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D. W. Brooks
Homecoming Chaos is a ‘Model MD’ novel of romantic suspense that follows Jamie’s return home after a failed wedding that led her to flee her family and job for an overseas refuge.
Now she’s back, rebuilding broken bridges and facing a murder mystery and an attractive detective who is determined to uncover the truth.
Jamie’s experiences, perspective, and challenges neatly dovetail with insights into the perp and others who circle around her life. These add depth and intrigue to the story of an unusual homecoming that challenges many characters:
“After his release from prison, he had to confront the women who’d contributed to the end of his life as he knew it. It didn’t go well. The first woman he’d confronted in that parking lot ended up dead.”
From company politics and a father who feels responsible for security’s failure to protect to choices that Jamie, too, now regrets, D. W. Brooks spins a compelling saga. It revolves around those who seek chaos, those who try to prevent it, and individuals who return to their roots in an effort to consider better and different options in their responses to adversity.
The blend of romance, intrigue, and family ties is well done. Brooks creates a compelling series of chaotic encounters in which disparate characters harboring their own special interests and prejudices grow from their mistakes as well as their successes.
At stake in Jamie’s decision-making process are the family business, the outcome of a murder investigation, a hot detective’s ability to love her, and a future that is determined not by past chaos, but present-day growth.
Brooks focuses on characters that evolve through desperation and surprising circumstances which test their moral and ethical mettle as well as their abilities to evolve and change. This creates an attraction that nicely supplements the investigative tone of the story, providing draw for readers who look for more than a murder mystery or romance alone.
Libraries and readers interested in multifaceted stories of growth, family ties, and hard decisions that lead full circle will find Homecoming Chaos a compelling story of dreams, nightmares, and revised perceptions of home and self.
–D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review


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Response to Concussion Lawsuit Shows NHL Still in Denial
Only three months after the NFL reached a landmark $765 million settlement with thousands of ex-players who sued the league over concussion-related brain injuries, 10 former NHL players have filed a class-action lawsuit claiming that the league is not only failing […]
NHL: Fighting Is Not The Problem
Let me get straight to the point, fighting isn’t the problem in hockey. Hockey is the problem. When I saw that fighting was likely to be a hot button topic when the NHL general managers get together, I rolled my eyes […]
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NHLPA Must Ratify Hybrid Icing For 2013-14 Season
In today’s world of evolving player safety in all sports, the NHL is doing its part to keep up with the other major professional sports leagues. After years of concern over races for pucks that would result in an icing […]

domain: news


Russian hackers account for most 2021 ransomware schemes, US says
Out of 793 ransomware incidents reported in the second half of 2021, 75% 'had a nexus to Russia, its proxies, or persons acting on its behalf,' reports say.
US authorities disclose ransomware attacks against water facilities
The alert from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency cited a series of apparently unrelated hacking incidents from September 2020 to August 2021 that used at least three different strains of ransomware.
Nations reveal ransomware pain at US-led summit
The US has convened some 30 countries – with the notable exception of Russia – to boost cooperation in fighting the costly and disruptive attacks that have boomed around the world.
Ukrainian extradited to US for ‘trafficking’ computer passwords
Ivanov-Tolpintsev controlled a network of computers infected with malware without their owners' knowledge – and used it to decrypt their access codes.
Ransomware gang websites vanish after Biden pressures Putin
The disappearance comes after a series of high-profile ransomware attacks hit major US businesses this year.
FBI warns of large ‘scale’ in US ransomware attack
The FBI has opened an investigation along with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and other US federal agencies 'to understand the scope of the threat'.
FBI hacks hackers’ bitcoin wallet, steals back most of pipeline ransom
Stealing back a ransom shows how far the US is willing to go to deter cyber-criminals.
Vital US fuel pipeline shut down in ransom cyber-attack
The Colonial Pipeline carries more than 100 million gallons of gasoline and other fuel daily from Houston, Texas, to the New York Harbor.
International police boffins take down ‘most dangerous botnet’
The malware enabled international criminals to access financial details and other lucrative personal information.


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The City of Toronto has a second lawsuit on its hands since announcing in June that it was banning plastic shopping bags.
The Canadian Plastic Bag Association, an advocacy organization representing plastic bag manufacturers and distributors, filed legal papers Tuesday in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice seeking to quash the ban.
The bag ban will come into effect on Jan. 1, but city staff have said offenders will not be fined during the first six months when the emphasis will be placed on educating people on alternatives to plastic bags.
The CPBA is arguing that the ban is unlawful and "it was passed in bad faith," according to a written statement.
"As Toronto City Council gave no notice, undertook no public consultation, carried out no due diligence, and received no advice prior to adopting the plastic bag ban, the bag ban resolution ought to be quashed for having been passed in bad faith," said Joe Hruska, a spokesman for the CPBA.
Last week, the city's public works committee invited deputants to speak on the bylaw drafted to implement the ban. The majority of the approximately 20 deputants got turned away by the committee's chair, Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong, because they came to speak about the pros and cons of the ban. Mr. Minnan-Wong stressed that the ban had already been passed and that deputants could only speak about how the ban would be implemented.
Contrary to what Mr. Hruska said, Councillor Gord Perks, also on the public works committee, said the city had conducted extensive consultations in 2008 while deciding whether to ban plastic bags or implement a bag fee.
Sally Potter, a spokeswoman for the CPBA, said that since 2008, plastic shopping bags have been added to recycling bins, and that the province has seen a 50 per cent reduction in the number of plastic bags being distributed. Ms. Potter said a recent CPBA poll showed that two out of three Torontonians would rather reduce, reuse and recycle than see a ban.
After last week's deputations, Mr. Minnan-Wong publicly stated that he did not agree with the ban, and said he hoped the private sector would sue the city.
The Ontario Convenience Stores Association, representing convenience store owners, launched the first lawsuit against the city on Nov. 15 seeking a reversal of the bag ban.

