Layers of Thought

ARC Preview: Captivity by Deborah Noyes

2010-03-09T10:53:00.001-07:00

Amazon Book Stats:

Hardcover: 352 pages

Publisher: Unbridled Books; 1 edition (June 1, 2010)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1936071630

ISBN-13: 978-1936071630

Genre: Historical Fiction

Book Blurb:

This masterful historical novel is two stories: The first centers upon the strange, true tale of The Fox Sisters, the enigmatic family of young women who, in upstate New York in 1848 proclaimed that they could converse with the dead. The second story is the evocative tale of the promise that the Fox Sisters offer up to the skeptical Clara Gill, a reclusive woman who long ago isolated herself with her paintings, following the scandalous loss of her beautiful young lover in London.

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Author Bio:

Deborah Noyes is the author of Angel and Apostle as well as numerous acclaimed books for younger readers, including The Ghosts of Kerfol and Encyclopedia of the End. Deb writes for adults and children and is also an editor and photographer. She lives in Massachusetts with her family

Connect with this author at her blog, Goodreads, and her website.

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Pre-purchasing links for Amazon are US/UK/Canada The Book Depository Euro/AUD.

This book was received from the publisher by request through Net Galley. A big thanks to both.

Review coming soon!

Thanks for reading Layers of Thought.

Preview: The Russian Dreambook of Color and Flight by Gina Ochner

2010-03-09T10:52:00.001-07:00

Amazon Book Stats:

Hardcover: 384 pages

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (February 8, 2010)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0618563733

ISBN-13: 978-0618563739

Book Info:

In a crumbling apartment building in post-Soviet Russia, there's a ghost who won't keep quiet.

Mircha fell from the roof and was never properly buried, so he sticks around to heckle the living. His wife, Azade, supervises the porta-toilet in the courtyard while worrying over a gang of feral children. Olga, a translator/censor for a military newspaper, frets about Yuri, her army-veteran son who always wears an aviator’s helmet. And Yuri's girlfriend, Zoya, just wants to own some modern things. But then there is Tanya.

Tanya carries a notebook wherever she goes, recording her observations and her dreams, one of which is to become a flight attendant so she can escape her job the All-Russia All-Cosmopolitan Museum and soar through the clouds.

But when the director hears of a mysterious American group looking to fund art in Russia, he charges Tanya with luring the Americans to their museum-- which holds a fantastic and terrible collection of art knock-offs that have been created using the tools at hand, from foam to chewing gum, popsicle sticks to tomato juice. But while Tanya scrambles to save her dreams and her neighbors, she might be getting closer to finding love right in her own courtyard.

And so in Ochsner's fable-like, magical debut, we see the transcendence of imagination. As Colum McCann has said: "[Ochsner] manages... to capture our sundry human moments and make raw and unforgettable music of them."

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Author Bio:

Gina Ochsner lives in Keizer, Oregon and divides her time between writing and teaching with the Seattle Pacific Low-Residency MFA program. Ochsner has been awarded a John L. Simon Guggenheim grant and a grant from the National Endowment of Arts. Her stories have appeared in The New Yorker, Tin House, Glimmertrain and the Kenyon Review.

She is the author of the short story collection The Necessary Grace to Fall, which received the Flannery O’Connor Award for Short Fiction and the story collection People I Wanted to Be. Both books received the Oregon Book Award A novel entitled The Russian Dreambook of Colour and Flight has just been released.

Here is a link to the author’s website.

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Purchasing links for Amazon are US/UK/Canada The Book Depository Euro/AUD.

This book was received from the publisher by request through Net Galley. A big thanks to both.

Review coming soon!

Thanks for reading Layers of Thought.

Book Award Nominations: Bram Stoker and Nebula Award Nominee Announcements for 2009

2010-03-08T12:51:00.001-07:00

Have you seen these nominations? We are excited about a few of them. Specifically two with links to previews here on Layers of Thought.

BRAM STOKER AWARDS – Horror 2009

Superior Achievement in a Novel:
Audrey's Door - Sarah Langan (Harper)
Patient Zero - Jonathan Maberry (St. Martin's Griffin)
Quarantined - Joe McKinney (Lachesis)
Cursed - Jeremy Shipp (Raw Dog Screaming Press)

Superior Achievement in a First Novel
Breathers - S. G. Browne (Broadway Books)
Solomon's Grave - Daniel G. Keohane (Dragon Moon Press)
Damnable - Hank Schwaeble (Jove)
The Little Sleep - Paul Tremblay (Henry Holt)

Winning titles will be announced at the World Horror Convention, March 25-28 2010, in Brighton, England. It is sold out.

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NEBULA AWARDS - Scifi/Fantasy 2009

Best Novel:
The Windup Girl - Paolo Bacigalupi (Night Shade)
The Love We Share Without Knowing - Christopher Barzak (Bantam)
Flesh and Fire - Laura Anne Gilman (Pocket)
The City & The City - China Miéville (Del Rey; Macmillan UK)
Boneshaker - Cherie Priest (Tor)
Finch - Jeff VanderMeer (Underland)

Winners will be announced at the 2010 SFWA Nebula Awards Weekend, to be held May 13-16, 2010 in Cocoa Beach, FL.

Have you read or reviewed any of the above books? links for reviews? thoughts? Which ones are you dying to read?

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And for even more fun coming soon is an:

*E book giveaway for Vacation (nominated for the Bram Stoker Award 2008 - links to preview) combined with a guest post from the author Jeremy Shipp*

The post will include a very creepy snippet of his work with a few questions answered. It will be a great way to get a taste of his work and win a copy of Vacation. (I do believe it is printable being a PDF copy so you do not need an e reader to read it.)

Having started to read Cursed, I am finding it is quirkily hilarious and is moving into some dark territory – gotta love that. The interesting thing is that the main character thinks in lists… an intriguing perspective from the first person.

Please stay tuned and thanks for reading Layers of Thought.

Preview: Vacation by Jeremy C. Shipp

2010-03-08T12:48:00.001-07:00

Amazon Book Stats:

Paperback: 164 pages
Publisher: Raw Dog Screaming Press (April 10, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1933293411
ISBN-13: 978-1933293417
Genre: Horror

(what an amazing cover!)

Book Blurb and Praise:

It's time for blueblood Bernard Johnson to leave his boring life behind and go on The Vacation, a yearlong corporate-sponsored odyssey. But instead of seeing the world, Bernard is captured by terrorists, becomes a key figure in secret drug wars, and, worse, doesn't once miss his secure American Dream.

"Shipp's clear, insistent voice pulls you down into the rabbit hole and doesn't let go." —Jack Ketchum
"This is an intriguing, challenging, literate, provocative novel I'm not sure I understand and suspect I'm not meant to… I recommend it to those who find reality boring; it may make them see it in new ways."
—Piers Anthony
"If young Kurt Vonnegut had written Catcher in the Rye for the global village, it might have played a lot like this. Vacation is a tight little fable about massive, sprawling, real-life problems: chief among them, our ability to fiddle while Rome burns. The prose is extra-crispy, the wisdom is genuine, and the mindfucks come a mile a minute. Jeremy Shipp is a very good drug. I hope this book gets banned in high schools soon!" —John Skipp

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Author Info:

Jeremy C. Shipp is the Bram Stoker nominated author of Cursed, Vacation, and Sheep and Wolves. His shorter tales have appeared or are forthcoming in over 50 publications, the likes of Cemetery Dance, ChiZine, Apex Magazine, Pseudopod, and Rosebud. While preparing for the forthcoming collapse of civilization, Jeremy enjoys living in Southern California in a moderately haunted Victorian farmhouse with his wife, Lisa, and their legion of yard gnomes. Thankfully, only one mime was killed during the making of his first short film, Egg.

You can contact Jeremy on Goodreads, his website, or twitter.

Click here for an interview where he describes Bizarro fiction, which is within the genre which Jeremy writes.

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This book was sent to Layers of Thought for review from the author. Thanks Jeremy!

