Need a quick birthday present for a friend? Time to get a copy of one of my books for your shelves? Head over to Lulu, where they’re running another quickie sale.

Through March 7 (that’s next Monday), you can get 20% off your order (do read the fine print!) with code GIANT305.

Enter that at checkout and you’re good to go.

As always, if you’ve got a book with Lulu, leave your link in the comments. Readers, check ’em out. At 20% off, why NOT try someone new to you?

Check out my friends:
Maria Savva’s Lulu page

I know. If I spent as much time writing as I do coveting other peoples’ books, I’d have like twenty books out there on the shelves. And if I spent as much time reading, I would not complain about the different mountain peaks in here, comprised entirely of books waiting to be read.

But, alas, striving for balance means I’ve got to spread myself as thin as possible, for the biggest payoff I can possibly get.

Charming thought, no?

Join me in coveting these books. Maybe you’ll pick one or two up and then send it my way. You know, so the pile behind me (where I keep the rock books and the series I’m in the middle of) can continue to grow. I’ll tell you, it’s making my cleaning lady crazy. Me, too.

And, of course, if you review any of the books on my Rock Books page, I’d be glad to link to you (first two of you per book only, please!). If there’s more than two reviews and I’ve reviewed the book myself, I’ll add your links there. I like to spread the love.

The first book isn’t entirely a book. Maybe one day it will be. But for now it’s that thing called a comic book (I like to hold out for the compendiums, often called graphic novels), and Anthrax’s Scott Ian is the man behind it. (Any Anthrax lovers out there get the joke?)

This is from the post on Blabbermouth I found: “is writing a new miniseries for DC Comics starring Etrigan, The Demon, with his Lobo collaborator Sam Kieth on art duties.”

Niiiiiice.

Not the comic sort? Not everyone is. I get that. If you’ve ever gone to a show and taken pictures, the people behind Louder Than Hell: The Unflinching Oral History of Metal want you. Or, more specifically, they want your pictures. I’ll let you read about it yourself, but it seems to me this is going to be a cool book with a cool concept. I can’t wait to read it.

You’re surprised, I know. Believe it or not, there ARE books out there in the world I don’t want to read. Not many (which is why I have such a problem with the number of books here in the house), but some.

Then there’s this one, which I don’t think I’ve mentioned before, but I’m totally hot to get my hands on. Jon Glaser has put together … I don’t know what you’d call this. A compendium? It’s a collection of found documents (says the book description. I like compendium better. Sounds cooler) that give us a new insight into Rock and Roll. It’s called My Dead Dad was in ZZ Top: 100% Real, Never Before Seen Documents from the world of Rock and Roll.

I’ve read a couple of anthologies of collected stories set in the rock world by now. I think Shock Rock was the most effective, but now I’ve gotten word of one that should have crossed my radar sooner than now. It was published in 2005, after all!

It’s called The Best in Rock Fiction and was edited by June Skinner Sawyers. It seems to be available only in e-book format at the moment (really. This is what POD was invented for! Keep things in print! I’m not paying over $15 for an e-book!), and it’s not even full of original stories! It’s stories AND excerpts from such noted writers as Sherman Alexie, Madison Smartt Bell, T.C. Boyle, Don DeLillo, Roddy Doyle, Nick Hornby, Rick Moody, Tom Perrotta, Salman Rushdie, and Scott Spencer.

Really. Sort of anti-climactic. Very sad.

Next is an intriguing one. I’ve been slowly working my way through George RR Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire series, but now comes word of a 2007 release (Hey, I’m getting more current!) from him called Armaggedon Rag. It’s a mystery featuring a concert promoter and a journalist who must uncover what’s going on with this promoter. Sounds right up my alley.

So. There ya go. More books I’m coveting. Got any comments about rock books? Any I’ve missed or need to know about? You know how to reach me…

We’ll start with the question. I don’t remember how I even came across it now, but I’ve got a link open to a page at Amazon (and you guys know of my vast love for Amazon, even as I see good sales for the books on their Kindle).

It’s a book called Willie’s Bar & Grill: A Rock ‘n’ Roll Tour of America in the Age of Terror. It was written by Rob Hirst. It’s apparently about Midnight Oil on tour post-911. I’m finding even less about it at Powell’s. I found a copy at BookMooch, but the woman who owns it asks that I not mooch from her unless I also send books outside my country, as she’s in Australia. I agree that it’s fair; I *used* to send books outside the country, but was getting so many requests, I had to stop.

So… anyone know anything about this book??? Got a copy you’re willing to send my way?

Now. For the other book. It’s coming out May 3 and all you Gleeks will want it. Yup, it’s The Untold Story of Journey (the real title is, of course, Don’t Stop Believin’. How fitting.).

Neil Daniels is the author, and it sounds like this dude and I need to hook up. His website brags he’s been “chronicling the world of hard rock and heavy metal since 2007.”

Dude.

I WAS going to point you to his website, but it’s sadly out of date (and has way too much flash and not enough content). Maybe this is another question… I don’t know… Blabbermouth is talking about the book, but there’s no mention on the author’s own website…

Interestingly, I have mentioned Mr. Daniels before. Back in 2009, in fact.

