Hopefully 2017 has begun as well for you as it has for me. If it hasn’t, you might want to read on and ponder on the following: Everyone has wishes and dreams.
The ability to use our imaginations to dream and create fictional constructs is one of the major human traits that clearly separates us from the animal world. The major difference between those who set and achieve their goals, and those who don’t is quite simply they have learned and practiced regularly how to use this gift to their benefit.
The unconscious (or subconscious) mind cannot differentiate between fact and fiction. This is good news, as it means whatever you wish to create in your future, you can do this simply by constantly feeding your unconscious mind pictures and information (including senses and feelings) focussed on what it is you want. This is why having clear, structured, realistic written goals that are reviewed on a regular basis are so essential.
The unfortunate fact of life is that there is a huge propaganda machine (the media: advertising and the news!) that is constantly trying to fill your head with THEIR messages. Look how many people on both sides of the ‘Pond’ are STILL moaning and complaining about Brexit and Trump! Get over it, you have no more control to change what’s happened. BUT you DO have control over what is directly happening in YOUR life.
Stop tuning into the media messages that are unproductive. Stop gossiping. Instead, set some goals and an action plan to create the life YOU DO WANT.
Fear may be stopping you from taking that first step, but we’ll be covering how to overcome fear and procrastination in the next blog post. If you want to learn how to set and achieve your goals, why not have a look at my book. It is very affordably priced, but if you truly cannot afford a copy, please message me and I’d be more than happy to email you a pdf copy for free: it’s my goal to put this information into as many people’s hands as possible. I’m here to help!
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ANTHONY JAMES DONNELLY is a personal and business development coach with over 20 years experience helping people and corporations hit and surpass their goals. He is not just a theorist, he practices what he preaches, therefore in addition to this he is pursuing his own personal goals of professional acting and writing.
A revolution is FINALLY coming. Hopefully. Thankfully. Peacefully.
I feel so fortunate that I came across some information about World Citizen Solutions and Ken O’Keefe, the man behind this operation, in time to donate to this wonderful action plan.
I’ll let him tell you some more about it in his own words:
“Humanity’s challenge at this decisive point in history is to face a monster that is desperately attempting to expand its tyrannical system of human enslavement. Simultaneously, human consciousness is growing with unparalleled expansion and this is a grave threat to the tyrants. Only one of these forces, humanity or tyranny, can succeed, and the world we hand to our children and future generations will be defined by our success or failure in this regard. The irony is that the tyrants have no power but that which we have unwittingly relinquished to them. In order to create a better world we simply need to take our power back. That is my ultimate goal: a better world. My wisdom in this matter comes from the knowledge that the attainment of this goal is not up to me, it is up to us.” (Ken O’Keefe)
During the 15 years I lived as a British expat in the United States, I met countless thousands of Americans who all desperately wanted ‘something’ to change, but didn’t know how or what to do. They wanted a more equal society. They were sick and tired of being enslaved by ‘The System’. They were bored and angry with the so-called democratic overlords that governed with deaf ears. I thought a revolution was coming. I thought something would happen while I still lived there. It didn’t come, and I had to leave the asylum and find solutions elsewhere.
FINALLY there now seems to be an active group worth joining, supporting, and promoting. If you are tired of this continued insanity, please, don’t be apathetic any more, there IS something you CAN do! There’s something WE can do.
ANTHONY DONNELLYblogs about all things writing, inspirational, and motivational. He has published a number of books for children and adults. His latest book, a short, inspirational parable about peace, love, and acceptance, When The Rainbow Smiled,is currently climbing up the Amazon charts, and is available in Kindle or paperback. When not sat at his keyboard writing, he can be found in Costa Rica, North America, or somewhere in Europe motivating and coaching individuals and groups in self-development techniques and life-balance. Most recently you can see him back on the sets of films and in front of the modelling camera again.
It’s Christmas. A time for love, generousity, and for giving, or ‘forgiving’. For this reason, ALL my kindle books will be free both today (Christmas Day) and tomorrow (Boxing Day) as a way of saying thank you to all my friends old and new, and spreading more of the spirit of the season.
