The San Pinto Times

The San Pinto Times is moving

2011-09-21T12:02:00.000-05:00

The San Pinto Times has moved from blogger to wordpress. This will be my last post on blogger. I've moved over all of the content but I'm still working on the little details. The site is going to change and I think it is going to look great! On to bigger and better things...and stuff.

http://gwjefferies.wordpress.com/

soon to be gwjefferies.com

Coexist (Keegan's Chronicles #1) - Chapter Excerpt

2011-09-20T09:57:00.001-05:00

Check out the first chapter to Julia Crane's Coexist (Keegan's Chronicles #1)
Coexist book excerpt - Chapter 1

Product Description for Coexist

Sixteen-year-old Keegan is struggling to keep her huge secret from her friends--she's an elf, descended from a long line of elves that live in secrecy alongside humans.

In elfin society, mates are predetermined but not allowed to meet until they are eighteen. Against tradition, Keegan's brother Thaddeus told her Rourk's name because his visions warned him she'd need Rourk's protection, especially since Keegan will play a key role in the coming war between the dark and light elves.

Rourk finds himself drawn to Keegan's side every time she thinks his name. He wants to talk to her but remains in the shadows, silently guarding her every time she mentally beckons him. A twist of fate thrusts the two of them together when Rourk is forced to step up his protection and make his presence known.

An ancient prophecy deeply entwines Keegan's family and the future of their society. Somehow they must find a way to thwart fate and win the battle...without losing Keegan. With war brewing, and dark forces aligning, will Keegan and Rourk ever have the life together that they both desire?

Book 1 - Coexist (Keegan's Chronicles #1)

Book 2 - Conflicted (Keegan's Chronicles #2)

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Fall From Grace by Matthew Munson - Chapter Excerpt

2011-09-16T15:59:00.000-05:00

Fall From Grace ... Chapter One
The Celestial Observatory

He stood at one of the large, arched windows, his shoulders tense with frustration. His eyes were staring blankly out over the star-flecked darkness of the cosmos and his mind, usually absorbed by the awe-inspiring sight of entire galactic discs, was elsewhere; he was distracted by the almighty row he had just had with his Father.

The ever-changing view of the galaxies swirling slowly past usually helped calm him after one of their arguments - but it failed today. This row had been more intense, and the bubbling, underlying resentment between them had seemed far closer to the surface. The stars weren’t doing anything to disperse the bubbling anger he felt inside. His ire was too great; the argument with his Father was still fresh in his mind, scattering any other thoughts.

“Brother?”

He looked round and saw Gabriel walking towards him, a look of concern on his youthful features.

“Gabriel,” he said softly – more softly than he had spoken with his Father. After all, it wasn’t Gabriel’s fault that his older brother and Father couldn’t last more than five minutes without arguing. “You shouldn’t be here. Return to the Chamber. They’ll think you’re allying yourself with me.”

He couldn’t keep the cynicism out of his voice, and immediately regretted not trying harder. He’d always suspected that their parents preferred Gabriel over him; he had learnt to accept it a long time ago, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t occasionally find it irritating.

Gabriel had always been the peacemaker between his older brother and their Father, trying to stop their arguments before they started – or at least soften the edges when they did, inevitably, erupt. It didn’t usually work, but to his credit, he always tried anyway.

“I don’t care if they think that,” Gabriel retorted. “You’re my brother. Why should I not stand with you? I agree with everything you said.”

His elder brother blinked in surprise at the passion in Gabriel’s voice – a passion that he didn’t often hear coming from his mild-mannered sibling. Gabriel usually kept his own counsel, because the last thing his family needed was someone else shouting in the Ruling Chamber. He knew, however, that Gabriel was old enough to make his own choices now.

Wasn’t that what my Father and I were just arguing about? he thought. Choice?

“Just ... be careful,” he cautioned. “I’m the thorn in our Father’s side; there’s no reason for you to be tarred with the same brush. You know what Father and I are like. We argue. It will pass, as it always does.”

Gabriel nodded. “I won’t disagree with you on the first point,” he conceded, and gave a wan smile. “Your arguments seem to be getting more frequent, though. They’re always about the same thing, that tiny planet. Is there anything you two can find common ground over?”

His brother hesitated. It was true, there had always been a lot of heat between him and his Father, and their arguments had been increasing. He knew why, as well; he was no longer afraid to stand up to his Father, as he once had been. In his darker moments, he wondered if this was always a good thing, or whether he was picking a fight simply because he could.

He also wondered if he cared about the answer; he knew he liked to argue just for the sake of it. Shaking his head, he smiled back at Gabriel.

“Not much.” He sighed. “I ... I dislike Father being so obsessive.”

Gabriel interrupted with a nod of his head, and neither needed to say any more on the subject – they understood each other. He nodded back, and sighed again. He’d had the argument; he didn’t want to go over it again with his brother. Gabriel was purely here as peacemaker - as he always was.

“I wish there was something I could do,” Gabriel said. “Metatron is fuming, as you can imagine. Michael is taking the brunt of it so you don’t have to, I suspect.”

His brother laughed. “Metatron is always fuming. I think the heavens would fold in on themselves if she ever found peace. As for Michael ...” He hesitated. “I admire how he stands up to her. I think he’s the only one that ever does. I can see why my Father made him commander of his armies; if he’s not afraid of Metatron, there’s not much he can be afraid of.” He raised an eyebrow. “I wonder how much trouble she’d give me if it wasn’t for Michael”

Gabriel laughed in agreement. He and his older brother fell into companionable silence, staring out of the window and watching the heavens float by.

“I need to fly,” he said after a while. “I ... I need to centre myself, and I can’t do it here.”

Gabriel nodded, and watched his older brother go. Just as he was about to leave, a thought occurred to him and he called out his brother’s name.

“Lucifer!”

His brother turned.

“You’re my brother, and I love you,” Gabriel said. “But sometimes I wonder if you argue with Father because you enjoy it or because you’re convinced you’re right.”

Lucifer stared at Gabriel for a moment, then turned and silently left the Observatory. He didn’t reply because he wasn’t sure which statement he agreed with more.

The San Pinto Times Author Interview With Matthew Munson

2011-09-16T15:55:00.001-05:00

Author Matthew Munson stops by The San Pinto Times for an author interview.

Author Name: Matthew Munson
Book Title(s): Fall From Grace
Book Category/Genre: Contemporary Fantasy
Link to book(s): www.facebook.com/MyDebutNovel
Any other links you would like to share: www.matthewmunson.co.uk (my personal website) and http://vikingbay.blogspot.com/ (my personal blog)

Tell us what the book is about:
Fall From Grace is a fantasy novel about the tribulations of a group of angels 2,000 years ago, led by Lucifer, and how their destinies are interlinked with a group of humans in the present.

Lucifer, his brother Gabriel and his friends Satan and Beelzebub fight the Almighty, who wishes to see Heaven united with Earth under his leadership. At the same time, Metatron – the Almighty’s second-in-time - is clearly increasing her influence in heaven.

Peter is an ex-priest with little direction in his life; he and his friend Lauren have begun experiencing visions of an angelic life. Joseph, Peter’s best friend, tries to look for a more rational explanation – and that brings the three of them into direct conflict.

What would you say the theme of the book is?
It's about three ordinary humans who come into contact with extraordinary situations; Paul, Lauren and Joseph are people that I think we could all identify with in one way or another, and it's their journey into the fantastical.

Do you have a favorite character from your novel(s)?
I love all of them, of course! However, if I had to pick one I identify with most of all, it's Joseph, one of the main characters; our belief systems are very similar and I suspect I would react in many of the same ways as him if I were in the same situation.

What motivates you to write?
Do you write everyday? Oh yes, I have to write everyday - I couldn't imagine not. My ambition motivates me to write - I want to be able to connect with people though my writing and perhaps even make them think - and laugh from time to time.

Who would be most interested in this novel?
Hmm, good question. Any fantasy fans, obviously (I hope!) and anyone who likes to be challenged by a book and its concepts - and to read something fresh and new.

What prompted you to write the book?
The beginnings of the story have been swirling round my head for years, ever since I went to a Catholic secondary school (I'm British, so the education system is different over here if you're reading this "abroad!"). I never had the confidence to ever put it down on paper, because I wanted to get it right - and eventually I was confident enought to write it, having written first drafts of two other books first and various short stories!

Who are your favorite authors?
Well, where do I start ... Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, China Mieville, Joe Abercrombie. Utter legends. Stephen King - naturally. James Herbert is very cool - I loved Portents. They're all phenomenal authors, truely inspirational.

Would one of your books be a good movie?
It would be great, wouldn't it! What author DOESN'T think about that at some point? Fall From Grace would undoubtedly be an epic film!

What is your dream job?
Well, I've always wanted to be an author ... :-) I don't write full-time right at the moment (I can't afford to), but I do enjoy my other job as well. I'm 30 years old right now - who knows where I'll be in ten years time!

What projects do you have planned for the future?
I've started planning for a sequel to Fall From Grace; I blog regularly, which is starting to build, and I'm not sure how much else I've got time for these days!!

I "like" you

2011-09-15T15:46:00.002-05:00

Do you like me? You can "like" me on facebook at www.facebook.com/gwjefferies

Author Blog Tour for 9-14-11

2011-09-14T10:22:00.000-05:00

NOPE---NADA----EMPTY - It didn't happen. Sorry folks, no author blog tour for this week. However, if you are interested in being part of this blog whether you want to do an interview or a book excerpt...comment in this post.

The Desert Waits [Kindle Edition] by J. Carson Black

2011-09-13T14:35:00.000-05:00

The Desert Waits

"As sharp and prickly as a desert cactus. Thoroughly entertaining."
---Carol Davis Luce, author of NIGHT STALKER

A woman answers a terrified cry for help...
A husband betrays his wife one last time...
The owner of an isolated hotel harbors a dangerous obsession...
A man succumbs to a fatal attraction...

They are four strangers whose lives converge on a lonely stretch of Arizona desert...four strangers brought together by the brutal murder of a beautiful woman. Each of them has a secret. And all of them have a reason to be afraid.

Now, someone else is going to die. For in the desert, under the merciless sun, there is no place to hide.

* * * * *

Praise for J. Carson Black's DARK HORSE (writing as Margaret Falk)

"Should put Margaret Falk in the Winner's Circle."
---Tony Hillerman

"A terrific tale of murder and mayhem set on the quarter horse racing circuit in the American Southwest…Watch out, Dick Francis."
---J. A. Jance

Katie's Hellion (Rhyn Trilogy) [Kindle Edition]

2011-09-13T09:01:00.000-05:00

Katie's Hellion (Rhyn Trilogy)

Katie’s having the worst day ever: she’s been dragged down to the police station for abandoning her son, a cute kid with big brown eyes. Only Katie doesn’t have a son. She’s never seen the five year old boy in her life, despite the insistence of the police, her doctor, even her own sister. She thinks she’s gone completely crazy until the five year old living in her house tells her his secret: he’s a baby immortal, and his guardians were supposed to wipe her mind so she’d forget he didn’t belong to her and raise him as hers. But Katie is immune to the power of immortals, and they don't react well to this discovery. Katie winds up in Hell, where she meets Rhyn, who recognizes her as an immortal's mate - and his key out of Hell.

Rhyn is a misunderstood immortal, the youngest of the seven Ancients, sentenced to Hell after accidentally almost destroying the world. Katie’s immunity to immortals creates an opportunity for them to escape Hell, so he snatches her and flees. At first, Katie despises the man who treats her like a portable food source, until she finds out he’s the only one willing and able to protect her from the dangers of the immortal world. Rhyn discovers that his little human has heart. With horror, he discovers she’s not destined to be any immortal's mate- she's destined to be his mate. He has no idea how to care for someone else let alone control his power, but he must learn, as his little human is endangered by both good and bad immortals determined to use her to their advantage.

Dead Is the New Black (Fashion Avenue Mysteries) [Kindle Edition]

2011-09-12T10:51:00.000-05:00

Dead Is the New Black (Fashion Avenue Mysteries)

Laura loves fashion designer, Jeremy St James.

Not just the clothes, but him, and she’d be with him in a heartbeat – except that he’s her boss. And he’s gay.

So when she stumbles upon a dead body in his office, and Jeremy’s arrested for the crime, she sees it as a golden opportunity to turn her life around. If she can just locate a box of logo buttons, keep the cops off her tail, break up a counterfeiting ring, and get the show on the runway by Friday, she might earn his admiration, if not his love.

Apolo Drakuvich - Chapters 1 - 8

2011-09-09T14:22:00.001-05:00

The first 8 chapters of Apolo Drakuvich are now free! Grab a copy below.

Apolo Drakuvich - Chapters 1 - 8 -- Free!

Review

A good tale. Gripping in places and emotionally freeing in some unique ways. When we find ourselves identifying with a repeat offender criminal our perspective is bound to be tweaked quite a bit - David Cleinman author of Toys In The Attic

Jefferies grabs you with this book and refuses to let go until you see it his way or no way. They say Texas is raw and gritty and this writer shows this truth in his writing. The story is mesmerizing and refuses to let go until it is finished with you. - Albert Robbins III of Free Book Reviews

Product Description

G.W. Jefferies' Apolo Drakuvich captures the life of a petty criminal on a strange ride ranging from bizarre and senseless to utterly tragic. Revolving around parasitic journalism, media and government corruption, and a ruthless, conniving judge who milks the citizens out of millions of dollars, Apolo Drakuvich can be described as a compilation of untamed and sheer madness--captivating the readers' attention from beginning to end. With its raw descriptions, penetrating dialogue and crisp writing, this book is like no other.

Within all the madness that so epitomizes the life of Apolo, G.W. Jeffries presents a life of regret in epic proportions. Sitting in a jail cell, Apolo reflects, "One thing is for sure, I let it all slip away...so many opportunities lost." Apolo sadly examines the events and decisions of his life, and the paths he took and should have taken. Apolo seeks peace of mind and justice, but flashbacks of his past continuously haunt him; moreover, he seems to be victimized by a corrupt justice system everywhere he goes.

As an offender, Apolo discusses pertinent issues of today's society, where it is next to impossible for offenders to live normal lives, despite the desire to do so. Essentially, law enforcement and authorities seem to systematically destroy the offender by placing constraints on the offender such as restrictions on where to live, GPS monitoring, registering as offenders on websites, and more.

Apolo Drakuvich is a microcosm of numerous real-life issues encompassing the wild, the bizarre, and the tragic.

Apolo Drakuvich - Chapters 1 - 8 -- Free!

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Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (Vintage) [Kindle Edition]

2011-09-08T15:34:00.000-05:00

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt (Vintage) [Kindle Edition]

Shots rang out in Savannah's grandest mansion in the misty,early morning hours of May 2, 1981. Was it murder or self-defense? For nearly a decade, the shooting and its aftermath reverberated throughout this hauntingly beautiful city of moss-hung oaks and shaded squares. John Berendt's sharply observed, suspenseful, and witty narrative reads like a thoroughly engrossing novel, and yet it is a work of nonfiction. Berendt skillfully interweaves a hugely entertaining first-person account of life in this isolated remnant of the Old South with the unpredictable twists and turns of a landmark murder case.

It is a spellbinding story peopled by a gallery of remarkable characters: the well-bred society ladies of the Married Woman's Card Club; the turbulent young redneck gigolo; the hapless recluse who owns a bottle of poison so powerful it could kill every man, woman, and child in Savannah; the aging and profane Southern belle who is the "soul of pampered self-absorption"; the uproariously funny black drag queen; the acerbic and arrogant antiques dealer; the sweet-talking, piano-playing con artist; young blacks dancing the minuet at the black debutante ball; and Minerva, the voodoo priestess who works her magic in the graveyard at midnight. These and other Savannahians act as a Greek chorus, with Berendt revealing the alliances, hostilities, and intrigues that thrive in a town where everyone knows everyone else.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil: A Savannah Story is a sublime and seductive reading experience. Brilliantly conceived and masterfully written, this enormously engaging portrait of a most beguiling Southern city is certain to become a modern classic.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (Vintage)

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Michael Hart, inventor of the ebook, dies

2011-09-08T13:11:00.000-05:00

Michael Hart, inventor of the ebook, dies

Ssad news to report in the ebook world. The inventor of the ebook has passed away. Michael Hart was the founder of Project Gutenberg and he invented the ebook in 1971.

Free Book Reviews - Apolo Drakuvich

2011-09-07T15:27:00.002-05:00

Free Book Reviews - Apolo Drakuvich

Review

Overall Feedback: Jefferies grabs you with this book and refuses to let go until you see it his way or no way. They say Texas is raw and gritty and this writer shows this truth in his writing. The story is mesmerizing and refuses to let go until it is finished with you.

Point of View: Jefferies is direct with the point of view and really grabs the attention of the reader.

Voice: The voice again is direct in an entertaining way but the story itself is what draws you in.

Character Development: You can not help but feel for Apolo and empathize with him throughout the book.

Plot: We all know that a corrupt system exists and we all know this HAS happened in some form or another.

Dialogue: Gritty, fast paced and delivered flawlessly.

Pacing: Imagine the open expanse of the Texas Country Side fit inside of Rhode Island and that is how the plot moves. Meaning it feels wide open but the author finds a way to fit it all in between the pages he allowed. WOW!

Setting: Again we all know this could or did happen somewhere in some fashion.

Continuity: The bow is a little skewed but the author does a nice job of making it tied and in place.

The Halloween Collection - FREE

2011-09-07T14:49:00.000-05:00

The Halloween Collection

Ebook Short Description

The Indie Eclective: What is it, who are they, and why can they spell neither “eclectic” nor “collective” correctly? The Indie Eclective is an ensemble of authors operating under the assumption that Readers like Good Books. The Halloween Collection showcases spooky reads from nine very different authors.

Extended Description

The Halloween Collection from The Indie Eclective

Rhyn Trilogy: Origins, by Lizzy Ford: Gabriel's fate as an assassin seems set until he meets a courageous half-demon child named Rhyn, whose plight rekindles the humanity he thought he'd lost.

