General Update and Freebies from Nicholson and Others

I usually like to do an end-of-year top-ten reads list, but since most of my reading this years was for copyediting and proofreading I think I'm going to skip any sort of lists. Don't get me wrong. There were a number of good books that I read, but I just don't feel right putting them on any sort of best-of list. I will, however, try to do some sort of wrap-up and look forward, but it may not be until the new year when I post it.

There is one thing I want to make sure you Kindle owners are aware of. Right now there are a ton of freebies being offered to Kindle owners. In fact, my favorite author is offering a number of free e-books through Amazon. I remember when I first discovered Scott Nicholson. Somehow I happened upon a copy of The Red Church a few years back. I thoroughly enjoyed Nicholson's writing and wanted to read more. The only problem was that I had to hunt down his books online because most of them were out-of-print. I ended up getting all of his print titles after some work. Now fast-forward to the Kindle age, and he's giving away e-copies of his books. Talk about easy. Here's a link to all of the books he's giving away: http://hauntedcomputer.blogspot.com/.

Another freebie is from author Brenda Wallace. Brenda's a great person and talented new author. Her debut novel, Brilliant Prey, is currently free at Amazon for a limited time. Grab it while you can! Click here to go the the Amazon page.

If you own a Kindle, make sure you're checking out book clubs and freebie sites to get the latest information about available free books. It seems as though Santa's bag burst open after Christmas! Some authors that have had freebies or currently have promotions running include J. A. Konrath, Blake Crouch, J. R. Rain, and Aiden James.

If I don't talk to you before the new year, happy new year!

Winners of Free Scotty Stuff

Sorry for the delay in posting the names of the winners; this weekend seemed to get away from me! Thank you to those that entered the drawing to win free Scotty stuff, and also a big thank you to everyone who didn't enter the drawing but still supported Nicholson during his recent book launch for Liquid Fear.

Winner of the first-place prize:

Candy's Creations


Winner of the second-place prize:

Capt. Murdock


Again, thank you to everyone who entered. Winners, please send me your mailing address to bookhound78 (at) live (dot) com. If I don't receive your information by April 12 I will draw a new winner for your prize.

Free Scotty Stuff

It's been pretty dead around here recently and it's totally my fault. My surgery turned into much more of a predicament than I was expecting and I pretty much lost ten days of reading time, putting me very far behind on my proofreading and review projects.

But in an effort to liven things up and to support my favorite author, I've decided to give away a few books I've been sitting on for a while. If you purchase Scott Nicholson's new e-book, Liquid Fear: A Mystery Thriller, between now and 11:59 p.m. EST on April 1 and leave a comment below letting me know you purchased it, I will enter all the names into a drawing for a couple of "real" Nicholson books. First prize is an autographed copy of Thank You for the Flowers and a mass-market copy of They Hunger. Both of these books are new and unread. Second prize is a lightly read copy of one of my Nicholson favorites, The Farm.

Due to monetary constraints, I have to limit this drawing to US residents only. Even if you don't win a prize in the drawing, you still win because you've bought a great thriller for a super-great price! Make sure you grab Liquid Fear: A Mystery Thriller while it's only 99 cents! Good luck!

A Quick Update

I don’t have a book review ready and it may be a few days before I finish the next book I’m reading for review. But I want to give you a quick update on a couple things going on.

First, today marks the official launch day for Debbi Mack’s new book, Least Wanted. This is the follow-up to her breakout first novel, Identity Crisis. If you enjoy hardboiled crime novels, make sure you check this one out because the heroine in this series will have you coming back for more. And with both of these books priced at $0.99 for a limited time, they’re a steal! For more info on each of these books, check out my review of Least Wanted and my review of Identity Crisis.

Second, Scott Nicholson’s new novella, Crime Beat, is now live at Amazon and is also available for the Nook and at Smashwords. I had the pleasure of proofing this one and it’s a blast to read. Witty and entertaining throughout, it had me staying up late into the night to finish it. Do yourself a favor and grab a copy of this treat.

