Book Blogger - Submit a book for review!

 Are you an author?

Would you like your book promoted on my blog? and website?

Would you like to have your book reviewed?

If so, please contact me directly at 

jerryharwoodbooks (you know the symbol) gmail(dot) com.

Please put in the subject line: 

REVIEW REQUEST and the title of your book in the email. 

Look forward to hearing from you.

Independent authors welcome!

One of the things I love most about the writing community is the support and help I have received. Whether it be a seasoned writer who lets me bend his/her ear, a conference speaker, members of the writer's group or critique group I am in, book related podcast hosts, or just other writers in general, I have always felt a willingness to share and help.

If you are an independent author, I would love to extend my little corner of the writing world to you. 

Drop me an email at jerryharwoodbooks@gmail.com and let me know what book(s) you are seeking to promote. If it is a good fit, I will be happy to do an interview posting to my blog, website, and social media. If the genre is in my wheelhouse, I will be happy to read an author copy. I would then post my review on my blog and give you the option for me to post it as well on other sites such as Amazon or Goodreads.

Hope to hear from you soon!

jerryharwoodbooks at that thing called gmail.

Reviews online and in print!

 

This month I was blessed to be reviewed in my local town newspaper. Of all the reviews I have had so far, this one was tops! Great to be supported by my local community!

I also am interviewed in this month's Uncaged Books (starting at page 94)

INTERVIEW: UNCAGED BOOKS

And while it is not live until November 9th, I was also interviewed by Reader's Entertainment. I even share the recipe for "Chicken Things" if any of my co-workers want the recipe!

INTERVIEW: READER'S ENTERTAINMENT

JAM SESSIONS: Winner of Literary Titan's Gold Award for October, 2020!

Jam Sessions is a Gold Award Winner for the month of October

Link Here to Literary Titan

AND I'M ON LA RADIO THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8th! LISTEN HERE:

LA RADIO

Also, check out my recent interview with South Australian Author, VK Tritschier on his website.

Link to the Interview

For those of you who believe in government conspiracies, alien robot vampires, and such... Here is the interview without having to go to "foreign soil" websites.

Jerry Harwood

Jerry creates his own worlds, but his focus instead of other worlds is on creating worlds that children can comprehend. His ability to bring story-telling and support for the younger generation was fascinating. So I was keen to hear how he did it.

What is the hardest part of writing stories for children?

I think the hardest part is being true to their dialogue and conversation. Children are smarter and have more insight than we often want to attribute to them. On the other side, they often have off-the-wall ideas. The two together can make a great book, but you have to be careful to keep dialogue something they would actually say.

Do you like to plot out your stories, or do you prefer to free-write?

I use James Scott Bell’s system. He terms it plotting by setting out signposts. So instead of a detailed plot outline, I outline the key intersections (he uses the analogy of signs on a highway for entrance and exit ramps). That way I always have a very set goal at the end and several small goals throughout the book to give it a three-act feel and proper pacing. However, I often free-write sign-post to sign-post. Sometimes that means editing the free-write, but it can also mean changing the signposts.

Your book 'Jam Sessions' discusses some very adult themes of mental health, how do you tackle them to make it easier for kids to understand?

Thank you for answering this question. My hope is that Jam Sessions is first and foremost a good story. I really tried to make it a fun read more than just sermon in fiction form. I never enjoy reading books that are just agenda and propaganda message thinly veiled in fiction. If I achieved my goal, Jam Session will read like a book about a middle school kid for middle school kids. I am very light on the family scenario that led the lead character to move schools. It is there, but not explicit. The bullying is there, but never so heavy that it darkens the tone of the story. Of course, Phillip discovers he has panic attacks, but he also has a friend who sings the youtube sensation duck and lemonade stand song. I spent time in the counseling world and wanted to be realistic about anxiety. The statistics say that anxiety is a significant problem among today’s tweens and teens. But my hope is that the book gives those struggling with it someone to identify with more than just a counseling lecture in book form.

What has been the highlight of being an author to date for you?

This may be silly, but for me, it was listening to my book on audible. That was so much cooler for me than it being in print. Donald Davidson did a fantastic job. 

Jerry loves to connect online. You can find him at: Website : http://www.jerryharwood.com

Blog: https://www.circumlocution.net

Amazon Author’s Page: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0863YPCD7

I hope you can take a moment to offer support for him by checking out his book, and I extend my thanks for being interviewed! 

 

 

As the world opens back up there are lots of exciting opportunities ahead! I would love any of my readers in particular to join my guest appearance on Spilling Ink and make yourself known in the comment section! I am grateful that they have invited me back for a second podcast!

SPILLING INK: Saturday, October 3rd 6:30 EST!

YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuaVQi3FYCI

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/SpillingInkShow/videos/2769529866599189/

I will also be on Going North Podcast on November 2nd, talking about my new release, Twelve Hours on the Block.  Look for a link coming soon!

Later in November, I will also be on WordPlay Podcast and sharing a recipe!

