Happy Goblin Day!
Today marks the official release of Goblin Tales, an electronic collection of five goblin-related short stories, available for $2.99 for Kindle and Nook.
Purchase links: Amazon, Amazon.uk, B&N
Coming soon: Kobo, iBooks, Lulu (print edition)
So why should you rush out RIGHT THIS INSTANT to plunk down your hard-earned lunch money for this book? Here are ten reasons in no particular order.
1. Goblins are stereotyped as one-dimensional villains, low-level obstacles to be slaughtered by so-called heroes on their way to the “real” quest. By buying this book, you help fight harmful anti-goblin rhetoric.
2. In keeping with traditional goblin humor, one of the stories features what can best be described as a “tactical diaper.”
3. Gay Fire Spider Fights to Save Science Fiction Convention! Yes, this is an actual story in the collection.
4. If this one sells well, I’ll be much more likely to do other e-releases.
5. Daniel Ernle’s wonderful cover art.
6. The fifth story was the seed for my current project, Libriomancer, meaning you get a taste of what’s to come in another year or two.
7. Pat Rothfuss has talked about buying the rights to Firefly and putting it back on the air. Well, if I make enough money off of Goblin Tales, I’ll buy the rights to The Muppet Show and bring that back!
8. If both Pat and I succeed? Muppet/Firefly Crossover, baby!
9. Lots of nice people have said lots of nice things about my goblin stuff.
10. The book is DRM-free, and I turned off regional and lending restrictions when I posted it for sale.
If any goblin fans would care to spread the word, I’d be much obliged. Cover art is available in small and large.
I’ll be posting announcements and maybe a contest or two on Twitter and Facebook as well, and will probably be talking more about the book, the process, and the numbers later this week.
D. Moonfire
March 15, 2011 @ 10:34 am
Oooh, pretty. Going to have an ePUB up somewhere? I’m not sure if Nook is ePUB or not. I like Lulu lets you post ePUB if you don’t.
And thank you about the DRM.
Can’t wait to pick it up.
Jim C. Hines
March 15, 2011 @ 10:37 am
Right now the plan is to get it up for sale on Amazon, B&N, Kobo and iBooks. My file is an epub, but I’m not sure how each of the vendors converts that file for their customers.
I didn’t realize Lulu could be set up as a direct sale/download for the .epub file. I’ll need to check into that a bit more. (I’ve only been using Lulu to try to get a print version up for sale.)
I don’t really want to get into direct sales if I can avoid it, but I may keep that as a last-ditch option for readers who can’t use any of the other sites.
Stephen Hill
March 15, 2011 @ 10:56 am
Hi, This is great! I have been looking forward to this since you announced it! It is now purchased and downloaded to my Kindle!!!
Thanks,
Stephen
Andrew Betts
March 15, 2011 @ 11:33 am
The Nook supports ePub (in fact I’m pretty sure its the format it uses).
Andrew Betts
March 15, 2011 @ 11:34 am
Purchased and on my Kindle.
Maria (BearMountainBooks)
March 15, 2011 @ 11:46 am
Jim, You might want to check into Smashwords.com. It has its quirks, but makes it VERY easy to get all the formats. Also check the free tool Calibre. It allows you to convert to the formats very easily (exists on donations and is a great product.)
Welcome to the world of ebooks. Really glad to see your stuff out there.
To the person asking about B&N–that epub has DRM (automatically) so if you need ePUB for any other device (Sony and other brands) you’ll have to wait until Jim can do an ePUB without it. OR buy the Kindle version if Jim chose not to activate DRM–then convert it using a tool such as Calibre. But it’s probably easier for Jim to provide an ePub at some point from some vendor. If the Amazon copy has DRM it cannot be converted (well, not easily and not legally.)
Happy Book Day!!!
Maria
Kathryn
March 15, 2011 @ 11:50 am
Looks like a fun read! Unfortunately, current versions don’t work for me, as I lack both a Kindle and a Nook. Any idea how long the wait will be for other versions? I really want to read this!
Jim C. Hines
March 15, 2011 @ 11:52 am
Maria – Thanks! My stuff has actually been available in e-book format for years. I’m just experimenting with self-publishing a few titles.
When setting up the file for B&N in their PubIt interface, one of the questions is whether you want to enable DRM for your title. I selected No for this option.
