Hello from Chickamauga, GA

[Keith Robinson]

Hi all,

My first post here was deleted because I came in with some blatant self promotion! Apologies to anyone who rolled their eyes at my newbieness. I'd seen a couple of other self-promoting posts in this same thread, and wrongly assumed it was okay... but they were deleted too, so now I know better!



I live in Chickamauga, GA, originally from England, moved to the US back in 2001. I started writing "seriously" in 2002, took six years pottering and writing short stories as well as a few (bad) novels, was a member of the OWW (Online Writer's Workshop) for science fiction and fantasy, and finished my debut novel at the end of 2008. I'm a website designer by trade and spend way too much time on the computer in general, which is sort of why I haven't participated in forums an awful lot in the past -- because that's even MORE time on the computer. I want to get involved, but wonder if I can keep it going... We'll see.

I was a big fan of Enid Blyton when I was growing up. Those of you in the US might not have heard of her, but the rest of the world will have. I run a couple of fan websites -- one I own, and the other I'm just the webmaster for. She died in 1968 after an incredibly successful career with literally hundreds of books and thousands of short stories. Whereas America had the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew in the 1940s and 1950s, England had Enid Byton's mysteries and adventures for children.

But as much as I like all that cutesy mystery stuff, where a group of kids solve crimes that the local village policeman failed to figure out, or they go on a hike across the moors and get caught up with smugglers, that kind of thing just doesn't seem to fit in these days. Now it's all werewolves and vampires. I like werewolf stories, but am bored silly with vampires. I like myth and legend but don't like traditional "high fantasy" with swords and knights and wizards and funky names. My own fantasy involves mythical creatures in a parallel world, but I try to keep it more "modern" -- kind of harking back to a cutesy English village with stone cottages and rudimentary plumbing, but with dragons and harpies as well.

So that's me then.

[MickeyC]

Hi Keith and welcome to MobileRead

[neilmarr]

Good to have your company, Keith. Luck with the book, happy Kindling and best wishes. Neil

[GeoffC]

Welcome to Mobileread....

Have you seen the Author Self-Promotion Forum ... and also the Writers' Corner ... Just two of the many gems we have on board ...

[Keith Robinson]

Thanks, all! And yes, I've seen the author self-promotion guide and writers' corner now that I've had a proper look through. I really should have read some more first (ie, "lurked") but was too impatient.

I'm amazed at the amount of stuff on these forums. It's almost overwhelming and will take forever to look through. I didn't just join to promote my books but to discuss/learn more about certain aspects of self-publishing on electronic devices, and there's a TON of advice about all that.