Scattered Leaves

Virtual Blog Tour Stop at A Bookish Mom

2009-04-24T21:54:00.000-07:00

Bookish Mom is the lovely blog host I have to thank today for hosting me on her blog. She has put up a spotlight for Scattered Leaves on her very nice looking blog.

Please stop by and comment if you have the time.

Bookish Mom is also going through some tough times at the moment, so if you could keep her and her family in your thoughts, it would be very much appreciated.

Guest Post at Peeking Between the Pages AND Giveaway

2009-04-21T21:47:00.000-07:00

Today's stop on my virtual blog tour is at the beautiful blog Peeking Between the Pages.

I have written a guest post about things I have learned:

"Lesson one A: Be upfront with your prospective clients. (In our case I guess that would be our readers.) Tell them who you are. Tell them what you want them to do. (Please! Buy my book Scattered Leaves. Amazon.com or mmpubs.com or any good book store.) And finally, tell them what you’ve told them.

Lesson two..."

To read the rest of the entry, click here.

There is also a giveaway for two copies of Scattered Leaves!

There are two copies being given away and opportunities to get three entries into the draw, so be sure to stop by the guest post for the giveaway details.

Make Mine Mystery Guest Post

2009-04-20T19:22:00.000-07:00

My virtual book tour stop today is at Make Mine Mystery, a group blog all about mystery books.

They invited me to guest post, and I decided to talk about developing my main character:

"How do you develop your main character for your mystery? I read the following some where:

One way to develop a main character is by introducing another main, secondary or minor character (love interest, family member, friend or villain) who either enhances or contrasts his personality. You’ll see the saving-herself-for-marriage woman paired with a slutty best friend. The street-smart guy with the 4.0 GPA buddy. The happily married accountant with 2.5 kids, living vicariously through his footloose, unfettered college buddy who’s been to every corner of the globe on one hair-raising adventure after another."

To read the rest of the post, please click here.

Thank you for your comments!

Interesting Interview at Chasing Heroes

2009-04-17T19:05:00.000-07:00

Today I am being featured at an interesting blog called Chasing Heroes, which focuses on fiction heroes.

We, of course, talked about Ben McCord.

"Stats:

McCord’s a tough guy with a marsh mellow heart; an oilfield worker who comes home to find his wife raped and murdered. McCord’s not the brightest penny on hand but he’s long on perseverance (he’s number one riding in a cactus saddle!). He thinks might is right and his thoughts are simplistic. Protect the women and children and don’t lie. The men are on their own!"

To read more about Scattered Leaves and Ben, click here.

Post About the Books I Read Growing Up

2009-04-15T18:51:00.000-07:00

Today I had the pleasure of writing a post for The Book Stacks. I wrote about the books I read growing up.

Dear ones, and if you’re reading this you ARE very dear to me. For a few minutes I will try to ease your mind with nonsense. Over fifty years ago, when I played music over the radio, I always said, “Hello everybody, everywhere!” So. Please consider it said to you.

In these gloomy time (financially speaking) we can’t depend on much. The stock markets gone to hell, most of the businesses are down and nearly out (the housing foreclosures are going strong), the government’s promises are undependable, and there’s not much left you can trust. BUT you can always use your imagination. Let me take you back to 1941.

To read the rest of the post, please go here.

Interview on Book Talk Corner

2009-04-14T18:35:00.000-07:00

The lovely and talented Mayra Calvani has interviewed me at her site Book Talk Corner.

Here is a little taste of the interview:

How would you describe your creative process while writing this book? Was it stream-of-consciousness writing, or did you first write an outline?

Stream-of-consciousness writing.

Did your book require a lot of research?

No.

What was your goal when writing this book?

To get it out of my system and move on.

Who is your target audience?

I hope everyone will like the book but I wonder how much reading the average young person reads today?

What will the reader learn after reading your book?

To read the rest of the interview, click here.

Book Marketing Buzz Guest Post - Promoting Scattered Leaves

2009-04-13T18:22:00.000-07:00

Another day and another stop on my virtual book tour. I would just like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who had followed along here and followed along on my tour. I greatly appreciate all the comments.

