Hidden Reads – Issue 6

Welcome hunters of reading treasure and possessors of treasures. Issue 6 is proud to welcome aboard Bob Waldner as our newest Hidden Reads’ contributors and we are happy to bring you another Hidden Read from Jeannie Meekins. Finally, we have a full book review of “Lila’s Choice” by Laura Brown. Please ENJOY!

Follow now to keep up to date.

To find out more about Hidden Reads, CLICK HERE.
To advertise your work on Hidden Reads, CLICK HERE.
To read about our authors, CLICK HERE.

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HIDDEN READS HAPPENINGS
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* New page added on the Hidden Reads website: Interviews (under Resources)

Here you will find links to all of the interviews Hidden Reads has conducted with professionals. Interviews are conducted by Porle Joen via email, phone, Skype, or in person.  Read the first interview with Black Beacon Books.

* New page added on the Hidden Reads website: Books Galore

Here you will find general listings on where you can buy books! 🙂 If you are looking for a book by one of our fantastic Hidden Reads contributors, check out their author listing HERE.

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HIDDEN READS
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The Great Tadpole Hunt by Jeannie Meekins 

Children's Fiction, 30 pages

• Illustrated by Melissa Cleeman
• Self-Published through Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Applie iStore, Kobo, Diesel, Sony, Oyster, Page Foundry, Baker & Taylor Blio, XinXii
• ISBN: 978-0-9873435-5-0 (Kindle), 978-0-9873435-6-7 (Smashwords), 978-0-9873425-8-1 (XinXii)
• RRP: $USD0.99
• Release date: 22nd July, 2013

“You stole Freddie!” Billy yelled, pushing George in the chest.
George stumbled backwards, slipped and fell in the mud. All the other kids began laughing as George sat there looking up at a furious Billy.
“I didn’t steal Freddie.” George tried to hold back the tears. “Why would I want him?”
“To get me into trouble.” Billy kicked at the mud, splashing more over George.
“So, it’s my fault you can’t even look after a stupid tadpole for the holidays.”

Billy has been given Freddie, the classroom tadpole, to look after over the school holidays. He thinks it is an easy job; a tadpole doesn’t need any looking after.

When school goes back, Billy packs his backpack with his lunch and his footy. He grabs Freddie’s jar from his dressing table, only to discover the tadpole is missing! And there is something else in the jar!

Join Billy as he searches for the tadpole, then tries to find another to take its place – and discovers exactly what has happened to Freddie.

A story aimed at younger readers who are ready for their first chapter book. Reading two chapters a night will see your child waiting and guessing to see what comes next. Vivid illustrations make the story easy to follow.

Explore the wonders of nature and see if your child can figure out what has happened to Freddie before Billy does.

Have a sneak peak with Amazon Look Inside! CLICK HERE

Available from Amazon

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Peripheral Involvement by Bob Waldner

Literary Fiction, 282 pages

• Illustrated by Melissa Cleeman
• Self-Published through Createspace
• ISBN: ISBN-10: 1495302946 / ISBN-13: 978-1495302947
• RRP: $USD10.99 (paperback), $USD4.99 ebook
• Release date: 13 February, 2014

Jack Caufield never imagined that he would wake up one day and find a dead woman in his bed. That sort of thing wasn’t supposed to happen to guys like him. He was on his way to law school, but instead of fielding Socratic questions from law professors, he finds himself facing the third degree from a bunch of angry cops. Despite their efforts, they find nothing incriminating, and Jack is allowed to get on with his education and his life. Over the next fifteen years, he becomes a modestly successful corporate lawyer, a well-paid but insignificant cog in the Wall Street machine. He’s resigned to playing a disappointing role in the system that he has come to disdain, until he learns that his encounter with that unlucky girl may not have been coincidental. Confronted with the possibility that the men who run the prestigious financial institution that he now represents may have been involved in a shocking conspiracy, his search for the truth is complicated by the knowledge that discovering it could cost him the success that he’s spent his life chasing.

Have a sneak peak with Amazon Look Inside! CLICK HERE

Available from Amazon

Read Reviews here: Little eBook Reviews

 

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HIDDEN ARTICLES
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Wikinut article writer profiles. Follow them all here:

Indicated (LJ Clarkson)
Porle Joen
Mathilda Burton

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HIDDEN BLOGS
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Sinister Reads

http://sinisterreads.wordpress.com/

Sinister Reads is a project managed by the Australian Horror Writers Association (AHWA) used to promote the work of its members. Horror writers take their craft seriously and professionally – people get a thrill out of being scared, not necessarily being grossed out, but frightened by things they know cannot harm them in reality. Horror can but doesn’t have to be violent or bloody or disgusting; what it needs to do is to create fear in the reader.

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REVIEWS – by Porle Joen
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Lila’s Choice by Laura Brown

Lila’s life is turned upside down when her oldest friend announces he is coming to town. Friends since they were five, new feelings she was not expecting start to bubble with his pending arrival. When she discovers the feelings are reciprocated, life seems perfect, but he knows her too well. When it emerges that another has feelings for Lila, her confusion begins. I am not giving away any huge plot spoilers by stating that Lila has to choose between two men – the front cover and the title make that obvious. The problem is, how can Lila decide when she doesn’t even know she has to choose? Never fear, with meddling friends and family, and a school full of ready minions, she will know soon enough.

This reader is not usually a fan of chick lit or romance novels, yet Lila’s Choice was surprisingly entertaining and sucked me in from the first page with intelligent symbolism and beautifully placed comedy. An early scene that caught my attention was during a warm interaction between Lila and her unknown choice where, “… he reached forward, grabbing a heart-shaped stress ball.” He tosses it back and forth as she speaks about the other man in her life before Lila turns the conversation to his failed relationship, at which point, “He placed the heart back on the desk where it slowly grew back to normal size.” A simple scene in which the reader learns a great deal about the characters through dialogue and the strength of seemingly unattached symbolism.

