Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts

Sunday, October 5, 2014

Enjoyable Fantasy Novel: "Hounded" (Iron Druid Chronicles)!

I (Rob) thought I'd try something different and picked up a new paperback called "Hounded"
the Iron Druid Chronicles. I was really pleased!  It's about a 1,200 year old druid from Ireland that looks 21 and lives in Arizona... you can read the summary below. Anyway, its full of great characters, including an Irish Wolfhoud of the lead character's- who can communicate telepathically with him.  It also has witches, Irish and other  gods and goddesses, demons, vampires (one is a lawyer!) and werewolves. A really fun read!
  I'm looking forward to the next 2 in the series called "HExed" and "Hammered."  - Rob


The first novel in the Iron Druid Chronicles—introducing a cool, new, funny urban fantasy hero by Kevin Hearne

Atticus O’Sullivan, last of the Druids, lives peacefully in Arizona, running an occult bookshop and shape-shifting in his spare time to hunt with his Irish wolfhound. His neighbors and customers think that this handsome, tattooed Irish dude is about twenty-one years old—when in actuality, he’s twenty-one centuries old. Not to mention: He draws his power from the earth, possesses a sharp wit, and wields an even sharper magical sword known as Fragarach, the Answerer.

Unfortunately, a very angry Celtic god wants that sword, and he’s hounded Atticus for centuries. Now the determined deity has tracked him down, and Atticus will need all his power—plus the help of a seductive goddess of death, his vampire and werewolf team of attorneys, a bartender possessed by a Hindu witch, and some good old-fashioned luck of the Irish—to kick some Celtic arse and deliver himself from evil.  The Author's website is: http://kevinhearne.com/books/hounded

Friday, September 5, 2014

Great Tudor Era Mystery! "Murder at Westminster Abbey"

A must-read! 
It's infrequent that Tom and I read the same books but one book in a new murder mystery series became a must-read for both of us because it combined the history of the Tudor period (Queen Elizabeth) and a murder mystery.
   "Murder at Westminster Abbey" by Amanda Carmack was a GREAT book!
   I don't want to give anything away, so I'll just share the book summary. But if you know anything about the Tudor period of England, or if you just enjoy a good mystery this is a must-read. There are a lot of characters, but the court was a busy place. Regardless, the author really makes the characters all come to life and we really get to know and root for Kate, the lead character.
Queen Elizabeth plays a big part! 
  BOOK SUMMARY: 1559. Elizabeth is about to be crowned queen of England and wants her personal musician Kate Haywood to prepare music for the festivities. New to London, Kate must learn the ways of city life…and once again school herself as a sleuth.
 
Life at the center of the new royal court is abuzz with ambition and gossip—very different from the quiet countryside, where Kate served Elizabeth during her exile. Making her way among the courtiers who vie for the new queen’s favor, Kate befriends Lady Mary Everley. Mary is very close to Elizabeth. With their red hair and pale skin, they even resemble each other—which makes Mary’s murder all the more chilling.
 
The celebrations go on despite the pall cast over them. But when another redhead is murdered, Kate uncovers a deadly web of motives lurking just beneath the polite court banter, and follows the trail of a killer whose grievance can only be answered with royal blood.
Get it on Amazon here:  Murder-Westminster-Abbey

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

A Doggone Great Mystery: "The Dog Who Knew Too Much"

I'm a mystery fan (Rob) and of course I love dogs, being a dog dad, so the Chet and Bernie mystery series by Spencer Quinn is a great combination of my interests and has delivered another hit!  The fourth book in the series called "The Dog Who Knew Too Much" is another fun read. FIVE STARS (out of 5).
    The series is about Bernie Little who runs the "Little Detective Agency" and his faithful border collie Chet, who narrates all of the books!  It's so much fun to read these books narrated by Chet, because he gets distracted by stories of encounters he and Bernie had in the past that remind him of something in the present- like doing something and then suddenly... "SQUIRREL!" and all concentration is gone.  :) 
 - Bernie and Chet are hired to find out what happened to a kid that went to a wilderness camp and never came back with the rest of the boys in his troop. The mystery really takes them deep into the woods where they find corruption, blackmail, and some seedy characters. 
  This is another great read and you won't want to put it down. Bravo Spencer Quinn! I can't wait to read the next in the series! and... "Go, Chet the Jet!" (You'll get that when you read the series).  - Rob
  Be sure to check the website, too - because Chet features his dog friend of the day and other fun stuff: http://www.chetthedog.com/

