Jan Notzon's Blog, page 22
November 8, 2023
Review
November 6, 2023
This is a very entertaining mystery with some wonderful adventure that opens the novel and really hooks you in and keeps you guessing.
There was one twist I found a bit hard to swallow, but to mention it would definitely be a spoiler. It concerns a reported change in one of the characters. However, I have to admit that people continue surprising me, so maybe it's not so far-fetched.
This is a very entertaining mystery with some wonderful adventure that opens the novel and really hooks you in and keeps you guessing.
There was one twist I found a bit hard to swallow, but to mention it would definitely be a spoiler. It concerns a reported change in one of the characters. However, I have to admit that people continue surprising me, so maybe it's not so far-fetched.
October 30, 2023
I Should Be Ecstatic!
My agent just told me that he made a pitch to Greg Paul the COO of Castle Rock Entertainment and Mr. Paul was receptive, not just about my latest, ONLY THE DEAD, but also two of my others, AND YE SHALL BE AS GODS and The Id Paradox.
I am totally stunned. I'm just praying that this is not another scam the likes of which I get more than once a week. The only thing he's asked money for is to make a trailer for "Only the Dead". But he assures me that the trailer will be mine. If he's telling the truth, then it will be an investment both of us will be able to use.
I also had a wonderful Saturday with neighbors and friends. Such truly wonderful people, so caring and supportive.
I can only surmise that the state of barbarity in the world and the fecklessness of our response to it makes me extremely pessimistic about the future of humanity.
God help us all!
I am totally stunned. I'm just praying that this is not another scam the likes of which I get more than once a week. The only thing he's asked money for is to make a trailer for "Only the Dead". But he assures me that the trailer will be mine. If he's telling the truth, then it will be an investment both of us will be able to use.
I also had a wonderful Saturday with neighbors and friends. Such truly wonderful people, so caring and supportive.
I can only surmise that the state of barbarity in the world and the fecklessness of our response to it makes me extremely pessimistic about the future of humanity.
God help us all!
October 22, 2023
Astounded and Repulsed
I find it truly repugnant and incomprehensible that there are people actually celebrating the torture, rape and slaughter of women and children, babies and even the unborn.
I can only surmise that to be different, the urge to be "unique", some will say and do any outrageous thing, even the celebration of barbarism.
For the love of God, even if you sympathize with the Palestinians, to support such barbarity is simply unconscionable. To celebrate it is pure evil.
I can only surmise that to be different, the urge to be "unique", some will say and do any outrageous thing, even the celebration of barbarism.
For the love of God, even if you sympathize with the Palestinians, to support such barbarity is simply unconscionable. To celebrate it is pure evil.
October 12, 2023
Audio Book 3
Oh, to have a voice and to be as articulate and authoritative as most of the voice-over talent I hear. I suppose I'm my biggest critic. The engineer laying down my recording thinks I'm doing great. I, of course, hear every hesitation and lack of authority.
Well, I can only hope the engineer is right and I am overly critical. Since people have asked if my books are on audio, I do hope having them so will increase readership.
If not, it's at least been a learning experience.
Well, I can only hope the engineer is right and I am overly critical. Since people have asked if my books are on audio, I do hope having them so will increase readership.
If not, it's at least been a learning experience.
October 6, 2023
Lucky to be too busy?
I was offered a 15 minute radio program discussing writing and publishing, with an emphasis on self-publishing. It could be lucrative but at my advanced age I just don't think I have the energy or time.
I'm presently putting down my sophomore novel And Ye Shall Be As Gods on audio--quite a project requiring energy up the wazoo. I have a literary agent from California who seems legitimate (he hasn't asked me for money up front: a good sign). If anyone knows anything about New Age Literary Agency and Damian Rodriguez, I would sure appreciate a shoutout.
Per his request I wrote a query letter for the novel, which I'll share with you all and invite feedback and thank you in advance for it.
Month/Day/Year
Person
Address
Dear (Name):
I am writing to you because on your website you note that you are particularly interested in stories that deal in family dynamics and are written with passion and insight.
I believe my novel of 85,979 words And Ye Shall Be As Gods is just what you’re looking for. It is the story of Jake Kazmareck, a disillusioned Public Defender obsessed with finding the origin of his beloved sister’s descent into despair and his lost love’s retreat into madness.
Seeking escape, he takes a job as a high-school teacher in the wilds of the South Bronx where he is put in the hospital by his students. There, courtesy of the Holocaust survivor who shares his room, he is exposed to the depths of human depravity.
