THE FIRST SHALL BE LAST--now available!

My latest novel, The First Shall Be Last, is now available at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.

Two young lovers separated by war cling to hope and sanity by exchanging passionate letters. As Howard heads for his first battle on the Pacific island of Peleliu, Helen fulfills her call to duty by working at a local factory. They soon discover they have more to worry about then the elite Japanese forces deeply entrenched on the island. One of Howard's platoon members, Judd Stone, seeks revenge against a black stretcher bearer by the name of Josiah Jackson. Howard fears Stone may go to any length to get what he wants, even murder.

Sixty years later Reverend Byron Butler enters the hospital room of an old Marine who wants to confess a dark secret. But Butler can't discover the whole truth until he investigates other leads--Helen and Howard's war letters, Josiah Jackson's son, and a mysterious footlocker.

CLICK HERE to order The First Shall Be Last from BarnesandNoble.com.

CLICK HERE to order The First Shall Be Last from Amazon.com

Talk to you later,

Joe

Becoming My Own Distributor

This summer I've taken on the task of becoming my own distributor. For the first year (June 07 to May 08) Outer Banks Press distributed Murder at Whalehead to the bookstores on the Outer Banks. A couple of bookstore owners wondered why I didn't distribute the book myself and thereby cut out the middle man. I hesitated to do that because I thought there would be a lot of work involved. In May I discovered that my distributor was considering the possibility of going out of business. At that point I decided I better take over the distribution.

It has definitely made my summer busier (sorry for lack of blog posts) but rewarding. Two or three times a week I am signing books, packing up boxes, and sending them out to various bookstores. Sometimes the orders come fast and furious. The following Outer Banks stores are now carrying the novel:

THE WHALEHEAD CLUB GIFT SHOP
ISLAND BOOKSTORE COROLLA
ISLAND BOOKSTORE DUCK
ISLAND BOOKSTORE KITTY HAWK
BEACH BAG MUSIC AND BOOKS
COROLLA BOOKS, GIFTS, AND CARDS
DUCK'S COTTAGE BOOKSTORE
THE BLACK PELICAN GIFT SHOP
MANTEO BOOKSELLERS
BUXTON BOOKS

We're coming up on 2000 copies sold. Now if only some big film studio would offer me a deal on the movie rights! I'd love that.

Talking about movies, I recently posted an Outer Banks Ghost Story on YouTube. Check it out by clicking on the link above. Also check out my YouTube channel by clicking this link: http://www.youtube.com/user/whalehead

My next novel, The First Shall Be Last, will be available soon (Sept 15). Make sure you order a copy at Amazon.com or BN.com.

Talk to you later,

Joe

Amazon link to Murder at Whalehead
Amazon link to The Healing Place
BN link to Murder at Whalehead
BN link to The Healing Place

An Outer Banks Ghost Story

We just returned home from a wonderful trip to the Outer Banks, but the journey wasn't without its unusual occurences. Perhaps an omen was the brushfire we had to pass through along State Route 158 when we entered Currituck County. It blurred the landscape in a ghostly haze for miles and left an unsettling feeling in the pit of our stomachs.

However, by the time we arrived in Corolla, NC, we were excited. Our vacation house in the resort community of Corolla Light was one of the neatest homes we ever rented. It had four large bedrooms, four bathrooms, and a large hot tub on the upper deck covered by a pagoda-style shelter.

As we rejoiced in the excitement of staying in such a nice home for the next week, the doorbell rang. I went down to answer, but no one was there. I thought that was odd. Throughout the week this happened again and again--a ringing doorbell with no one there.

The next unusual thing we noticed was what looked like a gravestone or "memory" stone (pictured above) placed at the bottom of the steps leading up to the upper deck. The words on the stone stated:

No farewell words were spoken,

No time to say goodbye,

You were gone before we knew it,

And only God knows why.

Just reading it left a melancholy aching within.

One night while the family played Uno, I took a glass of wine to the upper deck to enjoy the hot tub. While simmering in the bubbling warmth, I heard steps mounting the deck stairs. I turned and gazed in the direction of the footfalls. From the darkness a pale figure appeared--a young girl, six or seven years old with long, blonde hair. She walked toward me across the deck and stood at the steps leading to hot tub.

"Honey, are you from across the street," I asked.

