Lawrence Block's Blog, page 22
June 15, 2012
LARGE PRINT BOOKS...
"Presbyopia. He was squinting at fine print, holding the paper at arm's length, avoiding paperbacks because the print was too small. A week after he got his first pair of reading glasses he started looking for office space. Within a month he'd signed a lease here and given notice at Newbold. I was an assistant in the production department there, on the phone every day arguing with printers while I dreamed about becoming the next Maxwell Perkins and fanning some young spark into the next literary bonfire. 'Ellie,' he said, 'the world is filling up with old farts with weak eyes and there's nothing out there for them to read. Once you get past thirty-odd editions of the Bible, the only large-type books are The Power of Positive Thinking and The Book of Mormon. If this isn't an opportunity I don't know what one is. Why don't you come work for me? You'll never get to meet a real writer or wear out a blue pencil, and I don't figure we'll ever get rich, but I bet we have fun." —The Devil Knows You're Dead, chapter 14The speaker quoted above, the former employer of murder victim Glenn Holtzmann, is a bit player in the eleventh Matthew Scudder novel. She never appeared in later volumes, but I'm apt to think of her when the subject of Large-Print books comes up. And it came up just the other day when a reader emailed wondering what books of mine were available in that format.
Many of them have been at one time or another, I told him, but most have gone out of print, and can be hard to find in the aftermarket. And then I remembered that I had a box of LP editions in the storeroom, and got David on the case. We now have over 25 Large-Print volumes on offer at LB's eBay Bookstore. They're all signed, all fresh and new and unread, and with few exceptions we've got only single copies. Some are hardcover, some are trade paperback; most are US editions but some are from the UK. Some make use of the cover art from the original editions, while others sport new covers that arguably make them collectible.
We decided to keep it simple, and priced everything at $9.99 plus shipping. If you buy several titles, rather than pay on the spot, request that we send you an invoice. That'll reduce your overall shipping charges.
I expect most of these will go in a hurry. As a blog subscriber, you're getting first word, but I'll repeat the announcement in the next newsletter. So, if you're one of those presbyopic folks with whom the world is filling up, you might want to strike (or press your shirt) while the iron is hot. Here's that link again: LARGE-PRINT BOOKS
LB
June 13, 2012
All About Ehrengraf—
I began writing about Martin H. Ehrengraf in "The Ehrengraf Defense," published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine in 1978. By 1994 there were eight stories in all, and ASAP Press published them in a very limited edition; it's available today on collector-book sites for between $250 and $1250. By 2003 I'd written two more, and there the series stood until last week, when I completed an eleventh story, "The Ehrengraf Settlement."
Come Thursday, June 14, starting at 3am Eastern time, and ending exactly 24 hours later, "The Ehrengraf Defense" will be available as a FREE Kindle download. This offer's good everywhere in the world—on amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.de, amazon.fr, amazon.es, and amazon.it.
New to Ehrengraf? The free download will serve as a no-risk introduction. If it's not to your taste, you'll know to stop right there. If you find yourself fond of the dapper little lawyer whose clients all turn out to be innocent, you'll be able to work your way through the other stories at 99¢ apiece.
The new story, "The Ehrengraf Settlement," will cost a little more. Because it's new, and available exclusively for Kindle, it's priced at $2.99.
I think I see a hand out there. Gee, is that Ron Popeil? I thought so! I recognized you right away from your infomercials. Gotta say I love the set of knives. Uh, did you have something to say, Ron?
"But wait---there's more!!!"
I was hoping you'd say that.
See, with the extraordinary formatting help of my friend Jaye Manus, I've put all eleven Ehrengraf stories into a single eVolume, called EHRENGRAF FOR THE DEFENSE. It's a remarkably fine-looking eBook, the virtual equivalent of a finely printed small-press limited edition, and I'm proud to be able to offer it to you. Like the individual stories, it's a Kindle exclusive, and the price is $4.99. (The first ten stories are 99¢ apiece, and the new one is $2.99, so if you bought everything individually it would come to $12.89. So if you like your free download, or if you've been an Ehrengraf enthusiast for a while now, it's pretty much a no-brainer. The complete eBook is a bargain.)
"But wait—there's still more!!!"
You're absolutely right, Ron. There's more in the eBook than the eleven stories, because it also includes Ed Hoch's introductory essay, which originally appeared in the 1994 small-press volume. And I've also tucked in my own afterword to that book, and updated it some in the process. It that cinches it for you, just click here and start reading.
