It is with with much regret that I inform all of you wonderful readers out there that we have pulled the ebook versions of all the Rift books, including the omnibus, from Barnes and Noble and Kobo and re-entered them in Amazon Select.
Unfortunately, we could simply gain no traction in either of those markets like we can with Amazon. Being a small publisher, and having very little sway in the marketplace, it hurts our bottom line to not use every tool available to us...and the Select program is one of those tools. Now, if we were selling well in even one of those other markets, I would hesitate to do this. But as it stands, they do not. Hence the change.
Select carries with it a 3-month term of exclusivity to Amazon, so it is entirely possible that, if things go well with a certain--ahem—other project I am working on, they could be added again come April. A possibility, not a certainty.
That's it for now. Stay tuned for some very exciting news in the coming weeks, all you fantasy fans out there!
—RJD
Well folks, very slowly, as our books drop out of the Select program, they will be added to the Nook and Kobo stores, respectively. In other words, this is a post to let you know that The Gate 2 is the latest to make the big switch! Any users of said devices, just click on the buttons above to be directed to the respective stores.
Peace, and buy our books dammit! :-)
RJD
 Yup, here it is folks. The cover to the very last book of The Rift. I'm quite proud of this one, and let me tell you, it was an adventure to write. While the ebook is obviously now available, the paperback won't be available for another couple of weeks. Once that occurs, the illustrations will be inserted into the digital copy. So click here to purchase the climactic book on Amazon! You won't be disappointed. I promise.
Okay folks, here we are on the 8th of July, and I've received numerous emails from folks asking about when the The Summer Son, the last book in The Rift quadrilogy, will be released.
As of this moment, I'm putting the finishing touches on the final draft of the manuscript. That should be done in the next ten days, and after that, it's being shipped over to Ashley, our editor extraordinaire, so she can clean it up and point out any potential issues. Also, The Cranky Artist is working on the cover and illustrations as we speak.
As it is, we're still looking at July 25th as a release date for the book. Of course, potential extraneous circumstances could push the publication forward or back a little bit in the time frame, but I can pretty much guarantee the book will be available for purchase within a few days of that date. And trust me, this one's going to be fantastic. I love the direction the story goes, and the resolution of all the plots and subplots are something I'm extremely proud of.
In other news, I've had a certain reviewer who is now working his way through our library. His name is Max Zaoui, and I posted the review he left on Amazon for Silas last month.
Max has moved on to the Rift books, and his review of Dead of Winter—which anyone who reads this blog will know is my favorite book in the series—literally left me speechless. Not only did he understand and point out the different ways in which I went about expanding the mythology of the world and the connections between characters, he also mentioned Jean-Paul Sartre. Something that very few people know is that two of Sartre's short plays--No Exit (Huis Clos) and The Respectful Prostitute--are large influences on my work in general and this series of books in particular. For him to realize the connections, without the benefit of a direct reference in the text, speaks to this individual's insightful and introspective reading of the material. For your enjoyment, once again here's Max's thought out and glowing review from Amazon, reprinted in all its awesomeness:
Duperre is a master story-teller who, in this second book from the Rift series, manages to connect various styles, genres, themes, characters, and ultimately readers; all quite naturally and seamlessly. As I was reading, I felt as if a giant puzzle was being assembled before my eyes, with new characters and situations that were mysterious at first, then which gradually became integrated. Everything falls into place neatly, all the dots get connected.
This theme of connection really stands out, and in more ways than one. Characters are connected: there are duos of characters, like Bill and Chris, Corky and Shelly, Horace and Doug... Sometimes they're connected in their parallel pasts: Bill and Corky both spent time in prison after killing a young boy or girl. Taking a young boy or girl under their protection becomes an act of salvation, which is another important idea in the novel. Whether saving one's own skin, or someone else's, or a whole community's, it basically all comes down to the same thing, which is to save one's own soul by being good to fellow humans. It also means being able to open up, something many characters have trouble doing initially for various reasons.
