tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47387798375158628982024-02-02T14:13:39.884-08:00All That CountsThe fiction writings of Frank ScaliseFrank Scalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08501290929681033761noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738779837515862898.post-39277824326272698202023-05-19T07:20:00.009-07:002023-05-19T07:20:00.298-07:00New Sam the Hockey Player Out!<p> The fourth entry in the Sam the Hockey Series is now out!</p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BCN6545T" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="3696" data-original-width="2574" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Q-mYIkN8uFMdtr__bCfKm552ZkJ7IaJ6UYn37CJ8BwJ0h5KiibVWuJI9s5VKQTHknvv2Q3nZXTV5UPx-KlpFfZd6YnI1LVnPZBh4ZNGqYLm4EaAQVXLpLUTwW5aQisPLcCtksFqryd2ohlsmBLQyA0W085KtkZB3DcznF67C7LUcg2hRyGi4BsA/s320/Line%20Changes%20cover.jpg" width="223" /></a></div><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BCN6545T" target="_blank"><b>Line Changes</b></a></i> picks up in Sam Parker's second (and final) season at the peewee level. His parents, who divorced last year, have started to date other people--and Sam doesn't like it.<p></p><p>In particular, the woman his father is seeing has a son, Breck. Breck is also a hockey player. A rivalry between Sam and Breck quickly develops as both try out for the elite travel team. The rivalry continues throughout the season.</p><p>Other highlights include a surprise friendship with a former adversary and the continuing development of the relationship between Sam and Jill.</p><p>You can get <i>Line Changes </i>as an <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BCN6545T" target="_blank"><b>ebook</b></a> or in <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Line-Changes-Frank-Scalise/dp/B0C5G64C6S" target="_blank">paperback</a></b>!</p><p>This is the final entry in the series with Sam at the peewee level of youth hockey. A children's book is in the works. Some first readers are in the queue. And, of course, there will eventually be at least one book covering the time Sam spends in junior hockey -- perhaps several, if reader interest warrants.</p><p>I even have a solid idea on a novel for adults that "finishes" Sam's story.</p><p>So, ideally, a person could start reading about Sam and hockey as a toddler, with a parent reading the picture book to them. Then, as the person grows, so does Sam. The reading level increases accordingly, too. So, as an early reader, they get Sam at the same age in first reader books. In middle school, the peewee middle grade novels show Sam at the same age. Same with the young adult novels that follow him in junior hockey, eventually leading to the adult novel as a capstone.</p><p>That's the plan, anyway. For now, though, I want to celebrate the completion of one of these arcs -- the middle grade novels.</p><p>The age of eleven and twelve are transitional, difficult ones for many kids. They certainly were for me. So, in writing these four books over the last thirteen years about Sam and his peewee hockey journey, I tried to faithfully revisit that era of my life and pull out some of those universal experiences. Over the course of the two seasons, Sam faces the divorce of his parents, a concussion, anger issues, bullying, the displaced feeling of having divorced parents, and the awkward first steps into a new, mixed family. He wins games and loses games. His friendship with Jill grows into something romantic without losing the friendship part.</p><p>That's a lot of stuff to happen to a kid in two years.</p><p>Perhaps the biggest message I hope readers take from reading Sam's stories is perserverance -- don't give up. You'll get through whatever it is you're facing. It's a timeless message and, aside from <i>be kind</i>, might just be the most important one to impart to someone at that age. If it resonates with just one reader, then it will have been worth it.</p><p>Of course, some readers may just be there for the story or the hockey, and that's fine, too. Hockey is a thrilling sport to play or watch. I hope I've made it at least a fraction as fun to read about.</p>Frank Zafirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846847831614880053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738779837515862898.post-25995288196483177762022-10-17T08:37:00.000-07:002022-10-17T08:37:23.197-07:00Going Out on a Limb<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2he0_t35rkidOESLKSaKyfoLWfmKJVpTQx6BiFi-Qh4agXw94c23c2wTOEXh5OoQ2EVzBAyzIUax9apmzTZMtvbiXkkD4NQwXKfcwEH2pXuMlH52cGbDNDWyELzumm7p6TwvLWYKOtH7kzKlIQEn72F1dcxjc0UUxhgWQfkPpp69xDtGXHlTA0XE/s2560/When%20Something%20Slips%20ebook%20cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2he0_t35rkidOESLKSaKyfoLWfmKJVpTQx6BiFi-Qh4agXw94c23c2wTOEXh5OoQ2EVzBAyzIUax9apmzTZMtvbiXkkD4NQwXKfcwEH2pXuMlH52cGbDNDWyELzumm7p6TwvLWYKOtH7kzKlIQEn72F1dcxjc0UUxhgWQfkPpp69xDtGXHlTA0XE/s320/When%20Something%20Slips%20ebook%20cover.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>My short story and poetry collection, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BCZK4LW8" target="_blank">When Something Slips</a></i>, is now available.<p></p><p>This is a collection that spans my entire writing career. The first short story that was ever accepted for publication is in here. So is my recent novella, <i>A Village of Strangers</i>. There are stories and poems from every period of my life in between.</p><p>So why do I call this "going out on a limb?"</p><p>Exactly <i>because</i> there are stories from my early career. And because they are personal.</p><p>Like any artist, I've grown in my craft over the years. Where the short stories are concerned, I had to resist the urge to edit, revise, polish, and preen each of them for this collection. Instead, I left them as they were first published. Believe me, that comes with a certain amount of vulnerability.</p><p>The poetry takes that vulnerability even further. I've never claimed to be a poet, just a fiction writer who dabbles in occaional poetry. Therefore, the possibility that some, most, or all of it is terrible is a distinct possibility. </p><p>So why risk putting it out there, then?</p><p>The answer is simple. For better or worse, that work is <i>me</i>. Just like me as a person, it is imperfect. Flawed. Hit or miss. But it is also honest. If you read these stories and these poems, you will know me. Or at least, the me at the time they were written.</p><p>Every one of us leaves this life at some point. I think part of the reason I decided to publish these stories and poems is so that, even when I'm gone, there will be people alive who can know who I was. If they see themselves—or their own sentiments and emotions at least—in this work, so much the better.</p><p>If you are one of these people, thanks. And hey—leave a nice review, huh?</p>Frank Zafirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846847831614880053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738779837515862898.post-52882689895415881722022-06-07T01:00:00.001-07:002022-06-07T01:00:00.149-07:00A Baker's Divorce is here!<p> My short dramedy novel, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09TNG73J8" target="_blank">A Baker's Divorce</a></i>, is now available!</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times;"><i><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;"></span></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09TNG73J8" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWeKbOWYJwkXbmy4Ca8iKJhJTyaymLuXSTap4QMRDqjsr4xlGnlHS-DBK3l0-e0lGWaWK37iqG8D4QoFjmK-Z-HAV45ifzNSVRiRFwQNKWfbHXXVTdbj2JbOOtch3CxFHNlIP5NNu2_T-PpvPBYA0xhdzCfS-y_2NBUoQrsW7y5hFIio0hSZqZOw/s320/ABaker'sDivorce%20Cover.jpg" width="200" /></a></i></span></div><span style="font-family: times;"><i>Cal Baker is a lifelong rocker<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> who had a number one hit in 1979. Since then, he's managed to barely cling to a career by chasing every musical trend that looked promising. Along the way, he was married and divorced a dozen times. Now, he's sixty-two and his thirteenth wife informs him that she wants a divorce, threatening to make it a baker's dozen of divorces. On top of that, the timing couldn't be worse, as he has a new record coming out soon.</span></i></span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times;"><i><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">This news sends Cal on a quest to discover why this keeps happening to him. He reaches out to all of his ex-wives, searching for the answer that will help him save his marriage, so he won't have to get... </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">A Baker's Divorce</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">.