Monday, April 20, 2009

Promote, Promote, Promote


Here we go with Round 2. Everybody had a lot of fun with this last month, so let's see if we can top it this month.

Promote whatever you want by leaving however many comments you'd like.

There is only one rule:

You can't promote anything for me.

I'll leave this post up for a couple of days.

32 comments:

Nicole Zoltack said...

Wow, Brian, thanks for this wonderful opportunity for shameless self-promotion!

I recently published a novel, Woman of Honor, a medieval fantasy romance. Here's the blurb:

Aislinn of Bairbhe dreams of becoming a lady knight to honor the death of her fallen brother. To her mother's horror, King Patrick grants Aislinn's wish and she begins her long years of training.

Despite the mockery of the other pages, and the disdain of Prince Caelan who also trains to be a knight, Aislinn commits herself to her dreams and embarks on a journey of self-discovery and bravery. Through the years, Aislinn and Caelan grow from sparing classmates to good friends. They both know that someday Caelan will marry for the sake of the kingdom, but even that cannot keep them from falling in love.

The threat of war with the Speicans is a constant threat, and one that grows more frightening as she and Caelan train toward their eventual knighthood. Aislinn has committed herself to serving Arnhem, and has promised herself as King's Champion when Caelan claims the throne. She is willing to give up everything... her childhood, her life, even her heart for Arnhem. No matter the pain it brings.

You can purchase Woman of Honor from www.desertbreezepublishing.com and the kindle version is also available at amazon.com I'm already working on the sequel, entitled Knight of Glory, which will be available March 2010. Thanks again, Brian, for this wonderful opportunity!

Brian O'Rourke said...

Hey Nicole,

No need to thank me, I get a kick out of this. Thanks for stopping by!

seana graham said...

You know I love this promotion.

This time, it's time to check out a few other writers in our midst:

Will Hoyle has left a cliffhanger beginning to his novel at Crime Always Pays. Read it and you'll be begging him for more. Soon.

There is quite a buzz around Gregrhi Arawn Love's There Is an Urgency. It's a memoir about his own harrowing childhood, but also about the way he uses his experience to work with young 'at risk' kids. I have been entirely too lax in grabbing up a copy of this one.

And finally a promotion can't go by without mentioning Fifty Grand, Adrian McKinty's riveting tale of revenge, set in a wintery Colorado among other places. It's due out within the next week

Will Detective Mercado find revenge for a father's death? And more importantly, will revenge be enough? Well, I guess you're just going to have to read the book to find out.

seana graham said...

Oh, for those of you who are getting worried by my example, yeah, you're really supposed to promote yourselves. I availed myself of the opportunity last time, and since I don't have any irons in the fire, thought I should mention a few up and coming publications.

Brian O'Rourke said...

Hey Seana,

I have to pick up There Is an Urgency, sounds excellent.

And I can attest to the awesomeness that is Fifty Grand. The wife and I are going to do a joint post on it before the release.

I'm almost embarrassed to admit this, but I don't even know the name of the store you work in. Why don't you tell us a little more about it, if you're so inclined?

Elle Parker said...

Hey thanks, Brian!

I have my first novel, Like Coffee and Doughnuts coming out with Lyrical Press next month - May 18th.

It's an M/M Erotic Romance/Mystery:

Dino Martini might accept his friend Seth as a lover--if they can stay alive.

Dino Martini is an old-school P.I. in a modern age. Sure, he may do most of his work on a computer, but he carries a gun, drives a convertible, and lives on the beach. Best friend and mechanic Seth Donnelly will back him in a fight, and there's not a lot more Dino could ask from life.

Until his world is turned upside down.

A dangerous case and a new apartment are just the start. His friendship with Seth has turned into a romance, only Dino has never had a boyfriend before. Can he handle this sudden twist? Just as he begins to believe it's possible, he loses Seth in more ways than one...


I'm hoping lots of people will give it a try, because I'm hot at work on a sequel.

Elle Parker
www.elleparker.com

Billy Burgess said...

The Long Walk is in the current issue of Long Story Short Ezine. You can read it here, http://www.alongstoryshort.net/thelongwalk.html.

Visit my website at billyburgessonline.webs.com

Brian O'Rourke said...

Hey Elle,

Thanks for stopping by. Love your web site.