Definitely things that make you go hmmm…..

If you know anything about either book, holler. You know I’m into it.

Oh, and if you’re wondering why I haven’t been coveting those two romances that people are talking about, there’s a reason for that. I’m waiting for them to turn up in my PO Box so I can read them and talk about them properly. *grin*

Oh, come now. I’ve blogged about being willing to read the history of MTV. Why are you blinking your eyes at the idea of me drooling over a book featuring Queen and Freddy Mercury?

Part of what I get jazzed about (ha) when it comes to music is its history. Like Freddy and Queen or hate him and the gang, you can’t deny the impact they had, collectively, on the face of rock and roll.

So. Here’s the book: Bohemian Rhapsodies: True And Authorized Tales By QUEEN Fans & Celebrities by Robyn Dunford

Whee! Authorized!

I’ve also gotten word, while I’m here coveting, of a two-book series that might be too technical for me, but what the heck. I’ll try pretty much anything. Classic Rock Revisited Presents Vol. 1: Rock Icons & Metal Gods and Classic Rock Revisited Presents Vol. 2: Fret Board Wizards.

Rock Icons and Metal Gods. Fret Board Wizards.

Maybe I let myself be scared off by the idea of Fret Board Wizards ’cause there’s NOTHING technical in the idea of Rock Icons and Metal Gods.

Think Mitchell made the list?

Me, either. Poor guy.

Know who I’m sure didn’t make that list, either? Neil Peart. He’s a drummer, and drummers rarely if ever get the attention they deserve. Even one like Neil Peart, who truly is an icon. He’s also amazing, about to release his fifth book. This one is called Far and Away: A Prize Every Time. You can preorder it at Powells.com, where I’m part of their affiliate program. If I ever make enough to buy you guys some books, expect them to be some of these books I’ve coveted!

Anyway, this latest is a travelogue of life on the road with Rush. And with his love of taking his motorcycles out… dude. I’ve read some of his blogs. Neil Peart can do more than beat the skins. WAY more.

That’s three to add to my ever-growing list. You know, I have a birthday coming up in April. Books make great gifts… (in my world, book royalties make better gifts, but I won’t argue with any of the books I’ve coveted on this here blog. Unless I’ve already gotten my paws on it.)

Last week, I asked Maria Savva our famous one-question interview. Not to be left out, here’s her co-author, Jason McIntyre, telling us what song(s) make him think of Cutting the Fat.

Two songs come to mind when I think of my co-written novella, “Cutting The Fat” and both are reflective of the main bad-ass from the book, the man we all love to hate: Nestor Maronski.

As you might know, the fat bastard I love and hate at once, is a very powerful, very rich, very greasy and self-centred book reviewer for one of the largest papers in the country. He eats writing careers for dinner and then washes them down with a row of three cherry brandys. But he does it all with a prim and proper voice and in bold type so we can
all witness just how right he is. The thing about Nestor is that he believes he is always right and that his actions speak for themselves. We should all understand his motivations as we would understand the text of the bible and that he is, simply, doing the best thing for all of us.

“Reckoner” by Radiohead, plays in my mind as I think of him unknowingly getting ready to meet his maker and pay for the damage he’s done — to writers, to families like the Jamesons, to the whole of the world who have been scribbled on by his poison pen. Beautiful falsetto lyrics are sung against the jangling noise behind, maybe a rhythmic shaking of all the keys to all the rooms in the Massive Maronski McMansion on a hill. “You can’t take it with you,” Thom Yorke sings of Maronski’s fortune, of his folly, his false self-esteem. This is a man who will not understand until he stands before a tribunal of the afterlife to pay for his sins that he did anything wrong.

The other tune? “Like Eating Glass” by Bloc Party. Loud and raucous, this song has all the perfect sarcastic sentiments for Nestor as his band of wronged writers prepares to dispatch him:

“And I know that you’re busy too
I know that you care
You got your finger on the pulse
You got your eyes everywhere
And it hurts all the time when you don’t return my calls
And you haven’t got the time to remember how it was”

And, added to that, wouldn’t we all like to force those evil book reviewers to “eat glass”?

Remember to pick up Cutting the Fat from the Kindle store. Hopefully it’ll soon be available in other formats.

My friend Annetta Ribken has turned me on to a new one — the memoir from Crystal Zevon. Yeah, as in Warren Zevon. As in Werewolves of London.

You know.

Here. Go read her review at GoodReads. And then give her a hard time for not sending me the book so I can read it for myself. Because you guys know I need to!

(needless to say, a bunch of you guys are now laughing and wondering what sort of cave I’ve been living in, since this book will be FOUR years old this year. See how important you are? Keeping me in the loop, even if I’ve got to rely on chipper cliches like Better Late Than Never.)

Last month, I ran an interview Trevor and Eric did with another fictional character: Isabelle, the maid of the horribly-detested Nestor Maronski.

I understand if you feel left out of the loop.

Time to change that. Maria Savva and Jason McIntyre were the original, organic forces behind Cutting the Fat, the tale of Nestor Maronski. It’s a fun romp, and it’s hard to believe something this polished sprung up on a message board (and without my input! I’m ashamed of myself, especially because this is AWESOME.).

