Saturday, July 27, 2019

Changes for changing times.


  Living where I do — the Philippines, I have to constantly remind myself that I’m a guest in someone else’s country.  I have no rights or benefits due me.  I had to do that in Panama prior to moving here.  It was an easier reminder in Panama because the language was mostly Spanish. Here, almost everyone speaks a few words of English.
Since I moved here four years ago, the cost of living has doubled. This discerning fact should alarm me but doesn’t.  Like most foreigners, I catered my lifestyle to western living in a 3rd world country.  I didn’t go native in Panama and I have not gone native in the Philippines.
However, adjustments need to be made.  Here’s just a few I’ve made recently.
I decided to reduce the amount of money I spent at the larger supermarkets like Hypermart and Robinson’s in Dumaguete. Instead I began my search of items on my list — here in Valencia.  Starting at the nearest sari-sari store, then to the local public market and the satellite markets and bakeries.  I was pleasantly surprised at the selection I had; albeit I had to visit many stores.  That’s fine I’m purchasing local and sharing my income with locals; neighbors instead of rich chain-store operators. To my surprise, I saved twenty percent (20%) and didn’t really diminish my style of living/eating.
Another way I cut back on my expenses was to fashion products for the house rather than purchase them.  You can buy a tool and it will help you create a product — unit for more comfortable living rather than purchasing something made in China which self destructs in a matter of weeks. 
Re-purposing is in order — the idea that people would flock to order motorcycle trailers was a myth in my own head. Soooo, I’ve decided to craft items for the house out of pieces and parts for the trailer.  Ohhh, I’ll probably make a trailer for myself. Just not a commercial venture. I’ll stick to my writing  for extra income. 
On that subject, writing and publishing books, I've had to change that aspect of my life as well.   Facebook which used to be my platform to promote has tuned sour on me.  I'm often restricted in my posts so I'm electing to find different platforms; Twitter is one.  MeWe is another and perhaps Goodreads. This blog will undergo some changes as well.  I'll use it for the vehicle to other venues -- like Twitter and MeWe.  Join my blog and get freebies -- entitlements for adding to my numbers.  Stay tuned.  Join if you will as i gradually put facebook in my rear view mirror

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

REVIEWING THE REVIEWERS

Review of the reviewers:
When you read a book and you notice a misspelled word or a typo do you blame the author? Do you blame the editor or proofreader?  How about punctuation?  Whose fault is it if the punctuation doesn't conform to your standards? (ie; Oxford vs AP, vs Chicago style…)
The answer is unfortunately — the author gets blamed.  Even though he/she paid a proofreader, an Editor, a formatter, and a cover designer, marking a book back one point (from 5 to 4) make a big difference in an author’s paycheck.  You are blaming an author for someone else's oversight or confusion. Maybe the reviewer is wrong?
Here’s a good example of how an editor or reviewers ignorance changes the value of a novel. It has caused me to be criticized and marked down many times.
SULL (NOT PULL)= the action by an animal to being restrained by a lariat, a collar or harness.  It’s a western word that is used by people familiar with livestock - horses, cows, goats, dogs, and even cats. Look for it in the dictionary and it’s not there.  Why? BECAUSE — people who publish dictionaries aren't familiar with the western world as we know it.  The word has been around for a long time. I heard my great grandfather use it when I was just a small child. Don’t mark me down because of your ignorance!
COMMAS: It’s a matter of opinion.  Which is correct? He ate the meat, potatoes, and the bread. He ate the meat, the potatoes and the bread. 
The answer of course is BOTH.  It depends on your education and training as to which style you use. Gene Small, my HS English teacher, told me to pick one and stay consistent. Marking an author down because of punctuation is just mean!
Same with the covers or style or sexual content.  If you don’t like it… here’s an idea DON’T REVIEW — leave it alone! 
Pure vs convoluted — When you go to the Kindle New Releases on Amazon and look at the review section.  A pure review is ZERO.  No reviews — it’s just been released (like JUNGLE GIRL yesterday.) that’s pure.  When you see a new release with 78 reviews or even 10.  That’s convoluted.  PHONY REVIEWS to make an author more salable. I don’t subscribe to this; too much a cowboy purist in me, I guess.
Reviews weaponized: I loaned a guy several thousand dollars when I lived in Panama. He never paid me back.  So, I would write him often and chastise him about his debt.  He began buying my books and leaving scathing bad reviews.  Marking me at 1 every time. I complained to Amazon and eventually after showing copies of my letters and his purchases (normally my free offers) and the pattern created, they block him.  But they never reversed the 1’s — my average was knocked to it’s knees on several titles.
Don’t like the cover but never read the book?  Yep, that happens more than you think.  No problem until you leave a nasty review about the book cover and admit you have not read the book.  This has happened more than once in my short Amazon association. 
Here's a couple of examples -- actual word for word from the novel reviews.

