C.V. Hunt's Blog, page 22

My obsession with Face Off and the season finale.

I finally sat down and watched the season finale of Face Off today. If you remember last season, I fell in love with the werewolf, but sadly, his creator did not win.
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This season I was hoping one of the characters from the finale would grab my attention, but for some reason, I wasn't completely sucked in by one character. 
They revealed the challenge: Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Horror. 
You know automatically I sided with horror, and ended up slightly disappointed. I wanted blood and guts, and it just wasn't there. The only character I really liked was the Hellhound with her face torn back, but even then, she didn't strike me as stunning. Lucifer's face resembled Skeletor from Heman too much for me, and I just couldn't get into him at all. The red eyes on the second Hellhound was cool, but if you remember last year, the werewolf had LED red eyes too.

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I wasn't even interested in the Fantasy characters. They were oddly colorful, but again no one struck me as a favorite. The head piece for the Phoenix was very cool, and the application of the feathers looked painstaking. Mother Nature sort of looked like a goblin, and whoever the guy the coat was just looked like a guy in a coat.

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The Syfy characters had awesome chest pieces, and the paint jobs were great. At first I wasn't into them. I believe the concept was two different aliens, and the middle girl was being slit in two. Then they revealed all three of them standing side-by-side and they meshed well. So overall, I didn't have one single favorite this year, but the Syfy trio was fascinating to see together.
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Phantom Giveaway!

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Goodreads Book Giveaway Phantom by C.V. Hunt Giveaway ends March 31, 2012.
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Your First Amendment Right.

On March 3, 2012 I posted an email from the Founder of Smashwords. In it he revealed how Paypal was planning to ban Smashwords, or have Smashwords enforce a censor on certain erotica books Paypal deemed too offensive. The books Paypal was targeting contained subjects on rape, incest, and bestiality.
In my eyes there are no rules when it comes to creating art.
Although these are subject some find offensive, it's still considered legal fiction. To tell an author they could not publish their book due to the content - I believe - would be an infringement on their first amendment right...
CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW RESPECTING AN ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION, OR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF; OR ABRIDGING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH, OR OF THE PRESS; OR THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE PEACEABLY TO ASSEMBLE, AND TO PETITION THE GOVERNMENT FOR A REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES.The Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution was ratified on December 15, 1791 "Censorship reflects a society's lack of confidence in itself. It is a hallmark of an authoritarian regime . . . ." — Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart, dissenting Ginzberg v. United States, 383 U.S. 463 (1966)"The very purpose of a Bill of Rights was to withdraw certain subjects from the vicissitudes of political controversy, to place them beyond the reach of majorities and officials and to establish them as legal principles to be applied by the courts. One's right to life, liberty, and property, to free speech, a free press, freedom of worship and assembly, and other fundamental rights may not be submitted to vote; they depend on the outcome of no elections." — Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson, West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943)"First Amendment freedoms are most in danger when the government seeks to control thought or to justify its laws for that impermissible end. The right to think is the beginning of freedom, and speech must be protected from the government because speech is the beginning of thought."—Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy,  Ashcroft V. Free Speech Coalition"Men feared witches and burnt women. It is the function of speech to free men from the bondage of irrational fears." — U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis (1856–1941), Whitney v. California, 274 U. S. 357 (1927)Below is a follow up email from the founder of Smashwords.
March 13, 2012
Smashwords author/publisher update:  PayPal Reverses Proposed Censorship

