PJ Nunn Has Passed Away

I was just alerted to the fact on her Facebook page that it has been announced that PJ Nunn last night. I am just stunned and devastated. I had no idea this was coming. Not only was she my friend and made sure that I came to her Cozy Cats and Hardboiled Heroes conferences back in the day, she quickly became friends with Sandi and never ran away when the cancers hit. Many others did, but she hung in there with us and that meant a lot.

Words fail me. Such a loss.

Bookbrowsing Blog: What’s a publicist to do? by PJ Nunn

Bookbrowsing Blog: What’s a publicist to do? by PJ Nunn

Via Bookbrowsing--- Managing Your Time to Promote by Jan Christensen

Managing Your Time to Promote by Jan Christensen

Via Bookbrowsing--- What would you like to ask a publicist?

What would you like to ask a publicist?

Via Bookbrowsing--- Promotion is a process

Promotion is a process

Via Publicist PJ NUNN-- Do I Really Need a Website if I have a Facebook Page?

At the BOOKBROWSING Blog-- Do I Really Need a Website if I have a Facebook Page?

Review: "Sentinel’s Choice" by Michael E. Witzgall

It is a cold February night in Dallas, Texas and the body of Father Robert Lanton has been found on Jefferson Street near I-35. Homicide Detective Renee LaFleet and his partner Danny “Tex” Beers have been assigned to the case because of Assistant Police Chief Harold “Harry” Wong. Wong is not only very good at his job; he is tough on the officers below him. Chief of Police Chief William Smyth III wants the case solved fast and though the body has just been found in the last hour he is already pushing Wong hard to get results.

Despite the fact that both Wong and Smyth are despised by most, LaFleet likes them and respects them. The Chief of Police knew the victim, Father Robert Lanton, and believes a Catholic, even one who has fallen away from the church a bit, should work the case. LaFleet has done some volunteer work with two of the department chaplains. Taken all together that means he and his partner, Tex, have the case whether they want it or not. A complicated case that will eventually lead to a final showdown in an ice covered Cotton Bowl.

Buried in this book self-published by the author’s own police tactical company, Charlie-Mike Enterprises is an interesting story. At nearly every point through Sentinel’s Choice the story is bogged down with overly long and unrealistic conversations between characters as well as long descriptions of situations. Frequently when a one or two sentence paragraph or comment from a character would work far better, the author choose to give a multi sentence paragraph result in a text that is overly wordy from start to finish. While the large paper back is only 314 pages, the read seems considerably longer as the author shows off his extensive military and police experience as he slowly takes readers through various things point by laborious point.

That being said, there is a story here worth reading beyond the noted issues with the book. The many characters are interesting and a fair number of them are fully developed. The action scenes work well as do the various complicated angles to the case. The moral quandary at the heart of the novel is a difficult one with no easy answers.

A small sample of the next one in the series titled Sentinel's Dilemma is included at the end of the book.

Sentinel’s Choice

Michael E. Witzgall

http://www.mikewitzgall.com/

Charlie-Mike Enterprises, Inc.

http://www.cmeswat.com/

December 2013

ISBN# 978-0615938905

314 Pages

Large Paperback (e-book also available)

$13.95

Material supplied by Publicist PJ Nunn of BreakThrough Promotions for my use in an objective review.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2014

Via PJ Nunn: "Should your publicist get you fireworks or foundation?"

Should your publicist get you fireworks or foundation? by PJ Nunn

Advice from PJ NUNN--OWNER OF BREAKTHROUGH PROMOTIONS

Book publicist PJ Nunn's latest blog posting "What NOT to expect from book publicity" is another good one well worth your time. You can read it here and you should.

Review: "Missing Dog Tags: An American GI in North Korea" by Kenneth Eaton

In Missing Dog Tags: An American GI in North Korea author Kenneth Eaton recounts what it was like to be a prisoner of war in North Korea. His story of his capture while surviving as a corporal in the 9^th Tank Company of the 2nd division, U.S. Army, begins early in 1951 with a Chinese attack on his unit. After the tank he was in was severely disabled, he was forced to abandon it. In the confusion of battle and troop movement he was unable to get onboard another tank and was soon captured while on foot as were other soldiers.

Captured by the Chinese soldiers he expected to be quickly executed along with the other men of his unit. Instead, they began a forced march that ultimately would result in a nightmarish captivity that would last over 30 months under brutal conditions.  Despite three failed escape attempts, starvation, and various horrors he endured, Kenneth Eaton survived and came home to be reunited with friends and loved ones.

