Scott Semegran's Blog, page 18
December 28, 2017
Hardcover Editions: Boys and Sammie & Budgie
I'm proud to announce the official release of my two latest books in beautiful, hardcover editions: Boys and Sammie & Budgie. Both books are bound with a blue linen hardcover, stamped gold-leaf spine text, cream paper, and full-color dust-jacket cover with a gloss finish. These beautiful editions need a home on your bookshelves. Buy yours today!
Title: Sammie & Budgie
ISBN: 978-0999717301
Copyright: © 2017 Scott Semegran
Printed: 292 pages, 6" x 9", hardcover binding, cream paper, black and white ink, blue linen hardcover, gold spine text, full-color dust-jacket cover with gloss finish
Publisher: Mutt Press
Category: Fiction / Literary
Retail Price: $34.99
Buy now!
Title: Boys
ISBN: 978-0999717318
Copyright: © 2015 Scott Semegran
Printed: 186 pages, 6" x 9", hardcover binding, cream paper, black and white ink, blue linen hardcover, gold spine text, full-color dust-jacket cover with gloss finish
Publisher: Mutt Press
Category: Fiction / Short Stories
Retail Price: $30.99
Buy now!
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December 27, 2017
BOYS by Scott Semegran Makes "IndieReader's Best Reviewed Books of 2017" List
Boys
Thank you @IndieReader!
Scott
Scott Semegran
November 30, 2017
Slow + Steady: Scott Semegran on his 25 year indie journey
IndieReader (IR): When did you start writing?
Scott Semegran (SS): I began writing in 1993, the week after graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in English. In the years following, I garnered publication credits here and there: some poetry in journals (1996), a comic strip in a city paper (1999), and a short story in a literary journal (2002). I also began a career as a web developer.
IR: When did you decide to publish your first book?
SS: I completed two novels, one of which I self-published in 1995, back in the days when it was still called vanity publishing and was frowned upon. In 2003, I completed a draft of a novel but abandoned it after the death of my father. In 2004, I created a comic strip that eventually found its way into several alternative, weekly newspapers and I focused on that for many years. The money was meager but I was building a body of work: fiction and comic strips.
Continue reading on IndieReader.com. https://indiereader.com/2017/11/slow-steady-scott-semegran-25-year-indie-journey/
Slow + Steady: Scott Semegran on His 25 Year Indie Journey
Originally posted by IndieReader.com on November 30, 2017
IR’s second AUTHOR 2 AUTHOR post stars multi-hyphenate author (novels, short-stories and comic books) Scott Semegran. Scott shares his (almost) 25 year journey from early indie (1995) to over 35,000 books sold (to-date!) in 2017.
IndieReader (IR): When did you start writing?
Scott Semegran (SS): I began writing in 1993, the week after graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in English. In the years following, I garnered publication credits here and there: some poetry in journals (1996), a comic strip in a city paper (1999), and a short story in a literary journal (2002). I also began a career as a web developer.
IR: When did you decide to publish your first book?
SS: I completed two novels, one of which I self-published in 1995, back in the days when it was still called vanity publishing and was frowned upon. In 2003, I completed a draft of a novel but abandoned it after the death of my father. In 2004, I created a comic strip that eventually found its way into several alternative, weekly newspapers and I focused on that for many years. The money was meager but I was building a body of work: fiction and comic strips.
In the mid-2000s, I started reading articles about self-publishing paperbacks through the internet with companies like Lulu Press and the success some authors had dusting off their manuscripts and publishing them on their own. In 2008, I reread the draft of the novel I had shelved and discovered that I still loved it. I cleaned it up then published it but I didn’t know how to market it. I didn’t make much money but I loved the entire publishing process. I learned about typesetting and cover design. I later discovered Smashwords and Amazon KDP and learned about publishing eBooks as well. I continued to write fiction and create comic strips, building my body of work. I had one year I made a few thousand dollars in royalties. I had another year I made $12 in royalties.
