Aaron L Brown's Blog - The Walking Contradiction
Welcome to the blog of Aaron L Brown. Hopefully, something found here will prove useful and insightful for you, but I doubt it. Mostly just the ramblings of a madman...
Thursday September 2nd 2010 - 04:44 PM
For this month`s Big Thrill, I interviewed Ward Larsen about his new book FLY BY WIRE...Ward Larsen is a writer who has led a life as interesting as the characters from his novels. As a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force, he flew over twenty combat missions in Operation Desert Storm, was awarded two Air Medals, received training in aircraft accident investigation, and attended USAF survival training where he learned, among other things, which snakes can be eaten and how to resist "interrogation under hostile conditions." Ward Larsen`s military qualifications and positions include Expert Qualification in Small Arms Marksmanship, Four-ship Flight Lead, Instructor Pilot, Maintenance Test Pilot, and Flight Commander. Larsen has herded camels using both a jet and an SUV. (He reports that it is far easier with an SUV.).
Ward has also worked as a federal law enforcement officer and an aircraft accident investigator. Presently, he is a captain for a major airline and resides with his family in Florida. And if that`s not enough for you, he is also the award-winning author of The Perfect Assassin, Stealing Trinity, and his latest book, Fly By Wire.
Check out my full article and interview with Ward Larsen in The Big Thrill...
http://www.thrillerwriters.org/2010/08/fly-by-wire-by-ward-larson.html
TAGS: Ward Larsen, Fly By Wire, Big Thrill
Thursday August 5th 2010 - 07:24 AM
For this month`s Big Thrill, I interviewed Matt Hilton about his new book CUT AND RUN...Who is Joe Hunter?
For a start, there are certain things he isn`t. He`s not a cop. He`s not a bounty hunter. He`s not a private detective. Some people call him a vigilante, but even Joe will tell you that vigilantes take the law into their own hands, whereas there aren`t too many laws that define what Joe does to get a job done.
Joe is someone who cares. Simple as that. He doesn`t like bullies. He doesn`t like men who hurt women or children. Put into context, that covers a whole bundle of bad guys the world over. He`s a tough guy with a heart.
In his new book, Cut and Run, Matt Hilton pits Joe against a killer who has stolen his identity and committed a vicious double murder. His motive? Revenge. His mission? Kill anyone Hunter holds dear. This forces Joe into a deadly duel of wits that takes him from the streets of Miami to the squalid barrios of Columbia to the jungle hideaway of a drug baron. And brings him face to face with his past.
Matt Hilton, the architect of the Joe Hunter series, is a writer who has been described by critics as "a sparkling new talent" writing books that "roar along at a ferocious pace." I had the pleasure of interviewing Matt, discussing his upcoming projects, and learning about his thrilling real-life experiences.
Check out my full article and interview with Matt in The Big Thrill...
http://www.thrillerwriters.org/2010/07/cut-and-run-by-matt-hilton.html
TAGS: Matt Hilton, ITW, Big Thrill
Friday July 2nd 2010 - 10:07 AM
For this month`s Big Thrill, I interviewed a great author named David Sakmyster about his new book THE PHAROS OBJECTIVE...In 1979, a scientific study tested whether psychics could actually "remote-view" the location of Cleopatra`s lost palace. Amazingly, they succeeded.
Inspired by this incredible true story, David Sakmyster created The Morpheus Initiative, an exciting new team of psychic archaeologists who seek out the world`s most enduring historical mysteries and mystical artifacts. The first book in a new series, The Pharos Objective, has the team pursuing the fabled treasure of Alexander the Great beneath the ruins of the Pharos Lighthouse, while contending with diabolical traps and an ancient society called "The Keepers".
