Books read in 2012: No. 27 -- About a Boy

by Nick Hornby

Started: March 31
Finished: April 3

Notes: I've read one other novel by this author, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. Also, I've seen a couple of movies based upon his writing and have enjoyed them as well. So I thought it time to dig in and read another book by this man.

Mini review: I'm glad I read this as an older man and not 20 years ago. Much of the plot revolves around the suicide of Kurt Cobain, believe it or not, which is rather unusual because this isn't even hinted at in the movie. I'm not sure as a twenty-something in the early-to-mid 1990s that I could have come to this novel properly because of my inexperience as a youth. A big part of this novel, especially the end, is about growing up, but it's also about changing, even as an adult. I don't think I would have understand any of that 20 years ago, or even 15 years ago. That and the then pain of Cobain's suicide would have been a bit too much for the younger me. As far as my opinion of this novel, it was a good but not great read, but I'm glad I read it.

Interview with author James Hockings

1.) For those who don't know you, James, can you tell us about your books and yourself as a writer? 

I could fill 100 pages in answer, but this is Ty’s blog and not mine. Blah, blah, blah … yep I rite reel good books, eh? (Canadian)

But the one fact that might interest folks is that I became a writer by accident. We all have “party pieces” — yarns from our past that are more or less true. We drag them out and bore the assembled multitudes after a few drinks. Well, one day I decided to write down my favorite yarn.

And a little later, I wrote another and then another, until I had 3 decent short stories. Then I did a few more and I thought, “Heck, I have a book of short stories.” Then that evolved into a book of linked short stories, then into an episodic first-person novel, then into a chronological third-person coming-of-age novel that became SURFING VIETNAM three years later.

2.) One of your books is titled How to Kill Your Wife. Are you married? And if so, how does she feel about this book?

My ex-wives drag this book out at their weekly support group meetings and try to figure out how to sue me. They meet every second Thursday in the basement of the Moose Lodge Hall and new members are always welcome. Free parking out back …

3.) Your doctor informs you that you have only months to live. How do you react? 

What, again? I’m on my second cancer diagnosis now and could do a third one standing on my head. If you start living your life differently in the face of a terminal diagnosis, it just means you were living it wrong in the first place.

4.) Five minutes later the same doctor returns to you and says, "Oops! Sorry, I was looking at the wrong chart. You're fine." What is your response to this? 

Sue the bastard. It’s the American way.

5.) Another doctor informs you your eyesight is failing and if you continue to read, your sight will be completely gone after you finish one more book. Do you read that book or not? And what would it be? And, would you then turn to audio books or some similar technology?

Reading is no longer the fetish it used to be with me. I read 3 books a week for decades and am not thrilled with reading anything lately. I would just turn on my audio book.

My favorite art form is a TV series viewed in sequence on DVD — THE WIRE being the best example of the excellence that is possible in long form video story telling. Series like THE WIRE are the War and Peace of our age.

6.) You are eating in a restaurant when Chuck Norris kicks in the front door, stomps his way over to your table, points at you and says, "You and me. Outside. Now!" Then he turns to storm away. What do you do?

I would pick up my purse and sashay after that big brute and give him a piece of my mind.

Books read in 2012: No. 26 -- Secrets to Ebook Publishing Success

by Mark Coker

Started: March 27
Finished: April 2

Notes: Mark Coker is the founder of Smashwords, one of the major players in the world of indie e-book distribution. Here he has gathered knowledge garnered from the most successful e-book authors over the last few years, so I'm hoping to pick up a few new ideas.

Mini review: For someone just starting out with e-book publishing, this is a fine little book. But for me, there was nothing new. Well written, though, and a quick read, so beginners should check this one out.

Interview with author of 'Johnny Mustang' and 'Highway 90'

I recently sent out onto the World Wide Web a call for authors who would like to be interviewed. Heather Ross was one of the first to reply. Below are my questions for her as well as her answers. Thanks, Heather!


My goal with these interviews is to do something a little different. We've all read the same old questions and answers over and over again, and some of that will be found here, but I wanted to go for a few quirky questions to give everyone a look into the minds and hearts of these writers.

