Calling All Bloggers: I Need YOUR Help!

Hello, thanks for responding to my call for help. I would like to ask a favor. Don't worry, I'm not expecting you to do something without giving you something in return. I recently started a Kickstarter project to raise money to 1) promote family-friendly reading, and 2) to raise money for my national book tour.

What am I asking you to do? Please help me get the word out about my Kickstarter campaign by posting about in on your blog. It can be as simple as posting the link to my campaign with a headline that says, "Check out this author's new book and help him to promote family-friendly reading."

What will I give you in return? If you decide to post about my campaign, please message me your e-mail address and I will send you a PDF copy of my bestselling poem book, "The Earth is a Floating Sphere," FREE of charge!



As of today, my campaign is already up to 37 backers and $1,068.00 in pledges! I would like to get this up to $2,000.00 by 26 January. Please help me achieve this goal!

This is the link to my Kickstarter campaign:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/caseyseanharmon/the-everafter-chronicles-reign-of-the-night-creatu

Thanks in advance for your support,

Casey Sean Harmon

A quick "Thank You" to my followers, friends and family

I want to thank my wonderful followers, friends and family for supporting me as I tackle this book publishing adventure. Marketing is a lot of hard work. The truth is that I can not do this alone, and it is your support that keeps me motivated. I know you're probably tired of seeing all my posts asking you to "support this" and to "share that", but please understand that I am trying my best to ensure that my book is a great success. I have friends and family spread across every continent, and so my many posts throughout the day ensures that everyone sees what I have to say. It is hard work and very tiring to be both an active-duty SGT in the Army AND a published author. I find myself working at late hours during the night, and just about all my free time is spent working on book stuff. Why bother? Because writing is my passion. Some people spend their free time playing video games or watching one movie after the other. I spend my free time writing and marketing my book(s).
   Anyway, again I want to thank you all for your outstanding support. I COULD NOT do it without you!

Contest winner!

A few weeks ago I blogged about Darin Steele, the 2012 "Draw a Mythological Creature" contest winner. (Scroll down to find the original post.) This is a picture of me giving him his award. As you can see, he is all smiles.

   Darin is a member of the Everafter Fan Club. You, too, can join the club HERE.

Fan-made book cover (Not official)

Not bad, huh?

Google+

Just started a Google+ account. You should join! https://plus.google.com/106785314447830556922?hl=en#106785314447830556922/posts

Book Production Update (Illustrations)

I have spent the last few hours with my editor going over interior illustration and cover design ideas for my book. Exciting stuff! Can't wait to see the finished products! Also, the first step in the developmental editing stage should be done by the end of the month!

Bavarian News interview

Check out my interview in the Bavarian News! I'm on page 3. http://www.rlehner.de/milcom/bn/2012/bn_14_2012.pdf

Writing, the loneliest business in the world

I’m not trying to deter anyone from writing. In fact, I hope that this will help you to overcome what I think is one of the reasons why there aren’t MORE writers out there. Hey, in case you haven’t heard, WRITING IS A LONELY BUSINESS! It may very well be the LONELIEST business out there! Just remember that the next time you sit down to write. If you are overcome with the sudden realization that you spend a majority of your free time in seclusion either writing or thinking about what to write, that you are indeed ALONE through the entire book-writing process, don’t feel like you are the only person who goes through this. When you spend months (years!) pouring your heart and soul out into a book, and you suddenly realize that you spent more time alone than most people spend playing sports, going to clubs or hanging out at the mall, don’t feel like you are the only person who goes through this. Welcome to the writing world! Join the club! The key to success is self-motivation. In order to be an accomplished writer, you MUST have the ability to push yourself, even when at times it feels like no one is interested in the things that you write about, or when it feels like you spend more time alone than anyone else in existance. I hope this will help some of you to overcome the feeling of loneliness. Because, in reality, YOU’RE NOT ALONE!

What it's like to be an Author in the military

People often ask me what it's like to be an author in the military. I simply reply: "It's not easy, but writing is my passion. It's something that I have to do." When I initially joined the Army back in 2007, I joined with the hopes of becoming a journalist. Murphy would have other plans! It turns out that, at the time, the Army was over strength on journalists. I would have to choose another job. This is why today I am not a writer for the military. (I eventually lost interest, anyway.) These days, I continue to write books and stories, while at the same time serving the military. I always find time to write. Depending on which assignment I am on, that could be late hours during the night or just on the weekends. I prefer to write using my computer, but often I find myself in situations (like in the field, or on a deployment) where I must write the old-fashioned way, using a pen and a notebook. (We’re spoiled these days, aren’t we?) Right now, I’m blessed to be stationed somewhere that has Internet (Germany), or else I would not be writing this blog! My strategy is simple: I believe that, if you are passionate about doing something, you can always find time to make it happen. It may be at zero-dark-thirty in the morning, or during those five minute breaks between staff meetings. There really is no excuse to not make time for the things that you are passionate about. The hardest part about being a writer in the Army is switching between Soldier mode and Author mode. (You thought I was going to say having to explain to the 1SG that I REALLY AM a published Author, and that I REALLY DO have a book signing at the Barnes & Noble at 1800, didn’t you?) For you writers out there, you know how complicated it is to switch from writer mode to “oh, crud, I have to go to work” mode. Well, imagine having to switch modes when your “work” is troop leading and warrior tasks and drills. IT’S NOT EASY! Especially for a children’s book writer! But the hardest part of all is going from “I am an American Soldier, I am a warrior and a member of a team” to talking to children about griffins and magical worlds during a “meet the Author” event! (Don’t get me wrong; I very much enjoy speaking to children. But you understand where I’m coming from…) I suppose the transition would be just as complicated for a fireman, or a police officer. (I really feel for the D.A.R.E. guy!) Like I said, I really enjoy public speaking. For some, it is the hardest thing to overcome. But for me, public speaking has always come easy. So what about my relationships with other Soldiers and leaders? That’s easy. I write on my own time. My writing career and my Army career are two completely separate things. To the Army, I am SGT Casey Harmon. I am a non-commissioned officer, a leader of Soldiers. To the civilian world, I am known as Casey Sean Harmon, Author. (Unless you’re my wife, in which case I’m known as “honey”, or my mother, who calls me “Case”, or some of my friends, who call me “Sean”, or…) So there you have it. A little taste of what being a writer in the military is like. So what can YOU take from this? Just remember that if you are passionate about doing something, you can always find a way to make it happen. There is no excuse not to pursue your dreams! (If you are a military veteran who also writes, check out the Military Writers Society of America.)

Official Author Website

Bet you didn't know that I am also a website designer! It's something that I enjoy doing in my spare time. I just finished designing my official website. Check it out and tell me what you think! You can access my website HERE.