BLOG / Showing up is _ /_ the battle.

Please fill in the blanks. Which fraction did you come up with?

The traditional 1/2? A third? Two-thirds? 100%? A perfect 10? Well, the last two aren’t really fractions, but you catch my drift. This is a great saying and I think its answer s/b (should be) well thought out. There’s no doubt any solution offered stems from each respondent’s corresponding expectation(s).

A couple of years ago I was standing, waiting at the corner of Broadway & Columbus in San Francisco’s (Italian/Chinese) North Beach district. The traffic signal there was flashing a brilliant bright red. STOP! I was accompanying an old friend of mine about to celebrate her 50th birthday. By that time, in the spring of ’07, we’d already known each other about 40 years. We were headed to the House of Nanking on Kearny St. to party, mostly because it was recommended by a mutual childhood friend as being a Rachel Ray favorite. (After having lived outside the U.S. for several years prior) I honestly asked, “Who’s Rachel Ray?” Needless to say, I was momentarily shunned as a result of my culinary naïveté.

Still on that well-trafficked multi-cultural corner, we waited. Next to us came a stranger. A man who purposefully engaged my friend in conversation. I watched. What the stranger had to say can’t necessarily be repeated in a blog whose recipients may be under 18 years. I didn’t interrupt or defend, instead I watched. My friend was diplomatic and dignified. She fought through her impatience and did her best to tolerate the red signal. After turning green, we crossed the street and I smiled at my friend. I was proud of her. Her patience, her compassion…

…until she said, “Why don’t those people just get jobs?” She was referring to that man, one of the many, many homeless people in San Francisco. One of the many in nearly any urban American city. My heart sank. Although I still loved my friend, I felt as if I didn’t know her anymore. She didn’t get it, and after time, I never should have expected her to. Her response was as ignorant as racism.

Most homeless people don’t have the (mental) capacity to function, to have a job, to have ANY kind of job. Most people choose not to know or accept this. They’re ignorant. They haven’t been there. During my time in San Francisco, I chose not to give money to people who asked for it; I needed it myself. But, I did something else, I listened. I could afford this, and I was grateful to lend my ear and my voice when I was able. It was a sincere gift.

Now in 2010, I try to show up at least ½ the time. I take more chances. Maybe I believe in my own abilities a little bit more than I used to, but one thing remains; I expect nothing from no one. I never expect anyone to appreciate or understand who I am, where I am or where I’ve been. Only I can do that. I hope you feel the same about your own journey. “Keep going” is my best advice. There’s only one hero in any story and you’re it. Only you can create its happy ending.

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This is syndicated from CLINT ADAMS BOOKS blog.

To learn more about Clint's newly-released occult crime novel for adults, THE SEVENTH RITUAL, please visit his website: Clint Adams : Stories About Facing Fear.

BLOG / My 2010 wish for you.

Keep asking why. You know why? Because that’s why we’re here. OK, enough with the question words. Yes, over and over and over again, this theme seems to repeat itself, much akin to history (for those who haven’t yet learned from it, because they never asked, "w--?") In my opinion, history’s just old news unless we’ve chosen to learn a little something from it.

How many of you have heard the quote, “The unexamined life is not worth living?” My hope is lots. It happens to be my favorite quote of all time. For years, I never actually knew who said it; Aristotle, a bible, Sigmund Freud or Joan Rivers. As it turns out it was Socrates, a real stand-up, olive-eating Greek guy. He’s known for saying some other real smart stuff, too.

There’s so many wise folks out there that have so much to share. It amazes me. Different insights, strategies and instruments to help others change, grow, become happy and create success. They’re all providing such valuable services by fulfilling their true purposes in life…helping others with the gifts they’ve been given.

We’ve all received one priceless gift though, our own unique life, the best teacher of all. The lives we’ve been given allow us to ask, why?, nearly every freakin’ day. Not questions like, “Why didn't Tiger Woods use a condom?” or “Why is Paris Hilton still in the news?” No, these are too sophisticated, multi-layered and complex…and they’re not about YOU.

If you begin 2010 by asking ‘why?’ after something’s happened to you, I guarantee you’ll have an answer soon after you ask. EVERY answer will also come with this same attachment (please scan prior to opening): [(XYZ happened)…because you were supposed to learn from it. It’s neither good nor bad; it’s one of your lessons. That’s why you’re here].pdf.

Happy New Year, y’all!!! And, after having thrown up on your partner’s black silk shirt at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve, ask yourself the next morning why. Maybe you need to learn compassion…next time aim for the closest toilet, sink or potted palm.

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This is syndicated from CLINT ADAMS BOOKS blog.

