PW Select UPubU

May 2014
Your Guide to
Self-Publishing
Complete uPubU
Program
A DIY Journey
Success Stories
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Hot Genres
73 New Titles
Listed
20 Full Reviews
Were the whisper in every librarians ear.
Were every indie booksellers little black book.
We stay up really late because the stories are
just too damn good and all we want to do is talk
about them.
Were Foreword Reviews and we love indie books.
T
h i s r a p i d
growth has
also meant a
broader defi-
n i t i o n o f
what it means to be an indie
author, with increasing di-
versity in self-publishing
approaches, styles, and ex-
perience levels. This chang-
ing makeup of the self-pub-
lishing industry has led the
organizers of uPublishU
the self-publishing arm of
BookExpo Americato
expand their offerings at this years con-
ference, rolling out programming that
will appeal to authors at all different
spots along the publishing path.
Taking place at the Javits Center in
New York City on Saturday, May 31,
uPublishUs program draws on extensive
surveys taken from attendees at last years
conference.
We really dig deep into the surveys
and are so glad people fill them out, since
cally running your own business, as
Dedecker puts it. You are out there buy-
ing services, you are engaging and hiring
people to assist in developing your prod-
uctor bookand you are making
marketing, pricing, and promotion deci-
sions.
While the self-publisher is, of course,
still an author, that is now just one role
of many, according to Dedecker. That
interpretation of self-publishing is spot-
lighted right at the start of uPublishUs
program, with an opening session titled
Congratulations, Author: Youre Pro-
moted to CEO. Featuring Amazons
director of author and publishing rela-
tions Jon Fine, Logical Marketing Agen-
cy cofounder Peter McCarthy, and Nel-
son Literary Agencys Kristin Nelson,
the discussion will center
on how much authors re-
sponsibilities have ex-
panded in recent years
no longer are authors sim-
ply toiling away on a
manuscript; there is now
more management of a
substantial organization.
Once upon a time, au-
thors outsourced much of
the work beyond pure au-
thorship to their agents
and their publishersev-
erything from copy edit-
ing and publicity to sales
of foreign and other subsidiary rights,
says Chris Kenneally, director of business
development and author relations for the
Copyright Clearance Center, who is
moderating the panel. [Today] they
have to do much more of the work in the
publishing kitchen.
The keynote luncheon, titled Brand
YOU: Creating a Rock Star Personal
Brand for You and Your Books, extends
this theme as Brand New, Brand You
it helps enhance the program each year,
says Sally Dedecker, conference director
of uPublishU. She directly credits these
surveys with the creation of sessions like
Creative Content Opportunities,
which puts a special focus on spoken-
word audio publishing as an extension of
book promotions.
In many ways, the conference is a con-
tinuation of last years, which empha-
sized the identity of the author as basi-
WWW. P U B L I S H E R S WE E K LY. C O M 1
Choose Your Own
Publishing Adventure
By Alex Palmer
This years uPublishU is taking a
multi-tiered approach to connect with
self-publishers
Sally Dedecker Chris Kenneally
The self-publishing industry has enjoyed explosive growth
over the past few years. Bowkers annual self-publishing sta-
tistics found that the number of self-published titles released
in 2012 jumped more than 422% over the previous five
years, bringing an ever-more diverse base of authors into the
self-publishing industry.
U P U B L I S H U AT B E A
P U B L I S H E R S WE E K LY MAY 2 6 , 2 0 1 4 2
president Cindy Ratzlaff
focuses on high-level
marketing strategies for self-published
authors.
Multiple Tiers
But while the overall theme may be en-
trepreneurship and how to approach
publishing as a start-up organization in-
stead of just a book that needs to be writ-
ten and sent off, uPublishU also aims to
appeal to authors with varying levels of
experience. This year, the program is of-
fering three specific tracks.
There may be folks coming into the
building who have their manuscript
ready and are about to publish, but need
guidance for their first book, says
Dedecker. In some cases, the authors
may have books five or
eight that they are work-
ing on. They may have
been working on e-books
but want to branch out
into print. We have a track
for whatever level the au-
thor is working at.
The first tier, Bringing
Your First Book to Mar-
ket, includes topics such
as deciding whether self-
or traditional publishing
would be a better fit, how
to build an author plat-
form, and ways to improve
discoverability as a relatively unknown
author.
Matt Sutherland, managing editor at
ForeWord Reviews, is joining this latter
panel and says he will be urging writers
and publishers to knuckle down on the
things they can controlproducing
timely, necessary, superbly written, de-
signed, and packaged booksand then
do everything possible to get their books
in the hands of credible influencers, be
they reviewers, all manner of the digital
and print media, and general readers.
For the Publishing at the Next Level
track, the conference provides several ses-
sions that do a deep dive into some spe-
cific element of the marketing or pub-
lishing process. For example, this year
attendees can listen in on a panel dedi-
cated specifically to marketing a series.
It will address questions on how authors
can build a franchise across titles, main-
taining consistent branding while mar-
keting multiple books simultaneously
(panel members include the bestselling
series authors H.M. Ward, Barbara
Freethy, and Bella Andre).
Another session for more advanced in-
die publishers examines tactics for mar-
keting to libraries. The panel of librari-
ans and library suppliers will discuss how
purchase decisions are made at lending
libraries and consortiums, and how self-
published authors can break into this
market.
[The session] will offer self-publish-
ers specific examples of options available
for marketing to libraries, including sub-
mitting books to library e-book plat-
forms and a new service that packages
self-published titles into collections by
genre for libraries to purchase, says Pa-
tricia Payton, senior manager of pub-
lisher relations and content development
for Bowker, and the panels moderator.
It will also cover library events, and self-
publishing programs so that attendees
might learn how they can interact with
local and regional libraries to build
awareness for their book.
Payton adds that she hopes attendees
leave this session with a list of action
items to tackle immediately so they can
bring their content to a wider audience.
Bowker has been involved with the con-
ference for several years, both as event
sponsor and presenter, and in that time,
Payton says she has seen the self-publish-
ing industry expand and attract increas-
ingly diverse voices.
Other Next Level sessions include a
panel on strategies for merchandising
iBooks, and one on maximizing sales
with multiple formatsextending an
e-book into a print version and vice versa.
The final tier of the program is Tools
& Marketing Mania, which delves into
what Dedecker calls the nuts and bolts
of self-publishing. These sessions include
a discussion focused specifically on get-
ting the most from metadatawhich
Dedecker jokes may be as dull and bor-
ing as you can get, but its
critical for authorsas
well as Social Media 201.
In this session, Scratch Mag-
azine publisher Jane Fried-
man leads a panel of pub-
lishers and editors in a dis-
cussion of how authors can
make the most of their so-
cial media platform, going
beyond basic Twitter and
Facebook profiles.
Authors often confuse
long-term social media
strategy with short-term
campaign tactics, says
Friedman, describing one of the points
she plans to cover at the conference. For
instance, when you launch a book, youll
want to build a very special type of cam-
paign thats limited in duration and fo-
cuses on specific outcomes. With long-
term strategy, however, you dont typi-
cally measure results except on a very
broad level, e.g., over the past year, was
I getting more engagement on Facebook
or Twitter?
Friedman adds that she and the panel-
ists will help authors to understand the
varying strengths and weaknesses of each
social media platform and how to mea-
sure and analyze social media activity to
ensure effectiveness of promotional cam-
Matt Sutherland Jane Friedman
Sponsors for uPubU
paigns.
Another of the Tools & Marketing
programs examines how to do more
with preorders and book launches.
Smashwords CEO Mark Coker, who is
running this session, will touch on how
authors should coordinate their launch
to give them the best shot at landing on
the bestseller list (something many au-
thors have done by following Cokers
advice).
Most indie authors are promoting
their new releases to fans months in ad-
vance of an upcoming release, yet with-
out a preorder, the author has no way to
capture the order in the moment, says
Coker. A prospective reader might be
interested to purchase your book today,
but without a preorder, will they remem-
ber to search for the book next week or
next month or three months from now?
In the future, they might not feel the
same passion they feel today.
He adds that another benefit of a
strong preorder strategy is that accumu-
lated orders are all credited to the books
sales rank the day it goes on sale, helping
spike its position on bestseller lists and
garner better promotion from retailers
like Kobo, Apple, and Amazon.
Preorders give the author an immedi-
ate, measurable advantage over all the
other authors and publishers that arent
doing preorders, says Coker.
Joining the
Conversation
For authors ready to take action imme-
diately, the exhibitor area will have al-
most 30 vendors promoting their ser-
vices and offerings (and each attendee
gets a welcome bag with goodies from a
number of these exhibitors). Each table
will provide information on how the
vendors services can make the self-pub-
lishing process easier, and many include
special promotions and discounts for
interested authors.
Among the sponsors this year are
ForeWord Reviews, IngramSpark, and
Nook Press, as well as exhibitors like
Archway Publishing, BiblioCrunch, and
Booktrack. Dedecker points out that
these trade show offerings were limited
only by the size of the spaceuPubli-
shU sold all its available booths and
sponsorships this year. She also empha-
sizes that uPublishU has gotten more
global with international vendors like
the London-based Alliance of Indepen-
dent Authors.
The technology of today allows for
fewer barriers from one country to the
next, says Dedecker.
But while the program and offerings
have been designed to ensure every at-
tendee comes away with helpful, action-
able information, Dedecker adds that
attendees are going to get the most ben-
efit from uPublishU if they approach it
as an open conversation in which they are
taking part.
All dayat lunch, in the sessions,
just walking the show floor there are a
lot of people around you who are in the
same game, says Dedecker.
She adds that the self-publishing com-
munity is remarkably supportive, and
attendees will find others eager to share
their experiences and offer insight or ad-
vice that they have learned. And it is not
just fellow attendees who should be ap-
proached: exhibitors, speakers, and pan-
elists can all provide valuable informa-
tion for self-publishers willing to ap-
proach them.
During the day, you are going to
pick up some piece of information about
someone who is a freelance editor or
maybe someone who had a great experi-
ence with a cover designer and that will
help you with your book, says Dedeck-
er. Talk to people. Get their names, and
exchange information so you can get
your book to where it needs to be.
Alex Palmer is a freelance journalist and the
author of Weird-o-pedia.
Platinum Sponsor
ForeWord Reviews
Gold Sponsors
IngramSpark
Nook Press
Vook
Silver Sponsors
Lulu.com
Library Journal
Bublish
Bronze Sponsors
PublishNext
Bowker
Fast Pencil
Coffee Sponsor
Pentian
Media Sponsor
Publishers Weekly
Other Exhibitors
Adept Content Solutions
ALLiance of Independent Authors
Archway Publishing
BiblioCrunch
BookBaby/CD Baby
Booktrack
Bublish
Copyright Clearance Center
CrossBooks
Editorial Freelancer Association
Independent Book Publishers Assn
IPR License
KOBO
National Novel Writing Month
PubSlush
Section 101
Smashwords Inc
WaveCloud
OPENING SESSION
Congratulations, Author: Youre
Promoted to CEO
9 9:50 a.m.
Room 1E12/1E13/1E14
As the independent publishing boom
swells further, more authors are seizing
the opportunity to take control of their
writing careers. And while that move
may offer potential for greater financial
reward and even greater personal
satisfaction, it means more work, too.
Plenty, in fact. An author today is a one-
person publishing start-up, serving as his
or her own editorial staff, design team,
and marketing department. The author
in 2014 is CEOnot to mention COO,
CTO, CIO, and CMO. Hear from
industry leaders as they share insight and
ideas on how to take charge of your
publishing business and when to let go
and consider bringing in support.
