5* Steps Into Darkness (Shakertown Adventure #2) by Ben Woodard @BensWoodard #ReviewShare #YA

Steps Into Darkness by Ben Woodard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Really, really good read that kept me in suspense, the characters were charming and the mystery was intriguing. Adults and teenagers will enjoy this story. The plot is detailed enough to hold an adult’s attention and the language simple enough for a young teenager. I found the old Kentucky theme of the central mystery particularly appealing and I couldn’t wait to find out how everything would be resolved in the end.

Ben Woodard provided Tom and Will with earnest, realistic voices and personalities to match. No matter the danger, the boys were thirsty for adventure.

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads UK Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for my book review. This book review is based on my thoughts, opinion and understanding of the book. This book review does not reflect the opinion of other book club members.

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5* War Kids by H.J. Lawson @hjlawson1 #ReviewShare #YA #Syria

War Kids by H.J. Lawson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My first impression was - From the cover, I knew I would like this book. The subject matter is current which is what made this book a good read. I truly wonder what motivated the author to pick this scenario. War has devastating effects on anyone but children more so and Hayley Lawson spins a story of emotions, fear and loss.

As I got to the middle, I felt - This book was heart stopping. I was completely invested. Children who are forced into adulthood. Hayley Lawson keeps you in the moment.

As I neared the end, I thought - Despite the change in POV, Hayley Lawson's writing is consistent and clear as she pens this story. The way the main character rises to the occasion despite the extreme circumstances she faces.

My final impression and recommendations - I cannot recommend this book enough. It is well-written with a lot of research. Despite the difficult subject matter, the reader is able to feel the characters and emphatise with their situation.

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads UK Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for my book review. This book review is based on my thoughts, opinion and understanding of the book. This book review does not reflect the opinion of other book club members.

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4* Heavyweight by M.B. Mulhall @MBMullhall #ReviewShare #LGBT #YA

Heavyweight by M.B. Mulhall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My first impression was - The characters and the events draw you in. At times, you become upset that not enough is being done about bullying. You would like to think this isn't the case in real life but many schools have yet to find ways to cope with bullying or mob rule.

As I got to the middle, I felt - I was touched. Ian's issues with trying to hide his homosexuality and his eating disorder seemed too much to bear for both character and reader. This is when I truly understood the meaning of the title, "Heavweight" - it was the secrets that were weighing him down.

As I neared the end, I thought - No matter your sexual preference, this book is tender and real. Messages of acceptance are written into the story without being bossy or forcing the reader to change their thinking.

My final impression and recommendations - Great writing, characters who grow and the inner journey of a young man who realises how hard it is to grow up. He considers himself to be a normal teenager but even in the first chapter, you already know this is an extraordinary story. Highly recommended.

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads UK Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for my book review. This book review is based on my thoughts, opinion and understanding of the book. This book review does not reflect the opinion of other book club members.

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4* A Stairway To Danger by Ben Woodard @BensWoodard #ReviewShare #YA #Mystery

A Stairway To Danger by Ben Woodard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My first impression was - This is an enjoyable mystery book that reminds me a lot of the Hardy Boys and Enid Blyton's Famous Five or Secret Seven. The mystery starts quickly and the author's effort at keeping the setting consistent with the time period made the mystery even better.

As I got to the middle, I felt - The author did a good job with character development. The dialogue was also well suited for each character. The plot kept me guessing and I wasn't sure if I wanted the mystery to be solved because then the book would be over.

As I neared the end, I thought - This is a good clean mystery, suspense any teenager would enjoy. I started reading adventure books when I was 10 so in my opinion, children who have stronger vocabulary will definitely be able to keep up with the story.

My final impression and recommendations - Plot is well thought out. Characters are interesting most of the time. The ending although predictable was able to tie up the rest of the story. Highly recommended.

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads UK Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for my book review. This book review is based on my thoughts, opinion and understanding of the book. This book review does not reflect the opinion of other book club members.

