Review: Sorry, We can't use funny.

  

Written by Barry Parham    

   

Reviewed by R. Murry



I laughed.  I thought and laughed.  And I laughed, thought, and laughed with each sentence I read of Mr. Parham’s many off the cuff jesting and jiving.  I’m just joking.  I think he put much thought into each of his stories, shorts, and ponderings.  He writes some intelligent quibbling too, but not to a fault.

I’m glad he put all these interludes with the world in a book.  I would get frustrated if I had to wait for a newspaper column to come out each week to enjoy his type of entertainment.

Enjoyed most by me, are his Dear Abby Redux replies to correspondents who propose situations and quibble about the world around them.  Mr. Parham answers with appropriate funny words. 

In his writing, I get the feeling that he enjoys poking at the current world affairs especially at the leaders of the free world, as we all do.  However, Mr. Parham does not insult, but gets right to the point which is funnier in a sad way, because of the truth in his words.

I’m not going to give details, but will say that if you want to have a good time laughing, buy this funny expose of the world and the people in it.

Barry’s links are below: The weekly columns are available online, via a yearly subscription, at

http://www.barryparham.com.

Alternatively, Kindle owners can subscribe and have the columns automatically downloaded each week, from this address:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AY6Z8S4

Interview of Barry Parham

                                    Interview of Barry Parham        

Author of Sorry,

We Can’t Use Funny

Questions: R. Murry

Can you tell me a little about yourself?

Well, let's see. I'm a moderately pleasant single guy. I'm a music lover, a lucky Uncle, a proud graduate of the University of Georgia, and a recovering software developer. I'm middle-aged, assuming I live to be 112. And I'm fiscally conservative, except for music CDs.

Do you remember the first story you wrote?

The first humor column I ever published was called "Things I've Learned from Television." It was basically a list of misconceptions that somebody from another planet might make, if their only source of information was a few hours watching TV. For example:

If you live in a trailer park, and have a 200 lb. pet chimp, and then feed the chimp Xanax, and then invite the neighbors over, you may shortly appear on the TV news in what is known as a "Breaking Story."

Were you inspired by someone or something?

Absolutely - two of the best: Mark Twain and Dave Barry.

What do you like about writing a story?

What's most fun for me is finding an odd angle; an unexpected connection; a pairing between things that, at first glance, might seem to have nothing in common.

Can you tell us about your book?

Sorry, We Can't Use Funny is my second (of five) collections of humor columns and other short pieces. The book's title is actually a quote I received in a rejection letter from a newspaper editor. He's dead now, but let's not get into all that.

What genre best fits for the book?

Observational humor, I suppose, is a good fit. I was once told that what I write is not fiction, which was a silly thing to say. After all, I know perfectly well its fiction - I made all of it up myself.

Are you working on something new at the moment?

Other than the weekly columns, I'm thinking...slowly...about a new book. I've enough material for another book, but this time I might skip the physical venue altogether, and just stick with an eBook version.

Do you have any tips for aspiring writers?

My self-inflicted discipline is to write a minimum of 625 words, about something, every week. But I understand not everyone can do that - it takes a firm commitment to be that lazy.

Where can people go to read your work?

The weekly columns are available online, via a yearly subscription, at

http://www.barryparham.com.

Alternatively, Kindle owners can subscribe and have the columns automatically downloaded each week, from this address:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AY6Z8S4

Do you have anything to add?

I'm thankful to my God, I'm grateful for my parents, and I'm honored to now be able to count myself among the authors reviewed on these pages. Thanks, Roy, to you and your readers!

Seducing the Princess

Review of Seducing the Princess     

Written by Mary Hart Perry

Reviewed by R. Murry

Being the Baby, the youngest in the family of many, has its advantages and disadvantages.  Since I have never been in that position, I have no real understanding of how one copes being the youngest of nine.  Ms. Perry’s character Baby explains, in well-constructed prose, how one felt from a Victorian prospective.  It was heart breaking being the youngest daughter of Queen Victoria.

Beatrice, Bea or Baby for short, finds herself in a deserving position that she never thought would happen to her even though she is at the ripe old age of twenty seven.  She has a male suitor.  Most women of that era by eighteen knew about the birds and bees.  You know what I mean.  Bea was oblivious of the differences.

Here is where the fun in this romantic thriller begins – the seduction game a la Victorian Era. You must follow royal protocol or the Queen will chop off your head literally and or fugitively if you screw with her needs.  The queen is in control of her realm and her family.

