New Release and Upcoming Release

Hello loyal readers, and hello any newcomers. Don't want to leave anyone out.

I have released the print version of "Trinity and the Sick Kids" and it is available for purchase. The charity I attempted to contact for an endorsement, declined to support the story. Probably because they have enough endorsements already. I'm not disheartened, it just means I will have to find another charity to represent. Until then, I'm still going to donate the charity portion of the royalties to the charity that turned me down. And I would like to support multiple charities too once I am an established author.

My third story for Trinity the Troublemaker is ready for pre-order on the Amazon Kindle. As usual, I like to release the eBook before I release the print version, especially because the first five days I can do a free promotion for the eBook. I can give you wonderful bloggers and blog readers a chance to read my story and enjoy it.

This new story is my Christmas story for the children of Westrock. It's called "Trinity and the Sad Child." For anyone who doesn't want to click on the link, I'll paste the description.

Christmas is coming to Westrock. The leaves have fallen, the snow covers the town and a little girl named Trinity is shoveling it from the driveways. It's a time for families to celebrate together. However, in December 1950 the Korean War has taken many of the townsfolk to a distant shore. For one young boy, he will never see his father again. David and his mother Mrs. Song receive news that no military family wants to hear, a loss so huge that Trinity and her friends face the biggest challenge of their childhood. 

Will the kids be able to restore joy and happiness for the Song family in time to save their Christmas? This is a story for all military service members, veterans, their families, and the memory of those who gave their lives for the country they loved so very much. 

I cannot tell you the enormous challenge of finding a way to make a story about losing a family member come out in a positive light for children age readers. I hope that you will download it once it comes out and post a review or send me some feedback about what you thought of the story. Thank you everyone. More news will come as it develops.

The Meaning of H.O.P.E.

In the print volumes of my books about Trinity, I add a message in the acknowledgments. After I mention all the people that my book is geared towards I ask them to "Remember H.O.P.E. is How One Person Endures."

It's not just a trendy little thing to say without a point. Nor is the phrase self-explanatory. So I shall attempt to give a little explanation here so that I won't be thought of as a pointless phrase maker. The books about Trinity are focused around people who are going through difficulties thus far. Such as bullying, severe illnesses, and the grief of losing a member of the family.

I think of times in my life when I have suffered something along those lines. I never felt like I would get over or move past many of those things. Although, I have learned to live and adapt to the curve balls that life throws at me. No one really told me that things would get better, so I just had to deal with it.

Now I think of things like hope. That while I suffer or work for something, that there is a goal set out ahead for me. A desired outcome that I should always try to reach. Because if I did not have this objective set out for me, then I wouldn't try so hard to make it happen. Without that goal or hope, then I would have no reason to keep trying and I would be more likely to give up.

I think the way someone endures through all the hard work and heartache is by fixing themselves on that goal and finding a sound plan to get there. However, how can anyone plan for the end of bullying? Can anyone plan to end an illness or keep your loved ones around forever?

These situations will follow each of us throughout our lives and we honestly don't know for sure how to cope. In this case, I think hope means to have a strong desire to cope with a problem that seems insoluble. Coping is not the end of your problems, it is the ability to adapt. At least in the sense I am writing.

Proactively, we can educate the schools and parents about the problem of bullying. However, instances of bullying are individual. Albeit with a bully attacking several individuals throughout their career as a bully. Do you respond with a show of strength? Compassion? Or just tuck tales and hope the problem goes away?

Trial and error has surely taught us that ignoring a problem is not always going to be the solution. It's a false hope to think that a bully will lose interest if you don't respond somehow. My suggestion in a case of bullying is intervention. I think that a vulnerability in bullying is attention, because bullies like to think they can strut the halls like a king while in fact they thrive in the shadows and the background. I'm advocating for the intervention of parents, school officials, and the victims in sitting down with the bully and explaining the problems that they are causing and the consequences of continuing what they're doing.

Maybe there is a root problem to the individual bully. That child might be a victim of bullying themselves. Doesn't excuse what they do, but that is something to consider. What I don't suggest is fighting, unless you have no choice. Always be ready or able to defend yourself. Just draw the line at "stopping the action."

Illness is another thing to think about with no real clear solution. And I am not talking about a cure, although that would be nice. I think when it comes to an illness or a disability and special needs, that there is a stigma associated where people feel as though they have to walk on eggshells around the individuals living with an affliction. I think the ability to cope is not just for the people who have the condition, I think it is also for the rest of society. Even if there is no cure to the illness, there is a way to keep everyone included somehow. It just takes a little thought and resourcefulness. It is as simple as making the choice to try.

Losing a family member is something that cannot be addressed to a population. It is an individual basis of finding the strength to cope. I think the best approach is to be supportive without being intrusive. Their goal is to adapt to the loss, if ever they can. It's just a matter of being delicate.

