The Parrot Talks in Chocolate

Great Review off of Amazon.com

noreply@blogger.com (Everett Peacock) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:42:00 +0000

4.0 out of 5 stars 4.5 stars, October 26, 2011

This review is from: The Parrot Talks in Chocolate (The Life and Times of a Hawaiian Tiki Bar #1) (Kindle Edition)

This copy was received free for review. I try to avoid any other reviews before reading so any comments are my own views.

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I want to visit :o(

Oddly enough I started this book while travelling and it didn't grab my attention as much as it did when I picked it up a few weeks later upon my return home. Maybe during my travels I was finding my own slice of heaven and didn't need the far-off dream (at least while I'm at home) that the book portrays.

It took me a while to get into almost the same as adjusting to a slower pace of life and meeting new friends does. The narrative flows nicely and the characters are beautifully conveyed. As a book end to end in terms of plot not a lot happens but in terms of people and experiences so much goes on that it not apparent until you slow down to enjoy the smaller (but oh so important) things in life that you can revel in each experience and each person as an individual.

There is so much I want to write about this book but don't quite know how to put it in words, some parts of the book are so vivid that I'm almost experiencing it myself. To call it a good book seems insufficient and yes as usual with my reviews I want half stars. 4 and a half stars.

A Magical Time Machine to Paradise?

noreply@blogger.com (Everett Peacock) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 02:21:00 +0000

well, I suppose it really is.....REVIEWS from Barnes and Noble

Tiwaka

Magical Time Machine to Paradise

An inexpensive ticket to Hawaii without the hassles of airports, rental cars and expensive hotels. The author takes great pains to put you there, with him, inside the heart of a family run Tiki bar set among the jungle seacliffs of Maui. Each chapter expands the lively character set and slowly builds your love of both the place and of course, the parrot Tiwaka. When you need a break from the stress and chaos of the bestsellers try this one. It will literally remain with you forever.

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June 20, 2011

Valca85

A Wonder

This book is a wonder. From the moment I started I was caught in the salt spray of the Hawaiian air, the smell of pineapples and the feel of the sun pulsing against my skin. This is one of those few books where I feel that I want to be inside its pages. The characters are what make the book what it is, even more than the setting. From the narrator, who is honest and lighthearted, to Tiwaka, the charming, loveable parrot who rules over the Tiki bar, to a waitress who might be more than she looks, the pages are crowded with fabulous personalities. There is no plot, per se, the book is made of a collection of connected experiences in a paradisiacal island that ripples with Tiki music. It is the perfect story to pick up when feeling down, or stressed. The writing style is so soothing that it lulls you into a sense of well being that mimics the feelings of the many patrons of Tiwaka's. There's really not enough I can say about how wonderful this book is. All I can tell you is that as soon as I finished it, I began to read the sequel, attempting to remain a little longer amid the wonders of the beautiful Tiki atmosphere. Highly, highly, recommend it.

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June 10, 2011

GreatMindsThinkAloud

EVERETT PEACOCK'S "THE PARROT TALKS IN CHOCOLATE" (A REVIEW)

EVERETT PEACOCK'S "THE PARROT TALKS IN CHOCOLATE" (A REVIEW) I was truly enchanted reading this story by Everett Peacock. It's not just the story of the life and times of a Hawaiian Tiki bar but a story of several lives all of which include family, friends, and even those short acquaintances we make along the way. I was intrigued from the very first page and I must say I still think the Parrot knows more than any give him credit for! The story was simply amazing and well-written leaving me wanting more. We all have those places we like to escape to, I always thought I knew where mine was... now I've decided I want it to be Tiwaka's Tiki Bar & Grill. There's just something about a place where nature remains untouched and you feel like you know the people there even if you've never met them before. This is exactly the kind of nostalgia we all long for. I know this is a book I will hang on to and read often just if for no other reason than to escape to that tropical paradise over and over again! -Kitty Bullard / Great Minds Think Aloud Book Club

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Another Beautiful Day on Maui

noreply@blogger.com (Everett Peacock) — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 21:12:00 +0000

September 11, 2011

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Major Hawaiian Stores...

noreply@blogger.com (Everett Peacock) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 17:54:00 +0000

Get your copy...online or at your favorite tourist bookshelf

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Best Tiki Restaurant on Maui

noreply@blogger.com (Everett Peacock) — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 21:57:00 +0000

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Take the plunge ...

noreply@blogger.com (Everett Peacock) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 22:31:00 +0000

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Zoom on in...

noreply@blogger.com (Everett Peacock) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 04:34:00 +0000

this is you from space

this is you from a little closer

Patient Tiki Torches Await Sunset

noreply@blogger.com (Everett Peacock) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 21:20:00 +0000

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Metaphysical Tiki?

noreply@blogger.com (Everett Peacock) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 18:21:00 +0000

Did you know that The Parrot Talks in Chocolate made an Amazon Top 100 List finally?

