Get Hot with your writing this month!
Nominate us for a listing in Writer's Digest's 101 Best Sites
of The Year. Please send your nomination, along with our web
name Allbooks Review and our URL www.allbookreviews.com
to: writersdig@fwpubs.com Subject "101 Sites".
Thank you for all of your support.
*****************************************************************************
ALLBOOKS REVIEW IS NOW ON iFOGO. Be sure and join the Albooks Review Author’s Group where we can share our success and our mistakes. Also join iFogo and get www.booksonfilm.com. Great promo for a great price, post audio, book trailers, contact with agents and producers and much more. Be sure and let them know Allbooks Review sent you and join our group.
http://ifogo.com/buy/order_abr.html USE THIS LINK TO JOIN TODAY
FEATURE
Here are five tips for using social media to build your opt-in list:
Join Targeted Groups and Post Effective Discussions. Within your social networks, choose the groups wisely in which you will participate, focusing on groups that are active and contain your target market. You should post discussions to demonstrate your professional expertise and drive people to your website, taking care to make your headlines short and interesting.
Make Sure your Website is "Opt-in" Friendly. Make sure your opt-in form is prominent throughout your website, with a message telling visitors that when they sign up for your list they will receive helpful information (as opposed to spam).
Invite Every One...But Don't Pester! Every time you get a friend request or a new follower, send a message introducing yourself and include an invitation (with the link to your site's opt-in form) to sign up for the helpful information you send to your list.
Be Direct...But Not Too Often. If you have a helpful and valuable incentive to offer, occasionally post updates inviting your friends and followers to go get it! Keep in mind you are treading a thin line with this type of post, so make sure they are infrequent and are mixed in with many posts that are completely non-promotional in nature. You don't want to be considered "that guy" who's just there to promote to people.
Be Consistent in Your Social Networking! The key to making points 1 - 4 above really work for you is - stay active in your networks and groups. If you are only an occasional visitor, you might as well "stay home." In order to reap the rewards of these strategies, post often and wisely, and pay attention to your group members.
Participation in social networks can be enjoyable and rewarding, so start posting and have fun!
Warm regards,
Marsha Friedman
CEO EMSI Public Relations
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.
The Sky is Green, the grass is Blue is a Finalist in the Motivational Category of the 2010 Next Generation Indie Book Awards! Deb
I wanted to share some great news with you: Conversations with Jerry and Other People I Thought Were Dead has been chosen as an IPPY finalist in the category of Death and Dying and will either be awarded the gold, silver or bronze medal. My husband and I will be traveling to NYC for the gala event and award ceremony. I am so very excited, especially since this is my first book! All the best, Irene
PublishingGuru: I am accepting queries for traditional publishing in all genres. todd.rutherford@yorkshirepublishing.com
Congratulations to all of our great authors on their success.
strong>What's New at Allbooks Review
Read our Inspirational column each month on the Inspiration Feature of the Month page in Review Showcase. This column is by Deb Scott, author of Award winning: The Sky is Green and the Grass is Blue.
Inspiration http://www.allbookreviews.com/Default.aspx?tabid=560
Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:
Please state your name and location.(city and State or Province, Country)
Deb Hosey White
Greensboro, North Carolina USA
Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
Pink Slips and Parting Gifts
iUniverse
1663 Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403
ISBN 9781440158049, $20.95, www.iuniverse.com
Tell us about yourself:
Thirty years of corporate life never really "cured" me of being an English major, a creative writer and a poet.And while up to my eyeballs in 401(k) plan administration, ERISA, COBRA, andother stress-inducing arcanity, I never stopped collecting and writing stories. Anyone who has ever worked for a large organization knows that the best workplace stories end up in human resources. Now retired from corporate life, I'm free to share some of those stories--without naming names, of course!
When was the book released?
September 2009
Give us an overview of your book.
When is the first time a CEO dares to say out loud, “It’s time to sell the company”? Does he practice first in front of a mirror? Does he quietly float the idea to his most trusted colleague over dinner? Does he seek legal counsel? SEC guidance? Financial advice? If the CEO is gutsy enough, “selling the company” might quietly pass his lips for the first time during a clandestine meeting with a potential buyer in Las Vegas—setting the bait for a bid that will electrify the decision-makers back home.
Mergers and acquisitions are messy business and they change the lives of everyday people.Pink Slips and Parting Gifts is the fictional account of the sale of a U.S. development company, revealing absurd events mixed with employee anguish as another corporation changes hands and disappears from the big board on Wall Street.
By the time Easton Company CEO Jeffrey Elkins entices a major competitor to buy his Fortune 500 Company, the corporate jet is waiting and his parachute is platinum. In 14 weeks the deal of a lifetime transforms a handful of quirky executives into undeserving multi-millionaires, propels a workforce into unemployment and dispatches unsuspecting retirees into poverty. In the background, security guards dance naked in mall fountains, the corporate jet is sold on eBay, and a CEO utters his final words before relinquishing his title: Make sure the employees get their pumpkin pies.
The memorable cast of corporate characters includes a germophobic CEO, a marketing VP turned Elvis impersonator, the Sundance Kid of Everyman Compensation, and a purchasing director nicknamed the eBay Wizard.
What inspired you to write this book?
I spent more than 30 years in corporate America as a manager and a consultant. During that period I collected hundreds of stories about companies and the people who work for them.I also experienced firsthand the merger that inspired Pink Slips and Parting Gifts.As a corporate human resources director I was required to help "turn out the lights" at my company as it was sold to a competitor.I dealt with retirees whose health insurance and pensions were ripped from their aging hands; with long-term employees whose jobs were abruptly eliminated; and with a community that lost it's premier hometown corporate citizen.
Reading the news coverage of that merger and many others, I was struck with the realization that the stories being covered were heavily weighted to the top of the corporate heap—the CEOs, big stockholders,and top-level management who benefited most from the merger-mania. I wanted to get behind the headlines and tell the realities ofthose stories—the incredible perks, corporate jets, and multi-million dollar goodbye packages—but I also wanted to tell the stories of the maintenance workers, secretaries, and others whose lives were upturned by the merger.
How is your book different from other books in this genre?