The setting provides a slice of originality with a group of work colleagues and friends who are teachers and counselors at a school with a large population of hearing impaired students. I found this difference interesting and educational as the adults interacted with hearing able and hearing impaired students. The author did a brilliant job of presenting the visual aspects of these interactions through the written word. The ability for some characters to speak without words while other cannot, leads to smart one liners and hidden jokes shared between Lila and Ette. The relationship of these two strong and focused women runs a thread of humor throughout the novel that gives it a lighthearted and entertaining appeal.

The characters play off each other and are so believable that you cannot help but fall in love with them all. The dialogue throughout is very natural and stays true for each character. There is a set style for each that separates them as individuals. The characters, though not personally explored in great depth, are so easily relatable that I felt like I knew the core of each. Characterization is built through the interactions of the friends and you could easily classify the individuals. Nate is the sweetheart, Ette is the partier, Kent is the whiner, Bryce is the cool kid, and Lila is the unknowing glue. That’s the simply classification though each develops in their own right throughout the story.

One aspect that I was completely shocked by was my character loyalty as a reader. Usually, when a main character must choose between two others, especially in relation to love, the reader will have a strong connection to one or the other and see that one as the hero. The reader will want for that character to “win” and will even experience anger at the main character for her stupidity in not making the obvious choice from the beginning. The smart writer drives the readers in this way to ensure that the reader gets what they want at the conclusion – the choice is made and the reader feels satisfied. Laura Brown has accomplished something I have not experienced before: she made me feel so deeply for both characters that she could have flipped the outcome and I, as a reader, would have been just as satisfied. If this was intentional or not, I do not know, but it doesn’t matter. I applaud Laura Brown for this achievement.

Lila’s Choice is extremely well written and tells a fun yet heartfelt story. As a reader, I was not overloaded with twists and turns, but rather presented with an easy read. That is not to say that it was not thought provoking, on the contrary, the woven symbolism and clues are enough to entice me to re-read and look for those little things I may have missed. Plus, the characters have purchased a permanent space in my mind and opened me to reading more in the genre. I thoroughly recommend Lila’s Choice to those interested in the chick lit and romance genres and to those that shy away from it. This is a great read simply for it’s entertainment value, but be warned, it will pull at your heartstrings and tickle your funny bone.

Review available HERE

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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT – Jeannie Meekins: Read an E-Book Week!

Hi all. This is a special bog post to let you all know that one of our Hidden Reads contributors, Jeannie Meekins, has 3 books available during Read an E-Book Week! Read more below including a note from Jeannie, details about her books (including discount codes), links to purchase, and how to follow Jeannie. If you haven’t already, don’t forget to check out the review of “Under the Bridge” on the review page. “Under the Bridge” is available for FREE during Read an E-Book Week. Go get yourself a copy and while you are there, pick up “By Any Other Name” and “The Great Tadpole Hunt”.

Jeannie Meekins

Publishing page – https://www.facebook.com/StormCloudPublishing
Networking page – https://www.facebook.com/jmeekins.writer

From Jeannie Meekins:

Event Details: Read an Ebook Week

Smashwords Read an Ebook Week has begun. The week runs from Sunday March 2 – Saturday March 8, 2014. This is US time (Pacific time, I think), so please adjust for your time zone.

I have 3 books involved at heavily discounted prices.

 

By Any Other Name 

• Suitable for readers 15+
• 75% off!!!!!
• It comes in at the ridiculous price of US $1.20
• The first 15% of the book is available as a free sample download
• Use Code: REW75 to get this book for (US) $1.20
• Get it HERE!

What a father will do to protect his son and what a son will do to save his father

A story of love, hate, life, death and everything in between in the turbulent relationship between a boy and his father.

Don’t be fooled into thinking this is just a kid’s book. There is plenty of material that will appeal to adults. The story follows young Declan Cutler through 35 years of his life.

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Under the Bridge

• 100% discounted. That’s right – it’s FREE!
• Use Code: RW100 at the checkout to get this book for free
• Get it HERE!
• Read the Review by Porle Joen HERE!

A story of a friendship between two very different boys that shows it’s impossible to see what’s inside someone when you only look at the surface.

Beautifully illustrated by AT Davidson, this book is suitable for readers 9-12 years.

This book was recently reviewed on Hidden Reads. This is your opportunity to get it for free.

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The Great Tadpole Hunt

• Also FREE!
• Use Code: RW100 to get this book for free
• Get it HERE!

Billy has been given the job of looking after the classroom tadpole over the school holidays. When school resumes, Billy is shocked to find the tadpole has gone!

This book is suitable for children who are ready for their first chapter book. It is illustrated in a fun style by Melissa Cleeman with characters that are sure to capture a child’s imagination.

Hidden Reads – Issue 3

Welcome hunters of reading treasure and possessors of treasures. Issue 3 is proud to welcome aboard L.J. Jackson – a new Hidden Reads contributor. We have more articles from our two article writers (Marthilda Burton and our own Porle Joen), as well as three full book reviews of the work of some of our Hidden Reads self-published authors – MR Graham, Jeannie Meekins, and Carole Nomarhas. ENJOY!

Follow now to keep up to date.

To find out more about Hidden Reads, CLICK HERE.
To advertise your work on Hidden Reads, CLICK HERE.
To read about our authors, CLICK HERE.

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HIDDEN READS HAPPENINGS
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You can now find a new structure on the Hidden Reads website. We have cleaned it up a bit so have a look (there is a site map for quick reference). Links to book reviews are now available here.

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The author submission page has now been updated to reflect the breakdown of submissions into three categories:

Hidden Reads Submission Form 2014 – Self-Published Authors – this form is for submission of self-published novels, novellas, short stories, anthologies, and long non-fiction.

Hidden Reads Submission Form 2014 – Article Writers and Bloggers – this form is for the submission of articles and blogs. Articles can include journalistic of other non-fiction short works, shorts stories, poetry, etc that have been published with approval on sites such at Wikinut, Ezine Articles, Hub Garden, etc.

Hidden Reads Submission Form 2014 – Events – this form is to advertise your sales, promotions, and appearances. If you are having a limited time sale on you self-published work or appearing at a convention as a special guest, tell us about it here.

