Attention Amazon Kindle Readers!

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A Day of Horror: The March 11, 2011 Japan Earthquake-A Foreigner's Perspective, Amazon, Amazon Prime, e-book, Ghost Story, Horror, KDP Select, Kindle, Kindle Owners' Lending Library, Kindle Unlimited, Review, Short stories, The DiVacci Curse, The Great East Japan Earthquake

My nonfiction e-book and my fiction e-short story are now enrolled in KDP Select on Amazon.  This is good news for Amazon Prime, Kindle Owners’ Lending Library and Kindle Unlimited members.  Check em’ out!

For those who have already purchased and read my e-book and e-short story, thank you very much.  If you like what you read, then I encourage you to write a review and post it on Amazon.  I would be honored and grateful for your kindness and consideration.  If writing a review is not your thing, then please spread the word among your family and friends, co-workers, distant relatives, ex-spouses, etc.

As always, direct links to both books can be found on the “My Books” page of this blog. Thanks for reading.

Have a fun and safe summer!

Most humbly,

Brad

“You Can’t Judge a Book by Its Cover!”

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Amazon, Blood, e-book, Generic, Ghost Story, Gore, Graphic, Horror, Original Cover, Subtle, The DiVacci Curse, Updated Cover Design

 

That statement is so true.  Well, it’s taken a while (almost a year, actually) but I now have an original cover design for my ghost short story, “The DiVacci Curse.”

Only the cover has been changed.  The story and its contents remain the same.

When I first published the story last summer, I felt that it was more important to just get it published and out there, rather than delay publishing because of the cover page.  I opted to use one of Amazon’s predesigned cover pages that I liked, but was generic in nature.  I had no issues with the predesigned cover for a long time until I saw another book on Amazon (can’t remember if it was fiction or non-fiction) that used the same exact cover design…same font, colors, etc.  That’s when I realized that I needed to have an original cover design instead.

I now understand the importance of book covers.  Some readers do indeed “judge a book by its cover.”  Book covers can determine whether a reader investigates the e-book further or just clicks to another item or page, not even giving the book a second thought.

I prefer book covers that give the reader a general idea of the plot, rather than paint an overly vivid picture that is too demanding and busy for the eye. If too much is going on in the image, the message becomes confusing and complicated.  The author runs the risk of turning the reader off.  Sometimes “less is more” as previously mentioned in my post about “The Fog.”  This concept applies to book covers as well.

Remembering Sir Roger

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007, Audrey Hepburn, Humanitarian, James Bond, Knighthood, Queen Elizabeth, Sir Roger Moore, UNICEF

It has been a sad week.  On May 23, Sir Roger Moore passed away.  He wasn’t the original James Bond, but he was my favorite and the Bond that many of us grew up with.  He was one of my film heroes.

He was also a hero in real life.  Besides his illustrious acting career, Roger Moore was also a humanitarian.  He helped better, and possibly save, the lives of thousands, if not millions, of children around the world due to his UNICEF efforts.  He became an ambassador for UNICEF in 1991 after having been introduced to it by UNICEF ambassador Audrey Hepburn earlier in his acting career.  His efforts with UNICEF earned him a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth.  You can read more about his UNICEF accomplishments on the UNICEF website.

When I was a kid, Roger Moore was the “King of Cool.”  His Bond taught many guys like me how a well-mannered, sophisticated gentleman should act.  I was a small-town boy from southeast Louisiana.  My view of the world was limited. I was filled with pride and excitement when I first learned that Roger’s first Bond film, “Live and Let Die,” was partially filmed in New Orleans, Louisiana (a mere one hour drive from my hometown). Roger Moore’s James Bond opened my eyes to the world and showed me many exotic locales like England, Italy, France, Greece, Egypt, Brazil, Thailand, China, Jamaica and the The Bahamas just to name a few.  Henceforth, my desire to travel abroad and see the world was ignited.

Do You Know Why Today is a Special Day for Science Fiction and Fantasy Film Fans?

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1977, 40th Anniversary, 40th Birthday, George Lucas, May 25, Star Wars

A long time ago….a certain science fiction/fantasy film set my imagination on fire, dared me to dream big and changed the way the world has made and watched movies ever since.

“Star Wars” celebrates its 40^th anniversary today.   I still remember waiting in line to see it with my big brother and his friend at the University Twin Cinema across from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana in 1977.  I had no idea how the film would influence and shape my life when I settled into my seat for the evening feature.   My life would never be the same.

Thank you, Mr. Lucas, for setting us on that journey forty years ago into a galaxy far, far away.

Happy Birthday, Antonio Bay! Part 2!

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100th Birthday, Adrienne Barbeau, Amazon, Antonio Bay, California, Hal Holbrook, Horror, Jamie Lee Curtis, Janet Leigh, John Carpenter, John Houseman, The Fog, Tom Atkins

Well, if you guessed “The Fog” as the answer to the quiz in my previous post, then you’re right.  Congrats to those who knew the answer.  You certainly know your horror films!

Oddly,  I’m not a big horror movie fan.  Even though I enjoy writing in the horror and mystery genres, when it comes to film my personal movie collection is heavy with science fiction, fantasy, adventure and comedy rather than horror.  But, The Fog is one of my all time favorite horror movies (the original 1980 film directed by John Carpenter). The plot is simple, yet effective and harkens back to a nostalgic time of storytelling when ghost stories didn’t have to be gory or excessively violent to be frightening.  Sure, there is some violence in the film, but it isn’t very bloody or overt like many of the horror films and TV shows of today.  Although, the film is loaded with lots of “shocks” and “stingers” that definitely get your attention.  They are the kind of scares that happen really quick, that make you scream or jump, and then make you laugh at yourself afterward.  I won’t go into detail about the story because I don’t want to spoil it for anyone reading this who has never seen the film before.  I will mention, though, that it inspires me and encourages me to write scary stories that emphasize the old cliché, “Less is more.”