Moderator: Chris Kenneally, director,
business development and author
relations, Copyright Clearance Center
Speakers: Jon Fine, director of author
and publishing relations, Amazon.com;
Peter McCarthy, cofounder, The Logical
Marketing Agency; Kristin Nelson,
Nelson Literary Agency LLC
KEYNOTE
LUNCHEON
Brand YOU: Creating a Rock Star
Personal Brand for You and Your
Books
12:301:30 p.m.
Room 1E12/1E13/1E14
Join Cindy Ratzlaff, as she delves deep
into the four questions every author
needs to ask and answer to engage readers
and build a following for new books and
backlist. Ratzlaff was named to the
Forbess 20 Best Branded Women on
Twitter list and Forbes Woman called her
one of the Most Influential Women
Tweeting about Entrepreneurship. She
was named to the Ad Age Marketing 50
list for the launch campaign behind The
South Beach Diet. Ratzlaff launched her
own consulting firm, Brand New Brand
You Inc., in 2007 and works with
publishers, authors, and Fortune 1000
companies on integrating social media
into their brand building strategy. She is
a publ i shed author, both wi th a
traditional publishing house and on her
own!
Moderator: Cindy Ratzlaff, president,
Brand New, Brand You Inc.
Track 1: Bringing Your
First Book to Market
Decision TimePicking Your Pub-
lishing Path
1010:50 a.m.
Room 1E09
Your manuscript is being edited, and
now is the time to decide, do you go
traditional or do you take charge of your
publishing effort and self-publish? Join
the conversation with industry experts as
they discuss the pros and cons of traditional
publishing and self-publishing. Get
insight into opportunities to launch with
e-book only, print only, or a combination
of both. Hear the marketing must haves
to launch and understand the ins and outs
of cover design. This session will give the
must knows, before you bring your first
book to market.
Moderator: Steven Spatz, chief mar-
keting officer, BookBaby
Speakers: Mark Lefebvre, director,
Kobo Writing Life and Author Rela-
tions, Kobo; Orna Ross, author-publish-
er and director of the Alliance of Inde-
pendent Authors; Hugh Howey, author
Engaging Readers: Getting Your
Book Discovered by Readers
11:30 a.m.12:20 p.m.
Room 1E09
Engaging readers is the goal of every
author. Getting readers to like and buy
your books, and spread the word to
others, makes the hard work al l
worthwhile. For an author, creating buzz
about your bookbefore it is published
and after it is publishedis critical to
success. This panel of industry experts
will share some proven methods for
engaging readers. Learn about the
importance of reviews, how and when to
send to reviewers, and the many ways to
use your reviews to build your audience.
Get insight into ways to publicize your
uPubU Program Guide Saturday, May 31, Javits Center
GUERI LLA TACTI CS FOR SUCCESSFUL PUBLI SHI NG
For 2014, uPublishU at BEA is offering a diverse mix of new features. In addition to more
than 40 speakers, dozens of exhibitors, and two plenary sessions open to everyone, BEA, in
response to comments from last years attendees, has structured the panels into three tracks
running simultaneously, so as to tailor the content to the specific needs of attendees, be they
beginners or veterans of the self-publishing game.
book. Learn about the best way to work
with bloggers and blog tours. Get the
info on an author website and the key
efforts for social media.
Moderator: Guy LeCharles Gonzalez,
director, content strategy and audience
development, Library Journals LLC
Speakers: Matt Sutherland, manag-
ing editor at ForeWord Reviews; Kathy
Meis, founder, Bublish; Denise Alicea,
author, book blogger & Hootsuite am-
bassador
Build Your Author Platform & Pub-
lish Successfully
1:302:20 p.m.
Room 1E09
This panel discussion will be focused
on the steps authors should take to build
their author platform and develop their
platform into a savvy book-marketing
plan in the months before publication.
Building an author platform is very
important, but knowing how to translate
that platform into book sales is what will
ultimately make an author successful.
This panel will be comprised of industry
professionals that will discuss what steps
authors can take to build their platform
and community and how to utilize that
community come time for publication.
Moderator: Amanda Barbara, vice-
president, Pubslush
Speakers: Dan Dillon, director,
product marketing, Lulu.com; Paul
Cameron, chief executive officer, Book-
track; Jena Ball, cofounder, CritterKin
Know Your Rights!
33:50 p.m.
Room 1E09
A book is more than a book. It is a
collection of content rights, which you
sometimes need to clear but more often
can sell. Unfortunately self-published
authors often lack the tools, background,
and knowledge to make
the most of their assets.
This panel of industry experts from both
U.S. and international markets will give
you the understanding you need to get
the most out of your content and insure
you are copyright compliant.
Moderator: Robert Kasher, v-p busi-
ness development and customer relations
management publishing, First Source
Speakers: Tom Chalmers, founder
and managing director of IPR License;
CJ Lyons, author; Skott Klebe, product
evangelist, Copyright Clearance Center
Track 2: Publishing at
the Next Level
Moving Beyond Online Sales: Mar-
keting to Libraries
1010:50 a.m.
Room 1E11
Once you have posted your book for
Visit us online and get a quote today: www.gaschprinting.com | or give us a call: 301-362-0700 Follow us: @GaschPrinting /GaschPrinting
sale on retail sites, it is time
t o t hi nk about ot her
potential audiences for your work.
During this session, learn more about
options for making your book available
to libraries in both print and digital
formats. This panel, of librarians and
library suppliers, moderated by Patricia
Payton of Bowker, will share with you
the inside scoop on how libraries make
purchase decisions and how you can
market your title to individual libraries
and consortiums.
Moderator: Patricia Payton, senior
manager of publisher relations and con-
tent development, Bowker
Speakers: Ian Singer, v-p, group
publisher, Media Source; Jessica West,
branch manager, Rust Library; Lori Ben-
nett, digital liaison, Nelson Literary
Agency, aka NLA Digital LLC
Apple iBooks Merchandising Strate-
gies
11:30 a.m.12:20 p.m.
Room 1E11
Apple iBooks is the worlds second-
largest e-book retailer, and operates in 51
countries. In this session, Smashwords
CEO Mark Coker will teach authors how
to stand out in this fast-growing, indie-
friendly e-book store where self-
published titles regularly top the charts.
Coker will teach attendees how books are
merchandised at Apple, how e-book
merchandising works, how merchandisers
select titles for promotion, and what
authors can do to maximize their odds of
merchandising success. Although the
session will focus on iBooks, the lessons
learned are universal. Learn how to make
your books stand out at every retailer.
Moderator: Mark Coker, founder,
Smashwords
From Electronic to Print and Back
AgainExpanding Sales with Mul-
tiple Formats Time
1:302:20 p.m.
Room 1E11
You have your book available in
e-book format, and it can be purchased
from leading e-book retailers, but is that
enough? Are you taking advantage of all
the tools that are available to todays
self-publisher to maximize reach and
potential sales opportunity for your
content? Do you really know if your
readers prefer print or electronic
content? In todays consumer-driven
market, print is not dead and consumers
like their content both ways it is both
an E and P world. By only publishing
e-books, theres a good chance you are
missing out on potential revenue
print is more dominant than ever. Its
easy to make your titles available in
multiple formats and this session will
teach you how.
Moderator: Robin Cutler, indepen-
dent publisher manager, IngramSpark,
Ingram Content Group Inc.
Speakers: Matthew Cavnar, co-
founder, Vook; Cynthia Frank, president,
Cypress House; John Mutter, editor-in-
chief, Shelf Awareness
Marketing a Series: Tips & Tricks
from Tose in the Know
33:50 p.m.
Room 1E11
How can authors maximize their
marketing strategies for multi-book
series? Promoting a series is a unique
marketing challenge, and quite distinct
from promoting a standalone title. On
this panel, a mix of very successful
authors and marketing experts will
discuss how to build a franchise across
titles, maintain consistent branding
throughout a multi-book collection, use
promotions to market multiple books at
a time, increase sales across an entire
series, and more. This deep dive into how
to successfully market multi-book series
is for experienced authors and publishers
who want to expand their brand while
keeping their readers fully engaged!
Moderator: Halli Melnitsky, director
of editorial operations, BookBub
Speakers: Bella Andre, author; Julia
Coblentz, senior marketing manager,
Nook Press; Barbara Freethy, author;
H.M. Ward, author
Track 3: Tools and
Marketing Mania
Hit the Bestseller Lists with E-book
Preorders: Preorder Strategy A-Z
1010:50 a.m.
Room 1E10
Learn how to make your book launch
more successful with e-book preorders.
Preorders represent one of the most
exciting new book launch tools for self-
published e-book authors. In this session,
Smashwords CEO Mark Coker will help
unlock the secrets to preorder success.
Hell describe how preorders work, and
will teach authors how to plan, stage, and
execute a successful preorder strategy.
Using Cokers methods, multiple
Smashwords authors have hit the retailer
bestseller lists. The recommended
preorder strategies are grounded in
professional publishing best practices
that will help make any e-book launch
more successful. Mark will share recent
case study examples of how indie authors
have used preorders to increase sales
rank, sales, and visibility.
Moderator: Mark Coker, founder,
Smashwords
5 Easy Ways to Get
Discovered: Advice
from Metadata Gurus
11:30 a.m.12:20 p.m.
Room 1E10
Do you want readers to be able to find
your book online and do you want
bookstores, libraries, and other customers
to be able to have your book properly
displayed in their book and author
databases? If you do, metadata needs to
be your friend. Once your book is
published, metadata becomes your
el evat or pi t ch t o r et ai l er s , and
wholesalers. This session explains how
you can look professional and increase
the chance your book will be stocked.
Learn where discovery happens and how
to maximize reader discovery of your
titles. You will leave with a better
understanding of how the tiniest details
can make a big difference in gaining the
respect of readers and sellers.
Moderator: Laura Dawson, product
manager, identifier services, Bowker
Speakers: Randy Kuckuck, publish-
er at PublishNext, and v-p of publisher
services and distribution, Thomson-
Shore; Angela Bole, executive director,
IBPA; Rebecca Albani, publisher rela-
tions manager, Bowker
Social Media 201
1:302:20 p.m.
Room 1E10
Youve learned the basics of Twitter
and Facebook, and maybe youve even
branched out to Pinterest or YouTube.
The big question is: Are you making the
most of your time and energy on social
media? This session will assume youve
been using social media for a while, and
that youd like to get more strategic
about growing your readership and
helping spread the word about you and
your books. Well discuss what specific
tactics move the needle on book sales,
how to build a cohesive and strategic
approach that rewards longtime fans and
attracts new readers, and how to look at
the analytics of your website and social
media accounts to make the smartest
choices for future use and campaigns.
Moderator: Jane Friedman, publish-
er, Scratch Magazine
Speakers: Jeanne Veillette Bower-
man, editor and online community man-
ager, Script Magazine; L.L. Barkat, pub-
lisher; Porter Anderson, journalist
Creative Content
Opportunities
3 3:50 p.m.
Room 1E10
A book i s a book,
except when it is not.
Today, authors have many chances to
explore and expand their content into
new opportunities that will engage
readers and build their platforms. Your
books and content can also benefit from a
better understanding on how to use price
promotions as a tool to engage readers. In
this panel, learn about the many
opportunities for authors, including
maximizing your blog, photos, and more.
Get an inside look at successful spoken-
wor d audi o publ i s hi ng, pr i ci ng
promotions, and off-the-book-page
publicity.
Moderator: Susannah Greenberg,
president, Susannah Greenberg Public
Relations
Speakers: Miral Sattar, CEO of Bib-
lioCrunch; Kailin Gow, author; Steve
Wilson, president, FastPencil
Fast, Easy, and Free Self-Publishing

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Easy-to-use creation tools
Collaborate with friends, beta-readers, and editors
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Reach millions of booklovers in the US and internationally
Track earnings daily

Learn more at our uPublishU booth.