All I ask in return is, if you download a copy of my book, please take a few minutes to honestly rate and review the book on amazon 🙂
NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS:
I’m not really one for making resolutions for New Year, but at this time I do like to reflect back on the past few months and take stock. Like many of you, I’m sure, this has been a great year, but also a bummer of a year. I lost two very great and dear friends: Dr. Wayne Dyer, a motivational force in my life, and Richard Anthony Eyre, an old school friend.
Richard Eyre 1970 – 2015
They will both be missed.
On the upside, I’ve met and made numerous new friends, mostly in the film and TV industry. Another positive to the year: I’m very excited at the great progress I’ve made since April of breaking back into the acting world again. A short film I starred in landed at Cannes, thanks to the wonderful director Miho Sugita. I finally got an agent! And I have two new film scripts doing the rounds. It’s almost as if my life has come full circle and I’ve arrived back where I was before I left sixteen years ago!
On the writing front, my books continue to sell – Thank you all for that! Although I feel a little lazy at not having completed ALL the new books I had planned to publish this year, they are still in the works and WILL BE published in 2016. How about that for positive thinking?!
Talking of positive thinking, it’s been wonderful to connect with some old friends (Tony Wilson, and Trevor Oakland, to name just two!) from the distant past and indulge my other passion for self-development and motivation. When there’s something you just can’t help yourself from doing, then that’s a good sign you should be doing it (if it’s positive in nature!)
Did I Give Enough, Live Enough, Laugh Enough, and Love Enough…?
When I reflect back on this year, there’s one question I ask myself, and that’s written above. I have certainly laughed a lot this year, thanks to new friends, Stephen, Jo, Louise, Helen, Ness, Rachael, and Darryl. Did I give enough…? I’m sure I could have given more, but within my financial constraints I think I gave as much as I could monetarily, on a personal level, definitely! As far as living enough, I don’t think there’s much more this little chap could have crammed into the last 12 months. I always consider myself as lazy, but then look at what I’ve managed to do and wonder why I keep thinking that! And then there’s love… ah, that sweet, alusive thing… As far as giving my love away, that has been joyously done over the year. More on a platonic level than romantic, but there is always hope…! I’m sure, somewhere out there, there is a young lady that has the patience to put up with my ‘insanity’.
Well, if you’ve read this far, I commend you. What a ramble! Here are the links to my free books. Enjoy! Share! And for all of you I have not yet wished a very Merry Christmas and a superb New Year, that was it.
FREE BOOKS:
Click on the book cover to take you to the amazon link for the book (sorry, these are US links. You’ll have to transfer to the country link you need!)
WHEN THE RAINBOW SMILED
A delighful, powerful short read accompanied by 19 exceptional watercolour paintings. Peace, love, harmony and balance.
THE SHEPHERD
A new age parable about connecting and listening to your heart. Let the Shepherd guide you to where you should be in life.
THE COCKROACH CHRONICLES
Can we learn about ourselves from probably one of the most detested creatures on the planet? Find out through a series of ten letters this brave, little thing writes back to those at home fighting the Eternal War…
49Q? THE ENIGMA CONTINUES
Not an easy read this one, I’ll give you that. This is an experimental novel, part of a trilogy, a film, and a musical album that never quite made it off the ground. Read at your peril, is all I say… It almost drove me mad writing it, but it’s full of philosophy, ridiculousness, and mischief. It’ll make sense once you’ve read it!
Remember, if you download a copy, please leave a rating and review, thank you very much!
Originally written back in 2000 as the sequel to my first publication, When The Trees Held Their Breath, this short, illustrated work tells the story of how colour first came to the world as a ‘smiling’ rainbow. At a much deeper level, the resounding message is one of peace, love, acceptance, and harmony.
This work is especially dear to my heart, as I thought it was lost forever. At the turn of the millennium, certain members of the UK education system were showing an interest in this work as an education tool for primary school children. Since I was living in the US at that time promoting “Trees”, I handed the project and all of my artwork over to an old Secondary School friend of mine, Richard Eyre. He had many contacts, and worked diligently with them to compile a teaching resource to accompany my short, powerful story.
Artwork by Mani Navasothy
Sadly, the project failed to reach fruition at the last minute, and was shelved. When you are an industry outsider, it’s very hard to break into a market that is controlled by the larger organisations! Even sadder is the fact that Richard passed away this year in a tragic motorbike accident in Thailand, where he had been living for the past seven years working on humanitarian projects.
