Scan barcode
cheesygiraffe's review against another edition
5.0
The outtakes keep getting better and better. I was laughing out loud at some of Trevor and Mitchell's antics. And the word play with a certain character that I don't want to name here but let's just say he isn't called Dick. And to see my name mentioned in the outtake about Hammer, Wrench and Torque made me smile.
cheesygiraffe's review
5.0
Although I read most all of these blog posts that year, I still enjoyed rereading them in a more chronological order. Plus there are some scenes that are favorites that I can keep coming back to read.
The chocolate scene at the end of the book with Kerrie and Mitchell is by far my favorite. Green Hair week and soy sauce where great too. My other favorite happens to be the death by cheese. Can we guess why? ;-)
Thanks Susan. It was nice revisiting with the guys. Trevor was peeking while I was taking my bubble bath tonight. Naughty boy! LOL
The chocolate scene at the end of the book with Kerrie and Mitchell is by far my favorite. Green Hair week and soy sauce where great too. My other favorite happens to be the death by cheese. Can we guess why? ;-)
Thanks Susan. It was nice revisiting with the guys. Trevor was peeking while I was taking my bubble bath tonight. Naughty boy! LOL
carolsnotebook's review
4.0
This is a collection of short pieces that were originally published at the author’s blog between April 2006 and March 2007. I didn’t start reading the West of Mars – Meet and Greet until early this year, but have come to adore Trevor and his band Shapeshifter. I was delighted to read this book, because I missed all of these the first time around.
As a teenager, and even now to be honest, I was a fan of the big hair, hard rock bands. This was like peeking into their world, seeing all the fun and disasters that happen behind the scenes. Even though ShapeShifter is fictional, these glimpses into the characters’ lives are funny and occasionally touching. I fell in love with Trevor, Mitchell, Kerri and the rest. I have to admit to having a few favorite bits, like Green Hair Week, simply because I was at a loss the first summer my daughter’s hair turned green, and Hearts, because it was so romantic.
As the blurb on the back says, “this is a must-have volume for anyone who’s ever wanted to hang with a rock band.” It’s just a blast. I’m looking forward to reading the second year and, when it’s published, Trevor’s Song. In the meantime, you’ll find me stopping by the blog every few days to see what’s going on with my favorite fictional band.
As a teenager, and even now to be honest, I was a fan of the big hair, hard rock bands. This was like peeking into their world, seeing all the fun and disasters that happen behind the scenes. Even though ShapeShifter is fictional, these glimpses into the characters’ lives are funny and occasionally touching. I fell in love with Trevor, Mitchell, Kerri and the rest. I have to admit to having a few favorite bits, like Green Hair Week, simply because I was at a loss the first summer my daughter’s hair turned green, and Hearts, because it was so romantic.
As the blurb on the back says, “this is a must-have volume for anyone who’s ever wanted to hang with a rock band.” It’s just a blast. I’m looking forward to reading the second year and, when it’s published, Trevor’s Song. In the meantime, you’ll find me stopping by the blog every few days to see what’s going on with my favorite fictional band.
serenaac's review
4.0
Shapeshifter: The Demo Tapes, Year 1 will be unlike any other books on the market because it is a short volume of material from author Susan Helene Gottfried's blog.
These snippets and scenes take readers behind the scenes of a band in the beginning and on the road, providing 100 pages of sheer entertainment, laugh-out-loud moments, and pure joy. Whether readers are fans of 80s hair bands and heavy metal or not, the plight of these boys on the road will have them shaking their heads or laughing right out of their chairs.
In one section of the book, Gottfried uses vivid, snappy descriptions to bring Mitchell's green hair to life on the page after than band spends three days in Phoenix at the pool.
"'How'd you make it worse?'
Mitchell jerked up so fast, he cracked his head on the faucet. He let out a wordless yowl and jumped up and down, a hand clapped to the spot, until the first jolt of pain faded." (Page 80)
In a variety of demos, Trevor, Mitchell, Eric, and Daniel are introduced, complete with their outrageous behavior and the tensions often prevalent in a band of young men. Shapeshifter: The Demo Tapes, Year 1 will whet readers' appetites and have them salivating for more, like so many record companies waiting for the next biggest band.
These snippets and scenes take readers behind the scenes of a band in the beginning and on the road, providing 100 pages of sheer entertainment, laugh-out-loud moments, and pure joy. Whether readers are fans of 80s hair bands and heavy metal or not, the plight of these boys on the road will have them shaking their heads or laughing right out of their chairs.
In one section of the book, Gottfried uses vivid, snappy descriptions to bring Mitchell's green hair to life on the page after than band spends three days in Phoenix at the pool.
