2008 Indie Book Awards

Greetings everyone!
As promised, I stated in my last post that if "The Mango Tree Cafe, Loi Kroh Road" won in any category at the Indie Book Awards, that I would let YOU know.

So, I am proud to announce that the novel has WON in the following category: Best Online Marketing. As a result, I will be receiving a gold medal and the book will be categorized as a winning novel, along with the info below:

• Finalists and Winners will also receive:
  A listing in the 2008 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Catalog which will be distributed to book buyers, media, and others!
  Exposure for a full year at http://www.indiebookawards.com/ as a Winner or Finalist.
  The opportunity to display Finalist or Winner gold award stickers on your book.
  Other benefits of an award-winning book (such as potential increased revenue).
  PLUS, the top 70 books will be reviewed by New York literary agent Marilyn Allen of Allen O'Shea Literary Agency or one of Ms. Allen's co-agents for possible representation in areas such as distribution, foreign rights, film rights, and other rights (unless an entrant prefers not to have the book forwarded to an agent). Ms. Allen has over 25 years of sales and marketing experience, including serving as Senior Vice President, Associate Publisher, and Director of Marketing for Harper Collins and directing sales and marketing teams for Simon & Schuster, Penguin Books and Avon Books. Ms. Allen has had the pleasure of working with many best-selling authors including Stephen King, Ken Follett, Barbara Kingsolver, John Gray, Mary Higgins Clark, and many more.

Alan and I wish to thank YOU for being an important part of this award!

The Pulitzer Prizes

I promised I would update everyone when I learned the results of the Pulitzer Prizes. I was convinced that "The Mango Tree Cafe, Loi Kroh Road" would be listed at #1. I was wrong. We have both walked Loi Kroh Road and now we must walk a new Road leading us to new experiences and a new novel.

I have to admit, I was devastated when I found out the book didn't win. This has been such an incredible experience for me and everyone and I do mean everyone stated that they LOVED this book. The Indie Book Awards are in May. I again, will post if the book wins in any category.


If it doesn't, Alan and I bid you a fond farewell and adieu. We ask that you continue to tell your friends, family and others about "The Mango Tree Cafe, Loi Kroh Road." But, Alan and I are moving on to the next novel which we are in the process of writing.

Please visit the blog to accompany the book: http://www.heplayedthegame.blogspot.com/ .

If you have ever felt different in your life....you will love this book. And, that's a promise.

Thank you to all that bought the book and wrote in to tell us how much you loved it. It means more than you know.
Cheers-


Alan Solomon and Taryn Simpson

COMING SOON...

Are you ready for a virtual book signing with one author in BEIJING, CHINA and the other in NASHVILLE, TN USA?

Alan Solomon in Beijing, China Taryn Simpson in Nashville, TN USA

STAY TUNED...

The Mango Tree Cafe, Loi Kroh Road is up for another award!

Yep, our book is nominated for two categories in the 2008 Indie Book Awards!


First for "Best Fiction" and Second for "Most unique online marketing of a book"

1. What are the Indie Book Awards?
The Next Generation Indie Book Awards (the "Indie Book Awards") is the most rewarding and exciting book awards program for independent publishers and authors worldwide.The Indie Book Awards was established to recognize and honor the most exceptional independently published books in 70 different categories, for the year, and is presented by Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group (http://www.ibppg.com/) in cooperation with Marilyn Allen of Allen O'Shea Literary Agency.

2. Who can enter the 2008 Indie Book Awards?
The 2008 Indie Book Awards is open to all indie publishers including independent publishers (small, medium or otherwise), university presses, self-published authors, e-book authors, seasoned authors and even first time authors based in the U.S., Canada or internationally who have a book written in English and released in 2007 or 2008 or with a 2007 or 2008 copyright date.
3. What makes the Indie Book Awards so special?
The Indie Book Awards is the only awards program of its kind because cash prizes and/or awards and maximum exposure (even possible representation) with a leading New York literary agent are given to the top 70 books entered.