Today I have the pleasure of posting on the Book Marketing Buzz blog. Here is a little bit of my post:

First, please, let say I know nothing about promoting my current book (or any others that may follow, as far as that goes) Scattered Leaves. It is a mystery, rather edgy I would say, the protagonist is Ben McCord. He’s an oilfield worker who comes home to find his wife raped and murdered. McCord is not the brightest penny on hand but he’s long on perseverance. He thinks might is right and his thoughts are simplistic. Protect the women and children and don’t lie. The men are on their own!

What I have done is ask folks to read it and tell me what they think. Below is an example of one person’s review:

To read the review and the rest of my post, click here.

Virtual Book Tour Stop at Blogger News Network

2009-04-10T18:15:00.000-07:00

Thank you for this interview, Richard. Can we begin by asking how you came up with the idea to write Scattered Leaves?

Ben McCord took control of my mind and body. He was at me both day and night. Even in my dreams he plagued me; not a moment of peace came my way until I agreed to his demands. I told him I couldn’t write in the first person—he said he didn’t give a damn—I told him I only wrote in the third person. I told him, “Editors don’t like first person stories,” it didn’t matter. When I named the story Scattered Bloody Leaves, he changed it to Scattered Leaves. The whole idea was his! From start to finish, blame Ben McCord!

How did you come up with such an intriguing title?

To read the rest of the interview, click here.

Guest Post at The Writer's Life

2009-04-08T18:10:00.000-07:00

Today I have had the opportunity to guest post at The Writer's Life.

Getting glimpses into authors' souls might be wonderfully entertaining for readers; but for the authors themselves, it's sometimes a difficult road they have traveled and I'm not talking the publishing road. I'm talking the life road.

What many readers do not realize is that it's that life road that molds the author and becomes the backbone of the writer's soul which makes him or her the writer he is today.

Richard Roach is the author of a brilliant novel called Scattered Leaves in which he is traveling all over the cyber world talking about his book on various blogs during his third virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion.

While his publishing road has been a rough one like many new authors, his life road hasn't been exactly easy, either. For his virtual book tour stop at The Writer's Life, I asked Richard to open up his soul and tell us about something in his life that no one knows about. Richard didn't disappoint, but he certainly pulled on those heart strings.

I'm proud to present a piece written by Richard about his life as a child and the traumas that enveloped his life at such a young age.

To read my piece The Dreadful Journey, please click here.

Today at Cafe of Dreams

2009-04-06T15:30:00.000-07:00

Good day everyone.

This is a new week and another day on my virtual blog tour. Today I decided to offer up something a little different at my stop at Cafe of Dreams...

"Instead of telling you how as a child I read westerns (pulp magazines) while lying on hard boards nailed to limbs in a tall pine and dreamed of someday writing a novel, please, dear ones, let me tell you a story about mankind. You know, we men are all fools when it comes to women. They look so good, smooth skin, sparkling eyes, the wonderful soft touch of your mother (we all have mothers, no matter how mean we are, I'm talking about men), and they smell good.

I trust that my little story entertains you."

Be sure to stop by and read Pocket Dreams.

An Interview with Dorothy

2009-04-03T15:43:00.000-07:00

Today I have an interview with the lovely and talented Ms. Dorothy Thompson. She is the owner of Pump Up Your Book Promotion, the lady who is coordinating my virtual tour and is the person who created the lovely banner at the end of this post.

She has interviewed me on her blog: Pump Up Your Online Book Promotion

"Of all the promotional items (bookmarks, press kits, etc…) you have used to promote your book, which one was used most effectively?

Internet blogging. It does spread the word most effectively.

Do you feel that the Internet has opened doors for authors who never dreamed they’d ever see a publishing contract and how has it influenced you in regards to your own publishing journey?

Yes, definitely! In as much as I know nothing about publishing, I have to depend on other folks so my publishing journey depends on the amount of money I’m willing to spend. This, dear ones, assumes SCATTERED LEAVES is worth reading."