Great news.  Yesterday afternoon I met with PayPal at their office in San Jose, where they informed me of their decision to modify their policies to allow legal fiction.
Effective last night, we rolled back the Smashwords Terms of Service to its pre-February 24 state.
It's been a tumultuous, nerve-wracking few weeks as we worked to protect the right of writers to write and publish legal fiction.  
I would like to express my sincere thanks to Smashwords authors, publishers and customers.  You stood up and made your voice known.  Thank you to every Smashwords author and publisher who wrote me to express opinions, even if we disagreed, and even if you were angry with me. You inspired me to carry your cause forward.  
Smashwords authors, publishers and customers mobilized. You made telephone calls, wrote emails and letters, started and signed petitions, blogged, tweeted, Facebooked and drove the conversation. You made the difference.  Without you, no one would have paid attention. I would also like to thank the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE) and the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC). These three advocacy groups were the first to stand up for our authors, publishers and customers. Their contribution cannot be overstated.  We collaborated with them to build a coalition of like-minded organizations to support our mutual cause. Special kudos to Rainey Reitman of EFF for her energy, enthusiasm and leadership. 
I would also like to thank all the bloggers and journalists out there who helped carry our story forward by lending their platforms to get the story out.  Special thanks to TechCrunch, Slashdot, TechDirt, The Independent (UK), Reuters, Publishers Weekly, Dow Jones, The Digital Reader, CNET, Forbes, GalleyCat & EbookNewser and dozens of others too numerous to mention.  
I would like to thank our friends at PayPal.  They worked with us in good faith as they promised, engaged us in dialogue, made the effort to understand Smashwords and our mission, went to bat for our authors with the credit card companies and banks, and showed the courage to revise their policies.  
This is a big, bold move by PayPal.  It represents a watershed decision that protects the rights of writers to write, publish and distribute legal fiction.  It also protects the rights of readers to purchase and enjoy all fiction in the privacy of their own imagination. It clarifies and rationalizes the role of financial services providers and pulls them out of the business of censoring legal fiction.  
Following implementation of their new policies, PayPal will have the most liberal, pro-First-Amendment policies of the major payment processors.  Will Google Checkout and Checkout by Amazon be next now that the credit card companies have clarified their positions, and have essentially given payment providers the permission to adopt more enlightened policies?  Finally, thanks to Selena Kitt of Excessica and Remittance Girl for helping me to understand and respect all fiction more than I ever have before.
This is a bright day for indie publishing.  In the old world, traditional publishers were the arbiters of literary merit.  Today, thanks to the rise of indie ebooks, the world is moving toward a broader, more inclusive definition of literary merit. Smashwords gives writers the power and freedom to publish.  Merit is decided by your readers.  Just as it should be.

Thanks,
Mark CokerFounderSmashwords

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/markcokerBlog: http://blog.smashwords.com
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Endlessly is finally FREE for Kindle forever!

[image error] For those of you who have been following my writing, or if you've just been following the Endlessly series, you know I've been struggling to make the first book, Endlessly, a permanent FREE download across all channels. My biggest challenge has been Kindle.
I finally got my wish today. Endlessly is now a FREE download for Kindle, and I intend for it to stay that way forever. 
I want to thank anyone who took the time to bombard Amazon and tell them they were the only site still charging for it. 
What are you waiting for? Go get it for FRRREEEEEE!
http://www.amazon.com/Endlessly-ebook/dp/B004OEKFC6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1331639115&sr=8-3 
And as always, if you own a Nook, Sony, or iPad, click the preview button above to claim your free book.
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Book Review: How Gods Bleed by Shane Porteous

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The werewolfking Gorgoza is dead leaving the west in turmoil. With the king's passing it isonly a matter of time before someone has claimed the western empire forthemselves, leaving the east ripe for invasion. Against the werewolf hordes noeastern kingdom stands a chance for survival. 

But all hope is not yet lost for there may be a way to destroy the monsters ofthe west. Such a chance comes from the most unlikely of sources, Cada Varl theImmortal, the being responsible for the creation of the werewolves. 


Accompanied by 6 of the greatest warriors of the great warrior society ofHelluv Cada Varl journeys into the west in the hopes of saving the east fromutter destruction. Facing impossible odds the group must journey across landsthat will offer nothing to them but misery and death. 
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/101158