To learn more about Clint's newly-released occult crime novel for adults, THE SEVENTH RITUAL, please visit his website: Clint Adams : No Time For Fear.

BLOG: Be An Innovator, Be Yourself.

If you agree that ancient cavemen had a sense of humor, here’s a little something they may have said to one another, “Why did the chicken cross the road?” Answer, “Because it had never been done before.” OK, it’s not a belly laugh. It may not even warrant a chiseled-on-a-stone-tablet LOL or :-), but that’s beside the point. Back in the day when everyone was named either Flintstone or Rubble, everything was being done for the first time.

Let’s face it, innovation rocks. So, does that mean we’ve all gotta gather at the Water Buffalo Lodge? Move to Bedrock? Work at a quarry? Party hearty in Rock Vegas? No…too far. Too unnecessary. Why not be an innovator in your own hometown. That’s why my hometown will forever and always be San Francisco, the city that thrives on innovation. Did you know that at one time EVERYONE believed that the Golden Gate Bridge could never be built? Everyone except Joseph Strauss. Against all odds, the bridge was constructed and continues to carry over 100,000 travelers a day. It also carries the distinction of being the most photographed man-made object in the world. Even more than Madonna.

In life, there are leaders and there are followers. Oops, wait a minute. That’s not life, that’s Twitter (strangely enough, headquartered in San Fran. along with Google and other weird words). Where do you live? Where do you come from? And, most important, where are you going? Do you plan to follow a blueprint made by someone else? Or are you going to draw your own? If you need to borrow a pencil, I’ve got plenty to share. Just ask.

I miss the Bay Area; I’m in London now. Despite the constant rain, darkness and gloom, I’m happy with my decision to move here…especially when I invest in a six-pack at the end of the day. I’ve met a lot of interesting, intelligent and inspired people. I socialize more. I network more. Sometimes I even socially network (a phrase most likely coined in S.F.). There are many events here led by professionals who really know their stuff. They’re passionate, they’ve helped a ton of folks and (in my opinion) they’re fulfilling their purpose in life.

In the U.S., I never attended a personal development event before, nor had I ever heard the term NLP. I still don’t know what the word paradigm means and I’ve never seen THE SECRET. Instead, I write. I like to create, not follow. I seek change by making it happen. Not to discount what works well for others; instead, I applaud any and all techniques that help. Again, these teachers are experts and I respect and admire them.

I also respect and admire the people I meet in these events, the change-seekers. It takes courage to seek out new ways of living. At the same time, it takes courage to be yourself. Copying’s easy; it takes little to no imagination. Although we’re created equal, it’s our uniqueness that gives us something new and different to offer. This is what gives us our desire to learn, as well as our desire to teach.

Whether you’re a Flintstone, a Rubble, or even a Slaghoople (Wilma’s maiden name), absorb and appreciate what you feel is helpful and useful, but at the end of the day…do it your way. Invent a brand new solution. Be innovative. Be yourself.

Yabba-dabba-doo, y’all. P.S. Please post a comment if you happen to know where the (pictured) Flintstone House is located.

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This is syndicated from CLINT ADAMS BOOKS blog.

To learn more about Clint's newly-released occult crime novel for adults, THE SEVENTH RITUAL, please visit his website: Clint Adams : No Time For Fear.

BLOG / Acknowledging the flip-side

A few years back, on a bright, sunshiny day, someone knocked on my front door. I wasn’t expecting anyone, and living in a rural mountainous area, it was seldom I had any visitors. Although solitude suits me, I was eager to greet my mystery guest. Who would it be? And why didn’t they just e-mail me?

After a few hellos, how are yous and nervous smiles, I greeted two men carrying books and brochures in their hands. The more confident of the two spoke first. “Wouldn’t you love to be living in a world where you, and everyone around you, were happy all the time?” Not being disrespectful of them or their presumptions, I said in all honesty, “Hell, no.” My response left them speechless. Their faces were frozen. Since I felt the need to elaborate, I said, “If I were happy all the time, that means I’d never learn a (damn) thing. And, after all, isn’t that why were here? To learn something from life? From the lessons we’ve been given?”

Those two guys turned out being quite nice. I invited them in, they took a seat, and I gave them some water to drink. They talked, I listened. I talked, they listened. I was curious to know what they were all about; looking at their faces close up made me realize how young they were. They believed that life’s answers came from inside the books they were toting. Several times they offered me a copy, several times I graciously declined. “I’ve worked hard to make sense of the life I’ve been given. I’ve come a long way. Every second of it happened for a reason, and I feel grateful that I’ve chosen to learn from it all.”

