Gordon A. Kessler's Blog, page 6
April 15, 2012
Dead Reckoning eBook is only $2.99 for Kindle on Amazon.com!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0056A2MGO/
dead reckoning Kindle ebook is only $2.99 on Amazon.com!
Filed under: Books on Sale Tagged: Action, Adventure, dead reckoning, Gordon Kessler, james patterson, james rollins, military thriller, Mystery, suspense, tom clancy
April 14, 2012
The Empire, er, uh–Big Publishing Strikes Back, or Apple Double Talk?
Round Two!
It seems a bit like double talk to me, but it sounds like Apple is taking the US DOJ to task, claiming they don’t have anything to do with the publisher industry’s eBook pricing.
However, Simon & Schuster, Hachette and News Corp’s HarperCollins agreed to settle citing that they didn’t want to be involved in a costly legal battle, but none are admitting to wrongdoing or collusion.
On the other hand, Apple, Macmillan, and Penguin Group have not only denied collusion and price-fixing but will likely fight the US DOJ charges.
More on this story is at: http://bit.ly/HHSamK
Filed under: EBooks & EPublishing Tagged: apple, collusion, DOJ, ebooks amazon, ibooks, kindle, kobo, nook, price fixing, publishers
April 11, 2012
Google EBooks Store No More?
What had been hoped to be an excellent way for indie bookstores to compete with all the online eBook retailers, has folded.
Google books announced that they’re quiting their program directed toward helping the small brick and mortar bookstores to easily sell eBooks. This program was anticipated by many to be a much-needed shot in the arm for indie bookstores. With the Google Books’ eBook program, the mom and pop independents would have been able to supplement slumping paper book sales created by the consumers’ ever-increasing trend to purchase eBooks online and, in a small way, would have helped fill the large hole in their retail business caused by Internet sales.
I don’t know about you, but as an indie author, I won’t miss this program. Months ago, I tried to publish my books in eBook form with Google Books, and found their process so tedious and confusing that I gave up.
So how will this affect indie bookstores? How about indie authors?
Here’s an article that explains more:
Filed under: EBooks & EPublishing Tagged: Google books, google ebooks, independent bookstores, indie author, indie bookstores, indie publishing, indie writer
Agency Model vs. Traditional Pricing: EBook Price-Fixers Fixin’ to Settle?
This just in: Apple and five major “price-fixing” publishing houses are fixin’ to settle with the US Justice Department after conspiring to control prices with their “agency model” vs. the standard and traditional way of retail pricing? Maybe. It looks like three of the big five publishers will.
What does this mean for the consumer–the eBook reading public? Maybe a check in the mail for all the over-priced eBooks they bought in the past, and much more reasonable pricing on big name, traditionally published authors’ eBooks in the future.
What does it mean to the “indie” authors who’ve found this time in publishing history to be a welcome boon to their publishing dreams? Perhaps stiffer competition with the brand name authors’ books? Maybe?
What do you think? Give us your dime’s worth–please comment!
But check out in this online Wall Street Journal article, first: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304444604577337573054615152.html
Filed under: EBooks & EPublishing Tagged: agency model, amazon, apple, apple ibooks, bestsellers, ebooks, epublishing, ibooks, indie publishing, kindle, traditional wholesale pricing
BRAINSTORM is only $2.99 in Kindle EBook on Amazon.com!
BRAINSTORM is only $2.99 in Kindle EBook at Amazon.com!
Filed under: Books on Sale, Kessler's Thrillers Tagged: brainstorm, colorado, ebooks, epublishing, gold rush, Gordon Kessler, project stargate, psychic, remote viewing, sci-fi, science fiction, stargate, Thriller
April 9, 2012
More EBook Sales Information–Latest for Early 2012
This is an interesting article that I thought I should pass along about how eBook sales are doing since the holidays, 2011. It’s a bit like I’d mentioned on my last eBook post–when I couldn’t find anyone else giving any evidence of a drop in sales or a saturation of eBooks.
