Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Holiday Gift Ideas...
If anybody is looking for any ideas for something under the tree or to be stuffed in a stocking, might I suggest my book. It's only 11 bucks, not to shabby and it will leave a lasting enjoyment...maybe the gift that keeps on giving.
(Available nationally and internationally)
(Available nationally and internationally)
Thursday, October 7, 2010
FOUR YEAR OLDS! AHH!!!!!!!!
It has been a couple of months since I have posted anything on my blog, and for that I apologize readers. I have been quite the busy guy dealing with the publication of my book, un-desireable issues at work, and raising a four year old...
My Son turned Four this past August and I figured well, the threatening threes are over with so now I can start to enjoy Thane being a four year old. WRONG!!! I think Four is just as bad as three, if not worse. "Terrible Two's" were a breeze and the "Threatening Three's" were only a taste of what was to come at age four.
His birthday party went off without a hitch and he had fun; opening his stack of gifts from partygoers and from his parents and family, playing with the partygoers, and just loving that it was his birthday. (Holidays and such are starting to make sense in his mind now, like he understands what it means to get presents and open them. You know how it goes)
The very next day it happened, Four sunk into his head and he developed more of an opinion. It doesn't help that he is stubborn but I've been dealing with the backtalk, and the "No's!". He's too damn opinionated. It seems like he is frustrated and just does not want to listen and maybe that is just the way of the four year old???
I am proud because he is slowly starting to try new foods, but it seems to be at his discression. He's a very picky eater and I've come to find that on a frequent occasion he'll try a bite of something that he's always been told that taste's really yummy. Slowly but surely, his appetite for good tasting food is coming ahead. But if he doesn't want it you can't even force a bite in his mouth if you tried.
I have taken a no bullshit approach to try and get him to listen. I follow through; if he continues to disobey I tell him that I am taking one of his favorite, most prized possesions away...the next time he doesn't listen I take it, whatever it may be at the time, and I put it up in the closet and ultimately is forgotten about and then at a later point in life I bring it back to him and its like christmas to him all over again. Sometimes it works but then again...well, you know, it just doesn't.
He is due to be going into a schooling program soon and actually when he sees a school bus drive by, he gets really excited; jumps up and down, claps his hands, and shreiks in excitement, you know how kids are. He tells us that he wants to ride in the school bus and wants to go to school to learn and play with kids, and we are ready. :) Kids need that.
He's a sweet kid a lot of the time, and I enjoy Fatherhood but the age of four is wearing on me. The phase is very stressful for me but at the end of the day it's worth it (most of the time) He is very smart, clever, and so I think he uses that as a tool against Mommy and Daddy. We are not fools though! I can't help but think a lot of the time, a four year old is running my life but I put my foot down.
Has that thought ever drifted into anybody's minds before?
I am open to any comments or suggestions from Parents or anybody really, who has been exposed to raising children prior to myself. I am new at this.
My Son turned Four this past August and I figured well, the threatening threes are over with so now I can start to enjoy Thane being a four year old. WRONG!!! I think Four is just as bad as three, if not worse. "Terrible Two's" were a breeze and the "Threatening Three's" were only a taste of what was to come at age four.
His birthday party went off without a hitch and he had fun; opening his stack of gifts from partygoers and from his parents and family, playing with the partygoers, and just loving that it was his birthday. (Holidays and such are starting to make sense in his mind now, like he understands what it means to get presents and open them. You know how it goes)
The very next day it happened, Four sunk into his head and he developed more of an opinion. It doesn't help that he is stubborn but I've been dealing with the backtalk, and the "No's!". He's too damn opinionated. It seems like he is frustrated and just does not want to listen and maybe that is just the way of the four year old???
I am proud because he is slowly starting to try new foods, but it seems to be at his discression. He's a very picky eater and I've come to find that on a frequent occasion he'll try a bite of something that he's always been told that taste's really yummy. Slowly but surely, his appetite for good tasting food is coming ahead. But if he doesn't want it you can't even force a bite in his mouth if you tried.
