All the news that’s fit to capsulize!

‘SITUATION’: ALL FREED UP
Renowned fantasy author Jeff VanderMeer is offering a free PDF download of his newest book THE SITUATION before it hits print from PS Publishing.

NO-SHIT SHERLOCK
Penguin Books UK is reissuing Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s entire Sherlock Holmes series with their best covers ever. Assuming you like the look of old horror movie posters … and who here doesn’t?

R.I.P. DRM
Random House has announced it no longer will use digital rights management on all of its digital audiobooks, marking a 180˚ with “huge implications for the publishing industry.” As announced in a press release, “After testing DRM-free downloads on eMusic, Random House decided that the universal MP3 format, which is championed by eMusic, is the best option for audiobook customers.” This means downloaders can play the MP3s on digital media players other than Apple iPods, and even burn a copy on an old-fashioned CD if they so desire.

AND IF YOU DON’T, CAROL BURNETT WILL CRY
Reading Is Fundamental – the national nonprofit literacy organization the Saturday-morning-of-yesteryear viewer in you remembers as RIF – may be nixed, if President Bush’s proposed 2009 budget is approved. Unless Congress reinstates funding, no longer will RIF exist to distribute 16 million books a year to at-risk youth. RIF asks you to write your members of Congress to request the reinstatement of funding.

EXCERPTS FROM PRESS RELEASES ABOUT BOOKS WE WON’T BE REVIEWING

from ITALIAN MOTHERS NEVER DIE THEY JUST GET LOUDER FROM THE OTHER SIDE by Marc Barone

“ITALIAN MOTHERS NEVER DIE THEY JUST GET LOUDER FROM THE OTHER SIDE is a true life-after-death story that follows the days and nights of author Marc Barone after his beloved, overbearing, fiery mama passes on. Fortunately she doesn’t go so far away as to not be heard. In fact, as the years pass, he becomes quite used to her guiding presence, proving the fact that a mothers bond transcends all barriers. His mom, Joia, is never too far away, as her presence and advice follow his days, creating an indelible affect on her son’s life-whether she is saving him from dangerous situations, performing an exquisite Christmas miracle, or helping him find a job: “Marc, calm down! You’re going to make yourself sick if you don’t! You need to go and eat something before your stomach does that thing..” As an aspiring songwriter, the chapters of Barone’s life are punctuated with well-known lyrics from The Beatles, Billy Joel, Stevie Nicks and many others, but it is his own
musical offerings that truly haunt the pages.”

from THE CAKE THIEF by Sally Lee

“THE CAKE THIEF tells the story of young Clarence, who loves to steal cakes from everyone in the neighborhood. But one day, instead of a cake, Clarence finds an invitation to a party which instructs him to bring a cake himself. What’s a young cake thief to do?”

from THE GATHERER by Jerry Bayne

“With this first novel, Bayne sets himself up to be a cult author in the vein of Stephen King, Dean Kuntz, and Dan Brown.”

Kuntz! –Rod Lott

Buy it at Amazon.