To help raise your awareness of Cutting the Fat, I asked Maria to stop in and answer the West of Mars’ famed one-question interview. You’re about to see why I like Maria so much:

West of Mars asked: What song makes you think of your book?

Maria said:

There are three songs that come to mind that remind me of Cutting The Fat:
Firstly, Misery Loves Company by Anthrax. That song came into my head when I wrote some of the book. Anthrax wrote the song about Stephen King’s ‘Misery’, and I wrote a bit in Cutting The Fat that referred to Misery — the part when Russell Flemming was trying to force Nestor Maronski to write a book for him.

The second song is ‘Holier Than Thou’ by Metallica, because it sums up Nestor’s character very well. He thinks he’s better than everyone else, but really it’s just his inherited wealth that makes him influential.

Finally, ‘Burn’ by Papa Roach makes me think of how the indie writers in the book feel about Nestor, how much they want to get revenge.

See? I TOLD you Maria kicks it. Although that Papa Roach video almost didn’t get linked to… that live Metallica is some good stuff.

Having read the book (and watched it evolve), I can vouch for these three songs. (Yes, Maria gets bonus points for being like Trevor and picking more than one song. Trevor likes threesomes.)

Now, go pick up the book from the Kindle store — and if you don’t have a Kindle, why not stop in at Bestseller Bound and ask for it to be on Smashwords, or in print, or…

ETA: I forgot to mention this one! I’m over at Quackers and Tease today, giving away a free download of Trevor’s Song. Even if you’ve already got a copy, why not help spread the word? My royalty statements will thank you!

To celebrate Groundhog Day and Punxy Phil not seeing his shadow (guess those vibes I sent as we drove home from our sledding weekend took hold), Lulu is offering a 20% off sale today (the second) and tomorrow (the third) only.

Here’s the link to my Lulu page. If you’re an author with a Lulu page, link it up in the comments and I’ll include it here.

If you’re a reader who still loves the print (versus the e-book), go! Buy! Have at it!

Use coupon code NOSHADOW305.

Check out these authors and add ’em to your shopping cart:
Paul Mansfield Keefe
My good friend Maria Savva

Dude. I am old enough to remember when there was a time before Zakk Wylde. (Which is really effing scary, since he claims to have been around for 25 years now. Yikes. No wonder my neighborhood Mary Kay saleswoman told me she lusts after my face. Here I thought it was a compliment…)

I have decided that makes me too old for the test that is included in his new book, Bringing Metal to the Children: The Complete Berserker’s Guide to World Tour Domination. After all, I may or may not have been doing this before Zakk Wylde. Or maybe I was doing it with him…

Still, you guys know I’m a sucker for this sort of book. It won’t be out until May, which is a long time for me to wait. Anyone know of an advance copy you can send my way???

And remember, keep an eye on Rocks ‘n Reads for all the reviews of my music-oriented books — and anything else that strikes my fancy along the way!

So one of the things I’ve been juggling lately is a presence on a new-ish message board, Bestseller Bound. I’ve found a very talented, smart, savvy group of people to hang with (and they put up with my Tech Idiot issues!), who are gung-ho at helping each other succeed.

Which, if you hang out at Win a Book, you know is an attitude I share.

I’m actually a bit chagrined at not telling you guys about this sooner — those of you who e-mail with me on a regular basis know what’s up in my world, and the rest of you will probably find out later rather than sooner — but one of the cool folk, a dude named Joel Kirkpatrick, took the first chapters from a whole slew of us and put them into THREE different anthologies.

It’s a great way to meet some new authors (hint!). I’m in Volume 2, so of course I suggest you start there. Downloads are, you’ll notice, free. That’s to entice you to download them, get to meet the gang, and then go buy the full version of the featured books.

The anthologies are availble on Scribd and 4Share. The links, of course, take you to pdf formats of Volume 2, featuring me. (Isn’t that a Trevor-like thing to do?) You can get to Volumes 1 and 3 from there, in case you’re sick of looking at that hot dude on the cover of Trevor’s Song.

Versions for the Kindle are in the works, and … I don’t know about Smashwords. Drop Mark Coker a note and tell him you’re upset he wouldn’t let Joel list the anthology there, even though almost all of us have the featured books listed there. (And that may be the only complaint I’ve ever had about Smashwords. I hope that remains the case.)

C’mon. Go meet some new authors and check out my friends while you’re at it.

My friend Darcia Helle put together a better page all about the anthologies. Go check it out. She’s got a link to the awesome trailer, to all the different sites where you can download the anthologies, the various formats… the whole shebang. Check it out; you’ll see why Darcia’s so cool.

Rock bands of all sizes and statures are faced with the spectacle of bad reviews. The men who make up mega-band ShapeShifter are no different. They’ve weathered more than their fair share of poor opinions. So when they heard the story of Nestor Maronski and his abduction, they wanted to show their support for the authors and people whose lives and careers Maronski poisoned. They asked me, the ever-intrepid Kermit Ladd, to help facilitate the process.

maronski headline

ShapeShifter guitarist Eric Wallace and bass player Trevor Wolff sat down with Isabelle Forbes, the long-time maid of the Maronski family.

