John Wilson's Blog, page 9

Website Update and New Tour!

If you missed the Fall Tour, I'll be back in southern Ontario in May 2012. I am currently available for school visits on May 7 to 9 and 14 to 18. Check out the May Tour post.
My website is now updated, to include a section offering hard copies of my out-of-print titles for sale direct from me. This means they can be signed and personalized—the perfect Christmas or Birthday gift.
Titles available are:Crusade: The Heretic's Secret Book IGrail: The Heretic's Secret Book IIWhere Soldiers LieGermaniaAnd in the MorningLost in SpainDancing Elephants and Floating Continents: The Story of Canada Beneath Your Feet.
Fans of The Heretic's Secret Trilogy will be happy to know that plans are in the works to bring Crusade, Grail and Renaissance out as a series in the new year. Keep Checking.
Also, The Final Alchemy, the novel for adults upon which The Alchemist's Dream was based, is in process and should be out before Christmas. Of course, you can fill the aching void before then by reading the Governor General's Award Finalist YA version (they are very different), at Kindle or Smashwords.
Ghost Mountains and Vanished Oceans: North America from Birth to Middle Age reached the dizzy heights of #2 on Amazon's Kindle bestseller list of Geology books. Check it out on Amazon (US, UK, Germany and France) and Smashwords (all other formats [Nook, iPad, etc.]). As always there is a free sample.
Ghost Moon, the sequel to Written in Blood is now available. Here's what Kirkus Reviews says: "Action fans will thrill to the gunplay and other dangers. James' conflicting feelings about his archetypically dangerous friend-and also a telling conversation with an old Mexican survivor of the Alamo about the difference between legend and reality-introduce thought provoking elements. A tale of the Old West with a sturdy historical base and nary a dull moment."Check out the Ghost Moon cover, too, it's one of my photographs.
It is now possible to get a personalized inscription and signature for a Kindle book. If you have one of my titles, or are thinking of buying one, check it out here. Isn't technology cool?
Where Soldiers Lie is selling well. Why not pick up a sample for free or the entire book for only 99c on Smashwords or Amazon.com. Of course, the danger is you'll become addicted and have to pick up all my other titles, but what's life without a little danger.
Don't forget to visit my website, and check out the BlogTalkRadio interview on success (whatever that is), authors in schools and the changing face of publishing and eBooks.
Become my friend on Facebook

GENERAL NEWS—NEW BOOK! updated November 22nd

Back from the Remembrance Day reading Tour to Winnipeg and Ontario. 12 schools, 30 presentations, 3,000 kids, not to mention the 31 bookstore drive-by signings, a launch, meetings with publishers, socializing and driving up and down the 401. Lantzville seems really quiet.
If you missed me this trip, I'll be back in Toronto in May 2012 for the From the Garden to the Trenches: Childhood, Culture and the First World War conference. For more details on my books and presentations, visit my website.
Thanks to the Teacher/Librarians and kids at:Tec. Voc, Acadia and Henry G Izatt Schools in Winnipeg; CentralTech, East York C.I., Weston C.I., and Oakdale park in Toronto; Hawthorne P.S. in Mississauga;Vaughan Willard P.S. in Pickering;Hickson P.S. in Hickson;Central P.S. in Woodstock;Hensall P.S. in HensallFans of The Heretic's Secret Trilogy will be happy to know that plans are in the works to bring Crusade, Grail and Renaissance out as a series in the new year. Keep Checking.
Also, The Final Alchemy, the novel for adults upon which The Alchemist's Dream was based, is in process and should be out before Christmas. Of course, you can fill the aching void before then by reading the Governor General's Award Finalist YA version (they are very different), at Kindle or Smashwords.
Ghost Mountains and Vanished Oceans: North America from Birth to Middle Age reached the dizzy heights of #2 on Amazon's Kindle bestseller list of Geology books. Check it out on Amazon (US, UK, Germany and France) and Smashwords (all other formats [Nook, iPad, etc.]). As always there is a free sample.
Ghost Moon, the sequel to Written in Blood is now available. Here's what Kirkus Reviews says: "Action fans will thrill to the gunplay and other dangers. James' conflicting feelings about his archetypically dangerous friend-and also a telling conversation with an old Mexican survivor of the Alamo about the difference between legend and reality-introduce thought provoking elements. A tale of the Old West with a sturdy historical base and nary a dull moment."Check out the Ghost Moon cover, too, it's one of my photographs.
It is now possible to get a personalized inscription and signature for a Kindle book. If you have one of my titles, or are thinking of buying one, check it out here. Isn't technology cool?
Where Soldiers Lie is selling well. Why not pick up a sample for free or the entire book for only 99c on Smashwords or Amazon.com. Of course, the danger is you'll become addicted and have to pick up all my other titles, but what's life without a little danger.
Don't forget to visit my website, and check out the BlogTalkRadio interview on success (whatever that is), authors in schools and the changing face of publishing and eBooks.
Become my friend on Facebook

