Gregory S. Lamb's Blog, page 10
October 16, 2013
Book Review: YA Paranormal Coming of Age Novel – “When Stars Die” by Amber Skye Forbes
5 Stars
Suspense and Mystery that builds and builds
Whatever formula Forbes decided to use when crafting this marvelously written and imaginative story, it is a gift any author would envy. The story line is a clean and straight forward coming of age drama.
For those not taken by the young adult paranormal romance and mystery genre, I’d recommend reading this one regardless. I really enjoyed Forbe’s use of language. The story is written in the first person from the perspective of her main character Amelia, who had been a candidate for entering the professed order of nuns at a place called Cathedral Reims. In one of the opening passages Amelia introduces us to her best friend Collete, “…every man would be vying for her attention. She is a dance piece in a music box….” This beautiful little nugget of imagery kept me reading every line so I wouldn’t miss discovering more treasure between the pages.
The setting is winter time in 1880 in the fictitious country of Malva, where the author’s descriptions lead readers to image a place similar to old England. It is the perfect environment for the paranormal to emerge from the first passages, urging the reader to find out more about why an eighteen year old girl would subject herself to torturous trials to become a nun.
To summarize the story line more would spoil the magic of how Forbes eases her readers into the darkness of the story and how in the end readers will discover the result of good versus evil in a time and place “When Stars Die.” This story, though written for a young adult audience, does contain some passages for more mature readers.
The publisher provided me with an advance review copy of “When Stars Die.”
October 9, 2013
Guest: Minutes Before Sunset Favorite Scene → Shannon A. Thompson
Guest: Minutes Before Sunset Favorite Scene → Shannon A. Thompson.
I read this YA Novel and posted a review here on this blog. Shannon is definitely a young author to watch. She writes from the heart with an imagination full of surprises. I’m glad to discover the “Why” behind her favorite passage.
October 1, 2013
Interview with Indie Author, Roland Hughes on his latest novel, “John Smith The Last Known Survivor of the Microsoft Wars”
To start, I want to say it was an honor to be asked to review John Smith and even more so that you agreed to this interview. I certainly enjoyed reading your book and am absolutely certain it will generate discussion among your readership. My review can be read right here on this blog. However, for now I think readers will be more interested in what you, the author, have to say about John Smith: The Last Known Survivor of the Microsoft Wars:
Q: Would you mind giving readers a quick overview of what the book is about?
This is not your typical post-apocalyptic piece of fiction. It won’t be made into a block buster movie. This book focuses on the why and the how more than the what. It is designed to make the reader question every belief and “truth” they hold dear.
Q: Was this a debut novel for you or have you published earlier works?
Normally I publish geek books. I have a geek book series called “The Minimum You Need to Know”. I have put out one other novel “Infinite Exposure”. In many ways, this could be considered to be the sequel to IE.
Q: How did you decide on using an “interview” format for your main characters in John Smith?
That’s what the characters told me they wanted. We have way too many slash and burn megadisaster books hoping to be movies out there. These characters wanted to prove that tell done well really is the show.
Q: Wow, I’m going to quote that again because it pretty much sums up why I am so confident that John Smith will be a big hit…”Tell Done Well Really is the Show.” Who would you say should pick up a copy?
People who DVR Ancient Aliens. True fans of Star Trek TNG, Battle Star Galactica and Babylon 5. I’m not talking about those people who just watch for the action and call themselves fans. I’m talking about the people who bookmark the Websites devoted to quotes from each show. The fans who are hooked on the incredible writing each show had.
Q: I read almost everything on my e-reader these days. Is there an eBook version? What about other media such as audio books?
I’m glad you asked!
Audio
http://www.worldwideaudiobooks.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=9781934814390
EPUB
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/john-smith-roland-hughes/1102176003?ean=9780982358061
Q: As the president of a publishing company, are there any perks to also being an author?
Of course. It means I don’t have to provide financial support for 200 relatives which aren’t related to me. There are far too many fat hogs feeding from the trough of a traditional publishing house. Personally I believe that within the next 3-5 years a “large” publishing house will be one that has 3 authors working for it.
Think about this. We have many news reports and documentaries covering how we are going to feed and house a global population of 9 billion, which isn’t too far off. A large percentage of the current 8+ billion both speak and read English. They are scattered across the globe, but many surf the Web. It is entirely possible for a single author to put out a work which finds 1 million fans and the author to remain completely unknown as far as the industry is concerned.
When it comes to eBooks which have no per unit production cost once created, how many do you need to sell each year to live comfortably? That’s the question every author needs to ask themselves before even looking at a traditional publishing route.
September 30, 2013
Book Review: “John Smith – The Last Known Survivor of the Microsoft Wars” by Indie Author – Roland Hughes
Fans of Dystopian Literature Will Love It
Easy Four out of Five Stars for pure entertainment!
