On to a new challenge

Posted by Jaime Buckley on Oct 4, 2011 in Family, WANTED HERO | 2 comments

Thank you all for the lovely words, the kind offers and prayers. It’s helped a great deal, but it looks like the forces at work have other plans for this family and we are having to say goodbye to our home. We get to see what it’s like to sleep together in two bedrooms on the floor, until we can change our circumstances. Thirteen of us.

…that also includes an aged Grandfather.

This is going to be interesting.

Some of you have asked how the book sales are going and I appreciate that question. Even received an email an hour ago from David Farland asking how the sales were going. Here’s what I told him:

Book sales are slow to none right now. People are leery of first time authors and self-published ones especially, but we continue to contact book bloggers and send out eBooks for reviews and the input/reviews we’re getting back are pretty good. Only sold a few hundred at most so far, about 100 of those being by my own hand (physical copies I bought, then resold). I’m new to this, but getting a forced education.

A bit discouraging sometimes, but I get over it and keep pushing every day. My time is coming. Just have to keep going.

The difference between me and most newbies (I’m assuming this here) is the circumstances. When we attended a writers class, Kathi and I heard a lot of ‘wouldn’t it be nice if‘…or ‘if I ever get‘…whereas I’m looking at this as ‘I will and must make this happen to feed my children’. We had a good measure of success with the comics–so I know this works. It’s not a belief or a hope…I know this stuff works. It’s a matter of time.

My challenge keeps coming back to doing this on a prayer. We saved pennies (literally) to get the 2 proof copies of Prelude. Then I sold a proof to a fan to pay for the first set of 25 books (he bought it for $135). I sold the books signed for $10 each, then bought 50 on the next round. It’s been tough and slow…but it works.

It’s also keeping us humble, but we’re learning. And hey–it DID help me buy some diapers once! LOL

So where is this all going to lead? I’m not really sure, but I’m excited to get there. I’ve spent 42 years preparing for this.

If you haven’t read Prelude to a Hero, Demoni Vankil or seen our new website, please do. Tell a friend. I think you’ll enjoy the story.

…and wish us luck!!

Working as a family

Posted by Jaime Buckley on Sep 7, 2011 in Family | 0 comments

It’s been a while since I was able to make a post, mainly due to the stresses and rigors of everyday life–coupled with the deadlines (self-inflicted) to publish another book (or three) in the Wanted Hero series.

The experiences we have been having are worth noting, because I have seen a tremendous change in my family…especially the children. As challenges arise from our poverty, each of the children has stepped up in their capacity and assisted the family as a whole. From Evan and Leilani working jobs to keep diapers on the baby and gas in the car, to Jessica and Asia helping mom around the house with meals and laundry, to Nathan who has become my master gardener. Even the smallest ones, Jami on down find ways to come to mom’s rescue by keeping Wynnie smiling and laughing.

That has left dad freed to write with all his might, day in and day out and to focus on the primary bills of the household, which have become substantial.

It may not sound like much to you, but the point I’d like to make is: we have a certain level of harmony in our home.

Harmony that could not have been achieved unless we had been blessed enough to experience the opposite. To appreciate the food we eat every day because we have gone without for a time–always making sure the little ones had enough first. To be grateful for heat in all its forms, when we were forced to cook by firewood and take sponge baths with a bowl of warm water in the shower.

The funny thing is…no one ever remembered or complained about the TV, or the radio or the Internet being gone. Hmmm.

The great blessing I have seen as ‘dad’, is my family working together…as a family. Like they should: lovingly, patiently and with an eye focused on the body as a whole.

We were blessed to go camping this last weekend and to be with our extended family in the mountains. A new friend of ours was so kind as to pick us up, with our gear, drive us there and then come pick us up again a few days later. Just so we could have the experience and get away from the struggles of life for a moment. Thank you Ryan.

It was heaven. Everyone was happy, we worked together, we had rationed out our food and even brought some home. But when I asked the children what they liked the most about the whole trip, the answer was unanimous:

They liked that we were together.

So though life is providing greater challenges, I would suggest that you consider working more closely as a family.