</span></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Cal Baker is such a complete ass, but he's so oblivious to his own ass-ness that it made this a fun book to write. I also really enjoyed making up the songs and albums from his long career, and creating different events from his life (some of which include real-world people like Weird Al Yankovic).</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">I make no claim to being a comedy writer. But I do think that this one is at least amusing, and perhaps even funny. </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">But make no mistake -- this book has a heart, too. It is a journey of self-discovery and change. So, listen to Cal and give it a try!</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I'm awesome, so read my story!</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09TNG73J8" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="441" data-original-width="565" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyX_RTC-2uSF1cdQzxMyQjquiMs-O7EQyh95wOjp6Dg-xjPYC3HjGZi6A9Md3VGMivi6M-k3lBwTUazGxP6MrZ0cptv8A7oVkIRc0uwZpVzSPDNRIOaIetPQKlWVDm9JErbDd-t5Qi8J5Am8GbeFA_C7X4FUHbHuT36p7k6HkHL3tsvX3anUr51RQ/s320/476998990-huge-removebg-preview.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p>Frank Zafirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846847831614880053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738779837515862898.post-25218336866736773282022-03-19T08:31:00.001-07:002022-03-21T07:49:03.241-07:00A Village of Strangers released!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09TNV68TX" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57r21-IekIqOhYObFNwwehG-Gt_LZ72rZZkiWuiwRImLnhyZn2Qp6hO_sKE7jiXIDSy3r7c-V_SYK_41TguGKfQkuGxmGt01G8Jdgd5e75VLKT38EDg0_VZOmQeylBOg6RPN_VJYN_HF6i2Cm_juc9OFv2-oHm50uRDpS7vnNEkIR_V7Ny9d0V6A/s320/AVillageofStrangers_v3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">If you're a writer, chances are you've got a story kicking around your head that's been paying rent there for a long time. <span style="font-family: times;"><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /></span><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-weight: 700;">Tara</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;"> has been working at a restaurant in Leavenworth for the last few weeks, trying to outrun guilt and anger.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;">For me, that's <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09TNV68TX" target="_blank">A Village of Strangers</a></i>, which is now available.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-weight: 700;">Fleetwood </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;">has experienced something no parent should ever have to go through. In the aftermath, his world has fallen apart. Now he is holed up in a motel in Leavenworth, Washington, trying to work up the courage to end his life.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /></span><span style="font-family: times;"><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-weight: 700;">The singer</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;"> is on a solo tour, trying to salvage his career and his personal life, both of which are in shambles.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;">In one way or another, for better or worse, each of them will find each other and discover what it truly means to live in... </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-weight: 700;">a village of strangers.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />A dark, difficult, and ultimately heart-warming journey told in a non-linear fashion that explores the power of music, the pain of great loss, and the strength of tenacity.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white;">I was happy to finally get this story out into the world. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;">You can read more about the journey of this story in the afterword.</p>Frank Zafirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846847831614880053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738779837515862898.post-33414843102732829662021-08-23T12:17:00.002-07:002021-08-23T12:17:40.169-07:00Sam Audiobooks Have a New Home!<p>I'm pleased to announce that my <a href="http://www.frankscalise.com/?page_id=188" target="_blank">middle grade series featuring Sam the Hockey Player</a> will be produced in audio by:<a href="http://booksinmotion.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="69" data-original-width="440" height="50" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_D_KTqQtKWYGyU2INoYSLK9NG2Ts8pQXv9hGDCLMVe3-o0N5hMxS7W7cDezoWqceyOZAnY04675KGHQZoUp1cQ2HJqldP18lpFq9QCwlalojkrqif19-84QRreu1NoQDZ9u887tKwzg/w320-h50/bimbanner2011.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p>Books in Motion is a Spokane-based audio book publisher that has been in the business for a long time. It is the home of my <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PRDW2SN" target="_blank">Frank Zafiro River City series</a>, as well as the Colin Conway/Frank Zafiro <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B093LMR5Q6" target="_blank">Charlie-316 series</a>.</p><p>So far, the Sam the Hockey Player middle grade novels include <a href="http://www.frankscalise.com/?page_id=18" target="_blank"><i>The Hardest Hit</i></a> and <i><a href="http://www.frankscalise.com/?page_id=176" target="_blank">Bad Calls</a></i>. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.frankscalise.com/?page_id=18" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="319" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS-dNacKtqltKb-otQuj75QCGbWk1LqZMoRcxmTULXRENoW4BKRAgYiH0lmyOLtbcucMPCNf3sQ1d8arusGL3t9OBuY84odRch2DpXdxDlxWalwLfr-UU2KstHBbD-NL-lgUTT4v8opd8/w140-h200/Hardest+Hit+2.0+thumb.jpg" width="140" /></a></div><a href="http://www.frankscalise.com/?page_id=176" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1432" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_lp4kG6DGk31D2QhCAykdmFTxpEXUSce8p7sDEkeZwhYui3L3CMAB-EYeSzwYZLvkIIho1ZWSXovMIg7kSBAxRncCInVjj63dbeiMJnXPTBPRRkqlxqBHtHDs7gQEMwk4DSjiJB8vaTQ/w140-h200/Bad+Calls.jpg" width="140" /></a><p></p><p>These will be followed by <i>Double Shifting</i> and <i>Line Changes</i> over the course of 2021 and 2022. These books feature Sam Parker, a kid who loves hockey. Over the course of the series, Sam encounters a variety of challenges, both on and off the ice. His parents, his coaches, and especially his best friend Jill (the team goaltender), are all there to help him but ultimately, Sam has to find his own way to overcome each obstacle.</p><p></p><p><i>The Hardest Hit</i> was originally narrated and produced by Darren Meekin. Darren did a fantastic job (you can <a href="https://dl.bookfunnel.com/ruwvq0iis2" target="_blank">hear a sample</a> here if you sign up for the Sam newsletter!). Unfortunately, Darren is not available to continue the series. Therefore, the publisher has opted to re-record this first book with a new narrator, who will narrate the entire series. </p><p>No word yet on who that will be but I'll let you know as soon as I do. Both of the narrators so far (Michael Bowen for RC and Damon Abdullah for C316) have been outstanding, so I have a high degree of confidence where this is concerned.</p><p>I'm looking forward to hearing all of these books as produced by Books in Motion!</p>Frank Zafirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846847831614880053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738779837515862898.post-74810563502679318582021-03-01T06:18:00.000-08:002021-03-01T06:18:05.728-08:00BAD CALLS hits the ice!<p><span style="font-family: 'Slabo 27px'; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Slabo 27px'; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08TRTSDXC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1432" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_lp4kG6DGk31D2QhCAykdmFTxpEXUSce8p7sDEkeZwhYui3L3CMAB-EYeSzwYZLvkIIho1ZWSXovMIg7kSBAxRncCInVjj63dbeiMJnXPTBPRRkqlxqBHtHDs7gQEMwk4DSjiJB8vaTQ/s320/Bad+Calls.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: 'Slabo 27px'; font-size: medium;">So, a big day for the hockey player named Sam... the new book in this series is out today!</span><p></p><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ooia" data-offset-key="seck-0-0" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; transition-property: none !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="seck-0-0" style="animation-name: none !important; direction: ltr; position: relative; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: "Slabo 27px"; font-size: large;">This middle grade sports novel features Sam Parker, an 11-yr-old hockey player who loves the game... which is good, because life throws him a few curve balls.</span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ooia" data-offset-key="b9aek-0-0" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; transition-property: none !