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A new month long chance to win signed copies of The Jerusalem Puzzle & The Istanbul Puzzle
Last month’s winner of a paperback copy of The Jerusalem Puzzle was Maggie Lloyd. Please email me (lob@yourasms.com) with your address!
This month – to mid May 2013 – I am again offering a free copy of The Jerusalem Puzzle & a unique advance reader copy of The Istanbul Puzzle, both signed, posted anywhere in the world.
We expect to sign the contract to make a movie of The Istanbul Puzzle in the next few weeks, shooting to start within eighteen months, so I expect these signed copies will eventually become more valuable.
The competition will run for a month, until the 15th May. You have a chance of winning a free copy of both my published novels if you share this post, on Twitter and Facebook please, with your followers. You must comment below when you have done that to enter.
I truly appreciate and am humbled by all your support.
I am working on finishing The Manhattan Puzzle seven days a week to the 29th. It is due out October 10th. I hope it will entertain and interest you. The truth about the puzzle will be revealed in The Manhattan Puzzle.
If you are a writer and want to be on my list for guest posts please email me: lob@yourasms.com and I will send you guidelines. I want us all to work together to promote our writing.
If you want to buy The Istanbul Puzzle click here.
And if you want to buy the The Jerusalem Puzzle click here.
Each month, from now until October, one person will be chosen using a random number generator from the list of comments below. So keep coming back if you don’t win!
And you can enter multiple times by sharing on Twitter and Facebook on multiple days and commenting on each day below, so you have multiple comments. I will take a look at any multiple comment winner shares to make sure this is fair for everyone.
Thank you all for sharing this post and for buying my novels and for all your support.
I hope you win! And I hope you’ll enjoy the movie!
Emerging Writers: Guest Post #19 – Why poetry, if you can’t stand reading it?
Adam Moursy was born in New York City in 1986. He’s lived in and around the city ever since, with much of his adult life influenced by street culture, heavy drinking, and overall debauchery. To no surprise, he writes what he knows — hard-hitting anecdotes from both the past and present, without many frills. He was first published at the age of twenty-four, and has appeared in several lit mags and poetry journals in the US and UK.
A witty and insightful look at the daily (and moreover nightly) carousals of its author, Slinking Under The Electric Bulb is the first collection of prose poetry by Adam Moursy. From chance encounters with loose women, to struggles with both money and the tameless characters of New York City’s underbelly, the writing remains fast-paced and blunt, in a sort of hit-and-run fashion.
Why Poetry?
I’ve asked myself that question more times than I can remember. I can’t stand reading it, can’t stand the stigma that comes along with it ‒ so why write it? Is it for the quick fix? A means of dealing with a terribly short attention span? Or for the simple appreciation of having a good bathroom book on hand?
The answer is D: All of the Above. But it’s so much more.
Poetry needs a new voice.
Whitman had it. Neruda carried the torch. Bukowski killed it. Now what?
Another change, of course. Poems for the modern day man ‒ void of rhyme and decorum, of senseless fluff. In an age where sex drives us all, where rebellion is openly tolerated (and even encouraged), it’s amazing that the poets of today, both young and old alike, still stick to the formulas of their more than century-old predecessors. We know that the trees are there, that love is a blade, and that the sun rises and sets for each and every one of us, but what about what really goes on? What about that hemorrhoid you’re sitting on, that blowjob you got last week, or hell, even that god-awful guy or girl you met through OkCupid? Here we are, living by the social network, by GPS and text messaging, by designer drugs and complex drinks and convenient everything. We don’t even have pubic hair. So, when will poetry finally catch up?
