TopShelf - Spring 2018

2016 Sales Catalog - 1

APRIL2018 ™

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to

A NOVEL APPROACH

magazine

TopShelf Authors & Books!

Page 7

Character Development

FORGOTTEN TOMES The Cardinal Sins

THE INSIDE SCOOP

Page 9

Page 11

No Character is Off-Limits Plus Exclusive Author Interviews, Reviews, Marketing Advice, Award Winners, and more...

BRAD MELTZER dives into his latest novel The Escape Artist and proffers us with insight into how he got to where he is today. Page 19

When you’re the best hostage negotiator in the business, there’s always a target on your back.

“Starts at 600 mph (literally) and never slows down.”

—Lee Child, #1 internationally bestselling author of the Jack Reacher series

“High stakes, up-to-the-minute realism . . . Whip-smart.”

—Karen Dionne, author of the international bestseller The Marsh King’s Daughter

“Thea Paris kicks some serious ass in this action-packed thrill ride.”

—Karin Slaughter, internationally bestselling author of The Good Daughter

Available April 10 The next kidnap-and-ransom thriller from the Barry Award–nominated author of The Freedom Broker

TOPShelf

APRIL2018

magazine

™

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to

TopShelf Authors & Books!

table of contents

masthead

columns

CEO & Publisher

7

A NOVEL APPROACH Character Development

Keith A. Katsikas Jr.

9

FORGOTTEN TOMES The Cardinal Sins

E.V.P. & Director of Marketing

11 15

THE INSIDE SCOOP No Character is Off Limits TOPSHELF MARKETING Mailing Lists & Promotions

interviews 17 19 23

Allan Leverone Brad Meltzer Daniel M Warloch

reviews 27 27 27 29 29 29 31 31 31

keith@topshelfmagazine.net

Rebecca Katsikas

becky@topshelfmagazine.net

Lead Editor Kris Miller

kris@topshelfmagazine.net

Assistant Editor Rosemary Fifield

editor@topshelfmagazine.net

Creative Director Keith Katsikas

Jonas Kirk The Bashkir Extraction The Escape Artist The Terminal List Abuse of Discretion Alternate Side I Was Anastasia Mississippi Blood Mickey and the Plow Horse

editorial policy TopShelf Magazine is a bookseller-focused buyers’ guide packed with the crème de la crème in indie and traditionally published authors and books. There’s no junk here!

subscriptions

TopShelf Magazine is offered to bookstores and public libraries across the United States free of charge, and to any bookseller and library in the English speaking world for a nominal fee to cover the cost of shipping.

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

creative@topshelfmagazine.net

Contributors & Reviewers J. H. Bográn Rosemary Fifield Paul Hollis Keith Katsikas Rebecca Katsikas Jon Land Sarah Noffke Kris Miller Tim Sunderland TopShelf Magazine is also available for free to anyone able to view the online digital version at TopShelfMagazine.net

advertising

To advertise in print, online, and in our email marketing campaigns, please visit TopShelfMagazine.net or call 603.785.0560.

Our overall reach is currently in the millions and we always strive to go well above and beyond in promoting our valued clients.

TOPShelf magazine

APRIL2018 3

spotlights

K.J. Howe

“Starts at 600 MPH (literally) and never slows down.” ~Lee Child, #1 Internationally Bestselling Author of the Jack Reacher series

Quercus $26.99 - Hardcover - 375 Pages Thriller, Suspense ISBN: 978-1681443010

4

When you’re the best hostage negotiator in the business, there’s always a target on your back. www.kjhowe.com

by J. H. Bográn Rebel ePublishers $12.99 - 242 Pages Suspense Thriller ISBN: 978-1944077198

by Daniel M Warloch Independently Published $5.99 - 183 Pages Children ISBN: 978-1520262857

by Allan Leverone Rock Bottom Books $13.95 - 256 Pages Thriller, Suspense ISBN: 978-0998416175

by Jon Land Berkley $24.00 - 304 Pages Amateur Sleuths ISBN: 978-0451489272

by Sarah Noffke One-Twenty-Six Press $11.99 - 314 Pages Fantasy, Magic ISBN: 978-0986208003

by Tricia Stewart Shiu Human Being Publishing $12.95 - 148 Pages Contemporary Women ISBN: 978-0996881609

by Heather Graham & Jon Land TOR Books $25.99 - Hardcover - 400 Pages Thriller, Suspense, Romance ISBN: 978-0765337917

by M. R. Morgan Black Opal Books $15.99 - 364 Pages Romantic Suspense ISBN: 978-1626947856

by Ken Stark Severed Press $11.95 - 216 Pages Post-Apocalyptic ISBN: 978-1925493085

by Brad Meltzer Grand Central Publishing $28.00 - 434 Pages Thriller, Suspense ISBN: 978-1538746783

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books!

““JAW-DROPPING ... ...

EVERYTHINGI LOVE I LOVEININAABOOK. BOOK.” EVERYTHING

JAW DROPPING

~JAMES ROLLINS, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of The Seventh Plague ~ JAMES ROLLINS #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of The Seventh Plague

What What if if God's God's most most closely closely guarded guarded secret secret found found itself itself in in the the wrong wrong hands? hands?

“A CRISPLY PLOTTED LABYRINTH OF INTRIGUE, ACTION, AND ADVENTURE.” THE LIAHONA EFFECT THE LIAHONA EFFECT ~STEVE BERRY, New York Times “AN ADRENALINE-FUELED THRILL and #1 Internationally Bestselling Author RIDE FEATURING LOVE, FAITH, MYSTERY, AND REDEMPTION. OPEN UP TO PAGE “NOTONE TO BEAND MISSED. THEFOR BESTDEAR BOOK OF HANG ON LIFE.” ~ ALLAN LEVERONE NY Times & USA TODAY ITS KIND SINCE THE DA VINCI CODE.” Bestselling Author of over a dozen novels, ~JONincluding LAND, USA Bestselling Author the TODAY acclaimed MR. MIDNIGHT of over 38 Novels, including THE RISING and the acclaimed CAITLIN STRONG Series

“A CRISPLY PLOTTED LABYRINTH OF “AN ADRENALINE-FUELED THRILL INTRIGUE, ACTION, ADVENTURE.” RIDE FEATURING LOVE,AND FAITH, MYSTERY, ~ STEVE BERRY New York Times

Copyright Copyright©©2017 2017--TopShelf TopShelfPublishing Publishing

and #1 Internationally Author AND REDEMPTION. OPEN Bestselling UP TO PAGE ONE AND HANG ON FOR DEAR LIFE.” ~ALLAN LEVERONE, NY Times & USA TODAY Bestselling Author of over a dozen novels, including the acclaimed MR. MIDNIGHT

“NOT TO BE MISSED. THE BEST BOOK OF ITS KIND SINCE THE DA VINCI CODE.” ~ JON LAND USA TODAY Bestselling Author of over 38 Novels, including THE RISING and the acclaimed CAITLIN STRONG Series

www.THELIAHONAEFFECT.com TopShelf Publishing United States of America www.TopShelfPub.com ISBN: 978-1946865007

The Theultimate ultimatebookseller booksellerguide guideto toindie indieauthors authorsand andbooks books

www.THELIAHONAEFFECT.com TopShelf Publishing

www.TopShelfPub.com

ISBN: 978-1946865007 51

Every person with that little voice in their head―the one that tells them to write everyday―must own this book. ~ STEVE BERRY New York Times and #1 Internationally bestselling author of The Patriot Threat

AVAILABLE now!

