"Darkness Under the Sun" by Dean Koontz

As an early reviewer for “What the Night Knows”, I was eagerly anticipating the novella “Darkness Under the Sun”. It serves as both a prequel and sequel to “What the Night Knows” and delves deeper into the mind and persona of serial killer Alton Turner Blackwood. The childhood and making of the monster that would become a serial killer is chronicled through Blackwood’s journal in “What the Night Knows”. The setting for the novella is before the murderer begins the killing spree that gains him notoriety as the sick, twisted killer that he will come to be known as.

Though “Darkness Under the Sun” can stand on its own as a novella, I found that I had much more insight into the novella having read “What the Night Knows” first. The character of John Calvino, who is introduced toward the end of the novella, is in fact the main character in “What the Night Knows” and the conversations that take place in the novella between its main character and Calvino have much more depth if you understand more about Calvino’s character and what he witnessed and endured at the hands of Blackwood.

Personally, I truly enjoyed “Darkness Under the Sun” and thought that it was eerily spooky, but I wonder if it would have had the same impact if I hadn’t had the insight into Blackwood and Calvino that I did by reading “What the Night Knows” first. It is short — I read it in just over an hour — but it is definitely worth $1.59 and you also get a preview of “What the Night Knows” after the novella.

My advice? Purchase the e-book, go ahead and read it and enjoy it. Then buy “What the Night Knows” when it is released in December and read the novella again once you have had the pleasure of reading it and see how much more you can relate to the characters then.

And for those that are wondering, yes there is a dog in the novella, though it plays a very minor part toward the end of the work almost as an afterthought.

Cheers!
~ Peter West

It's that Time of the Year Again

Autumn is one of my favorite times of year. The vibrant colors of the changing leaves on the trees, the slightly cooler temperatures. Call me crazy, but I like a little chill in the air in the morning especially after one of the hottest summers that I can remember in my lifetime. Mind you, I don’t care much for snow, ice, and cold. Below 50 is colder than I like, but mid-50′s to mid-60′s is just right in the morning — just so long as I don’t have to scrape frost off the car windows or not feel my nose or ears from the cold wind. I also don’t mind it when it’s dark in the morning when I go to work. It seems more peaceful and serene. If I had to rank my favorite seasons, Spring and Fall would be tied for first, followed by summer then winter. I try to appreciate all the seasons of the year — some are just harder to love than others.

Cheers!
~ Peter West

"What the Night Knows" by Dean Koontz

Dean Koontz has been my favorite author since I first picked up a copy of “The Bad Place” back in 1990. I liked it so well that I subsequently purchased nearly every book he has ever published. When I was selected to be an early reviewer for “What the Night Knows”, I was beside myself with joy and anticipation. Let me just say, the book did NOT disappoint.

Two decades ago as a young boy, John Calvino snuck back into his house only to discover his parents had been brutally murdered. When he hears the strange sound of bells ringing in his sisters’ room, he locates a gun and investigates to find the sinister, hulking, misshapen form of Alton Turner Blackwood standing over his dead sister, his other sister already viciously and violently killed as well. After taunting John and issuing a promise to revisit the atrocities on his future family, Blackwood turns and John shoots him and empties the ammunition into the killer’s face.

Later, John learns that his family was the last of four families that Blackwood intended to kill, 33 days apart. Now a homicide detective, John Calvino learns that impossibly, the murders are somehow happening all over again. With his own family to protect, John has to figure out a way to stop the cycle from repeating and deal with Alton Turner Blackwood once and for all.

“What the Night Knows” is a suspenseful, riveting, pulse-pounding, spine-tingling, creepy, supernatural thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat and checking your closets, mirrors and crawlspaces for things that literally go bump in the night. Never before has Koontz dealt so well with the topic of ghosts, malevolent spirits and demons. This is definitely one of his best works to date and is a must-read, especially if you are looking for a gripping page-turner!