I have taken a no bullshit approach to try and get him to listen. I follow through; if he continues to disobey I tell him that I am taking one of his favorite, most prized possesions away...the next time he doesn't listen I take it, whatever it may be at the time, and I put it up in the closet and ultimately is forgotten about and then at a later point in life I bring it back to him and its like christmas to him all over again. Sometimes it works but then again...well, you know, it just doesn't.
He is due to be going into a schooling program soon and actually when he sees a school bus drive by, he gets really excited; jumps up and down, claps his hands, and shreiks in excitement, you know how kids are. He tells us that he wants to ride in the school bus and wants to go to school to learn and play with kids, and we are ready. :) Kids need that.
He's a sweet kid a lot of the time, and I enjoy Fatherhood but the age of four is wearing on me. The phase is very stressful for me but at the end of the day it's worth it (most of the time) He is very smart, clever, and so I think he uses that as a tool against Mommy and Daddy. We are not fools though! I can't help but think a lot of the time, a four year old is running my life but I put my foot down.
Has that thought ever drifted into anybody's minds before?
I am open to any comments or suggestions from Parents or anybody really, who has been exposed to raising children prior to myself. I am new at this.
Monday, August 9, 2010
You Can't Rush Art
Now, we all know that it takes a certain talent, a certain way with words that entitles you to become an Author. Not just a writer because anybody can write but a published Author.
I have heard stories that the publication process can be a real bitch. It shouldn't be considering that your work is being reformatted from a five subject notebook to a soft and/or hard bound masterpiece. I think a lot of those people were too impatient, like most of America is. You have to be patient if you want it to look its best for shelf life, and the eyes of your potential readers. The saying "You can't rush art." fully applies.
Here is a rundown of how my publication process went and the joy I had entirely throughout. I am a patient person and I realize that the company is not just working on my book, but more than likely, several other authors before me and after me. So keeping that in mind, the process was fun.
Once I had a complete manuscript, edited by my own personal editor and long time friend/brother, Austin, I began the search (well, I had been searching here and there throughout it's completion) I discovered a list of publication houses that dealt with poetry and I spent a good two hours generating a list of web sites.
I started going down that list, visiting web page, after web page, reviewing their various submission guidelines, I came to the conclusion after viewing close to 75 sites, that my time spent generating and searching was all for nothing. All for nothing except a short education in submissions.
Each and every guideline stated that they would either A.) not accept unsolicited manuscripts or B.) they would accept them but would throw them into a slush pile for a slight possibility of actually reading it. An unsolicited manuscript is a manuscript that is not backed by an Agent. If an agent is representing a manuscript it seems more ligit rather than a manuscript that quite possibly was written in two weeks.
So I went on the hunt over the internet for an agent to represent me. I considered self publication but more of a last resort because I knew my writing was worthy of being published and if it absolutely came down to it where I had no luck, I'd go the self publishing route. I just somehow knew that I'd always be published, ever since I started writing. It was my dream that I was damn sure, I was going to make come true.
I found an agent whom after my, I guess you could call it an application but more of a critique on my work, was willing to represent me and get my manuscript published. It was almost the one year mark of my contract with the agency, when a publishing company took an interest in my work. This, I believe was right around my birthday; either on the day itself or a couple days before/after. Nice B'day present!
After submitting a couple of things to the would be future publisher, they told me to submit my manuscript to them because they thought I might be a good fit as one of their Authors. I submitted my manuscript and they told me that they recieved it and to wait two weeks because of all the many manuscripts that they were to review. Four days later, I recieved an email from them saying that they wanted to publish my work.
To see that in my INBOX was a complete shock and awe! My jaw dropped and I became slightly sweaty. I just stared and zoned out the rest of the world around me. I couldn't believe what I was reading. I was immediately overwhelmed with such a joyful feeling, it was like I found god or something. I ended up closing out the email and then reopening it again to read it over again, like my eyes were misled. I ended up laughing aloud, like a mad man and right away called my fiance, Cortney, at work to tell her the grand news. She started crying tears of joy because her baby was now to be a published author.