Pink Slips and Parting Gifts is business fiction.That's not a genre that fits neatly onto library shelves or bookseller databases.But fiction set in the workplace is still a strong sub-category of modern literature. As such, Pink Slips and Parting Gifts shares a lineage with Up in the Air, The Bonfire of the Vanities, and The Devil Wears Prada. What is unique about Pink Slips and Parting Gifts is that it tells the story of a corporate merger not just from the perspective of the news-makers—the CEOs, board members, and power brokers—but from the mailroom clerks, secretaries, retirees, mid-level managers and even the homeless man living on the company's loading dock.
Also, Pink Slips and Parting Gifts employs flash fiction storytelling -- a unique format for a novel. Each chapter tells its own small story within the context of the larger novel. Many of the chapters could stand alone as stories within a story. The best example is the embedded "Tales of the Sofa." Many readers have commented on their enjoyment of the "sofa story" within Pink Slips.
Where can people buy your book?
The book is available online from:
· Amazon.com
· BarnesandNoble.com
· iUniverse.com
· Amazon.ca
· Booksamillion.com
· Amazon.co.uk
· Waterstones
Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
Yes.I am in the initial stages of a new workplace novel—publication date unknown.Also working on a screenplay for Pink Slips and Parting Gifts, and a poetry collection.
If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?
The publishing industry has been in a state of upheaval in recent years and self-publishing is a reality for many writers.In this reality, the author must take on tasks traditionally performed by professional agents, editors, copy-proofers, designers, and publicists.Print-on-demand publishers offer a Chinese menu of add-on (read that "extra cost") services, but the quality of those services may vary greatly.I experienced issues throughout the process–from layout and production concerns, to accounting issues, to unprofessional publicity services.
I would advise writers to first attempt to find a professional agent and/or publisher.If that is not possible–and the odds are stacked against new writers–then enter the self publishing world with eye wide open:
· Solicit a team of literate readers who will critique your manuscript (I used volunteers from a literary book group).
· Find a capable person to assist with editing, proofreading, and other production-related tasks.
· Budget more time than you think might be necessary to the critiquing, editing, proofing, and production process.
· Explore third-party publicity services rather than add-on services offered by the publisher. Be prepared to do much of the promotional process yourself.
· Submit your finished book for review by services such as AllBooks Review.
· Do not expect bookstores to stock your self-published book, but be aware of the multitude of online book selling services that predominate today's market.
If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:
Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?
Because my book is topical/newsworthy, I was able to arrange an interview from a regional newspaper in a city that has been affected by corporate mergers similar to the story in Pink Slips and Parting Gifts.
How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
Allbooks Reviews was included on a list of reputable reviewers on the Midwest Book Review website. My hope is that the insightful Allbooks review of Pink Slips and Parting Gifts will receive broad international circulation and that it will be quoted and noted in numerous sources.
Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
Allbooks Reviews offers timely and personal service to their authors--something not to be undervalued in the 21st century literary marketplace!
Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
What's New at Allbooks Review
Read our Inspirational column each month on the Inspiration Feature of the Month page in Review Showcase. This column is by Deb Scott, author of Award winning: The Sky is Green and the Grass is Blue.
Inspiration http://www.allbookreviews.com/Default.aspx?tabid=560
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you
Shirley A. Roe
Managing Editor,Allbooks Review
www.allbookreviews.com
We highly recommend you become a member of iFOGO. Just click this link to join.
http://www.ifogo.com/buy/order_abr.html
Inspiration http://www.allbookreviews.com/Default.aspx?tabid=560
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you
Shirley A. Roe
Managing Editor,Allbooks Review
www.allbookreviews.com
We highly recommend you become a member of iFOGO. Just click this link to join.
http://www.ifogo.com/buy/order_abr.html
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
April 2010 Newsletter
Warm weather at last, Outdoor festivals begin
Nominate us for a listing in Writer's Digest's 101 Best Sites
of The Year. Please send your nomination, along with our web
name Allbooks Review and our URL www.allbookreviews.com
to: writersdig@fwpubs.com Subject "101 Sites".
Thank you for all of your support.
*****************************************************************************
ALLBOOKS REVIEW IS NOW ON iFOGO. Be sure and join the Albooks Review Author’s Group where we can share our success and our mistakes. Also join iFogo and get www.booksonfilm.com. Great promo for a great price, post audio, book trailers, contact with agents and producers and much more. Be sure and let them know Allbooks Review sent you and join our group.
http://ifogo.com/buy/order_abr.html USE THIS LINK TO JOIN TODAY
FEATURE
Podcasting Your Way to Success
By Sigrid MacDonald
About two years ago, one of my science-fiction clients started a podcast series. Every week he would put a new chapter of his book on audio, and upload it to iTunes and MySpace. He had a tremendous following and I really admired his form of promotion, but I thought it would be too difficult and expensive for me. Wrong! Podcasting is simple and affordable. And it can be an effective way to get the word out about your book because you are offering free content, which people love.
How do you make a podcast? Download free software from Audacity.com or splurge for the user-friendly package by RecordForAll. I went with the latter because it has an easy navigational system, and only costs $39.99. After listening to the tutorial, I was ready to record. I had long pauses in my sentences, but the software gave me the ability to edit. After recording, I took out the blank spaces, and the few times I coughed, or said, "Um" or "Ah." The end result was a polished product.
What can you talk about? Anything related to your book. My new book is called Be Your Own Editor. It's a crash course in grammar basics that deals with the most common errors people make when they're writing, as well as editing issues related to creative writing. So, I made ten different podcasts and broke them down as follows:
1. How to Avoid Writing Run-On Sentences
2. How to Use Apostrophes Properly
3. How to Establish Realistic Dialogue
I made each podcast brief since people have short attention spans online. If you have a nonfiction topic, podcasting is a breeze. Identify key points in your book and abbreviate them. This is a great teaser; it introduces people to you and draws them to your material. You won't be giving your whole book away - just pieces of it to whet a prospective reader's appetite.
Fiction is a little more complicated but you could read your book chapter by chapter on audio. If you choose this method, stop after two or three chapters. That way the reader is left hanging and needs to know the end of the story. Second, you could read excerpts from your book, and talk about yourself and what motivated you to write it. I hosted my podcasts on MySpace and searched the site using the terms writers, poets, editors, etc. Your search words would relate to your book.
You can also load your podcasts on iTunes. This requires software that has a feed such as FeedForAll and a website that will give you more space for hosting like Mevio, which is free.
