I love Donovan Creed and the writing style of John Locke. Saving Rachel was a twisted, turning, fun train wreck: one of those things that you can’t stop watching or in this case, reading. Just some stats from the geeks in our stat department, yeah we have one of those, they are a hard working bunch: Kindle rankings of John Locke novels-Saving Rachel- #3, Lethal People-#15, Wish List- #19, Lethal Experiment-#36 ,Now & Then-#41. Intense to say the least, they are $.99 downloads; I sucked them all up I am proud to say. I have totally enjoyed them from beginning to end and could have read them all back to back but I have been trying to portion them out. Anyway, one more stat from our geeks- every 10 seconds ,24 hours a day, a John Locke novel is downloaded somewhere in the world. My experience in the whole thing as far as this blog goes: each one of the posts on Locke is still one of the most visited every day of the week, yes every day, thanks to one and all! The only thing that is staying with these posts is our posts on the Steve Berry Q&A(I think that rocked), and our Trestle Press Spring Submission contest post, that is a fav and the submissions are coming in hot and heavy. Trestle Press thanks you by the way. Now on to the virtual novel (I read it on the Kindle), what lies between the covers:
“What if the best morning of your life suddenly turned into your worst nightmare? Sam Case is about to find out. Saving Rachel is the story of what happens when killers force a man to choose between his wife and his mistress...and the one he rejects must die. But wait--all is not as it appears to be. In fact, nothing is what it appears to be!
Saving Rachel is a scary, funny, roller coaster ride through hell, with twists, and turns that will slap your face and suck you in!”
Not digesting this read in one sitting is difficult. It is quick, it is fun, it will confuse you, and trying to figure it out is just about pointless. For entertainment value, it is off the charts. That is what I love about this guy’s writing; he is an entertainer, period. Great stuff, excellent characters, plenty of action, and my fingers just can’t stop clicking the pages fast enough on the Kindle. Sucking up something this entertaining for a mere buck is an incredible added benefit. I have yet to figure out what he is doing with one of these bad boys as he keeps them as twisted as anyone’s out there, consistently. Donovan Creed is, or I should say, has, quickly become one of my top ten characters in this genre. Did you just read that? BAM, yes you just did. I will read every one this guy puts out with this character. Period! Have you read one of these yet? If you have what are your thoughts?
What are you reading today? Have you checked out our new blogtalk radio show The G-ZONE? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari, The Novel Spot &Twitter. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. 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, February 28, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Graphic Novel Friday Guest Post Andrew Dodd Campfire Comics
Comic Con India 2011
It has never happened before, but it’s sure to happen again. Last weekend, fifteen thousand comic book fans gathered together in Delhi for India’s first ever comic con.
The two-day convention was a phenomenal success, far exceeding the expectations of both the organisers (Twenty Onwards Media) and the participants. In its inaugural year, this annual comic con provided a much-needed platform for publishers, retailers, writers and illustrators to meet with each other, and with their fans, in a relaxed environment. Most of the 35 companies present boasted sales much above what they had anticipated. Campfire graphic novels, for example, raked in more revenue during the first day of the comic con than in 10 days at the Delhi Book Fair, whilst Level 10 Comics and Vimanika sold out of all their stock by half way through the second day.
Sales, although important, were of course only one aspect of the event. A programme of workshops, activities and book launches literally took centre stage in a dedicated area at the hub of the venue. This allowed the publishers to showcase their work to the public in a fun and interactive way.
The location itself acted as the perfect backdrop for this kind of event. Dilli Haat is a venue which has been created to replicate the feel of a traditional Indian marketplace. It offers handicrafts, food and cultural activities from every part of India. Therefore, the infrastructure necessary for a comic con was already in place, with catering, parking and the stall setup being taken care of. Holding the convention in such a place allowed the comic book industry to increase its exposure to the general public. With thousands visiting Dilli Haat on a daily basis, it was great to see people previously unaware of the comic book medium being drawn in by what they saw. There was a perfect blend of lifelong enthusiasts and curious newcomers, and it was awesome to see them mingling.
Some of the enthusiasts made a particular effort to stand out from the crowd – and did so brilliantly. Inspired by the chance to win one of various prizes, many attendees turned up in full costume, as a comic book character of their choice. From American superheroes such as Superman, Wolverine and Harley Quinn to local Indian heroes like Chacha Chaudhary, all those who dressed up appeared to be having a great time.
In addition to the costume contest prizes, and of much greater importance, was a Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to Anant Pai. Anant Pai is the founder of Amar Chitra Katha, the most successful comic book publisher in the history of Indian comics, and his work in converting Indian epics, mythology, history, folklore and fables into the comic book format is unprecedented. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to him by another legend of Indian comics – Pran Kumar, the creator and illustrator of Chacha Chaudhary. With both the old guard and the new innovators of Indian comics all present in one place for the first time, this festival and celebration of comic books had a true feeling of completeness.
With India’s comic book and graphic novel market still in a fairly nascent stage, this was the perfect time for the subcontinent to have its first event of this nature. The air of optimism regarding the current state of Indian comics was tangible to anyone in attendance. There was a buzz about the place, and a real feeling that this is the kind of platform that will catapult the comic book format into India’s public consciousness.
That said, most Indians are not totally unfamiliar with comics. Since the late 1960s, publishers such as Amar Chitra Katha and Diamond Comics have been hugely popular with a large portion of the Indian market. However, the popularity of the medium plummeted in the 90s, with the advent of satellite television and, more specifically, animated series on Cartoon Network and Pogo. This, along with the prevalence of games consoles and the internet, has meant stiff competition for all varieties of publishers – not least those focusing on the comic book medium.
And that is why the recent steady growth in the popularity of this medium, culminating in the industry’s ability to stage such a successful comic con, feels like the start of a renaissance period for comics in this part of the world.
All the signs from this spectacular weekend are positive. From the attendance figures and the sales revenues to the press coverage and the general excitement of the public, comic con has certainly proved that there is a place for comics and graphic novels in the hearts and bookshelves of people in India, and that big things lie ahead for all those involved.
Here’s to next year, and an even bigger and better Comic Con India in 2012.
What are you reading today? Have you checked out our new blogtalk radio show The G-ZONE? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari, The Novel Spot &Twitter. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. 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
It has never happened before, but it’s sure to happen again. Last weekend, fifteen thousand comic book fans gathered together in Delhi for India’s first ever comic con.
The two-day convention was a phenomenal success, far exceeding the expectations of both the organisers (Twenty Onwards Media) and the participants. In its inaugural year, this annual comic con provided a much-needed platform for publishers, retailers, writers and illustrators to meet with each other, and with their fans, in a relaxed environment. Most of the 35 companies present boasted sales much above what they had anticipated. Campfire graphic novels, for example, raked in more revenue during the first day of the comic con than in 10 days at the Delhi Book Fair, whilst Level 10 Comics and Vimanika sold out of all their stock by half way through the second day.
Sales, although important, were of course only one aspect of the event. A programme of workshops, activities and book launches literally took centre stage in a dedicated area at the hub of the venue. This allowed the publishers to showcase their work to the public in a fun and interactive way.
The location itself acted as the perfect backdrop for this kind of event. Dilli Haat is a venue which has been created to replicate the feel of a traditional Indian marketplace. It offers handicrafts, food and cultural activities from every part of India. Therefore, the infrastructure necessary for a comic con was already in place, with catering, parking and the stall setup being taken care of. Holding the convention in such a place allowed the comic book industry to increase its exposure to the general public. With thousands visiting Dilli Haat on a daily basis, it was great to see people previously unaware of the comic book medium being drawn in by what they saw. There was a perfect blend of lifelong enthusiasts and curious newcomers, and it was awesome to see them mingling.
Some of the enthusiasts made a particular effort to stand out from the crowd – and did so brilliantly. Inspired by the chance to win one of various prizes, many attendees turned up in full costume, as a comic book character of their choice. From American superheroes such as Superman, Wolverine and Harley Quinn to local Indian heroes like Chacha Chaudhary, all those who dressed up appeared to be having a great time.