They left peacefully, realizing that I was “unconvinceable.” I think they even appreciated the loyalty I showed to my unique brand of spirituality. I must have scored points by having thrown in the G-word where appropriate.

While the two men/boys walked away, I again noticed the books in their hands. It struck me only then that we shared something significant, the belief that books possess the capacity to change lives. My selections may be as unique as my spirituality though; for me, the darker, the better. Only when the protagonist struggles has my (reading) time been invested well.

As a writer, I make an effort to include humor, happiness, success and love, but if I don’t acknowledge the flip-side, I have learned nothing and have nothing worth writing about.

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This is syndicated from CLINT ADAMS BOOKS blog.

To learn more about Clint's newly-released occult crime novel for adults, THE SEVENTH RITUAL, please visit his website: Clint Adams : No Time For Fear.

BLOG / So you’ve written a few novels, now what?

Non-fiction books, that’s what. Duh.

There are probably a million-and-one reasons a person chooses to become a writer. To express their creativity. Their love of the written word. The desire to contribute something meaningful to society. Do any of these apply to you? Brava/o if they do.

Whenever someone asks me why I wanted to become a writer, my answer’s always the same, “I never wanted to be one. I HAD to get a (very particular) story out, the truth, the only way possible, the only way I knew how.” Disappointed? Eek, I’d love to say that I eat, live and breathe reading and writing, but sadly that’s not possible. I learned the craft of writing because it was the only means available to me.

Have you ever been asked, “Why do writers write?” My response would again be related to the above, “Because there’s a story within them that MUST come out.” They were born to tell their story. THE SEVENTH RITUAL was my story, fictionalized of course. Now that this novel’s been out for a couple of months, I can understand why it took so long to complete; to transform it into something funny, shocking, thought-provoking, tolerable, and most important, put it in the hands of someone else. It’s no longer inside me anymore. All my collective lives can now say, “Whew!”

Since telling that story, along with a few others, I no longer feel this compelling NEED. Five novels have taught me something though: books possess the power to change lives. I don’t think anyone could dispute that. What’s your mission? Your purpose in life? Have you ever thought about this? My books reminded me that I like to help people and my desire to reach them, via my message(s), hasn’t vanished. At this point in the game, non-fiction’s better. More direct, hands-on, applicable and to the point for any prospective reader.

Public speaking’s next on the agenda, and what better aide is there for your audience than an accompanying book to go with your presentation. Lots and lots of fine-tuning’s in order, but it seems like the next logical step. Have you ever thought about this transition? This addition to your marketing mix?

If you’re still reading this, and you’re not a writer, perhaps you’ll see speaking and non-fiction writing as the vehicles you’ve been looking for. Writers and non-, only you can get your message across, right? No one’s going to do it for you, or me. I can’t wait to begin and give it my best shot. See you onstage.

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This is syndicated from CLINT ADAMS BOOKS blog.

To learn more about Clint's newly-released occult crime novel for adults, THE SEVENTH RITUAL, please visit his website: Clint Adams : No Time For Fear.

BLOG / Monica Seles Makes Me Smile.

I never thought much about Monica Seles until she got stabbed. In the early-90s, my absolute favorite tennis players were Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (nicknamed “The Barcelona Bumblebee”) and Martina Navratilova (no nickname needed). They owned my loyalty. Quickly after turning pro, Monica turned Arantxa, Martina and the rest of the competition into underdogs. I like underdogs. Much more than Number #1s.

Are you still with me? Are you thinking, ‘What do Monica Seles and/or tennis have to do with a writer’s blog?’ ‘GETTING A GRIP: On My Body, My Mind, My Self,’ that’s what. Although Monica Seles was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame last month, it’s Monica Seles, the person, that makes me smile. As a player, she had the strongest mind/strongest will on the court; now that she’s retired, she’s conquered even more…the tremendous odds of overcoming a very public tragedy.

You don’t have to be a tennis fan to read GETTING A GRIP. You don’t even need to know who Monica Seles is. If you can take yourself out of your own body for a moment, and picture what it would be like, as one of the most famous athletes around, to be stabbed in front of the world; If you can imagine what it would be like to lose your father to cancer at an early age; If you’ve ever developed a sudden weight problem and wondered how it happened; If you’re a Type-A American (even if you’re NOT American) and have missed the bigger picture life has to offer, you should be able to relate to Monica’s words well.

