paulwhitewriter

[paulwhitewriter]

Authors in Wonderland: or, Falling Down the Rabbit Hole of Indie Publishing

I have been involved in the publishing and authoring world for a long time, both in traditional print formats (before the internet) and in modern digital forms. As a DTP/Self-publishing/Indie author, (the terms have evolved, but the principle remains the same). I have navigated the often tumultuous changes in the industry, from Lightning Source to IngramSpark, BookSurge, CreateSpace, and now…

[paulwhitewriter]

Only a few more weeks before On the Highway of Irreverent Rumination & Delusion is available.

It is a most entrancing book, one in which Paul White's musings, reflections, and existential philosophy are revealed in such a way that it makes you want, and even need, to read the next paragraph, the next page, the next chapter before you can even consider putting the book down.

Blending reality with invention, White crafts a captivating, thought-provoking monologue that invites readers into the fleeting, ephemeral thoughts flitting through his mind during his fanciful road trip.

With his trademark wit and seemingly disconnected yet strangely cohesive style, White delivers philosophical insights and modern observations that are both personal and delightfully amusing.

White offers a quirky, sideways look at the world, humorously dissecting life’s absurdities, society’s peculiarities and, above all, our personal connection with all that is around us, much taken for granted, much unrealised, but that which forms our very existence, our ideologies, and our self.

Hop aboard, join White on his meandering journey. Travel with him down the winding neural pathways of his existential psyche as he rattles along 'On the Highway of Irreverent Rumination and Delusion.'

Join the email list for a discounted launch price, pwauthor@mail.com (Subject- OTHOIRAD)

Paperback Only.

[paulwhitewriter]

THIS MONTHS MOST READ

Within the Invivible Pentacle, a collection of short, and not-so-short, stories.

.The following, NOT TONIGHT, JOSEPHINE, is one of the shorter stories.

Enjoy.

***

The journey proved to be a nightmare.

I have never encountered so much traffic as I did last night. At one point, I was stationary for almost two hours. Stuck on the highway with no way of going anywhere.

I called Josephine.

She said she would wait up, or at least stay awake for me.

"I might go to bed and read my book, it will keep me occupied until you get here," she said teasingly.

I could tell Josephine was wearing her cheeky little grin, because of the tone of her voice, her teasing lilt.

"I’ll get there as soon as I can," I promised her.

"Just be careful. I love you," she replied.

The journey took me another six hours.

I do not like driving on unfamiliar roads at night, and when it is raining, I hate it.

I only travelled to Josephine’s once before, when she was driving, so I was trying desperately to remember the route.

Each mile seemed like ten, every junction I came to I slowed, looked and double checked.

When I finally arrived at Josephine’s home I was mentally and physically drained. In fact, I had been far too tired to drive those last few miles.

I should have stopped, taken a rest.

I should have been more careful, as Josephine asked.

But I did not. I drove on, radio blaring out, window open and the rain refreshingly stimulating as it blew over my face.

It was only when I turned the engine off, sat back in the seat for a moment and felt my eyes closing of their own accord, I realised how near falling asleep at the wheel I was.

How close I came to killing myself on those dark, winding roads.

I considered myself lucky. A lucky fool.

When I opened the bedroom door, Josephine was fast asleep.

The book she was reading resting on the fingers of her hand. Music playing softly, almost inaudibly, from the bedside radio.

I could tell she tried to stay awake.

Josephine would have fought sleep for as long as she could.

But my journey took far too long.

The Sandman had won. He had taken Josephine into the dream world of slumber.

Standing in the doorway for some time, I admired her beauty.

I considered myself lucky. Dammed lucky.

Tiptoeing about the house, trying to be quieter than the proverbial mouse. I needed a coffee, a hot coffee, laced with brandy, or rum, or something strong.

But I simply grabbed an orange juice from the refrigerator before using the bathroom and undressed in the hall.

I kept everything, every movement as quiet as possible so I did not disturb the sleeping Josephine.

This was far from our original plan for tonight.

Tonight, Josephine had cooked a special meal, a treat to welcome me home.

The pots and pans were piled in the kitchen sink. The table was set, laid out with red candles in the centre.

Nothing had been used.

Like us, the meal had been stood up.

After the meal?

After the last of the Borolo was drained from our glasses.

I will leave you to guess Josephine’s plans for the rest of our evening.

Quietly, and very slowly, I inched into bed beside her.

I did not want to disturb her sleep. She looked like an angel, a cherub, all delicate and childlike.

