Books for only 99 cents each!

Just in time for Christmas, I'm marking down my entire backlist -- two dozen books -- to 99 cents each on Kindle.

The sale applies to everything I published before 2014, including LONELY STREET, the Bubba Mabry debut that was made into a Hollywood movie. All the Bubba stories -- seven novels and two novellas -- are only 99 cents each now, as are the two Drew Gavin sportswriter mysteries and such standalone crime novels as A BOX OF PANDORAS, THE BIG WINK and FIREPOWER.

The sale doesn't apply to SHOTGUN BOOGIE and HOMESICK BLUES, the two brand-new Jackie Nolan novels. Those remain $2.99 each. And the three DUKE CITY novels I wrote under the pen name Max Austin remain $3.99, a price set by the publisher.

But you can enjoy the rest for only 99 cents each if you're a Kindle user. If you're a member of Kindle Unlimited, you can borrow the books for free.

Because of the way the royalties are structured, I have to sell six times as many books at 99 cents to make the same as I would at $2.99. In the past, when I've experimented with the 99-cent price, sales have shot up enough to make up the difference. We'll see if that's the case when I put so many books on sale at once.

I want more readers and more reviews. If the 99-cent price point is the way to make that happen, then I'm all for it.

I hope you'll try my books during this sale. Or, if you're already a fan, fill in the gaps in your collection.

Happy holidays to all!

Jumping the gun

Psst. Hey. Yeah, you. Listen, I've got another new crime thriller coming out. Right now.

Yeah, yeah, I said earlier that HOMESICK BLUES would come out on Dec. 1. But things went smoother than expected with the publishing process (how often can one say that?), and the novel is already available at Amazon.

You can order the paperback here. Or pre-order the Kindle version here, and get it automatically deposited into your reader on Nov. 30, which has become the "official" publication date.

HOMESICK BLUES is the second novel featuring Jackie Nolan, a tough, truck-driving woman who gets mixed up in crime to solve her family's money problems. In the first novel, SHOTGUN BOOGIE, Jackie faced a tough decision when she discovered she was sitting on a cache of stolen Army guns. Lots of bad people were after those guns, and one of them returns in the sequel, still trying to even the score with Jackie.

In HOMESICK BLUES, Jackie is returning to Albuquerque two years later when she stumbles upon a car burning on the side of the highway. The driver is dead, so Jackie tries to adopt her identity, only to learn that the dead woman was in plenty of trouble herself. Soon, Jackie's on the run in her own hometown, bad men on her trail.

Both of these Jackie Nolan thrillers are tight, fast-paced stories with lots of action. I think you'll like them.

Hot new cover art

Here's a sneak peek at the cover art for my second Jackie Nolan crime novel, HOMESICK BLUES. Looks great, doesn't it?

The cover was designed by Albuquerque artist Denise Weaver Ross. She also designed the cover for the first Jackie Nolan book, SHOTGUN BOOGIE, which is available at Amazon now.

In SHOTGUN BOOGIE, Jackie crosses some very bad people after she hijacks a semi truck full of stolen Army rifles.

In HOMESICK BLUES, Jackie is on her way back home to Albuquerque when she finds a car burning on the side of the highway. There's a purse nearby with an ID that Jackie could use to start a new life, but it brings her even more trouble.

Both of these novels are gritty, fast-paced and full of action. Jackie Nolan is tough and resourceful. A very fun character to write.

HOMESICK BLUES is scheduled to come out Dec. 1. But please try SHOTGUN BOOGIE today. I think you'll love it.

It's Pub Day!

Please join me in welcoming a new baby into the world. My latest crime novel, SHOTGUN BOOGIE, is now available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle editions.

Taut and fast-paced, SHOTGUN BOOGIE is the debut of a new character, a thirtyish single woman named Jackie Nolan, who boosts semi trucks. Jackie struggles with the idea of being a criminal, and is lured into that life only because she's facing a mountain of debt.

When one of the trucks turns out to hold stolen Army munitions, Jackie is faced with a tough decision. She doesn't want the guns to get into the wrong hands. But a lot of bad people are after those guns, and they're willing to kill to get them.

