Wanted to remind everyone that today I have two radio interviews that you can listen to and call in if you feel the need (and I hope you do). The information is as follows:

June 30th, 2011

What: Radio Interview with Ms. Bernadine Feagins
When: June 30th, 2011 at 1 PM Eastern Time/12 PM Central
Where: Online
Call in number: 619-789-4307

What: Radio Interview with Ms. LaSean Shelton (Mz. Optimizm)
When: June 30th, 2011 at 9 PM Eastern Time/8 PM Central
Where: Online
Call in number: 646-915-9408

Hope you guys and gals tune in! Thanks for the support.

Ben.

Madeleine is one of my friends on Twitter (follow her at www.twitter.com/madeleinecook ) and I was looking around her site today and stumbled across an entry on her page that I really liked. I tweeted her and asked for her permission to repost it on my site and she agreed so here it is. Find this and other postings on her site by visiting http://www.misscookblogs.wordpress.com :

" Just Know...
that a writer is all I want to be. Writing is all I want to do. The thing is I sometimes feel so young, like, nineteen or whatever, and I wonder if people think I’m too young to know what I want to do for the rest of my life. The thing is I know my experience of life is limited, as is my vocabulary, but what am I supposed to do? Not write until I hit 25 in hope that by THEN I’ll have enough “experience” and I’ll be able to write as good as other writers out there?

I want to represent young writers, and I want to prove that no matter how old you are, if you have a talent you will be noticed. I write with all the experience I have. I’m not saying that I have talent or that I’m any good, but if you don’t tell yourself or believe you have what it takes, you’re never going to get anywhere!!

So here I am, working at Millie’s Cookies, writing when I can, and dreaming that someday I’ll get noticed and will be able to share my stories with the world."

This is pretty much my life as well, granted I'm a few years older than Madeleine. Us writers work a "normal" 9 to 5 by day and then spend our evenings and nights working on what we really want to do - emptying out our imagination onto a page and hoping that the world will take notice of us.

Good post Madeleine and thanks again for the permission to post this!

When's the last time you wrote a letter? Not emailed, texted, Skyped, Facebooked or Tweeted someone but actually put a pen or pencil to paper and wrote your thoughts down? Been that long, huh?

The art of actually writing a letter is on the verge of extinction due to technological "advances," some of which I mentioned above, but, in my humble opinion, there is nothing better than writing a letter to someone and/or receiving a letter from someone. I mean, think about it, you can send out a text/tweet/email/Facebook update to a million people at one time and only takes the minimalist of thought behind it.

A letter, on the other hand, is a personal experience and actually involves "work": finding paper, taking the time to gather your thoughts, putting the letter in an envelope, finding a stamp and then dropping it off in the mailbox. Those acts are infinitely longer than the time it takes to send a text but the payoff is much more impactful.

Case in point: my best friend lives in Michigan which is close to a million miles away from me here in Texas. We talk on the phone a lot (and occasionally via email or text) but, every now and then, I take the time to write him a letter and, as holidays dictate, send him a card in the mail. Why do I do that you ask? Other than the fact that I'm a writer and that I like to see words on paper, I know how HAPPY it makes HIM to receive something in the mail from him. I can hear it in his voice when he calls telling me that he got my letter or card and how he's gonna frame my letter and keep the Father's Day card I sent him up for a year. I'm sure he's exaggerating a bit but I know he's genuinely happy to receive it and that, in turn, makes me happy.

So, I challenge you dear readers of my blog, over the next few days, think of someone that you haven't written a letter to in a while (could be a friend, your grandma, sister, brother, whoever) and buy them a card or write them a letter. It doesn't have to be something long; it could simply say "I love you" or "Thinking about you."

You'd be surprised at how happy it makes both you and them!

Dark Matter Heart by writer and filmmaker Nathan Wrann is a delightful and quick read.

The book opens with our lead protaganist, a young teenager named Cor Griffin who has moved to the Pacific Northwest from Los Angeles in the hopes of controlling his "allergies" as well as to escape some other issues that he may or may not have been a part of (I will not spoil that for you). All Cor wants is to make it through high school and be as invisible as possible - no new friends, no sports; just getting through and moving on.

Of course that doesn't happen or else it would have been a very short and uninspiring book. Cor meets a new friend and, as is usually the case in life, he finds a girl that catches his eye and his heart.

All is not well as Cor also catches the eye of a man called The Creeper who, to again avoid spoiling things, makes Cor's life "difficult" to say the least.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The story, though dealing with vampires, isn't your usual vampire tale and don't think that just because it involves teenagers that it's going to be on some Twilight stuff because it isn't (which is a GOOD thing).

Highly recommended and I look forward to the next volume in this series.