In addition to the costume contest prizes, and of much greater importance, was a Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to Anant Pai. Anant Pai is the founder of Amar Chitra Katha, the most successful comic book publisher in the history of Indian comics, and his work in converting Indian epics, mythology, history, folklore and fables into the comic book format is unprecedented. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to him by another legend of Indian comics – Pran Kumar, the creator and illustrator of Chacha Chaudhary. With both the old guard and the new innovators of Indian comics all present in one place for the first time, this festival and celebration of comic books had a true feeling of completeness.
With India’s comic book and graphic novel market still in a fairly nascent stage, this was the perfect time for the subcontinent to have its first event of this nature. The air of optimism regarding the current state of Indian comics was tangible to anyone in attendance. There was a buzz about the place, and a real feeling that this is the kind of platform that will catapult the comic book format into India’s public consciousness.
That said, most Indians are not totally unfamiliar with comics. Since the late 1960s, publishers such as Amar Chitra Katha and Diamond Comics have been hugely popular with a large portion of the Indian market. However, the popularity of the medium plummeted in the 90s, with the advent of satellite television and, more specifically, animated series on Cartoon Network and Pogo. This, along with the prevalence of games consoles and the internet, has meant stiff competition for all varieties of publishers – not least those focusing on the comic book medium.
And that is why the recent steady growth in the popularity of this medium, culminating in the industry’s ability to stage such a successful comic con, feels like the start of a renaissance period for comics in this part of the world.
All the signs from this spectacular weekend are positive. From the attendance figures and the sales revenues to the press coverage and the general excitement of the public, comic con has certainly proved that there is a place for comics and graphic novels in the hearts and bookshelves of people in India, and that big things lie ahead for all those involved.
Here’s to next year, and an even bigger and better Comic Con India in 2012.
What are you reading today? Have you checked out our new blogtalk radio show The G-ZONE? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari, The Novel Spot &Twitter. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. 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, February 24, 2011
Michael Oher I Beat The Odds
The week is winding down and we are still blazing a hot trail here @ Gelati’s Scoop. We had a fun interview this morning with Laurie Bowler, the vampire/paranormal/romance author of Moon Rising, Across the City and many other novels. Please check our archives for the post we had on those novels. Non-fiction is not something I pick up too often, but when I see something inspirational like this, it just seems to jump into my hand. Have you seen the movie, ”The Blind Side”? Yeah, this is the guy. Here is what is between the covers:
“The football star made famous in the hit film The Blind Side reflects on how far he has come from the circumstances of his youth.
Michael Oher is the young man at the center of the true story depicted in The Blind Side movie (and book) that swept up awards and accolades. Though the odds were heavily stacked against him, Michael had a burning desire deep within his soul to break out of the Memphis inner-city ghetto and into a world of opportunity. While many people are now familiar with Oher's amazing journey, this is the first time he shares his account of his story in his own words, revealing his thoughts and feelings with details that only he knows, and offering his point of view on how anyone can achieve a better life.
Looking back on how he went from being a homeless child in Memphis to playing in the NFL, Michael talks about the goals he had for himself in order to break out of the cycle of poverty, addiction, and hopelessness that trapped his family for so long. He recounts poignant stories growing up in the projects and running from child services and foster care over and over again in search of some familiarity. Eventually he grasped onto football as his ticket out of the madness and worked hard to make his dream into a reality. But Oher also knew he would not be successful alone. With his adoptive family, the Touhys, and other influential people in mind, he describes the absolute necessity of seeking out positive role models and good friends who share the same values to achieve one's dreams.
Sharing untold stories of heartache, determination, courage, and love, I Beat the Odds is an incredibly rousing tale of one young man's quest to achieve the American dream.”
Having something like this in my hands on occasion definitely gives me a sense of thanks and appreciation for what I have in my life. To read what this young man had gone through in his life, to have survived it, and come out on the other side and thrived is nothing short of miraculous. In my opinion there are not too many people that couldn’t benefit from reading this, it is just one of those books. When I watched the movie and saw him stare at the bed they had for him, and the smile on his face, it really hit me. The things I take for granted on a daily basis, check that, on a minute and hourly basis, this kid had to dream about, to wonder if he was ever going to have them or it. This totally blew me away.
Don’t deny yourself the read. Gaining a deeper appreciation for those around you and the things that you think are important are worth exploring. The life and times of Michael Oher is an amazing real life story that is not just compelling but is something that just about everyone can take something from and use it in their everyday life.
What are you reading today? Have you checked out our new blogtalk radio show The G-ZONE? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari, The Novel Spot &Twitter. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. 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 football star made famous in the hit film The Blind Side reflects on how far he has come from the circumstances of his youth.
Michael Oher is the young man at the center of the true story depicted in The Blind Side movie (and book) that swept up awards and accolades. Though the odds were heavily stacked against him, Michael had a burning desire deep within his soul to break out of the Memphis inner-city ghetto and into a world of opportunity. While many people are now familiar with Oher's amazing journey, this is the first time he shares his account of his story in his own words, revealing his thoughts and feelings with details that only he knows, and offering his point of view on how anyone can achieve a better life.
Looking back on how he went from being a homeless child in Memphis to playing in the NFL, Michael talks about the goals he had for himself in order to break out of the cycle of poverty, addiction, and hopelessness that trapped his family for so long. He recounts poignant stories growing up in the projects and running from child services and foster care over and over again in search of some familiarity. Eventually he grasped onto football as his ticket out of the madness and worked hard to make his dream into a reality. But Oher also knew he would not be successful alone. With his adoptive family, the Touhys, and other influential people in mind, he describes the absolute necessity of seeking out positive role models and good friends who share the same values to achieve one's dreams.
Sharing untold stories of heartache, determination, courage, and love, I Beat the Odds is an incredibly rousing tale of one young man's quest to achieve the American dream.”
Having something like this in my hands on occasion definitely gives me a sense of thanks and appreciation for what I have in my life. To read what this young man had gone through in his life, to have survived it, and come out on the other side and thrived is nothing short of miraculous. In my opinion there are not too many people that couldn’t benefit from reading this, it is just one of those books. When I watched the movie and saw him stare at the bed they had for him, and the smile on his face, it really hit me. The things I take for granted on a daily basis, check that, on a minute and hourly basis, this kid had to dream about, to wonder if he was ever going to have them or it. This totally blew me away.
Don’t deny yourself the read. Gaining a deeper appreciation for those around you and the things that you think are important are worth exploring. The life and times of Michael Oher is an amazing real life story that is not just compelling but is something that just about everyone can take something from and use it in their everyday life.
What are you reading today? Have you checked out our new blogtalk radio show The G-ZONE? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari, The Novel Spot &Twitter. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. 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, February 23, 2011
What Really Is The G-ZONE?
Hi, it is me, the G-man, Giovanni Gelati, he of Gelati’s Scoop blog and The G-Zone blogtalk radio show. I am going to get right to the point because I don’t want to waste your time or mine.
I’m going to sound a bit pretentious here, but what I have been building and the direction in which I want to go is a departure from the stale same old, same old. What is different that I have to offer and sets me apart from other services out there? Simply I am not in the same sandbox as they are. I look at the customer as whole not a as a part. I am able and willing to take your concept from beginning to end, or simply take the singular task you may need to get done and do just that but with a bit more style, personal service and compassion.
Getting you to your goal is my goal! I’m here to say that I’m ready to take the next step and to help you succeed as an author; whether you need a singular service from editing and proofreading your novel to having the cover art completed for it. Through our partnership with Trestle Press, which we’ve been building quietly over these last few months, we can even get your work printed and published.. So, if you are looking for help to increase your visibility, make your brand stronger, or achieve more with your book or novel-The G-Zone is the place for you to be. When you work with The G-Zone you stand out from the crowd and smile doing it, knowing you are not just another metric, another buck in someone’s pocket, or another sale from a place that takes stabs in the dark.
We can and will deliver the entire package for you: print, virtual print, video, and audio. There is a revolution going on out there, join it and don’t follow the mindless zombies grabbing this week’s spam sale on Facebook. Let us put together a plan for you that will positively motivate you and your customers to excel and reach new heights. Get in touch with me anywhere you see me, or just email me @ gelati.giovanni@gmail.com .I look forward to beginning a nice long term relationship with you.
