With a new release on the not so distant horizon, now might seem a peculiar time to be eliminating social media accounts. I’ve never been too comfortable with the ‘bombard them on every front’ technique many authors embrace—seemingly around the clock—and that’s what being online often feels like anymore. I’d prefer to have a few people enjoy my books than to have a few hundred wishing I’d shut up long enough to stay out of their timeline or news feed.

I’m not now nor have I ever been in it for the book sales. I enjoy writing, always have and—with a few minor tweaks—I believe I always will. Some people live to be published, others live to write…still others have yet to figure out the difference. If I only sell five more books, it won’t keep me from doing what I love to do and I won’t necessarily release every story I write.

So, with that in mind, I’m cutting back a bit on my social networking reach. For starters, my Facebook fan page has been scheduled for deletion in the next two weeks. In the future, I’ll be paying more attention to better-utilizing my web site and I hope those who have been so graciously loyal from the beginning will follow me (and if you’re reading this, you already have—crafty, I know). To those who have still failed to realize I’m not a football coach…maybe reading would be beneficial for you.

Make some space on the old bookshelves (or eReaders) and enjoy this look at what’s ahead….

Title: The Winter War
Genre: Horror (DBP Black Label)
Synopsis: In the follow-up to his novel Homecoming, Jason Garrett leads readers back to Harvest Cove, as the journey of Eric Kade continues. When a legendary trio of demon hunters turn on each other, the collision could well mark the start of war on an unsuspecting battlefield: Bishop’s Island. Projected release: March 2012

Title: Galilee
Genre: Mystery (DBP White Label)
Synopsis: After a recent murder uncovers the remains of a body entombed for more than sixty years, authorities call on historian Aryn Rayburn to help solve the crime. Joining with some familiar friends, her investigation uncovers secrets of the House of Rocard as she sets out to learn the identity of the mysterious woman and expose the truth about the third epoch of Bishop’s Island that resulted in events unknown even to her. Projected release: July 2012

Title: Troubled Souls
Genre: Young Adult/Horror (DBP Black Label)
Synopsis: A threat as old as the earth itself rears its head in the town of Red Bat, Nebraska, turning the Sandhills and the life of teenager Hanna Davies upside down. The small town’s only hope rests in the hands of some unexpected heroes and a seventeen-year-old boy known as The Kid. Projected release: November 2012

I’ve read many dismissive remarks in years gone by from experts who object to authors whose work crosses genres. I, on the other hand, happen to be one of those indies who finds their audience not only receptive but also intelligent enough to enjoy genre-spanning stories. Several have even told me they were pleased to have taken a chance on a genre they otherwise would not have read. At the same time, I recognize that not every member of my readership (present or future) are going to embrace each work. Some enjoy one style and don’t want to invest their time in another, which is their absolute right. For them, I hopefully have developed a helpful system for discerning between the genres into which my novels fall.

So, without further ado, I present the black & white label system:

DBP BLACK LABEL

This label appears on novels which fall into the horror and/or speculative fiction genres.

They involve the supernatural, demons, ghosts, angels and darker themes. Homecoming was a black label release.

DBP WHITE LABEL

Themes that tend to be suspenseful or dramatic, including

thrillers and romance, fall into this category. Pursuit was a white label release.

These variations in my publishing logo appear somewhere on the cover of every book, as a way to help you decide if the genre of the book may or may not interest you.

Dream Big Productions logo designs by Kelly O’Neill

In one of those chance encounters that could only happen on the internet, my path recently crossed with that of fellow author Kelly Libatique. He and I traded copies of our work to read and I was intrigued to read his book on a subject I’ve often struggled with: public speaking. What I found was an insightful and very helpful tool to help any person prepare for a speaking engagement. After reading what Kelly had to say, I asked him if I might interview him here on my blog in order to give readers the chance to understand his motivations and to gain a deeper understanding of his work.

JG: Was there a clear moment when you had to write your book, Divine Knowledge Transfer, and if so, how much time passed from that moment until you sat down to write?

KL: That’s an interesting question. I’m not sure I “had” to write it at any time, but I do remember a strong urge to want to [write the book] maybe five or six months before I committed to it. My days are pretty busy. I had been in my career for over ten years, and the idea hit me that no one had ever written anything on the theme of relating Biblical principles to modern-day knowledge transfer. That excited me; it’s hard to be original these days. This is actually my second nonfiction work, so I knew what it would take. But after mulling it over and realizing that whether I truly felt “ready” or not, I just needed to make that decision and go for it, I dove in and started writing.

