Davis Bunn's Blog, page 17
October 24, 2013
Dastardly Villains, Adventure and Betrayal, Say Reviewers of ‘Unlimited’
Every Thursday during October, I’m sharing excerpts from reader reviews of Unlimited, which released September 1, 2013. The major motion picture of the same title released in U.S. cinemas October 16, 2013.
Please click the link next to each reviewer’s name to read their full review.
“…As a social worker, another point of personal connection I found with this story is the fact so many characters are orphans. I’ve worked closely with children in foster care. Bunn’s portrayal of the special needs and common problems facing children “in the system” is achingly accurate. And the care and attention provided orphans in this story is touching, and sorely needed in the real world.”
Mary Kay Moody is an advocate, a speaker, an encourager of God-sized dreams, and writes fiction and non-fiction from the intersection of our plans and God’s Purpose.
“Where would you turn if you were stuck in Mexico without a passport, your car burned up, and the one person you knew is missing? In Unlimited by Davis Bunn, Simon Orwell crosses the border into Mexico to meet up with a professor he knows well, but a simple presentation on a new energy machine turns into a nightmare. With past regrets and a hit man both on his tail, Simon has to decide whom he can trust, and figure out how to get to the bottom of the death of his friend.”
-Michelle Rayburn, Faith, Creativity, Life blog
“Davis Bunn writes a fantastic novel in Unlimited. It includes the drug cartel and lots and lots of adventure!”
-Tammy Griffin, Tammy’s Book Parlor blog
“…Engaging and captivating… equal parts thriller, mystery, and romance with just enough sci-fi thrown in to keep even the pickiest reader enthralled.”
-Karen Linton, Amazon
“This book is filled with suspense, betrayal, and it is also beautifully portrays hope, and daring to believe, and not giving up.”
-Sarah Cole, GoodReads
“The characters seem real, the villains are dastardly. The pace of the action is just right.”
-LaVonne Svenhard, Christianbook.com
October 23, 2013
Winners List for ‘Unlimited’ Sweepstakes
Congratulations to the winners of my UNLIMITED sweepstakes!
The following winners (selected via Random Number Generator from among all entries) have claimed their prizes:
Grand prize ($50 Fandango gift card and a copy of Unlimited):
Mary Gallo from Virginia
Additional winners receive a copy of Unlimited:
Mary Arndt, northern Minnesota
Cindy A. from southern middle Tennessee
Andrea Bullock, Willow Spring, NC
Anna Mosley, Hernando, FL
Rosalie Powell, Cassville, MO
Brian S. from Virginia
Tamyra Vest, Scottsburg, VA
Lauren Young, Chesapeake, VA
October 22, 2013
Readers Write About Portrayals of Faith in Novels
Dear friends,
I am so touched by the beautiful notes I receive from you, and I am thrilled that my books touch you. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Below are four letters I have received recently:
Esther writes:
The good Lord has placed such a terrific gifting in you. Just finished Prayers of a Stranger and could hardly do anything else except read and read and read! You make the reader go right along with the characters to their jobs, inner doubts, family things, etc. and I can hardly wait to find all the rest of your books. Thank you again for taking the time to write these wonderful books.
Sam writes:
You’re a champ, in the ideological sense of the word. You were called by Christ Jesus to represent him through your gift of writing. Thankfully, you’re not satisfied with achievement and recognition as a writer but you pass on your insights and lessons learned from your experience. That’s what a true champion does. I say this as exhortation, as well as appreciation.
I don’t say that lightly, knowing that to whom much is given, much is required. Being front and center is not always easy, yet you wear the attention (and demands) quite well. It’s great that you guard your time; our Lord has given each of us much to do in the minutes and months before he calls us home. As your name crosses my mind, Davis, I will pray for God’s strength, wisdom, and holiness to guide and protect you.
Elaine writes:
Jeffrey Sinclaire (Florian’s Gate) just made the history of the Jacobean piece “live” for Alexander and I thought – that is exactly what Davis Bunn does for me. No matter which of your books I am reading. I’m glad I discovered your older works and even though history is not normally my “thing,” I am once again enraptured.
