2008 was a great year for my writing career. It began with a first column on DFW's CultureFeast.com where I wrote about the wild and trying world of self-publishing. I have to admit, it was my first real writing-gig (is that the right term???); I had deadlines (those dreadful little demons) and I had a responsibility to my small following of readers to provide insight into the world of indie publishing. It was great and I loved it and it became the spring-board for this blog, "Drawing Stories...With Words." I essentially realized I could generate the same traffic for my own site, writing for myself and meeting my own little demonic deadlines. Anyhow, I love the control and power and authority of ruling my own little world on the Internet. I did however learn that two of my articles made the runner-up list of the Top 12 Culture Feast Articles of 2008. Basically, if the list was written for the Top 17 Culture Feast Articles of 2008, well hell, I would have been recognized for two of them!! By the way, thank-you Mr. Dessinger for everything!!!
I managed to swing a couple of radio/podcast interviews to help publicize the story behind the story for my novel: Proud Souls. My first was an interview with Linda Bagwell, host of Weatherford College's Books-N-Authors and all that Jazz. The second interview came from Angel Lesa, host and owner of The Odd Mind show on Blog Talk Radio. They were both wonderful interviews and although my first in Weatherford was a bit constrained for time, the second interview with Angel Lesa was truly great and was full of insightful and resourceful information regarding the writing and publication process.
I was able to go back to Seymour, Texas and visit the Ponce family cabin, the home of my fictional hero: Justin Bower. While there I shot some "on-location" vids to help give my audience a better visualization for the setting behind my story. I also included some dialogue where I share more insight into the actual story writing process and detail how a chance visit to a cabin in small town Seymour, Texas led to the creation of my first novel. There are three videos total, so please feel free to get a more in depth look at how I wrote my first novel.
Proud Souls collected 22 wonderful reviews written by its fans and readers. Some of these reviews will be featured in the hardcover version of the novel, which will release later. Click here to read the reviews.
Both my book Proud Souls and I received a small cameo role in a wonderful short-story entitled The Tortured Soul, written by Jessy Oxner. It's an incredible read and I think you will really enjoy it! Thanks Jessy for the kudos and the spot in your story!!! I loved it!!!
I received some speaking engagements as well this past year (or two) and I have to say, second only to writing and helping others on their literary journey, talking is the best part of being an independent author/publisher. I spoke to some graduating students at North Side High School in Fort Worth as well as students from Tech High School. I have visited a wonderful group of students at North Side High School this past fall, discussing the vast array of opportunities waiting them after they graduate. I also spoke at the North Richland Hills Public Library, meeting the head of all Texas Libraries while on site. I also had some written interviews posted online where the feedback and reader response was incredible, including my interview here with J.K. Coi, host of "Living With Immortals" blog.
I am not one for book signings but I did make one attempt to perform one book signing in Hudson Oaks, Texas with Randy Cook, owner of Lark Bookstore. The turnout was low (as expected when you are a no one in this business) but I did make one new friend while there (apart from the wonderful staff). Thanks for buying my book!!!!
In closing...
I forsee great things for my writing career in 2009. Presently I am working on closing a book deal which will not only make me a full time writer this coming year, but solidify my place as a small independent press. If or when the book deal is finalized I will begin working as a ghost-writer for a money management company based out of Dallas, Texas. NOT ONLY THAT...but I will publish this non-fiction title under my publishing company: Ozuna Publications.
My last bit of news is first my radio/podcast interview on the Tony Kay Show, featured on ArtistFirst Radio Network. This show will be Wednesday, January 14th @ 5PM CST. The show will stream LIVE via the Internet so anyone and everyone can enjoy. Click here to visit ArtistFirst and bookmark the site for later use. Remember, this interview will be streamed LIVE via the WWW.
Not only will I be featured as the guest author of the day on Wednesday the 14th of January, but within the next month I will be hosting my very own show under the ArtistFirst Radio Network. So, if you are an independent author, book publisher, musician, band, painter, etc--or any independent free-thinking artist looking for a place to spring-board your work, publicize your tour or market your website and products, please feel free to contact me to book your interview LIVE with Bobby Ozuna, author of Proud Souls and host of "The Soul of Humanity" weekly podcast/Internet radio show!!!
I am off to prepare my first show....stay tuned for more details everyone and please, by all means....stay focused on your dream...believe it...say as though it already happened and when the moment of truth arises...don't back down!!!
~Bobby Ozuna
Ozuna Publications
I managed to swing a couple of radio/podcast interviews to help publicize the story behind the story for my novel: Proud Souls. My first was an interview with Linda Bagwell, host of Weatherford College's Books-N-Authors and all that Jazz. The second interview came from Angel Lesa, host and owner of The Odd Mind show on Blog Talk Radio. They were both wonderful interviews and although my first in Weatherford was a bit constrained for time, the second interview with Angel Lesa was truly great and was full of insightful and resourceful information regarding the writing and publication process.I was able to go back to Seymour, Texas and visit the Ponce family cabin, the home of my fictional hero: Justin Bower. While there I shot some "on-location" vids to help give my audience a better visualization for the setting behind my story. I also included some dialogue where I share more insight into the actual story writing process and detail how a chance visit to a cabin in small town Seymour, Texas led to the creation of my first novel. There are three videos total, so please feel free to get a more in depth look at how I wrote my first novel.