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SELF-PUBLISHED HIDDEN READS
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The Silver Strand by L.J. Clarkson 

Children / Tween Fantasy Adventure, 283 pages

• Self-Published through Lightning Source
• ISBN: 978-0-9923017-0-5 (paperback);  978-0-9923017-1-2 (e-book)
• RRP: $17.95 AUD $11.99 US
• Release date: 24th September, 2013

Brief synopsis of the story (the blurb on the back of the book is fine: Ever since twelve year old Isabelle Tresdon’s silver strand of hair sprouted, it’s been nothing but trouble: bleeding pink dust and sparking like a firecracker.  Refusing to be known as the girl with the freaky, grandma hair, she wishes it never grew and the hair withers and tarnishes.

The only problem is, the strand is Isabelle’s source of magic, and she can transform particles of energy into matter. It’s also her ticket into Mastermind Academy, a secret school inside the hollow earth. Five days remain before the strand drains her magic and life, forcing Isabelle to enter into a deal with two trickster Masterminds to save it. But what she doesn’t count on is that there is more at stake than just her life.

The Silver Strand, a tween fantasy Adventure for 9-12 year olds, is book 1 in the Mastermind Academy Series.

Available from:

• Mastermindacademy.net (Australia)
• Amazon

Reviews:

– Amazon  Reviews available here.

– Goodreads   Reviews available here.

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HIDDEN ARTICLES
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By Mathilda Burton 

“The Turn Around”
– http://selfavenue.com/the-turn-around/

“Recognising and Accepting Your Faults”
– http://selfavenue.com/recognising-and-accepting-your-faults/

“Being Afraid”
– http://selfavenue.com/being-afraid/

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By Porle Joen 

“Launching Your Book in Style (Even on a Tight Budget) – Part 3: Decorating Your Venue”
– http://www.wikinut.com/launching-your-book-in-style-even-on-a-tight-budget-%E2%80%93-part-3%3a-decorating-your-venue/2gx8w43-/3yow5m7j/

“Book Review – Red Queen by Honey Brown”
– http://www.wikinut.com/book-review%3a-red-queen-by-honey-brown/15bomc-5/3_g-pmwy/

“Film Review – Red Hill (2010)”
– http://www.wikinut.com/film-review%3a-red-hill-2010/2s3j8xqp/2w2_5iti/

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HIDDEN BLOGS
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Sinister Reads

http://sinisterreads.wordpress.com/

• Sinister Reads is a project managed by the Australian Horror Writers Association (AHWA) used to promote the work of its members.
• Horror writers take their craft seriously and professionally – people get a thrill out of being scared, not necessarily being grossed out, but frightened by things they know cannot harm them in reality. Horror can but doesn’t have to be violent or bloody or disgusting; what it needs to do is to create fear in the reader.

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HIDDEN READS REVIEWS
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Mr Graham – In the Shadow of the Mountains

There is a stranger in town. Burns City is the kind of small town in which a new arrival turns heads and starts tongues flapping so when the stranger arrives under the cover of an icy blizzard, speculation begins among the townsfolk, but little do they know how wrong they are. In the Shadow of the Mountains is a paranormal fantasy novel wonderfully constructed by MR Graham that will leave you guessing and perhaps even leave you with a bit of a scar on your chin from the numerous jaw dropping revelations.

The story follows the usually uneventful lives of child prodigy Aaron, slacker/clown Chris and his best friend Liz. The small town of Burns City is not prepared for a sudden spate of local murders and it is not unexpected that some suspicion falls on the shoulders of the newest community member. Can is be a coincidence that the murders began just days after his arrival? Aaron is convinced that this man who is finally someone he can converse with on an intellectual level is innocent; however, Chris is not so sure. Without intention, the trio of teens stumble into a supernatural world that can’t possibly exist and Aaron and Chris are forced into an unlikely teaming with the strange man in the house at the end of the street. What follows is page turning plot with twists and turns that will keep you guessing and then questioning your own conclusions.

In the Shadow of the Mountains begins with a very detailed description of a small town, free from crime where everyone knows everyone else. An icy blizzard approaches as does a stranger drawing a powerfully ominous parallel that sets the scene in a way that is not thoroughly understood until the last pages. MR Graham has done a marvelous job of creating a sense of setting around the story-line and characters that grips the reader until the final word. The author has a remarkable talent for creating a scene in which you can see, feel, and even smell the surroundings.

Journal entries by Liz and Chris show their undeniable youth at the beginning of the novel and the author has captured the vocabulary and teenage issues with perfection. The first journal entry occurs after a wonderfully visual description of the town so it is an unexpected change of pace. It shows the author’s ability to embrace the point of view and thoughts of her different characters. It is a valuable inclusion to have the internal thoughts and insights and serves well to highlight the growth of these characters throughout the novel, none more so than Chris.

In the Shadow of the Mountains is wrapped and entwined with intrigue and hidden meanings with enough clues and throw away lines for the attentive reader to be able to piece together the mystery, but even the attentive reader can easily miss the clues that lead to the biggest revelation and the moment that my jaw hit the ground before I broke into a massive smile of approval and excitement. No spoilers here, you will just have to read it yourself and I highly recommend that you do.

Review available HERE

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Jeannie Meekins – Under the Bridge 

There are few of us that can say we were never bullied at school. It is a sad reality that although we are all different, that difference can be a target for others who are themselves probably also bullied. Under the Bridge is a beautifully written and illustrated children’s book by Australian author Jeannie Meekins that addresses this very real issue and provides a very valuable lesson to the reader. “One day you might be the one no one wants to play with,” Mrs Wheeler warns the school bully. But it is not just about bullying, there is also the wonderfully presented idea of seeing the world from a different perspective.

Under the Bridge is set in an Australian school that I would hazard to guess is in Melbourne due to a very Victorian discussion of AFL teams that takes place between a group of children. Michael is new at the school – an already difficult situation without the addition of being harassed for his ethnicity. Michael meets another boy, Kyle, who is also different though not as obviously, and they strike up a friendship. As the two friends learn about themselves and teach each other about their differing worlds, the gap between differences closes. And as expected, the school bully learns a valuable lesson in understanding.