I’m going to sound a bit pretentious here, but what I have been building and the direction in which I want to go is a departure from the stale same old, same old. What is different that I have to offer and sets me apart from other services out there? Simply I am not in the same sandbox as they are. I look at the customer as whole not a as a part. I am able and willing to take your concept from beginning to end, or simply take the singular task you may need to get done and do just that but with a bit more style, personal service and compassion.
Getting you to your goal is my goal! I’m here to say that I’m ready to take the next step and to help you succeed as an author; whether you need a singular service from editing and proofreading your novel to having the cover art completed for it. Through our partnership with Trestle Press, which we’ve been building quietly over these last few months, we can even get your work printed and published.. So, if you are looking for help to increase your visibility, make your brand stronger, or achieve more with your book or novel-The G-Zone is the place for you to be. When you work with The G-Zone you stand out from the crowd and smile doing it, knowing you are not just another metric, another buck in someone’s pocket, or another sale from a place that takes stabs in the dark.
We can and will deliver the entire package for you: print, virtual print, video, and audio. There is a revolution going on out there, join it and don’t follow the mindless zombies grabbing this week’s spam sale on Facebook. Let us put together a plan for you that will positively motivate you and your customers to excel and reach new heights. Get in touch with me anywhere you see me, or just email me @ gelati.giovanni@gmail.com .I look forward to beginning a nice long term relationship with you.
Andrew Lane Death Cloud
Have you seen the cover of this YA novel? It appears to me that Justin Bieber is Sherlock Holmes. I am not hating on the Bieb’s mind you, I am just trying to say I was a bit surprised. The only two people left sporting such a hair do left were, I thought, the Biebs and Tom Brady. But I digress. Having said absolutely nothing at all constructive about the novel, I turn the post and the blog over to daughter number five as she took one look at the cover and said, ”What the hey, I’ll give it a shot for you Oldhead!” So off she went with it.
Here is what is between the covers:
“It is the summer of 1868, and Sherlock Holmes is fourteen. On break from boarding school, he is staying with eccentric strangers—his uncle and aunt—in their vast house in Hampshire. When two local people die from symptoms that resemble the plague, Holmes begins to investigate what really killed them, helped by his new tutor, an American named Amyus Crowe. So begins Sherlock’s true education in detection, as he discovers the dastardly crimes of a brilliantly sinister villain of exquisitely malign intent.”
I have friends that are in Sherlock Holmes clubs, but to be honest with you, this is my first take on the character. Some background, I am a twenty two year old female, the fifth of the seven Gelati sisters. The cover took me a back but once I got past it, the novel flew. The avant-garde quirkiness of the young Holmes drew me in and took me away. I have had the good fortune of visiting England and the descriptions of the towns and the settings were well done.
Andrew Lane wrote this in the tone and pace for the age group; I was not bored, it kept my attention, and the speed of the plot and the dialogue fit like a glove. Not knowing the details of Holmes did not exclude me from enjoying the novel, in fact I think it made my enjoyment of it stronger; I had no preconceptions. My Holme’s freak friends, the club members and purists, were sour on me reading this. I am glad I didn’t listen to them; they are the ones missing out on a fun, entertaining novel. Thanks for giving me the chance Oldhead!
What are you reading today? Have you checked out our new blogtalk radio show The G-ZONE? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari, The Novel Spot &Twitter. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. 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
Here is what is between the covers:
“It is the summer of 1868, and Sherlock Holmes is fourteen. On break from boarding school, he is staying with eccentric strangers—his uncle and aunt—in their vast house in Hampshire. When two local people die from symptoms that resemble the plague, Holmes begins to investigate what really killed them, helped by his new tutor, an American named Amyus Crowe. So begins Sherlock’s true education in detection, as he discovers the dastardly crimes of a brilliantly sinister villain of exquisitely malign intent.”
I have friends that are in Sherlock Holmes clubs, but to be honest with you, this is my first take on the character. Some background, I am a twenty two year old female, the fifth of the seven Gelati sisters. The cover took me a back but once I got past it, the novel flew. The avant-garde quirkiness of the young Holmes drew me in and took me away. I have had the good fortune of visiting England and the descriptions of the towns and the settings were well done.
Andrew Lane wrote this in the tone and pace for the age group; I was not bored, it kept my attention, and the speed of the plot and the dialogue fit like a glove. Not knowing the details of Holmes did not exclude me from enjoying the novel, in fact I think it made my enjoyment of it stronger; I had no preconceptions. My Holme’s freak friends, the club members and purists, were sour on me reading this. I am glad I didn’t listen to them; they are the ones missing out on a fun, entertaining novel. Thanks for giving me the chance Oldhead!
What are you reading today? Have you checked out our new blogtalk radio show The G-ZONE? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari, The Novel Spot &Twitter. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. 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, February 21, 2011
CQ Scafidi Time Couriers and a Q&A
Happy Monday to all and thanks for checking in. We have a monster week ahead of us and we are going to start the week off with a bang, the works of CQ Scafidi. Today I am going to do two things: I am going to revisit a post I had popped in back in the day when I first started this blog, and then a Q&A that is certified fresh off the virtual press from this morning. CQ will be our guest today on our blogtalk radio show, The G-ZONE, @ 5pm EST. Check it out, call in; be part of the process. If you can’t and are going to listen to it from the archives, email me your questions and I will read them on air and give you full credit for them. Tomorrow, Tuesday, we have Richard Doetsch on as or guest; he is the author of The 13th Hour and The Thieves series of novels. I am running a piece of my old blog post here. I was new back in the day; be kind when you are reading. CQ Scafidi also has a new digital series out called The Commissary, check our archives from Digital short Saturday for the post on that. Here it is, the old post, followed by the new Q&A:
“This review is from: Time Couriers (Paperback)
Time Couriers is a very unique book from the cover art to the back page. The cover art is very detailed and busy; I guess you could say that it is a bit of foreshadowing for what lies inside for us, the reader. There are many different layers of plot lines in Time Couriers, but for me the enjoyment was in the amount of detail that Scafidi provides us with in addition to the well-crafted story lines.
I have yet to have the pleasure of traveling to New Orleans, Christopher Quintin Scafidi made me feel right at home there. Throughout the Time Couriers story, he was able to weave the fabric to what makes New Orleans, New Orleans and convey the atmosphere of the town and its inhabitants. The people, the streets, the restaurants all came to life for me as his in depth descriptions and incredible sense of detail put me right there.
As complex as the plot is, Scafidi makes Time Couriers compelling and ties all the ends together in a nice neat package. The pace is fast and furious; Couriers is a major page turner. My suggestion is to have a block of time put aside so you can just sit down and totally enjoy this novel. Take a break from the norm, time travel New Orleans style.
Great location, international intrigue; I know I left out a few things out here. This book is chock full of action and adventure from cover to cover, but why should I spoil anything? Give this novel a try, put it in your Goodreads -to read list at the very least. What are some of your favorite time travel novels?”
Done chuckling now , thanks. The novel is now available as an ebook, there is no reason not to check this out. Here is the Q&A:
‘Giovanni: Will you please share a short bio with us?
C.Q.: I currently reside in the New Orleans area. My lifelong pursuits in international business, transportation, journalism and communications have provided him with a wealth of information to craft this novel, where arcane ritual enables global domination for a select few. I am originally from Corpus Christi, Texas, but have lived all over the Gulf Coast. My father served as the Maritime Attache for the U.S. Embassies in Rome and Athens and we lived there briefly. I returned home to New Orleans to attend Loyola University where I studied Accounting after which I began my career Journalism. I gravitated toward International Marketing due to my business acumen and language skills. I spent 15 years as International Sales Manager for United Parcel Service as well as a long-time member of the World Trade Center of New Orleans.
Giovanni: Tell us about Time Couriers and where it's available.
C.Q.: Time Couriers is a suspense thriller available online at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Borders, and dozens of online booksellers. It was just recently released under the cover of Trestle Press for Kindle Readers
A short synopsis of my novel...New Orleans, June 1997. The city's dying of heat and dying on its feet as the port business shrinks and the powers that be carve up a vanishing pie. Steve Gorman, an executive for the APEX courier corporation, sees his colleague Andrew Sinclair disappear, carrying a high-value package containing a stone with miraculous powers... Steve gets the blame, quits APEX and loses his place on the city's Trade Council. Suddenly he's a "non-person", but with the aid of glamorous Creole journalist Monique Chauvin and fey historian Louis Duplantier, he unearths an astonishing conspiracy involving time travel, the Templars, Freemasonry and Voodoo. If this "Brotherhood" can forecast events like Hurricane Katrina, millions of dollars could be saved-for the elect few, of course. C Q Scafidi's murder story is in fact a stunning exposé of globalism, greed and ritualized gangsterism. His background in journalism and business at the World Trade Center give him a unique insight into the workings of mankind... and how human nature can be corrupted overnight by the allure of power. Read Time Couriers and you'll see world events in an entirely different light.
