Author, J.A. Konrath was kind enough to add Benston Blogs as a stop on his Blog Tour. He stopped by today to answer a few questions for me. For those few people out there who don't know, Konrath is the fabulously talented author of the Jack Daniels series. His first novel, Whiskey Sour (2004), introduced Lt. Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels. Others in the series include Bloody Mary (2005), Rusty Nail (2006), Dirty Martini (2007), Fuzzy Navel (2008), and Cherry Bomb (2009). The books combine hair-raising scares and suspense with laugh out loud comedy. The next book in the series, Cherry Bomb, will be released in July of this year. Now, onto the good stuff:
Did you always want to be a writer? If not, what did you want to be before you became an author?
I wanted to be a model for husky pants. But then, when I was barely a teen, they stopped making husky sizes.
Damn those clothing designers for shattering my dreams.
Your stories are fairly creepy, where do you get your ideas?
I mean, I'm not offended by the term "husky." Now they're called "relaxed fit" jeans. It's the same thing, but there's nothing sexy about being a "relaxed fit jeans" model.
What was your question again? Ideas? Mostly, I watch old reruns of the Outer Limits and steal the concepts, like Alan Moore did with Watchmen.
What writers do you read regularly or even irregularly?
I'm not sure if this is the place to talk about my irregularity.
But there are many authors I love. Blake Crouch, Henry Perez, Jeff Strand, Tasha Alexander, James Rollins, Barry Eisler, Raymond Bensen. Lots of people.
My absolute favorite author is Dr. Seuss. In fact, I tried my hand at writing a few Dr. Seuss-style children's books. Here are the titles:
HOW THE GRINCH STOLE MY WIFE
HORTON HATCHES A TERRORIST PLOT
ON BEYOND DONKEY PUNCH
MARVIN K MOONEY WILL YOU PLEASE DROP DEAD
THE CAT IN THE HAT GETS NEUTERED
GREEN EGGS AND E COLI
THIDWICK THE BIG HEARTED COKE DEALER
MR. BROWN CAN MOO, AND THEY PUT HIM AWAY
THERE'S A WOCKET IN MY POCKET, AND I BLAME CIALIS
BOOMER THE TUMOR
Unfortunately, I haven't been able to sell any of these. I think it may be some sort of rights-issue thing.
Do you write every day? If so, give us an idea of what your typical writing day looks like.
I wake up early and make some eggs.
Then the smoke alarm goes off, because the eggs are burning because I fell asleep again.
Then I spend ten minutes explaining to the firemen that show up how I'll be more careful next time.
I go back to bed, and the next thing I know, it's around noon. Time for lunch. I want to make an egg sandwich, but I'm out of eggs. And bread. And pretty much everything except some sort of fruit that's been in the refrigerator forever and might be a lime.
It's not a lime. It may not even be fruit. So I put it back and think about cooking some pasta but that seems like a lot of work for just lunch, so I go take a nap.
Around three I get up, ready to start my work day, but first I need to eat something. Do pizza places delivery at three? I make a few calls. Nope, no one delivers before five.
I check the fridge. The lime thing is still there, but it looks like it moved from where I saw it last. I'm really hungry, so I decide to give it a try.
It's not a lime, because limes don't have bones.
When I finish eating, I sit down at my computer and write my daily quota, thirty pages.
What are you currently working on besides answering these questions?
Currently working on rewrites for TRAPPED, which is my second Jack Kilborn horror novel. The first one, AFRAID, comes out March 31. My one goal is for everyone in the Western world to buy just one copy. That, and so clothing designers to bring back husky pants.
What are the titles of your books and where can we buy them?
The Jack Daniels books, which I write under the name JA Konrath, are Whiskey Sour, Bloody Mary, Rusty Nail, Dirty Martini, Fuzzy Navel, and Cherry Bomb, which comes out July 7.
If you notice, each of these books is named after a drink. In fact, each title is a two word drink, and the first word ends in the letter Y.
