A. Jacob Sweeny Tour Stop

About the Author: A. Jacob Sweeny holds a degree in History with an emphasis on Ancient Near East. Her immersion in world myths and her archaeological fieldwork provided the initial spark that led to the development of The Pulse Myth series which is a trilogy that includes Pulse Of Heroes, Of Blood And Pulse, and soon to come Pulse Genesis. Adding to this collection is a new series of novellas and shorts called- Pulse Historia. A Sword for- His Women available in kindle version is the first short. Besides writing, A. Jacob Sweeny loves to cook and Italian and Indian foods are some of her favorite cuisines. She has always been immersed in the literary world and will read anything from Shakespearian plays, philosophy and spiritual books, to comedy and modern thought. She is a strong advocate for the protection of women and children worldwide. And is active in animal rights groups. She suffers bouts of writer’s insomnia, and is delighted to share those hours with her pug and two cats.

Should Authors Compete?

A. Jacob Sweeny: The other day someone asked me if, considering that my novels fall in the paranormal genre, does that automatically put me in competition with all the other paranormal authors out there? And my answer is a very clear “No”.

Let me explain… First of all there are far more readers out there than there are authors, so just looking at the numbers alone that tips the scales in the author’s favor. The other big factor that many people don’t take notice of is that once a reader is done with a book they will most likely go search for a new one to read. Of course everyone has their special shelf for books that they go back to time and time again, but for the most part books are a one-time consumable product. Once a reader is done with one, it’s time to move to the next.

I believe that the closest notion to competition might lie in the want/need for a reader who has just finished a book to pick up my book next. As an independent author, I naturally want my books to get noticed. But I also understand the business model of this world, and have made peace with the fact that there is an absolute plethora of titles out there to choose from. Publishing a book does not equal instant success, even though it might be the greatest masterpiece known to mankind. Unless a book is marketed and advertised with the force of a lot of money behind it, it takes a long time for a word to spread virally, and this is especially true in the exciting and changing world of self-publishing and electronic distribution. I was told from the beginning that unless my novels become the next phenomenon like the Harry Potter franchise, which is next to zero possibility, selling my books will be a lifelong project. Does it get frustrating? Yes. Do I wish I was selling hundreds of copies a day? Yes. But so what?

I didn’t write The Pulse Myth Series as a way to make a quick buck. I wrote these novels because I had something to tell, something to share. It was a need that had to be fulfilled, and the fact that I could actually make any money from selling copies of my stories was a true afterthought. I have been blessed so far with amazing reviews and a more wonderful fan base than I ever anticipated.

On a personal note, when I see an author succeed I am simply happy for them. No one knows the hours of hard work, emotional and physical pressure, let alone the financial challenges, and even social strains that an author goes through, besides a fellow author. At this point I applaud anyone who has stuck with their goal to publish something, whether it is a short story or a five hundred page saga. Bravo to you, and the best of luck, that’s my motto.

I have heard of small minded authors who go around and give low ratings to books solely based upon the sense that they might compete with their own titles. This phenomenon never ceases to amaze me, that despite knowing how much effort it can take to produce a novel or even a short story, they still feel that they can somehow benefit from cutting down another writer, sometimes without having even read the book. The marketplace is certainly big enough for all of us, and this type of negative publicity has no place. Personally, if I read a book that is simply not to my liking (and there have been a few), I just refrain from discussing it publically and do not rate it. After having learned firsthand how much blood, sweat, and sleepless nights go into every page, I would never want to impede another writer’s chances of success based on my own very subjective opinions.

Pulse Of Heroes Summary: Michelle used to feel that she was behind in everything, especially schoolwork and relationships. Her great aunt from the old country says that she is like a bland meal, “no salt or pepper”. But in junior year, everything changes. Her father takes a position on the Town Council, a popular boy in school becomes interested in her and, most importantly, the Hekademos Learning Center, a private school for ‘troubled’ students, moves into her neighborhood amidst the protests of the entire town.

After seeing the School Regent out with a group of young guys just before Christmas, Michelle is convinced that there is something odd about them. Her curiosity gets the better of her and she embarks upon a mission to figure out what is really going on. After an embarrassing fall over the school wall, Michelle meets Elliot and her ordinary ‘bland’ life changes its course forever.

Elliot is no ordinary human. In fact, no one at the Hekademos Learning Center is. Beautiful and fierce, they have survived throughout the millennia by weaving in and out of human events. Through them, Michelle learns that history and myths from around the world are dotted with references to their kind. Michelle falls madly in love with the ever-striking and mysterious Elliot and, as much as he tries to fight it, he develops strong feelings for her as well. Although Elliot carries numerous painful memories from his many pasts, he disregards his own better judgment and the advice of his friends, and finds himself falling for Michelle‘s offbeat personality. Their feelings grow in intensity, but when History catches up with them, the difference between their life paths threatens to destroy any future that they might have had together.

Michelle learns that there are infinite shades of gray between black and white, and has to deal with the bundle of contradictory emotions called love. After some unexpected twists during a family trip to Europe, she has to trust her intuition in order to face the danger and uncertainty of being drawn into Elliot’s wondrous world. Ultimately, it is up to Michelle to make the split-second, life-altering decision that will either tear them apart forever, or give them another chance.