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FEATURE
Make More Money with Information Products
Once you build an audience for your book(s), you have an opportunity to make even more money. Your fans will be eager to purchase your future books and will also be interested in other types of products.
Information products such as e-books, special reports, and teleseminars can be a fantastic source of revenue for authors. These products are most successful when they teach the buyer how to do something.
Following are some examples:
The author of a guide to fishing could also sell:
* A special report on the best fishing destinations in a specific state.
* A booklet about how to tie flies.
* An e-book with recipes for cooking fish.
The author of a children's book could also sell:
* An audio book version of the book.
* A companion workbook with fun activities for kids.
* An instructional report on how to help kids enjoy reading.
The author of a detective novel could also sell:
* A special report with alternate endings to the book.
* An e-book with short true crime stories.
* An instructional guide on how to write a detective novel.
The author of a business marketing book could also sell:
* An e-book with real-world marketing case studies.
* A workbook that helps readers develop a marketng plan.
* An instructional teleseminar that teaches listeners new marketing strategies.
from The Author's Guide to Building an Online Platform (Quill Drive Books 2008) by Stephanie Chandler
SUCCESS STORIES
We love to hear of your success stories, submit them to us at: allbookreviews@aol.com
Remember to post your book signing, guest speaker events on our Bookstore page. Simply send us an email with details of your events and we will be happy to post them. Just part of the Allbooks service to our authors.
Hi:
Just wanted to share the news that my book has been nominated for an award in the Romance Category. Take a look, http://readerviews.com/Awards2009Finalists.html. Winners will be announced next month. :)
Christyna Hunter
Author, Wildfire &
The Butterfly's Dance
My New Book Unintelligent Humans will be released officially in July of this year. Check out detailed info at my website.www.UnintelligentHumans.com In addition, my last book Eastern Wisdom for Your Soul has recently been sold for translating to an E-Book publisher in Italy.
Richard Singer, Author, Eastern Wisdom for your Soul, Unintelligent Humans
TIP
Allbooks Review wishes to thank all of the authors that purchased our promo package in 2009, making this our best year ever. We have grown over the past 10 years and will continue to provide excellent service for reasonable fees. Our goal is to make your book sell !
Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:
Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)
My name is Laura Sepesi, and I’m from Bridgewater, NJ.
Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
The title of my book is The Guardian of Kelmar. My publisher is Infinity Publishing.
Tell us about yourself:
I’m twenty-two years old, and I’ve loved to write since I was a child. When I was in high school, I thought of the idea for The Guardian of Kelmar and the greater Kelmar Trilogy. I started writing Guardian the summer I graduated. I completed and published The Guardian of Kelmar when I was twenty-one, and achieved my dream of becoming an author.
When was the book released?
August of 2009.
Give us an overview of your book.
The Guardian of Kelmar is a young adult fantasy novel targeted for children and teens between the ages of 10 and 17. The book tells the story of Carmen Fox, a shy fifteen-year-old girl who journeys to a magical world called Kelmar, and realizes her destiny to restore peace to the war torn realm. Carmen trains to develop her magical gifts and battles Dark sorcerers in an effort to take back the land. Along the way, Carmen meets mystical creatures that aid her in discovering and mastering her magical powers.
What inspired you to write this book?
The initial inspiration for The Guardian of Kelmar came from a vivid dream that I had when I was thirteen. In that dream, I saw my first glimpse of Kelmar, and I met one of the main characters. Later on when I was in high school, I imagined the other central characters, who all began as pencil sketches. From there, I built a story around those characters and that original dream. I just wanted to write a story that I would love to read, and that I hoped other people would enjoy as well.
How is your book different from other books in this genre?
My book has many unique elements to it, and transports the reader to a magical place that they’ve never ventured before. It is an original story, filled with imaginative characters and adventures that make for an exciting and enjoyable read. The world, the beings that live there, and the magic that they use are all distinct to this story.
Where can people buy your book?
Signed and unsigned copies of my book can be ordered through my website, www.laurasepesi.com. They can also be ordered through my publisher’s website, www.buybooksontheweb.com, as well as through Amazon.com and any major bookstore.
Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
I am currently working on Book 2 of the Kelmar Trilogy, and I expect it to be published sometime in 2010.
If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?
Go the extra mile to make your book as amazing as it can be. Invest the time and energy into writing and editing your book to perfection, and then go out and market it to the best of your ability. Develop a plan to promote your work, and always follow through.
Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?
I’ve been able to secure many book signings throughout my area, and I have had success at most all of them. I attribute this achievement to creating a solid website, getting local press coverage, and following up with bookstores. It’s a lot of work to market a book, especially at the beginning, but it’s crucial to getting your book out into the public.
How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
I found Allbooks Reviews listed in a book marketing publication, and I hope to achieve positive publicity from the review and hopefully get some new readers.
Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
It was a surprise, and I am very happy with the excellent promotion Allbooks provided me. I feel that what Allbooks offers right now is more than sufficient, and as a writer, I was very happy with their prompt and dedicated service.
Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
The Tethered Goat
Genre: Espionage Thriller
Author: Nicholas Winer
The words “political thriller” and “aid workers” are not usually found in the same sentence, and moreover they do not tend to raise the sense of bestseller joy that so many publishers and agents crave. That does not mean, however, that those in the business are correct for their way of thinking.
The Tethered Goat is a perfect example of a “write what you know” novel. Nicholas Winer’s time spent as an aid worker comes across in the details of the culture, politics and landscapes of Africa in the late 1980s in a way that only someone who has seen it and lived it can achieve.
The story begins in 1988, finding the main character, Mark Delama travelling to Gambela. Mark is the local director of an aid agency, and his business in Gambela concerns his belief that something is amiss with the food packages being delivered to the rebel army instead of to the refugees it is meant for. This journey leads Mark into the centre of trouble involving corrupted world powers, secrets, lies, murder and torture which endanger both him and his girlfriend.
The story moves along at a fair pace, with Mark being drawn into dealings he knows nothing about but what he is determined to see through. The political intrigue and espionage laden storyline is gripping and certainly detailed enough to hold the attention. What could have been another run of the mill political thriller is enhanced by the depth of insight offered by the author from his personal experience in Africa.
The book offers an aside in the great length it goes to in order to detail the plight of Africa in the late 1980s, ravaged by wars and famines and hindered in its repair by the powers supposed to be in control of the country.
There are a small number of issues with the book, the main one being that although detail does give the book one of its greatest strengths it also leads to one of its weaknesses. Sometimes the same kind of information is brought around again, told in a slightly different way but inevitably it is still the same information. There are also a small number of sections that I had to reread to fully understand, which can hinder the pace of the novel when it is required to return to the same section a few times. Perhaps a little further editing of the text could solve this, which can be one of the benefits of having a large publisher rather than self-publishing. That said, the additional detail does not pad down the story enough to hinder the pace too much and is more a small nit than anything else.
Despite the small niggles, The Tethered Goat is a high class thriller that can stand up along side others in the genre and beat some of the complacent masters of the craft who need nothing more than their name to have their books published. A novel like The Tethered Goat does not have that luxury and has to work to achieve its audience through word of mouth and a lot of luck. I would happily recommend the book for any lover of espionage thrillers, and encourage them to pass on the word to anyone else they believe would enjoy it.
