Lincoln Cole's Blog, page 29
September 26, 2016
Book Review: Exit the Labyrinth
Today, I'll be reviewing the novel, Exit the Labyrinth by author Stephanie Kay Bendel.
The Review:This book is captivating and is told like a novel, encompassing a lot of scattered moments and brilliant descriptions about what it is like to go through life not quite sure exactly what is happening. The author somehow managed to make such heartbreaking topics as depression and fear become a brilliantly told story that is neither depressing nor heartbreaking, and for that she should be commended.
I enjoyed the way in which the timeline was broken up across a lot of different storylines, and it gave it all a fragmented feel without breaking apart the story too much. It was well-written, so even fragmented it was easy to read and brilliantly told. I don't think anyone would have trouble relating to the details of this book, and everyone who reads it is bound to love it.
This is one of my favorite memoirs because of the creativity in which the story is told and the amazing descriptiveness of the language. It is easily relatable and well-told, and I highly recommend anyone who enjoys memoirs to go and check it out.
Rating: 5-Star [image error]
DescriptionFor more than forty years, Margo Witz has been troubled by the effects of an early childhood trauma she can’t remember. Despite years of therapy, she has experienced severe depression and recurrent nightmares. She knows that as an effect of the forgotten trauma, she has difficulty connecting to her own emotions and wants desperately to become normal. When her father needs emergency heart surgery, she travels to Wisconsin to be with her family despite her dread, for her depression usually deepens when she returns to her childhood home. That fact is particularly puzzling, since her energetic, boisterous family has always been loving and supportive.
During hours of waiting at the hospital, Margo relives some of the unusual occurrences in her life. Why does she hear an old wooden screen door slam when no one else does? Why was she, as a child, terrified of the walls in her home?
Check the story out over at Online Book Club!
September 22, 2016
Book Review: The Toki-Girl and the Sparrow-Boy, Box Set
Today I will be reviewing The Toki-Girl and the Sparrow-Boy by Claire Youmans. This will be the first book in the box set, Coming Home.
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Description
Azuki, the girl who can become a Toki, races across Meiji-era Japan to join her bird-kin. Her parents dead, herself hunted because of her beautiful feathers – what else can she do? Shota, her Sparrow-boy brother, hurries after her. They must return to claim their human status or spend the rest of their lives as human outcasts. Shota know they need to be able to live as both human and bird. Ghosts, ogres, dragons and talking horses – nothing can stand in their way. Shota has to find his sister and get them home in time.
When they arrive, there’s war brewing over the domain. They’re not home safely yet.
As soon as I started reading this story I knew it was a real winner. The characters are very well written and engaging, and their unique abilities are interesting enough to really bring me into the story and make me feel for the characters. Azuki can morph into the Toki bird, which is rare and elusive, and she's going through a lot of adventures with her brother that are fun and interesting.
This is some of the better fantasy world development I've seen in a long while, and I liked the way in which everything was described and how vividly I could picture it all in my head. It is the history of Japan, wrapped in a mystical fairy-tale retelling, and I was more than a little impressed by how well the author managed to mix reality and fiction. It felt like the scenes came out of a history book despite the fantastical elements.
Claire Youmans is a real talent in the industry, and I'm sure that the rest of the books in her series are at least this good, and despite the occasional smattering of rough content (murders, death, etc.) this is a perfect book for teenagers and kids in middle-school.
All in all, I will rate this story as a five and applaud the author for putting together such a brilliant thing for children. Stories like this can help a lot with growth and development, and being able to learn along the way is just an extra added bonus that cannot be understated. Well-done!
Verdict: 5-starGo out and pick up your copy today! Highly recommended story!
Check it out on Online Book Club Book Shelves!September 20, 2016
Book Release: Raven's Fall
Raven's Fall is out now! Today is the day, and it is finally up for sale! Pick up your copy now if you haven't already and find out what is in store for Abigail and Haatim!
Finally, book 2 of World on Fire is out!
Raven's Fall (World on Fire Book 2)
By Lincoln Cole
September 19, 2016
Kindle Scout Guide: First Real Promotion
This last weekend, Amazon ran a promotion of my Kindle Scout novel Raven's Peak. This is three days before the second book is set to launch, and the preorder is up, so it wouldn't have been any better timing for something like this.
The promotion was a push notification in the US for people who have the app downloaded on their phones. I started the promotion at #6,100 rank in the entire store and #20 in the occult category.
