Zack's Choice -- My Newest Novel Now on Kindle

My ninth published book is now available as an e-book on Amazon's Kindle. It is a fiction novel (182 pages in print format of 6" x 9" trade paperback; 44,533 words) in the crime/heist genre with a bit of mystery and a bit of romance and sex included. It's intended for older teenage and adult readers.

Book Blurb: Zackery Gresham has his life all planned. His mother is a lawyer; his father is a federal judge; and he is Pre-Law at Yale, with Harvard Law School to follow before he joins his mother’s prestigious law firm. He plans to marry his high school and Yale girlfriend once he graduates from Law School. During a school break Zack takes a once-in-a-lifetime motorcycle trip through the southern states. In New Mexico he has a chance encounter with a strange hitchhiker. The resulting chaos will bring Zack face-to-face with a choice that could alter his life forever.

The e-book version was published on February 18, 2014 through CreateSpace. The print version will be available soon.

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I invite you to stop by and check out Zack's Choice at: http://www.amazon.com/Zacks-Choice-Harry-Gilleland-ebook/dp/B00IJEWGM4/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1392956480&sr=1-1&keywords=Zack%27s+Choice

A Wandering Warrior Took First Place in 2014 P&E Readers Poll All Other Novels Category

My action-adventure, historical fiction novel A Wandering Warrior finished first out of thirty entries in the Preditors & Editors Readers Poll in its category of "All Other Novels." I thank all those who voted to make this happen. I much appreciate your support for my book. http://critters.org/predpoll/final_tally_novel.ht

Preview of My Long-overdue Trailer for “A Wandering Warrior”

While my 2013 novel was being edited and re-edited by 4RV Publishing prior to its eventual publication on 15 April 2013, I contracted with a professional designer/artist to prepare a book trailer for A Wandering Warrior. The specifications were agreed upon and payment was made in full in September - October of 2012 to that artist/designer. I thought the book trailer would be prepared and released PRIOR to the novel’s publication – you know, like a trailer is supposed to work to drum up interest prior to the novel’s release – but the designer/artist suffered calamity after calamity (illness requiring hospitalization, dead computer, another family illness, financial difficulties, another computer failure, and more). To say the least, 2013 was an extremely difficult time for this designer/artist.

Well, here it is fifteen months after payment was made in full and nearly nine months after A Wandering Warrior was published and still no trailer for it has been released due to all these circumstances. As 2014 begins, it looks like perhaps the trailer finally could be finished soon. Therefore, I wanted to give you a preview of what the trailer will contain. This preview requires that you use your imagination to “view” it. Therefore, to fully enjoy this trailer preview please ensure your imagination is turned on to its maximum.

My Imaginary Trailer for A Wandering Warrior

Imagine background music that fits well with the medieval era playing.

Front cover of A Wandering Warrior appears on the screen.

Text on next screen will be shown in bold type as here:

Thomas Beaumont, a commoner and itinerant soldier, travels across late 12th century England to avenge his brother’s murder.

(Map #1 from the book = large map showing all the shires of 12th century England)

Thomas encounters two young ladies in the woods fleeing from Royal Guard soldiers. He saves the girls from capture, suffering a wound in the fight.

(Trailer new illustration (#1) = Depiction of Juliana and Beatrice in woods -- Juliana: Her long, blond hair framed a rather pretty, delicate face. She possessed a tall, slender body with small breasts. Sixteen years old. Beatrice: Her sister, Beatrice, however, seemed very much an immature girl, with a less attractive body build both shorter and plumper than that of her older sister and with darker blond hair, almost as light brown as his. Thirteen years old. Woods: trees and greenery. LOL Duh.)

As Thomas recovers, his wound becomes infected, and feverish and weak he is encircled by hungry wolves. He loses consciousness.

(Trailer new illustration (#2) = Thomas lying on ground with wolves surrounding him -- Thomas like he looks on cover. Lying on ground with several wolves tightening circle around him menacingly. Wolves’ eyes are a glowing yellow.)

Thomas awakens to find himself being tended by Emalda, a Traveler dark beauty, while he recovers.

(Trailer new illustration (# 3) = Depiction of Emalda with vardo/wagon close behind her - Emalda had long hair that was black as a raven; a glowing, dark complexion; and quite a lovely shaped body, displayed well in skirt and low-cut peasant blouse, which revealed her ample cleavage. She looked to be in her late teens or early twenties.)

Thomas resumes his quest eastward, in spite of his hating to leave Emalda. He buys an old, well-used, gray horse (named Horse) for his journey.

(Trailer new illustration (# 4) = Thomas with Horse -- Thomas as on cover. Horse was an old, well-used, gray horse that stood covered in dirt with matted mane and tail and sores. A dilapidated-looking saddle lay by the doorway.)

Thomas pulls off a daring rescue of two young ladies of nobility -- Juliana and Beatrice, whom he met in the woods previously and who now are held captive in the castle keep by Sheriff Mowbray.

(Map #2 from book = rescue path map showing route taken in the escape = through which shires.)

Thomas has his desired showdown with Sheriff Simon Mowbray, a brute of a man with a mean nature, in a fight to the death.

