Amulet is a really good YA graphic novel. I am jumping into the story a little late with book three, but so what, this is just fun. I want to get all the info out of the way first that way we can just discuss the graphic novel and enjoy ourselves.
“In the third installment of the thrilling Amulet series, Emily, Navin, and their crew of resistance fighters charter an airship and set off in search of Cielis, a mythical city believed to be located on an island high above the clouds. The mysterious Leon Redbeard is their guide, and there's a surprising new addition to the crew: the Elf King's son, Trellis. But is he ally or enemy? And will Emily ever be able to trust the voice of the Amulet? “
Websites: www.scholastic.com Graphix-- www.scholastic.com/graphix
Graphix is an imprint of Scholastic and you can visit their website through them, thus the link. I enjoyed this on many levels, not just because I could share this with my younger children. The artwork felt safe and inviting, really right on the mark for this type of graphic novel. The edges were round and soft, the bad guys didn’t look so menacing, and even the gadgets and weapons looked non- threating: all plusses in my book. The dialogue fit well and seemed to be on a good level for just about any audience, not talking down or seemingly out of reach. I even enjoyed the over protective Mother as she doted on her children, all good stuff. The adventure is good enough and original enough not to bore; the dialogue is nice and the artwork is excellent. I ask you: what more could one want from a vehicle such as this? Not much, it hit all the marks for this graphic novel reader. Check it out, with your kids no less, sharing is fun.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Wattpad and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Amazon Banner on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Digital short Saturday A.J. Pompano The Sanibel Slouch ( My first Kindle Read)
I know it isn’t Saturday, and yes I am happy to admit that The Sanibel Slouch by A.J. Pompano is the first read on my new Kindle. Am I trying to brag? No, I am fortunate to have received it as a gift from my children. What I am trying to do is bring this blog and my reading habits up to speed. I had plenty of doubts about whether I was going to enjoy using this device to read. I mean to not hold a book in my hands and enjoy it. I have to say it was a win-win for me as I got to read a very nice digital short and give the Kindle a test drive. A dinosaur like me is tough sell. Changing the way I read is not easy, but it became easy that quick.
The Sanibel Slouch was a departure for me with A.J. Pompano’s work. I am used to reading about his character Quincy Lazaro solving crimes, but not in this one, check it out:
“The Sanibel Slouch is a coming of age story set in the early 1970’s. Jack Esposito has driven Maggie, a woman twice his age and a close friend of his parents, to Florida. Somewhere between Connecticut and the Sunshine State he became more than a driver. With his military deferment at stake, he must wrestle with the decision to quit college and take up with his new love, or to stay in school and live his father’s dream. When Jack thinks that he has finally made a decision, everything falls apart and he is confronted with mind blowing information that makes him realize the Age of Aquarius is all around him.”
The Sanibel Slouch is a total 180 from the digital short stories I have read and posted on (The Copycat Didn’t Have Nine Lives, Driving Directions, Schools Out Forever-check our archives).It is an interesting snapshot of someone’s life that has very little if any direction, although they think they have one. The tale is quick, concise and telling. I am consistently amazed each time I read one of A.J. Pompano’s digital shorts how he is able to invoke so many different emotions in such a short word count and time span. I have found that this is part of the reason I enjoy his work so much and immediately sought out his work to be my first read on the new Kindle.
My plans are to start filling this new device up with as many fun and exciting reads as possible. I have found that actually reading the directions on how to use something for once pays dividends. To anyone that has yet to use one of these contraptions, get one, they rock and are addictive. I got lucky, a quality device, awesome present, great first read on it. A buck buys a lot these days: download The Sanibel Slouch, or any of A.J. Pompano’s other works for that matter, it is a win-win in anyone’s Kindle.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Wattpad and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Amazon Banner on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com
The Sanibel Slouch was a departure for me with A.J. Pompano’s work. I am used to reading about his character Quincy Lazaro solving crimes, but not in this one, check it out:
“The Sanibel Slouch is a coming of age story set in the early 1970’s. Jack Esposito has driven Maggie, a woman twice his age and a close friend of his parents, to Florida. Somewhere between Connecticut and the Sunshine State he became more than a driver. With his military deferment at stake, he must wrestle with the decision to quit college and take up with his new love, or to stay in school and live his father’s dream. When Jack thinks that he has finally made a decision, everything falls apart and he is confronted with mind blowing information that makes him realize the Age of Aquarius is all around him.”
The Sanibel Slouch is a total 180 from the digital short stories I have read and posted on (The Copycat Didn’t Have Nine Lives, Driving Directions, Schools Out Forever-check our archives).It is an interesting snapshot of someone’s life that has very little if any direction, although they think they have one. The tale is quick, concise and telling. I am consistently amazed each time I read one of A.J. Pompano’s digital shorts how he is able to invoke so many different emotions in such a short word count and time span. I have found that this is part of the reason I enjoy his work so much and immediately sought out his work to be my first read on the new Kindle.
My plans are to start filling this new device up with as many fun and exciting reads as possible. I have found that actually reading the directions on how to use something for once pays dividends. To anyone that has yet to use one of these contraptions, get one, they rock and are addictive. I got lucky, a quality device, awesome present, great first read on it. A buck buys a lot these days: download The Sanibel Slouch, or any of A.J. Pompano’s other works for that matter, it is a win-win in anyone’s Kindle.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Wattpad and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Amazon Banner on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Romantic Wednesday Delilah Marvelle Prelude to a Scandal
I think I got this one right; it is Wednesday. Earlier today we had a guest post by Travis Hiltz on some graphic novel history (we usually reserve that for Friday) and tomorrow I am putting up a digital short story post we usually pop in on Saturday. Go figure, short week and another awesome holiday, Happy New Year to everyone; I hope you enjoy your festivities.
Okay business aside let’s get into Prelude to a Scandal by Delilah Marvelle. Color me surprised, I am not sure what shade that may be, but that I am. I’m still getting used to reading romance novels and there seems to be a lot of territory the novels in this genre cover. This one is a historical romance with a twist; let’s get to the pertinent information shall we:
” Lady Justine is willing to trade her good name, her reputation and her place in London's gossip-hungry ton to secure her father's release from prison. But when the notorious Duke of Bradford counters her offer with a proposal of marriage, the stakes grow higher still. For while the smoldering lord is famous for his conquests, the man is oblivious to both her devotion and her charms. And Justine is soon afraid she has wagered all for naught… “
To say that I had some fun with this is understatement. Justine is a really good character: filled with witty banter, right to the point, sharp tongue, and above all she’s a handful. Delilah Marvelle sets the time period well and makes the historical element of the novel blend in and be a piece of what we are engaging in, not the whole. The time she has spent researching the period and the patience she has devoted into bringing it to us is not lost, but a very subtle sub current.
