How do I love Amazon? Let me count the ways... If it weren't for Amazon, I don't believe that I would have a published book for sale today. Because of this internet conglomerate, I have two detective novels and two nonfiction books available for purchase, as you read these words. Yes, Smashwords.com and David Gaughran's book Let's Get Digital were also instrumental in getting my books published without an agent or contract with a major publisher, but without the market spawned by Amazon with the introduction of the Kindle, the demand for e-books would never have been created in the first place. Therefore, in my mind, Amazon ultimately deserves a share of credit for any success I will enjoy as an author. Amazon created the Kindle Select program, where a book may be enrolled for special treatment over a period of three months. My short story collection Always a Next One was put into Kindle Select. During the time in that program, I've found my book marketed ubiquitously online, everywhere from American Thinker to an Australian television station website. It's extremely gratifying to find a well-placed, attractive ad for your product, especially an advertisement that you didn't have to buy. At this point in my writing career, exposure to my work is most important. "Free" advertising is invaluable. The Kindle Select program has been a great way to get my book cover visible all over the internet, where many eyes have found an adorable puppy looking back at them. But that's not all Amazon has done besides creating a market and offering a subscription … [Read more...]
Secondhand Sight is officially on sale!
My new novel, Secondhand Sight, officially became available for purchase yesterday. Here's what Fiona I. from Reader's Favorite had to say in her review of the book: What a riveting read! This book grabbed me from the first page. Author John "Rocky" Leonard creates a thrilling and chilling murder mystery, with an intriguing touch of the paranormal. The title is apt, describing Dan’s ‘second hand’ flashes, which come from the object he touches. The threads pull together via various characters’ points of view, to a harrowing climax. I also liked the way the characters’ relationships develop and strengthen; and in the midst of all the mayhem, people find themselves and each other. The plot is deceptively simple because it is so ingenious. Dan’s descent into a manic paranoia is skillfully documented, and one feels for him in the mental confusion that accompanies his visions. The author also includes some interesting thoughts on the nature of dreams, hallucinations, psychometry (psychic revelations via touching objects), and the power of the mind. Murder mystery and paranormal fans will love this book. … [Read more...]
Secondhand Sight official book trailer
Here's the official book trailer for Secondhand Sight, now less than a month away from official release... BookTrailer_only … [Read more...]
Kickstarting the Fonehook
I'm in the late stages of producing the completed first draft of my next novel to be published by Each Voice Publishing, which I'm calling Secondhand Sight, but occasionally I take a break and come up for air....Okay, so the truth is that I occasionally stop screwing around and get some real work done, but that's another story. The point of this article is to talk about the crowd funding phenomenon, and a new invention called the Fonehook. The idea to write it originated when I checked my email and found a very polite query from a gentleman named Anthony, who read something I'd published. He asked me to review his new product he's trying to market, a simple platform designed to safely hold your IPod, IPhone, Android, or other smart device. The product is clever, inexpensive, and designed well enough to do the job. Prepare the double-sided tape, put two screws into the wall, attach the Fonehook and tighten the screws, and that baby isn't going anywhere. The only drawbacks to the deal are that you have to buy in a minimum quantity of five Fonehooks for $20, and the screws apparently aren't included. You'd probably want more than one of these wall hangers for phones anyway, but may not have a use for all five. The ones you don't use, you can give away to family and friends. A small package of wood screws can be obtained from a hardware store for a dollar or two. Problem solved. This product reminded that my son's smart phone has a cracked screen precisely for the reason he didn't have a safe place for it when it wasn't in his pocket. After spending several hundred … [Read more...]