Highly recommended by Anthony Lund, Allbooks Review www.allbookreviews.com
Title – The Tethered Goat
Author – Nicholas Winer
Publisher – YouWriteOn.com
ISBN : 978-1-84923-126-8
Jan. 2010
Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:
Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)
Nicholas Winer, I live in a conservation area in south west Spain.
Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
The Tethered Goat published by YouWriteOn
Tell us about yourself:
I lived for 20 years in Africa as an aid worker and since retiring from full time work there I have been doing some short term advisory work back in Africa as well as in South America for aid agencies. I also run a small rural tourism business in the beautiful village where I live with my wife, a few horses, some chickens and a dog.
When was the book released?
The book was released in December 2008
Give us an overview of your book.
It’s a story of espionage and romance in the dark days of Mengistu’s terrifying dictatorship of Ethiopia - during the famous famine of the 1980s. As the last playground of the Cold War, the Horn of Africa was then a heady mix of idealism, war and political terror….much as it is today. Mark, a young aid worker in the tragic famine that decimated Ethiopia, is caught between his idealism, the ruthless oppression of Mengistu’s Stalinesque regime and the cynical games being played by the British and American Embassies. After being briefly arrested by a fat chameleon of a policeman he and his girlfriend Val begin to unearth the sordid tale of a young south Sudanese fighter, arrested and tortured by Ethiopian security officials with the connivance of an insider in the UN. As they explore the murky world of diplomatic intrigue in a war zone Mark finds out too late he’s a pawn in a plot to guarantee the West’s access to Sudan’s oil and the unwitting ally of an unscrupulous Ethiopian dissident.
What inspired you to write this book?
I wanted to say something about those days and about the lives of other people; the people in between Bob Geldof and the starving. So much was written and filmed about the two extremes that little understanding of the life in the middle of the drama managed to get out. The result was the impression of a country that was nothing but starvation, war and celebrity compassion. It’s a typical media sin: the stereotyping of disaster and war.
How is your book different from other books in this genre?
I think its setting and the two protagonists; one an aid worker and one an African policeman looking for a way out of hell do mark it as a new and original story.
Where can people buy your book?
The book is available on Amazon, Waterstones and Barnes and Noble or more easily through my website www.thethetheredgoat.com where more background is available and direct links to the book can be found.
Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
I’m working on a novel about immigration. It’s about a Palestinian girl washed ashore in Spain….. and I’ve no idea when it might be published!
If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?
I was self published in that YouWriteOn offered to publish a limited number of authors for free in 2008. I took them up on the offer, having had my submission accepted. The lack of the editorial support that an agent should give and the publicity that a main stream publisher can provide are real drawbacks for people such as myself who are not writing in instant ‘hit’ categories. If you can get an agent I think its well worth the blood, sweat and tears.
If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:
I wish I had been.
Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?
Still looking for that elusive deal.
How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
I found you on the internet and I’m hoping that your site generates increased interest in my book. What I most want from this is an agent willing to work with me. Let’s see what comes up.
Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
It’s a great value service and I appreciate that enormously. Would be great if books your reviewers liked could be passed to agents who might be looking for new authors.
Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.
Thank you too for this opportunity
Author: Nicholas Winer
The words “political thriller” and “aid workers” are not usually found in the same sentence, and moreover they do not tend to raise the sense of bestseller joy that so many publishers and agents crave. That does not mean, however, that those in the business are correct for their way of thinking.
The Tethered Goat is a perfect example of a “write what you know” novel. Nicholas Winer’s time spent as an aid worker comes across in the details of the culture, politics and landscapes of Africa in the late 1980s in a way that only someone who has seen it and lived it can achieve.
The story begins in 1988, finding the main character, Mark Delama travelling to Gambela. Mark is the local director of an aid agency, and his business in Gambela concerns his belief that something is amiss with the food packages being delivered to the rebel army instead of to the refugees it is meant for. This journey leads Mark into the centre of trouble involving corrupted world powers, secrets, lies, murder and torture which endanger both him and his girlfriend.
The story moves along at a fair pace, with Mark being drawn into dealings he knows nothing about but what he is determined to see through. The political intrigue and espionage laden storyline is gripping and certainly detailed enough to hold the attention. What could have been another run of the mill political thriller is enhanced by the depth of insight offered by the author from his personal experience in Africa.
The book offers an aside in the great length it goes to in order to detail the plight of Africa in the late 1980s, ravaged by wars and famines and hindered in its repair by the powers supposed to be in control of the country.
There are a small number of issues with the book, the main one being that although detail does give the book one of its greatest strengths it also leads to one of its weaknesses. Sometimes the same kind of information is brought around again, told in a slightly different way but inevitably it is still the same information. There are also a small number of sections that I had to reread to fully understand, which can hinder the pace of the novel when it is required to return to the same section a few times. Perhaps a little further editing of the text could solve this, which can be one of the benefits of having a large publisher rather than self-publishing. That said, the additional detail does not pad down the story enough to hinder the pace too much and is more a small nit than anything else.
Despite the small niggles, The Tethered Goat is a high class thriller that can stand up along side others in the genre and beat some of the complacent masters of the craft who need nothing more than their name to have their books published. A novel like The Tethered Goat does not have that luxury and has to work to achieve its audience through word of mouth and a lot of luck. I would happily recommend the book for any lover of espionage thrillers, and encourage them to pass on the word to anyone else they believe would enjoy it.
Highly recommended by Anthony Lund, Allbooks Review www.allbookreviews.com
Title – The Tethered Goat
Author – Nicholas Winer
Publisher – YouWriteOn.com
ISBN : 978-1-84923-126-8
Jan. 2010
Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:
Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)
Nicholas Winer, I live in a conservation area in south west Spain.
Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
The Tethered Goat published by YouWriteOn
Tell us about yourself:
I lived for 20 years in Africa as an aid worker and since retiring from full time work there I have been doing some short term advisory work back in Africa as well as in South America for aid agencies. I also run a small rural tourism business in the beautiful village where I live with my wife, a few horses, some chickens and a dog.
When was the book released?
The book was released in December 2008
Give us an overview of your book.
It’s a story of espionage and romance in the dark days of Mengistu’s terrifying dictatorship of Ethiopia - during the famous famine of the 1980s. As the last playground of the Cold War, the Horn of Africa was then a heady mix of idealism, war and political terror….much as it is today. Mark, a young aid worker in the tragic famine that decimated Ethiopia, is caught between his idealism, the ruthless oppression of Mengistu’s Stalinesque regime and the cynical games being played by the British and American Embassies. After being briefly arrested by a fat chameleon of a policeman he and his girlfriend Val begin to unearth the sordid tale of a young south Sudanese fighter, arrested and tortured by Ethiopian security officials with the connivance of an insider in the UN. As they explore the murky world of diplomatic intrigue in a war zone Mark finds out too late he’s a pawn in a plot to guarantee the West’s access to Sudan’s oil and the unwitting ally of an unscrupulous Ethiopian dissident.
What inspired you to write this book?
I wanted to say something about those days and about the lives of other people; the people in between Bob Geldof and the starving. So much was written and filmed about the two extremes that little understanding of the life in the middle of the drama managed to get out. The result was the impression of a country that was nothing but starvation, war and celebrity compassion. It’s a typical media sin: the stereotyping of disaster and war.
