[ IndieBookMan and Friends] Thank ye for the tip!

Here is a nice little article from Slate.com, explaining a bit about the effect of clicking ads on a website. He makes the point that clicking ads are a bit like tipping - if you like what you see on a site, give an ad a click. It puts a penny in the site-owner's pocket, and gives their advertiser a little bit of your eyeball time.

From the piece:

Internet marketer Seth Godin: "Ads are the new on-line tip jar." His method is simple: "If you like what you're reading, click an ad to say thanks."

I have to admit - we get a little excited when we see you've clicked through an ad. It helps us say, "They like us... they really like us!" And if we get enough clicks, I would even be able to buy the team a candy bar to split or something like that!

Posted via email from The Book Mob

[ IndieBookMan and Friends] Post-bookfest quickie

I just wanted to drop a quick post to say we made it through the Baltimore Book Festival, and it was a pretty amazing experience this year. We sold a lot of books, signed up a bunch of new authors, awarded the first ever ABIE award and spread the Indie Publishing Gospel to many many more people.

Super special thanks to Angelo Solera, Cantara Christoper and the ABS authors who came by to volunteer - more on them to come.

Please look for a more detailed post to come soon - I took tons of pictures and will have many more details about how it all went down.

So stay tuned!

Posted via email from The Book Mob

[ IndieBookMan and Friends] Author book signing schedule, Baltimore Book Fest...

One of my favorite things about hosting the AuthorsBookshop booth at the Baltimore Book Festival every year is giving indie authors an opportunity to meet their readers and sign books.

We have a great schedule this year - Saturday is particularly packed. Great books, great authors... come on down and meet them.

Friday, Sept 25th

12:00 Susan Hartfield: The Complete Guide to Energy Conservation for Smarties

3:00 Jon Saboe: Days of Peleg: Days of Paleg

6:00 Angelo Solera: The Journey, el Camino

Saturday, Sept 26th

12:00 PT Custard: Kid Canine - Superhero!, Jules The Lighthouse Dog

1:00 Sherion Jackson: House of Old Joe Mather, Jingle Cat and the Christmas Fish

2:00 David Jones: Two Brothers

3:00 Michael Mathany: Into the Woods

4:00 Jon Saboe: Days of Peleg

5:00 Angelo Solera: The Journey, el Camino

5:30 ABIE Award ceremony!

Sunday, Sept 27th

2:00 Michael Mathany: Into the Woods

3:00 Brad Grochowski: The Secret Weakness of Dragons

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[ IndieBookMan and Friends] Radio Show #2 Podcast

Show#: 2
Aired: 9/23/09
Guest: Angel Solera
Featured book: To Love Mercy, Frank S. Joseph

Here is Show #2. I think I am starting to get the hang of this a little bit.

I really enjoyed the interview with Angelo. We covered a lot of territory, and got some really great insight into his unbelievable past, and the process he went through to get his book written and out to the public.

If you missed episode one, you can catch up on it here.

You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunese here.

Thanks - details on the October 14th show coming soon!

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[ IndieBookMan and Friends] A little milestone...

I just noticed, with this posting we have officially surpassed the total number of posts I made in all of 2008!

Thanks to Cantara, Andy and Marc! You guys are the best.

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[ IndieBookMan and Friends] Radio Show #2: Angelo Solera

Tonight we talk with Angelo Solera, author of The Journey, el Camino and owner of Solera Publishing.

Angelo Solera spent most of his child hood in an orphanage in Salamanca Spain. He immigrated to the United States when he was 17, and did whatever work he could find, just to survive... incliding selling drugs. Selling cocain turned into an addiction.

Having survived that and turned his life around, Angelo became an advocate for health-care for Latinos in Baltimore and a community activist. He served as the Hispanic Community Liaison for the Health Department and Vice-Chair of the Mayor's committee in Hispanic affairs. These posts lead to Angelos eventual bid as the first Latino political candidate to run for Baltimore City Council.

In 2004 after this political campaign failed, he decided to return to Spain where he walked the 400 mile pilgrimage to the City of Santiago of Compostela. This journey - and the nearly unbeleivable journey of his life - inspired him to write and publish the enchanting memoir, El Camino, The Journey.

Our book of the week is: To Love Mercy, by Frank S. Joseph.

If you are listening as you read this, or if you hear the show in the archives or podcast please let us know what you think in a comment below!

Posted via email from The Book Mob

[ IndieBookMan and Friends] Complete the "Bookfest Trifecta" and get a free b...

I know you love book festivals. We usually have to wait months in between them, but not this weekend in the Baltimore/DC area. It's book festival madness!

Three great festivals are going on at once, all within the Baltimore/DC region. Of course, the IndieBookMan crew will be representin' at the AuthorsBookshop booth at The Baltimore Book Festival, so that's the one I know you are gonna want to check out.

But the sheer size and Big Name Factor of the National Book Festival, and the likely indie-pub freindlyness of the SPX are sure to make them both tempting alternatives.

I would love to hear from anyone who makes it to ALL THREE!!!! The first person to let me know, and can confirm it, can have a free signed copy of my book The Secret Weakness of Dragons - and not just a free copy, but a rare "french spine" (lombada francesa, if you must) version that I only give out on special occasions!

The Baltimore Book Festival:

September 25, 26th and 27th

from noon to 8, till 7 on Sunday

In my opinion the best book event in the mid-atlantic... filled with local and regional as well as national writers, publishers and books. Ill be there this year at the AuthorsBookshop booth so stop by and say hello.

Ill also be involved in a panel discussion at the festival, Friday at 4:15 in the Literary Salon. The topic of the panel will be: Will Online Save the Printed Word?

More info at www.baltimorebookfestival.org

The 2009 National Book Festival

organized and sponsored by the Library of Congress, will be held on Saturday, September 26, 2009, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., between 7th and 14th streets from 10 am to 5:30 pm. The festival is free and open to the public.

The list of authors includes Julia Alvarez, Judy Blume, Ken Burns, Paula Deen, W. Ralph Eubanks, John Grisham, Gwen Ifill, John Irving, Walter Mosley, and George Pelecanos, among many, many others. If it weren't for the opportunity to see me at the BBF, you wouldn't want to miss this.

