Surprise! My Ebooks are On Sale Right Now!

I used to be pretty good at keeping track of my books’ sales ranking on amazon, but then life became unbelievably hectic and I lost track until last week. As it turns out, the normally $7.99 price for my first Casey Holland mystery, The Opposite of Dark has been reduced to $1.99 on amazon.com!

The story begins when the police tell Casey that her that her father’s been murdered in his West Vancouver home. But Casey buried her dad three years earlier, and he never owned a home in West Van, although he’d always wanted one. The story is about unraveling the truth about one’s past, and how the childhood’s we thought we knew weren’t the whole picture.

The second installment, Deadly Accusations, is also on sale which is great because the book really is a follow-up to all of the family drama Casey experiences in the first book.

The story picks up the story four months later, when Casey now finds herself with a boyfriend, Lou, eleven-year-old ward, Summer, and still reeling with the aftermath of family shocks. Compounding her problems is the murder of an irritating new coworker who, for some reason, didn’t like Casey, and another colleague likes Lou a little too much.

By the way, the third installment, Beneath the Bleak New Moon, a story about street racing in Vancouver, (a problem that impacts nearly every North American city) is also on sale for $2.99

And last, but not least, my latest, The Deep End, a story about youth at risk (inspired by my volunteer work in a youth detention centre) has also been reduced to $3.99.

For all you Kobo users, The Opposite of Dark has been reduced by at least 50% there as well to $4.99! Bargains, bargains, bargains! Ya gotta love ’em!

Debra

Bestselling Fiction Authors of All Time?

One of the newsletters I subscribe to posted a list of the top bestselling fiction authors of all time. The list comes from Wikipedia, so I’m not sure it’s completely accurate, but it is fun to read. This list includes only those known to have sold 100 million copies or more. Since precise numbers are impossible to determine for many, a column of minimum to maximum estimated sales is provided. Not enough is known about the sale records of some well-known authors to include them in the list at all. Also, the list doesn’t include comic book authors, but it does include the number of titles each author published. Here’s the top eleven:

William Shakespeare, 2 billion minimum to 4 billion maximum (44+ titles published)
Agatha Christie, 2 billion – 4 billion (85 titles)
Barbara Cartland, 500 million – 1 billion (she published 723 titles!)
Danielle Steel, 500 million – 800 million (72 titles)
Harold Robbins, his minimum and maximum is 750 million (23 titles)
Geroge Simenon, 500 million - 750 million (570 published books!)
Sidney Sheldon, 370 million – 600 million (only 19 titles, my how lazy!)
Enid Blyton, 300 million – 600 million (children’s author with 800 titles)
Dr. Seuss, 100 million – 500 million (44 titles)
Gilbert Patten, 125 million – 500 million (209 adolescent adventures)
J.K. Rowling, 350 million – 450 million (7 titles. That in itself is one heck of a record)

You can find the complete list at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_fiction_authors Through that link, you can click on each individual’s name to learn more about them. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to the keyboard. Clearly, I have some work to do.

DEADLY ACCUSATIONS, (now also out on Kindle) http://tinyurl.com/7b5dfub
THE OPPOSITE OF DARK, now available for iphones, iPads, and iPodTouch at http://bit.ly/nZLlS8. Also available in paperback at http://tinyurl.com/30dlx64 and on Kindle at http://tinyurl.com/7kxuat8
FATAL ENCRYPTION, http://tinyurl.com/ddzsxl
TAXED TO DEATH, http://tinyurl.com/czsy5n

Revealing New Stats from the AAP

The Association of American Publishers has released its latest round of stats, and findings are interesting. First, we’re getting a clearer picture of the state of bookselling in the U.S, as the AAP has increased the number of publishers providing input from approximately ninety to 1,149. They’ve also added categories such as children/YA ebooks.

What’s really interesting to note is the 11.5% rise in both print and ebook sales. Those who claim that print books are on their way out might want to rethink that idea. The report suggests that an improving economy could explain why people are buying more books from brick and mortar stores. Also, in January of last year, Borders was returning heaps of books, which is not the case this year, seeing as how they closed shop. Adult trade books rose by 16.4% this year, although mass market books are still down.

Also interesting to note is that the increase in childrens/YA ebooks has driven sales of print and digital books up a whopping 80.5%. Publishers attribute this huge rise to the availability of books for reading devices designed for that age group.