On his way back to his baby sister and the border town of his youth, he visits his lost love in the insane asylum where she is housed. There he finds a curious connection between the ghouls that haunt his sister and the demons that sent his love into the prison of catatonia.
He finally finds the answer to both mysteries in a most unexpected and harrowing place.
Written with plots and subplots intertwined in compelling intricacy, And Ye Shall Be As Gods has all the passion of Pat Conroy’s Beach Music and the insight of Ann Napolitano’s Hello Beautiful.
Thank you so much for your consideration. I am certain that And Ye Shall Be As Gods will resonate with a wide audience and in its insight and passion is destined to win copious awards. It is a work that I truly believe would make a great contribution to your list.
Sincerely,
Jan Aloysius Notzon
I'm presently putting down my sophomore novel And Ye Shall Be As Gods on audio--quite a project requiring energy up the wazoo. I have a literary agent from California who seems legitimate (he hasn't asked me for money up front: a good sign). If anyone knows anything about New Age Literary Agency and Damian Rodriguez, I would sure appreciate a shoutout.
Per his request I wrote a query letter for the novel, which I'll share with you all and invite feedback and thank you in advance for it.
Month/Day/Year
Person
Address
Dear (Name):
I am writing to you because on your website you note that you are particularly interested in stories that deal in family dynamics and are written with passion and insight.
I believe my novel of 85,979 words And Ye Shall Be As Gods is just what you’re looking for. It is the story of Jake Kazmareck, a disillusioned Public Defender obsessed with finding the origin of his beloved sister’s descent into despair and his lost love’s retreat into madness.
Seeking escape, he takes a job as a high-school teacher in the wilds of the South Bronx where he is put in the hospital by his students. There, courtesy of the Holocaust survivor who shares his room, he is exposed to the depths of human depravity.
On his way back to his baby sister and the border town of his youth, he visits his lost love in the insane asylum where she is housed. There he finds a curious connection between the ghouls that haunt his sister and the demons that sent his love into the prison of catatonia.
He finally finds the answer to both mysteries in a most unexpected and harrowing place.
Written with plots and subplots intertwined in compelling intricacy, And Ye Shall Be As Gods has all the passion of Pat Conroy’s Beach Music and the insight of Ann Napolitano’s Hello Beautiful.
Thank you so much for your consideration. I am certain that And Ye Shall Be As Gods will resonate with a wide audience and in its insight and passion is destined to win copious awards. It is a work that I truly believe would make a great contribution to your list.
Sincerely,
Jan Aloysius Notzon
October 1, 2023
Good People
Ah, the age-old question: why do bad things happen to good people?
I ask your prayers for a dear friend, Sue Ellen Bromberg. She has been a glorious friend from my time in The Big Apple in the '70s and '80s and is now suffering with ALS. It is a truly vicious disease that slowly attacks and destroys the muscles in your body, finally attacking your diaphragm so that you suffocate.
Of course, eventually a bad thing will happen to all of us. None of us is getting out of this world alive.
So, my message to my friends is to give thanks for your lives and your health however compromised it might be.
Love to all.
I ask your prayers for a dear friend, Sue Ellen Bromberg. She has been a glorious friend from my time in The Big Apple in the '70s and '80s and is now suffering with ALS. It is a truly vicious disease that slowly attacks and destroys the muscles in your body, finally attacking your diaphragm so that you suffocate.
Of course, eventually a bad thing will happen to all of us. None of us is getting out of this world alive.
So, my message to my friends is to give thanks for your lives and your health however compromised it might be.
Love to all.
September 24, 2023
Audio Book 2
Well, I did my first session putting down And Ye Shall Be As Gods on audio, and I don't think it went half-bad. I managed to get all the prologue down--about 24 pages--in an hour. Not much compared to guys who do it for a living, but I'm hoping I'll get better as I go along.
WHAT A WORKOUT! I've never been so tired after any of my workouts as I was after that hour. Was part of the exhaustion the result of nervousness? It's been years since I've done any voice-over work and I was never all that good at it. Of course, most of that was in Spanish, but the engineers used to tease me about the number of pickups I needed on an audio-visual.
Well, this time the engineer, Lisa, was VERY complimentary. She said other readers she's worked with had more pickups than I did. The fact that I practiced like a fool probably helped.
Keeping my fingers crossed and knocking on every piece of wood (including that inside my cranium) I can find.
