Jared Sandman

Over the weekend Borders Books sold to a liquidator who will begin dismantling the company starting next week.  I always liked Borders, especially the store located on the Strip in Canton, OH.  You can read more here.

Here in FL we have Books-A-Million.  I hadn’t been to a BAM for a few years, and I walked into one a couple weeks ago.  What struck me were all the “frills” (board games, greeting cards, notebooks, pencils, toys, etc.).  There was a lot more of that this time around.  I also noted how few books were actually on the shelves.  Most people wouldn’t notice that, but I worked at a bookstore in the past and I know how many books should be on the shelf.  There was at least a fifteen percent reduction, if not more.

And the first thing greeting patrons through the front doors was a large display of Nooks.  Does BAM realize they’re actively undermining their own long-term business strategy by selling Barnes & Noble products?  They’re also cutting back on operating hours, which isn’t a good sign.

In better news, today FX greenlit “American Horror Story.”   The network has been very tight-lipped about what the show’s actually about, but any new horror programs on TV are welcomed.

This morning I have a guest post up on Dark Eva’s website.  It explains why werewolves are my favorite “traditional” type of monster.  It also touches on some of the themes I explored while writing The Shadow Wolves.

That novel, by the way, is on schedule to be published next month.  I’m taking pre-orders through the website for anyone who wants to snag a signed copy of the trade paperback version.  Email me at jaredsandman@writeme.com if you want put on the list.

Don’t forget to come back on Wednesday, when I’ll be interviewed over at Megalith Books.

Today I have a guest post about online piracy over at Wag the Fox.  I contend that online piracy isn’t a major issue so long as authors are proactive and set their prices reasonably.  You can read all about it here.  Thanks to Gef for hosting me there.

On monday I’ll be over at Dark Eva’s with a guest post about why werewolves are so scary.

This morning Marcie at 2Read or Not 2Read has posted a short interview I conducted with Noah Bradley, my cover artist for The Wild Hunt.  Thanks to Marcie and Noah both.  You can also view more of Noah’s artwork at his website.

And on Friday I’ll be guest posting over at Wag the Fox.

The Blogbuster Tour rolls on.  Today I have a guest post up on Word Zombie.  It’s about the difference between artists and professionals, and it can be found here.  I want to thank webmaster Daimion for hosting me on his site.

And catch me on Wednesday, when I’ll be over at 2Read or Not 2Read.

I’m a fan of Torchwood.  It’s a darker spin-off of Doctor Who and is quite enjoyable in its own right.  The last five-part series, Children of Earth, was fantastic.  In fact I’d say it was better than the Who specials which also aired that same year.

Well, Torchwood is back — this time on Starz and not the BBC.  The first episode of the new ten-part series aired last night.  The premise:  what would happen to the world if people stopped dying?  What if death itself became obsolete?

Starz is streaming the premiere episode free on their site.  It’s a doozy.  You can find it here.  Oh, and you don’t already need to be a fan to enjoy the show.  If you’ve never see it before, it’s a good jumping on point.

Emily’s book review for The Wild Hunt has gone live at What Book is That?.  I think she summed up the novel very well.  You can read it here.

Her review also says the book is 100 pages long as a pdf.  The e-book is that long because it’s been stripped of all the formatting that goes into page layout for the print version.  The print and e-book are the same length, around 90,000 words, which makes it a full novel.  That’s 300 pages long in paperback.  I just want to clarify that point, because I don’t want people thinking they’re buying a 25,000-word novella or anything. 

Check back on Monday, when I’ll be guest posting at Word Zombie.

Quick note to say Emily at the book blog What Book is That? will have a book review tomorrow of my horror novel, The Wild Hunt.  Her site is also holding a monthlong celebration called the Indie Author Giveaway Carnival.  Check out all the fabulous writers she has lined up.

Today I have a guest post up at I Just Wanna Sit Here and Read.  It’s not about writing so much as what any writer physically goes through as he or she works on a book.  It can be quite draining for both the mind and body.

On Friday I’ll be part of the Indie Carnival going on at What Book is That?.  They’re holding a big bash all month, so check it out.

As a reminder, be sure to post a comment either on my site or any of my guest blogs to be entered to win one of several $25 Amazon gift cards.  You can also follow me on Twitter (@Jared Sandman) for a chance to win.  Comment on multiple posts to increase your odds of winning.

Happy 4th of July to all my fellow Americans; for those who live elsewhere in the world, happy Monday. 

This morning Bonnie at Bookish Ardour posted an excerpt from my first novel, Leviathan.  If you love books about sea monsters, it’s worth picking up.  Check back on Wednesday, when I’ll have a guest post over at I Just Wanna Sit Here and Read.