Tag Archive for 'Survivor'

Taking Kindle World by Storm – Starting With Sink or Swim Sale

Published on January 6, 2012 in General News. 4 Comments Tags: bargain Kindle books, Big Brother, Ereader News Today, Kindle Books for a Buck (or less), Kindle Select, Pixel of Ink, reality shows, Sink or swim, Survivor.

Well, I am working very hard in 2012 to take the Kindle world by storm. I’ve lined up Pixel of Ink and E-Reader News Today ads for a couple of my books, and I’ll be experimenting with Amazon’s Kindle Select program, which means the e-book versions for a few of my titles will be exclusively available through Amazon Kindle for at least 90 days.

The current focus of my attention is my mystery novel with a touch of romance, Sink or Swim, which is on sale for 99 cents. It is scheduled to appear on Pixel of Ink this Sunday. In the meantime, it is featured on a great site called Kindle Books for a Buck (or Less), a must-read blog if you’re seeking bargain Kindle books and are eager to discover new authors.

As for Sink or Swim, I would very much appreciate tweets, Facebook likes, Google buzzing, and any other word of mouth to help get the word out. At this moment, the book is #20,188 Paid in Kindle Store. My goal is to make The Top 100 Paid List. Here is the product description from Amazon: (and at this time, the book is also available for Nook and other e-readers, as well as in trade paperback)

Reviews:
Sink or Swim was an easy read and extremely well written… I would love to see it come out as a movie one day! Stephenie LaGrossa, former contestant Survivor: Palau, Guatemala, Heroes vs. Villains

I was so excited to read this book because I loved her previous book, Twenty-Five Years Ago Today, and she did not disappoint! There was action, mystery and romance all tied into one very well-written story. Book-Club-Queen

A wonderful, clever and entertaining distraction. Coffee Time Romance and More

I thought it was a great read and kept me in suspense. Michelle Costa, former contestant Big Brother 10

Personal trainer Cassidy Novak has gained fame for starring on a hit reality show, but not only does she lose, she discovers she is being stalked. She’s also being shadowed by Zach Gallagher, a hunky photographer assigned to capture her personal moments for the local newspaper. As her former competitors get killed off one by one, Cassidy refuses to play by the stalker’s bizarre rules. When the stalker forces a showdown, Cassidy must play to win.

Bonus material (equivalent to 15 printed pages) – Includes excerpts of the author’s mystery novels Twenty-Five Years Ago Today and Dark Before Dawn, an extra scene, an excerpt of the novel The Cutting Edge by Darcia Helle, and the complete short story Only Time Can Divide Us by Maria Savva.

Send some good thoughts!!

Reality Show Rundown Month: Examining the Relationship Between Reality TV and Us

Published on June 11, 2011 in Reality Show Rundown. Closed Tags: America's Got Talent, American Idol, Holmes on Homes, Kelly Clarkson, penthouse life.com, reality television, reality TV, Simon Cowell, Sink or swim, Survivor, The Simple Life, William Hung.

I was fortunate that talented writer Steve Kamps was willing to create an article for my blog specifically to celebrate Reality Show Rundown Month,
my series of interviews with former reality show contestants. Reality Show Rundown Month was an idea inspired by my new reality show-themed mystery novel Sink or Swim, Where Reality TV Turns to Murder. For more information on Sink or Swim, and the interview schedule which features contestants from Survivor, Top Chef, Beauty and the Geek, Shark Tank, Bachelor Pad and I Love New York, please visit this link.

Steve’s article makes a wonderful addition to this series as it examines the relationship that television viewers have with reality TV and how reality shows have evolved over the years. Here are his words below.

If you ask anyone what they think of reality TV, you will get a lot of different perspectives on the subject. Most common will be “no” because of the image that many people perceive about the subject: it’s stupid. These opinions are not invalid, but sometimes these opinions are only voiced to fit in. Inversely, many people also only watch reality shows in order to fit in. Maybe it’s what everyone talks about at the office. Either way, you can’t downplay reality TV; there is a reason it is still around.

