 Austin, Texas is not only the fastest-growing city in the U.S., it’s also home to one of the fastest-writers in the west, the legendary George Wier. Author of dozens of literary works, from the monumental Bill Travis Mystery Series to the science fiction fueled Vindicators Series to the steampunk rocket ride that is the The Far Journey Chronicles, Wier doesn’t just write books, he makes entire book shelves tremble. Born and bred in Texas, George Wier is not only a Texan, he’s the state’s embodiment as a writer. His work ethic and word production is practically unparalleled, leaving many of his peers in the dust as he routinely makes his way up the bestseller lists. There’s practically a whole book shelf devoted to the author in the mystery section of Austin’s favorite book store, BookPeople. He’s delivered countless talks at book signings and is always filled with stories and anecdotes that keep his fanbase engaged, entertained and educated. Reading George Wier is like taking a dip in the pool of history after a close call with the hot Texas heat. His thrillers thrill and his action packs but there’s always an awesome dose of nostalgia for all that was and still is glorious about the past. He takes you into the small nooks and crannies of what makes places like Texas great and why you should care about Nikola Tesla’s inventions and shows you the way real people talk. There’s no Hollywood make-up or staged scenes in a George Wier novel. His stories are as real as life (even when they’re fantasy) and he takes you right up close to the action and into the heads of heroes in a way few do. Want page-turning experiences and light-speed escapism that leads you right into truth, justice and the Texas way? George Wier is more than your man for the job — he’s the architect of worlds you never knew existed. Go to your Kindle app or Amazon account and stock up. George Wier has more than a good book for you, he’s got a big library waiting. There’s a reason he’s been mentioned in the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, became a Kindle Book Awards Finalist and his novels are getting the attention of people all over the planet. The guy can tell a story. Hell, he is one. And by the looks of things, it’s only the beginning. Don’t be surprised one day in the future if you see Mathew McConahey starring in a Bill Travis movie. Be one of the cool people that gets to say, “I read the book.” There’ll be one happy Texan watching it all, unless he’s too busy punching away at the next one. George Wier on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/George-Wier/e/B004USCNYO For everything George Wier visit www.billtravismysteries.com
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 Words are effective things and their mastery is observed in the poet who uses them like rifles and doves, influencing the landscape of culture. Poets are powerful people and Larry Jaffe is a powerful poet. He has spent a lifetime with words, using them to communicate not only his thoughts and emotions about his own life, but to speak on the critical problems facing our planet giving them the significance only a poet could. Most notably, Jaffe has championed the cause of human rights and his poetry has reached across nations, forging people together over universal topics like ethics and justice. He has redefined the role of the poet, transforming it into a political force capable of influencing the global scene. Larry Jaffe established himself as the preeminent human rights poet with works like “One Child Sold: Human Trafficking and Rights” and founding Poets Beyond Borders, a group aimed at improving human rights. He helped spearhead the United Nations Dialogue Among Civilizations Through Poetry Project which led to hundreds of poetry readings in hundreds of cities across the world. He was the first poet to be awarded the Saint Hill Art Festival’s Lifetime of Creativity Award and was a former poet in residence at the Autry Museum of Western Heritage. Jaffe has read his poems all over the world, from the Museum of Literature in Prague to the Dylan Thomas Centre in Wales and his poems continue to find an audience internationally. It is safe to say that Larry Jaffe is passionate about poetry. He’s been performing and hosting poetry readings for many years and his work reflects a lifetime of devotion to words. One of his most popular poems, also the title of one of his books, is “Unprotected Poetry,” a cool, hip piece demonstrating Jaffe’s viewpoint on the subject of poetry. He likes it raw, unrestricted and impinging. Something characteristic of his work is its ability to communicate and present ideas and emotions clearly so they’re easily understood. There’s nothing abstract or vague about his poems. You know what they are about, they hit you in the gut and make you remember them. Maybe that’s the way poetry has to be for a poet trying to wake up mankind from a slumber. The sleeping giant may still be snoozing but not for long with the work Jaffe is putting out these days. In the poem “Cattle Car,” Larry Jaffe writes about a group of Jews that stood up against the Nazi’s, recognizing their heroism in the midst of overwhelming odds. The world still faces such odds today but fortunately it still has its heroes too. Larry Jaffe is not only fighting to make the world a better place, he’s stepping to the forefront and delivering the words it needs to hear. His podium is large and his impact even larger. He is truly the poet statesman. For more information on Larry Jaffe visit www.lgjaffe.com  Having previously read three D.G. Flamand books, I was expecting “A Thousand Rainbows” to be like the others, positive, educational and inspiring. I had no idea what I was holding in my hands when I opened up the pages of this powerhouse of a book. It was everything his other books were, but more. I thought I was reading a children’s book but I quickly realized I was reading what I have no trouble calling, the most grown-up, mature book I’ve ever read in my life (and I’ve read a lot of books).
