Get Ready to Get Gone.

Hey Folks,

This is my novel. This is Gone.

I've been talking about it here and there for 3 years now. And in the meantime it's been sitting there gathering dust.

I grew up in a time before the complete internet saturation that we have now. In my youth people had dreams like being a Blockbuster celebrity, a Super Model, a Best Selling Author. Something that the globe would respect.

I've always held to the dream that I would be a Steven King, Kurt Vonnegut, Douglas Adams. That I would have a shelf in Borders and Barns & Nobels right next to Annie Proulx or whatever smaller flavor of the month has snuck on to the spot.

So when POD and Self Publishing options became readily available on the internet I shunned them (a lot).

As the internet has taken over the idea of Niche Celebrity has become prominent.

And I'm sitting here wondering what's worse? Not seeing my childhood dream taken to completion, or having my book not even be read by a single person.

I think the fear one might have of the former, is that this is their only shot.
That if they put it out there and it's not instantly a giant success, then they've failed.

I know that 'Gone' will not be the end of my attempts, will not be the last book I write or put out there. So if it fails, if it doesn't become an over night sensation, I'll live through it.

So What Happens Now?

Now, I put it out there.

I'm giving myself one month to get my shit together. To research the different POD companies, the Self publishers, send query letters out to small publishers, literary agents, anyone... and then I make a choice and go forward with publishing Gone .

As my friends

I ask that you hold me to it.

We all know I'm as ADD as the next guy and tomorrow something shiny will distract me.

But this is the biggest dream I have, get my book on the shelves, and this is the first step.

• So ask me how things are going.
• Tweet me links to POD sites
• Post blogs about my efforts
• encourage me, cheer me on, be a part of this journey with me.
• tell me what you want to see while I'm doing this

Just writing this, I get that shiver in my spine and a pulse in my eyes.

I know this is what I must do, I know the outcome I want.
It's just finding the path to that place that I'm lost on.
So Now I'm going as far in to the woods as I can, because that's the only way to find your way out.

Stay Strong,

-SamProof

Something Amazing Happened to me on the Way to the Forum...

Hey Folks,

This is a story about dichotomy, cosmic balance and the old axiom "You can't be truly happy without having suffered" - well maybe. Mostly this is a blog, that I hope doesn't make you too jealous. :D

So yesterday was suck.

I dragged on through unmotivated to do much of anything.
I tried to treat myself to Sushi, tried to make myself feel "up" but it just wasn't in the cards.

I tried editing videos, tried blogging, tried organizing some photo shoots (which I actually did get accomplished). And then in the wee hours of the night, a few fingers of whiskey and the haze of depression looming I tried to do something instantly creative and gratifying, I took self portraits.

Then I watched LOST one Hulu and went to sleep. Somewhere in the middle of the night my phone, drained of it's battery - shut off. My alarm clock now docile I slept in, I slept till about 1pm at which point in my half awake haze I looked on to my facebook and twitter confounded.

Tons of tweets congratulating myself and @JenFriel and so on... except that last one (technically top one). I just included that because the implication of Pearl in this bikini - too hot.

I immediately found my dead phone and plugged it in, opened gmail and sat in wonder as an email from Ford was congratulating me.

Then I freaked out.

I Pumped my fist in the air, I yelled Attah!, I moshed around the apartment (which was particularly hard because I was still putting clothes on).

Then I texted Jen, called the Ford guy, emailed him, and lost my mind.

I can't help but think some giant door has opened, some weight has been lifted, some unexplained cosmic alignment has found it's way in to my 9th house of.. whatever it is...

Last year was the worst year of my life, and I've been determined to make 2010 the best year of my life to counter it. - This helps, alot.

I want to do something amazing this year not just on a personal level - put on an entertainment level. If it's not publish my novel it's going to me something video oriented. And it's probably going to come out of this.

So the main question that's on my mind is... Jen Friel (Queen of Nerds) & I are now a team so what the hell do you name such a team of awesomeness? Suggestions?

Stay Strong,

-SamProof

PS - nobody tell my Camry about this... she's old and fragile

Photography

Hey Folks,

So a long long time ago I took pictures. I studied photography, I analyzed composition, I went to school for it.

My teacher within a few months turned to me and said, "Sam, you use the dark room continue to produce work regularly and you're guaranteed an A". I never did a homework assignment, never paid much attention to classes (hell my memory of even going to classes is limited to that first day in class. but maybe I went, probably not).

In honest having free reign like that, was both awesome and limiting. I peaked before I understood what I wanted from the medium.

These days, I'm lucky if I do one major photo shoot a year. I live for those moments.
You organize this event, bring on a hair stylist, a make up artist, maybe a wardrobe girl... you find models, locations, buy props, sketch a thousand little thumbnails, set up lights, peak in to the dressing room a hundred times, watch the hair sculpting process and then finally make magic happen. You turn the girl next door in to something she never believe was in herself.

I want to start doing photo shoots again. I'm dedicating my Fridays right now to shooting (until the day I have to get a day job again, which could be closing in fast).

I want to fill this portfolio with a million images.

Stay Strong,

-SamProof