Sunday, March 8, 2015
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
That second novel can be the most challenging. Good Luck, Harper Lee
After 55 years, Harper Lee is releasing her second novel. Many people say that producing that second novel is the challenge that determines whether or not you are going to be a writer.
Good Luck, Harper. I hope you didn't put any teenage virgin vampires and brooding adolescent werewolves into the plot.
ps: Just so you know, I'm working on my third novel. So, get back to the typewriter, Harper.
Good Luck, Harper. I hope you didn't put any teenage virgin vampires and brooding adolescent werewolves into the plot.
ps: Just so you know, I'm working on my third novel. So, get back to the typewriter, Harper.
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
The Borg are Among Us
The Borg are Among Us
Remember "Star Trek - the Next Generation"? There was a parasitic culture called the Borg. The Borg would roam the galaxy destroying other cultures and absorbing victims of all species into its networked collective. Every Borg was networked into every other Borg. Each individual Borg was only generally aware of its individual situation, being tied into the hive mind, working toward hive objectives.
Well, they're here. They stand and walk, oblivious to everything but the hive which communicates through a hand-held cell phone. With the passage of time, these automatons are becoming more common, not less. Apparently, humanity's criminal class is not mugging these creatures fast enough. The lack of situational awareness that make then vulnerable is compensated for by the fact that the population is being absorbed by the collective at a much greater rate.
You see them, mindlessly making their way, in elevators, on the street, everywhere.
What can the benefit be to such an existence? Is the workforce really augmented with endless e-mails captured and sent on the fly?
Is ordinary existence really so unbearable without a never ending stream of cat videos?
Are we networking ourselves so diligently that we don't even notice the deterioration of our collective standard of living or are the Borg seeking a way to cling to the few remaining scraps?
What do they see when they gaze deeply into that tiny screen? Is it a suitable substitute for a life?
Remember "Star Trek - the Next Generation"? There was a parasitic culture called the Borg. The Borg would roam the galaxy destroying other cultures and absorbing victims of all species into its networked collective. Every Borg was networked into every other Borg. Each individual Borg was only generally aware of its individual situation, being tied into the hive mind, working toward hive objectives.
Well, they're here. They stand and walk, oblivious to everything but the hive which communicates through a hand-held cell phone. With the passage of time, these automatons are becoming more common, not less. Apparently, humanity's criminal class is not mugging these creatures fast enough. The lack of situational awareness that make then vulnerable is compensated for by the fact that the population is being absorbed by the collective at a much greater rate.
You see them, mindlessly making their way, in elevators, on the street, everywhere.
What can the benefit be to such an existence? Is the workforce really augmented with endless e-mails captured and sent on the fly?
Is ordinary existence really so unbearable without a never ending stream of cat videos?
Are we networking ourselves so diligently that we don't even notice the deterioration of our collective standard of living or are the Borg seeking a way to cling to the few remaining scraps?
What do they see when they gaze deeply into that tiny screen? Is it a suitable substitute for a life?
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Welcome to 2015 and to some new reviews of Brand Loyalty
Welcome to 2015. May this year be kind to us all.
Thanks to these people who were kind enough to leave a review of "Brand Loyalty".
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Brand Loyalty, January 3, 2015
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Brand Loyalty (Matt Rommel Book 1) (Kindle Edition)
I just finished reading "Brand Loyalty" and must say that it was outstanding! Great plot, well developed characters and great editing!! I definitely recommend reading this book.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Wonderful read., January 3, 2015
This review is from: Brand Loyalty (Matt Rommel Book 1) (Kindle Edition)
Thoroughly enjoyed the story from the first page to the last. Writing was well done with a great story line.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Solid Read, December 20, 2014
By
Amazon Customer "Science Sifu" (Arlington, MA USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Brand Loyalty (Matt Rommel Book 1) (Kindle Edition)
Great character's. Good read. Would purchase book at full price. I read second book first making the end of the first book less believable, but it makes Rommel more human and less invincible. Still an author I want to keep reading. Love the main character.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Good to read, December 19, 2014
By
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Brand Loyalty (Matt Rommel Book 1) (Kindle Edition)
An almost modern day Beauty and the beast, but such a gentle giant too, maybe it's more like the garden of the giant. I liked it.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
On to the next., December 16, 2014
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Brand Loyalty (Matt Rommel Book 1) (Kindle Edition)
I am totally hooked on Matt Rommel. Read
the second book right away and loved it, too. Can't wait till the third one comes outm.