Reality TV sprang up in the late 90’s and early 2000s. One of the first shows was Survivor. I remember that my dad and I would watch it together every night. I can’t say that I agreed with everything that went down on the show. I consider myself a very loyal individual, who could never backstab another individual in order to win a large cash prize, or at least I don’t think I can. One of the reasons why people watch these shows is for just that reason: drama.

This is a real situation. The drama is real. What was being said in front of the camera was so savory, it kept viewers coming back for more every episode. This wasn’t a sitcom or written drama, this was real people. Real people who had regular jobs and had regular lives outside of this documentary. The competition was real. Individualism. It began with a team, but ended with one lone survivor. Who was it going to be? Obviously the one with the least scruples of engaging in dirty strategy. And we bought it. Why not? We also formed relationships with these people. We hated those conniving schemers and encouraged the straight arrows. It was like a real good versus bad. And sometimes we won and sometimes we lost. Incredibly brilliant in keeping viewers to the last episode.

Reality TV also gave us the chance to be stars. As I stated above, these were real, regular people who made it on TV and sometimes they retained their new celebrity. For example American Idol contestant Kelly Clarkson. American Idol is a great example of this. In the beginning of each season, viewers get to see the weeding process. The three judges go through the auditions and choose who is going to perform on the show for the rest of the season. This filled the chasm between A list celebrities and the normal person.

Unfortunately, we as a people have an unstable fascination with celebrities. We all want a chance to be one and live the penthouse life. And after this show, so many other shows sprang up, including America’s Got Talent. This show in particular is even more interesting because viewers get to see any sort of talent. From those who aren’t so talented and those who are ridiculously talented.

The last thing that Reality TV has that keeps us coming back is the dose of real people living real life. I’m not talking The Simple Life! When William Hung gave his performance and Simon Cowell laughed at him, we were surprised how well Hung took it. He was happy that he at least tried and he said he had no regrets. Things like that really hit hard. The underdog at least giving his all and whether he succeeds or not, still seeing the sunny side. It was a very mature reaction considering all the others who stomped off thinking Simon didn’t have a clue.

There are also many shows that show people doing amazing things for people who can’t do things for themselves. Holmes on Homes did an episode where a man was living in an unstable house with his children and he was unable to make the changes that needed to be done. Holmes fixed the entire home and it looked amazing. That story really hit me too. Just another good man doing a good deed for another.

Whether you like reality TV or not, it’s irrelevant. It’s here to stay and there will be plenty of good and bad moments to see. Hopefully if you haven’t seen any, you will give it a try. You might be amazed to see some of the character that real people have.

Thanks, Steve! Check out the full Reality Show Rundown Month interview schedule, with clickable links to the interviews as they become available, here. Do you have a few minutes to help me give some buzz to Sink or Swim? Get 8 ideas here that can make a big difference!

Reality Show Rundown Interview With Billy Garcia from “Survivor: Cook Islands”

Published on June 1, 2011 in Reality Show Rundown. Closed Tags: Billy Garcia, Forsakken, heavy metal, horror movies, martial arts, reality shows, Sink or swim, Stacy Juba, Survivor, Survivor: Cook Islands, The Infernal Room, wrestling.

This is the first in a series of interviews with former reality show contestants, an idea inspired by my new reality show-themed mystery novel Sink or Swim, Where Reality TV Turns to Murder. For more information on Sink or Swim, and the interview schedule which features contestants from Survivor, Top Chef, Beauty and the Geek, Shark Tank, Bachelor Pad, Big Brother and I Love New York, please visit this link.