domain: sociology


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70+ Book Marketing Ideas to Rocket-Boost Your Sales
No matter what kind of book they’re writing, every self-publishing author will eventually arrive at the same question: what’s the best way to market it? The good news is that tons of other indie authors have grappled with this question already — and that by following in their footsteps, you can create a book marketing plan that will have your book flying off the shelves.
In this post, we offer up 70+ book marketing ideas to help you out. It also features a free book marketing checklist you can print out and use to track your progress! And if you’re craving even more info straight from the pen of an expert, check out our free book marketing guide How to Market a Book: Overperform in a Crowded Market, written by our very own Ricardo Fayet.
Give your book the help it deserves
The best professional book marketers are right here on Reedsy.
Learn how Reedsy can help you craft a beautiful book.
But this post is getting ahead of itself. For those first dipping a toe into the marketing waters, we’ll begin with the essentials. Those who are more advanced, feel free to skip ahead! We’ll be covering:
- Book marketing basics
- Finding your target audience
- Researching keywords and categories
- Perfecting your product
- Growing your mailing list
- Building your platform
- Navigating your book launch
- Cross-promoting with other authors
- Running price promotions
- Creating ads for your book
- More book marketing ideas
- Infographic: Book Marketing Checklist
Book marketing basics
Just getting started with book marketing? Here are 10 fundamental things every single author should do to market their book.
1. Get your book info right
Successful marketing starts with the book itself, especially the information you attach when you publish. This info will include your book title, author name, and description, but also elements you may not have considered like searchable keywords and categories.
We’ll talk more about how to optimize your keywords, categories, and book description below, but for starters, just make sure you have them and that they’re consistent across retailers.
2. Set up your store links
Speaking of retailers, after publishing your book, you’ll want to set up your various store links for readers. If you’ve only self-published on Amazon, this will be easy — one link, which you can make as clean as possible by removing everything from the URL except "/dp/[alphanumeric code]", like so: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08TZJQ1FB.
If you’ve published on other stores like Apple Books and Google Play, it’s easy to generate links from within those apps as well. Don’t assume every reader will want to go through Amazon! Have store links ready from every platform you’ve published on so they can take their pick.
3. Create a website
And where will you share those store links? One of the best places is your author website — which you should go ahead and create if you haven’t already. Platforms like Wordpress and Wix make it simple to set up a website for yourself, or you can hire a web designer to do it for you.
Learn more: How to Create an Amazing Author Website (blog post)
4. Use social media
In this day and age, social media is probably just as important as having a website in terms of book marketing. Luckily, this is something you’ll almost definitely have already — and if not, it’s super easy to set up accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Start by following authors and hashtags that are relevant to your book and creating a general plan for what sort of content you want to share. Check out the post linked above for more tips!
5. Interact with readers
This falls under the umbrella of social media, but it’s so essential that it’s worth its own tip: in order to attract readers, you need to interact with them. Ask them questions, reply to their comments, and follow them back if they have strong accounts of their own (especially if that includes lots of followers). Build relationships and engage with them on a deep level.
6. Employ a lead magnet
A lead magnet is something you offer readers in exchange for their information. For example, you might send the first chapter of your book to readers who give you their email address.
Lead magnets are indispensable for capturing people you’ll hopefully convert to paying customers down the line, so it’s never too early to start thinking about them. We’ll talk more about different ideas and techniques for lead magnets below.
7. Run price promotions
Getting back to your book and where you sell it, another crucial marketing tactic is running price promotions to entice bargain-minded customers (which is to say, just about everyone). You can discount your book or even offer it up for free, then boost your promotion on other platforms. For more info on this, skip to the section of this post that’s all about price promotions.
8. Angle for book reviews
Getting book reviews should always be one of your top marketing priorities — indeed, you must start working on this long before your book launches, so you’ll have reviews right from the jump. Our post is a great primer on how to get book reviews as a new author, but the gist is: reach out to reviewers early and often, offer plenty of ARCs, and encourage people to cross-post their reviews to multiple platforms.
9. Engage with other authors
And just as you’re making the effort with readers and reviewers, don’t forget about your fellow authors. Cultivate a strong network to promote you and your book by engaging with other authors on social media, supporting them with positive feedback and anything else they might need, and potentially even cross-promoting with them.
10. Don’t stop hustling
Through it all, remember that book marketing is a process: even if you tick off these boxes, you can’t just lie back and expect your book sales to sustain themselves. You need to make a constant, genuine effort for your readers both before and after your launch date — and if it doesn’t seem like your strategy is working, don’t be afraid to switch things up!
Finding your target audience
Now let’s talk more advanced tactics. Ideally, you’ll have thought about your target audience before you even started writing! But no matter what stage you’re at, these tips on narrowing down your target audience and niche can really help refine your marketing strategy.
11. Consider your market
First off, you’ll want to consider the overall market for your book. You can evaluate this by searching for your book’s primary keyword on Amazon to see how many results show up and how well those books are selling. For example, if you’d written a book on smoking cessation, you might search “how to stop smoking” in Amazon Books. You’d then look at the Best Sellers Rank (under “Product details”) of the top results.
If the top 3 books are bestsellers but books #4-10 barely sell at all, you might try another marketing angle — possibly a more specific one, like “how to stop smoking as a working mom”. The market for this angle won’t be quite so saturated, and you’ll have a better chance of selling your book.
12. Build a proto-persona
Next you’ll want to create a proto-persona: a hypothetical reader who slots perfectly into your target market. Give this reader a profile that includes a name, occupation, and home life. You’ll think about this proto-persona every time you make a marketing decision, which will help you envision your readers as real people and cater to them more concretely.
13. Find out where this person “lives”
We’re not suggesting you physically stalk someone — only that you figure out where your proto-persona might hang out online, so you can ensure your marketing efforts reach them. Pore over Goodreads reviews, Reddit threads, and the social media accounts of authors similar to yours to find people like your proto-persona. Then adjust their profile accordingly!
14. Focus on what sets you apart
This is what you really need to market your book: something that sets you apart from the competition. With fiction, that might be a unique character, an unusual setting, or a particularly compelling narrative voice.
For nonfiction, finding an angle can be a little tougher. When in doubt, emphasize your personal expertise or connection to what you’re writing about. For example, anyone can write about how to grow a small business, but nobody else could write about how you grew your small business.
Learn more: How to Validate Your Book Idea (free course)
Researching keywords and categories
Keywords and categories are the descriptive tags you’ll add to your book to help readers find it on Amazon and other retailers. You’ll have chosen them when setting up your book info, but here are a few tips to optimize them for better sales.
