Greatness

   Nelson Mandela died recently. He was a great man who many people respected, but his passing made me start thinking about something. What makes people respect you, and more importantly, what makes people follow you? Is it your ideas, or could it be something as simple as willingness? People often concentrate on the ideas of great men, but I don’t think our ideas and beliefs are as important as our willingness to go to the ends of the earth to make our beliefs and ideas become a reality. In my short lifetime, I’ve seen men with great ideas who I admired. They were musicians, writers, presidents, and educators, but I’ve never believed in any of them in the way that I’ve believed in some people in my life who are no one special, or at least they’re no one special to the world. The people I choose to follow and constantly imitate, walk the walk. If they have a belief or they have an idea, they live their life exactly as they believe they should and do everything in their power to make their ideas and dreams a reality. To me, that’s what separates people. We all have at least one great idea in our lifetime, and we all have a creed that we live by, but how many of us are willing to dedicate ourselves wholly to those dreams and beliefs?

   Think back to history. What made the difference between a good president and a great one, and what musicians and writers are remembered as great? They are the ones who did more than sell you on an idea or a product. You could see everything they were saying in their life. They lived their ideals, their music, and their words. They stood out above everyone because they weren’t like anyone else. They were a shining example of what they were talking about. They didn’t have to sell you on an idea because their life and their passion were enough to make you believe in anything they said. I challenge myself everyday to be more like those people.

   Sometimes those people come in the form of a Nelson Mandela or a John F Kennedy, but sometimes they come in the form of a mom or a dad. I challenge you to be that person. Do more than tell your children how they should live their lives. Show them why your way works through a shining example that is you. Be that example in your schools, workplaces, and homes. If you are, you’ll always get the respect and admiration you deserve. Don’t do it for that, though. Do it for the beliefs and things that you are passionate about because when you live a life that is true to who you are and what you hold dear, then you’ll find that everything in life is worth it, and no situation is too big.

   Well, that’s all I have on my mind today, guys. I hope that everything is going well for everyone, and I hope that you can live up to whatever expectations you have for yourself. Thanks for reading, and check out Strange Visions: The Storm on December 14^th.      

What Women Really Want

   I’m going to talk about something today that I have very little knowledge about, but even so, I’ve managed to observe a few simple things that us guys overlook about the women we love, and I thought that I would share them with everyone. Keep in mind that I’m nowhere near an expert when it comes to women.

   The first thing that women really want that we tend to drop the ball on is communication. Now, you might say, “me and my girlfriend/wife talk all the time,” but it’s not so much about the amount of time you talk but how much you retain. A woman doesn’t talk just to hear herself . . . or at least most women don’t. She talks to you because she wants you to know more about her and what interests her. If you don’t listen and retain what she’s saying, then the entire conversation is useless. Communication works both ways, but I’ve noticed that us guys drop the ball on this one a lot more than women do. If you want to know her in every way possible, it starts with shutting out all the other noise and hearing her only.

   The second thing I’m going to discuss is something that some people are a little sensitive about . . . the bedroom. Now guys, I know you think that you’re awesome in bed, but I have bad news. You can cut however awesome you think you are in the bedroom in half, which means that you need to start making twice the effort that you’re making. Women have needs just like we do, and if you don’t fully take the time to take care of those needs, sex can become a irritating routine for her. If it does, you’ll find yourself slowly drifting apart. Now, I know that sex doesn’t equal love, but if she doesn’t see you making the effort to satisfy her needs, don’t be surprised when she stops fulfilling yours or you find her in the bed with your neighbor Ted!

   Finally, see her. No, seriously . . . See her! Women say a lot of things, and all of that matters, but what she does is truly who she is. What she tells people is who she wants to be perceived as. The little things that she chooses to do when you’re the only two around is who she really is. Pick up on these cues, and try to take an interest in everything that she does. It could be a crummy movie that she loves but never talks about, it could be something new that she’s wearing, or it could simply be a sigh that screams of dissatisfaction. Learn to read the woman you love and react accordingly. Seeing her goes deeper than just that, though. You should make her feel like she’s the only person you see in a crowded room. If you do that, you’ll always be the only person she sees in the room, too.

   So in conclusion, my experience doesn’t tell me much that we all shouldn’t already know. Women want exactly what we do. We want to be noticed, listened to, and satisfied. We want to know that the women in our lives care about us more than anyone else, so why is it so hard for us to do the exact thing that we want from her? Now, you may be thinking that I’m oversimplifying things, and maybe I am, but I do know this. The little things like listening, kisses, understanding, and surprises go a long way in making hers and your life so much easier. It’s not rocket science. Just think about how you would ideally want to be treated, and treat her even better than that.

