I am reworking the formatting of my first two zombie books so now they are more accurate, like with page numbers and everything, thanks to the help of Jennifer Pinkley who actually got the page numbers to go on and fit properly. This means that my books now look like professional books. I opted not to put my name or the book title on any of the pages because I like to keep things simple. The third book ZOMBIE WASTELAND is still on schedule to be out in October, hopefully by the first week but I am not exactly sure yet. The fourth book is finally in process. I've got 4 chapters written but I am rewriting them now after getting some good advice from the authors at Phoenix Comic Con. Now for those of you worried I might not finish don't, I'm not rewriting everything I am just reworking things.

I'm also working on a free story to follow the release of the third book. I will be honoring a contest winner, Amanda Bretz, and will be using her name and likeness in the story. She won the chance to be mentioned in the book, the opportunity to be turned into a zombie and killed off gruesomely. The other winners of contests will be put in the last book as zombies and I will give them a shot out later.

I have several things scheduled coming up and am hoping for a few more. I am also going to try getting my book into a few stores on consignment. I will be updating appearances and signings as they come up, so far nothing is until October but there might be one opportunity in August and another in September that I can get into.

So exciting stuff. And fans, bloggers, strangers who read this, feel free to comment and feel free to ask questions. I love answering questions. They don't even have to be about zombies, they could be about how I keep my curly hair so bouncy (mousse, and only a little).

I enjoy being a writer. I love sharing my stories and I love hearing from people who have read and who want to read my books. I love that people pay for my books and willingly do so. I love it all.

There is one problem though. Friends and family.

I don't know why it is that some of a writer's friend and family asks to be given a free copy of their book. My book is my baby, I've given some away, but of course I'd rather you honor me and buy it. I had a friend once tell me about a friend of theirs who loved zombie stuff and did I have a copy of my book I could bring over for them. I said, "Yes, of course." I did not think I was taking a book over to give to someone I didn't know. I thought I would be paid for it. I wasn't, and I doubt it crossed this person's mind, or their zombie loving friend's mind, that they should pay me for my work.

Now don't get me wrong, I love that people want my book. I don't mind giving some of them away, but I'd rather it be my choice, not the demand of someone else.

I don't need people saying, "You should have just given me a copy," because we are close friends or family. I don't need people to make me feel guilty for not giving them a copy of the book I spent days, weeks, months, or years writing. If I ask you if you want a copy, then sure go ahead and take that free book. But don't ask me for a free copy, and don't assume you shouldn't pay for one.

In all honesty I would rather write you into a book or story than give you a free one. I'd rather share you with the world. I'm working on a short story for my series right now and one of the characters is a young woman who won a contest so her name is going to be used as a character, who of course becomes a zombie and dies horribly. That is what my fans want. To be a part of the process. To be IN the books. To be thanked in the acknowledgements. Free books are awesome, but don't expect it.

I don't ask you for free legal advice, or psychological counseling, or art, or interior design, or whatever your job is, so please don't ask me to provide you with my work for free.

Every author knows two things. The first is that writing, editing and getting critiques is hard. The second, rejection sucks and it hurts and no matter how many times it happens it feels like a little pinch of your heart is ripped out every time. However, I feel that the rejection also helps make authors some of the most resilient people in the world.

My first story OBSESSION has never been published. I submitted it several times way back in like the late '90's (yes, I might be dating myself but who cares). I received over 80 rejection letters. Another story I wrote IT TASTES LIKE SNAKE received over 150 rejection letters. Now, I don't think these are bad stories, I just think there is a time and a place for a story or book. Not every book or story is written or released at the right time.

Rejection hurts. It stings and the pain isn't one that just goes away. It stays and makes you question if the next story you write you should even attempt to submit. Of course, the answer is, if you think it's good enough then yes, yes you should submit it. There is no way to avoid rejection. Really, there isn't.

Writing is a personal experience, which is why rejection hurts.

It feels easier to fail than succeed. Yet, we keep writing.

So, all of you authors out there, all of you wanna be authors, all of you scared authors, and all of you still hiding in the shadows afraid to write a single word, just do it. Rejections comes with the territory. It never gets easier. You can have eighteen books published and still have that nineteenth book rejected.

So rejection, sucks doesn't it?