I Published My First Book, & I Owe thanks To My Fellow Freepers For My Success

TRFMF ^ | 12/3/22 | OneVike

[OneVike]

I've been a Freeper for 25 years come next February, and I must admit that my knowledge and understanding of things has been immensely effected by the many great minds who are part of this great forum. Whether it's about politics, science, history, or religion, FreeRepublic has been to me, what many Colleges used to be. I have witnessed many a great mind debate other great minds, and I have witnessed my share of knock down, drag out, leave no prisoner, fights between Freepers who would die on their cross of beliefs. Probably the biggest was the battle of the long-knives. This is not an insult, but rather a compliment to the way this forum has truly effected me, and many like me, in our understanding of the world throughout the last 25 years.

It's been an somewhat unorthodox education, but it has enabled me to gain the knowledge, experience, and courage to write the book I published this past week. My book is titled, “Sleuthing The Scriptures.” It is a Christian book that contains many commentaries I have written over the years. Most deal with topics I have dove deeply into for the purpose of helping others understand GOD’s Word. It has long been my passion to open up the Scriptures and explain them in a way most Christians can understand. Too often theologians write in a way than only seminary students and other theological professors can grasp.

Many who have read my work, understand that I try to write in such a way that it makes it easier for Christians who are still drinking milk to understand. I try my best to explain things in a way where the reader will not need a lexicon or dictionary handy to understand what I am conveying. If something needs a deeper explanation, I will do so with proper notes to help bring the point to a solid understandable conclusion.

As I do with all my writing, I try to emphasize the importance of doing one's own investigation by reading the Word to be sure I am not taking Scripture out of context just to force a point I wish to make. I'm only human, so I pray for guidance to keep me humble, and above all, I fear leading others astray more than I desire recognition for my writing. Too often wolves in sheep’s clothing will twist Scripture to sway gullible young Christians away from Christ, because they are children of the devil who only wish to destroy one’s faith.

In the book I just wrote I have added some devotional Psalms I have written over the years along with a short story I pray will bless the hearts of those who read it. As a bonus, I have included something I have never published before. It is a theory I have pondered for many years about the day our Lord visited His father’s House when He was 12 years old. If I am correct on my theory, then this a portion of Jacob’s was fulfilled on that very day Jesus was baffling the religious scholars in HIS Father’s House.

This theory is one I have been working on for 35 years. I do plan on writing a separate book on this, but I offer my theory as it is in a 29 page chapter near the end of my book. There are a quite a number of good friends I have shared my theory with, some are Freepers, along with some pastors from various different denominations who have weighted in on my thesis. Its these well respected men who have suggested I expound upon my thesis in a book so I can offer a more in depth explanation than a mere chapter can offer. Which I am in the process of doing.

I share the information below as a way to thank FreeRepublic and my fellow Freepers for my success, because if FreeRepublic never existed, well then I never would have reached the point where IU could write, let alone get a book published.

As of this morning when I woke up, my current paperback book was ranked #34, while my Kindle e-book was ranked #17 on Amazon's New Releases for Christian Education.  They were ranked lower at #9 and #13 respectively, but Amazon numbers change quite frequently, and the sale of one or two books can make a big difference in the ranking of the competition. When I consider the millions of books listed by Amazon, I will accept my ranking in this category. Over all on the actual best seller list, I have been as low as 145,000, and as high as 490,000 . This only 5 days after I published my book, a new book is eligible to be ranked in the new release categories for 30 days, so that's free advertising as long as I can stay in their top 20 list which is on their first page. True, it's a niche category, but hey, I get the free advertising.

[OneVike]

That’s a great idea, do you do voices for it? If I did, no one would like it. Need a certain type of voice to make audio books work sell.

[OneVike]

Thank you.

[OneVike]

I will remember that, thanks

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7b8ZOGBSqw The Elusive Son Julian Peterson

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

28 minutes in is where the discussion of the “Essay” app discussion starts.

The whole vid is about an hour long

[OneVike]

Thanks I will watch it

I love Peterson

A am watching his round table discussion on Exodus

[ProgressingAmerica]

All of my audiobooks are public domain, but I find that most people underestimate how good their voices really are. The real secret to an excellent audiobook is simply this: “just be yourself.” That is what most people want to hear and you’re already an expert at that. That’s 60% of the audiobook right there along with knowing the original content, you’re already done.

Since you wrote the text of your book you own the copyright, that means when you go to record it as audio you would also own that copyright as well, you can go through your book publisher or Amazon.(or etc)

I should have an audiobook completed and out in the next week actually, it’s this one. I did this as a group with others but, if you’re curious. So with this one all wrapped up I’ll have a little time.

https://forum.librivox.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=88919

If you really don’t want to, that’s your call. But I did happen to look at your profile and I saw the picture of George Mason sitting there and an old history book about Mason would be a great thing to start up and make new again and use as a practice book.