For more info: www.loc.gov/bookfest

The Small Press Expo

Saturday and Sunday, September 26 and 27

Bethesda, MD 20852

Saturday, 11:00 am - 7:00 pm

Sunday, noon - 6:00 pm

SPX reports that 2008 saw "over 3,000 attendees and exhibitors, along with dozens of printers, distributors, retailers, and other industry professionals," and this year promises to be just as exciting, with "over 400 artists and publishers to meet their readers, booksellers, distributors, and each other."

One day, $10.00; both days, $15.00 Collected at the door the day of the show

http://www.spxpo.com/

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[ IndieBookMan and Friends] The IndieBookMan radio show for Sept 23rd with An...

Show #2 will be broadcast live this Wednesday, September 23rd at 8PM e.s.t.

Thank you so much to all who tuned in last show, we had a good crowd and really hope to build on it this week!

The IndieBookMan radio show, hosted by AuthorsBookshop.com owner Brad Grochowski is a live broadcast talk show on Unbrella Radio exploring writing, literature and independent publishing in the Batlimore area.

The guest this week is Baltimore author and publisher Angelo Solera, author of The Journey, el Camino. We are also going to be talking about the upcoming Baltimore Book Festival, publishing-related news items, upcoming literary events and much much more!

Angelo Solera spent most of his child hood in an orphanage in Salamanca Spain. He immigrated to the United States when he was 17, and did whatever work he could find, just to survive... incliding selling drugs. Selling cocain turned into an addiction.

Having survived that and turned his life around, Angelo became an advocate for health-care for Latinos in Baltimore and a community activist. He served as the Hispanic Community Liaison for the Health Department and Vice-Chair of the Mayor's committee in Hispanic affairs. These posts lead to Angelos eventual bid as the first Latino political candidate to run for Baltimore City Council.

In 2004 after this political campaign failed, he decided to return to Spain where he walked the 400 mile pilgrimage to the City of Santiago of Compostela. This journey - and the nearly unbeleivable journey of his life - inspired him to write and publish the enchanting memoir, El Camino, The Journey.

Tune in and listen at Unbrella Radio at 8:00 PM e.s.t!

If you miss it, or want to catch up by listening to show #1 please click the "Radio Show" link, above.

You can also subscribe to the podcast at iTunes.

Thanks, and I hope you can listen!

Posted via email from The Book Mob

[ IndieBookMan and Friends] Handselling Hero

I think I have a new hero. His name is Christopher Herz, from Canal Publishing.

This guy takes indie/guerrilla marketing to absolute new heights. What he does is called "handselling," and that in-and-of itself is nothing new. As the name implies, it's basically making sales out-of-hand to people you happen to meet. It's similar to musicians selling their records out of their car trunk after a gig, right?

But this guy is committed to it. So much so that he recently got a nice little write-up in Publisher's Weekly, of all places.

According to the article, "Christopher Herz quit his advertising job to walk the streets of Manhattan literally selling copies of his first novel, The Last Block in Harlem ... Every day he takes 10 copies out to the streets and does not come home until he sells all of them. He has accomplished his goal in as little as an hour and as much as 10 hours."

See what I mean? 10 copies. Every day. That's commitment. That's awesome.

It goes to show you, there are so many ways to market your book. If you are willing to be a little creative, put in the sweat equity and make opportunities for yourself there is no telling what you can accomplish. That is what being indie is all about.

If you feel inspired by Christopher's story, I have great news for you. He will be speaking at the Baltimore Book Festival this weekend:

Black Money: Why the Urban Genre is Remaking the Book Business

Friday, September 25, 2009, 3:30 pm

In the Literary Salon

And even better, Christopher will be hanging out with us at the AuthorsBookshop.com booth on Friday from about 5:oo pm on - so stop by to meet him and ask him all the questions I know you have about hand selling!

You can get his book the old-fashioned way (over the internet) at Canal's webiste, but for Pete's sake - if the guy comes up to you on the streets of Manhattan, buy his book; he needs to get home for dinner!

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[ IndieBookMan and Friends] Announcing: The ABIE AWARD

We are really looking forward to the Baltimore Book Festival this year. It was a great time last year, we sold a lot of books, registered many new books and got to spread the word about how great indie publishing is.

But this year, we plan to try something new. We are going to honor 1 indie book from the BookFest with the ABIE Award - The AuthorsBookshop award for Independent Excellence.

We are going to pass out ballots and ask festival visitors to check out the Publisher Tent and select their favorite book. We will count the ballots, and award the prize to the title that gets the most votes.

This will be on Saturday only, and the ballot deadline is Sat, 4:30pm. Ballots must be returned to the AuthorsBookshop.com booth to be valid. Winner will be announced at the AuthorsBookshop booth Sat, 5:30pm.

One winner will be chosen by vote. The winner will receive: Free listing at AuthorsBookshop.com. 1 Year consignment-free sales at AuthorsBookshop.com. A review at IndieBookMan.com. An Interview on The IndieBookMan radio show, and possibly some more stuff that we haven't confirmed yet.

SO! Make sure you stop by the AuthorsBookshop.com booth at the festival to pick up your ballot.

Note: The ABIE award is not affiliated with the Baltimore Book Festival.

Posted via email from The Book Mob

[ IndieBookMan and Friends] AuthorsBookshop book gets Best Of Baltimore award

Baltimore's CityPaper just released their "Best of Baltimore" issue. If your not from Baltimore you probably don't know - the BOB issue is kind of a big deal. Awards are often heavily campaigned for, and highly coveted. Getting a BOB award can bring a lot of attention to the recipient.

So I was really excited to see the award for Best Book About Baltimore went to one of my favorite AuthorsBookshop.com books, The Spirit of Place, by Sarah Achenbach and Bill McAllen. This was also the featured book on my radio show last week (here if you missed it.)

Congratulation Bill and Sarah - your book is amazing, and you definitely deserve it. Spirit of Place is definitely among the Best of Baltimore!

