Liz and Katy Update: Boy, I'm concerned about them. They're still in a motel, now both sick, and their car battery has died. They've been promised an apartment, but it's been about a week now and they have yet to see it. If they aren't allowed to move in soon, they're going to run out of the donations they've been sent. Please keep praying for them. Visit Katy's blog, Anywhere But Here, to see her latest posts. Info on how to donate is in her sidebar.
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Now for today--a special, cool announcement about my pal and wonderful legal suspense author Randy Singer:
Have you ever read a legal thriller or watched an episode of Law & Order and thought you would have rendered a different verdict? Well, step right into the jury box. You can help determine the verdict in Randy Singer's upcoming legal thriller, The Justice Game.
Releasing in July from Tyndale, The Justice Game features a court case centered on the gun debate. The verdict voted on will be written into the story and kept under wraps until the book’s release.“I wanted to do something different and get my readers really involved in the story,” says Randy. “This gives them an opportunity to hear both sides of the national gun debate and gets them thinking. Plus, it adds an element of fun to the book.”
Randy has produced a short, online video that mimics a cable news report, featuring real-life talk show host Lorri Allen as the lead news anchor. The video covers the latest updates on the trial at the center of the book, interspersed with segments of closing arguments direct from the courtroom. At the end of the video, viewers can render their verdict.
You can access the video here. This video is wonderful. Great, fascinating stuff! After the mock cable news show, Randy talks about his personal reasons for writing this story. I can tell you, once you watch this video, you'll decide to buy The Justice Game. (Pre-order from Amazon here.)
Randy is a practicing veteran trial attorney as well as a teaching pastor in Virginia Beach. He's written seven critically-acclaimed legal thrillers--and I've read every one. I really do like his writing. As Publisher's Weekly put it, he's "as enjoyable as John Grisham.” Randy's first novel, Directed Verdict, won the Christy Award. His latest, By Reason of Insanity, debuted in hardcover last summer and releases this month in softcover. PW's take: "... hooks readers from the opening courtroom scene of this tasty thriller, then spurs them through a fast trot across a storyline that just keeps delivering."
Okay, I'm off to look at the video for The Justice Game one more time. I haven't voted yet--it's not that easy an answer, given some unique circumstances. Click the video link and go with me.
9 comments:
I really do believe that this issue is something that everyone needs to really think about hard. I watched the video and I believe that I know how I will vote but I still need more time to watch again and think about it. I do believe that people should be able to have guns. I think it is so hard because I don't believe that there are near enough restrictions. I don't think that they take near enough time to check out those people wanting the guns. I also believe that if many of these guns are being sold illegally then something has gone horribly wrong.
Accountability is everything to me. I believe that no matter what you have free will. Like in the video when the man said you wouldn't sue the beer maker for a drunk driver. Noone is forced to buy guns and use them. Noone is forced to buy beer and get drunk and go out driving. But on the other hand if the merchandise wasn't there then things like this wouldn't happen. It is such a hard call.
What is your take?
I haven't watched the video yet, but I do know when there wasn't easily available liquor, there was moonshine. When there aren't guns for the average law-abiding citizen, there will still be guns for criminals.
I agree that individuals should be checked out thorougly with a waiting period, but in spite of horror stories the best way to insure that only criminals have guns is to take away our amendment rights to own them.
Kristina, I agree it's a hard call. What makes it interesting in Randy's book is the fact that the gun manufacturing company broke the law in selling to the dealer. Without that, there would be no court case. I imagine diehard NRA folks would say that doesn't matter; voting against the gun manufacturer would lead to a "slippery slope" against guns. I imagine other folks saying you should vote against the manufacturer because their willful disregard for the law led to the gun being used in a crime.
Interesting.
I am glad that katy is feeling better. I hope that everything works out for them. I am in the same position and wanted to know if anyone knew of anywhere in merced california that helps with deposit assistance. I have called everywhere and there are no funds. All we need is the deposit and we will no longer be homeless. Can anyone help?
God Bless to all.
I watched the video and voted, but it was a tough decision. If I had truly been on the jury, I honestly don't know which way I would have gone. Even now, I'm second guessing myself. Crazy, isn't it? What a GREAT marketing idea...would love to see how this affects his sales numbers. If there's a big difference in his previous book's sales and this one. Interesting stuff.
I'm going to poach on one of my favorite author's blog for a minute to say thanks for voting. As a lawyer, it's fascinating to read some of the comments of my "jurors." As for how it affects sales--I'll let you know. If I could write like Brandilyn, I wouldn't need these gimmicks.
Hey, Randy, thanks for stopping by. The rest of you--don't believe a word he says. Randy's writing is excellent!
Very intriguing! I found reading the 3 chapters to be helpful. I voted but I honestly don't know what I would do if I was on an actual jury. I think I would need to know more details - listen to the experts etc. - before voting on a real jury. And like others have said, this is an amazing idea and one way to guarantee that I'll buy the book - I want to know the verdict!!!
Love the idea. and the video is first rate. I think Randy may be starting something here.
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