James Ross's Blog, page 6

Books on Kindle's December Countdown

      My apologies for the lack of input on this blog, but sometimes LIFE JUST GETS IN THE WAY. The golf season was active, screenplay efforts took center stage, my beloved STL Cardinals had a fabulous run to the World Series and Mizzou football has survived many challenges to face Auburn in the SEC title game.
          To increase exposure and try to take advantage of holiday sales 3 of my character-based novels are registered with Kindle’s KDP Select Countdown Deals program during the month of December. It should be interesting to see if Amazon’s support and marketing achieves success with my titles. You can bet I’ll be monitoring the traffic and sales leading up to the Christmas holiday.
          During the first week Lifetime Loser will be featured. White-collar crime and fraud are responsible for the theft of a golf course from a widow’s estate. The setting is Prairie Winds Golf Course on the east side of St. Louis.
          The second week of December will feature Opur’s Blade. A child prodigy from modest means battles through family strife, a future without aim and a sudden love interest to reach the pinnacle of golf’s grandest stage. Read the twists and turns as the story weaves its’ way to a dramatic and unpredictable ending.
          In the third week of December we will be featuring my latest – Pabby’s Score. Two special needs children wind up at Prairie Winds through a teen orientation program. The story utilizes newer communication methods like instant messaging and texting. A familiar topic of mine comes into play – social injustice at the hands of corrupt lawyers and a dishonest legal system.

          Visit Amazon and give my Kindle eBooks a try. They will be offered at discounted prices.

#Books, #Videos and Exposure on #12_12_12

A marketing tool that has become an important resource for authors of all genres is YouTube. Short videos, if done with some professionalism, offer a great way to increase the exposure of an author or a book. So, YouTube is just one more effective way that we have chosen to promote sales of Pabby’s Score on 12/12/12.

We've all heard stories about a video that "went viral," got passed among friends, and became a seemingly overnight sensation.  Anyone ever heard of Justin Bieber?

An author infomercial is a unique method that a writer can use to spread a message. Anyone can read a blog or a back cover, but a message that is delivered to both sight and sound might be the best way to reach some readers. After all, look how many movies are produced because of an author’s words in a story. The connections between the two types of media are strong.

With Pabby’s Score we tried two different types of videos. The first one offers a generic look at the title and concept of the book. The second one details the words of others, found in reader comments and reviews. Check them both out and see which one speaks to you. I’d love to hear your feedback.

In Pabby's Score , the cast of regulars from the golf course is ever present, but close to twenty-five new characters also emerge on the scene. Two prominent characters I introduce in this novel are Pabby and Shae who are special needs children at Footprints of Hope foster care center. They arrive at Prairie Winds with their mentors as part of a youth in need program.

At the same time that wonderful relationships are being formed for these boys, sinister events in the form of a bogus insurance claim, civil lawsuit and tainted courtroom decisions fuel frustration with the golf course owners.

A trip along the Mississippi on the River Road, the discovery of an old, well-hidden secret and a hunting excursion with falcons attempt to explain the events. You’ll have to pick up a copy of Pabby’s Score to see the intriguing conclusion.

Pabby’s Score is the fifth novel in the Prairie Winds Golf Course series from James Ross. It is a story with INNOCENCE – GREED – CORRUPTION – and SEX, as well as a few laughs and several surprises. Mark your calendar for the Pabby’s Score Blitz at Amazon online on 12/12/12. It is available in paperback and Kindle format.

#12/21/12 is Almost Here!

The end of the world is coming!!  We've been hearing the predictions about the approaching apocalypse for quite a while, but now it is merely days away! 

There is a not-so-insignificant number of people who believe that the Mayans, more than 5000 years ago, predicted that the end of the world will take place on December 21, 2012.  Some say the Mayan calendar ends on this date . . . there are no more days to be had.  And, with much evidence to show that the Mayans had amazing insight concerning technology, astronomy, and physics, why not believe them?

The truth is that 12/21/12 does end a "long count period" for the Mayans, which is a linear count of days that just happens to have lasted for five millenia.  But, when this period ends, the cycle will continue and the counting will begin again.  NASA and other scientific organizations have assured the public that the sun will rise and life will continue on 12/22/12.

