Recently in cluck Category

Paddling away at Quack, Nary a peep about Cluck

on August 4, 2008 9:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It's been a while since I've had a chance to post any updates. In case you haven't noticed, the podiobook project stalled almost as soon as it started. This is definitely still going happen, folks, so don't throw away your iPods just yet. The problem is three-fold:

My microphone broke
I've been working on the next book, "Quack," which has been consuming a lot of my time
The workload at the day-job increased, with an acquisition (a good thing) and a promotion (a very good thing)

I can't honestly say this is a problem, because I'm having a lot of fun writing it. Nazis, mutants, spirits of all sorts .. and of course ducks. If there's interest, I may post rough drafts of chapters as they complete. Jus' lemme know.

Cluck Second to Stephen King's "The Stand" ...? The (beta) Readers Have Spoken!

knappy

on July 29, 2008 7:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"Cluck: Murder Most Fowl" is ranked #2, just under " The Stand" on Amazon UnSpun. How long will this last? Who knows, but I'm savoring my number two position under "The Stand" while it lasts. The Stand is one of the first horror novels that I ever read, and it has been re-read on occasion since. There's no need to go into an in-depth review, because everyone knows The Stand already, and even if you didn't like it (i.e., you're a mutant or a communist or both), you have to respect the importance of this novel. Cluck, which is also important to me (because I wrote it) is now second to The Stand in a reader-ranked list titled "Favorite Horror Novels."

Interestingly, Stephen King has a copy of my book (most likely in a tube of tin with a plastic liner, lid, and hands-free sanitary foot pedal). I managed to get it to him through a friend who is "once removed" from the successful Maine writer, and was well-warned that it was likely to be ignored. You never know, though ... maybe he'll read it, endorse it, and allow me to keep my position of honor for a while longer. It could happen. Regardless, this is making me very happy because even if it is some beta-system-statistical anomaly, my book is right there! I mean, The Stand? I am having a moment.

... (moment passing) ...

Okay, so now that the moment has passed and I've had a cup of coffee, I realize that this really is a statistical anomaly. UnSpun is a user-driven site run by Amazon.com, and it's still in beta. I'm not sure how the rankings are determined, but it's got nothing to do with sales. There's no scientific data to back that up other than: The Stand has sold zillions of copies, and Cluck has not.

Either it's an anomaly to be proud of, or I'll be getting larger royalty checks ... only time will tell. For now I'm going to continue to revel in my limited (beta) glory. At least until someone else posts a favorite horror novel that is ranked somewhere in between mine and Mr. King's. Or, you could go to Amazon UnSpun and vote for Cluck ... after all, it's Penultimate.

Cluck Update

knappy

on July 3, 2008 2:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It's time again for another Cluck Update and call to arms!

To date, Cluck has won three awards:

Independent Publisher Book Award, horror
Indie Excellence Award
ForeWord book of the Year award, horror*

(*Cluck was a finalist in this award ... apparently you get to count 'finalists' and 'runner ups' as wins. The world is strange).

The book has also earned glowing independent reviews from the following legitimate review sources:

It's also received eight reviews on amazon, with an average rating of 5 stars. Now, here's my beef: of those eight reviews, only TWO of them are from friends and family. The problem is, that everyone assumes that the first ten reviews are from your friends and family, and they summarily ignore them. So ... I'm asking for reviews, please. I know a lot of people have read Cluck, loved it, written me about it, told their friends about it, and are helping to build a miniature fan base of zombie-chicken-lovers. Thank you, I really appreciate that. In fact, it's what convinced me to write a sequel (which I originally said I would never do). It is also because of you that I can prove Rachel Donadio of the NY Times Book Review wrong by selling more than a few hundred copies of my independently published book ... though just barely.

To put an even finer point on it: it is very hard to get "real" book reviews when you are independently published. If you think that the NY Times Book Review is the only "real" source (many do), then it is impossible. How do we, the indies, do it? We beg for reviews from our readers. On amazon. Please? You can't see me, but I'm on my knees.

