Yahoo! First, I'm gazing fondly on a box-- chock full of my novel "A Memory of Grief." Wow. It's real. Lots of beautiful copies that I can sign for people.
So you say, "Well, how could this night get any better?"
With a story sale, that's how. Just sold "The Mousetrap" to Over My Dead Body.
Will post the pub date when I hear.
Anybody got some champagne?
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
Kindlegraph, New Signing Technology, Max Barry
One of the things lost with digital ebooks is not being able to sign a copy for readers. Losing that personal connection is no fun.
We figured out one way around that. Give readers a CD with the PDF on it, and sign the label on the CD.
Now, as part of the revolution, new technology has being developed to allow for a form of signing. Check out Kindlegraph, where an author can now attach a digital signature to a file, so it's a form of signing your ebook! Cool, or what! Big help with promotion and connections.
It's a great time to be a writer!
Just heard about a new book due out tomorrow. Machine Man, by Max Barry, and it looks like a good one. I've never read this author before now, but will be checking this out.
It's also interesting because Barry apparently crowdsourced the editing of the novel, putting it out online for comment a couple of years ago. This drastically edited version is said to be superb.
We figured out one way around that. Give readers a CD with the PDF on it, and sign the label on the CD.
Now, as part of the revolution, new technology has being developed to allow for a form of signing. Check out Kindlegraph, where an author can now attach a digital signature to a file, so it's a form of signing your ebook! Cool, or what! Big help with promotion and connections.
It's a great time to be a writer!
Just heard about a new book due out tomorrow. Machine Man, by Max Barry, and it looks like a good one. I've never read this author before now, but will be checking this out.
It's also interesting because Barry apparently crowdsourced the editing of the novel, putting it out online for comment a couple of years ago. This drastically edited version is said to be superb.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Featured in the Spotlight
This week I'm the featured author on the blog of Ken Hoss, author of Storm Rising, a tense thriller featuring character Kelli Storm.
It's a great place to showcase new talent. Thanks, Ken, for helping to spread the word!
It's a great place to showcase new talent. Thanks, Ken, for helping to spread the word!
Saturday, August 6, 2011
In the Featured Spotlight Tomorrow
In the continued journey to get the word out about my novel "A Memory of Grief," tomorrow I'll be featured on the Indie Spotlight of writer Ken Hoss.
Ken is the author of Storm Rising, and every Sunday he features another writer on his blog for you to check out. This Sunday, I'm the one featured.
One of the best things about the writing community is how so many writers help each other out, and help readers to discover new authors.
I just started a book by China Mieville, King Rat (no, not the James Clavell novel). Mieville looked like an interesting writer, so I'm checking him out.
Ken is the author of Storm Rising, and every Sunday he features another writer on his blog for you to check out. This Sunday, I'm the one featured.
One of the best things about the writing community is how so many writers help each other out, and help readers to discover new authors.
I just started a book by China Mieville, King Rat (no, not the James Clavell novel). Mieville looked like an interesting writer, so I'm checking him out.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Trad Pub vs Self-Pub, Lotsa Links
And the big debate continues about traditional legacy publishing versus the new way.
Good post from Joe Konrath, on the side of authors:
http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2011/08/same-tired-arguments.html
But some silly people seem to think that traditional legacy publishing is the only legitimate way to be a writer, that nothing but good flows from it, and nothing but bad comes of self-publishing:
http://www.portfolioimprint.com/2011/08/the-myth-of-self-publishing/comment-page-1/#vmix_media_id=89388851
And another commentary:
http://blog.smashwords.com/2011/03/nietzsche-and-downfall-of-big.html
Some of the commenters on these postings are priceless. One author who left traditional legacy publishing had suffered at one point when the "know what they're doing professionals" put a picture of a dog on the cover of one of her books.
She asked, “Why is there a dog on the cover? There’s no dog in the book!”
Her answer from the pros: “People like dogs.”
And there are still morons who insist that authors must submit to idiots like these!
Tim Greaton had a great comment:
"As a guy who spent four years at the feet of the gatekeepers with two well-known NY agents, a legacy publisher offer that fell through when a board disagreed with an editor, and a movie supposedly in the stable for two years before it dissipated, I can tell you I much prefer the alternate track. One agent’s exact words to me were “I hope you’re loyal, because I’m going to make you rich.” Well, I was…and I’m not. I like my chances better in the new world!"
--Me, too, Tim. I spent years going through the damn gatekeepers, remaining unpublished and unread, while seeing mountains of crap get professionally published and sold the traditional way. Now I have a quality novel out, and am getting 5-star reviews from professionals, and comments from readers on how much they liked it and how good it is. I like this world better.