Alternatively, our post on how to promote your book on Amazon might be worth a read if you're planning to sell exclusively through this platform.
15. Select relevant niche categories
For your Amazon categories — which are labels like “Domestic Thriller” and “Adventure Travel” — you’ll want to strike a balance between popular categories and categories that aren’t too competitive. This will give you the best possible chance of becoming a #1 Best Seller in your category, which is a huge advantage for marketing.
16. Identify best selling keywords
Finding the right Amazon keywords may be less intuitive than selecting your categories, but looking at bestsellers in your genre or subgenre is a great jumping-off point. You won’t be able to view the exact keywords entered into Amazon, but you can see which phrases keep popping up in those books’ titles and descriptions.
17. Get into "tick box" categories
Some Amazon categories have tick boxes in the sidebar allowing readers to refine their search. For example, Romance categories have "Romantic Heroes" ("Alpha Males," "BBW," "Bikers," "Cowboys," etc.), and "Romantic Themes" ("Amnesia," "Beaches," "International," etc.). The only way to get into those categories is to use the right Amazon keywords. If you place your book in a category that has tick box options, make a smart use of your keywords to ensure your book shows up when readers tick relevant boxes.
18. Use longer keywords for more “phrase matches”
Make each keyword as long and detailed as possible to hit more “phrase matches” for what readers might search. For example, a book tagged with the keyword “dark academia” will index for that single term, but the longer keyword “Ivy League secret society dark academia” allows it to index for multiple search terms — effectively maximizing your exposure to readers.
19. Refresh when needed
No matter how carefully you’ve chosen your initial keywords and categories, you still need to update them every so often. Every few weeks or months, try switching out a keyword or two, maybe including a hot new comp title to capitalize on what’s trending. If your sales had been going strong but are starting to flag, that’s a clear sign to revisit and refresh your data.
Perfecting your product
To compete with other books of a professional standard, your book needs to be polished in everything from visual presentation to marketing blurb. Follow these tips to do just that.
20. Edit and format professionally
If you haven’t already gotten your book professionally edited and formatted, drop everything and do it now. Marketing can solve a lot of problems, but it can’t make readers see beyond pages of typos, run-on sentences, and odd spacing — so take care of all that before you publish.
Need a professional yet budget-friendly formatting solution? Look no further than the Reedsy Book Editor, which has beautiful book formatting templates you can use for free!
21. Design an eye-catching, genre-friendly cover
Of course, readers will see your cover before they ever open your book, so cover design is just as important as editing and layout (if not more so). Return to books similar to yours and think about how your cover might cater to readers’ expectations while still standing out.
A pro book cover designer can really help with this — and if you don’t have any design experience yourself, you’ll definitely want to hire a professional. Don’t take any chances with your #1 marketing tool!
22. Write an engaging book description
Your book description, the second thing readers will see after your cover, is another key marketing factor. Make it snappy, with a focus on your hook (aka that thing that sets you apart). This isn’t a place for a detailed synopsis; the goal is to leave readers wanting so they actually read your book. Learn more in our post on how to write a book description that sells.
23. Refine your sample chapter(s)
Your sample chapter is the third and final element of your book (along with your cover and description) that readers will experience before buying it — and the most likely to sway them based on the quality of your writing. Again, professional editing and formatting is crucial, but you’ll also want to make sure this chapter encompasses your hook and your best prose.
Note that Amazon’s “Look Inside” feature does not allow you to select which pages readers can see, so by default, your sample chapter on Amazon will have to be your first chapter. However, you can always polish up another chapter to use as a sample on your own website, or even as a lead magnet for your mailing list.
24. Construct an author bio
Readers are less likely to look at your author bio before buying your book, but it’s good to have a strong one just in case. As with your description, this doesn’t need to be very long. The main things to remember are that a) you don’t want an author bio that’s wildly inconsistent with the tone of your book (for example, a humorous bio in a book about war), and b) if you’re writing nonfiction, you should get your credentials in there.
25. Update your product over time
Finally, you’ll want to update your product info and even your book’s appearance from time to time. If your sales are faltering or you just haven’t refreshed things in awhile, try spicing up your book description with more keywords or quotes from reviews.
Design-wise, consider slapping a sticker or pull quote on your cover, or spring for a full redesign — it could boost your sales by up to 50%. Basically, don’t get complacent; there’s always room for improvement!
Growing your mailing list
Now for a few tips to help you master the art of the mailing list, which is a critical part of any author’s marketing strategy.
26. Set it up
First things first, choose a platform to set up and manage your mailing list. Services like MailChimp and MailerLite are user-friendly and provide valuable data about how many people open your emails, click your links, unsubscribe, etc.
27. Add a subscribe button to your website
Remember that author website you set up? Now’s the time to decorate it with lead-capturing opportunities for your mailing list, including a “Subscribe” button in your site header and/or sidebar. Make sure it’s large enough to attract readers’ attention and that it takes them to the correct page to subscribe.
28. Install exit pop-ups to grab more people
Another useful feature is an exit pop-up that asks people to subscribe to your mailing list before they leave your site. Since this can (and should) be more elaborate than a button, feel free to experiment with different images and text to see what brings in the most subscribers. Also consider hiring a marketer to assist you with this and other ads (see below).
29. Get creative with lead magnets
When in doubt, remember that people love free stuff! You can always incentivize subscribers with lead magnets. Offer up a chapter of your book if you haven’t already, or even the whole thing if you have multiple books to sell. Many authors have great success turning the first book of their series into a lead magnet so people will buy the rest.
Other lead magnet ideas include: infographics, checklists, and templates with information your readers might find valuable. Or, if you want it to be interactive, try a survey or quiz where people receive their results or more info by email (and get subscribed to your mailing list in the process).
30. Attract subscribers with giveaways
Not keen on using your own content for lead magnets? Try giveaways! For example, if you write horror and want to attract fellow horror enthusiasts, you could give away a Stephen King box set or a classic horror movie poster. Just add a line to your subscribe button/pop-up about how people have to subscribe to your mailing list to be eligible, and you’re all set.
31. Capture leads with Facebook ads
Facebook ads have proven surprisingly effective for authors targeting specific audiences, and they're also a staple method in digital marketing. While you may prefer to use ads to direct users to your Amazon page (more on that below), you can also use them to capture mailing list leads, as Mark Dawson describes here.
32. Provide consistent, interesting content
Got some subscribers gathered around your virtual campfire? Make sure you’re keeping them warm — that is, providing regular and useful content via your mailing list. “Regular” is relative, but you probably don’t want to send emails more frequently than once a week, or less frequently than every couple of months.
As for what this content should look like, it’s up to you! Some authors like to give intimate personal updates, while others prefer to keep things factual. You’ll get a sense from your readers’ responses of what sort of emails they prefer, and can adjust based on that.
33. Give, give, give, then ask
