Goodreads Authors/Readers discussion
Introduce Yourself!
Hello, my name is Chris Bullock. My desire to write stemmed from my interest in Family History.
For many years I had collected data about my ancestors - just dry facts and figures really. I started to wonder what life was like in those times, and over a period of 5 years I found out as much as I could about the people, environment and events of those times of my ancestors.
My first story (Living through Hope!) is an Historical Romance about my great great grandmother, who survived the Irish Famine and moved to England in the nineteenth century. Certainly a time of deprivation, but out of which came love and a determination to build a future.
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
From this starting point I planned a further twelve stories based on my ancestors lives.
My second story (The Waggoner) is an Historical Family Saga starting in a farming community in Worcestershire and building a business during the Industrial Revolution.
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
So far, these have been published as eBooks. I have tried Agents and Publishers in print, but unfortunately no success as yet.
I have also written an illustrated children's story (Becky's First Ever Day).
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
I would appreciate any comments and suggestions on a way forward.
Chris
Hi everyone,My name is Jim Maher, and I'm a full-time dad, author, and grocery boy. I can't wait to connect with people on Goodreads, readers and writers alike. Looking forward to hearing about everyone's struggles, triumphs, and everything in between!
Welcome, Jim! I'm sure Goodreads will be a big help to you. I know it has to me.
Thanks, Larry. It's been a lot of fun so far, and I'm already meeting some really interesting people. Nice to meet you.
Tell us about your books or what you're working on, Jim. I have two novels on Amazon, both speculative thrillers. Waking Walt is about the legend that Walt Disney is in cryonic suspension somewhere. And Future King brings Arthur Pendragon and Merlyn back from Avalon to save today's England.
I love the frozen Walt idea, I'll have to check it out. I write books for middle grade readers, mostly, and have three books out. Seamus & Tessa is a worldwide adventure with a brother and sister team taking on a terrible baron, Hemingway Man is a coming of age story about a boy who's lost his father, and Mike Logan vs. the Crosstown Horde is a vampire/hockey thriller.
I'm working on an untitled story about a boy who is hidden in our time, only to have to work his way back to his original time to save his world.
Thanks for the chance to share, Larry.
They all sound interesting -- for me, especially the boy hidden in time.
Yeah, time and time travel have always been such fascinating concepts to me. It's a lot of fun to write.Are you a lifelong writer, Larry?
I graduated from Michigan State with a masters degree in advertising and spent a long time (more than 20 years) as a copywriter and creative director with advertising agencies. All that time I wrote poetry and song lyrics on the side -- in addition to radio, television, and print copy. Later, as VP of marketing for Disneyland and Walt Disney World, I was responsible for developing ad campaigns and writing speechs for top executives in the company. On the side, once again, I wrote proposals for motion pictures (none of which made it).In the late 90s, I discovered how stupid I'd been to smoke all those years when I was diagnosed with something called COPD -- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. It wasn't long before I was forced to retire because of my health. And that's when I started writing seriously. Waking Walt came out in 2002. Nine years later, after I had a double lung transplant, Future King was published. And thanks to God and some medical magic, I'm now working on another project I'm called Son of Wolf.
Oops! I mean I'm calling it Son of Wolf, not called.
It's always so cool to hear where people started, how they got where they are, and to have survived what you have is amazing. How is Son of Wolf coming along?
Chris wrote: "Hello, my name is Chris Bullock. My desire to write stemmed from my interest in Family History.
For many years I had collected data about my ancestors - just dry facts and figures really. I sta..."
Hey Chris,
I wish I could be more help, I'm brand new in the Goodreads community. All I can say is, good on you for putting pen to paper and getting the work out there. It's a major step that most people don't commit to. Well done.
Very cool idea about the family history. We all have such rich ancestry, but how many of us actually know anything about it?
Have a good one.
Jim
Jim wrote: "It's always so cool to hear where people started, how they got where they are, and to have survived what you have is amazing. How is Son of Wolf coming along?"
I just starting the research. So, the book is probably a couple of years down the road. But it gives me something to do that I love. :)
Jim wrote: "Chris wrote: "Hello, my name is Chris Bullock. My desire to write stemmed from my interest in Family History.
For many years I had collected data about my ancestors - just dry facts and figures r..."
Thanks Jim, I've only just joined myself, and I'm rapidly learning. Getting my books out there was certainly a major step forward, but having done that I'm not sure what the next step is yet.
By the way, is your second book about Family History - the cover implies that, but I couldn't find any details.
Great to hear from you.
Chris
Chris wrote: "Jim wrote: "Chris wrote: "Hello, my name is Chris Bullock. My desire to write stemmed from my interest in Family History.
For many years I had collected data about my ancestors - just dry facts a..."
No, that one's a children's fantasy. My first book, Hemingway Man, is very loosely based on my family history, however. Lots of poetic license taken, but the foundation was already there.
I think the next step is just getting out there and connecting. With everyone, about everything.
