Persistence Pays Off

I want to tell you about one of the coolest days of my teaching career, a day that is really at the foundation of all of my ambition.

I began my teaching career as a high school English instructor at Metamora High, a small but wonderful central Illinois community. I started teaching fresh out of college, and even though the kids I had those first few years still say nice things to me, I often wonder how we all survived. What 22 year old should really be mentoring an 18 year old, right? But we learned from one another.

In my 2^nd year of teaching, I wanted my American Lit students to read something non-fiction and contemporary for a change of pace (puke on The Scarlet Letter, sorry), so I chose a book that inspired me in my college years (you know, like a whole year before): Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom. I’m sure you know Mitch. He’s written a bunch of best sellers: The Five People You Meet in Heaven, For One More Day, Have a Little Faith, and more. He has his own radio show, does reports for ESPN, plays music (even with Stephen King before). In short, he has the kind of writing career that I only dream of at this point.

In 2003, I did something inspired by the great Dr. Kathy Whitson, one of my English professors from Eureka College. I recruited college students and residents of a local nursing home to join my high school students in reading and discussing Tuesdays With Morrie. In the book, Mitch learns that his favorite professor is dying because of ALS (Lou Gherig’s disease, the same terrible thing that took my father). Mitch goes to see Morrie for perhaps a final time, but it turns into regular visits on Tuesdays. They discuss everything: love, family, dying, money, and more. Mitch turned their heartfelt and insightful discussions into a book.

I wanted lots of different life perspectives, hence the invitation of college students and nursing home residents. It turned out great. We had fantastic discussions, and when we finished the book, I asked, “How should we celebrate?”

A student replied, “Invite the author to join us.”

Naïve and inexperienced, I said, “Okay. I will!”

After some research, I got in touch with Mitch’s agent or publisher or something. I told them of my proposal and the person told me, “Mitch would love to speak at your event. His speaking fee for a one day event is $30,000.”

I fell out of my chair. That was my teaching salary for that entire year.

With my head down, I told my students that Mitch would not be visiting our classes. One delightful young man spoke up and said, “Hey, don’t you remember what Morrie told Mitch about money and greed?”

Of course. But always the teacher, I replied, “Tell us what that was about again.”

“Morrie told Mitch we focus too much on the material, the next fancy car or new TV and not on people. Our focus should be on people. This isn’t right what Mitch is doing.”

I smiled and thought, you’ve earned an A, and then said, “What do you want to do about it?”

“Let’s write him a letter,” he said.

And so we did. We wrote over one hundred letters, one from each of my students. Out of respect for Mitch and perhaps embarrassment of my own young, naivety, I won’t tell you what some of them said. But I sure smiled when I sealed them in an envelope and sent them to the radio station where Mitch held his talk show.

A week later or so, I got a phone call. “Is this Mr. Chianakas?”

I swallowed hard. “Um, yes.”

“Mr. Chianakas, this is Mitch Albom calling. I got your letters.” I fell out of my chair. I don’t think I have ever heard such anger in a person’s voice. He was furious.

A wonderfully awkward thirty minutes later, we understood one another. First of all, it makes sense that celebrities aren’t going to be able to take every request from every person in the world. In most cases, such events happen due to a big sponsor in the community, someone willing to pay the $30,000 (which Mitch told me would only have been $20,000 actually since we were a non-profit). This was also back in 2003. I often wonder what the fees are now.

Anyway, we came to a mutual understanding. Mitch used the profits from Tuesdays to help pay Morrie’s medical bills. Far from a greedy guy, if you follow him still like I do, he does A TON of charity work. He’s successful, plain and simple, and we should celebrate that success, not criticize it.

At the end of the call, Mitch said, “I don’t like the idea of your students walking away from this book with a negative experience. Can I write a letter back? Maybe even send a video so I can explain?”

This was my moment. “Well, sir, I . . . I think you ought to come and explain that in person. That’s really the best way to do it.”

Do you know what he told me?

There was a moment of silence. And then Mitch said, “Okay.”

I fell out of my chair. I had been doing a lot of that in 2003. We worked out the specifics. He didn't charge any fee. He flew in to the Peoria airport on a private jet. I picked him up in the morning. We got breakfast. He hung out with all of my classes. I overheard a phone call where he was talking with his editor about the latest revisions to The Five People You Meet in Heaven (of which he gave me an advanced copy). He even did an all-school assembly where he told every student at Metamora High Morrie’s story.

