Jeffrey Kosh's Blog, page 7
May 14, 2012
FEATURING: SHADOW ON THE WALL by PAVARTI K. TYLER
Recai Osman: Muslim, philosopher, billionaire and Superhero?
Controversial and daring, Shadow on the Wall details the transformation of Recai Osman from complicated man to Superhero. Forced to witness the cruelty of the Morality Police in his home city of Elih, Turkey, Recai is called upon by the power of the desert to be the vehicle of change. Does he have the strength to answer Allah's call or will his dark past and self doubt stand in his way?
Pulling on his faith in Allah, the friendship of a Jewish father-figure and a deeply held belief that his people deserve better, Recai Osman must become The SandStorm.
In the tradition of books by Margaret Atwood and Salman Rushdie, Shadow on the Wall tackles issues of religion, gender, corruption and the basic human condition. Beautiful and challenging, this is not a book to miss.
HERE ARE SOME EXCERPTS FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT
Excerpt #1Recai walked for what seemed like miles, resisting the instinct to second-guess his direction. The sand moved between his toes but soon he found his footing, and his body responded to the landscape as if from some genetic memory. He remembered his father’s words from a trip he took to the Oman desert as a child: Never take your shoes off; the sand will eat away at your feet. Recai had done it anyway, then and now, feeling more in control with that connection to the ground, its movements speaking to his flesh directly.His father had always been full of surprises: one moment the strict disciplinarian, the next, he would wake Recai in the middle of the night to see a falling star. Recai had never had the chance to get to know him as an adult. Instead, he lived with the enigmatic memory of a great man lost.Recai stood in the middle of the desert—every direction would eventually lead to Elih or one of the smaller villages scattered around the city. But who would take in a stranger? A stranger with a Hugo Boss turban and a bruised and bloodied face? In’shallah, he would be delivered to safety.
Excerpt #2 Knock. Just one solid sound. Recai sat up too quickly and fell back against his mattress gasping as Rebekah stuck her head into his small room, her face creased with worry and fear.“Cover yourself and stay silent,” she whispered before closing the door and rushing back into the living room to retrieve her burqa and open the door. Recai heard the movement of the heavy fabric she wore on top of her house dress as she moved across the room to greet their visitor. He wondered if she had retrieved her father’s gun which he’d overheard Hasad say was under the couch in the living room.Before hiding beneath the thin sheet that covered him, he reached down and pulled the rug from the floor and threw it across his legs. He covered his head and melted against the wall with the pillow on top of his upper body. Feeling foolish, Recai laid there, wishing he had his ID, his phone, anything to help bribe his way out of this situation if it was indeed the RTK at the door.Perhaps it’s just a neighbor, he thought. A neighbor come to ask after Rebekah’s father’s health or to borrow some salt. His attempt at rationalizing the unexpected visit did not quell his fears. The RTK made a habit of performing home inspections, especially if they suspected a woman alone. It wasn’t a safe time for anyone under the jurisdiction of Mayor Yilmaz.
Excerpt #3 A man. A voice. Darkness tangled her thoughts with fear and childhood warnings.Sabiha, you shouldn’t be walking alone, she’d heard it say.Stupidity had made her rash; selfish concerns about her brother caused her to make the worst possible mistake—the kind of mistake that would make her wish she had died, if by any chance she managed to survive.The low voice knew her name, knew her family name—it had come specifically for her.She ignored its call, quickening her pace. A laugh broke out in the night, mocking her fear. Suddenly the owner of the voice grabbed her, turning her around to face him.Refusing to meet the voice’s gaze, Sabiha fixed her eyes forward. Her gaze came to rest on his arm where she saw the outline of a tattoo, dark and menacing. A snake’s tail circled his bicep and disappeared behind his back, only to reveal itself on the other side of his neck with two onyx eyes staring at her, unblinking.
Pavarti K Tyler is an artist, wife, mother and number cruncher. She graduated Smith College in 1999 with a degree in Theatre. After graduation, she moved to New York, where she worked as a Dramaturge, Assistant Director and Production Manager on productions both on and off Broadway.
Later, Pavarti went to work in the finance industry as a freelance accountant for several international law firms. She now operates her own accounting firm in the Washington DC area, where she lives with her husband, two daughters and two terrible dogs. When not preparing taxes, she is hard at work as the Director of Publicity at Novel Publicity and penning her next novel.
Shadow on the Wall by Pavarti K Tyler is available NOW at Amazon.com or your local bookstore.Recai Osman: Muslim, philosopher, billionaire and Superhero?Controversial and daring, Shadow on the Wall details the transformation of Recai Osman from complicated man to Superhero. Forced to witness the cruelty of the Morality Police in his home city of Elih, Turkey, Recai is called upon by the power of the desert to be the vehicle of change. Does he have the strength to answer Allah's call or will his dark past and self doubt stand in his way?Pavarti's Blog Tour celebrating the release of Shadow will last the entire month of May. Check out her Blog Tour Page for a list of all the stops, including giveaways, interviews, reviews, guest posts and other exciting events!
