Another Review, Award Finalist

My next book, Havana: Killing Castro, has received a 5-star reader review and is one of four finalists in the Reader's Favorite poll in the Fiction-Thriller category. Winners will be announced on January 15th! This book will be available from Eternal Press and Amazon.com on January 7.

My new book, Havana: Killing Castro, which has already won several awards, will be released on January 7, 2010. This is a sequel to my previous book, Havana: Top Secret, and features all the main characters of that book. I'm planning several readings, beginning at the end of January. I hope to see you at one of them. Happy New Year to all!

Asheville Havana:Top Secret Book Tour Underway

My Asheville Havana: Top Secret book tour is underway with four readings programmed for this month. When preparing my book tour, I had one main objective in mind-- to make each reading unique, entertaining and FUN. My debut reading -- "Music, Mystery and Mojitos" -- will be all of that...and so much more! It will take place at Fiore's Ristorante Toscana at 122 College Street on July 2 at 5:30 PM. My good friend Anthony Cerrato, the owner, is offering a special package for the occasion: $20 will get you a signed copy of my book, delicious hors d'ouevres, a real Cuban mojito, a reading like none you've ever had, and live Latin music. If you're in town, come join the party and partake in the festivities. Reservations suggested -- 828-281-0710.
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New Havana: Top Secret Review

The following review of Havana: Top Secret was published yesterday in The Rose and The Thorne Literary Ezine: http://roseandthornreviews.blogspot.com/

To read previous reviews, please go to my website: www.davidpereda.com

Havana: Top Secret Review on Havana Journal

Havana: Top Secret continues to receive excellent reviews. The following review appeared yesterday on Havana Journal, a blog written by a highly respected newspaperman which deals with Cuban-American issues:

"If you love Cuba, political intrigue and clandestine government operations, you’ll love Havana Top Secret."

Rob Sequin, Havana Journal

Havana Top Secret Released!!!!

My new thriller Havana Top Secret was released today. It's available as e-book and in a week it will be available in print at Amazon. Need I tell you I'm excited?

An Intriguing Excerpt From Havana: Top Secret

Here is an excerpt from my forthcoming book. If you want to read more, go to my website and open one of the four secret doors:

“That was uncomfortable,” Raymond said. “And the sugar business? What was that all about?”

“My cover, Ramon. Everyone in Cuba might suspect I’m with the CIA, but I still need a cover. I buy sugar for a Mexican consortium. Actually, I’ve gotten pretty good at it considering I didn’t know anything about sugar when I started.”

“I must admit I’m impressed. There’s never a dull moment with you, it seems. One moment you’re with the CIA, and the next you’re a sugar buyer for a Mexican group.”

“You know who that major was?” Pepe said.

“No,” Raymond answered. “But he sure asked a lot of questions.”

“He’s the head of national security, reporting directly to Raul Castro.”

“What?” Raymond stopped abruptly, and a woman following behind slammed into him. She was blonde, shapely and was wearing tight white shorts. Out of the corner of his eye, Raymond saw her dive into the mass of humanity and vanish. She reminded him of Sonia. “He’s what?”

“Keep walking.” Pepe yanked his arm. “I don’t know what Major Teceira was doing here. Maybe he was checking airport operations. Or maybe he was checking you out.”

“Me?” Raymond’s stomach contracted into tight, cold knots. “Why me?”

Pepe didn’t answer. He charged ahead in silence, his head rotating like a lighthouse as his eyes scanned the crowd. Raymond’s heart beat like a high school band drum.

When they stepped onto the sun-drenched sidewalk outside, Pepe stopped and said, “He’s Sonia’s husband.”

Read Excerpts from Havana Top Secret

Hello Friends and Scribes,

As of today, you can now read four different excerpts from "Havana: Top Secret" on my Web site -- one for every type of mood: erotic, romantic, dangerous or intriguing. Come visit with me and leave your comments:

http://www.davidpereda.com/havanatopsecret.html

I'm Going Green Today

I was interviewed recently for a blog on Green Publishing, which appeared today.

What did I say? Read the article.

I'll advance you this much -- e-books are in!

http://kbkeilbach.blogspot.com/2009/04/going-green-in-print.html

Guest Blogging Today at Tender Graces

I'm guest blogging today at Tender Graces. The subject is the "Hook" -- that seductive first line of a story that grabs you by the scruff of your neck and plunges you headlong into the book. Please visit with me and tell me what you think: http://tendergraces.blogspot.com/

I'm guest blogging today at Eazy Cheezy

I'm guest blogging today at Eazy Cheezy. If you'd like to know more about the Basic Tools of Fiction or simply connect to what's new with my life and with the release of my new book, Havana Top Secret , click here.

