A couple of follow-ups re: giving away Transcendence.

[mckitterick]

I can't believe I didn't mention this in my original post: My publisher found the artist (Greg Martin) who provided the gorgeous art for the cover by seeing his work online - where, essentially, he gives it away via some lovely art galleries, much as I'm doing with the book. Because he lets the world share his art, he made a sale. Yet more evidence to support the hypothesis that giving away creative work can increase sales!

Oh, and if anyone doubts the honesty or integrity of human beings, consider this: Since I posted my book for free download (with Creative Commons license), I've received a number of donations via PayPal - including one for the full, hardcover price! I'm deeply touched and pleased to see that people really are honest and want to support artists - enough of them, anyway, to counter the ill-will of a few pirates. Thank you so much.

Chris

Comments

[sf-reader.livejournal.com]

Giving away something you can't sell can lead to sales. I have had any number of photos purchased that way from my listings online. The most recent one was just this past month.

I don't know that I would feel the same way about giving away something which I already could sell.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Well, clearly you CAN sell your photos and do it all the time! And it's because they're available online that paying markets can find and request to use them.

[bogwitch64.livejournal.com]

Chris...that's fantastic! Go you!

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

I know! It makes me very happy.

[vretallin.livejournal.com]

Some of my faith in human kind is restored. That is awesome.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

This is one of the happiest things to happen to me in a while. Talk about squeezing blood out of lemons or getting lemonade out of a stone or something ;-)

[roya-spirit.livejournal.com]

OMG, Lutefisk!

I'm so happy for you. Totally fab.

and I have to catch up with you so I can get BUY a signed copy since I didn't make the launch event :)

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

:-D

Actually, you can get it cheapest directly from the publisher!

[roya-spirit.livejournal.com]

But I'd rather buy it locally, so I'm going to call the Raven and see if they have it :)

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

If not, tell 'em to order a few copies! Several people today mentioned wanting to buy it there....

[(Anonymous)]

YES!

[obadiah.livejournal.com]

Hi Chris. I downloaded Transcendence from your website and started reading it on my iPad. Before long, I'd ordered the hardcover.

Love the cover art too, btw. I found my way from your site to the lovely Experience the Planets (http://www.experiencetheplanets.com/) site. So it all loops back around.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Cliff! So glad to hear that - thanks for letting me know. I hope you enjoy the whole thing!

Glad to introduce you to Greg Martin. Good stuff!

Best,
Chris

Transcendence So Far

[obadiah.livejournal.com]

I'm about 80 pages into the book, and I'm enjoying it so far. I like what you've done in taking our increasingly fragmented, constantly-interrupted environment and extending that into the undesirable transhuman state your characters find themselves in, simultaneously highly connected and alienated.

It's also interesting what you're doing with a new Cold War, which feels futuristic and retro at the same time.

One question, though: how do you pronounce 3VRD?

Re: Transcendence So Far

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the feedback! So glad you're enjoying it.

I pronounce it "three-verd."

Re: Transcendence So Far

[obadiah.livejournal.com]

Ah, rhymes with "Freebird!" :-D

Re: Transcendence So Far

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Oh, man, I wish you hadn't gone and said that.

Nyptyne Skynyrd

[obadiah.livejournal.com]

Sorry -- didn't mean to be cruel. At least the alien artifact isn't playing something that sounds like a certain Disneyland ride....