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5* for What Lies Inside by J.L. Myers @BloodBoundJLM #ReviewShare #PNR #Vampires

What Lies Inside by J.L. Myers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My first impression was - Wow. I'm a big fan of Vampire Diaries and Twilight so as soon as I saw the cover, I knew I was going to like this book. Turns out I ended up loving it. I found it to be an intriguing book on so many levels that I am at a loss as to where to begin.

As I got to the middle, I felt - It was gripping, utterly heart-wrenching, and completely suspenseful all at the same time. I really enjoyed this unpredictable tale, it is well written and the characters are so well developed. Kendrick and Amelia both helped to move the story forward.

As I neared the end, I thought - No. I definitely did not want this to end. The adventure was coming to a close and I wanted to see beyond. Thankfully, as I write this review I realised the author has released the second book so I'm definitely off to add that to my TBR pile.

My final impression and recommendations - The concept of love amidst hate is not new. Shakespeare did it. Countless other authors have done it. However, to pull it off in a way that a reader can experience the emotions firsthand, now that's a different story altogether. Highly recommended.

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads UK Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for my book review. This book review is based on my thoughts, opinion and understanding of the book. This book review does not reflect the opinion of other book club members.


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S.M. McEachern Shares Her Thoughts on #SelfPub Revolution @SMMceachern #SciFi #AmWriting

If you own an ereader, odds are you’ll know something about the self-publishing revolution. But what you may not know is why self-publishing is on the rise. I’d like to give my own perception on why so many authors are choosingto be independent.

I’ll be completely honest; I’ve never been with a traditional publisher. I only wrote one query letter to an agent before self-publishing. That might seem a little hasty, but a Google search revealed that an unknown author writes, on average, about 65 queries before landing an agent. And for anyone who hasn’t written a query letter, let me say that writing one was more stressful than writing an entire book. Literary agents are the gatekeepers of the publishing domain and they have strict instructions from publishers as to whom they are allowed to let in. Publishers determine what readers want and since agents are selling to the publishers, they need to satisfy the publishers’ wants. Literary agents receive hundreds of queries per day and in order to filter them, most agents blog about how to write a tailor-made query that just might get you noticed. When I wrote my query, I researched the agent, what they wanted in a query, wrote and rewrote the letter and proofread it a hundred times before I hit the send button. But there was one vital piece of information I didn’t research—what the publisher wanted. It was after I wrote the query that I came across an article in Publishers Weekly stating publishers don’t want anything with a “whiff of dystopia” about it and they’re done with trilogies (see Publishers Weekly article here:http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/59297-new-trends-in-ya-the-agents-perspective.html ) I pitched my young adult dystopian trilogy in the very first line of my query.  Doh.

After I self-published Sunset Rising, I joined a professional writers group. I didn’t know much about the industry and I was hoping to learn. At first, I was a little intimidated belonging to a group of writers who had the stamp of approval from an actual publisher. After all, there’s still a stigma attached to anyone who self-publishes. But then I heard the murmurings of unrest…the complaints about publishers demanding more social media marketing from their authors, and giving less in return. I discovered that for every $10 ebook sold, the author only made about $1 or less. I saw one writer with bloodshot eyes and high on caffeine struggling under enormous pressure to pare one hundred words out of her novel because she had gone passed the word count her publisher allowed. I witnessed authors banning together, comparing battle scars and low royalty paystubs, bolstering each other to leave their publishers and go indie. I attended a workshop put on by an author who had given up on her publisher, struck out on her own, and reported tripling her income while enjoying greater creative freedom. Suddenly I didn’t feel so out of place in this group. In fact, I wondered if I’d dodged a bullet.