That’s where I come in. I’ve planted a seed, and it’s called Slinking Under The Electric Bulb. Take the title head-on: I drank and fucked and did so by today’s standards, like a rogue cat creeping down some dingy street of terror, and made sure to write about it while not holding anything back. Yes, it’s plenty vulgar. And, no, you probably won’t regard me as anything more than your dirty little secret. But you will relate, whoever you are, as there’s something in there for everyone ‒ from being held-up at gunpoint, to pop culture and literary references, to living in a broken-down dump in an otherwise flourishing Brooklyn neighborhood. If you’ve already forgotten that it’s a poetry book, you’re on the right track, since each piece reads more like a very, very short story set to free verse. Based on the feedback I’ve gotten thus far, you really can’t go wrong by giving it a whirl, and it’s one you’ll want to go back to again and again.
All in all, take note of what’s going on here, and know that poetry isn’t dead. Also, be on the lookout for me, as I already have a second title in the works and I’m not stopping there. I may not go down in history, but I will go down as the first person to start a piece with “ass-to-mouth.”
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Thanks Adam. I know about irresistible urges and I’m glad you are addressing the forbidden. I wish you well.
This guest post is part of a series in 2013 where I will be showcasing emerging writers on this blog.
You can help by buying their books, sharing this post on Twitter and Facebook and coming back for the next post. You can also follow this site (click the button above right), to be notified by email on who is next in a few days time.
And if you are a writer and want to be featured send me an email lob@yourasms.com and I will send you the submission guidelines.
And please support this site and the promotion of new names in fiction by buying: The Istanbul Puzzle & The Jerusalem Puzzle.
Movie news & a new month long chance to win signed copies of The Jerusalem Puzzle & The Istanbul Puzzle
Last month’s winner of a paperback copy of The Jerusalem Puzzle was Jamison Duncan. Please email me Jamison (lob@yourasms.com) with your address!
This month I am offering a free copy of The Jerusalem Puzzle & a unique advance reader copy of The Istanbul Puzzle, both signed, posted anywhere in the world.
An exciting offer has come in from a Hollywood producer to make a movie of The Istanbul Puzzle, shooting to start within eighteen months, so I expect these signed copies will eventually become more valuable. But for now we keep our feet on the ground.
The competition will run for a month, until the 15th April 2013. You have a chance of winning a free copy of both my published novels if you share this post, on Twitter and Facebook please, with your followers. You must comment below when you have done that to enter.
I truly appreciate and am humbled by all your support. If I can involve you in the movie making process I will, as I will be a script consultant. Get in touch if you have ideas, what scenes must stay in, who should play Sean and any other thoughts.
I am working on finishing The Manhattan Puzzle this week. It is due out October 10th. I hope it will entertain and interest you. The truth about the puzzle will be revealed in The Manhattan Puzzle.
If you are a writer and want to be on my list for guest posts please email me: lob@yourasms.com and I will send you guidelines. I want us all to work together to promote our writing.
If you want to buy The Istanbul Puzzle click here.
And if you want to buy the The Jerusalem Puzzle click here.
Each month, from now until October, one person will be chosen using a random number generator from the list of comments below. So keep coming back if you don’t win!
And you can enter multiple times by sharing on Twitter and Facebook on multiple days and commenting on each day below, so you have multiple comments. I will take a look at any multiple comment winner shares to make sure this is fair for everyone.
Thank you all for sharing this post and for buying my novels and for all your support.
I hope you win! And I hope you’ll enjoy the movie!
A month long chance of winning The Jerusalem Puzzle! & Last week’s winner.
Last week’s winner of a paperback copy of The Jerusalem Puzzle was danijcaile. Please email me Danij (lob@yourasms.com) with your address!
I am still running the competition for a free copy, but the competition will run for a month, until the 15th March 2013. You have a chance of winning a free copy of my novel if you share this post, on Twitter and Facebook please, with your followers. Please comment below when you have done that to enter.
I appreciate all your support. I am working on three novels this year, which I hope will entertain and interest you!
If you are a writer and want to be on my list for guest posts please email me: lob@yourasms.com and I will send you guidelines. I want us all to work together to promote our writing.
And if you want to buy the The Jerusalem Puzzle now, click here.
