'HYPKNOWLOGY'

Hypknowlogy [hip-nol-uh-jee]

• 
  
  adjective

1. 
   
   The passive delivery of seemingly complicated theories and issues in a way that is subtle enough to appeal to the higher self, whilst disarming the egocentric nature of the lower. 
   
2. The subtle infusion of knowledge and facts through a manner that does not directly infringe on the autonomy of the recipient.
3. 
   
   The agreeable subliminal expanding of awareness, that causes one to question and seek the answers to one's own equation.

Hypknowlogy is the title of the compilation of my first trilogy: 'The Mouth of Babes', 'Let Sleeping Gods Lie' and 'Heaven's War: The Gods Awakened'. The idea to put it together in one volume came from my usual teachers, books I've read and readers I have spoken to. I discovered Octavia E. Butler late in life and didn't read any of her books until a year or so after having completed my first novel. I was recommended to her books in the Patternist series by a friend who advised that I would love her writing and that there seemed to be similarities in our stories. The thing is, at the time I started searching for her books, they were not as readily available in the UK. I think there has been a bit of a revival now, because I can find her titles on Amazon.co.uk, back then, they were only listed on the US site.

I finally came across a couple of her books in the library, newly ordered in. 'Kindred' and 'Wild Seed' I believe. The latter was a compilation of the Patternist series all bound in one book and that alone blew my mind! Two years later I had people telling me, 'I wish I could read all your books back to back', 'I'm going to ask my son/daughter/mother/father to buy me your books for xmas'. At the time of hearing the first comment, I was still in the process of editing my final book, so I didn't think much on it. However when I heard the second comment, I thought about xmas sales and the potential that comes with it. What would be more likely? Someone purchasing one book as a gift, or three separate ones? Then of course, I remembered 'Wild Seed' and how I loved being able to read four sequential novels back to back. Well I am my own publisher, so what's to stop me from doing exactly the same with my trilogy? Plus I have to admit I was envious of how Philip Pullman's trilogy had one overall name it was known by; 'His Dark Materials'. I wanted my trilogy to be known overall by one name, the way how was to compile it. Using this method, I could get the best of all worlds and so could potential customers.

One book and one overall name for my trilogy, that would only be sold online (unless book retailers chose to pay the cost of printing them up and holding them in stock). Buying each book individually offline at a cost of £36 or all in one online at the cost of £27. You do the math and think up all the other benefits that as a publisher this holds for both myself and my readers. Authors and self-publishers, we gotta start thinking bigger and finding ways to reduce on our outgoing costs. Think smart, work smart.

You have now been introduced to a simple concept that falls under the theory of 'HYPKNOWLOGY'.

HYPKNOWLOGY is due for release on November 6th 2010 and will be available on my site: TosinCoker.com Advance purchases can also be made on Amazon.

Let It Burn

A friend of mine keeps saying, "you wrote 3 books in one year!" and I told him, no I haven't, I wrote my first book at the end of 2007. What he was refering to was how long it took me to write each book. The Mouth of Babes took me 3 months of non-stop day and night writing. The second Let Sleeping Gods Lie, took me about 18months to complete, but mainly because for about 12 of those months I didn't write at all. My life had become busy with moving home, entering into a relationship, having one of my children start high school and working as a computer technician. In total I spent 6 months actually writing, and the rest of my time pretending that I had forgotten I was supposed to be. The times I didn't write I compensated by working on the building up of my brand name and making it so that when my name was keyed into google, I'd come out on top. The final book, Heaven's War: The Gods Awakened, took me 3 months again because I spent about a month dawdling. I'm happy to report that the consensus is that my writing has been evolving and improving with every release, yay!

True enough, in terms of how my friend calculated it, I wrote 3 novels in one year. That's uh, actually kinda cool I guess. All this time I thought I was taking too long! Since having completed my latest book, the question that has been on my mind is, what the hell am I gonna do now that the trilogy is finished? Simple, carry on writing! I'm not sure what yet, but since this long lost passion was re-ignited, all I know is I've gotta let it burn.

Reflections - Three Books Down

This morning I sat on my bed, still wrapped in my towel after having finished up in the bathroom, unable to move or speak. You see, today is the day before the official release of my third book, and I was contemplating how on earth I got here. How did I end up being UK's first black sci-fi author? How did I end up teaching others how to publish and market their book on a budget? How in the world did I write three books!

A few years ago my ambition was to work from home, coding and designing websites. I wanted to become an expert in as many areas of computing as possible. I wanted to make a living in such a way that my health wouldn't ruin my aspirations. I wanted to demonstrate to my children, and myself that where ever there is a will, there is a way and quitting wasn't an option. Not even in the face of the crippling pain they have all too often have to see me endure. I wanted to prove that even when my body failed me, my mind could bridge the gap that would lead me to success. Studing from home in a distance learning course that cost me £5,000 wasn't for me, so I didn't become the qualified Zend Engineer I had planned on becoming, but the company I went with got 5K richer. I didn't become the Linux expert that had been working toward either. Instead I am sat here, on my bed silently thanking my ancestors, my family, my friends and blessing all of those who have given me encouragement, opportunities, and a warm reception as an author.

I haven't become rich from it, in fact I'm currently being threatened with court action for a couple of bills, but in this moment right now, I am so happy because I have tasted success and it is delicious. I am doing what I love! I'm writing and using all my computer skills to enhance on my brand name. Since I started this journey, I've learnt how to manipulate images, create movie clips, set myself up as a radio show host, learnt more about my health and spiritual well-being, created flash websites, become somewhat an expert in the area of publishing, become a motivational speaker.... the list goes on. I'm tired as a mofo most of the time, but it feels so damn good to be a success, not by society's standards, but my own. I am taking pleasure in the simple act of BEing me, and that is priceless.

It hasn't been at all easy, but growning up hardly ever is. The best thing about all of this is I have met some of the coolest people ever, and most of them were in my circle of friends and family already. Through putting myself out there as a writer I have had some of the most beautifully candid dialogues and thus got the chance to really know the family I was blessed to be born into. To all of you I say thank you, I love you.

Aiight enough of the sappiness, back to the scheduled programming, who's taking me for a celebratory dinner? I'll be having a number 46 at Wagamama's on you thanks! Come on, I know you don't expect me to pay now!