Below: Watch a clip from Mitch's assembly, where I got to introduce him.

It was perhaps the best teaching day of my life.

At the end, I walked up to Mitch, humbled. I handed him my copy of Tuesdays With Morrie. I wanted an autograph, too. This is what we wrote in it: “To Joe—persistence pays off! Thanks for being a big man, and a great teacher. You honor Morrie’s legacy.”

Below: Watch Mitch get the biggest laugh of the day out of my students by making fun of me. But it's okay. He said something fantastic right after. Thanks, Mitch.

I have the book still. I tell this story occasionally. I think of Mitch’s statement that “persistence pays off” every single day.

It’s that energy that I used throughout my career, at the high school and now as a professor at Illinois Central College. It’s that determination and passion I thought of every day while trying to get my first book published. The rejection letters hurt, but every time someone told me no, I would take a deep breath, get out my notebook, and strategize how to move forward.

Never give up on your dreams. Maybe they will take years. Maybe they will take a lifetime. Maybe you’ll find yourself on your deathbed looking back thinking, “I wish I had done that.” As long as you’ve tried and tried and not given up, there will be no regrets.

Persistence pays off.

Get a copy of Joe's first novel, Rabbit in Red, here. You can learn more about Joe and the book by visiting his website at www.joechianakas.com or following on Facebook at www.facebook.com/chianakas. 

The Best Horror Art

The first step you need to take to become a real artist is to stop “aspiring to be.” Whenever I come across a student, for example, who tells me that they are an aspiring writer, I ask, “Do you write?” If they say yes, then I tell them to drop the “aspiring.” You are, in fact, a writer.

I wrote the draft of my first horror novel, Rabbit in Red, on a crappy laptop with no inspiration but my imagination. I thought of the advice I gave students, and I decided, as I was revising the novel and seeking publishers, that I needed to treat myself like a real writer. I deserved the rewards I wanted.

I always imagined, if I were to be successful, that I’d have this great office complete with horror collectibles and art to inspire me. I simply decided that I wasn’t going to wait. I was going to treat myself to the kind of inspiration I always wanted, publishing contract or no. 

Some of Lee's horror art. This is what hangs in my office.

That’s when I discovered the amazingly talented artist, Lee Howard. Lee’s art covers one side of my office wall, and I will certainly add more. Lee’s art looked over me as I finalized my horror story and earned a publishing contract. Sometimes you need a little inspiration, and today I want to talk to you about Lee’s work. In short, it’s some of the best horror art I’ve seen. It’s affordable, fun, and sure to be a hit in your home or office. If you’re a horror fan like me, you’ll fall in love with his work immediately. But he does more than horror. He has all sorts of pop culture art!

Like me, Lee has been a horror fan since he was a child. I interviewed him for this article, and he told me that when he was ten years old, he saw A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2, and it was “love at first sight of blood.” Since then he’s consumed all things horror, and he’s had quite a few success stories! 

This past year, his art was featured in the monthly horror mystery subscription box Horror Block. 

Every subscriber received a gorgeous canvas of Pinhead, and it was such a huge success that the company (Nerd Block, which has several blocks: Horror Block and Arcade Block are two) acquired another original piece for the launch of their brand new block, the Sci-Fi Block! It’s a top-secret piece, too, as Howard wouldn’t tell me what it is (hey- it is a mystery box, after all!). 

I asked Lee what his favorite piece is, and he told me that he had a couple, but that they are usually paintings that represent “evolutionary leaps” in his art. I’ll post some of his favorites below!

Janet Leigh, Psycho, one of Lee's favorites

Keifer Sutherland from The Lost Boys, another favorite

Jack Nicholson's Joker

Lee Howard's Catwoman

Of all of his art, his bestsellers are the movie icon paintings, which have 15 in the series as of the time of this post. He also has popular mugs, on one of which he’s posted a comic-book style art of six horror icons with blood splattered on the handle that is constantly selling out. (I know what I need to take to work now for my morning coffee!)

I have to get this mug!

Lee has quite a following for his Quiet Room Bears collection, too. This idea started with a Halloween party his family hosted. It was a Rosemary’s Baby themed party, and there was a contest where each guest had to bring the demonic baby a gift. Lee thought that every Satan child deserves the most hideous of teddy bears, and they were a huge hit! He sold a few on eBay, and they gained popularity quite quickly. The name is derived from the quiet room in A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 3, another of Lee’s favorite films. Now the bears all have session numbers (instead of names) that connects to the quiet room institution.

