One Way Trip to Mars

Posted in Article, event by R. Lynn

This isn’t my everyday topic, but it involved reading so I wanted to share my thoughts on the one way trip to Mars that so many people had signed up for. Out of 200,000 applicants for this non-return expedition to Mars (Red Planet), the selection has been narrowed down to one hundred—50 men and 50 women.

It amazed me that so many people happily volunteered knowing they can never return to Earth. In addition, they’re leaving their families, significant others, friends, and everything else precious in their lives to be marked into the history books forever; yet, it’s at such a huge sacrifice.

Sonia Nicole Van Meter, 36, is a D.C.-area political consultant and one of the 100 finalists. She was interviewed about the possibility of being picked as one of the twenty-four for the trip to Mars, and her answers mimicked other interviews I’ve read from a few of the other finalists. To sum it up, they have the same inspirations about making this journey.

The plan is that Mars One will be the first group to make the initial travel, and the first launch is planned for 2024, to land in 2025. Ultimately, 24 people will be selected to make up six crews of four, which Mars One says they hope to launch to the Red Planet every two years from 2024, with the aim of starting a colony there.

I can’t even imagine traveling for that length of time in an unknown space. Even with the seven or eight years worth of pre-training for the final recruits, you really have to ask is it enough? I mean you’re talking about regular people, who are being trained to endure space travel and residence on a planet with an atmosphere that is unlivable without the proper aids to help them do so. Just the thought of that makes me appreciate the necessities that are taken for granted every day like water to drink and air to breathe.

What I do know is find this topic interesting. When 2024 finally arrives, I wish the expedition group and groups to come after them, the very best, and applaud them in their choices to take such a giant step in history.

R. Lynn Archie
Website: www.rlynnarchie.com

6May2015

10 Inspiring Facts for Indie Authors

Posted in Article by R. Lynn

Reposting, post from Nicholas Rossis

Nicholas C. Rossis

I found this wonderful post on Wise Ink Creative Publishing and am sharing. As always, there’s been some editing to add my thoughts, but you can read the original post on the Wise Ink‘s website.

10 Inspiring Facts for Indie Authors

If I had a dime for each time one of you has told me you’re going through a rough patch with your writing, I’d probably be able to get Michelangelo to illustrate my book covers (yes, I’d also have enough to build a time machine). It’s probably even harder for Indie authors, as we have to do everything ourselves. So, I thought you might appreciate these statistics that should bring a smile back on your face.

Self-published books accounted for 31% of all e-book sales in the Kindle Store in 2014.

Indie books account for 31% of e-books. However,

40% of all e-book revenue is going to indie…

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3May2015

Dos and Don’ts on Writing a Book Blurb

Posted in Article by R. Lynn

Reposting ~ good article.

Nicholas C. Rossis

Image: Rightreading.com

The inspiration for this post came from a little gem I found on the Passive Guy’s Newsletter (if you aren’t already a subscriber, what are you waiting for? It’s free!). After some heavy editing, it ended up as this post.

The original post came from the Self Publishing Review, if you wish to see it in its entirety.

Writing a Book Blurb

By far, the weakest part of many self-published books is the synopsis. Writing a decent blurb is an art form totally separate from writing a book.

Authors, myself included, often feel this is their least favorite part of the process. It can make you feel icky writing superlatives about your own book. At the same time, too many superlatives can literally be icky (“A work of genius” comes to mind). A good blurb needs to strike a balance between being informative, but not too informative, salesy, but not…

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