BookView with Laurie Boris, author of The Call

But the idea for Margie and her story came to me in the 2015 Major League Playoffs, when a baseball player I love to hate—the Los Angeles Dodgers' Chase Utley—made an aggressive (some say illegal) slide into second base and fractured NY Met Reuben Tejada's leg. I was so angry. 

Laurie Boris – 31 December 2017

The Back Flap

As one of the first female umpires in the minors, Margie puts up with insults and worse from people who think women don't belong in baseball. Forget making history—Margie just wants to do her job and be part of the game she loves.

She's ready for the rude comments. The lousy pay. The endless traveling. But when she suspects a big-name slugger of cheating, she has to choose: let the dirty player get away with it, or blow the whistle and risk her career…and maybe her twin brother's major-league prospects, too.

Now it's up to Margie to make the call.

About the book

What is the book about?

As if it's not challenging enough being one of the first female umpires in professional baseball, Margie Oblonsky faces a thorny dilemma when she suspects a big-name slugger of playing dirty. She can't abide anything that would spoil the integrity of the game she loves, but going after this guy could mean the end of her career…and maybe ruin her twin brother's major-league prospects, too.

When did you start writing the book?

I've been wanting to write a book about a female umpire for years. Originally I'd intended to write a biography of Bernice Gera, the first woman in modern history to umpire a professional game. She had experience and training and still had to sue the NY-Penn League (one of the lowest rungs in the minors) to let her officiate. She won her case in 1972, worked exactly one game, then quit. My curiosity meter flew into the red zone. Why work that hard, for so long, only to quit? But the more I researched and the more I read, especially about Pam Postema—the woman who'd come the closest to the majors before she was let go in 1989—the more I wanted to write a novel about the tough road these women chose.

How long did it take you to write it?

Start to finish, including several detours, The Call took about two years from first draft to publication.

Where did you get the idea from?

As I said, the idea for writing about a female umpire had been in my head for quite some time. But the idea for Margie and her story came to me in the 2015 Major League Playoffs, when a baseball player I love to hate—the Los Angeles Dodgers' Chase Utley—made an aggressive (some say illegal) slide into second base and fractured NY Met Reuben Tejada's leg. I was so angry. That became the "seed" of Margie's conflict. In the 1980s, an era when Major League Baseball was being pressured to hire a female umpire—but didn't really want her to succeed—would Margie risk her career to call this guy on his dirty tactics? I could almost hear her screaming "YES!"

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Aren't there always? I sent the manuscript to a friend for a first read. I love asking for his feedback because he's dead honest with me. There was one facet of the story in particular, a romantic element, that I was waffling on. I didn't know if it was working, and I liked it…but I didn't want it to take over the book. I didn't want this to be a sports romance. (Not that there's anything wrong with that; I just didn't want it for this book.) So I shut my eyes and handed over the manuscript. His response was like, "I hate this guy. I don't know why he's here." I admitted that I could have done better, and that yeah, the bit felt shoehorned in. "I'm glad we agree," he said. So I rewrote it. I must have done something right, because a baseball blogger commented that it felt totally organic to the story.

What came easily?

The baseball, and the dialogue. I've been a baseball fan for as long as I can remember, so writing the on-field scenes were like a second language to me. And I've always loved writing dialogue.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

I borrowed a few things here and there from people I've met, but they're mostly fictitious. While umpire Pam Postema was my main inspiration for Margie's struggles, I didn't base Margie on Pam.

Do you have a target reader for this book?

My primary target readers are women who like baseball, mainly those who've played before or have kids who play. (Talk about granular marketing!) The second segment is baseball fans in general, particularly those who aren't dead-opposed to women being part of the game. Although, several readers who know nothing about baseball have commented that they really enjoyed the story.

How was writing this book different from what you'd experienced writing previous books?

Every book is different. This one at times felt like pure joy, although the multiple story lines and the many moving parts required some attention to plotting. At one point, I tossed my plot completely and just started drawing it out on my whiteboard as a flow chart. My husband walked into my writing room, took one look at the board—with its three different colors and intersecting arrows—and said, "Good luck with…that."

What new things did you learn about writing, publishing, and/or yourself while writing and preparing this book for publication?

I learned that if the plot isn't working, to toss it and follow the characters. It brought me back to my "pantser" days, and the freedom that gave me. I learned to have greater trust in my instincts, and for the knowledge I've picked up over the years. When a working umpire with almost thirty years' experience tells me the story sounds authentic, then I guess I'm doing something right.

End of Interview:

For more from Laurie visit her website, follow her on Twitter, or like her on Facebook.

Get your copy of The Call from Amazon US or Amazon UK.

from The IndieView http://ift.tt/2Enk6xM

BookView with Laurie Boris, author of The Call

But the idea for Margie and her story came to me in the 2015 Major League Playoffs, when a baseball player I love to hate—the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Chase Utley—made an aggressive (some say illegal) slide into second base and fractured NY Met Reuben Tejada’s leg. I was so angry. 

Laurie Boris – 31 December 2017

The Back Flap

As one of the first female umpires in the minors, Margie puts up with insults and worse from people who think women don’t belong in baseball. Forget making history—Margie just wants to do her job and be part of the game she loves.

She’s ready for the rude comments. The lousy pay. The endless traveling. But when she suspects a big-name slugger of cheating, she has to choose: let the dirty player get away with it, or blow the whistle and risk her career…and maybe her twin brother’s major-league prospects, too.

Now it’s up to Margie to make the call.

About the book

What is the book about?

As if it’s not challenging enough being one of the first female umpires in professional baseball, Margie Oblonsky faces a thorny dilemma when she suspects a big-name slugger of playing dirty. She can’t abide anything that would spoil the integrity of the game she loves, but going after this guy could mean the end of her career…and maybe ruin her twin brother’s major-league prospects, too.

When did you start writing the book?

I’ve been wanting to write a book about a female umpire for years. Originally I’d intended to write a biography of Bernice Gera, the first woman in modern history to umpire a professional game. She had experience and training and still had to sue the NY-Penn League (one of the lowest rungs in the minors) to let her officiate. She won her case in 1972, worked exactly one game, then quit. My curiosity meter flew into the red zone. Why work that hard, for so long, only to quit? But the more I researched and the more I read, especially about Pam Postema—the woman who’d come the closest to the majors before she was let go in 1989—the more I wanted to write a novel about the tough road these women chose.

How long did it take you to write it?

Start to finish, including several detours, The Call took about two years from first draft to publication.

Where did you get the idea from?

As I said, the idea for writing about a female umpire had been in my head for quite some time. But the idea for Margie and her story came to me in the 2015 Major League Playoffs, when a baseball player I love to hate—the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Chase Utley—made an aggressive (some say illegal) slide into second base and fractured NY Met Reuben Tejada’s leg. I was so angry. That became the “seed” of Margie’s conflict. In the 1980s, an era when Major League Baseball was being pressured to hire a female umpire—but didn’t really want her to succeed—would Margie risk her career to call this guy on his dirty tactics? I could almost hear her screaming “YES!”

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Aren’t there always? I sent the manuscript to a friend for a first read. I love asking for his feedback because he’s dead honest with me. There was one facet of the story in particular, a romantic element, that I was waffling on. I didn’t know if it was working, and I liked it…but I didn’t want it to take over the book. I didn’t want this to be a sports romance. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that; I just didn’t want it for this book.) So I shut my eyes and handed over the manuscript. His response was like, “I hate this guy. I don’t know why he’s here.” I admitted that I could have done better, and that yeah, the bit felt shoehorned in. “I’m glad we agree,” he said. So I rewrote it. I must have done something right, because a baseball blogger commented that it felt totally organic to the story.

