Rosepoint Publishing

After You’re Dead – Review

Title: After You’re Dead by Cary Allen Stone

Genre: Currently #4469 Best Sellers Rank for Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Thrillers & Suspense, Crime, Serial Killers

Publisher: CreateSpace

Publication Date: November 2016

Submitted by author for review

After You’re Dead – Cover Says It All–(Should Have Been My Clue–some how I missed it.)

I’m handicapped in that this is the first Jake Roberts book I’ve read, although “After You’re Dead” is the fifth in the series. Cary Allen Stone is an Amazon #1 Best Selling Author, and 2016 Readers’ Favorite Finalist Award for Crime Fiction and Psychological Thrillers. So when he requested a review, I downloaded and got plunked into the middle of hard-core Hannibal without realizing that was where I was going. Boy did I ever step over my line on this one!! Besides the graphic violence, there is language associated with the narcotrafficking culture!

The tension starts from the first chapter where antagonist #1 is introduced. As the rest of the story unfolds, Richard Graham hangs over your head, turning the screws.

Jake is an ex-cop coming off the death of his beloved Caitland and slowly coming to terms with the help of Katy, his dog (who proves to be an over the top anthropomorphized canine). After he left the APD, he founded a company which has gone widely successful, reaping him some insane levels of discretionary funds, which he freely uses to work his cases.

While a detective in the Atlanta PD, he’d made a LOT of contacts, some borne of grudging mutual respect and one is Pablo, leader of the MexiKings, who seeks his help when there is no one else he can think of who might be able to tackle the rescue of his wife Alana from El Chapo’s successor’s clutches in Mexico. El Mencho is worse–much worse. He gets off with the use of Richard Graham, a psychiatric escapee from the UK who would give the worst cannibalistic, necrophiliast sadist a challenge.

The plot doesn’t lag or stagnate, except perhaps in the exchanges between Jake’s plans for rescue with Pablo–Pablo getting cold feet. The characters are strong–heaven knows the author does a major job of fleshing out (oops–wrong word for this book?) his protagonist and most especially his two antagonists. Several twists are thrown in as the plot develops, not the least of which is Richard’s sideways offer in the climax or the role of Katy in his recovery.

I suspect I might have been able to appreciate Jake more had I read one of the previous in the series, though he does not come across as sympathetic for me. I managed to get through this book, as I promised I would, but this is an extreme type of serial killer, crime thriller and is not my thing.

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review. The book is well written, I’ll grant you that; just too much for me.

Rosepoint rating: Four of five stars

Author Description: Cary Allen Stone flew inside the cockpits of corporate jets and airlines where he met a man who became a mentor. He’s worked in LA doing feature films and Phoenix in Indie films, as well stand-up comedy and voice-overs for radio commercials. He achieved the endorsements of Clive Cussler and Tim Dorsey and is a proud member of the Phoenix Writer’s Club begun in the 1920s by women reporters. ©2017 Virginia Williams

Exciting, Affordable Book Award Contest

Remember that contest late last year in which you furiously wrote your book to the goal of at least 50,000 words? Did you finish your manuscript? If you didn’t–Push!

You have plenty of time to enter your novel in the ATAI 2017 Book Award Contest! You can enter a published or unpublished book or eBook. You want to know how much! I get it–Indie authors don’t have much money for entry fees. But first you should know the exciting value you’ll be getting for the entry fee and it includes (but not limited to):

♦ A 250-300 word, high quality review-critique of your book, which you may use in whole or in part simply by adding the attribution.

♦ Promotion across all of ATAI social media

♦ Featured blog post on their four website/blogs

♦ Books earning 4-5 stars receive a digital ATAI Badge–use it anywhere!

Yeah, I know you’re still asking–how much?

And second, you should know that there are ten book categories, including general fiction, mystery, sci-fi, and everything in between. Your book will fit very neatly into one of the categories listed on their website.

