|
“Time is a dressmaker specializing in alterations.” – Faith Baldwin, N/A Date I am alive! I know I have not posted an update since May and, oddly, it is all for the right reasons. Or life's reasons. I have some exciting 2025 updates on book sales and an update on my much delayed "Parabellum" book. Let us dive into it! First and foremost, I apologize for my lack of updates if you do read these blog entries on a monthly basis. I put family as a priority and that was the central issue to be absence. Long story short, my son has been very sick off and on since his birth in 2024 and we are frequent flyers to the local Children's Hospital. With that said, the little man had four surgeries at the end of June that were very important and will hopefully set him up for a long and fruitful life. Those surgeries were very taxing on us as a family, as some of those surgeries were also exploratory in nature and the stress of possible further medical complications was a major issue. Between taking care of him and adjusting to a few family changes with our two older daughters, summer was gone before we knew it. Finally, at the end of September, I had emergency abdominal surgery, which forced me to cancel an event for selling my books and make several work adjustments. I am healing, but recovery has been a bear. As for book sales, we last left of with Post #16 (Trust the Process) and Post #17 (Take the Opportunity) with not only meeting my original 22 book goal but also surpassing that goal by 4 books to 26 books total! It gets better, so hold on. This summer, in person, I was able to sell 12 books this summer with one book donated (13 total). Including the donation, we have now officially sold 39 books this year, which now makes 2025 my highest selling year. Thank you to my readers and fans who enjoy my books or, even if you didn't it, thank you for taking a risk on this small-time independent author. With all that said, I know 39 books may not seem like a lot---especially to other authors---but between my family obligations with 3 children and my full-time job, I feel that I do the best I can with the time and financial resources I have available. So, I count 39 books as a win-win. Finally, to No Tears (Parabellum). I will say this: Part One is a masterpiece, the perfect one-two punch as a climax leading not only up to Book 4 from the previous 3 No Tears books but also as a very solid action-packed opening to Book 4 (I haven't touched it since I finished it). With all that said, I have gone through several drafts of Part Two and at one point had Part Two done and was starting Part Three. But the more I read it myself, the more I realized the tone, speed, and direction were off. I tried several attempts to incorporate what I had already written in Part Two into new writing and expand it, but the more I did that the more I realized I was justifying Part Two and not enjoying it. And if the author cannot enjoy his own work....would the readers? So, I made the difficult decision to start over on Part Two. I still have my earlier drafts, so not all is lost, but just like with No Tears (Inheritance), I am taking the high road and rewriting 2/3 of the book. I felt this was the right decision for Parabellum, if not necessarily the easy decision. “There is no honorable way to fight. When you are fighting for your life, it does not matter how you fight, as long as you survive. Fight dirty, it will not matter how you ended it to the dead man.”
Marcus Felix Brutus pg. 174; A Story of the Beginning (Revised Edition)
0 Comments
"Success is about taking advantage of opportunity." - Mike Ditka, N/A date Short and sweet. Took advantage of an opportunity and up to the last minute the night before, I was not even sure I could make it. I did and I sold 7 books! Yahoo!!! To follow-up with my "Trust the Process" (Post #16), I have now not only exceeded my remaining goal of 6 books (22 books) but have surpassed it by FOUR BOOKS (26 books)! God is good! My readers are amazing! Getting the word out about these books and getting the world exposed to this little-known piece of history in the 1500s Netherlands, that shaped the world as we know it, is a true joy! Meeting my readers and talking history with them is right up there with the joy of writing these books! Thank you for being my readers!  “Have a bit of naive in you still, boy?” Marcus asked, adding, “Coin is the currency of this world, and a man needs to make a living somehow. You best wise up to that fact sooner than later. You are no longer a boy, but a man. Best start acting like one and get any foolish thoughts of righteous crusades to avenge your family’s murder out of your mind. Those fairy tales have gotten many a foolish man killed I tell you!”