I’m not sure if I’ll have a new review up before the weekend; if not, it’ll be sometime next week before one will be up. There’s a nasty rumor going around that it’s my birthday next Monday and my wife has something planned for the weekend that she won’t tell me about. All I know is that we’ll be travelling, so that means I won’t have much time for writing reviews. In the meantime, take care and snag a copy of these great books while they’re cheap!

MOSTLY HUMAN by Lockley, Meikle, Nicholson, and Savile

I’ve previously stated that I’m a little wary of collaborations because you never know how writers’ styles will mesh. And I was referring to collaborations between two authors. Throw two more authors into the mix and my wariness level exponentially increases. Such was the case with Mostly Human by Steve Lockley, William Meikle, Scott Nicholson, and Steven Savile. I was intrigued by the premise of the story but was also wary about the number of authors, especially since I hadn’t read anything written by three of them (Lockley, Meikle, and Savile). However, I was curious how a collaboration between four authors in four different countries would work out.

To what extremes will loss drive a person? For Jack Spicer, the answer is not pretty. The small-town detective finds solace at the bottom of a bottle. After losing the love of his life to a brutal killer ten years earlier, Spicer has been in a downward spiral. Depending on alcohol to get through each day, Spicer has become a mere shadow of who he once was and the laughingstock of his department. When a body that has been savagely murdered turns up, Spicer is more than reminded of what happened to his love years before. He must summon the man he once was to track down the killer before more blood spills. What he finds is no normal human—just mostly human.

Mostly Human was an enjoyable, fun read. The writing flowed seamlessly throughout the entire book and it made for fast reading. I really enjoyed the story itself and the writers did a great job describing the gloom, both inside Spicer and that which physically surrounded him. I would gladly read similar collaborations in the future. There are some typos throughout the Kindle edition, but nothing that is a major distraction from the story. It’s definitely a good buy, priced at only $0.99 right now.

4 out of 5 stars.

'Tis the Season

I can't believe it's actually December now. I'm still trying to figure out where November went. Well, to get into the mood of the Christmas season, I'm going to give away more free stuff. I'm lucky enough to have 10 copies of Scott Nicholson's e-book, The Red Church, for the Kindle to give away this week. I'm going to keep it simple and all you have to do is leave a comment below with your e-mail address. That's it. Don't have to say anything else. For the first ten who leave their contact information, I'll gift you a copy of Scott's most well-known book on Friday, December 3rd, between 1 and 2 P.M.

You don't have to own a Kindle to be able to read the book; you can get the Kindle app for your computer or for a multitude of devices. Click here to get one of the free Kindle apps.

If you want to enter for a chance to win a physical copy of two of Scott's books, The Red Church (autographed) and Thank You for the Flowers, leave a comment to this post.

Happy holidays!

A Sad Day

I’m a bit sad. One of my daily routines ends today: my daily dose of getting to know the full Scotty. As many of you know, today marks the end of Scott Nicholson’s 90-day Blog Tour. This tour has become as much a part of my daily routine as having my morning coffee. So I’m a little sad to see it come to an end. But, alas, there is that saying, “All good things must come to an end.”

Was Scott’s blog tour a success? I think so. At least it was for me. I got the chance to visit and connect with many blogs and bloggers that I probably never would have otherwise. I was able to find out all kinds of cool and interesting things about one of my favorite authors. And probably the thing I am most excited about, I was introduced to a number of talented indie writers and some awesome books. My TBR pile grew by leaps and bounds.

My most memorable moment from the tour happened pretty early on, when I found out that Scott actually gave away some of his teeth as a promotional stunt for one of his books. I remember thinking, My god, what kind of person does that! That’s probably one of the wildest things I’ve heard someone do to try and attract (repel?) readers.