Amazon purchasing links - US/UK/Canada; The Book Depository - AUD and Euro.

Giveaway, author guest post, and review coming soon!

Thanks for reading Layers of Thought.

ARC Preview: She-Rain by Michael Cogdill

2010-03-05T08:06:00.001-07:00

Amazon Book Data:

Paperback: 360 pages

Publisher: Morgan James Publishing (March 31, 2010)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1600377025

ISBN-13: 978-1600377020

Genre: General Fiction

About the Book:

In the early 20th Century, a pair of North Carolina mountain children sow the seed of a love that becomes their only solace in the world. They grow it off steep ground of poverty, ignorance and violence so hard, it can kill hope long before claiming life.

Bloodshed finally sends Frank Locke on the run, deep into wilderness, abandoning his extraordinary love, Mary Lizbeth. When a whitewater river washes this desperate boy into the hands of Sophia, he discovers a luminous young woman steeped in mystery, trapped in a tragically brilliant life. Far ahead of her time. Secreted from the world. As she awakens Frank’s mind, their souls rise to meet a love that binds three people for a lifetime.

This love triangle forms a beauty no one sees coming. From the wilds of Appalachia, crossing nearly a century, it runs deep into a lush American fortune, and lives in letters of adoration and hope of the least expected.

In a rhapsody of Southern voices, mingling hilarity and sorrow, She-Rain speaks of lives soaring beyond heartbreak, fundamentalism and self-destruction. Two women in love with one man ultimately prove the power of human hearts to answer high callings. They teach us all how to heal -- and thrive -- gracefully longing to the very end.

Author Bio:

Michael Cogdill is blessed as one of the most honored television storytellers in America. His cache of awards includes 24 Emmys and the National Edward R. Murrow for a broad range of achievement, from live reporting to long-form storytelling. His television credits as a journalist include CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, and The Today Show, and Michael's interview history crosses a wide horizon: The Reverend Billy Graham, Dr. Mehmet Oz of Oprah fame, Dr. Henry Kissinger, Abby Hoffman, Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator John McCain, Howard K. Smith, James Brown, Keith Lockhart of the Boston Pops and many other newsmakers. His coverage credits include Presidents and Vice Presidents of the United States.

Michael spent ten years writing She-Rain, letting it evolve into a world of fiction drawn from his upbringing in Western North Carolina but reaching far beyond. His other writing credits are Cracker the Crab and the Sideways Afternoon -- a children's motivational book, and a self-help volume, Raise the Haze. Michael makes his home in South Carolina with his wife, Jill (a publishing entrepreneur), and their second-generation golden retriever, Maggie. He's currently working on his second novel.

To connect with the author please see his blog and on Goodreads.

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To get a feel of what the author’s writing is like, below is an article by the author.

A Dog's Inspiration to a Writer and the World: How the Life and Death of a Golden Retriever Might Save Us From Ourselves
By Michael Cogdill,
Author of She-Rain: A Story of Hope

On the morning of May 29, 2008, I lifted Savannah from her bed, carried her to the car, and made the longest seven-mile drive of my life. At the office of a veterinarian, welcomed by that profession's unique form of love, I soon lay on a cushioned floor beside a golden retriever who showed virtually none of her age, watching both my hands stroke the face that had welcomed me home for thirteen years.

The answer to a yearning awaited us that morning. It was part of the quiet covenant I made with Savannah the day my wife, Jill, and I adopted her. When a sweet dog's bloodline comes in confluence with our own, we human animals take on a sacred devotion. As sickness comes on hard and takes down the joy of living, caring dog owners are committed to shouldering our beloved family member to a merciful death. On the floor that morning, I answered Savannah's courageous outreach for that death, allowing her to carry me. The peace that arrived in her final breath lifted the tide of my heartbreak. As I nearly drowned in sadness, Savannah showed me to the shore of a graceful goodbye.

Later that day, a prominent friend in Hollywood, fresh from the same grief in his own family, shared with us some comfort, but also a spiritual yearning of his own: Why would God measure the lifetime of dogs, and other animals we love, by a virtual hourglass when we live by a calendar? Why so little time on earth for those so good and loyal? It seems a cruelty.

After these months of healing, and the reporting of countless human tragedies on television, I've arrived at a conclusion: Savannah's too-short life, like that of all sweet dogs, calls us to a fine urgency dogs get after big living. They seem illiterate of worry, yet able to read joys that elude us. They quietly shout to us: Wag your backside to music instead of your tongue to malice. Wallow less in pity and more on the bed of the one you adore. Give yourself, extravagantly, away.

I still fail her, of course. I live too much in my worries and sorrows and too little on the joy path she wore for me. Yet in these times of media-saturated human disaster, a thought of Savannah improves me as a man, recalls me to life as a writer. Her memory sets off some musing about the hope found in the life and death of a good dog. See if these truths make the news of your times easier to bear:

Savannah feared nothing about death. She went to it with eyes full of gratitude for the way her life had been. Her eyes seemed to draw from some deep well of love, way beyond the crust of words. Even in her final hour, sick as she was, she lived as a divining rod to this love. No matter how I tried to comfort her, sheserved me -- right to her last moment. The kidney failure that was stalling her life was no match for the servant's heart within her.

The high pitch of biased media, politics, and the vitriol of social debate held no allure for Savannah. She made grace her way of life. She ran from loud voices and bounded to gentility wherever she found it. We could trust her to be tender, even with the smallest child. Savannah taught me there's nothing so powerful in this life as a truly gentle woman or man.

There is no vanity in such dogs. They split mud holes, then track adoration across the floors of the humans who forgive them. They surely wonder why we care so much for things and so little for helping one another have simple wellness and fun. Savannah never cared for the size of my car. She simply loved the ride. She measured none of my money in how she valued me. In times of my sorrow, she made certain to place her head under my hand, letting me read a sense of all-will-be-more-than-well in its Braille.

With the too-often forgotten elderly in a nursing home, Savannah visited with no consciousness of herself. The sights and smells that repulse too many humans never seem to repel a good dog. Something innate about Savannah longed to care for everyone. She never appraised anyone by their politics, religion, or race. No human bloodline or job pedigree held any sway. Savannah treated the ignorant as kings and the malicious as queens. Even avowed dog haters valued what they found in her, and she loved them without pause.

Such a dog will forgive to the point of endangering itself. Some may argue enough hatefulness will turn any dog, even the most generous and kind. Perhaps this forms a caveat to us as well. Maybe good dogs teach us we will eventually draw back what we put into the world. Or is it that forgiveness becomes a form of capital we spend to the great shock of our enemies, an investment from which we draw the interest of turning enemies into friends? After every trip to the vet, on the heels of cavity exams every sane creature loathes, Savannah forgave Jill and me. We never had to ask.

In the afterglow of thinking of her, I adore considering how living so might change humankind. What might the news look like if everyone were so devotedly kind to everyone else? My job -- as a writer of news and fiction -- would so beautifully change.

Within an hour after putting her into that permanent sleep, I sat weeping at our kitchen table and wrote an open letter to Savannah. It let my grief out to run, with the memory of her a comfort at my knee. I leave you with a passage of it here, and a wish that the news of our future days will improve, changed in some small way by the legacy of Savannah.

"You tracked to the child who lives in me always. In this man you found a boy who loves you, sweet girl. Even in death, somehow you will always lead the boy in me home. I will follow your trail. And together, in the grand wet and muddy fun places of memory, we will be glad."

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Purchasing links for Amazon are US/UK/Canada, and The Book Depository in Euro/AUD.

This book was sent to me for review by FSB Associates. Thanks Caitlin!

Review coming soon!

Thanks for reading Layers of Thought.

ARC Preview: We the Children – Keepers of the School by Andrew Clements

2010-03-05T08:04:00.001-07:00

Amazon Book Stats:

Reading level: Ages 9-12

Hardcover: 160 pages

Publisher: Atheneum (April 6, 2010)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1416938869

ISBN-13: 978-1416938866

Genre: Adventure

Book Info:

We the Children asks: Can a kid change the course of history?