In addition, I am making plans to be at Con Nooga this year! I had opportunity to be at NextChapter Con recently and absolutely loved meeting readers!

I also am excited to have the following reviews posted for Jam Sessions!

INTERVIEW: JAM SESSIONS

Top Shelf 5 star review!

REVIEWS on JAM SESSIONS!! Lisa Hasselton And by Literary Titan

 

I was recently interviewed by noted Book Blogger, Lisa Haselton! Read the interview here:

INTERVIEW: JAM SESSIONS

I'm also excited to release my latest review by the well respected LITERARY TITAN.

The review can be found here: 

LITERARY TITAN REVIEW

And here is the text version of the review:

Jam Sessions follows a middle school boy named Phillip who has to forge a new path for himself through a new school that he’s transferred to in the middle of the school year. Phillip struggles with bullies, but finds a creative outlet in Mr. Filter’s class where he starts the day with a writing prompt that sends Phillips imagination soaring. Now, if only he could apply that creativity and passion in his real life.

Jerry Harwood has created a cast of characters that are both easy to dislike and easy to empathize with. Chuck and his friends are easily unlikable and I loved Ashley, Daniel and Jaylan. I really liked all the teachers too, especially the language arts and P.E. teachers. I did feel like Phillips mom should have played a bigger part in the story, but it didn’t hurt the story in any way. From the first time we meet Chuck I thought that he was just a pain in the butt kid who likes to be a bully and embarrass people. Chuck and his gang of hooligans didn’t really evolve much but that honestly worked for the story because they continue to be the fundamental antagonists.

Jerry Harwood does a great job detailing what a panic/anxiety attack feels like, I could almost feel and see Phillip having his attacks. It was great that he found a way to cope with his attacks. Even at the beginning when the author is describing Phillip and his mom running away from home, everything is perfectly detailed. When Phillip is standing in the back of the room on the first day of school, you could feel him praying that he is invisible and then realizing that he really had been during that class because not one person had cared about him being there or noticed his presence. It was sort of sad.

The story flowed easily and was well written. I enjoyed the small cartoon characters at the beginning of each chapter and I liked how short the chapters were. I read the book in one sitting, because it was an enjoyable read and I loved that Phillip was able to turn things around which gave the book a feel good ending.

Pages: 214 | ASIN: B0868XNSH9

SouthSide Podcast Interview

Check out the interview here!

My first overseas interview!

Checkout My Podcast Interview!

Spilling Ink 
Podcast Interview
Saturday, July 11th

8:00 EST

Interview Link Here!

Check Out Other Spilling Ink Podcasts Here

My friend, Katie Salidas, has invited me to be a guest 

on the acclaimed podcast, Spilling Ink.  

Check out her awesome series here!

https://www.katiesalidas.com

What I gave to Katie

Spilling Ink is a podcast that goes behind the book with authors Katie Salidas, Jason LaVelle, and David Jones.  They give an inside look at all aspects of the publishing industry. They look for authors working their way to the top of the slush piles, and see what it takes to bring a story from idea to print. (adapted from their website: Spilled Ink)

What Katie helped me create!!

I am very blessed to have met Katie, who helped me on the cover design and formatting of Jam Sessions.





Katie also helped me connect with someone on ACX, where I produced my audible version.  She was a great help navigating the indie publishing waters.  I am excited that I have been invited to interview on the podcast.  It will air live Saturday evening and can be found in archive at their site:

https://spillinginkshow.podbean.com

I've Been Interviewed!

Interview here on Reader's Entertainment!

Goodreads Giveaway! Be sure to enter!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Jam Sessions

by Jerry Harwood

Giveaway ends June 03, 2020.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

Not on Goodreads?  Click here!

I'm on Facebook!!

Friend me on Facebook!

Stuff to do in the quarantine

Chattooine Official Site

So my son and I have talked for years about building some Star Wars outfits.  In fact, we even began a clone trooper outfit.  But at the last ConNooga (we are both lovers of sci-fi, my next book is in this genre) we met and spoke with two groups: The Mercs (Mandalorian Cosplay) and Chattooine.

I've now attended the Chattooine monthly meetings (and even won a few giveaway prizes!).  It is a tremendous group of folks.  They welcome all cosplay without the genre specificity of the 501st.  Further, they look for and accept invitations in the Chattanooga area for charity events.  They may be at our local children's hospital, a baseball game at our minor league stadium, at the zoo, or raising funds for March of Dimes.  Overall, a great organization to be with.

This section of my webpage will eventually be dedicated to places I will be as an author.  I was scheduled to be at a conference this spring and was actually asked to be on a panel ( https://metrothamcon.com ).
The con has been rescheduled to the fall.

But till we return to socializing, I thought I would highlight this great group of folks.  The president of the group has actually sent out numerous videos to us encouraging us during this time.  They are all very supportive of each other and those who find their entertainment and charity efforts in costuming.  At the last convention, ConNooga, they ran a costume repair station.

Great group, and I hope my son and I will continue to be involved post-pandemic.  We are working on our Merc costumes now!