1.) You have published two books so far. Can you tell us a little about them?

Highway 90 is a young adult novelette that basically centers around a young girl tired of the monotony of her small town life. To break it up, her and a friend take a trip to a night club in Mexico, but it's the ride home that tests their character, views on freedom and the meaning of love.

Johnny Mustang is an illustrated children's book. It is based on the life of my grandfather who grew up on the desert of southwest Arizona. Johnny loves horses, particularly wild horses that roam free in the desert. His family as well as others catch and use them on their ranches. This book details Johnny's first wild horse round-up with ten color illustrations. A fun read for all ages and fun to write! I used a pen name for this book to keep my genre's separate.

You can read more about them including excerpts on my website www.HeatherRoss.net.

2.) What plans do you have for future works?

I'm currently working on edits to a romance novel I wrote a few years ago. I'm also finishing another young adult novel about a girl who would like to be a dancer, but finds she isn't so great at it. I may write a sequel to Highway 90, but I haven't decided yet. I've also started another Johnny Mustang book. I just can't stop! (writing)

3.) You are also a photographer. Have you considered doing a book of your favorite images?

The thought did cross my mind at one point, but I wasn't sure the public was ready for random shots of my life, some horribly out of focus. Seriously though, I may do this in the future when I can be more decisive about which images to include because as I am right now I'd produce a book with hundreds of photos.

4.) What is your favorite color? That's the easy part. Here's the hard part: Now tell us why it's your favorite color?

My favorite color is black and it's not a difficult color to love because it's versatile on so many levels. It's slimming, it hides stains (well, unless it's yoghurt), it doesn't scream "Hey look at me!" and it compliments every other color on the spectrum.

5.) What kind of dog do you have?

We think our "affection hog" is a cocker spaniel/poodle mix, but we're not sure. She's a pound puppy. Black, of course and doesn't shed. Woo hoo!

6.) If you could have any other name than the one you currently have, what would it be?

Now this is the difficult question. I like so many names I can't decide. Do you mean a name I conjure up or a famous name? Well, I'd have to say maybe Elektra. It sounds cool and doesn't require a last name. Kinda sexy too.

Here's more from Heather:

You can read more about me on my website: http://www.HeatherRoss.net
Friend me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HeatherRossAuthor
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/WriterHeather

My books are available on my website as well as Amazon:

Highway 90

Johnny Mustang: The Adventure Begins

Books read in 2012: No. 25 -- Effortless Marketing

by Jeff Rivera

Started: March 25
Finished: March 27

Notes: Jeff Rivera is a bit of a celebrity figure and public figure. He's been published in all kinds of periodicals, has been a public speaker and far traveler, and he's managed to create for himself a solid-sounding e-book following. So, I figured he is something worth paying attention to. Thus, I picked up this little e-book from him.

Mini review: There were some good ideas here, especially concerning the right approach to take when taking part in message board. That being said, I was turned off a little by several suggestions of turning to other e-books for more information.

Amazon, writers and KDP Select

There are plenty of debates online concerning indie writers making use of the KDP Select program from Amazon. Some writers like the program, having had success with it, while others seem much more skeptical. I can't say I hate the program, but it has not lived up to my expectations, so I'm not likely to use it again.

But I'm not here to go on and on about the pros and cons of KDP Select. Instead, I thought I'd mention an article written by Jim Kukral over at Huffington Post about this very topic. And yep, Jim even mentioned a comment I had posted over at the Kindleboards, so thanks Jim for the push.

Books read in 2012: No. 24 - Tarzan of the Apes

by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Started: March 19
Finished: March 22

Notes: As my latest read came to a screeching halt because of pages missing in the trade paperback edition, I've had to find other reading material. Which is fine. I now turn to an author with whom I need to become more familiar, the master of Sword and Planet literature, Edgar Rice Burroughs. This was another Amazon e-book freebie, so I can't argue with the price.

Mini review: I had read only a little Burroughs before now and it had not made me a fan, but this novel did. I was surprised how much I liked it, how much kept with my own notions of Tarzan and how much swayed in other directions. I will be reading further novels in this series.