Lee told me, “the inmates have their 'sessions' inside the Quiet Room and are placed inside there with teddy bears, knives, string and things like that, and at the request of the room itself, they literally put pieces of themselves, as well as their madness, into each Bear. When the bears get to into the world, people seek them out, not knowing why, and when they get one, it slowly drives them mad, turning their lives into a nightmare.” I’m not creeped at all. Really. (What was that noise?)

What also jumped out to me about Lee was that he uses his art for good (see advice for artists below). Most recently, he’s donated art to a Kickstarter campaign for a documentary. The documentary is titled Scream Queen, My Nightmare on Elm Street. Lee’s friend Mark Patton, who played Jesse in Nightmare 2, is making the documentary. It’s Mark’s story about building an acting career in Hollywood in the 80s as a gay man. It also explores the deeper subculture of gay Hollywood in the 80s and how the backlash of the film affected Mark's life. Lee is making cover art for the film, and he also donated a cool piece with Freddy’s glove holding up a bloody tiara. The film is looking for donations, and even $5 helps. Check out the Kickstarter campaign and learn more about that documentary here. 

Some other fun facts about Lee:

Favorite horror films: The first three A Nightmare on Elm Street movies, The Shining, Universal monster movies, Pontypool, The Exorcist, Session 9

Advice for other artists: “Never stop creating!” Lee advises artists to post their work constantly on social media for exposure, and to know that success is extremely hard. But Lee makes art on the good days and the bad. He never stops creating. Perhaps one of my favorite things he said to me: “Art has literally saved my life a couple times, so it's incredibly important and powerful, so make sure and use it for the forces of good haha.”

Animals: Lee has a cat named Bruce Wayne.

First job: Taco Bell

Secret Identity: He told me he’s actually Batman. 

Visit Lee’s store here! Lee has a new painting series releasing soon as well as a monthly release of his Quiet Room Bears, so don't miss out.

Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, too!

From this author to all of you: whether you’re a horror or pop culture fan or an “aspiring” artist, it’s okay to reward yourself! Go get some of Lee’s art. Get your friends’ children a nice Quiet Room Bear for their birthdays. I think that would be sweet.

Learn more about Joe Chianakas and his book, Rabbit in Red, here. You can also follow him on Facebook.

Enter the Rabbit

"Can you face horror’s greatest monsters? Will your fears ever be conquered?"

I dare you to listen to this incredible new song called “Enter the Rabbit” by Terribly Happy and NOT catch yourself singing those lyrics later. 

Terribly Happy is a pop punk band out of central Illinois. They have an electrifying and contagious energy that fires up the increasingly larger crowds at each of their performances. I previously wrote an article about the band and each of their members, Kyle, James, and Logan, and if you haven’t checked that out, you can read that here. 

This weekend, Terribly Happy released a brand new single, and it’s my new favorite song. Naturally, I’m a bit biased (it’s based on my book Rabbit in Red), but if you give it a listen, you’ll fall in love with the unique sounds. The song embraces passion as well as horror, and you can actually hear the changes in vocal and instrumental styles as it shifts from fun to fear.

The intense vocals of Kyle and James complement one another, no doubt one of the many things that makes Terribly Happy such a great band. After the first time you hear James sing the chorus, Kyle jumps in and sings, “an axe awaits to break the chains . . .” You immediately here a shift from the adrenalizing, “I want to rock!” kind of song to something more haunting. It pulls you in, making you wonder what the song is about, and you feel the emotion in Kyle’s vocals. Then it shifts again, much like you’re walking through a haunted house. One moment, you’re looking around, wondering when something is going to pop out at you. Then it does, and you scream!

Speaking of screaming, if the way Kyle sings “stab you in the back with a metaphorical dagger” doesn’t send chills down your spine, then I’m not sure you’re human.

As you listen, you feel that back and forth, the pull into a dark, paralyzing nightmare, and then a push into an adrenaline-pumping sprint (run away from those monsters!).

And let us not forget the remarkable Logan and his passionate drumming. Those beats, from the moment the song begins to play to the exhilarating, heart-pounding ending where Kyle and James’ vocals coalesce in an ultimate musical climax, perfectly capture the energy and talent that is Terribly Happy.

At the very end, the listener is left with just a few electric notes from the guitar. The ride through your greatest fears and nightmares has ended, and you’re left with your own thoughts as you try to recover from an emotionally stirring journey.

