Hard Copies Of Spinward Fringe Broadcast 10: Freeground Available Now!

With surprising efficiency Amazon has made Spinward Fringe Broadcast 10: Freeground available in hard copy (still paperback, but in 6x9 Trade Paperback, so larger print than normal in a library ready format).

I know, it's strange for the paper book to be available before the EBook, I did not see it coming. Normally this takes longer, but thanks to Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing Print Beta Program, this has happened. Not only that, but apparently it's not just available in the US and the UK, but in most countries where Amazon does business.

I haven't sung praises for Amazon as much as I should over the last couple years. Some of their business practices with regards to electronic publishing are downright shady, or at least counter to commonplace business practices in a negative way - in my opinion - but this new straight to print program is a step in the right direction.

Here are the stats for the book:

• Series: Spinward Fringe (Book 12)
• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Randolph Lalonde (December 2, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1988175038
• ISBN-13: 978-1988175034
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.8 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Price (In US dollars): $14.99
• 
  

Please be aware that these are not signed, but straight off the Amazon presses. For signed copies you'll have to wait until February because I don't have the time or money to get a reasonable number of copies here at the moment.

So, thank you Amazon, it looks like a bunch of these might make it onto a few shelves during the holiday season!

Amazon.com link

Amazon.co.uk link

RL

[The release date for the EBook version is still the same, December 11. You can preorder on Amazon or any other site you like to buy your books from.]

Spinward Fringe Broadcasts 5 and 6 Now In Print

When Broadcast 7 becomes available, there will be two paperback editions. One will include Broadcasts 5, 6 and 7 together, the other will be a separate, stand alone book.

In preparation for that, I've finished work on releasing Broadcasts 5 and 6 in their own paperback editions through Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. These aren't signed editions. I'll have signed copies available sometime late next week.

Here are the links to the unsigned versions of Broadcasts 5 and 6 on Amazon.

Amazon.com:
Broadcast 5: http://www.amazon.com/Spinward-Fringe-Broadcast-Fracture-Volume/dp/098659427X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1352415354&sr=8-2&keywords=randolph+lalonde+broadcast+5

Broadcast 6: http://www.amazon.com/Spinward-Fringe-Broadcast-Randolph-Lalonde/dp/0986594237/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352415427&sr=1-2&keywords=randolph+lalonde+broadcast+6

Amazon.co.uk:
Broadcast 5: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spinward-Fringe-Broadcast-Randolph-Lalonde/dp/098659427X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1352415515&sr=8-2

Broadcast 6: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spinward-Fringe-Broadcast-Randolph-Lalonde/dp/0986594237/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352415543&sr=1-5

I'm actually very happy with the way these books look all the way through, which is a relief, since formatting them took the entire weekend. 

The EBook version of Spinward Fringe Broadcast 7: Framework will be released as quickly as possible, but it will still take longer to finish the EBook than it will to make the print versions available.

A Word On The Printed Word

There were people who thought print would die (books in general, actually), when TV went colour way back when. If I were alive in that day, I think I would have disagreed.

I make my living writing and most of my income, over 90%, comes from eBooks. As an independent it's been a fantastic vehicle. I can offer my work for free, cut out the middle man, and charge comparatively little for most of my titles.

Most of my eBooks are read on cellular phones, and to be honest I've only read one book on my cell, I found it confining. Now I use my iPod Touch, which I find is much better. It's still not quite an eBook reader though.

Soon we'll be seeing a rush of eBook readers, most of them will be cheaper, multi-function and feature real, COLOUR EPaper. That's where I think a lot of the resistance to eBooks and eBook readers comes from, the fact that most people haven't seen EPaper. It's not backlit, so it's easy on the eyes, the picture is very solid and the edges are nice and crisp. You don't get the feeling that you're looking at a moving picture, which is where a lot of the eyestrain people experience on non-EPaper reading devices. LCD isn't a great reading medium for books.

The arrival of colour EPaper and inexpensive readers does signal a broadening of the market, but I don't think the printed book will disappear forever. Publishers are foolishly entrenched in an old business model, where they end up losing money on eBooks, so they'll be resistant. Aside from that there will always be people who prefer turning dead tree pages, and I'm not putting them down. Without them the printed book would die in no time.

I think the printed word will be around for a long time, even if books are one day considered quaint and antique.

Why go on about print, you ask?

Well, after hearing from many readers who prefer print, I've released Spinward Fringe Fracture as a printed book on Lulu.com. You can take a look at it in my Lulu store.

RL

Spinward Fringe Frontline Available Now From Amazon.com In Print

Finally, to the delight of a few of my readers who love turning paper pages and leaving a copy in the loo, Spinward Fringe Frontline is available in print from Amazon.com. They've been kind enough to include it in their Super Saver Shipping and Prime programs.

This is happening two weeks early and I couldn't be happier. I know there are a number of readers who are waiting eagerly to get their hands on this book in print and it's always nice to see the book on paper.

Here's the lowdown on the printed edition:

• Paperback: 418 pages
• Publisher: Amazon's CreateSpace (June 23, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1441401199
• ISBN-13: 978-1441401199
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds

I certainly hope you all enjoy the latest book in the series. It's a darker, broader story that follows the main characters through the dark heart of a new war that is changing the galaxy. Meanwhile, Jacob Valance's crew do their best to cope with managing their new ship and the hundreds of refugee and deserter volunteers. This full fledged novel elevates the Spinward Fringe series to an all out space opera epic while maintaining a gritty, challenging atmosphere. Recommended for young adults and older.

Thank you for all your support so far, dear readers. It's come in many shapes and forms and I hope you continue on this journey with me through the Fringe.

RL

If you're new to the Spinward Fringe universe and would like to start from the beginning, here's the link to where it all started: The First Light Chronicles Omnibus

Spinward Fringe Frontline: Available at Lulu.com

I had no idea, but there's apparently a demand for the Spinward Fringe Books in .pdf format. That came as a a surprise since I barely ever use .pdf. I find them pretty inflexible.

Regardless of that, I'm happy to announce that Spinward Fringe Frontline is now available in DRM free .pdf format here.

Sadly, Lulu.com has started charging for providing international print distribution, so I won't be able to use that avenue to get printed editions out to people in the UK. I'm still looking for someone to carry my printed titles out there and in Canada, I'm hoping to find a self publishing partner or publisher soon.

If you don't want to wait for Amazon.com to list Frontline, you can purchase a printed copy from Lulu.com for 19.99.

It's always good to see this book appear in different places and different formats. When I think of Frontline I can't help but compare it to Triton where quality of storytelling is concerned. They were both very serious books that moved the characters along quite a bit and it's hard for me to pick between the two when I try to think of which one I like more.

It'll take a while longer for Amazon.com to begin listing this book and I'll announce its availability the moment it appears.

Thank you to the two readers who told me that they were looking to purchase .pdf versions of my work, I'm glad Lulu.com was able to give me the ability to provide.

As an additional note, I'd like to thank the recent donor and everyone else who has purchased copies of my work and gotten others interested. I would be in a call center cubicle if it weren't for you guys! Keep spreading the word and there's no limit to where this series can go!

RL