Monday Memes

CMash October 31, 2011 12 Comments

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

This week’s question:

Would you say that you read about the same amount now as when you were younger? More? Less? Why?

My answer:

This took some time for me to answer and post since it was such a long time ago lol.

I definitely read less now but wish I read like I did. I remember reading a book in a day, which meant I could read up to 5-7 books a week. Why? No responsibility, no worries, no distractions and better eyesight. This year has been awful in the number of books I have read. Here it is the end of October and I read 34 books, 34 books!!! That is embarrassing for a self proclaimed avid book reader. That number should at least be approximately at 70. But real life was quite intrusive on my reading time. So I am anxiously waiting for 2012 and am already stalking the blog, A Novel Challenge.

October is being hosted by Serena from Savvy Verse & Wit

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

The Story Plant Author

Book Review, Guest Author

Guest Author Vincent Zandri

CMash October 29, 2011 1 Comment

Today I am so excited for so many reasons!!! If you have been a follower for a while, you know what I think of today’s guest. If you are new, then you are in for a treat!! Vincent Zandri, my favorite author, is back and this time he is on tour with Partners In Crime Tours. And not only that, there will be a giveaway of his latest book. Just a warning…if you happen to be the lucky winner….be prepared to have found your NEW favorite author. So please help me welcome back author and friend, Vincent Zandri !!

ABOUT VINCENT ZANDRI

Vincent Zandri is the No. 1 International Bestselling Amazon Kindle author of THE INNOCENT, GODCHILD, THE REMAINS, MOONLIGHT FALLS, CONCRETE PEARL and the forthcoming MOONLIGHT RISES. He is also the author of the bestselling digital shorts, PATHOLOGICAL and MOONLIGHT MAFIA. Harlan Coben has described his novels as “…gritty, fast-paced, lyrical and haunting,” while the New York Post called THE INNOCENT, “Sensational…Masterful…Brilliant!” In March, April and May of 2011, he sold more than 100,000 Kindle E-Books editions of his novels, and is rapidly closing in on the 200K mark all totaled. An MFA in Writing graduate of Vermont College, Zandri’s work is translated into many languages including the Dutch, Russian and Japanese. An adventurer, foreign correspondent, and freelance photo-journalist for RT, Globalspec, IBTimes and more, he divides his time between New York and Florence, Italy.

You can visit his website at www.vincentzandri.com or
Connect with Vincent on Twitter at www.twitter.com/VincentZandri,
on Facebook at www.facebooks.com/vincent.zandri?ref=profile
and Myspace at www.myspace.com/vincentzandri.

Read my reviews of his other books:
Scream Catcher
Concrete Pearl
Pathological
Godchild
The Remains
The Innocent

Purchase links for MOONLIGHT RISES or any of the above books:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

GUEST INTERVIEW

After what you went through with the big name publishing house and your success now, do you feel that you have finally “made it”.

Well, I’m about to sign with another major publisher, so yes, I feel like I’ve made it to a certain degree. I make my living as a novelist and journalist right now. I could actually quit the journalism if I do choose, but I enjoy it so I keep my hand in it.

Do you feel secure and enjoying the success you so rightly deserve.

I’m actually never that secure, but then that keeps me hungry. Sure, I enjoy it and thank God everyday that I can wake up and do what I do for a living.

Does this recognition and success seem surreal or has it sunk in that you are in the same league as say, James Patterson, and other big names?

Well, I don’t really think of it like that. I meet some of the biggies like Harlan Coben at conferences and I’m awed by them. At the ITW this past July I shared an elevator with Meg Gardiner and Lisa Gardner and I was tempted to press the STOP button and just stare at them for a while…Ha!

You seem to be even writing like Patterson, churning out best sellers one after another, how many are in the wings?

Ummm, at last count, three new ones waiting to go…I need an assistant. You available???

What and where do you draw the ideas from for your book, some are dark and profound.

They just come to me, that is, unless I rip them off from friends who aren’t writers. I don’t write the ideas down because the good ones always pester you in the middle of the night.

How much actual research do you do for your books, example the jail in The Innocent?

I went to jail. I stayed in a prison cell inside Sing Sing prison for most of the night.

Who is Vincent Zandri the man?

