Interview with Jason Reid, Author of Dinner Conversations

Jason Reid is an entrepreneur by trade and a dad by passion. He currently lives in Murrieta, California with his wonderful wife and amazing four children. Over the years he has written numerous business books, a novel, and children’s The Protector Bug book series.

SOCIAL LINKS:

TWITTER | FACEBOOK

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I am an entrepreneur, husband and father who really enjoys his time with his family.

When did you begin writing?

I started writing about 10 years ago, I was looking for a new hobby. I wrote a novel called Liar Loan, a few business books as well as two children’s picture books and five of the best screen plays that you may never see… LOL

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

I don’t have a set pattern, this latest book was written over 5 years, one conversation at a time.

What is this book about?

It is a collection of conversations that I have had with my kids as they were growing up. Mostly funny stuff that they have said to me over dinner.

What inspired you to write it?

Facebook, I posted all our conversations on my Facebook over the years as a fun way of memorializing our time together. Finally, some friends said, “Hey you should turn this into a book”

Who is your biggest supporter?

My family are my biggest supporters

Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?

The book is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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

I currently just have a Facebook page @DinnerConversations where readers can follow our recent family conversations, post their own fun family conversations, fun and interesting articles, events, etc

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

The best advice I have is to write for you, if it makes you happy then do. Don’t write for the critics, why would you want to make them happy?

What is up next for you?

I am working on a new screenplay about an old mall in middle America and a not so young guy who wants to prove to his father that he can turn it around.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Yes, life is way busier than it was 30 years ago--there are many more distractions. Make sure you take the time to have dinner with your family and above all, enjoy the conversations!

First Chapter Review: Hair of the Corn Dog by A. K. Turner

A.K. Turner is on tour with Pump Up Your Book to talk about her humor book, Hair of the Corn Dog. 

A.K. Turner is the author of This Little Piggy Went to the Liquor Store, Mommy Had a Little Flask, and Hair of the Corn Dog, as well as a co-author of Drinking with Dead Women Writers and Drinking with Dead Drunks. Her work has been featured in various publications and anthologies, including Folio Literary Magazine, Leave the Lipstick, Take the Iguana, and I Just Want to Be Alone. A former writer-in-residence and creator of "The Writers' Block" on Radio Boise, she lives in Idaho with her exceedingly tolerant husband and two daughters.

Learn more at AKTurner.com.

BLURB:  In the latest laugh-out-loud confessional from A.K. Turner's "Tales of Imperfection" series, the author of This Little Piggy Went to the Liquor Store and Mommy Had a Little Flask relates her adventures on the Jersey Shore, at an Idaho drag show with her in-laws, and surviving the perils of an elementary school ice-cream social with equal parts wit and heart. The laughter pairs well with two parts cocktail.

COVER: This one is a riot. Don't you expect a corn dog to be paired with a beer or a soda? I wasn't expecting a Bloody Mary. The color scheme catches the eye. Between the look of the cover and the title you're bound to pick this one up to glance at it.

FIRST CHAPTER: The author relays a story of visiting a local dive with her husband and his former college buddy. There's lots of drinking, some storytelling from a cab driver, and a next day regret.

KEEP READING:  All I can say is that if this is the opening chapter, you're in for one heck of a ride. I had not expected a chapter titled "Humpin' Hannah's," and I don't drink, so going out to the bar to tie one on means nothing to me--except horrible memories of pretending to fit in and faking it. But I have to tell you, this is a funny chapter. If nothing else, it made me feel so much better about some of the exploits of my youth. Actually, it made me realize that had it not been for some of the wonderful people in my life, I might have been  one of those people the cab driver told the author and her husband about on their ride home from that dive.

Turner is funny. In some parts she seems almost vulnerable or too innocent for her own good. The cab driver's stories are outrageous, making me glad I don't live somewhere like New York City where cabs are the regular mode of transportation. The one thing I could really relate to was how Kelly (the former college buddy) learned keeping up with his college-age tenants wasn't as easy as it seemed. Getting old stinks.

The content isn't my usual style, but I had to admit I snickered and chuckled more than once. If you enjoy edgy, sometimes bawdy humor, this is a book you'll get a kick out of.

Series: The Tales of Imperfection Series
Paperback: 220 pages
Publisher: Fever Streak Press (February 8, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0991375920
ISBN-13: 978-0991375929

I received the first chapter only of this book from Pump Up Your Book. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Interview with Kenny Scudero, Author of Comfortably Awkward

Comfortably Awkward is Kenny Scudero’s debut self-published novel. He is a twenty-two year old author from New York City who looks forward to a bright future in writing. Kenny recently graduated from St. John’s University where he majored in Sport Management. At St. John’s, Kenny was Sports Editor for the University newspaper. After graduating from St. John’s, Kenny had trouble finding a job and wrote Comfortably Awkward based off that frustration. He is currently working on his second novel.


You can visit Kenny’s website at www.kennyscudero.com for more information.

For Albert Ferenzo, life is a series of ironic events that may or may not have a reason behind them. While struggling to find a niche for himself, Albert blames the corporate world for hindering his dream of making money and living a prosperous life. After playing the good guy his entire life, Albert decides that the only way to get ahead in the world is to be the bad guy. Albert questions his own fate as he drives himself to insanity in an effort to find happiness. The destinies of Albert and everyone around him intertwine as he finally realizes what life is all about or at least, he thinks he does in this revolt against normality.

1) Who is your favorite character?

My favorite character is Albert Ferenzo, from my debut novel Comfortably Awkward. Albert is a kid out of college looking for his place in the world. He did what he had to do through his whole life to get to where he was but then he hit a dead end. He couldn't find a job and grew angry with the corporate lifestyle which he was trained to live in since high school. Strange, awkward, ironic things are always happening to Albert and it always seems like the world is against him but he is smart and he eventually figures out what he needs to do to be happy in life.

2) Why is he/she your favorite?

Albert is such a great kid. All he ever wanted to do was to make enough money to support his girlfriend and whatever family members need help. Albert is like me in many ways, especially when things get crazy in the book. He's my favorite character because he does things that I would not be capable of doing in real life. Albert is all about justice and doing the right thing. His courage is something that I admire and I wish I had.

3) How did you come to create him/her?

