Kindle: An Epiphany for Self-Actualisation.

Glad to have discovered Authors.com.  The site seems to be a very useful resource for writers and publishers.  Social networking in a community of helpful peers is definitely a must as there is seemingly a rather overwhelming series of choices and options for writers nowadays!

Amazon:  A Personal Epiphany.

Having been a writer and author for many years, I did not think I would be able to simply realise the light of day with some of my work.  As an inveterate cynic, it was a relief and v. encouraging to discover how straightforward the publishing process could be with Kindle.  The formatting guides were initially complex and rather off putting, with HTML instructions and ideas of technical prowess that I thought would get the better of me.  I was more than happy to take responsibility with my own work as a number of publishing houses have been encouraging, although not always specialists in music eBooks- hence I chose Kindle direct publishing.  So, I finally have my author's central page and this spring I have been busy publishing some of my 'back catalogue' of surprises comprising a couple of my popular music eBooks 'Blues Scholars' and 'Incendiary Soul', together with an avant-garde academic reader, 'The Astrosociological Imagination'.

'Blues Scholars' represents some ten years of voluntary copy writing on the blues greats for me and forms a significant elements of my life.  The work is a real labour of love and proof of the generosity of many musician contributors who have patiently offered content.   I have spent many hours crafting biographical content on blues legends including John Lee Hooker, Robert Johnson, B.B. King and Etta James.  So positive to safely archive this online.  Blues offers an eternal flame of compassion and hope for musicians and listeners alike- blues scholarship is undoubtedly evident within the spirit of many defining artists who surpass the limits of their craft, era and personal circumstances, (irrespective of whether fame and recognition are equated with their work!)  It was a real education researching and writing content on some of my favourite virtuoso artists.

'Incendiary Soul' is a book that has evolved with me overtime and I have just completed the 2nd Edition.  It is a biographical homage to two of my favourite musicians:  drummer Hunt Sales and bassist Tony Sales.  The Sales Brothers have a charisma and presence that is really unsurpassed in the music industry to my mind.  Their father was a well regarded household name; Soupy Sales graced many households with his TV show and hosted programs featuring many classic jazz musicians such as Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr.  It is no wonder that his sons went on to create some great music with peers including Todd Rundgren, Iggy Pop and David Bowie in Tin Machine.  Yet, the Sales Brothers have remained modestly acclaimed for their accomplishments.  I felt that an exploration of their repertoire and bio was well overdue; especially when I unearthed their soulful solo album 'Hired Guns' that turned out to be a true Pandora's box of surprises as I had assumed the brothers were equated exclusively with hard-edged Rock 'n' Roll...

Academic publishing.

'The Astrosociological Imagination' in contrast explores the intersection of my interest in space themes, music and academia!  It is not a conventional published works academic project- once again it is a labour of love for me.  I have spent some eighteen months crafting a discourse analysis and literature review of the Space Renaissance Initiative.  I thought I would assimilate a little of this content into a Kindle edition, combined with some of my gothic artwork design.  Social theorists evoked in the work are Max Weber and C. Wright Mills.  Having completed this academic portfolio work, I am thinking of returning to some postgrad study.

I doubt that I will be returning to my studies before completing my archive on Kindle.  I have yet to format and archive my first ever music bio on archetypal saxophonist Dick Heckstall-Smith.  The project is once again very dear to me and represents my biographical work on Dick just prior to his passing.  The text is around ten years old and really should see daylight on Kindle.  I'm also spending time this summer completing my silver anniversary biography on the Bunbury pro-celebrity cricket team.  This team are truly special and have offered so much to many major charities.  Some wonderful artists such as Robin Gibb, Eric Clapton & Bill Wyman have all been a part of the Bunburys and it will be great to finish putting together features I have written on this creative sporting initiative over many years.

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If you have a little time and any curiosity to explore any of these works, please visit my Amazon Author's central page:

Stephanie Lynne Thorburn: Amazon Author's Central

And my homepage can be found on webs, see:  Stephanie Thorburn Homepage