Wednesday, August 26, 2015

BOOK REVIEW: MISPLACED by S.L. HULEN

Misplaced A Rich, Complex Tale From a Talented Debut Author

S.L. Hulen recreates an enthralling world in the opening chapters of MISPLACED and right from the start tugs at readers hearts. When the groomed sands of Egypt suddenly change to the seedy El Paso/Mexico border, the bright and highly educated Princess Khara finds herself swept to modern America leaving her no time to mourn the assassination of her beloved father.

She would have had little chance of surviving the ruthless Mexican coyotes if not for the intervention of resourceful immigration's attorney Victoria Barron. As Victoria becomes more and more embroiled in Khara's incredible stories about crossing the boundaries of time and protecting priceless Egyptian artifacts, they are chased by greedy antiquities dealers who will stop at nothing to get those items.

The story takes on a more mystical tone as Khara struggles to replace the complex religion from which she'd been torn, and ends at the base of a jagged stone obelisk on a barren mountaintop. The ensuing confrontation between the women and their pursuers leads to a startling resolution.

MISPLACED is an engrossing story, especially for fans of Egyptian history and I recommend it to everyone. I loved it!


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
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Monday, July 15, 2013

Three Reasons Why Internet Businesses Remind Me of Used Car Lots


Reason #1
This morning I received an email from a internet business I've used many times and it had a product that interested me. Thinking to buy it, I clicked through to check out the price, landed on a product information page, and scrolled down for the information I wanted where I was asked to click further. So, it seemed, there was not only a financial cost for this product, there was a time cost. I clicked out of the site and didn't buy.

Okay, you might say, it was a random occurrence and I was being maybe a tad petty. Possibly, but well, no. This happens with internet businesses more and more often these days. I guess the rationale is that first they want you to really want the product, then they tell you how much it costs. Which makes me think the product isn't all that good to begin with or is extravagantly overpriced.

I wish these were techniques practiced only by small start-up web companies, but they aren't. Similar techniques are used by two of our most influential internet platform providers.

I came smack up against this hard truth when I started looking into paid advertising for my novels. I began with front pages ads on some book blogs and websites. I have a background in advertising art and by proxy some knowledge of advertising principles so I know that random ads here and there are not particularly effective but I thought the influence of the sites would help. It didn't and the ads didn't generate sales. There had to be another way. Maybe Google.