JG: With the internet, readers have a wider selection of books to choose from than ever before. What sets Divine Knowledge Transfer apart from other ‘how to’ style books?

KL: Divine Knowledge Transfer does something that, to my knowledge, no other book does. It takes some of the core concepts taught in Scripture—everything from God’s plan of preparation in our lives, humility, modeling other, and even how dress and appearances affects what people think of us—and applies it to modern-day teaching, communication and public speaking. The more I got into it, the more it surprised me how much applicable information there is. People who have read it tell me they didn’t think something like that was either possible or practical, but that my book does indeed do just that.

JG: On the subject of allowing all we do to, effectively, be done through Christ and to His glory, has this morality always been your method in tackling goals?

KL: Absolutely—life is short. We only get one shot at this. Hebrews 9:27-28 tells us: “And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people . . .” (NLT). The process of putting together a book is not only taxing on the mind and body, it’s time consuming. We get 86,400 seconds to spend each day and we’re not getting them back. If one is going to commit to something like this, it better be not just for the here and now, but also for something with eternal ramifications. The greatest compliments I get on my book is that it helped a person not only with their immediate goals, but also in their walk with God.

JG: As an author, did you struggle at all with writing on the topic of speaking?

KL: Not really, but only because I’ve had so much experience at it. Experience is, after all, one’s best teacher. As I explain in the book, I’ve made many mistakes. I’ve learned by trial and error. I’ve also learned through formal education on the subject. But after doing it so many times, it wasn’t too difficult to simply write about what I’ve actually done so many times. I will say that what was difficult was putting together thoughts and chapters in a way that that flowed logically and would make readers remember what I was trying to convey. There was so much information to write about. Nonfiction needs to be as interesting as it is informative, and I believe I succeeded in doing that.

JG: What can readers expect from you next, Kelly?

KL: I’m working on my first big fiction novel, and it covers a subject I also have many years of experience in—acting and performing. The gist of it is, a young San Francisco Bay Area theatre actor, in search of himself and his purpose, is hired by the F.B.I. to do undercover work to help bring down some international criminals. But what he doesn’t know is that he’s being setup. As we go along, we find out that there are twists to the story, and that several parties are using him and are willing to do anything to achieve their objectives. Eventually, our main character comes face to face with both his past and future as he tries to get out of the mess he’s gotten himself into. It’s a story about self-discovery, faith, love and reconciliation. Although I am finding it a huge challenge to do this between family, ministry, and work, I have been really enjoying the process of piecing this together. For more info go to libatique.com.

Again, I would like to thank Kelly for his time and to those of you who have read this interview. It’s my hope that those of you considering picking up a copy of Divine Knowledge Transfer will to so. You can also read my review of the work here.

As an author, I have the most fun in creating the relationships between characters and developing a history they share. I can only hope that the histories are both credible and interesting. In the novel Homecoming, characters Eric Kade and Emma ‘Nickel’ Warren were reunited for the first time in eighteen years. The two had been both best friends in childhood and sweethearts in high school before Eric mysteriously vanished when they were sixteen years old. The following scene marks their second meal together (in as many opportunities) as the two adults attempt to reconnect to the bond they knew as teens:

A storm off the northern banks caused a thirty degree temperature drop during the night. Refusing the warmth of coffee, Eric watched the flow of traffic from the diner window and studied rain-filled skies where smoke wheezed from the distant remains of the fallen church. He wished now he was like Nickel, who hid her eyes behind heavily tinted eyeglasses as though they masked her emotions. He listened to faint sounds like the air passing between Nickel’s lips to cool her tea and the clanking of her rings against the mug. The sounds compounded with others to create indiscernible noise throughout the hotel diner.

“Do you ever feel like you’re being stared at no matter where you are?”

Nickel’s voice was soothing and more welcome on his ears than any other. Eric smirked and looked away from the sky, seeing his skewed reflection in the lenses of her glasses. Looking around the diner, Eric noticed more than a dozen islanders watching his every move. Turning back to face his breakfast date, he lowered his head and spoke quietly.

“All of the time,” Eric admitted. “Especially when people really are staring. It’s as though I never left school.”

“At least some things about this island never change, right? I’m sure you didn’t miss that.”

“I missed the weather,” Eric said as he straightened the utensils on his placemat. “I missed the way the snow falls into the sea and I missed you. Nothing more.”

