John W Ashbrook

Asteroid's chances of hitting Earth have nearly doubled in a week, ESA scientist warns An steroid up to 300ft wide now has a 2.2% chance of colliding into Earth. It could prompt a space mission to intercept it.

Just when I thought there was no God...

uk.news.yahoo.com/asteroid-hit...

Aaand finally, 20 Books #20. The most recent book.

I read it last year and was bowled over by its vision, its characters & its structure. It's the very definition of a page-turner.

Whenever you think you can predict where it's going, it changes.

What's more - it was a self publishing success!

20 Books #19

Even though I didn't yet know who Alfred Hitchock was, his cameo appearances in these books led them a glamour that your Famous Fives and Nancy Drews lacked.

This series - along with Doctor Who novelisations and ERB's Barsoom books - was my introduction to the joys of reading.

And - boom - it's #Christmas Eve.

Wanna know what's *really* happening in your home tonight? Find out where the presents *really* come from!

It's all in here!

Amazon UK: shorturl.at/y8crB
Amazon US: shorturl.at/6sO0L

#SelfPublishing #amwriting #ChristmasReading #indieauthor
#bookpromotion

20 Books #18

In the post-Buffy, post-Sookie world, it's easy to forget that vampires used to be exclusively European gentry in capes.

What impressed me about this book, when I read it back in 1978, aged 12, was its scope and how it made the hoary old genre fresh and relevant and genuinely scary.

20 Books #17.

Back when I was discovering all my sci-fi tropes through Dr. Who and Star Wars - I also discovered ERB.

His FX were so much better.

I dedicated myself to completing the set of 11 books with Bruce Pennington covers. 45 years on, I still don't think I've achieved that goal.

Only 5 days to go! The Christmas Mice is "...the perfect book for the lead up to Christmas, for children and adults ...I can't recommend this book enough." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

US Amazon: bit.ly/3Zybv5o
UK Amazon: bit.ly/411u4RR

#SelfPublishing #amwriting #Christmas #ChristmasReading #indieauthor #bookpromotion

20 books #16

The most perfect writing I ever read. In 'Evan Almighty', Freeman says 'God gives you the opportunity to love each other'.

That's what this book's about: Love! McCarthy asks himself what would I do for my son? Die for him, sure. But, am I strong enough to live for him no matter what?

YouTube video by DC Superman - Teaser Trailer Tomorrow

Apparently there's a new Superman film upcoming.

Well, they kept that quiet.

There's been *no* marketing about this...

...I mean, this is only the teaser trailer for the teaser trailer for the trailer for the film.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbE8...

Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter Set ‘Bill & Ted’ Reunion on Broadway With ‘Waiting for Godot’ 'Bill & Ted' co-stars Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter are reuniting in Jamie Lloyd's Broadway production of 'Waiting for Godot.'

Awoogah-awoogah!

Alex Winter and someone called Keanu Reeves are going to star in 'Waiting For Godot' on Broadway.

Excellent!

Personally, I'd love to see them in 'Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead' but this'll do!

variety.com/2024/legit/n...

20 Books #15

THE most inspiring book on film making. Read it & you WILL feel you can make a movie.

I hustled like mad to get to the London screening of 'Desperado' so I could meet Rodriguez & interview him.

He liked my 'Hard Boiled' hat. So I swapped it for his autograph in my copy of this book.

YouTube video by FilmRise Television The Dick Van Dyke Show - Season 2, Episode 5 - Hustling the Hustler - Full Episode

Apparently, they had a pro pool player waiting in the wings. The idea was that Mary Tyler-Moore would take the shot - then they would cut to a close-up of the pro potting all the balls in one.

But she potted them herself. I *love* the look on her face as they go in.

youtu.be/GjUXV69MwNU?...

I got into Python when they had finished on TV & were only available on LP. So, this book (plus accompanying soundtrack album) was my introduction to Python.

To my mind, they were a radio comedy troupe.

Their chaotic creativity and the unvarnished honesty of this book is *still* remarkable.

