Joshua P. Simon - The Accidental Author

Hero of Slaves: A Blood and Tears Novella is now available through Amazon for $0.99.


Because this work is only 12,500 words, it will be available as an ebook only. If you do not have an ereader or a phone capable of acting as an ereader and are interested in reading the story, you can always download Amazon Kindle application for your desktop or laptop and read it from your computer.

Here is the description of the story:

Cassus left the Hell Patrol two years ago, confident that his decision to escort a group of freed Byzernian slaves to safety would make up for leaving his mercenary family and best friend behind.

After Cassus safely delivered the Byzernians to their homeland, he decided to lead a movement to take down the slave trade. As each subsequent mission ended, the danger to his men grew. Still, he pressed on. 

Cassus receives word that a powerful slave trader, someone from his past, has set up a village to breed the Byzernians like cattle. He risks everything trying to dismantle the operation only to be captured. Transported along with a group of slaves, he hears news of tragedy striking the Hell Patrol. 

Cassus struggles to help the Byzernians survive one last time despite the ghosts of his past calling him home. Hero of Slaves, is a novella of approximately 12,500 words. 

The story takes place after the events of Rise and Fall and Steel and Sorrow, the first two books in the Blood and Tears Trilogy. 

This ebook also features a two-chapter excerpt from Walk Through Fire: A Blood and Tears Prequel Novella.

To read an excerpt of Hero of Slaves, click on the sample button below. If you like what you read, consider giving the rest of the story a shot.


One last thing. If you do read the story, please leave me a comment below, shoot me an email at joshuapsimon.author@gmail.com, or write up a review at your place of purchase and/or Goodreads (Remember, reviews are the best form of marketing an author can have). Anyway, I’d love to hear from you.

Another easy way to help me out is by clicking the “Like” button or “Share button” on the product page. 

Thanks!

The greatest Pink Floyd song ever. If you disagree, then you need to listen to this song a few more times. Unbelievably awesome.

On The Turning Away

Thanksgiving is a bit lacking when it comes to holiday specials. Everyone does a Christmas special, and many do one for Halloween as well. Few try to tackle Thanksgiving, and when they do, it ends up being a dud.

However, one show got it right—The Animaniacs. I loved this cartoon growing up. My sister and I still quote from it, especially at this time of year when we do the “Turkey Song” from the below clip. It’s a short viewing, but hilarious nonetheless.

Tell me what you think!

My favorite album of one of my favorite bands. Unbelievable start to finish. Raw. Heavy. And Bluesy.

Dazed and Confused


Your Time is gonna come


How Many More Times (best track on the album for me)

My wife forwarded me an article the other day because she knows that I have pretty strong feelings about what it means to be a “good dad.” The article is here.

I agree with most of what the author says. I think those arguing against him in the comment section (or calling him ridiculous) are missing the point he is trying to make.

Wiping your kid’s nose, changing a diaper, making sure they’re fed, teaching them to throw a ball, teaching them to read, and so on, are all great. But doing those things doesn't make you a great dad.

As Chris Rock once said (and I’m paraphrasing): “You’re SUPPOSED to do those things.” It’s like “Hey, thanks for waking up today. You’re a good human.”

You shouldn’t have to tell someone they’re a good dad for doing the very things that a dad SHOULD be doing anyway.

So why does this happen so often? I think it comes from the fact that there are many fathers who look for every opportunity they can to get out of doing those things. These fathers interact with their children only when its “convenient” for them.

If you are one of these fathers, you’re a joke. You’re pathetic if you can’t change diapers, watch the kids without your wife, give them a bath, etc.

These fathers are the ones screwing it up for everyone else.

Being told I’m a good father for wiping my kid’s nose is extremely condescending as it insinuates that someone thought I was incapable of mastering such a complicated act of parenthood.

I mean, you never hear someone calling a woman “a good mom” for taking all of her kids to the store. Why? Because it’s expected. It’s something they are SUPPOSED to do.

Please people, quit holding men to a different set of standards when it comes to parenthood (a lower one at that). If you wouldn’t pay the same compliment to a woman, then don’t give it to a man.

So, how do you determine who is a good father? Here’s my standard. Compare me to other dads who are doing the things that they are SUPPOSED to be doing. Then determine who is doing those things begrudgingly and who is doing those things because they want to do them.

The good dads are those who do them because they want to (out of love), not obligation.

Kreator is one of those bands that don’t get enough credit within the thrash/heavy metal genre. They’ve been around for decades, putting out solid album after solid album. I personally prefer their later stuff. Here are a couple of tracks off the Violent Revolution album.

Enjoy!

Violent Revolution


Reconquering The Throne (Live)

The 2012 season has been quite a mix of emotions for me.

In college football, Notre Dame, my favorite college team, is finally winning again. Not only are they winning, but they are doing so with defense, something that had been absent over the last ten years or so. It’s pretty awesome watching Manti Te’o and the rest of the defense swarm to the ball, especially against good teams like Oklahoma (I’m pretending the awful Pitt game never happened). I only hope they keep this up and absolutely skull-drag USC. After that, who knows what will happen in the BCS standings. Either way, I’m enjoying the ride.

The NFL, is a completely different matter. The Saints were expected to take a step back in light of the bounty scandal, especially since they lost Sean Peyton for the season. However, I don’t think anyone, including me, thought it would be this bad. It’s like I’m watching a New Orleans team from yesteryear on the fiel

• Losing Carl Nicks to the Buccaneers has been huge. The offensive line isn’t giving Brees the same protection he’s had in recent years. Granted, they’re still putting a decent amount of points on the board, but not as easily as they once did.
• Up until this past week against Philadelphia, the running game (especially Mark Ingram) has been very disappointing. I never expected Ingram to be the next Barry Sanders, but I was hoping for at least the next Dalton Hilliard. Hopefully, he’s finally starting to find his groove. If not, I’d rather see the Saints use more of Ivory.
• The defense is still atrocious (and by far the biggest reason for the team’s woes), despite that being the focus of recent drafts, and the hiring of new coordinators.
• If the Saints aren’t able to really pull things together and make some noise in the playoffs, I think I’d rather see them blow this season and try their luck at picking up Notre Dame’s Manti Te’o or UGA’s Jarvis Jones in the draft. Both are crazy good, and both would give that defense the life it so desperately needs.

How is the college and NFL season shaping up for everyone else?

As requested by a certain individual, today’s Music Monday is Audioslave. I like all three albums, but the first one is the best.

Like a Stone


Set it off


I am the Highway (Live)
…probably my favorite song by the band.