Dan Schell's Blog, page 2

A Few More Reviews...

"It was a great, fun read! My vision sucks really bad, or I would have finished it sooner. Your description of their van, the places they stayed at and played at really drew me into the story. I really fell in love with the characters and don't want to see them go.

It is always fun reading about music, but from your home town, it is even better! I wish you the best of luck in the new year!"

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"A little slow in getting started, but flow picked up as I got use to the writing style. Good use of humor, irony, and apparently writing what you know. Enjoyed it and passing it on to others who may enjoy it."

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"While this is not my genre of writing or reading I have to say you did a fantastic job. You write a very clean manuscript. You have mastered the art of showing a story instead of telling it. I really like your character depth." 

To Those Who Won the Giveaway

I'll mail out the books Monday or Tuesday. Congratulations! Over 435 people tried their luck.

Note on Kindle Version

I discovered a formatting error on the Kindle version. As it is not a story-breaker, I don't plan on fixing it, but I did lower the price to as low as Amazon would let me. This does not affect the paperback version.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Road-to-Flu...

Only Two More Days Remaining in Giveaway

If you haven't entered to win a copy, head on over to: http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...

New Readers' Reviews!

The Road to Fluffer

From Amazon:

"Dan Schell's debut novel is an addictive, highly-readable jaunt through the midwestern bars and back alleys where up and coming rock and roll bands are forced to tread. It would be difficult to avoid a reference to Spinal Tap when discussing Numb Skull, the fictitious band in this story, and even the band is aware of some similarities, but this book is in no way a rip off of anything you're seen or read before. It is, however, a completely realistic look of a band on the road, and more than a couple events in the story are ones I lived through when my band toured over a decade ago, almost to the letter. I suspect that is why Spinal Tap is so revered (and often feared) by bands; it's too true sometimes, in the worst possible ways.

This first novel is definitely worth picking up, if for nothing more than to say you were there on the ground floor when a budding novelist made his first notch in the literary world's fat-pants belt. I laughed out loud more than a few times, and I certainly felt for the characters at other times. Enjoyable, real, and ultimately satisfying."

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"Loved it. Shades of High Fidelity, Almost Famous, and Anvil! The Story of Anvil...but with a distinct midwestern working-class musician view. I feel like I've known all these characters and places, which makes it that much more fun to be on the journey with them."

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From Facebook:

"I enjoyed it, laughed out loud several times, and shivered uncomfortably once or twice. Great job, Dan."

Enter "The Road to Fluffer" Book Giveaway in December

I am giving away ten copies of The Road to Fluffer this month. Contest ends on 12/31. You can enter here: http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...

Book Giveaway Info Coming Soon!

I've been plenty busy lately but word about the book is creeping out as people are reading it. Reviews have been great so far!

I'll be ordering more copies of The Road to Fluffer on Friday and will include some in a giveaway on Goodreads during the month of December. I just need to set up a reminder or something, since the days are flying by. ;)

First Amazon Review Posted...

and it's a good one! Check it out:

"This tale is a glimpse into the lives of a fictional band, the fictional journalist charged with writing their story, and the complete reality of how "getting there" is far from glamorous. The characters are well written, the descriptions and imagery, vivid. "The Road To Fluffer" does not disappoint as you delve deeper into this tale of existential reflection, automaton 'rockers', and the strength it takes to tolerate both. It is a great read. I highly recommend it."

(Finally) Some Luck Finding a Reviewer

Trying to find a reviewer who may be open to reviewing your book takes a metric shit-ton of research. For the most part, if you're not writing romance, YA, or sci-fi, you will have to go digging.

Fortunately, someone has agreed to read The Road to Fluffer with an eye toward reviewing it. It must have been my professional query email because it's sure not my good looks.

So the book is off to her and also being read by others. I'm just keeping up with promotion, trying to get the word out. It's a lot of work but rewarding in its own (sadistic) way.

First Chapter Novel Excerpt

Aside from the excerpt here on Goodreads, the first chapter of The Road to Fluffer can be found at http://www.scribd.com/doc/112792804/T...

It's gotten over 100 reads in four days so the word is getting out.