Lynn Hallbrooks's Blog, page 6

For All The World To See

An attitude of gratitude  One of the things I love most about being an independent author is meeting people from all over the world. I met Israel Okundaye online via Twitter. After many messages back and forth we decided that he would gather up his words of wisdom.

Earlier this year, I took those insights, compiled them into different topics, and polished things up. On the “Go On Write” website, I saw a few book covers that I thought would be appropriate. Israel and I settled on a cover that we both loved. When it came time to publish, I wanted to try out Draft2Digital, so that we could put the book out to as many places as possible. I liked that the glitches in the learning process were minimal and the book was published in April 2018.

As November was approaching it struck me that one of the underlying themes of Israel’s writing was gratitude. With that in mind, I felt that the US Thanksgiving holiday would be a great time to reduce the price and he agreed.

It was a simple process on Draft2Digital and within 48 hours the price was dropped. No waiting weeks as I had previously experienced with a similar organization. What does that mean for you, dear visitor, you can have a couple more days to pick the book up for yourself or someone you think will enjoy it.

Below are the places that will be displaying the book.

​If you only want to purchase a copy then visit Books2Read and see if your vendor is there: https://www.books2read.com/Hearbeat-African-Rhythm

If you’d like to see where we have it featured try iAuthorUK:
Here’s the direct link to its page: https://www.iauthor.uk.com/the-heartbeat-of-african-rhythm:26005
Here’s the home page: https://www.iauthor.uk.com/

Alternately, you can visit:
AUTHORSdb:
Promotion page: https://authorsdb.com/book-promotions
 
Here’s the link to the book's page: https://authorsdb.com/bookshelf-literary-collections/27060-the-heartbeat-of-african-rhythm

As always, any assistance you can provide in allowing the world to see this book is appreciated. Consider this: it has a native African and a mixed heritage American working together to help spread an attitude of gratitude.
 
Happy reading and writing,
 
Lynn Hallbrooks
Founder of Call Sign Wrecking Crew, LLC
Author Reader Cheerleader

#BookReview of #SeekAndDestroy by Alan McDermott - #NetGalley

Launch date: 14 Nov 2018 I was provided an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) of Seek And Destroy by Alan McDermott courtesy of Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley. The book is scheduled to go public on 14 November 2018. I voluntarily read this and am happy to share my honest thoughts with you. 

This is the sequel to Run And Hide and the "Tom Gray" series of books. I highly recommend reading these in order as they build upon one another. However, if you are sensitive to violence as well as adult language and situations you might want to forego the reads. 

Brief Synopsis: Eva Driscoll, US military veteran, and her cohorts have begun to put their lives back together after dealing with the residual effects of what a certain group put them through. A scheme to annihilate them commences and begins a chain of events that have some permanent consequences.

My thoughts: I could feel how much was at stake as I flipped the digital pages. I cheered for "Team Eva" to take out those who would do them harm as it became anybody's guess who would win. When an author can bring a reader to that point, it means they've done their job well. 

If you click the country that you prefer, you'll be sent directly to its Amazon online location: Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, and United States of America. 

While reviews of any book you read are never mandatory it can be helpful to fellow readers. That, plus word of mouth - online and offline - help bring new-to-them stories to light, that they can potentially read and enjoy.

Happy Reading,

Lynn Hallbrooks
Author Reader Cheerleader 

A #Sale Through #SocialMedia by an #AuthorReaderCheerleader

A 'what if' scenario that isn't too 'off target'. Support of authors, comes not only from the book's fans but also fellow authors. One never knows what will strike the fancy of any given person on at any given time. The person seeing a retweet or Facebook share might be in the mood to try something a little different. Stretch their comfort zone.
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Sales might encourage that if shared without too much preamble. I sometimes retweet as is. If I've read a book or article, I might give it some positive reinforcement such as "a book worth checking out" or "I enjoyed this, perhaps you will too" or something along those lines. 

I realize many authors don't have time to check their Twitter feeds every day but it might not hurt to check them periodically. Pin something new monthly or even weekly to keep things fresh and their followers informed, not necessarily when it is time for a new book or a sale. It is said that for every new post, of your own, you should share three social posts. Helping a fellow author's pinned post from time to time can be a good way to encourage reciprocation and socialization. We are all in this big social media world together. Why not make a positive experience of it.

