Okay, so I apologize for the lack of posting around here lately.  Life has been busy and I’ve been busy the last two days losing eleven pounds, courtesy of the stomach flu.  Take THAT, P90X!

Anyway, while I’ve been home from work, lying near death on the couch, all of the news channels and the Internet have been abuzz with Amazon’s big fancy announcement about their new tablet/ereader/iPad competitor.  I’ve read probably a dozen articles and seen maybe half a dozen news reports and I still don’t know what the difference is between all of them.  And everyone wants to position them against the iPad, but seeing how stripped down they are, I just don’t really see that.

I own a Kindle.  Honestly, I don’t even know which generation it is.  Got it almost two years ago for Christmas from my parents.  I really like it and I really like having books available at the push of a button.  The prices are somewhat prohibitive at times because traditional publishers haven’t figured it out yet that we aren’t going to pay twelve books for an ebook on a regular basis, but I like the ease of use.

I’ve said all year that this was going to be the holiday period where they really exploded and that we’ll begin to see an ereader of some type in every home.  This announcement seems poised to make that happen.  I think the rapidly changing publishing industry is about to transform at warp speed.

None of what I’m saying is new or original – authors far more informed about ebooks have already espoused all of this – but it’s an interesting position for me to be in when I’ll see two books published within six months of each in what is essentially the traditional model.

So I have a simple question.  How many of you who might’ve purchased Liquid Smoke did so on an ereader?  I know some of you have already mentioned it if you did, but if you haven’t, I’m just curious to find out who is reading me electronically.

Why?

I honestly have no idea.  I’m just curious, I guess.  Nothing scientific or anything like that.  I’m just curious how the book is getting to people.

So if you feel like letting me know…let me know.

So last weekend in St. Louis, the powers that be in the mystery world put on Bouchercon, the annual world mystery convention.  Writers and fans gather to fawn over one another and tell each other how awesome they all are.  They also give out a bunch of awards and one group of awards, The Shamus Awards, are given by the Private Eye Writers of America to the best books published annually in the private eye subgenre of mystery.  They are like the Oscars for private eye novels.  Only cooler.

And I’m happy to tell you that one of my best friends in the whole wide world, Lori Armstrong, won Best Novel for her book NO MERCY.  In case you don’t know, this is kind of a BIG DEAL.  I’m sure she went out and bought a private jet and a pet monkey.  Because that’s how she rolls.

So if you don’t go buy LIQUID SMOKE today, go buy NO MERCY.  Or better yet…BUY BOTH.  Because if you don’t buy one, you will probably perish from the Earth.  Seriously.

So Liquid Smoke’s been out for a few weeks now and like all normal authors, I come home every night and scour the Internet for any words written about it and then cry myself to sleep if anyone said anything bad about it.  And then I pay an assassin to take them out.  Just kidding.  Maybe.

But it’s been out a couple of weeks now and the reviews and comments have been overwhelmingly positive.  So thank you to those that have taken the time to say something nice about the book.  It’s very much appreciated.

One thing that has surprised me, though, is people’s reaction to the ending.  I knew that certain things in the latter half of the book would surprise people, probably even anger those that read the first two books in the series.  The ending is absolutely meant to change Noah’s life and send him on a different path.

But the question I’ve seen in more than a couple of places is whether or not there will be any future Noah books and I found that surprising.

The ending is absolutely different than any other ending I’ve ever written.  It’s not wrapped up with a bow.  Nothing is tidy and in place.  Noah is in a place that he never envisioned himself to be and his life has really been blown to pieces.

But I thought that’s what made it interesting.  There’s no longer anything that’s predictable about him or his life.  All he’s known – and that readers have known – is going to have to change.  As an author, that’s an exciting challenge to undertake.  And as a reader, there’s nothing I like better than a writer who surprises me.

So for the record – yes, there will be more Noah books.  Number Four is currently under construction.  He’s going to be back sooner rather than later, still dealing with the aftermath of Liquid Smoke.  He won’t be the same.  Ever.

But he will be back.

Yeah, I missed Monday.  Look, it’s a busy week for a whole bunch of reasons that I don’t have time to get into.  I know how empty your world is without me – I really do – but you are just gonna have to get over it and make due until life settles down for me.  Because, let’s be honest.  It’s all about me.

So until then…go check out the fabulous Victor Gischler’s interview with me right over here.

When I decided I wanted to learn how to write a book, I found a critique group.  I know, I know.  They aren’t for everyone.  But this one was awesome.  Great mix of personalities with people who not only knew what they were talking about, but who had a genuine interest in helping one another.  The hardest thing about leaving Colorado was leaving them because they were also some of my closest friends.

Last week, one of those people, Jeanne Stein, released the SEVENTH book in her kick ass Anna Strong Chronicles, Crossroads.  Do you like hot female vampires who don’t take crap from anyone?  Do you like them even more if they live in San Diego?  Then you will LOVE these books.  Jeanne and I are both former San Diegans and both write about San Diego because we miss it in many ways.  Jeanne was one of the biggest champions of my first Noah book and I know that I could not have written it without her and the rest of the group.

Go to your favorite book purchasin’ site RIGHT NOW and buy a copy.  You won’t be sorry.  I promise.

 

Happy Labor Day.  Today’s the day we celebrate all of the women who have endured labor!  What?  No?  Oh, well, I’m sure it’s something like that.

First off – our winner from last week’s contest is Jeff Hoyle because he went over to Amazon and wrote a terrifically nice 5 star review.  Also – anyone with the name Jeff is made of awesome.  Jeff – send me your snail mail address at jeffreyshelby at gmail dot com and we’ll arrange for delivery of your fantastic prizes.

