Errol Barr's Blog, page 3
March 1, 2015
Are news anchors a thing of the past?
I am a news junkie and I try and watch the news as often as I can. I grew up in the era when Tom Brokaw, Peter Jennings and Diane Sawyer were the very best. On scene reporters or journalists like Sam Donaldson and CNN’s Wolf Blitzer were incredible. To me they will always be the best. Their believability was unmatched. Brian Williams had become my next generation newscaster favorite. That of course all changed with his admission of lying on air. I now wonder if the Williams scandal will change how newscast will be seen in the future. I know my adult kids do not watch traditional newscasts unless something incredible happens in the world. They get their bits of news they are interested in through a news broadcast laced with satire and comedy like Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert.
I find myself searching to identify with a new up and coming household news deliverer. CNN’s Anderson Cooper is good but he is usually ‘on scene’ delivering news on one specific topic or situation.
I need a re-branded Brian Williams to make a comeback.
February 25, 2015
“Can I call you Father?” Book Excerpt from Songs for Survival
“Can I call you Father?”
“Yes you may. In fact I would like it if you called me that. Father is a good name.”
“Are Brittany and Michael here too? I heard them earlier. They sounded very scared. Did you talk to them as well and reassure them Father?”
“I have and they are as happy as you are now. Finding out the beautiful truth of your life is an incredible thing, Chloë, don’t you think?”
“I agree Father. What happens now? Can I stay here now? I would like that. I have enough to think about to last forever. The clarity of mind here is what I want and what I need Father.”
“You will be returning to your earthly form, Chloë. There is much to do. We have to save the world from God’s final fury. We are the saviors to the millions of people who do not know what you know. Do you understand?”
“Is that the purpose of Vasallus? Is that why you created me Father? Are we to save people for you? To save them from God’s impending doom?”
“That is exactly what you are meant to do, Chloë. You are to save millions of people from God. It is a beautiful thing, Chloë. Are you ready?”
“Yes I am Father.”
**This is an excerpt from the third book in the Superstars Trilogy. Get your copy at Amazon!
December 24, 2014
Book Three of the Superstars Trilogy – Songs for Survival, Available Now!
I am very happy to announce the final installment of the Superstars Trilogy, Songs for Survival is available to download! The ebook is available to download in all formats at Smashwords as well as all sales channels, Apple iBooks, Kindle, Kobo, Barnes & Noble.
The paperback edition is available at Amazon. Please follow the following links:
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
Kindle:
http://www.amazon.ca/Songs-Survival-E...
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Songs-Survival-...
Of course you can always order direct from my website at:
October 27, 2014
Book Two of the Superstars Trilogy, Vasallus: An Excerpt #10
Detective Showenstein of the LAPD and his cantankerous boss, Captain Bitters:
He may have had the full resources of the LAPD at his disposal for now, but Sam knew he would not have that luxury for long. Soon the department would start scaling back the overtime, reassigning detectives to other cases, and returning detectives on loan from other departments, all in response to the lack of progress on the investigation of the Chelsea Benning murder. When it slowed down, then resources were taken away. That was the nature of the beast in police work. The rule of thumb in homicide investigations was the forty-eight hour rule. Most murder cases were solved within the first forty-eight hours. Beyond that, the percentages of solving the case went down dramatically. Witnesses changed their minds because they were scared and stepped back into the shadows of their unanimity, forensic evidence deteriorated, suspects slipped through the initial dragnet of momentum when the investigators were first assigned to the case. The ‘rush’ of the first forty-eight hours was critical on many fronts. Investigators assigned to the case were super focused and their instincts were razor sharp because they knew how important the first few days were in the case. Like the evidence, they had a tendency to slow down as the case dragged on. Lack of interest and the excitement to catch the next ‘rush’ wreaked havoc. A good homicide department captain anticipated this ebb and flow and kept his team focused and motivated. Captain Bitters was the best of the best in leading a group of skilled investigators for the LAPD Homicide and Robbery Section. Turning down opportunities for promotion in other sections to stay in Homicide, Bitters became the quintessential leader of the most highly paid group of cops in the force. He chose to accept it and his attitude had improved dramatically ever since. Sam learned to respect his boss immensely and the feeling was mutual and as a result, Sam saw himself turn into a career investigator in Homicide.
Purchase Vasallus, the paperback, Book Two of the Superstars Trilogy here:
http://www.amazon.com/Vasallus-Book-Two-Superstars-Trilogy/dp/0988073919/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1400519115&sr=8-5&keywords=errol+barr
http://errolbarr.com/vasallus-book-2/
Purchase the e-book here:
Kindle
http://www.amazon.com/Vasallus-Superstars-Trilogy-Errol-Barr-ebook/dp/B00CM8VUTI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1400519310&sr=8-2&keywords=errol+barr
All other formats
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/309731
October 20, 2014
Book Two of the Superstars Trilogy, Vasallus: An Excerpt #9
The terror felt by Sam on the revelation of Patrick by his son, Seb:
Sam followed his son into his bedroom, closed the door behind him, leaned against the door frame and waited for his son to talk. He watched as Seb, dressed in sweats and his Clippers basketball shirt, his black curly hair impossible to mess up at the length he always kept it, looked up at him and said: “Dad, I don’t think you need to worry about Patrick waking up.”