Characters are connected too in the sense that they're all confronted with the same predicament, yet they don't deal with it in the same way. Some fight with religion (Eduardo), others with education (Bill), science (Horace), love (Kye), guns (Doug)... And some characters are connected through some kind of "Dreamworld", in which Marcy is central: she guides characters like Josh and Bill, just like the Virgin Mary guides Eduardo (another parallel). Everyone has their "guide" to cross this metaphorical desert. Just like the reader has the author to guide him through the story, which is a dreamworld in itself, connecting people from the real one: readers. There's a kind of interesting mise en abyme at work in everything Duperre does.
That's a metafictional aspect: there's a book within the book, with William's notes, where Duperre deftly manages to adopt a different style, using a somewhat pompous and grandiose voice, William being a college teacher.There are stories within the story: everyone's life has become a story with the event. There's a before and an after. Each being enhanced, paradoxically because or thanks to the terrible predicament they've been confronted with.
Another paradox is found in the beauty that still exists: vast expanses (of sea, of snow) look more calm and more beautiful in this context of death and desolation. Yet, there's an ambivalence throughout the narrative, as oftentimes characters are trapped in claustrophobic, confined places, where they have to lay low and wait, allowing for tension to build up (we know that "L'enfer, c'est les autres." as Jean-Paul Sartre deftly coined it in Huis Clos...). There are few violent scenes: as in the best stories, it's when nothing happens that you're scared. Think Alien 1 or anything by M. Night Shyamalan.
A Philosophical component emerges, summed up by Bill (he's the writer created by the writer) when he writes that the end of something is the beginning of another, which makes him even believe in the possibility of God. Everything is related.
As when I was reading The Rift Book 1, I had again this nice feeling, even though terrible things happen, because we know some of the characters, and we see them evolve and mature. And there are new, interesting characters like Bill and Corky. The book looks like a good "season 2" of your favourite series.
Paul Auster always claims that fairy-tales are the epitome of what makes a story a good story. There is a fairy-tale aspect at work here, thanks to magical creatures, dreams, parallel worlds. Duperre displays a lot of imagination, which could startle at first, yet paradoxically it is a way to make the whole thing "believable". A fairy tale asks the reader to suspend their disbelief. Therefore the zombie-thing becomes almost realistic by comparison. Very clever move. And it's also a way to tell us that it's all make-believe, and/or all symbolical, not to be taken literally. It's not even meant to be that scary. There's a mythological, legendary aspect. Or biblical: like the Book of Revelation, it mixes apocalypse and prophesy.
Onomastics are at work too. Interestingly enough, Marcy's last name is Caron, which sounds close to Charon, the mythological figure transporting people to death on his boat. I'm eager to read Book 3 and see how this ambitious saga unfolds. Congratulations, once again, Master (no spelling mistake here, it is an "a") Duperre.
Nick Contor of Shock Totem has reviewed G2 today. It's a good'un. You can read it by CLICKING HERE. Let's look at his overall impression of the work: This is a great collection. Some stories I liked better than others, of course, but none were duds, a relative rarity among independent anthologies. I especially liked how each author approached the theme of isolation from such different angles.Good stuff here. Glad the authors got some props, too. They certainly deserve it.
Does horror and a crafter's festival dedicated to the love of strawberries mix? Well, yes sir it does! Okay, maybe not, but it's still a neat idea.
The Cranky Artist and myself joined the NEHW at the festival yesterday (June 16th), and got to hang out with a few of our fellow horrorphiles. The sales may have lacked, but it was certainly a fun experience and one that we will be sure to partake in again.
Here are some pics from the event:
 Sign for the attendees. For some reason they listed me first and the Cranky Artist last, which meant we got to embrace them all in a sweaty meat sandwich.  One of the NEHW tables...  ...and the other, complete with me and one of Kristi Petersen Schoonover's random friends. (Sorry Michelle!)  The same table, this time starring the Cranky Artist, looking slightly less cranky than usual.  Stacey Longo telling David Price and Rob Watts what's up.  Stacey...still chatting...taking a break from hacking the shit out of the manuscript in her lap.  Jason Harris and the rest of us chatting up a rather hyper potential buyer.  Kristi chatting toward the end of the day.  I am the lord of all I survey.  Me and my ladies. And no, my head's not that small. Damn camera angles. So there you go! Fun times, new friends made, and fun discussions had by all. Now to find a way to do more of these...