   Anyway, I know this post might have been a little random, but I thought that it might be fun to point out the shortcomings of my gender and myself included. Don’t get too cocky, though, ladies because I might just do a blog about what men really want one day, and we’re a lot more complicated than any of you know . . . well, kind of . . . okay, not really. Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to pick up Strange Visions: The Storm on December 14^th.

The Storm

   I’m very happy to announce that the final book in the Strange Visions series, Strange Visions: The Storm, will be released on December 14^th. I’ve gone over it with a fine toothed comb, and it’s finally ready. It has been an extremely fun journey with Trent and Ally. I hope that you will all love the ending. It was one of the most difficult books that I’ve ever written from an emotional standpoint. The words flowed easily, but it was very painful to write that final epilogue. Here’s a description of the book for everyone.

   Strange Visions: The Storm is the thrilling conclusion to the Strange Visions series. All of the mysteries of the series will finally be revealed. This book features the biggest case that Trent has ever been a part of and asks two very important questions. What is Trent willing to sacrifice for the people he loves, and how much further can he push himself after he’s lost everything? As the story takes a darker tone and Trent’s entire worldview is ripped away from him, we truly learn who Trent Roberts is, and we find out what true resolve is all about.

   I also want to share the cover with all of you. I still can’t believe that this will be the last cover with Strange Visions on it, but this book series has led to so much more for me, and it will always have a very special place in my heart.

   Thank you guys for supporting me, and I hope that you’ll pick up the best book in the series on December 14^th. I promise that there will be more than a few surprises and that everything will finally be resolved. I can’t say if everyone will approve of everything in the book, but I thought that it ended just the way it should have. I look forward to seeing all of your feedback and telling you about what comes next for me.

GIVEAWAY!!!

Okay, guys. I'm having an awesome giveaway on my Facebook page. Go to my Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/Mitchel.Grace.Author. Like the page, and share, share, share!! As soon as I reach 1500 Likes on my page, I'll have a random drawing through random.org. The first name drawn will win a $25 Amazon Gift card. The second name drawn will win a free Kindle copy of Strange Visions: The Beginning. The third name drawn will win a free Kindle copy of Wrong Place. If you already have the book you win, I'll send the next in the series instead. Spread the word, everyone, and THANKS!!!

3 Things You Can’t Buy With Money

   I thought that I would do a random list today, and this subject seems interesting to me. The first thing I want to talk about is love.

   You can never make someone love you, no matter how much you spend. Sure, a large bank account can land you a supermodel wife or husband, but no matter how much you spend, they probably won’t ever love you. In the same way, your friend’s love can’t be bought. A good friend is someone who wants to be around you when you’re too broke to go out at all. Great Christmas presents won’t buy your children’s love either. It’s actually strange how much we equate gifts with love when they’re so useless in expressing what true love really is.

   The second thing that money can’t buy is happiness. This is something that I know from experience. I’ve gone through ups and downs throughout my life. I’ve turned to better clothes, entertainment, food, and in general, I’ve thrown more money at the problem than most people, but none of it ever got me out of whatever metaphorical pit that I was in. No, I’m not going to say something lame like that true happiness comes from within because that’s absolutely ridiculous. I think that true happiness comes from the people we spend our time with. It doesn’t matter what we’re doing or if money is even involved. All that matters is that we have the people in our life who make life worth living. Until you find those people, your life will always feel somewhat empty.

   The last thing is a big one. Money will never give you a clear conscience. Many people tithe or give large portions of their money to charity, and that’s a really great thing. Unfortunately, trying to help others with the wrong intentions does you absolutely no good. We’ve all been in the situation I’m talking about. We’ve done something terrible that eats away at us, so we start trying to make up for it by throwing a little cash to a worthy cause. Somehow we think that brings us redemption. Unfortunately, it never does. Actions will always trump a handout. If you’ve wronged someone, going to them and getting everything out in the open is the beginning to clearing your conscience, or at least that’s my experience.

   Now, you may ask, why the list? The truth is that I’m a little bored right now. I’ve been editing so much on Strange Visions: The Storm that I haven’t had a chance to write a new word for two days. That’s kind of starting to drive me a little crazy, so I thought I would write some little random thing for my blog. Money has always been an interesting thing to me because it’s so important to so many people, and yet it can’t actually give us the things that we desire most.

   I’ll have an update on the new book soon. For now, just know that my editing is going well. I’m 95% done with the book, but I’m just trying to go over it a lot to make sure that everything is like it should be. This is the last book, after all. I think that Trent and Ally deserve a perfect sendoff. Thanks for reading, and look forward to reading the best and final Strange Visions book soon.

