H.M. Clarke's Blog, page 17
October 9, 2014
Book Review: Black Hawk Day Rewind
Black Hawk Day Rewind
by Dominick Fencer and Baibin Nighthawk
The Cast
Mark Savannah, aka Barnett Cooper. And Turner Cooper (dead father but still a strong influence on our star.)
The Vague Description (trying not to give plot spoilers)
Barnett, who did not have a good family life growing up (his father was killed in action when he was thirteen) grew up wanting to make his mark in the medical sciences. Except his past (and his father’s), comes back to stop him when he is trying to finish his PHD in London.
He is co-opted into MI6 and through various missions Barnett begins to uncover more of his father’s past and death, as well as uncovering a deadly programme using mind control experiments on transplant patients through the facade of a company called BioSketch Technologies.
This is a fast paced book, though I did not really care for Barnett Cooper, I did begin to warm to him when he became Mark Savannah. This is an action driven plot laced with global conspiracies where you will be rooting for this unlikable underdog to win!
Takeaway
Never take anything in your life at face value. Make it your business to find out more!
End Thought
I want to learn to fly, be it a plane or helicopter, it doesn’t matter. Though, unlike Barnett, I AM scared of gravity.
This is a perfect read for a long weekend where you will not be rushed or continually on the go. This is a book where you will bite the head off anyone who interrupts you while reading it.
-HMC
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October 4, 2014
Saturday Einstein!
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October 2, 2014
How publishers helped create a nation of readers by giving away 122 million books
When is FREE the right price?An Article by Chris Robley
Last week at the end of an Apple product launch event, the band U2 came on stage and played a song. They then surprised the world by announcing that every single iTunes customer (500 million people) already had a copy of the band’s new album in their purchase history, downloadable for free.
The music media went crazy covering the story, but what I found most interesting was that U2′s other albums all got a giant sales bump because of this giveaway. By flooding the market with a new product, they created new demand for their older catalog items too.
This music news reminded me of a story I read in The Atlantic about how American publishers gave away almost 123 million books to soldiers during WWII. Not just pulp fiction and comics — which is what many people assumed the troops would want — but also ‘serious’ contemporary literature, histories, classics, and more. It was both an act of patriotism (giving the GIs books to take their minds off the horrors of war, remind them of home, etc.), and a risky, self-serving maneuver that might potentially create future demand for softcover books.
The program worked well on both counts. Many soldiers would speak of the free books as a kind of lifeline amidst the stress of battle and an aid to healing afterwards. And to the publishing industry’s benefit, those millions of GIs returned home hungry for more books, and books they were happy to pay for this time around. According to The Atlantic, the huge book giveaway created “a nation of readers.” Whereas reading was previously an activity reserved for the affluent, suddenly the general public had an interest in serious books, and the publishing industry went through its biggest boom.
The book giveaway during WWII and the U2 free album announcement are just two examples of how, when smartly employed, FREE can be a powerful price. Have you tried a book giveaway – or any type of giveaway? How did it work? Let me know in the comments below.
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September 27, 2014
Saturday Einstein!
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September 26, 2014
Rivals by Doug Solter
Rivals has now been launched!
It is release week for Rivals, the sequel to Skid
Skid is available for free as an ebook in the kindle store and at other online retailers.
Rivals is available now in paperback and ebook at all good online retailers – but if you wish to buy from Amazon, just click the image you need above and it will link you to the books product page.
Excerpt from Rivals
Samantha
Melbourne, Australia
Six days later
It’s Sunday. First race day of the season. The one day of the racing week where everything I’ve done before means absolutely nothing if I don’t perform. The one day I’m alone. No more appearances. No more team press conferences. No more race events that I have to pretend to enjoy. No more fans wanting this perfect version of Samantha Sutton that I could never be but inside their heads. It’s now my day to be selfish. To do what I want to do.
In my hotel room, I munch on some cheese curls and a banana for breakfast. Nothing heavy, only enough to get me to lunch. But I drink a ton of water because staying hydrated is so important for the race, and it’s smart to start early.
Next I take out the framed picture of me and my dad, the one I always carry when I’m on the road. It was taken years ago when I first started racing karts. I was so shy then. Seriously. Look at that twelve-year-old girl. The way her smile and shoulders droop. The way she sticks her skinny arms close to her body. Even in a tough-looking racing suit she was so unsure of herself and needed a great dad to boost her confidence. Dad has his arm around me, and the pride on his face is priceless. I miss those bushy eyebrows and that large chin.
I like looking at this picture before every race. I want to remind myself who I owe this incredible gift to. And it is a gift. I’m not talking about racing cars. I’m talking about Dad’s gift of confidence in myself. I would never, ever be doing this if Dad didn’t believe in his shy daughter.
The next thing I do as part of my race-day ritual is paint my nails. I grab the silver nail polish and start on my toes first. I know. I’m weird. But ever since I started racing, I would always paint my nails the same color as my race car. So far it’s been a good luck charm.
An hour later, I drive to the Albert Park racing circuit with Paige. I step into the garage and talk with Scott and Maurice about the car.
Manny joins us. He smiles and I melt.
