“An American MP in Korea” This second
book was picked up by a publisher. It is an exhaustively edited and
pace-adjusted version of my first book, with advice from a NY TIMES best-selling
author.
Question:
Any future writing projects in the works? If so, tell us about it, and any pertinent
dates to go with it.
Yes,
I’m about 100 manuscript pages into a new novel rough draft. I expect to be
finished by end of 2014. However, expectations are often fickle.
Question:
What is the title of your current book, and tell us a little
about it.
"An American MP in Korea" is the story of a young American military
policeman’s personal growth and struggles in mid-1960s South Korea, during the
reign of North Korean premier Kim Il-Sung. Known as the “Great Leader” and
father of the communist movement in North Korea, Kim was the grandfather of its
current leader, Kim Jong-Un.
Sex,
murder, suicide, espionage and love are all intertwined in this work, based on
true eventsduring the “cold war” era.
The
story unfolds as the protagonist is drafted into the army, trained as a military
policeman and shipped off to South Korea. He believes that fate has spared him
the horrors of a burgeoning war in Vietnam. Instead, he is thrust into a
different kind of war; one that shakes his core beliefs and cripples his
ability to deal with the tragic and deadly consequences.
Last
question,
if someone comes across this article and reads it, what would you like to tell
them about why you think they should try reading your book?
(So—do a sell-job). People are smart enough to know that every author thinks their work
is simply grand. What I can say, in all honesty, is that after years of
laboring over it and literally thousands of edits, I was
concerned that it might seem chopped-up. So, I read it through one last time
before its release. I put it down and said to myself, “Hey, that’s not bad!”
Anything
else you'd like to add that I didn't ask you, but you would like to share with
our readers?
In
"An American MP in Korea", I hope my words serve to paint a
backdrop for escalating tensions in the world today and to suggest that there
is always room for optimism.
Blog Writer's Note to Author:Your books sound really interesting. I always find that books that have some basis
of fact surrounding them, generally have high value. I will definitely check your two books
out. Good Luck and much success to you
on your current and future writing endeavors.
I've loved to write since I was a kid. I was
9 when I wrote my first short story. I started actively doing freelance writing
about 15 years ago. I began by writing stories for an inspirational book series
called God Allows U-Turns. It is similar to Chicken Soup for the Soul. I also
wrote articles for a local Twin Cities newspaper.
Question:
What was the name of the first book you ever published, and when
was it published?
The
title of my first book is called "Taking the Cross". It
releases Aug. 1, 2014.
Question:
Was this book published by a publisher; or did you self-publish?
It is being published by Koehler Books in
Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Question:
Tell our readers about this very first book. (For example: What was the inspiration for writing it, and
what was it about)?
I have always loved reading about history.
When I was in college, I came across a book that was about the crusade against
heresy in France in the early 13th century. I had never heard of
this crusade before, and it piqued my interest in this time period and the
region of the Languedoc in Southern France where the crusade happened. It was
the first time a crusade was unleashed not across the sea, but in the very backyard
of the Catholic Church. It involved Christians fighting Christians, one side
wanting to kill heretics and the other side seeking to protect the different
groups of so-called heretics. My initial inspiration in writing "Taking the Cross" was an attempt to answer a question: Who were the real
Christians in this horribly confusing time? I also wanted to bring alive a
fascinating and important period of history that few people have heard about
before.
The book follows the same format as "Cold
Mountain", in that the chapters alternate back and forth between the lead
male and female characters, who are apart from one another as a war rages.
Though, I hadn’t even heard of "Cold Mountain" until I was nearly
finished with "Taking the Cross". Also, Andreas and Eva, the
two main characters in my novel, have not yet met as the books opens.
Question:
Can a person still buy this book?
If so, where?
Question:
Any future writing projects in the works? If so, tell us about it, and any pertinent
dates to go with it.
