Authors Speak Out - Donald Allen Kirch

Censored? What the ***k!

Most authors will tell you, that nothing is more exciting than the release of a new novel. There’s that moment, when you wonder how well the rest of the world will receive your work, but, in general excitement is in the air. One can almost associate a writer with a parent, wondering about their child at such a time. Almost…

I love to write. I am a night owl, and so single I make oysters look like party animals, so, I have a lot of time to disappear into the wonderful world of fiction. Writing is the center of my universe.

At the beginning of July, I had been informed that my new novella, entitled “Reich,” would be available on the 10th. Hot damn! I knew it would be coming out, but had no idea that it would be so soon.

I set up an aggressive ad campaign, paid for advertising, and turned to an old and trusted friend. One that all “non-Stephen King” writers turn to as a reliable, free, and open way of expressing themselves - facebook.

Don’t get me wrong. In the writing and telling of this tale, let me say, for the record: I love facebook! I like the way it provides a connection for both friends and family. I could live without the individuals, who keep asking me if I want to play “Sonic Bingo” or some other stupid game, but, hey, you take the good with the bad.

Moving onward!

On, or about June 30th, I started a rigorous advertisement on facebook. Created a page for my novel - the first time I had ever tried such a thing - and started to let the world know about “Reich.”

Things went well. The “likes” were starting to pile up!

On July 3rd, I had over seventy seven “likes,” and of those, over seventy two people connected were talking about my book. All signs pointed towards a wonderful debut…just seven days away.

Then, there was the morning of the 5th of July.

I had to “sign in” into my account.

Hmmmm?

As I signed in, quite sure that my computer had all the info in the first place, I discovered that some “Censor Nazi” had banned me from facebook for “spreading hate messages.” WTF!?

As shocked as I was, my anger became more fluid. No matter how I tried to contact facebook, there was NOTHING I could do.

“Reich” was banned! I had NO CHOICE. There wasn’t even a way I could voice my own opinion, nor contest the action. For three working days, I could not post, comment, or like anything. I watched interest in my book drop from seventy two people talking about it, to barely fourteen. I would never again get that momentum back!

Sour grapes you say?

Perhaps…I’m adult enough to admit that.

Still, I felt as if an old friend had betrayed me.

I understand facebook’s caution. After all, there is such a danger in the world of Vampire Nazis taking over. One reads about it every day.

Come on!

“Reich” is a horror novel.

It takes place during the Second World War - granted, the main monster, or vampire, is Adolf Hitler, but (Spoilers) he DIES in the end. The pictures I showed on my page were not horrific pics of the Holocaust, or other such things. They were simply pictures of u-boats, the bombed out map room where an assassination attempt had been tried on Hitler, a pic of Hitler at a podium with a huge Nazi Eagle behind him - nothing more. It was an attempt to lure people into the FICTIONAL world I had created around historical fact.

“I was promoting hate…”

I was beyond angry.

Then, as reality set in, I came to the conclusion that this was a good thing. As a poor writer, living off of popcorn and noodles, mostly…who could ask for a better press release?

Reich

By

DONALD ALLEN KIRCH

“So horrifying he was banned on Facebook!”

Never in my life, did I ever think that I would be “censored” for my works, or for the effects they have on others. I write horror, science fiction, fantasy, and sometimes historical. These venues of expression can get away with most sociological questions concerning our society. The classic TV series “Star Trek” comes to mind. In the height of the 1960′s questions on race, Kirk got a chance to not only transfer his consciousness into a body of a female, but kiss a black woman. This would never have been allowed on any other program. But THEY DID IT!

Censorship is an ironic thing to me.

When our “intrepid” politicians try to express an inkling of giving a “damn,” they always shout out that “America is a FREE society.” If so, WHY censorship? Cannot freedom challenge ANY opinion?

This is deeper than one unknown writer bitching about being denied access on facebook to promote a horror novel.

Whenever we are forced to stop, be silent, or find ourselves helpless in our actions, someone else wins “the game.”

Censorship allows those in control to fill the gap with their own thoughts or actions. Sometimes, silence, is their preferred medium. One misses nothing, when in fact, there is NOTHING to miss.

Never give up!

When someone, a corporation, or governmental entity tries to stop you from expressing yourself…YELL LOUDER! One unpleasant truth is just as prevalent today as it was in Adolf Hitler’s day: If you do not speak up for yourself, or think what you have the right to think, OTHERS will do the speaking and the thinking for you.

It is not logical, but it is often the truth.

THE BEGINNING!

Don is giving away five ebooks to some lucky readers today. He’ll be choosing randomly from the people who comment below.
Author Bio:
DONALD ALLEN KIRCH lives in Kansas City, Missouri. He is an avid reader of history, Sherlock Holmes Mysteries, and the paranormal. He has a degree in Radio and Television Arts, and is listed in “Who’s Who in America.” After spending two weekends in the famous “Sallie House,” a “haunted house” featured on the Fox TV-series Sightings, in Atchison, Kansas, he is one of the only authors of his genre who can claim to have been attacked by a ghost!

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