Famous for fifteen minutes

You may have to move fast to catch me but I am currently featured as Amazon's "Author in the Spotlight".

Of blogs and blogging

I have been wanting to ask this for some time: why do we blog? Having followed various blogs for some time, I have several theories, and would be interested to know if they're correct. I blog because I love writing, and if the WIP is going badly, or I've finished a chapter, or there's something on my mind, blogging feels like work (although of course it isn't). Currently, I'm waiting for my friendly policeman (he who gives advice on things police-related) to have a spare moment, so I'm writing this. How does anyone else feel about their blogs? And do you mind whether or not anyone responds? And lastly, how on earth do bits of blog get onto Google, apparently within minutes (this last addressed to David or Tim, who know about these things)?

Flying Off The Shelves

The limited, numbered edition of Ryan Jahn's Acts of Violence was released yesterday at Goldsboro, but if you didn't pre-order, it's too late to get a copy. Two hundred and fifty sold! Congratulations, Ryan.

Yet Another MNW Format Permutation

For a long time, the MNW books were in a single format--hardcovers with black-spined dust jackets. The only change was the logo of the open book, which always looked to me more like a bat in flight; for the first 14 books, it was black on white, and it then switched to white on black. (Though it inexplicably switched back to black on white for my novel.)

Then MNW decided to try the occasional paperback original.

Ryan David Jahn reports on his blog that there's now a third permutation.

I like it, I think...(but, then, my copy hasn't arrived yet, so I haven't seen it ITRW).

Shorties Rule

This is rubbish reporting, but some guy said last week in an article somewhere that short stories were actually really cool again and publishers liked them once more. I don't know if that's true, but I do know that a good short story is hard to find, and requires the skill and technical ability of a novel.

With that in mind, pop along to my blogmate's new collection of shorties, called, 'The New Goodbye' and enjoy. For free. Oh yes. Not even an instalment plan or a donation needed.

Roger Morris has moved...

Roger Morris has discontinued his long-running Plog and moved it to a new format on his spiffy new website. The link on the sidebar now steers you directly to his new blog, but it's worth a glance around his new site. Very nice indeed.

Congrats to Will!

... who has secured a well-deserved promotion...

Looks like he'll be staying with the crime gang for a bit longer too.

Well done!

Frankfurt

Anybody over there heard anything about Macmillan's plans for/and presence at the Frankfurt Book Fair?

drw