Do I see some other hands up?
I'm an Amazon Prime member. Can I borrow the new book? And if I do, will I be cheating you out of your royalty?
Ah, glad you asked. That's an area where confusion is not hard to come by. Amazon Prime members have as a perk of membership the right to borrow entirely free of charge one eligible book per month, and the eligible titles are comprised of those designated by their publishers as Kindle Select titles, available for no other eReaders. All of the Ehrengraf stories, and the complete book, fit that designation, and are thus available to be borrowed. Borrowing a 99¢ story seems like an unwise use of one's monthly privilege; borrowing the $4.99 Ehrengraf For The Defense is a more attractive proposition.
And authors are compensated for borrows just as they are for sales, so there's no need to feel you're shortchanging me—or anybody else whose book you borrow.
How come all of this is Kindle only? What have you got against Nook? or Kobo? Or Apple? Or Sony Reader?
I don't have anything against any of them, and all my other eBooks are available on all platforms. I decided making Ehrengraf exclusive to Kindle was a worthwhile experiment, and it'll be interesting to see how it works out.
What about print? Will "The Ehrengraf Settlement" ever appear in ink on paper?
Yes, but not for a while. The story's slated for inclusion in Buffalo Noir, Ed Park's entry in Akashic's signature Noir series, and I don't expect the book will be published until early 2013. (If it's earlier, I'll let you know.)
Wait a minute. What the hell do Ehrengraf and Buffalo have to do with each other?
Ah, I guess you didn't realize little Martin Ehrengraf was a Buffalo boy. A handful of readers over the years have sussed out the connection, based on street names endemic to the Queen City of the Lakes. The locale is more evident in the latest story, although even there Buffalo itself is never specifically named. Buffalonians will be pleased to learn that our lad's wretched client lives on Nottingham Terrace, right across from Delaware Park, while Ehrengraf himself has an apartment at the Park Lane and a Court Street office with a view of Niagara Square.
How about the collection of stories? Will we see a printed version?
That'll take longer still. But I think you'll find it worth the wait, because that distinguished small-press publisher, Subterranean Press, will eventually publish Ehrengraf For The Defense , most likely in both trade and limited editions. When? If I had to guess, I'd say late 2013.
And I think that'll do it for now. I want to get this to you—via blog, newsletter, Facebook post, Twitter tweet—in plenty of time for you to take advantage of the free download. Did I mention the offer's good all over the world? And that the twenty-four hour clock starts ticking at 3am Eastern time on Thursday, June 14? I did? I said all that?
Oh. Well, I just said it again, didn't I?
LB
Come Thursday, June 14, starting at 3am Eastern time, and ending exactly 24 hours later, "The Ehrengraf Defense" will be available as a FREE Kindle download. This offer's good everywhere in the world—on amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.de, amazon.fr, amazon.es, and amazon.it.
New to Ehrengraf? The free download will serve as a no-risk introduction. If it's not to your taste, you'll know to stop right there. If you find yourself fond of the dapper little lawyer whose clients all turn out to be innocent, you'll be able to work your way through the other stories at 99¢ apiece.
The new story, "The Ehrengraf Settlement," will cost a little more. Because it's new, and available exclusively for Kindle, it's priced at $2.99.
I think I see a hand out there. Gee, is that Ron Popeil? I thought so! I recognized you right away from your infomercials. Gotta say I love the set of knives. Uh, did you have something to say, Ron?
"But wait---there's more!!!"I was hoping you'd say that.
See, with the extraordinary formatting help of my friend Jaye Manus, I've put all eleven Ehrengraf stories into a single eVolume, called EHRENGRAF FOR THE DEFENSE. It's a remarkably fine-looking eBook, the virtual equivalent of a finely printed small-press limited edition, and I'm proud to be able to offer it to you. Like the individual stories, it's a Kindle exclusive, and the price is $4.99. (The first ten stories are 99¢ apiece, and the new one is $2.99, so if you bought everything individually it would come to $12.89. So if you like your free download, or if you've been an Ehrengraf enthusiast for a while now, it's pretty much a no-brainer. The complete eBook is a bargain.)
"But wait—there's still more!!!"
You're absolutely right, Ron. There's more in the eBook than the eleven stories, because it also includes Ed Hoch's introductory essay, which originally appeared in the 1994 small-press volume. And I've also tucked in my own afterword to that book, and updated it some in the process. It that cinches it for you, just click here and start reading.
