Amazon Unlimited? Really?!?! No, Not Really.

You won't be able to read my books using Amazon Unlimited, sorry to say. But? You won't be able to read a lot of books, evidently... Had been hearing about Amazon Unlimited as details leaked about Amazon's new "Netflix For Books". Last Thursday morning I received an email from Amazon's KDP Team (edited here): 

Hello, 

Today we are excited to introduce Kindle Unlimited--a new subscription service for readers in the U.S. and a new revenue opportunity for authors enrolled in KDP Select... (and, by the way) ...KDP Select is an optional program that makes your book exclusive to Kindle... 

Best regards, 

The Kindle Direct Publishing Team

Oh.

Surprise, surprise - from the Kindle Direct Independent Publishing side of things, only ebooks which have agreed to be exclusive to the Kindle will be available as part of Amazon Unlimited. Didn't tell us that would be the case.

This excludes from Amazon Unlimited any independent authors & publishers who are smart and ambitious enough to have their ebooks available in other outlets. In other words? Most independent authors and publishers who are really working at this and not just uploading something to Amazon will not be available to you through Amazon Unlimited. That kind of sucks. But, it's their marketplace, their rules. Always good to remember they're not your friend. They're showing that now.

But now I read that the Big Five publishers (Hachette Book Group - HarperCollins - Macmillan Publishers - Penguin Random House - and Simon and Schuster) apparently aren't allowing Amazon to include their books: (http://techcrunch.com/2014/07/19/how-the-big-5-publishers-hobbled-the-amazon-unlimited-launch/) and (http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/07/21/333549534/book-news-big-5-publishers-absent-from-amazon-s-new-e-book-service)  - "apparently" because no one from Amazon or the publishers is commenting on the situation as of yet. And one reviewer tried it out and couldn't find anything on it they wanted to read: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/money/58198723-79/kindle-amazon-unlimited-books.html.csp

All sounds pretty limited, to me. None of the Big Five, and nothing by indie writers and publishers on top of their games. There's probably some good stuff left, but it ain't "unlimited" in any way, shape or form.

And it's a slap to indie writers and publishers using the KDP program. If you have the nerve to also have your ebooks for sale at Barnes and Noble, the iTunes Bookstore, Kobo Books... any other outlets - you're out. All in all, pretty limiting, Amazon.

Sneaking Into Fortune

An assassin for the Vatican stalks the head of a religious cult on a once-abandoned space station as the Summer of the Assassin continues on Glow-in-the-Dark Radio! Writer Mike Luoma reads Chapter Fifteen of VATICAN ASSASSIN this week. New listeners can catch up quick as Mike sets the scene - then dive right into science fiction adventures featuring BC – Bernard Campion – who kills people for the pope of the New catholic Church in 2109! BC is sneaking onto Fortune Station on his new mission to assassinate The Light...



This summer's encore run of Vatican Assassin includes new bonus material, including Mike's "Literary Archaeology" videos. Video #1 (longer):  http://youtu.be/xjxfLayyxUc Video #2: http://youtu.be/9YUoV2ITjuA

Email list subscribers also get an exclusive download of the "Alibi Jones and the Ghost in the Machine" audio novelette – which is NOT being publicly released! Join the list for your free download: mailto:glowinthedarkradio@gmail.com?subject=Join Send Mike an email saying you want in!

Links:

Vatican Assassin - The Novel
FREE eBook at Amazon (Kindle)
FREE eBook at Barnes & Noble (NOOK)
FREE eBook at Smashwords
FREE audio book at iTunes
FREE audio book at Podiobooks
Paperback at Amazon
Paperback at Barnes & Noble
Paperback & eBook at Drive Thru Fiction

Vatican Assassin the Graphic Novel – PDF Download
Vatican Assassin the Graphic Novel - Print

Home(s): http://glowinthedarkradio.com   http://alibijones.com  http://mikeluoma.com https://www.facebook.com/glowinthedarkradio  https://www.facebook.com/mikeluoma
Public archive of Glow-in-the-Dark Radio on Google Drive: https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B0uV2VUMyDHwRXczSVBJSUtreGs&usp=drive_web

We're part of the Comic Related Podcasting Network – Find Us Each Week at http://comicrelated.com

The Fortune of An Assassin!

It's the Summer of the Assassin with Chapters Thirteen and Fourteen of VATICAN ASSASSIN this week on Glow-in-the-Dark Radio! Writer Mike Luoma reads from his science fiction adventures featuring  BC – Bernard Campion – who kills people for the pope of the New catholic Church in 2109! Come along this week as BC heads off to Fortune Station on his new mission – assassinating a cult leader whose people are squatters on the long-abandoned outpost. Yet still, the war between The UTZ – Universal Trade Zone – the commercial power of Earth – and the UIN – Universal Islamic Nation – based on Mars – can't really be escaped...



