Sunday, November 28, 2010

Disposable eReaders Coming Soon?

Considering that most eReaders haven't dropped below the $100 mark--although I did manage to snag a $99 Nook as a gift for my favorite beta reader--I don't think we'll be seeing disposable eReaders anytime soon.
Still, this technology does sound promising and the article also discusses a major drawback to current generation readers (besides lack of color): slow refresh rates. The page turning on current models is just acceptable. It needs to improve by leaps and bounds before we see the types of moving images that Harry Potter made so famous. Then we can start worrying about bringing the cost down to the point where eReaders become disposable.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Sub $100 eReaders and Their Impact on Kidlit

Why the heck isn't this kid
actually reading his eBook?
This summer, I predicted $99 eReaders by Christmas. But when Nook went color instead of competing on price, I was worried that might not happen.

However, it does look like there will be $99, well $89 eReaders for the Holidays, if you're quick. Amazon has announced that it will be selling the Kindle 2 (older generation) for $89 on black Friday.

I was hoping that the Wifi only version of the Kindle 3 (currently $139) would get down to $99 before Christmas, but it doesn't look like that will happen. Though a small price drop isn't out of the question.

The reason I'm so eager to see $99 eReaders is that's the price point they need to get to before we start seeing these things trickle down to kids. Even best selling YA-Indie author Amanda Hocking says most of her readers are adults not teens. Once we start seeing phones with 4-5-inch screens and parents with extra eReaders to hand down, kidlit will be ready to join the world of eBooks. But it looks like we have a little while longer to wait.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Which Hook Do You Like-Which Should I Write

Since everyone was so helpful with polishing my query (and thanks for all the great input), I thought I'd ask for some feedback on which idea to work on for my next novel. I've had a bit of writer's block (for the first time ever), as I can't decide which story to go with. Here's the idea's I've been toying with:

1. Kids whose parents just brought a old movie theater have to deal with the ghosts (or monsters) from classic horror films before the customers begin to catch on. -This one I've been thinking about for a couple years, but still  it's probably the least developed.

2. A fatherless family moves into a big old house that turns out used to be a mortuary. The old graveyard it boarders should have been a clue. But the problems really start when someone starts summoning the ghouls. -This one is probably the most developed of the three. I have a step-sheet mostly laid out.

3. A vampire novel told from a male perspective. -This one is probably more Young-YA (say eighth grade M.C.'s), and I've already completed almost 1/2 of it. My plan was bang it out and release it as a Free eBook when when I finally get Super Zombie Juice Mega Bomb published.
Except, I've ran into a roadblock and it requires some major rewriting. The main problem is, it might do fine if I release it as a free eBook, but pretty much no agent is looking at vampire novels right now. I think it'd purely have to be a promotional thing.

So, which one do you like? Which do you think has the most potential?

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Super Zombie Juice Mega Bomb Query

Update:
Thanks for all the great feedback. I felt it was only right to update this post with the final version of my query:

I've recently finished polishing my middle grade novel, SUPER ZOMBIE JUICE MEGA BOMB (34,000 words), which I hope might interest you. 

When life gives you lemons, kill zombies--turns out lemon juice neutralizes the undead.


After a failed attempt at running away, best friends Nathan and Misty return home expecting to face angry parents. Instead, they discover the military has destroyed the bridges out of their rural town and everyone's fled--except a small horde of the living dead. If zombie neighbors aren't bad enough, they soon discover a flock of 'flying dead' chickens.


Even with the help of the town geek and lemonade-powered Super-Soakers, there's not enough time to squeeze their way out of this sticky mess. Unless the trio eradicates the zombie infestation, while avoiding the deadly zombie snot, the military will blow the town, and them, to pulp.


Their only shot is something with a lot more punch. Something like the Super Zombie Juice Mega Bomb. Just one problem: Someone has to lure the zombies into the trap.

I have worked as a technical writer and have had success writing and selling short stories for children. Included at the bottom of this e-mail are my first five pages. My complete manuscript is available on request. Thank you for your time and consideration.

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I've been working on this on and off for 6 months or so (while polishing the novel). I'm starting the agent hunt before all the NaNo manuscripts hit next month. So I think, it's finally time to post it. Any feedback is welcome. I think it's ready to go, but I'm not above listening to suggestions.


After a failed attempt at running away, best friends Nathan and Misty return home expecting to face angry parents. Instead, they discover the military has destroyed the bridges out of their rural town and everyone's fled--except a small horde of the living dead.

If zombie neighbors aren't bad enough, there's the flock of 'flying dead' chickens, or even scarier, learning chemistry from their undead math teacher--and don't forget the deadly zombie snot.

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Good advice: Turns out lemon juice neutralizes the undead. Even with the help of the town geek and lemonade-powered Super-Soakers, there's not enough time to squeeze their way out of this sticky mess. Unless the trio eradicates the zombie infestation, the military will blow the town, and them, to pulp.

Their only shot is something with a lot more punch. Something like the Super Zombie Juice Mega Bomb. Just one problem: Someone has to lure the zombies into the trap.