Monday, January 11, 2010

FAMILY, FRIENDS AND WAR HEROES by Darrell R. Fleming

A Review of:

FAMILY, FRIENDS AND WAR HEROES

by Darrell R. Fleming

          When I first read this book a different picture emerged. I was caught up in the heroism of the mother and her family of six children left to "keep the home fires burning" while the father of the household went off to fight in World War II.

            On this, the second reading, a whole new picture unfolds. This is a historian's delight because of the diary kept by William Truman Fleming, the author's father.  It is an account or log of the excitement, the danger, the friendships, the fear, and the boredom of a young man's life during World War II aboard a U. S. Navy destroyer, USS Hopping, DE 155/APD 51, while fighting a fierce enemy in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

            In this book, Darrell Fleming, the author shows a superb command of language usage as well as storytelling talent.  It is difficult to write history in such a way that it informs but is not pedantic.  Rather than boring the reader, Mr. Fleming entertains and enlightens.

            The book is diligently researched and shows a devotion to making it authentic in every detail. The many pictures and records copied into the manuscript should make this book of archival value for World War II historical records of any place which seeks authentic data.

            The pride and patriotism of the author colors every page in such a way that one comes away from the reading with a desire to go out and salute the flag.  He writes of a time when Americans loved America so much that they were willing to serve and sacrifice for a homeland endowed from on high with a new birth of freedom for all within its borders.

            Not being of a military turn of mind, I still left this book with a feeling that dedicated and brilliant commanders can lead men to perform dramatic and heroic deeds without once thinking of self. The commander of the USS Hopping, DE 155/APD 51 was just such a commander and the men serving under him did him and America proud.

            I salute the author and all those brave young men who sailed with William Truman Fleming and fought to insure that we today can salute the flag and proudly say "God Bless the USA."

            If you haven't read this book and love authentic history then you would do well to get a copy.

 Adda Leah Davis, Author

Darrell Fleming can be contacted at: www.darrellfleming.net.

Adda Leah Davis can be contacted at: www.goldenharvestcreations.com

FAMILY, FRIENDS AND WAR HEROES by Darrell R. Fleming

A Review of:

                When I first read this book a different picture emerged.  At the first reading I was caught up in the heroism of the mother and her family of six children left to “keep the home fires burning” while the father of the household went off to fight in World War II.

On this, the second reading, a whole new picture unfolds.  This is a historian’s delight because of the diary kept by William Truman Fleming, the author’s father.  This diary is a daily account or log of the excitement, the danger, the friendships, the fear, and the boredom of a young man’s life during a war. 

This man’s life was aboard a ship; the USS Hopping, DE 155 which carried supplies wherever needed whether on the Atlantic  Ocean or the Pacific.

In this book Darrell Fleming, the author shows a superb command of language usage as well as storytelling talent.  It is difficult to write history in such a way that it informs but is not pedantic.  Rather than boring the reader Mr. Fleming entertains and enlightens.

The book is diligently researched and shows a devotion to making it authentic in every detail. The many pictures and records copied into the manuscript should make this book of archival value for World War II historical records of any place who seeks authentic data.

The pride and patriotism of the author colors every page in such a way that one comes away from the reading with a desire to go out and salute the flag.  He writes of a time when Americans loved America so much that they were willing to serve and sacrifice for a homeland endowed from on high with a new birth of freedom for all within its borders.

Not being of a military turn of mind I still left this book with a feeling that dedicated and brilliant commanders can lead men to perform dramatic and heroic deeds without once thinking of self.  The commander of the USS Hopping, DE 155 was just such a commander and the men serving under him did him and America proud.

I salute the author and all those brave young men who sailed with William Truman Fleming and fought to insure that we today can salute the flag and bravely say “God Bless the USA.

If you haven’t read this book and love authentic history then you would do well to get a copy.

Adda Leah Davis

Adda Leah Davis is the author of several popular books. Her website is www.goldenharvestcreations.com

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Reviews - Good and Bad

If you ask someone to review your work, you should be prepared for whatever the reviewer has to say about the book. Not only the good - if there is any, but also the negative. If you are too "thin-skinned" as one writer friend of mine suggested, then perhaps you shouldn't ask for a review in the first place. If all you want is a "pat-on-the-back" or someone to tell you what a wonderful book you've written, ask your mom, sister or brother. But that's not what a review is all about.