Mary Hart Perry has done her research.  The era comes alive to the point that when Bea got so excited about her suitor Henry coming she accomplished her toilette in record time. Which is a nice way of saying it; you get the point.

Bea and Henry’s romance has many hurdles to traverse: her mother’s objections, of course, and another suitor of dubious background with an important family backer, who wants to conquer the world.  These interludes are well written and plausible given the historical events of the time.

You’ll have to read this enjoyable novel to see how this love affair comes to literally a cliff ending event that kept the interest of a non-Victorian like me.

LINKS: on.fb.me/Kj7hzU  
https://twitter.com/Mary_Hart_Perry

https://ganxy.com/i/76010

Interview: Mary Hart Perry

Interview with

Author Mary Hart Perry 

Questions by R. Murry

      

Can you tell me a little about yourself?

Hi, Mary Hart Perry here. Well, I live in the Washington, DC area and teach at The Writer's Center when I'm not working on my own novels. My husband and I love to sail, travel, garden...and we have two cats who are my writing partners.

Do you remember the first story you wrote?

The first story I wrote was for young readers, about a little boy who lost his lunchbox on his way to school. It was a simple mystery with a happy ending--he uses his head to figure out what happened to it. Highlights for Children bought it for $35.00 and I was thrilled. LOL!

Were you inspired by someone or something?

Absolutely, I loved Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories, and picked up the mystery writing bug from him. I also read a lot of historical adventures; Kenneth Roberts was my favorite.

What do you like about writing a story?

I love the idea of being able to escape to another time and place. That's what happens when you read. But it's even truer when you write your own stories.

Can you tell us about your book?

SEDUCING THE PRINCESS is set mostly in England during the 19th century. The heroine is Princess Beatrice, Queen Victoria's youngest daughter, who is being wooed by two very different men - one with the best intentions, the other with the very worst. There is lots of atmosphere and historical details, but fast-paced too.

What genre best fits for the book?

The novel is a romantic historical thriller.

Are you working on something new at the moment?

Yes. Seducing is the second book of a series. So I'm working on the third, which will feature the Crown Princess who confronts one of the most famous serial killers in history.

Do you have any tips for aspiring writers?

Write every day. Seriously, that's the one thing that will help your stable of skills strengthen. If you only write when you feel like it or occasionally, it's hard to make progress.

Where can people go to read your work?

My books are available from all of the major online booksellers include Barnes & Noble and Amazon, and for all reading devices. The Wild Princess is also in paperback, and soon Seducing will also be in print.

Do you have anything to add?

Thanks for the chat! I enjoy getting a chance to talk with readers as well as other writers. Feel free to follow me on any social network. Best wishes, Mary Hart Perry

FB:  on.fb.me/Kj7hzU  
https://twitter.com/Mary_Hart_Perry

https://ganxy.com/i/76010

Review of Problem Solving

Review of Problem Solving    

Written by Larry B. Gray

Reviewed by R. Murry

5000 words of a systemic approach to dealing with issues and opportunities on a daily basis in a business leadership position, and a story about a rabbit cornered by a rattlesnake, brings Larry B. Gray’s management point across – don’t let personnel conflicts fester.

Mr. Gray in a clear, simple, and direct writing style gives his step by step procedure on how to deal with employee issues that interrupt an operation.  His processes are understandable and of use to those who want to be supervisors, managers, and to those in leadership roles.

Having been in numerous management positions, I found Problem Solving informative and right to the point with alternatives that help supervisors to reach their goals in a logical and productive way using non evasive steps.

There are only positive proper choices used to motivate a subordinate to do the right thing, until it is clear that there is no other alternative.

Team work is the backbone of any goal setting, and it’s up to the supervisor, manager, or leader to make it happen with the personnel he is in charge of.

Larry gives us a concrete guideline you should read if you care to be a good leader in your business environment.

I recommend this and any of Larry’s other business booklets that can be found on Amazon and Smashwords.  You can also get them at www.larrygraysells.com along with links to my other websites.

Interview of Larry B. Gray

Interview with Larry B. Gray

Reviewer, Blogger, Business Writer  

Questions by R. Murry

Can you tell me a little about yourself?

I grew up in Eastern North Carolina in the small rural town of Aurora. My early years were spent working on my grandparents’ tobacco farm and exploring my world of family, friends and school.