Read the entire interview by clicking here.

Trivia and Fun at The Real Hollywood

2009-04-02T15:37:00.000-07:00

Today I have a very interesting virtual book tour stop at at blog called The Real Hollywood.

Ms. Camerena interviewed me on everything from Gilligan's Island to Wheel of Fortune.

"1. Gilligan’s Island Trivia – Taking a three hour boat tour, you find yourself shipwrecked on this tiny little remote island where 7 people were also shipwrecked. How would you convince this varied audience to read your book? Remember on this island besides The Skipper, his little buddy Gilligan and MaryAnn, is the smart Professor, the rich Mr.& Mrs. Howell who have the money to make your book into a movie and Ginger the movie star who might have a starring role. Please talk to the audience not to me.

Answer: Ben McCord has recently returned from Iraq with a trunk full of gold, diamonds and options on Sheik Aliabad’s oil lands. He gets the group together and tells them they can each have one wish costing up to one billion in U. S. dollars but in return they must agree to help him promote his book, make it into a movie, and dedicate the next year of their life to him.

All the members agree to help him except Gilligan. (He’s too stupid to understand what can be done with that much money.) McCord takes him to the other side of the island and gives him to a native who just happens to be rowing by in a canoe."

Click here for the full interview/trivia.

The Virtual Tour Begins!

2009-04-01T16:23:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone!

For the month of April, I will once again be touring around the internet by 'stopping' at all sorts of websites. I would be pleased if you could join me and leave a comment.

Today's stop is at a place called Beyond the Books where you will find the cover, information about the book an excerpt and more.

You can take a look at that post here.

Tour Banner

2009-03-30T16:27:00.000-07:00

I have a very nice tour banner courtesy of Pump Up Your Book Promotion:

Be sure to check back in here when my tour starts in April!

Fun and Relaxed Interview at Home Sweet Home

2009-02-04T17:06:00.001-08:00

To top off the virtual tour, today I stopped at Home Sweet Home for an interview of a different kind...

"9. What was it like growing up as a teen?

Son was in Europe fighting the Germans and I was in Houston. It was pretty miserable until I happened to find Norma. She was something and didn’t seem to mind me being a little different. (Everything revolved around money for me. I knew you couldn’t starve if you had a pocket full of money.) But all in all, it was better than being an adolescent. I worked as a soda jerk, in a grocery putting goods on the shelf etc, welder’s helper, a spraygun painter, and finally found my way into the oilfield as a roustabout. Then I really got rich! I made a dollar an hour!

What did you do for fun?

Kissed Norma, when she would let me, and we loved eating hamburgers and going to the show. In school I played football, basketball, and ran track. Norm was a majorette.

10. Back to the present, what’s your favorite room in your house?

I have an office in our home and a brick workshop where I can tinker with whatever needs my attention. My tractor is parked in this building also.

11. Do you have an outside job?

No.

12. What is your favorite thing to do on your day off?

I love to write. Make up stories that I hope folks will like. By writing you can visit anywhere you like, have characters that do your bidding–it’s a perfect world. The interest from all my business ventures pours in so all I have to worry about is what do I want to eat at the next meal. Nor is a wonderful cook and she likes her job.

13. What’s your most favorite thing to eat for breakfast?

Oh boy! That’s easy. Biscuits, fried eggs, sausage and plenty of hot tea. (Coffee makes me sick.)"

To read the complete interview, click here.

Interview at Fiction Scribe

2009-02-04T17:02:00.001-08:00

JM at Fiction Scribe has invited me to her site today for an interview. We talk about Scattered Leaves, becoming published, being a writer and more.

"What would you say is the most difficult thing about being a writer?

Answer: Trying to find an agent that can sell your work and allow you to spend your time actually writing.

If you could pick any author to collaborate with, who would it be?

Answer: John D. MacDonald

Do you have any interesting writing habits/quirks?

Answer: None that would be of interest to our readers. I worry most about being able to write entertaining material for the “today reader.” I fear that “time” may have passed me by.

