Smashing Sunday update

We've got two new sites where you can buy the e-book edition of the first Monkey Queen adventure, Of Introductions And Abductions!

[6/7/15: Edited as we switch to Kindle Unlimited and being exclusive on Amazon.]

And we're still marked down at Amazon France! Normally €2,68, currently €2,26! I know we do get some French visitors here, so I hope that if you want to download this e-book, you do it while the price is still low (and e-books make great gifts)! Merci! http://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B00NAKJUG2?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

A few weeks back, I linked to a beautiful drawing of the cast of Miyazaki's classic movie Spirited Away by Willow, our Monkey Queen cover artist. Now, you can get a print of that drawing at the Collectif Pin Up store at Society6! http://society6.com/pinup/spirited-away-zu8_print#1=45 Also, there's a coffee mug featuring Willow's cute take on Hiccup and Toothless from How To Train Your Dragon. http://society6.com/pinup/toothless-and-hiccup_mug#27=199 Shame it's not self warming. :) Anyway, more of Willow's work (and her Collectif Pin Up teammates) can be viewed at the Society 6 store, and as always, see much more of Willow's art at http://willow-san.deviantart.com

And finally, a look at what this blog's writer needs to help him get through a weekend of writing, editing and pre-formatting:*

*And that's iced coffee in that mug. I'm a member of the "don't drink and write" school.

KBoards Book Discovery Day!

Today, the first Monkey Queen book, Of Introductions And Abductions, is featured as part of Book Discovery Day on the KBoards blog! http://kboards.blogspot.com/  Find us and other exciting releases at today's post, http://kboards.blogspot.com/2014/09/book-discovery-day-friday-sep-26.html  and bookmark their blog to keep up with great new and overlooked e-books! Thanks to Harvey and the KBoards crew for letting us be a part of this.

And you shop all the time at Amazon.fr and you still haven't downloaded your Monkey Queen e-book? We forgive you. Just head here and get it while it's still on sale! Normally €2.68, but you can get it now for just €2.26! http://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B00NAKJUG2?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Gentle reminders

Thanks to everyone who's bought and downloaded the first Monkey Queen book, Of Introductions And Abductions, so far! If you haven't, this blog post from last Friday has every ordering link I could find: http://monkeyqueenbooks.blogspot.com/2014/09/publication-day-complete-ordering-links.html If you have, thanks, and feel free to leave a review or say something in the comments!

If you're wondering what the fuss is about, you could scroll down and read Chapter One, but the Amazon.com link has a longer "Look Inside" preview. Just click on Willow's wonderful cover! http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NAKJUG2

And I have no idea why this happened or how long it will last, but the e-book is still at a special price at Amazon France! The list price there (and the price in other European Amazon stores) is €2.68, but you can get it for just €2.26 at this link! http://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B00NAKJUG2?*Version*=1&*entries*=0 Save a few cents and get it now!

And finally, while I have no official position about the recent vote over Scottish independence, I will point out that there are people I know who are happy that their supply of this will not be interrupted:

Big Sunday update

Lots happening this Sunday! First, don't forget that the first Monkey Queen novel, Of Introductions And Abductions, is now on sale everywhere! The post below this one has all the ordering links you need, but I wanted to alert you that the e-book is at a special price at the Amazon France store; the list price (and the price in other European Amazon stores) is €2.68, but you can get it for just €2.26 at this link! http://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B00NAKJUG2?*Version*=1&*entries*=0 Or, just search your Amazon for "Monkey Queen"!

I know we're getting a lot of visitors here, so feel free to leave a comment if you'd like! Your input is welcome, even if it's just to say "more penguins" or "less penguins".

Quick plug: Willow, who did the awesome cover for the first Monkey Queen novel (and, of course, is at http://willow-san.deviantart.com/ ), is among the many contributors to Rose au Coeur, an art book designed to raise awareness and funding for the fight against breast cancer. Find out more at their Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/roseOcoeur, and donate at their crowdfunding site, https://www.leetchi.com/c/projet-rose-au-coeur There's only a week left to meet their €1000 goal, and every bit helps, so please donate if you can. Thanks.

And finally: What the well-dressed authors will be wearing this season.

And what the well-dressed but somewhat crazy authors will be wearing this season.

Publication Day! Complete ordering links here!

The first Monkey Queen book, Of Introductions And Abductions, is now available for download and purchase worldwide! Thank you to everyone who put up with all my posts the last 24 hours as the e-book edition rolled out! This post is to put every purchase link there is in one place for everyone's convenience; if you've already got your copy, carry on, and we'll get back to random weird photos and penguin videos later. For now, get a Hawaiian pizza Michiko and Beth style (double pineapple, and all the ham on one side), rev up your e-reader of choice and enjoy!

