Blog Post From Nicholas C. Rossis For Runaway Smile

Come and join me as I talk with author Nicholas C. Rossis about his book Runaway Smile on Stories From Unknown Authors http://blogtalkradio.com/storiesfromunknownauthors at 1pm EST today.

Are we running out of readers?

Opponents of self-publishing levy two charges against it: that there is no quality control, and that we will swamp the market.

The first one is called the tsunami of crap argument, referring to the bad-quality books that Indie authors have, supposedly, unleashed upon unsuspecting readers. However, I have yet to come across a truly dreadful Indie book. So far, my experience has followed a traditional Bell curve – i.e. some books have not been to my liking, some I have loved, and many were in between.

As this has been my experience with traditionally published books as well, I have so far failed to find a connection between the publishing model and my enjoyment of a book. What publishing companies usually do well is proofread their publications. However, they tend to streamline authors into a homogenous set of “rules.” For example, editors often come up with rules for each genre that are stifling and lead to boring, repetitive books. The same applies to writing.

Indie authors, on the other hand, can be as creative as they like. This has been a hit and miss affair. When it works, however, it allows for works that bristle with creativity.

The second charge against self-publishing is that, with everyone becoming a writer, we will run out of readers. This reminds me of a common fear a few years back, when I kept reading articles on how the Internet was bursting at the seams and we would soon run out of bandwidth, domain names, servers... You name it.

What these articles failed to take into account is that, any system growing rapidly, will also have more resources at its disposal. The millions of people joining the Internet fed its expansion. As a result, we now have ever increasing capacity and millions of unused names.

The same applies to books. For example, ever since I published my first book, I have been reading at an exponential rate. I can only hope that everyone becomes a writer, as this creates a whole new generation of readers!

As for the quality charge, why don’t you read my children’s book, Runaway Smile, online for free and make up your own mind?

Book Blurb

I woke up this morning and I had lost my smile and it wasn’t my fault and I looked everywhere and it was gone. Then I met a workman and a king and the best salesman in the world and a clown and no-one wanted to give me theirs. At school, I asked Miss to give me hers, but she gave us a pop quiz instead, and then no-one was smiling and…
From the blog of Nicholas C. Rossis, author of science fiction, the Pearseus epic fantasy series and children's books

A little boy wakes up in the morning and realizes he has lost his smile. After spending the entire day trying to find it, he learns the truth behind smiles: the only real smiles are the shared ones.

Contact Information

I’m all around the Internet, but the best place to find me would be my blog,http://nicholasrossis.me/.

Anyone interested in my books can check them out on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Nicholas-C.-Rossis/e/B00FXXIBZA/

Also, people can read for free both Pearseus: Schism, on Goodreads and

Runaway Smile on my blog: http://nicholasrossis.me/childrens-books/

Other places to connect with me include

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Twitter - www.twitter.com/Nicholas_Rossis

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Google+ - https://plus.google.com/+NicholasRossis and

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Facebook - www.facebook.com/NicholasCRossis

Brief bio

Avid reader. Web developer. Architect by training, holder of a PhD in Digital Architecture from the University of Edinburgh. Most importantly, author.

Nicholas loves to write. He has published Runaway Smile, a children’s book, and the Amazon best-selling epic fantasy series, Pearseus. The fourth book in the series is currently edited, and expected to be released mid-February.

He has also published The Power of Six, a collection of short sci-fi stories that include his award-winning short story, I Come in Peace. This, too, has reached #1 on Amazon.

Nicholas lives in Athens, Greece, at a forest’s edge, with his wife, dog and two very silly cats, one of whom is always sitting on his lap, so please excuse any typos in his blog posts: typing with one hand can be hard. Mercifully, all of his books are professionally edited.

Blog Tour Links

Goodreads Event Page - https://www.goodreads.com/event/show/952438-runaway-smile-blog-tour

Rafflecopter Giveaway Page -https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4af5be7f9/

"This tour is sponsored by 4WillsPublishing.wordpress.com."

Interview with Anna C. Morrison about Green Gooey Goop

Come and join me as I talk with author Anna Morrison about her novel In Between Dreams on Stories From Unknown Authors http://blogtalkradio.com/storiesfromunknownauthors at 1pm EST today.