How is your book different from other books in this genre?
I think its setting and the two protagonists; one an aid worker and one an African policeman looking for a way out of hell do mark it as a new and original story.
Where can people buy your book?
The book is available on Amazon, Waterstones and Barnes and Noble or more easily through my website www.thethetheredgoat.com where more background is available and direct links to the book can be found.
Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
I’m working on a novel about immigration. It’s about a Palestinian girl washed ashore in Spain….. and I’ve no idea when it might be published!
If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?
I was self published in that YouWriteOn offered to publish a limited number of authors for free in 2008. I took them up on the offer, having had my submission accepted. The lack of the editorial support that an agent should give and the publicity that a main stream publisher can provide are real drawbacks for people such as myself who are not writing in instant ‘hit’ categories. If you can get an agent I think its well worth the blood, sweat and tears.
If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:
I wish I had been.
Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?
Still looking for that elusive deal.
How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
I found you on the internet and I’m hoping that your site generates increased interest in my book. What I most want from this is an agent willing to work with me. Let’s see what comes up.
Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
It’s a great value service and I appreciate that enormously. Would be great if books your reviewers liked could be passed to agents who might be looking for new authors.
Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.
Thank you too for this opportunity
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Nothing Lasts Forever
Genre: Fiction / ebook
Author: Vaughn Tunstall
Nothing Lasts Forever (Secrets and Seduction) written by Vaughn Tunstall, as an homage to daytime television, is a story that could have been lifted straight from an episode of The Bold and The Beautiful. Set in the fictional world of Everlasting Falls, where sparkling white mansions stand elegantly against the horizon and every other car is a Lamborghini, the lives of three wealthy educated families intertwine.
The Forresters, Jack and Casey, is a marriage on the brink. One more push is all it may take to send it over the edge.
Enter the Woodshires, David and Linda and their children: Dorothy, Tyree, Mychal and Denise. Dashing David, a man handsome enough to turn any woman’s head; can Casey possibly resist him? If she does not want to engender the wrath of Linda, a woman whose nerves are stretched tight due to her long years of struggling to hide a secret that has left her deeply embittered, she had better do so. The cracks in Linda’s life widen as on the one side she fights to keep her marriage together and on the other side she battles with her children, who have their own issues to deal with: boyfriend problems, raging hormones, a need for support and a desire for acceptance.
Then into this roiling pot of strained emotions come the Lopez family. The father, Jack, has a secret too, a secret and a desire for vengeance. He will destroy the man he sees as responsible for the ruination of his life and beware to any that think to get in his way. Of his children: Serena, Teresa and Timmy, only Serena realises her father’s mad schemes. If she can stop him she will but how is she to do so? She knows he is in the wrong but he is her father and how can she keep from loving him? Teresa and Timmy are protected from their father’s machinations by the ignorance of youth and the fact that for them their lives centre on school and not much else. Teresa steps lightly under a fog of shyness, casting glances at a boy who only has eyes for his pretty math teacher and Timmy becomes the unwilling target of vicious bullying goths.
Around the Forresters, the Woodshires and the Lopez family a host of secondary characters move. Like moons around planets their pull is felt. Passions run rampant but with each character so focused on his or her troubles will anyone notice the dangers surrounding them before it is too late?
As a story this piece of work contains everything that you would expect to find in a book written as homage to daytime television. There are beautiful women, handsome men, troubles and tragedies, evil schemes underway, sex, violence and murder. This book makes use of contemporary issues: bullying, drug use, prostitution, relationships between teachers and students, a modern-day disease and the obsession with women’s weight. It takes some tried and tested familiar themes and adds them to the mix: adultery, greed, jealousy, the age-old struggle of trying to keep marriages and families together. This book has everything in it that should have made it a thrilling and entertaining read but I was left cold and at times shuddering in distaste and at other times shaking my head with the sheer nonsense of it all.
In conclusion as homage to daytime television this is a roaring success (if you can overlook the very poor quality of the writing). There is a dastardly, yet handsome, villain. There is a car crash caused by the cutting of a brake line and secrets waiting to be unearthed. There is love and lust and the kind of dramatic action scenes that would not look out of place in a Van Damme movie.
If you enjoy The Bold and the Beautiful and fantasize about living in Sunset Beach then this is a book for you. It is not overly taxing, will not win a Pulitzer Prize but it will keep you occupied for a few mindless hours as you wait for your flight to land or as you while away an afternoon by the pool.
If on the other hand the thought of watching The Bold and the Beautiful makes you cringe with horror, then steer well clear. I am not a fan of such programmes as The Bold and the Beautiful. So this work did not appeal to me in the least.
It lacked heart I felt as though the writer does not actually enjoy daytime drama himself but believes that because many others do a work based on this genre will sell. He chucked in what he thought were the right ingredients: gorgeous women, handsome men, sex, violence and murder but did not make much of an effort to mix them together well enough and what came out of the oven was a rather lumpy result. Review written by Yvonne Carsley, Allbooks Review.
Title: Nothing Lasts Forever
Author: Vaughn Tunstall
ISBN: ebook
Number of pages: 138
Publisher: Club Lighthouse Pub
Price: na
Dec. 2009
Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:
Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)
Vaughn Tunstall, New Jersey.
Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
Nothing Lasts Forever Secrets and Seduction. Club Lighthouse Publishing.
Tell us about yourself: I am currently attending college in New Jersey.
When was the book released?
Nov 2nd, 2009.
Give us an overview of your book.
Nothing Lasts Forever Secrets and Seduction is composed of six subplots that follow the lives of two prominent families, the Woodshire family and the Lopez family, upon their arrival to Everlasting Falls, New Jersey. Passion, secrets, murder, and intrigue erupt, as many of the characters find themselves in sticky situations such as dealing with a psychotic scorn lover, a hostile business takeover, a brutal murder, and a budding romance between two members of the feuding families.
What inspired you to write this book?
My novel was inspired by daytime storytelling. The soap opera genre has been around for over fifty years and has an audience of millions. I felt that this type of storytelling could easily make the transition into books which is why I wrote my series. Several novels have been published under the same vein but I wanted to capture that fast pace excitement with all the classic, albeit stereotypical, clichés. I also wanted to narrate my novel with a soap operatic feeling as well, which is why my novel constantly juggles five to six scenes per chapter.
How is your book different from other books in this genre?
Nothing Last Forever Secrets and Seduction will never be mistaking to being on par with classic works such as The Sound and the Fury. I wanted to write something that was entertaining but never pretended to be anything but that. I think this is how my novel differs from others in its genre. Many stories try to take themselves too seriously with their campy plots and cliché characters but Nothing Lasts Forever Secrets and Seduction knows exactly what kind of story it is. It also differs because it is made up entirely of subplots that alter scenes per chapter. Soaps offer one of the ultimate escapes, a world where people are beautiful and rich but have more problems than the Average Joe and my novel delivers this.
Where can people buy your book?
My novel is available on my publisher’s website at www.clublighthousepublishing, www.amazon.com, and www.mobipocket.com.
Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
If Nothing Lasts Forever Secrets and Seduction does well, I plan on continuing writing them as my novel is just one in a series. I am in the process of re-editing a previous novel I’ve written which is a mainstream fiction novel. In addition to that I am currently writing a horror novel and hopefully plan on starting a science fiction/fantasy series for teens and young adults.