Sure did, #23 in Metaphysical. These rankings change every hour, based on sales at Amazon.com, but we are stoked!

time to go carve another smiling tiki!

Afternoon Shadows

noreply@blogger.com (Everett Peacock) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 06:50:00 +0000

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Come on in...

noreply@blogger.com (Everett Peacock) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 17:37:00 +0000

...the water's fine!

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Another Lonely Maui Swimming Spot

noreply@blogger.com (Everett Peacock) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 01:34:00 +0000

.... south Maui coastline with a westerly view....

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Tiki Mail

noreply@blogger.com (Everett Peacock) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 20:39:00 +0000

mahalos to Doug Peacock for this driveby shot!

Makena Landing, Maui

noreply@blogger.com (Everett Peacock) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 08:30:00 +0000

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Get Your eBook Signed !

noreply@blogger.com (Everett Peacock) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 19:50:00 +0000

Get your SIGNED Kindle copies of The Parrot Talks in Chocolate now at
Kindlegraph.com

Personalization that has never existed before on eBooks!

and...it's FREE

Tiki in the Kitchen

noreply@blogger.com (Everett Peacock) — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 00:56:00 +0000

Something as simple as a "Tiki Bar" sign, a surfboard shelf or two and some bright colors is all you really need. Tiki is a place you hold in your imagination.

Of course, in this picture, you cannot see the rows of rum lined up behind a locked door....

children's book: Ukus in My Hair

noreply@blogger.com (Everett Peacock) — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 16:50:00 +0000

We believe books should be FUN, and this one is certainly that! Ukus in My Hair, A Children's Tale From Maui is written by 10 year old Michael Peacock (yes, there is a relation) and illustrated as well. He tells a fanciful story about a common problem in the tropics - head lice. YUCK! you say? Of course, but you will never have guessed the perspective presented here nor the humor. A great short story for any kid anywhere. 99 cents, in color on color eBook readers!

Morning Magic on Maui

noreply@blogger.com (Everett Peacock) — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 20:13:00 +0000

... perfect place for a quick dip into a welcoming body of water ...

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Tiki Bar View @ 4000 feet

noreply@blogger.com (Everett Peacock) — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 03:21:00 +0000

Kula's Tiki Bar and Hostel...

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noreply@blogger.com (Everett Peacock) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 03:35:00 +0000

Lahaina

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Star Dust Mysteries

noreply@blogger.com (Everett Peacock) — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 08:15:00 +0000

About Star Dust Mysteries Publishing

Star Dust Mysteries Publishes the writings of author Christopher Pinto, and helps to promote the works of indie authors. The established publishing model of the 20th century is changing rapidly as independent authors now have the ability to create books on demand and publish themselves with very little monetary investment. Star Dust Publishing challenges the traditional model by enabling indie authors to publish to print and eBook without the impossible and irritating processes established by the (previous) publishing community.

In a nutshell, in order to get published before, you either had to know someone in the business or have a few years to devote to getting "not interested" letters. Now that indie authors can publish their work "on demand" and directly to Kindle and Nook, the major publishing houses no longer have a monopoly on the industry.

Services: Currently Star Dust Mysteries Publishing's role is to promote the books of Christopher Pinto and his associates. However, in the near future we may offer authors help in publishing their works, including professional:

• Layout & Design services for the interior of your printed book

• Cover Design

• Proofreading & Editing Services

• eBook Layout and Upload Services

• Upload to On Demand Services

• Marketing & Promotions Services

Carabosse and Tiwaka

noreply@blogger.com (Everett Peacock) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 03:41:00 +0000

THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 2011

In the Middle of the Third Planet's Most Wonderful of Oceans by Everett Peacock

Following up with more of the same crew from The Parrot Talks in Chocolate, we delve a little deeper into the magical jungles of Maui. From Tiwaka's Tiki Bar & Grill to the Happy Rainbow Sunshine Festival it's a celebration of life rarely found in today's literature.

What a fun, fun book!

This one is the sequel to The Parrot Talks in Chocolate, and it is just as full of color and Hawaiian magic as the previous one. I swear that after putting it down my hands smell a bit like coconut.

