Max Tomlinson's Blog, page 10
June 1, 2017
The Cain File – 99 cents (US) until June 30th
Kindle Press has reduced the price of my Kindle Scout winning novel The Cain File to 99 cents for the month of June. This is your chance to save a fortune. Well, maybe two and a half bucks. 
May 19, 2017
Dracula – Book Review
The definitive book for vampire fiction is well written but that doesn’t mean it’s an easy read. By today’s standards Dracula is slow to unfold, with long, often tedious sections, including dialogue that doesn’t up the conflict or push the story forward much. The use of diary entries, letters, ships logs etc. to tell the story may give the book an authentic feel and does a good job of keeping the evil ones mysterious but it doesn’t always engage the reader as much as a conventional novel might. But the sinister stuff is exactly that, well drawn and eerie, and stands the test of time. Numerous descriptions of female vampires lovingly detailed as voluptuous creatures of death put to rest any doubt that vampirism was (and is) a metaphor for forbidden sexuality.
“There lay Lucy, seemingly just as we had seen her the night before her funeral. She was, if possible, more radiantly beautiful than ever; and I could not believe that she was dead. The lips were red, nay redder than before; and on the cheeks was a delicate bloom.”
I can’t imagine what it must have been like to read Dracula in 1897.
Bram Stoker was far ahead of his time with this novel.
May 16, 2017
Kindle Countdown Letdown
A heads-up to all of you Indies who use Amazon’s KDP Kindle Countdown to sell books:
I recently booked a promo for one of my KDP books, planning to leverage Amazon’s Kindle Countdown to kick the price off at 99 cents, only to find out after I paid for and scheduled the promo that it begins on the start day of my next KDP 90 day enrollment period.
Amazon does not allow you to book a Kindle Countdown into the next period.
Note to self: Check KDP enrollment period before scheduling promo.
Ok, I thought, I’ll just wait until midnight on the day of my new enrollment period, and schedule the Kindle Countdown for that day.
No. Ixnay on the omoPray.
It takes 24 hours to schedule a Kindle Countdown so the first day of the enrollment period is unavailable.
I asked Amazon KDP support if I could shorten my current period so I could have a one day lead time into my next enrollment period but they are not able to do that.
No Kindle Countdown for you!
Amazon’s response:
“At this time, we’re not able to schedule a Kindle Countdown Deal for a future KDP Select enrollment period.
Once the new enrollment period begins, you’ll be able to schedule a Kindle Countdown Deal.
Keep in mind that Kindle Countdown Deal must be scheduled at least one day before your desired start date, so the earliest possible date to begin your future free promotion would be the second day of your new enrollment period.
Also, I would like to inform you that it is not possible to reassign the KDP Select renewal date. I understand that this could be disappointing.
Rest assured that I have passed along your comments to our developers. We definitely value your opinion and will continue to listen and respond to our publisher’s concerns. We will make every effort to evaluate the information you have provided, and try our level best to lead it to program changes or enhancements.
I’m unable to promise a timeframe at this time, however, we are still evolving and feedback like yours motivate us to dive deep and unearth ways and means which helps us in making publishing on KDP a happy experience.”
A happy KDP client.
Happy is a relative thing.
April 26, 2017
When the truth kills … Sendero #free #kindle #download until 8/29 #thriller #crime #mystery #suspense
For the next few days, dear readers, you may download Sendero, the edgy thriller set in South America that made the Kirkus top 100 Indie novels of 2012 … *Free*!
March 6, 2017
The Darknet File – On Sale Now!
A dark deception. A darker reality.
The Darknet File, the follow-up to The Cain File, is now available for download.
THE DARKNET FILE
Agent Maggie de la Cruz’s problems are just beginning when a high-ranking defector from Jihad Nation doesn’t show up for a secret meeting in Paris. Suicide bombers appear instead. And when the woman who snared Kafka, the defector, is killed in the attack, it’s up to Maggie to assume the dead woman’s identity and lure Kafka to the Agency’s side before he escapes to Iraq. Dismantling a billion-dollar Darknet operation funneling money to terrorists committing genocide hangs in the balance.
This espionage thriller may be read standalone but is also the second book in The Agency Series.
The Darknet File – Pre-order
A dark deception. A darker reality.
The follow-up to The Cain File (a Kindle Scout selection) is available for Pre-order at the special price of 99 cents (regular price $3.49).
Agent Maggie de la Cruz’s problems are just beginning when a high ranking defector from Jihad Nation doesn’t show up for a secret meeting in Paris. Suicide bombers appear instead. And when the woman who snared Kafka, the defector, is killed in the attack it’s up to Maggie to assume the dead woman’s identity and lure Kafka to the Agency’s side before he escapes to Iraq. Dismantling a billion-dollar Darknet operation funneling money to terrorists committing genocide hangs in the balance.
This standalone espionage thriller is the second book in the Agency series.
January 31, 2017
Talk to the Head – Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia
They say you have the best conversations with yourself.
How about with the severed head of your hooker girlfriend’s former lover?
When the object of desire in a story is a head in a bag you know you’re onto something.
Warren Oates plays Bennie, a man who sees an opportunity to get a head. (Sorry)
When it’s the head of a man who impregnated the daughter of a Mexican gangster you know immediately why it’s worth a million dollars.
When the man who longs for it the most is a down-at-the-heel gringo piano player in a Mexican brothel grabbing for one last score, you know all you need to know about the protagonist.
The happy couple. Mexican actress Isela Vega plays Elita. She also wrote one of the songs for the film.
Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974) is Sam Peckinpah’s finest film. Made during the director’s alcoholic decline…
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January 24, 2017
The Cain File – 99 cents until April 3rd
*** Today is the LAST day to pick up THE CAIN FILE for 99 cents ***
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Kindle Press has dropped the price of The Cain File to 99 cents until April 3, 2017.
Act now to save thousands. *
*OK, you’re not really going to save thousands but you will save 3.49 – .99, which is … umm … quite a savings!
Check out the Cain File and *thanks*!
The Cain File – 99 cents until January 31st
Kindle Press has dropped the price of The Cain File to 99 cents until January 31st, 2017.
Act now to save thousands. *
*OK, you’re not really going to save thousands but you will save 3.49 – .99, which is … umm … quite a savings!
Check out the Cain File and *thanks*!
December 25, 2016
The Darknet File – A dark deception. A darker reality.
Are you a fan of Ludlum’s Jason Bourne and shows like Homeland?
My latest book is currently running on Kindle Scout …
The Darknet File – A dark deception. A darker reality.
Agent Maggie de la Cruz’s problems are just beginning when a high ranking defector from Jihad Nation doesn’t show up for a secret meeting in Paris. Suicide bombers appear instead. And when the woman who snared Kafka, the defector, is killed in the attack it’s up to Maggie to assume the dead woman’s identity and lure him to the Agency’s side before he escapes to Iraq. Dismantling a billion-dollar Darknet operation funneling money to terrorists committing genocide hangs in the balance.
Do you want a free copy of the Darknet File? Nominate the book for Kindle Scout and receive a free copy if it is selected for publication by Kindle Press. The Cain File, the first in the Agency series, was selected last year.
To nominate the book, go to the KindleScout link above or >> here << – you will need an Amazon account. Click the ‘nominate me’ button and the book will added to your nominations. The scouting process ends around 1/26/17. You will be notified by Amazon approximately one week after that whether the book was selected.
Many thanks for your consideration!
Nominate The Darknet File. And thanks!