Check out my full article and interview with David Sakmyster in The Big Thrill...
http://www.thrillerwriters.org/2010/06/the-pharos-objective-by-david-sakmyster.html
TAGS: The Pharos Objective, David Sakmyster, ITW, Thriller, Big Thrill
Tuesday June 1st 2010 - 11:21 AM
For this month`s Big Thrill, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dennis Tafoya and discussing his new book, his influences, and what comes next for a writer who "punches right through to the heart of the action." Check out my full article in The Big Thrill...http://www.thrillerwriters.org/2010/05/the-wolves-of-fairmount-park-by-dennis-t.html
TAGS: Big Thrill, Book, Dennis Tafoya, International Thriller Writers, Thriller
Tuesday May 18th 2010 - 09:03 AM
I`m pleased to announce that I am now a contributing editor for THE BIG THRILL, a monthly webzine brought to you by the International Thriller Writers (a wonderful organization of which I`m a member). The Big Thrill brings you info on the newest thrillers coming out every month and interviews with the authors behind your favorite books. This coming month, you can expect to find an article from me about Dennis Tafoya and his new book, The Wolves of Fairmount Park. I`ll post a link to my articles on this site, but be sure to sign up for The Big Thrill by following the link found below.
Sign Up to Receive THE BIG THRILL
TAGS: ITW, thriller, big thrill
Friday May 7th 2010 - 01:26 PM
Check out my review of the iPad over at RelevantGeek.com. The article covers iBooks, Ebook reading, Office Docs, Videos, etc
http://www.relevantgeek.com/books/aarons-ipad-review/
http://www.relevantgeek.com/books/aarons-ipad-review/
TAGS: iPad, ebook, iBooks, gadgets, tech
Friday February 12th 2010 - 10:57 AM
Some upcoming movies and my initial impressions...
1. Valentine`s Day
This thing looks like a train wreck waiting to happen. I have not seen every film ever made, but I`ve seen a lot. And I have never experienced a movie that has this many stars that actually lives up to the talent of its cast. How can this film have any character development whatsoever with a cast of a thousand A and B list actors? I think that this is a not-so-thinly veiled attempt by Hollywood to cash in on the holiday weekend and the swarm of couples out on date night. I won`t be seeing it in the theater, and unless I hear some rave reviews, I won`t go for it on video either.
2. Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
I`m very excited about this movie. It looks like a great blend of adventure, fun, and fantasy. My daughter (11) has read the first two books and absolutely loved them. I will without a doubt be seeing this film over the weekend.
3. The Wolfman
The preview looks great. I love a great horror/monster flick, and the throwback style of this film looks really interesting. I`m also excited to see Anthony Hopkins play crazy again (judging from the preview). I hope to see this over the weekend, but I`m worried that Percy Jackson will be the only film I`ll have a chance to see.
What movie are you most excited about this weekend? Let me know...
1. Valentine`s Day
This thing looks like a train wreck waiting to happen. I have not seen every film ever made, but I`ve seen a lot. And I have never experienced a movie that has this many stars that actually lives up to the talent of its cast. How can this film have any character development whatsoever with a cast of a thousand A and B list actors? I think that this is a not-so-thinly veiled attempt by Hollywood to cash in on the holiday weekend and the swarm of couples out on date night. I won`t be seeing it in the theater, and unless I hear some rave reviews, I won`t go for it on video either.
2. Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
I`m very excited about this movie. It looks like a great blend of adventure, fun, and fantasy. My daughter (11) has read the first two books and absolutely loved them. I will without a doubt be seeing this film over the weekend.
3. The Wolfman
The preview looks great. I love a great horror/monster flick, and the throwback style of this film looks really interesting. I`m also excited to see Anthony Hopkins play crazy again (judging from the preview). I hope to see this over the weekend, but I`m worried that Percy Jackson will be the only film I`ll have a chance to see.
What movie are you most excited about this weekend? Let me know...
TAGS: Movies, Upcoming, Weekend
Monday February 8th 2010 - 02:07 PM
Here are my favorite Super Bowl Ads from this year...
