It's normal for us to have problems with our neighbours every once in a while. After all, nobody's perfect. I'm usually a nice guy, but even there's so much that I'm willing to take. For example, I had to repeatedly tell my neighbour whom I share the back balcony with, to scoop up after his dog.
I'm sure many of us have gone through that before. Except my neighbour was a bit slow keeping up with his responsabilities. So here's what happened after I spoke to my neighbour twice in the last two weeks about his dog.
Russell Brooks is the author of the International Spy Thriller, Pandora's Succession.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Dear Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Canadians came up with the idea first
Dear Aasif Mandvi of The Daily Show,
I watched the Daily Show, February 17 edition, last night, and as usual was left in stitches. Your feature segment was about finding a solution to the problem about Americans that view Muslims negatively. Your idea was to come up with a Muslim version of The Cosby Show (The Qu'osby Show) where Muslim stereotypes are frequently made fun of. By doing so, maybe Americans that view Muslims negatively will be aware of their errors and be more tolerant.
I thought that I'd let you know that your friendliest neighbor up north has already been broadcasting the very comedy that you thought of. It's called Little Mosque on the Prairie.
The show is currently in its fifth season and is a big hit up here in Canada. Check the clips below.
Here's the link to the February 17, 2011 episode of The Daily Show.
And here's a clip of the Pilot episode of Little Mosque on The Prairie.
Get in touch with show creator, Zarqa Nawaz. I'm sure that he would love to work with Comedy Central to help bring his show south of the border and into American homes.
Best,
Russell Brooks
Author of the International Spy Thriller, Pandora's Succession.
I watched the Daily Show, February 17 edition, last night, and as usual was left in stitches. Your feature segment was about finding a solution to the problem about Americans that view Muslims negatively. Your idea was to come up with a Muslim version of The Cosby Show (The Qu'osby Show) where Muslim stereotypes are frequently made fun of. By doing so, maybe Americans that view Muslims negatively will be aware of their errors and be more tolerant.
I thought that I'd let you know that your friendliest neighbor up north has already been broadcasting the very comedy that you thought of. It's called Little Mosque on the Prairie.
The show is currently in its fifth season and is a big hit up here in Canada. Check the clips below.
Here's the link to the February 17, 2011 episode of The Daily Show.
And here's a clip of the Pilot episode of Little Mosque on The Prairie.
Get in touch with show creator, Zarqa Nawaz. I'm sure that he would love to work with Comedy Central to help bring his show south of the border and into American homes.
Best,
Russell Brooks
Author of the International Spy Thriller, Pandora's Succession.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Lancelot's Lady: Book Review
Last October 2010 I hosted Ms D’Angelo on her virtual book tour for Lacelot’s Lady. For those that watched my dramatic reading of an excerpt for the book, they would’ve seen how much I was into the story. Reading the entire book was something that I had promised myself to do—and I was not disappointed. Lancelot’s Lady followed the experiences of troubled palliative care nurse, Rihanna McLeod, from the moment that she met the ailing tycoon, JT Lance, to when she was sent on vacation to a secluded island in the Bahamas, where she met Jonathan—a miserable, but well-off loner and owner of his own island. There was a bit of Christopher Plummer/Julie Andrews situation in the beginning of their relationship (If you watched The Sound of Music then you’d know what I’m talking about), but it ended well. Many questions were broug
ht up in the beginning and they were all answered at the very end.
4 Stars
ht up in the beginning and they were all answered at the very end.The sleazy private investigator was a nice touch, although I would’ve hated him more had he been introduced a bit earlier in the story.
I’m not big on romance novels, but the characters in Lancelot’s Lady were so well developed with their own flaws that the story held my interest from the beginning straight through to the end.
4 Stars
Russell Brooks is the author of the action/thriller, Pandora's Succession.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Shaken, by JA Konrath: A book review.
Book BlurbSince her debut in Whiskey Sour, Lieutenant Jacqueline “Jack” Daniels has dealt with her fair share of criminals. But she may have finally met her match in “Mr. K,” the brutal serial killer who has eluded Jack not once, but twice, over the years. Mr. K is the essence of evil, credited with more than two hundred horrific homicides. Now, on a hot August night, Jack finally gets the chance to face the maniac—unfortunately, she must do so while bound and gagged in a storage locker, primed to be his next victim. As she awaits her fate, Jack looks back on her career, from her first homicide case to her recent retirement. The twenty-five years in between saw Jack’s attitude toward justice, the law, her job, and her personal life shift drastically. She is a different woman now…but is she good enough to stop a madman? Novelist J. A. Konrath’s trademark blend of suspense and wry humor are on full display in this tense thriller, a gripping tale that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
Just when I thought that Mr Konrath would never be able to top Ms Cork's character in Cherry Bomb he unleashes the ultimate terror: the elusive Mr K. the story takes place in three periods in Chicago PI, Jack Daniel's, career: when she was an ambitious young police officer working her way up the ranks, while she was a detective 3 years before, and now in the present as a PI. Not since The Firm by John Grisham, have I read such a beautifully-written page-turner that I was able to complete it in under 24 hours. I'll be looking forward to Konrath's follow-up Stirred, which will be on sale in 2011.