Undersize me, please!

Does size matter?

Many Americans think so. In fact, in our great and wonderful country, big has beome synonymous with better and soon will be appearing in our friendly thesaurus. Professional athletes keep getting taller and bulkier. Fifty years ago, a professional basketball player at 6' 9" was considered tall. We now have players 7' and taller. Yao Ming, the great Chinese bgasketball player for the Houston Rockets, measures 7' 6" and weighs a whopping 260 pounds of solid muscle. When Rocky Marciano was the heavyweight boxing champion of the world, he barely made 5' 10" and weighed 180 pounds. The current champion, Vitali Kitischko, measures 6' 7" and weighs around 260 pounds. When "Refrigerator" Perry was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1985, he amazed the world by weighing more than 300 pounds. He was considered the biggest lineman ever at the time. Today, he would be undersized against many pro linemen.

As Americans, we proudly announce to the world that our world-class athletes are taller, stronger and faster than ever before -- thanks to improved nutition, better healthcare, and more sophisticated training methods.

As everyday Americans, we don't just eat anymore. We supersize it.

If you happen to be an alien who linked to my Web site by mistake and don't know what supersize means, please climb into your silver spaceship with multiple jet engines and shuttle to earth to visit a McDonald's. All you need to say when you place your order is, "Supersize it." When you see the mountain of French fries, you'll understand the term.

As for me, undersize me, please. Think about all the money we'd save if we really did live in a less is more world. Do you know what a billion is? That's right, 1,000 millions. And a trillion? Right again, 1,000 billions.

It used to be that $1 million was a hefty sum. Now a scam artist like Bernard Madoff does a convoluted Ponzi scheme and cheats sophisticated investors of $65 billion or 65,000 stacks of million dollars. Did you get a hold of that number in your head? Try this one. Put in a bank at 6% simple interest, $65 billion would generate 3,900 million dollars a year. Mind boggling isn't it?

I don't need that much to live well. Do you? I'd be happy with $1 million.

Undersize me, please!

I'm counting the days till my new book is published. I thought I would offer a sneak preview and also ask your opinion along the way. If you'd like to sound off, click here. Thanks!

Judging a book by its cover

I just received the cover art for my forthcoming book, Havana: Top Secret. Like any proud father, I couldn't wait to show off my baby's picture.

This is the first in a series of mystery thrillers I've written that are set in the intriguing city of Havana, Cuba.

I'm eager to know what you think of the cover.

Miami and Asheville

I’m in love with two cities – Miami and Asheville. The former is sultry and sensual and likes to dress in string bikinis and dance to the beat of Cachao’s bongos; the latter is artistic and soulful and enjoys stimulating conversation and vintage wine. I liken one to electrifying my body at Starbucks with a triple espresso, and the other to pampering my body with a shiatsu massage.

Which one do I prefer? It depends on the time of year, my mood and my digestion. The heat of Miami in summer is like a sauna – which is okay if you are into saunas, which I’m not. The cold of Asheville in winter is like being inside a refrigerator – which is fine if you are into refrigerators. Do I need to say I’m not?

Miami is bright-colored, quick and now. I love its vibrancy and sensuality, its noise and its kitsch. I like to sit at one of the myriad outside restaurants dotting Miami Beach and watch the women strut on the sidewalk, hips working and necks tilted in that arrogant-yet-insecure way that screams, “Look at me! Am I gorgeous or what?” By the size and type of their breasts and nose, I can usually tell if their plastic surgery was done in the United States or abroad. Sometimes, I can even tell who did it. Plastic surgeons, after all, have their own signatures. Occasionally, one will catch me looking and will stare back at me, lips pursed like biting into a grapefruit, as if saying, “So what?”

Asheville, on the other hand, is pastel-colored, oblique and surprising. The women of Asheville are into tattoos and rainbow-colored hair, into wine and literary workshops, into art and cooking lessons, into exoticism and piercings, into self-expression and expanding their kundalini. Forget about plastic surgery and physical insecurities, Asheville women are more interested in self-realization than in physical reconstruction. They are more inner-driven than outer-directed, more into displaying that marvelous ruby pierced to their navels than showing off their massive, er, muscles.

The truth of the matter is that I am in the throes of a dilemma. I love them both.