Thursday, August 28, 2014

Frozen by the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge






It's late into August, and I thought no one was going to invite me to the "Dump A Bucket of Ice Water On Your Head For Charity" party. But I guess good things come to those that wait. 

So excuse the share, but here is my video...you may learn more about me that you've known before.



Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Shameless Self Promotion (You Were Warned!)

When I am not being ignored in the blog-o-sphere, I write books. This weekend I am premiering my second novel, The Lost Crew, on Kindle. It's been offered only in print form for the last two years (I like to publish first, then release the e-book afterwards...I guess I'm really old-fashioned). It will be available for the low, low price of $2.99.


To celebrate, I've made The Pirate Bride (the first in the series) available on Kindle FREE OF CHARGE until Sept. 1. What a deal!


If you enjoy pirates, time-travel, mystery, humor, large & crazy families, then you might just enjoy these Middle Grade fiction novels.


And if you needed more reasons to take the plunge, consider this: The Pirate Bride was co-written with my daughter, Anna, who was 7 when she created the story and 9 when we co-wrote it. She invented the story while on a family hike in 2006.


Happy Reading and Thanks!


P.S. If you're on Twitter (and who isn't), follow my darkside at: https://twitter.com/Crying_Ryan

Monday, August 25, 2014

Best Book You've Never Read





In 2004, I was browsing the New Release shelf at my local B&N and came across a very odd title: Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. While the premise seemed promising, the manner in which the story came about was what sold me.

The author, Susanna Clarke, had never written a novel prior to this, but had spent many, many years crafting this story. Ten years. I won't go into detail, but you can find out more at Susanna Clarke's Wiki. I'm sharing this with you today for a very special reason--BBC America is making the book into a mini-series.

This isn't new-news. They announced the production in 2013. I'm telling you about it now because it is going to hit television screens here in 2014 (the exact date isn't public, yet) and it is going to be huge.

I never read the Harry Potter books, they didn't really appeal to me, though the films did. But when I read (and re-read) Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, I believe I felt something similar to what readers felt as they entered the Magical World of Harry.

Ms. Clarke created a vivid world of conflict; nineteenth century England where the practice of magic is no longer tolerated but studied. Magic's influence, however, remains present and is magnificently re-introduced to a rapt and welcoming populace. What follows is an alternate history of the UK where magic and mystery effect the outcome of the Napoleonic Wars and lives of several innocent bystanders.

It won Time's Best Novel of the Year, as well as the Hugo. The Hugo! But many people have never heard of it. I feel like that is about to change.

If you are at all like me, you will want to read the book before you see the show, and trust me, you will want to see the show. So get started--it's not a quick read but worth every minute.