Eric: So, Isabelle, I’d offer you my condolences on the loss of Nestor, but I don’t want to be premature. Are you sure he’s dead?

Isabelle: Er… Thank you. I don’t know for sure that he is dead. All I know for sure is that he is missing. Police are interviewing people to try to find out where he is and whether he is still alive. A lot of people wanted him dead; writers mainly. Indie writers.

Trevor: Some fucks are too mean to die. Maybe Nestor wasn’t really human. Maybe he’s some evil fucking demon who’s immortal and … what?

[Trevor cuts off as Eric gives him an odd look. Speaking for myself, Kermit Ladd, I must say I’ve never heard the usually practical Trevor speak of demons and other immortals, and I have spent a non-inconsiderable amount of time with this band and these men who make it up.]

Eric: You were called in to view a lineup of potential murder suspects. Some people think you let the killer walk. I’m the son of a minister. I get that sort of charity. But for the people who don’t quite get it

[Here Eric eyes Trevor, who feigns innocence, ignorance, or both], can you explain?

Isabelle: I was called in to view a line up, yes. I didn’t recognise any of the suspects. [At this point Isabelle seems unable to maintain eye contact with Eric. It’s almost as if she is hiding something]

Trevor: You sure about that, there, gorgeous Isabelle? You’re not hiding anything now, are you? Like how you didn’t want to put someone away for having the balls to do something that should’ve gotten done awhile ago?

Isabelle: It was dark in the hospital room, I couldn’t see anything clearly. I certainly wouldn’t have been able to identify anyone who was there.

[Isabelle reddens]

Trevor: Yeah, yeah, sure. Like we buy that. Know what we do buy? Maid’s outfits. Want to wear yours when you come over later?

[Isabelle appears shocked and does not reply]

Eric: Can you save it for later, Trev? Isabelle, what’s next? Who inherits the Maronski estate? What will you do for work?

Trevor: I could use a maid. In a maid’s outfit. I bet you’re a better maid than that girl Mitchell and Rusty use. She won’t even fucking talk to me. Me! Trevor Fucking Wolff. And I’m way easier to take care of. I don’t leave whirlpools of blonde hair in the shower when I’m done.

Isabella: Um… [she coughs] I’m not sure about inheritance. As I said, Nestor may still be alive. If he died, I know that he has made quite a detailed Will, and I’m not at liberty to disclose the content of the document, but let’s just say the beneficiary would be someone unrelated to Nestor.

Trevor: It’s you, isn’t it? You’re the one set to inherit it all.

Eric: Trev, what makes you say that?

Trevor: Why else would she hang around, waiting to see what happens to old Pissyface? Unless the cash is going to something like screech owls. That’s what I’d thought about doing, you know. Giving it all to the screech owls.

Eric: There might be hope for you yet, Trev. Charity. Isabelle, I don’t guess there’s any way…? I thought I heard Nestor did some good in the world.

Isabelle: I’m not sure where you read that, but I can safely say he did not.

Eric: Nestor was unconscionable to the writers whose books he reviewed. Was he that way to you, too?

Red Barn review

Isabelle: I’m not sure how much I can tell you.

Trevor: Hey, we’re ShapeShifter. You can trust us. Besides, Mitchell’s not here. He can’t put anything into a song if he doesn’t hear it.

Isabelle: What I say won’t go any further? I’m just worried in case he’s still alive.

Trevor: Why? Think he’ll come after you? I told you, Isabelle, you’re going to come work for me. I’ll protect you — and your maid’s outfit. So c’mon. Spill it. You can trust us.

Isabelle: Well, he used to have very strict rules, about when his breakfast was delivered, how much milk went into his coffee, that sort of thing, and he got very angry if everything wasn’t just so. He threw some coffee on me once.

Trevor: That’s it? Coffee? You think that was bad? You fucking think I was born with this schnozz? And this is after some magic-hands plastic surgeon tried his best to make it right, too. I’m fucking lucky I can breathe and you’re going on about coffee?

Eric: Trev, c’mon. For Isabelle, it was traumatic. The best way to deal with this sort of trauma is to talk about it.

Trevor: For you, maybe. But c’mon, Isabelle. Let’s hear it, so I can make sure I’m the better boss. Shit, I’ve got the cooler name. That ought to count for something.

Isabelle: [ignoring Trevor’s remark] Nestor was a hard man to work for. Many of the house staff were fired or left of their own accord because of the way he treated us. He was very rude. Always putting people down. He didn’t pay me much.

Trevor: Think he was hoping you’d offer some other services for a bonus? I promise you won’t have to worry about that with me. Give it time, babe. You’ll be begging for some of the Wolff magic.

[Eric rolls his eyes. Your intrepid journalist, Kermit Ladd, keeps expecting Trevor to put his hand over the bulge in his pants, but Trevor’s hands continue to alternate play with a cigarette and a lighter.]

Eric: Was there anything redeeming about Nestor? Even as a kid?

