Last of the Free Ebooks

Because I didn't want them to feel left out, the electronic versions Off For the Sweet Hereafter, Call and Response, & Gospel Hour will be free downloads at Amazon for the next five days. So load up your tablet of choice.

This free-book promotion has turned out to be a great way to bring in new readers, and they are responding by writing reviews. The best possible payback.

For those of you interested in the math, Jerusalem Gap was downloaded 30,026 times in about 36 hours. That's largely thanks to a mention in Bookbub's blast email. Add in the other six titles, and we're crowding 40,000 downloads.

All good, and I'm in the process of actively encouraging Rick Gavin's editor to release Ranchero & Beluga as free downloads ahead of the publication of Nowhere Nice. It's sure to be a tough sell. Dogged short-sightedness helps make publishing the dynamic 19th-century industry it is.

Get your books and enjoy!
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Published on July 19, 2013 03:29
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message 1: by Paul (new)

Paul Milligan I reckon I've every mobi except Short History and Glad News, any chance of Kindle editions of those eventually?


message 2: by T.R. (new)

T.R. Pearson Unfortunately, the rights to those two books haven't yet reverted to me. Viking/Penguin(Random House/Doubleday/Starbucks) and Simon&Schuster are sure to hold onto those novels until they've wrung every last possible penny of profit out of them.

They are available in electronic editions, but they're $12 electronic editions. The same goes for Seaworthy. One day they'll all be mine again, but no time soon, I'm afraid.


message 3: by Mark (new)

Mark I had already looked at Jerusalem Gap on Amazon and read all the new reviews that were posted recently. I was delighted to see that they were all excellent reviews. Hopefully this will encourage others to read your books as well. Thanks again for all the laughs and tears over the years.


message 4: by T.R. (new)

T.R. Pearson Mark wrote: "I had already looked at Jerusalem Gap on Amazon and read all the new reviews that were posted recently. I was delighted to see that they were all excellent reviews. Hopefully this will encourage ot..."
You're very welcome. Yes, it is great to see so many of the new readings writing reviews. Thanks Bookbub.


message 5: by Paul (new)

Paul Milligan Hey! 38! That's one more than last time, isn't it? 32 hours to go. Come on folks $200 isn't a lot if you're talking micro-brewery suds.


message 6: by T.R. (new)

T.R. Pearson That is one more, and in a fraction of the time.


message 7: by Bruce (last edited Jul 22, 2013 09:45AM) (new)

Bruce I work in a small, independent bookstore. I always try to keep Jerusalem Gap (print version) face out and on display. So far, I have always received positive feedback from those to whom I managed to sell it.


message 8: by Paul (new)

Paul Milligan I suppose for Pearson neophytes Jerusalem Gap is an easy in, it's short and relatively to the point, good for toe dipping. (Plus, there is a dog on it.) A digressive brick like Short History could spook the unwary as it takes a bit of perseverance until "the voice" invades your head, never to leave it. I generally recommend "Cry Me a River" which I always felt was the most accessible, but by that stage I had served my time with the first 5 books.


message 9: by Bruce (new)

Bruce Yes, the dog angle definitely helps (although the "Old Yeller" reference is problematic, at least for those who remember "Old Yeller").


message 10: by Paul (new)

Paul Milligan I was traumatized as a child by Jim Reeves' "Old Tige",
another dead dog tale.


message 11: by Paul (new)

Paul Milligan $325 over the brink. You might be able to stretch to a pint of Dickel and a sleeve of saltines.


message 12: by T.R. (new)

T.R. Pearson Paul wrote: "$325 over the brink. You might be able to stretch to a pint of Dickel and a sleeve of saltines."

Once Kickstarter takes its bite, I think I'll be down to just crackers. Nice to see forty pledges, though.


message 13: by Paul (new)

Paul Milligan Congratulations. We did it (albeit at the second attempt). We should have something pretty special next spring and the warm glow of having helped engender it.


message 14: by Paul (new)

Paul Milligan It's official, Kickstarter have taken my money. Ladies and gentlemen, the game is afoot.


message 15: by T.R. (new)

T.R. Pearson Thank you, Paul. I'll spend your money wisely.


message 16: by Andrew (new)

Andrew My money is gone as well, and well spent in my opinion. Hope February comes early. Or Christmas late.


message 17: by T.R. (new)

T.R. Pearson Thanks, Andrew. I intend to put the cash to good use.


message 18: by Paul (new)

Paul Milligan Re-reading "True Cross" on Kindle, I discovered to my equal delight and shame that I didn't finish reading it the 1st time. I think I might have got becalmed by the Venetian interlude, or, as I was gainfully employed at the time, I might have been distracted by pressing cinema projectionist business. In any event, it's like finding a lost book. I won't forget to post a glowing review on Amazon.


message 19: by T.R. (new)

T.R. Pearson Thanks, Paul. I don't remember much about that book -- my defense mechanism kicking in -- so I'll look forward to your review. I'm sure I'll learn something.


message 20: by Paul (new)

Paul Milligan So, it's not 'Cry Me a River", but Paul Tatum will do at a pinch. Do you consider it wanting in some way? I'll move on to "Blue Ridge" next with its split narrative and a third person Ray. 1st person plural "Polar" after that. You do like to vary your tenses.


message 21: by Paul (new)

Paul Milligan I am prone to obsession with trifling details in the wee hours when my glucose level drops to troublesome regions. Last night I grew puzzled by why "Cry Me a River"'s femme fatale would have a dressing table drawer full of polaroids of herself. Surely her prevailing paramour would take the candid snaps and carry them away with him as Wendle did under his sateen flap? If she did take keepsakes they would feature the besotted swains themselves.
Just a thought.