Ralphie the Special Werewolf by P.J. Jones: Ralphie doesn’t want to get snipped, but his pack is tired of watching him defile the sofa cushions. Now, he’s got to find a mate by Halloween night—or else.... (Read more) The Halloween Collection from The Indie Eclective

Rhyn Trilogy: Origins, by Lizzy Ford: Gabriel's fate as an assassin seems set until he meets a courageous half-demon child named Rhyn, whose plight rekindles the humanity he thought he'd lost.

Ralphie the Special Werewolf by P.J. Jones: Ralphie doesn’t want to get snipped, but his pack is tired of watching him defile the sofa cushions. Now, he’s got to find a mate by Halloween night—or else.

Sunwalker's Kiss by Shéa MacLeod: While searching for a magical bloodline, Sunwalker Jackson Keel discovers magic of a different kind.

The Village of Those Who Touch The Dead by M. Edward McNally: "All obligations will be paid. There are no exceptions."’

Haunting in OR 13, by Alan Nayes: Halloween never frightened Sara McCaffe, until she stepped into Operating Room 13!

To Taste of Shimmering Revenge by Jack Wallen: A vampire is awakened after four hundred years only to find his kind embarrassed and shamed by the rash of shimmery, hunky vampires on the big screen. His revenge will be sweet and tasty.

Magickal Vendetta by Heather Adkins - Revenge is a dish best served up in a pink saucepan for accident-prone blood witch, Gretchen. By harnessing the power of Halloween, she hopes to break the bond with the soulmate who did her wrong.

From the Keegan’s Chronicles series: Haunted House by Julia Crane - Keegan, Lauren, and Anna find much more than they bargained for during an innocent trip to a commercial haunted house. Someone long dead awaits them on the second floor...

From the Gifted Teens series: Mind-Blower by Talia Jager - Kassia and Daxton’s romantic picnic is interrupted by the arrival of creatures bent on her destruction. Will her powers fail her when she needs them most?

About The Halloween Collection:

The Indie Eclective: What is it, who are they, and why can they spell neither “eclectic” nor “collective” correctly? The Indie Eclective is an ensemble of authors operating under the assumption that Readers like Good Books. The Halloween Collection showcases spooky reads from nine very different authors. Whether you enjoy light or dark paranormal, YA or adult-themed genres, there’s bound to be a story to suit your tastes. Thanks for reading!

The ebook is free and available on Smashwords in multiple formats.
Check it out...here!

The San Pinto Times - Author Interview with Laura Yirak

2011-09-07T08:12:00.000-05:00

Author Laura Yirak stops by the San Pinto Times for a wonderful interview.

Author Name: Laura Yirak

Book Title(s): Delivered to Eternity

Book Category/Genre: Adult thrillers and Children’s books

Link to book(s): Amazon

Any other links you would like to share: http://dreamsofdiamondsauthor.blogspot.com/

Tell us what the book is about:

Alesta is a nurse with a secret. When babies start disappearing from her hospital, the police investigation implicates her. The police, however, are the least of her problems, as her past comes back alive. Such is the way with vampires.

Alexandria, Scotland has no idea what’s coming!

This tale is fast-paced, thrilling and delivers it all, with a bit of bite, fear, all wrapped up in Scottish humor.

What would you say the theme of the book is?

What really happens to one’s soul?

Do you have a favorite character from your novel(s)?

My favorite character is Alesta. She is so much more than just a regular old vamp. She has a dark past which involves her abusive vampire husband William, a stable lad, and a human named Patrick.

What motivates you to write? Do you write everyday?

Writing gives me a place where I can focus my over-active imagination. I write passionately everyday.

Who would be most interested in this novel?

Vampire lovers of course!!!! And if you like to be scared ;)

Who are your favorite authors?

Colleen Mccullough

Would one of your books be a good movie?

I love movies. It would be a dream to have Alesta on the big screen.

What is your dream job?

To write full time. I only get 2 hours a day to do it.

What projects do you have planned for the future?

I am working on a psycho-thriller now----ooooooo

Bossypants [Kindle Edition]

2011-09-06T09:28:00.000-05:00

Once in a generation a woman comes along who changes everything. Tina Fey is not that woman, but she met that woman once and acted weird around her.

PRAISE FOR TINA FEY:

"You'd be really pretty if you lost weight." (College Boyfriend, 1990 )

"Tina Fey is an ugly, pear-shaped, overrated troll." (The Internet )

"Mommy, where are my pretzels?" (Tracy Morgan )

ADVANCE PRAISE FOR BOSSYPANTS:

"I hope that's not really the cover. That's really going to hurt sales." (Don Fey, Father of Tina Fey )

"Absolutely delicious!" (A Guy Who Eats Books )

"Totally worth it." (Trees )

"Do not print this glowing recommendation of Tina Fey's book until I've been dead a hundred years." (Mark Twain )

"Hilarious and insightful. Laugh-out-loud funny -- oh no, a full moon. No! Arrgh! Get away from me! Save yourself!" (A Guy Turning into a Werewolf )

Bossypants

'That stupid b**** got what she deserved (I'll bet she was fat and black too)'. Shocking emails of Texas police hacked and dumped online

2011-09-02T13:14:00.002-05:00

This is disgusting.

----
'That stupid b**** got what she deserved (I'll bet she was fat and black too)'. Shocking emails of Texas police hacked and dumped online

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2032981/F--guy-sounds-like-good-police-work-Embarrassment-Texas-police-emails-hacked-dumped-online.html#ixzz1Wp8VLooH

The guilty list - books you should have already read

2011-09-02T12:05:00.000-05:00

The guilty list - books you should have already read. If you have not read these books...get them now. Read them...they are classics.

In no particular order (more to come soon):

Not What She Seems [Kindle Edition]

2011-09-02T11:50:00.000-05:00

Not What She Seems [Kindle Edition]
Victorine E. Lieske

A New York Times bestseller!

Steven Ashton, a billionaire from New York, and Emily Grant, on the run from the law...and when they meet he can’t help falling for her. What he doesn’t know is that interfering in her life will put his own life in danger.

Not What She Seems holds you in suspense from the moment you begin down the path of murder and romance.

Synopsis:
When billionaire Steven Ashton couldn’t stand his high society social life anymore, he left the stress of New York on a vacation for his soul. The need to meet real down to earth people led him to a small Nebraska town he remembered visiting as a child. He didn’t want to lie about who he was, but he couldn’t exactly tell them the truth.

Emily could have easily fallen in love with Steven, under different circumstances, but her past was catching up with her and she needed a new life. If the authorities found out about her, she could lose the one thing that meant everything, her four year old son.

Not What She Seems is approximately 67,000 words long.

This book is a "sweet" romantic suspense, appropriate for all ages.

Also by Victorine: The Overtaking - Book One of The Overtaking Series. (YA Romance)

Until Death [Kindle Edition]

2011-09-01T15:34:00.000-05:00

Until Death

Product Description

Darla longs to work magic but when, on her 18th birthday, a demon reveals to her she is a sorcerer, one of the most powerful creatures of magic that can exist, she discovers that nothing comes without a price. Long ago, the Council of Mages declared that sorcerers were too powerful to exist and hunted them almost to extinction. Her family pleads with Darla to renounce her powers, but can she give up what she has sought for so long? Faced with a choice between death and giving up the only thing she has ever wanted, Darla desperately searches for a third option. Perhaps, with the help of a good demon, she can discover how to change her fate.

Excerpt:

Nervous, I peeked into the break room. It was vacant. I realized I had been holding my breath and
exhaled. Hands shaking, I set out my spelling
regents, lit incense, purified the area, grounded and then readied myself to cast
the spell. It would work this time. It had to work. If it didn't ... I shuddered.
I couldn't think about that, it could jinx the spell.

I cast a circle of power, starting in the north then working
my way through east, south, west and then back to north. Feeling the circle close I called the
guardians of air, fire, water and earth.
As the last guardian was invoked I felt a stirring of power, like a
light electric charge, infuse the incense laden air.

It was an encouraging beginning but I'd come this far before
only to have the spell fall flat as a soufflé on an artillery testing range.

Shaking myself -- no negative thoughts! -- I began the main
spellwork. Since all spellwork is fueled
by magical energy I needed to raise some.
There are as many ways of raising energy as there are magical
practitioners. Certain ways are faster
than others but almost any repetitive activity will work if you stay focused
and keep at it long enough. I love to
sing and dance and so used my body and voice to shape the rising currents. This was another reason I wanted
privacy.

When the hum of building energy plateaued I began to weave
the spell. The idea was that at some
point the energy would peek and, at just that point, the last part of the spell
would be spoken and the energy raised would be directed into it to fuel the
working. If there wasn't enough energy,
or if the timing was off, the spell wouldn't have a power source and would be
as useful as a cell phone with a dead battery.

This last bit was the tricky part, the part I had never been
able to pull off. People were beginning
to whisper that I was a mundane -- a person not able to bind energy into a
spell. Sure, I could invoke spells someone
else had bound to an energy source and stored in an object, a wand for instance,
but even a mundane could do that.

As I sang and danced around the break room I could feel the
tingle of magical energy glide over my skin.
The energy was building. I
smiled. It was close. So close.

Keeping my awareness on the magical currents, I uttered the
last words of the spell and gave the push of will that would drive the two
together, sending the spell to feed off the energy raised and release itself
into the world. Only a little more ...
There! As I uttered the last syllable of
the spell I felt something begin to swirl around me like a breeze. It was
working!

And then .... nothing.

At the last moment a wash of cold radiated from my solar
plexus, driving the hot airy currents of energy down, grounding them. For a moment I felt the spell reaching for
the hot energy, hungering for it, but then it began to unravel.

I fell down on my butt, tears in my eyes. Why!
Why did this always happen? I had
been so close that time. So close. But close is never good enough, is it?

Noises outside the door, garbled words. Eli's voice.
Crap! I lunged toward my spelling
supplies and tried to extinguish the burning incense. I wasn't supposed to be spelling in the break
room. It had been banned last year after
a neophyte practicing an implosion spell had destroyed half the school.

From the Author

When I began writing Until Death I started with the idea of a teenager who wants, more than anything, just to be normal. In her world, this means being able to use magic, but she can't. She is a mundane. At the beginning of the book, it turns out that she isn't a mundane, that she is a very powerful kind of magical critter and, when folks find this out, they become scared of her and want to kill her. There's a lot more to the book than that, but Darla and her apparent lack of magical ability was the idea the book unfolded around.

Some writers can sit down and the story pours out of them on the first draft and they come back and tweak some things and clean up others and, a couple of drafts later, their book is done. Oh how I envy them! I'm a multiple drafts kind of gal, starting with a first draft that is little more than a rough outline. I think I went through nine drafts with Until Death.

I enjoyed writing this book and I hope you will enjoy reading it. Information about my blog and how to get in contact with me is on the right hand side of this page, I would love to hear from you!

F*ck yeah! 18 Kurt Vonnegut Books for $3.99 Each

2011-09-01T13:25:00.000-05:00

18 Kurt Vonnegut Books for $3.99 Each

Now through September 28, Amazon is offering 18 books by Kurt Vonnegut for just $3.99 each. That's a great deal!

Free eBooks for Fiction Writers

2011-09-01T10:24:00.000-05:00

Are you a fiction writer and you need a few pointers? Here is a list of free eBooks for fiction writers that will help you out.

70 Solutions to Common Writing Mistakes

Ask a Literary Agent (Year One)

How to Write a Great Query Letter

The Newbie's Guide to Publishing (Everything A Writer Needs To Know)

2011-08-30T16:59:00.000-05:00

Are you a writer?

This book was written for you.

It doesn't matter if you're just getting your ears wet and learning your craft, or if you're a seasoned pro with an extensive backlist. The Newbie's Guide to Publishing contains all of the information you need to understand the writing business and maximize your sales and success.

There's over 370,000 words of writing advice, tips, tricks, and observations. That's more than 1100 pages. It's the biggest book on writing and publishing ever put together, featuring hundreds of essays on the following topics:

WRITING - More than forty essays, covering everything you need to know to craft fiction.

BREAKING IN - Over forty essays on how to find an agent and sell your writing.

PUBLISHING - More than twenty essays about the publishing business, and how it works.

PROMOTION - Over fifty essays on marketing, advertising, and self-promotion.

TOURING - Extensive, in-depth details on how to do book tours and signings.

INTERNET - Dozens of essays on how writers can effectively use the world wide web.

EBOOKS - Speculation and real-life examples of digital publishing, the Kindle, print on demand, and self-publishing.

MOTIVATION - Over fifty essays guaranteed to enlighten and inspire your writing efforts.

Plus many, many more.

It also includes a foreword and several bonus essays by bestselling author Barry Eisler.

About the Author

J.A. Konrath has written dozens of novels and hundreds of short stories. His work has been published in over a dozen countries, and there are millions of copies of his fiction in print.

His blog, A Newbie's Guide to Publishing, has been named one of Writer's Digest Magazine's Best Web Sites.

In a 12 month period, he sold over 35,000 self-published ebooks on Amazon Kindle.

He's been featured in Writer's Digest, Forbes, Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, Publisher's Weekly, Book Page, Entertainment Weekly, and The Huffington Post.

Konrath is known as the hardest working author in the business, having toured more than 1200 bookstores. He's done successful blog tours, sent over 7000 letters to libraries, and has been flown all across the country to speak on the topics of publishing, marketing, ebooks, and self-promotion.

Under the pen name Jack Kilborn, he wrote the horror novels Afraid, Trapped, Endurance, and Draculas. The Jack Daniels thriller series has houndreds of thousands of books in print around the world. The latest is Shaken, published by AmazonEncore.

GRAB A FREE COPY!
The Newbie's Guide to Publishing (Everything A Writer Needs To Know)

Barbary Point [Kindle Edition]

2011-08-29T09:29:00.000-05:00

Barbary Point [Kindle Edition] by Alan Nayes

Product Description

When Kelly English flies back to Oshkosh,Wisconsin, to close out her father's estate, the last thing on her mind is falling in love. Again. Kelly is twenty-eight and engaged to an older man who is quite wealthy. She's happy, and only desires to make the trip back brief, sell her deceased father's place, and return to her stable life in Los Angeles. However, while taking care of business in Oshkosh, Kelly meets a fishing guide, launching her on an emotional journey she never could have predicted or foreseen. BARBARY POINT is Kelly's story of what happened that one magical week in May on the shores of Lake Winnebago when the ducklings hatch and the walleye run.

Alan Nayes is the author of the critically acclaimed biomedical thrillers
GARGOYLES and THE UNNATURAL.

About the Author

Alan Nayes was born in Houston and grew up on the Texas gulf coast. He lives in southern California.

An Unwilling Baroness

2011-08-29T09:26:00.000-05:00

An Unwilling Baroness [Kindle Edition]

by Harris Channing

Three years ago, Chloe allowed her heart's desire to leave her. Now Jude is back, but between his mother,her father and the Baron von Richter, is she destined to become an unwilling baroness?

The Book of Lost Souls [Kindle Edition]

2011-08-27T08:47:00.001-05:00

The Book of Lost Souls [Kindle Edition] - Michelle Muto

When teen witch Ivy MacTavish changes a lizard into her date for a Halloween dance, everything turns to chaos. And when no one is powerful enough to transform him back except Ivy, it sparks the rumor: Like father, like daughter. Ivy has heard it all before - that her father, who left when she was seven - was involved with the darkest of magic.

Making the rumors worse, someone uses an evil spell book to bring back two of history's most nefarious killers. Ivy's got a simple plan to set things right: find the real dark spell caster, steal the book, and reverse the spell. No problem! But she'll have to deal with something more dangerous than murderous spirits that want her and her friends dead: the school's resident bad boy and hotter-than-brimstone demon, Nick Marcelli. Nick's offering Ivy more than his help with recovering the missing book - he's offering her a way to ditch her scaly reputation as a lizard-lover. Demons are about as hard to handle as black magic, and as Ivy soon discovers, it's going to take more than a lot of luck and a little charm if she wants to survive long enough to clear her status as a dark witch, get a warm-blooded boyfriend, and have her former date back to eating meal worms before the week's end.

Full length novel: 83,500 words/approx 324 pages.

$1.99

On Writing [Kindle Edition] - Stephen King

2011-08-27T07:42:00.000-05:00

On Writing [Kindle Edition] - Stephen King

Long live the King hailed Entertainment Weekly upon publication of Stephen King’s On Writing. Part memoir, part master class by one of the bestselling authors of all time, this superb volume is a revealing and practical view of the writer’s craft, comprising the basic tools of the trade every writer must have. King’s advice is grounded in his vivid memories from childhood through his emergence as a writer, from his struggling early career to his widely reported, near-fatal accident in 1999—and how the inextricable link between writing and living spurred his recovery. Brilliantly structured, friendly and inspiring, On Writing will empower and entertain everyone who reads it—fans, writers, and anyone who loves a great story well told.

Low Priced Ebooks - .99 eBooks In The Top 20 Of The Best Sellers in Kindle Store

2011-08-26T14:21:00.001-05:00

There is a lot of debate going on about having .99 as an ebook price. The main concern is that at this price, .99 devalues a book. Some critics say that the hard work placed in a book should reflect in the price. This low price even depresses some authors. (see article below)

An author may feel they are just whoring themselves out by having such a low price for a book. But there are people making a lot of money by having cheaply priced books. (Theresa Ragan - Sales Update: Five Months Later...)

Create a price strategy for your books. Have a couple books priced at .99 and others at 2.99. You will have a better shot of making more sales if you are an unknown author by having a lower price.

Observe the trends and follow your instinct. Don't be afraid to experiment with the price but remember to have long term goals. The odds are that you will not be an instant success, so have a plan and do your research.

And as always, write...write...and write some more!