1. Free Willy Bachelor Party
2. Dorito`s Funeral
3. Brett Favre Hyundai
4. Jeffery (The Intel Robot)
1. Free Willy Bachelor Party
2. Dorito`s Funeral
3. Brett Favre Hyundai
4. Jeffery (The Intel Robot)
TAGS: Super Bowl, Commercials, Funny
Friday August 21st 2009 - 11:06 AM
Exciting (and stressful) Times in the World of Aaron L Brown:
You may have noticed that I haven’t added a new blog entry in some time. That’s because all of my free time of late has been devoted to reworking my first book, The Shepherd, before sending it off to the editor. I’m under some time constraints and work on the project has taken every moment I can spare, so blogging has fallen by the wayside. But I wanted to give a quick update on some of the exciting things that have been happening over the past month.
First of all, I attended Thrillerfest in July, and it was one of the best experiences of my life. I got to not only meet, but also hang out with some of my favorite authors. I attended some incredible classes and panels, learning more about writing and the industry in a couple of days than I had in the entire rest of my life (that might be a slight exaggeration, but still). I met some other great aspiring authors (the bestsellers of tomorrow) and made some new friends. Also, I was able to pitch to about 15 agents at Agentfest, and 12 of those requested more info. All in all, I had an incredible time, and will be attending again next year without a doubt. Plus, my wife and I had a great time in New York.
While in New York, I also met a very talented writer who has since referred me onto his editor. I sent my first chapter, and his editor loved it. Unfortunately, he didn’t have the time to work with me in near future, but he did refer me onto some other incredibly talented and reputable editors. One of who will be working on my manuscript in September.
Hopefully, this will be the first step toward The Shepherd being available in a bookstore near you. I’ll be keeping a running log of the progress here, so keep checking back for more updates.
TAGS: The Shepherd, Editor, Thrillerfest
Thursday June 11th 2009 - 12:30 PM
Hello Everyone,
I`ve gotten a lot of requests for my thoughts and impressions about my new Kindle 2. So, I`ve taken a couple of minutes and posted some thoughts below. I apologize for the format, but I just kind of brainstormed my impressions. Also, my daughter has a Sony PRS-505, so I`ve read on one of those as well.
Reading on the Device = very enjoyable - buttons on both sides of the device so you can hold it one handed with either hand (unlike Sony readers, which is a pain) - not sure why, but the screen seems much easier to read on than with the Sony devices.
NOTE: Kindle DX doesn`t have the buttons on both sides. This was the main thing that steered me away from it, bonehead move by Amazon.
Keyboard = not great, but comparable to most cell phones with qwerty keyboard
UPDATE:
Text-To-Speech = works surprisingly well, not as good as an actual audiobook that`s professional acted, but a pretty good alternative. Also, the kindle has built in speakers, so you can sit the Kindle down and listen while doing other tasks (I listen while I`m shaving, etc)
Kindle Store = Incredibly easy to use - downloads are very fast even without 3G speeds - downloading a sample is very cool
Taking Notes/Highlighting = very easy to do and useful - couldn`t figure out how to export notes, easily - I was wanting to use this for notes and revisions, but I`m not sure if the functionality that I need is there - very good for research and highlighting though
Formats = Annoying thing about Kindle is the formats that it supports, PRS-505 supports PDF and RTF. You have to convert these with Kindle, but the conversion is very simple, since you don`t need any software. You just e-mail the file to Amazon, and they send it to your device (fee) or your e-mail account (free). They send the file back to you almost instantaneously. The problem is that the formatting can be screwy, especially with PDFs (listed as experimental by Amazon). PRS-505 definitely wins on formats, but their software on your computer is really crappy.
Interface = The interface is actually probably better on the PRS-505, but both do what you need. PRS-505 also shows images, but I`ll probably never use that anyway.
PAGE NUMBERS = What the hell, Amazon? Where are my page numbers? On the Kindle, progress through the book is marked by percentage and some weird location number that I don`t fully understand. I wish their was an option to show page numbers instead.
Book Prices = From what I`ve seen, Amazon wins hands down. Books through the Sony store are probably 1.5 to 2 times the price as the Kindle store. Again, this is with the books that I tried to buy, not an overall, verifiable stat.