Just in case, though, why not buy a great book ahead of a possible doomsday?  Immerse yourself in a story of intrigue, corruption, and sex to avoid thinking about a meteor crashing into Texas or the grand armies of the world converging into a final battle of nuclear holocaust. 

On 12/12/12 . . . beating the end of the world by nine days! . . . I am having an Amazon Blitz for my newest release, Pabby's Score .  I am asking everyone who can to purchase my book through Amazon on this date, with the intention of showing a spike in sales and therefore getting a higher ranking and visibility on the popular site. 

Mark your calendars for 12/12/12 to buy Pabby's Score and then, whether or not the world actually ends, choose something to cross off your bucket list before 12/21/12 and celebrate life!

#Obamacare and the Naive Public

I have to chuckle at all of the people whining about corporate America announcing layoffs in the wake of the 2012 election. When they pulled the lever to continue the failed policies of this administration did they really think that it was going to be “business as usual” in the good ole US of A?

Bigger government is an extra layer of expense. The environment for those trying make a buck in this country right now is not very friendly. If you don’t think so, then try going into business. What do you think a lot of entrepreneurs are going to do over the next four years? I’ll tell you what they are going to do. They are going to pack up and call it a day. Why take on extra expenses and added risk?

The employer / employee relationship to which we have grown accustomed is going to change drastically. Many workers will become independent contractors. What does that mean? It means that if you want a job then you’ll sign a contract to work for a short specified period of time with no guarantees that your work will continue after the term of the agreement expires. That also means that benefits will be altered or become non-existent. Try getting a home loan or credit with that employment uncertainty hanging over your head.

The voters who think it is the responsibility of corporate America to continue to hand out benefits really must live in a fairy tale world. When they pushed the lever did they really think that the “haves” were going to sit around and allow the “have-nots” dictate to them how their money was going to be spent?

This country is going to stay massively divided. Big business will stagnate. Tax dollars that are generated when either a product or service is sold will dry up as people become unemployed. This abysmal spiral that is being perpetuated by current government policies is going to drive the great business leaders of this country to take a backseat.

In my opinion, we should be prepared to hunker down. Times are going to get awfully difficult in the days ahead. A fiscally out-of-control government may very well drive this nation into a depression that we haven’t experienced in over eighty years.

When they speak about corporate America the delusional voters and whiners complain, “They can’t do that!” Big business will say, “Watch me!”
Need last minute holiday gifts? Try my latest release, PABBY'S SCORE, on 12/12/12. It has innocence, greed, corruption, and sex as well as a few laughs and several surprises.

Mark Your Calendar for the PABBY'S SCORE Amazon Blitz on 12/12/12 (paperback and Kindle format) Your participation is greatly appreciated!

Moving Skyward in #Book Rankings

One way an author can promote one of his book titles is to encourage many potential readers to buy the book on the same day.

The increase in daily sales shows a steep spike in online activity and this anomaly does not go unnoticed. If I suddenly have hundreds of people purchase a book through Amazon on the same day, that revenue will be recongized by the online giant. My book may find itself on the "Bestsellers" list for that week.  And, with the title now highlighted, additional sales are likely to be the result.

We have a promotion coming up in a few weeks that hopes to accomplish the very effect I just stated. The date is December 12, 2012, or in terms that make the day very easy to remember -- 12/12/12. We are trying to get as many people as possible to buy Pabby’s Score from Amazon on this very unique Wednesday.

In this novel, two special needs teenagers take part in a program at Prairie Winds Golf Course that introduces them to the maintenance of the course and helps them to develop both practical and interpersonal skills. What happens when they break away from their sheltered existence and enter mainstream society? The answer that unfolds is one that is not intended to keep the readers comfortable.

Please mark your calendars. Spread the word to fellow readers. E-mail this article to friends, acquaintances and book lovers. Direct everyone to 12/12/12 with instructions to buy a copy of Pabby’s Score from Amazon.

This is the fifth in the Prairie Winds Golf Course series and is published by Nightengale Press. I hope to see you participate on the second Wednesday in December this year. Thank you!

The GOP and the Vagina

The presidential election of 2012 has the pundits scratching their heads. The second guessing will go on for the next four years as all of the Republicans who guaranteed a solid victory for their candidate, Governor Mitt Romney, looked at numbers that proved otherwise. What went wrong?