Cheers!
~ Peter West

Living in the Age of Me

The pace of life seems to have increased exponentially from the time I was a child. As a society, we have become a very impatient culture. It is most evident when driving — watching car after car do anything to get in front of just one more car, like a few seconds is going to make that much of a difference. I never have been able to figure out why people can’t just wait their turn like everyone else. At the stores these days, the majority of people are just downright apathetic and rude. While the items I purchase are being checked out, I have seen so many customers just stand at the end of the belt with their arms crossed and an angry glare on their face. Some even tap their foot impatiently. I just don’t get it. I don’t remember it being so bad when I was younger. People would actually strike up a conversation and talk to each other in the store while waiting in line. The world was a happier place then. People would also gladly allow you to merge onto the highway or would wave you on at an intersection. Not anymore. We are living in the age of me. Few people truly care about anyone else but themselves and it is a sad testament. Though I long for yesteryear and hope things will change back to the way they were, I am not holding out much hope. Our society is too far gone down the path of immorality, ignorance and hate.

Cheers!
~ Peter West

The Reasons Why I Write

I have been thinking a great deal lately about why I write. A very small percentage of writers write enough books and make enough to be able to make a living at it, so it isn’t for the money. Although I care about people reading my work, I honestly don’t desire to be famous. Sometimes I use writing to vent emotions that cannot be released any other way, but that also is not the primary reason why I write. Surely it is just as entertaining to me to write as it is to read my books, but it isn’t the entertainment factor that causes me to yearn to write either.

I think I write because it nourishes the soul. It affords me self-reflection and exploration of thoughts, feelings, and emotions. At times it is like being able to have a conversation with myself without anyone thinking I am crazy. I have said many times that “writing is the one thing that when I’m doing it, I don’t feel like I should be doing something else”. That is definitely true. Writing gives me purpose and it gives me hope. In my works, I create the environment and characters and I determine every action, reaction, and outcome. While I often cannot control what happens in the real world, I have total control over every aspect in my writing. I guess that reinforces my desire for order, logic, and reason. It is nice to be able to bring order to chaos, light to darkness, and for good to triumph over evil.

To me, writing is as crucial and vital as the air I breathe, the food I eat, and the roof over my head. I guess the bottom line is that I don’t write for a living, I write to live.

Cheers!
~ Peter West

Sometimes it's the Little Things that Matter

I have had a great deal on my mind and heart lately. Though I knew there was despair in the world, I couldn’t have fathomed just how much the world is in darkness right now. More than ever before, my eyes are being opened to see just how many hurting people there are in this country and in the world. Society has brought us to where we are all living together alone. Does anyone truly know anyone else anymore? More importantly, does anybody care? Never in my life have I witnessed, firsthand, so much apathy, hatred and a nearly complete decay of morals, values, and ethics. It’s everywhere — from driving down the street to work to shopping at the grocery store. Everyone is so angry. Violent crime is rampant. When and how did we get to this point?

I have been hearing so many stories of people (especially teens) committing suicide because they don’t fit in and are bullied or teased relentlessly while others witness it and don’t do anything to stop it or to let that person know that they are not alone. It is so sad! I vividly remember being teased and bullied when I was younger. Fortunately for me, I had good friends, wonderful grandparents, and a church family to give me support. There are so many people out there that don’t have any support. They feel abandoned and alone and are made to feel like the world would be better off without them. What’s worse, a friend had posted a public service video on Facebook urging people to reach out to those that are the targets of bullying and teasing — someone actually said that “they need to grow a set and deal with it.” I couldn’t believe that anyone could be so hateful as to post such a comment. That person clearly doesn’t understand the problem and has no business even talking about it. Unless someone has been through it and experienced those feelings for themselves, they cannot possibly understand what that person is going through. It’s not about being “wimpy” and standing up for oneself. It’s about being hurt and afraid and feeling completely isolated. When everything they hear is negative, they are destined to feel that way. It also doesn’t mean as much when an adult, such as a parent or pastor, pays a compliment. Twenty compliments from an adult doesn’t mean nearly as much as one negative comment from a peer.

So how can we make a difference? It’s a complicated answer and it won’t be easy. To really have an impact means stepping outside of our comfort zones and reaching out to those in need of our love and support.

1. Bullying needs to stop, PERIOD. Bullies need to be punished and monitored. Their parents need to also be held accountable for their actions.
2. We need to learn the warning signs and how to tell when someone is in danger and thinking about suicide or violence. It may surprise you to know that it isn’t always the ones that you THINK are in danger that are, sometimes it is the ones that no one suspected. Words are powerful and peer pressure even more so.

