Kudos, Congrats, You Go Shad! Congratulations Dr. Linscomb!

View House Publishing proudly presents:
Dr. Shadrach Linscomb Ed.D
May 22, 2009

Is It Ever Too Late to Send Review Copies? (Reprint of Excellent Thoughts)

Is it Ever too Late to Send Review Copies?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Often when I teach my book review classes through AME-U I get a few authors on the call telling me they didn't know they needed to send their book out for review, or perhaps they did and sent it to the wrong reviewer, wrong publication, or to a market that didn't consider their genre or (if they were self-published) didn't want to review a self-pub'd book. So how late is too late to get reviews? Well, honestly that depends on what your book is about. We're currently working with a book that's two years old and review copies are flying out the door but guess what? It's an online campaign. Online tends to be a bit more "forgiving" of time.

If you're looking for more "bounce" for your book and want to get reviews, try pitching topic-focused blogs, web sites, and magazines. Often these places won't be as inundated with review requests as book bloggers and review publications. Also, consider pitching the book as a story, rather than a review. For example our local paper, The San Diego Union Tribune, won't consider any self published book, but if I pitch them based on a story they're more inclined to consider it.

So if you're feeling like you could do more for your older book, get creative. Go after the topic, rather than the glamour blogs and web sites. Often you'll find they are not only very receptive but also when you target a web site, blog or publication that is 100% your audience you're more likely to make a sale, and in the end, isn't that what all this promotion is all about?




Reprinted from "The Book Marketing Expert newsletter," a free ezine offering book promotion and publicity tips and techniques. http://www.amarketingexpert.com

Review: New Cozy Mystery Stars Char!

The Dead Husband:
A Sally Sees Cozy Mystery
By R. J. Brown
Big River Press
ISBN: 9780979874475
272 Pages

I enjoy sitting down with a cozy mystery and a cup of tea. When you see the word cozy, you know that you'll get to know the characters very well, and that the main ones will continue into future books until you almost think they are your real friends. R. J. Brown's new series, beginning with The Dead Husband, promises to do just that!

Meet Sally Collier! The primary character of The Dead Husband is a wonderfully gregarious and funny char with a sharp eye for detail, "sees" things differently than the average person, and yet reveals a caring, loving side with her clients, her gals and her friends. I can definitely see a series with Sally as the "star char!" Yes, I said char--for Sally Collier heads up Sal's Gals and they handle most of the cleaning services in and around their area.

Have you noticed that most tv commercials and programs about facilities cleaning use Brits...you know, as Sally points out in her very much needed glossary, Americans use "Brits" to identify "anyone from anywhere in the UK." Brits seem to have a great reputation for their housekeeping abilities. And, no wonder! They had to learn early what to do in a flat or bed-sitter--when clinkers needed removed, how to deal with the loo, and to take care of that bung hole! No wireless was permitted, and they often had to work in the scullery and be responsible for all things related to the midden! From what I can see, the only thing they had going for them was that they could stop and have a loverly tea in the afternoon, after serving the Missus of the house, of course, and were regularly paid every fortnight!

Frankly I wouldn't mind having a char visit my little log cabin about once a week!

And I could just about promise to never have a dead husband around for my char to find!

For that is exactly what Sally found when she went to clean the home of Mel Birnbaum! Mel had been buried at the bottom of their garden and had been discovered by their dog Borscht (who later became Porsche, but you'll have to read the book to find out why) after Sally had found him locked in a room without water and food and had let the poor dog outside to take care of his business.

Sally has a good reason besides finding the body, for becoming involved in this murder. Her "Man" George is the Jefferson County Chief of Detectives, so when she calls him to report the body, George is the one who later requests that Sally shares what she "sees" in the house and garden. As you might have guessed, after she points out all of the unusual issues she knows are different from her last visit a week earlier, the crime scene staff are called back to go over the scene much more carefully. Yep, you guessed it, it is her help that results in solving the case!