With unemployment numbers still high and a chronic feeling of discontent in the country, the election was a major coup for the incumbent Democrat. President Obama’s staff correctly played the geography and demographics and an amazing GOTV strategy. They maximized their ability to garner a super majority of votes in the major metropolitan urban areas and just enough votes beyond that.

The analysts stated that a phenomenon of contradiction existed in this election. The exit polls indicated that the voters were deeply concerned about the direction of the country, but stayed the course. The exit polls also revealed that many of the voters thought that Mitt Romney would be better for the economy, but the voters stayed the course. So, was this election nothing more than a very expensive popularity contest?

Obama’s re-election was especially beneficial for many groups. Black voters, gays and lesbians, abortion activists, Muslims, unions, welfare recipients, feminists and illegal immigrants came out winners.

During a phone call with a good female friend just after the election, I was told, “The GOP needs to learn how to stay away from a woman’s vagina. We want to do what we want with our bodies in 2012. We’ll decide if we want to have an abortion or not.”

But what about morals? What about what is stated in the Bible?

“We’ll decide what is best for us. We don’t need some conservative politician telling us what to do and making decisions for us.”

Hmmmm. Thanks for being blunt. In a close election maybe the moral majority isn’t as strong as once believed. A few more female votes certainly could not have hurt the Republican cause in 2012. It might be time for that party to alter its stance to accommodate the modern woman.

PLEASE Mark Your Calendars

Internet dating. Teens with special needs. Court corruption. Insurance fraud. An unethical attorney. A secret society and more ---

James Ross has designated 12/12/12 as a specific date to buy his latest book - PABBY'S SCORE - from Amazon in an attempt to move up the Best Seller list. Please purchase it here!

Check out this YouTube trailer about the novel!

Available in paperback and eFormat.

All participation is greatly appreciated!

Mark #12_12_12 as a Date for #Book Lovers

Numbers play a significant role in our lives -- anniversaries, birth dates, holidays, and more are marked by certain dates on our calendar. Some of us have a lucky or favorite number and even make decisions based on these affiliations.  This year we have a date that only comes around once a century and I’d like to take advantage of this quirk in the calendar. 12/12/12 is rapidly approaching.

December 12 is the second Wednesday in December this year and falls almost exactly between two of our most cherished holidays – Thanksgiving and Christmas. And, to be blunt, right in the middle of our annual shopping rush.

This year I want to market 12/12/12 as a special date for one of my books and ask that everyone mark their calendars to get a copy of Pabby’s Score from Amazon on that date. The effect of having a push for this particular novel, the fifth in my series to take place on the Prairie Winds Golf Course, to be bought on a single day will get it noticed in the way that could have long-lasting effects.  To accomplish this, I need your help.

In Pabby's Score , two teenagers with special needs become unwittingly entangled in a web of bogus lawsuits, unethical lawyers, a corrupt court, thoroughbred horse racing, savage falcons and Native American customs. Aren't you curious to learn how these distinct details work together to create a storyline?  Turn the pages, connect the dots, and a well-protected secret is revealed.

Please help to push this book to the best seller lists. Mark your calendars and spread the word to friends, relatives, e-mail lists, reading groups, book clubs and anyone else who might have an interest in my story about two kids whose time on a golf course give them an education in areas they never imagined.

Get Pabby’s Score, published by Nightengale Press, from Amazon on 12/12/12.

The Challenge Ends with One Who Started It All

It’s fitting that the end of the A to Z blog tour features a character that started my career in writing as I feature the letter “Z” today and bring this fun month-long challenge to a close.

Lewferd E. Zerrmann is an unethical businessman, con artist, control freak and lowlife scoundrel. He is featured in my first novel, Lifetime Loser , and is the inspiration behind the story line.

Every appealing plot needs a good villain. Zerrmann more than adequately filled that role in my initial foray into writing. The master manipulator swindles an elderly widow out of her inherited property. He schemes to bring an unsuspecting young man into his web as a business partner--think of Tom Cruise in The Firm . By using references to the KKK and Hitler, he intimidates and stuns those who cross his path. Zerrmann successfully derails a government investigation and an IRS probe.

