AVOID AMAZON SURCHARGE ON 'CLAWS'

The popularity of Kindle ebooks which we're currently experiencing in the USA and UK isn't matched in most of the other countries around the world.

One of the reasons for this is that Amazon only has three Kindle stores - in the USA, UK and Germany. In almost every other country, Kindle users can only download their books directly by going to Amazon.com in the US.

The other drawback for what Amazon calls "international users" is the $2 surcharge which Amazon puts onto the sale of an ebook for all those countries. This makes a very big difference to the price when you're selling an ebook for less than a dollar, as I am with my Ben Cooper story CLAWS.

An article explaining the current situation can be found here: http://davidgaughran.wordpress.com/2011/07/11/amazon-hold-back-the-growth-of-e-books-around-the-world/

But readers in many of those countries who would like to buy CLAWS can avoid the Amazon surcharge by using the dedicated site set up at Westlea Books: http://www.westleabooks.com

This site is offering ePub, mobi and pdf versions of CLAWS for download. The mobi format is compatible with your Kindle, the ePub format is common to almost all other ebook readers, and a pdf version can be read on any computer or laptop. All three versions sell for £1 (that's UK pounds sterling).

The best news is that the price is the same for everyone, and there is no Amazon surcharge! The ecommerce software can handle sales in more than 50 countries. At present, readers in all of these territories listed below, who would otherwise have to pay a $2 surcharge on Amazon, can download CLAWS for the £1 price at Westlea Books:

Anguilla, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic,Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Uruguay, Venezuela.

Just follow the link:

http://www.westleabooks.com

You can also download the pdf version directly here for 99 cents:

CLAWS - a Ben Cooper story

On the wild moors of England's Peak District, a ruthless conflict has been raging for years. Young Derbyshire police detective DC Ben Cooper finds himself in the middle of the conflict, without quite being sure whose side he's on. The predators come in all shapes and sizes - and in this battle, not all the victims are human... A short novella from award winning British crime writer Stephen Booth.

NEW IN CANADA

The Cooper & Fry series has often done well in Canada. I've visited the country twice in the last few years - in fact, the 5th book ONE LAST BREATH had its launch in Toronto (despite me losing my voice within hours of getting off the plane!).

So I'm very happy to let Canadian readers know that new Cooper & Fry novel THE DEVIL'S EDGE is now available in Canada, with its official publication date being today, 7th June. Amazon Canada are currently offering 37% off the trade paperback edition:

The Devil's Edge on Amazon Canada

This level of discount probably explains why the book entered the Amazon Top 100 in Canada a couple of days after it started to ship. At the time of writing, it's their number 2 best selling mystery title!

The hardcover edition should also be available soon, and the massmarket paperback of LOST RIVER had its Canadian release in April. You can buy a copy here:

Amazon Canada or here: Chapters Indigo

or, of course, find your nearest independent bookstore:

Canadian Booksellers Association

LINCOLN BOOK FESTIVAL CRIME DAY

Calling all aspiring crime writers. Here's a chance to listen to me talk about crime writing AND hear my agent tell you how to get published!

I'll be taking part in a Crime Day during Lincoln Book Festival next week, with a full day of crime fiction events taking place on Thursday 12th May at East Midlands Media & Technology Enterprise Centre, part of the Lincoln University campus.

Other authors appearing are Sophie Hannah and Val McDermid, and a panel of experts will give you writing and publishing advice. The panel consists of agent Teresa Chris (who represents me, among many others), editorial consultant Lisanne Radice, senior editor Kate Lyall-Grant, and award-winning author Laura Wilson.

Lincoln is a lovely historic city, and the university campus is on the waterfront at Brayford Wharf. How can you miss it?

Programme for the day:

10:30am: Panel of industry experts talk about how to get published
11:30am: Talk by Stephen Booth
Buy your tickets here for the morning session
Lunch
2pm: The panel discuss major elements in writing
3pm: Talk by Sophie Hannah
Buy your tickets here for the afternoon session
6.30 pm: Meet Val McDermid, creator of psychologist, Dr Tony Hill (tickets £10)

Places are £6 for a half day, £10 for both sessions, £15 including Val McDermid event. For the box office, phone 01522 873894 or go to:
http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase?agency=LINCOLN&organ_val=29767&schedule=list

Festival website:
http://www.lincolnbookfestival.org/crimeday.html

THE DEVIL'S EDGE IS COMING

Well, this Thursday is publication day for THE DEVIL'S EDGE, and the books are arriving in the shops right now. In fact, one of the first readers to finish her copy of THE DEVIL'S EDGE bought her copy at the English Bookshop in Uppsala, Sweden!

My first signing for the new book will be this Saturday, 9th April (10am - 12 noon) at my local independent bookshop, Bookworm in Retford, Nottinghamshire:

http://www.bookwormretford.co.uk/events.html

Signed copies can be reserved from Bookworm by phoning 01777 869224.

Just a few tickets are left for my evening at Newbold Verdon Library, Leicestershire, next Tuesday 12th April (7pm). To book a place, call 0116 3053661. This is en event for Words on the Street:

http://www.leics.gov.uk/index/leisure_tourism/libraries/reading_writing/wordsonthestreet.html

If you're in the South Yorkshire/North Derbyshire area, I'll be joined by Sheffield author Danuta Reah for a crime evening at Waterstone's bookshop in Orchard Square, Sheffield, on Thursday 14th April (6.45pm onwards). Tickets are £3, redeemable against the purchase of a book on the night. To reserve a place, phone 0114 2728971 or call in at the shop.

