Wednesday, September 23, 2009

From Here to Print

Back in April I posted a sub ops list that included some info on Damnation Books, a new e-book publisher specializing in a variety of dark genre fiction. As with every sub ops list I put together, I hoped it would be of help to writers out there who were looking for that sort of market.

A short time after that a writer overseas e-mailed me to let me know that he had seen the listing on PBW, submitted a manuscript to Damnation Books, and had received an offer. This kind of news always makes me very happy because I want PBW to be a real resource for writers, and you don't get any more real than an offer of publication. The writer and I corresponded a bit and discussed some of the details; I offered some opinions and advice and hoped it would work out for him.

Well, as I found out this week, it did.

This week author Michael McLarnon dropped me a note to let me know that his horror thriller novel, Dark Isle, had been released by Damnation Books in e-book and print format from Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com.

Here's a little more about the story: "On the high seas, a luxury cruise becomes a horrific nightmare at the hands of modern-day pirates. Many on board die but a few manage to escape to a dark isle. In the dark heart of a tropical jungle, in the centre of this mysterious island unmarked on any existing map, Harry and Cassie Carragher are forced to fight for their lives. They make a terrifying discovery and come face to face with their worst fears. The pirates were just the beginning."

See, this is why I never go on cruise ships. I mean, aside from all the throwing up I do the minute I step off dry land.

Michael was kind enough to send me an e-book copy of Dark Isle as thanks, but of course I had to immediately order some print copies for my other-author brag shelf and to give away here. So if you'd like a chance to to read the book along with me, in comments to this post name an author or book you've enjoyed that you discovered online (or if you can't think of one, toss your name in the hat) by midnight EST on Thursday, September 24, 2009. I'll choose five names at random from everyone who participates, and send the winners an unsigned copy of Dark Isle by Michael McLarnon. This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

29 comments:

  1. I just bought my copy off Amazon (the Kindle version) so no need to enter me. :-) I'll just say, though, that I'm a sucker for the excerpts that are at an author's website. That's what I really want to find when I go to the trouble of cruising the internet, looking for a name I've seen on a blog or at B&N.com and Amazon.
    I've picked up a lot of new authors that way, though it's late and my mind isn't giving me specific names.

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  2. Congrats to Michael. One author I discovered online is Shannon Stacey and I hope she's writing another book Right Now.

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  3. Gosh, I wish I could write. I am in awe of those that can. What a great story about your new discovery.

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  4. Hi Lynn,
    I find nearly all my new authors online courtesy of amazon, I often go and look at their suggestions of what other people bought. I discovered Charlaine Harris that way (True Blood is showing on UK tv at the moment).
    PHil Rickman is a UK author I came across by chance searching the internet for something else. He writes kind of supernatural suspense, quite cleverly, there is always an alternative explanation.
    I'd love to win this book, it sounds really great:)

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  5. Now this is another reason why I like reading your blog, results happen. Good on Michael for submitting on a tip off. I think I need to stop procrastinating and actually get mine out there.

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  6. Hooray! I love happy endings.

    No name in hat please because I will buy my own copy.

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  7. Congratulations, Michael!

    Since these days I find most of my new-to-me authors online, listing them would take all day. I found your books through this blog. I started reading books from all the gals who post at Murder She Writes because of their blog. And don't even get me started on the slew of books I've bought from reading agent blogs. =o)

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  8. I've discovered so many authors and books online that I don't even know where to begin. I am a member of a reading forum and we recommend books to each other all the time, which is how I found out about "The Shadow of the Wind" and numerous other books. The first book I can remember buying after reading about it online was Anthony Bourdain's "Kitchen Confidential". Salon.com published an excerpt from it and upon reading it I decided that I wanted to read the book.

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  9. I read THE HUNGER GAMES after seeing so many online wax lyrical over it. I loved it and went right out and bought CATCHING FIRE.

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  10. With blogs I have discovered so many amazing authors. One that is special is Robin Maxwell.

