I haven't made any blog posts for a while, so I thought I'd take an opportunity to report that some excellent reviews have been coming in, especially on Amazon! Rather than repeating all of the reviews in this blog post, I've just added a new Reviews page to this website, where you can see a sampling. For this post, here is one of my recent favorites from Amazon.com: How They See Us - An Alien Perspective An autobiography (even a fictional sci-fi autobiography), if written honestly, is going to reveal the truth about its narrator and the narrator’s perception of others (i.e., humans, in this case): the bad, the good, the ugly, and the beautiful. The narrator in this case is Kelvoo, an alien from the pristine planet, Kuw’baal, and a member of the Kloormari species. Sam Buchanan, a human who will become Kelvoo’s best friend, describes the Kloormari in his Preface to Kelvoo’s Testimonial as “unparalleled multi-taskers.” The Kloormari are blessed with extremely versatile bodies, photographic memory, unlimited vocal range, a seemingly infinite ability to learn complex information and to apply acquired knowledge with staggering speed and efficiency. The Kloormari are also innocent as children. Imagination, passion, ambition, greed, deception, love, hate, all those complex and paradoxical emotions and qualities that both doom and elevate humans are completely foreign to them. That is, until a human research vessel lands on Kuw’baal and makes First Contact with this interesting species. And though the first humans Kelvoo and his species encounter are well-meaning and make a favorable impression, the Kloormari eventually become vulnerable to less honorable humans (and also become more humanlike, for better or worse), leading to a series of disorienting and traumatic events. This futuristic tale is eminently contemporary, concerned with destructive human behaviors such as war, drug addiction, sex trafficking, economic exploitation, bigotry, replacement theory, and so on. Bailey skillfully weaves into the story detailed technical material and creative world building to please even the most demanding hard sci-fi fan. But he has also created an alien species that can move the human heart to laughter or tears. Yes, this is the alien Kelvoo’s testimonial, but it’s really about us, the people we choose to be and the way we choose to engage the universe and those who are different from us. Will we be guided by our better angels, or by our demons? That’s a choice each of us has to make. Order your copy of Kelvoo's Testimonial
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May 14, 2022 - Today's the day! Today, Kelvoo's Testimonial became available in eBook and hardcover formats around the world. Although the softcover version has been available in most markets for a few weeks, I'm counting today as the official launch since the eBook makes Kelvoo's Testimonial widely available at a far lower cost. If you have an e-reader, you can order Kelvoo's Testimonial for just $4.99 in the US, $6.49 in Canada, £3.99 in the UK, €4.59 in the Eurozone, and an equivalent amount in other countries. If you have a Kindle e-reader, you'll find Kelvoo's Testimonial in Amazon's Kindle store. If you have a Kobo, Nook, or other e-reader, look for Kelvoo's Testimonial at Kobo, Barnes & Noble/Indigo, Apple Books, Scribd, Angus & Robertson, Thalia, Mondadori, or Vivlio.
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For the eBook, click here For paperback or hardcover, click here
Order your copy of Kelvoo's Testimonial
For the eBook, click here For paperback or hardcover, click here Starting Monday, May 2nd, Kelvoo's Testimonial will be available from Bolen Books in Hillside Mall! Bolen has set aside space for my display right on top of the Local Authors section! Founded in 1975, Bolen Books has weathered many a storm that has resulted in the closure of the great majority of independent booksellers. Today, Bolen is as strong and independent as ever in its lovely 17,000 square foot space. I am humbled and honoured that Bolen Books is carrying Kelvoo's Testimonial and I greatly value Bolen's support of local authors. Order your copy of Kelvoo's Testimonial
For the eBook, click here For paperback or hardcover, click here To purchase a copy from Bolen Books, visit the store or click here
The day after delivering my books to Russell's, I got my first independent review via the NetGalley platform. I've certainly received many kind words from family and friends, but it's impossible to know how much personal bias might have deliberately or unintentionally crept it. As such, I was absolutely delighted to see the following review:
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For the eBook, click here For paperback or hardcover, click here To purchase a copy from Russell Books, visit the store or click here At last! My printed proof copy of Kelvoo's Testimonial. I'm performing a final proofread and then I'll be ready to order a first batch for distribution to many of the wonderful people who have supported my efforts so far! I'm also progressing toward having the e-book available via Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and Apple Books, and making the printed version available via Amazon and, for bookstores, on IngramSpark. I can't wait to announce an official release date! Order your copy of Kelvoo's Testimonial
For the eBook, click here For paperback or hardcover, click here The final of three original songs in Kelvoo's Testimonial, Flying Away is a spacefarer's song of the "outlier humans". Intended, perhaps, to provide strength to those being left behind, the song might be performed by the crew of a spaceship before they depart on a hazardous voyage. If the journey ends with the death of the crew, the song reassures the crew's family and friends that they will always be around, if only in spirit. In Kelvoo's Testimonial, the crew of Jezebel's Fury do not perform the song prior to the start of a new journey... at least not a "journey" in the usual sense of the word. At the end of the day, I’ll be flying away, traveling through the great, vast abyss. I’ll be missing you so, with a heart full of woe, when we’re parted and I reminisce. If my ship’s good and true, I shall fly back to you, to your love and your touch and your kiss. By your side I shall stay, until my dying day, with our lives full of heavenly bliss. But if I should die, I beg you to try to forgive me and know that I care. In the night sky afar, just spy a bright star, and trust that my spirit is there. I’ll be twinkling, you’ll see, with a love that’s set free, as my spirit shines down upon thee. Order your copy of Kelvoo's Testimonial
