Recently I began work on two new books, both of which are currently unnamed.
The working title of the first book is “64 of 64” — definitely not the final title, but I have to call it something while I’m working on it. The book is going to consist of sixty four reviews of Commodore 64 games. The catch is, 32 of the games will be good and 32 of the games will be terrible. The “good” reviews will highlight some of my favorite games for the machine while the “bad” reviews will, hopefully in a humorous manner, pick apart some of the worst. I will be releasing this book as a free PDF under Donationware. Everyone will be able to download the book for free; people that enjoy it will have the option of donating toward the cause. I am considering some other interesting ideas to go along with this — for example, maybe donations of a certain amount getsa DVD full of game footage with a personalized video message or something. Dunno, still kicking around ideas. My goal is to release this one sometime this fall.
The second book is a fictional book involving a “hacker on the run”. In fact, I’ve been calling it the “hacker on the run” book. It’ll be my first serious attempt at a fiction novel. My goal with that one is to try and get it published through traditional means, just to see if I can do it. The story is beginning to take off and seems to have a life of its own; literally, sometimes it seems to be writing itself! So yeah, the goal for this one is to get it published … and if that fails, well, there’s always donationware …
Those of you who own Amazon Kindles and want to sample my first book are in luck! My first book, Commodork: Sordid Tales from a BBS Junkie is currently on sale for 99 CENTS. Yes, 99 cents! That’s cheaper than everyone on McDonald’s Dollar Menu by a whole penny! Seriously. It takes the people at McDonald’s like thirty seconds to make a double cheeseburger, and it took me more than a year to write Commodork.
Those of you without Kindles can still pick up the DRM-free PDF of Commodork here for $4.99 — not as cheap as anything from the McDonald’s Dollar Menu, but less than a pizza-to-go from Little Caesers (and probably tastes better).
I’m down to my last two paperback copies of Commodork and probably won’t be restocking them for a while. I still have about 20 copies of Invading Spaces: Sordid Tales from a BBS Junkie for sale. Paperback copies are $20 which includes priority shipping anywhere in the US. Invading Spaces isn’t available on PDF yet … maybe when 64 of 64 comes out I release Invading Spaces on PDF.
Glad to hear! Looking forward to the “64 of 64” book…I’ll be curious too see if the best and worst match with my best and worst ;) Oddly, when I think back, I enjoyed some thoroughly bad 64 games for some reason. I read this book a while back and it was a pretty good read;
http://www.hiivebooks.com/BookDetails.aspx?ISBN=0977998304
Did you ever look for your books in the OKC Metro library? I submitted suggestion forms at my (then) local Pioneer branch and via the Metro site’s suggestion page. I finally found Commodork in the Pioneer Library system 2 or 3 months ago – I checked it out and read it again. Perhaps I should have left it lying out near the computer lab.
No horn-tooting here, just doing my part, sir.
Please elaborate on how you find uninterrupted free time for creative writing with two kids in the house. I seriously can’t be left alone long enough to complete a sentence unless I wake up at 4AM. It must be against policy.
I am looking forward to reading more of your work. Both books have been great!
Also, Rob finds the time because he is a robot. He needs no rest
Will you be offering 64 of 64 in print as well?
Cheers!
I’m a sucker for a 99 cent Kindle book any day of the week. I just bought Commodork for my Kindle despite the fact that I already have the autographed paperback edition. Since the kindle is on my bed with the Wireless turned off, I won’t be getting it until I get home tonight and remember to turn on the Wireless.
“I’m down to my last two paperback copies of Commodork and probably won’t be restocking them for a while. I still have about 20 copies of Invading Spaces: Sordid Tales from a BBS Junkie for sale.”
Well Scratch off one of each for me!
“Everyone will be able to download the book for free; people that enjoy it will have the option of donating toward the cause. I am considering some other interesting ideas to go along with this — for example, maybe donations of a certain amount getsa DVD full of game footage with a personalized video message or something. Dunno, still kicking around ideas.”
How about you donate so much and and you get your own Commodore?
Good luck on your next two books, Rob!
I hope you review Kickman for the C64. I always loved that game (and it’s not available on any console).
@Dr Zero: If I had enough C64s to go around, I’d give one to everybody!
Also as an experiment, I added my blog to the Kindle as well. If for some reason you want to read it on a Kindle for 99 cents instead of reading it here for free, you now have that option.
Rob has been generous enough to put up a preview of some of the things he is working on for the new Commodore book, and I would like to say, on the record, that it is is FRICKING hilarious!
Added my 50 cents to the c64 “64 of 64” thread on particles…