Brian O'Rourke said...

Billy,

I'll have to check out your story after work, but thanks for stopping by.

seana graham said...

Dino Martini might accept his friend Seth as a lover--if they can stay alive.That's a great first line to a hook, Elle.

Billy, I am going to check out your story too, but will also have to wait till a little later in the day. But thanks for the link.

Brian, no need to be embarrassed not to know the name of the store--I don't usually refer to it by name. It's Bookshop Santa Cruz. I don't have time at the moment to go into much about it, but the website should give you some sense of it. And of course I hope anyone visiting the Central California coast will take the time to check it out...

I can't wait to read your joint review of Fifty Grand, by the way...

Anonymous said...

Brian, thank you for letting me do this again. I really appreciate the opportunity!

My latest book, from Lyrical Press, is Parole. "Safehacker" Mel Broward is temporarily released from prison to help alien archaeologist Neertreffa crack a long-dead planet's computer security. It seems like a simple job--until Neertreffa's trigger-happy rival Murtka Siffree shows up and Mel finds himself running, naked and without equipment, through the ruins of an uninhabited planet. Along the way, Mel has to rethink his ethics, his worth as a person, and incidentally, whether he's falling in love with an alien.

Parole can be downloaded for $2.50 from the Lyrical Press store at www.OnceUponABookstore.com. I hope you enjoy it!

Brian O'Rourke said...

Yo Barton,
Thanks for stopping by. Parole has got a great premise.

Brian O'Rourke said...

Seana,

If ever we make it out to your coast, we will definitely stop in the bookshop. Sounds like a great place, and it's always refreshing to talk to someone who actually enjoys what she's doing for a living.

Elle Parker said...

Hee! Well, the Lyrical production staff gets credit for that great hook line - I love it too.

And since you mentioned my website, Brain, can I promote my web designer too?

DawnChaser Web Designs is a friend of mine who does these on the side for a few people, and is looking to pick up some new clients. She's very reasonable and cool to work with. If anyone would like more info, you can email me: elle.parker@ymail.com and I'll get you her info.

Elle Parker

Brian O'Rourke said...

Elle,

Way to pay it forward there ;)

Elle Parker said...

I hope you don't mind...

I know there are ton of new authors who don't really have the know-how to do their own site, and can't afford most of the bigger web design services.

Elle Parker

Rita Vetere said...

Hi, Brian!

Thank you once again for another great opportunity to promo. I thought I'd post my "Ten Things" lists today. Here goes:

Here are ten things you'll find in my Supernatural Thriller novel, Ancient Inheritance:

1. A legendary artifact
2. A demon in human guise
3. A World War II veteran
4. A Creole psychic woman
5. An NYPD Homicide detective
6. An art restorer
7. Nazis
8. A Louisianna swamp
9. A possessed cat
10. An Archangel

And here are ten things you'll find in my upcoming Dark Fantasy novel, Born of Darkness (Digital release June 15th):

1. A Cambion
2. A marketplace in Marrakesh, Morocco
3. A portal between two worlds
4. An incubus who has learned to incarnate
5. A stoning
6. Boiling animal heads
7. Two murdered husbands
8. A trapped spirit
9. An exotic pendant of unknown origin
10. Two extremely good looking brothers, each over 250 years old

I’m currently working on a Horror novel which I've titled Whispering Bones, but there are dark places I need to go and experiences I need to revisit before I finish it. I’m sure I'll scare and disturb myself in the process. Hopefully, by the time I'm done, it'll do the same for you. :-)

www.ritavetere.comP.S. - I really enjoyed reading all the posts and will definitely be checking out the links.

Thanks again, Brian!

-Rita

Brian O'Rourke said...

Elle,

Of course I don't mind! The more, the merrier. Plug away!

Brian O'Rourke said...

Hey Rita,

The Top Ten Lists are great! I just love that idea--so much better than the typical elevator speech!

Thanks for stopping by. Now get back to your horror novel. I want to read it!!!

Brian O'Rourke said...

And in an entirely unnecessary plug, I thought I'd let everyone know that Dan Brown's new book, The Lost Symbol, is coming out in September.

Rita Vetere said...

Hey, Brian,

I just heard about The Lost Symbol releasing in September as well and am already anxious to get my hands on it.