We've come a long way, baby, since I started writing in my teens. Now that we have blogs, websites, video, web cams and podcasts, why not take advantage of them?
---------------------------------------------------
Sigrid Macdonald is the author of three books, including Be Your Own Editor. Visit her at http://sigridmacdonald.blogspot.com or http://beyourowneditor.blogspot.com.
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.
Pink Slips and Parting Gifts was awarded Editor's Choice from the iUniverse recognition program this week.
Deb Hosey White
Pink Slips and Parting Gifts
CONGRATULATIONS DEB !
Shirley A. Roe is collaborating with screenwriter, director Randall Rutledge to bring her book Dreams and Nightmares to the big screen. All of us at Allbooks Review congratulate Shirley on this accomplishment.
Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:
Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)
Jonathan Maxwell. Taylorsville, Georgia.
Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
Murderous Intellectuals: German Elites and the Nazi SS. American Book Publishing, which is based in Salt Lake City.
Tell us about yourself:
I’ve been a writer and editor for about four years now. I hold a BA in English from Berry College in Rome, Ga., along with a psychology minor. I also possess a Paralegal Certificate. Since the publication of my first book- Murderous Intellectuals- I have written two additional books. I have also penned op/ed pieces for various newspapers, have contributed critical reviews to literary journals, and have written chapters for history textbooks. As an editor, I have worked for the publishing giants Harcourt and Pearson.
When was the book released?
November 2009.
Give us an overview of your book.
My book examines why so many well-educated professionals- such as doctors, lawyers, professors, scientists, and engineers- willingly joined the Nazi SS, the notorious group that spearheaded the Holocaust.
What inspired you to write this book?
My interest in the Holocaust- the Nazi war against Jews, Slavs, Gypsies, and other “undesirables”- began in high school. I read many excellent books about the subject through the years, but, eventually, I noticed a dearth of information in at least one crucial area. Popular culture tends to depict the Nazis as being brutes, but many Nazis did not fit this stereotype. Many Nazis, in fact, were superbly educated, graduating from the best universities in Europe. At times, books would briefly examine this contradiction, but no author that I knew of wrote a book about this phenomenon and what motivated these “murderous intellectuals.” I read book after book, but none dealt satisfactorily with the subject. Eventually, I got frustrated and decided to write the book myself.
How is your book different from other books in this genre?
Many books have been penned about the Final Solution (the Nazi term for the Holocaust), but comparatively few histories have examined the motivations of Nazi elites from psychological, sociological, political, and historical perspectives.
Where can people buy your book?
People can purchase a copy at www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, and www.pdbookstore.com.
Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
My second book, Piltdown Man and Other Hoaxes, will be released in late 2010. It’s a far cry from my first one. The book is a lighthearted, fun examination of scientific frauds through history, such as the Missing Link Hoax and the Minnesota Iceman Hoax.
If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:
Working with traditional publishers helps to ensure that you get a quality product. My publisher, for example, requires your assigned editor to edit your manuscript four times. Then, your copy editor edits it once, and, finally, the proofreader edits it at least once. The editorial stage, then, transpires for at least a year. In addition, your book designer spends about six months creating a suitable cover, selecting fonts, choosing colors, and so on. It’s a slow, painstaking process, but in the end, you appreciate the results. Everything looks sensational.
Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?
Take a multi-tiered approach to marketing your work. Do signings at the book stores and libraries. Submit press releases to local and regional newspapers. Send out galleys to reputable reviewers. Perform lectures at schools, colleges, service organizations, and elsewhere. Get radio interviews. Don’t try starting at the national level. If you’re a new author just starting out, USA Today and Book TV are not going to give you publicity. Start out locally and work your way up.
How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
I stumbled upon Allbooks Reviews while searching for book reviewers on the Internet. I was impressed by the website and I sent out an e-mail asking for more information. The information I received impressed me further, so I decided the use the company’s services.
Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
Publicists are a requirement in the publishing industry, and Allbooks Reviews provides the most services at the most economical rates. To Allbooks Reviews, all I can say is: Keep up the good work!
Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.
Thank you!
Our newsletter is available on our website and blogs monthly. We do not do mass mailings
www.allbookreviews.com Check it out, our website is constantly being updated.
Nominate us for a listing in Writer's Digest's 101 Best Sites
of The Year. Please send your nomination, along with our web
name Allbooks Review and our URL www.allbookreviews.com
to: writersdig@fwpubs.com Subject "101 Sites".
Thank you for all of your support.
*****************************************************************************
ALLBOOKS REVIEW IS NOW ON iFOGO. Be sure and join the Albooks Review Author’s Group where we can share our success and our mistakes. Also join iFogo and get www.booksonfilm.com. Great promo for a great price, post audio, book trailers, contact with agents and producers and much more. Be sure and let them know Allbooks Review sent you and join our group.
http://ifogo.com/buy/order_abr.html USE THIS LINK TO JOIN TODAY
FEATURE
Podcasting Your Way to Success
By Sigrid MacDonald
About two years ago, one of my science-fiction clients started a podcast series. Every week he would put a new chapter of his book on audio, and upload it to iTunes and MySpace. He had a tremendous following and I really admired his form of promotion, but I thought it would be too difficult and expensive for me. Wrong! Podcasting is simple and affordable. And it can be an effective way to get the word out about your book because you are offering free content, which people love.
How do you make a podcast? Download free software from Audacity.com or splurge for the user-friendly package by RecordForAll. I went with the latter because it has an easy navigational system, and only costs $39.99. After listening to the tutorial, I was ready to record. I had long pauses in my sentences, but the software gave me the ability to edit. After recording, I took out the blank spaces, and the few times I coughed, or said, "Um" or "Ah." The end result was a polished product.
What can you talk about? Anything related to your book. My new book is called Be Your Own Editor. It's a crash course in grammar basics that deals with the most common errors people make when they're writing, as well as editing issues related to creative writing. So, I made ten different podcasts and broke them down as follows:
1. How to Avoid Writing Run-On Sentences
2. How to Use Apostrophes Properly
3. How to Establish Realistic Dialogue
I made each podcast brief since people have short attention spans online. If you have a nonfiction topic, podcasting is a breeze. Identify key points in your book and abbreviate them. This is a great teaser; it introduces people to you and draws them to your material. You won't be giving your whole book away - just pieces of it to whet a prospective reader's appetite.
