I always will be. Keep the words coming my friend, and I promise to eventually read them all, when I'm not working on my own. :)
cheers!
Kevin
kevinbozard (at) embarqmail.com
Well said Scott, and congrats on completing the blog run. I may not have visited, or even commented on every blog, but you always had my undying support. I've been a Nicholson fan since book 1, and always will be. Keep the words coming my friend, and I promise to eventually read each and every one. :)
Cheers!
Kevin
kevinbozard (at) embarqmail.com
Well said Scott, and congrats on completing the blog run. I may not have visited, or even commented on every blog, but you always had my undying support. I've been a Nicholson fan since book 1, and always will be. Keep the words coming my friend, and I promise to eventually read each and every one. :)
Cheers!
Kevin
kevinbozard (at) embarqmail.com
One of the things I have always liked about you Scott is your downhome humility... you're just a regular guy with a big heart and a fine sense of whimsy. I have enjoyed all of your comments, tao & God included.
Stay real, and happy holidays.
P.S. - It is also ironic that I get to be post 111, a laughable number if you're a bowler.
Keep doing what you're doing! Great stuff! Kindle me, baby! Lol
115 entries here! (minus my posts and any duplicates).
@Douglas Or else I'm putting on a good act...
@Lowes yep I'm keeping on!
@Kevin yep you have stuck with me since I've been there, nowhere, and back again, and I don't ever forget.
@AP I actually don't think it's unhealthy--if you are content in your work and positive in your message, you are not competing with anyone, only your limitations.
Good luck, everyone, and don't forget you have one week to comment at each of the upcoming blog posts. Also, you MAY want to join my newsletter to get in on another chance to win a Kindle.
Scott
I loved reading this!
And do count me in for the Kindle! I would love to win it!
gautami.tripathy[at]gmail.com
Great post.
Wow! What an amazing contest! I love that writer's are prepared to engage with their readers (sometimes at their own peril) even after they've "made it big".
slancaster@macrobert.co.za
Hmmm . . . I always thought it was spelled with a 'd.'
Very impressed with your devotion to the cause, Scott. I find it difficult to just check my email on a daily basis and you spent the last three months doing the tour on top of all the work and goat-lovin' that normally fills your days.
Scott, too!
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