Do I see some other hands up?
I'm an Amazon Prime member. Can I borrow the new book? And if I do, will I be cheating you out of your royalty?
Ah, glad you asked. That's an area where confusion is not hard to come by. Amazon Prime members have as a perk of membership the right to borrow entirely free of charge one eligible book per month, and the eligible titles are comprised of those designated by their publishers as Kindle Select titles, available for no other eReaders. All of the Ehrengraf stories, and the complete book, fit that designation, and are thus available to be borrowed. Borrowing a 99¢ story seems like an unwise use of one's monthly privilege; borrowing the $4.99 Ehrengraf For The Defense is a more attractive proposition.
And authors are compensated for borrows just as they are for sales, so there's no need to feel you're shortchanging me—or anybody else whose book you borrow.
How come all of this is Kindle only? What have you got against Nook? or Kobo? Or Apple? Or Sony Reader?
I don't have anything against any of them, and all my other eBooks are available on all platforms. I decided making Ehrengraf exclusive to Kindle was a worthwhile experiment, and it'll be interesting to see how it works out.
What about print? Will "The Ehrengraf Settlement" ever appear in ink on paper?
Yes, but not for a while. The story's slated for inclusion in Buffalo Noir, Ed Park's entry in Akashic's signature Noir series, and I don't expect the book will be published until early 2013. (If it's earlier, I'll let you know.)
Wait a minute. What the hell do Ehrengraf and Buffalo have to do with each other?
Ah, I guess you didn't realize little Martin Ehrengraf was a Buffalo boy. A handful of readers over the years have sussed out the connection, based on street names endemic to the Queen City of the Lakes. The locale is more evident in the latest story, although even there Buffalo itself is never specifically named. Buffalonians will be pleased to learn that our lad's wretched client lives on Nottingham Terrace, right across from Delaware Park, while Ehrengraf himself has an apartment at the Park Lane and a Court Street office with a view of Niagara Square.
How about the collection of stories? Will we see a printed version?
That'll take longer still. But I think you'll find it worth the wait, because that distinguished small-press publisher, Subterranean Press, will eventually publish Ehrengraf For The Defense , most likely in both trade and limited editions. When? If I had to guess, I'd say late 2013.
And I think that'll do it for now. I want to get this to you—via blog, newsletter, Facebook post, Twitter tweet—in plenty of time for you to take advantage of the free download. Did I mention the offer's good all over the world? And that the twenty-four hour clock starts ticking at 3am Eastern time on Thursday, June 14? I did? I said all that?
Oh. Well, I just said it again, didn't I?
LB
June 9, 2012
TGIF, y'all...
On Friday I sent out a newsletter, and if you're a subscriber, there's no need for you to read this post. It's already shown up in your mailbox.
If you don't get my newsletter—and if you'd like to—just send a blank email to lawbloc@gmail.com with GOODREADS in the subject line. That'll get you on the list, but it won't get you this most recent issue. So go ahead and read the post:
LB's TGIF June Newsletter
Ah yes, TGIF, those ever-so-useful initials. Back in my bride's time as a print-and-runway fashion model, TGIF was a handy mnemonic that her fellow models were advised to write on the insoles of their shoes. I'll be happy to tell you what it stood for, but I have other things I need to tell you first.
It's been a busy week—at Book Expo America, at LB's Bookstore, and, remarkably enough, at the computer keyboard, where I actually sat down and wrote something.
Last things first. The new story is entitled "The Ehrengraf Settlement," and you won't be astonished to learn that it features the criminous criminal lawyer, Martin H. Ehrengraf, who never loses a case because all of his clients turn out to be as innocent as he presumes them to be. This is Ehrengraf's 11th appearance since his debut in 1978, and it will soon join its fellows on Kindle. There, because it's brand new, it'll be priced at $2.99. (The others are just 99¢ apiece.)
But why pay $2.99—or even 99¢—for a single story, when you can get all 11 for $4.99? And you will very soon be able to do just that, with the Kindle-publication of Ehrengraf For the Defense as a full-length eBook. It should be available within the week.
Nor need you buy a pig in a poke. Around the time the eBook goes on sale, there'll be a 24-hour window during which the first story in the collection, "The Ehrengraf Defense," will be offered as a free Kindle download. If you like it, you can elect to buy other stories, or grab the complete book. And, if you don't like it, you can save your money and escape unscathed.