What came easily?

The baseball, and the dialogue. I’ve been a baseball fan for as long as I can remember, so writing the on-field scenes were like a second language to me. And I’ve always loved writing dialogue.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

I borrowed a few things here and there from people I’ve met, but they’re mostly fictitious. While umpire Pam Postema was my main inspiration for Margie’s struggles, I didn’t base Margie on Pam.

Do you have a target reader for this book?

My primary target readers are women who like baseball, mainly those who’ve played before or have kids who play. (Talk about granular marketing!) The second segment is baseball fans in general, particularly those who aren’t dead-opposed to women being part of the game. Although, several readers who know nothing about baseball have commented that they really enjoyed the story.

How was writing this book different from what you’d experienced writing previous books?

Every book is different. This one at times felt like pure joy, although the multiple story lines and the many moving parts required some attention to plotting. At one point, I tossed my plot completely and just started drawing it out on my whiteboard as a flow chart. My husband walked into my writing room, took one look at the board—with its three different colors and intersecting arrows—and said, “Good luck with…that.”

What new things did you learn about writing, publishing, and/or yourself while writing and preparing this book for publication?

I learned that if the plot isn’t working, to toss it and follow the characters. It brought me back to my “pantser” days, and the freedom that gave me. I learned to have greater trust in my instincts, and for the knowledge I’ve picked up over the years. When a working umpire with almost thirty years’ experience tells me the story sounds authentic, then I guess I’m doing something right.

End of Interview:

For more from Laurie visit her website, follow her on Twitter, or like her on Facebook.

Get your copy of The Call from Amazon US or Amazon UK.

from The IndieView http://ift.tt/2Enk6xM

Why are Topographic Maps Important for Hiking and Backpacking?

Why are Topographic Maps Important for Hiking and Backpacking?

Trail leading to Mt Lafayette, Franconia Ridge

Topographic maps are used by hikers and backpackers to plan routes, estimate travel times, find water, good campsites, and track their progress on hikes. They're designed to depict the three dimensional shape of the world (mountains, valleys, plains, etc.) in two dimensions using flat squiggly lines that represent different elevations above or below sea level. When contour lines are close together on a map, they depict a steeper slope than if the lines are father apart.

Called contour lines, every point along a single continuous line has the same elevation, which is labelled somewhere along the line. The elevation difference between two contour lines is called the contour interval. You can often find the value of the contour interval in the map's scale or figure it out by finding two contour lines with printed elevations, subtracting the smaller from the larger and dividing the total by the number of contour lines between the two elevations.

Let's look at two different ways to use a topographic map, called "orienting a map", and for estimating travel times.

Orienting a Map

With a little practice, you can learn to match landscape features you see in front of you to ones on maps that depict the area you're hiking in. This is useful for orienting a map to determine your current location on it and make it match the land features you're looking at. Using a compass or a GPS makes can make it easier to orient your map, but you can also learn how to do it simply by matching the terrain features you can see with the contour lines shown on a topographic map.

Map 1: Topographic Map of Franconia Ridge

For example, take the top photo shown above, which shows the Appalachian Trail running north to Mt Lafayette on Franconia Ridge in New Hampshire. That same trail is shown in the topographic map in Map 1,  above, and marked in pink. Note how the contour line elevations to the left and right of the pink line increase until they meet at the middle at the trail. This is what the contours lines for a ridge line look like on a topographic map, two steep slopes that meet at the top.

Map 2: Three-dimensional shaded version of Franconia Ridge

Here's a shaded rendering of the same area that helps emphasize the elevations and gullies represented by the contour lines and the ridge line in between them. With practice you can take the contours lines shown in Map 1 and visualize them in your head like they're shown in Map 2. Most topographic maps are printed or displayed like Map 1, so you can't rely on having ones like Map 2, which are easier to visualize.

If you could see the ridge line from where you're standing, you could turn your map so that the ridge was pointed in the same direction (parallel) with your map if you were holding it flat in your hands on flat on the ground. This is called orienting your map. How do you know it's the right ridge line if you can see many? You'll need to identify other features in the landscape, such as mountain peaks or hills, and match them to the topographic map.

Once you've oriented a map, you can usually tell where you are on it, and plan your next destination by following trails to where you want to go.

Estimating Travel Times

There are lots of reasons to estimate travel times on hikes:

• You meet someone at a certain time and place down the trail, but need a good estimate of how long it will take you to cover the distance.
• You want to finish your hike before nightfall, because it's easy to lose a trail in the dark and get lost.
• You want to minimize the amount of food weight you need to carry, so you need a good estimate of the number of meals you'll require.

You can estimate the time it will take you to hike a known distance on a topographic map by adding up the trail distance you need to cover and the elevation gain along your route. On average, most hikers can walk at a 2 mph on level ground, but take an additional 30 minutes to climb 1000 feet of elevation gain. For example, it would take you 1.5 hours to hike a distance of 2 miles with 1000 feet of elevation gain.

You can determine the distance you need to hike by using the map scale printed (or displayed) on your map. To calculate elevation gain, you'd add up the number of uphill contour lines and multiply that number by the contour interval. Make sure you just count the contour lines along your route that are climbing up hill and ignore the ones that represent descents. Use estimating formula described above and you'll come up with a surprisingly accurate estimate of the time it will take for you to cover the required distance and elevation gain, not including any long breaks you take along them way.

See also:

• Trip Planning: How Long Will It Take Me to Backpack XX Miles?
• The Logic of the Landscape: How to Become an Expert Navigator
• Planning a Hike: Sunrise and Sunset Times

The post Why are Topographic Maps Important for Hiking and Backpacking? appeared first on Section Hikers Backpacking Blog.

from Section Hikers Backpacking Blog http://ift.tt/2DtF0tB

One Vs. Many

Enthusiasm can be a real pain in the ass sometimes.

Don't get me wrong, in order to build a lifestyle business or niche site you've got to have enthusiasm because it's going to take a lot of work to get your new thing off the ground.

But all too often when I'm getting emails from blog readers, there's a little, well, too much enthusiasm.

Let me explain.

These days there is an obscene amount of information online about how to start an online business. There are literally millions of blog posts out there that all have different approaches for how to go about doing it.

Tactics, strategies, mediums, ideas, concepts, frameworks, blueprints blah, blah blah.

The information is never-ending (and I'll admit, I contribute to it as well).

But you know what the end result of it is for the new lifestyle entrepreneur?

An overwhelming desire to do everything.

I often get emails that look like this:

Hi Sean,

Thank you so much for the content you've put out there! I've been researching starting my own business for awhile now, and I've got a pretty good idea of what I need to do.

I'm going to start freelance writing to build up my income, and I'm also going to start a niche site around my love of _____ (hanggliding) on the side.

I just bought a new camera for my You Tube channel and a sweet podcast microphone to start a podcast for it.

We're publishing 3 times a week, and assuming this all goes well, I'm going to launch 3 more sites around _____ (adventure sports), ____ (paleo dieting), and _____ (drone photography) within the next 12 months.

I read a lot of blogs, but yours really strikes a chord with me. Keep it up!

Sincerely,

_____ (Future Blogger)

—

Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVE the enthusiasm!

But can you see what's wrong with this approach?