If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?
If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:
Publishing a novel electronically allows authors to reach virtually every place that possess internet access. This is a great benefit to gaining a wide audience very quickly. I was also fortunate enough to be published under a great publishing house who was very helpful along the way and worked with me to ensure the best possible opportunity for success.
Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?
The only success I’ve had is that I was willing to turn every proverbial rock. Publishing an ebook still does not have as much commercialism attached to it as printed works do. You have to be willing to start from the ground and work your way up. I’ve done this so far and it’s paying off well. There are a plethora of blogs, web journals, and ebook reviews, out there waiting for new authors to find them. Making as many contacts, no matter how small they are, goes a long way to ensure the maximum change of success.
How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
I found Allbooks Reviews when contacting Rich O’Brien at TheEbookSale Publishing website and he was able to get in touch with your website.
Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
Honestly the cost was a shock. I was fully expecting to pay self publishing prices for advertising. I was very glad and grateful Allbooks services were affordable and offered so much. I think Allbooks Reviews offers writers a great deal, so much so I can’t think of any improvements. It’s definitely helped out this new author.
Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.
Author: Vaughn Tunstall
Nothing Lasts Forever (Secrets and Seduction) written by Vaughn Tunstall, as an homage to daytime television, is a story that could have been lifted straight from an episode of The Bold and The Beautiful. Set in the fictional world of Everlasting Falls, where sparkling white mansions stand elegantly against the horizon and every other car is a Lamborghini, the lives of three wealthy educated families intertwine.
The Forresters, Jack and Casey, is a marriage on the brink. One more push is all it may take to send it over the edge.
Enter the Woodshires, David and Linda and their children: Dorothy, Tyree, Mychal and Denise. Dashing David, a man handsome enough to turn any woman’s head; can Casey possibly resist him? If she does not want to engender the wrath of Linda, a woman whose nerves are stretched tight due to her long years of struggling to hide a secret that has left her deeply embittered, she had better do so. The cracks in Linda’s life widen as on the one side she fights to keep her marriage together and on the other side she battles with her children, who have their own issues to deal with: boyfriend problems, raging hormones, a need for support and a desire for acceptance.
Then into this roiling pot of strained emotions come the Lopez family. The father, Jack, has a secret too, a secret and a desire for vengeance. He will destroy the man he sees as responsible for the ruination of his life and beware to any that think to get in his way. Of his children: Serena, Teresa and Timmy, only Serena realises her father’s mad schemes. If she can stop him she will but how is she to do so? She knows he is in the wrong but he is her father and how can she keep from loving him? Teresa and Timmy are protected from their father’s machinations by the ignorance of youth and the fact that for them their lives centre on school and not much else. Teresa steps lightly under a fog of shyness, casting glances at a boy who only has eyes for his pretty math teacher and Timmy becomes the unwilling target of vicious bullying goths.
Around the Forresters, the Woodshires and the Lopez family a host of secondary characters move. Like moons around planets their pull is felt. Passions run rampant but with each character so focused on his or her troubles will anyone notice the dangers surrounding them before it is too late?
As a story this piece of work contains everything that you would expect to find in a book written as homage to daytime television. There are beautiful women, handsome men, troubles and tragedies, evil schemes underway, sex, violence and murder. This book makes use of contemporary issues: bullying, drug use, prostitution, relationships between teachers and students, a modern-day disease and the obsession with women’s weight. It takes some tried and tested familiar themes and adds them to the mix: adultery, greed, jealousy, the age-old struggle of trying to keep marriages and families together. This book has everything in it that should have made it a thrilling and entertaining read but I was left cold and at times shuddering in distaste and at other times shaking my head with the sheer nonsense of it all.
In conclusion as homage to daytime television this is a roaring success (if you can overlook the very poor quality of the writing). There is a dastardly, yet handsome, villain. There is a car crash caused by the cutting of a brake line and secrets waiting to be unearthed. There is love and lust and the kind of dramatic action scenes that would not look out of place in a Van Damme movie.
If you enjoy The Bold and the Beautiful and fantasize about living in Sunset Beach then this is a book for you. It is not overly taxing, will not win a Pulitzer Prize but it will keep you occupied for a few mindless hours as you wait for your flight to land or as you while away an afternoon by the pool.
If on the other hand the thought of watching The Bold and the Beautiful makes you cringe with horror, then steer well clear. I am not a fan of such programmes as The Bold and the Beautiful. So this work did not appeal to me in the least.
It lacked heart I felt as though the writer does not actually enjoy daytime drama himself but believes that because many others do a work based on this genre will sell. He chucked in what he thought were the right ingredients: gorgeous women, handsome men, sex, violence and murder but did not make much of an effort to mix them together well enough and what came out of the oven was a rather lumpy result. Review written by Yvonne Carsley, Allbooks Review.
Title: Nothing Lasts Forever
Author: Vaughn Tunstall
ISBN: ebook
Number of pages: 138
Publisher: Club Lighthouse Pub
Price: na
Dec. 2009
Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:
Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)
Vaughn Tunstall, New Jersey.
Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
Nothing Lasts Forever Secrets and Seduction. Club Lighthouse Publishing.
Tell us about yourself: I am currently attending college in New Jersey.
When was the book released?
Nov 2nd, 2009.
Give us an overview of your book.
Nothing Lasts Forever Secrets and Seduction is composed of six subplots that follow the lives of two prominent families, the Woodshire family and the Lopez family, upon their arrival to Everlasting Falls, New Jersey. Passion, secrets, murder, and intrigue erupt, as many of the characters find themselves in sticky situations such as dealing with a psychotic scorn lover, a hostile business takeover, a brutal murder, and a budding romance between two members of the feuding families.
What inspired you to write this book?
My novel was inspired by daytime storytelling. The soap opera genre has been around for over fifty years and has an audience of millions. I felt that this type of storytelling could easily make the transition into books which is why I wrote my series. Several novels have been published under the same vein but I wanted to capture that fast pace excitement with all the classic, albeit stereotypical, clichés. I also wanted to narrate my novel with a soap operatic feeling as well, which is why my novel constantly juggles five to six scenes per chapter.
How is your book different from other books in this genre?
Nothing Last Forever Secrets and Seduction will never be mistaking to being on par with classic works such as The Sound and the Fury. I wanted to write something that was entertaining but never pretended to be anything but that. I think this is how my novel differs from others in its genre. Many stories try to take themselves too seriously with their campy plots and cliché characters but Nothing Lasts Forever Secrets and Seduction knows exactly what kind of story it is. It also differs because it is made up entirely of subplots that alter scenes per chapter. Soaps offer one of the ultimate escapes, a world where people are beautiful and rich but have more problems than the Average Joe and my novel delivers this.
Where can people buy your book?
My novel is available on my publisher’s website at www.clublighthousepublishing, www.amazon.com, and www.mobipocket.com.
Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
If Nothing Lasts Forever Secrets and Seduction does well, I plan on continuing writing them as my novel is just one in a series. I am in the process of re-editing a previous novel I’ve written which is a mainstream fiction novel. In addition to that I am currently writing a horror novel and hopefully plan on starting a science fiction/fantasy series for teens and young adults.
