Joshua P. Simon's Blog, page 2
July 18, 2016
Music Monday - Chimaira
In light of all the crap going on in the world over the last few weeks, I’ve found myself listening to some of my more aggressive CDs. One positive, is that I’ve “rediscovered” a couple of bands I hadn’t checked out in some time. At the top of the list is Chimaira. They released several solid albums before calling it quits. Unfortunately, there was only one album with Kevin Talley on drums.
Check out two of my favorites below.
Nothing Remains (breakdown at the 4:00 minute mark is awesome)
Salvation
Check out two of my favorites below.
Nothing Remains (breakdown at the 4:00 minute mark is awesome)
Salvation
June 24, 2016
Forever Soldiers - Cover Reveal
Here is the cover for the final book in The Tyrus Chronicle, Forever Soldiers.
The illustration is by Mario Teodosio. You can see his other work here. My talented wife designed the cover.
The manuscript has been sent to my editor. So the release date is forthcoming. I'm still working on the book description.
Let me know your thoughts on the cover!
The illustration is by Mario Teodosio. You can see his other work here. My talented wife designed the cover.
The manuscript has been sent to my editor. So the release date is forthcoming. I'm still working on the book description.
Let me know your thoughts on the cover!
June 20, 2016
Music Monday - Lacuna Coil
Lacuna Coil is a cool band that I often forget about until I decide to bust out one of their older albums. Only after I listen to them do I realize that there is some repetitiveness to their sound which is probably why I don’t own more of their releases. Still, they’re worth checking out. Below is their biggest hit.
April 18, 2016
Music Monday - The Ramones
So last weekend, I introduced my kids to The Ramones. Based on the frequent changes of “Hey! Oh! Let’s go!” I’d say it was a success.
Blitzkrieg Bop
I Wanna Be Sedated
Beat on the Brat
Blitzkrieg Bop
I Wanna Be Sedated
Beat on the Brat
April 11, 2016
Music Monday - Anthrax - For All Kings
The new Anthrax is awesome….almost as good as Worship Music (I still slightly prefer the latter). Regardless, these last two albums might be my favorites with Belladonna in the band.
\m/
Breathing Lightning
Blood Eagle Wings
\m/
Breathing Lightning
Blood Eagle Wings
March 28, 2016
Music Monday - Spiritual Beggars - Sunrise to Sundown
Spiritual Beggars is such a grossly underrated band. Michael Amott is best known for Arch Enemy and Carcass, but his work on these albums is equally as awesome.
Title Track
Hard Road
No Man’s Land
Title Track
Hard Road
No Man’s Land
March 21, 2016
Music Monday - Killswitch Engage - Incarnate
After a couple of listens, I can say pretty confidently that the new Killswitch Engage album is as awesome as I had hoped it would be. So far, these are my top 2 tracks.
Hate by Design
The Great Deceit
Hate by Design
The Great Deceit
February 18, 2016
Milestones and Updates
I’ve wanted to write this blog post for over a month now. The fact that I’m only getting to it now should let you know how continually busy I’ve been. This is mostly due to a promotion at my day job which resulted in me working most of the old position and new position until my old role had been filled. That transition is finally under way. Unfortunately, work won’t completely ease up yet since there are quite a few projects I’m leading or co-leading.
With that being said, I wanted to share a few notables that I’ve recently reached in my writing career and then take a quick look at 2016 and beyond.
Milestones:
- On Christmas Eve 2015, I published Resurrected Soldiers: The Tyrus Chronicles - Book Three. This was my ninth full-length novel and my twelfth published work.
o With that book, I have now published over a million words (just a bit under 1.1 million). That’s a pretty awesome thing to type.
o So far the novel has been well-reviewed by my readers, and the series as a whole continues to be well-received by veterans or soldiers currently serving their country. The latter especially means a great deal to me.
o It has sold very well, and due to its release, I received a spike in sales across my full catalog resulting in my biggest month of sales in January 2016.
o During the early part of January, I even managed to crack the 50,000 mark in total book sales.
Updates:
- On the downside, I had hoped to release a third book in 2015 which for various reasons didn’t happen (partially due to work, partially as a business decision).
- Though I am making good progress on Forever Soldiers, the fourth and final book of the Tyrus Chronicles, it is taking a bit longer to get through the rough draft than I had expected. Therefore, it is very likely that it will be the only full-length novel I release in 2016 (at some point during summer).
- Once Forever Soldiers is finished, I’m hoping to spend the rest of the year hammering through one of several ideas I’m considering for my next series. My goal is to release two books for that new series in 2017, then shoot for a minimum of two releases a year thereafter. I’d like to release 3-4 books a year, but with work as it currently is and other my obligations, I think I’d struggle to meet that goal.
Hopefully your 2016 is a good one!
With that being said, I wanted to share a few notables that I’ve recently reached in my writing career and then take a quick look at 2016 and beyond.
Milestones:
- On Christmas Eve 2015, I published Resurrected Soldiers: The Tyrus Chronicles - Book Three. This was my ninth full-length novel and my twelfth published work.
o With that book, I have now published over a million words (just a bit under 1.1 million). That’s a pretty awesome thing to type.
o So far the novel has been well-reviewed by my readers, and the series as a whole continues to be well-received by veterans or soldiers currently serving their country. The latter especially means a great deal to me.
o It has sold very well, and due to its release, I received a spike in sales across my full catalog resulting in my biggest month of sales in January 2016.
o During the early part of January, I even managed to crack the 50,000 mark in total book sales.
Updates:
- On the downside, I had hoped to release a third book in 2015 which for various reasons didn’t happen (partially due to work, partially as a business decision).
- Though I am making good progress on Forever Soldiers, the fourth and final book of the Tyrus Chronicles, it is taking a bit longer to get through the rough draft than I had expected. Therefore, it is very likely that it will be the only full-length novel I release in 2016 (at some point during summer).
- Once Forever Soldiers is finished, I’m hoping to spend the rest of the year hammering through one of several ideas I’m considering for my next series. My goal is to release two books for that new series in 2017, then shoot for a minimum of two releases a year thereafter. I’d like to release 3-4 books a year, but with work as it currently is and other my obligations, I think I’d struggle to meet that goal.
Hopefully your 2016 is a good one!
February 15, 2016
Music Monday - Nirvana - Pennyroyal Tea
Probably my favorite Nirvana song.
February 9, 2016
Music Monday - Simon and Garfunkel
I'm a day late on my Music Monday post this week, but here are my Top Three Songs by Simon and Garfunkel.
As a side note, despite how awesome some of their music was/is, they also have a bunch of dudes (e.g. Feeling Groovy).
3. Cecilia
2. The Boxer
1. Sound of Silence
As a side note, despite how awesome some of their music was/is, they also have a bunch of dudes (e.g. Feeling Groovy).
3. Cecilia
2. The Boxer
1. Sound of Silence