What I
originally envisioned as one novel called "Taking the Cross",
ended up being over 600 pages long. When I submitted it to my publisher last
year, they asked if I would be willing to break it in half, since the maximum
length of the books they publish is around 300 pages. It just happened to work
out that it does break very nicely in half. I didn’t plan it that way. So I
have already written book two in what I hope will become the "Taking the
Cross series". The publication of book two depends on the success of book
one. I don’t have any dates for the second book yet.
Question:
What is the title of your current book, and tell us a little
about it.
While
book one of "Taking the Cross" takes place during the summer
of 1209, book two takes places during the summers of 1210
and 1211. It does not have a title yet. It picks up the story of the two main
characters, Andreas and Eva, a year after the ending of the first book, as they
seek to fight back against the continuing crusade against heresy, also called
the Albigensian Crusade (one center of the heretics was the city of Albi in
France, so they were called Albigensians, also known as Cathars. The other
group of heretics in "Taking the Cross" is a group called the
Waldensians).
Last
question,
if someone comes across this article and reads it, what would you like to tell
them about why you think they should try reading your book or books? (Basically, what can you offer them
in the way of information or entertainment)?
Reading
the "Taking the Cross" will introduce you to what I like to
call the most important period of history you’ve never heard about. Most modern
movements of both freedom and tyranny trace their roots to this time. The
crusade against heresy spawned the Inquisition, which was the original police
state, in which a person could be tortured and severely punished merely for
having the wrong beliefs or even sheltering those who did. It was also the time
when people began to start to demand freedom of religion and freedom of speech
and the other rights so many – but not all - enjoy today. People were starting
to go to the cities for freedom, where it was said “city air makes one free.”
Anything
else you'd like to add that I didn't ask you, but you would like to share with
our readers?
My website is www.charlesgibson.net if you’d like more information. My e-mail
is cg@charlesgibson.net.
Blog Writer's Note to Author:
Your book
sounds really interesting. I am always
fascinated with a book that deals with history in some form, especially,
history that generally has never really been discussed because usually what we
find in our present day has a lot to do with what was in the past. I'll
definitely be checking out your book when it comes out in August of 2014. Good luck with this project and thanks for the
interview.
Question: How long have you been writing? It seems like before I was born. Probably, since around age 6 or 7.
Question: What was the name of the first
book you ever published, and when was it published?
"This Great State". It was a book about Maine politics,
published in 2008'. Question: Was this book published by a
publisher; or did you self-publish? I Self-published.
Question: Tell our readers about this
very first book. (For example: What was the
inspiration for writing it, and what was it about)?
It was inspired when I was preparing to run for Governor of Maine. Question: Can a person still buy this
book? If so, where?
Yes, on Amazon.com
Question: How many total books have you
published?
I've published a total of (5) so far. Question: List all of your titles;
There will be a Sequel to "The Laws and Secrets of Success"
- For those ready for the advanced course :)
Question: What is the title of your current book,
and tell us a little about it.
"The Laws and Secrets of Success" http://www.thelawsandsecretsofsuccess.com/ Description of book:Think
about this: With all of the success books out there, why don't we have more
successful people?
Too
many success books simply rehash conventional wisdom. The truly great success
books, such as "Napoleon Hill's "Think and Grow Rich", instead
enable life-changing success breakthroughs because they identify and describe
in powerful detail the thinking patterns and principles of the world's most
successful individuals.
The
only way to do this is to study the world's most successful individuals, as
Napoleon Hill has done.
--And, as I have done as well.
For
over two decades I have devoted myself to studying and interviewing the most
successful individuals across varying fields, so that I could see and learn for
myself the principles which set them apart in terms of their success.
--And that is what I share with you
here.
Get
ready to throw out many of the things that you thought you knew about
success!
Let's
start at the beginning with a simple truth. Success is hard…Very hard, very,
very, very, very hard. We all know that, once we have had a little bit of
experience and are honest with ourselves. We all want to be more
successful, but let's face it sometimes we just don't know how. It's
because, as they say, "we don't know what we don't know".
So
we make the same mistakes over and over again (often without fully realizing it
until later). And, then we blame ourselves (or others) in regard to why
things didn't turn out as we had hoped, or planned.
