Reading opportunities in 2012.

1. SONGS OF SADNESS, SONGS OF LOVE, by Larry K. Andrews. (Mystery-Romance) This is the story of Ryan Graves, a young boy growing up. Not only does he have the usual fears of adolescence, but a physical disability causes him even greater agony and heightened fears and of being rejected by his peers. The reader watches this young man as he goes through middle school, high school, and the university with new emotional challenges at each level. This is a study about how people respond to challenging experiences in their lives; some people are overwhelmed and defeated by their challenges while others accept and accommodate them, moving onwards to successful adulthood.

2. THE CHINA-AFRICA PARALLAX: A RYAN AND GILLIAN MYSTERY, by Larry K. Andrews. (Action-Thriller) The China-Africa Parallax: A Ryan and Gillian Mystery describes how representatives of China and Africa are conspiring to steal research data from major US universities. They will kill anyone who gets in their way in order to achieve their ultimate goal: China’s economic and military domination of the world. This is a fast-moving mystery with an emphasis on today’s geo-political issues and economics. Ryan Graves and his wife, Gillian Davies, characters introduced in Songs of Sadness, Songs of Love, assume perilous, key roles central to the FBI strategy to thwart the devastating conspiracy.

Available at amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. Or, order e-books direct from amazon.com and Barnes & Noble or the Kindle Store.

My nomination for a speaker at the Kardashian wedding, reception, and after parties.

Disability Gave Kneeshaw Advantages

By DANIEL VANCE , Atlantic heights Newspaper

SATURDAY, 20 AUGUST 2011

I have never featured anyone quite like 63-year-old Rick Kneeshaw. He acquired polio at age 3 and post-polio syndrome about age 36. The National Institutes of Health describes post-polio syndrome as a condition affecting polio survivors "years after recovery from an initial acute attack of the poliomyelitis virus. It can cause weakening in affected and non-affected muscles, muscle atrophy, fatigue, and joint degeneration pain." Said Kneeshaw in a telephone interview, "By age 16, I had spent over four years total in Shriners Hospital for 12 different orthopedic operations. I have positive recollections of being in the hospital and marked my childhood by the various hospital stays that averaged between three and nine months." The hospital offered a basic school education up to eighth grade. At 16, he began working towards an engineering degree at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) in order to become an electronics engineer. Although having missed much of high school math because of hospitalizations, he still was able through sheer determination to pass his courses and graduate. He said, "And if I had my life to live over again, I would remain disabled. Lots of good has come from it. For example, in 1953 I was a (polio) poster child and over the next 30 years I did hundreds of talks for the Shriners and Rotary (about polio). Through it, I learned how to do public speaking and used that skill to advance my career. I went from being a junior engineer at work to being a company director selling $25 million material handling systems. I got to travel all over the world and use my public speaking skills to earn a good living." He attributed his being more self-aware, his ability to focus on college school work, and his current self-confidence to having had polio. "Most polio survivors are over-achievers who want to do all they can for others," he said. "In general, they are good communicators because in order to survive you had to ask for help and get others to do things for you that you couldn't." Kneeshaw has been completely paralyzed in his left leg, hip, and left side of back since age 3. To get around, he uses a combination of crutches, long-leg brace, power wheelchair, cane, and scooter. He has a completely accessible home and garden, and regularly enjoys woodworking.

What do Kim Kardashian and Warren Buffet have in common?

I don't believe either one has read one of my novels!  Just find a shade tree, select a comfy lawn chair, prepare a pot of tea (iced if your guests prefer), and then read . . . 

1. SONGS OF SADNESS, SONGS OF LOVE, by Larry K. Andrews. (Mystery-Romance) This is the story of Ryan Graves, a young boy growing up. Not only does he have the usual fears of adolescence, but a physical disability causes him even greater agony and heightened fears and of being rejected by his peers. The reader watches this young man as he goes through middle school, high school, and the university with new emotional challenges at each level. This is a study about how people respond to challenging experiences in their lives; some people are overwhelmed and defeated by their challenges while others accept and accommodate them, moving onwards to successful adulthood.

2. THE CHINA-AFRICA PARALLAX: A RYAN AND GILLIAN MYSTERY, by Larry K. Andrews. (Action-Thriller) The China-Africa Parallax: A Ryan and Gillian Mystery describes how representatives of China and Africa are conspiring to steal research data from major US universities. They will kill anyone who gets in their way in order to achieve their ultimate goal: China’s economic and military domination of the world. This is a fast-moving mystery with an emphasis on today’s geo-political issues and economics. Ryan Graves and his wife, Gillian Davies, characters introduced in Songs of Sadness, Songs of Love, assume perilous, key roles central to the FBI strategy to thwart the devastating conspiracy.

Hardback and paperback editions are available at amazon.com; enter the title in the search box.

Or, order e-books direct from nook.com or the Kindle Store.

Keep reading and writing free in a struggling economy

When I use the phrase "keep reading and writing free," I'm NOT talking about a monetary issue. I mean keep what we read about and what we write about free from censorship imposed by sponsors of privatized institutions. The US Congress, especially those Republicans controlled by Tea Baggers, see the privatization and corporatization of education as one way to get the US economy back on track.  Wrong!

