"Blood & Ashes" - AVAILABLE on Amazon.co.uk

Ricardo C.

thesecretagent wrote:

I've had ten years to get over this, so I can laugh about it now - just. I had a signing for my novel at my local WH Smith. Great. Bigtime. I had my pens, best suit, briefcase. Beside me was the stack of books the store had provided. Across from me, the other side of the store, and doing his book signing for Single & Single was a certain John Le Carre... He was also signing copies of everything from The Tailor of Panama to oh, just about everything he's ever written. X-(
I signed four books.

Ouch man. I wouldn't been able to get over that for a long time if it was me though if you respect Le Carre, as I do to some degree, it's easier. If it was David Baldacci on the other hand, I'd still be pissed.

Loeffelholz

darenhat wrote:

What are the chances of doing a book-signing/Q&A at your local Barnes and Noble? I see my local shops doing that for regional authors quite frequently...but I'm not sure how much of that is arranged locally. If you do it, you have to make sure you get a modest group of friends to 'salt' the crowd. I once read that Bernard Cornwell doesn't do book-signings anymore because he found it 'humiliating' (in regard to the lack of interest).

I'll be doing one at my local B&N next spring---they do one 'local authors' signing event each year; I'll be there along with anyone else from nearby who's recently published a book. And I'll be glad to do it!

Loeffelholz

thesecretagent wrote:

I've had ten years to get over this, so I can laugh about it now - just. I had a signing for my novel at my local WH Smith. Great. Bigtime. I had my pens, best suit, briefcase. Beside me was the stack of books the store had provided. Across from me, the other side of the store, and doing his book signing for Single & Single was a certain John Le Carre... He was also signing copies of everything from The Tailor of Panama to oh, just about everything he's ever written. X-(
I signed four books.

I've been fortunate, in that both of my signings have had nice turnout. In my hometown, I signed and sold every copy available, which was 28 copies...my next one, in Springfield, also did well---given it was more of a 'destination' signing than the first, which took place during an 'Arts and Balloon Festival', where I had the added benefit of casual browsers...some of whom bought on impulse.

All the same, during both events there were 'dead' times, when I sat there with my green sharpie and waited for something to happen. It's an awful feeling. I cannot imagine having to look across the way and see a superstar author with a line queued up...thoughts might turn to suicide ;% ) My next one, in Quincy, Illinois, will take place during a classic car-themed event, with lots of extra traffic in the bookstore...and I'll have one other local Quincy author signing there as well. I've contacted local radio and newspapers, and haven't heard back from them yet. So I've no idea what to expect...maybe four sales...?

thesecretagent

The biggest thing was he was a complete and utter jerk. Another first time authour was signing his copies (or not as it turned out) beside me, and La Carre never once looked over, came over to offer support or cared less. On the other hand, I did a book fair with E V Thompson, who gave me his home number, took a copy of my book home (and paid for it), then called me up to say how good he thought it was - then sent it to his agent to see if he could help with additional promotional work! Talk about a guy showing a solidarity to a new author. Absolute class act.

Ricardo C.

thesecretagent wrote:

The biggest thing was he was a complete and utter jerk. Another first time authour was signing his copies (or not as it turned out) beside me, and La Carre never once looked over, came over to offer support or cared less. On the other hand, I did a book fair with E V Thompson, who gave me his home number, took a copy of my book home (and paid for it), then called me up to say how good he thought it was - then sent it to his agent to see if he could help with additional promotional work! Talk about a guy showing a solidarity to a new author. Absolute class act.

Well Le Carre did come off as a dick when he recently salandered James Bond. Incase you didn't read the article:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/jamesbond/7948363/James-Bond-was-a-neo-fascist-gangster-says-John-Le-Carre.html

thesecretagent

Thanks, interesting article. Yes, he is a dick.

Loeffelholz

thesecretagent wrote:

Yes, he is a dick.

I doubt he and I will be sharing any signing events anytime soon...good for me

thesecretagent

Just thought I'd get this back up the page where it should be. For those who haven't read it, please do because its a cracking read.

