Hi there! :) I’m writing this with a great sense of hope for all of us. When I say all of us, I’m talking about readers and authors, because we’re looking at a situation in which everyone will have the chance to choose books in the format they prefer, free of devotion to a particular device.

Now, as you can see if you click the link here, I was feeling a bit down at the prospect of telling you (yes, you reading this here blog) that by having only one publisher who favored a few authors with print deals and promotional and marketing support, that the rest of us were screwed left to our devices. Ha ha ha …

Does that sound familiar?

But wait! Fortunately, I’m a happy fool. And I see that not only is Kobo offering a really awesome self-publishing platform for indies, but they’re planning to publish print books, too. Wow! So, they’re going toe-to-toe with Amazon.

Well, looks like it’s pretty obvious why Joe’s been whoring so loudly for Amazon, huh?

Now, it’s up to the authors and readers. I believe indie authors will want to get in on this, because I’ve seen the terms and they put Amazon’s KDP Select to shame. But they have to look at those terms and decide for themselves.

Okay, here’s where the rubber hits the road. We authors are counting on readers. The question is will you, the reader, help us authors by choosing Kobo over Kindle?

Keep in mind that Kobo reads .epub files, which are sort of the generic ebook file, to the extent there is one. Where, in comparison, Amazon demands requires readers and authors to use their Kindle devices, which only read .mobi files and some other file I can’t remember because I’m too technically stupid.

Please take a look at this diagram and consider your answer carefully.

I rest my hand case.

Except, just a few more words from the paper:

This is why I blog. To find the frog and throw it out of the bathhouse.

I finally understand what the fuck the War of 1812 was about. Maybe.

I nearly puked in my mouth twice when I read this article about Portland, OR. Once for me, and once for my sister.

Me, my sister and her rubber chickens.

Nice work, kid! :) Keep showing up. And try to stay healthy. It makes it all a whole lot easier.

BTW, have I mentioned that I’m from Queens, NY?

Home, sweet home.

I also don’t run from bullies. Ha ha ha …

UPDATE: I just had to add here that I owe so much to my online contacts from across the pond for becoming a happy fool.

This is why I so look forward to meeting Caren Kennedy and Louise Phillips in Ireland. Hopefully, Louise isn’t too tied up with RED RIBBONS. Ha ha ha …

Plus, I’m going to do everything I can to accomplish Operation Doofus and meet Stephen Leather somehow or other.

Donna Moore lives in Scotland, but I’ll have figure out how to reach her.

Unfortunately, our trip doesn’t include a stop in Northern Ireland, so I won’t be able to see Stuart Neville. Again.

Also, Geraldine Evans is in London, right? I should send her a DM, too. Geraldine, hello? :)

And, of course, I’d be most remiss if I didn’t meet Paul Downie. And Karen Chilvers.

Not to mention the most awesome Jay, who’s so funny it hurts.

Here’s a sample tweet review by Jay: “Quick review: If you like seeing people’s faces being shot, knifed, axed, kicked, punched and exploded, watch The Raid: Redemption.”

Here’s another great tweet from Jay: “I just belched out a bit of Strauss’ Blue Danube waltz. I’m fucking classy, me!”

Seriously, what’s not to like?

And to Paul, thanks for being a blue collar blogger, a real British citizen who compared me with Johnny Rotten! :)

I’ll take that comparison over ten Pulitzers and an Edgar Award.

Which is why I insist on including simply must include this awesome song you posted on your blog. Plus I also love Republica! :)

UPDATE 2: I nearly forgot to include this link to a BBC Radio 4 interview with Margaret Rhodes. This was sent to me by the awesome author Donna Fletcher Crow. Thank you, Donna! :)

I’m fascinated by humanity’s ability to adapt in times of war and stress. I’m also fascinated by the ethics of the spy game, which is why I like spy novels. In fact, my young adult novel deals with the ethics of spying, among other things. ;)