The stigma attached to being an indie is eroding. With the ebook industry booming, professional services (cover artists, editors, proofreaders, beta readers, web-based advertising) once coveted by publishers are now available to independent authors.  Books produced by indies are just as appealing as books produced by the publishing houses. In fact, these days the only way to tell the different between a self-published book and a traditionally published one is price; indies set their prices lower and still make more money than if they were with a publisher. Lower book prices, fresh storylines, and novels that don’t follow a set formula are gaining in popularity among readers. And at the end of the day, it’s always been readers who determine the worth of a book.

So the real question becomes why would an author spend months or years writing queries, or sitting in a slush pile, or receive low royalty payments in return for writing a novel AND doing their own social media, when they can self-publish? I now have over 30,000 copies of Sunset Rising in circulation with a 4.6/5 star rating on Amazon and it’s been on their bestseller list in three different genres. I don’t regret self-publishing at all.

I’m not trying to give publishers a bad rap. Traditionally published authors still dominate the bestseller list and the stamp of approval from a publisher still gives an unknown author, like myself, greater credibility.  But in today’s market there are choices…and if it’s not working out with a publisher, you can always go indie.

February 2024: Desperate to find refuge from the nuclear storm, a group of civilians discover a secret government bio-dome. Greeted by a hail of bullets and told to turn back, the frantic refugees stand their ground and are eventually permitted entry.  But the price of admission is high.

283 years later…  Sunny O’Donnell is a seventeen-year-old slave who has never seen the sun.  She was born in the Pit, a subterranean extension of the bio-dome. Though life had never been easy, the last couple of months had become a nightmare. Her mom was killed in the annual Cull, and her dad thought it was a good time to give up on life.  Reyes Crowe, her long-time boyfriend, was pressuring her to get married, even though it would mean abandoning her father.

She didn’t think things could get any worse until she was forced upstairs to the Dome to be a servant-girl at a bachelor party.  That’s when she met Leisel Holt, the president’s daughter, and her fiancé, Jack Kenner.

Now Sunny is wanted for treason.  If they catch her, she’ll be executed.

She thought Leisel’s betrayal was the end.  But it was just the beginning.

“Sunset Rising” is Book One of a series.

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Genre - YA Science Fiction, Dystopian

Rating – PG-16

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Connect with S.M. McEachern through Facebook & Twitter

Website http://smmceachern.wordpress.com

DOUBT (Among Us) by Anne-Rae Vasquez @Write2Film #Paranormal #Thriller #YA

Zero: “Shadow is on his way to bring you to Graphix. Saw your text about Shadow. Sorry but you are going to work with him whether you like it or not. I won’t change the mission instructions.”

Cristal looked down at her watch. She had been standing outside the Global Nation’s building for thirty minutes.What was taking Kerim so long?

Before she started texting Harry to find out if he had heard from Kerim, she heard an engine roar from a distance. She looked up and saw Kerim, aka Shadow, dressed in a leather jacket and black jeans riding into the Global Nation’s parking lot on his black and yellow Ducati.

He slowed down and stopped his bike in front of her. He removed his black helmet to reveal his dark wavy hair, slicked back against his head. He pushed his sunglasses on top of his head, his grey steel eyes shining against the sunlight.

He waved for her to climb onto his bike and handed her an extra helmet. Really? He wants me to ride that thing? She paused for a moment before placing the helmet on. Kerim motioned with his head for her to climb on. Is he serious? Am I one of his fan girls?

She refused to budge, standing with her arms crossed in front of her.

“Come on, get on,” he said.

Still, she didn’t move.

Finally, he reached out his hand, waiting for her to grab it. She paused for a second, pushed it away, and climbed on the bike by herself.

“Hold tight, Cristal,” he called back to her as he started the engine.

Mmm, I love his sexy accent. She glanced around. Where did that come from? Focus on the mission.

Cristal leaned closer to him but tried not to hold too tight. No need to give him the wrong impression. She closed her eyes as the motorcycle started moving, the sound of the motor roaring underneath her. The bike sped through the streets, but she dared not open her eyes. Her heart was pounding hard; her knees felt weak, and her head was spinning inside the heaviness of the helmet. If I’d known he was going to pick me up on a motorcycle, I could have taken a cab, she thought to herself.