Loeffelholz

Thanks very much, tsa {[] I'm only now realising the magnitude of the challenge I'm facing, just in getting the word out! I've done signings (more to come, as I can), had a nice newspaper feature, and done radio (albeit local) on two continents...what a struggle! What's both gratifying and frustrating is that people do really enjoy it when they give it a look!

Thank God (and my German genes) for stubbornness :v

Pendragon

gotta love press time...

if there's anything we can do to help, do tell! gotta spread the good word -{

Loeffelholz

Just a reminder for my UK friends as we head into the holiday season...if you don't feel you need a signed copy from my website (in my signature), "Blood & Ashes" is available via Amazon.co.uk here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Ashes-Debut-Oscar-Thriller/dp/1432759345/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1288378895&sr=1-1

If you've got someone on your list who's difficult to buy for, or who's "got everything"...they probably don't have this! :v Give the gift of a hard-drinking, world-weary 1940s private eye this Christmas---and tell your loved one that you know the fellow who wrote it...

Also available in a Kindle edition there, if you're so inclined! Cheers all! {[]

thesecretagent

I'll get a signed one from your site for someone this Christmas Loeffs - I was in such a rush to get my copy when it came out, I just bought it on Amazon. Still, that's good for your registered sales figures. Hope the PR is going well. -{

Loeffelholz

Thanks tss! {[] And thanks to everybody who has already picked up a copy of B&A---whether from my website, Amazon, Barnes & Noble.com, or wherever...you know who you are, and your support of my stubborn bad habit warms my heart :x

I've also learnt this week that I've yet to be available via nationwide wholesalers like Ingram and Baker & Taylor, through which books actually turn up on bookshelves, so the sales life of the book is still very much in the early stages (online only!)...

Pendragon

Loeffelholz wrote:

support of my stubborn bad habit

a "bad habit" we all greatly encourage!!! the world needs more bad habits like yours, Loeffs :P

Loeffelholz

Cheers Pen :x

Having an ongoing dialogue with my publisher at this point---apparently B&A is still not available, as intended (and promised!), via mainstream wholesalers Ingram and Baker & Taylor X-( Once the book starts turning up in these very important catalogues and websites, I'm hoping this expanded distribution will change the lay of the land somewhat...still, given the limitations with which I'm working, the results (particularly in the e-book/Kindle format) are encouraging!

Still, I'll take all the patronage and habit-enabling I can get...thanks everyone -{

Get a friend or loved one Jaded^TM for the holidays...they'll love you for it!

Loeffelholz

A nice review from a local magazine...gave the reviewer a copy of the book back in August, and forgot about it. Now it's out

:

http://www.springfieldsown.com/columns/books/482/old-fashioned-gumshoe

Loeffelholz

Hello, all my UK friends...

In an effort to increase my book's footprint on Amazon UK (and hopefully encourage sales of the hard copy, natch), I'm offering "Blood & Ashes" in a Kindle Edition---from now until December 7th---for 99 cents American (converts to .72 pounds, I believe): Give it a shot...and if you like it, please consider giving the book as a gift. I'm preparing to attend Black Friday tomorrow as a member of the workforce...and I'd very much like it to be my last!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Ashes-Debut-Oscar-Thriller/dp/B003XIJ6IS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=A3TVV12T0I6NSM&qid=1290743520&sr=1-1-spell

thesecretagent

Already done my friend! Father-in-law got a kindle from all of us for his birthday - and I gave him a tour of Amazon and found your book, which he then felt obliged to download! My god man, 72p! I'm no fan of digital novels (I hold romantic views of writing, and love turning the first page to see where it takes me) but for that price we'll get your footprint up, no worries. Now, that's two hard backs (thanks for signing the one I've brought for a present btw) and one kindle. I'm getting the word out there for you. Now, just a few thousand more... -{

