Tom Kepler's Blog, page 41

E-book Review: Fall Leaves and the Black Dragon

I truly love the storyline of this novel, but unfortunately, a storyline and a novel are two different things. 

Fall Leaves and the Black Dragon, a novel by Erik Gustafson, is available through Smashwords for 99 cents.

It is a novel that contains an exciting story in an imperfect format. There are numerous proofreading errors throughout the book, so many that at one point (after a couple chapters) I was ready to abandon the book.

The book is told from the first person point of view, but the first fifty pages contain too much summary of the main character's life with too little immediate description and action. Once the main character's life scrolls out to high school graduation, though, the narrative becomes more immediately focused on the moment rather than panoramic overviews.

That is to say--the story gets interesting.

The plot revolves around a young boy who experiences a fire tragedy and is "haunted" by the experience for years after--literally, as it turns out. Willy (or Liam, since he changes his name), aided by his stalwart friend Kenny, set out to solve a mystery, and their paranormal adventures finish the last two thirds of the novel.

A fire that burns through the years… Somehow six-year-old Willy survived a huge fire. The memory of the flames engulfed his childhood and haunted him for years. Terrible secrets that should have burned away have come back. Now an adult, he must return to Iowa, with his best friend by his side, and confront the evil that haunts him. The dark secrets that await them threaten their very lives.

As the story unfolded, I finally said, "Never mind that Gustafson doesn't know how and when to use the past perfect verb tense. Never mind the run-on sentences, the misused words, the lack of capitalization and poor punctuation. I'm enjoying the story!

Fall Leaves and the Black Dragon is a great story desperately in need of an editor. All that creativity and effort was left just short of being a tight, suspenseful thriller.

I enjoyed the story and deplored the novel. 

Here is a note to Erik Gustafson, the author: The joy of ebooks is that they can be edited and easily uploaded again. Smashwords allows this for free. I don't begrudge the cost of the book at a penny less than a buck--and I did enjoy the story--but there is a great difference between what could have been and what is.

I've never gone the "star route" in evaluating books, but I give this novel two stars out of five. Oh, but how I would have loved to have given it more!

Copyright 2011 by Thomas L. Kepler, all rights reserved

3 Quick Tips for Parents (at the start of the school year)

If I had the opportunity to advise parents of my top three aids for the next school year (and it appears I do), these would be the suggestions:

1:  The bedroom is for sleeping. Remove all technology, such as computers, cellphones, ipods, TVs, etc. Your children will get more rest. If you do it, so will you.

2:  Establish a regular time in the family room for homework. If your child has no homework, work out a Plan B, such as read a book, extend the current area of study, or to "teach" you what was learned at school during the day. If students are engaged for a set time anyway, they will be more apt to put attention on a current school assignment.

3:  Establish easy communication with teachers (email, phone numbers) and open that communication. That will make it much easier to send or receive information or questions when it is necssary. A positive flow of communication is important.

Those are my three! They all focus around keeping the student in a restful, supportive routine and environment.

Anybody have other suggestions to add to the comments section below?
Copyright 2011 by Thomas L. Kepler, all rights reserved

Book Review: Dragon Cloud (e-book)

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Middle-Grade fiction, fantasy, 28,353 words

 Denise Huges Lewis

a free e-book at Smashwords

Tazure, a young dragon, undertakes a mission to find a magic pearl that his father hid on Earth centuries ago. It will save his dimension, Draggonfeld, and Earth from the evil Dragonscar. Wounded, Tazure gets lost on Earth and kidnaps Jase, 15, and his sister, Megan, 10. The children help Tazure, not realizing that they will face death when they are separated in the land of dragons.
 
