Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: Books I Love That Became Films or TV Shows

 

The Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge is hosted by Long and Short Reviews. They offer this blog hop as a weekly prompt to help you gain new friends and visitors. You don't have to participate every week, but if you decide to post and join the blog hop for a week, Long and Short Reviews asks that you share your link on their weekly post on their website (it will be the top post on the home page each Wednesday morning). The link list remains open for new links for 48 hours. Visit the other bloggers participating to see what they are talking about that week. Comments are appreciated. 

How is it Wednesday again? I still haven't caught up on Tuesday's blog visits, but I hope today is an easier day. Today, we are talking about favorite books that became films or TV Shows. Since I spoke about Little House on the Prairie, I won't go there. I won't even mention Anne of Green Gables. Here are a few others worth sharing. 

The 1993 movie, Gettysburg, was based on the novel The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara, which tells a fictionalized version of the three days of fighting at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, during the American Civil War. This novel is part of a series that Sharra wrote with his father. 

Before Nicholas Cage starred as Rayford Steele in Left Behind, based upon the Left Behind novels by Tim Lahaye and Jerry Jenkins, that role was played by the late Brad Johnson, with Kirk Cameron playing another major character, Buck Williams. This is the last series I recall eagerly awaiting the arrival of each new book. 

The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough was brought to the small screen in the early 80s, with Richard Chamberlain playing ambitious priest Ralph de Bricassart alongside Rachel Ward's Meggie Cleary. 

In 1994, The Stand by Stephen King was brought to television as a mini-series starring many well-known actors like Richard Thomas, Molly Ringwald, Gary Sinise, and Rob Lowe. 

On Strike for Christmas was the first book I ever read by Sheila Roberts. It's how I came to love her work. In 2010, Lifetime Television brought it to the small screen. I've never seen it, but I really want to one day. 

What can anyone say about the Harry Potter series except that it is amazing? I held off on reading it for years because I don't read overly popular books. Once I indulged myself, I was hooked, though I don't think I've seen a single movie all the way through. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Favorite Books I Read Before I Was A Blogger

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. 

I've been an avid reader my entire life, so it should come as no surprise that I have a ton of books I read before I began blogging in 2006. Here is my list of the Top Ten Favorite Books I Read Before I Was A Blogger.

In order going row to row starting at top left:

• The Stand by Stephen King
• The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino
• Left Behind by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins
• Gods and Generals by Jeff Shaara
• Glorious Appearing by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins
• Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
• Joshua, A Parable for Today by Joseph F. Girzone
• Last Full Measure by Jeff Shaara
• Battle Cry of Freedom by James M. McPherson
• Lincoln by David Herbert Donald

Interview with Vincent Hobbes, Creator of The Endlands

Joining us today is Vincent Hobbes, creator of The Endlands.

Vincent has been actively writing since he was fifteen years old. His roots lay in horror, but he has recently branched out into other genres. In 2007, he was published. The Contrived Senator was the first book in a fantasy series. In 2008, he released Exiles, the second book in the series. Short stories have always been a favorite of Vincent’s, and in 2010 he teamed up with 11 incredible authors, and created The Endlands. This horror anthology is an ode to the kooky and bizarre.

Welcome to The Book Connection, Vincent. We're thrilled to have you with us. Let's start by having you tell us where you grew up.

I was born and raised in the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex. I currently reside north of DFW, a bit out in the country, away from the madness.

When did you begin writing?

I began writing in my teenage years. I was good at it, and had an English teacher who encouraged it. I always loved reading, so it made sense. I’ve been writing professionally for about five years.

Do you write during the day, at night or whenever you can sneak a few moments?

I usually write at night, sometimes very late. It’s quiet and I seem to work best at that time. It seems my imagination is at its best at night.

What is this book about?

The Endlands is a short story anthology, an ode to the strange. I dedicated it to Rod Serling, who was a huge inspiration to this project. The Endlands is a collaboration of seventeen stories written by twelve authors. I personally included five of my own. Each story is different, unique—mind bending tales that will leave the reader in awe. This project is about something that seems to be lost: The short story. I think anyone who loves a strange tale will instantly love The Endlands.

