This just in from Gail Foster, whose reviews appear across the Internet:
Hi Bruce…..
WHEW!!! I just finished devouring THE ONION FILES by the brilliant Val Pattee and had to email you immediately. As I mentioned in a previous email to you, I knew I would love this book and, indeed, I did!!! Right from the very first page to the absolutely chilling final one it was truly nonstop action. Like the onion of the title, the plot of this amazing book revealed itself page by page, chapter by chapter never lagging in suspense or substance. There were so many twists and turns in this book but the best was that on page 261 …..a complete OHHHH NOOOOO moment!!!! Most of the books that I read would be classified as geopolitical and are pretty frightening but none as scary as THE ONION FILES.
A few random thoughts: I don’t think I’ll ever look at a Pringles chip can again without flashing on Kazim’s use of it….wish I had known Mo when we were in Sardinia….would have been that much more of a pleasant sojourn especially being regaled by Mo’s tales about Jim Buchan. These characters that Val Pattee developed for this book are ones that are so delightful and charming or so despicable that you’ll not forget them soon….fully fleshed out. And his research was, I’m sure, as he actually lived it!!! What a fantastic life Val Pattee has led ….I’m just so glad that he’s sharing parts of it with the world through his incredible writing as his books tell the kind of dramatic truth that only fiction can tell.
As the world has witnessed McCain saying that we’ll be in Iraq for a hundred years….that could well be and even longer with the mentality of jihadists worldwide….they do NOT forget nor forgive…this will go on forever through the ever-growing numbers and their descendants! Leave it to the Turks to circumvent a seventy year old law by calling an aircraft carrier a deep-sea fishing vessel with a flat deck….. that made me laugh out loud. It would certainly behoove the decision makers in government, ours as well as others, to study history….. if Alexander the Great had been defeated by the Pashtuns, how can we possibly think that we’re any wiser or better? History only keeps repeating itself over and over with much the same conclusion. The minds of Asian and Middle Eastern peoples are such that Westerners can never truly understand even after centuries of study. But I think it really helps people who read this kind of book to get a little bit of a grasp of what’s going on since our news certainly does little to enlighten us on a daily basis.
Thank you so much, Bruce, for sending THE ONION FILES to me……I can only hope that you’ll step up the marketing for it thereby affording it and Val Pattee the respect they so richly deserve. I also hope that he is a fast writer and that we’ll be getting book 2 of this chilling series soon. So many times a really terrific book gets to the end and falls flat…. this one had the best ending ever…. made you want more …. fast!!! I’ve already started talking about this book… to anyone and everyone ….. it just NEEDS to be read by as many people as possible!!!
Cheers….
Gail
GAIL FOSTER
MYSTERIES & MORE
24 ASHLAND DRIVE
NOVATO CA 94949-8241
March 24, 2008 — In its first month on Podiobooks.com’s audio book charts, The Onion Files has cracked the Podiobooks Top Ten. This is a “list of the most popular books by number of subscriptions in the last thirty days,” says Podiobooks.com’s co-founder, Evo Terra. Currently Major General Val Pattee’s spy thriller is at the number 6 spot.
Episodes may be accessed through Podiobooks.com. Fans are able to listen for free to these episodes.
These audio recordings are narrated by the author, Major General Val Pattee, and were recorded at Agio Publishing House’s home studio. General Pattee is at the forefront of a wave of authors creating their own indie audio books to meet the growing demand for content as MP3 listening devices such as iPods, cel phones and eBook readers become ever more ubiquitous throughout the world.
“Releasing chapters as podcoast episodes through Podiobooks.com can provide excellent publicity for the printed book, and for the complete audio book on CD or DVD,” notes Bruce Batchelor, publisher at Agio Publishing House. “This is part of the new vision of marketing stories as CONTENT through a wide range of editions and channels, rather than the old publishing model of selling only the printed BOOK and only through book stores.”
As soon as General Pattee has recorded all the chapter episodes, Agio will release the full audio book as an MP3 CD, manufactured on demand and available through Amazon.com and Lulu.com.
Feb. 27, 2008 — The prologue and first four chapters from The Onion Files are now available as podcast episodes through Podiobooks.com. You are able to listen for free to these episodes.
These audio recordings are narrated by the author, Major General Val Pattee, and were recorded at Agio Publishing House’s home studio. General Pattee is at the forefront of a wave of authors creating their own indie audio books to meet the growing demand for content as MP3 listening devices such as iPods, cel phones and eBook readers become ever more ubiquitous throughout the world.
