Books (Reading and writing), Movies, Reality TV, Coin Collecting, researching genealogy, and generally just doing random internet searches.
I have one beautiful child. I actually have two children but only one of them are beautiful. LOL Just kidding. I have one child and he's wonderful!
I'm a father who is very much into my son. I encourage him to read and to do well in school but I also encourage him to discover himself and find out what he likes, through Cub Scouting adventures and through baseball, both of which he greatly enjoys.I'm a Christian but I'm not as involved in the church as I probably should be. I'd like to find a church that understands what it is to follow the infallible Word of God. I can't seem to find one that's willing to do that 100 percent. Most churches seem more interested in following Preacher Joe than following God. I just refuse to walk that path. Sorry. My faith is in GOD Not Man!I also enjoy Harry Potter. I'm not one of those Christians who thinks it's "of the Devil!". There's more "Magic" in The Bible than in all of the Harry Potter books combined. Heck if you believe (as I DO!) that Jesus Died on the cross and was resurrected, you believe in magic by definition. Calling it a MIRACLE (which it was) doesn't lessen the magical aspect to it. If it wasn't magical anyone could do it. Since I don't believe I can die and resurrect myself I'm reasonably sure it's a magical thing.Harry Potter isn't just about THE MAGIC. But there's more magic in the Lord of The Rings (which Christians seem to be flocking towards!) and Chronicles of Narnia than in ALL of the Harry Potter movies and books combined.It's not the DEVIL's work. It's about friendship, loyalty, love, loss and growth. It's about a young boy learning what it is to trust when he's been raised unable to trust (or love) anyone. It's truly about him finding his way in a world as strange to him as any has ever been to anyone. It's about dealing with abilities, talents (or even disabilities) that others don't have. It's about learning to handle having the weight of the world on your shoulders and moving that heavy yoke. It's about learning to be strong and persevere. It's not an affront to The Bible and if Christians would learn to see it for what it is, FICTIONAL ENTERTAINMENT, they might actually enjoy it. I know I do!
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Steven Oliverez,
Self-Publishing Fantasy Book Author
(also on MySpace)
I'd like to meet:
I'd like to meet.... Well that's an interesting topic isn't it?I'd like to meet Dean Koontz, because he's my literary idol. I'd like to go back in time and meet my great great great grandfather to find out who his father was so that I can CLEAR that genealogical hurdle once and for all!I'd like to meet Jesus Christ so that I could finally ask him 1) what's the meaning of life and 2) will you finally tell all of these manmade religions to quit fighting and just worship the way they are supposed to!But I suppose that's not what they mean huh?So who would I like to meet? Well I'd like to meet people who are into reading mysteries, suspense and horror books. I'd like to meet Conservatives who understand the Constitution grants you the right to bear arms, not ARTILLERY. I'd like to meet people who understand it's okay to be different but you don't have to go around shoving your lifestyle down other people's throats. I'd like to meet other writers, poets, authors, etc. Other people who are amatuer coin collectors so we can talk about the State Quarters and the new Jefferson Nickels they're putting out. I'd like to meet up with other parents (or stepparents) to discuss the various stages of child development. I've only had my son since he was four. I missed out on a lot. But if I ever get lucky enough to have a baby of my own it's going to be a seriously interesting time!I'd like to meet other disabled people.
I'd like to meet anyone essentially who is respectful but passionate about something. I enjoy passion. Not every one knows what he or she wants to be in life, but having a passion just rocks!
HERE IS A LIST OF PEOPLE I WOULD NOT LIKE TO MEET:
1. PeOplE WhO FeEL tHe NeEd to TyPE LikE ThIs... It bugs me... I'm old. I don't have time to translate into english what you're perfectly capable of writing normally.
2. People who get a blank stare (or worse, break out into a nervous sweat) When I say the words "Book store". Hukt Onn Fonikz Wurkt Fer Mi.
3. People who think it's okay to cheat on their significant other. It's not. I'm not here to cheat on mine so please do not try to "Pick me up..." Not that anyone would pick me up but oh well... now we're clear.
4. Fake people. By this I don't just mean "fake celebrities". I mean people who pretend to be one way when they're really another way all together. You're sweet and wonderful .. but you get offline and suddenly you're a jerk. Be who you are. I'm looking for real friends folks. I have no time for posers.