Living Your Dreams

   Dreams are a strange thing. People often think of dreams as unattainable goals that we can never accomplish. At other times, people think of them as something we have in the night. I think of them as something that I experience every day with eyes wide open. My dream is to be able to do something with the daydreams that have always been rolling around in my head. I want to hold on to every good thought and put it into something that can take me to a greater place. I also want to see those thoughts entertain people and at times, help people through difficult times in their life. You see, my dreams aren’t a wish. They’re a longing that I’m actively pursuing at almost every moment. We all have wishes that we don’t think can be real, and sometimes that might even be true, but you never know until you try. I’ve also learned something else through my experience. NOTHING comes all at once. No one ever picked up a pen or a guitar and was instantly rich and famous. As a matter fact, most people who have made a name for themselves through writing have spent years trying to build their name up and get better at their craft. It can be work to constantly pursue something when you don’t know where it’s going to lead you. Will you end up at your desired destination, or will all the effort only lead you back to the same place that you already are? That’s a question that I’ve found myself asking a lot lately, but it’s not the thing that I should be concentrating on. I’m doing what I love, and maybe that’s going to lead somewhere. I believe that it is anyway. It’s already led to more than I could hope for at this point, so I should be ecstatic.

   I guess what I’m writing this about is to give other people and even myself some advice about something that I should have realized much sooner in my life. Only pursue the things and people worth pursuing to you. Always have high standards and expectations for yourself and everyone around you, but let those be long-term expectations. Anything good takes time to be recognized, and even really good needs time to become great. Most of all, when you’re living your dream, LIVE IT! Don’t look back to the past or to the future. Just see the moment that’s right in front of you. Tomorrow will either be great or terrible, but don’t ever miss the journey to that day.

   Thanks for listening again, guys, and remember that it’s never too late or too early to pursue the most important thing to you. We weren’t made to drone through this world doing things that we hate. We were made to work at things that we love and to be with the people who we truly care about. Life isn’t always that simple, but it can be when you realize that the main person keeping you from living every day as it could be your last is you.

Journeys

   So I’m feeling pretty good today. I’ve been working on a side project. It consists of a little more than 19,000 words, and it’s set in a world that is very foreign to anything we know. I’ve always written books that were set in the modern world. It’s been really great to build an entirely different society in this untitled book, and writing it is reminding me of why I’ve always loved writing. When you throw out all the rules and all the expectations, you can just write freely. This new story is leading me. I have no idea where it’s going or how long it’s going to be, but I really like the characters and setting of it. It’s kind of odd, but it’s a lot more fun to write a book when you only write it for yourself. This new book may be released at some time in the very distant future, but right now, it’s just a little gem that I get to keep for myself. Regardless of what I do with it in the future, it’s nice to go back to a mindset like the one I had with Wrong Place. I didn’t know if I would ever release that book, and that gave me complete creative license. I didn’t have to consider how anyone would perceive it or what type of people to market it to. In a way, the first few books I wrote were my favorites because they came from a really good place. I was able to pour every interest, everything I love, and every painful moment in me into those books, and it gave me a peace like nothing else. It’s nice to get back to that.
   Don’t get me wrong, though. I’m really excited to get the last Strange Visions book and the final two Wrong books out there in the future, but it’s nice to create again instead of just edit. When you’re constantly looking at what you do in a critical way, you can get down on yourself pretty quickly. On the other hand, when you write a few thousand unedited words that you absolutely love, it can give you so much confidence. I think I’m going to start writing at least one new thing everyday from now on. It makes me happy, and it reminds me of what writing really is to me. It’s a way to express something that I can’t express with speech. Editing those thoughts is one thing, but getting them out is truly heaven.
   Anyway, I didn’t mean to go off in left field today, but that’s what’s on my mind. I love to write, and it lets out thoughts that otherwise would drive me crazy. I think we all need something that gives us relief from the rest of our lives. Writing is something that I think that everyone should do because there are some things that you just can’t say. For anyone reading this who might be thinking about writing a book or just telling their story, I encourage you to do something that, in my opinion, won’t ever be a mistake, and this writer might just answer any questions that you have. I don’t know much yet about the business side of writing, but I would love to help or collaborate with anyone in the future. As authors, we view ourselves as competitors too often, but I’ve never bought into that mentality. My writing is the story of my journey, and if I can help someone tell his or her story, then I would be thrilled to do that. Thanks for reading again, guys, and check back for updates soon.