​Coming within the next few days, a blog post book review. In the meantime, check out Call Sign: Wrecking Crew Storm Warning. It was mainly written by my writing and business partner, David McKoy (may he rest in peace), as a 'what if' scenario. Some think he wasn't too far off target. See what you think and remember, surprise someone retweet their pinned post and change up yours.

Happy writing and reading,

Lynn Hallbrooks
Author Reader Cheerleader

Paying it Forward

I love being an Independent Author and supporting others who self-publish independently. I also love discussing books with fellow readers. That's why I have combined the two passions in one place. 

Author Reader Cheerleader has a place for newbie and rising authors to learn a few tips and tricks. Readers can find places for new-to-them books and authors. Everyone can find ways to support one another as cheerleaders. Readers by being fans, and authors by sharing your words and worlds with those that enjoy your work. This new website is my way of paying it forward from when others have helped me. 

Come join in on the book love while you watch us grow: Author Reader Cheerleader.

Lynn Hallbrooks
Author/Reader/Founder of Call Sign Wrecking Crew, LLC

#BookReview of Crossfire by James P. Sumner aka @jpsbothbarrels #NewRelease #Thriller

I was first introduced to the work of James P. Sumner in 2015 when his book, A Necessary Kill , was up for nomination in the Kindle Scout program. It won that nomination and I was provided a copy upon its release. It wasn't until after I got it that I realized it was the fifth book in the Adrian Hell series. Nevertheless, I read it and became an instant admirer of the main characters and their creator. I gradually added the other books to my collection. Since I started following Mr. Sumner and reading his  emails , I have had a behind-the-scenes look at the series development.

This past year, inspiration and Mr. Sumner became great friends because of his love of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The first book in what Mr. Sumner calls 'Thrillerverse' is Crossfire . This book is interconnected with the Adrian Hell series as it features a trio of characters who joined forces in D.E.A.D. Till I Die . Since you get a spoiler for the Adrian Hell series off the bat, you have a choice. First, if you've read all of the series then you are good to go. Second, if you haven't read the series and, are not sensitive to violence as well as adult language and situations, then 'tuck into' the first book . When you've caught up, open this one up and be amazed at the transformation.

Brief Synopsis: Jericho Stone, Julie Fisher, and Ray Collins are an elite GlobaTech team. This tight-knit group faces unforeseen challenges as they work with a client who wasn't as forthcoming as he should have been. Will their talent and communication skills be enough to bring them home?

My take: I really enjoyed how Mr. Sumner blended the MCU concept into this story. While the trio is experiencing their challenges, there is a subtle subplot that weaves its way through. Along with the other James P. Sumner fans, I will have to await the next thrilling adventure. 

As of 2 October 2018, you can purchase Crossfire directly via Mr. Sumner's online book store  in addition to  Amazon US , Apple , Barnes & Noble , Google Play , or Kobo .

Mr. James P. Sumner has an  author website  and can be followed on  BookBub , Facebook , Instagram , Ko-Fi , Patreon , and  Twitter . 

Thanks for taking a few moments of your time visiting and learning about Mr. Sumner and his newest book. If you know anyone who would also like to learn more, please feel free to share this blog with them. 

Wishing you and yours all the best,

Lynn Hallbrooks
​Reader/Author/Founder of Call Sign Wrecking Crew, LLC

#BookReview of #TheAtlantisCipher by David Leadbeater #NetGalley #Archaeology

The Atlantis Cipher by David Leadbeater The creative process is different for every artist. There are all kinds of art in the world including the written word. Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer, I have been given another opportunity to read an advanced copy of a David Leadbeater creation. The first being The Relic Hunters and now its sequel, The Atlantis Cipher which is due out 6 September 2018. 
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Beyond the violence, adult language, and other situations that are not for the sensitive, there are moments of reflection. Guy has a realization that his past and present have some common denominators. I believe this definition of relic may say it best: a surviving memorial of something past. 

Brief synopsis: Guy Bodie and his team travel the globe to determine if there is any connection to some recently recovered statues and the lost civilization of Atlantis. As they follow the trail, they discover some hidden truths, some of which are memorialized by one person. 

My take: I really enjoyed how Mr. Leadbeater blended Guy Bodie’s realization and the unraveling of the hidden truths. To me, it shows great world building and character development. While this fictional team may act differently than most people believe is appropriate, they are true to their nature and therefore feel real. 