You have to ask my sig other to answer that one…Or my parole officer.

Your hobbies?
Traveling, running, lifting weights, fly fishing, skiing, seedy bars, women, eating, cooking, living the way I want to.

Your favorite authors? What are you reading now?

Hemingway, Mailer, Meg Gardiner, Harlan Coben, Charlie Huston, and too many to mention here.
I’m reading a new book by Dave Zeltserman called The Hunted for a blurb Dave asked me to write. I’m a big fan so I am very honored.

MY REVIEW

MOONLIGHT RISES by Vincent Zandri

Published by StoneGate Ink

ASIN: B005HB16Y6
Genre:Adult Suspense, Mystery, Thriller
Publication Date: August 13,2011

At the request of the author, a PDF edition was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.

Synopsis (borrowed from Amazon):

“Life sucks. Then you die. Or, if you’re Dick Moonlight, first you die and then you live.”

Dick Moonlight is dead.

Really dead this time, now that three President Obama-masked thugs dressed all in black and communicating only with hand-held voice synthesizers pressed up against their voice boxes have beat the life right out of him inside a dark, downtown Albany alley. What are the thugs after? A box. Size, weight, description unknown. They also want him to stay away from his newest and only client: a handicapped nuclear engineer of dubious Russian heritage by the same of Peter Czech.

But then, now that they’ve killed him, Moonlight’s problems seem to be over. In fact, as he undergoes an out of body experience, his soul floating above his train-wreck of a corpse inside the Albany Medical Center I.C.U., he feels pretty damned good. Great in fact. To make death all the more sweeter, his one true love, Lola, is standing by his bedside. With her long dark hair draping her chiseled face and big round Jackie O sunglasses hiding tear-filled eyes, she appears every bit the grieving sig other. Nothing could make the dead-and-gone Moonlight prouder.

But then something happens. Something bad. A man enters into the I.C.U. Some young guy. He takes hold of Lola’s hand, and pulls her into him. Together, the two share a loving embrace over Moonlight’s dead body. Now, what seemed like a peaceful death is anything but. Moonlight wants back inside his body so he can face-off Some Young Guy and find out if his true love has in fact been cheating on him. At the same time, he wants to find out the true identity of those thugs who killed him so he can exact his revenge. No doubt about it, Moonlight needs to live if he’s going to uncover some pretty painful answers and take care of business.

Like a little kid dropping down a playground slide, Moonlight slides right back inside his bruised and broken body. Opening his eyes the white light blinds him. He feels the pain of his wounds and the pain of his breaking heart.

Life sucks, then you die.

But Moonlight rises.

My Thoughts and Opinion: If you follow my blog you already know what I think of this author. And you probably also know the two words that always come to mind when I finish one of his books are brilliant and genius!!! And you already know what the rating I will be giving this book….you got it….a 5!!!! Another winner!!!

But for those who are new followers, if you like mystery and suspense, this is the author that you HAVE to read!!! This is the sequel to Moonlight Falls, the one that grabbed me, hook, line and sinker. However, it can also stand on it’s own. Zandri. with his masterful writing, brings you up to speed with Moonlight Rises. The quirky P.I., Dick Moonlight is back with his unconventional investigations and sometimes outlandish one liners. Zandri, once again, takes you on a fast paced, action packed ride, filled with twists and turns that the reader never sees coming.

I have read every book that this highly talented author has written. Do I recommend him? ABSOLUTELY!!!!

THANKS TO AUTHOR, VINCENT ZANDRI, I HAVE

ONE (1) EBOOK EDITION TO GIVE AWAY.

CLICK HERE TO BRING YOU TO

THE GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE.

NEXT STOP: OCTOBER 30th~REVIEW @ TIDBITS FROM A MOM

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.

ADDENDUM

I do not have any affiliation with Amazon.com,

Barnes & Noble and/or any other retail/wholesale

outlets either online and/or elsewhere.

I am providing this link solely for visitors

that may be interested in purchasing this Book/EBook.