5 Stars
Shaken, by JA Konrath is now available on Amazon.
Russell Brooks is the author of the action/thriller, Pandora's Succession, available now.
Heirs of Mars: Book Review
Book Blurb
The dream that was Mars has become a nightmare for the children born there. To save New Troy from falling birth rates, Asher secretly clones people in his truck. To save New Troy from despair, Claudia hosts the most popular racing show on two worlds. And to save the city from destruction, they’ll rally persecuted cloners, resurrected colonists, and racing celebrities to fight homicidal AIs.
Review
I was given a copy of this novel by the author for review. It is set in the future on Mars and although this is science fiction, there are several elements of the story that people can relate to today. The main one being the ethics of cloning. There are the humans that believe that cloning is essential for the survival of life on Mars since there are too many professionals that are dying as a result of the ongoing war with robots—who, interestingly see the clones as a threat to their existence. Then there are the humans that don’t accept the clones as individuals with equal rights.
I had a bit of difficulty keeping up in certain parts because of the number of characters, and at some points it was difficult to tell the protagonists from the villains, but it did not prevent me from enjoying this story.
3 Stars
Heirs of Mars, by Joseph Robert Lewis
Available now on Amazon and Smashwords
Russell Brooks is the author of the action/thriller, Pandora's Succession.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Thanks For Nothing, You Bastards! An open letter to the 60 House Members who voted against the 9/11 Health Care Bill.
Image via Wikipedia Dear House Members,
My name is Russell Brooks and I’m a thriller novelist. Although I live in Montreal, Canada, there are many things that Canadians share with Americans. There are holidays, our love for fast food restaurants, broken New Year’s resolutions, and NAFTA. I try my best not to criticize US policies, but there was an event that occurred this week that I found to be very disturbing. You all attempted to block a bill that would have allowed the first responders of the 9/11 terrorist attacks to receive health care benefits. It is my understanding that some of those first responders have either died or are suffering from long-term health problems due to being exposed to the toxic ash that engulfed lower Manhattan. Although I’m sure that you all have your reasons (selfish as they may be) for ignoring the needs of these heroes, it is very incomprehensible that although the safety of Americans—home and abroad—is a high priority for everyone, you did not recognize the First-Responders. They may not be fighting overseas with assault rifles, grenades, and rocket launchers. They came into lower Manhattan with fire hoses, EMT equipment, and their ability to direct traffic and crowds to safety. Their own selfless acts of risking their own lives for the benefit of others without receiving any orders from the White House is what makes them the real heroes of 9/11.
I’m sure that you may have pledged allegiance to your flag on numerous occasions to illustrate your patriotism. But I must add that your choice to block the 9/11 Health Care Bill was anything but patriotic. It was a flagrant slap in the face to ordinary citizens that risked their lives to help others in need on that dreadful day. This would’ve occurred while many of you had the luxury of hiding out in one of the underground bunkers that are located between Maryland and Virginia. By voting against the bill you attempted to sign their death sentence, something I’m sure would've pleased Osama Bin Laden considering you’ve continued the job of increasing the death toll from the 9/11 attacks.
I can’t guaranty that another terrorist act will not occur on North American soil in the near future. At best, the terrorists don’t need to do much to attack American citizens since they’re aware that it’s a lot cheaper and convenient for them to let you guys do the job for them. The sad truth is that by voting against the bill, you were all serving Al Qaeda—not your country—an act for which you all deserve to be arrested and charged with treason. Furthermore you ought to be barred from politics for the rest of your lives.
I’ve read some excellent novels and watched some great movies. As an author I’ve always told others that villains will either make or break a story. I’ve been asked what was the inspiration for the villains in my novel. The answer is simple, I always base some of my characters—even the villains—on real people. Today I can say with confidence that if I were to model a villain after any of you i
n my next novel, it’s unlikely that I would be criticized for creating an unrealistic character.
Fortunately, your efforts failed this week, and at a right time considering that this would be a long overdue Christmas present for the First-Responders. The best Christmas present to America and the rest of the world would be for you all to be exposed and remembered for your actions (or inactions, which ever way you look at it), especially the next time elections come around.
