Ruby Barnes's Blog, page 15

Paying it back to readers and authors

I recently made two small changes on this blog. Hopefully they won't slow down the loading of the page, but I think it's worth it.

As a self-published author and a reader I'm a member of a lot of different groups on the internet (e.g.Goodreads, facebook, LibraryThing, Triberr, Awesome Indies. Book Promo Group). Groups like these can be a great source of support when looking for a new book to read, asking peer authors for technical and marketing support, or making new friends in the book e-revolution. When I come across a friend's blog I want to promote I add it to my blogroll (down this page and right) but there are other ways to connect, and I've added two of them to this blog.

On the top right of my blog you'll see a new box titled 'Indie Author Ring'. At time of writing this is a ring of 19 blogs from the Goodreads UK Amazon Kindle Forum (1559 members, readers and authors). Click on next and previous for writing and reading related blogs.

At the foot of this blog you'll find Irish Crime and Thriller Writers Online. If you've read and enjoyed my Ireland-based novels Peril and The Baptist then you might be looking for more Irish fiction (I'm busy writing all the time but it takes a while to produce). So I've listed 41 Irish crime and thriller authors with an online presence for you to browse. There's something there for everyone! (Many thanks to Joe McCoubrey for letting me steal his hard work!)

When lunatics fall in love - The Baptist by Ruby Barnes

I've reposted this as the giveaway ends on 24th June.
Following the Goodreads Giveaway of Peril (922 people entered for 1 paperback copy and it was won by a very nice young lady in Denmark), it's the turn of The Baptist. 2 paperback copies available of this Ireland-based psychological thriller are available, enter using the box on the right of this page or here.
The Baptist is a very dark and twisted tale of love, sex, insanity and redemption.
But be careful - John Baptist walks on water and he's cleansing a path for the second coming!
Some great reviews so far for The Baptist here.



P.S. the winning copies won't be water damaged.

Crazy as a badger!

The Baptist had a couple of great reviews come in last week. It's such a great feeling when an author gets feedback like this! With the book written, done and dusted it's easy to forget what you've created and humbling when readers' reviews appreciate it.

Psychological & Chilling = Crazy Cool, June 10, 2012 by dnae 
This book was like "A Beautiful Mind" on steroids. John Baptist is such an interesting, crazy, in-depth character. The book was extremely detailed in the process and connections of how John's mind works that lead him to the decisions he makes. Up to a certain point he was `cleansing' with a purpose, but as time went by and he got involved with a woman (Mary... or Alice) with similar personality traits he got thrown off track to the point where `sacrifices' were being made without evidence of evil-doing. What would John Baptist do if he saw a fiery halo staring back at him in the mirror, I wonder? This book will really have you questioning what is real and what is fantasy (as with the Alice in Wonderland elements).

BARNES HAS OUTDONE HIMSELF!  June 8, 2012 
by THE SELF-TAUGHT COOK
John is special. He feels that he is preparing the way of the Lord. Certain people need to be weeded out for the coming of the Lord. The first to go is John's brother, Ray. John permanently baptizes Ray in the bathtub at home because Ray is turning into their father. While in the mental institution, John meets the first of many Marys in his life. When the institution closes, John is released into society, marries and tries to fit in. This only works temporarily. John meets Feargal and Mary, and then realizes his true mission from God.
The impossible has happened. Ruby Barnes outdid himself. I did not believe anything could be better than "Peril", but "The Baptist" actually warranted a second read, something I have never done. It is a dark, twisted, confusing journey through the mind of the mentally ill, and while it was disturbing, it was so fascinating, I was almost ashamed of myself. The religious symbolism throughout was interesting. The baptismal motif (obviously), Mary, the halos, etc. All I can say is that I am now hoping for sequels to both "Peril" and "The Baptist".

More about The Baptist here.

Dare to dream?

Does your book or the book you're reading contain a dream sequence? More than one? Nice. Isn't it a great way to show the subconscious anguish your protagonist is enduring? You can break the laws of science, introduce fictional (hah!) characters, bring people back from the dead or the future, have your characters act out of character, and live out fantasies. Dare to dream.

Everyone has

Shell-shocked by Ishiguro's subtlety

Review of
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (contains spoilers)






My wife's
reading group chose this book but didn't like it. Then they had a film evening,
watched the screen version and didn't like that either. Being the Contrary Mary
that I am, when I saw a bargain copy of Never
let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro in my local bookstore I had to grab it and read
from cover to cover, trying to

One thousand self-publishers share their thoughts

In February 2012 I came to hear (via The Vandal - Derek Haines) of a self-publisher survey being carried out by Taleist, an interesting writers' resource website. As one of the 1,007 respondents I was fortunate to recently receive a complimentary copy of Not a Gold Rush, the report from the Taleist Self-Publishing Survey.




What would you like to know about the report? Well, if you want to read

The Baptist - he's on the loose. Run for your lives!

Following the Goodreads Giveaway of Peril (922 people entered for 1 paperback copy and it was won by a very nice young lady in Denmark), it's the turn of The Baptist. 2 copies available of this psychological thriller are available, enter at the box on the right of the page.
I can't lie to you, The Baptist is a very dark and twisted tale of love, sex, insanity and redemption.
But be careful -

For the next few days

The New Author ebook is on promotion for 99c / 99p on Amazon for the next few days. Go and get yours now. If you're a reviewer then contact Ruby for a free review copy.

From vanity to pride

This post first appeared on the Have Your Say section of multi-story.co.uk (a great site for competitions and writing resources).

George Orwell said All writers are vain, selfish and lazy.
The ebook revolution panders to these vices. Anyone can call themselves
an author, throw a bit of a story together as an ebook and plaster
their name, title and homemade cover across the internet within a

Free paper copy of Peril up for grabs on Goodreads

The Goodreads Giveaway of The New Author is now closed (792 entries and congratulations to you know who you are of Ohio!) There was a great level of interest and a copy of Peril is the next giveaway.

This crime thriller has accumulated 25 great reviews on Amazon.com as an ebook and was launched in paperback 22nd March 2012.



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