What did you do with the last book you read?

I started reading about 50 years ago…I started reading for entertainment about 45 years ago (mostly comic books then); my teen years consisted of titles such as, My Darling, My Hamburger by Paul Zindel, Red Sky at Morning by Richard Bradford and many short stories by John Steinbeck.  Often times, reading for knowledge (science, space, politics, business) is now entertainment to me but mostly, I read story telling books just for entertainment.

Yes, my question is, “What did you do with the last book you read?”  I ask because this question was recently put to me.  I had an answer that was pleasing to the young lady who wanted me to donate books to her cause — the hospital patients reading something, something.

I do have some books that I’ve read, in a box or on a shelf but often, I give them away.  Sometimes, I donate them to doctors offices, libraries, schools, a thrift shop — there are numerous things you can do with them.

When I give them away, I ask the person to sign and date inside the cover when they have finished and pass it on to someone else later.  This all started when I was in the Navy, aboard ship.  I would lend books to other guys from time to time and when I did, I would write my name and the date I loaned it to them so they would know who to return the book.  After I while, I didn’t have anywhere to keep the books and just started giving them away but kept up with signing and dating inside the cover — not when I gave it to them but after I finished reading them.  There was once, some years later, when I got one of my books back and it had several names in it.  I passed it on with a little bit of pride that I had started something, maybe.  I haven’t seen other books with names unless they were a specific gift or signed by the author.

So, I can recommend that you check your local community for book exchange programs; or you could just donate it to someone, something, somewhere, sometime.

Jay 🙂

Just a few ideas:

http://www.moneycrashers.com/where-donate-used-books/

http://www.prisonbookprogram.org/

http://www.childrensbooksonwheels.org/a/donate/?gclid=CM20reTZjMQCFdccgQodXI4Amw

http://www.booksforafrica.org/index.html

http://www.thebookmama.com/how-to-donate-books-seven-places-that-want-your-used-books/

http://www.military.com/spouse/military-life/military-resources/how-to-support-our-troops.html

 

The Bull’s Eye of Life (Update)

Currently available for free #Kindle download.  Get yours today.  Read it and review it.

http://www.amazon.com/Bulls-Eye-Life-L-J-LeBorgne-ebook/dp/B00O8DZX3Y/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1417541204&sr=8-3&keywords=the+bull%27s+eye+of+life

 

 

The Kings of Fortune County (preview)

Well, here I go.  I’m not one to put my stuff out there before it is ready but I’ve had several requests for a taste of my first #book to be published, which I hope to have accomplished by the end of the year.

You can find a sample at my wordpress website:  http://1stclassdocumentservices.com/the-kings-of-fortune-county/

Remember, it is a work in progress but I am so enjoying this creative outlet.

Jay 🙂

 

What’s your story?

When it comes to telling your story, do you know what experiences you have that will tell the world about what made you who you are?

I read an article earlier today about an answer Mike “Dirty Jobs” Rowe gave in response to an interview question.  It had to do with not following your passion in life if it doesn’t prove successful in sustaining your life (of course that’s my take on it).

I’ve already proven to myself that my passion for writing stories and painting pictures will NEVER pay the bills, it shall remain a minor focus, part time at best.  There are a few reasons for this.  First, I work a little over 40 hours per week (no complaints, I’m blessed to have a low-paying job while others struggle to get work).  Second, although I have been writing for many years, I have not been properly trained in literature (specifically, creative writing) and therefore, will not appeal to very many (outside of my favorite people–very common folks).  My audience is and will remain limited.  And then, there’s the fact that it is important for me to follow God’s path for me with life, family and friends.  There is no guarantee that being an author is in my future but I will give it my best shot and see what happens.

After reading Mike’s response, I remembered when a friend asked me why I ever thought I could be a writer and what in the world would I know enough to write about.  I thought about my experiences in life (1) and how that could be a factor in helping me write (there are many stories, my friends).  I told my friend that would not be the problem.  The problem would be how I could accomplish it.

I’ve studied a few things here and there but I haven’t taken writing courses, yet.  In jobs as analyst and for reports writing, the style is very different from writing a book–the “government style guide” is quite different. With the knowledge I have, it would probably be easier to write a how-to book than a story book but I’m not in this for easy, I’m in it for creativity sake–an outlet for what’s inside my mind.  I already have a few stories that I’m working on.  What I have found in my research is that I can utilize skills from jobs and experiences I’ve had over the years, coupled with human observation, to put into characters.  Also in my research, it has been told to me that I should, “write how I speak,” and “just let it flow because you or someone else can fix it later.”  So, that’s my plan or was my plan.

Recently, I became a publisher.  I knew nothing about creating ebooks or printed books.  I had a couple of unknown writers provide me their books a few months ago; to learn about the processes, I bought ebooks and searched the internet for articles and blogs, and I viewed a few YouTube videos for information on self-publishing.  As of yesterday, I have three books with several sales on Amazon.com, in Kindle format and one of those on Createspace for print.  Oh, and I have this here blog website.  I had to learn to set up a website, too and it only took something I already possessed, my administration and self-management skills.

I believe that I have enough life experiences to create many stories.  I promise, I will apply syntax in a way that will make some cringe and others glad that they don’t have to struggle to read.  And, I will tell my stories, one page at a time.

So, what’s your story?  How can you use your experiences to tell it?  Just don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t tell it.

Jay 🙂

1 List of experiences (alphabetical order):  Administrator, Chauffeur, Classified Material Handler, Commercial Anodizer, Data Mining Specialist, Data Warehousing Administrator, Delivery driver, Document / Photo Scanner, Editor, Electronic files archiving, Events Planner, First Aid / CPR, Firefighter, Help Desk / Customer Service Representative, Information Technology assistant, Janitor, Leadership and Development Instructor, Legal Clerk, Military Intelligence Reports Writer/Analyst, Office Management, Painter (art / home), Personnel / Career Counselor, Personnel Management & Logistics, Personnel Pay, Poetry, Postal Clerk, Project Manager, Property Management/Leasing, Publisher, Records Management, Research Analyst, Retail and Business to Business Sales, Safe custodian (combination control), Security, Singer (Church Choir / Karaoke), Supply Clerk, Technical Manuals Librarian, Trainer and Subject Matter Expert Facilitator, Writer (Fiction / Non-fiction)

 

The Tor King (Update)

Available in Print at Createspace

Now available in print at Createspace; and Amazon.com in a few days.