It's
this simple: If you want to increase your level of success, read this
book. We all go through the same struggles. This book - simply but
powerfully - is your instruction manual on how to overcome them.
Read
this book, and in 60 days you won't even recognize the person you used to
be. And, neither will your family and friends. This is the type of change
that allows you to get the things you really want in life.
The
things that were previously outside of your reach; the things you saw others
gain and achieve, but never seemed to be able to get for yourself. That can
change today!
We
all know that a few better ideas can accelerate one's success
substantially.
Successful
people take their better ideas and know how to leverage them further - and
execute them better - than other people do.
Once
you understand the processes that successful people utilize to do this, you can
very quickly ramp up your own success as well.
Everybody
struggles. Successful people struggle just like unsuccessful people, but they
learn and use the success principles to overcome the difficulties in their
lives to reach their goals. Success breeds confidence, making it easier over
time. If you don't want to keep making the same mistakes over and over and over
again, you need to understand and understand well what these success principles
are. That is what this book will provide for you.
Last question, if someone comes across this article
and reads it, what would you like to tell them about why you think they should
try reading your book or books? (Basically, what can you offer
them in the way of information or entertainment)? Many people have found that
this book, "The Laws and Secrets of Success" http://www.thelawsandsecretsofsuccess.com/has greatly contributed to their increased success.
Anything else you'd like to add that I didn't ask you, but you
would like to share with our readers?
About me: http://about.me/alexhammer Background Website for:"The Laws and Secrets of Success"http://www.thelawsandsecretsofsuccess.com/ Sample radio interview about the book: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/chevaljohn/2013/12/17/the-laws-of-success Follow me on Twitter: @AlHammer Blog Writer's Note to Author:I have to say that I was extremely amazed by your about me author pageon amazon.com, and discovering that you once ran for Governor in your state of Maine. I definitely had to purchase your book: "The Laws and Secrets of Success". As a person who recently became unemployed and have been trying to become successful as a self-employed person, I'm hoping this book will help guide me along my path to success. I hope others will check it out. With a new year upon us I think we can all use a little guidance in the area of becoming successful. Good Luck with your books, and thanks for the interview.
I have
been writing stories since I was a kid. I loved the horror genre. I would sneak
Stephen King books off my mother's book shelf at 8 or 9 years old. I wrote for
the U.S. Army as an Intelligence Analyst for 10 years. Being laid off from my
job as a DoD contractor at a major military installation gave me the push I
needed to publish some of the stories that have been clawing around in my
brain.
Question:What was the name of the first book you ever published, and when
was it published?
The
first book I published was Book 1: "The Girl with No Name". It's the
first book in my series called: "Bedtime Tales from the Apocalypse".
I published "The Girl with No Name" on Sept 11, 2013'. I chose that
date for the symbolism. That date changed my life. I intend for the series to
go on for 6 or more books. I might put them together in a collection every 6
books or so.
Question:Was this book published by a publisher; or did you self-publish?
I am a
self-published author, but if the right deal came around, I might consider
signing up with a publisher. I do value my freedom, although I can't be restricted,
or forced. As a self-publisher I can do whatever I want. If the story was told
in one page, that's what I would publish.
Question:Tell our readers about this very first book.(For example:What was the inspiration for writing it, and
what was it about)?
Book 1: "The Girl with No Name" had been
clawing around in my head since my 2008' deployment. (Kuwait and Iraq were
desolate). It really shocked me. I could imagine my home in southern, Arizona,
becoming like that with just a few years of missed rain. The main character is
based on several different people. I got the inspiration from her by thinking,
what if the world ended, but I wasn't here to help my Daughter survive, how
would she end up? I was counter inspired by "Twilight". Vampires are
supposed to be brutal, hungry, destroyers. Humans are the prey, not the love
interest.
Book 1
opens to southern, Arizona a significant time after the world has collapsed.
Nothing modern remains. Cars no longer operate for lack of gas and rubber
parts, like hoses and tires. Batteries have long gone dead. The Girl is
wandering around Benson. Then she gets ambushed by raiders. Read the books
to find out what happens next.
