Amazon monopolizes the small publishing industry

Amazon has decided to remove the "buy" button from all self published and select small or independently published books. Amazon has decided that if the company doesn't print their books through their own Booksurge, then they will stop selling their books. Not only is this a monopolistic attempt to rule the publishing industry, it is also unfair. Authors deserve to have their dreams encouraged. A book will stand on its own merits regardless of how it was published. The book, The Celestine Prophecy, started out as a "self published" title before being picked up by a mainstream publisher. It has since gone on to top the New York Time's Best Seller List and has been made into a movie. This is, by far, not the only book to have become successful after a small start.
There is a petition against Amazon's strong arm tactics here.
Amazon, like Walmart, has become too big for their own good. What started out as a wonderful avenue for readers and writers to unite has turned into a "big brother" type of company who can tell readers what to buy. Amazon is still allowing secondary sellers to peddle the books they removed. However, the prices on some of the books are inflated and unfair. Also, when buying from a secondary seller, you must pay shipping costs on each seller. That would really add up if you have more than one seller in your basket.
Book burnings and banned books have long since been condemned in modern society. Amazon must be brought to task for their refusal to sell competitor's books. Otherwise, the millions of authors who are ostracized should ban together and create their own Amazon-like company where ALL books are sold in the effort of fair play.

Coraline in 3D

Neil Gaiman's book, Coraline, is on its way to becoming a 3D animated film. Reminiscent of The Nightmare Before Christmas or Corpse Bride, Coraline is a dark fantasy with a whimsical side to it.
The official link is here.
Coraline, who discovers a door to an alternate universe, journeys into a bizarre domain of talking cats and chocolate eating dogs. In this parallel world resides her "alternate" parents who enthusiastically greet her. Eventually, Coraline begins to miss her "real" parents. She ensues a dangerous, precarious journey back to find the "real" world in which she left.
Gaiman, a master story teller, weaves a full tapestry of fantastic happenings and wonderful mysteries. If the movie is half as good as the book, it should be a sight to see. Here is a trailor.

When I Crossed No-Bob

This book is the sequel to, How I Found The Strong, by Margaret McMullan. Fresh from the Civil War, families in Mississippi strive to adjust to the reunited country with all of its new problems. The book is written from the perspective of Addy, an abandoned twelve-year-old girl who was taken in by the reluctant Frank Russell and his new bride. Frank's, coming-of-age story was portrayed in the prequel, How I found the Strong. Now, Frank is married and facing a life of added responsibilities due to the addition of Addy. Addy's past and family reputation precedes her as she is from the aggressive O'Donnell clan.
Addy's attempt to please is overshadowed by her former life as an O'Donnell. Unfortunately, the past which she is determined to defeat comes back to haunt her. Addy, like the man who took her in, must face some tough decisions.
McMullan takes the idealistic adolescent girl and infuses a coarse, tomboyish charm. Addy is full of the idiosyncrasies and flaws which come from living a hard life. Addy's loyalties are put to the test. She rises above her circumstances and demonstrates that ancestry doesn't have to define you. No, Addy proves that character is not guided by blood.
Written in the language of the times, this story develops a genre all its own. Historical references along with life changing events weave an intense vignette of post war life in nineteenth century Mississippi.
No-Bob, like the patch of woods it is named after, takes the reader off the beaten track deep into the grueling life facing the war-torn, post-war south.

Free Book!

Author Neil Gaiman and his publisher, Harper Collins, asked fans what Gaiman book would they like free. The votes were tallied and the winner was American Gods. On his blog, Gaiman has posted the link to the free book. He asked that everyone spread the word since it will only be free for a limited time. So, I'm doing my part and letting people know. What a great idea this is. It gets his work out there for those who had never read it, plus it promotes reading. Its a win win situation. So read and enjoy.

Why writers have day jobs.