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[ IndieBookMan and Friends] Smile, Hon, and submit your writing!

This press release just came in from my good friend, William P. Tandy, Editor and owner of Eight Stone Presses SMILE HON, YOUR IN BALTIMORE.

You know you have something to submit - so get it in!!!

BALTIMORE – Eight-Stone Press (ESP) – publisher of the award-winning SMILE, HON, YOU’RE IN BALTIMORE! series – is accepting submissions of Mobtown-related stories, essays, poetry, photography and other artwork for the forthcoming SMILE, HON No. 12 through Saturday, October 31, 2009.

Creative non-fiction is preferred, though all submissions will be considered. Articles (100 – 2,000 words) are preferably received via e-mail (wpt -at- eightstonepress -dot- com) as attached Word documents. Image files should be approximately 5” x 7”, 300+ dpi (.JPG or .TIF format). All contributors will receive a byline/artist credit for their work as well as two (2) complimentary copies of the issue in which their work appears.

From the harbor to the hills, SMILE, HON, YOU’RE IN BALTIMORE! collects the tales of those on whom Mobtown has left her indelible mark. Polished, professional essays; barroom sermons delivered from the sanctity of a favorite stool; the poet’s fleeting sentiment, captured in both word and snapshot – SMILE, HON offers a slice of Baltimore as told by Baltimore, presented with the time-honored DIY accessibility of a limited-run, handcrafted zine.

In March 2009, ESP published the transit-themed INTERSECTIONS, the latest in a series of SMILE, HON special issues that have addressed topics such as rats, tattoos, crime and scars. UTNE READER called INTERSECTIONS “a really fun read”:http://www.utne.com/Media/Shelf-Life-Prop-8-Bartering-and-Baltimore.aspx. SMILE, HON has also been named the city’s “Best Zine” by both BALTIMORE CITY PAPER (2004) and BALTIMORE MAGAZINE (2008).

An Eight-Stone Press production, SMILE, HON, YOU’RE IN BALTIMORE! is available locally for purchase at Atomic Books (Hampden); Cyclops Books & Music (Station North); and Red Emma’s Bookstore Coffeehouse (Mt. Vernon).

Posted via email from The Book Mob

[ IndieBookMan and Friends] Hey, that's ours! The big guys are stealing from ...

I get the "Shelf Awareness" blog in my inbox everyday - it's a great source of news and happenings in the publishing world.

But today, care of a special "dedicated" issue, I ran across something interesting. This "special issue" seems to have been sponsored by HarperStudios, as it's really kind of a trumpet piece for the imprint. HarperStudios is a branch of Harper Collins - so, they are in no way an indie publisher.

Yet, as all of the major houses seem to be, Harper Collins must be having a hard time selling books. I gather HarperStudios was set up to explore a new model of marketing, selling and distributing books.

It is a model that may look familiar to you;

It's offering books nonreturnable, signing up authors for relatively low advances and splitting profits, expanding books technologically (for example, adding sophisticated video segments to e-books), and constantly experimenting with creative ways of marketing and publishing titles, in many cases using online communities, blogs, vlogs and social media like Facebook and Twitter in new ways

In other words... the majors are stealing the indie playbook!

I guess I gotta take this as a good thing. If the majors are willing to go the guerilla publishing path, there must be something to it. Though, we already new that, didn't we?

Anyway - the above quote serves as a great check-list of the things you should be doing to market your book. If you had any doubts, the fact that the major labels are trying it out should help put them to rest.

Posted via email from The Book Mob

[ IndieBookMan and Friends] New Madmen book, and I got the scoop!

OMG - I can't believe I am scooping Cantara on this! It' Madmen+publishing+blogging. Just her thing, but I got it first!

Probably because I peruse tech blogs. I ran across this at TechCrunch.

So Harper Collins apparently just signed a deal to turn the blog The Footnotes of Madmen into a coffee table book.

Seems The Footnotes of Madmen is one of the best MM related blogs, as it "...delves into the real-world cultural and historical data at the edges of the TV show; her writing on 'Mad Men'."

Having started watching the show (I'm no where near the fan Cantara is, but I do like it a lot) I can appreciate how cool this site is... and how cool the book will likely be.

Bravo to them!

And bravo to me; I now have a good idea for a Christmas gift for a particulal fellow IndieBookMan blogger...

More info on the dean here.

Posted via email from The Book Mob

[ IndieBookMan and Friends] BookArt

Ok, there are books, then there are art books, and then there is book art.

If you kids have been reading along, you will know that I am a pretty big fan of book art. Well, I have posted about it a bunch, any way. And I get excited when I see it.

So here is another great example, posted by the telegraph.co.uk.

I particularly like the circus piece I have posted here, but the Alice in Wonderland one is particularly exciting too. Truthfully? They are all really cool.

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[ IndieBookMan and Friends] Is this why I haven't found the iPod of eb...

So, I didn't even realize I was looking for the iPod of ebooks but after posts like this and this, I kinda have to come clean with myself and accept that I kinda am looking for that super slick ebook reader that is going to capture everyone's heart and do to ebooks what the ipod did to mp3 files.

Turns out, I may have been going about it wrong.

I was looking at devices like the Cool-ER reader and Sony's would-be kindle thwacker. But maybe the iPod of ebooks... isn't an ebook reader at all!

TechCrunch has this post about a recent interview with Steve Jobs, "What Steve Jobs Actually Said About Ebooks," and the man has - yet again - forced me to twist my mind into a new shape. It's a good feeling. From the interview:

Q: Has your opinion of e-readers changed?

A: I’m sure there will always be dedicated devices, and they may have a few advantages in doing just one thing. But I think the general-purpose devices will win the day because I think people just probably aren’t willing to pay for a dedicated device.

If you recall, Jobs has famously poo-pooed the idea of creating an Apple reader device in the past - causing much speculation that Apple was secretly working on just such a device.

But with this new information one might conclude that Apple isn't really working on a dedicated e-reader at all. Perhaps they are working to make the devices that they are already building serve as awesom e-readers.