They're trying to do everything they've learned.

Freelancing, niche sites, YouTube, podcast, and then more sites on top of that?!

Any one of those can be a full-time job.

And what's more of a problem is that any one of those ideas or marketing tactics can work. But when you try and do all of them, especially if you've never done them before, then it's the fastest way to stall out.

The Most Successful People Do One Thing Really Well

I've been thinking a lot about this lately.

When I think about my most successful entrepreneurial friends, they have one brand.

Sure they might have a few different mediums they use to market their business (i.e. YouTube or a Podcast) but they have one brand and one singular focus.

And I'm super jealous of them for it.

I've spread myself thin.

At this point in time I have:

• Location Rebel and everything that goes along with our products and the Academy.
• Breaking Eighty and managing our membership community the Eighty Club.
• AND, I do marketing consulting in the golf industry.

Three things that all should be full-time jobs.

And the result?

I'm doing a lot of things kind of well – rather than one thing really well.

I think about the sacrifices I've made by having multiple brands, and for me, it generally works. I may be limiting the top end potential of each of them, but I also really enjoy everything I do.

The mistake you might make with this though is thinking I started all of it at the same time.

I've been doing this for nearly 9 years – and let's look at the timeline:

• 2009: Location 180 Blog
• 2011: Location Rebel Academy
• 2013: Breaking Eighty
• 2015: Marketing Consulting
• 2017: Eighty Club

Notice how I didn't start doing everything all at once. If I had, I'd be back in a finance job somewhere…

I focused on starting with one thing and doing it to the very best of my ability and didn't build something new until I was ready. And even then, for most people, you're probably better off continuing to go all in on one thing rather than losing focus.

What does this mean for you?

It's easy to get excited in the early days of starting, you're likely going to have a million online business ideas that you'll want to do right now.

And chances are you're going to want to do everything from the jump.

But do yourself a favor: don't.

A line I like to use a lot is:

"It's better to make 100% progress on one thing, than 10% progress on 10 things."

It's hard enough to get traction with one site early on, but to think of starting multiple at the same time (especially if you're new to this and don't know what you're doing?) it's going to kill your progress on everything.

How to Decide Where to Start

Part of the reason so many new entrepreneurs try to do everything is simply due to a lack of confidence.

I've felt this so many times in my own journey.

I didn't know exactly what to do, and I didn't want to commit to doing the wrong thing, so I tried to do everything.

You don't need to make that mistake.

In fact, with a little planning, figuring out where to go, and which strategies you should invest time into, really shouldn't be all that difficult.

Depending on where you're at, each of the following will help with your next steps and allow you to hone in on the one lifestyle business that you should be focusing on right now.

Remember, you can always start doing more over time, but to start, narrow focus is necessary

• If you want to start a niche site, then check out this post.
• If you're leaning towards freelancing, then you'll find this useful.
• If you don't have any clue where to start, then this 6 part series will help you with everything you need to know.

Moral of the story: 

When starting a lifestyle business or niche site, choose one over many.

You'll build your brand and reputation faster.

You'll build your traffic and email list faster.

You'll make money or bring on clients faster.

And you'll do it all while not spinning your wheels and constantly asking "why isn't anything working?"

If you know you're ready to build something the right way, check out our Location Rebel Academy community and join thousands of others who were exactly where you are now.

The post One Vs. Many appeared first on Location Rebel.

from Location Rebel http://ift.tt/2lbBRbm

One Vs. Many

Enthusiasm can be a real pain in the ass sometimes.

Don’t get me wrong, in order to build a lifestyle business or niche site you’ve got to have enthusiasm because it’s going to take a lot of work to get your new thing off the ground.

But all too often when I’m getting emails from blog readers, there’s a little, well, too much enthusiasm.

Let me explain.

These days there is an obscene amount of information online about how to start an online business. There are literally millions of blog posts out there that all have different approaches for how to go about doing it.

Tactics, strategies, mediums, ideas, concepts, frameworks, blueprints blah, blah blah.

The information is never-ending (and I’ll admit, I contribute to it as well).

But you know what the end result of it is for the new lifestyle entrepreneur?

An overwhelming desire to do everything.

I often get emails that look like this:

Hi Sean,

Thank you so much for the content you’ve put out there! I’ve been researching starting my own business for awhile now, and I’ve got a pretty good idea of what I need to do.

I’m going to start freelance writing to build up my income, and I’m also going to start a niche site around my love of _____ (hanggliding) on the side.

I just bought a new camera for my You Tube channel and a sweet podcast microphone to start a podcast for it.

We’re publishing 3 times a week, and assuming this all goes well, I’m going to launch 3 more sites around _____ (adventure sports), ____ (paleo dieting), and _____ (drone photography) within the next 12 months.

I read a lot of blogs, but yours really strikes a chord with me. Keep it up!

Sincerely,

_____ (Future Blogger)

—

Now, don’t get me wrong, I LOVE the enthusiasm!

But can you see what’s wrong with this approach?

They’re trying to do everything they’ve learned.

Freelancing, niche sites, YouTube, podcast, and then more sites on top of that?!

Any one of those can be a full-time job.

And what’s more of a problem is that any one of those ideas or marketing tactics can work. But when you try and do all of them, especially if you’ve never done them before, then it’s the fastest way to stall out.

The Most Successful People Do One Thing Really Well

I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately.

When I think about my most successful entrepreneurial friends, they have one brand.

Sure they might have a few different mediums they use to market their business (i.e. YouTube or a Podcast) but they have one brand and one singular focus.

And I’m super jealous of them for it.

I’ve spread myself thin.

At this point in time I have:

• Location Rebel and everything that goes along with our products and the Academy.
• Breaking Eighty and managing our membership community the Eighty Club.
• AND, I do marketing consulting in the golf industry.

Three things that all should be full-time jobs.

And the result?

I’m doing a lot of things kind of well – rather than one thing really well.

I think about the sacrifices I’ve made by having multiple brands, and for me, it generally works. I may be limiting the top end potential of each of them, but I also really enjoy everything I do.

The mistake you might make with this though is thinking I started all of it at the same time.

I’ve been doing this for nearly 9 years – and let’s look at the timeline:

• 2009: Location 180 Blog
• 2011: Location Rebel Academy
• 2013: Breaking Eighty
• 2015: Marketing Consulting
• 2017: Eighty Club

Notice how I didn’t start doing everything all at once. If I had, I’d be back in a finance job somewhere…

I focused on starting with one thing and doing it to the very best of my ability and didn’t build something new until I was ready. And even then, for most people, you’re probably better off continuing to go all in on one thing rather than losing focus.

What does this mean for you?

It’s easy to get excited in the early days of starting, you’re likely going to have a million online business ideas that you’ll want to do right now.

And chances are you’re going to want to do everything from the jump.

But do yourself a favor: don’t.

A line I like to use a lot is:

“It’s better to make 100% progress on one thing, than 10% progress on 10 things.”

It’s hard enough to get traction with one site early on, but to think of starting multiple at the same time (especially if you’re new to this and don’t know what you’re doing?) it’s going to kill your progress on everything.

How to Decide Where to Start

Part of the reason so many new entrepreneurs try to do everything is simply due to a lack of confidence.

I’ve felt this so many times in my own journey.

I didn’t know exactly what to do, and I didn’t want to commit to doing the wrong thing, so I tried to do everything.

You don’t need to make that mistake.

