Joshua Graham's Blog, page 17

TERMINUS Release Date leaked

I've gotten word that my next book TERMINUS has a release date of late December!  Perhaps just in time for Christmas?  We'll see.  I don't even have any preliminary cover art to show you.  I think you'll enjoy this book, if you're a fan of Dean Koontz, Stephen King, or even Stephanie Meyers, I believe you'll enjoy this one.  What genre is it?  That's a bit trickyto determine.  TERMINUS is a fusion of thriller, suspense, paranormal, and a bit of historical fiction wrapped up into one big story.  It's got a big cast, deep personal stakes, and global--if not cosmic--stakes too. In short, I believe there's something in it for everyone, with the exception of those only interested in technical manuals and other such documentation.  :) One recurring part of the story takes place in flashbacks in London around the turn of the century.  The pivotal location is Victoria Station, a well-known terminus in England.

Celebrating Two Years of Beyond Justice on the bestseller lists!

Back in 2010 when Beyond Justice first appeared on Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com, I never dreamed it would hit #1 on multiple lists on both sites.  Now, more than two years later, it continues to stand strong on several top 10 bestseller lists on Amazon.com, and has won numerous awards, including The International Book Award.  I am humbled by the many kind reviews it's received, but by far, the greatest satisfaction comes from reading fan mail.  That my writing not only entertains, but moves people to tears and decisions to make positive changes in their lives is beyond anything I could have dreamed.  What a privilege it is for me to share my thoughts, imagination and passion for STORY with you all.

So, in celebration of two years of consecutive months on multiple bestseller lists, I'd like to present you with the new face of  BEYOND JUSTICE!  This new cover was designed by Cory Clubb, on of the most outstanding professionals in the industry.

Thank you, readers!  None of this would have been possible without you.  I hope and pray to bring you many more books for years to come.

~Josh

Beyond Justice
Cover Design by Cory Clubb

 

The Power of Words

Photo by Elvis Santana

There's a ancient proverb that says,

"Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat of its fruit."

What do you think?  Agree, disagree?

You never know how deeply your words can affect someone in either positive or negative ways.  Today, as I was asked by a friend to recall one of the best compliments I'd ever received, a story from my pre-teen days came to mind.

One of the life-defining compliments came to me in junior high school, when I participated in the weight-lifting club afterschool.  At less than 100 lbs and less than 5 feet tall (I was a late bloomer,) I was one of the smallest kids there.  But I what I lacked in physical stature, I made up for in determination.  One day,  I was trying to bench close to 90 lbs, and was just about to stop before I got in my five reps.  I had only done 3.  But stubborn as I was, I wouldn't let my spotter take the bar from me.  I kept pushing.

Then the coach came to the bench on which I was struggling and said, "Everyone look here!  I want you to take a look at this guy here.  He never gives up.  Look at him.  He never quits!"   Sure enough, I found the strength to complete my set and when I finished, I felt as tall and strong as the rest of them because of the honor my coach had bestowed upon me, and the respect my friends now gave me.

Coach's words defined me from the age of 12 until today.  I'm a lot older now, and with some hard-earned wisdom have learned to pace myself against realistic limitations.  But sometimes when I'm weary and discouraged, I remind myself of what he said.  I'm reminded that I'm not a quitter, that I keep pushing past what I think I can do, and that I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.  My coach's words shaped my entire adult life though he never knew it.   It was more than three decades ago and on the other side of the continent, but wherever you are right now, Coach, I just want to say thank you.  Your words had the power of life, and I'm eating of its fruit today.

 

Joshua Graham interviewed on Pia Lindstrom Presents, Book Radio SiriusXM Radio

I had a great time chatting with Pia Lindstrom on Book Radio about my book DARKROOM.

We delved a great deal into the book, my career, my personal history.  Hope you'll give it a listen!

Ms. Lindstrom is a wonderful host who made the interview lively and entertaining (for me, especially.)

 

Be sure to click the PLAY button beneath my mini-bio below to listen to the podcast.

