Review: How to Write a Good Book in 17 Days

How to Write a Good Book in 17 Days: Get-it-written self-help for serious writers by D. L. Keur
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Kindle Unlimited: Free on Amazon or Buy

D. L. Keur describes a system on how to put together a book. 17 days is a bit ambitious for completing a book, but the steps in this guide is a heck of a good start on doing it.

I'm answering questions all the time such as, "How do I start writing my book?" Well, I now have a specific guide to mention.

Recognize this book is limited. It won't (and does not claim to) tell you how to write. It assumes you have solid writing skills. What it does is give you a step-by-step way to construct a book. The great writing is up to you.

View all my reviews

BITCH BITCH BITCH!

Not So Fun Fact: My books have received ZERO reviews on Amazon since January 1st. That kind of statistic makes me just a little hesitant to review anybody else's books. You know what? My feelings are hurt by this. I've reviewed dozens of books and put those reviews on Goodreads and Amazon. What has the rest of the world done? Taken some free books, but haven't bothered to crack them open to even read the title page. Get with the program. Don't expect to take, but not bother to give the slightest effort. I've been watching this for months, maybe years. My books don't suck as much as you must believe they do. They're all short, so won't use up much of your valuable time. If you have ever reviewed any of my books, I thank you and put you in the top .0001% of good people in the world.

Abu Nuwas the Storyteller

SETARA'S GENIE #FREE June 26th-28th

US: Amazon Kindle
UK: Amazon Kindle

Storytellers: Scheherazade and Abu Nuwas

Everyone knows about Scheherazade’s 1001 Arabian Nights. What you might not know is that the stories said to be originated by the King’s wife to keep her murderous husband from killing her are almost all derived from existing folklore and fairy tales.

The main folklore derivation is Scheherazade herself. The frame story of 1001 Arabian Nights is in itself a folk tale. Various stories were added or changed throughout the years. Modern western society likes the cleaned up Disney-style telling. Sir Richard Burton translated from the Persian in the 19th Century to produce a somewhat bawdier version of many stories. Sir Richard was a remarkable character himself, but I just couldn’t work him into the book. I recommend reading about him and also perusing his translations of various works (including the Kama Sutra). Wiki can provide additional details. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Francis_Burton

Was Scheherazade a real person? Yes and no. Like Robin Hood, this storytelling queen is a legend herself and may be based on a real person. However, it’s not known for sure. Wiki has a pretty good write up on her: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheherazade

Abu Nuwas, who I have used as my story teller, was a real writer/poet in the 8th Century. While my kindly story teller is a poor man who earns a meager living with his tales, the real Abu Nuwas was quite well off and considered to be Persia’s (Iran’s) most famous poet. His reputation wasn’t sterling, and he often found himself in legal trouble. Essentially, he just couldn’t keep his mouth shut sometimes. The Encyclopedia Britannica is a good source of information on the real, and much wilder, Abu Nuwas. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/2288/Abu-Nuwas

A more detailed report is in Wiki, but is flagged as potentially unreliable. It does, however, jibe with other information I’ve read about Abu Nuwas.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Nuwas

In researching Persian and Arabic lore, I was struck by the concept of the frame story. This is the style of 1001 Arabian Nights. The story of Scheherazade provides a framework for the folkloric tales. I had originally written Setara’s adventures as individual short stories. The first two were published as chapbooks by Sam’s Dot Publishing, then as I added another five tales, all the stories were included in a single collection titled “The Seven Adventures of Cadida.” Once the book’s contract expired, I decided to rewrite the stories and include the frame story to make the whole thing flow more as a novel than a series of short stories.

Excerpt

“Oh, goodness. Look at how low the sun sinks. I’m afraid we’ll have to continue tomorrow.”

Najda made a sad face. “I know how you are. You’re just like Scheherazade leaving the story hanging to keep the sultan from killing her.”

“I have met the lady. She was quite clever that way.”

Najda’s eyes grew wide. “You’ve met Scheherazade? That’s fantastic. Where is she? What is she doing now? Does the sultan still love her?”

Abu Nuwas patted the air with his hands. “Calmly, calmly. That was many years ago. She was old; I was young. But, yes, the sultan still loved her to the moment of her death. His heart broke, and he died within days himself.” He shook his head sadly. “A tragic tale in and of itself, yet the sultana left the world with so many delightful tales.”

“She certainly did. A thousand and one stories. Do you know that many, Effendi?”

“Of course!” Abu Nuwas put his hand to his chest and bowed his head. “I know every story. Did you know that she did not make them all up?”