In fact, with a little planning, figuring out where to go, and which strategies you should invest time into, really shouldn’t be all that difficult.

Depending on where you’re at, each of the following will help with your next steps and allow you to hone in on the one lifestyle business that you should be focusing on right now.

Remember, you can always start doing more over time, but to start, narrow focus is necessary

• If you want to start a niche site, then check out this post.
• If you’re leaning towards freelancing, then you’ll find this useful.
• If you don’t have any clue where to start, then this 6 part series will help you with everything you need to know.

Moral of the story: 

When starting a lifestyle business or niche site, choose one over many.

You’ll build your brand and reputation faster.

You’ll build your traffic and email list faster.

You’ll make money or bring on clients faster.

And you’ll do it all while not spinning your wheels and constantly asking “why isn’t anything working?”

If you know you’re ready to build something the right way, check out our Location Rebel Academy community and join thousands of others who were exactly where you are now.

The post One Vs. Many appeared first on Location Rebel.

from Location Rebel http://ift.tt/2lbBRbm

IndieView with Amber Porter, author of Money Moves

I received so many questions from students and parents about the college financial aid process that I decided to write it in a book.

Amber Porter – 28 December 2017

The Back Flap

Straightforward and blunt! This book gives high school and college students strategies to graduate college debt free. In the very first chapter, you will learn tips, tricks, and hacks on streamlining the scholarship application process. The remaining chapters reveal a plan of action on how to maintain a debt-free lifestyle. Combining the methods outlined in this book will save you thousands of dollars. Purchase your copy today and learn how to make #moneymoves.

About the book

What is the book about?

Money Moves: A Guide To Conquering College Debt With Little Familial Support, is a self-help style book written to assist high school students with avoiding college debt. The tips outlined in the book may even assist college freshman and sophomore students. The first chapter talks about third party scholarships, and gives streamlining tips on applying to one hundred outside scholarships. The remaining chapters give other secrets to avoiding debt. For example, it is possible to negotiate your scholarship with colleges when you get your financial aid award letter.

When did you start writing the book?

I started writing the book about three weeks before it was released.

How long did it take you to write it?

Not long at all, the information contained in the book was information that I previously told students who called me for advice. I received so many questions from students and parents about the college financial aid process that I decided to write it in a book.

Where did you get the idea from?

Many people from my neighborhood, where I grew up, contacted me with questions related to the college financial aid process. I answered so many of the same questions and gave so much of the same advice that I decided to write a book about it.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

I struggled with trying to put my own thoughts into a format that would be easy to read for everyone, regardless of their educational background. I wanted to make the information easy to understand for parents who hadn't went to college and didn't know anything about the process.

What came easily?

The easy part was that I knew what I wanted to say prior to writing it. It was a question of how I wanted to explain the information, as opposed to what information I wanted to explain.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

Most of the information in the book relates to things I actually did in college. I was able to graduate from college debt-free and I gave examples of things that, either, I actually did or things that I wish I'd known.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

I grew up reading Stephen King and J.K. Rowling but I wouldn't say that they influenced the way that I wrote.

Do you have a target reader?

Eighth grade students to college sophomore students would greatly benefit from the book. Also parents of college bound students would find the information useful.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I outline a book pretty extensively before I start writing it. After I finish outlining, I write each chapter. I don't write the chapters in order though. I skip around to whichever chapter is on my mind.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

I outline extensively. I know each point that I will communicate in the book before writing it.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you've finished?

Both. I edit after I finish each chapter. After I have completed the entire book, I edit it again three times before I send it to a proofreader.

Did you hire a professional editor?

No, but I do have a proofreader.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

I listen to white noise.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

No.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

I saw a YouTube video about self-publishing and it seemed like the best way to go. I am able to keep creative control of my work and do all of my own graphic designs and photography.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

I did it myself. That's one of my favorite parts of the creative process!

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

Absolutely positively, winging it!

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Once you put out your first book you will be so much more confident. I have so many more ideas now and I have four more books coming out!

About You

Where did you grow up?

In Markham, Illinois right outside of Chicago.

Where do you live now?

I live in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago.

What would you like readers to know about you?

It is not about selling books, its about empowering students with the knowledge to complete a bachelor's degree without incurring any debt. There are so many financial aid related questions that students never get answers to. There is a way out of paying for college. Likewise, there is a lot of information that students don't know about choosing the right college and major, and questions that they may have about graduate school. I am hoping that the Money Moves series will assist students with the college application process and beyond. I hope that communities will be transformed by the knowledge given in Money Moves.

What are you working on now?

There will be five books in the Money Moves series. The first three books are complete. Money Moves: Choosing a College will be available for pre-order December 1, 2017 and Money Moves: Choosing the Right Major will be available for pre-order February 1, 2018. I am currently writing Money Moves: The Law School Application Process.

End of Interview:

For more from Amber, visit her website, follow her on Twitter or like her Facebook page.

Get your copy of Money Moves from Amazon US or Amazon UK.

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IndieView with Amber Porter, author of Money Moves

I received so many questions from students and parents about the college financial aid process that I decided to write it in a book.

Amber Porter – 28 December 2017

The Back Flap

Straightforward and blunt! This book gives high school and college students strategies to graduate college debt free. In the very first chapter, you will learn tips, tricks, and hacks on streamlining the scholarship application process. The remaining chapters reveal a plan of action on how to maintain a debt-free lifestyle. Combining the methods outlined in this book will save you thousands of dollars. Purchase your copy today and learn how to make #moneymoves.

About the book

What is the book about?

Money Moves: A Guide To Conquering College Debt With Little Familial Support, is a self-help style book written to assist high school students with avoiding college debt. The tips outlined in the book may even assist college freshman and sophomore students. The first chapter talks about third party scholarships, and gives streamlining tips on applying to one hundred outside scholarships. The remaining chapters give other secrets to avoiding debt. For example, it is possible to negotiate your scholarship with colleges when you get your financial aid award letter.

When did you start writing the book?

I started writing the book about three weeks before it was released.

How long did it take you to write it?

Not long at all, the information contained in the book was information that I previously told students who called me for advice. I received so many questions from students and parents about the college financial aid process that I decided to write it in a book.

Where did you get the idea from?

Many people from my neighborhood, where I grew up, contacted me with questions related to the college financial aid process. I answered so many of the same questions and gave so much of the same advice that I decided to write a book about it.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

I struggled with trying to put my own thoughts into a format that would be easy to read for everyone, regardless of their educational background. I wanted to make the information easy to understand for parents who hadn’t went to college and didn’t know anything about the process.

What came easily?

The easy part was that I knew what I wanted to say prior to writing it. It was a question of how I wanted to explain the information, as opposed to what information I wanted to explain.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

Most of the information in the book relates to things I actually did in college. I was able to graduate from college debt-free and I gave examples of things that, either, I actually did or things that I wish I’d known.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

I grew up reading Stephen King and J.K. Rowling but I wouldn’t say that they influenced the way that I wrote.

Do you have a target reader?

Eighth grade students to college sophomore students would greatly benefit from the book. Also parents of college bound students would find the information useful.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I outline a book pretty extensively before I start writing it. After I finish outlining, I write each chapter. I don’t write the chapters in order though. I skip around to whichever chapter is on my mind.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

I outline extensively. I know each point that I will communicate in the book before writing it.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

Both. I edit after I finish each chapter. After I have completed the entire book, I edit it again three times before I send it to a proofreader.

Did you hire a professional editor?

