A Blog's Purpose (Updated -- Thrice)

Hi there! There I am with my shit-eating grin and my three novels, one of which is a New York Times bestseller, for what that’s worth. Ha ha ha …

I remember, right before we went on vacation this summer, when my third book was published in print, one of our neighbors came over and I showed him the book. He saw the words “New York Times bestselling author” on the cover, and he said, “So … you’re famous now?” And I said, “Um … no. I’m not. Or, you would already know that, wouldn’t you?” LOL!

Well … the fact of the matter is, the readership of this blog is much smaller than the first blog I established. This blog is, in fact, like an appendix. It may have served a purpose at one time, but that’s no longer true, because I’ve learned that I have the strength to stand on my own as an author, screenwriter, possible producer, traveler and who knows what else and create my own unique platform.

So, for your benefit, I’m going to start over — again! — and include this link from the other blog, which explains a lot about what I’ve been going through for seven and a half years.

And in case you don’t click the link, I’ll quote the relevant part:

Okay, what you need to understand is that my journey as a writer with dystonia started here. This is where I finally admitted to the Internet how much I was suffering. Yet, I still made a joke out of it. Ha ha ha …

Now … I’ll quote from the guest post where I made that admission:

When Vincent invited me to write a post for his blog, it was during a discussion on LinkedIn. (Remember LinkedIn? Some of us still hang out there.) We were talking about the usual subjects – marketing ebooks, promoting our work online, that sort of thing.

I think Vincent mentioned something about readers expecting us to publish a book every six months or so. I couldn’t resist saying something at that point. You see, I have a problem. I try not to make a big deal about it, but I don’t keep it a secret, either.

I had a stroke in November 1994 2004 [Blogger's note: I fucked up the date! Feel free to change it, Vincent. Ha ha!], due to a post-operative blood clot going through a hole between the atria in my heart (i.e., due to a complete fluke set of circumstances). About five or six months after that, and despite what seemed to be a complete recovery from the stroke, I developed the third most common movement disorder (after Parkinson’s and tremors) called dystonia. As it happens, dystonia has no cure.

This disorder causes constant clenching and contortion of my left hand and foot. (The side affected by the stroke – coincidence? Don’t think so.) And when I say constant, I mean 24/7, day in and day out. Every second of every minute of every hour of every day of every … oh, you get the idea.

And as for treatments, well … the story is not so good. There are some, but they don’t really work completely. They are, at best, hit or miss. The best neurologists do things and say, “Let’s see what happens.” (In other words, “We don’t WTF we’re doing, but this is our best guess.”)

And alternative medicine. Yeah, been there, done that, spent the money. Currently trying acupuncture. Seems to be doing something. Slowly. Very slowly. Patience, grasshopper.

And pain. Like you wouldn’t believe sometimes. Picture your hand being slowly twisted in a medieval torture device that never, ever stops. Lovely, isn’t it?

Okay. Now, back to what we were talking about. Publishing a story every six months? No, I don’t think so. Sorry.

And then … Vincent said something even funnier! He mentioned that we were vying for position as #1 in some Amazon category! Well …

I won’t lie. Being #1 is awesome and all, but it’s not why I wake up in the morning and write.

And for me, success is measured in way more than mere numbers.

For me, success is being able to force myself out of bed and convince myself to keep going, despite everything.

And I write because I enjoy telling stories, and I want to tell the best stories I possibly can. No matter how long that takes.

Success is also being able to make a living as a writer, despite all the work that entails. This would not only include all the concentration and creative effort that goes into writing the work, but the physical act of using my hands to type the words. Not to mention all the marketing and promotion.

As for speech recognition software, well … have you ever used it? I have. Two words: it sucks.

Writing this post itself takes not only energy, but decision making. I don’t wish to present myself as an object of pity. However, I am interested in raising public awareness of dystonia. So I find myself striking a fine balance between talking about the matter and not talking about it too much.

Success is summoning up the blind faith to keep going in the face of what, at times, has seemed to be insurmountable odds and endless obstacles.

