tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16189587205847026522024-02-07T04:02:56.972-08:00The Big PictureRussell Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324750353965167747noreply@blogger.comBlogger158125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618958720584702652.post-14067335678754326852016-10-02T15:41:00.001-07:002016-10-02T15:41:45.676-07:00Marvel's Luke Cage.<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d495f; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><img alt="" height="395.4" src="http://cdn1us.denofgeek.com/sites/denofgeekus/files/styles/main_wide/public/2016/09/luke-cage-netflix-marvel-comics-easter-eggs-references.png?itok=p5qmGztP" style="border: 5px solid black; margin: 5px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: middle;" width="700" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d495f; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Luke Cage is the latest Marvel television series to be picked up by Netflix. The thirteen-episode first season premiered Friday September 30, 2016. I binge-watched all thirteen episodes over two days and I’m happy to report that it did not disappoint. Considering Marvel’s success with Daredevil, followed by Jessica Jones—where Luke Cage was introduced, it was inevitable that the Harlem-based hero would get his own series. The show isn’t only playing on the successful wave of comic book-to-television genre—as seen with Smallville, Arrow, The Flash, and Gotham. It also joined the move to feature more Black comic book characters as primary protagonists on both television and in the cinema—something that Hollywood has neglected to do for far too long.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d495f; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d495f; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">As a person, Luke Cage shares character similarities<img alt="" height="196.6" src="http://static.sorozatjunkie.hu/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Luke-Cage-02.jpg" style="border: 5px solid black; float: right; margin: 5px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" width="350" /> with Matt Murdock (Daredevil) and Jessica Jones. All of them have extraordinary talents and the skills that would allow them to work in more lucrative environments. Yet, they chose not to.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d495f; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d495f; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">For example, Murdoch could’ve worked for a prestigious law firm while Jones could’ve worked for a well-established detective agency. As Cage was told, he would’ve been untouchable had he been a football player in the NFL. Despite that, all three chose to remain in low profile professions. Ones that always left them broke by the end of the week.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d495f; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d495f; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The reasoning behind Luke Cage’s choice to do janitorial work in his mentor’s barber shop by day, while working as a dishwasher in a famous Harlem nightclub at night, became obvious as the series progressed. Through a series of flashbacks, we learn that Cage spent time in Seagate Penitentiary. However, he wasn’t known as Luke Cage back then, he was Charles Lucas—a victim who was framed by his brother. While in Seagate, he was tricked into taking part in a very risky experiment, one which he was not expected to survive. As with the fate of many comic book protagonists before they became superheroes, the experiment went sideways. In the case of Charles Lucas, a disgruntled prison officer deliberately meddled with the machinery. As a result, there was an explosion</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18.6667px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">—one that</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> nearly leveled the laboratory. However, Lucas emerged with superhuman strength along with impenetrable skin.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d495f; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d495f; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><img alt="" height="196.6" src="http://mcuexchange.com/thesite/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Claire-and-Luke-Banner.jpg" style="border: 5px solid black; float: left; margin: 5px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" width="350" />From watching Jessica Jones, it's easy to discern that when he escaped Seagate, Lucas would’ve made his way to Hell’s Kitchen where he changed his name to Luke Cage. He would later move to Harlem. There, he works low-paying jobs under the table to remain below the radar. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d495f; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d495f; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">What the writers got right was not only the excellent plot, the cliffhanging endings to each episode, and the characters who were not the least bit stereotypical, but also capturing the true essence and culture of Harlem. The writers could’ve portrayed the community as a decaying, crime-ridden borough of New York City, where African-Americans are unemployed and uneducated. However, we were able to see the opposite—where both the community was thriving and the neighborhood was clean and lively. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d495f; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d495f; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">And even though there was a criminal element to the<img alt="" height="196.6" src="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51b3dc8ee4b051b96ceb10de/t/57c6fbb62e69cfd568b7936d/1472658376735/" style="border: 5px solid black; float: right; margin: 5px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" width="350" /> story (after all, what superhero story </span><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">doesn’t</em><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">have one), where the Black villains, Cornel “Cottonmouth” Stokes (Mahershala Ali)</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, Mariah Dillard (Alfre Woodard), and several others were wealthy, well-dressed, and came across as being upstanding citizens, we were are shown many Black characters—the good guys—who were working in non-stereotypical, and non-subserviant roles.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d495f; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d495f; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">There’s Detective Mercedes “Misty” Knight (Simone Missick), and Claire Temple (Rosario Dawson) the nurse whom we first saw in Daredevil, who both had Cage's back. There was even an African-American law student who flirted with Cage in the barber shop. In addition, we were also introduced to Captain Betty Audrey, and Inspector Priscilla Ridley of the NYPD. One should also notice that the latter six I mentioned were women—highlighting Marvel’s response to giving women—especially Black women—more prominent roles. I’m sure Ms Shonda Rhimes would be impressed.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d495f; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d495f; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><img alt="" height="196.6" src="http://cdn0.dailydot.com/cache/3a/36/3a36814a90645d20d63de6c8ad56c87c.jpg" style="border: 5px solid black; float: left; margin: 5px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" width="350" />As I mentioned earlier, the show presented us the essence and culture of Harlem. From the typical barber shop quarrels, to the Jazz and Hip-Hop performers. Viewers were treated with appearances and performances from artists such as <span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Charles Bradley, Faith Evans and Raphael Saadiq</span>. A comical scene in one of the last episodes even featured a cameo appearance from Method Man—as Cage saves him and the store owner from two armed robbers.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d495f; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d495f; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Although it may not be obvious to many, I couldn't help notice that the writers may have thrown in a hidden Trayvon Martin reference, with regards to Cage wearing a hoodie in many scenes. It ought to send a message that just because a Black man is wearing a hoody doesn't automatically mean that he's a criminal.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d495f; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d495f; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The show falls into the same dark environment as its<img alt="" height="196.6" src="http://mcuexchange.com/thesite/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Claire-and-Luke-Banner.jpg" style="border: 5px solid black; float: right; margin: 5px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" width="350" /> predecessors, Daredevil and Jessica Jones. This was in contrast to the Marvel movies such as the <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Avengers, Captain America, </em>and<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Iron Man</em>. This is important to mention as there were references to <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Avengers</em> such as ‘The Attack on New York’ and ‘The Green Monster’ which demonstrated that the show took place soon after those events.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d495f; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d495f; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><img alt="" height="196.6" src="http://screencrush.com/files/2016/08/luke-cage-misty-pic.jpg" style="border: 5px solid black; float: left; margin: 5px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" width="350" />However, one major difference between the series and the comic, was that the villains did not have super powers. Even though Luke Cage didn’t have an adversary who could challenge him with regards to physical strength, it should not deter fans from watching the series. The villains were still very resourceful in confronting Cage. Furthermore, they were the kind of villains that viewers love to hate. Their individual backgrounds were so well developed, that rather than come across as evil antagonists who are out to rule the world, they’re depicted as once being good people who’ve gone bad—making them interesting to watch.