Lastly, remember to “give, give, give, then ask.” In other words, don’t ask your subscribers to do something for you (like buy your new book) until you’ve gained their loyalty with a steady stream of thoughtful content — showing that you value them as more than just dollar signs.
Building your platform
With your product perfected and your mailing list in full swing, let’s talk about the other major components of your author platform.
34. Hone your social media presence
Unless you’ve been living in a cave like our friend here, you’re probably already on social media — but you may not have calibrated your social media presence with the aim of marketing your book. The key is to pick just one or two of the main platforms and focus your efforts there, rather than spreading yourself too thin over a dozen different apps.
To select the right platform, think back to where your target readers and other potentially interested parties hang out. For example, if you’ve written a book about energy trading, most of the relevant discourse will probably happen on Twitter. But if you’ve written a lifestyle or home improvement book, Instagram and Pinterest will be your weapons of choice.
35. Run contests
After you’ve narrowed down your platform(s) and are putting out regular book-related content, you can mix things up with fun promotions. One great thing to do is run a contest — for example, a fanart contest for your book, or a small writing contest that you judge. Promotions like this make your audience want to interact with you on social, which will make the algorithms like you too.
36. Do AMAs and Q&As
Another hot tip for engagement: have your readers just ask you what they want to know! Tell them to submit their questions via social media for a classic live-answer AMA. Or if you prefer to take your time with responses, you can answer these in a longer, more detailed Q&A feature that you post on your website or send to your mailing list.
37. Maintain a Goodreads page
As any author will tell you, Goodreads is a major hub for the literary community, so get your book(s) and author profile on there as soon as you can. You can do this through the Goodreads Author Program, which allows you to claim your book, link your social media on your page, and post updates for your fans.
38. Speak at conferences and events
Speaking at any kind of conference or event lends you credibility, which is especially important for nonfiction authors. Keep an eye out for events in your niche — you might hear about these on Twitter, through a relevant organization, or from another author — and always be prepared to pitch yourself as a panelist or presenter. You can also take matters into your own hands and organize a local TEDx event.
39. Attend book festivals
Book festivals provide another great opportunity to network. Here you can meet readers, swap advice with other authors, and rub elbows with industry professionals — not to mention book festivals are just tons of fun!
40. Try event-friendly giveaways
At events like these, every person you meet is a potential new fan, so have event-friendly giveaways ready to win them over. Examples include: copies of your book, buttons and stickers, and other small bits of merchandise to help people remember you.
What about for virtual events? Easy — ask people to sign up for your mailing list to receive a lead magnet like an excerpt or infographic. You can also do this at the end of any presentation you might give, as it’s cheaper and easier than handing out merch to a room of people.
41. Get testimonials
All this networking is bound to lead to some impressive connections. Make the most of them by asking for testimonials from fellow authors and experts to use in your marketing materials. Again, this is extra-important for nonfiction authors, for whom credibility is everything; an endorsement from a well-known figure in your field is a golden ticket to book sales.
Navigating your book launch
On top of everything you’ve been doing to build your following, here are a few specific tips to help you navigate your book launch — though for the record, you should start preparing for your launch several months in advance if you want the best chance at success.
42. Set up pre-orders
With Amazon KDP, you can make your ebook available for pre-order up to a year in advance. Simply fill in your Kindle eBook Details page like normal, but for the last section, select “Make my Kindle eBook available for Pre-order” rather than publishing it. Click here to read more about setting up pre-orders for your book on Amazon.
43. Optimize your Amazon Author Page
Speaking of Big A, you’ll also want to optimize your Amazon Author Page, where readers will go to learn more about you. This page should include a high-resolution author photo and a nice, detailed bio, as well as blog posts, video updates and, of course, your books.
44. Join Amazon’s affiliate program
To make the most of the Amazon links you share, be sure to join Amazon’s affiliate program, which allows you to earn extra money from every sale you direct to Amazon. (This isn’t limited to your books, either — anything that a customer purchases during an affiliate session will earn you a small commission!)
45. Put together a street team
Another thing you’ll need for your book launch is a street team: a group of friends, family, and fans who will spread the word about your book and provide crucial early reviews. Check out our post for tips on building and utilizing your street team, and remember to keep them in the loop leading up to your launch.
46. Reach out to reviewers
You can also get book reviews by reaching out to book blogs and publications. The first option will probably be your best bet — just make sure any bloggers you contact belong to your target audience, maintain an active and relevant blog, and are actually accepting books for review.
Not sure where to start? Check out our directory of book review blogs, which you can filter by category to find the perfect person to review your book!
47. Submit to Reedsy Discovery
Or cut out the guesswork and submit your book to Reedsy Discovery — a new platform that matches every submission with an experienced reviewer. For $50, you’ll receive a professional, honest review, a spot on the Discovery feed, and even the chance to be featured in our newsletter. Learn more about launching your book on Reedsy Discovery.
48. Create a book trailer
If you have the time and ability (or a friend who knows how to use Final Cut Pro), another awesome pre-launch tactic is to create a book trailer. Keep in mind this medium won’t suit every type of story, but if you’ve written a fantasy or sci-fi novel, or a dramatic thriller or memoir, consider capitalizing on its cinematic potential.
Cross-promoting with other authors
As an indie author, one of your greatest marketing resources is fellow authors in your niche. Here’s how to join forces to reach more readers.
49. Locate other authors like you
To work with other authors, you’ll first need to identify them. If you’ve looked into books similar to yours and cultivated an active social media presence, this shouldn’t be too difficult. Reach out to them via DM or email, sending a personalized query to each about who you are and how you’d like to work together (rather than the generic “Wanna collab?”).
50. Double your social reach
The simplest form of authorial cross-promotion is to shout each other out on social media. For the best results, craft the post(s) for your collaborator or give them a list of talking points so they know what to highlight. And make sure it’s a fair exchange — you don’t want to be promoting them to your 5,000 followers while they’re only promoting you to 5 people!
51. Do virtual takeovers
To promote your book more extensively, you can also run multi-post takeovers of each others’ social accounts. Ideally these will intersect to bring all your collective followers to both of you. For example, you might come up with an Instagram Easter Egg hunt that goes back and forth between your accounts and ends with a prize for the winner.
52. Guest post on their site
If your author friend has a well-trafficked blog, you might also ask to guest-write for them! See what sort of topic they’d like, or suggest something creative of your own (for example, a post on your writing process or tips for worldbuilding in your subgenre).
The great thing about this tactic is that you don’t necessarily have to offer them a guest slot in return — if you can provide interesting and valuable info for their readers, that may be favor enough.
53. Co-host a webinar
Take your cross-promotion to the next level by co-hosting a webinar. This can either outright promote both your books, perhaps as a mutual Q&A session (the pros do this all the time!), or it can be on another topic where you share knowledge and audience interest. Just be sure you’re mentioning your titles in there somewhere.
