Archive for the ‘News’ Category

Dray Prescot publishing schedule update

Tuesday, July 15th, 2008

Due to delays in receiving some of the manuscripts from Kenneth Bulmer’s agent, it has become necessary to revise the dates for publication of volumes 46 to 52 of the Dray Prescot books. Dates are now “To Be Confirmed”. I am hopeful that this situation will change very soon.

Publication of Intrigue of Antares [Dray Prescot #44] has gone ahead, but it will not now appear at Fictionwise until Monday, July 21 July 28.

Gangs of Antares [Dray Prescot #45] will also be published everywhere on Monday, July 28.

Scorpio Triumph imminent

Monday, June 16th, 2008

Just a short post to let you know that Scorpio Triumph, volume 43 of the Dray Prescot series, will be available on Monday 23rd June 2008 (all being well) and volumes 44 and 45 will follow at fortnightly intervals. There is no news on subsequent titles at the moment.

Mushroom eBooks for free from WOWIO!

Friday, May 30th, 2008

Wowio logoI am pleased to announce that Mushroom has signed up with WOWIO to offer some of our titles for free. The books are advertising supported, which involves two or three ads placed at the beginning and end of the book — there are no adverts placed to interrupt the reading experience at all. Mushroom receives a small remuneration from Wowio for each download, which we split with the author. Unfortunately, Wowio is only available in North America at the moment, but is hoping to make the service available internationally in the future. The books are available in PDF format, which can be read on desktops and laptops with Adobe Reader or other PDF viewers, and on some portable devices, such as the Sony Reader and Palm, using appropriate software.

We currently have titles by Roger Taylor, Moyra Caldecott and Dennis Radha-Rose available, and they provide an opportunity to sample these authors with something more substantial than the usual two or three chapters.

About WOWIO

What is WOWIO?

WOWIO is our passion. A passion for books. A passion for reading. A passion for removing barriers and expanding access to the written word. Ultimately, it’s passion for FREE BOOKS + FREE MINDS.

Our Goals

Our business goal is to build a unique and viable company that creates valued relationships between readers, sponsors, and publishers.
Our community goal is to dramatically expand access to written works by eliminating the economic, geographic, and logistical barriers while also ensuring fair compensation for publishers.

A Win-Win-Win Community

Authors and artists work hard to create their books and should receive fair compensation. WOWIO introduces sponsors as the primary source of compensation. Readers get books for free. Sponsors get opportunities to establish valued relationships with readers. Authors, artists, and their publishers get fair compensation. It’s a win-win-win for the WOWIO community — where each group willingly gives a little to get something in return.

Respect for Readers

As book fanatics, we revere the sanctity of books and the purity of the reading experience. Therefore, our inclusion of sponsors in the WOWIO community does not mean ads are indiscriminately placed in books. Instead, WOWIO appoints a sole sponsor who willingly covers the cost of the book in exchange for an opportunity to establish a meaningful connection with an appreciative reader. It’s about sponsors earning a reader’s respect by honoring their reading experience.

Respect for Sponsors

Traditional advertising shouts its message whether anyone wants to hear it and whether or not it is relevant. By contrast, WOWIO sponsorships are targeted by readers’ own pre-selected preferences — delivering messages that are more relevant. With WOWIO, it’s about sponsorships being a tool for awareness, rather than intrusion. It’s about readers having a say in the messages they see. And it’s about a mutual respect between sponsors and readers that results in unprecedented brand loyalty.

Respect for Publishers

Authors, artists, and their publishers are at risk in today’s digital world. Their passion and hard work is often trivialized by those seeking free access above fair compensation. WOWIO works to undermine this piracy by creating a sustainable micro-economy where books are free and their creators still get compensated. It’s simply about readers respecting the work of authors and artists by supporting the sponsors who pay them.

About WOWIO

WOWIO is today the only source where readers can legally download high-quality copyrighted ebooks from leading publishers for free. Readers have access to a wide range of offerings, including works of classic literature, college textbooks, comic books, and popular fiction and non-fiction titles.
WOWIO opened on the World Wide Web in August 2006. It is a privately owned company with headquarters in Houston, Texas.

Scorpio Triumph delayed (again)

Thursday, May 15th, 2008

I am very sorry to announce that Scorpio Triumph by Alan Burt Akers, volume 43 of the Dray Prescot series, is delayed again. Subsequent titles may also be delayed, although I will do everything in my power to publish them all as near to their previously announced dates as possible, and have them all published by Christmas, as originally intended. Realistically, it is unlikely that Scorpio Triumph will be available much before the end of June. As soon as I receive the manuscripts, I will issue a revised publication schedule.

Mushroom eBooks on the Amazon Kindle

Wednesday, December 12th, 2007

21l4uisv3yl_aa_sl160_.jpgThe Amazon Kindle ebook reader has been available for a couple of weeks now. It has had mixed reviews, although the trend seems to be that the negative reviews are from people who don’t own the device, and the good reviews are from people who do own it.

All Mushroom eBooks titles are available for the Kindle from the Amazon.com store, most with around a 20% discount at the moment.

