International Literacy Day

Please attribute this infographic to https://www.grammarly.com/plagiarism-checker

This is for the children

As an author and father, one of my driving passions is to help children, especially those that do not have help. One small thing I am trying is eBay Giving Works. I have listed a paperback copy of The Empyrical Tales Book I: The Fourth Queen on eBay and set it up to donate 90% of the sale to Family Giving Tree - Fulfilling Wishes, Changing Lives.

I know many of us do not have the extra money right now, but if you do have some to give to a good cause, this is a great one.

If you are curious about the title, the highly coveted Nintendo Wii U is hard to get anywhere. There are people on eBay listing homemade cardboard cutouts. When we have children in our own neighborhoods that might not receive any Christmas, there are people bidding on, not only the overpriced video games, but also the imitation cardboard cutouts that have no real value.

Please have a look: http://www.ebay.com/itm/160930385532

Visit me on FB:

http://www.facebook.com/MarkMillerAuthor

Blog Tour: TK Harris has Phantom Dreams

Today, I have the privilege of launching the Official Blog Tour of author T. K. Harris. She starts by sharing how her novel, Phantom Dreams, was born.

It started with a dream. I know cliché right? But it really did. I had a dream that I was walking through a large crowd of people, surrounded by white canvas tents. I am moving quickly but don't know why, when suddenly the crowd parts and there is a man in front of me, carrying a sword and it is aimed right at me. Then, just as quickly, the woman is no longer me and I am now watching. I woke up before the sword drove home. And that's how Phantom Dreams was born.

I wish I could say that I wrote it all down in a flash and everything just worked itself out. But, that didn't happen. First it percolated in my brain while I went about being a full-time mother while working a 60 hour a week job. (And that was a short week!). And then, I began writing down bits and pieces late at night in between trying to write and publish other stories. And I began to become more and more frustrated.

First, the stories that I had sold to date were short stories. In fact, the first publication I had ever been paid for was a 1200 word mystery sold to mysterynet.net. But it is a very different skill set to go from short stories to a full-length novel. I was good at cutting to the chase, getting to the point and well, you know the rest. So, I floundered. Second, I let my book slip in my priorities. I spent the next few years putting my effort into my work, family, a multitude of personal projects (I'm a Gemini and we can't help it), subsequent divorce, the 2008/2009 layoffs, and the many other awesomely awful and wonderful things that life carelessly threw in my path and laughingly under my feet to see how many times it could make me fall.

And then, one day, I realized I was frustrated for another reason. Nothing ever seemed to get done! I got mad. I wasted a little more time and then I did the only thing I should. I got focused. I made myself sit down and write a list of what I wanted out of life. My ideal job. My ideal partner. My ideal finances. My projects. And I wrote those lists and decided to start focusing. My first project was paying of debt (still working on that!). The second was finishing the d*m# book! The right way. (Or is it the "write" way? – Feel free to groan.)

I put the book out to beta readers and got feedback. And then began the arduous task of editing, rewriting and editing some more. And then began putting it out there on Amazon, Barnes & Nobles, Kobo, etc. I got a great review on Kirkus Reviews and started getting great comments.

I have marketed, tweaked it, re-edited it and developed a new book cover since it first launched but I still remember my first real sell. Not the books that were bought by friends and family. No. It was that one sell when you realized someone you didn't know, had just purchased your book.

And now, all I can ask myself is, 'why didn't I do this sooner?'

About the author: T.K. Harris was born in California and lived a gypsy sort of life traveling the world as a military brat. She has been writing since she was a child and as had several short stories published by various magazines, including one in Woman's World. She currently lives and works in Colorado as a Senior Solutions Architect and IT Instructor and has recently had her first novel, Phantom Dreams, published. She is looking forward to her next two books, already outlined and partially written. You can find out more at: http://www.tkharrisonline.com.

About the book: A scorned serial killer on an old vendetta. An FBI agent who has been chasing monsters for too long. A woman whose nightmares start invading her waking life. 

FBI Special Agent Jack Matthews finds himself on yet another serial killer case, having barely recovered from the last disastrous hunt. Still stiff from a gun shot wound in his leg, under investigation for a botched job, and having lost his fiancée when she walked out on him, Jack is beginning to wonder if it isn’t time to move on to something new. But, for Jack, these cases are personal and he can’t say no. 

Marketing specialist Kathy Gilliam leads a fairly boring life. If she’s not working or caring for her ailing father, then she is doing whatever it takes to avoid going anywhere near crowds of people. Her few distractions include her friend Margo Longfellow, occasional hiking trips, and her increasingly alarming dreams of women dying.
As her nightmares cause her to begin to doubt her sanity, the media releases news of the “Coast-to-Coast Killer” and Kathy discovers her dreams may be related. In a moment of panic, Kathy does something that places her on the FBI’s “persons of interest” list. Suddenly, her life is set on a collision course with Jack who must decide if Kathy is the killer or destined to become a victim.

