Be a Book Reviewer

Book Review - An Invitation

If you have an active blog, web site or have an active Face Book presence you may be interested in becoming a reviewer for one of our new e-books. E-mail me at jim@orionsgate.org and I'll send you a free copy of "The Pilgrim's Progress: Amplified Version" formatted for your reading device. Feel free to forward this offer to your friends.

Jim Pappas

Short Detour

In addition to working on revisions of old classics I'm also trying my hand at screen plays. I'm excited about a couple of current scripts. "The Girl on The Train" and "A Time To Reap." The first is based on three true war stories and the second is a retelling of a couple of Jesus' parables in modern terms. I'm meeting with people in the film industry over the next few days to explore moving on to production. Wouldn't that be exciting!

Keep in touch,

Jim

Grace Abounding - A pilgrim's progress

One of the project that is nearing completion is my reworking of John Bunyan's "Grace Abounding To The Chief of Sinners." When I "amplify" an old classic like this I go in three stages.
1. First I modernize the language so I can understand it.
2. Then I go through it and try to make it flow more freely. Shorten long sentences, rearrange thoughts to make it easier to understand. The book is coming out to be nearly 200 pages long and I am currently on page 160 or so.
3. Last time through I try to dramatize it, make it more contemporary and lively. Definitely the most enjoyable of the three processes.

When complete this will be available as an e-book and soon after as an audio book. I'm trying to decide between a one voice reading or a dramatized reading which would still involve the one voice for about 80% of the book. Perhaps you have a suggestion.

In my nest post I'll put up a short sample describing how John Bunyan discovered his gift of preaching.

See you soon. God bless,

Jim

गरचे अबौन्डिंग - अ पिलग्रिम'स progress

Exciting News!

My first e-books have just been published! "The Pilgrim's Progress: Amplified Version" and "Pilgrim's Progress Part II Christiana: Amplified Version." I have also published an e-play based on the book of Esther. It is called "For Such a Time: The Story of Esther."

Here is the link.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/pilgrims-progress-amplified/id496633078?mt=11

iTunes - Books - The Pilgrim’s Progress: Amplified Version by Jim Pappas

itunes.apple.com

Get a free sample or buy The Pilgrim’s Progress: Amplified Version by Jim Pappas on the iTunes Store. You can read this book with iBooks on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

Please share with a friend. I'll be back with a list of links to Amazon, Sony, etc.

That's all for now.

Be prospered.

Jim

The Beginning

Greetings fellow pilgrims.

Welcome to the "Pilgrim's Progress" community Blog. Here we will be sharing valuable lessons and insights to be gained from John Bunyan's timeless classic as well as his life. In addition I will be sharing some behind the scenes info. about what has been accomplished thus far to bring Bunyan's works into greater prominence.

In addition I'll be sharing practical insights from my own research into health, education, country living, spiritual matters and who knows what else.

Welcome aboard. We're off on a journey that will be unlike any other you've ever taken.
See you tomorrow.

Blessings,

Jim Pappas

P.S. If you're a dyed-in-the-wool inside-the-box thinker please be advised you that this may not be where you'll find your greatest satisfaction.

P.P.S. If you want to get a jump start on some completed "Pilgrim's Progress" you can begin exploring at http://www.orionsgate.org .

What does "Amplified" mean?

A few comments about "The New Amplified Pilgrim's Progress" book and it's predecessor "The Dramatized Pilgrim's Progress."

I have often been asked about what "amplified" actually means. Well, we all know that an audio amplifier makes the sound source louder. In the same way my intent in reworking old masterpieces is to "make them sound louder." That is to say, easier to understand and enjoy. To that end there is added dialog, added action and once in awhile even an added scene.

I realize this is a bit sacrilegious to the purists who would not dare to tamper with a masterpiece or even read the tampering of another. But my thinking is that what I am offering is not merely the masterpiece simplified but rather a totally new creation based on the masterpiece. For those who feel uncomfortable with "amplifying" there are several simplified English versions of "The Pilgrim's Progress" available - most of them in paperback at a very reasonable price. I have to admit I have not been impressed.

What I hope to offer in my "amplifications" is the essence of the original in a newer and more exciting format that will bring the heart of the original works back to life. It is not my mission to change or correct the original so much as to make it interesting and readable. The ideal would be for a reader (or listener) to take my version and compare it side by side with the original. This would help acquaint the reader with the older English and help them see how it has been "amplified."

Well, enough for today. I've probably opened a can of worms with the purist community - but perhaps they are not the ones I can best serve.

The next few days may be a bit sparse as I'm going to be quite involved in painting/staining my house. Its a bit overdue I'm afraid.

Until next post,

Blessings,

Jim Pappas
Word Smith