Frankly, achieving bestseller status is (pardon the cliché) just icing on the cake.

Okay … not only that, but if you read this post, you’ll see that I’m not supposed to use speech recognition. In fact, it’s better for me if I don’t!

Here’s why I don’t use speech recognition software, okay?

That said, anything you can do to support this campaign for literacy would be greatly appreciated. All the proceeds will go the Red Cross, okay? None to me, and the contributions are tax deductible. However, the deadline is creeping up like a cheap pair of drawers! Dec. 21. Please, pretty please, help make my goal! I’m not going to get hand outs from my mother-in-law or Mr. Smiley or anyone on this. Believe me! This is for charity and literacy, okay?

Also, great news! The goal amount of the Sam McRae Mystery Series campaign has been raised to $5,500, and the deadline extended to Jan. 31, 2013. I’ve stretched the goal amount now that I’ve hit my initial mark and I’d like to keep this going, so I can give out more books and make my series a success through small donations.

Therefore, I’m concentrating on promoting this at the first 3 levels of support.

Any help you can provide in terms of spreading the word, etc., would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!!

**** end of quoted part****

Now … this is what I blogged yesterday, because I have been working hard to make my $1,000 goal. Gloria Steinem was right. Men and women aren’t truly equals until each can stand on their own two feet equally, from a financial standpoint. The truth is I am in this to establish a business and my author platform, not to rely upon handouts from anyone. So, while I’m fine with accepting start-up funds from my mother-in-law, I cannot rely upon her largesse (sp?) forever. And I’m not going to take pocket change from Mr. Smiley only to be one of his mid-list authors. As an indie author, I’m an entrepreneur. Therefore, I can’t have my cake and eat it it, too.

Mr. Smiley

I am just a human being trapped in a body that tortures me constantly, and yet I’m able to be a happy fool. But I don’t need two blogs to do the work of one. Ha ha ha …

Now, here are a few links of possible interest:

Are you blogging at least twice a week?

Root cause of senseless tragedies.

Speak up about the gender wage gap.

On Facebook, bad with the good.

Never tell me the odds.

The world’s worst war.

PS: Don’t forget about Dale Phillips’ new release and big holiday giveaway!

UPDATE: Okay, as long as we’re being real, read this and weep laugh or whatever.

That was last year when I was still the goofy blonde who had delusions of grandeur and was selling a shitload of downloads both here and in the UK.

When you lose money, you can always earn it back. When you lose your health and there’s no cure, it’s gone forever. Until you die. Or someone finds a cure. But hope is a killer, unless you can learn to laugh at the universal joke that screwed you over. I don’t need to pretend my life is anything other than what it is, anymore. That’s it.

More to come. Stay tuned and leave your comments here for Dale’s giveaway contest.

UPDATE 2: I’m on Pinterest now, of course. Here’s an interesting video I pinned. Hmm …!

UPDATE 3: Good grief! I totally forgot to mention this part. Sorry!

Here are a few details about my literacy campaign.

If you support Debbi Mack’s Literacy Campaign as follows, here’s what you get:

Give $10, and you’ll get a paperback Lulu edition of the New York Times ebook bestselling novel IDENTITY CRISIS, signed by the author AND delivered to your mailing address. NOTE to international backers: extra charge for shipping may apply.

Give $20, and you’ll get a paperback first edition of LEAST WANTED, signed by the author, delivered to your mailing address, AND all rewards listed above. NOTE to international backers: extra charge for shipping may apply.

Give $50, and a personalized thank you letter, a paperback first edition of RIPTIDE, signed by the author, delivered to your mailing address, AND all rewards listed above. NOTE to international backers: extra charge for shipping may apply.

Give $300, and you’ll get to meet the author for coffee at a Baltimore-DC area cafe or restaurant that’s mutually convenient, AND all rewards listed above. NOTE to international backers: I’ll give you the books when we meet. You’ll have to pay for transporting yourself here. Ha ha ha …

I found a TARDIS, now I need a new brain. Ha ha ha …

It’s a TARDIS!