Feels Like 1990 All Over Again!

I admit it.  I watched wrestling as a kid.  I fondly remember the days of Hulkamania, of Macho Man and Miss Elizabeth, of the idea of a perfect, Arthurian kingdom in which good always trumped evil and a simple leg drop set the world aright.  How things change! 

Now, Linda Hogan (I wonder if her publisher insisted she still use that name or if it was her choice?) has her memoir of celebrity life, minus the glamour.  Originally, I dismissed this as yet another lurid effort to cash in on the spotlight, and why not?  It's almost impossible to avoid the publicity tour for this book if you live in the States.  Linda Hogan has been everywhere telling her tale of abuse, survival, and strength, from The Today Show to Piers Morgan Tonight.  It's the type of exposure that would make an indie author blush!  Recently, the Hulkster himself also hasn't been shy about stating his side of the marriage, and even The Ultimate Warrior (remember him--and yes his real-life name is Warrior) jumped in at one point to comment on the marriage.  Feels like 1990 all over again, doesn't it?  Ring that bell!

So how is the book?  Honestly, I've only sampled it out of curiosity and am debating a full purchase.  I may get shot for saying this, but I thought the book opened on an interesting note.  I can't help but feel that the opening image of digging (in addition to being a prefatory metaphor for Linda's life) is a conscious jab at those who label Linda a gold digger and let her go at that.  The book almost immediately seems to jump to her roots and early family life, with a dig or two at the Hulkster along the way, which hasn't held my interest quite as much, but it does give some sense of perspective on a woman usually dismissed as a reality star past her fifteen minutes of fame.  Whether or not I believe Linda's message of survival and female empowerment is more than a marketing angle remains to be seen.  However, I can't dismiss the book as I expected to based on the sample, and I do think Linda spoke well with Piers Morgan a few nights ago.  The jury is still out on this one.  Regardless, I hope the Hogan family finds greater happiness in the years ahead than they have in the years now behind them.

An Update About Booketta

Since yesterday's posting, Booketta looks to have corrected the title on her review blog.  I did choose to leave the first post as it was, however, because it gives an accurate reflection of what an indie author faces in the quest for reviews.  Yes, some reviewers may not even take the time to use the correct title or cover.  To be fair, I do give Booketta credit for taking a minute to correct the title listing, whatever I may think her overall review.

Authors Rating Reviewers--Never A Good Idea, But Here Goes!

One of the greatest advantages of any Kindle author is going directly to readers.  Readers can
be blunt, sometimes painfully so, in their estimation of books that may take years to craft, which
can provide a service for readers and writers alike. 

Other times, reviewers are simply negative and harsh and little can be gleaned from their review
other than that said reviewer did not like the book.  Such is my take on a recent review posted (without my knowledge, though this is a courtesy by no means required) to Booketta's Book Reviews.  The review in question surrounded Storm World: Speaker Of The Gods, which Booketta claims to have read all the way through.  Maybe she did, even if I don't find the evidence all that compelling.

The reviewer starts off getting the title wrong:

Stormworld

It's actually two words.  A simple visit to Amazon.com would've helped with this.  Unfortunately, Booketta neglected to do this and also uses the old cover.  To be fair to her, though, the old cover is still up on librarything.com. 

Next, Booketta lets the reader know:

I won this e-book from LibraryThing Members Giveaways.

Good to know that she didn't purchase it.  From here, Booketta notes:

The book started out well and I was looking forward to further developments in the storyline. A few chapters in and I started to get bored.

This fact alone makes me wonder if Booketta was reading the rest or merely sleeping through it, as no plot points (at all) are referenced.  I only give first impressions based on samples on this site, not formal reviews.  However, if I did review a work of fiction, I think I'd at least touch on some key plot points.  How can a reviewer avoid this?  Booketta has managed to do so.  Instead, this is what Booketta finds relevant:

Noah's Ark is referred to several times in the story and the group are asked to believe and have faith in God. John the leader is a Jesus type figure with Rhonda, Malleus, Hector and Odessa his disciples. Samuel is a trainee disciple and is very much a doubting Thomas. Not quite Judas but certainly Peter. Is this a Christian story?

Does that question even belong after the four declarative sentences (one's a fragment, but still) preceding it? Ironically, Booketta sees the Christian overtones, which are in the book, but misses the rather obvious Biblical overtone signified by the protagonist's very name.  Not to be snide, but his name is Samuel.  Might that not be a clue?  The Bible is not simply confined to The New Testament, Booketta, even if that fact does complicate your disciple theory a bit.

All in all, I felt that Booketta is entitled to her opinions, however much I disagree with them.  Would it have been nicer if she bothered to be more detailed in her review?  Sure.  Would it have been more informative?  Absolutely.  However, putting a book out there means that all reviews have to be taken into consideration, good and bad, ignorant and informed.  While I may roll my eyes at parts of the review, I do have to at least thank readers like Booketta for considering the works of new authors, even if it is in part as free content for her blog.