Why 99-Cent e-Books Are a Bad Deal -- For Authors

Zoe Winters on E-book Pricing: Does Low-balling Attract the Wrong Kind of Reader?

99¢ ebooks Good or Bad For Us???

Proof that .99 is a good price...Six books are in the top 20 Of The Best Sellers in Kindle Store and they are .99.

Mile 81 (Kindle Single) [Kindle Edition] - Stephen King

2011-08-26T08:38:00.000-05:00

Mile 81 (Kindle Single) [Kindle Edition] - Stephen King

With the heart of Stand By Me and the genius horror of Christine, Mile 81 is Stephen King unleashing his imagination as he drives past one of those road signs...

At Mile 81 on the Maine Turnpike is a boarded up rest stop on a highway in Maine. It's a place where high school kids drink and get into the kind of trouble high school kids have always gotten into. It's the place where Pete Simmons goes when his older brother, who's supposed to be looking out for him, heads off to the gravel pit to play "paratroopers over the side." Pete, armed only with the magnifying glass he got for his tenth birthday, finds a discarded bottle of vodka in the boarded up burger shack and drinks enough to pass out.

Not much later, a mud-covered station wagon (which is strange because there hadn't been any rain in New England for over a week) veers into the Mile 81 rest area, ignoring the sign that says "closed, no services." The driver's door opens but nobody gets out.

Doug Clayton, an insurance man from Bangor, is driving his Prius to a conference in Portland. On the backseat are his briefcase and suitcase and in the passenger bucket is a King James Bible, what Doug calls "the ultimate insurance manual," but it isn't going to save Doug when he decides to be the Good Samaritan and help the guy in the broken down wagon. He pulls up behind it, puts on his four-ways, and then notices that the wagon has no plates.

Ten minutes later, Julianne Vernon, pulling a horse trailer, spots the Prius and the wagon, and pulls over. Julianne finds Doug Clayton's cracked cell phone near the wagon door — and gets too close herself. By the time Pete Simmons wakes up from his vodka nap, there are a half a dozen cars at the Mile 81 rest stop. Two kids — Rachel and Blake Lussier —and one horse named Deedee are the only living left. Unless you maybe count the wagon.

Price: 2.99

One word review for Apolo Drakuvich

2011-08-25T14:42:00.000-05:00

‎One word review for Apolo Drakuvich!

3 star rating on Goodreads.com for Apolo Drakuvich ---- "Odd."

Eddie's Shorts - Volume 1 [Kindle Edition]

2011-08-25T08:31:00.000-05:00

Eddie's Shorts - Volume 1 [Kindle Edition]
by M. Edward McNally

The first volume of short stories written by M. Edward McNally, circa 1991-1997.

Contents: Bedlam - "The Saturday after my dad first shows up, Walter makes his break for the woods, and vanishes."

7:00 C/M (Seven, Central and Mountain) - Let's see what's on tonight, shall we?

FREE!

Requiem for Darkness - A Paranormal Romance Featuring Fallen Angels, Demons, and Witches (Requiem Chronicles) [Kindle Edition]

2011-08-24T13:27:00.000-05:00

Requiem for Darkness - A Paranormal Romance Featuring Fallen Angels, Demons, and Witches (Requiem Chronicles) [Kindle Edition]

Betrothed by her mother to a demon before she was born, and forced into a marriage with a man she has never met, eighteen-year-old half witch Beth Hall crosses paths with a fallen angel named Malachai.

Malachai is tormented by the choices that led him to fall from grace, and she befriends the heartbroken angel, convinced he is truly redeemable. She believes she can help him return to Heaven and reclaim his place among the angels.

When things get hot, Beth must choose between her budding love for her demon husband, and doing what is right by the fallen angel who trusts her with his life.

Requiem for Darkness - A Paranormal Romance Featuring Fallen Angels, Demons, and Witches (Requiem Chronicles) - .99

Jurassic Park [Mass Market Paperback]

2011-08-24T08:15:00.000-05:00

Jurassic Park [Mass Market Paperback]

Product Description
An astonishing technique for recovering and cloning dinosaur DNA has been discovered. Creatures once extinct now roam Jurassic Park, soon-to-be opened as a theme park. Until something goes wrong...and science proves a dangerous toy....
"Wonderful...Powerful."
THE WASHINGTON POST BOOK WORLD

Jurassic Park

Great book! I had to read it in High School...very entertaining. If you enjoyed the movie you will really enjoy Jurassic Park

Hey, your book sucks.

2011-08-23T14:06:00.000-05:00

"After comparing with this item..." is a dumb feature that Amazon has brought out. Don't get me wrong, I love Amazon! My books are sold by Amazon. But this feature isn't that great. Maybe I'm looking at this wrong but I get the feeling that with this feature it is like Amazon is saying "Hey! HEY YOU! This book sucks but here are two others you might like even more!"

If a potential customer does scoll down my page and sees this won't they want to buy the other two books instead???

Anyway, here are the stats:

84% bought Crossing The Bridge ($3.19)
8% bought Apolo Drakuvich ($.99)

70% bought Megan's Way (FREE!!!)
15% bought Apolo Drakuvich ($.99)

So, after reading the three different blurbs I've come to the conclusion that these three books share something in common...they are all sad and depressing.

The price for Apolo is at .99 and that is a great price for 33k words. :)

Crossing the Bridge

Product Description

Hugh Penders has been stuck in neutral for nearly a decade since his brother Chase died in a car accident. He carries with him two secrets that he has never been able to share with anyone: that he believes he might have been able to prevent the accident, and that he was deeply in love with Chase's girlfriend, Iris.

When Hugh's father suffers a debilitating heart attack, Hugh must return to the New England home he's been running away from for the past ten years. One day, he encounters Iris, who has long since moved away, on the street. They begin a friendship and Hugh believes he's falling in love with Iris all over again.

But the ghost of Chase haunts both of them. And when each reveals a truth the other never knew, their lives, their vision of Chase, and their chances for a future together will change forever.

Charged by the power of desire and the impact of loss, Crossing the Bridge is a soulful, romantic novel that will speak to you deeply

Megan's Way

Product Description
**PLEASE READ BEFORE REVIEWING**

If you downloaded the Kindle version of Megan's Way prior to 10pm EST, 8/17/11, then you have a file with conversion errors (which mimic editing errors). PLEASE REDOWNLOAD the corrected file (now available) before reviewing** Read about conversion errors on the authors website.

**We apologize for the inconvenience**

What would you give up for the people you love?

When Megan Taylor, a single mother and artist, receives the shocking news that her cancer has returned, she'll be faced with the most difficult decision she's ever had to make. She'll endure an emotional journey, questioning her own moral and ethical values, and the decisions she'd made long ago. The love she has for her daughter, Olivia, and her closest friends, will be stretched and frayed.

Meanwhile, fourteen-year-old Olivia's world is falling apart right before her eyes, and there's nothing she can do about it. She finds herself acting in ways she cannot even begin to understand. When her internal struggles turn to dangerous behavior, her life will hang in the balance.

Megan's closest friends are caught in a tangled web of deceit. Each must figure out how, and if, they can expose their secrets, or forever be haunted by their pasts.

Apolo Drakuvich

Product Description

G.W. Jefferies' Apolo Drakuvich captures the life of a petty criminal on a strange ride ranging from bizarre and senseless to utterly tragic. Revolving around parasitic journalism, media and government corruption, and a ruthless, conniving judge who milks the citizens out of millions of dollars, Apolo Drakuvich can be described as a compilation of untamed and sheer madness--captivating the readers' attention from beginning to end. With its raw descriptions, penetrating dialogue and crisp writing, this book is like no other.

Within all the madness that so epitomizes the life of Apolo, G.W. Jeffries presents a life of regret in epic proportions. Sitting in a jail cell, Apolo reflects, "One thing is for sure, I let it all slip away...so many opportunities lost." Apolo sadly examines the events and decisions of his life, and the paths he took and should have taken. Apolo seeks peace of mind and justice, but flashbacks of his past continuously haunt him; moreover, he seems to be victimized by a corrupt justice system everywhere he goes.

As an offender, Apolo discusses pertinent issues of today's society, where it is next to impossible for offenders to live normal lives, despite the desire to do so. Essentially, law enforcement and authorities seem to systematically destroy the offender by placing constraints on the offender such as restrictions on where to live, GPS monitoring, registering as offenders on websites, and more.

Apolo Drakuvich is a microcosm of numerous real-life issues encompassing the wild, the bizarre, and the tragic.

Business cards

2011-08-23T10:46:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure how many indie authors use business cards but I think it's a good idea. You never know who you might run into and having a few in your wallet or purse might be a good idea.

Business Cards: A Great Idea for Branding

There is so much that you do in order to promote your business and attract potential customers. You come up with innovative marketing strategies, exciting offers, schemes and what not! However, have you ever given this sort of importance to your business card. Probably not, and that is the reason you have not been as successful as you would want to be. All that you do to promote your business is called branding, so that your brand remains in the customer's mind for a very long time. And business cards can be a potential branding tool too.

If you are not going for a calling card at all, or worse, going for a clumsy card, you need help! And you can take this help from a business card designing software to create amazing cards on your own. As an entrepreneur, you definitely understand how important branding is for your business. And missing out on any bright idea to promote your business will be foolishness. Therefore, taking your visiting card seriously is advisable if you want to leave an impact on the prospective clients. You might have a small business or a huge enterprise, maintaining customer-relationship is essential and business cards can help you in doing so. Let's say, for instance, you met somebody at the supermarket or a metro, and you start talking about various things. You find out the person is a potential customer, and you might get a chance to slip in your business card at the right moment. However, if you don't have one, the person might as well forget you. Well, not if you are carrying a business card and hand it over to him. The person will definitely remember you whenever he needs your services.

Another important thing is how you design your card using the right software so that it does the perfect branding for your business. A simple-looking card with the required elements can leave a lasting impression on the minds of the customers. It should not look overdone in terms of design and should be able to speak for you in the market. The most successful business cards are those that make your presence visible in the marketplace. Therefore, going for an apt software to design a calling card is essential. You can create the right impact and grab the attention of the targeted customers with the right card. In addition, you don't have to pay hefty amounts to designers to get your card designed if you have the perfect software to design one.

The World According to Garp (Modern Library) [Hardcover]

2011-08-23T10:26:00.000-05:00

The World According to Garp (Modern Library) [Hardcover] by John Irving

The World According to Garp is a comic and compassionate coming-of-age novel that established John Irving as one of the most imaginative writers of his generation. A worldwide bestseller since its publication in 1978, Irving's classic is filled with stories inside stories about the life and times of T. S. Garp, novelist and bastard son of Jenny Fields--a feminist leader ahead of her time. Beyond that, The World According to Garp virtually defies synopsis.

----"Nothing in contemporary fiction matches it," said critic Terrence Des Pres. "Irving's blend of gravity and play is unique, audacious, almost blasphemous. . . . Friendship, marriage and family are his primary themes, but at that blundering level of life where mishap and folly--something close to joyful malice--perpetually intrude and disrupt, often fatally. Life, in Irving's fiction, is always under siege." Time magazine commented: "Irving's popularity is not hard to understand. His world is really the world according to nearly everyone."

----This Modern Library edition includes a new Introduction by the author.

The Modern Library has played a significant role in American cultural life for the better part of a century. The series was founded in 1917 by the publishers Boni and Liveright and eight years later acquired by Bennett Cerf and Donald Klopfer. It provided the foundation for their next publishing venture, Random House. The Modern Library has been a staple of the American book trade, providing readers with affordable hardbound editons of impor-tant works of literature and thought. For the Modern Library's seventy-fifth anniversary, Random House redesigned the series, restoringas its emblem the running torchbearer created by Lucian Bernhard in 1925 and refurbishing jackets, bindings, and type, as well as inaugurating a new program of selecting titles. The Modern Library continues to provide the world's best books, at the best prices.

The World According to Garp (Modern Library)

Mad Gods Redux (Predatory Ethics) [Kindle Edition]

2011-08-23T07:01:00.001-05:00

Mad Gods Redux (Predatory Ethics) by Athanasios

Kostadino Paleologos is a descendant of Byzantine emperors and lives with honour, duty and sacrifice. Every year he returns to Istanbul and sends trapped souls to their deserved rest. The final soul in this solemn task sends him on a quest to the mythic, ancient Library of Alexandria. There he finds the Idammah-Gan Codex, a unique book which convinces him to abduct the infant Antichrist and raise him as his own. They live life on the run pursued by Satanists, Catholic Church & Dark Nobility, who want the baby back or dead.

What I liked about Mad Gods was that the author started the reader out on a journey right from the onset of the book--the plot was well written, easy to understand, and thought provoking.
Cheryl Bradshaw

Mad Gods takes its reader on a spellbinding journey that spans different continents and time periods. The author seamlessly weaves an intricate plot that connects an array of fascinating characters that propel the momentum of this wonderfully ambitious narrative.
Aman S. Anand

Mad Gods Redux (Predatory Ethics) - $2.99

Books by G.R. Yeates

2011-08-22T15:14:00.000-05:00

Shapes in the Mist (A Vetala Cycle Novel) [Kindle Edition]
G.R. Yeates (Author)

London’s most notorious murderer walks its streets once more.

Whitechapel, 1917. Jerry Reinhart, an American fighter-pilot, returns to London to convalesce after losing an aerial joust with the German ace, Baron von Richtofen. Sick and unstable, he loses himself in the seedy streets, unaware that he has brought back something unspeakable with him from the Western Front. Something that begins to take on the shape of a killer who was never caught. As the bombs rain down on old London town, a man named Jack is being reborn.

This work is DRM-free and lendable.

Shapes in the Mist (A Vetala Cycle Novel)

The Eyes of the Dead (A Vetala Cycle Novel) [Kindle Edition]
G.R. Yeates

Vampires are loose in the trenches of the First World War.

Passchendaele, 1917. Private Reg Wilson is a man with a name but no memories. A soldier who remembers nothing of life before the fighting began. Until he comes to Black Wood, a tainted place that knows him intimately. There, he will discover a darkness buried long ago by time and dust. An appetite that has been awoken by war. A hunger that will feed upon his blood, his regrets and his worst fears. It will show him what he has forgotten. It will show him nightmare made flesh. And, before he dies, it will make him look deep into the eyes of the dead.

This work is DRM-free and lendable.

The Eyes of the Dead (A Vetala Cycle Novel)

Naughty Little Schnitzel [Kindle Edition]

2011-08-22T09:13:00.000-05:00

Naughty Little Schnitzel [Kindle Edition]
PJ Jones (Author)

Ted Ledbetter has dreamed of becoming a porn star, just like his late father, Thunderhead Ted. Unfortunately, Ted’s got one small problem preventing him from making it in this cut-throat industry. With the help of his beautiful, yet frightening assistant, Ted’s determined to produce his own adult film and prove to the world that he’s man enough to be a Naughty Little Schnitzel.

Also included is a sample chapter from the sparkly parody, The Vampire Handbook.

Grab a FREE copy

Naughty Little Schnitzel

That Bear Ate My Pants! [Kindle Edition]

2011-08-22T08:57:00.000-05:00

That Bear Ate My Pants! by Tony James Slater

There comes a time in every man’s life when he says to himself, “Holy Sh*t! I’m about to be eaten by a bear!”

Tony James Slater went to Ecuador, determined to become a man.
It never occurred to him that ‘or die trying’ might be an option...

The trouble with volunteering in a South American animal refuge is that everything wants a piece of you. And the trouble with being Tony, is that most of them got one.

Just how do you ‘look after’ something that’s trying it’s damnedest to kill you and eat you?
And how do you find love when you a) don’t speak the language, and b) are constantly covered in excrement and entrails?

If only he’d had some relevant experience. Other than owning a pet rabbit when he was nine. And if only he’d bought some travel insurance...

That Bear Ate My Pants is the hilarious tale of one man’s quest to better himself. Whether losing a machete fight with a tree, picking dead tarantulas out of a tank of live ones or sewing the head back on to a partially decapitated crocodile, Tony’s misadventures are ridiculous, unbelievable and always entertaining.

Long before Sky One got involved, there were already plenty of Idiots Abroad. This is the story of one of them...

That Bear Ate My Pants! - $2.99

Animal Farm: Centennial Edition [Paperback]

2011-08-18T10:43:00.000-05:00

As ferociously fresh as it was more than a half century ago, this remarkable allegory of a downtrodden society of overworked, mistreated animals, and their quest to create a paradise of progress, justice, and equality is one of the most scathing satires ever published. As we witness the rise and bloody fall of the revolutionary animals, we begin to recognize the seeds of totalitarianism in the most idealistic organization; and in our most charismatic leaders, the souls of our cruelest oppressors.

Animal Farm: Centennial Edition

GEORGE ORWELL (1903-1950) was born in India and served with the Imperial Police in Burma before joining the Republican Army in the Spanish Civil War. Orwell was the author of six novels as well as numerous essays and nonfiction works.

Kill The Trees - Is Print Dead?

2011-08-17T10:15:00.002-05:00

First a link from the Indie King J.A. Konrath
Is Print Dead? by J.A. Konrath

I find this article a bit extreme and odd. Konrath says books are dead. Print is not dead! Paper will still be around. We can still kill the trees. By the way, trees are grown specifically for paper. We don't just go in to the rain forest and kill all of the trees. We are moving in a new direction with books. Ebooks are gaining popularity fast but the future will find a balance between print and digital.

Apolo Drakuvich is available as a paperback but I haven't sold any copies of it. Why? Perhaps I'm not well known. My guess is that it has to do with the price of the paperback. It costs more to print on paper, bind it and ship the book to a new home. The ebook version is only .99 and the book will last forever (or until the end of 2012 when the world ends)!!

So why not just go with digital books? Well, because people are still buying paper books. Just go to Barnes & Noble and you will see a book store filled with books.

But...what about Borders? Well borders went under do to bad business practices. There are still other book stores around with plenty of paper books being sold.

Print is far from dead.