These stats are a really positive sign. People are buying more books in both print and ebook formats. In fact, you’ll see the rise in almost every category AAP lists with only three exceptions. Religious paperbacks, mass market books, and children’s board books sales are down. You can see the entire chart through the Shelf Awareness article at http://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=1703#m15549

DEADLY ACCUSATIONS, (now also out on Kindle http://tinyurl.com/7b5dfub
THE OPPOSITE OF DARK, now available for iphones, iPads, and iPodTouch at http://bit.ly/nZLlS8. Also available in paperback at http://tinyurl.com/30dlx64 and on Kindle at http://tinyurl.com/7kxuat8
FATAL ENCRYPTION, http://tinyurl.com/ddzsxl
TAXED TO DEATH, http://tinyurl.com/czsy5n

Steep Learning Curves

When I began the editing process with my publisher for the first Casey Holland mystery, it soon became clear that there were still things to learn about editing. Since deadlines were looming, I had to learn fast. It proved to be a steep learning curve, but an exhilarating experience. I was learning to analyze my work differently and, among other things, to plot timelines and character relationships on spreadsheets.

When I volunteered to become Crime Writers of Canada’s regional Vice President for BC, I knew I’d be taking on tasks I normally didn’t do, like using Skype, and organizing events. The first two events, Word on the Street and Arthur Ellis Night were simple, as I’d taken part in both before and had to arrange only one group of panelists for each event.

My limited event planning skills, however, are now being stretched as I find myself creating a whole day of events to celebrate National Crime Month in May. There have been challenges, beginning with tracking down the right people to book a room. Now that I have a room, I’m currently organizing a day of panels and participants. I have four panels, a blue pencil cafe, and about twelve participants. It’s kind of like putting a puzzle together; who goes where and with which topic. I’ve learned that getting help and feedback, especially from those who’ve done it before, is crucial. I’d be lost without them. I have yet to learn how to design adequate posters and flyers. It’s been difficult even for my own work, as this is not my strong suit; however, I have help, and for that I’m grateful.

What baffles me is how people plan entire weekend conference? It’s challenging enough just preparing for one day and one track of events, never mind three or more tracks spread over three days! I have a new respect and admiration for conference organizers, but I’m quite sure I don’t want to become one. Anyway, stay tuned for more info about our day-long event on May 5th in Victoria.

For those who live in BC’s lower mainland, our annual Coastal Crime Wave, an Evening with the Authors will be held in the Alice MacKay room at the Vancouver Public Library, 350 West Georgia St., Vancouver, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. We will have a lively panel discussion with mystery authors Roberta Rich, Stephen Legault, Leanne Dyck, and Don Hauka. Following this, we will announce this year’s nominees for the Arthur Ellis Awards. Categories include best unpublished novel, best first novel, and best novel, also short fiction, children’s and others. This is a free event and should be a lot of fun! Oh, and as one of my other duties, I’m hosting. I think I’m also the timekeeper to make sure we don’t go on too long. Ah, challenges, challenges...

DEADLY ACCUSATIONS, (now also out on Kindle http://tinyurl.com/7b5dfub
THE OPPOSITE OF DARK, now available for iphones, iPads, and iPodTouch at http://bit.ly/nZLlS8. Also available in paperback at http://tinyurl.com/30dlx64 and on Kindle at http://tinyurl.com/7kxuat8
FATAL ENCRYPTION, http://tinyurl.com/ddzsxl
TAXED TO DEATH, http://tinyurl.com/czsy5n

What’s Up with English Curriculums in Canadian High Schools?

This morning I heard part of an interesting CBC radio discussion among three well known Canadian publishers about publishing and bookselling. Those who don’t live in Canada might not be aware that keeping Canadian publishing alive has always been an uphill battle. One of the main reasons well-established and respected publishing houses, of all sizes, still exist (although some have fallen) after thirty years is because they’re subsidized by government grants. This has allowed Canadian publishers to publish some truly amazing poets, novelists, and short fiction writers, a number of whom have won major international prizes.

