"CALVUS"

I've had my first review of Calvus and it is positive. It is by Anastasia Gonis and can be seen on the publisher's website:  www.morrispublishingaustralia.com.au in the "News Update Blog" section.

Just received the publisher's November sales report too and there have been sales in Australia, the UK and the US through various outlets.  It's looking good for 2013.

NEW BOOKS

I recently sold five copies of Calvus to members of a book club in Brisbane.  I'm not sure how sales are going overall as I await some form of report from the publisher.  However, I will shortly be embarking on a sales promotion of my own to help things along.

In the meantime, should anyone actually happen upon and read this blog, I wish all my fans, real and potential, a very merry Christmas and a happy and rewarding new year.

"THE ELECTION"

The Kindle edition of The Election will be offered FREE on Amazon's website from 6:00 pm Thursday 22 November until 6:00 pm Saturday 24 November.

NEW BOOKS

Another day, another sale.  A copy of Calvus was sold yesterday at Supanova, Brisbane, to a fellow author, Kevin Webb, no less.  It was relatively quiet at the Morris Publishing Australia stall but that is to be expected.  It was MPA's first appearance at Supanova and the pop culture exhibition attracts people who would not be that interested in a lot of their novels, including Calvus.  It is certainly worth attending these shows to get ourselves "out there."

Speaking of which, I will be signing copies of The Election and Calvus at the GCWA meeting, Fradgley Hall, Burleigh Heads between 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm this Saturday 17 November.

"CALVUS"

I am still receiving great comments from readers on Calvus, some orally, some in writing.  The following text message was the latest:

Hello, I'm back...read your book on the plane and thoroughly enjoyed it.  Didn't want to put it down till I finished it.

SN, Carbrook.

May they keep coming!

"CALVUS"

I will be signing copies of Calvus at Supanova, Brisbane on Sunday 11 November between 11:30 am and 1:30 pm.

BOOKS

Today's author talk at the Palm Beach Probus Club meeting went exceptionally well with several copies of The Election sold and a couple of copies of Calvus for good measure.  The talk was very well received and some members indicated they would be buying copies later.

"CALVUS"

Next reader's comment:

I have been meaning to e-mail you to let you know how much I'm enjoying reading Calvus.  It's got me intrigued.

"CALVUS"

I'm gratified by some of the readers' comments that are starting to filter through following the highly successful launch of Calvus last month.  Edited versions of two of them are as follows:

I just have to let you know that I have just finished Calvus and thoroughly enjoyed it.  It kept me enthralled from beginning to end.  I really hope this book is the success it deserves to be! 

AR, Perth, Western Australia

Congratulations on your wonderful book.  I read it within a few days, a real record for me.  It's absolutely brilliant. I was gripped from the outset and became quite anxious towards the end, knowing I was running out of book and it would soon be over.  I bet it is going to sell really well and I personally think it would be a great film.

It is really sophisticated, was a really clever plot, hangs together beautifully and comes together very satisfyingly at the end. I got right into the characters and fell slightly in love with Calvus. You gave the reader enough description that they became very real people.

EA, St Albans, England

"CALVUS"

My number one fan!

BOOK LAUNCH

The official launch of Calvus really was an outstanding success.  We had over 70 guests and with "officials" there were about 80 people there.  37 copies of Calvus were sold and I even managed to sell 5 copies of The Election.  The publisher has invited me to submit another manuscript.  Everyone seemed to have had a great time and what comments I've had back have been very positive.  Let's hope the serious marketing can now get under way.

"CALVUS"

Just three days to go to the official launch of Calvus.  Attendances now to 60 which is fantastic.

"CALVUS"

Just five days to go to the official launch of Calvus.

"CALVUS"

6 days to go to official launch of Calvus.  After that some serious marketing by way of author talks, book signings, radio interviews, etc.

"CALVUS"

7 days to official launch of Calvus.  Acceptances are now coming in fast and we're up to 53.  It's shaping up into an exciting event.

"CALVUS"

8 days to official launch of Calvus.  The first hard copy was sold today via the publisher's website and last minute arrangements were made at the venue.  The acceptance list is now up to 47 so it is shaping up into a great event.

"CALVUS"

Just 10 days now to the official launch of Calvus.  My daughter Jasmyn is en route from London, my step-daughter and her husband will be here from Tasmania.  Acceptances are coming on.  It is shaping up into a great event.

"CALVUS"

12 days to launch of "Calvus."  The number of acceptances is creeping up finally.  Should be a great evening.

"CALVUS"

14 days to the launch of "Calvus."

"CALVUS"

The books have arrived and they look great, even better than expected.  Just 15 days now to the launch.   Reaction so far to the invitations has been slightly disappointing in terms of number of acceptances but I guess it still is early days.

"CALVUS"

17 days to launch of Calvus.  Invitations are now out and there are already some acceptances so, so far so good.

"CALVUS"

19 days to launch of Calvus.

"CALVUS"

20 days to launch of Calvus.

"CALVUS"

21 days to launch of Calvus.

"CALVUS"

22 days to the official launch of Calvus; however the Kindle edition is now available on Amazon and advance orders can be made for hard copies from a number of sites including Amazon.

"CALVUS"

23 days to go to the launch of Calvus.  The hard  copy invitations arrived today and look great. I'll start sending them out on the weekend.

