Looking for Noir? Try 'Bangkok Noir' for the Kids

First of all, just so I'm clear, this isn't a review of the short story collection BANGKOK NOIR.

However, I wanted to tell you about the book, because (like I said here) I thought it was important to do so.

The thing is half the royalties from sales will go toward charities that work with Bangkok’s poorest kids. These are children who live in poverty that most people living in industrialized nations can't even begin to imagine.

If you'd like more details, please check out Timothy Hallinan's blog, where I found out about this project.

I've already downloaded my own copy, and fully intend to read it. So be on the lookout for a possible review to follow, at a time to be determined.

A New Audiobook is Born!

Although I tend to blog a lot about ebooks because I publish my work in that format and make most of my money off them, I still publish my work in other formats, as well. Other formats being limited to print, up until now. However, that changed yesterday!

My first novel the New York Times bestseller (have I mentioned that enough times? lol) IDENTITY CRISIS has been released as an audiobook through Perfect Voices! Check out the awesome cover!

You can order it right now at Crossroad Press or SpringBrook Digital. You can also listen to a sample of the awesome reading done by the amazing Melba Sibrel on both sites. Do check it out — I don't think I could’ve picked a better reader for my book — seriously!

And be on the lookout for the audio version of the book to pop up on Amazon eventually. I'll let you know when that happens. Natch! :)

A Tempest in 'Three Cups of Tea'

Once again, we have what appears to be a true account that is allegedly not completely accurate.

When I saw this article's headline, I was a bit dismayed, because I found the book THREE CUPS OF TEA to be highly inspirational.

However, if you actually read the article you'll see the accounts being called into question don't pertain so much to the mission of Greg Mortenson's organization as how well he runs it, along with certain other aspects of his story that aren't relevant to it.

Now ... given that many people don't bother reading past the first few paragraphs of a news article. And given that none other than Jon Krakauer, who wrote the bestseller INTO THIN AIR, has stated of Mortenson's book (and I quote): "It's a beautiful story, and it's a lie."

Given all that, please read the entire story. And consider the bigger picture. Thank you.

And I'm not just saying that because I happened to like this book very much.

The Scariest Story Ever ...

And now, dear reader, prepare for the horrible truth. Why do people tell stories?

In the case of one person, it was to scare the living sh*t out of her sister. Read the story in Hyperbole and a Half to see how well that turned out.

BTW, thanks to grandhello for pointing this one out in the comments to this post. :)

50 Quintessential British Novels

Having previously written a post about 50 quintessential American novels, it seemed only fair to grant equal time to another country.

As it happens, I've come across an article listing 50 quintessential British novels. My, how convenient! :)

Many of my own favorites are on this list. THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE, POSSESSION, LORD OF THE RINGS, 1984 and BRAVE NEW WORLD, just to name a few. And SHERLOCK HOLMES, of course.

Incidentally, my decision to write this post has nothing to do with this rather stunning news at all.

Libraries: It's All About the Information

Here's a thought. What would you say to the notion of a library without books?

Too radical by far? Let's stop and consider for a moment. In this case, Newport Beach, CA is toying with the idea of ridding one of its library's branches of books as a cost cutting measure. Keep in mind public libraries don't usually have a lot of bucks in their budgets to throw around. So ... what to do? Particularly when (as in this case) a collection is underutilized, i.e., just sitting there and gathering dust.

Besides, libraries are really more than book repositories. They are community gathering places. Places to find information, whether it be in print or electronic databases.

Besides, what with the increasing availability of options like this, how long before a print book collection becomes too costly and cumbersome to maintain? Just wondering.

Bummer. Because I really do like print books still. Honest.

Politics and Prose: Why Community Bookstores Matter

As a reader (and even as an author) I'm a huge fan of bookstores. Particularly small independent bookstores that cater to community interests. Bookstores that become gathering places for people or "hang outs," if you will.

Recently, one DC-area independent bookstore, Politics and Prose, found a buyer. This saved it from getting shuttered. Why does this matter to someone like myself who's making a living selling ebooks like LEAST WANTED, IDENTITY CRISIS and FIVE UNEASY PIECES?

Because bookstores are about more than just the books, in my opinion. They are gathering places where people congregate and exchange rational discourse. Or as often randomly meet.

And I thought this article summed that up nicely.

Call me nuts, but I still like bookstores. Even if they won't carry my print books. :)

Faith and Begorrah, This is Brilliant

Being that I have bugger all to post here today, but not being so blinkered that everything posted here has to be a review or about books as such, you know? Point is, I'm doing something slightly (well, completely) different.

So, you'll pardon me (I hope) if I do this different thing and post a short work of fiction called Brilliant. I ran across this on Twitter, where it was posted in a tweet by @dbgrady. It's Irish and awesome and mentions Dublin. What's not to like? :)

PS: Thank you, Internet.