I began Time Couriers on 8/8/04 and coincidentally, it was released four years later on 8/8/08. It was a four year odyssey that was interrupted by Hurricane Katrina. I had 35,000 words completed and then shelved the project for 9 months until I could dig out from under the Hurricane Debris and put my life back together. Since I was the only family member who did not lose a home, I housed my entire family, making it impossible to write. Nine months later, I dusted it off and found I had a suspense thriller with no mention of the biggest news story ever in New Orleans. I had to get creative to work it in, but it fit just perfectly.
Giovanni: At what age did you discover writing and when were you first published? Tell us your call story.
C.Q.: I was awarded a first-place prize from the American Legion for an essay I wrote in the 3rd grade entitled, What Freedom Means to Me. I sailed through my English classes while I struggled with Mathematics. I was first published as a publicist for Oil Mop, Inc. during the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill when, my press release regarding the cleanup operations was picked up by the Associated Press. I have served as a journalist for several publications and editor for an official NFL Weekly Publication, Gridweek. I made the leap to fiction writing in 2004. I had to place my writing career on hold during Hurricane Katrina for nine months. I then had to find a way to work the biggest news story concerning New Orleans into my story about New Orleans...it made a very nice fit.
Giovanni: Are there any other writers, published or not, in your family?
C.Q.: My mother is an unpublished writer and bibliophile who can quote obscure Oscar Wilde references.
Giovanni: How does your family feel about your career?
C.Q.: They are extremely supportive and provide much-needed constructive criticism, when others are not available. My mother assisted me with my first six revisions. The final four were conducted by the editor at the publishing house.
Giovanni: Describe your writing in three words.
C.Q.: Historical, Suspenseful, Conspiratorial
Giovanni: How do you approach your writing? Do you plot or go with the flow?
C.Q.: I am extremely organized about my approach. I write in three acts. I typically use Third-Person Omniscient (God s view according to Alfred Hitchcock). I begin with plot concepts, characterizations (primary, secondary, and tertiary), a synopsis, and then an outline. After completing the outline I flesh it out, making each line item into a paragraph. These are the bases for my chapters.
I fully develop plot complications, conflict, and theme. I ensure every question posed in the first chapters is answered by the final line of the novel. I will also use a flow chart for my characters showing links and indicating characterizations.
Giovanni: What kind of research did you do for this book?
C.Q.: I spent four years conducting research for this novel. The City of New Orleans has a vast array of resources for conducting research on the 300-year shadow history of the city. I actually included a chapter where I describe my research at the Historic New Orleans Collection, through the actions of the main character.
Giovanni: Do you feel as if the characters live with you as you write? Do they haunt your dreams?
C.Q.: Absolultely. I feel as if I am taking dictation rather than writing when I get in the zone.
Giovanni: If Time Couriers was made into a movie, which actors would you choose to play the hero and heroine?
C.Q.: Hero: Steve Gorman- Shia LeBeouf
Heroine: Monique Chauvin - Marion Cotillard
Giovanni: What is the most interesting comment you have received about your books?
C.Q.: The story stuck in my mind for days after finishing it. I wasn’t sure what were real history and what fiction was.
Giovanni: Who are some of your favorite authors and books? What are you reading now?
C.Q.: Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte...the finest example of the novel as an artform.
Just finished, The House of Mirth, Edith Wharton, just starting the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
I enjoy the female-penned classics. I also love historical fiction, in the vein of Dan Brown. I realize that these are opposite ends of the literary spectrum, but that’s what I like.
Giovanni: What's next for you?
C.Q.: I have multiple irons in the fire. I am, of course, working on a sequel for Time Couriers
I have a short series entitled the Commissary for which I am drafting my second installment and as a long-term research project, I am delving into the religious mystery.
Osir IS RA EL ohim, a narrative that delineates the direct connection between Abrahamic religions (Judeo-Christianity and Islam) with Egyptian Pharonic Religion. Like Time Couriers it will be a fictional narrative set against the backdrop of Western Religious dogmatic evolution.
Giovanni: Where can you be found on the web?
C.Q.: Time Couriers was the recent recipient of two awards, Amazonclicks Authors Choice Award for March of 2009... http://amazonclicks.com/Authorschoice.html. Also, Time Couriers was the recipient of The NEW Covey Coverart Award for Most Eye-Catching Cover for June of 2009.
http://thenewcoveycoverawards.blogspot.com/2009/06/june2009newcoveycoveraward.html
I am also a featured writer on the Red Room, Authors Den, and have links on various social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, The Meadows, the Novel Spot, and several other purchasing sites available by searching Title and Author together in your search criteria.
Giovanni: Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers?
C.Q.: If you have the time, would you kindly befriend me on Facebook, Christopher Quintin Scafidi?
Also, if you can tag Time Couriers in Amazon, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks to you Giovanni for having me today and thanks to your readers.
What are you reading today? Have you checked out our new blogtalk radio show The G-ZONE? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari, The Novel Spot &Twitter. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. 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
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Self-Published Sunday The Chinese Conspiracy John Mariotti
What if I couldn’t write this post, read on my Kindle or smartphone, engage my friends on all the social networks I am, tweet to my heart’s content, watch whatever I wanted on demand, or go to the grocery store and do the self-checkout and scan the bar codes? I may survive, but John Mariotti asks some larger, more complex questions in The Chinese Conspiracy. Here is what is between the covers:
“When Jim Martini goes back to his WV hometown to see why its major employer failed suddenly he finds more than a failed company. He risks his life, finds a lost love, and stumbles into an international conspiracy. A Chinese revolutionary group is using viruses, hacking, malware and cyber-technology to over-throw its own government and attempt to control the US--by shutting down all forms of computers and communications--all at once.
Suddenly nothing works-communications are "silenced". The US is preoccupied fighting global terrorism, so it's up to Jim, hometown friends and a small team of CIA, FBI, and NSA agents to overcome this devastating threat and stop The Chinese Conspiracy.
Set in the lush mountains of West Virginia and half-way around the world in China, The Chinese Conspiracy weaves a chilling tale of cyber-terrorism, current events and a tender love story. Read The Chinese Conspiracy and then call or e-mail someone you love, but do it while everything still works. “
Here is a little something about the author:
“John Mariotti is an award winning business author and an internationally recognized executive, consultant, keynote speaker. Mariotti started his career in the telecommunications industry, and was deeply involved in governmental affairs during parts of his career. He has written hundreds of articles and columns and nine non-fiction books. In The Chinese Conspiracy he merges an exciting fictional thriller with a factual reality of America’s risk from Cyber-Attacks. His last book, The Complexity Crisis was chosen as one of 2008’s Best Business Books and also one of 2008’s Best Books for Small Business. He lives in the Columbus, OH area. Mariotti can be reached at http://www.mariotti.net
or www.thechinesecomspiracy.com.”
I wanted to get this post out while there is still time to reach everyone. Hopefully my internet connections were not shut down before I got it out. If you are reading this, understand that this is a very chilling, technical read that will make you look at anything that touches the internet or electricity in a new way and with new respect. Computers have become a fact of life and the Chinese are plotting against us as I write. If you are Chinese and are at this minute plotting against us, stop reading now please. Moving on, the novel moves at a good pace, made me think a bunch, and gave me a new found respect for cell towers and my love of Google. Take five minutes and just consider how many that you rely on are connected to the internet or cell usage, it is staggering. Give this thought provoking novel a try.
What are you reading today? Have you checked out our new blogtalk radio show The G-ZONE? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari, The Novel Spot &Twitter. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. 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
“When Jim Martini goes back to his WV hometown to see why its major employer failed suddenly he finds more than a failed company. He risks his life, finds a lost love, and stumbles into an international conspiracy. A Chinese revolutionary group is using viruses, hacking, malware and cyber-technology to over-throw its own government and attempt to control the US--by shutting down all forms of computers and communications--all at once.