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="b9aek-0-0" style="animation-name: none !important; direction: ltr; position: relative; transition-property: none !important;"><span data-offset-key="b9aek-0-0" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: 'Slabo 27px'; font-size: medium;"><br data-text="true" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ooia" data-offset-key="5j3bp-0-0" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; transition-property: none !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5j3bp-0-0" style="animation-name: none !important; direction: ltr; position: relative; transition-property: none !important;"><span data-offset-key="5j3bp-0-0" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: 'Slabo 27px'; font-size: medium;">Oh, I mixed metaphors there... uh, how about this: sometimes life lines him up in the trolley tracks?</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ooia" data-offset-key="363a2-0-0" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; transition-property: none !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="363a2-0-0" style="animation-name: none !important; direction: ltr; position: relative; transition-property: none !important;"><span data-offset-key="363a2-0-0" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: 'Slabo 27px'; font-size: medium;"><br data-text="true" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ooia" data-offset-key="994nj-0-0" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; transition-property: none !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="994nj-0-0" style="animation-name: none !important; direction: ltr; position: relative; transition-property: none !important;"><span data-offset-key="994nj-0-0" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: 'Slabo 27px'; font-size: medium;">You get the idea. Here's a better description:</span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="994nj-0-0" style="animation-name: none !important; direction: ltr; position: relative; transition-property: none !important;"><span data-offset-key="994nj-0-0" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: 'Slabo 27px'; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="994nj-0-0" style="animation-name: none !important; direction: ltr; position: relative; transition-property: none !important;"><span data-offset-key="994nj-0-0" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: 'Slabo 27px'; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: italic; white-space: normal;">Eleven-year-old Sam Parker is a hockey player who has always had fun playing the game. But that was before a bully at school starts hounding him. To make matters worse, even the refs seem to have it in for him, making a series of bad calls that costs his team a game.<br /><br />Flustered by the constant hassle from the bully and his gang. and frustrated with the way things are going on the ice, Sam decides to take things into his own hands to solve both problems. His choices only make things worse, and his troubles seem to pile up. Worse yet, no one seems to understand — not his teachers, not his parents, and not even his best friend, Jill.<br /><br />Sam will have to figure out how to solve this problem, and learn how to deal with frustrating and unfair events – both on and off the ice.</span><br style="white-space: normal;" /><br style="white-space: normal;" /><span style="white-space: normal;">You can get Bad Calls in </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://gmail.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Dd12a530baa7146b9fa1dd2d02%26id%3Dec11f10a9f%26e%3D0c192d7b4f&source=gmail&ust=1614662975813000&usg=AFQjCNGqs8VRfxXSaWhqbYz4zylIoYYVcg" href="https://gmail.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d12a530baa7146b9fa1dd2d02&id=ec11f10a9f&e=0c192d7b4f" style="white-space: normal;" target="_blank">digital</a><span style="white-space: normal;"> or </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://gmail.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Dd12a530baa7146b9fa1dd2d02%26id%3D611cc2e686%26e%3D0c192d7b4f&source=gmail&ust=1614662975813000&usg=AFQjCNGmdHFpO40NMa83la-lUA-mX11YYQ" href="https://gmail.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d12a530baa7146b9fa1dd2d02&id=611cc2e686&e=0c192d7b4f" style="white-space: normal;" target="_blank">paperback</a><span style="white-space: normal;"> format... and an audiobook is in the works!</span><br style="white-space: normal;" /><br style="white-space: normal;" /><span style="white-space: normal;">Thank you for joining Sam, Gordie, Jill, and me on this hockey journey! </span></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="994nj-0-0" style="animation-name: none !important; direction: ltr; position: relative; transition-property: none !important;"><span data-offset-key="994nj-0-0" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: 'Slabo 27px'; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="994nj-0-0" style="animation-name: none !important; direction: ltr; position: relative; transition-property: none !important;"><span data-offset-key="994nj-0-0" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: 'Slabo 27px'; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div></div>Frank Zafirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846847831614880053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738779837515862898.post-28055927476425402542021-01-14T09:48:00.004-08:002021-01-14T09:48:58.526-08:00Finally here (almost)!<p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1ugis3Pk81ZDgs-fwxcZm9gteU8Ab4cmV_-HFhptuuEnAonfq8FtnAm-DgCw7a8vIB5RLOy8gLikdvfzNXLdU5gF0X4oT2Uhe0G4Or3oGLjQl_NhdMuwuKgHOIN7y1ngqTpc19GUxCI/s2048/Bad+Calls.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1432" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1ugis3Pk81ZDgs-fwxcZm9gteU8Ab4cmV_-HFhptuuEnAonfq8FtnAm-DgCw7a8vIB5RLOy8gLikdvfzNXLdU5gF0X4oT2Uhe0G4Or3oGLjQl_NhdMuwuKgHOIN7y1ngqTpc19GUxCI/w224-h320/Bad+Calls.jpg" width="224" /></a></span></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #27292b; margin: 1.5em 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">It's (almost) here!<br /><br /><i><a href="http://www.frankscalise.com/?page_id=176" target="_blank">Bad Calls</a></i> takes place a month or two after the ending of <i><a href="http://www.frankscalise.com/?page_id=18" target="_blank">The Hardest Hit</a>.</i> In this one, Sam is dealing with something very different than the internal struggles of a concussion and his parents' divorce (although the latter is still a big issue for him). This time, the challenge is bullying.<br /></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /><i>Eleven-year-old Sam Parker is a hockey player who has always had fun playing the game. But that was before a bully at school starts hounding him. To make matters worse, even the refs seem to have it in for him, making a series of bad calls that costs his team a game.</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #27292b; margin: 1.5em 0px; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Flustered by the constant hassle from the bully and his gang. and frustrated with the way things are going on the ice, Sam decides to take things into his own hands to solve both problems. His choices only make things worse, and his troubles seem to pile up. Worse yet, no one seems to understand — not his teachers, not his parents, and not even his best friend, Jill.</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #27292b; margin: 1.5em 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><i>Sam will have to figure out how to solve this problem, and learn how to deal with frustrating and unfair events – both on and off the ice.</i><br /><br />More info to come soon, but after quite a long while, you can expect these books to release more frequently.</span></p><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">The second <a href="https://www.frankscalise.com/?page_id=21" target="_blank">Sam the Hockey Player novel</a> in the Pee-Wee series will be out soon!</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span>Talk again soon</span>!</span></p>Frank Zafirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846847831614880053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738779837515862898.post-16288997001387316812019-08-21T12:41:00.001-07:002019-08-21T12:41:27.824-07:00Sam & the Magic Hockey Gear Moving Forward!For a number of years, the children's books featuring Sam and Gordie have been on hold as I looked for a partner illustrator.<br />
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That search is over, and I'm working with <b>Drew Spilker</b> to bring pre-school age Sam the Hockey Player to kids everywhere!<br />
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The first book is <i>Sam & the Magic Hockey Gear</i>, and Drew and I are already hard at work on it. We won't make the beginning of this hockey season, or even this Christmas, but by Spring you'll be able to read this book to your children and grandchildren.<br />