Jim C. Hines
March 15, 2011 @ 11:53 am
Thanks, Andrew!
Jim C. Hines
March 15, 2011 @ 11:53 am
Thank you! I hope you enjoy it!
Jim C. Hines
March 15, 2011 @ 11:53 am
I’m not completely sure how long the other versions will take. What would work you?
Joshua Bilmes
March 15, 2011 @ 11:55 am
I shall start practicing my puppetry skills now. But am I more the “Beaker” type, or the “Animal” type? No, no, neither of those. Swedish Chef.
Maria (BearMountainBooks)
March 15, 2011 @ 11:58 am
Yes, I know your other stuff has been in ebook for a while. I recommend the Goblin series all the time. I just meant you wandering on your own through the dangerous territory of ebooks. Oh–good. I didn’t remember there being an option to DRM or not to DRM. In that case, the ePUB should be loadable for those looking for that format! You’re a genius. :>O
Jim C. Hines
March 15, 2011 @ 12:02 pm
Ah – got it, thanks! The DRM option might be a new feature on B&N. Obviously I’m pretty new at this side of things 🙂
So far it’s been a very educational experience. Whether or not it will be a profitable one … well, we’ll see, and I’ll be reporting on that either way!
Jim C. Hines
March 15, 2011 @ 12:03 pm
So which Muppets would you pick for Jessie and Eddie? 🙂
Maria (BearMountainBooks)
March 15, 2011 @ 12:07 pm
And I probably forgot the feature was there…
Novels always sell better than anthologies, but your short stories are VERY strong–and I love anthologies that are all about one character/world. They’re generally the only ones I will buy anymore (Frank Tuttle has one out called Wistril Compleate–he did a fabulous job; very fun anthology. I loved the characters and the world building.)
I haven’t read all the stories in your anthology; guess I’ll have to download and see how you did!!!
No matter what, I think you’ll be pleased to have them out there. It may not generate mansion-style income, but they’re now readily available for lots of eyeballs–and you have a lot of Jig fans. :>)
Alex
March 15, 2011 @ 12:15 pm
Twittered and blogged about this one, Jim! Can’t wait to go buy myself a copy. Thanks! 😀
Alex
March 15, 2011 @ 12:30 pm
Jim, I just wanted to let you know, I just tried to buy a copy of Goblin Tales via my iPad (using the Kindle for iPad) but am about to pull my hair out. I know Amazon only has kindle service in the US or the UK, so redirects anyone else to either of these stores. But, as someone living in Canada, I expect to be able to access the US store and pay for a product in dollars (even if the Canadian dollar is doing better against its US cousin). However, the Kindle app steadfastly keeps redirecting me to the UK store despite the fact I have an Amazon.com account, and asking me to pay in pounds sterling (which also means people directed there are paying more).
So to cut a long story short, having spent the last 20 minutes being frustrated by the Kindle app, and Amazon’s inability to provide me with a satisfactory service. I’ve deleted the app and will never load it up again, let alone contemplate using it. Just my experience, others might feel otherwise. I guess I will have to wait till Goblin Tales is available for the iPad through the iBook store.
Sorry to bore you senseless!
Jim C. Hines
March 15, 2011 @ 12:34 pm
Thanks, Alex!
Jim C. Hines
March 15, 2011 @ 12:35 pm
Well that’s annoying. I posted it for sale with no geographic restrictions, so I’m not sure why the site is giving you a hard time on this.
I’ll try to figure out what’s going on, but it may or may not be something I can do anything about. Thanks for letting me know.
Maria (BearMountainBooks)
March 15, 2011 @ 12:49 pm
Her country setting is probably messed up. The account must be setup (via Amazon) with a country specified. It normally pushes everyone to the US, so I’m guessing it somehow has it set to the UK…Alex, can you check your country origin under Amazon?
Maria (BearMountainBooks)
March 15, 2011 @ 12:52 pm
I should say, that is the most *likely* scenario causing the problem. I don’t own an iPad and although I’ve downloaded the Kindle for PC app, I do know you have to register the device (be it a PC or iPAD or whatever). Your Amazon account has a place where you choose the country. You can choose US although generally speaking you’re going to have to supply an address. It should work fine with a Canadian address, although I have no idea whether it will let you pay with US dollars. Amazon has to have a proper address/country of origin because some books do have geographic restrictions.