I lay, half propped on the pillow watching Josephine sleep. Watching her chest rise and fall beneath the cotton sheet. Occasionally her eyes flickered.

I wished her sweet dreams.

Gradually, I too drifted off into the world of slumber.

Josephine’s movements as she awoke disturbed my own nocturnal dreams.

I opened my eyes and looked across the pillows towards her, she was smiling at me.

"When did you get in?" she asked.

"Not long ago," I said, looking at the clock.

I had only been in bed for twenty minutes. I must have disturbed Josephine after all.

She moved closer, cuddling into me and hooking one leg over mine.

"Do you want to..." she smiled, one hand resting on my thigh.

"Not tonight, Josephine," I replied.

But she was already fast asleep again.

I smiled to myself.

I was the happiest and most content I have been in my entire life just holding her next to me.

I needed nothing more.

I was a lucky man.

A very lucky man.

Within the Invisible Pentacle, from https://amzn.to/3Is92EW(Amazon UK) &,

[paulwhitewriter]

Here are the links to check out these amazing books; enjoy the read.

A Grave Mistake, https://amzn.to/40NMVyT

The Simon Grave Series, https://amzn.to/3IrKfks

[paulwhitewriter]

This week's MOST READ is…

A New Summer Garden, by Paul White

New Summer Garden tells the story of Sam, who was down and almost out, with little prospect for the future, when he meets Rachelle, the beautiful wife of the philandering Peter, the kingpin of an international underworld empire.

When Peter catches Sam 'in flagrante' with Rachelle, he ensures Sam's simple life becomes... 'complicated'. From then on Sam's life takes on a surreal path, where the only plausible outcome is for Sam to end up in prison or dead... most probably both.

Electric Press magazine writes, "Intrigue, manipulation and outright lies abound throughout this story, making it a genuine 'unputdownable' book. This is a true 'Must Read'."

Goodreads reviews say...

“Once again author Paul White has tantalized me with a sultry thriller laid out so craftily, I didn’t see the turns coming. His latest Electric Eclectic Novelette, A New Summer Garden, delves into the twisted minds of his characters, exposing the dark underbelly of greed and deception hidden by beauty and wealth…“”

Elizabeth Newton

“Just what the doctor ordered for a warm afternoon sat in the garden. A quick read in an easy style that tells it like it is. To top it off there's a delicious twist at the end. This is what short stories are all about. Great stuff.”

Ted Taylor

“This is a fun read that has a bit of everything. Sex, crime, murder, threat, and a whole lot of humour. Something the Paul White is good at.”

Karen Mossman

Paperback Pocketbook, https://amzn.to/4kv0kTD

eBook/Kindle, https://amzn.to/4eLCbH3

[paulwhitewriter]

"On the Highway of Irreverent Rumination and Delusion"

originates from Paul White’s former blog, 'Further Ramblings from a Writer’s Mind'. In this now-retired online space, White offered a quirky, sideways look at the world, humorously dissecting life’s absurdities and society’s peculiarities. These musings have been rewritten, revised, and polished into a compelling patchwork of reflections: part recollection, part childhood memory, and part present-day musing.

Blending reality with invention, White crafts a captivating, thought-provoking monologue that invites readers into the fleeting, ephemeral thoughts that flit through his mind during this fictitious road trip. With his trademark wit and seemingly disconnected yet strangely cohesive style, White delivers philosophical insights and modern observations that are both personal and delightfully amusing. So, hop in and join White on this meandering journey. Travel with him down the winding neural pathways of his existential psyche as he rattles along On the Highway of Irreverent Rumination and Delusion. Due for publication in July. On the Highway of Irreverent Rumination and Delusion will be released at a special discount for a short length of time. Meanwhile, like, follow, subscribe today; just don’t miss out. Visit Paul’s website https://bit.ly/paulswebsite

[paulwhitewriter]

The ‘Sheep Syndrome’ in Indie Publishing, and why you are just one irrelevant member of the flock. 

I am and have been a published author for more years than I care to mention. Back in July 2014, I made the decision to become an independent author.   A move I have never regretted.  During the ensuing eleven years, I’ve witnessed some dramatic changes in the publishing industry, the changing landscape of authorship and its effect on individual writers, primarily the autonomous independent…

[paulwhitewriter]

E.J. Banfield said,

“On rare occasions, there comes along a profound original, an odd little book that appears out of nowhere, from the pen of some obscure storyteller, and takes its modest but permanent place in literature. Such books are not for the crowd. They are for the few who discern their worth and are better for the reading. They are like those shy birds that reveal themselves only to the patient watcher, or like the wildflowers that bloom unseen save by some stray wanderer in the wilderness. Their influence is quiet but enduring; they are touchstones for the kindred spirit."