When I couldn't find a job after college, I created Albert Ferenzo. I thought about what I wanted to do with my anger and frustration and that mindset turned into Albert's mindset. I thought about all of the times I could have said something back to someone in an argument or times when I would have liked to have done something different in my life and I made Albert do all of those things. As I went through stages and began to figure out what I needed to do with my life, Albert did the same and I always seemed to be a step ahead of him. Or was he a step ahead of me?

4) When did he/she first enter your mind?

When I thought about all the people who discouraged me in my hopeful professional career, I thought about what I could do about it. I didn't want to care about struggling and having a job and responsibilities. I wanted to stop caring about everything and just live life for the moment and enjoy myself. That's when I started writing about Albert Ferenzo. He was living the life I wanted by not letting every little thing get to him and learning to enjoy life one moment at a time.

5) Where was he/she given life in the creative process?

Comfortably Awkward is my debut novel and Albert fit perfectly with the story and what I was going through at the time. In a way, I think Albert made me realize what I should have been doing with my life. More importantly, I think Albert Ferenzo is the perfect character for today's world. Everyone is struggling with the economy the way it is and people need something to believe in. They need faith and hope and I think Albert brings all of those things to life in my book. Albert is a modern character who I think can relate to anyone at any point in time.

6) What do like the most about him/her and what do you dislike the most about him/her?

I love Albert's ideas, his courage and his ambition. He believes in the right things and wants good people to be rewarded and bad people to be punished. It would be nice to have more people like Albert Ferenzo, in that sense. On the other hand, Albert is too indecisive and he is constantly second-guessing himself. He has great ideas and he runs with them most of the time, but the second someone puts him down, he begins to wonder if he is doing the right thing or not. If you read my book, you'll understand Albert's transformation throughout the story and I think you'll be rooting for him until the bitter end.

Interview with Noah Baird, Author of Donations to Clarity

Noah Baird wanted to attend the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College, but his grades weren’t good enough (who knew?). However, his grades were good enough to fly for the U.S. Navy (again, who knew?), where he spent 14 years until the government figured out surfers don’t make the best military aviators. He has also tried to be a stand-up comedian in Hawaii for Japanese tourists where the language barrier really screwed up some great jokes. On the bright side, a sailboat was named after the punchline of one of his jokes.

He has several political satire pieces published on The Spoof under the pen name orioncrew. Noah received his bachelors in Historical and Political Sciences from Chaminade University, where he graduated magna cum laude. He knows nothing about hoaxing Bigfoot. Donations to Clarity is his first novel.

You can visit his website at www.noahbaird.com or his blog at www.noahbaird.wordpress.com.

Connect with him at Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Noah-Baird-Writer/100193913390453.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Where did you grow up? I’m from Florida. I grew up in a small town called New Port Richey.

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

Usually at night or afternoon. I’m not a morning person.

What is this book about?

The plan was simple: hoax Bigfoot, then sell tours to Bigfoot enthusiasts. The plan wasn't brilliant, and neither were Harry, Earl, and Patch. The three chemical-abusing friends only wanted to avoid the 9 to 5 rat race, but their antics attract the attention of a real Bigfoot. When the misogynistic Earl is mistaken for a female Bigfoot by the nearsighted creature and captured; it is just the beginning of their problems.

The U.S. Government has a plan to naturalize the mythical creatures living within the U.S. borders. The problem is the plan needs to be carried out carefully. You can't just drop little green men and Sasquatch in the middle of Walmart without warning Ma and Pa Taxpayer. The naturalization program is not ready to be set into motion, and the rogue Bigfoot is bringing too much attention to itself, including a feisty investigative reporter who uncovers the truth of the government conspiracy and two Bigfoot researchers. No longer able to contain the situation, government agents are tasked with eliminating the Bigfoot and all witnesses.
Between bong hits and water balloon fights, Harry and Patch come up with a plan to save Earl and the lovestruck Bigfoot. Where do you hide a giant, mythical creature? In an insane asylum, because who is going to listen to them?

Along the way, the three friends learn Star Wars was a government training film for children, the truth behind Elvis meeting President Nixon, and the significance of the weight of the human turd.

What inspired you to write it?

I don’t tell a lot of people this, but I feel like we have a connection. The book is an autobiography. I hoaxed Bigfoot so I could open a Bigfoot tour company. I was captured by a Bigfoot because, I can only assume, he thought I was a female Bigfoot. Bigfoot tried to make his sex slave, but I escaped with the help of the world’s only Julian Lennon impersonator. It’s all true.

Who is your biggest supporter?

My parents; without a doubt.

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

I’m not. I tried a few groups, but I wasn’t getting the feedback I needed. In my experience, the other writers are too polite to give you the honest truth. The groups seem like mutual masturbation sessions; everyone is there to get their egos stroked. It isn’t without benefit. Hearing what is working in your manuscript is helpful, but I was always interested in learning what wasn’t working.
I’ve allowed a few people to read chapters I wasn’t sure about. Otherwise, the first people to read the first draft are my parents.

Who is your favorite author?

It would be hard to pick one. I’d say Christopher Moore and Tim Dorsey are at the top of the list.

Do you have an agent or are you looking for one?

I don’t.

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

In hindsight, I’d say it was smooth. Receiving rejection letters is not fun, but getting an acceptance letter validates the effort.

Where can readers purchase a copy of your book? Amazon or Second Wind Publishing.

http://www.amazon.com/Donations-Clarity-Noah-Baird/dp/1935171445/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1311518859&sr=8-1/

http://secondwindpublishing.com/noahbaird.html

Where can readers find you online?
http://noahbaird.com/index.php?page=about_book

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Noah-Baird-Writer/100193913390453

http://secondwindpub.wordpress.com/2011/10/11/the-joys-of-lying-to-children/


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

I don’t. I still haven’t quite gotten my head around using video to promote books.

Giveaways, Contests and Prizes!

Noah will be attending Pump Up Your Book’s 1st Annual Holiday Extravaganza Facebook Party on December 16. More than 50 books, gifts and cash awards will be given away including a paperback copy of Donations to Clarity! Visit the official party page here!