His direct eye contact matched his bolder words and the intensity forced Nickel to shift on the cracked seat cushion as she rubbed the back of her neck. As warmth spread across her neck and her cheeks began to blush, Nickel laughed light-heartedly. In all of her years, it was the one man she loved the most who could always bring her to the loss of words. Pinching her bottom lip between her incisors, Nickel twisted her mouth into a smile and sighed heavily.

“Still can’t take a direct compliment, I see,” Eric teased.

Laughing, Nickel said, “I can’t, no. Thank you for remembering that wonderful quality.”

“You’re welcome. You know, I also missed Sal’s Taco Hut.”

“Oh, how did I know? You know that place burned down, like, four times? They just keep rebuilding it.”

“You can’t keep a great taco man down.”

“That’s the most disgusting place to eat on the whole island,” Nickel insisted candidly.

Shaking his head, Eric rubbed his shoulder and stared back out the window…

To read more, please pick up your copy of Homecoming available through all major online retailers, including Kindle, Nook, Kobo and more!

Homecoming Copyright © 2009 by Jason Garrett

Continuing my blog series on introducing readers to the behind-the-scenes talents I’ve been fortunate enough to work with, I’d like to welcome all of you to read this interview with Kelly O’Neill, the Artist of Life.

A few years ago, a good friend of mine who knew I had once upon a time studied art told me of this amazing artist whose work he and his wife had seen at a county fair art show. The piece, entitled Eternal Song, was absolutely stunning and the talents of this young artist were beyond obvious. Not only were her portraits memorable, but, she had diversified herself across multiple styles of art and design.

When I began my own publishing label in 2009, I sought Kelly out to design the logo for my company, Dream Big Productions. A graphic design genius, she was both patient and generous and created a design that exceeded my own expectations. From there, she went on to create both the layout for my web site, business cards and two backgrounds for my Twitter account.

In the short time of our acquaintance, it has been amazing to watch the blessings she has enjoyed. The short list might include: appearing on The Today Show, being featured as a design artist while helping rebuild Nashville on Extreme Home Makeover (while pregnant, one might add) and, of course, the true art of being a working mom & wife. With all the hats she has worn and all the demands on her day, I’m grateful that she still made the time to sit down for this mini-interview.

JG: Kelly, when did you first decide that you wanted to be a professional artist and have you ever second-guessed the decision?

KO: I actually loved art from a very early age. I say “art,” but really anything creative, including making bird houses from Popsicle sticks. Only a proud Mom would call that art, but I loved that sort of thing. In art school, one of the required courses before continuing on with a specific focus was Drawing 2. It was strictly portraiture, and I was terrified. Not one to enjoy failure, and having never tried a portrait before, I imagined getting the first ‘C’ I’d ever received… or worse. But as it turned out, portrait work was sort of my “thing.”

The summer after that freshman year in college, I was bored one day on the front porch, and decided to draw my sister as a baby with some new charcoal pencils I’d been given by my Dad. (Until this point, I had only drawn portraits with vine charcoal and newsprint paper). This new, more controlled way of drawing really excited me, and after I finished, my Dad said that people would pay me to do these of their kids. I was skeptical, but intrigued. I decided to give it a shot. I was eighteen at the time.

Thirteen years later, I’m still doing it, and working in oil as well. I never wavered in my determination to make art my livelihood after I began… even when I first graduated from college and was pinching pennies. It’s paid off, and I wake up now doing what I love for a living! I should mention that one of my passions now is to actively encourage young artists to really go for their dreams and not listen to the naysayers (there were many in my case). Yes, you can be “practical” and get a real job, etc., but you may find yourself dreading Mondays. I don’t recommend it.

JG: Now that you’re doing what you love each and every day, is there a goal you’ve set for yourself for what lies ahead in your career?

KO: One of my favorite living artists is watercolor artist Mitchell Tolle. He lives and works in Berea, KY, and I’ve visited his studio and gallery a number of times. This man’s life almost mirrors what I’ve envisioned for my own someday. He paints what he wants and only what he wants. He works on beautiful property in a stunning plantation- style southern home with columns.

The lower level is his gallery, filled with his best work, coffee table books, and prints that are for sale. His wife greets visitors at the door and his son manages the framing and shipping. Mitchell paints in his studio just upstairs and comes down to talk with those perusing his gallery. I was one of those visitors once, and his humility and willingness to take time to talk to a budding artist is still so impressed upon my mind.