Marcus Felix Brutus pg. 166; A Story of the Beginning (Revised Edition) "Hold the vision, trust the process." - SherriBrownCoaching.com, N/A date Trust the process. How many times have I heard that over the years, especially as a young man playing football, lifting weights in the gym, or my time with the fire department? It is a statement that holds unequivocal truth for, I would argue, most things in life. With that said, however, this statement is not without its challenges. I thought, or at least was my assumption based on verbal conversations in 2024, that I would be attending a familiar event in April 2025 to sell my books, an event that I had attended twice in 2024 with a group of friends (which was a blessing). Due to circumstances out of my control, my donated slot was donated to another up-and-coming artist. Unfortunately, I was never told a reason (good, bad, or otherwise). Hopefully my lack of an appearance will bless this other artist, whoever they may be. I will not forsake the blessings that I had in 2024 with this group of fellow artists, and I hope our future adventures will return to form. With that said, because of the various on-going health challenges with my youngest son since November and myself as well more recently. I have been unable financially to commit to any events in 2025 (to say the least, I was putting a lot of my eggs in my donated spot this year...which is now not happening). This, a course, goes back to the title of this blog: Trust the Process. Typically, in April and September at my beforehand mentioned events above, I sell 11 books over two days (22 books total between both months) and especially with April in particular, that event is typically my kick-off to my book selling season. To call it an important harkening in my selling season would be an understatement. God provides through all, and I have been able to sell 16 books mostly through my Direct from Author initiative (see Discounts) and Shop Online avenue (both paperbacks and eBooks) since the beginning of 2025 through the beginning of April. So, as a kick-off to my book selling season, we are plus 5 over my average (I was also able to donate two additional books for various reasons). If I can sell 6 more books through April and May, I will have kept pace with my yearly total for this canceled event (for sales). So the question becomes, can we sell 6 more books? Trust the process. That process could mean more events. That process could mean no events. Stay the course, trust the process, and see what the rest of 2025 brings. Each step forward, each step building behind the curtain, is bringing you closer to your goal of bringing your story to more people and selling more books. 2026 may be full of events, 2026 may be something different all together. 2026 may be the best year yet. Heck, 2025 may be the best year yet. Trust the process. “Failure is a matter of perspective, Your Grace.”
Jean de Marnix pg. 339; No Tears (Reckoning) "It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." - Henry David Thoreau, N/A date Continuing on from Post #14 from last month, I have decided to take this time to revamp my website. Not only did I restyle the theme of the website, but I also redid the front page. I gave the website a more minimized look on the front page, while highlighting the most important aspects to navigate to. Of personal joy, I have 100% revamped my Historical Background page from the ground up. I hope you like the more detailed, focused, and grander-scale vision of the history. Here it is: Historical Background: The Road to No Tears. The update to the historical background took 9 years of studying, 11 academic books, and 2 binders full of handwritten notes and condensed the essential historical milestones that led to 1515 in mainland Europe. “You sell your people in order to save them,” William said without a kind word in his voice as he stood up, his hands on his desk; his voice rising with anger, “Or you may waste away in this political exile! A convenient truth to the daughter of the dying emperor and the aunt to the future emperor! No more than a footnote in political theatre. And. Your. People. Will. Suffer.”
"Stay the course. When thwarted try again; harder; smarter. Persevere relentlessly." - John Wooden, N/A date I have come to the conclusion that this is the year of staying the course. Steady Eddie. Nothing flashy. Completing the Updated Edition of No Tears (Northern Company) taught me to refocus on the foundation, take a step back, and complete the No Tears series with No Tears (Parabellum). The "results" and the "fruit" of my labor can wait until the labor is complete. Going back, as George Lucas did with the VHS release of the Star Wars' Special Editions in 1997 (my favorite Star Wars movies by the way), really brought Northern Company where it needed to be. That project really set up the rest of the No Tears series as it should have been originally, and thus going forward, gave me a renewed sense of patience in the "process" of writing, marketing, and selling & going to events for my books. To be honest, it could all be the fact that the struggle with my son's health since November has also come full circle and that stress and worry as a parent is finally making itself known as things start to improve with his health and it is not a constant rat race to the hospital, doctor appointments, or medical therapy for the little man (not to mention being a parent to my other two children and their needs as well). Regardless of the reason, this is the year of Steady Eddie, staying the course, and completing the No Tears series. What that looks like in terms of events, book signings, and anything else is in the hands of the Almighty and His Providence. Sometimes we need to enjoy the drive before we climb the mountain again. “No matter the coin, you honor your contract. Unto death, even. Your faithfulness to that contract is the only mercy your soul has in front of God. You finish the contract. Always.”