Thrillerfest Recap

Thrillerfest 2012 will remain in my memory one of the best experiences I've had, not only in terms of the people I met, such as Sandra Brown, Lee Child, David Morrell, Steve Berry, Douglas Preston, Catherine Coulter, Ted Dekker, and countless others, but because of the camaraderie we all shared as aviaries of a like plume.  Of course, there were the fan boy moments where I found myself in awe of meeting several #1 NY Times bestselling authors who agreed to interviews on my internet radio show DIAGLOGUE: Between the Lines, but some of best memories were spending time with facebook friends whom I met for the first time in person, such as Aaron Patterson, Vincent Zandri, CJ Lyons, J.E. Fishman, Jeff Ayers, Alan Jacobson, and an whole entourage of their friends as well.

Joshua Graham with Douglas Preston

Thrillerfest is sponsored and organized by The International Thriller Writers organization, and exists to bring writers in this genre together as well as nurture both aspiring and debut authors.  The awards dinners and debut author dinners were inspiring as well as lavish.  And guess what the party favors were?  That's right, books!  I was fortunate enough to snag an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of Justin Cronin's sequel to "The Passage" entitled "The Twelve," which will go on sale on October 16th, 2012!

I love New York, not only because I grew up there, but because of its energy, creative vibe, and overall coolness.  The people I met in the service industry (taxi, hotel, airport) were all very friendly and helpful.  The entire experience felt like I was being pampered (what with the free upgrade in hotel room because the original room had been given away before I checked in, the complimentary breakfasts and free beverages, and the newly renovated grounds), and it didn't hurt a bit that we got to stay at the Grand Hyatt, NY, which is right above Grand Central Station, a historic icon in itself.

If you're a writer, or a fan of thrillers and suspense, I highly recommend Thrillerfest.  There were great panel discussions, mass book signings, and opportunities to meet your favorite authors in real life.  Check it out!

Here are some of the NY Times Bestselling Authors I talked to:

Joshua Graham with Steve Berry

Joshua Graham with Sandra Brown

Joshua Graham with Catherine Coulter


And here are some shots with colleagues and friends:


Vincent Zandri, Joshua Graham, Aaron Patterson

 

A late night dinner

at Grand Central


Here are the cool pair of shoes Liz Berry (wife of Steve Berry) was sportin'

Liz Berry's Rocket Shoes

 Thrillerfest Banquet

Beyond Justice hits #1 bestseller in Legal Thrillers on Amazon, and #2, and #3 in Other Categories

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I just returned from Thrillerfest, a convention sponsored by the International Thriller Writers organization in which I got to meet some of the top bestselling authors in the industry.  I also got to talk with aspiring writers as well as colleagues who are traditionally published, independently published, and hybrid published (both indie and traditional, like myself.)  The day after I got home, I dove directly into more writing, and then a boot camp style workout which kicked my booty!  I survived and learned a few things about burritos and workouts.  They don't go well together!  :)

Today's news was exciting though.  I learned that Beyond Justice hit #1 bestseller in legal thrillers on Amazon.com today.  It also hit #2 and #3 in a couple of other categories.

Thank you everyone for your support and for making my book a bestseller!

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Here it is as #1 in Legal Thrillers

During the time of writing this post, it actually slipped from #2 to #3 in Books>Mystery,Thriller, Suspense>Thrillers>Legal

Here it is in Religious &  Inspirational Mystery

Four Things My Dog Taught Me about Healthy Relationships

 “Be the person your dog thinks you are.”

Have you ever heard that phrase before? We laugh sometimes at how naïve, and utterly devoted our quadruped friends can be while at the same, we time nod in unspoken acknowledgement when we see characters like Dug in the movie “UP.” Dug is best known for his line: “I have just met you, and I love you.”

My dog is probably like most in the same way, but upon careful observation of his interation with me and my family, I learned a few things from him that made me wonder—What if people could be like this to each other?

Here are the four things I learned:

1. Unconditional love – Imagine this: You forgot to feed your dog, or you got so busy you couldn’t to take him to his favorite thing to do, the thing he’s been anticipating for the whole week (like, say, a trip to the Dog Park.) Does your dog give you the cold shoulder? Does she sulk or try make you feel guilty? Does she get cynical? These are all human reactions, aren’t they? Even if we don’t react this way when a friend of a loved on messes up and disappoints you, we might feel offended or hurt, and withdraw our affection, or worse, retaliate. What if we could love our loved ones the same, even if they fail us? What if we were loved just the same, even when we disappoint others? Think about it. Your dog doesn’t write you off if you do something wrong. He doesn’t judge you. He still loves you the same. And nothing you can do will make him love you more or less. That’s the kind of love we all should have.