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d495f; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d495f; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">There’s Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes who’s often<img alt="" height="196.6" src="https://fsmedia.imgix.net/ef/8f/2f/c6/06e1/42ca/a8e0/e33876a7a666/screen-shot-2016-08-09-at-104839-ampng.png?w=700&dpr=2&auto=format,compress,enhance&q=75" style="border: 5px solid black; float: right; margin: 5px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" width="350" /> seen looking down from his gallery in his nightclub as a King would look down on his kingdom from his castle. He even stands in front of his portrait of Biggie Smalls—who’s wearing a tilted crown. In one scene taken at a different perspective, it would appear as though Stokes was the one wearing it.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d495f; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d495f; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">There’s also Councilwoman Mariah Dillard, Stoke's cousin, who presents herself as the savior of Harlem. She’ll do several photo-ops hugging and kissing children one moment only to splash hand sanitizer once the cameras aren’t pointing in her direction. In fact, Dillard was an even more conniving character than Cottonmouth, considering that even though her involvement in criminal activity is suspect, she always manages to slip through the cracks to avoid facing justice.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d495f; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></span></div><img alt="" height="196.6" src="http://static.spin.com/files/2016/09/luke-cage-new-trailer-netflix-1474901170-640x427.png" style="background-color: white; border: 5px solid black; color: #1d495f; float: left; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin: 5px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" width="350" /><br /><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d495f; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">If you enjoyed the show’s </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">predecessors, you’ll likely enjoy Luke Cage. Even if you’re not a comic book fan, the show is a well-written original that you could still follow and enjoy. Each episode ends on a cliffhanger, guaranteeing that you’ll tune in for the next episode—or binge-watch the season in under twenty-four hours as I did. The ending had a closure, albeit with an opening that will lead into the second season. Hopefully we ought to see one within twelve months.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d495f; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d495f; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">5 Stars.</span></span></div>Russell Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324750353965167747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618958720584702652.post-20126940936946576272016-09-30T12:00:00.000-07:002016-09-30T12:00:43.085-07:00Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br /><br />If you're expecting the light, non-complicated plots with non-stop fight/action scenes that one's come to expect from watching Marvel movies, you may be disappointed with BATMAN V. SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE. Even though the majority of critics didn't like the movie, I strongly disagree with those who trashed it.<br /><br />This Superman—as in MAN OF STEEL—is not the same one we're used to seeing--the boy-scout who's capable of saving everyone at any given time. Even though this is fiction, we're faced with the reality that someone who's as powerful as Kal-El can still make mistakes. As a result—casualties will happen under his watch. We see an example of this after a major terrorist bomb rocks Washington, DC, and how Superman confesses his guilt to Lois Lane as to not being able to spot the IED, even though it was only a few feet away from where he stood. This is a rare occasion where we see a Superman whose flaws extend beyond his exposure to kryptonite.<br /><br /><br />The conflicts that Superman faced weren't only personal, but were also political--as some politicians used his failures (from the previous movie) against him in order to score political points. His failures also impacted Bruce Wayne, who suffered personal losses as a result of Kal-El's fight with General Zod. Compounded with his fragile state after what was referenced to be the death of an ally after his latest skirmish with The Joker, Bruce Wayne saw Superman more of a threat than an ally. Despite his anger towards the Kryptonian, he didn't allow it to distract him from being the excellent detective that he is.<br /><br />With all the hype surrounding Batman and Superman, I was glad that there was still room for Lois Lane, who played an essential role with regards to the plot development by being the fearless investigative reporter we've always loved.<br /><br />I've always stated that villains always make or break a movie, and Lex Luthor was not only an excellent antagonist, but the best Lex Luthor we've seen yet. All I can say is that it takes a real sociopath to pull off the things he did.<br /><br />However the most exciting moment of the film (And I actually screamed out: YES) was when Wonder Woman made her grand entrance. Her presence as Diana Prince during most of the film was kept to a minimal—maintaining the mystery of her character so as not to take away from Batman and Superman, yet introducing her with a bang at the right moment. Her most memorable quote: "I've killed beings from other worlds," as she responded to Superman while staring down Doomsday, demonstrated that she was a much more experienced fighter than both Superman and Batman. As an added touch, I loved that she spoke with a foreign accent—reminding us that immigrants can also be superheroes.<br /><br />4 Stars</div>
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Russell Brooks is the author of <b><i><a href="http://www.russellparkway.com/" target="_blank">The Demeter Code</a></i></b>, available now.</div>
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Russell Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324750353965167747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618958720584702652.post-87810487666308689242016-09-29T09:12:00.000-07:002016-09-29T17:33:25.171-07:00Guilty Minds by Joseph Finder.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKBUVfZb-egNi5AQs9TKmMkGhuudnAosx7pBwulRUcg3DFo1NItNxoEke0bjsj5PCcBEnmTj6zqPVQSTdBQ3ejp8trvYIBh9L_r9PJvNnYP-yj6WSlZlb9B3jutFShOKDGIZeAesmcKmZ/s1600/GuiltyMinds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKBUVfZb-egNi5AQs9TKmMkGhuudnAosx7pBwulRUcg3DFo1NItNxoEke0bjsj5PCcBEnmTj6zqPVQSTdBQ3ejp8trvYIBh9L_r9PJvNnYP-yj6WSlZlb9B3jutFShOKDGIZeAesmcKmZ/s200/GuiltyMinds.jpg" width="132" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26892023.Guilty_Minds__Nick_Heller__3_">Guilty Minds</a> is the third novel in the Nick Heller series by Joseph Finder, as the private investigative operative is hired by a Supreme Court Justice to disprove a story about another Justice having an affair with a prostitute before a powerful gossip website publishes the story. What's worse is that Heller has less than forty-eight hours to do so. However, after the prostitute is murdered, the investigation is further complicated as Heller unravels an even bigger conspiracy behind the alleged scandal.<br />
<br />
As with Finder's previous novels, there's a lot of suspense, well-researched subject and high-tech matter. Nick Heller, in my opinion, is a lot tougher than he was in the previous novels. This may be due to the fact that he's facing off against a group of antagonists with police/military training. Heller's employee, Dorothy, has once again proven how invaluable she is as his tech wiz. Every character was well developed and distinct—even the minor ones such as the wealthy socialite who added some comic relief. And of course, it wouldn't be a Joseph Finder supense novel unless it had his trademark plot twist near the end.<br />
<br />
5 Stars<br />
<br />
Russell Brooks is the author of <a href="http://www.russellparkway.com/" target="_blank"><b><i>The Demeter Code</i></b></a>, available now.</div>
Russell Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324750353965167747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618958720584702652.post-5581526657761652982015-10-29T06:31:00.002-07:002015-10-29T06:31:52.680-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Russell Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324750353965167747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618958720584702652.post-51329733003747602462015-09-03T13:25:00.002-07:002015-09-03T13:25:36.453-07:00Let's Jail Minors for Being Infatuated With One Another. After All, They're A More Serious Threat To Society Than Child Rapists.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Let's Jail Minors for Being Infatuated With One Another. After All, They're A More Serious Threat To Society Than Child Rapists.</h2>
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<b>by Russell Brooks</b><br />
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<select style="border-color: rgb(189, 199, 216); display: none; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding: 2px;"><option value=""></option><option selected="1" value="80">Public</option><option value="40">Friends</option><option value="127">Friends except Acquaintances</option><option value="10">Only Me</option><option value="111">Custom</option><option value="10150795949720556">Close Friends</option><option value="10151064767635556">Published Author</option><option value="See all lists...">See all lists...</option><option value="10155868847540556">Author</option><option value="10151063522585556">Confidential</option><option value="10150814364660556">Argyle Academy</option><option value="10150795949730556">Montreal, Quebec Area</option><option value="10150795949725556">Family</option><option value="10150795949670556">Indiana University</option><option value="10150814133805556">Acquaintances</option><option value="Go Back">Go Back</option></select></div>
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<span class="photo photo_left" style="clear: left; float: left; max-width: 180px; padding: 2px 10px 5px 0px;"><img alt="Cormega Copening" class="photo_img img" src="https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/s180x540/11701033_10156211486660556_1289819840112896178_n.jpg?oh=f375b0a441c62503d038de3e31d34d31&oe=567BBF0C" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px;" title="Cormega Copening" /><span class="caption" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 9px; line-height: 12px; padding: 2px 0px 0px;">Cormega Copening</span></span>This has got to be the dumbest waste of police resources I've read about in a long time.<br />
<br />