Full Page Ad

www.BryanRobinsonBooks.com Llewellyn Publications

| 978-0738753430

| On Sale: January 8, 2018

|

Llewellyn.com

columns

by Paul Hollis (TopShelf Columnist) Twitter @HollowManSeries | TheHollowManSeries.com

As a writer, you will become a student of human nature. The question of whether the average human being has fixed characteristics or simply acts on impulse using a string of antidotal actions sown together in a random order has long been debated. Are people born with the fixed set of characteristics that make us all societally acceptable?

The concept of human nature for most of us is traditionally imagined in one of two ways. In creating book characters, we are either attracted to unusual, abhorrent human behaviors, or gravitate to “neighborhood” characteristics which are derived from specific cultures and upbringings.

Most of us can’t really translate deviant behavior to written form and the latter “neighborhood” characteristics are generally called stereotypes. So where does that leave us as writers?

Before we talk about building memorable characters, let me say something about novels.

Interesting stories without memorable characters are just that. Interesting. All great storylines are dependent on interactions between enduring characters. Complete characters will find a plot.

By that I mean, characters that you don’t forget easily. Unforgettable characters can make a novel but plots without these characters can seldom hold up to that scrutiny.

A memorable character is one that a reader really identifies and connects with because of personality, foibles, humor, quirks, or a combination of characteristics. They engage our emotions, and they make us want to keep reading. We identify with characters, we love them, we hate them, we root for them, we get

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

APRIL2018

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

5. Know what makes your characters tick what they want; what they will do; what they can’t help doing; why they can’t help doing it. When thinking about what makes them tick, be sure you know what his or her motivation is. To know what your character wants and what lengths he or she will go to get it is to understand what drives the character. A backstory will tell your audience a different side of them at certain points in your story. But, there is more to great characters than backstory. We don’t want details for the sake of details. Take the reader inside the head of the character.

Show them what makes the character an individual. Don’t tell them.

6. As mentioned above, not only avoid stereotypes but stay away from type characters of any sort. These are the labels placed on characters such as the klutzy type, the nerdy type, the promiscuous type, etc. Type characters usually become static characters by default. That is, these characters do not change over time. They are unaffected by the events around them.

However, real people are affected and sometimes changed forever by events, words, car crashes, birthdays, alcohol, drugs, and millions of other acts. We most often see this relating to secondary characters but beware of the effect stereotyped and typed characters can have on the depth of your characters.

7. Finally, make sure what you choose to tell about your characters will serve a purpose for the rest of the story. You won’t get extra credit for knowing a character’s shoe size if it has little to do with the story being told. So don’t think about your character as a list of traits or a series of boxes to check off. You don’t need to know, every little detail about your characters if they do not drive the story, for example, which is her favorite flavor of ice cream. Make that up at the counter, but you better know the character’s motivation, in a specific scene that put her on the street, passing the ice cream shop, and the reasons she entered the store.

I hope some of these tips prove of value in creating full characters that grow throughout your novel. Good luck and happy “charactering”.

magazine

A NOVEL APPROACH

mad at them, and we sympathize with them.

So, how do writers create fascinating characters? Here are a few tips writers should use to create those awesome characters.

1. Let your characters interact with one another. Dialogue will help to demonstrate a lot about a character’s personality. Good dialogue has a purpose and builds toward an end. Your dialogue will feel empty and flat if it stays even or neutral. It evokes how we really talk. We get excited. We get sad. We speak in idioms, slang, and dialects. Conversation reveals personality, values, beliefs, and at the same time. Good dialogue is unexpected. It is punctuated by inner thoughts and character action. What it’s not, are pages of talking or ‘telling’ your story.

2. Along with believable dialogue, allow your characters to have inner monologue with their conflicts and let them contradict themselves.

Introspection is the easiest and clearest way to develop your characters’ personalities. Make your characters think. Scenery and dialogue are good, but audiences want to know why? What makes a character tick? Make your characters think about their bonds and limitations; make them challenge their own thoughts, fears and feelings. We see strength and weakness of character in people every day in our regular lives. Take advantage of your knowledge and use what you know.

3. Complicate a relationship by adding another person, or putting your character in a group environment. People behave differently in groups, the most obvious and horrifying example being a mob which is capable of violence far beyond the natural inclination of most individuals. The mob serves not merely as a shield but as an excuse. The relationships between individuals in a group—whether a clique of three or an organization of thousands —are endlessly varied, shifting and fascinating.

4. Create a backstory for each character. A character does not want your audience to feel like he or she only exists in the pages of your specific book. To give your character more dimension, let each character come with a back story to show they have a life and some level of existence other than what is apparent in the book. This will make your characters seem much more interesting and have the audience asking questions and trying to connect the dots. Your goal as a writer in character development is to get your audience to believe that there is personality depth beneath the words on the page.

TOPShelf

COLUMNS

More Articles at: TopShelfMagazine.net

TOPShelf magazine

APRIL2018 7

"Brilliantly conceived… wondrously realized.”

- Jon Land, USA Today bestselling author of Strong Light of Day

“It’s slick, slippery, and deadly.”

- Barry Lancet, award-winning author of Japantown and Pacific Burn

“Delivers a slow burn. Stay with it, and you might end up with blisters.”

- Raymond Benson, author of The Black Stiletto series

“A first class roller-coaster ride…

I highly recommend this book!”

- Douglas Preston, #1 bestselling co-author of the Pendergast series

Full Page Ad The Rising POISONED TEARS - Retired Dallas private investigator Alan Knox dislikes New Orleans so much he won’t even drink Abita––the local beer. It goes back to the day he wrecked his knee, along with a promising NFL career, in a Superdome game with the Saints. But when his estranged son calls asking for help finding his missing fiancé, the guilt-ridden Texan heads for the Big Easy where he quickly steps in a load of trouble as high as his snakeskin boots. What starts as a simple missing persons case, turns into a hunt for a serial killer who uses exotic animals to poison his victims. Painfully aware that he cannot go it alone, Knox joins forces with a defunct journalist and a surly police detective before exploring the dark streets and seedy bars of New Orleans in search of a ruthless killer dubbed The Exotic Killer.

OTHER TITLES

BY J.H. BOGRAN

www.jhbogran.com www.rebelepublishers.com 2017 © Rebel ePublishers, 14344 Dacosta, Detroit, MI 48223, USA

columns

FORGOTTEN TOMES THE CARDINAL SINS The Cardinal Sins is a beautiful novel published in the early 80’s by Andrew M. Greeley. The plot is about two lifelong friends, rich Kevin Brennan and poor Patrick Donahue who decide to enter the seminar, but the family status is only the first difference between them. For Kevin, becoming a priest was a conscious wellthought decision. However, by the end of high school, Patrick wasn’t sure about what to do with his life. The idea of following his friend’s path came to him as an epiphany, as he described it, while he was lying on his back with his girlfriend near a lake and looking at the sky.

Seminar proved hard for both young men, and that’s where the institution of the church started to separate the weed from the wheat. Kevin Brennan had his faith and his books and became a scholar. On the other hand, Patrick Donahue seemed to have a score to settle with life, and his ambition lead his maneuvering raising the ladder until finally becoming the next Cardinal in Chicago.

For a plot about two priests, you’d be surprised to discover each of them had a sweetheart in high school, and later in life, they played critical roles in the plot. Patrick hooked up with Kevin’s cousin Maureen Cunningham. Kevin didn’t think much of Ellen Foley when she was assigned to him www.TopShelfMagazine.net

Andrew M. Greeley was born on February 5, 1928, and ordained as a priest in 1952. He passed away in 2013 after a life as a scholar, an advocate for child’s

APRIL2018

by J. H. Bográn (TopShelf Columnist) Twitter @JHBogran | jhbogran@gmail.com

The book combines elements of drama, action sequences, plenty of suspense, all interlaced with some real-life historical events that rocked the world, particularly those at the end of the 70’s. The action starts in 1948 but covers thirty years, all the way to the election of Pope John Paul the First. As some may remember, John Paul the First had a very short papacy, the shortest in recent history when he was found dead merely months after taking the high office of Shepard of the Church.

rights and consummate author of over 120 books, both fiction and nonfiction.

