Views, Reviews and Weird News

So what have I got to offer you in this weeks "Views, Reviews and Weird News?

Some fresh reviews at various blogs, a radio appearance or two and history coming back to life



VIEWS and REVIEWS:

GOODREADS ****

I do not typically read books that are geared towards younger readers or young adults, but I am very glad that I decided to try this book. It is very well written and kept me engaged to continue reading and finish it in one sitting. It is a heartwarming story of teenage life, love, and angst, as seen by characters that live in different settings. Yet, it is universal in its story, where anyone that reads it, will be able to relate to it. It did not have the quality of being a book that was "too young" for me to read and I believe it will reach readers on every level. I highly recommend this selection.

LIBRARY THING ****

I do not typically read books that are geared towards younger readers or young adults, but I am very glad that I decided to try this book. It is very well written and kept me engaged to continue reading and finish it in one sitting. It is a heartwarming story of teenage life, love, and angst, as seen by characters that live in different settings. Yet, it is universal in its story, where anyone that reads it, will be able to relate to it. It did not have the quality of being a book that was "too young" for me to read and I believe it will reach readers on every level. I highly recommend this selection.


THE KIDS BOOK CONNECTION

I enjoyed Across the Pond. A strong cast of characters, an interesting plot, some great baseball, and a deep secret all come together for an engaging and fun read.

WEIRD NEWS:

Medieval battle records go online

The detailed service records of 250,000 medieval soldiers - including archers who served with Henry V at the Battle of Agincourt - have gone online.

The database of those who fought in the Hundred Years War reveals salaries, sickness records and who was knighted.

The full profiles of soldiers from 1369 to 1453 will allow researchers to piece together details of their lives.

Thomas, Lord Despenser is the youngest soldier on the database, whose career began when he was aged just 12 in 1385.

Elsewhere, the career of Thomas Gloucestre, who fought at Agincourt, can be traced over 43 years and includes campaigns in Prussia and Jerusalem.

'Remarkable survival'

The website is the product of a research project by Professor Anne Curry of the University of Southampton and Dr Adrian Bell of the University of Reading.

Dr Bell said: "The service records survive because the English exchequer had a very modern obsession with wanting to be sure that the government's money was being spent as intended.

"Therefore we have the remarkable survival of indentures for service detailing the forces to be raised, muster rolls showing this service and naming every soldier from duke to archer."

He said accounts from captains showing how funds were spent and entries detailing when the exchequer requested the payments can be found.

The free-to-use website, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, also shows which soldiers rode the furthest.




Author of Young Adult Romance/Fiction book
"Across the Pond"

Across the Pond – Feb 3rd Virtual Book Tour Day 2

Across the Pond – Feb 3rd Virtual Book Tour Day 2

Tuesday and the second day of my virtual book tour for me Storyheart, and my young adult romance novel Across the Pond.

The day started off with a wonderful review from Writers in the Sky which I will post on a separate blog.

Today’s Tour Stop:

Feb. 3 – Today’s Author on Blog Talk Radio (podcast) http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Circle-Of-Seven/2009/01/16/Todays-Author

Café of Dreams (book review) www.cafeofdreams.blogspot.com

The radio blog was good fun; I always enjoy chatting to people.
At Café of Dreams I received a wonderful review.

http://www.cafeofdreams.blogspot.com/

Ok, so this may be dubbed as a "young adult" romance novel, but I, at 34, gobbled it up and loved it! I simply adored the characters of 15 year old English born Fred, Brittany, the daughter of the couple he is staying with while visiting in America, as well as the couple themselves, Phil and Julie. The author did a phenomenal job of bringing each and every one to life, through descriptions, actions and dialog.

This is a delightful story of acceptance; standing up for what is right, selflessness and first love. I can honestly say that I cannot think of a single thing that I did not like about Across the Pond. As an extra added piece of fun (and education) Fred must work on a school project, while in America, listing some of the language differences he comes across in everyday conversation. I found this to be quite interesting. Though I have heard some of the terms, several were new to me and fun to learn.

Fred quickly becomes Brit's Knight, helping her work through emotions and bringing justice, for her, for a past trauma. Fred is a very kind, generous and admirable character that the reader falls in love with, from the very beginning. There is never a lull in the story and at the end, I was left wanting more! Perhaps an additional story will come about with Brit visiting Fred in England?! *hint hint, Mr Eva, lol!

Though geared toward young adult, I honestly believe this is a marvelous story for any age. It is sure to bring a smile to the face and a warmth to the heart.

*overall rating 4.5/5

I also received another 5 star review at Amazon:


***** Great Read, Fun Journey February 2 2009
Jenifer S (Ball Ground, GA, USA
This was such a fun book to read. The main character, Fred, has all kinds of adventures as he tries to fit into a new culture. His parents win a 2 week trip to Australia and Fred goes to stay with friends of theirs. He soon falls for a beautiful girl, Brit. Watching Fred maneuvers a new relationship and a new culture makes this book so interesting and amusing. If you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a foreign country, you will love this book. It has humor, romance and may even teach you a thing or too about the differences between England and America. This book will appeal to young adults and adults alike. I thoroughly enjoy reading about what happened "across the pond."

All in all another really good day for my Storyheart and my book Across the Pond


Storyheart
Across the Pond
http://across-t-pond.com

Virtual Book Tour - Across the Pond a young adult romance for all ages

There are four of us starting our Virtual Tours with pumpupyourbookpromotion.com tomorrow

Ray Comfort, author of the Christian book, You Can Lead an Atheist to Evidence, But You Can’t Make Them Think: Answers to Questions from Angry Atheists (WND Books),

Doug Hewitt, author of the mystery novel, The Dead Guy,

Jerry Pollock, author of the spiritual memoir, Divinely Inspired: Spiritual Awakening of a Soul (Shechinah Third Temple, Inc.)

