December 2010 Blog Posts (200)

Well, the summer school holidays are here (I'm in Australia), and already my 9 and 6 year old sons have driven each other crazy, and by flow-on effect, me as well.  Won't have as much time to write my third novel over the hols, but am still plugging like crazy 'Abernethy', which is young adult - coming of age with a touch of the supernatural.  The supernatural aspect is the titular character, who is a beagle and can speak to certain people, and one of those people is my 14 year old…

Author of historical romance Grace Elliot, takes a fresh look and the legend of Dick Whittington and ponders how Puss earnt him a fortune.

Exactly how did Puss make Dick Whittington’s…

BOOM! Studios put out this graphic novel written and created by Samuel L. Jackson /Eric Calderon with the artwork done by Jeremy Rock. Yes, it is THE Samuel L. Jackson. Who knew the guy was a comic book fan? He explains all that in the introduction in a style that is all his own. I had the feeling he was talking directly to me, explaining what I was going to be experiencing in the graphic novel. Here is the synopsis of the 112 page Cold Space:

“From Academy Award-nominee Samuel L.…

Strike One! received its first professional book review - 5 out 5 stars from Midwest Book Review!  The final statement of the review reads "A story of bullying and what other students can do to help, Strike One! is a thoughtful read, and very highly recommended for younger readers."  It's not too late to get your copy for Christmas - currently on sale at Amazon.com!

I was hoping that this was not a digital short story about The South of The Border. I have come to know and now skip stopping at South of the Border off of Interstate 95 on our way down south on vacation. I like the neon as a marker in the evening, the billboards make me think of my childhood, but I could only think a good comedy would come of a story revolving around it. Thankfully David DeLee has something else in mind. Grace deHaviland rides again: ”Tracking a U.S. bail jumper across the…

Today is going to be a hybrid type of day. I got stuck, or should I say had the joy, of doing some serious Christmas shopping yesterday and didn’t finish off Graphic Novel Friday as I would have liked to. Add to that the Samuel L. Jackson graphic novel I picked up and the interest, comments, and questions about it, I knew I had to hustle today and get this all done. Tuesday I launch my best of the year lists a little later than I wanted to, but hey, life happens. Let’s get right into the…

I never thought roach droppings would become part of one of my favorite Christmas stories. But stories have a way of writing themselves…

My cat Avalon has become quite popular since his appearance in the film adaptation of my book The Strangers Outside. After being a movie star, he has now also a weekly cat cartoon at http://avalon-lion.blogspot.com. His fun, lighthearted stories about life as a cat will delight readers young and old. “Garfield was a phenomenon in the seventies and eighties,” Avalon says. “I believe cat lovers are ready for the feline star of the new millennium…

Review by Lauren S. Smith

Arms Akimbo: A Journey of Healing, written by Audrey Roth, is the story of a terror-filled childhood and the aftermath of pain and healing. Roth chronicles her life from a childhood of sexual abuse and incest to the recovery process that led her to write this book for others.

From the age of three years old, Roth was repeatedly molested by her own father. As traumatic as this…

~~~ First, we welcome our two newest authors to CBM, Author Chris Tatevosian who authored Life Interrupted It's Not All About Me, and also Author Elaine Cooper author of The Road To Deer Run. Both authors took us up on the offer to have a independent authors page at CBM and we are happy to have you aboard.



~~~ We also…

I have turned into a huge Geoff Johns and Green Lantern fan. I saw this and had to pick it up; The Green Lantern and zombies. Could it get any better? Yes, I opened it up and began to get absorbed in it. Check out the particulars on this graphic novel:

“Comics hottest writer Geoff Johns (GREEN LANTERN: SINESTRO CORPS WAR, THE FLASH, ACTION COMICS, JSA) and superstar artist Ivan Reis raise the dead in this hardcover collection of the most anticipated comics event of the…

The Thing:  Idol of millions

Since the very first issue of the Fantastic Four, its most popular member has always been Ben Grimm, the Thing. Whether it was the fact that he looked like a monster, but you could root for him, because he was one of the good guys or the fact that underneath his rocky exterior, he was portrayed as a regular guy is up for debate. He was the one that asked the questions the reader had when weird science fiction stuff happened. Whatever the reason, his…

So I've finally made it to 40.  That seems like such an impossible age to be when I can recall taking the Peter Pan oath in 6th grade.  Time keeps slipping away.  So yesterday was spent in the French Quarter in New Orleans, one of my favorite places to be.  I got some of my books into another book store, but the main purpose of the visit was for fun, relaxing and reflecting.  We walked around down Frenchmen and then Decatur Street, past Jackson Square and the coach drivers.  Finally it was…

To Have and To Kill is the first novel in  a new series for Mary Jane Clark. I haven’t had the pleasure of reading one of her novels before so this was a first of firsts for me, I enjoyed it. Clark definitely drew me in right away. Here is what this novel is about:

“My new character, Piper Donovan, is a struggling actress with no immediate prospects and a recently broken engagement. Reluctantly, she moves back in with her parents to take stock of her life. Piper steps…

Back in the day I used to read all of Joseph Wambaugh’s novels: The New Centurions, The Blue Night, The Choirboys, The Black Marble, The Glitter Dome, The Onion Field (non-fiction). It seems I have missed nine novels since and four non-fiction books. I am not going to list them; you can see them on the inside of the novel, Hollywood Hills when you crack it open. Let’s get into the action shall we?

“The legendary Hollywood Hills are home to wealth, fame, and…

My latest novel, The Odyssey was released this month in print by my publisher Write Words, Inc.  To say that I was surprised is an understatement because it wasn't scheduled for release until January.  It is already up on Amazon.com at…

Book Trailer Contest!

Are you an author with an amazing book trailer?

Does it put other trailers to shame?

Is it the best thing on earth since sliced bread?

I am hosting a book trailer contest, open to any author with a book trailer. Whether you created it yourself, hired a professional, or your publisher created it, you may enter your trailer.

Rules for submitting a trailer to the contest:

You must be the author…

(chapter 6 excerpt from PIOUS, a novel by Kenn Bivins)

Carpious had seen many Christmas Eves — forty-five in fact — but most of his adult life was absent of the naïveté and excitement that can come from a child whose unlimited imagination swells with Christmas Day anticipation. Carpious and Sydney had previously discussed sharing Christmas festivities at Carpious’ house to Solomon’s glee. Several brightly wrapped gifts of varying…

Coming Spring 2011 - Allon Book 2 - HEIR APPARENT

When a defeated enemy comes to Allon offering a royal marriage, strange things begin to happen. Is this really an act of peace or an act of revenge? Can the Guardians learn the truth in time to protect the royal…