My friend’s book, Dead Bird Through the Cat Door (a Nancy-Drew-type mystery for 8-12 year olds), just came out on Amazon! If you use Amazon.ca or .uk ignore the part where it says the book is not available or out of stock. It is available (it’s a glitchy thing that will be resolved). The novel is also available for kindle on the .com and .co.uk sites. Here are the links:
Jan Markley is a great friend and a wonderful writer — hope you enjoy her book!
Here’s what I wrote to my MP (Stephen Harper), as well as the ministers of industry and culture:
From my understanding of Bill C-32, the government is attempting to be fair to creators and consumers, and to address the complexities of our rapidly evolving digital world. However, I am concerned about the provision for allowing educational institutions to use my work without compensation, or as I understand it, to legalize theft.
I am a professional fiction writer, with one novel and several pieces of short fiction in print, and I am a member of several professional organizations. My yearly income from writing is under $2000 per year. My next novel is under consideration with a major publishing company, and should it be accepted, would likely generate an income of $7000, spread over two years. Clearly, in itself, my writing income is not livable (I am fortunate to be married to an income-earner).
My question for you is this: Approximately one-third of my annual income, or about $600, derives from my association with Access Copyright, an organization which negotiates contracts with school boards, libraries and other organizations to license the photocopying of
And I already have two reader comments (good ones!). This was amazing — it was about a month from submission to publication (including edits and payment). AE Science Fiction Review is very professional, and their site is classy!
I tried to upload it onto my website (under “Read ‘Orange'”) but for some reason it’s not showing up. I’ll have to check into how to fix that. Sigh.
Okay, I have to admit – it was last January . . . but it is a cool post, and if you want to read it, go to the official website of Jan Markley. Her YA novel, Dead Frog on the Porch was launched about a year ago, and TODAY is her launch of Dead Bird Through the Cat Door. It will be great – readings, friends, fans and CAKE! Her next book, Three Dead Moths in My Mailbox, is upcoming.
There were a lot of people there — great to see so many people I knew, and so many who’d made the trek to town from other places. It was held at the Aerospace Museum, a perfect venue for a steampunk party — tons of people were getting their photos taken in front of the old airplanes. The food was marvellous — especially the cake!! (thanks, Matt) which was not only delicious, it was so beautiful it was a crime to cut into it. I’m guessing about 80% of the people were in costume and most of the costumes were REALLY well done. I was amazed at where people had got such authentic-looking steampunk wear. And, I won the costume contest (female) — and got a lovely Edge book as a prize (The Apparition Trail, a steampunk novel by Lisa Smedman). Can hardly wait to start it!