The Help [Kindle Edition]

2011-08-16T15:39:00.000-05:00

The Help [Kindle Edition]

Review

“The Help by Kathryn Stockett is a story that made me weep as I rejoiced for each of humanity’s small but steady triumphs over hate and fear. I will never forget this wonderful book.”
—Dorothea Benton Frank

“A magical novel. Heartbreaking and oh so true, the voices of these characters, their lives and struggles will stay with you long after you reluctantly come to the end.”
—Robert Hicks, New York Times– bestselling author of The Widow of the South

“I love The Help. Kathryn Stockett has given us glorious characters and a powerful, truth-filled story. Abilene, Minny and Skeeter, show that people from this troubled time came together despite their differences and that ordinary women can be heroic.”
—Jill Conner Browne, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of The Sweet Potato Queens series and resident of Jackson, MS

“Set in the rural South of the 1960's, THE HELP is a startling, resonant portrait of the intertwined lives of women on opposite sides of the racial divide. Stockett's many gifts – a keen eye for character, a wicked sense of humor, the perfect timing of a natural born storyteller – shine as she evokes a time and place when black women were expected to help raise white babies, and yet could not use the same bathroom as their employers. Her characters, both white and black, are so fully fleshed they practically breathe – no stock villains or pious heroines here. I'm becoming an evangelist for The Help. Don't miss this wise and astonishing debut.”
–Joshilyn Jackson, Bestselling author of Gods in Alabama

“A wonderful book. A compelling and comically poignant tale about three women, and a time and a place that is in many ways very much still with us.”
—Beth Henley, Pulitzer Prize– winning playwright of Crimes of the Heart

“Lush, original, and poignant, Kathryn Stockett has written a wondrous novel. You will be swept away as they work, play, and love during a time when possibilities for women were few but their dreams of the future were limitless. A glorious read.”
—Adriana Trigiani, bestselling author of the Big Stone Gap series and Lucia, Lucia

“Full of heart and history, this one has bestseller written all over it.”
— PW starred review

“This heartbreaking story is a stunning debut from a gifted talent.”
— Atlanta Journal

“It's graceful and real, a compulsively readable story of three women who watch the Mississippi ground shifting beneath their feet as the words of men like Martin Luther King Jr. and Bob Dylan pervade their genteel town. When folks at your book club wonder what to read next month, go on and pitch this wholly satisfying novel with confidence. A-“
— Entertainment Weekly

"[A] wise, poignant novel...You'll catch yourself cheering out loud."
—People Magazine (3.5 out of 4 stars)

"[A] story with heart and hope...A good old fashioned novel"
—New York Daily News

"This book was sitting on my desk and everyone kept coming in and when they’d see it they’d gush about it, “I love this book”. So I brought it home and it didn’t disappoint. It’s very much a book like you would imagine Oprah would pick for her book club. Set in the early sixties, it’s about female friendship and race relations and it’s heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.”
—John Searles, The Today Show

Product Description

The wildly popular New York Times bestseller and reading group favorite.

Aibileen is a black maid in 1962 Jackson, Mississippi, who's always taken orders quietly, but lately she's unable to hold her bitterness back. Her friend Minny has never held her tongue but now must somehow keep secrets about her employer that leave her speechless. White socialite Skeeter just graduated college. She's full of ambition, but without a husband, she's considered a failure. Together, these seemingly different women join together to write a tell-all book about work as a black maid in the South, that could forever alter their destinies and the life of a small town...

About the Author

Kathryn Stockett was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi. After graduating from the University of Alabama with a degree in English and Creative Writing, she moved to New York City, where she worked in magazine publishing and marketing for nine years. This is her first novel.

New reviews for Apolo

2011-08-15T17:32:00.000-05:00

This is from a satisfied reader on Amazon.

5 Stars from "coveredforlife"
"He doesn't just spill all of the plot mechanics and details in the first chapter like so many amateur authors mistakenly do. He builds the story and the plot in a interesting and fun to read fashion. I can honestly say this book is worth both your time and money!"

This book may not be for everyone. Dystopian fiction and counter culture themes don't always sit well with people.

This is a portion of a 3 Star amazon review from F. Murrell
"This book is hard to describe. From the description I was expecting a crime novel or at least a memoir type book. But this book appears to be just the rambling thoughts of a drifter who can't decide how he wants his life to go. I finished the book and was still wondering what the whole point of the story was supposed to be."

More reviews can be read...here.

"well, i finished it"

2011-08-15T13:49:00.000-05:00

I'm reposting this "review" because it just doesn't make much sense to me. The review isn't about my book.

---

This review is from: Chop Suey (A Darby Stansfield Thriller) (Kindle Edition)

well, i finished it, August 3, 2011 (3 Stars) - by seedlady

i'm not a teenage boy. i don't read teenage boy books. i'm pretty sure if i was an 18 year old boy i'd have liked this.

my review copy took a long time to get through. the idea is ok, but editing by 1000 cuts might have sharpened it up some. the premise didn't last nearly as long as the book did.

i give it a 3. you can dance to it.

----
This review really wasn't much help to me. The reader comments about editing but she can't seem to form a proper sentence or a rational thought herself. This was just a strange review.

George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones 4-Book Bundle: (Kindle Ed.)

2011-08-15T09:54:00.000-05:00

George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones 4-Book Bundle: A Song of Ice and Fire Series: A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, and A Feast for Crows [Kindle Edition] by George R.R. Martin

George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series has become, in many ways, the gold standard for modern epic fantasy. Martin—dubbed the "American Tolkien" by Time magazine—has created a world that is as rich and vital as any piece of historical fiction, set in an age of knights and chivalry and filled with a plethora of fascinating, multidimensional characters that you love, hate to love, or love to hate as they struggle for control of a divided kingdom. It is this very vitality that has led it to be adapted as the HBO miniseries “Game of Thrones.”

This bundle includes the following novels:
A GAME OF THRONES
A CLASH OF KINGS
A STORM OF SWORDS
A FEAST FOR CROWS

[Bargain eBook] Apolo Drakuvich by G.W. Jefferies

2011-08-13T18:22:00.000-05:00

[Bargain eBook] Apolo Drakuvich by G.W. Jefferies

Apolo Drakuvich made it on the Pixel of Ink website! Thank you Pixel of Ink for the add!

Lizards and Mice....oh my!

2011-08-11T14:58:00.000-05:00

I killed a lizard today. The little guy must have been taking a nap in my printer at work when I decided to print him out on my page. I think it was a dude but I couldn't tell. I just saw some sort of lizardly body remains and lots of blood smeared all over my paper.

I thought it was food remains or there was something wrong with the ink. Upon closer inspection I figured out it was a dead…something. Anyway, my point is...it was gross.

I've been having problems with mice in my house. Last Saturday evening, I awoke to hear a mouse munching away at my trash. There was a box of cheese crackers from like a year ago. Okay, let me stop here. I'm not that messy...I just forgot the box was under the night stand. Traps were set up and sightings of a mouse were found in the early mornings in the bathroom while I was taking care of business.

The mouse (just one at this point) had not been seen for days and none of the traps were set off. Finally, some dumb mouse walked across the kitchen floor last night. I threw some poison around the kitchen and outside of the house and ten minutes later a couple of mice were having a feast. I don't know how many creatures are living in the kitchen but I kept hearing a lot of noise last night. I don’t know...I just know I haven't had much sleep this past week and these mice...rat bastards must die....THEY....MUST.......DIE!!!!

An update to follow soon.

Survivor: A Novel [Kindle Edition]

2011-08-10T09:36:00.000-05:00

Survivor: A Novel [Kindle Edition] by Chuck Palahniuk

“A wild amphetamine ride through the vagaries of fame and the nature of belief.”—San Francisco Chronicle

Tender Branson—last surviving member of the Creedish Death Cult—is dictating his life story into Flight 2039’s recorder. He is all alone in the airplane, which will crash shortly into the vast Australian outback. But before it does, he will unfold the tale of his journey from an obedient Creedish child to an ultra-buffed, steroid- and collagen-packed media messiah. Unpredictable and unforgettable, Survivor is Chuck Palahniuk at his deadpan peak: a mesmerizing, unnerving, and hilarious satire on the wages of fame and the bedrock lunacy of the modern world.

From the Inside Flap

From the author of the cult sensation Fight Club (now a major motion picture starring Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter) comes Survivor.

"A turbo-charged, deliciously manic satire of contemporary American life." --Newsday

"The only difference between suicide and martyrdom is press coverage," according to the "been there, done that" wisdom of Tender Branson, last surviving member of the Creedish Death Cult. At the opening of Chuck Palahniuk's hilariously unnerving second novel, Tender is cruising on autopilot, 39,000 feet up, dictating the whole of his life story into Flight 2039's "black box" in the final moments before crashing into the vast Australian outback.

Not since Kurt Vonnegut's Mother Night has there been as dark and telling a satire on the wages of fame and the bedrock lunacy of the modern world. Wickedly incisive and mesmerizing, Survivor is Chuck Palahniuk at his deadpan peak.

From the Back Cover

"Mordant...one's sympathy for the improbable, doomed hero is fully engaged." --The New Yorker

"A wild amphetamine ride through the vagaries of fame and the nature of belief."--The San Francisco Chronicle

"Convoluted, maniacally comic, partaking deeply of the America that streams towrd us in the dead of night from the cable channels--that place of outrageous expectation, slavish idolatry, fanatic consumerism, and mind-stopping banality." --Sven Birkerts, Esquire

About the Author

Chuck Palahniuk, the author of many novels including Fight Club, Invisible Monsters, Diary, Lullaby, Choke, Pygmy, and Survivor, lives in the Pacific Northwest.

The Revolution: A Manifesto [Kindle Edition]

2011-08-10T09:32:00.000-05:00

The Revolution: A Manifesto [Kindle Edition] by Ron Paul

Product Description

This Much Is True:
You Have Been Lied To.
The government is expanding.
Taxes are increasing.
More senseless wars are being planned.
Inflation is ballooning.
Our basic freedoms are disappearing.

The Founding Fathers didn't want any of this. In fact, they said so quite clearly in the Constitution of the United States of America. Unfortunately, that beautiful, ingenious, and revolutionary document is being ignored more and more in Washington. If we are to enjoy peace, freedom, and prosperity once again, we absolutely must return to the principles upon which America was founded. But finally, there is hope...

In THE REVOLUTION, Texas congressman and presidential candidate Ron Paul has exposed the core truths behind everything threatening America, from the real reasons behind the collapse of the dollar and the looming financial crisis, to terrorism and the loss of our precious civil liberties. In this book, Ron Paul provides answers to questions that few even dare to ask.

Despite a media blackout, this septuagenarian physician-turned-congressman sparked a movement that has attracted a legion of young, dedicated, enthusiastic supporters . . . a phenomenon that has amazed veteran political observers and made more than one political rival envious. Candidates across America are already running as "Ron Paul Republicans."

"Dr. Paul cured my apathy," says a popular campaign sign. THE REVOLUTION may cure yours as well.

About the Author

Ron Paul, an eleven-term congressman from Texas, is the leading advocate of freedom in our nation's capital. He has devoted his political career to the defense of individual liberty, sound money, and a non-interventionist foreign policy. Judge Andrew Napolitano calls him "the Thomas Jefferson of our day."

After serving as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Air Force in the 1960s, Dr. Paul moved to Texas to begin a civilian medical practice, delivering over four thousand babies in his career as an obstetrician. He served in Congress from 1976 to 1984, and again from 1996 to the present. He and Carol Paul, his wife of fifty-one years, have five children, eighteen grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Ron Paul, the New York Post once wrote, is a politician who "cannot be bought by special interests."

Thunderhead: A Paranormal Romance of the Guardians of Man [Kindle Edition]

2011-08-09T10:22:00.000-05:00

Thunderhead: A Paranormal Romance of the Guardians of Man [Kindle Edition] by Melissa A. Smith

Product Description

What if you did nothing more than fall in love?
What if they have the ability to make you give up?

A new year brings new friends and new adversaries to contend with. New challenges with old enemies. And all the while can they make it to the end? Can they stay together or will they finally be torn apart by the one Guardian who seeks to destroy them?

PRICE: 2.99

good advice

2011-08-08T14:48:00.002-05:00

By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.
- Benjamin Franklin

Let's make a name.

2011-08-05T15:36:00.000-05:00

Let's make a name. Help me create my full and complete author name. What do the letters G.W. stand for???

So far the names are...

Geronimo Weatherwax
Got Words
Grant Wilson
George Dubya
Gritty Winslow
Great Whatis
Gordon Wahanassatta

Feel free to vote on the names listed above and/or add your own name. You can have multiple votes...multiple names.

Follow the link...here.

Deadly Intent [Kindle Edition]

2011-08-05T10:13:00.000-05:00

Deadly Intent [Kindle Edition]
by Laura Eno

Product Description

Death stalks the small town of Wood Park after a violent thunderstorm wreaks havoc on the population and drops a stranger in its midst. Police Chief Jonathon Brier chases after clues, always a step behind, as citizens become more irrational with tragic consequences.
When the town is abandoned to its fate with no hope of any outside help, Jonathon must figure out how to combat the evil presence that taunts him before time runs out for everyone.

About the Author

Laura Eno lives in Florida with a very tolerant husband, three skulking cats and two absurdly happy dogs. She has a pet from the Underworld named Jezebel and a skull called Mr. Fluffy who help her write novels late at night. Please visit her strange imagination at http://lauraeno.blogspot.com and follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lauraeno

The book launch is today. :)

Price: 2.99

Choke: A Novel [Kindle Edition]

2011-08-05T08:53:00.001-05:00

Choke: A Novel [Kindle Edition]
by Chuck Palahniuk

Amazon.com Review

Victor Mancini is a ruthless con artist. Victor Mancini is a med-school dropout who's taken a job playing an Irish indentured servant in a colonial-era theme park in order to help care for his Alzheimer's-afflicted mother. Victor Mancini is a sex addict. Victor Mancini is a direct descendant of Jesus Christ. All of these statements about the protagonist of Choke are more or less true. Welcome, once again, to the world of Chuck Palahniuk.
"Art never comes from happiness." So says Mancini's mother only a few pages into the novel. Given her own dicey and melodramatic style of parenting, you would think that her son's life would be chock-full of nothing but art. Alas, that's not the case. In the fine tradition of Oedipus, Stephen Dedalus, and Anthony Soprano, Victor hasn't quite reconciled his issues with his mother. Instead, he's trawling sexual-addiction recovery meetings for dates and purposely choking in restaurants for a few moments of attention. Longing for a hug, in other words, he's settling for the Heimlich.

Thematically, this is pretty familiar Palahniuk territory. It would be a pity to disclose the surprises of the plot, but suffice it to say that what we have here is a little bit of Tom Robbins's Another Roadside Attraction, a little bit of Don DeLillo's The Day Room, and, well, a little bit of Fight Club. Just as with Fight Club and the other two novels under Palahniuk's belt, we get a smattering of gloriously unflinching sound bites, including this skeptical bit on prayer chains: "A spiritual pyramid scheme. As if you can gang up on God. Bully him around."

Whether this is the novel that will break Palahniuk into the mainstream is hard to say. For a fourth book, in fact, the ratio of iffy, "dude"-intensive dialogue to interesting and insightful passages is a little higher than we might wish. In the end, though, the author's nerve and daring pull the whole thing off--just barely. And what's next for Victor Mancini's creator? Leave the last word to him, declaring as he does in the final pages: "Maybe it's our job to invent something better.... What it's going to be, I don't know." --Bob Michaels

Product Description
Victor Mancini, a medical-school dropout, is an antihero for our deranged times. Needing to pay elder care for his mother, Victor has devised an ingenious scam: he pretends to choke on pieces of food while dining in upscale restaurants. He then allows himself to be “saved” by fellow patrons who, feeling responsible for Victor’s life, go on to send checks to support him. When he’s not pulling this stunt, Victor cruises sexual addiction recovery workshops for action, visits his addled mom, and spends his days working at a colonial theme park. His creator, Chuck Palahniuk, is the visionary we need and the satirist we deserve.

From the Trade Paperback edition.
From the Inside Flap
From the author of the international sensation Fight Club, a powerful (and hilarious) novel about love and strife between mothers and sons, the addictive power of sex, the terrors of aging, the ugly truth about historical theme parks, and much else...

Fight Club, Chuck Palahniuk's controversial and blazingly original debut novel, introduced a fresh and even renegade talent to American fiction, one who has retooled the classic black humor of Terry Southern and Kurt Vonnegut for the lunacy of the millennial age. In his new novel, Choke, he gives readers a vision of life and love and sex and mortality that is both chillingly brilliant and teeth-rattlingly funny.

Victor Mancini, a dropout from medical school, has devised a complicated scam to pay for his mother's elder care: Pretend to be choking on a piece of food in a restaurant and the person who "saves you" will feel responsible for the rest of his life. Multiply that a couple of hundred times and you generate a healthy flow of checks, week in, week out. Between fake choking gigs, Victor works at Colonial Dunsboro with a motley group of losers and stoners trapped in 1734, cruises sex addiction groups for action ("You put twenty sexaholics around a table night after night and don't be surprised."), and visits his mother, whose anarchic streak made his childhood a mad whirl and whose Alzheimer's disease now hides what may be the startling truth about his (possibly divine?) parentage. An antihero for our deranging times, Victor's whole existence is a struggle to wrest an identity from overwhelming forces. His creator, Chuck Palahniuk, is the visionary we need and the satirist we deserve.

