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Review Of The Vanishing Wife Audiobook
The first review is in for The Vanishing Wife at Audiobooks Unleashed:
“In this story, Barry Finlay has written about a man who wakes up one morning to find his wife gone, with no message or clue as to where she went. The reader gets a real sense of the main character in the opening pages of the book. The action in this tale builds slowly, but the ending is surprising and explosive. I recommend this book to others who like this genre. Trevor Finlay’s narration is good and adds a layer of entertainment to the story.” – Laura
Pick up your copy at Audible or any of the other fine audiobook retail stores.
New Book Coming!
It’s been awhile since I’ve posted much and, while it is not an excuse, the reason is that I have been working on a new mystery featuring a brand new character named Jake Scott.
I have been wrestling with ideas about the best way to introduce Jake to my amazing readers. He’s not your ordinary hero. In fact, in his mind he’s not a hero at all. He’s a bored and lonely former reporter, having lost his wife to an aneurysm, his job to technology and his daughter to a boyfriend in another city.
There are many steps to go through before the book is published, so it will be a few months before you will be able to read it. But, as part of the process, Advance Reader Copies (ARCs) have been sent to a handful of readers for early feedback. The first comments arrived yesterday from Cathy S. who blogs under Cath N’ Kindle Book Reviews.
Cathy has captured the essence of Jake Scott perfectly, so there is no better way to introduce him to you than through her words. Take it away, Cathy.
Searching for Truth by Barry Finlay
“Having enjoyed my first encounter with this author (The Burden of Darkness), it was with great enthusiasm that I dived into this book, and what a joy. I was promised a new protagonist (Jake Scott), and he couldn’t be more different than The Burden of Darkness’s Marcia Kane.
Jake Scott is feeling his way around recent widowerhood and retirement. The highlight of his week: Saturday morning coffee with a motley crew: three men and Constable Danielle Perez. As a former investigative journalist, Jake is just the chap to help Danielle look into a double murder from three years previously. The pandemic has delayed so many things, not least the legal process, and it’s taken a long time for the main suspect to be convicted. But Danielle isn’t convinced the right man is in prison. With just a grumpy cat for company and little motivation in his newfound, reluctant singledom, Jake takes up the offer to help.
I really enjoyed this. Jake makes a refreshingly different hero. He’s not young and handsomely six-packed. He’s a bit of a Luddite, a technophobe, but there’s a steadfastness and sincerity about him. And quietly smart. It’s rather lovely witnessing his emergence from his cocoon of grief and loneliness after the tragic loss of his beloved wife. The attractive Dani and her stereotypically monosyllabic, grumpy teenager are quite the tonic. But little do the three of them know what serious danger will befall them by wanting to put right a wrong.
Extremely well composed and observed, this is really edge-of-your-seat, hold-your-breath writing and compelling right to the very end. I consider myself quite a good guesser of whodunnits, but Mr F had me well stumped.
Jake (and Dani) have a sequel in them, I know it. I certainly hope it.”
Audiobook Live on Audible
FINALLY! I’m thrilled to announce that The Vanishing Wife audiobook is available on Audible. It has been available on other sites and by order through libraries for a while, but I know many listeners subscribe to Audible and I’m excited it’s finally live. It’s the first book in The Marcie Kane Thriller Collection and, hopefully, more will be transcribed to audio in the future. Follow the beginning of Marcie Kane’s exploits in The Vanishing Wife, narrated by Nashville singer/songwriter and son, Trevor Finlay. Get your copy here. http://bit.ly/3sVNumT
Audiobook Update
Happy Tuesday morning! It’s time for an update and I have some great news and some so-so news. First, the great news. I’m delighted to announce that starting today and running until February 21, The Vanishing Wife audiobook will be 25% off on Itunes. That means anyone with any kind of Apple device, whether it is an Ipad, Iphone, Ipod, even a watch, can listen to the book at a reduced price. Click the link below, or better yet, ask a loved one to get it for you for Valentines!
