Buy the book on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Watch the Sales Ranking figure change. It’s fun. It’s easy. (Er, kinda easy, if you have unlimited resources.) But I still have no clue how the rankings are calculated. Rumor has it that Amazon keeps its formula more closely guarded than Coca Cola does its own. Rumor also has it that the actuarial-type who authored their rankings model was murdered to keep it secret. (Okay. Made that one up. See how far it travels.) All I know is, when a copy sells, either as a paperback or a Kindle eBook, the book gets a higher ranking shortly thereafter in their respective categories. Simple enough.

Need to mention that Jonathan Maberry’s WOLFMAN paperback novelization made it onto the NYT Bestsellers list AND jumped to #1 on the Fictionwise eBook list in the Horror category. Also of note: Jonathan’s THE DRAGON FACTORY, the second in a series that follows on the heels of his very successful PATIENT ZERO, was just released in paperback. Glad to shill for Mr. Maberry. He liked my debut horror novel SCARS ON THE FACE OF GOD enough to provide a nice blurb for it. One of the hardest working talents in the business: novels, graphic novels, novel optioned for TV, short stories. Jonathan does it all and still manages to provide support and feedback to writers just getting started.

Been thinking a lot about self-publishing some short stories of mine at Amazon for distribution as an eBook via their Kindle device. Just read a great blog post by Joe Konrath (writes crime fiction as J. A. Konrath and horror as Jack Kilborn). Joe’s been very successful via the standard publishing model; he has an agent and a publisher and multiple print books to his credit. But he recognizes the incredible potential of eBooks and has gone the self-publisher “rogue” route as well and shares his success here:

http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2010/03/ja-konrath-kindle-sales-30k-ebooks-in.html 

True, Joe’s got a wonderful platform and a growing fan base that is quick to gobble up his work because, after all, the guy can write: crime, horror, twists, humor, and is prolific with all of it. He points out that a good story with a good title, a good cover and a low price will go a long way toward interesting readers in it.

Gonna look into this.

First, the 2010 EPIC Awards will be announced at EPICon’s dinner/reception tonight in New Orleans. I’m not there because, well, I’m here, home in PA, because I wasn’t able to make the trip work for me. Regardless, a lot of very worthy literature published last year will be awarded best-in-category EPIC awards. My SCARS ON THE FACE OF GOD was shortlisted as one of two finalists in eBook Horror, along with Lesli Richardson’s OUT OF THE DARNESS. Side note: SCARS was released first as an eBook then as a paperback, both available on Amazon.

Second, a hello to any co-workers who wander onto my website either because of the “What’s Your Passion?” article in the company newsletter (where I’ll be featured soon) or because of a curiosity due to word-of-mouth re the novel. Very glad you stopped by. Hope you like what you see, or better yet, hope you like what you read. As an FYI I’m on Facebook (as Chris Bauer) so I’d love to hear from you. And yes, there are a number of Chris Bauers out there, one fairly well recognized as an actor (TV, movies) and another as a musician (jazz harmonica). I’m a FB friend with Chris the musician, haven’t tried to locate Chris the actor. While it’s true that no one has ever seen Actor Chris and Novelist Chris together, I’ll dispell the rumors right here and now: we are not the same person.

First book signing is tonight at 7PM at Doylestown Book Shop, Doylestown PA. Debut signing for debut author. Got plenty of peeps coming. Honest. And store folk Shilough & Rachel have been gracious about getting me space up front where customers enter the store so they won’t have to find me. But finding me won’t be an issue: I’ll be the guy with the biggest SEG in the place. (Yes, there’s a potty-mouth word in the acronym but unfortunately it relates to the wrong body part.) Second signing is tomorrow at 3PM at Between Books in Claymont DE, another fine independent. Owner Greg Schauer & I went through a little last minute drama re book availablility but we’re squared away now. Looking forward to meeting his team and their regular customers!

Just learned that my novel SCARS ON THE FACE OF GOD: THE DEVIL’S BIBLE is a finalist for a 2010 EPIC Award (for eBooks, formerly called the EPPIES) in the Horror category. Winner TBA in March at EPICon Convention in New Orleans. Paperback version is available 12/1/2009. Check out the finalists: http://www.epicauthors.com/epicwinners2010.html

Paperback version of my debut novel SCARS ON THE FACE OF GOD is available 12/1. I’ll be signing books at the Doylestown PA Book Shop on Fri 12/11 at 7PM then at Between Books in Claymont DE Sat 12/12 at 3PM. Yeah, I’m nervous. Stop in, say hi, maybe buy a copy. Writers like when you do that.

… and over 160 audio plays. Gotta say that the Well Told Tales podcast of my crime fiction short story “You’re A Moron” has been a good deal. Great exposure. Reading by actor Glen Hallstrom was spot-on. “Free” is good from the listener’s perspective, but how does someone turn this experience into cash? Any ideas?

A note to let folks know that the podcast/audio of my short story “You’re A Moron” went live yesterday on the Well Told Tales website. Sixteen minutes of pulp. R-rated for language. Nice production & casting preceded by an intro from the director/owner of the website. Stop by, take a listen to it or download it for later. You can rate it and comment on it anonymously (or not). Not a contest, just feedback.

I reiterate: R-rated for language and content, this rating earned early in the production.

http://welltoldtales.com/audio

It’s had over 1000 downloads in under 24 hours. I’m liking that.

It’s arranged. I’ll be at the revered Doylestown Book Shop in Doylestown, PA the evening of December 11, 2009, signing copies of SCARS ON THE FACE OF GOD: THE DEVIL’S BIBLE. Nice folks. Great town. Stop in, say hi, buy something. Then buy more somethings from this wonderful local independent book store. Can’t stop in for the signing? Stop in later and pick up a copy or grab one from the standard venues: the publisher’s website (drolleriepress.com), amazon.com, etc. Release date for the print version is now December 1. Yeah, yeah, yeah, a long time coming. Here’s hoping the wait was worth it.