Suddenly nothing works-communications are "silenced". The US is preoccupied fighting global terrorism, so it's up to Jim, hometown friends and a small team of CIA, FBI, and NSA agents to overcome this devastating threat and stop The Chinese Conspiracy.
Set in the lush mountains of West Virginia and half-way around the world in China, The Chinese Conspiracy weaves a chilling tale of cyber-terrorism, current events and a tender love story. Read The Chinese Conspiracy and then call or e-mail someone you love, but do it while everything still works. “
Here is a little something about the author:
“John Mariotti is an award winning business author and an internationally recognized executive, consultant, keynote speaker. Mariotti started his career in the telecommunications industry, and was deeply involved in governmental affairs during parts of his career. He has written hundreds of articles and columns and nine non-fiction books. In The Chinese Conspiracy he merges an exciting fictional thriller with a factual reality of America’s risk from Cyber-Attacks. His last book, The Complexity Crisis was chosen as one of 2008’s Best Business Books and also one of 2008’s Best Books for Small Business. He lives in the Columbus, OH area. Mariotti can be reached at http://www.mariotti.net
or www.thechinesecomspiracy.com.”
I wanted to get this post out while there is still time to reach everyone. Hopefully my internet connections were not shut down before I got it out. If you are reading this, understand that this is a very chilling, technical read that will make you look at anything that touches the internet or electricity in a new way and with new respect. Computers have become a fact of life and the Chinese are plotting against us as I write. If you are Chinese and are at this minute plotting against us, stop reading now please. Moving on, the novel moves at a good pace, made me think a bunch, and gave me a new found respect for cell towers and my love of Google. Take five minutes and just consider how many that you rely on are connected to the internet or cell usage, it is staggering. Give this thought provoking novel a try.
What are you reading today? Have you checked out our new blogtalk radio show The G-ZONE? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari, The Novel Spot &Twitter. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. 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
Self-Published Sunday Jacob Wren Revenge Fantasies of the Politically Dispossessed
I am enjoying the feedback I am getting from bringing this part of the week here @ The Scoop. I try to bring as many authors to the forefront as I can. As I was discussing with Thomas White during our Wednesday blogtalk interview (feel free to listen to the archived show) there are many excellent authors out there waiting to find an audience. Today I would like to present two: this and later on today The Chinese Conspiracy by John Mariotti. Different, unique, humorous, I can continue on, but let’s get what is between the covers first:
“Set in a dystopian near-future, Revenge Fantasies of the Politically Dispossessed is a novel – a kind of post-capitalist soap opera – about a group of people who regularly attend ‘the meetings.’ At the meetings they have agreed to talk, and only talk, about how to re-ignite the left, for fear if they were to do more, if they were to actually engage in real acts of resistance or activism, they would be arrested, imprisoned or worse. Revenge Fantasies is a book about community. It is also a book about fear.
Characters leave the meetings and we follow them out into their lives. The characters we see most frequently are the Doctor, the Writer and the Third Wheel. As the book progresses we see these characters, and others, disengage and re-engage with questions the meetings have brought into their lives. The Doctor ends up running a reality television show about political activism. The Third Wheel ends up in an unnamed Latin American country, trying to make things better but possibly making them worse. The Writer ends up in jail for writing a book that suggests it is politically emancipatory for teachers to sleep with their students. And throughout all of this the meetings continue: aimless, thoughtful, disturbing, trying to keep a feeling of hope and potential alive in what are starting to look like increasingly dark times.”
Here is a little something on the author:
“Jacob Wren is a writer and maker of eccentric performances. His books include: Unrehearsed Beauty, Families Are Formed Through Copulation and Revenge Fantasies of the Politically Dispossessed. As co-artistic director of Montreal-based interdisciplinary group PME-ART he has co-created: En français comme en anglais, it's easy to criticize, Unrehearsed Beauty / Le génie des autres, La famille se crée en copulant and the ongoing HOSPITALITÉ / HOSPITALITY series. In 2007 he was invited by Sophiensaele (Berlin) to adapt and direct Wolfgang Koeppen's 1954 novel Der Tod in Rom and in 2008 he was commissioned by Campo (Ghent) to collaborate with Pieter De Buysser on An Anthology of Optimism. He frequently writes about contemporary art.”
Definitely a different novel and one that forced me to think about my views and where I stand on them, and act on them. Wren has presented a very unique narrative to get his point across and I found it to work. Sometimes different is not always good, but this worked for me. Revenge Fantasies’ kept my interest throughout and the characters grew on me page by page. I could see an element of myself in each, no matter how small, and that helped me form the connection. If you are looking for a departure from the norm, something to take you out of whatever box you may be stuck in, then this is that novel.
What are you reading today? Have you checked out our new blogtalk radio show The G-ZONE? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari, The Novel Spot &Twitter. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. 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, February 17, 2011
Alex Berenson The Secret Soldier
Things are getting intense around here at Gelati’s Scoop. We are getting involved in much and have much more to do. Sound vague, yes but I have a few things going and can’t reveal all at this time. Next week I am going to drop in something neat, at least I hope that you like it. Anyway, we got a nice compliment from author Irene Hannon on our blogtalk show the other day. Irene was nice enough to point out that the guest we have had and will be having on the blogtalk show are some pretty serious names and very accomplished. I appreciated that; we have some awesome friends, and for that I am thankful. Thanks to all the friends of The Scoop. That being said, the group of nice people we have finishing out the month on the G-ZONE are: CQ Scafidi, Richard Doetsch, Leonardo Ramirez, Laurie Bowler, Aura Imbarus, and Jason McIntyre. There you go; we have it covered from romance to geopolitical thrillers to graphic novels. I am looking forward to talking to all of them. Oh yeah ,today’s novel, let’s get between the covers first:
“John Wells goes undercover in Saudi Arabia in a cutting-edge novel of modern suspense from the #1 New York Times-bestselling author.
John Wells may have left the CIA, but it hasn't left him. A mysterious call brings a surprise meeting with the aged monarch of Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah. "My kingdom is on a precipice," he tells Wells. "Powerful factions are plotting against me, and my own family is in danger. I don't know who I can trust, but I'm told I can trust you."
Reluctantly, and with the secret blessing of the CIA, Wells goes undercover; but the more he learns, the more complicated things become, and soon he, too, is unsure whom to trust, in Saudi Arabia or Washington. One thing, however, is clear: If the conspirators prevail, it will mean more than the fall of a monarch-it may be the beginning of the final conflagration between America and Islam.”
If I could give this more than 5 stars I would. If you have read my archives on the character and this author you know I am a fan. Berenson just takes this to a whole other level with this novel. The development of Wells in this blew me away. The intensity, the thought process, Well’s core being and motivations laid bare and raw at times for us to digest and consume made this one of the best reads I have had in this young year. The complexity of the storyline and the subplots made this even more fascinating .I would have enjoyed it just for the Wells development, but I guess throwing in a strong, time relevant , ripped from the front page thriller plotline was an added bonus that Alex Berenson decided to toss in. Everyone enjoys added value these days, more bang for the buck and all that.
I need to bring this lovefest to an end before you think I have wandered too far. Getting to hold an Alex Berenson/John Wells novel in my hand once a year is something I look forward to. I wish it were more often, but the amount of research that must go into something like this, I am going to have guess precludes the author from producing this high quality consumable reading on a more frequent basis. Maybe he could consider teasing us during year with a digital short story or two, could be fun. What do you think? I can’t be the only Berenson/Wells fan alive.
What are you reading today? Have you checked out our new blogtalk radio show The GZONE? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari, The Novel Spot &Twitter. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. 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
“John Wells goes undercover in Saudi Arabia in a cutting-edge novel of modern suspense from the #1 New York Times-bestselling author.
John Wells may have left the CIA, but it hasn't left him. A mysterious call brings a surprise meeting with the aged monarch of Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah. "My kingdom is on a precipice," he tells Wells. "Powerful factions are plotting against me, and my own family is in danger. I don't know who I can trust, but I'm told I can trust you."