5. People who hate Christians. You don't have to be Christian but you better realize real quickly that I AM Christian and proud of it. We can get along just fine as soon as we're able to respect the differences that exist between us.
6. Pornographers. Let's just be blunt here. We're all adults. You each have the right to put anything on your website you wish. Neither can you control what your friends put on THEIR myspace sites. But there is a line I am simply not willing to cross and this is it. If I get uncomfortable with the content of your myspace, you will be deleted.
7. People of low moral character. There's nothing wrong with a good party. While I've never been drunk myself, I don't have a problem with people who occionally tie a good one on, go to a strip club or tell a bevy of dirty jokes. But if you're a lush, a cheater, a liar, a slut, etc, I'd rather you just not "FRIEND" me. Lead me not into temptation, please. I can find it all by myself. (And that's what I'm trying to avoid!)
8. Anyone who is offended by historically-significant events. If you can not take into account the times in which a person lived. For example, slavery was a horrible thing and I'm glad it was done away with. But I'm not going to listen to some idiot's ramblings about how I owe him money because my great great great grandfather might have forced one of his ancestors into slavery. Yes it happened. We should never forget it was real. But if you're going to know the story, at least be smart enough to take in ALL the facts. It was your own people that sold you. If you want reparations, start with the true offenders. The ones that ORIGINALLY profited off the sale of your ancestors... their fellow villagers!
Please note: I do NOT accept friend requests if your profile is set to private. I understand why people do this, but I insist on viewing a prospective friend's profile before accepting the friend request. Of course, if I already know you (from high school or whatever) this rule does not apply, but strangers should not have a private profile when friend requesting me. A note about why you friend requested me in the first place also helps. At the very least, I get a sense for who you are.
"Texas can survive without the United States but the United States can not survive without Texas."
--Sam Houston
"I have an irrepressible desire to live till I can be assured that the world is a little better for my having lived in it."
– Abraham Lincoln
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."
– Thomas Edison
"Courage is the human virtue that counts most — courage to act on limited knowledge and insufficient evidence. That's all any of us have."
– Robert Frost
"To keep your character intact you cannot stoop to filthy acts. It makes it easier to stoop the next time."
– Katharine Hepburn
"I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I have just lived the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well."
– Diane Ackerman
Keep checking back... Lord knows when I may add more criteria to this.
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A portion of the royalties I make from the sale of my books goes to benefit many charities Among them are
The American Heart Association
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The American Cancer Society
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The Liver Foundation
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Kidd's Kids
And others.
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(Please note that all logos are used with permission of their respective charitable organizations. Use of these logos should not be construed as suggesting any or all of these charitable organizations in any way support, encourage or endorse any ideas or thoughts put forth in my blogs, in my books or in any expressed form. Any expression of thought on my part is solely my responsibility. In plain english, these organizations receive donations because I choose to give to these worthy causes. They do not reciprocate with any sort of endorsement on my behalf and do not claim to agree or disagree with any claims, representations or expressions I make anywhere, at any time, verbally or in writing. Their links are included here merely as a courtesy, in the hopes that you will explore the websites and perhaps learn why these worthy causes are so very important. Whether you help me support these causes through the purchase of my book, make a personal donation or simply gather information from the website, I encourage everyone to increase your awareness. For it is through increasing awareness that we decrease apathy. That is never a bad thing.)
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Shelley Lubben is one of the greatest people I've NEVER personally met. As a former adult movie actress, Shelley is all too familiar with the true nature of the porn industry. Having turned her life over to God, she is now on a crusade to spread the truth about the "nature of the beast" so to speak. Her myspace page alone ( http://www.myspace.com/shelleylubben ) contains enough information about the industry to send the average person into information overload. You'll be overwhelmed -- moved beyond words -- as you join Shelley on her journey into porn, through the personal downfall and the emotional uplifting that can only be the work of God Almighty. I'm proud to stand with Shelley as a brother in Christ and help her spread the truth as only she can know it.
