Mark Donovan's Blog, page 2
June 12, 2016
How I Began My Writing Career
Before I started writing fiction I wrote for years about the home building space. And truth be told, I’m still doing so. I started this DIY home improvement website in 2005. HomeAdditionPlus has over 2,100 articles and videos that I have written and filmed on all aspects of building home additions and homes, as well as doing various other small and large home improvement projects. If interested in seeing about some of my home improvement videos visit here.
How I got started in writing DIY Home Remodeling and Improvement articles?
My youngest son introduced me to blogger.com in January of 2005. After writing several articles on a couple of the major home construction projects I had done, and posting them on my blogsite, I decided to create a regular website. Thus, HomeAdditionPlus.com was founded on February 17th, 2005.
For years I was prolific in my writing for the HomeAdditionPlus.com, sometimes writing up to five or more articles a day, and none of them being very short. On average my articles are around 500 to 700 words, with some as much as 1,200 words. For examples, see my article on estimating room addition costs or this one on building a custom home.
The Rise and Fall
HomeAdditionPlus.com did very well in terms of traffic and revenue growth for years. The site was receiving over 350K unique visitors a month and earning six figures income at its peak. Then came the Google Penguin and Panda search engine optimization nightmares of 2011 that negatively affected tens of thousands of people like me. Those two SEO algorithm updates killed much of the traffic to HomeAdditionPlus.com and tens of thousands, if not millions of other websites.
HomeAdditionPlus.com has still not recovered from the impact of those SEO algorithms. I used to care, but no longer. I decided a long time ago that I would continue to write about what I am passionate about and give up trying to keep up with the SEO machinations of Google and other high tech internet purveyors.
So I continue to write about the home remodeling and home improvement space, as well as writing techno-thriller novels. But I just don't do the former as much. If you are in the need of home remodeling and home improvement advice or ideas, check out my home remodeling and improvement website . Most likely you'll find answers to your home improvement related questions, as I've done it all after owning and building homes and home additions for 35+ years.
How I got started in writing DIY Home Remodeling and Improvement articles?
My youngest son introduced me to blogger.com in January of 2005. After writing several articles on a couple of the major home construction projects I had done, and posting them on my blogsite, I decided to create a regular website. Thus, HomeAdditionPlus.com was founded on February 17th, 2005.
For years I was prolific in my writing for the HomeAdditionPlus.com, sometimes writing up to five or more articles a day, and none of them being very short. On average my articles are around 500 to 700 words, with some as much as 1,200 words. For examples, see my article on estimating room addition costs or this one on building a custom home.
The Rise and Fall
HomeAdditionPlus.com did very well in terms of traffic and revenue growth for years. The site was receiving over 350K unique visitors a month and earning six figures income at its peak. Then came the Google Penguin and Panda search engine optimization nightmares of 2011 that negatively affected tens of thousands of people like me. Those two SEO algorithm updates killed much of the traffic to HomeAdditionPlus.com and tens of thousands, if not millions of other websites.
HomeAdditionPlus.com has still not recovered from the impact of those SEO algorithms. I used to care, but no longer. I decided a long time ago that I would continue to write about what I am passionate about and give up trying to keep up with the SEO machinations of Google and other high tech internet purveyors.
So I continue to write about the home remodeling and home improvement space, as well as writing techno-thriller novels. But I just don't do the former as much. If you are in the need of home remodeling and home improvement advice or ideas, check out my home remodeling and improvement website . Most likely you'll find answers to your home improvement related questions, as I've done it all after owning and building homes and home additions for 35+ years.
June 3, 2016
Creating More Human-Like Robots with Innovative Sensor Technology
I recorded a podcast interview today with Steve Crowe of Robotics Trends on "Creating More Human-Like Robots". If you'd like to learn where the robot industry is headed in terms of sensor technology see - http://www.roboticstrends.com/article...
May 23, 2016
WATERKILL now available on KindleUnlimited
My latest technothriller "WATERKILL" is now available on Kindleunlimited to read for free for those who have subscribed to this service. Get the book at amazon.com/dp/B017Q9593K.
WATERKILL currently has a 4.3 star ranking on 54 reviews.
