Author Ben Bell’s Review of Minus the Imple

Minus the Imple posted May 13 2008
by Ben Bell

Minus The Imple gives us a lucid and colourful insight into the life of its narrator, Robert Chandler. From tragedy in the early death of his parents, Robert’s journey is ultimately one of hope and inspiration, chronicling along the way all the grit and glamour of life that we can all relate to.

From the pitfalls of adolescence, to the complexity of student life and relationships, Robert all the while chases his dreams, whilst at the same time battling with a mysterious phenomena that permeates his life, traced back to a childhood accident.

This phenomena leads him to sight the advice of teachers, doctors, therapists and even a priest, all lost as to a definite answer or clear-cut diagnosis. Through the ‘up’s’ of marriage and kids to the ‘down’s’ of divorce and time inside a psychiatric hospital, Robert continues to gain more insights into his mysterious gift/burden, and slowly but surely manages to build his life back together.

Written in an accessible and flowing prose, the novel is an enjoyable and poignant life-story, full of drama, mystery, pathos and warmth. With contemplations on the depth and meaning of the soul, fused with the kicks and bruises of human nature, I would strongly recommend Minus The Imple to anyone who desires a good read and an affirmation of the loves and losses of everyday life.

See this and other reviews at: http://www.lulu.com/content/2035657

Review of “Minus the Imple”

Book Review: Minus the Imple.
May 9, 2008

Today I had the pleasure of finishing a book written by my mentor and colleague Bob Chandler. His novel has been years in the making, and I have seen firsthand the many struggles he has overcome to hone this work for public consumption. Below is my review, which I am also posting to his blog. I urge everyone to download or purchase the book, which has won a prime position on my bookshelf. Congratulations Bob, on a job very well done.

Minus The Imple is a book about the pleasure of living and the importance of self-worth. The inaugural novel and fictionalized true story of Robert R. Chandler explores the growth of a boy destined to experience both heartbreak and overwhelming happiness. Throughout the course of first loves, sexual trysts, college inebriation, marriage, and divorce, readers are swept along on a journey of self-discovery rarely initiated by most. Describing a finely crafted tale of phenomenal experiences, Chandler invites readers to question their souls, their strengths, their weaknesses and everything in between. To quote the gifted author: “It’s simple, really…” Recommended for public and academic libraries, as well as anyone searching for perspective on the harsh but joyous realities of life.

-Erin Dorney, May 2008

Another early (partial) review of Minus the Imple

Thanks to one of my new Lulu friends for posting this preliminary review of Minus the Imple. He will, hopefully, post a more complete review upon finishing the novel. This is what Rod posted to the Lulu site:

Minus the Imple [ No Rating ] 7 May 2008
by Rod Macleod

I’m only 36 pages into the book but already hooked. Robert uses vivid imagery and strong descriptions. His dialogue is even stronger than the narrative which is concrete. I loved the prologue which sets the tone for chapter 1. The conclusion of the childhood story with the snobby woman and the down-and-out is hilarious. Can’t wait to read more later…..recommended

New Review Gives Us Strength to Continue

A very kind reader posted the following review on Lulu.com, regarding “Minus the Imple.” Her kind words give me renewed hope that maybe we will find an audience after all.

Absolutely BEYOND amazing.
27 Apr 2008
by Madeleine Miles

A beautiful, heartfelt story about life, love, and the trials we all face along the way. Robert Chandler has crafted a magnificent piece of art, one that speaks to the reader with such hope and raw emotion. This book touched my heart and provided strength and inspiration in the darkest corners of my life.

Every word on the page draws you in with brilliant force that only Chandler can conjure. Hope radiates off the page, and the book leaves you with a full heart and a feeling of satisfaction.

You will not regret buying this novel. Robert Chandler has a priceless gift and such a marvelous way with words– I couldn’t put his book down.

Keep a sharp eye out for Chandler’s future works– his talent is too often overlooked.