“No! Really! But—”

“It’s true.” He winked at Najda. “It was how she told them that made them so special. I still seek to be as good a teller of tales as she.”

“And in that tradition, you’ll tell me to go home now and come back tomorrow. Is that right?” Najda heaved a deep sigh. “I should have learned that by now.”

Abu Nuwas smiled. “You’re an adept learner, my child. Go home and take care of your mother. I’ll see you on the morrow.”

Najda stood. “Of course.” She walked away until she was hidden within the crowds bustling through the marketplace.

Abu Nuwas pushed his old bones to a stand. He had to bide his time with this tale and hope he would hear from his friend soon.

* * *

TALES OF ABU NUWAS: SETARA'S GENIE
A girl, a genie, a few demons. What could go wrong?

Abu Nuwas sits in the bazaar on his threadbare rug; a cup and sign proclaim him a teller of tales. For one small coin, he bids passers by to listen. A poor girl, Najda, sells spices from a tray. Would he, she asks, trade a tale for a packet of spice? Abu Nuwas agrees and begins the epic adventures of a girl and her genie.

As did Scheherazade before him, Abu leaves Najda hanging in the middle of each yarn to keep her coming back. Between stories, he questions the girl about her life. He discovers that she’s been promised in marriage to an old man whom she hates, but she must wed him to save her sick mother’s life. The rich bridegroom will pay for the doctors the mother needs. Meanwhile, Najda sells spices in the market to earn enough money to keep her mother alive.

He relates the adventures of the bored daughter of a rich merchant, Setara, and her genie, Basit, as they encounter the creatures of legend and folklore: a lonely cave demon seeking a home; a flying, fire-breathing horse who has lost his mate; a dragon searching for his family; an evil genie hunting for the man who put him in a lamp; and a merboy prince cast out of his undersea kingdom.

Read Arabian Nights Tales for Free

Starting at midnight Pacific Time, The Tales of Abu Nuwas: Setara's Genie will be #free at Amazon US and Amazon UK. It might already be free where you live.

Review: Somewhere Between

Somewhere Between by Patty Wiseman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars (But that's not a bad thing)
Buy at Amazon

This is a nice little paranormal/mystery. I think I'd like to have seen the main character, Phebe, as a nanny/detective. She has the curiosity and logical thinking which I'd love to see her using in multiple settings. Phebe: Nanny Detective, the series.

This isn't a lost opportunity for Patty Wiseman. She could create a new character with the personality, courage, and forthright personality going from home to home where other nannies fear to tread. I could really see her as almost a freelance paranormal problem solver. Various families are distraught since they can't keep a nanny. Why? Things that go bump in the night send the drab nannies running. This is already set up in this book. Phebe applies for the task of educating the Powell children and discovers the reason why the Powells just can't seem to keep a nanny employed.

Anyway, I see the barely sprouting seeds of a fun cozy paranormal mystery series. However, to achieve this, the author needs a lot of set up and background on Phebe and the jobs she takes on. Like Nanny McPhee or even Mary Poppins, Phebe can be such a strong woman solving problems with her wit, curiosity, and intelligence.

So, the series I'd like to see isn't quite there in this book, but there is so much potential here, I'd hate to see it go to waste with Phebe giving into the somewhat trite romance at the end. Throw caution to the winds, Patty Wiseman. You have a character here with far more potential than you've given her.

The book is a quick and moderately enjoyable read with the paranormal aspects. Read it and see if you don't think I'm right about Phebe.

Summertime Summertime Sum Sum Summertime

Summer Solstice – More Than Just the First Day of Summer

In historical terms, the Solstice is the exact point of time when the daylight outstrips the night in length. That’s hard to reckon, particularly since the exact point in time depends on where you live. Why should that be?

Take a look at model of the solar system, specifically look at earth. If it’s properly oriented, then it’s a bit tilted, not straight up and down as you might think. Stand back a bit further, and you can see the earth doesn’t travel in a circle around the sun, but in a big oval called an ellipsis.

Since the Solstice varies when it occurs (anywhere between June 20^th -23^rd), most people won’t know exactly when the earth moves from Spring to Summer. Instead, a variety of festivals from different countries and people celebrate Midsummer. Fortunately, astronomers are available to let us know exactly when the solstice occurs.

Many cultures celebrate the Summer Solstice. A few of these celebrations are: Adonia, St. John's Feast Day, Jani, Liða, Midsommar, Ivan Kupala Day, Juhannus, Mittumaari, Alban Hefin, Gwyl Ganol yr Haf, Sankthans, Jaanipäev, Keskikesä, and Rasos. Oh, my. That’s a lot of celebrating! Wherever you live, you can have a party.