The journey of Under the Bridge addresses the themes of racism, sexism, and unconscious discrimination and assumptions. Jeannie Meekins has woven all of these through her piece using very typical and relatable situations and interactions. I have read similar stories that explore the themes of bullying and discrimination, but what sets Under the Bridge apart as unique, aside from the beautiful Australian setting, is the way in which the lessons are presented. The learning and knowledge come through a child who himself is discriminated against, not by the other children but by the adults in his life who want to protect him yet are preventing him from being a part of the society of children he interacts with. Children can be cruel, but adults can be blind.

This book is beautifully illustrated by AT Davidson who captures the Australian landscape with colourful depictions of the Australian flora and fauna. The illustrations add colour and clarity to the words and are perfectly positioned throughout the work. The school children are presented in uniforms that all Australian children would be familiar with complete with the typically Australian broad-brimmed hats. The children’s expressions are very easy to read and compliment the story. The intelligent and wise beyond his years, Kyle, often wears a broad smile that shows his optimistic approach to life. AT Davidson is a fine artist with a high attention to detail that allows the viewer to feel the warmth of the sun through the placement of shadows.

The vocabulary would be suited to a child with a reading age of 10 to 12 though would appeal to children outside of this age bracket. The vocabulary is age appropriate and the characters are highly relatable even if their specific differences are not. The author does not use the differences themselves to get her point across, but rather the children’s feeling about how they are treated and how they respond to this. A great read with a valuable and timely message.

Review available HERE

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Carole Nomarhas – Soul Horizon 

“The port had a name but it was of no importance to Terras.” This is the opening line of Soul Horizon by Australian author, Carole Nomarhas. The first sentence of any novel should be a window into all that follows with a hidden premise that will urge readers forward and this is precisely what the author achieves. From the first well constructed and visually inciting paragraphs, I was drawn into the world of Soul Horizon. In just three paragraphs, I had a clear sense of setting and the deeper character of Terras.

Terras and Quell are two very different beings, both hunted for their own reasons. Forced into each other’s worlds on-board a dying ship, they are taken on a journey of fear, heroism, and discovery and the reader is encourage along, enticed by possibilities and intrigue. Alien species, humans, mutants – in Soul Horizon, they are all versions of humanity and alien. The author has brilliantly created several different races without determining absolutely which is “Human”, if any. All have an aspect of humanity yet all are distinctly alien to each other. The interaction between two opposing species is brilliantly delivered from both points of view. Rarely do we see two adversaries so well described from each differing point of view. What we find is a humanistic fear of each other hidden behind arrogance and the belief that each is moralistically superior to the other.

Quell is instantly a strong character and just as instantly likable. He knows his place in comparison to other species but it does not stop him from pushing beyond those inflicted limitations. His strength of character and his childhood fears and adult rebellion are nicely summated in the line: “…no longer child-sized and forced to stare up at the Hironi. Not like the old days. Behind that mask they’d be about eye to eye.” He has stored anger and self-doubt but an external arrogance and confidence that he himself proclaims as suicidal: “Quell tried to match the Hironi’s arrogance. It was not a game for beginners.”

Nomarhas makes use of long descriptive sentences interwoven with short, punchy wording that flows brilliantly. I easily read this work in one sitting as each chapter left me wanting to know what happens next. The dialogue is structured in such a way that there are sections of conversation though it is certainly not overdone and the dialogue stays true for each character. The dialogue and even the vocabulary used within the descriptions of each character’s lot are strongly tied to that character. The Hironi is and precise, arrogant, direct. Quell is a brave-heart, teetering on a tightrope of arrogance and fear that pushes him to the edge of his very life – the words around him are more cautious and casual and often truncated. Soul Horizon is peppered with beautifully descriptive passages such as the interacting consciousnesses of a Speaker and his ship.

I am not interested in stories that tell you what to think; I like to be challenged, I like to have a clear visual of the setting with the ability to create the picture in my mind while leaving room for my own assumptions and creations. I like a story to build questions and to loop back and answer those questions and I like to feel that if I read the work again, I will find more links and additional hidden clues will jump out at me to make the world of the novel even clearer. Soul Horizon fed me a healthy dose of exactly what I was after. I will read this book again, and again, as it is the type of read in which you know there are more discoveries to uncover, more links and hidden messages. Highly recommended.

Review available HERE

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Hidden Reads – Issue 2

Welcome hunters of reading treasure and possessors of treasures. Issue 2 is an unintentional Aussie feast so enjoy our newly found Hidden Reads from Australia!

To find out more about Hidden Reads, CLICK HERE.
To advertise your work on Hidden Reads, CLICK HERE.
To read about our authors, CLICK HERE.

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HIDDEN READS HAPPENINGS
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Under FIND A HIDDEN READ on the Hidden Reads website, you will now find a “Featured Hidden Reads” page. This is to acknowledge those authors that have supported Hidden Reads from the start including MR Graham, Daniel Turner, Mathilda Burton, and our two latest Hidden Reads contributors – Jeannie Meekings and Carole Nomarhas. For more information, CLICK HERE.

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Keep an eye out for the next blog as you will find several reviews of some of the above mentioned authors written by yours truly. If you are an author, for a very limited time, I am offering a free review so hurry and submit your work. For more information, CLICK HERE.

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All Self-Published Authors/Article Writers/Bloggers are now invited to submit up to three works per blog update so make sure you submit your older treasures!