Listen to a 5-minute sample first and then click on the link below to take advantage of the sale while it lasts.
Now for the so-so news for the Audible subscribers. A production glitch has delayed the release of the audiobook on Audible by about a month. It’s coming, but it will take a little longer than expected. Watch these pages for an announcement of its release date.
In the meantime, stay healthy!
Audiobook is Now Available
The wait is over! The Vanishing Wife, narrated and produced by son and Nashville singer/songwriter Trevor Finlay, is now available from Authors Direct at Findaway Voices. If you are a fan of Audible, ITunes or some of the other audio book retailers, you will have to wait a little longer. But you can get it right now by clicking on the link. Barry Finlay – Authors Direct Audiobooks (authors-direct.com). After ordering the book, you will receive an email with instructions for listening. Listen as Trevor brings the characters from the first book in The Marcie Kane Thriller Collection to life.
Audiobook Coming
I was informed there were some technical difficulties with yesterday’s post, so I’m trying it again.
I’m very excited to announce that the The Vanishing Wife will soon be available in audiobook format from your favorite distributor. This is my first foray into the audiobook world and it has been a learning experience. Rather than reading about it, watch the attached video. I’ll tell you about it and I also have a special guest. After you finish watching the video, listen to the short clip from Chapter 2 of the book. Oh, and stay tuned for the release date and other exciting news.
Here’s a short clip from the book.
Book Review from Readers’ Favorite
For immediate release:
Author’s new book receives a warm literary welcome.
Readers’ Favorite announces the review of the Fiction – Crime book “The Burden of Darkness” by Barry Finlay, currently available at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0886KNW4C.
Readers’ Favorite is one of the largest book review and award contest sites on the Internet. They have earned the respect of renowned publishers like Random House, Simon & Schuster, and Harper Collins, and have received the “Best Websites for Authors” and “Honoring Excellence” awards from the Association of Independent Authors. They are also fully accredited by the BBB (A+ rating), which is a rarity among Book Review and Book Award Contest companies.
“Reviewed By Steve Leshin for Readers’ Favorite
The Burden of Darkness (A Marcie Kane and Nathan Harris Thriller) by Barry Finlay is the latest in the Marcie Kane and Nathan Harris series and it does not disappoint. As the story begins, Nathan is a shell of his former self, sleeping all day and letting his body go. A veteran of the FBI, he is unable to deal effectively with post-traumatic stress disorder after saving the life of the president of the United States from an explosion in a Tampa, Florida hotel. His wife Marcie, who also had a role in saving the president, is worried Nathan may never recover from the traumatic experience. At the same time, a disgruntled man with a terminal brain tumor has only a short time to live. He decides to use the time left to seek revenge against certain people who have done him wrong over the years. And, he wants the world to know how he does it.
Barry Finlay does an admirable job with keen insight incorporating Nathan’s PTSD, how it affects him, and how his supportive wife Marcie is able to nudge him into seeking help. At the same time, the author takes us into the mind of Owen Strand, the terminally ill protagonist, and the unique way he seeks his revenge on the persons he perceives have done him wrong. As an author who also has used a main character with PTSD in my novels, it gives an added layer to a hero like Nathan who learns to deal with the nightmares and flashbacks that can easily be triggered by loud noises and anything resembling the traumatic event. The Burden of Darkness takes the reader inside the mind of the killer as he plans and schemes while he slowly grows weaker from his illness. The way Marcie and Nathan become involved while dealing with Nathan’s PTSD will keep the reader engaged right up to an exciting conclusion. A must-read.”
You can learn more about Barry Finlay and “The Burden of Darkness” at https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/the-burden-of-darkness where you can read reviews and the author’s biography, as well as connect with the author directly or through their website and social media pages.
Readers’ Favorite LLC
Media Relations
Louisville, KY 40202
Book Review – Impeachment
Recently, I received an advance copy of Impeachment, by Mark Spivak, and published by City of Light under their Blacklight Press imprint. If you are a fan of politics, or even just vaguely aware of what is going on right now, this is one you don’t want to miss.
