Banal by Vincent Zandri
Published by: Bear Media
Publication Date: June 9, 2012
ASIN: B008ADGPT4
File size: 91 KB
Review Copy from: Author
Edition: Kindle
My Rating: 4

Synopsis:
Is a writer suffering from a never ending bout of writer’s block capable of murder? Or is he simply bored with his life? In this previously published short story by bestselling noir author, Vincent Zandri, a writer commits the ultimate act of destruction to a neighbor and friend if only to finally uncover the one story he needs to write himself out of his troubles. But then, not all murders are what they appear to be. Nor are all stories.

My Thoughts and Opinion:
If you are a regular follower of my blog, you know that Vincent Zandri is my Number 1 author of mystery. My thoughts on his writing is that he is abundantly talented and has a gift. Each book, once you pick it up, have no clue where it is going to take you. Each book has a slightly different tone and writing style, so his books, in my opinion are unique. You won’t get the “same ole, same ole”.

Banal, a digital short story, is a psychological thriller that is fully packed with an intense descriptive narrative within it’s few pages. The setting and characters brought to life with the author’s depiction and presentation. What amazed me, was that I was able to create such a vivid imagery, due to the writing style, within those few pages. The plot, deep, dark and chilling, again within only several pages. The story line and conclusion had me shaking my head as to the interpretation. Not only did the author pen a calculated psychological tale, but he also, in his creative style, played the reader in a cognitive manner as to what exactly transpired in those few short pages. What was imaginary and/or real. But in true Zandri style, the author leaves the reader wanting more of his work!! Another phenomenal and brilliant piece of literary work!! He is the master of his craft!! Incredible!! A profound read!!

(2012 Challenges: EBook, FreeReads, A-Z, 52 in 52, Outdo Yourself, 100+)

I have seen this book all over cyberland, as I am sure you have too.  That’s why today you are in for a treat.  The author is stopping by to tell us about her book.  I ask that you please help me in welcoming Ms. Laurie Frankel to our group.

LAURIE FRANKEL

Laurie Frankel lives in Seattle with her husband, her three-year-old son, her border collie, and many, many books. She’s an East coaster originally, a fact people often guess before she’s even opened her mouth. Her second novel, Goodbye For Now, comes out August 2012 in the U.S. The film has been optioned and translation rights have sold in 25 countries. Laurie was just named one of ten women to watch in 2012. She is a proud core member of the Seattle7Writers. Her first novel, The Atlas of Love, came out in August 2010, so August seems to be her month. Until last June, she was teaching writing, literature, and gender studies at the college level. Now she is thrilled, honored, grateful, and occasionally terrified to be writing full-time. It’s quite something.
Connect with Ms. Frankel at her website, Facebook and Twitter.

GUEST POST

I’m never sure whether people will be more interested to hear about the book or its author. As the author, I’m pretty qualified to talk about both, but neither one is as easy as it sounds like it should be. It’s hard to talk about yourself, first off because it’s unseemly to appear so self-satisfied and boastful but also because it’s hard to know where to start: I know a lot about myself. But it’s tough to talk about the book too. I know a lot about that as well having thought about little else for quite a while here. And I was an English teacher for a long time — I’m better at asking questions about books than I am at giving out answers. So here’s a little bit of both — me and the book and how it came to be.

I am a novelist, in Seattle now with my husband and my three-year-old and my border collie, but I’m an East Coaster in the first place. I taught college for a dozen-ish years — writing (fiction, playwriting, rhetoric), literature, and gender studies. I wrote my first novel, THE ATLAS OF LOVE, while teaching full-time. It took a while. I wrote my second novel, GOODBYE FOR NOW, much more quickly because I’d left my day job. Being a full-time writer is wonderful. And terrifying.

GOODBYE FOR NOW is the story of Sam Elling, a software engineer who invents a way for people to email — and later video chat — with their dead loved ones. He creates an algorithm that can make a projection of a person based on their electronic archive: all their old emails and Facebook posts and tweets and video chats. It’s also a love story. I wrote it because it seems so logical to me that this technology should exist. So much of our lives are lived online, so many of our relationships exist primarily on Facebook and other social media sites. I started to ask myself: if the person went away but the online presence stayed, what exactly would the difference be?

My grandmother and I were very close. And we emailed each other a lot. After she died, I just wanted more emails from her. And I thought they could be so convincingly and easily faked, I was amazed that no one had invented that service yet, but since no one else had, I did, and since I’m a writer and not a software engineer, I did it in novel form.

One of the best things about the book is it’s about blogs and social media, connecting online and virtual technologies, so I’m looking especially forward to connecting with readers through those mediums. Welcome — it’s great to meet you, however electronically.