I don’t know that I’d go along with everything that’s said in this article, but it’s “food for thought”. Check it out:
http://www.teleread.com/paul-biba/are-ebook-sales-reaching-a-plateau/
Filed under: EBooks & EPublishing Tagged: 2012 ebook sales, amazon, author, authors guild, barry eisler, brainstorm, createspace, dead reckoning, drop in ebook sales, eBook, ebook sales, ebook sales slump, ebook saturation, ebook saturation point, ePub, epublishing, exclusivity period, free days, free ebook saturation, Gordon Kessler, How I sold 1 million ebooks in 5 months, indie author, indie publishing, indie writer, ja konrath, jezebel, Joe Konrath, John Locke, kindle, Kindle Select, Knight's Ransom, mark coker, promoting ebooks, saturation, scott turow, self-publishing, smashwords, smashwords.com, writer
April 6, 2012
Thriller JEZEBEL is Only $2.99 on Amazon Kindle!
She’s huge and black as a Hellbound night. Tuck your tale and run, Cujo. Don’t even think about it, Baskerville Pup.
JEZEBEL is on the Loose!
And nearly free ($2.99)!
JEZEBEL is on the loose!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0053Y1JFI
Filed under: Books on Sale, Kessler's Thrillers Tagged: baskerville hound, cujo, great dane, horror, hound of the baskervilles, jezebel, kansas, mad dog, Mystery, rabies, suspense, Thriller, wichita
Our Favorite Contemporary Bestselling Authors
I have a number of favorite authors—those stellar bestsellers that are impossible to beat. Many are namebrands, familiar in every household. Most of them are mystery, suspense, action/adventure or thriller authors. Those are the ones that really pull me in. Their novels live in my mind so clearly that I’m drawn in and feel as though I live inside their stories.
I’ve compiled a few of these authors’ fun interviews. Just click on their names. Generally, each one of these heavy-hitters have done multiple interviews over their long careers. I’ve tried to compile their most recent ones.
Tell me what you think. If you’re a reader, these interviews will draw you in—they’ll show you how human, yet how very imaginative, these fine writers are. WARNING: after reading/listening to/watching each of these interviews, you’ll want to buy all of their books. If you’re a writer, these interviews will inspire you to write even better stories.
Do me a favor and add links to better interviews you’ve found as well as those of some of your favorite authors that I haven’t included. Tell us why you like them.
Here’s my list.
Douglas Preston: Author of many bestsellers, including The Codex. He gave me an excellent review on my thriller Brainstorm. Teamed up with Lincoln Childs, they wrote The Relic as well as eleven other thrillers in a series featuring the unforgettable FBI Special Agent Aloysius Pendergast. Now they have another bestselling series out—will it ever stop? I hope not.
James Rollins: Writes the action-packed, bestselling Sigma Force series, as well as many other chart-toppers. He has certainly inspired me—and he’s a heck of a nice guy in person. It doesn’t hurt any that he also gave me a great review for Brainstorm.
Dean Koontz: The biggest influence on my writing career, early on. His imagery and description are second to none. You’ll find some fun audio and video about his golden retriever Trixi, as well as some other really great content, including interviews, on his incredible website.
Stephen King: Who hasn’t this guy influenced and inspired?
James Lee Burke: A great writer whose characterization is unbeatable.
Tess Gerritson: A fun lady who knows how to write great thrillers.
James Patterson (1) & (2): Does anyone not love his Alex Cross novels and the way he can mix Cross’s personal life with the dramatic plot and make it fun and exciting?
Nelson DeMille: I love this guy—a really smooth storyteller who can make you believe anything he writes in his stories.
Clive Cussler: The action/adventure king of thrillers—a true Thrillermaster!
Robert B. Parker: Creator of Spencer and Jesse Stone, now deceased, but what a wonderful storyteller!
I could go on and on, but my brief comments won’t do any of them the least bit of justice. Here are a few more of my favorites:
Nora Roberts (a.k.a. J D Robb)
Dennis Lehane (1) Dennis Lehane (2)
Again, tell me what you think. Add links to better interviews as well as interviews of authors I haven’t included. Have fun!
Filed under: Bestselling Authors' Interviews Tagged: clive cussler, David Baldacci, dean koontz, Dennis Lehane, douglas preston, Elizabeth George, Harlan Coban, J D Robb, james patterson, james rollins, Jeffery Deaver, Jeffrey Deaver, Jim Fusilli, John Connolly, John Grisham, John le Carré, Jonathan Kellerman, Lee Child, Lisa Gardner, Lohn Lescroart, M.J. Rose, Mary Higgins Clark, Michael Connelley, Mystery, Nelson DeMille, Nora Roberts, Phillip Margolin, Robert B. Parker, stephen king, Steve Berry, suspense, Terry Brooks, Thriller