I electronically signed the contract and the publication process begun, for Map of a Distorted Mind. The crew at Strategic Book Group/Eloquent Books were extremely cordial towards me throughout its process. For every step of the way, it was skillfully coordinated as I dealt with one department after the other was finished. Versus all of it at once. I was able to sign off on every stage and they never once, told me to change my work.
I don't compromise my writing. I just don't. It's written the way it's written because that's how I intended it to be read. I was not about to be published under the conditions that I change a line or two or however many first, in order to be published. They respected my work and I believe they have a lot of faith in me that I will come through.
Department after department, once completed there was a steady point close to the release date where nothing was happening, no emails were coming through. I would say this stagnant point was the worst and only because it was all finished and I was just anticipating its release ASAP. After a couple of months of inactivity, Map of a Distorted Mind, was released in July of 2010.
As of this morning, I was able to preview my royalty report and see a clearer reality. Clearer than when it was initially released and I held that freshly printed copy of my book in my hands. When I logged onto my royalty report webpage, I saw that I accumulated 31.00 in sales just in the first month. In the first month of its release I sold 12 copies of my book.
It may not appear to be a lot to some of you, but to me 12 copies is an amazing amount for just the first month of being available to the public. Writing has always been about the passion and sharing my work with anybody who was willing to listen or read it. It has never been about the money, although the extra money is nice, it simply is a hobby that I would one day like to be able to just do without working for a corporation.
Paying the bills by my writing would be the next big dream of mine but until then, I will just keep the passion alive and eventually I will get there. Altogether, this book took me a total of ten years to complete; 8 years of material, 2 years for the publicaton process to complete.
It doesn't stop with Map of a Distorted Mind, this is only the begining. I currently am juggling between writing three other books to be published. I have a whole book shelf in my head, so you all will have something to look forward to.
If you put your mind to it...
I have heard stories that the publication process can be a real bitch. It shouldn't be considering that your work is being reformatted from a five subject notebook to a soft and/or hard bound masterpiece. I think a lot of those people were too impatient, like most of America is. You have to be patient if you want it to look its best for shelf life, and the eyes of your potential readers. The saying "You can't rush art." fully applies.
Here is a rundown of how my publication process went and the joy I had entirely throughout. I am a patient person and I realize that the company is not just working on my book, but more than likely, several other authors before me and after me. So keeping that in mind, the process was fun.
Once I had a complete manuscript, edited by my own personal editor and long time friend/brother, Austin, I began the search (well, I had been searching here and there throughout it's completion) I discovered a list of publication houses that dealt with poetry and I spent a good two hours generating a list of web sites.
I started going down that list, visiting web page, after web page, reviewing their various submission guidelines, I came to the conclusion after viewing close to 75 sites, that my time spent generating and searching was all for nothing. All for nothing except a short education in submissions.
Each and every guideline stated that they would either A.) not accept unsolicited manuscripts or B.) they would accept them but would throw them into a slush pile for a slight possibility of actually reading it. An unsolicited manuscript is a manuscript that is not backed by an Agent. If an agent is representing a manuscript it seems more ligit rather than a manuscript that quite possibly was written in two weeks.
So I went on the hunt over the internet for an agent to represent me. I considered self publication but more of a last resort because I knew my writing was worthy of being published and if it absolutely came down to it where I had no luck, I'd go the self publishing route. I just somehow knew that I'd always be published, ever since I started writing. It was my dream that I was damn sure, I was going to make come true.
I found an agent whom after my, I guess you could call it an application but more of a critique on my work, was willing to represent me and get my manuscript published. It was almost the one year mark of my contract with the agency, when a publishing company took an interest in my work. This, I believe was right around my birthday; either on the day itself or a couple days before/after. Nice B'day present!
After submitting a couple of things to the would be future publisher, they told me to submit my manuscript to them because they thought I might be a good fit as one of their Authors. I submitted my manuscript and they told me that they recieved it and to wait two weeks because of all the many manuscripts that they were to review. Four days later, I recieved an email from them saying that they wanted to publish my work.