I really enjoyed creating Jackie, a character with depth and grit. I've already written a sequel to SHOTGUN BOOGIE. That book, HOMESICK BLUES, will be out before Christmas.

Please help me spread the word about publication day for SHOTGUN BOOGIE. And please give Jackie a try. I think you'll like her.

Sneak peek at SHOTGUN BOOGIE

Here's the final cover art for my new crime novel, SHOTGUN BOOGIE, which comes out in October. Cool, no?

The cover design, by Albuquerque artist Denise Weaver Ross, fits the fast-paced story perfectly.

SHOTGUN BOOGIE is the tale of Jackie Nolan, who uses her truck-driving skills to get out of financial trouble. Stealing semis is risky, though, especially if you can't trust your partners. When Jackie stumbles upon a truckload of stolen Army weapons, her real trouble begins. Lots of bad men are after those guns.

It has a few light moments, but SHOTGUN BOOGIE isn't a crime comedy, like so many of my books. It's grittier than that, bloodier, more suspenseful. And Jackie proves to be a formidable heroine.

I liked Jackie so much, in fact, that I've already written a sequel. HOMESICK BLUES will come out before Christmas. Both books will be available as trade paperbacks and ebooks via Amazon.

The novel I'm revising now doesn't star Jackie. The protagonist of SIDE EYE is an 18-year-old boy just out of juvenile detention. He gets hired to drive around an aged mobster who's going blind. Expect to see SIDE EYE next summer.

I'm looking forward to this Saturday's Author Festival here in Albuquerque. Twenty-one authors, including me, will be signing books and giving talks all day at the Albuquerque Museum. Y'all come!

Happy reading!

The one that got away

Wow, summer is almost over. It went past in a blur.

My wife and I had plans for this summer, vague plans to slow it down by taking time off together. No elaborate vacation, just lazy days together at our Albuquerque home. Maybe a long weekend away.

We know what they say about the best-laid plans. Summer houseguests and family-related trips ate up the days off. Kelly was super-busy at work all summer. I wrote the first draft of a new novel in June, then watched it mostly gather dust the rest of the summer while I dealt with other, more pressing matters.

Boom, before I knew it, the fall semester had arrived. I'm teaching two classes this semester in the Honors College at the University of New Mexico -- double my usual workload -- and there was much to prepare. So far, the classes have been a lot of fun. I'm also deep into revisions on the new novel and hope to have it finished soon.

Meanwhile, the marketing push continues at Amazon. As mentioned in my last post, I've been putting my e-books on sale as Kindle Countdown Deals in recent weeks. Up next is FOOL'S PARADISE, which will be only 99 cents Sept. 15-21. After that, END RUN will be 99 cents from Sept. 26 to Oct. 3.

FOOL'S PARADISE, originally published by UNM Press, is the story of five strangers who come together to rob a bank in Coronado, CA. Like most of my standalone novels, it's full of action and comedy.

END RUN was the first of two Intrigue Press books featuring Albuquerque sportswriter Drew Gavin (the other is CHEAP SHOT). In END RUN, Drew's old flame from college asks him to help her husband, a jerk who's in trouble with bookies.

In October, I have two big author events coming up in Albuquerque. On Oct. 1, I'll be one of 21 New Mexico authors appearing at an all-day book fair at the Albuquerque Museum. I'm speaking on humor writing that day at 2 p.m. On Oct. 22, I'll be the luncheon speaker at an all-day self-publishing conference put on by Southwest Writers. Click the links for more info on those events.

I don't see things slowing down around here during the autumn.

Winter is coming. Stock up on books to read!

Bargains push e-book sales

While lots of authors have seen flat e-book sales lately, mine have improved, mostly because I've taken advantage of Kindle Countdown Deals on some of my books.

As I reported six weeks ago, I took my backlist of two dozen books off Smashwords and gave Amazon exclusivity on my e-book sales. Doing so meant my books could be read for FREE by Kindle Unlimited subscribers, and I'd get paid for those "borrows."