In a blow by blow detailed fashion this book recounts the experiences of Kenneth Eason during the Korean War. As such, the book pulls no punches as the story comes out. Those who expect a politically correct read with sanitized language regarding the enemy would be best to look elsewhere for their cleaned up history.  Corporal Kenneth Eaton bluntly tells it like it was for him in Missing Dog Tags: An American GI in North Korea.

Missing Dog Tags: An American GI in North Korea

Kenneth Eaton

Patience Press

September 2012

ISBN# 978-1-892220-13-4

Paperback (also available as an e-book)

300 Pages

$19.95

Material supplied by publicist PJ Nunn, owner of BreakThrough Promotions, for my use in an objective review.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2013

The Reality of the Publicist

Like paid book review services that seem to be springing up everywhere these days literally overnight, there seem to be a ton of folks calling themselves publicists. The truly good ones have been doing it for years. PJ Nunn is one of those people who has been around for awhile. She has a few thoughts about what a publicist can and can't do for you here.

I have told you before to go read her blog. I am telling you again. The piece is well worth your time.

Review: "Private Spies: A Jesse Morgan Mystery" by PJ Nunn

34 year old Jesse Morgan Jackson is not having a good year. Her mom says that since Jesse has always done things early she is just having a mid-life crisis. Jesse would not agree, but the past month has been especially difficult with the death of her best friend and business partner, Joey Catronio.

Five years ago they formed a partnership with Joey doing the street stuff and Jesse doing the computer stuff in the office. With his sudden death, Jesse is struggling personally and professionally. She's determined to keep the business going, but she doesn't truly know what she is doing. The bills are mounting and she isn't about to go back to retail or lose their secretary Bernice her job. So, when Beverly Gafford calls looking for somebody to find her ex-husband, Lawrence James Gafford, Jesse works hard to land what clearly is going to be a difficult client.

After a lot of questions it gradually comes out that supposedly Lawrence Gafford never came back with their daughter after his visitation weekend was over. Beverly knows next to nothing about her ex these days and makes it clear that she likes it that way. Getting any information out of her is very difficult and she just expects her daughter to be found at the snap of her fingers with no effort on her part. It becomes clear that Beverly is more trouble than Jesse needs right now, but she desperately needs the money and takes the case. A case that threatens to overwhelm her from the start.

Fortunately, before his death, Joey had hired on an experienced investigator by the name of Byron Montgomery. Unfortunately, he never told Jesse about that so she is very surprised when Bryon shows up ready to begin work. The former Houston police officer brings plenty of experience and has an employment contract. He is also easy on the eyes and it has been awhile for Jesse. The attraction is definitely there on her part and she suspects the feeling might be mutual.

Not that she has time for much of any romance in or out of the office with what will happen in this confusing and complicated case. A case that will take Jesse all across North Texas and deep into Oklahoma on a trail full of dead ends and misdirection. If that wasn't enough, she still has to show up for dinner at Mom and Dad's house. At least there isn't a grandmother to shoot dinner.

Reminiscent of Janet Evanovich’s long running Stephanie Plum series, Private Spies: A Jesse Morgan Mystery is highly entertaining and occasionally laugh out loud funny. The slowness of the pace at the beginning provides the author time to develop the Jesse Morgan character for readers before the action significantly intensifies on many fronts. Published under the author's own name and though her publicity company, “Breakthrough Promotions,” this debut novel of the series is a complicated and well done effort from start to finish.

Private Spies: A Jesse Morgan Mystery

PJ Nunn

http://pjnunn.wordpress.com/

Tidal Wave (division of Breakthrough Promotions)

http://www.breakthroughpromotions.net/

June 2013

ISBN# 978-0615832562

E-Book (also available as a paperback)

212 Pages

$2.99

Material was picked up during the author’s recent free read promotion in conjunction with the release of her novel Angel Killer from Oak Tree Press. While I do consider PJ Nunn a friend and recently offered her a spot to guest blog here, I had no idea prior to publication she was working on a book or books. I provided zero editorial assistance on her novels and therefore felt comfortable reviewing this book.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2013

Guest Post: Author chair or publicist chair? by PJ Nunn

Please welcome PJ Nunn today who shares her thoughts on wearing more than one hat. Or sitting in more than one chair as the case may be…..