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SELF-PUBLISHED HIDDEN READS
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Under the Bridge by Jeannie Meekins 

Children’s novel, ~ 40 pages (e-book format)

• Illustrated by AT Davidson
• Self-Published through Amazon/Smashwords/Barnes & Noble/Apple iStore/Kobo/Diesel/Sony/ Oyster/Flipkart/Scribd/Page Foundry/Baker & Taylor Blio
• ISBN no.: 978-0-9873435-2-9 (Kindle) / 978-0-9873435-3-6 (Smashwords)
• RRP: $0.99USD (ebook)
• Release date: March 5, 2013

“Why can’t I play footy with you?” Michael asked.
“Because I said so,” Jake answered.
“Oh, who made you boss anyway, Jake?” Kyle asked.
“Stay out of this, Kyle.” Jake turned his attention from Michael. “We’ve got nothing against you.”
“What have you got against him?”
“He’s Chinese,” Jake said, as though the answer should have been obvious.
“So?”
“Chinese don’t play football.”

Life can be tough when you’re different – and school can be a nightmare. Kyle helps new kid, Michael, see the world through different eyes. Together, they show their class’s tough kids that it’s impossible to see what’s inside someone when you only look on the surface.

Available from Amazon

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Soul Horizon by Carole Nomarhas 

Space Opera / SF Novella, 55 pages

• Self-Published through Amazon Kindle
• RRP: $0.99 AUD
• Release date: October 28, 2013

Everyone has secrets, some secrets haunt you, some secrets can get you killed, and some secrets are far more dangerous…

Terras
The Port had a name but it was of no importance or meaning to Terras. He was an alien in this place. Hironi. A hunted creature driven to ground and last resort. On this ship which lay as helplessly caught as he, cradling him in its ruined body. Bitterly cold in its death throes. The stale air had the stink of his own fear and for a moment it threatened to suffocate him.  His hand slid greasily on the weapon. He could die sooner than of starvation. And wondered bitterly if that was not a mercy. Others had come. Come to steal. Come to kill. And now another hunter came…

Quell
Quell was a ship’s Speaker, dumped in the wrong Port at the wrong time, broke and unshipped. Even worse than that the Port had a problem and Quell was elected to solve it – get an exiled Hironi out of the Port, on a ship that was barely more than a derelict. A ship no other Speaker had been able to work.

Now Quell and Terras are both out of options and running for their lives, on a ship with secrets of its own, keeping one step ahead of their enemies, trying to stay alive – and trying not to kill each other. Be careful where you voyage… you cannot always find your way home.

Soul Horizon is a short space opera novelette of around 14,000 words. It originally appeared in a slightly altered form in the Alien Shores anthology from Aphelion Publications.

Available from Amazon

Reviews:

– Amazon  Reviews available here.

– Blue Tyson’s Guide to Science Fiction: 

– Carole Nomarhas’s “Soul Horizon” is a piece of space opera which has a rich and detailed background, and is presumably part of a series of shared universe stories, or at least I hope so… Thoughtful and exciting, with sharp dialogue and some original hyperspace theories. – Martin Livings, Fresh Ink, Eidolon Magazine, review of Alien Shores Anthology

– “Soul Horizon,” a skilfully written story of far-future space intrigue. – Robert K.J. Killheffer, Review of Alien Shores Anthology, Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction

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HIDDEN ARTICLES
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“Day In, Day Out”

By Mathilda Burton 

http://selfavenue.com/day-in-day-out/

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“Launching Your Book in Style (Even on a Tight Budget) – A Series Introduction”

By Porle Joen 

http://www.wikinut.com/launching-your-book-in-style-even-on-a-tight-budget-a-series-introduction/452zh29i/1i-7hxpk/

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“The Difference is Perception”

By Mathilda Burton 

http://selfavenue.com/the-difference-is-perception/

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“Music Review – The Revolution is Never Coming by The Red Paintings”

By Porle Joen 

http://www.wikinut.com/music-review%3a-the-revolution-is-never-coming-by-the-red-paintings/3syib7_c/11xwzo9x/

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“Childlike vs Childish”

By Mathilda Burton 

http://selfavenue.com/childlike-vs-childish/

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“Mitcham Railway Station – Thank You for 131 Years of Loyal Service”

By Porle Joen 

http://www.wikinut.com/mitcham-railway-station-%E2%80%93-thank-you-for-131-years-of-loyal-service./2417u7jv/228qvf4o/ 

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HIDDEN BLOGS
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Sinister Reads

http://sinisterreads.wordpress.com/

• Sinister Reads is a project managed by the Australian Horror Writers Association (AHWA) used to promote the work of its members.
• Horror writers take their craft seriously and professionally – people get a thrill out of being scared, not necessarily being grossed out, but frightened by things they know cannot harm them in reality. Horror can but doesn’t have to be violent or bloody or disgusting; what it needs to do is to create fear in the reader.

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 Don’t forget to follow Hidden Reads on Twitter and Facebook and SHARE 🙂

 

Hidden Reads – Welcome!

Welcome to the first Hidden Reads Blog Post where you will find some great authors and fantastic reads that you never knew existed! It’s been a rapid and intense road since the inception of Hidden Reads just 6 weeks ago, and here we are sending this first posting out to over 230 followers. This is just the beginning 🙂

In this Hidden Reads post, you will find a children’s book that promises to educate, entertain and enthrall, a murder mystery with a paranormal twist that will keep you turning the pages, a horror fantasy novel that will make you laugh, cry and possibly a little hungry, a book of poetry that is anything but normal or nice, along with several fascinating Hidden Reads articles and blogs.

I hope you enjoy this first installment.

To find out more about Hidden Reads, CLICK HERE.

To advertise your work on Hidden Reads, CLICK HERE.

To read about our authors, CLICK HERE.

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SELF-PUBLISHED
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In the Shadow of the Mountains
by MR Graham

Paranormal Fantasy, 242 pages

• Self-Published through Kindle Direct Publishing / Createspace / Smashwords / Nookpress
• ISBN no.: 9781481032391  / 9781301921362 (Smashwords edition)
• RRP: $3.99USD (ebook) / $9.99USD (paperback)
• Release date: Dec. 2012

In the twilight of the year 2003, a stranger arrives in the tiny town of Burns, Colorado. Whispers begin to fly as bodies appear, savagely mutilated, throughout the neighborhood, and the responsibility falls on two monstrously unprepared high school students to uncover the truth before the undead can destroy their hometown.