If you would like to learn more about David Leadbeater or simply follow him on social media, please visit these links:

Amazon Author page:
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/David-Leadbeater/e/B005BYXAKM/
US: https://www.amazon.com/David-Leadbeater/e/B005BYXAKM/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidleadbeaternovels/

​Website: https://www.davidleadbeater.com/

​Just as each artist has their creative process, each reader has a different take on stories. Please make your own decision. If you enjoy it, please let others know. It is by ‘word of mouth’ that readers find 'new to them' authors or books.
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Happy Reading,
 
Lynn Hallbrooks
Reader/reviewer/author/founder of Call Sign Wrecking Crew, LLC

Bargain-hunting Readers' Deal

Are you a bargain-hunting reader? When you are alerted to special discounts do you take the time to look at another book in the same series to see if it is also on sale? Lately, I find myself doing that as often as possible. I discovered it is a great way to stock up on books to binge-read. 

Because of this and the fact that September is significant in the history of Call Sign: Wrecking Crew ‘world’, I have put all three books on deep discount. Since you took a moment to read this blog, I’ll give you this heads-up.

Call Sign: Wrecking Crew Storm Warning and Call Sign: Wrecking Crew Wings of Eagles will be on Kindle Countdown from 3 September 2018 to 10 September 2018.

Genesis: Call Sign Wrecking Crew Slice of Life will be free from 6 September 2018 to 10 September 2018. 

All of the books are exclusive to Amazon. If you are part of the Kindle Unlimited program, you can pick them up anytime.

If you know any other bargain-hunting reader who enjoys reading political thriller books centering around former US military with elite training, then please share this deal with them. 

Happy Bargain-hunting,

Lynn Hallbrooks
Reader/Author/Founder of Call Sign Wrecking Crew, LLC

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#BookReview of #RunAndHide by Alan McDermott #Thriller #NetGalley

Run and Hide by Alan McDermott/Thomas & Mercer As a reviewing member of NetGalley, I get emails of books that are available to be read. I saw Run and Hide among them. I recognized Alan McDermott's name as we are in some of the same social network circles. That encouraged me to look closer at the book. After reading the description, I was very intrigued and requested it. I am grateful that Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley allowed me to read and review an advanced reader's copy (ARC) of this work. I think it is 5 stars through and through. 

Reader's note: Before I go on, I should warn you that this book contains violence as well as adult language and situations. It is also a spin-off of the Tom Gray series. Tom and some of his colleagues make an appearance. That said, the book does stand on its own - I say this because I had not read any of Mr. McDermott's books prior to this. After reading this story I became infatuated with his writing and decided that I had to have more and began to read his series. This is why, I highly recommend that, if you prefer to watch characters progress over time and not dive in midstream, you should read the Tom Gray series beforehand. Don't worry you have time to get them before the official launch date of 22 August 2018. 

A brief synopsis: Eva Driscoll, former US military, went into the CIA believing she was helping her country. When her beloved brother dies, things change dramatically and she sets out to locate her brother's friend, Rees Colback. Once they connect, the race is on to see who will win. Will Driscoll and Colback discover the truth or will it be buried along with them?

My take: I really enjoyed reading this book. It does a wonderful job of introducing Eva Driscoll, her abilities, and her connections. It also takes a hard look at some things that go on behind the scenes of government agencies. Even though this is a fiction book, it comes across as a highly plausible reality. 

If you would like to learn more about these books and/or the man behind them, then please check out these links:

Amazon Run and Hide's Universal book link: mybook.to/RunHide or if you prefer, Amazon US link: https://www.amazon.com/Run-Hide-Alan-McDermott-ebook/dp/B0796TZB2T

Blog: http://jambalian.blogspot.com/

Website: www.alanmcdermottbooks.co.uk 

Remember that "word of mouth" either in person or online goes a long way to helping readers finding new-to-them authors. If you know someone who would like these books, please feel free to share this post with them. 