The cover of Ray Harryhausen's Film Fantasy Scrapbook - a portrait of Ray with several of his miniatures - including a fighting skeleton and the Medusa.

20 books #13.

Ray Harryhausen changed my life. I was 5 when I first saw '7th Voyage' and the Cyclops lived rent-free in my young head.

That was the moment I fell in love with movies.

Decades later I was able to thank him for this when I interviewed him.

This, for many years, was his only book.

Calvin & Hobbes - Calvin writes a letter to Santa complaining that he never gets what he wants.

There'll never be another #calvin&hobbes.

Books #12.

I *think* this was my first Dr Who novelisation. In the 70s, this was the only way to revisit a film or TV show.

I've read more Terrance Dicks than any other author!

I learned all my SF & horror tropes through his books.

Dr Who was my 1st book collection & my 1st literary love.

YouTube video by Electrokingdom - Topic Big Time (VB Acoustic Mix)

So, the brill crime/horror novelist, @jconnollybooks.bsky.social, is also a DJ on www.rte.ie/radio/gold/.

He's already given me a great Xmas gift: A remix of Peter Gabriel's 'Big Time' by Electrokingdom. I prefer it to the original.

They also made a smokin' Latin Jazz mix! youtu.be/YgErPo5ysI0?...

There’s this special kind of dad…

No-Man is Steven Wilson again. He's been a busy bugger, the last 20-odd years.

20 books #11.

As a callow yoot, this was the only out-and-out fantasy I ever enjoyed. (I never really dug Tolkien and gave up on Narnia).

My relationship with Le Guin deepened when I read 'The Word for World is Forest' in Again, Dangerous Visions.

But this was my gateway drug.

Watchmen 1st edition of the trade paperback comic book cover.

20 books ... #10.

And the *other* comic I'm including is Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons' autopsy of superheroes.

Where Miller's Batman was a gritty, primal scream - this was careful and cunning.

Engage brain & re-read. Then re-re-read. There is no greater synthesis of words & visuals in the medium.

And let us not forget that other Yuletide favourite: First Blood.

Contains my second favourite Christmas song. (Although, I'm not sure I'm keen on the new mix).

20 books ... #9.

The first comic should be the one that brought me back to comics as an adult. I'd learned to read on comics - then put aside such childish things.

Until Miller's mature, operatic, psychotic vision. Bought it in London & devoured it on the train home. I cheered. I wept. I was back!

So, I made a new short video about my little book.

Just search for 'John W. Ashbrook' on the Amazon.

Thank you 😁🙏

#selfpublishing #indieauthor #writerscommunity #bookpromotion #authorlife #amwriting #writingcommunity #creativewriting #ChristmasReading #FestiveReading #SeasonsReadings

20 books ... #8.

Yes, I wear a black fedora because of Terry Pratchett. He just looked so frickin' cool in it. As do I 😂.

Met him a few times and always found him to be the smartest person in the room - no-matter how crowded the room.

'The Colour of Magic' was the gateway to his sarcasmic world.

Just reporting the facts ☺️

I think it was 7 years ago you made that observation & your comment essentially gave me permission to build my world however I want. I'm *still* hacking away at it. It's gone way beyond the bounds of the reasonable, now. But, I'll finish building that world one day! 😁

20 books ... #6.

I met @rodduncan.bsky.social as guest lecturer for my Masters. Because he writes borderline-steampunk alternate-history I was intrigued.

He writes like a dream - & he gave me some off-the-cuff advice that transformed my writing.

He simply said: "In your world, it does!"

Gratuitous self promotion!

I accidentally wrote a kids' book. I didn't know it was for children, until my mates let their kids read it!

Or, as one of the reviews put it:

"It's the perfect book for the lead up to Christmas, for children and adults." *****

It's free to read on Kindle Unlimited!

20 books that have stayed with me or influenced me. #5.

This opened my eyes all the way.

I'd become half-ashamed of loving SF before reading this. Afterwards, I realised that it's the most important, most insightful, most optimistic genre. Reading SF is essential - do more of it!