Prelude to a Scandal is a nice way for me to close out the year on Romantic Wednesday. It is a strong, historical romance that is long on entertainment, well- crafted characters, great narrative and excellent sub-plots. I beseech you then, is there much more one could ask of this novel? I think not. Take a leap and have some surprisingly good fun whether you are a fan of this genre or not, let Lady Justine work her charms on you will not be wagering for naught.
Here is her website: www.DelilahMarvelle.com
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Wattpad and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Amazon Banner on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com
Okay business aside let’s get into Prelude to a Scandal by Delilah Marvelle. Color me surprised, I am not sure what shade that may be, but that I am. I’m still getting used to reading romance novels and there seems to be a lot of territory the novels in this genre cover. This one is a historical romance with a twist; let’s get to the pertinent information shall we:
” Lady Justine is willing to trade her good name, her reputation and her place in London's gossip-hungry ton to secure her father's release from prison. But when the notorious Duke of Bradford counters her offer with a proposal of marriage, the stakes grow higher still. For while the smoldering lord is famous for his conquests, the man is oblivious to both her devotion and her charms. And Justine is soon afraid she has wagered all for naught… “
To say that I had some fun with this is understatement. Justine is a really good character: filled with witty banter, right to the point, sharp tongue, and above all she’s a handful. Delilah Marvelle sets the time period well and makes the historical element of the novel blend in and be a piece of what we are engaging in, not the whole. The time she has spent researching the period and the patience she has devoted into bringing it to us is not lost, but a very subtle sub current.
Prelude to a Scandal is a nice way for me to close out the year on Romantic Wednesday. It is a strong, historical romance that is long on entertainment, well- crafted characters, great narrative and excellent sub-plots. I beseech you then, is there much more one could ask of this novel? I think not. Take a leap and have some surprisingly good fun whether you are a fan of this genre or not, let Lady Justine work her charms on you will not be wagering for naught.
Here is her website: www.DelilahMarvelle.com
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Wattpad and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Amazon Banner on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com
Guest Post Travis Hiltz
Devil Dinosaur Omnibus
Quick history lesson: Jack Kirby (hallowed be thy name!) was one of the men who helped to create Marvel Comics. From 1960 until early 1970 he wrote and drew hundreds of Marvel’s most well known characters.
He then had a falling out with the “powers that be” at Marvel and spent several years working for their chief rival in the industry, DC Comics.
At the end of the 70’s, Kirby returned to Marvel. During this time he created several short-lived series that were more science fiction oriented than straight super heroes. They existed in their own little corners of the Marvel universe. One of them was Devil Dinosaur.
Set way back at the dawn of pre-history (the time before time!), it chronicles the adventures of Moon Boy a young cave man (cave boy?) and Devil Dinosaur, a bright red Tyrannosaurus Rex. Both Moon Boy and Devil are outcasts, Moon Boy because he tends to question and think about things more than his tribe is comfortable with and Devil because he’s bright red and the biggest badass in the valley.
This duo learns that by working together they can survive and so begins one of the strangest friendships in comic history.
At first glance, it appears to be a very odd “boy and his dog” story, but it’s more similar to “Peabody and Sherman” than it is “Lassie and Timmy”, as Devil is portrayed as being just as smart as Moon Boy. As they traveled, they encountered rival tribes, evil hunters, natural disasters, monsters and eventually aliens.
With Jack Kirby’s wonderful larger than life art and wild adventure stories, ‘Devil Dinosaur’ has the feeling of the old Hanna-barbara cartoons that I used to watch as a kid. Why the film rights were never grabbed up has always baffled me.
The down side of this otherwise entertaining series is that it has gotten a bit lost in the shuffle and has not found the audience it deserves. Fans of Kirby consider it one of his lesser works, mere “kid stuff”. “Serious” comic fans and historians seem to get embarrassed by its lack of concern for historical and scientific accuracy and cartoonish nature.
This hardcover is the first time the series has been collected. Individual back issues are difficult to track down, making it unavailable or out of the price range of the younger readers that it would most appeal to. This is a shame, since this is a comic that would perfect for a kid just starting out reading or who is new to comic books.
Whatever complaints people may have about the writing, the art is pure Kirby magic: The dinosaurs are huge and fearsome, the monsters are threatening, the colors are vivid, and panels are big and feature crowds of cavemen yelling. The aliens and their technology look suitably intricate and otherworldly. As with all Kirby art, it beautifully presents a world you know doesn’t exist, but looks real enough that you wish it did.
This hardcover collection is a worthy addition to any Kirby fans bookshelf, but I can’t help thinking they’d have sold more copies if Marvel had instead done a soft cover collection, maybe something similar to the digest sized collections that Archie comics and Japanese manga come in.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Wattpad and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Amazon Banner on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Matt Haig The Radleys
I am not a big vampire guy and really don’t read that much of the genre. My saying anything about this being a typical vampire novel would be incorrect and impolite. What this novel is though, is just plain flat out fun and a very good read. The Radleys try to be the every neighbor, the middle of the road couple, the average family, but they are anything but that; they are abstaining vampires. Fun, frivolity, family soap opera, fast paced action are what is found in the pages penned by Matt Haig. Check it out:
“Meet the Radleys
Peter, Helen and their teenage children, Clara and Rowan, live in an English town. They are an everyday family, averagely dysfunctional, averagely content. But as their children have yet to find out, the Radleys have a devastating secret
From one of Britain’s finest young novelists comes a razor-sharp unpicking of adulthood and family life. In this moving, thrilling and extraordinary portrait of one unusual family, The Radleys ask what we grow into when we grow up, and explores what we gain – and lose – when we deny our appetites. “
The novel for me was, well novel, right from the very beginning. The background information on vampires and abstaining was really cute and different. The whole direction the novel took was a departure from anything I have read recently. Issues of all sorts were delved into and fleshed out here in the Radleys: Family values, teen bullying, peer pressure, selfishness, fidelity. Check me if I am wrong, but I thought this was a vampire novel.
I had the pleasure of finishing this novel during the snowstorm that blew through here on Sunday. I don’t know if that elevated my mood while I read it or not, but the novel built pressure right to the very end and then Matt Haig tied everything up with a nice tight bow and left nothing dangling or blowing in the wind. Would I suggest this novel to anyone, I am right now. The Radleys rocks, I don’t hesitate to pass this around to my wife and children; it is just that entertaining. Do not abstain from this novel; it could lead to withdraw symptoms, blotchiness, skin irritation, low tolerance to sunlight, fatigue and sleeplessness.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Wattpad and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Amazon Banner on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com
“Meet the Radleys
Peter, Helen and their teenage children, Clara and Rowan, live in an English town. They are an everyday family, averagely dysfunctional, averagely content. But as their children have yet to find out, the Radleys have a devastating secret
From one of Britain’s finest young novelists comes a razor-sharp unpicking of adulthood and family life. In this moving, thrilling and extraordinary portrait of one unusual family, The Radleys ask what we grow into when we grow up, and explores what we gain – and lose – when we deny our appetites. “
The novel for me was, well novel, right from the very beginning. The background information on vampires and abstaining was really cute and different. The whole direction the novel took was a departure from anything I have read recently. Issues of all sorts were delved into and fleshed out here in the Radleys: Family values, teen bullying, peer pressure, selfishness, fidelity. Check me if I am wrong, but I thought this was a vampire novel.