Fiction is a little more complicated but you could read your book chapter by chapter on audio. If you choose this method, stop after two or three chapters. That way the reader is left hanging and needs to know the end of the story. Second, you could read excerpts from your book, and talk about yourself and what motivated you to write it. I hosted my podcasts on MySpace and searched the site using the terms writers, poets, editors, etc. Your search words would relate to your book.
You can also load your podcasts on iTunes. This requires software that has a feed such as FeedForAll and a website that will give you more space for hosting like Mevio, which is free.
We've come a long way, baby, since I started writing in my teens. Now that we have blogs, websites, video, web cams and podcasts, why not take advantage of them?
---------------------------------------------------
Sigrid Macdonald is the author of three books, including Be Your Own Editor. Visit her at http://sigridmacdonald.blogspot.com or http://beyourowneditor.blogspot.com.
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.
Pink Slips and Parting Gifts was awarded Editor's Choice from the iUniverse recognition program this week.
Deb Hosey White
Pink Slips and Parting Gifts
CONGRATULATIONS DEB !
Shirley A. Roe is collaborating with screenwriter, director Randall Rutledge to bring her book Dreams and Nightmares to the big screen. All of us at Allbooks Review congratulate Shirley on this accomplishment.
Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:
Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)
Jonathan Maxwell. Taylorsville, Georgia.
Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
Murderous Intellectuals: German Elites and the Nazi SS. American Book Publishing, which is based in Salt Lake City.
Tell us about yourself:
I’ve been a writer and editor for about four years now. I hold a BA in English from Berry College in Rome, Ga., along with a psychology minor. I also possess a Paralegal Certificate. Since the publication of my first book- Murderous Intellectuals- I have written two additional books. I have also penned op/ed pieces for various newspapers, have contributed critical reviews to literary journals, and have written chapters for history textbooks. As an editor, I have worked for the publishing giants Harcourt and Pearson.
When was the book released?
November 2009.
Give us an overview of your book.
My book examines why so many well-educated professionals- such as doctors, lawyers, professors, scientists, and engineers- willingly joined the Nazi SS, the notorious group that spearheaded the Holocaust.
What inspired you to write this book?
My interest in the Holocaust- the Nazi war against Jews, Slavs, Gypsies, and other “undesirables”- began in high school. I read many excellent books about the subject through the years, but, eventually, I noticed a dearth of information in at least one crucial area. Popular culture tends to depict the Nazis as being brutes, but many Nazis did not fit this stereotype. Many Nazis, in fact, were superbly educated, graduating from the best universities in Europe. At times, books would briefly examine this contradiction, but no author that I knew of wrote a book about this phenomenon and what motivated these “murderous intellectuals.” I read book after book, but none dealt satisfactorily with the subject. Eventually, I got frustrated and decided to write the book myself.
How is your book different from other books in this genre?
Many books have been penned about the Final Solution (the Nazi term for the Holocaust), but comparatively few histories have examined the motivations of Nazi elites from psychological, sociological, political, and historical perspectives.
Where can people buy your book?
People can purchase a copy at www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, and www.pdbookstore.com.
Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
My second book, Piltdown Man and Other Hoaxes, will be released in late 2010. It’s a far cry from my first one. The book is a lighthearted, fun examination of scientific frauds through history, such as the Missing Link Hoax and the Minnesota Iceman Hoax.
If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:
Working with traditional publishers helps to ensure that you get a quality product. My publisher, for example, requires your assigned editor to edit your manuscript four times. Then, your copy editor edits it once, and, finally, the proofreader edits it at least once. The editorial stage, then, transpires for at least a year. In addition, your book designer spends about six months creating a suitable cover, selecting fonts, choosing colors, and so on. It’s a slow, painstaking process, but in the end, you appreciate the results. Everything looks sensational.
Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?
Take a multi-tiered approach to marketing your work. Do signings at the book stores and libraries. Submit press releases to local and regional newspapers. Send out galleys to reputable reviewers. Perform lectures at schools, colleges, service organizations, and elsewhere. Get radio interviews. Don’t try starting at the national level. If you’re a new author just starting out, USA Today and Book TV are not going to give you publicity. Start out locally and work your way up.
How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
I stumbled upon Allbooks Reviews while searching for book reviewers on the Internet. I was impressed by the website and I sent out an e-mail asking for more information. The information I received impressed me further, so I decided the use the company’s services.
Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
Publicists are a requirement in the publishing industry, and Allbooks Reviews provides the most services at the most economical rates. To Allbooks Reviews, all I can say is: Keep up the good work!
Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.
Thank you!
Our newsletter is available on our website and blogs monthly. We do not do mass mailings
www.allbookreviews.com Check it out, our website is constantly being updated.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Allbooks Review Newsletter April 2010
Don’t be an April Fool
Nominate us for a listing in Writer's Digest's 101 Best Sites
of The Year. Please send your nomination, along with our web
name Allbooks Review and our URL www.allbookreviews.com
to: writersdig@fwpubs.com Subject "101 Sites".
Thank you for all of your support.
*****************************************************************************
ALLBOOKS REVIEW IS NOW ON iFOGO. Be sure and join the Albooks Review Author’s Group where we can share our success and our mistakes. Also join iFogo and get www.booksonfilm.com. Great promo for a great price, post audio, book trailers, contact with agents and producers and much more. Be sure and let them know Allbooks Review sent you and join our group.
http://ifogo.com/buy/order_abr.html USE THIS LINK TO JOIN TODAY
FEATURE
Sneak Peek: Characterization
from Accelerated Getting Started in Writing
Once you've determined who your characters are, what they
look like and why they act the way they do, you'll need to
find creative ways to get that information to your reader.
The use of a variety of techniques to portray your
characters to your reader is referred to as "characteriza-
tion."
There are three primary methods of characterization:
description, action and dialogue. Description is narrative
that simply tells your reader something about your
character:
Larry was a tall, unhappy man with short brown hair.
A more dynamic method of characterization is to show your
character in action or in dialogue with another character
(we'll discuss dialogue in more detail shortly). The words
and actions of a character--particularly when enhanced by
description--can tell your reader a lot about who that
character is. Here, for example is Larry in action:
Larry shuffled into the kitchen, ducking instinctively as
he came through the doorway. The dishes were piling up and
the floor needed sweeping, but he couldn't find a reason
to care about that right now. He pulled a beer from the
fridge and sat at the table without opening it.
