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Review/Interview with JP Bloch on Valley Book Blog

10/17/2014

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From Linda VandeVrede at Valley Book Blog



Jon Bloch Writes From Personal Experience in Identity Thief


Can you take your personal experience and turn it into a psychological thriller? That’s what Jon P. Bloch, a Ph.D. criminologist, has done with his new book, Identity Thief.

Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the United States, thanks to the Internet. According to Bloch (pronounced “block”), who teaches criminology at Southern Connecticut State University, there are approximately 10 million new cases of identity theft year. This means that about every 20 minutes, someone’s identity is stolen.

For authors, this presents an interesting dilemma. How do you get your name out there and build a platform, yet still protect your identity from being stolen? I asked Jon, who was a victim of identity theft himself, for some tips to pass along to other authors. In the long run, he points out, your personal safety is more important than promoting your work. He had this interesting but realistic perspective:

“If you have to close an account on a social media site and lose contacts, it is better than having to live in fear.”

So what should you do to be on the safe side? Here are 7 suggestions from Jon:
  1. Set up an email account that is only for your writing business. That way you can keep better track of who’s who, and not give out too much information to the wrong person.
  2. Be selective about replying to anyone who wants personal information. Do a web search for people or businesses that want to know more about you.
  3. Secure your trash. Always tear up checks, bills or letters with any personal information about yourself and cut old credit cards with scissors. Chop everything into little pieces, and don’t put them into the same container. Do this regardless of whether or not you recycle. If you are getting rid of an electronic device, use a utility program and wipe it clean of personal data.
  4. Secure your Social Security number. Any online, telephone or snail mail source that asks for this number should be checked out before you give it. Valid sources often only ask for your last four digits. If you don’t have a locked, secure mailbox, consider getting a PO Box for business transactions that require your Social Security number. Do not carry your Social Security card in your wallet, as it may get stolen.
  5. Don’t tell your life story online. Even seemingly innocuous information such as the names of your children or pets can be important proof of identity questions at business-oriented websites. Do not post the name of your workplace, your phone number or your home address.
  6. Be as secretive as possible. Use locks and encryptions whenever possible. If you can, use a login and password on your electronic devices if you have the option. Change your passwords often, write them down and keep them in a locked drawer.
  7. Take identity theft seriously. Don’t assume it will never happen to you. It can happen to anyone.

The novel is a quick read with a lot of plot twists.If you like psychological thrillers, you’ll appreciate how he has structured the story, alternating chapters between the viewpoint of the identity thief and that of the victim, Dr. Jesse Falcon. No one is whom they seem, and just as in real life, there are layers upon layers of deceit. That’s all I’ll tell you, without giving the plot away! Jon is interested in how and why people form the identities they do, and how relationships with others form who we are. We may see ourselves one way, but other people may see us differently. “I saw writing a novel about identity theft as a way of not only spinning a good yarn, but also exploring the issue of identity theft. I shared what I went through and learned firsthand.” 

I liked Jon’s brief acknowledgments at the back of the book, where he thanks Bacon Press and his manuscript editor, as well as thanking “the many people who taught me that their identities were not worth stealing, whereby I was stuck with my own.” It was also nice to see an “About the Author” page that was fun and tongue-in-cheek. In part, “He finally settled in Connecticut, where he is an indentured servant to his dog. JP writes on his king-size bed with the fan on. His hobbies include eating cashews while watching TV and overdosing on film noir favorites.” 


Read the article on Valley Book Blog
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A little shameless self-promotion - Interview on BookMarketingBuzzBlog

10/9/2014

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Here's an excerpt from an interview with Brian Feinblum on BookMarketingBuzzBlog.

Interview With Michele Orwin, Publisher, Bacon Press Books

Michele, what are the rewards and challenges to leading an independent publishing company?
The rewards: I love discovering gifted authors who have written good books and making those books available to readers. I’ve been very lucky to have found a group of talented people to work with to make sure the books are done professionally. And the indie community has been very generous about sharing information and helping small publishers like me who are just starting out.

The challenges: Almost too many to list.
Finding authors with good, finished manuscripts who are ready to try independent publishing and understand the partnership model we’re using. Then finding readers when there are so many books to choose from.

Working almost counter to some authors’ fantasies of what being published is going to be like. Sometimes emerging authors hope the book they’ve written is perfect and doesn’t need professional editing. Or that their book will be an immediate success - friends and strangers will rush to buy it and will be eager to write great reviews. That can happen. But more often it doesn’t. And last is the fantasy that the book will somehow sell itself.  Maybe the hardest for me and our authors is understanding that it all takes time. Time to build a reputation, time to find the right readers.

What are some of your most successful books? In this super competitive publishing world, I think any kind of exposure, sales or reviews for a first-time author are great. I know other people measure success differently. Our nonfiction book, In Search of the Fun-Forever Job by Ellis Chase is the overall most successful. Great reviews from both respected people in the field and readers. Sales every month. Quite a few bulk orders. Ellis is also the only author who does a blog post every week. He’s active on social media, and he has a lot of speaking engagements. Plus it’s nonfiction on a topic of interest. It’s well-written and has a great cover. All those things don’t come together that often.  I think our newest book, Identity Thief by JP Bloch, will do really well. It’s a fast-paced, psychological thriller - a popular genre. Early reviews and sales are excellent. The book that’s coming next, Landfall by Joseph Jablonski has a real shot. It’s beautifully written and an unusual story. The debut short story collection, The Man Who Built Boxes by Frank Tavares, has more than one hundred reader reviews. Not all of them great, but at least it means readers are taking notice. Short stories are a tough sell even for seasoned authors.  For me, the other books have had some success, considering they’re from first-time authors. They’ve gotten very positive reviews. Man from the Sky by Danny Wynn is a novella. Blues for Beginners by Judith Podell is a collection of funny short stories. And The Clear Blue Line by Al Sprague is an action/adventure story set in Panama in the 1970’s. We thought with a lot of sex and sharks, it was bound to be a best seller but it’s too early to tell.


Read the rest of the interview here

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