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Author Archives: Author Steve Hanson

About Author Steve Hanson

Steve Hanson is the author of The Dax and Zippa Series, Monsters Midnight Feast, Wizards In The West, Butterflies Don't Chew Bubblegum and The Whens. View his Profile.

Seeing Your Proof Copies for the First Time

Stack of New Books

Before I had a kid, I wanted to compare seeing the proof copies of your book to seeing a child for the first time — but nothing can compare to the joy of holding a new life. That being said, holding a new book is still pretty cool.

But the joy of seeing your book printed is more like sending your kid off to college. You have done everything you can to prepare them for the real world (writing, editing, cover design, copyrighting, legal paperwork, beta readers, etc) — now it’s time to see what they’re made of…. and hope they’ll stop costing you so much money soon!

Ideas need to steep

teapot
Ideas, like a good cup of tea, need time to steep.

Most of my books start as a concept that amuse me in some way… but before I start outlining the plot, I always let the concept sit in the back of my mind until it seems ready. I can’t explain how or why, but it grows roots into other ideas and before I know it, the whole story is waiting in my brain for me to write.

If I’m struggling on a particular scene, it’s usually best for me to take a nap, meditate or relax instead of trying to force the writing… the break from actively working on an idea allows it blossom.

How do you take your ideas? (with cream and sugar?) Are you more creative after a break?

Online Mad Libs: Christmas Season

Fill out these questions to generate your own silly mad libs letter instantly online! (Hint: a verb is an action. An adverb describes a verb and usually ends in “ly”. An adjective describes a person/place/thing.)

Adjective:

Person/Place/Thing (plural):

A way to say “good bye”:

Person:

Thing:

Adverb:

Thing:

Person:

Verb:

Thing:


This is a silly online story that will be completed with your words. Please answer the questions below and click the generate button to read the story with your words included!

Improve Your Life By Changing Your Habits

Green Bowls
We’re starting to think about baby-proofing our home, so we moved all of our plates and cups from low, open shelves in the dining room to our kitchen cabinets. But now, every time I want a cup of tea or to eat dinner, I walk to the wrong place to get my plate. I can’t believe how ingrained the ritual of getting my coffee cup is.

“Where I keep my plates” isn’t the only habit in my life. I also brush my teeth the same way, drive to work the same way and walk through the grocery store in the same order each week. It got me thinking that if you want to change your life, you need to change your habits. One by one, each habit you change will bring you closer to the life you’ve always wanted.

What habits are you holding on to? What are some destructive paths you want to leave behind you?

It sure is a pain the first few days to go to a different place for your silverware, but before you know it the new place feels right.

Find your path by leaving the path

Mississippi

I spent a lot of my life afraid to leave the concrete sidewalk that had been paved for me. I loved to walk on the sidewalk along the Mississippi, but I never strayed onto the gravel paths that occasionally ducked into the trees… until 2006.

I vividly remember leaving the sidewalk for the time. I looked to both sides of me to make sure there were no cops around. (I’m still not sure what crime I would have been committing — particularly now that I know the parks department managed those paths.) I also had my hand on my cell phone, in case I ran into crooks along the way. My heart was pounding. I was alive. I had a fabulous evening by the river and stayed there until the sunset.

Now I can’t imagine staying on the path. Leaving the path brought me my wife, family, career, freedom, many friends and a lot of joy. What paths are you stuck on?

Online Mad Libs: Thanksgiving

Mad Libs! Jumble of pencils
Fill out these questions to generate your own silly mad libs letter instantly online! (Hint: a verb is an action. An adjective describes a person/place/thing.)

A Food:

Adjective:

Emotion:

An Animal:

Verb (an action):

One of your relatives:

A place:

A celebrity:

Things (plural):


This is a silly online story that will be completed with your words. Please answer the questions below and click the generate button to read the story with your words included!

Dreaming of holding my child

Holding Baby Hand

For the last few months, both my wife and I have consistently dreamed about holding our baby. I would usually go into the symbolism of the dream (a baby is a new idea or project… and by holding it, I’m about ready to start something new… since the mood is nurturing, I’m ready to foster the new idea), but really I think my mind is trying to get a grip on the real baby that is usually on my lap.

It’s a strange dream to wake up with because I always think the pillow in my arms is a baby. I gently cradle the pillow and set it down so that I can get up to use the restroom. It always takes a good 30 seconds to realize the pillow is not actually my baby.

I think this is a strange phenomena of being a parent. Your life changes so suddenly and there are so many new ideas you need to be ready for — like it or not. It’s a lot to take in.

Have other parents had dreams like this?