From Rockstars to Sleuths:Has 3D Game Storytelling Matured?

Have gaming and interactive storytelling finally matured to a new level? This is the impression I’m left with after reading reviews and watching clips from Rockstar/Team Bondi’s impressive new game,“L.A. Noire”.

Granted,I’m no gamer. Hell,I’m practically a neophyte. In the last year,I’ve probably spent more time playing Bejewelled and Angry Birds . . . →Read More:From Rockstars to Sleuths:Has 3D Game Storytelling Matured?

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Game Noir? “LA Noire”and Raymond Chandler’s Los Angeles

Check out these posts by Tom Williams,a literary agent and biographer of hard-boiled crime fiction master,Raymond Chandler.

Tom is reviewing the new Rockstar game,“LA Noire”:

LA Noire and Raymond Chandler (Part 1)

LA Noire and The Big Sleep

 

LA Noire and Raymond Chandler (Part 1) . . . →Read More:Game Noir? “LA Noire”and Raymond Chandler’s Los Angeles

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On Reviews:How NOT to Respond (or “Do this,and sink your writing career”)

When I read this exchange between an author and a reviewer on a public community blog,I was stunned,and a little fascinated:

http://booksandpals.blogspot.com/2011/03/greek-seaman-jacqueline-howett.html

The author refuses to acknowledge the points the reviewer (a volunteer) made,and soon became combative and even verbally abusive! It was a fascinating example of an emotional meltdown by a . . . →Read More:On Reviews:How NOT to Respond (or “Do this,and sink your writing career”)

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Repost:It’s Still About Story Telling:Writing in the ePublishing Age

I enjoyed this article by Nilofar Ansher. It deals with the way new media and technology play a role in moving the control of opinion away from from critics and specialists and into the hands of consumers. In fact,consumers are ever-more becoming producers. I think this is the real shift:the audience is not only listening,they’re talking back. . . . →Read More:Repost:It’s Still About Story Telling:Writing in the ePublishing Age

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What Independent Author Stacey Cochran learned from self-publishing

I found this article to be a very useful,first-hand account of the challenges and advantages of self-publishing.

I think that opinion tends to be divided between those who feel that eBooks are opening new opportunities for readers and writers,and those who feel that the eReader medium is still too immature and under-refined compared . . . →Read More:What Independent Author Stacey Cochran learned from self-publishing

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Preview Owe Nothing Free,on Google Books

In the spirit of “try before you buy”,I invite you to read a preview of my novel,Owe Nothing,on Google Books.

Owe Nothing is my non-mainstream look at Vancouver:an adventure novel based upon real people and places that I knew when my family lived in dodgy Kingsway Motels for over a year. The . . . →Read More:Preview Owe Nothing Free,on Google Books

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Is an eReader or Tablet in Your Future,or mine?

I read this 2010 Survey of Book Buying Behaviour that gave some interesting stats on eReader adoption rates among book buyers. Compared to buyers of printed books,eBook purchasers are a small lot,but growing every day.

The survey said,among other things,that of the 9800 some-odd people surveyed…

eReader owners represent about 7% . . . →Read More:Is an eReader or Tablet in Your Future,or mine?

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Are Video Book Trailers a Good Idea?

Are video book trailers a good idea? I actually debated this question while I pondered the progress of my online book marketing campaign. In retrospect,it seemed funny that I actually pondered this at all.

When I first envisioned the kinds of activities it would take to market a novel,I imagined things like press . . . →Read More:Are Video Book Trailers a Good Idea?

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Book Trailer Video:Owe Nothing

Check out the new book trailer video for Owe Nothing:

http://ejohnlovebooks.com/books/owe-nothing/owe-nothing-video-trailers/

This captures a bit of the humour and intrigue of Owe Nothing. I think I definitely see more video trailers in my future…

(Apex Reviews,and GhostWriter Extraordinare)

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How do you set a price for an eBook edition?

What’s the right price,relative to the cover price of the printed edition,or relative to the expectations of the eReader market?

This is something I must resolve for myself:when I publish “Owe Nothing”in eBook format (which I am going to do fairly soon),what is the best price? I’ve seen eBooks on sale . . . →Read More:How do you set a price for an eBook edition?

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