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After that, we've got several more planned.<br />
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I've included a couple of early concept pieces to give you an idea what the feel of the book will be like...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjvCZAZIXmc_j_zuLUOWfksvgfaNA2qa5ETqOIW3bmlC1HL9q4BhbmdxCPsaax5nf3qwzIM1mkVo-yfGJguF4_RZK03wjIz5lyBnvjQptLFlHD8G55ZPQQszOpvQOceiXy2OAzenHnDP4/s1600/Sam+and+Gordie+sketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="925" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjvCZAZIXmc_j_zuLUOWfksvgfaNA2qa5ETqOIW3bmlC1HL9q4BhbmdxCPsaax5nf3qwzIM1mkVo-yfGJguF4_RZK03wjIz5lyBnvjQptLFlHD8G55ZPQQszOpvQOceiXy2OAzenHnDP4/s200/Sam+and+Gordie+sketch.jpg" width="152" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2IHZyTz9HdxZHvnlR6FP2CmvzyLyf9r62EvKW4iBTAt_ju-o5qCEZzFtTky8Oqgk0rbwz6wRkVhV_PQhEdFQZCdpxYEuJpI1tV4KAigoQ7DdsQcqFnIG3MRE7rfBObAHae6jyKd7nVz4/s1600/Sam+and+Gordie+mock+up+%25282%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="700" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2IHZyTz9HdxZHvnlR6FP2CmvzyLyf9r62EvKW4iBTAt_ju-o5qCEZzFtTky8Oqgk0rbwz6wRkVhV_PQhEdFQZCdpxYEuJpI1tV4KAigoQ7DdsQcqFnIG3MRE7rfBObAHae6jyKd7nVz4/s200/Sam+and+Gordie+mock+up+%25282%2529.png" width="182" /></a><br />
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Drew is pretty awesome, huh? As a partner in these pre-school books, he is every bit as enthusiastic as I am. Thankfully, he can illustrate, which I surely can't do!<br />
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All of this is happening in conjunction with the re-launch of the books with Sam as a pee-wee aged player, including <i><a href="http://www.frankscalise.com/?page_id=18">The Hardest Hit</a></i> (which will have a new cover) and the next one in the series, <i>Bad Calls </i>(in which Sam deals with some bullying).<br />
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Exciting things moving in the Sam the Hockey Player universe!Frank Zafirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846847831614880053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738779837515862898.post-15528902887185840392019-04-23T17:03:00.002-07:002019-04-23T17:03:31.675-07:00New Covers and a New Sam!Some Sam the Hockey Player news for you....<br />
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Alex McVey, an artist and book cover designer, is working on a new cover for <i><a href="http://www.frankscalise.com/?page_id=18">The Hardest Hit</a></i>. The book's interior will remain exactly the same, but the book is getting a face lift. There are a few reasons for this, but the biggest one is related to my second announcement: more Sam the Hockey Player books are coming!<br />
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I'm currently writing <i>Bad Calls</i>, the second of four Pee-Wee age novels featuring Sam. I'm not sure on a release date yet, but if I were to guess, I'd say it'll launch around the time of the new hockey season in September/October 2019.<br />
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In <i>Bad Calls</i>, Sam deals with some bullying, his parent's separation, and his own anger issues.<br />
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We'll see how things go, but if everything aligns correctly, then <i>Bad Calls</i> may not be the only new Sam book. We'll see if I can get to <i>Double Shifting</i> and <i>Line Changes</i>, the remaining Pee Wee level books about Sam. No promises, but I'd like to get all four out during next hockey season, and the earlier, the better.<br />
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All four of these Sam novels will have thematically linked covers, and Alex is revamping <i>The Hardest Hit</i> so that it will match the three new ones.<br />
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I will post the new cover when it is done!Frank Zafirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846847831614880053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738779837515862898.post-46018570139865984422019-02-26T13:13:00.000-08:002019-02-26T13:16:20.863-08:00ALL THAT COUNTS (isn't just that first line)<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Note: this post originally appeared on my Frank Zafiro blog, <a href="http://www.frankzafiro.blogspot.com/">All the Madness in My Soul</a>, but due to the high level of hockey content and the fact that it is a Frank Scalise novel, I'm cross-posting it here...]</span></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: large;">“I want to play goalie.”</span><br />
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Fittingly, this is the first line in my novel, <i><a href="http://www.frankscalise.com/?page_id=15" target="_blank">All That Counts</a></i>.<br />
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<i>All That Counts</i> is a novel I wrote under my given name. I didn't want to confuse anyone who was familiar with the Frank Zafiro catalog. <i>All That Counts</i> isn't crime fiction, but centers around hockey. Anyone who knows me beyond a very surface connection is well aware of my passion for the sport, and I occasionally slip it into my Frank Zafiro novels (I even wrote a <a href="http://frankzafiro.blogspot.com/2019/02/first-line-five-for-fighting-and-murder.html" target="_blank">Kopriva short story</a> with a strong hockey backdrop for the mystery).<br />
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In this book, a middle-aged man and recreational hockey player named Graham Wilson is having a bit of a mid-life crisis, but instead of climbing Mt. Everest or getting a sports car or a 21-year-old girlfriend, he does something else.<br />
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He moves from skater to goaltender.<br />
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The story follows this transition, with all its humorous bumps and falls, as we also learn about his relationships with his teammates, an older goalie who mentors him, and his wife.<br />
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Despite all the focus on the hockey, the story really is about people and what is important in life. So if you love hockey, you'll get your fill. If you don't understand hockey, it's explained. If you don't like hockey, seek professional help.<br />
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But what about this first line? Honestly, while it isn't lyrical or a punch to the gut (that would be an A+ line), it is perfect for this book. It tell you right away what is happening, and gets the ball rolling. <b>I give it an A</b>.... which is pretty odd, since I've graded my opening lines in this blog post series pretty hard. But I think this one works exactly the way an opening line should. It deserves an A.<br />
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You?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLe6Ql9wwi4_0UxHilbUra8Kzw0NP2Hlp-JR_NFRuz2OVQesLCAGikmNn0C1ta6yhFSQxq4WRYyHQN5cfqKEZVaVdw72C8KDbNhRKBcvqx2otQfLBbzQDvhRxocvF2pFnuUDO-q6Lwoo/s1600/PartPic2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="563" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLe6Ql9wwi4_0UxHilbUra8Kzw0NP2Hlp-JR_NFRuz2OVQesLCAGikmNn0C1ta6yhFSQxq4WRYyHQN5cfqKEZVaVdw72C8KDbNhRKBcvqx2otQfLBbzQDvhRxocvF2pFnuUDO-q6Lwoo/s320/PartPic2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Truthfully, there is a lot of real life in this book. Like Graham, I switched from skater to goalie. Never having played the position before, I experienced most if not all of the same tribulations he does in the book. I had a friend, Jim Brickey, who mentored me (there were others, too, but he did the most, by far). Many of the locker room and on ice antics that various characters do in the book were based on (or are flat out exactly) what really happened on different teams I've played on.<br />
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There are characters that are loosely (and sometimes closely) based on real people I played with or knew. The quotes at the beginning of each chapter are from hockey people (mostly) that I admire. I even gave him the last name after my grandfather's middle name.<br />
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Yeah, there is a lot of me in this book.<br />
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That said, Graham's story isn't my story. It is his own. And even with all the real life basis for many moments in the story, <i>All That Counts</i> is still ninety percent fiction. That fiction allowed me to explore that question about what is important in life, what we should notice and care about.<br />
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I wrote this book when I was about forty. I'm fifty now. And I still think what Graham discovers when it comes to answering that question is pretty damn spot on. I'm glad I explored it, and I'm happy with the answer.<br />