***
Reading a middle school book (around grades 5-8) requires a certain level of intellectual focus by an adult, at least for me. I found that true of Dragon Cloud, but that is not necessarily a criticism. The human protagonists are aged ten and fifteen, after all. And even Tazure, the dragon, is an adolescent. I think this book would be better for the lower end of that middle school age grouping.
I finished the book with a flash, enjoying the ending. In fact, my overall assessment of the novel is to get through the first two or three chapters, and then enjoy the rest. There is an amount of stereotyping (selfish teen boy, egghead nerd girl)  at the beginning, but this disappears as the book progresses. One could say that the characters have to start from somewhere, but the beginning was the least enjoyable part of the book for me.
Once the adventure begins, it moves with speed and efficiency to a satisfying conclusion. The world of Draggonfeld is described creatively, and the characters are developed to greater believability as the novel progresses. The action is straightforward and moves at a good pace. I especially liked the characterization of Dragonscar, the antagonist: creepy enough to be the "evil one," yet not too creepy.


Free at Smashwords
All in all, this is a tale that is about becoming less self-absorbed and learning to think and care about others. It's a good tale for middle grades to read, a good message for middle grade students to think about. There are a few editing errors in the book, oddly enough also in the first half, but few enough not to become a big negative.
Denice Hughes Lewis sets the human part of the story in Oregon, in locations I've lived and visited, and the link between fantasy and actual geography, such as Crater Lake, was an added plus to the story. And the "price" of free ain't bad, either.
Copyright 2011 by Thomas L. Kepler, all rights reserved

August 8-9, Pullman, Washington, Family Visit

Note: downhill = dwarf legs
August 8

I've been doing a good job of reading twenty pages of my manuscript each day. I've also posted a link to the current version of the front cover of The Stone Dragon to a LinkedIn discussion group that has given me some good feedback.

This day started off with lunch with Nevin and Kari. Then we went shopping and blew some money. It was really fun seeing the happiness on the faces of those two young adults.

Shoes, clothes, various scented lotions, and a "longboard" skateboard. (Video below.)

That evening Rex and I worked on their bicycles and got them up and running so that both bikes shifted well and also stopped well. Two essential features! This was great fun, working with Rex on a worthy project.

August 9

Want to hear a real laugh? I took the same bike ride this morning that I went on the other day and documented in yesterday's blog post: Old Moscow Road. And that photo of the dead tree in the field? Well, this morning I decided I didn't need my camera, since I'd already photographed the area. And this morning there was a big hawk perched on a branch of that tree--and I didn't have my camera for that perfect shot!

Real smart, Tom.

Today Nevin, Kari, and I went to Subway for lunch. Kari and I rode our bikes, and Nevin rode his new longboard skateboard.


Copyright 2011 by Thomas L. Kepler, all rights reserved

August 7: Pullman, Washington, Family Visit

Photos from two journeys today: one in the AM by bicycle, and the other by car to the mountains.

Today was a day of exploration. In the morning at about 8:00 AM I left to take photos of the farms up the road from Rex and Beth's house. I didn't travel much more than a couple of miles but was gone for an hour because I stopped so many times to have fun with my camera.

In the afternoon we headed east by car to the beginning of the Bitterroot Mountains to the Elk River falls. It fulfilled my dream of getting out into nature on this trip and enjoying the sites and smells of the mountains.

Old Moscow Road: wheat field country


Typical view: farm buildings surrounded by wheat, lentil, or garbanzo fields



The silence was wonderful: sunshine and sky



This round barn was the jewel in this beautiful necklace of trees and field



Elk River Falls


We hiked all three falls, from lower to upper. The upper falls had access to the water.




The lower falls. So nice to hear a waterfall again.



The middle falls. Still far away but a wonderful hike through shaded forest.



Upper falls: down to the water at last!



Happy me.


I was very happy for the Burns family to take me on this excursion. I felt that I had been given a chance to feel deeply the beauties of the area.
   Copyright 2011 by Thomas L. Kepler, all rights reserved

August 6: Pullman, Washington, Family Visit

August 6

Temperature at 50 degrees this morning--cool, sunny, dry.

Went to the Moscow, Idaho, farmers' market located right next to the university's campus. This is a big open-air market with incredibly fresh and vibrant veggies. Didn't think to bring my camera, so no photos . . .