The story takes off where we left the characters last time and they all appear in their full glory: Sandy with her crazy ways, Coco with her strange eyes, charming Tiwaka and many, many other characters. Of course, the main character, the one who takes center stage, is Maui itself. The descriptions are vivid enough to smell and taste, and the reader is hard pressed to remain sitting without trying to imitate some of the wilder dancing moments.

There are a few loose ends which left me wondering a bit, mainly about the almost possession that the narrator encounters in a Hippie retreat. That could have been explained a bit more, but it doesn’t take away too much from the story so it’s not a deal breaker.

More than anything, this novel is a love story. One between humans, animals, the ocean, and mainly, a love story sung to the bright piece of Earth that exists in the Pacific. I highly recommend this book, preferably if you’ve read the first one.

Raise you Coco Loco Moco and learn to squawk like a parrot! Come join us at Tiwaka’s!

Quotable Quotes (via Goodreads readers)

noreply@blogger.com (Everett Peacock) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 22:17:00 +0000

The Parrot Talks in Chocolate Quotes

The Parrot Talks in Chocolate: The Life and Times of a Hawaiian TIKI Bar
by Everett Peacock
16 ratings, 4.19 average rating, 13 reviews
buy a copy

The Parrot Talks in Chocolate Quotes (showing 1-3 of 3)

"I craved something so deep, so passionate that it hurt to even think about it. Looking up at that first star, just now sparkling, happy in its dance through my atmosphere, I made my wish, my prayer, my making myself available."
— Everett Peacock (The Parrot Talks in Chocolate: The Life and Times of a Hawaiian TIKI Bar)

tags: inspirational

2 people liked it

"Have you ever noticed, when things seem to be working against you, that if you focus on fixing things, think about a solution, that inevitably you work it all out?"
— Everett Peacock (The Parrot Talks in Chocolate: The Life and Times of a Hawaiian TIKI Bar)

tags: inspirational

1 person liked it

"Happiness takes effort. You have to make yourself available to happiness. That is probably the best definition of faith that I can come up with."
— Everett Peacock (The Parrot Talks in Chocolate: The Life and Times of a Hawaiian TIKI Bar)

tags: inspirational

1 person liked it

Honolulu StarAdvertiser & Tiwaka

noreply@blogger.com (Everett Peacock) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 18:49:00 +0000

In the mind of the self-published

Two isle writers are finding greater satisfaction in their work by direct-marketing their books

By Burl Burlingame

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jun 19, 2011

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3 Comments

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JOE GUINTO / JGUINTO@STARADVERTISER.COM

Don't close the page on books just yet. In a world in which the downstream current rages against bookstores, works printed on paper, novels and novelists, the act of reading and the concept of literacy in general, there are still a few brave salmon thrashing their way upstream. Every writer since the invention of papyrus has secretly believed they could do a better job than their publisher, and nowadays many are being put to the test.

With the development of e-books and print-on-demand publishing, it has become easier than ever to self-publish — and harder than ever to get books into readers' hands. We asked a couple of self-publishers here in the islands about the state of their business. Both have books we found highly readable and well produced, with a thoroughly professional approach to presentation and, frankly, better edited than many mainstream books. In short, works that should have been making a profit for a book publisher. But in even shorter terms, don't quit your day job.

John G. Rees, whose Black Water Books is Big Island-based, is writing a series of scary sci-fi novels that recently won an international horror-writing award from independent publishers. Everett Peacock, whose home is above the cloud line on Haleakala, writes amusing stories about life in the islands that bring to mind James Thurber nursing a mai tai in a tiki bar.

Since they're writers, we'll let them speak for themselves.

Why did you go the self-publish route? Did you try pitching it to the majors? "Pitching to the majors is like beating your head against a wall," said Rees. "Unless you're connected, all you will wind up with for your efforts is pain and misery — we couldn't even get an agent to show interest!

"Self-publishing is new school. Being published by one of the major publishers, that is old school. Things are changing. Unsolicited submissions are no longer accepted, and I could be long gone before either of my manuscripts ever got to a desk and more likely a round file. Publishing the books ourselves was our way to start."

"There were several reasons I embraced the self-published route," said Peacock. "First, it had evolved from the ‘vanity press' model. Specifically it got two very important new ‘genes': It became quite a bit less expensive to publish your own book and it could immediately get onto Amazon.com for distribution.

"Secondly, it was far more immediate. A book can now be online and available to buy in about 24 hours. The time line became more aligned with my personal desire to get my stories out into the wild almost as soon as I was done writing them.

