Michael Embry's Blog, page 12
May 30, 2019
Amazon Giveaway for "New Horizons"
Here's an opportunity to win an ebook of my latest novel, "New Horizons," the third book in the John Ross Boomer Lit series.
Unfortunately, the contest is open only to those who live in the United States. That is Amazon's contest rules, not mine. I'd prefer for it to be available to anyone, anywhere.
Click here to enter. There are no strings attached. Easy as pie.
The novel follows the trails of baby boomers John Ross and his wife, Sally, as they journey to Budapest on a guided tour. It turns into a memorable trip in many ways. They also must contend with what is happening back home.
I do hope you'll let others know about the giveaway, so please share with other readers.
Good luck!
Until the next time . . .
Unfortunately, the contest is open only to those who live in the United States. That is Amazon's contest rules, not mine. I'd prefer for it to be available to anyone, anywhere.Click here to enter. There are no strings attached. Easy as pie.
The novel follows the trails of baby boomers John Ross and his wife, Sally, as they journey to Budapest on a guided tour. It turns into a memorable trip in many ways. They also must contend with what is happening back home.
I do hope you'll let others know about the giveaway, so please share with other readers.
Good luck!
Until the next time . . .
May 18, 2019
New Horizons Published on May 1
I was glancing at my posts and realized that while I gave progress reports on "New Horizons" the past few months, I never announced that it had been published.
Well (drum roll, please), family, friends, readers, and other interested folks, "New Horizons" was published May 1 by Wings ePress.
I supposed it slipped my mind because I was traveling across Greece from April 21 to May 3. And then it took a few days to recover from the trip including getting my body adjusted from the seven-hour time difference.
But as I said, it's out there, in print and e-book format. It's available at the Wings website as well as reliable Amazon.
The novel, the third book in the "John Ross Boomer Lit Series," is about John and Sally Ross's 10-day guided tour to historic Budapest. It's a wild and wacky trip as they meet a variety of traveling companions to make for a memorable journey.
And they also have to deal with what is going on back in the States as best they can. Nothing is ever easy for John and Sally.
You can read an excerpt here.
Until the next time . . .
Well (drum roll, please), family, friends, readers, and other interested folks, "New Horizons" was published May 1 by Wings ePress. I supposed it slipped my mind because I was traveling across Greece from April 21 to May 3. And then it took a few days to recover from the trip including getting my body adjusted from the seven-hour time difference.
But as I said, it's out there, in print and e-book format. It's available at the Wings website as well as reliable Amazon.
The novel, the third book in the "John Ross Boomer Lit Series," is about John and Sally Ross's 10-day guided tour to historic Budapest. It's a wild and wacky trip as they meet a variety of traveling companions to make for a memorable journey.
And they also have to deal with what is going on back in the States as best they can. Nothing is ever easy for John and Sally.
You can read an excerpt here.
Until the next time . . .
May 14, 2019
Unpleasant Memory of Greece
My wife and I spent nearly two weeks on a guided tour in Greece, viewing some wondrous sites across this beautiful country.
Despite seeing impressive places such as the ancient Acropolis, the Oracle of Delphi, the majestic Meteora monasteries, the ruins at the Temple of Zeus, the enchanting island of Corfu, and the picturesque seaside port of Nafplio, the experience was marred by a handful of lowlifes we encountered on the Metro in Athens.
Pickpockets.
We were assaulted twice by a group of losers. Fortunately, for us, they only managed to steal my old cellphone. But it could have been worse.
I managed to prevent one of the thieves from taking the wallet from my zippered front pocket. They did unzip my wife's handbag but only managed a passport holder (without my passport) that they tossed aside.
My wife was physically assaulted when one of the thugs pressed his body against her, whom she promptly pushed him back.
I didn't take their crap, shoving them off and giving them a tongue-lashing that could probably be heard throughout the car. They ran off when the door opened. Yeah, they're cowards as well.
We did manage to find security and they were helpful in directing us to the stop where our hotel was located.
I'm writing this because I believe Athens needs to clean up its act or it'll start losing much-needed tourism dollars. I can tell you now that I'd never travel to Barcelona because of its pickpocket problem.