If you string all the first words together, whiskey bloody rusty dirty fuzzy cherry, it sounds like a really fun weekend.
Do you have any appearances scheduled?
On March 23, at 7pm, I'll be doing a signing with Barry Eilser in Milwaukee, at the Mystery One bookstore. I'm doing other stuff too, probably.
What advice would you like to give to other writers or anyone interested in becoming a writer?
Never take "no" for an answer. If an agent or editor rejects you, you should keep calling them and emailing them, over and over and over, until they relent and give you a three million dollar contract.
Also, when you're writing a novel, try to remember to use verbs. Editors like verbs.
Thanks for having me here, Rebecca. After goofing off for most of this blog tour, it's nice to finally be serious for once...
Joe
http://www.JAKonrath.com
http://jakonrath.blogspot.com
http://www.myspace.com/jakonrath
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Wednesday, March 18, 2009
An Interview with J.A. Konrath...
Friday, January 9, 2009
Blog Tour: How Obama Won by Earl Ofari Hutchinson
Benston Blogs is pleased to be a stop on Author and Political Analyst, Earl Ofari Hutchinson's Blog Tour for his book, How Obama Won.
How Obama Won is a provocative, hard hitting critical assessment of the issues, events, forces, politics, pressures and controversy that shaped and ensnared Barack Obama in his historic 2008 presidential campaign.
Political analyst Earl Ofari Hutchinson examines the impact of race and gender, campaign strategy, the key political players, the nature of presidential politics, the changes in the Democratic and Republicans parties, the importance of the black, Hispanic, youth, women and blue collar white worker votes, the role of corporation and special interests in American politics.
Hutchinson tells what the first African-American to win the White House means to America and the world.
How Obama Won
Hutchinson tells why:
Race was not a factor in Obama’s win
The Iraq war and the terrorism were not compelling issues in the campaign
Sarah Palin hurt McCain
Many blue collar whites and rural voters supported Obama
Obama was able to top McCain in fundraising
Ultraconservatives did not unite behind McCain
The economy ultimately sunk McCain
Obama’s win will and won’t change politics in America
Earl Ofari Hutchinson is a nationally acclaimed author and political analyst.
He is a frequent guest analyst on:
The John Gibson Show
O'Reilly Show
Hannity & Colmes
Glenn Beck Show
PBS Lehrer Report,
NPR's Talk of the Nation
Various CNN News Shows.
He is the National Political Writer for New America Media and a regular contributor to: the Huffington Post, and BlackAmericaWeb.Com
Excerpts from How Obama Won by Earl Ofari Hutchinson
Table of Contents -
http://learnhowobamawon.blogspot.com/2008/11/take-peek-inside-how-obama-won-by-earl.html
Introduction -
http://learnhowobamawon.blogspot.com/2008/11/how-obama-won-excerpt-from-introduction.html
Chapter 3 - It Was Still the Economy Stupid - http://learnhowobamawon.blogspot.com/2008/11/how-obama-won-excerpt-from-chapter-3.html
Chapter 4 - Team Obama’s Money Game Changer - http://learnhowobamawon.blogspot.com/2008/11/how-obama-won-excerpt-from-chapter-4.html
Chapter 5 The Catch 22 Black Vote -
http://learnhowobamawon.blogspot.com/2008/11/how-obama-won-excerpt-from-chapter-5.html
Chapter 10 - How Obama Snatched the Race Card off The Presidential Table - http://learnhowobamawon.blogspot.com/2008/11/how-obama-won-excerpt-from-chapter-10.html
Chapter 14 - The Clinton Factor
http://learnhowobamawon.blogspot.com/2008/11/how-obama-won-excerpt-from-chapter-14.html
Chapter 19 - Not Black President Obama, Just President Obama
http://learnhowobamawon.blogspot.com/2008/11/how-obama-won-excerpt-from-chapter-19.html
E-book of How Obama Won is NOW Available - https://www.plimus.com/jsp/buynow.jsp?contractId=2174906
Print Copies of How Obama Won
If you would like to be notified when the print copies of How Obama Won will be available - please fill out the name and address block in the top right corner of the blog.