REVIEW:
First off, Iwill not give this any star rating, because I didn't finish it. I gave How Gods Bleed plenty of time to catchmy attention and draw me in, and gave up after reading 66% of it on my Kindle.
I jumped at thechance to read this after seeing the word werewolf, but quickly found out thatit was more of a Lord Of The Rings/Fantasy/Exploring/Adventure and not theHorror/Blood/Guts/Terror that I usually read. I gave it a chance anyway,knowing I didn't like The Lord Of The Rings books, (I'm sure to never hearthe end of that.) but still found myself trying to drag myself through thisstory, hoping the werewolves would capture my attention. Don't get mecompletely wrong, I like action/fantasy movies, but I can never get into thebooks.
The story lineis basic enough. Cada Varl is an Immortal, and he holds the key to the completedestruction of the werewolf race. He asks for the help from a human society totrack down what he needs to complete this task. What follows is months oftromping through the wilderness, battling stray werewolves, and the mostawkward silent treatment amongst a group of seven people I've ever encountered.
I'm not a hugetalker myself, but this group doesn't have much dialog, and when it does it'smysteriously missing punctuation. Not just a few periods or commas, every lineof dialogue when attributed to a speaker is missing the ending punctuation. I'mnot sure if this was intentional, or an oversight of the author, but none-the-lessbaffling. At one point the book seemed to be missing several pages, and I felt I might have lost some important information there. Along with an overabundance of repetitive sentence starts, I found myself wanting to editthis book more than read it.
The book iscertainly action packed, with whole chapters written showing move by movethrough a battle scene, but it was just too much for me. Every strike betweenopposites was painfully narrated out, not only through every second, but theattacks were broken down into the ten things that were happening in the battlein a nanosecond.
I'd say overallthis book just wasn't meant for me, but with a good editing, there is a crowdof action/fantasy fans out there that would enjoy it. This book has greatpotential if it was executed properly. 

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Book Review: Deadly Reflections by D.H. Sayer

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[image error] 5 out of 5Justin Wells hasa less than perfect life. His parents have recently divorced and he is livingwith his dad, who does nothing but watch TV all day. They've moved into a housethat is falling apart around them. Worst of all, he is attending a new highschool, where everyone treats him like an outcast.

Things don't get any easier for him when he becomes interested in Sarah Ellis,girlfriend of all-star hockey player Brandon Tate, a quick-tempered bully whosoon has it out for Justin.


Right when Justin is starting to make friends and his life is incrementallyimproving, an ancient and mysterious entity is unleashed on the sleepy NewEngland town. After a few suspicious deaths, it becomes apparent that somethingis going on a killing spree.


…something that can only be seen in mirrors.


As the bodies start piling up around them, Justin and his new friends have tofigure out how to stop this terrible force before it picks them off one by one.

http://dhsayer.blogspot.com/

REVIEW:
In a word…mesmerizing. Okay, so I'm a sucker for a paranormal romance every now and then,but Deadly Reflections takes usbeyond paranormal and into a world of horror.
Justin has juststarted a new school. He has begun the awkward walk of being new, and makingfriends. (Sounds slightly familiar right?) He ends up befriending a group ofdiverse guys, and finds himself drawn to a beautiful girl that has recentlybroken up with her all-star super-jock boyfriend. (Oh no, let the butt-kickingcommence.) Suddenly, people start dyeing gruesome deaths, while Justin tries tokeep Sarah safe from her abusive ex-boyfriend.
Even though thestory to Deadly Reflections is familiar, I found myself sucked into it. Aparanormal romance from a man's point of view is hard to come by. I know thatpersonally, I prefer to read a story that comes from the male perspective. Aromance book from a woman is usually entangled with deep emotions, but with aman, it becomes more methodical. It's as if the protagonist is playing chess.The thought process gets caught up in: if I make this move, what will theopposite make in return.
The book equallybrakes up the romance with horror, and not just the horror of a monster that isreflected in mirrors. Sarah has recently broken up with her long-timepossessive and jealous boyfriend, Brandon. Although Brandon's jealous naturestarts out as a simple fist-fight amongst two teen boys, it grows steadilydangerous not only for Justin, but Sarah too.And amongst allof this… there is an unworldly monster - that can't be seen - ripping people toshreds.
If you are intoparanormal romances, and can stomach the darker aspect of horror, then I willtell you to read this. I couldn't put this book down. This makes a great debutfor D.H. Sayer, and I look forward to seeing more.
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Book Review: Rise Of The Steampunk Empire by Barnabas Corbin