I kinda hope so, actually. Because that would mean my search is over. The iPod of ebooks just may be... an iPod!

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[ IndieBookMan and Friends] Announcing: One more "Friend!"

I am excited to announce that we have one more contributor to The IndieBookMan & Friends coming on board.

Andy Laties, AKA The Rebel Bookseller, is, in his own words,

...the author of the 2006 Independent Publisher Award winning title “Rebel Bookseller: How To Improvise Your Own Indie Store And Beat Back The Chains.” I co-founded theVox Pop Café in Brooklyn, with Sander Hicks (who was previously the founder of Soft Skull Press). Vox Pop then published my book (as well as lots of other books—our Vox Pop Publishing offshoot provides publishing services to self-publishing authors). I like to tell people that I’m the only author who had to open a bookstore and a publishing company just to get his book published. (My book attacks Barnes & Noble, and was therefore unpublishable.)

Vox Pop was my fourth bookstore project and probably my seventh or eighth business start-up. I’m not involved with Vox Pop day to day now, but I do still run the bookshop at Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, in Amherst, Massachusetts. Parents Magazine called us “the very best bookstore for picture books in the entire world.” I also lead a free-jazz/experimental troupe called Urchestra that specializes in performing the poetry of Kurt Schwitters. And I’m helping launch Gonzo Comix, whose first project is a webcomic called Rosetta Stone, by Rebecca Migdal.

I just finished a master’s degree at the School of Community Economic Development, in New Hampshire, and I’d say that Community Economic Development is what I stand for. So: grassroots activism, people first, decentralization, and questioning authority.

He suggests, "Readers can expect inside dope on the book industry, and cross-cutting analysis of the forces that are stifling our voices. I attack Amazon, Google, Barnes & Noble, and corporate media monoliths for their hypocrisy."

Ah... clearly an IndieBookMan himself, I am really excited to have Andy aboard and am looking forward to the thoughts and insights he will bring to The IndieBookMan and Friends.

Welcome, Andy!

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[ IndieBookMan] Radio Show #1 Podcast

Show#: 1
Aired: 9/9/09
Guest: Cantara Christopher
Featured book: Spirit of Place


Well, here it is. The first show wrapped up and podcasterated for your pleasure.  


If you missed it, here is your chance to get caught up before show #2, with guest Angelo Solera, hits the air on September 23rd.

Please enjoy and feel free to leave any feedback in the comments section.
Thanks!

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[ IndieBookMan] Book Blogger Appreciation Awards...

Book Blogger Appreciation Awards... who even new there was such a thing?

IndieBookMan isn't on any of the ballots. :( but you should stop in and vote anyway!

I don't know what the selection process is. I guess they just pick 5 that they like in each category? Is there a nomination process? If you see something I am missing, please let me know!

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[ IndieBookMan] Radio Show #1: Cantara Christopher

It's our debut show!

Tonight, we talk with Cantara Christopher, owner of Cantara Publishing and the literary quarterly magazine Cantaraville among many other things.

Our News Item of the night is Amazon's taking - and then giving back - of Orwell's 1984 from your Kindle without you even knowing about it.

Our calender tonight includes The Baltimore Book Festival, and the first ever ABBY Awards.

And our featured book of the week is Spirit Of Place Baltimore's Favorite Spaces By Sarah Achenbach and Bill McAllen

We would love any feedback, thoughts or questions! Please feel free to hit the comment button to let us know what you think.

Posted via email from The Book Mob

[ IndieBookMan] A new social network for book lovers?!?!

Yawn.

I got a boilerplate email today:

I've found a new site called BookRabbit.com, here's the scoop:
It's a social network for book lovers. You can see what other people are reading, discuss old favourites and discover new books and authors, as well as create your own personal bookshelves and catalogues online. The aim is simple - to help you find the right books for you.

Come and take a look. I think you'll like it.

I know, I know. I should celebrate any new forum that helps people find books they like to read. But seriously, a few minutes of poking around and I have "found" the following books:

Twilight
Girlfriend in a Coma
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Year of the Flood

Fine books all (well, almost all) but these are the same books I would "find" walking into the nearest big-box book outlet, where the conglomerated publishing monstrosities pay for placement of giant cardboard stand-ups of their books, and force more modest press offerings to the dusty back shelves.

And yeah, some classics are in the recommend list too... but they are books such as Nineteen Eighty-Four, War and Peace and the Illiad. Not real brain stretchers if your trying to think of something cool to read.

So, I think my point is... what's the point of helping me find books that I can't avoid finding even I want to? Where are the hidden gems, the undiscovered countries, the - and you know I would get to this - the indie books?

And, plus, too, I have to create an account, a profile, make "friends" so that I can "share" my bookshelf. Chore. In addition to the fact that this sounds terribly familiar, I have enough social media accounts, profiles and friends that it's hard to keep it all straight as it is. And I don't see anything really new here.

Now I need to do it all again?

I'm not up for it. Not tonight. Please, convince me I am wrong and I'll give it a whirl. Till then, im gonna hop away from BookRabbit.

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[ IndieBookMan] Abe's Penny

I just got an email from Anna Knoebel, one of the two editors of Abe's Penny; perhaps the coolest "magazine" I have ever seen.

She was writing to let me know about the magazine, and I am really glad that she did.

According to Anna:

We call Abe's Penny a micro-magazine. Each issue is a series of four postcards with a narrative that unfolds in sequence, one part per week. The narrative is a combination of photographs and text, in the format of a traditional postcard. Collectible and temporal, the cards vary each month, with a different artist and writer collaborating on each issue.

You can view past issues at Abe's Penny. You should definitely take a look. The postcards are beautiful, engaging and surprisingly mysterious. I love them, and I can't wait to get my first series.

I will let you know when they start to arrive, and how they look. Im hoping we can post a full review of the next installment once we have all four postcards in our hot little hands.

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[ IndieBookMan] Happy Labor Day from IndieBookMan and Friends

IndieBookMan and his friends are enjoying a wonderful holiday with our friends and family... we hope you are too! We have even given the weekend staff the day off!