Warning Signs of Suicide*

• Appearing depressed or sad most of the time. (Untreated depression is the number one cause for suicide.)
• Talking or writing about death or suicide.
• Withdrawing from family and friends.
• Feeling hopeless.
• Feeling helpless.
• Feeling strong anger or rage.
• Feeling trapped — like there is no way out of a situation.
• Experiencing dramatic mood changes.
• Abusing drugs or alcohol.
• Exhibiting a change in personality.
• Acting impulsively.
• Losing interest in most activities.
• Experiencing a change in sleeping habits.
• Experiencing a change in eating habits.
• Performing poorly at work or in school.
• Giving away prized possessions.
• Writing a will.
• Feeling excessive guilt or shame.
• Acting recklessly.

Only 75% of people that have committed suicide have shown warning signs. Any warning signs should always be taken seriously, no matter how trivial. For those that don’t show signs, I have to wonder if it is just because no one took the time to get to know them well enough to recognize the signs.
* Warning signs and statistics gathered from suicide.org.

3. We need to not only set a good example through our words, but through our actions. It is important not to say one thing and do another. We live in a culture of darkness where so many people are drowning — everywhere they turn all they see is darkness. We need to be a light in the darkness of others.

Matthew 5:16 – “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

One of my favorite verses in the Holy Bible. Do you know which is the most important word in the entire verse? Here’s a hint… it’s one of the smallest ones. It is the word “SO”. God doesn’t want us to be a match. He wants us to be be a BEACON, like a lighthouse warning ships of the jagged rocks ahead. Whether you are religious or not doesn’t matter, the principle still applies. You need to be inspirational and motivational to others.

I make a practice of smiling at everyone I possibly can. It is a small gesture really and I’ll be honest, sometimes I have gotten dirty looks and glares for doing so. I would be willing to wager, however, that there are some people that have been having a very bad day that my smile helped. It’s not always the big gestures that make the most difference. Sometimes its the little things that matter.

4. Don’t ignore the problem, it won’t go away. I think much of the problem today is a result of the issues being ignored or swept under the rug over the years.

5. Always treat others with love and respect even if they hate you for it and spit in your eye. No matter what, it doesn’t help anyone if you contribute to the problem. The next time somebody is rude to you or cuts you off in traffic, instead of getting angry, take a moment to blow off steam and then smile and let the world know that it didn’t get to you. Hopefully if enough people see your situations and reactions, they will begin to wonder and ask about why you are so peaceful.

At any rate, I hope this post has hit a nerve with you and I hope you are invigorated to do something about the darkness in our society. Stand up and make a difference!

Cheers!
~ Peter West

Short but Sweet

Okay faithful reader, I am super excited to announce that my Advanced Reader’s Copy of What the Night Knows by Dean Koontz arrived in the mail today. I simply can’t wait to get started on it, so I am not going to! My posts will probably be short for the next few days while I am reading it. I will let you all know as soon as I have it finished and what my impressions are of his latest work. It is a ghost story, so it ought to be good!

Cheers!
~ Peter West

"The Painted Darkness" by Brian James Freeman

Written in a style reminiscent of Stephen King, “The Painted Darkness” by Brian James Freeman takes the reader on a harrowing, suspense-building, and maddening journey into the mind and world of Henry. During the course of the ride, you will meet both adult Henry and childhood Henry as both stories, separate at first, become increasingly and seamlessly entwined as the book progresses.

Henry paints against the darkness. He doesn’t know why and he has no recollection of the terrible and horrific events that happened during his childhood that led to his obsession. After an argument with his wife leaves him alone in the middle of a violent winter storm, Henry must face the monsters from his childhood that have seemingly and impossibly found their way into his cellar if he is to survive.

“The Painted Darkness” is a creepy, spooky, descent into madness that will have you turning the pages well into the night just as long as you remember to read with a light on.

http://tinyurl.com/33t7jqq

Cheers!
~ Peter West

Stress and Finding Serenity

Alas, faithful reader, it is days like these that can at times make writing a challenge. Stress, in any magnitude and of any variety can lead to a lack of concentration and ultimately, writer’s block. Now I won’t go into any details about what is causing the stress that I am currently experiencing, but it is a set of circumstances that are beyond my control. I’m sure that most of you have experienced stress of some sort during your life. It can be crippling to the mind.