Proud Souls collected 22 wonderful reviews written by its fans and readers. Some of these reviews will be featured in the hardcover version of the novel, which will release later. Click here to read the reviews.
Both my book Proud Souls and I received a small cameo role in a wonderful short-story entitled The Tortured Soul, written by Jessy Oxner. It's an incredible read and I think you will really enjoy it! Thanks Jessy for the kudos and the spot in your story!!! I loved it!!!
I received some speaking engagements as well this past year (or two) and I have to say, second only to writing and helping others on their literary journey, talking is the best part of being an independent author/publisher. I spoke to some graduating students at North Side High School in Fort Worth as well as students from Tech High School. I have visited a wonderful group of students at North Side High School this past fall, discussing the vast array of opportunities waiting them after they graduate. I also spoke at the North Richland Hills Public Library, meeting the head of all Texas Libraries while on site. I also had some written interviews posted online where the feedback and reader response was incredible, including my interview here with J.K. Coi, host of "Living With Immortals" blog.
I am not one for book signings but I did make one attempt to perform one book signing in Hudson Oaks, Texas with Randy Cook, owner of Lark Bookstore. The turnout was low (as expected when you are a no one in this business) but I did make one new friend while there (apart from the wonderful staff). Thanks for buying my book!!!!
In closing...
I forsee great things for my writing career in 2009. Presently I am working on closing a book deal which will not only make me a full time writer this coming year, but solidify my place as a small independent press. If or when the book deal is finalized I will begin working as a ghost-writer for a money management company based out of Dallas, Texas. NOT ONLY THAT...but I will publish this non-fiction title under my publishing company: Ozuna Publications.
My last bit of news is first my radio/podcast interview on the Tony Kay Show, featured on ArtistFirst Radio Network. This show will be Wednesday, January 14th @ 5PM CST. The show will stream LIVE via the Internet so anyone and everyone can enjoy. Click here to visit ArtistFirst and bookmark the site for later use. Remember, this interview will be streamed LIVE via the WWW.
Not only will I be featured as the guest author of the day on Wednesday the 14th of January, but within the next month I will be hosting my very own show under the ArtistFirst Radio Network. So, if you are an independent author, book publisher, musician, band, painter, etc--or any independent free-thinking artist looking for a place to spring-board your work, publicize your tour or market your website and products, please feel free to contact me to book your interview LIVE with Bobby Ozuna, author of Proud Souls and host of "The Soul of Humanity" weekly podcast/Internet radio show!!!
I am off to prepare my first show....stay tuned for more details everyone and please, by all means....stay focused on your dream...believe it...say as though it already happened and when the moment of truth arises...don't back down!!!
~Bobby Ozuna
Ozuna Publications
5 comments:
Hi Bobby: Sounds like things are really moving along. I'd love to be a guest on your radio show. Best of luck! Elaine Williams
Elaine
I am so glad you asked because you are one of the TOP TEN people on my list to contact. Right now, because the show is new and I have to cover my cost for air/web time, there is a small fee. Every artist interested in booking an Internet Radio show with me will only have to pay $100 for a one hour LIVE streaming Internet interview. The shows will be archived for later and multiple listening and you will get a copy of the .MP3 file so you can blog it or post to your own sites. We can discuss any aspect of your writing/publishing career you choose. I will work diligently as well, you know this, to promote the interview as well.
Right now, dates are tentative and open for February or March of this year. I say we move forward when you are ready!!!
I will be sure to pass this along! I am jumping out of my skin with excitement! You are doing great things! I am so proud for you!
Artists of the world add color to the cultures of every society... The musicians and singers are the songs by which the culture is celebrated... the writers are the voice of the people of the times...the painters and sculptors draw the worlds and icons that identify a people. Artists teach us how to dance...and how to laugh and how to imagine a world outside the scope of our sight... If you stripped a society naked of their artists...you would be left with a bleak world of pawns on a black and white canvas without a voice, without a thought, a song, a dance or the imagination to know what you are missing.
Oh, my God!
Okay you know how hard it is for me lately to get online, having moved to where all I have access to is Dial up internet service. So I am on, I glance and then usually the phone rings and I have to start over. So I drank allot of coffee tonight and decided I have to get to work and catch up with what's goin on with everyones projects and update info on my pages as you change them. Get my facts straight with your new thing, and I see what you wrote about the Proud Soul cameo in my story. I am so speechless. I am very flattered, and you are just one of the most decent people I know. You're one of my "when I wanna quit" go to people. I have been so blessed by you and I hope that I can be as good a friend to all my friends as you have been to me. I have already sent out a mass email to everyone I know about the radio show and I know a lot of Artists and Free Thinkers that I want to share with you and you with them.
Thank you so much for your friendship.
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