I've seen a nice bump in income from Kindle Unlimited in the past month, but the real story has been my use of Kindle Countdown Deals, another tool Amazon gives to Kindle-exclusive books. Every week or two, I've put one of my e-books on sale for 99 cents. They normally retail for $2.99, which isn't a lot of money, but some folks apparently find 99 cents irresistible. Sometimes, the sudden increase in sales will bounce a book up into the realm of Amazon's magical algorithms, which means lots more eyeballs and more sales.

The latest to go on sale is my crime novel THE BIG WINK, which will be 99 cents for the next week or so. THE BIG WINK is one of my personal favorites, an exploration of the marijuana industry in Northern California. In the book, a gang of robbers are knocking over medical marijuana dispensaries in the town of Redding. When a prominent local woman gets shot during a holdup, the gang becomes the focus of a manhunt, the national news media and the whole cannabis debate.

Award-winning author Reed Farrel Coleman called THE BIG WINK "a rare and wonderful reading experience." And Edgar winner Charlie Price said it is "a smooth, satisfying, and timely thriller."

(By the way, the terrific cover art for THE BIG WINK was done by my wife Kelly.)

Starting July 27, another of my Northern California novels, BANK JOB, will go on sale for 99 cents. Watch my Facebook and Twitter feeds for future sales.

Meanwhile, back here at the salt mine, I've started the second draft of my new crime novel, which is called SIDE EYE. Lots of additions and corrections to make, but I'm looking forward to the work.

Hope you're having a great summer! Happy reading!

All my ebooks -- for FREE

I just finished enrolling my entire backlist in KDP Select at Amazon, which means all those titles -- 23 novels, two novellas and five short stories -- are now available for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.

As I explained in my last blog post, I've decided to give Amazon exclusivity on those digital titles so I can reap some of the money paid to authors when their books are borrowed. You can see all the titles at my Amazon author page here.

The now-free ebooks include LONELY STREET (the one they made into a Hollywood movie) and the rest of the Bubba Mabry private eye series, two books featuring Albuquerque sportswriter Drew Gavin and a slew of standalone crime novels published under my own name.

Even if you're not a Kindle Unlimited subscriber, you should check out these titles. Their regular prices are $2.99 or less. And most of these books remain available in paperback!

I'll report back on the success(?) of this Kindle experiment in a few months.

Happy reading!

So long, Smashwords

After long consideration, I've decided to remove my backlist of crime novels from Smashwords, which will in turn remove my ebooks from Nook and other non-Amazon sources. The ebooks soon will be available only through Kindle.

I feel bad about making my books unavailable on any market, but Amazon requires Kindle Unlimited books to be exclusive and I can no longer ignore the revenue stream that Kindle Unlimited produces. Subscribers to Kindle Unlimited "borrow" ebooks for free. As they read them, the authors are paid a little bit per page by Amazon. With a big backlist like mine (27 books and counting), those pages can add up.

As an experiment, I've had six short stories and two novels (LOST VEGAS and CALABAMA) on Kindle Unlmited for a while now, and they're generating monthly revenue. Meanwhile, my most recent quarterly payment from Smashwords was the lowest yet.

I plan to "unpublish" all the Steve Brewer books on Smashwords on May 6. Any of you who use Nook or other e-readers might want to stock up before then on any titles you might be missing. A day or two later, all those titles will become available on Kindle Unlimited. The titles will include the nine mysteries in the Bubba Mabry private eye series as well as standalones like THE BIG WINK, A BOX OF PANDORAS and FIREPOWER.

The recent Duke City trilogy published by Alibi under my pen name, Max Austin, will remain on sale everywhere. Also, most of my books are still available in paperback, and you can get those through your favorite bookseller. But I must try the Kindle Unlimited thing for my ebooks.

Fortunately, I control the ebook rights to all the books published under my name, so I can do such experiments with my backlist. That's one reason I urge new authors to always insist on a way to get their rights back when they're considering book contracts.