Controversial and daring, Shadow on the Wall details the transformation of Recai Osman from complicated man to Superhero. Forced to witness the cruelty of the Morality Police in his home city of Elih, Turkey, Recai is called upon by the power of the desert to be the vehicle of change. Does he have the strength to answer Allah's call or will his dark past and self doubt stand in his way?
Pulling on his faith in Allah, the friendship of a Jewish father-figure and a deeply held belief that his people deserve better, Recai Osman must become The SandStorm.
In the tradition of books by Margaret Atwood and Salman Rushdie, Shadow on the Wall tackles issues of religion, gender, corruption and the basic human condition. Beautiful and challenging, this is not a book to miss.
HERE ARE SOME EXCERPTS FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT
Excerpt #1Recai walked for what seemed like miles, resisting the instinct to second-guess his direction. The sand moved between his toes but soon he found his footing, and his body responded to the landscape as if from some genetic memory. He remembered his father’s words from a trip he took to the Oman desert as a child: Never take your shoes off; the sand will eat away at your feet. Recai had done it anyway, then and now, feeling more in control with that connection to the ground, its movements speaking to his flesh directly.His father had always been full of surprises: one moment the strict disciplinarian, the next, he would wake Recai in the middle of the night to see a falling star. Recai had never had the chance to get to know him as an adult. Instead, he lived with the enigmatic memory of a great man lost.Recai stood in the middle of the desert—every direction would eventually lead to Elih or one of the smaller villages scattered around the city. But who would take in a stranger? A stranger with a Hugo Boss turban and a bruised and bloodied face? In’shallah, he would be delivered to safety.
Excerpt #2 Knock. Just one solid sound. Recai sat up too quickly and fell back against his mattress gasping as Rebekah stuck her head into his small room, her face creased with worry and fear.“Cover yourself and stay silent,” she whispered before closing the door and rushing back into the living room to retrieve her burqa and open the door. Recai heard the movement of the heavy fabric she wore on top of her house dress as she moved across the room to greet their visitor. He wondered if she had retrieved her father’s gun which he’d overheard Hasad say was under the couch in the living room.Before hiding beneath the thin sheet that covered him, he reached down and pulled the rug from the floor and threw it across his legs. He covered his head and melted against the wall with the pillow on top of his upper body. Feeling foolish, Recai laid there, wishing he had his ID, his phone, anything to help bribe his way out of this situation if it was indeed the RTK at the door.Perhaps it’s just a neighbor, he thought. A neighbor come to ask after Rebekah’s father’s health or to borrow some salt. His attempt at rationalizing the unexpected visit did not quell his fears. The RTK made a habit of performing home inspections, especially if they suspected a woman alone. It wasn’t a safe time for anyone under the jurisdiction of Mayor Yilmaz.
Excerpt #3 A man. A voice. Darkness tangled her thoughts with fear and childhood warnings.Sabiha, you shouldn’t be walking alone, she’d heard it say.Stupidity had made her rash; selfish concerns about her brother caused her to make the worst possible mistake—the kind of mistake that would make her wish she had died, if by any chance she managed to survive.The low voice knew her name, knew her family name—it had come specifically for her.She ignored its call, quickening her pace. A laugh broke out in the night, mocking her fear. Suddenly the owner of the voice grabbed her, turning her around to face him.Refusing to meet the voice’s gaze, Sabiha fixed her eyes forward. Her gaze came to rest on his arm where she saw the outline of a tattoo, dark and menacing. A snake’s tail circled his bicep and disappeared behind his back, only to reveal itself on the other side of his neck with two onyx eyes staring at her, unblinking.
Pavarti K Tyler is an artist, wife, mother and number cruncher. She graduated Smith College in 1999 with a degree in Theatre. After graduation, she moved to New York, where she worked as a Dramaturge, Assistant Director and Production Manager on productions both on and off Broadway. Later, Pavarti went to work in the finance industry as a freelance accountant for several international law firms. She now operates her own accounting firm in the Washington DC area, where she lives with her husband, two daughters and two terrible dogs. When not preparing taxes, she is hard at work as the Director of Publicity at Novel Publicity and penning her next novel.
Shadow on the Wall by Pavarti K Tyler is available NOW at Amazon.com or your local bookstore.Recai Osman: Muslim, philosopher, billionaire and Superhero?Controversial and daring, Shadow on the Wall details the transformation of Recai Osman from complicated man to Superhero. Forced to witness the cruelty of the Morality Police in his home city of Elih, Turkey, Recai is called upon by the power of the desert to be the vehicle of change. Does he have the strength to answer Allah's call or will his dark past and self doubt stand in his way?Pavarti's Blog Tour celebrating the release of Shadow will last the entire month of May. Check out her Blog Tour Page for a list of all the stops, including giveaways, interviews, reviews, guest posts and other exciting events!
May 10, 2012
SPOTLIGHT ON: MY DEMON by LISA C. HINSLEY
C'mon, you all know my passion for this British author.
She's brilliant, versatile, and just the right pinch of a twisted mind to appreciate.