Bonaventure Salzano pg. 139-140; A Story of the Beginning (Revised Edition) "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." - Seneca, N/A date Happy New Year! May 2025 bless you and yours! "The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shone upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." (Numbers 6:24-26) My artist sent me my first rough layout for No Tears (Parabellum), pictured below. Which, naturally, brings me to my (good) problem: I am still fixing, updating, and expanding No Tears (Northern Company) [Updated Edition]. I find the process of pausing on Book Four, Parabellum, an interesting case study in fixing the foundation of the series in order to make the rest of the Giovanni Salzano the Traveling Mercenary collection better. In reality, the original 2021 edition of Northern Company is becoming the past, a former beginning, and now the 2025 Updated Edition is the new beginning. Northern Company is the foundation, the cornerstone, of the whole No Tears series and the larger collection mentioned above. It introduces the main characters, the main storylines, and gives a critical historical summary of the era that, without it, can make the rest of the series a bit off. Now, with that said and if you have been at one of my events, I have said this before: No Tears (Inheritance) can be picked up and read without Northern Company. Inheritance, for better or worse, catches the reader up on the events of Northern Company and the motivations and dynamics of the main characters within the first few chapters. I stand 100% behind what I have said and will continue to say. HOWEVER, with the Updated Edition of Northern Company, the refresh of Book One will make Inheritance, No Tears (Reckoning), and especially Parabellum that much more impactful (critically so, with the mercenaries of Northern Company). Rough layout draft for the book cover of No Tears (Parabellum):  Giovanni lowered his sword, “But you said, vengeance kills a man faster than the devil.” Marcus nodded, “Aye, it does sonny,” the big man closed the distance between him and Giovanni and put a massive hand on the Italian’s shoulder, “But learn the art of the mercenary, the legacy and skill of the name of Salzano. And when the time is right, it will no longer be vengeance. It will be justice.” Giovanni Salzano & Marcus Felix Brutus pg. 168; A Story of the Beginning (Revised Edition) "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." - Aristotle I do apologize for missing the November update. Our youngest child was at Children's Hospital for the better half of November. Accordingly, my time was spent rushing between work and the hospital and doctor appointments after his hospital stay. Thankfully, our son is doing better, although the road to recovery will be a long trek. If you could keep him and us in your prayers and thoughts, we would be very appreciative. Thank you. With that said, a few things to discuss. First and foremost, I wish you and yours a happy and wonderful Merry Christmas and New Year. The holidays can mean different things to different people and memories, experiences, and emotions color our perception and reception of the holidays. Whether this time of year brings out the best in you and those around you or it is simply another day, I hope you can find what is best for you. Me, personally, I am the modern-day Grinch when it comes to the holidays. My wife gets all excited and the kids ready for the holidays and I am the mid-life crisis dad with 3 kids and a full-time job bringing up the rear with a frown. Even before fatherhood and marriage, the holidays were never really a thing for me. Regardless, I have accepted my Grinch-status, and my wife deals with my holiday...less attitude. Balance in marriage, right? Second, I will be re-releasing No Tears (Northern Company) in an Updated Edition. This decision was spurred by my evolution as an author, mainly my desire to go back and update the writing structure, fix grammatical issues, and connect the story more concretely to A Story of the Beginning (Revised Edition). I am hoping to have this Updated Edition out by February at the latest. I will have a promotional offer for those that have bought the whole collection to date (A Story of the Beginning, Northern Company, Inheritance, and Reckoning), most likely a discount on the re-release. I will have more details once the book is completed and a process to collect on that discount. Third (and last), because of my youngest child's health struggles since the end of October and through November and still continuing, I have temporarily suspended writing of No Tears (Parabellum). I needed a mental break from the grind that is writing the No Tears series and going back to refresh and re-release Northern Company was that mental slowdown that I needed. I do hope that you can forgive me for any delay on the final book of the series. Right now, I have a tentative release date of late 2025 for Parabellum (original plan being before summer 2025). “Salzano was a good man, Master Jim. One of the last good men left in this world. He walked a tough line, a line many a man could not or would not dare walk and many more a man felt was not the way to go. He was a hero in a dark time lacking heroes, and a villain when we needed him to be one.”
