So here’s the thing.

It’s been a year since the best book of 2019 (self-proclaimed) was released. Or is it the best book of 2018? I’m not sure. Let’s not argue semantics, though. It’s been a full year since I held Far from Ordinary in my hands for the first time.

Ho-ly shit. This is significant unto itself and will be celebrated. Probably by drinking champagne out of the bottle like the classy guy I am. I will most likely not be wearing pants as I do this. You are welcome for that visual.

To celebrate, I’m giving away FREE digital copies of Far from Ordinary on Amazon for the next two days (Nov 16 – 17)! It’s free, so even if you don’t like it you’re not squandering a hard-earned dollar 99.

Now, 365 days later, I’m in a similar spot, with a new book. Fade to Black is out to agents, and my hopes are high that I’ll get a positive result. Far from Ordinary has sold better than I could have dreamed too.

I’ve had book release parties, and I’ve been to New York to rub elbows with the best and the brightest up-and-comers in the novel industry.

And yet I was still surprised when I was asked to speak at the #Change1 conference, happening on November 30th at Celebrations Dinner Theatre. The theme is “ordinary people doing extraordinary things.”

You should come. Tickets are $20 through event brite. The speakers are good, and the message is even better. Well worth the price of admission. Get at me if you’re interested.

November 30th at Celebrations Dinner Theatre. 10-4. 1824 Pembina HWY. Winnipeg, Manitoba.

 

Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things.

I mean, the first part lines up pretty good. I’m an ordinary guy. I get to bed by 10:30 most nights. I’m working a regular 9-5 job that I enjoy, and I put on my pants by jumping in them off the bed like anybody else. Where the extraordinary comes in is in the novels that I’ve written.

So I’m told.

Now an important call-out here is that I never set out to do anything extraordinary. I didn’t write either book to try and crack the New York Times bestseller list, or to make a boatload of money to retire to Bora Bora

 

No, I did it for me, because I like it.

When I was asked to speak, I was honored, but I couldn’t help but feel that I wasn’t deserving of it. In my opinion, I haven’t done anything extraordinary.

Not yet, anyway.

That’s not to say that people haven’t congratulated me on publishing a book. I appreciate it, and I’m not saying that I don’t recognize and appreciate your support. It IS a lot of work to write a book.

It’s even more work to take your writing to the next level. I think that’s where the trepidation comes in for me. I don’t think I’ve hit that level quite yet. That next book is going to be held to a pretty high standard.

The plot of Far from Ordinary, for instance, had some pretty neat moments. I’ll admit that I wrote myself into a corner a couple of times.

There needs to be more of that.

Maybe that’s just my own preference, but I enjoy a story where the writing is strong enough that it feels like your characters are involved in impossible to escape situations.

Ones that they can’t miraculously escape from.

 

For me, it’s putting characters into these impossible situations and then figuring out how the heck to get them out of it. Or, maybe not having them get out at all. If I could have readers of my book as surprised as when *SPOILER* Ned Stark got his head chopped off in Game of Thrones.

That was a game-changer. It was a sign that all the rules which you expect in that type of novel, a fantasy, were thrown out the window. You never quite knew what was going to come next after that.

This is important and needs to be noted and remembered.

I’m starting to write my next book this weekend. I wrote it down, so now it’s got to happen.

Anyway, I’m getting off track. Red 5, stay on target. At the #Change1 conference, I’ve been asked to speak about my journey. Specifically about how I chose to leave a great job to write.

It’s been a hell of a year. Do me a favor and celebrate my book’s birthday by buying a copy. Or by leaving a review.

Even though I don’t feel as though I’ve done anything extraordinary, I’m feeling privileged for the opportunity to tell my story, and to learn from the extraordinary individuals who are going to be there.

Maybe there I’ll learn the definition of being far from ordinary.

Pun intended.

What did we learn this week?

1. Everybody has a different definition of extraordinary
2. Mikeys getting drunk to celebrate the 1st anniversary of Far from Ordinary! Woot woot!
3. It’s been a hell of a year. I have a feeling that the next one is going to be even better
4. For a quick update, I’ve heard back from one agent so far – it was a no. That’s okay, though. Onto the next one!
5. The #Change1 conference is on November 30 at Celebrations, from 10-4. Come on down and watch me speak! I’ll have a table available as well if you want to hang out, or maybe even buy a book.