Loeffelholz

Just wanted to report the results of my 99 cent experiment with the Amazon Kindle edition of B&A...as I type this, the book is on the best-seller list at #77 in the admittedly very specific 'Hardboiled Mystery' category---#6,704 overall Not busting any blocks, but not too shabby for a lil' old independent title, either! -{ Thanks again for everyone who's read it so far...or who one day might. Cheers! {[]

thesecretagent

Fantastic coup. Stroke of genius! -{

Pendragon

even though I already own a fantastic signed and already dog-eared copy of B&A, I'm gonna get it on the kindle app I have on my itouch...for mobile reading never know when the mood for a good book will strike

EDIT

---

bada boom. am now set for mobile reading needs.

thesecretagent

We're keeping Leoffs between us Pen. Don't buy anymore books or apps - just send the guy the money direct!!! )

Pendragon

) can do, TSA :P

Loeffelholz

All right, Oscar Jade fans (current and future!)...I had to wait until I'd cleared the idea with my cover artist, Daren Hatfield (known to AJB members as darenhat) before I made the announcement...so here we go---AN AJB EXCLUSIVE:

But first, a bit of backstory...When my book was published, I arranged to have 30 11x17-inch copies of Daren's incredibly cool cover art printed up on high-quality slick paper, to be used for promotional purposes (book signings, display in bookstore windows, etc.). I framed and matted one of them, along with a newspaper feature on the book and myself, which sat on an easel and did the lion's share of the book-signing work. Other copies were distributed to local bookstores, for window displays in advance of various signing events. Some went to friends and family members, but...

I currently have a total of 18 copies of the brilliant cover art for Blood & Ashes on hand...and we are prepared to sell them---in an extremely limited edition---each signed by Daren and myself, suitable for framing/matting, and numbered "13 of 30" though "30 of 30"...for $20 each, plus shipping and handling. THERE WILL BE NO MORE OF THESE POSTERS PRINTED!



(Click on the picture to enlarge, and enjoy Daren's fantastic work in more detail!)

This offer will be made available to the general public, via http://oscarjade.com , sometime in early 2011...but as always I'd much rather give the members of this great website---which is rightly in the "Author's Note/Acknowledgments" section of the book as being responsible for bringing Daren Hatfield into Team Oscar Jade---the first opportunity to further increase the exclusivity of the public offering B-)

If anyone is interested, please send me a PM to reserve a copy. Daren and I will be signing these in the next two or three weeks, and they will be available after that. Meanwhile, if you'd like a signed/personalized copy of B&A in time for Christmas, you must act immediately---especially if you live in the UK!!

Thanks very much for looking!

Loeffelholz

Did a long-prescheduled internet 'reading' of B&A today on an Amazon.com discussion forum; if you haven't read it yet, here's an easy (and free!) way to check out a sample---the first two chapters of the book appear as excerpts over a few pages, starting here: http://tinyurl.com/36zdvkk

The 'em-dashes' in the text didn't translate well in the cut-and-paste to the forum, but you'll get the idea...

Loeffelholz

I was delighted to come home from my crappy day job and discover that "Blood & Ashes" was an Amazon Kindle bestseller in three different categories---"Historical Mystery" being the most prominent at #27 The book's having its best month of sales thus far---and on Amazon UK Kindle as well...so my heartfelt thanks to any of my Brit friends who've picked it up lately...if you like it, please tell your family and friends!

Thanks again!

Loeffelholz

Hello, friends...a pleasant surprise today, as I was heading out to work. Found out that my book got a rather nice writeup on the website ReadMeDeadly.com:

http://www.readmedeadly.com/

thesecretagent

That's great news! And deservedly so. -{

Hardyboy

Great news, Loeffs. I still plan to read it, but my day job--which requires me to read a lot--keeps me from it!

Loeffelholz

Just a quick note to share that I've updated my signature to include the correct website to get the book. And for us Yanks:

http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Ashes-Debut-Thriller-ebook/dp/B003XIJ6IS/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Friend me on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/mark.loeffelholz?success=1#!/mark.loeffelholz

Cheers all!