Chris Doyle is a slacker and a sci-fi geek, barely eking through his senior year of high school; Aaron Margolis is a child prodigy who could have graduated at age twelve if his parents had let him. They have never had anything in common until a woman is murdered and Aaron comes asking for Chris’s help – he is seeing Texans who cannot be real.

Then the high school’s English teacher disappears and is replaced by Daniel Leland, the sharp and reclusive newcomer, a man already convicted by public opinion. He says that he is a hunted man, and Aaron believes him, but Chris is not as sure. Doubts or no, Chris has no choice but to join up with the teacher when his best friend is kidnapped by superhuman forces, but this adventure is nothing like his comic books.

Available here:

• Smashwords
• Amazon
• Barnes and Noble
• iTunes
• Kobo Books

See all of the Books of Lost Knowledge series HERE.

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Simple History A simple guide to World War I
by Daniel Turner

Children's, History, 24 pages

• Illustrated by Daniel Turner
• Self-Published through Createspace
• ISBN no.: 978-1494356125
• RRP: $8.22
• Release date: Dec. 7, 2013

Jump into the muddy trenches of the World War I and discover the story of one of the bloodiest wars in history! On the way meet the soldiers and leaders of the conflict and explore the exciting weapons, tanks, planes & technology of battle. Illustrated in the popular minimalist style of today, young reader’s imaginations will come to life. Simple history gives you the facts in a simple uncomplicated and eye catching way. Simple history is part of an ongoing series, what will be the next episode? Designed for children aged 7 -12.

Available here:

• Amazon

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Awakening
by Porle Joen

Horror Fantasy, 456 pages

• Self-Published through Createspace
• ISBN no.: 978-1478207412
• RRP: $US24.95
• Release date: Aug. 17, 2012

Evolution created the First. It was a First that Awakened the Createds. The Createds were an accident, a slip up in the evolutionary brilliance of the Firsts. Now, the Firsts seek to eradicate their mistake. She woke with no memory, no knowledge and no reason. She knew only the hunger and an overwhelming desire for his life and his death. Understanding and acceptance will inevitably bring insanity and destruction. Blood lust is her savior as she accepts her confusing existence and embraces the path of vengeance. Faced with her enemies, her instincts and self emerge and she must kill her own kind to survive and to save those she loves. There is only one rule.

Read Reviews HERE.

Available here:

• Amazon
• CreateSpace – Hidden Reads Exclusive – Use code 97JJAFHA on checkout to get 25% off!

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Love, Life and Evisceration
by Porle Joen

Poetry, 248 pages

• Self-Published through Createspace
• ISBN no.: 978-1479282081
• RRP: $US12.95 hardcopy, $US2.99 e-book
• Release date: Feb. 22, 2013

A Random Collection of Poetry, Thoughts and Creepy Stuff that goes on in My Mind…. Strap yourself in, things are going to get bumpy! Love, Life and Evisceration is a collection of works accumulated over more than 20 years by a mind that should probably be locked away for the safety of humanity. Nevertheless, Porle Joen has been let loose. Smile, laugh, cry… Run in fear! 

Available here:

• Amazon
• Amazon Kindle
• Createspace

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ARTICLES
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“The Last Train From Mitcham”

By Porle Joen

http://www.wikinut.com/the-last-train-from-mitcham/ktr9nbo8/1oj879ai/

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“Things I Wish My Mother Had Told Me”

By Mathilda Burton

http://selfavenue.com/things-i-wish-my-mother-had-told-me/

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“New Year Resolutions – A Recipe for Success?”

By Porle Joen

http://www.wikinut.com/new-year-resolutions-a-recipe-for-success/ui2j5ft9/1idk7008/

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“Happy Tears”

By Mathilda Burton

http://selfavenue.com/happy-tears/

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“WOT R U TALKIN ABOUT? – Are Text Acronyms Destroying the English Language?”

By Porle Joen

http://www.wikinut.com/wot-r-u-talkin-about-are-text-acronyms-destroying-the-english-language/2v-wanr5/17sc11nq/

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“Getting Yourself Out of a Rut”

By Mathilda Burton

http://selfavenue.com/getting-yourself-out-of-a-rut/

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BLOGS
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Sinister Reads

http://sinisterreads.wordpress.com/

• Sinister Reads is a project managed by the Australian Horror Writers Association (AHWA) used to promote the work of its members.
• Horror writers take their craft seriously and professionally – people get a thrill out of being scared, not necessarily being grossed out, but frightened by things they know cannot harm them in reality. Horror can but doesn’t have to be violent or bloody or disgusting; what it needs to do is to create fear in the reader.

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 Don’t forget to follow Hidden Reads on Twitter and Facebook and SHARE 🙂

 

2014 – The Year of Hidden Reads :)

Hidden Reads

For those who love to read, those who love to write and those just looking for something a little different. You won’t find J.K. Rowling here, but you certainly might find a Hidden Read that you can love even more than Harry Potter!

For more about Hidden Reads, CLICK HERE!
For Author Submissions, CLICK HERE!
*** Author submissions will ONLY be accepted by submission through the above link. 🙂

 

2014 – The Little Year That Will

2013, you were a strange one alright!  You gave me the soft launch of “Love, Life and Evisceration”, you sent me back to school to do my Master of Arts in Creative Writing, you made me quit a job in the city to get something with less hours and closer to home so I could have no excuse to procrastinate with writing, you didn’t kill my yellow palm tree, you gave me a gluten intolerance (grrrr), you gave me more Thor (Yay!), you gave me the idea of Hidden Reads, you gave me JITAG (Jumping In The Air Giggling – don’t ask, just go with it, lol) and I am pretty sure you gave me a grammatical intolerance of ‘your’ vs ‘you’re’ on Facebook. Thank you for the memories 2013, but it’s time for you to become the past for 2014 is bursting at the seams with anticipation. I don’t do “New Year Resolutions” – I do not resolve to resolve my issues. When a change needs to be made, you start straight away, you don’t give it a start date because that is a setup for failure in most cases. It’s like smoking: “I’ll quit next week.” No, just don’t light that one, never light that one, and you will be done.  Decisions that change your life must be instant and action must be instant. It’s true, I don’t ALWAYS follow my own advice, but I think I do a better job of it then most, lol. DO, don’t TALK. 🙂

When did this become a lecture on personal development? Hahaha. OK, so on with what we have been up to and what is in store:

• We have over 210 followers so far! YAY. Please keeping sharing on social media to push that number as high as possible before launch day. 
• I will be continuing to find forums to post on to increase our numbers. 
• I will be writing an article this week to publish on EzineArticles about self-publishing for free and how to market yourself for free – clearly, there will be a link back to Hidden Reads.

