Ask Robert!

As a fun little exercise, and to generate more group involvement, I'm asking a favour of this small community. Challenge me. In an anyonymous posting I would like you to ask a question, and I will answer it. I will research your question, and come up with an answer for you, tailored to your situation, although phrased as to allow transferance to assist others in similar situations. What qualifies me to answer these questions? I will do the following in my responses:

- will relate back to Spiral Dynamics

- will relate back to Spiritual Philosophies

- will relate back to Process Methodologies (Kaizen, Six Sigma, PI Engineering)

- will relate back to NLP, Hypnosis

- will relate back to Kung Fu

- will relate back to Astral Dynamics

- will relate back to Psychology

Do you have questions any of the following?

- Psychics - Do they know what they are talking about? Is there something more to this?

- The Universe - Do you wonder why things happen the way they do? In your life, or in others?

- Life circumstances - Do you have a pressing issue, and you're concerned with how to move forward?

No holds barred, it doesn't matter what you ask, as long as it's sincere and in the spirit of the exercise. Ask the Guru! Your questions, can and will be the focus for articles in the coming months, so ask away!

Proposal... On the Way!

Currently, I've been spending much of my time working on the proposal for Book 1. It's harder than it seems. What is a proposal? It's a large (roughly 100 page) document, that describes the book, plot, market, genre, about the author, has comparisons to other (similar) books, and other various sections, that are essentially there to entice a publisher.

There are many things that go into a proposal... a great deal of research is required, and is currently under way. Much of it is already complete, and at this time, I'm roughly 60% of the way through it. I am also not doing it entirely alone. I have help (thankfully), because as much as I am a creative type, and as much as I like to write, that doesn't necessarily mean I can write marketing text. I've written the book, but can I sell it? That's a different process entirely, and I'm not so foolish to assume that I can do it all on my own. This proposal has to represent the best quality work that I'm able to produce... otherwise it will end up in the infamous "slush" pile, that so many other manuscripts have ended up.

At this time, I've decided that the proposal will be completed in the same fashion as book 1. On its own time, and it will take as long as it takes, to produce the quality that I'm looking for. For a time, I tried to track towards a project plan... but that proved difficult, as the entire team is made up of creative types... who don't normally like being held to timelines. I also didn't appreciate the process while going through it in that fashion... for the follow reasons:

- How many projects have I actually worked on that met their "Go Live Date?" - Zero
- How are the stress levels of individuals who track towards projects? High
- How does the process feel when tracking toward a plan? Laboured and difficult

The end result of that experience was me hating the proposal process. Now... I love it again! The syergy is back, the right people are available to help me, and the process continues. The first book was written in my spare time over a 2 years span. And for a book this size (400+ pages), that is quite good timing... as most first books take about 5 - 7 years to write. Because when I get in the groove, I really get into it, and produce like a mad man. So it's just a matter of when I feel the timing is right, and my mood is there, and the stress levels are low... and now, I'm back in the groove.

I estimate the proposal to be done by end of summer. At that time, various press releases will be sent out (probably over the summer), so stay tuned... a listing of local papers will be posted on this site, so you can catch a glimpse of my first public press release for the Trilogy. After which, I will be approaching various publishers in the fall.

Then my agent in New York will get involved, after an initial deal has been made with a publisher... and I'm off to the races. What does all this mean? I could be a full time author this time next year, and no longer will I need to work within the confines of a corporate world! My days and nights will be mine again, along with my energy and my creativity (during the 9-5). Where I can take things from there... only time will tell.

Most likely, I'll continue my journey in Mexico, writing and researching on a full time basis. Coming back up to Canada for 4 - 6 month intervals, to continue my education and training in my various realms of interest... (kung fu, psychology, spirituality, etc.) visiting friends, and family. The dream is becoming a reality, and now... the count down is only months away. Not years.

God bless, to all those who continue to maintain interest. You will not be disappointed, and you'll be getting some autographed copies as well! All the best, thanks for reading.

Book I & II Update

I've been feverishly busy, working through various projects at work, and in my personal life, so updates have slowed as of late. However, that is not to say that progress has not been had. In fact, I can safely say that I'm more than 50% through the Book proposal for Book 1 of my trilogy. This document is essentially your entry point into the publishing world, and ends up being quite large once you're complete. I estimate around 100 pages of marketing text, research, comparative analysis and various other sections to give prospective publishers an idea of what this is about. Not only give them an Idea, but to entice them, and to help them see the value in what this could bring about, as a partnership and as well as the beginning of a new perspective.

It is hard to map the end date for the book proposals completion, as things like this take their time. You may have the best story in the world, but if you don't know how to market and sell it... you're not going anywhere and your manuscript will collect dust on a shelf. So this is the most crucial part of the process, and I've decided that it will be done when it's done. No more harsh dates to rush towards... as all good things come to those who wait... and do their homework.

Book II is now underway, and has officially begun. There are pages and pages of notes associated to this next installment in the series, but now it is just a matter of putting it all together and having the time to do so. As with the first book, Book II is calling to me, so I have no question in my mind that it will be complete. But I wonder if it will take the 2 years that Book I took? That all depends on the parallel work on the Book I proposal, and how quickly this can be marketed. If and when this series gets picket up, that will allow me to write my books full time, and to do what I really love... to be creative, and free to do so whenever and whereever I choose. Which is the God given right for all of mankind. And one day we will all get there. Thanks for continuing to Read.


ALSO *** Stay Tuned for the up coming Launch of my new Domains - geared solely towards The Trilogy. This will feature articles, sample texts, help on how to become an author, writing tips, and various other interesting goodies!