Welcome Hoppers!

Welcome! Happy Canada Day and Happy Birthday USA to everyone. I hope you’re enjoying your cyberspace blogtour today. My name is Michael and I’ll be providing the espresso in the form of my debut espionage thriller - Hill 170 - one free copy each to three visitors!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004YDQORC

Are you tired of these same re-hashed ingredients?

al-Qaeda
Arab terrorists
Islamic radicals
counterterrorists
Manhattan
Iraq
Afghanistan
and still more al-Qaeda?

Then I invite you to read my novel - HILL 170 - just released on Amazon.

China, North Korea, South Korea and the United States - the major forces in the world’s most dangerous stand off.

Sergeant Dodge Bryce and the small team of USAF intelligence ops on Hill 170 keep the region safe. But who will keep them safe when a shocking incident costs the group fully one third of their number - overnight?

Now gravely short handed, the Hill faces its ultimate worst case scenario - a PRC spy in their midst. And Bryce - his remarkable string of intel discoveries having cost the PRC too much - is now the #1 target of China’s master assassin.

It’s a race against the clock as East and West square off in a chillingly authentic story of defections, betrayals and clandestine intelligence operations that you will never forget.
(here's an excerpt to whet your appetite)

Get a free copy! Leave a comment to this post and you’re in the drawing!

Want to earn extra chances to win? Easy, here’s how:
1 entry for becoming a Follower of my blog
3 entries for adding Hill 170 to your LibraryThing wishlist
3 entries for placing Hill 170 on your Goodreads to read list
5 entries for placing a copy of this post on your blog
(be sure to mention which you’ve done in your comment!)

In return I only ask the three lucky winners leave honest reviews at the three locations linked in this post.

Thanks for your time, enjoy the rest of your hop!

Michael Barclay
http://www.librarything.com/work/11393211
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11714222-hill-170

Hop to it!

Okay, new to this and all, I’ve been seeing references to ‘blog hops’. Sure, I’ve been curious but I’ve also been trying to get reviews for Hill 170 (reviews like - ‘You must read this novel; no really, you must!’, ‘Best debut in this genre in ages, maybe even best debut since the invention of paper!’, ‘I want to have Dodge Bryce’s baby!’ and stuff like that) and haven’t really taken too much time to learn much about the art/science of blogging let alone blog-hopping. And, the best way to learn something is to do it. So, killing two tasks with one stroke I am going to be participating in this hop June 30 - July 4.


I'll be giving away copies (pdf or mobi) of Hill 170 to three randomly chosen lucky winners! I'll have entry rules up tomorrow (June 30).

From what I understand there may be a few hundred visitors passing through so I better tidy the place up!

HILL 170 at LibraryThing

HILL 170 can also be found at LibraryThing. Feel free to stop by and leave a comment or review.

http://www.librarything.com/work/book/74507377


Gosh and golly; it's all starting to seem 'official' all of a sudden ;p

HILL 170 at Goodreads

HILL 170 now has a page at Goodreads. Please drop by and leave comments. Rumor has it that more people visit Goodreads than my blog (shocker, I know)!

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11714222-hill-170

Goodreads probably gets more visitors in one minute than I have had from my baby-blog's first day ;p

June already?

Well, it’s been awhile. I’ve been super busy getting the word out about the novel. I’ve also been asking influential book bloggers to read HILL 170 and post honest reviews. And I’ve been pretty happy with the response - check out this review from Best O' Books:


Dipping my toes into another genre this week, I have just finished reading a military spy novel called Hill 170.  I have to tell you, Mr. Barclay is an author who weaves an exciting tale of espionage that seems so authentic, well, because it is! This is not usual reading fare for me, but I decided to give it a go. Mr. Barclay actually worked in the past as an Intelligence Officer at Osan Air Base in South Korea. His vast knowledge of the area and the work done there is evident in the crisp dialogue and vivid description of the base: the bone-weary soldiers, the Korean bar patrons, the mud, and the early-morning cold. One feels that they are right there shoulder-to-shoulder with these men on a mission to seek out the spy in their midst, who is wreaking havoc and murdering locals.

When a large group of soldiers stationed there are killed, it is suddenly very personal for Dodge Bryce. He is the central character of the novel, the esteemed leader of the Skivvy Nine, the men of Hill 170. They have the crucial job of keeping the Northeast Asian region safe from the Communists of North Korea and China.

I cannot say much more about the plot without revealing spoilers, but the novel builds to an exciting and satisfying finish.

For fans of espionage thrillers, especially in a military setting, this will be a great read for you! There is some coarse language, sexual innuendo, and bits of graphic violence, but it all rings true given the plot and setting.

This might make a great gift for Dad (Grandfather, Uncle) this Father's day! Available as a Kindle download for e-readers, or can also be downloaded onto your computer to read.

http://thebestobooks.blogspot.com/2011/06/book-review-hill-170.html


Woo-hoo!

Add that to the 5 star reviews posted on Amazon (Highly recommend, A great read) and you can count me as one very happy writer. Pitiful blogger, but still a very happy writer.

I promise to keep improving both skills.