Clint Adams - FEAR BYTES Newsletter: Summer 2009

books

Historical fiction

After numerous arrests at the turn of the century, astrologist Evangeline Adams takes on the legal system to prove her legitimacy as a successful businesswoman in a man’s world.

Thriller

The Seventh Ritual

"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 though, while running in the New York City Marathon, Paul’s mind leads him back…to a past he’s never known. This journey begins the race for his life.

Teen/Young Adult

My Watch Doesn't Tell Time

“What if time runs out?” is the question that makes 14-year old Miguel Estes sweat almost every night. Life's short. Have you done all you want?

Don't Be Afraid of Heaven

Formerly TOP TEN-ranked for ten-straight months in Korea (Teen Visionary Fiction) Who wouldn’t want to be fearless? After overcoming a fear-filled life, 13-year old Miguel Estes uncovers life’s most potent and debilitating fear while sprinting his way to freedom.

Fear Ain't All That

Formerly TOP TEN-ranked for ten-straight months in Korea (Teen Visionary Fiction) Miguel is unique. He has a lifetime measured by days not years; he happens to live with E.B., but he spends little time thinking about it. For Miguel, living with fear is far more deadly than this fatal disease could ever be.

Just Say Mikey

Amazon/France TOP-TEN-ranked (Action & Adventure) over 7-consecutive months. Now out of print, but still available via special order at all book retailers.

Fiktion: Jugendlicher

Angst Ist Nicht Alles

Das einzige Hindernis zwischen Ihnen und Ihr Schicksal ist Angst. Beseitigen Sie Angst...und Sie werden Ihr Traum leben.

Romanzi per Adoloscenti ed Adulti

Non Avere Paura del Paradiso

Una lezione per Miguel, per tutti: Una persona che non ha paura di morte, non ha paura.

La Paura Non è Niente

È facile, è la verità: la vita inizia soltanto quando la paura è eliminata.

FEAR BYTES Newsletter: Summer 2009

January 1, 1970

Fear Bytes, a newsletter for adults and teens who continue to believe ANYTHING's possible.

FEAR BYTES Newsletter: Summer 2009

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Ciao amici,

Breathe in. I’ve got something for you. But before we begin…

Eek, the language barrier has reared its ugly head again. I hate when that happens. Don’t you?

I hope this newsletter finds you well, happy and increasingly more perceptive (than me). A few days ago, it was my friend’s birthday. Her name’s Anna Mazzola and she lives in Stiava (Tuscany), Italy. She’s awesome, a truly good soul. One reason Anna’s such a good friend is because she’s always been supportive of my writing, encouraging me (in Italian) to NEVER give up.

Again, like I’ve done for five consecutive years, I wanted to thank Anna in her madre lingua. “Grazie per la tua inspirazione,” I’d said. I’ve used this word hundreds of times by now. I love this word. Inspirazione. Italian for inspiration, I thought.

No way. Not even close.

All this time, I’d been saying, “Thanks for your inhalation.” What an idiot! Inspiration is ispirazione (without the ‘n’). Take a deep breath. Inhale, exhale…there’s a point to this story. Before Italy revokes my citizenship (due to my illiteracy), I’ll tell you why I’m writing…I’d like to share some inspiration with you. Not from Anna, but from three extraordinary women (Monica Seles, Farrah Fawcett and Susan Boyle) who have inspired me greatly this past week.

Whatever your feelings are, whether you feel you know them well or not, if you’re seeking inspiration, stai attento (pay attention) and keep reading!

I hope these remarkable women and their stories motivate you to want to do more, to live life fully, to fight, to keep going, and of course, be fearless. Breathe out.

Buon viaggio,

Clint

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Tennis-player, I mean, Author Focus: MONICA SELES ( www.monicaseles.com )

Some of you may not even know Monica Seles. To me, she’s a superhero.