Reluctantly, and with the secret blessing of the CIA, Wells goes undercover; but the more he learns, the more complicated things become, and soon he, too, is unsure whom to trust, in Saudi Arabia or Washington. One thing, however, is clear: If the conspirators prevail, it will mean more than the fall of a monarch-it may be the beginning of the final conflagration between America and Islam.”
If I could give this more than 5 stars I would. If you have read my archives on the character and this author you know I am a fan. Berenson just takes this to a whole other level with this novel. The development of Wells in this blew me away. The intensity, the thought process, Well’s core being and motivations laid bare and raw at times for us to digest and consume made this one of the best reads I have had in this young year. The complexity of the storyline and the subplots made this even more fascinating .I would have enjoyed it just for the Wells development, but I guess throwing in a strong, time relevant , ripped from the front page thriller plotline was an added bonus that Alex Berenson decided to toss in. Everyone enjoys added value these days, more bang for the buck and all that.
I need to bring this lovefest to an end before you think I have wandered too far. Getting to hold an Alex Berenson/John Wells novel in my hand once a year is something I look forward to. I wish it were more often, but the amount of research that must go into something like this, I am going to have guess precludes the author from producing this high quality consumable reading on a more frequent basis. Maybe he could consider teasing us during year with a digital short story or two, could be fun. What do you think? I can’t be the only Berenson/Wells fan alive.
What are you reading today? Have you checked out our new blogtalk radio show The GZONE? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari, The Novel Spot &Twitter. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. 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, February 14, 2011
Howard Gordon Gideon's War
Happy Valentine’s Day to all! We have a big week of posts, guests on the blogtalk radio, The GZONE, and some pretty neat news and info to impart that we are a part of. Today on the blogtalk show at 1pmEST we have Bob Hamer as our guest and tomorrow we have Irene Hannon. Later on today we are dropping in another post that is a first for us and we are happy to participate in this inaugural event; more details to come in our blog. Tomorrow we have not one but two surprises; I am pumped to make both announcements. Okay back to the novel, wait, I haven’t started going on about it yet. Here is what is between the covers:
“ The U.S. president dispatches professional peacemaker Gideon Davis, whose career as a special envoy has taken him around the world, to the sultanate of Mohan, a small Pacific island nation, where a rising Islamist insurgency under the leadership of terrorist Abu Nasir threatens to overthrow the local, American-friendly government. That Gideon's beloved brother, Tillman, is caught in the deadly conflict raises the personal stakes. Gideon ends up on a giant deep sea oil rig, the Obelisk, where he must battle insurgents bent on destroying the platform.”
Howard Gordon was the executive producer for the television show 24, so I am going to guess many are going to make comparisons, not me. I haven’t seen the show yet. Maybe someday, but I have not yet had the honor. The novel for me was a fun read, a nice debut novel. My thoughts on this are such: four stars for this action/thriller/ that is a quick, moving read. Our hero doesn’t get much time to rest or breathe as he goes from one crisis to another, solving each one and uncovering who and what the bad guys are. The pace of the novel and the amount of action don’t really lend themselves to any type of deep character development but just enough to make us care about the characters and get emotionally invested in them.
Overall Gideon’s War was a fast, swift moving novel which intrigued me. Hopefully there will be more and Gordon can flesh the characters out a bit more and maybe give them 48 or 72 hours to solve the next international crisis.
What are you reading today? Have you checked out our new blogtalk radio show The GZONE? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari, The Novel Spot &Twitter. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. 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 U.S. president dispatches professional peacemaker Gideon Davis, whose career as a special envoy has taken him around the world, to the sultanate of Mohan, a small Pacific island nation, where a rising Islamist insurgency under the leadership of terrorist Abu Nasir threatens to overthrow the local, American-friendly government. That Gideon's beloved brother, Tillman, is caught in the deadly conflict raises the personal stakes. Gideon ends up on a giant deep sea oil rig, the Obelisk, where he must battle insurgents bent on destroying the platform.”
Howard Gordon was the executive producer for the television show 24, so I am going to guess many are going to make comparisons, not me. I haven’t seen the show yet. Maybe someday, but I have not yet had the honor. The novel for me was a fun read, a nice debut novel. My thoughts on this are such: four stars for this action/thriller/ that is a quick, moving read. Our hero doesn’t get much time to rest or breathe as he goes from one crisis to another, solving each one and uncovering who and what the bad guys are. The pace of the novel and the amount of action don’t really lend themselves to any type of deep character development but just enough to make us care about the characters and get emotionally invested in them.
Overall Gideon’s War was a fast, swift moving novel which intrigued me. Hopefully there will be more and Gordon can flesh the characters out a bit more and maybe give them 48 or 72 hours to solve the next international crisis.
What are you reading today? Have you checked out our new blogtalk radio show The GZONE? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari, The Novel Spot &Twitter. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. 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
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Self-Published Sunday Matt Murphy The Somebody Obsession
I am glad to be back with this segment of the week. I have always enjoyed Self-Published Sunday. Lately I have been working on a few new things; I will be posting on that a little later in the week. Unfortunately, I had to shelve a few things in order to get that done. I didn’t stop reading; I just had to cut back on my posting a bit. Speaking of something new, I have an interview with Bob Hamer, author of Enemies Among Us, tomorrow, Valentine’s Day @1pm on The GZONE, blogtalk radio. The Somebody Obsession is a non- fiction book, Matt Murphy is a real person, and this is his story, warts and all. I must warn you up front, Matt wears his heart on his sleeve, and the reading can get a bit raw. This is not a diluted, watered down version of someone’s life, this is in your face as real as it gets. Matt Murphy basically holds nothing back. It makes for some very compelling reading. Here is what is in between the covers:
“Many stars have shared their success stories in the crowded genre of professional wrestling autobiographies. But for every star there are a hundred also-rans, those of us who fell short of our dreams. We, too, have a story to tell. In my autobiography, THE SOMEBODY OBSESSION: A NOBODY'S DESPERATE JOURNEY TO STARDOM, I reveal how I overcame an impoverished, troubled childhood to live my lifelong dream of becoming a professional wrestler. I had to succeed; failure meant damnation back into the white-trash hell from which I came. While self-medicating the scars of my tormented youth with sex, booze, and wrestling, I reached for the stars and could feel them at my fingertips before my amazing ride crashed to an abrupt end. My story is THE BULLPEN GOSPELS meets I HOPE THEY SERVE BEER IN HELL. Funny and poignant, it is an inspirational and cautionary tale for anyone who dares to dream. It is about overcoming challenges and shows that the dreamer’s biggest obstacle is often the one that stares back at him in the mirror.”
Moved, saddened, elated, I can just continue on with my Thesaurus and use way too many words to describe the emotions I went through while I was trying to digest this. It sticks with you for a while. Matt Murphy’s life is not one that anybody could describe as easy, simple or smooth. Just the fact that he has produced this book is a testament to his drive, desire, and sheer force of will to succeed. His description of the book is dead on and I think it challenges us to not only read his book about his life but want to know what happens next. Where does all this go and what is next? I look forward to that.
What are you reading today? Have you checked out our new blogtalk radio show The GZONE? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari, The Novel Spot &Twitter. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. 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
“Many stars have shared their success stories in the crowded genre of professional wrestling autobiographies. But for every star there are a hundred also-rans, those of us who fell short of our dreams. We, too, have a story to tell. In my autobiography, THE SOMEBODY OBSESSION: A NOBODY'S DESPERATE JOURNEY TO STARDOM, I reveal how I overcame an impoverished, troubled childhood to live my lifelong dream of becoming a professional wrestler. I had to succeed; failure meant damnation back into the white-trash hell from which I came. While self-medicating the scars of my tormented youth with sex, booze, and wrestling, I reached for the stars and could feel them at my fingertips before my amazing ride crashed to an abrupt end. My story is THE BULLPEN GOSPELS meets I HOPE THEY SERVE BEER IN HELL. Funny and poignant, it is an inspirational and cautionary tale for anyone who dares to dream. It is about overcoming challenges and shows that the dreamer’s biggest obstacle is often the one that stares back at him in the mirror.”