Should you meet and chat with her, you'll never suspect this pet-caring, loving mother could develop such dark-themed stories. Well, you'll be far off your tracks, because Lisa grips you from page one to the last line in the back cover blurb.
Author Hinsley has just released her newest creature, 'My Demon', a fascinating journey into adulthood, self-discovery, and madness, in Kindle and paperback editions.
I've found an hint of 'Donnie Darko' in this novel, as her Clive (a self-professed demon) appears as a cartoon character.
And I liked it. Oh, if I liked it!
Enough with my stupid rants, I'm glad to present you:
Amazon Preview
Clive beguiles and seduces and only Alex can see, hear and touch him. The stranger comes bearing a gift … and a warning. With the fate of their worlds in the balance, Alex is the best candidate, hand-selected to save the human race, and Clive offers his guidance and support to help her fulfill her destiny.
It’s like having an imaginary friend but nineteen year old Alex soon learns that the line between reality and perception is murky, with consequences too terrible to ignore. The gift is ‘sight’ and what she sees are human shells, their souls forfeit, including the people closest to her.
Clive makes claims—and promises—manipulating and punishing at will until he drives her to incomprehensible acts of desperation. Terrified, Alex must decide if succumbing to her new reality is worth the price she must pay.
Author Lisa C. Hinsley
BiographyLisa C Hinsley's career has been varied, working as an architectural technician, a pet sitter, a pharmacy supervisor and most recently a carer/companion for elderly ladies, all the while writing when she can. Born in Portsmouth in 1971, Lisa grew up in England, Scotland, and America. She now lives on the Wirral, in northwest England, with her husband, three children, and four cats. Her hope is not to be thought of as the American cat lady, but some things are just inevitable.
Lisa's novel The Ultimate Choice peaked as the 14th overall bestselling sci-fi Kindle book on Amazon.com. Her novel What Alice Sees was a runner-up in the 2010 UKA Opening Pages Competition and placed in the May 2011 Best Sellers Charts on Arts Council website YouWriteOn. An earlier novel Coombe's Wood finished in the semi-finals of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award 2009 and was awarded runner up in the all-genre Book of the Year Awards 2008 on YouWriteOn. Now listed on Amazon Kindle, Coombe's Wood has also sold over 23,000 copies. Lisa's novel The Crocodile was short-listed in the Undiscovered Authors 2006 competition. Several of Lisa's short stories and poems have appeared in print publications.
She's brilliant, versatile, and just the right pinch of a twisted mind to appreciate.
Should you meet and chat with her, you'll never suspect this pet-caring, loving mother could develop such dark-themed stories. Well, you'll be far off your tracks, because Lisa grips you from page one to the last line in the back cover blurb.
Author Hinsley has just released her newest creature, 'My Demon', a fascinating journey into adulthood, self-discovery, and madness, in Kindle and paperback editions.
I've found an hint of 'Donnie Darko' in this novel, as her Clive (a self-professed demon) appears as a cartoon character.
And I liked it. Oh, if I liked it!
Enough with my stupid rants, I'm glad to present you:
Amazon PreviewClive beguiles and seduces and only Alex can see, hear and touch him. The stranger comes bearing a gift … and a warning. With the fate of their worlds in the balance, Alex is the best candidate, hand-selected to save the human race, and Clive offers his guidance and support to help her fulfill her destiny.
It’s like having an imaginary friend but nineteen year old Alex soon learns that the line between reality and perception is murky, with consequences too terrible to ignore. The gift is ‘sight’ and what she sees are human shells, their souls forfeit, including the people closest to her.
Clive makes claims—and promises—manipulating and punishing at will until he drives her to incomprehensible acts of desperation. Terrified, Alex must decide if succumbing to her new reality is worth the price she must pay.
Author Lisa C. HinsleyBiographyLisa C Hinsley's career has been varied, working as an architectural technician, a pet sitter, a pharmacy supervisor and most recently a carer/companion for elderly ladies, all the while writing when she can. Born in Portsmouth in 1971, Lisa grew up in England, Scotland, and America. She now lives on the Wirral, in northwest England, with her husband, three children, and four cats. Her hope is not to be thought of as the American cat lady, but some things are just inevitable.
Lisa's novel The Ultimate Choice peaked as the 14th overall bestselling sci-fi Kindle book on Amazon.com. Her novel What Alice Sees was a runner-up in the 2010 UKA Opening Pages Competition and placed in the May 2011 Best Sellers Charts on Arts Council website YouWriteOn. An earlier novel Coombe's Wood finished in the semi-finals of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award 2009 and was awarded runner up in the all-genre Book of the Year Awards 2008 on YouWriteOn. Now listed on Amazon Kindle, Coombe's Wood has also sold over 23,000 copies. Lisa's novel The Crocodile was short-listed in the Undiscovered Authors 2006 competition. Several of Lisa's short stories and poems have appeared in print publications.
May 7, 2012
GUEST POST BY MICHAEL FARICY
I'm glad to present you a new release by the very talented Michael Faricy.
Let's have him illustrate what you're going to get FREE.