After marrying my high school sweetheart in 1972, I moved to Lakeland, Florida where I spent my adult years raising a beautiful family and working in the citrus industry, selling real estate with my real estate partner and wife, Sara Gray, and being a writer wannabe. I attended and graduated from Florida Southern College while working full time and starting a family.

I am still married to my high school sweetheart and have 3 beautiful children and two wonderful grandchildren. Life is not always easy but in the scheme of things it is fun and gets better every day.

Do you remember the first story you wrote?

I wrote a lot of poetry throughout my school years. After marriage time seem to be hard to come by so my writing stop. A few years ago I started blogging and out of that “A Boy from Down East” started and I have been writing since.

Were you inspired by someone or something?

My grandmother was instrumental in instilling the love of reading in me at a young age. I remember her getting books for me to read off the bookmobile in the summer.

I had a high school English teach, Mrs. Downing, who always told me some day I would be a writer. The verdict is still out.

What do you like about writing a story?

I love the thought of sharing things, whether it is information, experiences, knowledge or adventure.

Can you tell us about your book?

Problem Solving – Dealing with Employee Issues is a “how to” book on basic leadership and supervisor skills. It is a part of a series of short books which deal with different aspects of leadership and career development.

Everyone in a leadership position will have to deal with employee issues. Whenever people work together friction occurs. How you deal with these issues will have a major impact on your success as a leader. “Problem Solving – Dealing With Employee Issues” lays out a systematic approach to dealing with employee issues and the associated problems.

What genre best fits for the book?

Business and / or leadership.

Are you working on something new at the moment?

I have been working on my memoirs about growing up in a rural eastern North Carolina town in the nineteen fifties and sixties entitled “A Boy from Down East.” You can read several stipites from it at http://www.aboyfromdowneast.com.

I am presently going through the process of having it edited and doing rewrites. I hope to have it ready for release later this year.

I also have a couple of additional books to the leadership guide series in the outline stage.

Do you have any tips for aspiring writers?

Yes, write. Write as often and as much as you can. Don’t accept excuses not to write. A writer writes.

Where can people go to read your work?

My books are available on Amazon.com, Smashwords.com, Kobo.com, Sony, and Barnes and Noble website.

You can also get them at www.larrygraysells.com along with links to my other websites.

Do you have anything to add?

Just a quote from Dr. Seuss: “Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Your than You.”

Thanks and God Bless, Larry

Review of Playing The Coach

Review of Playing The Coach      

Written by Vonda Norwood

Reviewed by R. Murry

What is the orgasm of a positive emotion?  Awe is.  It’s in the eyes of the beholder.  With wonder, comes fantasy.  Ms. Norwood’s character, Vicky, is in awe of a man, Jake Wilson, who does what she fantasizes in doing – coaching a high school football team.

Vicky will do anything to get to work at coaching but is impeded by Jake.  Not because she is a woman, but because he is put in an awkward position which he didn’t ask for.  I won’t give you that reason because it would give away some of the plots.

What I will say is that he devised a way of eliminating the problem.  In this experiment, he leads Vicky on with a ruse of asking her, what you think is my favorite thing.  Vicky believes it’s her body.  She teases Coach Wilson to try and get what her favorite thing is – coaching football, with little by little sexual meetings.

Ms. Norwood does an excellent job at teasing the reader with their sexual encounters.  Each contact is developed to keep the reader’s attention and does its job.   The reader will relish in wanting to see what happens next sexually and will want to read on to their climax.

The story was well structured with sexual content that any reader of erotica will enjoy.  The characters come alive as sexual beings.  I read it twice to find some pitfalls, but I couldn’t find any in this short story of some new highs.    

A quick read before bed is recommended.

Where can people go to buy her work?

US: 

Interview with Vonda Norwood

Interview of Vonda Norwood

Author of Playing The Coach        

Questions by R. Murry

Can you tell me a little about yourself?

My name is Vonda Norwood. I was born in Alabama, raised in California by a mother from Texas and I now live in Arizona.  I love mysteries and hate long walks on the beach.  :-D

Do you remember the first story you wrote?

Yes!  At 8 years, I re-wrote of the Flintstones’ cartoon.  I didn't like their anniversary special, so I wrote my own.  

Were you inspired by someone or something?

When I was a kid, I heard someone on T.V. once say that if you don't like what you read, watch, or experience - write what you do want to experience. 

What do you like about writing a story?

My favorite thing is creating the characters personalities - how they think, how they relate to each other.  As I write, I get to enjoy their world.