No, but I do have a proofreader.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

I listen to white noise.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

No.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

I saw a YouTube video about self-publishing and it seemed like the best way to go. I am able to keep creative control of my work and do all of my own graphic designs and photography.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

I did it myself. That’s one of my favorite parts of the creative process!

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

Absolutely positively, winging it!

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Once you put out your first book you will be so much more confident. I have so many more ideas now and I have four more books coming out!

About You

Where did you grow up?

In Markham, Illinois right outside of Chicago.

Where do you live now?

I live in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago.

What would you like readers to know about you?

It is not about selling books, its about empowering students with the knowledge to complete a bachelor’s degree without incurring any debt. There are so many financial aid related questions that students never get answers to. There is a way out of paying for college. Likewise, there is a lot of information that students don’t know about choosing the right college and major, and questions that they may have about graduate school. I am hoping that the Money Moves series will assist students with the college application process and beyond. I hope that communities will be transformed by the knowledge given in Money Moves.

What are you working on now?

There will be five books in the Money Moves series. The first three books are complete. Money Moves: Choosing a College will be available for pre-order December 1, 2017 and Money Moves: Choosing the Right Major will be available for pre-order February 1, 2018. I am currently writing Money Moves: The Law School Application Process.

End of Interview:

For more from Amber, visit her website, follow her on Twitter or like her Facebook page.

Get your copy of Money Moves from Amazon US or Amazon UK.

from The IndieView http://ift.tt/2zHD3aE

Climbing South Carter in December

We had to crawl under many blowdowns on the way to South Carter

South Carter Mountain (4430′) is a White Mountain 4000 footer located in the Carter Moriah Range, almost due east from Mount Washington. It's one of the more moderate 4000 footers to climb and a good peak to start the winter hiking season with. I was joined on this hike by Keith and Hilde, who's trying to finish her Winter 4000 footers this year. She'd hiked up Mt Tom the day prior but still enough energy for the hike up South Carter. This was our first time hiking with Keith, who is a very strong hiker and proved to be an excellent companion.

We had a major wind and rain event in the White Mountains last October, that caused major flooding and downed many trees. While I'd seen a trip report on New England Trail Conditions that mentioned blow-downs (trees) on the Carter Moriah Trail between Zeta Pass and South Carter Mountain, I was surprised by what we found. Many trees still blocked the trail, though some had obviously been cleared. Given the snow depth and rugged terrain along the Carter Ridge, we couldn't walk around these obstructions and had to tunnel under them instead on our bellies. It was exhausting work, weighed down by snowshoes and full winter gear. Type II fun. Most definitely.

We got an early start at 7:30 am. A light snow was forecast that afternoon with a winter storm forecast for the evening. The temperature at the trailhead was 6 degrees, but was forecast to go up to 16 later in the day. The wind was blowing about 20 mph, but we'd be protected by trees for the majority of our  route.

There was about 1 foot of snow on the ground and the 19 Mile Brook Trail was packed down well enough that we could hike up it in microspikes. After 1.9 miles, we turned up the Carter Dome Trail and continued in micrsopikes. There was a few inches of unconsolidated powder on top of a packed down layer, but it became increasingly soft as we climbed. I switched to snowshoes at 2800′ and my friends soon followed my example.

It'd been a long time since, at least 3 years, since I'd hiked any of these trails. I'd burned out on them when I finished hiking my Winter 4000 footers in 2014 and stayed away, hiking other trails I'd never been on before. So this hike was a reunion of sorts and a chance to discover the changes to the trails that have been wrought in the interim. The trails in the White Mountains are surprisingly dynamic and subject to change by maintainers, erosion, and the wind. Local maps seldom reflect the changes, which is why you can't put all of your faith in your GPS if you download trail routes and plan to follow them literally on hikes.

We encountered the first set of the blowdowns on the Carter Dome Trail as we approached Zeta Pass. The trail in this section is a series of switchbacks that zigzag up the mountain. Being on a slope, there was no way around these blowdowns except to crawl under them. Luckily the snow was very powdery and dry, so we didn't get wet in the process.

We took a short break when we got to Zeta Pass which is more of a trail junction than a pass. You can hike up it, but once you get to the top there's no way down except to hike back the way you came (real passes have trails down both sides of a saddle.)

More blowdowns blocked the Carter Moriah Trail

We planned to head north from the junction to South Carter, while heading south leads toward Mt Hight and Carter Dome. That's when the fun started. The route from Zeta Pass to South Carter is 0.8 miles, but it took us an hour to hike it because so many blowdowns blocked the trail. This required more belly crawling. Quite a lot of it. I'd thought about bringing a big saw on this hike, but the trees blocking the trail were to large for it to do much good. I'm afraid this is a job for axes and chainsaws.

We finally made it to South Carter at 12:30 pm. It was snowing in earnest by then and the wind was picking up. Rather than attempt a second peak, Middle Carter, we opted to turn around and hike out. The trail to it wasn't broken out and we had no idea what we'd encounter in terms of trail conditions beyond that point. Better to hike out the route you came in on then to chance going forward into the unknown with such a small group.  There was a winter storm warning forecast for that evening and it was just prudent to turn around at the point and hike out, or crawl out again, which we did.

We made it back down to the trailhead, another 4.6 miles (9.2 total), at a brisk pace, but then gravity is your friend in winter. For all the obstacles, we'd all been challenged and enjoyed the beautiful winter scenery. The winter hiking season is off to a great start with all this snow and I hope to get out to do more winter 4000 footers after the holidays, in January.

South Carter (Click for printable GeoPDF Map)

Recommended Guidebooks and Maps:

• Appalachian Mountain Club White Mountain Guide, 30th ed.
• AMC White Mountain National Forest Map Set
• White Mountains Map: New Hampshire and Maine

Support SectionHiker.com, where we actually field test the products we review. If you make a purchase after clicking on the links above, a portion of the sale helps support this site at no additional cost to you.

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Climbing South Carter in December

Crescent Moon EVA All-Foam Snowshoes Review

Crescent Moon EVA All Foam Snowshoes are best used on fairly level terrain and packed trails for snow running and casual winter hiking

Crescent Moon's EVA All Foam Snowshoes are high flotation snowshoes that are made of foam without any metal crampons or heel lifts. Highly rockered, (curved like a banana), they're good for walking and running on well packed trails and groomed cross-country tracks. They have a very simple velcro binding that's compatible with all types of shoes, including running shoes. Heavily hyped, they've been hailed as a minimalist breakthrough in snowshoe design. But like all gear, they have their strengths and weaknesses in different conditions.

Manufacturer Specs at a Glance

• Dimensions: 8″ x 24″
• Weight: 3.5 lbs per pair (actual tested: 61 ounces per pair or 3.75 lbs)
• Best for snowshoers under 200lbs
• Recommended use on trails
• Fits a wide range of footwear and foot sizes—from size 7 W to 14 M.

The Crescent Moon EVA All Foam Snowshoes have curved ends, called rocker, that make them good for running on packed snow.

Crescent Moon's EVA All Foam Snowshoes differ from other popular snowshoes MSR, Tubbs, Atlas, and Northern Lites because:

1. they don't have distinct frame or snowshoe decking
2. they don't have a binding that locks your heel in place
3. they don't have a hinged binding that makes it easy to kick a front crampon into slopes when you need to climb uphill
4. they don't have holes in the top of the snowshoe to prevent snow from accumulating on top

Instead, the EVA All Foam Snowshoe (quite a mouthful, that) is made with three pieces of foam bonded together into a banana-shaped platform with a simple velcro binding. The curved shape, called rocker, makes them easy to walk on hard surfaces and even run with because they don't brake your forward momentum like a snowshoe with a flatter frame.