I could be wrong, but it can't hurt, you know?
Jim
Larry wrote: "Jim wrote: "It's always so cool to hear where people started, how they got where they are, and to have survived what you have is amazing. How is Son of Wolf coming along?"
I just starting the re..."
I love the research, the planning, making the world a full, real place before ever starting a draft. Very nice.
Chris wrote: "Jim wrote: "Chris wrote: "Hello, my name is Chris Bullock. My desire to write stemmed from my interest in Family History.
For many years I had collected data about my ancestors - just dry facts a..."
I'm sorry, Chris, did you mean 'The Oath is Dead and Gone'? That's not my book. There's another Jim Maher out there somewhere, and I don't know how his book got attached to my stuff. I have no idea what it's about either, but if anyone runs into Jim, tell him his book looks interesting.
Hello to all, Michael here. A few issues of the serial novel I have published are available here on Goodreads. I've only recently discovered the site; a wonderful hub for readers and writers to connect.Michael
Hey Michael, nice to meet you. I just recently got into Goodreads, too. It's been great so far.I'll definitely check out your serial novel.
Jim
Guys! What do you think about my book, Romancing Essie?
Jim wrote: "Chris wrote: "Jim wrote: "Chris wrote: "Hello, my name is Chris Bullock. My desire to write stemmed from my interest in Family History.
For many years I had collected data about my ancestors - ju..."
Jim, yes I did - another instance of a duplicate authors name - there ought to be some way of separating these duplicates. Anyone have any ideas?
Marcia Quinn NorenJoan of Arc: The Mystic Legacy
For information about the book and about the author, please visit my website http://www.JoanofArcTheMysticLegacy.com
Hello my name is Sharon and I love to read more than just about anything. About the only time I'm not reading is when I'm at work. Like now. I mostly like suspense, fantasy and actually a lot of ya novels. Oh and I'm southern...born and raised.
Hi Sharon,That sounds like some good reading! I'm reading Bloodlines right now.
My name is Tamela Cozart Tucker. I self-published my book in October 2010. It has done fairly well locally but I want to reach a bigger audience. My book is called Un-Equally Yoked. It's a challenge because people assume from the title that it is religious based. It has some spiritual elements but it is not preachy. It is very real and funny. A romance novel(I love romance). If you like Tyler Perry you'll enjoy my book. I'm excited to be a new member and get back to reading.
Hi Tamela,I self-published my book as well. My book is titled Marriages & Miscarriages:One Woman's Personal Experience
Kathleen,I haven't read Bloodlines. Let me know if you enjoy it.
Hi, I'm Jacques. I'm relatively new to the group. I love to read--in fact I sort of do it for a living. I teach at a little "great books" college in New Mexico. I also try my hand at writing occasionally. I recently wrote a YA novel about martial arts and high school. It's called Go No Sen 
@Sharon,So far Bloodlines is ok. It has my attention but I liked Vapire Academy better at this point.
Hey Mark, I'm Jim. I'm new here, too. How's the writing going?
I'm Oksana Marafioti. I read too much, but I'm not complaining. It's a guilty pleasure. Spending money on books feels really, really good. I also write books. My memoir, AMERICAN GYPSY, will be out July 3, 2012. It's about growing up in the former Soviet Union in a Romani (Gypsy) family. But don't go picturing wagons, camps or thiefs. We led quite a domesticated existence, like so many Gypsies do. Not to say it wasn't exciting, thrilling, and spectacuarly wonderful. Yes, it's a secretive culture, but I can be your guide.
Won't you follow me?
http://twitter.com/oksanamarafioti
Hello Oksana,Based on your brief description, I'm intrigued and look forward to AMERICAN GYPSY. I read mostly nonfiction and am also writing a memoir, which I set aside when my passion to research the life of Joan of Arc overcame me for a full decade. Now following you on Twitter, and will go to your website. Do you have a Facebook author page?
My name is Kim Justus. My first book has recently been released. It's a memoir called; In a Flash: Miracles Here and Beyond. I share my experience about having a ruptured brain aneurysm, a spiritual journey and the miracles and challenges that arose. For more information see inaflash.org I was never an "author" before, and have been through a steep learning curve in becoming an official "Indie Author." I felt compelled to share what I learned, so with help on many levels, I got it done!
Marcia Quinn wrote: "Hello Oksana,Based on your brief description, I'm intrigued and look forward to AMERICAN GYPSY. I read mostly nonfiction and am also writing a memoir, which I set aside when my passion to researc..."
Hi Marcia! Thank you! I do have a facebook account and I think you've found me there already. Love Joan of Arc, by the way.
Thanks Oksana, I'll be following you!
Hi everyone! I've recently joined the group. I'm fourteen and I love writing. But I never really write like, a whole story or anything. Just bits of pieces here and there. I hope I can release a book when I'm in my twenties :D Sometimes the inspiration just come but it's too overwhelming i tried to hold on to it but it just flew away. *sigh*
Hey guys--trying to engender some discussion on my novel and the general subject of good science fiction. Hop on board with my Q&A!http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/5...