Our public educational systems must be free from the dictates of sponsors, the wealthy and any other special interest group. Public schools, K - Graduate, exist to educate, not train.

Danicka Patrick and Helen Mirren like to read. Plese join them and get these two books.

Just find a shade tree, select a comfy lawn chair, prepare a pot of tea (iced if your guests prefer), and then read . . . 

1. SONGS OF SADNESS, SONGS OF LOVE, by Larry K. Andrews. (Mystery-Romance) This is the story of Ryan Graves, a young boy growing up. Not only does he have the usual fears of adolescence, but a physical disability causes him even greater agony and heightened fears and of being rejected by his peers. The reader watches this young man as he goes through middle school, high school, and the university with new emotional challenges at each level. This is a study about how people respond to challenging experiences in their lives; some people are overwhelmed and defeated by their challenges while others accept and accommodate them, moving onwards to successful adulthood.

2. THE CHINA-AFRICA PARALLAX: A RYAN AND GILLIAN MYSTERY, by Larry K. Andrews. (Action-Thriller) The China-Africa Parallax: A Ryan and Gillian Mystery describes how representatives of China and Africa are conspiring to steal research data from major US universities. They will kill anyone who gets in their way in order to achieve their ultimate goal: China’s economic and military domination of the world. This is a fast-moving mystery with an emphasis on today’s geo-political issues and economics. Ryan Graves and his wife, Gillian Davies, characters introduced in Songs of Sadness, Songs of Love, assume perilous, key roles central to the FBI strategy to thwart the devastating conspiracy.

Available at amazon.com; enter the title in the search box.

Or, order e-books direct from the Kindle Store.

Have a tea party this summer to discuss engaging novels

Just find a shade tree, select a comfy lawn chair, prepare a pot of tea (iced if your guests prefer), and then read . . . 

1. SONGS OF SADNESS, SONGS OF LOVE, by Larry K. Andrews. (Mystery-Romance) This is the story of Ryan Graves, a young boy growing up. Not only does he have the usual fears of adolescence, but a physical disability causes him even greater agony and heightened fears and of being rejected by his peers. The reader watches this young man as he goes through middle school, high school, and the university with new emotional challenges at each level. This is a study about how people respond to challenging experiences in their lives; some people are overwhelmed and defeated by their challenges while others accept and accommodate them, moving onwards to successful adulthood.

2. THE CHINA-AFRICA PARALLAX: A RYAN AND GILLIAN MYSTERY, by Larry K. Andrews. (Action-Thriller) The China-Africa Parallax: A Ryan and Gillian Mystery describes how representatives of China and Africa are conspiring to steal research data from major US universities. They will kill anyone who gets in their way in order to achieve their ultimate goal: China’s economic and military domination of the world. This is a fast-moving mystery with an emphasis on today’s geo-political issues and economics. Ryan Graves and his wife, Gillian Davies, characters introduced in Songs of Sadness, Songs of Love, assume perilous, key roles central to the FBI strategy to thwart the devastating conspiracy.

Available at amazon.com; enter the title in the search box.

Or, order e-books direct from the Kindle Store.

Blaize Clement, author and polio survivor, dies at 78.

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110727/ARTICLE/110729607/0/news

Amy Winehouse

May she rest in the peace she didn't find on Earth.

The NFL lockout is over. Time to evaluate annual Brett "Me Retired?" Favre rumors and resume summer reading habits.

Just add a shade tree, find a comfy lawn chair, and a pour yourself a tall tumbler of iced tea, and then read . . . 

1. SONGS OF SADNESS, SONGS OF LOVE, by Larry K. Andrews. (Mystery-Romance) This is the story of Ryan Graves, a young boy growing up. Not only does he have the usual fears of adolescence, but a physical disability causes him even greater agony and heightened fears and of being rejected by his peers. The reader watches this young man as he goes through middle school, high school, and the university with new emotional challenges at each level. This is a study about how people respond to challenging experiences in their lives; some people are overwhelmed and defeated by their challenges while others accept and accommodate them, moving onwards to successful adulthood.

2. THE CHINA-AFRICA PARALLAX: A RYAN AND GILLIAN MYSTERY, by Larry K. Andrews. (Action-Thriller) The China-Africa Parallax: A Ryan and Gillian Mystery describes how representatives of China and Africa are conspiring to steal research data from major US universities. They will kill anyone who gets in their way in order to achieve their ultimate goal: China’s economic and military domination of the world. This is a fast-moving mystery with an emphasis on today’s geo-political issues and economics. Ryan Graves and his wife, Gillian Davies, characters introduced in Songs of Sadness, Songs of Love, assume perilous, key roles central to the FBI strategy to thwart the devastating conspiracy.

Available at amazon.com; enter the title in the search box.

Or, order e-books direct from the Kindle Store.

Downton Abbey and the Casey Anthony Release make for good drama, but so do these summer reads.

Just add a shade tree, find a comfy lawn chair, and a pour yourself a tall tumbler of iced tea, and then read . . . 

