Red, White, and Blue

Found via Google Images

As you may have noticed the underlying color scheme of our books and websites are Red, White, and Blue. That stems from our patriotic nature. David McKoy and I are participants in and have defended the American Dream. Upon entering the military, we swore to protect the Constitution from enemies foreign and domestic. 

As I grew older and wiser, I discovered how little I knew back then. In more recent years, it has become obvious how little the people who are supposed to uphold the Constitution really know about it.  Maybe they do know but choose to ignore it. Like our fictional character Howard E. Lyons, they desire to alert it to their will. 

Granted there are those who do stand up for the liberty and freedom of all Americans. They fight against the tyranny. Because of a friend introducing me to Kris Anne Hall, I learned that our Founding Fathers used words like 'shall not be...' to make it clear what their intentions were with this document. The Bill of Rights was not an afterthought but a way of making it clear for all to see what our Rights as American citizens were and ever shall be. 

The 4th of July is about another document, the Declaration of Independence. This was sent to King George, stating again what our grievances were. It also stated that despite peaceful attempts to redress these grievances, they were ignored by the king.  The king did not follow the mandates laid out before him. There were documents such as the Magna Carta that had been disregarded. 

In our books, we show how out of control the government can get. Enter in our patriotic group of former military special forces who went on to join the CIA as Special Operatives. On one of their missions, originally sanctioned by the CIA, things go wrong. Next thing they know they have been disavowed. They fight to get home. When they finally make it back- the presidency had been usurped. Life as they knew changed forever. All this and more happen in book 1 - Call Sign: Wrecking Crew (Storm Warning). 

Book 2 - Call Sign: Wrecking Crew (Wings of Eagles) finds them in their new roles fighting to preserve their city against attack. 

Novella - Genesis: Call Sign: Wrecking Crew Slice of Life shows more of their personal lives and how they all came together. The ending of it works its way into our upcoming book - Call Sign: Wrecking Crew (Scimitar Brotherhood). - Since our novella is exclusive to Amazon KDP select program, you never know when it might be available at a reduced price. <wink>

For our fellow Americans, Happy Independence Day week. For our global friends and neighbors, have a great one!

Lynn Hallbrooks
author/owner with David McKoy
Call Sign Wrecking Crew LLC

Close Call and Booktastik Are Going Concerns

My friend, Dionne Lister, brought up many valid points regarding

Connections and Timing

The other night, I got on to Facebook to share a limited time offer with a friend.  That moment I took to help one friend gave me an opportunity to help and support other author friends, including Josh Cook. For those that don't know, Josh helps run the Free Book Dude website.  This site sponsors many GiveAways and this month our books are among them. It is simple to enter to win book packages, just log into Facebook and follow Josh's gameplan:  a Rafflecopter giveaway Rafflecopter - Giveaway :) www.rafflecopter.com

"Bestsellers"

Lynn Hallbrooks
co-owner of Call Sign Wrecking Crew LLC with David McKoy
co-author of Call Sign: Wrecking Crew series with David McKoy
author of Many Is the Dream 

You can find our books available for sale on any of our websites: 

http://www.callsignwreckingcrew.com

http://cswcwingsofeagles.homestead.com/

http://lynnhallbrooks.homestead.com/

Being An Author Isn't For the Faint-hearted

Alvin from Chip-wrecked

Is it me or does everyone expect to be an instant success at this self-publishing independent authoring thing. I've been doing it for the last couple years and I can honestly tell you it is not for the faint-hearted. It takes discipline and the courage to keep at it each and every day. There is no baby crying allowed. You don't like how the words fall together then change them. Stop worrying about what others think. If you know in your heart it is the best you can do to capture what your characters are trying to tell you then listen to them. Sure they may try to steer you into a whole new direction... let them. Unless they are like Alvin of the Chipmunks then maybe you need to keep a watchful eye and re-direct them from time to time. 

I'm not saying don't let others view your work and make suggestions. I'm saying that if you have a legitimate reason for what you are doing then let it stand. Take the lumps if they come but don't compromise the big picture. 

Once you have the book written, proofread, formatted for different versions, and published it, you can't stop there. You have to take it to places where it can be seen. I recently discovered Bublish as a new way for readers and authors to connect. It is definitely different. As usual, I had a bit of trouble... you see they currently only take e-pub files. I figured out a solution to my problem.  I remembered I have our book on Smashwords premium. So I downloaded our books as an e-pub and then went to the download section of my computer when it was time to attach them. 