I feel that ‘On the Highway of Irreverent Rumination & Delusion’, by Paul White, is just such a book.

Blending reality with invention, White crafts a captivating, thought-provoking monologue that invites readers into the fleeting, ephemeral thoughts that flit through his mind during this imagined road trip. He offers a quirky, sideways look at the world, humorously dissecting life’s absurdities, and society’s peculiarities.

Paul White's musings, reflections and existential philosophy are told in a way that makes you want, to have you needing to read the next paragraph, the next page, the next chapter.

I wish there were more books such as this.

Due for release this July.  I, for one, shall champion it.

In the meantime, do yourself a favour, visit Paul’s website: https://bit.ly/paulswebsite

Henry Morgan, Literary Insights Magazine.

[paulwhitewriter]

It worries me

It is not often I use Ramblings from a Writers Mind to directly address issues which concern me, but I need to share the following with you. I have posted this in several social groups, but such posts are often missed, scrolled past, or ignored as people are searching for, or posting, other things at the time. I am open to feedback and look forward to hearing your views, so please add your…

[paulwhitewriter]

It worries me.

I mean it worries me that so many people, especially the younger ones among us, have forgotten how to read well.

I read many social posts bragging about the number of books one has read this month, or year, or the target they wish to achieve by the end of the year.

This saddens me.

Simply reading the words on a page, speed reading, rushing through a book; even if one grasps the basic story, the concept, one misses so much of the important stuff within a good, well-written book. This is not reading, it is scanning.

Good books cannot be rushed; they are far too complex, too multi-layered. They carry so much more within their text than the outline story on which the tale is played out.

Mortimer J. Adler supports this by saying, "In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you."

Henry David Thoreau wrote a little more poetically, "Read the best books first, or you may not have a chance to read them at all. To read well, that is, to read true books in a true spirit, is a noble exercise… Books must be read as deliberately and reservedly as they were written."

Ezra Pound further confirms such when he writes, "Do not rush; the best way to enjoy books is to read them slowly, with feeling and attention. The man who reads a book in a hurry gains nothing but the plot."

Susan Sontag says, "Speed-reading is to literature as fast food is to cuisine: it fills you up without nourishing you. The real feast is in the pauses, the rereading, the moments when you close the book just to feel its weight in your hands."

While Roberto Bolaño once wrote, "Reading is like fucking: the real pleasure isn’t in finishing, but in the tension, the delay, the unbearable tease of a sentence you have to read twice just to feel it fully."

I concur.

The next time you rip through a book purely to tick off another number on your chart, remember, you have not read the book, not truly, not in all its depth and its glory. You have done nothing but serve yourself and the author an injustice.

While you took a few hours flicking through the pages, the author crafted that work over many months, often years, building depth, leaving veiled messages, weaving layers and building obscure aspects of importance, and you merely glance at the text, never feeling the profound, never realising the complexity of wisdom interwoven within.

I am saddened when I read such posts. To know that many value collating numbers over gathering wisdom and understanding. That the world has depreciated to one where scant figures have replaced comprehension and appreciative intellect.

Paul White, Author. https://amzn.to/4kgFV4s

[paulwhitewriter]

2500 likes!

[paulwhitewriter]

Tips for Writing a Query Letter

A query letter is, at its core, a covering letter. That may sound straightforward, but its simplicity is deceptive. This single page carries the weight of your submission; the manuscript you have meticulously prepared following the agent’s guidelines. Agents understand the challenge this presents. They are adept at recognising potential, even in submissions marked by nerves or the occasional…

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[paulwhitewriter]

YOU HAVE NEVER WRITTEN ANYTHING ORIGINAL

(The Myth of Originality: Why Great Writers ‘Steal,’ and How to Do It Correctly)

There is a famous quote attributed to filmmaker Jim Jarmusch:

"Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination."

"Nothing is original," suggests true originality is rare, if not impossible. Every creative work is influenced by ideas, styles, and perspectives that already exist. Art, music, writing, and innovation are all part of a continuous dialogue across time and culture.

"Steal from anywhere" does not mean literal theft. Instead, it encourages drawing freely from diverse sources, literature, film, history, science, and even nature. The key is to transform what you borrow into something distinctly your own.