1. SONGS OF SADNESS, SONGS OF LOVE, by Larry K. Andrews. (Mystery-Romance) This is the story of Ryan Graves, a young boy growing up. Not only does he have the usual fears of adolescence, but a physical disability causes him even greater agony and heightened fears and of being rejected by his peers. The reader watches this young man as he goes through middle school, high school, and the university with new emotional challenges at each level. This is a study about how people respond to challenging experiences in their lives; some people are overwhelmed and defeated by their challenges while others accept and accommodate them, moving onwards to successful adulthood.

2. THE CHINA-AFRICA PARALLAX: A RYAN AND GILLIAN MYSTERY, by Larry K. Andrews. (Action-Thriller) The China-Africa Parallax: A Ryan and Gillian Mystery describes how representatives of China and Africa are conspiring to steal research data from major US universities. They will kill anyone who gets in their way in order to achieve their ultimate goal: China’s economic and military domination of the world. This is a fast-moving mystery with an emphasis on today’s geo-political issues and economics. Ryan Graves and his wife, Gillian Davies, characters introduced in Songs of Sadness, Songs of Love, assume perilous, key roles central to the FBI strategy to thwart the devastating conspiracy.

Available at amazon.com; enter the title in the search box.

Or, order e-books direct from the Kindle Store.

Severus Snape is not one of my characters; Gillian, however, is!

Just add a shade tree, a comfy lawn chair, and a tall tumbler of iced tea, and then read . . . 

1. SONGS OF SADNESS, SONGS OF LOVE, by Larry K. Andrews. (Mystery-Romance) This is the story of Ryan Graves, a young boy growing up. Not only does he have the usual fears of adolescence, but a physical disability causes him even greater agony and heightened fears and of being rejected by his peers. The reader watches this young man as he goes through middle school, high school, and the university with new emotional challenges at each level. This is a study about how people respond to challenging experiences in their lives; some people are overwhelmed and defeated by their challenges while others accept and accommodate them, moving onwards to successful adulthood.

2. THE CHINA-AFRICA PARALLAX: A RYAN AND GILLIAN MYSTERY, by Larry K. Andrews. (Action-Thriller) The China-Africa Parallax: A Ryan and Gillian Mystery describes how representatives of China and Africa are conspiring to steal research data from major US universities. They will kill anyone who gets in their way in order to achieve their ultimate goal: China’s economic and military domination of the world. This is a fast-moving mystery with an emphasis on today’s geo-political issues and economics. Ryan Graves and his wife, Gillian Davies, characters introduced in Songs of Sadness, Songs of Love, assume perilous, key roles central to the FBI strategy to thwart the devastating conspiracy.

Available at amazon.com; enter the title in the search box.

Or, order e-books direct from the Kindle Store.

How you can help your favorite authors, including me, I hope!

(Reprinted with permission.)

12

As authors, we spend a lot of time trying to promote our books. Our biggest obstacle is obscurity because there are a lot of books out there. No, really. A lot.

We like to think that good stories are all it takes to make it (in author terms “make it” usually means “become well known enough and sell enough books that I can quit my day job and write for a living”), but you can doubtlessly think of mediocre books that are selling bazillions of copies and authors you love who never make it out of the “mid-list” category.

Sometimes it’s just the author (or publishing house) with the biggest marketing budget who wins, but you, as a reader, have amazing power. Don’t believe for a second that you don’t have anything to do with whether an author makes it, because you do. A lot. No, really. A lot.

Why does this matter to you? Well, authors who get to quit their day jobs can write faster and put more books out for you!

The following are some little things you can do that can make a big difference. Some of them only take a few seconds. Your favorite authors will appreciate the effort. Trust me. 

Helping out on Amazon

Amazon is the big kahuna of book sellers, especially when it comes to ebooks, so helping an author “get found” on there can give them a big boost. You can certainly do these things on other bookstore sites as well (nothing against copying and pasting a review, for example), but Amazon tends to have more cool features to help an author get found.

Here’s the list (any one of these things can help):

• If you do nothing else, consider writing a review on Amazon, even if the book already has quite a few and/or you’ve reviewed it elsewhere. There’s evidence that ratings and reviews factor into the Amazon algorithms that decide which books are promoted on the site (i.e. certain books are recommended to customers who bought books in similar genres). If reviewing isn’t your bag, don’t worry about writing paragraphs-long in-depth studies of the book; maybe you could just pen a few sentences with a couple of specifics about why you liked the book.
• “Tag” the book with genre-appropriate labels (i.e. thriller, steampunk, paranormal romance). You don’t have to leave a review to do this; you just need an account at Amazon. A combination of the right tags and a good sales ranking can make a book come up when customers search for that type of story on Amazon.
• Give the book a thumb’s up. This takes less than a second and probably doesn’t do much, but it may play into Amazon’s algorithms to a lesser extent than reviews/ratings.
• Make a “Listmania” List and add your favorite authors’ books to it. This creates another avenue for new readers to find books. It’s better to create lists around similar types of books (i.e. genres or sub-genres) than to do a smorgasbord, and consider titling it something description so folks will be more inclined to check it out, ie. “Fun heroic fantasy ebooks for $5 or less”
• If you have a Kindle, highlight some wise or fun quotations from the book and share them publicly (if enough people share their highlights, they’ll show up at the bottom of a book’s page):

Helping out with Social Media

If you’re involved with Twitter, Facebook, Digg, StumbleUpon, etc., you can give your favorite authors a shout-out when they release new books. If they blog, you can follow their site (through Google Reader or other RSS readers) and share the link when they post something that may be interesting to your friends. If they’re on Twitter, you can follow them and retweet their links now and then.