I had the pleasure of finishing this novel during the snowstorm that blew through here on Sunday. I don’t know if that elevated my mood while I read it or not, but the novel built pressure right to the very end and then Matt Haig tied everything up with a nice tight bow and left nothing dangling or blowing in the wind. Would I suggest this novel to anyone, I am right now. The Radleys rocks, I don’t hesitate to pass this around to my wife and children; it is just that entertaining. Do not abstain from this novel; it could lead to withdraw symptoms, blotchiness, skin irritation, low tolerance to sunlight, fatigue and sleeplessness.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Wattpad and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Amazon Banner on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com
Guest Post David N. Alderman author of the Black Earth Series
Book Review - Demon: A Memoir by Tosca Lee
For me, it’s hard to find compelling Christian fiction that can hold my interest. I became a fan of Tosca Lee when I met her about a year ago at a writer’s meeting and purchased a copy of Havah: The Story of Eve. Havah opened my eyes to how beautifully Christian fiction could be written without coming off preachy. In the same lines of Ted Dekker, Tosca knows how to write compelling fiction that everyone will enjoy reading, filled with themes of redemption and of good overcoming evil.
After purchasing Havah, Tosca Lee contacted me and told me she wanted to send me a copy of Demon: A Memoir, her other piece of Christian fiction. It took me about a year to get to it in my mountain of books to read...
…But boy was it worth it.
Demon: A Memoir follows Clay, a down and out editor at a small press who is approached by a demon named Lucian. Lucian tells Clay that he wants the man to listen to his story and write it all down because his story is Clay’s story. Clay has no clue what this even means and doesn’t really want anything to do with the demon at first, but he slowly becomes compelled to chronicle the story of Satan’s fall from Heaven and grace, and Lucian’s part in things.
If Tosca knows how to do one thing well, it’s write speculative fiction in regards to Biblical history or spiritual elements. She does this well in writing Demon, especially with the way she chronicles the familiar story of how pride caused Satan to rebel and take a third of Heaven’s elite with him. As with Havah, Tosca Lee’s poetic writing style is weaved through the book, giving beautiful prose to a wholly entertaining adventure.
This story kept me captivated until the very end and I happily give it five stars and recommend it to anyone, regardless if you read spiritual fiction or not.
David Alderman is the full-time, self-published author of the science fiction/fantasy series, Black Earth. You can find out more about Black Earth and his writing talents at www.davidnalderman.com.
dna@davidnalderman.com / www.davidnalderman.com / www.abrokenreality.blogspot.com
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Wattpad and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Amazon Banner on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com
For me, it’s hard to find compelling Christian fiction that can hold my interest. I became a fan of Tosca Lee when I met her about a year ago at a writer’s meeting and purchased a copy of Havah: The Story of Eve. Havah opened my eyes to how beautifully Christian fiction could be written without coming off preachy. In the same lines of Ted Dekker, Tosca knows how to write compelling fiction that everyone will enjoy reading, filled with themes of redemption and of good overcoming evil.
After purchasing Havah, Tosca Lee contacted me and told me she wanted to send me a copy of Demon: A Memoir, her other piece of Christian fiction. It took me about a year to get to it in my mountain of books to read...
…But boy was it worth it.
Demon: A Memoir follows Clay, a down and out editor at a small press who is approached by a demon named Lucian. Lucian tells Clay that he wants the man to listen to his story and write it all down because his story is Clay’s story. Clay has no clue what this even means and doesn’t really want anything to do with the demon at first, but he slowly becomes compelled to chronicle the story of Satan’s fall from Heaven and grace, and Lucian’s part in things.
If Tosca knows how to do one thing well, it’s write speculative fiction in regards to Biblical history or spiritual elements. She does this well in writing Demon, especially with the way she chronicles the familiar story of how pride caused Satan to rebel and take a third of Heaven’s elite with him. As with Havah, Tosca Lee’s poetic writing style is weaved through the book, giving beautiful prose to a wholly entertaining adventure.
This story kept me captivated until the very end and I happily give it five stars and recommend it to anyone, regardless if you read spiritual fiction or not.
David Alderman is the full-time, self-published author of the science fiction/fantasy series, Black Earth. You can find out more about Black Earth and his writing talents at www.davidnalderman.com.
dna@davidnalderman.com / www.davidnalderman.com / www.abrokenreality.blogspot.com
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Wattpad and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Amazon Banner on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Gelati's Scoop Top 25 Self-Published Novel of 2010
Alright, today is Thursday and this completes my trifecta of best lists for 2010. Next year I will be able to expand them a bit more and include Romance novels. Romantic Wednesday is becoming a very large part of our week here @ The Scoop. After I put this post up in the different areas I usually put them, I am signing off till after Christmas. The Gelati family wishes you and yours the best and most Merry Christmas ever. Thanks. Here they come the Top 25 Self-Published Novels of 2010 (you will notice a few graphic novels in the mix, they deserve to be recognized).
1-Leona Bodie- Shadow Cay
2-Jason McIntyre-On the Gathering Storm, Shed, Thalo Blue
3-John Stipa- No Greater Sacrifice
4-Alan Sakowitz- Miles Apart…World’s Away
5-Joe Konrath & Company- Draculas
6-Anthony Robinson-The American Golfer
7-Jodi Langston- Nature of the Beast
8-Leonardo Ramirez-Haven
9-Manoj Rao- WMD’s The Weapons Are Coming
10-Jessica Rohm- Sugar Tower
11-Donald Anderson –Hanging by the Thread
12-David N. Alderman- The Black Earth Trilogy
13-Kait Nolan- Forsaken by Shadow
14-Marvin Linberg-Ponzied
15-David Doub-Dusk
16-Marti Lawrence-Rivers of Possibilities
17-Rose A. Valenta- Sitting on Porcelain
18-Betty Otter Thompson- Walking Through Illusion
19-Abe March-They Plotted Revenge Against America
20-Mark A. Rayner-Marvellous Hairy
21-Richard Gazala- Blood Moon
22-Thomas White – Justice Rules
23-Carla Rene-Gaslight Journal
24-Mark Bouton-How to Spot Lies Like the FBI
25- Tony Bertot-Birth of an Assassin
Merry Christmas and Happy New Years!!!