To see that in my INBOX was a complete shock and awe! My jaw dropped and I became slightly sweaty. I just stared and zoned out the rest of the world around me. I couldn't believe what I was reading. I was immediately overwhelmed with such a joyful feeling, it was like I found god or something. I ended up closing out the email and then reopening it again to read it over again, like my eyes were misled. I ended up laughing aloud, like a mad man and right away called my fiance, Cortney, at work to tell her the grand news. She started crying tears of joy because her baby was now to be a published author.
I electronically signed the contract and the publication process begun, for Map of a Distorted Mind. The crew at Strategic Book Group/Eloquent Books were extremely cordial towards me throughout its process. For every step of the way, it was skillfully coordinated as I dealt with one department after the other was finished. Versus all of it at once. I was able to sign off on every stage and they never once, told me to change my work.
I don't compromise my writing. I just don't. It's written the way it's written because that's how I intended it to be read. I was not about to be published under the conditions that I change a line or two or however many first, in order to be published. They respected my work and I believe they have a lot of faith in me that I will come through.
Department after department, once completed there was a steady point close to the release date where nothing was happening, no emails were coming through. I would say this stagnant point was the worst and only because it was all finished and I was just anticipating its release ASAP. After a couple of months of inactivity, Map of a Distorted Mind, was released in July of 2010.
As of this morning, I was able to preview my royalty report and see a clearer reality. Clearer than when it was initially released and I held that freshly printed copy of my book in my hands. When I logged onto my royalty report webpage, I saw that I accumulated 31.00 in sales just in the first month. In the first month of its release I sold 12 copies of my book.
It may not appear to be a lot to some of you, but to me 12 copies is an amazing amount for just the first month of being available to the public. Writing has always been about the passion and sharing my work with anybody who was willing to listen or read it. It has never been about the money, although the extra money is nice, it simply is a hobby that I would one day like to be able to just do without working for a corporation.
Paying the bills by my writing would be the next big dream of mine but until then, I will just keep the passion alive and eventually I will get there. Altogether, this book took me a total of ten years to complete; 8 years of material, 2 years for the publicaton process to complete.
It doesn't stop with Map of a Distorted Mind, this is only the begining. I currently am juggling between writing three other books to be published. I have a whole book shelf in my head, so you all will have something to look forward to.
If you put your mind to it...
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Map of a Distorted Mind
Experiences, both good and bad, form us all into the people we become. Map of a Distorted Mind, begins with the emerging of the Phoenix—a rebirth. Departing from upstate New York and continuing on through Idaho to Oregon, this chronological collection of poetry invites its readers to escort the author, Joseph R. McNulty, on a transformational journey to chase a western dream. Prepare to travel a wandering path as each mile traveled leads to the measured discovery of the author’s emerging manhood. As you follow the author on his restorative journey, you will encounter the sometimes overwhelming and life-threatening obstacles that he encountered along the way. You will see how he overcame them and what he learned from them. This book is an emotional depiction of purpose and service as the author reveals the reason behind his rare survival and his new definition for the meaning of life.
http://www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/MapOfADistortedMind.html
(Officially available for purchase)
http://www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/MapOfADistortedMind.html
(Officially available for purchase)
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
A Random Thought
As concerning our current tragedy; The BP Oil Crisis, which is said to be the largest oil spill in history. It seems that oil has been an ongoing motive for greed and war throughout the years. It is an unfortunate situation that has affected nature, wildlife, buisness, fishing, and even tourism. And who the hell knows when we will ever get this cleaned up...will we?
In my very short opinion I think that this is Karma! For all of the wars and violent outlashings that centered around oil, it's like "You want Oil? You've got it. A whole lot of it. Here you go, have it all in one lump sum."
Doomsday is close, I can smell it.
In my very short opinion I think that this is Karma! For all of the wars and violent outlashings that centered around oil, it's like "You want Oil? You've got it. A whole lot of it. Here you go, have it all in one lump sum."