From the Back Cover
Praise for Chuck Palahniuk:

"Palahniuk is one of the freshest, most intriguing voices to appear in a long time. He rearranges Vonnegut's sly humor, DeLillo's mordant social analysis, and Pynchon's antic surrealism (or is it R. Crumb's?) into a gleaming puzzle palace all his own."
--Newsday

"Palahniuk displays a Swiftian gift for satire, as well as a knack for crafting mesmerizing sentences that loom with stark, prickly prose and repetitive rhythms."
--San Francisco Examiner

"Even I can't write this well."
--Thom Jones

"Palahniuk's language is urgent and tense, touched with psychopathic brilliance, his images dead-on accurate....[He] is an author who makes full use of the alchemical powers of fiction to synthesize a universe that mirrors our own fiction as a way of illuminating the world without obliterating its complexity."
--L.A. Weekly

"Maybe our generation has found its Don DeLillo."
--Bret Easton Ellis

About the Author
Chuck Palahniuk's three novels are the bestselling Fight Club, which was made into a film by director David Fincher, Survivor, and Invisible Monsters. Portions of Choke have appeared in Playboy, and his nonfiction work has been published by Gear, Black Book, The Stranger, and the Los Angeles Times. He lives in Portland, Oregon.

PRICE: 11.99

Deceitful Moon (The Second Manny Williams Thriller) [Kindle Edition]

2011-08-04T08:55:00.001-05:00

Deceitful Moon (The Second Manny Williams Thriller) [Kindle Edition]

Detective Manny Williams and his partner, Sophie Lee, are called to the scene of a disturbing and gruesome murder at Lansing’s local adult playhouse, the White Kitty. The circumstances surrounding the ex-con’s murder rocket deeper into the bizarre as the forensic evidence reveals more questions than answers.
As he begins his investigation, Manny is interrupted by a phone call that shakes his world. His nemesis, serial killer Dr. Fredrick Argyle, has killed again, and sent the evidence to prove it. Argyle’s heinous actions force Manny and Sophie back to the Caribbean. All the while, the body count rises in his city.
Two serial killers. Each threatening to change his life forever. One succeeds.

(This is the second Manny Williams Thriller)

---

My thoughts: If it were me...I would change the blurb and the cover. However, this book is ranked #11 in the kindle store...so what do I know??

Oh yeah...Price: .99

Slave Auction [Kindle Edition]

2011-08-04T08:36:00.000-05:00

Slave Auction [Kindle Edition]

Product Description
Included in the short story collection Trouble Down South and Other Stories, Slave Auction, a 7753-word short story, will bring you to tears as you learn the fate of Horatio, a four-year-old slave boy who is sold from the arms of his mother in this tearjerker of a story.

Customer Review

Slave Auction - No! It can't end there! I must know how Horatio (cool name) is going to fare! I want to see if Norris is going to take advantage of Aunt Virginny! What about Uncle Joe!'s feelings? And what about Clareene? Ack! I MUST know!!! *Ahem* Uh... sorry for my outburst... but it was such a good story! Love the writing style! Epic

Price: .99

Jack Wallen's books

2011-08-03T10:51:00.001-05:00

Jack's a cool dude and one heck of a writer. I've always enjoyed his blog which has a lot of good info about his books and the publishing world. Check out his blog and his books.

About the Author
Jack Wallen has been many things during his adult life. Among those many things, Jack has been an actor, hair stylist, computer engineer, bike mechanic, radio personality, and of course a writer. Over the past decade Jack has written thousands of technical articles (mostly about the Linux operating system), theatrical scripts for young audiences, as well as thriller, horror, and other forms of fiction. Jack now concentrates on horror, thriller, and fantasy fiction. Jack lives with his incredibly wonderful wife, three step-children, and six (count 'em...six) cats! For his inspiration to begin reading and writing, Jack thanks the ever-incredible Clive Barker for words that words can not describe.

BLOG - Get Jack'd: http://monkeypantz.net/
Amazon Author Page for Book Links

Author Interview with Shéa MacLeod

2011-08-02T09:07:00.000-05:00

Author Name: Shéa MacLeod

Book Title(s): Kissed by Darkness

Book Category/Genre: urban fantasy, paranormal

Link to book(s):

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kissed-Darkness-Sunwalker-Saga-ebook/dp/B0058PIWJ8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1311938203&sr=8-1

Amazon US:
http://www.amazon.com/Kissed-Darkness-Sunwalker-Saga-ebook/dp/B0058PIWJ8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1311938282&sr=8-1

Smashwords:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/70109

Any other links you would like to share:
My blog: http://sheamacleod.wordpress.com/

Tell us what the book is about:

Kissed by Darkness is a fast paced urban fantasy with a kick-ass heroine who faces her demons. Quite literally.
Blurb:

Danger is always on the menu for Morgan Bailey, a sexy and street-smart bounty hunter, who prowls the dark underworld of Portland, Oregon hunting creatures of the night. Morgan’s never met a vampire she couldn’t dust or a demon she couldn’t kill until she’s hired to destroy a new kind of mystical threat: the Sunwalker.

A powerful immortal once believed myth, the Sunwalker carries with him an ancient secret which, if left unchecked, will destroy Morgan’s world. Pursued by a passionate Templar Knight and the target of the local vampire clans, an ancient power is awakened within her, unlike anything she’s ever known. Morgan must uncover the truth behind her mission and about herself, before the Darkness lurking inside swallows her whole.

What would you say the theme of the book is?
This is the first of a six book series, each with a theme related to a specific element, the creatures in the book, and what's happening in our heroine's life.

KbD is all about Darkness. It's about facing the Darkness in the world and it's about realizing that Darkness lives in all of us.

But mostly, it's just good fun. :-)

Do you have a favorite character from your novel(s)?
The heroine Morgan Bailey, of course. She's strong and sassy and totally kicks ass.

What motivates you to write? Do you write everyday?
I write nearly every day, even if it's only a few hundred words. It's not so much about motivation as about obsession. If I don't write, I get antsy and can't sleep. I need to get those words in my head onto paper. I crave the creative process.

And that just made me sound mad as a hatter. lol But seriously, motivation is rarely an issue for me unless I'm just needing a break.

Who would be most interested in this novel?
Fantasy lovers, particular those who like urban fantasy. Probably those who enjoy paranormal romance as there are some elements of that. Definitely anyone who was a fan of Buffy. And anyone who just likes a good adventure with a little magic.

What prompted you to write the book?
I loved Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the series). And I had this thought that it would be cool to sort of take the idea of Buffy and mash it up with someone older who maybe worked for a PI firm investigating paranormal occurances (kind of like Ghost Hunters). It just sort of morphed from there, throwing in a little Templar Knight action here and some Atlantis mythology there until this story began taking shape in my mind.

Who are your favorite authors?
Agatha Christie hands down. Genius. I've been reading her since I was eleven. For paranormal/urban fantasy it's Nalini Singh and Ann Aguirre. Steampunk: Gail Carriger. Thrillers: James Rollins. Horror: Stephen King and Jack Wallen. Mysteries: Norah Wilson (N. L. Wilson) and Janet Evanovich.

Those are just a very few. There are far too many to count!

Would one of your books be a good movie?
I think it would make an excellent HBO series. Similar to True Blood where each season was based on a book. Now that would be fun!

What is your dream job?
To write full time.

What projects do you have planned for the future?
The second book in the (Sunwalker Saga) series, Kissed by Fire, will be out late August. The third book should be out by Christmas.

In the meantime I'm working on a new series called The Dragon Wars set twenty-five years after an apocalypse. There's a bit of science fiction, a bit of paranormal romance and dragons. Lots and lots of dragons.

Because, as I always say, everything's better with dragons!

Naked Lunch [Kindle Edition]

2011-07-29T16:43:00.002-05:00

Naked Lunch [Kindle Edition]

Product Description

Naked Lunch is one of the most important novels of the twentieth century, a book that redefined not just literature but American culture. An unnerving tale of a narcotics addict unmoored in New York, Tangiers, and ultimately a nightmarish wasteland known as interzone, its formal innovation, formerly taboo subject matter, and tour de force execution have exerted their influence on the work of authors like Thomas Pynchon, J. G. Ballard, and William Gibson; on the relationship of art and obscenity; and on the shape of music, film and media generally. Naked Lunch: The Restored Text includes many editorial corrections on the text, several essays he wrote over the years about the book, and an appendix of 20 percent new material and alternate drafts from the original manuscript, which predates the first published version. For the Burroughs enthusiast and the neophyte, this volume is a valuable and fresh experience of this classic of our culture.

About the Author

WILLIAM S. BURROUGHS (1914 1997) was the author of numerous novels, including Nova Express, The Ticket That Exploded, The Soft Machine, and The Wild Boys, and was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. JAMES GRAUERHOLZ was Burroughs s longtime secretary and editor. BARRY MILES has been involved for years with Beat literature as a scholar and participant. Among his books are The Beat Hotel and biographies of Allen Ginsberg, William S. Burroughs, and Jack Kerouac.

Price: 7.81

Fight Club: A Novel [Kindle Edition]

2011-07-28T16:39:00.002-05:00

Fight Club: A Novel [Kindle Edition]

Product Description

The first rule about fight club is you don't talk about fight club.

Chuck Palahniuk's outrageous and startling debut novel that exploded American literature and spawned a movement. Every weekend, in the basements and parking lots of bars across the country, young men with white-collar jobs and failed lives take off their shoes and shirts and fight each other barehanded just as long as they have to. Then they go back to those jobs with blackened eyes and loosened teeth and the sense that they can handle anything. Fight club is the invention of Tyler Durden, projectionist, waiter, and dark, anarchic genius, and it's only the beginning of his plans for violent revenge on an empty consumer-culture world.

From the Back Cover

An underground classic since its first publication in 1996, Fight Club is now recognized as one of the most original and provocative novels published in this decade. Chuck Palahniuk's darkly funny first novel tells the story of a godforsaken young man who discovers that his rage at living in a world filled with failure and lies cannot be pacified by an empty consumer culture. Relief for him and his disenfranchised peers comes in the form of secret after-hours boxing matches held in the basements of bars. Fight Club is the brainchild of Tyler Durden, who thinks he has found a way for himself and his friends to live beyond their confining and stultifying lives. But in Tyler's world there are no rules, no limits, no brakes.

About the Author

Chuck Palahniuk's novels include Diary, Survivor, Lullaby, Choke, which was made into a film by director Clark Gregg, Haunted, Rant, Snuff, Pygmy and Tell-All. He is also the author of Fugitives and Refugees, a book about Portand, Oregon, and the non-fiction collection Non-Fiction. He lives in the Pacific Northwest

Kindle Price: 7.27

A quote for today

2011-07-28T10:42:00.002-05:00

A question that sometimes drives me hazy: am I or are the others crazy?
- Albert Einstein

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream (Vintage) [Kindle Edition]

2011-07-27T16:35:00.001-05:00

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream (Vintage) [Kindle Edition]

Amazon.com Review
Heralded as the "best book on the dope decade" by the New York Times Book Review, Hunter S. Thompson's documented drug orgy through Las Vegas would no doubt leave Nancy Reagan blushing and D.A.R.E. founders rethinking their motto. Under the pseudonym of Raoul Duke, Thompson travels with his Samoan attorney, Dr. Gonzo, in a souped-up convertible dubbed the "Great Red Shark." In its trunk, they stow "two bags of grass, seventy-five pellets of mescaline, five sheets of high-powered blotter acid, a salt shaker half-full of cocaine and a whole galaxy of multicolored uppers, downers, screamers, laughers.... A quart of tequila, a quart of rum, a case of Budweiser, a pint of raw ether and two dozen amyls," which they manage to consume during their short tour.

On assignment from a sports magazine to cover "the fabulous Mint 400"--a free-for-all biker's race in the heart of the Nevada desert--the drug-a-delic duo stumbles through Vegas in hallucinatory hopes of finding the American dream (two truck-stop waitresses tell them it's nearby, but can't remember if it's on the right or the left). They of course never get the story, but they do commit the only sins in Vegas: "burning the locals, abusing the tourists, terrifying the help." For Thompson to remember and pen his experiences with such clarity and wit is nothing short of a miracle; an impressive feat no matter how one feels about the subject matter. A first-rate sensibility twinger, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a pop-culture classic, an icon of an era past, and a nugget of pure comedic genius. --Rebekah Warren

A Classic + Zombies = Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

2011-07-26T16:32:00.000-05:00

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies [Kindle Edition]

Product Description
“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains.”

So begins Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, an expanded edition of the beloved Jane Austen novel featuring all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie mayhem. As our story opens, a mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton—and the dead are returning to life! Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she’s soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy. What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers—and even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield. Can Elizabeth vanquish the spawn of Satan? And overcome the social prejudices of the class-conscious landed gentry? Complete with romance, heartbreak, swordfights, cannibalism, and thousands of rotting corpses, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies transforms a masterpiece of world literature into something you’d actually want to read.

From the Trade Paperback edition.
About the Author
Jane Austen is the author of Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion, Mansfield Park, and other masterpieces of English literature. Seth Grahame-Smith once took a class in English literature. He lives in Los Angeles.

Price: .99
# 11 Bestseller In Kindle Store
523 Customer Reviews

The Shop [Kindle Edition]

2011-07-26T08:19:00.000-05:00

The Shop [Kindle Edition] by J. Carson Black

Product Description
* * * New Kindle Edition * * *

“THE SHOP is a hair-raising thriller from start to finish. J. Carson Black draws the reader into a world where nothing is as it seems. This book is both spooky and convincing, just what a thriller should be.”
---T. Jefferson Parker, New York Times bestselling author of THE BORDER LORDS

When former Navy SEAL Cyril Landry and his team of assassins enter a chalet in Aspen, Colorado, he recognizes the pop star Brienne Cross asleep on the couch. As he is about to kill her, she wakes and looks into his eyes.

There is that one moment between them. And then she is dead. Someone with a higher pay scale than Landry has been ordering celebrities killed. Now he wants to know why.

At first glance, the shooting death of a police chief in a rundown Florida motel room appears to be an assignation gone wrong. But as detective Jolie Burke plumbs deeper into the crime’s murky undercurrents, she unveils a conspiracy shocking in its scope.

In her relentless pursuit of justice, Burke follows a byzantine path that will take her from the lottery-driven fantasies of a yard maintenance worker to a Panama City Beach missing-persons case and finally to the island compound of her estranged uncle--the Attorney General of the United States.

The death of a celebrity in Aspen has set the table for an orgy of death, destruction, and infamy. As the stakes rise, Jolie finds herself teamed with a killer. Only Jolie and her unlikely partner, Cyril Landry, can dismantle the shadowy entity known as The Shop--before it strikes again.

"Infused with an original voice and packed with compelling characters, J. Carson Black’s THE SHOP is a thriller to pay attention to."
----David Morrell, New York Times bestselling author of THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE ROSE

"Fresh and imaginative, J. Carson Black’s THE SHOP is a riveting read and a compelling tale of character. From FBI agents to local cops, from heroes to villains, THE SHOP is an exciting, sweeping crime thriller that will linger in your mind for a long time."
---Gayle Lynds, New York Times bestselling author of THE BOOK OF SPIES

=======
Amazon 5 Star Customer Review - By Maynard F. Allington "novelist"

Today's thriller market has a number of franchise authors who consistently grind out "best sellers." Their plots are, for the most part, skillfully constructed, and they know how to tell a story. But their writing skills are often ordinary, even mundane, and rarely soar into that rarefied atmosphere of "style" that is the mark of a great writer. There was a time when stylists such as Eric Ambler and Graham Greene owned the thriller genre and lifted it to the level of literature. J. Carson Black is a throwback to that generation. She not only has the technical skills to shape a novel, but a gift for words that crosses into that exclusive literary terrain of art.

THE SHOP opens in a tense action sequence with the assassination in Aspen, Colorado of Brienne Cross, a well known actress/pop star. The hit is carried out with military precision by a lone assassin who vanishes from the scene, leaving no clue behind, least of all a motive.

The assassin is Cyril Landry, former SEAL and now a member of a black ops unit (known as "the shop") operating within a private security firm. The firm has been used on occasion by the government for missions requiring solutions outside the law. Landry is a man of contradictions - on the one hand devoted to his family, on the other capable of killing dispassionately. But the execution of Brienne Cross troubles him. For the first time, he finds himself drawn emotionally to a dead target. The years of mental programming that have conditioned him to kill, never questioning an order, are suddenly coming apart. In the course of this psychological dislocation, Landry will come to learn why Brienne's death was ordered, and will turn against the shop.

A second story line opens in a motel room on the gulf coast of Florida where a police chief has been found dead. Sheriff's homicide detective Jolie Burke is assigned to investigate. She suspects the suspicious death was a suicide, covered up by the victim's wife to protect his name. A tough, seasoned investigator, Jolie has some deep issues in her life, and a terrifying, repressed fear from early childhood.

Jolie's investigation will lead to a puzzling string of interrelated homicides that reach into the highest corridors of power. Eventually it will bring her into contact with Landry, on his own mission of vengeance against the shop, and a confrontation with the childhood memory she has blocked out. The life and death climax, when the antagonists finally clash on a private island off the Florida coast,is a masterpiece of narrative tension and suspense.

THE SHOP is original in concept, skillfully plotted and paced, with three dimensional characters, all of which make for an intriguing read.

Price: .99

Author Interview with Melissa Smith

2011-07-25T08:34:00.000-05:00

Author Name:
Melissa Smith

Bio:
I live in the midwest with my husband and two teenaged sons. When I'm not writing I'm reading. During the day I work as a Preschool ParaEducator ie: sneeze catcher, substitute facial tissue, and play mate.

I currently have two books out. The first is Cloud Nine of the Guardians of Man. And the other is of The Waiting Throne series, The Heir Apparent. I hope that all who read either one of these stories enjoys the adventure and comes back for more.

Book/Genre:
Cloud Nine (Paranormal Romance) http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004D9FF54
The Heir Apparent (Sci-Fi Fantasy) http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004SI48J4

Blog:
http://melissasmithbooks.wordpress.com/

Tell us what the book is about:
Cloud Nine is about a Guardian Angel who falls in love with a human girl. But the fun starts when his ex girlfriend pops back into the picture at the same time her ex boyfriend does.

