J.D.’s Comments (group member since Jun 21, 2017)

J.D.’s comments from the It's a Summer Reading Challenge! group.

No 4-day weekend for me either! Who are these privileged people who get the day before a holiday off in addition to the actual holiday?!?! :)

Sarah Grace wrote: "Ooh, the first one sounds good! Thanks JD!"
You're welcome!

Kindle E-Book Deals for June 30, 2017

Disclaimer: I've not read all of these so I can't vouch for the content, but check them out and see if they interest you.

Just a couple today, but it's Friday so take it easy. :)

A Mighty Fortress
by S.D. Thames

A private eye battling PTSD and his Christian faith is caught between two crooked investigations involving a murder that hits too close to home.
Was: $4.99 Right Now: FREE!
http://amzn.to/2u6Be5v


Intervention
by Terri Blackstock

"Barbara Covington has one more chance to save her daughter from a devastating addiction: staging an intervention. But when eighteen-year-old Emily disappears on the way to drug treatment—and her interventionist is found dead at the airport—Barbara enters her darkest nightmare of all.
Was: $7.99 Right Now: $2.99!
http://amzn.to/2s9FQXa


The Case for Christianity Answer Book
by Lee Strobel

The Case for Christianity Answer Book is a great book for both newer and seasoned Christians alike. The Q&A format lends itself to helping believers know how to effectively defend their faith. Perfect for those ready to consider Jesus, longtime believers, someone seeking the truth, or even a skeptic. This book is great for anyone looking for a handy reference. The Case for Christianity Answer Book provides succinct answers to real questions about Christianity. Strobel, a former atheist, uses his investigative journalism skills to dig deep into the Bible to provide compelling and concise answers about Christianity.
Right Now: $0.99
http://amzn.to/2t8AtJh


Hannah's Choice (Journey to Pleasant Prairie Book #1)
by Jan Drexler

Hannah Yoder loves her quiet life on the banks of the Conestoga Creek. In 1842, this corner of Lancaster County is settled and peaceful--yet problems lurk beneath the placid façade. Hannah's father worries about the spread of liberal ideas from their Mennonite and Brethren neighbors. And Hannah blames herself for a tragedy that struck their home nine years ago. She strives to be the one person who can bind the threads of her family together in spite of her mother's ongoing depression and her sister's rejection of their family. But her world is threatening to unravel.
Was: $14.99 Right Now: $0.79
http://amzn.to/2txI6Mo

Great thoughts on this issue, Kendra. Thanks for sharing your opinions!

Casual wrote: "Thanks for the interesting link JD :)"

You bet!

Erudessa wrote: "Hannah wrote: "Erudessa wrote: "Hannah wrote: "Arielle...I too will be highly offended with professionally published books with repeated errors in them. That's one of the reasons I stopped reading ..."

That sounds dreadful!

Emily wrote: "JD wrote: "Well thank you all for chiming in and responding to my inquisitiveness. I enjoy discussions like this. Especially since I see some very stark parallels to what I face in the podcasting c..."

Ah! I'm glad I'm not the only one to benefit from the discussion, Emily. :)

Arielle wrote: "@JD, sure. They're on the Intuitive Writing Guide site, but I'll grab the specific links."

Thank you!

Well thank you all for chiming in and responding to my inquisitiveness. I enjoy discussions like this. Especially since I see some very stark parallels to what I face in the podcasting community. I find this very interesting.

Hopefully I didn't derail this thread too much. Although since it is a "random" thread, can one really derail it? :)

@Arielle: Can you point me to your blog posts? I'd love to read more about it. I see you have three sites linked on your profile so I'm not sure where to go.

Victoria wrote: "ok, well here's what happened in my instance. I worked very hard for nearly two years on my book. I edited and re-read it myself and with alphas and betas more times than I care to count. I could h..."

Makes total sense, Victoria. As the author, you live with the story (and therefore, these pages and pages of words) for so long that I'd imagine after a while it does begin to blur somewhat; perhaps not literally, but mentally. You're focused on the story as a whole and don't necessarily have the capacity or "bandwidth" so to speak, to see the minutiae. Is that an accurate characterization?

Victoria wrote: "Swoon. . . did someone say leather bound books?"

I know! Did you look at the picture? They're gorgeous volumes!

Sarah Grace wrote: "Oxford comma all the way! :)"

Woohoo! *high five*

Victoria wrote: "@JD I think it goes both ways. . . but predominately, I would think it is lack of funds. That has been my issue, and I am saving up to pay my next editor. Affordability is a real problem because se..."

That's what I figured. Unless, and until, one sells some books there are no funds. No advance from a publisher. It's a catch 22.

Or is it?

Might it just be something that separates those who are willing to invest in their craft a bit more and hire a third party from the ones who just (pardon the oversimplification here) throw something together? Or does it, as Arielle stated, give all self-published authors a bad name?

And I'm not directing these questions at anyone in particular. As I said above, I'm very curious about the logistics and mindset of the community and like to ask questions that get people to think. :)

Also, I've been considering doing some writing myself for years and just haven't pulled the trigger.

Arielle wrote: "JD wrote: "Question for self-published authors here:
Is there a demand for an affordable, professional editor/proofreading service? Or do most of you do it yourself or through alpha/beta readers?"
..."

That makes total sense to me. I figured it would certainly be needful given the fact that quite often I even find errors in traditionally published books.

In your opinion, do most indie authors recognize the need and it's just a matter of lack of funds to pay someone? Or might there be other factors/considerations at play in the decision to rely on an alpha/beta reader model?

I'm very new to the self-publishing community so I'm very curious about it all.