During peak season, he ships out two UPS trucks a day from his gallery, yet still makes time to lead choir at his church. Ahhhh… this is a beautiful life. I love my own, and all things come with time, but when I say I’m shooting for something, this would be it.

JG: Do you feel your artwork is, in some ways, a ministry?

KO: It may be a stretch to call my commissioned work a ministry, though I suppose it could be argued. However, my “God Paintings” as I like to call them are just that: ministry paintings. I know that the visions that God has given me for pieces like Unblemished, Redeemed, Mine For a Moment, and The Hour I First Believed are ones that He’s given me to paint so that His children may learn or appreciate something about Him that they needed to. I am continually humbled that God would use my hand and set of creative abilities to affect change in someone else’s life. It’s more than I could ever have hoped for when I set out on this journey.

JG: Final question, is there a piece of advice you could give artists that you wish someone had given you when you were starting out?

KO: I sort of touched on this before, but I’d say this: It CAN be done. If you have the work ethic and desire to make art your living, stick with it and sacrifice if you must to make it work. Don’t listen to naysayers or pessimists. They may very well be stuck in a job that they despise, and can’t see another way. Learn from others. Spend time with artists who are doing what you want to do. And believe in yourself.

For the second part of this blog, I asked Kelly if she would include a bit of insight for some of her favorite pieces. Please continue reading and enjoy the beautiful creations.

“Eternal Song”

KO: This was my first large scale painting. It was also my first masterpiece, and it continues to get much of the attention when it’s among some of my other pieces. I love the subject matter – a masterful violinist. There is a mood evoked by this piece that can’t be ignored. I spent 65 hours making it exactly as I wanted it, and have never spent that long on a painting since, though I’ve come close! The challenge with this one was, by far, his long beard and very wispy hair on the top of his head. I’d never come across hair like that in a painting, and it just about did me in to try to get it perfect.

“Unblemished”

KO: This one represents God in the moments before He gave up His son for our sins. From conception to finish (a two year stretch), this painting was purposed by Him. You must read the story behind it if you’re fond of getting chill bumps. J I completed the painting in just under two weeks, and when it was finished, I stood back and looked at it and it felt as though someone else had painted it. I literally didn’t remember a single brush stroke. I know that sounds crazy, but it’s true. It’s the one that may just be closest to my heart, and it’s brought grown men and women to tears when they see it. Unblemished was my first “God Painting,” and it ignited in me the desire to fill my life doing more of these for His purposes.

“The Hour I First Believed”

KO: This painting is one of my favorites, partly because I just completed it and I’m always pretty attached to them at this point. But really, I love that it has no faces in it. Being a portrait artist, I sort of laughed when God gave me the vision for it. It’s all arms and hands! (Things that most artists loath painting.) What I learned from this one is that God rewards obedience, even when you drag your feet to be obedient. I didn’t paint this one right away. In fact, it was three years after I saw it in my mind that I actually got it onto canvas. But within a week of its completion, God showed me numerous times how He was going to use it for His glory in people’s lives. It was in a show a couple of weeks ago, and the emails and phone calls regarding it haven’t stopped. It’s about salvation and freedom from sin. It depicts a man at the moment of his release from bondage, and it is triggering for many people a gratitude for what Christ did for us. Wow! I’m so excited to see what will come of this one. It’s truly out of my hands, and I’m thankful for that.

As Kelly mentioned earlier in her interview, one piece she created is the oil painting entitled ‘Mine for a Moment’ (see below). This piece has become a signature painting from Kelly and has been used to help those grieving from the loss of a child or other loved one.

“Mine for a Moment” (learn more)

My thanks go out to Kelly and to those of you who’ve read this blog entry on her work. I hope you will take a moment to visit her web site to see more of her work and to learn the stories behind many of her creations.

Also, if you are on Facebook, be sure to like her fan page. Twitter users can follow her @KellyONeill.

]]> http://authorjasongarrett.com/meet-kelly-oneill/feed/ 3 http://authorjasongarrett.com/a-strange-thing-happened-on-the-way-to-the-interweb/ http://authorjasongarrett.com/a-strange-thing-happened-on-the-way-to-the-interweb/#comments Fri, 19 Aug 2011 01:21:18 +0000 Jason http://authorjasongarrett.com/a-strange-thing-happened-on-the-way-to-the-interweb/

Upon the blog advice of friend and author, Jeff (Reunion) Bennington, I decided to offer a copy of my novel, Pursuit, in a free giveaway on GoodReads.com. Nothing fancy, just one copy to be offered for one week.

