J. Alexander Greenwood's Blog

Hello all! Just a quick note as I take a break from writing the fourth installment of the John Pilate Mysteries (can you believe it?) to talk audio.

Audiobooks, to be exact.

I recall first being asked about audiobook versions in 2010, a few weeks after Pilate's Cross was published. At the time, I was mystified as to how I could do that--especially handling cost, voice talent and recording spaces, etc.

However, on the heels of my successful Kickstarter campaign for a paperback version of Pilate's Ghost, I've found it's not so daunting. In fact, things have come a long way in the past three years.

So, I'm happy to report my first audiobook will be out in a matter of a week or so. It's my first audiobook, but my latest published work, the non-fiction crowdfunding memoir Kickstarter Success Secrets. It's read by VO artist Rye Taylor and will be available on Audible, Amazon and iTunes. Watch this space for actual release dates and links.

John Pilate fans will be interested to learn that Book 1: Pilate's Cross will be an audiobook by May or June (fingers crossed). I signed a professional narrator, John Edmondson, who has done national-level work. I'll share more specifics as soon as production is completed.

I have a special place in my heart for Book 2: Pilate's Key, and I may try to read that one myself, depending on budget. Don't get me wrong--I love all the books, but PK was the most fun for me to write and I think I'd have a blast reading it and doing the characters for you as I "hear" them in my own little pointy head. I'd love to have it released by end of summer.

In an ideal world, Pilate's Ghost would be an audiobook released on Halloween, a year to the day the paperback hit the shelves. I've learned never to count on deadlines working out in this business, but we'll see.

Anyway, that's the word on audiobooks for now. Be sure to "listen in" here for more info in the near future.

As always, thanks for reading my books. It's a privilege to entertain you.

Through March 9, 2013, it's Read an Ebook Week–an international celebration of ebooks in which thousands of authors, publishers and retailers feature free and discounted ebooks to help promote the joys of e-reading to the world’s readers. This means discounted and free Kindle ebooks, Nookbooks and iBookstore compatible books!

Each year, Smashwords authors are the most active participants, and the easy to use, no hassle Smashwords store features the largest selection of participating titles.

Caroline Street Press is offering a sweet deal on its top-selling ebooks–all in any format including free Kindle ebooks, Nookbooks or iBookstore. If you like mystery/thrillers with a touch of quirky humor, interesting locales and a wee bit of snark, then click over to Smashwords and get them for FREE or 50% off! Smashwords offers books in ANY ebook format, so no matter what your ereader, these books will work just fine.

Pilate’s Cross –FREE with Code: RW100 THIS BOOK IS NOT OFFERED FREE ANYWHERE ELSE.
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...

Inspired by a true story, “Pilate’s Cross” follows John Pilate, his sardonic imaginary pal Simon and lovely new friend Kate as they investigate the cold case mystery of a murdered college president. In too deep to wash his hands of the mystery, Pilate risks his life to uncover the truth of what happened in 1963 and why it’s just as deadly today. REVISED 2012 EDITION. Only available here as free Kindle ebooks, Nookbooks or iBookstore. This special price is not valid anywhere else but at Smashwords.

Pilate’s Key –Only 99 cents with Code: REW50
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...

This Kindle Book Review 2012 Mystery/Thriller Semi-Finalist is the second book in the John Pilate series. “Pilate’s Key” picks up weeks after “Pilate’s Cross” ends. On the mend from a near-death experience in the snowy Midwest, John Pilate is taking it easy on the beaches of Key West. Of course, Pilate has a way of getting into trouble–and the only way out is to find the key…Pilate’s Key. Also named a “Page Turner” by Shelf Unbound literary magazine. Only available here as a discounted or free Kindle ebooks, Nookbooks or iBookstore. This special price is not valid anywhere else but at Smashwords.

Pilate’s Ghost — Only $1.50 with Code: REW50
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
When a shadowy enemy rises from the dead, and the heavy hand of a guilty past weighs on his marriage, John Pilate must master his own fear and marshal his resources to defend his family and his life. Soon he discovers he isn’t the only one fighting a desperate battle, and that not all ghosts from his past are hostile…

Only available here as a discounted or free Kindle ebooks, Nookbooks or iBookstore. This special price is not valid anywhere else but at Smashwords.

Also, Kickstarter Success Secrets is only 99 cents–no code required!
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...