Today, I’ve had a lot of fun learning more about Billy Garcia from Survivor: Cook Islands. Virgilio “Billy” Garcia was born in New York and moved to Miami when he was seven years old. He began studying karate, judo and wrestling at age 12. While lying sick in bed when he was 15, he heard the song “Juke Box Hero” on the radio and began to entertain the idea of becoming a rock and roll musician. He saved his lunch money and eventually bought his first electric guitar. When he was 22 years old, Billy sold most of his belongings and returned to New York to pursue a career in music. While playing in several local bands, he was also pursuing a career in wrestling and, in 1997, won a silver medal at the Amateur Athletic Union Wrestling National Championships.

Billy is currently a heavy metal guitarist and songwriter with the band Forsakken and is finishing up his first full length feature film as a filmmaker. He is also trained in the martial arts and does Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

1. Billy, if you could boil down your experience on Survivor to one paragraph, what was your overall feeling about being on this show?
To borrow a line from a very famous book, It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Survivor isn’t a game you just play. It’s a game you live all day, every day for 39 straight days if you’re lucky. It’s the Hell in Paradise and the million dollar Battle Royal. It’s a scar I wear like a badge of honor. I was lucky enough to get on and be part of the most controversial season of the greatest reality competition show in television history. So I’m not surprised that my loss on Survivor equals more than a victory on another show for others.

2. What was it like to have cameras rolling all the time? How hard was it to get used to being in the public eye?
The cameras never disappeared unless I was peeing, then they hid in the trees. Ha ha ha. The fans were cruel when my season was airing but now things are different. When it was my season that was airing, then to them I was the worst player ever, but now, I’m one of the best ever and should be brought back. Funny how that works. I appreciate how passionate Survivor fans are. I underestimated that back then.

3. What was the best part about being on the show?
It was a dream of mine to be on Survivor so the best part was being there for all of the traditional moments I have grown to love. The snuffing of my torch should have been a somber moment, but it wasn’t. I grinned from ear to ear while it happened because it’s such an iconic ritual and I was a part of it.

4. What were your favorite challenges on the show? Least favorite?
My favorites challenges are when we had to loot a replica of the Bounty and make off with the goods on bamboo rafts and the first immunity challenge, at least right up to the part when my tribe set me on fire. My least favorite was the challenge my tribe lost on purpose. When I want to do a fake competition, I do Pro Wrestling, not Survivor. Lame! It was a Survivor suicide bombing. We all got eliminated because of that. One right after the other. No matter how much they down play the throwing of that challenge, they cost the whole tribe our shots at the million dollars. I’ll go on record and say that strategy was pure stupidity. I’m glad that it’s become the world wide Reality TV example of why you should always play to win.

5. What advice would you give to someone who is considering applying for a reality show?
Watch Wile E Coyote. That will be how you will look in the edit if you make it on a show and don’t win it. So if you have a problem with being the butt of the joke, then this isn’t for you. Otherwise, good luck.

6. What else have you been up to lately?
I’m in the final stages of post production of my first full length feature film as a filmmaker. It’s a horror movie called “The Infernal Room.” I’ve also been recording with my heavy metal band Forsakken. We have a new lead singer, April Starkweather.

7. Where can fans find you online?
www.forsakken.com
www.tribal-council.org
www.facebook.com/survivorbillygarcia

My next interview is with Michelle Costa from Big Brother on June 2. Bookmark the full interview schedule, with clickable links to the interviews as they become available, here. Do you have a few minutes to help me give some buzz to Sink or Swim? Get 8 ideas here that can make a big difference!

CSN Stores Gives Away $50 Gift Card to Celebrate New Reality Show Mystery Novel

Published on February 5, 2011 in General News and Sink or Swim Reality Show. 313 Comments Tags: book giveaways, CSN Stores, giveaways, laptop messenger bag, mystery novels, reality shows, reality TV, reality TV books, Sink or swim, Stacy Juba, Stephenie LaGrossa, Survivor, Survivor Guatemala, Survivor Palau, Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains.

The winner of the CSN Stores Giveaway was Kathy L. Congratulations! Thank you to everyone who entered!