Interview with Davis Aujourd’hui, Author of Babes in Bucksnort

Davis Aujourd’hui is the author of the Sister Mary Olga Fortitude series of hilarious satires. The first book is entitled The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude. It was followed by Babes in Bucksnort.



Davis possesses a rich life experience that has enabled him to draw from it in order to create a colorful canvas upon which to paint very human lives. He is a retired social worker, having worked for Adult Protective Services in New York State for nearly twenty years. He developed the characters within his series of books in order to entertain a colleague by using the gift of humor.


As will be the case with Sister Mary Olga in his third book, he is a recovering alcoholic. He also happens to be gay as are several of the endearing and humorous characters within his novels. He can speak from his own experience. He has possessed all of the foibles of his cast of characters who are naughty, nasty, and nice.


Davis lives in Upstate New York where he is currently sharing his life with his partner of seven years. He is socially-minded and spirituality is the most important ingredient in order for him to maintain a happy and successful life.


Visit this blog for information on the series: http://bestsatireseriesofthedecade.blogspot.com/


Visit this blog for information on the author: http://authordavisaujourdhui.blogspot.com/


Connect with him on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Davis-Aujourdhui/138584429540046

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I am a student of the human condition. This is why I incorporate different archetypes of that condition into my books. I believe that there is nothing more important than joy. That's why I love using humor in my books and finding the humor in my life. I have had a life filled with much pain and have come to learn from it.

I am a former social worker which helped me learn a lot about people and myself. I used humor to defuse the stress of that job and that's when I developed my zany characters. I did so to entertain a colleague. She just loved them and responded with cascades of laughter. That spurred me on.

When I retired, I thought to myself that I could write a book about them. That was when I wrote The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude. One book led to another and I have now written eleven books in the series. Have A Heart will be the next book to be released following Babes in Bucksnort.

When did you begin writing?

I loved to write as a child. I was always encouraged in my creative writing by my teachers. I began writing in earnest after I had finished my memoirs. A sneak preview of that is available in e-book form through Amazon.com. It's entitled Putting the Pieces Together. I finished my memoirs six years ago. That's when I began writing my series.

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

I generally write during the day, but sometimes that can extend way into the evening. When I'm on a roll, I write about ten hours a day.

What is this book about?

Babes in Bucksnort is the sequel to the highly praised The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude. Once again, the unconventional bourbon-swilling, chain-smoking nun will spin outrageously funny new tales about the residents of Bucksnort, Wisconsin while she tests the will of a reformed prostitute who just happens to be her Reverend Mother.
Unfortunately, there is trouble brewing in the Snortlands. The nasty and notorious town busybody, Priscilla Bunhead, goes on a crusade to stamp out what she calls the gay menace. That's when she convinces her millionaire friend, Mildred Mayflower, to give away her fortune in order to bring the Reverend Billy-Bob Blunthead and his Born Again or Burn Forever Disciples for Jesus to town to do the job. It will be an uphill climb for them as the closet doors of many gay people in the Snortlands burst open.

Billy-Bob and his wife, Pinky Poo, will have another battle on their hands when Dimples Dufus, the heiress to the Mayflower fortune, arrives on the scene. They'll also have to reckon with a mysterious woman who channels an entity who challenges the hateful and hypocritical agenda of this spokesman for Jesus.

In between the laughs, Sister Mary Olga continues to dispense nuggets of spiritual wisdom during her classes in Beginner's and Advanced Holiness. Just don't take seats near the flatulent child named Fartley Dinkledorf or his lecherous one-hundred five year-old great-grandfather, Poopsy. The bottom line is that everyone is welcome in Sister Mary Olga's classes. Join the diverse cast of characters for a joy-ride that will tickle your funny bone until it aches.

What inspired you to write it?

As I mentioned, I was inspired to write the books after I remembered the characters I had developed to entertain my colleague.
Who is your biggest supporter?

My biggest supporters are my family and friends. My fans have also inspired me to continue my writing.

Who is your favorite author?

I have so many favorite authors. Within the comedy genre, I like Armistead Maupin and Carl Hiaasen. As for the spiritual genre, I like Anthony DeMello, Deepak Chopra, Eckhardt Tolle, Eric Butterworth, and Wayne Dyer among others.

Do you have an agent or are you looking for one?

I am seeking an agent for my next book, Have A Heart.

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

It was a bumpy ride. I couldn't find an agent or publisher who was interested in my first two books. If they only read the rave reviews I've received, I think they would be whistling a different tune. With that said, I decided to self-publish my first two books. What I need is a publisher who will aggressively market my books and I don't have one who is doing that now.

Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?

The best place to purchase any of my books is on Amazon.com. Here are the links:

http://www.amazon.com/Misadventures-Sister-Mary-Olga-Fortitude/dp/1432730479

http://www.amazon.com/Babes-Bucksnort-Sister-Mary-Fortitude/dp/143274500X

http://www.amazon.com/Putting-the-Pieces-Together-ebook/dp/B0053YHE5M

Please be aware that the Sister Mary Olga books are available in both paperback and Kindle format. My memoirs are only available as an e-book.
Do you have a video trailer to promote your book? If yes, where can readers find it?

They can find the entertaining video trailer for the first book on Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ut8FzCNILKI

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

My blogs done by my author assistant, Mindy Schwartz of Full Circle Administrative Services.

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

If you write well, believe in yourself and don't give up.

What is up next for you?

Of course, I am seeking an agent and a publisher for the next book in the series. I am still very much involved in the marketing of the first two books as well as editing the other books in my series. I am also seeking an agent for an unrelated book about a couple who travels through three lifetimes together. I am also looking for a publisher for my complete memoirs.

Interview: Rose Valenta, Author of Sitting on Cold Porcelain

Joining us today is Rose A. Valenta, author of Sitting on Cold Porcelain.

Rose is a nationally syndicated humor columnist. Her irreverent columns have been published in Senior Wire, Associated Content, Courier Post Online, NPR, Newsday, USA TODAY, the WSJ Online, and many other local news and radio websites.

She regularly attends the Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop at the University of Dayton, is a member of the Robert Benchley Society and the National Society of Newspaper Columnists (NSNC).

Rose worked for a subsidiary of McGraw-Hill, Datapro Information Services, for 12 years as a technical staff writer, and also wrote freelance articles for other computer industry publications.

