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Author Bio:
Philadelphia native Marc Avery is a a husband, father, entrepreneur and habitual coffee drinker with a great imagination and an awesome beard. His debut novel, Redemption Lost, is a story of risk, restitution, and retribution. Marc lives in Delaware with his wife and children. When he’s not working, or writing his new crime fiction series, you can probably find him at Starbucks drinking an iced latte.
Back in 2017, after a successful book event in Silver Springs, Maryland, I returned home feeling quite pleased with the outcome. As I settled in, I turned on Amazon Prime and noticed an advertisement for a show called “Bosch.” The name was familiar to me as I had read a few of the novels adapted from the Michael Connelly book series. Intrigued, I clicked play. For the next five hours, I was completely absorbed in the episodes of Bosch, and over the following weeks, I eagerly devoured the entire season, as well as the preceding ones.
The Plot
The “Bosch” series revolves around Harry Bosch, a highly decorated detective known for his tendency to break rules. Despite this, Bosch never crosses the line into corruption. Throughout the series, he tackles a range of cases, from the murder of a prominent Hollywood producer to the pursuit of a serial killer targeting prostitutes in Los Angeles. Bosch’s dedication to his cases is personal, and he operates under the mantra “Everybody counts or nobody counts.” The show’s cases are intricately constructed, with a web of clues and unexpected turns that keep viewers guessing until the final moments.
The Characters
One of the standout features of “Bosch” is the show’s attention to its characters, both major and minor. Harry Bosch is a complex character whose troubled past continues to haunt him as he navigates his job as a detective. In addition to Bosch, the supporting cast is also well-developed, with characters like his partner, Jerry Edgar, Chief Irvin Irving, his daughter Madeline, his ex-wife, Eleanor, and his boss Lt. Grace Billets, all adding layers of depth and nuance to the series. Even bit characters, such as witnesses or suspects, receive attention and development, further contributing to the fully realized world of “Bosch.” The city of Los Angeles is a significant character in the series, second only to Harry, and its importance cannot be understated. As someone from the east coast, I enjoy witnessing the city’s highlights such as In-N-Out burger, The Capitol Building, Musso & Frank Grill, and more. Depending on the episode, the setting can be either glitzy or grimey, showcasing the city under several different lights. Harry and the city work in conjunction, and the series benefits greatly from this dynamic.
The Production
“Bosch” is a show that perfectly captures the gritty, noirish feel of its Los Angeles setting. The attention to detail in production design, such as the realistic depiction of crime scenes and police procedures, adds to the show’s authenticity. Each plot pits Bosch against a formidable foe, and just when you think he’s met his match, he surprises you. The variety of ways he escapes danger is believable and doesn’t require you to suspend disbelief.
There’s no wasted dialogue or scenes. Everyone has a purpose and the proper amount of screen time to justify their existence in the story. Even when characters meet at a diner, something is being plotted and strategized. It’s the small things, such as stakeouts, realism in the fight scenes, and actual solving of crimes that make the show so enjoyable and the tension palpable.
After finishing all 7 seasons, the arrival of “Bosch: Legacy” in 2022 was a thrill. The cycle continued, and after the conclusion of the first season’s 10th episode, the need for another season was overwhelming. The show’s setup allows it to continue on indefinitely, and the news of its continuation into the foreseeable future was a source of happiness. It’s my hope that more people will discover the greatness in the show that I’ve seen.
Overall, “Bosch” stands out as a cut above the rest of the police procedurals on television. It incorporates recognizable aspects of other shows, but the way it interweaves those components makes it unique. Titus Welliver was born to play Bosch, and I couldn’t imagine another actor breathing life into the character like he has. Whether you’re a fan of the books or simply looking for a new show to binge-watch, “Bosch” is a show worth investing your time in.
For fans of political drama series, “Boss” is a must-watch TV show that aired on Starz from 2011 to 2012. Created by Farhad Safinia, the show explores the world of politics through the eyes of the fictional mayor of Chicago, Tom Kane, played by Kelsey Grammer. With its complex characters, intriguing plotlines, and excellent performances, “Boss” should’ve had a longer run in my opinion.
The Plot
The series follows Tom Kane, a powerful and ruthless politician who will do whatever it takes to maintain his grip on power. However, he is diagnosed with a degenerative neurological disease that threatens to derail his career as well as his personal life. Over the course of the series, Kane must navigate the dangerous waters of Chicago politics, while also battling his own health issues and personal demons.
The Characters
One of the strengths of “Boss” is its well-developed characters, each with their own motivations and flaws. Kelsey Grammer gives a standout performance as Tom Kane, a character who is both charismatic and terrifying. The supporting cast is equally strong, with actors like Connie Nielsen, Hannah Ware, and Jeff Hephner delivering nuanced performances. Even minor characters, such as political aides and reporters, are given attention and development, making the world of “Boss” feel lived-in, believable and authentic.