From this passage we get an impression of Larry's height
from the fact that he needs to "duck" through the doorway.
His unhappiness is hinted at by his shuffling and his
apathetic reaction to his surroundings. In a similar way,
dialogue can characterize by letting the reader see the
character relating to someone else:
Beth clicked on the light and jumped when she saw Larry
slumped over the kitchen table. "Jeez, Larry, you scared
me half to death. What the hell are you doing, sitting in
here in the dark?"
"I don't know. Nothing." Larry ran his hand over his head,
spiking his short brown hair.
"Did you go to work today?"
"No."
"You sick?"
"No."
Beth laid her purse on the table and sat down. "Now you're
really scaring me. Tell me what's wrong."
Not only does this brief dialogue passage show us a picture
of a despondent Larry, it introduces a second character
and gives us some indication of the relationship between
the two characters.
All three methods of characterization can be effective.
How you use them, and in what combination, is a matter of
your personal style and the needs of your story. You
should practice all three, and study them in the published
works of writers you admire to see how each contributes to
the overall style of the piece and to your understanding
of the character.
- - - - - - -
Get on the fast track to writing success!
Visit http://fwpubs.sparklist.com/t/2101129/3836259/1590/0/
to check out the six one-week sessions for this course,
and to enroll in Accelerated Getting Started in Writing
today!
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)
Sherry Jones Mayo
Sedona, AZ
Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
Confessions of a Trauma Junkie: My Life as a Nurse Paramedic
Modern History Press
Tell us about yourself:
Depending on the day and situation, I’m a wife, mother, grandmother, nurse, writer, cook, confidant, or crazy cat lady. No matter which hat I’m wearing, after 20 years in emergency medicine and working with a paramilitary organization, I’ve accumulated enough experience to lend a more qualified hand in crisis response; my focus remains on continuing in the helping professions, but lately it is through another door. I find myself looking backward as much as forward, stopping to think, “Wait, I’m not entirely done with that yet, I still have something to say.” Knowledge gained while working toward the Health Psychology degree is giving me a clearer voice, and I hope to share those lessons and thoughts with my readers.
When was the book released?
Paperback edition was June 1, 2009. The publisher plans a hardcover edition for June 1, 2010.
Give us an overview of your book.
“Confessions” reflects the innermost feelings of emergency services workers as they encounter trauma, tragedy, redemption, and even a little humor. I have worked as an Emergency Medical Technician (Paramedic), Trauma Nurse, and on-scene Critical Incident Stress Debriefer for Hurricane Katrina, and following small-airplane crashes. Most people who have observed or experienced physical, mental, or emotional crisis have single perspectives. This book allows readers to stand on both sides of the gurney; it details a progression from innocence to enlightened caregiver to burnout, glimpsing into each stage personally and professionally.
What inspired you to write this book?
A lot of people today are interested in the true ‘story behind the story’, especially when it comes to true-life situations that touch so closely upon what they or their family members may experience. Whenever I tell people what I do, they focus on the gory side of life, and the type of incidents that catch folk’s attention and prevent them from looking away. What they don’t realize, until it happens to them, is that those horrible things happen to someone who is loved and cherished, especially the children. I want people to see the world, for a moment, through my eyes, to walk with me through the broken glass, to sit next to me and hold the hand of the sick or dying, to fight against death. And then I want them to see the lunacy of it all and laugh.
How is your book different from other books in this genre?
Many books about emergency medicine and true life situations present the hero perspective, a viewpoint of glamorization and drama. This book presents the raw and honest feelings of people without (much) censure or euphemism. Love us or hate us, this is how we feel. My slant is in telling the side of the story you may never know: how the emergency services worker feels about his experience, how it impacts him (sometimes for the rest of his life), what he is thinking as he works his calls, how he internalizes most of the negative thoughts and experiences lest his coworkers or family see him as weak, and what happens after the call is over.
Where can people buy your book?
Ordering from my website allows readers to get an autographed copy (or not, as they choose) through http://sherryjonesmayo.com. Readers may also order from Amazon (which offers a Kindle version), or ask major bookstores to order the book for them.
Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
I’m gathering materials for another book, but it will have to wait until grad school is complete, so I’m only writing short pieces for the next couple of years. I’m working on a master’s degree in Health Psychology, which offers a different perspective than my medical training offers. Nurses and Medics respond to the affects of injury and illness, I’d like to focus on a more proactive vision of promoting wellness, and future books may represent that bio/psych/socio vision.
If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?
If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:
A publisher who provides services beyond editing and printing books is invaluable. My publisher, Modern History Press, gives writers tools for self-marketing and promotion that are beyond our experience and expertise, and regularly links writers to other writing opportunities (which in turn promote books). I wouldn’t have known where to begin without that service, and the book may never have gone beyond family copies and bragging rights. Simply, I’m an expert (of sorts) on emergency medicine and crisis response, not on publishing.
Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?
Recently my publisher provided a query regarding the experience of nurses who transitioned from paramedics. The piece turned into a feature interview on the website, and I was able to establish a writing agreement with the site owner. Now I’m not only getting a lot of publicity about the book every time I write for this site, but I have the opportunity to be a paid contributor.
Initial interview: http://rndegrees.net/confessions-of-a-trauma-junkie.php
First feature piece: http://rndegrees.net/blog/career-development/disaster-relief-a-paramedic-turned-rn-shares-her-story.html
How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
Sherry: I’ll turn this over to Victor, my publisher, he can answer this question the best
Victor: Thanks Sherry! I believe I discovered Allbooks Reviews through a referral from my friend and colleague Irene Watson at ReaderViews. I like the professional and erudite nature of the reviews that AllBooks Reviews has consistently produced. I feel their reputation and influence in the independent review industry will only continue to grow. That is why I have selected Allbooks Reviews for all new titles coming from Modern History Press in 2010.
Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
Victor: Allbooks Reviews is highly competitive and offers an excellent value-for-money proposition. In fact, I doubt you can get reviews of this caliber for less money anywhere. Their service is also quite speedy and customer service always friendly. Probably the next domain for them to conquer would be author-interview podcasts. Ok, I’ll turn the interview back over to Sherry.:
Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.