So in honor of Scott’s successful completion of 90 days of blogging craziness, I’m going to give away two of Scott’s real (paper :P) books, The Red Church (autographed) and Thank You for the Flowers, to one lucky winner. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post stating your favorite Scott moment from the tour. If you didn’t follow the tour, feel free to enter anyway. Just leave some sort of comment, like your favorite food, favorite color, sleeping habits, etc. I’d love for you to have the chance to experience Scott’s work. You have until 11:59 P.M. Friday, December 3rd to enter. At that time, I’ll randomly pick a winner. I'll announce the winner on my blog, but make sure you leave some way for me to contact you. Unfortunately for my international visitors, I can only ship books to U.S. locations. But please feel free to leave a comment.

DISINTEGRATION by Scott Nicholson

Scott Nicholson has a reputation of being a horror author. But if you've read Scott's recent works, you will know that he is more than just a horror author. I honestly believe Scott's thrillers are just as good, if not better, than his horror titles. And his latest release, Disintegration, simply solidifies my opinion, as I believe this is one of his best books yet.

Jacob is no stranger to pain and loss. It has happened in his past, and tragedy is about to strike again. Nicholson explores the depths to which one may fall when nearly everything is taken from him/her. Throw in a shady family history and the pressure to succeed and live up to a father's high standards, and you have a recipe for personal disaster.

This book is an emotional roller coaster and explores the downfall of a man who once seemed to have everything. Nicholson holds nothing back and it's obvious he poured himself into this work. Reminiscent of Tom Piccirilli's emotional style of writing, this book demonstrates that Nicholson is one of the most versatile authors out there. Lacking none of Nicholson's powerful prose, this is a must-read for any Nicholson fan, as well as anyone who wants an emotion-grabbing, powerful read.

The official launch date for this book is November 1st, but it is currently available for download at Amazon.

5 out of 5 stars.

Scott Nicholson's SPEED DATING WITH THE DEAD

At last, here is my promised review of Scott Nicholson's Speed Dating with the Dead:

Scott Nicholson's Speed Dating with the Dead will always have a special place in my heart. It has the distinction of being the first e-book I ever read using an e-reader, thus igniting a growing passion for e-books in my heart.

If you have followed me for any amount of time, you will know that Mr. Nicholson is one of my favorite authors. I haven't read anything by him that I haven't enjoyed on some level. That said, I must admit that I didn't know what to expect from this book based on the title. It evoked images of a bunch of 40-somethings jumping from table to table in a hotel lobby trying to meet a future companion. And in my mind they were all zombies. Go figure. I probably read more zombie books than is healthy.

Set in Mr. Nicholson's familiar Appalachian mountains, Speed Dating with the Dead is about a paranormal conference at an old hotel. There is a wide array of characters attending this conference, including your die-hard ghost hunters, clairvoyants, groupies, and skeptics. Probably not much different than real life. As the conference goes on, strange things begin to happen. Before long, Mr. Nicholson has you moving at break-neck speed as an ancient, malignant force makes its presence known at the conference.

Like all things Nicholson, I wasn't disappointed by this offering. I would actually say this book was a little bit edgier than some of his mass-market paper backs, which I liked. Mr. Nicholson weaves a wonderful story with a diverse cast of interesting characters. The book is paced very well, with the last half of the book flying by. Even with all the action, the book stays focused on the story and moving it along. And as with all of Mr. Nicholson's books, this one is atmospheric, making you feel like you're attending the conference with the other guests.

You won't be disappointed by this book. Even if you aren't into the whole ghost-hunting scene, there is plenty in here for you to enjoy. Mr. Nicholson is a story-driven author, and words in his hands turn into a very enjoyable story.

4 out of 5 stars.

The First Domino Falls

I planned on having a relaxing day today, to work on some copyediting projects and spend some time reading. So I decided to go to Borders and hang out in the cafe and work there. I went just after lunchtime, and I was able to find a $30 A/C adapter for my Sony Reader for just $7.50. Needless to say, I was a happy camper and settled down in the cafe to get some work done.

Later in the afternoon, my stomach started grumbling, telling me it was ready for some food. The first inkling of a headache had started, so I figured it was time to grab a bite to eat. After I hit McDonalds, I had an urge to stop at Books-A-Million (BAM) in Raleigh because I hadn't been by in a while. When I pulled up, I found the store windows decorated with bright yellow signs proclaiming "50% off already marked price." I thought, well, that's one heck of a Labor day sale. Glad I stopped today!