What inspired you to write it?
The original intent was to write a short story novel myself. Over time, I realized I wanted to do something more, something bigger, and the project took on a life of its own. We gathered some amazing authors in the industry, and the project turned out greater than I could imagine.

Who is your favorite character from the book?

There are many characters in this book, but I’d say my personal favorite is Charlie, from my own story, “The Hour of the Time.” There’s just something strange about the man. Considering it is a short story, he is a very developed character with many idiosyncrasies that make him just a little odd.

Are you a member of a critique group? If no, who provides feedback on your work?

I have a team of content editors who are extremely critical, and of course my wife, who’s my biggest critic and biggest inspiration.

Who is your favorite author?

Probably typical of a horror author to say, but without a doubt Stephen King. He is an amazing story teller. That’s what I love about his work; I feel like I’m listening to story, not just reading a book.

Was the road to publication smooth sailing or a bumpy ride?

It was a bumpy ride. I presented the idea of this project to my publisher years ago, but nothing came of it. It took some time and convincing, but finally he agreed, and the rest is history.

Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?

The Endlands is available on all online major retailers. It is also available in eBook format. Copies can also be purchased through the official website, www.TheEndlands.com

Do you have a website and/or blog where readers can find out more?

My personal website is: www.VincentHobbes.com.

The book’s website is: www.TheEndlands.com.

Do you have a video trailer to promote your book? If yes, where can readers find it?

A trailer will be released when the next volume is ready. In the meantime, you can view a trailer for my short story, “The Hour of the Time”, on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69okGk2V_Uc.

What is up next for you?

We’ve finished the submission process for The Endlands: Volume 2. These stories are absolutely amazing, and the second book promises to please fans. I’m currently working on my own stories to be included, as well as two other solo novels. One is a dystopian book, the other a horror novel.

Is there anything you would like to add?

I appreciate your time and I appreciate the support of all my fans. Without them, none of this is possible. Stay tuned for more of my work and be sure to visit: www.VincentHobbes.com.

Thanks for spending time with us today, Vincent. We wish you continued success.

Interview with Joseph Garraty, Author of Voice

Joining us today is Josephy Garraty, author of the horror novel, Voice.

Joseph is an author of dark fantasy, horror, and science fiction. He has worked as a construction worker, rocket test engineer, environmental consultant, technical writer, and deadbeat musician. He lives in Dallas, Texas.

Welcome to The Book Connection, Joseph. It's great to have you here. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Sure! Like the bio says, I’ve had a lot of day jobs, mostly of a technical nature. That keeps the left brain happy. Creative pursuits—writing and music, primarily—take up most of the rest of my non-day-job time and give me an outlet for the right brain.

I’m a speculative fiction writer by nature. I was always drawn to horror, fantasy, and science fiction growing up, and while I read a lot more widely these days, spec fic still feels like home. I know the tropes inside and out, and I’m completely comfortable playing around with them. Besides that, I feel like spec fic really lets me give my imagination free rein, which can be very rewarding.

Besides that, I play guitar and I’m learning to play the drums. The former I play pretty well, the latter—let’s not talk about that now. Maybe in a year.

When did you begin writing?

I’ve written short stories and vignettes for most of my life—imagine, if you will, a boy at age eight, writing longhand in a spiral notebook, bizarre tales of Mikhail Gorbachev piloting a flying jeep and even weirder stories than that. I continued writing little bits through high school and college, though I hope with a somewhat more refined choice of subject matter. I never tried to publish any of it—the thought never crossed my mind back then.

I didn’t try my hand at writing a novel until about six years ago, when an idea grabbed me and wouldn’t let go until I’d got it all out. As first novels tend to be, it was a disaster. I (wisely, I think) chucked it in the trash, but by then I was hooked.

Do you write during the day, at night or whenever you can sneak a few moments?

I typically get up a couple of hours before work and write. It’s a quiet time, with none of the distractions of the evening. Some days I’ll sneak a little writing in at the end of the day, if I can. Hmm. It sounds so unhealthy when I put it like that. . .