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Wattpad and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Amazon Banner on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Matthew Reilly Hell Island
Are there any Scarecrow fans out there? I am definitely one. You can count me among those that have read everything that is available that Matthew Reilly has written, including the YA Hover Car series. The last time I posted on a Matthew Reilly novel was for the Five Greatest Warriors novel (please check the archives for that; I loved it). Here is what this short novel is about:
“This revised edition of the short novel originally published in Australia is specially adapted for readers of all ages with reading difficulties. There is no hell like a man-made one...It is an island that doesn't appear on any maps. A secret location where classified experiments have been conducted. Experiments that have gone terribly wrong...When all contact with this mystery island is inexplicably lost, four crack special-forces units are brought in, their mission being to land on Hell Island and discover what has happened. Nothing can prepare them for what they find there. You could say they've just entered hell. Only that would be too gentle.”
When I picked this up from the library (yes, I do do that, the librarians are very nice to me, and it is an excellent resource), I was a bit surprised by the size of it, 128 pages. A Shane Schofield novel is usually much longer than that and this bad boy had a few pictures in it to go along with the story, very nice. I am going to give you a piece of the introduction by Matthew Reilly. I found the genesis of this novel very interesting:
“Hell Island was originally written for an Australian Government initiative called Books Alive, the objective of which was to get Australians into bookstores and reading more. I was approached to write a short novel, no longer than 110 pages that would be given away to Australians for free for a month. I thought this was a fantastic idea and jumped at the chance.
I wrote Hell Island.
More than that, I set out to write 110 pages of the most kick-butt, over- the- top, blindingly fast action I could. It’s not often you get a chance to show your stuff to the general population for free, so I seized the opportunity with both hands.”
I believe the last time we saw the Scarecrow he was nursing a beer sitting on a chaise lounge pondering life’s questions and his next move in life. I was hoping that Matthew Reilly would get back to the character quickly, but I guess we Americans had to wait a bit. All that aside, this is a fine ride with Mother, Scarecrow and a host of characters that come at the readers fast and furiously. Reilly certainly packed a ton of action into such a short space; he accomplished everything he set out to do. Putting it down is not really an option, it is a nice cover to cover read, that moves fast and hard. Reading this will not put you through hell, but make you an island as you will not want to be bothered as you read it. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our wonderful supporters and readers, thanks so much for an incredible 2010.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Wattpad and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Amazon Banner on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com
Gelati's Scoop Best Digital short Stories of 2010
Hi, me again. I am not going to get up on my soap box and explain my love for the digital short story again, but hey, they rock. Here are 15 of my favs from this year. Next year, I hope to make it a top 50 as I get into them more. Enjoy and download the fun:
1- Agents of Treachery (see our archives it explains how this novel fits this category)
2- A.J. Pompano- The Copy Cat Didn’t Have Nine Lives, School’s Out Forever
3- Vincent Zandri-Moonlight Mafia, Pathological, True Stories
4- Jason McIntyre-Road Markers, The Night Walk Men
5- Aaron Patterson-19
6- Tor Richardson-Four Felonies and One Small Problem
7- David Delee- First Impression, Kickin’ It South of The Border
8- Kristine Kathryn Rusch- Stomping Mad
9- Mark Maciejewski- The Kindly Stop Café
10- Floyd Buck Periwinkle- Signed, Sealed, and Delivered: The Breaker Series
11- S.W. Barger- Meteor 97
12- Andy Frankham Allen- Off Flesh
13- Jeffrey Martin-Red, White and Blood
14- John McFetridge-East Coast
15- Matt Williams- Death’s Door
I hope that if you haven’t given these fine authors a try, you jump on some of this fine work and download to any type of e-reading device you have; they are fun, quick, and well done. Tomorrow is our list of self-published authors. I hope that you tune in for that; if you can’t and are on the run, please have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Years!!
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Wattpad and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Amazon Banner on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Gelati's Scoop's Top 35 Novels of 2010
I am not a year-end list type of guy but I am going to put three out here this week. I have broken my lists up into three categories: novels, digital short stories, and self-published work. The plan is to put them up in that order Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The time frame involved for inclusion in this is the entire year, not just a quarter as I have done throughout the year. Placement of some of the novels may surprise you and/or irritate you (sorry), but I am more than happy to debate my placement choices with you. Let’s have at it shall we? Here are my top 35 novel choices for 2010 which I could have easily made 100, maybe next year. Wait, why 35? To keep it simple, we have been posting since mid- March so I wanted to divide 50 by 4 and multiply it by 3. 35 seemed like a nice number. 38 or 39 didn’t cut it for me. Feel free to download all of them to your new ereader. Oh yeah, some authors have two titles next to their name; I loved them both.
1-Lee Child-61 Hours/Worth Dying for
2-TIE:Brad Thor-Foreign Influence/The Athena Project
-Vince Flynn-American Assassin(Sorry couldn’t make up my mind)
3-Daniel Silva-The Rembrandt Affair
4-Barry Eisler-Inside Out
5-Jeffrey Deaver- Edge/The Burning Wire
6-John Sandford- Storm Prey/Bad Blood
7-Harlan Coben –Caught
8-Robert Crais- The First Rule
9-Gayle Lynds- The Book of Spies
10-Steve Berry- The Emperor’s Tomb
11-Michael Connelly- The Reversal
12-Vincent Zandri-The Remains/The Innocent
13-Steven James-The Bishop
14-David Rollins-Hard Rain
15-David Baldacci-Deliver Us From Evil/Hell’s Corner
16-Steve Hamilton-The Lockout Artist
17-Alex Berenson-The Midnight House
18-Richard Doetsch- The Thieves of Darkness/The 13th Hour
19-James Patterson-Private
20 Zoe Ferraris- City of Veils
21-Bob Hamer- Enemies Among Us
22-Irene Hannon-In Harm’s Way
23-Sean Chercover- Trigger City
24-Stephen J. Cannell-The Prostitute’s Ball
25-Michael Wiley- The Bad Kitty Lounge
26-Christopher Quinton Scadifi- Time Couriers
27-Douglas Corleone-One Man’s Paradise
28-Mark Greaney- The Gray Man/ On Target
28-Ben Coes- Power Down
29- Aura Imbarus- Out of The Transylvania Night
30-Tom Wallace-Heirs of Cain
31- Lee Goldberg- Mr. Monk Gets Cleaned out/ The Walk
32-Todd Goldberg- Burn Notice –The Giveaway
33-Todd Ritter- Death Notice
34-Leona Bodie- Shadow Cay
35-Daniel Carter- The Unwanted Trilogy
I hope that I have pointed out some excellent novels by some very nice people that happen to be very good authors. Give them a shot if you haven’t already, there are some excellent debut novels in there as well as works by some of the giants in the industry. Above all have a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Years!!