When stress is caused as the result of your own actions, it is easy to deal with. Deal with the actions, deal with the stress. When stress is due to circumstances beyond your control, however, it is a little more difficult to manage. About all you can do really is do the best that you can. You can practice stress-relieving techniques — if you are spiritual, you can pray or meditate; find a quiet place, perhaps a park, and get away from everything for a brief time for reflection; use writing as a vent for your frustrations and emotions; talk to someone about your stress to see if they have any ideas on how to deal with it or if nothing else, simply listen to you; don’t worry about it and realize that since it is because of circumstances beyond your control, there really isn’t anything you can do about it anyway, even if you wanted to.

There is a prayer that I have always loved. If you aren’t a religious or spiritual person, it can still be relevant. It is called “The Serenity Prayer”. If you are dealing with any stress or difficulties in life, I would encourage you to read this (or pray it) and take comfort. Things will get better, faithful reader. It just takes time.

The Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.
Keep your chin up. I will try to do the same.

Cheers!
~ Peter West

Why Does Music Affect Mood?

Music is a powerful medium. I’ve often wondered how music can have such a profound ability to create and amplify moods and emotions. It has the power to help inspire, motivate, heal, love, anger and to fill us full of adrenaline. Different styles of music tends to have very different effects. For me, personally, certain music touches something deep in my soul that cannot be expressed or even described in words. It is a part of me and who I am. It isn’t even so much a style of music as the instruments that are used. There is just something about listening to a piano or saxophone alone with no accompaniment that has a resonating and deep meaning for me. I cannot say or even begin to explain why. All I know is that when I hear piano, it stirs the deepest of my emotions. It is interesting also that for moments of time in our life how a song can best represent where and when that time period was as well as what happened during that time.

A 2008 study done at BYU has shown that even infants as early as 5 months old could differentiate between happy and sad tunes, perhaps suggesting that music is a universal language. All I know is that it definitely has the power to evoke emotions and memories.

Cheers!
~ Peter West

Follow-up on Distractions

A few days ago, I posted an article about “Writing Free from Clutter”. In that article, I talked about how it is necessary to get rid of distractions in order to be a serious writer. After writing the post, I took a close look at the distractions in my own writing and decided to make some changes. I found that I spend most of time between eight primary activities — working, spending time with family, sleeping, eating, video games, watching television/movies, writing and reading.

Working — I can’t do much about that one. Somebody has to pay rent and bills and put food on the table. Spending time with family — I’m not willing to give up much time here, but what I am willing to do is set aside specific times to read and write and to communicate those times. Sleeping — currently, I am only sleeping 5-6 hours a night, so doing with any less would probably be detrimental and would degrade the quality of my writing. Eating — I’m already a fast eater, so I can’t really save any time in this area. Video games — Between Dragon Age: Origins and Mass Effect/Mass Effect 2, I have spent at least 20 hours a week, if not more, playing these games. I have decided to set limits to my playing time. One hour a day during the week and two hours on Saturday and Sunday, so no more than 9-10 hours a week on video games. Net savings: 10-20 hours a week. Television & Movies — I will show my before and after viewing schedules below. I have saved several hours a week here as well. Writing — Well, the goal is to have more time to write, so MORE time here would be good. Reading — I don’t do nearly enough of it and considering the best writers are also avid readers, it is important to me to have more time to read as well.

TV Viewing Schedule (before):
Monday: Chuck, The Event, Chase, Monday Night Football (DVR)
Tuesday: NCIS, Glee (DVR), NCIS: Los Angeles, The Colony
Wednesday: Survivor: Nicaragua, Top Chef, Top Chef: Just Desserts
Thursday: Fringe, Project Runway, The Mentalist
Friday: Supernatural
Saturday: College Football
Sunday: NFL Football, Amazing Race, Undercover Boss, NFL Football Primetime

TV Viewing Schedule (after):
Monday: Chuck, Monday Night Football — only if Colts are playing (no DVR — come in late)
Tuesday: NCIS, Glee (DVR) (The Colony is over, so that freed up that time slot)
Wednesday: Nothing (Top Chef is over)
Thursday: Fringe
Friday: Supernatural
Saturday: College Football — only actively watch IU, else all games are in the background only
Sunday: NFL Football (Colts only), Amazing Race, NFL Football Primetime (Colts only)