We are looking forward to returning tomorrow - we have a huge week coming up: The IndieBookMan radio show debuts Wednesday at 8pm est at umbrellaradio.com! We are also in full-tilt gear up for the Baltimore Book Festival in Baltimore on the 25th, 26th and 27th.

Thanks, enjoy the holiday, and here is a great little animation to tide you over 'till we return:

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[ IndieBookMan] About IndieBookMan and Friends

Welcome to the IndieBookman and Friends blog.

We began in August of 2006, and have been going ever since. We are a meeting ground for the Indie Publishing Revolution blogging all things of interest to self publshers, indie presses, guerrilla book marketers and other soldiers of the revolution.

Founded by Brad Grochowski, CEO of AuthorsBookshop.com, and recently joined by some of his friends, IndieBookMan is poised to become an informational force for anyone interested in publishing outside the mainstream corporate machinery.

Posted via email from The Book Mob

[ IndieBookMan] A dramatically new look at IndieBookMan

Ok, we are bringing in more readers, posting more, you know - stepping it up here at IndieBookMan. And with the The IndiBookMan radio show debuting this week, we were really due for a facelift.

I think the new look is clean yet dramatic, well organized and easy to read. We would love to know what you think!

I still have some tweeks to do through the weekend, but I should have it all working well by Monday morning!

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[IndieBookMan] Write here, write now!

Our freinds at CityLit here in Baltimore are hosting another Write Here, Write Now literary workshop.

Monday, September 14, 2009 at 7:00pm - through -
Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 9:00pm
Howard County Center for the Arts
8510 High Ridge Road
Ellicott City, MD

Since 2005, the Write Here, Write Now workshops have given literary artists a place to develop their writing with experienced instructors who offer productive feedback and encouragement. Multi-week and one-day sessions in various genres explore technique, craft, and professional development. WHWN writers have read their work at public events, contributed to a professionally published anthology, and entered MFA writing programs.

With sessions at Creative Alliance in Baltimore, Towson Arts Collective, and Howard County Center for the Arts, WHWN is the area’s only on-going series of workshops for writers.

For complete information, regularly check the Write Here, Write Now section at CityLitProject.org, follow the WHWN page on Facebook, or call 410-274-5691.

For more info, check the CityLit.org's WHWN page.

Posted via email from The Book Mob

[IndieBookMan] Is this the iPod of e-readers?

Check this out: the Coolerbook from Interead, a british-based free ebook dealer (that just inked a deal with Google... a strong step in Google's war with Amazon for control of the ebook market.)

This thing looks really great - It clearly cops it's looks from the ipod itself. Maybe that's a cheap ploy, but man they still look cool. The colors are fresh too - this thing just looks like it wants to be your friend.

And at under $250 bucks, the price is sorta-kinda within a reasonable range - even for the tightwad IndieBookMan.

I haven't seen any reviews of this thing yet - ill have to go out and look for some though, because... I kinda might want one of these. Just, you know, pointing that out, in case, you know, you were thinking about getting something for me anyway, you know. I kinda like the green one best.

I want one - and that is something I have not said about the kindle yet. So, that's saying something.

Also:

COOLERBOOKS.com accommodates 19 document formats, including EPUB and PDF, and MP3 for audio books, giving the ebookstore the broadest range of formats available on the web.

Thats pretty sweet.

And finally, check it out in 360 degrees of flash glory!

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[IndieBookMan] A new friend: Poet, Author and Publisher Marc Beaudin

I would like to introduce you to a new member of our little IndieBookMan and Friends team - my old friend and inspiration in many things - the author, poet and publisher Marc Beaudin.

Marc's books, A Handful of Dust and The Moon Cracks Open are brilliant, both of them. Marc is one of my favorite living poets and story-tellers and I am really honored to have him along for the IndieBookMan adventure.

He has his own blog at crowvoicejournal.blogspot.com, his website is at www.crowvoice.com and he is also the voice and producer of Report from the Mountains - a weekly podcast of jazz and poetry that I am addicted to.

Marc will be posting Report for the Mountains here at IndieBookMan as they go live each week, and may drop additional posts as well. He has a lot of thoughts and experience in writing and publishing and I think you are going to enjoy what he has to contribute.

So please join me in welcoming Marc to IndieBookMan & Friends!

Folks, meet Marc:

Marc Beaudin is the author of The Moon Cracks Open: A Field Guide to the Birds, a full-length collection of poetry; several chapbooks; and the novel A Handful of Dust. His work has been published in Avocet, The MacGuffin, CounterPunch, Temenos, Pirene's Fountain, and several other journals. He has been a featured poet at numerous venues across the country including Chicago’s Myopic Books, The Guild House in Ann Arbor, MI, and The Blue Dragon in Albuquerque. His poetry has been heard frequently on Delta College’s WUCX, the University of Michigan’s WCBN, and "Destination Out" on WCMU. More information can be found at CrowVoice.com, and you can listen to sample poems at ReverbNation.com/MarcBeaudin

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[IndieBookMan] Is this the iPod of e-readers?

Check this out: the Coolerbook from Interead, a british-based free ebook dealer (that just inked a deal with Google... a strong step in Google's war with Amazon for control of the ebook market.)

This thing looks really great - It clearly cops it's looks from the ipod itself. Maybe that's a cheap ploy, but man they still look cool. The colors are fresh too - this thing just looks like it wants to be your friend.

And at under $250 bucks, the price is sorta-kinda within a reasonable range - even for the tightwad IndieBookMan.

I haven't seen any reviews of this thing yet - ill have to go out and look for some though, because... I kinda might want one of these. Just, you know, pointing that out, in case, you know, you were thinking about getting something for me anyway, you know. I kinda like the green one best.

I want one - and that is something I have not said about the kindle yet. So, that's saying something.

Also:

COOLERBOOKS.com accommodates 19 document formats, including EPUB and PDF, and MP3 for audio books, giving the ebookstore the broadest range of formats available on the web.

Thats pretty sweet.

And finally, check it out in 360 degrees of flash glory!

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[IndieBookMan] Orwell really does live!

Oh, this is so cool. If you care about history, or literary greats at all, this is really cool. George Orwell is now blogging.