Earlier today, I posted something which I labeled an "excerpt" from a review of my book Missing by Bob Mustin. In so doing, I have been unfair to him, not only for the excellent work he did and the amount of time he spent in reviewing this book, but moreover because of the suggestions he made for improving the work.

Mr. Mustin took great exception with my post and I have apologized to him for posting selected parts of the review. To anyone who may have read the Post, I apologize to you as well.  Should you care to see the entire review, let me know.

Bob does an excellent and thorough job - he takes reviewing very seriously. I recommend his work to any writer who is looking for an honest appraisal of his or her work.

Jack (J Russell)Rose

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

A Few Wishes For The Season

I'm going to kick back, leave reading and writing blogs in the dust until after the gift opening, until hanging out with family and friends winds down, and until I get bored with the plethora of bowl games. Meanwhile, my wish for those who've been suffering the winter's storms will be a return to warmth and electricity and a hard-to-put-down read at bedtime.

For the writers out there, I wish you a bucket full of story-line epiphanies, many well turned phrases, and agents and editors who believe in you and your work.

For the publishing industry, I wish you the boldness to tell the bean-counters to take a hike, so you can concentrate on developing deserving writers.

And for those who persist in reading my posts here, I wish you a few drops of Visine, a well-developed sense of humor, and the moxie to put your own thoughts out there - whether in comments to me, or in or your own posts.

Feliz Navidad, Joyeux Noël, Frohe Weihnachten, Gleðileg jól, Buon Natale, Nollaig Shona, Happy Hannukah and, well, all good wishes of every persuasion.

Bob

Friday, December 11, 2009

Murder in Pleasant Grove

Murder  in  Pleasant Grove         

By

J. Russell Rose

A Review

                Pleasant Grove is a soulless community with nothing pleasant about it unless the reader loves being a cardboard character living in a cardboard community. Yet in such a community nothing is expected to happen; especially not a gruesome murder.  Although, Bob and Mary Jo Bradley are introduced in the first short chapter this is not their story.  Bob Bradley, the husband of the murdered woman is not a likeable character even though he eventually tries to redeem himself.

The story really starts with the second chapter where the author begins  the riveting story of Ryder Haynes, a homeless drifter.  Mr. Rose’s skillful character development immediately gains the reader’s love and sympathy for Ryder Haynes and then it is difficult but imperative that the reader turn the page; albeit with trepidation. “What if some new evidence turns up or what if the police miss some clue?” is the reader’s dread since this is a tale of murder. 

                Whether by design or not Rose has skillfully maneuvered his story in such a way as to create a loveable main character who is also suspect in the murder of a young mother in Pleasant Grove.  As the tale unfolds the mother becomes secondary or an added attraction; she could have been ninety and without a name and the tale would still have been riveting.  The true mystery is the circumstances that link Ryder Haynes to the murder.  The bungling of the local police and the unstressed but evident political machinations make the tale more believable and interesting. 

                A less talented writer could not have sustained the tension and the puzzlement in the manner portrayed by J. Russell Rose.  If you haven’t read Murder in Pleasant Grove it would be worth your time to pick up a copy especially if you like a good mystery.  Also if you like loose ends tied up the conclusion in this book more than justifies the adage that “good prevails over evil.”    

Murder in Pleasant Grove is available by contacting the author direct - jrussellrose@ymail.com, or at Lulu Press - http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/murder-in-pleasant-grove/1661950

Review By: Adda Leah Davis, Author of Lucinda’s Mountain, Jason’s Journey, and soon to be released third book of the trilogy – The Beckoning Hills.  Davis’ website:  www.goldenharvestcreations.com.

Murder in Pleasant Grove

Friday, October 30, 2009

23 Mistakes First Time Authors Make (And How to Avoid Them) By Barbara Joe-Williams

Hi folks,

I've copied below an excerpt from a publishing e-mail I receive regularly, hitchnews, this one focused on every writer's Achilles heel, marketing. Some of the points made here may raise questions; that's why I've included some links to the author of the article. Of course, this blog is an excellent forum for discussing such things, too.
Good writing (and marketing) to all,
Bob Mustin

As a first time self-published author, you want to avoid making as many costly mistakes as possible. Based on research and over two years of publishing experience, I’d like to share some of the mistakes that I’ve made and show you how to avoid making them. Please proceed with caution.

1) Publishing books with unattractive covers and spending too much money on them. Hire someone to design an attractive front book cover. Or you can save money by developing the book cover drafts yourself. Simply download royalty-free pictures and add your own text.

