Die Already featured on dailycheapreads.com

Die Already is featured on DailyCheapReads.com with the new book cover

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Misty Baker "Kindle Obsessed" Interview

1: What is the inspiration behind the name of your blog? 

Well, I would think that’s painfully obvious, but for clarifications sake. I am obsessed with my Kindle.  I will say I haven’t gone as far as naming my kindle (I know a few people who have) but the thing never leaves my side. Ever.  In my purse, on my desk, in the car… it doesn’t matter, it’s there.  I was the same way with physical books though, always had one around, and by 1 I mean at least 3 (a copy of P&P, a thesaurus and whatever random book I was reading at the moment.)

When my husband bought me a kindle it was as if the sun finally started shining.  I finally had the ability to carry (almost) my entire library around without the risk of looking like a complete dork.

2: When did you know you wanted to write reviews on books?

Actually I didn’t. Even with the hundreds of books I had purchased and read off of Amazon, I NEVER went back and told people what I thought about them. 

It was David’s (my husband) idea that I start giving people my unadulterated low-down.  See, he is NOT a reader, so listening to me babble about characters and their issues was starting to drive him batty.  So one day, (mid rant) he gets up, grabs his laptop, starts a blog and says “Here! You want to talk about books? WRITE IT DOWN” I think it was his diplomatic way of telling me to “Shut the Sam-hell up.” After a few rants people started emailing me for book recommendations and before I knew it I was knee deep in books and telling everyone which ones to read and which ones to toss.

3:Do you own more than one E-reading device?

I do not.  I have looked at several other devices SINCE owning my Kindle, but with each I find myself saying “Eh…” until I find another one that just screams “TAKE ME HOME” I plan on sticking with old faithful.

4:On an average how many books do you receive to review in a week?

This actually varies.  I had to shut down my request page a few months ago because I got overwhelmed and bogged down.  I was averaging 3-4 books A DAY, (so what is that....roughly 20 books a week?) Since it’s been down (and don’t worry, I WILL eventually re-open it) I am getting about 3 A WEEK  from authors gutsy enough to email me directly or from authors I have previously reviewed.

5: How do you find time to read and write up so many detailed reviews?

Coffee, 5 hour energy, and a firm belief that sleep is overrated.  I work a full time job on top of reviewing so most of my writing is done in the middle of the night. As for reading… I cheat.  My kindle reads TO ME all day.  It sits on my desk and blabs away while I work.  I also have a 2 hour commute so it runs the entire time I’m in the car.  It’s not all that difficult to knock out a 250 page book when you have it running for 10 hours. I do however find myself pausing it when the story gets juicy and reading those couple of pages for myself. We’ll just call that OCD.

6: What is your favorite genre to read and review?

That’s actually going to be 2 VERY different things. 

I LOVE to read anything forensic anthropology related. (Trust me when I say I know more about the life span of a maggot that any normal person will ever need.) Reviewing them however gets a little tricky.  FA books skirt the line of being obnoxiously detailed, so telling a reader to “just fight through the 30 pages of body decay descriptives…it will get better”  doesn’t go over so well.

As for reviewing… I would say anything “dystopian.” The complexity of this genre offers me plenty of material, and for some crazy reason people get really amped up for them.  Their excitement rubs off on me and the next thing I know I’m 5 paragraphs in and only getting started.

7: Has the E-reader changed you reading habits? And if so is it a positive?

Reading habits? Yes, obviously… I never found myself reading for 10 hours a day before. 2? Yes. 10? No.

 I also read faster.  I’m about 90% sure it’s because I’m not having to shift constantly to find a comfortable position AND still flip pages, (but that’s just a guess).

 As for being positive, I would give that a resounding yes.  David however might disagree since he calls my kindle “the dark side.”

8:Everyone loves getting a nice review, have you received any negative response from a negative review? 

I have only ever gotten 1 bad response, and to be fair to the author he didn’t actually send it to ME.  He did however post it  in a public place and several acquaintances of mine forwarded me the link.  I was shocked (and hurt) by several of the things that were said, but after a few beers (and lots of tears) I got over it and moved on.  More often than not though, I get thank you letters for my honesty or authors trying to convince me that their “Next book is so much better!! Here…please read it!!!” 

9: Any advise you would like to share to authors who might want to submit their book to you? 

Go to my website and read my guidelines.  I appreciate it when authors are excited about their work (and just can’t wait to get feedback,) but I have a system in place for a reason, and that reason is to keep request in order. 

Also, (and this is the big one so pay very close attention) MAKE SURE YOUR SYNOPSIS IS A GOOD ONE.  If your pitch is sloppy, I’m going to assume your novel is too, and the chances of you getting the “sure... send it on over” email is slim to none.