At Book Expo America, the publishing industry's annual trade show at the Javits Center, I had the great pleasure of finally meeting Bill Schafer of Subterranean Press. We've been doing business for years, and I have the warmest feelings and highest regard for this superb small-press publisher, yet somehow we never met face to face.
A few days ago we sat down to omelets, at what the Hollywoodenheads would call a power breakfast....
And that's as much of the Goodreads site as I feel justified in taking up. To read the rest (and there's quite a bit with some interesting news and offers) just click here to read the whole newsletter on my blog
If you don't get my newsletter—and if you'd like to—just send a blank email to lawbloc@gmail.com with GOODREADS in the subject line. That'll get you on the list, but it won't get you this most recent issue. So go ahead and read the post:
LB's TGIF June Newsletter
Ah yes, TGIF, those ever-so-useful initials. Back in my bride's time as a print-and-runway fashion model, TGIF was a handy mnemonic that her fellow models were advised to write on the insoles of their shoes. I'll be happy to tell you what it stood for, but I have other things I need to tell you first.
It's been a busy week—at Book Expo America, at LB's Bookstore, and, remarkably enough, at the computer keyboard, where I actually sat down and wrote something.
Last things first. The new story is entitled "The Ehrengraf Settlement," and you won't be astonished to learn that it features the criminous criminal lawyer, Martin H. Ehrengraf, who never loses a case because all of his clients turn out to be as innocent as he presumes them to be. This is Ehrengraf's 11th appearance since his debut in 1978, and it will soon join its fellows on Kindle. There, because it's brand new, it'll be priced at $2.99. (The others are just 99¢ apiece.)
But why pay $2.99—or even 99¢—for a single story, when you can get all 11 for $4.99? And you will very soon be able to do just that, with the Kindle-publication of Ehrengraf For the Defense as a full-length eBook. It should be available within the week.
Nor need you buy a pig in a poke. Around the time the eBook goes on sale, there'll be a 24-hour window during which the first story in the collection, "The Ehrengraf Defense," will be offered as a free Kindle download. If you like it, you can elect to buy other stories, or grab the complete book. And, if you don't like it, you can save your money and escape unscathed.
At Book Expo America, the publishing industry's annual trade show at the Javits Center, I had the great pleasure of finally meeting Bill Schafer of Subterranean Press. We've been doing business for years, and I have the warmest feelings and highest regard for this superb small-press publisher, yet somehow we never met face to face.
A few days ago we sat down to omelets, at what the Hollywoodenheads would call a power breakfast....
And that's as much of the Goodreads site as I feel justified in taking up. To read the rest (and there's quite a bit with some interesting news and offers) just click here to read the whole newsletter on my blog
June 3, 2012
Why an eBook is a book, and why it's not...
Yesterday my friend Jaye Manus, whose blog is indispensable for anyone with a passing interest in self-publishing, and merely incisive and fascinating for everyone else, took off from a remark of Stephen King's that drew a line (albeit a thin one) between eBooks and real books.
I spent some time thinking about Jaye's observations, and it struck me the extent to which eBooks and physical books are very different creatures.
An eBook is entirely functional and insubstantial. It exists for the sole purpose of providing a reading experience, one that is often (though not always) superior to that afforded by the physical book.
Its essential insubstantiality gives it several advantages. I don't have to give it shelf space. It adds no weight to my suitcase. If I want to refer to it again, I don't have to struggle to remember where I put it. I can call it back in an instant—wherever I am. (I did just that a couple of months ago in a flight lounge in Dubai.)
The physical book is also engineered to provide a reading experience, but it is also an object. I can put it on a shelf to help decorate a room, and take it down at will to admire it. It may be an attractive object irrespective of its contents; I have books it pleases me to own, even though I have not the slightest interest in their contents. I have others I've read and know I'll never want to read again, and nevertheless it would pain me to let go of them....
I've extracted the selection above from a much longer post (including much of Jaye's post, which started the whole thing) on my blog page, A Few Words for Writers. I hope y'all will have a look at it, and I wouldn't be surprised if your comments wind up being far more incisive and provocative than my post. Lord knows it wouldn't be the first time...
I spent some time thinking about Jaye's observations, and it struck me the extent to which eBooks and physical books are very different creatures.