Benjamin Pratt's harbor-side school is going to be bulldozed to make room for an amusement park. It sounds like a dream come true ... or is it more like a nightmare? Something about the plan seems fishy, and Lyman, the new assistant janitor, seems even fishier. When Ben and his friend, Jill, start digging for answers, they find things that the people with money and power don't want them to see. Could the history hidden deep within an old school building actually overthrow a thirty-million-dollar real-estate deal? and how far will the developers go to keep that from happening? Ben and Jill are about to discover just how dangerous a little knowledge can be.

One secret mission. One secret Society. Once chance to save their school from total destruction.

Author Bio:

Andrew Clements is an American author of books for children. Clements grew up in New Jersey and Illinois, United States. He worked as a teacher for seven years after college, but there was a money crisis, so he was fired, or RIFed. He started his literary career by writing the text for picture books, and went on to write children's novels. His first novel was Frindle, which still remains one of his best-known works. Most of his novels' covers depict a person, usually a child, holding something up to the reader.

Mr. Clements taught in the public schools near Chicago for seven years before moving East to begin a career in publishing and writing. He lives with his wife in central Massachusetts and has four grown children.

His website is linked here.

Purchasing links for Amazon are US/UK/Canada, and The Book Depository Euro/AUD.

This ARC was received from the publisher Atheneum - via Shelf Awareness. A big thanks to both.

Review coming soon!

Thanks for reading Layers of Thought.

Preview: In the Wake of the Boatman by Jonathon Scott Fuqua

2010-03-04T09:53:00.001-07:00

Book Stats:

Hardcover: 320 pages

Publisher: Bancroft Press; 1st edition (November 1, 2008)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1890862428

ISBN-13: 978-1890862428

Genre: General Fiction

About the Book:

Puttnam Douglas Steward isn’t having an identity crisis—he is one. To his father Carl, he’s a disappointment, and has been since the day he came home from the hospital.

To his mother, he’s “Mama’s Boy,” and will forever be nothing less and nothing more.

The Army thinks he’s a hero, having single-handedly saved his troops from an ambush when they stumble upon a major, unknown supply line in Vietnam, then exposing a major Soviet espionage ring in the U.S.

His brother-in-law Survival, a career military man, thinks Putt’s weak—a mere cadet—no matter how high he rises in the Army’s ranks or how much national celebrityhood he achieves.

Only Milton, Putt’s college friend and environmental activist, and Putt’s sister Mary see that something is deeply confused about Puttnam Steward. Yet neither of them knows that the only time Putt ever truly feels happy is when he wears a woman’s clothes and becomes, for a brief, fleeting moment, someone else. And they don’t know how much that disgusts him.

Unable to escape the expectations of the people around him, Putt’s never quite reached a true understanding of himself. After he pokes a boy’s eye out with a rock at the age of six, he’s briefly proud for having done what his father had always taught him—stand up for himself—but his father responds with unalloyed hate. At 18, Putt proudly escapes Norfolk to study at the University of Virginia, but a drunken night at an off-campus bar forces him to question his own sexuality for the first time.

As he drowns in expectations and disappointments, the matter of who he is—who he truly is—eludes him. Except for one thing: He’s a freak. He has to be. It’s the only answer that makes sense.

And through it all, there’s his relationship with father Carl, the hobbyist boatman whose creations always find their way to the bottom of the river. A man who’s never been close with Putt, Carl feels nothing but disappointment in his son—disappointment he never feels or expresses about his daughter. Maybe it’s because Carl’s growing old and weak. Maybe it’s due to his inability to build a boat, to make his knee work, or to hug his son. Whatever the reason, Carl is certain that their dreadful disconnect must be Putt’s fault alone.

In the Wake of the Boatman is a brilliant drama, stirringly and sensitively told, about the elusiveness of identity. Another important novel from one of America’s most praised and accomplished novelists, it’s a masterpiece that won’t soon be forgotten.

About the Author:

Jonathon Scott Fuqua has written the highly praised and Alex Award-winning novel, The Reappearance of Sam Webber, as well as the critically acclaimed and recently published book, Gone and Back Again.

He is also the author of three much lauded, award-winning young adult novels: King of the Pygmies, DARBY, and The Willoughby Spit Wonder.

For teenagers and adults, he penned a groundbreaking graphic novel, In the Shadow of Edgar Allan Poe. All of his published books are available nationally and internationally.

Fuqua has received two Maryland State Arts Council Awards for fiction writing, and is the writer-in-residence at the Carver Center for the Arts. Both his writings and paintings have appeared in newspapers, magazines, books, on book covers, posters, limited edition prints, postcards, and stationery. A teacher of fiction writing, literature, and art, he lives in Baltimore with his wife and daughter.

Bancroft Press author info.

This book was sent for review from Bancroft Press. Thanks Harrison!

Purchasing links for Amazon are US/UK/Canada, The Book Depository Euro/AUD.

Review coming soon!

Thanks for reading Layers of Thought.

ARC Preview: The House of Tomorrow by Peter Bognanni

2010-03-04T09:52:00.001-07:00

Amazon Book Stats:

Hardcover: 354 pages

Publisher: Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam (March 4, 2010)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0399156097

ISBN-13: 978-0399156090

Genre: General Fiction – Coming of age story

Book Info:

Sebastian Prendergast lives in a geodesic dome with his eccentric grandmother, who homeschooled him in the teachings of futurist philosopher R. Buckminster Fuller. But when his grandmother has a stroke, Sebastian is forced to leave the dome and make his own way in town.

Jared Whitcomb is a chain-smoking sixteen-year-old heart-transplant recipient who befriends Sebastian, and begins to teach him about all the things he has been missing, including grape soda, girls, and Sid Vicious. They form a punk band called The Rash, and it's clear that the upcoming Methodist Church talent show has never seen the likes of them. Wholly original, The House of Tomorrow is the story of a young man's self-discovery, a dying woman's last wish, and a band of misfits trying desperately to be heard.

Author Info:

Peter Bognanni is a writer currently based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. His first novel, The House of Tomorrow, is forthcoming from Amy Einhorn Books (Putnam) in early 2010. He attended the Iowa Writers' Workshop not long ago, and his short stories and humor pieces have appeared in various literary journals. He teaches Creative Writing at Macalester College and works (almost) every day on a new book.

Peter Bognanni’s webpage and blog.

Purchasing links for Amazon are US/UK/Canada, and The Book Depository in Euro/AUD.

This book was sent to me by Putman Books via Shelf Awareness. A big thanks to both.

Review coming soon!

Thanks for reading Layers of Thought.

Read an Ebook Week: March 7 – 13, 2010

2010-03-03T10:45:00.001-07:00

Free Ebooks and amazingly low prices will be offered at select sites for the week:

There will be contests – writing dead lines end March 5th.
Free ebooks.
Discussions on the future of ebooks, readers, as well as the benefits of ebooks.
Here is a link for vendors participating in Read an Ebook Week – most will be offering deeply discounted books, many for free, as well as having additional contests. Including contests to win an ereader.

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Please note that these books below, published by Ebook Undead, will be sold at 50% off their already low prices during this week. Each links to a preview or review here on Layers of Thought.

RELEASE by Nicole Hadaway - review
Alone by Marrissa Farrar – preview
Descending Skies by Margaret Schlegel - preview
Swan Song by Jevron McCory – preview
Dance on Fire by James Garcia Jr. – preview

*The code for all Ebook Undead books is RAE50. This code will take 50% off the price of all the above books and others by this publisher. The code is time sensitive so it must be used within the time frame of the week.*

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Here is one nonfiction/memoir and one inspirational poetry book, which may be of interest to readers. They will also be on sale during this week. Both are by Lori Newman - links to her author’s page on Goodreads. Both covers also link to book information at Goodreads.

