Author Blogs

Available on Amazon UK and Amazon US FIVE YEAR ANNIVERSARY EDITION Now with a new foreword and an updated cover showcasing Jane's own handwriting, this re-imagining of Jane's life continues to charm and delight readers of literary fiction worldwide. ************* All her heroines find love in the end–but is there love waiting for Jane? Jane Austen spends her days writing and matchmaking in the small countryside village of Steventon, until a ball at Godmersham Park propels her into a new world where she yearns for a romance of her own. But whether her heart will settle on a young lawyer, a clever Reverend, a wealthy childhood friend, or a mysterious stranger is anyone’s guess. Written in the ...

This is my first blog here. It deals with a real life event that had the potential of leading to some interesting scenarios, like the kind of possibilities you found in Choose Your Own Adventure series that were all the rage back before kids had cell phones and flashy video games and they still had imagination.When I was maybe eleven or twelve, my family used to go down to Clam Beach a lot to gather driftwood, which we either used for stove fuel or building material.In those days, we had more time on our hands; the Mad River hadn’t shifted its banks yet so the entire beach was crammed with a jumble of hodgepodge of available material. There was no metal gate blocking vehicle access so people...

    Does this title sound stupid? (Don’t answer that.) I was trying to come up with a fancy, clever, literary genius of a title, one which would give an undeniable clue to the content of this post. I got a few good ones lined up and then re-read them. Most were so oblique even I forgot the connection. Others read more like popular newspaper headings than a serious post about writing. In the end, I settled for what you have above. Which cannot be too bad because here you are, reading me waffling on about something inane. Okay, on with my post. Many of my indie author friends, especially those who tend to write in a specific genre, have one or more series of books. I know writing a book series...

Available on Amazon UK and Amazon US An atmospheric historical thriller of subterfuge and illicit love with a menacing plot set in Mussolini's Asmara, Italian Eritrea. I am a novelist who always has places in mind first—even before a story is formed. Typically, in between novels, my mind begins to wander about where to set the next one. So it was that I remembered—this was a year and half ago—reading an article in the newspaper. It must have been in the New York Times, about Asmara in Eritrea seeking designation as a World Heritage site by Unesco because of its trove of Art Deco buildings erected in the 1930s when the town was one of Mussolini’s Italian East African colonies. I’ve lived in A...

     Today I’m turning the reins over to guest blogger Tanmay Jain, who has just finished reading another one of Dan Brown’s famous Robert Langdon novels.    Take it away, Tanmay… Angels and Demons – Dan Brown Book Review About the Author:      Dan Brown is an American author of thriller novels, most notably the Robert Langdon stories: Angels & Demon, The Da Vinci Code, The Lost Symbol, Inferno and Origin. His other books include Deception Point and Digital Fortress. He is mostly known for the book The Da Vinci Code. Three of his books, Angels and Demons, The Da Vinci Code, and Inferno have been made into successful films. Plot Introduction:      The story starts with Robert Langdon, a Harva...

Song: Slip Away Album: Heathen (2002) Personnel: David Bowie (vocals, keyboards, guitars, saxophone, stylophone, backing vocals, drums), Tony Visconti (guitars, bass guitar, recorders, string arrangements, backing vocals), Matt Chamberlain (drums, drum loop programming, percussion), David Torn (guitars, guitar loops, Omnichord), The Scorchio Quartet (Greg Kitzis, 1st violin; Meg Okura, 2nd violin; Martha Mooke, viola; Mary Wooten, cello), Tony Levin (fretless bass) What I love about this track:  While the album is somewhat post-apocalyptic, this is the song that contains an outright admonition to make sure we take care of ourselves during the darkest times.  We should all remember to keep ou...

Song: “Rebel Rebel” Album: Diamond Dogs (1974) Personnel: David Bowie (vocals, guitar), Herbie Flowers (bass), Mike Garson (piano), Aynsley Dunbar (drums) What I love about this track:  Pretty much everything.  I’m not kidding. You can dance to it, or you can sing along like it’s a personal anthem. Trivia:  “Rebel Rebel” is the most covered of all David Bowie’s songs. Why I chose this video:  Thirty-plus years after the original, he still rocked this tune. Original link

I was recently interviewed online by NovelPASTimes , a blog for Historical Fiction Lovers. Here is Part Two. What would you like readers to gain from reading your book(s)? Because the Finding Billy Battles trilogy is historical fiction and is set in the 19th and 2oth Centuries, I would like readers to get a sense of the time and place of the story. I would like them to have an appreciation of the way people lived, how they thought, and how they dealt with both adversity and triumph in a very different era. Finally, I would like readers to finish my book and think to themselves: “Damn, I didn’t want that story to end!” All historical fiction is, I think, a mixture of truth and story. Accuracy...

As indie authors, we are being encouraged in many quarters to engage more with Goodreads, especially since Amazon ended its forums for CS, KDP, etc.  Many of us, including me, have used the GR platform for Goodreads giveaways This is one author who will not be engaging in any more Goodreads giveaways. They are a […] The post Goodreads Giveaways? You Have To Be Kidding! appeared first on Stephen Bentley . Original link

I had a business plan all ready to go when we published The No-Campfire Girls, and it was, if I do say so myself, fool-proof:First, we tell everyone half the proceeds to go a good and worthy cause, and that much of the other half go toward advertising that good and worthy cause.Second, we set the e-book price at only 99 cents and, even better, the print book at just five dollars. Hey, you can find 99 cents in your navel lint collection. (It's up to you to dig it out.) Not only that, but these days 99 cents worth of navel lint is worth five bucks, so there you go.Third, we spread the word among Girl Scouts, since that good cause was to support a Girl Scout camp. There are about two and a half...