Welcome to The Book Connection, Rose. It is wonderful to have you with us. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I’m one lucky woman. I have a great husband, three wonderful children, and 10 beautiful grandchildren.

Where did you grow up?

I spent my childhood in Olean, NY; Burlington County, NJ; Bucks County, PA; and Philadelphia. Yes, they called me Gypsy Rose.

What is your fondest childhood memory?

I enjoyed spending time with my grandparents. My Grandma in Olean was a professional baker and I loved eating her sugar cookies. My Italian grandparents in NJ were fun too. My Grandfather made wine in huge wooden barrels in the basement. The house always had the wonderful aroma of an Italian restaurant: a happy combination of garlic, locatelli, biscotti, and wine. You always wanted to eat when you got there. I never saw the kitchen table without food on it, even if it was just a large pot of brewed tea and biscotti.

When did you begin writing?

I began writing when I was a young mother raising my children in Philadelphia.

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

I think better at night, but I’ll work on an essay whenever it’s quiet around the house and I can spare the time.

What is this book about?

Sitting on Cold Porcelain is a compilation of humorous essays. Its underlying theme is getting a good laugh out of Murphy’s Law. Things always go wrong to tick you off, so you need a humorous perspective.

What inspired you to write it?

Just turn on the TV and listen to all the doom and gloomers' vying for a piece of your good mood. You can wake up in the morning feeling pretty and end the day wanting to deck Glenn Beck. What’s that all about, right? I thought it was supposed to be entertainment.

Then, we have political candidates getting themselves into sex scandals and feel the need not to spare us the details on prime-time news. Where are the kids supposed to do their homework? You can’t V-chip the x-rated news while they are trying to think. You need a good laugh by the end of the day.

Sitting on Cold Porcelain reminds me of a famous Erma Bombeck quote “If you can’t fix it, you can laugh at it.”

Who is your biggest supporter?

My husband is my biggest supporter. He always encourages me to tackle tough topics. You know, when I’m writing about current events or some political fiasco, news you wouldn’t think had any potential for humor.

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

I have a terrific support group among my friends from the Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop; and I have a great publicist, Marti Lawrence.

Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?

Sitting on Cold Porcelain is available at Amazon, The Kindle Store, Barnes and Noble (also for Nook), Better World Books, and the order desk of your local bookstore. You can also order an autographed copy on my blog.

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

Yes, Rosie’s Renegade Humor Blog – http://www.rosevalenta.com. This is the blog for people who would be knowledgeable about current events and politics if only politicians and news anchors didn’t stretch the truth. “What else is there to do, but share an honest laugh?” Rose said.

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

Signing up with Pump Up Your Book for a virtual book tour.

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

In addition to enjoying your work, pay attention to the important grunt work like editing and marketing. Here are a few things for your guerrilla marketing arsenal: Purchase The Frugal Book Editor and Frugal Book Promoter by Carolyn Howard-Johnson; 1001 Ways to Market Your Books by John Kremer; read Nettie Hartsock’s PR Blog – www.nettiehartsock.com; and take a course called “Writing Is A Profession – Are you A Professional” by Gordon Kirkland at www.gordonkirkland.com.

What is up next for you?

I’m currently working on the manuscript for Sitting on Cold Porcelain II. I’m hoping Mahmūd Ahmadinezhād owns up to whacking Paul the Octopus before press time.

Thanks for spending time with us today, Rose. We had a great time. We wish you continued success.

Another Silly Turf War by Richard Arneson, Author of Citizen Dick (Guest Post and Giveaway)

Today's guest blogger is Richard Arneson, author of Citizen Dick.

Dick Citizen, an unambitious, twenty-five-year-old with an obsessive hatred for his first name, an uncanny ability to hit a golf ball long and straight, and a bizarre skeleton in his closet, stumbles backwards into the last place he should be—Corporate America; more specifically, he stumbles into a PR position at CommGlobalTeleVisa, the 3rd largest telecommunications corporation in the United States, its name synonymous with ineptitude and shoddy, C-level leadership.

For Dick, boredom soon sets in, so he writes farcical press releases—to pass the time and for the enjoyment of his co-workers—about outrageous, bogus product offerings CommGlobalTeleVista has in the works.

But when one of the press releases gets leaked to the press, Wall Street responds favorably to the moribund corporation for the first time in several years. And when Noble Tud, the sleazy, hirsute, golf- and prison-obsessed CEO discovers Dick is uncannily lucky—he’s had fourteen holes-in-one—he decides to carry out the press release’s claims that CommGlobalTeleVista is about to take over a large meat company. And if doing so edges their stock price north of $75/share, Tud will receive a $100M bonus.

"Another Silly Turf War" by Richard Arneson

Like most people, on occasion I’ll do some work at Starbucks—but I’m not crazy about it. They’ve gotten a little too big and powerful for my liking, kind of the Walmart of coffee shops…except without the competition. If the work I do at Starbucks has anything to do with my writing, it’ll be proofreading or editing. I leave the creative stuff for the tree house I work in and now call my office. It’s loaded, with air conditioning, a phone line and cable TV. I found a cheap, dorm room-sized refrigerator that I’m going to install over the weekend and pack with beer. By June, it’ll have a small, flat screen TV. I’d love a second story, maybe even install a urinal some day.

I like to switch off between three Starbucks, not wanting to spend too much time at any one. I think spending too much time at a public place can put people off, make you look a little desperate, even creepy, like there’s an employee you might be stalking. Not that I know anything about stalking; she really was my girlfriend.

Over time, I’ve noticed that each of the three Starbucks I frequent has become the hangout for the private school students near them, a soda fountain for the aughts. I’m assuming. And you can smoke if you’re sitting outside on the patio, so the academic toughs drink lattes and smoke clove cigarettes and leer at passersby. But I’m not scared of them—I went to public school, where we smoked real cigarettes, drank beer, and made average scores on our SATs. And let’s face it, even Mike Tyson couldn’t look intimidating wearing khaki pants and a baby blue, button down dress shirt. If back in high school somebody had suggested we head out to get a frappucinno topped with whipped cream and nutmeg, we would have teased him until he opted to stay home Saturday nights to watch The Love Boat.

