Tag: jamespackwriter

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Breaking from the Social Media Madness

Toward the end of January, I went hard with social media posting. I posted something every day and I checked notifications constantly. I think this took a toll on me. All that extra noise on top of already feeling depressed and people started telling me that I always say something that rubs people the wrong way. It makes me wonder if everyone I’ve met has felt this way and perhaps that is why I have difficulty maintaining relationships of all kinds. Have people only put up with me to avoid further conflict?

All this added up to needing a break from many things. I spent a day at home, signed out of and deleted social media apps, and spent the whole day in my pajamas. I think some would call this a recovery day. I think it helped. I have a refueled ambition for my blog but also for how to move forward with social media in regard to my writing. Within 24 hours of hitting my lowest point in a long time, I have bounced back to at least a slightly functional human. I have a list of tasks I need to complete, but I’m uncertain how to move forward with personal relationships.

This has always been something I’ve struggled with and when I think I’ve improved, I find more obstacles. It’s a never-ending battle and sometimes I wish I didn’t have to hold a job and could just write every day and make enough income to survive. I’m taking steps to move my life in that direction, and it will be years before that is my sole source of income. I have an appointment scheduled with a psychiatrist and hopefully from that first session I can get a plan of action. I’m giving myself a year to work on many things.

There are many factors I have no control over, and these are the things I think I struggle with the most. There is only so much I can do about my financial situation and stabilizing that holds the biggest uncertainty. Almost half of this past year I was unemployed, and many other things caused it to be potentially the worst year in my recent life. I think that’s why I’ve hit such a low point and can’t find any resolution. So, I do the only thing I know how to do. I bury myself in my work and avoid all humans. Sometimes that’s what I must do to survive.

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Store Coming Soon

Good news everyone! On February 12, I will launch an online store for my website. What are some things I’ll sale through this online store? I will have autographed copies of my paperback books for sale. They will be cheaper than buying them from Amazon and with my signature. With shipping, the costs may come out the same. Shoppers will also have the ability to purchase custom written poems and haikus. These custom poems can be about anything one desires; funny, romantic, raunchy, contemplative, etc. I’ll also have poetry prints. These are 11×17 posters with one of my poems for one to hang in their living room or wherever.

The main product I am most excited about is the t-shirts with titles of some of my poems. Each shirt is related to one of the poems in my most recent collection of poetry titled “Men Are Garbage.” Yes, one of the shirts says, “Men Are Garbage.” You’re welcome ladies. At launch, the shirts will be approximately $30 only because I don’t have any in stock and will have to order them to be made for every purchase. Once I can buy many in bulk, the price will drop. Shipping costs will remain the same. 

I’m hoping with the sale of books on Amazon and with sales from this new online store, I can make enough money to devote more time to my writing without having to work multiple jobs just to pay the rent. As always, I appreciate those of you who have downloaded my works and I will continue to ask for honest reviews. If you hated it, say so. If you loved it, say so. If you felt indifferent, say so. The more honest the better. Be sure to check out my published works and keep an eye out for more updates as the shop launch comes closed.

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The Tommy Gun: A Novella

On January 22, my first full length work of fiction becomes available to the public. The Tommy Gun is the longest story I have written to date and I’m excited to hear what others think. Available in both eBook and Paperback, however, only the eBook is available for pre-order on Amazon. You can pre-order now on the Amazon Page or you can wait until the release. The paperback might take a couple more days before it’s seen online. I will have signed physical copies for sale after a couple weeks. So, what’s the novella about?

Government corruption. Hate speeches. A country divided. The world Brent White knew is crumbling. He gets his call to action when a friend goes missing. He trains himself to become a weapon against the new dictatorship. He fights through criminals and concentration camps to find his friend and save lives. He becomes a guardian for the persecuted. To end the suffering, he must stop one person. The politician turned dictator. Ronald Teagun. The Tommy Gun.

The story is told from two different point of views. One is from Brent White’s perspective and the other is from Ronald Teagun’s perspective. Each chapter of the book alternates between the two characters and a couple chapters have both characters trading off during the action. I wrote this story during the 2017 NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). The eBook is $2.99, and the paperback is $9.99. Reviews are requested and humbly appreciated.

I haven’t decided but I may have shirts and stickers with the cover logo available. I guess let me know if you want something like that. My writer shop should be ready to launch within the next month. My goal is to have it finished by February 12. Autographed copies of books, shirts, and requests for custom poetry will fill the store and perhaps other things. So, please tell your friends, write a review on Amazon or Facebook or Goodreads. And I hope you enjoy the novella.