I feel like celebrating, and why? I finished book three "The Forever Christ: Birth of a New Word. Well! All but the editing, but I feel good about it. Too be honest, it took awhile to write; longer than did either of the other two. So, anyway, now I can dedicate more time to book signings and promoting all three works.
Response, so far, to book one "The Lost Christ: The New Beginning" has been very good; with lots of responses as to: "When are book two and three being published. I can't wait to read them." Also, book one was rated with 5-stars by JT Cooper, book reviewer for Funseekers Radio Network out of Georgia. Of course, I'll make sure he gets copies of book two and three when released!
Like most the responses, Mr Cooper ended his review of "The Lost Christ" with: The action and story line are well written and the concept should not be offensive to most Christians. You won't get bored reading this first book of a proposed Trilogy, but you might become impatient waiting for the next two books in the series.
For you FaceBookers -- I started a book club and it's open for anyone to join by searching exactly: Mr Mike's "Christ Trilogy Book Club" I keep it updated and welcome comments. So join and let me know what you think, or ask me anything about the books. You're also welcomed to request me as a friend and post on my wall.
BookExpo America, at Jacob Javits Convention Center, was a success. Besides getting to go to New Your City, I got to meet many of my fellow authors, and my publisher, sterlinghousepublisher.com were great hosts. We gave a lot of autographed books away. Some, I've noticed, selling on Amazon.com for more than double the cover price.
Remember, You can order "The Lost Christ" at SterlingHouse Publishers -- And if your a member of my book club, if you ask, they will give a discount of 20%. Another good reason to join my book club on FaceBook.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
UPCOMING BEA SHOW
Well it's almost that time, a time when once a year authors, publishers, attendees and the likes all get together at the largest book show in America: The Book Expo America - May 29, 30, 31. And this year it's booked "leaner, meaner----and with more authors than ever."
So I've got my plane reservation, my bag half packed and my anxiety rising. It'll be my first show of its kind and this year it's back at New York City in the Javits Center. With me, and being premiered at the SterlingHouse Publisher booth #4015 will be my fellow Hot New Authors: Rob Santoro - Wrath; Mike Balkind - Dead Ball; Kevin Cooke - The Pact of the Stone, Part One: The Quest of Cheyenne; Karen Bence - Midnight Revelations; Anthony Horan - The Big Scare; Jerry Banks - The Second District.
All seven of us are featured on the cover of the May 18th issue of Publishers Weekly. So I can't wait to meet each and every one of them at the show. Of course I will be signing Advance Review Copies (ARC) of my novel The Lost Christ: The New Beginning and there will be plenty of give aways: bookmarks; T-shirts; bags; postcards; business cards; magnets.
Just a reminder: The release date of The Lost Christ is June 30th, but until then you can preorder my novel at a 20% discount at: SterlingHouse - Bookstore.com And while your there ordering The Lost Christ check out the above mentioned hot new authors latest releases.
Look for my blog in July and hear all about my experiences at the show, and watch for the soon to be released trailer The Christ Trilogy Book One - The Lost Christ: A New Beginning.
So I've got my plane reservation, my bag half packed and my anxiety rising. It'll be my first show of its kind and this year it's back at New York City in the Javits Center. With me, and being premiered at the SterlingHouse Publisher booth #4015 will be my fellow Hot New Authors: Rob Santoro - Wrath; Mike Balkind - Dead Ball; Kevin Cooke - The Pact of the Stone, Part One: The Quest of Cheyenne; Karen Bence - Midnight Revelations; Anthony Horan - The Big Scare; Jerry Banks - The Second District.
All seven of us are featured on the cover of the May 18th issue of Publishers Weekly. So I can't wait to meet each and every one of them at the show. Of course I will be signing Advance Review Copies (ARC) of my novel The Lost Christ: The New Beginning and there will be plenty of give aways: bookmarks; T-shirts; bags; postcards; business cards; magnets.
Just a reminder: The release date of The Lost Christ is June 30th, but until then you can preorder my novel at a 20% discount at: SterlingHouse - Bookstore.com And while your there ordering The Lost Christ check out the above mentioned hot new authors latest releases.
Look for my blog in July and hear all about my experiences at the show, and watch for the soon to be released trailer The Christ Trilogy Book One - The Lost Christ: A New Beginning.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Thought Behind The Lost Christ and Naming of Characters.
When writing the novel The Lost Christ, the first of The Christ Trilogy, I gave a lot of thought in the naming of each character, and also of the environment in which they lived and were governed.
Being that, in the beginning of the novel, mankind was birth in test tubes and not named until later in their lifetime, I decided to fit each name to the character's personality. Therefore: the main character, Ardent, was named so because of his passion, devotion, high emotions and because he also showed great enthusiasm for the people close to him. Ardent's best friend, Jejune, was a bit dull, immature and lacking in insight. In the case of Ardent's pairing mate, Dank: known for his coldness of heart and the lack of fear. I believe that by doing this the reader could better understand each character without my having to get into a lengthy description of each when being introduced.
The environment was a different thing. Yes, it's of a time after earth is changed because of global warming, Carbonaceous Holocaust, and of a time two thousand years thereafter, but also of a time much like how it was when the settlers first came to America, a candlelight world where everyone lived in communes of log-cabin-like structures, ate their meals in community mealing areas, everyone dressed the same, and of a time when the government controlled their minds; of a time of no religion or God.
All of this was until a time capsule buried during the 21st century was found, within was a Tanakh (Torah) and a New Testament Bible..... And that, pretty much, is how my novel begins; with the discovery of religion. Then came the re-birth of Christ: The Lost Christ, forgotten for two thousand years..... Now imagine what might happen, or better yet: read the novel and let your mind enter a world of what if...... Pre-order at sterlinghouse-bookstore.com before the June 30th release date and receive a 20% discount.
Being that, in the beginning of the novel, mankind was birth in test tubes and not named until later in their lifetime, I decided to fit each name to the character's personality. Therefore: the main character, Ardent, was named so because of his passion, devotion, high emotions and because he also showed great enthusiasm for the people close to him. Ardent's best friend, Jejune, was a bit dull, immature and lacking in insight. In the case of Ardent's pairing mate, Dank: known for his coldness of heart and the lack of fear. I believe that by doing this the reader could better understand each character without my having to get into a lengthy description of each when being introduced.
The environment was a different thing. Yes, it's of a time after earth is changed because of global warming, Carbonaceous Holocaust, and of a time two thousand years thereafter, but also of a time much like how it was when the settlers first came to America, a candlelight world where everyone lived in communes of log-cabin-like structures, ate their meals in community mealing areas, everyone dressed the same, and of a time when the government controlled their minds; of a time of no religion or God.
All of this was until a time capsule buried during the 21st century was found, within was a Tanakh (Torah) and a New Testament Bible..... And that, pretty much, is how my novel begins; with the discovery of religion. Then came the re-birth of Christ: The Lost Christ, forgotten for two thousand years..... Now imagine what might happen, or better yet: read the novel and let your mind enter a world of what if...... Pre-order at sterlinghouse-bookstore.com before the June 30th release date and receive a 20% discount.
Friday, March 27, 2009
The Writing of a New Work
What am I doing with my time besides working on book three of "The Christ Trilogy" soon to be completed? Simple.... I am writing another novel, my fifth. A work I've chose to call; "Dream Flight: Quest for the Peridot Gem." Its a novel for young adults, or for those of us still young at heart; those of us that have thumbed through the pages of Alice in Wonderland or skipped down the yellow brick road with Dorothy; those of us that can't get pass a Christmas without watching A Wonderful World or A Christmas Story ---- Watch out, you will shoot your eye out!
Remember when you were young, just a teenager, and running through the neighborhood? When you would extend both your arms, like the wings of a plane, and pretend you could fly.... Running faster and faster, jumping high into the air -- Wheeeee.... I can fly! I can fly! Or doing the same on a bicycle.... Peddling as fast as you could.
Blake and Emma would discover that when they went to sleep they would have the same dream, a dream that they could fly. A dream that would take them to the Land of the Seven Leagues on a quest in search of a green gem, a piece of a meteorite; a peridot gem that unlocks the gateway to the Seventh League. Their quest takes them from one land to another, in each they encounter a different society.... of the Everdroid, Squalid, Tawpie, Corgi, Pegacentaur, and the Thingamabob.
Remember when you were young, just a teenager, and running through the neighborhood? When you would extend both your arms, like the wings of a plane, and pretend you could fly.... Running faster and faster, jumping high into the air -- Wheeeee.... I can fly! I can fly! Or doing the same on a bicycle.... Peddling as fast as you could.
Blake and Emma would discover that when they went to sleep they would have the same dream, a dream that they could fly. A dream that would take them to the Land of the Seven Leagues on a quest in search of a green gem, a piece of a meteorite; a peridot gem that unlocks the gateway to the Seventh League. Their quest takes them from one land to another, in each they encounter a different society.... of the Everdroid, Squalid, Tawpie, Corgi, Pegacentaur, and the Thingamabob.
"Emma.... Put your arms out. Put your arms out!" he kept yelling. It looked like she was trying, but it just wasn't happening, so he maneuvered closer to her, getting dangerously close. If they were to collide it would be the end for the both of them. The ground was getting too close too fast, so he had only one chance to save her. He got even dangerously closer, and after a slight bump into her and not enough to lose control of his flight, he grabbed her hand and started to fly higher. She was dangling from his hand and getting heavy, her legs kicking wildly. She was struggling like a person drowning, grabbing on.... And he didn't want to drown with her. "Put your arms out!" he yelled, trying to bring her to her senses, to calm her down. A sigh of relief crossed his face, as he watched her other arm extend outward, and more so when she regain flight. "Blake!" She yelled his way. "You saved my life."
But wait! It's a fanasty, so there must be a Mage; a wizard.... Or maybe even an evil giant bird that is guarding the peridot gem.... Who knows? -- Blog me, let me know what you think.... Well at least I'll listen. My new work should be done soon and maybe a publisher will want to take hold of it.... Maybe!
Saturday, March 7, 2009
The Introduction to The Lost Christ
First imagine_____ it’s later in the 21st century and at a time when mankind finally blew it---- carbon pollution that led to climate warming and the violent winds, earthquakes and tsunamis that followed. And with the oceans rising the cities and lower lands perished, becoming a new ocean’s floor. A time when millions….. No, when billions of animal, plant and human life was lost, extinct……….
Then imagine____ its 2000 years later, a new world---- the seven continents are a maze of islands, each continent a country, the memory of the 21st century and before wiped from mankind’s mind….. No carbon polluters of any kind…… A candlelight world……. A world that is somewhat like it was in the 15th century---- and a world with no religion -- no God……..
And then imagine____ a new mankind, Formed In a Test Tube mankind, a FITT. No romances, just pre-arranged, platonic, same sex civil union ---- Pairings. Their names fit their personality or profession to be. Everyone is dressed the same and living in communes. No wireless communications, only hand delivered messages. The only weapons…… Are repeater rifles and sidearm’s, and only in the hands of the policing forces. The seven New World Governments thought it a utopia world…… But was it?
Now imagine____ what would happen if three educators would happen across a buried time capsule from the 21st century, and inside was a veritable treasure of photographs, newspaper articles, reference books, a Tanakh (written Torah) and a New Testament (Christian bible.)
The educators, confused, not knowing what to make of the two religious books---- hand scribed onto scrolls all of what was the same, and then added the differences…… One Holy Scroll____ and yes, one new belief emerged. Thus, a new underground society was born---- Pariah’s, was what the government councils named the neophytes…… Enemies with a belief defying the social law could threaten all seven of the New World Government’s existences. The movement had to be stopped and the governments would do anything to do so, no matter the cost in human life.
Mankind, for the first time in twenty centuries, was learning the meaning of new words. Words like---- “Love” - “Marriage” – “Childbirth” – “Family” and “God”---- But with the discovery will come another word---- “WAR”
Then imagine____ its 2000 years later, a new world---- the seven continents are a maze of islands, each continent a country, the memory of the 21st century and before wiped from mankind’s mind….. No carbon polluters of any kind…… A candlelight world……. A world that is somewhat like it was in the 15th century---- and a world with no religion -- no God……..
And then imagine____ a new mankind, Formed In a Test Tube mankind, a FITT. No romances, just pre-arranged, platonic, same sex civil union ---- Pairings. Their names fit their personality or profession to be. Everyone is dressed the same and living in communes. No wireless communications, only hand delivered messages. The only weapons…… Are repeater rifles and sidearm’s, and only in the hands of the policing forces. The seven New World Governments thought it a utopia world…… But was it?
Now imagine____ what would happen if three educators would happen across a buried time capsule from the 21st century, and inside was a veritable treasure of photographs, newspaper articles, reference books, a Tanakh (written Torah) and a New Testament (Christian bible.)
The educators, confused, not knowing what to make of the two religious books---- hand scribed onto scrolls all of what was the same, and then added the differences…… One Holy Scroll____ and yes, one new belief emerged. Thus, a new underground society was born---- Pariah’s, was what the government councils named the neophytes…… Enemies with a belief defying the social law could threaten all seven of the New World Government’s existences. The movement had to be stopped and the governments would do anything to do so, no matter the cost in human life.
Mankind, for the first time in twenty centuries, was learning the meaning of new words. Words like---- “Love” - “Marriage” – “Childbirth” – “Family” and “God”---- But with the discovery will come another word---- “WAR”
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
How does a restaurant owner write a fictional religious novel?
For thirty years, 70 plus hours a week, I toiled through a kitchen, a lounge, a dining room or banged my head together doing the books, writing checks, listening to employee problems. Then one day, like so many in the food service business do, I burned out. Well, I guess it really came on slow… But, in all, I was cooked and needed to get away. Fortunately I have a son and daughter-in-law who years earlier both took interest in the business, permitted to seat 280 diners; a lot of meals to serve. So he got the keys and headaches and I got to move to Florida and play golf often, like 4 times a week. Of course that got boring, well, sort of. Then a week of vacation in Blowing Rock, North Carolina…. A dream sent. We loved it and bought a small second home on an acre of land in the woods, aside a steep hill. No scenic view but a beautiful, comfortable place. I was good; retire and spend the winters in Florida and the summers in the Blue Ridge Mountains, I thought.
However, months before spending our first summer there I started writing a novel; a romance, murder mystery. It sat dormant in my computer for months after I completed the work. Finally I sent a manuscript, only one, to SterlingHouse Publisher. Months later, I received a nice written note – thanks, but no thanks note. The stubborn Italian American that I am was just finishing another novel; later named The Lost Christ; book one of a trilogy. With the nicely written note, with a name on it, in one hand and the new manuscript in the other, I decided to mail the manuscript to her attention. My only other choice was to just give up, the hell with it.
A week later, and a shocking surprise, I heard from SterlingHouse Publisher; from Jennifer. They wanted to talk more, wanted to know about the other two novels. Dr. Cynthia Sterling was great, so much so, I researched her on-line and bought her and Megan Davidson’s book “Novel Writing Bluebook” from which I began learning to write, I believe better with each book of the trilogy.
Now it’s the waiting, the period that comes after the work is completed but the publishing date still months away. The period of thoughts running through your mind; of will the covers be eye catching, of will the reviews be good, of will it sell, of how can I help promote it, and on, and on, the thoughts keep coming.
Soon my first real appearance before my peers is about to happen: The Book Expo America (BEA) to be held in New York City, at the Jacob K. Javits Center, May 29, 30, 31…… So look for me there at the SterlingHouse Booth #4015; right next to Publishers Weekly. Did you say you’re not going? Then look at my blog in July for a complete review of the BEA.
However, months before spending our first summer there I started writing a novel; a romance, murder mystery. It sat dormant in my computer for months after I completed the work. Finally I sent a manuscript, only one, to SterlingHouse Publisher. Months later, I received a nice written note – thanks, but no thanks note. The stubborn Italian American that I am was just finishing another novel; later named The Lost Christ; book one of a trilogy. With the nicely written note, with a name on it, in one hand and the new manuscript in the other, I decided to mail the manuscript to her attention. My only other choice was to just give up, the hell with it.
A week later, and a shocking surprise, I heard from SterlingHouse Publisher; from Jennifer. They wanted to talk more, wanted to know about the other two novels. Dr. Cynthia Sterling was great, so much so, I researched her on-line and bought her and Megan Davidson’s book “Novel Writing Bluebook” from which I began learning to write, I believe better with each book of the trilogy.
Now it’s the waiting, the period that comes after the work is completed but the publishing date still months away. The period of thoughts running through your mind; of will the covers be eye catching, of will the reviews be good, of will it sell, of how can I help promote it, and on, and on, the thoughts keep coming.
Soon my first real appearance before my peers is about to happen: The Book Expo America (BEA) to be held in New York City, at the Jacob K. Javits Center, May 29, 30, 31…… So look for me there at the SterlingHouse Booth #4015; right next to Publishers Weekly. Did you say you’re not going? Then look at my blog in July for a complete review of the BEA.
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