She looked through me as if I wasn't there and said, "Daddy, will you take me to the beach?"

"What?" was all I could think to say.

"Please, Daddy, please. Take me to the beach. I won't go out too far."

A chill iced through me. I turned to reach for my towel. Footsteps pounded away and down the steps. Her voiced trailed off: "If you won't take me, I'm going myself."

I blinked my eyes and all was quiet. Was it my imagination?

Talk to you later,

Joe C. Ellis

Amazon link to Murder at Whalehead

Amazon link to The Healing Place

BN link to Murder at Whalehead

BN link to The Healing Place

Outer Banks Book Signings

Summer will be here before you know it. Doesn't a week on the Outer Banks sound great?

I'll be appearing at four bookstores on the Outer Banks to sign copies of Murder at Whalehead and The Healing Place.

Here's the schedule so far:

Wednesday, June 18 from 2:00 to 4:00 at Manteo Booksellers

Thursday, June 19 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Corolla's Island Bookstore

Thursday, June 19 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Duck's Island Bookstore

Friday, June 20 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Kitty Hawk's Island Bookstore

It'll be a busy week, but I'm looking forward to it.

Here's a link to Island Bookstore's promotion of the event:

http://www.islandbooksobx.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp;jsessionid=abcURlDV1LY2yhmjehULr?s=storeevents&eventId=372820

I love the line "hot new seller"!

If you're vacationing on the Outer Banks that week, stop in at one of the signings!

Talk to you later,

Joe C. Ellis

CLICK HERE to view video trailer for Murder at Whalehead

Link to front cover: CLICK HERE (Click on cover to enlarge)

Link to back cover: CLICK HERE (Click on cover to enlarge)

Link to first eleven chapters:

CLICK HEREVisit my website at http://www.joecellis.com/

New Video and Good News

The original song/web commercial videos for my books at YouTube seem to be working. Several copies have sold at Amazon.com in the last few days. I've posted a different kind a video at YouTube a couple days ago. Whenever I speak at book signings or libraries, I usually tell the story about the Chair. This real life experience became the inspiration for an important scene in my first novel, The Healing Place. In the fall of 1973 during my senior year of high school, two of my good friends and I ran out to the Scotch Ridge Presbyterian Church at midnight to test the curse that was supposedly on the monument know as the Chair--if you sit on it at midnight, you'll die within 24 hours. It's probably more funny than it is scary, but the audiences at the book clubs and signings seem to enjoy it. Listen to it and let me know what you think.

Today I got word from a reviewer of historical novels that The First Shall Be Last has arrived, and she is looking forward to reading it and reviewing it. This is a long process, and the review won't be published for three to six months. That's okay with me because the book is not scheduled to come out until September 15, 2008. About twelve reviewers will receive copies of The First Shall Be Last. If three or four end up reviewing it, I will be happy. Usually only about 15% of the books reviewers receive are actually reviewed. But one review can make a huge difference in sales to bookstores and libraries.

Talk to you later,

Joe C. Ellis

CLICK HERE to view video trailer for Murder at Whalehead
Link to front cover: CLICK HERE (Click on cover to enlarge)
Link to back cover: CLICK HERE (Click on cover to enlarge)
Link to first eleven chapters:CLICK HERE
Visit my website at http://www.joecellis.com/

Bethesda Book Club

On Monday evening I had the pleasure of speaking to the good people who belong to the Bethesda Book Club. My brother, Jim, who lives in Bethesda, served my wife, daughter, and me a feast of steak, baked potatoes, and home-cooked veggies before we headed off to the library in downtown Bethesda. The club members had read both books--Murder at Whalehead and The Healing Place. My sister-in-law, Linda, warned me that they were pretty tough when it came to questioning authors. However, they were kind to me and asked many insightful and pertinent questions. All in all it was an enjoyable evening.

I noticed recently that the Cuyahoga Library near Cleveland ordered quite a few copies of both novels. Sometimes when county libraries order a lot of copies, they plan on selecting the books for their book clubs. Maybe I'll be getting a call from the Cuyahoga people in the near future. Time will tell.