Alex
March 15, 2011 @ 12:53 pm
It’s probably one of those things to do with where we live and copyright. Canada being a tad behind the curve. So I pretty much think we’re stuck up here. I tried downloading the B&N Nook app for the iPad but, apparently, that’s only available for US residents. Which is kind of weird.
I was, however, allowed to download the Kobo app, and, apparently, will have no problem buying through them, as I have no problems buying through the iBook store.
Go figure!
Kathryn
March 15, 2011 @ 1:08 pm
Actually, a generic epub works best. I was very interested in your comment about Lulu’s epub sales – has anything further been said about that?
Jim C. Hines
March 15, 2011 @ 1:12 pm
Not yet, but I’ll be posting as things change.
Alex
March 15, 2011 @ 1:31 pm
Maria, thanks for passing along your thoughts and info, very helpful! I’ll have a look into that, you might be right about the registration thing with the app. I don’t remember registering, but then, my partner might have done that. I need to check. But it’s still annoying in having to register an app and go through this. Downloading and using the Kobo by comparison was simple and straightforward. An email address and password, and off you go and buy. The interface is wonderful too.
Ah well, Jim, we need to be buying pdfs direct from you via Paypal or something.
Maria (BearMountainBooks)
March 15, 2011 @ 1:37 pm
No problem. And Kobobooks *is* a Canadian company so you’d automatically not have trouble with geo-restrictions there. :>)
Others on forums have complained about having to figure out where the device is registered–that’s where I’ve seen this same problem described. I know my account is set up in the US and has all the necessary address and whatnot, but if the only thing you’ve ever downloaded is the Ipad for Kindle, there might be some setup required.
Good luck with it either way. Jim will find a way to get you the book, I’m sure. There are a couple of authors who sell directly from their website/blog, but it is one more thing that has to be set up. :>)
Cheers,
Maria
Alex
March 15, 2011 @ 1:49 pm
Thanks for following through on this one, Maria, I really appreciate that! And yes, I realized after I posted that Kobo is Chapters Indigo’s app, so yes, it naturally follows it’s easier for those of us living north of the boarder. I’d like to hear about a US-resident’s experience with them.
I still find it a bit weird if not, a bit of an inconvenience on the part of Amazon making people ‘register’ their kindle (and even, the Kindle apps whether PC, iPad, or for Mac) by country. I just might wait till Jim has GT out for the iPad through the Ibook store, and go eat ice cream, for now, rather than try figure out Amazon. 😀
Thanks again.
Jim C. Hines
March 15, 2011 @ 1:55 pm
Ice cream is always an appropriate alternative!
Maria (BearMountainBooks)
March 15, 2011 @ 1:59 pm
I follow the Amazon forums a lot. There was a big hoopla about the registration thing, but my recollection is that it was at the insistence of the publishers. They didn’t want all those rogue UK’ers, Australians and so on who were desperately waiting for their own country to publish something to trot over here via electrons and snap up copies from the US publisher of same novel.
It happens in reverse too. I read Kaye C Hill–she always comes out in the UK about 6 months to a year before her books are available from the US publisher counterpart. With my Kindle registered here, I can’t just mosey on over to the UK site and download the book early. HORRORS. The US publisher would not get their CUT of the action! And these publishing agreements have been long-standing and around for years. They’re quite used to the various deals and how they work.
Trouble is, as a reader I don’t give a blip about who publishes it where and when–I just want the BOOK. And in this day and age, I don’t want to wait a year while they get round to doing whatever it is that takes so bleeping long.
They are bound to figure out a faster way to do things, but in the meantime, the Aussies sit down under and wait for a year or more for the agreements to be signed so that they can get a book I read last year. Same with other countries. And sometimes, the publishers don’t bother to sell the foreign rights so the book isn’t available at all in some places (Can anyone say John Levitt’s fabulous Dog Days series????)
It will get there. I think. But I’m not positive.
SylviaSybil
March 15, 2011 @ 2:36 pm
There already is a Muppet/Firefly crossover, it’s called Farscape! You two should pool your money and bring that back. 🙂
Alex
March 15, 2011 @ 2:47 pm
Oh, a fellow ice cream lover!