I caution travelers to be on the lookout for pickpockets. They blend in. They're not always easy to spot except that they generally work in pairs or group, trying to distract you and then stealing your wallet, purse, passports, and other items.
This was our fourth trip to Europe so we weren't naive about the possibility of it happening to us. I do believe we were spared a worse outcome because we had educated ourselves to be on the lookout for these subhumans.
So beware of greasy hands in Greece. It's a shame that people can make the effort to travel across the world to this nation but leave with the memory of being attacked by common criminals. It can happen to you.
Check this post from The Savvy Backpacker for tips to avoid pickpockets as well as European cities where pickpockets are a big problem.
One more thing. We intend to return to Europe. We're not going to let the petty pickpockets win. I just hope that police crackdown even more on these creeps.
Until the next time . . .
Despite seeing impressive places such as the ancient Acropolis, the Oracle of Delphi, the majestic Meteora monasteries, the ruins at the Temple of Zeus, the enchanting island of Corfu, and the picturesque seaside port of Nafplio, the experience was marred by a handful of lowlifes we encountered on the Metro in Athens.
Pickpockets.
We were assaulted twice by a group of losers. Fortunately, for us, they only managed to steal my old cellphone. But it could have been worse.
I managed to prevent one of the thieves from taking the wallet from my zippered front pocket. They did unzip my wife's handbag but only managed a passport holder (without my passport) that they tossed aside.
My wife was physically assaulted when one of the thugs pressed his body against her, whom she promptly pushed him back.
I didn't take their crap, shoving them off and giving them a tongue-lashing that could probably be heard throughout the car. They ran off when the door opened. Yeah, they're cowards as well.
We did manage to find security and they were helpful in directing us to the stop where our hotel was located.
I'm writing this because I believe Athens needs to clean up its act or it'll start losing much-needed tourism dollars. I can tell you now that I'd never travel to Barcelona because of its pickpocket problem.
I caution travelers to be on the lookout for pickpockets. They blend in. They're not always easy to spot except that they generally work in pairs or group, trying to distract you and then stealing your wallet, purse, passports, and other items.
This was our fourth trip to Europe so we weren't naive about the possibility of it happening to us. I do believe we were spared a worse outcome because we had educated ourselves to be on the lookout for these subhumans.
So beware of greasy hands in Greece. It's a shame that people can make the effort to travel across the world to this nation but leave with the memory of being attacked by common criminals. It can happen to you.
Check this post from The Savvy Backpacker for tips to avoid pickpockets as well as European cities where pickpockets are a big problem.
One more thing. We intend to return to Europe. We're not going to let the petty pickpockets win. I just hope that police crackdown even more on these creeps.
Until the next time . . .
April 21, 2019
Book Promotion for Darkness Beyond the Light
The second book in my John Ross Boomer Lit series,
Darkness Beyond the Light
, will be on sale for 99 cents for one week beginning April 21.
This past week,
Old Ways and New Days
, the first book in the series geared toward baby boomers, was offered at that price. And if you have Kindle Unlimited, you can read them for free.
The books are on sale as part of a promotion from Wings ePress before the publication of New Horizons on May 1.
New Horizons, the third book, can be downloaded on preorder before the release date. It will be available in print on May 1 as well.
Darkness Beyond the Light deals with John and Sally Ross confronting their son's drug problem. They also have Sally's opinionated octogenarian mother to contend with on the homefront during the usually joyous Christmas holiday season.
In New Horizons, John and Sally attempt to get away from all the chaos at home by taking a long overdue vacation to historic Budapest. But they encounter other issues along the way that make it a memorable trip they'd almost soon forget.
I hope that if you chose to read the books that you find them unforgettable—in a good way. And don't forget to leave a review and/or rating (for me and other authors after you finish reading books).
Until the next time . . .
This past week,
Old Ways and New Days
, the first book in the series geared toward baby boomers, was offered at that price. And if you have Kindle Unlimited, you can read them for free. The books are on sale as part of a promotion from Wings ePress before the publication of New Horizons on May 1.
New Horizons, the third book, can be downloaded on preorder before the release date. It will be available in print on May 1 as well.
Darkness Beyond the Light deals with John and Sally Ross confronting their son's drug problem. They also have Sally's opinionated octogenarian mother to contend with on the homefront during the usually joyous Christmas holiday season.
