September 2011 Blog Posts (138)

Cody Toye has a way with fantasy/paranormal/ sci-fi/horror. He has done it with his series “Intangibles” and he brings those skills to bear here in “Clone Zone”. The digital short story is quick, furious, and rampaging. This is the 24^th installment in The Author’s Lab/Collaborations series and it is a barnburner. Surprisingly the cast of characters is small yet many, basically because they all look like the same person. This story is under consideration to become its own…

Those of us in the independent sector of publishing will no doubt know that marketing a new book is akin to burning pound or dollar notes. You do all the promotion, you blog like mad, network like a social prostitute and throw money on great ideas, and all you get as a reward is one measly sale on Amazon.

But the other great thing you notice is that one measly sale makes a significant difference on your chart rating, promoting your book thousands of places up the scale. Many of us…

I grew up among bombed buildings and hearing stories from my parents about the difficultes of air raids, so it was little wonder I’d always wanted to write a novel with World War II as its theme. When I found out about the shameful and extraordinarily cruel internment of Italian men in 1940, I knew I had an amazing event around which to build a story. Internment of Italians happened in Britain, where I set the novel, but it also happened in the United States — California recently apologized…

I am noticing a trend here, each of Layton Green’s titles have two words in them. First there was “The Summoner” and now “The Egyptian”. Personally I don’t really care; I just enjoy the main character in both, the Dominic Grey, wait that was three words. Okay enough joking around. Layton Green’s novels are infused with common things, science, extremes, and action. A nice formula. There seems to be no middle ground.. What his formula does equate to is a read that flows all downhill and very…

I am very grateful and thankful that today my book headed to the printing department. As I say, today brings Words from my Mouth-Person Addiction to life.

The entire reason behind Words...was for a justified self-cleansing. It was a huge therapy for myself and has been, already, to so many people. I can't kid myself, I hope the book is very successful. What author doesn't like their book to be the most successful? But, like I have said in the past, it doesn't matter if 1,…

I love S.L. Schmitz's work! She has a new digital short story series with Trestle Press called "Mina's Daughter..The Harker Chronicles". Volume one just released and she will have a new installment in the series on the 15th of each month. If you enjoy a well told tale or are into Vampires, Werewolves and Steampunk, this is it for you.Grab it and go for the ride.Here is a Q&A for you to get a better feel for the author: 

1) Let it Bleed, I feel, can be read on two levels. Am I…

LINK TO THE THEY! WEB SITE

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The basic principal for writing about complex subjects is to do the work necessary so that the reader can understand you easily. Of course, your first task is to make sure you understand your own ideas. As Einstein said, “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” With this in mind, here are three strategies to help you write clearly about complex…

Bethany House is the publisher of this novel and they do an excellent job of producing a rich, multi-layered story. I have not had the pleasure of reading a Davis Bunn novel before, but very quickly I have become a fan of his writing. “Lion of Babylon” is a look at Iraq and Iran through the eyes and hearts of a variety of characters painting a picture that is surreal, consuming and confusing. The viewpoints hop around from character to character and give all sides of the dilemmas that plague…

Just because I read plenty of digital short stories , novellas and full length novels that have plenty of horror, thriller , suspense, death and mayhem undertones does not mean that I can’t take a back seat from that and enjoy a nice wholesome read on the Amish folks I so do enjoy. Okay, I like their cooking, but so many other people.

Karen Anna Vogel’s writing for me is unique and has a viewpoint and narrative that I have come to quickly enjoy. Her take on the “Plain” people is…

“Find Her” marks the birth of a new digital short story new series and a new action character I really enjoy. Mike Dalmas is the character that Jochem Vandersteen has created and the universe in which he places him is interesting and dynamic. The setting is something like middle class suburbia, yet not, but the action and the hero seemed all too real and cut from today’s headlines.

Mike Dalmas is an ex-Special forces type but with a twist; the guy actually has a wife and kids and has…

I am a huge of Barry Eisler’s work, I make no bones about it, and so I am going to keep it short. In this novel he tackles many things, melding the thoughts and feelings of four different killers, four different Alpha males, four totally different viewpoints and even more agendas in this novel and he does it seamlessly. The read is taunt, moving and intense. It was hard to separate myself from the read until I finished it.

I was fortunate enough to interview Barry Eisler on my…

Zaggit

A short sci-fi story by Chuck Keyes

            There must be something wrong, thought Zaggit. The science team must have chosen the wrong type of lower life animal to bio-copy. Besides watching me forage for tree seeds, the humans pay no attention to me. Four…

Are You Ready for a Shiloh Shepherd?

Dog ownership can be fun and rewarding – but it can also be confusing and frustrating, especially when you get a new puppy home and you’re not sure exactly how to raise and train it. Different breeds have specific needs, and in The Beginner’s Guide for I.S.S.R. Shiloh Shepherd Owners, Steve Mekkelsen Madden generously shares the wealth of knowledge he has acquired from owning and showing these…