Cristal had never felt comfortable in enclosed places, partly due to her fears of having an asthma attack. As a child, her father had not wanted her to rely on a puffer. Instead, he had trained her to control her breathing when she felt an oncoming attack. Unfortunately, this was hard to do now with a helmet on her head.

After what felt like a roller-coaster ride, she noticed that the engine had stopped and opened her eyes. She took in her surroundings and realized that they were parked in front of Gabriel’s apartment building.

She let go of Kerim and slowly got off the bike. He climbed off and removed his helmet. Her legs felt like rubber bands beneath her. She swayed off balance. Kerim grabbed her by the waist with one arm. She felt her stomach squirm. Get this helmet off. I can’t breathe!

As if hearing her thoughts, Kerim reached over with his other hand, unsnapped the strap under her chin and gently removed the helmet before tying it to his bike. The cool air caressed her cheeks. She took deep breaths, drinking in the oxygen. Kerim’s other arm was still wrapped tight around her waist. Once her head was cleared, she glanced up at him.

This close, she was able to see that his skin was a smooth olive color; his nose perfectly straight and Romanesque, and his grin was mischievous but playful.

She removed his arm off her waist and firmly pushed him aside. He stepped back, letting her pass. She didn’t know why she was so irritated by him being there. Yes, he was extremely attractive but that was a superficial asset. And yet, she always seemed to be drawn to the Christian Bale or Johnny Depp rebellious type of guys. Just like her chocolate ice cream addiction, she knew she had to stay away from bad boys, even if they were delicious desserts. She felt herself blush and hoped Kerim hadn’t noticed.

Do you love shows like J.J. Abrams’ Fringe and read books like Cassandra Clare’s City of Bones?

“Doubt” mashes fringe science, corporate espionage and paranormal encounters to catapult you into an out-of-this-world experience.

At 21 years old, Harry and Cristal are fresh out of university with their PhD’s. Labeled all their lives as being ‘weird’ and ‘geeky’, they find true friendships with other outcasts by playing online virtual reality games.

Harry Doubt, a genius programmer and creator of the popular online game ‘Truth Seekers’, has a personal mission of his own; to find his mother who went mysteriously missing while volunteering on a peacekeeping mission in Palestine. His gaming friends and followers inadvertently join in helping him find her; believing that they are on missions to find out what has happened to their own missing loved ones. During Harry’s missions, Cristal and the team of ‘Truth Seekers’ stumble upon things that make them doubt the reality of their own lives. As they get closer to the truth, they realize that there are spiritual forces among them both good and evil, but in learning this, they activate a chain of events that start the beginning of the ‘end of the world’ as they know it.

Doubt is Book 1 of the Among Us Trilogy. Among Us is a book series which delves into the world of the supernatural and how it intersects with the everyday lives of seemingly ordinary young people as catastrophic events on earth lead to the end of times. Among Us weaves the theme of a young man and woman, who while not fully understanding their ‘abilities’, are drawn together in their desire to find out the truth about the world they live in which is similar to themes used in J.J. Abrams’ TV shows Fringe and Lost.

What readers have to say…

As a big fan of the show Fringe, this book appealed to me tremendously. The writing was well done, and the way the “supernatural” forces were introduced was great.

A good, clean read for any age.

It was an excellent story that I’m sure both adult and teen urban fantasy fans will enjoy. You don’t have to be a gamer or know one to identify with the characters. They’re very well developed and definitely feel like people. I would definitely recommend it to a friend and I’m really looking forward to the second book.

…the novel is written in such a languid style, it moves on effortlessly and absorbs the reader into the story completely. Although the story itself revolves around the online gaming industry, one does not have to have an in depth knowledge as it is ably explained and discussed within the plot line.

OMGosh! I just finished reading “Doubt” INCREDIBLE! I couldn’t put it down.