As you can see, the schedule before equated to roughly 34-35 hours a week in TV viewing time — WAY too much. Afterwards, the schedule was pared down to 13.5 hours, so that saves 20 hours a week. Between the time savings in video games and television viewing, I have added 30 – 40 hours a week to my schedule. That’s practically a full-time job! I figure I can add an extra hour of sleep and an extra hour of quality time with my wife and children, and an extra hour and a half each for reading and writing. That sounds really good! Wish me luck! I urge you to look at your own schedules and see where you can find more time to do the things that you love.

Cheers!
~ Peter West

Advanced Reader Copies

I have been lucky and fortunate enough over the past couple months to have been selected to receive Advance Reader Copies (ARCs) of Dean Koontz’s “What the Night Knows” and Brian James Freeman’s “The Painted Darkness”. I am currently reading “The Painted Darkness” and will be posting a review once I have finished it. So far, it has been a decent read. I am highly anticipating “What the Night Knows” since Dean Koontz is one of my favorite authors. I first discovered him in the early 90′s when I was a member of a book of the month club and received “The Bad Place” as a monthly selection. I was hooked from the start. I practically read it cover to cover and it left me wanting more, so I purchased “Cold Fire” next and also read it over the course of a few days. That summer, I ended up buying and reading all of the books that Koontz had published to date, which was 21 or 22 books I believe. I couldn’t get enough of his writing. Since then, every time he has published a new book, I have bought it as soon as it is released in paperback. My Dean Koontz collection now encompasses an entire bookcase next to a bookcase with all of my Stephen King books. I appreciate how much of a master Dean Koontz is with language. His stories are vivid and nearly life-like. Reading his books is like watching a movie in my head. I admit that I have had to pull out a dictionary once in a while, but I enjoy doing that as it helps me to expand my vocabulary as a writer. His work has inspired me to be better as a writer. So I simply cannot wait until “What the Night Knows” arrives.

Cheers!
~ Peter West

Make Your Time Count

This morning I awoke with an overwhelming sense of sadness. On the way to work, “You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban came on the radio. It always makes me think of my grandfather. He was always my rock in life. Whenever I had any problems, I could go to him. It didn’t matter what the problem was, he was always there to give me a hug and words of encouragement. He was unwavering in his love and support. He always believed in me and in the man I would become, even when I couldn’t see it myself. He was my light in the darkness and it was he that first introduced me to the love of Jesus Christ. Without him, I think I might have been a lost soul. I wasn’t the only person whose life he touched. Whether you were family or a complete stranger, it didn’t matter to him. He treated everyone the same — with love and respect. If you ever needed him, he was there. He would have given you the shirt off his back if you were in need. Though he passed away in 1995, it still feels like it was just yesterday and I miss him just as much, if not more than I did even then. I was so blessed to have such a wonderful person and role model in my life.

When I look back over the course of my life, I see certain people that were there just when I needed them. Many of those people were teachers, some were pastors, others just friends or acquaintances. They were almost like mile markers in my life. The one thing they all shared was that they were all there when I needed them the most and they all believed in me and that I was meant to make a difference in this world. I often struggle, as many people do, with who I am and what I am supposed to be doing. With age comes wisdom and I have learned over the course of my life that true answers to life’s greatest questions come from two places — through prayer and by self-reflection. I think that the two are closely related, because I believe that God speaks to our hearts. Only by looking deep within ourselves and listening can we hear and understand our purpose and path for our life.

The greatest stressor in life is the struggle with self, especially when you know what you are meant to do and you are doing something else. I was born to be a writer. I know that to my very core. I was given the gifts that I was given so that I can make a positive change in the world through my written words. Yet society would tell me that I need a full-time job that pays the bills. I have a family — a wife, three daughters (two at home and one that lives with my ex-wife), and three cats. They need to be supported, so I work. I still spend much of my free time writing or thinking about my writing. Until the day I can be successful and have several books that are paying royalties, that is what I must do. I need to write just as much as the air I breathe. One refreshes my body while the other replenishes my soul.