Want to try your hand at crowdfunding your creative project through Kickstarter or Indiegogo? Learn valuable secrets to success in this brief book by a first-time Kickstarter who successfully raised 106% of his funding goal! This brief book gives you easy-to-understand tips, do’s and don’t’s ready to be put to use on your crowdfunding campaign. Check out this interview with the author on Audio Dust Jacket!

Free Kindle ebooks, free Nookbooks, free iPad-compatible ebooks–they’re all available during National Read an Ebook Week. Check it out!

Get or give a new ereader for Christmas? You'll surely want to add some fun thrillers to your e-library, right?

I hope you’ll check out my work for some thrills, humor and escape. Below is a link to a list of my books/ebooks in just about every outlet worldwide. Thanks for perusing!

http://www.alexgpr.com/2012/12/where-...

P.S. My bestselling non-fiction ebook "Kickstarter Success Secrets" will be FREE on Amazon on Dec. 25 & 26:
http://amzn.com/B00A3EONH4

Also, Book 3 in the John Pilate Mystery Series,
Pilate's Ghost will be offered for FREE on Amazon on Dec. 26 & 27:
http://amzn.com/B009M9MM42

This is the LAST TIME either book will be offered free on Amazon. com.

Happy Holidays!

Get the mystery/thriller lover in your life some great holiday gifts, personalized by the author.

Order Your Autographed Copies Direct from the Author and Save Up to 20% over Amazon's Low Price!

I will sign each copy to your specifications and mail them for arrival before Christmas.

Prices/Shipping:

Pilate's Cross

$11.49 + $2.50 S&H* per book

Pilate's Key

$12 + $2.50 S&H* per book

Pilate's Ghost

$13.49 + $2.50 S&H per book*

* Until Dec. 16. Then, First Class Shipping & Handling charge of $4.49 per book applies to ensure pre-holiday delivery. Book club and bulk order discounts also available--just email me!

This offer good until Dec. 21, 2012--limited quantities--once they're gone, that's it!

Email Author(at)Pilatescross.com or Alex(at)AlexgPR.com to order. Don't wait!

Credit Cards Accepted through Paypal or Square. Checks also accepted, but hurry!

WOW! 562 people entered the Pilate's Ghost Goodreads Autographed Book Giveaway! Congrats to winners Anbai C. of Andover, MA and Bailey W. of Nampa, ID! Your books are on the way.

The launch of the ebook and paperback of Pilate's Ghost has gone swimmingly so far! The PR and marketing machine cranks on.

Speaking of marketing: I was interviewed about the book on the Kansas City NBC affiliate on Halloween. Check it out:

http://www.kshb.com/dpp/entertainment...

Also, right here on Goodreads, you can enter a giveaway for a chance to win an autographed copy:

http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...

That's all for now. I hope you like the book.

As John Pilate attempts to settle into a quiet life with his new wife and family, he is tormented by ghosts of past and present in Pilate's Ghost, the much-anticipated third installment of the mystery thriller series by J. Alexander Greenwood.

Pilate's Ghost joins John Pilate a few weeks after events of Pilate's Key as he promotes a book about his near-fatal experiences at Cross College. A mystery man threatening to kill him and his family dogs Pilate, who is still dealing with the fallout of those events and the suspicious citizens of Cross Township.

Pilate's Ghost (Caroline Street Press) will be available to haunt readers on Halloween 2012 in paperback via Amazon.com, Lulu and local booksellers. It will be available as an Ebook exclusively in the Amazon.com Kindle Store.

Book one in the John Pilate Mystery Series, Pilate's Cross, was published in 2010. Inspired by a true-life murder at a small college in the American Midwest, Pilate's Cross was nominated for several Global Ebook Awards. It will be re-released as an audiobook in 2013.

Pilate's Ghost is the second novel Greenwood has released in 2012. Pilate's Key was released in February and named a semi-finalist for Best Mystery/Thriller in the Kindle Book Review Awards.

Pilate fans may find this new book familiar--yet simultaneously a jarring departure from the first two books, including critical favorite Pilate's Key, set in Key West, Florida.

"It's an odd thing, writing the third book in a series," Greenwood said. "I suddenly understand--in my own very small way--how the people behind (movies) and even The Dark Knight Rises must feel: audiences want more of what they loved before, but in order to be an effective storyteller, you can't root everything in the same place. I mean, Luke and the gang couldn't hang around on Hoth; Batman had to move on from the Joker. In that vein, John Pilate can't stay in Key West, either."

