Mike Smart's Blog
December 21, 2014
Gatekeeper makes top 10 on Amazon
Gatekeeper, the top class highly rated action packed thriller is available for free kindle download ranked #9 currently.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gatekeeper-Mi...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gatekeeper-Mi...
Have a great Christmas
All the best
Mike
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gatekeeper-Mi...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gatekeeper-Mi...
Have a great Christmas
All the best
Mike
December 16, 2014
Without Warning - Too close for comfort
It is an unfortunate reality that domestic terrorism has become a facet of everyday life. In truth it lies beneath a thin veneer of protection provided by hard pressed secret service organisations.
Today, you don't know who you can trust - read Without Warning it'll shatter your you once secure belief in how safe we are in our day to day lives.Without Warning
Today, you don't know who you can trust - read Without Warning it'll shatter your you once secure belief in how safe we are in our day to day lives.Without Warning
Computers - can't live with them, can't live without them!
Are you interested to know why the whole of Europe has been blighted by problems with Air Traffic Control Systems?
Read Gatekeeper, 5 STAR critically acclaimed thriller - it might provide some frustrated travellers with much needed but possibly unwelcome answers!Gatekeeper
Read Gatekeeper, 5 STAR critically acclaimed thriller - it might provide some frustrated travellers with much needed but possibly unwelcome answers!Gatekeeper
Book Extract - On A Sales Call
BOOK EXTRACT:
Listening And Learning
If you are talking you are not listening. There’s a time to speak, and there’s a time to hold one’s peace and listen to what’s being said. There is a real art to listening: it’s called keeping your mouth shut. It never ceases to amaze me how difficult people find this to do. I’ve been on any number of sales calls with senior, or more junior sales resources, who just can’t stop themselves. And yes, even I've managed to fall into the trap of liking to hear the sound of my own voice, more than that of the person I’m trying to build a relationship with..
In social networks, those people who talk a lot and never listen, are typically referred to as “bores” in the commercial world; they are frequently called “unemployed”.On A Sales Call
Listening And Learning
If you are talking you are not listening. There’s a time to speak, and there’s a time to hold one’s peace and listen to what’s being said. There is a real art to listening: it’s called keeping your mouth shut. It never ceases to amaze me how difficult people find this to do. I’ve been on any number of sales calls with senior, or more junior sales resources, who just can’t stop themselves. And yes, even I've managed to fall into the trap of liking to hear the sound of my own voice, more than that of the person I’m trying to build a relationship with..
In social networks, those people who talk a lot and never listen, are typically referred to as “bores” in the commercial world; they are frequently called “unemployed”.On A Sales Call
November 16, 2014
Ruthless Ambition - New Release
Review for Vol 5 in the Max Thatcher Book Series - 3 free signed copies up for grabs.
Review by Gina BorneRuthless Ambition by Mike Smart
Sometimes a long awaited thing is a terrible anti-climax, but not so with ‘Ruthless Ambition’, the latest in the Max Thatcher series, by Mike Smart. This new adventure has all the same familiar characters as the previous four books, which is great if you’re already a fan (and why wouldn’t you be?), but as ‘stand alone’ reads, they are equally engaging. Once again, Mr Smart delivers fast-paced action alongside truly current themes. Throughout the series there is something for everyone; politics, power, global issues, money, sex, violence, goodies, baddies, spies, relationships, families; the lot!
Ruthless Ambition explores how a fleeting childhood experience can lead someone to have truly skewed views about how to achieve success and power in later life at the total expense of others. The prose is detailed and exciting, without being ‘flowery’ and the author gets to the point way before you might be thinking of scanning or skipping a page. Surprising and unpredictable in its incredibly well -weaved plot, Ruthless Ambition has enough familiarity for the already initiated, to feel a real sense of empathy with Max and co. There is an increasing humanity to the main character, that is endearing, without allowing him to become weak. Max’s latest mission, to track down the victims of a kidnap, linked to the secret services and the highly illegitimate activities of a man with his heart set on domination of the still developing world, is gripping and tense, but also packed with asides and sub-plots that make it very real and earthy.
For the plane, the pool, the fireside, the half hour escape at the end of a busy day, I highly recommend the Thatcher series.
Review by Gina BorneRuthless Ambition by Mike Smart
Sometimes a long awaited thing is a terrible anti-climax, but not so with ‘Ruthless Ambition’, the latest in the Max Thatcher series, by Mike Smart. This new adventure has all the same familiar characters as the previous four books, which is great if you’re already a fan (and why wouldn’t you be?), but as ‘stand alone’ reads, they are equally engaging. Once again, Mr Smart delivers fast-paced action alongside truly current themes. Throughout the series there is something for everyone; politics, power, global issues, money, sex, violence, goodies, baddies, spies, relationships, families; the lot!
Ruthless Ambition explores how a fleeting childhood experience can lead someone to have truly skewed views about how to achieve success and power in later life at the total expense of others. The prose is detailed and exciting, without being ‘flowery’ and the author gets to the point way before you might be thinking of scanning or skipping a page. Surprising and unpredictable in its incredibly well -weaved plot, Ruthless Ambition has enough familiarity for the already initiated, to feel a real sense of empathy with Max and co. There is an increasing humanity to the main character, that is endearing, without allowing him to become weak. Max’s latest mission, to track down the victims of a kidnap, linked to the secret services and the highly illegitimate activities of a man with his heart set on domination of the still developing world, is gripping and tense, but also packed with asides and sub-plots that make it very real and earthy.