“Releasing chapters as podcoast episodes through Podiobooks.com can provide excellent publicity for the printed book, and for the complete audio book on CD or DVD,” notes Bruce Batchelor, publisher at Agio Publishing House. “This is part of the new vision of marketing stories as CONTENT through a wide range of editions and channels, rather than the old publishing model of selling only the printed BOOK and only through book stores.”
As soon as General Pattee has recorded all the chapter episodes, Agio will release the full audio book as an MP3 CD, manufactured on demand and available through Amazon.com and Lulu.com.
Major General Val Pattee’s The Onion Files is an “exciting but at the same time alarming new book,” says Rob Breakenridge, host of The World Tonight with Rob Breakenridge on CHQR 770AM in Calgary. “Adding to the plausibility is the fact that the author comes to it all very much from an insider’s perspective.”
Val was just interviewed on CBC Radio One’s All Points West program. Host Jo-Ann Roberts said, “I was hooked when I started reading it… I found myself comparing it to Tom Clancy and Robert Ludlum…” Later she expressed surprise that major publishers and agents hadn’t snapped up this book and predicted that producers would soon notice it: “It really sounds like a movie.”
The Onion Files is “a very good story and a pleasure to read” says Terry Spence, host of CFAX 1070 Talk Radio with Terry Spence. “It has that feel of truth to it like the guy who wrote it really knows what goes on in that part of our world.”
Upcoming author appearances: speech at the Royal Victoria Probus Club in May and presentation at the Western State Law Enforcement Conference in Yakima, WA, in July.
Val was just interviewed on CBC Radio One. Host Jo-Ann Roberts said, “I was hooked when I started reading it… I found myself comparing it to Tom Clancy and Robert Ludlum…” Later she expressed surprise that major publishers and agents hadn’t snapped up this book and predicted that producers would soon notice it: “It really sounds like a movie.”
“Val, in all honesty, I was blown away. I would read a few pages, put the book on my chest, and wonder how could Val weave so much into a single paragraph. I’ve asked myself “could I do it?” The answer was no. You really are very good.
“In addition to how well you write, the story was terrific. And, the characters became real. Congratulations, my friend you found a new vocation. I know you will continue to be successful. (It was clever to let us readers know, there would be a follow on with some of the same characters.)
“I predict the book will be a huge success and look forward to seeing you on the Opera Winfrey show.”
– Jack Chain, retired 4-star General USAF
“I am flat impressed. Your research is phenomenal coupled with your great imagination. The story line is superb and the lead-in suspense really keeps the book in the “page-turner” mode. The concept, which is so terribly believable, is certainly there as we speak.”
– Bill Goldfein, USAF Col ret.
“I’m finally taking a few minutes to tell you how much I enjoyed your book. Initially I planned to read it on the flight to Australia but I made the mistake of starting it a couple of nights before we left Palm Springs and by the time we left for the airport I was finished!
“Congratulations on a superb result. You had me right from the opening to the end. Your storyline with all the suspense and intrigue was gripping. You clearly moved in some fascinating circles during the last few years of your career and you very successfully wove that knowledge into a story that will, I am sure, keep all your readers up late because they can’t put it down.
“Best of all, your closing statement leaves the door wide open for the ‘next’ one. For Heaven’s sake let me know when it is available.”
Val Pattee’s THE ONION FILES is catching on with READERS.
“It kept me up all night”- Al S, retired Col RCAF.
“Didn’t know I was having drinks with Jim Buchan all those years ago”- Bruce F.
“Sure made for a short flight across the country”- Don M, retired General.
“The cultural divide in the Covered Bazaar was fascinating”- Rich, 16 years old.
“I enjoyed the book and am impressed … a compelling and moving story … a bit of Tom Clancy and a bit of Arthur Hailey. The movie should pack them in! Well done”- Jack M, CEO.
“I rationed myself not to finish the book in one gulp…scary stuff..” Ursula H, UK.
SALES of THE ONION FILES are doing well. The paperback is being sold (and has been re-ordered by one store when it sold out) at Munro’s and Chapters Downtown in Victoria and at Tanner’s Bookstore in Sidney. Most of the promotional push has been directing potential readers to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.ca. At the Canadian site (www.amazon.ca), THE ONION FILES was showing in 6th place among bestselling espionage thrillers last week! That was AHEAD of fellows like Follett and Ludlum. Pretty amazing for a first-time author in the first month after his book’s launch. Well done, Val!
The Onion Files is “a very good story and a pleasure to read” says Terry Spence, host of CFAX 1070 Talk Radio with Terry Spence. “It has that feel of truth to it like the guy who wrote it really knows what goes on in that part of our world.”