Year End Thanks (News) and Best Wishes

Hi, Everyone –

‘Tis the season to wish everyone happy holidays, whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, the Solstice or otherwise, and I am here to do just that. So, happy holidays to all!

For all of you who have sampled, bought, read, recommended and/or gifted my books to friends, family and fellow readers, thank you so much. Writers and readers have a symbiotic relationship. We really do need each other. I am very grateful for your support and encouragement. I also speak as a reader myself, naturally, and I am grateful for the tales well told that have come my way this past year. And, judging by my TBR stack, I will have a lot to be thankful for, reading-wise, in the coming year(s) as well.

In 2006 I had published a book that was a bit of a change of pace for me, KINDRED SPIRIT. It was well-received and, for the most part, well-reviewed. I tried some new things this past year as well, the KINDRED SPIRIT podcast of the Prologue and Chapter One, for those who prefer listening to stories. I also created a list of discussion questions for KINDRED SPIRIT, something I haven’t done before. I thought that, of all my books, KINDRED SPIRIT lent itself the most to book group discussion.

Again, I truly appreciate your support. If you’ve recently read and enjoyed one of my books, drop me a line at author[at]passarella[dot]com and let me know. Even better, tell a fellow reader or two, or post a review at Amazon, B&N, Powell’s, etc. I think I speak for all the not-yet-bestselling authors out there, when I say that we really depend on word-of-mouth to build a following. With the proliferation of bookstore chains, that’s more true today than it has ever been.

I’m hoping to have a couple chapbooks out early in 2007, the latter will be a Wendy Ward chapbook, with two 10,000-word stories, one reprint, one new, i.e., Forces of Nature and Breathless. The first chapbook will feature illustrated versions of two of my earlier stories, “Debts Long Due” and “All Heaven in a Rage.” The next novel is finished, but not yet sold. I’m wrapping up a short story, after which I hope to begin writing the next, next novel.

Andrea and her sisters are taking Emma to see The Nutcracker tonight. Matthew, Luke and I will have to figure out what to do for our “guys” night. Tomorrow night, my sister’s family and my parents will stop over for Christmas Eve, to eat and exchange presents. We won’t have to travel on Christmas Day, which is great for the kids. They’ll be too busy playing with toys and video games, and eating fresh-baked Christmas cookies to want to pile into the car for a road trip.

Warning: Football paragraph follows: At 5PM, we’ll settle in for Eagles vs Dallas. I’m hoping the Eagles can go 5-1 in the NFC East (after 0-6 last year) and take the lead in the division. If they do win, I’m expecting a “hangover” loss against Atlanta, which will probably give the division right back to Dallas, who finishes up with Detroit, a probable “gimme” win.

On January 5, Matthew will have his second non-emergency draining of the cyst in his brain. He DID improve after the last emergency draining, walking a little better around the house, so I’m hoping for even more improvement after the first week of January. Wish us luck.

Promo note: I’ll keep my Passarella Book Store “Horror-For-The-Holidays” Sale (penny S&H) going for a little while. If you order any three of my books, you’ll get a 10″ Limited Edition Wither’s Legacy Ice Scraper. Even with 1-book orders, I’ve been tossing in freebies, signed cover flats, etc., as little surprises.

Happy Holidays, Everyone!
John Passarella
Visit Passarella.com — Be Afraid!
Passarella Book Store

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Bring Horror Home for the Holidays

Hi, Everyone –

I’m having a Bring Horror Home for the Holidays sale at the Passarella Book Store. Order any of my books, (autographed — and personalized, if you want) and pay either $0.01 (ONE PENNY) or nothing (FREE) for shipping via Media Mail. This offer is good only in the US. Shop from the convenience of your home, buy books for the horror-loving fans in your life (or for yourself), and pay virtually nothing to get them shipped to you.