"My crime fiction title Russian Roulette will be offered for Free on Amazon May 10-12.
It’s an entertaining tale of intrigue, rank ineptitude and one night stands.
Dysfunctional PI Devlin Haskell wakes up in bed with his latest client only to find out she’s signed him up with the Russian mob. Their ‘special’ relationship quickly finds Dev atodds with the local police and an FBI Task Force. In the process Dev places one foot on both sides of the law."
Another fast paced, engrossing suspense thriller from Minnesota’s Master of the Bizarre, Mike Faricy.
Buy it at Amazon
Let's have him illustrate what you're going to get FREE.
"My crime fiction title Russian Roulette will be offered for Free on Amazon May 10-12.
It’s an entertaining tale of intrigue, rank ineptitude and one night stands.
Dysfunctional PI Devlin Haskell wakes up in bed with his latest client only to find out she’s signed him up with the Russian mob. Their ‘special’ relationship quickly finds Dev atodds with the local police and an FBI Task Force. In the process Dev places one foot on both sides of the law."
Another fast paced, engrossing suspense thriller from Minnesota’s Master of the Bizarre, Mike Faricy.
Buy it at Amazon
May 5, 2012
AUTHOR INTERVIEW: JAIME JOHNESEE
Today I’m honored with the presence of one of the best new promises in the Horror genre. She’s not only a brilliant writer and my best pal, but also a pretty Michigander with a heart of gold and a resolute attitude. Author of the acclaimed anthology ‘Oh, the Horror!’, a former zookeeper, and greatest mom of her hood.Ladies and gentlemen, I’m proud to interview the next to be winner of Bram Stoker’s Award:
JAIME JOHNESEE
Jeff: First of all, welcome to my blog. Now, please introduce yourself to our public –Jaime: Hi my name's Jaime Johnesee and I'm a horroraholic.
Jeff: When did you start writing?
Jaime: When I was seven or eight the teacher had us write a little book. I've been creating my own little worlds and scenarios ever since. I didn't write my first novel until I was knocked down with an illness. I had to leave my 14 year profession as a zookeeper and wrote my first novel a few months later.
Jeff: What’s your actual job?Jaime: Which one? I'm a mother and wife first, then author, and finally a zoologist. I may not be working with animals but that part will never leave me.
Jeff: You were a zookeeper. Tell us something funny which happened at the zoo.Jaime: I have a lot of those moments, like one that occurred during my internship at Mobile Zoo. I had been kicked in the hip by a zebra, spit on by the llama, then the camel, and a fiesty rhea. It was like a regurgitation conspiracy.
All I wanted when I was done for the day was to go back to my studio apartment on zoo property and take a shower.
As I turned on the faucet to start warming up the water a spider rappelled down from the ceiling and missed my hand by nearly a quarter inch. I jumped back and grabbed the oven cleaner from the kitchen (works quicker than bug spray) and started spraying the large arachnid.
I was cleaning his corpse from the shower floor when another came down. I looked at the ceiling only to find a swarm of about twenty black widows right there on the ceiling above the stall. That is one of those days I look back on and laugh. At the time it wasn't so funny.
Jeff: How many languages do you speak?Jaime: Well I speak English and Behavior which is its own interesting language in my opinion.
Jeff: What’s your favorite genre?Jaime: To read, horror and dark fantasy. To write, I like horror, dark fantasy, and mystery.
Jeff: I see a difference. Why don’t you read mystery?
Jaime: I read mystery occasionally but most of my pals are also horror authors so I'm lucky enough to be surrounded with brilliant stories to read and reread.Jeff: ‘Feeding the Urge’ notwithstanding, what’s your favorite book of ever?Jim: I have so many. The one I love and cherish most is The Unabridged Edgar Allan Poe. I've had it almost fifteen years. As for current books, Finding Poe is up there. I've actually read it twice now and will probably read it again.
Jeff: Lisa Lane’s ‘Finding Poe’, huh? Did you read some more of her stories?
Jaime: I have some of her other work but I haven't quite gotten to it yet. She's a wonderful lady as well as a great author.
Jeff: Lingerie or Nightgown?Jaime: Neither, sorry guys not like that, I'm a t-shirt and boxers kind of girl.
Jeff: Favorite author?Jaime: Well I'm torn between Poe and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I know Poe's character Dupin disparaged and disliked Doyle's Sherlock Holmes but alas I love both detectives and their worlds.
Jeff: Tea or Coffee?Jaime: Tea. Straight up orange pekoe.
Jeff: Is your family supportive of your writing?Jaime: Yes, my husband is amazing. The kids are also wonderful, we sit together and make up stories around the table all the time. Kid appropriate stories of course.
Jeff: Fast or Slow?Jaime: Depends on the moment. Sometimes fast is good, but sometimes slow is much better.
Jeff: Something about your current work in progress?Jaime: I'm editing a novel that will be released as soon as she is as beautiful as I can make her. It's about a former sniper turned Vigilante. She's got a bit of an odd life but it was fun to write.I'm also writing a novel about a werejaguar FBI agent. Having fun with her too, she is quite the smart ass.