Next month one person will be chosen using a random number generator from the list of comments. I will also run the same competition the following month so keep coming back if you don’t win!
And you can enter multiple times by sharing on Twitter and Facebook on multiple days and commenting on each day below, so you have multiple comments. I will take a look at any multiple comment winner shares to make sure this is fair for everyone.
Thank you all for sharing this post and for buying my novels and for all your support.
I hope you win!
Another chance to win The Jerusalem Puzzle! & last week’s winner.
Last week’s winner was cafe_oui. Please email me cafe_oui (lob@yourasms.com) with your address!
Once again I am running this competition for all those who haven’t won. You have a good chance of winning a free copy of my novel if you share this post on Twitter and Facebook please, with all your followers. Please comment below when you have done that to enter.
I truly appreciate all your support. I intend to give away almost every copy I got from my publisher, thirty in total. I will keep one for myself. So you do have a good chance of winning if you keep coming back and sharing.
If you are a writer and want to be on my list for guest posts please email me: lob@yourasms.com and I will send you guidelines. I want us all to work together to promote our writing.
And if you want to treat yourself to The Jerusalem Puzzle, to buy it, click here.
Next Friday morning 1 person will be chosen using a random number generator from the list of comments. I will also run the same competition the next week so keep coming back if you don’t win this week! I expect to give away 20 books in the end, so you do have a good chance.
Thank you all for sharing this post and for buying a paperback and for all your support.
I hope you win!
Now win The Jerusalem Puzzle & The Istanbul Puzzle!
Last week’s winner is Galina V. Please email me Galina (lob@yourasms.com) with your address!
This week I am offering a free signed Advance Reader Copy of The Istanbul Puzzle as well as the signed paperback of The Jerusalem Puzzle posted anywhere in the world. You have a chance of winning if you share this post, on Twitter and Facebook please. Please comment below when you have done that to enter.
I appreciate all your support. I am working on three novels this year, which I hope will entertain and interest you!
Next Friday morning 1 person will be chosen using a random number generator from the list of comments.
And now a quick ad! I have been directing most links recently to the ebook. But I would really appreciate if just a few more people would buy the paperback and bring it up from the ranking it’s currently at. Your link to buy is here or on the right.
Thank you all for sharing this post and for all your support.
I hope you win!
Almost the final chance of winning The Jerusalem Puzzle! & Last week’s winner.
Last week’s winner of a paperback copy of The Jerusalem Puzzle is Martin Troy. Please email me Martin (lob@yourasms.com) with your address!
I have been directing most links recently to the ebook. But now I would really appreciate if just a few people would buy the paperback and bring it up from the low ranking it’s currently at. Your link to buy is here or on the right.
I am still running the competition for a free copy as well. You have a good chance of winning a free copy of my novel if you share this post, on Twitter and Facebook please, with your followers. Please comment below when you have done that to enter.
I appreciate all your support. I am working on three novels this year, which I hope will entertain and interest you!
If you are a writer and want to be on my list for guest posts please email me: lob@yourasms.com and I will send you guidelines. I want us all to work together to promote our writing.
So if you want to treat yourself to The Jerusalem Puzzle now, click here.
Next Friday morning 1 person will be chosen using a random number generator from the list of comments. I will also run the same competition the next week so keep coming back if you don’t win this week! I expect to give away 20 books in the end, so you do have a good chance.
Thank you all for sharing this post and for buying a paperback and for all your support.
I hope you win!
Your chance of winning my book even better now! & Last week’s winner.
Last week only nine people shared this post and one, Robin Cleary Moore won a copy of The Jerusalem Puzzle.
This week I expect about ten. So you have a good chance of winning a free copy of my novel if you share this post, on Twitter and Facebook please, with your followers. Please comment below when you have done that to enter.
I appreciate so much all this support. If you are a writer and want to be on my list for guest posts please email me: lob@yourasms.com and I will send you guidelines. I want us all to work together to promote our writing.
If you want to treat yourself to The Jerusalem Puzzle now, click here.