Looking at the cover, an owl flying over a beautiful sunset, and reading the title “A Thousand Rainbows” I thought I was in for a pretty simple and straightforward story. As I started to read about the various animals that lived in the land of Cornucopia, “the most beautiful region of the world,” I wondered what was happening because it seemed as if nothing much was. In each new chapter I was shown a different group of animals, each happy, friendly and always positive. I kept waiting for some animal to say, “oh no! here come the bears, we have to run!” but none ever did. In fact just when I thought the bears must eat the fish if they didn’t eat the other animals, the story revealed that all of the land animals enjoyed talking to the fish in the river! What did the bears eat? Honey! Of course! Even though I’d read this author before (i should have known better), what I kept expecting was the usual dangerous, violent problem to arrive and strike fear into the story’s characters, but a lightbulb went on and I realized what D.G. Flamand was doing. Sometimes life rushes by and we don’t take time to smell the flowers. “A Thousand Rainbows” removes all of the stress, negativity and pressures of life and shows you nothing but the flowers. Some might say it’s “unrealistic” or “impossible” to have a place where everything is beautiful and everyone looks out for one another and the world is happy, but isn’t the job of the artist to paint a picture of a more positive future? Flamand’s world is a breath of fresh air because as he takes you from one group of animals to the next, you start to see that the world is bigger than one person and that we’re all worthy of some attention and care. Like I said, this book is for grown-ups because it’s so insidiously mature. The author’s touch is so light that any reader will gradually find himself a different person at the end and wonder how it happened. A casual glance at this book would never reveal the truth about it. In many ways it is a political and philosophical work on the level of George Orwell’s “Animal Farm,” only better because Flamand doesn’t have to resort to scaring you away from a dangerous path like Orwell and others have done. All he has to do is what a true artist would: create a bright, shining better path. This isn’t political rhetoric or wishful thinking or some doomed utopia presented in “A Thousand Rainbows,” it is an immensely powerful allegory with real solutions to real problems. It should be taught in every political science class. “A Thousand Rainbows” is a major work from one of the world’s most significant living creators. D.G. Flamand’s mission is to give the world non-violent literature and I think he’s a true visionary for actually doing it. Today we have “a thousand rainbows” but as his work finds a larger audience those rainbows will become immeasurable. To buy a copy of "A Thousand Rainbows" CLICK HERE. For everything D.G. Flamand go to dgflamandbooks.com  Like the days of Homer, lyric tales have found their way to us, using words set to a rhythm, hitting us like waves playing against the shoreline. Poetry, when it is done best immortalizes the triumph of man over the elements, shouts the glory of the human spirit, and whispers the tragedies that blow across the universe like passing storms. The poet Kevin J. Taylor finds himself standing on a cliff at the edge of eternity, looking out across the vastness of space and with his book “Letter to the White Imbongi” building a bridge that carries us past ourselves, towards unimagined futures, leaving us back where we started, hopeful, wishful and oh so powerful. Taylor delivers a book that is spiritual to say the least, fixing the reader into strange, yet familiar situations, where they must look to the future, take in the past, notice every detail from an exterior view. Reading “Letter to the White Imbongi” is like being a child again and having your father lift you up and fly you across the house, except in the case of this collection of poems, we are taken into memories that feel more real than any room we flew across as kids. If the goal of art is to communicate, to move, then Taylor is a master, because he effortlessly maneuvers our thoughts and emotions, and the final result is a feeling that must be what astronauts experience because the world becomes smaller and we’re left to float across the cosmos like a giant kite.  