There will also be signings for THE DEVIL'S EDGE at Waterstone's Chesterfield (Saturday 16th April 1-3pm) and Waterstone's Derby (Saturday 23rd April 12- 2pm):

http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/displayDetailEvent.do?searchType=1&author=Stephen|Booth

SIGNINGS FOR APRIL

Don't forget THE DEVIL'S EDGE is published next week. Here are my confirmed signings and events for April:

SATURDAY 9th April, 10am - 12pm
Bookworm bookshop, Spa Lane, Retford, Nottinghamshire - signing for THE DEVIL'S EDGE.
To reserve a signed copy, phone 01777 869224 or email: sales@bookwormretford.co.uk

TUESDAY 12th APRIL, 7pm
Newbold Verdon Library, Main Street, Newbold Verdon, Leicestershire - talk to readers for Words on the Street.
Tickets £2.50, available from the library, phone 0116 305 3661.

THURSDAY 14th April, 6.45pm
Waterstone's bookshop, 24-26 Orchard Square, Sheffield - talk and signing (with Danuta Reah).
Tickets £3, available in the shop and redeemable against purchase on the night.
Phone 0114 272 8971 or email: manager@sheffield-orchard-square.waterstones.com

SATURDAY 16th April, 1 - 3pm
Waterstone's bookshop, 13 Vicar Lane, Chesterfield, Derbyshire - signing for THE DEVIL'S EDGE.
Phone 01246 231061 or email: enquiries@Chesterfield.Waterstones.co.uk

FRIDAY 22nd APRIL, 1 - 3pm
Book Thrift, Dig Street, Ashbourne, Derbyshire - signing for THE DEVIL'S EDGE.
Phone 01335 300299.

SATURDAY 23rd APRIL, 12 - 2pm
Waterstone's bookshop, 78-80 St Peter's Street, Derby - signing for THE DEVIL'S EDGE.
Phone 0843 290 8273 or email: manager@derby.waterstones.com

WEDNESDAY 27th APRIL, 7.30pm
La Zouch Restaurant, 2 Kilwardby Street, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire - talk and slide show on 'Stephen Booth's Derbyshire'.
Ashby Writers Club members £1, visitors welcome at £3 (includes coffee).
For more details, phone 01530 413371.

SATURDAY 30th APRIL, 2 - 4pm
Scarthin Books, The Promenade, Scarthin, Cromford, Derbyshire - signing for THE DEVIL'S EDGE.
Phone 01629 823272 or email: nickscarthin@gmail.com

See you around!

TAKE A LOOK AT THE PEAK DISTRICT

There are many fantastic photographs of the Peak District online. It's an area which lends itself so easily to moody pictures! I have my own slide show on the website, which will give you a quick taster:

http://www.stephen-booth.com/new peakdistrict.htm

But one of the best collections of Peak District photos I've seen recently has been gathered together by the tourist board Visit Peak District on their Facebook page, with pictures taken by their 'Destination Photography Partners':

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=47691&id=141174685925695&closeTheater=1

You'll find photos here of lots of locations featured in the Cooper & Fry series - including many of the Eastern Edges, which provide the atmospheric backdrop for my new book THE DEVIL'S EDGE.

BOOKS ARRIVE!

The first copies of THE DEVIL'S EDGE arrived in the post today, fresh from the printer. And they look great!

I think Little, Brown have done a terrific job with the new look for the covers. Credit here should go to the cover designers (who so rarely get a mention) - in this case, Blacksheep, who have also done covers for the likes of Patricia Cornwell, Iain M. Banks, James Herbert and Wilbur Smith.

However, I must warn you that the flaps of the hardback feature a brand new photograph of the author taken from a recent photo shoot - it's probably best not to look!

THE DEVIL'S EDGE is available for pre-order right now in all the usual places. After publication on 7th April, I'll be turning up at a few bookshops to mutilate your copies with my signature. Enjoy!

GET YOUR CLAWS INTO THIS!

On 1st April, Nottingham-based independent publishers Five Leaves are releasing three new titles in their Crime Express series of short crime novellas. The latest stories are from Danuta Reah, Charlie Williams and Ray Banks.

Along with these three comes a re-issue of the Ben Cooper story CLAWS, which was one of the very first Crime Express titles, but sold out in its original edition. Five Leaves have introduced a new format, and some fabulous new covers designed by Gavin Morris.

You can check out all four at Inpress Books, who are the first to have new Crime Express titles on sale:

Inpress Books

Meanwhile, my latest newsletter went out yesterday, with a competition to win signed copies of the new edition of CLAWS. To enter, sign up for the newsletter here:

http://www.stephen-booth.com/Newsletter.htm

You can also hear me, Danuta Reah and Charlie Williams talking about the Crime Express series, and the short form in general, at an Independent Publishers' Day in Matlock, Derbyshire, on Saturday 12th March. More details here:

Derbyshire Independent Publishers' Day

THE DEVIL'S EDGE

The Cooper and Fry series has a new publisher in the UK. After 10 books with HarperCollins, the time seemed right for a move, and I'm delighted to have teamed up with Little, Brown, who already publish the likes of Mark Billingham and Val McDermid.

Leaving a publisher is a bit like getting divorced, especially as I was lucky enough to have the same editor at HarperCollins for 10 years - the inestimable Julia Wisdom. But Little, Brown are a top-notch outfit, and I'm excited by the stunning new look they've come up with for the series.

This is the cover for the new Cooper and Fry novel THE DEVIL'S EDGE, which will be published by Little, Brown on 7th April. Let me know what you think!

THE DEVIL'S EDGE can be pre-ordered at all the usual places. And don't forget to keep an eye on the Events page on the website for dates of signings around publication time.