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 (<a href="http://myinforms.com/en-us/a/16047300-pitts-the-law-shouldnt-go-after-kids-for-sexting/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://myinforms.com/en-us/a/16047300-pitts-the-law-shouldnt-go-after-kids-for-sexting/</a>). 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 (<a href="http://abc11.com/news/high-school-quarterback-facing-sexting-charge/964620/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://abc11.com/news/high-school-quarterback-facing-sexting-charge/964620/</a>). 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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
<span class="photo photo_right" style="clear: right; float: right; max-width: 180px; padding: 2px 0px 5px 10px;"><img alt="Thomas Boden" class="photo_img img" src="https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfl1/v/t1.0-0/s180x540/11954764_10156211490225556_9121862759249753001_n.jpg?oh=b943e744863bcdecbc5b72c9d49e33c8&oe=567C3367" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px;" title="Thomas Boden" /><span class="caption" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 9px; line-height: 12px; padding: 2px 0px 0px;">Thomas Boden</span></span>It'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 (<a href="https://www.rawstory.com/2015/09/texas-man-walks-free-after-alleged-rape-leaves-2-year-old-girl-in-pool-of-blood/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.rawstory.com/2015/09/texas-man-walks-free-after-alleged-rape-leaves-2-year-old-girl-in-pool-of-blood/</a>). Then again, the authorities must be convinced that Boden wasn't a danger to society, so he did not need to be put away.<br />
<br />
If one must question if these laws were made to protect the public, then one must definitely ask <em>whom</em> they were really meant to protect.<br />
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<span class="photo photo_left" style="clear: left; float: left; max-width: 180px; padding: 2px 10px 5px 0px;"><img alt="Cormega Copening" class="photo_img img" src="https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/s180x540/11701033_10156211486660556_1289819840112896178_n.jpg?oh=f375b0a441c62503d038de3e31d34d31&oe=567BBF0C" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px;" title="Cormega Copening" /><span class="caption" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 9px; line-height: 12px; padding: 2px 0px 0px;">Cormega Copening</span></span>This has got to be the dumbest waste of police resources I've read about in a long time.<br />
<br />
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 (<a href="http://myinforms.com/en-us/a/16047300-pitts-the-law-shouldnt-go-after-kids-for-sexting/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://myinforms.com/en-us/a/16047300-pitts-the-law-shouldnt-go-after-kids-for-sexting/</a>). 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 (<a href="http://abc11.com/news/high-school-quarterback-facing-sexting-charge/964620/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://abc11.com/news/high-school-quarterback-facing-sexting-charge/964620/</a>). 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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
<span class="photo photo_right" style="clear: right; float: right; max-width: 180px; padding: 2px 0px 5px 10px;"><img alt="Thomas Boden" class="photo_img img" src="https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfl1/v/t1.0-0/s180x540/11954764_10156211490225556_9121862759249753001_n.jpg?oh=b943e744863bcdecbc5b72c9d49e33c8&oe=567C3367" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px;" title="Thomas Boden" /><span class="caption" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 9px; line-height: 12px; padding: 2px 0px 0px;">Thomas Boden</span></span>It'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 (<a href="https://www.rawstory.com/2015/09/texas-man-walks-free-after-alleged-rape-leaves-2-year-old-girl-in-pool-of-blood/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.rawstory.com/2015/09/texas-man-walks-free-after-alleged-rape-leaves-2-year-old-girl-in-pool-of-blood/</a>). Then again, the authorities must be convinced that Boden wasn't a danger to society, so he did not need to be put away.<br />
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If one must question if these laws were made to protect the public, then one must definitely ask <em>whom</em> they were really meant to protect.<br />
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Russell Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324750353965167747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618958720584702652.post-12077436550035471622015-07-06T12:02:00.000-07:002015-07-06T12:02:11.958-07:00Prominent Doctor Obtains Exclusive Rights for HIV Vaccine.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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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.<br />
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"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 (<a href="http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2015/mtct-hiv-cuba/en/">1</a>).<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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"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." (<a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fthemedicalblog.net%2F2015%2F06%2F25%2Fblack-doctor-gets-exclusive-license-for-hiv-vaccine-trials-start-in-2016%2F&h=UAQE0ltoz&s=1" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">2</a>)<br />
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Russell Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324750353965167747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618958720584702652.post-13737532618493990072015-07-03T10:33:00.000-07:002015-07-04T07:08:07.733-07:00I 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.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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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.</h2>
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<strong><em>by Russell Parkway.</em></strong><br />
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<span class="photo " style="padding: 0px;"><img alt="Actor and Gay Rights Advocate, George Takei and Supreme Court Justice, Clarence Thomas." class="photo_img img" src="https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/s720x720/11667362_10155966161025556_6796156786303456087_n.jpg?oh=f0f796bd3f8de6808c53518ef997b6d1&oe=561D18BA" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px;" title="Actor and Gay Rights Advocate, George Takei and Supreme Court Justice, Clarence Thomas." /><span class="caption" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 9px; line-height: 12px; padding: 2px 0px 0px;">Actor and Gay Rights Advocate, George Takei and Supreme Court Justice, Clarence Thomas.</span></span><br />
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God Save The Queen!<br />
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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 (<a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rawstory.com%2F2015%2F07%2Fconservatives-george-takei-worse-than-kkk-for-calling-clarence-thomas-a-clown-in-blackface%2F&h=UAQE0ltoz&s=1" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.rawstory.com/2015/07/conservatives-george-takei-worse-than-kkk-for-calling-clarence-thomas-a-clown-in-blackface/</a>)? 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:<br />
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<em>"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."</em><br />
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These comments came from a man who's taken a stand against Affirmative Action, even though he clearly benefitted from it (<a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2013%2F06%2F09%2Fus%2Fclarence-thomas-three-questions%2F&h=OAQEGw5DW&s=1" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/09/us/clarence-thomas-three-questions/</a>). 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.<br />
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With regards to Takei's <i>Blackface</i> 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 <span class="photo photo_right" style="clear: right; float: right; max-width: 180px; padding: 2px 0px 5px 10px;"><img alt="This 1927 image originally released by Warner Bros., shows Al Jolson in blackface makeup in the movie "The Jazz Singer."" class="photo_img img" src="https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/s180x540/11209528_10155966180145556_6727335777679952705_n.jpg?oh=91bcad1af550f9daae5ca6cb2b183bfe&oe=561D125F" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px;" title="This 1927 image originally released by Warner Bros., shows Al Jolson in blackface makeup in the movie "The Jazz Singer."" /><span class="caption" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 9px; line-height: 12px; padding: 2px 0px 0px;">This 1927 image originally released by Warner Bros., shows Al Jolson in blackface makeup in the movie "The Jazz Singer."</span></span> 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. (<a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fthegrio.com%2F2013%2F10%2F30%2Fa-brief-history-of-blackface-just-in-time-for-halloween%2F&h=ZAQFJNlq4&s=1" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://thegrio.com/2013/10/30/a-brief-history-of-blackface-just-in-time-for-halloween/</a>).<br />
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<span class="photo photo_left" style="clear: left; float: left; max-width: 180px; padding: 2px 10px 5px 0px;"><img alt="Clarence and Virginia Thomas." class="photo_img img" src="https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/s180x540/11709509_10155966627225556_6759322148643609929_n.jpg?oh=ec068277fa0314b6629de0f8dee6408b&oe=562ABFDF" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px;" title="Clarence and Virginia Thomas." /><span class="caption" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 9px; line-height: 12px; padding: 2px 0px 0px;">Clarence and Virginia Thomas.</span></span>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" (<a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/stories/2007-03-11/the-holy-cross-fraternity" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/stories/2007-03-11/the-holy-cross-fraternity</a>).<br />
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<span class="photo photo_right" style="clear: right; float: right; max-width: 180px; padding: 2px 0px 5px 10px;"><img alt="" class="photo_img img" src="https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/s180x540/11698397_10155966578875556_8879769698916750201_n.jpg?oh=d4f3aaf025b06c47dd550f1e25eb0d12&oe=5616018D" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px;" title="" /></span>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.<br />