Just as I was about to head out the door to re-re-re-re-register with Weight Watchers for the °#ù§-th time, I decided to read the tennis news on the Internet. Rather than catching up on the latest scores, I instead found myself reading a press interview with Monica Seles. She was talking about her about-to-be-released book, GETTING A GRIP: ON MY BODY, MY MIND, MY SELF.

Monica Seles, an author? Of something other than a tennis biography? In the interview she talked about finding answers in the journals she’d written in, she talked about looking at her feelings after having been stabbed, after the death of her hero, her father. That’s when her weight started coming on.

While on the tennis tour, Monica talks about having worked with some of the top nutritionists and trainers in the world…but they didn’t get it. It’s like putting a Bandaid on a tumor. Dieting. Exercise. They never asked, “Why?” Monica let them all go. She stopped dieting. Instead, she looked back and asked herself why. Only Monica knew the answers, the reasons.

A few weeks ago, two BIG concerns dominated my life. My weight and finally finishing this book that’s been in my head for the past 16 years. When listening to Monica, the way it seemed to me, is that the solutions she was seeking came from her writing…and turned into a giant catharsis. It set her free. And now her story, her book, is available so it can help others, us. Do you want to be free? From the paralysis of your past that later evolved into a ‘weight issue?’ Read.

I recently visited Monica’s website and it contains only 1 thing, a brief excerpt from her book. Please, please, please visit Monica’s homepage ( www.monicaseles.com ) and read the excerpt that’s offered. If you’re a thin as a rail and you always have been, don’t. If you’re like me, go! You’ll be inspired.

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Life Advocate Focus: FARRAH FAWCETT ( http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036750/vp/30773564#30773564 )

Just like Monica Seles, Farrah Fawcett eventually realized her true purpose in life, helping others. Any of you at or near my age, remember that in 1976/77, Farrah Fawcett was the most famous person in the world. She was known for her looks, her beauty, her hair, not necessarily her mind. After having viewed her documentary, FARRAH’S STORY, like millions of other Americans, I respect her and her brave journey more than ever. Quite likely, she won’t be around by the time you read this.

Two things struck me when watching this film: 1) Farrah REALLY wants to live; 2) She wanted desperately to share her story for the purpose of helping others. She knew she had a reason for making this documentary. Farrah accomplished much already in her battle; changing privacy legislation in the state of California and increasing awareness for anal/liver cancer.

Neither of these things motivated or inspired me. Farrah, in my opinion, did something much greater. She asks at the end of this film, while pointing her own camcorder at viewers, “How are YOU? What are YOU fighting for?” This hit me like a ton of bricks. Here’s someone who wants to live more than anything, while I remain rather indifferent towards life.

Are you living fully? Are you perhaps taking life, your health, for granted? In my books, I’ve always talked about the shortness of life, having no fear of death, without ever having faced a life-threatening disease. How presumptuous. Just like Monica, Farrah is my hero. She inspired me. She made me want to get on with it. She and Monica helped me to re-recognize what I have always felt is my own purpose, to help others.

If you’re looking for reasons for getting up in the morning, watch this video before going to bed: ( http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036750/vp/30773564#30773564 ). Maybe you’ll wake up stronger and you’ll remember that you’re here for a reason. Think of Farrah and her courage as you look into the mirror. Picture her asking, “What are YOU fighting for?” You’ll be sure to come up with an answer…even if it takes a while.

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Singer Focus: SUSAN BOYLE ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxPZh4AnWyk )

Susan is different from Monica and Farrah. Before a few weeks ago, very few people had ever heard of her. Including me. Now, everyone knows Susan Boyle. I learned about her after the fact. I wanted to know what all the fuss was about. Now I know. And, I believe, all the fuss is deserved.

What a voice! What a performance! What courage! Susan rocks.

Have you seen her on the Internet? If you haven’t, please take six minutes out of your schedule and visit: ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxPZh4AnWyk )…and watch as she surprised the world. More than being surprised or shocked, I felt joy for her, a stranger I’d never seen before. What I like best is that she knew she was going to blow the audience, the judges, away. She just knew it. This was her chance and she took it. She shined. Oops, if you don’t know what I’m talking about, Susan Boyle is a contestant on BRITAIN’S GOT TALENT (akin to American Idol), but no one expected a thing from her. She was judged before even stepping foot onto the stage.

