The Art of Siglerism

I feel like writing a few words about the author Scott Sigler now that I have finished a second novel by him.

In a way Sigler reminds me of Australian author Matt Reilly.  Not in the way that he writes or the kind of stories that he writes but just for his sheer enthusiasm.  It is infectious and contagious (sorry for the puns there!). 

When you come across a writer like this it sweeps you up and you just want to read their work.  It doesn’t matter that it isn’t great literature, you just want to enjoy the ride.  Scott Sigler has re-invigorated my reading which has been a bit jaded of late after my misinformed decision to devote this year to Indie Authors.  I’ve tried several novels on my list and I just can’t get past their first chapters (thank goodness for Amazon’s free sample function for Kindle).  Anyway, I digress. 

What I love about Scott Sigler and Matt Reilly is their approachability.  They stay in touch with their fans, these authors really appreciate and respect their readers.  Sigler has maximised his use of social media by podcasting his books for free from his website, what a brilliant idea!  http://scottsigler.com/

I am really disappointed that I can’t be at the book signing of Nocturnal at Borderland Books in the US on Monday!  However, a quick email to the bookstore and a phone call later, I have secured a copy to be signed and posted out to me. Woo Hoo! Jude at Borderland Books was very helpful.  It sounds like a very interesting bookstore too, I wish there was one like it here on the Gold Coast: http://www.borderlands-books.com/  However, I am very impatient and knowing the postal lead times back to Australia from the US I also have a copy on order from the library J

Another medium being employed by authors lately is the use of video trailers to promote their books.  I’ve watched Nocturnal’s several times.  It just sums up Sigler’s work perfectly – it is dark, it’s bloody, it’s violent but it’s also got some humour.  Check it out:

Get your copy now and let’s catapult Scott Sigler to New York Times #1 Bestseller because he certainly deserves it.

Maxine

Promotion Spot - The New Death and Others by James Hutchings

In December I reviewed this independent novel:

http://caffeineandchapters.blogspot.com.au/2011/12/new-death-and-others-by-james-hutchings.html

If you think you would like to read it, the e-book is free on Amazon for the next couple of weeks:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005Q8Q8DY

I've been away from my blog as I've been proof reading a fantasy for a friend, and soon I'll be off to WA for Easter but I hope to return in a blogging frame of mind.  So, in the meantime give this little book a go, I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

Maxine

Blah!

That kind of sums up how I'm feeling at the moment. It's nearly 9pm and my house is still hot, I'm definitely not a hot weather person.

I've been away from the internet lately as I have been busy reading and catching up on DVDs this past week.  I've caught up on my recent release horrors and I can honestly say that there was not one good one amongst them (!) apart from The Thing - Prequel which I did enjoy; the special affects were pretty good.

I re-watched Kick Ass (twice) - which has to be the coolest movie of the decade (I love the Big Daddy Warehouse scene) -  it has the lot, great story, great visual, great acting and a fantastic score. The violence is pretty intense, but somehow acceptable because you know it's based on a comic strip.  Plus, it's pretty real as the characters really do get hurt.  I love it.

I finished 11/22/63 by Stephen King and what a relief it was to read something by him that I could enjoy once again.  It was a great premise - if you could go back in time would you stop the assassination of President Kennedy?  It isn't a task that is taken lightly and the outcome sends ripples through time that are disastrous.  There were some seriously 'corny' elements which annoyed me and I guess King must be a dud in bed as his love scenes were terrible. BUT, on the whole it was a damn good story which had me wanting to know how it was going to end.

My audio book at the moment is a little gem!  I picked it up at the library and apparently it was initially a Podcast read by the author (Scott Sigler) who has a cult following.  I am finding the narration a little iffy - it's extremely American and one of the character voices comes across sounding like a gay character from South Park. However, Infected is infectious - it's a great story about a biological threat to humans - those who are infected become murderous psychopaths. Just my type of novel.  What I really like about it though are the biological elements which are taken from real life science and make the story feel quite plausible. 

If you have read a great sci fi or horror lately I'd love to know about it.  It's so hard finding something new to read.

Maxine