Back to my overwhelming feeling of sadness. I got to work this morning and checked Facebook briefly and learned that a dear friend of mine lost her father unexpectedly during the night. I am convinced that this was the reason I awoke with the emotion that I did. Some people are lucky and get to have their loved ones around for most of their adult lives. Others, such as myself, lose loved ones far too early in life. None of my grandparents are living. My father passed away a couple of years ago. Outside of my own family (my wife and children), I have my mother, sister, brother, an uncle and an aunt still living. Yes, there is extended family (lots of cousins), but as far as immediate family mine is very small now. I have also lost a lot of friends over the years. Every death has been difficult. I know they are all in a better place, but that knowledge can only give so much comfort.

I guess the point that I’m trying to make is that no one ever knows when their time will be up. In the blink of an eye, a matter of moments, a loved one could be gone. Sometimes there is warning, often there is not. That’s why I would like to encourage everyone to make your time count. Don’t hold anything back because there might not be another chance. Cherish the ones that you love and tell them so. Make sure everyone you care about knows that you love them and that they matter to you. I think much of the reason why it is still so difficult for me with losing my grandfather is that I never got to say goodbye and to tell him that I love him. I know he knew that, but there is power in words and it is still important to tell people that you care. Maybe it is more for your own benefit than theirs to remind you of what that person means to you, but it is important nonetheless. Don’t let that happen to you — spend time with your family, friends, and everyone else that you love and let them know that you care and that they mean something to you. Life is a fragile thing and it can be taken at any moment without any warning, so just do whatever you can to make the most out of the time you are given and the time that you have with those that you care about. That way you won’t have any regrets.

Cheers!
~ Peter West

Writing Free from Clutter

Writing is an art form and creativity is truly a gift. I am a writer. I love to write more than just about anything else in the world. Spending time with my wife and children aside, it is the one thing that when I am doing it, I don’t feel like I should be doing something else. I know in my heart, soul, and very core that writing is what I am meant to do. More than that, it is who I am. It feeds and nourishes my soul. It provides an outlet for venting emotions and taking a stand on issues that I might not be comfortable doing in the real world. I freely admit it. I live vicariously through my characters. I create them and I use them, sometimes to reflect my own beliefs, values, and moral compass, other times to explore the dark side that we all have. Sometimes it is fun to be bad through a character and do and say things that we would never dream of doing in real life. It is a fact that there is evil in the world. To ignore it and pretend like it is not there is not only unrealistic and foolish, but it is unfair to the reader. Though the degrees of evil vary and not all characters are bad, in almost every story (even children’s books) there are bad or negative actions. Sometimes the actions are intentional, sometimes they are committed through naivety or prompting of others. Let’s face it, there has to be evil because without it there would be nothing to overcome. But alas, I have strayed off my original intent for this post.

Even though I love to write and it nourishes my soul, I am constantly finding myself distracted. It comes from a variety of sources — people talking, my children playing, the television, other books, video games, a dirty house, grass that needs mowed, etc. It seems like something is always calling my name to be done. What’s worse is I feel at times that I make excuses to not write. For example, I might tell myself that I will write after this or that television show goes off or when I finish that game. I really don’t get it sometimes. Why on earth would I be making excuses for not doing what I love to do more than anything else (again, family is excluded from that statement)? I have thought about this on many occasions and I think I have finally figured out the answer. It’s not that I would rather be doing the other activities, it is more that everything has to be in its place and done before I can sit down an concentrate on writing. If my desk is cluttered, for instance, I have to straighten it before I can write. I could give example after example, but I will spare you the gory details.
All writers have different and unique writing styles and routines for preparing to write. I’m sure there are other writers that can write in the middle of the hustle and bustle of just about anywhere. I am not one of those people. I need peace and quiet. I also need order and a writing space (and mind) free of clutter. I also need a checklist of what is important to me. Setting priorities and goals is very important to maintaining the effort to write. So is setting aside dedicated time to write, picking a time where nothing else could possibly interfere with writing. For me, it is also important to make sure that anything else that needs to be done is taken care of before my writing time. To be a successful writer, it is also important that you set aside time daily to write. If you only write once in a while when you feel like it, you are not really a writer — you are a hobbyist that enjoys writing.