*The code for purchase for 50% off is RAE50. March 3 to 13, are the dates which the code will be useable. Additionally if anyone is interested in getting the books in print they are 25% off till March 13th as well.*

For purchase:

Links for Here All Along for Ebook, and print
Links for Looking to be Seen for Ebook and print.

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Help support small and independent publishers, fill your reader, and join the fun. All genres are represented at many other sites so if your not a horror, memoir, or poetry fan no worries – go check out what is on offer and make a list!

Ebook Preview: Dance on Fire by James Garcia Jr.

2010-03-03T10:44:00.001-07:00

Book Stats:

Ebook By James Garcia Jr.
Published By Vamplit Publishing
Published: Feb. 06, 2010
Words: 107480 (approximate)
Genre: Horror/Christian Themes

Book Info:

Two Kingsburg police officers have been butchered in an attack as ferocious as it is mystifying. Now two detectives and their families are being drawn into a battle that threatens to destroy them and those around them. In a marriage of horror and Christian themes of good conquering evil and redemption, Dance on Fire is the fictional account of characters drawn into the fire by supernatural forces.

Author Bio:

James Garcia Jr. was born in Hanford, California in 1969. In the mid 1970's James Sr. began a Law Enforcement career just up the road with the Kingsburg Police Department, taking the family there. It was not until junior high school; however, that anything of significance occurred. Discovering authors Stephen King and Michael Slade, as well as hard rock music, began to form a spark of creativity within his adolescent mind. He began to play guitar and pen song lyrics, but soon found himself confined in that tight medium, desiring to do longer works.

After graduation he moved on to the local community college where he met his wife. By this time he had written a handful of short stories, a couple of novellas and had begun writing the novel that would become, “Dance on Fire”.

James and his wife, Aida, and their two sons make their home in Kingsburg, where he is an Administrative Supervisor for Sun-Maid Growers of California.

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For more information on the author link to his blog.

Thanks to Ebook Undead for the copy of this book.

Link here to purchase Dance on Fire in multiple formats.

Thanks for reading Layers of Thought.

Ebook Preview: Swan Song by Jevron Mc Crory

2010-03-03T10:43:00.001-07:00

Book Data:

Ebook By Jevron Mc Crory
Published By Vamplit Publishing
Published: Feb. 10, 2010
Words: 23594
Genre: Horror - Vampire

Book Info:

Katrina Collins isn’t like other musicians, she doesn’t do interviews and no one has ever seen her outside of her musical arena. Her beauty is startling, her effect upon an audience mesmerizing. Lewis Morrison isn’t like any other music journalist, as he despises music and loathes musicians. They find each other and their discovery brings hope, redemption, pain, pleasure and death.

Author Bio:

Born in the East End of London where he currently resides with his wife, Jevron Mc Crory’s sincere love of the vampire is somewhat humbling.

As affecting as they are unique in a rapidly expanding field, Jevron’s blood drenched tales are short, sharp shocks that somehow still manage to retain a bitter sweet romanticism.

Swan Song is Jevron’s emotional debut novel with Vamplit/Ebook Undead Publishing. It unflinchingly portrays an altogether too real scenario of loneliness and despair that, with the inclusion of a vampire lover as damaged as her male counterpart, builds to a heart rending climax.

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Link here to access Jevron’s blog, and here to purchase his book here.

Thanks to Ebooks Undead for the copy of this ebook to review.

Thanks for reading Layers of Thought.

Ebook Preview: Descending Skies by Margaret Schlegel

2010-03-03T10:42:00.001-07:00

Book Data:

Ebook By Margaret Schlegel
Published By Vamplit Publishing
Published: Mar. 02, 2010
Genre: Young adult or teen, Sci-Fi & fantasy
Words: 36253 (approximate)

Book Info:

Descending Skies by Margaret Schlegel is a magical, science fiction fantasy set in a world where magic is science and the laws of nature do not apply. Andrew Granger, is dead and then he is not, but to his amazement awakening from death gives him a whole new chance at life. Will Andrew become the hero his new world needs? Or will the treachery and power struggle raging in this strange new world destroy him and the new life he’s been given.

Andrew Granger is a hero for our modern times, for whom life and death become the difference between success and failure. This novel takes a serious theme such as global warming and our blind reliance on science to fix all our problems and transports it to a place and time far away.

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Purchasing link in multiple formats at Smashwords is here.

This book was provided for review from Ebook Undead.

Thanks for reading Layers of Thought.

Review by JD: The Archer’s Tale by Bernard Cornwell

2010-03-02T17:05:00.001-07:00

Book Stats:

The Archer’s Tale
by Bernard Cornwell
ISBN: 0-06-621084-4
Pages 374: hardbound
HarperCollins, 2001
Genre: Historical Fiction

JD’s Thoughts:

I try to spread my reading around a bit across different genres and authors, but this was my second Bernard Cornwell book in six weeks; and I’m enjoying it! (A big thanks to Charlie at professor b. worm for initially turning me on to Cornwell).

Looking back to my review of the first one I read, which was Agincourt, I could almost cut-and-paste the same words. The story is set during the same war, the underlying themes are much the same, the cast of characters is similar, the plot progression is similar and both stories end in large set-piece battles which faithfully reconstruct actual events from medieval history. In truth, the books are kind of carbon copies of each other. Having said all that, it didn’t spoil the read for me at all.

Cornwell creates some strong characters and writes really good stories. He clearly does a lot of homework and he entwines his stories around actual historical events with lots of detail that feels very authentic.

In this case the setting is once again the Hundred Years War between the English and French. This time the story climaxes with the battle of Crecy.

It did occur to me that with a factual backdrop as amazing as this, who needs to create a fictional foundation? The facts take some beating. There is war between two countries that lasts for over a hundred years. Throughout there is political intrigue with some factions changing sides. Both sides experience a constant change of leadership, with the kings variously being warriors, timid, smart, dumb, brutal, petulant, nervous, conniving and greedy. There are some major battles which served to re-write military strategy. The much smaller armies often won the day. Kings and princes often lead their armies into battle and were on the front line of brutal action. Epic is a much over-used word, but this was truly epic stuff.

So, a fascinating history plus a strong story-teller equals a winner. I’d rate this book four stars, and as with Agincourt I’d strongly recommend this to anyone interested in historic fiction or life in medieval times, or indeed anyone who enjoys a good action read.

I now have to try and resist the temptation to read another Cornwell book for a little while.

Link to JD’s review of Agincourt.

The Archer’s Tale is the first in The Grail Quest series. The other two books are as follows:

Vagabond – Published 2002
Heretic – Published in 2003

Amazon purchasing Information for US/UK/Canada and The Book Depository in Euros and AUD.

This book was borrowed from the local library. Yeah!

Your comments and thoughts are always welcome. Thanks for reading Layers of Thought.

Hilarious Guest Post: Blake Charlton author of soon to be released fantasy - Spellwright

2010-03-01T09:18:00.001-07:00

In one of my luckier travels within “twitterdom” I have had the pleasure of connecting with new author, doctor in training, humorist, and any mother’s dream date/mate for her daughter – Blake Charlton.

Twittering, as we “chicks” often do, with Cara from Ooh…Books! on the handsomeness of one her favorite authors - I was veered by her to Blake Charlton as being an even more hunky representative of the species. I do have to agree, and very funny too… as you will see from the post below, which makes me even more excited to read the first in the trilogy of his début fantasy book – Spelllwright. (Links to book preview here at Layers of Thought.)

Even if your not a fan of fantasy it is worth it - Enjoy!

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“Adult” Fantasy

Just as in this popular humorous post, an infinitely fractional* part of the below actually happened to me.

[Lights up on an atrium after grand rounds--fichus plants, white walls with tasteful hospital art. Upstage stand several folded tables with bagels on them. The CROWD OF DOCTORS, dressed in white coats, is milling about the table, chatting, holding paper plates with one or two bagels on them. Spot lights up on BLAKE, wearing white coat, and a MINOR DEITY OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, wearing glowing white coat and surrounded by a small cloud of butterflies, and a dancing Mongolian shaman.]