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Russell Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324750353965167747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618958720584702652.post-89600968076891187672015-03-19T07:36:00.000-07:002015-03-19T07:36:02.137-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hello, everyone.<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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Thanks,<br />
Russell</div>
Russell Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324750353965167747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618958720584702652.post-59680449091523151032015-02-25T10:40:00.001-08:002015-02-25T13:00:38.210-08:00Self-Publishers Shouldn't be called Authors, by Michael Kozlowski.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The following is a response to Michael Kozlowki's Op-Ed which can be read <a href="http://goodereader.com/blog/commentary/self-publishers-should-not-be-called-authors" target="_blank">HERE</a>. I strongly suggest that you read it before reading my post.<br />
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Dear Michael,</div>
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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.</div>
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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?</div>
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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 (<span style="background-color: none;"><a href="http://www.worldmag.com/2014/03/unreal_sales_for_driscoll_s_real_marriage/page1">http://www.worldmag.com/2014/03/unreal_sales_for_driscoll_s_real_marriage/page1</a>).</span> 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.</div>
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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<br />
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.”<span style="background-color: none;"> <a href="http://www.newser.com/off-the-grid/post/340/books-are-bad-for-you.html" target="_blank">(<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: none; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: none; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">http://www.newser.com/off-the-grid/post/340/books-are-bad-for-you.html</span></a>)</span>.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.</div>
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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.</div>
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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?</div>
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So who are you? Are you an author or just a writer?</div>
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Russell Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324750353965167747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618958720584702652.post-80889840334776136302014-12-30T10:13:00.001-08:002014-12-30T10:28:53.410-08:00THE DEMETER CODE by Russell Brooks, Chapter 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Want to read the first chapter?</span><br />
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Russell Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324750353965167747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618958720584702652.post-25348849172715821202014-12-20T19:42:00.002-08:002014-12-20T19:42:51.043-08:00Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. My gift to you.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Russell Brooks is the author of the action/thriller, THE DEMETER CODE, available everywhere online. Visit <a href="http://www.russellparkway.com/books.html">www.russellparkway.com</a> for details.<br />
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Russell Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324750353965167747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618958720584702652.post-27892738424712315942014-11-21T04:00:00.000-08:002014-11-21T04:00:15.060-08:00Canada Reads 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiagvjzBthZew5q8mazmg9cnAmmAo8manHdMfu0Uc5cEZILh8OO-We6fEqG-OtNvEcktJk3q3mkvtLIujLe4cFmYl0D7QkP4VBmZcNmzqZudZsmS6cDsThNK8gRTR-aTJLKGWgxZ8mPsW-T/s1600/TheDemeterCode_ebookfinal_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiagvjzBthZew5q8mazmg9cnAmmAo8manHdMfu0Uc5cEZILh8OO-We6fEqG-OtNvEcktJk3q3mkvtLIujLe4cFmYl0D7QkP4VBmZcNmzqZudZsmS6cDsThNK8gRTR-aTJLKGWgxZ8mPsW-T/s1600/TheDemeterCode_ebookfinal_small.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24px; line-height: 21px;">Hello, Everyone,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 22px; line-height: 26px;">I need your help.<br /><br />The CBC is looking for books for <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/books/canadareads2015callout/" style="color: #336699;" target="_blank"><em>Canada Reads 2015</em></a>. This is a program that's meant to promote Canadian authors, like myself. I would appreciate your nomination as this would be an opportunity for me at getting THE DEMETER CODE thrown into the Canadian spotlight.<br /><br />Submitting is easy, as it cold be done via </span><a href="http://twitter.com/" style="color: #124e6a; font-family: arial; font-size: 22px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Twitter</a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 22px; line-height: 26px;">, </span><a href="http://facebook.com/cbcbooks" style="color: #124e6a; font-family: arial; font-size: 22px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Facebook</a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 22px; line-height: 26px;">, </span><a href="http://instagram.com/" style="color: #124e6a; font-family: arial; font-size: 22px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Instagram</a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 22px; line-height: 26px;"> or </span><a href="mailto:cbcbooks@cbc.ca" style="color: #124e6a; font-family: arial; font-size: 22px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">email</a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 22px; line-height: 26px;">.<br /><br />To make things easy, here are ways you can submit THE DEMETER CODE:<br /><br />1. Copy and paste the following as a TWEET:</span><br />
<br style="color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" />
<em 14px="" 21px="" arial="" font-family:="" font-size:="" line-height:=""><strong><span style="color: red; font-size: 18px;">THE DEMETER CODE by @NoOtherRussell</span></strong></em><br />
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<em style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><strong><span style="color: red;"> http://ow.ly/i/7FbFp #CanadaReads</span></strong></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 22px; line-height: 26px;">2. Copy and paste the following in an email to the CBC at: <a href="mailto:CBCbooks@cbc.ca" target="_blank">CBCbooks@cbc.ca</a>.</span><br />
<br style="color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" />
<em style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><strong><span style="font-size: 18px;">Wab,<br /><br />I'd like to nominate THE DEMETER CODE by Russell Brooks for Canada Reads 2015 http://ow.ly/i/7FbFp<br /><br />Kind regards,<br /><br />(Your name)</span></strong></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 22px; line-height: 26px;">3. If you love Facebook or Instagram, you can either take a Selfie holding my book, or download the book cover pic and then upload it. It's important <strong><em>not</em></strong> to forget the hashtag: <em>#CanadaReads.</em><br /><br />The deadline for the public call-out is Nov. 30 at 11:59 p.m. ET.<br /><br />Please spread the word and thanks again for your support.<br /><br />Russell</span><br />
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Russell Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324750353965167747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618958720584702652.post-33287339133692602222014-11-19T06:24:00.000-08:002014-11-19T06:24:51.267-08:00A Pleasant Surprise.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I woke up this morning and saw an email. I opened it and found this.</div>
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Russell Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324750353965167747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618958720584702652.post-2921137168756070072014-11-18T18:11:00.000-08:002014-11-18T18:16:41.581-08:00Street Lit: Is That All Black Authors Can Write? My response to Nortina Mariella's Essay.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjilqv7mR9ciyARJNqsIS0yrlh6Gx7xHcVLj7Rp1y5T_sdNpxur8qEYZQo1DsWQZ11XKnlubZREZnieDamGUzRw6pLph0xeBkGi89kENnM9XQvAugQM2FR0sNVKkGjE-rC0t0rIdCLikyJY/s320/ghtto%20fiction.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjilqv7mR9ciyARJNqsIS0yrlh6Gx7xHcVLj7Rp1y5T_sdNpxur8qEYZQo1DsWQZ11XKnlubZREZnieDamGUzRw6pLph0xeBkGi89kENnM9XQvAugQM2FR0sNVKkGjE-rC0t0rIdCLikyJY/s320/ghtto%2520fiction.gif" height="357" width="400" /></a><span style="color: white; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: background1;">I stumbled
across Nortina Mariella's <a href="http://nortinamariela.wordpress.com/2014/09/01/street-lit-is-that-all-black-authors-can-write/comment-page-1/#comment-58" target="_blank">essay </a>a few days ago. After having read it three times I have every
reason to believe that the author doesn't understand how the publishing
industry works. She has the impression that the so-called THUG/HOOD/STREET LIT
is the only kind of books that contemporary African-American authors are
writing. The truth is that the reason why she saw these books on book shelves
in the African American section was because the companies that publish those
books pay stores to place them in those sections.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: background1;">While I was on my way to publishing my
first novel, I had a chance to converse with Jerry Simmons, the former VP of
Time-Warner Books. He explained to me that a publisher's client is a bookstore,
and not the consumer. When you walk into a Barnes and Noble or any other
bookstore and you see a book pyramid, or your favorite book in a particular
spot, it's because the publisher paid the bookstore for those areas.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: background1;">One must think of shelf and floor space
like real-estate. The more visible the location, the more expensive it'll cost
the publisher. The author of this article falsely accused African-American