Third, you should see the prizes awarded, which include a Grand Prize, First Prize in Category, and Finalists. The Grand Prize is valued at $3997 and includes (but is not limited to):

♦ Promotion across social media throughout 2018

♦ Featured on homepage throughout 2018

♦ Featured on sidebar throughout 2018

♦ Listed on 2017 ATAI Winners page, plus more–you must read their website!

At this point, you are probably thinking–“yeah, expensive!” Right? Wrong!

This one is only $35.00!

Wha??? (How’s that for affordable??!)

Go to their contest page for Authors Talk About It and read all the details for information on who can enter, a complete listing of categories, and submission details, including acceptable formats.

About That Twitter Chat Explosion

I’m off on another challenge and looking for input, advice, comments regarding Twitter Chat–Twitter Party(?)

I’ve been looking for a blogging group, Meetup, or publishing-marketing group locally and still coming up empty-handed. Seems most groups are located in or much closer to Chicago than I want to travel. Failing a local, physical group, I started looking around for something online and may have found an idea in a Twitter Chat–looks like they discuss blogging. The host is Mack Collier @MackCollier and his chat is #Blogchat.

Yes, I know, there are gazillions of chats–and parties, out there. Anyone have any experience in this arena with sage advice to impart? Have you participated in another you would recommend for book marketing, for instance?

I’m considering using Hootsuite (but I’m not sure it’ll be fast enough). I’ve used Hootsuite in the past to schedule posts and tweets. I understand there are a number of other platforms out there can be used to keep up with posts, including TweetChat, however, their “permissions” include one or two I wasn’t ready to agree with. TweetChat also keeps a schedule, which is quite handy as it lists chats scheduled for everyone from 5th grade teachers to food prep with Star Olive Oil. And then there is Tweetdeck and that looks the same to me as Hootsuite. Is it better?

Mack Collier has assured me they are very helpful in all things blogging–and will discuss a different topic each week. They also have a Facebook page if you’d like to check them out as well. I’m up for trying #Blogchat this Sunday, January 22nd, at #Blogchat, 8 pm CT. Meet me there? ©2017 Virginia Williams

The Eye of Nefertiti-A Pharaoh’s Cat Novel-Review

The Eye of Nefertiti-A Pharaoh’s Cat Novel by Maria Luisa Lang

Genre: Currently #1791 in Books, Literature & Fiction, Genre Fiction, Historical, Fantasy

Publisher: Maria Luisa Lang

Publication Date: November 2016

Submitted by author for review

The Eye of Nefertiti – Cover could be darker

WOW! Where do I begin with “The Eye of Nefertiti-A Pharaoh’s Cat Novel” by Maria Luisa Lang? This book is a complete conundrum–a plot that’s unique and a story line that keeps you curious as to where the author could be going with it–but includes typos that signal perhaps it was not quite ready for prime time. You know you are in for something different from the first sentence of the first chapter. This novel was out of my normal genre, totally out of the box, but one with a premise I couldn’t overlook. How do you write a first person story when the first person is a cat? Yes, the protagonist is a cat–but not your ordinary cat.

How do you pick up modern times in a family with a baby and switch to ancient Egypt seamlessly? How is this cat distinctly feline as well as human? Wrappa-Hamen is a cat like no other and, for the most part, fleshed out well, albeit the switch had me confused at times as to whether we were still talking more human than feline, especially near the end of the book. Granted, the cat could actually walk (on two legs), talk, drink (not always lap), and eat foods that might otherwise be very deleterious for a feline, while still dealing with paws (no opposable thumbs). So, here’s how I laid it out: Continue reading “The Eye of Nefertiti-A Pharaoh’s Cat Novel-Review”

When Critical Reviews are the Best Kind

I love Kristen Twardowski’s view regarding the book industry, reviews, and trends and have followed her for some time, always enjoying her latest thoughts. This one is so right on, I couldn’t resist reblogging for you to enjoy here, unless you are also one of her subscribers as well. Enjoy! Then go check out some of her posts!

Kristen Twardowski

Sometimes I read a review that expresses such passionate hatred for a book that I can’t help but want to read more. Perhaps I am alone in that response.