He also had papers published about theology.

He lived his life battling for the things he believed were right. Writing gave him a voice that he used for good, even donating the proceedings from his work to charity, including Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, known as SNAP. In 2008, he had an accident with a taxi as it pulled away and he ended with a fractured skull. His health diminished in the years following until his death in 2013 at the age of 85. His family confirmed he had died in his sleep and his body found the next morning.

The Cardinal Sins was Father Greeley’s third novel and the first one to achieve commercial success.

The title serves as a double entendre since the Seven Deadly Sins as observed by the Roman Catholic Church, are known as Cardinal Sins, and the story deals with the sins of Cardinal Patrick Donahue.

magazine

as the date by his cousin, but she proved a smart and touting young lady. She stole a piece of his heart, the rest of it, belonged to the Catholic Church.

TOPShelf

COLUMNS

J. H. Bográn, born and raised in Honduras, is the son of a journalist; however, he ironically prefers to write fiction. José’s genre of choice is thrillers, but he enjoys to throw in a twist of romance on occasion. He has published three acclaimed novels and is a member of The Crime Writers Association, the Short Fiction Writers Guild, and the International Thriller Writers where he also serves as the Thriller Roundtable Coordinator and contributor editor for their official e-zine The Big Thrill.

More Articles at: TopShelfMagazine.net

TOPShelf magazine

APRIL2018 9

“A ROLLERCOASTER RIDE OF EPIC PROPORTIONS, PACKED WITH STAGGERING TWISTS AND TURNS, ROCKETING TOWARD A CATACLYSMIC CLIMAX THAT WILL SHOCK YOU!” -TopShelf Reviews

DARK LIGHT: DAWN “A fantastic, incredible, can’t-putit-down book... A terrific read!” ~Douglas Preston, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"Has everything––mystery, action, sex, violence, widescreen apocalypse and close-up chills, along with the creepiest little girl you'll never want to meet. 'I couldn't put it down' has become such a cliche but... I couldn't put it down.” ~Paul Wilson, New York Times bestselling author

"Combining the supernatural conspiracies of The X-Files with the pandemic panic of Contagion and World War Z, Dark Light Dawn is an addicting, intense, nail-biting big budget summer movie brought to the page by creator Fabrizio Boccardi and author Jon Land. Hopefully, we’ll see the return of Max Younger sooner than later." ~Forces of Geek Magazine

ISBN: 978-0765328724

columns

NO CHARACTER IS OFF-LIMITS

by Sarah Noffke (TopShelf Columnist) Twitter @RealSarahNoffke | SarahNoffke.com

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

APRIL2018

I’ve often heard publishing experts encourage writers to make their protagonist likable. We are supposed to make these Katniss and Frodo types who sacrifice everything for other people. Those are wonderful characters, but there are other realities, ones where the protagonist is a coward.

Where they make wrong decisions. Where they are mean. Where they steal, cheat, lie, and leave their loved ones to die with little emotion showed.

What about Sherlock Holmes? He was considered cold and dispassionate.

Writing a protagonist that readers want to follow and cheer on is no easy feat for authors.

Do you write your main character to be always good-tempered? Or much like Holmes, should they be rude? The answer is that like everything in writing; there are no right answers. It’s purely subjective. In this issue, we’re going to explore the more Sherlock Holmes type characters. Join us in the next issue when I turn the coin over and detail how to write the likable protagonist.

Write about what you know. That’s common advice to writers. More recently, agents and editors have encouraged authors to write from their gender and race. If you’re a white male, it’s sometimes frowned upon to write a book from the perspective of a minority woman. I had an author friend tell me that his agent would turn down my books. Sure I have books from the POV of a blonde girl, which I happen to be. But I also have a series written from the POV of a British, male womanizer. And I’m none of those things.

But you know what I’d tell my friend’s agent?

“Go to bloody hell, you daft wanker.”

So since I love breaking rules, I decided to break both of those when I created the legendary Ren Lewis! He’s nothing like me, and he’s completely unlikable. And you know what? I have zero regrets.

from the POV of our gender and race. I’ve heard male romance writers say they’ve been criticized for having a female main character. And God forbid a white author write first person POV as a Native American. It can be done. It can be done right and well. What it takes is proper education and diligence. For instance, I have two beta readers from London who check my vernacular.

And I don’t believe that protagonists have to be likable. They need to be real.

Relatable. And more than anything, they need to be interesting.

So was it a risk to write a series like Ren? Absolutely. But the result is a man came alive, one who insults the public while saving their lives. One who has the decency to use

magazine

THE INSIDE SCOOP

I had a reader contact me the other day.

“What part of the UK are you from?” The native Londoner asked me over email. He had just read the first book in the Ren series, The Man Behind the Monster.

“I’m not from the UK,” I informed him. “I’m a born and raised Texan.”

“No way,” the reader responded.

Way. Ren Lewis was raised in a small town in the countryside of England. He abandoned the “holy pits of hell” at age seventeen for the bright lights and easy women in London. It is in this city that a majority of the story takes place. And although I’ve visited London, I’m by no means an expert on the city. So how did I, a girl raised in a rodeo town, write an entire series featuring a snarky Brit? I think I owe a lot to BBC. While most children were watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Disney movies, I was watching British comedies. To this day I’ve never seen 101 Dalmatians or Beauty and the Beast. However, I don’t feel deprived. I was nourished by the dry humor of shows like Are You Being Served, Keeping Up Appearances, Red Dwarf and of course Doctor Who. And more recently I’ve been a huge fan of Black Books, Thin Blue Line, IT Crowd and Vicar of Dibley. When it comes to American pop culture I’m completely clueless.

However, I know tons of different British terms for private parts. Twigs and berries. Bollocks.

Fanny. Gentleman Sausage. Knob. Bell End. Dobber. Meat and two veg. John Thomas. Just to name a few. And when I curse, I can make it sound slightly dignified.

The truth is that from a young age I was obsessed with British culture. The first thing I ever wrote was a play set in London called Just a Cup of Tea. And I wrote that three-act play at age eight from a treehouse in East Texas.

I obviously don’t agree with the snobby publishing critics who think we have to write

TOPShelf

COLUMNS

his powers for good and also won’t refrain from telling people they’re bloody gits. Ren, to me, is very much alive, and to my readers he’s real. So my advice to writers is, take chances. Educate yourself. And never allow someone to tell you that a character is off limits or you need to make them more likable. Hell, Ren’s personally tells his readers to “F” off in one of his books. And you know what? Readers love him.

So write the character who is in your head, whether they are black, white, politically incorrect or a solid jerk.

Join us in the next issue where we explore what makes for the likable protagonist because there is something to be said for the Katniss and Frodos of the book world.

More Articles at: TopShelfMagazine.net

TOPShelf magazine

APRIL2018 11

Full Page Ad

columns

MAILING LISTS & PROMOTIONS

by Keith Katsikas (CEO & Publisher, TopShelf)

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

events, new releases, pre-releases, book clubs, author events, etc. Always include a way for customers to get in touch with you.