With a little less than thirty hours left in the giveaway, this author has been immensely humbled. I had no idea what to expect, as I’ve never really been exposed to so many readers before. Just checking the numbers, there are presently 545 GoodReads users who have entered to win the single copy.

Yeah, 545.

That amazes me beyond words. Well, maybe not beyond, as I’m obviously still able to compose a few here.

In the end, even after GoodReads informs me who they’ve randomly selected as the winner, I will carry this memory with me. Thanks to everyone who entered because you truly put a smile on my face and reminded me that – guess what – I’m really writing books.

Best wishes to you all, thank you for showing an interest in my work – and, how could I not host another giveaway soon??

I first came to know my friend, Stephen, in 2007, when I was developing the premise for a pair of comic book titles. I had written the scripts and the synopses, commissioned a comic artist, then an inker. All I lacked was the most important member of the creative team: the illustrator. Images are flat and plain in pencil and inked formats. I needed someone whose work would stand out, someone who could take even the most recognizable character and make them look fresh without betraying the nostalgia of the mind’s eye. Fortunately for me, I found such an artist with the man who referred to himself as NorthChavis.

Though I set aside these projects, Stephen and I have collaborated several times over the next few years and I was able to get to know him as a person and friend. Not only is he knowledgeable in terms of his craft, he can hold a mean conversation on any number of topics. He brings that knowledge base to his artwork, finding new ways to test himself and to create a signature look to his digital paintings. For my own work, he elevated my ideas and breathed life into the characters and pieces he has set his brush upon.

This fall, I’m pleased to announce that Stephen will be returning to studies, having been accepted to Temple University’s Tyler School of Art, where he’ll no doubt hone his talents, pick up some new techniques and get closer to becoming a teacher of other artists. Recently, I had the opportunity to conduct a mini-interview with him. So, for everyone who has asked about the artist responsible for the character portraits and snapshot cover art for the site, say hello to Stephen and enjoy this glimpse into his world and his work.

JG: Stephen, how long have you been an artist?

SAS: I seem to recall one of those ceramic plates with marker scribbles in my parents’ possession that dates to about 1988… However, I would say that I became really serious in junior high school, or roughly 1998.

JG: What inspires you to create?

SAS: Everything. I know that is a clichéd answer but it’s the truth. It can be a movie, a song, a commercial on TV, something I overheard standing in line at the bank, whatever. It doesn’t take much to inspire me to create. I am naturally inquisitive, so whenever I am introduced to something new that piques my interest I like to research it thoroughly. I tend to get a lot of ideas doing arbitrary research. I will say, though, that seeing other great artists, both living and dead, is probably my greatest inspiration.

JG: How did you choose the name of your gallery, NorthChavis?

SAS: North Chavis is an interesting story. A few years back, my father was showing me some papers tracing our family’s roots. As an African-American, it’s a pretty safe assumption that my roots began in the south, but what was fascinating to me was that the last name on the paperwork wasn’t Schaffer, but Chavis. As my dad explained it to me: when our family migrated north to Pennsylvania, where I live now, the northerners misunderstood them (southern drawl and all that) and what they heard was Schaffer and the name stuck. In essence, North Chavis is a nod to my paternal ancestors.

JG: As an artist, what goals have you set for yourself?

SAS: My first goal as an artist is to tell the truth, plain and simple. However, my overarching artistic goals are tied directly to my interests as an artist which include: race, gender, identity, sexuality, spirituality and death. Ideally, I want my art to challenge the accepted norms and perhaps enlighten someone somewhere that the status quo of racism, sexism, classicism, religious intolerance and hate are defects in our psyches that can and must be overcome.

JG: Do you have any advice for other artists?

SAS: The only valuable piece of advice you can give to anyone is to never be afraid. Fear leads to lies and lies lead to more fear. Open up your heart and your mind and say everything you’ve always wanted to say, and damn anyone who tries to shut you up.

In addition to this interview, I asked Stephen to select three of his favorite pieces and give some backstory on what makes the pieces important to him either personally or artistically.