…because when you do, those ‘challenges’ become blessings and experiences you’re not likely to trade for anything.

-Jaime Buckley

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Walking in Faith

Posted by Jaime Buckley on Aug 10, 2010 in Jaime Journal | 0 comments

Kathilynn and I went to look at another home tonight, which doesn’t look like it will pan out. That’s perfectly ok. I know people are looking for the best in renters…not saying we’re bad, but with the past year we don’t have the credit or history most landlords are looking for. So it does begin to wear on you after a couple dozen attempts with no luck and the timer about to buzz.

So my sweetheart and I decided to focus on the positives and go get our grandson James a book for his second birthday. We take the car to Barnes and Noble and during the drive, feelings came out. Stress, concern, anxiety and a growing measure of fear in not knowing whats going to happen to our family yet again, with no place to move to.

I have to admit that I’m feeling calm in comparison to Kathi this time, knowing that if there are wonderful people like Marvin, Sam and Ila Wight out there, there has to be someone else who would rent to a good, loving family…right? Of course. Even if you cannot see it right away.

Suddenly there’s a laugh from Kathi and then a choke and a tear. She says she heard something remarkable in Church on Sunday. A dear sister we have deep respect for, who said she felt it a great honor to have the challenges of life placed upon her.

I had to chew a little on that. Never heard ‘honor’ brought into such a conversation. Grateful yes, humbled maybe, but not honored. It pierced my heart and then Kathi explained.

“She bore testimony of a voice which told her each and every trial, every pain,…every grand canyon trench of sorrow or suffering she experienced in her life was to prepare her for the joy God wanted to bless her with.”

I must have looked slightly confused for a moment, because she softly placed her hand on my arm.

“Think about it. Those experiences, as painful as they may be, gouge us deeply, to be filled with joy…something we could not experience if our trials were shallow. The blessings would roll off the flat surface.”

I don’t know about you, but it gave me a new found respect and I dare say feeling of honor, that God would permit me to suffer so that I may obtain a deeper degree of joy, humility, meekness and peace. Yes, what an honor…to learn how to walk in greater faith.

Survive Subtlety with Simplicity

Posted by Jaime Buckley on Jul 18, 2010 in Point of View | 6 comments

All of us have ‘low’ moments in our lives. The times when you may feel that all is lost, or perhaps you have failed someone you love or care for deeply. It can be a damning experience if we aren’t careful, because it seems to be human nature to brand ourselves through a clouded filter of life and self-reflection.

Let me use myself as the guinea pig here. I’m married to a wonderful woman and have 11 amazing children, 3 incredible grandchildren and a job most people can only dream of. Yet with all that comes a world of responsibility, a world you have to flow with, be aware of and maintain a level of honor, integrity and in all cases accountability.

Well guess what? I screw up a lot. In so many aspects of life, I find myself unable to stay focused on more than the most narrow of subjects. My memory is constantly taxed in each and every endeavor to the point that I rely on others to remember birthdays, holidays, doctors appointments, meetings and all other social engagements. Heck, I even forgot how old I was….twice, and had to ask my wife for confirmation.

This is a mild version of what my point is, and that is: sometimes we let others down.

No matter how hard we try, there’s not a perfect soul among us and sooner or later we will fall short. That’s when we feel the guilt, the shame and frustration, especially when we are giving our lives everything we have. Personally, I try and reinvent myself every day, to do better today than I did yesterday…but try as I might, sometimes the universe makes me out to be a liar.

That’s when simplicity comes into play. Keeping communications clear and concise. Hold a soft heart and an open mind while standing your ground against life. The trick is to clean that perception filter before you find yourself convinced that all is lost, you’re unfit or unworthy to be loved, appreciated or even tolerated. I’ve been there dozens of times and it’s all a lie.

The subtle effects of your environment can cloud your judgment. The key is to fill your heart with love, gratitude and appreciation for others, including yourself. Believe it or not, you’re worth the effort and it can’t rain forever. Hold your ground and wait for a new day while being ready to say ‘I’m sorry’ to those around you.

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