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Thursday, October 29, 2015

50% eBook Sale Offer From Kobo.

Hello, Everyone,

Kobo Books is offering a 50% off promotion on select eBooks for a limited time. What's even more exciting is that all four of my titles made the list. To purchase them, just click on THIS LINK, or click on the book cover of the title that you want (located at the bottom) and enter the promo code at the checkout page.

Kobo's very flexible with regards to payment options. You'll have the choice of either using a credit car, paypal, or VISA checkout. The promo codes for each region are listed below.

Canada
October 28th – October 31st
Promo Code: CA50SALE

United States/Australia/New Zealand
October 27th – October 30th
Promo Code: GET50SALE

United Kingdom
October 30th – November 2nd
Promo Code: UK50SALE


I'm still hard at work on my next thriller, and I'll update you on its development. For the time being, if you haven't read all of my books, or would like to recommend a family member, a friend, or an enemy whom you believe would enjoy them, then share this newsletter and the purchase link with them.

Thanks again for your support,

Russell


Thursday, September 3, 2015

Let's Jail Minors for Being Infatuated With One Another. After All, They're A More Serious Threat To Society Than Child Rapists.

Let's Jail Minors for Being Infatuated With One Another. After All, They're A More Serious Threat To Society Than Child Rapists.


by Russell Brooks
Cormega CopeningCormega CopeningThis has got to be the dumbest waste of police resources I've read about in a long time.

Cormega Copening—a 17-year-old—and his 16-year-old girlfriend, Brianna Benson, were charged last February as sexual exploiters. This was after investigators discovered that they were mutually swapping nude pictures of themselves. It was reported that Benson reached a plea deal with the District Attorney's office that will allow her to do a year of probation.  During that time she won't be able to use to her cell phone and will have to do community service. Furthermore, she won't need to register as a sex offender (http://myinforms.com/en-us/a/16047300-pitts-the-law-shouldnt-go-after-kids-for-sexting/). However, Copening—who's a quarterback for the Jack Britt High School Buccaneers—may face up to ten years in jail and be forced to register as a lifetime sex offender if convicted (http://abc11.com/news/high-school-quarterback-facing-sexting-charge/964620/). Despite the fact that there wasn't any evidence to demonstrate that Copening is a threat to the public, the authorities are convinced that Copening needs to be put away.

Even though two minors sexting will concern parents, it's hardly something that should merit such a harsh punishment—especially if one considers that the law views Copening as being too young to have a nude picture of himself on his own phone, yet old enough to be punished as an adult for it. What's even more horrifying is that if convicted, he will miss his high school graduation, his prom, an opportunity to go to university (potentially on a football scholarship), and land himself a good job that would allow him to raise and support a good family—maybe even with his current girlfriend. In short, the authorities are prepared to destroy this boy's life even before he becomes a man. Then again, they must believe that it's worth the time and effort to do so because two minors who were mutually sexting harms everyone—therefore Mr Copening needs to be put away.

Thomas BodenThomas BodenIt's baffling that the Cumberland County Sherriff's Office will devote their resources to enforce such a frivolous act when there are clearly more serious offenders who are more deserving of a jail sentence. This is important to mention, considering that earlier this week in San Angelo, Texas, some creep named Thomas Boden was able to avoid a jail sentence and was not required to register as a sex offender. This was after there was evidence that demonstrated that he had sexually assaulted a 2-year old girl (https://www.rawstory.com/2015/09/texas-man-walks-free-after-alleged-rape-leaves-2-year-old-girl-in-pool-of-blood/). Then again, the authorities must be convinced that Boden wasn't a danger to society, so he did not need to be put away.

If one must question if these laws were made to protect the public, then one must definitely ask whom they were really meant to protect.

Monday, July 6, 2015

Prominent Doctor Obtains Exclusive Rights for HIV Vaccine.

Doctor Mathew Wayne Whitest.
Doctor Mathew Wayne Whitest
As of late June 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) validated Cuba's milestone treatment of preventing the transmission of HIV and Syphilis from mother to child.

"Eliminating transmission of a virus is one ot the greatest public health achievements possible," said Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General. "This is a major victory in our long fight against HIV and sexually transmitted infections, and an important step towards having an AIDS-free generation," she added (1).

However, even more recently, an African-American doctor, Doctor Matthew Wayne Whitest, and his Wayne Pharmaceuticals team, were granted the exclusive license to develop a vaccine against the dreaded human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The team was granted the license after several weeks of negotiations came to an end in April 2015.