Sherry: Thank you! Selling books is nice, but the biggest joy is when someone has read the book and told me they laughed, they cried, they were deeply touched. Taking people to a place deep within themselves is extremely rewarding. It makes baring one’s own soul, standing naked before the world in one of the most vulnerable ways possible, well worth the exposure.
In the News
Amazon Fires All Colorado Affiliates
------------------------------------
To show that it protested against a new Colorado State Sales Tax,
Amazon immediately broke all relations with every affiliate based
in Colorado. The new law requires out-of-state retailers such as
Amazon to collect and remit sales tax for purchases made by
Colorado residents or simply to inform their Colorado customers
that they owe use tax on any purchase they have made. For more on
this story visit: http://news.bookweb.org/7364.html
Canadian Booksellers Fight Against Amazon Coming to Canada
----------------------------------------------------------
The Canadian Booksellers Association has urged the Canadian
government to prevent Amazon.com from entering the Canadian market.
Amazon.com wants to build a shipping warehouse in Canada.
For more on this story visit: http://news.bookweb.org/7354.html
Nominate us for a listing in Writer's Digest's 101 Best Sites
of The Year. Please send your nomination, along with our web
name Allbooks Review and our URL www.allbookreviews.com
to: writersdig@fwpubs.com Subject "101 Sites".
Thank you for all of your support.
*****************************************************************************
ALLBOOKS REVIEW IS NOW ON iFOGO. Be sure and join the Albooks Review Author’s Group where we can share our success and our mistakes. Also join iFogo and get www.booksonfilm.com. Great promo for a great price, post audio, book trailers, contact with agents and producers and much more. Be sure and let them know Allbooks Review sent you and join our group.
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FEATURE
Sneak Peek: Characterization
from Accelerated Getting Started in Writing
Once you've determined who your characters are, what they
look like and why they act the way they do, you'll need to
find creative ways to get that information to your reader.
The use of a variety of techniques to portray your
characters to your reader is referred to as "characteriza-
tion."
There are three primary methods of characterization:
description, action and dialogue. Description is narrative
that simply tells your reader something about your
character:
Larry was a tall, unhappy man with short brown hair.
A more dynamic method of characterization is to show your
character in action or in dialogue with another character
(we'll discuss dialogue in more detail shortly). The words
and actions of a character--particularly when enhanced by
description--can tell your reader a lot about who that
character is. Here, for example is Larry in action:
Larry shuffled into the kitchen, ducking instinctively as
he came through the doorway. The dishes were piling up and
the floor needed sweeping, but he couldn't find a reason
to care about that right now. He pulled a beer from the
fridge and sat at the table without opening it.
From this passage we get an impression of Larry's height
from the fact that he needs to "duck" through the doorway.
His unhappiness is hinted at by his shuffling and his
apathetic reaction to his surroundings. In a similar way,
dialogue can characterize by letting the reader see the
character relating to someone else:
Beth clicked on the light and jumped when she saw Larry
slumped over the kitchen table. "Jeez, Larry, you scared
me half to death. What the hell are you doing, sitting in
here in the dark?"
"I don't know. Nothing." Larry ran his hand over his head,
spiking his short brown hair.
"Did you go to work today?"
"No."
"You sick?"
"No."
Beth laid her purse on the table and sat down. "Now you're
really scaring me. Tell me what's wrong."
Not only does this brief dialogue passage show us a picture
of a despondent Larry, it introduces a second character
and gives us some indication of the relationship between
the two characters.
All three methods of characterization can be effective.
How you use them, and in what combination, is a matter of
your personal style and the needs of your story. You
should practice all three, and study them in the published
works of writers you admire to see how each contributes to
the overall style of the piece and to your understanding
of the character.
- - - - - - -
Get on the fast track to writing success!
Visit http://fwpubs.sparklist.com/t/2101129/3836259/1590/0/
to check out the six one-week sessions for this course,
and to enroll in Accelerated Getting Started in Writing
today!
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)
Sherry Jones Mayo
Sedona, AZ
Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
Confessions of a Trauma Junkie: My Life as a Nurse Paramedic
Modern History Press
Tell us about yourself:
Depending on the day and situation, I’m a wife, mother, grandmother, nurse, writer, cook, confidant, or crazy cat lady. No matter which hat I’m wearing, after 20 years in emergency medicine and working with a paramilitary organization, I’ve accumulated enough experience to lend a more qualified hand in crisis response; my focus remains on continuing in the helping professions, but lately it is through another door. I find myself looking backward as much as forward, stopping to think, “Wait, I’m not entirely done with that yet, I still have something to say.” Knowledge gained while working toward the Health Psychology degree is giving me a clearer voice, and I hope to share those lessons and thoughts with my readers.
When was the book released?
Paperback edition was June 1, 2009. The publisher plans a hardcover edition for June 1, 2010.
Give us an overview of your book.
“Confessions” reflects the innermost feelings of emergency services workers as they encounter trauma, tragedy, redemption, and even a little humor. I have worked as an Emergency Medical Technician (Paramedic), Trauma Nurse, and on-scene Critical Incident Stress Debriefer for Hurricane Katrina, and following small-airplane crashes. Most people who have observed or experienced physical, mental, or emotional crisis have single perspectives. This book allows readers to stand on both sides of the gurney; it details a progression from innocence to enlightened caregiver to burnout, glimpsing into each stage personally and professionally.
What inspired you to write this book?
A lot of people today are interested in the true ‘story behind the story’, especially when it comes to true-life situations that touch so closely upon what they or their family members may experience. Whenever I tell people what I do, they focus on the gory side of life, and the type of incidents that catch folk’s attention and prevent them from looking away. What they don’t realize, until it happens to them, is that those horrible things happen to someone who is loved and cherished, especially the children. I want people to see the world, for a moment, through my eyes, to walk with me through the broken glass, to sit next to me and hold the hand of the sick or dying, to fight against death. And then I want them to see the lunacy of it all and laugh.
How is your book different from other books in this genre?
Many books about emergency medicine and true life situations present the hero perspective, a viewpoint of glamorization and drama. This book presents the raw and honest feelings of people without (much) censure or euphemism. Love us or hate us, this is how we feel. My slant is in telling the side of the story you may never know: how the emergency services worker feels about his experience, how it impacts him (sometimes for the rest of his life), what he is thinking as he works his calls, how he internalizes most of the negative thoughts and experiences lest his coworkers or family see him as weak, and what happens after the call is over.