If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?
If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:
Publishing a novel electronically allows authors to reach virtually every place that possess internet access. This is a great benefit to gaining a wide audience very quickly. I was also fortunate enough to be published under a great publishing house who was very helpful along the way and worked with me to ensure the best possible opportunity for success.
Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?
The only success I’ve had is that I was willing to turn every proverbial rock. Publishing an ebook still does not have as much commercialism attached to it as printed works do. You have to be willing to start from the ground and work your way up. I’ve done this so far and it’s paying off well. There are a plethora of blogs, web journals, and ebook reviews, out there waiting for new authors to find them. Making as many contacts, no matter how small they are, goes a long way to ensure the maximum change of success.
How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
I found Allbooks Reviews when contacting Rich O’Brien at TheEbookSale Publishing website and he was able to get in touch with your website.
Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
Honestly the cost was a shock. I was fully expecting to pay self publishing prices for advertising. I was very glad and grateful Allbooks services were affordable and offered so much. I think Allbooks Reviews offers writers a great deal, so much so I can’t think of any improvements. It’s definitely helped out this new author.
Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.
If She Should Die
Genre: Fiction/Mystery
Author: Florence Yonin Brown
Erin Farmer believes that someone is trying to kill her. She hires Craig Harrows, a former police officer turned private investigator, to discover the truth. Just when the presence of Craig starts to make Erin feel safe again, life just becomes more complicated. She cannot understand why. Everyone around her seems to love her. Or, so she thinks. However, Erin has something others want: lots of money, a good home, a good husband, good friends, a good life. It just does not add up. When the brakes on her car fail, someone tries to run her over, then she almost drowns, things start to support Erin’s suspicions. The added effects of a funeral notice on her windshield and a funeral wreath delivered to her door just contribute to the subtle suggestion that someone really hates Erin enough to kill her.
If She Should Die is a murder mystery. Only, the murder is yet to occur. Will Erin die? Will the killer be found before in time to save Erin’s life? Will the killer manipulate Erin’s emotions to make her appear mentally unstable? After all, her husband does have the power of attorney over all her affairs, including her money. Was that indeed a wise move on Erin’s part? So many questions that demand answers! Is there enough time for Craig to unravel the mystery and save his employer?
If She Should Die is Forence Yonin Brown's fourth book. A retired teacher,
Brown divides her time between her writing and her family, which includes
four grown children and seven grandchildren. She belongs to several crime
writer's organizations and she enjoys both reading and writing a good
mystery.
If She Should Die is a dramatic, page turning thriller that leaves the reader breathless in anticipation until the very end. If She Should Die is highly recommended by: Emily-Jane Hills Orford, Allbooks Reviews.
Publisher: Baico Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-897449-71-4
Pages: 267 pages
Price: $18.95 CDN
Dec 2009
Author: Florence Yonin Brown
Erin Farmer believes that someone is trying to kill her. She hires Craig Harrows, a former police officer turned private investigator, to discover the truth. Just when the presence of Craig starts to make Erin feel safe again, life just becomes more complicated. She cannot understand why. Everyone around her seems to love her. Or, so she thinks. However, Erin has something others want: lots of money, a good home, a good husband, good friends, a good life. It just does not add up. When the brakes on her car fail, someone tries to run her over, then she almost drowns, things start to support Erin’s suspicions. The added effects of a funeral notice on her windshield and a funeral wreath delivered to her door just contribute to the subtle suggestion that someone really hates Erin enough to kill her.
If She Should Die is a murder mystery. Only, the murder is yet to occur. Will Erin die? Will the killer be found before in time to save Erin’s life? Will the killer manipulate Erin’s emotions to make her appear mentally unstable? After all, her husband does have the power of attorney over all her affairs, including her money. Was that indeed a wise move on Erin’s part? So many questions that demand answers! Is there enough time for Craig to unravel the mystery and save his employer?
If She Should Die is Forence Yonin Brown's fourth book. A retired teacher,
Brown divides her time between her writing and her family, which includes
four grown children and seven grandchildren. She belongs to several crime
writer's organizations and she enjoys both reading and writing a good
mystery.
If She Should Die is a dramatic, page turning thriller that leaves the reader breathless in anticipation until the very end. If She Should Die is highly recommended by: Emily-Jane Hills Orford, Allbooks Reviews.
Publisher: Baico Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-897449-71-4
Pages: 267 pages
Price: $18.95 CDN
Dec 2009
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Dead of Knight
Genre: Crime/Mystery
Author: William R. Potter
Dead of Knight is a Jack Staal mystery. Jack is a detective in a fictitious town located in British Columbia, Canada. While Jack is carrying some baggage and having nightmares, he is on the trail of a murderer nicknamed “The Birthday Boy.” A special group (IHIT) established for major crimes denies that Jack could possibly be able of solving the crime.
Jack not one to give up, begins a cat and mouse chase of “The Birthday Boy.” How will this cat and mouse game end? You will have to read the book and find out for yourself. It is full of egos, distrust, and the dogged determination of one detective to find the serial murderer running loose and staying one-step ahead of the IHIT unit.
Dead of Knight is a gripping novel that could be taken out of cases that have been in papers about the failings of not comparing notes and not listening to experienced officers that have been reported. This novel is a work of fiction that could be a slice of real life. Let’s hope that it never comes to be reality.
Told from two perspectives, that of the cat, and the mouse, but who is who? Is the detective chasing the murderer, or is the murderer chasing the detective in Dead of Knight? Only by reading the book will you find out who is the ultimate winner in the chase.
This reviewer awards Dead of Knight a recommendation of a read for those into mysteries with a four star rating.
Available from publisher: ww.realtimepublishings, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble
Publisher: RealTime Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-84961-026-1
Pages: 268
Price: $14.95 US
Date: December , 2009
Author: William R. Potter
Dead of Knight is a Jack Staal mystery. Jack is a detective in a fictitious town located in British Columbia, Canada. While Jack is carrying some baggage and having nightmares, he is on the trail of a murderer nicknamed “The Birthday Boy.” A special group (IHIT) established for major crimes denies that Jack could possibly be able of solving the crime.
Jack not one to give up, begins a cat and mouse chase of “The Birthday Boy.” How will this cat and mouse game end? You will have to read the book and find out for yourself. It is full of egos, distrust, and the dogged determination of one detective to find the serial murderer running loose and staying one-step ahead of the IHIT unit.
Dead of Knight is a gripping novel that could be taken out of cases that have been in papers about the failings of not comparing notes and not listening to experienced officers that have been reported. This novel is a work of fiction that could be a slice of real life. Let’s hope that it never comes to be reality.
Told from two perspectives, that of the cat, and the mouse, but who is who? Is the detective chasing the murderer, or is the murderer chasing the detective in Dead of Knight? Only by reading the book will you find out who is the ultimate winner in the chase.
This reviewer awards Dead of Knight a recommendation of a read for those into mysteries with a four star rating.
Available from publisher: ww.realtimepublishings, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble
Publisher: RealTime Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-84961-026-1
Pages: 268
Price: $14.95 US
Date: December , 2009
Conversations with Jerry and Other People I Thought were Dead
Author: Irene Kendig
Everyone has questions about what happens after death. What if all you had to do was ask?
