Violent Sagas of the Old West

It wasn't very long ago that the western was among the dominant genres read by men. Cowboys, the US Cavalry, pioneers, explorers, trappers and Indian fighters created by such stellar authors as Matthew Braun, Zane Grey, Elmer Kelton, Owen Wister, A. B. Guthrie, Jr., Terry C. Johnston and Louis L'Amour were the precursors of astronauts and other modern action adventure heroes. In few other categories could readers find men and women who personified the American dream and core values that forged our national identity.

The western fiction market is a fraction of what it used to be, but there is still a dedicated readership that finds thrills and satisfaction in tales of the West. Chet Cunningham's Pony Soldier Series exemplifies the genre at its very best if not its very most violent. The first novel, Slaughter at Buffalo Creek, introduces a grief-stricken Captain Colt Harding as he sets out to wreak revenge on the Indian who killed his wife and son. The problem is, he has to team up with some of the vilest men in the west. These are The Pony Soldiers.

E-Reads carries five books tracking their adventures.

- Richard Curtis

Apple Sleight of Hand Sets the Stage for Tablet Macs

Further to our discussion of Kindles as learning tools, if Apple can pull off a scheme to create a full-sized keyboard for a tablet device, they will be that much closer winning what I call the Premio Gordo: universal adoption of a tablet (or tablet-oid) computer by colleges.

According to Sam Oliver, writing in AppleInsider, a 52-page patent filed by Apple Inc. "illustrates a number of techniques that would pave the way for tablet Macs that display a near full-sized multi-touch keyboard and run an undiluted version of the Mac OS X operating system." In plain English, Mac users would be able type with both hands on the screen, an absolutely essential feature of any student computer.

- Richard Curtis

Kindle Sequel on the Way, But Will it Play on Campus?

(Pictured right: The Intel Classmate prototype)

Speculation on the next generation of Kindle (my wife refers to them in Yiddish as Kindeleh) is reaching fever pitch, such as this piece on cnet news by Adam Richardson and another on engadget by Thomas Ricker.

The prognostications seem to be focusing on student applications, and though Kindle 2.0 will probably be a bit bigger for collegiate use, my own opinion is that that is not where e-book readers have to go to win the premio gordo of universal college adoption.

At the dawn of the E-Book Era, circa 2000, I recognized that pocket-portable e-books would never succeed for student use. The reason is size. Textbooks and other illustrated books simply cannot be crammed into anything smaller than a screen close to the size of a laptop. That's why I advocated the tablet concept and design. Tablets have all the virtues of laptops PLUS touchscreen functionality. For students, reading books on an e-reading device is highly desirable but not as imperative as the ability to handwrite notes on their device's screen. Resistance to widespread adoption of e-textbooks is explored in an excellent article by Andy Guess in Inside Higher Ed, Next Step for E-Texts. "Whether — or when — e-textbooks become as ubiquitous as laptops or smartphones on campuses depends on several factors that continue to hinder widespread adoption. Observers of the nascent market point variously to available hardware, consumer demand and the dearth of content made specifically for digital formats," writes Guess.

Manufacturers are not unaware of these issues and have been developing a variety of readers, variously called netbooks, ultraportables, and mini-notebooks such as the Intel Classmate, that appeal to the specific needs of the student. No one has hit a home run yet, but there's a fortune waiting for the manufacturer that does.

- Richard Curtis

Seven Linda Winstead Jones "Fairy Tale" Novels Back in Print.

Check out Linda's page to see seven of her fans' favorites back in print both as e-book downloads and trade paperbacks:

Big Bad Wolf
Someone's Been Sleeping In My Bed
On A Wicked Wind
One Day, My Prince
The Seduction Of Roxanne
Cinderfella
Let Down Your Hair

When Is a Book Acceptable, and Who Says So?

The acceptability provision of a book contract can be summarized as follows: A publisher engages an author to write a book, stipulating in the contract that if the manuscript is not acceptable in the publisher's sole discretion, the publisher may reject it and require the author to repay in full the advance that was paid on signing the contract. Until that advance is repaid, the publisher will not release the author from the contract, thus restricting him or her from entering into a contract with another publisher for that (and perhaps any other) literary work.

Inherent in this provision are three potentially explosive elements. Click here to find out what they are.

A Brilliant Detective in Spite of Himself

In Detective, the first Stanley Hastings mystery story by Parnell Hall, Hastings is so unconfident he actually turns a case away. It doesn't matter. The case comes to his doorstep anyway, and with a vengeance!

Hall, a former private detective, an actor and a multiple Mystery Writers of America Edgar nominee, introduces a classic bumbler who succeeds despite his best efforts to screw up. Kirkus Reviews found Detective "Engaging...thanks largely to Stanley's shambling, casual, occasionally raunchy delivery."