authors of only writing this kind of literature. A reason why she may not have
seen other kind of books written by AA authors in the AA section was because
their publishers may not expect to make any profits in those neighborhoods. By
the same token, it just further demonstrates how publishers have a lot of
control over what consumers can access.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: background1;">Rather than accuse Black authors of not
writing the books that she wants to read, she could have easily gone online and
researched the ones she wanted. She then had the option of either ordering it
online, or going to a real bookstore or placing a special order.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: background1;">If she were shopping for books up here
in Montreal, most of these Street Lit titles she wrote about wouldn't
necessarily be the only books found in the AA section. Almost six years ago
when I discovered Eric, I searched for his books in the front among the
Bestsellers. I was told that I could find his books in the AA section--in the
BACK of the store. Riddle me this. Why is it that a Black NYT bestselling
author is placed in a less visible location at the BACK of the bookstore rather
than at the front among other White NYT bestselling authors? And this was 2008
Montreal, Quebec, not 1950 Selma, Alabama--if you catch my drift. And here's
the best part, an acquaintance of mine attended Eric's book signing when he
came to town. According to her, the audience was predominantly White. You'll
never see Alex Cross in the AA section, even though the series has a strong AA
platform.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-themecolor: background1;">I didn't feel comfortable with that book placement
so I didn't give the store my money--but keep in mind that I didn't know how
the publishing industry worked until later. I went to my public library where
there are only two sections--A Children's and an Adult section--with a
subdivisions for French and English books. I found all of Eric's books under D
in the adult section, where they are up to this day, just a few rows away from
mine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Russell Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324750353965167747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618958720584702652.post-64151447130630848362014-11-02T18:15:00.000-08:002014-11-02T18:15:29.491-08:00All Of Me - Violin Cover by Russell<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Russell Brooks is the author of the breakneck spy/thriller, <i style="font-weight: bold;">THE DEMETER CODE, </i>available on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LIGBJO6?ie=UTF8&camp=213733&creative=393177&creativeASIN=B00LIGBJO6&linkCode=shr&tag=russbroothria-20&linkId=SGOZ4ROUC7I4SKGJ" target="_blank">Amazon</a> and <a href="http://www.russellparkway.com/">www.russellparkway.com</a>.</div>
Russell Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324750353965167747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618958720584702652.post-71506472547887493432014-10-19T04:12:00.004-07:002014-10-19T04:12:56.747-07:00Adele - Rolling In The Deep - Violin Cover by Russell<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Russell Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324750353965167747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618958720584702652.post-26794244750441193742014-10-17T21:46:00.001-07:002014-10-19T04:10:59.999-07:00You're Bent Out Of Shape Because A Few Reviewers Didn't Like Your Book. Boo-Fucking-Hoo!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://c.o0bg.com/rf/image_371w/Boston/2011-2020/2014/10/16/BostonGlobe.com/Arts/Images/Margoauthorphoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://c.o0bg.com/rf/image_371w/Boston/2011-2020/2014/10/16/BostonGlobe.com/Arts/Images/Margoauthorphoto.jpg" height="320" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Margo Howard</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I came across an article in <a href="http://www.newrepublic.com/article/119875/margo-howard-amazon-vine-reviewers-sabotaged-my-book" target="_blank">The New Republic</a> written by former advice columnist, Margo Howard. In it she whines about Amazon Vine's review program and blames it for <i>destroying </i>her book, <i>Eat, Drink & Remarry</i> before it was published. Before writing this essay, I decided to read up on Ms Howard in order to find out a little about her so that I could write as much as an unbiased essay as possible.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Based on what I've found, she has an impressive resume. She's previously written for The Chicago Tribune, The New Republic, Good Housekeeping, and TV Guide. She's also written an advice column in Slate, Yahoo News, and the Globe. Her advice column,<i> Dear Prudence</i>, was also featured on National Public Radio.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For someone who was born in 1940 and who's had articles in syndication long before I wore my first diaper, I'm quite surprised that she's so naive</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">—</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">if not just downright ignorant</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">—on</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> how the pre-publication process works. In order for a book to be effectively marketed, pre-publication publicity is essential. Giving review copies to professional reviewers and to book bloggers before a book is released is one such common practice. However, Howard appears to only put Amazon's Vine program in her crosshairs. Rather than embrace the fact that not everyone's going to like her book, she's taken this <i>"How Dare You!"</i> childish response. </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Are we to assume that Howard has joined the likes of <a href="http://jakonrath.blogspot.ca/2014/10/eisler-konrath-patterson-again.html" target="_blank">James Patterson</a> and other traditionally-published authors and author's groups in their frivolous crusade against Amazon? I couldn't help but wonder this because i</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">t didn't take me too long to find a <a href="http://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/books/2014/10/17/book-review-eat-drink-remarry-margo-howard/nXm6P2zvtx21SqzPmu08KL/story.html" target="_blank">review</a> of her latest book, "Eat, Drink, & Remarry" that was recently published in the <a href="http://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/books/2014/10/17/book-review-eat-drink-remarry-margo-howard/nXm6P2zvtx21SqzPmu08KL/story.html" target="_blank">Boston Globe</a>. What was interesting was that even this reviewer appeared to hate her book. One phrase actually stood out, </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"</i><span 26px="" line-height:="" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>The only child of Eppie Lederer, a.k.a. Ann Landers, and Budget Rent a Car cofounder Julius Lederer, Howard grew up with such a mouthful of silver spoons, it’s a wonder she learned to talk." </i></span><br />
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<span 26px="" line-height:="" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ouch!</span><br />
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<span 26px="" line-height:="" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I doubt very much that Ms Howard will spend the remaining years of her life bitching about every bad review she gets. Trust me, she'll get many more. However, she's bound to also get a few good ones.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If Howard wanted to attack Amazon, a more valid criticism would've been for her to write about Vine's methods for matching products with particular reviewers. I've learned that the majority of people who don't like a book are those who aren't fans of the genre. For example, giving away a thriller novel to someone who typically reads science fiction won't necessarily yield satisfactory results for either the author or for the reader. Had Howard done this, she may gain more support. Instead, she comes across as a crybaby.</span><br />
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Russell Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324750353965167747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618958720584702652.post-89303519974818248122014-09-04T13:44:00.000-07:002014-09-04T13:44:19.708-07:00CBY Book Club hosts giveaway for THE DEMETER CODE.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hello, everyone,<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9Gp4ExgQjoL-YH0mN7y_lMFaHokdTb1SQ7YOJQ-QmIPfhb70LOslT3RVFVzz6-hllYvfbk6C2pFRGMeWgTV5Imrj5pdRAAUAgnUMhpF2kF1xS4ATHmGGEbmJQDdJ1XtTunnV2jAAAIXb/s1600/TheDemeterCode_ebookfinal_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9Gp4ExgQjoL-YH0mN7y_lMFaHokdTb1SQ7YOJQ-QmIPfhb70LOslT3RVFVzz6-hllYvfbk6C2pFRGMeWgTV5Imrj5pdRAAUAgnUMhpF2kF1xS4ATHmGGEbmJQDdJ1XtTunnV2jAAAIXb/s1600/TheDemeterCode_ebookfinal_small.jpg" /></a><a href="http://cbybookclub.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/author-interview-giveaway-demeter-code.html" target="_blank">CBY Book Club</a> is hosting a Rafflecopter giveaway where five lucky winners will receive an eBook copy of my latest Ridley Fox/Nita Parris spy thriller, <i><b>The Demeter Code</b></i>. The winners will be able to choose between a Kindle or an ePub copy. This contest will end on September 25, 2014.<br />
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For those who still love paperbacks, I've included a discount code which will give you $5 off when you purchase your copy through Createspace. Registering through the site is easy.<br />
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Here's the link to CBY Book Club's blog:<a href="http://cbybookclub.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/author-interview-giveaway-demeter-code.html" target="_blank"> http://cbybookclub.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/author-interview-giveaway-demeter-code.html</a><br />
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I'd appreciate you spreading the word to your friends and family. Thanks again for your support.<br />
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Russell Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324750353965167747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618958720584702652.post-6537046121602845382014-08-29T14:07:00.000-07:002014-08-29T14:07:07.513-07:00The Guardian--A traditionally published piece of rubbish.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The Guardian recently published a blog on self-publishing. As you would've guessed by the title of this blog, I was not impressed. You can read the blog <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/money/us-money-blog/2014/aug/28/self-publish-novel-how-to-amazon?commentpage=1" target="_blank">HERE</a> and then check out my response below. I posted the same thing in the <i>comments</i> section of the blog.<br />