"'How'd you make it worse?'
Mitchell jerked up so fast, he cracked his head on the faucet. He let out a wordless yowl and jumped up and down, a hand clapped to the spot, until the first jolt of pain faded." (Page 80)
In a variety of demos, Trevor, Mitchell, Eric, and Daniel are introduced, complete with their outrageous behavior and the tensions often prevalent in a band of young men. Shapeshifter: The Demo Tapes, Year 1 will whet readers' appetites and have them salivating for more, like so many record companies waiting for the next biggest band.
literaryfeline's review
3.0
http://www.literaryfeline.com/2012/05/bookish-thoughts-trevors-song-by-susan.html
nimrodiel's review
5.0
Have you ever wondered what goes on backstage at a concert? Have you ever wanted to see the inner workings of a well known band? Did you ever wonder what forces shape a band into a powerhouse of music? Well, with The Demo Tapes: Year 1 you can find answers to these questions and more.
The Demo Tapes: Year 1 is a collection aimed at introducing readers into the fictional world of the band ShapeShifter. All of the short fiction pieces in this collection were first published online in the author’s blog between April 2006 and March 2007. The stories all parallel Susan’s currently unpublished novel Trevor’s Song. The Demo Tapes came into existence because author Susan Helene Gottfried was tired of people not being able to read the intense story that she had created starring the band ShapeShifter. The West of Mars Blog was born through these frustrations.
Along the way, her short fiction and musings on her blog Susan gained a following of loyal readers. Her groupies (as they call themselves) stared clamoring for her writing to be published. Because of their push, Susan took matters into her own hands, and self published The Demo Tapes: Year 1 using the services of Lulu.com. The collection cleans up the quickly written outtakes from the blog, and arranges them chronologically.
I’ve been reading the West of Mars blog from its conception. I read each of these pieces when they were originally first published on the blog. I found ShapeShifter: The Demo Tapes: Year 1 a fantastic and fun way of revisiting these older stories. I’m hoping that Susan publishes The Demo Tapes: Year 2 in the near future. I look forward to reading more adventures of Trevor, Mitchell, Keri, and the other band members and fans. I also hope that the Demo Tapes becomes a stepping stone for Susan’s debut novel Trevor’s Song to make it through the gamut of the publishing industry and be available for purchase in bookstores worldwide. Susan has created a wonderful collection of characters in a full fleshed world, and it would be a shame if it was never published.
Places you can find The Demo Tapes: Year 1:
Amazon.com
Lulu.com
Author Susan Helene Gottfried’s web site: West of Mars the Meet & Greet
The Demo Tapes: Year 1 is a collection aimed at introducing readers into the fictional world of the band ShapeShifter. All of the short fiction pieces in this collection were first published online in the author’s blog between April 2006 and March 2007. The stories all parallel Susan’s currently unpublished novel Trevor’s Song. The Demo Tapes came into existence because author Susan Helene Gottfried was tired of people not being able to read the intense story that she had created starring the band ShapeShifter. The West of Mars Blog was born through these frustrations.
Along the way, her short fiction and musings on her blog Susan gained a following of loyal readers. Her groupies (as they call themselves) stared clamoring for her writing to be published. Because of their push, Susan took matters into her own hands, and self published The Demo Tapes: Year 1 using the services of Lulu.com. The collection cleans up the quickly written outtakes from the blog, and arranges them chronologically.
I’ve been reading the West of Mars blog from its conception. I read each of these pieces when they were originally first published on the blog. I found ShapeShifter: The Demo Tapes: Year 1 a fantastic and fun way of revisiting these older stories. I’m hoping that Susan publishes The Demo Tapes: Year 2 in the near future. I look forward to reading more adventures of Trevor, Mitchell, Keri, and the other band members and fans. I also hope that the Demo Tapes becomes a stepping stone for Susan’s debut novel Trevor’s Song to make it through the gamut of the publishing industry and be available for purchase in bookstores worldwide. Susan has created a wonderful collection of characters in a full fleshed world, and it would be a shame if it was never published.
Places you can find The Demo Tapes: Year 1:
Amazon.com
Lulu.com
Author Susan Helene Gottfried’s web site: West of Mars the Meet & Greet
amymyoung's review
5.0
An excellent collection of short stories about Shapeshfiter. Gives you back story to Trevor's Song.
amymyoung's review against another edition
5.0
As always Susan's writing draws you into the world of ShapeShifter. This collection of short stories follows Trevor's Song, and fills in some more of the backstory and introduces a, memorably named, shall we say, character.
A solid read.
A solid read.
More...