Michael C. Sahd's Blog, page 10

Book Signing At The Library

Not all of you may know this, but I have a manager. My wife not only edits my work, but she has also been marketing for me like a beast. Hence, we have scheduled a book signing at our public library -- the Brownwood Public Library, located at 600 Carnegie St. in Brownwood, TX to be precise. I plan to be there from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the 18th of November, and you can bring a book to be signed. If you don't have a book yet, there will be plenty there for sale that I will also sign.

When I first discussed the book signing with the library, we had planned for the 11th of November; but alas, today we received an email stating that the library director had just learned that the library will be closed that day due to Veteran's Day. Of course, my wife had already advertised for the 11th on several websites. Rather humorous.

At this time, "Assassin Marked" is #10 on the Amazon Hot New Releases list in the 45-Minute Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Short Reads category.


Future book signing events are planned, and, if you are unable to make it to these book signing, you can also purchase a signed book from the Signed Bookstore on Authors Den.

If you haven't read "Assassin Marked" yet, you're missing out. Check it out on Amazon. There, you can buy the paperback or ebook version. If you have Kindle Unlimited, you can read it for free.

Photos & A Teaser

Here are some new photos of me, contributed from a friend of ours.

Also it is Tuesday, and I hereby dub Tuesday - Teaser Tuesday:

Damian pulled his heavy denim jacket closer to his lithe body, let out a puff of cold mist, and shivered, but not just from cold. Being stuck in North America for two years had been the most unpleasant time of his life. He had spent two years living off mice and sometimes had to fight for them from wolves, half that time he spent starving. Briefly, toward the end of the stint, some crazy cult of religious people that avoided technology like it were something evil had taken him in, until he left to find a more civilized settlement. The settlement he found had been deserted and that is when he fell asleep in a shack and woke up unable to open the door and the windows packed with snow against them. This memory, still haunting him years later, made him shiver.

The Liars' Asylum by Jacob M. Appel Book Review

The Liars' Asylum by Jacob M. Appel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Liars’ Asylum offers a brief glimpse into the characters’ lives, often leaving the reader with many questions unanswered. I assume that this is the purpose of the writer, encouraging the reader to think about the stories and their potential endings long after the story itself is over; however, I believe that some of them could easily be expanded into a longer work. On the other hand, perhaps some, if not all, of the stories are exactly what they appear -- a moment in time, just one sample of one character’s life, but which changes the course of his or her life forever.

Jacob M. Appel’s writing is consistently clear and interesting. Each story flows seamlessly until its end, which sometimes comes with little warning. Overall, I would recommend this book to someone who is looking for short, entertaining stories to read.

***I received a review copy of this book; however, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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Assassin Marked Amazon Giveaway (Ends by 10/27/17)

I have decided to host a one-day only Amazon giveaway for one ebook copy of "Assassin Marked." This book will be given to the 250th entry, so hurry!

Enter now!

Wedding Wipeout by Jacob M. Appel Book Review

Wedding Wipeout by Jacob M. Appel


In Wedding Wipeout, the old rabbi wears many hats, flowing seamlessly from mentor to FBI agent to police detective, among others. Within the pages of this mystery book, Jacob M. Appel pays homage to both Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle, with his quirky detective (who also happens to be a rabbi, in this case), his not-quite-as-brilliant protégé, his complex plot line, and his alternating periods of action and reflection.

Overall, the story and characters in this book are well-written and interesting. If you like mysteries (and especially if you have a decent knowledge of Jewish vocabulary/culture), you should give this book a read.

*** I received a review copy of this book; however, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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Beloved by Toni Morrison Book Review

Beloved by Toni Morrison
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is one of those books that you shouldn't judge by its cover. When I first saw the book, my initial response was, "Oh crap! A romance novel." I was way off. Beloved is a ghost story, brought on by the desperate actions of an escaped slave woman, Sethe.


The readers of this book can debate whether Sethe's actions are the right ones to make; however, regardless of right or wrong, her actions come back to haunt her. I refuse to give away a story to prospective readers, and I must say this book isn't for everyone. It is full of dreams, flashbacks, and memories that take the reader back and forth through time (think Faulkner or Virginia Woolf). Love it or hate it, I would suggest reading it.

On a side note: Avoid the movie, it was horrible. There is no way for a movie to encompass the grittiness and emotion of which the book is capable.


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Some Little Tidbits of Knowledge

Today, 24 copies of "Assassin Marked" arrived in the mail. The paper copy turned out very nice. Looking the book over, my wife and I discussed the idea of turning the story into a graphic novel. I think it would be a very cool graphic novel; unfortunately, I am definitely not capable of illustrating anything. Finding someone to do the cover was well-nigh impossible. So maybe someday.

In "Assassin Marked," the locations are backdrops and not fully elaborated on in the story; however, Arbona and Penelope are advanced O'Neill Cylinders. Gerard K. O'Neill, an American physicist, proposed the design of these Cylinders, as conceptualized below.



By Rick Guidice NASA Ames Research Center - http://lifesci3.arc.nasa.gov/SpaceSettlement/70sArt/art.html, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=617874

If you've read "Assassin Marked," would you be interested in seeing it in a graphic novel form? If so, let me know in the comments below. As always, your input is appreciated!

Unsolved Mystery: A Day In The Woods

Rearing up like a gnarled gargoyle, the trunk leaned over the forest path, moss blanketing its northern side. Vegetation crept up to the path, creating a wall of leaves, branches, and thorns. A light mist filled the woods, casting the forest in a light shroud.

Despite the nature all around, not a single bird could be heard; if not for the insects, the forest would have been eerily quiet.

And if only you had known . . . if you had any inkling . . . then we would have avoided these woods . . . . But now it's too late. I will miss you . . . .

Tennis Tuesday / Teaser Tuesday

Today is Tennis Tuesday, so we went to the park to play some tennis. Today also seemed to be a productive day on the writing front. Because I'm in a good mood, I've decided to share a preview of what I'm writing for the sequel to "Assassin Marked," which I may or may not use.

The restaurant had alternating yellow, blue, and green tablecloths, except for the booths that lined the walls of the diner. These booths had no tablecloths, but what they did have was occupants. It was as if the gaudy tablecloths repelled customers, except for two unfortunate families who could not find an available booth.

Noise from the chattering patrons and the clattering kitchen, created an incoherent babbling with the occasional shout of a child carried above the rest.

The walls were decorated with paintings of flamenco dancers, mariachi players, and old Mexico streets from the 20th century on earth. Ponchos and garish sombreros also squeezed into this decor, between the paintings.

The smells of tacos and chili made Lavender's mouth water. She and Damian sat across from each other in a corner and at one of the booths. They had been waiting for awhile, and in a low intestinal groan, Lavender felt her stomach begging for food.

Damian leaned forward, "I don't like this place. If there's trouble, then we're boxed in... ."

That's all you get, for now! What do you think?