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Wattpad and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Amazon Banner on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com
Q&A with Alan Sakowitz author of Miles Away...Worlds Apart
-Have you found that the response that you get from those that have read your book to be positive and that they got the spirit of why it was written?
Yes, Readers have written to me from all across America and even several countries around the world with feedback. Having a dialog with readers is such a pleasure.
-What are some of the positive things that have come from your readers taking your message to heart? There is nothing more meaningful than when readers contact me and ask how they can build a community with an infrastructure where neighbors help neighbors. My answer is to always “Start small. Start with a core group and select one program that your community needs. Once the program is started and it is benefiting the community other neighbors will either join in or start another project to assist the same community.” Creating programs where neighbors help neighbors spreads an enthusiasm that is contagious.
-What other things would you like to see happen from your readers once they are done with the book? It would be great to hear inspiring stories and empowering lessons from my readers. Sharing them on my web site, EmpoweringLessons, would allow readers to constantly read stories that inspire them to build up their communities. I hope that becomes a reality.
-What do you have coming out next, and what is the direction of it? There are two other books that are written in my mind. One is similar to Miles Away… Worlds Apart, but a different event, not a crime but still nonfiction, with more powerful lessons and stories from around the world. The other book is just inspiring stories from around the world. Before my time directed into other books, I need to remain devoted to marketing Miles Away… Worlds Apart.
-What people have been the biggest influence on you? My parents, siblings, wife, children, friends and neighbors.
-I have to ask this question: What is the question that you don't get asked that surprises you doesn't get asked and what is the answer to it? The opposite has happened. I have been asked so many different questions. Many of them I am surprised have generated so much interest. One question I am asked often that I am surprised has sparked so much interest relates to the murder of Melissa Britt Lewis, an attorney that was a partner in Rothstein’s firm. Many people seem sure either she was killed by Rothstein’s COO’s ex-husband or sure he did not kill her and surprised when I don’t have a strong opinion either way. My thought is that there is so much evidence each way that an independent investigation needs to be conducted. I do not have access to the information needed for me to make a more informed answer.
-The Holiday's are in full swing. Do you have any recipe ideas you wish to share with our readers for a libation, cookie, appetizer, main course? Having four daughters that are each great cooks and a wife that is a great cook, keeps me out of the kitchen except to cook eggs and pizza!
-The process you use to pen your book, what is it, how do you go about it? Once I decided to write this book, I sat at my home computer each night after work and stayed glued to the key board five nights a week and all day Sunday. Other than Friday night and Saturday, after work, that was my focus. I wrote it and rewrote it for about five months. I went through about 20 -25 drafts before the manuscript became a book. There was a need for a balance between speed and completeness. Time was important since the book being released while the Rothstein situation was still unfolding had a publicity advantage. At the same time, waiting for as many details to unfold also was important. In the end, it was a balancing of the two that was needed. It was also important that I did not race the process to the point that quality suffered.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Wattpad and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Amazon Banner on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com
Yes, Readers have written to me from all across America and even several countries around the world with feedback. Having a dialog with readers is such a pleasure.
-What are some of the positive things that have come from your readers taking your message to heart? There is nothing more meaningful than when readers contact me and ask how they can build a community with an infrastructure where neighbors help neighbors. My answer is to always “Start small. Start with a core group and select one program that your community needs. Once the program is started and it is benefiting the community other neighbors will either join in or start another project to assist the same community.” Creating programs where neighbors help neighbors spreads an enthusiasm that is contagious.
-What other things would you like to see happen from your readers once they are done with the book? It would be great to hear inspiring stories and empowering lessons from my readers. Sharing them on my web site, EmpoweringLessons, would allow readers to constantly read stories that inspire them to build up their communities. I hope that becomes a reality.
-What do you have coming out next, and what is the direction of it? There are two other books that are written in my mind. One is similar to Miles Away… Worlds Apart, but a different event, not a crime but still nonfiction, with more powerful lessons and stories from around the world. The other book is just inspiring stories from around the world. Before my time directed into other books, I need to remain devoted to marketing Miles Away… Worlds Apart.
-What people have been the biggest influence on you? My parents, siblings, wife, children, friends and neighbors.
-I have to ask this question: What is the question that you don't get asked that surprises you doesn't get asked and what is the answer to it? The opposite has happened. I have been asked so many different questions. Many of them I am surprised have generated so much interest. One question I am asked often that I am surprised has sparked so much interest relates to the murder of Melissa Britt Lewis, an attorney that was a partner in Rothstein’s firm. Many people seem sure either she was killed by Rothstein’s COO’s ex-husband or sure he did not kill her and surprised when I don’t have a strong opinion either way. My thought is that there is so much evidence each way that an independent investigation needs to be conducted. I do not have access to the information needed for me to make a more informed answer.
-The Holiday's are in full swing. Do you have any recipe ideas you wish to share with our readers for a libation, cookie, appetizer, main course? Having four daughters that are each great cooks and a wife that is a great cook, keeps me out of the kitchen except to cook eggs and pizza!
-The process you use to pen your book, what is it, how do you go about it? Once I decided to write this book, I sat at my home computer each night after work and stayed glued to the key board five nights a week and all day Sunday. Other than Friday night and Saturday, after work, that was my focus. I wrote it and rewrote it for about five months. I went through about 20 -25 drafts before the manuscript became a book. There was a need for a balance between speed and completeness. Time was important since the book being released while the Rothstein situation was still unfolding had a publicity advantage. At the same time, waiting for as many details to unfold also was important. In the end, it was a balancing of the two that was needed. It was also important that I did not race the process to the point that quality suffered.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Wattpad and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Amazon Banner on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com
Monday, December 20, 2010
Q&A with Susan Fraser King author of Queen Hereafter
-The research you have done seems exhaustive. Are you exhausted from it and do you find enjoyment from the process?
I love doing the research! Years in graduate studies taught me how to research and follow a historical trail, and I still love doing that. I can get lost in the fun of tracking down historical facts and theories and all the details. And a good portion of what goes in the books is also cumulative knowledge, so it's not as exhausting as it may seem. I've been gathering and absorbing information about Scotland's history and culture for a long time. I also go to experts in various fields to make sure that what I'm doing is accurate.
-Your novel seems to be so well thought out and constructed, how do you decide the time period and person you are going to research and write about?
For both QUEEN HEREAFTER and LADY MACBETH, I was researching another book and came across fascinating references to these women, and was so intrigued that I knew I wanted to develop stories for them. It can be a slow and time-consuming process to work out the plot and all, but despite all that, I love doing the research and the planning--love the writing part, too.
-The cover art is very nice, how much input and influence do you have on that?
I'm so pleased with the beautiful cover on this book! I'm usually asked for my thoughts on a cover, and if the art department likes the suggestion they will play with it. Then I wait to see what they produce. In the first cover proof, the model's hair was shorter and her dress had some extra detailing on it, so I asked for longer hair and a simpler gown, and that was it. Fabulous cover art.