In New Horizons, John and Sally attempt to get away from all the chaos at home by taking a long overdue vacation to historic Budapest. But they encounter other issues along the way that make it a memorable trip they'd almost soon forget.I hope that if you chose to read the books that you find them unforgettable—in a good way. And don't forget to leave a review and/or rating (for me and other authors after you finish reading books).
Until the next time . . .
April 16, 2019
Greece is the Word
I'll soon be flying off to the birthplace of democracy, a perplexing word in these disjointed times around the world.
It's also a place known for ancient ruins, great storytellers, deep thinkers, artistic expression, and much more—Athens, Greece.
Greece always seemed like a magical place to me while growing up in Kentucky, with its pristine beaches splashed by the deep blue crystal waters of the Mediterranean, Aegean and Ionian seas, rugged and hilly landscape, and whitewashed homes.
I enjoyed reading Greek mythology as a child, and later, The Odyssey in high school. And there were movies such as Jason and the Argonauts, Zorba the Greek, Never On Sunday, Shirley Valentine, and recently, Mamma Mia! The Movie and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. My favorite James Bond flick, For Your Eyes Only, had scenes from Greece.
And now I'll get to see and experience first-hand this ancient and enchanting nation with my wife and other adventurous and curious travelers.
In addition to Athens, we'll visit places such as Delphi, Corfu, Kalambaka, and Nauplia.
Greece flagAmong the sites we'll see along the rocky way are the Acropolis (home of the Parthenon, Temple of Athena, Nike, and Erechthelon), the Temple of Apollo, the Old Royal Palace, Achillion Palace, Church of St. Spyridon, Temple of Zeus, and various monasteries, museums, and landmarks.
For the past several months I've been devouring a lot of materials about this historic country—from the Internet, travel guides, DVDs, and travel programs on television. I've tried learning a few Greek words but I'm not sure how effective I'll be in communicating with my Southern twang.
Check back in a few weeks and I'll have a few posts about the trip along with photographs from various locales.
μέχρι την επόμενη ορά ...
It's also a place known for ancient ruins, great storytellers, deep thinkers, artistic expression, and much more—Athens, Greece.
Greece always seemed like a magical place to me while growing up in Kentucky, with its pristine beaches splashed by the deep blue crystal waters of the Mediterranean, Aegean and Ionian seas, rugged and hilly landscape, and whitewashed homes.
I enjoyed reading Greek mythology as a child, and later, The Odyssey in high school. And there were movies such as Jason and the Argonauts, Zorba the Greek, Never On Sunday, Shirley Valentine, and recently, Mamma Mia! The Movie and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. My favorite James Bond flick, For Your Eyes Only, had scenes from Greece.
And now I'll get to see and experience first-hand this ancient and enchanting nation with my wife and other adventurous and curious travelers.
In addition to Athens, we'll visit places such as Delphi, Corfu, Kalambaka, and Nauplia.
Greece flagAmong the sites we'll see along the rocky way are the Acropolis (home of the Parthenon, Temple of Athena, Nike, and Erechthelon), the Temple of Apollo, the Old Royal Palace, Achillion Palace, Church of St. Spyridon, Temple of Zeus, and various monasteries, museums, and landmarks. For the past several months I've been devouring a lot of materials about this historic country—from the Internet, travel guides, DVDs, and travel programs on television. I've tried learning a few Greek words but I'm not sure how effective I'll be in communicating with my Southern twang.
Check back in a few weeks and I'll have a few posts about the trip along with photographs from various locales.
μέχρι την επόμενη ορά ...
April 15, 2019
New Novel on Pre-Order
Between now and April 30, readers of my John Ross Boomer Lit series can pre-order the electronic version of New Horizons.
New Horizons is the third novel in the coming-of-old-age series from Wings ePress involving retired newspaper sports editor John Ross. It's available on Amazon by clicking here. A print edition will be available on May 1.
I'm excited because this is the first time one of my novels has been offered on pre-order. It makes marketing and promotion a bit easier, especially for someone who struggles with that aspect of being an author in the 21st century.
The new novel primarily focuses on John and Sally's long overdue vacation to Budapest, Hungary. They encounter all kinds of folks that turn the 10-day trip into an adventure they never expected as they experience more than sightseeing.