Book Summary:
With the mysterious outbreak of a deadly disease in a Yemeni village, followed by an increase in terrorist chatter after the crash of a small airplane in eastern Alaska, CEO Dr. Dave Henson and colleague Ron Blackwell of NSurv Inc. are tapped by the Department of Homeland Security to locate the aircraft wreckage and its suspected deadly contents.
While Henson and Blackwell are in the eastern mountains of Alaska helping the U.S. Border Patrol locate the missing aircraft and its contents, Dave’s wife, internationally known journalist Dana Cogswell, goes missing while covering another sudden and suspicious epidemic in a small town in Germany.
Dave races from Alaska to Germany to rescue Dana and ends up on a quest to the Middle East to find her. Along the way he learns of a shocking betrayal of friendship and that the path to Dana ultimately leads to the terrorist leader behind the deadly outbreaks.
WATERKILL currently has a 4.3 star ranking on 54 reviews.
Book Summary:
With the mysterious outbreak of a deadly disease in a Yemeni village, followed by an increase in terrorist chatter after the crash of a small airplane in eastern Alaska, CEO Dr. Dave Henson and colleague Ron Blackwell of NSurv Inc. are tapped by the Department of Homeland Security to locate the aircraft wreckage and its suspected deadly contents.
While Henson and Blackwell are in the eastern mountains of Alaska helping the U.S. Border Patrol locate the missing aircraft and its contents, Dave’s wife, internationally known journalist Dana Cogswell, goes missing while covering another sudden and suspicious epidemic in a small town in Germany.
Dave races from Alaska to Germany to rescue Dana and ends up on a quest to the Middle East to find her. Along the way he learns of a shocking betrayal of friendship and that the path to Dana ultimately leads to the terrorist leader behind the deadly outbreaks.
May 13, 2016
Why I Wrote “Nano Surveillance", a book about Global Warming, Politics, Greed, and Corruption
I just wrote a full length article on http://www.MarkJDonovan.com titled “Nano Surveillance” and the Politics and Money behind the Global Warming Theory".
The article explains the impetus on why I wrote "Nano Surveillance" and the findings of my research on global warming. If you get a chance, read this article. See: http://markdonovanauthor.blogspot.com...
The article explains the impetus on why I wrote "Nano Surveillance" and the findings of my research on global warming. If you get a chance, read this article. See: http://markdonovanauthor.blogspot.com...
April 23, 2016
Nanotechnology Used in the Carrying of Drugs in the Human Body
Check out my latest blog article on the use of nanotechnology in medical applications. The article focuses on new techniques that are being developed using nano-vehicles to deliver and administer drugs into the human body.
Also, if you are interested in reading an excellent techno-thriller on nanotechnology check out my latest book WATERKILL
Purchase the book on Amazon or Barnes and Noble for just $0.99 at: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B017Q9593K and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/water...
Also, if you are interested in reading an excellent techno-thriller on nanotechnology check out my latest book WATERKILL
Purchase the book on Amazon or Barnes and Noble for just $0.99 at: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B017Q9593K and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/water...
April 14, 2016
Previous Kindle Purchasers of WATERKILL can get a Free Updated Version
If you previously purchased a kindle copy of WATERKILL, go here http://www.amazon.com/gp/digital/fion... to get an updated version of the book.
During the month of March WATERKILL was professionally line edited. The new version of the book is now available in Kindle and Nook eBook format, as well in paperback.
See:
Kindle - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B017Q9593K
nook - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/water...
Paperback - http://www.amazon.com/Waterkill-Dave-...
Mark
During the month of March WATERKILL was professionally line edited. The new version of the book is now available in Kindle and Nook eBook format, as well in paperback.
See:
Kindle - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B017Q9593K
nook - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/water...
Paperback - http://www.amazon.com/Waterkill-Dave-...
Mark
April 7, 2016
Re-Release of WATERKILL with Professional Line Editing Completed
I just wanted to report that I hired a professional editor and she completed a line edit on Waterkill. It took a month of her time (21 years as a free lance editor), and another couple weeks of mine to review the edits and format the book and re-release.
Suffice it to say, WATERKILL is now a much better book.
If you have been considering purchasing WATERKILL, now is the time to get it. The new version is on the KINDLE and NOOK, and the paperback copy will be updated by this weekend.
What is WATERKILL about? See below....