the second book right away and loved it, too. Can't wait till the third one comes outm.
Welcome to 2015 - Some new "Beyond the Law" Reviews
Welcome to 2015, by way of housekeeping, there are some new reviews for Matt Rommel's adventures:
These are for "Beyond the Law"
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Good Series, December 25, 2014
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Beyond the Law (Matt Rommel Book 2) (Kindle Edition)
Love the Matt Rommel books. He's a bit of an anti hero but I really like him. Not your normal dashing character but so much more to him than the looks and great body of a lot of guys. He's really great to read about. Please write more.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Even better than the first book in the series., December 22, 2014
By
Hal (Canton, Georgia United States) - See all my reviews
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Beyond the Law (Matt Rommel Book 2) (Kindle Edition)
Shorter and more succinct than the first book. Well written with enough dry wit to keep things moving along well. .
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
I really enjoyed reading this very well written action tale, December 19, 2014
By
Les (New Mexico) - See all my reviews
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Beyond the Law (Matt Rommel Book 2) (Kindle Edition)
I really enjoyed reading this very well written action tale. It moves smoothly and the main characters are clearly developed. The hero is somewhat beyond believable, but he is likable and you root for him and want to believe. His battle is against a moralistically deprived mercenary corporation and that corporation shouldn't have messed with Matt or his friends. Highly recommended.
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Catching up - Recent Reviews for "Beyond the Law"
For some reason, I find myself attracted to the favorable reviews...
Love the first two, December 16, 2014
This review is from: Beyond the Law (Matt Rommel Book 2) (Kindle Edition)
Matt Rommel is the perfect tragic hero. Ugly to some,violent,kind and moral. I am looking forward to the next book.
One Star, December 14, 2014
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Beyond the Law (Matt Rommel Book 2) (Kindle Edition)
Predictable!
One of the best reads this year, December 8, 2014
By
Amazon Customer (Farmington, MI USA) - See all my reviews
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Beyond the Law (Matt Rommel Book 2) (Kindle Edition)
This was one of the best books I've read this past year. It kept me glued to the plot throughout. The characters were well-rounded without being overexposed. The plot developed at a good pace and was believable. As I was going towards the end, I could not put it down, despite passing my normal bedtime by over an hour. Few books can do that to be.
I guess my best recommendation would be to let you all know that, based on my enjoyment of this book, I have purchased the first book in the series. I guess I'm hooked, which is not a bad thing.
I guess my best recommendation would be to let you all know that, based on my enjoyment of this book, I have purchased the first book in the series. I guess I'm hooked, which is not a bad thing.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
A great follow up to the first book, December 1, 2014
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Beyond the Law (Matt Rommel Book 2) (Kindle Edition)
Left me wanting more and hoping there is a third book in its way. Rommel is a new kind of hero.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Great read, November 24, 2014
By
This review is from: Beyond the Law (Matt Rommel Book 2) (Kindle Edition)
This was a great book. It kept me on the edge of my seat through out. That is when I wasn't laughing out loud. I can't wait to read the next book.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Monday, December 1, 2014
Swiss Gold Referendum Fails
By a landslide, the Swiss people have defeated a referendum that would have required the repatriation of Switzerland's gold and placed restrictions on the Swiss central bank preventing future sales.
The referendum was quite restrictive and the Swiss people may well have been wise to reject it.