Don't forget about Goodreads. Once upon a time, I think the books actually drifted over from Amazon but that wasn't the case with our two latest books. So I had to enter them manually. Most important thing to have here is an ISBN. That's where Smashwords was most helpful. When I published our books there I requested a free ISBN. Simple now when I need to find our ISBN for other things, I  go to the ISBN manager from our Dashboard. 

I'm still in the process of getting all our books out there to be seen. I also put together a website for Call Sign: Wrecking Crew (Wings of Eagles) and one for myself to feature all of our books, current and future. I even created a new Facebook fan page. I will also be at a book signing event with several of my fellow indie authors. So be looking out for the details on that.

Have a great one!

Lynn Hallbrooks
co-author to the Call Sign: Wrecking Crew series with David McKoy.
co-owner of Call Sign: Wrecking Crew LLC

Hyperlinks

Hyperlink per Wikipedia has many different meanings. The one that I plan on discussing today is 

• A hyperlink has an anchor, which is the location within a document from which the hyperlink can be followed; the document containing a hyperlink is known as its source document. (from Wikipedia - second paragraph first sentence)

My intent is to help fellow writers to use this tool in their blog posts, e-mails, or even in their writing programs. I'm not gifted with all the technical knowledge but I can put in a Hyperlink with a little help from some icons. 

 In Word Press: 

·     Type post as normal, using the words you like.

Example:

Lynn Hallbrooks, co-author of Call Sign: Wrecking Crew (Storm Warning) 

Now suppose you want to put the U.S. Amazon Kindle link to Call Sign: Wrecking Crew (Storm Warning)

• ·         Go to the URL that you want to use:  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004INHK2G
• ·         Copy that link
• ·         Highlight Call Sign: Wrecking Crew (Storm Warning) 
• ·         When you do that you’ll see the icon that looks like a chain link pop out from being grayed out.
• ·         Click on the Chain link icon
• ·         It brings up a box where you can insert the selected URL for  Call Sign: Wrecking Crew (Storm Warning) 
• ·         Paste link into the appropriate line
• ·         Click Add Link
• ·         This will make the hyperlink (it will turn a different color and have a line under it). 

• End result should look something like this:   

Lynn Hallbrooks, co-author of Call Sign: Wrecking Crew (Storm Warning) 

In a word document

• ·         Type out the words you would like to say:

David McKoy is the author of Call Sign: Wrecking Crew (Storm Warning)

• ·         Get the link you want 

http://www.amazon.com/David-McKoy/e/B0051LMR54/

• ·         Highlight the words you want for the link out:  David McKoy 
• ·         Right click
• ·         Scroll down to Hyperlink
• ·         Insert Hyperlink box will appear
• ·         Inside box is a blank line...paste link in there
• See Results:

David McKoy is the author of Call Sign: Wrecking Crew (Storm Warning)

So you see, you are basically looking for an icon that will link the key word with the URL that you wish people to look at. Once you can do that in a word document then you can send that document via e-mail to someone who is doing your author interview. 

I think we have all seen the links for books that look like this: 

U.S. Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004INHK2G

Instead it can be clean like this:

U.S. Amazon Kindle 

This is a pretty basic run down of what little bit that I know and can share.  I hope it will help my viewing audience out a bit. Remember look for words or icons that say link or hyperlink. Then follow along as it takes you through the process. 

Hope you all have a great one!

Lynn Hallbrooks

co-author to David McKoy

co-owners of Call Sign Wrecking Crew, LLC

Book Pushalooza 26 July 2012

Below is the event I mentioned in my last post.  If you are looking to purchase books then you will find them in the Rafflecopter section at the bottom.  First though look at the overviews and see which ones appeal to you, the reader. 

Welcome to the FIRST EVER BookPushalooza!

July 26^th ONLY

9 Books, only .99.

With each purchase you get the chance to WIN while Helping Authors reach new heights in Amazon’s ranks.

It’s so easy a CAVEMAN could do it!

Follow the Instructions on the Rafflecopter Widget and for each book you purchase (or Borrow through Amazon Prime for Free) you get an entry in to WIN ---

(1) Grand Prize- $100 Amazon Gift Card

(2) Runners up of $25 Amazon Gift Cards

That’s not all! Purchase all NINE (9) books and get an additional 5 entries!

Don’t delay, this offer is good for JULY 26^th ONLY!

Overview of Dark Isle

When evil begets evil, a choice is forced on Quinn, the one person who can see the danger. Does she save the ones she loves, or does she save the world from Chaos?

As the realms of Fae and human collide, Quinn's future has never looked so grim, or so damn impossible.

Genre- Urban Fantasy

Overview of Enemy in Blue

 The streets aren't safe when your enemy wears a blue uniform and a gold badge.
What if the good guys weren't good?
What if a cop went rogue and killed an innocent man?