VERDICT = I love the Kindle and recommend it over the PRS-505. Buying books on the fly is a big plus for me and a factor in my decision, but overall I just had a much more enjoyable experience with the Kindle.
I`ll update this post with any additional thoughts after I`ve had more time with the device, so be sure to check back later.
I`ve gotten a lot of requests for my thoughts and impressions about my new Kindle 2. So, I`ve taken a couple of minutes and posted some thoughts below. I apologize for the format, but I just kind of brainstormed my impressions. Also, my daughter has a Sony PRS-505, so I`ve read on one of those as well.
Reading on the Device = very enjoyable - buttons on both sides of the device so you can hold it one handed with either hand (unlike Sony readers, which is a pain) - not sure why, but the screen seems much easier to read on than with the Sony devices.
NOTE: Kindle DX doesn`t have the buttons on both sides. This was the main thing that steered me away from it, bonehead move by Amazon.
Keyboard = not great, but comparable to most cell phones with qwerty keyboard
UPDATE:
Text-To-Speech = works surprisingly well, not as good as an actual audiobook that`s professional acted, but a pretty good alternative. Also, the kindle has built in speakers, so you can sit the Kindle down and listen while doing other tasks (I listen while I`m shaving, etc)
Kindle Store = Incredibly easy to use - downloads are very fast even without 3G speeds - downloading a sample is very cool
Taking Notes/Highlighting = very easy to do and useful - couldn`t figure out how to export notes, easily - I was wanting to use this for notes and revisions, but I`m not sure if the functionality that I need is there - very good for research and highlighting though
Formats = Annoying thing about Kindle is the formats that it supports, PRS-505 supports PDF and RTF. You have to convert these with Kindle, but the conversion is very simple, since you don`t need any software. You just e-mail the file to Amazon, and they send it to your device (fee) or your e-mail account (free). They send the file back to you almost instantaneously. The problem is that the formatting can be screwy, especially with PDFs (listed as experimental by Amazon). PRS-505 definitely wins on formats, but their software on your computer is really crappy.
Interface = The interface is actually probably better on the PRS-505, but both do what you need. PRS-505 also shows images, but I`ll probably never use that anyway.
PAGE NUMBERS = What the hell, Amazon? Where are my page numbers? On the Kindle, progress through the book is marked by percentage and some weird location number that I don`t fully understand. I wish their was an option to show page numbers instead.
Book Prices = From what I`ve seen, Amazon wins hands down. Books through the Sony store are probably 1.5 to 2 times the price as the Kindle store. Again, this is with the books that I tried to buy, not an overall, verifiable stat.
VERDICT = I love the Kindle and recommend it over the PRS-505. Buying books on the fly is a big plus for me and a factor in my decision, but overall I just had a much more enjoyable experience with the Kindle.
I`ll update this post with any additional thoughts after I`ve had more time with the device, so be sure to check back later.
TAGS: Kindle, Ebook, Publishing, Amazon
Thursday June 11th 2009 - 08:52 AM
My Kindle 2 arrived this week, so I am beginning my much contemplated transition to ebooks. I have about a thirty foot wall covered from floor to ceiling with books, and they just keep pumping out new ones all the time. I know that I could just trade them in or sell them, but what can I say, I`m a collector. Nevertheless, there is only so much space in the world, and I feel that it`s time to make the leap to digital.
It`s my opinion that ebooks are the way of the future, and that we will eventually receive all of our books, magazines, and newspapers digitally. How soon will this transition take place? Don`t panic...I think we are ten to fifteen years away from seeing the ebook dethrone the paperback novel, but I think this is an inevitability. The digital revolution is already imminent in the music industry (thanks to the mp3), and I predict that television and movies will eventually be digitally streamed on demand as well. By "on demand", I mean that you won`t watch your favorite show Thursdays at 8:00, instead you will merely select the show you want and choose from available episodes to be streamed to your TV. So, if this is happening in all other entertainment mediums, why not the publishing industry as well?