Talk to ya later,

Joe

CLICK HERE to view video trailer for Murder at Whalehead
Link to front cover: CLICK HERE (Click on cover to enlarge)
Link to back cover: CLICK HERE (Click on cover to enlarge)
Link to first eleven chapters:CLICK HERE
Visit my website at http://www.joecellis.com/

New Video and News

I'm enjoying posting original song videos on YouTube and plugging my novel website at the end of each video. The above one, Do You Believe, has gotten the most hits, probably because it was a Valentine love song. I don't know if anyone will visit my website and check into the books because of these videos. It's one of those wait and see things.

The First Shall Be Last, the third novel of the Whalehead series, has gone into the hands of my two line editors, both English teachers. Rebekah, who is also my daughter, recently finished the novel and found a few mistakes. However, she said it's the best book I've written yet. That was encouraging. Once Gretchen, my other line editor finishes, I'll make the corrections in preparation for the first edition.

The Bethesda (Ohio) Book Club recently contacted me to speak at their March meeting about the first two novels in the series, The Healing Place and Murder at Whalehead. I'll be speaking to them on the evening of March 10. More details about that one later.

I'm still waiting to hear back from Outer Banks Press about the possibility of them becoming my publisher. Right now I'm self publishing through my own company, Upper Ohio Valley Books, but a few weeks back I received an email from OBX Press expressing interest. It's another one of those wait and see things.

Talk to you later,

Joe

CLICK HERE to view video trailer for Murder at Whalehead
Link to front cover: CLICK HERE (Click on cover to enlarge)
Link to back cover: CLICK HERE (Click on cover to enlarge)
Link to first eleven chapters:CLICK HERE
Visit my website at http://www.joecellis.com/

News and Video

Marketing my books is challenging. Sometimes I experiment with possibilities. I decided to create a music video of an original song I wrote a few years back and post it on YouTube. The song is called "Say Goodnight." It's about what happens eventually to a lot of couples--start out as friends but with time fall in love. At the end of the video is my website address: http://www.joecellis.com.
The idea is to direct viewers to my website and info about the books.

Good news: I recently got my first check from my NC distributor, Outer Banks Press. The President, Ms. L. Lauby, is excited about the upcoming season, potential book sales, book reviews in her regional magazines, and the possibility of Outer Banks Press becoming the publisher of Murder at Whalehead. She also wants to consider becoming the distributor of The Healing Place. I'm guessing that if The Healing Place sells decently, Outer Banks Press may consider publishing it also.

Other news: This past week I made a trial copy of The First Shall Be Last (the sequel to Murder at Whalehead) at Lulu.com. It's a great site to make one or two copies of a book to pass around to your line editors and others who could help sharpen the manuscript before the actual publication. I ordered two copies at about $10 a copy. Gretchen, an English teacher where I teach, is going to do a line edit for me, and my daughter, Rebekah, will also read it over and try to catch mistakes. Both have helped with my other two novels and did a great job. I'm going to send a copy to Ms. Lauby at Outer Banks Press to see if she would be interested in distributing this newest novel.

Writers have got to keep open to all possibilities. You never know when a door might open that could improve sales or give a boost to the next level of success.

Talk to you later,

Joe

CLICK HERE to view video trailer for Murder at Whalehead
Link to front cover: CLICK HERE (Click on cover to enlarge)
Link to back cover: CLICK HERE (Click on cover to enlarge)
Link to first eleven chapters:CLICK HERE
Visit my website at http://www.joecellis.com/

The First Shall Be Last -- Chapter Four

Chapter Four of The First Shall Be Last is now posted. Hope you're enjoying the early stages of the novel.

I received my first check from my NC distributor yesterday. She is excited about the upcoming season on the Outer Banks and hopes for great book sales. I will be preparing for the second printing of Murder at Whalehead in the near future or perhaps working out a publishing deal with a North Carolina publisher. In the meantime, I'm hoping to work hard on The First Shall Be Last so the book will be ready for publication by late May.