Eerie Rhymes Playlist Ann is excited to release this eerie rhymes series read by her cyber assistant, Ava, for your enjoyment. She intends to post a rhyme-a-day for the next 365-days. 

Song: Queen Bitch Album: Hunky Dory (1971) Personnel: David Bowie (vocals, acoustic guitar), Mick Ronson (electric guitar, backing vocals), Trevor Bolder (bass guitar), Mick Woodmansey (drums) What I love about this track:  The way the lyrics serve as counterpoint to the riff.  It’s not quite syncopation, but it’s still pretty interesting. Trivia: This song was used in the film “Milk,” not only in the trailer but for one of the main scenes. Why I chose this video:  I just love seeing Bowie and Ronson together.  They had tremendous chemistry on-stage. Original link

I was recently interviewed online by NovelPASTimes [ http://www.novelpastimes.com] , a blog for Historical Fiction Lovers.   Here is Part One.   Tell us a little about what you write. I write both fiction and non-fiction. Currently, my books fall into the historical-fiction/action adventure categories. My previous books have been journalism textbooks, a corporate biography of Japan’s Kikkoman Corporation and a compilation of columns I wrote while covering Japan.   My writing for the past few years has been devoted to historical fiction. “Finding Billy Battles” was the first in a trilogy of novels about William Fitzroy Raglan Battles, his early days in 19th Century Kansas and his eventual jou...

I have made many friends through social media but there are two people who stand out as not only talented writers but as unselfish champions of other writers.  One is Sally Cronin and the other is Tanya Robinson.  I’ve read all of Tanya’s books (so I thought) and they take your breath away. Her experiences have been … Continue reading MEET T R ROBINSON Original link

New on Amazon UK and Amazon US VICTORY GIRLS is the sixth poignant saga in Helen Carey's much-loved Lavender Road series, set in south London during the Second World War. Not to be missed by readers of Katie Flynn, Annie Murray and Lilian Harry. Praise for the Lavender Road novels: 'Funny, poignant, emotional and unputdownable' London Evening Standard August 1944. Allied troops are fighting their way across Europe. But rocket attacks on London are a chilling reminder that the war is far from over. Helen knows all too well how dangerous it is in war-torn France. But it's a long-time since she heard from her French fiancé, Andre, and nothing is going to stop her going back to track him down, b...

Song: Putting Out Fire (With Gasoline), aka “Cat People” Albums: Yep, you read it right.  Cat People (1982) and Let’s Dance (1983) Personnel:  Soundtrack version: David Bowie (lead vocals), Giorgio Moroder (keyboards, guitar, bass), Michael Landau (guitars), Tim May (guitars), Leland Sklar (bass), Keith Forsey (drums) “Let’s Dance” version: David Bowie (lead vocals), Carmine Rojas (bass guitar), Omar Hakim (drums), Tony Thompson (drums), Nile Rodgers (guitar), Stevie Ray Vaughan (guitar), Rob Sabino (keyboards), Sammy Figueroa (percussion), Frank Simms (backing vocals), George Simms (backing vocals), David Spinner (backing vocals) What I love about this track:  On the original, the reverse o...

Originally posted on Barb Taub : An open letter to Amazon: Dear Amazon, I should be your Holy Grail. I’m the real deal, an actual reader who goes through books carefully, thinks about what they mean and how they’re written, and then writes a considered, thoughtful, and hopefully helpful analysis—in other words, I’m a book reviewer.… Original link

Song: Outside Album: 1. Outside (1995) Personnel: David Bowie (vocals, saxophone, guitar, keyboards), Brian Eno (synthesizers, treatments, strategies), Reeves Gabrels (guitar), Erdal Kizilçay (bass, keyboards), Mike Garson (grand piano), Sterling Campbell (drums), Carlos Alomar (rhythm guitar), Joey Barron (drums), Yossi Fine (bass) What I love about this track: I have to be honest and tell you that it literally took a number of years for this album to grow on me.  I was accustomed to David Bowie being a musical chameleon, but I wasn’t a huge fan of the grungy/gothy/industrial feel of this outing.  Once I started seeing the album as a concept piece, in the same vein as “Diamond Dogs,” I grew...

Song: Never Let Me Down Album: Never Let Me Down (1987) Personnel: Carlos Alomar (composer, guitar), “Crusher” Bennett (percussion), Spencer Bernard (synthesizers), David Bowie (composer, producer, vocals), David Eiland (alto saxophone), Steve Hodge (keyboards), Erdil Kizilçay (bass, drums, keyboards), David Richards (producer) What I love about this track:  It’s got kind of a theatrical jazz feel to it, which is again a departure for Bowie. Trivia: According to Bowie, the song is about his personal assistant, Corinne “Coco” Schwab.  At the time of his death, Schwab had been his assistant for 46 years. Why I chose this video:  Given that it’s about Bowie’s personal assistant, the caretaking ...

Well? Are there any British Audiobook users? I ask for a couple of reasons. The main one is I can’t give away my UK Audible promo codes. The US – yes! As soon as I say something on Facebook or Goodreads about free promo codes – Wham! Shazam! All these Americans come running with a smile […] The post Are There Any British Audiobook Users? appeared first on Stephen Bentley . Original link