Sign up today at www.nookpress.com
Writers Who Rocked Self-Publishing
By Ryan Joe
F
or authorsself-published
or otherwisethe job is
never over. Old books need
promotion, new books need
writing, often at the same
time. Yet often, the self-publishing scene
changes from one year to the next. The
rules and guidelines in 2010 are now ob-
solete.
Now, its 2014, with new technologies
and promotional channels and services
that can aid a writer. At the same time,
there are so many writers out there, it
feels nearly impossible to get noticed.
This month, PW Select checks in with
three writers who saw significant success
with their self-published books, to see
what theyre up to today.
Russ Colchamiro
Russ Colchamiro is building a franchise.
In 2010, he published Finders Keepers, a
sci-fi novel inspired by the aimless limbo
that often plagues young adults who
have graduated from college, but havent
yet settled into a career. The book re-
ceived a positive review from PW Select,
with our reviewer calling the book a
strong debut from a very imaginative
writer. Colchamiro is now returning to
that world with Genius DeMilo and plot-
ting the third, currently untitled book.
I already know how the third book
will end, and there are a half-dozen more
plot points that will occur, Colchamiro
says. Thats really empowering because
it lets me write Genius DeMilo with a lot
of confidence.
Hes doing all of this while continuing
to promote his 2013 book Crossline and
balancing a full-time job and three-year-
old twins.
Youve self-published your book, youve accumulated reviews, and now youre ready
for the next big thing. But what, exactly, is that next big thing?
One of the challenges of be-
ing an indie author is that you
have to constantly promote
yourself because readers have
so many choices, Colchamiro
says. Every day new books
come into the market, and you
have to stay in the market.
There are only so many hours
in the day. But you have to
keep going, keep going, keep
going, because you have to en-
gage with fans.
But, he doesnt have to go
about it alone. Colchamiro is a
member of Crazy 8 Press, a
consortium of science fiction
and fantasy authors founded in
2011. Collectively, the team
has 30 titles, and its members
cross-promote each other at
conventions and through social
media.
Colchamiro has noticed that its diffi-
cult for many writers to flip on the sales-
man switch. For sci-fi or fantasy writers,
who attend conventions in order to turn
prospects into fans, this can be a prob-
lem. Working a booth requires a certain
skill not every author is comfortable
with, Colchamiro says. Many authors
tend to be introverts, and theyre not
comfortable selling themselves in an en-
gaging way.
Colchamiro, whos done numerous in-
dustry trade shows, emphasizes having a
prominent display and a neatly laid-out
book rack. Potential fans come up to
you, you need to talk to them in a way
thats like an elevator pitch, he says. If
you cant do that, itll be tougher to get
them in.
These are, of course, tradi-
tional sales tactics. But Col-
chamiro is also attuned to pro-
motional efforts that work best
in the digital sphere. Hes cur-
rently in the midst of a cam-
paign for Crossline to rev up his
fans. He commissioned an art-
ist to draw portraits of the
novels characters, which hes
releasing one by one on his site
(and promoting on Facebook),
along with behind-the-scenes
notes detailing how he con-
ceived of each character.
These additional efforts are
necessary. The self-publishing
landscape has changed drasti-
cally since Colchamiro first
put out Finders Keepers, at the
very beginning of the e-book
revolution. E-books were
these things where people would think:
eh, maybe, but I like books, he recalls.
Now the e-book market has much
greater influence on the overall market,
where people are reading on their tablets
instead of hard copies.
Its a scenario that can create opportu-
nities, in that all writers have a mega-
phone, an easy route to fire off their mag-
num opuses via digital channels, but also
challenges, in that when everyone has a
megaphone, the audience gets over-
whelmed.
I do a lot of things you have to do in
todays market, Colchamiro says. You
have to be on Twitter. You have to be on
Facebook. Some writers I know are on
Pinterest, but you cant be everywhere
because there are not enough hours in
the day.
S E L E C T S T A R S
Kevin Bohacz
Kevin Bohacz is in the middle of the best
possible mystery a self-published author
can have. At this writing, his two self-
published novelswhich received
starred reviews from PW Selecthave
exploded on Amazon, both occupying
slots on the e-commerce giants bestsell-
er lists. Immortality, released in 2007, is
a bestselling techno-thriller and sci-fi
book, and ranks in the low 200s among
all Amazon books. The sequel, Ghost of
the Gods, released late February, was the
top techno-thriller for March.
Great news for Bohacz, because who
wouldnt want to hang around a few
Amazon bestseller lists? The problem is,
he has no idea why. Ive done a lot of
interviews, he says. He mentions a major
interview in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer in
early May about his two books: I
thought maybe that contributed, but
none of these things were within days
when the novel took off.
Amazon, he figures, must have taken
it upon itself to promote Ghost of the
Gods. They started promoting it as the
#1 big techno-thriller, but that was after
the take-off, he says. And Amazon, ever-
secretive about its marketing strategies,
hasnt said anything.
It baffled me, says Bohacz, and I
was really looking for the cause because
Id like to be able to repeat it.
While Bohacz is having an easier time
promoting Ghost of the Gods than he did
with the initial run of Immortality, its
largely due to factors that he doesnt rec-
ognize and that seem, at this moment,
beyond his control.
Last October, Bohacz told PW that
the biggest problem in self-publishing
Immortality back in 2007 was Market-
ing... marketing... and, did I mention,
marketing?
At the time, self-publishing was just
beginning to get beyond its association
with vanity presses, and the market for
e-books was still nascent. Amazons Kin-
dle, for instance, hadnt been released and
even after it was, print was largely seen
as a way to drive e-book sales.
Initially I was selling more print than
Kindle, Bohacz recalls, even a year
Writers Who Rocked Self-Publishing
Catching up with three authors who made a splash
in our pages
Ryan Joe is a freelance journalist living in
New York City.
policy, Anderson
says. Thats frus-
trating because
thats a lot of eye-
balls that do not
see Swe e t Toot h
anywhere unless
theyre browsing
Ama z o n . Th e
[bookstores will]
order it if you want to order it, but they
wont stock it and feed the enemy.
Anderson saw this coming. He got a
sampling of the bias during the initial
run of Tune In Tokyo. Before it was picked
up by Amazon Encore, Anderson self-
published through the Amazon-owned
CreateSpace.
I reached out to my local bookstores
in Greenpoint [Brooklyn], and they
wouldnt stock it or allow me to do a
reading, he recalls. It was an Amazon
entity, as they saw it, even though I was
a local author.
These frustrations havent stopped An-
derson from hammering away at his key-
board. Hes written historical fiction
under the name T. Neill Anderson for the
book packager MTM Publishing. The
four novels hes written for MTM are hor-
ror narratives wrapped around historical
tragedies: the 1900 Galveston hurricane,
Gen. William Tecumseh Shermans de-
struction throughout Georgia during the
Civil War, the influenza epidemic of
1918, and the Ludlow massacre of strik-
ers in 1914. Its not the style of broad,
comic writing Anderson normally
doesand it was very much work-for-
hirethough the job was interesting.
Ive always wanted to write for kids,
he says. So it was a nice way of discover-
ing that I could.
Nevertheless, hes back to his old ways,
chipping away at a collection of travel
stories about being a tourist and how
hilarious, awful, and transcendental it
can be.
ly emotional ride.
Tim Anderson
Like many self-published authors, Tim
Anderson had a problem getting noticed.
He spent years pitching his memoir
about living in Japan, Tune In Tokyo, be-
fore finally self-publishing it in 2010.
The response, initially, was modest. Hed
send out copies and the occasional low-
profile review might drip in from time
to time.
It was a huge challenge, Anderson
says. Especially with somebody whos
social mediachallenged to begin with.
It was really hard to get attention be-
cause so many bloggers are pitched. I
spent the summer sending out books for
review and got little return.
In December 2010, PW Select reviewed
his bookcalling it laugh-out-loud
funnywhich caught the eye of an ac-
quiring editor at Amazon, which then
republished Andersons book in 2011
under its Amazon Encore imprint.
They wanted to bring it to a larger
audience, which was great because I
hadnt been able to find a very large audi-
ence, Anderson says.
Anderson took his second memoir,
Sweet Tooth (Which is about my diabetes
diagnosis and the simultaneous homo-
sexual panic I was going through at the
time), to Amazon as well, knowing he
had at least one publisher who would
look at it. Amazon published that mem-
oir in March 2014 under an imprint
called Lake Union Publishing.
This created a small problem, howev-
er, as Amazon launched the brand so qui-
etly that few reviewers know about it.
My PR rep has said that the few people
shes heard from have been confused
about who Lake Union Publishing is,
Anderson says.
And while Amazon has a powerful dis-
tribution network, its often shut out by
the one place Anderson would really like
to see his book: actual bricks-and-mortar
bookstores.
They tend to have an anti-Amazon
later when the Kindle
came out.
Since then, the self-publishing market
has changed, as have the tools that enable
authors to promote their books. These
changes are not necessarily for the better,
Bohacz says. Amazon has discontinued
many of the promotional tools, especial-
ly for print books, he used to push Im-
mortalitys success when he first released
it in 2007.
These days, Amazon has two major
promotional tools. One is Kindle Count-
down, through which an author can offer
a discount for a set period of time.
I did that two weeks ago to see what
would happen with Ghost of the Gods,
Bohacz said. It improved sales a bit. I
sold more books because of discounts I
made, but if youre trying to make mon-
ey, thats not an easy thing to do because
authors can only run one deal during
each 90-day enrollment period.
He had no desire to use the second pro-
motional tool: the giveaway. Amazon
rankings are based on sales. Free books,
by definition, arent sold, which Bohacz
fears would hurt his rankings. And the
higher a book is ranked, he says, the
more Amazon will merchandise it.
But Bohacz has made efforts to pro-
mote his work beyond Amazon. He tries
to garner reviews from trades with a lot
of reach, like PW and Kirkus. If you get
a very good review from a respected
source, other people can see [your book]
is worth reading, Bohacz says. And he
hired a social media marketer to push his
booksbecause the less time Bohacz
spends on marketing, the more time hes
spending on writing.
Hes currently zoned in on two new
novels: Dream Signs, which he expects to
be out before the end of the year. This
will be a thematic sequel to his first nov-
el, Dream Dancers, published convention-
ally in 1993.
The second novel is The Bridge. It is
unlike all the other novels I have written,
because it will draw on some events from
my life, Bohacz says. It will be a high-
Here Comes Booklife
A new initiative from Publishers Weekly
Im very pleased to announce that later this week, at BEA, Publishers Weekly and PW Select
will be launching BookLife.com, an exciting new website that will provide indie authors a
free and easy way to submit self-published books for review to Publishers Weekly.
BookLife will tap the experience, integrity, and authority of
Publishers Weekly to help indie authors achieve their goals, by
offering professional tips, insights, and strategies for creating
and marketing books, as well as a place for indie authors to con-
nect and share with other writers.
The creation of BookLife reflects PWs strong commitment
to indie authorsa commitment Ive seen grow during my four
years editing PW Select and six years managing PWs participa-
tion in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest.
With BookLife, PW will fully integrate reviews of self-pub-
lished books into its review pages and website. Our editors will
assess self-published books in the same way they do tradition-
ally published books.
BookLife will also provide indie authors with a dashboard
that enables them to track the progress of their submissions.
Any and all self-published print titles, e-books, and audiobooks
will be accepted for submission at BookLife.com.
PW Select, the monthly self-publishing supplement of PW,
will continue to offer marketing services for authors who want
to introduce self-published books to the publishing industry via
announcement listings and placement in seasonal title data-
bases, which are powered by Edelweiss.
All of us at Publishers Weekly are very excited about these
changes, and I hope to see everyone taking part in our self-
publishing community on BookLife.com.
Adam Boretz
L E T T E R F R O M T H E E D I T O R
Sit back, relax, and learn about IngramSpark with independent publishing
professional Robin Cutler. Walk away rejuvenated and with a special promotion.
