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Jeff’s Year In Books

Jeff’s 2019 Year in Books

Take a look at Jeff’s Year in Books. The long, the short—it’s all here.

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Candace

243 books | 58 friends

Brian Henderson

2 books | 21 friends

Maribel Martinson

1 book | 13 friends

Hannah Shannon

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Tanuja Bugg

1 book | 76 friends

Kadija Sulamina

1 book | 62 friends

Wendy Clark

36 books | 18 friends

Matthew Schneider

6 books | 59 friends

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Jeff Kalac

Goodreads Author

Website

http://www.jeffkalac.com/

Genre

Fiction, Thriller, Horror

Member Since

February 2017

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Jeff Kalac is a North American author of horror and suspense thrillers. His love of film led to an interest in screenwriting, and evolved into writing fiction. He is the author of "Through the Eyes of Outcasts" (2017), the seminal novel which led to two other entries: "On the Path of Outcasts" (2018) and "Rise of the Outcasts" (2019). His writing style has been noted for its fast pace and focus on character development.

Jeff lives in Idaho with his family.

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Popular Answered Questions

Can you tell us a two-sentence horror story?

Jeff Kalac The hospital bill did not clearly state which of the required services were not covered by insurance. The one thing it did make clear was that the bil…moreThe hospital bill did not clearly state which of the required services were not covered by insurance. The one thing it did make clear was that the bill was due immediately.

--A True American Horror Story, if ever there was one. Far too many are reading it now.(less)

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Hi Jeff What are your views on self vs traditional publishing?

Jeff Kalac Thank you for the question, Prakash.

In some respects, I think of self-publishing and traditional publishing in much the same light. Several authors fo…moreThank you for the question, Prakash.

In some respects, I think of self-publishing and traditional publishing in much the same light. Several authors form their own imprint, much like the major publishers do. Indies promote their titles, and a large amount of that is also found in being traditionally published. It's very possible to match the quality of product that traditional publishers offer, and it's also possible to match market availability... but, alas, see the next paragraph.

With self-publishing, it's all on the shoulders of the author. Everything from the novel's content to its appearance to its availability in the market. This can be wonderful and empowering... or humbling.

While it's true that traditional publishers often require authors to be active during promotional campaigns, there's a lot of help along the way--something that is not true at all in the case of the indie publisher. As an indie, you're the one making the phone calls. You're the one buying ads. You're the one setting up a social media presence (as well as managing said presence). You're the one fighting for reviews. That sword--however bloody--is in your hands, and it's up to you to swing it.

It's true that an indie can produce work which is equal in quality to whatever Random House is stamping their name upon. However, as an indie, it's your editor. It's your proofreader. Those are your beta readers. Very few gatekeepers exist, since it's also up to you what you accept from the feedback of others. An indie can publish trash just as easily as she can publish treasure. Most readers have seen examples of both, and are often very justified in their unwillingness to try an indie author; this is especially true if the reader has never heard of that particular author. For those willing to take the plunge into your pool, it's up to you to win them over. I hope the pool's clean and the water's the right temperature.

As an indie, you have the same reach as a traditional publisher. That is, depending on how much money and time you're willing (or able) to invest. Purchasing ISBNs, gaining LCCNs, choosing your distributors, and ensuring the quality of the finished product... that's all on you. A traditional publisher would have you covered in these areas.

Both self-pubbing and going through a traditional channel serve the same idea, and that is to get your work into the hands of readers. It's really all in the difference of approach, as well as the consequences of each decision. Traditional publishers tend to make more experienced decisions, hence suffer less fallout.