Jeff: Zombies or Vampires?Jaime: Well as I say in a short story 'Horde equals family' but there is something visceral and inherently attractive about vampires, except the sparkly ones. I don't think I can decide.
Jeff: Do you believe in the Supernatural?Jaime: Yes, and no. I've had some experiences I can not explain. At the same time though, I look at those instances with a skeptical eye. We know so little about our world, I just think more research is needed before we say, 'Hey that's a human spirit' rather than look at all the possibilities. Isn't it possible what we see as ghosts are not just glimpses into the past rather than actual deceased souls?
Jeff: Any suggestion for starting writers?Jaime: I want to tell people not to give up on their dreams. It is possible to make your dreams come true. It takes lots of hard work and faith in yourself but you can do it.
Jeff: Thank you for bearing this, Jaime. I kiss your cheek and wish you all the best.
Buy at AmazonEXCERPT FROM JAIME'S NEXT NOVELShifters by Jaime Johnesee.
On my way to work I'd had some time to think about life and what I want from mine. What I decided was there are a few things in life that bother me greatly, one of them is all that crap out there about shape shifters losing it during the full moon. Seriously, the moon doesn’t have any more pull over us than it does you humans. But I guess it’s like the stupid ‘vampires need an invitation to enter’ myth. Some things become what I like to call a Hollywood-fact. Mainly it’s those little things you see in all the monster movies.
I can tell you honestly that vampires are free to enter any dwelling, place of business, or warehouse that they choose. They are also just fine with garlic, crosses and holy water. Mainly because vampirism isn’t some demonic curse, it’s a virus. So too is lycanthropy. The bite from a were-beast causing it’s victim to also become one is the only thing Hollywood got right.
Unfortunately it’s one that has caused many humans to fear us. What the myths don’t say is that the virus can only be transferred during an outbreak. Like most viruses, if the host isn’t infectious at the time, the infection is not transferred. Basically we have to be furry and feverish to bite you.
Another interesting fact is that lycanthropy didn’t exist until scientists in the early 1900s got together and tried to cook up a serious bug for germ warfare purposes. Before that it was only a myth; wolves native to Hungary and Romania were blamed for anything bad that occurred. As time went on they felt stupid blaming animals and thus created the wolf-man stigmata to attach to villagers that were disliked.
A fuzzy version of Salem’s witch hunts, if you will. The were-wolf virus was born in a lab in 1910 and as the decades went on many other strains were created. Basically our DNA is similar enough to every species of mammal for DNA manipulation to occur. I know all this because I just happen to become a black panther once in awhile.
Like other viruses, it flares up more when I am sick. Apparently my panther virus doesn’t much care for the common cold, or the flu. When I fall ill the shifter virus takes over and I turn. When I turn back (usually four hours and a raccoon or two later) I’m completely cured of the rhinovirus or influenza. I think that’s where the whole ‘turning into their animal heals a Were’ myth came from. It heals us of some illnesses and disease, but not gunshots.
Oh and the whole needing silver to kill us thing is also a myth. A regular bullet will end us as easily as the next guy. Our pain thresholds are higher than humans so you might have to get a head or center mass shot to stop us, but hey, we’re killable.
Another myth that annoys me is how we turn into mindless beasts when we change. When I’m a panther I am fully conscious and aware of what I’m doing. True, my animal urges sometimes overrule my common sense. While I normally don’t chase, kill, and consume rabbits; my panther can’t resist.
Mind you, I don’t go into a pet store and chase bunnies there. I have some land attached to my house. It’s not as much as I wish but 25 acres is damn helpful when you turn into a giant Disneyesque panther.
Do you want to know more?
May 2, 2012
AARGH! THAR BE FREEBIES!
For the first time, 'DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES' goes free at Amazon.
Here's a great opportunity to have a peek at my writing style ... without paying a cent!
This brings to my mind that I never had the opportunity to present my books in a concise way; I tend to blubber a lot. So, here we go, that's what I feel about my babies:
Feeding the Urge is my first son: unruly, wild, and unpredictable.Spirits and Thought Forms, the second: neat, intellectual, and successful.Dead Men Tell No Tales, the third: artsy, creative, and flamboyant.The South Will Rise Again, my little one: scary, romantic, and lethal.
Free from Thursday to Saturday!
Here's a great opportunity to have a peek at my writing style ... without paying a cent!
This brings to my mind that I never had the opportunity to present my books in a concise way; I tend to blubber a lot. So, here we go, that's what I feel about my babies:
Feeding the Urge is my first son: unruly, wild, and unpredictable.Spirits and Thought Forms, the second: neat, intellectual, and successful.Dead Men Tell No Tales, the third: artsy, creative, and flamboyant.The South Will Rise Again, my little one: scary, romantic, and lethal.
Free from Thursday to Saturday!
April 12, 2012
What's up, Jeff?
You've surely noticed a majorrenewal to my main novel 'Feeding the Urge'. New cover (admit it, it's a badassrestyling), larger page count, and interior design. But why?Simple, my creative side wonagainst the marketing one.