What is the most valuable piece of advice you have been given/learned in your life as a writer?

Answer: You must continue to write no matter what the xyz editors tell you about how stupid you are."

If you would like to read more, click here.

Interview on Library at the End of the Universe

2009-02-04T16:54:00.000-08:00

Sassy Mama Bear at Library at the End of the Universe has invited me to do a quick interview...

"Where do you get the inspiration for your novels?

Wonderful stories from the following authors give me the impetus to move off dead center and begin the long process to produce another novel: John D. MacDonald, Erle Stanley Gardner, Leslie Charteris, Lawrence Sanders, and Elmore Leonard.

What inspires the intense characters you create such as Ben McCord?"

If you would like to read more, click here.

Guest Post at The Dark Phantom Review

2009-01-20T16:47:00.000-08:00

The Dark Phantom has invited me guest post.

I have some advice to people who are trying to sell books.

"To all you poor souls out there like me trying to sell books I would suggest the following:

If you don’t know Opera (or however she spells her name) and don’t have enough long green to buy the New York Times, I would suggest you rob a bank and when you are caught . . . tell the authorities that you needed the cash to publicize your latest book..."

Read more by clicking here.

Scattered Leaves Review at Literature Chick

2009-01-18T01:41:00.001-08:00

Today, as part of my virtual book tour, Scattered Leaves has been reviewed by the blogger Literature Chick.

This is some of what she had to say:

"In an ambitious and suspenseful novel, author and everyman Richard E. Roach combines some of the most important issues facing our country; illegal drug trafficking and illegal immigration." - Literature Chick

You can read the rest of what she had to say by clicking here.

Excerpt of Scattered Leaves

2009-01-18T01:35:00.001-08:00

Today's virtual tour stop is at A Book Blogger's Diary.

Here you can find an excerpt of the book along with a little about me.

You can also go to my virtual tour page for any information you'd like on my tour.

Between the Covers has also been kind enough to feature an excerpt from Scattered Leaves.

Scattered Leaves Featured at The Plot

2009-01-09T16:04:00.000-08:00

The Plot is an interesting blog where authors and characters get to know each other. I've been featured there yesterday and today.

You can go here to see the book spotlight by clicking here.

I had the interesting opportunity to interview Ben McCord and get to know him outside Scattered Leaves. If you'd like to read the interview, click here.

My BlogTalkRadio Chat with Kim S

2009-01-05T23:22:00.000-08:00

Today I was interviewed live on Blog Talk Radio today by Ms. Kim S.

If you missed the show, you can listen to the broadcast here.

The interview covers Scattered Leaves, the characters, the settings and a lot more.

This stop is part of my virtual book tour, so be sure to stop back to see where I will be stopping next.

By Way of Introduction...

2008-12-06T00:23:00.000-08:00

Richard E. Roach, knows the criminal mind: From the U. S. Air Force to the oil-patch. He's rubbed shoulders with giant oil company executives reaching for the crooked dollar down to the lowly floor hand. They all want the same thing: something for nothing. He is the author of twelve books and numerous short stories. Scattered Leaves is the first in a series that features the uncommon heroes Ben McCord and PJ. If you like twisting plots, action, and surprises, this is the book for you.

(From MMPubs.com)

Richard E. Roach was born in Galveston, Texas in 1931. He attended Trinity University, and the University of Texas. He served in the USAF for four years as a drill sergeant. Richard has invented several electronic instruments used in the detection of oil and gas, formed his company, manufactured them and sold them nationwide as Richard E. Roach, Inc. Before the oil business fell upon hard times, he sold the business for several million dollars and retired to write. Richard is married and Norma has put up with him since 1948. He has three grown children.

Short stories of his have been published in “Man’s Story 2,” “Happy 2007,” “Iconoclast 2006,” and “Bibliophilos 2006.” His first novel, “Scattered Leaves” hit the book stores on September 1, 2008. His second novel in this series, “Scattered Money,” will be published in 2009.

(From RichardERoach.com)