"I did pitch my first book as I was writing it. I used a submission service that sucked up my dollars and spat back rejection notices. I dabbled a little with agents but found they were highly specialized as well: youth fiction, vampire only, self-help, women writers, etc. "Being a child of the ‘70s, I had no desire to fit my stories into whatever box someone else might want. I justified my lack of success with publishers and agents this way and found, quite by accident, that I could market things myself."

ONLINE

» www.blackwaterbooks.com
» www.theparrottalksinchocolate.com
» everett.peacock.com

Did you guys do it yourself or seek professional help? What have you learned?

"It would be nice to say we did it all ourselves," said Rees, "but it's nicer still to thank the handful of people who made the production turn out as well as it did. We luckily got a couple of names from a self-help book guy, David Avrin. The good people at Self-Publishing.com started us out; we went through them for printing. Mohammad Sadath for the cover art and Danil Mullagaliev for the interior formatting; we worked with these people online. My wife, Mara, and Teddi Stransky for the grammar stuff. We also had several readers.

"One thing stands out. You cannot edit yourself. I think that is where a good book goes bad. Just because you can make all those colorful lines go away in your word-editing program doesn't mean you've edited a book. It's just the beginning and it gets a lot harder. You will rewrite it two to three times, if you're lucky, and read it over more times than you can imagine. And there will still be errors.

"I think it's part of what makes a first edition special, before another editor with bigger teeth chomps it to pieces."

"Book buying is still initially a visual experience, especially for unknown authors," said Peacock. "The cover is the last chance you have to make that proverbial first impression. I had the good fortune of living next door to a talented graphic artist, John Giordani, who took my first two tiki-themed books and captured the pitch with some fabulous artwork. Beyond the cover it was up to me. Storytelling is a visual experience in that the writer is painting inside the reader's imagination with a palette of words. "Typography has come a long way since I was the Radford High School newspaper editor. Spelling is facilitated by both spell-checkers and what I learned in my English classes. I give Radford credit for most of my grammar, as well as having read a lot.

"These choices boiled down to costs. I had to pay for a professional cover, no matter what. I am not a graphic artist. However, I did have basic editing skills to get the book up and going."

Are your books print-on-demand, or did you go the low-run route?

"We became our own publishing company here in Hawaii," said Rees. "We have the books available at our own website and also at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, JustBookz and many other online sites, in e-book form and print-on-demand. So we did both."

"Print on demand," said Peacock. "Amazon.com has a company called Createspace.com. Unless you're going to sell several thousand books right away, it's another example of cost-effective book publishing. You can literally get your book online for sale at Amazon.com for zero dollars, if you do the cover and editing yourself."

Are you making any money at this, breaking even, losing-your-shirt-but-still-have-your-dignity? "We'll have to go with the losing your shirt, but that's not to say we're naked!" said Rees. "It's definitely a tough market to break into, but we're still trying. Sales are steadily slow in all formats, but they are happening.

"The future looks good, and the third book is being edited to be released in the fall. We have had some fabulous reviews and feel it is a matter of time and patience. With two more books in the pipeline, we're running full steam ahead."

"I read about two important data points regarding book sales," said Peacock. "The so-called best-seller probably moves around 20,000 copies. The typical self-published author moves about 200 copies. I'm in between and doing better than I expected. I'm not losing money, but I feel the books could do better.

"Bookstores — physical bookstores — are part of the distribution challenge we have. It's funny: Barnes & Noble and a few independents will sell all their copies but not reorder as I would expect. Their overhead is so great they really need to focus on the hot topics."

What about e-books?

"Both ‘Anoxic Zone' and ‘Halocline' are e-pubs available through the sources mentioned above. Too soon to tell, but it seems to be the wave of the future," said Rees. "E-books surprised me, especially when I began selling more e-books than paper late last year," said Peacock. "Then Amazon.com announced they are selling more e-books than paperbacks, which already outsells hardcovers. That prompted me to release my third book (‘Death by Facebook') directly to the Kindle first and the paperback later.

"My sales were awesome in March, slow in April and then rocketing in May. In fact, I doubled the price on my best-selling title, ‘The Parrot Talks in Chocolate,' and sales continue at 90 percent of the previous rate. Adjusting my pricing is another advantage of a self-published author; I can do it in minutes. My e-book sales are still 6-to-1 against print."

Every real author knows that writing the book is only half the battle. Is your wife/partner sharing this production with you?

"Without Mara none of it would have happened!" said Rees. "A few hundred pages of juicy horror on a word program isn't anything until she sinks her teeth into it. She is the hacker in the family. Every author needs one. I'm just lucky!"