Find more on Mr. Wrann and this book by visiting any one (or all) of the below links:

Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/DMHKindle
Barnes & Noble nook: http://bit.ly/DMHnook
iTunes Bookstore: http://bit.ly/DMHitunes
Smashwords: http://bit.ly/DMHsmash

Trade Paperback:
Createspace: http://bit.ly/DMHcsp

Contact:
Nathan Wrann
nw@daltongangpress.com
http://www.daltongangpress.com
http://www.twitter.com/nathanwrann
http://nwrann.tumblr.com

Please prepare your eyes to be stunned! The new trailer for the H.U.B. series, created by my wonderful friends at Dark Media City (PLEASE visit their site at www.darkmediacity.com ) is truly epic. Check it out and let me know your thoughts!

Avid readers of my site will know that I have reviewed each of the H.U.B novels are they are written. As it’s now time for H.U.B Volume 3 I’m sure you of course knew I’d be reviewing it sooner or later and giving my view on the continuing struggles between the Vampire Nation and the human race.

The third book starts showing that the tensions between the vampires and humans are growing. Attacks on humans are growing but also attacks on vampire from the humans are building up too. To add to the problems there are also tensions between vampires too as there are issues between “pure” vampires and vampires that were once human. It’s all tension building up which of course all lead up to that one event that some are looking for, that “tipping point” that will send both races into a war to decide just who will take control.

What interests me in this novel is how intelligent the idea of the “tipping point” really is. From the hinting of such a thing to the eventual event we know is coming the story does not rush into pushing the reader into the event but actually takes it time and creates a scenario for it to happen. Where some stories would almost trivialise such event this story as a whole (over not just this novel but the series itself) is working towards something big, something big enough to create an event that at this point now feels like it will be World War 3. We have the vampires, some happy to live with the humans in peace, some who want to control them like “cattle” and then you have the humans. Just as with the vampires some humans just want to live in peace together, but others want to eradicate the threat of the vampire and they will do it by all means. The main tension between the two races is that of anger and fear.

The vampire does not feel fear just anger, but they can be galvanised into a full force by a forceful act by the humans, something to really create that anger within them. With humans they are driven by fear and they can be manipulated by it, and this fear can be created by the anger of others; both human and vampire. This is how they are manipulated in this novel as the positions of power change from neutrality to aggression in the issue of the vampire. All it takes is one event to push both fear and anger.

This book, even though it is slow at times really creates a good build up to the event that will (I am assuming will lead to the war). When the actual event does occur the slowness of the build up is forgiven as you read the words on the page and wonder how people could be so stupid to do what they do, how can they fall into the trap of total naivety of their actions which mirror events in the real world. I was impressed at the way the novel handled what is quite a complicated idea really and look forward to the next part of the story.

Read the review from the source by clicking HERE.

Thanks Paul and everyone at Pissedoffgeek.com for the support and another wonderful review.

Attached is the first two chapters of my upcoming novel entitled Head Above Water, my take on the classic romance story but taken with a twist. This novel has been around for a minute, way before H.U.B., so I'm curious to get reactions from those that have read H.U.B. to see what they think of this as they are slightly different stories. LOL

Enjoy and be sure to let me know your thoughts!

This blog is written in support of my writing pal Reena Jacobs. Check it out and support if you feel the urge (and I hope you do).

I've been rambling about I Loved You First for the past few weeks. I'm not ashamed to say, I'm totally digging this novella. If you've seen enough of it, sorry in advance. If you're new to this work, check it:

A little about I Loved You First: My best friend was more than just a best friend to me. Three words summed it up: I heart him. I’d never tell him though. I wasn’t stupid. Besides, what he’d told no one, but me, was a little something I wished I could forget… or ignore. He was gay. I guess gay wouldn’t be bad if I wasn’t so in love with him. Now it was just cruel.

Stereotypes run amok in this college love story: Parties, alcohol, hookups, and breakups. Alexandria Carmichael may find it a bit much as she deals with the unreturned love from the boy who completes her. When all is revealed, not only does she risk losing her best friend forever, but also herself. Without her childhood companion for support, Alexandria takes a journey of self-discovery but fears what she’ll find at the end.

For those looking for a new pitch, great news! I finally put up the first chapter on my blog. Read it, Love it, add it to your Goodreads List. Wait, that was rather bossy... Pretty please. :)

Here's the thing, my good people. I'm gearing up for a Kickstarter campaign to defray some of my publishing expenses. My goal is to launch Friday, sooner if possible. I just have a few things to take care of.

