My Books

I hate plugging my own stuff. Still, every now and then it has to be done. 

Mind Slices: A Collection of New and Previously Published Stories—16 stories in fantasy, science fiction, mystery, suspense, and mainstream fiction, with some stories blending genres. The book includes “Burning Questions” which was a honorable mention winner in Mysterical-E’s “Skeletons in the Closet” contest in the fall of 2007 as well as several pieces that were published at the mystery e-zine “Mouth Full Of Bullets.” In total, the book contains 16 stories in a variety of genres for $2.99.

The book is available at Amazon, Smashwords, and Barnes and Noble  The read currently is only available in e-book form.

If 16 stories all written by yours truly sounds daunting take a look at Carpathian Shadows: Volume II. The anthology contains six stories based on a simple premise.

Deep in the heart of the Carpathian Mountains, in Transylvania, lies an castle once home to a nobleman who warred with the church, bound his servants with a curse of silence, and ruled his lands with a grip of iron. Lord John Erdely has been dead for centuries and his castle now a haven for tourists. Or so, at least, is the claim. Under the editorial direction of Lea Schizas, six authors tell what happens to these tourists.

My story titled “By The Light Of The Moon...” is a mystery with a couple of fantasy elements.

Published by Books For A Buck where it is available, it can also be obtained in print as well as e-book forms at Amazon, Smashwords, and Barnes and Noble. I also have a few print copies on sale for ten dollars which includes postage.

Buy My Book--Please!

That is the heart of it.....buy my book......Please!

My short fiction has appeared in magazines such as Lynx Eye, Starblade, Show and Tell, and The Writer's Post Journal among others and online at such places as Mouth Full Of Bullets, Crime And Suspense, Mysterical-e, and others.


I am the author of Mind Slices and a contributor to the Carpathian Shadows, Volume II anthology at http://www.amazon.com/Kevin-Tipple/e/B009Q5J8T4/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1 and other platforms.


The books are good and both the publisher in the case of Carpathian Shadows II and me with the other could really use some sales. So, buy my book--please!

The Demise of Sample Sunday

For about a year now I have been posting samples from my work as well as the quality work of others whom I could vouch for each Sunday. Marketing is supposed to be the end all be all in this new age of publishing and one does what one can. I can't speak for the other authors I have featured on here, but in my case the marketing efforts have pretty much been an epic failure.

I knew pushing an anthology I was involved in and a collection of my stories were not going to make me rich. I also knew that plenty of folks would be quite willing to grab a free read during a promotion and never read it, let alone write a review. I also knew that there would be some folks who would read it, not like everything, and thus feel that since they could not give a five star review on Amazon or elsewhere they just wouldn't review it at all. It didn't matter that I repeatedly begged and pleaded for reviews as I truly never cared if the reviews were one star or five star--I just wanted the books reviewed.

Beyond all that, one promotes on Sample Sunday to sell books. I don't know how the other authors did on their various dates and the days after, but sales of my books have been between damn near zero month in and month out. Quite frankly, I hate marketing my stuff and begging for sales. Heck, I hate begging for anything, but, in the case of Sandi and the monies to pay her doctor bills I gag down my pride and do it because I have to.

But, in the case of my books, I don't have to do it. Nobody will live or die because somebody did or did not buy my book.Would I like the Carpathian Shadows Volume II Anthology and Mind Slices to sell? Heck, yes. But, nobody is going to die over it if they don't. I am absolutely sick and tired of flogging my own work. If you have not bought either one by now then in all likelihood you won't.

So, why keep pushing?

I don't see any reason at all to do it, so I won't be. Yes, I may mention something briefly here or there, but the organized effort on a lot of Sundays is  gone the way of the dodo bird. By the way, if you would like your own dodo bird you can get one here. 

You may be asking---What is in store  for Sundays if you won't be beating us over the head with your stuff?

Heck if I know. Most likely Sundays will  probably be another day of reviews, market news, and the like as I do most any other day of the week. You just won't get begged to buy my stuff. Your long nightmare is over.

And I promise to not rant/cheer for the Cowboys too much.

Psst---Wanna Buy A Book?

As seen elsewhere.....
Author of Mind Slices and contributor to the Carpathian Shadows, Volume II Anthology
http://www.amazon.com/Kevin-Tipple/e/B009Q5J8T4/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

"By The Light Of The Moon...." in Carpathian Shadows, Volume II ---Sample Sunday

Deep in the heart of the Carpathian Mountains, in Transylvania, lies an castle once home to a nobleman who warred with the church, bound his servants with a curse of silence, and ruled his lands with a grip of iron. Lord John Erdely has been dead for centuries and his castle now a haven for tourists. Or so, at least, is the claim. Under the editorial direction of Lea Schizas, six authors tell what happens to these tourists.

 As one of the six authors, my story "By The Light Of The Moon...." combines elements of mystery and fantasy fiction to give readers something very different from the traditional type tale. Published by Booksforabuck.Com the book is available in print and e-book forms at the publisher, Amazon, and elsewhere. While supplies last you can order an autographed print copy of Carpathian Shadows Volume 2 direct from me for the low price of ten dollars. That includes the media rate postage.
 

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“By The Light Of The Moon....”

"Is he here?"

"Yes, Commander."

"How is he?"

What he was asking was whether or not the suspect had made it alive into his station. He should have but sometimes accidents happened in the field. The young officer stepped a little ways into the room. New to his job, he was working hard to impress, which is why the Commander had chosen him. Things had to be contained, and he knew he could keep the man, more like a boy at twenty, in line.

"Typical American." The young officer couldn't keep the scorn out of his voice, "Very emotional. Fits of screaming and crying when we placed the cuffs on him. He's sitting quietly in Interrogation 4 now."

"Good. That will be all."

The young man saluted, swiveled in his black spit-polished boots, and strode confidently out of the office. The Commander sat back and smiled to himself while he listened to the pleasurable sound of the boots striking the floor fade away down the long hall. To be young again and so sure of righteousness, of purpose. Not that it really mattered, as fate ordained everything.  His die was cast long ago, as was my own, he thought, and the idea depressed him as it had the last few months.

He stood and stretched, feeling his spine pop before he walked down the same hall. Unlike the young man before him who had turned right so that he could pass the front desk and go back out on patrol, the Commander turned left and, with a few steps, began to feel like the walls were closing in on him. The truth was, they were as he journeyed deeper into the old section of the garrison. This part had been built into the mountain long ago, and the Commander secretly suspected that there had to be a tunnel from here up to the castle far above. He suspected it but had never tried to find out because he knew that in such matters, a lack of knowledge was safer than knowing the truth….