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Ladies and Gentlemen. You have all read the biggest piece of nonsense imaginable. I don't know where the author of this op-ed got their information from, but speaking from personal experience, the above-mentioned figures are very exaggerated. What bothers me even more about it is that it misrepresents the publishing industry.</div>
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There are points which the author and I agree on. The main ones being that it is very difficult to get representation from a literary agent or sign a legacy publisher deal unless you already have an author's platform, ie. fanbase. The other point that's true about the industry is that if one decides to become independently published, there's a price tag that comes along with it.</div>
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However, having published four thrillers on my own, I was surprised by the amount of misinformation presented in this op-ed. Some of the statements were so outrageous, I had to question the true motive behind it.</div>
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Take for instance the part which mentions purchasing an ISBN. Even though it's true that it would cost an <i>American</i> author $125 to obtain one, the article quoted a Canadian author, Ashley MacLennan, who claims to have purchased several ISBNs. Why would you quote a Canadian author as your source for this information, especially when she claimed that she purchased 100 ISBNs? Canadian authors don't even have to pay for an ISBN. They can simply register through the Library and Archives website at <a href="http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/ciss-ssci/index-e.html" rel="nofollow" style="color: #005689; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/ciss-ssci/index-e.html</a>. It's beyond me why MacLennan would spend $1250 in ISBNs. And she actually believes that she's saved money?</div>
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Secondly, the $4000 price tag is not completely accurate because not all editors charge per hour. Many of them charge per word. The most I spent on editing was roughly $2000, and that was for two editors--one for content and the other was a copy editor.</div>
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The cost of getting a professional book cover will vary from one graphic artist to the next. It will also vary whether the cover is being drawn from scratch or if stock images are used. If you choose to go with a stock image, then you can get it designed much cheaper. On a side note, if you're just opting to have your novel available only as an eBook, then you could go to FIVERR.com and have a professionally designed book cover for as little as $20. The author will be responsible for choosing the stock image.</div>
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I nearly had a heart attack when I read the part about it costing over $825 for reviews through Netgalley and Kirkus. The author mentions that: "It all gets a little more complicated if all you have to work with is an electronic file," and then quoted MacLennan, who mentioned: "The alternative can chew up a lot of time and energy, though, because you’ll have to make sure that your novel is available in whatever format the prospective reviewer prefers."</div>
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I find it very silly of both the author and MacLennan perpetuated the belief that having a novel in electronic format is more complicated and more time consuming. On the contrary, I've found that it's much easier to send out eBook copies to reviewers. There aren't any shipping and printing costs associated with sending eBooks. And any author who's serious about writing needs to have their novels in both electronic and print formats. Having a book only available in print is as inefficient as working with a dot-matrix printer.</div>
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As for my thoughts on Netgalley, before forking over $400 to, I'd recommend consulting with authors who've actually used their service. I'm glad that I did, because I was warned that what they're charging is a waste of money, especially if you write in the thriller genre. As for Kirkus, <i>DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY. </i>Giving $825 to these guys is not going to guaranty you a ton of reviews this op-ed will have you believe, especially if it's your first novel. The best buzz an author can get is to write several books.</div>
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As for putting aside $300 for mailing out review copies, you'd have to be an idiot to spend that amount of money sending print copies. I've always advised new authors to never mail a print book to someone you don't know or haven't worked with. Serious reviewers have eReaders, and the cost of emailing an eBook is $0.</div>
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The most atrocious way this op-ed misleads readers is by perpetuating the belief that legacy authors have it better than indie authors. That's not true. If you're a first-time author who's lucky enough to get a book deal with a legacy publisher, that's great. But it doesn't mean that said publisher will invest a lot of money on you. Their budgets are reserved for the Stephen Kings and John Grishams. And even first-time legacy authors don't always make it. Look at Joe The Plumber. A lot of money was wasted on a book signing in Washington DC, and hardly anyone showed up. Plus his book bombed, which served both he and the publisher right.</div>
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Come on, Guardian, you guys need to do better research than this.</div>
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Russell Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324750353965167747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618958720584702652.post-35976496484600344902014-08-24T05:01:00.000-07:002014-08-24T05:01:45.498-07:00My ALS Ice Bucket Challenge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Russell Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324750353965167747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618958720584702652.post-25942795252442716162014-08-14T11:13:00.000-07:002014-08-14T11:13:17.840-07:00Guess which NYT Bestselling Author is Reading THE DEMETER CODE?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Guess who was spotted reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LIGBJO6?ie=UTF8&camp=213733&creative=393177&creativeASIN=B00LIGBJO6&linkCode=shr&tag=russbroothria-20&linkId=5YCRAETLNQV7HSD2" target="_blank">The Demeter Code</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_Q0y8p3czKlf2qvmMLvBG805Skbzk-U_Nj77u4EzRLD3jR1uCw2M9cYKOSIGt8PCp1rgfmvxi5qgabCvXfkeKifn0kvWWGgA3oyyhOFyz9bU54kRBB2KoIp348RyFLSzIrwS6JdPzURi/s1600/EJDreadsTheDemeterCode.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_Q0y8p3czKlf2qvmMLvBG805Skbzk-U_Nj77u4EzRLD3jR1uCw2M9cYKOSIGt8PCp1rgfmvxi5qgabCvXfkeKifn0kvWWGgA3oyyhOFyz9bU54kRBB2KoIp348RyFLSzIrwS6JdPzURi/s1600/EJDreadsTheDemeterCode.jpg" height="640" width="425" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2zmLH1mF5fMDNUJEGBsvxxZwil_QA0-_mY2ckHQ9Co0pZ1Wl0Gyt-rzO2ugKBre_JwgiWmLhpYjXPzLxvtvy0tF79BUmTPwer4Q4IK761Z3Yfs4p6WQ5ofPqPfOSY8lLH0AV_vNf0gor/s1600/EJDdesk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2zmLH1mF5fMDNUJEGBsvxxZwil_QA0-_mY2ckHQ9Co0pZ1Wl0Gyt-rzO2ugKBre_JwgiWmLhpYjXPzLxvtvy0tF79BUmTPwer4Q4IK761Z3Yfs4p6WQ5ofPqPfOSY8lLH0AV_vNf0gor/s1600/EJDdesk.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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That's correct. New York Times Bestselling Author, Eric Jerome Dickey, has an autographed copy of The Demeter Code, and appears to be enjoying it.</div>
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If you enjoy stories with conspiracies, martial arts, sex, betrayal, and revenge, then you'll love The Demeter Code, available now on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LIGBJO6?ie=UTF8&camp=213733&creative=393177&creativeASIN=B00LIGBJO6&linkCode=shr&tag=russbroothria-20&linkId=5YCRAETLNQV7HSD2" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.</div>
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Russell Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324750353965167747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618958720584702652.post-37347297396383068282014-07-04T06:16:00.002-07:002014-07-04T06:22:51.026-07:00New Release--The Demeter Code<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hello, Everyone,<br />
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The wait is finally over. CIA operatives Ridley Fox and Nita Parris are back. When two American embassies in northern Africa are bombed, CIA operatives, Ridley Fox and Nita Parris, are assigned to track down the perpetrators. However, when their top asset is killed in a failed op, the agents suspect that there may be a new threat. Their search for the truth puts them on a collision course with a powerful multinational--which will go to extreme lengths to bury its criminal activities.However, the agents soon learn that someone with a personal vendetta against that company not only knows their secrets, but will expose them in a way that could result in the largest single-day attack against America.<br />
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If you enjoy stories with conspiracies, martial arts, sex, betrayal, and revenge, then you'll have to purchase THE DEMETER CODE.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Demeter-Code-Russell-Brooks-ebook/dp/B00LIGBJO6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1404466851&sr=1-1&keywords=the+demeter+code" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51VJZvHX03L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-v3-big,TopRight,0,-55_SX278_SY278_PIkin4,BottomRight,1,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" /></a></div>
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To purchase your eBook or paperback copy, click on the above picture. Thanks again for your support.</div>