It was at his funeral recently that I was surprised to be reunited with my text and some of my original watercolour artwork once more. Although a handful of my original art was missing, they had been replaced by the fantastic work of Mani Navasothy (an artist Richard had hired to ‘upgrage’ some of my images) which add even more depth and colour to my words.
Artwork by Anthony Donnelly
With the advancement of online publishing and print-on-demand technology, I decided to edit and format this into a full colour publication in honour of my late friend, Richard.
Although I have no doubt that this short book alone will not bring about world peace, this is part of my continuing contribution to that effort. Perhaps some younger readers and their parents will take the themes and messages of my text and open a dialogue about how we, as a combined human race, can work towards that end. A good start would be to bring peace into our personal lives, more understanding in our daily encounters with friends and strangers, a daily focus on love rather than war… We can only hope that by a collective effort and focus on love and acceptance, our children may get the opportunity to live in a war-free world.
When The Rainbow Smiled is available in print format and Kindle via the Amazon website. I love to hear feedback from my readers, so please help spread the word by sharing, posting reviews, and leaving me comments. May this year end well for you, and may 2016 bring you closer to your dreams.
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ANTHONY DONNELLYblogs about all things writing, inspirational, and motivational. He has published a number of books for children and adults. His latest book, a short, inspirational parable THE SHEPHERD is currently climbing up the Amazon charts, and is available in Kindle or paperback. When not sat at his keyboard writing, he can be found in Costa Rica, North America, or somewhere in Europe motivating and coaching individuals and groups in self-development techniques and life-balance. Most recently you can see him back on the sets of films and in front of the modelling camera again.
Would you like some great coaching to help put you on the right path to success in your acting career?
This is a unique opportunity to do both in one three hour session on July 20th, 2015, with top photographer Vanessa Champion and Lifestyle Architecture (TM) coach Anthony Donnelly. In addition to all the benefits you’ll get listed below, every participant has the opportunity to WIN their session for FREE, just as our way of saying thank you and giving something extra back.
What You’ll Get:
• 10 Great Headshots (£250 value)
• x2-3 costume changes
• Strategic Life Coaching (£250 value)
• The ‘Business’ of Acting Briefing
• Strengths & Opportunities Analysis (£100 value)
• The Success Action Plan
• Peer Networking
TOTAL VALUE: £600.00
ALL this for ONLY £100.00 per attendee…!!!
For further details and booking information follow the links below:
A strange tradition, I know, but it is customary in our family (after a certain age) to gift things to other people on our birthdays. So, here is my gift to my friends in Cyber-land, on my 45th birthday… free Kindle downloads of my two books, THE SHEPHERD, and 49q? THE ENIGMA CONTINUES.
Here are easy links to the two titles for the UK and the US:
I hope you all enjoy them, and if you do, please take some time to rate and review them. Regular sales are doing well considering the lack of marketing I do! But every little bit helps.
Have a wonderful end to the week… Have a brilliant weekend… and a very Happy Easter to you all…!
Please feel free to share, retweet, and generally pass this birthday giveaway along.
Hi folks! Your help is need in a little bit of early research into a crowdfunding project I am hoping to launch in about 30 – 45 days time.
I have the fantastic opportunity to be involved with a brilliant, new actor pal of mine (Reuben) who devised an awesome, alternative London walking tour (www.bullshitlondon.com) back in 2013. I am rigorously learning the script as we speak…!
Together we hope to expand the business opportunity in many new and fun ways to create a wonderful new platform to help other actors earn a ‘dignified’ wage, whilst ‘resting’ and looking for acting work.
We haven’t established a monetary target as yet, but here are a few things you can help us with at this stage:
1. Would you consider donating to our crowdfunding appeal? (a pound or a dollar all adds up!) You don’t have to state how much you’d be prepared to offer at this stage, just a tentative yes or no is fine.
2. What sort of rewards/ incentives would entice you to offer more? Limited edition T-shirts (autographed!) posters, free tours, advertising… a tour dedicated in your honor… that sort of thing.
3. Would you help out with promotion and marketing – retweeting, sharing, commenting, liking the upcoming FB page, blogging, etc. Simple yes or no.