Second – I had sweet corn ice cream yesterday.  With honey butter bacon sauce. And you did not.  It.  Was. Brilliant.

Third – it’s Labor Day and as the title says, I’m not going to do any labor.  So now I’m going to rest.  I rename this day Non-Labor Day.

Enjoy your day off!!!

In my never ending quest to bring you more of me, I’ve decided to give away some more books.

I’ll wait while you catch your breath.

Okay, here’s the deal this time:  you don’t have to like me or anything else.  You just have to write a little bit.  Or a lot a bit.  Whichever you prefer.

If you’ve read any of the three Noah books – KILLER SWELL, WICKED BREAK or LIQUID SMOKE – go over to Amazon and write a short review of one.  Or all three.  You write a review between now and Sunday evening, you go into the cereal bowl.  (Actually, not you.  Your NAME goes into the cereal bowl.  I don’t want any of you where I eat my Fruity Pebbles.)   Write one, your name goes in once.  Write one for all three, your name goes in three times.  I’ll pick a winner – or maybe WINNERS – on Monday morning and announce it then.  Winner gets a signed copy of LIQUID SMOKE for FREE.

But, you say, what if I haven’t read any of your books?  Well then I say – what are you waiting for???  GET ON BOARD NOW!!!

But, you say, I am your biggest fan and I’ve actually already read LIQUID SMOKE.  I don’t need a free signed copy.  What else can you offer me?

Wow.  Great question.  Okay, here’s what I can offer you:  remember how I have an alter-ego named Jeffrey Allen who wrote this hilarious little book called STAY AT HOME DEAD that doesn’t come out until January of 2012?  Well, turns out I got a box full of advanced reading copies.  I’ll give you a signed copy of one of those.

HOW DO YOU LIKE THOSE APPLES???

Okay, I’m in Texas so I didn’t experience any of Hurricane Irene this weekend, save, of course, for the masterful coverage provided by the chuckleheads at The Weather Channel.  (Cantore’s clearly getting old because they sent him to NYC, out of harm’s way.  YOU’RE SOFT, CANTORE!!! SOFT!!!)  No, all I experienced was the continuing soul sucking heat that we’ve endured down here for the last, I don’t know, 8 or 9 months.  I blame Rick Perry.

But I digest.  Or digress.  Whatever.

With the inability to get outside, the lack of power and the general inertia that comes with waiting for and enduring a hurricane, it seems like a perfect time to hunker down with a book.  I kept wondering all weekend if ebook sales would spike, due to people having not much else to do other than download books and read. And I wondered if all of those books that have piled up in people’s TBR piles got dusted off and dug into.  Could hurricanes encourage reading????  Do they make us more literate????  SEND CANTORE TO A BOOKSTORE RIGHT AWAY!!!

What did you read during Irene?

Oh and hey – Liquid Smoke is out if you’re into that kind of thing.

(Disclaimer:  Even though LIQUID SMOKE is now available, this post is not about LIQUID SMOKE.  But you should go buy it anyway if you haven’t.  Because if you don’t, it’s quite likely that you’ll be the last one to get it and you know what happens to the last one to get it, right?  ROTTEN EGG, SUCKER!)

When I was in the seventh grade (I think), I had to get glasses.  I was told I had an astigmatism, which, at the time, sounded like a cross between asparagus and asthma and it was IN MY EYES.  Turns out, that’s not what it is at all.  Just meant I had some vision issues and I was going to need glasses for the rest of my life.  I wore them off and on for a number of years – mostly off – and then about ten years ago, I had to start wearing them full time.  I tried contacts but we don’t get along.  So I’ve been wearing glasses for seemingly forever now and my vision has gotten worse as I’ve gotten older and man it totally sucks getting old because, you know, I like to see.  Someday, I will work up the nerve for LASIK.  (But, seriously.  Lasers.  IN MY EYES.)

Anyway, my daughter was diagnosed with a very mild astigmatism about two years ago, but at the time, it didn’t need correcting.  Ever since then, though, she’s complained about blurry vision and usually right after the complaint she says “And when do I get to get glasses?”  Which is really funny because she actually wants them.  It seems that, among her friends, it’s now cool to have glasses.  Which tells me one thing.

Kids today are nerds.

So this week she went back to the eye doctor and he granted her wish.

 

I can’t wait to tell her that there might be asparagus in her eyes.

Okay, I know most of you probably lost sleep this weekend wondering if you won one of the brand spanking new exclusive copies of LIQUID SMOKE that I’m giving away.  Let’s end that sleep deprivation.

First, thanks to all that participated and liked the Facebook page.  Much appreciated and I’m going to update it regularly with reviews and other pertinent information about the books and events I’m participating in.  I won’t bombard you with useless information – I promise.

Second, LIQUID SMOKE is apparently NOW AVAILABLE.  Amazon has begun shipping orders and it’s available for immediate download to your e-reading device.  So if you don’t win – you can go buy if you are just dying to have a copy.  (And fear not – there will be a few more giveaways this week and next.)

Okay, let’s get to our winners…yes, I said winners.  I’m giving away TWO.  Your odds have just been doubled!!!

I put everyone’s name on a piece of paper and put the pieces of paper into the aforementioned cereal bowl.   The two names I pulled were:

Kristi Belcamino and Jennifer Ellis

HORNS TRUMPETS CONFETTI!!!

Email me jeffreyshelby at gmail dot com with your address and I will get the book in the mail to you pronto.

And seriously – thank you all for playing.  I wish I could give a copy to each of you.  You guys are what make the writing gig fun.