It’s a story of maneuvering by two obscenely rich brothers who reshape the political scene to give them the result they want for America. It’s a story of dirty tricks and backstabbing. It’s a story of the difficult subject of immigration and what to do about it. It’s the story of a well-meaning president who is convinced he is doing the right thing and a substantial segment of the population agree with him, but it’s the politicians and money, not the voters, that determine the outcome.
The plot evolves easily and naturally. The characters are fully developed with some that are likeable, some you can’t stand and others you just feel sorry for. The dialogue is well-written and relatable.
Impeachment is a book for our time and when you are finished reading, you may find yourself wondering what really does go on behind the scenes. It may be closer to fact that fiction. That’s the sign of a well-written book, in my opinion.
Watch for Impeachment on October 15.
Free E-Books? Yes or No?
Have you ever wakened in the middle of the night with a random thought that seemed to come from nowhere? It used to happen to me a lot when I was working. A solution to a problem would come to me in the middle of the night and I kept a notepad beside my bed to capture the moment. It doesn’t happen as frequently now, but when it does, I get up and write it on a white board in my office. Sometimes, I can even decipher it the next day.
A thought came to me last night, although I didn’t write it down. I must have been thinking about writing a blog post before I went to bed. My thought was actually a little more complex than usual because it was in two parts: Why am I, as a reader, expecting to read e-books for free and why, as a writer, am I occasionally offering my e-books for free?
As a reader, I think the answer is because they are there. Check out Amazon and you will find free e-books every day of the week. It’s kind of like a professional athlete who is offered a $24 million contract. They are not going to turn it down. I’m not going to turn down a free book. Maybe there is an expectation that if is the author is unknown, we don’t want to invest anything in their work. We can read to our heart’s content and never spend a cent. But is that right? Is it fair to the author?
Reading is a hobby. So is golf and a golfer will spend hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on equipment and green fees. Fishermen spend money on gear. Skiers spend money on equipment and lift tickets. Moviegoers spend money for a two-hour movie. Even if our hobby is sitting in a coffee shop, we will spend exorbitant amounts on specialty coffee and we will sit there and read an e-book on our device that we downloaded for free. But why should a book that offers around six hours of entertainment be free when there is a cost attached to any other hobby you can think of?
Indulge me while I put on my author hat. There are some questionable benefits to authors to offer free books, and some that are worthwhile. Let’s start with the questionable ones. Authors need reviews so when books are offered for free, the hope is that readers will at least provide some feedback. But thousands of free downloads will provide a return in reviews that can be counted on one hand. Amazon counts free downloads as sales so a free day or two can boost the author’s profile temporarily. The key word is “temporarily.” The boost is fleeting. If the author is exclusive to Amazon, he or she is paid for page reads. There is always an uptick in page reads after a free day, but that peters out after about three days.
There are some tangible benefits to offering free books in certain situations. The main benefit is to introduce a reader to an author. It makes sense for an author to offer the first book in a series or a short story introducing characters. The reader might be enticed to purchase other books by the same author. It’s a valuable marketing technique.
As readers, we shouldn’t be reluctant to try new authors, even if they are independent. E-books by independent authors that are not free are usually in the $2.99 to $4.99 range compared to $16 for a well known author. That’s less than a specialty coffee! There are some great authors who have remained independent or extracted themselves from contracts because traditional publishers are not providing the same services anymore. We may pay for the occasional book we can’t finish, but we have also paid for a specialty coffee we couldn’t drink. It doesn’t mean we will stop drinking coffee.
Authors invest their talent and considerable time and money in writing, editing, book cover design, and marketing and they deserve to be compensated. I, for one, am offering my short story, An Interview With Marcie Kane, free for signing up for my newsletter. The first book in The Marcie Kane Thriller Collection, The Vanishing Wife, is available at a reduced price. The rest of the series will only be offered at a reduced price from time to time. But not free! I hope other authors will consider doing something similar.
Damn the 3 am epiphanies!