The Fog is pretty tame by current standards.  After all, it’s almost forty years old!  If you prefer your horror served up with gratuitous amounts of blood, gore and sex, then The Fog may not be for you.  However, if you enjoy clever, old school, spooky, sit-around-the-campfire ghost stories, then you might find it entertaining.  It’s a fun film to watch while curled up on the sofa with your favorite snack.

There are also a couple of personal reasons why I like The Fog.  I was a radio DJ/announcer for a few years when I lived in Louisiana, and briefly when I later lived in Florida.  So, the “Stevie Wayne” connection is something I can relate to.  Stevie Wayne is basically the main character of the film.  She is portrayed by Adrienne Barbeau.  She’s a single mom raising her son in a sleepy, yet somewhat charming little seaside town (Antonio Bay, California). Stevie recently bought a radio station atop the town lighthouse that overlooks the Pacific.  A good portion of the film takes place in and around the lighthouse/radio station.  I can relate to the tasks and responsibilities that Stevie has to contend with like the ever watchful and unforgiving demands of the clock, and time, that dictate a DJ’s every move and word while “on the air.”

Happy Birthday, Antonio Bay!

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100th Birthday, Antonio Bay, California, Horror

Ahoy, Mateys!

I’m coming at you from the top of world.  It’s a very special day today in the realm of horror fiction films.  Do you know why?  Do you have any idea what the title of this post is referring to?

If you think you do, then I encourage you to post feedback here with your guess.  What do you think it means?  I’d like to hear from you.

Stay tuned…all will be revealed…soon!

Short and Sweet!

Just wanted to wish you all a safe and happy Easter and a wonderful spring.

More coming soon……..

How To Download the Updated Version of My Kindle Book on Amazon if Previously Purchased

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A Day of Horror, Amazon, Bradley Lobue, e-book, Fukushima, Great East Japan Earthquake, Japan, Kindle, Update Available

As mentioned in my last post, Amazon has recently informed me that they have made the updated version (3rd Edition) of “A Day of Horror: The March 11, 2011 Japan Earthquake – A Foreigner’s Perspective” free to those readers who purchased previous editions of the book in the past before the current updated version became available.  I strongly encourage readers who have purchased any prior editions of my book in the past to download the new version as I think that it is a major improvement in readability and overall quality.  Some content has been omitted from the new edition, but some content has been added as well.  The 3rd edition also includes an update about the current situation in Fukushima prefecture as of last summer (2016).

If you purchased any previous editions of the book from Amazon and are interested in reading the latest edition, then I have explained how you can access the new content below.  *A note, the instructions below are for readers who purchased the book from Amazon.com (U.S.A.).  The updated download may not be available in all countries where Amazon operates.  I’m sorry for any inconvenience that this may cause.  Thank you for understanding.

Step 1.  After you sign into your Amazon account, find “Manage Your Content and Devices” on your account page as shown in the example below.

Step 2.  Click on “Manage Your Content and Devices.”  You will see your content listed on the page.  Type in “A Day of Horror” in the Search bar as shown below.  The book title will appear and next to it you will see the “Update Available” button as shown below.  Click on it and follow the instructions to download the latest edition.

I would like to thank everyone who has purchased “A Day of Horror: The March 11, 2011 Japan Earthquake – A Foreigner’s Perspective.”  I also appreciate those of you who are following or have “liked” this blog.  Your kind support and interest is very much appreciated!

Until my next post, have a good one!

 

 

 

Updates Are Here!

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3rd Edition, 6th anniversary, Amazon, Great East Japan Earthquake, Japan, March 11 2011 earthquake

As promised, “A Day of Horror: The March 11, 2011 Japan Earthquake – A Foreigner’s Perspective” has been revised and updated and is now available from Amazon.  Thank you for your patience.  As mentioned in my previous post, I was very green when I first wrote and published it. It was my fledgling self-publishing venture.  I feel that this new edition is a long overdue improvement in the overall readability and user-friendliness of the book.  The book has also been updated with recent facts and figures on the status of the crisis.

The book is a detailed account of my experiences with the earthquake and the nuclear crisis.  It gives information about the event from my perspective, an American living in Japan. It also gives a little insight into Japanese life and culture. If you’re curious about that fateful day in the history of Japan (and the events that followed in its wake) or if you wonder what it’s like to live here, then I encourage you to check it out.  A link to the new edition of the book is located on the “My Books” page of this blog.

To those who have already purchased and read my book, thank you. Amazon recently informed me that previous purchasers of the book will be able to access the latest edition via the “Manage Your Content and Devices” page in their Amazon accounts.

Updates Coming Soon!

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e-book, Japan, March 11 2011 earthquake, revised and updated

I recently discovered that there are some major format flaws and issues that are negatively affecting the readability and user-friendliness of my first e-book effort, “A Day of Horror:  The March 11, 2011 Japan Earthquake.”  For those who have purchased my book over the past five years since its first publication, I emphatically apologize.  As mentioned before, I’m not a techie.  Besides, it was my first self-publishing experience and I was very green.

It’s been a challenge keeping up with the upgrades and trends in the self-publishing business and without the help and support of a major publishing powerhouse behind one, it can be a daunting task to keep an e-book current, especially when one considers the complications involved with improvements in self-publishing software and the various requirements of different e-book readers and devices.

I’m currently in the process of reformatting (in a major way) my March 11th book. Once that update is complete and the new version is available, then I’ll be sure to post the announcement here.

As always, thank you for your patience and understanding.