R. J. Brown is funny and just may be sharing some of her personal history in The Dead Husband. If so, readers have the advantage of getting to know both the author and Sally Collier, both at the same time. Be assured she will invite you to join her for a cuppa, and might even tell you the whole story if you have the time! If not, I highly recommend you order a copy and add R. J. Brown to your Trackle list so you won't miss her next book! I'm already waiting!

G. A. Bixler

The Dead Husband - A Sally Sees Cozy Mystery is Out!

A CHAR'S WORST NIGHTMARE

Cleaning up dead husbands isn’t in SALLY COLLIER's job description, so when she finds one half buried at the bottom of his garden, her work schedule gets seriously derailed. She has history with MEL and RENEE BIRNBAUM, owners of the million dollar home overlooking Discovery Bay on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State, and when her beau, Jefferson County Chief of Detectives GEORGE TULLOCK, warns her to remember what all she saw when she got there, her day turns into a walk down memory lane. From her post-WWII London childhood to training as a secretary and then emigrating to Chicago and citizenship; from being a working gal to a single mom; from heading west with her kids and finally finding a good life in picturesque Port Townsend.

After Sally connects with the Birnbaums’ grown daughter, CLAIRE, she has to face down an hysterical Renee and her celeb boss, ALAN HATTON.

Sally’s proud of her mentor: "My Mum was a good char, she just didn't clean house with light heart. You know, have fun. Oh, quit sniggering! What's the first thing little girls play at? Anyway, my Mum taught me a family's home will tell you a lot about how they're getting along. For the past three years, the Birnbaums have been in trouble."

As the mystery of THE DEAD HUSBAND unravels, Sally isn't shy about her memories, her love life nor the joy she finds in cleaning "her" homes.

About the Author:

R. J. Brown, a WWII London adopted orphan emigrated to Chicago in '65 and moved west 17 years and 2 children later. She lived and worked in Port Townsend during the ‘80s until relocating to the rainforest on the West End of the Olympic Peninsula with her husband, author D. H. Brown. Big River Press published the second expanded edition of her memoir STANDING THE WATCH: The Greatest Gift: about caring for their Poppa when he came home to die. Her website can be found by clicking the title of this article!

For a signed copy please contact:
Big River Press
P. O. Box 371
Clallam Bay, WA 98326 USA
360-963-3112

Review: Jesus Is My Best Friend - Read Lucado's His Name Is Jesus!

"My prayer is that as you read this book Jesus will emerge...to become the touchable face of a best friend..." (Preface)

Looking for the perfect gift for your Christian family or friends? Then please consider Max Lucado's latest book, His Name is Jesus! This truly is one of the most beautiful books I've seen, both inside and out. The book has a cover that is the same as the front and back--a true coffee-table book that you will want to keep out and read and enjoy over and over. The pictures, special artistic touches and page presentation forces readers to stop at each page turn to rejoice in the beauty.

Lucado's latest book brings together his writings on Christ's birth, his mission, death, resurrection, and his legacy. Many of our favorite Biblical stories about Jesus are included; however, it is Lucado's complementary words that reveal much time spent thinking about, pondering, and discovering what He wanted us to know about His life. I found it spiritually enlightening, inspirational, and memorable!

Many of us will stop and wonder what we would have done were we living at that time. For instance, Lucado points out that it wasn't enough for the shepherds or the Magi to see the symbols of His coming, the angels singing in such splendor. Would we have been so amazed that we ran to our friends to talk about those angels appearing and thrill at that, or would we, too, have immediately gone to find Him?

And have we stopped to think about Mary changing the diaper of Jesus, burping him, helping him to learn to walk? Lucado highlights that we must remember him as human, as he intended to be--he wanted to be here in the "mire and muck" of our world so that He would relate to us and share our loneliness, our disappointments, our hunger, as well as our joys.