Doomsday is close, I can smell it.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Synchronicity
Has anybody ever heard of synchronicity? The term, the meaning? Synchronicity is a term coined by C.G. Jung which basically means "Meaningful Coincidence" in so many words. Now we are not talking about randomly meeting your neighbor at the grocery store or something boring like that. Synchronicity dives much deeper than that, and if you have ever been faced with a synchronistic event, or two, in your life, consider yourself blessed. I am writing this to share with anybody who's interested, about a synchronistic event that shaped me and blessed my life to this day.
I was born and raised in Upstate New York (Syracuse area) for the first 19 years of my life and I am an only child. Sure I would have loved a brother or a sister but unfortunately that never happened. I found my sibblings elsewhere through deep friendships overtime. My Dad comes from a family of eight, all originating in the Syracuse area but eventually they all moved out west to Boise, Idaho. I was 7 years old by the time the last of his side moved west so I was never really exposed to them growing up.
My Aunt Mary is works with another gal for a company called Adams and Associates, a tutoring buisness for the learning disabled or any student who is in need of further tutoring. My Aunt Chris is a nurse. Both have gentle hearts and care deeply about the individual, not just looking at them as "clients". We McNulty's treat you like family; that's how we have always been.
In April of 1982 (I was born in August of that year) a little boy was born but born with a rare disease that almost took his life in the years to come. Had it not been for my Aunt's loving care to nurse him back to health and save his life, he would have perished from the disease. Had it not been for my other Aunt, he wouldn't have done so well in school, for she became his primary tutor and helped him with his school work and taught him while he was sick. After a while of intensive care and love, bringing life back in him, they all parted ways...and life carried on.
After graduating high school in 2001, I had decided to move to Boise to start a new life for myself. I had visited there numerous times in the last two years of my high school career. I even went as far as living there the summer before Senior year to get a job and see if I had really wanted to live there or if it was just "vacation thinking" as my dad put it. I got a job and lived, but I didn't want to return home to New York, so my goal to graduate high school was having that chance to move to Boise, and I did.
Father's Day weekend of 2002 I purchased a Greyhound bus ticket and spent three and a half days on the road en route to my new life ahead of me. I didn't know anybody there except for my Family but I had a job waiting for me because I transfered with JC Penney. I met quite a lot of people and quickly established friendships.
I met a girl, Diane, while working there and we started dating; she was one of my manager's daughters, while her other daughter, Michelle, I ended up moving in with and shared my first apartment. I partied quite a bit and Michelle and I were going to be attending a party. For days she had been talking about this guy named, Seffan, who she thought we'd hit it off and become pretty good friends. The party we were supposed to be attending that night, Seffan was going to be at.
I met this fellow Seffan and by the end of the night we became pretty good friends...days, weeks, years, after this party, we quickly established a strong friendship. We have established a brotherly bond. Seffan is an only child and so am I. We to this day are such good friends that we both consider ourselves to be the Brothers we never had. We love each other like Brothers and are both very fortunate to have each other in our lives.
About a month or so after living on my own I had stopped over to my Aunt Chris' house for a visit. She asked how my life in Boise was going and who I had been hanging out with and the friends I made. I mentioned Seffan's name and newly established friendship we held. I spoke of him the most, over all the others. Chris paused what she was doing and asked what his last name was in an estranged curiosity.
I told her his last name and her jaw dropped in astonishment. Long behold, Seffan was that little boy with the rare disease, that both Chris and Mary helped so many years ago. Seffan and I were destined to become those Brothers we never had and wished we had growing up. Seffan being on the West Coast and I on the East. Michelle, some random person who I just happened to meet and move in with, knew Seffan and had it in her to introduce us. It was like she felt like she had a fun obligation to do so.
Had it not been for my family, Seffan might have died. Had it not been for Michelle begging for us to meet, I may not have ever met Seffan but through Synchronicity, we were supposed to meet; sometime in the future. For this I feel honored to have had such an inspirational yet powerful moment happen in my life and to this day I am grateful for this "meaningful conincidence".