For the plane, the pool, the fireside, the half hour escape at the end of a busy day, I highly recommend the Thatcher series.
November 6, 2014
Selling is a skill that we should all hone
I am not a writer by profession. My background is in Sales & Marketing and Mergers and Acquisitions primarily in the Information Technology arena.
Having written some well received thrillers, which I did for fun, I have got to know many independent and well known authors. A new circle of friends.
What has become very clear is that many are great authors but lack some very basic sales skills. Selling is not trickery it's about understanding process; it is a basic skill that must be learnt if you want to maximise your chance of success.
I've written a book on the subject - "On A Sales Call", it will be released later this month. You can win a signed copy if you enter the goodreads "Giveaway".
Failing that you could always buy one.
Remember the value of your book is not measured in word count and the amount of paper consumed:
A man walks into a square in Montmartre, an artist asks him if he would like his portrait done. He agrees. Less than ten minutes later the tourist has a fabulous painting in his hands. “How much?” He asks.
“500 Euros Monsieur.”
“How much?” exclaimed the man “But it only took you a few minutes to paint it!”
“This is true, but it took me a lifetime to learn how…” Came the reply.
Having written some well received thrillers, which I did for fun, I have got to know many independent and well known authors. A new circle of friends.
What has become very clear is that many are great authors but lack some very basic sales skills. Selling is not trickery it's about understanding process; it is a basic skill that must be learnt if you want to maximise your chance of success.
I've written a book on the subject - "On A Sales Call", it will be released later this month. You can win a signed copy if you enter the goodreads "Giveaway".
Failing that you could always buy one.
Remember the value of your book is not measured in word count and the amount of paper consumed:
A man walks into a square in Montmartre, an artist asks him if he would like his portrait done. He agrees. Less than ten minutes later the tourist has a fabulous painting in his hands. “How much?” He asks.
“500 Euros Monsieur.”
“How much?” exclaimed the man “But it only took you a few minutes to paint it!”
“This is true, but it took me a lifetime to learn how…” Came the reply.
October 19, 2014
Book promotion - Win signed copy of Gatekeeper Vol 1 in the Series
Hi, please click on the link and signup for my FREE newsletter. One subscriber is picked at random every week and sent a signed copy of Gatekeeper.
https://www.facebook.com/maxthatchers...
Signup for special offers and pre-announcements of new books.
All the best
Mike
Gatekeeper
https://www.facebook.com/maxthatchers...
Signup for special offers and pre-announcements of new books.
All the best
Mike
Gatekeeper
October 7, 2014
Win £200 or your local currency equivalent
Hi, am running an exciting book promotion.
Every month one lucky reader is selected at random and offered £200 or their local currency equivalent to write an unbiased review.
You get to read any one of four critically acclaimed thrillers - check out the review on Goodreads and Amazon.
Two winners so far - runner up prize of all 4 signed paperback editions
Reading has never been so rewarding.
Please give it a go
www.mikesmartauthor.co.uk
All the best
Mike
Every month one lucky reader is selected at random and offered £200 or their local currency equivalent to write an unbiased review.
You get to read any one of four critically acclaimed thrillers - check out the review on Goodreads and Amazon.
Two winners so far - runner up prize of all 4 signed paperback editions
Reading has never been so rewarding.
Please give it a go
www.mikesmartauthor.co.uk
All the best
Mike
September 22, 2014
Max Thatcher Book Series Update
Only 8 days left to get involved in the September promotion. The August winner of £200 has sent through her review:
"Thoroughly enjoyed Gatekeeper, it's the first of your books that I've read. It was fast moving, action packed and liked the development of the Max Thatcher character. Would recommend without hesitation. Going to read the next one. Fingers crossed I win again!"
Mrs J XXXXXXXX (UK)
Don't miss out and please tell your friends to get involved too. Go to www.mikesmartauthor.co.uk for a chance to win £200 or your local currency equivalent.
Have a great day.
Mike
"Thoroughly enjoyed Gatekeeper, it's the first of your books that I've read. It was fast moving, action packed and liked the development of the Max Thatcher character. Would recommend without hesitation. Going to read the next one. Fingers crossed I win again!"
Mrs J XXXXXXXX (UK)
Don't miss out and please tell your friends to get involved too. Go to www.mikesmartauthor.co.uk for a chance to win £200 or your local currency equivalent.
Have a great day.
Mike
September 3, 2014
Book Promotion
Would you like the chance to earn £200 or your currency equivalent?
All you have to do is go to https://mikesmart.selz.com and buy one of the 5 Star Rated books in the Max Thatcher Series.
One lucky reader will be selected at random each month and offered the chance to write a review in exchange for a payment of £200 or their currency equivalent.
Give it a go, a great read for not a lot plus the chance to make some decent spending money.
Good luck
mike
All you have to do is go to https://mikesmart.selz.com and buy one of the 5 Star Rated books in the Max Thatcher Series.
One lucky reader will be selected at random each month and offered the chance to write a review in exchange for a payment of £200 or their currency equivalent.
Give it a go, a great read for not a lot plus the chance to make some decent spending money.
Good luck
mike