“Waterkill” Weaves Nanoscience and Cult Religious Terrorism into a Major Threat to Western Civilization
With the mysterious outbreak of a deadly disease in a Yemeni village, followed by an increase in terrorist chatter after the crash of a small airplane in eastern Alaska, CEO Dr. Dave Henson and colleague Ron Blackwell of NSurv Inc. are tapped by the Department of Homeland Security to locate the aircraft wreckage and its suspected deadly contents.
While Henson and Blackwell are in the eastern mountains of Alaska helping the U.S. Border Patrol locate the missing aircraft and its contents, Dave’s wife, internationally known journalist Dana Cogswell, goes missing while covering another sudden and suspicious epidemic in a small town in Germany.
Dave races from Alaska to Germany to rescue Dana and ends up on a quest to the Middle East to find her. Along the way he learns of a shocking betrayal of friendship and that the path to Dana ultimately leads to the terrorist leader behind the deadly outbreaks.
Purchase the book on Amazon or Barnes and Noble for just $0.99 at: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B017Q9593K and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/water...
Suffice it to say, WATERKILL is now a much better book.
If you have been considering purchasing WATERKILL, now is the time to get it. The new version is on the KINDLE and NOOK, and the paperback copy will be updated by this weekend.
What is WATERKILL about? See below....
“Waterkill” Weaves Nanoscience and Cult Religious Terrorism into a Major Threat to Western Civilization
With the mysterious outbreak of a deadly disease in a Yemeni village, followed by an increase in terrorist chatter after the crash of a small airplane in eastern Alaska, CEO Dr. Dave Henson and colleague Ron Blackwell of NSurv Inc. are tapped by the Department of Homeland Security to locate the aircraft wreckage and its suspected deadly contents.
While Henson and Blackwell are in the eastern mountains of Alaska helping the U.S. Border Patrol locate the missing aircraft and its contents, Dave’s wife, internationally known journalist Dana Cogswell, goes missing while covering another sudden and suspicious epidemic in a small town in Germany.
Dave races from Alaska to Germany to rescue Dana and ends up on a quest to the Middle East to find her. Along the way he learns of a shocking betrayal of friendship and that the path to Dana ultimately leads to the terrorist leader behind the deadly outbreaks.
Purchase the book on Amazon or Barnes and Noble for just $0.99 at: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B017Q9593K and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/water...
February 18, 2016
Thanks to all the Reviewers of WATERKILL
I wanted to briefly say thanks to all of the people who have read and reviewed my latest book WATERKILL.
After 34 reviews on Amazon, Waterkill has a ranking of 4.6 stars. See http://www.amazon.com/dp/B017Q9593K. In addition, all but one of the reviews have been very positive. For some reason one reviewer seemed to have an ax to grind with the book. But oh well, to each his/her own.
The reviews and rankings have also been similarly as good on Goodreads.com and Barnes and Noble, with 4.47 and 5.0 rankings on 19 votes and 4 votes, respectively.
Again, thank you to all who have read and reviewed Waterkill, including the one critical review.
For any readers of this blog who have been thinking about reading Waterkill, I urge you to give it a try. With the number and quality of reviews already in, and at a cost of only $0.99 in Kindle and Nook eBook format, you can't go wrong.
Besides a fun read, you'll also find this technothriller enlightening. Waterkill tells a story of a very real threat to western civilization by middle eastern terrorists. More specifically the threat of religious cult terrorists introducing biological weapons of mass destruction to western cities and towns across Europe and the United States.
Waterkill Book Summary: A Yemenis man tragically loses his wife and daughter, a small plane disappears into the Alaskan bush carrying a deadly secret, and thousands suddenly die in a small German town. American business magnate and high tech entrepreneur Dave Henson is tapped by the U.S. government to help solve the related mysteries, but quickly finds himself drawn in deeper and his timeline shortened when his wife suddenly goes missing.
Purchase the book on Amazon or Barnes and Noble at: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B017Q9593K and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/water...
After 34 reviews on Amazon, Waterkill has a ranking of 4.6 stars. See http://www.amazon.com/dp/B017Q9593K. In addition, all but one of the reviews have been very positive. For some reason one reviewer seemed to have an ax to grind with the book. But oh well, to each his/her own.
The reviews and rankings have also been similarly as good on Goodreads.com and Barnes and Noble, with 4.47 and 5.0 rankings on 19 votes and 4 votes, respectively.