• So are these snowshoes for beginners?
• How appropriate are they for climbing up hills and winter peakbagging?
• Can you run with them?
• Are they best used on packed trails or in powder?

Binding

The EVA All Foam snowshoe binding is incredibly easy to use and compatible with any style boot or running shoe. It has three velcro straps that wrap over the top and rear of your foot, locking your shoe into a shaped toe rest. The lay flat binding makes them easy to attach to the rear or sides of a backpack when they need to be carried. But the hook and loop velcro closure mechanism can get gummed up with ice and become hard to close without re-warming, which can be hard to come by on long backcountry trips.

The bindings are velcro and easy to adjust but do ice up which can interfere with the hook and loop locking mechanism.

The binding is fairly flexible, no matter how tightly you secure it. This is fine when walking or running on a packed trail, because your heel will land in the middle of the snowshoes, which will be level on the ground. If you step off a packed trail into unbroken snow or powder, your heel has a tendency slide to the inside of the snowshoe so you're on an unbalanced tilt.

While the EVA All Foam snowshoes provide quite a lot of flotation on powder since they are 8″ x 24″, the tendency to pronate when not walking on packed snow is awkward. Running with them is considerably better, because the full force of your body weight packs the snow underneath the snowshoes more firmly and your momentum carries you forward. Still, the binding performs best when walking on jogging on packed and fairly level terrain.

Traction

The EVA All Foam Snowshoes have a green hardened plate with sharpened plastic points to provide traction, but they're not aggressive enough to provide purchase on anything except packed snow and the points are quickly flattened if you walk on hard surfaces with them. The plastic points are ideal however for walking or running on groomed XC trails and provide plenty of grip on packed or granular snow surfaces to help reduce slippage and maintain your momentum.

Climbing uphill is also more challenging because the binding is not hinged, so you can't dig your toes into a slope below the plane of the snowshoe decking. There's also no heel lift to relief the calf strain that results when the tail sinks into the snow and the wide front of the snowshoe floats above it. This makes it feel like your walking on your heels when climbing hills, although it's less of an issue if you're snowshoeing on broken out trails because your heels won't sink into unconsolidated powder.

The underside of Crescent Moon's All Foam Snowshoes have hardened polymer points that provide traction on packed snow.

Recommendation

Crescent Moon has a niche snowshoe manufacturer that has a long history of providing ultralight and carbon fiber snowshoes for runners and racers who want to extend their workouts into the winter months. Their new EVA All Foam Snowshoes are a less expensive, entry-level winter running and walking snowshoe compatible with all types of footwear from running shoes to winter boots. Best used on packed hiking trails, they lack most of the features that you find on mountaineering-style snowshoes designed for winter peakbagging or climbing more technical terrain over mixed rock, ice, and snow. But their highly rockered shape and easy to use binding is well-suited for use on packed trails by winter runners and casual users.

Disclosure: The manufacturer loaned the author with a pair of snowshoes for this review.
Written 2017.

Support SectionHiker.com, where we actually field test the products we review. If you make a purchase after clicking on the links above, a portion of the sale helps support this site at no additional cost to you.

See also:

• MSR Snowshoe Guide: How to Choose the Right Snowshoes for Winter Hiking and Backpacking
• Snowshoeing for Beginners Guide
• How to Size Snowshoes

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Crescent Moon EVA All-Foam Snowshoes Review

Warbonnet Blackbird Hammock Wins SectionHiker.com Gear of the Year Award

Warbonnet Blackbird on the Thoreau Trail, White Mountains, 2017

Every year, I like to recognize the piece of backpacking gear that has the biggest impact on my wilderness hiking experience by giving it the Section Hiker Gear of the Year Award. This year's winner is the Warbonnet Blackbird Hammock (Single Layer), which is by far the most comfortable and convenient shelter I own for backpacking in the forests of New Hampshire and Maine.

I don't camp in a hammock exclusively (unlike many rabidly fanatical hammock hangers) and the shelters I bring on my trips depend on the climate, terrain, my  goals, mood, and whether I'm hiking solo or with companions. But my use of the Blackbird has increased year after year over the past three years that I've owned one because:

• It's easier to find nicer camping spots for a hammock in forests than with a tent.
• I sleep much more deeply at night in a hammock than when I'm lying on a sleeping pad.
• I can set up my tarp first and keep my hammock dry if it's raining.
• I never have to worry about internal condensation in a hammock because the ventilation is so good.

But those are benefits common to most backpacking hammocks. What sets the Blackbird apart from every other hammock made is its patented side pocket, which lets you store clothing and other personal items under the mosquito netting but in an adjacent pocket, out-of-the-way, where they're easy to reach. When I set up my hammock, I drop the stuff sacks I need for the night – my personal effects, smartphone, power pack, maps, sleeping cap, and a buff into that pocket so I don't have to fumble around at night looking for them or store them outside on the ground in my backpack. It's a little convenience that makes a huge difference in terms of comfort and staying organized.

A patented side pocket lets you store gear inside the netting but does not interfere with the living area or sleeping surface.

Weighing 14.5 ounces, including whoopie slings, a bishop bag, permanently attached mosquito netting, the Blackbird isn't the lightest weight hammock you can buy these days, but I'm willing to carry a few more ounces in the name of comfort since I can save weight in other areas of my gear list. And while it's true that the comfort of my Blackbird depends on the use of an assortment of underquilts, top quilts, and a hammock sock in cold weather, none of the other hammocks I've owned or tried using those accessories, comes close to the comfort and convenience of the Warbonnet Blackbird. It's a keeper.

Warbonnet Blackbird – Who needs flat ground to sleep?

Previous SectionHiker.com Gear of the Year Winners Include:

• 2016: CEP Dynamic Compression Socks
• 2015: Hyperlite Mountain Gear 2400 Southwest Backpack
• 2014: Casio PAG240-1CR Pathfinder Triple Sensor Multi-Function Sport Watch
• 2013: Solo Wood Stove
• 2012: Therm-a-Rest Alpine 35 Blanket
• 2011: Pacerpoles (Trekking Poles)
• 2010: Mountain Laurel Designs Superlight Bivy Sack

Disclosure: The author purchased this product with his own funds.
Written 2017.

See Also:

• Guide to Hammock Styles and Designs by Derek Hansen
• Hammock Length and Comfort Guide 
• How to Sleep Warm in a Camp Hammock

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Warbonnet Blackbird Hammock Wins SectionHiker.com Gear of the Year Award

IndieView with William Schlichter, author of No Room in Hell

After studying not only The Walking Dead and other zombie works I wanted to put my own characters through an apocalypse and explore aspects other undead stories tend to avoid.

William Schlichter – 25 December 2017

The Back Flap

When the dead walk the earth, everyone has an agenda…

St. Louis Detective Marcus Danziger seeks clues to his daughter's pre-apocalyptic murder by a serial killer. Excused from the case, Danziger returns to his precinct after the zombie outbreak with only one goal on his mind: to retrieve the evidence to destroy the killer before the entire city falls to the undead and the murderer escapes to the safety of Fort Leonard Wood.

In a world where the rules no longer apply, Danziger won't allow the living or the dead to stop him.

About the book

When did you start writing the book?'