Authors don’t expect you to follow them 24/7 and repeat everything they say (that might actually alarm some folks…), but a little promotional help now and then is greatly appreciated.

If you like to be social about books, you can join sites such as Goodreads, Shelfari, or LibraryThing. You can help your favorite authors by posting reviews and talking about their books on those sites, or you can just use those places to find online reading buddies with common interests.

Helping out with Your Blog

Do you ever talk about books or what you’re reading on your blog? You might consider reviewing your favorite authors on your site (you could even make a few dollars if you signed up as an Amazon affiliate).

Also, if most of your favorites maintain websites, you could add an “author blogroll” list in your menu with links to those sites.

And Lastly…

These days, most authors have websites and contact forms so you can get in touch. If you enjoyed their work, consider sending them a short note to let them know. While it won’t help them sell more books, it’ll make their day.

Thanks for reading (this post and books in general!).

**Authors, you’re welcome to reprint this article and post it on your blog. All I ask is that you give me credit with a link back to my site, i.e. “Originally by <a href=”http://www.lindsayburoker.com”>Lindsay Buroker</a>” or something like that. Thanks!

David and Victoria Beckham name newborn daughter Harper, as in Harper Lee.

They might have named their daughter Gillian had they read these books.  Just add a shade tree, a comfy lawn chair, and a tall tumbler of iced tea, and then read . . . 

1. SONGS OF SADNESS, SONGS OF LOVE, by Larry K. Andrews. (Mystery-Romance) This is the story of Ryan Graves, a young boy growing up. Not only does he have the usual fears of adolescence, but a physical disability causes him even greater agony and heightened fears and of being rejected by his peers. The reader watches this young man as he goes through middle school, high school, and the university with new emotional challenges at each level. This is a study about how people respond to challenging experiences in their lives; some people are overwhelmed and defeated by their challenges while others accept and accommodate them, moving onwards to successful adulthood.

2. THE CHINA-AFRICA PARALLAX: A RYAN AND GILLIAN MYSTERY, by Larry K. Andrews. (Action-Thriller) The China-Africa Parallax: A Ryan and Gillian Mystery describes how representatives of China and Africa are conspiring to steal research data from major US universities. They will kill anyone who gets in their way in order to achieve their ultimate goal: China’s economic and military domination of the world. This is a fast-moving mystery with an emphasis on today’s geo-political issues and economics. Ryan Graves and his wife, Gillian Davies, characters introduced in Songs of Sadness, Songs of Love, assume perilous, key roles central to the FBI strategy to thwart the devastating conspiracy.

Available at amazon.com; enter the title in the search box.

Or, order e-books direct from the Kindle Store.

Gloomy gas prices go you down? Stay home and read a book. :-)

Just add a shade tree, a comfy lawn chair, and a tall tumbler of iced tea, and then read . . . 

1. SONGS OF SADNESS, SONGS OF LOVE, by Larry K. Andrews. (Mystery-Romance) This is the story of Ryan Graves, a young boy growing up. Not only does he have the usual fears of adolescence, but a physical disability causes him even greater agony and heightened fears and of being rejected by his peers. The reader watches this young man as he goes through middle school, high school, and the university with new emotional challenges at each level. This is a study about how people respond to challenging experiences in their lives; some people are overwhelmed and defeated by their challenges while others accept and accommodate them, moving onwards to successful adulthood.

2. THE CHINA-AFRICA PARALLAX: A RYAN AND GILLIAN MYSTERY, by Larry K. Andrews. (Action-Thriller) The China-Africa Parallax: A Ryan and Gillian Mystery describes how representatives of China and Africa are conspiring to steal research data from major US universities. They will kill anyone who gets in their way in order to achieve their ultimate goal: China’s economic and military domination of the world. This is a fast-moving mystery with an emphasis on today’s geo-political issues and economics. Ryan Graves and his wife, Gillian Davies, characters introduced in Songs of Sadness, Songs of Love, assume perilous, key roles central to the FBI strategy to thwart the devastating conspiracy.

Available at amazon.com; enter the title in the search box.

Or, order e-books direct from the Kindle Store.

No, Rupert Murdoch does not own me

He'd have trouble understanding my first two novels. I don't think you would. however.

1. SONGS OF SADNESS, SONGS OF LOVE, by Larry K. Andrews. (Mystery-Romance) This is the story of Ryan Graves, a young boy growing up. Not only does he have the usual fears of adolescence, but a physical disability causes him even greater agony and heightened fears and of being rejected by his peers. The reader watches this young man as he goes through middle school, high school, and the university with new emotional challenges at each level. This is a study about how people respond to challenging experiences in their lives; some people are overwhelmed and defeated by their challenges while others accept and accommodate them, moving onwards to successful adulthood.