Have you ever wondered what would have happened if Jesus had decided to continue on as a carpenter and decide not to die on the cross? We all know He didn't deserve to die there! Jesus could have had a family, become a leader in His community. He could have had a wonderful successful life! Yes, He had doubts about fulfilling His role and Lucado's words will ensure that each reader reconsiders what options He had--and what options we would have had if...God had not sent His Son!

"Jesus... The man. The bronzed Galilean who spoke with such thunderous authority and loved with such childlike humility." (p. 31)

As a woman, one of the most memorable stories highlighted is about the woman with a bleeding disease. Due to Jewish law, her life was overtaken by menstrual dysfunction--she could not touch her husband or family, she could not cook, wash dishes, or even sweep the floor. She had nobody to help her, until she went to Jesus. Because Jesus touched the untouchables, he healed them and raised the dead--and he wiped the tears of those who cried.

Would we have been willing to stoop and wash the feet of our friends as Jesus did His disciples? Could we have become humble enough to allow him? There is much to be considered and reconsidered about our favorite stories. Max Lucado in His Name is Jesus provides an opportunity to renew your spiritual connection to Our Lord. Yes, this must be a "must read."

G. A. Bixler

Review: Jesse's Girl - Wow!

Jesse’s Girl
By Gary Morgenstein
CreateSpace
ISBN: 978-1441492241
339 Pages


Wow! I love to spend a weekend with a book that keeps me reading, happy and enthralled! Jesse's Girl by Gary Morgenstein kept me turning pages this week!

I think the thing that was so fascinating for me was that the book sounded like it was true! It is written and told as if the main character, a parent, is sitting across the table from you, having a cup of tea, and sharing about the latest issues he is facing with his son. Given that Jesse is 16, on drugs, drinking and smoking, and has gotten into trouble with the law, I think all parents will relate to much of this story. The novel is broken down into three parts about the three main characters; however, Teddy, Jesse's father, is the primary character.

Teddy had lost his wife in a car accident, but it was after they had already separated. So Jesse's opinion is that he left the family and caused everything that happened thereafter, including sending him to a boys' institution!

When Jesse runs away from that facility and Teddy is not happy with how they are handling his disappearance, he first asks to have leave time, is refused, and then goes anyway, only to be later fired.

It is quite apparent that Teddy loves his son, even though Jesse does not see it or is willing to accept it. Teddy does an admirable job in searching and finally finding Jesse. However, when Teddy learns he has a girl friend and was going to Kentucky where she lived, Jesse is quite surprised when Teddy volunteers to drive him there. Actually I was too and think most parents would be unsure whether this was what he should have done.

Actually Teddy wasn't sure either--in fact, the book effectively covers his internal debates and thoughts so well that you suffer along with him for each quandry!

Teddy is surprised when they get to Kentucky to find that Theresa, Jesse's girl, is 21. Theresa welcomes both of them into her home and wins Teddy over almost immediately. Of course, it helped to see his son smiling and happy and talking with everyone in a normal voice.

Up until this point, readers are enjoying a story about a parent-son relationship. Thereafter? You won't believe it until you read it! For all hell breaks loose! All because Beau comes home from work...

Beau is introduced as Theresa's brother; they have dinner. Beau rides off with his friend on a bike and then Teddy goes back to the hotel while the young people have some private time. When Beau comes home, a fight takes place and Jesse and Theresa believe they've killed Beau and make their way finally back to Teddy's room. But Beau is not dead and he's coming after them! Leaving bodies as he goes from place to place where Theresa, Jesse and Teddy have gone, the police have no luck with his capture.

One surprise after another has Teddy wondering what to do. It is Teddy's basic good character and honesty that results in his making the best decisions possible, except maybe for the last decision, when he decides to go after Beau on his own!

I loved this book! Highly recommended for those who enjoy action and thrills, along with real-life situations into which it is so easy to escape! A Must-Read recommendation for Jesse's Girl by Gary Morgenstein!

G. A. Bixler