D.J. Murphy's Blog
April 21, 2011
Speech in France
I will be speaking about "A Thousand Veils" to the France - Great Britain Association on Thursday, April 28. This is particularly topical, given how controversial the subject of veils is in France.
December 16, 2010
Google eBooks Good for Readers, Authors, Bookstores
It has now been almost three years since I published my novel "A Thousand Veils." I am delighted with the success that it has met. Not only did it win the Colorado Authors' League Award for Mainstream Fiction, but it was a finalist for the Colorado Book Award. Equally important, it has sold as least six times the average number of books by self-published authors. Not bad for a first novel!
However, there have been some bumps along the road. Being a self-published author has not been an easy experience for numerous reasons. Two of the most important are accessibility and cost. Most bookstores will not carry self-published books except on a limited, consignment basis. The cost of published-on-demand books is also very high. In order to make an extremely slim profit on my 400 page book, I had to price it at $21.95, much too expensive for most readers.
Digital books are helping to bring down these barriers. In the electronic bookstore, self-published books have as equal access as traditionally published books. Without the high costs of printing in small quantities, digital self-published books can be price-competitive. In fact, their prices are probably substantially less than books from the major publishing houses because they do not have huge marketing costs to cover.
The recent arrival of Google eBooks to this scene is a most welcome addition. Google eBooks can be read on a wide variety of internet-connected devices, including home computers, I-phones and most e-readers, with the exception of Kindle. Independent booksellers, which until now have been mainly shut out of the digital book market, will also benefit. Google is making it possible to order digital books through local bookstores. Finally, Google eBooks is increasing the competition in the digital book market, a benefit to readers, authors and bookstores alike. Prices of digital books should fall in response to this new competition. As an example, the cost of my novel"A Thousand Veils" is $7.96 on the Google eBook store, 20 percent less than on its nearest competitor. What a boon to readers to have easy access to a wide variety of books at much more affordable prices!
However, there have been some bumps along the road. Being a self-published author has not been an easy experience for numerous reasons. Two of the most important are accessibility and cost. Most bookstores will not carry self-published books except on a limited, consignment basis. The cost of published-on-demand books is also very high. In order to make an extremely slim profit on my 400 page book, I had to price it at $21.95, much too expensive for most readers.
Digital books are helping to bring down these barriers. In the electronic bookstore, self-published books have as equal access as traditionally published books. Without the high costs of printing in small quantities, digital self-published books can be price-competitive. In fact, their prices are probably substantially less than books from the major publishing houses because they do not have huge marketing costs to cover.
The recent arrival of Google eBooks to this scene is a most welcome addition. Google eBooks can be read on a wide variety of internet-connected devices, including home computers, I-phones and most e-readers, with the exception of Kindle. Independent booksellers, which until now have been mainly shut out of the digital book market, will also benefit. Google is making it possible to order digital books through local bookstores. Finally, Google eBooks is increasing the competition in the digital book market, a benefit to readers, authors and bookstores alike. Prices of digital books should fall in response to this new competition. As an example, the cost of my novel"A Thousand Veils" is $7.96 on the Google eBook store, 20 percent less than on its nearest competitor. What a boon to readers to have easy access to a wide variety of books at much more affordable prices!
October 29, 2010
Conversations with Authors
Those of you living along the northern Front Range of Colorado may be interested in Conversations with Authors, a program being put on by the Loveland branch of the AAUW on November 13. I, along with Mark Obmascik and Teresa Funke, will be speaking. The program and luncheon will be from 9:30 am to 2 pm at the Embassy Suites. Tickets cost $50 and can be obtained by calling Doris Wear at 970-663-7710 or emailing her at ethomerson@msn.com. Additional information can be obtained by clicking on this article in the Coloradoan.
February 3, 2010
Library Time
Thank goodness that most libraries are such comfortable places because I am going to be spending a lot of time in libraries over the next few days. I have two book club discussions on Friday and Monday, and I will be a guest reader at a library opening on Saturday. In case you live in the Denver area, the schedule is:
- Friday, 2/5, 12:30 pm - Mamie Dowd Eisenhower Public Library, 3 Community Park Road, Broomfield, CO.