Author chair or publicist chair? By PJ Nunn

I don’t know where I met Kevin Tipple, but he’s a memorable character, for sure. I know we finally connected face to face at a Hard Boiled Heroes and Cozy Cats conference in north Dallas some years back. He’s been a good friend ever since.

I never really thought I’d be guest blogging on his site, but I’m honored. Thank you, Kevin, for inviting me. I’m completely astounded at seeing the other end of a blog tour from where I’m usually seated, firmly in my publicist chair. This author chair perspective has me thinking I need a new chair! 

No, I don’t mean I want to give up being the author and no, I’m not giving up being the publicist either. I guess I just haven’t been seated in the author chair long enough to find it comfortable. Writing is one thing, this whole marketing thing is another.

I’m writing this at the end of a very long Friday. I was at my desk long before the day “officially” started. I lost track of how many calls I made. I never count emails – that would be frightening. I do know I greeted the day with a radio host telling me the guest I’d scheduled for his program today never called in. What actually happened was that she did, indeed call in. Several times. But his is such a popular show that lots of folks call in and catching him can be tricky. Some of you have already guessed who I’m talking about. 

I’ve gotten the hang of it, but I still have to talk faster to him than anyone I know. After fixing that little problem he scheduled three more of the authors I represent so it was worth the effort. He has a great show! I went on to schedule a total of 14 events today, only one of them for myself, and that one’s not until December. No need to panic.

I managed to get several confirmation packages and review copies in the mail before my printer announced that I’m out of black ink (what happened to warnings??). No biggie. I ordered one a month ago. Ut oh. Wrong size. Ok great, change of plans. No more mailing today. Order right black cartridge. Pay exorbitant overnight shipping costs. Move on.

In the author chair, I am currently experiencing the release of two novels. It wasn’t planned that way, but that’s how it turned out. Private Spies came out early in June and is the start of one series; Angel Killer came out the end of June and is the first in another series. Two very different types of series. I love them both, and wrote them many moons ago. I’m finding it challenging to try and keep my own schedule even half as full as those of my clients. I probably should hire a publicist.

I opened my own schedule and had another moment of near panic, seeing that July 8, which seems so very far away, is now only as far as Monday. I’m scheduled for a guest blog post with Julia Spencer – Fleming. No pressure there. Thankfully I already wrote it and sent it to her. Frankly I can’t imagine that with the list of blog stops I have looming before me there will be anyone remaining in the writing hemisphere who could care less about what I might be thinking or saying by the time I make these rounds. I hope I’ll surprise us both and find something profound or slightly entertaining to say.

As soon as I think of it, I’ll write it down. Please I beg of you, leave a comment but don’t say anything mean about Harriet. Nuff said. So what’s going on with ya’ll?

PJ Nunn

In 1998, PJ Nunn founded BreakThrough Promotions, now a national public relations firm helping authors, mostly of mystery novels, publicize themselves and their work. The business is thriving and PJ is excited about the release of her first novel, Angel Killer. PJ lives with her husband and some of their five children near Dallas, TX. Learn more at http://pjnunn.com. 

Links:

Facebook/PJ - https://www.facebook.com/authorpjnunn

Facebook/BreakThrough - https://www.facebook.com/breakthroughpromo

Twitter - @PJNunn

GoodReads - http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18046519-private-spies

FREE Book Alert -- PRIVATE SPIES by PJ Nunn

As posted elsewhere.....

Private Spies is free on Amazon today and tomorrow.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=private+spies+pj+nunn  

PJ Nunn 
Author of Angel Killer
, coming June 25, 2013
http://www.pjnunn.com/
http://breakthroughpromotions.net/

Interesting Reading Elsewhere--- Bookbrowsing Blog

I have mentioned PJ Nunn's blog before. Check it out as well as the interview with David W. Berner here.

Current Read

 Material supplied by publicist PJ NUNN owner of BreakThrough Promotions. Amazon describes the book:

The hostages are young: a bus full of teenagers on a church mission. The ransom demands are explicit: deliver three million dollars - with zero involvement from law enforcement - or all captives will be executed. But rescue specialist Jonathan Grave doesn't believe in ultimatums. For him and his elite team at Security Solutions, it's all about protecting the innocent. Now Grave must face the chilling possibility that someone within the U.S. government has a deadly secret to protect - one that could jeopardize national security like never before...


All I can tell you at this point when I am in sixty pages of a 400 plus book is it is good so far. Never have read him before. Kind of reminds me of the Mack Bolan series of books I used to read long ago.....