Sounding a little confused, he replied: “Why’s that son? Of course I would worry about waking Patrick up just like I would be careful not to wake you up if I knew you might be asleep.”
“What I meant Dad is that I don’t think Patrick ever sleeps. Remember when you dropped me off at school and I tried to tell you? He never slept in all the years growing up when we would have sleep overs as kids at each other’s houses. Now that we’re older and don’t do the sleep over thing anymore, I have been listening to see if he falls asleep since he’s been staying with us and he doesn’t Dad.”
“How could you possibly know if he never sleeps son? I’m sure he has trouble falling asleep like a lot of people and especially now, with the death of his mother, he might find it hard to nod off, but he has to sleep at some point Seb. Otherwise, he couldn’t function and you know as well as I do that it’s impossible for the body not to fall asleep.”
“I get that Dad, but trust me on this okay? Since we were kids, he has always told me he never, ever sleeps and never has. That is why I was always so exhausted as a kid when we would do the sleepover thing, because he would keep me up all night with him. Since he has lived with us, I hear him all night, either singing or beating his drum sticks on the bed frame, dresser, closet door or whatever else he finds in the room that will make a sound.”
“Are you sure Son? I mean, I’ve never heard him. Making that kind of racket at night, your mother or I would hear that. He’s just down the hall.”
“No, he waits until you are asleep. I don’t know how he knows you are asleep because he doesn’t leave his room to check on you, but he knows because he has never woken you or Mom has he?”
“I guess not, but why doesn’t he wait till you are asleep?”
“He doesn’t care if I hear him. I think he wants me to hear him.”
Purchase Vasallus, the paperback, Book Two of the Superstars Trilogy here:
http://www.amazon.com/Vasallus-Book-Two-Superstars-Trilogy/dp/0988073919/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1400519115&sr=8-5&keywords=errol+barr
http://errolbarr.com/vasallus-book-2/
Purchase the e-book here:
Kindle
http://www.amazon.com/Vasallus-Superstars-Trilogy-Errol-Barr-ebook/dp/B00CM8VUTI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1400519310&sr=8-2&keywords=errol+barr
All other formats
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/309731
October 14, 2014
Word Count – Is there a limit a new author should not exceed?
I have been criticized in the past that my books were to large, especially for an unknown author. I hate hearing that even though the critics are right. Novels exceeding 70,000 to 90,000 words in length are more difficult to attract a publishing deal. Each of the three books of the Superstars Trilogy exceed 165,000 words. Way too large to appeal to a publisher. What can one do when the story is so big it takes over 500,000 words to tell it? You can do what I did and write the length I needed to tell the story and give this incredible epic the space it needed or trim it down to make it marketable. I chose to tell the story. All of it.
I’m still looking for that publishing deal.
October 6, 2014
Book Two of the Superstars Trilogy, Vasallus: An Excerpt #8
Robert Best convincing Avery to manage the career of emerging superstar Juan Jimenez:
“Quite simply, Avery, I know you’re busy and I know you don’t like me so if I can sell you on Juan and his potential, you will look past all the other stuff and do it. You’re the best, Avery, I’m not going to lie. There isn’t anyone any better in the industry and Juan needs the best. His career is going to be that big. That’s the catch. So come on what do you say? Can we be partners?”
“I want full creative control Best.”
“You got it Avery. All I’m asking for is the final say on the production cuts and for Blackstar to be listed as a contributing producer.”
“No, I won’t agree to that. No one gets the final say on the final cuts but me. I want full creative control and that includes from A – Z. I will decide when the album will be released, when and where he tours, merchandise control, everything Robert or you can find someone else.”
Best clenched his teeth, relaying to Avery that he was pissed. Then he looked at him for a few seconds without saying a word, then broke into a smile and reached his hand over the table to shake his and said, “You got a deal Mr. Johnson. You ask a lot but I expect a lot in return so let’s make this happen, shall we? I will have my lawyers draft up the contract within forty- eight hours and it will be couriered to your office for your signature. You will find the financial numbers very generous Avery. I am not interested in doing this necessarily for the money so that will not hold up the deal, I promise you.”