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Plus, I got to write about hockey.<br />
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I would be remiss not to mention that the ending of this book has been a little controversial with readers. If you've read it (or read it after this), I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.... but if you haven't read it yet, beware of SPOILERS in the comment section.</div>
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I don't play goalie anymore. After about ten years in net, I got the yearning to skate out again, so I switched back to wing. When Kristi and I moved to Redmond, I gave away my gear to a guy who was just starting out (actually, he refused to take it for free, so we eventually agreed to a small price). In one of the last games I played with that group of guys (Hackley Hockey, for those of you in the know), it was kinda weird to see my pads and mask and blocker and glove on someone else. But it was also cool to watch how eagerly he approached the new challenge. I saw him struggle and get better, even over the course of the game.</div>
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Another journey.</div>
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I do still play hockey here in Redmond, Oregon. Bend, actually. The team I'm on, the Islanders, plays on a beautiful, covered outdoor rink. It's a good league, run well by Parks and Rec. I'm in my second year and volunteered to captain a team this year. We're having a great season at 10-1 with one more game before the playoffs start. </div>
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Honestly, it is one of the best teams I've ever been on, and the comraderie reminds me a lot of the Pangborn team that served as the inspiration for Graham Wilson's Rangers in the book. A really great group of men and women that are flat out fun to play with. Winning helps, of course. It always does. But I get the sense that we'd still be having fun even if we were 1-10. Just maybe not quite as much.</div>
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I may not be as fast as I was fifteen or twenty years ago, but I'm having a great time.</div>
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In honor of this team seeming special, I revived an old tradition from those Pangborn days. I brought out the Stan Lee Cup. Long ago, this piece of protective gear was given its name (and eventually even adorned with the lipstick kisses) by one of the Pangborn players, and we adopted it as our player of the game award. It was given to the player who had the most memorable game - could be a big goal, a gritty play, or a hilarious misadventure. When we ended our run as Pangborn, the cup went into a hockey bag with old jerseys. There it sat for about fourteen years.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not the actual cup, but I<br />
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Until this season.</div>
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This season, I brought it out for the Islanders. And as is always the case with new groups, new traditions develop. Fittingly, our goalie got the cup last game, and the new tradition was caught on film.</div>
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Good stuff.</div>
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We play the final game of the regular season on the same day this post goes live. Then the playoffs. In just a few weeks, this team will be done, too. It's the way Park and Rec does things, shuffling players each year. It keeps things collegial, and some of the rivalries that I knew in Spokane (or that exist in the book) never come into being.</div>
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But it also means losing something special. Something cool. Just like when it came time for Pangborn to end its run. Or just like when I wrote the last line of <i>All That Counts</i>.</div>
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But it's all part of a journey, right? I'm glad I've taken this one, and if you were part of it, thanks for making it worth every second.</div>
Frank Zafirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846847831614880053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738779837515862898.post-26884809677336596332019-02-22T12:11:00.003-08:002019-02-22T12:14:08.501-08:00New Anthology and Website Update!<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Odds-Are-Against-Us-Anthology-ebook/dp/B07P166W93" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1029" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSl8jf5dwVNptNacfkHoL1LH9DFmv_vwYPoutA44QLHuGwJxwsXOnO-Ia4IMu_D-0xVqUTXIvhQ8pFQ36HL-2Hfhfu4iEMCOZYgBUil3yGiMp-qihdGw7sLAiWbQMCH-nzfarUn4XrEh8/s200/ODDS+cover.jpeg" width="128" /></a><br />
Two pieces of Frank Scalise news for you...<br />
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One, I was fortunate enough to have one of my stories featured in a military fiction anthology called <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Odds-Are-Against-Us-Anthology-ebook/dp/B07P166W93" target="_blank">The Odds Are Against Us</a></i>, which was just released today by Liberty Island Media.<br />
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My story is called "<a href="http://www.frankscalise.com/?page_id=42" target="_blank">Titus, My Brother</a>." It is set in Roman Britain around the time of the Boudicca uprising.<br />
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The anthology was edited by Oren Litwin, and I was an early support of the project:<br />
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In addition to the new anthology, <a href="http://www.frankscalise.com/" target="_blank">my website</a> has gotten a complete overhaul. Nothing fancy, just a newer, cleaner look that incorporates not just my hockey-related fiction (with more to come!) but also my other work.<br />
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I made the changes not only to update the site, but to allow for other work that is coming down the pike. This includes more Sam the Hockey Player books, for one. But there are a couple of other projects that are not hockey-related or crime-fiction related (hence, not on the Frank Zafiro site) that will bear my given name.<br />
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I won't say more, because they're a while off...but now the landing page is ready for them.!Frank Scalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08501290929681033761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738779837515862898.post-67662128860100102612017-05-10T13:46:00.000-07:002017-05-10T13:46:00.239-07:00New Paperback Edition<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
Sadly, Gray Dog Press ceased publishing fiction this year. As a result, the print rights to <i>All That Counts</i> reverted to me.</div>
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Since I already publish the ebook version of this title, I decided to independently publish the re-issue as well. In the course of doing so, I had to decide how much I wanted to change.<br />
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A sweep for typos was an obvious. But aside from fixing any of those, I decided to resist the urge to "improve" the book from a craft perspective. This story is written, and for good or ill, it is the story that it is.<br />
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But formatting? Well, I felt like I could play with that a bit. And so I did. I used a slightly different layout than GDP did, especially for the chapter headings, and the hockey quotes. But I also selected a different font for the narrative.<br />
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If you have the original GDP edition, you can contrast and compare with the new edition, a sample of which is below. Hope you dig it.<br />