Where can people buy your book?
Ordering from my website allows readers to get an autographed copy (or not, as they choose) through http://sherryjonesmayo.com. Readers may also order from Amazon (which offers a Kindle version), or ask major bookstores to order the book for them.
Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
I’m gathering materials for another book, but it will have to wait until grad school is complete, so I’m only writing short pieces for the next couple of years. I’m working on a master’s degree in Health Psychology, which offers a different perspective than my medical training offers. Nurses and Medics respond to the affects of injury and illness, I’d like to focus on a more proactive vision of promoting wellness, and future books may represent that bio/psych/socio vision.
If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?
If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:
A publisher who provides services beyond editing and printing books is invaluable. My publisher, Modern History Press, gives writers tools for self-marketing and promotion that are beyond our experience and expertise, and regularly links writers to other writing opportunities (which in turn promote books). I wouldn’t have known where to begin without that service, and the book may never have gone beyond family copies and bragging rights. Simply, I’m an expert (of sorts) on emergency medicine and crisis response, not on publishing.
Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?
Recently my publisher provided a query regarding the experience of nurses who transitioned from paramedics. The piece turned into a feature interview on the website, and I was able to establish a writing agreement with the site owner. Now I’m not only getting a lot of publicity about the book every time I write for this site, but I have the opportunity to be a paid contributor.
Initial interview: http://rndegrees.net/confessions-of-a-trauma-junkie.php
First feature piece: http://rndegrees.net/blog/career-development/disaster-relief-a-paramedic-turned-rn-shares-her-story.html
How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
Sherry: I’ll turn this over to Victor, my publisher, he can answer this question the best
Victor: Thanks Sherry! I believe I discovered Allbooks Reviews through a referral from my friend and colleague Irene Watson at ReaderViews. I like the professional and erudite nature of the reviews that AllBooks Reviews has consistently produced. I feel their reputation and influence in the independent review industry will only continue to grow. That is why I have selected Allbooks Reviews for all new titles coming from Modern History Press in 2010.
Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
Victor: Allbooks Reviews is highly competitive and offers an excellent value-for-money proposition. In fact, I doubt you can get reviews of this caliber for less money anywhere. Their service is also quite speedy and customer service always friendly. Probably the next domain for them to conquer would be author-interview podcasts. Ok, I’ll turn the interview back over to Sherry.:
Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.
Sherry: Thank you! Selling books is nice, but the biggest joy is when someone has read the book and told me they laughed, they cried, they were deeply touched. Taking people to a place deep within themselves is extremely rewarding. It makes baring one’s own soul, standing naked before the world in one of the most vulnerable ways possible, well worth the exposure.
In the News
Amazon Fires All Colorado Affiliates
------------------------------------
To show that it protested against a new Colorado State Sales Tax,
Amazon immediately broke all relations with every affiliate based
in Colorado. The new law requires out-of-state retailers such as
Amazon to collect and remit sales tax for purchases made by
Colorado residents or simply to inform their Colorado customers
that they owe use tax on any purchase they have made. For more on
this story visit: http://news.bookweb.org/7364.html
Canadian Booksellers Fight Against Amazon Coming to Canada
----------------------------------------------------------
The Canadian Booksellers Association has urged the Canadian
government to prevent Amazon.com from entering the Canadian market.
Amazon.com wants to build a shipping warehouse in Canada.
For more on this story visit: http://news.bookweb.org/7354.html
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Hidden in the Sun
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Genre: Adventure/Romance
Author: CA Bodiford
Author, CA Bodiford, has written an adventure filled story. Sarah is content living the single life, when she reconnects with someone from her past. They marry and the real saga begins. Sarah finds herself as the wife of a wealthy man and with a seemingly charmed life. As their relationship changes, violence and deceitfulness destroy her world. Fleeing for her life, she must start all over again in a new life with a new identity.
Meanwhile, Jackson, a police detective, is working the case of a missing woman who seemingly was harmed and kidnapped. The case goes terribly wrong and he, too, seeks refuge in a new place.
A chance encounter brings the two main characters together, yet they can never fully love until they learn to trust one another. Will they be able to forget their past lives and move on, or will their lives remain Hidden in the Sun.
Ms. Bodiford has created believable and endearing characters with “sit on the edge of your seat” circumstances. Adult situations and language, along with graphic details, limit this book to mature readers.
Recommended for anyone wishing to escape in the pages of a good book!
Reviewed by: Donetta Garman, Allbooks Review www.allbookreviews.com
Publisher: Publish America
ISBN: 978-1-61582-748-0
List price: $19.95
January 2010
*Disclaimer on Homepage.
Genre: Adventure/Romance
Author: CA Bodiford
Author, CA Bodiford, has written an adventure filled story. Sarah is content living the single life, when she reconnects with someone from her past. They marry and the real saga begins. Sarah finds herself as the wife of a wealthy man and with a seemingly charmed life. As their relationship changes, violence and deceitfulness destroy her world. Fleeing for her life, she must start all over again in a new life with a new identity.
Meanwhile, Jackson, a police detective, is working the case of a missing woman who seemingly was harmed and kidnapped. The case goes terribly wrong and he, too, seeks refuge in a new place.
A chance encounter brings the two main characters together, yet they can never fully love until they learn to trust one another. Will they be able to forget their past lives and move on, or will their lives remain Hidden in the Sun.
Ms. Bodiford has created believable and endearing characters with “sit on the edge of your seat” circumstances. Adult situations and language, along with graphic details, limit this book to mature readers.
Recommended for anyone wishing to escape in the pages of a good book!
Reviewed by: Donetta Garman, Allbooks Review www.allbookreviews.com
Publisher: Publish America
ISBN: 978-1-61582-748-0
List price: $19.95
January 2010
*Disclaimer on Homepage.
Self Murder
Genre: Fiction
AVAILABLE APRIL 2010
Author: Robert Scott Leyse
SELF-MURDER. “Do you dare to fall in love?” asks the narrator of Self-Murder, and
then answers by detailing an instance of attraction to a "breath-stealing" beauty, which swiftly becomes an obsessive fixation, such that all else melts from his awareness, his sanity is stretched to its limits and madness threatens to engulf him.
Thus begins the tale of a man who plays mind games with himself as he invites you “dear reader” to follow him down the pathways of a developing criminal mind.