Seven books later–four novels, two books of short stories, and one compilation book of comic strips (Simon Adventures Boxed Set, Sammie & Budgie, Boys, The Spectacular Simon Burchwood, The Meteoric Rise of Simon Burchwood, Modicum, Mr. Grieves)–I’ve learned to wear several hats: writer, graphic designer, typesetter, web developer, marketer, and publicist.
November 14, 2017
Book Giveaway for Sammie & Budgie on Goodreads
I am giving away 10 signed paperback editions of Sammie & Budgie to 10 lucky Goodreads community members in the United States.
The book giveaway is open from Nov 15 - Nov 29, 2017. The winners will be announced soon after Nov 29th. The signed books will be shipped within two weeks of the winners being announced. Good luck!
Enter here:
Book Giveaway on Goodreads
To read more about Sammie & Budgie, go here for a description, links to reviews, links to retailers, and more.
October 18, 2017
Simon Adventures Boxed Set. Release Date: Oct 29, 2017.
For the first time, all three novels in the hilarious literary series are together in one eBook bundle. This eBook collects the entire epic, mind-bending run in the most convenient format available including all three book covers and accompanying illustrations:
THE METEORIC RISE OF SIMON BURCHWOOD
THE SPECTACULAR SIMON BURCHWOOD
SAMMIE & BUDGIE
What Reviewers Are Saying About Simon Burchwood:
"Simon is such a character that I couldn't wait to find what he did next." —Great Books Under $5
"Simon's self-doubting verbosity becomes oddly endearing." —Kirkus Reviews
"Simon Burchwood is a genius. It's true!" —Bitsy Bling Books
"His ill-fated journey is strangely captivating." —Indie Reader
"Cracked me up!" —Ashton the Book Blogger
THE METEORIC RISE OF SIMON BURCHWOOD
On his way to New York to celebrate his impending literary success, Simon Burchwood is the prototypical American careerist: arrogant, egotistical, narcissistic. But a quick detour to Montgomery, Alabama to visit a childhood friend sends Simon on a bizarre journey, challenging his hopes and dreams of becoming a famous writer. The Meteoric Rise of Simon Burchwood is a character study that delves into the psyche of a man who desperately tries to redefine himself. Is Simon pompous? Yes. A jerk? Yes. Will you like him? Absolutely!
"The book is told entirely from Simon's viewpoint. Simon is not a very likable guy; as a matter of fact, he is a self-centered, pompous jerk. But for some reason, it's pretty fun to be inside his head, mainly because he is an inadvertent, oblivious jerk... A very good novel that was humorous throughout." —Red Adept Reviews
"Verdict: An ambitious, enjoyable read with a superb ending that changed my interpretation of the entire text." —Indie Reader
THE SPECTACULAR SIMON BURCHWOOD
Recently divorced and his writing career in shambles, Simon Burchwood's life is a complete disaster. He reluctantly finds work as a computer support technician and resigns that his career as the next great American novelist will never come to fruition. When he learns that his ex-wife abruptly moves to Dallas with his children, he embarks on a crazy road trip with a nerdy coworker and a hitchhiking punk rock girl and discovers the inspiration he desperately needs for his new literary masterpiece. Take another trip with the one and only Simon Burchwood.
"Simon is starting to understand something, and his luck literally changes. Semegran handles this quite deftly. We see the progress he is making in getting a grasp of what life is about." —The New Podler Review of Books
SAMMIE & BUDGIE
Sammie & Budgie is a quirky, mystical tale about Simon Burchwood and his young son Sammie, who possesses the gift of foresight. The boy's special ability propels his family on a road trip to visit his ailing grandfather, a prickly man who left an indelible stamp on the father and son. The three are connected through more than genetics, their lives intertwined through dreams, imagination, and longing. The novel explores the bond between a caring father, and his children, one affected by his own thorny relationship with his surly father, and the connection he has with his sweet son is thicker than blood, going to the place where dreams are conceived and realized.