This summer's encore run of Vatican Assassin includes new bonus material, including Mike's "Literary Archaeology" videos. Video #1 (longer):  http://youtu.be/xjxfLayyxUc Video #2: http://youtu.be/9YUoV2ITjuA

Email list subscribers also get an exclusive download of the "Alibi Jones and the Ghost in the Machine" audio novelette – which is NOT being publicly released! Join the list for your free download: mailto:glowinthedarkradio@gmail.com?subject=Join Just send Mike an email saying you want in!

Links:

Vatican Assassin – The Novel
FREE eBook at Amazon (Kindle)
FREE eBook at Barnes & Noble (NOOK)
FREE eBook at Smashwords
FREE audio book at iTunes
FREE audio book at Podiobooks
Paperback at Amazon
Paperback at Barnes & Noble
Paperback & eBook at Drive Thru Fiction

Vatican Assassin the Graphic Novel – PDF Download
Vatican Assassin the Graphic Novel - Print

Home(s): http://glowinthedarkradio.com   http://alibijones.com  http://mikeluoma.com https://www.facebook.com/glowinthedarkradio  https://www.facebook.com/mikeluoma
Public archive of Glow-in-the-Dark Radio on Google Drive: https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B0uV2VUMyDHwRXczSVBJSUtreGs&usp=drive_web

We're part of the Comic Related Podcasting Network - Find Us Each Week at http://comicrelated.com

What Is BC's Fortune?

The Summer of the Assassin rolls on - on Glow-in-the-Dark Radio! Mike Luoma brings you Chapters Eleven and Twelve of his science fiction adventure VATICAN ASSASSIN! BC - Bernard Campion - nearly got killed after chasing a UIN double agent who left him for dead with no air. He was rescued, luckily, but has since been told by the OPO to "lay low" and act like the spin doctor his cover story says he is. Meanwhile, the war between The UTZ - Universal Trade Zone - the commercial power of Earth – and the UIN - Universal Islamic Nation - based on Mars – rages on...

This encore run of Vatican Assassin includes new bonus material. Check out Mike's "Literary Archaeology" videos, formerly exclusive to the email list. The first video (longer): http://youtu.be/xjxfLayyxUc And video #2: http://youtu.be/9YUoV2ITjuA

Email list subscribers also got a new exclusive download of "Alibi Jones and the Ghost In The Machine" audio book, NOT being publicly released! Join the email list and get a free download: mailto:glowinthedarkradio@gmail.com?subject=Join Just send Mike an email saying you want in!



Links:

Vatican Assassin - The Novel
FREE eBook at Amazon (Kindle)
FREE eBook at Barnes & Noble (NOOK)
FREE eBook at Smashwords
FREE audio book at iTunes
FREE audio book at Podiobooks
Paperback at Amazon
Paperback at Barnes & Noble
Paperback & eBook at Drive Thru Fiction

Vatican Assassin the Graphic Novel - PDF Download
Vatican Assassin the Graphic Novel - Print

Home(s): http://glowinthedarkradio.com http://alibijones.com http://mikeluoma.com https://www.facebook.com/glowinthedarkradio https://www.facebook.com/mikeluoma

Public archive of Glow-in-the-Dark Radio on Google Drive: https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B0uV2VUMyDHwRXczSVBJSUtreGs&usp=drive_web

Recovery...

Hope You're Celebrating The Summer of the Assassin with us on Glow-in-the-Dark Radio!

'BC' – Bernard Campion – almost died when he chased a double agent to an outbuilding on the surface of the Moon. She left in a UIN ship and left him with no air! Luckily he's been rescued, back inside Lunar Prime. But he can't go home yet –his quarters were destroyed in the recent attacks, as the war between The UTZ – Universal Trade Zone – the commercial power of Earth – and the UIN – Universal Islamic Nation – based on Mars – rages on! Host Mike Luoma brings you up-to-date on the story so far and then Chapters Eight, Nine and Ten of his science fiction adventure VATICAN ASSASSIN!

This encore run of Vatican Assassin includes new bonus material. With this episode, Mike's "Literary Archaeology" 2 video has been made public! It's been exclusive to the email list for a few weeks, but now everyone can view it: http://youtu.be/9YUoV2ITjuA

This week, email list subscribers will get a new exclusive – a download of the "Alibi Jones and the Ghost In The Machine" audio novelette – which is NOT being publicly released! Join the email list: mailto:glowinthedarkradio@gmail.com?subject=Join Just send Mike an email saying you want in!


Links:

Vatican Assassin – The Novel
FREE eBook at Amazon (Kindle)
FREE eBook at Barnes & Noble (NOOK)
FREE eBook at Smashwords
FREE audio book at iTunes
FREE audio book at Podiobooks
Paperback at Amazon
Paperback at Barnes & Noble
Paperback & eBook at Drive Thru Fiction
Vatican Assassin the Graphic Novel – PDF Download
Vatican Assassin the Graphic Novel - Print

Home(s): http://glowinthedarkradio.com   http://alibijones.com  http://mikeluoma.com https://www.facebook.com/glowinthedarkradio https://www.facebook.com/mikeluoma

Public archive of Glow-in-the-Dark Radio on Google Drive: https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B0uV2VUMyDHwRXczSVBJSUtreGs&usp=drive_web

We're part of the Comic Related Podcasting Network – Find Us Each Week at http://comicrelated.com

Pi-Con!!