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Recommeded Mystery: Deadly Stakes by J.A. Jance

J.A Jance is one of my (Rob) favorite mystery writers and the latest in the series of Ali Reynolds mysteries is another winner. I read this book in about 1 1/2 weeks (amidst all the comics and graphic novels, magazines, newspaper, etc. I read) and it's gripping. You really feel for the characters and want to know what's happening with whom.
  Of course, it opens with a murder of a haughty, selfish, snobbish woman, and it's hard to figure out who did it- but it all makes sense. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! 
 
THE BOOK SUMMARY: Former reporter Ali Reynolds finds herself working against the police to add up the clues that connect one frightened teenager, two dead bodies, and $300,000 . . . with the body count rising.
    Hired to investigate the grisly murder of a gold-digging divor­cée on behalf of the woman accused of the crime, Ali Reynolds is immediately drawn to the case of the secretive teenager who found the body. A. J. Sanders was in the Camp Verde desert to retrieve a mystery box buried by his absent father—a box that turns out to be filled with hundreds of thousands of dol­lars’ worth of poker chips. When a second body is found in the desert, it seems the three cases are more closely related than anyone could have imagined. Though Ali’s friends in the police department grow increasingly irritated by her involvement, Ali must stop a ruthless killer from claiming another victim . . . before she is lost in this game of deadly stakes.
**to get the book on Amazon-Click here**

Friday, May 30, 2014

Another Great "Murder She Wrote" mystery: Trouble at High Tide

Another great book in the series!
 Sometimes the mysteries I've read are so great that I can the entire book in week, and all of the Murder She Wrote mystery series books are just like that for me:Trouble at High Tide was no exception.  Jessica is invited to come down to Bermuda to stay at a cottage on the property of a judge she met in New Jersey. The judge sends her a plane ticket when he and his family travel to Bermuda and Jessica gets caught up in "Jack the Ripper-style" murders. The judge's family is also directly affected. The Judge has three ex-wives, children that don't care for him, and even neighbors that don't like him, so there's a lot of discord to untangle. As with all Murder She Wrote novels, this one will keep you guessing as you read how mystery novel writer Jessica Fletcher figures it all out.
  Like all of the others in the series I highly recommend book! - Rob

Monday, April 14, 2014

Book Review! Murder She Wrote: Queen's Jewels

I (Rob) am a HUGE Fan of "Murder She Wrote" and the novels that are companion to the TV series never disappoint. I love these books. The latest I read was "The Queen's Jewels" and you feel like
you're on board with Jessica Fletcher as she tries to solve the mystery. She meets some interesting characters and some you may remember from the TV Show that made appearances from time to time.  The story will leave you wanting to finish quickly. HIGHLY Recommended!!


BOOK SUMMARY: Jessica Fletcher has always wanted to take a transatlantic voyage on the legendary Queen Mary 2. Now, she's finally getting her chance. But when the investigation of a stolen diamond follows her up the gangplank, she must try to enjoy the sumptuous seaborne surroundings while searching for a priceless diamond-and the person desperate enough to take a life for it.
To Order on Amazon: Murder She Wrote: The Queen's Jewels

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Book Reviews! Trial By Fire / 1 Dead in Attic