An eBook is entirely functional and insubstantial. It exists for the sole purpose of providing a reading experience, one that is often (though not always) superior to that afforded by the physical book.
Its essential insubstantiality gives it several advantages. I don't have to give it shelf space. It adds no weight to my suitcase. If I want to refer to it again, I don't have to struggle to remember where I put it. I can call it back in an instant—wherever I am. (I did just that a couple of months ago in a flight lounge in Dubai.)
The physical book is also engineered to provide a reading experience, but it is also an object. I can put it on a shelf to help decorate a room, and take it down at will to admire it. It may be an attractive object irrespective of its contents; I have books it pleases me to own, even though I have not the slightest interest in their contents. I have others I've read and know I'll never want to read again, and nevertheless it would pain me to let go of them....
I've extracted the selection above from a much longer post (including much of Jaye's post, which started the whole thing) on my blog page, A Few Words for Writers. I hope y'all will have a look at it, and I wouldn't be surprised if your comments wind up being far more incisive and provocative than my post. Lord knows it wouldn't be the first time...
May 31, 2012
Who knew? Another door, another window...
Have to let GoodReaders know about this one!
I'm reluctant to pepper you with announcements, having just yesterday advised you about the new low price on Tanner's Tiger in hardcover, but this one's a steal, and it won't last. HarperCollins has opened a window for us all, dropping the price of the first Bernie Rhodenbarr book, Burglars Can't Be Choosers, to a cool 99¢.
Click away: Kindle Nook Kobo Apple
That's our window, but it won't stay open long. June 11 is the day Choosers pumpkins up to $4.99, and takes all my other HarperCollins eBooks along for the ride. (In the meantime, they're just $3.99—and that's all the Tanners, all the Scudders, all the Kellers, and all the Burglars.)
And the closing door? That would be The Sins of the Fathers, the first Matthew Scudder book, which HarperCollins has priced at 99¢ for a few weeks now. It's officially $3.99 now, but Kindle's been slow to get the memo; if you act fast, you might be able to pick it up right here for 99¢. (But don't let on who told you...)
I'm reluctant to pepper you with announcements, having just yesterday advised you about the new low price on Tanner's Tiger in hardcover, but this one's a steal, and it won't last. HarperCollins has opened a window for us all, dropping the price of the first Bernie Rhodenbarr book, Burglars Can't Be Choosers, to a cool 99¢.Click away: Kindle Nook Kobo Apple
That's our window, but it won't stay open long. June 11 is the day Choosers pumpkins up to $4.99, and takes all my other HarperCollins eBooks along for the ride. (In the meantime, they're just $3.99—and that's all the Tanners, all the Scudders, all the Kellers, and all the Burglars.)
And the closing door? That would be The Sins of the Fathers, the first Matthew Scudder book, which HarperCollins has priced at 99¢ for a few weeks now. It's officially $3.99 now, but Kindle's been slow to get the memo; if you act fast, you might be able to pick it up right here for 99¢. (But don't let on who told you...)
May 30, 2012
Yet another eBay auction...
Here's a blog post that went up yesterday, probably more of interest to collectors than GoodReaders—though I know there's some overlap:
I wrote about this in a newsletter that went out yesterday, but not all of you will have received it. So I'll just tell you briefly that I've put up eleven items for auction on eBay. The listings go live at 9pm Eastern Time tonight (that's Tuesday, May 29) and the five-day auction closes at 9pm, Sunday, June 3.
You'll find full descriptions and photos in the individual eBay listings. Here's what's on offer:
A Stab in the Dark, Arbor House first edition.
A Stab in the Dark, author's original manuscript.
The Triumph of Evil, UK hardcover first.
The Burglar Who Painted Like Mondrian, UK hardcover first.
Me Tanner, You Jane, Macmillan US first edition.
In the Midst of Death, Dell PBO first edition.
The Burglar Who Studied Spinoza, Random House first edition.
Ariel, Arbor House bookplate first edition.
Not Comin Home to You, UK hardcover first.
Such Men Are Dangerous, Macmillan US first edition.
and a big box of 14 audiobooks on cassette.
As always, all lots open at 99¢, and there are no reserves. And we're now able to ship anywhere in the world. Have fun!