The promotion didn't actually start running until about three o'clock in the afternoon. I was actually starting to worry that they weren't going to run the promotion today (they said it was possible to get canceled) but that fear disappeared about four o'clock when it spiked up to #1,008 in the Kindle Store.
I was super happy with this, but it turns out the promotion didn't stop there: over the next hour, it jumped up to #282 in the entire store and #1 in all three categories it is in!
Then, on the next update, it went to #119 in the store. That's the highest I've ever gotten by a LOT, and it is surreal seeing the numbers continue to climb like that. It ended up peaking at #49 in the entire Kindle Store and #1 in all of its categories before finally sliding back down the ranking. I have no idea how many copies that translates to, and won't know until the end of October! I'm excited to get that high in the ranking at all, though, and super thrilled about it!
This removes any and all remaining doubt I had about the value of Kindle Scout and the power of what it can do. When people talk about Kindle Scout not being what it used to, now I have proof otherwise!
The best part is that it actually generated a lot of pre-orders for Raven's Fall. I'm not even sure what kind of impact it will have on Raven's Fall over the long run, but it is encouraging to think that a good number of sales will turn into series readers.
6:00 PM EST
6:34 PM EST
7:00 PM EST
Peak Rank at 7:30 PM EST
Best Seller badge! First one I've gotten!
Sunday Morning extra surprise!
Thanks everyone! I will start updating real numbers once I have them in a couple of months!
September 16, 2016
Book Release: Raven's Fall Pre-Order
Raven's Fall is up for pre-order right now with a launch day of September 20th!
Order your copy today and get it as soon as it is available! This book picks up right where Raven's Peak left off with Abigail's trial, and it is full of a lot of unexpected things happening!
Raven's Fall (World on Fire Book 2)
By Lincoln Cole
September 6, 2016
Online Book Club Review: Devil in the Grass
Today I'll be reviewing Devil in the Grass by Christopher Bowren.
Devil in the Grass
$16.95
By Christopher Bowron
Devil in the Grass
Devil in the Grass tells the story of Jackson Walker returning home after an injury wrecked his football career. The author prides himself on flavoring his text with details that make the story seem reasonable and mundane while also telling us a story that is completely insane and wild at the root of it.
Jackson is an interesting character, but not half as interesting as Sarah who is a satanist he runs into. Inevitably, things go wrong and everything gets turned on its head as he ends up being charged with a double homicide and on the run from the law. The story is outrageous but manages to be simultaneously fun and interesting.
The author does a really good job of bringing his small world to life and making us sympathize with his football player. Some of the story is rather predictable and some of the characters are one-dimensional, but by and large the story is well-told and interesting. It felt like watching and movie and was very detailed without bogging us down with unnecessary pieces.
All in all, I have to say I enjoyed this story quite a bit and will look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
The Verdict: 4-StarsReally good!
Check it out on BookShelves!
About the Author
Christopher Bowron’s roots stretch back four generations in historic Niagara-on-the-Lake, voted the prettiest town in Canada. Christopher is the owner of a successful Real Estate Brokerage, Niagara-on-the-Lake Realty. He has a bachelor of arts from Brock University and is a lover of fine wine, sport and a story that takes you away. Christopher has a second residence in southwest Florida where he has spent a good part of his life since childhood. Southwest Florida is the backdrop for his first novel, Devil in the Grass, to be published by Köehler Books in March, 2016.
Christopher is currently working on a sequel to Devil in the Grass, a thriller called The Senator. Jackson Webb returns to find himself in another paranormal mix up as he attempts to run for the Florida State Senate. Is the Church of Set seeking to derail his bid, or is it new and if possible, more dastardly entity?
Doc Dom, is a medical thriller which portrays military doctor Dominick Tavano and his attempt to uncover the link between organ trafficking in third world Mexico and the United States’ medical establishment.
A Gnome by no Other Name is a children’s book about sentient Garden Gnomes.
Visit the Author’s website. www.christopherbowron.com
September 2, 2016
Awards: Reader's Favorite Awards - Ripples Through Time won Gold, Second Chances got Silver!
Ripples Through Time won the Gold medal from Reader's Favorite in the Drama category, and Second Chances won the Silver award in the cultural category!
Ripples Through Time
$11.48
By Lincoln Cole
Second Chances
$8.99
By Lincoln Cole
Two awards announced in one day! This is some pretty awesome news, especially considering yesterday Ripples Through Time was also made the book of the month in the #RRBC!