BLAKE: …and then the author described quite beautifully how he figured out the patient was surreptitiously taking furosemide.

MINOR DEITY OF INTERNAL MEDICINE: Interesting. Pardon me, but are you that med student who’s about to publish a novel.

BLAKE: Yes, I am. And, you’re a minor deity of internal medicine. You wrote that famous textbook.

MINOR DEITY OF INTERNAL MEDICINE: I am. [He smiles and shrugs. Spotlight intensifies on him. Butterflies flap more vigorously. Mongolian shaman dances tighter circles and holds up a copy of the famous textbook.] So, what kind of novels do you write?

BLAKE: Fantasy.

MINOR DEITY OF INTERNAL MEDICINE: Like Harry Potter?

BLAKE: Oh, I mean adult fantasy.

MINOR DEITY OF INTERNAL MEDICINE: “Adult” fantasy? Like Debbie Does Dallas?

[Suddenly the CROWD OF DOCTORS goes dead silent, and looks at BLAKE.]

BLAKE: [blushing] Oh…no, more like…like…Gandolph Gone Wild.

[Enter stage right BEARDED AND ROBED MEN dressed alternately in grey and white.]

BEARDED AND ROBED MEN: [running wildly across stage] Woooooo! YAYAYAYA! Woooo!

CROWD OF DOCTORS: [forming a huddle behind MINOR DEITY OF INTERNAL MEDICINE] Ahhh, help us! Save our souls. The geriatric ward has gone commando! We’re doomed! Help! Help!

MINOR DEITY OF INTERNAL MEDICINE: [holding up arms and shouting] You shall not pass!

BEARDED AND ROBED MEN: [standing still in stunned silence] What did you say?

MINOR DEITY OF INTERNAL MEDICINE: [holding up arms and shouting] You! Shall! Not! Paaaaaaaasssss!

BEARDED AND ROBED MEN: Fuck that! [continue cheering and running to stage left] Woooo! Show us your staff!!!! Woooo! [exit stage left]

[Silent moment passes before CROWD OF DOCTORS begins to chatter among themselves and eat bagels]

MINOR DEITY OF INTERNAL MEDICINE: [mildly] So, surreptitiously taking furosemide, you say?

[Blackout]

*and legally non-binding.

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About Blake:

Debut novelist and medical student, Blake Charlton is a new face in both fields working to establish a dual career in fiction and medicine.

Currently, Blake is writing fantasy novels, science fiction short stories, and academic essays on medical education and biomedical ethics.

To connect with Blake link here: Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Live Journal, Goodreads

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To link to Layers of Thought’s preview of Spellwright Blake’s first novel in his trilogy please click on the picture below.

Don’t you just love the cover?

The above fun snippet is a copy of Blake’s original post on his blog – permission granted by the author. Thanks Blake!

Please feel free to comment. Our guest would love to read your thoughts, and perhaps he will grace us with a response or two.

Thanks for reading Layers of Thought.

Review by Shellie: Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan – A rare five star read for me!

2010-02-27T08:53:00.001-07:00

*Both these covers are wonderful.*

Genre: YA Dark Fantasy, Fairytale Retelling

Set Up:

This story is a version of the tale Rose Red and Snow White, which, according to the link, has no connection to the American version or any other version of Snow White. Wikipedia (linked in the title above) states the original story is about a poor widow and her two daughters, whom have a wild bear as a companion. It also involves an evil dwarf and treasure.

Unlike the actual tale, and with some artistic license given by Margo Lanagan to give it depth and interest, this retelling of the tale has an interesting bear connection. The author apparently viewed an actual bear festival on television prior to writing the story. This was consequentially added to her story.

An additional difference is that the setting is within two parallel worlds connected by magic, where the real world is a version of our past being lit only by fire. The second realm is called the false world or that of the “heart’s desire”. It is an idealized version created in desperation by the main character Liga (the mother), through personal trauma and her inability to deal with reality.

My Thoughts:

There are many things I like about Tender Morsels. The writing is evocative and disturbing; the language used is set in period with an English/Australian bent, making it feel old and rural; the book cover renditions support some of the major themes within the story (I am highly visual); and the evil characters are given a perspective which helps the reader to sympathize with them – because that's what happens in real life.

It is a wonderfully complex rendition of the original story. It is multilayered where the author brings in some important themes, two of which are Women’s issues around social oppression and strength.

Here is a quote which shows the oppressiveness of the social structure of the real world compared to the “heart’s desire” world:

Annie peered and grinned. “Heh-heh. There is nothing like upbringing up in a heaven to give a girl a false confidence.”

“False, you think?” said Liga anxiously, dropping the lace back across the windo.

“The size o’ that mob, Liga? I say false. Get yourself dressed, girl, in your very best; we will need to summon all the menfolk and all the respectability we can, if she’s not to be whipped in the street.”

To be raised in an environment with no constraints one may have a false confidence about one’s ability to counter social mores of a present society, no matter how warranted they are.

Another quote regarding one woman’s strength:

…She, Urdda, must see that place someday, where women dressed so beautifully yet so plain, rode about alone. No one would dare spit upon this woman, or call out at her. She had a different kind of boldness, a strength that did not defy that of men so much as ignore it, or take its place without question beside it – Urdda wanted some of that boldness.

A wonderful role model for young women.

Be forewarned this is not a light story, and addresses some very very dark and difficult issues. Which I have not mentioned here. It is not a story which everyone is going to enjoy or even like.

Tender Morsels won the World Fantasy Award for 2009 covering the year 2008. Personally, I can see why. I love dark fantasy which touches on important social issues and is also well written. This is exceptional. I have given this story a rare 5 stars.

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I found Tender Morsels through Amanda from The Zen Leaf who gave it 4.5 stars. I was further propelled into reading it because several other friends whom reviewed it highly on Goodreads – Nancy and Emilie. Both have given it 5 stars.

Nancy states:

Beautifully written, rich, disturbing, compelling, yet hopeful, with vividly drawn characters whose tragic and joyful lives fully engage the emotions.

Emilie states:

Tender Morsels explores denial and how it holds us captive as it seems to rescue us; what it is to be saved, what can be salvaged after devastating loss, what is the essential to the human heart, what it is to live, to love, to be human, to be wounded, to survive, what we loss, what we can gain back, what we hope for, the strange power of dreams and what we dream of, how our dreams keep us alive, transform us, and can even keep us tucked too tight and bound as a pupa in cocoon.

Gavin at Page 247 gave it 4 stars. She recommends it for older teens as a middle school educator.
Firefly’s Book Blog also gave 4 stars.

For contrary thoughts and an excellent review on the book:

Ken at Nethspace gave the book 2 stars. His review is here.

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Margo Lanagan (links to her blog) gives a grounding interview about her book here and counters the controversy with some realistic answers about why she address such difficult and controversial issues. You can find it here.

This book was borrowed from the local library. I am however, looking for a first edition to start collectin. * A book nut – diving further into the rabbit hole.*

This book will be appropriate for a number of challenges linked below.

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Purchasing links from Amazon - US/UK/Canada; and The Book Depository - AUD and Euro.

Thoughts contrary to mine, links to your reviews of this book, as well as other recommendations are always welcome.

Thanks for reading Layers of Thought.

Review by Shellie: Soulless by Gail Carriger

2010-02-26T09:35:00.001-07:00

Genre: Urban Fantasy; Steam Punk; Alternative Reality… and more

Set Up:

In an alternative Victorian London within a steam punk setting, this story depicts a society which is very much like it would have been 130 years ago – excluding the steam punk of course. The only difference is that it includes Vampires, Werewolves, and Ghosts as an accepted part of society.

The main character, Alexia, is special. She is a preternatural, which actually means she is soulless. This has special circumstances for all the supernatural beings in the story. Besides that, she is a spinster, curvy, feisty, and intellectual. All being characteristics which have not been looked upon as positive for a woman living during this time period.