Order the complete WITHER/Wendy Ward trilogy trilogy and pay $0.03 (3 CENTS!) to have them shipped your way. Order my latest novel, the paranormal thriller KINDRED SPIRIT and pay only $0.01 for shipping.

This offer also applies to the two anthologies at the store that feature my stories, MODERN MAGIC (with “Undead Air”) and DARK NOTES FROM NJ (which includes my Wendy Ward story, “Forces of Nature”). Actually, MODERN MAGIC ships for free, so you don’t even have to pay one cent for shipping and handling.

Check out the my HORROR FOR THE HOLIDAYS SALE!

Thanks for reading,
John Passarella
Visit Passarella.com — Be Afraid!

P.S. If you were hoping to see me there, sorry I didn’t make the second panel at Philcon. Yes, I grasp the irony, considering the topic of the panel.

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PHILCON – PHILA, PA – SF/FAN Convention Appearance

Hi, Everyone –

Here’s the scoop on my next event:

NOVEMBER 17-19, 2006
PHILCON 2006 – Convention

Sheraton Center City (formerly Franklin Wyndham Plaza)
17th & Race Streets
Philadelphia, PA

I will be appearing on two PHILCON panels:

Sat 12:00 PM in Salon 2 (1 hour)
THE SUPERNATURAL LIFESTYLE NOVEL (83)

Usually it is a series novel about the lifestyles and personal
relationships of vampires, werewolves, etc. We have spotted at
least 3 parody series going on. Does this form still have any
possibilities left?

Sun 11:00 AM in Salon 1 (1 hour)
NETWORKING (108)

How the new writer should go about meeting editors and agents.

You might also catch me at the GSHW (Garden State Horror Writers) table in the dealer room.

Thanks for reading,

-John Passarella

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Thus Spoke Brian Keene

If you are one of the many Brian Keene fans out there, check out what Brian had to say about KINDRED SPIRIT:

“Intense and atmospheric, John Passarella’s KINDRED SPIRIT is a stylish slow-build of page-turning suspense. A paranormal mystery-thriller guaranteed to leave you breathless.”
—BRIAN KEENE, best-selling author of THE CONQUEROR WORMS and GHOUL

That author blurb comes on the heels of a review by HorrorWorld.org, which had this to say about KINDRED SPIRIT:

“Kindred Spirit is an excellent offering by John Passarella… a believability that resonates well with the reader… the ending is cataclysmic but most satisfactory. Well written, fast paced and quite enjoyable, I highly recommend Kindred Spirit.”
—Horror World, HorrorWorld.org

Thanks for reading,
John “Jack” Passarella

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Two Signings Scheduled

I’m reposting this appearance info here in case you missed it in the newsletter:

I’ve scheduled a few more appearances in support of KINDRED SPIRIT and “Undead Air” (in MODERN MAGIC). Here are the details:

SEPT 22, 2006 – FRI – 7:30PM
Barnes and Noble
1805 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-4727*
Tel. (215) 686-1776
Description: Reading & signing

*If you are in the area, I could really use your support for this weeknight Center City, Philadelphia signing!

OCT 7, 2006 – SAT – 2PM to 5PM
Greater Reading Literary Festival
Barnes & Noble, 2751 Papermill RD
Wyomissing, PA 19610
Tel. (610) 236-0100
Description: Q&A, Discussion and Signing
Related site: http://www.readingreads.com/

I’ll also be at the NAIBA book tradeshow in King of Prussia on SEPT 17th. There will be some signed copies of KINDRED SPIRIT available for our local independent booksellers.

Thanks for reading,

John “Jack” Passarella

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Mysterious Discount at Amazon.com

Maybe you could explain it to me.

I can’t figure out why Amazon.com is discounting KINDRED SPIRIT by $0.01. $7.98 instead of $7.99. What kind of percent is $0.01 off of $7.99. Yeah, I could calculate it, but I mean, why bother? Is somebody going to view the book page and say, “I am not buying this book at the full cover price of $7.99… Oh, wait a minute. It’s discounted by a penny. I save $0.01. Hot damn, I need to get in on this penny-off action!”