"That resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination." Not all influences speak to you. The quote encourages selective ‘stealing,’ taking only what genuinely excites you, and then reinterpreting it in a way that feels authentic.

Still sceptical? Consider this; every great story is a remix of what came before, myths, history, individual experiences, or fleeting conversations, like a random conversation overheard in a café.

As T.S. Eliot put it, "Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal." Steve Jobs argued that "Creativity is just connecting things," while Kirby Ferguson (Everything is a Remix) stated, "All creation builds on prior work."

In short, this perspective frees creators from the burden of pure originality. The goal is not to copy, but to avoid imitation, allowing external sparks to ignite personal vision.

Shakespeare reworked older tales. Tolkien wove together folklore. Picasso drew from African art. George R.R. Martin openly credits The Wars of the Roses as the inspiration for Game of Thrones.

The secret? Do not copy, transform. Take what excites you, filter it through your voice, and make it yours.

And you? You have already stolen, perhaps unknowingly, be it a line, a trope, or a vibe. Writer’s ‘steal’ ethically, mining obscure histories, scientific journals, or forgotten folklore. They cross-pollinate genres, blending noir detectives with fairy tales. They borrow from life, an overheard conversation, a family argument, even that diary you swore never to read.

So, confess, what have you borrowed? Where did your current project truly begin?

We would love to hear from you.

#WritingTips #AuthorLife #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #CreativeProcess

[paulwhitewriter]

THE DEFENCE CALLED IT ‘CULTURE’.

THE JURY CALLED IT MURDER.

The Arrangement, a searing, unflinching exploration of forced marriage and so-called ‘honour’ violence, ripped from real-world brutality. It lays bare their corrosive power, not just on victims, but on families, lovers, and the bonds between them.

Yet this is not a story of hatred.

It is a story of love: its scars, and whatever remnants remain when challenged by cruelty, ignorance, and evil.

The Arrangement is part of the Bite Size Read compendium of books, a library of short, time-filler, stories from Paul White. Check out Bite Size Reads here, https://amzn.to/43Woosd

The Arrangement UK https://amzn.to/4l7jmAq

The Arrangement USA https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FCRMT3F1

[paulwhitewriter]

When I Was on the Massive…

... not only contains massive jokes, but encompasses the entire gamut of Royal Naval humour, from standard jokes to the harsh and vulgar, bawdy songs and poems, to saucy and offensive tales of Jack's runs ashore. The songs, limericks, and poetry, known as ditties, are those often sung in bars, and less salubrious establishments worldwide, by Jolly Jack Tar on a run ashore. Each has various verses as many misheard lyrics led to alternative versions, many of which have become Jack's favourite songs, such as ‘I wonder, yes, I wonder', ‘Magic Moments’, and 'Zulu Warrior’. Royal Navy sailors are not all bullsh*te and bravado. They love to reminisce about their time in the mob. Often an old salt can be seen with a tear in his eye as he thinks of all the ships and bases that no longer exist, his old oppos, and those whose souls are still on patrol, the matelots lost in battle. When I Was on the Massive covers all this and more, while enjoying the Black Catting prevalent in many, if not most, of the humour regarding this most elusive, gigantic, yet imaginary fictitious ship of the Royal Navy. This book makes the perfect, unusual, unexpected gift, or simply indulge yourself. BZ Shippers. Paperbck, Amazon https://amzn.to/3FpgI9Y

[paulwhitewriter]

A Happy Bunny Post.

I’m pretty chuffed.

Last month (May) was probably my lowest month of sales since 2014, This month things are, happily, back on track. I have no idea (yet) why May was quite so dismal.

However, it’s not getting back to the ‘norm’ which has put a smile on my face, it’s the fact my best retail outlet took another fifty books from me this month.

I’m not the type of person who stores transactions in their head, so I looked back at how many books this outlet has ordered in the last couple of years, and found out it's 750, so they have been retailing around 250 of my paperbacks a year.

Added to my other outlets, (excluding online sales), I have over 1000 paperbacks sold through physical stores. (Not Amazon expanded distribution, which I keep clear of, as I don’t think it’s worthwhile.)

Combine this to my multiple online sales channels, and ‘Thank you’ I’m a happy little bunny.

How do I do this?  I share my concepts in the ‘Authors Essential Library’.

Check out these books right now. https://amzn.to/43H76iN

You are welcome.