Are you a fan? Please post a review. Are you friends and/or family? If so, please consider posting your obligatory 5-star reviews, because until you do people will ignore the real ones. Didn't like Cluck? Well, I suppose even you should post a review (despite your evident lack of perspective and/or taste). Haven't read Cluck yet? Well here's the link: Buy it. Love it. Review it. (please?)

Lupa gives Cluck "Four out of Five Paws"

knappy

on June 9, 2008 4:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I sent a copy of Cluck to Lupa over at Pagan Book Reviews. I'm not really a pagan (but I'm not not a pagan, either), and Cluck is a tad off-topic for PBR, but I'd read several of Lupa's reviews and I found them thoughtful, insightful, and thorough. True enough, the Pagan Book Review of Cluck: Murder Most Fowl did not dissapoint. I recommend checking out the rest of PBR while you're there - good stuff, it is.

"Take one flock of zombiefied chickens, with an uber-rooster at the head. Throw in one inept wannabe farmer living in a haunted house. Top it off with an order (no pun intended) of secret zombie chicken hunters, with a particularly talented mortal off on a solo crusade to end the plague of undead fowl once and for all. Mix well with a good dose of off-the-wall humor, some camp, and enough talented description to give you a movie in your head, and you have the makings of one very fun read."

There's some great stuff in the middle, including some astute observations of what's not good in the book. I'm big enough* to recognize my own flaws, and appreciate the criticism. You can read all about them here. The end of the review finishes nicely with a recommendation to buy my book, which I always think is nice. Hint!

"Pick this one up if you have a long plane flight, need something to read on the morning commute, or simply want something entertaining to read over a weekend. It has good re-read potential, too, so you'll definitely get your money's worth."

* After eating three pounds of lobster over the weekend, I am getting bigger still

New Accolades for the Rooster King

knappy

on June 5, 2008 12:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The reviews are coming in clumps today - a good omen for the Book Expo America, which starts Friday. The first was from DeadRooster (great name, great humor blog, even better review), and the second comes from Odyssey Reviews. But "new accolades" doesn't just refer to another good review -- it actually refers to new accoldaes, as in a new award. Inspired by Cluck, awarded by Odyssey, is the son-to-be-coveted "Award of 'indie' Excellence".

All I can say is, "wow." I'm honored. This is the point where I try to thank everyone who helped, and the TV people have to turn up the music to get me off the stage, because I start blathering.

"Eric D. Knapp's "Cluck: Murder Most Fowl" is one of the best books we've reviewed so far on Odyssey Reviews. This tongue-in-cheek (or beak) work of brilliance will surely make you laugh. The writing is on par with the likes of Terry Pratchett. The story is brilliant, the writing unbelievably good"

A new award, and another comparison to Terry Pratchett (one of my literary heros). I think I'll be celebrating tonight with a martini or ten.

[UPDATE Jun 4] The award total is rising for Cluck:

- Winner, Bronze IPPY for Horror

- Winner, Odyssey Indie Excellence Award

- Finalist, ForeWord Book of the Year Award

- and a growing list of reviews

Scary or Funny? The Chronicles of a Zombie-Chicken Slayer

knappy

on May 28, 2008 11:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

From DeadRooster.com:

"Cluck is extremely well-written and is story-telling at its best. Author Eric D. Knapp shows his skills by successfully blending the difficult combination of humor and horror ..."

The new book by Eric D. Knapp has elements of horror mixed with side-splitting humor. Read a review of this fantastic supernatural comedy-thriller at DeadRooster.com

read more | digg story

Short of winning a Nobel Prize in Literature: Getting Noticed

knappy

on May 23, 2008 9:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm pretty sure that independently published books aren't considered for Nobel Prizes. They're not considered for many prizes. They're not accepted for reviews by most large, mainstream reviewers such as the NY Times or Kirkus. So how the heck does an Indie get noticed? I get asked this by a lot of indies, so I've composed a list of some of the more successful & interesting ways I've tried to get attention.