When author Roland Hughes asked if I’d be interested in reviewing “John Smith” I had no idea what I was in for. The title was intriguing and the blurb hooked me even more, so I started reading. I only put it down once to scan through the pages to look at the story format and structure.
When reporter Susan Krowley is assigned to interview John Smith, one of the last known survivors of the Microsoft Wars, she discovered a history that could only have been told in the format Hughes selected to present in this imaginative and intriguing dystopian story. The entire novel is an interview between Krowley and Smith.
While Krowley wants to document a history of what happened during the rumored Microsoft Wars, Smith wants to impart an important idea and drives the point home with pages of historical back story that span centuries. His point is that if not known or understood, history will repeat itself, over and over.
This novel is not for everyone. Readers who absolutely cannot stand the “All Tell but No Show” style of prose, might want to steer clear. However, for those who can look beyond and into an alternate future based on some history and today’s reality, this story is guaranteed to grab you. You’ll want to hold on for the entire ride.
September 16, 2013
Cover Reveal: A New Collection from AEC Stellar, Inc. – Proposed release this October!
My Short Story – “Exit Strategy” is included!
“Exit Strategy” is a short piece uncovering the back story of the antagonist in my soon to be released novel, “A Dangerous Element.” Look for more information about both of them beginning in October.
September 14, 2013
Book Review: The Girl Who Swam to Atlantis by Elle Thornton
Five Stars – A Quiet Novel with Undercurrents
Thornton takes on bigotry, racism, and ignorance with her elegantly written coming of age novel. The sitting is the American South in the late 1950s. The main character, Gabriella Winter, daughter of a Marine Corps General, learns to swim with the help of the General’s aid, also a Marine but of a different race.
Through well developed main characters and a poignant reminder of the attitudes of those years projected through the behaviors of the minor characters, Thornton brings the reader back to a time when equality among citizens was nonexistent. The novel’s description suggests a military family experience is one of the main themes. Though Gabriella lives on the Rock Point base, the main themes in the story go deeper.
Young Gabriella is a compassionate thinking person who’s world view isn’t tainted by color or prejudice. This story is about relationships and overcoming obstacles. It is a quick read that left me with a warm feeling.
August 14, 2013
Book Review: “The Theory of Games” by Ezra Sidran
4 Stars
Dog Included!
The first pages of Sidran’s latest kept me reading out of curiosity more than anything. Soon I was captivated by a plot line that lasted the entire story before I knew why Sidran’s main character Jakob Grant was being held captive.
Jakob Grant tells his story in first person while being interrogated by a mysterious captor. Grant, a teacher of game theory and computer science at a private university is unexplainably fired from his position. He assumes his reputation as a game programmer is the reason he received a mysterious package from FedEx that propels him and his dog Bill, along with a few of his students, on a wild ride.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the novel’s structure was masterfully crafted. However, I couldn’t give it a full five stars because I got the feeling the author rushed it to press. The closer I got to the end, the more the copy edit errors tripped me up. The ending was maybe a little contrived, but fitting for this story that could hold its own with any thriller out there on the market today.
August 13, 2013
Interview with Raymond Vogel, Author of Matter of Resistance
To begin, I want to say that it is an honor to be able to interview you right before your new novel’s release. It’s an exciting time for an author, albeit a busy one. I enjoyed reading Matter of Resistance. For me it was entertaining and thought provoking. As an “Indie Author” myself, I hope to share the same excitement when my new novel, A Dangerous Element is released later this year. I wasn’t surprised that we touch on similar themes.
Readers can find my review of Raymond Vogel’s Matter of Resistance on my blog and at Amazon.
Okay, let’s get started:
Q: Would you mind giving readers a quick overview of what the book is about?
Matter of Resistance spans roughly a decade of time during our Mars’ settlement’s struggle for independence from Earth. A handful of power brokers on Earth are driving the Earth Space Fleet to attack Mars to gain access to a material there known as Magnematter. But much of the book is centered around the Marsian Isaac Raleigh, a creative and brilliant child who becomes part of his planet’s leadership group – at a time when his ideas are sorely needed. There’s cool new technology, a touch of romance, and enough action scenes to keep things interesting.
Q: I understand this is a second edition. Has a lot changed since the first?
Yes and no. The story, the characters, and the plot are the same. But my process included started at page one and rewriting the entire thing. What had changed over the years (it was first drafted between 2007 and 2008) was my writing style.
One of the biggest changes was the technology development. There were lengthy descriptions about technology in the first edition that I suspect only a select few readers were interested in learning about. They enjoyed it, or at least told me so, but fewer folks finished it than I would have liked. This one still gives you the sense of technology and enough details to get your gears turning, but it doesn’t belabor the point. The end result was about 100 pages worth of content being dropped from the original version, almost exclusively from the first half of the book, and another 50 being added back in. If I were to guess, I’d say much of the content that was added in was embellishing descriptions and dialogue to bring the reader a bit further into the Marsian world.