The Production
From the writing to the acting to the production design, “Boss” is a top-notch TV series. The show has a gritty, realistic feel that is perfectly suited to its political setting. The attention to detail in the production design, such as the realistic depiction of Chicago’s streets and landmarks, adds to the authenticity of the show. The performances by the cast, particularly Kelsey Grammer, are captivating and powerful.
For some reason the show failed to be a ratings darling and didn’t exactly pull the viewers in. With a show as rich and interesting as it was its baffling to me that it wasn’t more popular. This what the showrunner had to say about the show’s cancelation:
“After much deliberation, we have made the difficult decision to not proceed with [a third season of] Boss,” Starz said in a statement Tuesday. “We remain proud of this award-winning show, its exceptional cast and writers, and are grateful to Kelsey Grammer, [creator] Farhad Safinia and our partners at Lionsgate TV.”
I appreciated the two years I had with the show and was hopeful it would push forward, but that wasn’t to be. Every time I get nostalgic I stream the episodes on STARZ. Although I’ll never get a new episode, I’ll always cherish the old ones.
Overall, “Boss” is a TV series that is not to be missed. Its intricate plotlines, well-developed characters, and expertly executed production make it one of the best political drama series on TV. Whether you’re a fan of political drama or simply looking for a new show to binge-watch, “Boss” is definitely worth your time.
I’ve been speaking with my inner circle lately about my 2023 writing goals. Everybody came to the same conclusion. I needed to do a better job of building my audience. In addition to that I’ve been doing a lot of personal development and listening to writing podcasts. I kept hearing the same thing so I decided to do something.
I audited my social media pages.
Anybody who actually purchased my book(s) or I built up a relationship with I added them to my email list (with their consent of course)
I’m super appreciative of the relationships I’ve built through social media but connecting with people off line is important too. Most of my connections were built through face to face interactions. Nowadays more emphasis is based on building your platform through social media.
Social media amplifies what already exists. Rarely does it catapult your book sales. Once I realized this I started moving accordingly. I’m constantly tinkering to see what works and what doesn’t. I also realized that I don’t have to be on every single social media platform. Anybody that tells you it’s not hard keeping up with multiple pages is lying. It’s like chasing two rabbits. One will always get away. I recently deleted my Wattpad page ( I never knew was I was doing nor did I ever gain any traction). I also checked my Goodreads page for the first time in years. (I had three 1 star reviews with no explanation from faceless avatars. lol.) I try not to take that site too seriously. I’ve also noticed my Instagram page has been overrun with bots. They’re in my stories and they comment from time to time. If there is anything that I would like to be cleaned up it would be that.
I totally understand why people abandon their social media pages. Sometimes people feel like they aren’t getting ROI. I’ve seen people with over 10K followers just walk away because they’re posting content and not getting the results they want. It’s a tough thing to navigate. Be mindful of the people who you connect with. Nurture those connections because they become invaluable later.
My personal goal is to feed my base. My email subscriber numbers aren’t where I want them to be, but I have one. And having one is a lot better than having nothing. Do you have a newsletter?
Don’t forget to text BOOKS to (917) 905–8801 to join my email list.
I wasn’t satisfied with my follower count. So, I decided to research ways to boost my engagement. I found the usual fluff articles about how to increase my numbers. A lot of this you’re already familiar with. Post 1-3 times everyday. Make impactful comments on people’s statuses. Then there’s the three E’s of social media: Educate, Entertain, and Eroticize.
I try to do two out of three. (Entertain and Educate) It all comes down to what people get from your content. I always wanna strike a balance between what I like to do and what people enjoy. It’s a very fine line to walk.
I would probably post 3–5 times a day on Instagram. And I noticed the engagement levels would spike. The analytics told me what posts did well and which ones didn’t. It also told me which times people were most active. (Which is very important)
You can gameplan all you want but sometimes the algorithm is all over the place. Sometimes things are random. And things are constantly changing and shifting within social media. What worked a couple of months ago might not be so impactful now. I’m always researching so I stay well informed.
In 2021, I posted on Instagram consistently and engaged with other accounts. I tried to offer meaningful commentary and most importantly I aimed to be social.
Sometimes account growth can be slow. Like mind-numbingly slow. I felt like visibility was the key to success. More posts mean more visibility right?
Yes and no.
Some posts just do better than others. There is no rhyme or reason for it. People follow you for different reasons. The major one is that they find value in what you post. They have to like you and your posts in some capacity.
These last few months my posts weren’t reaching the heights they once did and I couldn’t understand why. Then, last week I hit a brick wall. I couldn’t think of anything to post. More importantly, I didn’t feel like posting. For the first time in almost a year, I didn’t post a single thing for several days.