Another group of professionals other than astronomers who can tell you when the solstice occurs are witches. No, not the evil witches with warts and ugly noses, but the Wiccans who inhabit my books and Galdorheim Island in the Barents Sea. This is a fictional place, but is quite close to some very real islands in the Arctic with very real people who live on them.

Midsummer for Wiccans is called Litha. Just like every people who had some means to really look at the movement of the stars and planets Well, the earth is moving, but from where we stand, it appears the stars are the ones in motion. They are, but I’d refer you to Doctor Neil DeGrasse Tyson, the narrator of the Cosmos series, for exactly what’s going on in the universe.

In the second book of my Witches of Galdorheim series, “Midnight Oil,” the exact time the Solstice occurs is crucial to the plot. The magical midnight oil is a curative required by a tribe of mutant Nenets tribespeople to heal the radiation poisoning which deformed them. It must be administered at the exact time the Solstice occurs. The year I selected had to have that event occur (somewhere in the world) at almost precisely midnight on June 20^th. Some confusion about the exact moment of the Solstice almost leads to the restorative oil to arrive late at its destination. After all, the Solstice usually occurs on the 21^st (in this century).

A lot happens to thwart my heroes from delivering the oil on time and in good condition. An evil forest spirit happens to possess the oil. But this isn’t simply a “find the magical thing and deliver it” plot. There’s a lot going on in “Midnight Oil.” A kidnapped boyfriend, mutant tribesfolk, Ajatar the forest spirit, a man who was tragically disemvoweled (lost the ability to pronounce a, e, i, o, or u and sometimes y), a witch trapped on the lost island of Atlantis with the Loch Ness monster, and, um, there’s lots more to discover in the book.

So, back to Litha, the Wiccan midsummer celebration. One of the most famous places in the world to observe the Solstice is at Stonehenge in England, but only if the Solstice occurs during daylight hours (not this year). Nevertheless, the midsummer celebrations (June 25th) take place no matter what time the Solstice actually happens. Stonehenge would be a great place to party. 

Fun thing to do: Find out when the Solstice occurs where you live (compare your local time to Greenwich Meantime).

BAD SPELLING
Audio Book 
A klutzy witch, a shaman's curse, a quest to save her family. Can Kat find her magic in time?

If you’re a witch living on a remote arctic island, and the entire island runs on magic, lacking magical skills is not just an inconvenience, it can be a matter of life and death–or, at least, a darn good reason to run away from home.

Katrina’s spells don’t just fizzle; they backfire with spectacular results, oftentimes involving green goo. A failure as a witch, Kat decides to run away and find her dead father’s non-magical family. But before she can, she stumbles onto why her magic is out of whack: a curse from a Siberian shaman.

The young witch, accompanied by her half-vampire brother, must travel to the Hall of the Mountain King and the farthest reaches of Siberia to regain her magic, dodging attacks by the shaman along the way.

MIDNIGHT OIL 
Audio Book
Shipwrecked on a legendary island, how can a witch rescue her boyfriend if she can’t even phone home?

Kat is a nervous wreck waiting for her boyfriend's first visit to her Arctic island home. He doesn't show up, so she's sure he’s given her the brushoff.

When she learns he’s disappeared, she sets out on a mission to find him. Things go wrong from the start. Kat is thrown overboard during a violent storm, while her brother and his girlfriend are captured by a mutant island tribe. The mutants hold the girlfriend hostage, demanding the teens recover the only thing that can make the mutants human again–the magical Midnight Oil.

Mustering every bit of her Wiccan magic, Kat rises to the challenge. She invokes her magical skills, learns to fly an ultralight, meets a legendary sea serpent, rescues her boyfriend, and helps a friendly air spirit win the battle against her spiteful sibling. On top of it all, she’s able to recover the Midnight Oil and help the hapless mutants in the nick of time.

SCOTCH BROOM
Audio Book
A magical trip to Stonehenge lands a witch in the Otherworld where an ancient goddess is up to no good.

Kat expects to have a great time on her graduation trip to Stonehenge. However, from the moment she leaves the witches’ arctic island, Galdorheim, she gets in nothing but trouble. Her younger half-brother tries to horn in on her trip, she gets lost in the magical Otherworld realm, is led astray by a supposed friend, then she has to confront a Scottish goddess who’s fallen on hard times.

While dodging the goddess’ minions and trying to find her way out of the Otherworld, Kat soon learns she shouldn’t underestimate the old has-been for one second; the crone still has a few tricks that can drain a witch’s magic in a flash. To make matters worse, Kat's brother secretly followed her into the Otherworld. Now he’s in danger too. Kat has to go one on one with the goddess to save herself and her brother.