-What is your next project and when can we expect it?
I'm working on a couple of stories just now that I think are really exciting, though it's too soon to say much at this point!
-Going forward ,how do you see this ebook thing going and where do you see the Google vs. Amazon battle going? Does any of this weigh on your mind and impact your writing?
I write the books, and leave the debates to other people - either way, a really good story is needed for any reading format! Ebooks are so convenience for a lot of people, and I have an e-reader myself, but use it only occasionally. I will always prefer a real book, I think, for the 3D, tactile experience that only a book can offer the reader.
Do you think that you may at any point get away from the historical fiction and pen a novel in another genre?
It's always possible! I have lots of ideas in many areas, though so far have only pursued doing historical novels.
-I have to ask this question because I am usually not too good at asking questions, so here goes: what is the one question that you are surprised doesn't get asked of you and what is the answer to it?
What a great question, and not easy to answer! I get a lot of questions about the research, though not so many about the writing process itself, and I love to talk about creating good prose. I like to play with the artistic side of writing as much as I do the research and structural side. Historical fiction can have a great subject and great research, but for me, the writing has to flow and have a good, unique quality of its own for a completely successful story.
-Do you have any favorite movies this time of year? A couple of mine are Elf and Scrooged.
Being the mom of three sons, "A Christmas Story" and "Home Alone" are among my favorite holiday movies. I love "Elf" and "Scrooged" too!
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Wattpad and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Amazon Banner on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com
I love doing the research! Years in graduate studies taught me how to research and follow a historical trail, and I still love doing that. I can get lost in the fun of tracking down historical facts and theories and all the details. And a good portion of what goes in the books is also cumulative knowledge, so it's not as exhausting as it may seem. I've been gathering and absorbing information about Scotland's history and culture for a long time. I also go to experts in various fields to make sure that what I'm doing is accurate.
-Your novel seems to be so well thought out and constructed, how do you decide the time period and person you are going to research and write about?
For both QUEEN HEREAFTER and LADY MACBETH, I was researching another book and came across fascinating references to these women, and was so intrigued that I knew I wanted to develop stories for them. It can be a slow and time-consuming process to work out the plot and all, but despite all that, I love doing the research and the planning--love the writing part, too.
-The cover art is very nice, how much input and influence do you have on that?
I'm so pleased with the beautiful cover on this book! I'm usually asked for my thoughts on a cover, and if the art department likes the suggestion they will play with it. Then I wait to see what they produce. In the first cover proof, the model's hair was shorter and her dress had some extra detailing on it, so I asked for longer hair and a simpler gown, and that was it. Fabulous cover art.
-What is your next project and when can we expect it?
I'm working on a couple of stories just now that I think are really exciting, though it's too soon to say much at this point!
-Going forward ,how do you see this ebook thing going and where do you see the Google vs. Amazon battle going? Does any of this weigh on your mind and impact your writing?
I write the books, and leave the debates to other people - either way, a really good story is needed for any reading format! Ebooks are so convenience for a lot of people, and I have an e-reader myself, but use it only occasionally. I will always prefer a real book, I think, for the 3D, tactile experience that only a book can offer the reader.
Do you think that you may at any point get away from the historical fiction and pen a novel in another genre?
It's always possible! I have lots of ideas in many areas, though so far have only pursued doing historical novels.
-I have to ask this question because I am usually not too good at asking questions, so here goes: what is the one question that you are surprised doesn't get asked of you and what is the answer to it?
What a great question, and not easy to answer! I get a lot of questions about the research, though not so many about the writing process itself, and I love to talk about creating good prose. I like to play with the artistic side of writing as much as I do the research and structural side. Historical fiction can have a great subject and great research, but for me, the writing has to flow and have a good, unique quality of its own for a completely successful story.
-Do you have any favorite movies this time of year? A couple of mine are Elf and Scrooged.
Being the mom of three sons, "A Christmas Story" and "Home Alone" are among my favorite holiday movies. I love "Elf" and "Scrooged" too!
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Wattpad and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Amazon Banner on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com
Guest Post Rose A. Valenta author of Sitting on Cold Porcelain
Your Funny Bone Can Use the Exercise
Giovanni, thank you for inviting me to contribute to your blog and for reviewing my book Sitting on Cold Porcelain. I love reading books and am partial to humorous narratives. I love a good laugh and absolutely relish making other people laugh. Reading a good humor book tickles your funny bone and helps to make you a healthy and happy camper, especially when things inevitably go wrong.
Many people have asked me why I wrote my book. It actually got placed on my to do list when my children were growing up in Philadelphia, PA.
When I was a young mother, I didn't read the famous baby doctor, Dr. Spock; I read Erma Bombeck. He offered sound advice, but Erma made more sense. She inspired me to write essays like “2012 and Yo Homework.” Any excuse kids can use to avoid doing it, they will use.
Erma pointed out the fact that TV and children dominated our buying habits and that the kids could actually hum beer commercials before their eyes could really focus. So, this was my first clue that motherhood was going to be a challenge.
In addition to Bombeck, I was inspired by comedian Alan King, who wrote Anyone Who Owns Their Own Home Deserves it. At the time I read it, my husband and I were in the process of buying a single fixer-upper home in Northeast Philadelphia. I got such a kick out of Alan’s witty lines about home repairs, that I realized I had enough first-hand funny material to tackle the publishing industry for 100 years.
I did some research about the mechanics of writing a book and was advised to get a job with a local newspaper or publisher to hone my writing skills. I ended up working for McGraw-Hill in Delran, NJ, as a technical writer because creative writing for a newspaper didn’t really pay well. However, as usual, funny things would happen on the job and I would entertain friends and co-workers with stories and anecdotes. I couldn’t get humor writing out of my system and people kept pressuring me to write a book of humorous essays.
Then my grandchildren came along, and even more hilarious things would happen; like the time my oldest daughter, who got married and gave birth to three boys, finally had a girl. We brought her home from the hospital and the boys watched while I changed her diaper, they went ballistic saying that she was defective and had missing parts. They were terrorized and went running after their father asking if he could take her back to the hospital and get her repaired.
As if that wasn’t enough, I was noticing a cultural change in our society. News programming with adult content that used to air at 11:00 pm, rather than prime-time, was being broadcast while the kids were still up doing homework at 6:00 pm. Clinton took office and it was a prime-time fiasco. Children’s sex education was no longer left up to their parents and teachers. They were learning how to spell all the bad words like …“Oval Office.”
My daughters were at their wits-end about it and no v-chip blocked out intermittent news reports about all the hanky-panky going on in the White House. It was in their face 24x7. This was truly Murphy’s Law, right?