But the students seem to have claimed their respective Starbucks as their own, their turf, their ‘hood set to Norah Jones music. I’m waiting for the day—and trust me, it’s coming--when a kid from one of the neighboring Starbucks has to buy his 2,000 calorie drink at one of the other two. Smart looks will be exchanged, then a few words, probably a challenge to a game of Scrabble, trash talk about the upcoming moot court competition. Then an iced coffee will hit the floor and everybody will scatter, tan, dimple-legged women in tennis outfits hiding behind free-standing shelves loaded with over-priced mugs. The unemployment club will grab their cups of ice water and head to the restrooms. Then the two will face off, a pair of khaki-clad kids with something to prove and nothing to gain—just another silly turf war, but with a dash of cinnamon.




Richard Arneson’s thirteen years working in corporate America drove him up a tree—literally. Once he escaped the telecommunications industry after ten years of service, he built a tree house—ostensibly for his two young sons—installed electricity and cable TV, and set out to fix himself, deciding that dealing with the memories of working in the goofy-as-hell world of corporate America could only be accomplished by getting them down on paper. Citizen Dick is the result.

Arneson is currently working on his next novel, The Tree House, which, ironically, is not being written in his tree house but in the cab of his 1950 Chevy pickup truck. He lives in Dallas, Texas with his wife and their two sons. He has plans to build a second story on his tree house in early 2010, one large enough to accommodate a baby grand piano and two dental chairs.

Visit his website at: CitizenDick.com



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4) Get two additional entries for posting about this contest on Facebook. Leave us a link here.

This giveaway will run from today until 11:59 p.m.(Eastern) on May 7th. A winner will be announced later in the month. Contest is open to residents of the United States and Canada.


Follow Richard's virtual book tour all month long at http://virtualbooktours.wordpress.com/.

Rock Stars by David Grant -- Book Review

It was a time when E.T. phoned home, Knight Rider made David Hasselhoff a star, Tylenol cured more than headaches, and young girls still had pens pals and collected stickers in albums.

John Lennon and Anwar Sadat were assassinated, and attempts were made on the lives of President Ronald Reagan, Pope John Paul II, and England's Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. IBM launched the first PC, Nintendo revived the video game market, and the Yugo came to America.

Many things defined the 80's, but perhaps nothing did that more than the music. MTV launched in 1981 with, "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles. The rest, shall we say, is history.

In Rock Stars: The rise, fall, and rise of 80's glam frontmen into pop culture by David Grant, the reader gets to travel back in time to when heavy metal, hard rock, and hair bands ruled the airwaves and MTV. Big-lipped Steven Tyler of Aerosmith belted out tunes into his scarf laden microphone stand, Bon Jovi wiggled his tight jean clad rump for his female fans, and Ratt was singing "Round and Round" while Motley Crue was dishing up "Dr. Feelgood" and "Same Ole Situation".

With Rock Stars, Grant provides a tongue-in-cheek look at the careers and music that defined the 80's. From Van Halen's David Lee Roth to Klaus Meine of the Scorpions, from Alice Cooper to Ozzy Osbourne, and from Skid Row's Sebastian Bach to the conflicted Axl Rose of Guns N Roses, this book is an engaging and bold journey into the frontmen who rose to fame in the 80's; many of whom are still loving and living the music man life.

Having read some of Grant's work in the past, I can say he stays true to his style with Rock Stars, but that this book is some of his best work. I couldn't put it down once I picked it up, and I will definitely be reading it again.

I personally want to thank David Grant for allowing me to relive this part of my childhood. As a teen who watched Twisted Sister's Dee Snider on MTV, is a member of the KISS Army, and still sings along to Lita Ford's "Kiss Me Deadly" when it pops up on satellite radio, Rock Stars was one great walk on the wild side.


Title: Rock Stars
Author: David Grant
Publisher: Lulu
ISBN-10: 0557182409
ISBN-13: 978-0557182404
SRP: $13.00

Sweet Pain by Charles Franklin Emery, Author of The Man and His Manic

Today's guest blogger is Charles Franklin Emery, author of A Man and His Maniac: The Bunkie Story - Second Edition.

A Man and His Maniac: The Bunkie Story – Second Edition, is a heartfelt memoir about Bunkie, the yellow Labrador Retriever Wonder dog. The memoir contains highlights of a 14-year chronological voyage through Bunkie’s and the author's life.

It won’t take you 14 years to read it; but it’s got 14 years worth of love, laughs and tears buried within. The memoir is primarily a humor piece, but has some serious components as well, and deals with the positive aspects of pet ownership as well as the grief associated with losing a loved pet and family member.



"The man gazes at the Boston Terrier puppy in the crook of his arm. The puppy is lying on his back and stares adoringly into the man's eyes. The man has seen that look before and once again, falls in love with a pup. He knows that loving look is a con and loves the pup all the more for it. Wishful thinking perhaps, but the man feels that his departed Lab is looking back at him from those deep brown eyes. The eyes are a window into the soul and the man likes what he sees within. He looks at the lady who has brought the puppy to him and nods acceptance. Transaction complete, the man places the pup on a camouflage jacket in the cab of his truck that lies next to him; that jacket has a history and scent from the man's beloved Lab. The puppy is instantly comforted and settles into slumber cuddled up next to the man. For the first time in a long time the man's soul is at rest."

I’ve always had a love for dogs.

When I was a kid I would always pester my Dad for a dog. Dad loved dogs too. In fact, Pop loved all animals.

We also loved to hunt, Dad and me. My Dad taught me to respect all life and to never take another life lightly. That meant that you eat what you kill, fish or fowl or furry critter, with the exception of killing varmints that were damaging your other animals or property.

I learned early on that my pets had a shorter life expectancy than me. I don’t care who you are, that’s a tough truth to deal with as a youngster and even as an adult.

It doesn’t matter how much you love your critter, that will not make them live any longer than what they are supposed to live. That’s a tough reality.

I describe the realization that you will have to deal with the death of your loved pet as a Sweet Pain. The sweetness comes from the unconditional love that you receive from your critter and the love that you deal back to your buddy. We all know where the pain comes from.

But you know what? It’s worth it.

All you have to know is that it’s not your fault that your buddy passes on; they were going to go anyway. You also have to know that when your buddy is/was with you that they lived a privileged life; that you loved them and made their existence on this world a good one. You can be proud of that and happy that you were able to make your friend happy when he/she was with you.

