Coming soon ...

... (but exactly when is yet to be finalised) - "Pike's Quest (the not quite a movie) video"


I have spent some considerable time putting together a promotional video for the launch of the paperback edition. Thanks to some useful advice from friends at Verulam Writers' Circle I think I have got it as good as it's going to get. However, I am awaiting the 'final' proof copy of Pike (should be with me by 22 - 23rd June, and then I can approve the print and away we go.


An update will follow as to when the paper version is released, and then the video will be premiered!!! 


In the meantime, here are some screen shots to garner your interest -

Home, sweet home

No one-eyed winglekrats were
injured during the making of
this "not quite a movie" ...

... nor were any Pikes.

Check back here for updates.

===============

All images and content Copyright © K J Bennett 2012
You may reproduce these images only if a full link to
this blog entry and a picture credit is 
assigned to K J Bennett.
===============

Pike will be a REAL book!

Great news, in just a few weeks, Pike's Quest will be available as a paperback book from Amazon.


I've just reviewed the proof version and it's pretty damned good. However, my cover art was sadly lacking in clarity and I need to change it. Here is the great reveal of the new cover image -

Pike's Quest - new cover

I've just uploaded the new Kindle cover, and will be making my amendments to the print file tonight and tomorrow. Then, in maybe five weeks or so .... A BOOK!

Now I need to chase around the web and replace old cover images with the new.

Pike's Quest for free!!!

It’s here: the Pike’s Quest give-away!

Starting on 21 February 2012 - 08:00 hrs GMT, (00.01 PST), Pike’s Quest will be available for free download for Kindle from Amazon on these links - 

UK - USA - ES - DE - FR - IT

The times are approximate, as I am at the mercy of the Amazon servers

Pike’s Quest has received several 5-star reviews on Amazon UK and US and on Goodreads: this is your chance to get it for free. Why am I doing this? To get readers: I am writing the sequel and would love to have more readers for the first book before I release it. I have a zero advertising budget, so this may be the best way to find them.

Spread the word. Tell your friends, tell your enemies. Grab it now (well, when it starts, at least).

Millions of e-readers sold in 2011

Sales of e-book readers have rocketed in recent months: Amazon allegedly shifted 1 million Kindles per week in the run-up to Christmas. Millions of iPads (over 40 million world-wide) and iPod Touch units have been sold (not to mention the iPhones), each able to use the iBook application. In the UK, WH Smith is selling Kobo devices for under £70.

All you need now is high quality literature to populate your reader, but often, e-books cost as much as a paperback book - a bit of a con, if you ask me. Well you needn't worry: Pike's Quest is still available at 86 pence or 99 cents from Amazon, slightly cheaper from Kobo & WH Smith, and slightly more from iTunes (99 pence in the UK)

What they're saying about Pike's Quest -

amazon.com

“Awesome new author! I loved this book! ... a quirky cast of characters that I can just describe as hilarious! ... I seriously blame Mr. Bennett for how tired I am today because I stayed up half the night finishing Pike's Quest!” Reviewer jwitt33   5 STARS

amazon.co.uk

“Excellent Read: ... it was a thought provoking page turner with a healthy dose of laugh out loud humour. The author's style bridges the gap between teenage and adult genres in a Harry Potter style.” Reviewer Bun   5 STARS

“Escape into another world: I loved this book. At most parts you will feel like you're a bystander to the conversations and scenes that unfold. You're tempted to join and you catch yourself laughing out loud. For anyone who wants a good book to escape into a whole other world AND have a good time, then this book is definitely for you.” Reviwer Andrea Kurian    5 STARS

“Couldn’t put it down: What started out as too silly became deliciously silly entertainment that I had to keep on reading. Pike is an excellent hero ...” Reviwer Claire L Hobson  4 STARS

Buy PIKE'S QUEST from

Amazon for Kindle on these links - 

UK - USA - DE - FR - IT - ES

iBooks (UK) - iBooks (US) - Smashwords

Barnes & Noble - Kobo - WHSmith - Diesel

I like reviews, especially when they are like this one:


