News about the website of author Alan G Brown.

 

20th November 2009: The Author has decided to abandon the Family History section. 1st November 2009: The Author has decided to end all dealings with Lulu due to their continuing exorbitant postage costs. To continue would mean increasing the prices of the books by £1.50 to £1.75 each. The Spurious Sorcerer may therefore be withdrawn from sale, and become "unpublished" with Lulu. 14th June 2009: An error was notified regarding data that should not have been included on the Family History pages. These pages were corrected, and a full check made for other similar entries. Following these checks, a problem was found with the compiling software. The author could have allowed these pages to continue for another few days, but due to the lack of apparent support for these pages, he decided to terminate them forthwith. Easter Apologies: The website was down over the whole Easter period due to essential work needed on the host server. Also, the DNS required updating, so we are now hopefully working properly again. 11th April 2009: The Spurious Sorcerer is now available at Lulu in casewrap hardback (like large print and how-to books, full colour but without the dust jacket). Looks real good. Publishing schedule (subject to change) - Note: all future books will be published in the first instance as a hardback, followed by a paperback version 3 months later: 11th April 2009 - The Spurious Sorcerer (Hardback) 16th May 2009 - Dark Secrets (Hardback) 13th June 2009 - To be advised (Hardback) 11th July 2009 - The Spurious Sorcerer (Paperback) 15th August 2009 - Dark Secrets (Paperback) April 2009: Right, the printers have left me little choice but to rush publication pending discovery about what they did with my books. That means, we are back to The Far Lands again, which has now been renamed "The Spurious Sorcerer". April 2009: The printers have screwed-up yet again. They only sent one pre-publishing draft instead of 3 different ones as shown on the delivery note. Are UK printers so incompetent? Even a monkey should be able to see three items on a delivery ticket, and therefore understand they need to pack 3 items! Not enough peanuts, obviously! March 2009: So, nothing will happen in March after all. After spending 3 weeks designing and preparing a full, one-piece, wrap-around dust jacket, I discover that this type of hardback is not available in the UK for POD. The publishers show this as available, but they evidently only meant in the USA, and nobody is going to pay £80 postage per book! Back to the drawing board. February 2009: The author is still unhappy with artwork for "The Far Lands" cover, so he has delayed publication. Instead, a newly-finished book, "Dark Secrets" will take its place. Keep watching for updates. Hopefully, this book will be published end-February/early March if the artwork is satisfactory. However, the first printing will be in hardback and not for general release. Contact the author should you wish to order a copy of the hardback. February 2009: To take into account revised production costs, and prior to the possibility of fully distributing the books (which will double the price to the public), for a short time only, all books and downloads purchased direct through Lulu have had their prices reduced by the author. December 2008: New for 2009: A Donation button will allow those who wish, especially if they have gained Family History information, to make a donation that will allow further work to continue on the Family History, and to help keep these hundreds of pages on the Internet. Donations may be made on either the main Home page or the Genealogy page. December 2008: "The Far Lands" will be unfortunately delayed. November 2008: Preparation work is just about complete on "The Far Lands" and only needs converting to pdf format and uploading. However, this will be delayed indefinitely for various reasons at present. Also, a new title will be used, which is more catchy. Keep watching for updates. A good picture is also needed for the cover. November 2008: A larger typeface has been used on the non-geological part of the website. If it is too large, then you can change it in your web browser. October 2008: Lulu changed their price structures on 28th October 2008 which will result in price changes - I am still thinking about it. September 2008: The SF novel "THE FAR LANDS" shown as coming soon in the later published novels will be released prior to Christmas 2008. The author may change the title before then for two reasons: (1) It sounds bland, (2) The title is too close to the SF series of at least nine books that may follow shortly afterwards. Also note that this novel may be given an ISBN number for worldwide release through all High Street and Online bookshops, including Amazon etc. Interested readers can reserve a copy now by emailing the author through the "Contact" page on this website. The price will not be known until nearer the release date. Watch this page for updates. August 2008:  Decision to produce each novel in hardbook form. These will not be shown on the Lulu website as available, as they will be for personal use only. However, the opportunity to purchase a volume in hardback may be allowed in limited numbers through the author's website. Artwork needs preparing for the dust covers, and this may take time. It is doubtful that the number of hardback books printed will exceed fifty copies, and may be limited to family and those loyal readers who have purchased at least two other books.  July 2008:       Work started on updating some of the old novels. This includes improving the layout and getting rid of a few more errors found since. May 2008:      New-look website launched. March 2008:   Alternative publisher sought. If you know of a publisher, preferably in Norfolk, that can produce quality books competitively, then the author would like to hear from you. December 2007:  Does anyone have any historical information or stories they can supply regarding housing, clothing, food, and general living conditions in the town of Great Yarmouth in Norfolk for the period 1900 to 1905, please? All help will be acknowledged. December 2007:  Does anyone have any historical information or stories they can supply regarding housing, clothing, food, and general living conditions in the hamlet of Pill, Somerset, for the last five hundred years, please? Anything you can give would help the author dramatise his family tree in that area. November 2007:  Making 1/12th Scale Hats added to website. September 2007:  A Prayer for Jara published. June 2007:     Sabre published. May 2007:     Devine Retribution published. April 2007:     Snax published. April 2007:     Deserve to Die published. March 2007:   The Life Pool published. March 2007:   Website launched. March 2007:   Grave Digging published.