2. THE CHINA-AFRICA PARALLAX: A RYAN AND GILLIAN MYSTERY, by Larry K. Andrews. (Action-Thriller) The China-Africa Parallax: A Ryan and Gillian Mystery describes how representatives of China and Africa are conspiring to steal research data from major US universities. They will kill anyone who gets in their way in order to achieve their ultimate goal: China’s economic and military domination of the world. This is a fast-moving mystery with an emphasis on today’s geo-political issues and economics. Ryan Graves and his wife, Gillian Davies, characters introduced in Songs of Sadness, Songs of Love, assume perilous, key roles central to the FBI strategy to thwart the devastating conspiracy.

Just add a shade tree, a comfy lawn chair, and a tall tumbler of iced tea. 

• Available at amazon.com; enter the title in the search box. 
• Or, order e-books direct from the Kindle Store.

Worst Movie Ever. Slip into your comfy house robe made from purple wombat hair ...

.... and think about this movie I'd love to make with Larry David and Mel Brooks:

WORST MOVIE EVER

Cast: Steven Segal, Jean Claude van Damme, Paris Hilton

Music: Kenny G, Josh Groban, Michael Bolton

Cinematography: Anthony Wiener

Producers: John Boehner, Mitch McConnell

Director: Sylvester Stallone

Does adderall treat ADHD? No, not after reading this post!

[Much better when read aloud.]

Ladle Rat Rotten Hut

Wants pawn term, dare worsted ladle gull hoe lift wetter murder inner ladle cordage honor itch offer lodge dock florish. Disc ladle gull orphan worry ladle cluck wetter putty ladle rat hut, end fur disc raisin pimple caulder ladle rat rotten hut.

Wan moaning rat rotten hut's murder colder inset: "Ladle rat rotten hut, heresy ladle basking winsome burden barter and shirker cockles. Tick disc ladle basking tudor cordage offer groin murder hoe lifts honor udder site offer florist. Shaker lake, dun stopper laundry wrote, end yonder nor sorghum stenches dun stopper torque wet strainers."

"Hoe-cake, murder," resplendent ladle rat rotten hut, end tickle ladle basking an stuttered oft. Honor wrote tudor cordage offer groin murder, ladle rat rotten hut mitten anomalous woof.

"Wail, wail, wail," set disc wicket woof, "evanescent ladle rat rotten hut!" Wares or putty ladle gull goring wizard ladle basking?"

"Armor goring tumor groin murder's," reprisal ladle gull. "Grammars seeking bet. Armor ticking arson burden barter end shirker cockles."

"O hoe! Heifer blessing woke," setter wicket woof, butter taught tomb shelf, "Oil tickle shirt court tudor cordage offer groin murder. Oil ketchup wetter letter, an den -- O bore!"

Soda wicket woof tucker shirt court, end whinney retched a cordage offer groin murder, picket inner widow an sore debtor pore oil worming worse lion inner bet. Inner flesh disc abdominal woof lipped honor betting adder rope. Zany pool dawn a groin murder's nut cup an gnat gun, any curdle dope inner bet.

Inner ladle wile ladle rat rotten hut a raft attar cordage an ranker dough bell. "Comb ink, sweat hard," setter wicket woof, disgracing is verse. Ladle rat rotten hut entity bet rum end stud buyer groin murder's bet. "Oh grammar," crater ladle gull, "Wart bag icer gut! A nervous sausage bag ice!" "Buttered lucky chew whiff, doling," whiskered disc ratchet woof, wetter wicket small.

"Oh grammar, water bag noise! A nervous sore suture anomalous prognosis!" "Buttered small your whiff," inserter woof, ants mouse worse waddling. "Oh grammar, water bag mousey gut! A nervous sore suture bag in ouse!"

Daze worry on forger nut gull's lest warts, Oil offer sodden throne offer carvers and sprinkling otter bet, disc curl and bloat Thursday woof ceased pore ladle rat rotten hut an garbled erupt.

Mural: Yonder nor sorghum stenches shut ladle gulls stopper torque wet strainers. 

[Another moral, with a linguistic foundation: Intonation is an integral part of meaning.]

Celebrate Independence Day With A Good Book

We should be grateful this Independence Day that random fate placed us in a country where we enjoy our freedoms and are free to think what we'll think without fear and we'll read and we'll write without fear.

1. SONGS OF SADNESS, SONGS OF LOVE, by Larry K. Andrews. (Mystery-Romance) This is the story of Ryan Graves, a young boy growing up. Not only does he have the usual fears of adolescence, but a physical disability causes him even greater agony and heightened fears and of being rejected by his peers. The reader watches this young man as he goes through middle school, high school, and the university with new emotional challenges at each level. This is a study about how people respond to challenging experiences in their lives; some people are overwhelmed and defeated by their challenges while others accept and accommodate them, moving onwards to successful adulthood.