A fellow writer and I had an interesting discussion the other day about this topic, and one question he had was how people would find new books and authors in this new ebook world when there is no bookstore to browse. My thoughts are that finding new books and authors will largely depend on software functionality such as Amazon`s ratings, reviews, and recommended items. This brought up another interesting point. Traditionally, the books that catch your eye at Barnes and Noble are from major publishing houses, but this isn`t always the case on Amazon. I find that the books that are often recommended to me by Amazon are a blend of both traditionally published and self-published. So, in the future, will being published with a major publishing house make all the difference or will success be based solely on the quality of your book, regardless of the source?
Another question - will ebook readers like the Kindle be the devices used to read the majority of ebooks? My thoughts are that there will be a certain amount of time that dedicated ebook readers will be prevalent, but they will ultimately be replaced by all-in-one devices. Basically, ebooks on your phone/mini-laptop. Note that you can already read Kindle books on the iPhone. The main barrier to this is obviously screen size. I have read books on my phone (AT&T Tilt) and it was ok, but not nearly as enjoyable as the Kindle.
The digital revolution is not going to make the book extinct, as some fear. It`s important to remember that it`s still a "book" whether it`s on a Kindle or on paper. The important thing is the knowledge and story within the words, not the medium in which it is presented. We began writing on stone tablets, then parchment, then with a typewriter, and now with a computer. This is just the nature of the world, and as the world evolves, we must evolve with it...or become extinct.
It`s my opinion that ebooks are the way of the future, and that we will eventually receive all of our books, magazines, and newspapers digitally. How soon will this transition take place? Don`t panic...I think we are ten to fifteen years away from seeing the ebook dethrone the paperback novel, but I think this is an inevitability. The digital revolution is already imminent in the music industry (thanks to the mp3), and I predict that television and movies will eventually be digitally streamed on demand as well. By "on demand", I mean that you won`t watch your favorite show Thursdays at 8:00, instead you will merely select the show you want and choose from available episodes to be streamed to your TV. So, if this is happening in all other entertainment mediums, why not the publishing industry as well?
A fellow writer and I had an interesting discussion the other day about this topic, and one question he had was how people would find new books and authors in this new ebook world when there is no bookstore to browse. My thoughts are that finding new books and authors will largely depend on software functionality such as Amazon`s ratings, reviews, and recommended items. This brought up another interesting point. Traditionally, the books that catch your eye at Barnes and Noble are from major publishing houses, but this isn`t always the case on Amazon. I find that the books that are often recommended to me by Amazon are a blend of both traditionally published and self-published. So, in the future, will being published with a major publishing house make all the difference or will success be based solely on the quality of your book, regardless of the source?
Another question - will ebook readers like the Kindle be the devices used to read the majority of ebooks? My thoughts are that there will be a certain amount of time that dedicated ebook readers will be prevalent, but they will ultimately be replaced by all-in-one devices. Basically, ebooks on your phone/mini-laptop. Note that you can already read Kindle books on the iPhone. The main barrier to this is obviously screen size. I have read books on my phone (AT&T Tilt) and it was ok, but not nearly as enjoyable as the Kindle.
The digital revolution is not going to make the book extinct, as some fear. It`s important to remember that it`s still a "book" whether it`s on a Kindle or on paper. The important thing is the knowledge and story within the words, not the medium in which it is presented. We began writing on stone tablets, then parchment, then with a typewriter, and now with a computer. This is just the nature of the world, and as the world evolves, we must evolve with it...or become extinct.
TAGS: Kindle, Ebook, Publishing, Amazon
Tuesday May 19th 2009 - 09:03 AM
It’s been a while since I’ve posted any blog entries, so I wanted to get a short one up today. The reason that I have been purposely trying to stay away from blogging is that I’ve been devoting almost every free moment to another rousing round of revisions on my first book. I know what you’re thinking…wasn’t that done a long time ago? Yes, it was, but after deciding to add a few new chapters to the beginning of the book, I decided to put aside my current project and revisit The Shepherd with fresh eyes. I hope that the end result will be a tighter, more complete work.