For U.S. purchase - e-book editon:

Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NAKJUG2

[6/7/15: Edited as we switch to Kindle Unlimited and being exclusive on Amazon.]

For outside the U.S. - e-book edition:

Amazon France - on sale as of this writing! http://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B00NAKJUG2?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

 Amazon Mexico http://www.amazon.com.mx/gp/product/B00NAKJUG2?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Amazon Canada http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00NAKJUG2?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Amazon (still-) United Kingdom http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00NAKJUG2?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Amazon Germany http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B00NAKJUG2?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Amazon Spain http://www.amazon.es/gp/product/B00NAKJUG2?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Amazon Italy http://www.amazon.it/gp/product/B00NAKJUG2?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Amazon India http://www.amazon.in/gp/product/B00NAKJUG2?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Amazon Brazil http://www.amazon.com.br/gp/product/B00NAKJUG2?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Amazon Australia http://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B00NAKJUG2?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Amazon Japan http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B00NAKJUG2?*Version*=1&*entries*=0


For U.S. purchase - print edition:

Amazon.com  http://www.amazon.com/dp/1501085735

Createspace  http://www.amazon.com/dp/1501085735

For outside the U.S. - print edition:

Amazon France http://www.amazon.fr/dp/1501085735

Amazon U.K. http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1501085735

Amazon Germany http://www.amazon.de/dp/1501085735

The last links!

The first Monkey Queen novel, Of Introductions And Abductions, is now available to buy and download worldwide! The last links are live!

Amazon Mexico: http://www.amazon.com.mx/gp/product/B00NAKJUG2?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Amazon Canada: http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00NAKJUG2?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

And Amazon.com, for the US and all regions not covered earlier: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NAKJUG2

Thanks to all of you for putting up with these posts all day! Now go! Read!

And Brazil!

For you folks who aren't into Amazon, the first Monkey Queen novel, Of Introductions And Abductions, is now available for download from these fine e-book vendors:


[6/7/15: Edited as we switch to Kindle Unlimited and being exclusive on Amazon.]

And if you're on the Amazon, or chillin' in Rio, you can download now from Amazon Brazil! http://www.amazon.com.br/gp/product/B00NAKJUG2?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Blimey!

I suspect that the good people of the United Kingdom have bigger things on their mind tonight, but if they need a break from the Scottish drama, they can now download their e-book copies of the first Monkey Queen novel, Of Introductions And Abductions, from Amazon.co.uk! http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00NAKJUG2?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Sale at Amazon.fr! Ordering open for continental Europe! And India!

Ladies, gentlemen and guinea pigs, we are live in continental Europe! Order your e-book copy of the first Monkey Queen novel, Of Introductions And Abductions, now and download right away! No more preorder waiting! Here are the links:

Amazon France, and we're on sale there for some happy reason! http://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B00NAKJUG2?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Amazon Germany: http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B00NAKJUG2?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Amazon Spain: http://www.amazon.es/gp/product/B00NAKJUG2?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Amazon Italy: http://www.amazon.it/gp/product/B00NAKJUG2?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

And because we didn't want to leave them out, we're now live at Amazon India: http://www.amazon.in/gp/product/B00NAKJUG2?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Australia and Japan ordering open!

I know I'm posting a lot today, but there's a good reason for it. Tomorrow is the official publication day of the e-book version of the first Monkey Queen novel, Of Introductions And Abductions, but as clocks strike midnight around the world, the e-book goes live on various Amazon sites! If your Amazon store of choice is one of these two, you can download the e-book now!

Amazon Australia: http://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B00NAKJUG2?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Amazon Japan: http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B00NAKJUG2?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Book Spotlight feature!

Hey! We're the featured book of the day at the Louisville Books Examiner Book Spotlight page! http://www.examiner.com/topic/book-spotlight You've probably seen all this already, but if you haven't, our page is http://www.examiner.com/article/book-spotlight-of-introductions-and-abductions-monkey-queen-book-one ! Many thanks to Dana Michelle Burnett for setting this up!

Goodreads giveaway winner!

Congratulations to Jemilla Cook, who won the Goodreads giveaway for the last proof copy of the first Monkey Queen novel, Of Introductions And Abductions! Your book is being mailed today, Jemilla! Thanks to everyone who entered, and keep checking back at Goodreads for future contests!

Interview up!

We're getting closer to the publication date, but I wanted to alert you to this: Fellow indie author K.J. Bryen has interviewed me for her blog, Take The Plunge! Find out about my influences, which fantastical universe I'd live in, and something embarrassing and writing-related I was doing when I was eight! Read the interview here: http://plungingintothenovel.blogspot.com/2014/09/im-pleased-to-welcome-robert-dahlen.html , and follow K.J.'s blog at http://plungingintothenovel.blogspot.com ! Thank you for having me at your blog, K.J.!

