Gifts For Your Avid Reader

THE EPITAPH OF JONAS BARLOFF   |   A DOOR UNLOCKED

EPITAPH Gets New Reviews

A few new reviews for The Epitaph of Jonas Barloff popped up on Goodreads during the past month. Here's what other readers are saying about the YA horror/mystery:

Wow! I could not stop reading...It was like an addiction to see Angela and Marc to the end of the story! I loved this book...REALLY good! It had quite a surprising ending. I liked the way Angela and Marc worked together to solve the mystery.

Thanks, everyone. Glad you enjoyed it. Be sure and check out my new novel, A Door Unlocked, which is also getting rave reviews.

A Drunken Druid's 5-Star Review of "A Door Unlocked"

A Drunken Druid's View: Review of Calvin Dean's "A Door Unlocked": "A Door Unlocked" by author Calvin Dean is a paranormal thriller that will keep you up all night!  I had a hard time putting it down...intriguing characters that are very well developed and believable. The plot of the book has intricacies that point to a good imagination and confidence in the authors writings. I have no complaints about this one. I am already recommending it and will continue to do so for a long time to come.

REVIEW: A Door Unlocked

Beth Nolan, PhD recently read my latest novel, A Door Unlocked. What are her impressions? First off, Beth doesn't award stars. She merely states what she likes and doesn't like. Here's a quote from her review:

This book reminded me a bit of a Mary Higgins Clark mystery. It read quickly and focused on a heroine who was bent but not broken, and very determined to find her daughter.

Gee, I think she liked my book. Any reference to Mary Higgins Clark is a good thing, right? Okay, so was there anything she didn't like? 

I wish that the storyline had not included rape and molestation (which I don’t like to read), but they did occur mostly “off stage” ...(there wasn’t a graphic, violent, drawn out scene to read). I kept reading to make sure that there was a happy ending!

Happy ending? You'll have to read it for yourself to find out. Check out Beth's entire review by clicking this link:  BETH NOLAN'S REVIEW.

A DOOR UNLOCKED Lets You Switch Between Reading & Listening

Switch between reading and listening without ever losing your place. Whispersync for voice syncs Kindle books with professional narration for an uninterrupted reading and listening experience. EXAMPLE: You're reading A Door Unlocked on your Kindle, but you want to go for a walk or jog. Whispersync lets you switch to the audiobook seamlessly without losing your place. When you return from your walk or job, switch back to Kindle. It's that easy. Learn more here:

Whispersync for A Door Unlocked

Membership Not Required to Download "A Door Unlocked" Audiobook

Want to download "A Door Unlocked" but don't want an Audible membership? No problem. You can download audiobooks without a membership. Simply click the non-member button. But you can download the audiobook for FREE with a trial membership.

The audiobook is currently available through Audible and Amazon.com:

Audible  |  Amazon

Coming soon to iTunes.

While you're there, listen to a sample chapter of the book - one of my favorite sections - at no charge.

Download "A Door Unlocked" Audiobook FREE!

For those of you who listen to books while jogging, exercising at the gym or going about your daily routines, "A Door Unlocked" is now available in audiobook format. 

In early October, I went about the task of narrating the entire novel. The tedious process of recording page by page, chapter by chapter, editing mistakes, and then encoding the audio to meet strict standards took about two weeks. By mid-October, I uploaded the final chapter. Audible took the book through their quality control process, and on Nov. 1, the audiobook appeared on the Audible.com website.

I could have chosen a professional announcer to record the narration, but having a TV and radio background, I decided to give this project the ole college try. Afterall, who knows the story and its characters better than the author?

In the coming days, the audiobook will be picked up by iTunes and Amazon. But right now, you can download "A Door Unlock" FREE with a 30-day trial membership.

I hope you'll check it out and give me your feedback. Be sure to rate the story, performance and overall impressions. To get started, follow the link:

A DOOR UNLOCKED - AUDIOBOOK

 

5-Star Review for A Door Unlocked

Tammy Dewhirst at Rabid Readers, an on-line book review blog, offers her opinion on A Door Unlocked:

There are many great first lines in the history of literature and in the future when people compile those lists they will include the first line of “A Door Unlocked” by Calvin Dean. “Bobby Ray’s attitude burned as hot as a Mississippi summer.”