Jason Pratt, author of the epic fantasy novel, Cry of Justice (Bittersea Publications),

Bruce Skye, author of the fantasy novel, Grayrider (Eloquent Books)

Kim Smith, author of the mystery novel, Avenging Angel: A Shannon Wallace Mystery (Red Rose Publishing),

And of course me Storyheart and my young adult romance Across the Pond

Check out http://virtualbooktours.wordpress.com/ for daily details.

Storyheart

Across the Pond - By Storyheart January 24th

Across the Pond - by Storyheart January 24th

More news and views on my Young Adult Fiction Novel “Across the Pond’

Still waiting on the mp3 recording of my appearance, on Thursday’s The Tony Kay Show at http://ArtistFirst.com. It was a very enjoyable as it always is talking to Tony.

I will post the link to the radio show recording as soon as I have it.

After two reviews appearing on Thursday at Amazon, I was very pleased yet another great review there on Friday. This makes a total of 35 reviews I have received since my book came out in October, 31 of which are at Amazon.

Work carries on for my Virtual Book Tour with “pumpupyourbookpromotion.com” which starts in February.

I am checking for any other reviews and blog interviews every day also checking out some more possible school visits

Fridays Review:

***** England to America adventure, January 23, 2009
By T. Williams (Atlanta, GA United States) - See all my reviews


Across the Pond is a great read. I love how the author pointed out all the differences between England and America in a funny way. I enjoyed the story and imagine any teen would as well. The characters are down to earth and human and the story is one kids can relate to. The romance felt very real and I read this from cover to cover in one sitting. This is an excellent book.

I like the part, and several others have said the same… that the person read it from cover to cover in one sitting.
Another plus from this review was that when I checked their other reviews I noticed I had a five star and Oprah’s Book only got four stars *grin*


So that’s all the news for today more to come tomorrow.


Storyheart
Author of “Across the Pond”
http://across-t-pond.com

Across the Pond - January 5th news and Reviews

Spent yesterday evening at my karaoke companies Christmas Dinner. A little bit late you might think. But with 30-40 KDJ’s (that’s karaoke dj’s) obviously Christmas and the New year is a busy time for us all.

As normal the evening went turned into some fun event, with first the dinner then a trip to a local bar and a karaoke evening. As you can imagine having that number of singer and people whose job it is at such events to insure people have a good time, there was much fun, singing and everything else going on. With so many singers we each had to choose one song to sing, and the variety was amazing. The rest of the bar patrons got a free show equal to any talent show you might see on TV.

There is not much going on right now regarding the book, but I’m sure by the time I get back from my trip “Across the Pond” there will be much news to pass on to you all

Don’t forget, if you get a chance, check out the great reviews I have, or rather my book has received so far.


http://www.amazon.com/review/product/1436371767/ref=cm_cr_dp_all_recent?%5Fencoding=UTF8&coliid=&showViewpoints=1&colid=&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending

Storyheart
http://across-t-pond.com

Across the Pond - January 2nd News/Reviews

Like so many I actually have today off work, even where people are working the amount of "vacation" time taken for the one day back before the weekend leaves a lot of companies with reduced coverage. The amount of "working from" also increases. I for one go to work to have a break from home, though that is partly caused by having two little ones creating havoc around the place.

There has not been much going on with the book stuff, I have done a count up and am currently owed over 20 reviews , I guess I'll just have to wait. Right now it's just bills that keep coming through, Facebook etc all add up each day for adverts, I just wonder if anybody is purchasing copies I do hope so, but will not find out for several months yet.

I did however receive a a call and a booking for a school visit end of March. I have already worked out my presentation, with as much humor and learning I can manage in a short period of time.

Any way here we go into 2009, I will be paying a short visit back "acorss the pond" next week, which will enable me to check a few things before I start shading out my next novel...

I was going to call it "Acoss the Pond and Back again" but guess some Ho bit character might have used that idea.

Storyheart
Yound Adult Novel - Across the Pond
http://across-t-pond.com

Across the Pond - December 30th (News and reviews of my book Acorss the Pond by Storyheart)

I am cracking on with the “homework” items, given to me by pupupyourbookpromotions.com, to be ready for February's virtual book tour.

Virtual book tours provide visibility to the world rather than just a few people who might wonder into a local book store.

I have completed question and answer documents for several "blogs" which is where these virtual tours take place. I was surprised to read that one of these blogs gets around 3 million hits a month… 3 MILL... Virtual tours are obviously the way forward and the help I ma getting from “pubupyourbookpromotions.com” is fantastic.

I have also has a couple more feed backs re possible online radio programs in the New Year. I love doing these chat programs the English accent certainly helps and it provides and escape for some of my English humor.

Read all about Across the Pond and meet a couple of the book characters at http://across-t-pond



Storyheart

Across the Pond - December 29th

Latest news on my book "Across the Pond" by Storyheart

Read about it at http://across-t-pond.com/

A fresh review, not at amazon, this time but at Reader Views. I had one previously there under the children reviewers this time it's in the adult section, which goes to show how the age that enjoy the book varies. http://irenewatson.typepad.com/readerviews/2008/12/across-the-pond.html#comments

Received an email from the above lady "Irene Watson" re my "young adult fiction" book Across the Pond. Seems one of her readers has had trouble getting hold of a copy for their eldest, so I am going to send that person a signed copy and hope that they enjoy the read.

I also started working on video blogs or v-logs as they are called. updating my book intro and loading it onto blip.tv



Working with my new PR lady Dorothy at pumpupyourbook promotion.com I have many new ideas and follow up to work on. Also hoping that after the holiday I will be able to find a few new reviews at amazon.

Young AdulStoryheart