In 2013 I was teaching a creative writing class and would write with my students.

How long did it take you to write it?

Three months for the first draft.

Where did you get the idea from?

I took 3rd Place in the 2013 Broadcast Education Association National Festival of Media Arts for writing a TV Spec Script episode of THE WALKING DEAD: What Money Can't Buy.

My THE WALKING DEAD: What Money Can't Buy script made it into the quarterfinals in the 2013 Scriptapalooza TV script competition.

After studying not only The Walking Dead and other zombie works I wanted to put my own characters through an apocalypse and explore aspects other undead stories tend to avoid.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

I have written stories and a Scifi series for years so the writing portion not so much. My problem lies in the final edits. I don't see my own grammar mistakes

What came easily?

Story ideas just flow into me. Sometimes faster than I can write down. This novel just wanted to be written.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

I think every writer uses bits of people they know.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

I read classic authors and current. I love Stephen King.  For No Room in Hell George Romero influenced me. When I work on a book I read in that genre. I am also working off Time Magazine's top 100 books. I pick up a book that interests me.  I try and read something every day or when I travel I listen to audiobooks.

Do you have a target reader?

Anyone who enjoys horror or a different zombie story.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you, please describe it?

When I have an idea I write it down and even a chapter or enough so I will be able to develop the idea further. Many time once I decide this is the story I am writing next I write the ending. I like to know where the characters are going to end up.  I work on character backstory and sometimes write short pieces that will never end up in the novel but info I need to know about the character. I will do this for most of the main players in the book. Sometimes future ideas come to me and I make sure and write them. I then make an outline on a giant three-foot by three-foot board using colored index cards to lay out character notes.  My final draft never appears as my notes because the story never follows the path I lay out, but having sign posts helps. I will then write and not always in order. I will jump around covering events I want to occur in the book and then I will go back and connect them.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

See above but a hard core 50% outline of a book and the rest changes as the story develops.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you've finished?

Finished. Then I wait six weeks minimum before I touch it and go through it again. I will send it to an editor and then go through it again. Making notes for what would go in a wiki if I ever made one. And I make another editing pass. Then it goes to a proofreader before the publisher.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

Depends on what I am writing but #1 choice is film scores.  Lot of John Williams.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Some 20 years ago I send my first manuscript out to publishers and collected rejection letters.  I have done so over the years and to even some agents.  After earning my Master's Degree and placing in script contests I encountered an author who introduced me to her small-press publisher and went from there.  I like the control I have over my book and stories as well as the fact I am a person and part of a team with them

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

See above

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

The publisher did it for me.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I attend many comicons and book shows to promote myself. I have plan and as my publisher grows so do marketing opportunities

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

You have to talk to people. I teach public speaking at the college level. And when I go to book shows and witness so many authors never speak to anyone.

About You

Where did you grow up?

Farmington, MO

Where do you live now?

Springfield MO

What would you like readers to know about you?

William Schlichter has a Bachelor of Science in Education emphasizing English from Southeast Missouri State and a Masters of Arts in Theater from Missouri State University. With seventeen years of teaching English/Speech/Theater, he has returned to making writing his priority. Recent successes with scriptwriting earned him third place in the 2013 Broadcast Education Association National Festival of Media Arts for writing a TV Spec Script episode of The Walking Dead.

His full-length feature script, Incinta, was an officially selected finalist in the 2014 New Orleans Horror Film Festival. Incinta received recognition again by being selected as a finalist at the 2015 Beverly Hills Film Festival for a full-length feature. Incinta has advanced in several other script contests, including most recently being an Official Selected finalist in the 2016 Irvine Film Festival. His next life goal would be to see his film transferred from the pages to the screen.

Writing has always been his passion even through traveling, raising twin children and educating teenagers. While he specializes in the phantasmagorical world of the undead and science fiction fantasy stories, William continues to teach acting, composition and creative writing.

What are you working on now?

I just completed the third installment of my Silver Dragon Chronicles Scifi series and am writing the third No Room in Hell book.

End of Interview:

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IndieView with William Schlichter, author of No Room in Hell

After studying not only The Walking Dead and other zombie works I wanted to put my own characters through an apocalypse and explore aspects other undead stories tend to avoid.

William Schlichter – 25 December 2017

The Back Flap

When the dead walk the earth, everyone has an agenda…

St. Louis Detective Marcus Danziger seeks clues to his daughter’s pre-apocalyptic murder by a serial killer. Excused from the case, Danziger returns to his precinct after the zombie outbreak with only one goal on his mind: to retrieve the evidence to destroy the killer before the entire city falls to the undead and the murderer escapes to the safety of Fort Leonard Wood.

In a world where the rules no longer apply, Danziger won’t allow the living or the dead to stop him.

About the book

When did you start writing the book?’

In 2013 I was teaching a creative writing class and would write with my students.

How long did it take you to write it?

Three months for the first draft.

Where did you get the idea from?

I took 3rd Place in the 2013 Broadcast Education Association National Festival of Media Arts for writing a TV Spec Script episode of THE WALKING DEAD: What Money Can’t Buy.

My THE WALKING DEAD: What Money Can’t Buy script made it into the quarterfinals in the 2013 Scriptapalooza TV script competition.

After studying not only The Walking Dead and other zombie works I wanted to put my own characters through an apocalypse and explore aspects other undead stories tend to avoid.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

I have written stories and a Scifi series for years so the writing portion not so much. My problem lies in the final edits. I don’t see my own grammar mistakes

What came easily?

Story ideas just flow into me. Sometimes faster than I can write down. This novel just wanted to be written.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

I think every writer uses bits of people they know.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

I read classic authors and current. I love Stephen King.  For No Room in Hell George Romero influenced me. When I work on a book I read in that genre. I am also working off Time Magazine’s top 100 books. I pick up a book that interests me.  I try and read something every day or when I travel I listen to audiobooks.

Do you have a target reader?

Anyone who enjoys horror or a different zombie story.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you, please describe it?

When I have an idea I write it down and even a chapter or enough so I will be able to develop the idea further. Many time once I decide this is the story I am writing next I write the ending. I like to know where the characters are going to end up.  I work on character backstory and sometimes write short pieces that will never end up in the novel but info I need to know about the character. I will do this for most of the main players in the book. Sometimes future ideas come to me and I make sure and write them. I then make an outline on a giant three-foot by three-foot board using colored index cards to lay out character notes.  My final draft never appears as my notes because the story never follows the path I lay out, but having sign posts helps. I will then write and not always in order. I will jump around covering events I want to occur in the book and then I will go back and connect them.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

See above but a hard core 50% outline of a book and the rest changes as the story develops.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

Finished. Then I wait six weeks minimum before I touch it and go through it again. I will send it to an editor and then go through it again. Making notes for what would go in a wiki if I ever made one. And I make another editing pass. Then it goes to a proofreader before the publisher.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

Depends on what I am writing but #1 choice is film scores.  Lot of John Williams.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Some 20 years ago I send my first manuscript out to publishers and collected rejection letters.  I have done so over the years and to even some agents.  After earning my Master’s Degree and placing in script contests I encountered an author who introduced me to her small-press publisher and went from there.  I like the control I have over my book and stories as well as the fact I am a person and part of a team with them

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

See above

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

The publisher did it for me.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I attend many comicons and book shows to promote myself. I have plan and as my publisher grows so do marketing opportunities

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

You have to talk to people. I teach public speaking at the college level. And when I go to book shows and witness so many authors never speak to anyone.

