Giant Snakes Map

I don't know if I'll be able to finish it by the end of the month, but I'm trying to complete Boss Snakes as soon as possible. I'm thinking it will end up being somewhere between 360 and 400 pages. Here's a teaser, a map plotting localities of alleged sightings of giant snakes (8+ feet in length). These are mostly historical reports, as I still need to add some of the more recent sightings. Also, localities may have multiple sightings, or a single sighting; number of sightings is not factored into the map. And, of course, many of these sightings have other possible (often probable) explanations than an unknown species of snake. And, lastly, this is for "typical" (colubrid-like or boid-like) snakes, not alleged sightings of giant rattlesnakes.

Online Sales Categories

I'm still in procrastination mode (need to tie down some final text edits and photo licensing for Eight-Legged Marvels, and haven't quite gotten in the mood to finish Boss Snakes, though I've got the sightings layout done), so just a quick glance (generic musings) at how I think we can categorize online booksales, particularly with POD.

Directed (informed) purchases: running along a scale from low need to high need, these are the niche-specific sales for someone who has done their homework and is specifically looking for a book on a certain topic. The higher the need (along with other factors, like few competing titles), the better the chance for an online sale.

Casual (recognized) purchases: running along a scale of low value to high value, these are the sales within a community-based niche, where any new title will have a decent chance of being noted, and where purchases are based on past experience (how well previous titles were written), market saturation or over-saturation, and similar factors.

Impulse (triggered) purchases: these sales run along a scale from low stimulus to high stimulus, and involve individuals who might otherwise have no real interest in the subject. Factors include cover appeal, and marketing approaches to the title, subject, and scope of the book.

A single book can be marketed to each of these purchase categories, but the methods are different. And, of course, a given title may not appeal to certain categories.

Heart of an Addict

Here's the wraparound cover for the second book by Dave Hain, Heart of an Addict. (It is being sent to the printer today.) Dave's first book, From Addict to Disciple, is my second-best selling title overall, mostly through direct sales at Dave's seminars. The first book is a step-by-step one-on-one (or small group) guide to helping someone break free from substance abuse and other addictions with Biblical counseling. This second book focuses on the importance of ministering to those with addictions, and should be very helpful to those who find themselves with an addicted family member or friend, giving insight (often from the words of addicts themselves) into the very real struggle that takes place.