The Neon Houses Blog Tour with Linda Mims #RRBC

February 24, 2017 · by · in Blog Tour · 56 Comments

Linda Mims

 

I want to Welcome Linda Mims to Fiction Favorites. She has just released her book The Neon Houses, and she is on tour with 4Wills Publishing. I am pleased she chose to stop by today.

Thanks, John.

What Will Writing be Like in 2065

My good friend, also named Linda, doesn’t own a Kindle and her iPad doesn’t hold any novels. Reason being, Linda is a former librarian, and her love for books runs deep. When asked how she thinks writers will communicate with readers in the future, she just shakes her head. Recently retired from more than 30 years spent in the preservation of books and their care, she loves nothing better than to crack open a real book and inhale the fragrance of a freshly published novel—preferably in hardback. Writing in the future is going to remain the same, as far as she’s concerned.

As an indie author who, to date, hasn’t tried vanity publishing or the Amazon interpretation of a physical book, I have a different view of what writing will be like in the future. My friend Linda may or may not read my ebooks when they’re published (she probably will), but I fear that if she doesn’t get onboard the ebook train, she will be missing out on some awesome future writers.

Today’s young writers are using both traditional publishing and self-publishing, and their work is rife with intellect, deep meaning, and skilled storytelling. They are poised to become the recorders of our lives, our chroniclers—the writers of the future. All indie writers are surging and telling their stories. They’ve seen what traditional publishers are touting as best sellers and decided they can do as well and, in some cases, better.

What do I imagine future writing will be like in 50 years? In my book, The Neon Houses I describe a scene where over half the population of the town, Gang Territory can’t read. The percent of writers in 50 years may not be any better than the percent of readers. It will be different! Virtual book sales will grow as will the methods of viewing them. Right now we have Kindle, Nook and iPad devices, but over the next few decades, other apparatus will crop up because there can never be enough great ideas and App designers will invent ways to enhance the reading experience with moving pictures, animated sounds, and a hyped version of reader immersion.

My guess, based solely on supposition and conjecture, is that the FCC will attempt to bring the world-wide web under the umbrella of regulated services. Users will have tired of hackers, identity thieves, predators, and foreign terrorists strong-arming the air-waves. A segment of people, who want to tame their own frontier, will run an internet outside government control, but without a lot of money for refinement and regular upgrading. They will be the crusaders and defenders of writing and free speech in 2065.

Writing of the future will resort back to the written (pen and paper) version of what it was in the mid 20th Century for many people. Communication between and amongst people will have returned, and technology and social media will take a backseat to social interaction where people actually meet and talk face to face.

However, the same fifty years could see Ebonics having taken control of language and communication in our inner cities. Facebook and 140 character Twitter lingo may have encouraged a form of modernist communication that will be spoken and written by only the technologically limited and the poorly educated.

Future writers of this ilk will have stories to tell, but they will have no idea how to research them, sans the internet and sans Google. Over the years the internet will have eradicated the need for encyclopedias, dictionaries, and thesauri and left writers with no idea how to research information on their own.

Most public schools will have ruled out reading the classics and, sorry E. D. Hirsch, Jr., “Cultural Literacy” will be an obsolete idea, meaningful only to the very wealthy. Consequently writing in the future by inner-city school children will be random, infrequent, or nonexistent.

Fifty years from now, illiterate citizens will head to city parks on heralded “reading nights” to hear the classics read by those who remember how to read and to whom the skill was passed.

***
Author Bio:

Linda Mims started creating tales in her head as a child. At age 12, she knew she was onto something when she sold a story to her grandmother for a quarter, but it was her dad’s more practical advice, to get a good education and find a real job, that she followed.
After retiring from her “real job” as an educator, Linda began her writing career as an indie author. The tale of The Neon Houses was born out of a careless comment that people had lost interest in reading. The joke was that decades from now we’d need to hold reading nights in neighborhood parks for citizens who wouldn’t be able to read.
Linda rolled that idea around in her head until it turned into a whole society of have-nots. Once the idea got rolling, she worked nonstop until she’d finished the first draft. Writing is now her real job!
Linda Mims resides in a small suburban town 30 miles outside of Chicago, IL where she likes to cook, garden, and blog, sometimes simultaneously. She is married to her long-time love, has two grown daughters and one bossy, bichon-pom, Alexis.
Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/boom_lyn
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLindaMimsmbria
Website – https://lindamims.com/blog/