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As a reminder, some people who know hockey liked All That Counts.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>“With a nod toward Spokane’s long puck tradition, </i>All That Counts <i>is a book about life and hockey that will you will love. Will Graham’s vision quest is something we can all understand and cheer for and his inspiring journey reveals the wonder and absolute joy that hockey brings into this world.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mark Rypien </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">(NFL Quarterback and Superbowl XXVI MVP)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>"</i>All That Counts</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <i>is a must read for anyone who has ever laced ‘em up. The locker room banter combined with the on ice antics are so true at all levels of hockey. The book made Eagles Ice Arena come alive in my hands. I can visualize the walk down the stairs and going down onto the ice. Nothing’s better in recreational hockey after the game than a cold shower topped off with a cold one. Frank does a great job combining the real life and on ice drama. No hockey fan should miss out on this entertaining read."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">NHL Head Coach Bill Peters, Carolina Hurricanes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">(Spokane Chiefs, 1996-97, 1999-02, 2005-08)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>"</i>All That Counts</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;"> is an intriguing read for any avid hockey player, hockey fan, or sports fan alike. His ability to incorporate the intangible, unique elements of hockey with the always changing aspects of life outside of hockey provides an exciting read from cover to cover. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i><br />Frank's writing style provided an easy read, as well as keeping me hooked until the very end. People will be able to draw connections to their own lives through Graham's experiences. I enjoyed the story, and would recommend it to anybody that enjoys sports and good books."<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">NHL Player Derek Ryan, Carolina Hurricanes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">(Spokane Chiefs, 2003-07)</span></div>
<br />Frank Zafirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846847831614880053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738779837515862898.post-20737764178119819712013-09-16T07:04:00.002-07:002013-09-16T07:04:33.094-07:00A Few[s] Reviews<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here are a few reviews for <i>All That Counts</i> that have popped up on the 'net...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"<span style="background-color: white;">I not only have no interest in hockey, I even disapprove of heavy-contact sports--but I couldn't put this book down. I was attracted by the title, and I am delighted to have read this book. The author sets some very human issues securely in some fun action scenes. Without giving away any parts of the plot, I'll just say that it is very well-written and touches on important points about life while effectively painting an absorbing picture of playing rec-league sports!"</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ann Baker, from a 5-star Amazon review</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">"I didn't start playing ice hockey until age 13, and finally hung up the dented skates at 40. The first coach put me in goal because I couldn't skate well enough to play anywhere else, but after all the years, bruises, stitches on the forehead and goals scored against, I still wouldn't play any other position. Are goalies crazy? You bet!</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">From the first quote on page one, Frank Scalise brought back all the memories--the ribald and profane locker room talk, the bruises to both body and ego, the struggle to find one's own "style," (Terry Sawchuk was my idol,) the tight focus on the next save, the agony of the sure knowledge that every loss is the goalie's fault--it's all there. There's also the thrill of a great save, the satisfying "thunk" of a hard shot caught on the pads, the smirk when you outsmart the shooter. Scalise tells it all. If you've never played the game, read this and you'll see why some of us, believe it or not, want to stand in the way of a projectile headed our way at 80 mph.</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Oh, and the ending is something you won't forget for a long time!"</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Gail P. Leatherwood, from a 5-star Amazon review</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.goaliestore.com/board/hockey-talk/100035-book-review-all-counts-frank-scalise.html"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">http://www.goaliestore.com/board/hockey-talk/100035-book-review-all-counts-frank-scalise.html</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(a review in a goalie store forum)</span><br />
<br />Frank Scalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08501290929681033761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738779837515862898.post-48144390305877309262013-04-19T12:42:00.003-07:002013-04-19T12:42:38.638-07:00New Audio Book and a Freebie!<b><i>All That Counts</i> is now available as an audio book!</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_1sT4Zbe1U4dSb0CUdufLllmeAxp7NQuc8w1WKJwG4UOUPIumq_BYs55M4Wl3EAsfwmkjIYssjeDK-TVZBePxObGTzUsH2heCifM3bRT9lhQeL8zybQYA6zgCEds3whsRJDeZMLTtrg/s1600/atc+web+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_1sT4Zbe1U4dSb0CUdufLllmeAxp7NQuc8w1WKJwG4UOUPIumq_BYs55M4Wl3EAsfwmkjIYssjeDK-TVZBePxObGTzUsH2heCifM3bRT9lhQeL8zybQYA6zgCEds3whsRJDeZMLTtrg/s200/atc+web+cover.jpg" width="128" /></a></div>
Narrated by the talented sports narrator, Dan Czerwonka, this hockey novel centers on Graham Wilson, a recreational league hockey player. Graham decides to try goaltending, and the result is like life -- there is comedy, drama, tragedy, and perseverance. It is a journey that shows Graham what truly is "all that counts" in life.<br />
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You can get your copy of the <i>All That Count</i>s audio book at <a data-mce-href="http://www.amazon.com/All-That-Counts/dp/B00CDT7Q2Q/ref=tmm_aud_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1366398628&sr=1-1-spell" href="http://www.amazon.com/All-That-Counts/dp/B00CDT7Q2Q/ref=tmm_aud_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1366398628&sr=1-1-spell" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" title="Get your Audio Book version here!">Amazon</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">, </span><a data-mce-href="http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_3?asin=B00CC14OMA&qid=1366398764&sr=1-3" href="http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_3?asin=B00CC14OMA&qid=1366398764&sr=1-3" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" title="Get your audio book version here!">Audible.com</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> or iTunes. You can hear an audio sample <a href="http://www.frankscalise.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/ATC-5-Minute-Sample-Mastered-Final.mp3" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Bitstream Charter, Times, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">In celebration of the audio book release, I am making the Kindle version of <i>All That Counts</i> <b><u>FREE</u></b> for 5 days!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Bitstream Charter, Times, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">You can get the Kindle version of this book for free from Saturday, April 20th until Wednesday, April 24th. Just go <a href="http://www.amazon.com/All-That-Counts-ebook/dp/B003XIJ066/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1366399853&sr=1-1" target="_blank">here</a> and download!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Bitstream Charter, Times, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Just in time for the NHL playoffs!</span></span>Frank Scalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08501290929681033761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738779837515862898.post-43187825833676298862012-10-02T23:30:00.002-07:002012-10-02T23:30:38.983-07:00The Hardest Hit is #1!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfW3u6oRhMWBLUXJAaJoI1rCty4c1D31eZSS0_ZQGg1LcpSW4eZ674xi02U6pebjlGqtuqhD5pzj636waw3w_a7yMg9Q0tudrg6z9ZkvTNUhxEblFhVA726GH_ho99jjjQyFGClqzKlk/s1600/Final+Cover+Hardest+Hit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfW3u6oRhMWBLUXJAaJoI1rCty4c1D31eZSS0_ZQGg1LcpSW4eZ674xi02U6pebjlGqtuqhD5pzj636waw3w_a7yMg9Q0tudrg6z9ZkvTNUhxEblFhVA726GH_ho99jjjQyFGClqzKlk/s200/Final+Cover+Hardest+Hit.jpg" width="129" /></a></div>
My first book in the Sam the Hockey Player series, <i>The Hardest Hit</i>, is currently the <b><u>#1 Children's Hockey book on Kindle</u></b>!<br />
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Yes, you heard me. <b>It is #1!</b> Here's the snapshot:<br />
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I don't know what to say, except...how cool is that?<br />