Be sure to keep reading our blog to see if we won! Winners will be announced May 15, 2008.

Did YOU have a beer with Alan Solomon in Beijing Last Night???

If so, I want to hear from you! Shoot me an email by clicking HERE

From Alan:

I had a work meeting until 10pm last evening, when it finished my boss said 'lets go for a beer' we went to a small bar and I was standing there and this guy comes up to me and asks if I am Alan Solomon, I answered yes and he replied he had just finished reading the MTC and he said "It was outstandingly good"

He then said "i was wondering where it was going as the characters were introduced in the middle but then I read on and it all came to me" He said "i never thought I would ever bump into you and I only wish I had my copy here with me for an autograph!

PICK UP YOUR COPY TODAY....WHO KNOWS? YOU NEVER WHEN YOU'LL BE BELLIED UP TO THE BAR NEXT TO AN AUTHOR!

Comment Regarding The Mango Tree Cafe - Part II Trailer

Hi,

I have read the book four times now, I have never read the same novel so many times as I have this one. It is great and new things are revealed on every read. I hope I see more from you two again. Wonderful story, full of real life, I think.

YouTube - The Mango Tree Cafe, Loi Kroh Road - Part 2


Co-Author Note: Alan and I are currently working on a second novel as we speak.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

If you started reading this blog early in the year of 2007, it has all culminated into this announcement.

Are you ready?

The Pulitzer Prize Winners and Finalists will be announced

APRIL 7, 2008.

Alan Solomon & Taryn Simpson are proud to announce that

"The Mango Tree Cafe, Loi Kroh Road" is nominated for

BEST FICTION

Happy New Year! - Another Review

This is from a fabulous editor/writer, Barbara Milbourn. She edits most all of my books and God love her, she definitely earns her money! Without further adieu,

The Mango Tree Café Loi Kroh RoadAuthor: Taryn Simpson & Alan Solomon
Author Web site: http://mangotreecafe-loikrohroad.blogspot.com/
Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQD0R5IXOhs
ISBN-13: 978-1430325222
Reviewer: Barbara Sharp Milbourn
Purchase at http://www.lulu.com/content/1019489 or Amazon.com

Alan Solomon and Taryn Simpson, in The Mango Tree Café Loi Kroh Road, present the life of Larry. We both meet and say goodbye to Larry as an old man sitting in his cane chair on the veranda of his Chiangmai home peering into the past and future. What’s in-between is an entertaining and sensitive story of a man’s awakening to find and serve the truth.

Larry, a teenager, heeds the words of his father to leave the small New Zealand village so that his achievement will be greater than “. . . watching the grass grow and releasing the pressure from the udders of cows. . .” His travels take him to Thailand, “Land of a Thousand Smiles” and to the fertile beauty of the Mae Rim region where the solitude of the jungle stands in sharp contrast to the noise and bustle of Chiangmai’s Loi Kroh Road.

On this famous and hypnotic road, the powerful and the powerless come to wash bad luck away in drink, prostitution, and anonymity.In one of its bars, Larry has a vision (not his first) that points him to partake of the road and feed it a different food, to experience a different kind of love, and to acknowledge and embrace his purposefulness.

I’m convinced that roads like this and their seedy, gritty dynamic exist around the world. What I especially liked about The Mango Tree Café Loi Kroh Road is that it places us in the pocket of Larry’s shirt closest to his heart. We are standing with him in the press of his life, peering into and out of the café, seeing it for what it is, meeting its characters, smelling its smells, tasting its strange humor and barely disguised grief.

We move back and forth through time and reality to the accident scene, and eventually come to rest as the realization of who he is and why he is here presents itself. Through Larry we are reminded of how little we are really known and understood by others—and often ourselves—and how his seeking is hardly different from our own if we will but stare into its face.

Enjoy The Mango Tree Café Loi Kroh Road.

Hear author Taryn Simpson in an interview with Barbara Milbourn by clicking on Taryn’s name on the right side bar at http://yvonneperry.blogspot.com.