That is a GOOD thing. It is a SWEET PAIN.

I know that it hurts to put your friend out of his misery when the time comes. You must know that it is an act of love; nothing else. Do not second-guess yourself as to whether you did it too soon; in your heart you must know that it was the right time. You know that it was time, so do not beat yourself up over the inevitable. You had the courage to do what was right; never denigrate yourself over doing the humane thing for your loved ones, whether human or critter.

You love; therefore you hurt. The greater the love; the greater the hurt. What better testament can there be?

I may be naïve, but I also believe that if there is a final reward after this life we live, and I do, that our critter buddies will be there to greet and guide us into that life. In my heart I feel this.

I guess my message to you is this: don’t let the fear of loss keep you from taking another critter buddy into your home, arms and bed. It is a sweet pain that gives more than it takes.

My Dad taught me this and I believe it. You should too.


Charles Franklin Emery III was born in Los Angeles, California in 1956. He joined the US Navy Submarine force in 1977 and spent the following six years on Fast Attack and Fleet Ballistic Missile submarines as a Sonar Technician and Sonar Supervisor. He forged a career in commercial Nuclear Power and is now a Consulting Engineer to various electric utilities. He is an avid fisherman and hunter, enjoys working on his 1964 Plymouth Savoy and collecting colonial American coins. Drag Racing is also a passion and his 1964 Plymouth Savoy Nostalgia Super Stocker provides the needed outlet. He now resides with a Boston Terrier horde and his wife Sherry in Port Saint Lucie, Florida.

Charles’s early influences are Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes mysteries). Sprinkle in a liberal dose of Sports Afield, Popular Hot Rodding and Saltwater Fisherman magazines and that about wraps it up.
Charles always had an interest in dogs, as his father and he were avid hunters and nature lovers. Charles spent a large amount of his youth hunting and fishing the Coachella Valley in the Southern California desert. There he chased quail, dove and rabbits and fished the Salton Sea for Corvina, Sargo and Croakers.

Charles developed a love for muscle cars. He grew up in the Los Angeles suburbs in Bellflower surrounded by the raucous exhaust tones of the high horsepower years that defined the muscle car era. He is passionate about Mopars and thus his present ownership and obsession with his 1964 Plymouth Savoy.

Charles is also a mentor to various nuclear industry entities and enjoys teaching the next generation electrical power theory and relay testing techniques and regimen.
Charles owns and operates his own publishing imprint, Bunkiedog Press. The website address for Bunkiedog Press is http://www.bunkiedog.com.

Bunkiedog Press has published “Dad, Dog and Fish” & “A Man and His Maniac: The Bunkie Story” and “A Man and His Maniac: The Bunkie Story” – Second Edition”. He is currently working on the memoirs “Moondoggie and the Boston Terrier Horde”, “Gearhead” and “Bubblehead”.

Visit other stops on Charles's virtual book tour by checking in every weekday in January at http://virtualbooktours.wordpress.com/

The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death by Laurie Notaro -- Book Review

A funny, light collection of new essays from New York Times bestselling author Laura Notaro fills the pages of The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death. Her reflections on revenge, germophobis, laser hair removal and more, will have you laughing out loud, and curious onlookers asking what you're reading.

I'm fairly certain if I opted for laser hair removal, my experience would match Notaro's, if not be worse--which is probably why I'll never try it. Oh, and by the way, my primary care physician is equally as attractive as the author's own, Dr Wells; so I especially related to this essay, as I did with the essays about her pets.

The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death is a well-written page-turner, but admittedly not my typical style of reading material. Notaro's writing has been described as "gorily specific" and "raunchy". I would definitely agree, which took away from some of the reading experience for me. I was looking for Erma Bombeck, but found a vulgar and obscene Erma filling the pages.

The overabundance of the terms "a**hole" and "tweaker" (I still don't know what the latter is, but I know it's not complimentary) became tiresome after a bit; and while I could easily relate to how Notaro feels about the spreading of germs, her grotesque descriptions meant I wasn't going to be eating while reading the book.

I'm certain many people will enjoy this book, including the legions of Laurie Notaro fans who have purchased her previous installments; it just didn't reach me personally--which is okay because it's still uproariously funny.

Title: The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death
Author: Laurie Notaro
Publisher: Villard Books
ISBN: 978-0-8129-7574-1
SRP: $14.00 (U.S.)

Kandy Siahaya Makes Light of Being Heavy

Today's guest blogger is Kandy Siahaya, author of the women's issue humor book, Making Light of Being Heavy. She says:

These days everyone has a society-driven mindset and totally forget to laugh, especially at themselves. This may be cliche but I truly believe that laughter is the best medicine and I think everybody should laugh every day. Period. Over the years as a person blessed with the fat gene, I have been in many situations where if I could not find humor I probably would end up on the couch in the psychiatrist's office. This book is about as politically incorrect as it gets for such a subject but it is also based on reality. This is a reality that many women have just like me, but do not think they can (or should) at times just laugh about it.

My intention when I started writing this book was to hopefully give insight to many who could never relate but at the same time perhaps provide a different perspective to women just like me. It is a point of view that has given me the strength to live my life happily and project these feelings onto everyone I come in contact with. I have a great sense of humor and a quick with and guarantee you will be laughing (and thinking) with each chapter of Making Light of Being Heavy.

Kandy Siahaya was raised in a small town in Maine where she graduated from high school in 1984. She worked her way up from her first job as CSW to Manager of Kentucky Fried Chicken and ended up in Brunswick, Maine. When she decided to leave the fried chicken business at age 22, she packed up her little Chevy Chevette and moved to Fort Myers, Florida where she worked as a waitress and had a great time as a single girl in her 20's. Reality hit when she was 25 years old and went back to Maine and received her Associates Degree at Beal College and promptly moved back to Florida and started a career in medical transcription. In 1995 at age 29, she met her future husband and moved to North Miami Beach, Florida, and continued with transcription starting her own business.