What if it was all caught on video and the cop would do anything to cover it up?
Chase this lawless cop through the streets and to a scintillating series of showdowns with Cruz Marquez, a young attorney trying to nail down his enemy in blue.

Will justice be served?
Genre- Thriller






Overview of Land of the Noonday Sun

When two strangers have nothing left but their dreams, they must forge a relationship in Nantahala, North Carolina, a small town known as Land of the Noonday Sun.

A man with a traumatic past is able to turn his life around and is happy with his chosen career as a whitewater guide. Everything changes though when fate hurls a woman into his path. His carefree life is in turmoil, and his former weaknesses threaten to overtake him. Will he be strong enough when tragedy strikes and is once again in danger of losing everything he loves?

Genre- Contemporary Romance


Overview of This Time Forever

Delaney Brannigan and Blake Morrisson met at the Cedar Cove annual costume dance, known only to each other as the leopard and the cowboy--but, as Delaney soon discovers, the cowboy she'd thought had ridden off into the sunset never to tempt her again, is none other than the man she came from New York to find and discredit. Against her will, Delaney is drawn deeper and deeper into an overwhelming attraction to Blake--an attraction she can't give in to if she wants to keep the one thing she values more than anything else.

Genre- Contemporary Romance

Overview of Cassidy Jones and the Secret Formula

Fourteen-year-old Cassidy Jones wakes up the morning after a minor accident in the laboratory of a world-renowned geneticist to discover that her body has undergone some bizarre physical changes. Her senses, strength, and speed have been radically enhanced.

Lives are put at risk when they find themselves embroiled in a dangerous, action-packed adventure. Soon they are forced to confront a maniacal villain willing to do anything - including murder - to reach his own ambitious goals.

Genre- YA/MG Superhero

Overview of Gray Justice

Gray Justice is the fast-paced debut thriller from Alan McDermott. When a killer walks free from court, the victim's father sees just two options: accept the judge's decision; or take on the entire British justice system. Tom Gray chooses the latter and his crusade attracts instant worldwide media coverage. It was just what Tom was hoping for, but it brought him a lot more than he bargained for.

Gray Justice is much more than a simple tale of revenge: it's a rollercoaster ride with an ending you'll never forget!

Genre- Thriller

Overview of Gone at Zero Hundred 00:00

"Their lives are in the hands of two 18-year-olds..."
A Prominent P.I. is gunned down - killed by a sniper - and it’s broadcasted on live TV.
Now, her daughter, along with her childhood pal, are thrust into a complex and riveting thriller forced to take on a secret club whose members call themselves The Privileged Ones.
Murder. Teen abductions and illegal underground parties.
They’re chased by men in ski-masks, nearly gunned down by members of a cartel, and the only way to bring down this criminal enterprise; is to crash a Mardi Gras bash and stop their private cruise ship from sailing off into the sunset.



Overview of Allegiance

Who do YOU pledge allegiance to?

After exposing one of the most notorious rings of police corruption in history, lawyer Cruz Marquez planned on starting a new life south of the border. That plan unraveled when an extremist group of Minutemen captured and tortured him and his wife.

Will Cruz pledge allegiance to do right, or will he do anything to serve up revenge?

Genre- Thriller




Overview of Curbchek Reload

Curbchek-Reload is a dark account of the streets as they were worked by Zach Fortier, a dangerously deranged cop. Welcome back to the inner city and the twisted mentality of Zach Fortier. Patrolling the streets, broken and mentally damaged from years of urban violence, Zach fights a losing battle to maintain a hold on reality. Join him in the passenger seat of a police cruiser for more of the darker and meaner side of life: The inner city. In Curbchek-Reload you get a front row seat to an attempted murder of a cop, suicide attempts, rapes, and DARK cop humor. Curbchek-Reload - Fasten your bullet proof vest and buckle your seatbelt, it is gonna be a wild ride!

Genre- Police Procedural 

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/49be101/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway

All winners will be notified via email July 28th 2012. For a list of winners contact onedaybookpush@yahoo.ca

"Bestsellers" to all these authors!

Lynn Hallbrooks
co-author to David McKoy
co-owners of Call Sign Wrecking Crew, LLC
co-members of RABMAD and amwriting

Independence Day

Declaration 

Two hundred thirty-six years ago, men constructed a written document that stood up to a government that they felt restricted the rights of the people.  


Call Sign: Wrecking Crew (Storm Warning) was written because David McKoy felt that our rights as individuals were being diminished.  The book is set in the very near future and is a work of fiction. Even so, to a degree some of the events are unfolding before our eyes. Some prime examples, that David just mentioned to me, are the latest Supreme Court rulings regarding Healthcare as well as recent actions by Congress and our current President. 