Having hope is working towards the desired outcome. It may never feel like you will ever be back to a state of "okay." However, if you believe that you can be okay and can see yourself overcoming the problem to the point where you can cope and continue then it's all a matter of time to get there. I'm not saying to drop it, or buck up. I'm saying that there is a point to your survival, and that hanging in is all you need to do. But don't take just my word for it. If you need help, that is nothing to be ashamed of. Admitting you need help is not a sign of weakness. It is your astute observation that there is something that needs to be done that you may not be able to do alone.

Endure, somehow my friends. Endure. Fix the image of being "okay" or better in your mind and that is the thing to hope for. When you have that image, and that determination of arriving at your goal, you will have a reason to continue trying. That is H.O.P.E.

Announcements

Exciting things are in the works my friends. Wednesday morning, I sent off two proof copies of "Trinity and the Sick Kids" to a charity that I have asked for an endorsement. Fifteen percent of the royalties will be donated to the charity if they choose to permit me to mention in my book that the proceeds will go to benefit them.

I am not looking to advertise with the charity. I'm offering them recurring donations for the permission to place their name on my cover and product description. If they accept my proposal and believe that the story is something they would like their name attached to, then I will be able to say that a part of my platform is the millions of people who benefit from the selected charity.

My skill with my artwork for the children's book covers is improving. Instead of sticking to attempting to draw each object in a single picture, I draw each object separately and then use my computer to insert these objects to scale. It has allowed for some spectacularly clear details that I hadn't been able to otherwise illustrate.

Last night, I attended a poetry reading at a local coffee house. It was so remarkable that I plan on going each time they have the event. As time permits. Poetry is not my strong suit, but it might be something to consider to raise attention to my writing on a local level.

"Trinity and the Sad Child" is currently in the proofreading process and I would like to aim to release it on or around the first weekend in August. Before kids go back to school and while they have time to read for fun.

I hope I will be able to keep the good news rolling. And when I know something, you will too. I want to say thank you to everyone for being such faithful readers. Be safe, and be good to each other.

First Cash Sales

Well friends, I am proud to say that I have made my first cash sales of my first book about "Trinity and the Bully." Five copies to be more precise.

It's a slow start, but it feels like something huge. My little girl Trinity and her friends have been welcomed into the lives of others. They all have something to teach kids and parents. Such as listening and learning from each other, taking responsibility for mistakes, and how a child enabled can turn into such a bully. The sale price in U.S. dollars is $6.99 for which I get $2.04 and $0.15 for each dollar will go to a charity or non-profit that goes to raise awareness and promote solutions to combat bullying.

It may not seem like much, but as I recently heard someone say "change changes lives."

Here's the word hummingbird

Sometimes you have to stop yourself for a moment and take notice of everything that is going on. It feels as though when you get busy and preoccupied, that nothing else is actually in motion. You feel alone and as though you toil for very little return. That is why you have to stop and look around to see what else is in motion, and boy it is all exciting!

First of all, the second book in the "Trinity the Troublemaker" series will end its five day opening free promotion today. So get your copy now so you don't have to pay the $2.99 + tax to read it on your Kindle or Kindle enabled devices. You can find it at the following link: "Trinity and the Sick Kids."

Second, if my social media platforms were like a telephone then it would be ringing off the hook. Which is actually true since I had to disable some of the text messages I was receiving forwarded from my email. My twitter feed @erich_davis has been flooded with support from groups and individuals that have been associated with the bullying and abuse of children as well as the special health care needs for children. Additionally, authors and self-publishing firms have been flooding my feed and inbox.

Third, I'd like to mention my thanks and appreciation to the readers I have seen on my blog. Today a new audience location emerged on my stats board from Russia. In addition to France, Germany, Poland, Singapore, Ireland, and the United States. Although I would not say I am world famous, I certainly feel honored to be read by all who have paid me a visit here. So I would love for you all to know that I say now for all time, thank you. I hope you will each be a part of my journey and that my books can touch your heart in any way possible.

I'm not sure if I have anything else currently going on that can be included, there is so much to catch up on. However, I would like to tell you about things that are being considered by me or in the works for the future.

Representation: I have been actively seeking either a traditional publisher, or a literary agent to bring my books to the wide world of readers. A literary agent will match my works to appropriate venues for sales and marketing. Thus far, I have had to do all of this work myself. Which is a unique challenge that I find fascinating. So far through "word of mouth" or "organic" advertising, my twitter impressions are approximately fifteen thousand (15,000) over the past twenty eight (28) days. However, my books sales as of this moment are at a combined total of forty five (45) downloads between the two titles.

All of those downloads are from the free book promotions I have ran when they are released individually. So far, there are no cash sales. Once there are cash sales, I will be donating a portion of the proceeds to a charity associated with the issues I address in each story. However, the difficulty has been in getting many of these charities to respond to my messages in case they want public affiliation with the stories.

"Trinity and the Bully" is about to come out for release to print with the Amazon service "Create Space." Orders can be processed immediately on Create Space, or on the site for Amazon within the next 3-5 days. The sale price is $6.99 for a print copy and will remain $2.99 for electronic download.

It's an exciting time. I hope to always be able to share good news with the rest of you soon.