4. If you can’t help in any of the ways above, do you know of any workers/ offices in London that would like to book a private tour? (please add details below, or send them our website)
A HUGE thank you for reading all of this, I know you are all busy people, and we really appreciate any and all input. Please either email me (ant@bullshitlondon.com) and/ or add your comments below.
I’ve been busily putting things together in my alter-ego as an actor and model… getting headshots taken… getting my feet wet back on film set… auditioning for new roles… building footage for my showreel… and networking with fellow actors and creatives. This all takes time away from my writing passions.
You can check out my acting and modelling website here.
I’ll soon be back to interviewing fellow authors, and I might just expand into interviewing upcoming actors as well.
WELCOME to the first in this year’s author interviews series where my guest today is William D. Prystauk, an award-winning screenwriter, film producer, and teacher in higher education, to mention only a few of his talents. He is the author of “Bloodletting“, a dark, mystery novel, and if you love horror, you should tune into his weekly podcast, “The Last Knock,” on iTunes.
Q: Imagine I’m a new reader. Tell me a little about your books to pique my interest further.
Although I’ve wanted to write a novel for many moons, I indulged in screenwriting for many years to help cement my storytelling. Due to the nature of the film industry, which means few production companies buy scripts, I decided to adapt my award-winning screenplay “Bloodletting” into a novel. The screenplay, which led in the mystery category at the Screenwriters Showcase Screenplay contest in 2006, ultimately won second place overall. I used the screenplay as a glorified outline to shape my hard-boiled crime thriller.
Author of “Bloodletting”, William D. Prystauk
In “Bloodletting”, punk rocker and sadomasochist Denny Bowie, a “legwork guy” for a private investigation firm, is out to find the killer of five masochistic men and his childhood friend, fetish photographer Tommy Heat. He gets back with Penny Dallion, the Goth-girl of his dreams, and is enthralled by the hot and androgynous Erin Marr, his new boyfriend. While investigating Tommy’s murder, Denny discovers pictures missing from Tommy’s meticulous collection. These photos not only hold the key to the killer’s identity, but may also prove Penny’s involvement in the murders. Now, embroiled in New York’s vibrant S&M subculture, Denny revisits old haunts: fetish clubs in Greenwich Village to find the killer who’s a step ahead of him – and maybe right behind him.
If you’re like me and become critical of what you read, please know that I met with a former homicide detective, a private investigator, a New York City court reporter, a police officer, and more experts to make certain “Bloodletting” is accurate. In addition, I visited or lived in all of the places I wrote about. One can say I took “write what you know” seriously!
Q: What motivated you to write in your specific genre?
The story and characters always determine genre for me. However, in the case of “Bloodletting”, the hard-boiled subgenre allowed me to go a little bit deeper and get more “real.” Since the story is base on my experiences in New York’s Greenwich Village, this allowed me to create an honest narrative. Moreover, I have always been compelled by great mysteries, whether it’s Gillian Flynn’s “Sharp Objects” or Frederick Busch’s “Girls”, and as a boy, I’d soak up as much as the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew as possible. In general, mysteries keep our minds alert and ablaze – we can’t check our brains at the door – and I wanted “Bloodletting” to be a journey that would entertain as well as keep readers’ minds engaged in the suspense.
Q: If you were not allowed to write horror, what would be your next best pick and why?
I’d have to go with thrillers like “Bloodletting” because conjuring suspense is no easy task. I love horror because it’s such a challenge. After all, creating a scare per page is far from easy. Thrillers, like horrors, allow me to draw out the intrigue while keeping the goings-on mysterious for as long as possible. The only thing a thriller doesn’t offer is the element of the uncanny or supernatural, and I like to write without those factors because real life comes with its own nightmares. The aspect of the thriller allows for a sense of reality most horror lacks, and this means the reader has a better chance of finding the story relatable.
Q: What do you love most about writing, and is there any element you dislike, if so, what?
I love the escapism associated with writing. It’s like being in the shower where no one can get to you. Plus, no matter what I write turns out to be a bit of therapy and leaves me feeling better about the world I live in. Finally, when writing, I create a universe where I control everything that happens: I chose who lives and who dies, if it will or won’t rain, and who gets the boy or girl. In real life, I rarely have that kind of control.