54. Bundle your books
Bundling your books for a giveaway is another amazing way to reach more readers — and indeed, to reward readers who subscribe to or follow both of you. And if you really want to commit, you can even bundle your books as a box set to sell together.
Running price promotions
Remember how people love free stuff? They also love discounted stuff — and, well, stuff that’s discounted to be free. These tips will serve you well in all your price promotional endeavors.
55. Choose your Amazon promotions wisely
As part of Amazon’s KDP Select program, you can run only one price promotion on your book per 90-day enrollment period. You may choose between a Kindle Free Promotion (which can last up to 5 days) or a Kindle Countdown Deal (which includes any non-free discount, and can last up to a week). Whether you go discounted or free, or alternate between the two, is up to you… but choose wisely, as you won’t be able to try the other until the next enrollment period.
56. Go through suitable book promo sites
It’s not enough to just run a price promotion on Amazon — you also have to promote that promotion. You should do this on your own platforms, of course, but also through external promo sites that will advertise your price promotions to entirely new segments of readers.
Discover reputable sites right here in our directory of book promotion services, which lists over 60 great places to promote your book.
57. Have a multi-tiered promotion strategy
Though it might seem like a good idea to channel all your promotional power into the first day of your launch, this can lead to a sales spike and drop-off, which Amazon’s algorithms don’t like.
Instead, try to make a sustained effort over a week or so! For example, you might set your book’s standard price pretty low and promote it that way for 1-2 days, then start running a Kindle Free Promotion and spread out your external promos over the next five days.
58. Make your book perma-free on Amazon
That said, if you simply want maximum exposure, i.e. as many downloads as possible, you can make your book permanently free on Amazon. All you have to do is set your book’s price to free on other retailers, then ask Amazon to price-match it. You can do this via KDP Support, under “Pricing” → “Price Matching” on the left.
59. Use your backlist to promote your new book
Finally, if you’ve written a series or even just one other book, you can add an excerpt and a link to your new book in the back matter of your existing one(s)! Then consider price-promoting the old book in order to boost it. Because it ends with a note about your new book, you’ll effectively be promoting two books at once.
Creating ads for your book
Advertising your book might sound intimidating, but a little investment here (both time- and money-wise) can lead to great rewards.
60. Learn to use Facebook Advertising
With infinitely customizable audiences and a low minimum spend of $5 a day, Facebook is the perfect platform for authors to reach potential new readers. There’s a small learning curve involved, but the payoff is worth it!
61. A/B test your assets
The other main benefit of Facebook ads is that the platform lets you “A/B test” your ads to determine if readers respond better to a different blurb, title, or cover image. Even a 10% difference in clicks can make all the difference to your sales — so be sure to test, test, test until you find the optimal visual assets.
62. Try out Amazon Marketing Services
Another useful advertising option, Amazon Marketing Services (AMS) allows authors to pay for ad placements on Amazon itself. The biggest upside of AMS is that it only charges you when a user actually clicks on your ad; you won’t be charged for people just seeing it. Curious to know more? Check out these detailed case studies on Amazon ads for authors.
63. Look into BookBub ads
Facebook, Amazon, and BookBub are the Big 3 of author advertising platforms, and this third platform is arguably the easiest to get started on — though you’ll typically have to do a lot more testing to get good results. Still, if you’ve got plenty of time on your hands and you’re motivated to learn about this high-level, potentially very high-ROI platform, have at it!
Learn more: BookBub Ads for Authors (blog post)
More book marketing ideas
Though you’ve checked off all the main book marketing boxes, there’s always more you can do to promote your book. Here are a few bonus tips if you want to go above and beyond!
64. Draft a press release
If you’re working with a publicist to get mainstream media coverage or specifically looking for opportunities in that realm, draft a press release about your book to make it easy for journalists to cover. This should include your everything newsworthy about your release and answers to any important questions they might ask.
65. Order business cards
Some authors would say this is putting the cart (or card) before the horse. However, if you’re planning to do lots of in-person networking at conferences, festivals, and other events, having professionally designed business cards that identify you as an author and include your contact info can be an incredible asset.
66. Go on a blog tour
Don’t limit your blogging activities to author cross-promotion! You can go on a full-blown blog tour simply by doing a little more research to find additional websites, and reaching out to them with guest post pitches, ARCs of your book, and anything else that might interest them.
Fair warning, this is a lot of work — but it will build a lasting online profile for your book that exists entirely outside your own platforms, which is valuable for both your credibility and exposure.
67. Seek out podcast slots
If you’re a better speaker than a blog post writer, you can also offer yourself up as a podcast guest. Just make sure, as always, that any podcasts you’re on are relevant to your audience. For example, if you’ve written a book about DIY home improvement, don’t pitch yourself to a podcast about the lore of H.P. Lovecraft; find a lifestyle or life hacks podcast instead.
68. Contact local bookstores
Local bookstores are a fantastic avenue for promoting your book — they’re happy to support indie authors, and it’s usually pretty easy to book them. Get in touch about hosting a reading or giving a talk, or team up with other local authors and make it a joint event. Don’t forget to bring copies of your book to sell and sign!
69. Try local radio and TV
Like podcasters, local TV and radio stations are always on the lookout for guests and fresh material. Send them your press release and ask if they might like to interview you on the air. If you can connect your pitch to someone else they’ve recently interviewed or to something topical happening in your area, all the better.
70. Sell your book to libraries
Libraries aren’t always looking to acquire, but those that are may be interested in your title, if you pitch it exactly right. Make sure your book is available through a wholesaler, then contact your local libraries and make your case. The good news here is that there’s a domino effect: once you’ve gotten your book into one library, it becomes easier to get it into others.
Learn more: How to Get Your Book Into Libraries (free course)
71. Donate your book other places
You can also donate your book to book drives, used bookstores, shelters, and so on. This is a great thing to do if you’ve ordered your book in bulk after offset printing and have more copies than you can realistically sell. A thrifty bookworm could end up becoming your new biggest fan!
72. Create merch for fans
This one’s pretty next-level, but if you’re starting to build a solid fanbase, why not create merch for them to purch(ase)? T-shirts and tote bags that reference your book, as well as stickers or buttons with small illustrations, are great places to start. You can even combine this idea with #35 and run a contest for your fans to design merch for your book — though you may then have to share sales profits with the winner. But hey, it’s great PR.
73. Lead a workshop or webinar
Last but not least, we have the tried-and-true marketing tactic of the workshop or webinar, which hooks your audience with free info and persuades them to buy your book. The content here can be whatever you like: a workshop critiquing other people’s writing, a webinar all about how to come up with great story ideas, or again, you can just ask your followers what they’d like to see.
Indeed, with book marketing, remember it all comes back to your target audience: when in doubt, think about what they want, not necessarily what you want to do.
Infographic: Book Marketing Checklist
We know this is a lot to remember, but never fear — you can download our nifty book marketing checklist to ensure you’ve got everything down! Thanks for reading and happy marketing.