GENERAL NEWS—NEW BOOK! updated October 25th

The Alchemist's Dream, Governor General's Award Finalist for Teens now on Kindle and Smashwords. History, mystery, adventure, alchemy and dead explorers. How can it fail?
Ghost Mountains and Vanished Oceans: North America from Birth to Middle Age has rocketed to #13 on Amazon's Kindle bestseller list of Geology books (only one behind Geology for Dummies!). Let's make it #1. Check it out on Amazon (US, UK, Germany and France) and Smashwords (all other formats [Nook, iPad, etc.]). As always there is a free sample.
Just back from the Vancouver International Writers' Festival. Two panel presentations to a total of 300+ grade 4 to 12 kids. Much fun, many books sold and signed and a good time hanging out with fellow writers.
Ghost Moon, the sequel to Written in Blood is now available. Here's what Kirkus Reviews says: "Action fans will thrill to the gunplay and other dangers. James' conflicting feelings about his archetypically dangerous friend-and also a telling conversation with an old Mexican survivor of the Alamo about the difference between legend and reality-introduce thought provoking elements. A tale of the Old West with a sturdy historical base and nary a dull moment."Check out the Ghost Moon cover, too, it's one of my photographs. And if you live in Winnipeg, there will be a launch, reading and signing at McNally Robinson at 7 p.m. on November 3rd.
It is now possible to get a personalized inscription and signature for a Kindle book. If you have one of my titles, or are thinking of buying one, check it out here. Isn't technology cool?
The fall tour to Winnipeg (Nov. 2 to 5) and southern Ontario (Nov. 5 to 15), is now full. If you missed me, I'll be back in May 2012. For more details on my books and presentations, visit my website.
Where Soldiers Lie is selling well. Why not pick up a sample for free or the entire book for only 99c on Smashwords or Amazon.com. Of course, the danger is you'll become addicted and have to pick up all my other titles, but what's life without a little danger.
Don't forget to visit my website, and check out the BlogTalkRadio interview on success (whatever that is), authors in schools and the changing face of publishing and eBooks.
Follow all my random thoughts on twitter. I am teenreadings.

GENERAL NEWS—updated October 21st

Ghost Mountains and Vanished Oceans: North America from Birth to Middle Age has rocketed to #13 on Amazon's Kindle bestseller list of Geology books (only one behind Geology for Dummies!). Let's make it #1. Check it out on Amazon (US, UK, Germany and France) and Smashwords (all other formats [Nook, iPad, etc.]). As always there is a free sample.
Just back from the Vancouver International Writers' Festival. Two panel presentations to a total of 300+ grade 4 to 12 kids. Much fun, many books sold and signed and a good time hanging out with fellow writers.
Ghost Moon, the sequel to Written in Blood is now available for pre-order. Here's what Kirkus Reviews says: "Action fans will thrill to the gunplay and other dangers. James' conflicting feelings about his archetypically dangerous friend-and also a telling conversation with an old Mexican survivor of the Alamo about the difference between legend and reality-introduce thought provoking elements. A tale of the Old West with a sturdy historical base and nary a dull moment."Check out the Ghost Moon cover, too, it's one of my photographs. And if you live in Winnipeg, there will be a launch, reading and signing at McNally Robinson at 7 p.m. on November 3rd.
It is now possible to get a personalized inscription and signature for a Kindle book. If you have one of my titles, or are thinking of buying one, check it out here. Isn't technology cool?
The fall tour now includes Winnipeg, the week of October 31st to November 4th (see tour post). There are still days open there and in southern Ontario the following week. For more details on my books and presentations, visit my website.
Where Soldiers Lie is selling well. Why not pick up a sample for free or the entire book for only 99c on Smashwords or Amazon.com. Of course, the danger is you'll become addicted and have to pick up all my other titles, but what's life without a little danger.
Don't forget to visit my website, and check out the BlogTalkRadio interview on success (whatever that is), authors in schools and the changing face of publishing and eBooks.
Follow all my random thoughts on twitter. I am teenreadings.