[zeestephen]

Re: Loss of password

You misunderstand.

When I got the new computer in 2004, I no longer remembered what password I used in 2000 to create my FR account.

FR did not recognize my new computer, so, I had to create a new screen name and password in 2004.

Not a big deal at the time, but, twenty years later, I wish I had saved my original screen name and password.

[OneVike]

Thanks, I will give it much consideration

I’m actually a member of librivox Forum

[Elsie]

Ah...

That’s different!

[LS]

I once asked William F. Buckley, Jr. how he wrote so much and he said, “I get up. I brush my teeth. And I sit down in front of the typewriter.”

His point was, write all the time. Write anything. Read everything. You can’t be a better writer if you don’t understand how other people communicate, what sentence structures they use. For example, about 10 years ago I noticed I had fallen into a repetitive type of sentence structure: “ . . . . . then comma, then . . . . .” I began to make a deliberate effort to change everything. Shorter sentences. Colons. Semi colons. Lists.

[Terry L Smith]

i have scrribbledd things since 3rd grade.
i have run through b and w speckled journals, those fabulous 5 buck journals, federal green journals, and those leathher oness onn ebay (blech!).

i went through the Long Ridge Writers’ School, in nonfiction. i was a guest sermon author to the regional newspaper for 6 years, on esoteric subjects.

i attempted “write a book in November” thing, got sick, and well..

i do wish you well. have you tried a fountain pen?
or do you have a refillable pen with many words in it to go?
for fun and awe, look up ‘fountain pen hospital’.
pens can be as costly as a AC Cobra kit car!!

[stevio]

Congratulations and good luck.

[SunkenCiv]

Congratulations!

[OneVike]

Terry;
Iv'e been journaling my thoughts in those black/ white/ green speckled journals for over 24 years. Started not long after I joined FR in Feb 1998.

LS; Buckley is right, the more you write the better you get.

Journals are great, because when I look back at them I realize how I have grown in many ways. Great for those times when all of a sudden I feel useless or defeated. I look back and realize I may not be where I want to be yet, but I sure in the hell ain't where I was back then in many way.

I get up every morning at 4:30 - 6:30 and start reading my Bible before I allow the World to get into my head. I journal my thoughts that ( my head never stops thinking) cover a wide variety of issues, and today I am a better man for it.(Like most FReepers, my never stops thinking.)

I also started blogging back in 2005, had a few blog, wrote for other here and there, the longest running one was a blogspot, but now have my own official website. Which has helped me become very proficient and fast by typing with 2 fingers. (trfmf.com if interested) Took a break from posting to it as I got closer to completing my book, but now that it's published I'll start posting again.

This was my first book, and I already have three more in the hopper I'm working on. I feared it when I set about to publish one, but now that it's published I'm addicted. It helps that I really enjoy writing.

[OneVike]

Thank you.

[usconservative]

I expect my monthly royalties check.

[Terry L Smith]

very good! your daily regimen is up with those of great, who i had read about in ancient issues of ‘The Writer’, and ‘Writers’ Digest’. My typing progreessed from theclass in high school, through IBM teletype/card punch machines, past AHEM! AOL one hand forum typing, to mainly 2 fingers, or a stylus pen on my phone.

A while back, while employed by dah govmint, I found a bunch of federal hardbound ledgers and journals. Aside from the ledger, 8x14, the others fit on the shelf just right, and had more pages than most commerrcial journals.

The ledger reminded me of my bookkeeping and accounting classes in high school.

Itrust this finds your writing tool with many words to say!

(ps) ebay chinese parker ballpoint refills ...brooklyn raspberry!!

[OneVike]

Thanks,

I keep a steady supply of the journals, by Mead. I am down to about three left, which means next time I see them I need to purchase more. I like to keep about 5 to 10 on hand, since I often give them t others in the hopes it will nudge them into journaling.

Most of my old journals will undoubtedly end up in the trash after my death, but I do have some I will be leaving with my church for posterity sake.

I have the ones with my thoughts, then the ones I have turned into my own commentaries on various books of the Scriptures, with one that I hope to conclude on the book of Psalms one day.

I may check out those pens, but not for journaling, mot=re for other things. For journaling I use only mechanical pencils. I find the cheeper they are the longer they last. All the good ones seem to malfunction within a few Months, the cheep ones last years.

I am in the hunt for a good very fine point black pens that does not bleed, for use on my Bibles for notes. Do those you offered fit that bill?

By the way, have you seen the new interleaved Bibles? They have a blank page between the pages for massive note taking. Below are a few pics of mine. As you can see, I try to take full advantage of the extra blank pages for awesome note. With these, one could write their own whole Bible commentary.

[Coleus]

thank you and congratulations!