Day: July 4, 2012

Sneak Peek – Space Junk by Kathy Rowe

Space Junk

Book Two of Dar’s Adventures in Space

If it weren’t for bad luck, freighter captain Dar Meltom would have no luck at all.

Stalled by fate, and with a cargo of Jamaraian Rum, Dar is captured by Soothian pirates and pressed into slavery in the treacherous and deadly mines on the unstable planet Versith 5. He wonders what will kill him first: the mines, or the planet exploding.

Princess Parnela Vischof of Kruelis, desperately wants to free her people from the barbaric and ruthless Versithians who are raping her planet of thidium—a mineral they need to survive. Her only hope is the mysterious device known as the Plexus, now stolen from the Versithians. If the device is not delivered, her planet will be laid to waste.

Teamed up with Parnela, Dar uses his unique abilities to hunt down the pirates and retrieve the Plexus. Dar and Parnela face warring species, unstable planets, pirates, and their own growing attraction. But can they save their two species from extinction?

This title is available from Amazon, Smashwords and in print from CreateSpace. Continue reading “Sneak Peek – Space Junk by Kathy Rowe”

The Science of Creating – Kathy Rowe

Author Kathy Rowe

In my former life, I was what the Air Force called a “Diagnostic Imaging Craftsman.” In other words, fancy speak for an x-ray technician. I did a little bit of everything: routine x-ray, fluoroscopy, mammography, CAT scan, and assisted in MRI. So when I see stuff that deals with imaging, I tend to take notice.

Lately, I’ve seen some pretty interesting articles on the human brain. Let’s face it, we as writers use that big blob of gray and white matter between our ears something fierce. There’s probably not a day that goes by that we don’t have some story idea or characters lurking inside. It’s just what we do and who we are. Continue reading “The Science of Creating – Kathy Rowe”

Week 27 Flash Fiction Challenge Poll

The time has arrived for IU readers to begin voting in this week’s Flash Fiction Competition.

On behalf of the IU staff, I want to thank all the entrants for doing such a great job with the writing prompt and the merciless constraints of the exercise.

You may review the entries here. Please spread the word and encourage your friends to vote by using the share buttons at the bottom of the post!

The poll will be open until 5:00 PM (Pacific Daylight Time) Thursday

Choose your favorite entry from the week 27 flash fiction challenge:

  • Dick Waters (54%, 13 Votes)
  • R E Sheahan (13%, 3 Votes)
  • Brian Beam (8%, 2 Votes)
  • RG Bud Phelps (8%, 2 Votes)
  • Patricia Lapidus (4%, 1 Votes)
  • Paula Friedman (4%, 1 Votes)
  • Michael Boggia (4%, 1 Votes)
  • A. L. Kaplan (4%, 1 Votes)

Total Voters: 24

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What is a Reviewer? – Part 2

Big Al

Last month in What is a Reviewer?, I took a stab at answering some specific questions about the complete spectrum of book reviewers. This month I’m looking at two specific questions. First, what qualifications does a typical book blogger possess? Second, what are the thoughts of readers about book reviewers: How do they use them? What qualifications do they think they should have? What influence do they have on their purchasing decisions?

Last year in an internet forum frequented by many indie authors, a New York Times bestselling author who has gone from traditionally published to indie made the comment that “anyone can start a blog and be a ‘reviewer’ now.” He was right. A free Blogger or WordPress account and the desire to review books is all that’s required. The barriers to entry are low, just like they are to become an indie author. What the author I quoted above may not have been aware of is that while the removal of the barriers is a relatively new development for authors, it isn’t for reviewers. I was reviewing music for a multi-reviewer website more than ten years ago. Continue reading “What is a Reviewer? – Part 2”