Moved, saddened, elated, I can just continue on with my Thesaurus and use way too many words to describe the emotions I went through while I was trying to digest this. It sticks with you for a while. Matt Murphy’s life is not one that anybody could describe as easy, simple or smooth. Just the fact that he has produced this book is a testament to his drive, desire, and sheer force of will to succeed. His description of the book is dead on and I think it challenges us to not only read his book about his life but want to know what happens next. Where does all this go and what is next? I look forward to that.
What are you reading today? Have you checked out our new blogtalk radio show The GZONE? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari, The Novel Spot &Twitter. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. 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, February 12, 2011
Digital short Saturday Skylyr Symkyns THE NEXUS CHRONICLES/Conception
What is in a name, hmm… I guess a lot of y’s. This is a new short story series that already has two installments released by Trestle Press. The next short story in the series is entitled Reality. Yes I have read it and I will be posting on it in the future. It was difficult for me not to have read it as I enjoyed Conception so much I wanted more and the Kindle had enough juice in it so I kept going. The price of the fun, $.99. It is hard to buy a Slurpee for that anymore, let alone a TastyKake. What exactly is a Nexus and what is this story about? I had the same questions, so here you go:
“Have you ever found out that you died, were brought back to life and were at a particular moment physically in a hospital bed in a medically induced coma while at the same time elsewhere? How would you like your spirit to be dragged through the “middle” by a dead guy to find out that you are the only one that can help him get to the “Gates” or take the ride down “the Elevator”. I didn’t ask for any of this to happen, but it seems that I am destined for this. Follow me on my journey of discovery as I become the next, and quite possibly the greatest Nexus.”
Great concept, good execution of the idea, neat narrative, totally different perspective and a fun and engaging idea for a series, I am hooked on it already. Yes I know I am ahead of the game a bit having read both stories but so what. The game plan from what Skylyr tells me is to drop in a new chapter once every four to six weeks. The titles will only have one word and he already has the first 20 outlined and is working hard to complete them. I like this, a man with a plan. I for one am on board this and will follow the exploits of the Nexus.
The category I would peg this is YA/paranormal with a hint of religious undertones in it. How else are you going to discuss, and describe a character that helps people get to heaven or hell? There is plenty of humor, it moves quickly, there is plenty of dialogue, and the best part for me was it made me pause a bit and think about what the message was. I definitely wanted more when the story came to end, but in a good way, that is why I immediately jumped to Reality. I will post on that either next week or at the latest the following Saturday. Skylyr Symkyns, what a name, don’t judge the story by it, or the cover, what lies inside is in “The Middle”. You’ll get that one when you read the story.
What are you reading today? Have you checked out our new blogtalk radio show The GZONE? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari, The Novel Spot &Twitter. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. 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
“Have you ever found out that you died, were brought back to life and were at a particular moment physically in a hospital bed in a medically induced coma while at the same time elsewhere? How would you like your spirit to be dragged through the “middle” by a dead guy to find out that you are the only one that can help him get to the “Gates” or take the ride down “the Elevator”. I didn’t ask for any of this to happen, but it seems that I am destined for this. Follow me on my journey of discovery as I become the next, and quite possibly the greatest Nexus.”
Great concept, good execution of the idea, neat narrative, totally different perspective and a fun and engaging idea for a series, I am hooked on it already. Yes I know I am ahead of the game a bit having read both stories but so what. The game plan from what Skylyr tells me is to drop in a new chapter once every four to six weeks. The titles will only have one word and he already has the first 20 outlined and is working hard to complete them. I like this, a man with a plan. I for one am on board this and will follow the exploits of the Nexus.
The category I would peg this is YA/paranormal with a hint of religious undertones in it. How else are you going to discuss, and describe a character that helps people get to heaven or hell? There is plenty of humor, it moves quickly, there is plenty of dialogue, and the best part for me was it made me pause a bit and think about what the message was. I definitely wanted more when the story came to end, but in a good way, that is why I immediately jumped to Reality. I will post on that either next week or at the latest the following Saturday. Skylyr Symkyns, what a name, don’t judge the story by it, or the cover, what lies inside is in “The Middle”. You’ll get that one when you read the story.
What are you reading today? Have you checked out our new blogtalk radio show The GZONE? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari, The Novel Spot &Twitter. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. 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
Friday, February 11, 2011
Graphic Novel Friday Stormwatch Force of Nature Warren Ellis
Looking for something that is drawn a bit darker, something with an edge, plenty of action, multiple characters to follow, a leader of a group that you can both enjoy and dislike almost at the same time? Yes, then this is your graphic novel. Stormwatch by Warren Ellis has plenty of just about everything. I don’t know if he could cram, ram or stuff anymore into this. Here is what is between the covers on this bad boy:
“StormWatch, the United Nations Special Crisis Intervention Team, was formed to act as powerful police force on a global scale. But Weatherman Henry Bendix, the controller of the super hero team, has decided that this course of action is no longer effective. Recruiting the electric Jenny Sparks, the lethal assassin Rose Tattoo, and the city-symbiote Jack Hawksmoor, the Weatherman transforms the once reactive team into a proactive, take-no-prisoners strike team and makes the reader question the way that super hero teams are perceived.”
Interesting concept, good execution, and excellent artwork are consistent throughout the graphic novel. The social commentary is not too heavy handed but it does drive home its point. Weatherman Henry Bendix is one mentally tough old geezer. Henry walks around with his skull wet wired to the computer system issuing orders, sending superheroes into battle, taking no prisoners. It makes for some fun reading and the action is pretty intense and quick. To be honest I was surprised how much I enjoyed it, and I am definitely in for some more because I would like to find out where the storyline goes.
Next week we are doing the doubleheader again with Fist Stick Knife Gun and Mercy Thompson Homecoming by Patricia Briggs. Tomorrow is Digital short Saturday and we are posting on two debut series: The Commissary a geopolitical thriller by CQ Scafidi (author of the award winning Time Couriers) & THE NEXUS CHRONICLES by Skylyr Symkyns. Conception is the first title in this YA/Paranormal digital short story series.
What are you reading today? Have you checked out our new blogtalk radio show The GZONE? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari, The Novel Spot &Twitter. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. 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
“StormWatch, the United Nations Special Crisis Intervention Team, was formed to act as powerful police force on a global scale. But Weatherman Henry Bendix, the controller of the super hero team, has decided that this course of action is no longer effective. Recruiting the electric Jenny Sparks, the lethal assassin Rose Tattoo, and the city-symbiote Jack Hawksmoor, the Weatherman transforms the once reactive team into a proactive, take-no-prisoners strike team and makes the reader question the way that super hero teams are perceived.”
Interesting concept, good execution, and excellent artwork are consistent throughout the graphic novel. The social commentary is not too heavy handed but it does drive home its point. Weatherman Henry Bendix is one mentally tough old geezer. Henry walks around with his skull wet wired to the computer system issuing orders, sending superheroes into battle, taking no prisoners. It makes for some fun reading and the action is pretty intense and quick. To be honest I was surprised how much I enjoyed it, and I am definitely in for some more because I would like to find out where the storyline goes.
Next week we are doing the doubleheader again with Fist Stick Knife Gun and Mercy Thompson Homecoming by Patricia Briggs. Tomorrow is Digital short Saturday and we are posting on two debut series: The Commissary a geopolitical thriller by CQ Scafidi (author of the award winning Time Couriers) & THE NEXUS CHRONICLES by Skylyr Symkyns. Conception is the first title in this YA/Paranormal digital short story series.
What are you reading today? Have you checked out our new blogtalk radio show The GZONE? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari, The Novel Spot &Twitter. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. 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
Graphic Novel Friday Spyboy Trail and Terror Peter David
TGIF to everyone and welcome to what is going to be a doubleheader today. Later on I am going to drop in a post on Stormwatch/Warren Ellis to try to cover opposite ends of the spectrum today- a fun, campy YA work and a very dark, heavy, and deep geopolitical thriller. Just so I cover the bases here, I don’t know if you had a chance to catch our blogtalk radio show this week? The guests we have had thus far are Suzanne Woods Fisher and Vincent Zandri .You can listen to them via the archives. The show is called Gelati’s Scoop The GZONE. This week we have a very busy schedule and then it does not stop from there. We start the week off on Monday with Bob Hamer , then we have in order Irene Hannon, Thomas White, and Jessica Dee Rohm. Okay to our graphic novel, “Holy YA campy fun and frivolity Batman” or something like that.