Question:Can a person still buy this book?If so, where?
Question:Any future writing projects in the works?If so, tell us about it, and any pertinent
dates to go with it.
I am
going to release Book 3: "By Lantern's Light" around Nov 11,
2013. I am trying for an installment a month. When I have the first six
installments released I may put them together in a novel and release that at a
later date.
I may do
a side project or two, but it will still be in my genre, dystopian post
apocalyptic, but most likely will be independent of the series.
A good
buddy of mine wants the privilege of writing the prequel series about what
ended the world. That is something that doesn't really matter in the current
series; since to the characters, it happened so long ago.
Question:What is the title of your current book, and tell us a little
about it.
The
current book is Book 2: "Aluminum Butterflies". I am very
proud of the artwork for this book. I contacted an artist in Mexico named
Steph. She came through with very little notice. While not a photographer like
me, she responded to my coaching very well and produced the perfect image I was
looking for.
Book 2 picks up a day or two after Book 1. It's
set mostly in Huachuca City and Bisbee. We learn a lot about the existing
characters, and I introduced a new one. Book 2 sets the stage for the last four
books.
Last
question,
if someone comes across this article and reads it, what would you like to tell
them about why you think they should try reading your book or books? (Basically, what can you offer them in the way of
information or entertainment)?
I don't
follow formulas. I write the story how the story wants to be written. I'm a
soldier, not an English major. My books have been well received by those who
have read them. I use my words to paint a picture. I take you into the
character's world. You stand next to them, see what they see, smell and taste
what they smell. You are not going to find a Vampire, werewolf, human love
triangle in my books. They are mature content but not Fifty Shades mature.
I write
what I know. I try to include some useful survival or prepper tidbits in the
books. I use actual locations, I include people from my life as characters, and
I try to incorporate events thatreally
happened tome into my work. If you ever find yourself
at the intersection of HWY 90 and I-10 you will find the old farmhouse from Book
1. Walk the streets of old Bisbee at night, and you will see what the Boss sees
as he emerges from his fortified lair. In Book 6, "The Lavender Mine"
will play a pivotal role in the climax of the entire series.
Anything
else you'd like to add that I didn't ask you, but you would like to share with
our readers?
I'm just
a normal guy. I have been a janitor, a soldier, a father, a photographer, and
most recently a DoD Instructor. Life will hit you hard; just go with it. What
you do in the face of adversity defines who you are. Do you lie down and give
up, or do you keep fighting? Writing is my way to keep fighting. The career I
built for a decade since I joined the U.S. Army in 2003' was basically
eliminated by the government. I have enough duty related injuries to get a nice
disability check. I just can't do that. I can't give up. We have had to move
into an RV with a small child. Cool, I love camping! We are losing the house to
the bank. They can have it.
My
writing reflects what I face in real life. It's about fighting and not giving
up, no matter what. It doesn't matter how hard life beats you down, you stand
back up, and say “May I have another?”
I will
be a successful writer because I won't stop trying. I can't. I think there is
something wrong with me. If you read my books, you will be certain something is
wrong with me.
Blog
Writer's Note to Author:First, I
want to thank you for your service to our country.Your
book series sounds like it would make a great television series.I'll definitely be buying both books since I
live in Arizona, and I am curious to see how you interweave the various locations in your book with the state. I like your positive attitude about when life knocks you down
that you need to get back up. I think you should consider writing a book on
this subject.I'm sure after being in
Kuwait and Iraq it would give a person a whole different concept on the value
of life and what one values the most; such as family, friends, and home.I'm sure you will become a successful writer
with the determined attitude that you have, and I wish you all the very best in
that pursuit.Good Luck and thanks for
the interview.
I think
I have always been a writer. I have copies of stories published in school
literary anthologies from 6th, 7th and 8th
grade. In high school I submitted something every year and only got accepted twice!
I wrote
my first full-length novel thirty years ago. I’ve also written movie and music
reviews for magazines.
In the
past five years I have really gotten serious about writing though.
Question:What was the name of the first book you ever published, and when
was it published?