Book Summary:
A little girl is presented with a different sort of a meal when her mom serves her green gooey goop. Interesting and icky ingredients appear one by one as the little girl decides what's in this noxious-smelling concoction. The little girl creates a flood, and her dog's fur turns green. Suggested age range for readers: 0-8

• Paperback: 16 pages
• Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc; large type edition edition (October 15, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1616335432
• ISBN-13: 978-1616335434

Author Bio:

Biography

Anna C. Morrison is an author of children's books, including Silly Moments and Green Gooey Goop, with many more to follow. She is also an adjunct professor for multiple colleges and universities, both face-to-face and online. While she instructs various levels of English composition, she also teaches classes on literature, film, feature writing, and technical writing, among others. In addition, she has worked with Adapt Courseware as a writing consultant on three video course projects, including college skills and composition. Anna received her MFA in Writing from Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky, and her BA in English, Creative Writing, from California State University, San Bernardino. Anna is an active member of SCBWI and is available for book signings. She lives in Southern California with her family and pets. Please visit her web site at www.annacmorrison.com.

The Green Gooey Goop Amazon Link

Book Review:
Green Gooey Goop is a simple and cute story of trying to get your child to eat healthy. But when it looks like green gooey goop, the child's imagination begins to soar. Now it's snot from an elephants trunk. Who can eat that? 

Parents and children will be able to relate to this 18 page picture book about eating healthy and how hard it is when it doesn't look, and sometimes tastes, so inviting.   

Book Review for Secret of the Missing Arch-Get Your Free Copy Today!

Here is a new review for The Secret of the Missing Arch written by Robin Leigh Morgan.

Here is a link for a free kindle copy of the book, only available this week.

FREE BOOK COPY

5.0 out of 5 stars SHERLOCK "JOE-JOE NUT" HOLMES IS ON THE CASE January 17, 2015

By Robin Leigh Morgan

Format:Kindle Edition

I basically received a free copy of this book through a giveaway by the author on an internet site. The following is my honest opinion for the book.

Renee Hand has done a superb job in animalizing her “human” characters which aids children in wanting to read the book by making it more interesting by grabbing their attention. The author in the course of writing this book, has stealthily made it a learning experience as well for its young readers with not only explanations during the course of the storyline but in the glossary contained at the back of the book. It’s here the author not only gives some additional scientific information regarding the weather, and experiments parents can do with their children, but gives a brief biography of the real artists represented in the book by its animal characters.

As you follow Joe-Joe Nut and his ever-close companion, Biscuit Bill; those familiar with Sherlock Holmes, can’t but notice a close resemblance with regards to their investigative techniques as they zero in on the final solution and the ultimate secret of the missing arch. And as the famed fictional sleuth would say, “When you eliminate all other possibilities; what remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth [answer].”

To aid its young readers in enjoying the book even more are the vivid descriptions written by the author and the wonderful illustrations done by Jake Karwoski.

Considering all the various elements this book contains, I can’t but give this book 5 STARS. Hopefully in the future I’ll get to read more of this author’s creative endeavors.

Robin Leigh Morgan is the author of “I Kissed a Ghost,” a MG/YA Paranormal romance novel as well as the author of "Micro Fiction - An Anthology."

Book Review For Noisy Nature: In The Jungle by Maurice Pledger and Ruth Martin

Noisy Nature: In the Jungle by Ruth Martin and illustrated by Maurice Pledger

Silver Dolphin Books; Pop Edition
January 6th, 2015
ISBN-10: 1626861048
ISBN-13: 978-1626861046
Ages 3 and up
12 Pages
Nature   Animals    Pop-Up

Reviewer: Renee Hand

“Children who already love pop up books will find this one with sounds even more delightful.”

Noisy Nature: In the Jungle from acclaimed illustrator Maurice Pledger and author Ruth Martin features five 3-D pop-up scenes enhanced with real sounds that let young adventurers see and hear the creatures that live in the depths of the jungle.

Maurice Pledger’s spectacular artwork is brought to life with authentic animal sounds and panoramas that include a giant elephant using his trunk to blow a trumpeting sound, a chatty parrot letting out a noisy squawk, a hairy orangutan swinging high in the trees and calling out ooh-ooh, a hungry frog diving into the pond and croaking, and a sneaky tiger growling at her prey.

This book is a part of an animal sound series. Other books have topics such as sounds of the desert, sounds of the oceans, sounds of the safari, and more. The content of these books are similar to this one. The series is designed with many similarities, yet each book is unique and fun in their own special ways.

Young children ages three and up are going to appreciate this hardcover 12-page book. Animal lovers young and old will like each scene as the illustrations highlight myriad animals big and small. They cover the top and bottom of the pages. Children will be able to point out and name each organism they see. The biggest picture on the top pages are the ones the sounds relate to.

The illustrations are lively and colorful. The text is simple as it talks about each main animal and its sound. Children who already love pop up books will find this one with sounds even more delightful.

Interview with Erin Rooks for In Between Dreams

Come and join me as I talk with author Erin Kerr Rooks about her novel In Between Dreams on Stories From Unknown Authors http://blogtalkradio.com/storiesfromunknownauthors at 1pm EST today.