#SparkOasis
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Its SPA-tastic with
Whats Hot for Indie Authors
A regular column from BookWorks
By Betty Kelly Sargent
Lets talk genre. Whether
youre a thriller writer, a
natural when it comes to
love and romance, or you like to spend your
time exploring undiscovered galaxies, your
genre can be your best friend. Some genres are
hot right now and some not so hot, so lets take
a look at those that are really on fire and figure
out whyand what this could mean for you.
F
irst of all, what is a fiction genre anyway? It is a
category, a subset of the form of literary composition
known as fictionliterature created from the imag-
ination, even though it may be based on fact. Tra-
ditional publishers often distinguish between liter-
ary fiction (usually more character driven) and commercial fiction
(usually more plot driven). Of course, there are overlaps between
these classifications, but, for the most part, genre fiction falls into
the commercial category.
These days, especially in the e-book world of digital publish-
ing, genre fiction is huge. Right now, the leading genre catego-
ries for self-published titles are romance, science fiction, fantasy,
and mystery/thriller/suspense, in that order. There is some con-
troversy about how e-book sales are actually measured, and it is
difficult to come up with precise sales figures in each category,
but Edward W. Robertson, a science-fiction author in Los An-
geles, has studied the data from the Author Earnings Report,
and, using a different methodology, comes to the same conclu-
sion, namely that these four genres continue to comprise 70%
of Amazons e-book sales, and roughly half of those sales are of
self-published books. That adds up to a lot of people reading
self-published genre fiction in the e-book format.
As an author, it took Robertson a few years to get his sea
legs, he says, and at the beginning sales were slow. Now,
though, he has sold more than 160,000 copies of his books, and
his sales are getting better every year. His advice to new authors:
create a series and build on each book; commission a dynamite,
genre-appropriate cover; and experiment with pricing until you
find what works best for you.
When we asked Hugh Howey, the bestselling sci-fi author of
the Wool series, how he found his niche, he said he thinks he
was just lucky. As a kid I always felt like an outsider in my
literary taste, he says. I thought science fiction was a narrow
genre, but when I started to write I just followed my passion
and it worked out better than I could have ever imagined. My
goal was to write lots of books and sell 5,000 copies over my
lifetime. My dad encouraged me to go for it, so go for it I did.
And look what happened.
Howeys books have sold millions of copies. Hes considered
a marketing genius, and yet remains humble about his success.
I was in the right place at the right time, he says. In 2009,
when I published my first book, it was the beginning of the gold
rush in self-publishing, and the timing couldnt have been bet-
ter. But people are still having this kind of success today. Au-
thors like A.G. Riddle are selling like crazy and refining their
marketing skills every day. Howeys advice to new authors:
Make a plan. Think long-term. Decide to write 10 books in-
stead of just one and then start writingevery day. Thats what
worked for me.
And then there are all those hugely successful romance writ-
ers, such as Laurelin Paige with her Fixed trilogy and Amanda
Hocking with her paranormal romances, just for starters.
Obviously not all indie writers enjoy this kind of success. In
fact some studies suggest that most self-published books sell
modestly. But heres whats so exciting. These days, if an au-
thors sales are sluggish to begin with, there is a lot she can do
about it. Today, as never before in the history of the book pub-
lishing business, an author can find her niche: figure out who
her readers are and connect with them. I remember, years ago,
at the weekly editorial meeting of the publishing house where
I was working, suggesting that we slip a postage-paid, self-
addressed postcard into the front of a couple of upcoming books
on our list to find out who the buyer was and why they bought
this book. Dont be ridiculous, was the response. We just dont
do that.
Well, now, we dont have to. It is done for us, especially when
it comes to tracking the sale of books sold online. It is a new day
for authors, and no matter what your genre or your subject mat-
ter, you can find your readers, connect with them, listen to
them, learn from them, and enjoy sales you probably never
dreamed were possible.
Betty Kelly Sargent is the founder and CEO of BookWorks.com.
WR I T I N G T I P S
My Self-Publishing Journey: Putting
Together My A-Team
By Paige Crutcher
If deciding to self-publish felt like jumping off a cliff, entering
the professionally-polish-the-book phase has been like learning
to fly... without wings or a net. Because while you dont have
to hire editors or use beta readers or have a professional do copy
edits on your manuscript before you self-publish it, a book
without all that hard work feels, to me, a bit like a novel with-
out a coverincomplete and still in development.
T
his stage of the process has
been about setting aside
worry and fear in order to
focus on the book. My goal
is to make sure I have
something my readers will not only en-
joy but will ask for more of in the months
and years to comewhich means put-
ting together what bestselling author CJ
Lyons calls her Street Team. As she told
me, Theres good grammar, but theres
also good grammar that will stop readers
in their tracks. When building your
team, remember that.
What I am certain of is this: you have
to believe in yourself, and you have to
believe in your book. When you have a
team behind you, youre adding strength
to both. My street team, which I call the
A-Team, starts with my beta readers. My
betas are made up of avid readers and cri-
tique partners (like Cathleen Holst, Lau-
ren Thoman, and Sarah Brown), as well
as published authors (like New York Times
bestselling author J.T. Ellison and Ariel
Lawhon). Since I write YA, I made sure I
chose readers who love or write in the
genre and whom I trust to tell me the
truth.
For editing, I sought referrals. Its ab-
solutely essential to hire a competent,
knowledgeable content and copy editor
with good references and a proven track
record, says freelance editor Jodie
Renner. Check out potential editors
very carefully. There are lots of excellent,
dedicated, conscientious editors out
there, and many who are just starting out
and dont yet realize their limitations.
There are also scam artists, which
Renner found out firsthand, when an-
other website stole testimonials from her
site and passed them off as its own. To
make sure I chose trusted professionals, I
contacted self-published authors and
friends in the industry, and asked if they
would share who theyd use. The writing
community is a generous one, and most
people were happy to share sources. For
developmental editing, I chose Brent
Taylor, with Teen Eyes Editorial. His
track record is stellar and he has exten-
sive experience working with authors
and literary agents.
Ive chosen a second developmental
editor and a copy editor who are newer to
the field, but come highly recommend-
ed. Because my budget is tight, Im fo-
cusing on both established
and up-and-coming editors
(with proven success) to
keep the cost down. But if I
see the need for another
copy editor or even develop-
mental editor, I will find a
way to work them into the
budget.
Although I parted ways with my agent
months before I decided to self-publish,
there are many supportive literary agents
out there who help their clients go it
alone. There are many reasons I encour-
age it, says Jenny Bent of the Bent
Agency. Its a great way to utilize back-
list when the rights have reverted. Its
also a way to get interest in a project that
might be a harder sell initially, as we did
with Robin OBryants Ketchup Is a Vege-
table. I helped Robin self-publish this
title and after it hit the New York Times,
USA Today, and Wall Street Journal best-
seller lists, we sold the book to St. Mar-
tins Press in a two-book deal.
Independent publishing has become
an important space full of emerging tal-
ent, where a writers success often leads
to a strong relationship with a major
publisher, says Kristyn Keene of ICM
Partners. Its no longer an either/or world
in publishing, and the dream of tradi-
tional publishing doesnt have to fade
just because some authors decide to put
their work out on their own first.
As CJ Lyons told me, sharing advice
Jeffery Deaver once gave her, The reader
is god. The rest of the process is just
details. As an indie author, my goal is to
put the reader first, to do good work, and
to keep writing, as I (hopefully) write
toward success. Perhaps Jenny Bent
summed it up best: What I love about
self-publishing is that its opened up the
industry so much, and there is no single
hard and fast route to success anymore.
Self-publishing means that there are now
many different ways for an author to be
successful.
A D I Y J O U R N E Y
A regular column from
PWs Southern correspondent
ARCHITECTURE
Creating Outstanding Open Air Struc-
tures: Using Only 2 x 2 & 2 x 4 Lum-
ber & Hand Tools
Robert H. Robinson
Sr. $40 paper (104p),
ISBN 9780578124742
(302) 841-3527
Spiral bound so pages can be copied, this
guide contains over 250 photos and illus-
trations on how to build stylish open-air
structures.
ART
Fire & the Feminine: Myths & Legends
Carol Witten. Apple Blossom. $32.95
paper ( 152p) , ISBN
9781491297315
bradwit@att.net; (510)
236-0791
For those who love the
antics of the feminine,
author-artist Witten humorously explores
the mysterious dynamics of her gender
through 110 works shes squeezed to life
from bits of clay.
BIOGRAPHY
& AUTOBIOGRAPHY
Headwinds: The Dead Reckoning of
the Heart
Thomas A. Reis. AuthorHouse. $16.95
paper (198p), ISBN 9781491819524;
$4.95 e-book ISBN 9781491819548
Amazon; headwindsbook.com; bn.com
S E L F - P U B L I S H E D L I S T I N G S
Booksellers, publishers, and agents are encouraged
to take a look at the following listings of self-published books; some are from
authors waiting to be discovered, others are from those with track records and fol-
lowings who are doing it on their own.
New Titles
from Self-Publishers
The 73 titles submitted for our 21st PW Select
A story of inspiration
and adventure as the author
rides his bicycle across the
U.S., offering reflections on
his life as both a therapist
and an educator.
BODY, MIND & SPIRIT
The Rainbow Bridge: Bridge to Inner
Peace and to World Peace
Brent N. Hunter. Spirit Rising Pro-
ductions. $12.95 paper (284p), ISBN
9780991206445; $3.99 e-book ISBN
9780991206438
Amazon
Hunter illuminates the
common ground in the
worlds major wisdom tra-
ditions, also known as uni-
versal principles.
BUSINESS
& ECONOMICS
The Fools Pocket Guide to Getting a
Job: How to Leave a Lasting Impression
Gary Evey. Gary Evey. $9.99 paper (101p),
ISBN 9781495965302; $4.99 e-book
garyevey.wix.com/findajob
A humorous look at find-
ing a job: preparing for the
search, writing cover letters
and rsums, speaking the
corporate language, and
interviewing successfully.
Eveys site links to his YouTube videos.
FAMILY
& RELATIONSHIPS
Bad Boyfriends: Using Attachment
Theory to Avoid Mr. (or Ms.) Wrong
and Make You a Better Partner
Jeb Ki nni son. Jeb Ki nni son Pub-
lishing. $12.95 paper (202p), ISBN
9780991663613; $5.99 e-book ISBN
9780991663606
Amazon; bn.com
A practical guide to using
the science of attachment
and relationships to find the
right life partner.
Face to Face: Cultivating Kids Social
Lives in Todays Digital World
Kathy Masarie, Kathy Keller Jones, Ruth
Matinko-Wald, Jody Bellant Scheer, Cas-
sandra Dickson, and Monique Terner. Fam-
ily Empowerment Network. $34.95 paper
(272p), ISBN 9780981950440
family-empower.com
A simple yet pro-
found message from a
team of pediatricians
and educators: increase
face-to-face connection
and keep childhood real
so children grow to be
resilient, healthy, and happy. Organized as
a discussion guide, the book offers an over-
view of current ideas and research in child
development, brain science, and parenting.
Searching for the Castle: Backtrail of
an Adoption
Barbara Leigh Ohrstrom. iUniverse.
$15. 95 paper ( 158p) ,
ISBN 9781491713068;
$3. 99 e - bo o k I S BN
9781491713082
iUniverse
At 18, Ohrstrom started
her search for her birth parents. As she nar-
rates the unearthing of her history and that
of her family, she reveals how she came to
terms with her identity.
Life on Altamont Court: Finding the
Extraordinary in the Ordinary
Trent Pines. TD Literary Tales. $16.99
p a p e r ( 3 5 2 p ) , I S BN
9780615837956; $5.99
e-book ASIN B00GU-
RUHM8
Amazon; bn.com
A humorous memoi r
about a gay couple moving into a neighbor-
hood of eccentric straights and the mayhem,
mishaps, and adventures that follow them.