So why, the interviewees asked, are high school English curriculums still showcasing writers like Tennessee Williams, and requiring students to study older books like The Chrysalids, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Lord of the Flies (which my son just finished reading this year in Grade 11 English class)? For crying out loud, To Kill a Mockingbird and Lord of the Flies, although fine books, were on my high school reading list 35 years ago! Not only is the required list outdated, it seriously lacks Canadian content, although my daughter did reading Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale in IB English 12 six years ago, along with To Kill a Mockingbird and Lord of the Flies. As a Canadian writer, I find the neglect of Canadian authors offensive. The panelists pointed the finger at provincial governments who seemed not to care much about English reading lists, and they should.

It’s hard enough to get teenagers to read, so why subject them to dated material? There are wonderful Canadian science fiction, fantasy, and mystery writers, humorists, novelists, and so forth to entice kids to want to read again. Why not give students a choice but with more current material? Publishers and authors need readers, school curriculums need an overhaul. It’s a win-win, as far as I’m concerned. Of course, it all comes down to money, doesn’t it? Pulling out those same books year after year is a lot cheaper than buying new. Still, I’d like to see someone place a stack of Canadian books under the noses of decision-makers, make them do their homework, and then ask them how much they value Canadian literacy and Canadian culture?

DEADLY ACCUSATIONS, http://tinyurl.com/7b5dfub
THE OPPOSITE OF DARK, now available for iphones, iPads, and iPodTouch at http://bit.ly/nZLlS8. Also available in paperback at http://tinyurl.com/30dlx64 and on Kindle at http://tinyurl.com/7kxuat8
FATAL ENCRYPTION, http://tinyurl.com/ddzsxl
TAXED TO DEATH, http://tinyurl.com/czsy5n

Ebook Pricing Issues Could Wind Up in Court

This week’s hot topic in the publishing world is that the U.S. Department of Justice has told Apple and five of the big six publishers that they are facing lawsuits for colluding to raise the price of ebooks. The complaint is that Apple and the publishers are making books more expensive for consumers by altering the way retail prices are set. Whether the lawsuit proceeds remains to be seen, however the outcome could have a big impact on Barnes & Noble.

But there’s more to the story. Author’s Guild president Scott Turow has written a letter stating that the lawsuit would be grim news for anyone who cherishes a “rich literary culture”. Hmm. I’m not exactly sure what he means by that, and as you’ll see below, neither do Joe Konrath and Barry Eisler. I won’t go into a lot of detail or analysis here, but Turow apparently views amazon and the changes they’ve brought to the publishing and bookselling world as a huge threat to traditional publishers and brick and mortar stores. There are a number of points made in the letter, but at the end of it he says that the lawsuit could kill real competition in order to save the appearance of competition. You can draw your own conclusions after reading the letter at
http://blog.authorsguild.org/2012/03/09/letter-from-scott-turow-grim-news/

Finally, Joe Konrath and Barry Eisler have responded to Turow’s letter, shall I say, less than favorably. To start with, they are also suspicious of words like “rich literary culture” and have their own take on the situation, which you can read at http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2012/03/barry-joe-scott-turow.html

And you think you have trouble finding the right price point for your ebooks? Sheesh! Things seem to get more complicated and tumultuous every month, and I find myself asking, do they really need to be?

DEADLY ACCUSATIONS, http://tinyurl.com/7b5dfub
THE OPPOSITE OF DARK, now available for iphones, iPads, and iPodTouch at http://bit.ly/nZLlS8. Also available in paperback at http://tinyurl.com/30dlx64 and on Kindle at http://tinyurl.com/7kxuat8
FATAL ENCRYPTION, http://tinyurl.com/ddzsxl
TAXED TO DEATH, http://tinyurl.com/czsy5n

A New Book is Born

This week, my second Casey Holland mystery, Deadly Accusations, is not only available in stores, but will be available on amazon on March 6th, in print for now. The Kindle edition will emerge down the road. So, Casey is being unleashed on the world once more, and yes, I feel very fortunate. This is a book I worked on a long time, and my writers’ group painstakingly critiqued every chapter over a year and a half.

I know that a lot of authors jump up and down and shout halleluiah from the rooftops when their book is published, but that’s not my style. Not that I actually adopted a style, I just kind of fell into it. See, whenever one of my novels is published I’m overcome with a sense of relief followed by a philosophical bent on the meaning of it all, and how that meaning is managing to weave itself into my life’s great plan. Not that I have a great plan, but I’m a spiritual person and believe that someone out there has concocted one for me. Whether that being is high-fiving or morosely shaking his, or her, head over this latest endeavor isn’t quite clear to me. Although, publication does feel right, so that’s probably a good sign.