You can get Phantom Dreams 

on Amazon Kindle for only $2.99

http://goo.gl/XoIV9

Also available on Nook and Kobo

Review: Jonathan Green's "Murder in the High Himalaya"

I have finished Murder in the High Himalaya: Loyalty, Tragedy and Escape from Tibet by Jonathan Green, but I don’t know where to start.

Maybe I should start with current headlines? Two Tibetan teens self-immolate in protest of Chinese control (http://goo.gl/7mRPd). That makes fifty-one since 2009. Tibetans still struggle for their freedom.

Maybe I should start at the beginning, go back to 1950, or earlier? There is a lot I don’t know. That, I think, is the crux of it. I am the norm. Most people in the U.S. do not know about Tibet. Most of the world does not know what is happening there.

In attempting to write a review of Mr. Green’s heart-wrenching book, I feel like there is so much that needs to be said. There is not enough room on this blog to post it all, but I have some thoughts I would like to share.

First, there is the author’s writing style. More than an account of a tragic event, he puts his heart into this story. It is far more than a fact-based report. As I told him, when I read his descriptions of the land, I can see his love for that part of the world. The mountains are characters themselves. They stand over time as silent witnesses.

What is the story? It is about a young nun killed while trying to escape to a better life. It is about many others surviving that escape. It is about Chinese control of a beautiful, mystical country. It is also about the values of spirituality and faith clashing with commercialism and socialism.

In Mr. Green’s account, Dolma Palkyi and Dolkar Tomso were best friends from childhood. Dolkar took her vows at the age of sixteen to become a nun, known as Kelsang Namtso. In 2006, the two decide to escape Chinese controlled Tibet in hopes of meeting their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. This simple act of expressing religious freedom, something too many of us take for granted, would cost Kelsang her life.

At the same time, the story interweaves the travels of Luis Benitez, a mountain climbing expert and guide. His occupation was to lead the rich and privileged on luxury expeditions to the tops of the world’s tallest mountains. The way the author builds his narrative, it is interesting to watch Benitez’s path come together with Kelsang and Dolma. Even before the fateful event, they unknowingly cross paths in Lhasa on the same day.

The story is also about the world’s silence when it comes to Chinese control of Tibet. The climbers, like Benitez, witnessed the shooting of Kelsang, but would not speak out against the Chinese, primarily for financial concerns. They did not want to lose money over the death of one person. The book extrapolates that idea as the way the world views China’s treatment of Tibet – the “superpowers” do not want to upset business over one “little” country.

A lot of the much-needed history of Tibet, China and even mountain climbing is thoroughly detailed. Filled with footnotes and an extensive bibliography, it is clear that the author had a dedicated passion for telling this story.

Many events stood out for me. In the author’s words, “the unfiltered sun at 12,000 feet on the plateau drew the world into sharp focus with startling clarity.”  I think his descriptions and attention to detail brought the story into “sharp focus and clarity” repeatedly. I felt the tension of the late night truck ride. I felt Choeden’s compassion as he helped the young children on their journey, risking his own life. There are others instances: Jamyang’s experience at Gyalpung base, Sergiu Matei’s paranoia and Benitez meeting with Dolma. That meeting, more than the shooting, brought me to the verge of tears. As a reader, I could identify more with the American entrepreneur and truly felt his emotions. At the same time, I tried to imagine what the Tibetans felt. I thought about how they left behind family. I thought about how they dropped the last of their worldly possessions on the side of the mountainous path. Some of them walked until their feet bled and they went snow blind. In the end, they risked their life on a treacherous glacier while being shot at. I tried to think about what might motivate me to take those risks. People are dying and sacrificing themselves, while we try to decide what Kindle book to download next. I went from the verge of tears to shedding them only a few pages later when Kelsang’s family received word of her death.

That, I think, is the subtle power of Jonathan Green’s book. In a way, it sneaks up on you. At the beginning, everything was foreign to me and I was introduced to so many people. At that moment near the end, I felt compassion and sorrow. As much as discovering a tragedy on the other side of the world, it also made me look at my own life. It made me want to do something to help those people, but I don’t have money or power. I realized that I could help them by doing something in my own life, with my wife, my children. Start small, teach them about truth and faith (things I hope I have been doing). Let those actions take root and grow into something better. Also, I could share the book. Tell people about it. That’s a start, so I strongly recommend this book to anyone that wants to feel human.

