Thursday Turmoil ~ The Love of Books

Well, I did it to myself again. <sigh> I've book hauled. As much as I try to resist the urge, I can't. Yes I said those two ugly words again...I can't. I'm not going to follow it up with a my usual qualifier of "right now."

Between Smashwords promotion of "Read an e-book" week and all the yummy selections that are offered for free on Amazon, I've amassed 53 new titles to the horde of books on my kindle and computer. Three are audio books. I won't lack for things to read any time soon. For the old me consuming voraciously, two books a week was no problem. The new me, post stroke this amount of book hauling could take years to read them all!

It all started simple enough, an author friend posted on the Compuserve Book & Writers Forum that two of her books were free on Smashwords. Having read parts of her excellent writing style in bits and pieces while she was writing both books didn't hurt my rushing over to grab the books. Of course, I'm speaking of Marte Brengle's "Closed Circuits" and Dutchman's Puzzle."

I love to read and daily and forever thankful that I still am able to with only minor difficulties since my stroke. It just takes me longer to read with understanding. It can now take me almost two weeks to read a full length novel via kindle or computer. Even though I can attach them onto my treadmill or air cycle, I can't focus on two things at once...my brain short circuits. I can no longer walk and chew gum at the same time either, literally. So my multitasking days are over for the time being. (Notice I did use the qualifier here) But I can listen to a book while I do these things.

So will I continue adding to my mountain of reads, probably. I got a hardbound book in the mail last week from a publisher to review, "Letters to Zerky: A Father's Legacy to a Son...and a Road Trip Around the World" by Bill Raney and Joanne Walker Raney. This is on my next read pile. The review will appear here the Friday after I finish reading it.

And to think, a short year ago audio books and e-books were on my least favorite list. What a difference a year and a stroke makes.

Reviews of Zombie Apocalypse: Redemption and Another

I was doing a weekly search of my author's names, genres, and main characters, and came across some reviews for my fiction book Zombie Apocalypse: Redemption that were posted to the web only one did I realize was posted.

Guarding your work against piracy is an ongoing vigilance in today's cyber-friendly world. I continually and routinely do searches which is no mean feat considering a search under J. L. Murphey provides 558,000 hits. Now all these hits are not me so I rifle through them searching for any note that shouldn't be there. Not that I'm seriously worried about piracy, but it could happen.

Back to the reviews. The first one I knew about. It was a nonhorror reader who was surprised by the novel. HERE

The second was one I found during my search. Many have marked this novel to be read but I've seen few actually come across with a review so this one took me by surprise. This one was from a zombie fan. HERE To say I was pleased is an under statement.

To convert a nonhorror reader to zombie fiction is awesome. To get praise like this from a horror aficionado is even more so.

On another note, my nonfiction is selling well. Are You a Survivalist or a Prepper? just earned out a double digit and triple digit royalty check. If you haven't heard of it that's because of me...I promoted while writing it and had a stroke after it was published. It was poor planning on my part if you could plan a stroke. 

In the book I mention that a couponer. Yeah, one of THOSE people. But the book is about a more common sense approach to being both. In today's economy, you have to be a savvy shopper using any means, the legal ones, at your disposal. I ran across this video on Wednesday that sort of sums up my philosophy on being a couponer. HERE Pretty interesting stuff.

So have you searched for yourself on the web lately?

Keep writing and loving the Lord.

Monday's Mailbox

Here's another message from the old Tilda mailbox, or rather e-mail box.

Ηave you ever conѕidеred creating an
ebook or gueѕt authoring on other blοgs? I have a blog baѕed uрon on the sаme infοrmаtion yοu ԁiscuss and would rеally
liκe to have уou ѕhаre sοme storiеs/ іnfοrmatiоn. I know my viewerѕ would valuе your ωоrk.

It was again posted by, you guessed it, anonymous. I have an ongoing love/hate relationship with the '''anonymous" e-mails because I love hearing from people but hate not being able to reply to them. Most "anonymous" comments do not show up here, but go straight to my e-mail addy unless they are a Blogspot members. I'll get five to ten on any post I do.

To answer the e-mail- Yes, I do guest blogging and interviews, and no, I haven't wrote an e-book on the various subjects I write about on this blog. I have done several guest blogging gigs over the past few years on a variety of subjects. I also do interviews and host them from time to time here, and in the blogosphere. I haven't considered an e-book on the subject because honestly the internet and bookstores are overloaded with books on the subject.

What it takes to appear on my blog:

• The subject of discussion
• Any pertinent pictures, ie author photo and cover of your book.
• An e-mail I can send you questions
• Contact information for others to buy your book or follow you on twitter, Facebook, GoodReads, website/blog

All is handled by e-mail so feel free to to send me a message to www.jomurphey@yahoo.com also be aware that interviews are usually posted on Fridays in the order in which I receive completed information, questionnaire, and photos. This is the day I do guest blogs, interviews, and reviews.

To have me appear on your blog as a guest:

• Subject matter or books you want me to discuss
• Format
• Other considerations

I can't promise that I can get it all done in a week, but I will do my best. Possible lag time is four weeks with my Abby Normal life. This is subject to change. You may notice on my side bar I belong/contribute to several other things...this is about a quarter of them.

If you've followed my blog for any length of time you may have noticed that I periodically change my background or layout from time to time. I still haven't found my perfect fit. Being an eccentric and eclectic person is hard sometimes. Being a creative person makes it doubly difficult. I just haven't found a theme that screams "ME" yet.

 For the coming year the blogging schedule will look like this:

• Monday Mailbox: Answers to your questions you e-mail me.
• Tuesday Tumbling Terms (subject to change): This was a hugely popular item last year. It's basically word power and enrichment. As writers as we strengthen our vocabulary, we write better.
• Wednesday Writerly Ways: Whether it be grammar, marketing, indie authors or other things about writing/publishing you might want to know.
• Friday Fun: Interviews and Reviews
• Sunday Strokes Survival: Challenges of writing and living with a stroke. As my tag line says, everything affects the author in me. As an author and a real live person, my day-to-day life has changed drastically since May 2012.

This is all subject to change, but I hope you will join me.

So what are your blogging ideas for 2013?

Keep writing and loving the Lord.