Pamela writes:
I just finished reading the Acts of Faith series, and it was wonderful! I’ve been serving the Lord for most of my life. I even grew up in a pastor’s home. I know the Bible isn’t a book of stories, but a book of history, of truth.
However, I don’t think I’ve ever really thought of the people of the Bible as real people until this series. It was inspiring. They had doubts and fears just like me, but their faith saw them through. They did amazing things for the Lord.
And since Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever, the same acts of faith can be done today, in my life, through my life. I’ve also come to the conclusion that the same purpose they had then is mine today… To let people know that Jesus loves them, He died for them, and He has a plan for them. I hope I haven’t rambled on. Thank you for allowing God to use you. Yes, I was entertained, but I’ve also been forever changed.
Acts of Faith series:
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Book 1: The Centurion’s Wife
Book 2: The Hidden Flame
Book 3: The Damascus Way
October 21, 2013
‘Unlimited’ on Sale for 99 cents October 22
My publisher informed me that there will be a one-day ebook sale of UNLIMITED tomorrow, October 22, 2013. The ebook will be only 99 cents!
From October 23-29, the sale price will be $3.99.
Order it from your favorite e-tailer:
Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/1fzZj8t
B&N NOOK Book: http://bit.ly/16YfnNq
ChristianBook.com eBook: http://bit.ly/15SkH53
Try before you buy – Like my Facebook page and read the first three chapters for free: http://statictab.com/y3ojxy3
October 19, 2013
Free Preview of Strait of Hormuz, Chapters 1-3
Strait of Hormuz, the series finale in my Marc Royce Adventures, releases November 5. Click the link below to visit my Facebook page to read the first three chapters for free.
If you want to get caught up on the first two books in the series, the ebook version of Lion of Babylon (book 1) is FREE through the end of November. And the ebook version of Rare Earth (book 2) will be on sale for $6.99 during November.
Here are links to online booksellers:
LION OF BABYLON – Free through the end of November
Amazon Kindle – http://amzn.to/17uV4Ep
Barnes & Noble NOOK Book – http://bit.ly/1cvttHH
ChristianBook – http://bit.ly/16gX7vu
RARE EARTH – $6.99 during November
Amazon Kindle – http://amzn.to/18nxFse
Barnes & Noble NOOK Book – http://bit.ly/1fEdNWu
ChristianBook – http://bit.ly/19RPW1b
Post by Davis Bunn, author.
October 17, 2013
UNLIMITED Film Opens Strong in Kansas City Cinemas
Unlimited opened strong in Kansas City, becoming the third highest grossing movie nationwide this weekend in terms of per screen average (combining theater and Seatzy ticket sales).
The movie averaged $7,397.40 per screen in its limited release with a mix of sold-out showings in Kansas City, MO. This per screen average was third only to Gravity and Captain Phillips in the market, overshadowing national per screen averages of other new independent movies such as The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete ($1,730 per screen) and Machete Kills ($1,512 per screen).
Inspired by the real-life experiences of successful entrepreneur/NASA spacecraft scientist Harold L. Finch, Unlimited kicked off its opening weekend festivities with a special premiere event October 10. The red carpet gala featured key cast and crew who were joined by Finch’s family to celebrate the story of the Kansas City native on the big screen.
Unlimited’s success was garnered through grassroots and diverse marketing efforts that included comprehensive social media and publicity. In addition, the movie was released through Seatzy™, a new movie ticket reservation platform and film distribution company where Kansas City residents showed their support of the film by purchasing tickets prior to the film’s release.
Starring actor and former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson as Harold L. Finch (Law & Order and The Hunt for Red October), Robert Amaya as Pedro, (Courageous and October Baby), and Daniel Ross Owens as Simon, the movie is about a brilliant student whose life has taken a series of wrong turns. At the point of giving up on his dreams, he gets a call from an old professor who has discovered a breakthrough in a device that would create unlimited energy, and he needs Simon’s help.