The story includes a set of supernatural characters including a hunky Alpha werewolf, a swishy male vampire with an 18th century fashion sense, and a delicate friend with a love for bad hats. They are all mixed up within a mystery where some intense romance ensues, combined with an amazing mishmash of sub genres – mixing urban fantasy, steam punk, and alternative reality.

My Thoughts:

Amazingly this was my first steam punk novel, and second urban fantasy. What a great fun read. It made me laugh out loud, giggle, and blush. It has some very interesting yet tasteful romantic interludes, as well as a few evil and funny entanglements. I love feisty women with parasols.

The language is intelligent and felt just enough like the period in which it was set, but understandable for a modern reader. It is also wryly funny, and Alexia is determined to go against the societal norm for women. Which makes her a wonderful and strong female character. My favorite.

Highly recommended for an intellectual, humorous, and fun read. I give Soulless - 4 stars. I am looking forward to the next book in her series which is called Changeless, and then Blameless.

Other reviews of Soulless:

Aarti at Booklust
Misty at Book Rat

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Author Bio:

Ms. Carriger began writing in order to cope with being raised in obscurity by an expatriate Brit and an incurable curmudgeon. She escaped small town life and inadvertently acquired several degrees in Higher Learning. Ms. Carriger then traveled the historic cities of Europe, subsisting entirely on biscuits secreted in her handbag. She now resides in the Colonies, surrounded by a harem of Armenian lovers, where she insists on tea imported directly from London and cats that pee into toilets. She is fond of teeny tiny hats and tropical fruit. Soulless is her first book.

Contact Gail at Goodreads,Twitter, her Blog.

If you enjoy upbeat tweets and funny posts with a slight Victorian and steampunk fashion bent – she is one to follow.

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This book is appropriate for several challenges linked to the badges below:

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This book was borrowed from my favorite place to find books – the local library.

Amazon purchasing information US/UK/Canada The Book Depository Euro/AUD

Links for your reviews are all welcome! Thanks for reading Layers of Thought.

Review by Shellie and John: The Metamorphosis By Fanz Kafka

2010-02-25T12:07:00.001-07:00

There are some amazing covers for this book – I liked this one. It links to the Amazon US book purchase site for this edition.

Genre: Classic Horror

Mini Synopsis:

As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect. – Franz Kafka The Metamorphosis

A novella published in 1915, it is set in Europe in the early 1900’s. The main character, Gregor Samsa wakes one morning to find that he has transformed into a bug. Being the sole support of his aging parents and teenage sister he becomes increasingly worried about their future. They are appalled at his appearance and leave him in his bedroom alone while hoping he disappears.

Shellie’s Thoughts:

John and I listened to this audio book while driving. It was unabridged. This will be a joint review.

We both agreed that, while the narration was done with an English accent and was pleasant it was surprisingly upbeat in tone, it felt like a slightly bizarre period piece, telling of woes in that particular time. Where instead of the main character having a terminal disease he turned into a beetle.

This horrific event espouses the horrors of loss, abandonment, loosing one’s ability to communicate, and station in life, as well as our ability to truly recognize who we are or what we have become.

I felt that although the writing/reading was intriguing, I wanted more. Perhaps it is being so accustomed to drama and hype within modern day reading The Metamorphosis went comparatively limp. We agreed and gave this book 3 Stars. We liked it but it was not what we expected.

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An Austrian/Czech author born – July 3, 1883 died – June 3, 1924. He is purported to be one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. Sadly, he was not well known until after his death.

For Wikipedia information on Franz Kafka link on his above picture.

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Thinking about The Metamorphosis further - apparently there are a number of layered meanings within the story which are not apparent without discussion. Amanda at The Zen Leaf noted in a written conversation about the book in Goodreads. It was in response to her recent review of a graphic novel rendition of the title (linked to her blog on her name.) Here is a snippet below:

I adore the original. I've read it 4-5 times now.

Oh it has so much in it! The conflict between old and new testament in the Bible and the changing world attitudes towards religion. The father-son psychoanalytic conflict. And much much more. It's the sort of book that's best studied with a class or in a group to get a full appreciation of everything in it. Each time I read it, I get something new out of it.

This is why we love talking about books. Thanks Amanda!

John’s Post Discussion Thoughts:

For a book that is widely regarded as a classic, I was a little surprised and was somehow expecting more. I can see how there are different layers to the story, and can well imagine that with repeat reading or with discussion, greater depth becomes apparent.

For example, I just read a view that the most radical metamorphosis in the story was not Gregor himself, but rather how his family reacted to him and to their changed circumstances. Which is a most excellent twist and now seems obvious, but I didn’t get that at the time. Maybe listening while driving was not the best way to experience this story.

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This book is appropriate for several challenges linked below:

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This audio book was borrowed from the local library – what a deal!

Purchasing links for the audio version of this book from The Book Depository US/Euro/AUD/Canada

All links to your reviews of this book, contrary thoughts, and miscellaneous musings are welcome. Thanks for reading Layers of Thought.

Review by Shellie: Nibble & Kuhn by David Schmahman

2010-02-24T09:46:00.001-07:00

Genre: General Fiction

Set Up:

Derick Dover is a young attorney working as an associate lawyer for an old established Boston law firm. He is hoping for a partnership with the growing firm and has become involved with another lawyer named Maria Parma whom he works with. She is vaguely fickle and unavailable but emotionally and physically toys with him. Additionally he is handed a botched up and impossible to win environmental case involving children with cancer, which it is clear needs be won if he is to make partner.

Thoughts:

Although the above synopsis may sound a bit dry and the title of this book is slightly awkward, don’t let that fool you. This novel is not. It is a story which is completely addictive. The writing is intelligent, and flows easily, being sadly humorous at times. I devoured it in short order.

It’s Derick’s story as he navigates his world, examining it in terms of his choices and life’s meaning. Although he seems to be making all the wrong moves and wallowing in them, his humanness and personal insight is apparent. He is complex, revealing, and vulnerable. It’s exemplified when he mentions some thoughts about his father:

Men like my father, it seemed to me, honest, optimistic, making their decisions on something less than a solid knowledge of the rules, were just pawns of larger interests, and it was this impotence that I determined to avoid by becoming a lawyer. At the time I had no idea – though I did already begin to suspect in law school – how inadequate my analysis was.

In the end the novel appears to be about the choices we make and the ones which we believe create our lives. But in actuality, its about the “crap shoot” that often defines our future. The conclusion supports this with its improbable twist. Highly recommended at 4 stars.

For more information about David Schmahman as well as purchasing links go to Layers of Thought’s Preview of Nibble & Kuhn.

Thanks for reading Layers of Thought.

Three Book Set Giveaway: Matthew Reilly’s Action Sci Fi – The Jack West, Jr. Series

2010-02-23T07:15:00.001-07:00

A three book set giveaway, it is international, and you do not have to be a visible follower to enter and win!

Below is some information about the 3 books all in order of the most recently published to the first in the series.

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The Five Greatest Warriors

Hardcover: 400 pages

Publisher: Simon & Schuster (January 5, 2010)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1416577572

ISBN-13: 978-1416577577

IT BEGAN WITH SIX STONES...

From the deserts of Israel to the tsunami-lashed coasts of Japan, from the steppes of Mongolia to the most mysterious island on Earth -- this is what we have come to expect from Matthew Reilly: stupendous action, white-knuckle suspense, heroes to cheer for, and an adventure beyond imagination. Strap yourself in and hold on tight as he unleashes his biggest and fastest adventure yet, The 5 Greatest Warriors.

When we last left Jack West Jr., he was plummeting into a fathomless abyss and his quest to save the world from impending Armageddon appeared doomed. But all hope is not lost.

After an astonishing escape, Jack regroups with his trusty team. Racing to rebuild the final pieces of the fabled "Machine," they discover an ancient inscription containing a rhyme about five mysterious unnamed warriors -- great historical figures whose knowledge will be vital to unlocking the secrets of the Machine and its long-lost "pillars." But the ancients have hidden their secrets well, and with each pillar bestowing an incredible power upon its holder, their pursuit has attracted the attention of other forces from around the world -- some who want to rule it and others who want to see it destroyed.