ABOUT THE BOOK

In the spirit of ONE DAY, comes a fresh and warmhearted love story for the 21st century. Sometimes the end is just the beginning . . .

Sam Elling works for an internet dating company, but he still can’t get a date. So he creates an algorithm that will match you with your soul mate. Sam meets the love of his life, a coworker named Meredith, but he also gets fired when the company starts losing all their customers to Mr. and Ms. Right.

When Meredith’s grandmother, Livvie, dies suddenly, Sam uses his ample free time to create a computer program that will allow Meredith to have one last conversation with her grandmother. Mining from all her correspondence—email, Facebook, Skype, texts—Sam constructs a computer simulation of Livvie who can respond to email or video chat just as if she were still alive. It’s not supernatural, it’s computer science.

Meredith loves it, and the couple begins to wonder if this is something that could help more people through their grief. And thus, the company RePose is born. The business takes off, but for every person who just wants to say good-bye, there is someone who can’t let go.

In the meantime, Sam and Meredith’s affection for one another deepens into the kind of love that once tasted, you can’t live without. But what if one of them suddenly had to? This entertaining novel, delivers a charming and bittersweet romance as well as a lump in the throat exploration of the nature of love, loss, and life (both real and computer simulated). Maybe nothing was meant to last forever, but then again, sometimes love takes on a life of its own.

THANKS TO ANDREW and DOUBLEDAY BOOKS, I HAVE
THREE (3) COPIES OF THIS BOOK TO GIVE AWAY.

CLICK HERE TO BRING YOU TO THE GIVEAWAY
ENTRY PAGE. U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY.

DISCLAIMER
No items that I receive
are ever sold…they are kept by me,
or given to family and/or friends.

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 COMPUTERS WILL AND/OR COULD HAVE THE

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**HONOR SYSTEM**
ONE WINNING BOOK PER HOUSEHOLD
PLEASE NOTIFY ME IF YOU HAVE
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HAVE THE CHANCE TO WIN
AND READ THIS BOOK.
THANK YOU.

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Hi All:  
You may have noticed a couple of changes on my blog lately, and if not, I would like to bring it to your attention and give those responsible, the credit they deserve.   Change is good, right?  I would love to hear what you think and then I have a huge question to ask and would like your honest opinion.

First, you may have seen a different format for my reviews.  I have to thank Diane from Bibliophile By The Sea.  I had visited her one day and saw her format and thought it was such a clean crisp look to her reviews.  I emailed her and told her what I thought and asked for her permission if I could borrow her format with some modifications.  She generously said yes.  Thank you Diane!

Another change that has been implemented, by my computer angel, Gina from Hott Books, has installed a calendar on the left sidebar.  If you hover over a day, that is highlighted in green, you will see what events are upcoming, such as Guest Authors and giveaways.  She also designed my color templates for the new book reviews.  Thank you Gina!!   She is awesome with blog designs, so if you are thinking of a new look or switching to wp, check out her design site here.

Talking about designs, I have been contemplating if I should go with a different header/look since I have had this one for almost 2 years.  What do you think?  Yes? No?  Would love to hear since you are the one that looks at it.  All comments welcomed!

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
*Grab your current read
*Open to a random page
*Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
*BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
*Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

  Once upon a time, in the dark obscurity of a mid-winter morning, a writer walked away from his writing room and slipped outside by way of the back door. He was about to commit a murder.
He was in search of a story.
He left home, but not for good.

First three opening sentences.

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

Today’s muse:
What is the longest book you have ever read? How long did it take you to read it?

My response:
To be honest, I can’t remember.  It must have been one that was mandatory reading in HS because, what I do remember, is that I bought Cliff Notes on a couple of occasions. I do have quirks with books greater than 300+ pages.  I’m sure it’s mind over matter and recently did read a book that was 438 pages that proved me wrong.  I start to think anything greater than 300 will take me so much more time to read, taking away time from other books.  Or what if I invest all that time and it turns out to be a soso book?

The book that proved me wrong was Love Thy Neighbor by Mark Gilleo, a book I read for a tour I booked through Partners In Crime Tours.  You can see my review here.  It proved me wrong on so many levels.  I remember thinking it had 3 strikes when I picked it up, one being 438 pages, a storyline about terrorism (not high on my list) and a debut novel.  The publisher did tell me he was “very excited about this book” so I hunkered down for a very long read.  However, the plot was page turning, the debut read like it was written by a seasoned author and the 438 pages….thinking it would take me weeks to read…..turned out that I read it in a couple of days because I couldn’t put it down.  Even though this book proved me wrong, I have since received some review books that are >350 pages and that little quirk is still present.

