At the Reading Reviewer, I shared an inspirational story about a Vietnamese refugee who is living the American dream at this link. Here at SOS Aloha, I welcome Joshua Graham whose DARKROOM centers around the Vietnam War.
Joshua Graham grew up in Brooklyn, NY where he lived for the better part of 30 years. He holds a Bachelor and Master’s Degree and went on to earn his doctorate from Johns Hopkins University. During his time in Maryland, he taught as a professor at Shepherd College (WV), Western Maryland College, and Columbia Union College (MD).
Today he lives with his beautiful wife and children in Southern California. Several of Graham’s short fiction works have been published by Pocket Books and Dawn Treader Press.
Writing under the pen name Ian Alexander, Graham debuted with his first Epic Fantasy novel ONCE WE WERE KINGS, an Amazon #1 Bestseller in multiple categories and Award-Winning Finalist in the SciFi/Fantasy category of The USA “Best Books 2011″ Awards, as well as an Award-Winning Finalist in the Young Adult Fiction category of The USA “Best Books 2011″ Awards, and an Award Winner in the 2011 Forward National Literature Awards in the Teen/Young Adult category. ONCE WE WERE KINGS is available in ebook and hardcover editions.
Look for his next Suspense/Thriller DARKROOM (Simon & Schuster/Howard Books) to be released May 1, 2012!
You can visit his website at www.joshua-graham.com.
Kim: Can you share a special memory of Brooklyn - your favorite sight, smell, and sound?
Joshua: Prospect Park used to be one of my favorite places to go. My wife and I have many fond memories of that place, though the last time we were there, our “spot” had become overgrown and unkempt. That was sad, actually. I’ll never forget the smell of the shops in Midwood (where I grew up). Every morning, the aroma of freshly made bagels drew me inside the local establishment before school. And every afternoon, on the way home, the smell of DiFara’s Pizza side-tracked me from homework. The Brooklyn Bridge will always be a sight that reminds me of my roots.
Kim: Who or what helped you get published?
Joshua: At the risk of sounding cliché, it was unequivocally God that brought me to where I am now, from unpublished to published and then to bestselling author. I wrote BEYOND JUSTICE from the inspiration of a sermon I’d heard about forgiveness. But all the success that came from that book was a result of ideas and strategies that were placed into my hands (my mind, actually) during prayer and reading the Bible. It’s not as esoteric as it sounds, if you spend time daily this way. And I know I’m not the only person in the world who experiences this. I’d love to hear from your readers in their comments if they too have experienced this.
I also have to mention the people who were closest to me and supported me during this time. My wife and my children, for standing by me and giving me the courage to go on against all odds, Susan Wingate, a brilliant author and friend who showed me how to get my book in front of the public, and Michael Angel, another brilliant writer who with Susan encouraged me in my writing through critiques and online meetings via Skype.
Kim: Tell us about DARKROOM!
Joshua: Darkroom is a tale of suspense and intrigue about a photojournalist whose visions that happen in her darkroom uncover a forty year old conspiracy for which some are still willing to kill.
Kim: What's next for Joshua Graham?
Joshua: Hopefully movie adaptations for Darkroom and my other novels. I have several other novels in the works and hope to see them published soon. Among them are the next book in the Darkroom series and the next book in Ian Alexander’s Sojourner Saga (YA fantasy).
Mahalo, Joshua, for joining us today at SOS Aloha! Joshua is giving away a print copy of DARKROOM to one randomly selected commenter:
After scattering her mother’s ashes in Vietnam, photojournalist Xandra Carrick comes home to New York to rebuild her life and career. When she experiences supernatural visions that reveal atrocities perpetrated by American soldiers during the Vietnam War, she finds herself entangled in a forty-year-old conspiracy that could bring the nation into political turmoil.
Launching headlong into a quest to learn the truth from her father, Peter Carrick, a Pulitzer Prize Laureate who served as an embedded photographer during the war, Xandra confronts him about a dark secret he has kept–one that has devastated their family.
Her investigations lead her to her departed mother’s journal, which tell of love, spiritual awakening, and surviving the fall of Saigon.
Pursued across the continent, Xandra comes face-to-face with powerful forces that will stop at nothing to prevent her from revealing the truth. But not before government agencies arrest her for murder, domestic terrorism and an assassination attempt on the newly elected president of the United States.
Darkroom is a riveting tale of suspense that tears the covers off the human struggle for truth in a world imprisoned by lies.