- Saturday, 2/6, 2:30-4:30 pm - A Celebration of Light, the opening ceremoni...
- Friday, 2/5, 12:30 pm - Mamie Dowd Eisenhower Public Library, 3 Community Park Road, Broomfield, CO.
- Saturday, 2/6, 2:30-4:30 pm - A Celebration of Light, the opening ceremoni...
January 10, 2010
Let Yourself Be Enticed
What does it take to win a reader's heart? An interesting, well-written book? But, of course! Stimulating discussion about the book? It really helps.
Many of you have heard about A Thousand Veils. Are you curious to learn more? What if you could read the first few chapters to get a flavor for the book without having to beg, buy or borrow it? What if you could discuss the book in depth with the author and other readers?
All of this is readily obtainable. The Prologue and first nine cha...
Many of you have heard about A Thousand Veils. Are you curious to learn more? What if you could read the first few chapters to get a flavor for the book without having to beg, buy or borrow it? What if you could discuss the book in depth with the author and other readers?
All of this is readily obtainable. The Prologue and first nine cha...
January 3, 2010
D J Murphy Discusses His Novel "A Thousand Veils"
Please join me for my New Year's video in which I have an important announcement about "A Thousand Veils."
December 14, 2009
Winter Perk-up
To brighten up the dreary months of January and February, I am going to be announcing several contests, including for those of you have already read or are reading A Thousand Veils. Prizes will be gift certificates to your favorite bookstores. Get a head start on the fun by treating yourself to a copy (remember that each purchase benefits the UNHCR), checking-out the book from your library, or asking your library to acquire a copy.
December 12, 2009
Early Birds
Talk about early birds! Yesterday morning, I met with a book club at 7 am to discuss "A Thousand Veils." The book club, originally a group of professors, has been in existence for about 45 years. Even though most of the members are now retired, they still keep their early morning meeting hour. Bravo to this hearty group of readers!
December 3, 2009
Goodreads or Facebook?
Several months ago I became one of the 350 million members of the Facebook phenomenon. Although I am one of the late arrivals on Facebook, I have already created a Facebook page for my novel "A Thousand Veils." I must say that I am very happy with the results, even though it is still a work-in-progress.
My Facebook page allows me to bring together in one spot reviews and interviews about "A Thousand Veils" from a wide variety of sources such as newspapers, Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and many blogs. In contrast, on Goodreads, only reviews from Goodreads members are shown. I feel that it is easier to interact with my readers and fans on Facebook than on Goodreads. On Facebook, I often write postings and comments which are only two or three sentences long. They are much more informal than a blog. My Facebook page also contains additional information such as a discussion tab for questions and comments from my readers. From time to time I post links to articles about the plight of Iraqi refugees since my novel is about a woman who has to flee Iraq.
Perhaps, these possibilities also exist on Goodreads. I must admit that I have not explored the advantages of setting up a group on Goodreads. What I really like about Facebook, though, is that my page for "A Thousand Veils" contains all of this information in one readily accessible place.
There is a major drawback to a Facebook page, however. It seems more anonymous and colder than Goodreads. Goodreads is a real community of people who love to read. On Goodreads, I can see what my friends and readers like to read and read their reviews and comments about other books. In contrast, on Facebook I know nothing about most of my fans, other than their names and possibly where they live and went to school.
So for me, it is not a question of Goodreads versus Facebook. Each site has its respective advantages and disadvantages. Together they are very complementary.
If you are not already a fan of my Facebook page for "A Thousand Veils," I hope that you will become one in order to take advantage of what Facebook has to offer. The link is
"A Thousand Veils" Facebook page. Many of my Goodreads friends are already Facebook fans. In fact, two Facebook fans, Jaime Huff and Heather Laninga, who came in first and second in a recent contest I sponsored on Facebook, are also Goodreads members.
My Facebook page allows me to bring together in one spot reviews and interviews about "A Thousand Veils" from a wide variety of sources such as newspapers, Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and many blogs. In contrast, on Goodreads, only reviews from Goodreads members are shown. I feel that it is easier to interact with my readers and fans on Facebook than on Goodreads. On Facebook, I often write postings and comments which are only two or three sentences long. They are much more informal than a blog. My Facebook page also contains additional information such as a discussion tab for questions and comments from my readers. From time to time I post links to articles about the plight of Iraqi refugees since my novel is about a woman who has to flee Iraq.