Brunch with Nevin, Kari, Nevin's cousins Kate and Christopher, Nevin's aunt and uncle, and Kari's parents this morning at a local restaurant, including Kari's parents.

Helping clean out the storage garage. Evidently, Kate is having a party tonight--20 or so theatre friends. Her dad is moving the big speakers outside. I've come in after doing the preliminary moving with her mom. I have another 10 pages of my manuscript to read.

Met my quota of manuscript pages. Napped. Decided I needed some exercise so took a 25 minute bike ride. The road was edged with wheat fields turning golden and by garbanzo fields still green. I saw a couple of wonderful possibilities for photos and hope to take another early morning bike ride tomorrow.

Now it's time for shower and TM program at 3 PM. After 5 o'clock, everyone will hit the place, and I've been told they've got the outside sound system working now.

Went out into the countryside with Nevin's girlfriend's dad and other family to plink with rifles. I hadn't shot a firearm in about 40 years. I just used a .22 and shot a couple of clips at a target--and hit the target! At the end, I fired a .303 Enfield three times. That kicked. Glad I had great earphones.

Nevin was surprised I could shoot. I told him that just because I choose not to do something doesn't mean that I can't. It's a change to be doing things I haven't done for many years--kind of like time travel.  Pretty country; the setting sun on the fields and hills was rich and subtle.

I'm looking forward to back to bicycle time tomorrow.

10:10 PM. Yes, the sound system is working. It's two hours later by my physiology's time for Iowa. Lights off for me. Luckily, I fall asleep easily.

Copyright 2011 by Thomas L. Kepler, all rights reserved

August 4-5: Pullman, Washington, Family Visit

August 4

Arrived in Spokane, very easy flights with United--Cedar Rapids, IA, to Denver, CO, and then on to Spokane. Saw a moose off the highway on the way from the airport to Pullman (about an hour and a half drive). Dinner was noodles Alfredo with stir-fried veggies. The night was cool, in the 50's, so I slept well, windows open and lots of fresh air.

August 5

This morning I'll edit my novel and then go on a bike ride. Pullman has a paved trail system for bicyclists that goes through town. I'll be able to ride the trail from where I'm staying (Nevin's aunt and uncle's house) to Nevin's. That will be fun--maybe a couple of miles or a little more.

Rode a bike 6-8 miles on Pullman's bike trails. Got lost 4x downtown when the path crossed streets. Noticed that the bike seat is much narrower than my recumbent's seat (lawnchair model).

The city has a community garden area, and the paved trails provide not only the opportunity for exercise but also a safe means of bicycling in town. The streets are busy with cars, and many roads are narrow because of the hills and the houses built close to the streets.

Came home and took a nap. Must still be getting used to the two-hour time change.

More editing on the novel.

I hope someone will take a photo of Bennie and me. Bennie is a sweet dog about the size of a Shetland pony. I'm sharing the house with him, so I'm glad this canine Godzilla is friendly!

Evening: After dinner, I unveiled the photo album I had brought from Iowa--photos of Nevin growing up. His girlfriend Kari got to see him as an infant, at school, in sports. There were also photos of his aunts and uncles and cousins, so everyone had a good time and some good laughs. There was even the obligatory baby photo of Nevin after a bath. When Nevin sqawked, I told him he should thank me that I chose the one of him on his stomach!

Copyright 2011 by Thomas L. Kepler, all rights reserved

Movie Review: Cowboys and Aliens

A spaceship arrives in Arizona, 1873, to take over the Earth, starting with the Wild West region. A posse of cowboys are all that stand in their way. (IMDb)

First of all, has anyone ever seen Daniel Craig smile in a movie? In this movie, Jaker Lonergan doesn't. And that name, "Loner Gun"?

Too much of this movie smacked of perfunctory execution.

Here's an example (mild spoiler):

Rustlers are about to get zapped by aliens. Scene setup: about 20 cattle standing around ten yards from the rustlers' camp, one rustler drinking his whiskey. Seen it before . . . How about trying for something other than stereotype?

 Another example (very mild spoiler):

Wouldn't aliens who had space travel technology and "plasma energy" guns also have some passive security technology active around their basecamp?