What is this book about?

Voice is the story of a group of young rock musicians. Johnny wants to be a famous rock singer more than anything. He hooks up with a hotshot guitarist, Stephanie Case, and she helps propel his band forward. The problem is, Johnny’s a lousy singer, and he’s in danger of being severely outclassed by his own band. But somebody’s been watching Johnny. . . Somebody who can make Johnny’s dreams come true, if he’s willing to make a deal.

But when you deal with the devil, you never get exactly what you bargained for.

What inspired you to write it?

Crazy rock musicians is the short answer. The long answer is that I’m a huge fan of rock and roll, and I’ve played in one rock band or another for over ten years now. From what I can tell, rock musicians are some of the most driven, egomaniacal, risk tolerant, creative, just plain crazy people on the earth. Throw a group of them in a small room, give them similar goals (though not necessarily the same goals), and stand back to watch the fireworks. Great conflict and interesting stories result, and bringing in the supernatural element was an excellent way of amplifying that.

Are you a member of a critique group? If no, who provides feedback on your work?

Not really, no. I’ve dropped in on a few, and I used to attend one group semi-regularly, but critique groups haven’t worked for me very well as a way to get valuable criticism. I’ve found that writers are kind of like economists—ask six of them the same question and you’ll get seven different opinions (or more). In the groups I’ve tried, none of the seven opinions matched and they often conflicted. That didn’t really provide much in the way of helpful direction.

So, no, I haven’t had the greatest luck with critique groups. Instead, I rely on a handful of friends who really “get” my work and are merciless in their honesty. The results tend to be tightly focused and very useful.

Who is your favorite author?

Can I pick a few? I love Stephen King for his characters—I maintain that nobody anywhere does character better. I read Neal Stephenson and Charles Stross for their ideas. Both those guys can jam a book with more ideas than I can fully grasp, even after several readings, so their stuff is challenging and interesting. Caitlin Kiernan is great for the extremely creepy and subtle. And Charlie Huston is great for plot and breakneck pace.

Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?

Amazon – Kindle format
Amazon – Paperback
Barnes and Noble ebook
Smashwords
Do you have a website and/or blog where readers can find out more?

You bet! My blog is at http://www.josephgarraty.com. I update it regularly with news about my books, musings about writing and music, and random detritus that drifts through my head.

What is the best investment you have made in promoting your book?

The best investment has been time spent researching book blogs, corresponding with their authors, and getting involved in their sites, even just as a commenter. Book bloggers perform a tremendous service in hooking authors and readers up with each other, and I can’t say enough nice things about them.

What is one piece of advice you would like to share with aspiring authors everywhere?

Read everything! I write speculative fiction, but I’ve incorporated influences from crime and literary authors into my work at times, and I can’t even count the oddities that have crept into my work from random nonfiction, ranging from statistics textbooks to sociological treatises to impenetrable physics tomes. There’s always something new to learn.

What is up next for you?

I’m finishing up revisions on a nasty urban fantasy novel called The Price, which I expect to have available before the end of the year. It’s about a naïve kid who ends up as a wizard for the Mafia, thinking he’ll be able to protect his family and make a name for himself. He finds out, though, that the price of doing business with these guys is much higher than he’d expected, both in terms of blood and the wear and tear on his soul.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Thank you for the interview!

Thanks for spending time with us today, Joseph. We wish you great success.

Joel M. Andre, Horror, and Kill 4 Me

Here's an early Halloween treat. Joel M. Andre, author of the horror novel, Kill 4 Me is dropping in to tell us about his love of the horror genre. And in reading over his guest post I see that he and I share a favorite book, Stephen King's The Stand, so Joel is an okay guy in my book.

Horror is an interesting genre. Anything your mind can create is welcome and embraced with open arms. There is a world of creatures created and yet to be created that are at your disposal. You can explore a full range of passion and emotion, and let go of the inhibition other genres restrict you to.