And even though they're five thousand miles from Kentucky, events pop up that keep their minds on happenings back home involving their son, daughter, and Sally's mother. Along the way, they also make a few discoveries about themselves and their relationship in the beautiful city by the Danube River.
In addition to New Horizons being available on pre-order, the first two books will be on sale in electronic versions for 99 cents leading up to the release date. And to my knowledge, this is the first time these novels have been discounted for a limited time.
Old Ways and New Days , the first in the series, can be downloaded until April 21, and Darkness Beyond the Light, the second, from April 21-28. For those who prefer print, they can be purchased but without a discount. That's out of my control.
I plan to have a few more announcements in the coming weeks so stay tuned by following my blog (see the "follow" button in the right column).
Until the next time . . .
New Horizons is the third novel in the coming-of-old-age series from Wings ePress involving retired newspaper sports editor John Ross. It's available on Amazon by clicking here. A print edition will be available on May 1.
I'm excited because this is the first time one of my novels has been offered on pre-order. It makes marketing and promotion a bit easier, especially for someone who struggles with that aspect of being an author in the 21st century.
The new novel primarily focuses on John and Sally's long overdue vacation to Budapest, Hungary. They encounter all kinds of folks that turn the 10-day trip into an adventure they never expected as they experience more than sightseeing.
And even though they're five thousand miles from Kentucky, events pop up that keep their minds on happenings back home involving their son, daughter, and Sally's mother. Along the way, they also make a few discoveries about themselves and their relationship in the beautiful city by the Danube River.In addition to New Horizons being available on pre-order, the first two books will be on sale in electronic versions for 99 cents leading up to the release date. And to my knowledge, this is the first time these novels have been discounted for a limited time.
Old Ways and New Days , the first in the series, can be downloaded until April 21, and Darkness Beyond the Light, the second, from April 21-28. For those who prefer print, they can be purchased but without a discount. That's out of my control.
I plan to have a few more announcements in the coming weeks so stay tuned by following my blog (see the "follow" button in the right column).
Until the next time . . .
April 11, 2019
Pre-Release Book Promotions
The third book in my John Ross Boomer Lit series, New Horizons, will be released May 1 by Wings ePress.
One of the promotions is to provide readers an opportunity to purchase the first two books, Old Ways and New Days and Darkness Beyond the Light , at discounted ebook prices.
Beginning Sunday, April 14, Old Ways and New Days can be downloaded for one week at the amazingly low price of 99 cents. Hard to believe, isn't it?
But wait! The following Sunday, April 21, Darkness Beyond the Light , will be available for the astonishingly low price of 99 cents for one week. Have you lifted yourself off the floor yet?
Silliness aside, my novels have never been priced this low. As part of the promotion, it's a great way to introduce discriminating readers to the series—especially baby boomers. And maybe their children and grandchildren who are curious as to what makes the old folks tick.
For those who aren't familiar with the series, it's about the trials and tribulations and the joys and jubilations of John Ross after his retirement as a sports editor of a Kentucky newspaper.
It's a coming-of-old-age series that deals with family, friendships, health, and redefining one's purpose while moving into that final phase of life.
As mentioned, New Horizons is the third book in the series. It's about a wild and wacky trip to Budapest, Hungary. I'm currently working on the fourth installment and know what the fifth book is going to address.
New Horizons, like my other novels, will be available in electronic and print. More about that later.
Until the next time . . .
P.S. If you read the books, please leave a rating and/or review. It would be much appreciated.
One of the promotions is to provide readers an opportunity to purchase the first two books, Old Ways and New Days and Darkness Beyond the Light , at discounted ebook prices.
Beginning Sunday, April 14, Old Ways and New Days can be downloaded for one week at the amazingly low price of 99 cents. Hard to believe, isn't it?But wait! The following Sunday, April 21, Darkness Beyond the Light , will be available for the astonishingly low price of 99 cents for one week. Have you lifted yourself off the floor yet?
Silliness aside, my novels have never been priced this low. As part of the promotion, it's a great way to introduce discriminating readers to the series—especially baby boomers. And maybe their children and grandchildren who are curious as to what makes the old folks tick.