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You can read more about <i>The Hardest Hit</i> on my <a href="http://www.frankscalise.com/?page_id=18">website</a>, including the first 37 pages or so, or about how it is the first in a series. I'm working on #2 now. Or go to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Hardest-Hockey-Player-ebook/dp/B005BYF1O0/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1349245479&sr=1-3&keywords=the+hardest+hit">Amazon</a>, where you can buy the book if you want!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXmCNXBXfCLVx8307IVh5HnsdS7jl2u9yCQSINEp5QUCpicG_XvaGE3F8tIIc3HvYjDR5nDZvda221EtyNfKpx0dXM2zH4fbJP0TKHA_SCA9jSQu7pDks6Ck-df5_WLuGqmN0ss5drlY/s1600/Sam+is+%231.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXmCNXBXfCLVx8307IVh5HnsdS7jl2u9yCQSINEp5QUCpicG_XvaGE3F8tIIc3HvYjDR5nDZvda221EtyNfKpx0dXM2zH4fbJP0TKHA_SCA9jSQu7pDks6Ck-df5_WLuGqmN0ss5drlY/s400/Sam+is+%231.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Frank Scalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08501290929681033761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738779837515862898.post-36084129250790076022012-07-18T23:02:00.000-07:002012-07-18T23:02:44.442-07:00FREE! All That Counts will be FREE for 5 days!Yes, you read that right. All That Counts will be free from July 20th through July 24th on Amazon.com.<br />
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I<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> figured we needed to celebrate a little hockey, since it's off season and not much is happening.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">All That Counts is a novel about life and a man's discovery about what is truly important in it.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Graham Wilson is a thirty-something recreational hockey player who decides to follow a long-held desire to become a goaltender. His transition is both comedic and inspiring as he seeks to challenge himself in the midst of a mundane life. Also on display is the curious paradox of the recreational game in American culture (i.e., it means everything, but it is only a game, but it is more than a game, but...). When his team's regular goalie leaves, Graham steps unsteadily into the crease, causing conflict on a team that is used to winning.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Graham's journey is a microcosm of life. Humor, inspiration, camaraderie, love and spite all make their appearances both on and off the ice as Graham struggles to learn what truly is "all that counts."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You can get the book for free on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/All-That-Counts-ebook/dp/B003XIJ066/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1342677538&sr=1-1&keywords=frank+scalise+all+that+counts">Amazon</a> from 7/20 - 7/24. Enjoy, drop the puck, and game on!</span></div>Frank Scalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08501290929681033761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738779837515862898.post-36466391479711481672011-08-18T08:26:00.000-07:002011-08-18T08:26:37.533-07:00THE HARDEST HIT Now Available in Paperback!My middle grade novel, The Hardest Hit, is now available in paperback.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfW3u6oRhMWBLUXJAaJoI1rCty4c1D31eZSS0_ZQGg1LcpSW4eZ674xi02U6pebjlGqtuqhD5pzj636waw3w_a7yMg9Q0tudrg6z9ZkvTNUhxEblFhVA726GH_ho99jjjQyFGClqzKlk/s1600/Final+Cover+Hardest+Hit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfW3u6oRhMWBLUXJAaJoI1rCty4c1D31eZSS0_ZQGg1LcpSW4eZ674xi02U6pebjlGqtuqhD5pzj636waw3w_a7yMg9Q0tudrg6z9ZkvTNUhxEblFhVA726GH_ho99jjjQyFGClqzKlk/s200/Final+Cover+Hardest+Hit.jpg" width="129" /></a></div>Eleven year old Sam Parker loves to play hockey. But this is the year that he will start body-checking. His natural fear of getting hit is temporarily overshadowed by finding out his parents are getting divorced. <br />
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Determined to keep them together by being a hockey superstar, Sam instead suffers a bone-crunching check from the school bully in his first game of the season. The resulting pain and fear brings out the worst in Sam as one difficulty after another piles on. Even his best friend, Jill, doesn't always seem to understand what he's going through. <br />
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When will his head stop hurting? Will he ever be able to play hockey again? How can he keep his parents together? Or can he? It will take everything Sam has to bounce back. Every one of his problems feel like ...the hardest hit.<br />
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<em>The Hardest Hit</em> is part of the Sam the Hockey Player series (first book).<br />
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You can get it <a href="https://www.createspace.com/3623423">HERE</a> (preferred) or on Amazon (within a few days) or order it from your favorite bookstore. <em>The Hardest Hit</em> by Frank Scalise, ISBN 978-1463550059.Frank Scalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08501290929681033761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738779837515862898.post-39425252005054423972011-07-12T06:49:00.000-07:002011-07-12T06:52:16.254-07:00Updated Cover for THE HARDEST HIT!Artist Gordon Ennis updated the cover of <em>The Hardest Hit</em> for me. The result is a cover with much more vibrant, striking colors. Compare (and actually click on the covers to enlarge them to really see how big a difference there is):<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><u>OLD VERSION:</u></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><u>NEW VERSION:</u></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Your thoughts? <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In <em>The Hardest Hit</em>, we meet eleven year old Sam Parker. Sam loves to play hockey. But this is the year that he will start body-checking. His natural fear of getting hit is temporarily overshadowed by finding out his parents are getting divorced. </div><br />
Determined to keep them together by being a hockey superstar, Sam instead suffers a bone-crunching check from the school bully in his first game of the season. The resulting pain and fear brings out the worst in Sam as one difficulty after another piles on. Even his best friend, Jill, doesn't always seem to understand what he's going through. <br />
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When will his head stop hurting? Will he ever be able to play hockey again? How can he keep his parents together? Or can he? It will take everything Sam has to bounce back. Every one of his problems feel like ...the hardest hit.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>The Hardest Hit</em> is available now as an ebook for $2.99 and will be available as a paperback for $8.99 before the end of the month.</div>Frank Scalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08501290929681033761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738779837515862898.post-17727144281153422702011-07-09T09:13:00.000-07:002011-07-09T09:13:53.145-07:00THE HARDEST HIT Is Now Available!My middle grade novel, <em>The Hardest Hit</em>, is now available!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhln5Qb5Emu84yYxDy2l7QkaOKoPXvwJJtuUq85tD4ig_GX7aq04zR8tojU2tqIp3TFnURNVXH3LlFKKJxxf_ynLIk1xU20d5Nme6TXJUCQLBk3lxQBYTnerOInbcvpwYYL_b8PAzrTaik/s1600/Hardest+hit+cover2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhln5Qb5Emu84yYxDy2l7QkaOKoPXvwJJtuUq85tD4ig_GX7aq04zR8tojU2tqIp3TFnURNVXH3LlFKKJxxf_ynLIk1xU20d5Nme6TXJUCQLBk3lxQBYTnerOInbcvpwYYL_b8PAzrTaik/s400/Hardest+hit+cover2.jpg" width="258" /></a>In <em>The Hardest Hit</em>, we meet eleven year old Sam Parker. Sam loves to play hockey. But this is the year that he will start body-checking. His natural fear of getting hit is temporarily overshadowed by finding out his parents are getting divorced. <br />
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Determined to keep them together by being a hockey superstar, Sam instead suffers a bone-crunching check from the school bully in his first game of the season. The resulting pain and fear brings out the worst in Sam as one difficulty after another piles on. Even his best friend, Jill, doesn't always seem to understand what he's going through. <br />
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When will his head stop hurting? Will he ever be able to play hockey again? How can he keep his parents together? Or can he? It will take everything Sam has to bounce back. Every one of his problems feel like ...the hardest hit.<br />
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<em>The Hardest Hit</em> is part of the Sam the Hockey Player series, and the first one to be published. There will be others, some following Sam at this stage of his life (11-12). Others will feature Sam at other stages in his life, such as first grade or as a toddler. In each of these books, the target reader/listener will be the roughly the same age as Sam.<br />