˃˃˃ >>> Depth and Substance mashed up with Fringe Science. Will entertain young and old alike.

This book is intended for mature young adults and new adults. Ages 16 to 45 +

˃˃˃ >>Inspired by real Truth Seekers Aaron Swartz and Harry Fear

The main character Harry Doubt was inspired by Aaron Swartz, internet prodigy and activist, co-founder of the Creative Commons and Reddit, and Harry Fear, journalist, documentary filmmaker and activist whose coverage of the conflict in the Middle East was seen on UStream by millions of viewers.

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre - Young Adult, Paranormal, Science Fiction, Thriller

Rating – G

More details about the author

Connect with Anne-Rae Vasquez on Facebook & Twitter

Website http://amongus.ca

From Truth to Fiction - @ShelleyDavidow's Inspiration for ‘Lights Over Emerald Creek’ #YA #SciFi

I’m often asked the question: where do you get your ideas? As if ideas are commodities sold at exclusive retail outlets where only the lucky few get to shop! Not so, really. We all have ideas, and sometimes pretty crazy ones, every second of every day. Every interaction with other human beings engages our imaginations. 

I think being an author, I’m just hyper-aware. Ideas are everywhere, and they’re free! Here are how some of them came together so that my speculative young adult fiction novel ‘Lights Over Emerald Creek’ came to be: my sixteen-year-old protagonist Lucy is a paraplegic after a terrible accident. Although I’d already been thinking about her for some time, her character was inspired by two people: one is a friend in his fifties who became a paraplegic after contracting polio as a two-year-old and who went on to become one of the first paraplegic flight instructors in the world. 

His courage to defy gravity and the disability, which looked set to keep him earthbound, blew me away. I just thought, wow, look at this guy! He can’t walk, but he can fly! In light of what Lucy pulls off in the novel, I have to admit that he was such an inspiration. Lucy’s physical looks and her cello playing, however, were modelled on a beautiful young cellist friend whose capacity with music is incredible. So, yes, a man in his fifties and a cello player become the inadvertent role models for a fictional heroine. 

The setting for ‘Lights Over Emerald Creek’ is far north Queensland. I spent some time up there on a 10,000 acre farm and was really enchanted by the rainforesty, misty magic that surrounded everything. Setting for me is often a catalyst for a story. It was definitely the case with this book. Ideas for the story began to grow out of that vast area with its view over the mountains, especially at night when the full moon rose over the creek that meandered through the property. And, though many of my friends shook their heads with disbelief when I told them: there really is a guy up in far north Queensland who does catch snakes, including Taipans (arguably one of the most venomous snakes in the world) with his bare hands. He told me that you catch them in the night when they’re all sleepy and warm soaking up the heat of the road…(I watched him catch a python and relocate it into the bush). So he became the inspiration for Lucy’s father, Stephen. (By the way, catching sleeping Taipans at night may sound easy enough, but please don’t practice this at home!)

Ideas are everywhere all the time. And anyone can have them. I’m always ready to welcome new experiences and new people because over time I think the imagination distils the essence out of every experience and interaction, and then, sometimes when least expected, a new idea for a novel or character explodes onto a waiting page!

Lucy Wright, sixteen and a paraplegic after a recent car accident that took her mother’s life, lives in Queensland on a 10,000 acre farm with her father. When Lucy investigates strange lights over the creek at the bottom of the property, she discovers a mystery that links the lights to the science of cymatics and Scotland’s ancient Rosslyn Chapel.

But beyond the chapel is an even larger mystery. One that links the music the chapel contains to Norway’s mysterious Hessdalen lights, and beyond that to Saturn and to the stars. Lucy’s discoveries catapult her into a parallel universe connected to our own by means of resonance and sound, where a newly emerging world trembles on the edge of disaster. As realities divide, her mission in this new world is revealed and she finds herself part of a love story that will span the galaxy.