E-Reads carries several Stanley Hastings novels about which the reviewer for the Washington Post Book World says, "...The charm of Stanley Hastings lies in his chummy, loquacious, self-deprecating commentary as the narrator of this adventure."

- Richard Curtis

Cellphone Fiction - Can 20 Million Japanese Be Wrong?

An article by Leon Neyfakh in the Observer notes that "Love Sky, a debut novel by a young woman named Mika, was read by 20 million people on cellphones or on computers." The book, a handwringer and tearjerker, was first uploaded on Maho no i-rando, and though the author made no money on the avalanche of hits, she made a fortune on the subsequent printed book and movie.

"Why don't these exist in the United States?" asks Neyfakh. "Obviously everyone would read them. This...is what the publishing houses should be doing if they want to keep up instead of thinking about Digg and Yelp or whatever, as some people seem to think."

Would everyone read them in the United States? The American populace does a lot of things on cellphones and computers but reading books on a mass scale is not yet one of them. The e-book business has been growing by double-digit jumps for a decade, but when a bestselling e-book is still defined here in the hundreds, we realize how far Americans have to go before a texted work of fiction published here will make its author rich and famous.

For an idea of how huge cellphones are in Japan, there are even magazines devoted to them. An observer counted half a dozen devoted to the iPhone alone!

- Richard Curtis

Kindle Makes Bid for High-Profile Content

After saying no to e-books for years, a big-name author, Terry Goodkind, has now said yes.

Though reluctant up to now to put his books into e-book format, Goodkind surrendered to the allure of Amazon's Kindle (plus an undisclosed sum of money), according to a story by Rachel Deahl in Publishers Weekly. Goodkind agreed to let his first novel, Wizard's First Rule, be rereleased on an exclusive basis on the Kindle. Read the story here.

The fact that Amazon offered competitive terms is a promising sign of financial health for the e-book industry. But it also means that Amazon has placed itself into competition with publishers for content.

For an interesting analysis of the pros and cons of e-books and Kindle in particular, check out this commentary by Hugh D'Andrade on the website of the Electronic Frontier Foundation entitled,What If the Kindle Succeeds?

- Richard Curtis

The Faithful: A Novel of the Obama Campaign

The Faithful, a sexy behind-the-scenes novel about the Barack Obama Democratic nomination campaign, is now available in print on Amazon.com. It was originally serialized on the E-Reads website.

The "Faithful" of Carla Dickens's novel are a vibrant cadre of volunteers devoted to the most charismatic presidential candidate in fifty years. Drawn from today's newspaper headlines and political blogs, The Faithful follows a cast of young, smart, beautiful and driven men and women shepherding their candidate through the turbulent waters of the Democratic presidential campaign of 2008.

RC

Natural Medicine for Weight Loss

Natural Medicine For Weight Loss by Deborah Mitchell is an invaluable compendium of surprising and even amazing truths and fictions about weight loss.

Did you know for instance that the metabolic rate of two people of the same age, sex, and body type may vary as much as 20 percent? That most of the weight loss from popular high-protein diets is water, not fat? that your addiction to sugar can make it impossible for you to lose weight - unless you know the simple steps (and dietary supplements) for breaking it; That certain "thermogenic" agents can trigger the burning of body fat? That an herbal form of phen-fen is available without the health risks of the prescription drug? That lemon water or apple cider vinegar can reduce cravings? That self-administered acupressure can boost your metabolism - and reduce bloating?

All this and more in Natural Medicine for Weight Loss.

Buy it as an e-book and watch amazon.com for news of the print edition.

Publisher is Civilian Casualty in Proxy War Between Barnes & Noble and Amazon

Barnes & Noble has canceled a 10,000 copy order to punish a publisher for giving Amazon.com a short exclusive window on a soon-to-be-published book about Barack Obama.

According to Associated Press's Hillel Italie, Chelsea Green, a small Vermont publisher, gave Amazon and its wholly owned on-demand print division BookSurge, an exclusive window to distribute Robert Kuttner's "Obama's Challenge" at the Democratic Convention next week in Denver. Chelsea Green's action put B&N's nose so far out of joint that it canceled a very big order. Smaller bookstores were reported to be equally ticked off, but none has the clout to hurt a small press the way B&N does, and B&N wielded its battle ax with a will.

This is just the latest skirmish in the escalating warfare between bookstores - in particular the behemoth B&N chain - and Amazon, and this time the publisher couldn't - or wouldn't - get out of the line of fire.

Chelsea Green President Margo Baldwin was defiant about Barnes & Noble's action: "They are not going to bully us and the book will be a huge success in spite of their boycott."