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Russell Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324750353965167747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618958720584702652.post-16785606667418930212014-06-23T17:52:00.000-07:002014-06-23T17:52:00.020-07:00The Demeter Code: Episode 7<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The exciting new thriller, <i>THE DEMETER CODE</i> by Russell Brooks, will be available on July 4, 2014. Visit <a href="http://www.russellparkway.com/">www.russellparkway.com</a> for details.<br />
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Russell Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324750353965167747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618958720584702652.post-58609882565349775592014-06-17T08:12:00.000-07:002014-06-17T08:12:22.485-07:00The Demeter Code: Episode 6<iframe frameborder="no" height="450" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/154531489&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%"></iframe>
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<b><i>The Demeter Code by Russell Brooks, coming July 4, 2014. Visit <a href="http://www.russellparkway.com/">www.russellparkway.com</a> for details.</i></b></div>
Russell Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324750353965167747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618958720584702652.post-92075674485261327562014-06-12T21:04:00.000-07:002014-06-12T21:20:19.113-07:00And the Actors to Play Ridley Fox and Dr Nita Parris are...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once again, the time has come where I post my choice of actors to star in a novel I wrote if it were made into a movie today. This time it's for the action/thriller, <b><i>The Demeter Code</i></b>. I must admit that these choices weren't easy, especially choosing actors to play the minor characters. Yes, there are a lot of characters in this story. But if you've memorized all the characters from <i style="font-weight: bold;">Game Of Thrones, </i>then you shouldn't have any difficulty getting through <i>Demeter.</i> If you happen to forget who's who, just come back to this blog.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So without further ado, ladies and gentlemen, here are my choices.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9szDwVH3L-baAk7G2G6IJ2FioVxXP-DTf4HNKcHBpU3Gb6aH3_tD9jeItKr-Sjd7vn-6qnJf-9TA2-piqttQuM51XT8nAGgYQdT02ZnbLyzt0Jh-IQKvlvlPLzjbIPd8lE2tY-d9ueTs/s1600/johann-urb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9szDwVH3L-baAk7G2G6IJ2FioVxXP-DTf4HNKcHBpU3Gb6aH3_tD9jeItKr-Sjd7vn-6qnJf-9TA2-piqttQuM51XT8nAGgYQdT02ZnbLyzt0Jh-IQKvlvlPLzjbIPd8lE2tY-d9ueTs/s1600/johann-urb.jpg" height="320" width="259" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Ridley Fox</u></b><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><u>—</u></span><b><u>Johann Urb</u></b></span><br />
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This wasn't a tough choice after I saw <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYmtG_W-4aw" target="_blank">Urb</a> in <i>Resident Evil 5 </i>as Leon Kennedy. He's my top choice to be the former Canadian JTFII Warrant Officer-turned CIA covert operative. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYmtG_W-4aw" target="_blank">Fox </a>is one of the main characters from <i><b>Pandora's Succession</b></i> and <i><b>Unsavory Delicacies</b>. </i>Unlike <i>Pandora</i> where revenge fueled his drive to hunt down his antagonists, <i>Demeter </i>has him at odds with people within the CIA when he tries to convince them that the United States will come under attack. Fortunately, his partner, Nita Parris, his superior, General Paul Downing, and the new tech analyst, Dewan Douglas, have his back.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="text-align: center;"><u>Dr Nita Parris</u></b><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><u>—</u></span><b style="text-align: center;"><u>Zoe Saldana</u></b></span><br />
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Still my top choice as the more compliant Barbadian-born partner to Ridley Fox. We've all seen <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CglGf2JtZgU" target="_blank">Saldana</a> in action in films such as <i>Star Trek </i>and<i> The Losers. </i>And although Parris is a former weapons analyst who could stand her ground when in a face-off against vicious assassins, she's also a brilliant scientist whom Fox depends on frequently. Her loyalty to him is tested as she goes against her superiors to work with him. Unfortunately she doesn't always sees what Fox does, which risks putting them both at odds.</span><br />
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLPtkg_-ctK5ImI2Pe8aV8tcZzLPhq5D2zesUOoFmEc-qP1bR6ejwfv_iJ4r_hxFEPVmE9Pyhq_sdMCEnsIDDcuF8QGMKz3kIGzA_rJaeQXgmDZGNtH6IekhSp7cYZE7qJZovx25Mp1OMg/s1600/ericroberts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLPtkg_-ctK5ImI2Pe8aV8tcZzLPhq5D2zesUOoFmEc-qP1bR6ejwfv_iJ4r_hxFEPVmE9Pyhq_sdMCEnsIDDcuF8QGMKz3kIGzA_rJaeQXgmDZGNtH6IekhSp7cYZE7qJZovx25Mp1OMg/s1600/ericroberts.jpg" height="238" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Mitchell Stayner</u></b><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><u>—</u></span><b><u>Eric Roberts</u></b></span><br />
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One of the main antagonists to Ridley Fox and Nita Parris as the CEO of <i>Sementem</i><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">—</span>the world's largest agricultural company and one of the most powerful and ruthless multinationals. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6cfN74wg9o" target="_blank">Stayner's</a> an ambitious businessman who's made several enemies over the years</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">—</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">even within his own company. As you'll discover, he doesn't have a problem getting rid of anyone who crosses him</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">—regardless of the methods</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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<b><u>Mr Lucas</u></b><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><u>—</u></span><b><u>Rolan Bell</u></b></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5GMd_vHAf2Qd5cAfny-5YUlKiQEWnJ6Kklb2mSxvR0ML3imbAaT8exDVkhujh_LkeRQVjDykZK4lJ3NtzXkNjYHi9BMW5iNSkWV9Lj8-SNVu2rjHdjqAVDF3oZ9MgfR_x6c3Pvpk0_gO/s1600/Rolan+Bell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5GMd_vHAf2Qd5cAfny-5YUlKiQEWnJ6Kklb2mSxvR0ML3imbAaT8exDVkhujh_LkeRQVjDykZK4lJ3NtzXkNjYHi9BMW5iNSkWV9Lj8-SNVu2rjHdjqAVDF3oZ9MgfR_x6c3Pvpk0_gO/s1600/Rolan+Bell.jpg" height="200" width="158" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had a lot of difficulty searching for the right actor to portray Semetem's head of security and Stayner's personal<i> "Fixer."</i> Most of the well-known black actors are over 40. In <i>Demeter, </i>I described Mr Lucas as a younger Jamie Fox. He has a rich voice with a British staple that could charm the panties off of a woman. I stumbled on Bell's interview on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF9GD2itwL8" target="_blank">YouTube</a> and saw that he came close to resembling the character I pictured, right down to the tone of his voice. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2voMGL8n3mS0Y5M4C089pzA_GsDh3JPSgtkjv6wYi8xADiDfxXSFpisWhsgqiparbUQOGYtliC-x17nUPJKiAoTPm3Ijz8_4PcCNdZpwj3lxEPdYLhiLnD9tiZhb7MBht9kJMStvxjxlT/s1600/tommy-lee-jones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2voMGL8n3mS0Y5M4C089pzA_GsDh3JPSgtkjv6wYi8xADiDfxXSFpisWhsgqiparbUQOGYtliC-x17nUPJKiAoTPm3Ijz8_4PcCNdZpwj3lxEPdYLhiLnD9tiZhb7MBht9kJMStvxjxlT/s1600/tommy-lee-jones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2voMGL8n3mS0Y5M4C089pzA_GsDh3JPSgtkjv6wYi8xADiDfxXSFpisWhsgqiparbUQOGYtliC-x17nUPJKiAoTPm3Ijz8_4PcCNdZpwj3lxEPdYLhiLnD9tiZhb7MBht9kJMStvxjxlT/s1600/tommy-lee-jones.jpg" height="200" width="191" /></a><b style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>General Paul Downing</u></b><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><u>—</u></span><b><u>Tommy Lee Jones</u></b></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This choice was too easy. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_cczIWvBq4" target="_blank">Jones</a> was the first person to come to mind when I first created the character in <i>Pandora's Succession,</i> who's the gritty head of the National Clandestine Service. Back then, he appeared to come down hard on Fox when he lost focus</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">—</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and made a few costly mistakes. In </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Demeter</i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> he has a larger role in the story, as he's at often at odds with the new CIA Director, who appears to have it in for Fox.</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Jill St John aka The Woman</b><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">—</span><b>Maggie Q</b></span></u></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSNriHxDqdYBptQraWpVVkDez0tl6Mv-hyZjY-vfYsiMc1Z8vwyVYZrWgW8AviO9OxubCCYrN0SqagGHRde7KoKWlxBws6fo9P1Xg3eN455alneWwDzhX6ucEoeyCC2jDrVXeJaDm9Jgj/s1600/maggieQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSNriHxDqdYBptQraWpVVkDez0tl6Mv-hyZjY-vfYsiMc1Z8vwyVYZrWgW8AviO9OxubCCYrN0SqagGHRde7KoKWlxBws6fo9P1Xg3eN455alneWwDzhX6ucEoeyCC2jDrVXeJaDm9Jgj/s1600/maggieQ.jpg" height="125" width="200" /></span></a><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Very little is known about this elusive <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlOD5yP9Ga0" target="_blank">character</a>. She's a professional identity thief and computer hacker who travels the world stealing company secrets for her clients<i>. </i>I can't reveal anything else about her without spoiling the story. But I'll mention that she's a major nuisance to both Parris and Fox.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHAD2-DjcqUyQOrTA_cf9NM2MHCc5zX12kDhEsNYRvQIkO-LwKHL3N3YzECro6J1Mqo0QBtlucIqRld-np6IyU5iRfmu8jCdxIzjJTzaEaEZxWcymqv1ABz26V3iG1W27BzPJXIzkCZdNq/s1600/lauravandervoort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHAD2-DjcqUyQOrTA_cf9NM2MHCc5zX12kDhEsNYRvQIkO-LwKHL3N3YzECro6J1Mqo0QBtlucIqRld-np6IyU5iRfmu8jCdxIzjJTzaEaEZxWcymqv1ABz26V3iG1W27BzPJXIzkCZdNq/s1600/lauravandervoort.jpg" height="200" width="135" /></span></a></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Katherine Sparks</b><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">—</span><b>Laura Vandervoort</b></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqf2d5vU5YM" target="_blank">Sparks</a> is a food quality control inspector at Camp Iron Eagle in Afghanistan. When nine army officers suffered from E. Coli poisoning, she's wrongfully accused and fired for it. With her life destroyed, she's met by the mysterious Jill St John</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">—</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">who presents her with an enticing offer in exchange for her help. What could possibly go wrong?</span></div>