Accomplished In Murder Captures Victorian Ambiance

Just started reading the sample of Accomplished In Murder by Dara England.  My first impressions
are that the sample definitely captures the ambiance of the period, particularly in the use of language and mood.  One arguable contrast exists in the use of detail.  In traditional Victorian fare (in this blogger's opinion), a good deal of time is devoted to description.  Here, the author definitely utilizes description, but does so as needed, as she starts out with the observations of the character of Celeste in a cemetery and then works her way into the perspective of the character of Druscilla.  For anyone looking for a murder mystery, take a look at Accomplished In Murder.  If you love period mysteries, you'll love this!  Once again, it's available for purchase here: Amazon.com.

Shameless Plug!

Just wanted to mention that one of my books, Storm World: Speaker Of The Gods, is featured on

Indie Books Blog this morning!  You can read the brief author interview there.  Yay!

Accomplished In Murder by Dara England

Accomplished In Murder is a 17,000-world historical mystery novella that
is the first in a series that (as stated on Spalding's Racket) features intrepid
Victorian heroines up to their bustles in crime.

You can purchase the book for only $0.99 at this link: Amazon.com.

Here's a brief description:

When her holiday on the coast of Cornwall takes a deadly turn, it is up to Drucilla
Winterbourne to uncover the dangerous secrets the inhabitants of Blackridge House
will do anything to conceal. But can a proper young lady from London society
comprehend the dark motives of a killer?

I'll be back tomorrow with my first impressions on the book.  It is only $0.99, though.
Why not check it out on your own?

This Ebook Gets It Right!



Based on the sample, Blood Of Requiem strikes me as an ebook that gets it right!  Arensen's cover clearly communicates the genre.  His pricing renders the work a value.  His weaving of familiar mythical staples like the griffin with weredragons and the Vir Requis gives the reader a sense of rich and layered world building.  Arensen is smart enough to start with a scene full of action, a meaningful battle that gives the book a punch right from the start.  For those with a taste for fantasy, Blood Of Requiem is worth checking out.  Let's be honest.  Doesn't it just look cool, too?

Blood of Requiem by Daniel Arenson

Love epic fantasy like A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin? Try Song of Dragons,
a new fantasy series about blood, steel, and dragonfire available for $2.99 at this link: Amazon.com.

BOOK ONE: BLOOD OF REQUIEM
Long ago stood the kingdom of Requiem, a land of men who could grow wings and scales, breathe fire, and take flight as dragons. Requiem ruled the sky.

But Dies Irae, a tyrant leading an army of griffins, hunted Requiem's people, burned their forests, and shattered their temples. Requiem fell. This ancient land now lies in ruin, its halls crumbled, its cries silenced, its skeletons littering the burned earth.

In the wilderness, a scattering of survivors lives in hiding. The griffins still hunt them, and every day promises death. Will Requiem's last children perish in exile... or once more become dragons and fly to war?

VF Folland's Fire Season A Promising Read!

Note: Visit VH Folland's blog at http://vhfolland.blogspot.com/ for more.  Folland offers interesting
insights on Fire Season and readerly assumptions.

I've just been reading from the sample of VH Folland's Fire Season.  As a reader, I
commend Folland's quick pacing and narrative skill.  I particularly like that in advancing the
story of aerial fire fighting, Folland drops in quiet moments, such as descriptive accounts that
really underscore the character Matt and his love of airplanes.  Granted, the sample is short,
but from what I've read I'd say it's an exciting premise.  For any reader looking for an action-
adventure story with a good sense of conflict, you can't go wrong here.

Fire Season by VH Foland

Fire Season by VH Folland is available on the Kindle for $3.95.  You can purchase it here: Amazon.com.

When forest fire threatens the communities near Matt’s small airstrip at Brooke’s Vale, flying fire prevention missions is initially just about being a good neighbour. Unfortunately, his primary experience is cropspraying, with firefighting a distant second. Involuntarily grounded, Matt is left to organise the community when communications and power are lost. With the airfield the only connection to the outside world, it is vital to get people out. Unfortunately, Brooke’s Vale isn’t the only town under threat. A rash of arsonists, unseasonal winds, and the sheer scale of the fires leave the emergency services stretched beyond the limit. With thirty stranded residents, the roads blocked, one two-seater aircraft, and help that may arrive too late, he’s got his work cut out for him.

Hello, this is a blog meant to give further exposure to the wonderful world  of Kindle indie

ebooks.  As time goes on, I hope to post ebooks from a variety of authors and give a few

of my thoughts on those ebooks that I've read.

I also hope to give random thoughts on all things Kindle and ebook-related, including
my observations as an author journeying for the first time into the Kindle Revolution.
Some info about me is posted in my profile, but I can say I've written these books:

The Storm World Trilogy: Speaker Of The Gods, The Wave Dancer, and Rise Of
The Stormbearer.  Briefly, these books are YA Fantasy about an ancient cult of
mummified Christian disciples who are resurrected in cycles as Knights of the
End Times.  They watch the coats, the earth, the skies, interpreting when The
Second Coming is at hand.  As the trilogy begins, they see these signs and
return to ancestral home to recruit teen Samuel as he fights to resist them. 

I also wrote The Naked Earth, a wartime thriller that follows and Iraqi-American
war photographer as he uncovers a conspiracy involving genocide in Iraq.  He
must make a fateful choice about whether or not to expose what he finds at
the potential cost of his own life.

This blog isn't just going to be me selling my books, however.  I hope a range
of authors will eventually be featured who might spark the interest of any potential
readers out there.  Right now I'm just trying to master blog format!
Thanks for reading!