“While teenager-turned-superspy Alex Fleming learns more about his hidden past and the battling secret organizations -- S.H.I.R.T.S. and S.K.I.N.S. -- responsible for his dual existence, Alex/SpyBoy winds up on the deadly docket of the criminal justice duo of Judge and Jury. Will SpyBoy get the mandatory minimum -- death? And why is the eye-popping assassin Barbie Q working undercover at Alex`s school? And who is she working for, the evil and exquisite Gila, mastermind of S.K.I.N.S., or the mysterious femme fatale Madam Imadam? Every guy wants to be a babe magnet, but this may not be what Alex had in mind!”
The read was fun and interesting. The material had some cute undertones to it and I was pleasantly surprised by the original ideas and the fun acronyms. Peter David pens some excellent prose in this edition. The artwork gave it nice soft feel and made the whole graphic novel come together nicely. I don’t hesitate to suggest the read; I myself am going to look for more by the author and more of the story itself.
What are you reading today? Have you checked out our new blogtalk radio show The GZONE? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari, The Novel Spot &Twitter. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. 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
“While teenager-turned-superspy Alex Fleming learns more about his hidden past and the battling secret organizations -- S.H.I.R.T.S. and S.K.I.N.S. -- responsible for his dual existence, Alex/SpyBoy winds up on the deadly docket of the criminal justice duo of Judge and Jury. Will SpyBoy get the mandatory minimum -- death? And why is the eye-popping assassin Barbie Q working undercover at Alex`s school? And who is she working for, the evil and exquisite Gila, mastermind of S.K.I.N.S., or the mysterious femme fatale Madam Imadam? Every guy wants to be a babe magnet, but this may not be what Alex had in mind!”
The read was fun and interesting. The material had some cute undertones to it and I was pleasantly surprised by the original ideas and the fun acronyms. Peter David pens some excellent prose in this edition. The artwork gave it nice soft feel and made the whole graphic novel come together nicely. I don’t hesitate to suggest the read; I myself am going to look for more by the author and more of the story itself.
What are you reading today? Have you checked out our new blogtalk radio show The GZONE? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari, The Novel Spot &Twitter. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. 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, February 10, 2011
Tod Goldberg Burn Notice The Reformed
One of my daughters snagged this from me when I brought it home. She is a huge fan of the show and has read another of the paperback novels (the other titles in the series are The Fix, The Endgame, and The Giveaway) while we were on vacation last year. I have to say, I look forward to these novels. I don’t get to watch the show that much anymore because I am reading most of the time; I guess you can tell. Besides that, I like Tod Goldberg’s narrative; I like his voice in all of this. He makes Michael Weston, Fiona Ma, and Sam, pop. The characters jump off the page for me in ways I couldn’t and don’t get from the show. So wrestling this away from my daughter was worth it. What has the gang gotten themselves mixed up in this time? Let’s find out what is between the covers shall we:
“Once a hard-case gangbanger, famous philanthropist Father Santiago is being pressured to aid his former gang or have his crimes exposed. He can't go to the cops, but he can go to his old friend-burned covert operative Michael Westen.”
I like quick entertaining reads. I also like that Tod Goldberg doesn’t just mail this in and coast through the novel but he builds on the characters and actually in the opinions of my daughter and me makes them better. Our enjoyment of the show lately has been due to the hard work, skill, and ability of the author. I look forward to these novels probably more now than the season ending cliff hangers and the start of the season of the series on USA. My logic in saying that is that Tod Goldberg, as he pushes his narrative each and every edition of the series, allows me as the reader to enter the heads of some of my favorite television characters and he does it in an amazing fashion, with flair, style ,moxie, sincere attitude and substance. Let’s face it, the characters have all that already. That is part of the show; he just takes them to the next level. Michael Weston should have it this good every week, but I guess he has to settle for it twice a year. I am looking forward to the summer novel, if there is one. The beach sounds more appealing to me for the read than the ice and snow.
What are you reading today? Have you checked out our new blogtalk radio show The GZONE? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari, The Novel Spot &Twitter. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. 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, February 8, 2011
Tim Dorsey Electric Barracuda
I have some business to get out of the way first before I bow in front of the Serge and Coleman altar to which I pay homage. Yes, I love the characters and Tim Dorsey is an amazing author; he delivers yet another novel to which I have caused stress to my diaphragm from too much laughing and my face still hurts from too much smiling. But I digress yet again. Here is the news, well at least some of it; I have way too much to pop it all in today. The deal is this: Check out the GZONE blogtalk radio show and The Novel Spot. Wednesday I have Vincent Zandri on the show at 12.30pmEST & then on Thursday Steve Berry jumps into The GZONE @ 10amEST. I make no bones about the fact that I am a Malone Clone and am excited about both interviews. Mr. Zandri is one of Kindle’s hottest authors right now with THREE, count them –THREE, novels in the TOP 100 there. And Steve Berry is well, Steve Berry, NYT bestselling author of numerous novels. Visit the Novel Spot to get in a quick word on what is a fun new place for authors and readers alike. On the Gelati’s Scoop home page push the badge and join, it is free, it is fun, and I think it is going to be a happening place. Check it out, be entertained, be involved, and have fun. If you cannot call into the show and have a question for the authors, drop me a line and I will ask for you, then catch the archives to hear it. Oh yeah, here is the call in number for The GZONE blogtalk radio show:1-949-270-5955. I look forward to hearing from you!
Now to our novel, Electric Barracuda! I did say I liked it, no change that I loved it. I am a true fan of Dorsey and his work, his style and the substance he brings to the table with these characters. Besides that I am a sucker for all that is Florida. For some reasons his novels have been dropped around this time of year and I get to read them as it snows or in the case of the last storm-ice, snow and then slush. Yummy stuff when you are reading about the beautiful state of Florida. What is between the covers this time you may ask, I am about to hit you with it:
“Serge Storms, that loveable thermonuclear vigilante and one-stop-Florida-trivia-shop, has been leaving corpses strewn across the Sunshine State for more than a decade. The authorities—especially one tenacious state agent—have begun to notice the exponential body count, and send a police task force to track down Serge. Could his luck finally have run out?
Meanwhile, armed with his perpetually baked sidekick, Coleman, Serge decides to blitz the state and resurrect his Internet travel-advice website—which, of course, must be the finest and the final word on trekking the Sunshine State. To up the ante, Serge concocts a theme vacation for his cyberspace audience. And that theme? You, too, can experience Florida through the eyes of a fugitive.
Off they go blogging along a getaway route through the state's most remote bayous, back roads, and bars, where the number of cadavers begin stacking up like Serge's website hits. And in the middle of all his make-believe close brushes, Serge finally wises up to his pursuers and realizes that the manic gumball rally is genuinely on "in the tradition of the great American chase movie."
Clues and questions mount:
Who are all the women being photographed naked in the swamp?
What made Coleman draw on his face with magic markers?
Where is the cruise-to-nowhere taking its drunk prisoners?
When was the last time a Civil War reenactment involved a sports car?
But Serge also has some personal business to tidy up. His grandfather's old Miami Beach gang suddenly had their life savings wiped out, and there's a good bet it was no accident. Too much action for Serge to juggle? Not when it all dovetails nicely into his Secret Master Plan. And especially if it involves Serge's favorite new obsession: tracking Al Capone's little-known escapades in the Everglades.”
To my followers, well first off thank you I appreciate it very much, you know I like to be entertained when I read; it is one of the most important factors for me in the read. Electric Barracuda delivers entertainment in spades and then some. I laughed so hard at times I cried, my wife was giving me funny looks, but then asked what I was reading, when I told her she just shook her head and murmured something unintelligible. She knows how I get when I read one of these novels: basically she keeps her distance and lets me zone into the gonzo side of me. Is this novel for everyone, no, probably not? If you can throw a few things out the window and just put a few other things aside and let go, then yeah, have a good time, a very good time. Tim Dorsey has an amazing sense of humor, which I can say is not to be missed. Take the ride through Florida with Serge and Coleman, they rock.
What are you reading today? Have you checked out our new blogtalk radio show The GZONE? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari, The Novel Spot &Twitter. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. 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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