One case in point illustrates the reason why many, very good writers, must work in big buildings following corporate warlords in order to survive. The author of The Cheetah Girls thought life was taking a turn for the better when Disney opted to use her stories in a movie franchise. We're talking Disney here. Deborah Gregory had visions of a debt-free world where she could actually live off her craft. See link
What wonder of wonders, her creation, The Cheetah Girls, had actually hit the big time. Now, as time has passed and merchandising has hit an all time high, Deborah Gregory has yet to see her riches! It turns out that Hollywood accounting is so creative that it baffles the mind. The corporations behind the movie/book franchise is covered but not the creative genius behind it. To think that during the writer's strike, there were those who actually accused the writers of being greedy. We need to have the accounting books, for writing related franchises, laid out for all to see. People would be amazed at how much the corporations are making off the creative minds who feed them the ideas that make them rich. The profit is sometimes funneled into the expense and overhead category. Those who work for the corporation could, say, go to Macy's and buy a new wardrobe. Then, they could write off the cost as a work-related expense. This happens more often than most people realize. The problem isn't just the questionable expenses, though. The problem is that once the money is pushed through the accounting funnel, there doesn't seem to be any left for the creative mind that started the whole thing to begin with.

The art of writing a love letter

For Valentine's day we bring you:
Other People's Love Letters: 150 Letters You Were Never Meant to See This is a compilation of random personal letters from people who are joyfully in love or living in a dark place over their romantic situation. People tend to enjoy being an anonymous witness to other people's lives. Looking through individual notes and letters from strangers is slightly tantalizing. The reader becomes a voyeur as he spies through the keyhole. He views the romantic scene within, unbeknown to the participants. As a result, the lovers are candid and forthright with their words. This letters come from a whole gamut of emotional states, love, lust, hate, confusion, etc.
Exactly what should a love letter say? What style should it be? The answer can come from a grammatical stance or from a psychological one. There is no one easy answer. The bottom line is, a love letter should come from the heart. It should say what needs to be said. These letters do just that. The letters are examples of relationship deepening love and relationship ending apathy. There are sometimes graphic descriptions and sexual jargon, but that's they way these types of letters are sometimes.
Read the book as if you were doing so illicitly. Let your inner voyeur emerge as you slip into the pages and absorb the lover's written words. It will make the experience that much more arousing.

Sister Light: Book One: Of Shadows

In B.B. Walter’s debut novel, a prophecy is revealed, mystics abound and journeys are tread in a war-torn medieval-like world. The book is a new, lurid take on dark fantasy, aimed at intelligent readers who want something that has all the rumor of a classic but also an unrefined real-world depth.

Walter opens her dark fantasy, Sister Light: Book One: Of Shadows, with a prophecy: “Beware the child with the pale blue eyes.” From there she takes you on a compelling journey through the fantastical alternate world terrorized by the blood thirsty Kijack. The Kijack are bird like creatures with no conscience and a passion for torture. As such, an imminent sense of danger looms over the characters throughout the entire book.

The tale follows Rose, a former Sister of Light who can summon lightening at will. We accompany Rose along her predestined path, one that even she is unaware of. As the story develops, we understand a little more of what motivates our heroine. Rose, surprised at her feelings, is haunted by her past. Rose’s fear of intimacy is clouded by her flashbacks of being witness to the rape and torture of her fellow Sister of Light. She is willful and intelligent but emotionally vulnerable due to these deep-rooted traumas which plague her dreams.

The supporting character is David, an heir to his father’s dynasty. That is until his sister turns of age in this matriarchal society where the female inherits the titles. David is betrothed to Lady Timera of Mervar, due to his father’s arrangement between noble houses. David rescues Rose from certain death after a Kijack attack. He becomes her devoted caregiver where he ultimately becomes attached to the mysterious yet vulnerable Rose.

The author inextricably weds the characters to the land from which gave them life. She plays with the eeriness of a beleaguered homeland scattered with defenseless villages and wavering kingdoms.

Loosely woven initially, Sister Light finds its voice as the story progresses. As a new writer, Walter demonstrates her literary potential fluently with her enduring style.

Her ample use of superlatives can be forgiven by the fact that much of the language is invented jargon exclusive to her world. This author defies convention by shocking the reader with disturbing imagery and gothic vengeance. The divided provinces in this fabricated old world domain reach out beyond the pages to lure the reader within.

I was captivated throughout the story due to the nonstop intensity and visual strength. There's a quality to Walter’s storytelling that makes this novel very much like a disturbing fable.

The story progresses with a glimpse into the sinister and ominous sovereigns where the enemies are plotting against the kingdom. There is no neat and tidy ending to this book. It openly entices the reader to continue the journey into the next book. I look forward to, not only seeing how the author hones her literary skills, but also to find out how it all turns out.

Sister Light: Book One: Of Shadows is a must read for those who love a good fantasy with all the trappings of a gothic world full of turmoil, intimacy and horror.