The end result was a book that fans say “I couldn’t put down” and “I flew through it” about. The comments I received on the previous version were “once I got through it” and “I promise I’ll finish it one of these days.” I’m much prouder of the Second Edition.
Q: When the first settlement crew goes up, will you be aboard?
What an adventure that would be! If so many books hadn’t already been written on the subject, I might have written that story, perhaps as a prequel to Matter of Resistance. I watch folks like Elon Musk, owner of SpaceX, and silently urge him forward in his dream to make that first crew happen. There’s no shortage of life in the universe, at least according to our scientists and statisticians, and I’d very much like to see the gap between our Earth’s surface and the rest of our solar system shrink dramatically.
Q: Who do you think should pick up a copy?
Ah, the audience question. Just between us, I didn’t write the book with a specific target audience in mind. Or, to be even more honest about, I wrote it with myself in mind.
One of my favorite books of all time, and the one that arguably got me interested in science fiction in the first place, is Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, and there are several oblique references in my book that fans of Ender’s Game are likely to recognize immediately. Not to compare my writing to Card’s (our politics certainly don’t align), but I think the reading audience is similar – young adults. I hope my book becomes yet another way to encourage young minds to dream about the future in the way that I have. I want someone to finish my book, walk outside on a clear night, and stare up at the vast blackness in amazement and wonder.
Q: I read almost everything on my Kindle these days. Is there an eBook version?
There is, but it’s not for sale. It will be given exclusively to readers willing to post their honest reviews online (meaning, they get it for free) – for the next few months, anyway. If folks are interested in one, they’ll have to send my Contract Manager, Heather Hebert (http://aecstellar.com/Contract_Manager-HH.html), a note.
Q: As the owner of a publishing company, are there any perks to also being an author?
Ha! Not really. It’s possible that a select few individual authors pay more attention to me than they would have. But, in the end, the quality of the book will have to carry itself, or not. I signed the same contract my authors did, and I think it helps me understand how best to support them.
Raymond, thank you again for joining me and sharing your insights with us. I have no doubt Matter of Resistance will be a raving success and look forward to reading your next novel. Best of luck!
About Matter of Resistance:
The science fiction imagining of a former rocket scientist, Matter of Resistance pushes technology and human nature to the limits as it chronicles our Mars settlement’s struggle for independence from Earth. Though it was written for young adults, it’s received high praise and recommendations from a retired NASA senior executive, a retired USAF Colonel, and the current Senior Staff scientist managing Materials and Processes for the NASA Orion Program. Matter of Resistance “examines space travel within the possibilities of today’s technology and in the context of natural human drives,” and delivers an experience that’s “captivating, suspense-filled reading, beginning to end.”
Some of the places you can find Matter of Resistance:
Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Matter-Resistance-Raymond-Vogel/dp/0989312836
Goodreads.com: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18251073-matter-of-resistance
BarnsandNoble.com: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/matter-of-resistance-raymond-vogel/1107109114
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/isbn0989312836
Outside the US:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Matter-Resistance-Raymond-Vogel/dp/0989312836
http://www.adlibris.com/se/product.aspx?isbn=0989312836
http://www.agapea.com/libros/Matter-of-Resistance-9780989312837-i.htm
Connect with Raymond Vogel at:
http://aecstellar.com/Author-Raymond_Vogel.html
https://www.facebook.com/MatterOfResistance
https://twitter.com/raysworkin
August 9, 2013
Book Review: “Matter of Resistance” by Raymond Vogel
5 Stars for Vogel’s just released SciFi novel – It is Out of This World Entertaining!
Readers who enjoyed “Enders Game,” won’t want to miss reading this latest SciFi by Raymond Vogel. This author writes with the authority of one who understands military security and government organizational structure giving credibility to the plot. It is well paced and packed with action and personality that kept me reading late into the night.
Set in a future where critical resources became scarce, humans from Earth colonized Mars in hopes of exploiting the energy source, Magnematter. Vogel drops the reader right into the center of the action with the birth of protagonist Isaac Raleigh to Martian parents Marena and Jacob. The clever choices of names the author used for Isaac’s parents were enough for me to keep reading only to discover the many other subtle treasures in this well crafted story.
We quickly discover that intelligence in Martian offspring evolve leaps and bounds each generation. Years earlier, Mars was attacked by Earthicans, so their superior intellect, Marsians created a shield to protect their world but it won’t stand up to the latest weaponry being developed on Earth.
Greed and power are still a driving force on Earth, where corrupt industry leaders and a military industrial complex thrive on perpetuating old paradigms of human conflict. It is only a matter of time before the Earthicans engineer a rationale to re-attack Mars. It is only a matter of resistance for the Marsians to develop a means of protection.
In this highly entertaining page-turner, Vogel takes on several themes pointing out the irrationality of human conflict. This is one that should be mandatory reading at the Defense Department’s War Colleges.
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