I asked myself, what sort of evolving situation is this in the media when my seven-year-old granddaughter, while doing homework in front of the TV, begins to ask embarrassing questions, and wants to know if Kenneth Star is a pinko communist, who is trying to fire our president and asks “What is philandering, anyway?”
This was it for me!
So, I started writing satire about some of these joker politicians on Rosie’s Renegade Humor Blog, remembering Erma Bombeck saying “If you can’t fix it, you can laugh at it.”
The blog became popular and I finally decided to write my book. I needed a title, so I asked myself What is the best example of Murphy’s Law in a woman’s life? A pithy phrase, a situation that affects practically everyone? - Aha! Sitting on Cold Porcelain! You’ve done that at 3:00 am, right?
You have to read the introduction to my book; it explains the idea in detail.
Funny material is never ending when we have people like Glenn Beck getting in trouble in the media for tearfully saying that he actually held George Washington’s Inaugural Address in his hands at the National Archives; when according to officials, he was never even permitted to touch the document. Between him and our other less honorable politicians always getting into trouble, will make perfect fodder for my next book, Sitting on Cold Porcelain II.
Just to give you a glimpse into Edition II, can you even imagine the President of Iran declaring jihad on Paul the Psychic Octopus? It’s true! And it will be appropriately spoofed in Edition II.
If you love reading humor as much as I do, here are a few books for your “must read” list:
Help I’m a Prisoner in a Chinese Bakery by Alan King; If Life Is a Bowl of Cherries, What Am I Doing in the Pits by Erma Bombeck; Never Stand Behind a Loaded Horse by Gordon Kirkland; Rebel Without a Mini-Van by Tracy Baron Beckerman; and The Athletic Benchley by Thomas Saunders.
My intent with Sitting on Cold Porcelain is to entertain you. I hope you laugh out loud reading it and whenever you find yourself in real life situations that are not funny at the time, and you can’t really fix itl, you can think about Sitting on Cold Porcelain and have a good laugh!
You can purchase a copy of my book at Amazon, including The Kindle Store; Barnes and Noble online; Better World Books; your local book store's order desk; and Rosie’s Renegade Humor Blog. It will make a great gift and it has been getting 5-star reviews.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Wattpad and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Amazon Banner on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Graphic Novel Friday Samuel L. Jackson Cold Space
BOOM! Studios put out this graphic novel written and created by Samuel L. Jackson /Eric Calderon with the artwork done by Jeremy Rock. Yes, it is THE Samuel L. Jackson. Who knew the guy was a comic book fan? He explains all that in the introduction in a style that is all his own. I had the feeling he was talking directly to me, explaining what I was going to be experiencing in the graphic novel. Here is the synopsis of the 112 page Cold Space:
“From Academy Award-nominee Samuel L. Jackson and Eric Calderon, the team that brought you the Emmy-award-winning, best-selling AFRO SAMURAI comes their next original series-COLD SPACE. When an on-the-run outlaw crash-lands on a hostile planet on the brink of civil war, he finds himself in the crossfire between two warring factions. But in chaos lies opportunity-because where there's money to be made. A hard-boiled sci-fi action-adventure with covers by Eisner Award-winning artist Dave Johnson and IRREDEEMABLE cover artist Jeffrey Spokes!”
If you are looking for fun, adventure and witty dialogue in your graphic novel this is the right one. Here is Mulberry ( Samuel L. Jackson’s character) yapping in one of the panels, it just sounds like him:” Are you sure you wanna do that? ‘Cause if you ain’t..You need to be getting’ up outta my space.” Mulberry is a fun character that is a mix of many things, and many things he is not. Jackson explains in his introduction what they are trying to do with the character, it is fresh and fun.
The artwork is nice, the cover gallery is cool, and this is just a hip, rad, romp. I was surprised to see this available, and I have plans to try to keep up with it if there are any other editions. I can definitely see him playing Mulberry in a movie if they get it made. If you read it, get back to me on who you think could play the other main parts. I am going to give this the five star treatment: fun characters, fun introduction, fun dialogue, fun… I think you get the picture. Give reality a vacation and go for the intergalactic ride with Samuel L. Jackson/Eric Calderon; they wouldn’t leave you out in a Cold Space.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Wattpad and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Amazon Banner on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com
“From Academy Award-nominee Samuel L. Jackson and Eric Calderon, the team that brought you the Emmy-award-winning, best-selling AFRO SAMURAI comes their next original series-COLD SPACE. When an on-the-run outlaw crash-lands on a hostile planet on the brink of civil war, he finds himself in the crossfire between two warring factions. But in chaos lies opportunity-because where there's money to be made. A hard-boiled sci-fi action-adventure with covers by Eisner Award-winning artist Dave Johnson and IRREDEEMABLE cover artist Jeffrey Spokes!”
If you are looking for fun, adventure and witty dialogue in your graphic novel this is the right one. Here is Mulberry ( Samuel L. Jackson’s character) yapping in one of the panels, it just sounds like him:” Are you sure you wanna do that? ‘Cause if you ain’t..You need to be getting’ up outta my space.” Mulberry is a fun character that is a mix of many things, and many things he is not. Jackson explains in his introduction what they are trying to do with the character, it is fresh and fun.
The artwork is nice, the cover gallery is cool, and this is just a hip, rad, romp. I was surprised to see this available, and I have plans to try to keep up with it if there are any other editions. I can definitely see him playing Mulberry in a movie if they get it made. If you read it, get back to me on who you think could play the other main parts. I am going to give this the five star treatment: fun characters, fun introduction, fun dialogue, fun… I think you get the picture. Give reality a vacation and go for the intergalactic ride with Samuel L. Jackson/Eric Calderon; they wouldn’t leave you out in a Cold Space.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Wattpad and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Amazon Banner on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com
Digital short Saturday David DeLee Kickin’ it South of The Border
I was hoping that this was not a digital short story about The South of The Border. I have come to know and now skip stopping at South of the Border off of Interstate 95 on our way down south on vacation. I like the neon as a marker in the evening, the billboards make me think of my childhood, but I could only think a good comedy would come of a story revolving around it. Thankfully David DeLee has something else in mind. Grace deHaviland rides again: ”Tracking a U.S. bail jumper across the border into Mexico is illegal. But when bounty hunter Grace deHaviland and Sheriff's Deputy Suzie Jensen do just that, facing charges isn't their biggest problem: Getting back alive is.”
Kickin’ it South of The Border is just a tad shorter in length than the previous digital short we posted on a few Saturdays ago (check our archives) by David DeLee, First Impressions. If you are keeping count and like to pay by the word it is 5537 vs. 6763. The character of Grace deHaviland is a good one and I hope that the author continues to pump out the action as he has a fan in me. I enjoy the way he subtly reveals more and more of deHaviland’s personality in each edition of her exploits, and also allows us to meet and discover new friends and interests she has.