GENERAL NEWS—updated October 13th

Follow all my random thoughts on twitter. I am teenreadings.
My new eBook, Ghost Mountains and Vanished Oceans: North America from Birth to Middle Age, a non-fiction book for adults, is now up and running on Amazon (US, UK, Germany and France) and Smashwords (all other formats [Nook, iPad, etc.]). As always there is a free sample. Check it out.
Ghost Moon, the sequel to Written in Blood is now available for pre-order. Here's what Kirkus Reviews says: "Action fans will thrill to the gunplay and other dangers. James' conflicting feelings about his archetypically dangerous friend-and also a telling conversation with an old Mexican survivor of the Alamo about the difference between legend and reality-introduce thought provoking elements. A tale of the Old West with a sturdy historical base and nary a dull moment."Check out the Ghost Moon cover, too, it's one of my photographs. And if you live in Winnipeg, there will be a launch, reading and signing at McNally Robinson at 7 p.m. on November 3rd.
It is now possible to get a personalized inscription and signature for a Kindle book. If you have one of my titles, or are thinking of buying one, check it out here. Isn't technology cool?
The fall tour now includes Winnipeg, the week of October 31st to November 4th (see tour post). There are still days open there and in southern Ontario the following week. For more details on my books and presentations, visit my website.
Where Soldiers Lie is selling well. Why not pick up a sample for free or the entire book for only 99c on Smashwords or Amazon.com. Of course, the danger is you'll become addicted and have to pick up all my other titles, but what's life without a little danger.
Don't forget to visit my website, and check out the BlogTalkRadio interview on success (whatever that is), authors in schools and the changing face of publishing and eBooks. And follow all my random thoughts on twitter

GENERAL NEWS—updated October 12th

Follow all my random thoughts on twitter. I am teenreadings.
My new eBook, Ghost Mountains and Vanished Oceans: North America from Birth to Middle Age, a non-fiction book for adults, is now up and running on Amazon (US, UK, Germany and France) and Smashwords (all other formats [Nook, iPad, etc.]). As always there is a free sample. Check it out.
Teen Reading Club, (http://www.teenrc.ca/irc) I will be in their chat room at 7 p.m. eastern time on Wednesday 12th. Ask me questions about historical fiction, or anything else. If you are not registered with TeenRC you need to do that it's free and simple). Oh, and you need to be a teen or else bribe one to front for you.
It is now possible to get a personalized inscription and signature for a Kindle book. If you have one of my titles, or are thinking of buying one, check it out here. Isn't technology cool?
The fall tour now includes Winnipeg, the week of October 31st to November 4th (see tour post). There are still days open there and in southern Ontario the following week. For more details on my books and presentations, visit my website.
The release of Ghost Moon, the sequel to Written in Blood. gets closer. Late October I'm told. Stay tuned for an exciting, upcoming freebie from the Desert Legends Trilogy.
Where Soldiers Lie is selling well. Why not pick up a sample for free or the entire book for only 99c on Smashwords or Amazon.com. Of course, the danger is you'll become addicted and have to pick up all my other titles, but what's life without a little danger.
Don't forget to visit my website, and check out the BlogTalkRadio interview on success (whatever that is), authors in schools and the changing face of publishing and eBooks. And follow all my random thoughts on twitter
More soon.

GENERAL NEWS—updated October 10th

Follow all my random thoughts on twitter. I am teenreadings.
Teen Reading Club, (http://www.teenrc.ca/irc) I will be in their chat room at 7 p.m. eastern time on Wednesday 12th. Ask me questions about historical fiction, or anything else. If you are not registered with TeenRC you need to do that it's free and simple). Oh, and you need to be a teen or else bribe one to front for you.
It is now possible to get a personalized inscription and signature for a Kindle book. If you have one of my titles, or are thinking of buying one, check it out here. Isn't technology cool?
The fall tour now includes Winnipeg, the week of October 31st to November 4th (see tour post). There are still days open there and in southern Ontario the following week. For more details on my books and presentations, visit my website.
The release of Ghost Moon, the sequel to Written in Blood. gets closer. Late October I'm told. Stay tuned for an exciting, upcoming freebie from the Desert Legends Trilogy.
Where Soldiers Lie is selling well. Why not pick up a sample for free or the entire book for only 99c on Smashwords or Amazon.com. Of course, the danger is you'll become addicted and have to pick up all my other titles, but what's life without a little danger.
Don't forget to visit my website, and check out the BlogTalkRadio interview on success (whatever that is), authors in schools and the changing face of publishing and eBooks. And follow all my random thoughts on twitter
More soon.

