Month: June 2014

Subtext

CigarOne of the questions we ask authors who participate in our book brief feature is: “Does your book have any underlying theme, message, or moral?” The reason I ask that question is because I want to know what you want your readers thinking about when they have finished the book. I want to know if it is meant to prompt some kind of introspection or an examination of issues.

Some authors struggle with that question. Some will say the book is just intended as pure entertainment. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. I think Milton Berle said that. He may have stolen it from Freud. Continue reading “Subtext”

Anthems for Authors – Tell Your Story Walking

Wow. With a haunting voice and poignant lyrics, Deb Talan’s song Tell Your Story Walking strikes a chord with any author. Supposedly, the song was inspired by Motherless Brooklyn, a novel by Jonathan Lethem, and she cleverly works part of the title in at the very beginning. Have a listen, and enjoy the slide show which was in turn inspired by the song. Great stuff.

Like Anthems for Authors? You can see more here.

Featured Book: The Cut-Out

The Cut-OutThe Cut-Out
by Jon King
Mystery, thriller, suspense, action
Available from Amazon.

Tipped off about a high-profile assassination days before Princess Diana’s death, British journalist Jon King sets out to uncover the truth about the Paris car crash, and finds himself at the centre of a deadly conspiracy. Can he expose its sinister web? Based on a true story.

Excerpt:

“You were in Paris, James―”

“Yes, but…”

“―In the tunnel. We wouldn’t want those kind of photographs falling into the wrong hands.”

Feverishly Andanson stubbed out his unfinished cigar and leaned forward across the table. His voice became an urgent whisper. “Do I look crazy? Do you think I would keep photographs of MI6 agents on the ground, outside the Ritz, inside the tunnel?”

“Why not? Tabloid editors would give their rectal virginity for photographs like that. Worth a lot of money.”

“But I already have a lot of money, Monsieur Mason. Thanks to you I have a very good life.”

“Yes.”

As though deliberating Andanson’s fate Mason sat back in his seat and swilled his Cognac and Club Soda in its glass one more time. Then downed the liquid in one.

“Long life, James,” he said, replacing the empty glass on the table between them. “Long life.”

What others are saying:

“Gripping from the opening page. A truly extraordinary tale.” Manchester, Amazon US Top 500 Reviewer:

Fair Warning?

triggers-fair-warning-guns-467710_960_720There’s been a discussion in the media over the past couple of weeks about students on some college campuses calling for trigger warnings on their course syllabi.

The term trigger warning, in case you managed to miss the excitement, is defined most narrowly as a notification that what you’re about to read (or see or hear) might cause flashbacks or panic attacks in someone who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. The practice of labeling such content apparently began in feminist and self-help forums. Since then, it has spread – even some media outlets now use them – and the initial definition has broadened to include everything from rape and murder to colonialism and (I kid you not) animals in wigs. Continue reading “Fair Warning?”