After browsing the store for a bit, I reasoned that there was no way everything is 50% off. I stopped a sales clerk that was passing by and asked her if everything was on sale. She assured me that it was, and immediately my mind started calculating ways to "free" up some money so I could score some books. I went after ones that I knew would be cheaper to buy in paper form than ebook form. After all, now that I have and e-reader, I'm all about saving as much money as possible.

I lugged my armful of books to the checkout counter and grinned as the sales clerk rang up my goodies. I asked how long the sale was going to last, sure it was just a one day deal. The clerk looked at me stone-faced and said, "Till the 18th, when we close." I thought I had misheard, so I asked again. Nope, I hadn't misheard. The only Books-A-Million in Raleigh, NC, is closing on September 18th.

At first, I was shocked by this news. BAM was my preferred bookstore to go to until about six months ago. I've always had a BAM near me to go to. Soon, my faithful standby will be gone. Needless to say, I scrambled and grabbed another armful of books to buy.

But after I got a coffee and settled down in the cafe, I thought about the whole situation some more. The shock began to wear off after a little while and I came to realize that stuff Scott Nicholson and J. A. Konrath have been talking about is finally coming to fruition. Heck, I had even told my wife when I bought my Sony Reader that I thought traditional bookstores would start closing down in a couple of years. I guess, if anything, the thing that shocks me most about BAM closing is how soon it's occurring, not the fact that it's happening.

I won't be surprised to see other chains start doing the same thing around here. We have three Barnes & Nobles and two Borders here in Raleigh. I think it's just a matter of when, not if, for them. The nostalgic part of me is going to miss them. Especially BAM, since it was always my "go-to" store. But another part of me is excited. And not just because I scored some cheap books today. This is an exciting and turbulent time we are in, and I can't wait to see what changes are coming. I suggest you hold on tight. The winds of change are blowing strong.

Speaking of winds blowing, I'll leave you with a quote, or maybe more of a paraphrase, from the comedian Ron White: "It's not that the wind is blowing, it's what the wind is blowing."

Touching Base

Just a quick update of what's going on with me. There are a number of things on my "To Do" list, but my time seems to be shrinking awfully fast! But here are a few things that I have planned or that are in the pipeline:

1. I WILL write a review of Scott Nicholson's Speed Dating with the Dead. I finished this ebook (my first one on my new reader) last week, and it was a very enjoyable read. A bit different from Mr. Nicholson's other books I've read. I'd definitely recommend it.

2. I WILL get my "Books Read" section updated on the main page here. I believe it stops at 34 or 35, and as of right now I've finished 54 books this calender year. By far my best year ever for reading.

3. I am currently Beta reading a new Scott Nicholson book, and enjoying the heck out of it. It's the best "worst" novel I've ever read.

4. I plan on posting here more consistently. I know, I know, I've said it before. But I really want to use this blog to share my love for books, and I feel it is a good way for me to practice my writing skills. Just need to find where I placed all my time.

5. This weekend I'm going to a signing with Brian Keene and Mary Sangiovanni in Williamsburg, VA. Needless to say, I'm super stoked about this!

6. I plan on sharing more about my experience with ebooks. I'm a newbie to them, but folks like Scott Nicholson and J. A. Konrath have me really excited about them. Plus, they're doing some cool stuff and there are some awesome books available in ebook form only.

I think that about covers it for now. I'm going to probably start pecking away at this list tomorrow, as I've been up for 28 hours right now, and I'm a bit tired. I'd like to have a clear mind so I can enjoy things!