But once Simon crosses the border into Mexico, nothing goes as planned. The professor has been killed and Simon is assaulted and nearly killed by members of a powerful drug cartel. Now he must take refuge in the only place that will help him – a local orphanage. There, he meets Finch, a former NASA scientist and his life begins to change.
With Finch’s help, Simon sets out on a journey to find out who killed the professor and the reason behind their motives. In the process, he discovers the truth about the world-changing device, along with uncovering the power that will allow him to reach his own unlimited potential.
With its recent box office success, plans are currently underway to roll out a nationwide release of the film in spring of 2014 with opening cities to be announced at a later date.
More Good News!
If you’d like to read the novel that accompanies the movie, there’s a sale coming up: The ebook version of Unlimited will be 99 cents on Oct 22, 2013. From October 23-29, it will be on sale for $3.99.
Get it from your favorite e-tailer:
Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/1fzZj8t
B&N NOOK Book: http://bit.ly/16YfnNq
ChristianBook.com eBook: http://bit.ly/15SkH53
October 14, 2013
Thanks For Entering the UNLIMITED Sweepstakes
Friends,
I am in the process of contacting each of the prospective winners of the UNLIMITED sweepstakes. I’ll announce the 10 winners of a copy of UNLIMITED, plus the Grand Prize winner of a $50 Fandango Gift Card + UNLIMITED as soon as each winner has confirmed.
Thousands of people entered the sweepstakes; I’m so grateful to each of you for your interest, and for the many of you who shared the contest with your Facebook friends and on Twitter.
A special note of thanks and a huge virtual hug goes out to the Launch Team participants, who not only helped promote the sweepstakes on their own blogs and social networks, but who also posted their own reviews of UNLIMITED all over the Internet. You are the best readers an author could ever hope for, and I appreciate you.
Warmly,
Davis
October 10, 2013
‘Unlimited’ Reviewers Discuss Their Favorite Characters
Every Thursday for the next few weeks, I’m sharing excerpts from reader reviews of Unlimited, which released September 1, 2013. The major motion picture of the same title will debut in U.S. cinemas October 16, 2013.
Please click the link next to each reviewer’s name to read their full review.
“From page one Simon, the main character, had me by the hair and the heart. I don’t remember how many times I experienced one wave of emotion after another, from sympathy to commiseration to heartbreak and so on. Simon was one of those flawed characters who you couldn’t help but root for.”
-Nona King, Word Obsession blog
“My favorite character was one of the orphans, a young boy named Juan, who pops in and out of the story like a Mexican jumping bean. He was delightful, full of mischief, and you just had to smile whenever he was around.”
-Pris Phillips, GoodReads
“…An action packed totally believable story of people struggling with real issues of guilt, redemption, and personal discovery.”
-Terri Smith, Amazon
“Bunn is known for engaging characters and a puzzle-like ability to knit every twist and turn together. I am a big fan of his “Lion of Babylon” and “Rare Earth” books for this reason. What I liked about Unlimited: it has glimpses of those Bunn hits, and a great setting in the real-life town of Ojinaga, Mexico.”
-Crystal Kupper, Crystal’s Cliffnotes blog
Crystal Kupper is a military wife, freelance magazine writer and stay-at-home mom to three children ages five and under. She hopes to one day meet Davis Bunn, since she and her family will be moving to the UK in one month.
“I so enjoyed the premise, the lively characters, the cultural nuances, the possibility the technology represents, and the underlying message, that I wish the book would have been twice as long.”
-Jill St. Clair, Amazon
“…An intriguing combination of a murder mystery that can only be solved by faith in God.
-Kathryn Eriksen, Miracle Living blog
“Unlimited is an interesting battle set in Mexico and partially based on a true story. By battle I mean that it is a human drama about good vs. evil, but much more about finding a personal sense of meaning and responsibility in this life.”
-Cynde Suite, Cyndecat’s Reading
“I give this book five stars because it was clean, Christ-centered and action packed!”
-Missy Shay, Missy’s Homemaking Adventures
October 7, 2013
Reader Question: What’s Your Take on Hypnotism?
