Jeff
Good action novel with an interesting cast of characters. I enjoyed Englehart's comic book writing many years ago and was pleasantly surprised to find this novel by him in the used bookstore last week. I'll definitely be reading his other Max August books.
A very engaging story involving cryogenics and the ghostly existence of those who have been preserved until the time they are re-awakened in their thawed out bodies.
Good read, interesting characters, exciting plot and a story that moves along an dkeeps you interested.
Before reading this book I'd never heard of Kenny Weissberg, had no idea who he was or what he had done or why I would want to read a book about his life thus far.
But an offer for a free Kindle version of his book came my way and since I have a small interest in music, I thought I would give it a shot. I'm so glad I did.
Weissberg has led an interesting life and almost all of it has centered around music and the music industry. From his youth as a fan, to a DJ to a performer himself and then as a concert promoter, music has been an integral part of his personal and professional life.
I still don't know Weissberg, but I know quite a bit about his life, its ups and downs, successes and failures, and I'm glad to have made his acquaintance in this fashion. As an extra bonus, I now have some new music and musicians to explore thanks to his sharing of some of his favorites.
This was a good story. Unfortunately the numerous spelling and grammatical errors detracted from full reading enjoyment.
My daughter, knowing what a comic book history fan I am, gave me this book yesterday for my birthday and once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down!
Lots of fun, behind the scenes stories in here about comic book writers, artists, publishers and editors. Many, if not most, of them are British or European talents so there were some I was not familiar with, but these stories made a nice introduction to those I did not previously know.
This had been on my Amazon Wish List for a long time, so I'm doubly grateful to my daughter for choosing this for my gift. Thanks Princess!
I was both happy that I knew everything in this book and unhappy that I knew everything in this book. I'm always looking for new, undiscovered nuggets about Superman and his history, having been a huge fan of the character for the past 53 years. But it was still fun to have the chance to look back at some things that time may have dimmed in my memory.
This is a good book, despite some typos and incorrect dates, both of which I'm sure will be corrected in subsequent publishings. The most heinous mistake(s) can be found when each reference to author Elliot S! Maggin fails to include the exclamation point after the middle initial; a tradition that Mr. Maggin has attached to his name for decades.
If you want to get a broad, overview of the Man of Steel then this book will fill the bill nicely.
I found this treasure in the bargain section of Books-A-Million while we were in Knoxville last weekend. Some great personal stories and background information from writers and artists who worked on the Fantastic Four comic book.
After reading and reviewing “What Every Author Should Know”, I leapt at the chance to receive an Advance Reading Copy (ARC) of Deb Vanasse's latest book for writers, “Write Your Best Book.”
Vanasse begins by dissecting the “exceptional book” which includes high concept, transcendence, and how we're all wired for story (or narrative) from infancy to adulthood, as well as how each writer needs to be aware of their audience, their genre, and why we write.
She then covers where ideas come from, rabbit trails and strategic meandering when we daydream, and the seemingly eternal question of whether to outline or not.
With the above foundation, Vanasse has prepared us to cover the ingredients of writing our next book, such as a great beginning, character, conflict, plot and plot pacing, back story and endings. She also discusses the beauty of language, voice, metaphor, dialogue and fine tuning the effect of revision.
Finally, the book examines the habits of effective writers, rituals, scheduling, avoiding time sucks and the importance of always writing.
One of my favorite features of the book is the “Try This” suggestion at the end of each section, helping you put the offered advice into action in your own writing.
Like “What Every Author Should Know”, Vanasse lays out the foundational basics that every writer either needs to know or has experienced. This isn't some “pie in the sky” book that offers platitudes and not much more. This is the nuts and bolts of producing the best book you can.
If you truly want to make your own next book into the best it can be, Deb Vanasse's latest work will give you all the guidance you need to Write Your Best Book.
If you're a fan of the art of Jack Kirby, as well as Joe Simon and other artists from the Simon & Kirby Studio, this book is chock full of reproduced original art and comic book boards of dozens of stories that were published in the early days of comic book art.
Nice, compact (only 197 pages) autobiography of one of the legends of the Silver Age of DC Comics who was responsible for much of the mythology of heroes like Superman, Batman, and the Flash.
A disappointing, depressing story that was not well-written or well-edited. The best I can say is that it had a happy ending which I desperately needed after struggling through the forty days.
Finished this last night so I could put it in the box of things going to the cabin before I leave Rapid City.
It was insightful getting to read about the life of a writer who penned so many of the comic book stories I enjoyed growing up. And finding out about some other novels he wrote that I can go searching for to read in the future.
A nice look back at the early days of Star Trek fandom from one of the major behind the scenes players.
This is the first “How to” book for authors and those who want to be that I've read (and I've read a lot of them) that covers ALL of the bases involved in writing and publishing your book, from the nuts and bolts to the mindset of an author.
First, Ms. Vanasse offers her years of experience as both a writer and publisher to inquisitive writers and authors by exploring the three ways an author can be published; traditional, independent and a hybrid of each. Each step in each way is laid out with both the pros and cons of each path enumerated so that an author or aspiring author can make an informed decision.
In the second section promotion and marketing are discussed and while most writers want to concentrate on the creative side of the work, example after example is shown to make the point that the business side must be addressed as well, especially if you're an unknown author that wants to have your book purchased and talked about. Everything from promotion by traditional publishers (less and less of that these days for new writers) to self-promotion in all its various incarnations (E-Newsletters, Social Media, Crowdfunding, etc.) are all presented for consideration. Not every way will work for everyone, but some ways will work for everyone.
The book finishes up with a section on mistakes authors can avoid and a final discussion of how to live the life of a writer or author. Humility and flexibility are two of the best ways to live that life.
This is a book I will be referring back to again and again and I highly recommend it to anyone who has an interest in publishing their own book.
Full disclosure: I was provided a copy of this ebook for review. The review is mine and is not influenced in any way by the provider.
Mastering the Craft of Compelling Storytelling by Ray Rhamey is easily in my top 5 list of books on the craft of writing. Ray lays out the fundamentals in such an easy to understand manner that you can't help but learn something, but he also provides so many nuggets of wisdom and helpful tips that you are sure to find something new that you missed previously in each new reading.
My favorite sections were the Point of View (POV) chapter and the dialogue chapter, which are easily worth the price of the book by themselves. But every part of this book is full of so many lessons of experience and learning that both newbie and journeyman writers will find multiple pieces of this puzzle we call writing to help them complete the full picture.
Mastering the Craft of Compelling Storytelling is a must-have book in the library of everyone who wants to study the craft of writing.
Christmas 2018 gift from my wife. Loved reading about the life of the late Stan Lee, who passed away recently and whose comics I had been reading since I was a boy.
Just finished this great book on the history of comic books from 1965 to 1969. It was a great look back at the art form I loved during that period of my life, 10 to 14 years of age, and getting a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes stories of how those four-color stories came to be.
Brought back great memories
I grew up watching Jack on TV every Saturday and listening to the wrestling matches from Miami on the radio on Sunday afternoons with my dad. This biography brought back great memories and filled in a lot for me about his college championships.
A Sturdy Page-Turner From Mather
As usual, Mather blends bleeding edge scientific facts with an intriguing story, but this time in a different genre and shows again he has the storytelling skill to keep the reader engaged and immersed in the world he creates. As a bonus, we get the promise of a recurring character as a series in the future.