Trevor: Jerks like that? No fucking way. They’re rotten from the get-go. Trust me. I know these things. Grew up with a few of ’em. Nestor was missing something essential, you know what I’m saying? Probably didn’t know what to do with a girl, not if he thought he could treat those writers the way he did. Hell, I bet he wasn’t even friends with his left hand. I bet his left hand wanted nothing to do with that fucked-up personality. I bet it wished it could get sliced off and run away and get transplanted onto someone better…

Eric: TREV! Cool it, man. Show Isabelle some respect.

Trevor: What does it look like I’m doing? Have I sniffed that apron she’s got on?

Isabelle: Nestor was, as you say, rotten—to the core. He was always having tantrums. I started work at the mansion when he was a teenager, and he was impossible to deal with. I was only a few years older than him and he used to treat me terribly. He often told me I was incompetent, made me feel so small. But his parents were such wonderful people. They treated me well, so I stayed.

Trevor: Yeah, that loyalty thing. Gets a guy every time.

Eric: You did what you thought best.

Isabelle: Yes, I did.

Trevor: Are you a music fan?

Isabelle: Yes, but Nestor would never allow music to be played. Even at his parties. His parties were just full of chatter. He once had a relationship with a musician and it turned sour. Since that time I have never heard him play music in the house. He doesn’t even own a TV.

Trevor: A musician? Do we know her?

Isabelle: Er… you might know him.

Trevor: Him.

Isabelle: I shouldn’t be telling you any of this.

Trevor: Go for broke. Spill it.

Isabelle: I’m not at liberty to say.

Trevor: Who asked Liberty? And who the fuck is Liberty anyway? Eric, you know any chicks named Liberty?

Eric: Nope, Trev. Sorry. Let’s keep focusing on Isabelle. We’re almost out of time. Could Nestor appreciate any of the arts? The ballet? The symphony? West Side Story? Surely someone who grew up with the money and privilege afforded him was exposed to this world.

Trevor: Yeah, like you were, Soul Boy.

Eric: I was!

[Before this can degenerate into an age-old argument between the two men, your intrepid reporter clears his throat. Silence falls.]

Isabelle: He sometimes went to the cinema or the theatre on his own, I believe. He has a vast collection of paintings and antiques.

Trevor: There you go. Sell those paintings and antiques. Since you’re quitting that place and coming to me instead, if Nestie-baby shows up, you can tell him you sold ’em so no one would have to worry that the new help stole ’em all. And you kept the cash ’cause he owed you hazard pay. With interest.

Isabelle: Are you serious about a job? After putting up with Nestor for so many years, I’m sure I could handle you. [She flutters her eyelashes at him] And, I am looking for work… ever since Nestor was murdered… Er… I mean, ever since he disappeared.

Eric: Well, hopefully this means a new start for you, Isabelle. You put up with an awful lot from Nestor, and no person deserves to be treated like that–

Trevor: I’ll say. I really do need a maid, you know. Even if you save the outfit for special occasions. I promise I’ll pay you better.

Isabelle: Well. I’ll definitely consider the offer. And I might take your advice and sell some of those antiques and paintings, but don’t mention that in the published interview [she laughs]; the old dog didn’t deserve to own them anyway. What was that you called it, ‘hazard pay’? I like that… yes, working with Nestor was definitely hazardous. I think I might like working for you. [The eyelashes flutter again]

Eric: I can vouch for him. He’ll pay you better. He might chase you around the kitchen table a few times —

Trevor: Hey! I don’t fucking chase girls and you know it. That’s your job. Girls come to me.

Isabelle: I’ll be sure to do that, Trevor. Thanks. And thank you, Eric, for the lovely talk.

At this point, the actual journalist in the room takes over. Hands are shaken, except by Trevor, who takes Isabelle’s hand and kisses her knuckles as gently as any gentleman ever could hope to. The maid flushes and leaves the room quickly. Eric leans close to Trevor and says something meant to stay entirely between the two of them, but the unflappable bassist merely laughs. And so it goes.

Need more of the Nestor Maronski story? Try here. Or here. Yes, this is quite the sensation!

Not sure who these Trevor and Eric dudes are? Then it must be your first time here. Check out the books they star in here — and feel free to use those buy links!

Holy open tabs, Batman. It seems there’s been a bonanza of rock books I need to tell you about. And that doesn’t include the ones people have sent me for review! (Remember to keep an eye on Rocks ‘n Reads for the books I review. They’re not all rock books, you know — although the majority are.)

Coming in the Spring will be Ronnie James Dio’s memoir. Well, in the title, it’s called an autobiography. Later in the article I read, it’s called a memoir. Ultimately, I’m not going to quibble (at least until I review it) because, hey, this is Ronnie James Dio. If he wants to call this book a bass drum, I might look at him funny. But I’ll read it anyway.

Although, given that he’s now watching out for us from the wherever-after, it’ll be hard for him to call it anything without a Ouija board. Which I do NOT own.

Next up is some good, old-fashioned fiction. Check THIS one:

Former BROKEN HOPE/current LUPARA guitarist and author Jeremy Wagner has signed a book deal for his debut novel, “The Armageddon Chord”. The book is slated for release in August 2011 in digital format, trade paperback, and a special, limited-edition hardcover through kRP Publishing.

