Read an E-Book Week

It’s “Read an E-Book Week” as Smashwords, and your chance to get a copy of a Johnny Denovo mystery for 50% off the already low e-book price. Get “Spam & Eggs” or “The Green Monster” for $1.75 each now through March 13.

Praise for “Spam & Eggs”

This is a book that in fact puts the writing of a lot of very seasoned and famous mystery writers to shame. . . . My fellow mystery fans, this book is not to be missed. If true talent rises to the top then this is not the last we have heard from Johnny Denovo and his creator Andrew Kent. — The Book Friar

Andrew Kent has a brilliant command of language and is a clever word-weaver. He incorporates sophisticated vocabulary, clever word play, tongue-in-cheek realism, and soliloquies with brisk dialog to create a masterpiece of deductive challenge, engrossing reading, and engaging entertainment in “Spam & Eggs: A Johnny Denovo Mystery.”  – ReaderViews.com

Praise for “The Green Monster”

Andrew Kent’s new novel, “The Green Monster,” proves that everything in New England revolves around the Red Sox. In this, his second mystery novel following the exploits of supersleuth and Red Sox fan Johnny Denovo, Kent’s characters traverse Yawkey Way, greater Boston, and the wilds of rocky New Hampshire to foil a sinister plan that makes even a Sox loss to the Yankees seem trivial. Addictive and fun, “The Green Monster” weaves baseball action into a fast-paced blackmail plot, creating a top-notch detective story that readers of all types will find hard to put down. – Bill Ballou, sportswriter, Worcester Telegram & Gazette

Looking for an absorbing mystery that is chock full of twisting plots and tantalizing clues? A mystery which is too intricate to be solved by reading the first few pages? Then this is the right book for you. . . .The title derives from a seating section in a baseball stadium from where one of the blackmail conspirators sends messages. But that is far too simplistic an explanation of all that happens in this novel. Ultimately Johnny is caught in a web of conspiracies, terrorists and global threats. How Kent manages to tie all these various threads together is amazing. The book captures your attention from the first page to the last. . . . My only question is how long do we have to wait to see Johnny at work on his next case?  - The Urbane Dame

The Johnny Denovo Mysteries

Recently, I’ve wanted to retreat back into writing. Now, I have a busy life, so this isn’t a trivial desire, but I had hope — since the holidays, demands from Johnny Denovo have lessened. With the post-New Year lull, book signings have been few and far between, and other book marketing activities slowed to a crawl in February. I felt that things might finally be slowing down enough with the prior two books to let me devote a few hours a week to writing the third. I didn’t have to deal with Denovo as much. I could actually write about Denovo again.

Then, as you might expect, it all changed — interview requests, review requests, and emails all arrived, and seemingly all at the same time. I was preoccupied with dealing with Denovo, yet again. Yet again.

Now, I’ve dug out again from this mini-avalanche. And I hope to write again soon.

This has been a common occurrence. Right when I think the pace is settling down, that the first two books have gone quiet, or that I can safely go back to being an author rather than playing an author, something comes up that requires the public response, the non-writing writer. And I’m happy to respond. I like talking about the books, fielding questions, and batting around ideas. I like praise, and find criticism interesting for what is says about the books and the critic both. It’s all fun and part of the reward for having written two novels.

But now I want to write again. I have the itch.

Next week, I might have enough isolation to actually revise the third book from stem to stern. I might actually have the hours I need to write, edit, write more, think, delete, revise, and restructure — and to feel that pleasant glow of accomplishment when you know the story has been elevated by hard, creative work.

Next week, I’ll be a writer again.

Yeah, right. I’ve said that before. Let’s see what really happens.

Johnny debuts, February 2009

It was exactly one year ago when Johnny Denovo’s first mystery, “Spam & Eggs,” debuted. Since that time, the novel has been widely praised, I’ve held book talks and signings, and the second novel in the series has been published (“The Green Monster: A Johnny Denovo Mystery“).