Drucilla Graham
1.0 out of 5 starscover
January 17, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition
Love native American books I always look at the cover the cover of this book is puzzling. I know you can not judge a book by its cover. But it show a native American but the son who is a half breed looks black and is mother is white? Because the mother is white the son should be light .he is darker then his father. I am a logical person and see book covers in a logical way. To me the covers should represent what's in the book. I will read the book and review the book by its story. 

Les
3.0 out of 5 starsEntertaining Western.
August 25, 2013
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
This is a Western and I found it to be entertaining. The story itself was interesting enough to maybe warrant four stars, but the presentation was rough and would have benefited from some professional editing and proofing.
2 people found this helpful
SO THERE IS MY REVIEW OF REVIEWERS.  As a whole they are honest people but are ignorant as to the ramifications of the effect on author's sales and consequently their income. (End of whine)


Average reviews on Amazon.  1= horrible, 5= highest rating.

1. CRYSTAL COWBOY 4.6
2. PARTNERS 4.6
3. UNTAMED 4.8
4. ALASKA BE DAMNED 4.7
5. TRES PIEDRAS 5.0
6. LAST FRUIT STAND ON GUAM 4.8
7. TRUST ME 5.0
8. BOOMER 4.7
9. EXPAT 4.6
10. TUCSON TERRITORY 4.8
11. MURDER IN PANAMA 4.9
12. SHOOTER 4.6
13. HALF BREED 4.8
14. HART RULES 5.0
15. REVOLUTION OF FOOLS 4.7    
16. JIMMY HART TRILOGY 5.0
17. COIN OF THE REALM 5.0
18. PEPPER PYLE 5.0
19. UNBROKEN 5.0
20. WILSON’S WAR   5.0
21. BROKEN BADGE   NEW
22. KID MUSTANG 5.0
23. SHANIKO SAM NEW
24. MOSTLY MOABLY 5.0
25. SECOND VERSE 5.0
26. COUNTERFEIT KATHOLIC 5.0
27. WILLFUL IGNORANCE 5.0
28. RING OF FIRE NEW
29. COTUN BAWLS NEW
30. MIND YORE MANNERS NEW
31. WILDERNESS COWBOY NEW
32. BAD MANNERS NEW
33. SLAUGHTER AT STINKING SPRINGS NEW
34. OBSIDIAN ASTEROID NEW
35. DIAMONDS IN THE DARK NEW
36. JUNGLE GIRL 4.0
37. SIEGE AT JUNTURA NEW
38. FORBIDDEN FRUIT NEW
39. KNIGHT TRANE NEW
40. BLOOD BATH NEW

Friday, April 19, 2019


NEW STRATEGY — WISH ME LUCK
How it works:

Amazon offered a special program for readers.  It’s been in effect for several years and I have tried in vain to circumvent their system; a system that is great for readers but HORRIBLE for authors. That’s right — horrible with a capital ‘H’.
A reader can sign up for the Amazon Kindle Unlimited program and read hundreds of thousands books for free. That’s right, for about ten bucks a month a reader has a library at their fingertips and can read most of today’s authors for free.  If you are a READER, what’s not to like? Good for the reader — good for Amazon but horrible for the authors.
If you are an author, FREE BOOKS eliminate any royalties.  Yup, no sales = no royalty.  Here is how they compensate the author of the free book  —  authors get paid by the page read.  How in the hell do we audit that? The answer of course — we can’t.  As an author, I am at the mercy of Amazon.  Are they honest? What do you think?  I feel violated each time I get the pittance from Amazon. To me it’s a stacked deck.  I bowed out often and got slapped back into reality. They control the marketplace and I have to play by their rules. Sooooooo, here’s what I intend to do:
1.  All of my books except the multiple book volumes are available to be read for free. I enrolled them in KDP select which allows those who joined Kindle Unlimited to read them for free. I’ll keep promoting the free books on an individual basis plus their Kindle Unlimited.
2. Currently I have seventeen(17) unpublished manuscripts sitting in the bowels of my hard drive. They are unpublished because I don’t have the funds to pay the professionals to get them released (about 2000 USD each= 34k). I’m going to publish them in some form — maybe two a month with whatever covers I can create.  Each new release is promoted by Amazon.  I want the sky black with new releases for the next ten months or longer. 
3. The RISK?  It’s violating the cardinal sin of authors.  Publishing work that hasn't been professionally edited or formatted.  I may get marked down in my reviews. The REWARD?  Maybe more folks turning pages so I can be paid for my writing.  The major advantage is it gets the stories out where they belong — in the hands of the readers. 
So, that’s my new plan.  Amazon sucks but they make the rules.  I’ll play with their rules — my way.  Be prepared for many new releases in several genres.  THE TWO COVERS SHOWN IN THIS POST ARE THE APRIL, 2019 RELEASES.
RWH

 



Sunday, December 9, 2018

2018 PRODUCTION -- NOVEL MANUSCRIPTS



2018 Production RWH
 Last year about this same time – Mid- December 2017, I put the final   “30”  on a manuscript I had been working on for almost two years; COIN OF THE REALM -- the 4th novel in the Jimmy Hart series.  I made a resolve at that point to close my Ozone business and concentrate 100% of novel production.  On Christmas Day of 2017 I began writing without the distractions of business.  The result is shown below; eighteen titles within a twelve month period.  An all time best for this old cowboy.  Some are already published, others are in the various stages of production, and some like the last two on the list are still in the rewrite stage.

One would assume quantity does not produce quality.  That common assumption has been proven wrong – the four novels on this list that have been released, received FIVE STAR ratings from my readership.
 I write in three genres.  PERIOD WESTERN, CONTEMPORARY WESTERN and ACTION/ADVENTURE. 
No matter which genre in which I write, or what POV I use, one common thread is always present: GROUNDED IN REALITY.   All my stories are original.  They may be inspired by an event or idea but they are spawned in my mind, not rewrites of some long ago expired copyright. 
1. PEPPER PYLE        5.0
2. UNBROKEN      
3. WILSON’S WAR     5.0
4. BROKEN BADGE    
5. KID MUSTANG   
6. SHANIKO SAM       
7. MOSTLY MOABLY 5.0
8. SECOND VERSE   5.0
9. COUNTERFEIT KATHOLIC   
10.   WILLFUL IGNORANCE   
11.   RING OF FIRE        
12.   COTUN BAWLS     
13.   MIND YORE MANNERS   
14.   WILDERNESS COWBOY   
15.   BAD MANNERS         
16.   SLAUGHTER AT STINKING SPRINGS    
17.   OBSIDIAN ASTEROID    
18.   DIAMONDS IN THE DARK






Saturday, September 15, 2018

EXPAT LIVING

FOOD CRAVINGS

THE BEST MEAL ON THE TRIP WAS IN HONG KONG AND I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE WHAT I HAD EATEN (the meat was dark and chewy -- not beef, pork or chicken.)

I’ve been an ExPat since 2003.  I’ve lived in many places in Central America and now the Philippines.  I seldom return to the USA.  I miss certain foods; specifically good beef.  Steaks, Roast Beef, and hamburgers.  Being an ex-rancher it’s difficult to please me with inferior cuts of meat.  So, knowing that I seldom order beef off the menu and avoid fast food joints in 3rd world countries.
I violated my resolve on my trip to Hong Kong last week.  I visited two franchise hamburger joints at the Manila airport.  Burger King and Wendy’s.  I wasted my money — both times.  I couldn’t take more than one bite before tossing in the trash.  Why?  MAYONNAISE!  Both sandwiches were slathered in mayonnaise.
What’s with Filipinos and Mayo?  My housekeeper fixes her kid a sandwich by layering on mayo between 2 pieces of bread.  They put it on everything.  God how cruel it is to an old western guy — mayo on a burger.  I was taught by a grandmother how to cook.  First rule!  White with white — red with red. (only exception — biscuits and gravy)
Okay.. Here’s he example — when we made tomato based chili we didn’t use chicken — we used beef.  Red meat = red sauce.  We used mayo on turkey, chicken and eggs or salads.  Red meat got A-1, ketchup or mustard.  When you make spaghetti, you use red Marena sauce with beef.  With a chicken or shrimp you use a Carbonara white sauce. 
My grandmother would have sent those fry cooks at Burger King and Wendy’s to perdition if she would have seen how they ruined those meals.