To enter the giveaway,
1. Leave a comment about photography - do you use a fancy camera or an easy one? Do you take the picture quickly or calculate the settings?
I use a cheap digital photo. I take pictures quickly of animals and children as they don't listen to directions.
2. This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only.
3. Comments are open through Saturday, May 5, 10 pm in Hawaii. I'll post the winner on Sunday, May 6.
Mahalo,
Kim in Hawaii
Today he lives with his beautiful wife and children in Southern California. Several of Graham’s short fiction works have been published by Pocket Books and Dawn Treader Press.
Writing under the pen name Ian Alexander, Graham debuted with his first Epic Fantasy novel ONCE WE WERE KINGS, an Amazon #1 Bestseller in multiple categories and Award-Winning Finalist in the SciFi/Fantasy category of The USA “Best Books 2011″ Awards, as well as an Award-Winning Finalist in the Young Adult Fiction category of The USA “Best Books 2011″ Awards, and an Award Winner in the 2011 Forward National Literature Awards in the Teen/Young Adult category. ONCE WE WERE KINGS is available in ebook and hardcover editions.
Look for his next Suspense/Thriller DARKROOM (Simon & Schuster/Howard Books) to be released May 1, 2012!
You can visit his website at www.joshua-graham.com.
Kim: Can you share a special memory of Brooklyn - your favorite sight, smell, and sound?
Joshua: Prospect Park used to be one of my favorite places to go. My wife and I have many fond memories of that place, though the last time we were there, our “spot” had become overgrown and unkempt. That was sad, actually. I’ll never forget the smell of the shops in Midwood (where I grew up). Every morning, the aroma of freshly made bagels drew me inside the local establishment before school. And every afternoon, on the way home, the smell of DiFara’s Pizza side-tracked me from homework. The Brooklyn Bridge will always be a sight that reminds me of my roots.
Joshua: At the risk of sounding cliché, it was unequivocally God that brought me to where I am now, from unpublished to published and then to bestselling author. I wrote BEYOND JUSTICE from the inspiration of a sermon I’d heard about forgiveness. But all the success that came from that book was a result of ideas and strategies that were placed into my hands (my mind, actually) during prayer and reading the Bible. It’s not as esoteric as it sounds, if you spend time daily this way. And I know I’m not the only person in the world who experiences this. I’d love to hear from your readers in their comments if they too have experienced this.
I also have to mention the people who were closest to me and supported me during this time. My wife and my children, for standing by me and giving me the courage to go on against all odds, Susan Wingate, a brilliant author and friend who showed me how to get my book in front of the public, and Michael Angel, another brilliant writer who with Susan encouraged me in my writing through critiques and online meetings via Skype.
Kim: Tell us about DARKROOM!
Joshua: Darkroom is a tale of suspense and intrigue about a photojournalist whose visions that happen in her darkroom uncover a forty year old conspiracy for which some are still willing to kill.
Kim: What's next for Joshua Graham?
Joshua: Hopefully movie adaptations for Darkroom and my other novels. I have several other novels in the works and hope to see them published soon. Among them are the next book in the Darkroom series and the next book in Ian Alexander’s Sojourner Saga (YA fantasy).
Mahalo, Joshua, for joining us today at SOS Aloha! Joshua is giving away a print copy of DARKROOM to one randomly selected commenter:
After scattering her mother’s ashes in Vietnam, photojournalist Xandra Carrick comes home to New York to rebuild her life and career. When she experiences supernatural visions that reveal atrocities perpetrated by American soldiers during the Vietnam War, she finds herself entangled in a forty-year-old conspiracy that could bring the nation into political turmoil.
Launching headlong into a quest to learn the truth from her father, Peter Carrick, a Pulitzer Prize Laureate who served as an embedded photographer during the war, Xandra confronts him about a dark secret he has kept–one that has devastated their family.
Her investigations lead her to her departed mother’s journal, which tell of love, spiritual awakening, and surviving the fall of Saigon.
Pursued across the continent, Xandra comes face-to-face with powerful forces that will stop at nothing to prevent her from revealing the truth. But not before government agencies arrest her for murder, domestic terrorism and an assassination attempt on the newly elected president of the United States.
Darkroom is a riveting tale of suspense that tears the covers off the human struggle for truth in a world imprisoned by lies.
To enter the giveaway,
1. Leave a comment about photography - do you use a fancy camera or an easy one? Do you take the picture quickly or calculate the settings?