Purchase Vasallus, the paperback, Book Two of the Superstars Trilogy here:
http://www.amazon.com/Vasallus-Book-Two-Superstars-Trilogy/dp/0988073919/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1400519115&sr=8-5&keywords=errol+barr
http://errolbarr.com/vasallus-book-2/
Purchase the e-book here:
Kindle
http://www.amazon.com/Vasallus-Superstars-Trilogy-Errol-Barr-ebook/dp/B00CM8VUTI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1400519310&sr=8-2&keywords=errol+barr
All other formats
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/309731
October 3, 2014
Manuscript Outline – A Must Have Book Writing Tool Part 2
Earlier I talked about the importance of creating an outline to use as your guide or blueprint in constructing your manuscript. In this post I want to talk specifically what I do when create my outline. First of all I sit down and spend approx half a day creating my outline for my new book. Amazingly one can basically put together the entire book, chapter by chapter of a 150,000 word manuscript in just one half day! I already have a good idea of how I want to start and end the book or maybe I don’t. I just begin by taking an hour or two brainstorming the book through and eventually I settle on the opening chapter. I then take the story from there with an end goal in mind. I decide up front how long I would like the book to be (chapters) and the minimum word count for each chapter. I furiously jot down a couple of sentences for each of the chapters allowing myself to feel the story and see it progress in my mind chapter to chapter. Before long, bam, I have typed out the blueprint to a manuscript of 45 chapters!
When I begin to write these chapters I use this outline as a guide and I keep myself fluid and flexible enough to allow the story to move in other directions other than what I originally mapped out. I have found that at the end of the book I have followed the outline fairly closely. It’s incredible what half of a day of focused thought can create!
September 21, 2014
Book Two of the Superstars Trilogy, Vasallus: An Excerpt #7
The discovery that her teenage son is a demonic killer, Chelsea Benning struggles with the realization.
Chelsea opened the door to Patrick’s room and entered, calling out his name as she did so in case he was just sleeping on the chair on the other side of his room, “Patrick, are you here baby? Just wondering where you are as you didn’t answer when I knocked on your door.”
She was about to turn and leave when she noticed something on the far side of his bedroom on the wall. Curious, she walked over and was mortified to see dozens of black pencil sketches of mutilated bodies, grotesque images of limbs torn off bodies with blood spilling and splattered everywhere. She was completely taken aback: “Did Patrick draw these? He must have, but why?” These drawings were so dark and evil looking that it scared her to her soul that Patrick was capable of drawing something so horrible. There was a theme to every drawing. They all had an evil looking face with a pair of bright red eyes depicted on them. “What did that mean?”
Then it hit Chelsea like a tidal wave. It was the eyes. The beast. “Oh my God”, she thought. Dropping to her knees, she buried her head between her legs and sobbed. The nightmare of the attacks fifteen years ago had returned. Her biggest fear was that Patrick would somehow know his origins. Now it was a reality. He knew. “He was drawing the red burning eyes because he knew!” She thought she would be sick so she stood up and bolted out of the bedroom into the bathroom where she emptied her stomach. She finally got a hold of herself and stood up and looked at herself in the mirror, thinking she would see the beast standing behind her, ready to thrust a claw through the back of her skull. She splashed cold water on her face, washed her hands and returned to Patrick’s bedroom. She sat on the corner of his bed gripping the bed post fearing her shaking would plop her off the bed and onto the floor. The drawings were so demonic looking and evil. “What was going through his head when he was drawing those images? How much does he know about himself? Has the beast visited him and shared his evil beginnings?”
Too many questions floated through her head in quick succession. Then she saw it and the sight of it sent her falling to the floor, fainting from the reality of what her son was.
Purchase Vasallus, the paperback, Book Two of the Superstars Trilogy here:
http://www.amazon.com/Vasallus-Book-Two-Superstars-Trilogy/dp/0988073919/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1400519115&sr=8-5&keywords=errol+barr
http://errolbarr.com/vasallus-book-2/
Purchase the e-book here:
Kindle
http://www.amazon.com/Vasallus-Superstars-Trilogy-Errol-Barr-ebook/dp/B00CM8VUTI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1400519310&sr=8-2&keywords=errol+barr
All other formats
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/309731
September 16, 2014
Manuscript Outline – A Must Have Book Writing Tool
I have written and published three books to date. I cannot imagine how I would have been able to write these books without completing an outline first. The outline becomes my compass, a ‘plan of action’ sort of speak that keeps me focused on writing the chapter and not worrying about the overall story. When I write I have a plan. I know how many words per chapter I want to write or a minimum. I know how many chapters I am going to write to complete the book. I know this because I took the time to complete an ‘outline’. This does not mean that the outline cannot be changed mid-stream or flexible enough to tweak along the way. The biggest advantage by using an outline is I know the entire story has been mapped and I can go ahead and write each of the chapters in my outline. I don’t worry how the story will end or how I will get to the end. I already thought that through before I started writing the story in the first place!
It works for me, maybe it will work for you! Stay tuned for a future post on exactly how I construct an outline!