Read the whole story.

- Richard Curtis

A World Where All Escalators Go Up - Part 2

In Part 1 of this two-part article, we introduced a term commonly heard in discussions of book deals: "escalator." Escalators are additional advance payments made by publishers to authors if and when certain contingencies occur. What are those contingencies? How much are they worth? And what, if anything, is their real value? We homed in on bestseller bonuses. In Part 2 we focus on award, book club, movie and other types of escalators.

Neil Gaiman Introduces Fritz Leiber's Lankhmar Audios

Best-selling fantasy author Neil Gaiman has recorded special introductions for each of seven classic novels in the audio edition of Fritz Leiber's classic Lankhmar fantasy series. Listen to Gaiman describe the importance of the Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser stories and how they influenced him as a young writer.

The e-book edition of the series is published by E-Reads, the print edition by Dark Horse.

RC

Lens of the World by R. A. MacAvoy: An Unlikely Hero Begins an Unforgettable Journey

In Lens of the World, the first novel of an action-packed and liltingly written trilogy, award-winning fantasist R. A. MacAvoy's dwarfish hero Nazuret embarks on an adventure that will take him through a lifetime of challenges. His story is filled with surprising rewards and amazing adventures. By the hands of Powl, mentor, madman, and lens grinder, he is put to extreme mental and physical test and is blessed with knowledge. He embarks upon a journey to his destiny through war, darkness, and death. He is determined to emerge beyond the tiny status he was given at birth.

Here's what Library Journal said about it:

In this, the first volume of a fantasy series, MacAvoy does not merely set the stage, hint at a plot to be unveiled later, or tease readers with suggested themes. Instead, she presents a fully developed novel that preserves interesting territory to be explored in the future. The plot crosses the classic quest fantasy with the bildungsroman, and the novel is composed in the epistolary style. Nazhuret, a child seemingly without family, is the ward of a military school for the sons of nobility. As an adolescent, he finds himself propelled into a weird relationship with the mysterious Powl. Their meeting is a memorable set-piece worthy of Poe. Nazhuret's re-education under Powl involves trials to make the most hardworking student shudder. At the end of it, Powl sends Nazhuret into the world, a kind of beggar/philosopher, a lens-grinder on tour. It is here that MacAvoy's intent becomes clear, because Nazhuret is indeed, for readers, the lens of the world, the optic through which they see the mysterious, shifting ambiguities that create a reality. This is a plot and a theme and a character so rich that revelations would be unforgivable. Add to these one of the most surprising supporting characters and plots in years and a fantasy setting that is always intriguing but never intrusive and you have a book that readers won't want to end. --Cathy Chauvette, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

It will be hard for you to set the trilogy aside after the first book, so let me summarize the sequels.

King of the Dead follows the story of dwarf-like Nazhuret, a modest and fastidious lens grinder. Although he could have chosen an exalted and wealthy life as a noble member of the court, he wishes to live in humble and undisturbed poverty with his lady Arlin. But the ordinary life that Nazhuret wants is abruptly shattered when a vicious attack by paid assassins forces him to run. With possible enemies on all sides, the only place to go is the neighboring kingdom of Rezhmia, where Nazhuret has an ancient blood-tie. However, he finds that Rezhmia is no safe haven, for dark clouds are gathering there, intent on destruction of the homeland of Nazhuret’s heart. Evil tidings, treacherous family members and powerful sorcery threaten to overtake him, but Nazhuret must survive for the sake of those he loves.

In the climactic Belly of the Wolf, Nazhuret embarks on his final adventure. He must unwillingly end a long period of exile and once again take up the sword in defense of freedom. His old friend the King is suddenly and unexpectedly assassinated, leaving the kingdom in chaos. Nazhuret interrupts the peace of his old age to endure the horrors of war and the supernatural realm of the dead. Before his journey comes to an end, he must test his wisdom to its limit in the face of danger and treachery. He is accompanied by his beloved daughter Nahvah and, as Nazhuret’s final debt of honor is paid, he faces the darker side of human nature with both of their lives at stake.

R.A. MacAvoy is a highly acclaimed author of imaginative and original science fiction and fantasy novels. Her debut novel, TEA WITH THE BLACK DRAGON, won the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. She has also written the DAMIANO trilogy, the chronicles of a wizard’s young son, set during the Italian Renaissance; THE BOOK OF KELLS, and TWISTING THE ROPE, the highly acclaimed sequel to TEA WITH THE BLACK DRAGON. Some of these books are available as E-Reads reprints and we hope to have all of them available within the year.