Okay, this guy needs to raise Lupara’s profile ’cause I haven’t heard of them yet. But check OUT this picture of Jeremy. He ought to be the movie version of my Daniel. I am following him on Twitter. Wonder if he’ll be interested…

Back to the books…
Think there are enough bios about Metallica floating around the world? Nope. Me, either. (or me, too, depending on how you answered.) Now there’s word of one from British rock critic Mick Wall. It’s called Metallica: Enter Night — The Biography. And if the interview I’ve linked to is any indication, let’s hope there are smaller paragraphs in the book… holy text blocks, Batman! Yikes! That was HARD to read.

Think we’re done???? I mean, hello? I said this was a MEGA book coveting!

Duff McKagan, who I might be falling in love with after watching him (and his wife. OMG, talk about Kerri come to life!) on Married to Rock, also has an autobiography/memoir coming out. Yep, add that puppy to our list.

And finally…
This last book has less of a metal feel to it. In some ways, it’s a history book that might be more important to me (yes, to ME) than Dio’s book. That’s because it’s a history of MTV. Here’s what the article said:

“MTV Ruled The World: The Early Years Of Music Video” is the first-ever book to focus solely on the channel’s important building-block years, specifically from the MTV’s launch to when its original group of VJs left the channel.

Greg Prato is the author. He’s written other books with really long titles; ahh, non-fiction. How I do love thy coloned titles.

Did I mention I’ve got a crush on Jeremy Wagner now? Did I NEED to???? Sheesh. His wife is one lucky woman.

There ya go. Four, five books, and two crushes. I’d say that’s a pretty good take for one day…

All right, I’m moving to California so I can be closer to our friend Mary, over at BookHounds. Seriously. I’m the rock and roll fiction expert, but SHE gets all the books! What’s up with THAT???

Yep, that means this book came to me via Mary. Well, the book itself hasn’t. Not yet. Just the knowledge of it has. That’s why I’m writing this post: I covet this book. Gotta read it.

It’s Rules to Rock By, and it was written by Josh Farrar, who’s been around the music biz a bit more than I ever was. Here’s the blurb:

You’d never guess it now, but Annabelle Cabrera used to be a rock star. And not like her mom or dad called her a “total rock star” after she won a spelling bee or something. She was a real rock star, the bassist of Egg Mountain, the most popular band in the New York music scene. But when her parents uproot her from Brooklyn and move her to Rhode Island so they can record their own album, Annabelle feels lost. Starting a new band isn’t as easy as she’d hoped, the school’s rival band is a bunch of bullies, and her parents are so immersed in recording that they’re completely neglecting Annabelle and her younger brother. How can Annabelle truly make herself heard?

And while we’re dishing on Mary, let me point out another one she’s brought to my attention: Steven Tyler’s upcoming memoir, Does The Noise in my Head Bother You? Yes, boys and girls. Steven Tyler. Aerosmith. One half of the Toxic Twins (and the cool light blue t-shirt I have that pokes fun at them. Dad of Liv. American Idol judge. And on and on.

You know, together, Mary and I could rule the rock and roll world, at least in books. Maybe that’s why it’s so bloody hard to get our hands on promo copies of some of these babies…

How is a Merry Christmas post considered a promo tale?

Well… I’m the one bearing gifts. For you, for your friends, for your family, for anyone who woke up this Christmas morning (even in a metaphorical sense) and found a new e-book reader under your Christmas tree.

From now until January 1, all three of my books are 50% off at Smashwords. And yes, at least 50% of my royalties will be donated to the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation.

Here’s the link: Susan’s Page at Smashwords

And here are the codes:
Demo Tapes: Year 1 — UN55K
Demo Tapes: Year 2 — UC87W
Trevor’s Song — zk52R

And yes, the coupon codes are NOT case sensitive. Why do you ask?

Merry Christmas, gang. If you got anything good, talk about it in the comments. And stay tuned for YOUR chance to Meet and Greet, coming in January.

I know. Usually, when I do this sort of thing here at the Meet and Greet, I feature a book that’s been released around the day the post goes live. My friend Darcia Helle’s book, The Cutting Edge, has been out since July. (Sort of like Trevor’s Song!)

To help raise the book’s visibility, on December 20 (that should be today, if you’re reading this when it goes up) she’s doing a campaign to try to lift her Amazon ranking. For me, one of the best components of this campaign is that she’s taking a page from my book and donating all profit from her Kindle sales to “Metropolitan Ministries in Tampa, FL, which is a nondenominational church that runs a food bank and also fixes meals daily for the homeless and the poor in our area.”

I can get behind that in a big way. I hope you will, too — especially since she’s dropped the price of The Cutting Edge to 99c. A buck will get you a book and let you help someone! How can you resist?

Now, down to business: I asked her the usual question: What song makes you think of your book?

Here’s what she had to say:

The song is Terrible Thought by a little known artist called Poe. When I hear the song, I can hear my main character Skye singing. The music is kind of messy and dark, which mimics the confused state Skye’s mind was often in. The lyrics could be grabbed right out of Skye’s thoughts. She’s sick of her job, sick of her clients, and has these dark fantasies that she can’t seem to control.