2. Enthusiasm – Whenever we come home, our dog is right there at the door waiting to bounce up and down like a kangaroo (hence his nickname Kangadog). You can see the enthusiasm in his face, his smile, his happy bounding. He’s saying, “Yay! Your home! I’m so glad to see you!”

"Yay!"

We might sometimes take it for granted when the dog does this, but when was the last time you gave someone an enthusiastic greeting when they walked through your door? Is it a spouse who is back from a long day? What would he feel like if you started jumping around saying, “You’re home! Yay! I’m so glad your back!”? You might not literally be bouncing around and shouting, “Yay!” but some kind of enthusiasm will definitely make your spouse or loved one feel it’s great to be home.

The next time your spouse or child comes home, don’t just let them walk in, find their way into the sofa, and settle down alone. Run up to them, give them a hug. Let them know how happy you are to see them, even if this is the millionth time. Never let a homecoming be so routine that you begin to take it for granted. One day, you will miss this and wish you could have just one more chance to greet and welcome them back.

3. Faithfulness – Like Dug, from “UP,” my dog loves everyone he meets. It’s always love at first sight. Quite liberally, he bestows hugs and kisses on all who pass through our door. And yet, no matter what, given the choice, he will always choose to be on my side. Aside from his “squirrel!” moments, he will always choose to stand by me and my family.

I once heard a story about a boy who had gotten lost in a snowstorm with his dog. He could not find his way back. Being exposed to the elements and freezing temperatures, he would have died. But his dog had wrapped itself around him to keep him warm and alive.

Are we always ready to be no the side of those we love? When circumstances or opposition comes, do we stand by and watch, leave them to themselves, or do we remain by their side, ready to guide, protect and defend? My dog doesn’t seem to care if I’m right or wrong because he doesn’t judge. Now, I’m not saying that we should ignore and condone wrong doing. But I would like to suggest that our heart always be for the ones we love, for their best interest.

4. Being there (in person) - I just love how my dog follows me and simply enjoys being around me. He doesn’t ask for anything (except at the dinner table), he just wants to sit down and be in my writing office to hear me type, listen to me talk on the phone, and once in a while listen to some lines of dialogue I read aloud. If I go to another room, he follows, plops himself down and takes a nap. Now, I’m not advocating stalking your loved ones and following them around wherever they go. The point is to enjoy being together.

In this day and age of internet “reality,” we humans do so much alone that “alone” becomes our comfort zone. What once was normal human interaction has become burdensome for a lot of people. Rather than sit face-to-face, or even pick up the phone to talk, we send emails, text messages, facebook messages, twitter to avoid live interaction. It’s about control. And yet, who or what is being controlled?

Sadly, we’ve dehumanized communication because with the rise of technology, it hasn’t made us less busy, but more. Technology simply helps us do more things per minute. The end result is a society where we spend more time and give more attention to our iPhone and smartphones than the people around us. I’m glad my dog hasn’t learned how to use a tablet yet. The next time you’re with your loved ones remember to unplug from the internet. Resist the urge to spend quality time on your smartphone instead of with your family and friends. Put it away, and try talking, doing something together either face-to-face, or shoulder-to-shoulder. It’s not as easy as you might think, but if you can make your best effort to resist the urge to check your email/facebook updates/tweets, while with your loved ones, you might just find your relationships improving.

So those were the four things I learned from my dog, which I believe will help any relationship. To sum it up: Unconditional Love, Enthusiasm, Faithfulness, and Being there. May we all be the kind of persons our dogs think we are. And let us learn a few things from them as well!

 

The Accidental Exorcist (Audiobook edition) Narrated by Melissa Strom released!

I am really excited to announce that The Accidental Exorcist is now available as an audiobook through Audible.com, Amazon.com and itunes!

Listen to a sample here at Amazon.com: http://amzn.to/N4y584

You can get this audiobook Free with an Audible 30-day free trial!