While it doesn't sound like I'm painting all that great of a picture of self-publishing, there are many good reasons why a person would choose to do it. Myself, I'm the type of person who likes control over what I create. My goals as an author are simple and direct: I want to write the material I wish to write, and I would like to add entertainment and enjoyment into the lives of my readers. I don't desire fame or best-seller status, and I also don't want to run myself into the ground with ceaseless marketing. So for me, self-publishing is perfect! As an indie, it is what you want it to be. You can certainly go for the throat... or you can enjoy the ride, smell some flowers, and enjoy the experience. There's no all-or-nothing about it. You get out what you put in, and can level off at any time. It's all up to you.(less)

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Jeff Kalac’s books

Average rating: 3.6 · 10 ratings · 3 reviews · 4 distinct works • Similar authors

	Through the Eyes of Outcasts (The Outcasts Saga Book 1) 4.40 avg rating — 5 ratings — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	24fps: A Short Story 2.50 avg rating — 4 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	On the Path of Outcasts (The Outcasts Saga Book 2) by Jeff Kalac (Goodreads Author), Joanne Sullivan (Editor) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Rise of the Outcasts (The Outcasts Saga Book 3) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

10 posts
Jeff Kalac's Blog

Your Questions, My Answers

(06/29/2020)

Every now and then, some of you out there like to make use of the “Contact” link on my website–and I’ve gotta say that sometimes you folks ask some pretty interesting questions. I do try to answer personally as time permits, but sometimes questions are so relevant to today’s culture that I like to address them publicly. And hell, sometimes what I receive is off-the-wall enough that I f

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Jeff Kalac wrote a new blog post Your Questions, My Answers (06/29/2020) Every now and then, some of you out there like to make use of the “Contact” link on my website–and I’ve gotta say that sometimes you folks Read more of this blog post »
Jun 29, 2020 05:24AM · like
Jeff Kalac wants to read If It Bleeds by Stephen King (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 07, 2020 09:20AM · like
Jeff Kalac answered Goodreads's question: Can you tell us a two-sentence horror story? The hospital bill did not clearly state which of the required services were not covered by insurance. The one thing it did make clear was that the bill was due immediately. --A True American Horror Story, if ever there was one. Far too many are readin See Full Answer
Nov 13, 2019 08:07AM · like
Jeff Kalac rated a book it was amazing Crash Test Girl: An Unlikely Experiment in Using the Scientific Method to Answer Life's Toughest Questions by Kari Byron	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Generally speaking, I tend to love books like Kari Byron's "Crash Test Girl." Specifically about this book, I found myself not wanting it to end. But end it had to, and this is a fast read (even if my time demanded that I read it in sips). Fortunatel ...more
Aug 09, 2018 09:50PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Crash Test Girl by Kari Byron. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Crash Test Girl by Kari Byron <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jeff Kalac rated a book it was amazing The Jaws Log by Carl Gottlieb	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this book, being a rabid fan of the original novel as well as Steven Spielberg's film. As a former film student, I loved the examination of the film-making process. The inventiveness which had to be put into play in order to push aga ...more
Jul 18, 2018 12:02PM · 2 likes · like · see review
Jeff Kalac is on page 140 of 256 of Crash Test Girl Crash Test Girl: An Unlikely Experiment in Using the Scientific Method to Answer Life's Toughest Questions by Kari Byron progress:	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 29, 2018 05:50PM · like · see status · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Crash Test Girl by Kari Byron. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Crash Test Girl by Kari Byron <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jeff Kalac started reading Crash Test Girl: An Unlikely Experiment in Using the Scientific Method to Answer Life's Toughest Questions by Kari Byron	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 10, 2018 06:45AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Crash Test Girl by Kari Byron. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Crash Test Girl by Kari Byron <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jeff Kalac is now following Kari Byron Author of Crash Test Girl: An Unlikely Experiment in Usin...
Apr 06, 2018 10:53AM · like
Jeff Kalac entered a giveaway Crash Test Girl: An Unlikely Experiment in Using the Scientific Method to Answer Life's Toughest Questions by Kari Byron	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 06, 2018 10:53AM · like · see giveaway · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Crash Test Girl by Kari Byron. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Crash Test Girl by Kari Byron <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jeff Kalac rated a book really liked it So Let It Be Written: The Biography of Metallica's James Hetfield by Mark Eglinton	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 19, 2018 05:13PM · like

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Jeff’s Quotes

“His name was Rambo, and he was just some nothing kid for all anybody knew, standing by the pump of a gas station at the outskirts of Madison, Kentucky.”
― David Morrell, First Blood

tags: adventure, first-lines, military

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Jeff’s Year In Books

Jeff Kalac’s Followers (8)

Jeff’s Bookshelves

Jeff’s Friends (18)