• I have had an “IDEA” that I would like to explore whereby Hidden Reads will create a quarterly anthology of short stories in which all Hidden Reads authors can showcase their work. The first edition in the very least would be offered for free 🙂  This is in the infancy stage of development as it literally just hit me a few minutes ago so there will be more on this down the track. 
• I am shocked to say that I am still struggling to find article writers and bloggers to advertise on here. I am about to take a very intense voyage of headhunting!  If I am headhunting, I will also be targeting so I am going to search for AUSTRALIAN bloggers and article writers that produce work that may be of interest to Hidden Reads Followers.  

Don’t forget to follow Hidden Reads:

Blog (link https://hiddenreads.wordpress.com)
Facebook (link https://www.facebook.com/hiddenreads)
Twitter (link: https://twitter.com/HiddenReads)

 

That’s it for today. I have to get my uni work done, get some words on paper (well, the PC screen), and go treasure hunting for the best HIDDEN READS 🙂

Porle Joen
Hidden Reads Manager

Launch Date Approaches!

Christmas – What for you steal my time? 😛

 

Ah Christmas, always a time of soooo many things to do – ARGH!  Hahaha. Well, now that it is out of the way, it’s time for Hidden Reads to spreads it’s feathers and display it’s plumage – come on, let me see you shake your tail feather 😛  What’s with all this bird talk? I have no idea… moving on.

So what’s new? Not as much as I would have hoped to be completely honest but now that the chocolate has run out and I don’t have anyone left to drink with, I can pull my socks up and dive into getting everything together and underway. It’s been rather warm in Melbourne, so maybe I will forgo the socks, but I will definitely pull up my “Get your ass in to gear and get this brilliant idea showcased” invisible stockings! That was a long winded way of saying, “Yep, been a bit lazy, you know… life,” but that would have been a lazy way of saying it so to show that I am pulling up my ‘Get your ass in to gear and get this brilliant idea showcased invisible stockings’, I went overboard. Hahaha. Exhausted yet? Welcome to ME people!  My head is a playground in which mutant mini elephants with monkey heads dance to Bob Marley and sip Pina Coladas through the hollowed bones of tax agents and politicians (that last part is the horror writer in me splashing a dash of delicious – if you like it, check out MY books available – end of shameless self promotion… for now :P).

OK, so now that I have convinced you I am over the lazies by writing a bunch of words that don’t actually mean a hell of a lot, on to what we really HAVE been up to and what we have planned in the next week.

• LAUNCH DATE has been pushed back to January 5, 2014 – more on why below. 
• I will be posting on the CreateSpace Forums TODAY. For those of you unfamiliar with CreateSpace, it is a self-publishing platform where you CAN quite literally publish your work without paying a cent. Have a look at them at https://www.createspace.com. Once we launch, there will be a page available under Resources for Writers with links and reviews of CreateSpace, the Amazon KDP program, and other publishing platforms including companies that offer services to help new authors decide on their best option. Feel free to let me know who YOUR preferred platform is for inclusion 🙂 
• I will be searching for platforms as mentioned above and where I can, posting on their forums to promote Hidden Reads and encourage new members. 
• The “Self-publishing” company that I was in talks with has sadly proven to be not in the spirit of Hidden Reads. They were a company to which authors paid quite a large sum for minimal services in return – I don’t like that! In addition, when I offered free advertising to their members, they said they would discuss this at their “meeting” which apparently has now been put off until the New Year. Out of a respect for indie authors and out of the desire to not see them pay out the wazoo for bugger all with a company that seems to be all talk, I have withdrawn my request. Should any of the authors get wind of Hidden Reads and wish to advertise, absolutely they can, but I will not be dealing directly with the company. *Sticks out tongue and says na na na na na* Hahaha. 
• It’s time to admit it, I need MORE authors! Hence the push out of the launch date. Yes, a lazy couple of weeks on my part has not helped but I’ve explained that already – get off my back! HAHAHahaha. I would like to invite those authors that I have already accepted to submit up to two more works each to be included on the “New Hidden Reads” launch day list. Please fill out a new form for each submission – Click Here to go to the Author Submission Page. 
• We need bloggers! Bloggers have been very slow coming on-board which surprised me! I thought bloggers would be all over free advertising, hahaha. So if you are a blogger, please fill out the appropriate form on the submission page. If you KNOW a blogger, send them this:

Oi you! Blogger!

Want free advertising? Hidden Reads wants
to tell people about you! Submit your
blog HERE (link: https://hiddenreads.wordpress.com/author-submissions/)

and don’t forget to follow Hidden Reads:

Blog (link https://hiddenreads.wordpress.com)
Facebook (link https://www.facebook.com/hiddenreads)
Twitter (link: https://twitter.com/HiddenReads)

Cheers – from ME, your friend. You know me. Hahaha.
(maybe insert your own thing here, lol)

• It’s not all bad, we are approaching 200 followers! Pretty good since we are in pre-launch still. Most of these are Twitter followers (I had no idea how intense Twitter is these days, lol). So, if YOU are one of our followers, Thank You and stay tuned because Hidden Reads is about to be revealed in all its glory and if you are NOT yet one of our followers… Are you nuts? Follow now! Hahahahah. Every time someone new follows, a writer gets their quill 🙂 
• Well, that’s it for today folks. Don’t forget to SHARE, SHARE, SHARE! More followers is more readers for our writers. And writers and bloggers, I need your submission! Do it! You know you wanna 😛

Porle Joen

Hidden Reads Manager

1st Official Pre-Launch Post (short but sweet)

Hi all,

OK, we are officially starting to release posts so now, when you come to Hidden Reads, the first page you will see will be the latest post. For sharing purposes, you can share The Posts Page – http://www.hiddenreads.wordpress.com or The Info Page – https://hiddenreads.wordpress.com/all-about-hidden-reads/ (or any other page you wish, of course).

