Thanks for the requests for more reviews on he website – between the day job and reading the books and working on the paperwork for the other day jobs i have been inundated with work. Please feel free to send through your own reviews for publishing on the website and be in the running for any spot prizes.

Still enjoying the Paulo Coelho book “The Winner Stands Alone” – great story, next in the line up is James Patterson – Swimsuit.

Thanks again for your support with the book reviews ad overall for bookblog i really do appreciate that.

Good Times and Good Thoughts

Davd Hibbins – Bookblog – Book Reviews

I read an article over the weekend which outlined that US Jobless had risen to 9.4 % and the payrolls were down 345,000. It never ceases to amaze me the negativity that we read on a daily basis, if you were to focus on it all it would become quite depressing. I also then started to think of that book called “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne (a book that I really do like) – in this book part of the thrust is that whatever you want will come your way – I extended that concept to think about if we are all continually focused on the negative stuff in our environment – no matter how newsworthy do we start to pull even more of it into our lives. Anyway guess I really spent too much time on that.

I started this website because I wanted to share a book review or two with any interested people – fortunately I have found some followers already – and that is encouraging. Please continue to send through your reviews for a spot prize.

Currently up to Chapter 4 in Moving Forward by David Pelzer and have also opened 01st Chapter of Paulo Coelho “The Winner Stands Alone” – proving to be more great stuff from an excellent writer.

Tony Park is also nearing completion of his seventh novel so if you have not read the other six – I highly recommend them – go and get a copy and drop me a line on your thoughts. Great guy and an excellent writer.

I am also working on getting the rest of the articles about writing up on the website – thanks to all for the encouraging comments.

David Hibbins – Bookblog  – Book Reviews

Thank you everyone for submitting your book reviews – there is some really good work coming through.

Also note Peter Watt and Katherine Howell – two very talented writers are holding a literary dinner at the Maclean RSL – go along and meet them – they are both very good writers and fun people to meet.

Iam moving through David Pelzer’s Moving Forward – and enjoying his style – please eel free to post your comments fr all to see – i like reading your emails but we should share the comments with all – makes the site a little more interactive.

I have teamed up with a friend (who works in the industry) to write a book about Dating and Relationships – so if you have any funny stories please feel free to email me those. We have preliminary interest from a publisher already so keep the fingers corssed that the first couple of chapters are what they are looking for.

Please email any books that you would like reviewed on the Website an of course any tips that you would like to add would be great.

Thanks again for the suport from all and Tanya i will be emailing you back over the next week or so – keep up the good work in between times.

David Hibbins – Bookblog

Please remember to promote bookblog to all your friends and ask them to promote around the place as well.

Good thoughts

After finishing the day job early yesterday i was straight into the car for a quick trip up to Avid Book Reader bookshop located in West End, Brisbane. After a couple of reds we were entertained by John Birmingham and Tony Maniaty in conversation, with the crew of ABC filming.

Tony Maniaty is the author of a number of works but he talked to us last night about his book Shooting Balibo and the experiences that he went through that motivated the story that he has told.

I must admit I’m not a real fan of the geo-political type of writing, however Tony did keep me interested talking about the experiences that led to the murder of his peers in Timor and his timely escape from the country and the evasion of his own execution.

All to often it is easy to view in hindsight how different actions could have altered the way things happen in life, but i guess thats why they say hindsight is 20/20. I was surprised in some ways to learn that the journalist and crew that were murdered could have avoided thier fate by heeding Tony’s simple words to stay out of the sector. I guess these journalist were following their passion which was to write and report cutting edge news, i cannot hold that against them, but i do wonder in general why we sometimes make these decisions in life.

I intendt to get a copy of Shooting Balibo and do a complete book review of it, but would also appreciate any feedback on this story from anybody else that has had the opportunity to read it. Im interested to see what thoughts it has provoked in everybody else. 

Thanks again to the Avid Bookreader for making available these meet the author sessions – it is about supporting the Art and not the profit margin so it is well appreaciated – if you are in West End please make time to drop in the shop and buy a book to help support the arts yourself.