Greenwood has an idea for a fourth book in the series, but hastened to add, "It's up to the fans if I write it. If response to Pilate's Ghost is strong, I'll certainly bring Pilate and his pals back by fall of 2013. But for now, I'm working on some other projects, including What the Gardener Saw."

What the Gardener Saw is a multi-media story created for tablets including the iPad, created by artist David A. Terrill. Greenwood collaborated with Terrill on the novella that is drawn from the characters and world Terrill created. It is slated for a early 2013 release. Terrill also created the cover art for Pilate’s Ghost and the previous covers in the series.

"What the Gardner Saw is about as far from the world of John Pilate you can get," Greenwood said. "But it's heaps of fun and I think it will set a new standard for storytelling in the electronic tablet format."

Jason McIntyre, top-selling suspense author of On The Gathering Storm and Thalo Blue, likes Greenwood’s approach to his books.

"Greenwood offers a fresh take on the mystery thriller with his John Pilate Series. His novels are populated with flawed and neurotic—yet instantly likable—characters who find themselves thrown into maddeningly entertaining situations," McIntyre said. "Greenwood writes fun, accessible fiction that leaves readers asking for more.”

To order any of the John Pilate mystery series books, visit my homepage or Amazon.com. Join the John Pilate Facebook community at Facebook.com/Pilates.Cross.Book.


Pilate’s Ghost
October 31, 2012
$14.99 / 220 pages/ 978-0-9883201-1-6/ Trade Paperback Original
$3.99 / 978-0-9883201-0-9/ ebook
Caroline Street Press

Kansas City-area readers no doubt have seen–and tried–the tantalizing recipes shared by Pete Dulin in Star Magazine every Sunday, and Roy Inman’s photographic talents have thrilled us for decades. The duo collaborated on a fantastic new cookbook, Last Bite: 100 Simple Recipes from Kansas City’s Best Chefs and Cooks (KC Star Books, $17.95 print, $9.95 e-book), which will hit the shelves in late October 2012.

I visited with Pete and Roy to gain some insights into Kansas City’s best fare. We also delve into what it takes to write and edit a cookbook, as well as create images that capture the flavor of the recipes.

[...]

The cookbook includes well-established chefs in the restaurant community and lesser known cooks with food-related businesses. Collectively, these people share a sincere appreciation for good food. Their recipes make the Last Bite cookbook so eclectic. Last Bite includes James Beard Foundation award-winning or nominated chefs such as Celina Tio (of Julian), Debbie Gold (of The American Restaurant), Colby Garrelts (of bluestem), and Michael Smith (of Extra Virgin). Other accomplished chefs include Charles d’Ablaing (of Chaz on the Plaza), Carl Thorne-Thomsen. (of Story), pastry chef Megan Garrelts (of bluestem), and Tate Roberts (of EBT Restaurant). Chefs Bob Brassard and Justin Hoffman are culinary educators at student-run Broadmoor Bistro. Chef and cookbook author Amber Shea Crawley and Sandi Corder-Clootz (of Eden Alley Cafe) contributed vegan and vegetarian recipes.

Avid cooks like Jamie Milks (of Everyday Organics), Duane Daugherty (of Mr. Doggity Foods), and Sheri Parr (of The Brick) contributed recipes ranging from black bean quinoa burgers to Italian white bean soup to pumpkin pancakes.

These cooks and chefs have different touchstones when it comes to food. Their recipes reflect farm-to-table and seasonal dining trends as well as dietary concerns such as gluten-free foods. The diversity of recipes in this book is also a strength in terms of a cookbook that can appeal to many interests.


Read the entire interview at

http://www.alexgpr.com/2012/09/last-b...

Pilate's Ghost, the third book in the John Pilate Mystery Series (Pilate's Cross, Pilate's Key) is slated for a Halloween release by Caroline Street Press.

The paperback will be available on Amazon, B&N, Lulu and on order from your favorite local bookstore.

The ebook will be available exclusively on Amazon.com for the first 90 days of release. It will eventually be released on other platforms.

For updates, a look at the book's cover and other info, toddle on over to the Series homepage.

Review copies are available for book reviewers and bloggers. Contact me for details. Thanks!

I interviewed Eden Baylee, author of Fall Into Winter. She talks about the double standard of being an erotica author, marketing her work and her new book Spring Into Summer .

Click here to check out her provocative comments.