I (Rob) have been reading a lot of books lately (while trying to set up events for my new book) and finished a couple of good ones.
TRIAL BY FIRE- by J.A. Jance- This writer has been one of my favorite mystery writers for over a decade. She has three primary series, and this series features Ali Reynolds, who winds up doing media relations for an Arizona Sheriff. She gets involved in a mysterious arson that leads to all kinds of twists and turns. It's a page turner!! - Rob 

HERE'S THE SUMMARY: In this riveting and addictive New York Times bestseller, Ali Reynolds strives to grant a dying woman’s last request—to find the people who tried to kill her, before they return to finish the job.  In the heat of the Arizona desert, a raging fire pushes temperatures to a deadly degree, and one woman is left to burn. Pulled naked and barely breathing from the flames, the victim has no idea who she is, let alone who would do this to her—or why. Then a savior appears by her hospital bedside. Sister Anselm is a devoted advocate for unidentified patients, but to Jane Doe’s remorseless would-be killer, she poses a serious threat as she stands in the way.
   Ali Reynolds, the police department’s new media consultant, struggles to help Sister Anselm locate the unidentified woman’s missing relatives. But their efforts may be exposing the victim once more to danger. In the fearless pursuit of justice, Ali discovers a secret even darker and more twisted than she ever could have imagined. (To order on Amazon: Trial by Fire)

1 DEAD IN ATTIC by Chris Rose- This is a series of newspaper columns written by Chris Rose,
who returned to New Orleans right after Hurricane Katrina to document life during the recovery. It's a sobering look at how slowly things recover and how desperate the situation gets after a major landfalling hurricane. The title "1 Dead in Attic" refers to something he saw spray painted on a house by a National Guardsman. That's how they identified bodies in houses where people refused to leave and died. Meteorologists will likely want to read this, and everyone that lives along a U.S. coastline should read it... and Evacuate when you're told to evacuate.  Period. - Rob


BOOK SUMMARY: 1 Dead in Attic is a collection of stories by Times-Picayune columnist Chris Rose, recounting the first harrowing year and a half of life in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Celebrated as a local treasure and heaped with national praise, Rose provides a rollercoaster ride of observation, commentary, emotion, tragedy, and even humor—in a way that only he could find in a devastated wasteland.  They are stories of the dead and the living, stories of survivors and believers, stories of hope and despair. And stories about refrigerators. 1 Dead in Attic freeze-frames New Orleans, caught between an old era and a new, during its most desperate time, as it struggles out of the floodwaters and wills itself back to life.  (To order on Amazon: 1 Dead in Attic)


Saturday, March 15, 2014

Great Mystery! Mr. Monk Gets Even

The Mr. Monk detective TV series that ran for almost a decade in the 2000s spawned a really enjoyable, fun, interesting, fantastic series of books. Authored by Lee Goldberg, who wrote many episodes of the TV series, the books truly embody the characters.  I've read 13 other in the series and "Mr. Monk Gets Even" is just as great as the others. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
  
BOOK SYNOPSIS:  The future is looking bright for Adrian Monk. Natalie is working as a cop in Summit, New Jersey, Monk's brother is a week away from getting married, and Monk has a new assistant, Natalie's daughter—and Monk even has a girlfriend who sells products like paper, etc. made of poop!  Hysterical because Monk is OCD about cleanliness!
   All this change doesn’t keep him from work, though. He’s investigating a string of accidental deaths and suicides that he believes are actually murders. But when Monk’s suspect is killed, he must face the fact that he might be wrong. Have stability and happiness robbed Monk of his mojo?
   Meanwhile, Monk’s imprisoned arch nemesis, the morbidly obese criminal mastermind Dale the Whale, is being transferred from prison to San Francisco General Hospital for an operation. When Dale escapes and all signs point to Captain Stottlemeyer as his accomplice, Monk will have to reboot his detective skills to clear the captain’s name—and prove that he’s still the one and only Monk.
TO ORDER IT: http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Monk-Gets-Even-Goldberg/dp/0451416031