About You

Where did you grow up?

Farmington, MO

Where do you live now?

Springfield MO

What would you like readers to know about you?

William Schlichter has a Bachelor of Science in Education emphasizing English from Southeast Missouri State and a Masters of Arts in Theater from Missouri State University. With seventeen years of teaching English/Speech/Theater, he has returned to making writing his priority. Recent successes with scriptwriting earned him third place in the 2013 Broadcast Education Association National Festival of Media Arts for writing a TV Spec Script episode of The Walking Dead.

His full-length feature script, Incinta, was an officially selected finalist in the 2014 New Orleans Horror Film Festival. Incinta received recognition again by being selected as a finalist at the 2015 Beverly Hills Film Festival for a full-length feature. Incinta has advanced in several other script contests, including most recently being an Official Selected finalist in the 2016 Irvine Film Festival. His next life goal would be to see his film transferred from the pages to the screen.

Writing has always been his passion even through traveling, raising twin children and educating teenagers. While he specializes in the phantasmagorical world of the undead and science fiction fantasy stories, William continues to teach acting, composition and creative writing.

What are you working on now?

I just completed the third installment of my Silver Dragon Chronicles Scifi series and am writing the third No Room in Hell book.

End of Interview:

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Light My Fire Swedish FireSteel 2.0 Army Review

Light My Fire 2.0 Army (12,000 strike model)

The Light My Fire FireSteel (Army Model) is the most reliable way to light a backpacking or camping stove, fuel, or tinder that I've come across. I've been carrying one for the past 10 years, since I section hiked Vermont's Long Trail and had a disposable lighter jam so I couldn't light my stove. It was a cold night and that event left a lasting impression on me. Never again.

While carrying a firesteel may strike you as antiquated, it really is the most reliable way to light a stove, stove fuel, or tinder that I've come across. It never (effectively speaking) runs out of sparks and never needs to resupplied, it will work when wet, in the freezing cold, and at any altitude. I've used mine to light every type of stove fuel you can imagine and carry it on every hike I take.

The Light My Fire FireSteel has two main components, a metal striker and the firesteel itself, which is a metal rod with a highly visible red plastic end to make it easy to hold. They're connected by a cord that keeps them together and helps make them hard to misplace. If you carry a knife, you can also use that instead of the striker, but I keep them together out of convenience.

To use a firesteel, you simply scrape the metal striker (or knife) along the rod. This will generate a shower of sparks which you direct onto some kind of fuel or tinder. For example, if you want to light an MSR Pocket Rocket canister stove (which doesn't have a built-in igniter), you'd turn on the gas and stroke the firesteel, directing the sparks into the gas. That will ignite the stove. It's basically the same process with white gas and alcohol, although you aim the sparks for the fuel itself.

In order to light a solid fuel like Esbit or wood, I like to use cotton balls smeared with Vaseline as a tinder. I actually smear the Vaseline on when I use them, rather than beforehand because it makes them easier to resupply and less messy. I carry the Vaseline in a tiny tub so I can also use it as a skin lubricant to prevent or relieve chafing. It's important to get real cotton cotton balls instead of polyester ones, which are far more difficult to ignite. The same holds for drying lint: it has to be cotton lint and not polyester lint. Before using the cotton balls, it's important to pull them apart into a few fine wisps. This makes them easier to light.

The FireSteel rod is made with an proprietary magnesium alloy created by Light My Fire, but it's probably not that different from the ferrocerium rods that are widely available in survival kits or bundled with Mora bushcraft knives. Light My Fire makes two models of FireSteels, the heavier Army Model (50 g; 12,000 strikes) which I use, and a lighter weight Scout Model (27 g; 3,000 strikes) I prefer the heavier model because it's more robust when used with a bushcraft knife, which I carry occasionally. I've found that a knife wears down the Scout Model rather quickly, although it's fine if you just use the striker key that it comes with. I think the difference is wear patterns is related to the sharpness of the blade and the pressure exerted by the knife, which is much more aggressive than the bundled strikers.

Firesteels work every time and I think they're a great piece of kit to use.

Written 2017.
Support SectionHiker.com, where we actually field test the products we review. If you make a purchase after clicking on the links above, a portion of the sale helps support this site at no additional cost to you.

See Also:

• Ultralight Backpacking Stove Guide
• Ultralight Cooking without a Stove or a Fuel Container
• Winter Survival Fire Lighting Skills – Why Don't We Teach Them?

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The Top 10 Posts of 2017

Wow, 2017 you have been quite a year!

This is my 7th year of Hair Romance and I am so grateful that you come here and read my posts, watch my videos and chat with me.

I feel like I've been going through a bit of a "seven year itch" with blogging and so I've started switching things up a bit to make it more interesting.

I've been on camera a lot more (even though it scared me) and I've put myself out there with live videos too. I've shown you my real, messy hair and confessed how lazy I really am with my beauty routines.

Thankfully you've stuck with me, and you seem to really love these changes too.

When I first started Hair Romance, my big goal was to help one woman feel confident in styling her own hair. I was also hoping to see someone I didn't know wearing one of my hairstyles.

So when I open up Instagram and see DMs of your hairstyles, it makes my heart sing. And I don't feel like you're strangers to me anymore, you're friends.

Here are most popular posts of 2017, as clicked by you.

Let's start the countdown…

10. The best braid video tutorials

If you love braids, and YouTube, this post is for you. I put together a list of my faves with braids for all occasions.

Check out 17 of the best braid tutorials here

9. Is air drying damaging your hair?

Busting some hair myths that hairdryers are always bad for you hair!

Click here to find out if air drying is damaging your hair

8. Travel hairstyles – How to arrive looking like your flew first class

I spent a lot of time travelling this year and I shared my tips for hairstyles that will last a long haul flight.

Check out my top long haul travel hairstyles here

7. Curly hair & Plex – What you need to know

Plex technology is the biggest innovation in hair care in years. I break down the science to explain how and why it helps curly hair.

Find out all you need to know about curly hair and plex technology here

6. 7 weird things you didn't know were damaging your hair

Is one side of your hair more damaged than the other? I think I know why…

Check out this list of 7 weird things that are damaging your hair to find out

5. My 2 minute curly hair tutorial

This super simple bun tutorial uses a special accessory that I love for long or curly hair.

Check out my easy curly hairstyle tutorial to find out more

4. Help! How do I style the front of my curly hair?

I love answering your hair questions and this post has been so popular. I even created a follow up video tutorial with some more tips.

Check out my original tips on how to style the front of your curls

Watch my follow up video tutorial on how to style the front of curly hair

3. Two easy curly hairstyle tutorials you can do in under 90 seconds

What's better than a 2 minute hairstyle? A style you can do in 1.5 minutes!

Click here to learn 2 easy hairstyles for curly hair

2. 5 quick and easy hairstyles to beat the humidity

I need these hairstyles right now! The frizz factor is high in Sydney and these are my go-to hairstyles when the humidity is off the charts.

Check out my 5 quick and easy hairstyles to beat the humidity

And the most popular post of 2017 is…

1. How to restyle curly hair fast and get mega volume

I think this image is going viral on Pinterest! I share my cheat's way to fix my curls fast and show you my exact routine.

Find out how to restyle curly hair fast and get mega volume here

Thank you!

I hope you have happy holidays and here's to a fantastic New Year!

Thank you so much for sharing this space with me online, and I'd love to know what you'd like to see in 2018 xx

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