For the eBook, click here For paperback or hardcover, click here The second of three original songs in Kelvoo's Testimonial, Home on the Yangtze is a traditional song of woe for the "outlier humans". Centuries before humans "discovered" Kelvoo's planet, Terra (Earth) experienced widespread reforms, which were resisted by some humans. These humans, as well as criminals and those deemed as anti-social, were forced or "encouraged" to leave Terra and settle on two other planets. The settlements on those planets were known as the "outlier colonies". Through the generations, many of the outlier humans mourned their expulsion and vowed to return someday. The outliers developed their own mythology, imagining Terra to be a veritable paradise. Home on the Yangtze embodies the outliers' longing to return to their idealized vision of Terra. Home on the Yangtze, great river I treasure, long may your course twist and turn. Peace and contentment and wealth beyond measure. To your broad shores I’ll return. Boating and fishing and swimming and staying carefree in warm summer sun. Pandas and lions and antelope playing. Blue whales on their downstream run. Yangtze oh Yangtze, they sent us away far from your ice floes so grand. Ripped from your warm embrace, flung away into space, off to a sad, distant land. Home on the Yangtze, the girls are so pretty, willing to please every day. Doing as they’re told, whether young or old, I’ll be back with them someday. Basking in sunshine, drinking your waters, I’ll be the picture of health. Panning your gold or picking your diamonds, endlessly living in wealth. Yangtze oh Yangtze, they sent us away, far from your ice floes so grand. Ripped from your warm embrace, flung away into space, off to a sad, distant land. Home on the Yangtze, I’m coming back to thee brimming with vengeance and wrath. I’m going to smite those that took you away from me, striking them down in my path. Some fine day, we’ll attack; I’ll get my Yangtze back, with God’s grace vanquish the foe. Rivers of blood, shall form a great flood, blending with your glorious flow. Yes, rivers of blood, shall form a great flood, blending with your glorious flow. Order your copy of Kelvoo's Testimonial
For the eBook, click here For paperback or hardcover, click here Kelvoo's Testimonial includes three original songs! I enjoy writing tightly-structured rhyming poems, so why not include a few songs in my story? Early in part two (of three parts) of the book, Kelvoo and eight other kloormari find themselves on an interstellar vessel known as "Jezebel's Fury", which is used and crewed by a criminal gang of cutthroats and ne'er-do-wells, wreaking havoc across various star systems. The crew "welcomes" the kloormari aboard with their theme song: The Boys of Jezebel's Fury. Just to show that there is an actual melody behind the lyrics that appear in the book, I recorded the following video, complete with lyrics. I look forward to sharing the other two songs in later blog posts. We’re the boys of Jezebel’s Fury. We’re rotten, low life scum! We’re dirty sons of dirty whores. Riled up and full of rum! Full of rum, we’re full of rum! Hide your women, here we come! Join with us, we’ll have some fun, if you won’t, you’d better run! We’re the boys of Jezebel’s Fury. We’ll kill you while we smile. We’ll wear your guts like garters, full of sass and style! Full of style, we’re full of style! Add a dead man to our pile. Oh yes, we’re sick, oh yes, we’re vile! That’s what makes our lives worthwhile! We’re the boys of Jezebel’s Fury. We’re misfits one and all. Join our great adventure. Come on and heed our call. Heed our call, come heed our call! If you want to fight and brawl, full of grog and full of gall, join with us, we’ll have a ball! We’re the boys of Jezebel’s Fury! Aye! Order your copy of Kelvoo's Testimonial
For the eBook, click here For paperback or hardcover, click here Just a quick post to mark the occasion of the official website launch for Kelvoo's Testimonial! Many thanks to Oriana Varas for getting the bones of the site up and running. Since then, I've been busy adding content and crossing my fingers that the web search platforms will find the site! So far, so good! A Google search on "Kelvoo's Testimonial" shows the new website at the top of the list! If that isn't your experience, please drop me a note via the website's "Contact" page. Finally, please don't hesitate to spread the word and refer friends to this website. If you think that Kelvoo's Testimonial looks like a good read, be sure to use the "Get Notified!" page and I'll let you know when the book is available! Order your copy of Kelvoo's Testimonial
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Blog posts in chronological orderWhat is Kelvoo's Testimonial?
A bit about me The publishing process - Editorial Evaluation Who or what are the Kloormari? What's the twist that differentiates Kelvoo's Testimonial? Which issues does Kelvoo's Testimonial address? Where did the idea of Kelvoo's Testimonial originate? Is Kelvoo's Testimonial intended to reflect the experiences of native people in the Americas? Book cover - Initial concepts Depicting Kelvoo - My work with an amazing artist Book cover - Final selection Kelvoo.com website launch! Original Song #1 - The Boys of Jezebel's Fury Original Song #2 - Home on the Yangtze Original Song #3 - Flying Away My First Printed Copy My First Review and Bookstore Order! Now Available at Bolen Books! Kelvoo's Testimonial gets a Kirkus Starred Review! Official Launch Day! More Reviews! A Sequel to Kelvoo's Testimonial? Come Visit Me on Mastodon Phenomenal News from Kirkus Reviews! First Draft of Kelvoo's Terra Completed! Kelvoo's Terra - Cover Reveal! Kelvoo and Kindle Unlimited Kelvoo's Terra - Official Launch! Kelvoo's Books in your Local Bookstore Kelvoo's Terra - First Amazon Reviews Book 3 - Kelvoo's Teachings - First Draft |