The first line in the song is, “A terrible thought has moved into my mind…” That sets the stage for Skye’s entire dilemma. The tone of Poe’s voice when she sings is, at times, reluctant acceptance, tinged with a bit of awe that this thought could have so easily taken over her mind.

At the end of the song, her father’s voice breaks in. (Poe’s real father, taken from recordings he’d made before he died.) He says, “What is your greatest worry because you seem to be worried all the time?” That is something Skye’s hippie father would have asked. Poe answers, “Sometimes I can’t hear myself think,” which is how Skye often feels, with her clients constantly needling at her.

This song could definitely be the background music for The Cutting Edge. You can read the lyrics at: http://www.lyricsdepot.com/poe/terrible-thought.html

You can hear a clip of the song on Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/Terrible-Thought/dp/B0026GFB3C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1291912523&sr=1-1

Poe is not well known enough to have many YouTube videos. I could not find one with this particular song. However, if you want to see her performing a different song – Control – at an outdoor concert in RI, you can watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rkhp71j7VY&feature=related

So there ya go. The Cutting Edge at Amazon today. Can’t wait, or you buy through Smashwords? Here’s the link over there.

Thanks to the lovely Janet Reid, I discovered Jennifer Egan’s A Visit From the Goon Squad.

It’s yet another rock and roll book I totally need… Here’s the blurb:

Jennifer Egans spellbinding interlocking narratives circle the lives of Bennie Salazar, an aging former punk rocker and record executive, and Sasha, the passionate, troubled young woman he employs. Although Bennie and Sasha never discover each others pasts, the reader does, in intimate detail, along with the secret lives of a host of other characters whose paths intersect with theirs, over many years, in locales as varied as New York, San Francisco, Naples, and Africa.

We first meet Sasha in her mid-thirties, on her therapists couch in New York City, confronting her long-standing compulsion to steal. Later, we learn the genesis of her turmoil when we see her as the child of a violent marriage, then as a runaway living in Naples, then as a college student trying to avert the suicidal impulses of her best friend. We plunge into the hidden yearnings and disappointments of her uncle, an art historian stuck in a dead marriage, who travels to Naples to extract Sasha from the citys demimonde and experiences an epiphany of his own while staring at a sculpture of Orpheus and Eurydice in the Museo Nazionale. We meet Bennie Salazar at the melancholy nadir of his adult lifedivorced, struggling to connect with his nine-year-old son, listening to a washed-up band in the basement of a suburban houseand then revisit him in 1979, at the height of his youth, shy and tender, reveling in San Franciscos punk scene as he discovers his ardor for rock and roll and his gift for spotting talent. We learn what became of his high school gangwho thrived and who falteredand we encounter Lou Kline, Bennies catastrophically careless mentor, along with the lovers and children left behind in the wake of Lous far-flung sexual conquests and meteoric rise and fall.

A Visit from the Goon Squad is a book about the interplay of time and music, about survival, about the stirrings and transformations set inexorably in motion by even the most passing conjunction of our fates. In a breathtaking array of styles and tones ranging from tragedy to satire to PowerPoint, Egan captures the undertow of self-destruction that we all must either master or succumb to; the basic human hunger for redemption; and the universal tendency to reach for bothand escape the merciless progress of timein the transporting realms of art and music. Sly, startling, exhilarating work from one of our boldest writers.

Bring it ON, boys and girls! Or publicists or whoever can hook me up…

How can I NOT be fascinated with Scott Weiland??? The drugs, the success, the way it’s all played out in public… Of COURSE I want to know more.

Now, I can. Scott’s wife (do you believe she’s stayed by his side through all this? Good for her; I know it can’t have been easy) has a new book out, called Fall To Pieces. Go figure, but I really dig that Velvet Revolver song.

And yep, you know I need to read it, even though it covers more than her life with Scott. It’s a personal journey, as well.

I continue to drool…

Amy Ruttan and I have been blog friends for years now. So long, I’ve watched her quit her day job, get pregnant with a third kid, HAVE said kid, and celebrate said kid’s first birthday. Not to mention the books she’s written and gotten out into the world.

So why hasn’t she stopped in for a Featured New Release sooner?

I do not know.

Let’s focus instead on the fact that she’s here NOW. And she has a new release to talk about: Gladiator’s Revenge.

Here’s the blurb:

Taranis had one thing on his mind since the Romans enslaved him. Revenge. Until he laid eyes on the innocent beauty of Lavina, a daughter of his enemy. It was then that he knew how to wreak revenge against those who’d wronged him—by taking one of Rome’s daughters, over and over again.

Lavina is humiliated by the decadence, greed and violence of Rome. When she meets the gaze of the condemned gladiator across the Circus Maximus, he stirs a deep yearning in her heart, but it is not meant to be. She is destined to marry a man who’s soul is as black as night.

On a whim, Emperor Nero grants Taranis freedom with his choice of a wife. Taranis chooses Lavina, much to the horror of her parents. Only Lavina is not disgusted by this prospect and revels in Taranis’ touch. He finds himself caring for and falling in love with the little Roman.

Yet, a shadow falls on their happiness and soon Lavina will have to choose between her home and her heart.

Ooh, Amy! Ancient Rome!