 And this next is not an example, rather a complaint.

The violence and gore did not add to the movie. It was mostly an example of gratuitous violence--just there for its shock value. A lesser degree would have been more effective and provided a more seamless flow to the movie.

What I did like about the movie:
Harrison Ford's character Woodrow Dolarhyde (Did the scriptwriters really think these names added to the movie?) does change and grow. The father/son relationship of Dolarhyde with three young men is one of the major dynamics of the movie.Adam Beach, playing Nat Colorado, brings real depth to the movie--a character who sees below the gruff exterior of Dolarhyde to the secret depths and pains of the man.This sensitivity was also displayed by Paul Dano and Noah Ringer--the other two young men playing the "son" roles in the movie. The writers and director were at their best developing the young man coming of age motif--mostly. Explaining the "mostly" would involve spoilers and a knife. It was a very hot day and the theater was cool. But I probably should have skipped the movie and ridden west, towards the sunset. As it was, I did that anyway--and like Daniel Craig, I wasn't smiling.

Copyright 2011, by Thomas L. Kepler, all rights reserved

An Image of Life Less Heated

After the big winter storm of 2011, snowdrifts ran in graceful curves over our house's fence--a perfect "Bering Strait" for the rabbits to travel to our inside bushes and shrubs.

I remember my sore back from shoveling out the cars so everyone could get to work, once the snowplow removed the two-foot drifts from the road.

It was cold, it was bright, it was blue ice and blue sky. It was a snow day, and school was out.

The woodstove radiated heat into the house. I lay on the sofa, reading a book--after having showered after three hours of shoveling snow.

Am I was thinking: "I can't wait for summer when it's so warm and pleasant. I'll even like the humidity!

Am I fickle or what!

The "Surf Iowa" photo was taken in my backyard to the west of the house. The garage had funneled the wind to create the "wave" of snow about five feet from the south side of the garage. I enjoyed the photographic moment, plopping down on my stomach in the snow to capture the right angle. Then I stood up, brushed myself off, and went inside to enjoy the photo while sitting next to the fire.

Check out the masthead tab bar for a widget for "Surf Iowa" so you can add something cool to your website's sidebar.

Copyright 2011 by Thomas L. Kepler, all rights reserved

30-Minute Marketing: How to Sell Your Book and Have Time to Write

This is not for a writer who has one book--and that's it. Sell the one book. This is not for writers who are full time authors. You may very well allocate more time to marketing.

If you are a writer who also has a full-time job that pays the bills and must juggle time commitments, then consider the 30-minute option--taking 30 minutes a day to market, leaving time to write.

You're looking at the key element of the 30-Minute Marketing plan. Time yourself.

Yes, this will limit your time, and you will have to focus and use time efficiently.

(I now have 17 minutes.)

E-mails, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Smashwords, Book Country, Authonomy, Query-Tracker, YouTube, online news--choose with a surgeon's precision.

Why are you online? What will you accomplish? Whom are you interacting with? Or just blow 30 minutes--but then move to your writing.

Before you inaugurate this procedure, here are some preliminary steps:
Connect. Have your blog automatically fed to Twitter, Goodreads, your Amazon author site, to your LinkedIn profile. This will automatically extend the time you spend with your online community.Assign particular days to particular sites: One day a week sending out a query for a book review of your novel. Ten minutes three days a week on discussions. One day a week on an author site like Book Country or Authonomy. Yes, of course that's not enough. But the sky won't fall, Chicken Little!Separate marketing time from personal online time. How you deal with personal, recreational time online is up to you. Time it, swim in it, go for it, eliminate it--but think about it and make a decision about how you are going to deal with it. Don't mix the job of marketing with the social activity of online interaction with your friends--however you define that word.OK, 2 minutes left. I'll try this out and keep you informed. Just gave myself 5 more minutes for proofreading and revision. By the way--that timer in the photo (with the obnoxious alarm) I just bought today.

Copyright 2011 by Thomas L. Kepler, all rights reserved