On a final note; My friend Austin (my other Brother made in Idaho) lent me a book to read about this very topic of Synchronicity. If you, the reader of this blog, would like to know more about these "meaningful coincidences" the book Austin lent me is called
'There Are No Accidents; Synchronicity and the Stories of Our Lives' by Robert H. Hopcke
I was born and raised in Upstate New York (Syracuse area) for the first 19 years of my life and I am an only child. Sure I would have loved a brother or a sister but unfortunately that never happened. I found my sibblings elsewhere through deep friendships overtime. My Dad comes from a family of eight, all originating in the Syracuse area but eventually they all moved out west to Boise, Idaho. I was 7 years old by the time the last of his side moved west so I was never really exposed to them growing up.
My Aunt Mary is works with another gal for a company called Adams and Associates, a tutoring buisness for the learning disabled or any student who is in need of further tutoring. My Aunt Chris is a nurse. Both have gentle hearts and care deeply about the individual, not just looking at them as "clients". We McNulty's treat you like family; that's how we have always been.
In April of 1982 (I was born in August of that year) a little boy was born but born with a rare disease that almost took his life in the years to come. Had it not been for my Aunt's loving care to nurse him back to health and save his life, he would have perished from the disease. Had it not been for my other Aunt, he wouldn't have done so well in school, for she became his primary tutor and helped him with his school work and taught him while he was sick. After a while of intensive care and love, bringing life back in him, they all parted ways...and life carried on.
After graduating high school in 2001, I had decided to move to Boise to start a new life for myself. I had visited there numerous times in the last two years of my high school career. I even went as far as living there the summer before Senior year to get a job and see if I had really wanted to live there or if it was just "vacation thinking" as my dad put it. I got a job and lived, but I didn't want to return home to New York, so my goal to graduate high school was having that chance to move to Boise, and I did.
Father's Day weekend of 2002 I purchased a Greyhound bus ticket and spent three and a half days on the road en route to my new life ahead of me. I didn't know anybody there except for my Family but I had a job waiting for me because I transfered with JC Penney. I met quite a lot of people and quickly established friendships.
I met a girl, Diane, while working there and we started dating; she was one of my manager's daughters, while her other daughter, Michelle, I ended up moving in with and shared my first apartment. I partied quite a bit and Michelle and I were going to be attending a party. For days she had been talking about this guy named, Seffan, who she thought we'd hit it off and become pretty good friends. The party we were supposed to be attending that night, Seffan was going to be at.
I met this fellow Seffan and by the end of the night we became pretty good friends...days, weeks, years, after this party, we quickly established a strong friendship. We have established a brotherly bond. Seffan is an only child and so am I. We to this day are such good friends that we both consider ourselves to be the Brothers we never had. We love each other like Brothers and are both very fortunate to have each other in our lives.
About a month or so after living on my own I had stopped over to my Aunt Chris' house for a visit. She asked how my life in Boise was going and who I had been hanging out with and the friends I made. I mentioned Seffan's name and newly established friendship we held. I spoke of him the most, over all the others. Chris paused what she was doing and asked what his last name was in an estranged curiosity.
I told her his last name and her jaw dropped in astonishment. Long behold, Seffan was that little boy with the rare disease, that both Chris and Mary helped so many years ago. Seffan and I were destined to become those Brothers we never had and wished we had growing up. Seffan being on the West Coast and I on the East. Michelle, some random person who I just happened to meet and move in with, knew Seffan and had it in her to introduce us. It was like she felt like she had a fun obligation to do so.
Had it not been for my family, Seffan might have died. Had it not been for Michelle begging for us to meet, I may not have ever met Seffan but through Synchronicity, we were supposed to meet; sometime in the future. For this I feel honored to have had such an inspirational yet powerful moment happen in my life and to this day I am grateful for this "meaningful conincidence".
On a final note; My friend Austin (my other Brother made in Idaho) lent me a book to read about this very topic of Synchronicity. If you, the reader of this blog, would like to know more about these "meaningful coincidences" the book Austin lent me is called
'There Are No Accidents; Synchronicity and the Stories of Our Lives' by Robert H. Hopcke
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