You Can Always Spot A Reader...

Last week I met a reader. Now, I didn't know she was a reader when we first met...there are so few around nowadays. However, after talking with her for a minute or two, it became evident.

She loves to read.

What gave it away? My friend told her I was a writer. I've been introduced as a writer before. Most of the time the news is met with indifference--not disrespect, but they might think it's cool to be a writer. The written word isn't that important to them. No, she stopped and asked some follow up questions. 

"What do you write?" 

"What are your favorite genres?"

"What do you like to read?"

That last question is interesting. It's assumed writers are also readers. I have been more of an active reader in the past--it's something I need to do more. She is correct, though. To be a successful writer you need to be an active reader.

I told her I got my masters degree in English and to do so, I read a lot of book, mostly classics. She is currently reading some classic literature. I asked if she liked reading fantasy or speculative fiction. She said she's not read all that much, but would like to read more.

I had the perfect book for her.

The next time I saw her, I dug up my copy of D.H. (Dave) Butler's amazing Witchy Eye. If you've read it you know the level of writing found in its pages. 

I don't know if she'll like it--she may hate it. I hope not. Since she's a reader I'm almost certain she will appreciate the writing, even if it's not her cup of tea. I've never met anyone who has read Dave's books who didn't respect Dave as a writer and craftsman and wordsmith.

Hopefully, she'll finish the book soon. I'm anxious to know what she thinks. If she likes it, there's two more book waiting for her in the wings.

For a reader, that'a heaven.

The Joy Of Receiving A New Hat...It's Witchin'!

I like hats the way some women like shoes. I don't mean to sound sexist, but I do know many women--more than an average man--who love shoes, almost to an obsession. Maybe I like hats because for most people--men and women alike--they are used to having something atop their heads, be it a hat, a hood, or hair.

Me...what once was there no longer is.

I do the next best thing--I wear a hat almost everywhere I go.

There are a couple of practical reasons I wear hats. In the winters it keeps rain/snow off my head and helps keep me warm. In the summers it shields my unshielded head from the sun. Those who've experienced sunburns on their scalp know it's extremely unpleasant. A hat protects me from that. And I wear hats in the spring and fall because you just never know.

Earlier this month I was made aware that I won something in Dave Butler's Twitchy Eye drawing. Those of us who posted reviews of his phenomenal book were eligible for the drawing. I won a hat! Today my hat was delivered to my house and the moment I got home, I donned the black and gold chapeau (in keeping with the New Orleans vibe of the book...).

Even though I like hats, I do not have as many hats as some have shoes. I probably have twenty or so hats, most of them being baseball caps. I try to wear hats that will match with whatever I'm wearing. My Witchy Eye Pistols cap is black. Most of what I wear goes with black, so theoretically, I'll be able to wear this particular hat with most of my wardrobe. That's a win-win-win in my book.

Like new shoes, I'll need to break in the hat. It's stiff right now--some might say like Dave's book when you first pick it up. It's a little ridged, unyielding, stubborn. However, like Dave's book, it adjusts, conforms, yields to the shape of my head. For me, Witchy Eye was an exciting yet daunting book. It's a good read--reading it is sort of like eating a Thanksgiving meal--once you're done, you know you've finished something weighty, something substantial.

So thanks Dave for the hat! I'll wear it with pride and all those who see me coming and wonder about the crossed guns will hopefully see me pass and know from whence the pistols came...from a great book written by Dave Butler titled Witchy Eye.

Dave Butler's "Witchy Eye"...A Book Review

Imagine an America where, instead of states governed by a central government, you have kingdoms rules by kings. Oh, and there's magic, too. Throw in a dozen or so colorful characters, an army of human/animal hybrids, and a few undead assassins and you have Dave Butler's Witchy Eye.

Of course, I'm not doing the book justice. It's an amazing alternative history set in 1800s America. The book's hero is Sarah Calhoun, fifteen, growing up in Appalachia embarks on a journey to New Orleans to find a soldier, a man who fought with Sarah's father. Sarah, who wears a patch over her eye, is not only the daughter of a famous general, but also a queen.

Butler weaves the Sarah's story, the story of those vowed to follow her, and those in her company seamlessly. One aspect of the story I especially liked was the lack of an organized and well-defined magic system. I've heard the author speak several times on the topic. The magic in Witch Eye is always understandable. Butler uses magic the way a cook used different spices to flavor the meal, or in this case, the story. Too much and it ruins everything.

This is not then end of Sarah Calhoun. More books are on the way, which makes me happy. There are so many small details interwoven into the storylines, I could read it again and again and get something new each time. Butler created a world full of wonder, intrigue, goodness, and horror. where good battles evil, power and pain. And he's done a masterful job of it.

A Book Signing In West Jordan, Utah...

It's been a while since I've been to a book signing. Back in the day, when I thought about book signings, I imagined what took place at book signings. There would be a table with books, of course, The author sitting with a collection of pens greeting each guest with a warm smile, a little banter, and a lot of autographs. I saw long lines of excited patrons waiting their turn to greet, banter, and receive the signature.