Sunday, January 26, 2014

An Enjoyable UK Mystery: Mrs. Jeffries and the Silent Knight

I (Rob) have now read three books in the Victorian Mystery series of "Mrs. Jeffries." Mrs. Jeffries keeps house for Inspector Witherspoon during Victorian England, and she and her fellow co-workers: cook, footman, butler, maids, help their homeowner, the Inspector, solve murders. **It reminds me of the kitchen staff in Downton Abbey, but helping to solve murders. - It was a bit slow for a time, but was an enjoyable read. I recommend the series- especially for Downton Abbey Fans and Mystery lovers!  - Rob 

THE BOOK SUMMARY:  Sir George Braxton was found lying face down in a frozen fountain with the back of his skull bashed to bits.  The case is complicated by a distinct lack of holiday cheer in the victim’s three argumentative middle-aged daughters and their sullen houseguests.  Even the cranky cat hates everyone. To top it all off, the Home Secretary has called in Inspector Witherspoon over the heads of some touchy local lads, making matters stickier than a plum pudding.  Only the help of his housekeeper, Mrs. Jeffries, and her crime-solving staff will give the poor Inspector any chance of sleeping in heavenly peace on Christmas Eve... She keeps house for Inspector Witherspoon...and keeps him on his toes. Everyone’s awed by his Scotland Yard successes—but they don’t know about his secret weapon. No matter how messy the murder or how dirty the deed, Mrs. Jeffries’ polished detection skills are up to the task...proving that behind every great man there’s a woman—and that a crimesolver’s work is never done.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Another Classic Mr. Monk Novel: Mr. Monk is a Mess

I totally LOVE reading the Mr. Monk series. One of the latest in the series was no disappointment either. If you know and liked the TV show "Mr. Monk" you will LOVE the books, too. The writer is the guy who was the screenwriter for the show. As I was reading there were many times where I laughed out loud at Monk's OCD, germophobia, etc. - More great mysteries within mysteries are solved, and a woman who owns a shop that sells things made of poop is in love with him, all the funnier!  Read it, laugh out loud, and enjoy it! - Rob


BOOK SUMMARY:  Welcome to the series of original mysteries starring Adrian Monk, the brilliant investigator who always knows when something's out of place...
  No one likes to come home to a mess--least of all Monk and Natalie. But when they return from an extended stay in New Jersey, Natalie discovers that somebody has been sleeping in her bed. But this Goldilocks isn't asleep. She's dead. And stuffed under the mattress, investigators find marked money from a Federal sting operation. Now Natalie's life is a real mess, and she needs Monk to help clean it up.  Meanwhile, Monk's brother Ambrose is desperate to find his missing girlfriend, Yuki--but his agoraphobia prevents him from leaving the house. With Monk forced to do double duty, the body count rises, and so do Monk's suspicions about Yuki's dangerous past...

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

STOCKING STUFFERS: Great Books from our Friends! from Humor to Fantasy, Romance, Ghosts, and more!



Here are some great ideas for  STOCKING STUFFERS: Great Books from our Friends. The range from Humor to Fantasy, Romance, Ghosts, Comic Books, Kids books and more! Check them out, order them and enjoy these books for yourself, too!

BETH KAUFMAN, STAND UP COMEDIENNE, CANCER SURVIVOR:
BOOK:  Make Mine a Double... A Mastectomy That Is
BOOK SUMMARY: Beth Kaufman's Stand-up Guide to Surviving Breast Cancer This book can help people keep a sense of humor through cancer treatment even on the worst days. This is a great book for newly diagnosed patients, caregivers and survivors alike. This is Beth's personal story of her bout with breast cancer. It is told with humor, yet is poignant. It takes you on a year-long ride from start to finish. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will certainly get your yearly mammograms after reading her story. It is unique in the way it is told from a comedienne's point of view, a stand up guide to getting through 525,600 minutes of a cancer patient's life. Use this book as your "stand up" guide to surviving breast cancer.  CHECK IT OUT ON AMAZON in Paperback and E-book: http://www.amazon.com/Make-Mine-Double-Mastectomy-That/dp/1492197289