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June is being hosted by Alternative Read

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia of A girl and her books and is now on tour.

According to Marcia, “Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.”
Click on text below for more information via IndieBound.

        The Hachette Book Group            Sapphire Star Publishing

                                

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Welcome Saloners!!  Another week has quickly flown by,  at least it felt that way to me.    Matter of fact, I just checked my calendar to reflect and see what I did this past week.

Reading:  I only finished one book this week, which I am disappointed about.  Not disappointed in the book but that I only read one book.   I was on such a roll reading 2-3 books.  The book read was suspense packed and I gave it a 4 star.

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Blogging:  As you all know, this past week was BEA.   Oh how I wish I could attend especially seeing it is only a 4 hour drive from where I live.  But due to my physical limitations with my back, I would never be able to walk around such a large venue and/or stand in lines.  However, I did participate in Armchair BEA, which was my first time.  I had heard about and seen it over the pat couple of years but had the impression that it was posts from those attending.  I stumbled upon the site via another blogger (so sorry can’t remember who it was) and signed up right away.  I can’t believe all the new blogs I visited and am still visiting.  Now that I know more about Armchair BEA, I will be participating next year and hopefully be better with the Twitter aspect of it.

I spent a lot of time on the computer, probably why I didn’t get much reading in, because I was drafting up advance posts for guest author showcases and giveaways.  I am swamped with them for June and July.  Plus I am the type that likes to have them done ahead of time in case RL interferes, I don’t have to scramble at the last minute.

How was your week?  Did you attend BEA and/or participate in Armchair BEA?

We are all affected by it.  It’s on the news every night, we read about it in the paper and we all have had conversations about it.  What am I talking about?  The economy!!  That’s why when Tracy from Media Muscle (The Book Trib) contacted me regarding today’s guest, I jumped at the opportunity to host him as a guest and hear about his book.  So please help me welcome Mr. Alan Uke.

ALAN UKE

BUSINESS AND CIVIC COMMUNITY LEADER
Thirty-four years ago, Alan Uke started a company out of his University of California – San Diego dorm room. His dorm room dream grew into a successful scuba diving equipment company. It employs over 100 people in San Diego County, exports products to over 60 countries, and infuses millions of dollars into the local economy annually. Underwater Kinetics not only provides excellent products and customer service, but had provided hundreds of jobs and revenues for the San Diego area for over 40 years. In recognition of his outstanding business skills, Alan Uke was named Entrepreneur of the Year by the Entrepreneur of the Year Institute and the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.

As a business owner, he quickly learned the importance of balancing budgets, creating jobs, managing people, and cutting waste. Over time, Alan’s innovative business skills have become one of his greatest assets. He was able to use those skills to help bring the U.S.S. Midway to San Diego, turning it into a financially solvent tourist attraction that pumps $20 million a year into our economy.

WORKING FOR A STRONGER AMERICA
As a member of the World Presidents’ Association, Alan served on numerous top-level delegations in Washington and represented the voice of American business to our nation’s leadership. He met with President Bush, Vice-President Cheney, the Congressional leadership and cabinet secretaries in an effort to strengthen the U.S. economy and reduce reliance on foreign countries for vital resources. Alan also served on the Board of Directors of the San Diego Taxpayers Association. During his time on the Board and as President of the Association’s foundation, Alan committed himself to eliminating waste in local governments and lowering taxes. His commitment to protecting our tax dollars stays with him today.

Uke has experience with bringing labeling ideas before. Years ago he had an idea to inspire drivers to choose cars with lower air pollution rates rather than forcing compliance with ride sharing. After dealing with everyone from car manufacturers and the Sierra Club to the EPA, Uke’s Smog Index eventually ended up on all cars sold in the U.S. Today being able to identify cleaner cars is a major selling point in American automobiles.

Uke wants to make significant change possible again – change that will bring an immediate and lasting benefit to all Americans. By BUYING AMERICA BACK we can reclaim our strength as a world leader.

Alan Uke is a San Diego entrepreneur, community leader and founder of Underwater Kinetics, which he started 41 years ago as a sophomore at the University of California San Diego. He holds more than 50 patents and the majority of his SCUBA diving and his industrial lighting products are exported to more than 60 countries. He has won the Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Consumer Products from the Entrepreneur of the Year Institute, is a member of the World Presidents Organization and conceived of and founded the San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum.