WHAT A WORKOUT! I've never been so tired after any of my workouts as I was after that hour. Was part of the exhaustion the result of nervousness? It's been years since I've done any voice-over work and I was never all that good at it. Of course, most of that was in Spanish, but the engineers used to tease me about the number of pickups I needed on an audio-visual.
Well, this time the engineer, Lisa, was VERY complimentary. She said other readers she's worked with had more pickups than I did. The fact that I practiced like a fool probably helped.
Keeping my fingers crossed and knocking on every piece of wood (including that inside my cranium) I can find.
September 13, 2023
Audiobook
Just made an appointment to put down an hour of my novel And Ye Shall Be As Gods on audio. I have to say, though I have no doubts concerning my acting ability (knock on wood), having done voiceovers in the past, I do tend to flub an annoying number of times. Since I wrote the darn thing I'm somewhat familiar with it. Hopefully, that'll help.
I hired a studio and an engineer, not trusting myself in the least with editing. At my age, I'm going to limit myself to an hour at a time.
I've been reading out loud, trying to get back into shape. Maybe I've learned to be a little patient with myself in the time away from vo's. I certainly hope so. And I hope the practice will pay off.
Stay tuned.
I hired a studio and an engineer, not trusting myself in the least with editing. At my age, I'm going to limit myself to an hour at a time.
I've been reading out loud, trying to get back into shape. Maybe I've learned to be a little patient with myself in the time away from vo's. I certainly hope so. And I hope the practice will pay off.
Stay tuned.
September 11, 2023
Editorial
I hope my followers won't mind a bit of editorializing on my part. It concerns the weakening of resolve in Congress to support the Ukrainians.
It is my opinion that--and I rarely quote LBJ--"aggression unchallenged is aggression unleashed". I believe that anytime we allow a bully to succeed, we encourage that malefactor. It was our ignoring the takeover of the Crimea, Georgia and eastern Ukraine that allowed the invasion to take place..
In the 1930s if we had stood up to Hitler and the Nazis at the Rhineland, or the Sudetenland or the Anschluss, WWII would have involved much less carnage and many Jews, Gypsies and gay people would have been saved.
Many Americans wanted us to stay out of it, calling it a European problem. But if Hitler had been able to conquer the Soviet Union and western Europe, he would have come after us next. We would have been fighting the Germans on our east coast and the Japanese on our west coast.
An ignored depredation threatens us all eventually, I believe.
It is my opinion that--and I rarely quote LBJ--"aggression unchallenged is aggression unleashed". I believe that anytime we allow a bully to succeed, we encourage that malefactor. It was our ignoring the takeover of the Crimea, Georgia and eastern Ukraine that allowed the invasion to take place..
In the 1930s if we had stood up to Hitler and the Nazis at the Rhineland, or the Sudetenland or the Anschluss, WWII would have involved much less carnage and many Jews, Gypsies and gay people would have been saved.
Many Americans wanted us to stay out of it, calling it a European problem. But if Hitler had been able to conquer the Soviet Union and western Europe, he would have come after us next. We would have been fighting the Germans on our east coast and the Japanese on our west coast.
An ignored depredation threatens us all eventually, I believe.
September 7, 2023
Giveaway
Hi Folks, please consider entering:
And Ye Shall Be As Gods by Jan Notzon: Goodeads Author)
Release date: May 10, 2023
For lovers of passionate literary fiction, family dynamics and a delicately intertwined love story
Who is responsible?
In his desperate quest to find the author of his beloved little-sister’s descent into despair and his lost-love’s retreat into madness, Jake Kazmareck finds the answer in an unexpected and harrowing place.
Opens for entries on September 09, 2023
Format:
Kindle book
Availability:
100 copies available, 0 people requesting
Giveaway dates:
Sep 09 - Sep 21, 2023
Countries available:
U.S.
And Ye Shall Be As Gods by Jan Notzon: Goodeads Author)
Release date: May 10, 2023
For lovers of passionate literary fiction, family dynamics and a delicately intertwined love story
Who is responsible?
In his desperate quest to find the author of his beloved little-sister’s descent into despair and his lost-love’s retreat into madness, Jake Kazmareck finds the answer in an unexpected and harrowing place.
Opens for entries on September 09, 2023
Format:
Kindle book
Availability:
100 copies available, 0 people requesting
Giveaway dates:
Sep 09 - Sep 21, 2023
Countries available:
U.S.