As the author of A Door Unlocked, I struggled with a particular scene. Was it too much? Too inappropriate? Here's what Rabid Readers had to say:

After the assault on little Lydia, the child wishes for death. Her parents are gone and this man who said that he would not hurt her has done so in a way worse than she could have imagined. That handful of lines in the aftermath of Lydia’s abduction just kills me as a reader but stands as a testament to the talent of the author.

I'm glad I made the decision to include 'Lydia's Prayer'.

Here's the bottom line: Rabid Readers granted 5-Stars to A Door Unlocked. Want to read the entire review? Click the link and you'll be taken to Tammy Dewhirst's Rabid Readers blog.

Next Book Signing - Nov. 2

I got a call today from the head librarian at the M.R. Davis Public Library in Southaven, MS inviting me to participate in the Library's 5th Anniversary Celebration. Yep, it's been five years since they moved into their great new location. The event starts at 2 PM on Saturday, Nov. 2. I'll speak briefly at about 2:15 or 2:30, plus I'll have copies of The Epitaph of Jonas Barloff, which just went to #1 on the Kindle Horror board. I'll also have copies of my new release, A Door Unlocked. There will music, a puppet show and much more. I'm looking forward to it. Stop by and see me.

UPDATE: Epitaph Climbs to Number 1

As of 6 AM Thursday, The Epitaph of Jonas Barloff climbed to number 1 in Amazon Kindle Horror. Thanks to everyone who downloaded a FREE copy. You have until midnight Oct. 20 to get your free Kindle version. Follow the link and downland a copy right now. http://www.amazon.com/Epitaph-Jonas-Barloff-ebook/dp/B00BNHQA76/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=1-1&qid=1362428952

EPITAPH Climbs to #13 on Kindle Horror

After moving to number 20 on the Kindle Horror charts earlier today, The Epitaph of Jonas Barloff reached number 13 early Wednesday, Oct. 16. You can still get a free copy through Oct. 20.  Download today:

http://www.amazon.com/Epitaph-Jonas-Barloff-ebook/dp/B00BNHQA76/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=1-1&qid=1362428952

FREE! Epitaph of Jonas Barloff

The Epitaph of Jonas Barloff is FREE today and all this week (Oct. 16-20 - Kindle version only.) Horror/Mystery. Two teens explore the legend of their town and uncover a disturbing 100-year-old pattern. Reviewers call it a cross between Goosebumps and Sherlock Holmes. Multiple 4 & 5-star reviews. Download a FREE Kindle copy RIGHT NOW!  

http://www.amazon.com/Epitaph-Jonas-Barloff-ebook/dp/B00BNHQA76/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=1-1&qid=1362428952


While you're at Amazon, check out my latest release, A DOOR UNLOCK:
http://www.amazon.com/Door-Unlocked-Calvin-Dean/dp/1492327379/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380406738&sr=1-2&keywords=A+Door+Unlocked

A Door Unlocked Audiobook Coming Soon

For the past two weeks, I’ve been recording narration for "A Door Unlocked". The novel is being turned into an audiobook. As of Friday, October 11, the recording aspect is complete. Over the next two weeks, ACX, an Amazon platform, will review the recordings for quality control.  Afterwards, the audiobook will be available at Audible.com, Amazon.com, and iTunes for downloading to iPhones, iPads and other electronic devices. You’ll be able to listen to a portion of a sample chapter to gauge your interest - much like reading a sample chapter on Amazon.com or BarnesAndNoble.com. I’ll alert everyone when the audiobook and its sample chapter are ready for your inspection - hopefully, by Halloween.

Bookstock at the Benjamin J. Hooks Public Library

Music in the meeting room. Charlie Chaplin roaming the halls. A keynote speech by  Philip Mudd, author of Takedown: Inside the Hunt for Al Qaeda. And 40 authors on hand with good books and good conversation. This describes the 2013 edition of Bookstock at the Benjamin J. Hooks Public Library on Poplar in Memphis, TN.

The occasion gave me an opportunity to launch my second novel, A Door Unlocked. Two people in attendance approached me with an invitation to appear on a radio program and a TV show about books. Probably in early 2014. More on that later.