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[image error] 4 out of 5A crew of astronauts fall through time to 1832 and areimprisoned by the autocratic Lord Desbois, who demands the secrets of theiradvanced technology - for Lord Desbois has seen the future and he is determinedto prevent it at all costs...
REVIEW:
With all the meaty tidbits of Steampunk infused with asci-fi beginning, Rise Of The SteampunkEmpire is just that.
The story starts with Colonel Mitchell and his crew orbitingin space when an anomaly happens and sucks them back into time. The teamcrash-lands their space craft only to find themselves without all theconveniences of modern-day technology.
They are given an unwelcoming greeting by a group of peoplefrom 1832, as the story is told first person by Sarah Phillips, the only femaleamong the crew. Sarah learns quickly that racism and sexism still run ramped,and the group has appalling accusations hurtled at them.
Once the crew is taken to Lord Desbois, they are stripped oftheir knowledge once Desbois obtains a palm computer from Sarah, which containsthe world's history. Lord Desbois is aghast at what he finds out about what hebelieves is a godless path for the history of the world. Desbois is determinedthat God has sent the crew as a sign, and he exploits their engineeringeducation to build monstrous machines to invade other countries, and put a stopto what is to come.  The story is well written and fast paced, and almost alittle too fast paced at times. The author gives us a look back in time to thethought processes of the 19th century, and how people from thenwould view our world today. The book is a great novella, and a fast read foranyone looking for some Steampunk. 

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STOP CENSORSHIP OF LEGAL FICTION!

I'm doing my part to get the word out. Mark Coker covers it best in the following statement. There are companies out there wanting to censor your fiction. You may not read about the subjects contained within this statement, but what will be next? 

THERE ARE NO RULES WHEN IT COMES TO CREATING ART.

The following is a statement sent out to all Smashwords authors ( I would be one of them):

In case you haven't heard, about two weeks ago, PayPal contacted Smashwords and 
gave us a surprise ultimatum:  Remove all titles containing bestiality, rape or incest, otherwise they threatened to deactivate our PayPal account.  We engaged them in discussions and on Monday they gave us a temporary reprieve as we continue to work in good faith to find a suitable solution. 
PayPal tells us that their crackdown is necessary so that they can remain in compliance with the requirements of the banks and credit card associations (likely Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, though they didn't mention them by name).
Last Friday, I sent the following email to our erotica authors and publishers: https://www.smashwords.com/press/release/27  Then on Monday, I issued an update, and announced we would delay enforcement of PayPal's guidelines so we and PayPal could continue our discussions:  https://www.smashwords.com/press/release/28
THE PROBLEM:
PayPal is asking us to censor legal fiction.  Regardless of how one views topics of rape, bestiality and incest, these topics are pervasive in mainstream fiction. We believe this crackdown is really targeting erotica writers.  This is unfair, and it marks a slippery slope.  We don't want credit card companies or financial institutions telling our authors what they can write and what readers can read. Fiction is fantasy.  It's not real.  It's legal.  

THE SOLUTION:
There's no easy solution.  Legally, PayPal and the credit card companies probably have the right to decide how their services are used. Unfortunately, since they're the moneyrunners, they control the oxygen that feeds digital commerce.
Many Smashwords authors have suggested we find a different payment processor. That's not a good long term solution, because if credit card companies are behind this, they'll eventually force crackdowns elsewhere.  PayPal works well for us. In addition to running all credit card processing at the Smashwords.com store, PayPal is how we pay all our authors outside the U.S.  My conversations with PayPal are ongoing and have been productive, yet I have no illusion that the road ahead will be simple, or that the outcome will be favorable.  

BUILDING A COALITION OF SUPPORT:
Independent advocacy groups are considering taking on the PayPal censorship case. I'm supporting the development of this loose-knit coalition of like-minded groups who believe that censorship of legal fiction should not be allowed. We will grow the coalition. Each group will have its own voice and tactics  I'm working with them because we share a common cause to protect books from censorship.  Earlier today I had conversations with the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE) and the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC).  I briefed them on the Smashwords/PayPal situation, explained the adverse affect this crackdown will have on some of our authors and customers, and shared my intention to continue working with PayPal in a positive manner to move the discussion forward. 
The EFF blogged about the issue a few days ago:  https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/02/legal-censorship-paypal-makes-habit-deciding-what-users-can-read Today, ABFFE and NCAC issued a press release:  http://www.scribd.com/doc/83549049/NCAC-ABFFE-Letter-To-PayPal-eBay-re-Ebook-Refusal-2012
I will not be on the streets with torch in hand calling for PayPal's head, but I will encourage interested parties to get involved and speak their piece.  This is where you come in...