FICTION
Little Ravens
Frank Bardessono. Cre-
ateSpace. $15 paper (338p),
ISBN 9781493645831;
$9. 99 e - book ASI N
B00J828MSS
Amazon; bn.com
Daren Capriati is lead counselor at an
intake unit serving the special needs of
teenagers with disabilities. But Darens
coworkers are no less complicated or dam-
aged than the kids. An unflinching look
at a patchwork social services system, its
underprivileged dependents, and their bat-
tle-weary caretakers. Sequel to The Kindness
of Ravens.
Thorns of Rosewood
Gina M. Barlean. Gina M.
Barlean. $15 paper (326p),
ISBN 9781492882350;
$2. 99 e - b o o k AS I N
B00IQC3CX6; BN ID
2940149362127
Amazon; bn.com
Four old women confess the details of
their involvement in a 40-year-old crime.
Newspaper editor Gloria Larson plans to
write a book about their story and make
them confess to something morewhich
of them is her birth mother?
Steel , Bl ood & Fi re:
Immortal Treachery,
Book One
Allan Batchelder. Allan
Ba t c h e l d e r . $ 1 9 . 9 9
pa pe r ( 558p) , I S BN
9781491091753; $3.99 e-book ASIN
B00AW53RMQ
Amazon; bn.com
Legendary warrior Tarmun Vykers, the
Reaper, is an arrogant, ruthless, and blood-
thirsty bastard. And he may be the worlds
only hope against an evil madman. Author
does not recommend for readers younger
than 17.
Choices (Pippa Series)
Lacey Dancer. CreateSpace.
$9. 99 pa pe r ( 216p) ,
ISBN 9781492774990;
$3. 99 e - bo o k AS I N
B00HBUI0WM
Amazon; bn.com
Lorelei Starke had hoped for gymnastic
gold until a car crash cost her use of one
leg and damaged her voice. With a suc-
cessful career in computer game design, she
was contentuntil Alex Kane, a computer
software executive devastated by the results
of a physical exam, crossed her path.
Horrorscope
Br i a n Ev a ns , He l e n
Mar i e Bous quet , and
Mark Andrew Biltz. H
Infinity Books. $21.95
hardcover (317p), ISBN
9781619277892; $12.99
e-book ISBN 9781619278080
Amazon; bn.com
A psychic is forced to provide predic-
tions to the mafia. The zodiac signs seek
revenge when the mob takes her out.
Ribzkniks (rib niks)
Y. M. Georges. Createspace. $9. 25
p a p e r ( 2 3 3 p ) , I S B N
9 7 8 1 4 9 5 3 1 2 8 7 8 ;
$2. 99 e - bo o k AS I N
B00GL4IHR2
Amazon; bn.com
A riveting tale of hard
times, love and loss, and
disappointment and terror
in the city that never sleeps.
The underbelly of Brooklyn, N.Y., has been
torn open, and something evil has leaked out.
Aundy: One Courageous Mail-Order
Bride
Shanna Hatfield. Shanna Hatfield. $12.99
paper (328p), ISBN 9781484966280;
$2.99 e-book ASIN B00D1FYKUM
Amazon; bn.com
When mail-order bride
Aundy Thorsen finds her-
self widowed before she
truly becomes a wife, she
gathers her courage and
strength to face an uncertain future.
The Second Key
Cheryl Holdefer. Cheryl Holdefer. $9.99
paper (252p), ISBN 9780615975603;
$4.99 e-book ASIN B00ISGUV8E
Amazon; bn.com
Just as Rachel Matthews
rebuilds her life after her
husbands tragic death, she
finds a safe deposit box key
that unlocks a secret that
changes everything.
The Fisher King
Hayley Kelsey. Hayley Kelsey. $3.99
e-book ASIN B00JD21AIW
Amazon; bn.com; iBook-
store; Kobo
Control over the last
great natural resource
the untamed oceanis the
fiercely contested prize that
pits three brothers, their
Chesapeake Bay waterman father, and a tra-
dition of overfishing against one another.
GodStone Powers: Three Against the
One
Kenneth Laws. Kenneth Laws. $9.63 paper
( 2 5 0 p ) ,
I S B N
9781496124470; 99
e-book ASIN B00IO-
ZLOAI
Amazon; bn.com
When Hannah becomes a conduit for
otherworldly powers, they enable Traven
to pull power from unlikely places, and
his twin brother, Vonen, masters power
he shouldnt have. Then the twins father,
CEO of Gemantics, is attacked. But despite
Hannah and the twins careful planning
for revenge, the action quickly escalates
out of control.
On the Wild Coast
Patrick J. Lee. Saltwater Publishing.
$9. 99 pa pe r ( 254p) ,
ISBN 9780989458818;
$3. 99 e - bo o k AS I N
B00J5V382C; BN ID
2940149223305
Amazon; bn.com
A naked body washes up
on the beach of a remote village on South
Africas east coast. Mendi Mkhize, former
freedom fighter and now magistrate, inves-
tigates, but the townspeople, whove fled
traumatic pasts, wont talk. Meanwhile,
Alice Burley arrives from London to resolve
unanswered questions in her familys history.
The Dark One: Dark Knight: The de
Russe Legacy
Kathryn Le Veque. Drag-
onbl a de Publ i s hi ng.
$27. 99 paper ( 772p) ,
ISBN 9781493640980;
$4. 99 e - bo o k AS I N
B00BNV7IY6
Amazon; bn.com
Gaston de Russe, fresh from his treacher-
ous turn against Richard III at the Battle of
Bosworth, claims a Yorkist castle and falls
in love with his enemys wife.
The Kid
Georgia Lowe. Lucky Dime
Press. $14.95 paper (208p),
ISBN 9780989745017;
$ 9 . 9 9 e - b o o k AS I N
B00I1RQ5P8
Amazon; LuckyDimePress.com; book-
stores
The coming-of-age of Will Hardy,
14-year-old cowboy and 16-year-old sol-
dier in World War I, where hes wounded
and develops PTSD. Will hits rock bottom
and finds his way to his next life chapter,
told in the sequel, The Bonus.
Tanya
Rebecca Rogers Maher.
Rebecca Rogers Maher.
$ 1 . 9 9 e - b o o k I S BN
9781629210063
RebeccaRogersMaher.com
Tanya meets Jack on the
way to her sisters wedding and brings him
back to her motel room. The next day she
meets the grooms family, including his
brother, Jackhome from the Peace Corps
and reeling from his night with the bold,
beautiful woman he thought hed never see
again. Contains explicit sex.
Almost Perfect: A Novel
Diane Daniels Manning. Beltor. $8.99
paper ( 322p) , I SBN
9 7 8 0 5 7 8 1 3 6 3 9 4 ;
$3. 99 e - book I SBN
9780578136400
Amazon
An auti sti c/ ADHD
boy knows his aging dog could win at
the Westminster Dog Show, which would
make his mother smile, if an old woman
whos given up dreaming of winning the
show will help.
United We Fall: Galactic Community
Member Series, Vol. 1
J os e ph A. Mourgos .
Cr eat eSpace. $16. 50
pa pe r ( 468p) , I SBN
9 7 8 1 4 8 2 3 2 1 9 7 5 ;
$5. 25 e - book ASI N
B00E79C6H0
Amazon; bn.com
Globalization is bringing humanity
together. Two alien races see an opportu-
nity to sponsor Earth into the galactic com-
munity in order to win humans vote over
a disputed planet.
The Art: Frost and Flame
David T. Newman. Keat-
ing & Guthrie. 99 e-book
ISBN 9781631734090
(917) 628-4906
Ke nt Fa s s l e r ha d a
decent life: place in New
York, steady job, mostly good health.That
was before he got caught in the crossfire
between two dueling sorcerers.
Uba and Rush
Shane O Brien. $2.99 e-book ISBN
9780987511614
Amazon
When a gifted student
is charged with the will-
ful homicide of a suspected
sex offender, his meager
finances require him to
build an unusual defense.
The Guardian of Secrets: And Her
Deathly Pact
Jana Petken. AuthorHouse. $35.02 paper
(714p), ISBN 9781491877920; $3.99
e-book ISBN 9781491877937
Amazon; bn.com
From Kent, England,
in 1912 to Spain and its
193639 civil war, a his-
torical family saga of love,
abuse, murder, and betrayal.
A sweeping look into the blood and bones
of the early 20th century.
The Thrift Shop Murders
S t a n f o r d Pr i t c h a r d .
Springside Books. $15.95
pa p e r ( 26 6p) , I S BN
9781494336448
Amazon; bn.com; (802)
388-0715
A metaphysical whodunit featuring
reflections on American wealth, building
and construction, craft, the criminal mind,
and the consolations of thrift shops.
Window: Paris Secrets,
Book 1
Michele Renae. Swell Cat
Press. $2.99 e-book ISBN
9780984989188
Amazon; bn,com
An erotic romance behind glass. In Paris,
two strangers embark on a provocative
romance from their respective bedroom
windows.
The Anatomy of a Mermaid
Tom Ryerson. Isis Press.
$ 5 . 9 7 e - b o o k I S BN
9780991837205
Amazon; Kobo; bn.com
This tragic fantasy set
in Hawaii tells the story of
Shaun, who has to decide
between Tracie and the cryptid known as Jet.
Tehran Moonlight
Azin Sametipour. CreateSpace. $14.99
paper (278p), ISBN 9781491265192;
$5.99 e-book ASIN B00J1NTB7K
Amazon; bn.com
I n a c ount r y whe r e
women have no voice, one
womans fight for love and
identity results in unimagi-
nable consequences.
The Reluctant General: A Novel About
Ancient Israel
Herb Sennett. WestBow Press. $19.95
paper (250p), ISBN 9781490818078;
$4.99 e-book ISBN 9781490818075
reluctantgeneral.com
A woman and a reluctant
farmer lead a ragtag force of
10,000 to defeat the greatest
army of the world of 1150
BC.
How to Knock a Bravebird from Her
Perch: The First Novel in the Morrow
Girls Series
D. Bryant Simmons. Bravebird Pub-
9780985751661; $9.99 e-book ISBN
9780985751616
goo.gl/wf6CfU
When Belinda Pecan
Morrow tries to leave her
husband, an up-and-com-
ing boxer, he doesnt hesi-
tate to use his fists outside
the ring. Pecan tries to protect herself
and her daughters from the tornado that
is Ricky, but even leaving him cant keep
them safe. A story of self-discovery that
allows a lost, grieving child to become a
strong, self-sufficient woman.
Twisted
Lola Smirnova. Quickfox
Pu b l i s h i n g . $ 1 1 . 6 0
9 7 8 1 4 9 6 0 3 1 0 1 3 ;
$ 9 . 9 9 e - b o o k I S BN
9780620593441
Amazon; bn.com
A fictionalized story of vulnerability,
courage, and the art of making a living in
the sex trade.
The Soul Protector
Mario Soldevilla. Lulu.
$15. 99 paper (226 p),
ISBN 9781483405476;
$5. 99 e - bo o k I S BN
9781483405483
Lulu.com; bn.com
In a twisting tale of karma, fate, corrup-
tion, and spiritual awakening, a reincar-
nated angel and his charge race to stop a
killer before more lives are lost.
Bookworm
Jason Srebnick. Jason Sreb-
nick. 99 e-book ASIN
B00IBSEYIW
Amazon
I n Ne w Bo s t o n, a
17-hour workday, seven days a week is the
norm. But Aaron Cogwell is thankful to
his Corporationits given him everything
he has. Then a mysterious stranger helps
Aaron realize he can choose another life. But
such choices can come with consequences.