NEW RELEASE! "A Door Unlocked"

My new novel A DOOR UNLOCKED is now available. Messages from her husband's grave lead a young mother on a search for her kidnapped daughter. Paperback-Kindle-Nook. Take a look:

Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Door-Unlocked-Calvin-Dean/dp/1492327379/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380406738&sr=1-2&keywords=A+Door+Unlocked

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/A-Door-Unlocked-ebook/dp/B00FI6USIA/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380980777&sr=1-1&keywords=a+door+unlocked

Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-door-unlocked-calvin-dean/1116960071?ean=9781492327370

Books & Such

Blogger, author and reviewer, Teri Polen, asked me to guest post on Books & Such. Check it out!

Books & Such

Winners Announced In Book Giveaway

To celebrate the release of my new novel, "A Door Unlocked", I had Goodreads.com run a simple contest. Two lucky winners were chosen at random by Goodreads at midnight Oct 4. Congratulations to Shirley Jimenez of Washington state and Richard Longstreth of Tennessee. Both will receive a signed copy. Thanks to everyone who entered. According to Goodreads, 554 people entered the contest. The novel is now on sale in paperback, Kindle & Nook and is available at Amazon.com and BarnesAndNoble.com.

Dean to Appear at Bookstock

Hosted by the Memphis Public Library, the third annual Bookstock festival on October 5, 2013, will offer book lovers the chance to meet forty local authors who represent a range of genres, from current affairs to children’s fiction. Last year more than 2,000 people attended the free event, which includes the opportunity to buy books by regional writers—including Julie Cantrell, Eric Barnes, Joy Bateman, Calvin Dean, Marie Flowers, Deborah Sprinkle, Heather Stephens, and Christin Webb—as well as to take part in activities that include a children’s scavenger hunt for authors’ signatures, cooking demonstrations, and a keynote speech by Philip Mudd, author of Takedown: Inside the Hunt for Al Qaeda.

Bookstock runs from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm. Mudd is schedule to speak at 1:30 pm.

A Door Unlocked Giveaway Contest

In celebration of the upcoming release of my new supernatural/suspense novel, I’m giving away two copies of “A Door Unlocked.” Register to win at Goodreads.com. Here’s a direct link to the site:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18527461-a-door-unlocked

On Oct. 5, the good folks at Goodreads will select two lucky winners at random. There is no obligation. No commitments. No questions to answer. Nothing to buy. All you have to do is click the Enter To Win button.

Cover Reveal – A Door Unlocked

My second novel, "A Door Unlocked", is slightly ahead of schedule. Editing, proof reading, double checking – all done. A proof copy of the book turned out better than expected, so all that’s left to do is – well, maybe one more round of proof reading.  And perhaps a judicious edit here and there.  In the meantime, let me know what you think about the book cover, front and back.  Here’s the synopsis:

SYNOPSIS:  Vanessa Fitzgerald wishes she had never heard of Bobby Ray Ledbetter, a released convict who murdered her husband, abducted the couple’s eight-year-old daughter and brutally beat and raped the young mother. While in a medically induced coma, Vanessa receives dispatches from her husband’s grave – vital clues in an otherwise cold case. After recovering from trauma, the communications cease. Under the guidance of renowned parapsychologist, Dr. Sebastian Dietrich, the transmissions resume, providing valuable leads into the daughter’s location – and Bobby Ray’s accomplices.

Buoyed by his success, Dietrich longs to harness eternity’s knowledge and power by bridging the living and the dead. He accepts a guided tour into the afterlife from Vanessa’s deceased husband. But will his journey lead to the rescue of the Fitzgerald’s daughter? And what about the others involved in the web of corruption? Only Vanessa holds the key to – A Door Unlocked.

Fresh New Look for “Epitaph”

As we draw closer to the autumn launch of my second novel, “A Door Unlocked”, I decided to give “The Epitaph of Jonas Barloff” a fresh coat of paint. While the overall feel is similar to Marion Sipe’s original design, the hooded character is now live and in living color and set against a deep blue sky and full moon that would elicit a howl from the most reticent of werewolves. On the back cover, the artist

included a few review quotes along with the synopsis. Between the covers, the story is exactly the same. No changes there.

Speaking of “A Door Unlocked”, an all important book cover reveal is coming soon. While we’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, let’s face it, we’re all guilty. More on the cover and the synopsis later. For now, suffice it to say that the novel is a supernatural/suspense about messages from the grave and a web of corruption. The book is set in DeSoto County Mississippi with specific locations in and around Olive Branch, Baptist DeSoto Hospital in Southaven, Riverside Drive, the fictional WRMZ-TV studios in Memphis, the Mayflower in Jackson, MS and other points of interest. Stay tuned.