HOW YOU CAN HELP:
Although erotica authors are being targeted, this is an issue that should concern all indie authors. It affects indies disproportionately because indies are the ones pushing the boundaries of fiction. Indies are the ones out there publishing without the (fading) protective patina of a "traditional publisher" to lend them legitimacy. We indies only have each other.
Several Smashwords authors have contacted me to stress that this censorship affects women disproportionately.  Women write a lot of the erotica, and they're also the primary consumers of erotica.  They're also the primary consumers of mainstream romance, which could also come under threat if PayPal and the credit card companies were to overly enforce their too-broad and too-nebulous obsenity clauses (I think this is unlikely, but at the same time, why would dubious consent be okay in mainstream romance but not okay in erotica? If your write paranormal, can your were-creatures not get it on with one another, or is that bestiality?  The insanity needs to stop here. These are not questions an author, publisher or distributor of legal fiction should have to answer.). 
All writers and their readers should stand up and voice their opposition to financial services companies censoring books.  Authors should have the freedom to publish legal fiction, and readers should have the freedom to read what they want. 
These corporations need to hear from you.  Pick up the phone and call them.  Email them.  Start petitions.  Sign petitions.  Blog your opposition to censorship. Encourage your readers to do the same.  Pass the word among your social networks. Contact your favorite bloggers and encourage them to follow this story.  Contact your local newspaper and offer to let them interview you so they can hear a local author's perspective on this story of international significance. If you have connections to mainstream media, encourage them to pick up on the story.  Encourage them to call the credit card companies and pose this simple question, "PayPal says they're trying to enforce the policies of credit card companies.  Why are you censoring legal fiction?"
Below are links to the companies waiting to hear from you. Click the link and you'll find their phone numbers, executive names and postal mailing addresses. Be polite, respectful and professional, and encourage your friends and followers to do the same.  Let them know you want them out of the business of censoring legal fiction. 
Tell the credit card companies you want them to give PayPal permission to sell your ebooks without censorship or discrimination.  Let them know that PayPal's policies are out of step with the major online ebook retailers who already accept your books as they are.  Address your calls, emails (if you can find the email) and paper letters (yes paper!) to the executives.  Post open letters to them on your blog, then tweet and Facebook hyperlinks to your letters.  Force the credit card companies to join the discussion about censorship.  And yes, express your feelings and opinions to PayPal as well.  Don't scream at them.  Ask them to work on your behalf to protect you and your readers from censorship.  Tell them how their proposed censorship will harm you and your fellow writers.
Visa:  http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=V+Profile
American Express: http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=AXP+Profile
MasterCard: http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=MA+Profile
Discover: http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=DFS+Profile
Ebay (owns PayPal):  http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=ebay+Profile
_________
Starting Sunday, if our email systems can handle it, we will send out an email to several hundred thousand registered Smashwords members who are opted in to receive occasional Smashwords service updates.  The email will combine Read an Ebook Week with the censorship call to action.  Let's start a little fire, shall we?
Thank you for your continuing support of Smashwords.  With your help, we can move mountains.
Best wishes,
Mark


Mark CokerFounderSmashwordshttp://smashwords.comblog:  http://blog.smashwords.comtwitter:  http://twitter.com/markcoker

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Me and Zombie like to hang out in the dark.

I did a reading of Danse Macabre, and once again, I reaffirmed I shouldn't perform a reading publicly. You can watch me fall all over myself in the video above. 
The Hand Ramblings section of my page will be getting a face-lift soon. At the moment it is filled with crappy paintings. I decided to compile all those paintings, along with some photography, poems, and short stories, and print them in a crazy mixed anthology called... (you guessed it) Hand Ramblings. A few of the short stories are being edited right now, and I'm still working on better pictures of the paintings. I'm not 100% sure when this will be published, but I imagine within a couple of months. It will be available in print only and exclusively on Amazon. 
Why?
Print Only:Due to it being a color photo book, and a lot of older eReaders are in black and white, it's only fair for the book to be viewed the way I intended the reader to see it.  
Amazon Only:It costs money to distribute books beyond Amazon, and honestly, I've not seen a whole lot of movement of my other books to make it worth it. Yeah, a few books here and there, but not enough to make up for the expense. Besides, this book is more for me, and I really don't think many people will buy it.