Good post from Joe Konrath, on the side of authors:
http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2011/08/same-tired-arguments.html
But some silly people seem to think that traditional legacy publishing is the only legitimate way to be a writer, that nothing but good flows from it, and nothing but bad comes of self-publishing:
http://www.portfolioimprint.com/2011/08/the-myth-of-self-publishing/comment-page-1/#vmix_media_id=89388851
And another commentary:
http://blog.smashwords.com/2011/03/nietzsche-and-downfall-of-big.html
Some of the commenters on these postings are priceless. One author who left traditional legacy publishing had suffered at one point when the "know what they're doing professionals" put a picture of a dog on the cover of one of her books.
She asked, “Why is there a dog on the cover? There’s no dog in the book!”
Her answer from the pros: “People like dogs.”
And there are still morons who insist that authors must submit to idiots like these!
Tim Greaton had a great comment:
"As a guy who spent four years at the feet of the gatekeepers with two well-known NY agents, a legacy publisher offer that fell through when a board disagreed with an editor, and a movie supposedly in the stable for two years before it dissipated, I can tell you I much prefer the alternate track. One agent’s exact words to me were “I hope you’re loyal, because I’m going to make you rich.” Well, I was…and I’m not. I like my chances better in the new world!"
--Me, too, Tim. I spent years going through the damn gatekeepers, remaining unpublished and unread, while seeing mountains of crap get professionally published and sold the traditional way. Now I have a quality novel out, and am getting 5-star reviews from professionals, and comments from readers on how much they liked it and how good it is. I like this world better.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Another Pro Writer Goes Indie
Another long-time pro writer, Holly Lisle, has decided to chuck the world of traditional legacy publishing and go independent.
She's one of the hardest-working writers I know of, constantly creating new material, despite health issues. And she runs a writing program as well. She's the kind of person that makes you feel like a slacker.
And up until now, she's toiled in the world of legacy publishing, and never got her due. So she details her decision and why she's striking out on her own. She has some justifiably harsh words for the traditional publishing world.
Now understand, this is a person who scratched out a living doing a thing a certain way. Now she's completely changing the model. She has joined the revolution.
We salute her and hope for her success. She's earned it for many years.
She's one of the hardest-working writers I know of, constantly creating new material, despite health issues. And she runs a writing program as well. She's the kind of person that makes you feel like a slacker.
And up until now, she's toiled in the world of legacy publishing, and never got her due. So she details her decision and why she's striking out on her own. She has some justifiably harsh words for the traditional publishing world.
Now understand, this is a person who scratched out a living doing a thing a certain way. Now she's completely changing the model. She has joined the revolution.
We salute her and hope for her success. She's earned it for many years.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Benefit to Help a Writer, Spineless Pols
Joe Konrath, the self-publishing powerhouse, once again shows his mensch creds. His recent blog posting is a notice about the plight of writer L.A. Banks, who has cancer and a mountain of medical bills:
http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2011/07/benefit-to-help-author-la-banks.html
Once again, it is disgusting that our country has neither the will or brainpower to enact decent healthcare legislation. The spinelessness of politicians can be seen in our current "financial crisis," all because this bunch of crooks can't agree on how to divvy up the money they steal from us, so they can waste billions for wars on the other side of the planet.
Because stupid, pointless, expensive wars are WAY more important than healthcare, safe roads, good schools, food inspection, and real safety, right?
Next election time, remember how they sold out the country-- and vote for ANY third-party candidate. Get rid of all the gutless bastards and incumbent thieves-- replace them with someone not affiliated with big-money machines.
Have you had enough yet? When will you? When the country is bankrupt and you can't feed your kids?
Some days I shouldn't watch the news.
http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2011/07/benefit-to-help-author-la-banks.html
Once again, it is disgusting that our country has neither the will or brainpower to enact decent healthcare legislation. The spinelessness of politicians can be seen in our current "financial crisis," all because this bunch of crooks can't agree on how to divvy up the money they steal from us, so they can waste billions for wars on the other side of the planet.
Because stupid, pointless, expensive wars are WAY more important than healthcare, safe roads, good schools, food inspection, and real safety, right?
Next election time, remember how they sold out the country-- and vote for ANY third-party candidate. Get rid of all the gutless bastards and incumbent thieves-- replace them with someone not affiliated with big-money machines.
Have you had enough yet? When will you? When the country is bankrupt and you can't feed your kids?
Some days I shouldn't watch the news.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)