BLOOD TIES TESTED
Audio Book
Unfortunate events lead a half vampire boy into indulging his vampire side, leaving him with regret and sadness. Can dear old Dad help him forgive himself?

Following the events in the series Witches of Galdorheim, this additional tale relates what happens to Katrina the Witch's younger brother, Rune. Half vampire and half warlock, he faces life with a wisecrack and some powerful magic. Whatever happens, he does not want to be a vampire like his father. Unfortunate events lead him to fatally call on his vampire half. This failure leaves him in anguish. How can he assuage the guilt he feels? His mother thinks he needs to visit dead old dad, a vampire residing in the Tatras Mountains of Slovakia.

SPELLSLINGER (Prequel Story)
Audio Book
What does a teenage half-warlock, half-vampire do to have fun? Why build an old west town on a glacier in the Arctic. There he can play at being the good guy sheriff up against mean old Black Bart.

That things will go horribly wrong is a given. But how does Rune get into and out of the predicament?

This prequel story to the Witches of Galdorheim series gives the reader a chance to get to know the smart-aleck kid, Rune, before he got his magic down pat.

Faizah's Destiny Audition

Enjoy this sample of the audio book The Tales of Abu Nuwas 2: Faizah's Destiny.

 

Setara's Genie Audition

Hear ye! The exciting tales of Setara and her not-so-helpful genie, Basit.

 

The Voice of Abu Nuwas

The narrator for both Abu Nuwas books is a gentleman with a terrific knack for accents. When I heard Chiquito's audition, I knew he was the perfect Abu Nuwas.

Here's a taste of Abu Nuwas, I mean Chiquito Joaquim Crasto. He's available as a producer/narrator on ACX, Amazon's audio production site. His name is linked to his page in ACX, but you can't have him until my books are finished.

New Audio Books Coming Soon 2

A couple of days ago, I re-introduced "The Tales of Abu Nuwas: Setara's Genie" by posting the book trailer.

The reason for the re-intro is because this book and its companion, "Faizah's Destiny" will soon be released in audio book format. The narrator, Chiquito Joaquim Crasto, is hard at work talking and editing both books simultaneously! What a great narrator he is portraying the old story teller, Abu Nuwas, who plies his tales in the bazaar for a coin or two.

Here's the book trailer for the 2nd of the two Abu Nuwas stories.

THE TALES OF ABU NUWAS 2: FAIZAH'S DESTINY
The gods are at war and only a farmer’s daughter can save the world from Armageddon. 

The village magician has gone missing. His four pupils think he has left a clue to his whereabouts in the Magicalis Bestialis--the book of magical creatures. They must seek the help of the elusive Simurgh, the mythical birds who know all the secrets of the universe.

However, this is not an easy camping trip into the mountains. Spirits, gods, and demons confront the four friends, who are not aware they’re being set up by otherworldly forces for a much larger task.

A farmer’s daughter, Faizah is chosen to lead the humans in the battle. She must persuade a slave, an orphan, and a rich merchant’s son to join in the battle on the side of good. Although divided by Dev, the evil god of war, the teens must band together to find the Simurgh, rescue their teacher, and stave off Armageddon.

New Audio Books Coming Soon

A bit of fill-in here as I wait for the new audio books production and release. The two books are being narrated by Chiquito Joaquim Crastro. The books are a set of Arabian Nights style stories as narrated by Abu Nuwas, an elderly story teller who sits on a rug in a bazaar offering his stories for ... well, whatever the market will bear.

I thought it would be nice to put up a billboard (this blog post) notice these audio books are in production and coming out in July (probably). I thought a nice intro to the two book series "Tales of Abu Nuwas" would be to show you the lovely book trailers I created. I'll do them one at a time.

THE TALES OF ABU NUWAS 1 - SETARA'S GENIE
A girl, a genie, a few demons. What could go wrong? 

Abu Nuwas sits in the bazaar on his threadbare rug; a cup and sign proclaim him a teller of tales. For one small coin, he bids passers by to listen. A poor girl, Najda, sells spices from a tray. Would he, she asks, trade a tale for a packet of spice? Abu Nuwas agrees and begins the epic adventures of a girl and her genie. 

As did Scheherazade before him, Abu leaves Najda hanging in the middle of each yarn to keep her coming back. Between stories, he questions the girl about her life. He discovers that she’s been promised in marriage to an old man whom she hates, but she must wed him to save her sick mother’s life. The rich bridegroom will pay for the doctors the mother needs. Meanwhile, Najda sells spices in the market to earn enough money to keep her mother alive.