The plotline is a quick moving, comical at times, detective type story. David DeLee doesn’t mince words or waste any in this digital short story; it is a taunt, gripping escapade that is fun to wisked away with. I read this on my smartphone while waiting for my daughter to come out of school. She said I had a nice smile on my face when she got in the family vehicle, yes, I was reading another digital short story, she guessed it right.
Before I forget let me give you some more information about the author and a link or two for you to check out things: ”David DeLee is a native New Yorker. He holds a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice, and is a former licensed Private Investigator. His previous short stories have appeared in Daw’s Cosmic Cocktails, in three consecutive volumes of Pocket Books, Strange New Worlds, and the soon-to-be released Mystery Writers of America anthology, The Rich and the Dead.
David is an active member of the Mystery Writers of America and the International Thriller Writers Association. He currently lives in New Hampshire with his family where he’s hard at work on a novel featuring Columbus, Ohio-based bounty hunter, Grace deHaviland.”
Links: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/31162
His Publisher: http://www.darkroadpub.com
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Wattpad and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Amazon Banner on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com
Kickin’ it South of The Border is just a tad shorter in length than the previous digital short we posted on a few Saturdays ago (check our archives) by David DeLee, First Impressions. If you are keeping count and like to pay by the word it is 5537 vs. 6763. The character of Grace deHaviland is a good one and I hope that the author continues to pump out the action as he has a fan in me. I enjoy the way he subtly reveals more and more of deHaviland’s personality in each edition of her exploits, and also allows us to meet and discover new friends and interests she has.
The plotline is a quick moving, comical at times, detective type story. David DeLee doesn’t mince words or waste any in this digital short story; it is a taunt, gripping escapade that is fun to wisked away with. I read this on my smartphone while waiting for my daughter to come out of school. She said I had a nice smile on my face when she got in the family vehicle, yes, I was reading another digital short story, she guessed it right.
Before I forget let me give you some more information about the author and a link or two for you to check out things: ”David DeLee is a native New Yorker. He holds a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice, and is a former licensed Private Investigator. His previous short stories have appeared in Daw’s Cosmic Cocktails, in three consecutive volumes of Pocket Books, Strange New Worlds, and the soon-to-be released Mystery Writers of America anthology, The Rich and the Dead.
David is an active member of the Mystery Writers of America and the International Thriller Writers Association. He currently lives in New Hampshire with his family where he’s hard at work on a novel featuring Columbus, Ohio-based bounty hunter, Grace deHaviland.”
Links: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/31162
His Publisher: http://www.darkroadpub.com
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Wattpad and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Amazon Banner on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com
Digital short Saturday A.J. Pompano School’s Out Forever
Today is going to be a hybrid type of day. I got stuck, or should I say had the joy, of doing some serious Christmas shopping yesterday and didn’t finish off Graphic Novel Friday as I would have liked to. Add to that the Samuel L. Jackson graphic novel I picked up and the interest, comments, and questions about it, I knew I had to hustle today and get this all done. Tuesday I launch my best of the year lists a little later than I wanted to, but hey, life happens. Let’s get right into the newest A.J.Pompano digital short, a new Quincy Lazzaro vehicle which I was glad to take the ride on. Here is the short synopsis on the short story:
“Quincy Lazzaro finds fellow teacher Eleanor Matlock draped over the new copier with the scanning light making copies of her lifeless face. It looks like Ms. Matlock’s sixth grade students will be having a sub today.”
I love the sense of humor and timing that A.J. Pompano has. Yes, I know that I have featured him many times the past few weeks, but good is good, and I enjoy reading good. The character of Quincy Lazzaro is a fun one and I enjoy the situations he gets put in and the way he gets to the right answers. Connect the dots and have a good time with the plotline and the characters. The cast is small, but well thought out and executed.
Here is the author’s bio: ”A. J. Pompano has been writing short fiction for more than twenty years. His kayaking sleuth, Quincy Lazzaro, was introduced in “The Copy Cat Didn’t Have Nine Lives,” published in Still Waters: Crime Stories by New England Writers. A past winner of the Helen McCloy/Mystery Writers of America Scholarship, he has written many academic pieces including one on teaching detective fiction. A member of Mystery Writers of America and a brother member of Sisters in Crime, he is on the committee for New England Crime Bake, a conference for mystery writers and readers, held every November in Boston. “
Check him out at these websites: http://ajpompano.com & www.facebook.com/angpompano
Right now A.J. Pompano has four other titles besides this one listed on Smashwords:
* The Copycat Didn't Have Nine Lives * Promises to Keep * The Sanibel Slouch * Driving Directions
I have reviewed the majority of them; feel free to go through our archives for my thoughts on them. The bottom line on all this is: A.J. Pompano can flat out construct a digital short story, make the time spent reading them fly by, and feel that the money spent was a great investment. Reading a digital short has become an integral part of my reading week. Bottom line is this: if you enjoy mystery/suspense/whodunit, then you should add some if not all of these digital shorts to your library. School’s Out on that.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Wattpad and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Amazon Banner on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com
“Quincy Lazzaro finds fellow teacher Eleanor Matlock draped over the new copier with the scanning light making copies of her lifeless face. It looks like Ms. Matlock’s sixth grade students will be having a sub today.”
I love the sense of humor and timing that A.J. Pompano has. Yes, I know that I have featured him many times the past few weeks, but good is good, and I enjoy reading good. The character of Quincy Lazzaro is a fun one and I enjoy the situations he gets put in and the way he gets to the right answers. Connect the dots and have a good time with the plotline and the characters. The cast is small, but well thought out and executed.
Here is the author’s bio: ”A. J. Pompano has been writing short fiction for more than twenty years. His kayaking sleuth, Quincy Lazzaro, was introduced in “The Copy Cat Didn’t Have Nine Lives,” published in Still Waters: Crime Stories by New England Writers. A past winner of the Helen McCloy/Mystery Writers of America Scholarship, he has written many academic pieces including one on teaching detective fiction. A member of Mystery Writers of America and a brother member of Sisters in Crime, he is on the committee for New England Crime Bake, a conference for mystery writers and readers, held every November in Boston. “
Check him out at these websites: http://ajpompano.com & www.facebook.com/angpompano
Right now A.J. Pompano has four other titles besides this one listed on Smashwords:
* The Copycat Didn't Have Nine Lives * Promises to Keep * The Sanibel Slouch * Driving Directions
I have reviewed the majority of them; feel free to go through our archives for my thoughts on them. The bottom line on all this is: A.J. Pompano can flat out construct a digital short story, make the time spent reading them fly by, and feel that the money spent was a great investment. Reading a digital short has become an integral part of my reading week. Bottom line is this: if you enjoy mystery/suspense/whodunit, then you should add some if not all of these digital shorts to your library. School’s Out on that.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Wattpad and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Amazon Banner on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com
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