Sample & Purchase Links 

Genre - Young Adult SF

Rating - PG

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Connect with Shelley Davidow on Facebook & Twitter

Wings of Dragon (Dragoon Saga) by @JoshVanBrakle #Fantasy #BookClub #Fiction

Everyone in the room leaned forward, desperate to hear Amroth’s strategy. The Quodivar were the greatest threat to Lodia’s economy in more than a century, and the vast majority of the nobles gathered here had strong ownership in at least one merchant company. Amroth provided hope not only for peace, but for fat wallets as well.

“My plan requires great risk, but it is the only hope we have. Large armies do not work against the Quodivar. My last mission proved this. Instead, I will assemble a small team, an elite force of Haldessa’s finest. With this team we shall seek out the Quodivar and battle them the way they battle us: with stealth and cunning. I come here tonight to name the two men with whom I intend to enter battle. I will trust these two with my life, and with the fate of Lodia itself.”

A young boy near the front cried excitedly, “Who? Who will save us along with you, Captain Angustion?”

Amroth smiled kindly at the child, apparently not begrudging the interruption at all. “The first is a man whom you all know as a fine swordsman, a capable leader, and a loyal companion: Sergeant Balear Platarch!”

The crowd cheered heartily, and Balear, seated about midway between Amroth and the back of the room, stood and waved his hand with an embarrassed gesture. He bore the vacant expression of someone who had clearly drunk too much. Amroth motioned for him to come to the platform and stand beside him. Balear tripped more than once, but in the end he reached his beloved commander.

Across the room, Iren arrived at the chandelier’s cord. He spun the knife in his hand expectantly. He would time it just as Amroth finished his speech. The moment they stepped off the stage, he would cut the cord and drop the chandelier. It would crash horrendously behind them, everyone would gasp, and he would have the pleasure of watching both Amroth and Balear pick themselves off the floor.

When the cheers calmed, Amroth became contemplative as he said, “The second person I have chosen you all know well, and yet, I would guess, also do not know at all. I have thought long and hard on this choice. I do not make it lightly. I make it for the sake of Lodia, for we must have the best to succeed in this endeavor. For the final of my group I have chosen Iren Saitosan!”

The shouts of praise died in the crowd’s throats. Iren whipped his head up, utterly shocked, and then it happened. As his body jerked to face the captain, his hand swung downward. The sharpened carving knife sliced through the chandelier’s rope without pause.

From fantasy author Josh VanBrakle comes an epic new trilogy of friendship, betrayal, and explosive magic. Lefthanded teenager Iren Saitosan must uncover a forgotten history, confront monsters inspired by Japanese mythology, and master a serpentine dragon imprisoned inside a katana to stop a revenge one thousand years in the making.

Lodian culture declares lefthanded people dangerous and devil-spawned, and for Iren, the kingdom’s only known Left, that’s meant a life of social isolation. To pass the time and get a little attention, he plays pranks on the residents of Haldessa Castle. It’s harmless fun, until one of his stunts nearly kills Lodia’s charismatic heir to the throne. Now to avoid execution for his crime, Iren must join a covert team and assassinate a bandit lord. It’s a suicide mission, and Iren’s chances aren’t helped when he learns that his new katana contains a dragon’s spirit, one with a magic so powerful it can sink continents and transform Iren into a raging beast.

Adding to his problems, someone on Iren’s team is plotting treason. When a former ally launches a brutal plan to avenge the Lefts, Iren finds himself trapped between competing loyalties. He needs to figure out who – and how – to trust, and the fates of two nations depend on his choice.

“A fast-paced adventure…led by a compelling cast of characters. Josh VanBrakle keeps the mysteries going.” - ForeWord Reviews

Buy @ Amazon & Smashwords

Genre – YA epic fantasy

Rating – PG-13

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Connect with Josh VanBrakle on Twitter

Website www.joshvanbrakle.com

Steps Into Darkness (Shakertown #Adventure) by @BensWoodard #AmReading #YA

The unknown figure’s back was to them as he connected the wires to the detonator. Will shoved Tom. Only minutes remained.