SATISFACTION SURVEY - One great way to get to know your customers better and provide them with superior customer service is by creating a customer satisfaction survey. Post the survey on your social media pages, website, and eNewsletters, and have it available in your store. Use the responses you receive to improve offerings, communications, staff training, events, etc. Surveys are an essential way to keep customers happy.

Example Questions: • How many times a month do you visit bookstores?

• How many books have you purchased in the past six months?

• What types of books did you purchase?

• What genre do you enjoy?

• Are you interested in a reward program?

• Are you interested in a book club?

• Would you recommend our store?

• Why or why not?

APRIL2018

MAILING LIST - How do your customers find out about the current promotions you offer? Customer mailing lists are one of the most effective ways to keep in touch with customers and improve the profitability of your business. The people who sign up for your list are permitting you to contact them.

These are your hottest customers. If you haven’t started a customer mailing list, you seriously should start gathering one immediately. The process of creating a free MailChimp account is both fast and simple.

You will want to integrate a subscription form into your website, blog, and social media pages. All of this information can be found at MailChimp.com. We don’t get paid for referrals. We’re just customers who use and love MailChimp.

Explain on the form what customers should expect to receive and how often. Don’t ask too many questions because you want the decision to join to be a simple one. Usually, a name and email are more than enough. An excellent way to entice customers to participate is to offer them a 25% Off Your Next Purchase coupon. Let them use the coupon the same day they join. It’s important to explain that you’ll never sell, trade, or share your customer’s information with any other party.

EMAIL CAMPAIGNS - Once you have a significant list (this is determined by your shop’s geographic location and overall customer base, but I’d suggest no fewer than 50 emails), it’s time to start notifying customers of store events, specials, book clubs and any other news you’d like to share.

However, take caution, no one wants spam.

NO ONE! It’s never a good idea to send more than one email a week to your list, and make every email count. Think about it this way, if you wouldn’t want it in your inbox, don’t send it to your customers’.

MailChimp makes creating email campaigns simple for everyone. They offer a variety of

MEMBERSHIP - Store membership helps people feel connected and engaged in what you’re doing. Providing discounts such as “buy one get one free” adds an extra incentive to join and will encourage members to shop more. But beware, these types of programs should always be free. Customers should receive something tangible for being a part of your program. A simple, small keychain with your store’s contact information listed is perfect for this purpose. They’ll see it and touch it every day, and that makes it nearly impossible for them to forget about your store.

FACEBOOK - If used correctly, Facebook can be a fantastic tool.

Facebook is a place where most, if not all of your customers tend to be on a daily basis. Use that to your advantage by posting updates, recommendations, and reminders for upcoming events. You could also give a book away once a week, but only to followers of your Facebook page. Post the winner each Friday morning and promote these winners in your eNewsletter. This will increase awareness of a particular book and attract and excite your Facebook fans and eNewsletter recipients.

LOCAL MEDIA - Send a copy of your flyers, bookmarks, catalogs, along with a press release, to local media outlets (newspapers, magazines, websites, and those local event calendars and bulletins) at least a week––maybe two or three weeks––before any special event you plan to host at your store. And remember to pop these same materials in the shopping bags of all your customers as they check out in the weeks and days leading up to an event.

COUPONS - Love them or hate them, coupons can play a significant role in the success of any retail establishment. A wellplayed coupon can bring in dozens, if not hundreds, of new customers. Most people don’t like clipping, however, so make it easy with a digital coupon you can scan directly from their phone. Don’t forget to include an expiration date. You may also want to add a clause that the offer is subject to change, anytime, without notice. This way you can feel comfortable with making a big offer, knowing that if you royally messed up, you can modify the offer. But be warned, promising something, then changing your mind WILL severely anger people. So carefully consider what we’ve talked about when creating your coupons.

magazine

TOPSHELF MARKETING:

predesigned templates, as well as simple tools to custom-make your own. You don’t need to understand coding or be a designer. But if you are those things, you can create anything precisely the way you like it, making your eNewsletter resemble the theme of your store.

In the world of marketing, it’s important to stay consistent. Your website, social media pages, emails, and blogs should all have the same look and feel. Too many different looks and your customers will get confused and eventually request to be removed from mailing lists. It’s a good idea to have trusted friends, and customers receive “test” mailings, to ensure that the eNewsletter looks good on different mobile devices as well as laptops and desktops.

Act like your eNewsletter is a local paper by including as many names and photos of local customers and store visitors in each edition.

Highlight the best and most relevant reads.

Include a monthly calendar highlighting store

TOPShelf

COLUMNS

TOPShelf magazine

APRIL2018 13

spotlights

Abbie Guerrero

TopShelf Book Cover Award Winner!

Lulu Publishing Services $24.99 - 54 Pages Biographies & Memoirs ISBN: 978-1483427560

In the initial impact, most of the helicopter’s instruments broke loose and shifted toward Craig and Mario.

When the Augusta K2 hit the ground the second time, the chopper's weight came down upon us. And when the dust settled, I was severely hurt, but, unlike the others, alive.

amzn.to/1cOeSfk

by Rik Stone CreateSpace $12.75 - 430 Pages Thriller, Suspense ISBN: 978-1484088647

by Armand Rosamilia CreateSpace $12.99 - 206 Pages Crime Thriller ISBN: 978-1523692149

by Shellie Blum Shellie Blum, LLC $16.79 - 238 Pages Biographies, Memoirs ISBN: 978-0996366908

by Chris Leibig Lightning Source Inc $15.95 - Paperback - 235 Pages Thriller, Suspense ISBN: 978-1633931794

by Debra Ruh G3ict Global Initiative $19.95 - 135 Pages Business, Money ISBN: 978-0578177533

by Richard Bard CreateSpace $16.99 - 418 Pages Thriller, Suspense ISBN: 978-1533257604

by J.C. Brennan TopShelf Indie $28.99 - Hardcover - 356 Pages Supernatural, Horror ISBN: 978-1946865113

by Ethel C. Richard Well Health Publications $16.99 - 140 Pages Biography, Ethnic & National ISBN: 978-1946865090

by Steve Snyder Sea Breeze Publishing LLC $27.95 - Hardcover - 376 Pages History, Military ISBN: 978-0986076008

by A. Gavazzoni Independently Published $14.99 - Paperback - 520 Pages Thriller, Suspense ISBN: 978-1520386171

14

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books!

“A thrilling adventure that spans decades.

STRONG TO THE BONE combines compelling history and cutting-edge technology, creating a death-grip read that refuses to let go.”

~TopShelf Reviews

~TopShelf Reviews

Full Page Ad

ISBN: 978-0765384645

Other Books in the Caitlin Strong Series

We’ve taken the guess work out of finding great indie books!

Learn more at:

JonLandBooks.com 15

#1 WALL STREET JOURNAL AND #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHORS

A deranged killer is threatening the very lifeblood of the city that never sleeps. Special Agent SHOT DOWN Pendergast must match wits with his most dangerous foe— and survive the endless night.

ON SALE NOW

“A consistently exciting and never predictable series.”

—ASSOCIATED PRESS

AVAILABLE IN HARDCOVER, EBOOK, LARGE PRINT, AND AUDIO

PrestonChild.com Photograph of city by Getty Images Photograph of cemetery by Scott Nobles

interviews

Allan Leverone is an air traffic controller and the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of nearly twenty novels in the thriller and horror genres. He is a former Derringer Award winner for excellence in short mystery fiction, and his dark thriller, MR. MIDNIGHT, was featured in Suspense Magazine’s “Best of 2013” issue. Allan lives in Londonderry, NH with his wife, three grown children and two beautiful grandchildren. Learn more on Facebook, Twitter @AllanLeverone, or at AllanLeverone.com.