Happy reading and sharing,

Lynn Hallbrooks
Reader/Reviewer/Author/Founder of Call Sign Wrecking Crew, LLC

The Creative Mind at Work: A Tribute to David McKoy

Company logo imagined by David McKoy David McKoy literally wrote several notebooks worth of pages that later became the Call Sign: Wrecking Crew series. He often said that the words would flow from his brain on through the pen. In many an interview he mentioned he had a form of dyslexia that made it difficult to write outlines. He was what some call a "pantser" as in writing by the "seat of his pants". Yet, while talking to him, I had heard him create a backstory for a character within minutes. It was uncanny. When we were brainstorming, I remember many times he would rattle off information so fast that my hands and mind were unable to keep up. My notes were a jumbled mess. Yet somehow out of all of that we managed to get two full-length novels and a novella written. We had hoped to get more done but life got in the way and now with his passing we will never brainstorm again. If you have read Call Sign: Wrecking Crew Storm Warning, you may have noticed that David believed with all his heart in the Founding Fathers and their vision of the United States. He wanted to warn people, in particular his fellow American citizens, of the dangers of complacency. His/our style of writing may not appeal to many but some reviewers "got it".

The image of the eagle with the crossed weapons also sprang from David's imagination. We were very happy that Creative Digital Studios was able to turn his imagination into a design that became our company logo and was integrated into the cover art for Genesis: Call Sign: Wrecking Crew Slice of Life. 

David is no longer here on Earth in a physical form but his beliefs and ideas will live on as long as there are electronics and paper to share them. Integral to that is the readers to read them. When we were still new on the scene, several authors helped us out by doing interviews. It was one way that we hoped to reach out to readers, to let them know about us and what they might expect from our book. If you missed out on them originally or would like to check them out again here they are:

Interview with Tim Greaton:
http://timgreatonforum.blogspot.com/2011/10/interview-with-lynn-hallbrooks-coauthor.html

Interview with Angelica Harris and Siggy Buckley:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/angelicaharris/2011/12/12/guests-lynn-hallbrooks-and-david-mckoy

Interview with Tracy James Jones:
https://tracyjamesjones.wordpress.com/2012/08/07/author-interview-david-mckoy-lynn-hallbrooks/

Interview with Belinda Witzenhausen:
http://bwitzenhausen.wordpress.com/2012/09/29/q-and-a-with-the-amazing-authors-david-mckoy-and-lynn-hallbrooks/

Even though some of the images and administrative information (websites and such) have changed over time, I hope that the interviews show the passion and the drive that brought the stories to "print". 

As with any friend who has left the earthly world, I will dearly miss him. I will probably remember snatches of conversations or even come across the scattered, jumbled notes and pause to reflect. I am not seeking condolences only an electronic form of an Irish Wake. So positive reminiscences are welcomed in the comment sections. 

Thank you for stopping by and sharing these moments in time. 

Lynn Hallbrooks
Author/Founder of Call Sign Wrecking Crew, LLC
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#BookReview The Relic Hunter by David Leadbeater #Archaeology #NetGalley

The Relic Hunters - New Series by David Leadbeater ​I was given an advanced reader’s copy of The Relic Hunter by David Leadbeater via Thomas & Mercer courtesy of NetGalley. Although I have seen Mr. Leadbeater around social media, I have never actually read any of his work. As this was the first book in a new series, I thought I would give it and his writing a try. The following review is my own honest thoughts and opinions freely provided to you for your consideration.

A brief synopsis: Guy Bodie and his “family” are considered some of the best at what they do. They are successful at obtaining artifacts and getting paid for their efforts. The fact that what they do is considered illegal is the control mechanism that the CIA has exerted over them to assist with one of their cases. The potential threat to the world is great. Will their combined skill sets be enough to stop it?

My thoughts: While reading this, I was reminded of two of my favorite television shows Leverage and The Librarians. It was like the two shows combined into one. You have a group of thieves who have different skill sets and work well together to pull off jobs alongside trying to figure out the location of hidden artifacts from cryptic clues. I mention this to explain why I enjoyed the story so much. It was visual just as much as it was character driven.

To me, this book is worthy of 5 stars. If you enjoy Action, Adventure, Archaeology, Law Enforcement, and Military types of genres, and don't mind violence, adult language, or adult situations, then I think you’ll enjoy this book. It is scheduled to be available 21 June 2018 - Amazon time.

If you would like to learn more about David Leadbeater and his books you can visit any or all of these locations.

Amazon Author page:
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/David-Leadbeater/e/B005BYXAKM/
US: https://www.amazon.com/David-Leadbeater/e/B005BYXAKM
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidleadbeaternovels/
Website: https://www.davidleadbeater.com/
 
Happy Reading,

Lynn Hallbrooks
Author/Founder of Call Sign Wrecking Crew, LLC