Hi. My name is James D. Kellogg and I wrote a cool thriller called E-Force. It's set in western Colorado where I live, work and play.E-Force is a militant radical eco-terrorist group engaged in a campaign of destruction against a corporate ski area developer in Colorado. As the mayhem escalates, Colt Kelley, a disullusioned environmentalist, is pulled him into the maelstrom. A dark conspiracy lurking below the eco-terrorist facade thrusts Colt into the cross hairs of law enforcement and a lethal network of merciless thugs and corrupt cops. Pressed into a race against time and ruthless evil, Colt must stop E-force from hurtling toward and unthinkable act of terror.
You can learn more about E-Force at http://jamesdkellogg.com/ . I hope to have some dialogue with readers and other writers!
Sharon wrote: "Hello my name is Sharon and I love to read more than just about anything. About the only time I'm not reading is when I'm at work. Like now. I mostly like suspense, fantasy and actually a lot of ya..."Welcome, Sharon! I recently joined GR myself. Haven't really gotten the hang of following so many great discussions and having time for anything else. I don't know if you joined on the 13th but that was the date of your post... and also the release date for my debut novel "Harvest of the Heart". Kismet maybe, since it is a suspense story you might like.
Hello fellow readers/writers! I work p/t at a bookstore in the Midwest and read/write/promote my book in my spare time. Love romance, sci-fi, mysteries - you name it. As long as it sucks me in and takes me away I'm game. I look forward to getting some good tips on new authors and/or books ;)
Sherrill wrote: "Hello fellow readers/writers! I work p/t at a bookstore in the Midwest and read/write/promote my book in my spare time. Love romance, sci-fi, mysteries - you name it. As long as it sucks me in and ..."Hi, Sherril! I'll email you a promo file of my thriller, E-Force. It's a pdf version of the first 4 chapters. Let me know if you are interested.
James D. Kellogg
HiMy name is Rachel Abbott and I am a new member of Goodreads. My book Only the Innocent was launched around three weeks ago as an ebook (available from all the usual suspects). It's a thriller, with the strap line "Women are rarely cold-blooded killers" - which gives you a clue!
I had been toying with the idea for a long time of a story about a woman who had no other option but to kill a man - and considering whether murder could ever be justified. It is for the reader to decide.
I'm offering Smashwords 100% off coupons at the moment on my website due to expire on the 21st December.
Would love to get some feedback from Goodreads members, and I'm looking forward to being an active member of the group.
Rachel Abbott
I enjoy reading and writing. My favorite books are fantasy, urban fantasy and paranormal romance. I also write in those categories and recently did a double book release. I'm always looking for fun and informative groups to join. Now onward to perusing the folders. :)
R.E. wrote: "I enjoy reading and writing. My favorite books are fantasy, urban fantasy and paranormal romance. I also write in those categories and recently did a double book release. I'm always looking for fun..."I'm new too. I hope we both can make the most out of these great groups.
James D. Kellogg
Hello. My name is Ron Hummer. Thanks for letting me join this group. I'm a new author and I self published my first book on Kindle. It's called 96 Rocks. Hope you'll take a look at it.
Hello everyone. I am Dr. Luke AM Brown, once a pharmacist but now a relatively new writer of all genre. Happy to be a part of this group because I am also a lover of great books as well. My latest is The Best of Both Worlds of Essie: Island Style Novel Check it out. I am open for feedback. Thank you.
Hi, my name is Mario Zecca, I have been writing for many years, primarily sf and fantasy, although I have done a bit of journalism. My novel The Goddess of Pigland is my first published novel. I worked on it on and off for 10 years. My other fiction prose is comprised of short stories, outlines and the scattered bits of a larger project, a reboot of fictional history and fictional archetypes, that is shaping into something as yet undefined. Living the mystery!The Goddess of Pigland Vol 1, at Amazon Kindle. You can get a free kindle player for your computer or device from Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/Goddess-Pigland...
Hi everyone!I'm Paul. I've been writing creatively for 20+ years but have only recently written and published my first scifi novel (via Amazon Kindle) and I'm working hard on my second. I've thrown together a quick blog site to promote it (which still needs a lot of work but I'll be continuously developing it over time): http://www.astronomicon.co.uk
My available book: Voyage of the Elysian
I'm hoping to have the second book published by the end of January. Unfortunately as I also have to do a full-time job, I can only write in my spare time :(. Maybe one day I'll be able to make enough from writing to do it full time - well I can dream can't I!
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I am Jenni Merritt. I recently self-published my debut novel, Prison Nation. (Add it!... please?) I am a NanoWriMo addict, a photographer, a stay at home mom, and of course: a writer.
I keep a regular blog at http://jennimerritt.blogspot.com/
I am pretty happy I found this group! I look forward to perusing more!