It's narrated by the supremely talented actress Melissa Strom who has appeared on CRIMINAL MINDS: SUSPECT BEHAVIOR opposite Oscar winner

Forest Whitaker and Emmy winner Richard Schiff. On DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES Melissa played the character Nikki opposite Felicity Huffman. Other notable appearances include MONK, COLD CASE, VALENTINE and THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO

Learn more about Melissa at her website here:

www.melissastrom.com

Soon to be released on Audible: THE ACCIDENTAL HEALER, BEYOND JUSTICE

Aaron Patterson’s New Book: Michael, Book II in the Airel Saga.

 

ONE DAY BLOG TOUR! 

MAY 17th!

Michael, book two in the Airel Saga, is live on Amazon TODAY ONLY for a discounted price!!

To promote Michael I’m helping host a contest where you can win a free copy of Airel and help me win a free Kindle Fire.

To take advantage of this awesome deal, head to Amazon and check out the eBook version of Michael at its promotional price, then see below to enter the contest. Also, leave me a comment on this post. The blogger with the most comments will win the Kindle Fire! If I win, I’ll also get the chance to be part of a special giveaway in the next few months.

Praise for Michael

"Move over Twilight! Here comes Aaron Patterson!"
--Joshua Graham, bestselling author of Beyond Justice and Darkroom

"I was surprised by how much I really, really liked this book. I have not jumped on the whole "fallen angel" bandwagon, just as I didn't jump on all of the vampire stories that came out after Twilight. This is not your typical fallen angel story. It is one that has left me breathlessly waiting for the next one in the series. Hurry up please!!!"
--Sandra Stiles

Description of Michael

Michael did the unthinkable to save Airel from death, but now he must live with the choices he has made--both good and evil. Tortured by his past and haunted by what he believes might be his future, Michael seeks redemption--but will the past prove to be too strong? How can he break free of it and be the man he longs to be for Airel? If only he had never...

Airel. Michael's one true love. He had forced her to drink in new life only to find that old wounds and deep scars do not heal overnight. Can she truly forgive Michael, can she truly love him? And can he accept that forgiveness? Or is it all for nothing, and has he gone too far already? As the darkness of past choices closes in on them, chases them, intercepts them, coming at them from everywhere at once, how can their love possibly survive?

Aaron Patterson is the author of the best-selling WJA series, as well as two Digital Shorts: 19 and The Craigslist Killer. He was home-schooled and grew up in the west. Aaron loved to read as a small child and would often be found behind a book, reading one to three a day on average. This love drove him to want to write, but he never thought he had the talent. His wife Karissa prodded him to try it, and with this encouragement, he wrote Sweet Dreams, the first book in the WJA series, in 2008. Airel is his first teen series, and plans for more to come are already in the works. He lives in Boise, Idaho with his family, Soleil, Kale and Klayton. His daughter had an imaginary friend named She.

Chris White has an award for reading 750 books in one school year — from the 3rd grade. So yes, he’s more of a nerd than Aaron. Chris loves history, Sherlock Holmes, and anything that’s not virtual, like old motorcycles and mechanical typewriters. He also doesn’t get why we have these things called “smart phones” when all they do is make people dumber. Chris recently celebrated 10 years of marriage with his wife, April, and has two boys: Noah, age 8, and Jaden, age 3, who inspired the Great Jammy Adventure series; the OK-to-color-in picture books. Chris is working on a short story called The Marsburg Diary that will further explore the prologue to Airel, and he is finishing up his first novel, entitled K: phantasmagoria, due out in 2011. Chris has a major crush on Audrey Hepburn, who is now dead. His wife is okay with all of this.

 


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My Interview on DIALOGUE: Between the Lines

Today, the tables were turned as I appeared as the guest on DIALOGUE: Between the Lines, a weekly blogtalk radio show which I usually host with Susan Wingate.  Instead, Susan and Jill Urbach interviewed me, and we got to talk about DARKROOM, writing, life, and other topics.   It was like chatting with good friends because, well, we are!  :)

The podcast "play" button can be found at the end of this post.

If you'd like to subscribe to my podcasts on itunes, here is the link:  http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/joshua-graham-podcast-feed/id525789955