Looking back, the most surprising thing has been the widespread acclaim for the book. Putting out a novel is a lot of work, and it’s easy to doubt yourself at so many points in the process. So, after publishing “Spam & Eggs: A Johnny Denovo Mystery,” it was incredibly heartening to get the first reviews in, and to have people responding favorably. I still have people stop me to tell me how much they’ve enjoyed both books, but with “Spam & Eggs” out longer, more people have read it, so it leads the polling.

Just as a refresher for those of you who haven’t yet met Johnny, Tucker, Mona, Wei, and the rest, here’s a selection of reviews to celebrate the anniversary of “Spam & Eggs: A Johnny Denovo Mystery”:

This is a book that in fact puts the writing of a lot of very seasoned and famous mystery writers to shame. . . . My fellow mystery fans, this book is not to be missed. If true talent rises to the top then this is not the last we have heard from Johnny Denovo and his creator Andrew Kent. — The Book Friar

. . . like a Dostoevsky novel, or Auster’s City of Glass, you get the sense throughout this book that the novel is about more than its subject. There’s an undercurrent of double meaning to the entire novel, which is an impressive accomplishment and makes you keep turning the pages to see what will be revealed. You get this sense of double meaning from the title itself – I won’t give away what “Spam and Eggs” is actually referring to, but when the detective Johnny Denovo pieces together the case that revolve around – yes – spam and eggs, the novel truly comes alive. . . . it’s recommended and I’ll be keeping an eye on whatever Andrew Kent puts out in the future. – Henry Baum, author of “North of Sunset”

Andrew Kent’s book is very fast paced and contains a cast of well-developed characters. The plot is unique, as is the writing style. This book is different from any other that I have read. “Spam & Eggs” is a clever, intellectual mystery that will leave you wanting more of Johnny Denovo in the future. I look forward to many more intriguing cases! – RebeccasReads.com

Andrew Kent has a brilliant command of language and is a clever word-weaver. He incorporates sophisticated vocabulary, clever word play, tongue-in-cheek realism, and soliloquies with brisk dialog to create a masterpiece of deductive challenge, engrossing reading, and engaging entertainment in “Spam & Eggs: A Johnny Denovo Mystery.”  – ReaderViews.com

Andrew Kent has created a character so memorable and distinct that he will surely dazzle on-screen someday as he dazzles in a book. . . . [the book has] a fast-paced, exciting plot involving vivid characters and geo-political interests. But what really sets this book apart is the author’s mastery of language, vocabulary and metaphor. Reading it is an utter delight, as much for the sheer pleasure in superb writing as for the story itself. Bravo to a new author whose originality explodes from these pages. Highly recommend. – The Urbane Dame

Wow! ‘Spam & Eggs’ is a fast-paced, intelligent thriller fueled by the author’s razor sharp observational skills, understanding of metaphor and psychology, and inspired intuition. It challenges you with an impossible puzzle, then resolves with delightful surprises and a satisfying soufflé of a finish. – Sharon Livingston, PhD

Andrew Kent successfully delivers in this debut both an interesting sleuth as well as a cyber-crime that surprises and challenges the thoughtful reader. . . . Kent writes a satisfying, literate, and neatly executed tale of detection. There is a balance in “Spam & Eggs” between the logical structure of the mystery form chosen by the author, and the nuances of perception and misdirection caused by the reader’s tendency to make assumptions (in much the same way that a detective is required to do in the course of his work). Indeed, the title itself playfully draws on words and symbols which percolate throughout the material. . . . The book avoids predictability, in part because of the running themes that deepen the story. Kent touches on the nature of metaphors, self-presentation in both a physical and virtual sense, the nature of detection, and the brain processes necessarily employed in solving puzzles. Recommended. – MyIndividualTake

Effective immediately, all sales of either Johnny Denovo mystery through Smashwords will be donated to Doctors Without Borders in an effort to get even a little more money to support relief works in Haiti, through February 15, 2010.