" ... I  am so glad I took a chance on this book and this indie author because this book was terrific!! ... I seriously blame Mr. Bennett for how tired I am today because I stayed up half the night finishing Pike's Quest!"


http://www.amazon.com/review/RCC8FEZ6YMCQH/ref=cm_cr_pr_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B005SJKX5K&nodeID=&tag=&linkCode=


Other great reviews for Pike's Quest exist on the Amazon UK site. What are you waiting for? Buy it now while it's going at the criminally insane low price!

Amazon for Kindle on these links - 

UK - USA - DE - FR - IT - ES

Also available at

iBooks (UK) - iBooks (US) - Smashwords

Barnes & Noble - Kobo - WHSmith - Diesel

Latest Amazon UK review

"What started out as too silly became deliciously silly entertainment that I had to keep on reading. Pike is an excellent hero..."


http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B005SJKX5K/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1


I must admit to know this reviewer: the fact she gave it 5 stars is a mark of her sincerity.

Cheaper and less fattening than a choccy bar and with a second FIVE STAR review!

Now THIS is high praise:


"The author's style bridges the gap between teenage and adult genres in a Harry Potter style ..."


Read the full review, go on, then be tempted, and part with your 86 pence of 99 cents and buy a copy. It's not a lot of money to risk for your enjoyment, is it?.


See previous post for other outlets.

Widely available

OK everyone, here's the news:
You can now buy Pike's Quest from

• Amazon - UK - USA - FR - DE - ES - IT
• Smashwords
• iTunes  - UK - USA
• Barnes & Noble
• Kobo
• Diesel

From most of these sellers the price is below £1.00 and $1.00, but they do vary.


I was working on a print edition via Create Space, but they don't sell the hard-copies internationally, so I would have print editions in the USA, but not the UK, and it doesn't fit in with my main audience.


Currently I have a wonderful 5 Star review from a stranger, and I know others will soon be posting their reviews: however, sales are not high so far, so please spread the word. I know it's good, those who have read it agree it is good and, although tagged as 'Young Adult' it means nothing - this book is suitable for almost any age.

Perhaps one of my finer moments.

My last Pike Post was a glum affair, full of misery, flu and self pity (and a little bit of embarrassment – OK, a LOT of embarrassment). I remained in that frame of mind until I saw this -  

5 STAR REVIEW 

- at Amazon. 

I would have been mildly impressed had it been from someone I know, but the lady who wrote it actually doesn't know me. Furthermore, she is clearly a lady of keen wit, intelligence and great humour, with qualities of fine judgement.

It is comments like Andrea's that make it all worthwhile.

Not my finest moment ...

Have you ever had two copies of something, and used the wrong one? Not only that, have you ever had two copies of something, and edited the wrong one to a smaller size, and then used both wrong versions?


Or is it just me?


Having created a new version of the cover for Pike's Quest last week, I printed it out, realised I had made some ridiculous typos, and edited them out. Then, I saved the newly corrected picture under the same name, but I saved it into a different file. Later, I opened up the image from my 'recent' files list and trimmed it down to use as my Twitter and Facebook profile pictures.


So far, so good, except I was so confident in my capabilities that I didn't double check what I had done, and what I had done, was use the incorrect image. So I uploaded the wrong images to Amazon (.co.uk, com, and DE & FR, pretty much the world, really), Smashwords, Goodreads, Twitter and Facebook.


Since then I must have seen that image hundreds of times, but did I notice? Heck, no. Did anyone e-mail and call me a dozy git? No. Did my 14-year-old daughter ridicule me when she looked on line and saw it today? Yes, of course she did. And there was me, already feeling like %!@>~!, what with the sore head, throat and all. I had to change it, and here's why -

BAD

GOOD

BLUSH

Needless to say, as ill as I feel, I've had to make some amendments.