I would like to close with a quote in the book from His Holiness, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama:

Never give up

No matter what is happening,

No matter what is going on around you

Never give up

About the author: Jonathan Green is an award-winning author and journalist. He has reported from Sudan on jihadist militias, the guerilla-controlled jungles of Colombia on the cocaine trade, corruption in oil-rich Kazakhstan, the destruction of the rainforest in Borneo and human rights abuses connected to gold mining in West Africa. He has been the recipient of the Amnesty International Media Award for Excellence in Human Rights Journalism, the American Society of Journalists and Authors award for reporting on a significant topic and Feature Writer of the Year in the Press Gazette Magazine and Design Awards. His work has appeared in Men’s Journal, the New York Times, Fast Company, the Financial Times, British GQ and Esquire and the Mail on Sunday among many other publications. Green has been interviewed about his work on CNN, the BBC, radio and television, and NPR among others. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife. (from the author’s website)

About the book: In 2006, an impulsive, naïve young Tibetan nun and her best friend, both yearning for religious freedom from Chinese rule, joined a group of fellow Tibetans desperate to escape to India, where the Dalai Lama has lived since the 1950 annexation of Tibet by China. Kelsang Namtso and Dolma Palkyi embarked on the brutal journey over the Himalayas. Smuggled by illegal guides past Chinese border police, the group braved freezing temperatures and snow, the high altitude, and perilous crevasses. Green alternates the refugees' trek with that of Luis Benitez, an American celebrity mountain guide leading a rich group of international clients to the Himalayan peak Cho Oyu. The two groups met on the peak as Chinese guards, alerted to the refugees' presence, chased after the escapees with machine guns ablaze, and Kelsang was killed in full view of the Westerners. One of Benitez's clients filmed the incident, which gained worldwide notoriety. Awkwardly written and poorly edited, freelance journalist Green's earnest chronicle trumpets his disdain for the exploitation of the Himalayas by rich, macho mountaineering novices, his hatred of Chinese Communists for human rights violations, and his reverence for Tibetan culture. (June) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

You can read 

Murder in the High Himalaya

on Amazon Kindle at this link: http://goo.gl/5c3Td

It is also available in paperback, on BN Nook, iTunes, IndieBound and GoogleBooks.

Links to more information:

www.jonathangreenonline.com

www.savetibet.org

www.freetibet.org

Watch the documentary

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsfxNdw8muk

(images borrowed from author's website)

Showcase #9

Recently, I was invited to join the group Writers of the South (USA). It is a small, but enthusiastic group of authors in every type of genre. The group is aimed at supporting and promoting authors in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi and Tennessee.

As we grow, we plan to take several opportunities to showcase the varied and talented people in the group. We will hit it hard over the next couple of days, hopefully gaining some new exposure and introducing you to writings you might not have found otherwise. Looking at the group, there is something for everyone, so be sure to check these posts every day.  The plan is to do this again in a few months.

Today, the spotlight shines on Mark Welch!

Mark says, "As a published author and a recently diagnosed diabetic, I thought how I could help friends cope with this chronic disease as I have.

Thus, I developed TheDiabeticFriend website to help those that are diabetic, have family that are diabetic and don't know what they are going through as well as people with friends that are diabetic. Most people do not understand this dreaded disease.

I hope my efforts will bring awareness to diabetes and help my friends and yours."

Showcase #8

Recently, I was invited to join the group Writers of the South (USA). It is a small, but enthusiastic group of authors in every type of genre. The group is aimed at supporting and promoting authors in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi and Tennessee.

As we grow, we plan to take several opportunities to showcase the varied and talented people in the group. We will hit it hard over the next couple of days, hopefully gaining some new exposure and introducing you to writings you might not have found otherwise. Looking at the group, there is something for everyone, so be sure to check these posts every day.  The plan is to do this again in a few months.

Today, the spotlight shines on Wenona Hulsey!

The Founder of Writers of the South (USA) would love for you to visit her Smashwords page. She is also available on Amazon Kindle.

Wenona says, "Life is good." In addition to being an author, she is the proud mother of two with a wonderful boyfriend.

Author Wenona Hulsey is a lover of all things written. When she was a child, you could find her reading anything from Edger Allen Poe to the back of cereal boxes. Today you will find her with an ebook reader glued to her hands except for the times when she is writing or spending time with her family. She is also an avid social networker who loves to meet new people. You can friend her on Twitter, like her on Facbook or follow along on her BLOG.

A big thanks to Wenona for starting such a great group!

Be sure to check out her short story Blood Awakening for ONLY 99 cents. It really sets the stage for her upcoming novel!

Showcase #6

Recently, I was invited to join the group Writers of the South (USA). It is a small, but enthusiastic group of authors in every type of genre. The group is aimed at supporting and promoting authors in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi and Tennessee.

As we grow, we plan to take several opportunities to showcase the varied and talented people in the group. We will hit it hard over the next couple of days, hopefully gaining some new exposure and introducing you to writings you might not have found otherwise. Looking at the group, there is something for everyone, so be sure to check these posts every day.  The plan is to do this again in a few months.