Saturday, September 8, 2018

SOME OF THE REVIEWS OF MY NOVELS


HERE IS THE LAST 10 PAGES OF REVIEWS.    These are actual readers -- not contrived or paid reviewers.  Actual -- unabridged. You see the good with the bad.
RWH
1. 
 Believable. Teachable moments. August 28, 2018
Fantastic book. Written in a manner that takes you to that time period. The author evokes the reality that this generation of cowboy pioneers are the ones who opened and tamed the Wild West Amazing writer.
2. 
 A great adventure August 14, 2018
Another cant put down till finished book by proficient writer. Thanks Rob for a great read. Can't wait for the next book in this series.
3. 
P.S Winn reviewed SHOOTER
 Intriguing! June 26, 2018
This is an interesting read that combines conspiracies of the past with the world today full of its' own lies and cover-ups. The book has a bit of sexual content and is not for young readers, For everyone else it is a tangled, twisted look at Tom and Inez Hooker who are brother and half-sister and their link to the Kennedy assassination and what that means to them now when asked to commit a similar crime. The author takes an...Read More
4. 
 Another great story by an amazing author. June 23, 2018
This is an adult romance, but so much more. Welcome to Guam where Skid McMaster is leading a laid back life. Things are going to change and end up in turmoil with man and mother nature trying to foil things for Skid. Learning his family is coming to visit, Skid is in a tizzy. His relatives think he is engaged. A woman Skid has spent some time with agrees to fill in. Big problem though because Blondie has a relationship already....Read More
5. 
 Excellent work Bob, as expected. June 22, 2018
I've read all Roberts books to this point and non have disappointed. To the contrary i have been entertained, fully enthralled to the point of not eating meals. I highly recommend.
6. 
 Another great read by this author June 13, 2018
I continue to enjoy the adventures of the hero in Revolution of Fools. Be sure to read it this exciting book.
7. 
 Another great read by Robert Hatting. June 13, 2018
Willis Mathews along with friends Curly and Gladys are in for an adventure. When Cecelia steps into the picture their may be some great romance also. From Oregon to Panama, the author takes readers on a special journey that entails all kinds of hardships and heart touching moments The author uses a bit of humor in his tales that make the characters and the story feel more like reality than fiction and also makes the reading...Read More
8. 
P.S Winn reviewed ExPat
 Quite an adventure. June 9, 2018
After some problems in America, Corky Stuart is going to leave the country. Once he heads across the border he finds some things don't change no matter the local. Corky is finding gangsters, trouble and crazy people can be found anywhere. This is a great adventure by an author whose other books I have also read and enjoyed.
9. 
Brian reviewed ExPat
 The makings of an expat. June 6, 2018
Not much of a reader, but I couldn't put it down. Just when you think you see where the plot is going, it changes. Plenty of excitement. I really enjoyed the characters and how each was introduced.
10. 
 Rodeo, romance and a few problems June 3, 2018
When a book is labeled as a 'western' people forget that cowboys are alive and well in our world today. Robert Hatting is an author who writes amazing stories to help all know that fact. The author writes book that feel more like fact than fiction and brings wonderful characters to readers. In this book we meet Harp Hancock and his mother Goldie. Harp rides in the rodeo and has a hard time just trying to keep his mother and...Read More
11. 
 A must read! May 30, 2018
The author had me guessing the entire book. The story line was great. I can"t wait to read his next book.
12. 
 Interesting, intriguing and one to grab! December 18, 2017
Beginning with a ship wreck, the author takes readers into the vastness of Alaska and also into the corruptness of government in a conspiracy thriller. The character, Ben Reed, is a person who I would love to meet. I have read several of this author's books and find all are well written and intriguing. "Alaska be Damned" is an adventure readers are going to enjoy and a story that will stick with you long after the last...Read More