He relates the adventures of Setara, the bored daughter of a rich merchant, and her genie, Basit, as they encounter the creatures of legend and folklore: a lonely cave demon seeking a home; a flying, fire-breathing horse who has lost his mate; a dragon searching for his family; an evil genie hunting for the man who put him in a lamp; and a merboy prince cast out of his undersea kingdom.

Review: A Gathering of Rebels (Parts 1 and 2)

A Gathering of Rebels (1): Volume 1 by D.L. Keur writing as Aeros
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Buy on Amazon

This is complex science fiction, but with plenty of space battles and action. Good for hardcore SF readers, who prefer their SF without too much R.

My only complaint is the similarity of names for some characters. I'd think "why's he doing that?" only to discover I was think it was a different person. Once I got into the rhythm of the names, it got easier to follow the plot.

Since this story continues into Volume 2, I'll make further comments in that review.

A Gathering of Rebels (2): Volume 2 by D.L. Keur writing as Aeros
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Buy on Amazon

What if an alien wrote a novel based on their own world, leaving it behind on some abandoned moon of some planet going around a star which can't be seen from Earth?

Say, some future explorers discover the manuscript and find a way to translate it into English, but leave the alien style intact.

It wouldn't be surprising if it read a lot like "A Gathering of Rebels," volumes 1 and 2.

This is what struck me most about this hard scifi 2-volume epic. I feel its alienness while still being able to understand the motives, actions, and feelings of the characters. It will always be not human.

That's what makes this a unique book in my experience. It's as fascinating as finding ancient writings which were only translated by the discovery of the Rosetta Stone.

Don't start reading if you don't want to think hard about what's here unless you're from the universe explored in these volumes.

Just a note: Volume 2 is not a sequel, but a continuation of the story begun in volume 1. I think the two volumes could be combined in ebook format now, but were in separate volumes originally because of the length limitations on deadwood books.

Promo Coupons for Audio Books!

PROMO COUPONS AVAILABLE! NO NEED TO JOIN AUDIBLE. JUST REDEEM THE COUPON AND PICK YOUR FREE BOOK.

How do you get this terrific deal? you ask. Simple easy. Ask me. You can do that by using any of my contact sites. Some have message capability, some don't. I recommend my Facebook page, this blog, or Twitter as the most direct.

Where to Find Me Multi-Purpose Link Page

If you don't want a coupon, but are considering joining Audible, click any of the following to get the audio book free when you sign up for a free trial of audible. Don't want to continue? Just cancel at the end of the month, but you still have the free audio book to enjoy. 

Free when you subscribe to Audible:
Free audio book of Spellslinger
Free audio book of Bad Spelling
Free audio book of Midnight Oil
Free audio book of Scotch Broom
Free audio book of Blood Ties Tested
Free mystery Missing, Assumed Dead 

Free humorous stories Tales of a Texas Boy

See all my audio books on audible.com

Review: Murder is a Family Business

Murder is a Family Business by Heather Haven
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I first read this book when it was freshly released. I thought I'd re-run this review to introduce the Alvarez family to fans of cozy mysteries. No little old ladies however. Lee is young, smart, a sharp dresser, and has a family with skills in the detecting business. Enjoy.

My Review Starts Here:

This is a nice introduction to a family of private detectives. True, they're supposed to be in the business of investigating corporate theft and other ethically challenged business practices.

However, Lee has been set the task of tailing on her mother's (the agency boss) friend's husband because the wife is suspicious that he's having an affair. Lee finds herself sitting on a dock in San Francisco in a driving rainstorm, getting soaked to the skin, and she can't even see her quarry in a dilapidated warehouse. What the heck would a warehouse have to do with a man philandering on his wife? Lee loses contact with the man, but finds a lost kitten. To me, far better to take the kitty home then to hang out trying to track the man's supposed extramarital affairs.

Lee returns the next day to check out the warehouse and finds the man dead, shot three times in the chest.

Okay, Lee is now hip-deep in a murder, somewhere the family agency didn't want to be. Lee is persistent, however (an annoying characteristic according to her mom) and just has to find out why the man is dead and whodunit.

The clues pile up while Lee investigates, leaving the kitten to the care of her tio (uncle) while she tries to figure out why the man is dead.

Okay, enough plot because this is just the beginning as Haven stacks up a lot of clues and hints and puts Lee is dire danger.

All in all a nicely done suspense/mystery. The only complaint I have is that a section set in a hospital goes on too long for my taste. There. I said something negative so you know I am really giving an honest assessment.

I definitely enjoyed this book and I look forward to the continuing adventures of the Alvarez family detective agency.