THE BOUND TRILOGY: Familiar scenes of brutality and corruption; fear and coercion, they were filtering their way into every part of daily life, slowly corroding the fragile balance between Bonders and humans. Like a cancer in every cell of our social and cultural autonomy, the rise of the Vampires, their monolithic need for revenge and control, threatened to destroy the collective body from the inside out. I felt sick. Not physically sick, but the kind of deep mental fatigue that seeps into your soul, your core. A sickness that makes you question your very presence on the earth and makes you wonder if letting go, if not holding on, if that’s the better choice...
***and her NEW BOOK: In the Lies of Men: The Legion Series Book 1: Fired from the job she loves, with no money and no prospects, Aidee returns to her hometown of Thorne Bay, Alaska to find her footing. A quiet fishing village with a history of Inuit Elder magick, Aidee's little hamlet attracts tourists from around the world who hold a gruesome intrigue for the massacre that occurred in the town. After years of being away she quickly realizes all too soon that she's been expected to return and that she's not the only one still trying to wash the blood of the past from her hands...

JOHN SAZAKLIS: AUTHOR OF MANY DC COMIC'S SUPERHERO CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and more!  
SUPERMAN VS. BIZARRO, is the latest amazing adventure written by our friend John Sazaklis and illustrated by the super-talented Luciano Vecchio.  OR Batman Classic: Feline Felonies: With Wonder Woman OR Superman Classic: Escape from the Phantom Zone (I Can Read Book 2) OR Batman Classic: Fright Club OR Swamp Thing vs the Zombie Pets (Dc Super-Pets!) OR Superman Classic: Day of Doom (I Can Read Book 2)

REGINA HARVEY (Heidi Roosa): Fantasy Author of OUTLIERS (like the Hunger Games)
BOOK SUMMARY: A team of teens from all corners of the earth - statistical outliers in talents and intelligence - come together to fight against UNITEED, the warped world government that believes the norm is the ideal. UNITEED is suppressing environmental recovery and systematically reducing and controlling outside cultures. Only those young enough to be 'uncounseled' toward the norm can lead the way to change. They must thwart the ultimate goal of the Reverend Doctor: to bring all of humanity into genetically-manipulated communion. Together, the Outliers must stop the Reverend Doctor before his plan succeeds.
Fans of the Hunger Games, Divergent, and Legend series will be as captivated by Outliers, the first book in the EOD series.  TO ORDER: http://www.amazon.com/Outliers-EOD-Book-1/dp/0991265203/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1386250346&sr=1-7&keywords=Outliers

MIKE RICKSECKER'S BOOKS: Deadly Heirs" and System of the dead in his series of Chase DeBarlo Mysteries; A NEW E-only book: The Inscription of Evil Times (Ghostorian Case Files), Ghosts of Oklahoma and  
GHOSTS OF MARYLAND  Synopsis:
Explore the supernatural history of Maryland through ghost stories and legends, and discover why the state may be one of the most haunted in America. Learn how a woman, killed by an oil lamp, locked the parlor doors of her house from her coffin. Play cards with the devil in a home where a ghost led a player to a hidden gold chain. See the impression left in a bed at the Dr. Samuel A. Mudd house and discover what person of infamy may have left it. Solve the mystery of the ghost of a headless peddler that kept pointing a stick at the ground, and read about the testimony of a ghost used in court. With over 100 ghost stories and an atlas to guide you, this comprehensive collection includes details unearthed for the first time in decades!  MIKE'S BOOKS: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Mike%20ricksecker
 
JANE WAKELY: paranormal romance writer whom I met earlier this year at the Frederick Book Festival. Jane has been creating stories of love and romance for as long as she can remember. She's a sucker for a happy ending and thinks the best thing about any movie or book is when the characters find someone to love. Jane's stories reflect her interest in all romance genres, and all levels of spice, but paranormal romance is her true passion. She loves creating worlds around sexy shifters and vamps--even if the shifter is a smelly skunk!  Jane writes sensual romance that will warm your heart, and a happy ever after is guaranteed!
JANE'S E-BOOKS:   http://www.amazon.com/Jane-Wakely/e/B007886X0I/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1387368077&sr=1-2-ent