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<em>The Hardest Hit</em> is available as an eBook from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=frank+scalise">Amazon</a> or <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/frank-scalise">Barnes and Noble</a> now. It will shortly be available for all other formats wherever you like to buy your ebooks, but <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/70813">Smashwords</a> has them now. The paperback version will be available within a couple of weeks, and I'll post that information when it happens.Frank Scalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08501290929681033761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738779837515862898.post-3477963875529407382011-03-25T19:18:00.000-07:002011-03-25T19:18:13.798-07:00Couple of New Books Coming!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Okay, so both of these aren't exactly coming out tomorrow, but I thought I'd mention them anyway.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-LRcLmaqkVZXYwWZDrGnXA1aLj12CVkP47R1YC22IcPwMgKYMIxOyuQdgYGdYMPOQ7LuLHbITWPNM4MgcVtVBaDnvts6BGKYaO6NiIWQt31awVpcKLaDJuNWYWVOsgNzTLNeqm7uQ1A/s1600/Cover.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-LRcLmaqkVZXYwWZDrGnXA1aLj12CVkP47R1YC22IcPwMgKYMIxOyuQdgYGdYMPOQ7LuLHbITWPNM4MgcVtVBaDnvts6BGKYaO6NiIWQt31awVpcKLaDJuNWYWVOsgNzTLNeqm7uQ1A/s200/Cover.bmp" width="159" /></a>My first middle reader novel in the SAM THE HOCKEY PLAYER series, called <em>The Hardest Hit</em>, is only waiting on cover art. When that is ready, the book will be available on Amazon, B&N, etc. as an eBook and a paperback. It could be out by May.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>A Street Officer's Guide to Report Writing</em> is my police report writing textbook, which I co-authored with Doug Strosahl. This textbook will be out in January 2012. You can get a look at it <a href="http://www.cengage.com/search/productOverview.do?Ntt=9781111542504&Ntk=P_Isbn13&N=+14+4294922322">here</a>.</div>Frank Scalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08501290929681033761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738779837515862898.post-41489422628664774172010-11-25T11:04:00.000-08:002010-11-25T11:04:36.985-08:00ALL THAT COUNTS #75 in Kindle Sports!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ02t8YECl17ZJqGeOPiSqVVp4MeNVesNztN3g3_rnzqCO50zltynEHclE0he2IVR8779NK4Ojb_hdZMQ5oIlij9qy6Cx9qGMa4QtYZozCmwSRfxx18BWaIQZLA0isI773TfR2RAebpzU/s1600/atc+web+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ02t8YECl17ZJqGeOPiSqVVp4MeNVesNztN3g3_rnzqCO50zltynEHclE0he2IVR8779NK4Ojb_hdZMQ5oIlij9qy6Cx9qGMa4QtYZozCmwSRfxx18BWaIQZLA0isI773TfR2RAebpzU/s200/atc+web+cover.jpg" width="128" /></a></div><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/All-That-Counts-ebook/dp/B003XIJ066/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1290710624&sr=1-1">All That Counts</a></em> is currently #75 in the Fiction/Sports category on Kindle! <br />
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With hockey in full swing, treat yourself to a novel about the blue collar players who pay to play recreational hockey. If you love the sport, this book is chock full of all that is glorious about hockey. If you're new to the sport, the story is told in a way that helps you discover the finer points of the game...you'll even understand icing by the time you're finished!<br />
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All That Counts is also available as a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/All-That-Counts-Frank-Scalise/dp/1936178192/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1290711400&sr=1-1">paperback</a> from <a href="http://www.graydogpress.com/bookstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7&products_id=39">Gray Dog Press</a>.Frank Scalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08501290929681033761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738779837515862898.post-31724186432974702202010-08-09T23:05:00.000-07:002010-08-09T23:05:06.900-07:00ALL THAT COUNTS eBook on Amazon!<div>If you're looking for a Kindle version of <em>All That Counts</em>, it is now available on Amazon. Here are the three reviews about the book that are posted there:</div><br />
<div></div><em>"I thoroughly enjoyed All THAT COUNTS. Colorful story telling around the adult recreational hockey scene, which many know has as much to do with life & friendship as it does about the actual game. Anybody who has ever played hockey, or would like to, will love this book."</em><br />
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<em>"I read Frank Scalise's book 'All That Counts' because I'd met him and enjoyed our conversation, not because I'm a hockey fan. I was pleasantly surprised by how good it is, even for someone like me who had no interest in the game. The characters are so real that it feels as though I'm following friends through the season from game to game. The book flows beautifully, is well written, is funny at times, and held my interest from beginning to end. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of one of his "River City" novels!"</em><br />
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<em>"I don't know much about hockey, at least I didn't when I first read "All That Counts" but I know a lot about life, love and changes while we search for what it is in this world that really matters. This is a great novel about just that, a man searching for all that counts through a new adventure. He moves from skating out as a hockey player to the overwhelming challenge of becoming a goalie. This a an entertaining read about friendship, adversity and overcoming obstacles, as Graham discovers 'All That Counts' in his life."</em> <br />
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If you haven't read "ALL THAT COUNTS" yet, you can now get the eBook version for just $2.99 at Amazon or at Smashwords.com in any format. The paperback is still available through Gray Dog Press or any book outlet.Frank Scalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08501290929681033761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738779837515862898.post-5413353992221639782010-07-10T09:12:00.000-07:002010-07-10T09:14:17.330-07:00Ebook version of ALL THAT COUNTS available!If you're in to eBooks, <em>All That Counts</em> is now availabe in all formats. You can get it from Smashwords or virtually any other outlet (Sony, B&N, etc.). The Kindle version is available only at Smashwords, but it'll be up on Amazon soon, too.Frank Scalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08501290929681033761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738779837515862898.post-10683111435012373142010-05-26T06:57:00.000-07:002010-05-26T07:00:36.935-07:00ALL THAT COUNTS on Amazon!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibt0-xRTmJmKSz8WzkBlXIhXhRXqaO0NdgTC9W84FnPqEXLrASxkqyeYK9E1ME-QVpKFMiBYHQCYVtzKs7AiAN3GTlqiZhraL0SR1UMBMeWjebVQRORdatvv8e1GFuSrZnaYcinJMg7g/s1600/atc+web+cover.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 130px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475578219817758274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibt0-xRTmJmKSz8WzkBlXIhXhRXqaO0NdgTC9W84FnPqEXLrASxkqyeYK9E1ME-QVpKFMiBYHQCYVtzKs7AiAN3GTlqiZhraL0SR1UMBMeWjebVQRORdatvv8e1GFuSrZnaYcinJMg7g/s200/atc+web+cover.jpg" /></a><br />Well, <em>All That Counts</em> is finally up on Amazon. This should make it easier for people anywhere to purchase the book.<br /><br />For some reason, the cover art isn't posted yet, but I've got an email into the publisher about that. Meanwhile, if you've read the book and would be willing to do a review on Amazon, that would help <strong><em>a lot</em></strong>.<br /><br />Thanks in advance.Frank Scalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08501290929681033761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738779837515862898.post-86359613328696449442010-04-12T18:30:00.000-07:002010-04-12T18:35:23.521-07:00Weekend Appearance<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ02t8YECl17ZJqGeOPiSqVVp4MeNVesNztN3g3_rnzqCO50zltynEHclE0he2IVR8779NK4Ojb_hdZMQ5oIlij9qy6Cx9qGMa4QtYZozCmwSRfxx18BWaIQZLA0isI773TfR2RAebpzU/s1600/atc+web+cover.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 130px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459428900138118466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ02t8YECl17ZJqGeOPiSqVVp4MeNVesNztN3g3_rnzqCO50zltynEHclE0he2IVR8779NK4Ojb_hdZMQ5oIlij9qy6Cx9qGMa4QtYZozCmwSRfxx18BWaIQZLA0isI773TfR2RAebpzU/s200/atc+web+cover.jpg" /></a><br /><div>I'll be at the Heads Up Tournament at Eagles Ice-a-Rena this Saturday from 8 AM to 12 PM, signing copies of <em>All That Counts</em>! </div><div></div><br /><div><br>If you haven't got a chance to pick up your copy yet, this would be a great time.</div><div></div><div> <br></div><div>Hope to see you there!<br></div><div></div><div><strong><em></em></strong> <br></div><div><strong><em></em></strong> <br></div><div><strong><em>Frank</em></strong></div><div><strong><em></em></strong> <br></div><div></div><div> </div><div>P.S. Let's go, Flyers!</div>Frank Scalisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08501290929681033761noreply@blogger.com0