Father Edward pg. 5; A Story of the Beginning (Revised Edition) "I'm too busy working on my own grass to notice if yours is greener." - Unknown, N/A date And there went September! Wow, what a month! And yes, I know, what happened to the blog post? Well, you see how fast that month went by? Yes, me too! Two events, a SECOND BOOKSTORE locally to Colorado Springs taking my books, and the beginning of the writing process of No Tears (Parabellum) saw September whiz past me. I do apologize for the lack of a blog post, but I do hope you know why. Now, where to start? Well, as already mentioned, I had 2 book events in September. One at the local Colorado Springs, Colorado local flea market, the other at a horror expo. While the prior was not as fruitful as I had hoped, the horror expo saw me SELL OUT of all of my books! It was an amazing feeling to see some real progress in the selling avenue, with me leaving with only 3 books (my promotional books) that I sold the very next week. I have one more event planned for the year towards the end of the year in December. As of right now, I am navigating these events with the help of friends, as I have yet to master the navigation to find these events myself---part a lack of confidence on my part, part a lack of a central database to reach out to. With that said, the contacts I have been making, I plan on reaching out to, etc. For bookstores, I now have my books at TWO bookstores in Colorado Springs, Colorado! The beforehand mentioned (in a prior blog post) 2 Bucks Books on the north side of town and now, Westside Stories in Downtown Colorado Springs! And I have been selling copies of my books! Whoop! Whoop! 2 Bucks Books 5172 N Academy Blvd Colorado Springs, CO 80918 Phone 719-260-4453 Westside Stories 631 West Colorado Ave Colorado Springs, CO 80905 Phone 719-636-0055 Now, onto No Tears (Parabellum). I have been in the writing process of the conclusion to the No Tears series. I am already in discussion with my artist for the book cover as well. While I am only 5 chapters in as of the writing of this blog post, unlike my previous books, this book is more or less scripted from beginning to end. What I mean by that, is that since this is the final book in the series, the ending (writing & planning as well) is straight forward: it has to be end all of the storylines from Northern Company in 2021 and I plan on doing just that. Release date is still planned for 2025, unless October and November can see a fruitful writing month and I can get the book out by December. “A reckoning must be had first, captain, in order for this path to end. That much you must see.”
Franz Koch pg. 315; No Tears (Reckoning) "Life is growth. If we stop growing, technically and spiritually, we are as good as dead." - Morihei Ueshiba, N/A date Much appreciation & humble gratitude to my readers, fans, and family. This is because of you (see photos below). 2024 has been an amazing year. My first event, my first bookstore listing at 2 Buck Books, and unbelievable sales since April. I have "sold out" of my complete book inventory, including my personal library copies, twice this summer alone. I want to say thank you to several of my friends & family for always pushing me to do & be better (you know who you are). A special thank you to Todd Fahnestock - Fantasy Author for giving me tricks of the trade & being a wealth of knowledge & support (I hope my set-up & new business cards honors your advice). The last photo is what I started with back in April of this year....barely able to afford the books I needed to sell and borrowing tablecloths from other vendors to make ends meet. I was a trainwreck with no money in my pocket either, showing up to an event with a prayer and a wish (and only there because a friend helped me out). The "new" business cards have my name & email....a simple fix & less clutter on the backside too. And yes, as a father of 3 kiddos, I am doing this close to midnight after work and after the kids & wife are asleep. Grind, grind, grind. Before & after for context. April 2024 vs August 2024.
 “Failure is a matter of perspective, Your Grace.”
Jean de Marnix pg. 339; No Tears (Reckoning) "Life isn't a matter of milestones, but of moments." - Rose Kennedy, N/A THANK YOU TO MY READERS!!!! SOLD OUT!!!! Two words I never thought I would have the opportunity to say as an author. These last 3 books in my author box (as I call it) were delivered to a customer tonight; these books were the last books of my resupply shipment from 2 weeks ago. Blessed & blessed by the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you to all of my readers that have also made this 50 books sold since April 2024 & 111 books sold since August 2016. Just four months ago, breaking the 100 book barrier seemed impossible. THANK YOU!!!! *An update since this was originally posted to Facebook on July 10th 2024, I have sold 114 books. Thank you! Those extra 3 books were sold online direct from my publisher, www.Lulu.com. **A new shipment of books has just arrived, as an update to being sold out from my current inventory.   "A man of low company keeps the company of low men in equal measure. Such is the life of a mercenary."
Hilario pg. 128; No Tears (Reckoning) |
Jason J Albano (author)A folktale by the candle of a late night in many a tavern. 
Archives
October 2025
Categories |
RSS Feed