Again, thank you to all who have read and reviewed Waterkill, including the one critical review.
For any readers of this blog who have been thinking about reading Waterkill, I urge you to give it a try. With the number and quality of reviews already in, and at a cost of only $0.99 in Kindle and Nook eBook format, you can't go wrong.
Besides a fun read, you'll also find this technothriller enlightening. Waterkill tells a story of a very real threat to western civilization by middle eastern terrorists. More specifically the threat of religious cult terrorists introducing biological weapons of mass destruction to western cities and towns across Europe and the United States.
Waterkill Book Summary: A Yemenis man tragically loses his wife and daughter, a small plane disappears into the Alaskan bush carrying a deadly secret, and thousands suddenly die in a small German town. American business magnate and high tech entrepreneur Dave Henson is tapped by the U.S. government to help solve the related mysteries, but quickly finds himself drawn in deeper and his timeline shortened when his wife suddenly goes missing.
Purchase the book on Amazon or Barnes and Noble at: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B017Q9593K and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/water...
February 6, 2016
NANO SURVEILLANCE - Free in Kindle format 2/7/16 thru 2/8/16
My first book titled NANO SURVEILLANCE will be on sale for free in kindle format on 2/7/16 and 2/8/16. See http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DJSZ92O to download your free kindle copy.
I originally released NANO SURVEILLANCE in June, 2013. However, I am now re-releasing it after it recently went through a comprehensive copy editing session to address some grammatical issues mentioned by some early book reviewers.
So if you are interested in a technothriller, I highly suggest you take advantage of the two day FREE sale of NANO SURVEILLANCE. You can download a copy of the book at: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DJSZ92O.
Book Summary:
With the country on the brink of financial collapse, billionaire and high tech entrepreneur Dave Henson breaks an old personal oath to himself to remain apolitical as he attempts a daring and dangerous mission to save the country.
Dave, along with a small group of engineers at his company NSurv, and his old friend and news reporter Dana Cogswell, decide to use NSurv’s bio-nano sensor technology to bring a whole new level of transparency between the federal government and the public. In the process they discover and reveal a sinister plot by the President and his administration to secretly drain and transfer the country's wealth and power to foreign entities.
While Dave and his team covertly work to change the country’s political and economic direction by exposing the corruption in Washington D.C., the President announces his new plans to end global climate change and restore the country's economy. However the President's plans run sinisterly deeper, and include the required use of personal tracking sensors to be installed in every automobile and product sold in the country. If the President's plans become law, Dave is convinced it will destroy the country and provide the government with unfettered surveillance of the public.
Dave’s team quickly finds itself intertwined in a deadly war with the President and his allies. As the NSurv team works to capture and report the ultimate story to topple the administration and save the country, the President and his allies stop at nothing to protect their self interests and to capture NSurv's new surveillance technology. Risking life and limb, and a rekindled relationship with Dana, Dave remains undeterred while he leads his team forward in accomplishing their mission. Mentally torn, Dave inevitably has to ask the most from Dana. His request, and her decision on how much to sacrifice of herself, tests their new found relationship and holds the key to their ultimate success.
I originally released NANO SURVEILLANCE in June, 2013. However, I am now re-releasing it after it recently went through a comprehensive copy editing session to address some grammatical issues mentioned by some early book reviewers.
So if you are interested in a technothriller, I highly suggest you take advantage of the two day FREE sale of NANO SURVEILLANCE. You can download a copy of the book at: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DJSZ92O.
Book Summary:
With the country on the brink of financial collapse, billionaire and high tech entrepreneur Dave Henson breaks an old personal oath to himself to remain apolitical as he attempts a daring and dangerous mission to save the country.
Dave, along with a small group of engineers at his company NSurv, and his old friend and news reporter Dana Cogswell, decide to use NSurv’s bio-nano sensor technology to bring a whole new level of transparency between the federal government and the public. In the process they discover and reveal a sinister plot by the President and his administration to secretly drain and transfer the country's wealth and power to foreign entities.
While Dave and his team covertly work to change the country’s political and economic direction by exposing the corruption in Washington D.C., the President announces his new plans to end global climate change and restore the country's economy. However the President's plans run sinisterly deeper, and include the required use of personal tracking sensors to be installed in every automobile and product sold in the country. If the President's plans become law, Dave is convinced it will destroy the country and provide the government with unfettered surveillance of the public.