You can buy “Spam & Eggs: A Johnny Denovo Mystery” or “The Green Monster: A Johnny Denovo Mystery” via Smashwords in PDF, for Kindle, for Nook, or for iPhone (or HTML).

Join me and other Backword Book authors in supporting the heroic efforts of medical personnel around the globe as they respond to this disaster. We’ve made our personal donations already. Now, help us turn our craft into support.

Thank you.

"The Green Monster"

One of the most disruptive innovations in book publishing is the rise and now mainstream adoption of print-on-demand publishing services. The quality of POD books can exceed those of offset books, and prices are approaching equivalency. So it’s appropriate that one of the most interesting review and discussion sites for POD books is called PODPeople. Run by Cheryl Anne Gardner, the site is a consistent source of insight and inspiration for independent authors and discriminating readers alike.

So I was excited to have my book, “The Green Monster: A Johnny Denovo Mystery,” reviewed recently. It’s one of the most insightful reviews I’ve had, and while Cheryl Anne’s tastes don’t quite line up with the book’s target audience, her review made this clear.

Some of the highlights:

In Detective Fiction, the rules of the game – codified in 1929 by Ronald Knox — declare that a detective story “must have as its main interest the unravelling of a mystery; a mystery whose elements are clearly presented to the reader at an early stage in the proceedings, and whose nature is such as to arouse curiosity, a curiosity which is gratified at the end.” In this, Mr. Kent achieved what he set out to do.

. . . a light, fun, good for all ages mystery, replete with corporate espionage, eco-terrorism, double agents, false identities, and a Chinaman that makes the best wonton soup for those rare occasions when you are infected with a particularly nasty weaponized virus.

[W]hat struck me as interesting about Denovo is his rather peculiar deductive technique in which he translates metaphors in order to solve his mysteries. I liked that angle a lot, definitely a new approach. Use of metaphors, especially in language, are often subconscious tells, revealing hidden personality traits and motivations, so while Denovo isn’t Spiderman, he does have almost inhuman depth perception.

This lines up with other observations of the Johnny Denovo books — great plotting, escapism, and a likable set of characters. Those goals have informed the series from its inception. And while Cheryl Anne might like lush prose and grittier novels, if you like tight prose and fast-paced, complex mysteries, then Johnny Denovo — “Spam & Eggs” or “The Green Monster” — may be just your cup of tea.

"Spam & Eggs"

“Spam & Eggs: A Johnny Denovo Mystery” has been named one of the “Top 10 Books for the Holidays” by IndieReader and More.com.

Described as a “PI novel, in the tradition of Raymond Chandler, set in the 21st century with a tech-savvy neuroscientist hero,” the book begins the documented cases of Johnny Denovo, which are continued in the 2009 sequel, “The Green Monster: A Johnny Denovo Mystery.“

For the mystery fan in your life, why not pick up both? Readers from teens to seniors have enjoyed them thoroughly.

Both books are available in paperback, and in e-book formats for the Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, Sony e-Reader, and iPhone.

Happy Holidays!

I’ve recently had some time on trains and planes to work on the third Johnny Denovo mystery, “Entanglement,” and I’m finding myself excited by the possibilities the book has to mystify and entertain.

The first two books (“Spam & Eggs” and “The Green Monster“) have been widely praised as well-written, fast-paced, exciting, complicated, and fun, with characters you like and stories that have you guessing until the end.

“Entanglement” has all these elements, as well, but working on it in the draft it’s in makes me realize just how many ideas and twists still have to be fully developed and revealed in the writing.

A major part of writing a  novel for me is moving the ideas I have completely toward the reader, and that means writing out everything that needs to be seen by the reader so that the flow is consistent.

In early drafts, I often short-cut scenes, just putting in placeholders for exchanges I ultimately flesh out. It’s like that old saw of writing, “show, don’t tell.” Early drafts have more “tell” than “show,” and a lot of the writing of later drafts for me is about showing.