In origin, Feeding the Urge (an 80,350words novel) had a paging of 296. Browsing among similar books, I found that mybook had to compete with cheaper comrades (most were around 8 to 12 bucks for apaperback). Being new to the self-pub market, I decided to change the fonts andstyle to lower the number of pages and had it sold at a competitive price of $10.00.Nonetheless, times are changingand readers, too.70% of American readers downloadtheir books on portable electronic devices (Kindle, Nook, iPads, etc.) mostlybecause of cheaper prices (with promotions you can even get free e-books) and storagecapacity. The same trend goes on in the UKand Germany.However, I'm a big fan of printedpaper; love holding in my hands a physical copy, sniffing its aroma and lookingat it standing on a bookshelf.
Two weeks ago I received a copyof Feeding. And was immediately disappointed.171 pages of tightly fittedwords, each one stumbling on the other, with readability deign of a legalagreement document. The cover looked cheap, out of a copy shop.Had I spent seven monthsconceiving my monster to have it look-like sh@t?No way.My artist side kicked in; I sedatedmy creature and had it again back at surgery. New cover, a more professional interior,added an introduction, an author biography, and general editing of the frontmatter. Then, I went for the meat. Returned the fonts to Times New Roman (12points, bold), added a blank page after each chapter; allowing the story toflow more fluidly, and finally won against a personal curse (the first line ofmy novel always came out corrupted by Word, no matter how many times I hadcorrected it, this darn 'auto-correct' typo kept showing in all versions).I took some rest and that's whenmy marketing side blew in.'Now it's going to cost more! Nobody's going to buy your book when theycan get novels at 10, even as low as 7 bucks,' it whispered.So what?I don't care. That's my baby lying on the trestle table; I promised it a great look and all the skills and attitudeit deserves. Let it cost 100, I don't give a fart. Nobody's going to buy it?Whatever.They'll buy the eBook version(less than a cuppa coffee at Starblokes, if you ask), they'll pirate it,they'll do whatever they want. I want my physical copy to look good; as good asone of Crichton's trade paperback, as good as a real damn book, not somethingout of the corner copy shop.'You'll have to order another proof copy,' protested Market-Head.I'll do. I want it. I want mybook to look perfect; for me and my readers. Listen, you logical-minded number-crunchingfiend, there are people out there who care for a nice-looking book. Should theylike my Kindle or Nook version, they will buy it in physical form. Becausethat's what I do when I really enjoy a book; I want it to touch it.Maybe, no one is going to pay 15bucks for my paperback edition right now, but in the near future, when I'm surethey'll do, I want them to get in their hands a paragon of the paper industry,something I want to be proud of. So shut up and lemme work.
Feeding the Urge is now as itshould have been from start: 300 pages long, with all the right info at theright place. Buy it or don't buy it, I like itthat way.
Paperback
For those curious about the 'First Line Curse', here's how it goes:'Somewhere, beyond a wall of made of Reason and surrounded by a trench dug out of Ignorance, lays another world.'Five editing of it and always there, mocking me after each upload. Yet, finally I won (I checked it, it's no longer there!)
April 4, 2012
SPECIAL GUEST: AUTHOR TERRI GIULIANO LONG
I'm proud to present you a special guest today: Officer Jerry Johnson from the Cortland Police Department (Massachusetts). Author Terri Giuliano Long is going to replace me on the interviewer's stool, for once.
Hi, Terri. Please, be my guest and let us know more about Officer Johnson ...
Isan ounce of prevention worth a pound of cure?ByJerry Johnson
First, would you please tell us a bit about yourself?Sure, I’m a police officer with the Cortland Police Department. I’veworked for the department for twelve years, since I was 24. I have a degree incriminal justice. While I was in school I worked as a security guard. This wasmy first real job as an adult. I loved it then and I still love it. I can’timagine doing anything else.
My wife, Maura, and I have been together since high school. We have twins,three-month-old boys. I hate to complain, but it’s been a rough few months,since the kids were born. My wife used to manage a nursery. At five monthsalong, they put her on bed rest; she’s been out of work for more than half ayear. She loved the job, taking care of the plants, and she misses interactingwith people. With only one income, we need the cash, so I take details andextra shifts whenever I can, which is exhausting and hard on my wife. We liveon the outskirts of town, so she’s completely isolated.
As much as I love being on the street, working with people, I look forward tothe day I move to a desk job with regular hours, so I can spend more time withmy family.
In your job, what do you do to aid in prevention? Do you find it effective?
I lead the drug prevention program we present in the elementary schools. Ienjoy meeting the kids. When you talk with them they get to know you on apersonal level, not just as uniform or someone to be scared of. We show thekids they can trust us, so if they’re ever in trouble, they’re not afraid tocome to us for help. As for keeping them off drugs, the jury’s out on that.Some of the recent studies suggest that programs like DARE are not as effectiveas we once thought. I like to believe it helps some. It familiarizes the kidswith the long and short-term effects of drugs. It may only raise questions intheir mind, but that’s at start. And it’s better than the cure—rehab or jail.The recidivism rates are high and there’s the heartache and risk that accompanyany addiction; we try to do what we can to keep kids from starting.