My name is Russell Brooks and I’m a thriller novelist. Although I live in Montreal, Canada, there are many things that Canadians share with Americans. There are holidays, our love for fast food restaurants, broken New Year’s resolutions, and NAFTA. I try my best not to criticize US policies, but there was an event that occurred this week that I found to be very disturbing. You all attempted to block a bill that would have allowed the first responders of the 9/11 terrorist attacks to receive health care benefits. It is my understanding that some of those first responders have either died or are suffering from long-term health problems due to being exposed to the toxic ash that engulfed lower Manhattan. Although I’m sure that you all have your reasons (selfish as they may be) for ignoring the needs of these heroes, it is very incomprehensible that although the safety of Americans—home and abroad—is a high priority for everyone, you did not recognize the First-Responders. They may not be fighting overseas with assault rifles, grenades, and rocket launchers. They came into lower Manhattan with fire hoses, EMT equipment, and their ability to direct traffic and crowds to safety. Their own selfless acts of risking their own lives for the benefit of others without receiving any orders from the White House is what makes them the real heroes of 9/11.
I’m sure that you may have pledged allegiance to your flag on numerous occasions to illustrate your patriotism. But I must add that your choice to block the 9/11 Health Care Bill was anything but patriotic. It was a flagrant slap in the face to ordinary citizens that risked their lives to help others in need on that dreadful day. This would’ve occurred while many of you had the luxury of hiding out in one of the underground bunkers that are located between Maryland and Virginia. By voting against the bill you attempted to sign their death sentence, something I’m sure would've pleased Osama Bin Laden considering you’ve continued the job of increasing the death toll from the 9/11 attacks.
I can’t guaranty that another terrorist act will not occur on North American soil in the near future. At best, the terrorists don’t need to do much to attack American citizens since they’re aware that it’s a lot cheaper and convenient for them to let you guys do the job for them. The sad truth is that by voting against the bill, you were all serving Al Qaeda—not your country—an act for which you all deserve to be arrested and charged with treason. Furthermore you ought to be barred from politics for the rest of your lives.
I’ve read some excellent novels and watched some great movies. As an author I’ve always told others that villains will either make or break a story. I’ve been asked what was the inspiration for the villains in my novel. The answer is simple, I always base some of my characters—even the villains—on real people. Today I can say with confidence that if I were to model a villain after any of you i
n my next novel, it’s unlikely that I would be criticized for creating an unrealistic character.Fortunately, your efforts failed this week, and at a right time considering that this would be a long overdue Christmas present for the First-Responders. The best Christmas present to America and the rest of the world would be for you all to be exposed and remembered for your actions (or inactions, which ever way you look at it), especially the next time elections come around.
Yours Very Truly,
Russell Brooks
Author of Pandora's Succession.
So for my gift to everyone, I’ve taken the liberty to list the names of the 59 Republicans and the 1 Democrat (non-italic) for your convenience. Hopefully the American voters will not be as asinine in their votes as these House Members have been.
Akin, Alexander, Bachmann, Bachus, Bartlett, Bilirakis, Bishop (UT), Boozman, Brady (TX), Cantor, Cassidy, Coffman (CO), Conaway, Diaz-Balart, Ehlers, Fleming, Foxx, Franks (AZ), Goodlatte, Graves (GA), Guthrie, Hall (TX), Hensarling, Herger, Hoekstra, Inglis, Jenkins, Jordan (OH), King (IA), Kingston, LaTourette, Latta, Lewis (CA), Lummis, Manzullo, McClintock, McCotter, Mica, Miller (FL), Myrick, Olson, Paulsen, Posey, Rehberg, Rogers (KY), Royce, Scalise, Schmidt, Sessions, Shuster, Smith (NE), Stutzman, Taylor, Terry, Tiahrt, Upton, Walden, Whitfield, Wilson (SC), Wittman.
*
Russell Brooks is the author of the action/thriller, Pandora’s Succession. Available Now.
*( http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2010/roll664.xml#N)
Author of Pandora's Succession.
So for my gift to everyone, I’ve taken the liberty to list the names of the 59 Republicans and the 1 Democrat (non-italic) for your convenience. Hopefully the American voters will not be as asinine in their votes as these House Members have been.
Akin, Alexander, Bachmann, Bachus, Bartlett, Bilirakis, Bishop (UT), Boozman, Brady (TX), Cantor, Cassidy, Coffman (CO), Conaway, Diaz-Balart, Ehlers, Fleming, Foxx, Franks (AZ), Goodlatte, Graves (GA), Guthrie, Hall (TX), Hensarling, Herger, Hoekstra, Inglis, Jenkins, Jordan (OH), King (IA), Kingston, LaTourette, Latta, Lewis (CA), Lummis, Manzullo, McClintock, McCotter, Mica, Miller (FL), Myrick, Olson, Paulsen, Posey, Rehberg, Rogers (KY), Royce, Scalise, Schmidt, Sessions, Shuster, Smith (NE), Stutzman, Taylor, Terry, Tiahrt, Upton, Walden, Whitfield, Wilson (SC), Wittman.
*
Russell Brooks is the author of the action/thriller, Pandora’s Succession. Available Now.
*( http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2010/roll664.xml#N)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)