The lyrics are inspired by the novel Rabbit in Red. I hope you’ll check out the book, as the energy of the song perfectly captures the story of Rabbit in Red.

Give Terribly Happy a like on Facebook. Share this incredible creation with your friends.

Listen to full song here. Congratulations, James, Kyle, and Logan, on a beautiful, unique, and absolutely artistic creation!

Below are the complete lyrics.

“Enter the Rabbit”

Can you face horror’s greatest monsters?

Will your fears ever be conquered?

That monster in your closet makes you shiver

It’s not as scary as the one in the mirror

An axe awaits to break the chains

It opens a world of twisted games

Evil saunters without and within

Not even heroes live without sin

Enter the Rabbit, the rabbit in red

It’s a celebration with a splat of dread

Passion turns to panic, fun turns to fear

The rabbit cheers, the horror will never disappear!

Can you face horror’s greatest monsters?

Will your fears ever be conquered?

That monster in your closet will make you shiver

But it’s not as scary as the one in the mirror

Have you been haunted, haunted by the past?

A lasting image sealed in a mental cast?

Our nightmares open a dangerous portal

It’s a reminder that we are all mortal

The bruises of childhood, they linger on

Far after the black and blue are gone

Locker room jokes and mean girl swagger

Stab you in the back with a metaphorical dagger

Can you face horror’s greatest monsters?

Will your fears ever be conquered?

That monster in your closet makes you shiver

But it’s not as scary as the one in the mirror

A buzzing of bees on a summer afternoon

Trigger a memory, a loved one gone too soon

The rope curled like a snake hides a secret

It will tear you apart into a thousand fucking pieces

There are memories that always seem to haunt

They are buried deep, buried but not forgot

Can you face horror’s greatest monsters?

Will your fears ever be conquered?

That monster in your closet makes you shiver

But it’s not as scary as the one in the mirror

Enter the Rabbit, the rabbit in red

It’s a celebration, a celebration of dread

Passion turns to panic, fun turns to fear

And the rabbit cheers that the horror will never disappear!

Lyrics by Joe Chianakas
Music by Terribly Happy
Produced by William Swearinger

Listen to the song while you read Rabbit in Red. Get the book here and the song here.

Be sure to follow the author on Facebook, too.

Happy Early Release, Rabbit in Red!

Rabbit in Red’s official release day is Tuesday September 29, but guess what? The Amazon and Smashwords links have been made available early! Please grab a copy while the book is on sale for 99 cents (and don’t forget to go back and leave a review!).

My friends, family, colleagues, followers here: You’ve all been incredibly supportive! Let me tell you all about how to get the book now and a final “what’s this book about” post from me. I’d sure appreciate if you want to share this with your friends and family, too.

What’s the book about?

Bill Wise has blood in his past, so he turns to horror films to wipe it clean. Jaime Stein has felt the betrayal of death, so she too takes refuge in the on-screen deaths of others. Now Bill, Jaime, and seventeen other horror-loving teens have gathered at Rabbit in Red Studios, the brainchild of eccentric horror producer Jay “JB” Bell, for the terror-filled, blood-drenched contest of their lives.  

JB has presented this competition as a race between the best of the best that will reward the winners with cash, internships, and a career making the movies they love. But things aren’t always as they seem at Rabbit in Red, and soon life starts to imitate art. Will Bill and Jaime be strong enough to confront real horror to save their friends, or will they all fall victim to JB’s twisted plans?

I prefer print. When is that coming out?

I love the feel of print, too. Honestly though, what I ask of my best supporters is to buy the e-book first. It’s only 99 cents if you get it during our release celebration! Why? For new authors like me, it’s the sales of e-books that get noticed, not the sale of my print. So if you want to help me climb those charts and get my name out there, get the e-book, please. Then come get a nice collector’s edition of the print book at a couple of special parties in central Illinois. Out-of-towners will be able to order print online next month, too.

Why did you write this book?

I love horror. I was most inspired by Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One, which is not a horror story by the way. But Cline took pop culture and made a story out of it. When I first read that book, I wanted to do the same, but with horror. I used to eat, sleep, and breathe nothing but Stephen King. So I got the idea of making an adventure of the stories I love.