I use a cheap digital photo. I take pictures quickly of animals and children as they don't listen to directions.
2. This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only.
3. Comments are open through Saturday, May 5, 10 pm in Hawaii. I'll post the winner on Sunday, May 6.
Mahalo,
Kim in Hawaii
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| No darkrooms in Hawaii .... |
INTERNATIONAL
ReplyDeleteI have a small, cheap digital camera that does the job well. Of course, I take about 100 pictures to get a really great shot, but I think that is more me than the camera.
Every time I buy a camera, my daughter borrows it and then it is no more.
ReplyDeleteGot an expensive camera - well somewhat expensive. I have a Nikon 3000. Bought it mostly to capture shots of the boys and vacations we take. I try to get a good shot every time.
ReplyDeleteI must admit, I use my iphone more than anything. I am constantly taking pictures and find it easier than carrying a camera with me. Unless I am doing something special, then I use my digital camera, which is a cheapy too.
ReplyDeleteMel
bournmelissa at hotmail dot com
I have a Cannon Digital camera and I also take pictures on my iPhone.
ReplyDeleteI took a lot of pics when my children and grandaughter were small but don't take as many now since my daughter is now a photographer on a part time professional level. She has been the picture taker for over 30 yrs. I started with a Kodak box camera and now have digital Cannon I have only used one time. lol
ReplyDeletemisskallie2000 at yahoo dot com
Beyond Justice is a fantastic read and I highly recommend it.
ReplyDeleteWhen taking pictures I like just a simple, simple camera that I used to have, however, I am unable to get film for it now.
Have a new fancy one, hate it, simple is best.
I was the person that normally took the pictures in our family. I wish the digital had been invented sooner. Now I leave it up to my grown kids to be the picture takers.
ReplyDeleteHi Kim and everyone reading.
ReplyDeleteThanks for giving me the opportunity to share. The thing I love next to writing is interacting with readers. Hope you'll connect with me at the social media links below.
BTW DARKROOM is available for Kindle
and Barnes & Noble/Nook
You might be interested in a short blog post I recently did regarding some inspiration for this book: Here
http://networkedblogs.com/wT9LD
If you'd like free sample chapters, please come to my facebook page: http://on.fb.me/joshpage
I'd love to hear from everyone, so please feel free to reach out to me on facebook, my blog, or twitter: @j0shuaGraham
Good luck to everyone who entered the drawing!
Josh
Mine's not the most expensive, but neither is it the cheapest. It's a Sony. I love it for also taking video and it's ease of use. I was so intrigued by the sample chapters of Beyond Justice I had to buy it for my Color Nook and looked for everything of yours I could find to read.
ReplyDeleteThank you Karen! It really means a lot to hear from my readers and I hope you enjoy them all. Wouldn't be cool if I could post photos that my readers take, like locales where they read my books? :)
DeleteI use a cheap digital and snap randomly.
ReplyDeleteI use the Kodak Easy Share mainly because it is easy to send to all the different relatives who want to see pics of the kids. Surprisingly enough, it takes really good pictures. :)
ReplyDeleteI don't have a camera. My children take lots of pictures and give me copies.
ReplyDeleteI love suspense! This book sounds really good!
I use an easy-to-use camera and take pictures quickly.
ReplyDeletethanks for this blog Joshua, its great to see an author of great stories interacting with fans as you do, I use my cell phone for pics I always have it with me, and the easiest way to post them where I want as well as where I am, i am a planner on pics but I don't always get the shot I am wanting,..so far my fav book of yours in Once we were kings..loved they're adventures!
ReplyDeleteI haven't taken pictures in a while but I use a digital camera that's not very expensive but someday I would love one of those more expensive cameras.
ReplyDeletethis is the first Joshua Graham book that I read (BEYOND JUSTICE). I could not put this book down until I finished it. The story is so unbelievable. In reading this I kept thinking this could really happen. The message of forgiveness and belief was so powerful. I encourage EVERYONE to read this book. I don't want to reveal much about the story line but it is very heart wrenching. The writing is such that you can actually feel the pain of Sam Hudson in this story. JUST READ IT.
ReplyDeleteHi Belgie,
DeleteThank you for your kind words. I'm glad that my book BEYOND JUSTICE had such an impact. Thank you for recommending it. If you liked Beyond Justice, there's a good chance you'll like DARKROOM as well. Thanks for leaving this nice comment!
Joshua Graham
www.joshua-graham.com