For those who aren't familiar with the series, it's about the trials and tribulations and the joys and jubilations of John Ross after his retirement as a sports editor of a Kentucky newspaper.
It's a coming-of-old-age series that deals with family, friendships, health, and redefining one's purpose while moving into that final phase of life.
As mentioned, New Horizons is the third book in the series. It's about a wild and wacky trip to Budapest, Hungary. I'm currently working on the fourth installment and know what the fifth book is going to address.
New Horizons, like my other novels, will be available in electronic and print. More about that later.
Until the next time . . .
P.S. If you read the books, please leave a rating and/or review. It would be much appreciated.
March 22, 2019
Rock and Roll Heaven
I finally made it to rock 'n' roll heaven.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame After waiting quite a few years, my wife and I made the pilgrimage to Cleveland to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, located in an imposing glass pyramid on the banks of Lake Erie.
The Moody Blues exhibitI've wanted to visit the Rock Hall for a long time but must confess that I vowed that not to make the trek until my favorite band, The Moody Blues, was inducted. It was long overdue, but it finally happened in 2018.
While on a trip to New England last fall, listening to a SiriusXM Radio oldies channel, I learned that the exhibits for the 2018 inductees would be removed and replaced by the new members in March. I had planned to drive to Cleveland after hearing the news but decided against it because of inclement weather. So we visited on a sunny, but cold day in late February.
Elvis is King!
The Rock Hall is definitely worth the visit (and senior rockers get a discount). It can be a daylong activity taking in all the floors—if you've got the energy. We spent about 3.5 hours, and plan to return someday. It's also handicap accessible, and furthermore, it's easy to find the place and there's plenty of parking (I was told Tuesday is the least-crowded day and that's when we made the drive from our old Kentucky home).
The Beatles displayThere are six levels to the building, starting with the roots of rock on the ground floor and rock TV on the top. As you take in every floor, you'll see artifacts of rock legends, short films such as the history of American Bandstand and the Power of Rock Experience, where I discovered Prince was an electrifying guitarist, a room of pinball machines (remember Pinball Wizard?), and much more.
For more information on the exhibits, click here. You can also order tickets on the website and view a calendar of upcoming events to help plan your visit.
As Mick Jagger and Keith Richard wrote in 1974, "I know it's only rock and roll, but I like it, yes, I do..."
Until the next time . . .
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame After waiting quite a few years, my wife and I made the pilgrimage to Cleveland to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, located in an imposing glass pyramid on the banks of Lake Erie. 
The Moody Blues exhibitI've wanted to visit the Rock Hall for a long time but must confess that I vowed that not to make the trek until my favorite band, The Moody Blues, was inducted. It was long overdue, but it finally happened in 2018. While on a trip to New England last fall, listening to a SiriusXM Radio oldies channel, I learned that the exhibits for the 2018 inductees would be removed and replaced by the new members in March. I had planned to drive to Cleveland after hearing the news but decided against it because of inclement weather. So we visited on a sunny, but cold day in late February.
Elvis is King!The Rock Hall is definitely worth the visit (and senior rockers get a discount). It can be a daylong activity taking in all the floors—if you've got the energy. We spent about 3.5 hours, and plan to return someday. It's also handicap accessible, and furthermore, it's easy to find the place and there's plenty of parking (I was told Tuesday is the least-crowded day and that's when we made the drive from our old Kentucky home).
The Beatles displayThere are six levels to the building, starting with the roots of rock on the ground floor and rock TV on the top. As you take in every floor, you'll see artifacts of rock legends, short films such as the history of American Bandstand and the Power of Rock Experience, where I discovered Prince was an electrifying guitarist, a room of pinball machines (remember Pinball Wizard?), and much more. For more information on the exhibits, click here. You can also order tickets on the website and view a calendar of upcoming events to help plan your visit.
As Mick Jagger and Keith Richard wrote in 1974, "I know it's only rock and roll, but I like it, yes, I do..."
Until the next time . . .
March 20, 2019
Vlog: What is boomer lit?
My second vlog is about boomer lit. More precisely, what is boomer lit?
The simple definition is that boomer lit deals with people who are classified as baby boomers—those born between 1946 and 1964. There are more than 75 million of us in the United States.