To celebrate the launch of my brand new reality show-themed mystery novel Sink or Swim, CSN Stores is generously offering a $50 gift certificate to one lucky winner to spend on anything from a laptop messenger bag to barstools, dishes, suitcases and diaper bags. With over 200 online stores to choose from, the winner will definitely find something to spend the one-time-use CSN $50 gift certificate on! Please note that the giveaway is open to U.S. and Canadian readers only.

If you’d like to submit your name for the drawing, then please post a comment and include your email address. Also add up points from any extra entries.

Extra Entries
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Click on the book cover to find Sink or Swim discounted in trade paperback on Amazon, or $2.99 on Kindle. Visit the Store Tab above for more retailers.

I’m grateful to CSN Stores for helping me to throw an on-line launch party for my new mystery novel Sink or Swim. How do you change the channel when reality TV turns to murder? After starring on a hit game show set aboard a Tall Ship, personal trainer Cassidy Novak discovers that she has attracted a stalker. Soon, she will need to call SOS for real. “Survivor Steph,” Stephenie LaGrossa, owner of GIGI Restaurant & Lounge, Philadelphia PA, television personality and fan favorite Survivor: Palau, Guatemala, Heroes vs. Villains, recently shared her thoughts about the novel and what it’s like being a reality show celebrity. You can read Stephenie’s words here and catch up on her busy life since Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains.

In addition, from Feb. 8-13, nine of my author friends will help me celebrate the Sink or Swim release by giving away over 30 books (print books and e-books) to blog followers. You’ll also be able to visit more than 200 other book blogs giving away prizes as part of the I Am A Reader, Not a Writer Love Hop. If you enjoy reading, be sure to stop by my book giveaway. As a tie-in to Sink or Swim, I’ve also launched an on-line version of the show in which authors can enter their characters as contestants. You can meet our first few contestants and get the full scoop here.

Thank you to the following sites for promoting my giveaway: CashNet Sweepstakes, www.contestbeat.com, www.online-sweepstakes.com, Canada Sweepstakes.com, Blog Giveaway Directory, Prizeatron and www.contestguide.com. And thank you to CSN Stores for making this giveaway possible! The winner will be chosen via Random.org.

Survivor Star Steph LaGrossa Says “Sink or Swim” is Reality

Published on February 3, 2011 in General News and Sink or Swim Reality Show. 3 Comments Tags: celebrity weddings, Kyle Kendrick, mystery novels, People Magazine, Philadelphia Phillies, reality shows, reality television, reality TV, Sink or swim, Stacy Juba, Stephenie LaGrossa, Survivor, Survivor Guatemala, Survivor Palau, Survivor Steph, Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains.

I’m throwing an online launch party celebration for my brand new reality-show themed mystery novel Sink or Swim from Feb. 6-14 and I’m excited to kick off the festivities with guest of honor Stephenie LaGrossa, television personality/fan favorite from Survivor: Palau, Guatemala, and Heroes vs. Villains. Since her appearances on the hit CBS reality show, Stephenie has been keeping herself busy with television appearances, personal appearances, modeling and a few business development projects, including the co-purchase of GIGI Restaurant & Lounge in Olde City, Philadelphia. She is also the celebrity spokesperson for RateYourSmile.com.

Her busy life now includes enjoying her 2010 marriage to Philadelphia Phillies pitcher, Kyle Kendrick. Last spring, Stephenie was kind enough to read an advance copy of Sink or Swim and give me an endorsement for the book, which appears on the back cover of the trade paperback and inside the e-book editions. The story follows Cassidy Novak, a personal trainer who stars on a hit reality show set aboard a Tall Ship. After returning to her normal life, Cassidy discovers that she has attracted a stalker. Soon, she will need to call SOS for real. Here’s what Stephenie had to say about the book:

“Being on a hit reality show not once, but three times, made Sink or Swim really hit home for me. I could identify with Cassidy on many levels. First, I understand the disappointment of coming so close to the first place prize only to realize you finished runner-up. That time came for me during Survivor: Guatemala, Season 11, 2006, unfortunately.