Traditionally, an Imbongi is the name-title of a Praise Poet. The word comes from South Africa but suits this Canadian born poet’s purposes extremely well. He is like the all-mighty and powerful Oz, except instead of standing behind the curtain, he’s at the crossroads of the universe with a bent ear, open arms and quickly moving hands, writing down the meaning of it all. From life to death and back again the story unfolds and drifts over landscapes. There is no leaf left unturned and Taylor manages to communicate the whole of existence with a few concise lines on a few, mostly empty pages. As one flips through the work, it’s hard not to notice the emptiness, or rather the vastness of available space. Kevin Taylor does in a few lines what most writers need thick volumes packed with words to communicate, and we’re all the better for the simplicity and the feeling of having plenty of room to move around in.
One day in the future we will look back at our lifetime spent doing the things we usually do with a lifetime, smile fondly and steady ourselves for the next voyage. Taylor’s poems make us feel like that, no matter where we are on this adventure called life. His poetry is in the tradition of The Odyssey because he dishes up an epic worthy to be sung and passed down, but perhaps is even more remarkable because he does it in about 20 pages. Get ready to fly to heights well worth the trip. Kevin J. Taylor will take you across eternity and stretch it even further. Enjoy the ride! For more information please visit http://poetkevinjtaylor.tumblr.com  Finding one’s true passion is a rare gift and having the courage to pursue it is even more rare. Rashid Darden is truly special because he has accomplished both, knowing his path was as a novelist and that he was willing to cast aside the security of a 9 to 5 in order to see his dream come to fruition. Not only this, but as a writer he has tackled subject matter that is unique and offered a different perspective that makes him truly one of a kind. He’d already written a play and made a name for himself as a poet while studying at Georgetown University and the D.C. native continued writing, working on what would become a series of novels, the “Lazarus Trilogy” as well as a collection of poetry. After more than a decade of working at non-profits, all the while continuing to write when he could, Darden decided to make the big leap to full-time novelist. He put in the hard work of learning the publishing business, as well as how to enhance his work, and his next book proved to be an ambitious project that took readers into a world spanning the continent of Africa to an America bonded to slavery, and took the author himself across the country visiting historic slave sites and illuminating the past for students and fans, leaving them enlightened and inspired.  “Birth of a Dark Nation” is the first book of a new series by Rashid Darden that explores vampire lore from an African perspective. It does what Darden succeeds at best, offering a unique point of view that is often missing from mainstream literature. The author has found an eager audience for his latest work, indicated by the efforts of a very successful crowd-funding campaign that nearly doubled its initial target goal. Due to the funds Darden raised he was able to travel to various states lecturing and spreading the word about his new novel. He has also managed to inspire the next generation of writers who will surely take a page from the author’s playbook.