Today, the spotlight shines on Lindy Chaffin Start!

Lindy says, "I'm passionate about my life, my work, art, music, food. I love my family and friends. I've just gotten a little older and a little wiser, and I continue to love taking risks."

She is a poet and romance writer with a great blog that features plenty of reviews. Visit her SITE to get connected to Lindy and read what she has to say.

Showcase #5

Recently, I was invited to join the group Writers of the South (USA). It is a small, but enthusiastic group of authors in every type of genre. The group is aimed at supporting and promoting authors in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi and Tennessee.

As we grow, we plan to take several opportunities to showcase the varied and talented people in the group. We will hit it hard over the next couple of days, hopefully gaining some new exposure and introducing you to writings you might not have found otherwise. Looking at the group, there is something for everyone, so be sure to check these posts every day.  The plan is to do this again in a few months.

Today, the spotlight shines on Karen Ware!

Karen says, "To me writing is much like flower petals pressed between the pages of a book…it is a passion to create and to share a bit of myself with a reader. I've dreamed of becoming a writer since I was a teenager, back in the days when I’d read old Harlequin novels until the covers would fall off. Truly!! The covers literally fell off!!"

Her blog has a variety of topics and looks quite spiritual and moving. Click HERE to give it a read!

Showcase #4

Recently, I was invited to join the group Writers of the South (USA). It is a small, but enthusiastic group of authors in every type of genre. The group is aimed at supporting and promoting authors in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi and Tennessee.

As we grow, we plan to take several opportunities to showcase the varied and talented people in the group. We will hit it hard over the next couple of days, hopefully gaining some new exposure and introducing you to writings you might not have found otherwise. Looking at the group, there is something for everyone, so be sure to check these posts every day.  The plan is to do this again in a few months.

Today, the spotlight shines on Lisa Alexander Griffin

Lisa Alexander-Griffin began her career as a writer twelve years ago. Multi-published, her titles range from sweet to spicy with elements of fantasy and suspense.

Lisa says, "most days you'll find her weaving tales of heartbreak and betrayal, love lost and found, and happily ever afters."

Check out her books on Amazon. She's also has a great website at lisaalexandergriffin.com

Showcase #3

Recently, I was invited to join the group Writers of the South (USA). It is a small, but enthusiastic group of authors in every type of genre. The group is aimed at supporting and promoting authors in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi and Tennessee.

As we grow, we plan to take several opportunities to showcase the varied and talented people in the group. We will hit it hard over the next couple of days, hopefully gaining some new exposure and introducing you to writings you might not have found otherwise. Looking at the group, there is something for everyone, so be sure to check these posts every day.  The plan is to do this again in a few months.

Today, the spotlight shines on Corine A. Belle (aka Sandy Theriot)

Corine says, "Welcome To My Legend! I am an apiring author who loves to write YA in the supernatural/romance/thriller/humor. I welcome negative and postive feedback. It will be taken seriously and without prejudice. Thank you so much for your support!!!"

Sandy has been writing from personal experiences since she was a teen. More recently, her work has taken a turn with inspiration from Stephanie Meyers' Twilight Saga. Check out her YA supernatural writing at the link above!

1st Author Interview Interviews Me

Here is a nice interview posted by 1st Author Interviews. Give a read for some new insight into the creation of my fantasy series.

Click HERE for the interview.

Then click below to order yours today!

   

Upcoming Signing Event

The guys over at Heroes Landing in Clermont have been kind enough to invite me to do a book signing on July 31st, from 1 PM to 4 PM. If you are in Central FL then, come by and say hi!

These guys have all the latest comics and collectibles. They have something for the whole family!

HEROES LANDING

12348 Roper Blvd.

Clermont, FL 34711

352-242- XMEN (9636)

Sunday, July 31, 1 PM to 4 PM

See you there!

Click HERE for the Facebook Event Link

Another 5 Star Review for The Lost Queen

Giovanni Gelati of Gelati's Scoop says "The Lost Queen...is fun, innovative and flat out well written."

Read the full review on GELATI'S SCOOP.

Or buy the BOOK HERE and judge for yourself. You won't be disappointed!

Teachers, Hey Teachers!

Whether you are in public school, private school or home school, I have news for you! (just in time for summer)

Some of you may have seen this before, but many haven't. I've added a page over at MillerWords specifically for you. After many requests from teachers and parents, I put together The Empyrical Tales Study Guide.

That's right! Not only are the Empyrical Tales a lot of fun, now they can be homework too.

Check out this direct link and download whatever pages interest you. There are plenty of fun activities and activities for all ages. Things to do for yourself or things to put in the grade book. Then if you decide you need a classroom set, email mark@millerwords.com.

I put a lot of work into this for you and still have more to come. I hope you find it useful. Please email me with any comments or suggestions.

www.MillerWords.com