The vaccine is currently under development at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. If all goes well, we may see human trials begin as early as Spring 2016. Dr Whitest and his Wayne Pharmaceuticals team will manage the vaccine at a facility in Cordele, Georgia. A school known as A.S. Clarke has been acquired there in collaboration with non-profit partner, the M.D. Whitest Medical Institute The school will be converted into a bio-medical center.

"As an African-American, as a Physician, and as a member of Humanity at large, I am proud to share these announcements with you," Doctor Whitest wrote in a recent statement. "These are not simply historic advances for the African-American Community--which they certainly are. These developments offer great promise and potential to help relieve suffering for millions of human beings worldwide." (2)

If this story inspires you, please share.

Friday, July 3, 2015

I Don't Care If I'm A Clown In Blackface. Gays Still Don't Deserve Marry Even Though I'm In A Happy Mixed-Race Marriage.

I Don't Care If I'm A Clown In Blackface. Gays Still Don't Deserve To Marry Even Though I'm In A Happy Mixed-Race Marriage.

by Russell Parkway.

Actor and Gay Rights Advocate, George Takei and Supreme Court Justice, Clarence Thomas.Actor and Gay Rights Advocate, George Takei and Supreme Court Justice, Clarence Thomas.

God Save The Queen!

Why is it that when actor and gay rights activist, George Takei, referred to Supreme Court Justice, Clarence Thomas, as a 'Clown In Blackface,' he's suddenly an evil racist (http://www.rawstory.com/2015/07/conservatives-george-takei-worse-than-kkk-for-calling-clarence-thomas-a-clown-in-blackface/)? Many people who followed the news about Marriage Equality becoming the law of the land in the USA would've been familiar with the abhorent comments Thomas wrote in his dissent, stating:

"Slaves did not lose their dignity (any more than they lost their humanity) because the government allowed them to be enslaved. Those held in internment camps did not lose their dignity because the government confined them."

These comments came from a man who's taken a stand against Affirmative Action, even though he clearly benefitted from it (http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/09/us/clarence-thomas-three-questions/). Let's be fair, for someone who was reportedly born to a poor family in rural Georgia, to later be admitted to Yale Law School and wind up as a Supreme Court Justice, that's one Hell of an accomplishment. However, the disappointment came from the fact that even though Thomas surpassed many hurdles to become the success many of us dream of, he's lost sight of his own roots.

With regards to Takei's Blackface reference, he hit the nail on the head. Consequently, those who believe that his comments were a racist attack against a black man clearly missed the point. What's important to know is that during the 1820s, Black Minstrelsy became very popular—where Caucasian male performers wore tattered clothes along with dark make-up in order to mock Black people by portraying stereotypes. It's This 1927 image originally released by Warner Bros., shows Al Jolson in blackface makeup in the movie "The Jazz Singer."This 1927 image originally released by Warner Bros., shows Al Jolson in blackface makeup in the movie "The Jazz Singer." also important to mention that Caucasian entertainers weren't the only ones who performed in Blackface, Black entertainers were also known to put on dark-coloured make-up in order to appear as Black as possible. Whites would reject Black minstrel entertainers if they didn't appear to be black enough. This led to them demeaning themselves for the sake of satisfying Whites. African-American vaudeville performer, Bert Williams, was one such performer who 'blackened' himself. (http://thegrio.com/2013/10/30/a-brief-history-of-blackface-just-in-time-for-halloween/).

Clarence and Virginia Thomas.Clarence and Virginia Thomas.The most repugnant part about Thomas's slavery reference was that this was the type of inane rhetoric one would expect to come from far less educated people—such as Ann Coulter or Rush Limbaugh—for the sake of appealing to their platforms. This wasn't the kind of oratory one would expect from someone who abandoned their path to priesthood at a Missouri seminary after Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. To be precise, Thomas quit after a white classmate cheered and said he hoped "the S.O.B. died" (http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/stories/2007-03-11/the-holy-cross-fraternity).

There's no doubt that Thomas has conservative leanings. However that did not give him a free pass to insult African and Asian-Americans for the sake of scoring a few political points—as it was perceived. By doing so, he not only came across as being unsuitable to be a judge—or as Takei stated, "A Clown In Blackface," but also a black man who chose to hold onto a (House) slave mentality.

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Hello, everyone.

THE DEMETER CODE is currently on sale for ‪‎99 cents‬ on ‪‎Kindle‬, ‎Nook‬, ‪‎Kobo‬, and ‎iTunes‬. My goal is to go below the 1000 rank on Amazon (not an easy task). After 24 hours, I'm currently at 5500.