OH YEAH… and me: Rob Gutro:  "Ghosts and Spirits: Insights from a Medium" and "Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead
I'm a member of Inspired Ghost Tracking who use scientific equipment to find proof of
ghosts or spirits. Since I was a child I could receive messages from ghosts or spirits (who have crossed over). I wrote "Ghosts and Spirits" and "Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead" to teach others how Ghosts and Spirits communicate and to give hope about the afterlife. I also provide some scientific explanations about how they do it. I'm not a medium who makes appointments - I'm not as well-developed in my abilities as learned mediums. I'm more of a "medium rare." I just hope you find comfort in these explanations based on my experiences.
Our loved ones are missed most around the holidays, and one way to take comfort is to understand that they're still around. - My books have provided a comfort by explaining how spirits make themselves known.
BOTH BOOKS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON:
Ghosts and Spirits: Insights from a Medium for $7.25 paper/$2.99 E-book and Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead for $8.99 paperback and $2.99 E-book on AMAZON: http://tinyurl.com/q3bhgde


SCOTT LOPE'S  story in WOLVERINE (comics)
Recently, our friend Scott Lope had the amazing opportunity to co-write a comic book about Marvel's Wolverine character from the X-men series.  The story appears in December's "Savage Wolverine #12" on sale now AND NEXT MONTH'S "Savage Wolverine #13"   The Wolverine story addresses the serious issue of Rhino poaching in Africa and how countless Rhinos are slaughtered for their horns. This is one of the issues that Scott personally tries to stop through his organization.  The story is gripping and well-written and the artwork is fantastic.
    Scott is the founder of the Non-Profit Organization called Animal Warriors. Animal Warriors is a group of like minded individuals from all walks of life who share a common goal of helping animals with active volunteer groups in both Florida and North Carolina. (Like them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Animal-Warriors/116732375085208)

RANDY KELLER -Voices From Forever
Voices From Forever chronicles my journey through the paranormal by way of Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP). What started out as an experiment, proved to be the most eye-opening and profound experience of my life. There is no longer any doubt that beyond this existence is a greater continuation; an equally dynamic and vital place where the passion of human emotion and the animism of the universe converge to reveal a glimpse of what is to come. My attempts to make contact through EVP taught me just how thin the veil is between what we know as living, and the afterlife that claims us all. Death is not the end of being alive, but the beginning of our next step – one that we must all take. Check it out!: http://tinyurl.com/mvkeula





Monday, December 13, 2010

Book Read: A Small Furry Prayer

I just finished reading "A Small Furry Prayer" by Steven Kotler. This was really interesting - especially because of the struggle this couple had establishing a rescue for Chihuahuas... Some chapters however, were hard to get through when he started writing about philosophers, etc. 
HERE'S A BOOK SUMMARY:  Kotler is a journalist who dove into the world of dog rescue to impress his love interest, now his wife. He did not foresee adopting the least appealing, most troublesome dogs from shelters and living intimately with them until they either were rehabilitated and adopted by others or died in his lap. According to this part memoir and part philosophical study of the dog-human relationship, many of them died on the small farm that he and his wife bought in crime-ridden Chimayo, New Mexico, leaving him very depressed. From the heart-wrenching work, however, he began to find purpose and see how many canine experts have misunderstood dog behavior. Reflecting on the writings of mystics, philosophers, and animal scientists as varied as St. Francis, René Descartes, Claude Levi-Strauss, and Elizabeth Hess, Kotler elevates this tale about saving dogs to a story about human stewardship of life. Rough language and frank descriptions of sexuality may offend more sensitive readers.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Good Book - Haunted Nantucket Island


I just finished reading a good book about 22 different haunted places on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. The book is called "Nantucket Haunted Hike Presents: the Haunted Nantucket Island: Twenty-two True Nantucket Ghost Stories" by W.B. Alexander, a man who lives there and runs the ghost tours of the island. The book is extremely well-written, captivating, and has some really great stories in it that will make you want to visit Nantucket!
ISBN-10: 1413488935. I highly recommended it!