2. THE CHINA-AFRICA PARALLAX: A RYAN AND GILLIAN MYSTERY, by Larry K. Andrews. (Action-Thriller) The China-Africa Parallax: A Ryan and Gillian Mystery describes how representatives of China and Africa are conspiring to steal research data from major US universities. They will kill anyone who gets in their way in order to achieve their ultimate goal: economic and military domination of the world. This is a fast-moving mystery with an emphasis on today’s geo-political issues economics. Ryan Graves and his wife, Gillian Davies, characters introduced in Songs of Sadness, Songs of Love, assume perilous, key roles central to the FBI strategy to thwart the devastating conspiracy.

Hardback and paperback available at amazon.com; enter the title in the search box. Order e-book edition directly from Kindle store.

July 3: 40th anniversary of the death of Jim Morrison of The Doors. Get a contemplative book

1. SONGS OF SADNESS, SONGS OF LOVE, by Larry K. Andrews. (Mystery-Romance) This is the story of Ryan Graves, a young boy growing up. Not only does he have the usual fears of adolescence, but a physical disability causes him even greater agony and heightened fears and of being rejected by his peers. The reader watches this young man as he goes through middle school, high school, and the university with new emotional challenges at each level. This is a study about how people respond to challenging experiences in their lives; some people are overwhelmed and defeated by their challenges while others accept and accommodate them, moving onwards to successful adulthood.

2. THE CHINA-AFRICA PARALLAX: A RYAN AND GILLIAN MYSTERY, by Larry K. Andrews. (Action-Thriller) The China-Africa Parallax: A Ryan and Gillian Mystery describes how representatives of China and Africa are conspiring to steal research data from major US universities. They will kill anyone who gets in their way in order to achieve their ultimate goal: economic and military domination of the world. This is a fast-moving mystery with an emphasis on today’s geo-political issues economics. Ryan Graves and his wife, Gillian Davies, characters introduced in Songs of Sadness, Songs of Love, assume perilous, key roles central to the FBI strategy to thwart the devastating conspiracy.

Hardback and paperback available at amazon.com; enter the title in the search box. Order e-book edition directly from Kindle store.

Sorry Rep. Bachman but it's John Wayne Gacy who's from Waterloo. Gacy is NOT a character I'd want to use.

Additionally, here are two excellent summer reads. With these books, all you need to add are a shade tree, a comfy lawn, a deck or a patio chair, and a tall tumbler filled with cubes iced tea.

1. SONGS OF SADNESS, SONGS OF LOVE, by Larry K. Andrews. (Mystery-Romance) This is the story of Ryan Graves, a young boy growing up. Not only does he have the usual fears of adolescence, but a physical disability causes him even greater agony and heightened fears and of being rejected by his peers. The reader watches this young man as he goes through middle school, high school, and the university with new emotional challenges at each level. This is a study about how people respond to challenging experiences in their lives; some people are overwhelmed and defeated by their challenges while others accept and accommodate them, moving onwards to successful adulthood.

2. THE CHINA-AFRICA PARALLAX: A RYAN AND GILLIAN MYSTERY, by Larry K. Andrews. (Action-Thriller) The China-Africa Parallax: A Ryan and Gillian Mystery describes how representatives of China and Africa are conspiring to steal research data from major US universities. They will kill anyone who gets in their way in order to achieve their ultimate goal: China’s economic and military domination of the world. This is a fast-moving mystery with an emphasis on today’s geo-political issues and economics. Ryan Graves and his wife, Gillian Davies, characters introduced in Songs of Sadness, Songs of Love, assume perilous, key roles central to the FBI strategy to thwart the devastating conspiracy.

• Available at amazon.com in hardback or paperback; enter the title in the search box. 
• Or, you can order e-book formats from the Kindle store.

Watch The Bachelorette, Michele Bachman, or read a book?

The U.S. Supreme Court and their clerks are supposed to know lots of stuff about lots of stuff. But, in one respect they're just like most people: they don't have a clue about what dictionaries are or how they're supposed to be used. See Dennis Baron's post at http://illinois.edu/db/view/25/54098. Dictionaries remain, in my view, the most ill-taught texts in our schools.

Additionally, here are two excellent summer reads. With these books, all you need to add are a shade tree, a comfy lawn, deck or patio chair, and a tall tumbler filled with iced tea.

1. SONGS OF SADNESS, SONGS OF LOVE, by Larry K. Andrews. (Mystery-Romance) This is the story of Ryan Graves, a young boy growing up. Not only does he have the usual fears of adolescence, but a physical disability causes him even greater agony and heightened fears and of being rejected by his peers. The reader watches this young man as he goes through middle school, high school, and the university with new emotional challenges at each level. This is a study about how people respond to challenging experiences in their lives; some people are overwhelmed and defeated by their challenges while others accept and accommodate them, moving onwards to successful adulthood.

2. THE CHINA-AFRICA PARALLAX: A RYAN AND GILLIAN MYSTERY, by Larry K. Andrews. (Action-Thriller) The China-Africa Parallax: A Ryan and Gillian Mystery describes how representatives of China and Africa are conspiring to steal research data from major US universities. They will kill anyone who gets in their way in order to achieve their ultimate goal: China’s economic and military domination of the world. This is a fast-moving mystery with an emphasis on today’s geo-political issues and economics. Ryan Graves and his wife, Gillian Davies, characters introduced in Songs of Sadness, Songs of Love, assume perilous, key roles central to the FBI strategy to thwart the devastating conspiracy.

