Trio of Baby Books Released

This week has been a whirlwind. I was fortunate enough to publish three new picture books for young children and their parents.

Simple Animals, Simple Shapes, and You're My Baby all have original illustrations and simple language to make the books enjoyable for everyone.

You're My Baby just received a 5-star review on Smashwords. Maranda Russell writes, "Great little picture book for only 99 cents! Nice flowing verse, cute little illustrations and adorable photos of babies. I really liked how the author included pictures of babies and their parents from all different ethnic backgrounds."

All three baby books are available on Kindle, Nook, and Smashwords.

Granny Gruesome - Nursery Rhymes to Terrify Children

Remember those fun and simple Mother Goose nursery rhymes from your childhood? They were usually accompanied by cute pictures of dogs and cats making cookies and dancing.

Well, no more! It's time to get gruesome!

There are over thirty illustrations full of dark humor and craziness - just perfect for teens and older who appreciate something wicked.

My new book Granny Gruesome - Nursery Rhymes to Terrify Children is now available in Kindle, Nook, and Smashwords formats.

Star Trek - The Original Series is still awesome!

I remember watching a few episodes of Star Trek, (now suffixed with "The Original Series") here and there as I was growing up. Being so young, I doubt I understood what the story lines were about or the deep, rich history and die-hard fans that it created, but boy do I remember being entertained. The graphics and special effects seem a little crude today, but they were amazing to me back then. So, with an opportunity this past week to introduce Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, and the rest of the Enterprise crew to my children, we dove into the first few episodes of Season One and loved it. My kids, as well as myself, enjoyed the diverse stories, interesting characters, and familiarity of well-known catch-phrases. "I'm a doctor, Jim, not a (insert whatever)!" and "I'm giving you all the power she has, Captain." and all their variations are great fun in the moment. We are about half way through the first season, and knowing full well there are only three, we will take our time and cherish them.

Of course, then there are the movies and other TV series...oh, and books...lots and lots of books...

Masters of Doom

I just finished Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop Culture The author David Kushner does a great job of combining his many years of research and interviews into a great book. Besides being extremely entertaining and full of insightful and interesting tidbits about two famous game makers, this book made me smile and remember back to my early video game days. When John Carmack and John Romero were brainstorming, creating, and delivering their massive hits like Wolfenstein 3-D and Doom, I was busy playing and modifying them. I don't think I ever grew into a fanatic and played them nonstop for hours every day like some fans, but looking back I can absolutely remember the great time I had with all their games.

These guys were pioneers. I was born in early 1980, so I was the perfect age to witness the advancement in PC graphics and game genres and game design that id Software created and perfected. They were the main reason for a renaissance and rebirth in the PC gaming industry. They made fun, inventive games and showcased outstanding graphics that no one else had figured out how to do at the time. This book is an easy-going read that was hard to put down. Absolutely a must read story for anyone interested in PC games, programming, and game companies.

Fun Book for Adults - Five Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin in the Mouth

I found a book at my local library that I had never heard of before, but the title sounded neat and the cover art was funny...so I checked it out. Once at my house, I started to read this book called 5 Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin in the Mouth (And Other Useful Guides) and couldn't put it down until I was finished. It is hilarious, edgy, and intelligent - but only for adults. Kids shouldn't read this book as it is definitely intended for mature audiences. The funny drawings and dialogue combined with interesting historical and scientific facts makes this book hard to put down. It is tough to describe the book. Essentially, the book is like Seinfeld - it is about "nothing" and "everything" at the same time. The comic titled "Why it's better to pretend you don't know anything about computers" is especially dear to my heart and hauntingly true to life. This is one of those books where you wish you had written it. The author doesn't know it, but he and I are kindred spirits.

Did you like the movie Rango?

My family and I watched the movie Rango today. We all enjoyed the film, and I thought it was unique and hilarious. Of course, if you enjoyed Rango you will also enjoy Bloated Goat Both stories are full of wacky characters and off-the-wall humor, sometimes pushing the envelope as a children's black comedy. Seeing Rango's beautiful animation made me pine for a day when Bloated Goat will get the same treatment. It would be amazing to see Cocky Doodle, Granny Hammy, Crazy Ned, Maxine, and all the others up on the big screen in all their dysfunctional glory. Any producers out there interested?

Jack Reacher - Super Hero Extraordinaire

I finished another great Jack Reacher book the other day. Lee Child, the author, really knows how to put together an interesting, believable plot for his (super) hero Jack Reacher to get tangled up in. Nothing to Lose is the 12th book in the series and doesn't fail to entertain. This time Reacher gets involved in a small Colorado town that goes to great lengths to hide their mysterious business and church dealings. Of course, they make the mistake of kicking Reacher out of town which is probably the worst thing they could have done.

I can't wait to read the next book, and luckily, there are a few more before I get caught up.  Child is releasing book 16 later this year.

Jack Reacher is an everyman's hero. He is like a human Superman, if that makes sense. If you haven't heard about Reacher yet, then you need to start. They are perfect for anyone who loves action, adventure, and mystery with several strategic punches thrown in. Definitely start with the first book, Killing Floor ...you'll be hooked on Reacher for life.

You can learn much more at Lee Child's website.

Videogame Book Review

I recently finished a book called All Your Base Are Belong to Us written by Harold Goldberg. It is an interesting look at how the videogame industry has gone through various growing pains and technological changes to become the monster money maker it is today. I thoroughly enjoyed the inside stories from people and companies who were directly involved with the iconic games and systems we all know and love. The writing was easy to follow and the stories and quotes were entertaining. The author does a good job of pulling material from reliable sources and first person accounts. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys videogames and wants to know more about the history of their favorite companies, games, and systems.

4-Star Review on Amazon

Bloated Goat just received its 17th review on Amazon.com.

Reviewer Malay<3sia had these nice things to say, "If you enjoy juvenile humor, you will undoubtedly enjoy this book. With its laugh-out-loud moments, corny humor, and zany cast of characters, this story is like reading a cartoon that comes to life in your head. Some of these characters will stay with me for a very long time."

This review brought a knowing smile to my face. While writing the rough draft and creating the initial characters for Bloated Goat, I was amazed at how easy it was for me to visualize the crazy scenes unfolding. It was just like watching a great cartoon in my head, so it's wonderful to find someone else who feels the same way.

5-Star Review on Amazon

Bloated Goat received a new 5-star review on Amazon recently.


Grannyreader writes, "I read this with my Granddaughter and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a bit mischevious and absurd, but funny and it was lovely to hear my Granddaughter laugh so much. Fun stuff. I recommend it to everyone for a cheeky giggle."


Hmm...I wonder if Grannyreader is related to Granny Hammy?

Isaac Asimov Autobiography

I.Asimov: A Memoir is a touching, intimate look into one of the greatest scientific and creative minds ever to grace this fair planet. Written shortly before Isaac passed away (and edited by his faithful wife Janet), the various stories took me through a roller coaster of emotions. Never at a loss for words, the book totals more than 500 pages (and none of it is boring). He just has a way with words that makes it so easy to follow his thoughts, dialogue, and feelings on far too many topics to mention here. The memoir is technically his third autobiography with the the first two coming two decades earlier. It is only fitting for the most prolific and relevant author of the 20th century to have three autobiographies. This book is absolutely a must read for any science fiction or Asimov fan. It is full of wonderfully funny, thoughtful, and poignant observations over the 72 years of his interesting life. My only regret is not having read it earlier, and of course, not being able to meet him in person. Alas, he passed away when I was only 12 years old. Rest well, Isaac Asimov...you deserve it.