This isn't some smarypants blogging todays news as Orwell ala Fake Steve Jobs. Whats happening is they are posting Owells actual diary - spelling errors and all - in a post that corresponds with the original date. Each post is 30 years prior to the current date.

What's happening in Orwells world today? Germany invades Poland!

Hitler’s terms to Poland boil down to return of Danzig & plebiscite in the corridor, to be held 1 year hence & based on 1918 census. There is some hanky panky about time the terms were presented, & as they were to be answered by night of 30.8.39,[1] H.[2] claims that they are already refused. Daily Telegraph [a]

Even better, Orwell seems to have a scanner, because many of the posts include scans of the papers of the day, so we get even deeper historical context.

This is a great project. It combines blogging and history in a way that is fun, fascinating and really informative.

Thanks for blogging George - I promise I will enjoy it!

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[IndieBookMan] It's official: The IndieBookMan radio show!

We have been working on this for a while, but it's official now. I can tell you about it.

I will be hosting a brand new show on the web-based radio station Umbrella Radio. We are calling it, natch, The IndieBookman.

It will be a 1 hour format with tons of news and info on indie publishing, writing, book marketing - you name it - interviews with those who have made it, and those who likely will. If you read this blog, you are gonna love the show.

We will be tying the blog into the show as much as we can. So listen in, then come by here to catch up with other listeners.

The show will air on Wednesdays at 8pm est, and the best place to listen will be UmbrellaRadio.com. More details to come.

I hope you can listen in... we are really excited about this!

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[IndieBookMan] AV Club: I want my own Sixth Sense

Ok, this video isn't going to help you get your book published. And at first I was a little bit yawning, as I wasn't too impressed. But seriously, watch it through. Holy man.

The world in which we will soon live; It will be amazing.

Oh, and there is some relevance to publishing in there. Check out the part where the guy picks up a book in the bookstore. Man.

Hat tip to 006. Thanks man.

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[IndieBookMan] Book of the Day: Guinevere: On The Eve Of Legend

[http://www.authorsbookshop.com/Guinevereontheeveoflegend]

Guinevere: On The Eve Of Legend

Cheryl Carpinello

ISBN: 9781432737047
$10.95

http://www.authorsbookshop.com/Guinevereontheeveoflegend

At the dawn of Camelot, one young girl is about to take her place beside the greatest king in England’s history….

She is a mere child of twelve. But in these medieval days, this is the age when childish things must be put away and greater responsibilities accepted—all in preparation for a betrothal of marriage.

For young Lady Guinevere, on the advent of her thirteenth Birth Day, the whole idea is quite unbearable. After all, what could be better than spending her youth playing with her best friend Cedwyn, roaming the grounds around the castle looking for mythical creatures or hunting rabbits?

However, the wizard Merlyn—her teacher and friend—knows that destiny has a way of catching up with a person. His arrival sets in motion a series of events that will lead Guinevere to her destiny whether she is ready for it or not.

http://www.authorsbookshop.com/Guinevereontheeveoflegend

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[IndieBookMan] Beating the Kindle

Slate today has an interesting little article about how Sony can beat the Kindle. Essentially, they boil their suggested strategy down to the following: "Study everything the iPod's rivals did. Then do the exact opposite."

Heh.

Since I love my iPhone as much as I am wary of the Kindle, this sentence could have been written just for me.

But it's a good point. I think they are drawing an interesting comparison between the Kindle and the iPhone as the standout and seemingly untoppleable leaders in their respective gizmo niche.

It's an interesting comparison, but I don't think it's completely accurate. I think I would equate the Kindle more to the Apple Newton than the iPhone. The iPhone is everything the Newton wanted to be... with the difference being that technology had finally caught up by the time the iPhone came around.

Like the Newton, the Kindle is a bit ahead of it's technology - it's close, as it can do everything it should, just not as well as it needs to. Like the Newton it's also too expensive for what it does, and only a few people have one. Though I think with both the owners are pretty dedicated to them.

So, instead of following the Kindle perhaps it's would-be toppler should think of it as the primitive older brother of what we really want an ebook reader to be.

Will it be Sony's new book? The touch screen gets it closer. But I suspect the best Sony can really hope for, analogically, is an early Palm Pilot.

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[IndieBookMan] Book of the Day: Soaring Eagle, Spirit of the Wind

[http://www.authorsbookshop.com/soaringeagl]

Soaring Eagle, Spirit of the Wind

H. J. Courtright
Literary Art Publishers
ISBN: 0974486612
$8.95

http://www.authorsbookshop.com/soaringeagle

Rosalie, a self-destructive woman, is summoned into the spirit world and
persuaded to embark upon a quest of discovery. Along the way she must develop
the will to battle the greatest of all foes, herself, a battle she is destined
to lose if not for the aid of the shaman, Soaring Eagle.

Soaring Eagle, engaged in an endless quest to serve his people, sees Rosalie’s
plight in a vision, and propels himself into the spirit world to retrieve her
soul.

The plot is designed around three shamanic journeys that have been adapted from
the author's personal experiences. Written in a style devised to keep pace with
the shaman’s drum, the story is composed at a conceptual level difficult to
achieve and is destined to become a cult classic.

http://www.authorsbookshop.com/soaringeagle

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[IndieBookMan] Book of the Day: Summoned The Novel

[http://www.authorsbookshop.com/summoned]

Summoned The Novel
The Novel

Stan The Man Griffin
STM Entertainment
ISBN: 9780615237282
$12.95

http://www.authorsbookshop.com/summoned

“Summoned The Novel” tells the story about
The Most controversial decision in United States history, and how one Scientist Dr. Michael Stein, uncovers a plot by the United States Military, to use this decision, to create an army of Monsters, that will eventually; terrorize the entire planet. To help Satan, in his war against God, to damn the souls, of mankind. Forever!

Summoned The Novel’ once you start reading it, you will not want to put it down!

http://www.authorsbookshop.com/summoned

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[IndieBookMan] Your novel sucks.