Affiliate Opportunity
We also have affiliate opportunities if you would like to offer How Obama Won on your site - http://learnhowobamawon.blogspot.com/2008/12/how-obama-own-affiliate-program.html
Until next time...
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Wednesday, May 14, 2008
More information about Dyan Garris...
I'm posting this information as part of Dyan Garris's book tour for Voice of the Angels: A Healing Journey.
From May 12-16th, Dyan Garris is travelling the blog-o-sphere to promote the toolbox she created for all people who want to participate in a healing journey. Please take some time to visit Dyan's website. There are many helpful items there and I'm sure you'll find it very interesting!
I enjoy anything that relates to healing the self and to doing so in a natural way without the use of medications. Society is so quick to put you in a perpetual state of Prozac awareness that they seem to have forgotten how important it is to take the time and effort to connect with oneself spiritually and to read the signs that are put there for us by whomever our Higher Power may be. I can say from experience that not taking the time to meditate or connect with your spiritual side does manifest itself in negative and sometimes very harmful ways. There is a noticeable difference in my mood and energy when I take the time to do the things that bring me into balance.
On Dyan's website, you can get a free Angel Card reading, Tarot Card reading, and even a Rune & Tarot reading. These are things that I really enjoy and find helpful. I am such a serious and analytical person sometimes that I need an abstract indicator of what is really going on and these types of things are extremely useful to me in seeing another side.
Each person who posts a comment on any or all of the blog tour spots will be entered in a random drawing for a copy of Dyan Garris’ CD – Release. In addition – the blog owner that hosted the winning commenter will also win a free copy of Release. Share your thoughts and comments with Dyan. She will check in throughout the day to answer questions. You’ll learn more and you have a chance to win a CD. Dyan is offering a FREE teleclass for anyone who has read Money and Manifesting - if you haven't already read the book, visit Dyan's website to order a copy.
For full details about the class, visit this page.
For more information about Dyan Garris and her virtual tour, check the schedule here and at this website.
Her website is full of great details about all of the items within her “toolbox” and there are many special features. She provides the tools you need to have a full and happy life and it’s not as hard to achieve as you think. Visit Dyan’s Amazon profile for links to many of her products.
Until next time...
Friday, April 4, 2008
Hillary Obama Roadshow-Posted for Nikki Leigh's Ethnic Presidency Blog Blitz
There were also mixed signals if whether being a woman would help more than hurt Clinton even with women in a wide segment of America. In a Newsweek poll in July 2007, fewer voters said they would vote for a woman candidate for president than a black candidate. Hillary scored just as dismal when asked whether the country was ready for a female president. More said no to this question than said no for a black president. The gender reluctance by big chunks of voters was in part offset by the experience factor. Hillary scored big on this in the polls.
The Hillary distaste in part explained why in February 2007 Hollywood mogul David Geffen, a long time Clinton family cheerleader and campaign bankroller sucker punched Clinton with the knock that she would polarize voters. The implication was that she would be a disaster for the Democrats if she were to get the party presidential bid. Geffen rapped Clinton at the moment that he and some other Hollywood movie big shots pumped a reported cool million dollars into Obama’s campaign coffers.
At the same moment, a slew of conservative hit groups loudly announced they had sunk loads of cash into a pack of “stop Hillary” websites, muckraking pieces and scheduled attack ads on her. They vowed this was just the start of a freewheeling, no holds barred disinformation effort to sabotage her campaign.
For much more information about Earl Ofari Hutchinson and The Ethnic Presidency: How Race Affects the Race to the White House, visit his blog blitz homepage - http://inspiredauthor.com/promotion/Ethnic+Presidency+Blitz. To order your copy of the Ethnic Presidency, visit www.ethnicpresidency.com or
www.amazon.com/Ethnic-Presidency-Decides-White-House/dp/1881032256
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
A Guest Post!
I encourage you to check out Nikki's website for valuable tips on book promotion!