By the way, I've got no knock against Smashwords. I think their Meatgrinder software is still the best way to reach users of non-Amazon e-readers. But that audience seems to be shrinking while the Kindle giant keeps growing.

In whatever way you get your hands on my books, please keep reading them. Thanks!

Shorter books = bigger audiences?

Did you see the article about James Patterson in The New York Times? Patterson and his team of writers already dominate bestseller lists, but apparently that's not a big enough audience. He's going after people who no longer read books.

The theory is that people who spend all their time with social media, movies and interactive games are no longer interested in big, fat books. So Patterson's plan is to produce shorter books -- less than 150 pages, what most of us would call novellas -- to attract readers who want to gobble up a story in one sitting.

I embraced this idea years ago, and most of my recent books have been short and very tight -- mostly dialogue with occasional shooting. The last story in my Bubba Mabry series was the 119-page novella PARTY DOLL, and the three Albuquerque crime novels I recently published under the pen name Max Austin all are on the shorter side. Amazon lists DUKE CITY HIT at 183 pages and DUKE CITY DESPERADO at 223 pages.You can pack a lot of story into that many pages if you don't waste words and if you don't bog it down with lots of subplots.

Shorter suits the kind of novels that I write. Books about crooks. Crime novels that star the police are filled with CSI stuff these days, and I find most of that boring and repetitive. But I find crooks infinitely variable and interesting, if sometimes dumb as hell. In DUKE CITY DESPERADO, for instance, we have two low-level crooks who aren't all that smart. On a drug-induced impulse, one of them tries to rob a drive-thru bank (you read that correctly), and that sets into motion a citywide manhunt. A manhunt looks very different when you're seeing it through the eyes of the hunted.

My agent is currently shopping around two novels starring Jackie Nolan, a woman who gets in trouble hijacking semi trucks. Each book is around 300 pages, but tightly written and very cinematic. Just the sort of stories to appeal to the new readers Patterson is targeting and, perhaps, to Hollywood. Fingers crossed.

I've started tinkering with a possible new novel set in the world of journalism, but lots of distractions have kept me from mapping it out yet. It's percolating, though, and I'll probably start writing it soon.

I can't crank 'em out as fast as Patterson's team, but I've published 27 books so far. Short, tight novels are (slightly) faster to write and edit, and they're fun to read. I hope the audience looks up from Twitter and Reddit long enough to try them.

Don't write every day

Writers are often told they should write every day, and that's good advice for those who are just getting started and trying to build the habit. But it's important to take breaks, too, especially for those of us who've been writing books a long time.

I'm at one of those breaks now. I finished revisions of my most recent crime novel in late January and sent it off to my agent. I don't know what I'll write next or when I'll start. I'm mostly trying not to think about it.

The brain needs rest. The body needs recovery time (more and more, as you get older). And the writer needs to tend to the real world -- the car maintenance and household chores and friendships that have been neglected while the latest manuscript took up all time and brainpower.

Even when I'm not writing, being an author keeps me busy. For one thing, I'm teaching more than ever. Along with my weekly Honors College class at the University of New Mexico, I've made presentations in recent months at the Tony Hillerman Writing Seminar and at SouthWest Writers. Next fall, I'm slated to teach two Honors classes at UNM, so I've got some planning and prep to do over the summer.

Later this month, I'll be on two panels at Left Coast Crime in Phoenix. Left Coast is my favorite mystery conference, just the right size, and it's always fun to see my poker pals.

On April 9, I'll be one of the presenters at UNM Continuing Education's Writers Conference, where I'll talk about self-publishing. It's been a while since I self-published a book, but that route remains a comforting backstop for authors at all experience levels.

While my agent is shopping around my latest manuscripts, I'm still promoting the Duke City crime novels, which were published by Penguin Random House's mystery e-book line, Alibi, under my pen name, Max Austin. The third one, DUKE CITY DESPERADO, came out last June, and has been a hit with reviewers. Check it out here.

Soon, I know, some new idea will take root in my brain, and I'll get the creative fever and I'll start a new novel. Once I begin, I'll write (nearly) every day until it's done. But for now, I'm savoring the break between books.