Here is a thoughtful bit of advice from Salon advice columnist Cary Tennis. He was, basically, asked how the letter writer should respond to a sensative friend who had requested comments on a "horrible novel."

Fortunately, every book and manuscript I have ever been asked to read has been great (especially yours, if I have read it!) so I have neeever been in this situation.

But I like Cary's advice, which is, basically, don't comment at all.

If I were you I would politely refuse to say anything about her novel. I would refuse to comment on it. For years I have had a policy that I mostly do not comment on people's work. I just don't. The medium of "commenting" is too freighted with meaning. It's a rigged system. It's a trick question. There is too much hunger associated with the act of writing. You never know what you're walking into.

I think that is very fair.

Now, as a lot of you are actually writers... you may find yourself asking for comments from friends and family to whom you have entrusted your drafts. Please be kind. Allow them the freedom to read it without commenting.

If you really want comments to help you develop your writing/story/novel... take a class or join a writing group. Leave the heavy crit work to folks who will not feel that your freindship will be threatened by honesty.

And finally, when you get comments/crit, remember that no writing is perfect. If you dismiss criticism you miss an opportunity to grow. Listen well, be thankful, and carefully consider the gift you have been given.

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[IndieBookMan] Best of Baltimore?

A while ago, I wrote a bit about my good freind, Angelo Solera, and how he suprised me with his decision to go with a local printer. I wrote about the benefits of doing so, and how this is often an overlooked option as we tend to go out into the world (wide web) looking for the best price, regardless of where it is. Angelo is a smart guy. He has good ideas. He is at it again.

Baltimore's City Paper, our beloved alt weekly birdcage liner, drops a Best of Baltimore issue every year. For the most part, their staff picks its favorite this-es and that-ses and they pubish them in a big issue and everyone complains about why their preferred this or favorite that didn't get picked.

But they also have a "Reader's Poll" part of the deal where, for weeks ahead of the issue readers can vote on-line or via fax (fax!? Remember those?) for their favorite whosey-whatsits.

Angelo is campaigning for the Best Local Author. He is campaigning for it hard.

And from what I can see, the point isn't whether he wins or not. It's about having found another excuse - nearly a year after his book dropped - to email every one that he knows in the world about his book. He's asking them to vote, sure, and definately wants them too. But more importantly, he is saying, "Hey! Remember my book! I'm still excited about it! You should be to!"

And thats my point here too. We tend to get caught up in the traditional means of promoting our books (If I could just get a radio interview!) but we should really be looking for any and every way we can to keep our books in people's minds. Keep the momentum going!

I think this another great idea from Angelo and honesty, whether he wins Best of Baltimore or not... it's a winning strategy for keeping his book alive!

If you have a sec... click over to the Reader's Poll and vote for all your favorite Baltimore crap. And don't be afraid to write in "Angelo Solera" as the "Best Local Author!" Oh, and if you happen to write in "sahffi" as the "Best Solo Music Artist" that would be awesome too!

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[IndieBookMan] Starlings in the Park

[http://www.authorsbookshop.com/starlingsinthepark]

Starlings in the Park

Jeanne Johnson
Blue Lupin Press
ISBN: 9780977776818
$14.95

http://www.authorsbookshop.com/starlingsinthepark

Eighteen compelling stories revealing the extraordinary resilience, courage and hope of ordinary people as they seek to overcome loneliness, hardship and loss. From three-year-old Annie to elderly Harry, you will be both saddened and heartened by what you encounter here.

"You will want to read it more than once. And you will want to share it with others."
Lucia Capacchione, Ph.D. Best selling author of Recover of your Inner Child and The Creative Journey.

"...a collection gripping the reader from beginning to end. Most of all she captures the essence of the spirit of survival - and the hope that we will all some day find love and peace withn."
Susana Herrera, author of Mango Elephants in the Sun:How Life in an African Village Let Me Be in My Skin

http://www.authorsbookshop.com/starlingsinthepark

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[IndieBookMan] Changes at Facebook

Once I began opening IndieBookMan up to some of my friends, things started to get a little weird over at facebook. I was pulling the IndieBookMan feed into my facebook account, so that all of my posts were reposted there for all of my friends to see.

But now that I am not writing all of the posts myself, my poor friends were getting a bit confused. They wondered why I was, all of a sudden, so into Mad Men.

So, I have unlinked the blog feed from my facebook profile, and instead created a facebook page for this blog, and am now pulling the feed into that page. It makes much more sense, I think, as my friends can now follow us there if they want to, but I can make it clearer that I am not writing all of the posts.

So, if you are interested at all, please join us at facebook by becoming a fan! It's just one more great way to get your IndieBookman fix and keep up with the world of indie publishing!

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[IndieBookMan] Book of the Day: Whirling Fire

[http://www.authorsbookshop.com/Whirling]

Whirling Fire

Jack L Thomas
lyndonjacks publications
ISBN: 0965984303
$14.00

http://www.authorsbookshop.com/Whirling

Life was simple – living in bunkers, bathing out of wells, avoiding booby traps – but advisors learned that the Vietnamese culture was deep, rich and complex. In this poignant collection, Mr. Thomas graphically portrays his feelings about the pain, confusion and senselessness of this war.

http://www.authorsbookshop.com/Whirling

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[IndieBookMan] I was being sarcastic!!!!!

Ok, not only does this study demonstrate how language-ignorant we have become as a society - but it reminds me of one of my favorite SNL sketches (sorry I couldn't find video).

Actually, I don't know if it is true that the study demonstrates that we are becoming more language-ignorant. Did more people understand sarcasm in previous generations? I bet not. In fact, many of the vast majority had no time for a highschool education, let alone an interest is the subtleties of sarcasm.

But still, come on people. I know this is a country filled with literary geniuses and all, but you've to recognize sarcasm when you see it, right?

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[IndieBookMan] AV Club: Impact of the Information Revolution

I know this video is making it's rounds through the face-space-twitter-verse right now... but I thought it was worth sharing here. And, though perhaps only marginally related to indie publishing, if you don't understand the impact of information technology - and the exponential growth of information in our society - is having on publishing, well, then you need to do some more thinking. Perhaps this video will help you figure it out:

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[IndieBookMan] TEST

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[IndieBookMan] Self Publishing Cinderella Story

Check out this story, Self-Published Book Gets Neiman Marcus Launch, by way of Publishers Weekly...

