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/