Gearing up for 8 Pi-Con next weekend in the Pioneer Valley!

Website: http://pi-con.org

It all takes place at the Holiday Inn in Enfield, CT right across the border from Springfield, MA and right off I-91 - Exit 49, first exit in Connecticut from the north... easy to get to from Vermont! Heading down Friday afternoon. My first panel is Friday night at nine (see below). So far I'm not scheduled for any Sunday panels, but that can always change.

Here's my schedule so far, with the program descriptions from http://pi-con.org/programming/

Fri 9:00pm     Being and Superbeing - "Is there an essential storytelling difference between low powered vigilantes (Daredevil, Power Man, Batman, Nite Owl) and four color superheroes? Do you lose drama when your hero cannot be hurt by normal means? Is it easier to tell a dramatic story that the audience can relate to when the hero is just a well trained person fighting crime?"

Sat 11:00am   The Many Roads of Publishing 101 - I'm moderating this one. "Right now, for writers, we live in a publishing world with a diversity of options…and a plethora of issues if a writer isn’t careful. There’s the Big Five, small- and mid-size presses, micro-presses, and DIY options. “Independent publishing” gets applied to everything from small presses to self-publishing: muddy waters or a way to avoid negative impressions? Savvy writers are learning that there is no longer a “one size fits all” model; a writer can pick a publishing route tailored to their own desires, strengths, and weaknesses. But taking the time to learn all the options is important, so lets get some basics down."

Sat 1:00pm     Has Star Wars Ruined SF? - "ROUNDTABLE: With the cast of “Star Wars: Episode 7” just announced, CNN’s Lewis Beale wrote a column in which he said, ” ‘Star Wars’ has corrupted people’s notion of a literary genre full of ideas, turning it into a Saturday afternoon serial. And that’s more than a shame—it’s an obscenity.” Did Star Wars bring down a noble genre of deep ideas, or did it open the world of SF to the masses? Is it SF at all—or is it fantasy, adventure or modern myth?"

Sat 5:00pm     Reading! Sharing time with Shira Lipkin - come out and hear us read from our works. I'll be reading an excerpt from "Alibi Jones and the Ghost In The Machine" which appeared in last year's Hunting Ghosts anthology from Black Oak Media - and is now a part of my next Alibi Jones novel, in the works!

I'll have a handful of print copies of my new VATICAN ASSASSIN -The Graphic Novel with me. Not going to be actively selling 'em, but if you want one, let me know. On sale for $10 - basically $7.99 plus shipping figured in. And less change required. Just ask me if you wanna buy one. Keeping it casual.

Hope you can make it to 8 i-Con - I will see you there!

It's Official...

It's now "Officially" Summer – but The Summer of the Assassin has already been going STRONG on Glow-in-the-Dark Radio!

'BC' – Bernard Campion – assassinated Meredith McEntyre, Governor of Lunar Prime. Aside from an overwrought accusation from her widower, he seems to have gotten away with it.  But with her death, the war between The UTZ – Universal Trade Zone – the commercial power of Earth – and the UIN – Universal Islamic Nation – based on Mars – heats up. UIN ships head for Earth, its orbital stations, the Moon and Lunar Prime. Attack is immanent!

Find out what happens next, as host Mike Luoma gives you a quick hit on the story so far and then Chapters Six and Seven of his science fiction adventure VATICAN ASSASSIN!

This encore run of Vatican Assassin includes new bonus material. With this episode, Mike's "Literary Archaeology" video has been made public! It's been exclusive to the email list for a few weeks, but now everyone can view it: http://youtu.be/xjxfLayyxUc

Next week, email list subscribers will get a new exclusive - a download of the "Alibi Jones and the Ghost In The Machine" audio novelette - which is NOT being publicly released! Join the email list: mailto:glowinthedarkradio@gmail.com?subject=Join Just send Mike an email saying you want in!



Links:

Vatican Assassin - The Novel
FREE eBook at Amazon (Kindle)
FREE eBook at Barnes & Noble (NOOK)
FREE eBook at Smashwords
FREE audio book at iTunes
FREE audio book at Podiobooks
Paperback at Amazon
Paperback at Barnes & Noble
Paperback & eBook at Drive Thru Fiction

Vatican Assassin the Graphic Novel – PDF Download
Vatican Assassin the Graphic Novel - Print

Home(s): http://glowinthedarkradio.com   http://alibijones.com  http://mikeluoma.com https://www.facebook.com/glowinthedarkradio  https://www.facebook.com/mikeluoma

Public archive of Glow-in-the-Dark Radio on Google Drive: https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B0uV2VUMyDHwRXczSVBJSUtreGs&usp=drive_web

We're part of the Comic Related Podcasting Network – Find Us Each Week at http://comicrelated.com