Our fictional band of brothers and sisters in arms, fight against a government that seemed to become tyrannical overnight.  Then again, looks can be deceiving. As you read further into the book, you'll see quotations by the Founding Fathers, such as Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. Both are signers of the document that we celebrate every Fourth of July. 

I highly doubt that one individual alone would have had the power to create our great nation.  Looking at the signatures on this great document proves to me that when a group of individuals who have a like-minded goal get together...great things can happen. Our Founding Fathers worked and fought hard to make a statement with the Declaration of Independence. Many have fought and died for this document plus the ones that followed it. Together they made the United States of America, what it is today. 


I'd also like to express my gratitude the Independent Authors' community for their ongoing support.  More importantly, a big thanks for those that blazed the path ahead of us. If there weren't programs already in place, our book may never have been born. One could consider our book controversial and definitely not for the main stream market.  Then again, I feel sure Patriots of yesteryear were considered to be upstarts who didn't know what they were talking about either.  If they had taken that guff, where would we be today?


Thanks for taking the time to 'listen' to my thoughts. Hope you have had an enjoyable Fourth of July holiday.


Lynn Hallbrooks
co-author to David McKoy
co-owners of Call Sign Wrecking Crew, LLC
Recent members of RABMAD

Beautiful Blogger Award

In gratitude to those that came before!

I was a bonus Beautiful Blogger awardee on  Tracy James Jones' blog.  This is what Tracy said about me:  "...Indie Author Lynn Hallbrooks is one of those people who will go the extra miles to help anyone with anything and totally deserves to be mentioned for all of her wonderful deeds.  :o)"


Tracy is a fellow author that is only a few steps behind me on this publishing/writing journey. Tracy is a beautiful to me because she challenges me all the time with her quest to learn more about our common field.  I don't always know the answers but eventually we figure things out. 


Apparently these are the things that I have share as an awardee: 


• I must write seven facts about myself (see below)
• Link to the blog of the person who nominated you (see above)
• Link to seven bloggers who you think deserves the award (see below)
• Let those bloggers know they have been nominated! (that'll take some time)


Facts
1) I love chocolate
2) I love to music
3) I love art
4) I have two grown children
5) I have two Godchildren
6) I was in the U.S. Air Force
7) I'm basically an introvert in a business where I need to be an extrovert




Blogs and Bloggers
1) Blood Turbine by Mark Wilcox - Mark is beautiful to me because he was very helpful when I was first learning about Social Media. I have referenced his blogs on many occasions and I feel certain that I will on many more.  


2) Siggy's Omnibus by Siggy Buckley - Siggy is beautiful to me because she came into my life from out of the blue and has been a tried and true friend ever since.  Siggy's Omnibus is a collection of all the blogs that Siggy has created most since I've known her. 


3) Tim Greaton Forum by Tim Greaton - Tim is beautiful to me because he challenges me as a writer.  Tim and I have exchanged author interviews where we have learned so much about one another.  On Tim's forum I learn new things about fellow authors. 


4) Glenn Starkey - Glenn is beautiful to me because he is a fellow veteran and he encourages the love of reading.  At the moment, I can't recall a blog post of his that hasn't stirred up some kind of emotion.  A great example is his Memorial Day post. 


5) Wringing Out Words by Shannon Mayer - Shannon is beautiful to me because she gave me opportunities to help fellow authors shine. Many times Shannon has asked me to help out with a project and I've done my best. After all, authors should help authors whenever possible.


6) Musings of Mistress of the Dark Path by Susan A. - Susan is beautiful to me because she challenges fellow authors to be better.  On her blog, she has writing contests and shares ways to learn more about our mutual craft. In other posts, she allows authors to share the locations of their bodies of work. 


7) Shagging the Muse by Jonathan D. Allen - Jonathan is beautiful to me because he shares pieces of himself in his blog.  He tells things like he sees them.  I admire that because he does it in a way that isn't about hurting others but showing that this business is not always easy. 


I have read so many blogs since I started over a year ago, that I'm sure I could name so many more.  I hope you have enjoyed the beautiful bloggers that I've shared. If you haven't met this wonderful people before then please give their blogs a little look-see.


Thanks Tracy for tagging me as a Beautiful Blogger. "Bestsellers" to my fellow authors and hope everyone has a great one.  


By the way, I've scheduled out a post for Memorial Day that I hope everyone will enjoy.


Lynn Hallbrooks
co-author of Call Sign: Wrecking Crew (Storm Warning)

http://www.callsignwreckingcrew.com