Traffic Control
Music:
Since Barnes and UNnoble has taken it upon themselves to randomly delete the reviews posted by my fans, I have decided to take it upon MYSELF to simply post the reviews here as I happen to catch them on the website. HOPEFULLY I'll be able to catch each of them before Barnes and UNnoble decides to delete them, but either way, what you have below is the true and COMPLETE fan reaction to my book, IN THE BREATH OF GOD:
Just call me Nora, A reviewer, 01/25/2007
Hard to rate this book
I'm not quite prepared to give this book 5 stars, but I sure wouldn't mind 4.5. This book isn't just RECOMMENDED. It's HIGHLY recommended. Alex Mendez is a great character, very believable. I have to tell you that Scott Bryan scared the holy bejeepers outta me. It's very creepy to have your perceptions of reality called into question. In creating Scott Bryan, Edward Hancock has called reality and rationality into question in a very thorough and believable way. It's called suspension of disbelief and Hancock has MASTERED that concept with this novel. I can't imagine this being the last time we hear from him. Talent like this deserves to thrive!
Jane, I am just me...., 01/24/2007
Worth a second look!
I'm a voracious reader! I gobble up books. So it was no surprise when I read this book in a few hours. What IS surprising is the fact that I came back to this book. The storyline is deep. It's something you have to read a second time to catch all the subtle nuances. I've since moved on to other books but this one has left an undeniable mark on my soul. And that's definitely a good thing. You have to read this book to grasp the depth of the plot. But it's a wonderful read!
Lori M., A reviewer, 01/23/2007
A wonderful story!
This book is one of the best books I have read in I don't know how long. And as I said the last time I tried to post this review, Alex Mendez is just DEAD SEXY! He's everything a man should be without all the fake romance novel garbage. Strong, sensitive, just confused enough to make him vulnerable. But confident enough to keep him moving through life and overcoming obstacle after obstacle. I hope to see more out of this series!
Randall, From Tyler, Texas, 01/19/2007
Thrilling Read!
I enjoyed the thrill ride that was IN THE BREATH OF GOD! This kid can write! I read this book in one setting and I liked it so much I read it again the next night and the next. Now I've moved on to other books and yet I feel somewhat akin to a drug addict. I'm not exaggerating when I say I feel like I need a Mendez fix. This book really is great.
Samantha, A reviewer, 12/22/2006
A great stocking stuffer!
This book ROCKED! That's about the best I can say about it. Alex Mendez is just so cool! He's better than a Romance Novel fantasy. He's so REAL but so UNREAL at the same time! He's the type of guy that EVERY woman wants! Tough, smart and sensitive! The storyline itself is superb. VERY imaginative! I had to read my BIBLE to understand where fiction began and non-fiction ended, but WOW! What an imagination!
Daniel, diverse reader, 12/21/2006
If this book is not in your library, you don't really have a library.
I must say, I'm not an avid reader of fiction but I had a hard time putting this one down. There was so much going on and the characters changing so much I was worried there wouldn’t be anyone left for the rest of the series .The book reminds me of a Quentin Tarantino movie, just when you think you got it all figured out everything completely changes. It’s a cocktail of sort, a little bit of police thriller with a shot of God and devil. A perfect mix of character depth and well defined settings , but your not beat down with details. A good read by any token.
Brad, an avid reader, 12/05/2006
Not worth your time!!
Ugh...sooooooooo overly dramatic and wordy, to say the least. I honestly hated this book. Too bad I can't return it for a refund. This guy really needs a writing class or 50.
Tony, computer consultant, 12/02/2006
Excellent Book
I am admittedly not a big book reader but i really enjoyed this book. Having Spina Bifida myself added to my enjoyment of the story. I had to force myself to put it down some nights so i could get enough sleep for work the next day. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series and i have high expectations for it!
Stephanie, 19, almost 20 and a college student, 03/23/2006
Well, yeah, the wait is over
I can't say I'm entirely pleasantly surprised. I can't say I'm disappointed either. What I can say is that this story was disturbing and delightful all at once. There were some things I'd change. It got kinda wordy at times, but maybe that was Edward trying to EVOLVE or something.... Edward, word of caution here. Don't turn into Stephen King! Too much of anything is a bad thing and 'LESS IS MORE!'
Also recommended: Dean Koontz's ODD THOMAS
Jennifer C., A reviewer, 03/02/2006
BETTER THAN SPLINTERED SOULS!!!!
I've been waiting five years for this book and to say I'm 'Pleasantly Surprised' is an understatement!! Welcome back Alex Mendez! I can't wait to see what other adventures await us! But in the meantime, this book was INCREDIBLE! The gut-wrenching ending had me in tears!!! It was.... INDESCRIBABLE! Edward Hancock II is back ladies and gentlemen! And it's about time!