After completing this round of revisions, I am going to send out queries to agents and publishers and hopefully get The Shepherd into print. Why haven’t I begun the submission process yet? Because I wanted to have all of my ducks in a row first and things are finally starting to line up. Hopefully, the stars will align also and my efforts will finally come to fruition. Keep checking back for more info on how the The Shepherd project is progressing.
After completing this round of revisions, I am going to send out queries to agents and publishers and hopefully get The Shepherd into print. Why haven’t I begun the submission process yet? Because I wanted to have all of my ducks in a row first and things are finally starting to line up. Hopefully, the stars will align also and my efforts will finally come to fruition. Keep checking back for more info on how the The Shepherd project is progressing.
TAGS: The Shepherd, Revisions, Subsmissions
Thursday April 23rd 2009 - 03:19 PM
It’s about time that I throw some more incoherent ramblings out over the information superhighway. So, within this post, I’m going to discuss a few things that struck me as interesting this week. They include the announcement of Dan Brown’s new book, a Twitter incident involving a suicide threat, new chapters being added to my first book, and a new podcast audiobook.
First of all, Dan Brown’s next novel The Lost Symbol was announced this week and comes out in September. If memory serves, it has been about five years since The Da Vinci Code hit and it has taken Brown that long to research and prepare for his next Robert Langdon adventure. Personally, I feel that Angels and Demons was far superior to The Da Vinci Code and hope that this novel is as well, but that’s beside the point. The point is that this is probably the most anticipated adult novel to come out in a very long time and unfortunately in my opinion it will never live up to the hype. Let me preface this by saying that I am not a Dan Brown hater (in fact I liked Angels and Demons and Deception Point a great deal), but The Lost Symbol is so overly hyped that there will be a plethora of people with nothing better to do than tear it down. The big thing that sold The Da Vinci Code was the controversy and I wonder what the premise of this book will be and if it will stir the same passion. That being said, I predict it will sell 2.5 gagillion copies (that’s a number, right?). Check out the other Mr. Brown at danbrown.com
Something else this week that I found interesting was an incident with a user on Twitter known as @liquidwings. This person posted messages to their Twitter account implying that they may commit suicide. I saw this post early on and others and myself, including some celebs, posted some encouraging words to this person and sent a message out for others to do the same. Within only a few minutes, the Twitter community was sending love and hope out over the lines to this nameless, faceless person in need of help. I’m not sure of how many messages the person received, but I’m sure it was in the thousands. I have to say that the incident really made me proud to be part of Twitter and restored some of my faith in people.
Next item on the agenda: the new chapters being added to The Shepherd. Although, my first book has been finished for a while and I have actually begun work on a few other projects, I was always bothered by the first portion of the novel. I felt that it lacked the intensity carried throughout the rest of the book. So, I recently added a new first chapter focusing entirely on the serial killer, Ackerman, and a run-in he has with two Colorado State Troopers. I like that Ackerman is introduced much earlier in the story and feel that the new first chapter gives a better picture of the rest of the book. But, it still wasn’t enough for me and that’s why I have now finished another new chapter that will be the new Chapter 4. It fills in some gaps and adds more action to the first portion of the book. I now feel that the first part of the novel flows better and that the pacing has been greatly improved.
Finally, I have been listening to a free podcast audiobook presentation of Jeremy Robinson’s book Kronos ( found here: http://podiobooks.com/title/kronos ). I’m not sure what the reasoning is behind giving the book away for free, other than sacrificing sales on this book in order to boost them on others, which is a brave and interesting idea. Regardless, the audiobook is available for free and the quality is very good, definitely up to par with other productions. The book, so far, has also been very interesting. I would definitely recommend it to any fans of Peter Benchley, Steve Alten, and the action genre. Check out more of Jeremy Robinson’s books at jeremyrobinsononline.com.