And I know that for picky readers like me, an abundance of typographical, syntax, and punctuation errors annoy me greatly and they pull me out of the story. (And yes, I'm a fan of the serial comma.) lol (Also, yes, the previous sentence wasn't quite properly formed, but I'm not writing a book right now.) :)

Question for self-published authors here:
Is there a demand for an affordable, professional editor/proofreading service? Or do most of you do it yourself or through alpha/beta readers?

LOL!

This is not a purchase link. but it's a link to a drawing for a giveaway of a beautiful, leatherbound set of Tolkien books.
http://upvir.al/ref/J7208218

Olivia wrote: "I highly recommend The Crittendon Files series!! :D"

Thanks! I grabbed Book 1 yesterday myself!

Kindle E-Book Deals for June 29, 2017

Disclaimer: I've not read all of these so I can't vouch for the content, but check them out and see if they interest you.

Some of the deals listed yesterday are still valid so if you missed the list yesterday go ahead and try the links in the post above. No guarantees as Amazon changes prices at a moment's notice, but give it a try.


Running Back
by Emily Camp

In the midst of his high school career, football star Garrett Light begins to feel the pressure of his Christian upbringing. With his friends all partying and dating, he's feeling left behind.
Was: $2.99 Right Now: FREE!
http://amzn.to/2tsTJnC


Meal Prep
by Аmanda Rice

This book is for people who want to explore the amazing world of Clean Eating diet and improve your health, without sacrificing the food you love! In this book you`ll find TOP 50 a simple and delicious Meal prep recipes. Following the provided Meal Prep tips, you will be able to save up a bucket load of time from your cooking schedule and spend more quality time with your friends and families.
Was: $2.99 Right Now: FREE!
http://amzn.to/2unksP4


Blink of an Eye
by Ted Dekker

The future changes in the blink of an eye . . . or does it?
Miriam is a Saudi princess promised to another, a pawn in a political struggle that could shift the balance of power in the Middle East.
Seth is a certified genius with a head full of numbers, a life full of baggage, and an attitude born on the waves of the Pacific.
Cultures collide when they find themselves thrown together as fugitives in a high-stakes chase across Southern California. A growing attraction and a search for answers fuel their fight to survive . . . but with no sleep and a massive manhunt steadily closing in, their chances of surviving any future are razor thin.

Right Now $1.99
http://amzn.to/2tsZ8v0


The Homeward Trilogy Digital Bundle
by Lisa T. Bergren

Embark on a Western epic in the Homeward Trilogy.

BREATHE: It's Colorado, 1883. A publishing heiress is on the brink of life and death. Her beautiful younger sister is called to the forbidden stage. Her brother and troubled guardian is raging inside. A veiled treasure map leads to a hidden silver mine while a threatening villain hovers in the shadows. And a hero is bent on saving his bride.

SING: Moira St. Clair has done exactly what her father forbade her to do: chased her dreams to sing on the stage. But even as her star rises, she becomes more vulnerable to those who wish to use her—or bring her down….

CLAIM: Dominic is seeking a peace that has always eluded him. Only as he mines an old claim deep in the Rocky Mountains and begins a romance with a local schoolteacher does he begin to understand how passionately he is loved—by God, his family, and a good woman. But even as he relinquishes his fury, Nic discovers there is one last battle to fight…
Was: $19.99 Right Now: $1.99
http://amzn.to/2skIOfR


The Book on Leadership
by John F. MacArthur

More than ever, people are talking about leadership. But much of today's discourse is advancing the same old misconceptions.
In The Book on Leadership, best-selling author, pastor, and teacher John MacArthur sets the record straight: Leadership does not come from a job title. It isn't a matter of personality or charisma. And it isn't the same thing as iron-fisted authority. True leadership?the kind that refuses to bend to a shifting, fickle world?comes from a much deeper source.
Right Now: $0.99
http://amzn.to/2un7Uac


Poison Town: A Novel (The Crittendon Files Book 2)
by Creston Mapes

There's More Than One Kind of Poison in This Town
People are sick and dying. Rumors are swirling. Some claim chemicals leaking from a manufacturing plant are causing the cancer that's crippling people on the poor side of Trenton City, Ohio. Yet nothing at the plant appears amiss. The problem remains a mystery until reporter Jack Crittendon's long-time mechanic falls ill and he investigates. Soon Jack becomes engulfed in a smokescreen of lies, setups, greed, and scandal. The deeper he digs, the more toxic the corruption he uncovers. As he faces off with the big-time players behind the scenes and tries to beat the clock before more people die, he realizes the chillingly unthinkable--he knows too much.
Was $9.99 Right Now $0.99
http://amzn.to/2tpyv9D


Sky Zone: A Novel (The Crittendon Files Book 3)
by Creston Mapes

Jack and Pamela Crittendon have hit the breaking point. After months out of work as a reporter, Jack is playing Mr. Mom and working part-time at Festival Arena with his survivalist friend Brian Shakespeare. Meanwhile, Pamela has gone back to work full-time while eight months pregnant. Having her recently widowed mother on hand isn't making matters any easier.
With financial pressures boiling, Jack reports for duty at a rally for controversial presidential candidate Martin Sterling where he expects a mindless night on the job. But when Homeland Security picks up intel about a potential terrorist threat, Jack and Shakespeare are thrust into a life-or-death battle to save their own lives--and the lives of thousands of innocent people.
This third book in The Crittendon Files reminds us of the power of family, friendships and faith--and why we are never in as much control as we think.
Was $9.99 Right Now $0.99
http://amzn.to/2skGRzH

Kendra wrote: ":)

That particular pencil also happens to be the same pencil that I have on the cover of The Ankulen.



The picture was initially taken with plans of going into th..."

Haha! Cool!