With enemies coming at him from every side and the countdown to doomsday rapidly approaching, Jack and his team had better move fast. Because they are about to find out what the end of the world looks like...

The Six Sacred Stones

Mass Market Paperback: 592 pages

Publisher: Pocket; Reprint edition (December 30, 2008)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1416505075

ISBN-13: 978-1416505075

THE END OF THE WORLD IS HERE

After their thrilling exploits in Matthew Reilly's rampaging New York Times bestseller, 7 Deadly Wonders, supersoldier Jack West Jr. and his loyal team of adventurers are back, and now they face an all-but-impossible challenge.

A mysterious ceremony in an unknown location has triggered a catastrophic countdown that will climax in no less than the end of all life on Earth. But Jack and his team might be able to ward off the coming Armageddon if they can find the fabled Six Sacred Stones, which hold clues to a legendary ancient device long lost in the fog of history. As the hunt begins, Jack and his team discover that they are not the only ones seeking the Stones...and that there might just be other players out there who don't want to see the world saved at all.

From Stonehenge in England to the deserts of Egypt to the spectacular Three Gorges region in China, The 6 Sacred Stones will take you on a nonstop rollercoaster ride through ancient history, modern military hardware, and some of the fastest and most mind-blowing action you will ever hear.

The Seven Deadly Wonders

Mass Market Paperback: 576 pages

Publisher: Pocket (December 26, 2006)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1416505067

ISBN-13: 978-1416505068

AN ANCIENT SECRET . . . A TEAM OF HEROES . . . THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME

A legend of the ancient world decrees that every 4,500 years, a terrible solar event will wreak worldwide destruction . . . but whoever sets the Golden Capstone atop the Great Pyramid at Giza will avert disaster and gain the ultimate prize: a millennium of world dominance.

Now the Sun is turning once again and nation will battle nation to retrieve the missing Capstone . . . but a group of small nations, led by super-soldier Jack West Jr., bands together to prevent any one country from attaining this frightening power. Thus the greatest treasure hunt of all time begins -- an adrenaline fueled race on a global battlefield.

From the Colossus of Rhodes to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon to the Great Egyptian Pyramid itself, unlock the thrills of The Seven Deadly Wonders.

******************************************************************************** Matthew Reilly is the international bestselling author of eight novels: The 6 Sacred Stones, 7 Deadly Wonders, Ice Station, Temple, Contest, Area 7, Scarecrow, and the children's book Hover Car Racer, and one novella, Hell Island. His books are published in more than eighteen languages in twenty countries, and he has sold more than 3.5 million copies worldwide.

For more information see his personal website, and Simon & Schuster’s page. There is also a trailer for his The Five Greatest Warriors at the publisher’s site and samples to read.

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Here are several other cover styles available in the UK and Canada.

Amazon purchasing links for The Five Greatest Warriors – US/UK/Canada and from The Book Depository in Euros and AUD.

Amazon purchasing links for The 6 Sacred Stones – US/UK/Canada and from The Book Depository in Euros and AUD.

Amazon purchasing links for The Seven Deadly Wonders– US/UK/Canada and from The Book Depository in Euros and AUD.

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Now for the Giveaway:

You do not have to be a follower for this giveaway. Anyone can enter.

Contest Info:

To enter you must:

comment
include in the post your email so that I can contact you

For optional extra points you can do any, or all of the below for 1 entry point each. All entries may be included in one single comment.

Be a subscriber of Layers of Thought – google or facebook. (I need to be able to see you – and to get updates in facebook feed please add me as a friend.)
Blog it - side bars are great - please provide links
Tweet it – provide links please
Friend on Twitter
Friend on Goodreads
Friend on Book Blogs
Friend on Glue - new to glue? have questions? let me know.

This giveaway is International.

Contest ends Sunday March 15, 2010 at 12 pm US Pacific time. Winner will be posted and notified on Friday March 19, 2010.

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A big thanks to Elizabeth from Simon & Schuster for offering this to Layers of Thought’s readers!

Review by JD coming soon for the first book in the series – The Seven Deadly Wonders. Here is a snippet of what he thought:

I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fast-paced action stories and mysterious quests.

Have fun and good luck!

Preview: Spellwright by Blake Charlton

2010-02-22T09:36:00.001-07:00

Book Stats:

Hardcover: 352 pages

Publisher: Tor Books (March 2, 2010)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0765317273

ISBN-13: 978-0765317278

Goodreads Book Info:

Nicodemus is a young, gifted wizard with a problem. Magic in his world requires the caster to create spells by writing out the text . . . but he has always been dyslexic, and thus has trouble casting even the simplest of spells. And his misspells could prove dangerous, even deadly, should he make a mistake in an important incantation.

Yet he has always felt that he is destined to be something more than a failed wizard. When a powerful, ancient evil begins a campaign of murder and disruption, Nicodemus starts to have disturbing dreams that lead him to believe that his misspelling could be the result of a curse. But before he can discover the truth about himself, he is attacked by an evil which has already claimed the lives of fellow wizards and has cast suspicion on his mentor. He must flee for his own life if he’s to find the true villain.

But more is at stake than his abilities. For the evil that has awakened is a power so dread and vast that if unleashed it will destroy Nicodemus... and the world.

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Here is the cover for the UK copy in the grey tones and the softbound cover in the warm tones – which do you like best?

Spellwright is the first book in a trilogy, Spellbound and Disjunction are the next two in the series.

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Goodreads Bio:

Blake Charlton first overcame severe dyslexia in the sixth grade when he began sneaking fantasy and science fiction books into special ed study hall. Inspired, he went on to graduate summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Yale University. After college, he worked as an English teacher, a medical writer for UCSF and Stanford, a tutor for the learning disabled, and a JV football coach. Blake is currently a third-year medical student at Stanford medical school, where he teaches creative writing for medical students and has received a fellowship to write fiction. SPELLWRIGHT, his first novel, is due out in the US in March 2010, in the UK August 2010 from Voyager Books. Blake’s hobbies include cycling, swimming, backpacking, and collecting jokes about dyslexia and premature baldness.

To connect with Blake link here: Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Live Journal, Goodreads

The e-copy of Spellwright was received for review by Layers of Thought from the author. Thanks Blake!

Pre purchasing links from Amazon - US/UK/Canada; and The Book Depository - AUD and Euro.

Funny guest post, personal book review, and author interview all coming soon!

The Winner for The Gathering Storm is……

2010-02-19T16:03:00.001-07:00

And you had thought I’d forgotten…

We finally have a winner for the first edition signed copy of A Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson which includes two fun bumper sticker as well… Drum Roll Please…

Christine from Book Tumbling

Yeah Christine – Congratulations!

I will send you an email and you have 48 hours to respond to it and comment on this post.

Thanks to everyone who entered this contest.

Stay tuned for our next giveaway coming next week. It is a three book set giveaway which is an action packed science fiction series, with the latest just published. The best news is that you don’t have to be a (visible) follower to enter this contest.

Thanks for reading Layers of Thought.

Giveaway: Five Ebooks with a Christian Horror Theme – Dance on Fire by James Garcia Jr.

2010-02-19T13:50:00.001-07:00

Knowing that a number of readers here at Layers of Thought enjoy reading Christian genre books, here are five free Ebooks in different formats at Free Ebook Friday – Dance on Fire at All Things Smart and Scary.

Contest info taken directly from Nicole’s blog.

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Here's the blurb:

If you want to read a more detailed teaser, you can go to James's Facebook page right here, and if you want to know more about James, he's now got his own awesome-looking blog.

Contest will run until Sunday night, with winners being announced on Monday. Here's the contest question:

*In James's short story, Max, posted earlier on this blog, what's the name and sex of the cat for whom Audrey is looking?*

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To enter the contest please leave your comments and answers at All Things Smart and Scary. Have fun and good luck!