But it’s A LOT more than that. This book started out as pure fun. It’s the adventure I, as the self-proclaimed #1 horror fan in the world, would love to do! But this is my art, too. I wanted meaning behind it. I wanted to explore fear, loss, love, death, coming-of-age, and more from my own perspectives and experiences. That’s all there. I hope you love it.

I do love it. What can I do?

Reviews will make or break authors. PLEASE leave a review on Amazon (even if you read it elsewhere). Consider posting that review on all of the other sites where the book is available.

Share this blog, the book, and whatever else you’d like with friends and family. We live in a world where today, I would argue, most people observe and don’t comment/share. You might think that’s crazy, but someone is reading this (and possibly enjoying it) with absolutely no intention of sharing or commenting. It’s just not what some do. But I’m asking you to change that, and help us spread the word. Share, comment, and tell the world about it, if you love it!

Okay, where do I buy it again?

Go here to get it on Amazon.

Go here to get it on Smashwords.

As more sites and places become available, I’ll update this section.

How do I follow you for the latest Rabbit in Red updates?

Please do follow me. Who knows? Maybe this will be a movie someday! Or maybe—even for just one day—I’ll hit number one on a bestseller’s chart. And of course you know that this is only book one, with at least two more Rabbit in Red books coming out! To get all that info and more, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and/or Tumblr, whatever you prefer.

You can also stay up-to-date by visiting my official webpage at www.joechianakas.com.

Now, get to reading, and enjoy!!!

Download Your Free E-Reader & Prepare to Follow the Rabbit

One question several people have asked me is “how do I read an e-book without an e-reader?”

UPDATE: THE BOOK IS AVAILABLE NOW. GET IT HERE!

You can download the Amazon Kindle App for your smartphone, PC, tablet, and mac, and it’s completely FREE. Basically, if you can read this blog, you can download the free Kindle app on the same device in which you are reading this post! Go here to learn more.

Of course, you can do the same for the Nook if you’re more team Barnes and Noble.

Rabbit in Red releases in TWO WEEKS. It will be available via e-book first, so if you want to prepare for that release and you don’t have an e-reader, download the free Kindle or Nook app today so you’re ready! Distinguished Press also makes the book available on other sites like Smashwords, too, so you’ll have plenty of options come release day on Tuesday September 29. 

Don’t forget there will be a print book party on October 17 at 4:00 p.m. at I Know You Like a Book in Peoria Heights, IL! You’ll be able to get a signed copy of the book then, and there will also be an optional costume contest and live music from Terribly Happy, who have a song for the book called “Enter the Rabbit.” You’ll get to hear it live that day! I have a growing list of dozens of events planned in Central IL this fall, and you can check out all of those events here. 

To celebrate the release of Rabbit in Red, Distinguished Press makes the e-book available for only $0.99! I hope that everyone will get online Tuesday September 29 and get a copy of the e-book. While I’m still a traditional reader (I love the feel and smell of books), your online purchases and online reviews will build a foundation for the book’s success! Oh yeah-- don't forget to leave a review after you read it! Reviews are so important, especially for new authors! 

So please—get ready by downloading the free app, and get ready to follow the rabbit!

If you want to further support the release day of Rabbit in Red, I hope you’ll join my Thunderclap. Thunderclap is a platform that sends a mass message via social media at the same time. At the time of this post, I have 115 people who have committed to helping announce Rabbit in Red on its release day. Will you add to that number? The more who commit, the further our reach! Go here and click support!

This week you’ll get to see the first official trailer for Rabbit in Red. It’s amazing! You should also join my publisher's September new release party on Facebook to further celebrate Rabbit in Red. Go here! 

If you're just learning about Rabbit in Red and wondering what it's all about, check out the newly revised back-of-the-book blurb below. Doesn't it sound great? And no, of course I'm not biased! :)

Bill Wise has blood in his past, so he turns to horror films to wipe it clean. Jaime Stein has felt the betrayal of death, so she too takes refuge in the on-screen deaths of others. Now Bill, Jaime, and seventeen other horror-loving teens have gathered at Rabbit in Red Studios, the brainchild of eccentric horror producer Jay “JB” Bell, for the terror-filled, blood-drenched contest of their lives.

JB has presented this competition as a race between the best of the best that will reward the winners with cash, internships, and a career making the movies they love. But things aren’t always as they seem at Rabbit in Red, and soon life starts to imitate art. Will Bill and Jaime be strong enough to confront real horror to save their friends, or will they all fall victim to JB’s twisted plans?

Thanks for your support and enthusiasm!