What would you say the theme of the book is?
The theme is love. Love of family and friends. The Heir Apparent is about a missing prince and the person who wants him dead. Full of everyday magic and intrigue. The theme is that there is adventure around every corner. Interesting people with secrets to hide and people who want to find them out.

Do you have a favorite character from your novel(s)?
From Cloud Nine my favorite character would have to be Ariana. She's a little bit me and a little bit of each of my friends. She's fun and snarky and full of love.

For the Heir it would have to be Salmund. For just a boy he's strong and determined. Smart and independent and ready to follow in his fathers footsteps.

What motivates you to write? Do you write everyday?
The voices in my head tell me to write every day. If I dont they keep me up at night or invade my dreams. They're very persistent in getting what they want So yes, I write every day. I love it.

Who would be most interested in this novel?
For Cloud Nine it's a romance, so anyone who wants to live vicariously and fall in love with these characters will enjoy this book.
The Heir Apparent is for anyone who loves a good mystery filled with magic and adventure.

What prompted you to write the book?
Like I said before, these stories had been rattling around wanting attention, so I gave in. I've loved writing them out and giving them life.

Who are your favorite authors?
With out a doubt Lynn Kurland is my absolute favorite author. Next in line is Brent Weeks. Then there is Terry Brooks and then Gena Showalter, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Alyssa Day, Nalini Singh, Brandon Sanderson...I seriously could go on but you get the picture I love to read!

Would one of your books be a good movie?
What writer doesnt think their book would make a great movie? Of course I do! All of them would! I would love to see my characters brought to life on the big screen!

What is your dream job?
My dream job would to have no job! To laze around and do nothing more than read, shop, and play! But to be able to stay home and write all day would be a close second!

What projects do you have planned for the future?
Currently I'm working on a Guardians novella and an as yet untitled Paranormal Romance.

Falling Star (The Watchers) [Kindle Edition]

2011-07-25T07:47:00.000-05:00

Falling Star (The Watchers) [Kindle Edition]

Product Description
Only One Man Can Save the Planet - But He Just Died.

Mysterious but silent objects have been found buried deep in the murky depths of the ocean. Dormant for decades, they are now awake and sending messages to outer space. Mike, pulled back into a clandestine world to finish a job he started as a young Navy Ensign and help decipher these strange messages, is attacked by gangs of ordinary Americans and must fight for his very life.

As he struggles through these challenges, Mike also learns that a revered friend has died. With the death of this friend, is mankind's last hope for understanding the signals lost forever in the silt and muck of the ocean bottom?

From the deepest reaches of the abyssal plains to the arid but mystically beautiful deserts of the American Southwest, Falling Star takes you on a journey through the darkest aspects of human existence to enlightenment of mankind's soul. It is a realistically written novel and contains scenes of graphic violence and strong language.

Thriller/Techno-Thriller/Science Fiction. 98,250+ words, 354 pages.

EDITORIAL REVIEWS:

Highly Recommended by Noted Book Reviewer:

Alan Caruba, Charter Member of the prestigious National Book Critics Circle had this to say about Falling Star:

"It is rare when a novelist makes his debut with as powerful a novel as Philip Chen's Falling Star ($15.25, available from Amazon.com, softcover and on Kindle). It begins in 1967 and concludes in the Oval Office in 1993. In between Chen introduces you to an array of characters, all of whom have unique talents, some of whom are U.S. Navy officers, some with the FBI, all devoted to the protection of their nation. They are a handful of people who know about mysterious entities far beneath the surface of the waters surrounding the U.S. Others are members of a rogue KGB unit, moles who lived among us, but whose mission ended when the former Soviet Union collapsed. This novel stands out for the way you are introduced not just to the characters, but the physical reality in which they live, the sights and even the smells. Slowly and then with increasing intensity, the mysteries are unraveled, the enemies identified, as life and death often hangs in the balance. Drawing on his own life as an ocean research engineer, attorney and banker, Chen brings an authenticity to the novel that provides a heart-pounding reality that forces you to ask "What if?" What if Earth was under observation by those from another planet that is circling a dying sun? What if they intended to colonize it? What if the year for this was 2013? If you read just one novel in 2011, make it Falling Star."

Pre-publication Review by Award-Winning Author:

Robin Hathaway, well-known mystery author of the Dr. Fenimore and other series, and an Agatha Award winner (1998) and the David G. Sasher, Sr. Award (2009) winner, writes,

"The discovery and subsequent search for a mysterious weapon buried deep in American waters, is the chilling subject of this thriller. The author's knowledge of engineering and his use of specific detail increase the credibility of this intriguing story. A colorful cast of characters are involved in the search and their dramatic interaction is vividly portrayed.

"Anyone interested in the future of America's defense and weaponry will find this novel gripping."

********

About the Author
Philip Chen was born in China in 1944 and immigrated to the United States in 1949. Growing up in Washington, D.C., during the 1950s and 1960s, Philip learned both the pains and triumphs of American society at a crucial turning point in America's history. In the fifties and sixties, Washington stood at the crossroads of southern institutionalized racism and northern false hope; a point not lost on the young Chinese immigrant.

After receiving a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with Distinction from the University of Virginia and a Master of Science from Stanford University, he worked as an ocean research engineer in the development of deep submergence systems. Part of his work dealt with vehicles that could freely dive to 20,000 feet of water depth. He also participated as a hyperbaric chamber operator for manned dives inside a pressure chamber to 1,500 feet. He holds one U.S. Patent for an underwater mooring system.

After his stint as an ocean research engineer, Philip was an environmental and energy engineer, a trial attorney, a public securities attorney, an investment banker, a corporate executive, a private equity manager (in Africa), a strategic consultant, a cartoonist, an illustrator, a website manager, and author. He received his law degree from the University of Minnesota.

One of his mentors once told Philip that it wasn't that he couldn't hold down a job; he couldn't even hold down a career! Philip's biography has been included in Who's Who in America and in Who's Who in the World for many years.

Price: .99

Wrecker [Kindle Edition]

2011-07-22T10:44:00.000-05:00

Wrecker [Kindle Edition]

Product Description

Jane thought a loveless marriage was as bad as it could get.

Steve thought life was perfect with a hired man to do his chores.

They were both wrong.

Jane Havelock is coping a day at a time in a bad marriage when her husband Steve hires handyman Rob Manteo for a never-ending series of odd jobs around the house. At first Jane is repulsed by Manteo, a huge, muscular man with primitive communication skills. But revulsion reluctantly gives way to curiosity and even fascination as loneliness drives her into a precarious friendship with Manteo. He’s morose and mysterious, but there’s definitely more to him than meets the eye. He seems to be hiding something.

As her marriage and her husband’s career crumble around her, Jane digs into Manteo’s past and uncovers a horrible secret. She knows now that it was more than chance that brought Manteo into their world, but it may be too late.

Price: .99

Apolo Drakuvich is available as an Ebook and Paperback

2011-07-21T14:56:00.000-05:00

Apolo Drakuvich is available as an Ebook and Paperback! The paperback format is finally live! Woohoo!

Paperback: 162 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace (February 17, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1461014654
ISBN-13: 978-1461014652
Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 8.3 ounces

Author Interview with Julia Crane

2011-07-20T11:09:00.000-05:00

Author Name: Julia Crane

Book Title: Coexist: Keegan’s Chronicles

Book Category/Genre: YA

Link to book: Coexist: Keegan’s Chronicles

Book Trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9S5rXgjlok

Tell us what the book is about:

Sixteen-year-old Keegan is struggling to keep her huge secret from her friends--she's an elf, descended from a long line of elves that live in secrecy alongside humans.

In elfin society, mates are predetermined but not allowed to meet until they are eighteen. Against tradition, Keegan's brother Thaddeus told her Rourk's name because his visions warned him she'd need Rourk's protection, especially since Keegan will play a key role in the coming war between the dark and light elves.

Rourk finds himself drawn to Keegan's side every time she thinks his name. He wants to talk to her but remains in the shadows, silently guarding her every time she mentally beckons him. A twist of fate thrusts the two of them together when Rourk is forced to step up his protection and make his presence known.

An ancient prophecy deeply entwines Keegan's family and the future of their society. Somehow they must find a way to thwart fate and win the battle...without losing Keegan. With war brewing, and dark forces aligning, will Keegan and Rourk ever have the life together that they both desire?

What would you say the theme of the book is? Destiny

Do you have a favorite character from your novel(s)? I think Thaddeus is my favorite character. He’s Keegan’s younger brother who was born with the gift to sight. He is the child of the prophecy and the only chance the light elves have to avoid extinction. That is a lot of weight to put on a twelve year olds shoulder.

What motivates you to write? Do you write everyday? My current motivation is to finish book 2 in the series. It’s taking longer than I expected. I write something everyday. Even if it’s not for Conflicted. I have a couple of other stories in the works. I try to write 1,000 words a day, but often I will only get around 500.

Who would be most interested in this novel? Coexist is a young adult novel so my target audience is teens. However, I have gotten a lot of positive feedback from adults as well.

What prompted you to write the book? I finally had the time to sit down and write again. We moved to Dubai, and I suddenly had a lot of free time. I was used to being busy running a small business. I happened to read a news article about self publishing and the world that e-books has opened for authors. I sat down and started writing. I always had the story in the back of my mind it was fun to see it come to life.

Who are your favorite authors? Too many to mention. I love to read and many different genres. I love Ken Follett, Ayn Rand, John Sandford, James Patterson etc… I could go on and on. There really aren’t many books I dislike.

Would one of your books be a good movie? Of course, I think all books could be made into a good movie. However, books are always better.

What is your dream job? I have my dream job. I’m fortunate enough to be able to stay home with my kids and write. What more could I ask for?

What projects do you have planned for the future? I want to finish the Keegan’s Chronicles series, and I’m also working on a couple of short stories, I have an idea for a children’s book I’m eager to get started on. Basically, I just plan on writing and see where it takes me.

Thanks for having me!

LET'S GET DIGITAL - Box Wine Party, With Optional Book Launch

2011-07-19T14:01:00.000-05:00

LET'S GET DIGITAL - Box Wine Party, With Optional Book Launch

Time Tomorrow at 12:00pm - Thursday at 12:00pm

Location Here, There & Everywhere (Online)

Created By David Gaughran

More Info Tomorrow I will be drinking from a very large box of wine to celebrate the culmination of three months hard work, the release of my latest book LET'S GET DIGITAL: HOW TO SELF-PUBLISH, AND WHY YOU SHOULD.

Come along and join me as I cheer the book up the charts, or commiserate with me as the world shrugs in indifference. Either way, there's wine.

Oh, I almost forget. You will be able to buy the book from tomorrow too. Even better, the PDF version will be FREE on my blog (link to follow).

But mostly this is about the wine.

If you want more details, it's a very large box of wine with a small tap on the side, and it comes from one of the Top 10 box wine factories in Argentina.

Check it out! :)
LET'S GET DIGITAL - Book Launch

9 Ways to Help Your Favorite Indie Author

2011-07-19T12:57:00.002-05:00

As an indie author, it can be tough getting publicity. People are more than happy to email you privately and tell you they love your book, but getting them to leave a review on a public site, or recommend it to friends is trickier. And asking outright can seem a bit rude (whether it is or not depends on how close you are to the person; asking your mother or your sister isn’t rude, asking someone you’ve met twice might be).

Readers often don’t really know what they can do to help their favorite authors (indie or otherwise) be more successful. So here are nine things readers can do to help their favorite authors be more successful:

1. Review their work.
Leaving a review on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Goodreads, or elsewhere is a great way to show your support. Other readers rely on reviews to make their purchasing decisions, and books with more reviews appear to be more popular. Take a few minutes to write a review. Remember, most sites don’t require you to purchase the book before leaving a review, so you can copy and paste your review into multiple sites.

2. Share a link.
If you’re on Facebook or Twitter, share a link to the author’s book with your friends and followers. If it’s a book you really love, then there’s a good chance at least some of your friends will love it, too.

3. Buy it as a gift.
Books make great gifts. And sharing the work of your favorite author with a friend or relative can gain them new fans.

4. Become a fan.
Whether it’s on Goodreads, Facebook, or elsewhere, becoming a fan of your favorite authors means you’ll get regular updates about their work. The more fans a page has, the more popular an author appears. Don’t forget to recommend them to your friends, too.

5. Recommend them to book review sites.
If you’re an active participant on a book review site, recommend that the site review their books. Indie authors sometimes have a hard time getting reviews due to the stigma still attached to self-publishing, but a recommendation from an active site participant can go a long way toward getting past that stigma.

6. Ask for it at your local library.
Libraries will often buy books based on what their patrons ask for. So if your local library doesn’t have books by your favorite authors, ask for them. Libraries can help writers get new fans, who will then go on to buy their work in the future.

7. Order through your local independent bookstore.
When you order a book through an independent bookstore, you increase the chance that the bookstore might order additional copies. If the person placing the orders is intrigued by the book, they might order an extra to see if it sells. Alternatively, they might leaf through the book when it comes in, and then decide to buy, or ask for your recommendation.

8. Share their other content.
If your favorite author is on Twitter, Facebook, or another social media site, following them and then occasionally re-sharing their updates can be a huge help.

9. Use #writerwednesday and #followfriday hashtags on Twitter.
If you and your favorite author are on Twitter, consider recommending them for #writerwednesday and #followfriday. Both are great ways to find new people to follow, and can result in a handful of new followers every week.

by Cameron Chapman

A 1-Star Review for Apolo Drakuvich

2011-07-18T09:06:00.000-05:00

"This book would have received zero stars had the Amazon review system permitted it. This is simply the worst book I've ever tried to read. I am one of those people who dislikes walking out on a book. It took me about three chapters of torture to stop reading it. It is full of violence for its own sake. It is full of anger for its own sake. Neither the violence nor the anger serve to propel the plot forward as there is no obvious plot. They instead serve to describe a two dimensional character with one dimension being violence and the other anger. If it is not clear yet, I do not recommend this book. I do recommend that you don't even bother to open it." Eva in Alaska

Apolo Drakuvich paperback is now available

2011-07-16T15:53:00.000-05:00

The Apolo Drakuvich paperback is now available

Publication Date:Feb 17 2011
ISBN/EAN13:1461014654 / 9781461014652
Page Count:162
Binding Type:US Trade Paper
Trim Size:5" x 8"
Language:English
Color:Black and White
Related Categories:Fiction / Literary

G.W. Jefferies' Apolo Drakuvich captures the life of a petty criminal on a strange ride ranging from bizarre and senseless to utterly tragic. Revolving around parasitic journalism, media and government corruption, and a ruthless, conniving judge who milks the citizens out of millions of dollars, Apolo Drakuvich can be described as a compilation of untamed and sheer madness--captivating the readers' attention from beginning to end. With its raw descriptions, penetrating dialogue and crisp writing, this book is like no other.

Within all the madness that so epitomizes the life of Apolo, G.W. Jeffries presents a life of regret in epic proportions. Sitting in a jail cell, Apolo reflects, "One thing is for sure, I let it all slip away...so many opportunities lost." Apolo sadly examines the events and decisions of his life, and the paths he took and should have taken. Apolo seeks peace of mind and justice, but flashbacks of his past continuously haunt him; moreover, he seems to be victimized by a corrupt justice system everywhere he goes.

As an offender, Apolo discusses pertinent issues of today's society, where it is next to impossible for offenders to live normal lives, despite the desire to do so. Essentially, law enforcement and authorities seem to systematically destroy the offender by placing constraints on the offender such as restrictions on where to live, GPS monitoring, registering as offenders on websites, and more.

Apolo Drakuvich is a microcosm of numerous real-life issues encompassing the wild, the bizarre, and the tragic.

The Apolo Drakuvich paperback is now available :)

The Terminal Diner [Kindle Edition]

2011-07-14T09:04:00.000-05:00

The Terminal Diner [Kindle Edition]

"Men like pie." Who would know the truth behind those words better than Elaina Brady's mother Maria? Months after she showed her teenage daughter how to bake perfect pie and hours after offering that culinary wisdom, Maria abandons Elaina, her sister Dee Dee and their father Walt. All it took was a lingering, lusty look from a Missoula trucker who stopped by their family's diner and ordered a slice of lemon meringue. Maria hitches a ride west with him, and with that impulsive decision, sixteen-year-old Elaina loses her mother and gains a job baking pies at the diner.

A decade after Maria's departure, Elaina is still working at The Terminal Diner, just around the bend from an upstate New York airport. Her humdrum life is defined by pie-baking routine. Elaina realizes painfully that all she still knows about the opposite sex is summed up in the three last words her mother spoke to her. Then one deceivingly beautiful morning in September 2001, horrifying acts committed by terrorists a hundred miles away upset her world, bringing new influences into her life and inspiring her to be like her mother-impulsive. Will Elaina survive the consequences of her actions?

This suspenseful story is the fourth novel by Amazon Top 100 bestselling author Mary Pat Hyland.

Price: $2.99

Christopher M. Thompson - Indie Author

2011-07-13T08:44:00.000-05:00

Books and info on indie author - Christopher M. Thompson

Blog Link The Book of Chaophim

Breakfast Anytime
(Book: Poetry anthology)
A collection of poems written on a variety of topics ranging from humorous to heartbroken. Breakfast Anytime is published in two seperate versions, the "stock" version being an uncensored collection of the poetry while the "Family-Friendly edition" lacks some of the poetry with darker tones and language which may be inappropriate for all readers. It is published in eBook form only, but is available in a wide variety of formats.

Purchase on Smashwords - $2.99 (US)
Breakfast Anytime
Breakfast Anytime: Family-Friendly Edition

Reviews:

"This collection of poems runs the gamut from passion between a couple, a parent grieving their child growing up too fast, scorned lovers and more. My favorites included the title poem "Breakfast Anytime", an acrostic which tells an interesting story; "Amazement", a sweet poem told from an ill child's perspective, and "The Cure for a Broken Heart", a cute piece about a young woman seeking a doctor's advice on how to get past a break up.

