The Future of Books...

Our world & technology changes at a frightening pace! Consider how fast it changed from VHS to DVD. Or from records to CDs. (And now everyone has an MP3 player and it's all about the downloads...)

This article is from Time Magazine - Carolyn Howard-Johnson posted it at her blog yesterday. It's a fascinating look at how fast the book industry is changing:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1873122,00.html

Obviously the concept of the E-book has caught on - there's even a week to celebrate the format:
E Book Week

Read the Time article. Do you agree? Are the big publishers just creaking dinosaurs? Is self-publishing through a vanity press really a viable option? Will free reading material online really become the norm...?

And in other news, the CPSC grants a year stay in lead testing:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09115.html

And now for something completely different...

Think that will be Friday's theme from now on - I've always liked Monty Python!

Around the web today, we have President Obama rooting for the Steelers:
Obama Interview
We're Steelers fans in this household, so we're pulling for them, too!

SPAN just updated information regarding the new lead law:
http://www.spannet.org/cpsia-info-2009.htm
What's going to happen is anybody's guess. I know some publishers who are holding off or discontinuing their children's line. And what about libraries & schools... ?

My good friend and Book 'Em founder, Mark Kearney, is being interviewed by Fran Stewart on "Mystery Matters" today at 10amEST:
http://www.modavox.com/voiceamericacms/WebModules/HostModaview.aspx?HostId=592&ChannelId=1&Flag=1
And on the home front, changed some things here on the blog and spent five hours yesterday packaging up bookmarks! (So I am a little behind on some things...)

Helping an Author

Chester Campbell had a great post today on what people can do to help an author:

http://chestercampbell.blogspot.com/2009/01/10-things-you-can-do-to-help-local.html
(And Ginger told me how to make a link that would open another window, but I have tried it five different ways to no avail - sorry!)

It had some great ideas! I suggested another one, which is offering to give bookmarks to family, friends & co-workers. It's a great way to spread the word! Currently I am offering bookmarks of my two upcoming releases to my fans. Those who request a stack of either (or both) also have a chance to win a free book of their choice. I posted the offer at my site, The Circle of Friends, and sent out a notice. Plus I posted at Deviant Art, FaceBook and MySpace. Another author and I are even exchanging bookmarks! What a fabulous, win-win situation for all involved.

Author Robert Liparulo

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing
Gatekeepers(Dreamhouse Kings #3) Thomas Nelson (January 6, 2009)
by Robert Liparulo

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Robert is an award-winning author of over a thousand published articles and short stories. He is currently a contributing editor for New Man magazine. His work has appeared in Reader's Digest, Travel & Leisure, Modern Bride, Consumers Digest, Chief Executive, and The Arizona Daily Star, among other publications. In addition, he previously worked as a celebrity journalist, interviewing Stephen King, Tom Clancy, Charlton Heston, and others for magazines such as Rocky Road, Preview, and L.A. Weekly.

Robert is an avid scuba diver, swimmer, reader, traveler, and a law enforcement and military enthusiast. He lives in Colorado with his wife and four children.

Robert's first novel painted a scenario so frighteningly real that six Hollywood producers were bidding on movie rights before the novel was completed. His acclaimed debut novel, Comes A Horseman, is being made into a major motion picture by producer Mace Neufeld and his short story "Kill Zone" was featured in the anthology Thriller, edited by James Patterson.

Bob has sold the film rights to his second book, GERM. And he is writing the screenplay for a yet-to-be-written political thriller, which sold to Phoenix Pictures, for Andrew Davis (The Fugitive, The Guardian) to direct!

And his third book Deadfall. debuted to rave reviews!

ABOUT THE BOOK:

In the third novel of this young adult series, the mystery deepens in a house that is more than meets the eye.

The Kings have been in the creepy old place, their new home, for only a few days, but they've experienced enough terror to last a lifetime. And the mystery is growing even more baffling. Shadowy and shifting, the big house conceals doors into other worlds that blur the line between memories and dreams-and the slightest misstep can change history forever.

At least, that's if they believe the trembling old man who shows up claiming to know them. "There's a reason you're in the house," he tells them. "As gatekeepers, we must make sure only those events that are supposed to happen get through to the future."

The problem is that horrors beyond description wait on the other side of those gates. As if that weren't enough, the Kings are also menaced by sinister forces on this side-like the dark, ancient stranger Taksidian, who wants them out now.

It's hard to believe that things could have gotten worse for the King family-but they have. Dad's in handcuffs, the school bully has just found the secret portal that leads from the high school to the house, and Xander is sure he's found Mom, but they can't get back to her. Then Jesse arrives, and he seems to be a virtual Obi Wan of knowledge about the place. But is he the key they need to unlock the secrets, or just a crazy old man?

Dangers are increasing from within and without when Xander makes a startling discovery that explains why they haven't found any rooms that lead to the future. Alongside the threats, though, they're also starting to find some surprising allies.All they have to do is get organized, get psyched, and get Mom. But that isn't nearly as easy as it sounds.

Xander, David, and Toria must venture beyond the gates to save their missing mother-and discover how truly high the stakes have become.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Gatekeepers(Dreamhouse Kings #3), go HERE

What they're saying:
Review

"If you like creepy and mysterious, this is the house for you! Every room opens a door to magic, true horror, and amazing surprises. I loved wandering around in these books. With a house of so many great, haunting stories, why would you ever want to go outside?" --R.L. Stine (Goosebumps)

Review

"A powerhouse storyteller delivers his most fantastic ride yet!"-Ted Dekker, bestselling author of Kiss, Chosen and Infidel

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1595544984