"Diamonds
and Cole" published in 2013'.
Question:Was this book published by a publisher; or did you self-publish?
I was
fortunate enough to be put in contact with a terrific Science Fiction
writer/editor, David VanDyke, who is self-published and very successful. He was
kind enough to take me under his wing and guide me through the mine field of
self-publishing.
I had
pretty much shelved my manuscripts because I couldn’t get much passed “Hello”, with
most traditional publishers and agents.
Self-publishing
I believe is the future of literature. There are a lot of terrific writers out
there with a lot to say, and self-publishing is a great way for their voices to
be heard.
Question:Tell our readers about this very firstbook.(For example:What was the inspiration for writing it, and
what was it about)?
It
actually started when I was driving down the street listening to a song on the
stereo. By the time I got to work I had the story pretty much put together in
my head. I remember racing in, turning on the computer and practically chanting
the plot waiting for it to boot up! I sat down and in about fifteen minutes had
a pretty solid outline.
Now four
books later, I am happily releasing the "Cole Sage Mystery Series" on
Amazon Kindle.
Question:Can a person still buy this book?If so, where?
Yes, "Diamonds
and Cole" is available on Amazon Kindle worldwide.
Two so
far, and a third will come out on, or about, November 5th 2013.
Question:List all of your titles.
"Diamonds
and Cole" (Sept.2013)
Five 5 Star Reviews
"Cellar
Full of Cole"
(October 2013) 5 Star Review
"Helix of Cole"
(November 2013) "Eight the Hard Way" (December 2013)
Question:Any future writing projects in the works?If so, tell us about it, and any pertinent
dates to go with it.
I have a
short story titled "Return of the Bride" that will be part of an anthology coming out in November 2013'. Watch
my Author pages for information on that one.
I have put a novella, I’m trying
to get feedback on called "Three Nails", on my blog: http://www.Michaelmaxwellauthor.blogspot.com It's a freebie that may, or may not get Kindled!
A project I am really excited
about is a spin-off series I’ll be collaborating with the prolific
Sci-Fi author, David VanDykebased
on a character from the "Cole Sage Mysteries". Her name is California
Corwin, an ex-cop with a passion for fast cars, guns, and Indian food. How’s
that for a teaser?
Then
the Cole Sage Saga continues with:
"Cole
Dust" (December 2013)
"Shot
of Cole" (Early 2014)
Question:What is the title of your current book, and tell us a little
about it.
The
October release "Cellar Full of Cole" finds Cole Sage moving to San
Francisco, but before he can get out of Chicago he gets pulled into a nasty web
of child abuse, blackmail, and sexual harassment. He hardly gets his feet on
the ground in San Francisco, before he’s involved in trying to solve the murder
ofseveral young girls. This tale of two cities
exposes the soft white underbelly of humantrafficking and child
pornography, and finds our hero going outside the law to protect those he loves.
Last
question,
if someone comes across this article and reads it, what would you like to tell
them about why you think they should try reading your book or books? (Basically, what can you offer
them in the way of information or entertainment)?
This
will sound funny on the heels of the description for "Cellar Full of Cole",
but I have tried to fill a niche in the market for people who want an edgy
mystery/thriller minus the usual gratuitous sex, profanity, and violence.
Cole
Sage is a throwback to real heroes with a strong moral compass, and a steely
resolve that makes him someone men wish they could be, and women wish they had.
I think "The Cole Sage Mystery Series" is what a lot of people are
looking for and I think the reaction to these books is bearing that out.
Anything
else you'd like to add that I didn't ask you, but you would like to share with
our readers?
I really
look forward to hearing what people think of the "Cole Sage Series"
and the upcoming projects this fall.
Thanks
for this great opportunity to let people know what I’m all about.
BLOG WRITER'S NOTE TO AUTHOR:You sound like your have
quite the series.I have to tell you
that I agree totally about what you said in regards to self-publishing.I feel that the Internet and technology has
made publishing a book an even field for all of us who want to share our love
of writing and story-telling with the world. Good Luck with your future writing projects, and thanks for the interview.
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