domain: literature


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Lyrics and riffs with Portugal. The Man's Eric Howk
There they are, as the January 28, 2018 Grammy night gets underway, doing a red-carpet interview, Zach and John. Their song, âFeel It Still,â written during a 45-minute break from working on âLive in the Moment,â was a surprise nominee for best pop duo/group performance.
Zach does most of the media chatter, claiming to be wearing his first ever tuxedo. John listens and nods, and chimes in that they are most creative right after they finish a record. The hit song âjust makes me want to work harder,â he said.
Two hours later, they hold the Grammy in their hands. Thereâs Eric, all smiles, in a tux. Again, Zach does the speechifying, saying itâs important to âRep where youâre from,â and giving a shout out to villagers from âShishmaref, Barrow, Bethel, all the Indigenous Peoples in Alaska and around the world. Youâre beautiful, your cultureâs beautifulâ¦Rep where youâre from!â
When asked about being nominated for a Grammy on their eighth album, Zach said:
âThereâs amazing artists that come out of nowhere that are just amazingly talented. We werenât those people â" we had to work for a while and get betterâ¦ We had to play thousands of shows, we had to make those albums and keep getting better, and weâre all about hard work, and thatâs what weâve been doing.â
âWe like the struggle,â he added. âWe like sleeping in vans and eating rice at rest stops and it feels good to look back on the journey that weâve done and all that it took to get there and get this nomination [for best pop duo/group performance] is huge for us .â
It will be fun to hear Ericâs take on the journey (heâs been with the band since 2015 and plays on âFeel It Stillâ) as we listen to this and other tunes, dissect some lyrics and hear tales from the tour.
So get ready. Watch the music video; here are lyrics to âFeel It Stillâ:
HOST: Kathleen McCoy
- Eric Howk, Alaskan, Valley guy, band member Portugal. The Man
- Portugal. The Man website
- Links related to âFeel It Still,â the Grammy winner
- âFeel It Stillâ lyrics explained, NME website, 10.31.17
- âFeel It Stillâ lyrics explained, TIME magazine, 11.15.17
- âFeel It Stillâ lyrics explained, Genius You Tube video, 5.16.17
- âFeel It Stillâ lyrics explained, Songfacts
- American Music Awards 2017 performance âFeel It Stillâ
- Band with Local Roots Stays Grounded Amid Success, The Frontiersman, 12.2.2011
- Portugal. The Man singer tends to his Alaska roots, ADN, 2.22.12
- John Gourley: The Man Behind Portugal. The Man, Pigeons & Planes, 6.26.13
- Call 550-8433 (Anchorage) or 1-888-353-5752 (statewide) during the live broadcast (2:00 â" 3:00pm)
- Send e-mail to email@example.com before, during or after the live broadcast (e-mails may be read on air)
- Post your comment or question below (comments may be read on air)
- LIVE: Wednesday, June 13, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.
- REPEAT: Wednesday, June 13, 2018 at 8:00 p.m.

domain: artistic


Beached bird program makes everyone a scientist - A group of UW students take part in a COASST survey in Ocean Shores, Wash., as part of their OCEAN 250 marine biology course. Photo by Science
When it comes to bird research, one organization at the UW found that assistance from volunteers was crucial to help its program take flight.
The Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) is an organization that monitors the fluctuation of bird populations on beaches along the West Coast. Started in the late ’90s by Dr. Julia Parrish, professor at the UW School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, the group does monthly surveys of beaches looking for beached seabirds.
Parrish came up with the idea in 1997 after monitoring the Common Murre from her study site at Tatoosh Island, Wash., where she looked at how the population was affected by the environment each year.
“Murres are the canary in a coal mine,” she said. “If something happens in the coastal environment, they die. They tend to be really sensitive.”
She wanted to know if the changes in population were consistent across the entire coast, but lacked the proper resources and personnel to effectively monitor seabirds across such a large area. So she turned to volunteers.
“Normally when you’re a professor and you want some data, you figure out a way for your graduate students to participate in the project and collect the data,” she said. “I wanted to cover a really broad geographic stretch, like the entire coastline. Really the only groups that could collect the data were people who lived in the areas.”
Starting with about five beaches in Ocean Shores, Wash., in 2002, COASST expanded its beach surveys through other parts of Washington, including the Puget Sound. By 2005, the group reached California and Alaska. Today COASST surveys more than 350 beaches along the West Coast and Alaska.
“It’s a program that’s really important to coastal communities,” COASST coordinator Jane Dolliver said.
Dolliver started working with the program in 2002 as a student at the UW majoring in biology. Today she helps train COASST’s volunteers. The program now has more than 800.
“People are curious,” she said of the volunteers. “They really like the discovery aspect of COASST. This is one of their only chances to see seabirds up close.”
Thanks to the work of its volunteers, COASST has identified 153 species of birds.
Nicole Luce measures the wing chord of a white morph Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens) as part of her COASST survey at Double Bluff Beach in Whidbey Island, Wash.
Through the data collected, the program has discovered several trends about bird populations on the coast. They’ve been able to conclude that most die-offs of birds are normal and happen at predictable times in the year. When birds die at unexpected times, the group has been able to find the source of the deaths, such as effects from oil spills or changes in weather and oceanography.
In 2009, an unexpected die-off happened when a surge in population and die-off of zooplankton created an oily substance that caused sea ducks to die of hypothermia.
“A lot of the citizens played key roles in the story,” Parrish said. “If they weren’t out there collecting the data, we wouldn’t know what happened.”
For many volunteers, collecting COASST data has become a way of life.
“It’s just fun to be out there on the beach,” said Robert Ollikainen, a volunteer from Oregon.
Ollikainen has been with the program for 10 years and said he enjoys surveying the beach with a group of friends.
“It’s sort of become a neighborhood thing,” he said.
Susan Kloeppel, a volunteer from Washington, surveys beaches with a close friend. She said COASST makes her feel a part of science.
“I feel like I’m really making a difference,” she said. “I think about storms and other disasters that affect birds in other parts of the world, and it’s just very exciting to be a part of this.”
Today COASST data is used and respected by scientists around the world — an indicator in the eyes of the program that “citizen science” works.
“We’ve shown that we can use volunteer data and find out some things that are really concrete about what’s happening in the world of birds,” said Charlie Wright, data verification specialist for the program.
Parrish said the use of everyday citizens sets COASST apart from other organizations.
“My program does something that professional scientists can’t do,” she said. “There is no scientific program that only uses professionally trained people that has the geographic reach that this program does. Certainly there are a bunch of things that citizens can’t do, but that’s a far cry from saying they can’t do anything.”
Reach contributing writer LaVendrick Smith at firstname.lastname@example.org. Twitter: @The_Vendrick
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Limelight hydrangea blossom 1-7-13
Very pretty hydrangea blossom. But I don’t think it will count on Bloom Day.
You might be interested in these other posts:
Monday Record, Shrubs, Uncategorized | Pat January 7, 2013
By Flaneur, January 7, 2013 @ 7:38 pm
Pat, what a gorgeous photograph! I used to associate hydrangeas with those ghastly hats worn by English women of a certain age to garden parties, until I saw a hedge of hydrangeas at a beach house. Now I love them, in all seasons, in all conditions. One can learn something from a woman in a hat. Your skills with a camera are growing magnificently.
By Flaneur, January 7, 2013 @ 7:39 pm
Addendum: The close-up of the snowflakes that are your web site’s “wallpaper” or background image are also beautiful. Thank you.
By Pat, January 8, 2013 @ 9:37 am
Flaneur – Thanks for the kind words. We always have a little fun with the ‘wallpaper.’
By Jason, January 8, 2013 @ 10:11 am
Poor little shrub. The picture makes me want to rush out and put an overcoat on it.
By Pat, January 8, 2013 @ 7:18 pm
Jason – It does look put upon, but Limelight is a tough plant.
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domain: hobby