Nonetheless, prior to the referendum, there was massive advertising warning of dire consequences should the measure pass. This advertising was paid for by gold-trading banks and central banks.
It's almost as if these banks did not want restraints placed on the liquidation of what Swiss gold remains, and the continuation of unchecked printing of fiat Swiss Francs.
The referendum was quite restrictive and the Swiss people may well have been wise to reject it.
Nonetheless, prior to the referendum, there was massive advertising warning of dire consequences should the measure pass. This advertising was paid for by gold-trading banks and central banks.
It's almost as if these banks did not want restraints placed on the liquidation of what Swiss gold remains, and the continuation of unchecked printing of fiat Swiss Francs.
Friday, November 21, 2014
Brevity, the soul of wit?
A San Francisco writer's group solicited input on new projects for local writers. This was my chance to summarize not only the new work in progress, but the two previous Matt Rommel adventures.
Drafting the third adventure in the Matt Rommel/Carolyn Kast series. 'Brand Loyalty' follows Carolyn through her desperate struggle to protect herself and her daughter, and 'Beyond the Law' brings Matt Rommel into a deadly struggle with America's most notorious mercenary corporation. This new adventure reaches into San Francisco's past for the sins and lucre that bring murder to the Palace of the Legion of Honor!
Drafting the third adventure in the Matt Rommel/Carolyn Kast series. 'Brand Loyalty' follows Carolyn through her desperate struggle to protect herself and her daughter, and 'Beyond the Law' brings Matt Rommel into a deadly struggle with America's most notorious mercenary corporation. This new adventure reaches into San Francisco's past for the sins and lucre that bring murder to the Palace of the Legion of Honor!
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Sherlock Holmes - The Curious Incident of the US Court in the night time
A US court has ruled that Sherlock Holmes, along with many stories and novels are now in the public domain. In other words, the copyright protection for these works has expired. In other words, any lazy, no-talent bozo can use the prestige and literary luster of this character to mislead the public into a bad purchase.
I will concede the point that there are talented people who have dedicated themselves to the world of Sherlock Holmes and to the much beloved characters contained within.
However, think about it for just a moment. In situations like this, who is more likely to be protected by this decision?
1) The talented, practiced, learned Sherlockian devotee?
2) The hack, corporate douche bag?
As a medical student Conan Doyle encountered a remarkable professor who demonstrated that keen observation and logical deduction could make the seemingly unknowable readily accessible. Conan Doyle honed that experience into a literary experience that thrilled and dominated the Victorian era.
Along with parlor tricks of logic, Conan Doyle wove the Anglo Saxon paragon who became a symbol of late 19th century English manhood. This took much time and cultivation. Holmes became a burden to Conan Doyle and, eventually, a portal to literary immortality.
So now anyone and everyone has unfettered access to the name and character and experiences of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson?
Not everyone who writes is up to it. Why must we endure such people and their efforts?
I do not sympathize with the estate of Conan Doyle. I mourn for the rest of us who are to have cubic yards of literary sludge heaped upon us.
A talented writer (or just an ordinary, honest one) would invent his own characters and weave new adventures.
When I want to read the adventures of Perry Mason or Lam and Cool, I read Erle Stanley Gardiner.
When I want to visit with Travis McGee, I read John D. MacDonald.
When I am in the mood for James Bond, I read Ian Fleming.
Is this unreasonable? Should one person's literary invention become another's schlock, all with the protection of the US courts?
Oh, well.
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Fan Art - Matt Rommel Series
"Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people who never knew each other, citizens of distant epochs." Carl Sagan
Matt Rommel's adventures are contemporary, no epochs to be traversed. But, there is something magical at work between a book and the person that reads that book. If the book is good enough, the reader sets aside time, opens his or her mind, and lives the adventure within.
As modest as my achievements are, thanks to Amazon Kindle, thousands and thousands of copies of the adventures of Matt Rommel, Carolyn Kast and her not to be underestimated daughter Aubrey, and that wildman of a septuagenarian, Gunny are spread across the United States and around the world.