Now onto our conversation:

Please tell us a little about your latest Tracie Tanner thriller, The Bashkir Extraction.

Tracie Tanner has evolved over the course of six books from a traditional, if unconventional, CIA field operative to one of the blackest of black ops assets in the U.S. intelligence arsenal. Reporting directly to CIA Director Aaron Stallings, Tanner is given the most dangerous and risky assignments, where the stakes are the highest. She almost always operates alone, with little backup.

In The Bashkir Extraction, the U.S. intelligence services learn of a highly secret Soviet military base located deep inside the www.TopShelfMagazine.net

Even though the Tracie Tanner novels are action-packed, in my mind everything boils down to characterization. If the reader doesn’t care about Tracie, nothing about the dilemma she’s facing will matter.

With that as my guiding principle, it’s clear as you read through the six Tanner books that taking on the types of assignments Tracie is asked to complete would take a psychological toll on anyone.

She believes strongly in what she’s doing and in the rightness of freedom versus oppression, but still, she carries the weight of things she has done on her shoulders everywhere she goes.

The moral dilemma she faces in The Bashkir Extraction is an extension of the burden she carries. Life does not get any easier for Tracie in this book.

In your experience traveling from bookstore to bookstore, doing signings and other events, what have to discovered are some of the best ways to captivate readers and get people into your bookstore events?

Honestly, I rarely do bookstore events.

Unless your name is Lee Child or Steve

Have you come across any marketing strategies used by booksellers in your travels that have struck you as particularly impressive or effective?

APRIL2018

AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH ALLAN LEVERONE

You’ve had your character Tracie Tanner go through some pretty difficult situations in the past, but this time she definitely had to face the hardest choice of her career. Without giving away spoilers, why did you think it important for her to evolve down this path?

Berry, as an author it’s hard to get people to come out to an event when they’re not familiar with you or your work. Most of my interactions with readers take place on social media, where an author can have a reach far beyond what is possible through inperson appearances.

I did a “Noir at the Bar” reading a couple of years ago in Boston that was a lot of fun and very well received, but that’s definitely the exception for me and not the rule. I would certainly be receptive to a bookstore appearance if asked, but it’s not the sort of thing I typically pursue.

magazine

Ural Mountains, in the Soviet satellite state of Bashkir. Tanner is dispatched to place the facility under surveillance, with instructions to then return to D.C. and brief intelligence specialists on what she has learned.

It should be a relatively easy assignment, but while in Bashkir, Tracie observes something so shocking and unexpected it changes the nature of her mission completely. She must now attempt to infiltrate this highly secure military facility, where if successful she will face a moral dilemma for which there is no acceptable solution.

TOPShelf

INTERVIEWS

Again, I’m far from an expert on this topic, but I think it’s common knowledge that booksellers need to develop a strategy to allow them to compete more effectively in an era of electronic books and bookselling. One of the ways they could do so is through aggressively promoting local/Indie authors to their core customer group. It surprises me that this doesn’t happen more than it does.

Is there anything that you could offer aspiring authors that you feel could be of substantial value in their quest to hit the bestseller list?

Hitting bestseller lists is a total crapshoot.

I only made it because I was fortunate enough to have my thriller, Final Vector, included in the Deadly Dozen collection along with books by a number of other authors, nearly all of whom was much higher-profile than myself. We sold over 100,000 copies and spent two weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and six weeks on USA Today’s list.

Read this and other interviews at:

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

TOPShelf magazine

APRIL2018 17

FROM #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR

BRAD MELTZER WHO IS NOLA BROWN? NOLA IS A MYSTERY. NOLA IS TROUBLE. AND NOLA IS SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD.

“Not since The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo have you seen a character like this. . . .

If you’ve never tried Meltzer, this is the one.”

— HARLAN COBEN Available in hardcover, ebook, audio, and large print.

B R A D M E LT Z E R . C O M

interviews

You mentioned in the forward of The Escape Artist that this book helped you realize the difference between being alive and actually living. What did you mean by that?

Brad Meltzer is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Inner Circle, The Book of Fate, and nine other bestselling thrillers including The Tenth Justice, The First Counsel, The Millionaires, and The President’s Shadow. His newest book is The Escape Artist, out March 6.

In addition to his fiction, Brad is one of the only authors to ever have books on the bestseller list for Non-Fiction (History Decoded), Advice (Heroes for My Son and Heroes for My Daughter), Children’s Books (I Am Amelia Earhart and I Am Abraham Lincoln) and even comic books (Justice League of America), for which he won the prestigious Eisner Award.

He is also the host of Brad Meltzer’s Lost History on H2 and Brad Meltzer’s Decoded on the History Channel. The Hollywood Reporter recently put him on their list of Hollywood’s 25 Most Powerful Authors.

Now, on with our discussion:

Please lay out your latest thriller, The Escape Artist for us. What makes this book so different from what readers are used to from you?

The Escape Artist opens with Nola Brown.

Nola is dead. The government says she’s dead. And her body is brought to Zig, who helps put to rest the bodies of those who die on the government’s top-secret missions. Zig knows Nola since she was little. She was friends with his daughter and remembers a campfire accident where Nola lost the top www.TopShelfMagazine.net

What prompted you to use the theme of magicians in this book?

The opening page of the book says: In 1898, John Elbert Wilkie, a friend of Harry Houdini, was put in charge of the United States Secret Service. Wilkie was a fan of Houdini and did his own tricks himself.

It is the only time in history that a magician was in control of the Secret Service. How could I not use that? I became obsessed. And weaving old Houdini lore into a modern story was just the best.

In The Escape Artist, the names Rose Mackenberg, Clifford Eddy Jr., and Amadeo Vacca are all associated with Harry Houdini and via records, had shown up as dying every few years since their actual death over fifty years prior. Is that a true story, or one you invented?

They are all real people. And what it says in the book, about what they secretly did for Houdini, that’s real too. But they only died once. I think. As for the rest, it’s so amazing, right?

Six years ago (and I believe, again, just recently) you went on a USO trip to entertain our troops in the Middle East. What was that like?

APRIL2018

AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH BRAD MELTZER

I believe the most authentic story you will ever tell is your own story. And in every book, that’s all I’m ever doing: telling my own story. Over time, I’ve realized that: 1) my life takes on new hardships and 2) I’m more honest with myself and my readers.

And over the past few years, that was my own crisis: realizing that there’s a difference between being alive and actually living. Zig and Nola came out of my own need to explore it. It’s why good novels and great characters are the best therapy of all.

Humbling. Years ago, I went to the Middle East with the USO, then a few months back, I took another trip to entertain our troops. And that’s where I first learned about Dover and the morticians who take care of those who are on top-secret missions for the government. In their building, as you see in the book, they make sure our most honorable soldiers are shown the dignity and respect they deserve.

In addition, the people there know details about hidden missions that almost no one in the world will ever hear about. Dover is a place full of mysteries…and surprises…and more secrets than you can imagine. As someone who writes thrillers, it was the perfect setting for a mystery. Plus, in today’s world, we need real heroes.

The people here are the real deal.

magazine

part of her ear. But as Zig examines this body, he sees that her ear is intact.

Confused, he runs fingerprints. This isn’t Nola. And as he opens up the body, he finds a note inside: “Nola, you were right. Keep running.” That’s the end of chapter 1.

TOPShelf

INTERVIEWS

You host Brad Metzler’s Lost History on H2 that enlists America’s help in finding lost and stolen historical artifacts. What are some of the most prominent artifacts recovered from doing that show?