Now don’t get me wrong, all genres are important in the literary world and each is needed for various reasons. ‘Gone with the Wind’ would never have worked had Dracula delivered that classic line. I can appreciate a good story regardless of genre.

My favorite books are ‘The Stand’ and ‘The Witching Hour’. But if you continue to explore my favorite books, you will see ‘Pride and Prejudice’ and ‘Oliver Twist’ are also in the mix.

Growing up, I had a strong imagination. I recall times at my grandparent’s home, fearing certain rooms, because I knew something was bound to swarm at me from the walls. The same could be said for the old house where I spent some time in Jerome, AZ. I stayed several months living in the attic, by choice, because I desperately wanted to see a ghost. My grandfather has some tales of encounters with the spirit world. Although my experiences with the unexplained are just a handful.

But my love of horror probably comes from my father Jerry Andre. He has a library full of old horror books and recent ones as well. Growing up, I would sneak in his study, and smell the pipe tobacco coming from the desk drawers while I admired the various book covers that lined his shelves. I would make up stories about the covers in my mind and entertain myself for hours.

There was only one cover I was deathly afraid of and that belonged to ‘The Stand.’ The man fighting the bird creature haunted me more than the others for some reason. To this day I have no idea why it affected me as much as it did. But I can clearly imagine it in my mind.

The impact was so strong from that novel’s cover I did finally read it for the first time in junior high school. It was my science class companion. While my instructor Mr. Scroggins was teaching his class, I would sit in the corner and read ‘The Stand’. I was hooked, while everyone else in his class learned from him, I learned from Stephen King. Unfortunately, my grades reflected that very same idea. But Mr. Scroggins was a good sport, and a great man.

Books began taking over my world from that moment on. By the start of High School I had read the Stephen King library, as well as the complete Fear Street series. I was addicted to written horror, I read Bram Stoker, Mary Shelley, the complete works of Poe. The imagery stained my mind, and I would fantasize friendships with the characters from their books.

There was an awaking in me, and I began writing short stories with my own characters. Lauren Bruni first appeared on the market in my book ‘A Death at the North Pole.’ That however was not my first meeting with her. She had appeared in several of my short stories in the past. She had previously solved other grisly crimes. I did however have to reintroduce her to the general public, since she had never been introduced before.

For the fact of that matter, in my current book ‘Kill 4 Me’, Casey Dwyer was a minor character in a previous work as well. I loved her character so much; I knew she was the perfect match for this book. With a vast unpublished library ranging back from the 90’s, there are many more horror stories and characters I am anxious to share with the world.

From my stand point a good horror tale sends chills down someone’s spine. Classic horror can survive any amount of time that passes. Such as the classic tales of Dracula, Frankenstein, and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Perhaps the greatest teller of a horror tale is Poe. His passion for the written word and his grasp on pain and terror is timeless.

Horror drives people through many emotions, much more than just fear. You feel joy, pain, adrenaline rushes and the strength of the hero fighting back. It’s an emotional passionate rollercoaster. All while enjoying the taboo side of life we keep locked away.

Because you read or write horror does not make you a strange person in the least. Take me for instance. I am an average person, with a kind heart. But a mind that spews dark and chilling tales. I would never harm a soul, but in the written word, I can take on a persona and go through their experience. Share the pain, the fear and return to my normal life, and enjoy a deep conversation.

My continued hope is new original ideas continue to flow into the horror genre. I also encourage anyone who has a passion to write to give it a shot. Writing can be a great escape; there are so many worlds you can get lost in. Only you can hold yourself back from your dreams. The same can be said for reading. All books have a merit to them, find a story that inspires you, and read it. Share it with a friend and discuss it. A book uses a part of your brain that a movie or television show can never do.


The KILL 4 ME VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR ’08 will officially begin on October 1 and end on October 30. You can visit Joel’s blog stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com in October to find out more about his book!

As a special promotion, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour to a published author or a $50 Amazon gift certificate to those not published who comments on our authors’ blog stops. More prizes will be announced as they become available. The winner(s) will be announced on our main blog at www.pumpupyourbookpromotion.com on October 30!