Tackling historical time periods, confronting the harsh realities of racial and cultural differences, and wrapping it around a genre like horror is no easy feat but Rashid Darden set his sights on its accomplishment and it looks like he’s won. “Birth of a Dark Nation” currently has a 5 star rating on Amazon and is the kind of springboard any author needs when kicking off a new series. Considering that many would-be novelists never get as far as one book, Darden has managed to etch out an impressive career for himself filled with praise from his readers, accolades from his peers and the satisfaction that comes from giving back to society. There are many ways one can spend a lifetime. It’s inspiring to see one being spent writing words that aim to educate, enlighten and uplift. Rashid Darden is that kind of writer. For more information please visit www.rashiddarden.com  A trip to the movies or a flip through television channels reveal a level of violence that has become so acceptable that we usually don’t bat an eye to it. Although violence in entertainment is nothing new, what one writer in California is doing in fiction is. D.G. Flamand has created an entire line of non-violent literature that has found an audience from children to adults and is growing every day. Flamand travels from city to city introducing his books to one reader at a time, many of them who have found a connection to the priceless moral lessons the author plants like seeds within the pages of his stories. These seeds are like magic beans growing into a giant beanstalk striving to push mankind to greater heights where we all become giants of a more kind nature.
Instead of violent acts like fist fighting, car crashes or waged wars, Flamand delivers landscapes filled with characters of compassion, integrity and purpose. His books demonstrate that we don’t need the threat of some great evil ready to do us in. Having worthwhile goals, helping others and being a better person are much better motivations for any protagonist to have. This is an entirely new approach to storytelling because stories are no longer about barely making it past some dangerous threat so we can etch out our survival. No, now the story becomes about how to achieve a better world from where we currently stand, the only real threats coming from our own lack of knowledge or uncertainty of character. It is a unique way to tell a story and one of those simple ideas that we wonder why no one had thought of it before. Thankfully D.G. Flamand put his finger on an idea that may just change everything. We have all witnessed the power of a good story. We know the strength of word of mouth and how movements can spring up so quickly they take the world by storm. It is totally feasible that non-violent literature will not only begin to catch wind and turn into a wildfire of an idea but it may already have done so. D.G. Flamand not only writes dozens of non-violent books but also hosts a violence-free writing contest twice a year. It is producing a new crop of writers of non-violent literature who are already producing works and affecting each of their own respective communities. Flamand is becoming a Johnny Appleseed kind of figure. He is the father of a movement that is producing results. Children are learning valuable life lessons and their parents are becoming just as enlightened. New titles continue to pour out from the author and the horizon is nothing but bright. It would not be surprising to someday see his name mentioned alongside Lewis Carroll, Aesop, The Grimm Brothers and C.S. Lewis because D.G. Flamand has given the world something just as, if not more, valuable. There are no wicked witches, big bad wolves or mad queens in his stories, but there are imaginative worlds with relatable characters. They will surprise you because instead of running away from someone, they are usually running towards them; trying to help, demonstrating the greatness that is in everyone. An exceptional author can change something inside of us. D.G. Flamand is exceptional. For more information please visit www.dgflamandbooks.com  There are lots of people that dream of being a writer but never put in the time to actually write. Bruce Boyers is a real writer, putting in the hard work at his craft producing words upon words which have landed everywhere from websites and blogs to promotional materials and works of fiction. His career as a freelance writer allowed him to perfect a control over the written word which most aspiring writers never achieve. Boyers took his writing skills to the next level with the creation of a science fiction world filled with spaceships and adventure but also introducing a totally unique character: a private investigator by the name of Dragon, a sci-fi Sherlock Holmes that has a passion for solving cases like Boyers' passion for writing great stories.