When it comes to dislikes, I sometimes wish I could blink my eyes and complete a troublesome manuscript. But the pitfalls and challenges of storytelling are part of the journey. Therefore, I hunker down and write through the problem. On some occasions, I let the manuscript go for a while and work on something else. Afterwards, I’ll go back to that pesky story and look at it like an editor. This usually provides me with new ideas to see the story through. It’s amazing what a little time off can accomplish. Allowing the manuscript to ferment on its own for a while is often a critical step between a great story and a weak one.
Q: Are your main characters based on people you know or are they imagined?
A little bit of both. Most character backgrounds include a hodgepodge stories from other people I know, though I never use anyone’s physical appearance. However, in “Bloodletting” the character of Penny is sort of a mix between an old friend, musician Siouxsie Sioux, and the one-time drummer for the alternative electronica band Indoor Life (I never got her name).
Usually what I do is daydream of my characters and follow them around in my mind to see where they take me. Eventually, they fall into place with their strengths and weaknesses, goals, loves, and hates. When writing a story, I usually think about them before bed, and that helps me relax and fall asleep. Sometimes, when I’m unconscious, this will unleash other things about the characters I can use in my stories, and I may even dream about them, which opens up even more doors.
Q: What one piece of guidance would you give to a novice or aspiring writer?
Read – a lot. Read inside and outside the genre you love most. This is because reading and writing go hand in hand. In addition, read books on craft and gain a better understanding of your new pursuit because you must know your writing strengths and weaknesses – and every writer has weaknesses regardless of skill level.
Ultimately, you must know good writing from bad, and as a writer, you have to be honest with yourself and know when you are creating something wonderful or something for the trash. I have many failed manuscripts to my credit, and they were all practice pieces that brought me to where I am today as an award-winning writer.
Furthermore, proofread aloud – when you read silently, your brain may fill in missing words or correct errors, but you will usually hear a mistake when reading aloud. And make sure others critique your work. I’m not talking about people who will pat you on the head like daddy or your girlfriend, but people who will give you honest feedback to help you improve your craft. For instance, I joined a professional screenwriter’s group and their expert recommendations made “Bloodletting” a better story, otherwise, it would not have won that award, would not have earned me an agent, and would not have been accepted for publication. But if you can’t handle honest criticism of your writing, it’s time to do something else.
Otherwise, practice your craft – and WRITE ON!
I thank William for participating in the first interview this year, and his excellent novel, BLOODLETTING is available on Amazon and other good book stores. Some of the wonderful reviews:
“If Philip Marlowe was reincarnated as a punk rock sadomasochist private eye working the mean streets of New York’s S&M subculture, his name would be Denny Bowie and this would be his story…”
Ken Vose, award-winning screenwriter of Greased Lightning and author
“What rides through this novel is Desire and it’s Desire as we actually know it—not the desire that can be easily placated, bought off with good deeds or bargain basement optimism or forgotten with love or put to sleep with a warm glass of milk. Here, Desire is insistent, hungry, ever present and shadowed by The Reaper.”
Ross Klavan, author of Schmuck and screenwriter of Tigerland
“A thrilling ride through kink and murder, Bloodletting will stay with you long after the last page.”
Patricia D. Eddy, bestselling author of erotic suspense
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ANTHONY DONNELLYblogs about all things writing, inspirational, and motivational. He has published a number of books for children and adults. His first novel 49Q? THE ENIGMA CONTINUESis currently climbing up the Amazon charts, and is available in Kindle or paperback. When not sat at his keyboard writing, he can be found in Costa Rica, North America, or somewhere in Europe motivating and coaching individuals and groups in self-development techniques and life-balance.
ANTHONY JAMES DONNELLY is a personal and business development coach with over 20 years experience helping people and corporations hit and surpass their goals. He is not just a theorist, he practices what he preaches, therefore in addition to this he is pursuing his own personal goals of professional acting and writing.
I’m not really one for making resolutions for New Year, but at this time I do like to reflect back on the past few months and take stock. Like many of you, I’m sure, this has been a great year, but also a bummer of a year. I lost two very great and dear friends: Dr. Wayne Dyer, a motivational force in my life, and Richard Anthony Eyre, an old school friend.
Author & Writer Anthony Donnelly 