I don’t know. It seems like the same kind of pretzel logic (with apologies to Steely Dan) that has them offer you two related books bundled together at a price equal to exactly the amount they would cost if it weren’t for the special bundle deal. Where’s the incentive?

Does a penny savings push your buying decision over the edge? Check it out here:

www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0743484800/jackpassareautho

Grumpy on a rainy Friday.

Thanks for reading,
Jack Passarella

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Newsletter Posted (Sept 5, 2006)

I’ve possted a new author newsletter, the first one in about 9 weeks:

-new Wendy Ward story on the horizon
-Brian Keene speaks out on Kindred Spirit
-I’m back in random-prize-drawing mode
-two new signing dates
-and more

Check it out here:

http://www.passarella.com/newsletter/newsletter_09052006.htm

Thanks for reading!
-John “Jack” Passarella
http://www.passarella.com

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Looking for (relevant) MySpace Friends

In case you didn’t know, I have a MySpace.com profile now and I’m looking for friends, good friends (not “wink, wink, nudge, nudge” friends), basically relevant friends. By relevant I mean, first and foremost, fans of my fiction. But it doesn’t end there! If you enjoy reading horror — heck, if you enjoy reading fiction or nonfiction — I want you as a friend. If you are a fellow writer, of horror or any type of fiction/nonfiction, I want you as a friend. If you are interested in illustrating fiction, dark art, etc., yep, I want you as a friend.

If, under the books sections of your profile, you say, “I hate books” or “books make good kindling” or “books are evil” I don’t see much point in adding you to a relevant friend list…but maybe we have something else in common.

To add me as a friend, go to my MySpace profile here:

http://www.myspace.com/jpassarella 

If a relevant connection isn’t obvious, drop me a note and let me know why you think we are friends material.

Thanks for reading,

Jack

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I can’t give this stuff away!

Please explain this to me…

I rebooted my swagapalooza prize drawings for mailing list subscribers. Picked a random winner to receive a cool KINDRED SPIRIT totebag, sent a notification email. Waited eight days. No response. Sigh. Picked another winner and it’s been about six days and no response. This person has until midnight tomorrow (SUN) to reply before I have to pick a third name.

Frankly, I’m confused. I’m giving away prizes with no strings attached (other than being a subscriber to my mailing list which these people are already) and I’m getting no reply to the prize notification.

Yes, I’ve avoided exclamation points and the word “prize” etc in the email so that spam filters don’t rush in and clobber the mail site unseen. And no, I’m not getting a bounced message notification or invalid account warning.

So just how many phantom email accounts are out there collecting dust? Doesn’t anybody want free stuff anymore? Has the world gone mad? Are you listening?

Thanks for reading!

-Jack

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4th Annual Matthew’s Miles

After weathering some personal turmoil, my family (more specifically Andrea) has decided to move forward with the 4th Annual Matthew’s Miles.

I revamped the site (www.matthewsmiles.org) to match Matthew’s chosen colors for this year: green and white.

There are many ways you can help us raise money for pediatric brain tumor research. (This year we are giving the money raised to the Children’s Cancer Foundation once again.)

If you’re near us (Logan Township, NJ), you can register to walk. If you’re far away or can’t walk that day (Saturday, OCTOBER 14, 11AM, registration begins at 10:15AM), you can donate money through the site, become an individual or corporate sponsor, or you can help us spread the word by talking about the event or by displaying our new banner.

4th Annual Matthew's Miles Banner

Auction: In the past we’ve had local and eBay auctions. This year, we’re not sure about either. We may have a very limited eBay auction. Locally, we’ve relied on the our pro sports franchises to donate items. But that has become more difficult each year, even though we now have a proven track record and have raised over $65,000 in three years. Go figure.

Keep your fingers crossed we have good weather for this year’s walk, and thanks for your support!
-Jack Passarella

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