Scott Nicholson's THE SKULL RING

Scott Nicholson's latest novel, The Skull Ring, is now available for Kindle and at Smashwords. Being a fan of Nicholson, I've anticipated this novel for a while. After the small publisher who was going to publish this book went defunct, it appeared this book would not see the light of day anytime soon. But lo and behold, Mr. Nicholson decided to dive into the waters of ebooks, and now this book is available. I've had the pleasure of reading it and here is a brief review:

Scott Nicholson changes things up a bit in his latest offering, THE SKULL RING. This novel is a suspense story set in the mountains of North Carolina about a young lady named Julia Stone. Julia is searching for clues to her past, who she is, what happened to her, and what happened to her dad. Julia lives in a near constant state of fear and finds it hard to trust others. The one person she does trust is her doctor, Dr. Forrest. As they delve deeper into Julia's past, the more "skeletons" come out of Julia's closet. The closer she comes to the truth, the less sure Julia is that she can handle it. It may come down to a matter of life or death for her.

Nicholson never relents as he takes the reader into Julia Stone's world. There are the feelings of fear, dread, and anxiety throughout this novel. Nicholson's masterly descriptive writing style creates a chilling tale set in a beautiful locale and pulls you into the story. You don't want to miss this one by Nicholson; he demonstrates his ability to branch out into other genres in a tremendous way with this book.

This is a really good read and a change of pace if you are familiar with Mr. Nicholson's horror. However, what is not missing is his high quality writing and ability to connect with the reader. If you're interested, visit Mr. Nicholson at his new enterprise's website http://hauntedcomputerbooks.blogspot.com/ or at his personal site http://www.hauntedcomputer.com/.

Top Ten Books I Read In 2009

Since we are drawing to the close of yet another year, it is the time to compile lists of a wide variety things from the past year. Since my passion is reading, I am going to make a top ten list of books. But I didn't read ten books that were published in 2009; instead, I read 46 books (as of the time this is written), most of them older titles. So, instead of a top ten of 2009 published books, I am going to make a top ten of the books that I did read this year. Without further ado, here is my top ten list, in no particular order:

Top Ten Books I Read in 2009

1. 'Salem's Lot by Stephen King. This is one of my favorite King books. It is an interesting vampire story, and no one can tell a story like Stephen King. Definitely a classic.

2. Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi. I don't read too much in the way of nonfiction, but this was an enthralling book. Very fascinating topic, giving a behind the scenes look at the Manson investigation. Still amazes me that a man like Manson could wield that much power over other people.

3. On Writing by Stephen King. Wonderful memoir by King about how he approaches his craft. A must read for anyone interested in writing. Not a technical treatment, but more of an informal look at writing.

4. Bad Moon Rising by Jonathan Maberry. This is the exciting conclusion to the Pine Deep trilogy. Maberry has a unique talent to tell a story, and this trilogy does not disappoint.

5. The Rising by Brian Keene. Groundbreaking take on the zombie genre. Keene reinvented and rejuvenated the zombie as we know it. Excellent story and a very good starting point to Keene's work.

6. The Farm by Scott Nicholson. Nicholson is one of my favorite storytellers, and maybe I am a little partial to him because he is a local author. The blurb on the back of the book makes this story sound far-fetched, but this is a very entertaining read.

7. The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum. This was my first book by Ketchum. It is a disturbing story that probably is not for everyone, but this one hooked me as a Ketchum fan.

8. The Conquerer Worms by Brian Keene. Again, Keene delivers with a fresh and unique story. I was hesitant to read this one, based on the cover art of the book (yes, that is very superficial) and the premise, but this is probably my favorite of Keene's work that I have read thus far.

9. In The Dark by Richard Laymon. Laymon is a master, in my humble opinion. This is a story that truly creeped me out and had me looking over my shoulder. If you have not read any Laymon, you need to!!!

10. The Resurrectionist by Wrath James White. This is a book that made me squirm and left certain images imprinted on my mind for life. I am a huge fan of White, and would highly recommend him to everyone, although I suspect everyone would not be able to handle his work.

Here are a few that just narrowly missed my list: The Cellar by Richard Laymon, The Stand by Stephen King, City Of The Dead by Brian Keene, Afraid by Jack Kilborn, and The Reader by Bernhard Schlink.