Now, I enjoy literary novels – I read a lot of folks like Margaret Atwood and Alan Moore – but occasionally my mind requires a different sort of reading material. Sometimes I want to read a book that is a little wild, a little crazy, a little less good.

The Outliers.jpg

Luckily The Outliers by Kimberly McCreight has come to my rescue. The Outliers follows the story of Wylie, a girl who is investigating her best friend’s disappearance. Though the plot summary seems normal enough, I stumbled across a veritable treasure trove of scalding reviews on the book’s Goodreads page when doing research on novels being adapted into films. Readers were saying things like:

“…the only way it could be more insane…

View original post 287 more words

TGIF -Freaky Friday Feature

If TGIF resounds with you, as it used to do with me when I was still in the work force, then you will be celebrating today as the end of your work week and looking forward to the weekend. Of course, Dr. Eldon Taylor, who wrote the book I just reviewed on this blog, Choices and Illusions, said that embracing the TGIF mentality means you hate your job. True–either that or you have plans for the weekend you just flat can’t do during a work day!

For me, Friday is a mini-celebration, and as I’ve noted before on this Freaky Friday Feature, time to kick back, have some laughs, and hopefully enjoy a few of the fotos and funnies I’ve gleaned lately. Somehow, the puppy pictures always catch my eye!

One of my blog buddies, Rob Moses of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, is a photographer who has a phenomenal eye and posted this one he called, “Mustachio.” Looks like he was having a GOOD Friday!

Another of my buddies sends me great little ditties from time to time and I thought it was time to share a couple of those as well. Freaky, huh? Happy Friday–have a safe, warm, and dry weekend! ©2017 Virginia Williams

Choices and Illusions – Review

Choices and Illusions by Eldon Taylor — **Sept 2014 Cover**

Choices and Illusions-How Did I Get Where I am, and How Do I Get Where I Want to Be? By Eldon Taylor

Genre: Currently #1367 in Best Sellers Ranking for Books, Religion & Spirituality, New Age & Spirituality, New Thought (#5004 in Books, Self-Help, Motivational, and #7925 in Books, Self-Help, Personal Transformation)

Publisher: Hay House, Inc.

Publication Date: Revised Edition: September 2014

Submitted by author’s publicist for review

Choices and Illusions-How Did I Get Where I am, and How Do I Get Where I Want to Be?

From the hype promoted for “Choices and Illusions-How Did I Get Where I Am, and How Do I Get Where I Want to Be?” I guess I expected some innovative breakthrough, or influential psychological studies that would drive home a solution, albeit not without real conscious or subconscious work on the behalf of the reader.

This entire book, however, could basically be summed up in two words: “Own it.” Taking responsibility for yourself is a strong mantra repeated throughout, and probably learned by most who delved into self-help books beginning 20 years ago. It’s a close companion to “forgive and forget”, and ergo always more difficult that those simple words would divine. It begins with the basic tenet–we have all been imprinted–and I’ll buy that. Whether or not by accident or design, that imprint creates the composite of who we are. Continue reading “Choices and Illusions – Review”

Seven Major Sources of Book Reviewers

According to The Huffington Post, who cited Bowker numbers, the number of new books published each day in the US is now up to 3,500. That’s 3,500 Each Day!

This, according to Bowker, who issues ISBN numbers, does not include eBooks that are published without benefit of an ISBN number. Holy cow! Can it really be more than 1.2 million per year? Last I read somewhere, the count was 750,000/yr and I thought that was staggering! If you are a newly published author, how do you even begin to compete with those numbers? Everyone points to getting book reviews. I’ve covered that topic before–it’s still relevant.

And according to the Huffington Post, Amazon calls the reviews “Social Proof.” Maybe so, but you can buy reviews, and I’m not talking about the reputable sites that receives a submission and returns an “unbiased” opinion–such as Kirkus. Kirkus is well known and wields some influence, often turning a five-star rating into gold. Still, whether the source is Amazon or Goodreads, I am getting a lot of review requests, many of which have obviously not scanned my Submission Guide. Continue reading “Seven Major Sources of Book Reviewers”