Summary:

In Hong Kong, four friends are on a secret mission to retrieve a hostage named Mei from a dangerous triad. Halene is the leader, the creative mastermind. Daniel is the logical one and the client convincer. Sam is the translator. And last but not least, there’s Bailey, the comforter, who calms clients amid intense situations. After escaping with Mei, Sam and Bailey are left to watch over her while Halene and Daniel set the rest of their removal plan in motion. But a gunman discovers them and shoots Bailey in the shoulder…
Bailey shudders, blinks, swallows—and wakes up. No gunshot wound, no Sam or Mei, no Hong Kong. Just another vivid dream. Suffering from an undiagnosed sleeping disorder, every month or so, Bailey falls asleep for days at a time, experiencing what are referred to as “sleep attacks.” During these episodes, she always finds herself on dangerous missions with the same three people—though she’s never seen any of them or done any of these things in real life. Soon after the shocking end to her last sleep attack, both her dream life and her real life take an astonishing turn…

Author Bio:
The ever-imaginative Erin Kerr Rooks has been writing since she was fourteen. A sleepwalker, sleep-talker, and regularly vivid dreamer, she often surprises people with how much of her dream adventures she can remember upon waking. In Between Dreams was inspired by one of her most intriguing dreams.

Rooks, her husband, and their dog live—and dream—in Lehi, Utah.

 

File Size: 795 KB

Print Length: 261 pages

Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1500627127

Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Language: English

ASIN: B00OYGU6JQ

In Between Dreams

Review:

In Between Dreams is a unique story about a woman named Bailey who lives through her dreams. She is narcoleptic and can fall asleep for long periods of times--even days. She is an investigative reporter who is reporting on Chinese crimes in Seattle. While she sleeps she dreams of being in Hong Kong with 3 friends who all work together to help people. Her dreams soon become reality spicing up her life and taking turns she wasn't sure was possible.

This is a 261 page novel many adults are going to enjoy. The twists and turns will keep the reader interested as they move through the story on Bailey's adventure. The characters are unique as the story line. Each character holds a unique talent as well as background. From a handsome Australian to a southern leader there is enough variety and depth to appeal to the reader, keeping them interested. The reader will be routing for that happy ending which changes Bailey's life forever.  
 

Crowdfunding for New Storytelling Card Game by an 11 year old

What is this about?

A new Storytelling Card Game developed by an 11 year old. Press the link to go directly to the campaign.


Gabriel's Story

This storytelling card game is a way to help inspire creativity by using a child's imagination. Many children get writer's block. They spend half of their time just trying to figure out what to write about. I am one of those children. I thought, wouldn't it be easier to have a picture to prompt an idea? And with that, this storytelling game was born. With wonderfully illustrated pictures children will become inspired to create fun and imaginative stories to write about or verbally tell. This is a card game and can be taken anywhere. Children can use it for their story writing or as a fun game to play with family and friends. This game is engaging. Want to get a group of people to suddenly bond and laugh together? Play the game and instantly fun ensues.

The Books 

Funding will also go towards the producing of more books in The Adventures of Joe-Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill Adventure Series. These are mystery books that are science based. Teachers in school districts or homeschools will be able to use these books as a cross curriculum for students in 2nd to 5th grades. They fill a niche. They are mysteries that cover topics such as animal tracks, rocks and minerals, and weathering, erosion, and art. The newest book will incorporate Greek Mythology. 

Here is the summary of the new book to be published this year:

Book 4 is The Parade of Heroes

Greek History abounds in this 4th adventure in the Joe-Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill award-winning mystery series. Joe-Joe and Biscuit are visiting Acorn Valley's Greek Festival when mysterious things begin happening. Greek hero balloons for the parade are stolen, as are other Greek related items throughout the town. With the parade being a day away, will Joe-Joe and Biscuit be able to make the connection between the items and solve the case before all events are cancelled? Educational fun is added to the back of the book that will enhance learning as readers dive into the world of a Greek mystery.

This book will satisfy the standards schools are requiring for Greek Mythology. Great to use in the classroom. This is a fun way to cover this field. 

There are also some great perks parents and authors will enjoy being apart of. Like a free author visit to your child's school anywhere in the U.S., a chance to be on my radio show, and to receive books and card games. A nice lunch with the author, and more.  Check them out. These are great opportunities.

Thanks so much for your support. My son, Gabriel, wanted to create something special to help children write great stories by creating a storytelling card game. I am so proud of him for wanting to create it and sell it himself.

Please support this crowd funding. If you cannot at this time, that's okay, I completely understand, but please forward and pass this on to as many people as possible. Thanks so much.