Now, this is the stuff of which Indie Publisher's dreams are made, right? These two women write a book (What I Learned About Life When My Husband Got Fired), someone at NM gets a hold of it, loves it, and sets them up with a window and launch event. Sweet.

But what makes this story even cooler is that these women are clearly dedicated to the Path. They had the book printed locally (an idea I have previosuly discussed here), and it looks like they are hand binding them (!?) 25,000 copies (!?!?!)

And they even, get this, even refuse to list the book through Amazon. Ahhhhh... indie publishers after my very heart! They have set up their own website RedandBlackBooks.com to market their book and to, puprotedly, help other indies sell their book without Amazon. They offer a list of marketing ideas, and a great philosophie.

Oh, one other interesting point that probably warrants a post in and of itself. They used a very interesting "Hybrid" publishing model that I'm not sure I have seen before. They were passed over by a publisher - not because the publisher didn't love the book, but because it was too commercial (huh? What kinda publisher is that?) - but the publisher agreed to work with them to help them publish it themselve. So, even though they were going it on there own, they had the benefit of the connections and experience of a traditional publisher. Very interesting. Let me know if you have heard of any other books being published in this way.

So, I gotta email these ladies and let them know about AuthorsBookshop. This is exactly the kind of situation for which I created it in the first place. They aught to dig it.

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[IndieBookMan] Indie publising myths, exposed!

[http://www.isnare.com/?aid=297196&ca=Writing]
Here is a pretty good list of myths and errant assumptions that many indie authors make, along with the truth behind them.

Well, for the most part, I think this is a pretty good list and I mostly agree with all of her points. No, actually, rereading her list as I post this, I think I agree with all of them except perhaps:

10) All of my friends will buy my book! Your friends may not buy your book; the truth is, strangers tend to buy books faster than friends do so don't be discouraged if your pals aren't snapping up your book.

Im not sure what kind if friends and family she has, but if she can't leverage her "FAF" market, she is missing a huge chunk of sales that should be automatic and really should be one of the first steps in the outward spiral of your promotion.

I mean, if you can't get your Aunt Sue to pony up $15 and tell her bridge club friends how great your book is... your going to have a much harder time spreading the word!

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[IndieBookMan] Blackjac

[http://www.authorsbookshop.com/blackjack]

Blackjack
Dreaming of a Morgan Horse

Ellen F. Feld
Willow Bend Publishing
ISBN: 0970900236
$9.95

http://www.authorsbookshop.com/blackjack

Blackjack, winner of the national book award, "Children's Choices 2005," given
by The International Reading Association and The Children's Book Council, is the first in the "Morgan Horse Series." The book introduces the character of Heather Richardson. A young horse-lover, Heather has been haunted by dreams of a very special Morgan Horse. She soon learns that the horse really exists and is thrilled when she is asked to care for him. With the help of Blackjack's owner, Heather learns to ride and show the horse and the two quickly form a very special bond. When tragedy strikes and Blackjack falls into the hands of an abusive trainer, Heather must find a way to rescue her horse before it is too late...

http://www.authorsbookshop.com/blackjack

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[IndieBookMan] Ginger High

[http://www.authorsbookshop.com/gingerhigh]

Ginger High

Melissa Burmester
Infinity Publishing
ISBN: 9780741453631
$13.95

http://www.authorsbookshop.com/gingerhigh

Ginger High is no ordinary school. It is a school for students with special “powers.” Many years ago people came to Earth from the Kingdom of Animist, a
parallel universe. Two long time friends, Matthias and Amanta, attended the school and then returned home to Animist.
The school has had many unexplained deaths. Daisy Fisher attends the school after her old school burns down. Matthias and Amanta are called back to the school to help solve the mysteries. What are powers? And what is with this crazy school? Welcome to Ginger High.

http://www.authorsbookshop.com/gingerhigh

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[IndieBookMan] A Slight Change in the Masthead!

I am changing things up a little. In order to bring you even more great indie-book related content, and broaden the point-of-view of your daily IndieBookMan reading, I am inviting some of my good friends from the indie book world to join me here. IndieBookMan blog will henceforth be known as "IndieBookMan & Friends."

Some of my friends will write more frequently, some less, but I think they will all bring fresh perspectives to what we have going on here.

The first Friend I would like to welcome is my good friend Cantara Christopher. She is an indie publisher, owner of Cantara Publishing, Keeps her own blog at Cantara's Notebook and runs the community over at Cantaraville Commons.

Not only is she a great writer and publisher... but she is, really, a brand unto herself!

You can find out a little more about her here.

So, please welcome Cantara to IndieBookMan & Friends. I am really looking forward to reading her posts as she gets into the flow if it here.

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Brad Grochowski
AuthorsBookshop.com: Buy Independent. Support Independent. Be Independent.
http://www.authorsbookshop.com

Read my IndieBookMan Blog: http://www.indiebookman.com

Posted via email from indiebookman's posterous

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Brad Grochowski
AuthorsBookshop.com: Buy Independent. Support Independent. Be Independent.
http://www.authorsbookshop.com

Read my IndieBookMan Blog: http://www.indiebookman.com

Posted via email from The Book Mob

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Brad Grochowski
Support Developer
PICnet, Inc. - http://www.picnet.net
PICnet Inc
1605 Connecticut Ave, NW, 3rd Floor
Washington, DC 20009
P: 202.585.0232
F: 202.280.1175

"Empowering the missions of non-profits through technology"

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Brad Grochowski
AuthorsBookshop.com: Buy Independent. Support Independent. Be Independent.
http://www.authorsbookshop.com

Read my IndieBookMan Blog: http://www.indiebookman.com

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Brad Grochowski
AuthorsBookshop.com: Buy Independent. Support Independent. Be Independent.
http://www.authorsbookshop.com

Read my IndieBookMan Blog: http://www.indiebookman.com