He assures me that his new transmission checks out fine. But all I can think about is that garden in Jerez. I just realized I haven’t talked to Manny at all this week. It’s not like I avoided him. But I needed one of those I’m-pissed-off-now-so-leave-me-alone moments after he told me about Hanna.
I’m still not cool with him talking to his ex-girlfriend, but am I too paranoid? Manny would never do anything to hurt me. Not knowingly, anyway. When Hanna came to see him that night, Manny was kind to her because he’s a kind and gentle person who’s more compassionate than me.
I couldn’t see that at first. Hanna was his first girlfriend, so of course I felt threatened. Manny probably sees Hanna as someone he can help. That’s what so different about the boy. Being around Manny will make me a better person. And I want to be better. I want to be kinder and more compassionate. I would love those great things about Manny to rub off.
I hope he’s not mad at me for basically ignoring him this week.
Manny knows you’re a driver, Samantha. He knows what kind of schedule you have.
I know. I should stop worrying about it. Manny will always be there for me.
“Do you want to be left alone now?” he asks.
Scott and Maurice talk about something else. Our little pre race conference is done. A part of me doesn’t want Manny to leave. But I still need to do my warm-up exercises. And all the drivers will be gathering soon to take a lap around the circuit to see the fans. Then I have to eat lunch and begin to focus on the race.
Reluctantly, I nod.
About Doug
He began writing screenplays in 1998 and became a 2001 semi-finalist in the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences’ Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting. he then made the switch to writing young adult novels in 2008. Doug is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. He respect cats, loves the mountains, and one time walked the streets of Barcelona with a smile on his face.
-HMC
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September 25, 2014
Dark Matter Looks WIMPy
Graphic Credit: The Astronomist.Data from the ISS-based Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer experiment supports the idea that dark matter consists of the invisible particles called weakly interacting massive particles, or WIMPs.
The universe seems to be full of dark matter, yet no one knows what it’s made of. The best guess is that invisible particles called weakly interacting massive particles, or WIMPs, contribute all this missing mass. And that idea matches the latest data generated by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, or AMS experiment. This instrument lives on the International Space Station, and it may be seeing direct signs of dark matter. The study is in the journal Physical Review Letters. [M. Aguilaret al. (AMS Collaboration), Electron and Positron Fluxes in Primary Cosmic Rays Measured with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station]
The AMS catches charged particles flying through space. Its new results show more positrons than expected. Positrons are the antimatter counterparts to electrons.
Normal astrophysical processes create some positrons, but not as many as AMS registered. One possible explanation is that these excess positrons are a by-product of dark matter interactions. That is, they’re being created by the elusive WIMPs.
When two WIMPs collide, they can annihilate each other, giving rise to other particles—such as positrons. The data from AMS so far match these predictions.
The positrons might also have a more mundane source, such as the spinning stars called pulsars. Time will tell if the space-based AMS has indeed seen the first sign of what makes up dark matter—or if we’re still stuck in the dark.
—Clara Moskowitz for Scientific American
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September 23, 2014
Desert Sunrise by Gina Briganti
Desert Sunrise is here!
It’s release week for Desert Sunrise by Gina Briganti, book two of the Natural Gifts series of uplifting paranormal romances, where fate gets a good name.
Desert Sunrise is available now in paperback and Kindle from Amazon.com
About the author: Gina Briganti is an author, Holistic Health Consultant, and Reiki Teacher, currently in private practice. She lives with her family which will include her first grandchild next spring, a special soul who masquerades as a dog, another who masquerades as a cat, and the beautiful desert. She loves to hear from readers, so feel free to connect with her on her website, sign up for her newsletter, check out her Amazon author central page, her Goodreads page, and Facebook.
-HMC
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September 20, 2014
Saturday Einstein Quote
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September 19, 2014
Writing Update: 19th September
Hi again everyone!
Autumn has definitely made it’s presence felt. The summer (not that we really had one…) has gone, the weather has started to cool and the leaves on the trees are just beginning to turn. All this probably means that Winter is going to come early this year.
Over the last few weeks, my work pace has slowed. I have been sick with horrendously bad headaches that render me unable to do much. So there might be a delay in the publication of The Dream Thief .
The Station is the work in progress title for the next Verge book, where as you can gather from the title, most of the action is going to take place on a space station…The Station features Katherine and her crew (obviously) pursing their goal of hunting down that Alliance Black Ops Group.
The Dream Thief features Kalena, Kral and Holm (with their Hatar partners). Hatar Kalar are awaking from a night of slumber tired, groggy and with no memory of their dreams. Kalena and her friends are working to find out why.
Due to my sickness, I placed the Novella I’m working on for the fantasy Anthology on the back burner. But, if I push myself, I should have the final draft finished in a few weeks and I can send it off to my beta readers to look over it.
I have cover mock ups for The Dream Thief ready to show the explorers on my Newsletter list, so they can see it and comment on it. I like the cover, so if you want to have an advance viewing of The Dream Thief cover, sign up now to the newsletter and you won’t miss out. 
Well, I’d better go and get back to it. I’ll catch you all next time.
-Hayley
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September 16, 2014
Always keep a Notebook!
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