Here's the link to check out the first four chapters: Click Here

Let me know what you think. Email me or post a comment:

joecellis@comcast.net

Talk to you later,

Joe C. Ellis
CLICK HERE to view video trailer for Murder at Whalehead
Link to front cover: CLICK HERE (Click on cover to enlarge)
Link to back cover: CLICK HERE (Click on cover to enlarge)
Link to first eleven chapters:CLICK HERE
Visit my website at http://www.joecellis.com/

My Father's World War II Memoirs

Tomorrow marks the anniversary of the death of my father, James Edward Ellis. I based my latest novel, The First Shall Be Last, on his World War II memoirs. In honor of the anniversary of his death, I am posting his memoirs online. About ten years ago when my dad was in his mid seventies, I asked him to sit down with me and record everything he could remember about the war. It took over six hours of recording, but eventually we got it all down. When I transposed his oral history into written words, I tried to remain true to his speech patterns and vocabulary. The result was an amazing bit of storytelling from my father. I think you will find his memoirs both educational and entertaining. He had a way with drawing a listener into his story and maintaining their attention. Dad was a Marine Scout and fought in four major battles in the Pacific Theater. He was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in battle on Okinawa.

If you like World War II history, I think you will enjoy his memoirs. Heres the link:

http://www.joecellis.com/James_Ellis_WWII_Memoirs.htm

To check out the first few chapters of my latest novel, The First Shall Be Last, click on the link below:

http://www.joecellis.com/The_First_Shall_Be_Last.htm

Talk to you later,

Joe C. Ellis
CLICK HERE to view video trailer for Murder at Whalehead
Link to front cover: CLICK HERE (Click on cover to enlarge)
Link to back cover: CLICK HERE (Click on cover to enlarge)
Link to first eleven chapters:CLICK HERE
Visit my website at http://www.joecellis.com/

The First Shall Be Last -- Chapter Three

This has been a hectic week. We've opened our new schools at Martins Ferry atop the Appalachian foothills overlooking the beautiful Ohio River. The local newspaper called the high school/middle school the "The Purple Palace." It is quite magnificent. I'm guessing it would rival any school in Ohio as far as aesthetic appearance and state-of-the-art technology. I've worked hard all week unloading nearly 100 boxes of art room supplies and equipment. Both students and faculty are looking forward to experiencing this new educational setting.

I did get a chance to post Chapter 3 of The First Shall Be Last. I've noticed quite a few people have stopped by the blog to read the first couple of chapters. Check this new chapter out and let me know what you think.

Here's the link to the first three chapters:
http://www.joecellis.com/The_First_Shall_Be_Last.htm

You can post a comment or send me an email: joecellis@comcast.net

Talk to you later,

Joe C. Ellis
CLICK HERE to view video trailer for Murder at Whalehead
Link to front cover: CLICK HERE (Click on cover to enlarge)
Link to back cover: CLICK HERE (Click on cover to enlarge)
Link to first eleven chapters:CLICK HERE
Visit my website at http://www.joecellis.com/

The First Shall Be Last - Chapter Two

I hope everyone had a great time over the holidays. All three of our kids came home and brought either a boyfriend, girlfriend, or spouse with them. We had a great time playing Wii, watching movies, and just enjoying each other's company. By New Year's Eve they had all taken off again, so Judy and I relaxed and shared a quiet evening together trying to stay awake 'til midnight.

I received an email from a reader today who just finished The Healing Place and Murder at Whalehead. Here's what she had to say: I finally got the chance to sit down and read this week. I just want you to know that I became completely involved in the stories and couldn't put either book down. I liked following the characters into a second book. I read last night until 1:30 am and nearly finished Murder at Whalehead but knew I had to get some rest. I really had a hard time sleeping because I couldn't get my mind off the story. I just finished the book and now wish there was more to read. I loved the characters and hope to see them again in the future. Keep up the good work. I truly loved both books and will definitely suggest reading them to all my reading friends.

I love those kinds of emails. Word of mouth is the best advertising.

I've noticed a lot of people have stopped by the blog this week. I hope you've read the first chapter of The First Shall Be Last. I hope to post a chapter every Sunday evening for the next several months. Let me know if you find any mistakes or what you think about the story so far. I hope to have the novel ready for publishing by the end of May.

Here's the link to the first two chapters:
http://www.joecellis.com/The_First_Shall_Be_Last.htm

You can post a comment or send me an email: joecellis@comcast.net

Talk to you later,

Joe C. Ellis
CLICK HERE to view video trailer for Murder at Whalehead
Link to front cover: CLICK HERE (Click on cover to enlarge)
Link to back cover: CLICK HERE (Click on cover to enlarge)
Link to first eleven chapters:CLICK HERE
Visit my website at http://www.joecellis.com/