On next Friday morning 1 person will be chosen using a random number generator from the list of comments. I will also run the same competition the following week so keep coming back if you don’t win this week! I expect to give away 20 books in the end, so you do have a good chance.
Thank you all for sharing this post and for all your support.
I hope you win!
Emerging Writers: Guest Post #1 On Finding the Right Voice
Sliding on the Snow Stone author, Andy Szpuk, tells us about finding the right voice:
It was back in 2007 when I conceived the idea of writing Sliding on the Snow Stone. I’d already written a box full of short stories and was developing my writing craft, taking small steps daily, and occasionally, bigger leaps.
However, when my father recounted the experiences of his childhood in Ukraine and subsequent journey through the horrors of famine, Soviet Terrors and Nazi brutality during World War 2, I knew I had no choice.
It was a story that needed to be told. Ideas began to form in my head about how to approach it. First, I considered producing it in standard biographical format. Biographies are generally written in the second person, but with much of my father’s material consisting of so many powerful personal experiences, I felt second person would create too much of a distance for the reader.
Often, biographies can become academic in their tone. Instinctively, this didn’t feel right for my father’s story. I felt I needed a way to project the emotional drama, to capture how it must have felt.
I spent many hours talking to him, and making copious notes, collecting details and building a picture. It was sometime during this process when I realised it was HIS story, so I needed to write it from his point of view. I decided it would need to be written in the first person.
It presented many challenges over many months. Managing a story in the first person presents obstacles: the viewpoint is limited, and the voice needs to be consistent and authentic, and also there needs to be variation in the first person delivery, i.e. starting too many sentences with ‘I’ can become over-repetitive for the reader.
Finally, after much editing, Sliding on the Snow Stone was published in 2011 by That Right Publishing. It was quite a journey to undertake, but I feel I’ve added a small piece of jigsaw to the history of the world, and I’ve given voice to a story that might never have been heard.
For details on my other written work, including a diary of a 10-day stay in Ukraine in 2012 when I visited my father’s old home, visit my blog: Lines from the Word Lab
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Thanks Andy for being our first guest post writer. Your story is very interesting. War casts a long shadow. Please visit Andy’s site and if you like what you’ve heard Sliding on the Stone it’s available to buy there.
This guest post is the first in a regular series in 2013 where I will be showcasing emerging writers on this blog.
You can help by clicking through to their sites, buying their books, sharing this site on Twitter or Facebook and coming back, or by Following this site (click the button above right), to see who is next in a few days.
And if you are a writer and want to be featured send me an email lob@yourasms.com and I will send you the submission guidelines.
New Winner, another prize & a Treat Yourself for Pennies Sale!
The winner in the next week will receive a signed paperback first edition copy of The Jerusalem Puzzle posted free to wherever you are in the world!
If you want to treat yourself to The Jerusalem Puzzle ebook for pennies, click here. YOU DESERVE IT! January is not easy!
The prize winner will be among the first to receive the physical copy of The Jerusalem Puzzle.
The winner of the New Year competition was Ben Brierley – comment #41 from last week as selected by Random.org. A copy of The Jerusalem Puzzle, signed, and The Istanbul Puzzle advance reader copy signed will be on its way to you soon. If you are reading this please email us your address Ben (lob@yourasms.com)!
And now we have a new competition for anyone who didn’t win!
All you have to do to enter is to share this page on Twitter or Facebook (both if you can!) and comment below to tell me what you have done.
On next Friday morning 1 person will be chosen using a random number generator from the list of comments. I will also run the same competition the following week so keep coming back if you don’t win this week! I expect to give away 20 books in the end, so you do have a good chance.
And thank you all for sharing and for all your support. The Jerusalem Puzzle is still doing well in the Kindle charts, a great result for a new author this year.
I hope you win!
And if you want to treat yourself to The Jerusalem Puzzle ebook for pennies, click here. YOU DESERVE IT! January is not easy!
