News and Notices from the Writing Trenches #174…
The last quarter. It’s hard to believe we’re in it and heading for the year-end holidays. How many shopping days left? Of course, it’s not about shopping. It’s about seeing family and friends…and enjoying the festivities with them.
Holly Berry Show. This takes place in early November, and it’s a blast! Sponsored by the Upper Montclair Women’s Club (NJ), you will find all kinds of festive things for holiday decorations and gifts. Usually I’m present with my book booth too, because books make great holiday gifts. This year I can’t participate, though, but I will be present in spirit. I’ll leave copies of some of my recent books for the raffle. Don’t miss this arts and crafts spectacular!
Pirating. Book publishing is suffering through what music publishing suffered. Pirating is common, and shady websites are offering free pirated copies of books, ebooks mostly, but print versions are offered too. They even appear on Amazon.
Here’s the most common SOP for pirates: buy the ebook on Amazon, strip off the DRM (“Digital Rights Management”), and upload it to the pirates’ websites. An ebook is just software, and it can be pirated. And not only ebooks are pirated. Print books are too, and they have been pirated a lot longer than ebooks. A recent NY Times article exposes this practice.
Pirating represents a huge loss for authors and publishers. If it’s not halted, authors and publishers will have no incentive to write and publish. It’s that simple. Please avoid the temptation.
Son of Thunder. What’s unusual about this book? It’s #2 in the “Esther Brookstone Art Detective Series” and the sequel to Rembrandt’s Angel. It features Esther Brookstone, now retired from Scotland Yard, who is obsessed with finding St. John the Divine’s tomb using directions left by the Renaissance artist Sandro Botticelli. Esther’s search, the disciple’s missionary travels, and Botticelli’s trip to the Middle East make for three travel stories that all come together in one surprising climax.
Esther’s paramour, Interpol agent Bastiann van Coevorden, has problems with arms dealers, but he multitasks by trying to keep Esther focused and out of danger. The reader can also learn how their romance progresses, as well as travel back in time to discover a bit about Esther’s past with MI6 during the Cold War.
History, archaeology, romance, religion, and art make for a tasty stew in this moving, moralistic mystery/thriller novel just published by Penmore Press. Available in print and ebook formats at Amazon and from the publisher, and in ebook format at Smashwords and the latter’s affiliated retailers (iBooks, B&N, Kobo, etc.) and lenders (Overdrive, etc.). Also available at your favorite bookstore (if they don’t have it, ask for it.) (Note: the print version might be slightly delayed.)
The Last Humans. Did you miss this? Modern biological warfare can be scary. In this novel, a localized attack spreads to cause an apocalypse throughout the world. I don’t focus on that, though. Instead, I focus on what happens to the survivors. This post-apocalyptic thriller is really about LA County Sheriff’s forensic diver Penny Castro and her adventures to survive and form an adopted family in the aftermath. Available in print and ebook formats at Amazon and from the publisher Black Opal Books, and in ebook format at Smashwords and the latter’s affiliated retailers (iBooks, B&N, Kobo, etc.) and lenders (Overdrive, etc.). Also available at your favorite bookstore (if they don’t have it, ask for it.)
Free fiction? You can have a free copy of any of my ebooks in return for an honest review. Otherwise, TANSTAAFL. Of course, all my published books are reasonably priced, even the print versions. My collaborator A. B. Carolan and I offer free short fiction on the “Free Stuff & Contests” web page at this website as well as in the blog categories “Steve’s Shorts” and “ABC Shorts.”
Sales? You won’t find them here. They’re only on Smashwords, and you’ll only have access to them by receiving my email newsletter. Sign up for the email newsletter using my contact page. You’re not a member of Smashwords? It’s easy to join and it’s free. You’ll have access to more ebooks and more ebook formats by being a member.
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Comments are always welcome.
Around the world and to the stars! In libris libertas!