I don’t think we’ll ever top finding the missing 9/11 flag from Ground Zero. That was our very first episode and four days after it aired, a man walked into a fire station in Everett, Washington and said, “I saw the show Lost History and I need to bring this back.” We were blown away. We spent a year working with scientists and former FBI members. Today, the flag is on display at the 9/11 Museum in New York.

Go see it. It’s proof heroes still exist.

You host Brad Metzler’s Lost History on H2 that enlists America’s help in finding lost and stolen historical artifacts. What are some of the most prominent artifacts recovered from doing that show?

JFK. Nothing beats it for amazing craziness.

We’re still reading the released records. I also loved DB Cooper. And our episode on the Lincoln Assassination. A guy contacted me through my website and said, “I represent John Wilkes Booth’s family, as a lawyer, and we have proof that Booth actually escaped.

They got the wrong guy. So you want to hear the story?” Yes. I wanted to hear that story.

When the universe starts whispering to you like that, you pay attention.

TOPShelf magazine

APRIL2018 19

columns

Full Page Ad

20

TopShelf Magazine – www.TopShelfIndie.com

interviews

Please explain a little about the wonderful children’s books you’ve written and what prompted you to write them

It’s been about twenty years since the publications of your first book. Is there anything you know today that you sincerely wish you had known back then?

I’d tell me to just stay honest with myself. Don’t be afraid to be flawed. My first few years as a writer, in every interview I gave, I said everything was okay. All great.

Just thankful to be here. And I was thankful. But I was terrified to show anything wrong––as if, if I complained, it’d all go away. Now, I realize we’re all flawed. We’re all terrified and bold and scared and amazing. All of us.

All in the same day. Let it all exist.

As you likely know, TopShelf Magazine reaches a pretty broad spectrum of readers. However, our primary target has always been booksellers and librarians. We enjoy picking the minds of authors who’ve been successful for a while, acquiring tidbits along the way that could prove www.TopShelfMagazine.net

The only reason I’m here today is because of librarians. Years ago, we didn’t have money for books. I had a library card. The librarian told me: This is your section. I

In our experience, we’ve found that readers love to get to know authors. In fact, sometimes understanding more about an author can develop a lasting bond between the author and reader that is very difficult to break. Is there anything you could share with us about yourself that isn’t well known, something that may entice readers who haven’t picked up a Brad Meltzer book yet to give you a try?

APRIL2018

my daughter thinking that reality TV stars and people who were famous for being famous were heroes. I tell my kids all the time: That’s fame. Fame is different than being a hero. I wanted my kids to see real heroes…and real people no different than themselves. We started with I AM AMELIA EARHART and I AM ABRAHAM LINCOLN. But each book tells the story of the hero when THEY were a kid. We see them as children. So it’s not just Amelia Earhart and Abraham Lincoln being famous—it’s them being just like us. We’ve since done everyone from Rosa Parks, Albert Einstein, Jackie Robinson, Lucille Ball, Helen Keller, Martin Luther King, Jr., Gandhi, George Washington, Jane Goodall, Sacagawea, Harriet Tubman… and next is I am Neil Armstrong, out in September. We all need heroes today.

and you came into my store and were so nice, and I’ve supported you ever since. I owe you all forever.

magazine

beneficial to independent booksellers. Is there a marketing strategy that you’ve seen used by booksellers that has impressed you or that you The series was born because I was tired of know has been successful, and why?

TOPShelf

INTERVIEWS

I know my core belief. I believe ordinary people change the world. I don’t care how much money you make or what your job title is.

That’s nonsense to me. Why? Because my family grew up with so little and gave me so much. I became the first in my family to go to a four-year college because my dad took out 20 different credit cards and sunk himself into debt. So he could help me.

He and my Mom were as ordinary people as can be – and proof that there’s no such thing as an ordinary person.

Some might say you're a pretty public and outgoing person. You have spoken with many people throughout your career––have done many interviews. But if you’re anything at all like me, there’s always that one question that you wish would get asked, but never does. Well, we’d love thought she literally meant: These books are yours. But that woman changed my life. to hear about it! The floor is yours: A few years back, I tried to track her down and say thank you. I couldn’t find her. As for strategies, the only other reason I’m here is because of booksellers. When my first book came out, it was booksellers who read it. They were the ones who built it and found it and told people. I will never stop saying thank you. It’s funny, I STILL get people who come to events and tell me: I was a bookseller when your first book came out,

How does it feel to invent jetpacks for the entire world and bring the future to all?

What’s next? Flying cars! Naturally. Also, increasing teacher, librarian and bookseller pay. C’mon, how hard is that?

Read this and other interviews at:

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

TOPShelf magazine

APRIL2018 21

columns

“An NPR Must Read for our 2017 Spring Read series.”

~ NPR WNIJ/WNIU

“A wonderful writer, like good scotch on a winter night.” ~ Michael Bane - Producer, Writer, Actor

“A writer to watch...” ~ John L. Moore Full Award-winning Page Ad novelist and journalist, author of The Breaking of Ezra Riley

#1 Amazon Bestselling Author A Christian coming of age story from the #1 Amazon bestselling author of Saving Grace - A Story of Adoption and The Book of Barkley - Love and Life Through the Eyes of a Labrador Retriever.

22

LBJohnsonAuthor.Blogspot.com

TopShelf Magazine – www.TopShelfIndie.com

interviews

Your very first book, 9/11: Official Complicity, was targeted towards adults and then you began writing children’s stories. What is it about children’s adventures that you enjoy more?

After writing and self-publishing 9/11: Official Complicity, I was hooked. I would like to proudly add, that the book has been endorsed by Dr. David Ray Griffin. DRG is www.TopShelfMagazine.net

Tell us about your Holly KissKiss series, what age they are targeted towards and what they teach young readers.

The Holly KissKiss series has been written to help young children with learning difficulties and on the spectrum.

Also for children of all ages, not on the spectrum, making them aware what it is like to have autism. I have been told by a number of children and parents that I write in pictures, which is gratifying because when I do write the stories, I always imagine the story flashing like a movie in front of me.

You wrote The Key to Survival, a vividly descriptive historical fiction about the Titanic, targeted towards middle-school age children and up. Can you tell us more about the novel and what prompted you to write it?

Good question. I wanted to combine historical fact with an edge-ofthe-seat fiction children’s novel.

The idea about the background to the story and the main character––Jake Hollywood came to me one morning. I do have a vivid imagination.

I won’t give anything away, but there are a number of clues throughout the story, which will be made clearer once the series comes to an end.

I am fortunate, living close to Liverpool, where the Titanic exhibition is on show at the Maritime Museum. I spent many hours researching about the fateful liner and I hope when you read the book you will get a feeling of what it must have been like on the Titanic.

So as the synopses reads on the back of the back cover ... “So book your ticket, board the doomed ship, and find out if Jake will be able to change history, or find out why he was chosen to be transported back in time, as the Titanic crosses the Atlantic Ocean, on its way to New York...”

My brother, Andrew Rowland, designed the cover.

APRIL2018

Tell us a little about yourself and your background, maybe something not previously known.

I started work in the printing industry at the tender age of 15, as an apprentice hot metal compositor. The apprenticeship lasted six years, and from then on, I held many senior positions in the industry, such as Production Manager to Operations Director, working closely with a number of ‘blue chip’ customers, such as Avon Cosmetics, British Telecom, British Gas and the BBC, to name just a few.

I am now retired and living very close to Liverpool in the UK with my wife, June. I have two grown-up sons and two grandsons.

They say that there is a book in everyone? Well, I was 60 when I began writing 9/11: Official Complicity by Michael Rowland.

My children’s novels and short stories are written under the pen name of Daniel M Warloch (anagram of Michael Rowland).