That’s enough of my two cents for this week, but check back next week as I discuss ebooks, the new X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie, and much more.
First of all, Dan Brown’s next novel The Lost Symbol was announced this week and comes out in September. If memory serves, it has been about five years since The Da Vinci Code hit and it has taken Brown that long to research and prepare for his next Robert Langdon adventure. Personally, I feel that Angels and Demons was far superior to The Da Vinci Code and hope that this novel is as well, but that’s beside the point. The point is that this is probably the most anticipated adult novel to come out in a very long time and unfortunately in my opinion it will never live up to the hype. Let me preface this by saying that I am not a Dan Brown hater (in fact I liked Angels and Demons and Deception Point a great deal), but The Lost Symbol is so overly hyped that there will be a plethora of people with nothing better to do than tear it down. The big thing that sold The Da Vinci Code was the controversy and I wonder what the premise of this book will be and if it will stir the same passion. That being said, I predict it will sell 2.5 gagillion copies (that’s a number, right?). Check out the other Mr. Brown at danbrown.com
Something else this week that I found interesting was an incident with a user on Twitter known as @liquidwings. This person posted messages to their Twitter account implying that they may commit suicide. I saw this post early on and others and myself, including some celebs, posted some encouraging words to this person and sent a message out for others to do the same. Within only a few minutes, the Twitter community was sending love and hope out over the lines to this nameless, faceless person in need of help. I’m not sure of how many messages the person received, but I’m sure it was in the thousands. I have to say that the incident really made me proud to be part of Twitter and restored some of my faith in people.
Next item on the agenda: the new chapters being added to The Shepherd. Although, my first book has been finished for a while and I have actually begun work on a few other projects, I was always bothered by the first portion of the novel. I felt that it lacked the intensity carried throughout the rest of the book. So, I recently added a new first chapter focusing entirely on the serial killer, Ackerman, and a run-in he has with two Colorado State Troopers. I like that Ackerman is introduced much earlier in the story and feel that the new first chapter gives a better picture of the rest of the book. But, it still wasn’t enough for me and that’s why I have now finished another new chapter that will be the new Chapter 4. It fills in some gaps and adds more action to the first portion of the book. I now feel that the first part of the novel flows better and that the pacing has been greatly improved.
Finally, I have been listening to a free podcast audiobook presentation of Jeremy Robinson’s book Kronos ( found here: http://podiobooks.com/title/kronos ). I’m not sure what the reasoning is behind giving the book away for free, other than sacrificing sales on this book in order to boost them on others, which is a brave and interesting idea. Regardless, the audiobook is available for free and the quality is very good, definitely up to par with other productions. The book, so far, has also been very interesting. I would definitely recommend it to any fans of Peter Benchley, Steve Alten, and the action genre. Check out more of Jeremy Robinson’s books at jeremyrobinsononline.com.
That’s enough of my two cents for this week, but check back next week as I discuss ebooks, the new X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie, and much more.
TAGS: The Shepherd, Twitter, Dan Brown, Podiobooks, Jeremy Robinson, Kronos
Wednesday April 15th 2009 - 12:40 PM
TAGS: Great White Shark, Cool Story
Wednesday April 15th 2009 - 01:57 AM
Well, Hello World...
I`m new to this whole blogging thing, so I`m really just winging it on this first entry. Hopefully, as time progresses, I will get the hang of it and have lots of insight and cool articles to share with all of you out there in the Internet Universe.This first posting, however, will most likely be a completely incoherent rambling session. So, let`s get started, shall we.
I spent about three to three and a half hours last night agonizing over the revision of one chapter, a chapter that I have already revised twice mind you. I wonder if this is just the nature of the beast.Will I ever actually be satisfied with my work? Probably not. I remember reading an article a while back that featured an interview with a prominent author (Dean Koontz, perhaps, but I don`t remember for sure). Basically, in the article, the author said that they could revise forever and never be pleased and would love nothing more than to have the time to go back and rewrite everything they had ever written. In the end, however, the author realized that it was more important to push forward with a new creation rather than dwell on the past.