Of course, like many of those who follow this pathway, his problem is totally the fault of beautiful women. His lust is not his lust. It is all the fault of the beautiful and mysterious curves of young and supple women. The narrator visits peep shows and solicits young women for excesses in sensual delights, and adds prolonged sleep deprivation to erode his tenuous hold on rationality. What is real and what is imagined become totally confused to the point where both narrator and reader wonder if murder or even several murders take place before the end.
This is a good/fun read, though a tad confusing at times. But what would you expect
when entering the mind of the insane. A note to women: This is not a character you would ever want to meet. He is the extreme example of men who blame women for all their woes.
As previously mentioned, the style can be confusing because you are taken into an
increasingly unstable mind. I enjoyed the romp maybe because I rooted for the girls and wished one of them would put an end to his madness by being crazier than him
Robert Scott Leyse was born in San Francisco, grew up in various locales about America, lived in Paris for a spell, and now resides in Manhattan. He has worked as a New York cab driver, on the night shift, and has over a dozen years of experience in the legal field. His first novel, Liaisons for Laughs: Angie & Ella's Summer of Delirium appeared in July, 2009.
Self-Murder is his second novel. Visit him online at: www.robertscottleyse.com
"This is a good/fun read I can highly recommend to readers searching for something different and don't mind entering the mind of the insane." Reviewer: Peter Klein, Allbooks Reviews. www.allbookreviews.com
Publisher: ShatterColors Press
ISBN: 978-0-9821710-2-8
Pages: 224
Price: $26.95
Jan, 2010
AVAILABLE APRIL 2010
Author: Robert Scott Leyse
SELF-MURDER. “Do you dare to fall in love?” asks the narrator of Self-Murder, and
then answers by detailing an instance of attraction to a "breath-stealing" beauty, which swiftly becomes an obsessive fixation, such that all else melts from his awareness, his sanity is stretched to its limits and madness threatens to engulf him.
Thus begins the tale of a man who plays mind games with himself as he invites you “dear reader” to follow him down the pathways of a developing criminal mind.
Of course, like many of those who follow this pathway, his problem is totally the fault of beautiful women. His lust is not his lust. It is all the fault of the beautiful and mysterious curves of young and supple women. The narrator visits peep shows and solicits young women for excesses in sensual delights, and adds prolonged sleep deprivation to erode his tenuous hold on rationality. What is real and what is imagined become totally confused to the point where both narrator and reader wonder if murder or even several murders take place before the end.
This is a good/fun read, though a tad confusing at times. But what would you expect
when entering the mind of the insane. A note to women: This is not a character you would ever want to meet. He is the extreme example of men who blame women for all their woes.
As previously mentioned, the style can be confusing because you are taken into an
increasingly unstable mind. I enjoyed the romp maybe because I rooted for the girls and wished one of them would put an end to his madness by being crazier than him
Robert Scott Leyse was born in San Francisco, grew up in various locales about America, lived in Paris for a spell, and now resides in Manhattan. He has worked as a New York cab driver, on the night shift, and has over a dozen years of experience in the legal field. His first novel, Liaisons for Laughs: Angie & Ella's Summer of Delirium appeared in July, 2009.
Self-Murder is his second novel. Visit him online at: www.robertscottleyse.com
"This is a good/fun read I can highly recommend to readers searching for something different and don't mind entering the mind of the insane." Reviewer: Peter Klein, Allbooks Reviews. www.allbookreviews.com
Publisher: ShatterColors Press
ISBN: 978-0-9821710-2-8
Pages: 224
Price: $26.95
Jan, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Dragon's Hat: Who was Noah?
Genre: Religious Fiction
Author: Jack Dunn
Oliver and Justine visit Eridu, now known as Abu Shah Rain, southeast of Baghdad. They return to the Enki’s temple to retrieve the Tablet of Time that they hid on their last visit. Unfortunately, someone has removed it and other artifacts in their absence.
Meanwhile, back in New York City Jonathan and Lisa, who work for the Whiting Foundation attempt to discover the truth about the Private Security Company and the CIA’s involvement. There is some evidence that the Vatican is also involved.
Father Luke and Father Joshua follow the trail of the tablets to Berlin. The trail leads them to the Berlin Zoo, where the tablets surface, but are guarded by evil spirit who is attempting to sell them.
How do these 6 characters come together and what will they discover? Are the beliefs of the world’s religions, both current and ancient, the same after all? Is one faith’s God the same as another, with only slight variations on the legends and stories? Who was Noah and how does he influence modern day destiny?
Jack Dunn’s previous books, The Vatican Boys and Babylon’s Tablet of Destiny introduce his theories and talent for intense research. The books are works of fiction, but the author gives readers something to think about with his conspiracy theory and covert operations. His spin on the religious folklore is interesting.
Recommended by Reviewer: Shirley Roe, Allbooks Review. www.allbookreviews.com
Publisher: Raider Publishing
ISBN: 978-1935383956
Jan. 2010
Author: Jack Dunn
Oliver and Justine visit Eridu, now known as Abu Shah Rain, southeast of Baghdad. They return to the Enki’s temple to retrieve the Tablet of Time that they hid on their last visit. Unfortunately, someone has removed it and other artifacts in their absence.
Meanwhile, back in New York City Jonathan and Lisa, who work for the Whiting Foundation attempt to discover the truth about the Private Security Company and the CIA’s involvement. There is some evidence that the Vatican is also involved.
Father Luke and Father Joshua follow the trail of the tablets to Berlin. The trail leads them to the Berlin Zoo, where the tablets surface, but are guarded by evil spirit who is attempting to sell them.
How do these 6 characters come together and what will they discover? Are the beliefs of the world’s religions, both current and ancient, the same after all? Is one faith’s God the same as another, with only slight variations on the legends and stories? Who was Noah and how does he influence modern day destiny?
Jack Dunn’s previous books, The Vatican Boys and Babylon’s Tablet of Destiny introduce his theories and talent for intense research. The books are works of fiction, but the author gives readers something to think about with his conspiracy theory and covert operations. His spin on the religious folklore is interesting.
Recommended by Reviewer: Shirley Roe, Allbooks Review. www.allbookreviews.com
Publisher: Raider Publishing
ISBN: 978-1935383956
Jan. 2010
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