And if you read all the way down to question 7, and then the comments, you'll be among the first to see an unofficial announcement...

Sunday update

No big news to share today, but preorders are still open for the first Monkey Queen e-book, Of Introductions And Abductions! Publication date September 19! Scroll down for the preorder links.

If you can't wait, you live in the U.S., you can now order the paperback edition! http://www.amazon.com/dp/1501085735 If you have Amazon Prime, order today, and you can get the paperback before the e-book comes out!

Willow pointed out to me that Amazon.fr is still listing the paperback as out of stock. I apologize if I gave anyone the impression it was available there, but it should be by the end of the week. It is available through some European Amazon stores right now, including Amazon.de and Amazon.co.uk. That Amazon.fr link is http://www.amazon.fr/dp/1501085735 

There's still time to enter the Goodreads giveaway for the last proof copy of the first book! The contest closes in three days, so sign up now! http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/107775-of-introductions-and-abductions

And finally, as we approach Halloween, a reminder: It doesn't matter what flavoring you try to add to it...

...Candy corn is still candy corn. And friends don't let friends eat candy corn.

Reminders and updates!

Since we're coming up on two big events, and since both of these have additional developments, I wanted to put up this reminder post. I will be nowhere near either, alas, but I hope you can be!

First, don't forget that Willow, who did the wonderful cover art for the first Monkey Queen novel, Of Introductions And Abductions, will be appearing at the Festival Harajuku in Paris (yes, the one in France) this coming weekend, September 13 and 14! Look for her at the Collectif Pin Up table (#9). She'll have merchandise for sale, including the new fanzine 101010, which will feature the first chapter of her BD (graphic novel) The Journey Of Earth, and other work from the Collectif Pin Up crew! (And if you can't be there, print copies in French, and PDFs in French AND in English, will be available for online ordering soon!) Get more info at http://festivalharajuku.org/ , and as always, see more of Willow's work at http://willow-san.deviantart.com/ . And if you do go, tell her that Michiko and Beth sent you.

And John Kovalic has now raised over $12,000 for his Bike the Barns ride, to help raise funds to help needy families in the Madison, Wisconsin area buy healthy, locally-sourced produce! Not only will he will be riding the entire 60 miles with Cthulhu tentacles strapped to him, a duck on his head, and a Republican Dalek drunk-tweeting his ride (don't you just love oddball stretch goals?), the great swag you can now get includes limericks by famous authors. Including Neil Gaiman and Patrick Rothfuss. And those two will be set to music by the Doubleclicks! Have I mentioned how awesome the Doubleclicks are? Anyway, you can only get these if you back the ride, and more importantly, it's for a great cause. Get more info and back him at http://bikethebarns.dojiggy.com/ng/index.cfm/13552/regPages/pledge/kovalic , read his webcomic Dork Tower at http://www.dorktower.com/ , and follow his Twitter feed at @muskratjohn . And the Republican Dalek's at @RepublicanDalek .

Goodreads giveaway!

If you saw Wednesday night's point, you may have noticed that there were three proof copies. One is staying with me. One will be [MESSAGE DELETED BY IMPERIAL CENSORS].

But that third and last copy is now up for grabs on Goodreads! Head over there and enter now; the giveaway closes on September 18! And if you're nice, I may even autograph it for you! http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/107775-of-introductions-and-abductions

Updated preorder, and ordering, links!

Well, I wasn't quite expecting this to happen so soon, but Amazon acted fast after I approved the proof. So, believe it or not, here's the link for U.S. readers to buy the paperback copy of the first Monkey Queen book, Of Introductions And Abductions! http://www.amazon.com/dp/1501085735 If you prefer hard copies to tablets, or you just don't want to wait until the e-book edition debuts on September 19, feel free to order now!

And to my surprise, French readers can order their paperback copies now! http://www.amazon.fr/dp/1501085735 They're still in English, but the shipping will be much cheaper here!

And CreateSpace also has a store where you can buy the paperback. https://www.createspace.com/4986899

And here are the UPDATED e-book preorder links!

Amazon -- http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NAKJUG2

Don't forget and don't wait - order today!

 [6/7/15: Edited as we switch to Kindle Unlimited and being exclusive on Amazon.]

Proof copies and singing the unsung

Well, look at what showed up today! The three proof copies of the first book! Aren't they pretty!

I'll put up ordering links for these when they become available, but I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the people who helped make this happen. I've learned my limitations, and so I enlisted help to make this book a reality. (One of them is, of course, cover artist Willow, but I think regulars on this blog have her web site memorized by now, so...)