When author Irene Kendig was introduced to medium Jana Anna, she was skeptical. However, during their first conversation, Jana made contact with Irene's mother, and Irene became a believer. What followed was a series of conversations with her mother, the Jerry of the title, and other friends and loved ones who had "crossed over."
Conversations is a deep, layered book. By turns intensely personal and grandly philosophical, Kendig's renderings of her sessions with Anna are a joy to read. This is a hopeful book, one that emphasizes the joy of living, and stresses against morbid fixation on death. Death is seen as another stage of development, and therefore nothing to fear.
Kendig is a speaker and self-acceptance coach, with a M.A. in Spiritual Psychology.
Conversations with Jerry and Other People I Thought Were Dead is a comforting, yet challenging book. This is Recommended for anyone who would like a new perspective on life, and the afterlife.
Reviewer: J. Blackmore, Allbooks Reviews. www.allbookreviews.com
Available at: www.conversationswithjerry.com
Publisher: Grateful Press
ISBN: 978-0-982-45670-5
Pages: 320
Price: $19.95 USD
Date: December 2009
Everyone has questions about what happens after death. What if all you had to do was ask?
When author Irene Kendig was introduced to medium Jana Anna, she was skeptical. However, during their first conversation, Jana made contact with Irene's mother, and Irene became a believer. What followed was a series of conversations with her mother, the Jerry of the title, and other friends and loved ones who had "crossed over."
Conversations is a deep, layered book. By turns intensely personal and grandly philosophical, Kendig's renderings of her sessions with Anna are a joy to read. This is a hopeful book, one that emphasizes the joy of living, and stresses against morbid fixation on death. Death is seen as another stage of development, and therefore nothing to fear.
Kendig is a speaker and self-acceptance coach, with a M.A. in Spiritual Psychology.
Conversations with Jerry and Other People I Thought Were Dead is a comforting, yet challenging book. This is Recommended for anyone who would like a new perspective on life, and the afterlife.
Reviewer: J. Blackmore, Allbooks Reviews. www.allbookreviews.com
Available at: www.conversationswithjerry.com
Publisher: Grateful Press
ISBN: 978-0-982-45670-5
Pages: 320
Price: $19.95 USD
Date: December 2009
Sunday, February 14, 2010
The Crusading Spirit of Modern America/Review
Genre: Political Science
AUTHOR: Richard J. Bazillion
It seems that every generation has some sort of watershed moment. In recent American history there has been the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The next generation grew up in the aftermath of the assassination of John F. Kennedy. It took 40 years for the next event of this sort to occur. That was the attack on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center on the ninth of September in 2001. The major difference in the country in 2001 was a definite political polarization and a seemingly new word had come into some usage. That word is – neoconservative.
In this book, Richard Bazillion has made a laudable effort to present his case for the history and evolution of the term ‘neoconservative’ in its current usage. The research is quite detailed and well explained. Dr. Bazillion then continues to tie this school of neoconservative thought into a study of the motivations and strategy and general outlook for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. He also includes a chapter on the war America isn’t fighting and that is the war with Iran that has been simmering since 1979.
Dr. Bazillion concludes this work with his commentary on the possible legacy of the George W. Bush administration and future conflict and co-existence between the United States and the rest of the world. This is in short, a very interesting book.
This book is definitely recommended, but as a part of a balanced approach to the conflicts and conditions at hand. Dr. Bazillion makes it known, to his credit, that he has little love for the neoconservatives and the George W. Bush presidency. A serious student should consider all sides of an argument while recognizing his own biases. Education is an uncomfortable process. If you only look for authors with whom you agree then you learn nothing. I give this a 4 out of 5 rating. Reviewer: John Helman, M.A., Allbooks Reviews. www.allbookreviews.com
Author: Richard J. Bazillion
Publisher: BookSurge
ISBN: 9-781439-229446
Pages: 398
Dec. 2009
AUTHOR: Richard J. Bazillion
It seems that every generation has some sort of watershed moment. In recent American history there has been the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The next generation grew up in the aftermath of the assassination of John F. Kennedy. It took 40 years for the next event of this sort to occur. That was the attack on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center on the ninth of September in 2001. The major difference in the country in 2001 was a definite political polarization and a seemingly new word had come into some usage. That word is – neoconservative.
In this book, Richard Bazillion has made a laudable effort to present his case for the history and evolution of the term ‘neoconservative’ in its current usage. The research is quite detailed and well explained. Dr. Bazillion then continues to tie this school of neoconservative thought into a study of the motivations and strategy and general outlook for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. He also includes a chapter on the war America isn’t fighting and that is the war with Iran that has been simmering since 1979.
Dr. Bazillion concludes this work with his commentary on the possible legacy of the George W. Bush administration and future conflict and co-existence between the United States and the rest of the world. This is in short, a very interesting book.
This book is definitely recommended, but as a part of a balanced approach to the conflicts and conditions at hand. Dr. Bazillion makes it known, to his credit, that he has little love for the neoconservatives and the George W. Bush presidency. A serious student should consider all sides of an argument while recognizing his own biases. Education is an uncomfortable process. If you only look for authors with whom you agree then you learn nothing. I give this a 4 out of 5 rating. Reviewer: John Helman, M.A., Allbooks Reviews. www.allbookreviews.com
Author: Richard J. Bazillion
Publisher: BookSurge
ISBN: 9-781439-229446
Pages: 398
Dec. 2009
The Divine Theory of Everything-Book 1- Wanderer
Genre: Fantasy
Author: Robert D. Berger
Without balance, good and evil would run rampant. Someone must intervene and the one chosen is ripped from their daily life and is thrown into another dimension where magic substitutes for science.
The Divine Theory of Everything is a truly amazing story. The novel begins with the ancient symbol of evil, the Prince of Darkness, known in this story by the name of Iblis, who with his armies of demons is battling an army of men and dwarves in a land called Eden ruled by the High Priestess goddess. It appears evil will win and creation will come to an end. The story then shifts abruptly to a space ship preparing to leave the Earth with the 144,000 chosen from all the tribes of Israel. Will they escape from the wrath of Iblis? What of those being left behind? It is here the story shifts once again and we meet the unlikely hero of the story, Steve Morgan, an engineer who is thrust from his 21st Century world into a world of magic of both time, space and place.
The story is complex, to say the least, and a valiant attempt to, as the title suggests, reconcile religious creation belief with scientific evolution theory. Without going into any details revealed in the story, author Berger makes an interesting argument for religious belief and the scientific approach of empirical reasoning being just two sides of the same coin - much like chaos and order or good and evil. It’s all about balance. But whatever you believe or disbelieve, the story makes for an interesting read.
Berger has a scientific background. He now works as an engineer but the idea for the story first came to him when serving onboard the first attack submarine, the USS Sunfish. Berger says he deeply believes in God, sometimes feels torn between science and religion, and hopes someday to know the real “Theory of Everything.”
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys original ideas set in a world of fantasy- one small note of warning for some. Berger takes chances not only with being original in thought. He also dares to write in the present tense. Example: “Steve wonders why he is chosen.” Reviewer: Pete Klein, Allbooks Reviews.