Click on the cover to find a selection of on-line retailers for Sink or Swim.

“Next, I understand going from being a normal person with a normal life to getting home from the filming and going to Target and being stopped in almost every other aisle. Which is extremely flattering, don’t get me wrong. I was a fan of the show, too, so I get it, but at the same time it can be difficult when you want to live just that, a normal life. Then after my first stint in the show Survivor: Palau, Season 10, 2005, I too had a stalker, which was extremely terrifying and intrusive. Lastly, this novel was so entertaining and suspenseful and had me so on the edge of my seat that I read it in one plane ride from Philly to Vegas. It was an easy read and extremely well written. I would love to see it come out as a movie one day.”

Be sure to visit Stephenie’s web site and check out her restaurant GIGI Restaurant & Lounge. Don’t miss the People Magazine article about her wedding to Kyle Kendrick.

Also, I hope you’ll come by my blog for the Sink or Swim book launch festivities. From Feb. 6-14, the generous CSN Stores will be giving away a $50 gift card to a commenter on my blog, which can be used on any of their 200+ websites. In addition, from Feb. 8-13, nine of my author friends will help me celebrate the Sink or Swim release by giving away over 30 books (print books and e-books) to blog followers. You’ll also be able to visit more than 200 other book blogs giving away prizes as part of the I Am A Reader, Not a Writer Love Hop. As a tie-in to Sink or Swim, I’ve also launched an on-line version of the show in which authors can enter their characters as contestants. You can meet our first few contestants and get the full scoop here.

Stay tuned for lots of “reality show” fun and prizes!

Don’t Count Out the Underdog: Reality Show Mystery Novel Sailing Into the Spotlight on New Year’s Day

Published on September 2, 2010 in General News. 4 Comments Tags: Big Brother, Big Brother 10, book reviews, booklist, GiGI Restaurant & Lounge, Library Journal, Michelle Costa, mystery novels, New Year's Day, publishers weekly, reality shows, reality TV, Shawne Morgan, Sink or swim, small press authors, Stephenie LaGrossa, Survivor, Survivor: Heroes&Villains, The Amazing Race, The Amazing Race 16, underdogs, USA Today.

And the countdown begins. It’s less than four months to the release of my second mystery suspense novel Sink or Swim. The official date is January 1, 2011. Thankfully, I’ve almost finished one monumental task related to the marketing campaign – preparing the early review mailing for the major pre-publication reviewers, which generally have a 3-4 month lead time.

I dreaded this job all summer as it was sheer drudgery. Writing and printing out letters. Addressing envelopes. Collating materials. Finally, I have most of them mailed out with just a couple left to go. The recipients include Publisher’s Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, and USA Today. Some would say that this task was a waste of time, as these publications usually don’t devote much, if any, space to smaller press books. The strategy didn’t work for Twenty-Five Years Ago Today.

Without those key reviews, however, the majority of bookstores and libraries won’t order small press books. So, I’m going for it once again, hoping that the reality TV show angle for this book will help it to stand out.

The storyline follows Cassidy Novak, an ambitious personal trainer who is stalked after appearing on a hot reality TV show called Sink or Swim. I was fortunate to receive some terrific early endorsements for the book. Stephenie LaGrossa, owner of GiGI Restaurant & Lounge, Philadelphia PA, Television personality and fan favorite Survivor: Palau, Guatemala, Heroes vs. Villains, says: “This novel was so entertaining and suspenseful and had me so on the edge of my seat that I read it in one plane ride. It was an easy read and extremely well written… I would love to see it come out as a movie one day!”

Shawne Morgan, contestant CBS’s The Amazing Race 16 and entrepreneur, said, “I thought the author did a great job in giving the behind-the-scenes of the process, and various scenarios that reality TV stars may experience – during and after they’ve appeared on air.”

