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/

The First Shall Be Last - Chapter One

1000-Yard Stare
(painting of a battle-fatigued Marine on the island of Peleliu)

The new year is about to begin, and I'm preparing for the release of my third novel in May of 2008: The First Shall Be Last. The story is a World War II mystery about a crime committed against a black soldier during the Battle of Peleliu. Peleliu was a small island in the Central Pacific held by Elite Japanese forces. The First Marine Division was ordered to take the island as a part of General Douglas MacArthur's island hopping campaign to return to the Philippines. I based this novel on my father's memoirs.

Between now and the end of April I plan on posting a chapter per week. You could be a great help to me by letting me know what you think of the story, catching mistakes, and making suggestions. Also, if you know of anyone who might be interested in reading this novel, please send them the link. I will use your comments and suggestions in the rewrite as I prepare the final draft.

After you read the chapter, please return to my blog and click on the comment link to give me your suggestions, corrections, etc. You can also email me at joecellis@comcast.net . To get to the first chapter, click on the link below:

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

Thanks for stopping by my blog in 2007. Hope you stick with me through 2008.

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 Gift

Christmas Day will arrive in six days. I want to share a gift with you--the gift of two beautiful songs. The first one is relatively new and the second one has been around a while. Both have a similar theme--offering our gifts back to God and seeing them sanctified--lifted to a new level of beauty and meaning.

The first song, "The Gift", is sung by Aselin Debison, who recorded it when she was 12 years old back in 2002. The quality of her voice adds to the wonder and innocence of the song.

The second one is from the 1970s when Bing Crosby was still alive. He harmonized with David Bowie on The Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth. Again, the theme reflects the wonder of presenting our gifts to God, no matter how small they be.

As a writer, I often wonder if my work honors God. Does the Lord smile when I present the gift? Will God use it to bless others? I hope so. And I hope you enjoy these two songs.




Merry Christmas,

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 Triumph Club

Hey everyone, we're coming to the end of 2007. Are you ready for the new year to begin? I'm looking forward to all the possibilities with my writing and all the other aspects of my life. To me, life is an adventure and privilege. It's always been my philosophy to try to become the best person I can be physically, mentally, and spiritually. Hopefully 2008 will be a year of striving to fulfill the potential the good Lord gave me.

That's why I wanted to let you know about a new Yahoo group I'm starting called the TRIUMPH CLUB. Do you want to lose weight, exercise regularly, kick bad habits, expand your mind, and become spiritually stronger? Do you want to see your life stabilized and focused on the right priorities? If so, then the Triumph Club is for you.

Physically, we will encourage one another to eat right, exercise, lose weight (if necessary), and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Mentally, we will read and recommend books (fiction and non-fiction) that will provide a wealth of knowledge and solid foundational principles for our lives. Spiritually, we will push one another to grow in the basic disciplines of faith--prayer, study, good works, etc.

If you would like to connect with an online group who shares these goals and encourages one another with insights, inspiration, and wisdom to make 2008 a year of personal growth, check us out at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/The_Triumph_Club/


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Click to join The_Triumph_Club

Or just go to Yahoo.com, click on the Groups link and enter Triumph Club into the search box. The Club doesn't officially launch until 1/1/08, but between now and then you can sign up and become a part of this exciting journey of inner and outer transformation.

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/