A Very Good Life
Lynn Steward. Lynn Steward Pub-
9 7 8 0 9 9 1 5 0 0 7 7 2 ;
$ 4 . 9 9 e - b o o k I S BN
9780991500727
Amazon; bn.com
Dana McGarry, a success-
ful executive at a prestigious
New York department store,
learns that the art of seduction
will affect both her marriage
and career.
Back to Jerusalem
Jan Sur as ky. Sandal -
wo o d Pr e s s . $25. 95
h a r d c o v e r ( 3 3 1 p ) ,
ISBN 9780578087269;
$9. 99 e - bo o k I S BN
9780988277281
Amazon; bn.com; bookstores
Coming of age in the 1970s, Jenny
Thompson marries the wealthiest boy in her
small rural town of Jerusalem, setting her
dreams aside. Divorced, she flees to New
York City but comes home to reclaim her life.
Lost Capital
Peter M. Wahl. CreateSpace. $12.97
paper (292p), ISBN 9781492863359;
$ 4 . 9 7 e - b o o k AS I N
B00INCV1U0
Amazon; bn.com
Guy Baxter, 20-some-
thing CEO, has always
felt destined for greatness.
When entrepreneur Ivan
Vissar makes Guy part owner of an Internet
start-up, Guy ignores Vissars mysterious
background and penchant for gambling. In
the dot-com crash, Guy realizes that suc-
cess often comes at a price too high to bear.
Wealth and Privilege
Jeanette Watts. CreateSpace.
$14.99 paper (399p), ISBN
9781490934518; $2. 99
e-book ASIN B00BB30T0G;
BN ID 2940016651651
JeanetteWatts.com
Proposing to your wife and meeting the
woman of your dreams on the same day
and theyre not the same personwill
complicate your life.
HISTORY
Presidential Picture Sto-
ries: Behind the Cameras
at the White House
Dennis Brack. Dennis Brack.
$25.95 hardcover (256p),
ISBN 9780615648828
Amazon; bn.com
A history of news photog-
raphy and a collection of stories about
presidents and the characters behind the
cameras at the White House.
All Against the Law:
The Criminal Activities
of the Depression Era
Bank Robbers, Mafia,
FBI, Politicians, & Cops
Bill Friedman. Old School
Histories. $17.99 paper (314p), ISBN
9781494958138; $9.99 e-book ISBN
9780989685214
Amazon.com; bn.com; e-book retailers
Friedman connects the Depressions
public enemy bank robbers, the creation
of the FBI, Kansas Citys corrupt political/
Mafia machine, and what he claims was
President Harry Trumans sellout to orga-
nized crime.
The United Nations Top Job: A Close
Look at the Work of Eight Secretaries-
General
Lucia Mouat. CreateSpace.
$18.50 paper (519p), ISBN
9781484806197
Amazon; bn.com
How U.N. leaders have
applied their special skillslargely as medi-
atorsin pursuit of a more peaceful world.
JUVENILE FICTION
The Terrible Machines Return: The
Stellar Life of Jpeg the Robot Dog,
Book 2
C.J. Atticus, illus. by
Angelika Domschke.
C. J. Atti cus. $6. 95
paper ( 110p) , ISBN
9780988778030
cjatticus.com
Jpegs cosmic adven-
ture continues as he
becomes a pack leader while defending
his robot friends Wick, Cammy, and Tux
from a terrible machine determined to turn
them into space junk. Ages 68.
The Mythomaniacs
Jules Bass, illus. by Lawrence Christ-
mas. Eltanin Publish-
ing. $4.99 e-book ISBN
9781310600418
Amazon; bn.com
When a simple trick
goes wrong, 15-year-old
Gilbert Myrddin, amateur magician, trans-
forms a group of readers into characters
from his fathers books (and himself into
the image of Merlin). To undo the damage,
Gilbert embarks on a wild quest that leads
back to Arthurian times. Ages 812.
Bubba the Bulldog Tries to Smile
Bree Clausen. Bree Clausen. $19.99 hard-
cover (28p), ISBN 9780991387106;
$ 3 . 9 9 e - b o o k AS I N
B00HMQ7H9W
Amazon
Smiling is contagious in
this picture book. When
his best friend breaks his
leg, Bubba does the impos-
siblelifting his heavy lips into a smile.
Ages 47.
Angels Dawn
Komal i da Si l va. Cre-
a t e S p a c e . $ 1 1 . 4 8
9781495329326; 99
e-book ASIN B00I1AF362
Amazon
Sixteen-year-old Dawn has been warned by
a few people about visions they have seen, not
to mention all the strange feelings she has had
about being watched and hearing things. But
when she disappears into the night, will she
ever be found again? Ages 1216.
Calling an Angel
Richard de Montebello. SaberCat Comics.
$12.95 paper (288p),
ISBN 9780967157283;
$3. 99 e-book ISBN
9781627765893
bn.com
In this religious com-
edy, Gabriel, an unim-
pressive man, enters Safe Havens medical
walk-in facility and says to the nurses,
Could you please tell the doctor that his
angel is here to see him. Is Gabriel a real
angel, a con man, or just plain nuts? What-
ever he is, he turns the whole town upside
down. Ages 1216.
The Sign of the Shell: A
Sea Otter Mystery
Teresa Williams Irvin.
He a r t Ch i l d . $ 9 . 9 5
p a p e r ( 6 8 p ) , I S BN
9780979939563
Amazon
A story of love and loss,
of mystery and danger, and of growing up
and finding ones way in
the world. Ages 711.
What Every Dragon
Needs
Cari Lyn. Lapis Moon
Publ i shi ng. $24. 99
hardcover (32p), ISBN 9781937576035
Amazon; bn.com
What does every dragon need? A prin-
cess of course. Follow Percival on his quest
to find out what is a princess and, more
importantly, how he can find one. Ages
58.
Seekers: A World Within a World
Liz Morris. Carpenters Son Publish-
i ng. $14. 99 paper ( 320p) , I SBN
9781940262031; $9.99 e-book ASIN
B00J44M9MK; BN ID
2940149509911
Amazon; bn.com
Thrust i nto a worl d
where there is a supernatu-
ral correlation for every-
thing that happens in the natural world,
Nettle and Tommy find themselves being
watched. Suddenly all the rules change, and
they are catapulted into a spiritual battle for
their very souls. Ages 1218.
Paranormal Keepers
Jen Naumann. Phantom Owl Press. $15.99
paper (421p), ISBN 9780991576203;
$3 . 9 9 e - bo o k AS I N
B00IXASBQY; BN ID
2940149392797
Amazon; bn.com
Harper Young knows
something unnatural killed
her boyfriend. She refuses
to stop looking until she finds answers,
even if it means her reputation as a senior
is ruined. Even if it means there really are
monsters among us. Ages 1218.
Chelzy Stones Mystical
Quest in the Lost and
Found Game
Lucille Procopio. RoseLamp
Publications. $14.95 paper
(252p), ISBN 9780986060700; $7.99
e-book ASIN B00FY54BVU
Amazon; publisher; bn.com
Three children play an old, mysterious
board game that transports them through a
portal to a magical world with unique inhab-
itants to accomplish a quest. Ages 812.
Orion Poe and the Lost Explorer
Wi l l Summer hous e. Shake- A- Leg
Pr es s . $8. 99 paper ( 274p) , I SBN
9780986061400; $
e-book ISBN
Amazon
Nothing exciting ever
happens to 11-year-old
Orion Poe until a mysteri-
ous mapa link to a lost
Arctic explorercomes into his possession.
On a new expedition to the north, Orion
faces unimaginable danger and enough
adventure for a lifetime. Ages 812.
A Humble Heart: The Dark World
Trilogy, Book 1
Ti m Va nde r Me ul e n.
Cr e a t e Spa c e . $14. 50
9 7 8 1 4 8 2 7 0 0 8 2 4 ;
$2. 99 e - bo o k AS I N
B00C5S4AJW
(808) 631-8326
After the invasion of the kingdom of
men, the Elves and Dwarves must decide
whether they will go to war. Ages 1117.
JUVENILE
NONFICTION
Abayomi, the Brazilian Puma: The
True Story of an Orphaned Cub
Darcy Pattison, illus. by Kitty Harvill.
Mims House. $13.99 paper (32p), ISBN
9781629440040; $6.99 e-book ISBN
9781629440057
Mimshouse.com
The true story of
orphaned puma cub
and the heroic efforts
of scientists to return
him to the wild even as his natural habitat
is shrinking. Ages 48.
LAW
Age, Old Age, Language, Law: A Dys-
functionalOften HarmfulMix and
How to Fix It
Howard Eglit. Howard
Eglit. $24 paper (421p),
ISBN 9780615973869
Lulu.com
How language creates
and nurtures old-ageism,
the laws inadequate role in combating the
pernicious age-language mix, and nonlegal
corrective means.
MUSIC
Hottest New Artist
: How to Succeed
in the Music Industry
PDS Entertainment. FriesenPress. $19.99
paper (216p), ISBN 9781460223499;
$6. 99 e-book ISBN
9781460223505
Amazon; Friesenpress.
com; bn.com
A musi c i ndustry
overview with a look at
the skills artists need to
succeed. Includes selling music, submit-
ting material to radio, labels, industry,
contracts, and much more.
NATURE
On Location: Essays of Place
Michael Gessner. Echo Arcade. $27.68
(146p), ISBN 9781492222910; $2.99
e-book ASIN B00J369TO0
Amazon; bn.com
Essays on the influence of location and its
necessity to human iden-
tity: a historic courthouse
in New Yorks Revolu-
tionary War corridor; an
ancient volcano in Ari-
zona; a home given over
to birds; Senecas boyhood
home in Ostia Antica; Phila-
delphias Wissahickon, where
Edgar Allan Poe spent idle hours drifting
in a skiff.
NONCLASSIFIABLE
Breakfast with the Dirt Cult
S a mu e l F i n l a y. Re d
Dirt Syndicate. $11.99
p a p e r ( 31 8p ) , I S BN
9 7 8 0 6 1 5 6 2 2 9 9 6 ;
$ 2 . 9 9 e - b o o k I S BN
9781623469047
Amazon; bn.com
Based on a true story but written as a
novel, this is the chronicle of the days of
love and war in the life of Tom Walton,
an infantry soldier torn between a beauti-
ful bibliophilic Canadian ex-stripper and
the hunt for al-Qaeda in the mountains of
Afghanistan.
NONFICTION
Horse Vet: Chronicles of a Mobile
Veterinarian
Courtney S. Diehl. BookCrafters. $12.95
paper (179p), ISBN 9781937862664;
$1. 99 e - bo o k I S BN
9781311697424
Bookcrafters.net; Amazon;
Smashwords; bn.com
The author recounts
lively tales from her 13 years
as a mobile veterinarian in
the Colorado Rockies.
Off the Top of My Head: An Alphabeti-
cal Odyssey
Stephen Lorch. JW Lorbek Press. $24.95
paper (352p), ISBN 9780989884013;
$9.95 e-book ASIN B00I1KPNUI; BN
ID 2940148226260
(917) 541-9014
A candid set of 26
a l pha be t i c a l e s s a y s
penned over five years by
Lorch as he coped with,
and ultimately overcame,
a life-threatening illness.
Growing Up Boeing: The Early Jet
Age Through the Eyes of a Test Pilots
Daughter
Rebecca Wal l i ck. Mai an
Meadows Publishing. $24.95
paper (342p), ISBN 9780991364800;
$9.99 e-book ISBN 9780991364817
growingupboeing.com
The story of jet transport
pioneers from an insiders
perspective, and the major
contributions made by
Boeing test pilots and
engineers who regularly
risked their lives to make modern com-
mercial aviation safe.
POETRY
Not Poems, Just Words: On Loving,
Living and Longing
Ramon Loyol a. Mos hPi t Publ i s h-
i ng. $12. 95 paper ( 130p) , I SBN
9780992449858; $3.93 e-book ISBN
9780992449865 (epub); 9780992449872
(mobi)
Amazon; bn.com
A collection of prose poems on love, loss,
longing, and yearning, and
on dealing with the vaga-
ries of life. A small journey
from the deepest emotions
of love and loss to the
sometimes overwhelming
realization of the beauty
of life.