I have a weight problem. I’m Type-A. I eat when I can’t control everything. I rarely stop to smell the flowers. I guess I should have figured, upon my move to London two weeks ago, that my by-the-book calculations and plans would break down. Within my first days here, my computer crashed, I had no Internet access and I caught a very, very nasty flu (I’d call it swine, but I’m really trying to cut back on my pork intake). All I could do was stay home and read GETTING A GRIP. I’d say it was meant to be, but (most) people hate hearing that.

I can relate to Monica on so many levels; making justice from injustice, striving for balance, seeking answers on the inside, discovering peace, finally being able to love yourself. How about you? Can you relate to any of these?

Monica Seles is a winner. She always has been. I wish I’d realized this before she was stabbed. Although she’ll never be an underdog, she’ll forever be my all-time favorite. Maybe I do like Number #1s after all.


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This is syndicated from CLINT ADAMS BOOKS blog.
To learn more about Clint's newly-released occult crime novel for adults, THE SEVENTH RITUAL, please visit his website: Clint Adams : No Time For Fear.

BLOG / A prayer from a two-year-old.

I hope everyone continues to be healthy, wealthy and wise. Thanks a bunch to those of you who have read The Seventh Ritual; more than anything, I’m thrilled that you continue talking to me and that our friendship remains in tact. Whew! This had worried me mucho. Again, this book ain’t nothin’ like my novels that are intended for teens.

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Yesterday, this review was posted on amazon.com:

5.0 out of 5 stars. Not for the faint of heart... July 28, 2009 by Led “Zepplin”

“First let me say, this book is for ADULTS ONLY. This is the true story of a man who suffered horrendous abuses at the hands of those he trusted the most. In this brutally honest novel, you will feel the horror of a small child who survived unimaginable cruelty during Satanic rituals. The author sugar coats nothing and bravely writes with graphic language and detail. However, he also shows his witty sense of humor, something he no doubt had to develop in order to deal with the gruesome abuse he suffered as a child. In the end this novel is a tale of triumph. The main character rises above victimhood and finds that divine quality, forgiveness.”

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For those of you that may not know, the TSR cover copy reads:

The Seventh Ritual: a race for survival, a novel for adults based on a true story, is a remarkable journey through fear, grit, discovery, forgiveness and triumph... with a few laughs in between.

"You must discover the cause of your unhappiness by the end of this year...or you will not live to see the next." Disgusted and disbelieving, 34-year old Paul Jacobson dismisses what he's told by a Greenwich Village psychic. Only days later, while running in the New York City Marathon, Paul's mind positions him back to a past he's never known. This journey begins the race for his life.

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Recently, I’d read in a message that my friend Eva, a fellow writer, had come to a decision as to which voice to use throughout her novel. She called the process difficult. In my opinion, it should be. I’m happy Eva gave this so much thought. To me, voice will always remain a top priority. The Seventh Ritual includes two ongoing plots; one told by 34-year old Paul, the other by 2-year-old Pauly. In a previous blog, I’d posted an excerpt told in the voice of adult Paul. Now, it’s Pauly’s turn. If he could speak with words, as a sort of prayer to God, I believe this is what he’d have to say:

(The Seventh Ritual / MILE SIX excerpt)

“Dear Maker, Billy Graham from his television show calls you that. Is that Your nickname, by the way?

He said that if people talk to You, stuff gets better. Really? I don’t seem to understand any of this too good. You know what I mean? After all, I’m just a baby, and I’m not the smartest person on earth by a long shot. Pretty soon Mommy’s going to get off the phone, so I gotta hurry. But, I want to tell You for sure, ‘Please take care of Fluffy.’ Sometimes she never had too much to eat, and sometimes she ran out of fresh water from our drainage ditch. But, Maker, even though we were mostly strangers, I loved Fluffy a whole bunch.

I want her to know this. Can You please tell her. I know You’re like me and You don’t need to speak any of the languages that people talk. You just do it without knowing the words. By the way, kitties do it the same, in case You didn’t know that already. And, like the kitties in the park told me, they don’t have names neither. They’re all unanimous. You know, without being called nothing, just like the bad guys on Dragnet.

Anyway, Fluffy’s not a bad guy. She’s the one that went up above last night. Just so You can keep track. Please love her and take care of her. And, more than anything else in this whole wide world, please tell Fluffy that she’ll never be forgotten by me. And, one more thing, please tell her that someday I’m going to make up for this. Someday, I’m going to make this whole thing right. I’m going to turn it all around. They may be my mommy and daddy, but someday. Just You wait and see.

So, for now, bye, Fluffy. I love you a bunch. The same goes for You too, Maker. I’m sure I’d like You if I knew You better. Amen, Pauly.”

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Stay well, be happy and enjoy your summer. Until next time… Clint

Clint Adams : No Time For Fear