I suppose that`s what I`m wanting to do: Push Forward. Every time I get out, however, they keep pulling me back in. I desperately want to move forward with new chapters and new ideas, but my obsessive compulsive nature keeps dragging me back.
Besides working on my new novel, I`m also preparing to query agents in regards to my first book and trying to put together this website. I`ve been toying with the idea of sleeping one hour and then being awake for seven. This would allow me to sleep for only three hours a day. I only get four to five now, so that might not be so bad. Right?
I`ve also been reading Seven Deadly Wonders by Matthew Reilly (which is not quite up to par with other novels of his that I`ve read) and listening to The Matarese Circle by Robert Ludlum (which has been great so far, looking forward to the upcoming movie with Denzel Washington). Hopefully, I`ll have my book/movie review system for the site completed in time to post reviews for both of those. I`m planning on going to see State of Play this weekend, so maybe I can get a review up for that as well.
On the family front, we have our appointment scheduled to see the geneticists at the Mayo Clinic in MN for our daughter, Calissa. Hopefully, they will be able to provide us answers where other have failed. For all of those unaware of the situation, Calissa is 50%developmentally delayed (she`s two and half and only recently started walking and doesn`t really talk). We have no diagnosis for her and have no idea what to expect for the future. Naturally, my family appreciates all kind thoughts and prayers as we try to help her learn and grow.
Well, that`s it for me. Thanks for listening and as I said, hopefully these posts will get better as I go along.
Aaron Brown
I`m new to this whole blogging thing, so I`m really just winging it on this first entry. Hopefully, as time progresses, I will get the hang of it and have lots of insight and cool articles to share with all of you out there in the Internet Universe.This first posting, however, will most likely be a completely incoherent rambling session. So, let`s get started, shall we.
I spent about three to three and a half hours last night agonizing over the revision of one chapter, a chapter that I have already revised twice mind you. I wonder if this is just the nature of the beast.Will I ever actually be satisfied with my work? Probably not. I remember reading an article a while back that featured an interview with a prominent author (Dean Koontz, perhaps, but I don`t remember for sure). Basically, in the article, the author said that they could revise forever and never be pleased and would love nothing more than to have the time to go back and rewrite everything they had ever written. In the end, however, the author realized that it was more important to push forward with a new creation rather than dwell on the past.
I suppose that`s what I`m wanting to do: Push Forward. Every time I get out, however, they keep pulling me back in. I desperately want to move forward with new chapters and new ideas, but my obsessive compulsive nature keeps dragging me back.
Besides working on my new novel, I`m also preparing to query agents in regards to my first book and trying to put together this website. I`ve been toying with the idea of sleeping one hour and then being awake for seven. This would allow me to sleep for only three hours a day. I only get four to five now, so that might not be so bad. Right?
I`ve also been reading Seven Deadly Wonders by Matthew Reilly (which is not quite up to par with other novels of his that I`ve read) and listening to The Matarese Circle by Robert Ludlum (which has been great so far, looking forward to the upcoming movie with Denzel Washington). Hopefully, I`ll have my book/movie review system for the site completed in time to post reviews for both of those. I`m planning on going to see State of Play this weekend, so maybe I can get a review up for that as well.
On the family front, we have our appointment scheduled to see the geneticists at the Mayo Clinic in MN for our daughter, Calissa. Hopefully, they will be able to provide us answers where other have failed. For all of those unaware of the situation, Calissa is 50%developmentally delayed (she`s two and half and only recently started walking and doesn`t really talk). We have no diagnosis for her and have no idea what to expect for the future. Naturally, my family appreciates all kind thoughts and prayers as we try to help her learn and grow.
Well, that`s it for me. Thanks for listening and as I said, hopefully these posts will get better as I go along.
Aaron Brown
TAGS: Seven Deadly Wonders, Matthew Reilly, Dean Koontz, State of Play, Calissa Brown, Robert Ludlum, Matarese Circle
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