I love getting a review. The fact that someone I usually don't know has taken the time to share their thoughts is a gift and, usually, an act of kindness.
Then there are a few people who go to a place that no one anticipates. I'm talking Fan Art.
I got this photo from Mike M. - a reader who saw a photo and wanted me to know that this is how he sees Carolyn Kast's living room, high in the Berkeley hills.
I may have shared this one before. Mey S.F. sent this to me. Two things are obvious to me.
1) Mey lives in a really nice house.
2) The quality and composition of this photo (and another set outdoors) are MUCH better than the promotional products of many professional photographers.
Sometimes a reader will visualize and re-imagine the entire book cover. Look at these:
There's no denying it, these covers are pretty snazzy. My sincere thanks to Ankit S. I'm not going to show the one with the Oprah Book Club seal attached. Those people would probably be on me in a heartbeat and I honestly don't need the grief. Ankit also sent me this a few months back:
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There are other Matt Rommel's in the world, and this one is currently the Homecoming King at Irvine Community College. Congratulations to this young Matt Rommel.
I cannot thank these people enough for their kindness, imagination, and talent. The overwhelming part of this is the thought that, because of the miracle of the written word, these people took these stories into themselves and created a special place in their memories for Matt, Carolyn and the gang.
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Amazon Scout is also into Max Tomlinson
It was scarcely a week ago. I was pleased to present Max Tomlinson's review of my most recent novel. If you recall, I mentioned that he has a following. If I didn't explicitly state that Max writes a great story, I hope you understood that to be true.
You know who else thinks Max Tomlinson is a talented, crowd-pleasing writer? Amazon. Yeah, that Amazon.
Amazon Scout is looking into Max in a big way and you can get in on it.
Come October 30th, go to the site below and read a nice slice of Max's new action adventure.
Then use the link to let Amazon know how you liked it.
Personally, I can hardly wait. I followed J.A. Konrath as he came up from traditional publishing to breakthrough in popular fiction.
Now I get to watch Max Tomlinson do it. And I get to get in on the ground floor and watch it happen.
October 30th and for a few days afterward. Don't miss out!
http://maxtomlinson.wordpress.com/kill-city-meth-noir-out-in-2015/
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Max Tomlinson reviews Beyond the Law
Max Tomlinson. Are you thinking you've heard that name? More likely, you know you have. Max Tomlinson is the author of the Nina Flores series. Max has a following so this is kind of a big deal for me.
Come to think of it, you should check Max and his creation Nina Flores out on Amazon. You won't regret it!
Everyone's favorite ex-Marine/museum docent takes San Francisco by storm, October 2, 2014
Come to think of it, you should check Max and his creation Nina Flores out on Amazon. You won't regret it!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Everyone's favorite ex-Marine/museum docent takes San Francisco by storm,
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Beyond the Law (A Matt Rommel Adventure) (Kindle Edition)
He's back:
Everyone's favorite ex-Marine/museum docent takes San Francisco by storm in this thoroughly entertaining mystery--along with Chesty, Aubrey and other characters from Brand Loyalty.
Kahren writes so well, it's almost a crime. Some very good prose that does not take itself too seriously. If it did, it would be gracing the pages of literary magazines.
But then, it wouldn't be so funny.
And entertaining is what The Matt Rommel books are.
Oh, there are new characters --The Gay Avenger?
I guess you'll just have to read it to find out.
Everyone's favorite ex-Marine/museum docent takes San Francisco by storm in this thoroughly entertaining mystery--along with Chesty, Aubrey and other characters from Brand Loyalty.
Kahren writes so well, it's almost a crime. Some very good prose that does not take itself too seriously. If it did, it would be gracing the pages of literary magazines.
But then, it wouldn't be so funny.
And entertaining is what The Matt Rommel books are.
Oh, there are new characters --The Gay Avenger?
I guess you'll just have to read it to find out.
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