10: Now for the most important question, I have heard rumors of another obsession you have even talks of rehab, are you a Gummy Bears addict and is it just the Gummy Bears or do partake in the  Gummy Worms and other Gummy critters?

I am an equal opportunity Gummy enthusiast.  As a matter of fact; just the other day I found myself dabbling in a little Gummy Octopus love.  I do have this horrible habit of segregating my gummies though.  I just can’t bring myself to eat several different colors at the same time.

http://www.kindleobsessed.com/

Robert A. Shaines : Command Influence

What is title of your book?

Command Influence, A story of Korea and the politics of injustice

What is your book about?

Fascinating story of Military and legal history during the Korean War, 1952-53. It involves the court material of a 25-year-old 2nd Lieutenant in charge of an air police guard unit in Pusan, Korea, who was convicted by general court martial of premeditated murder. The story unfolds how an unconscionable injustice was perpetrated by the charge and conviction of the Air Force officer, who was subsequently vindicated. It also dealt with the political events during the Korean War which motivated the charges against Schreiber and others. It ultimately involved the President of the U.S., Supreme Court, and others in the highest levels of government.

Why did you decide to write it?

I was 23-years-old Air Force Judge Advocate officer and was one of the defense counsel for Lt. George C. Schreiber, who was accused of premeditated murder in the court martial. The story of the injustice has haunted my thoughts all of mu adult life, and I finally found the time and the ability to vindicate my own conscience in writing the book. I came to understand how George Schreiber and myself were a couple of dedicated but naive and trusting young Air Force officers, whose lives and characters became permanently shaped by the events in those years.


How did you get your book published?

After getting a few rejections I decided to turn to Outskirts Press for the publication of my book.

What type of reader will be interested in your book?

Anyone interested in justice, and military justice and history of the Korean War and an understanding of how political events can affect those in the military.

What is special about your book? What differentiates it from other books in the same category?

My book is differentiated from others involving history of the Korean War and the politics of injustice in the military by the exercise of commanding influence leading to the conviction of an injustice in the military by the exercise of the command influence leading to the conviction of an accused because I was personally present and participated in the events set forth in my book.

Have you published any other books? Do you plan to publish more?

I have not published any other books, but I do plan to publish more and am presently working on a book, a work of fiction, based upon my experiences working for the Defense Nuclear Agency in the former Soviet Union from 1992 to 1996. I would anticipate that book being out sometime in late 2011. 

To win a FREE signed copy of this book leave a comment below

http://outskirtspress.com/commandinfluence/

Laura Lond Interview

1: What is the most productive time of the day for you to write? 
Evening and night time, when everything else is done and I can work in peace and quiet, uninterrupted.

2: Do you start your projects writing with paper and pen or is it all on the computer?
It’s all on the computer. I use the 10-finger typing method, so it is very convenient for me. Editing is quick and easy, too.

3: What do you draw inspiration from?
Good stories created by others - books and movies. If some aspect of the story strikes a chord with me, chances are it will settle deep inside and eventually trigger ideas of my own. 

4: Do you set goals for yourself when you sit down to write such as word count?
No. I am a slow writer, and worrying about reaching a certain word count would probably slow me down even more. I might have a goal in mind, like finishing a certain episode or a chapter, but if I can’t make it, that’s fine. I don’t stress over that.

5: Are you a published or a self published author and how do you come up with your cover art?
I have been published by small press publishers and I have also self-published. Through the small press venues I was fortunate to come into contact with a wonderful professional artist and a talented designer, so now I have people to order quality covers and illustrations from.

6: What drives you to choose the career of being a writer?
Writing is the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do. It is probably the only thing I am good at, too. 

7: Do you own an ebook reading device?
Yes, I’ve just got a Kindle for Christmas! I love it.

8: Who are some of your favorite authors and What are you reading now?
My all time favorites are Charles Dickens and C.S.Lewis. (Yes, I’m into classics.)
Right now I am reading Avempartha by Michael J. Sullivan. It is a well done fantasy, definitely “my kind of a book.”

9: What do you think of book trailers and do you have any plans to have any?
I don’t know how well they work, I have not yet tried this form of promotion. My current publisher has made one for my latest book, but I have not yet received any sales reports, so it’s too early to tell. As to my other releases, I guess it will depend on whether I’ll have time to learn the art of trailer making - or finances to hire someone to do it for me.

10: How did you come up with the title of your latest book?
My latest book is a humorous fantasy titled My Sparkling Misfortune, featuring a villain as the protagonist. Coming up with a name for it was quite a struggle. I knew I had written a fun book, and I wanted a title that would reflect its tone, but nothing seemed to work. When “My Sparkling Misfortune” popped into my head, I wondered how I hadn’t thought of it right away. That was it. My villain wants to capture an evil spirit to serve him, but he messes up and gets a good spirit instead, called a Sparkling. See how the title fits perfectly?