So… what song makes her think of her book?

The band is called ES Posthumus. I’ve never heard of them, but it’s playing as I type. It’s gorgeous. Definitely a band to explore more deeply. This could be a movie soundtrack, folks. Oh, I love it!

I can see why Amy chose it, but here’s her reasoning in her own words:

I find the song powerful. It builds up dramatically and it evokes the feeling of someone betrayed rising up and taking control of their life again. Taranis, my hero, is a slave or Rome and he wants revenge on those who wronged him, but he forgets about revenge when he finds love with the heroine Lavina. When Rome tries to take her away, he fights back to save her.

Wow! Go get this book, gang! It’s a release from Ellora’s Cave, so you know that means it’ll be sexy sexy.

Most of my readers know I consider myself to be a self-respecting metalhead. To that degree, I’ve seen author Joel McIver’s name around. I had yet to pick up one of his books — professional jealousy, don’tcha know — but when my friend Mary at BookHounds turned me on to To Live is To Die: The Life and Death of Metallica’s Cliff Burton, I knew it was time to stop being green with envy and take the plunge.
I got a copy from the good folk at Jawbone Press, and was off and reading.

The first thing that struck me was the energy in the narrative. That’s the best word for it: energy. There are other words that work well, too: enthusiasm, passion, depth of knowledge. McIver is more than a fan of this heavy metal world we both adore. It’s his life, and it shows.

And you ask why I’m jealous of the man?

If I have any complaint with the book, it’s that we really don’t get to know Cliff all that well. There are two reasons for this, of course: he was a very private person who didn’t let people in very easily (if at all) and, well, he’s a little hard to reach with in-depth questions. The guy is, after all, rather deceased.

Which truly sucks. I’m intrigued by Cliff Burton. By a guy who wore bell-bottoms when no one else would. By someone who had enough money to move out but stayed living in his parents’ small apartment. By a musical genius whose presence, all these years later, still hovers over the band he found success with.

I may not entirely agree with all of McIver’s statements about the twists and turns the Metallica musical catalog has taken since Cliff so rudely left the guys, but McIver makes me understand where he’s coming from. I can respect that, especially when it’s put forth with such enthusiasm and energy.

Best of all, McIver breaks down Cliff’s parts in each of the three albums of songs he contributed to. As a non-musician, at first I thought I wouldn’t care about all that gobbeldy-gook. More kudos need to head McIver’s way, however, because not only was it completely intelligible (and, to be fair, I did have a number of years of piano lessons and the high school drumline, so it wasn’t entirely a foreign language to me), but I found myself reaching for my iPod, pushing my headphones more securely into my ears, and listening hard for Cliff’s parts. Lo and behold, I could hear them. I got it in a way I never have before.

Needless to say, that led to a marathon of music listening, sometimes with the book open so I could follow along and sometimes (Yes, I’m going to admit this) on an exercise bike at the Hoity Toity Health Club. Hey, sometimes you do what you have to do and with the entire Metallica catalog on my iPod, how could I resist? Besides, people tend to leave you alone when you’re bicycling furiously, hands plastered to your ears and that distant look of concentration in your eyes.

While I’d been hoping for more details that would flesh out who Cliff really was, what I brought away To Live is to Die wasn’t so much about the man, himself, as opposed to the man’s music. And for someone who always focused more on the music than on the men (and women) who make it, that suits me just fine.

So I’m over my professional jealousy of Joel McIver. Mostly. Sort of.

Okay, I’m not even close to it. But I’ll certainly find a comfortable spot on his bandwagon and devour the rest of what he’s written.

As the blog world continues to evolve and change underneath my feet, I’m doing my best to adapt and grow and change with it. It’s not always easy — after all, when I first started blogging, posting fiction was a rarity. Now there are multiple prompts and Twitter hashtags devoted to it.

Many of you guys have stuck with me from the first. With your support, I’ve been able to put out three books, with more on the way.

And now it’s time for me to give back.

As part of the Gratitude Giveaway over at I am a Reader, Not a Writer, I’m offering one print copy of each of my books: The Demo Tapes: Year 1, The Demo Tapes: Year 2, and Trevor’s Song. Each book will be autographed to the winner (or whoever the winner specifies).

I’m going to have to limit my shipping to the US and Canada only; right now, at least half my reported royalties until the end of the year are headed to charity. That means I’m only recouping half of what I’m spending!

Entry is easy. Tell me which book you want to be entered to win. Join the Google Followers (this is really important, as there are some future events that say I have to have x-number of followers before I’ll be allowed to join in!). And sit back and wait for me to announce the winners on November 29.

And if you’re an International friend and are willing to read an e-book and post a review online, let me know. I’ll hook you up with a coupon code for a freebie of any of my books at Smashwords (heck, any of you who’re willing to read an e-book and post a review can ask for this, in addition to winning an autographed print copy for your shelves!)

Go visit more of the 180 or so blogs joining in. See what else they are giving away. Have some fun, meet some new folk.

And remember, if you want to support me AND a charity all at once, at least 50% of my reported royalties between now and the end of the calendar year are headed to help kids make music. If you make a direct donation to the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, you will be entered to win some pretty nice books.