Thanks to TouchWood Editions’savvy publicist, my book was mentioned in Quill and Quire recently, and recently reviewed in The National Post. Who would have thought? I really planned to live in complete obscurity for another few years. This kind of attention and exposure (partial obscurity, I call it) is a new thing, perhaps the work of that ubiquitous being. If you’re curious, you can find it at http://arts.nationalpost.com/2012/02/24/crimewave-the-wild-beasts-of-wuhan-last-dance-deadly-accusations/

As mentioned a couple weeks ago, I have a book launch scheduled for the last Saturday of March, and I’ll be reading at La Fontanna Cafe on Tues., March 20th. Thus beings the promotional part of my life. It’s going to be an interesting couple of months, culminating in attendance at the Bloody Words Crime writing conference in Toronto from June 1 to 3rd. I don’t want to take up space listing events here, but if anyone wants more information, you can contact me at debra_kong@telus.net and they can be found through my Facebook page, and here we go.

DEADLY ACCUSATIONS, http://tinyurl.com/7b5dfub

THE OPPOSITE OF DARK, now available for iphones, iPads, and iPodTouch at http://bit.ly/nZLlS8. Also available in paperback at http://tinyurl.com/30dlx64 and on Kindle at http://tinyurl.com/7kxuat8

FATAL ENCRYPTION, http://tinyurl.com/ddzsxl

TAXED TO DEATH, http://tinyurl.com/czsy5n

Book Launches: Yes, No, or Maybe?

Recently, I attended a writing colleague’s book launch for her debut novel, Exit Strategy. It was great fun and I was happy to be invited. I know what it’s like to stand in front of a room of people talking about one’s book, and then signing said book to an appreciative and friendly audience. It’s both gratifying and terribly nerve-wracking.

Since I have a book launch coming up at the end of March, it got me to thinking about launches in general. I’ve attended a few in my time at a variety of locales: restaurants, recreation centers, art centers, an Anglican church (the subject matter was appropriate to the location), and even in my own home for my first novel.

I like attending book launches for two reasons: one is that it’s a joy to see all the years of work, doubt, and struggle pay off for a writer. Secondly, I get to be among the first to read the book and acquire a signed copy. I’m building a wonderful collection of signed books from all sorts of authors, and they’re treasures I plan to keep.

Book launches are like weddings: they bring people together to celebrate an important event in an individual’s life. After the talking and signing is done, there are refreshments and often a party-like atmosphere. Book launches are mercifully shorter than weddings, however, and you don’t have to buy a gift; just a book, if you choose. It's always optional.

I respect the fact that not everyone likes book launches. They are a great ego boost for the host, after all, and difficult to execute for introverted authors (many of us fit this category). They can also be expensive if one goes all out with food, drink, and decorations. Also, if you’re hoping to put a book a year, is it realistic to expect friends, family, and acquaintances to attend year after year? On the other hand, maybe launches are the excuse people need to come together and confirm that dreams do survive in an increasingly fragmented and turbulent world. Stripped down, book launches can be intimate, humble, friendly, and even moving.

With the growing number of people owning ereaders, iPads, and iPhones, I don’t see why ebook authors can’t hold launches as well. While not everyone owns one of these devices yet, odds are they will in the future. Can you imagine reading from your new book at your launch, while your guests download the book simultaneously? Wouldn’t that be cool?

This year, my launch of Deadly Accusations, the second Casey Holland mystery, is taking place at the Port Moody Library, which is close to home. I chose the library because book launches are a bit scary for me and libraries have always been safe harbors. The event is Saturday, March 31st from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m., and yes, refreshments will be served. Because it’s in a library, they ask that attendees phone to reserve a seat, at 604-469-4575. If you live in BC’s Lower Mainland, I’d love to see you there. Port Moody Library is at 100 Newport Drive, right and shares the same building as the City Hall. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at debra_kong@telus.net
By the way, if you’ve hosted a book launch, I’d love to hear about your experiences!

THE OPPOSITE OF DARK, now available for iphones, iPads, and iPodTouch at http://bit.ly/nZLlS8. Also available in paperback at http://tinyurl.com/30dlx64 and on Kindle at http://tinyurl.com/7kxuat8
FATAL ENCRYPTION, http://tinyurl.com/ddzsxl
TAXED TO DEATH, http://tinyurl.com/czsy5n