In 2002, Kandy left North Miami Beach and moved back to Maine with her five-year-old son and eventually divorced in 2005. Kandy still does medical transcription but had an unexpected decline in work which left her with a lot of time on her hands. This is when she decided to write a book. This is something she had been thinking about for a few years but never had the time because she was always so busy with her business. It was meant to be a quick and funny read, something to brighten the outlook of many that really do not see the light through their own tunnel vision. It was also intended to be insightful for those that could never possibly relate to this specific subject. Kandy has succeeded in doing just that with Making Light of Being Heavy.

For more information please visit www.makinglightofbeingheavy.com.

Today, Kandy shares with us a little incident involving a cruise ship and a shower.

Kandy's turn:

Ah yes, one of those terrible moments….First let me intro this with a little history. Many may recall the show The Love Boat back in the 1980s. I loved that show! I still remember the song - “…The Love Boat soon will be making another run, The Love Boat promises something for everyone, set a course for adventure, your mind on a new romance…” I used to daydream about being on a cruise ship and going to exciting places and having fun all night dancing and going to the shows. I couldn’t wait until the day I could go on a cruise myself and the day did finally come a couple of years after my son was born. We were going on a five-day Carnival cruise stopping in Key West and Cozumel. I was so excited. It was everything I had imagined and even better with yummy drinks and food everywhere. That is until I went to use the shower. Now I understand that they design these ships for maximum capacity and that is all good unless you are a little heavier than the average cruiser. I was attempting to take a shower in my luxurious shower stall which seriously didn’t appear to be more than a foot wide when it seemed like there was a problem with the water. It kept going on and off, on and off. I was starting to get a little irritated until I realized that with every move I made because it was such a tight fit I kept hitting the knob and turning the water on and off! I still laugh when I think about it.

Life is Tough - I Doubt I'll Make It Out Alive by Stacy Gooch-Anderson--Book Review

Life lessons learned through one mother's journey is what readers will discover when they open the pages of Life is Tough - I Doubt I'll Make It Out Alive by Stacy Gooch- Anderson.

Already a fan of Stacy Gooch-Anderson and her book The Santa Letters--which we reviewed here--I was thrilled to be asked to review Life is Tough. Gooch-Anderson has a way of touching the heart like few authors can; and here, her skills shine through in a funny and often tender way, as she shares with readers twenty-eight lessons she has learned from her own parents and her journey through motherhood.

From embarrassing home movies, to the challenges of learning to ski; from Daddy's little girl, to married woman; from a first-time mother, to the ruler over four unique and challenging boys, and from her role as daughter to her role as family matriarch, Stacy Gooch-Anderson's lessons will leave you laughing so hard that you cry, and crying along with her as she deals with the loss of a child and the loss of both parents to cancer.

Perhaps, having lost my mother to cancer when I was just a girl helped me relate to the emotions the author shares as she watches her father struggle with the disease, but still maintain his positive outlook on life. And perhaps I cried a few extra tears as Gooch-Anderson tells of her mother asking her to become the "mother bird" who would watch over her siblings "like a hawk".

Overall, though there sad moments like these in every mother's life, the majority of the book shares the joys of motherhood: watching your children grow, looking back to laugh upon the challenges they have brought to your life, the pride you feel in them, and the days you threatened to sell them to the Indians (at least that's what my parents always said they would do).

Life is Tough - I Doubt I'll Make It Out Alive is the perfect gift for mothers, grandmothers, step-mothers, sisters, and aunts who have traveled and who are traveling along the wonderful, and sometimes difficult, journey of motherhood.

It is my hope, that Stacy Gooch-Anderson comes out with another title soon. I'll be the first in line to buy a copy.


Title: Life is Tough - I Doubt I'll Make It Out Alive
Author: Stacy Gooch-Anderson
Publisher: CFI, an imprint of Cedar Fort, Inc.
ISBN: 978-1-59955-176-0
SRP: $14.99 (U.S.)

Check out a Life Saver from Stacy Gooch-Anderson here.

December Special Feature: On Strike for Christmas by Sheila Robert

For those of you who like your seasonal tales to hold more than a few chuckles, check out On Strike for Christmas, the next book in our month-long spotlight of seasonal books.

A group of small town wives from a knitting club get tired of laboring over elaborate Christmas preparations that their husbands don't appreciate. Their clueless husbands can't have any idea how hard they work. One by one the women of the club decide to go on strike, watching in horror as their husbands try to make Christmas special for their families while the women fight against the urge to interfere.

This is one of the funniest holiday stories I have ever read, which is why it ends up in our favorite tales of the season line up.

You can find my full review of On Strike for Christmas by Sheila Roberts here.

Kelly Epperson and The Hairy, Scary French Doctor

Today's guest blogger is Kelly Epperson, author of When Life Stinks, It's Time to Wash the Gym Clothes. I reviewed this title here. Today Kelly will tell us a bit about her life in France.

The Hairy, Scary French Doctor

La Republique de Francais requires medical approval for Americans to live in France. The week of our arrival, we spent hours searching Toulouse for the tiny, back-alley Office des Migrations Internationales. We rang the buzzer to be let in, but it was no place I wanted to be.

A young, pierced gal greeted us (i.e., silently stared, snatched our paperwork, and walked away). A professional-looking woman (lab coat over her cleavage) took us to a desk at the end of a cramped hallway, and asked our names and ages in broken English.

“Healthy?” Yes. Check, check, check, check. “Any operations or problems?” No. Check, check, check, check. “Last medical appointment?” I lied and said last month. She squeezed around us to go ask the doctor if the children needed an x-ray or just the adults. Gulp. I’d read that in France the patient is completely naked for any procedure, be it an x-ray or an exam for a sore throat.

She escorted us into the doctor’s office that consisted of a desk, two chairs and a stark exam table. The doctor was large and greasy with long, dark, wiry curls exploding from his head and arms. He had yellowed teeth and needed a shave. He wore a tight, black shirt and several gold chains.

All four Eppersons visibly shuddered. “No way is this guy touching me,” was the shared thought.

The woman barked, “Anglais!” and left us. The doctor grunted, “Bonjour,” and proceeded to talk in French. The only anglais he spoke was to ask, “OK?” We nodded. He continued his conversation with himself, but stamped and signed our paperwork. “Voila.” (The only French word you’ll ever need to know.) That was it. No exam. No x-rays. The scary, hairy doctor did not see us naked.