Pearls Beneath the Rind
Richard Seldin and Carole R. Seldin-Bolin-
ski. Dog Ear Publishing. $9.99 paper (80p),
ISBN 9781457522109; $3.99 e-book
ASIN B00HE1LSM2;
BN ID 2940149007240
Amazon; bn.com
Alternating poems by a
brother and sister of vastly
different characters and
lifestyles.
POLITICAL SCIENCE
The Seamy Corners of American Poli-
tics: Current Conservative Articles on
American Politics
Kevin C. Caffrey. AuthorHouse. $19.95
paper (286p), ISBN 9781491873205;
$3.99 e-book ISBN 9781491873199
Bookstore.authorhouse.com
Caffrey discusses from
a conservative perspec-
tive topics ranging from
economics to education
to environmentalism to
foreign policy. The Tea
Party is prominent in his
essays, and progressives
are dismantled throughout the book.
RELIGION
Tested by Fire: Will What You Build
Survive?
Kelley Latta. Carpen-
ters Son Publishing.
$11.95 paper (128p),
ISBN 9781940262062;
$9. 99 e-book ASIN
B00IA3DA42; BN ID
2940148324386
KelleyLattaMinistries.com
Are you living the life God intended?
Discover what it means to live by faith, be
empowered by Gods purpose, and leave a
lasting legacy.
A Corrupt Tree: An Encyclopaedia
of Crimes Commited by the Church
of Rome Against Humanity and the
Human Spirit, Vol. 1
A. S. Xl i bri s. $42. 79
paper ( 822p) , I SBN
9 7 8 1 4 8 3 6 6 5 3 6 8 ;
$4. 27 e - book I SBN
9781483665375
Xlibris.com
The author presents a
categorized history of the totality of the
dark activities of the Catholic Church
against humanity and the human spirit.
From Out of the Sand
Steve Sieting. WestBow Press. $11.95
paper (128p), ISBN 9781490801100;
9 9 e - b o o k I S BN
9781490801094
WestBow Press; Ama-
zon; bn.com
A poetic-religious
inspirational book about
overcomi ng sel f and
problems, and learning
to grow closer to the Lord through the
Holy Spirit.
SOCIAL SCIENCE
Research in Information Studies: A
Cultural and Social Approaoch
W. Bernard Lukenbill. Xlibris. $34.99
hardcover (422p), ISBN 9781469179605;
$3.99 e-book ISBN 9781469179612
Xlibris.com
Lukenbill provides a
holistic approach to dis-
cussing research and its
components and uses, and
demonstrates how research
is an important element in
culture and social life.
SPORTS
& RECREATION
Flannels on the Sward: History of
Cricket in Americas
Jayesh Patel. Jayesh Patel. $55 paper
(402p), ISBN 9780989678513; $4.99
e-book ASIN B00IYPAZ30
Amazon; bn.com
The unknown history
of cricket in the Ameri-
cas. Profusely illustrated
with rare material, vin-
tage lithographs and
pictures, and containing
early team scores of the
pioneering English, Irish, and Australian
cricketers.
TECHNOLOGY
& ENGINEERING
Command Center Handbook: Proactive
IT Monitoring; Protecting Business
Value Through Operational Excellence
Abdul A. Jaludi. CreateSpace. $24.95
paper (168p), ISBN 9781494760526;
$9.99 e-book ASIN B00HV7O1L4; BN
ID 2940148279495
Amazon; bn.com
An a u t h o r i t a t i v e
resource on command
centers and using them
effectively to prevent cus-
tomer service disruptions
and runaway technology costs through
optimization, and proactive and real-time
monitoring.
Fiction
Breakfast with the Dirt Cult
Samuel Finlay. The Red Dirt Syndicate,
$11.99 Paper (318p) ISBN 978-0-615-62299-6
Rude, raw, and rambunctious, this tour
of duty into the no mans land of sex, pol-
itics, and societal expectations gleefully
bashes politically correct gospels. Army
solider Tom Waltons life is altered by a
chance meeting with ex-stripper Amy,
who promises him a passionate affair if
he returns from
Afghanistan. Amy
is a sensuous met-
aphor for Toms
evolving love-hate
relationship with
the human condi-
tion; her sensuali-
ty is a ghost
haunting him,
from the evoca-
tively captured misery of military train-
ing to the terror of deployment. But, if
Tom makes it back to Amy, is he facing
another battle in her arms? Finaly creates
in Tom a contradiction of good humor
and angst, parading instead of disguising
his emotional warts. Occasionally over-
written and erratic in structure, this in-
tense semiautobiographical novel is as
much a sobering examination of a mans
maturity as it is a righteous condemna-
tion of self-serving cultural roles. Fiction
as it should be: dangerous, hurtful, and
cathartic.
Calves in the Mud Room
Jerome O. Brown. Tetonwolf, $6.49 paper
(96p) ISBN 978-0-615-96750-9
Brown presents an intimate portrait of
the modern-day rural life of teenagers
that deftly combines
text-messaging jar-
gon and the complex-
ities of cattle farming.
Browns protagonist
is Wade Summers,
who longs to escape
his smalltown life of
pickup trucks and
cows and isto his
surpriseasked to the school dance by
the beautiful and rich Glory Schoonover.
Of course, nothing goes according to
plan: Wade is forced to deliver a calf on
his way to the dance and has a disastrous
evening with Glory. With this novella,
Brown offers an engaging exploration of a
young persons search for his sense of self
in a seemingly (but not altogether) bleak
landscape.
Im Still Here
Potter Wickware. Rolling Circle Press, $14.99
paper (382p) ISBN 978-1-4949-7506-7
Wickwares urban fable of Central
American refugees suffering political hy-
pocrisy and cultural persecution suffers
from scant dramatic tension. Taken in by
guerillas after surviving a death squad
killing in El Salvador, young Eliazar (aka
Loco) finds refuge in a brothel and then
an old school before catching a train to
L.A., where he becomes an ambitious
gang leader. Sparks fly and cultures col-
lide when Loco meets Rosanna Castaneda,
the deputy district attorneys daughter,
who eventually fol-
lows him to El Sal-
vador after he is de-
ported. Waickwares
narrative is lethargic,
with static charac-
tersmany of whom
are little more than
caricatures. Rich de-
scriptions and appro-
priate details reflect the authors research
into gang life in El Salvador and Los An-
geles, but accuracy isnt enough to enliv-
en the otherwise torpid plot.
Smoke and Mirrors:
The Suspicious Deaths of the
Bioweaponeers
C.R. Harris. Lennox Books, $19.99 paper
(380p) ISBN 978-0-9926497-3-9
In Harriss thriller, biological warfare,
political intrigue, and international ter-
rorism surround a resourceful young
womans struggle to climb the profession-
al ranks as a journalist and fix a fractured
marriage while staying ahead of the vari-
ous secret service organizations that want
her dead. Reporter Chloe Moreau is at-
tacked shortly after investigating the
mysterious deaths of several scientists.
But against a backdrop
of murder and multi-
national terrorists, can
Chloe stay alive long enough to expose a
horrific conspiracy?
Harris has written a
solid and suspenseful
thriller, full of laby-
rinthine plot twists
and solid character-
ization. And despite
occasional problems
with narrative flow,
fans of the genre will
enjoy this straightforward tale of espio-
nage and intrigue.
Tanya
Rebecca Rogers Maher. Promised Land
Books, $1.99 e-book (65p) ISBN 978-1-62921-
006-3
Jack has just returned from a stint in
the Peace Corps in Guyana to attend
brother Henrys wedding. At a roadside
stop, on the night before the ceremony, he
meets a mysterious woman with whom he
shares a night of passion. The next day, he
meets her again and learns she is the
brides sister, Tanya. But Tanya is full of
self-loathing about her past and relation-
ship with sister Christaand this threat-
ens her burgeoning relationship with
Jack. This sequel to The Bridge and final
installment in Mahers Class Acts Trilogy
reunites readers
with Henry and
Christa (the protag-
onists of the previ-
ous volume), with
Jack and Tanyas
story serving as a
clever follow-up
and an entertaining
tale in its own
right. Tanyas feelings of self-revulsion
drive the narrative and readers with expe-
rience of addiction will recognize her
complex emotions. And while Jacks char-
acter is less well developed, readers (par-
ticularly those of Mahers previous work)
will enjoy watching these two fall in love,
almost in spite of themselves.
Reviews
Tehran Moonlight
Azin Sametipour. CreateSpace,
$14.99 paper (278p) ISBN 978-
1-4912-6519-2
Personal choice, gender, and traditional
Middle Eastern morals collide in this pro-
vocative romantic drama. Twenty-three-
year-old Mahtab is a believably flawed
heroine whose struggle for independence
is a microcosm of Iranian society. Shes a
violinist seeking to escape her morally
rigid father, Rasool, and violent brother,
Pasha. Mahtabs life
is further compli-
cated when she re-
luctantly falls in
love with Ashkan,
an Iranian-Ameri-
can. Discovering
that her family
wishes her to marry
Emad, she must
choose between Ashkan and tradition
amid harshly depicted escalating domes-
tic abuse. A robust, confident style and
probing characterizations highlight this
startling novel that celebrates love with-
out blinking at the pain of its protago-
nist. Sametipour juxtaposes violence and
passion, tenderness and cruelty to star-
tling effect. Its not your typical boy-
meets-girl fantasy; here actions have con-
sequences, and while love occasionally tri-
umphs, it comes with a price.
The Ambitious Madame
Bonaparte
Ruth Hull Chatlien. Amika Press, $17.95 pa-
per (484p) ISBN 978-1-937484-16-3
When young Betsy Patterson marries
dashing but irresponsible Jerome
Bonapartethe brother of Napoleon
she dreams of an exciting new life at the
French court. Instead, her brother-in-laws
hostility leads to her bitter struggle to le-
gitimize herself as a Bonaparte. Meticu-
lously researched,
engrossing in detail,
and full of the cus-
toms, values, and
prejudices of the
era, Chatliens novel
brings to life crucial
moments in history
alongside Betsys
quest for recogni-
tion. The chaos of Napoleons reign and
maritime hostilities engross without over-
shadowing Madame Bonapartes heart-
aches and small triumphs. Chatlien
doesnt flinch from exposing our hunger
for wealth and power, and confronts diffi-
cult themes such as slavery and domestic
inequality. A solid example of its genre,
this account of one womans stubborn de-
termination will appeal to romance aficio-
nados and historical devotees alike.
The Art: Frost and Flame
David Newman, illustrated by Laura Juncker.
Keating & Guthrie, 99 e-book (72p) ISBN 978-
1-63173-409-0
Kenton Fassler wakes up in a hospital
bed with no idea how he got there. A doc-
tor informs him that hes been in a coma
for a week and was legally dead. As hes
trying to process this information, a man
bursts into his room and tells him that
they have to escape. Beyonders, giant ice
creatures bent on death and destruction,
are chasing them. It
turns out that dying
and returning has
turned Kenton into a
sorcererand now
he has to learn how
to control his art to
save his life. New-
mans novella is fast
paced and the Beyon-
ders are truly terrifying. While readers
will empathize with Kenton, they arent
given enough time to get a complete sense
of his world in this slim volume. Still,
there is enough here to hook readers on
the books basic premise and get them
ready to read the next installment.
