Archive for category: Members Area

It’s here. It’s finally here!

It’s been quite an exciting month so far.

First it started with this wonderful surprise we had this morning. There was this e-mail from our Chinese translators. Not really saying anything but just providing a link. We clicked it and there it was: because—well, it’s now 缘由.

As you know, we started the translation process for because back in January 2015 and now the Chinese version is available on Amazon.cn (and soon to be released to other retailers in China). It is so cool to see Chinese characters tell the story of Robert Sanchez. (Even though I can’t understand but my wife does, so now maybe her mother and some of her family can read it.) And it already has been reviewed by a Chinese reader (happily 5 stars as well). Man, how grateful and fortunate I am!

It was quite a learning-full and such an interesting process working with these editors and translators. The thing that made me feel most grateful was working with these individuals who showed such  incredible passion about their work: translating the book with such integrity as if they were writing the book themselves.

So thank you to the folks over at fiberead.com, especially to Habby (project manger), Huang Zhi (editor) and translators Xujing, Amy, Li Qiu and Daisy. Without the team, because wouldn’t have been available in the most populated country on earth.

The next thing that happened comes from the amazing work my wife has been doing at getting our book into libraries across the country (and a few outside of Canada), including those in Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver! Next Saturday, October 8 at the Brampton Public Library, I will be doing my first public talk as an author, celebrating the 2016 Indie Author Day. It’s funny how nervous I feel. Even though I’ve performed on some of the biggest stages but this feels more raw and real than any of those experiences. I’ll tell you how it goes.

Two years after…

It is true how time just doesn’t stop for anyone as no matter how hard you try to live in the moment and cherish each day, it still becomes yesterday.  And so it has now been two years since I ventured—hand and hand with my incredibly gifted loving wife, Virginia—into the publishing world. Since last year, I’ve been very fortunate to have experienced more wonderful and exciting adventures: Like getting closer to having the book translated into the language of the most populated country on earth. Like seeing my book comes up on the searches in libraries. Like getting raving reviews from readers and supportive messages from friends…I’ve been blessed to have had so many new doors opening up for me—just because I wrote a book.

It has been another fruitful year. Virginia has been busy creating contents for our web site visitors and members. You can see some of her work here and here. We worked together (but really, she was the one who brought my vision to life) to produce the ‘because I listen’ workbook, which has been an invaluable tool to many participants in my workshops. Now you can sign up for a free copy here.

We have also organized a number of promotional opportunities to help other authors to gain a bit more visibility for their books. These activities required a lot of time to do and gave us tons of fun too. But more importantly, it was our way of paying forward to the indie publishing community that guides and supports us.

As every artist knows that without an audience, we are just singing alone in the wind. We all need that someone to hear, to see, to read, to share our creations. In saying that, I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate you all—whether you are a family member, a friend, a reader, a site visitor, a fellow author or someone who re-tweet my messages occasionally, like/share my posts or participate in my book giveaways. I really wanted to show my gratitude to so so so many of you that have been incredibly supportive. Please let me say thank you—thank you for making me feel it was all worth it. May you all feel that same blessing you’ve given me.