So if you or anyone you know enjoys stories with conspiracies, martial arts, sex, betrayal, and revenge, then check out THE DEMETER CODE. Thanks again for your support and for spreading the word.

Kindle
iTunes
Kobo
Barnes And Noble

Thanks,
Russell

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Self-Publishers Shouldn't be called Authors, by Michael Kozlowski.

The following is a response to Michael Kozlowki's Op-Ed which can be read HERE. I strongly suggest that you read it before reading my post.

Dear Michael,
Let me see if I understand your logic. Based on your Op-Ed, it appears that you've redefined the definition of author as being a status rather than an occupation. In other words, you're arguing that someone who—before uploading their novel to Amazon Kindle—had their manuscript professionally edited and formatted; had the subject matter fact-checked by industry professionals; then later had the cover image professionally designed; and who owns all the legal rights to their novel; then unless the person earns a living from the sales of said novel, then they cannot be considered as a genuine author.
You wrote: “If you can earn your living from your writing, you are a professional author, anyone else is just a plain old writer.” Please explain this. Let’s say for arguments sake that someone writes and completes a novel. Said person then uploads it to Amazon Kindle. They don’t initially sell enough copies to earn a living. However, right before word of mouth spreads and sales increase at an exponential rate, the aforementioned person dies tragically. By the end of the year, the book earns over $100,000 in royalties in the deceased's name and the novel continues to sell extremely well several years later. According to your arguments, the deceased isn’t a genuine author. After all, how can one make a living off of a novel when they’re dead?
It was discovered about a year ago that Pastor Mark Driscoll used a marketing company to manipulate his way onto the NYT Bestsellers List. How did he do it? According to an article by Warren Cole Smith, his church paid $25,000 to ResultSource Inc. to coordinate a nationwide network of book buyers who would purchase his first book, Real Marriage, at locations likely to generate reportable sales for various best-seller lists, including the New York Times list. His megachurch, Mars Hill, also paid for the purchase of at least 11,000 books ranging in price from $18.62 to $20.70, depending on whether the books were purchased individually or in bulk. The contract called for 6,000 of the books to be bought by individuals, whose names were supplied by the church. Another 5,000 books were bought in bulk (http://www.worldmag.com/2014/03/unreal_sales_for_driscoll_s_real_marriage/page1). For the sake of argument, let’s assume that the profits from this venture were high enough to be considered as a living income by North American standards. Based on your arguments, only this would define Driscoll as an author.
It’s funny how you mentioned Snooki to argue your point. According to what you stated in the video, she's a real author due to her being able to make a living from selling her books—even though she
admitted that she had a co-writer. If you were really knowledgeable about how the publishing industry works, then you would know that the real reason why her books are selling is because of her established Jersey Shore fanbase. This is why celebrities have an easier time getting book deals from publishers as opposed to the average person. For example, HarperCollins didn’t hesitate to publish Sarah Palin's first book. One cannot argue that they worked with her because of her outstanding writing skills, since it’s public knowledge her book was ghostwritten. But more importantly, according to Rupert Murdoch biographer, Michael Wolff, "HarperCollins does not really believe Sarah Palin has written a valuable book—or even that it is really a book, not in the way that HarperCollins has historically understood books, or in the way that people have counted on HarperCollins to have understood a book.” (http://www.newser.com/off-the-grid/post/340/books-are-bad-for-you.html).Given those facts, then it’s safe to argue that if some young woman named Nicole Polizzi had written the same books before gaining her celebrity status as Snooki, her first book wouldn’t have even have sold 0.1% of the number of copies it has sold to date. But then again, based on your arguments, both Palin and Snooki are real authors.
According to your Op-Ed—and considering that your own self-published books on Amazon aren't on any bestseller's list—in my opinion, you come across as someone who's frustrated at not achieving the same success as other authors. Thus, you are using this post as a means of elevating yourself by tearing down others. I can imagine how frustrating it must be for you to acknowledge the fact that other authors have gained exposure from the novels they wrote. You, on the other hand, resorted to writing an emotional and inflammatory rant in order to draw attention to yourself.
One last thing. It’s important to mention that if you really believe everything you wrote, then— based on your arguments—technically, you couldn’t call the man and woman who (allegedly) raised you, your real parents. After all, they never made a living from raising you, did they?
So who are you? Are you an author or just a writer?