The Neon Houses

***
THE NEON HOUSES

Dr. Noel Kennedy hears screams inside her head, but the screams aren’t hers. While preparing for her annual end-of-summer barbecue, Noel hears her young friend—twenty-year-old Zarah Fisher—screaming for her life. However, Zarah is miles away!
Noel knows the exact moment Zarah takes her last breath because Noel has a secret! It’s a secret that not even her husband Richard knows.
As the Deputy Chief of Schools of Gang Territory, Noel has perfected her life. She is a solid, middle-class citizen from New Chicago, Incorporated. New Chicago and Gang Territory have become vastly different societies since the early Urban Wars. Now, the year 2087 finds New Chicago’s military-trained police determined to enforce laws that keep “gang people” out.
Harlem Pierce, a New Chicago police detective, has been warned to stay away from this case and he urges Noel to let it go. But a new killing involves Noel’s younger cousin and her boyfriend and links Noel to it in a startling way.
Who can Noel draw on? Must she turn to Warren Simpson—the menacing, treacherous boss of Gang Territory? Or … could he be the killer?

“The tour sponsored by 4WillsPublishing.wordpress.com.”

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56 comments

  1. Teagan Geneviene · ·

    Thanks John — it’s so nice to meet Linda. The title is a grabber. For some reason I’m always intrigued by the idea of anything neon, though I can’t say why.
    TGIF and mega hugs!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      I love neon myself. I got into appreciating neon art a long time ago. (I think working in bars did it for me) Hugs, Teagan.

      Like

    2. Linda Mims · ·

      Hi Teagan! I love your name. Thanks for commenting.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Teagan Geneviene · ·

        I’m delighted to meet you Linda. Wishing you the best of success. Hugs.

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Gwen Plano · ·

    Thank you for hosting Linda, John. I have her book on Kindle waiting for my read next week. Reading this, I know it will be extraordinary.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      Thank you for stopping by, Gwen. I read it and I think you will enjoy it.

      Like

    2. Linda Mims · ·

      Good Morning, Gwen. Thanks for visiting today. I look forward to hearing your opinion.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. coldhandboyack · ·

    Interesting concept, Linda. Thanks for hosting, John.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      Thanks for the visit, Craig 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    2. Linda Mims · ·

      Good morning, Craig! Just fooling around and the concept went well with the theme of the book! Thanks for stopping and commenting.

      Liked by 2 people

  4. John Fioravanti · ·

    A fascinating glimpse into the literary future, Linda! Good luck with the rest of your tour. Thanks for hosting, John!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      Thanks for the visit, John

      Like

    2. Linda Mims · ·

      Thanks, John. You and John H. are like the “elder statesmen” so I appreciate your comments.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. John W. Howell · ·

        “elder statesmen” huh. Thanks, Linda. Nice words for old hosers.

        Like

      2. John Fioravanti · ·

        Lol – I’m not nearly as elderly as Mr Howell!

        Liked by 1 person

      3. John W. Howell · ·

        You just look older. Poor Linda was confused.

        Like

      4. Linda Mims · ·

        I’m gonna bow out here … LOL!

        Liked by 1 person

      5. John W. Howell · ·

        😀

        Like

  5. Mae Clair · ·

    A thought-provoking look at the future of the written word and books in general, Linda. I’ve enjoyed each stop on your tour and the intriguing posts you come up with.
    John, thanks for hosting Linda today. I look forward to reading Neon Houses.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Linda Mims · ·

      Hi Mae Clair! So happy to see you. Loving your awesome support! Thanks.

      Liked by 2 people

    2. John W. Howell · ·

      Thanks you for the visit, Mae Clair.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Linda Mims · ·

    Good morning John! What a surprise! Each day my hosts have been a mystery. I’m honored to be on Fiction Favorites. It’s one of my favorite blogs! BTW, my posts sure are lengthy! Whew!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      Ha ha ha. Well, since mine are usually short it may look that way but not really. 😀

      Like

  7. tpolen · ·

    That’s a wonderful eye-catching cover – enjoyed reading about Linda and wish her luck on the tour!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Linda Mims · ·

      Thanks for stopping by and appreciating the cover.

