Showing posts with label writers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writers. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Rewards for Readers

Trestle Press is doing it again and this time you, the readers, win!

Trestle is celebrating an anniversary, of sorts. Much like a budding young romance, every milestone is a good one. This celebration comes for the 6 Month Anniversary of The Author's Lab Collaboration series.

About six months ago, during an airing of The G-Zone, Giovanni Gelati took a call from Katherine LaHart. He never expected what she wanted to ask. Ms. LaHart suggested that Giovanni write a collaboration. From there, a new eBook series was born that has since spawned 22 installments. The stories cover almost all genres and most are ONLY 99 Cents. You can click HERE to see the list of authors from around the world.

So for this special occasion, Trestle Press wants to give you a present. That's right, you get something for FREE. Completely free. Trestle is giving away one Author's Lab story for each month of the series. (click on the title for a description, click on the author to see their other works)


There you go! Six great stories and you can get one for free simply by contacting Giovanni at Gelati's Scoop or go directly to the author of the story that you want.

Email me at: Mark@MillerWords.com 

For an added bonus, if you purchase any of the other Author's Lab stories (see the list HERE), you can get another one free. That's 3 great stories for the price of one! When you buy your story, send the proof of purchase to Giovanni or the author to get the additional free one. These specials only last until the end of September.

Why are we doing this? Easy. We (the Trestle Authors) want our stories to be read. 

I want to share my words and build a fan base. I want feedback from you. I want to see comments and reviews on sites like Facebook, Amazon or Goodreads. Let me know what you think. I have a blast doing this and I want you to enjoy reading my work as much as I do writing it.

As always, Thank You!

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Do you want something for FREE?

This is your chance! Trestle Press is hosting a little giveaway. I'm going to let Mr. Gelati give you the details. Before that, I'd like to say that I hope one of my readers wins. It's fairly simple: make some noise! Do something to get my attention (it has to be online though).

Anyway, read the details and I will have a bit to add at the end.....


Six Author’s, Six Incredible Stories, One Intense Giveaway!!!



Hi, me again, Giovanni Gelati

Trestle Press and some of their authors have put together what I think is one intense giveaway. Each author covers a different genre and has a different style, but they all share one common goal: they love to satisfy readers, and they want to hear from you in one way or another. 

What do I mean by that? Well you can follow their blogs, email them, and become their friend on any of the social websites you can find them (Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Google +, Reverb, Edgy Christian Fiction…).

The idea is to get their attention in some way, shape or form, because we are giving away 6 stories in a nice convenient e-package for you to spend some quality time with, full length novels as well as digital short stories. 

Who are the authors you ask? You did, didn’t you? Yes, I thought so.

Here is the lineup:

Darren Sant is Amazon UK’s wunderkind having rocketed up the sales charts within 12 hours of his debut release “A Good Day”, the first installment in “The Longcroft Estates” Series. His second installment in the series, “Community Spirit”, will be released this week.

Wenona Hulsey has written “Burden of Blood”. This debut novel has been making waves on Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Nobles Nookbook for Paranormal/YA.

Mark Miller is the author of a few different things: The new “One” series (a visit into ourselves, our spiritual selves, no matter what form, shape or size), Daniel’s Lot (an adaptation of the movie of the same name), and the all ages series “The Empyrical Tales” from Comfort Publishing.

Paul D. Brazill has penned a ton of material carving out a name for himself in the noir/suspense/ horror genre. A few pieces of his work include the “Drunk on The Moon” digital short story series, and “Brit Grit”. He has charted in sales both on Amazon Kindle and Amazon Kindle UK.

Big Daddy Abel is your basic renaissance man: musician, composer, author, performer, band mate. BDA helps front a very successful group The Amish Outlaws. He also has musical material of his own, you can grab that on www.ReverbNation.com. He has the highly successful “Open Mic” series of digital short stories and they have been at one time the number 1, 2, 7, 8 in his Amazon Kindle category for sales. He also has a variety of stories with The Author’s Lab/Collaboration series that have hit the Amazon Kindle sales charts including: “The Jersey Shore Has Eyes”, “The Edge of Cataclysmic” and a novella “Bar–A”.

Giovanni Gelati. Yes, me. I have been fortunate to have had the privilege and opportunity to work with some amazing authors on a variety of projects in just about every genre. To say that I am fortunate to be able to work with these authors is an understatement.

That is the lineup, what is the giveaway?

We are giving away one title from each author, so that is a package that has six stories, some full length, some digital short stories, some are novella’s, and all you need to do is find these authors and gain their attention. Let them know you’re interested in this giveaway, (follow their blogs, be their friend on Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter, Google+… you get the picture), and we will announce the winners on Sept. 15th.

Have nice time. We look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks, Giovanni. You heard him folks, do something fun, and maybe a little crazy!

Here's some ideas: comment on one of my blog posts (empyricaltales.blogspot.com), send me an email (Mark@MillerWords.com), send me a friend request from one of the social networks listed on my blog or the Links at my website (www.MillerWords.com), or use Facebook. Get my attention and that will get Trestle Press's attention.

I want you to win one of my Trestle Press e-books!         

Monday, September 5, 2011

The Authors of ONE: De Miller

The next installment of One will be coming your way from Trestle Press very soon, so I wanted to give you an opportunity to meet the next author.