• Available at amazon.com in hardback or paperback; enter the title in the search box. 
• Or, you can order e-book formats from the Kindle store.

Çreate Patti La Belle's mac'n cheese using her recipe, then settle down to a good read.

Here are two excellent summer reads. With these books, all you need to add are a shade tree, a comfy lawn, deck or patio chair, and a tall tumbler filled with iced tea.

1. SONGS OF SADNESS, SONGS OF LOVE, by Larry K. Andrews. (Mystery-Romance) This is the story of Ryan Graves, a young boy growing up. Not only does he have the usual fears of adolescence, but a physical disability causes him even greater agony and heightened fears and of being rejected by his peers. The reader watches this young man as he goes through middle school, high school, and the university with new emotional challenges at each level. This is a study about how people respond to challenging experiences in their lives; some people are overwhelmed and defeated by their challenges while others accept and accommodate them, moving onwards to successful adulthood.

2. THE CHINA-AFRICA PARALLAX: A RYAN AND GILLIAN MYSTERY, by Larry K. Andrews. (Action-Thriller) The China-Africa Parallax: A Ryan and Gillian Mystery describes how representatives of China and Africa are conspiring to steal research data from major US universities. They will kill anyone who gets in their way in order to achieve their ultimate goal: China’s economic and military domination of the world. This is a fast-moving mystery with an emphasis on today’s geo-political issues and economics. Ryan Graves and his wife, Gillian Davies, characters introduced in Songs of Sadness, Songs of Love, assume perilous, key roles central to the FBI strategy to thwart the devastating conspiracy.

• Available at amazon.com in hardback or paperback; enter the title in the search box. 
• Or, you can order e-book formats from the Kindle store.

New York Times Book Review Section, Here I Come

Here are two excellent summer reads. With these books, all you need to add are some shade, a comfy lawn, deck or patio chair, and a tall tumbler filled with iced tea.

1. SONGS OF SADNESS, SONGS OF LOVE, by Larry K. Andrews. (Mystery-Romance) This is the story of Ryan Graves, a young boy growing up. Not only does he have the usual fears of adolescence, but a physical disability causes him even greater agony and heightened fears and of being rejected by his peers. The reader watches this young man as he goes through middle school, high school, and the university with new emotional challenges at each level. This is a study about how people respond to challenging experiences in their lives; some people are overwhelmed and defeated by their challenges while others accept and accommodate them, moving onwards to successful adulthood.

2. THE CHINA-AFRICA PARALLAX: A RYAN AND GILLIAN MYSTERY, by Larry K. Andrews. (Action-Thriller) The China-Africa Parallax: A Ryan and Gillian Mystery describes how representatives of China and Africa are conspiring to steal research data from major US universities. They will kill anyone who gets in their way in order to achieve their ultimate goal: China’s economic and military domination of the world. This is a fast-moving mystery with an emphasis on today’s geo-political issues and economics. Ryan Graves and his wife, Gillian Davies, characters introduced in Songs of Sadness, Songs of Love, assume perilous, key roles central to the FBI strategy to thwart the devastating conspiracy.

• Available at amazon.com in hardback or paperback; enter the title in the search box. 
• Or, you can order e-book formats from the Kindle store.

J. K. Rowling and Rachel Ray, I'm coming to your house.

My writing is improving and so are my culinary skills.  J.K.Rowling and Rachel Ray, I'm coming to your house. I'm bringing with me these great summer reads:

1. SONGS OF SADNESS, SONGS OF LOVE, by Larry K. Andrews. (Mystery-Romance) This is the story of Ryan Graves, a young boy growing up. Not only does he have the usual fears of adolescence, but a physical disability causes him even greater agony and heightened fears and of being rejected by his peers. The reader watches this young man as he goes through middle school, high school, and the university with new emotional challenges at each level. This is a study about how people respond to challenging experiences in their lives; some people are overwhelmed and defeated by their challenges while others accept and accommodate them, moving onwards to successful adulthood.

2. THE CHINA-AFRICA PARALLAX: A RYAN AND GILLIAN MYSTERY, by Larry K. Andrews. (Action-Thriller) The China-Africa Parallax: A Ryan and Gillian Mystery describes how representatives of China and Africa are conspiring to steal research data from major US universities. They will kill anyone who gets in their way in order to achieve their ultimate goal: China’s economic and military domination of the world. This is a fast-moving mystery with an emphasis on today’s geo-political issues and economics. Ryan Graves and his wife, Gillian Davies, characters introduced in Songs of Sadness, Songs of Love, assume perilous, key roles central to the FBI strategy to thwart the devastating conspiracy.

Available at amazon.com in hardback, paperback, or e-book; enter the title in the search box. Or, you can order e-book formats from the Kindle store.

Good summer reads here

Give this a try if you're looking for a shade tree, a comfy lawn chair, and a tall tumbler of iced tea: http://bit.ly/k5aVHh

Googlebot

Will Googlebot pick up my site?