The March round now begins: today it's The Gate: 13 Dark and Odd Tales that gets the no-cost treatment. It will be free today, March 7th, until tomorrow, March 8th. Head on over to the 'Zon and pick yourselves up a copy!
So here we go folks. The paperback versions of The Gate 2: 13 Tales of Isolation and Despair is now live and ready to be purchased over at the 'Zon. Click here to head over there and pick one up! Also, it's time to strap in and get the words flowing on the The Summer Son: The Rift Book IV. I'll be starting tomorrow (March 4th), and the goal is to write 10,000 words a week over twelve weeks, which would put the second draft as being finished before the first week of June. I'll be posting updates every Saturday night to let you all keep track of my progress. So here's where we stand right now:March 3: 9,828 wordsI'll be seeing you next week at this time, if not sooner.Peace, gentle readers.RJD
Yes, here we are folks. The new anthology is now here...at least the ebook is. The proofs for the paperback should be coming today, so if it looks good, it should go live in the next few days. For now, take a look at the fabulous new cover, description, and table of contents, which includes 12 fantastic authors. To say we're excited about this product is a bit of an understatement!
…a young man tries to build a better life while trapped in a mall after a plague has killed off most of humanity… …zombies overrun a world gone mad, leaving a boy with no choice but to rely on possibly mystical means of escape… …Halloween night brings out a darkness so threatening that a young couple’s only hope of survival may be a procession of strange, ghostly children… …when the world is given a brief glimpse of divinity, a formerly disabled man must come to grips with the fact that not everything is as good as it seems… These tales and many more await in The Gate 2: 13 Tales of Isolation and Despair, the new collection edited by Robert J. Duperre. Thirteen talented authors have been assembled, bringing with them the best they have to offer in a wide range of horror, be it slice-of-life or paranormal in nature. Also included are two bonus stories by the editor. TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction Plastic by J.L. Bryan The Indian Rope Trick by D.P. Prior Night Night by Daniel Pyle Dead Things by Michael Crane Does Laura Like Elephants? by Steven Pirie 39 Days by Robert J. Duperre The Candle Eaters by K. Allen Wood Black Mary by Mercedes M. Yardley Exhibit C by David McAfee The Canoe by Joel Arnold Destination by Benjamin X. Wretlind The Ghastly Bath by Dawn McCullough-White Worldwide Event by David Dalglish 2 Bonus stories by Robert J. Duperre Traipsing Through the Dark: The Stories Behind the Stories CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE ON AMAZON.COM!
As anyone who follows this site knows, I've both been friends with and a huge supporter of Amanda Hocking. For anyone who doesn't know, Amanda was a self-published author just like myself, and through drive, risk, and oodles of talent, she catapulted her books into the bestseller lists. This led to a lucrative deal with St. Martin's press, with whom she will be publishing a brand-spanking-new series, as well as re-releasing her most popular titles to date, the Trylle Trilogy.
Switched, the first book of this latter trilogy, was released this week. It showed up in bookstores everywhere, and it was with immense amount of glee that I shuffled on down to our local Barnes and Noble to pick up my copy and support her in whatever small way I can. As proof, I offer you these two pics:
And then add to this the fact that I open up the first couple pages and read the acknowledgments, I get a nice little surprise. Check out the third paragraph below:
That's right. Amanda, a fellow part of our little writer's group, went out of her way to thank us and promote us.
Let's just say, I'm flabbergasted, respectful, honored, excited, and more than a little bit humbled by this. This is not something Amanda had to do. She did not have to mention anyone in her notes, as her success is her own, and she should be proud of it. And yet she did, which only goes to demonstrate the quality of character this fine young woman possesses.
To the mind of your humble author here, there is no one who deserves more respect than Amanda Hocking. She is a bastion of kindness, of the theory of never forgetting your roots, and it is amazing that with all the kudos that have come her way, she hasn't changed.
In other words, Amanda is awesome. So buy her books. Make her even more of a success than she already is, because a world where people like Amanda find their way into the public conscience is a world that is a much better place.
Peace, gentle readers.
Rob D
|
RSS Feed