SORMAG

Shades of Romance online magazine (Sormag) has featured The Sea of Aaron and Kymberly Hunt in its author of the month blog segment http://sormagblogspot.com/.  Thanks to editor LaShaunda Hoffman.

Also if any readers out there enjoyed The Sea of Aaron, the author would welcome brief reviews posted on Amazon.

Black Pearls Magazine

Black Pearls is an informative online multicultural magazine that features stories and articles by both new and well-known writers.  This is a forum that I hope will continue to prosper and grow.  There are many writers who would not even be promoted  if not for the Internet.

Black Pearls Magazine has graciously published a short, short story of mine entitled Unrequited along with a brief bio and an introduction to my latest work The Sea of Aaron.  If anyone wishes to read Unrequited it can be viewed at http://www.blackpearlsmagazine.com.  I also recently read an interesting article entitled "God's Love is beauty" that was well-written by Alicia C. McGhee.  Readers will find a lot in Black Pearls Magazine, so check it out.

The Good Old Days

Back when I was a kid there used to be great bookstores all over the place.  Most of these stores were quirky dimly-lit abodes that possessed the wonderful scent of printer's ink and book paste that all frequent readers have come to love.  The wonderful scent used to be lurking around every corner as books practically leaped off the shelves trying to get into eager hands.

Then along came the big bookstore chains like Borders and Barnes & Noble who gobbled up the independently owned stores and soon afterward, the old rule of "what goes around comes around" went into effect.  Borders has now vanished from the scene with hardly a whimper, and who knows what the future holds for Barnes & Noble.

There used to be record stores too.  Record stores that actually sold vinyl. Remember them?  Loved to browse through all the albums and check out the artwork on the covers.

Just as the world changes, the way we access entertainment changes too.  Technology (the internet, Kindle etc.) is mostly a good thing, but there are moments when it leaves one feeling sentimental and saddened over the demise of  the good old days.    

The Sea of Aaron summary

Ever since dancing with him at her best friend's wedding two years ago, Valerie Redmond has been infatuated with handsome Aaron Weiss in spite of the fact that he is a cynical globe-trekking soldier of fortune with a violent past.  As a spiritual-minded, responsible woman, Valerie knows that a serious relationship with him could prove disastrous.  But the heart can be treacherous and difficult to control.

Aaron has never intended to have a committed relationship with any woman and has been deliberately avoiding Valerie so he won't have to deal with his feelings for her.  When the two are suddenly forced to spend time together in an exotic locale, his resolve is seriously put to the test.

This story is a contemporary romance with inspirational overtones.  Not recommended for readers who demand hot & steamy.

Sankofa Literary Society

I happened to be surfing the web and noticed that The Sea of Aaron was chosen as one of the top 100 books on Sankofa Literary society's 2011 1st quarter list.  I'm thrilled and honored that the story was appreciated by members of this group.

The book (out in August) can be pre-ordered on Amazon.com.    

Update

Here is the cover the publishers selected for The Sea of Aaron and it's not bad. The problem is that while there is nothing wrong with the couple depicted on said cover, they just have little to do with the characters in the story.

The whole marketing aspect (which is difficult to begin with) would be easier if the cover reflected the story. With that being said, silhouette people against the backdrop of a troubled sea would have been perfect.

Time to move on. Whatever happens, I'm determined to keep writing even if it's for an audience of one.

Snow Day

Survived what I hope is the last blizzard of 2010. The Rockland County area received over a foot of the white stuff. Schools were closed for the holiday season, so at least the highway dept. didn't have to worry about clearing the way for school buses and the like. Kudos to the guys behind the snowplows who did a really good job battling the elements.

Snow days are always good for writing and I was able to make significant headway on 2 new projects. One is a YA novel that will be very different from what I usually write. The Sea of Aaron is due out in August but I still don't know what the publishers have selected for the cover.

Here we are again tottering on the brink of a new year. Hope it's a good one for all.