I already mentioned Keri Knutson at Alchemy Book Covers. She designed the cover from my suggestions (and a few tips from Willow), and I love the job she did on it. You can see her work at http://www.alchemybookcovers.com/

I haven't mentioned Jason and Marina Anderson at Polgarus Studio. They did the formatting of the interiors for both the e-book and print editions, and it looks great in both formats. You can find them at http://www.polgarusstudio.com/ . I wish I could take a better photo, but you can see their work here:

My thanks to Willow, Keri, Jason and Marina. As you can see below, you have made an author very very happy.

Cover art © 2014 Willow, used by permission. http://willow-san.deviantart.com . I tried, I really did. :)

Wow.

 I really shouldn't be posting these things while I'm at work, because I should actually be, you know, working, but I had to share this. Willow (who did the awesome cover etc.) just finally finished a print of the art she was working on for Festival Harajuku, and if you're a fan of Miyazaki (I am) and want to see her take on Spirited Away, head for this link: http://willow-san.deviantart.com/art/Spirited-Away-481158526 Then, see how long it takes to get your jaw off the floor. Mine's still there...

Two Not-All-That-Quick Plugs

No additional developments to report, though I should have big news for those of you who prefer print to touchscreen later this week. However, there are two things coming up next weekend I wanted to promote, even though I won't be at either one.


Although most of this blog's readers are from the U.S., I know there have been a few folks from Europe reading this, and some of you might be in the area, so: Willow, who did the wonderful cover art for the first Monkey Queen novel, Of Introductions And Abductions, will be appearing at the Festival Harajuku in Paris this coming weekend, September 13 and 14! Look for her at the Collectif Pin Up table. She'll have merchandise for sale, including the new fanzine 101010, which will feature the first chapter of her BD (graphic novel) The Journey Of Earth! Get more info at http://festivalharajuku.org/ , and as always, see more of Willow's work at http://willow-san.deviantart.com/ . And if you do go, tell her that Michiko and Beth sent you. And post her reaction in the comments. :)


And also on September 14, John Kovalic (the mastermind behind the great Dork Tower webcomic, and artist for Munchkin and many other games) will be taking part in the Bike the Barns ride, to help raise funds to help needy families in the Madison, Wisconsin area buy healthy, locally-sourced produce. He's raised over $9000 as I write this, and as a result, he will be riding the entire 60 miles with Cthulhu tentacles strapped to him, and a duck on his head. (And a Republican Dalek drunk-tweeting his ride. Really.) (Though I was hoping there would have been a “Duck chases him for 60 miles swinging an axe, with 'Yakety Sax' Benny Hill music in the background” stretch goal. Maybe next year.) Anyway, you get some great swag for backing him, and more importantly, it's a great cause. Get more info and back him at http://bikethebarns.dojiggy.com/ng/index.cfm/13552/regPages/pledge/kovalic , read Dork Tower at http://www.dorktower.com/ , and follow his Twitter feed at @muskratjohn.

new preorder links!

So, just to remind you, you can preorder the first Monkey Queen book, Of Introductions And Abductions, at Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NAKJUG2 Coming September 19!

But I can hear a few of you say, "I'd like to buy your book, but I hate Amazon and everything it stands for! In fact, I'd like to throw Jeff Bezos off a cliff! What do you have to say about that?"

Well, we here at Monkey Queen Books do not, in any way, condone throwing Jeff Bezos or anyone else off a cliff. One, it is illegal pretty much everywhere, and we don't think they'll let you read e-books in jail. Two, love him or hate him, he is the man who spearheaded the digital publishing movement, and without it, you might not even have Monkey Queen stories. And three, Jeff Bezos probably has a bunch of drones pre-programmed to rescue him just in case he ever gets thrown off a cliff. Dude is crazy prepared.

So, instead, stick it to the man and get Of Introductions And Abductions at these sites:

[6/7/15: Edited as we switch to Kindle Unlimited and being exclusive on Amazon. Apologies to those who wanted to stick it to the man.]

Amazon preorder is live!

"So," you may be saying, "this Monkey Queen book looks like a cracking good read! But when and where might I be able to download it for my favorite electronic reading device, old chap?"

Well, aside from wondering why you're talking like someone from a P.G. Wodehouse story, I have good news: You can now preorder the first Monkey Queen book, Of Introductions And Abductions, from Amazon! Just follow this link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NAKJUG2 ! The book will come out on September 19, but feel free to order your copy any time! Woo-hoo!

Tuesday non-update

Well, there's nothing new to report, but hang loose -- we're still hoping for big news by the weekend. Until then, have a cute penguin video. Because penguins.