We have 142 followers and I will be advertising in the coming days on Facebook or Google so I expect to see those numbers jump.

As far as contributors, I will say, we need more, particularly from Australia. As an Aussie, I know we are a bit lazy, lol. But as WRITERS, we can be anything but lazy! Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi and all that crap – get fired up! Get involved! Finally stop waiting for readers to come to YOU and go find them!

Please share through whichever medium you are using; Facebook, Twitter, WordPress, LinkIn, whatever…. Let’s get Hidden Reads in the best possible position when it launches.

For more Info on Hidden Reads, CLICK HERE!

COMING SOON!

Hidden Reads will become active in December 2013/January 2014 – watch this space for updates.

Hidden Reads – For those that love to read, those that love to write and those just looking for something a little different. You won’t find J.K. Rowling here, but you certainly might find a Hidden Read that you can love even more than Harry!

Follow now to receive updates and be the first to know when we are active!

What is Hidden Reads?

Hidden Reads will be a place to find amazing novels, novellas, short stories, collections, etc that have been published by Indie Publishers – AKA Self-Published authors. The purpose of Hidden Reads is to help self-published authors to find readers and to help readers find great new authors. Authors can spend years working on their greatest achievement only to find that no one buys their work simply because no one knows who they are. The greatest masterpiece of an unknown author can not compete with the biggest piece of crap written by Stephen King (not that he writes anything crap but you get my point, lol).

Hidden Reads will be open worldwide for any works written in English though at least 90% will be Australian authors. All genres will be covered and I even hope to extend this to indie produced music. In the lead up to the official launch of this blog (date to be announced), I will be sourcing authors who wish to include their work.

Another component to Hidden Reads will be real reader feedback and reviews. I will encourage everyone that reads the works on Hidden Reads to please, please, please review the works. Of course, to protect our authors from undue criticism and pointless attack (as can unfortunately happen in a publicly accessible forum), there will be a set of guidelines that must be adhered to for publication of any review on this site and all reviews will be checked before they can be published. More on that later.

Give Support, Get Support

Once we have a selection of Hidden Reads available, this site will go live and from that point, submissions of new Hidden Reads to appear on this blog will be subject to one rule. Before you can publicise your book for free, you must read and complete a review of another author on the Hidden Reads blog website. For each work submission, one additional review will be required. Why? Well, the goal is to help authors get their works read, so why should they not read the works of other self-published authors? It makes sense. If you want support, you need to give support.

But whhhhhhhhhhhy are you doing this? Who are you?

My name is Porle Joen – Hi there! 😛  Can you guess one thing about me? Yep, correct. I AM a self-published author. I know the tribulations and the disappoints and I certainly know the euphoria and pride that all come with the title of self-published author. Before you ask, no. I did not turn to self-publishing after being turned down by a billion publishing houses. Actually, I didn’t even try traditional publishing. My first book was my baby and I would be damned if I was going to let anyone touch, rip, re-arrange or change her in any way. LOL. My next novel, I shall submit for traditional publishing, but for now, I see a need to help self-published authors and with so bloody many of us out there, I think it is time to come together.

Let me just tell you my background credentials as well so that I do not look like someone who got bored one day, lol.

• Currently studying Masters of Arts (Writing)
• Project Manager for Sinister Reads (Blog from the Australian Horror Writer’s Association)
• Member of Writers Victoria
• Member of the Australian Horror Writer’s Association
• Co-authored “Scars” – stage production with The Youth Factory
• Authored “Crazy Mama” – stage short performed at the World Championships of Performing Arts in Los Angeles
• Worked as an online job advertisement writer
• Instructional design and adaption of 6 customer service, sales and management training programs
• Market T-shirt slogan creation (they were all quite crude so I am not going to share here, haha)
• Self Published a horror novel: Awakening
• Self Published a collection of poetry: Love, Life and Evisceration

I am a Self-Published author. How can I get in NOW?

Firstly, congratulations! All you need to do is firstly follow the blog so that you get updates. Next, shoot me an email at hiddenreads@gmail.com with “HIDDEN READS SUBMISSION” in the subject line. I will send you a submission form which will ask for things like a jpeg of your cover, ISBN if you have one, links to stockist, and other general information. I will also ask for an excerpt to assess as I want to maintain a standard of quality – it is better for the readers AND the authors. Once you send that back, I will let you know if it has been accepted as a website launch inclusion. Please note, the only reasons it would not be included would be if:

1.  You are not an Australian author AND I already have enough international applications
2.  Your submitted excerpt is not up to scratch (primarily an unacceptable level of spelling and/or grammar issues – we all make one or two, but 15 in 10 pages is toooooooo many!)
3.  You do not include a link to any stockist (readers have to be able to purchase your book – even a link to your Amazon page will suffice)
4. I have received 50 applications (I don’t expect to come close to this before the launch, but if it did happen, I would absolutely need to close off applications and implement the reviews rule)
5.  I have an excessive number of applications in a particular genre (this is unlikely to be an issue but may play a part if point four DOES happen)

What else will Hidden Reads have to offer me?

There will be links to various writer’s groups, book stores, events and hopefully even a future vlog with author interviews. There will be links away from the main pages where you can purchase other books that will help you as a writer including any suggested by our authors or readers. There will be links to publishing houses for those that want to try the traditional route as well as perhaps words of wisdom from publishers themselves (I have some contacts). There will be links to writing competitions and anything else that I find remotely interesting, haha.

So come on, do it! FOLLOW NOW. 🙂