The reason for the pen name is because I didn’t want to associate a serious novel with my children’s work.

My dream is to be offered a book deal and the publisher, publish all of the Holly series as a picture book. And I am delighted to announce that Rudolph’s Little Helper has now been published on Amazon USA and UK as a picture book with the illustrations done by Joshua Mitchell-Taylor.

magazine

AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH DANIEL M. WARLOCH

the leading exponent of 9/11 and has been nominated twice for the Nobel Peace Prize.

My first children’s novel was Leap Year, and the spooky house mentioned in the book was a house that I lived close to when I was six years old, and it stuck in my mind all that time. After that, I wrote Christmas Presence and then the first in the Jake Hollywood series.

You asked me what it is about children’s adventures that I enjoy? Well as I say on my website ... “In the eyes of a child, the world is an enchanting place, and that is the reason I didn’t grow up.” Having said that, I do love reading children’s books.

I’m just a big kid at heart.

Children of all ages have a great imagination, and I hope I can copy them. And it’s when I visit schools and do book signings; I know I am doing something right from the response I get, and especially from the children I meet who tell me how much they enjoy reading my books.

You may be interested to know; I also have the second and third in the Leap Year series in manuscript form.

TOPShelf

INTERVIEWS

Read this and other interviews at:

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

TOPShelf magazine

APRIL2018 23

spotlights

Cindy Shirley

TopShelf Book Cover Award Winner!

BookBaby $11.95 - 36 Pages Children’s Book ISBN: 978-0998648002

• 2017 Readers Favorite International Book Award • 2017 Gold Certificate Winner for the Human Relations Indi Book Award • Written about the author’s own experience with being bullied in school www.amazon.com/DieselBody-Guard-Bullies-Allowed/ dp/0998648000/

by Regina Puckett CreateSpace $12.99 - 290 Pages Contemporary Romance ISBN: 978-1491232118

by Maxine Sylvester Kindle $2.99 - 167 Pages Children, Action Adventure ISBN: B075ZX3H9T

by K.J. Heritage CreateSpace $12.99 - 344 Pages Science Fiction, Time Travel ISBN: 978-1548108625

by Paul Hollis CreateSpace $16.95 - 340 Pages Espionage ISBN: 978-1519232236

by Rafael Amadeus Hines Rafael Hines $15.99 - 452 Pages Thriller, Suspense, Military ISBN: 978-0997091915

by Timothy Sunderland CreateSpace $11.99 - 322 Pages Family Life ISBN: 978-1534678309

by Bryan E. Robinson, Ph.D Llewellyn Publications $19.99 - Paperback - 432 pages Fiction, Motivational ISBN: 978-0738753430

by Jack Carr Atria/Emily Bestler Books $26.00 - Hardcover - 416 Pages Thriller/Suspense, Serial Killers ISBN: 978-1501180811

by Carol Marrs Phipps CreateSpace $12.99 - 434 Pages Science Fiction, Dystopian ISBN: 978-1533026408

by Gregory E. Seller AuthorHouse $19.95 - Paperback - 288 Pages Thriller, Suspense ISBN: 978-1504962698

24

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books!

“Engaging legal tale.” ~ KIRKUS REVIEWS

SHOT DOWN

Full Page Ad

“The verdict is in – Attorney Christopher Leibig offers a legal thriller for the ages... a thrilling roller coaster ride!” ~ ROBERT

DUGONI #1 Amazon,

New York Times, and Wall Street Journal Best Selling Author of MY SISTER’S GRAVE

www.chrisleibig.com Lightning Source, Inc.

|

978-1633931794 |

We’ve taken the guess work out of finding great indie books!

LEGAL THRILLER | Available Now! | LightningSource.com

25

Full Page Ad

An overzealous journalist and his cameraman find themselves at an explosive crossroads while capturing the “perfect shot.” Months later the journalist is stalked by his dead cameraman.

.

.

.

TopShelf Publishing Manchester, NH United States www.TopShelfPub.com ISBN: 978-1946865021

26

TopShelf Magazine – www.TopShelfIndie.com

reviews

TOPShelf

REVIEWS

magazine APRIL2018

Sleuth

Paperback

$28.99

Political

Paperback

$13.95

Thriller

Hardcover

$28.00

BITE-SIZED WHODUNNIT BRINGS BACK THE INTRIGUE FAST-PACED, HEARTMYSTERIES WRITTEN IN THE OF THE COLD WAR IN A STOPPING READ Jim “Zig” Zigarowski lovingly puts to rest our VEIN OF AGATHA CHRISTIE THRILLING NEW WAY fallen men and women at Dover Air Force Base.

After his parent’s death, Jonas Kirk found himself with a wealth of money, but no direction in his life. He traveled around the world looking for direction, but finding none still, returned to his small town of Woodland Park. It was there that he found interest in the newspaper clippings on homicide, and entered himself into college at Hamlin to study criminology. Following college, he met Sergeant Chester Devin after coming across what appeared to be a homicide while at a friend’s party. This collection follows his tales of solving crimes with the sometimes-reluctant help of Devlin and ensuring that Lady Justice and Mr. Scales are given their due, as murderers are punished. Dick Snyder provides an expressive, almost lyrical narrative to the stalwart Jonas Kirk. Bite-sized whodunnit mysteries classically written in the vein of Agatha Christie are quickly devoured in THE JONAS KIRK MYSTERIES. ~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

It’s late January 1988, and CIA agent Tracie Tanner is still reeling from the Moscow mission where she barely escaped with her life. Her boss, CIA Director Aaron Stallings, has received intel that there is a secret Soviet military base in the Ural Mountains. Stallings gives Tracie what appears to be a simple mission: travel to Bashkir, extract as much information as she can about the base and return home in four days. But once Tracie gets to the location, she sees something that changes her mission entirely. Ryan Smith, the CIA agent that saved her life during the Moscow mission, has been captured and is being held prisoner in this secret military base in Bashkir. Tracie vows to save his life as he did hers or die trying. Ever smart and cunning, Tracie Tanner, faces a moral dilemma in this one that will eternally haunt her. Taut with tension and packed with bone-chilling scenes that leap off the pages, The Bashkir Extraction brings back the international intrigue of the cold war in a thrilling new way.

With each piece he puts back together, he likes to think he also puts back a piece of his shattered heart. So, when Zig sees the name Nola Brown come across his desk after a plane crash claiming seven lives, he breaks both the military’s and his own rules for the chance to work on the girl who saved his daughter’s life, giving him an additional eleven months to spend with his now deceased daughter. There’s only one problem: upon beginning his job he finds that the woman lying before him is not Nola. Further befuddling, is that three people signed off that she was. A note found hidden on the unidentified woman’s body confirms that Nola saw something on a mission she shouldn’t have; a mission named Operation Bluebook dating back to the days of Harry Houdini, and one that may get Nola killed for real next time. Near broken characters are at the heart of this high-octane suspense thriller amidst a web of deceit and lies. The Escape Artist is a fastpaced, heart-stopping read that will keep you up until the wee hours of the morning.

