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/

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/