The Awareness
Gene Stone and Jon Doyle. The Stone Press,
$14.95 paper (221p) ISBN 978-0-615-94464-7
Across the globe, nonhuman mammals
suddenly gain humanlike awareness: an
understanding of themselves, the world
around them, and the way in which they
have been exploited by humanity for cen-
turies. Soon war begins, with the newly
awakened animals attempting to kill the
human population, which is caught off
guard by the attack, but quickly begins to
fight back. The novel is told from the per-
spective of four animals: a circus elephant,
a slaughterhouse
pig, a wild bear, and
faithful pet dog. The
premise is a fascinat-
ing one, but the au-
thors offer no expla-
nation for the ani-
mals sudden intelli-
genceand this will
prevent many read-
ers from buying into the narrative. Addi-
tionally, the books ending is rushed, and
the use of four protagonists hampers readers
ability to engage fully with any of them.
Still, this novel is thought provoking and
will make readers question their relation-
ships with animals and the planet.
The Dark One: Dark KnightThe
De Russe Legacy
Kathryn Le Veque. Dragonblade Publishing,
$27.99 paper (772p) ISBN 978-1-4936-4098-0
In Le Veques lively novel set in 15th-
century England, a battle-weary knight
falls for a beautiful lady. After a crushing
defeat, Sir Guy Stoneley is imprisoned in
the White Tower, leaving his fortress of
Mt. Holyoak Castle without adequate de-
fenders. When the fortress is captured by
the notorious Dark Knight, aka Gaston de
Russe, Lady Stoneley is resigned to face
him. But Lady Stoneley is surprised at the
knights tenderness, as she and her sisters
suffered much abuse from her husband. As
Gaston becomes en-
amored of Lady
Stoneleys beauty
and spirit, the two
become lovers
with their roman-
tic, sensuous inter-
ludes forming one
of the highlights of
the book. Much of
the novels drama stems from Remington
and Gastons quest to overcome the obsta-
cles that threaten their future together.
And as they seek an annulment for Lady
Stoneley, their love is truly tested. Le
Veques novel is a winning epic complete
with knights and damsels in distress.
The Flies of August
P.J. Lee. Saltwater Publishing, $9.49 paper
(287p) ISBN 978-0-9894588-0-1
Donna Bradley is a rookie police detec-
R E V I E W S
tive in Webster, Conn., tasked with find-
ing Amber Zajac, a missing teenager.
Meanwhile, the local police are investigat-
ing the murder of affluent insurance exec-
utive Nathan Weisz. As Donna works to
piece together Ambers secrets, she comes
to realize that the
two cases may be
linked. Lees murder
mystery has a strong
protagonist, a sleepy
town, surprise
twists, and a strong
undercurrent of class
tension that serves to
highlight the fact that justice and the law
are not the same thing. Donnas personal
troubles add color to the story, and readers
will find this an enjoyable whodunit.
The Jasmine Tree: Love in the
Time of Revolutions
Maha Khalid. CreateSpace, $12.99 paper
(246p) ISBN 978-1-4954-9163-4
In Khalids overly sentimental novel,
set in Cairo during the recent Egyptian
Revolution, an Arab woman with a tragic
past meets an American journalist at a
political protest. The two fall in love, but
politics, life, and love are never straight-
forward. From Cairo to Beirut, Khalids
heroine deals with
the vicissitudes of
Middle Eastern poli-
tics and prejudices.
Unfortunately, the
promising theme of
spiritual love quickly
fizzles into a repeti-
tive tale of loss. The
book features potent
images of victimization and interesting
philosophical questions about the nature
of relationships, but its hampered by an
awkward narrative structure.
The Kramski Case
J.J. Ward. FeedARead, $14.95 paper (352p)
ISBN 978-1-78299-895-2
When a series of paparazzi are murdered
in America, England, and Russia, a covert
team of operatives is formed to investigate
the crimes. Lt. Det. Commander David
Bronstein of the NYPD, Insp. Jonathan
Hartley-Brown from Londons Metropoli-
tan Police, and a Russian patriot with a
criminal past named
Col. Orlov try to un-
cover a connection be-
tween the paparazzi
murders. But what
they discover is inter-
national espionage and
a vast, sinister conspir-
acy. Wards plot is ex-
tremely difficult to
follow, and the books final payoff is disap-
pointing. While the author maintains ten-
sion effectively throughout and the well-
developed supporting characters are given
room to shine, this isnt enough to make
up for the confusing and illogical plot.
This Is Where It Gets Interesting:
Stories
John H. Matthews. Six Slug Books, $13.99
paper (202p) ISBN 978-0-615-64475-2
Some stories in Matthewss entertain-
ing collection are wacky and imbued with
dark humor, while others are heartwarm-
ing examinations of humanity. Still others
focus on characters that could be taken
straight from the pages of comic books.
In Stormbringer, a young man awakens
to discover hes been transformed into a
giant Norse warrior. Hero is about a
character named Dr. Mayhem who sets
about to terrorize America. In Bullets
Have No Effect, a seemingly immortal
death row inmate defies the states at-
tempts to put him to death. Visiting spir-
its and ghosts inhabit many of these sto-
ries and often serve as mediums for life-
affirming messages to the living. The
strongest stories are those that are less
quirky. The Wall is an examination of
modern-day class
segregation, gated
communities, and a
suspect security ap-
paratus. And
Mercurochrome
a haunting story set
in a small neighbor-
hood below a sec-
tion of highway that
is the site of many deadly accidentsex-
plores human reactions to tragedy. Mat-
thewss stories are more charming than af-
fecting, but theyll certainly appeal to
anyone looking for humorous, fun read-
ing.
Nonfiction
Headwinds: The Dead Reckoning
of the Heart
Thomas A. Reis, AuthorHouse, $16.95 paper
(198p) ISBN 978-1-4918-1952-4
In this uneven memoir, Reis describes
the ups and downs of his fascinating life.
Though born with physical disabilities,
he became a skilled Little League player.
Though he hated school and considered
himself an intellectual lightweight, hes
now a professor of human services at Inver
Hills Community College in Inver Grove
Heights, Minn. At the heart of the book
is the story of how
Reiswho suffered
from low self-es-
teemdecided to
bike solo across the
U.S. the summer
after his college
graduation. The au-
thor recalls that
journey throughout
the book, sometimes with humor, some-
times with travelogue descriptions, and
occasionally with confusing detours. The
last quarter of the narrative is the stron-
gest, with Reis documenting his chops as
a professor and describing topics and ex-
ercises he employs in his popular college
courses. But the book fails to completely
explain why Reiss cross-country bike
tripa magnificent accomplishment,
certainly, but one that occurred 30 years
agois responsible for his self-confidence
today.
Horse Vet: Chronicles of a Mobile
Veterinarian
Courtney S. Diehl. BookCrafters, $12.95 pa-
per (179p) ISBN 978-1-937862-66-4
Equine veterinarian Diehl presents a
fascinating account of her life and work
that should be re-
quired reading for
anyone interested in
a career in veteri-
nary medicine. The
author has been a
mobile vet for most
of her career, driv-
ing around the Col-
orado Rockies and
R E V I E W S
Picture Books
Every Turtle Counts
Sara Hoagland Hunter, illus. by Susan
Spellman. Peter E. Randall Publisher
(www.PERpublisher.com), $16.95 (36p) ISBN
978-1-931807-25-8
Hunter (The Lighthouse Santa) introduces
a seven-year-old autistic girl named Mimi,
who discovers a sea turtle on the beach in
Cape Cod and refuses to leave it there.
Dead as a doornail, insists one of the lo-
cals, but a representative of the Massachu-
setts Audubon Society gives Mimi hope
when hes called to pick up the turtle: it
may just be cold-shocked after being
trapped in the waters of the cape. Hunter
gives an honest, unsentimental portrait of
Mimis developmental difficulties, and the
emotional range of Spellmans (Oscar the
Herring Gull) wa-
tercolors under-
score the impor-
tant connection
Mimi makes with
the rescued turtle,
Ridley 3. After
Ridley 3 is moved
to an aquarium to
rehabilitate, Mimi tries to help feed it with
tongs. Eat, turtle, she said, tickling the
sides of its mouth.... It was the first time
Mimi had ever put her own sentence to-
gether. In a moving epilogue set 30 years
in the future, Mimi re-appears as an adult
scientist, driving home the idea that the
oft-repeated message of the title applies to
more than just turtles. Ages 59.
Fiction
The Sword of Demelza
J.E. Rogers, illus. by Guy Atherfold and
William Hulbert. Acadia Publishing Group,
$12.95 paper (338p) ISBN 978-0-615-70994-9
In this entertaining debut, Rogers uses
her love of Australian wildlife to deliver a
rousing Redwallesque fantasy, in which a
coalition of creatures embarks on an epic
quest. Erik and Emma, kowarie siblings,
must gather the ingredients to brew a po-
tion to save their mother, who is dying
from the bite of a brown snake. Theyre
sidetracked when they meet Devon, a red
fox looking to avenge the deaths of the
bilby monks who raised him from child-
hood; this brings them into alliance with
R E V I E W S
Childrens
Books
working out of a large truck
that accommodates her med-
ical equipment, her hus-
band, and their two small daughters. In
this lively memoir, she describes her love
of animals, medicine, and science. Diehls
colorful stories cover everything from the
humorous to the humiliating, with tales
of equine gunshot wounds, castration, ar-
tificial insemination, and moon blind-
ness. Animal lovers will find a lot to like
here.
NOCNon-Official Cover:
British Secret Operations
Nicholas Anderson. Miura!, $19 paper (383p)
ISBN 978-1-4929-7847-3
Writing under a pseudonym, a former
spy irreverently dissects his work for Brit-
ains Secret Intelligence Service (MI6),
where he worked between 1973 and
1993, in this documentary thriller.
Scoffing at the
glamorous James
Bond image, the
author summariz-
es the world of in-
telligence as a dis-
mal struggle
among predators.
Despite his con-
scious straddling
of the border be-
tween fact and fiction, Anderson presents
scenes vividly, including his break-in to a
Libyan chemical weapons plant and his
encounters with famed terrorist Carlos
the Jackal. The author moves from the in-
tricacies of espionage to the money-hun-
gry machinations of pharmaceutical com-
panies. His theme here is not espionage as
such, but rather his life as a spy. And, the
experiences he describes in the first per-
son infuse his work with an informed, if
disenchanted, perspective that will appeal
to anyone interested in the world of intel-
ligence operations.
a rebel army amassed
against the tyranni-
cal king Cynric and
his vicious thylacine
enforcer, Flitch.
While the
elements of the story
are all familiar, Rog-
ers gives it a twist
with her use of exotic and often endan-
gered species, crafting an adventure that
fits right in the anthropomorphic animal
fantasy mold. The story is accompanied
by a number of finely detailed pencil il-
lustrations by Atherfold and Hulbert,
which help bring the odd creatures to life
and allow readers to properly envision
sword-wielding marsupials and wombat-
riding warriors. Ages 612.
The Casquette Girls
Alys Arden. FortheARTofit Publishing, $3.99
e-book (522p) ISBN 978-0-9897577-2-0
In this Southern Gothic love letter to
the spookier side of New Orleanss storied
past, Arden spins out a moody tale of
magic and mystery, set against the back-
drop of a city recovering from disaster.
Two months after a massive hurricane
nearly destroys New Orleans, 16-year-old
Adele Le Moyne and her artist father re-
turn to a half-underwater home, where re-
building goes hand in hand with curfews
and scavenging. As Adele tries to return
to normal, shes swept up in inexplicable
events, with strange
people drifting in
and out of her life
and bodies turning
up like clockwork.
Adele finally discov-
ers that the French
Quarter is home to a
clan of vampires and
that only she, as a
descendant of the
coven that originally cursed them, can
break the centuries-old spell that holds
them there. The sense of place and weight
of history are strong in this slow-burning
dark fantasy, filled with colorful charac-
ters and growing tension. While the cast
occasionally grows unwieldy and the story
can get convoluted, its still a thoroughly
satisfying page-turner and a strong debut
for Arden. Ages 12up.
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