Minus the Imple shines with brilliance.
Congratulations, Mr. Chandler, on a magnificent work of art that you should be proud of.

Minus the Imple Getting Early Attention

Friends, I am disappointed in the lack of enthusiasm from those closest to me (other than a tiny handful including my daughter and a few special friends), but the immediate reaction from some external organizations has me feeling a little hopeful.

We received contact from a literary agency who read our preview and is interested in the book. They are currently reviewing the complete manuscript and have stated that they are intrigued about the potential of representing us. An online book distributor also contacted us and is very interested in selling the book through their online storefront. I’m on the fence with this one, but am weighing all the pros and cons. Another distributor has asked for a copy of the book, and I’m considering my next move after we have more conversation.

We are very happy with the two Press Release distribution services we have employed (at no cost or very nominal cost). PR.com and PRweb.com are both great to work with. Thanks to them, the press release for Minus the Imple is all over the internet, posted on US and Canadian sites… and beyond. Book sales on Lulu.com have been slow, but that is to be expected after only two weeks of availability. Some folks have purchased the download over the actual book, but we still managed to sell four copies of the book this past week. I have invested as much of my own money as I can currently tolerate, and thus, have given away about 15-20 copies of the book to friends and acquaintances. My hope is that most of these people leave favorable reviews, which will inspire strangers to look at the book a little closer.

Thank you for your support. If you are reading this, you are probably among those who actually want to see Minus the Imple succeed. For that sentiment, I am eternally grateful.

Review of “Minus the Imple” Posted to Lulu

(from Lulu.com)
Review of Minus the Imple: 17 Apr 2008

Wow!
by Joshua Cornala

This book is an amazing gem. It illustrates the dance between mere mortals and the essence that shapes us all. With honesty and humor, Chandler offers a beautiful tale of hope against all odds. Not your average hubris-filled narrative. Although it is likely not intentional, this work contains a brilliantly understated heroism just the same. This is an every-man novel that will surely connect with anyone who has a heart and ever suspected there is something beyond our physical existence.

Minus the Imple Available for Purchase through Lulu.com!

Six years have passed since the origin of Minus the Imple’s concept, and the book was started in earnest over three years ago. Finally, after much work and a lot of learning, Minus the Imple is available to the public on Lulu.com.

Thanks for your patience and for your interest. I encourage all who read the book to post their reviews on Lulu.com, or here on the Privileged Publishing blogsite.

Here is the link to the book: http://www.lulu.com/content/2035657

Minus the Imple nearing completion

This is the week that will see the end to the editing, proofreading, pagination and more editing. Minus the Imple is at the final stage of completion and should launch by March 24, 2008 on Lulu.com. We now have our ISBN number, and have ordered a book for approval/denial. I caught one or two fairly insignificant (yet troublesome) errors that I need to fix, so there will be one more (I hope) revision before I am satisfied that it is ready for public consumption. Once that final revision has been uploaded to Lulu, I’ll need to review one more copy of the book before sending out announcements.

I sincerely hope a few people will enjoy reading the book. That will help me feel that it has been worth all the effort. At this point, I question my own sanity for going through this arduous process at a very difficult time in my life. Maybe there’s never a “good” time to take on such an overwhelming project.

Welcome to Privileged Publishing!

My name is Robert R. Chandler and I currently live in Rochester, New York.

My new book, Minus The Imple is a labor of love, and is a “fictionalized true story” that I’m excited to share. I’ve been working on this book for over three years, off and on. The original notion for the book first took form in 2001. Minus The Imple is a semi-autobiographical fantasy tale. It is appropriate for young adults, but not for children.

Priviliged Publishing is home to Minus the Imple and other stories. The book will soon be available through Lulu.com at http://www.lulu.com/content/2035657. If you prefer a PDF version to the paperback, that is available through Lulu as well. (NOTE: I have decided that the book needs some final editing before I can authorize its release. I apologize for the delay in publishing.)