LB
To find these at eBay, go here: http://tinyurl.com/6pxuvbf For bargain-priced items, incl. several one-only anthologies starting at $4.99, try this: http://tinyurl.com/7n8az6e
I wrote about this in a newsletter that went out yesterday, but not all of you will have received it. So I'll just tell you briefly that I've put up eleven items for auction on eBay. The listings go live at 9pm Eastern Time tonight (that's Tuesday, May 29) and the five-day auction closes at 9pm, Sunday, June 3.You'll find full descriptions and photos in the individual eBay listings. Here's what's on offer:
A Stab in the Dark, Arbor House first edition.
A Stab in the Dark, author's original manuscript.
The Triumph of Evil, UK hardcover first.
The Burglar Who Painted Like Mondrian, UK hardcover first.
Me Tanner, You Jane, Macmillan US first edition.
In the Midst of Death, Dell PBO first edition.
The Burglar Who Studied Spinoza, Random House first edition.
Ariel, Arbor House bookplate first edition.
Not Comin Home to You, UK hardcover first.
Such Men Are Dangerous, Macmillan US first edition.
and a big box of 14 audiobooks on cassette.
As always, all lots open at 99¢, and there are no reserves. And we're now able to ship anywhere in the world. Have fun!
LB
To find these at eBay, go here: http://tinyurl.com/6pxuvbf For bargain-priced items, incl. several one-only anthologies starting at $4.99, try this: http://tinyurl.com/7n8az6e
May 26, 2012
7 things I've been meaning to tell you:
The people I know who've retired all say the same thing: They've never been so busy as they are now, and they can't imagine how they ever found time for work. Well, I guess I'd better not retire, as I'm already as busy as I ever want to be.
Let me take a minute to bring my GoodReaders up to date...
1. The new eBay store is now able to fill international orders. I posted about it a few days ago: http://lawrenceblock.wordpress.com/20...
2. We've been running some specials in the new store. Here's the lowdown on one of them: http://lawrenceblock.wordpress.com/20...
3. The old website, lawrenceblock.com, is no more; I've moved everything to www.lawrenceblock.wordpress.com, so I can be more responsive and hands-on. Eventually we're hoping to point the old url at the wordpress site, but that's turning out to be complicated. If you try to go to the old site, you'll get a message redirecting you. (That's if everything's working...)
4. There's a new blog page (http://lawrenceblock.wordpress.com/a-...) for posts of interest specifically to writers. Writing the Novel just got a honey of a review from Margaret Yang, so that's where I posted it.
5. The stock in LB's Bookstore changes constantly, as I add new items and somebody snatches up the old ones. You can get a good overview of the store stock at http://lawrenceblock.wordpress.com/lb... where you'll find an up-to-date inventory in a sort of order, with live links to items in the eBay store. Or, of course, you can go straight to eBay (http://stores.ebay.com/LBs-Bookstore) and browse.
6. My thanks to those of you who signed up for my newsletter. If you haven't, and would like to be on the list, just send a blank email to lawbloc@gmail.com with GR-NEWSLETTER in the subject line. (There's a subset of folks who'd like the philatelic updates as well; GR-PHILATELIC will cover all the bases.)
7. Spoilers got some attention in the New York Times the other day, and I shared my own views on the subject at the Mulholland Books website: http://www.mulhollandbooks.com/2012/0...
Seven items strikes me as more than enough. Thanks for GoodReading this!
LB
Let me take a minute to bring my GoodReaders up to date...
1. The new eBay store is now able to fill international orders. I posted about it a few days ago: http://lawrenceblock.wordpress.com/20...
2. We've been running some specials in the new store. Here's the lowdown on one of them: http://lawrenceblock.wordpress.com/20...
3. The old website, lawrenceblock.com, is no more; I've moved everything to www.lawrenceblock.wordpress.com, so I can be more responsive and hands-on. Eventually we're hoping to point the old url at the wordpress site, but that's turning out to be complicated. If you try to go to the old site, you'll get a message redirecting you. (That's if everything's working...)
4. There's a new blog page (http://lawrenceblock.wordpress.com/a-...) for posts of interest specifically to writers. Writing the Novel just got a honey of a review from Margaret Yang, so that's where I posted it.
5. The stock in LB's Bookstore changes constantly, as I add new items and somebody snatches up the old ones. You can get a good overview of the store stock at http://lawrenceblock.wordpress.com/lb... where you'll find an up-to-date inventory in a sort of order, with live links to items in the eBay store. Or, of course, you can go straight to eBay (http://stores.ebay.com/LBs-Bookstore) and browse.