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  11. I found Jeri Smith-Ready through Twitter, mainly because she was such a personable author, and vampire DJ's? Who can resist that hook?

    I'd love the chance to read along. Thanks.

    And Jeri's site is:http://jerismithready.com/

    Please check her out if you have not.

    Carrie

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  12. Rob Thurman for me! I think you commented on her first book Nightlife. All books from her are now automatic buys for me. Another author I just discovered is Elizabeth Chadwick who writes historical fiction. Just read a great story about William Marshall called The Greatest Knight. I found the second book in the series used at Amazon. Most of her books are first published in the UK so are a little harder to come by.

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  13. I discovered mystery writer Jack Bludis on-line.

    Enter me in the drawing, please

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  14. I visit your site everyday, amazing resources, fantastic blog.
    kimikaio@yahoo.com

    Congratulations to Michael!

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  15. I get almost all of my reads from my favorite blogs and I've "discovered" so many authors that I could fill up a page. Limitedly though, my favorite discovery so far has been Anne Bishop's Black Jewels series and C.L. Wilson Tairen Souls series.

    ...and Michael - congratulations on your publication and much success

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  16. Hmm..Jean M. Auel & Diana Gabaldon are authors I discovered on forums. Actually, that's how I heard about the Stardoc books too! The rest, as they say, is history :)

    Christine

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  17. I have started reading many great books through my own seraching online, but most of them came from forums and the like. I have recently gotten into Julie Kenner's Demonhunter books, and also have really enjoyed Holly Lisle's books, especially Last Girl Dancing.

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  18. I loves me some horror. I can't wait to read it!

    Tammy

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  19. That is so cool...congrats Michael!

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  20. I started reading Elizabeth Bear after I got addicted to her blog. Now she's one of my favorite authors.

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  21. I have discovered many writers thanks to the internet: Marjorie Liu, Patricia Briggs, Holly Lisle... And I hope to discover many more XD

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  22. Anonymous5:46 PM

    I find new authors whenever you ask your readers for a list! I think that's how I discovered Anne Aguirre among others.

    Your good deeds are manifest and Michael's success is just one more example! Good for both of you!
    Kathleen

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  23. I've learned about many authors Nora Roberts, Laurel K Hamilton,and Amanda Ashley through various forums throughout the net.

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  24. Anonymous8:21 PM

    Congratulations to Michael!!

    erm.... I discovered you online.
    :-P
    I found that promo site you put up for your first Darkyn and was totally blown away. I sent the link to a bunch of my writer buddies to check out and I've been lurking here ever since. (Whatever happened to that site?)

    I think my web-hostess is fiddling with my blog, i can't seem to sign in with my blogger id.

    Vanessa Jaye

    Aside from you, I discovered a bunch of authors via EC (Lora Leigh, Shiloh Walker, Cristine Warren Rhyannon Bird and others)

    Oh, and J.A. Konrath's Bloody Mary series of books.

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  25. Congrats Michael!

    Authors I've found on-line... the little known Lynn Viehl ;-) whose characters should be declared addictive and Linda Banche, a fantastic time-travel romance author published by Wild Rose Press.

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  26. Please put my name in the hat!

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  27. You!!

    I'd never read anything of yours until I ran across this blog. I'm now a fan of your Stardoc and Darkyn series.

    Btw, ralan.com was unknown to me as well until I read about it here. I've already published one short story in an online magazine I found there.

    So, thank you! I can vouch for the fact that you've been very helpful to me already.

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  28. Anonymous8:26 PM

    Please include my name in the give-away. Thanks

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  29. Anonymous8:40 PM

    I could have sworn I posted a comment here yesterday. Thankfully the deadline isn't up yet!

    Authors found online whose novels I've loved:
    Lynn Viehl
    Holly Lisle
    Joely Sue Burkhart
    Cindy Lynn Speer
    Heather S. Ingemar
    Kim Harrison


    How awesome for Michael McLarnon! Congrats to him for the release and thanks to you PBW for being such a valuable resource to writers.

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