Thanks,
Rebecca
New Virtual Book Tour Site Launch on February 1
Many people have heard about virtual book tours, sometimes called virtual author tours or virtual blog tours. They are a new and exciting way for authors to "tour" the internet - without leaving their home.
Imagine... you can meet potential readers from all over the internet and potential all over the world and you don't need to leave your home and family. In addition, a virtual tour is much more reasonably priced than the plane tickets, hotel rooms, meals etc that you need to buy for a book tour on the ground.
Authors and readers are all invited to visit the new virtual book tour site. There are over 100 articles and interviews to help authors learn more about book promotion. There are a number of web pages that were created by our tour site sponsors - they offer many products and services that could be beneficial for you. (If you would like to become a sponsor, please contact me at nikki_leigh22939@yahoo.com for more information.)
What's different about this book tour option? While our featured authors will visit other blogs throughout the month, each tour stop will be posted on the book tour site. Visitors who come to the site have the option of reading any or all of the information about the books and the author in one central location. So, whether you arrive at the tour on day 1 or the last day, you can easily catch up on all the details that each author wants to share with you. Each visitor has a choice about how they want to learn about the feature authors. I encourage you to visit the site frequently to find out what new information has been posted. The links which are posted below, take you to each author's tour page. All posts about their books are linked to these pages and are easy to access.
So, what books are we featuring in February? Here's some information about the authors you will meet during the month. They have all posted some information on the site and much more will be posted throughout the month.
Earl Ofari Hutchingson - The Ethnic Presidency: How Race Decides the Race to the White House http://www.inspiredauthor.com/promotion/Earl+Hutchinson+-+Feb+2008
The Ethnic Presidency is an explosive look at how racial and ethnic conflict has openly and covertly played a crucial role over the past three decades in influencing, shaping and ultimately deciding who bags the world's biggest political prize, the White House. It explains how racial politics is playing an even bigger role in the 2008 presidential election and future elections.
Steven Clark Bradley - Nimrod Rising
http://www.inspiredauthor.com/promotion/steven-clark-bradley-author-nimrod-rising
Have you ever felt that the world was guided in ways that are beyond man's control? The constant changes in the world since the time of Nimrod 4000 years ago until today and all the events that have shaken the world have been to bring the universe back into the hands of the Prince of Darkness, Lucia, a world that he had ruled with his Watchers before it was all ripped from his grasp when man was created. Nimrod Rising paints a diabolical picture of how the Prince of Darkness executes his evil plot to take the world back by force and destroy civilization in the process. From the Great Builder Nimrod in 4000 BC to today, 666 generations later, you can ride the storm of Nimrod Rising and experience the death of a world and the birth pangs of another. You will swear it is really upon us!
Virginia Vassallo - Unsung Patriot: Guy T. Viskniskki How The Stars and Stripes Began
http://www.inspiredauthor.com/promotion/Virginia+Vassallo
The Unsung Patriot is the biography of Guy T. Viskniskki, the dynamic first officer-in-charge and editor-in-chief of The Stars and Stripes newspaper. Based in part on Guy's unpublished autobiography describing the first difficult months of the paper, his granddaughter's knowledge of the family verbal history paints a picture of a complex man. A devoted husband and father, Guy was unable to show the love he felt for his family. Guy poured his time and talent in the newspaper business. His knowledge and energy made the Army's newspaper a reality and his doctrine of "by and for the soldiers" still is the guiding light of the Stars and Stripes.
I want to extend an invitation for each person to visit the site and learn more about each of these authors and their books. I invite readers and authors to register on the site and create a profile page to tell us more about yourself. Also, feel free to post a comment about any of the posts or post an introduction on the forums. If you have questions, feel free to contact me at nikki_leigh22939@yahoo.com.
I look forward to meeting many new people.
Nikki Leigh
Author of the Book Promo 101 Series
www.nikkileigh.com/promo.htm
A Little Bit of Mystery: Short Mysteries to Confuse and Amuse
