Field trip! 

I'm so excited to fly to Seattle tomorrow to visit a friend in grad school, where at her suggestion we plan to hit the one and only Amazon physical bookstore to see if One Murder More has been rotated off the shelves to make room for other stock, or if it's still there. 

"If I want to learn more about the books that are currently driving the cultural conversation, I can go to Amazon Books..." (Billboard, Nicole Dieker) 

Not sure One Murder More clears that bar, but honored to be in the less than 1% of Amazon's print books selected for it's physical store. 

Also,  a reminder, last chance to "order and get one free" for any of 19 fabulous books in Inkshares  "inaugural class": https://www.inkshares.com/holiday_promotion  The quality is high and the  variety is fabulous!  If you would like me to sign and ship  the First Edition hardback of One Murder More to  your friends/colleagues as  gift(s) via this promotion, plz use 1211 Spruce Lane Davis CA 95814 as the shipping address when you order on Inkshares, then message me at  kris@kriscalvin.com with the  gift-recipent's address(es) and what, if anything you would like in the note. In this "2 for 1" deal each autographed hardback will cost you $10.50 with free shipping included, not bad.  

Thanks, as always, for your kindness and support!

Kris   

www.kriscalvin.com


I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving, I did!  Now, in case you're doing the Black Friday thing, here's my pitch: if you're trying to check friends/family/colleagues who are readers off your holiday list, but aren't able to get to your independent bookstore (the best choice), you can "buy one/get one free per order" of ONE MURDER MORE  directly from Inkshares, which cuts the cost to $10.75 per shiny, new hardback copy! https://www.inkshares.com/projects/one-murder-more
This offer expires at Inkshares Dec 11th or when First Edition copies sell out, which could be soon... For more on the book (and me), go to www.kriscalvin.com 
To have the book signed,  2 (relatively easy) steps: (1) Put Kris Calvin at 1400 K Street Suite 212 Sacramento, CA 95814 as the "ship to" address when you order from Inkshares. (2) Email the name(s) and address(es) of  to whom the book(s) should be shipped and your message to the recipient (s) to kris@kriscalvin.com. (I'll do the rest, sign and mail (at no cost to you) anywhere in the U.S.)

Thanks to many of you, ONE MURDER MORE  now has over 60 reviews on Amazon, averaging 4.7 stars!  As always, thanks for everything!
Kris 






Richard Saunders · Author · added over 8 years ago
Congratulations Kris! That is probably the biggest honor any Inkshares book has achieved to date!

Dave Barrett · Author · added over 8 years ago
That.  Is.  So.  Cool.

Correction: 6,000 out of 8 million print books on Amazon means .075%  of  print books available  online at Amazon were selected  to occupy shelf space at its first physical bookstore. (Not .00075% as previously reported.) I'm absolutely over the moon about it—thank you for your backing, your orders and your reviews that made this happen! 

Amazon opened its first physical bookstore in Seattle.  "The books in our store are selected based on...customer ratings, pre-orders, sales, popularity on Goodreads, and our curators’ assessments... Most have been rated 4 stars or above...many are award winners."  .00075% of print books available online at Amazon made the cut. Thanks to you, there's One Murder More!

Three quick things:  (1) I have a few author's copies left for those  who've  not yet taken me up on my  offer to send  a signed First Edition hardback of One Murder More as a gift to  someone on your behalf! If  interested, please email your request to me at kris@kriscalvin.com with the intended recipient's name and address (or their email if you prefer they get an ebook.) This is  a small thank you to you for your support, and a way for me to introduce new readers to my work who might not otherwise  find it. For those who already sent in your requests, your gift books are on their way (unless you asked me to hold shipping for the holidays).  (2) One Murder More is a "Top Pick" for suspense at Night Owl Reviews! I was especially honored because the reviewer notes she doesn't really "care for politics". I figure if a  political mystery novel can win over an apolitical reviewer, that's pretty good! https://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/reviews/dawncolclasure-reviews-one-murder-more-by-kris-calvin.  (3) Newly-launched anthology Tinsel & Temptation features six award-winning and critically acclaimed women authors  across genres on a holiday theme. There's urban fantasy  (a 2-yr old  who can throw flames from her fingers), a tale of ghostly spirits set in modern NY,  fast-paced historical fiction on the prairie,  contemporary  erotica starring a kidnapped Santa, a  college student's coming of age story, and in my contribution lobbyist Maren Kane is back, attending a holiday gala at  a senator's home where a murder occurs, and  this time Maren is a prime suspect!  Tinsel & Temptation is available now on Amazon in paperback or ebook. I hope you'll give it a try for yourself or as a holiday gift! http://www.amazon.com/Tinsel-Temptation-Eileen-Rendahl-ebook/dp/B014X2JI3A