So, here is a summary of my points in order to write successfully and free from clutter:

1. Set aside time DAILY to write, even if it is only for half an hour. It is very important that you maintain this. Pick a time when there is nothing else that might interfere with your writing.
2. Take care of any other activities before sitting down to write — wash the dishes, mow the lawn, walk the dog, play a video game, etc. Just be sure that when the time you set aside to write comes, drop whatever you are doing and write. You might even consider setting an alarm.
3. Find an environment that suits your writing style. For me, that means someplace quiet. It might be a room with a door that closes or maybe even a quiet spot in the park.
4. Free yourself from distractions. This is by far the hardest step. Turn off (or in extreme cases, SELL) the television, lock up the movies, delete all the games from your designated writing computer and lock up the installation discs. If your writing time is in the evening, put the kids to bed before you start. If you are married or in a relationship, be sure to communicate to your significant other when your writing time is and to please not disturb you during that time.

If you can live and abide by those four simple rules, writing should be a lot easier for you. Good luck and stick with it!

Cheers!
~ Peter West

Welcome to Western View!

Hello and welcome to my blog, Western View! My name is Peter West and I am a fiction writer. “Reluctant Journey” is my last published novel and I am currently working on two new novels. In addition to writing fiction, I am also a published poet and an aspiring songwriter. I grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana and now live in Bloomington, Indiana. Although I have lived in a few other states, Indiana is and always will be home and I’ll always be a Hoosier at heart. I started writing when I was very young. One of my earliest memories was attending a Young Authors Conference in Fort Wayne, where I presented my very first book “The Tale of X-3-9″, which won an award. I have kept my love of writing my entire life and hope someday to be able to write full-time so that I can spend my days between spending time with my family and doing what I truly love to do.

My works are typically mainstream with elements from various genres including mystery, science fiction, fantasy, romance, and even horror. I have far too many “favorite” authors to list them all, but I am most inspired when I read books by James Rollins, Dean Koontz, Stephen King, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Stephen R. Donaldson. The first “serious” fiction that I read was “The Hobbit”, which was followed quickly by The Lord of the Rings trilogy. I would spend the next several years engrossed in the Fantasy genre, soaking up Stephen R. Donaldson’s Chronicles (and Second Chronicles) of Thomas Covenant and novels by Piers Anthony, Raymond Feist and David Eddings among others. I discovered Dean Koontz quite by accident in the early 90′s and spent a summer reading every novel he had published, which at the time was 21 or 22 books I believe. Koontz led me to Stephen King, John Saul, and Robert McCammon. Eventually, I wanted to branch out from fantasy and horror novels, so I began reading science fiction, primarily Poul Anderson and Isaac Asimov. With the increasing popularity of Star Wars, I also found myself caught up in the Star Wars novels as well. I especially liked the X-Wing Rogue Squadron novels and the novels written by Kevin J. Anderson and Michael Stackpole. After Star Wars came Frank Herbert and Dune and Kim Stanley Robinson and the Mars novels (“Red Mars”, “Blue Mars”, “Green Mars” and “The Martians”). A few years ago I was in the bookstore browsing for new reading material and came across a novel cover that caught my eye. I bought it and read it cover-to-cover and couldn’t put it down. Since then, I have read and thoroughly enjoyed every novel that author has written. As someone new to the publishing game, I sent this author an email one day and asked him if he had any advice for a new author. I didn’t really expect to hear anything back, but to my surprise he wrote me back and gave me some great advice. I have stayed in touch with him over the years and consider him a friend. That author — James Rollins. One of my primary goals is to attend the Hawaii Writers Conference in Maui so that I can meet and talk with Jim in person. I should probably also mention that my wife is a huge fan of his and has demanded that she come along too, which I wanted to do anyway.

My wife, Melanie, is my greatest inspiration and is my muse. She and our two daughters are the light of my life. One day when I am able to be a full-time writer, I think I will be able to know true happiness. I really look forward to that day! Not that I am not happy now — I adore my family. I just know deep down that I am not doing what I am meant to be doing on a full-time basis. I’ll get there, hopefully soon and with your help!

I hope that you, faithful reader will bookmark my blog and return on a regular basis to read my sometimes meaningful, sometimes random ramblings about various topics. If you haven’t read my last novel, “Reluctant Journey”, please do so. Take care and see you soon!

Cheers!
~ Peter West