Alternatively, Fictionwise have announced that all their multi-format titles now have a Kindle format option. If you have already bought a Mushroom eBooks title from Fictionwise, simply go to your Bookshelf at Fictionwise.com and download the Kindle format file (or you can choose to have it emailed directly to your Kindle).

If you own the Mobipocket version of a Mushroom eBooks title, you can download it to your Kindle, either via USB from your computer, or by emailing it directly to the Kindle.

Mushroom eBooks on Kindle

Moyra Caldecott event in Bath, 7th November

Monday, November 5th, 2007

The Speaking TreeMoyra Caldecott will be signing books at The Speaking Tree Bookshop (146 Walcot Street, Bath, UK. Telephone 01225 461606) on Wednesday 7 November 2007, from 4pm to 6pm. Moyra will be delighted to see you there.

Moyra reached her 80th birthday in June this year. To celebrate her achievement of writing over thirty books, Bladud Books has republished most of her back catalogue of works. This includes two new works: her autobiography, Multi-Dimensional Life, and a collection of poems and thoughts, The Breathless Pause. The entire range will be available in The Speaking Tree on Wednesday 7 November, and Moyra herself will be available to sign her books and meet her fans between 4pm and 6pm.

Moyra is a well known and colourful character in Bath and The Speaking Tree is pleased to also be displaying her art and stained glass work as part of their local artist series.

If you can’t make it to the event but would still like a signed copy, please contact The Speaking Tree direct.

Mushroom eBooks on Sony Connect

Friday, July 27th, 2007

sony-reader.jpgGreat News! Most of our titles are now available in Sony Reader format from the Sony CONNECT bookstore.

The ebooks can be read either on the portable Sony Reader, or on a PC or laptop using the free CONNECTâ„¢ Reader software.

The Sony Reader is an innovative device for reading ebooks on the go. It has received excellent reviews from the industry and has been well received by users. At the moment there are some very good offers available, but it is currently only available in the USA; hopefully that situation will change soon.

New books from Moyra Caldecott

Tuesday, April 10th, 2007

We are very pleased to have concluded an agreement with Moyra Caldecott to publish two new books and to republish two books that have been out of print for a while.

The new books are:

The Breathless Pause - thoughts and poems

Multi-dimensional Life - A writer on the process of writing

Adventures by Leaf Light and Other Stories

The new editions are:

The Green Lady and the King of Shadows

Mythical Journeys, Legendary Quests - The Spiritual Search

All of these titles will become available through April and May, and I will post more details as they are published.

Dray Prescot in paperback

Thursday, March 22nd, 2007

More good news about Alan Burt Akers’ Dray Prescot books…

We have concluded an agreement with Kenneth Bulmer’s agent, Pamela Buckmaster, to publish omnibus editions of the first 18 Kregen novels. The current plan is to publish the following books:

The Saga of Dray Prescot: The Delian Cycle

The Saga of Dray Prescot: The Havilfar Cycle I

The Saga of Dray Prescot: The Havilfar Cycle II

The Saga of Dray Prescot: The Krozair Cycle

The Saga of Dray Prescot: The Vallian Cycle

This will take us up to book 18, and if they are reasonably successful we will consider publishing the remainder of the series in paperback also. Also, if there is enough interest and demand, we may be able to publish hardback editions, too. We expect the books to be available during April and May.

More titles from Alan Burt Akers

Tuesday, March 13th, 2007

A lot has been happening behind the scenes over the last few weeks, and I am pleased to announce that we have concluded an agreement with Kenneth Bulmer’s estate to publish the remainder of the Dray Prescot novels as eBooks. This includes all titles from number 13 to number 52 inclusive. Books 42 to 52 have never been published in English, so this is quite a coup. We have already published books 1 to 12 and book 13 should be out next week. The plan is to publish three titles per month up to book 37, and then one per month thereafter.
The titles are:

13. Renegade of Kregen
14. Krozair of Kregen
15. Secret Scorpio
16. Savage Scorpio
17. Captive Scorpio
18. Golden Scorpio
19. A Life for Kregen
20. A Sword for Kregen
21. A Fortune for Kregen
22. A Victory for Kregen
23. Beasts of Antares
24. Rebel of Antares
25. Legions of Antares
26. Allies of Antares
27. Mazes of Scorpio
28. Delia of Vallia
29. Fires of Scorpio
30. Talons of Scorpio
31. Masks of Scorpio
32. Seg the Bowman
33. Werewolves of Kregen
34. Witches of Kregen
35. Storm over Vallia
36. Omens of Kregen
37. Warlord of Antares
38. Scorpio Reborn
39. Scorpio Assassin
40. Scorpio Invasion
41. Scorpio Ablaze
42. Scorpio Drums
43. Scorpio Triumph
44. Intrigue of Antares
45. Gangs of Antares
46. Demons of Antares
47. Scourge of Antares
48. Challenge of Antares
49. Wrath of Antares
50. Shadows over Kregen
51. Murder on Kregen
52. Turmoil on Kregen