GENERAL NEWS—updated September 24th

Follow all my random thoughts on twitter. I am teenreadings.
It is now possible to get a personalized inscription and signature for a Kindle book. If you have one of my titles, or are thinking of buying one, check it out here. Isn't technology cool?
The fall tour now includes Winnipeg, the week of October 31st to November 4th (see tour post). There are still days open there and in southern Ontario the following week. For more details on my books and presentations, visit my website.
The release of Ghost Moon, the sequel to Written in Blood. gets closer. Late October I'm told. Stay tuned for an exciting, upcoming freebie from the Desert Legends Trilogy.
Where Soldiers Lie is selling well. Why not pick up a sample for free or the entire book for only 99c on Smashwords or Amazon.com. Of course, the danger is you'll become addicted and have to pick up all my other titles, but what's life without a little danger.
Don't forget to visit my website, and check out the BlogTalkRadio interview on success (whatever that is), authors in schools and the changing face of publishing and eBooks. And follow all my random thoughts on twitter
More soon.

eBooks for 8-12 year olds

Weet, Weet's Quest and Weet Alone are a trilogy of easy read/read aloud chapter books that will intrigue and excite any dinosaur-mad youngster. From the badlands of Alberta, Eric, Rose and their dog Sally suddenly find themselves 65 million years ago. Eric thinks this is cool, until they meet T. rex, but their most exciting discovery is a species of evolved dinosaur that is struggling to come to terms with a changing world. Eric and Weet become friends, but Eric has a problem. He knows Weet's world is doomed—should he tell him?Available on Amazon (click title above), and for all other formats on Smashwords (Weet, Weet's Quest, Weet Alone)

eBOOKS—new title The Final Alchemy

An old man sits by the dying embers of a fire in London of 1669. The ghosts of the past surround him and a decades old guilt weighs him down. As a young man, Robert Bylot did it all: journeyed to the magical Spice Islands on a quest for the alchemist John Dee, communicated with angels through Crystallomancy, and searched for the fabled Northwest Passage with Henry Hudson. He has survived plague, mutiny and fire, and found happiness with an extraordinary woman, but nothing has assuage the ancient guilt that tortures him—unless the old, stained book on his lap contains the answer. The book might be his salvation, or his damnation.

The Final Alchemy is the original novel for adults upon which the award-winning The Alchemist's Dream was based. The literary equivalent of the Director's Cut!

Click on the title or here to check it out.

The Governor General's Award for Children's Literature Finalist is now out as an eBook on Amazon and Smashwords.Follow the dramatic story of Robert Bylot as he is drawn into the mystery, intrigue and danger of Henry Hudson's tragic final voyage of 1611."…engrossing historical adventure…The Alchemist's Dream fascinates from start to finish." Governor General's Award Jury comments."The high calibre of writing, together with the thoroughly researched historical detail, make The Alchemist's Dream a compelling read." Quill & Quire






The story of the past 4 billion years with reference to Scottish cannibals, fever-ridden naturalists and the sinking of the Titanic. It all makes sense in this tale of long-vanished mountains, fracturing continents and the jigsaw puzzle that is the ground beneath us. "…this book is a true, well-crafted page-turner…If you've ever wondered how the continents and the particular slab of rock you live on came about, you will love this book. Even if you don't, you'll still love it. Highly recommended."As always, available on Amazon and Smashwords.







The latest Historical Fiction, hot off the computer. Try a sample at Amazon or Smashwords. The sample's free, but the entire book's only 99c, and the really exciting bits are at the end!














Joining And in the Morning (Amazon, Smashwords) as eBooks for Teens and Young Adults (and old adults who enjoy a fast-paced, historically-based tale), are Lost in Spain (Amazon, Smashwords) and Germania (Amazon, Smashwords). All these titles were award-winners when first published in traditional format, and are now available for only $2.99 each. Check them out.
A Cool Summer ReadNorth with Franklin: The Lost Journals of James Fitzjames is now out as an eBook on Amazon and Smashwords. For $5.99, a reader can now access a title that the Arctic Book Review called "a richly re-imagined fable," and which the Canadian Book Review Annual "Highly recommended."Somewhere on a barren Arctic shore in the summer of 1849, knowing he was dying, a British Naval officer wrapped his journal in sailcloth and buried it beneath a lonely pile of frost-shattered stones. He was one of the last of the 129 doomed men of Sir John Franklin's lost Arctic expedition. His name was James Fitzjames and for four years he had carefully recorded the expedition's achievements, hopes and, as things began to go horribly wrong, the descent into madness and eventual death of his closest friends. This is his journal.