They located the last connection point where the blasting caps were wired to two sticks of dynamite. The wires to the plunger snaked up the hill. The connecting strands were twisted, tightly, as with pliers. Tom snatched a rock, but Will grabbed his hand and pointed up the hill. Tom understood. The man would hear the pounding. They each took a twisted connection and tried to pry it apart with their fingers. They would need to break only one.

The wires resisted. Tom gritted his teeth, then remembered his pocket knife. He pulled it out, flipped the blade open, and wedged the tip between two strands. He twisted and the blade snapped. The sound startled the man. He whirled around and stared directly at the boys. Tom forced the broken blade into the gap in the wires. Will put his finger on top of one and pulled as Tom twisted. Blood ran down Will’s hand as the metal bit into his finger. They strained, and watched the man. His eyes darted in all directions. Then he made his decision. He pulled the plunger up, hesitated a moment, and slammed it down.

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Genre - YA/Mystery

Rating – PG – 13

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Connect with Ben Woodard on Facebook and Twitter

Website http://BooksByBen.com

Peter Clenott Shares Some Cover Love @PeterClenott #WriteTip #YA #AmWriting

Cover Love

Back in the old days when I started to write, there were no computers (at least no workable ones for writers). There was no social media, there was no Amazon, no eBooks, no Create Space. The books I enjoyed you could actually hold in your hand, turn the pages, and when you were done you could find the proper place on your book shelf. By author. In alphabetical order. By genre. Whatever. It was always there, my growing collection. My personal treasure chest. I hate Kindle.

Selecting books from a book store, never on-line, was a pleasure. I rarely went in knowing exactly what I wanted to buy. I wasn’t a trend setter, and I didn’t just shop for whatever happened to be on the New York Times best seller list at the moment. Oprah didn’t exist back in the day either, at least not the book-marketing guru we now know. Part of the thrill of going to the book store was the hunt, finding that hidden gem. If I enjoyed a particular author, I might check her out first. Otherwise, I got out my detective gear and began the hunt. (There were no cafes in book stores in those days either, so even if I entered hungry, I always came away fulfilled with the book of my choice.)

Titles can matter. A title might draw me to select a book, particularly among the novels whose spines were all I could see crammed into a tight shelf. But the cover art was also important. It didn’t make or break a sale, but quality cover art did draw my attention. At the very least the cover art made me pick up the book and read the novel details or blurbs.

When you first enter a book store, there are always displays right up front, usually from the major publishing houses who purchase the right to have the finest display. Their covers stare you right in the face. When my debut novel HUNTING THE KING was published in 2008, I could just imagine customers entering the book store and being startled by the gaunt face of Jesus the king outlined by a constellation of stars in the pattern of a Star of David. I figured who could pass that by without picking it up for a browse? (The issue of which books get placed where in a book store is the matter for another blog)

These days if you self-publish, you can help design the cover of your book as I did with my iUniverse novel THE HUNTED. Overall, the product was well done with one minor complaint. Certain on-line photographs aren’t copyrighted and so are available for selection in the design of your cover. If you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for, you make do with second best. With DEVOLUTION, my latest novel, the publisher, Imajin Books, made the design with my input. The cover shows the face of a creature, half girl, half chimpanzee a reflection of the drama about a girl who can communicate with chimpanzees using sign language.

In my office taped to the wall behind my desk is a big poster of my cover. It captures the attention of everyone who comes in, stirs conversation, and often leads to a sale. That alone validates a well-done cover enhanced by reviews from well-known authors. Besides that, whenever I feel alone and needing a little self-love, I can pick up my novel and gaze at the stunning cover art and feel just a modicum of pride in my accomplishment. Clicking on my lap top or i-thing-a-majig and seeing the cover on a mechanized screen just doesn’t have the same effect.