I recommend this collection for poetry enthusiasts, as well as those that enjoy lyrical imagery. Very well done." - Bex A.

Type: Anthology
Genre: Poetry

Saving Throw

He wanted to pick the lock to her heart...

Kyle was a guy in love with a girl who was different from the rest. she lived in a world of make-believe where knights and dragons abounded, castles awaited storming, and treasure lay in dark dungeons beyond dangers the likes of which only the bravest of the brave did dare to face.

Cameron, Jessie, Shai, Dawn, and Cryss belonged to a growing minority: self-professed 'geek girls' whose passion was tabletop role-playing games. For some of them, it seemed that dating was beyond their reach and that, in the deepest parts of their hearts, love remained the greatest treasure yet to be found.

...but he forgot to check for traps.

Can Kyle make it past their swords and shields to enter their world in his attempt to rescue his fair maiden from her tower prison or, when he gets there, will he find that the one he is after has no desire to be rescued?

Type: Screenplay
Genre: Fantasy / Romance / Comedy

Reviews:

"I SO want to watch this movie!" ... (on her favorite part) "I think the climax when the whole plot came together. You really know how to tie all the elements together." - Alison T.

-----

About the Author

Christopher M. Thompson

Born into what he often refers to as a "thermonuclear family", Christopher is the eldest of seven children in total, but was raised with only his eldest half-sister in a military family. He has lived a colorful and exciting life which has been filled with ups and downs and is currently undergoing the second of his two divorces. He is the father of three wonderful children, the eldest of which inspired to follow in her father's footsteps as a writer.

Formerly a career IT Support Specialist, Christopher has served the IT industry for more than twenty years and has turned his lifelong passion of creative writing into a professional trade by becoming both a personal and freelance writer.

His writing influences include William Shakespeare, Douglas Adams, Dylan Thomas, Steven King, Walter Jon Williams, Roger Zelazny, Homer, Anne Rice, and William Gibson.

He is an avid fan of movies, mostly of comedy, romantic comedy, indie and foreign films.

Poetry

Christopher began writing poetry as a child, his love for verse expanding as he learned its many forms. He is an eclectic poet with topics ranging from humor to heartbreak and has competed in several poetry competitions including World of Poetry and peer-competition at Helium, where many of the poems from his book "Breakfast Anytime" have received and still maintain high rankings.

He has written song lyrics as well, mostly parody and filk, but one of his more heartfelt works, "Daddy's Tears" can be found in written form in "Breakfast Anytime".

Blog link: The Book of Chaophim

Cover art for Carolyn's Disease revealed!

2011-07-12T16:47:00.000-05:00

Cover art for Carolyn's Disease has been revealed!

Blue Valley (A World War 2 Fantasy) (The Elementals) [Kindle Edition]

2011-07-12T10:36:00.000-05:00

Blue Valley (A World War 2 Fantasy) (The Elementals) [Kindle Edition]

Product Description

At the outset of World War 2, with the government terrified of Japanese sabotage, Will Leary is sent to California to investigate a spreading, deadly blue soil. When he falls in love with the magical woman who is unwittingly causing the destruction, he must decide between science and his soul.

Price: .99

GAME 7: DEAD BALL – in PRINT!

2011-07-11T15:13:00.000-05:00

GAME 7: DEAD BALL – in PRINT!
Indie Writer Allen Schatz is pleased to announce the launch of the print version of his debut novel!

The eBook version has been rated 4- & 5-stars at Amazon, B&N, Smashwords, and more…

“Allen Schatz, in his first novel, has proven a welcome newcomer to an overcrowded thriller market sadly diluted with average ho-hum fare… I would highly recommend this book to any thriller fan who is tired of the same old mediocre drivel that is plaguing our bookshelves… Schatz has proven he belongs in the writing game…”

“You might expect a mystery involving a baseball umpire in the World Series to center on fixing games. Schatz happily has chosen to go in a less obvious direction… Game 7 has a huge cast of characters - it is to Schatz's credit as a writer that they're reasonably easy to keep straight… If you like baseball and thrillers, Game 7: Dead Ball is a must read…”

“Simply put, it's a fun, entertaining book that I would recommend for anyone's summer reading list.”

Order your copy of the book at: https://www.createspace.com/3619727

Additional sales outlets, including Amazon.com, will follow in the coming weeks.

For all the latest news visit www.allenschatz.com – you can also follow Allen on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/AllenSchatzWriting or on Twitter (@raschatz).

NovelRank - Amazon Sales Rank Tracker

2011-07-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

NovelRank is a completely free website for authors to track their Amazon Sales Rank on Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk (United Kingdom), Amazon.ca (Canada), Amazon.fr (France), Amazon.de (Germany), and Amazon.co.jp (Japan). NovelRank is the best free resource for self-promoting authors to track their book's sales and Sales Rank on Amazon with charting, RSS feeds, and real-time data.

A useful tool... :)

The Sable City (The Norothian Cycle) [Kindle Edition]

2011-07-10T10:29:00.002-05:00

The Sable City (The Norothian Cycle) [Kindle Edition]

Product Description

The Trade Houses of the Miilark Islands control the shipping lanes linking four diverse continents across the blue vastness of the Interminable Ocean. The Houses are represented abroad by the Guilders; men and women skilled in business and burglary, salesmanship and swordplay, merchandising and musketry. Tilda Lanai has trained for years to take her place among them, but now the House she is to serve is imperiled by the sudden death of the House Lord. Scenting blood in the water, rival Houses begin to circle. The desperate search for an exiled heir takes Tilda across a war-torn continent and to the gates of the Sable City, where centuries ago dark magic almost destroyed the world. Along with a sinister sorceress, a broken-hearted samurai, and a miscreant mercenary long on charm but lousy with a crossbow, Tilda must brave the demon-infested ruins to find the heir who may yet save her House.

From the Author

The Sable City is the first volume of a fantasy/adventure series called The Norothian Cycle. As such, it is the introduction not only to a cast of characters but to an entire world, though I have endeavored not to let laying-the-groundwork detract from Tilda's story. Additional background materials (maps, glossary, short histories) may be found at The Sable City on Facebook.

Price: 2.99

The Eyes of the Dead (A Vetala Cycle Novel) [Kindle Edition]

2011-07-09T10:24:00.002-05:00

The Eyes of the Dead (A Vetala Cycle Novel) [Kindle Edition]

Product Description
Vampires are loose in the trenches of the First World War.

Passchendaele, 1917. Private Reg Wilson is a man with a name but no memories. A soldier who remembers nothing of life before the fighting began. Until he comes to Black Wood, a tainted place that knows him intimately. There, he will discover a darkness buried long ago by time and dust. An appetite that has been awoken by war. A hunger that will feed upon his blood, his regrets and his worst fears. It will show him what he has forgotten. It will show him nightmare made flesh. And, before he dies, it will make him look deep into the eyes of the dead.

This work is DRM-free and lendable.

Price: .99

Ebook Deal of the Day

2011-07-08T10:14:00.000-05:00

Ebook Deal of the Day

A place for highlighting bargain books and promoting author giveaways

Check out this brand new facebook page and get some cool deals on ebooks.

The Count of Monte Cristo [Kindle Edition] - Free

2011-07-08T10:09:00.003-05:00

The Count of Monte Cristo [Kindle Edition] - Free

It's a classic and a book you should have read in High School or College. If you haven't read it yet, it's free on Amazon and can also be found free around the web. More info can be found here.

The Scarlet Letter [Kindle Edition] - Free

2011-07-07T10:05:00.000-05:00

The Scarlet Letter [Kindle Edition] - Free

Novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne, published in 1850. It is considered a masterpiece of American literature and a classic moral study. The novel is set in a village in Puritan New England. The main character is Hester Prynne, a young woman who has borne an illegitimate child. Hester believes herself a widow, but her husband, Roger Chillingworth, returns to New England very much alive and conceals his identity. He finds his wife forced to wear the scarlet letter A on her dress as punishment for her adultery. Chillingworth becomes obsessed with finding the identity of his wife's former lover. When he learns that the father of Hester's child is Arthur Dimmesdale, a saintly young minister who is the leader of those exhorting her to name the child's father, Chillingworth proceeds to torment the guilt-stricken young man. In the end Chillingworth is morally degraded by his monomaniacal pursuit of revenge; Dimmesdale is broken by his own sense of guilt, and he publicly confesses his adultery before dying in Hester's arms. Only Hester can face the future bravely, as she plans to take her daughter Pearl to Europe to begin a new life. --The Merriam-Webster Encyclopedia of Literature

Should You Buy an eBook Reader?

2011-07-06T12:04:00.001-05:00

Should You Buy an eBook Reader?

This is an antiebook reader article from TIME. An interesting take on the ebook revolution/future. Print is not dead. Speaking of print, Apolo Drakuvich will be available in paperback in the near future. KILL THE TREES!

Awesome reviews are coming in for Apolo Drakuvich

2011-07-01T09:43:00.001-05:00

Wow! Some really good reviews are coming in for Apolo Drakuvich!

A five star review By Evelyn on Amazon.com

Wow! I have just finished reading one of the most profound stories of this generation. Against a chaotic background of crime and corruption, the story follows Apolo on an awakening and sometimes terrifying journey of how a person "falls from grace" and how the justice system slowly destroys its own citizens through rigorous social and political maneuvers. A must read that will have you thinking about what exactly is the definition of a "criminal", and how we may have to rethink the way we deal with them. I will definitely recommend this book to all my friends and family!

A five star review By Aubrey on Amazon.com
I just bought this book thinking it'd be an OK read - something to pass the time when I am less busy or at the beach but soon I found out that I couldn't put it down! Lots of intrigue, with a serious dose of seriousness underneath. The characters were all well introduced and done, and the plot multi-layered. I especially liked Donna, Cocaine Shane and of course, the crazy Apolo Drakuvich. The author has a great imagination when it comes to Apolo.

So you'd like to... Indie Authors you should be checking out

2011-06-30T14:01:00.000-05:00

So you'd like to... Indie Authors you should be checking out

The following list includes books from a group of awesome indie authors. Hard work has gone in each of these works and there is a wide variety of books to choose from. Please take the time to view these books and the proud indie authors who put the hard work in them. Not all books from these authors are listed here but they can easily be found on their own Amazon author pages or you can also search for these authors online. These rising stars are sure to please. Every appetite can be filled here so dig in and enjoy!

The following are the books that are in guide #1

Apolo Drakuvich

Transfection

Life is But a Dream

The Shadow at the Gate (The Tormay Trilogy)

If You Go Into The Woods

The Mike Murphy Files and Other Stories

Rojuun (Willden Trilogy)

Coexist (Keegan's Chronicles)

Anilyia (Willden Trilogy)

Expert Assistance

The Sagas of Surgard the Traveler

Rise of the Raven

The Sable City (The Norothian Cycle)

THE DEMON IS IN THE DETAILS (The Immortal Protector Series)

Republic: A Novel of America's Future

Xenolith

Peregrin

Dorothea's Song

3/17

Trouble Down South and Other Stories

Slave Auction

DATING MY VIBRATOR (and other true fiction)

The Eyes of the Dead (A Vetala Cycle Novel)

I Zombie I

The Hawk and the Sparrow (Quick Reads 2011)

Cold My Heart: A Novel of King Arthur

Footsteps in Time: A Time Travel Fantasy (The After Cilmeri Series Book One)

My Sexy Alpha Bad Boy (Werewolf Romance)

Black Diamond Death (A Sloane Monroe Novel)

Chop Suey (A Darby Stansfield Thriller)

New World Orders

New Beginnings (Selected Poems of Steven R. Drennon)

My Boyfriend's Back

Blood Knot

Cloud Nine : A Paranormal Romance of the Guardians of Man

Along Came a Demon (Whisperings) (Whisperings Paranormal Mystery)

Miya Black, Pirate Princess I: Adventure Dawns

Her Book of Shadows (Scott Riker Mystery #01)

Chosen (The Guardians of the Word)

That Bear Ate My Pants!

Cel & Anna: A 22nd Century Love Story

Delivered to Eternity, An Alesta the Vampire Book

An Unwilling Baroness

Barbary Point

Sunset (Pact Arcanum)

Mental Shrillness

Mad Gods Redux (Predatory Ethics)

Fergyville Episode 1: The New Plan (Novelette)

Big Dragons Don't Cry (A Dragon's Guide to Destiny)

Accept One - Book Two of The Tether (The Tether Saga)

The San Pinto Times interviews David Gaughran

2011-06-28T11:07:00.000-05:00

The San Pinto Times welcomes author David Gaughran. Gaughran brings the weird and quirky to life and his works are always entertaining.

***
Author Name: David Gaughran
Book Title(s): If You Go Into The Woods & Transfection
Book Category/Genre: Short Stories – Literary/Quirky & Science Fiction
Link to book(s): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004YTI01Y & http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0051ZG7AG/
Any other links you would like to share:
Blog: http://davidgaughran.wordpress.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/David-Gaughran/208695969152516
Twitter: http://twitter.com/DavidGaughran

Tell us what the book is about:

If You Go Into The Woods is a two-story collection of creepy tales. The title story is about a small boy who gets more than he bargained for when he is drawn off the forest path, and the second story The Reset Button is about a man with a memory problem, but instead of him not being able to remember anyone, nobody can remember him. Both have a Twilight Zone feel.

Transfection is another short – this time with an old-school science fiction vibe. It starts Dr. Carl Peters, a molecular biologist whose dangerous obsession with his research threatens to ruin his life, and bring him into conflict with some very powerful people.

What would you say the theme of the book is?
Both stories in If You Go Into The Woods are, in one sense, about people who aren’t in control of their lives. They both want to be, but have no idea how to get to that point.

Transfection touches on a very basic fear – how safe is the food that we put into our bodies every day. Will genetically modified food have consequence down the line that we can’t even imagine. What could those be?

Do you have a favorite character from your novel(s)?
Because I am in a sadistic mood this morning, I have to say Linus Eriksson from The Reset Button. He’s such a loser. Everything he touches turns to crap. It would be comical if it weren’t so tragic.

What motivates you to write? Do you write everyday?
I think all writers have a kind of madness flowing in their veins, and writing acts as a kind of outlet. Without being able to vent this craziness on the page, our lives would probably spin out of control. I try and write something every day. I think that’s important. I know from taking breaks before that it’s hard to get back into the swing of things again, so keeping it up on some level is important.

Who would be most interested in this novel?
I think anyone that likes weird, quirky stories will love If You Go Into The Woods. They are a little bit creepy, a little bit unsettling, something is off, something is not quite right.

Fans of old-school idea-driven science fiction (now there’s an unwieldy label) like Ray Bradbury or Philip K. Dick should get a kick out of Transfection. There are no spaceships, no aliens, no alternate planets, just a guy who you can’t decide if he has discovered something crazy or is going crazy himself.

In both cases, I think my stories will appeal to people who like to be left with more questions than answers at the end.

What prompted you to write the book?
Most of my ideas come from conversations with friends. We sit around wondering “what if”. Some come from things I want to do in real life but they are too crazy or expensive or dangerous. Fiction lets you live vicariously through your characters, which is better for all concerned!

Who are your favorite authors?
I could name 20, and name a different 20 tomorrow, but off the top of my head, Kurt Vonnegut, Ray Bradbury, Philip K. Dick, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Haruki Murakami, Roddy Doyle, John McGahern, Louis de Bernieres, AM Homes, HP Lovecraft, Juan Pedro Gutierrez, Patrick McCabe, Jeffrey Eugenides, and Gary Shteyngart.

Would one of your books be a good movie?
Transfection would be a GREAT movie. I could see it as a taut psychological thriller with science fiction elements - camera up close - tracking one man’s descent into the abyss.

What is your dream job?
There’s a million things I would like to do. Writing is #1 though. I would do that for free.

What projects do you have planned for the future?
I’m just sending a new book off to my editor today actually. Hope to have that out in a couple of weeks. It’s called Let’s Get Digital: not just how to self-publish, why to self-publish. It’s going to have 60,000 words of essays, articles, and how-to guides, with contributions from 33 bestselling indie authors. It’s going to be $2.99 on Amazon, but the PDF version will be free on my blog, so keep an eye out for that.

At the end of the summer, I will release my real baby - A Storm Hits Valparaíso – a historical adventure starring San Martín and his army of thieves, rogues, mercenaries, slaves, and prostitutes as they fight to free Argentina from the Spanish Empire.

G.W. Jefferies interview for the week of 6/27/11

2011-06-28T08:55:00.001-05:00

G.W. Jefferies was hosted on author Julia Crane's website this week. Lots of fun and a big thanks goes out to Julia Crane!

Check out the interview here.

Great news for Apolo Drakuvich! Apolo will be on the bargainebooks blog later today.

Isn't this an awesome cover???? It sure is! It's also a great read! Check out Coexist on Amazon.

Woman dies of heart attack caused by shock of waking up at her OWN funeral

2011-06-24T14:40:00.000-05:00

Woman dies of heart attack caused by shock of waking up at her OWN funeral

Happy Friday! Okay, this deserves a WTF rating for a news article. I've heard stories about people coming back from the dead after a few minutes or for an hour but nothing quite like this. Pretty crazy...

This isn't really ebook related but it will probably help some write a creepy or odd story.

Ebooks by Kurt Vonnegut

2011-06-22T13:16:00.003-05:00

EBOOKS BY KURT VONNEGUT

List:
Bagombo Snuff Box (v1)
Bluebeard v3.0
Breakfast of Champions
Cats Cradle
Deadeye Dick
Galapagos
God Bless You Dr Kevorkian
God Bless You Mr Rosewater
Happy Birthday Wanda June
Harrison Bergeron v1.0
Hocus Pocus
Jailbird
Mother Night
Player Piano
Slapstick (or Lonesome no More!)
Slaughterhouse-Five
The Sirens of Titan
Timequake

Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. (November 11, 1922-April 11, 2007) was an American novelist known for works blending satire, black comedy, and science fiction, such as Slaughterhouse-Five (1969), Cat's Cradle (1963), and Breakfast of Champions (1973).