Bruce Boyers lives in Glendale, California. At a very early age he became influenced by science fiction and the works of people like Ray Bradbury and Rod Serling. It was no surprise that he would one day return to the world of science fiction but it may have come as a surprise to many in the field that he would be starting with such a fresh, vibrant and engaging protagonist with his first published story "Cabal." With a single short story Boyers gave us one of the most bold and intelligent heroes to be added to the pantheon of science fiction in quite a while. Dragon is an intergalactic investigator that spans the galaxy solving cases that no one else can. He is a true professional, the guy you hire when you need discreetness and assurance that the job will get done. Dragon has a fantastic sidekick by the name of Parts, not human by any means but gives Dragon a reliable ally that can act more humanely than most humans. Boyers' story in "Cabal" is one of gripping momentum that forces one to turn pages because you are invested in finding out the mystery and solving the case right along with Dragon. He stays ahead of the reader, never taking an obvious path but instead leads you straight into unforeseen territory filled with excitement and very big payoffs. "Cabal" is currently available with more Dragon Intergalactic Crime Chronicles soon to be published in a book. If you are a fan of the very best of science fiction tales and enjoy the stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, you have a very rewarding trip to take with Bruce Boyers. Enjoy the ride! To read "Cabal" by Bruce Boyers please visit http://www.amazon.com/Cabal-Dragon-Intergalactic-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B005WL1Z7Y For more information on Bruce Boyers please visit www.boyersmarketing.com  Catherine Weaver grew up in Northern California and decided to use the inspiration of the Golden State's landscape to create an entirely new universe for readers. It has its own alternate history of California filled with griffins, amazons, magicians, and leprechauns. Weaver manages to connect this alternate universe to our own in the pages of her book "Gold Dust" which successfully gives middle readers a tale packed with imaginative and magical themes. Her writing has managed to weave together one of the most original stories to come around in quite a long time and although written for a younger audience, readers of all ages will find something to take away from this adventurous world sprung from the mind of a California dreamer. Weaver's family ties to California stretch back five generations and many members of her family were or are writers, poets and artists. From a young age she discovered works like "The Lord of the Rings," "Stranger in a Strange Land," "1,001 Arabian Nights" and others which set her on a creative path. She received professional training in music, theater and dance which resulted in her ability to play the trumpet, sing in choir, perform Shakespeare, dance in any style and is also a professionally trained mime. Through it all she recognized her skill to tell a story and added writing to her long list of artistic credentials. One day while marveling at the beauty of her native California she realized there was a lack of stories which took place in the culturally and story rich state. Catherine Weaver saw a hole and she immediately set out to fill it and lucky for us she planted a story as equally rich in flavor as the landscape which inspired it. "Gold Dust" is the story of Alex Lee, a young girl with her attention on homework, boys and her recently changed mother. Alex's mom is completely lifeless when she comes home from work and her normal cheerful self when she calls home from work. Alex is clueless as to the cause and one day meets a leprachaun named Martin that injects a bit of magic into her life that leads to her discovery of an entirely different version of California that is somehow tied to her mother. Transporting herself to another world and mastering the use of magic through exercising her imagination and helping others along the way, all lead to Alex's empowerment and the betterment of two worlds because of it. The book reminds you of "Alice in Wonderland" or "The Chronicles of Narnia" in its use of transporting the main character from one world into another, yet the way it is done and all that follow are very unique. Weaver is able to make a world of griffins, leprechauns and magic seem utterly acceptable and completely appropriate to the story. She has you believing that gold does contain magical properties and that some trees have beautiful spirits living within that can carry you to a more magical version of the world you're living in. This story is important because it offers readers the idea that the world does not have to be lifeless and dull, that instead it is filled with wonderful, magical beauty and adventure. It sparks the imagination, encourages us to be better and not only make our world better but be on the look out for other worlds. Catherine Weaver has constructed an entire fantasy world and built a bridge to it that, although newly erected, will continue to carry adventurous dreamers across for many years to come. "Gold Dust" is the first in a series of books starring Alex Lee and I am sure this gifted author will give us more magic, more imagination and through a little more gold dust, she just might start another Gold Rush in California. For more information on Catherine Weaver: Her Blog: http://islandofcalifornia.blogspot.com Her Book: http://thebookcity.com/cweaverbooks.html 