I’m also excited by the way that some characters emerge in this story, and how more of Johnny’s backstory is seen through some interesting lenses.

And it’s fun to have the characters traveling around the US, seeking the perps and grappling with local settings and their challenges.

OK, enough of this. I have a book to finish writing!

Recently, there’s been a good discussion about profit and publishing, much of it emanating around the disclosures made by Lynn Viehl, the best-selling author of “Twilight Fall.” According to Viehl, she’s made only $25,000 or so from her book, once expenses for her agent, the writing process, and the submission process are subtracted. Viehl also guesses that her publisher has grossed about $450,000 during the same period, and netted about $250,000.

In a later post, agent-extraordinaire Nathan Bransford disputes Viehl’s math, factoring in discounts given to book retailers, and arriving at a figure of about $105,000. In addition, Bransford knows that this figure doesn’t include marketing costs, overhead for editing and designing and manufacturing the book, and shipping and management costs. Also, since this best-seller has to provide revenues that many failed books can’t, these relatively thin margins are spread even further for the publisher.

The bottom line?

This is the value of transparency. It makes it clear that authors shouldn’t write fiction for the money, because there are very few (probably a few dozen out of thousands) who actually can quit their day jobs because their books make them rich. And publishers, who do publish for money, are also publishing many things that don’t make money while carrying the risk for the authors. They deserve whatever relatively meager margins they get from their fiction sales.

And for the occasional major best-seller that comes along? When the author and publisher both make a killing?

As the old saying goes, even a blind squirrel occasionally finds a nut.

While the Amazon Kindle has become the dominant e-reader, the Nook promises to raise the ante, with borrowing, a color cover-browser bar, and other nice features, all while preserving the e-ink experience that has worked so well for other devices.

Barnes & Noble partnered with Smashwords, an e-book company that also supports related efforts, like Operation eBook Drop, which I’m happy to support.

E-readers are gaining momentum, allowing authors to reach new audiences, and saving readers time and money.

And, best of all, you can get two great mystery novels on it immediately!

Backword Books

Christopher Meeks, author of “The Brightest Moon of the Century” and a member of Backword Books, interviewed me recently about the Johnny Denovo mystery series, the writing process, the concepts behind the books, and other matters of interest to readers and writers. Here’s a brief excerpt:

CHRISTOPHER MEEKS: Your third book is due early next year. What are you discovering about your continuing characters as the series evolves? Do you have plans for any novels outside of this series?

ANDREW KENT: Well, Mona and Johnny have a relationship that’s getting more intense. That’s nice. I had them hook up early since I didn’t want the titillation of “will they or won’t they.” That’s overdone. They’re adults, so they will. Mona’s also not a helpless female, and she’s rather mighty in the third book, I’m finding. She’s getting the hang of the detective shtick. Other characters are developing or coming forward as needs arise, and other relationships are forming. Also, in the third book, the almost telepathic friendship Johnny and Tucker share gets tested. That’s fun.

I have ideas for other books, one in the fantasy genre and one non-fiction. I have initial outlines for the first, and about half an unstructured book for the second. But right now, I’m focused on finishing this little trilogy of Denovo mysteries. Oh, and I have an outline for a prequel for Johnny, a book about the case that changed his life. It’s pretty cool, so I might write that someday, too.

You can read the entire interview here.

In addition, you can enter a contest to win two books — a copy of “Spam & Eggs: A Johnny Denovo Mystery” and one of “The Green Monster: A Johnny Denovo Mystery” — just by guessing which Dr. Seuss book was my favorite as a kid. The contest ends Friday, November 13th. I hope your luck lasts through that ominous date.

UPDATE: A winner emerged Tuesday night, with the correct guess of “Fox in Socks” netting the successful reader two new books — “Spam & Eggs: A Johnny Denovo Mystery” and “The Green Monster: A Johnny Denovo Mystery.” Congratulations!