By maintaining a visible presence in the community, we discourage crime. Aguy’s less likely to break into a house if he thinks a cruiser might go by. ButCortland is a small town and it’s quiet; we don’t see much crime. I do break upa lot of underage parties. The kids hang out in the woods, sit around a bonfireand drink or get high. A few years ago, there was a horrific crash over on Old Orchard Road. The driver lost control and slammed into a tree. By the time I gotthere it was too late. The kids in front were already gone. I can still see theboy in the back seat, pounding the window, as the car blew. If we cankeep kids from getting behind the wheel when they’re drunk or high, that ounceof prevention is worth a million times the cure.
In your personal life, what has been your experience with prevention andcure?
I was an idiot when I was a kid. In high school, I got in with a roughcrowd. One day, on a dare, I broke into the neighbor’s garage, stole anexpensive chain saw. I left it in the trunk of my car—like I said, I wasstupid. He saw it and called the police. My mom was beside herself, angry andembarrassed. I’d been saving up for a Harley. She made me give her the money topay for my legal fees. I could have gotten a month in county, but I got lucky.Instead of prosecuting me, the judge put me in a “summer work-study program.”It turned out, the “program” was taking care of his gardens and yard. It washard work and I cursed him for it, but that judge turned my life around. I gotmyself together, went to night school and ended up being a cop.
Finding your way through a difficult time can be a character builder. Itstopped me in my tracks and kept me out of further trouble, so the experienceserved as both prevention and cure. It forced me to grow up and figure thingsout. That’s important for kids. If you hover too much, you smother them andthey never grow up. I was stubborn. With kids like me, you’ve got to let themfall, so they learn to pick themselves up. Of course you don’t want them tofall too hard. It’s a balance, I guess.
You have two children. For them, an ounce of prevention or a pound of cure?
I had a feeling this question was coming. My sons are babies. It’s easy nowto tell you what I’ll do when they’re older, because I don’t have to deal withit now. Kids are resilient. I’d like to think I’d give them enough room to takechances, even if, like me, it means learning a tough lesson. But I’ll also wantto protect them. We’ll see, I guess.
Officer Jerry Johnson
Who is Jerry Johnson? He is one of the main characters inthe novel, In Leah’s Wake. Jerry Johnson is a decorated officer in the CortlandPolice Department. A lifelong resident, he lives in Cortland , Massachusetts , with his wife and two infant sons.
About the book - Protecting their children comes naturally for Zoe and Will Tyler - until their daughter Leah decides to actively destroy her own future. What happens when love just isn’t enough? Who will pay the consequences of Leah’s vagrant lifestyle? Can this broken family survive the destruction left in Leah’s wake?
Read more at Amazon
About the author - TerriGiuliano Long grew up in the company of stories both of her own making and aswritten by others. Books offer her a zest for life’s highs and comfort in itslows. She’s all-too-happy to share this love with others as a novelist and as alecturer at Boston College.Terri loves meeting and connecting with people who share her passions. Visit onhttp://tglong.com/site/Twitter: www.twitter.com/tglong orFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/tglongwrites
Hi, Terri. Please, be my guest and let us know more about Officer Johnson ...
Isan ounce of prevention worth a pound of cure?ByJerry Johnson
First, would you please tell us a bit about yourself?Sure, I’m a police officer with the Cortland Police Department. I’veworked for the department for twelve years, since I was 24. I have a degree incriminal justice. While I was in school I worked as a security guard. This wasmy first real job as an adult. I loved it then and I still love it. I can’timagine doing anything else.
My wife, Maura, and I have been together since high school. We have twins,three-month-old boys. I hate to complain, but it’s been a rough few months,since the kids were born. My wife used to manage a nursery. At five monthsalong, they put her on bed rest; she’s been out of work for more than half ayear. She loved the job, taking care of the plants, and she misses interactingwith people. With only one income, we need the cash, so I take details andextra shifts whenever I can, which is exhausting and hard on my wife. We liveon the outskirts of town, so she’s completely isolated.
As much as I love being on the street, working with people, I look forward tothe day I move to a desk job with regular hours, so I can spend more time withmy family.
In your job, what do you do to aid in prevention? Do you find it effective?
I lead the drug prevention program we present in the elementary schools. Ienjoy meeting the kids. When you talk with them they get to know you on apersonal level, not just as uniform or someone to be scared of. We show thekids they can trust us, so if they’re ever in trouble, they’re not afraid tocome to us for help. As for keeping them off drugs, the jury’s out on that.Some of the recent studies suggest that programs like DARE are not as effectiveas we once thought. I like to believe it helps some. It familiarizes the kidswith the long and short-term effects of drugs. It may only raise questions intheir mind, but that’s at start. And it’s better than the cure—rehab or jail.The recidivism rates are high and there’s the heartache and risk that accompanyany addiction; we try to do what we can to keep kids from starting.