100 Demented, Stupid, And Weird Haikus That Make No Sense is finally a free download on Amazon! Yeah! 100 Haikus was part of the reason I decided to make Hand Ramblings. I had people ask where they could obtain it in print. It's only in electronic form because it's seven pages long. But no worries for those who don't have eReaders, it will be included in Hand Ramblings. 


I'm still hounding Amazon about making Endlessly a free download. It's free on Amazon's UK site, but I'm still struggling with them on the US side. I'm hoping they change it soon. It's been months and they're still charging, while other distributors like Nook and iTunes are giving it away.

And lastly, I leave you with a giveaway of Phantom:
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Goodreads Book Giveaway Phantom by C.V. Hunt Giveaway ends March 31, 2012.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter to win If you have trouble viewing, please visit www.authorcvhunt.com, my blog feeds to several other sites. Thank you.

24

What's so special about 24?

24 is two dozen. To some it could be a small number, and toothers it could be an outrageous amount. It could be someone's age. (To be 24again… *sigh*) The number could be devastating or enlightening. I guess it alldepends on the context of when 24 shows up. 24 arrived for me today, andalthough it wasn't completely exhilarating, it made me content. I'm prettyhappy with 24.
On February 19, 2011 Endlesslywas published. I had no idea what to expect. I knew I hadn't written the nextgreat American novel, but I had poured time and money into setting it out intothe world. For some reason, I had this idea I would break even, and then I'dpursue publishing the second book.
Lesson learned: Don't hold your breath.
Yeah… I could have watched paint dry and would have beenmore productive. I continued pounding the keys for Legacy, and figured I might as well go ahead and finish what I'dstarted. I kept waiting to break even, but knew in my heart it wasn't going tohappen for a long time. I finished Legacyand didn't even take a breath before I jumped into Phantom.
Friends started asking when the next book was going to bepublished, and I had to make a decision. Was I going to stand behind my firstpromise, and not go any further until sales broke even with my expenses, or wasI going to dig a bigger hole…?
I grabbed a shovel.
If I was going to crash and burn, I wanted to do itcompletely, with the whole damn plane. I decided to publish the whole trilogy,regardless of the cost. And somewhere toward the end of publishing the trilogy,a short story about a zombie trapped in a closet turned into a novella, and itgot published too.
And now you're asking how 24 is involved with all of this.
February was the one year mark since Endlessly hit the selves… er, um… hit the internet. I guess itmight be on a book shelf somewhere, but I haven't seen it. (Note: If you see iton a bookstore shelf, take a picture and e-mail it to me. I'd be tickled pink.)More than likely, you'll have to have the book store order it for you. Anyway…  one year, I get sidetracked easily. All of myreporting figures show up on a monthly basis, and for the month of February 2012I sold 24 copies of Legacy!
24!
Your responses:
What?Who cares?That's a lot?Only 24?Why are you reporting your Legacy sales?So... what about the other books?Get on with your explanation of why you're so thrilled!
Okay, 24 copies of Legacy,and this is what it means to me. 24 people in the world read Endlessly, and liked it enough to comeback for more. Those 24 people are potential. How so? If they liked my storyenough to continue on, they may also tell their family and friends how much theyliked it. See where I'm going with this? I've spent my money on producing thebooks, and crossed my fingers, hoping that word-of-mouth advertising would helpme.
I look at things, with what I refer to as, apocalyptic statistics.There was an article I read once, it stated only 10% of the population wouldsurvive the zombie apocalypse, and only 1% of those would lead the survivors. Ibelieve I will receive a 10% return customer base, and of those, 1% may tell afriend about my books. That friend has a 50/50 chance of reading my book.
Bleak, I know, but welcome to the world of self-publishing.
24 is the largest return customer number I've seen since allof this started over a year ago. I'm pretty happy with 24, and I got a Tweettoday from a reader saying they would 'do' Jason Zurk after reading Phantom. LOL! Yes ladies, Jason lovesyou too.


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