(New trailer illustration (# 5) = Fight scene between Thomas and Simon (sheriff) using battleaxes on foot -- Simon Mowbray was a large man with powerful, muscular shoulders and arms. His hair was unkempt; he had stubble on his face. He was a rough-looking character who looked like he could handle himself in a fight. He was in his late 30s. Impressive rival to Thomas. Each man armed with a battleaxe, a dagger, helmet, and shield. No chain mail worn. Just clothing like on cover. Show each man bloodied with blood on axe blades.)

Thomas has many adventures involving searching for his lost love Emalda (Map # 3 from book = search for Emalda map showing route of Thomas’ search through various shires) and disputes with nobility, culminating in Thomas’ gaining a higher position in life.

(New trailer illustration (# 6) = Thomas as knight with chain mail and helmet holding sword in ready position -- Thomas wearing a long gambeson with chain mail covering body and head. Chain mail down to knee-length. Armored helmet on head. Holding a sword like on cover but out in ready position.)

Will Thomas ever find peace and happiness? Will he ever know love? Can Thomas survive his encounters with royalty? Come and travel throughout medieval England with Thomas on his wanderings and adventures.

There you have the gist of what my book trailer for A Wandering Warrior should contain. There will, of course, be the necessary title page, publisher information about 4RV Publishing, and other details included as well.

I hope you enjoyed your “viewing” of this preview of the trailer for A Wandering Warrior.

A Wandering Warrior is an action-adventure, historical short novel (66,000 words) set in late 12th century England. It is available as both a print version and as an e-book through Kindle, Nook, and others.

Links: 4RV Publishing Bookstore = http://www.4rvpublishingcatalog.com/harry-gilleland.php

Amazon Print Version = http://www.amazon.com/Wandering-Warrior-Jr-Harry-Gilleland/dp/0985266198/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1366967763&sr=1-2&keywords=A+Wandering+Warrior

Kindle e-book = http://www.amazon.com/Wandering-Warrior-Jr-Harry-Gilleland-ebook/dp/B00D33E1PG/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1388380762&sr=1-1&keywords=A+Wandering+Warrior

Two of My Favorite Christmas Storoems

Every year when everyone gets involved in Christmas shopping for presents for all, I like to repost two of my favorite Christmas storoems:

The Garden Statue

The garden statue catches his eye.
It is ordinary – gray plaster, two feet tall,
but it is something he feels compelled to buy;
although for doing so, he has no explanation at all.

The statue is an angel, standing, head lowered,
a solemn look upon her face, cradling some object
lovingly to her chest. At first he puts her with stored
items, but later displays her in the yard – the subject

of complaint from his wife. “Sitting at the kitchen table,
that thing will be prominently in view. I don’t like it much.”
“It seems to belong there. I don’t know if I will ever be able
to explain. It intrigues me. The angel herself is cast with such

exquisite details – the feathers in her wings, the curls of hair,
her facial features, the flow of her garment -- all these are so
sharply defined. Yet the object she clutches is not. There
is no way to tell what it is…but I sense that I should know.”

The statue stands for weeks out in the December cold.
He studies her daily as he drinks his morning coffee.
It seems to speak to him, but the message remains untold.
There is something there…what he simply cannot see.

The house is filled with family staying for the holiday.
On Christmas morning, he gets out of bed at 6 a.m.
Enjoying his coffee, the first rays of dawn in a strange way
illuminate the garden statue. That is when he sees them.

The angel has her head held high, with a smile beaming.
She holds in outstretched arms a boy child plain to see.
Coffee spilling, he runs to the window, and stands looking
with wonder when he hears the others clamoring for it to be

time to see what Santa brought and to open presents for all.
He calls, but no one is interested. He goes to tell them
of the statue. Presents, presents, lavish ones, large and small,
consume their interest. Chances of interesting them are slim.

He returns to the kitchen to gaze upon the statue once more.
The angel stands head bowed, sad, appearing now as before.


Her Christmas Wish List

Her shabby clothes a size too small,
the six-year-old girl is being subjected
to disapproving looks. She cares not at all.
To her talking with Santa, none has objected.

The line to sit in Santa’s lap is quite long.
This upscale mall is doing brisk business.
Some parents whispering she doesn’t belong
with their kids doesn’t dampen her eagerness.

One after another, each recites their wish list
to Santa. “I want a bike, a computer game,
a TV for my room. I want … Now don’t miss
anything on my list. I want …” Ever the same.

The little girl’s turn has finally come.
All smiles, she crawls into the big man’s lap.
She talks softly to him. They talk until some
mother, filled with modern holiday spirit, snaps

“Hurry up, Santa! Why are you giving her so
much time?” Santa takes a list from her hand,
kisses her cheek, sends her away smiling. “No
more now. Santa’s on a break.” A security man,

assigned to protect Santa, follows him into
the break room. Tears are wetting Santa’s
synthetic beard. “This is one list I intend to
see filled! 'Gimme. Gimme' is the mantra

"that I hear all day every day from child after child.
This sweet girl lives in a homeless shelter downtown.
Her list has winter clothes, a few toys to bring smiles
to some kids who last year by Santa weren’t found.”