A few weeks later, I learned my boys needed a French physical for school. Most French doctors do not take appointments. We located the office five minutes past the start of office hours. There were three doors with three names. We opened the door with Dr. Monique’s name and discovered a small waiting room. We were fifth in line. The people sitting muttered “bonjour” and went back to silence.

Dr. Monique’s office door opened and the next person jumped up and dashed in. After an hour and forty-five minutes, our turn came. Dr. Monique was friendly, attractive and not hairy. She had the requisite desk, two chairs, and exam table. She examined the boys (fully clothed) and explained they needed a tetanus booster and TB shot.

In the US, we test for TB. In France, they immunize against it. My kids will now show a positive result when TB tested in the states, but that’s another story. (Repeat after me: Everything in France is different. Everything in France takes longer.)

I received a prescription to buy the shots. Dr. Monique said to come back at 3:00 pm the next day and she would administer the immunizations. We were relieved to have a rendezvous, but bemused to have to find a pharmacy.

We did, and a young, pierced boy, certainly no chemist, filled my order. After twenty minutes of trying to tell me something, he rolled his eyes and grabbed his colleague. She instructed me, “Keep medicine in le frigo.”

The next day, we arrived at Dr. Monique’s slightly before 3 pm, the start of office hours for the afternoon. About 3:45, she breezed in, but did see us first. (Everything in France is different. Everything takes longer.)

A month later, I awoke with mal a la gorge (sore throat) and silently screamed, “No doctor!” I sucked enough cough drops to remove a layer of skin off my tongue, but my throat felt better. I didn’t go to the doctor, but did visit the pharmacy for more cough drops. The pharmacy is the only place to buy over-the-counter meds in France.

Repeat after me: Everything in France is different.


The WHEN LIFE STINKS VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR '08 will officially begin on December 1 and end on December 23. You can visit Kelly's blog stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com in December to find out where she is appearing!

As a special promotion for all our authors, 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 will be announced by Pump Up Your Book Promotion at the end of the month!

When Life Stinks, It's Time to Wash the Gym Clothes by Kelly Epperson--Book Review

If you are looking for the perfect gift for the Mom on your list, then look no further than When Life Stinks, It's Time to Wash the Gym Clothes by Kelly Epperson.

A compilation of Epperson's columns that have appeared in a variety of newspapers, When Life Stinks is an often humorous look at life, aging, motherhood, and world events.

From traveling down memory lane to the hazards of parenting, from 9/11 to the death of Princess Diana, and from Live Aid to living in France, When Life Stinks will have you saying, "Yes! Finally there is someone who understands." Epperson talks about the making and breaking of New Year's resolutions and being a "gum junkie". You'll laugh right along with her as she discusses how JcPenney might have discovered that 8 out 10 women are wearing the wrong bra size and the fad of girls wearing sweatpants with words plastered across their behinds.

Granted, I may have related more to this book than a younger reader because Epperson and I are close enough in age that I recognized the name of almost every band or musician mentioned, but most of the themes flowing through When Life Stinks are universal and can be appreciated by a diverse group of readers.

An excellent debut for Kelly Epperson. I eagerly await her next book.


Title: When Life Stinks, It's Time to Wash the Gym Clothes
Author: Kelly Epperson
Publisher: Rockford Writers' Guild
ISBN: 978-0-9796634-2-0
U.S. Price: $15.95

October's Book Giveaway: Tim Bete's Guide to Pirate Parenting

In the month of October, The Book Connection is giving away a copy of Tim Bete's Cap'n Billy "The Butcher" MacDougall's Guide to Pirate Parenting. I reviewed this title here.




In Guide to Pirate Parenting you’ll learn:

* At what age your child should be able to remove a bottle cap by taking out his glass eye and using his eye

* Which offense requires administering The Flying Dutchman Wedgie

* How to prevent sogging the quartermaster

* The best place to maroon your disobedient child

* How to remove chewing gum or a giant octopus from your child’s hair

* The difference between plundering and pillaging

* How to convert your minivan into a pirate schooner

* When to smack your teenager in the side of the head with an oar

Each information-packed section ends with “Your pirate’s progress,” a short quiz that shows whether your child is reaching his or her pirate development milestones.

Arg! Here be the rules matey:

You must comment here with your working email address so that we can contact you.

If you blog about this contest, leave a comment here, telling us where you are blogging about it for an additional entry!

Contest ends on October 30th. The winner will be announced on this blog on October 31st.

Stop Making Music by Tom Samuels

About the Book:

Tom Samuels’s book, Stop Making Music, contains 136 essays that deliver contrary opinions on the music business. They are written in the voice of an arrogant nitwit who wrestles with “evil” musicians, songwriters and producers. Read each essay carefully because you will be asked if you “agree” or “disagree.” No one goes unscathed…not even the beloved Beatles. Where else could you find an Off-Broadway play based on the life of KoRn? You will be required to actually think about the current state of the music industry. Reading this book is an illuminating journey that will help you to understand why you are a music fan. There is a lesson to be learned in each chapter…a satirical, funny lesson that you will never forget.


“Tom Samuels really knows the music business. He writes about historic musicians such as Gershwin, Vivaldi and Mozart along with current bands such as Green Day, Death Cab For Cutie and Radiohead. His character is one dude you do not want to get in an argument with as he will twist your mind into a pretzel with his bizarre logic. It is best to let his pronouncements flow through your mind down to your funny bone. He has written a great satire on every aspect of the music business.”

Franklin Lutz

About the author:

Tom was born in Allentown, PA, twenty-two years ago, and attends West Chester University where he will graduate this year with a B.A. in Communication. He plans to study the field of Creativity in graduate school. He has a comprehensive library on the history of American music, including biographies, recordings and sheet music. He plays the guitar and ukulele. He strives to find a good balance in his life through meditation, eating well, learning and creating.


The STOP MAKING MUSIC VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR '08 will officially begin on July 7, 2008 and continue all month. You can visit Tom's tour stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com in July!

As a special promotion for all our authors, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour to a published author with a recent release or a $25 Amazon gift certificate to those not published who comments on our authors' blog stops. More prizes will be announced as they come available. One winner will be announced on our tour blog on July 31!

This virtual book tour has been brought to you by: