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September 1, 2011
Another Goodreads Giveaway
This giveaway ends September 8, 2011, for 1 signed, paperback copy of my book.
August 31, 2011
Beginning, Middle, and End Blogfest!
As with J. A. Bennett, I couldn't resist and had to join in the fun of this blogfest by Kate Larkindale. In this exercise, you post the opening, middle and ending paragraph of your novel. Here are those paragraphs in INSIGHT. Enjoy! (Don't worry... no spoilers here)
The Beginning
Gil wiped the blood from his dagger, then joined his four comrades around their small fire. “Keep your voices down, Rayders. Have you forgotten why we have traveled so far?”
The Middle
A sharp pain in his ribs startled Lon out of sleep. It was still dark, but enough light crept through the stable doorway to reveal a man standing over him with a staff pointed at his chest. Surprised, Lon swept his leg under the intruder’s, knocking him to the ground with a thud. Lon grabbed the staff, jumped on top of his attacker, and pressed the staff against the man’s throat.
The End
“The balance of the world’s energy has shifted, Mellai,” Llen replied. “Appernysia needs you.”
August 26, 2011
UK Interview
If you're looking for a bit of light reading, take a moment to read through my interview with Sandra "Jeanz", a very proactive interviewer/reviewer in the UK.
http://jeanzbookreadnreview.blogspot.com/2011/08/author-interview-terron-james.html
http://jeanzbookreadnreview.blogspot.com/2011/08/author-interview-terron-james.html
August 22, 2011
5 Free Copies on August 31!
5 free copies of BEHOLDERS: INSIGHT will be given away on August 31, 2011. If you have a Goodreads account, click on the link below to enter the contest.
Great news!! (mostly)
I know a man named Clay. He has a junior-high-aged son who hates reading. This is a scenario with which I'm all too familiar and is one of the main driving reasons I decided to write BEHOLDERS in the first place. I wanted to give our youth a good reason to start/continue reading.
Clay took my challenge and bought a copy of BEHOLDERS: INSIGHT a couple weeks ago. I just found out that Clay's son was put in detention for reading my book during class lecture time. Apparently his son was openly reading it on the desk, so the teacher asked him to put the book away. A few minutes later, the teacher caught him reading the book under his desk and gave him detention.
Not exactly what I was going for, but I'm glad his son finally found a book that caught his attention! :)
Clay took my challenge and bought a copy of BEHOLDERS: INSIGHT a couple weeks ago. I just found out that Clay's son was put in detention for reading my book during class lecture time. Apparently his son was openly reading it on the desk, so the teacher asked him to put the book away. A few minutes later, the teacher caught him reading the book under his desk and gave him detention.
Not exactly what I was going for, but I'm glad his son finally found a book that caught his attention! :)
August 16, 2011
Irony of Modern "Communication"
I've had this thought rummaging around in my head for a few years now, so I've finally decided to do a blog post about it to see if I can make it go away. I have my doubts writing about it will relieve my stress, but here I go anyway.
Think about the evolution of communication over the past few hundred years. It used to take months of perilous travel across the ocean to send a letter to distant continents. Even upon dry land, communication was slow and dangerous. The Pony Express opened in the United States in 1860. It was a connecting chain of stations where men carried messages across the country via horseback. It took only 10 days to carry a message 1,900 miles, but it was far from safe for the couriers. Frequent attacks from outlaws and indians plagued the horse stations and riders.
Communication used to take a long time, often at great sacrifices.
Now think of today. Nearly everyone is carrying a cell phone. It is possible to communicate almost anywhere in the world in a manner of minutes through email. No more telegrams, no more Morse Code, no more men sacrificing their lives so that you can say hi to your grandma.
You would think that so much technology at our fingertips should make communication easier, but such is not the case. In fact, I believe communication is FAR worse now than it was even 20 years ago. As with everything else in life, people have become so accustomed to their conveniences that they have forgotten their manners.
Let me pose a fictional scenario...
"Hi, sis. I just heard mom is in the hospital. Please call me back and tell what happened." Sister doesn't call back... so what does that mean? Mom's dead? Mom's alive?
Of course the sister should call back and give an update. Even a text would do. I think most of us understand this. I bring it up as an exaggerated example to make a point. Some information we just can't find ourselves. We need a phone call.
No answer is NOT an answer!!!
Why is it that you can send a person 1,000 texts about something like Harry Potter or Twilight and they'll write back immediately, but when you send a text asking for a favor or for information, it takes days to respond (if you get a response at all)? I don't want to hear the "Oh, sorry! I didn't get your message," excuse anymore. I've heard it so many times that I could throw up.
Also, a hex upon caller ID and all its bi-products. It used to be about avoiding marketers, but not anymore. That excuse is WAY outdated. I feel confident saying that 99 out of 100 screened calls are not marketers. Are we really that selfish? Do we realize how egotistical we appear when we refuse to communicate with people?
I could go on and on and on about this, but I believe my point is made. The sad thing is, I see no way of fixing it. However, to those who feel the same way as I do, rest assured that all communication to me is answered at my earliest opportunity. I refuse to give in.
Think about the evolution of communication over the past few hundred years. It used to take months of perilous travel across the ocean to send a letter to distant continents. Even upon dry land, communication was slow and dangerous. The Pony Express opened in the United States in 1860. It was a connecting chain of stations where men carried messages across the country via horseback. It took only 10 days to carry a message 1,900 miles, but it was far from safe for the couriers. Frequent attacks from outlaws and indians plagued the horse stations and riders.
Communication used to take a long time, often at great sacrifices.
Now think of today. Nearly everyone is carrying a cell phone. It is possible to communicate almost anywhere in the world in a manner of minutes through email. No more telegrams, no more Morse Code, no more men sacrificing their lives so that you can say hi to your grandma.
You would think that so much technology at our fingertips should make communication easier, but such is not the case. In fact, I believe communication is FAR worse now than it was even 20 years ago. As with everything else in life, people have become so accustomed to their conveniences that they have forgotten their manners.
Let me pose a fictional scenario...
"Hi, sis. I just heard mom is in the hospital. Please call me back and tell what happened." Sister doesn't call back... so what does that mean? Mom's dead? Mom's alive?
Of course the sister should call back and give an update. Even a text would do. I think most of us understand this. I bring it up as an exaggerated example to make a point. Some information we just can't find ourselves. We need a phone call.
No answer is NOT an answer!!!
Why is it that you can send a person 1,000 texts about something like Harry Potter or Twilight and they'll write back immediately, but when you send a text asking for a favor or for information, it takes days to respond (if you get a response at all)? I don't want to hear the "Oh, sorry! I didn't get your message," excuse anymore. I've heard it so many times that I could throw up.
Also, a hex upon caller ID and all its bi-products. It used to be about avoiding marketers, but not anymore. That excuse is WAY outdated. I feel confident saying that 99 out of 100 screened calls are not marketers. Are we really that selfish? Do we realize how egotistical we appear when we refuse to communicate with people?
I could go on and on and on about this, but I believe my point is made. The sad thing is, I see no way of fixing it. However, to those who feel the same way as I do, rest assured that all communication to me is answered at my earliest opportunity. I refuse to give in.
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