The guard: “Were some new clothes for her one thing
on her list?” “For herself she asked for absolutely nothing.” 


Holiday Cheer to All!

Harry
 

Review of A Wandering Warrior by Hollywood Book Reviews

Hollywood Book Reviews
4346 Willow Glen Street
Calabasas, CA 91302
(805) 440-1787
www.HollywoodBookReviews.com

Title: A Wandering Warrior
Author: Harry E. Gilleland, Jr.
Publisher: 4RV Publishing, ISBN: 978-0-9852661-9-6, Pages: 212, Genre: Historical Fiction Reviewed by: Lisa Brown-Gilbert, Hollywood Book Reviews, Date Review Completed: May 25, 2013

Author Harry E. Gilleland, Jr. takes readers on an action-filled excursion through life, as it was, in twelfth century England in his latest novel A Wandering Warrior. Mr. Gilleland is a lauded author and poet and A Wandering Warrior is his eighth published work. The novel centers on a soldier for hire - Thomas Beaumont. Thomas is young, handsome, fearless, loyal and a skilled warrior, who seeks to avenge the death of his older brother John which is what starts him on his adventure-filled journey across England.

As itinerant soldiers, Thomas and his brother John led nomadic lives moving from battle to battle fighting as temporary warriors for pay. It is during the course of a poorly strategized battle that Thomas is severely injured, barely survives his wounds and winds up far away from the scene of the battle. After a kind couple finds him close to death on his horse, they take him in and nurse him back to health. While on the road to search for his brother Thomas encounters a messenger, who was actually looking for any members of his family - the Beaumont family. The messenger carried the
unfortunate news of his brother’s brutal murder while in captivity, at the hands of High Sheriff Simon Mowbray of Thetford in Norfolk, which sends Thomas on a hell bent venture to Norfolk for revenge.

Along the route of his journey towards vengeance, Thomas encounters several fascinating characters, and situations leaving little room for dull moments in his life. Thomas learned from his life as a soldier, that bravery, and gallantry often caused him to become involved in situations that test repeatedly tested his mettle; including many impromptu, fierce battles as well as a bloody battle with the royal guard. Although always a considerable foe in battle, Thomas repeatedly comes close to death after his battles. In a few instances he is nursed back to health by the kindness of other commoners like him and one instance in particular leads him to a life lesson in love by virtue of his rehabilitation back to health by the daughter of the leader of a band of Travelers – the beautiful and determined Emalda. Eventually, Thomas does get to exact revenge on his brother’s murderer but it is what he learns and accomplishes along the way that brings his journey full circle.

 Not being a big fan of historical fiction I did not expect for this book to be as engaging a read as it turned out to be. It was engrossing, thoroughly entertaining, a realistic representation of the time - period, with well-composed characters that are relateable, vividly detailed scenes - especially the fight battles and just an overall well told tale. I admire Harry E. Gilleland, Jr’s ability to write such a compelling story in A Wandering Warrior. I heartily recommend A Wandering Warrior to anyone looking for an absorbing read.

Win a Free Copy of A Wandering Warrior

Bookkaholics is hosting a Giveaway for A Wandering Warrior at present. Why not check it out and enter to win one of three copies to be given away: http://www.bookkaholic.com/a-wandering-warrior-book-giveaway-may-20-june-23/

A Wandering Warrior is an action-adventure, historical fiction novel set in late 12th century England. It follows the exploits of a commoner itinerant soldier as he travels throughout the shires of England seeking revenge, finding love, and engaging in battles.

What's an Author to Do to Get Reviews?

A Wandering Warrior, my new action-adventure, historical fiction novel set in late 12th century England was published by 4RV Publishing on 15 April 2013. Since then, I have been in marketing mode, trying to draw attention to and get reviews for my book. People say an author should not buy reviews because paid reviews are tainted somehow. Instead, it is supposedly better to send review copies out and/or solicit free reviews. Free reviews ARE nice. Good luck in getting them!

I sent out emails inquiring about obtaining a free review in exchange for a review copy of my book being mailed to them for free. On April 27th - 29th I emailed twenty-three book review blogs asking for a free review for my book. One of the twenty-three, one responded thus far after more than two weeks ... one out of twenty-three.

I sent emails on May 4th & 5th to Amazon.com top reviewers selected by their giving an email for contact and their book genres interest matching my book's genre. I contacted twenty-five reviewers requesting a review for my book. One responded so far with agreement to read the book for possible review ... one out of twenty-five.

Therefore, in seeking free reviews, I contacted a total of forty-eight blogs and Amazon reviewers, with a total of two responding after nine to seventeen days. It is no wonder that authors turn to paid reviews to get a number of reviews posted to Amazon and to Barnes & Noble.

Anyone interested in posting a free review to Amazon and/or B&N in return for receiving a free copy of A Wandering Warrior, please contact me at my email = hgilleland @ gmail.com (remove spaces).

http://www.amazon.com/Wandering-Warrior-Jr-Harry-Gilleland/dp/0985266198/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1366967763&sr=1-2&keywords=A+Wandering+Warrior

Cheers!

Harry