Perhaps, these possibilities also exist on Goodreads. I must admit that I have not explored the advantages of setting up a group on Goodreads. What I really like about Facebook, though, is that my page for "A Thousand Veils" contains all of this information in one readily accessible place.
There is a major drawback to a Facebook page, however. It seems more anonymous and colder than Goodreads. Goodreads is a real community of people who love to read. On Goodreads, I can see what my friends and readers like to read and read their reviews and comments about other books. In contrast, on Facebook I know nothing about most of my fans, other than their names and possibly where they live and went to school.
So for me, it is not a question of Goodreads versus Facebook. Each site has its respective advantages and disadvantages. Together they are very complementary.
If you are not already a fan of my Facebook page for "A Thousand Veils," I hope that you will become one in order to take advantage of what Facebook has to offer. The link is
"A Thousand Veils" Facebook page. Many of my Goodreads friends are already Facebook fans. In fact, two Facebook fans, Jaime Huff and Heather Laninga, who came in first and second in a recent contest I sponsored on Facebook, are also Goodreads members.
November 20, 2009
Libraries with Copies of "A Thousand Veils"
Have the reviews about "A Thousand Veils" piqued your interest to read the book? Fortunately, it is available in a good number of libraries.
Following is a list of libraries which have copies. There are probably others of which I am not aware. If you do not find your city on the list, would you check with your library to see if it has a copy? Libraries are very receptive to requests from their patrons so if your library does not have a copy of "A Thousand Veils," it will likely acquire one if you tell it that you are interested in reading the book.
Canada
ON
- University of Guelph
United States
AZ
- Pima County (Tucson)
CA
- San Francisco
- UCLA
CO
- Arapahoe Library District
- Bemis (Littleton)
- Boulder
- Broomfield
- Denver
- Douglas County
- Estes Park
- Front Range Community College (Westminister)
- Gunnison County
- High Plains Library District (Weld County)
- Lafayette
- Longmont
- Loveland
- Poudre River Public Library District (Fort Collins)
- Summit County (Frisco)
- Windsor
IL
- Lagrange
- Oak Lawn
- Park Forest
IN
- Indianapolis/Marion County
ME
- Milbridge
MN
- St Paul
MO
- Kansas City
- St Louis
NJ
- Roxbury Public Library (Succasunna)
NY
- Saratoga Springs
- Suffolk County
- SUNY at Binghamton
OH
- Cincinnati/Hamilton County
PA
- Philadelphia
TX
- Houston
UT
- Logan
- Washington County (St George)
VA
- Fairfax County
- Williamsburg
WA
- King County (Issaquah)
WI
- Appleton
- Verona
Following is a list of libraries which have copies. There are probably others of which I am not aware. If you do not find your city on the list, would you check with your library to see if it has a copy? Libraries are very receptive to requests from their patrons so if your library does not have a copy of "A Thousand Veils," it will likely acquire one if you tell it that you are interested in reading the book.
Canada
ON
- University of Guelph
United States
AZ
- Pima County (Tucson)
CA
- San Francisco
- UCLA
CO
- Arapahoe Library District
- Bemis (Littleton)
- Boulder
- Broomfield
- Denver
- Douglas County
- Estes Park
- Front Range Community College (Westminister)
- Gunnison County
- High Plains Library District (Weld County)
- Lafayette
- Longmont
- Loveland
- Poudre River Public Library District (Fort Collins)
- Summit County (Frisco)
- Windsor
IL
- Lagrange
- Oak Lawn
- Park Forest
IN
- Indianapolis/Marion County
ME
- Milbridge
MN
- St Paul
MO
- Kansas City
- St Louis
NJ
- Roxbury Public Library (Succasunna)
NY
- Saratoga Springs
- Suffolk County
- SUNY at Binghamton
OH
- Cincinnati/Hamilton County
PA
- Philadelphia
TX
- Houston
UT
- Logan
- Washington County (St George)
VA
- Fairfax County
- Williamsburg
WA
- King County (Issaquah)
WI
- Appleton
- Verona