Alex
March 15, 2011 @ 2:51 pm
Ah! The light doth dawn in yonder window, Maria. Now I can fully understand why they want registration. Sometimes I think I’m either slowing down, dense, or have become that dinosaur I’ve always thought myself. Apparently, the answer is yes.
I wonder thought, in the end, who is going to win out, reader or publisher? As I am sure there are many, like me, frustrated, who’ll simply delete the app and move on elsewhere. And stick with the better interface and or experience. There’s only so many books I can read at any one time anyway, and the one(s) that got away? Will be less revenue in Amazon’s pocket.
Steve Berman
March 15, 2011 @ 2:52 pm
Could you send me the gay fire spider story… you never know… it might make Wilde Stories 2012! It was first published in 2011, right?
Jim C. Hines
March 15, 2011 @ 2:58 pm
Steve – Smudge’s sexuality never comes up in the stories/books. (Because … well, he’s a spider, and it hasn’t been relevant to the stories. Yet. Though that might change in Libriomancer.)
It originally came up in an LJ post here: http://jimhines.livejournal.com/320511.html
Maria (BearMountainBooks)
March 15, 2011 @ 3:29 pm
You’re right that Amazon loses out–because if you really want the book, you’ll go to another site or buy it at a bookstore. The book will be available; just not necessarily easily from a particular source!!!
liz
March 15, 2011 @ 4:11 pm
I skimmed the other comments, and forgive me if I missed it, but it seems that no one has heard of the recent Firefly news. It seems that when millions of Firefly fans got together to ‘help Fillion buy Firefly’ he backed down, apparently overwhelmed about the response of something he just said in passing. A kind of thing we might say all the time “if I ever won the lottery I’d _____.” You know. http://www.examiner.com/joss-whedon-in-national/help-nathan-buy-firefly-shuts-down-supports-fillion-s-charity-kids-need-to-read Also, Firefly is currently being aired on Sci Channel
@SylviaSybil : I totally agree! I loved Farscape, and actually cried during the last episode… but really, who didn’t?
Jim: I am in full support of everything Goblin. You can count me in!
Jim C. Hines
March 15, 2011 @ 4:16 pm
I hadn’t heard that. Huh … you’d think Fillion was busy with that whole Castle thing or something. Still, I bet if we sent Rothfuss over, he could change Fillion’s mind about the show. Pat can be very persuasive 🙂
All of that money and support going to charity is a good thing too though. Thanks for the link and info!
David Y
March 15, 2011 @ 10:55 pm
Does Firefly have Groucho Marx in it?
Jim: how do you autograph an e-book? I’ll have to wait for the print edition to come out.
Jim C. Hines
March 16, 2011 @ 7:43 am
I’ve seen two possibilites. One is if there’s a note-taking function in your e-reader, some readers will let you hand-write notes … meaning I could scribble my name into the file that way. The second is to autograph the reader itself (or the case).
Technology and author egos will find a way! 😉
Jim C. Hines
March 16, 2011 @ 7:43 am
If I sell enough books, why can’t I do both?
Alex
March 16, 2011 @ 9:39 am
Indeed, Maria, because I know me and mine only shop at Amazon when we cannot for the life of us get something elsewhere. I wonder how many others do the same?
Ali
March 16, 2011 @ 11:06 am
Excellent! Congrats on this being published. 🙂 I love the Princess Series, and I have no doubt I’ll love this.
Also, I shrieked out loud about the Firefly thing. I miss that show so much. And all things Joss Whedon. Hell, I even liked Dollhouse.
And the Muppets will always be awesome — especially when they’re singing classic rock songs. 🙂
Jim C. Hines
March 16, 2011 @ 6:37 pm
Thanks!
Me too … Firefly wasn’t perfect, but I loved so much about it. Had a harder time with Dollhouse, though.
I’ve been happy to see the Muppets popping back up on YouTube, but I want to get my full half-hour fix like when I was a kid, dang it!
Ali
March 16, 2011 @ 8:53 pm
Firefly wasn’t perfect — but so fun! Dollhouse was definitely harder to like, and I didn’t care for the ending. Buffy’s my all time fav, with Angel at a close second. As for the Muppets, the one with Vincent Price is probably my favorite episode. *grin*
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