I do not receive any monetary compensation from any parties

Giveaway

EBOOK–INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE "MOONLIGHT RISES" ENDED

CMash October 29, 2011 Leave a Comment

OCTOBER 29th to NOVEMBER 12th, 2011

MOONLIGHT RISES

by VINCENT ZANDRI

SYNOPSIS:

“Life sucks. Then you die. Or, if you’re Dick Moonlight, first you die and then you live.”
Dick Moonlight is dead.
Really dead this time, now that three President Obama-masked thugs dressed all in black and communicating only with hand-held voice synthesizers pressed up against their voice boxes have beat the life right out of him inside a dark, downtown Albany alley. What are the thugs after? A box. Size, weight, description unknown. They also want him to stay away from his newest and only client: a handicapped nuclear engineer of dubious Russian heritage by the same of Peter Czech.
But then, now that they’ve killed him, Moonlight’s problems seem to be over. In fact, as he undergoes an out of body experience, his soul floating above his train-wreck of a corpse inside the Albany Medical Center I.C.U., he feels pretty damned good. Great in fact. To make death all the more sweeter, his one true love, Lola, is standing by his bedside. With her long dark hair draping her chiseled face and big round Jackie O sunglasses hiding tear-filled eyes, she appears every bit the grieving sig other. Nothing could make the dead-and-gone Moonlight prouder.
But then something happens. Something bad. A man enters into the I.C.U. Some young guy. He takes hold of Lola’s hand, and pulls her into him. Together, the two share a loving embrace over Moonlight’s dead body. Now, what seemed like a peaceful death is anything but. Moonlight wants back inside his body so he can face-off Some Young Guy and find out if his true love has in fact been cheating on him. At the same time, he wants to find out the true identity of those thugs who killed him so he can exact his revenge. No doubt about it, Moonlight needs to live if he’s going to uncover some pretty painful answers and take care of business.
Like a little kid dropping down a playground slide, Moonlight slides right back inside his bruised and broken body. Opening his eyes the white light blinds him. He feels the pain of his wounds and the pain of his breaking heart.
Life sucks, then you die.
But Moonlight rises.

THANKS TO AUTHOR, VINCENT ZANDRI

I HAVE ONE ( 1 ) EBOOK EDITION OF THIS
FAST PACED BOOK TO GIVE AWAY.
HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO WIN.

*ALL COMMENTS TO BE SEPARATE*
AND INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
SO THAT I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN
*LEAVE COMMENT: READ ONE OF MY REVIEWS OF HIS BOOKS,
COME BACK, LEAVE A COMMENT AS TO WHAT YOU FOUND
INTERESTING AND WHICH BOOK WOULD WANT TO READ (SEE BELOW)*

*EXTRA ENTRIES*

*LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT IF YOU PUBLICLY FOLLOW THIS
BLOG (IF NOT, GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT ON RIGHT SIDE).
*LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT IF YOU FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK.
*LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT IF YOU FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER.
*REMEMBER TO INCLUDE EMAIL ADDRESS FOR ALL ENTRIES.

*EBOOK EDITION—INTERNATIONAL*
**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.

*GIVEAWAY ENDS NOVEMBER 12th AT 6PM EST*

WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN BY RANDOM.ORG AND NOTIFIED
VIA EMAIL AND WILL HAVE 48 HOURS TO RESPOND
OR ANOTHER NAME WILL BE CHOSEN

Scream Catcher

Concrete Pearl

Pathological

Godchild

The Remains

The Innocent

Moonlight Falls

DISCLAIMER / RULES

Giveaway copies are supplied and shipped to winners via publisher,
the giveaway on behalf of the
above. 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.

I am not responsible for lost or damaged books that are shipped
from agents. I reserve the right to disqualify/delete any entries
if rules of giveaway are not followed

Winners

And the winners are……..

CMash October 29, 2011 Leave a Comment

………..of A SLOT MACHINE ATE MY MIDLIFE CRISIS

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

21 7 19

Timestamp: 2011-10-29 10:37:45 UTC

Erin Cook said…GFC follower ERin Cook 21

Denise Z said…I follow on facebook – Denise Zaky 7

Jim said…i follow you on twitter@JCoyne1031 19

An email has been sent to the winners and they have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. Thank you to all that entered. Stay tuned, more giveaways to come.

Book Review, Guest Author

Guest Author Vincent Zandri

CMash October 29, 2011 2 Comments