Monday, June 7, 2010

GREAT READ: Murder She Wrote : Provence to Die for


Here's another GREAT READ in the Murder, She Wrote series of paperback mysteries!
This Murder, She Wrote novel brings Jessica Fletcher to the small French town of Province for a vacation. Jessica takes a cooking class from chef Emil Bertrand who is found murdered. Despite the French authorities not wanting her assistance in solving the crime with so many suspects, she is the only one that can put it all together. It gets really interesting in the last 100 pages as secrets unfold. Highly recommended!

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Good Book of Canadian Ghost Stories!


I recently finished reading an interesting Collection of Canadian Ghost Stories called "Maritime Mysteries" (Paperback) by Bill Jessome. The author collected a good number of interesting ghost stories that are situated in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. If you're planning to visit either place I recommend getting this book and reading it- then checking some of these places out. Each story is a quick and enjoyable read!

Monday, March 8, 2010

Local Libraries Discourage "Book Talks" Unless You're a Big Time Author

I contacted 2 big libraries in my area to offer to give short talks about my book, and I received the same answer: "NO."
Why? "Sorry, your book wasn't published through a major publisher," "Our vendor doesn't buy from self-publishing companies," "We like local authors but only if you have a book with a big publisher."
One local library told me I need to give them free books, then wait three months after I fill out a lot of paperwork. Then they'll let me know if they're interested.
When I was told the library's vendor can only buy books from certain entities, I explained that I have 50 copies (that I bought) and they can buy a couple through me. The answer "NO."
The BOTTOM LINE: If you're self-published, DON'T BOTHER to contact a library to see if they're interested in allowing you to talk about your book, even though you're a local author. They won't. It's all about the money, power and connections.
I'm really disappointed by the answers I received from local libraries who I THOUGHT were supposed to support local authors and encourage local people to read and write books.
There are other places that will be much more receptive and appreciative than wasting any more time on local libraries with red tape and who don't care to promote what they're supposed to be encouraging.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Watching the Book in Sales Rankings / A Great Review!

I'm learning a lot about the world of publishing, like if you self-publish in a "print-on-demand" manner, as it is with my book "Ghosts and Spirits: Insights from a Medium," if you do book signings, you either have to buy them from the publisher and sell them in a store on consignment, or have the store buy them, and you buy up the unsold copies.
Meanwhile, the publisher's website (Virtualbookworm.com) is selling the book (I HIGHLY recommend them!); as is BarnesandNoble.com and Amazon.com among many others.
I checked the sales rank on the book (although I won't know how well the book is financially selling until 90 days after a given month) on Barnes and Noble.com and Amazon.com. Here are those standings today:
1) BarnesandNoble.com Sales Rank: 92,581 (out of how many, I don't know)
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?box=9781602645134%20&pos=-1&EAN=9781602645134
2) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #68,890 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books) ***WHAT IS INTERESTING? Yesterday, it ranked somewhere like 386,400 on Amazon!***
Popular in this category: Books > Religion & Spirituality > Occult > Supernatural, it ranks #30!! (THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE TO ME!)
http://www.amazon.com/Ghosts-Spirits-Insights-Rob-Gutro/dp/1602645132/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1262792014&sr=8-1

A GREAT REVIEW! - If you buy a book on Amazon.com or BarnesandNoble.com, you can write a review. The first (and only) review on Amazon so far choked me up!
Here it is:
By Samantha Realynn Deshong "wolf maiden" (Pennsylvania)
Amazon Verified Purchase
I've read plenty of books dealing with spirits, ghosts and the like while experimenting and exploring my own gifts. I have to say that none of them ever really delved into the detail and personal level that this books does. It offers a more distinctual look at the supernatural elements around us and how they work. The scientific aspect of it was insightful and answered a lot of questions that I had that other books could not. I give this one 5 stars! A must-read for budding mediums and other psychics, or even if you just want a good source of info about the supernatural!

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

MY BOOK HAS BEEN PUBLISHED!!! -and its available on-line!


WOW - I just got an email that my book "GHOSTS AND SPIRITS: INSIGHT FROM A MEDIUM" has been published and is now "print ready" and available at many places across the web. Below are several places the book can be purchased, and the publisher, Virtualbookworm.com, told me that many more places carrying it will be added over the coming weeks.

SUMMARY:

ISBN 978-1-60264-513-4, $12.95, 164 pages. Pre-order now for mid-January delivery!
If you’re interested in the ghost hunting programs on television and want to know the who, what, where, when and whys of ghosts and spirits and how to understand them, this book will provide some insight and answers. There’s much more to life than just the time people and animals spend on Earth. Rob Gutro is a medium who is still growing in his abilities to communicate with Earth-bound ghosts and spirits who have passed. In this book, you’ll learn the difference between those entities and the ways they attempt to communicate with the living. Learn what they are and how to recognize signs they give us.


BOOK IS AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING PLACES:

The book can be found at our store at
http://www.virtualbookworm.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=bookstore&Product_Code=Ghosts_and_Spirits&Category_Code=

The ebook can be found in our store at
http://www.virtualbookworm.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=bookstore&Product_Code=Ghosts_and_Spirits_EBOOK&Category_Code=

The book is listed on Barnes and Noble at

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?box=9781602645134%20&pos=-1&EAN=9781602645134

and at Amazon at

http://www.amazon.com/Ghosts-Spirits-Insights-Rob-Gutro/dp/1602645132/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1262792014&sr=8-1

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Read 3 Great Books!


I (Rob) have been busy reading, in between blogging daily, writing my ghost book, taking care of our dogs (and Tom), working, exercising, etc. In the last couple of months I finished reading THREE books, all of which were GREAT.
1) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: THE LAST DOG ON EARTH by Daniel Ehrenhaft - Although written for teens, this is a great book for anyone. Its a science fiction novel about a prion disease that causes dogs to exhibit the symptoms of rabies. The main character is Logan Moore, an angry young man. Logan hates his biological father for abandoning him, his stepfather for trying to control him, and other kids for seeming better than him. It is only when Logan gets a pet dog that he learns to love. In training and working with his dog Jack, Logan learns patience and other virtues.

2) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: MEMORIAL DAY by Vince Flynn - Intel learns that countries harboring terrorists are transferring their stock and bonds into gold while at a top-secret installation a Pakistani terrorist is being interrogated by CIA black ops agent Mitch Rapp. Intel finds out that Al Qaeda is preparing to strike at the United States, making the World Trade Towers destruction seem like a child destroying a toy. Mitch and a group of commandos raid a small Pakistani mountain town where they find proof that Al Qaeda is getting ready to attack America.
2) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: THE GHOST CHRONICLES by Maureen Wood and Ron Kolek - Maureen is a medium who teams with Ron an actual paranormal investigator. These are 17 true cases of hauntings they explored together in New England. Fascinating stuff- especially when a Medium joins ghost hunters. SEE A VIDEO INTERVIEW ON FOX NEWS:

Who I am

I'm a simple guy who enjoys the simple things in life, especially our dogs. I volunteer for dog rescues, enjoy exercising, blogging, politics, helping friends and neighbors, participating in ghost investigations, coffee, weather, superheroes, comic books, mystery novels, traveling, 70s and 80s music, classic country music,writing books on ghosts and spirits, cooking simply and keeping in shape. You'll find tidbits of all of these things on this blog and more. EMAIL me at Rgutro@gmail.com - Rob

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