I owe you so much!  As I write the next book in the Maren Kane series, I've  been thinking about concrete ways to thank you. I also  remain interested in expanding my reader base and, eventually, my sales so that I can cover  the cost  of my writing habit, which includes attending conferences & workshops across the country to connect  with other authors and to  improve my craft. Recently, I traveled  to mystery/thriller events in Raleigh, No Carolina and Nashville, Tennessee where  I was able to read my work to audiences of readers, writers, agents and publishers. I was  surprised and humbled that the most common response to my reading two pages of my work to these audiences was "wow". It has inspired me to want to  do more.

To bring together the  two goals, thanking you and gaining readers, I would like to  offer to each of you a free signed copy  of One  Murder More, which upon your request will be  shipped to whomever you designate.  I will include a  personal, handwritten note indicating that you  have helped to  support me as an author (as a backer or follower) and that  this gift is from you. (If you prefer I send an ebook, plz let me know the recipient's email address and I will send it that way.) Perhaps  there's someone with a birthday  coming up, or who you've wanted to thank for something, even  just for being in your life.  (Those gifts may be the best.)  If you would like  me to  delay shipping until the holidays, please indicate  which holiday you're aiming for  (e.g., Hanukah, Christmas).  In any case, please include with your request the intended recipient's name and  address, sent to me at kris@kriscalvin.com. They will NOT be added to any lists or contacted again by me or by Inkshares after the book is sent.  I have a high school student to help me , so this  will get done! Please note that this offer of a free signed book shipped is limited to two per  backer, capped at the first 25 requests, and expires Dec 31st, as I  will purchase  copies myself and  that's my budget/timeline :) 

It makes me happy as an author to picture cheering someone's day with an unexpected gift of a signed book. I recognize it takes time, on your end, to make the request of me , but like publishing  on Inkshares  this effort will  only  work if you partner in it with me. If this seems a fit I hope to hear from you soon!

Thanks again, for everything.

Kris


I'm researching development of the audiobook of One Murder More—I have a growing waiting list for  the book in that  format!  I'm interested in what you think with respect to the  "reader" on the audible download/CD. Reading it myself or having a professional actor?

I did some acting in high school, even started out as a drama major  in college. So I'm comfortable that I could do an engaging reading of my work, and an advantage is I know each sentence, the intent, emotion, etc. Plus I come cheap!  I've  had several people  express hope that  the book would be read by "the author", that they specifically look for that. Downside  is I don't see myself doing voices for different characters—Polly as a Brit, Jake as a 14-yr old boy. My favorite audiobook reader is Jim  Dale (Harry Potter books)— characters still sound like him,  not phony, but  like  him as different people.

If we decide to go professional ( "we" meaning  you and me, not the "royal we"...) does  perceived gender matter? I know someone really good who also happens to be my brother (which I think would be  cool for readers), but he has a strongly male voice. Since One Murder More is not first person—it's not Maren speaking, but rather "close 3rd person", where the reader "hears" what's happening in Maren's head—does perceived gender of the reader matter? Will the reading "ring true"/be more compelling/comfortable   if read in a female-sounding voice? (I  don't say "read by a male or female" since gender is increasingly  a personal and fluid concept, but I do think  when  we hear someone speak we still  mostly identify genders with certain  registers/tones.)

Any and all input appreciated, would like to get this going! Thanks for everything,

Kris

ps One more thing, if you haven't ordered the One Murder More e-book as a gift for someone yet,  please consider it. Still trying to build a reader-base/momentum, seem to have hit a lull.  It's easy on Amazon, when you click on the right-hand side "give as a gift" Amazon walks you through it.  All you need is the recipient of the gift's email address, and  $4.99 per book. Each order  really helps! http://www.amazon.com/One-Murder-More-Kris-Calvin-ebook/dp/B00VJQQW60/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1444661111&sr=1-1


Dave Barrett · Author · added over 8 years ago
Hey Kris!  I grabbed a copy of your book - my wife's going to read it this weekend.  If you've got referral credits, you mind hitting me back and helping me hit my preorder goal?  Thanks! - Dave
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