While Zerrmann's life might seem like an evildoer's dream, all is not rosy in his world. Some who are victimized have vengeance in their blood. Will Zermann get through his deeds unscathed? If not, how will he fall from his despicable heights?   Lifetime Loser is a book filled with intrigue, only part of which involves the memorable Lewferd E. Zerrmann. I hope that readers just discovering my work should enjoy my first novel, which is now in eBook format.

Who is your favorite villain that you've discovered on the pages of a book?


Thanks to all of those who have come along on the A to Z Blog Challenge and best wishes for a great May! 

James Ross 
Author of Lifetime Loser, Finish Line, Tuey's Course, Opur's Blade, and Pabby's Score jamesross@authorjamesross.com
Website: http://www.authorjamesross.com/ 
Publisher Websites: http://www.xlibris.com/ and http://www.nightengalepress.com/ 
Blog: http://www.authorjamesross.blogspot.com/ 
Purchase: http://golftwitt.com/46ey

Why Did YOU Do It?

As we approach the end of this great A to Z Blogging Challenge, I'm going to jump around a bit in my exploration of the letter "Y."  Enjoy!

Yuuto Chikuda is a Japanese businessman who is introduced to readers in Tuey’s Course . The immigrant arrived in the United States and wasted no time finding a place to work on his golf game.  He walked into the clubhouse at Prairie Winds and soon acquired the nickname YouWho from the wise guys who are the place's regulars. His presence adds to the eclectic bunch of characters who hang out seemingly every day.

I wouldn’t be doing service to the letter “Y” if I failed to mention a marketing tool that has been of great benefit to me in my writing efforts. I’ve created a video for each one of my novels and posted all of them on You Tube.  I've received some great feedback and I've enjoyed the opportunity to reach out to a potential audience in a new way. Feel free to visit my YouTube Channel link.

The final "Y" I have today is You!  If you are reading this blog post, chances are you are participating in the A to Z Challenge.  What make you decide to join in the fun?  How has the experience been for you?  I've loved the exercise.  It's been a great trip down memory lane as I review my characters and story lines.  I'd love to know your thoughts as well.

James Ross
Author of Lifetime Loser, Finish Line, Tuey's Course, Opur's Blade, and Pabby's Score jamesross@authorjamesross.com
Website: http://www.authorjamesross.com/ 
Publisher Websites: http://www.xlibris.com/ and http://www.nightengalepress.com/ 
Blog: http://www.authorjamesross.blogspot.com/
Purchase: http://golftwitt.com/46ey

What's Your X-Factor?

So, we finally have arrived at the letter that most participants in the A to Z Blog Challenge have been thinking about since early April.  How can you develop a blog post that is focused on the letter "X"?  The answer . . . with a little creative license.

First, I would like share with you a character I created whose name ENDS in X, as that will have to do.  Monique St. Roux is an on-camera television personality who is introduced in Opur’s Blade . Hailing from France, the good-looking broadcaster gained prominence and celebrity status as one of the best players on the ladies’ golf tour. After her playing career ended, she entered the media world and became the color commentator on the men’s tour. Known simply as Monique, she transferred her success in the world of golf into ventures in cosmetics and fashion as well.  How often do we see this happen in our celebrity culture?  A movie actress becomes a dress designer or a pop singer develops her own perfume.  This astute marketing plan is one that Monique understands well.

I also would like to share an "x-factor" that plays an important role in all of my books.  Without it, the story lines and the physical environment on which the Prairie Winds Golf Course is laid out just wouldn't be the same.  I'm referring to the Mississippi River.  It's been a character in countless American novels, perhaps most notably as the venue for Huck Finn's travels, and inspired many great songs.  The characters in my novels enjoy the gambling and entertainment boats that can be found trolling up and down its waters and one even earned his reputation in music by playing along its banks in New Orleans.  While the Mississippi River doesn't have a single line of dialogue in my novels, its presence is always felt.

If you are a writer, do you have an "x-factor" in your work?  Something that runs throughout the pages and influences people and their actions? 

James Ross
Author of Lifetime Loser, Finish Line, Tuey's Course, Opur's Blade, and Pabby's Score jamesross@authorjamesross.com
Website: http://www.authorjamesross.com/
Publisher Websites: http://www.xlibris.com/ and http://www.nightengalepress.com/ 
Blog: http://www.authorjamesross.blogspot.com/ 
 Purchase: http://golftwitt.com/46ey