Gary Barnes, A writer and amateur reviewer, 02/22/2007
Touching... Moving.... Captivating
I can't say enough good things about this book. This story moves you. The characters are real and believable. It's clear to me that Hancock wrote from the heart with this story. It just reads like it's very personal. I would say that anyone who likes a good pure story with some decent scares should pick this book up. It's action packed, riviting and the underlying themes will definitely grab you.
Though Amazon.com is not deleting my reviews, I have to post this one as well because, frankly, I'm pretty darn proud of it!
(In case you missed it, this review was posted on amazon.com.)
An attention-seizing read, skillfully plotted and executed from first page to last., January 5, 2007
Reviewer: Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews
The literal meaning of the Hebrew phrase commonly translated as "Let there be light" is "Light in me, Be!" - as if God breathed light into the world, just as He breathed life into man. In the spirit of this metaphor, Texas native Edward Hancock II presents In The Breath of God: Mendez II, a mystery novel about a man brought back from the brink of death by the inexplicable power of Heaven. Lieutenant Alex Mendez and his wife Detective Lisa Mendez become privy to the hidden possibilities of a secret old as time itself, hidden in the innocent soul of their four-year-old daughter. At the same time, a string of terrible homicides shocks the small east Texas community in which they live, and the prime suspect is the most unlikely of candidates - a seventeen-year-old boy with spina bifida. Biblical allusions crisscross this dogged and intricate story of personal demons, suffering, and the quest for answers; In the Breath of God is an attention-seizing read, skillfully plotted and executed from first page to last.
And here are the links to the first three chapters of IN THE BREATH OF GOD:
Chapter 1
Chapters 2 and 3
Movies:
The Diehard Movies
Titanic
The Harry Potter Movies
THE STAR WARS SAGA (Both Trilogies ROCK!)
Ghost Busters 1
Airforce 1
What Lies Beneath
The Blair Witch Project
The Nightmare on Elm Street movies
Finding Nemo
Shrek 1 and 2
Mulan
Apollo 13
SPACEBALLS!
That's all I can think of at present... but I love movies. I own a ton of them and watch them religiously.
Sort me!
Television:
Reality TV: Biggest Loser, Survivor, Big Brother
I watch sports too... football and baseball. I don't have a team I follow in football right now. I follow the Texas Rangers baseball team only because 1) I'm from Texas and 2) that's the first game I took my son to... a Texas Rangers game.
But I also like the Atlanta Braves and Boston Redsox.
Books:
Aside from my own? ;)
Okay here's where I start out with a gratuitous plug for my own books. I'm an author. Help support my habit of eating by buying my third book, IN THE BREATH OF GOD which was released in January of 2006
Other than my own books, which I only enjoy because I so deeply love the characters of Alex and Lisa Mendez and family, I have several favorite authors...In no uncertain order:
JK ROWLING
Dean Koontz
JD Robb
JA Jance
Lisa Gardener
Aaron Paul Lazar
Scott Perdue
Don Pendleton
Jerry VanCook
Jerry B. Jenkins
Tim LaHaye
Again this list is hardly all-inclusive. I read a lot.
I HIGHLY Recommend checking out my FRIENDS LIST! There are many talented writers among them!
Check out my books. And remember for each one you purchase, a portion of the royalties will be donated to many charities.
Among them are:
1) The American Heart Association
2) The Liver Foundation
3) The Cancer Society
Feel free to e-mail me for further information!
Don't forget you can catch me online at these other popular journal sites and blogging communities.
Live Journal
blogger/blogspot
Gather.com
Xanga
You also have to check out Indie Searchlight
For an aspiring writer, poet, musician, artist or creative soul of any type, this website is for you!
Heroes:
Favorite Superhero: Aquaman... (The irony being I'm a water sign yet I can't swim!)
Literary Hero: Dean Koontz
No picture available.
You gotta give shout outs to Dr. Phil... that man just tells it like it is!
My mom is also one of my greatest heroes. She gave a shy disabled kid a chance at life. Told me I could do anything anyone else could do. I just might have to find a different way.
I have a number of heroes.... If I tried to name them all, invariably I'd forget somebody.
Or any person standing guard at the gates of Freedom