David Hibbins – Bookblog

US Author Marilyn Robinson has won the Orange Prize for fiction with her book “Home”. She picked up a nice cheque for 30,000 pound – not too shabby. Extraordinary work from a wonderful writer.

Remember to submit your book reviews on bookblog – even if you simply want to make a comment on your current book or recommend any books that you would like to see reviewed.

Cash prizes are avaible for any reviews of your own – just submit them to be in the running – you may also pick up a spot prize.

Any reviews on David Pelzer books i would love to read them.

David Hibbins – BookBlog

On the weekend I was lucky enough to be involved in the Gold Coast Literatti, an event created by the Gold Coast libraries and Gold Coast City Council. The purpose of the weekend is to allow writers and readers an opportunity to communicate with each other with a view of encouraging both the author, new writer and reader in there particular endeavours.

Aside from the obvious benefits l was lucky to learn in observation that when you do become a published author it is very important not to become so full of yourself that you estrange yourself from your readers. 

I was very happy to talk with some authors, but distubred by the one or two that considered themselves to be well above the ordinary reader.

We always need to remain grounded no matter who we are and what we do in life – a lesson I observed hopefully can be shared with all.

Remember while you are on bookblog, think about your review so that you can have the chnace to get a cash prize and share your own reading and writing passion.

David Hibbins – Good Times

Borders says it’s trying to boost its sales

Borders Group Inc. reported an 11.6% decline in revenue for the first quarter, but its chief executive told analysts on a call Wednesday that it is taking action to reverse the slide.Ron Marshall said that the differences would be evident in stores soon with better book inventory and more urgency in generating sales. Borders also plans more creative promotions.”We employ people who are absolutely passionate about books,” he said. “It is about making that personal connection with the customer and then making that connection for the customer.”The Ann Arbor-based bookseller reported a net loss of $86 million, or a loss of $1.44 a share, for the three months ended May 2 after the market closed Tuesday. That compares with a net loss of $31.7 million, or a loss of 50 cents a share, for the same period a year ago.Revenues registered at $650.2 million for the quarter, compared with $735.8 million in the same period of 2008.Excluding onetime charges of $70.1 million, Borders had a loss of 27 cents a share, beating analyst expectations of a 50-cent-a-share loss. The analysts polled by Thomson Reuters had expected revenue of $637.3 million.Marshall said that by the end of June, Borders stores should be stocked with more titles that customers want. Last year, the bookseller, faced with liquidity issues, dramatically reduced inventory, he said.”It has taken a long time to recover, but we hope to see top-line improvement as we fill these gaps,” he said.As Borders reduces its inventory of CDs and DVDs, it will boost space for children’s books, health and wellness, cooking and other items.Borders reduced its debt at the end of the first quarter by $266 million to $325.9 million, or 45% less than a year ago.Sales at Borders superstores open at least a year fell by 13.5% and by 5.5% at Waldenbooks. Borders had 376 Waldenbooks locations at the end of the quarter compared with 476 a year ago. It operates 515 Borders stores.BY GRETA GUEST

 

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The clock is ticking now as we approach June , the excitement is mounting, a new month full of new books by some of my favourite authors:

The Bourne Deception – Robert Ludlum, Relentless – Dean Koontz, Finger Lickin Fifteen – Janet Evanovich, Swimsuit – James Patterson. Medusa – Clive Cussler, Undead & Unwelcome – Mary Janice Davidson, Matters of the Heart – Danielle Steel

Some new authors for me to experience as well are due out in June

The Strain – Del Toro & Hogan, My Fathers Tears – John Updike, The Story Sisters – Alice Hoffman, Skin Trader – Hamilton, The Angels Game – Carlos Ruiz Zafo, Dune Road – Jane Green

What a month to have my job, swine flu and economic downturn aside I am loving life and loving my work.

Please remember to recommend bookblog.com.au to all of your friends and remember to submit your reviews for judging to win the cash prizes and have your work published on the website.

Working my way through China Cuckoo by Mark Kitto, actually it is not work at all it is a great book – stand by for the book review.

Thanks – Good Times

Dave Hibbins