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEishDcR9Ain309NJ5177l7XgptZCmxe4KA6Gr8S4rYH9xy8onYUnRtpkBHIEemjnM03RK7qoRF4MZiHCSXKAUfYKy4tD_LsW9E7V-P0Sf2l9dP7k-1Lc9aaaAucSWHKo-poewMqDv0pdDPj/s1600/Nathan+Stewart+Jarrett+Rankin+Collabor8te+CTq-VVSeUgvl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEishDcR9Ain309NJ5177l7XgptZCmxe4KA6Gr8S4rYH9xy8onYUnRtpkBHIEemjnM03RK7qoRF4MZiHCSXKAUfYKy4tD_LsW9E7V-P0Sf2l9dP7k-1Lc9aaaAucSWHKo-poewMqDv0pdDPj/s1600/Nathan+Stewart+Jarrett+Rankin+Collabor8te+CTq-VVSeUgvl.jpg" height="200" width="132" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Dewan Douglas</u></b><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><u>—</u></span><b><u>Nathan Stewart-Jarret</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A good story that gets you caught up in the suspense, tension, and the action will eventually slow down. These are moments where you can catch your breath. They're also great spots for comic relief. Dewan Douglas appeared briefly as a minor character in <i>Pandora's Succession</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">—</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">who was inadvertently involved in a plot to wipe out the human race. He was eventually rescued by Parris and Fox, who pulled some strings to get him out of trouble. In </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Demeter</i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, he has a larger role as the CIA's nosy IT man who assists both Parris and Fox. This actor was also a tough find. But I happened to stumble on this picture of him, followed by an<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYN5TrEOAQs" target="_blank"> interview</a> I watched.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vYvUJXyciGNrEnyJ81Uy5VTDr0gHSNAkasnhrJgrRPyWuyBy3Btr5RGusXdYv2W0w0glKAskG3YaN6gsNWCeXCHGlqbcxO6v9BBqjQMOs1gkiPgz7lByNEwhfGg6cMP8-8bVOoia5UF_/s1600/FMurrayAbraham.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vYvUJXyciGNrEnyJ81Uy5VTDr0gHSNAkasnhrJgrRPyWuyBy3Btr5RGusXdYv2W0w0glKAskG3YaN6gsNWCeXCHGlqbcxO6v9BBqjQMOs1gkiPgz7lByNEwhfGg6cMP8-8bVOoia5UF_/s1600/FMurrayAbraham.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><b>Monzer Alghafari</b></u><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><u>—</u></span><u><b>F. Murray Abraham</b></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Syrian-born arms dealer who, for years, has evaded both American and European authorities as an illegal arms dealer. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfbqPrfX4GM" target="_blank">Alghafari</a> is one of the world's most untouchable criminals who has allegedly armed terrorists who were responsible for some of the world's deadliest atrocities. From his luxurious hilltop mansion in Marbella, Spain, </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">he conducts most of his illicit activities while using his import-export business as a front. The Spanish authorities once thought they had a strong case against him, only for witnesses to suddenly disappear or develop cases of selective amnesia. When the CIA links him to America's most wanted terrorist, Faouzi al-Umari</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">—</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">who was responsible for bombing three American Embassies in northern Africa, Ridley Fox infiltrates Alghafari's inner circle in order to help track him down. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5o1aFqhwQhiiju5PrXY1crD2b3Zs1hQtNqG4FbO5C-0OKvmbg53W03OIpxFqld_5PODpkIC-iY9I0iKotIjO_jNFwOJ3Wpp74OlwVg94GD4oEESfGOJxZ34hbY_rqBbQIqo1-Vanr5oCx/s1600/sharonstone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5o1aFqhwQhiiju5PrXY1crD2b3Zs1hQtNqG4FbO5C-0OKvmbg53W03OIpxFqld_5PODpkIC-iY9I0iKotIjO_jNFwOJ3Wpp74OlwVg94GD4oEESfGOJxZ34hbY_rqBbQIqo1-Vanr5oCx/s1600/sharonstone.jpg" height="320" width="217" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>CIA Director Sue-Ellen Merrick</u></b><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><u>—</u></span><b><u>Sharon Stone</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have you ever worked for someone who always appeared to be out to get you no matter how well you did your job? This pretty much describes, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PZfFyWcYEM" target="_blank">Sue-Ellen Merrick</a>. As though Parris and Fox don't already have their hands full with adversaries such as Mr Lucas, Alghafari, Stayner, and Jill St John, they have the new CIA director breathing down their necks while directing the world's most powerful intelligence organization with an iron fist. Fortunately, Fox and Parris have General Downing to take some of the heat away from them. But as you'll learn, it only works for so long.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8fkVZS2-8lydPg2nwM5VL7Tfj6jjOv7Y_h2ZcsYZwiUmZ1XjCY1vBvr6m46sVamJcRdHQHNZuhi-rRTMHzUI9risDqbWe1IgbFE38OgNfyu4AUKh5c7LMs4xycXOsna300lHUaSceH-i_/s1600/Tom-Hiddleston.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8fkVZS2-8lydPg2nwM5VL7Tfj6jjOv7Y_h2ZcsYZwiUmZ1XjCY1vBvr6m46sVamJcRdHQHNZuhi-rRTMHzUI9risDqbWe1IgbFE38OgNfyu4AUKh5c7LMs4xycXOsna300lHUaSceH-i_/s1600/Tom-Hiddleston.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Maksim Antanov<span style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">—Tom Hiddleston</span></u></b></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8fkVZS2-8lydPg2nwM5VL7Tfj6jjOv7Y_h2ZcsYZwiUmZ1XjCY1vBvr6m46sVamJcRdHQHNZuhi-rRTMHzUI9risDqbWe1IgbFE38OgNfyu4AUKh5c7LMs4xycXOsna300lHUaSceH-i_/s1600/Tom-Hiddleston.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></a><b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><br /></span></u></b>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">Antanov first appeared in <b style="font-style: italic;">Unsavory Delicacies </b>as the tough-talking, most feared Russian mobster in St Petersburg, Russia. That was until he met Ridley Fox</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">—</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">who pulled some embarrassing skeletons from his closet. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbw3yX1qkN8" target="_blank">Hiddleston</a>'s best known for being the mischievous Loki in the movies <i>Thor</i> and <i>The Avengers</i>. In <i>Demeter, </i>he's still the tough guy he was in <i>Unsavory</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">—</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">with a security detail that could rival his competitors. Albeit his criminal activities, he's an important CIA asset. He's proven useful to Fox as he has several connections to the criminal underworld</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">—and possibly to other intelligence agencies</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">. One must understand that both he and Fox aren't friends. However, Fox is one of the few people to have earned his respect.</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">Faouzi Al-Umari</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">—</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">Arnold Vosloo</span></u></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">Most of us remember Vosloo from </span><i style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">The Mummy, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FxGgQzmBBI" target="_blank">The Blood Diamond</a></i><span style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FxGgQzmBBI" target="_blank">,</a> and from </span><i style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">24</i><span style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">. So he's no stranger to playing villains. I could see him as the ruthless former CIA operative-turned-terrorist leader. What better adversary for both Parris and Fox than someone who could anticipate their moves. So far, he's gotten away with the bombings of a cruise line in the Mediterranean and three American embassies in northern Africa</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">—where many Americans were victims. His whereabouts are unknown as he only appears on TV via a recording from his hideout. Apparently he has something big planned. What is it? You'll just have to read the novel.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirolFKFzXoI12B5ebDiQBT4E3cs8eMtLRlW47U75VobiyS-c57RXSNswpdrhH8W1vo9O684o_B1zEiE8u05DKeLyY8vCT2OyjgkpWGzIsKXuRY1Rq3skzaLCpxjGvPUJNoRz1uvKWJKtSU/s1600/marion-cotillard-1-225x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirolFKFzXoI12B5ebDiQBT4E3cs8eMtLRlW47U75VobiyS-c57RXSNswpdrhH8W1vo9O684o_B1zEiE8u05DKeLyY8vCT2OyjgkpWGzIsKXuRY1Rq3skzaLCpxjGvPUJNoRz1uvKWJKtSU/s1600/marion-cotillard-1-225x300.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Tap</u></b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><u>—</u></span><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Marion Cotillard</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although her appearance in the story is brief, it was important to mention her because her role was important. She's linked to a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8BcJV83S5c" target="_blank">character</a> from <i>Unsavory Delicacies, </i>I won't reveal which one as that would spoil the story. But if you've read <i>Unsavory </i>prior to reading <i>Demeter, </i>then you'll know why I chose this actress.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a bonus, I thought that I'd throw in one more. Weyland is an employee of Bismark Securities, which is based out of Washington, DC. Parris recruits him when it's discovered that Bismark has been bankrolling terrorists who were involved in the US Embassy bombings. We haven't seen <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz_yHTibTCs" target="_blank">Culkin</a> in anything lately, but I thought that this part, albeit small, would be a perfect role for him. If </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Demeter </i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">were to be turned into a movie, who knows, this might just be enough to revive his career as Pulp Fiction did for John Travolta. Read the story, then let me know if you agree.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So there you have it. The most important characters from <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Demeter Code. </i>Be sure to get your copy in either eBook or in paperback when it's available July 4, 2014.</span></div>
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