"Illustrated throughout by Semegran, this book is the author's best. In these pages, his steadfastly idiosyncratic style really begins to click. An unconventional, beguiling, and endearing family tale." —Kirkus Reviews
"Though Simon's love for his children shines through as one of the novel's biggest strengths, its illustrations are perhaps the best part. Expressive, adorable, and adding a fun surprise, they are a welcome addition to the reading experience." —Indie Reader
Simon Adventures Boxed Set
October 9, 2017
Simon Adventures Boxed Set
For the first time, all three novels in the hilarious literary series are together in one eBook bundle. This eBook collects the entire epic, mind-bending run in the most convenient format available including all three book covers and accompanying illustrations:
THE METEORIC RISE OF SIMON BURCHWOOD
THE SPECTACULAR SIMON BURCHWOOD
SAMMIE & BUDGIE
What Reviewers Are Saying About Simon Burchwood:
"Simon is such a character that I couldn't wait to find what he did next." —Great Books Under $5
"Simon's self-doubting verbosity becomes oddly endearing." —Kirkus Reviews
"Simon Burchwood is a genius. It's true!" —Bitsy Bling Books
"His ill-fated journey is strangely captivating." —Indie Reader
"Cracked me up!" —Ashton the Book Blogger
THE METEORIC RISE OF SIMON BURCHWOOD
On his way to New York to celebrate his impending literary success, Simon Burchwood is the prototypical American careerist: arrogant, egotistical, narcissistic. But a quick detour to Montgomery, Alabama to visit a childhood friend sends Simon on a bizarre journey, challenging his hopes and dreams of becoming a famous writer. The Meteoric Rise of Simon Burchwood is a character study that delves into the psyche of a man who desperately tries to redefine himself. Is Simon pompous? Yes. A jerk? Yes. Will you like him? Absolutely!
"The book is told entirely from Simon's viewpoint. Simon is not a very likable guy; as a matter of fact, he is a self-centered, pompous jerk. But for some reason, it's pretty fun to be inside his head, mainly because he is an inadvertent, oblivious jerk... A very good novel that was humorous throughout." —Red Adept Reviews
"Verdict: An ambitious, enjoyable read with a superb ending that changed my interpretation of the entire text." —Indie Reader
"The close-to-the-bone novel captures perfectly the intensely solipsistic nature of a certain type of author ... a clever and surprising twist." —Kirkus Reviews
THE SPECTACULAR SIMON BURCHWOOD
Recently divorced and his writing career in shambles, Simon Burchwood's life is a complete disaster. He reluctantly finds work as a computer support technician and resigns that his career as the next great American novelist will never come to fruition. When he learns that his ex-wife abruptly moves to Dallas with his children, he embarks on a crazy road trip with a nerdy coworker and a hitchhiking punk rock girl and discovers the inspiration he desperately needs for his new literary masterpiece. Take another trip with the one and only Simon Burchwood.
"Simon is starting to understand something, and his luck literally changes. Semegran handles this quite deftly. We see the progress he is making in getting a grasp of what life is about." —The New Podler Review of Books
SAMMIE & BUDGIE
Sammie & Budgie is a quirky, mystical tale about Simon Burchwood and his young son Sammie, who possesses the gift of foresight. The boy's special ability propels his family on a road trip to visit his ailing grandfather, a prickly man who left an indelible stamp on the father and son. The three are connected through more than genetics, their lives intertwined through dreams, imagination, and longing. The novel explores the bond between a caring father, and his children, one affected by his own thorny relationship with his surly father, and the connection he has with his sweet son is thicker than blood, going to the place where dreams are conceived and realized.