 Ron Kule is a man out to make a difference through his art. Practically every written work he has published helps people across our planet in some way. Whether it's his book "Chef Tell - The Biography of America's Pioneer TV Chef" featuring a forward by Regis Philbin or his book "Sell Better, Sell Easier, Sell Anything Artfully," which is currently helping to grow businesses globally or his incredibly inspirational book on The University of South Carolina's NCAA National Championship baseball team, Kule's books are impacting and improving others. His book "Carolina Baseball: Pressure Makes Diamonds," which he co-wrote with J. David Miller, even helps the The Ray Tanner Foundation, which donates all of its net profits to help build a Miracle Field to give physically disabled children the chance to play baseball.  Ron Kule's book about Chef Tell chronicles the life and times of the TV Showman Chef, who was a genuine pioneer in his field. It has received numerous glowing reviews from celebrities and opinion leaders and is an exciting account of a dynamic individual who's story has now come to light for fans. Kule has done a remarkable job bringing this tale to the public. His tackling of what happens in front of and behind the cameras promises to make a big effect when it reaches the hands of an eager audience. The book "Chef Tell: The Biography of America's Pioneer TV Showman Chef" is available September 1st, 2013 but can be pre-ordered on Amazon.com using the following link: http://www.amazon.com/Chef-Tell-Biography-Americas-Pioneer/dp/1626360049/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1366390440&sr=8-8&keywords=chef+tell REVIEWS for "Chef Tell - The Biography of America's Pioneer TV Chef" by Ron Kule Besides these non-fiction volumes, Ron Kule has also left his mark in fiction and poetry. His short story "ThunderCloud and The Old Man" was published in Better World Stories for a Better World, he wrote a young adult novel called "ThunderCloud" which he plans to grow into a series, and has also written a sci-fi thriller "Aleria" and a children's book called "Tiny Friends." His poems have been published by Artists for a Better World International, Artists in Action International and The International Library of Poetry, to name a few. Ron Kule currently lives in Clearwater, Florida and continues to set the bar high with future collaborations on non-fiction works as well as putting forward a steady stream of fiction and poetry. Amongst his writings and art is an overwhelming effort to help mankind, to create an impact in areas it is definitely needed and accomplish an inspirational spirit which lights a path for tomorrow's authors and poets to follow. Everyday he is changing our world for the better in a powerful way. To learn more about Ron Kule please visit his website: www.ronkulebooks.com Watch this video to learn more about the Miracle Field Ron Kule is helping to build:  Stephen Cook has had an adventurous life but none of his exploits have yielded the same tenacity he has for the profession of writing. He took something that began as a hobby and turned it into a career. His beginnings as a hobbyist fiction writer quickly turned into much more the moment he decided to approach his writing head on and without any back offs.
He completed his first book of science fiction short stories "Genghis Kant," which one reader said "…is hilarious - everyone should buy it - it is easily as funny as Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Spinal Tap and Terry Pratchett," and one of his short stories, "Vara Stakis" was accepted for publication in a British Anthology. He is a regular contributor to the American Liberty Beacon project, published two books of poetry, writes sci-fi, supernatural, humor but has also written a couple of very important non-fiction works, including a book on the subject of economic reform titled, "The Worm in the Apple." It is Cook's attempt at exposing the current monetary system as a huge fraud and he takes pride in knowing he has done his part to educate people about such an important and penetrating issue. On top of this, Stephen Cook is also a freelance copywriter contributing written works for websites, newsletters, advertisements, and press releases. He is also a regularly featured columnist for The Sussex Newspaper in England and publishes the free online satirical newspaper The Daily Scare. Stephen Cook is definitely a man that knows what he wants from life. He has followed his life's passion for the written word and today his writings are found all across our planet. You can find out more about Stephen Cook and discover his works for yourself on his website: For more information please visit: http://stevecookwriter.blogspot.co.uk http://ablecopywriting.blogspot.co.uk |
Michelangelo once said, "I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” At Artists Run This Planet we see Earth as our marble and we hold a chisel and hammer up to it every day. This beautiful canvas of a planet waits for us to paint it daily. Gone are the days of suppressing art, of pursuits less noble than creating. We have the technology available to create in any medium, and faster than ever before. As artists we are the creators of every new innovation and idea that takes shape. We are mankind’s continual hope and driving force — “Artists Run This Planet." - David Carus, Art Planet CEO & FounderArchives
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