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Thursday’s Post-Publication Post: Update on Reviews, Giveaways, Events & The Blue Card

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled

It’s been busy lately, and here’s some of what’s been happening with my story collection, Quiet Americans, in recent days.

  • Reviews and ratings continue to accrue (thank you!) on the book’s Amazon and Goodreads pages. Yesterday, I discovered an especially lovely Amazon review that was posted on April 5. (And no, I do not know the reviewer personally!)
  • The giveaway that I announced last week to mark the release of the Kindle version (which, by the way, can be read even without a Kindle device) ended yesterday. Congratulations to the winners (you can see who they are in the giveaway post’s comments section), and thanks to everyone who entered for the helpful feedback.
  • I’ve been practicing the portion of Quiet Americans that I plan to read this weekend in the Sunday Salon series. If you’re thinking of attending, I promise you that I will stick to my time limit! (I may even have a minute-and-a-half to spare.)
  • And I’m really looking forward to next Tuesday’s online chat with participants in the Jewish Book Council’s Twitter Book Club. (Will I “see” you there?)
  • Most important, now that we’ve entered the second quarter of 2011, I’ve sent The Blue Card its first “cut” of the book sale profits/royalties. It’s a not-insignificant, three-figure sum, and I hope that I’ll be able to do even more next quarter. Thank you all for making the contribution possible. (Extra thanks to the friends and family who have made contributions independently, in honor of the book’s publication. You are exceptionally classy–and generous–people!)

    • Notes from Around the Web: Literary Links for Shabbat

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled

    (Today marks the beginning of National Poetry Month, and this link list appropriately begins with poetry for the occasion.)

  • On Monday, The Chronicle of Higher Education‘s Arts & Academe blog featured Erika Meitner’s poem, “Yizker Bukh.”
  • Adam Kirsch reviews and recommends Whitethorn, a new poetry collection by Jacqueline Osherow.
  • Yoram Kaniuk has won the Sapir Prize for Literature.
  • “Writer, historian and playwright Jane Mushabac will perform and discuss her Sephardic short story “Pasha: Ruminations of David Aroughetti” on Monday, April 11, from 5 to 6:30 p.m., in New York City College of Technology’s (City Tech) Atrium Amphitheater, 300 Jay Street in Downtown Brooklyn. The public is invited to this free event.”
  • Remember that my story collection, Quiet Americans is the Jewish Book Council’s April selection for its Twitter Book Club. Come tweet with us on April 12.
  • And if you’re a Kindle fan, here’s some extra good news: Quiet Americans is now available for the Kindle! And I’m giving away two “copies”!
  • Quiet Americans has also been chosen by a Pennsylvania synagogue for its May book group. I’ll be chatting with the group via phone when they gather. If you’re interested in inviting me to join your discussion of Quiet Americans–or even if you’d just like to peruse a few discussion questions–please click here for more information.

    • Shabbat shalom!

    Thursday’s Post-Publication Post: The Kindle Version Is Here! And I’m Giving Two Copies Away!

    by Erika Dreifus on
    9

    Was it only two weeks ago that I was blogging about the Quiet Americans ebook conversion? That post generated so many helpful comments–thank you again! (Please click here to see the price that was ultimately selected.)

    Yes, just two weeks later, the Kindle version of Quiet Americans is complete and available! And to celebrate, I’m going to offer two “gift” copies to you, dear readers.

    To enter this giveaway, please comment below, with a suggestion or piece of advice to help me promote this new version of the book. (Promoting a print book is something I think I can do; I’m less confident about the promoting the ebook.)

    The trusty random number generator will select our two winners, but please don’t let that stop you from offering the very best advice you can! You can comment right up to 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, April 6, 2011.

    Good luck, and thanks in advance for your comments and suggestions. I truly appreciate them!

    Thursday’s Post-Publication Post: Book Clubs, Reading Guides, and Another Call for Suggestions

    by Erika Dreifus on
    2

    I’ve already mentioned the wonderful news that my story collection, Quiet Americans, has been selected as the next title for the Jewish Book Council’s Twitter Book Club. We’ll be chatting online on Tuesday, April 12 (12:30, U.S. Eastern time), and you are all cordially invited to attend!

    What I haven’t yet shared is that last week, I learned that two more clubs have chosen Quiet Americans to read and discuss. These are groups that meet face-to-face. They happen to be located in different parts of the country (and not in any state I’ve lived in, which for some reason I find remarkable).

    With this happy development, I have turned my attention to a project I know I should have managed awhile back: writing a reading guide/discussion questions. (Again, remember, Last Light Studio is a very new and very small press. It’s not as though there’s an employee whose responsibility it is to write the questions.)

    This really shouldn’t be so difficult, right? Especially for me, with years of teaching experience behind me. After all, how many times have I created and circulated questions to help guide my students’ reading?

    But, of course, this set of questions is different. I’ve been looking at reading guides and questions for other authors’ books for some guidance. But, as usual, I’m again turning to all of you. Especially those of you who participate in book clubs. How many questions do you like to have on hand? If there’s a “type” of question that seems to work well (or badly), might you share it here? This inquiring mind wants to know! Thank you very much!

    (Oh, and when I’ve completed this project, I’ll be sure to post the questions/guide on the website.)

    Thursday’s Post-Publication Post: The Ebook is Coming, The Ebook is Coming

    by Erika Dreifus on
    10

    Next week, if all proceeds according to plan, Quiet Americans will begin its conversion into ebook format. Which is exciting and, I’ll admit, a bit unnerving (it’s not possible for me to approach any sort of change without at least some anxiety–that’s the only explanation I can give you).

    We’ve had some discussions among the Last Light Studio (LLS) publisher and authors about ebook pricing, but I think it’s safe to say that we haven’t determined anything conclusive or across-the-board. In fact, part of the beauty of the LLS model is that each author has quite a bit of say in the pricing of her own book.

    Which means that I’d love to hear from those of you with more ebook experience, whether you consider yourself primarily a reader, author, or publisher. What are your thoughts about ebook prices? How much is too much? Does any price ever strike you as perhaps “too little”? What differential do you expect to see between a print and ebook version? (Yes, I’ve read through a number of blog posts and articles on these matters, but I’m interested in what you have to say.)

    Please don’t limit yourself to pricing matters if you have more to share. Feel free to comment with any tips you may have about ebook promotion or other relevant issues, too. Are there specific venues you trust specifically for their ebook reviews? Please tell me about them!

    Quiet Americans and I thank you!