Title: The Divine Theory of Everything
Author: Robert D. Berger
Publisher: Llumina Press
ISBN: 978-1-60594-284-1
Pages: 330
Price: $17.95
Date: Dec 2009
Author: Robert D. Berger
Without balance, good and evil would run rampant. Someone must intervene and the one chosen is ripped from their daily life and is thrown into another dimension where magic substitutes for science.
The Divine Theory of Everything is a truly amazing story. The novel begins with the ancient symbol of evil, the Prince of Darkness, known in this story by the name of Iblis, who with his armies of demons is battling an army of men and dwarves in a land called Eden ruled by the High Priestess goddess. It appears evil will win and creation will come to an end. The story then shifts abruptly to a space ship preparing to leave the Earth with the 144,000 chosen from all the tribes of Israel. Will they escape from the wrath of Iblis? What of those being left behind? It is here the story shifts once again and we meet the unlikely hero of the story, Steve Morgan, an engineer who is thrust from his 21st Century world into a world of magic of both time, space and place.
The story is complex, to say the least, and a valiant attempt to, as the title suggests, reconcile religious creation belief with scientific evolution theory. Without going into any details revealed in the story, author Berger makes an interesting argument for religious belief and the scientific approach of empirical reasoning being just two sides of the same coin - much like chaos and order or good and evil. It’s all about balance. But whatever you believe or disbelieve, the story makes for an interesting read.
Berger has a scientific background. He now works as an engineer but the idea for the story first came to him when serving onboard the first attack submarine, the USS Sunfish. Berger says he deeply believes in God, sometimes feels torn between science and religion, and hopes someday to know the real “Theory of Everything.”
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys original ideas set in a world of fantasy- one small note of warning for some. Berger takes chances not only with being original in thought. He also dares to write in the present tense. Example: “Steve wonders why he is chosen.” Reviewer: Pete Klein, Allbooks Reviews.
Title: The Divine Theory of Everything
Author: Robert D. Berger
Publisher: Llumina Press
ISBN: 978-1-60594-284-1
Pages: 330
Price: $17.95
Date: Dec 2009
Saturday, February 13, 2010
The Magic of Old Man Pouring Rain
Author: Janet Davis
Genre: Childrens' Fiction
The Magic of Old Man Pouring Rain is an engaging children’s book that weaves a story about the appreciation of precipitation. The title of this story was intriguing and creative. Who would’ve been able to create an aging raindrop along with 10 spunky little raindrops? This story is simple and understandable and it teaches children to be fond of rain. It has a good moral as well. As the story says, rain nurtures the Earth and helps provide crops for humans. The plot is started with the wise Old Man Pouring Rain, sitting on the clouds creating little raindrops to drop down on Earth and to teach kids about the rain. Being successful with his agents, the Old Man Pouring Rain orders the group of raindrops to fly from the sky. They have many exciting adventures. When the raindrops leave, the children on Earth learned something new, and the raindrops made new human friends. The vocabulary of this book was humorous and easy, perfect for youngsters to read. This read is an impressive attempt from Janet Davis, and I am sure it will intrigue many young readers.
Janet Davis is a budding authoress as well as a busy mother of two girls. She takes care of her mom and her mentally challenged brother. Davis is hoping to write more adventures about these raindrops and uses the money she earns from her sales to donate to the Leukemia Society. Her kind loving, personality shines very well in this book. She is a lovely author and I hope to read some of her other books! Highly Recommended, Reviewer: Iris Park, Allbooks Review www.allbookreviews.com
ISBN: 978-1-936046-28-7
Price: $14.99 US
Jan. 2010
Genre: Childrens' Fiction
The Magic of Old Man Pouring Rain is an engaging children’s book that weaves a story about the appreciation of precipitation. The title of this story was intriguing and creative. Who would’ve been able to create an aging raindrop along with 10 spunky little raindrops? This story is simple and understandable and it teaches children to be fond of rain. It has a good moral as well. As the story says, rain nurtures the Earth and helps provide crops for humans. The plot is started with the wise Old Man Pouring Rain, sitting on the clouds creating little raindrops to drop down on Earth and to teach kids about the rain. Being successful with his agents, the Old Man Pouring Rain orders the group of raindrops to fly from the sky. They have many exciting adventures. When the raindrops leave, the children on Earth learned something new, and the raindrops made new human friends. The vocabulary of this book was humorous and easy, perfect for youngsters to read. This read is an impressive attempt from Janet Davis, and I am sure it will intrigue many young readers.
Janet Davis is a budding authoress as well as a busy mother of two girls. She takes care of her mom and her mentally challenged brother. Davis is hoping to write more adventures about these raindrops and uses the money she earns from her sales to donate to the Leukemia Society. Her kind loving, personality shines very well in this book. She is a lovely author and I hope to read some of her other books! Highly Recommended, Reviewer: Iris Park, Allbooks Review www.allbookreviews.com
ISBN: 978-1-936046-28-7
Price: $14.99 US
Jan. 2010
The Guardian of Kelmar/Review
Author: Laura Sepesi
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
The Key shall the Guardian command
Guided by wisdom and understanding,
The world shall be healed,
By the Guardian's Sword.
The magical world of Kelmar has spent years in peril merely waiting for their Guardian to arrive. Fifteen years passed without a glimpse of hope, but upon the date of Carmen Fox's birthday the change that everyone had been waiting for came to pass. Normal, everyday and ordinary Carmen finds that she is the legendary Guardian the Kelmarian's have been awaiting. Thrust into a world of magic with her animal counterpart Blaze and her souls to find, will Carmen find strength she never knew she had and defeat the evils plaguing Kelmar?
Laura Sepesi has had a love of writing for much of her life, something she brought with her in the passage from childhood into adulthood. The Kelmar Trilogy was first thought of during her years as a high school student. Laura then began to write The Guardian of Kelmar the summer after graduation and continued with it whilst working towards a degree in elementary education. At the age of twenty- one the book was completed, so as to pursue her dream to become an author. Sepesi has written a fast paced book with surprises and challenges for her characters around every twist and turn. Her main character; Carmen Fox is well written and somebody who people can relate to, someone seemingly normal that truly is quite an interesting individual. The sort of brave and loving person that remains in all of us no matter who we are and Ms. Sepesi seemed to have captured that in her writing. Currently, she is working on the second piece to the trilogy and I am very excited to read the next part.
The Guardian of Kelmar was a story filled with magic and wonder upon every page. The book will appeal to children and teenagers alike with a well- written and interesting story they will not find a dull moment. The battle between the good of the Kelmarians and the evil of the magicon was wondrous and brought the reader on an adventure they will feel to have gone on themselves. I myself, hope that we will be seeing more from Laura Sepesi quite soon.
The Guardian of Kelmar is highly recommended by Kirsten Bussière, Allbooksreviews.
Author's Website: LauraSepesi.com
Publisher: Infinity Publishing
Publisher's Website: infinitypublishing.com
Retail Price: US $26.95
ISBN: 0-7414-5336-3
Jan. 2010
Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:
Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)
My name is Laura Sepesi, and I’m from Bridgewater, NJ.
Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
The title of my book is The Guardian of Kelmar. My publisher is Infinity Publishing.
Tell us about yourself:
I’m twenty-two years old, and I’ve loved to write since I was a child. When I was in high school, I thought of the idea for The Guardian of Kelmar and the greater Kelmar Trilogy. I started writing Guardian the summer I graduated. I completed and published The Guardian of Kelmar when I was twenty-one, and achieved my dream of becoming an author.
