A few years ago, when my novel Lightfall was about to street (we cool kids use "street" as a verb), my publisher advised me to cultivate a web presence, starting with this site. Suddenly I morphed from Christian Carvajal to ChristianCarvajal.com, and I've had mixed feelings about that ever since. My publisher wanted me on Twitter, so there I am, @carvwriter. I went out and pressed the flesh and splattered comments about Lightfall all over my Facebook account and made a public nuisance of myself; but unfortunately, it turns out that's a vast, inescapable component of being a professional writer. I don't like being a name brand, but I sure can't afford to not be one.
So hey, may I take this opportunity yet again to invite you to download, read, and review my new ebook, Rereading the Bible, by using that convenient link in the menu to your right? I like the book, and I think it compiles and crystallizes many of my thoughts on the Bible effectively, but I didn't self-publish it merely to release another book. My larger goal is to remind you that I'm an author.
A month or so after Lightfall was released, it was already clear it wasn't on its way to the New York Times bestseller list, but it was successful (and lucrative!) in ways I didn't expect. Being an author gave me the credentials needed to land that job at Cengage. It aimed me straight at the Weekly Volcano, if only by boosting my self-confidence enough to apply there. Heck, I even found myself delivering motivational speeches, which is bananas. I've been a professional writer--meaning paid, in money--for two and a half years now. Not too shabby. It's one of a handful of careers I always wanted.
Look, I'll be honest, I'm not gonna earn squat from Rereading the Bible. I'm selling it for cheaper than McDonald's sells an order of fries. Why? Because the goal isn't to make money on book sales, it's to launch a new enterprise I call Carv's ThinkyWorks. If I can write a novel or an agnostic Bible commentary, it's a safe bet I can write about your company. If I can write, record, and edit an amusing vlog before lunch, maybe I'd be a good fit for your corporate video project. Maybe you need a public speaker, or a technical writer, or a teacher. I've been all those things...and I'm good at them.
No one likes a braggart; but then again, isn't bragging the whole point of a resume? My name is Christian Carvajal (TM), and I run Carv's ThinkyWorks. I'm the brain, hands, and heart behind this site and everything on it. That's my brag for the day. I feel grody publicizing myself and my writing, but I vastly prefer it to false modesty from me or anyone else. As my old-school text resume says, I tell great stories. That's my purpose, my identity, and my brand. You should put me to work.
Or at least read my book.