      Liked by 1 person

    2. John W. Howell · ·

      Thanks for stopping by, Teri. 🙂

      Like

  8. ~Mar · ·

    Another great post from Linda. Thanks so much for hosting, John, and welcoming us to your site. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Linda Mims · ·

      Hi Marlena! You are so kind. Thanks for starting me off and keeping up with me!😍

      Liked by 2 people

    2. John W. Howell · ·

      Thanks, Mar. You are always welcome here. I know it’s early but here, take this margarita.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. ~Mar · ·

        You always speak my language, John… 😉

        Liked by 2 people

      2. John W. Howell · ·

        There’s chips too.

        Liked by 1 person

  9. Natalie Ducey · ·

    Fascinating and thought provoking post, Linda! Another great stop along your blog tour. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
    Thanks for the warm welcome, John, as always.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Linda Mims · ·

      Thanks for looking in this morning, Natalie. Glad you enjoyed the post.

      Liked by 2 people

    2. John W. Howell · ·

      Thank you for the visit Natalie. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  10. jinlobify · ·

    Linda, you paint a very disturbing future for both writers and readers, a kind of utopia. It is good that some of us will not be around to see it. 🙂 Thank you, John H for hosting her.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Linda Mims · ·

      LOL! Joy, I write fiction! Don’t worry. None of this will come true. Thanks for your comment.

      Liked by 1 person

    2. John W. Howell · ·

      Thank you for the visit< Joy . Happy Weekend to you. 🙂

      Like

  11. Rhani D'Chae · ·

    Hi Linda. That was an interesting post, to say the least. I have every intention of being here in 50 years, so it will be interesting to see how things are. 😀
    John, thank you for hosting today. I always enjoy visiting your blog, and I’m sorry that I haven’t been around much lately.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      Don’t worry . We all understand. Love to you Rhani.

      Like

    2. Linda Mims · ·

      If we’re here together in 50 years, Rhani, I hope you will read to me. I’ll be so old, I’ll think books go on my head. LOL! So glad to see you and thanks for keeping up with me.

      Liked by 1 person

  12. rijanjks · ·

    I too love to hold books, touch them, smell them and put a physical bookmark in to hold my place so I relate to that, Linda. However, I read a majority of books on my Kindle at this point in time. Why? Simply because there isn’t enough room in my apartment to hold all the books. 🙂 Great segment of the tour. Best wishes with Neon Houses, Linda. Thanks for hosting, John.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      Thanks for the visit, Jan.

      Like

    2. Linda Mims · ·

      Great image of an apartment overflowing with books, Jan! Yep, Kindles are a convenience that I’ve grown used to. Thanks for stopping in on the tour.

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Let's CUT the Crap! · ·

    Gotcha kind-of-cover. Wow. Can’t miss it and it pulls me in right away. Nice to meet you, Linda. Intriguing concept. Captivating. 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      Thanks, Tess

      Like

    2. Linda Mims · ·

      Thank you, Tess! Nice to meet you as well! Nice to get your opinion of the cover.

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Shirley Harris-Slaughter · ·

    Linda, some of the landscapes in your Neon Houses parallel my city of Detroit which was devastated by drug infiltration starting in the ’60s which left whole neighborhoods decimated and whole families destroyed. Out of that came New Detroit much like your New Chicago. I’ll stop here as I don’t want to give away too much. I am enjoying your book very much.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      Thank you for the visit, Shirley.

      Like

    2. Linda Mims · ·

      Thanks Shirley. I’m enjoying these little reactionary chunks of the book that you’re leaving on each blog site. I’m very excited to hear your final report.Thanks for stopping by!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Shirley Harris-Slaughter · ·

        Linda your tour is the first one where I am reading the book as the tour is in progress. And you know that is hard to do. Its just that your title drew me in that I had to see what it was all about. John thank you for hosting Linda. It is an exciting tour.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. John W. Howell · ·

        Thanks for your visits, Shirley.

        Like

  15. Linda Mims · ·

    I had a ball, John! Thank you so much for hosting me.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      You are more than welcome. I think you have a great career ahead of you and I wish you the best.

      Liked by 1 person

  16. Don Massenzio · ·

    Reblogged this on Don Massenzio's Blog and commented:
    Check out this guest post by author Linda Mims on John Howell’s blog.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      Thank you, Don.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Don Massenzio · ·

        You’re welcome

        Liked by 1 person