11: What are you working on now that you can talk about?
I’ve just completed making The Adventures of Jecosan Tarres trilogy available on Kindle; my time is divided between promoting it and writing a sequel to My Sparkling Misfortune. I hope to finish it and have the book released in 2011.

Michelle Nicole Martin Interview

1: What is the most productive time of the day for you to write?

My writing schedule changes.  When I worked on my last book, “Princess and Missy’s Magical Adventures,” I wrote in the day time and edited my work at night. When I go out of my home, I bring a journal and pen and work on a children’s story, poem or journaling. With this tour, I am working in the early afternoon because I feel the most refreshed.

2: Do you start your projects writing with paper and pen or is it all on the computer?

I have a box of journals filled with different projects. I like to write with pen and paper. Usually, I do my editing on the computer.  Sometimes, I start something new with my keyboard. It just depends if I am on the road or at home when ideas come to me.

3: What do you draw inspiration from?

My inspiration comes from all forms. It can be as easy as someone smiling or laughing. Or it could be someone in my life that has helped me. For example, there was a homeless man, Brother Jay and his dog that saved my life. That is some of my inspiration that evolved from my published book. Other times, it is when I have helped someone. Most of my inspiration comes when I am driving or on a road trip.

4: Do you set goals for yourself when you sit down to write such as word count?

In the past, I have not ever worried about word count. When I initially start a project, I just write what comes to me. When I get home on my computer, I look at the word count. I then try to get into more detail. I take a lot of breaks when I work.  I then work until I am tired.

5: Are you a published or a self published author and how do you come up with your cover art?

I have only self published one book. I am hoping that the rest of my books will be traditionally published. I found a beautiful illustrator Richa Kinra through Craigslist. She lives in India.  I feel that her work is phenomenal and at a great price.

6: What drives you to choose the career of being a writer?

I have not always wanted a career as a writer. I served in U.S. Navy. I was mainly stationed in Yokosuka, Japan working on a tug boat. I also waitressed and have done odd jobs. My last career was a Phlebotomist, Lab Assistant, and EKG Technician.  I have received an Associates Degree in Social Science. I have always loved writing, but I didn’t think of getting published until later in life. What drives me now to be a writer is the love of the art. Words on paper can create a beautiful story that can be cherished for many lifetimes.

7: Do you own an eBook reading device?

My chapter book has an eBook option to buy on my website which is www.outskirtspress.com/princessand missy I eventually want to buy an ipad, but I haven’t yet.

8: Who are some of your favorite authors and what are you reading now?

My favorite children’s author is Dr. Seus. His work is funny and amazing. I aspire to become a writer like him. My favorite adult author is Joel Osteen. He is spiritual and motivational. Every day, I read a mediation book titled, “Jesus Calling.” Every reading for me touches my heart in one way or another. At night I have been reading Celestial 911. My friend gave me that book to help me think more positive and to help me achieve my dreams.

9: What do you think of book trailers and do you have any plans to have any?

I have a book trailer for Princess and Missy’s Magical Adventures. You can check it out on my website. I think book trailers are awesome.

10: How did you come up with the title of your latest book?

My dogs name is Princess. Her spontaneity and character inspired me to have her as my main character. Missy, the magical butterfly is one of my cousins’ names. I was playing around with the title for a while and I just thought that Princess and Missy’s Magical Adventures had a good ring to it.

11: What are you working on now that you can talk about?

Lately, I have been writing poetry. In 2010, I attended the 26^th Annual Writing Conference in San Luis Obispo They had winners for fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. I am working on creating original poetry that I can submit in 2011 Annual Writing Conference.  I also have a lot of children’s books that I have filed away for a while that I work on. 

Leave a comment for your chance to win a signed copy of the book.

http://outskirtspress.com/store.php

Jerry Hanel Interview

1: What is the most productive time of the day for you to write? 

Night time. During the day, my life is so busy. But when I sit down at night, I can just unleash all that I've encountered through the day onto the computer, and a story starts to unfold. I usually write something out the first time and it's just a cold series of facts and conversation pieces. But when I go back and re-work it, I start to feel the wind on my skin and actually hear the voices in my head. Maybe that's because it's late and I'm already a bit loopy, but that seems to work for me.

2: Do you start your projects writing with paper and pen or is it all on the computer?

I'm a geek. I'm all-tech, all-the-time. If I wrote it on paper, I doubt I could read it again later if I wanted to. My handwriting is an absolute mess.

3: What do you draw inspiration from?

My wife. Definitely. She gave up her life, her family and her friends to be with me. I know that she loves me completely, and I draw strength from that. But I also draw character from her and emotion for my writing. When she misses alot of her family, I can feel that longing coming from her, and I think that sense of longing, or fear, or worry, or whatever it may be makes its way into the story at some point.

4: Do you set goals for yourself when you sit down to write such as word count?

Somewhat. On the days where I really don't feel like writing, I tell myself, "Just 500 words, Jerry. You can edit those words later. Just get them on paper." But on days where I am 'in the zone' I don't worry if I write 500 or 5,000. I just let it happen.

5: Are you a published or a self published author and how do you come up with your cover art?

I am self-published, and cover art is a bit of a sore subject. I am fortunate enough to have a graphic artist friend who has seen my attempt at cover art. He has graciously offered his services to make new cover art for the book before it hits paperback, which I'm hoping will be by February.

6: What drives you to choose the career of being a writer?

I love writing. I've written short stories and clips since the 5th grade, always dreaming up new characters. As a computer programmer -- my current day job -- I create rules and instructions for a computer to follow to get to some end goal. I see writing a book as a similar task. I'm creating rules for my world, and leaving clues and motivations for my main characters to follow to get them to a specific end goal.

7: Do you own an ebook reading device?

Sadly... no. I'm a broke author. I write for the devices, yet I don't have one of my own... YET! I hoped for one for Christmas, but apparently I was a bad boy. Santa didn't bring me one. So now, I'll have to spend some of my hidden stash to get a Kindle.

8: Who are some of your favorite authors and What are you reading now?

My favorite authors are Ted Dekker and James Patterson. I guess that explains a little with Brodie Wade, doesn't it? Anyway, I've just finished Victorine Lieske, another independent author, and I'm left wanting much more. She's a great writer.

9: What do you think of book trailers and do you have any plans to have any?

I'm artistically challenged. I love to write, but video and pictures are not an area that I have any comfort level. For those that do use them, I wish them the best. But I don't plan on any for my books. Now, when the movie rights come (laugh), I'll be sure to send you the movie trailer preview.

10: How did you come up with the title of your latest book?

It really named itself. There is a line in the book, "Death Has a Name. Find the name, Brodie Wade." From that line I realized that that's the point of the book, thus that's the title. In doing that, I also realised that I've titled the remaining two books that I'm planning in the series. The second book is titled "Thaloc Has a Body", and the third book is still under wraps, but will follow a similar theme.

11: What are you working on now that you can talk about?

I'm working on a sequel to Death Has a Name. Brodie is going to encounter several new things, and may even find a love interest. What he discovers, however will lead him into the third book... which I can't go into yet.  Yes, the second book has a specific closure, and will have an ending of its own, but the third book starts off right where we left off and spins out into the realm of The Truth where ... Well, you'll just have to see.



http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/34088

George Everyman Interview

1: What is the most productive time of the day for you to write?

I have to write during the morning at work or on the weekends because if my wife found out that I was writing about our personal life, it would be very bad indeed for me.

2: Do you start your projects writing with paper and pen or is it all on the computer?

It’s all on the computer. Hopefully no one I know will ever find anything I wrote.

3: What do you draw inspiration from?

My personal life and what I observe in other people’s relationships.

4: Do you set goals for yourself when you sit down to write such as word count?

No, not at all. In fact I had no intention of writing a book. It just happened.

5: Are you a published or a self published author and how do you come up with your cover art?

Self published, and the cover art was simple, just like me.

6: What drives you to choose the career of being a writer?

It’s not a career. It’s an obsession..

7: Do you own an ebook reading device?

Yes, my wife bought me a Kindle for Christmas. I wonder if she knows that I secretly look at the book I wrote using it? I have to be sure to delete the book before I turn off the Kindle each time.

8: Who are some of your favorite authors and What are you reading now?

I love chick lit books such as “Love the One You’re With” by Emily Giffin, even though men reading chick lit seems very unmanly and suspect, at best. I have no idea why my wife doesn’t question why I read them since I leave them in plain sight. I’m guessing that as long as I cook her dinner and clean the dishes, she could care less what I read.

9: What do you think of book trailers and do you have any plans to have any?

I really hate to admit it, but I have have no idea what book trailers are. Isn’t that pathetic? I guess that makes me a rank amateur when it comes to writing. But in a strange way, I like not knowing anything about the process. 

10: How did you come up with the title of your latest book?

My name is George and I’m a married white male, 52.

11: What are you working on now that you can talk about?

My superbrain is no doubt working on something, but it rarely gives me any information until it is finished with the project and then it just kind of tells me to start typing. I am constantly amazed at how smart it is. I learned a long time ago to just go along with what it dishes out because it's so much more profound that anything I could conjure up. 

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/31577