Four publishers (Hachette, HarperCollins, Wiley, and Penguin Random House) sued the Internet Archive after it created a National Emergency Library that ran from March 24, 2020, to June 16, 2020, under its Controlled Digital Lending program (CDL) . This was a temporary book collection created from thousands of e-books and was intended to provide reading matter to people in lockdown when physical libraries had to close during the early stages of the pandemic. Although libraries have been allowed to create and lend out one electronic version (i.e., scanned) for every physical book it owns (in lieu of lending the physical copy, not in addition to), for the National Emergency Library the Internet Archive was lending out multiple copies of a digital book at once , and the four publishers sued over a number of their books included in the collection. The Internet Archive claimed they were operating under the fair use doctrine , but the publishers have sued for mass copyright infringement . O...

April has been a hard month for me. I've had knee problems, our heating unit failed, and our water heater needed to be replaced. But nothing could compare with the sadness that's consumed me in the aftermath of the passing of my beloved dog, Bogie, who’s been by my side for almost ten years, who slept with me, followed me from room to room, and loved me without reservation. I know I’m not alone in this situation. I’ve read the stories of friends on Facebook who have gone through the same thing, lamenting that they’ve lost their best friend, that there was and never will be another pet like theirs. I feel the same way. Our pets just don't live long enough. I asked myself if there was anything more I could have done or steps I could have taken to extend Bogie’s life. The answer is no, and even the vet said I had performed a miracle to give him the extra few months he lived. I bought special food for his renal failure, gave him daily injections of fluid and pills to ward off...

Good news for independent authors: the self-publishing platform IngramSpark has ceased to charge book setup fees. The change in policy came into effect on May 1st. This means that authors can now upload their new books free of charge, as long as they meet standard requirements. In addition, authors can also revise their books for free within the first 60 days of publication. IngramSpark has always been a popular choice for self-published authors due to its wide distribution network and print-on-demand services. For authors not resident in the US or the UK, it is often the only option for combined publishing and distribution. But the fees have been a hurdle for some authors looking to publish their work, with many authors waiting for the one or two times per year that IS offered coupon codes for free setup. The removal of the setup and revision fee is a welcome helping hand for indie authors looking to publish their work on a tight budget. According to IngramSpark's official announc...

Over the past several months, Linda Lane has been working really hard to get her first two novels ready for publication. Now she's excited to announce that they’re finally available on Amazon as both paperbacks and eBooks.  The first is titled The Accounting , and the second is Tormented Tango . Both books explore family dynamics in depth as members struggle with the unexpected. Visit Amazon and check them out, and  please leave Linda a review if you read them.  If you know anyone who might like to read these books, let them know! The Accounting What if the person who should love you the most hurts you the worst? A powerful story of families that you won’t soon forget. Woven through its pages, The Accounting shares within its carefully crafted plot and well-defined characters events that will forever change the lives of four Kohler households. Family dynamics expose their weaknesses and reveal their strengths as they adjust to the sudden death of their beloved husband a...

Brutal Season the fourth book in my Seasons Mystery Series made its digital debut on April 10, and long before the release I was working on marketing and promoting, hoping to give it a big boost when it launched. So much of a successful book launch depends on luck, popularity, and marketing skills, and not every writer - certainly not this one – excels in the marketing department. Still, I did my best to develop a plan for this book.   After finishing the writing, and my own self-editing of the manuscript, things were set in motion for getting some pre-pub ducks in a row - cover art design, editing, requesting blurbs from other authors and getting ARCs to them, and formatting. Then I made a calendar of when each task would be completed. This process started in mid-January, and I jumped ahead several months to choose a release date, giving the various professionals plenty of time to hatch their individual duck. Once there was a working cover image, the book was listed for pre-...

Artificial intelligence seems to be all the rage these days, so I decided to find out why. First, I had to find out exactly what it was. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it as 1, "a branch of computer science dealing with the simulation of intelligent behavior in computers; and, 2, as "the capability of a machine to imitate intelligent human behavior". [I might question any statement implying that human behavior is necessarily intelligent.] Second, I wanted to know how artificial intelligence is used. According to IBM, systems such as Apple's Siri and Amazon's Alexa are examples of AI. Theoretically, IBM says, machines may one day surpass human intelligence and become problem-solvers that can learn and make plans. Fortunately, this is still just theory, but its ramifications if (when?) it's actually invented should strike fear (or at least concern) in all of us. I'm neither a scientist nor a science fiction writer; however, I can see pros and cons in t...

  Peter Usborne , the founder and Chairman of Usborne Publishing passed away on March 30, 2023, at the age of 85. (Usborne Publishing is sometimes referred to as “Usborne Books” and was rebranded last year as “PaperPie”). Usborne’s death leaves a hole in the world of children's literature, as he was a major influence in the publishing industry for almost 50 years. Born Thomas Peter Usborne on the 18th August 1937, Usborne grew up in England and attended Eton College and then Oxford University and the INSEAD, a business school in France. Usborne worked for various publishing companies before founding his own, Usborne Publishing, in December 1973. Usborne was known for his exacting standards and commitment to creating high-quality books that would engage and educate children. Usborne Publishing became successful due to the innovative design, engaging content, and high production values of their books. Recent awards for the company include Independent Publisher of the Year at t...

Looking for a good historical mystery to settle into? You might want to check out the finalists and winner of the Left Coast Crime Convention's Lefty Award for best historical mystery. The Leftys are nominated by and voted on by conference attendees—that is, by mystery readers and writers.  First, here are the finalists and a little about them: A Bride’s Guide to Marriage and Murder (5th in the Countess of Harleigh mystery series) by Dianne Freeman : "The Agatha Award-winning Countess of Harleigh Mysteries are a witty romp through the high society of Victorian England with a touch of romance, an appealing and independent female lead, and rich historical detail. In this charming fifth installment, Frances Wynn, the American-born Countess of Harleigh, finds her wedding day overshadowed by murder . . ." In Place of Fear  (standalone) by Catriona McPherson : "Edinburgh 1948. It’s the first day of the new National Health Service and wee Nelly Crowther fae Freer Street, w...

In a recent episode of Fresh Air Weekend, there was an interview with author Thomas Mallon, renowned essayist and historical fiction novelist. It was a most fascinating interview, focused on highlights of his career, an article in The New Yorker Magazine, and the recent release of his novel Up With The Sun .    A story about  Dick Kallman, who was an up-and-coming actor in the fifties and sixties, a closeted gay man for much of his life. Kallman had faded into obscurity until his murder in 1980. Here's what Booklist said about Up With the Sun,    "Another superb novelization of real life . . . Fluidly written with well-realized characters, the novel is great gossipy fun to read. Film and theater buffs will be delighted." In response to the question of whether the characters he creates have to be real people who interacted with historical figures; or whether what he puts into the mouths of historical figures is credible, he said that the reader should alwa...