- Richard Curtis

The Joys of Sex - Without the Little Blue Pill

You can enjoy sex through midlife and well into your golden years. It's all in Sensual Rejuvenation: Maintaining Sexual Vigor Through Midlife and Beyond by Judith Sachs. This unique guide provides important information on age-related changes in sexual function and offers a wide range of medical, holistic, and psychological tips and techniques that can relight your fire. Don't miss... testosterone cream that restores a woman's libido; zinc, the most important mineral for male potency, and all the must-have nutrients; the best herbal alternatives to Viagra; ways to fulfill sexual needs if there is illness or disability; stimulating exercises to make sex feel great.

Download Sensual Rejuvenation as an e-book, and watch amazon.com for the print edition.

Braving the Flames

In New York City, an average of eleven fires are reported every hour of the day and night, 365 days a year. Now, Peter Micheels brings you the stories behind the news reports as America’s courageous firefighters tell their stories in their own words. Micheels is a staff psychologist at Bellevue Hospital. He is also an honorary Fire Marshall and an honorary Deputy Chief in the Fire Department of New York.

Braving the Flames is the real story of the men and women whose lives are dedicated to answering the calls for help. Intense and terrifying, Micheels' book chronicles the experiences of those who give their blood and sweat to save lives, sometimes at the cost of their own. Some of those interviewed by Micheels for this book paid the ultimate price on September 11, 2001.

- Richard Curtis

A World Where All Escalators Go Up - Part 1

A term commonly heard in discussions of book deals is "escalator." For instance, "Her book was bought for an advance that, with escalators, could exceed $1 million." Escalators are additional advance payments made by publishers to authors if and when certain contingencies occur. What are those contingencies? How much are they worth? And what, if anything, is their real value? Click here to find out.

Mac iPhone Ebook Reader Software Rocks, Says Wired

Charlie Sorrel reviews, in Wired's Gadget Lab, the Stanza, a free version of the Mac ebook reading software, and gives it high marks. Read "how to turn your iPhone into a mini-Kindle."

"I really like this application," writes Sorrel. "It means you can quite literally carry a small library in your pocket. The one problem is that, unlike the Kindle, you can't buy new titles direct from the iPhone. Stanza supports most e-book formats, so if you buy a .mobi book, for example, you'll be able to read it. But imagine if you could browse Amazon and buy things directly. It might kill the Kindle, but Amazon would sell a lot of e-books."

When asked in January 2008 why he hadn't built e-reads software into v. 1 of the iPhone, Apple CEO Steve Jobs sneered, "People Don't Read Anymore." Anybody think he'll sing a different tune now?

RC

BookLocker and Amazon Duke it Out in Court

Amazon has filed a motion to have the antitrust lawsuit filed last May by BookLocker thrown out. Publisher BookLocker launched the suit when Amazon started leaning on print on demand publishers to use its subsidiary BookSurge to print their titles or risk having deactivated the Buy buttons for the books they sell on Amazon.com. For a fuller description, click on this article by Jim Milliott in PublishersWeekly.com. And for a blow by blow click here and read details of the opponents' filings.

For background on the issue, you can read Richard Curtis's blog The Nine Gazillion Pound Gorilla Bears its Fangs.

What Women Need to Know

After traveling the country and listening to women's most common health problems, Dr. Marianne Legato, one of the nation's leading advocates for women's health, answers these common questions and more in What Women Need to Know. This revolutionary book teaches women how to ask their doctors the right questions and leave the office satisfied. Dr. Legato is also the author of The Female Heart, a book that dispels myths that heart disease is only a male problem. Her co-author on both books is Carol Colman, one of the country's leading medical writers.

"[A] well-organized book that is authoritative without being authoritarian. Many women will especially welcome finding straightforward answers to questions they feel would seem too silly or too embarrassing to ask in person."
-—Publishers Weekly

Payout Schedules

While the size of the advance is the criterion by which most authors measure the commercial value of their books, the size and timing of the installments in which the advance is paid are just as significant, and sometimes more so. Because the "payout schedule" directly affects the cash flow of publishers and authors, it is often a bone of bitter contention in negotiations, and many a player has walked away from an otherwise good deal because a disadvantageous payout schedule nullified advantages gained in the negotiation.

To read the complete article, click here.

John Norman Introduces Volumes 4-6 of His Bestselling Gorean Saga

The concept of an unknown planet in our system, of a particular and interesting sort, rather unlike other planets, perhaps a mysterious sister or visitor to more familiar worlds, is quite an old concept.
The expression in Greek, transliterated into English letters, is “Antichthon,” which we may translate as “Counter-Earth.”
The Greeks, you see, had the concept of another Earth, a different Earth, a “Counter-Earth.”
It is interesting to speculate on these matters, to wonder, for example, from whence came this ancient, provocative concept. Had they evidence we do not...?

To read the complete essay, click here.

- RC