message 22: by T.R. (new)

T.R. Pearson I don't remember anything about that book either. Good question.


message 23: by Paul (new)

Paul Milligan I suppose once you finish a book and go through the editing and proofing process you send it out into the world to fend for itself and, except for promotion signings and readings, you don't ever read it again. It is a reader's job to re-read and nit-pick and carry it around like a talisman and thrust it upon friends and relatives. I'm just a bit surprised that I, and plenty of others like your novels more than you do.


message 24: by Sisiggy (new)

Sisiggy I'm afraid I'm probably the reason they won't release the rights to Short History. It's the book I give as Christmas gifts to new friends. And, Mr. Pearson, you need to know that it is an annual tradition at Christmas at my house that I read the pigeon eradication scene aloud because, no matter how many times I read it, it's still renders me tearful and reaching for an inhaler -- but in a good way. I mean, we know these people and, between you and me, some of us are these people.


message 25: by T.R. (new)

T.R. Pearson Paul wrote: "I suppose once you finish a book and go through the editing and proofing process you send it out into the world to fend for itself and, except for promotion signings and readings, you don't ever re..."

My novels never turn out quite the way I intend for them to. I start each book knowing where it begins and where it ends, and I have to find out everything else along the way. Sometimes I find out better stuff than other times, but at least the experience always keeps me interested. I don't know how other writers do it, but that's the only way I know how.


message 26: by T.R. (new)

T.R. Pearson Jeanne wrote: "I'm afraid I'm probably the reason they won't release the rights to Short History. It's the book I give as Christmas gifts to new friends. And, Mr. Pearson, you need to know that it is an annual tr..."

Yes, Jeanne, it is your fault. But what with everything else you said, I forgive you.


message 27: by Mark (new)

Mark I just finished reading Blue Ridge and have started on Call and Response. Who knew walnuts were so versatile. I got my wife to read Jerusalem Gap, she laughed, she cried, now she has started on Cry Me a River. Hopefully with the exposure on Bookbub more people will find your gems of literary prose.


message 28: by T.R. (new)

T.R. Pearson Mark wrote: "I just finished reading Blue Ridge and have started on Call and Response. Who knew walnuts were so versatile. I got my wife to read Jerusalem Gap, she laughed, she cried, now she has started on Cry..."

Bookbub has been a stroke of very good luck so far. Jerusalem Gap has gotten many generous reviews in the past week or two, and that can only help. I was cleaning out my office today and came across the manuscript of Cry Me A River. Typed pages with extensive edits in pencil. Those were the days -- kind of like being a blacksmith.


message 29: by Cynthia (new)

Cynthia T. R. wrote: "Bookbub has been a stroke of very good luck so far. Jerusalem Gap has gotten many generous reviews in the past week or two, and that can only help. I was cleaning out my office today and came across the manuscript of Cry Me A River. Typed pages with extensive edits in pencil. Those were the days -- kind of like being a blacksmith.

You know, I'm really happy for you that this whole adventure has brought you not only new readers from such an unlikely source, but also launched you on a sort of retrospective journey re where you've been. As years pass, our aging memories fail us in many respects--including our own personal perspectives of our value and worth. I would urge you to revisit some of your older stuff--including the novel I Shall Not Name and Blue Ridge. Fresh eyes and all that. Us Englishy types tend to over read, as you well know, but sometimes we actually don't, and the sterling stuff lies outside the plot. That sounds rather cryptic, but I don't really mean to be. If this is gibberish, feel free to ignore. My skin, like yours, is thick.


message 30: by T.R. (new)

T.R. Pearson Cynthia wrote: "T. R. wrote: "Bookbub has been a stroke of very good luck so far. Jerusalem Gap has gotten many generous reviews in the past week or two, and that can only help. I was cleaning out my office today..."

I can't read my own books. No way, no how. So I guess I'm spared from . . . what are you talking about exactly?


message 31: by Paul (new)

Paul Milligan That's a shame, they really are quite good! When you want to read for pleasure, to whom do you turn? I'm always on the trawl for recommendations.


message 32: by T.R. (new)

T.R. Pearson Joseph Conrad. Strange, I know, but I've read Lord Jim about 15 times. And here's somebody you've never heard of -- W.T. Tyler. Try Rogue's March if you can find it. Or The Man Who Lost the War, The Ants of God, all very good. Graham Greeneish, without the Pope.


message 33: by Cynthia (new)

Cynthia I just reread Heart of Darkness this summer for school this fall, and enjoyed it so much more than I did back in my youth. I'll have to give Lord Jim another whirl as it's been years. I've never heard of Tyler, so I will make a point of checking him/her out.


message 34: by Cynthia (new)

Cynthia Found a copy of Rogue's March by W. T. Tyler. Looking forward to reading it.


message 35: by T.R. (new)

T.R. Pearson Cynthia wrote: "Found a copy of Rogue's March by W. T. Tyler. Looking forward to reading it."

Glad to hear it. In my opinion, that's Tyler's best novel. Very dark, though.


message 36: by Cynthia (last edited Aug 19, 2013 05:55PM) (new)

Cynthia T.R. wrote: Glad to hear it. In my opinion, that's Tyler's best novel. Very dark, though."

Not afraid of the dark. That said, having reread nearly half your oeuvre back to back for going on months now, I can honestly say there's nothing like the fictional equivalent of mainlining to reveal an undeniable melancholia. And since you don't read your own novels, let's just say I would bet you give Tyler at least a little bit of a run for his money.

Tyler's on deck.


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