~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews

~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews

TOPShelf magazine

APRIL2018 27

columns

You can’t help rooting for Suzanne, a truly enchanting character. I couldn’t put it down. ~Pepper O’Neal, author of the award-winning Black Ops Chronicles series

An excellent thriller, well worth the read. ~Geza Tatrallyay, author of the Twisted trilogy

Full Page Ad

SISTER IN LAW

EXCELLENT READ The deck has always been stacked against Suzanne Dahlstrom. Born to alcoholic parents and raped by her father at age ten–– her mother shooting him dead in a fit of rage before her eyes––Suzanne’s trust in men was shattered by the man she was supposed to be able to trust the most. Today, she’s out for revenge, taking whatever she can from every man she crosses. However, when approached by a powerful Washington insider with a scheme to take down the next president of the United States, she wants no part in it––that is, until she’s offered a $1,000,000 payday. Suzanne is an enchanting creature, neither black or white, enveloping all shades of gray. Boasting a distinctive storyline, well-conceived plot, and captivating characters, Sister-in-Law is an excellent read for the more mature reader. ~ Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews

Black Opal Books www.blackopalbooks.com

28

mrmorganauthor.com TopShelf Magazine – www.TopShelfIndie.com

reviews

TOPShelf

REVIEWS

magazine APRIL2018

Political

Hardcover

$26.00

COULD EASILY BE THE NEXT BLOCKBUSTER HIT They’ve taken his whole life, and now he plans on taking theirs. When a SEAL team is sent on a mission into Afghanistan from higher up, something doesn’t feel right to Lt. Commander James Reese. It’s an ambush that kills sixty-eight men, including the air support called in for back up. But on the day of his homecoming, when his wife and daughter are murdered in an assassination meant for him, Reese begins to uncover a corrupt government conspiracy.

They’ve trained a killer, and now the ultimate weapon is making a list to come after them.

Move over Jason Bourne, there’s a new man to right the wrongs in the government, and his name is James Reese! Intelligent, resourceful, and loyal, family man Reese is an endearing protagonist you can’t help but root for. Much like a Brad Thor novel, each scene is brilliantly plotted, action-packed and filled with heartstopping suspense. The Terminal List is a scorcher of a debut thriller that reads as if it were on the big screen, and like Lone Survivor and Shooter could easily be the next blockbuster hit.

Thriller

Paperback

$16.99

Fiction

Hardcover

$28.00

THOUGHT-PROVOKING A CHARACTER-DRIVEN STATEMENT ABOUT CURRENT- SLICE-OF-LIFE STORY Nolan and her husband, Charlie, live in a DAY SEXUAL PERMISSIVENESS Nora tightly knit New York City neighborhood of Sexting is the topic of this excellent courtroom drama. Fourteen-year-old Graylin has a nude photo of a classmate on his cell phone, and someone has tipped off the police. He didn’t take the picture; someone Snapchatted him anonymously, but he made a screenshot and now faces charges of possession of child pornography. He hasn’t distributed it or even shown it to his best friend, but if he is found guilty as charged, this straight-A student and an all-around good kid will go on record as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Abuse of Discretion makes a thought-provoking statement about current-day sexual permissiveness in advertising, movies, and television: How can we blame today’s children for accepting as normal what we have allowed to become ubiquitous in their environment? ~Rosemary Fifield, TopShelf Reviews

comfortably rich people with housekeepers and a shared handyman. They all know each other, socialize at catered neighborhood events, but are not quite friends. In other words, they don’t bare their hearts to one another. Still, they care about each other, and when something happens to one, the others come to help. After nearly thirty years together, Nora and Charlie have grown apart.

Their twins are graduating from college and moving on with their lives, leaving an empty nest.

While Nora loves New York City life, Charlie wants to move to a warm climate where he can golf year-round. She has a job she enjoys; he’s not all that happy in his. Little things he does are starting to annoy her. He’s threatened by the possibility that she will take a new position with status greater than his. When an act of violence rocks the neighborhood, she and he see the incident very differently. Alternate Side is a character-driven slice-of-life story. ~Rosemary Fifield, TopShelf Reviews

~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

TOPShelf magazine

APRIL2018 29

reviews

TOPShelf

REVIEWS

magazine APRIL2018

Biography

Hardcover

$26.95

A VERY GRIPPING STORY THAT DOES NOT DISAPPOINT In 1917, Czar Nicholas II of Russia was deposed by the Bolshevik revolution and exiled to Siberia with his wife and five children. Within a year, the Red Army executed the entire family and several of their servants but did not reveal the location of their graves. In 1920, a young woman named Anna Anderson claimed to be Anastasia, the youngest of the czar’s four daughters. She said she had survived the attempted assassination, and she had the terrible scars to prove it. For the next fifty years, she would fight in international courts to prove her identity.

I Was Anastasia is a very gripping story that does not disappoint. ~Rosemary Fifield, TopShelf Reviews

Mystery

Hardcover

AN INSTANT CLASSIC From the desk of Greg Iles, comes the sensational, sultry, and somber Mississippi Blood (Morrow, 688 pages, $28.99) the voluminous final chapter in his Natchez Burning trilogy. At its heart, this is a father and son tale, chronicling stalwart lawyer Penn Gage’s dogged efforts to defend his selfdestructive father, Tom against murder charges. Tom Gage’s willingness to take the fall for the crime is rooted in a long-hidden past involving a deadly and secretive branch of the Ku Klux Klan. This is a tale rooted as much in the present as the past that confronts our very psyche with the moral ambiguities that straddle the two, and Penn’s efforts to reconcile them.

Isles’ mastery of Southern mythos and societal mores has made him the modern day, pop culture version of William Faulkner and the successor to Pat Conroy as our finest, similarly Southern novelist bar none. Mississippi Blood is a dark and brooding tale, rich in neo-gothic overtones, about the nature of truth and the deconstruction of myth. An instant classic. ~Jon Land, TopShelf Reviews

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

$28.99

Children’s

Paperback

$9.95

A BRILLIANT CHILDREN’S STORY

Twelve-year-old Mickey Branfield has asthma, and does not play sports like other kids, instead, playing video games, reads and is a wiz on the computer. Being incredibly smart and with few friends, the kids often called him a nerd. His parents, not wanting him to read or play video games all summer, sign him up for a ten-week summer camp, much to Mickey’s dismay. While at the camp, Mickey meets Jackson, a downtrodden plow horse that is much an outcast as he. Feeling an immediate bond, Mickey draws closer, and upon touching Jackson, something magical happens that changes both of their lives forever. Beautifully written with a timeless message, this tender coming-of-age tale explores overcoming adversity, courage in the face of your fears, and learning who you are. Highly motivational with relatable characters, Mickey and the Plow Horse is a brilliant children’s story about finding the thoroughbred in each of us and following your dreams. ~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews

TOPShelf magazine

APRIL2018 31

Your ThrillerFest team is looking forward to a fun and memorable year. We’re excited to announce the following staff members will be returning: Full Page Ad Sandra Brannan as PitchFest Director; Christopher ThrillerFest Graham XII as Art Director; Elizabeth Berry as ITW’s Executive Director; D.P. Lyle, M.D. as CraftFest We’re excited to present a blockbuster line-up featuring: Director; Dennis Kennett as Registrar; Kimberley Howe as ThrillerFest’s Executive Director; Jessica • 2018 ThrillerMaster George R.R. Martin Johns as Conference Coordinator; and Jillian Stein • 2018 Silver Bullet Award recipient James Rollins as Social Media Director. If we can answer • 2017 ThrillerMaster Lee Child questions or help out in any way, please touch • 2017 Silver Bullet recipient Lisa Gardner 2018 Spotlight Guest Megan Abbott base anytime: KimberleyHowe@thrillerwriters.org.

•

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

Welcome to ThrillerFest XIII

Join us for the ATF workshop, Master CraftFest, CraftFest, PitchFest, ThrillerFest, and more.

ThrillerFest is not just for writers! We encourage all thriller enthusiasts to join the family.

www.ThrillerFest.com PLATINUM SPONSORS

PLATINUM SPONSORS

TITANIUM SPONSORS

PARTICIPATING SPONSORS