"Illustrated throughout by Semegran, this book is the author's best. In these pages, his steadfastly idiosyncratic style really begins to click. An unconventional, beguiling, and endearing family tale." —Kirkus Reviews
"Though Simon's love for his children shines through as one of the novel's biggest strengths, its illustrations are perhaps the best part. Expressive, adorable, and adding a fun surprise, they are a welcome addition to the reading experience." —Indie Reader
RetailereBook
Amazon
$6.99
Barnes & Noble
$6.99
Apple
$6.99
Kobo
$6.99
Google Play
$6.99
Smashwords
$6.99
Scribd - $8.99/month
Link
Goodreads
Add Simon Adventures Boxed Set to Your Goodreads Shelf
eBook Info
Copyright: © 2017 Scott Semegran
Word Count: 277,855
October 1, 2017
Book Giveaway for Sammie & Budgie on Goodreads
I am giving away 10 signed paperback editions of Sammie & Budgie to 10 lucky Goodreads community members in the United States and Canada.
The book giveaway is open from Oct 2 - Oct 16, 2017. The winners will be announced soon after Oct 16th. The signed books will be shipped within two weeks of the winners being announced. Good luck!
Enter here:
Book Giveaway on Goodreads
To read more about Sammie & Budgie, go here for a description, links to reviews, links to retailers, and more.
September 28, 2017
Book Launch for Sammie & Budgie at Malvern Books in Austin, Texas
The book launch for Sammie & Budgie will be at Malvern Books in Austin, Texas. Come out and support me and a fantastic, local bookstore. Here's the info:
Who: Scott Semegran
What: Book Launch for Sammie & Budgie
When: Thursday, October 12, 2017 at 7pm
Where: Malvern Books, 613 W 29th St, Austin, Texas 78705
Why: Because it'll be fun! Come out and support a local author at his hometown bookstore.
For more info and to RSVP, go here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/365867683834364/
See you there!
Scott
September 21, 2017
KIRKUS REVIEW for SAMMIE & BUDGIE by Scott Semegran
KIRKUS REVIEWA father suspects his young son may hold the power to see the future in this novel.
Simon Burchwood is a tender father of two with a difficult life. A computer networking specialist who dreams of becoming an author, he spends an inordinate amount of time reflecting on his inadequacies and failures. Following the death of his ex-wife in a motor vehicle accident, Simon must raise Sammie, a bright as a button little boy with special needs, and his elder sister, Jessie, a competitive young girl with a ferocious love of taekwondo. Sammie wants a pet budgerigar (an Australian parakeet), which he plans to name Budgie. Simon begins to suspect that Sammie has unusual abilities when the child foresees his after-school counselor seriously injuring herself. Intrigue builds as Sammie’s apparent mysticism allows him to select a winning lottery ticket at a convenience store. Surprised and alarmed by his son, Simon takes Sammie to a physician but is met initially with skepticism. Yet when Sammie envisions that all is not well with his grandfather, whom he refers to as PeePaw, the clan sets off on a road trip posthaste. The result is a sensitively told story about family bonds and individual dreams. This is the third installment in the life of the fictional wannabee author. Semegran’s (The Meteoric Rise of Simon Burchwood, 2012, etc.) fan base will recognize Simon’s rambling, often crude confessional inner monologue: “Sometimes, kids say the weirdest things at the weirdest times and there really is no rhyme or reason to why they say these things. They just do, and what they say is like an involuntary burp that escapes your mouth an hour after lunch or a silent yet stinky fart that slips out while you’re in an important meeting.” Some readers may quickly dismiss this approach as overly wordy and tiresome, yet Semegran is a persuasive writer, and in this particular story, Simon’s self-doubting verbosity becomes oddly endearing. Sammie is the true star, however—a sparklingly intuitive young character whose few words make the tale truly tick. Simple lines such as “Sorry I told you the truth, Daddy” are not only heart-melting, but also succeed in puncturing the hubris of adult life with the innocence of childhood. Illustrated throughout by Semegran, this book is the author’s best. In these pages, his steadfastly idiosyncratic style really begins to click.
An unconventional, beguiling, and endearing family tale. -- Kirkus Reviews
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/scott-semegran/sammie-budgie/
Sammie & Budgie by Scott Semegran