Can you tell us about your book?

"Playing the Coach" - This is an erotica story, which means that my characters have sex with each other and I described it!  LOLOLOL.  One of the most fascinating aspects of this sexual/romance/comedy is the comedy.  Vicky being high-strung about her goal to be the first female football, head coach of her hometown's high school.  That position is held by the one man she's most attracted to.  What does Vicky really want?  Does she want to be a coach or have sex with Coach Wilson.  I'll just say this, Coach Wilson makes certain that Vicky gets exactly what she wants.  :-D 

How did you come up with the story?

That's the best part of this story!  But it would take a story to explain it and then my mind would create another erotica story and I already have too many going on in there to deal with, so I'll just say this:  I tried to make an innocent funny-sexy joke, but I couldn't!  The harder I tried to think of something that was football-coach and sexually-funny, the more inappropriate my thoughts became and the next thing I knew, I had me a whole sexy-funny story that wouldn't leave my mind!  I couldn't stop thinking about a sexy man, lying around in a towel just waiting for me to um...  :-X  .

What genre best fits for the book?

Erotica/Romance/Comedy

Are you working on something new at the moment?

I am working on my sequel.  The title is "Facebook can also make you go to jail too"

And I am writing book 2 of "Indie Authors Make Better Lovers".   I'm hoping to finish Indies 2 before March 10th.  HOPING!!!  My sequel to my "Facebook" - book, is very involved and will take me a lot longer to complete.  I keep finding new short stories to do and the stories clog my mind too much to write my sequel.  So after Indies, I hope to have no more erotica clogging and just complete my sequel!!!   :-/  LOLOLOLOLOL  

Do you have any tips for aspiring writers?

Every writer is an individual.  Just be yourself and be true to your work.  Enjoy writing it so that people can enjoy reading it.  If you don't enjoy your stories, how can anyone else?

Which authors inspire you?

I've only been inspired by one author.  Ernest Hemingway.  Why?  I HATED his character's personality in the book "The Old Man and The Sea."  I didn't want to have to read that book!  It was a class assignment, so I read it.  Nearly completed with the reading of that story and realized that Mr. Hemingway created one heck of a strong character, which seemed so very real.  What an amazing ability!!!  I still didn't like him, but, I have 100%  respect for the man who created him.  :-D

Where can people go to read your work?

US: http://ow.ly/gUUVE UK: http://ow.ly/gWjCR

Where can people find you on the internet?

My goodreads blog:

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5826686.Vonda_Norwood/blog

I am Vonda Norwood on Facebook

and @VondaNorwood on Twitter

Review of Blast from the Past

Blast from the Past

Written by Lauren Carr   

Reviewed by R. Murry

Within a few chapters of this snappy moving mystery, there are more dead bodies than the town of Spencer, Maryland, has body bags to fill.

The plots are many, but the solutions are simple if you are one Mac Faraday. His epiphanies, woven into this multilevel crime wave of a small resort town, will keep you awake for this good read. Even his dog Gnarly gets into the act by being his dominating lovable self.

Ms. Carr’s main character is in the middle of a Blast from the Past of others: the woman he is love with, the owner of a local restaurant, and two couples he never met before.

What crimes have they committed in the past? None, but all the action comes from their history because they came in contact with the wrong people at one time – the ones with the broken noses - the mob.

Mac’s and his half-brother’s investigative abilities outshine that of the U.S. Marshals and the FBI.  Mac’s half-brother is the local chief of police and Mac is helping him solve what seems to be a mess of a situation – dead bodies with few clues to follow.

Lauren’s presentation of these situations keeps the reader’s attention. The clues are there. I had to read some areas twice, but they are there.  And it was fun trying to keep ahead of Mac, Gnarly, and all the other crime fighters trying to solve these mysteries.

I can see why @TheMysteryLadie has a good following.  I’m putting her next book on my BTR list.  You should too after reading this one.

The links to Lauren Carr’s books and her other endeavors are listed in her below:
Amazon.com: http://amzn.to/1IuSsyH

All of my books are available in both print and e-book. The e-book versions are only 99 cents each.

You can start by visiting my author page on Amazon: 

Do you have anything to add?

Readers can also get the updated schedule for my tour by visiting my sites:

Visit Lauren’s website and blog at:

Website: http://acornbookservices.com/

                 http://mysterylady.net/

Blog: Literary Wealth: http://literarywealth.wordpress.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lauren.carr.984991