Right now, I'm waiting for the voice over for the simple trailer I created, plus I need to get dressed sometime in the next day or two to create a video pitch. When I say dressed, I mean more than stealing a pair of my husband's long johns and an old t-shirt. Then I need to splice everything together. Apparently the Kickstarter link isn't live until I launch. When it does go live, you can find it here.  Until then, I thought I'd tease you all with the pledge rewards.

Pledge $1 or more My heartfelt gratitude for pushing the project one step closer to the funding goal.

Pledge $10 or more Digital ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of I Loved You First - PLUS - mention on my website with optional link for backers who have a website or blog

Pledge $25 or more (US Only) Everything at the $10 pledge - PLUS - a print copy of I Loved You First // (International) Please add $10 // *Will send an additional unsigned print copy for $10 (US) and $15 (International)

Pledge $50 or more LIMITED REWARD     20 backers (US & Canada only) Everything at the $10 pledge - PLUS - first print, hand numbered (x of 50) signed copy of I Loved You First personalized with a handwritten note of your choice (up to 25 words) - PLUS - name mentioned in the back acknowledgements // (International) Please add $10 // *Will send an additional unsigned print copy for $10 (US) and $15 (International)

Pledge $75 or more LIMITED REWARD     15 backers Everything at the $50 pledge - PLUS - a print copy of my back issue Shadow Cat // *Will send an additional unsigned copy of Shadow Cat for $10 (US) and $15 (International)

Pledge $100 or more LIMITED REWARD     10 backers Everything at the $50 pledge except a mention in the back acknowledgements - PLUS - Special Thanks in front of the book - PLUS - a signed copy of my back issue Shadow Cat personalized with a handwritten note of your choice (up to 25 words) // *Will send an additional unsigned copy of Shadow Cat for $10 (US) and $15 (International)

Pledge $175 or more LIMITED REWARD     5 backer Everything at the $100 pledge - PLUS - I'll critique 5,000 words or less of your manuscript. // This reward is awesome for up and coming authors as well as established authors needing an extra person to look over their work. I have a critical eye, so be sure to wear your big kid's pants. As a special bonus each critique comes with my disclaimer: I critique as I read. I try to be thorough, so if you see a lot of comments, just know it's my style and not your writing. And above all, my opinions are just opinions. Others may feel differently. It's up to you to decide what to use and what to ditch. :) // And will end with my trademark comment: Keep or trash whatever works for you. // If you're interested in viewing my critiquing style, I encourage you to head to Scribophile and take a look: http://www.scribophile.com/authors/reena-jacobs/critiques/

********

Something interesting my buddies might not realize. I've never sent out a signed copy of ANYTHING... not even Shadow Cat. So though it won't be a first print for Shadow Cat, know you'll have one of the few signed copies out there. :) I'm a typist and avoid handwriting as often as possible. Already I imagine my hands cramping. haha Signed copies will forever be a rare occurrence for me.

Drama... Another Man's Girl by author Sydney Little was brought to my attention when I received an email from her asking if I would review it. Of course I said yes - I never turn down a free book - and it was then mailed to me and here we are.

As the title suggests, there is a lot of drama. The story centers around a young woman named Chass and the two men who she ends up being involved in the middle of - her wealthy workaholic boyfriend named El and an even wealthier man named Shane who is balancing the line between going legit and staying in the streets.

To be honest, I've never been a big fan of urban/street fiction as I always felt that, by its very nature, it limited itself in regards to the audience it attracts. As a writer I want my work to appeal to as many people as possible and, when every other sentence is peppered with "n**ga this" and "motherf**ker that" it takes something for me. But, I understand that some people are okay with that and that's cool; I am not one to judge one's taste.

Having said that, Drama...Another Man's Girl has it's moments. The erotic/hotness factor is through the roof when it comes to chapters dealing with sex. There were some twists that I didn't see coming that added to the overall satisfaction of the book, especially dealing with Chass' best friend and the teaser for the sequel more than made up for any shortcomings that I felt the book had.

Character wise, I found it hard to relate to them most of the time which kind of made me not care for them very much. This may not be a problem for some people but, for me, that was an issue of mine. Some of the things that the characters did seemed kind of unbelievable to me but that's a small grievance of mine. It took me a while to REALLY get into it; at first I had to more or less force myself to read it but, as the story  progressed, I started reading faster as I did want to know what was going to happen.

Overall, I'm not disappointed in the book but I'm not overly blown away by it. I feel that it's very solid and I'm looking forward to reading the sequel because this book ends with a SERIOUS cliffhanger. Mrs. Lyttle is a very talented writer and those talents will only continue to flourish as she goes on.

3 out of 5 stars.

Post to unveil the brand new cover for H.U.B. Volume 3: The Tipping Point. Interested to get everyone's thoughts on it! Let me know what you think.

H.U.B. Volume 3: The Tipping Point arrives 9.10.11!