By maintaining a visible presence in the community, we discourage crime. Aguy’s less likely to break into a house if he thinks a cruiser might go by. ButCortland is a small town and it’s quiet; we don’t see much crime. I do break upa lot of underage parties. The kids hang out in the woods, sit around a bonfireand drink or get high. A few years ago, there was a horrific crash over on Old Orchard Road. The driver lost control and slammed into a tree. By the time I gotthere it was too late. The kids in front were already gone. I can still see theboy in the back seat, pounding the window, as the car blew. If we cankeep kids from getting behind the wheel when they’re drunk or high, that ounceof prevention is worth a million times the cure.
In your personal life, what has been your experience with prevention andcure?
I was an idiot when I was a kid. In high school, I got in with a roughcrowd. One day, on a dare, I broke into the neighbor’s garage, stole anexpensive chain saw. I left it in the trunk of my car—like I said, I wasstupid. He saw it and called the police. My mom was beside herself, angry andembarrassed. I’d been saving up for a Harley. She made me give her the money topay for my legal fees. I could have gotten a month in county, but I got lucky.Instead of prosecuting me, the judge put me in a “summer work-study program.”It turned out, the “program” was taking care of his gardens and yard. It washard work and I cursed him for it, but that judge turned my life around. I gotmyself together, went to night school and ended up being a cop.
Finding your way through a difficult time can be a character builder. Itstopped me in my tracks and kept me out of further trouble, so the experienceserved as both prevention and cure. It forced me to grow up and figure thingsout. That’s important for kids. If you hover too much, you smother them andthey never grow up. I was stubborn. With kids like me, you’ve got to let themfall, so they learn to pick themselves up. Of course you don’t want them tofall too hard. It’s a balance, I guess.
You have two children. For them, an ounce of prevention or a pound of cure?
I had a feeling this question was coming. My sons are babies. It’s easy nowto tell you what I’ll do when they’re older, because I don’t have to deal withit now. Kids are resilient. I’d like to think I’d give them enough room to takechances, even if, like me, it means learning a tough lesson. But I’ll also wantto protect them. We’ll see, I guess.
Officer Jerry JohnsonWho is Jerry Johnson? He is one of the main characters inthe novel, In Leah’s Wake. Jerry Johnson is a decorated officer in the CortlandPolice Department. A lifelong resident, he lives in Cortland , Massachusetts , with his wife and two infant sons.
About the book - Protecting their children comes naturally for Zoe and Will Tyler - until their daughter Leah decides to actively destroy her own future. What happens when love just isn’t enough? Who will pay the consequences of Leah’s vagrant lifestyle? Can this broken family survive the destruction left in Leah’s wake?
Read more at AmazonAbout the author - TerriGiuliano Long grew up in the company of stories both of her own making and aswritten by others. Books offer her a zest for life’s highs and comfort in itslows. She’s all-too-happy to share this love with others as a novelist and as alecturer at Boston College.Terri loves meeting and connecting with people who share her passions. Visit onhttp://tglong.com/site/Twitter: www.twitter.com/tglong orFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/tglongwrites
April 1, 2012
FREE on April 6-7!!
This is a short tale. And is going to be FREE from April 6 to midnight April 7 (Pacific Time) at Amazon's Kindle Store.
Buy at AmazonBut stay tuned to the Great Radio because starting from this month many promotions will be available. I'm talking of discounts on paperbacks, free downloads for some of my books, and special offers.
IT MADE ME CRY WITH JOY
Fun. Entertaining. Visual.These are just some of the words that come to my mind, afterreading Unleashed: Tail One.Lori Lopez concocted such an amazing (and incredible) taleit should be a blockbuster. Not reading this is like going to Parisand neglecting Eiffel Tower;you’re missing something on your life trip.Really.I had to read several books these days. Some were ofmy liking, others were awful. It’s my personal policy to just review those Ienjoyed and deserving at least 4 stars. This went beyond. I’d give it 8 starsif I could, because Lori Lopez’s style is truly innovative and her multitaskingcreativity clearly shows in her writing.
Buy it at AmazonIn this tale you get three points of view: a dog, adetective, and a cat. Each one acts perfectly in character, with a lot of humor(dark and otherwise), and pleasant details.The main persona – Midnightthe cat – had me laugh and shiver at the same time, and some of her lines (herthoughts) brought me back at Showtime’s Dexter … with a touch of Ray Bradbury.I think that Lori Lopez is one of the most gifted writers inthe genre and should get more attention by the general public. She gets theinstinct of a natural storyteller, yet she doesn’t disdain prose, playing withwords in a funny way, Lopez never bogs you down into the intricacies of Englishlanguage.I’m very glad having read this. 
Author Lori Lopez
March 28, 2012
SURPRISE, ME MATEYS!
I've just published a short story only available on KindleDEAD MEN TELL NO TALESPirates, voodoo, and more zombies you can stand to bear await you in this weird tale. A prequel to 'Black Schooner', it has been released at the very affordable price of $ 0.99!!!
AVAST!!!
Buy at AmazonOnly $ 0.99!!!