Collision of Worlds on Kindle Scout
This is my newest work posted to Kindle Scout, and it's up for the next few weeks for nominations! I would love to get some nominations for it, and if you do you'll get a free copy if this book is picked.
I've already posted a lot of analysis about how Kindle Scout works if anyone wants to check out those posts.
Kindle Scout
A resources page for authors building their own Kindle Scout campaign with compiled resources from Lincoln Cole's own campaign as well as other selected authors.
August 31, 2016
Author Interview: Ferris Robinson
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What is it Making Arrangements about?
The small town of Barrington, with its picturesque cottages, breathtaking gardens and friendly neighbors, is very appealing. Things are going swimmingly for Lang Eldridge, an unlikely cancer survivor who is marking the one-year anniversary of her “death sentence with a special trip.” She spent her supposed final year of life making sure her beloved husband, Jack, could survive without her. A caramel cake is in the freezer for his first birthday without her and love letters for every occasion are carefully written and tied with a pink ribbon.
But just as she is packing for their celebratory trip, Jack drops dead on the tennis court.
Devastated and reeling from shock, Lang realizes all of her perfect arrangements are in utter disarray. A mute stray dog posts itself on her front porch, its tail beating the wooden floor like it was a percussion instrument. A grammar-butchering fashion plate, A.J. Cole, practically takes up residence, regularly revealing too much information to loner Lang. Her son, Teddy, a tennis has-been, has his own ideas of how she should manage her life, and they don’t include cavorting about with a veterinarian who resembles Wimpy. Lillian, Lang’s long-lost mother, reappears and is as obnoxious as ever, waving to the pews at Jack’s funeral like she is Miss America. Lang’s granddaughter, Katie D, is a consistent bright spot, and Lang can’t imagine her life without her.
As she realizes Jack wasn’t exactly the person she thought he was, she discovers a secret he carried to his grave could ruin her life. If she lets it.
Compared to the Mitford Years by Jan Karon and Good Grief by Lolly Winston, Making Arrangements features “rich sassy writing with characters you’ll want to slap.” It is a story of family, and forgiveness. With a lot of fun mixed in.
Tell us about yourself. Why did you start writing?
I've always written, starting with little cardboard picture books when I was old enough to hold a fat crayon. It's always been easier for me to write than communicate in person with words.
Do you use social media? Has it helped
I post regularly on Facebook, but when I'm promoting my book I try to make it as 'entertaining as possible. Folks don't seem to mind dogs blabbing about the book or folks dressed up as characters from the book and acting out scenes. I'm new to Instagram but it's so much fun setting up the little scenes or taking pictures of beautiful spots - and usually my book is wedged in somehow.
Who is your favorite author and why?
Lee Smith if probably my favorite because of her skill at portraying hidden pockets of the South. And I've heard her speak a few times and she is adorable.
What genre(s) do you write in and why?
Women's Fiction mainly, but a little YA b/c those are the genres that interest me most.
What are you working on now?
I am turning Making Arrangements into a play and also working on a sequel.
About Ferris Robinson: Biography
I write. I cook. I love my dogs.
My first novel, Making Arrangements, was recently published by Kindle Press. A novel of funerals, flowers, friendships and forgiveness, it features "delightfully sassy writing with characters you'll want to slap," according to one reviewer.
When my husband had open-heart surgery at the age of 34, I changed the way I cooked. The result was The Gorgeless Gourmet's Cookbook - practically fat-free recipes for super-busy people. That cookbook sold 10,000 copies and resulted in my appearance on the cover of Woman's World magazine. My husband was also on the cover, and he thinks it's ironic that the main character's husband in Making Arrangements drops dead of a heart attack. He says that 'after 20 years of taking care of him, I had to have an outlet somewhere!'
Dogs and Love - Stories of Fidelity, shows the emotional connection between dogs and their humans. I wish I could be half the person my dogs think I am.
August 26, 2016
Raven's Peak at 80 reviews! More than 60 5-Star
Raven's Peak reached 80 reviews now, and is at more than 70 four and five-star reviews! It's right where I wanted it to be before releasing the next book in the series, and now that Raven's Fall is almost ready to go I'm really excited about what comes next.
Right now Raven's Fall is sitting with the editor and they are about halfway through with finishing the first round of edits. I'm still hopeful for a September 20th release date, but if there is a lot of work that needs finished to make the book right I might have to push that back.
In any case, I have The Ninth Circle queued up for launch in a few days anyway, so, hopefully, that will be enough to keep readers appeased until the next book is out.