6. My thanks to those of you who signed up for my newsletter. If you haven't, and would like to be on the list, just send a blank email to lawbloc@gmail.com with GR-NEWSLETTER in the subject line. (There's a subset of folks who'd like the philatelic updates as well; GR-PHILATELIC will cover all the bases.)
7. Spoilers got some attention in the New York Times the other day, and I shared my own views on the subject at the Mulholland Books website: http://www.mulhollandbooks.com/2012/0...
Seven items strikes me as more than enough. Thanks for GoodReading this!
LB
May 20, 2012
Two Things:
I'm a little late posting this here, so you may have got the movie news elsewhere. OTOH, the news about the new bookstore is more timely now than it was a few days ago, as I've added a cou0ple dozen titles since then...
I have two things to tell you, and the first is one you may well have already heard. The news broke around noon, and word of mouth got a big helping hand from the social media.
The second, not so much.
(1) A Walk Among the Tombstones, the tenth book in the Matthew Scudder series, is scheduled to begin filming in February. Scott Frank, who wrote the screen adaptation, will direct; the extraordinary Liam Neeson will star as Matthew Scudder.
I couldn't be happier. Neeson as Scudder struck me as a wonderful idea back when I saw him portray Michael Collins in the eponymous film. I can't think of anyone I'd rather see in the role.
(2) If you'll look at the top of your screen, where each of the various pages of this blog site gets its own tab, you'll see one that wasn't there yesterday. It's LB's Bookstore, and I'm pleased to call it to your attention despite the fact that it's very much a work in progress. For years I've had an online bookstore at my website, and a cumbersome thing it's been; I've decided to replace it with an eBay store, and the brand-new shelves of LB's eBay Bookstore are already stocked with 25 titles. (And there may be more by the time you read this.)
There's a link on the blogsite page that goes straight to an eBay master list, and there are individual links on the blog's LB's Bookstore page for each of the individual items on eBay. I can see already that it will make my end of every transaction much simpler, and I believe it will do the same for you. Just find what you liked and click on it, and eBay and PayPal will see to the rest.
That's (1) and (2), and what better way to tie them all together than to point out two fine editions of A Walk Among the Tombstones in the new bookstore? There's Orion's UK hardcover first edition, hard to find on either side of the ocean, and there's the brand-new Telemachus Press trade paperback.
I just thought of (3), but that's enough for now. It'll be in a newsletter which I plan on getting out tomorrow. (And a blank email to lawbloc@gmail.com, with LB-Newsletter in the subject line, will get you on the mailing list.) Meanwhile, though, why not come on over to the store and peek in the window?
Thanks!
LB
I have two things to tell you, and the first is one you may well have already heard. The news broke around noon, and word of mouth got a big helping hand from the social media.
The second, not so much.
(1) A Walk Among the Tombstones, the tenth book in the Matthew Scudder series, is scheduled to begin filming in February. Scott Frank, who wrote the screen adaptation, will direct; the extraordinary Liam Neeson will star as Matthew Scudder.
I couldn't be happier. Neeson as Scudder struck me as a wonderful idea back when I saw him portray Michael Collins in the eponymous film. I can't think of anyone I'd rather see in the role.
(2) If you'll look at the top of your screen, where each of the various pages of this blog site gets its own tab, you'll see one that wasn't there yesterday. It's LB's Bookstore, and I'm pleased to call it to your attention despite the fact that it's very much a work in progress. For years I've had an online bookstore at my website, and a cumbersome thing it's been; I've decided to replace it with an eBay store, and the brand-new shelves of LB's eBay Bookstore are already stocked with 25 titles. (And there may be more by the time you read this.)
There's a link on the blogsite page that goes straight to an eBay master list, and there are individual links on the blog's LB's Bookstore page for each of the individual items on eBay. I can see already that it will make my end of every transaction much simpler, and I believe it will do the same for you. Just find what you liked and click on it, and eBay and PayPal will see to the rest.
That's (1) and (2), and what better way to tie them all together than to point out two fine editions of A Walk Among the Tombstones in the new bookstore? There's Orion's UK hardcover first edition, hard to find on either side of the ocean, and there's the brand-new Telemachus Press trade paperback.
I just thought of (3), but that's enough for now. It'll be in a newsletter which I plan on getting out tomorrow. (And a blank email to lawbloc@gmail.com, with LB-Newsletter in the subject line, will get you on the mailing list.) Meanwhile, though, why not come on over to the store and peek in the window?
