Free Previews

Any writer likes to develop the widest possible readership. A few weeks ago I wrote about my effort to develop "audio" versions of my mysteries.

A few months back I added my first book, UNFORGIVING SHADOWS, to the Amazon program that allows members to download the book for free on an electronic reader. Under that program, Amazon pays authors by the page when people read the "free" book.

I'm currently working to put the opening chapters of my mysteries online. I plan to start with FINAL JUROR, and you can see the special "Free Preview" cover of FINAL JUROR. Readers would be able to download and read the first eight chapters of the book. It should be enough material to allow readers to decide if they like the writing style and are engaged by the story to make a purchase of the full book.

That is my hope.

I've tried to price my books at an affordable price ($2.99). But finding the time to read is often an even bigger barrier.

Hopefully, you'll take a chance and read the preview, buy the book. Dare I hope that you'll recommend it to your friends? :-)

Of course I hope you will because LIFE IS A MYSTERY.

COLD OATH

Here's my latest writing project. It's about half written, with lots of editing and re-writing facing me when it is completed. But I'm excited about this story. It is a standalone suspense novel, not part of my Brad Frame series.

Ryan Caldwell is a freshman journalism student at Brandell College. He's not your typical freshman since he spent five years in the army, including assignments in Afghanistan, before enrolling. He's even landed a job as a reporter for the Bugle, the student newspaper.

Early in the story, the longtime president of the college dies. Ryan makes a bit of a name for himself when he writes a tribute for the former president. But in the aftermath, Ryan finds himself in the middle of the campus struggle to choose the next president.

I don't want to say much more, but as with any good suspense story, you can expect that quite a lot will affect Ryan's life.

For anyone who has ever attended college, campus life is filled with so many memories. It is a time when young people can begin asserting their independence, and they begin to find their way in the world. While college can offer a bit of protection, it is not immune from the same stresses experienced in the rest of the world. I'm hoping that journey for our protagonist will captivate the attention of the reader.

I'm guessing this book will be finished in the summer of 2016. But as we know LIFE IS A MYSTERY. If you have any favorite revelations from your college days that you'd like to share, we would welcome your comments.

Audio books

I've been having conversations with a friend of mine, Matt Dooley, about producing audio versions of my novels.

The truth is that a lot of people are too busy to sit down in front of a book, Kindle, or other electronic device and "read" one of my novels. Putting them in audio format would allow people to hear them.

As you can see, I already have a "prospective cover" for the audio version of UNFORGIVING SHADOWS, but we are at least a few months away from this project being finished.

When I have a sample, I'll be sure to share a link.

I'd be curious to hear what you think about audio books. How frequently do you choose to listen to a book as opposed to reading it? Do you find it suits your busy lifestyle? Are you able to follow a book by listening to, for example, twenty minutes at a time?

Do you have preferences when it comes to the style of the reader? Perhaps, more simply, I could just ask what turns you on or what turns you off about audio books.

Whether I'm reading or listening to a book I prefer large chunks of time in which to digest the story. My favorite time to listen to an audio book is in the car on a long trip. I find it helps take away the tedium of the drive.

As always, I'd like to hear what you think. Because LIFE IS A MYSTERY, so please share your thoughts in the comments section.

Oh... and HAPPY NEW YEAR!