text:
California prosecutors yesterday set the stage for seeking the death penalty against the man accused of kidnapping, sexually assaulting and murdering 5-year-old Samantha Runnion.
It will be at least two weeks before the Orange County district attorney decides whether to try to execute Alejandro Avila, 27.
Avila’s tearful mother yesterday said she had watched TV reports about the abduction with her son and, “I said they should get that person and tie him up alive and burn him.”
“And then he said, ‘What about the electric chair?’ And I said, ‘No, because he’s not going to suffer that much,’ ” Adelina Avila recalled on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
The suspect yesterday was ordered held without bail until his Aug. 9 arraignment on kidnap, murder and sex-crime charges.
Prosecutors added allegations of special circumstance to those charges, which open Avila to being executed if convicted.
DA Tony Rackauckas will meet with Samantha’s family before deciding on seeking the death penalty, said his spokeswoman.
With Post Wire Services


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Solar projects a priority for India9th Jan 2012
India is emerging as one of the solar leaders of 2012, tackling a range of projects across the country - including four solar parks for the state of Rajasthan.
Speaking at the solar energy session on the first day of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (January 7) - a conference that recognises the contribution of the overseas Indian community to the development of the nation - chief minister Ashok Gehlot announced the new projects as part of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission.
"Solar parks of 1,000 megawatt capacity will be set up in Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Barmer," he said.
"These enclaves will consist of various zones for activities like manufacturing, research and development, and training."
The National Solar Mission looks to establish solar energy projects with support from both national and state levels of government.
According to state officials, not only is Rajasthan is capable of producing 300,000 megawatts of energy in an area of 15,000 square kilometres but it also hopes to harness more than 20 gigawatts of solar power by 2022.
Deepak Gupta, former secretary at the ministry of new and renewable energy told the conference that investment in solar energy projects is increasing.
"The prospect of solar energy as an alternate source of energy is immense. This sector will hopefully see huge growth in the years to come," he explained.
Minister of state for finance Namo Narain Meena believes that India is the third most favoured nation for investing in solar energy projects.
"There are only two other nations which are seen as more attractive for making investments in solar energy initiatives - the US and China," he also told the conference.
The potential for future projects is further highlighted by the announcement of the completion of one of India's largest installations in the coming weeks.
Financed by the State Bank of India, the 25 megawatt initiative features more than 100,000 polycrystalline solar panels - along with 73 units of indoor converters - in an area totalling 50 hectares.
Dr Alex Levran, president of Renewable Energy Solutions at renewable energy provider Power-One, was impressed with the development.
"This project is another example of how Power-One is helping India's solar economy to grow," he said (January 6).
Posted by Mike Peacock - Solar correspondent


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Plum blossom has been a importance significance in Chinese culture. In the midst of winter, plum trees blossom onto the barren landscape bracing the harshness of winter and serves as a guide that spring will eventually come. Similar to life endure the tough times and eventually blissfulness will arrive. Our touch of cubic zircons stones brings out the beauty of the charm with a superb plated process to ensure it stays shiny for a long time.
Metal Type: 925 Sterling Silver
Item Type: Charm


Metropolitan Opera: 'Don Giovanni'
Hear the Metropolitan Opera's recent production of Mozart's "Don Giovanni" on Saturday at 1 p.m. on Classical IPR.
The new production was directed by Ivo van Hove, the Tony Award-winner behind Broadway's recent "West Side Story" revival.
Peter Mattei stars as Don Giovanni, and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Music Director Nathalie Stutzmann conducts.
More from Classical IPR:


BRIDGEVIEW, Ill.—He might not have appreciated the record-low temperature for a Chicago Fire home opener, but Nemanja Nikolic was suitably warmed by his first goal for his new club, a first strike as the Men in Red scored a comprehensive 2-0 victory over Real Salt Lake.
Toyota Park basked in frigid 28-degree Fahrenheit sunshine, a new low as the Fire opened their home slate in this 20th year in MLS, but the home side was red-hot in racing into a 2-0 lead by the 15th minute thanks to goals from Nikolic and Arturo Alvarez that came four minutes apart.
The Hungarian international, who endured a frustrating time in the 1-1 draw vs. Columbus Crew SC in Week 1, wasted no time in his second MLS outing when he capitalized on an unfortunate Sunny toe-poke to evade the offside flag and calmly slot the ball past the advancing Nick Rimando.
“My first game in Toyota Park, my first goal and my first victory for Chicago, it’s wonderful,” Nikolic said. “I expect this. Of course, after the 1-1 in [the] first game I saw after the game that it’s very important points if we go on to win at home today.”
Head coach Veljko Paunovic was understandably satisfied that one of his main offseason signing was able to hit the ground running and give the fans who braved the conditions something to celebrate early on.
“I think it was very important for him and for the team to score in his first opportunity in a game,” Paunovic said. “The confidence and everything that we’re looking to get from him is coming. We believe also that he’s doing a huge amount of effort to help the team when the team is in a situation where we have to defend or we have to press and his commitment is great in all that.”
“It was very important to see him have a good game. We also believe that as the season will start moving forward we believe that he’s going to get even sharper and convert more opportunities because I think today he could get maybe one more goal.”
The sub-zero conditions factored in a game that was high on effort, but perhaps lacked the intensity you’d expect with both teams chasing their first win of the new season. Nikolic was definitely not pleased about having to play in the wind and the cold, but was effective nonetheless.
“The conditions are really difficult, for me it’s something new,” Nikolic admitted. “It’s a lot of wind, it’s too cold and I need to adapt on this, but it’s also difficult when we have training in the middle of the week so it’s not the same like in the Europe. I want to work hard in Chicago so I hope that in a few weeks we will have better weather and more people in the stadium.”
The 29-year-old forward was never in any doubt that he was clear to run on goal for his unusual opener, spotting that referee Kevin Stott was waving play on and giving him the clearance to proceed.
“It was difficult to see because he was behind Michael [de Leeuw] and the other player, but the situation was clear for me," Nikolic said. "I was just afraid that the referee don’t see this and it will be offside, but because the side referee gave the signal that it’s offside and when I turned I saw that the referee [motion to play on] I was sure that it was a good ball.”