It felt good to not be up against any pressure. People might not talk about it, but it takes a lot out of you to consistently come up with new content. And when that content doesn’t resonate it sucks. Slowly but surely I’m learning to simply log off and spend less time on social media. (Easier said than done)
Scheduling is also a big thing because if I can batch content and post then I can focus my attention on other stuff…like writing.
Have you ever experienced social media burnout?
Don’t forget to text BOOKS to (917) 905–8801 to join my email list.
There will be giveaways, updates, sneak peeks, and more.
About two weeks ago my Instagram account was “restricted”. The scary part was that I don’t exactly know what I did. My pleas for an explanation for my restriction fell on deaf ears.
I learned a few things.
1. I need to strengthen the content on my website.
I’m consistently inconsistent.
The name of the game is content, content, content.
And I need to produce more and I plan to.
2. Social media is cool but we all need our own hub.
I don’t own my social media platforms and I can be shut out of them at any time. Don’t get me wrong I sincerely appreciate them but I have to build up my platform outside of social media too. They work hand and hand.
3. I need to beef up my email list.
I’m an advocate for utilizing your network. Full transparency:
I severely underutilize mine.
That’s why I’m big on having an email list.
When it comes to bringing awareness to your projects you need all the help you can get.
Moral of the story is build up your platform and utilize it.
Don’t forget to text BOOKS to (917) 905-8801 to join my mailing list.
There will be giveaways, updates, sneak peeks, and more.
**For authors: When you join my mailing list I’ll send you a marketing plan template.
1. Study what worked before… but don’t be married to it.
As a creator I feel like it’s my job to study the creators that came before me.
I use what resonates with me as a rough outline. You get an idea of what works and go from there. I study marketing campaigns to see why people gravitated toward a particular product.
On the flip side just because it worked for another author doesn’t mean it will work for you. You have to find what’s unique about you and your work. That’s the hardest part.
2. Step outside of your comfort zone.
I’m a huge advocate for this. Doing what everyone else does is comfortable. I’ve been there. You’ve been there. Stepping out of my comfort zone is dabbling into other writing genres. I had never written a female lead character and finally took the plunge. I let fear douse my creative fire and that project laid dormant. Now the more I write about this character the more confident I become. It’s an incredible feeling.
3. Try something new
I’ve always been fascinated by marketing campaigns as I’ve stated before. When it’s time to market a book we as authors default to methods that have traditionally worked in the past.
I’m constantly trying to figure out new ways to say the same thing. Bring a fresh perspective to something familiar.
The moral of the story is to gain any traction with your writing you have to be willing to be uncomfortable and try things that aren’t guaranteed to work.
For some writers writing is a hobby. Some writers want to write full time and have a long lasting career.
I fall in the latter group.
How about you?
Don’t forget to text BOOKS to (917) 905-8801 to join my mailing list.
There will be giveaways, updates, sneak peeks, and more.
**For authors: When you join my mailing list I’ll send you a marketing plan template.
As authors sometimes our goals are on a straight line:
Worldwide fame and notoriety. A lot of money.
As much as we would love to explode right to the top it doesn’t work that way. In order to be a national bestselling author you have to go through two preceding steps:
Being a local and regional author first.
Somewhere along the way the word local has become a dirty word. No one wants that word attached to their artistry. The thing about being local is every author has a starting point and that’s not a negative thing.
The trajectory of an author would be local ➡️ regional ➡️ national. Once every level is saturated you can go to the next one. None of the levels after local can be attained before you master the local scene.
Support indie booksellers and libraries by buying books online and checking out books at your local library.
Build a rapport with your community booksellers and readers. You should know their names and they should know yours. The further along you get in your journey the more people you met. The goal is to convert those people into supporters. Give them incentives to continue their support and let them know what they mean to your journey.
Those supporters will make up your distribution network. That distribution network will carry your future titles to success. All because you went from local, regional, to national.
I know we have a lot of dope TV shows on the air right now, but Fox’s Thursday night trifecta of Living Single, Martin, and New York Undercover couldn’t be touched.
I watched the show faithfully right up until they killed Eddie off.
That stunt was unforgivable and they really tried to continue the show, too. The operative word being ‘tried’.
They bricked the attempt.
The show had an unforced coolness. It looked natural and the backdrop of New York City helped enhance the visual.
I wanted to go to Natalie’s like it existed in real life.
Andre Harrell and Dick Wolf seemed to fuse two worlds together perfectly.
I assumed that I would just cop the first three seasons and be a happy man.
NOPE.
The show has never appeared on DVD. It ain’t on Netflix. It ain’t on HULU. It’s barely in syndication.
Truth be told it pisses me off.
It was a great show and I hope sometime in the near future it gets a proper release to a streaming service or on DVD.
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