Q&A WITH ALAN UKE

1) What is “Buying America Back” about?
It’s about making educated choices about what you buy and how it affects the American economy. I have a business that works with countries all over the world, and the economies that do well are the ones that try to buy products that are good for their own economy. We don’t do this in the United States.
It’s hard for Americans to do because we don’t have the proper labeling on products. I’m suggesting we put labeling on products — like we label food — to tell us exactly where the products come from and in what percentages. And that will make people conscious of what products they buy and how those purchases can be beneficial to America. There is a solution and it’s in our hands.
2) What does balanced trade mean?
It means we export the same percentage of products to a country as they export to us. Right now the United States imports almost 25 percent more than it exports. This excess results in the creation of overseas jobs at the expense of American jobs.
3) Who is the audience for this book?
This book is for everybody — because it affects everyone in this country. Two-thirds of the economy is driven by consumer spending, and buying American could eventually eliminate our unemployment and our trade deficit. Countries like China do everything in their power not to buy American products. The average American doesn’t know that. What I’m hoping is that those countries that see this kind of response from American consumers will have to respond and change their policies.
4) Why should the average voter be interested in reading this book?
The solution to the American economy is in every consumer’s hands. It’s going to take mass action by the general public to get this working. We, as a culture, have to do different things – like we did with the environment. The environment was being destroyed, until we acquired an awareness by everybody of what was going on and what we needed to do.
5) You were instrumental in getting the Smog Index legislation to be adopted by the American automobile manufacturers – how did your experience with that prepare you for launching this bill?
With the Smog Index, I thought that people should know that certain cars will produce more pollution than others, because only engineers knew that, not the average person. They just didn’t think of it. But now they know, and they can feel good about knowing more, making a choice, and making a difference. The labeling bill will be similar. How and where I spend my money affects me, it affects my economy, affects employment, and affects the environment around me.
6) Tell me about the Country of Origin Labeling Act.
Congressman Brian Bilbray (R-Calif.) will introduce the legislation. There are already country-of-origin labels now, but we’re trying to improve the rules. We want the labels to be more detailed and to list the percentages of each product that are made in a certain country.

ABOUT THE BOOK

San Diego entrepreneur Uke presents a straightforward thesis in this engaging policy proposal: consumer thirst for cheap imports has strangled U.S. manufacturing employment and stifled our economy. The manufacturing sector, which lost 5.2 million jobs from 2000 to 2010, accounts for only 10% of the economy compared with its dominant role in 1965. Uke explodes the myth of a shift to high-tech output and notes that Germany and other countries with higher labor costs than ours compete successfully with Asia. He argues convincingly that the offshore exodus of production facilities entails the loss of high-paying spinoff jobs, the departure of R&D facilities and other centers of innovation, and the erosion of service-sector jobs. The proper response, Uke plausibly argues, is not across-the-board protectionism or isolationism, but empowering the consumer by toughening disclosure of country-of-origin product data. Accurate disclosure would enable consumers to reward local producers or those with high local-product content. Uke perceptively points out that this approach is increasingly popular with food, and prevalent in many other countries. Determined consumer leadership on this issue, he maintains, could goad Congress into action and prompt corporations to revive domestic production. Uke’s refreshingly invective-free writing and hands-on manufacturing experience compel our consideration; his proposal is simple and his goals are lofty. Attention should be paid. Agent: Bill Gladstone. (Apr.)

BOOK DETAILS
BUYING AMERICA BACK:
A Real-Deal Blueprint for Restoring American Prosperity
By Alan Uke
SelectBooks; April 9, 2012
164 pages; $16.95
ISBN-10: 1590792300
ISBN-13: 978-1590792308

THANKS TO TRACY, FROM MEDIA MUSCLE, I HAVE ONE (1)
COPY OF THIS BOOK TO GIVE AWAY (U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY)

CLICK HERE TO BRING YOU TO
THE GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE.

DISCLAIMER
I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me,
in exchange for my honest review.
No items that I receive
are ever sold…they are kept by me,
or given to family and/or friends.

*USE THE RAFFLECOPTER FORM BELOW
IN ORDER TO BE INCLUDED IN THE GIVEAWAY*
BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL

ADDRESS IN THE RAFFLECOPTER FORM
SO THAT I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN
*LEAVE COMMENT:  HOW AND/OR HAS THE

ECONOMY AFFECTED YOU?*

*U.S.  RESIDENTS ONLY*
*NO P.O. BOXES*

**HONOR SYSTEM**
ONE WINNING BOOK PER HOUSEHOLD
PLEASE NOTIFY ME IF YOU HAVE
WON THIS BOOK FROM ANOTHER
SITE, SO THAT SOMEONE ELSE MAY
HAVE THE CHANCE TO WIN
AND READ THIS BOOK.
THANK YOU.

YOUR JAVA SCRIPT MAY NEED TO BE UPDATED
IF YOU AR EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY
USING THE RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM

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