"My dear wife, Della, earned the dedication in my first book," said Peacock. "Her artwork, as a wedding designer at Dellables, is more financially successful than mine. I write when I'm not helping her, delivering flowers and such. Will work for food, that's my motto!"

How are you actually making a living these days?

"I'm not, really," said Rees. "When not writing, I do high-end residential painting. In this economy, however … I have a lot of time to write."

"If I was single, living in a communal treehouse on the North Shore of Oahu,subsistingon fish and rice, then I could say yes," said Peacock. "But I'm not. I help my wife with her business."

If a major publisher came knocking, what would be your response?

"I'm an equal-opportunity capitalist. I'd open that door right up," said Rees.

"I actually make more profit as a self-publisher, per book, than I would with any major publisher," said Peacock. "However, they have the volume angle that would make such a partnership most welcome.

"Amazon.com has now entered the publishing business as a full player, competing directly against the likes of Random House and others. This is huge since it gives little guys like me advantages I did not have a few months ago. They want to promote from within, looking for books with great reviews but, for some reason, relatively low sales. They approach those authors and offer to sign them to a promotional and marketing deal on their dime."

Is control important? "At this point the self-publishing journey is teaching us so much it might be hard to think of doing otherwise," said Rees. "You get used to making your own decisions. Do you make all the right ones? Of course not, but they are yours."

"Self-publishing is empowering, to be sure," said Peacock. "However, I am just an old surfer living on the side of a remote mountainous island. My marketing influence is obviously restricted. There are talented promoters, scriptwriters, filmmakers and actors that could take any of my stories to places quite beyond what I could."

Are you fixed for Christmas presents for some time to come?

"Without a doubt!" said Rees.

"I am. I keep several dozen print copies of each of my books in a closet to give out as gifts," said Peacock. "They are inexpensive for me to purchase, and since I created them they have that homemade feel that makes presents special."

Any hard-learned advice for other self-publishing wannabes?

"Keep writing. If it's good you'll know it," said Rees. "Have a reader or two who will give it to you straight. Don't give up or let criticism make you cave; use it. Sending your manuscript to an editor is one of the scariest experiences I've ever had. It's like standing naked for inspection. Hang tough. No one wants you to fail."

"Remember that your success is really measured in the fact that you get your story done," said Peacock. "Complete your project. Don't let fear hold you back. You can always read it when you're an old geezer sitting on the beach. Your kids and grandkids can read it decades from now and get a kick out of it. And when you publish it — on a blog, on a Kindle or on a stone tablet — you have contributed to human culture. And for that the universe will thank you."

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First Ever "Bundled eBook & Paperback" Now Available

noreply@blogger.com (Everett Peacock) — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 18:31:00 +0000

the FIRST EVER (I'm so excited, can you tell?) Bundled eBook & Paperback is now available with my title at Amazon.com.

- at least I have not been able to find any such thing on google searches and amazon searches.

http://www.amazon.com/Parrot-Talks-Chocolate-eBook-Hawaiian/dp/1463575513

it's a bit tricky as I request a code from the paperback edition be mailed to me at which point I "gift" the Kindle version to the buyer. But, I am guessing Amazon will catch on and make it seamless IF it catches on.

* A buyer can get both formats for one price, keep the format they prefer and send the other to a friend. Great when buying presents because everyone wants to buy themselves a present as well!

The Parrot Talks in Chocolate

Great Review off of Amazon.com

A Magical Time Machine to Paradise?

Magical Time Machine to Paradise

A Wonder

EVERETT PEACOCK'S "THE PARROT TALKS IN CHOCOLATE" (A REVIEW)

Another Beautiful Day on Maui

Major Hawaiian Stores...

Best Tiki Restaurant on Maui

Take the plunge ...

Zoom on in...

Patient Tiki Torches Await Sunset

Metaphysical Tiki?

Afternoon Shadows

Come on in...

Another Lonely Maui Swimming Spot

Tiki Mail

Makena Landing, Maui

Get Your eBook Signed !

Tiki in the Kitchen

children's book: Ukus in My Hair

Morning Magic on Maui

Tiki Bar View @ 4000 feet

Star Dust Mysteries

About Star Dust Mysteries Publishing

Carabosse and Tiwaka

CARABOSSE'S LIBRARY

THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 2011

In the Middle of the Third Planet's Most Wonderful of Oceans by Everett Peacock

Quotable Quotes (via Goodreads readers)

The Parrot Talks in Chocolate Quotes

Honolulu StarAdvertiser & Tiwaka

In the mind of the self-published

ONLINE

First Ever "Bundled eBook & Paperback" Now Available