De Miller is a former newspaper reporter, photographer and editor now living in the little central Florida town of Mount Dora. He became a born again Christian on July 13, 2008. He and his wife, Sue, have four children and 17 grandchildren and a great grandchild on the way. Through the years, he served as a reporter, photographer and relief desk editor for The Star and then as a reporter, photographer, Associate Editor and finally Managing Editor of the Kansas City Kansan, the daily newspaper on the Kansas side of Kansas City. Following some 15 years in the newspaper business, he became the Public Information officer for the Wyandotte County Commissioners for eight years. He entered private business, owning and operating several businesses in Kansas City. Also during his post-government years he operated his own Public Relations firm and sold freelance articles to such diverse publications as the National Enquirer, the Sporting News and Handicraft Magazine.



I prepared a few questions and my father was kind enough to answer them.


MM: Given what we are trying to accomplish with "One", what was the inspiration for your contribution to the series?


DM: As a "baby" Christian, I wanted to share my excitement about my new found knowledge with family and friends. If I learned about a new way to repair a car, I would certainly share that with those I loved. So why not share what I've learned about the true meaning of life?


MM: Sharing is a cornerstone of "One". We definitely want to expose readers to different viewpoints and give them things to consider. You have a lengthy background in writing. Why don't you share how long you've been at it?


DM: Do I have to tell? : ) Can I even remember back that far? : ) : ) Okay. 43 years!


MM: I won't add to your pain by saying that's longer than I've been alive. In that time, I'm sure you've developed some habits, good or bad. Tell us something interesting or odd that you do while writing?


DM: I wouldn't call it a habit or an eccentricity....but I really enjoy writing outdoors. I wrote my first novel on my laptop and a portable desk sitting on a park bench on the bank of Lake Dora here in Mount Dora, FL. When I don't have time to load up the desk and computer, I wheel it out on my deck overlooking a smaller lake and enjoy the shade and breeze. Maybe that is eccentric?


MM: I would say that's a great way to get in touch with nature. A lot of different faiths depend on communicating with nature. Can you tell us something more about your faith that we can't get from your story?


DM: I think I probably made this clear in the article, but I think it bears repeating. God is the faithful one. He will always be there for you. Just acknowledge Him in all you do and He will provide. Quit worrying.


MM: Very nice. Obviously that is a big part of your work these days, but who are some of your writing influences?


DM: Mark Twain, Mark Miller, Tony Hillerman, James Lee Burke, Liliam Jackson Braun and Robert B. Parker. (Not too many faith writers, huh?)


MM: I'm not sure I deserve it, but I'm humbled to be included in such an esteemed list. Many of our readers would probably agree that your influences don't all have to be spiritual. It's the message and not the messenger, right? If your spiritual influence is not overwhelmingly from other authors, who does influence you in that realm?


DM: Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the one and only. But to name some people with whom I've personally come in contact with, I would have to say Apostle Matthew J. Shaw, T. D. Jakes, Joel Osteen and Joyce Meyers.


MM: Another great list. These are people you've come in contact with in your life, in one way or another. That leads me into the next question. Give us a hint at the real you. Share something about your life that we can't read in your bio?


DM: I guess it would be my secret desire to be a movie actor. At this point in my life, I couldn't pass for a leading man type, but certainly a character actor. I wrote, directed and produced a couple direct-to-video movies in the mid-90s and I put myself in those; I also wrote, directed and produced a Christian movie (Daniel's Lot, which is now in worldwide release through Bridgestone Multimedia) and I gave myself a speaking part in that movie. We are in pre-production for our second Christian movie and I have already lined up a part for me in that movie....so if no one else will hire me, I will!


MM: Sounds like fun. I hope it goes well for you. Before we wrap things up, we definitely want to know what else you have in the works. What are your other projects right now?


DM: As I mentioned, I am involved in the movie ministry at our church, Faith and Power Worship Center in Apopka, FL. We recently released our first movie, Daniel's Lot, which stars Emmy-award winner Gary Burghoff (Radar from M*A*S*H). That movie received the coveted Family Approval Seal from the Dove Foundation and was named fan favorite at the Holywood Film Festival in New York earlier this year. We are presently seeking funding for our second feature. We actually have two in the pipeline: A faith-filled Baseball movie entitled Heading Home and a Prodigal Son story set on a horse ranch, entitled The Long Ride. I am also involved with a non-profit group, Arts for the Community, Inc., and we are setting up a Christian radio station as our first project. The station will serve the Marion County area near Ocala, FL. The call letters are WTYG (We Thank You God) and we'll be at 91.5 FM. We hope to be on the air by November.


MM: You are certainly busy. I want to close with a couple fun questions. First, if you could ask your supreme being one question, what would it be?


DM: I don't know that I would have a question. I would really enjoy telling Him face to face, thank you for this wonderful life He has given me. Oh, I guess I will be able to do that.....not too soon, though.


MM: We're not wanting you to hurry to that appointment either. Lastly, if you were ice cream, what flavor would you be?


DM: Chocolate chip. It is smooth and crunchy at the same time. Is that me? Maybe.


MM: Thank you for taking your time and sharing some of your thoughts. Below are some links where readers can learn more about De Miller and his many inspirational projects.




Coming Soon from Trestle Press: Mark Miller's One - Story Two: Twelve Steps by De Miller


In story two, De Miller tells something of his life growing up and compares it to his new existence as a Born Again Christian. He has strong influences from both his mother and father that shaped his whole life. After forty years, he is learning something new. 


Daniel's Lot     Daniel's Lot
Watch the DVD or get the Kindle adaption today!