2) They print their book in large quantities because it’s the most economical value. With print-on-demand (POD) printers, you no longer have to print large quantities of books to receive a good return on your investment. You can print as few or as many as you need at one time.

3) They pay large amounts for website development and maintenance. Find a web hosting company, download a template, upload your book information, and maintain the site yourself for a low monthly or yearly fee. Most of these companies provide 24/7 customer support.

4) They work without an action plan or any means of accountability. Writing may be your passion, but publishing is a business. Therefore, you have to develop a business plan to follow and show accountability for your funds.

5) Not testing their cover design or the titles before publishing. The key to avoiding this mistake is developing more than one book cover draft and testing them on potential buyers. You can also develop more than one title and test them too.

6) They wait until the book is published before they start marketing it. Start marketing your book the first day that you start writing it. Tell everyone that you know and/or meet about your new project.

7) Pricing the book too high or too low based on the market. Be sure to research the price of other books on the market that are similar to yours and price your book accordingly.

8) Not identifying their target market for the publication. The first rule of publishing is to know your target market and how to reach them. Where do they live and shop? How will they learn about your book?

9) Not pre-selling copies of their book or taking pre-orders. You can set-up your website to take credit cards and start taking pre-orders months before the book is ever printed.

10) They rely solely on one marketing model to sell their book. Develop several marketing strategies before your book is published. Communicate with other authors to find out what has and hasn’t worked for them.

11) Writing books they think people should read instead of what the market demands. The publishing business is also a matter of supply and demand. You may enjoy writing fiction, but a non-fiction project that serves a desire or need, will be more profitable.

12) Paying for expensive advertising, marketing/promotional ideas. Marketing doesn’t have to be an expensive venture. Look for strategies that will provide you with free publicity such as library workshops and radio interviews.

13) They write the book without developing a timeline for completion. Once you start writing your book, set some realistic goals for completing it and stick to it. Don’t let down your target market after you’ve announced the book to them.

14) Not having a reader’s or audience database. You can start developing a reader’s database as soon as you start working on your book by contacting local book club members and attending library events.

15) Not being open to the editing or revising process. Find an editor that you feel comfortable with and trust. This will make it easier to accept criticism and make recommended revisions.

16) They miss deadlines for writing and publishing. It’s very important to the success of your writing career that you meet the realistic deadlines that you’ve already set. Once you set a book release date, readers will be expecting the book at that time.

17) They don’t read enough from the competition. Make sure you know what the competition has to offer and be able to explain how your book is different. You want your project to stand out from every other book on your chosen subject.

18) They waste time trying to make the copy perfect the first time. Focus on completing the manuscript and getting it to the editor instead of trying to make sure that it’s perfect. You’ll have plenty of time to go back and make revisions later.

19) Not being able to verbalize the content of your book in a concise manner. You should be able to summarize you entire manuscript in a few sentences upon request. Most readers want to know what the heart of the book is about in one-minute or less.

20) They don’t join writer’s group or read writer’s magazines, or attend conferences. Joining a writer’s group is a way to learn from other authors or aspiring authors. Reading Writer’s Digest each month will provide you with valuable information and attending conferences will give you an opportunity to meet major publishers and agents. 21) They rely solely on bookstores to sell their books to make a profit. According to the Publisher’s Marketing Association, approximately 52 percent of published books are not sold in bookstores. This means that you must find more creative ways of selling your product.

22) They concentrate too much on sales and not enough on publicity. Of course, your publishing goal is to make money, but some events should just be about publicity and then the money will follow.

23) They don’t reinvest money back into their book business. This is a valuable lesson to learn. If you spend all your profits on personal expenses, it’s impossible to keep producing books to keep your business growing.

About the Author:

Barbara Joe-Williams is a freelance author and an independent publisher living in Tallahassee, Florida. She has written three romance novels and a non-fiction e-book titled “A Writer’s Guide to Self-Publishing & Marketing.” As the sole owner of Amani Publishing, she has published non-fiction books for other aspiring authors. In addition, she has composed an anthology featuring eighteen multicultural authors to be released in February 2007 titled “How I Met My Sweetheart.” For more information about this author/publisher, please visit her website.

Website: www.AmaniPublishing.net or www.Barbarajoewilliams.com
E-mail: AmaniPublishing@aol.com
Blog: www.Barbarajoe.blogspot.com