My last two novels, Old Ways and New Days and Darkness Beyond the Light, fall under the boomer lit genre, as well as the third, New Horizons, that will be released May 1.
I've always felt my first four novels were boomer lit as well but didn't fit that category because there wasn't that particular label at the time for books.
A few boomer movies I've enjoyed are The Big Chill, Return of the Secaucus Seven, and The Deer Hunter.
Many of us grew up reading classic coming-of-age novels such as J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye and S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders.
To carry that further, boomer lit novels could be called coming-of-old-age novels, that milestone in which people move into the third and final act of life.
Here's the vlog for your viewing pleasure:
Until the next time . . .
The simple definition is that boomer lit deals with people who are classified as baby boomers—those born between 1946 and 1964. There are more than 75 million of us in the United States.
My last two novels, Old Ways and New Days and Darkness Beyond the Light, fall under the boomer lit genre, as well as the third, New Horizons, that will be released May 1.
I've always felt my first four novels were boomer lit as well but didn't fit that category because there wasn't that particular label at the time for books.
A few boomer movies I've enjoyed are The Big Chill, Return of the Secaucus Seven, and The Deer Hunter.
Many of us grew up reading classic coming-of-age novels such as J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye and S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders.
To carry that further, boomer lit novels could be called coming-of-old-age novels, that milestone in which people move into the third and final act of life.
Here's the vlog for your viewing pleasure:
Until the next time . . .
March 16, 2019
Introducing My New Vlog and/or Podcast
I'm not sure how effective this will be or how long it will last, but I've started a short vlog or podcast. I'm really not sure what to call the format.
Checking on the Internet, the definition of a vlog is "a blog that features mostly videos rather than text or images."
And a podcast is "a digital audio or video file or recording, usually part of a themed series, that can be downloaded from a website to a media player or computer."
I've thought about doing a vlog for quite a while but put it off because I wanted it to complement what I do here. I am a writer, remember, and this is what I do best (at least I hope so). I also have novel, New Horizons, that will be released on May 1 so I'm trying to maximize the promotion.
I subscribe to Joanna Penn's blog and have admired her work in marketing and promoting books. And she does a great job with her podcasts.
Her podcast on growing readership through podcasting, featuring Paul Sating, probably tipped me over the edge into this new adventure. I even purchased his ebook so I guess the podcast worked on me. By the way, I highly recommend subscribing to Joanna's blog/podcasts.
I plan to keep my podcasts short and sweet. In addition to my journey as a writer, I'll also have posts about my travels, music and book recommendations, and other interests. I hope to keep them to 60 seconds but that may prove to be difficult. And I'll try to refrain from being political since there's more than enough of that stuff on the World Wide Web.
So here's the first podcast. Please feel free to subscribe to my YouTube Channel as well although I plan to do dual posts here. You might consider clicking the "follow" button in the right margin of this blog to keep current with my posts.
Until the next time . . .
Checking on the Internet, the definition of a vlog is "a blog that features mostly videos rather than text or images."
And a podcast is "a digital audio or video file or recording, usually part of a themed series, that can be downloaded from a website to a media player or computer."
I've thought about doing a vlog for quite a while but put it off because I wanted it to complement what I do here. I am a writer, remember, and this is what I do best (at least I hope so). I also have novel, New Horizons, that will be released on May 1 so I'm trying to maximize the promotion. I subscribe to Joanna Penn's blog and have admired her work in marketing and promoting books. And she does a great job with her podcasts.
Her podcast on growing readership through podcasting, featuring Paul Sating, probably tipped me over the edge into this new adventure. I even purchased his ebook so I guess the podcast worked on me. By the way, I highly recommend subscribing to Joanna's blog/podcasts.
I plan to keep my podcasts short and sweet. In addition to my journey as a writer, I'll also have posts about my travels, music and book recommendations, and other interests. I hope to keep them to 60 seconds but that may prove to be difficult. And I'll try to refrain from being political since there's more than enough of that stuff on the World Wide Web.
So here's the first podcast. Please feel free to subscribe to my YouTube Channel as well although I plan to do dual posts here. You might consider clicking the "follow" button in the right margin of this blog to keep current with my posts.
Until the next time . . .
