Writing chapter 9, of book 2. Sometimes it feels like I'm going mad, descending into a world of terrible strife. Despite the endless struggles in my life, I'm fortunate not to be a part of this world in the flesh. And I am grateful to be part of this world, in my mind. For it contains both beauty and horror, joy and sadness. Stories that must be told.
If ever I do something in life, I will finish this tale.

Love the book, hate the author.

I came across a phenomena which I can't explain in book reading clubs. Some people really love reading books, but assume the worst about you when you testify that you also write.

Yeah, I was offended when people assumed I must be an egomaniac, or a terrible person just because I write. I mean, they don't even know me. Maybe, just maybe - I try to be a good person, help others and even feed the cats outside. Maybe I write because my life is kind of hard, and I need some escapism.

Let's assume the haters are right though, let's assume I, and every single author in the world is pure evil. Let's assume all authors have egos so big we tutor Kanye West on how to love himself so much.

So what?
You love the book, so read the book. Do we really need to establish the personality police? And if we do, who gets to qualify as a good person? Being quick to judge is a bad quality, isn't it? So in the end, people are people, I think. So lets hate a little less. The world's got enough darkness in it as it is. No need to add to the mix.

These are my thoughts, feel free to disagree,
Amit.

The Beloved Tyranny of the Muse

I wrote 8 word pages today, that's 16 pages in a novel. It was a maddening experience. I find myself drawn into a world of dark and cruel beauty. With the heroes of the story, I recoiled in horror of the words written. Terrible words which became, for them a reality.

I slept for three hours. It's almost five AM now. The writing continues...

Apparently the 1st edition was an Amazon Best-Seller!
I'm not sure how it happened, though.

Updated the Q&A section, if anyone's interested.

I've come to terms as much as possible with the fact that I can't afford marketing anytime soon. Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I've spend my time writing the 2nd chapter of The Rise of Raymond Brooks. It's liberating. It's my one great passion.

If I die before my time, my greatest regret shall be that I never got to finish what I started.

Amit.

The Journals, book2.

The Rise of Raymond Brooks now posted the first chapter, up on the menu!

Here is the link!

Honesty

I wanted this blog to be about writing, but I've got too much on my mind, so much I want to say which isn't politically correct or even remotely optimistic. Since I can't and don't have to live by anyone's expectations, I'm just going to say what I want, and haters can keep on hating.

I'm appalled by the latest tweets of Kayne West...I mean, I suffer from poverty too, like most people nowadays. I can't even afford to market my own book. But West...he can buy Kim a 3 million dollar engagement ring, do 500 dollar haircuts, then have the nerve to ask Google to pay his debts instead of building a school in Africa. Let's assume Kayne is right, and he's the greatest musical talent to have ever lived. Get over yourself man. You're just a singer. There's a holocaust in Syria, with millions of refugees. These schools which you don't think are important in Africa, they're the only chance some people get for education, their sole crime is being born in the wrong place, and of the wrong color. But who cares, they're only Arabs and Blacks who suffer right? oh, wait...you're black too...no...still not good enough to think about anyone else. 53 million dollar in debt? How about you sell Kim's ring, perhaps sell some of your property and I don't know, skip fancy dinners and 500$ haircuts. Maybe live in a normal apartment like everyone else, and work until you pay off your debts. It's not like a disaster struck your life, no...it's your lavish lifestyle, the choices you made. If I can pay off my debts so can you. After all, I'm just a nobody from the middle-east. You...you're Kanye West. The greatest musical talent of our generation.

On a personal note: People are people, period. Blacks, whites, purple, red. All I see is people. Christian, Jew, Atheist, Buddaist, Neopagan...these are just belief systems. Having the "correct" belief system does not make you better. Being born in a certain country does not make you better. Nobody's Saved, or the Chosen One. We're all just people. Your actions, and only your actions dictate who you are, and what you're worth. You are not the sum of paper money or lack thereof in your bank. You are who you choose to be, by action and sometimes self-sacrifice.

Feel free to disagree,
Amit.

Haters

 Dealing with haters...you know the type. You invest countless hours into your work, and they'll write something nasty just to spite. There's always some sort of justification in their mind: They don't like your government, as if the common people has any say on what the government does. Sometimes they don't like your form of art. Other times it's just for the lolz...and I just don't get that. Why would someone want to hurt a person they don't even know, just for the sake of causing harm? It's even more distressing when I think of kids. I mean, I'm 36 years old now. I can handle vain hatred better than a kid. But all these kids who get cyber-bullied at schools, for not belonging the the proper race, or having been born with less then adequate social skills. I can only imagine how much they suffer in secret. I wish more people would find reason to follow virtue, then fall so easily to the vices of the world. And for these kids who suffer from bullies, if it helps any, my heart is with you.

Amit.

Until March 2016, the book will only cost 1$

If you do like it,I humbly ask that you recommend to a friend or write a review.
Every bit of support helps!

If you'd like to read it, but can't afford a single dollar - I'd understand if you download a pirated copy. Life is hard and often unfair. If I can cheer you up with a bit of escapism, I have done my good deed for the day.

Amit.

As frustrating as this whole marketing thing can be,
I decided that I can't spend all day feeling sorry for myself.
So I finished the draft of book II, chapter 1.

It's going to be more fast-paced, and more action-oriented than the previous book...

Updates, Feb2015

Updated the Art section.
Updated the Literature section.

Trying out the Amazon marketing platform, hoping for the best.
May the odds be more in my favor!