Lorie writes:
I just finished Hidden in Dreams, and found it mesmerizing and thought provoking. In fact, I read all day and didn’t get a thing done! Then when I finished, I was bummed to find that it was the SECOND of two, and I hadn’t even heard of the first. I HATE missing one of your novels.
But the good news was that you blended the necessary facts from the previous story so seamlessly into this one, I never had a clue it was a sequel. Good work! Of course, now I’m worried that if you write yet another sequel, that Rachel will somehow dump Reed and his daughter in order to find a new love interest. Hope not.
I was very impressed how your background fitted you to know all the things you did about the various segments of the book: economics, psychology, etc. But I was very curious about your take on the power of hypnotism to influence people against their natures. I have heard, read, and experienced that this doesn’t work except under certain drugs, and then not thoroughly (which is surely the point of the novel).
I sure wish it would! I’d hire ANYONE to hypnotize me to sleep through the night for even a month without drugs! Even trained self-hypnosis is spotty at best. So if you know anything about hypnosis that I don’t, by all means share.
Dear Lorie,
I am thrilled to learn that you connected with Hidden in Dreams as you did, coming from a longtime fan this means so much.
As for the power of hypnotism and how it may aid your sleep, generally hypnotism is only considered a worthwhile tool when dealing with deeply hidden issues that are creating a duality, as in, the patient is moving towards healing and away from healing, and desperately wants to uncover the motives, while fighting them as well. With sleep, I am not aware of any suggestion or research that indicates long-term help.
What you may wish to consider, if your desire is to stay off drugs, is to consider using a homeopathic remedy. These are, in a sense, hypnotic, in the sense that they ‘suggest’ a pattern to the body. They contain trace elements, which are very small amounts of some compound, which induce an impact in the body. They are most effective when the user refrains from alcohol or other drugs.
The idea behind them is that the body can be invited to heal through such implements, or invited to grow stronger, or invited to sleep, etc. One such product that I have used is from the French company Boiron, and is called ‘Quietude’.
October 3, 2013
‘Unlimited’ Encourages Readers to Make a Difference
Every Thursday for the next few weeks, I’m sharing excerpts from reader reviews of Unlimited, which released September 1, 2013. The major motion picture of the same title will debut in U.S. cinemas October 16, 2013.
Please click the link next to each reviewer’s name to read their full review.
“Occasionally I run across a book that sounds good, and upon reading it I find it far better than I had anticipated from the book description, and this is one such book… Simon is a young man who has made some bad choices in life, and it seems nothing is going right for him, but as the book progresses, we see God can change and save even a misfit like him.”
-Mark Buzard, Thoughts of a Sojourner blog
Mark writes: I am a single guy living in northeastern Ohio. I work as a security guard in a hospital, and read and review books on my blog in my spare time. I read mostly Christian fiction, and my favorite genre’ is Christian suspense/mystery.
“I closed the book with a stronger resolve to make a difference in my communities: local and global. I know that I can, I know that I will, I know that I do. Read the book. Watch the movie. Make a difference.”
-Lonzine Lee, I’m Just Asking blog
“Davis Bunn has a way of creating a story which shares the intimate journeys of people like you and me—yet these ordinary folks experience firsthand how their lives affect issues that feature large on the world stage.
And isn’t that just how God works? He can orchestrate a world-wide battle yet tenderly turn His attention to our smallest concern. I love that!”
-Renee Ann Smith, Doorkeeper blog
“Unlimited left me with a better understanding of the political situation in Mexico, a new quest for ways to love and protect orphans, and a great satisfaction with the book as a whole.”
-Gary Gilmore, Amazon
“The only problem with releasing the book first is, how is the movie going to be able to top the book?”
-Eddie Gilley, Amazon
“Davis Bunn has once again done a magnificent job of making you feel like you are right in the midst of the story. He has truly lived up to his title of ‘Gentleman Adventurer.’”
-Jocelin Boutet, In HaShem’s Hand blog
“I like how each character is challenged with their walk with God. It is always real.”
-Renia Snyder, Desert Dwelling Mama blog
“A thriller that takes you across the border into Mexico, but even deeper into our souls.”
-Christine O’Connor, Amazon
