My writing experience: Freedom of Religion and Separation of Church and S...

My writing experience: Freedom of Religion and Separation of Church and S...: My son started college this last fall and like all parents, I was happy for him and worried. Happy because he was going to college to set hi...

Freedom of Religion and Separation of Church and State

My son started college this last fall and like all parents, I was happy for him and worried. Happy because he was going to college to set him up for a good start in life on his own, worried because he was leaving to face the unknown with all the dangers of society. From facing temptations of drugs, alcohol, and other things that lead to the downfall of many a college career to the plain unknown of sickness, accidents, and the violence in the world. I prayed that he learned enough from his family (yes family, it takes a family to raise a child properly) to make the right decisions in life. So far, he has done rather well and I pray he continues to do so. One danger that I did not see is how people in a position off power above can have a negative effect a person's view of religion.

My son lives in the dorms at his college. He has it made with a dorm room of his own. The drawback is, or rather was, that his Resident Advisor was a Christian with fundamentalist leanings. There is nothing wrong with being a Christian; I am a Christian. The problem becomes when the person in authority starts to ram their beliefs down a person's throat and preaches hellfire and Damnation, when the person takes the Authority of Christ and condemns people.

I do not like this, to me it is not Christian behavior, it is hateful behavior and tends to drive people away from God. I do not want someone in authority, minor as it may be, to poison my son's view of God. No, I want my son to come to God on his own terms and not be coerced into it. I do not think fear creates a true believer but a suppressed soul.

I was relieved to find the Resident Advisor was relieved of his position because of his actions. He overstepped his authority and was in violation of the concept of separation of religion from government.

Do I think Christians should not serve in government? No, far from it, I believe it is ok for people who have spiritual beliefs serve in government. I do not mind that our elected officials talk about their faith, heck it is part of what makes them who they are. What I do not like is for someone to tell me what to believe in, who or how to worship, or judge me for my beliefs. I definitely do not like a person who condemns another; especially if the person is a hypocrite.

If you are a Christian spread the Gospel, Judge not, live your life as best you can to shine like a beacon for others to follow. I know I have not been the best at this but I try. Heck, I am a sinner but God still loves me and I know there is Salvation in Christ. And for those non-believers or those of other faiths I say. "Treat others as you would like to be treated and Love thy neighbor like thy self." Even this saying is Humanist.

Charles Parmele author of The Last Run

My writing experience: Self-publishing, My Attempt

My writing experience: Self-publishing, My Attempt: Well now that I am back to blogging or at least trying to, I want to talk about self-publishing. As a writer, or to some a "Wanna be " I am ...

Self-publishing, My Attempt

Well now that I am back to blogging or at least trying to, I want to talk about self-publishing. As a writer, or to some a "Wanna be " I am slowly learning the business from when pen first touches paper till some finished project is, as in my case, crapped out in epub or print form. I am joking of course, but I have made mistakes and I am not perfect.

What I like about the industry so far is what opportunities that the Internet has opened up for people like me. Twenty years ago I would have had to struggled to publish anything without a literary agent not to mention a publishing company, now there are numerous resources out there. I am just finding out what to do to get my writing out there, but I am way ahead of where I would have been twenty years ago. There is something similar now to then I do not have money. (I mean I am not rich.) That is no problem, there are many no to almost no cost options out there. Remember too that the Internet is a tool you can use to draw people to your writing, something like blogging.

This is just a short, shoot from the hip, sale pitch about self-publishing and my allergy meds are making me drowsy so here our some resources for the "wanna be" writer.

Smashwords Independent good for epublishing across multiple formats and very easy to use. You can also check out other authors who self-publish, many for free. check it out.

Kindle Direct Publishing This is a program ran by Amazon best for publishing for the Kindle. You hit a large audience this route. Amazon also offers away to make money from people borrowing your books using their Amazon Prime account. The program is called KDP select, check it out.

Createspace This is an option from Amazon that will self-publish your book in print. Do it yourself or pay for services. A great option. I felt so good when my book was delivered in print format!

Pub It This is Barnes and Noble's self-publishing program for the nook platform. very easy to use.

My first novel The Last Run is available at Amazon just click the link. The book is about a young man who serves as a deck hand for an old rummer now running a cargo delivery business in the South Pacific during the outbreak of World War II. Try it out.

Again sorry about the quality of the blog, blame it on Allergy meds.

These are a few options out there. All of the options above allow you to set your price and will pay you royalties. Look into them and try them out.

Right now my book

My writing experience: I am back and it feels good!

My writing experience: I am back and it feels good!: I took sometime off because,well, I guess I just did. I am back now and it feels good to write. Something else feels good. Yesterday I recei...

I am back and it feels good!

I took sometime off because,well, I guess I just did. I am back now and it feels good to write. Something else feels good. Yesterday I received a delivery from UPS, it was a book, my first book in print. It was not a proof nor a discounted copy, it was bought at full price from Amazon.com.
Why, you may ask, would I buy my own book at full price? I had to, I wanted to own the very first actual sell. It felt so good when it was delivered I got such a feeling that I cannot describe, pure pleasure.
So far as I know I still own the only copy ever sold (for now) but I do pray that changes. I cannot wait to sell more books in print and in email formats.
Right now you can purchase The Last Run from Amazon.com
Below is a picture of my copy and below that is a link to the Amazon page.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Last-Run-Charles-Parmele/dp/1475104790/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333593407&sr=1-1