When was the book released?
August of 2009.
Give us an overview of your book.
The Guardian of Kelmar is a young adult fantasy novel targeted for children and teens between the ages of 10 and 17. The book tells the story of Carmen Fox, a shy fifteen-year-old girl who journeys to a magical world called Kelmar, and realizes her destiny to restore peace to the war torn realm. Carmen trains to develop her magical gifts and battles Dark sorcerers in an effort to take back the land. Along the way, Carmen meets mystical creatures that aid her in discovering and mastering her magical powers.
What inspired you to write this book?
The initial inspiration for The Guardian of Kelmar came from a vivid dream that I had when I was thirteen. In that dream, I saw my first glimpse of Kelmar, and I met one of the main characters. Later on when I was in high school, I imagined the other central characters, who all began as pencil sketches. From there, I built a story around those characters and that original dream. I just wanted to write a story that I would love to read, and that I hoped other people would enjoy as well.
How is your book different from other books in this genre?
My book has many unique elements to it, and transports the reader to a magical place that they’ve never ventured before. It is an original story, filled with imaginative characters and adventures that make for an exciting and enjoyable read. The world, the beings that live there, and the magic that they use are all distinct to this story.
Where can people buy your book?
Signed and unsigned copies of my book can be ordered through my website, www.laurasepesi.com. They can also be ordered through my publisher’s website, www.buybooksontheweb.com, as well as through Amazon.com and any major bookstore.
Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
I am currently working on Book 2 of the Kelmar Trilogy, and I expect it to be published sometime in 2010.
If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?
Go the extra mile to make your book as amazing as it can be. Invest the time and energy into writing and editing your book to perfection, and then go out and market it to the best of your ability. Develop a plan to promote your work, and always follow through.
If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:
Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?
I’ve been able to secure many book signings throughout my area, and I have had success at most all of them. I attribute this achievement to creating a solid website, getting local press coverage, and following up with bookstores. It’s a lot of work to market a book, especially at the beginning, but it’s crucial to getting your book out into the public.
How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us
I found Allbooks Reviews listed in a book marketing publication, and I hope to achieve positive publicity from the review and hopefully get some new readers.
Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
It was a surprise, and I am very happy with the excellent promotion Allbooks provided me. I feel that what Allbooks offers right now is more than sufficient, and as a writer, I was very happy with their prompt and dedicated service.
Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
The Key shall the Guardian command
Guided by wisdom and understanding,
The world shall be healed,
By the Guardian's Sword.
The magical world of Kelmar has spent years in peril merely waiting for their Guardian to arrive. Fifteen years passed without a glimpse of hope, but upon the date of Carmen Fox's birthday the change that everyone had been waiting for came to pass. Normal, everyday and ordinary Carmen finds that she is the legendary Guardian the Kelmarian's have been awaiting. Thrust into a world of magic with her animal counterpart Blaze and her souls to find, will Carmen find strength she never knew she had and defeat the evils plaguing Kelmar?
Laura Sepesi has had a love of writing for much of her life, something she brought with her in the passage from childhood into adulthood. The Kelmar Trilogy was first thought of during her years as a high school student. Laura then began to write The Guardian of Kelmar the summer after graduation and continued with it whilst working towards a degree in elementary education. At the age of twenty- one the book was completed, so as to pursue her dream to become an author. Sepesi has written a fast paced book with surprises and challenges for her characters around every twist and turn. Her main character; Carmen Fox is well written and somebody who people can relate to, someone seemingly normal that truly is quite an interesting individual. The sort of brave and loving person that remains in all of us no matter who we are and Ms. Sepesi seemed to have captured that in her writing. Currently, she is working on the second piece to the trilogy and I am very excited to read the next part.
The Guardian of Kelmar was a story filled with magic and wonder upon every page. The book will appeal to children and teenagers alike with a well- written and interesting story they will not find a dull moment. The battle between the good of the Kelmarians and the evil of the magicon was wondrous and brought the reader on an adventure they will feel to have gone on themselves. I myself, hope that we will be seeing more from Laura Sepesi quite soon.
The Guardian of Kelmar is highly recommended by Kirsten Bussière, Allbooksreviews.
Author's Website: LauraSepesi.com
Publisher: Infinity Publishing
Publisher's Website: infinitypublishing.com
Retail Price: US $26.95
ISBN: 0-7414-5336-3
Jan. 2010
Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:
Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)
My name is Laura Sepesi, and I’m from Bridgewater, NJ.
Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
The title of my book is The Guardian of Kelmar. My publisher is Infinity Publishing.
Tell us about yourself:
I’m twenty-two years old, and I’ve loved to write since I was a child. When I was in high school, I thought of the idea for The Guardian of Kelmar and the greater Kelmar Trilogy. I started writing Guardian the summer I graduated. I completed and published The Guardian of Kelmar when I was twenty-one, and achieved my dream of becoming an author.
When was the book released?
August of 2009.
Give us an overview of your book.
The Guardian of Kelmar is a young adult fantasy novel targeted for children and teens between the ages of 10 and 17. The book tells the story of Carmen Fox, a shy fifteen-year-old girl who journeys to a magical world called Kelmar, and realizes her destiny to restore peace to the war torn realm. Carmen trains to develop her magical gifts and battles Dark sorcerers in an effort to take back the land. Along the way, Carmen meets mystical creatures that aid her in discovering and mastering her magical powers.
What inspired you to write this book?
The initial inspiration for The Guardian of Kelmar came from a vivid dream that I had when I was thirteen. In that dream, I saw my first glimpse of Kelmar, and I met one of the main characters. Later on when I was in high school, I imagined the other central characters, who all began as pencil sketches. From there, I built a story around those characters and that original dream. I just wanted to write a story that I would love to read, and that I hoped other people would enjoy as well.
How is your book different from other books in this genre?
My book has many unique elements to it, and transports the reader to a magical place that they’ve never ventured before. It is an original story, filled with imaginative characters and adventures that make for an exciting and enjoyable read. The world, the beings that live there, and the magic that they use are all distinct to this story.
Where can people buy your book?
Signed and unsigned copies of my book can be ordered through my website, www.laurasepesi.com. They can also be ordered through my publisher’s website, www.buybooksontheweb.com, as well as through Amazon.com and any major bookstore.
Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
I am currently working on Book 2 of the Kelmar Trilogy, and I expect it to be published sometime in 2010.
If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?
Go the extra mile to make your book as amazing as it can be. Invest the time and energy into writing and editing your book to perfection, and then go out and market it to the best of your ability. Develop a plan to promote your work, and always follow through.
If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:
Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?
I’ve been able to secure many book signings throughout my area, and I have had success at most all of them. I attribute this achievement to creating a solid website, getting local press coverage, and following up with bookstores. It’s a lot of work to market a book, especially at the beginning, but it’s crucial to getting your book out into the public.
How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us
I found Allbooks Reviews listed in a book marketing publication, and I hope to achieve positive publicity from the review and hopefully get some new readers.
Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
It was a surprise, and I am very happy with the excellent promotion Allbooks provided me. I feel that what Allbooks offers right now is more than sufficient, and as a writer, I was very happy with their prompt and dedicated service.
Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.
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