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Felipe and I founded "Preservando" at the beginning of 2022. A project that seeks to reduce the impact of socio-environmental problems in environments near mountains.
Preserving addresses our great passions: the mountains, socio-environmental responsibility and innovation in project management. Therefore, it is a satisfaction for both of us to dedicate part of our free time to this project.
Learn about the campaigns we have carried out:
Cleaning of glaciers in Huascarán – Peru
Thanks to the information provided by the ANA, the National Water Authority, the removal of sediment from the Base Camp area in Huascarán was carried out.
San Mateo Viewpoint Cleaning – Peru
Cleaning of 2 kilometers of route collecting approximately: 8 masks, 15 bottles, 50 wraps, mainly.
Carrying Hope – Nepal
Warm clothing collection campaign for the relatives of the Sherpas of Seduwa, Makalu in Nepal. Made with the support of the Nepalese tourism agency 8k Expeditions.
Everest Base Camp Cleanup – Nepal
Cleaning of 4 kilometers of route collecting approximately: 80 cigarette butts and 100 wrappers, mainly.
Informative post for World Environment Day
We have prepared a post with nine easy daily activities to reduce the negative impact on the environment
Currently, we have been working on developing more campaigns that allow us to continue impacting our environment and surrounding communities.

domain: geography


text:
Conversation on Community
Richard Longworth, senior fellow of The Chicago Council on Global Affairs and an expert on globalization's impact on the Midwest, spoke with WMUK in Kalamazoo leading up to his participation on the September 11 "Albion Tomorrow" panel discussion.
Paydays for salaried employees are the last working day of each month for time worked through that month. The College encourages electronic deposit to any banking institution in the United States that is a member of the Federal Reserve System.
Hourly employees are paid on a bi-weekly basis.The College encourages electronic deposit to any banking institution in the United States that is a member of the Federal Reserve System.
Enrolling and Changes:
Forms for employee's electronic deposit are available via the link below as well as in the Payroll Office or Human Resources Office. A voided check or other verification of Routing and Account numbers must accompany the Direct Deposit form.
Although all employees are encouraged to use direct deposit, there are circumstances in which an employee may need a paper check. Please complete the Direct_Deposit_Cancellation form
Cabinet reviewed 7/97, page updated 8/2013

domain: finance


text:
Provocateur Gaspar Noe pushes a lot of debaucherous buttons with his latest film, but misses the G spot.
Climax. Source: Madman Films.
The problem with being a provocateur is that it’s hard to shock an audience that can see your tricks coming. Gaspar Noe has been pushing the boundaries of cinema since at least 2002’s reverse rape-revenge drama Irreversible, but it’s been a fairly restricted kind of boundary-pushing, designed to shock and stun rather than educate or illuminate. Noe’s previous film Love featured a 3D ejaculation; what it had to say about human relationships was somewhat less memorable.
Supposedly based on a true story, Climax features a mid-1990s French dance troupe going through intensive three-day rehearsals in an isolated hall before heading off on a US tour. The twenty-odd dancers are a diverse group, introduced to us via video interviews shown on an old TV set. While there are a few obvious fault lines in the group and some are clearly more driven or aggressive than others, they mostly present as a typical bunch of free-spirited people in their late teens and early 20s.
To celebrate their last night of rehearsals, they have an impromptu party that opens with perhaps the film’s high point; a lengthy dance routine set to thumping 90s dance tracks involving the whole group. Everyone has their own styles and skills but they’re all working together as a unit – and then over the following 80 or so minutes this unity is torn apart. Someone has spiked the sangria with LSD. For most of the troupe, this will not be a mellow trip.
It’s a freezing French winter outside the shabby hall, and none of them have the state of mind to rug up. Trapped, they soon turn on each other, desperately trying to find out who drugged them. Dance partners become bullies, sexual tensions erupt, peoples’ darkest fears are exposed; it should be a thrilling night at the movies.
Unfortunately this hellish nightmare never becomes all that nightmarish no matter how many buttons Noe pushes (this is not a crowd you should reveal your pregnancy to). The nature of the troupe’s madness leaves the audience observing it from the outside, and while Noe (once again) sees the worst place on Earth as a dimly lit space filled with thudding music, as the bad behaviour builds to a crescendo even his swirling camerawork can’t mix these ingredients into the Hell on Earth he’s striving for.
It’s telling that the best moments here are the ones that go against the grain. The early scenes where the dancers are just talking to each other features numerous authentically warm moments of real human connection; if Noe ever wants to ease back and just make a film about people, this suggests he’d shine at it.
And Climax is a surprisingly funny film in parts, but only if you can amuse yourself watching the way it drives relentlessly towards a series of bluntly obvious punchlines. A drug-addled mother wants to keep her son safe from the crazed dancers so she locks him in a closet full of high voltage electrical equipment; a brother-sister paring has a subtext that rapidly becomes text. Out of nowhere a freebasing junkie suddenly finds her hair on fire; it may not be a joke but it definitely got a laugh.
First published on

domain: entertainment


text:
In Obscure Wrestling News from Wrestlecrap Radio episode #208, it was reported on TMZ that a violent storm had destroyed Stone Cold! Stone Cold! Stone Cold! Steve Austin's barn at his 'Broken Skull Ranch'. Angry Jim calls in to discuss how much of a tool, I mean, tool-man he is after using his carpentry skills to fix the roof:
(Video by pdonkulous81)
And be sure to visit here for the WCR Video archives!


text:
Blow Softly in Jericho ebook
by Ephraim Kishon
Blow Softly in Jericho Hardcover – March 16, 1972.
Blow Softly in Jericho Hardcover – March 16, 1972. by. Ephraim Kishon (Author). Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Are you an author? Learn about Author Central.
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Books, Plays and Movies by Ephraim Kishon. Blow Softly Jericho, Atheneum, 1970. The Fox in the Chicken-Coop: A Satirical Novel, translation by Jacques Namiel, Bronfman, 1971. Look Back Mrs. Lot: Grins and Groans from the Holy Land, N. Tversky (Tel Aviv), 1960. Look Back, Mrs. Lot!, Atheneum, 1961. Wise Guy, Solomon, Atheneum, 1973. No Oil, Moses, translation by Miriam Arad, Shikmona Publishing, 1975.
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אפרים קישון - Ephraim Kishon.
Ephraim Kishon (Hebrew: אֶפְרַיִם קִישׁוֹן, August 23, 1924 – January 29, 2005) was an Israeli author, dramatist, screenwriter, and Oscar-nominated film director. He was one of the most widely read contemporary satirists in the world. Ephraim Kishon was born on August 23, 1924 by the name of Ferenc Hoffmann into a middle-class Jewish family in Budapest, Hungary. In his youth he knew neither Hebrew nor Yiddish. His father worked as a bank manager and his mother was a former secretary.
Blow Softly in Jericho. 1970) A non fiction book by Ephraim Kishon. Used availability for Ephraim Kishon's Blow Softly in Jericho. March 1972 : UK Hardback.
Find nearly any book by EPHRAIM KISHON (page 2). Get the best deal by comparing prices from over 100,000 . Get the best deal by comparing prices from over 100,000 booksellers. Coauthors & Alternates. Learn More at LibraryThing. EPHRAIM KISHON at LibraryThing. Results page: PREV 1 2 3 4 5 NEXT.