Thanks!
LB
May 12, 2012
Good seats going fast!
May 11, 2012
Good Seats Going Fast!
I've been a boxing fan ever since my dad took me to Buffalo's Memorial Auditorium to watch Willie Pep take apart an inoffensive chap named Walter Kolby. It was April of 1946, and I was coming up on my eighth birthday. Willie was 23, and at the time he'd been fighting for six years and would go on for another twenty. The ref stopped it after five rounds, and that was a mercy for Buffalo's own Walter Kolby, who hung up his gloves in 1952 and took a ten-count forty years after that.
Truth to tell, my Frequent Companion is twice the fight fan I am. So we watch a lot of pay-for-view bouts. A while back she reported proudly that she'd booked the show coming up in two weeks. Why so early? Quoth Herself: "I wanted to make sure we got good seats."
All of which is preface to the news that Amazon is taking pre-orders for Hit Me, the fifth Keller novel coming from Mulholland in February. Yes, that's nine months from now. But there are sound reasons to pre-order, even this far in advance—if there's a price increase, you're safe; if there's a lower price, you'll get it; if there's a UPS strike, Jeff Bezos will deliver your copy in person. But I like Lynne's reason the best. You'll get really good seats...
Click here to read the rest of the post on the brand-new Keller's Page
Good Seats Going Fast!
I've been a boxing fan ever since my dad took me to Buffalo's Memorial Auditorium to watch Willie Pep take apart an inoffensive chap named Walter Kolby. It was April of 1946, and I was coming up on my eighth birthday. Willie was 23, and at the time he'd been fighting for six years and would go on for another twenty. The ref stopped it after five rounds, and that was a mercy for Buffalo's own Walter Kolby, who hung up his gloves in 1952 and took a ten-count forty years after that.
Truth to tell, my Frequent Companion is twice the fight fan I am. So we watch a lot of pay-for-view bouts. A while back she reported proudly that she'd booked the show coming up in two weeks. Why so early? Quoth Herself: "I wanted to make sure we got good seats."
All of which is preface to the news that Amazon is taking pre-orders for Hit Me, the fifth Keller novel coming from Mulholland in February. Yes, that's nine months from now. But there are sound reasons to pre-order, even this far in advance—if there's a price increase, you're safe; if there's a lower price, you'll get it; if there's a UPS strike, Jeff Bezos will deliver your copy in person. But I like Lynne's reason the best. You'll get really good seats...Click here to read the rest of the post on the brand-new Keller's Page
May 8, 2012
I'm telling everybody!
So this elderly gentleman is in the confessional, giving a richly detailed account of an affair he's having with a twenty-two year old.
Priest: Excuse me, but from your accent I get the impression that you are Jewish.
Old dude: Yes, I am. So?
Priest: Well, uh, why are you telling me all this?
Old dude: I'm telling everybody!
What I'm telling everybody is that anyone with a Kindle can get the first Martin Ehrengraf story, The Ehrengraf Defense, absolutely free for the next forty-some hours. The deal lasts until 2:59 am on the morning of Thursday, May 10.
I'd understood—and initially reported—that the deal was US-only. But UK and Australian readers tell me they're having no trouble downloading the story, so here's a link to amazon.co.uk
And will this work in France? In Germany? In Spain? In Italy? Try it and see!
And, if it works, don't keep it to yourself. Spread the word. Forward this post to anyone who might be interested. There's no catch, beyond the possibility that you might like the story enough to read others in the series. So take a cue from the old fellow in the confessional. Tell everybody!
Priest: Excuse me, but from your accent I get the impression that you are Jewish.
Old dude: Yes, I am. So?
Priest: Well, uh, why are you telling me all this?
Old dude: I'm telling everybody!
What I'm telling everybody is that anyone with a Kindle can get the first Martin Ehrengraf story, The Ehrengraf Defense, absolutely free for the next forty-some hours. The deal lasts until 2:59 am on the morning of Thursday, May 10.I'd understood—and initially reported—that the deal was US-only. But UK and Australian readers tell me they're having no trouble downloading the story, so here's a link to amazon.co.uk
And will this work in France? In Germany? In Spain? In Italy? Try it and see!
And, if it works, don't keep it to yourself. Spread the word. Forward this post to anyone who might be interested. There's no catch, beyond the possibility that you might like the story enough to read others in the series. So take a cue from the old fellow in the confessional. Tell everybody!
