Doc Holliday, Val Kilmer and Amazon Reviews

Inside Doc Holliday’s World
Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone: Tuberculosis, the road west and Sister Melanie.
False accusations and outright lies aimed to darken the Holliday legend was not lost on journalist, Lucy Caldwell and producer, Bobby Anderson. They were convinced that the true Holliday legend was hidden beneath a veneer that Dime Store novels had drawn and Hollywood perpetuated. Lucy and Bobby worked independently, searching for the real Doc Holliday, but success comes only after they join forces and fully explore the love story involving John Henry and his cousin, Mattie Holliday.
The storybook romance between John Henry and Mattie is cut short by disease and family strife. The young dentist is forced by circumstance and failing health to abandon Mattie for a life in the West where he encounters the likes of Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, Eddie Foy and Kate Elder. Doc Holliday, using his gambling skills and a caustic wit, plays out the bad hand life had dealt him.
In a card game at Ft. Griffin, when forced to defend himself, Doc killed a card cheater. The cheaters pals want retribution, but Kate plans and executes a daring escape from the hostile mob. Doc owes his life to Kate and even as they forge a salty and tumultuous relationship, he would never forget what she did for him at Ft. Griffin.
Doc’s courage and loyalty are tested when he rushes in to save Wyatt Earp from a bunch of drunken cowboys, and a hangman’s noose, at Dodge City.
Three years later Doc once again shows his true character when he stands with the Earp’s in the shootout, at the Ok Corral. Doc survives the gunfight, but death from tuberculosis is never far away.
Mattie, desperate in her loneliness, writes Doc that she has fully embraced her Catholic religion…
Doc opened the envelope, half standing and half sitting beside the steps to the porch.
My Dear John Henry,
I am sure that you will feel no more shock than I at the prospect of my becoming a nun and I expect that I will be the oldest novice in the country. Be that as it may, I have a new beginning, a new life. My work for the Lord will not keep my love from you. It will, however, be a love from my heart only. My feeling and caring for your well being will remain the same. Our past will always shine bright in my memories, dear cousin.
I am well aware that you do not carry the same religious fervor that I have inherited from Mother. I know that you are good John Henry and perhaps one day you will come to see the Lord as I do. In the meantime, I shall pray for you every day and be with you in spirit. God bless you, John Henry.
Doc held the letter at arms length and looked at the signature. He shook his head in disbelief and lamented, "Melanie ... Sister Mary Melanie?" then he sobbed plaintively, "My God, Mattie. What have I done?"

Tombstone and Val Kilmer:
Why has Val Kilmer won more accolades than any other actor, to date, playing the role of Doc Holliday? I can’t speak for Kilmer, but his on screen performance in Tombstone went far beyond the old dime store novel caricature, used by most of his predecessors. Kilmer found and used Doc’s natural wit and humor, and that’s an echo from the past. When someone asked why he palled around with Doc Holliday, Wyatt Earp said, ‘He makes me laugh.’

The jockey flap and the Belmont:
We’ve got Jess Jackson and Chip Woolly, a couple of old horse traders, at the poker table with both drawing to an inside flush.
Woolly wants Borel to ride Mine that Bird in the mile and one half Belmont. I don’t think Borel is the best choice, but that’s just my opinion.
Jackson’s not sure Rachel Alexandra can go a mile and one half and I think a lot of folks are in that camp.
Maybe we’ll have an answer soon, will she or won’t she, and a jockey to be named next Monday. But no matter what happens, since the Triple Crown is not to be this year the jockey story and the reluctant debutant have held the racing world’s attention during this wait for that long mile and one half race on June 6th called the Belmont Stakes.

Writers Notebook:
Sell your book on Amazon
Review
‘Brent Sampson has given us a pretty good primer on some of the Amazon programs available to authors selling their books on Amazon. I say some because Amazon is innovative and in a constant state of change. They add programs, change, update and even cancel one now and then. But Sampson’s ‘Sell your book on Amazon’ has captured a moment in time and gives you a good overview of the basic programs.
You begin on the Profile page and work from there to Amazon Connect, Listmania, So you’d like to…, the book detail page and several other programs you might find interesting.
If you are a non-technical person, like me, Sampson’s book will walk you through the programs with ease. Keep this in mind though, ‘Sell Your Book on Amazon’ won’t answer all your marketing questions, but it will save you a lot of time as you work your way through the Amazon system.’

Here are several notes about reviews and how they can benefit the writer.
Writing customer reviews on Amazon are a valuable asset to the writer. They also get the added bonus of a gold-star near the title. As soon as your book is listed on Amazon look around for a good review, a five star review if possible.
One way to get those customer reviews is to give away review copies to persons you consider capable of writing a good review and ask those reviewers to post their reviews on Amazon. And don’t forget to mention that five stars would be very helpful.
You can also trade reviews – you review my book and I’ll review yours.
But be prepared to take your lumps. Just remember that when you’re out in the marketplace everyone has an opinion and they are all biased one way or another. Some people never have a nice thing to say about anybody or anything in their book reviews.
I have one reviewer that has taken a particular dislike to one of my books and continues to give it a one star rating along with several very unflattering remarks. (I know the reason for the bias.) Amazon has been kind enough to take it down a couple of times, but it’s like one of those annoying pop up ads that keep coming back.
I’ve decided to leave it there and consider it a badge of honor – at least he’s paying attention. I took a look around and discovered I’m not alone in the one star division; I have some pretty good company. John Grisham’s ‘The Firm,’ Sidney Sheldon’s ‘Master of the Game’ and Dick Francis got in the club with ‘Win, Place and Show.’

Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com