August 25, 2021

My books—FREE for a limited time!




I think the time has come to turn Labor Day into one of those gift-exchange holidays. After all, it's not as if it has a lot going for it right now, other than a three-day weekend: it's the end of summer, there's nothing to look forward to until Thanksgiving, and, unlike those of us who sit behind a desk and type for a living, many real laborers don't get the day off. Jerry Lewis isn't even on anymore. So why not liven things up a bit with some presents, maybe a party, and a nice card? (I'm surprised Hallmark hasn't already started a line of Labor Day cards.)

So that nobody can accuse me of not doing my part, I have an excellent gift suggestion: check out my Bookstore and, if you haven't already, make a gift of one of my books. And this week only, as an incentive, I'm making these books my gift to you—and you won't have to pay a dime! You heard that right! For the next five days—from now until Sunday—the Kindle versions of The Electronic Mirror, The Car, and The Collaborator are absolutely free. It's my way of promoting the daylights out of my books thanking you for your loyalty over the last 11+ years. All I ask in return is that you submit a (hopefully positive, but above all honest) review afterward; easy for you, and helpful for me. 

I'll be the first to admit that, besides the ad that runs permanently on the sidebar, I haven't done nearly as much as I should to promote these books, and the last couple of years of shutdowns haven't helped. But I wouldn't be asking you to check them out if I didn't think they were worth your time, and it will never be easier, or cheaper, than this.  

THE ELECTRONIC MIRROR: WHAT CLASSIC TV TELLS US ABOUT WHO WE WERE AND WHO WE ARE
This collection of essays looks at TV during its formative years and examines how this most personal form of mass communication reflects the culture of its time, how it has fulfilled (or failed to fulfill) its initial promise, and how TV has—intentionally as well as unintentionally—predicted the future, with sometimes disturbing results. It is the sometimes humorous, occasionally ironic, but always interesting story of how classic television indeed is an “electronic mirror.”

THE CAR 
It begins with the car. But for Winter, an ordinary man living an ordinary life, it will not end until he learns what has happened to the car’s owner and why the car has been left abandoned and ignored on a city street. As Winter’s curiosity turns to obsession, his search for the missing owner intensifies and he finds the car taking him on a journey that he never expected, one of dreams and reality in which nothing–and no one–is what it seems. Not even him.

THE COLLABORATOR 
In this eerily prescient novel, a wildly popular new Pontiff promises reforms designed to focus the Catholic Church on inclusion, social justice and modernization. He is opposed by the powerful Prefect, a cardinal dedicated to preserving the traditional teaching of the Church, who fears the Pontiff’s plans will destroy the Church. Their inevitable confrontation is brought to a head by a Journalist’s investigation that uncovers a story of ambition, loss, deceit and more.

Pick up one, or try all three. There's nothing authors appreciate more than the sense that others are reading their words. Just remember that this promotion ends on Sunday. And if you don't, I'll just keep plugging them more and more frequently until you do. After all, it works for public broadcasting, doesn't it? TV  

2 comments:

  1. Well, since books are the subject this week ...

    You know those various books and such that I've been gifting you with over these past days?
    You're always saying that you'll comment on them, letting me know how you're reacting to them ... but somehow you never do.
    Frankly, after all this time, I'm - well, curious ...
    There's some pretty good stuff in there (at least I think so).
    I'll freely admit that that's the reason I sent that first cache to you, Way Back When; all the others had what I thought were items that might set you to thinking, one way or another - but to date, no word from your end.
    I've mentioned some of these in past comments; lately, I'm wondering how you might have reacted to The King Is Dead, by Ellery Queen (1952) (no spoilers - I want your true response) (and that's one example to serve for many).

    Just for fun, why not gather together all the stuff I've sent you, and give me a rundown of how you found them - as entertainment, as Culture, as anything you like.
    Put it here on the site, in front of God and everybody; my purpose was to share my wealth (and I'm fairly sure God won't mind).
    Anyway, there's always another Wednesday ...

    Get back to me on this, OK?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, I'll be honest with you--I've had time to read exactly two books this year, and I'm not quite done with the second one. It's killing me, because there are few things I enjoy better than reading, but between looking for a job, starting that job in January, and having that job take far more of my time than previous jobs (I'm not complaining, just the facts, buty I've even worked evenings and holidays), plus doing some serious work on a fairly major relocation in the next year, I've not only had to put my other blog on hiatus for awhile, I'm barely keeping up with things here. I'm not even watching as much television as I used to.

      It's just killing me, because I feel as if I'm starving my mind. And yet, even if I stopped writing here, my time would just fill up with other things. Never have I read less than I am this year. I can't even say that things will be less busy next year, because if anything I think it will be more busy.

      I've got this sinking feeling that my time won't return to me until I've retired, which I'm hoping will be in a couple of years. Ultimately, I have to make time for my reading, but I've probably got about 50 books in the queue. If it's any consolation, yours are at the top. I might surprise you in the next month - keep reading!

      (Oh, and if anyone wants to try a guest writing spot or two, you're more than welcome!)

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Thanks for writing! Drive safely!