And I suppose many book signings are just like that. But there are other kinds of book signings out there and they go a little differently than what I've described. Sure there's a desk, some pens, lots of books, and (usually...) a smiling author. Sometimes, however, that long line of anxious and excited book-carrying people just doesn't materialize and people can approach the author without having to wait their turn.

This is, in no way, a reflection on the author, or the quality of his/her writing, it's just a fact of life. Unless you're a household name, or a household name among a specific fanbase or group of people, long lines just don't happen when you're doing a solo book signing. At least, that's what I've seen a couple of times.

At today's event while I was there, a few of Dave's friends gathered to chat and wish him well. If you know Dave, he's a great conversationalist, among other things. And he many times brings along a beautiful guitar on which he strums. I brought my copy of his latest novel. I did not buy it today, but I did buy it at a Barnes & Noble bookstore last month. I stood in line, sort of. I was a little anxious and a little excited, and I was greeted with a smile. So, I guess it's not the quantity of who attends, but the quality of experience of those who do.

Barns And Noble...You Can Just Tell

Why is it that ALL Barnes & Noble Bookstores smell the same? Tonight my oldest son and youngest son and I entered a Barnes & Noble Bookstore close to our house and it smelled just like all the other Barnes & Noble Bookstores I've ever entered.

I don't know why it is.

But I know, when I open that door, exactly where I am.

Today was my oldest son's birthday and while his siblings were at a social gathering, I took the other boys out for a night on the town. Our goal was to find dessert for the birthday boy. We can't go just anywhere due to food sensitivities my children have. One place we know a lot about the nutritional composition of their food is Barnes & Noble. We know this because the birthday boy works as a barista at the very Barnes & Noble Bookstore we visited tonight. As far as finding a delicious dessert--mission accomplished.

I wanted to go to the bookstore for a few reasons. I wanted to see if they had any copies of Dave Butler's Witchy Eye. They did and I picked up my copy. I also ran into someone who bought one of my books at Salt Lake Comic Con FanX two weeks ago. I'm going to blog about that later--it was surreal and very cool.

Yes, there's just something about a Barnes & Noble Bookstore. Good books, delicious snacks, and an opportunity to support amazing authors. It's one of the best places on earth and they all seem to smell the same.

Book Bomb...Dave Butler's "Witchy Eye"

It's finally here.

It's interesting knowing about a book from almost its inception.  

Over the years, I've had many a conversation with authors. "What are you working on?" becomes something we ask each other. Political differences, backgrounds, opinions, work ethic, personal habits all disappear--our latest WIP is the one thing we have in common, the one thing that binds us, that makes us family.

When you ask Dave Butler about what he's working on--if you both have the time--be prepared for a lengthy answer. And that's just if he wants to talk about one book, one project. I remember hearing about what would become Witchy Eye, his latest book that's available today. He talked of an alternate reality, America as it's never been, but could have been. 

Sometimes conversations with Dave hurt my brain. When he goes into the intricacies of the story, the subplots, the characters. Seriously, it can be overwhelming, not necessarily what he says, but how he's interwoven complex subjects, amazing creativity, and even texts from ancient Hebrew scripts or other obscure references that he's not just thrown into the story, but that he's studied and knows. The author part of my brain hurts because I know how difficult it is to create a somewhat simple story. To put all these elements together is what overwhelms.

Today's the book launch for Witchy Eye. You can buy it at this link: HERE. I can't wait to get a copy for. I'll let you know if it hurts my brain, or simply entertains. My guess--it'll do both.

D.J. Butler's "Witchy Eye"...Is Coming!

I've heard about this book for months, not in a nagging or overbearing way, but I'd see a post on social media here, a tweet there. Today I checked Amazon and it's available for pre-order. Its official release is March 7. You can access the Amazon information: HERE.

That's really close, well, when compared to Leap Years.

I think I've written more about Dave Butler's books than any other author. There's a reason for that. He, perhaps more than any other author, has helped me in my writing goals and writing aspirations. When I first met Dave, first Salt Lake Comic Con in 2013, I saw in him a talented and driven artist. He had self-published several novels, several short stories, and was featured in several anthologies.

I, on the other hand, had done hardly any of those things. I watched as Dave kept writing, kept marketing not only his books, but himself in front of crowds. By seeing what he's been able to accomplish, I see a hope for me.

Dave's latest, Witchy Eye is (as taken from its Amazon website...): 

A STUNNING BAEN BOOKS DEBUT. A brilliant Americana flintlock fantasy novel set in a world of Appalachian magic that works.

Dave's also got good endorsements from some heavy literary hitters. Sounds amazing.

Over the years I've seen Dave work his butt off, write like the wind, and find success. You could say that all this hard work culminates in the release of his latest book. Then again, you could say the same thing about the release of the previous book last year. And hopefully, after the first week of March, as many people as possible will be able to enjoy the fruits of all that hard work, too.