“Dowdy, plain, frumpy, unemployed, 47, never been kissed, lives alone with her cat” are all words used to describe Susan by others. The audience frowned at her, rejecting her before she’d even begun. Then she made them eat it, every last criticism and judgment. She just knew. She believed when no one else did. She’s got talent. Lots of it.

In my lifetime, the world will never change. It will always pre-judge, judge and be critical. The trick is to believe in yourself…NO MATTER WHAT. Brava, Susan. I hope you continue to motivate and inspire those that have been dismissed.

If you’ve ever been cast aside without having been given a chance, watch this video. Let Susan inspire you with her belief. If things truly do come in threes, after having given Monica Seles, Farrah Fawcett and Susan Boyle your attention, you should feel inhalation, I mean, inspiration for a good while to come.

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Fear : FACT or FICTION Quiz (answers at bottom)

1. Geumophobia is the fear of tastes or flavors. : FACT or FICTION?
2. Actor Anthony Hopkins has a fear of butterflies. : FACT or FICTION?
3. Eminem said, “Fear brings out the worst in everybody.” : FACT or FICTION?
4. Swine flu panic caused all pigs in Egypt to be slaughtered.” : FACT or FICTION?
5. The no-FEAR Act of 2002 (in the U.S.) became law to promote fearlessness nationally. : FACT OR FICTION?

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What’s next?

After having received a surplus of inspiration lately, there’s only one thing I can do…finish this book. In the end, there’s only so much revision a person can accomplish before what they’ve intended to write becomes another, completely different story. Right?

Thanks to those of you that have read my teen novels. I miss my time visiting schools, connecting with kids. They’re great. Maybe I’ll go back to that someday. Who knows.

For the moment, I’m being selfish. Writing what I want…for me. This is a very personal story, and I’m eager to unburden myself. I’m anxious to give this book life so I can get on with mine. I’m even dedicating it to the bravest person I’ve ever known, Clinton Dean, a little boy who’s no longer here.

It took many years for me, but yes, I eventually realized that the satisfaction coming from the book business/publishing exists mostly within the writing process itself. I no longer think of sales rankings or shelf life.

Perhaps, if you’re still seeking inspiration after this summer has passed, I hope you’ll read THE SEVENTH RITUAL: a race for survival (a novel for adults based on a true story). Just like the courageous women I focused on today, I’m hoping, after you’ve read it, you’ll to want to do more, to live life more fully, to fight, to keep going, and of course, be fearless.

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Hey friends,

Thanks again for taking the time to read this newsletter. I’m hoping I shared something relevant and meaningful for you.

As usual, should you ever again be having moments of doubt, please remember:

1. Fear isn’t natural; it's ALL learned.
2. Keep your TO DO list full.
3. Always BELIEVE…no matter what!!!

Have a great summer! Keep reading!

Until next time,

Clint

info@ClintAdams.com

www.ClintAdams.com (NO TIME FOR FEAR workshops and books)

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Fear : FACT or FICTION Quiz (ANSWERS)

1. Geumophobia is the fear of tastes or flavors. : FACT (This one would do me in for sure).
2. Actor Anthony Hopkins has a fear of butterflies. : FICTION (Of course not…because they go so well with chianti and fava beans. Nicole Kidman has a fear of them).
3. Eminem said, “Fear brings out the worst in everybody.” : FICTION (Maya Angelou did).
4. Swine flu panic caused all pigs in Egypt to be slaughtered.” : FACT (Think of all that Spam gone to waste).
5. The no-FEAR Act of 2002 (in the U.S.) became law to promote fearlessness nationally. : FICTION (It’s an acronym for The NOTIFICATION and FEDERAL EMPLOYEE ANTIDISCRIMINATION and RETALIATION Act).