Kurt Vonnegut is a master of contemporary American literature. His black humor, satiric voice, and incomparable imagination first captured America's attention in The Sirens of Titan in 1959 and established him as "a true artist" with Cat's Cradle in 1963. He is, as Graham Greene has declared, "one of the best living American writers."

The San Pinto Times author interview with Cheryl Shireman

2011-06-22T09:46:00.001-05:00

Author Name: Cheryl Shireman

Book Title(s): Life is But a Dream & Broken Resolutions

Book Category/Genre: Fiction, women

Link to book(s):
Amazon Life is But a Dream
Amazon Broken Resolutions

Any other links you would like to share:

Website http://cherylshireman.com/
Twitter http://twitter.com/cherylshireman
Facebook http://facebook.com/CherylShiremanBooks
Facebook http://facebook.com/cherylshireman

Tell us what the book is about: Life is But a Dream is a book about a woman, Grace Adams, who is facing an empty nest and the possible demise of her marriage. To escape her problems, she goes to a secluded lake cabin to redefine her life. Of course, nothing turns out like she expected. It is thought-provoking, occasionally frightening, and often funny.

What would you say the theme of the book is? The novel is about the strength of the human spirit, the invincibility, and the courage we all have buried within.

Do you have a favorite character from your novel(s)? My favorite character is the main character, Grace. She begins the novel as a somewhat passive woman. Her entire life has been defined by her role as mother and wife. Now that those roles seem to be coming to an end, she feels as if her identity is gone. Grace is alive, but she is merely counting the minutes until she can crawl back into bed and escape her sense of helplessness and loss. Then something happens that forces Grace to not only see her life in a different light, but to also forces her to take action in ways she never imagined.

What motivates you to write? Do you write every day? I have no idea what motivates me to write. I only know that I must. My goal is to write every day. So far, that has not happened. Writing is something that I have always done, but it is something that I have always done part time. Real life – marriage, three children, divorce, going back to college, remarriage, graduate school, and work – always took precedence over the writing. Like many others, I wrote when I could. And even now, it is difficult to write every day. I tend to write two or three days a week for long stretches at a time (12-14 hours). I am trying to change that, however. My new goal is to write every day for maybe 5-6 hours. I made that goal a couple of weeks ago. I haven’t been able to do it yet. But I am still trying.

Who would be most interested in this novel? I think my primary reader is a woman who loves to pick up a novel and be swept away into another world. She likes realistic novels and characters that she can relate to. She is passionate, loving, believes in dreams coming true, and has a sense of humor. The thing I hear most often from readers is that they can relate to Grace. That is my ideal reader!

What prompted you to write the book? A book usually starts with a single idea. In this case, I thought about a woman going to a secluded lake cabin to redefine her life. Then I started thinking about her background. What would drive her there? Where are her loved ones? What is she afraid of? What does she most want out of life? Then I start writing.

Who are your favorite authors? John Steinbeck and Elizabeth Berg. My favorite Steinbeck novel is East of Eden. I also love his book Journal of a Novel: the East of Eden Letters. It is a book of letters he wrote while writing East of Eden. It is a fascinating look into the life of a writer – how he works and how the thinks. One of the best books about writing ever. And I love Elizabeth Berg because she makes writing look so easy. Her characters seem real and I care about them. I hope that readers feel the same about my books.

Would one of your books be a good movie? My second novel, Broken Resolutions, is very movie-like. In fact, while writing it I stopped at two different point and thought about turning it into a screenplay instead of a novel. But I like the form of a novel, so I kept writing. The movement is fast-paced and there is a lot of dialogue. The story is about eight friends who get snowed into a home during their annual New Year’s Eve party. While writing it, I could “see” the action and it has always felt more like a movie than a novel to me. It was a very fun book to write and quite a bit different than Life is But a Dream.

What is your dream job? Writer. Always has been. At any point in my life, if you were to ask me this question, the answer would have been the same. And now I am living that dream. There is nothing in the world that I would rather be doing than sitting in my home, looking out at the lake, dressed in some sloppy clothes, and writing novels on my laptop.

What projects do you have planned for the future? When I finished writing Life is But a Dream, I thought about writing a sequel. At the time, I dismissed the idea. I thought that I was probably just reluctant to say goodbye to the main character, Grace. So I moved on and wrote Broken Resolutions. Then the emails started arriving from readers who were asking me if there was going to be a sequel to Life is But a Dream. I started giving it some serious thought and immediately I came up with the opening scene – which I think readers will love! So, that is my current project. And I love the opportunity to “hang out” with Grace again.

Independent author John Locke joins Amazon's million-Kindle-seller club, but at what cost?

2011-06-21T10:15:00.000-05:00

Independent author John Locke joins Amazon's million-Kindle-seller club, but at what cost?

Big congrats goes out to John Locke. Awesome work!

Info from Amazon
John Locke is the international best-selling author of seven Donovan Creed novels, all of which have made the Amazon/Kindle Top 20 Best Seller's List! Saving Rachel held the #1 spot for more than three weeks and remains one of the all-time best selling ebooks in history! Locke has had four books in the Top 10 at the same time, and six in the Top 20! His Emmett Love western, Follow the Stone, has been ranked #1 Western since the first week after release. John lives in Kentucky, where he is working on his second Emmett Love Western, Don't Poke the Bear!

Every 7 seconds, 24 hours a day, a John Locke novel is downloaded somewhere in the world!

This biography was provided by the author or their representative.

Barnes & Noble: We’ve Captured 25% of Ebook Market

2011-06-20T09:30:00.000-05:00

Barnes & Noble: We’ve Captured 25% of Ebook Market

I wonder what percentage Amazon controls?? Barnes and Noble recently update their website of which I approve. The nook is a cool product but the kindle is in the lead. Amazon needs to be careful though and make sure to keep up with the technology. At any moment, Barnes and Noble or any other site could topple the Amazon kindle empire.

Sue Owen - Indie Author

2011-06-17T08:56:00.002-05:00

The Sword's Journey (Chasing History) [Kindle Edition]

Editor’s Bio
Sue Owen

Sue Owen was born and raised on the west coast having move to Oregon when she was 11. She raised three kids on her own and has been writing and reading since she was old enough to hold a book.

Although only recently published Sue has edited many published novels including Pursuit of Midnight by Sharon Nelson as well as her other book, Lexi Maeheart released last month. Sue has been editing and doing rewrites for several authors for a number of years. Sue’s own works include many technical journal articles as well as three unpublished manuscripts including a couple of children’s book.

Having recently joined Pink Phoenix Press, Sue hopes that her unique style of editing will fit in with the Pink Phoenix expectations. She is always up front about her evaluations drawing from her many real-world experiences as well as writing achievements to salt her book reviews. She is critical but fair, honest but constructive in her critiques.

If you have a book you’d like reviewed or are interested in Sue’s editing expertise, email her through the Pink Phoenix web site at pink.phoenix.2011@gmail.com.

The Sword’s Journey
Have you ever wondered what happened to the things that made history history? Where did Paul Revere’s lantern go when someone took it out of the window the morning after? Or the flag that George Washington held crossing the Delaware? Did he even have a flag? What would have happened had those items never been there in the first place???

The adventure begins with three people being ripped from their time and plopped down in 6508. The Wizard has discovered that someone has been stealing history. He needs someone to steal it back and replace it before its missed and messes with the future timelines. The trick is finding the right way to return history and not let anyone know things aren’t the way they were supposed to be.

Oh and yeah. There’s the little matter of the people wanting to stop them. And not caring if that is a permanent stop or not.

Josh, Meri and Digger have their work cut out for them. Along with their companions they have to fight bad guys, fight magic, learn about their own magic and use their skills, cunning and wits to chase history and put it back where it belongs.

Excerpt:

“Umm. Thanks but I think you have me confused with someone else, Sir,” Josh said, trying to look confused and feeling apprehensive.

The little man giggled, a startling sound coming from his mature, slightly weathered face. Shaking his head slightly he mumbled slightly under his breath, “You said you would probably say that.” He handed the pile of books to Damion, “Please, kind prince. Could you hold these for me for just a slight minute? I have something that belongs to Master Josh.” He searched first one pocket than another mumbling, “I know I had it here. I always carry it just in case. Where can it be now?”
Louder. “Ah. Found it!” He took a few steps with his hand out, clearly wanting to give something to Josh. Josh backed up slightly, “I don’t know what ….” He started to stammer but then stopped and reached out and took what the small wizard was offering.

It was a small, round rubber ball with a smiley face on it. The face was a faded yellow and seemed to be worn with time but was still, clearly a smiley face. Josh looked at the wizard now really confused. “Where did you …” he started to say. The wizard had turned back to Damion, taking the books from his arms. “Thank you, kind sir. Now I’ll be on my way,” completely ignoring Josh who was still standing with his hand slightly out, holding the ball.

“Perhaps Master Josh would like to come visit me in my laboratory tomorrow, say 10 of the o’clock? Could you give him directions, kind prince?” When the prince heartily agreed, looking from Josh to Merlin, Merlin bowed slightly to both men, turned and hurried away.
“What was that all about,” Damion asked, turning to Josh. Josh’s face had gone very white. Turning, dazed, to the prince, he realized he was still holding the ball. He quickly stuffed it into the pocket of his pants and said “I don’t know. I guess I’ll find out tomorrow. Shall we go eat?” The last thing he wanted to do was try to explain anything to this man, let alone something that he was just now realizing might not be easy to explain.

Josh and Damion found themselves in a small tavern off the main street. The food was excellent, much to Josh’s surprise. The steak was huge and very well cooked served with some kind of vegetable and potato mix and the customary bread and brew. The two men found they had a lot of interests in common and were soon fast friends. Josh passed the time trying not to grill Damion on events and happenings around the area but found the man fully informed of what was going on in the neighboring farms and providences. Damion was more than happy to talk about what he laughingly called his “kingdom-to-be” as he was second or third regent set to inherit the crown. In his words, “that’ll happen when dragons learn to talk,” giving Josh the impression it wasn’t something that would happen anytime soon.

The men talked of women and hunting and Damion was quick to share local gossip with Josh, Josh telling him it had been a while since he’d passed this way which was his explanation for the incident with Merlin.
After more than several pints, the men started exchanging ghost stories and things from their childhood. Josh was careful even drunk telling Damion of things keeping to stories he knew could have happened any time. But one thing that Josh found rather interesting in Damion’s ramblings was a story about a local lake that Damion claims was haunted. Ghosts were a fairly normal occurrence according to Damion but this particular ghost seemed to be haunting his family specifically. In Damion’s story, he was out hunting with his uncle, the King, when he was perhaps seven or eight and they happened on the lake just as it was getting sundown. His uncle was shooting a grouse that had sprung up and was heading out over the water. Damion was getting ready to fire should his uncle miss, which he rarely did, and was standing slightly behind him.

His uncle fired, and the bird went down into the water; the dogs heading to get it as they were trained to do. Two of the dogs stopped at the water, baying and refusing to go further. One dog went into the water up to his chest then abruptly turned and, barking hysterically, ran back onto shore and to the king’s feet, stopped barking and lay shaking against his boots. The other dogs, followed at full run.

Out on the lake, the two men could see a shimmering on the water’s surface. It was twilight so very hard to see details. The water appeared to be rippling but the ripples weren’t reaching the edges of the lake where the two men were standing. Then a haze began to form along the edges of the rippling water. In a few seconds the haze turned into the form of a woman but not like any woman Damion had ever seen. She was wispy and urethral with flowing hair and clothing. She wasn’t wearing a dress but it was more like draped across her body which was in constant movement.

She made a dreamy, echoing cry like the sound a pigeon makes when he catches wind of his mark but it was very faint; Damion could barely hear it. She sighed a few more times then slowly dissipated.

Damion looked at his uncle with wide eyes. His uncle didn’t look startled at all but pensive, as if he was thinking very deeply about something of paramount proportions. “Uncle?” he said, but his uncle ignored him, turned and started back to the castle, calling the dogs. When they had reached the castle bridge, Arthur turned to Damion and said, “Forget you saw her, son. She only appears in moments of great tragedy but her warning will not go unheeded. I will consider it carefully, I assure you.” He patted Damion on his head and swiftly went into the castle and his rooms.

Damion was confused because he didn’t hear words from the lady, only sounds. He called her the Lady of the Lake for lack of a name. To this day, he didn’t have a clue who she was or what she said to his uncle and he’d not been back to the lake.

After the meal, the two men walked to Josh’s inn, parting with plans to meet in the morning for the trip to the castle and Merlin.
The next morning, Meri woke Josh up early to join her and Digger for breakfast. Josh’s head was slightly pounding and he was surprised considering the amount of alcohol he had consumed the night before. During breakfast, he filled Meri and Digger in on his encounter with Merlin. He held out the ball for them to see. Meri asked puzzled “I don’t get it.”

“This ball was given to me by my mother when I was 6 or so. She had it made for me at a local fair so I know it is unique. I don’t know why I kept it all those years but it is and was always in my pocket. However, the day the Wizard came to get me, I didn’t have it. I had emptied out my pockets the night before and didn’t put it back in. It was or should be at home in 2007 where I left.” Meri and Digger were in shock. Finally, Meri said what they were all thinking, “How’d it get to Merlin?”

“We are back in time,” he said with a shrug. “What’s to say this is the only time we are going to do this? What if this isn’t our only trip. What if we come back again only next time in an earlier time. At some point, we have to go back to 2007 so I can get my ball. I don’t know. This is all new to me, too,” he said with a frustrated sigh. He turned the ball over and over. It was worn as if it had been around for a long time. The yellow was faded and almost gone but still visible. “Its faded a lot since I last saw it,” he continued musing to himself, “but it’s definitely the same ball.”

New cover...same story

2011-06-16T11:49:00.000-05:00

The Hylander Diner

2011-06-15T08:08:00.000-05:00

I stopped by The Hylander Diner for a twenty question interview. It was a lot of fun.

Sue Owen - The Sword's Journey (Chasing History) [Kindle Edition]

2011-06-15T08:06:00.003-05:00

The Sword's Journey (Chasing History) [Kindle Edition]

Product Description
Josh, Digger and Meri were rudely ported out of their time and far into the future by the Wizard. King Arthur’s sword, Excalibur, is missing from its timeline. Without the sword in its proper place in history, everything from that point forward could change. Josh and his new found friends must find a way to return the sword to Arthur that won’t upset the timeline. However, the Bard’s have other plans. They want to rule time. They would do anything to stop the return of the sword. Is it murder to eliminate a timeline so that person was never born?
Follow Josh and his friends back in time to Camelot. Meet the Lady in the Lake, the King’s nephew and Merlin. Rejoice as things go right and cry when a dear friend is erased from time. Did they do something wrong? Can it be fixed or was the Sword’s Journey the catalyst to the world’s demise?

Author Info on Sue Owen:
My first book "Chasing History-The Sword's Journey" is released and available at Amazon (http://amzn.to/jCYQw3), Smashwords (http://bit.ly/jf9oxN), Barnes & Noble (http://bit.ly/iPlont) and Breakthrough Bookstore (http://bit.ly/jCHVMg). It is an historical fantasy involving time travel, wizards and swords.

I am a writer, editor, reviewer. I work full time as a project manager but spend most of my free time doing something involving writing or reading. I live in Oregon with my cat Isabelle. My kids are all grown so I can finally have 'me' time which I more than enjoy.

Check out my blog at bysueowen.blogspot.com.

I've started supporting indie writers with a blog and information at pinkphoenixrr.blogspot.com. If you are an indie writer I'm happy to review your work. Just drop me an email at pink.phoenix.2011@gmail.com.

Free - The Black God's War: A Novella Introducing a new Epic Fantasy [Kindle Edition]

2011-06-14T07:00:00.004-05:00

The Black God's War: A Novella Introducing a new Epic Fantasy [Kindle Edition]

Review
"I enjoyed this novella from its opening chapter to its gripping end ... The writing style ... immediately put me at ease in the setting." --Red Adept Reviews, 5 Stars

"If you want to read a talented new author with a flair for storytelling, you should definitely pick up this story." --Debra L. Martin's Review, Two Ends of the Pen Blog

"Siregar's prose is smooth and for his first novella he has his sense of pacing nailed down ... Siregar's debut is an excellent example of the quality the indie author scene is capable of ... More like this, please."
--Signal dot Noise blog

"'The Black God's War' has all the right ingredients ... His characters are as passionate as his descriptive prose. The pacing is perfect ... This is a novella epic fantasy fans don't want to miss." --Bryan Thomas Schmidt's blog

Product Description

"Moses is a fine writer and is deserving of success, and I think that it will follow ... maybe his project will turn him into the next Amanda Hocking. Personally, I really enjoyed Moses's work."
--David Farland, NY Times Bestselling Author of The Runelords
_______

Her father-king wants war.

Her messianic brother wants peace.

The black god wants his due.

She suffers all the consequences.

King Vieri's war against the lands of Pawelon rages into its tenth year, and with the kingdom's holy savior, his son Caio, en route to the fighting in the storied canyon, victory ought to come soon. Feeling abandoned by his god, King Vieri forces young Caio to lead his army to victory.

The Black One, Lord Danato, tortures Lucia with nightly visions promising another ten years of bloodshed. She can no longer tell the difference between the waking world and Danato's nightmares. Lucia knows the black god too well; he entered her bed and dreams when she was ten.

As the epic battles rage, Lucia struggles to understand the messages of The Black One, while Caio wrestles with his conscience: Can someone who only wants to heal the world bring himself to kill another man?
_______

"An inventive tale with high command of craft."
--Scott Nicholson, Bestselling Kindle Author

A 27,000 word novella introducing a new epic fantasy novel by the same title (The Black God's War: The Epic Novel), currently scheduled for release in the summer of 2011. This novella is also an excerpt from the novel.