Kyle Pratt's Blog: Musings & Rantings, page 29
April 19, 2014
Great Response
The response to the recent interview on ApartmentPrepper.com was great.
As part of the interview we gave away copies of Through Many Fires in paperback, Kindle and audiobook format. You can read the interview here.
ApartmentPrepper.com provides information on preparedness and survival aimed at a more urban readership. Also, over the last few years, they have featured significant books in the survival genre such as Expatriates, by James Wesley Rawles, and Apocalypse Drift by Joe Nobody. I’m pleased that Through Many Fires is now and will be a part of that group.
Because of good reaction to the interview and giveaway we are now advertising on this leading survival and preparedness website.
April 6, 2014
We Have a Book Cover
The cover design for A Time to Endure has been approved and released.
Because of the enthusiastic response to Through Many Fires I immediately started writing the planned second book in the series. Titled, A Time to Endure, this next book is now my number one writing project. Click here to see a progress bar graph of the writing.
While I’m still busy with the manuscript, the graphic designer, Micah Hansen, has delivered the final cover design. The first book in the series, Through Many Fires, was done in shades of red and we decided to go with that theme for the second book. The stark background is not one particular scene in the book but suggests a tone of coming events. Click on the image to see a larger version.
A Time to Endure, book two in the Strengthen What Remains series, will be available on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, and the iTunes Bookstore, in paperback, on Kindle, and Nook and most other ereader formats when released later this year.
April 5, 2014
More on Backdoor Survival
Through Many Fires is featured in Backdoor Survival’s fifth Book Festival
About two weeks ago the website Backdoor Survival, one of the top five survival and prepping websites, announced that Through Many Fires would was selected to be part of their Spring 2014 Book Festival. Today, as part of the ongoing event my novel was featured. The editor also interviewed me and asked about upcoming books.
I’m pleased to be a part of their survival book festival which, in the past, has featured a number of bestselling books in the post-apocalyptic genre including, Expatriates, by James Wesley Rawles, and Apocalypse Drift by Joe Nobody and The Long Road, by G. Michael Hopf.
As part of the book festival promotion I’m offering ten copies of Through Many Fires. Winners can choose either paperback, audiobook or ebook format.
I encourage everyone to peruse the site, read the interview, and if you don’t own a copy of Through Many Fires to register for a chance to win.
April 2, 2014
Review 100
Through Many Fires , my latest novel, received its 100th 5-star review today.
I am thrilled with the praise readers have showered upon the book. One recent review compared Through Many Fires to the New York Times bestselling novel Patriots, saying, “If you enjoyed James Wesley, Rawles ‘Patriots’ you will most likely love this….” Douglas Skinner the 100th 5-star reviewer said, “I found this story to be a very good read with well developed character relationships. The story was also very believable.”
Through Many Fires continues to sell well and now has 168 reviews with 147 4-star or above. It is time to celebrate!
March 27, 2014
Made My Day
Spring is a hard time for teachers. The students are tired and sense that summer is coming. Teachers are also tired and are counting the days till summer.
Yesterday, after a long spring day of inattentive, restless, students the school secretary, Loni, brought me a torn cardboard mailer. It was addressed to my personal mailbox, but delivered to the school. This often happens in the village, but this time I didn’t recognize the return address.
Puzzled, I reached in and tore it the rest of the way open. Out came a copy of my book Through Many Fires. Loni stood there puzzled as I read the letter and a smile grew on my face. I’m still a relatively unknown author and don’t get that much fan mail. “It’s from one of my readers.” I said. “I put instructions on my website for anyone who wants me to autograph their book.” Holding up the paperback I added, “He’s the first.”
Loni took a picture while I was still smiling and then I went home with a better feeling about the whole world.
March 23, 2014
Backdoor Survival Book Festival
Through Many Fires is being featured in Backdoor Survival’s fifth Book Festival
I didn’t plan it this way, but for the second time this month Through Many Fires has been featured on a prepping and survival website. This time the novel is part of Backdoor Survival’s book festival. Backdoor Survival is one of the top five prepping and survival websites. I’m pleased to be a part of this ongoing survival book festival which, in the past, has featured a number of bestselling books in the post-apocalyptic genre including, Expatriates, by James Wesley Rawles, and Apocalypse Drift by Joe Nobody and The Long Road, by G. Michael Hopf.
As part of the book festival promotion I’m offering ten copies of Through Many Fires. Winners can choose either paperback, audiobook or ebook format.
Since the book festival is ongoing I don’t know all the details yet, but I encourage anyone interested in survival and prepping or who hasn’t yet bought Through Many Fires to visit BackdoorSurvival.com for a chance to win a copy. I’ll write more about the book festival as it goes on.
March 18, 2014
Apartment Prepper Interview
Through Many Fires was featured on ApartmentPrepper.com, one of the top survival and readiness websites.
Over the last few years Apartment Prepper has featured significant books in the survival genre such as Expatriates, by James Wesley Rawles, and Apocalypse Drift by Joe Nobody. I’m pleased the editor, Bernie Carr, was willing to add Through Many Fires to that notable group.
Bernie and I both wanted to make this interview something special, so as part of the book feature I’m giving away ten copies of Through Many Fires. Winners can choose either paperback, audiobook or ebook format. If you want to read the interview or you haven’t yet bought a copy of Through Many Fires and would like to win one, go to ApartmentPrepper.com and enter a comment on the question at the end for a chance to win.
March 14, 2014
On Special in Britain
The ebook version of my debut science fiction novel, Titan Encounter, is on sale in Britain.
Actually the ebook is on sale in the United States also, but we are promoting it using a new service called eBookSoda.com. While they promote books worldwide I noticed that they are based in Britain and list prices for books in British Pounds and Euros as well as dollars. In the past I’ve used BookSends (formally BookBlast) to promote my books in the United States, but now I’ll add eBookSoda for wider distribution.
Visit either website, or both, to sign up and receive a daily email of free and discounted ebooks in the genres you like to read.
March 11, 2014
Thing Two
Good teachers do many crazy stunts to get students interested in learning.
Our school in Eek, Alaska, is blessed with some fine teachers. Every March in conjunction with the Iditarod dog sled race our school does an Iditaread reading competition. The students get points moving them along the Iditarod trail for each page they read.
This year, in support of Dr. Seuss and National Read Across America Day, two of our teachers, Julia Oschwald and Kayla Ashe, decorated the elementary wing of the school in a Cat in the Hat theme.
One of our better young readers is Kristin, the young lady standing next to the Cat in the Hat. The garment she is wearing looks like a dress, but is actually a qaspeq, a traditional Yup’ik Eskimo hooded garment.
As a teacher and an author, I support just about anything that encourages students to read, even if it makes me look silly. In the picture I’m Thing Two and my colleague, Dirk Martin, is Thing One.
February 26, 2014
Titan Audiobook
Titan Encounter, my bestselling science fiction space adventure, will soon be available as an audiobook.
The actor Jeffrey Fellin has agreed to produce and narrate the novel. Jeffrey has extensive experience in both film and theater, but is relatively new to book narration. Currently he has only one other title on Audible, the zombie apocalypse novel Carrier. However, his voice was right for the character of Justin Garrett, the protagonist in Titan Encounter.
Micah Hansen, the graphic artist for all my books, has completed the audiobook version of the Titan Encounter cover. In addition to ten other book covers, Micah has designed covers for music CDs and logos for business.
The Titan audiobook is expected to be just over five hours long and is scheduled for release an April 5th on both Audible.com and iTunes.