"CALVUS"

I am beginning to get confirmed acceptances for the book launch for Calvus already and I have yet to send out the invitations.  It is shaping up into a great event.  Just 24 days to go.

"CALVUS"

26 days to go to launch of Calvus.

"CALVUS"

27 days to launch of Calvus.

"CALVUS"

28 days to launch of Calvus.

"CALVUS"

29 days to the launch of Calvus.

"CALVUS"

30 days to go to the launch of Calvus.

"CALVUS"

31 days to go to the launch of Calvus.

"CALVUS"

Just 32 days to the book launch of "Calvus."

"CALVUS"

The cover design for Calvus has been selected.  It's fantastic.  I really like it.  The edit is nearly done and the manuscript will be back in my hands by the weekend so everything is on track for the official launch date of 19 September.

"CALVUS"

Things are going swimmingly for the publication by Morris Publishing Australia of Calvus.  It is due to be published in August 2012 with the official launch to be held at Robina Woods Golf Club, Ron Penhaligon Way, Robina on Wednesday 19 September between 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm.  Queensland Arts Minister Ros Bates has very kindly agreed to launch the book.  I will also be selling copies of my first novel The Election.  


Invitations will be going out in early September. Let's hope there will be a good roll up.  I'm very excited about it and really looking forward to the launch of my second novel.

"CALVUS"

I have entered "Calvus" in a number of competitions as well as having submitted it to numerous agents and publishers.  Finally, it was one of the winning entries in Morris Publishing Australia's writing competition. I am informed that the judges were unanimous.

Winners receive a publishing contract and I've now signed and returned mine.  Morris is a new company so we'll have to see how it all goes but it's certainly good news and a step in the right direction for this book. Once published, it will be my second published novel.  Wow!

BOOK REVIEW: ROBIN COOKS' "DEATH BENEFIT"

Robin Cook is the creator – and master – of the medical thriller and his latest novel, Death Benefit, doesn’t disappoint. Often legal thrillers – John Grisham’s spring to mind – are a little predictable but this story is full of surprises, especially as it nears its dénouement. As always with Cook, there is a moral to the story, this time the questionable antics of Wall Street whizz kids who buy up life insurance polices from people so desperate for cash they’ll sell for a pittance.

There is the inevitable cat and mouse chase – baddies vs. goodies – but with more twists and turns than the road to Katmandu. Cook manages to explain complex medical conditions in a language most readers should understand. A text book it isn’t and fiction it is, but, like those Cook novels before it, Death Benefit will teach you a little something you didn’t know about the intricacies of medical science.

It’s a riveting read, a roller-coaster of a journey and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.

Darryl Greer

Author, The Election

BOOK REVIEW: JACK SCULLY'S "EYEWITNESS"

The chance discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls by Bedouin at Qumran in Israel in 1947 was of great religious and historical significance as they, and subsequent finds up to 1956, included the oldest known surviving copies of biblical and non-biblical documents. One of those found, the Isaiah Scroll, is 1,000 years older than any previously known copy of the Old Testament book of Isaiah. It is estimated that the documents were written between 150 BC and 70 AD. The period is significant, especially to Christians, given that it is widely accepted by most scholars that Jesus of Nazareth lived and died within that period. The scrolls are mostly in Hebrew and Aramaic, the latter the accepted language of Jesus.

Jack Scully’s book Eyewitness is a fictional account of the modern-day discovery at Qumran, of a two-thousand-year-old scroll which gives an eyewitnesses account of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Against the background of the factual discovery, and significance, of the Dead Sea Scrolls, Scully’s tale is entirely believable. You don’t have to be religious or even spiritually inclined to enjoy this action-adventure novel. It tells the tale of an American archaeological team which is in the Qumran area searching for ancient treasures. Unlike earlier teams, they use computerised imaging equipment to assist with their search. They have reason to believe that many artifacts from Jerusalem’s Second Temple period were transferred to Qumran before the Romans destroyed the temple in 70AD.

This book could not be written without a considerable amount of research. Scully knows his stuff and not only in the biblical sense. He portrays the story and its characters in a manner which demonstrates something more than a keen interest in the extra-biblical history of the region, its people, language and culture.

The book appears to have been self-published and while it sits neatly into the difficult-to-put-down category, it would have benefited from a professional edit – there are a few too many ‘typos.’ Yet it is a brilliant effort, thought provoking, thrilling, surprising and just plain entertaining.

Darryl Greer

Author, “The Election”

BOOK REVIEW - JOHN HOWARD'S "LAZARUS RISING"

In Australian politics you either like or loathe your PM. Whether it is one or the other usually depends on which party you vote for. So one would expect Labor supporters to shun John Howard’s memoirs and for conservatives to be rapt by his every word. Lazarus Rising however can be viewed more as an historical tome, given the time Howard spent in politics and the apparent accuracy with which he has recorded the major events that occurred on his watch. During his time as PM he did make mistakes but unlike most politicians he admits them. Perhaps that’s because he has retired and doesn’t have to toe the party line but nonetheless it is refreshing to see his admissions in print.

This book is, as would be expected, intelligently and accurately written, in many cases based on contemporaneous notes and diaries. Some conversations which he held with world leaders and other Australian politicians and entities, are recorded verbatim from his records. It is this which adds a touch of both historicity and authenticity to his words.

Whatever side of politics you come from Lazarus Rising is an entertaining and fascinating read from start to finish.

Darryl Greer

Author The Election