THE FAQ’s of Self Publishing

THE FAQ’s of Self Publishing.

A valuable resource

A valuable resource.

A valuable resource

Just Reviews

The Self-Publisher’s FAQ

Author: Jacqueline Church Simonds

You’ve written your first book. Whether it is a novel, self-help, non-fiction or children’s book there are many decisions that need to made before that book appears on Amazon.com or any other online bookseller’s site. Where do you start? How do you begin? The answer is really simple: By reading The Self-Publisher’s FAQ and deciding what type of self-publisher you want to be, how much effort you are willing to put into getting a first rate book out there and learning just what it takes to publish a book.

There are many FAQ’s that people ask but the first are related to some basic decisions that need to be asked: Basic questions such as: “Is this book going to be for friends, family and/or a small market? If you think you have written the Great American novel, understand that fiction is hard to…

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Far Gone

Far Gone: Laura Griffin

Family is precious and our desire to protect them from harm comes naturally to most of us. But, what happens when someone close to you has taken a wrong turn and does not see that their actions might send them on a downward spiral? What happens when they link up with someone so dangerous and so deadly that their every move is controlled by this person, their means of communication shut off and their every thought controlled because they begin to take on the beliefs of this person? What would link a bombing in a University that killed many students to a six year old bank robberies and an unsolved murder of a judge? Did the same person cause the death of a senator’s daughter in a University bombing? What does gun control and signing a bill trying to limit the sales of guns have to do with this man? In Texas where this story takes place anyone can get a gun? Why would a judge and a state senator sign off on a bill to regulate gun control? What about brainwashing, cults and groups that are subversive and against the ideals of our government? Just how dangerous would the world be if someone like Shay Hardin wins the war he has waged? Far Gone: Laura Griffin: The story is about to unfold.

 

A life threatening decision takes the life of a suspect. Andrea Finch walks in on hostage situation and has no choice but to take out the suspect. Thinking that her actions would be carefully scrutinized but the department would back her up, little does she know that this one incident would send her on a collision course with more twists and turns than the roller coaster in Coney Island.

 

Andrea’s brother was her best friend growing up but something within him changed. Calling her for money to once again bail him out of some difficult situation she becomes weary of his reasons for needing it and learns about his affiliation with a neo-Nazi who might be responsible for a string of bank robberies in Texas. On a leave of absence from her job, feeling disgraced and hoping to be reinstated why does she avoid seeing the department psychiatrist? Ignoring his request for money Andrea realizes that something about her brother Gavin has changed. Learning about his whereabouts, the Texas border town where he is living and the compound run by a man named Shay Hardin who is linked to more than just the robberies Andrea realizes that she realizes that her brother is involved in more than he is letting on and what Hardin has him doing would not only endanger the lives of others but his life too. Is he being brainwashed into taking on his beliefs and fighting his wars or is there more?

 

Things begin to heat up when she meets FBI agent Jon North working undercover in Texas. North and his partner Torres are investigating the unsolved murder of a Judge. Although the murder took place six years ago, the link to Hardin, the robberies and Andrea’s brother Gavin seem to be more than just a coincidence. As things heat up between Andrea and North differences come to light and everything changes as more lives are on the line. Hoping to bring Gavin in puts a strain on their relationship. Bringing him in creates a chasm or wide divide that might never be filled in.

 

Fired from her job Andrea decides to go after a criminal using her instincts and professional experience. But, things change, obstacles are placed in your way and what you think you see is not always what is there.

Elizabeth LeBlanc has been assigned to investigate the bank robberies and comes face to face with more than she bargains for. Just where is Shay Hardin going to strike? Staking out apartments, checking surveillance photos Elizabeth LeBlanc learns very little as every lead falls short. Jon North’s instincts have yet to yield anything. The case is about to go cold, as one photo would change it all and the arrest warrant he needed finally written.

 

His SAC finally on board, other agents brought in and we learn about inter-agency cooperation and lack of cooperation as Gavin is questioned. Andrea flares up and one important witness disappears. As each message is sent a harsh reality as author Laura Griffin brings to light what happens when one woman cannot face her own demons, rejection and is stubborn. Added in abuse, gun control, betrayals, trust and obstacles that law enforcement officers face every day, this mystery/suspense/ romance novel is chock full of heart stopping moments, bloodthirsty criminals and a man determined to make a bold statement. With two political figures as prime targets and one killer so disciplined, so stanch that he thinks he’s above it all, wait until both Andrea and Jon come face to face with him.

 

A chase that leaves them cold and four criminals that disappear in front of their eyes. A sociopath that whose anti-government ideology, “just gives him a rationale.” Not a suicide bomber but worse.

 

Just how far will Andrea go to protect her brother? Will she risk the lives of innocent people to prove that he is innocent? What part does he play in what Hardin has planned? As the FBI, police, Andrea and other agencies converge on one killer will they be able to identify stop him before it’s too late? A plot so deadly that it would make the Oklahoma bombing and bomber pale in comparison as author Laura Griffin takes readers into the mind of a serial/psychopath killer with a vendetta against the government and anyone standing in his way. Not a place but people that’s who he’s after. The death of the Senator’s daughter, anyone close to him and finally the main event. Simple one-line messages: What do they mean? When Elizabeth is kidnapped, tortured and finally gets free wills he be able to face her captors and take them down? Will they go unpunished? With the technology described within the pages of this novel the author allows readers to learn just how far we have to hide in plain sight. A truck bomb that would kill and a vendetta against one man that but would Andrea, Joe and the rest of the team be able to stop them in time?

 

A young girl so angry she could not see what was right in front of her and her brother whose vision was clouded he just might take another wrong direction. Will Andrea face her own demons? Will she get her job back? What about her relationship with Jon and her brother Gavin? Will this outstanding five star author bring Jon and Andrea back to work another case? Stubborn, hot headed and definitely no one to take fore granted Andrea Finch is one force to be reckoned with. A mystery/suspense, romance novel that will keep readers, as did it me, glued to the printed page until you find out if the bombs are exploded, if Andrea and Jon create their own fireworks and just how FAR GONE will things go before they come to a permanent head?

Fran Lewis: reviewer

Far Gone: My review

Far Gone: Laura Griffin

Family is precious and our desire to protect them from harm comes naturally to most of us. But, what happens when someone close to you has taken a wrong turn and does not see that their actions might send them on a downward spiral? What happens when they link up with someone so dangerous and so deadly that their every move is controlled by this person, their means of communication shut off and their every thought controlled because they begin to take on the beliefs of this person? What would link a bombing in a University that killed many students to a six year old bank robberies and an unsolved murder of a judge? Did the same person cause the death of a senator’s daughter in a University bombing? What does gun control and signing a bill trying to limit the sales of guns have to do with this man? In Texas where this story takes place anyone can get a gun? Why would a judge and a state senator sign off on a bill to regulate gun control? What about brainwashing, cults and groups that are subversive and against the ideals of our government? Just how dangerous would the world be if someone like Shay Hardin wins the war he has waged? Far Gone: Laura Griffin: The story is about to unfold.

 

A life threatening decision takes the life of a suspect. Andrea Finch walks in on hostage situation and has no choice but to take out the suspect. Thinking that her actions would be carefully scrutinized but the department would back her up, little does she know that this one incident would send her on a collision course with more twists and turns than the roller coaster in Coney Island.

 

Andrea’s brother was her best friend growing up but something within him changed. Calling her for money to once again bail him out of some difficult situation she becomes weary of his reasons for needing it and learns about his affiliation with a neo-Nazi who might be responsible for a string of bank robberies in Texas. On a leave of absence from her job, feeling disgraced and hoping to be reinstated why does she avoid seeing the department psychiatrist? Ignoring his request for money Andrea realizes that something about her brother Gavin has changed. Learning about his whereabouts, the Texas border town where he is living and the compound run by a man named Shay Hardin who is linked to more than just the robberies Andrea realizes that she realizes that her brother is involved in more than he is letting on and what Hardin has him doing would not only endanger the lives of others but his life too. Is he being brainwashed into taking on his beliefs and fighting his wars or is there more?

 

Things begin to heat up when she meets FBI agent Jon North working undercover in Texas. North and his partner Torres are investigating the unsolved murder of a Judge. Although the murder took place six years ago, the link to Hardin, the robberies and Andrea’s brother Gavin seem to be more than just a coincidence. As things heat up between Andrea and North differences come to light and everything changes as more lives are on the line. Hoping to bring Gavin in puts a strain on their relationship. Bringing him in creates a chasm or wide divide that might never be filled in.

 

Fired from her job Andrea decides to go after a criminal using her instincts and professional experience. But, things change, obstacles are placed in your way and what you think you see is not always what is there.

Elizabeth LeBlanc has been assigned to investigate the bank robberies and comes face to face with more than she bargains for. Just where is Shay Hardin going to strike? Staking out apartments, checking surveillance photos Elizabeth LeBlanc learns very little as every lead falls short. Jon North’s instincts have yet to yield anything. The case is about to go cold, as one photo would change it all and the arrest warrant he needed finally written.

 

His SAC finally on board, other agents brought in and we learn about inter-agency cooperation and lack of cooperation as Gavin is questioned. Andrea flares up and one important witness disappears. As each message is sent a harsh reality as author Laura Griffin brings to light what happens when one woman cannot face her own demons, rejection and is stubborn. Added in abuse, gun control, betrayals, trust and obstacles that law enforcement officers face every day, this mystery/suspense/ romance novel is chock full of heart stopping moments, bloodthirsty criminals and a man determined to make a bold statement. With two political figures as prime targets and one killer so disciplined, so stanch that he thinks he’s above it all, wait until both Andrea and Jon come face to face with him.

 

A chase that leaves them cold and four criminals that disappear in front of their eyes. A sociopath that whose anti-government ideology, “just gives him a rationale.” Not a suicide bomber but worse.

 

Just how far will Andrea go to protect her brother? Will she risk the lives of innocent people to prove that he is innocent? What part does he play in what Hardin has planned? As the FBI, police, Andrea and other agencies converge on one killer will they be able to identify stop him before it’s too late? A plot so deadly that it would make the Oklahoma bombing and bomber pale in comparison as author Laura Griffin takes readers into the mind of a serial/psychopath killer with a vendetta against the government and anyone standing in his way. Not a place but people that’s who he’s after. The death of the Senator’s daughter, anyone close to him and finally the main event. Simple one-line messages: What do they mean? When Elizabeth is kidnapped, tortured and finally gets free wills he be able to face her captors and take them down? Will they go unpunished? With the technology described within the pages of this novel the author allows readers to learn just how far we have to hide in plain sight. A truck bomb that would kill and a vendetta against one man that but would Andrea, Joe and the rest of the team be able to stop them in time?

 

A young girl so angry she could not see what was right in front of her and her brother whose vision was clouded he just might take another wrong direction. Will Andrea face her own demons? Will she get her job back? What about her relationship with Jon and her brother Gavin? Will this outstanding five star author bring Jon and Andrea back to work another case? Stubborn, hot headed and definitely no one to take fore granted Andrea Finch is one force to be reckoned with. A mystery/suspense, romance novel that will keep readers, as did it me, glued to the printed page until you find out if the bombs are exploded, if Andrea and Jon create their own fireworks and just how FAR GONE will things go before they come to a permanent head?

Fran Lewis: reviewer

Arts and Crafts my review

Arts and Crafts my review.

Hand in Glove: My review

Hand in Glove: My review.

LA BLUES 3

LA BLUES 3.

Lovely Assistant: my review

 

Lovely Assistant: Geoph Essex

 

Looking through a mirror what images do you see? Imagine seeing yourself and then another image of you but within the glass of a special mirror in a different world. What happens to Jenny Ng might startled, frighten, scare or even surprise some of you as you take a ride on her horse Rex and find yourself going through the Looking Glass like Alice and meet the many interesting people that she does along her journey from being Jenny to Mirror Jenny. Author Geoph Essex introduces a new type or paranormal, magical, wizardry world when one young girl finds herself on the other side of life or shall I say Death helping people on their way to their final stop. Just what that means you will find out when you open the pages of this book, go through the Looking Glass to Wonderland, find out how you can see yourself in two places at once and then what happens when situations come up and need special handling. Where is your last stop? What roads lead to where you are going? Is there really an end or are you just at the crossroads? Let’s start at the beginning!

 

What would you do if you were fired from your job, missed your last appointment and then was hit by a car? What would you do if when hit by a car your leg came off and then you managed to reattach it by yourself? Would you wonder why or would you do what Jenny Ng did? Enter a diner, order coffee and oh yeah why not a steak knife to try out her new found powers! Taking a napkin placing one of her digits underneath it she took the knife and hacked one off hoping that the magic she tried when reattaching her leg would work on her finger. Low and behold would you believe it did! So, what happens next is it also fate, kismet or just plain luck that she bumped into a guy looking for an assistant who happened to be a magician. What else can a girl want? A new career, a magical way of hacking off digits and replacing them and meeting a cute guy what more can she wants? But, this is just the beginning of the wild and zany things that are about to happen to Jenny Ng. Strange things happen to all of us but you won’t believe what happens next. First, she performs on stage with Calvin the magician. Then she learns more about how he creates his tricks, where the rabbit named Colby came from and what happened to the 13 mice that mysteriously disappeared. I can’t tell you the answers to these questions because a true reviewer and magician never reveal their secrets. Poor Jenny living in New York encounters some very strange people along the way. After performing and realizing that she might need somewhere to stay she calls her friend Keith and attempts to find her way to his apartment but along the way she encounters a very large horse, ends up with a magic sword, severed limbs and weird pictures or images Jenny is a trooper and she can weather just about anything so she thinks.

Jenny learns something in quite a unique way about the truth behind her existence, the accident and the parallel world she lives in. With her horse named Rex, a special pair of glasses, a mirror and her friend Calvin Jenny finds herself altering between the real world and a parallel world that allows her to go through a glass mirror like the looking glass in Alice In Wonderland and assess her life in both realms. Situations can be recreated and answers come about as Jenny Ng finds herself confused at first and not understanding why in one world she sees things one way and in another more clearly. Working with Calvin she becomes his assistant in his magic show as Jade of the East. A stage magician and quite talented the author shares his magic, stage presence and a friendship that forms but there is much more. As Jenny/Jade finds herself inside the looking glass she meets someone named Caravel. So, is Jenny really indestructible or is there a real reason why she can mutilate herself, hack away at fingers and digits, feel little or no pain and then become whole again? But, something is odd and when Jenny looks through the glasses she sees numbers and dates. Just what do these figures of numbers mean? Added in she has two friends that were with her before she got into the accident and their behavior at first seems normal but waits until you learn more about Dr. Vincent Raymond and his wife Carrie. So, what exactly does she think is going to happen? What about a young man named John who Jenny says will die on a specific date and time? How does she know this? Well, Jenny folks is really not indestructible she is really DEAD! You heard me. DEAD! She is now what you call for those of us that are fans of Dead Like Me a grim reaper who helps others find their way to the next step. With her horse Rex who guides her in the right direction, Jenny will be given appointments that will cause her to have to direct people young, old and middle age to their next world. Her career as a magician’s assistant is really fun for her and the author describes the tricks as if a real magician was doing them and putting on a show for readers. You can picture the tricks in your mind and see the end result because of the vivid descriptions. But, there is sadness, joy and sorrow as the end of the world is marked for Halloween or October 31^st according to Jenny. Jenny teams up with a clever conjurer, Calvin, several wild and zany friends, some Grim Reapers, one police detective and tries to stop what someone has started.

But, just how is the world supposed to end? Who is behind what is supposed to happen and can Jenny figure out a way to stop it? What happens when a group of thieves steal all of Calvin’s props? What happens when they wind up in the wrong hands? Jenny is determined to stop what two people she thought were her friends started in a chase that takes her across many realms, into many homes, handcuffed, shot at, keeping track of the real world while monitoring the actions and events in Wonderland. When a group of cultists so brainwashed and out of their minds team up with a married couple who think that the world should end and things are about to come full circle, wait until you find out just what Jenny, her friends, Calvin, Mr. Heckler and two guys named Louis and Lyle do in order to protect the world from collapsing. “Endings are just the start of beginnings,” as one of person states. Just what it means you won’t believe as the ramblings continue, Jenny is captured and the world seems bleak. But, Jenny has some powerful friends that come to her rescue. Learning more about herself, her powers and where she really belongs she has to make some serious choices, say goodbye to someone she loves and understand that her life or death as she knows it means going it alone. An ending that will surprise readers and a battle that is quite unique, different and will make you smile.

Where does she wind up and what happens to Calvin? With her sword, mirror and all of the artifacts she can stir up just what happens to the world and to Jenny you will have to find out for yourself.

 

The issues in this novel deal with love, friendship, loyalty, forgiveness and loss. What would you do if you were Jenny? A story that is quite unique, makes you wonder about life, death, just what would happen if you were Jenny and where you go when your time to make your choice and find your next path is there. Will you be given the choice or has your fate been decided?
Fran Lewis Reviewer

Counterstrike: my review

Just Reviews

 

Counterstrike: John Groh

 

Maps are created to help people find their way on a special road, highway or street. Using a GPS you have both a physical and voice activated directions that properly coordinate where you have to go. But, what happens when someone masterminds a plot so sinister, so cunning that you think you are going in one direction and all of your problems will be solved when in reality this craftsman has created his own map or directions for you to go in a different way. Blindsiding you and making sure that you do not reassess what is being said, what you might think or see you fall into a deadly trap wider than a chasm caused by a deadly earthquake. Counterstrike: an attack made to counter an enemy’s attack after several strikes: Two brothers both positioning themselves with their resources and their own financial arsenal…

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