What does it truly mean to be ‘Human’?

Chiku Flynn wasn’t raised to be human. Born in the Congolese rainforest, she spends her first eleven years as part of an experiment. For her, the aboriginal—the primitive—is ‘normal.’

Just after her eleventh birthday, Chiku witnesses the horrifying death of her mother, and her father sends her ‘home’ to the United States, to a normal teenager’s life. But she can’t adapt. She is the proverbial wild child—obstinate and defiant.

When her father disappears, sixteen-year-old Chiku heads back to the primordial jungle, where she uncovers her own dark past and puts to use her greatest skill: she can communicate via sign language with the wild chimpanzees of Chimp Island.

But there is turmoil in the rainforest—civil war, environmental upheaval…and murder. The lives of the chimps and the safety of the people she loves depend upon one teenaged girl who refuses to be messed with—Chiku Flynn.

Editorial reviews:

“Peter Clenott’s story of a troubled teen searching for her father in the African jungle skillfully combines the breakneck pace of a thriller with the emotional tug of a coming of age novel while providing a fascinating glimpse into the relationship between people and chimpanzees that will leave readers questioning which species is more humane. A thought-provoking read.” —Tasha Alexander, New York Times bestselling author of Behind the Shattered Glass

“Devolution is an enthralling, action-packed and fast-paced jungle thriller from beginning to end. The story is set in modern day Africa and is centered on the book’s heroine, Chiku, a firecracker of a girl full of energy and spirit. She can also talk to chimpanzees! The backdrops to the story are as old as time itself—war, racism, hunger and greed. Can a strong-willed sixteen-year-old girl and a band of chimpanzees survive in war-torn Africa? Or will death find its way into this strange yet wonderful family! This book is an interesting coming of age tale full of intrigue, wonder, romance and danger. A truly exciting and original read! This is not your grandparent’s Tarzan tale!” —Christopher P. Obert, founder of the New England Authors Expo

“If it takes a bipolar teenager and some chimpanzees to save their piece of the Congo, then Chiku and her primate friends are the ones to do it. Label them superheroes. Peter Clenott has captured diverse characters in a vibrant setting and added snappy dialogue for this unique and interesting novel.” —Shirley Ann Howard, author of the Tales series

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Genre - Young Adult

Rating – PG

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Connect with Peter Clenott on Facebook & Twitter

Website www.peterclenott.net

Peter Simmons and the Vessel of Time by Ramz Artso @RamzArtso #SciFi #YA #AmReading

Peter Simmons thinks he is an ordinary boy, before he is abducted by a man with certain special abilities, learns of his inescapable destiny, befriends immortals and becomes famous wordlwide. Why? Because Peter Simmons is mankind’s last hope for survival.

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Genre – Young-adult, Action and Adventure, Coming of Age, Sci-fi

Rating – PG-13

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Connect with  Ramz Artso on Facebook & Twitter

Website http://ramzartso.blogspot.com/

Chris Myers' #WriteTip on "Dos and Don’ts of Critique Groups @CMyersFiction #PNR

Dos and don’ts of critique groups

1. Always start with the positive.
2. Always end on a positive note.
3. Do be honest but tactful.
4. Ensure you are using proper English. The Chicago Manual of Style is an excellent reference book used by professional editors.
5. Ensure your work is fairly clean grammar-wise before submitting.
6. Focus on craft for a critique.

a. Goal/Motivation/Conflict.
b. Ensure each scene advances the plot.
c. Character arc.
d. Escalating plot.

7. Don’t nitpick. Make your point and move on.
8. Offer to brainstorm with your critique partners.
9. Don’t stay in a group that is overly critical. Writing is subjective.
10. Do look for other critiquers who take their craft seriously and are trying to get published.

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Genre - YA Paranormal Mystery, Romance

Rating – PG-13

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Connect with Chris Myers on Facebook & Twitter

Website http://www.chrismyersfiction.com