“The Villainous World of Disney”

SAS: This piece will always be special to me for many reasons, the first being that it was the last piece of art of mine that my mother saw before she passed away. As far as challenges go, this one was a doozy for me because I knew it was going to be one of the most complex pieces I’d done to date: twelve characters! I’ve always loved Disney and for a long time I’d wanted to do an homage to these timeless and beloved characters. It took over a month to complete, but it absolutely was a labor of love. I’ve also gotten more praise and recognition on this piece than probably any other I’ve ever done so that was a plus, too.

“A Good Story”

SAS: I had problems in college. Mainly, I didn’t apply myself and I just barely graduated. If it wasn’t for a VERY kind professor, I honestly don’t know where I’d be right now. This was a piece I did my senior year (it was actually a re-do because the first version looked so terrible). I remember being home for my last winter break and having no clue about what I wanted to say or do with my art. I knew I was running out of time and I had to get this right for my final semester. About a year prior, I was introduced to an artist by the name of Kadir Nelson (it should be noted that I never physically met him, but his books inspired me nonetheless). I don’t remember the exact sequence of events, but some point during that break, I cracked open one his books and forced myself to stare at the images until I could figure out how he made the magic he did. Suffice it to say, I never quite figured out Mr. Nelson’s magic, but “A Good Story” is the result of my immersion in his artwork, and I will forever be grateful for his immense talent.

“Conformity”

SAS: This image is a bridge of sorts. It represents a chapter in my life (mainly as a teenager) where I never felt I fit in. And I know this is almost standard practice for teens and high school, but it affected me quite profoundly. It also represents the moment in my life where I felt I was confident enough, both emotionally and artistically, to communicate my thoughts and emotions appropriately. On more than one occasion, I’ve felt like the little boy pictured here: having to go to extreme lengths to “fit in” so to speak. And while at first glance, his glare may seem to be defiant, as if to say, “There! Are you happy now? I did this for you!”, in reality he’s mad at me. Really he’s saying, “Why would you even think you need to do this?!” And he’s right. As I said earlier: lies lead to fear and fear leads to more lies. All I can be is me, and if you don’t like it I have no use for you.

For those who would like to know more about Stephen, you can follow him on Twitter @NorthChavis and the artistic community DeviantArt.

My thanks to Stephen for his time an effort on this feature. In closing, I’ve added a few pieces Stephen has collaborated on for me, including the first piece from the aforementioned comic.

In the novel Pursuit, the character of Ryan Rayburn is described as relating to the pylon of a collapsed bridge, standing alone in the ocean. Like the fallen bridge, his purpose has deteriorated following the loss of his wife. He is angry at himself, the world and the Lord, yet he is faced with the opportunity to reclaim his life in one shining moment of redemption.

Initially, he sets out to prove that he can do it on his own, that there is no greater power than his own ability. Whatever he must overcome, he will overcome by his own measure. He relies on knowledge and immediate response to dictate his actions, yet when his plans fail, he finds the remnants of his hope exhausted.

At his darkest hour, he considers the example of his wife and her method of facing trials. He goes to a place of prayer, hating God, yet yielding to the idea that he alone is not in control. In that place, he finds guidance, the missing key that helps him restore what has been lost.

Though this is a large-scale tale of coming back to one’s faith and rebuilding belief, hope and love, I think it’s a journey many of us can relate to. Maybe life is not about whom we blame for losing a perfect ideal but Who we give credit to for blessing us in an imperfect world.

Here’s a cool feature available to Amazon Kindle users from Amazon and Shelfari. The community at Shelfari.com can contribute additional info though, I’ve taken a little time to provide some behind the scenes tidbits for my Kindle editions of Homecoming and Pursuit: A Tale of Bishop’s Island.

There are a couple of ways to access these features and here’s the easiest:

Once you’ve opened the book…

1) Select the MENU button.

2) Scroll down and select Book Description. (This will take you to the Kindle store page for the book.)

3) Beneath the Customer Reviews section towards the bottom portion of the Kindle screen, you’ll find the option entitled Book Extras.

4) Extras include: Spoilers (no worries, hidden by default), Characters (w/brief bios), Ridiculously Simplified Synopses, Setting, Author & Contributors, Subject and First Sentence.

I’ll add more as time goes on, just testing the waters with the new feature myself but wanted to let those of you who’ve been kind enough to purchase one of my eBooks know of the bonus features. Enjoy!

For links to my Amazon Author Central page, Shelfari page or other social media sites, please visit the Contact page of my site. You can learn more about Kindle via Amazon.com too.