Dave’s team quickly finds itself intertwined in a deadly war with the President and his allies. As the NSurv team works to capture and report the ultimate story to topple the administration and save the country, the President and his allies stop at nothing to protect their self interests and to capture NSurv's new surveillance technology. Risking life and limb, and a rekindled relationship with Dana, Dave remains undeterred while he leads his team forward in accomplishing their mission. Mentally torn, Dave inevitably has to ask the most from Dana. His request, and her decision on how much to sacrifice of herself, tests their new found relationship and holds the key to their ultimate success.
February 4, 2016
NANO SURVEILLANCE - The Orwellian Technothriller just Re-Released and on sale for $0.99
I've just re-released my first book NANO SURVEILLANCE, an Orwellian #technothriller. Get it today for just $0.99. See - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DJSZ92O. The book underwent an extensive re-write and edit session over the past month.
5 Stars Review - By Robin Lee : Top 500 Reviewer - "This story goes way beyond our days of "Big Brother" is watching..Good character development and two story plot lines that seamlessly intertwine."
Book Synopsis
With the country on the brink of financial collapse, billionaire and high tech entrepreneur Dave Henson breaks an old personal oath to himself to remain apolitical as he attempts a daring and dangerous mission to save the country.
Dave, along with a small group of engineers at his company NSurv, and his old friend and news reporter Dana Cogswell, decide to use NSurv’s bio-nano sensor technology to bring a whole new level of transparency between the federal government and the public. In the process they discover and reveal a sinister plot by the President and his administration to secretly drain and transfer the country's wealth and power to foreign entities.
While Dave and his team covertly work to change the country’s political and economic direction by exposing the corruption in Washington D.C., the President announces his new plans to end global climate change and restore the country's economy. However the President's plans run sinisterly deeper, and include the required use of personal tracking sensors to be installed in every automobile and product sold in the country. If the President's plans become law, Dave is convinced it will destroy the country and provide the government with unfettered surveillance of the public.
Dave’s team quickly finds itself intertwined in a deadly war with the President and his allies. As the NSurv team works to capture and report the ultimate story to topple the administration and save the country, the President and his allies stop at nothing to protect their self interests and to capture NSurv's new surveillance technology. Risking life and limb, and a rekindled relationship with Dana, Dave remains undeterred while he leads his team forward in accomplishing their mission. Mentally torn, Dave inevitably has to ask the most from Dana. His request, and her decision on how much to sacrifice of herself, tests their new found relationship and holds the key to their ultimate success.
5 Stars Review - By Robin Lee : Top 500 Reviewer - "This story goes way beyond our days of "Big Brother" is watching..Good character development and two story plot lines that seamlessly intertwine."
Book Synopsis
With the country on the brink of financial collapse, billionaire and high tech entrepreneur Dave Henson breaks an old personal oath to himself to remain apolitical as he attempts a daring and dangerous mission to save the country.
Dave, along with a small group of engineers at his company NSurv, and his old friend and news reporter Dana Cogswell, decide to use NSurv’s bio-nano sensor technology to bring a whole new level of transparency between the federal government and the public. In the process they discover and reveal a sinister plot by the President and his administration to secretly drain and transfer the country's wealth and power to foreign entities.
While Dave and his team covertly work to change the country’s political and economic direction by exposing the corruption in Washington D.C., the President announces his new plans to end global climate change and restore the country's economy. However the President's plans run sinisterly deeper, and include the required use of personal tracking sensors to be installed in every automobile and product sold in the country. If the President's plans become law, Dave is convinced it will destroy the country and provide the government with unfettered surveillance of the public.
Dave’s team quickly finds itself intertwined in a deadly war with the President and his allies. As the NSurv team works to capture and report the ultimate story to topple the administration and save the country, the President and his allies stop at nothing to protect their self interests and to capture NSurv's new surveillance technology. Risking life and limb, and a rekindled relationship with Dana, Dave remains undeterred while he leads his team forward in accomplishing their mission. Mentally torn, Dave inevitably has to ask the most from Dana. His request, and her decision on how much to sacrifice of herself, tests their new found relationship and holds the key to their ultimate success.