Michelle Costa, contestant Big Brother 10, said, “After being on a reality show, Big Brother 10 on CBS and Showtime, reading Sink or Swim made me feel like I was Cassidy. People don’t ever know what happens behind the scenes. I thought it was a great read and kept me in suspense.”

Thank you, Stephenie, Shawne and Michelle for taking the time to read the early copy and give an endorsement so that your words may add strength to my own. In the reality TV show world, my Sink or Swim novel would be considered an underdog – a small press book competing for attention in a market driven by publishing conglomerates.

Don’t count out the underdog.

Phase 1 of the plan is just about complete. For Phase 2, I’ll be holding tryouts for the reality game show Sink or Swim. I know what you’re thinking…that the drudgery of the mailing fried my brain cells. How can you hold tryouts for a show that doesn’t exist? I’ve got it covered…sort of…and will announce my “casting call” in October. In the meantime, how do you call for SOS when only the killer can hear you?

Find out New Year’s Day, 2011. When reality TV turns to murder.

Summer Almost Over, Most Writing Goals Accomplished

Published on August 27, 2010 in Amazon Bookstore and General News. 1 Comment Tags: American Legion, Apple iPad store, Avery Aames, Barbara Ross, Barnes&Noble, Big Brother, Caitlyn Hunter, children's picture books, Diesel ebooks, digitla books, ebooks, Gerry Charbonneau, J. R. Lindermuth, Kenneth Weene, Kindle, Kobo, Loni Emmert, Mary Deal, Matthew Dicks, Michelle Costa, Monica Brinkman, Norma Huss, Patricia Gulley, patriotic books, publishing, reality shows, Shawne Morgan, Sink or swim, Smashwords, Sony, Stephenie LaGrossa, Survivor, Suzanne Young, The Amazing Race, The Flag Keeper, Timothy Hallinan, Twenty-five years ago today, VFW, writing.

It has been a productive summer and I’m proud that I accomplished most of my writing and publishing goals.

I made my trade paperback novel Twenty-Five Years Ago Today available in ebook format, uploading it to Kindle and arranging for Smashwords to distribute it to multiple ebook retailers including Barnes&Noble, Sony, Apple’s iPad Store, Diesel and Kobo.

My children’s picture book The Flag Keeper went into production and now has a web site and Facebook page. I also collected wonderful back cover blurbs from Steve Van Buskirk, Director of Programs, VFW National Headquarters, and Mike Buss, Deputy Director, Americanism, American Legion National Headquarters.

I’m in the process of working on a large review mailing related to my reality TV show-themed mystery suspense novel Sink or Swim, which will be officially released New Year’s Day, 2011. Also this summer, I collected endorsements about the book from Stephenie LaGrossa, owner of GiGI Restaurant & Lounge, Philadelphia PA, Television personality and fan favorite Survivor: Palau, Guatemala, Heroes vs. Villains; Shawne Morgan, contestant CBS’s The Amazing Race 16 and entrepreneur; and Michelle Costa, contestant Big Brother 10.

I’ve also signed on as one of the moderators at a fabulous new message board forum called Bestseller Bound which connects readers and indie authors. Stop by and join the discussion.

In August, some terrific writers have visited the blog so far. We heard from: Matthew Dicks, Mary Deal, J.R. Lindermuth, Gerry Charbonneau, Suzanne Young and Patricia Gulley.

Coming up, we’ll hear from authors: Loni Emmert, Timothy Hallinan, Norma Huss, Avery Aames, Caitlyn Hunter, Barbara Ross, Kenneth Weene and Monica Brinkman. During the week of Sept. 12, I’ll host my first theme week “Fun With Food Week,” in which every post will tie into characters who enjoy cooking. Late September also marks the release of The Flag Keeper and a special giveaway. Stay tuned!