Review by Shellie: RELEASE by Nicole Hadaway

2010-02-18T14:46:00.001-07:00

Genre: Historical Fiction/Horror
Format: Ebook
Publisher: EBooks Undead

Synopsis:

Set in war torn Europe during WWII where a group of otherworldly women – a vampire, a werewolf, and a demon - help the resistance move Jewish children to safety. They team up with an incognito Jewish doctor as they make their way across the countryside. The cast goes on to include a witch, fallen angels, a lesbian couple, and an interesting concept of the devil himself. Throw in a male vampire and demon, a priest fallen to the dark side and you have a complex set of characters, where some feed on humans but are saving children too. Most of the protagonists exist in a “grey area” of morality. All this is set within a horrific time period where factions of Hitler’s legions are attempting to connect with total evil.

Love ensues within the intense drama of the story, however, in the end an important “soul” is lost possibly leaving the setup for another novel in her series.

My Thoughts:

This is a first novel for Nicole Hadaway and she has created a well thought out and mostly well explained paranormal world. She has taken one of the most horrific events in our collective consciousness and recent history, and coupled it up with the occult and religious mythology with some elements based in truth, thereby creating a very scary tale.

One interesting aspect within the story line is that the title is brought up on several different levels throughout the book. Which solidifies the concept and why it was used. It did take me some time to figure exactly why the title was RELEASE which makes it multilayered and intriguing. (No spoilers here.)

My only minor grumble is that I would have liked to see definitions for some of the otherworldly and biblical connections, names, and symbols, perhaps at the end of the book. The references are numerous and I believe many readers will not know what they are – I did not. This aspect does however make the book interesting, intelligent, and challenging. All good things. And thanks to Google, I now know some of their creepy definitions.

Highly recommended if you like historical fiction – especially WWII, vampires, paranormal, otherworldly, religious, occult, and mythical connections. If so, then you will devour this book.

I give the book 4 Stars since I enjoyed it immensely!

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Nicole is currently working on her follow up book for this series. The sequel is called RETURN and is planned to be published in Fall of this year. She is also working on several short stories related to the main character with RELEASE. One which is set in New Orleans in 1842 and the other in Egypt in 1906. Her third novel in the series, REDEEM is planned to be published in 2011.

If your interested in finding out more about RELEASE, reading a sample, want to find out more about Nicole Hadaway, or purchasing the book, please link above and here to Layers of Thought’s Preview of RELEASE.

This book is offered in e format, and is published by a small press - EBooks Undead. RELEASE is, however, well edited and worthy of your time, especially if you love intelligent horror and/or vampires. It is our pleasure to support new authors with small press publishers at Layers of Thought.

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This book review will be used in a number of challenges:

This books is appropriate for the GLBT challenge since two secondary characters within the story are women in a long term committed relationship.

All badges will link to the challenge update posts here on Layers of Thought when the review has been posted to each challenge site.

Thanks for reading Layers of Thought.

What’s Next? Fauzia Burke from FSB Associates Suggests the Future of Social Media and its Effects on Marketing Books

2010-02-17T16:50:00.001-07:00

Real Time Web for Old Time Books: The Benefit of Social Media for Publisher and Authors
By Fauzia Burke

Real Time Web was coined to describe online activities in real time -- from status updates on Facebook, to microblogging on Twitter to uploading photos and videos on other social media sites. With the ease of mobile devices like iPhones, this type of communication has grown tremendously in 2009. Now Google (video) is offering the power of real time web searching to millions everyday. Although you may cringe when considering the personal implication of searching your updates and Twitter feeds, you can't deny the benefits to publicity and marketing.

According to Nielsen, social media and blogs are now more popular than email. As marketers, this presents us with a great opportunity. Reader engagement is not only important in today's market, it is essential. Although your web site is important, a savvy marketer knows that a page on Facebook is even more important for interacting with fans and potential readers. With Google and Bing now offering real time search results, the ease, power and speed of sharing information is changing before our eyes. Word of mouth has never been shared faster or more easily. It is important to remember that social media is public communication, you probably should never share personal information, comments or thoughts you don't want spread. But you can't simply ignore what investors are calling a new Web Revolution.

By staying off of Twitter and Facebook as a marketer you are not only missing out on community building, but you are also unaware of the conversations taking place about you, your books, and your competition. Real time search results are changing the speed at which a conversation spreads online. It is more important than ever to manage brand and reputation on social media sites. Content is streaming live with or without your blessing.

Some fantastic sites that offer good information on Twitter conversations are Topsy which shows how many people retweeted you. For example, if you do a topsy search on my name you'd see that my HuffPost blog about Facebook was retweeted 118 times, others were not as popular. Sency allows you to search topics and conversations, and Dailyrt allows you to track what is important to people right now.

These tools can allow you to stay on top of messaging. For marketing and publicity people, it can give you fresh ideas and leads for more exposure. For editors, it may give you ideas for your next book project and for authors it can most certainly show you what's important to your readers right now. Opinions are being shared online and in real time, and now through searches we can find them and notice trends and measure excitement.

Today if you do a search for Oprah on Google, the search results will include social media results, which means you can see what people said about Oprah a minute ago (see midway down). If that doesn't inspire awe (and a little fear) in you, I would be amazed.

Conversations are happening online in real time and now these conversations are being tracked, measured and searched. By becoming part of the community and paying attention to the dialogue around you, I believe your marketing efforts will benefit greatly this year and in the years to come. Real Time Web is becoming the norm -- there are tons of apps and programs coming that will make it easier for us to know what people are saying, where they are gathering, and what they are reading in real time.

Author Bio:

Fauzia Burke is the Founder and President of FSB Associates, an Internet marketing firm specializing in creating online awareness for books and authors. For more information, please visit FSBAssociates.com. Follow FSB Associates on Twitter: www.twitter.com/FSBAssociates

What are your thoughts, tips, and disagreements as readers/reviewers, authors, publicists/editors, and sellers of books around the issues shared above? How about your experiences with social networking and some of its newer developments? Are they working for you?

Thanks for reading Layers of Thought.

New Author Challenge 2010

2010-02-16T17:54:00.001-07:00

A bit late of a start but what a great challenge…

Information was taken directly from the host site Literary Escapism where the link takes you to the challenge sign up and review posts page for Mr. Linky:

The idea behind this is to find new authors that you’ve never tried before. They can be in your genre of choice or be brave and try something new. You never know what you’re going to like until you try it. If you’re looking for some suggestions, you can check out the Author page here at Literary Escapism or the 2009 Challenge page. With over 1000 reviews posted, I’m sure there will be something there for everyone.

Here are the guidelines:

The challenge will run from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010.

Since this is an author challenge, there is no restriction on choosing your novels. They can definitely be from other challenges. However, the authors must be new to you and, preferably from novels. Anthologies are a great way to try someone new, but only a third of your new authors can be from anthologies.

I want this to be an easy challenge, so you can pick to do either 15, 25 or 50 new authors. It all depends on how fast you read and how adventurous you want to be. For me, I’m trying another 50 new authors. If you reach your goal halfway through the year, don’t stop. Any new author you try can be added to Mr. Linky. We all want to know about your new experience.

After reading your new author, write your review and then come back here and add your link to Mr. Linky. Make sure you include your name and the author, but adding the title is completely up to you.

Bloggers or Non-Bloggers alike are welcome

This looks like a fun and relevant challenge. One which will be easy to finish since almost all the books featured, read, and reviewed here on Layers of Thought are from authors we have not read before.

So lets put the goal at 50 new author’s this year.

All book reviews for this challenge will be listed and linked below:

Review links:

RELEASE by Nicole Hadaway – (horror)
Soulless by Gail Carrigan – (urban fantasy)
The Metamorphosis by Frank Kafka (horror)
Nibble & Kuhn by David Schmahmann (general fiction)

4 down 46 to go!