Reviewer qualifications

I'm disturbed that a volunteer reviewer gave my second novel --- The China-Africa Parallax: A Ryan and Gillian Mystery --- a cynical, 2-star review. The reviewer has confused a major character with a very, very minor one, has garbled the plot, and has criticized the novel in a provincial manner. Potential readers will find the review off-putting...for many wrong reasons! I guess I'm a writer now, putting up with mindless grievances from a volunteer who just doesn't quite get it.

I'll be back!

I've gone missing for several days and my work on novel #3 is on Spring Holiday. My detour has been one of theological development, however, reading John Shelby Spong's book Eternal Life: A New Vision and his Christianity Must Change. A serious reader can't fly through these texts in haste. Spong's ideas require a  slower wpm!

Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo, celebrated more abroad than in Mexico, commemorates the Battle of Puebla which took place on May 5, 1862. The underdog victory for Mexico pushed French forces out of the state of Puebla against seemingly insurmountable odds.

Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day. That holiday, which is more widely honored in Mexico, is actually celebrated on September 16.

So how did the day become so popular in the U.S.?

Aside from marketing and other commercial reasons for furthering the holiday, many view the day as a way to further the cultural significance of the holiday, according to MTV. However, it's key to acknowledge that liquor companies and Mexican restaurants have had a lot to do with bolstering the holiday, using it as an excuse to go a little crazy.

In any case, take the day to sit back, relax, and crack open a Corona, or a Tecate (or a Negro Modelo or a Dos XX) and honor the underdog victory.

Library Thing interview

CORRECTION. I'll be answering questions, responding to comments/suggestions about The China-Africa Parallax onhttp://librarything.com/, (See Group, then Author Talk) From April 18 through April 24. Please disregard my earlier announcement that included a 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon parameter. 

Life is not a rehearsal

You only live once; this is not a rehearsal. So go out, grab life by the throat and make today count. (Adapted after Duncan Bannatyne)

Book Giveaway

Four readers selected randomly will receive a free copy of The China-Africa Parallax: A Ryan and Gillian Mystery. Seehttp://www.goodreads.com/giveaway. Click on
"recently listed." Thanks and good luck.

Why write fiction?

I've been thinking about why I turned to fiction.  My textbooks have been successful so why didn't I prepare a 4th edition of one text and a 2nd edition for another?

1. Writing fiction is a new experience for me.
2. In retirement, I  needed to do something different, something new, in order to keep my brain engaged.
3. Fiction involves powerful and significant ideas outside of the context of academic fields.
4. Fiction causes readers to think and to feel; it's both cognitive and affective.
5. Fiction is entertaining.

 

Win a copy

Four readers selected randomly will receive a free copy of The China-Africa Parallax: A Ryan and Gillian Mystery. Go tohttp://www.goodreads.com/giveaway. Click on "recently listed." Good luck!

Win a free book

Enter a book give away at Goodreads.com. I'm giving away four copies to four lucky people selected at random. To enter, go to http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway. Click on "recently_listed."

Influences

Over at Readers Nook several of us have listed our favorite authors. I posted Robert B. Parker, creator of the Spenser and Jesse Stone series. His novels are #1 in crime/cop books; the way his stories advance through  the characters' dialogue is stunning! He's been a major influence on me.

Deeper Experiences

Fictionalized, vicarious experiences are sharper for the older me than they were at 15, 25, or 35 years. My descriptions are better, I think.

Indie Authors Unite: LET'S GET THIS WEEKEND STARTED!!!

Indie Authors Unite: LET'S GET THIS WEEKEND STARTED!!!: "Love...Love...Black Eyed Peas I gave this a lot of thought. Hmmm...What to do on Friday? Some things have already been ..."

I

Be a Winner!

1.Write a positive review --- a raving review would be even better --- of The China-Africa Parallax: A Ryan and Gillian Mystery by Larry Andrews and post it at amazon.com.

           

2. Send me an e-mail at laruandrews@yahoo.com with “Review” in the subject field reporting that your review has been posted.

3. From the first 15 reviews, 2 will be randomly selected to receive an amazon.com gift card.

4.Program ends Wednesday, April 6, at 5:00 p.m. CDT.

Gillian and Ryan

I've posted a photo of Gillian on my FB page!

Good news

Progress in the mail this morning....always a nice way to begin any day. I have a radio interview scheduled to discuss Songs of Sadness, Songs of Love and two publishers are interested in picking up my novels. That was fast.

"Woke up this morning with my mind . . . (Can you finish this line?)."

More on the title

My next novel title involves two Nathans: Nathan Hale & Nathan Bedford Forest.  


George Washington recognized the importance of covert activities and appointed  the first intelligence gathering group, the forerunners to the OSS and the CIA, the  Culper Ring. Hence: The Nathan Culper Brotherhood.


Nathan Hale is supposed to have said "I regret that I have but one life to give for my country." There's debate about whether that's what he said, but it sounds heroic! 


Forest was a Confederate hero during the Civil War, was one of the founders of the Ku Klux Klan, the KKK's first national Imperial Wizard, and remains a hero today in the eyes of those southerners who don't know they lost the Civil War.