Some interesting factoids about Mr. Brown in that article, not the least of which was his income from The Da Vinci Code has been estimated at about £170 million.

Go Dan!

Brian O'Rourke said...

170 million...it boggles the mind. If one of my books earned that much, I'd take my sweet old time writing the next one, like Dan did.

That, or buy a country club, take lessons once a week, exercise two hours a day, and attempt to join the PGA tour.

seana graham said...

That story was creepy good, Billy. And it's short, everybody, so pop on over and have a look!

The Long Walk Also, both Brian and I were initiated into the secret of making links by our friend Marco, so if anyone is curious, just ask.

Brian O'Rourke said...

Yes, feel free to ask how to make links. But be warned, you only get one chance to get them right, otherwise Marco gets mighty upset.

seana graham said...

Poor Marco. He gets a bad rap.He is actually infinitely patient with our fumblings. But I am sure he doesn't understand why it's so hard for us to figure this stuff out... And he's right. Once you get it, it's easy. But, oh, before that, oy!

Brian O'Rourke said...

I kid, I kid. Marco has the patience of a saint, and the verbal skills of C-3PO.

Brian O'Rourke said...

I'd like to promote something (not for myself of course).

My good friend, Nick Hughes, is the drummer for The Sobriquets, as many of you know.

The Sobriquets have also started their own blog. Each member of the four man band posts once a week, and Mondays are Nick's days. Check it out if you get a chance.

seana graham said...

It's taken me a long time today to get to commenting--in fact, so long that it's almost tomorrow. But I did want to say that I liked Nick's posting as a Sobriquet--fascinating plan to take public transportation to the end of the line and do a little exploring. I'm sorry to hear, though, that the Philadephia trolleys are not what they once were--I made use of the New Orleans trolley system a few times while I was there recently and it's a fine way to travel, at least in mild weather.

Brian O'Rourke said...

Seana,

I'm going to start urging Nick to take notes of all the places he goes and all the people he talks to. It could make for a very unique travel book.

Nick Hughes said...

Thanks Brian, I forgot that I actually did have something to promote this time, ha. To be fair, there are plenty of non-chains to check out in Chestnut Hill - it's a cool part of town, really.

Seana - thanks for the comment, and to be fair again, there is a historic trolley line that runs along Girard Ave., which does not go through Chestnut Hill. They hope to bring the Chestnut Hill line back one day, as the tracks are still usable. But we'll see...

Anonymous said...

Awesome! Thanks for the promo space!

The Kindle version of my first book, It Never Ends, is now availalable on amazon.com. It's erotic horror with a bit of comedy thrown in. The paperback should be available in June.

Here's the blurb:

Through the catalyst of a vicious, soul-rending act of personal violence, a new Vengeance Avatar is crowned. The full weight of a karmic sword of judgment now resides firmly nestled in the soul of a despoiled, angry young woman.

Seeking out the desecrators of women and children, she makes her nightly appointed rounds - inflicting punishment upon her prey with the fury and strength of a dark, bloody primal goddess.

Now if she could only get her social life in order.
It Never Ends, the first book in The Vengeance Cycle series, is a tale of redemption and balance in a reality where preternatural creatures exist, but only behind the scenes.

Dani Jillson, a young woman trapped in the daily grind of life, is looking for a way out. She happens upon such an opportunity during a particularly brutal attack one night, when an entity offers to intervene on her behalf - but only if Dani will provide rather strenuous remuneration for ‘services rendered’ in return. Dani chooses to accept the offer and soon finds herself thrown into a world of violence and vengeance. Acting now as this entity's Avatar - a servitor and vessel of sorts for its wrath, she is sent out into the world to reflect the evil that men do back at them.

Argent Valentine is a solitary vampire who once ruled over the prefecture of New Orleans under the auspices of the European Council – an organization responsible for keeping the preternaturals of the world in check. The Council's intent is to insure that the presence of supernatural creatures never becomes provable to the human population. Over seventy years ago - for reasons unknown, Argent abdicated the throne and went underground, only to surface in the present day for a chance to learn more about the unusually savage creature that now hunts within his chosen feeding grounds.

Meeting each other is only half the battle.

Brian O'Rourke said...

Ninja -

Thanks for stopping by and congrats on publishing the book. I saw on your website it took some 9 years from start to finish, so you must be really excited!