1. Internet Post-It Notes, aka: Cheezburgers

Otherwise known as social networking. You know, blogs. This is probably the best way to spread Word of Mouth Marketing (which happens to be my favorite acronym: WOMM). I ping blog aggregators and beg for favs, but more importantly I try to be interesting and active. I'm relatively new to the blogosphere, but I'm hoping this will build momentum over time.

moar funny pictures

2. Video Trailers, aka: YouTube

It's hard to make compelling video trailers about a book (which, by nature, are 2-dimensional and composed of words, not moving pictures). I've tried. A lot. I've made a total of four video trailers for Cluck, the most recent of which is highlighting some recent reviews. This is really an off-shoot of #1, above, but using video to enter a different class of online networking.

3. Audio teasers, aka: Podiobooks

So we've hit text, and video ... why not audio? I'll be releasing the first episode of the Cluck Podiobook very soon. A podiobook (podcluck? cluckcast?) is a free downloadable audiobook, distributed as a podcast. Each chapter will be released in serial. I'm aiming at quality, entertaining book-on-tape material, in an effort to get some people interested enough to buy the book. At the very least, they listen week by week and get the story for free, but that's okay. A fan is a fan ... it goes back to the WOMM thing. Here's a sample clip, which is actually from somewhere in the middle of the book:

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4. Fire Teasers, aka: Fighting Fire with Fire

Is it too over-the-top to dress up in (mostly) fireproof armor and fight for my life, just to promote my book? Absolutely not. The "feathers" are reinforced scales, which will (hopefully) be strong enough to stop the 200g pyrotechnics that will be used in the upcoming Armored Combat Suit League of New England (ACSLNE) championships. The event will be covered by the media, and if I'm wounded, the newscast of me being air-lifted to the emergency room will double as promotional footage. Didn't I tell you that being an Indie was tough?

5. Zombie Infestations, aka: Viral Marketing

There's viral marketing, and then there's really viral marketing. From a modest web site about the best zombie book ever comes a fun way to watch your corporate website shrivel up into a shambling brain-thirsty monster. It works with most sites, is harmless, and mildly entertaining ... available on www.CluckTheBook.com, of course.

6. Putting the Fun back into Funnies, aka: Interactive Sites

Having a blog isn't good enough, you need to feed the kids some candy. I've provided two fun widgets on my website: the 'bite-a-site' widget from #5, and a 'create-your-own-cartoon' cgi. The toon isn't as sophisticated as Dilbert mashups, but hey, I'm a writer. I only write code for the day job.

7. Spending the Grocery Money on Books, aka: Sending out Review Copies

It's very hard to get reviews, as an independent. Terms like "vanity publication" have created a stigma that shuns "non-traditionally published" authors. Some pretty crappy self published books have added fuel to that fire. Me? I'm lucky, I've received several very good reviews from some excellent sources. Those sources are less well known that, say, the NY Times, but I take what I can get. This means shelling out my meager royalties, however, in the form of review copies (plus postage). It also means more WOMMy goodness.

8. Aiming Lower Than Nobel, aka: Earning Different Accolades

A self published author has few friends, but there are some organizations who are willing to give the indie a chance. One is the Independent Publisher, and another is ForeWord Magazine. These types of contests help to add credibility to the indie pub and its respective indie author. Cluck has won an IP award and has been selected as a finalist in ForeWord, but that hasn't done a lot to improve book sales ... but then these awards wont be announced until the end of May. Regardless of any immediate impact on sales, they help when pitching yourself to potential reviewers, however - and as mentioned above in #7, reviews are important. As Godin says: all marketers are liars, so an honest review from a third party is more valuable than all the fancy websites, widgets, movies, and podio-blogtastic goodness you can muster.

Cluck Wins Award: A Bronze "IPPY" for the Rooster King

knappy

on May 22, 2008 1:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Cluck might be a Murder Most Fowl but it's also a Book Best Written: announcements were sent out last night by Independent Publisher and Cluck was on the list! This is a big award for independent authors: IP is a respected organization, and over 3,000 books were entered in this year's competition. And Cluck, your fav zombie chicken book, won! Can I get a "Hell Yeah!"

... [sounds of crickets chirping] ...

Okay, so I guess I need to attract a larger readership before I can get a Hell Yeah, but at least I won an award. Now, if you'll pardon me while I pat myself on the back ...

DarqueReviews offers a CluqueReview

knappy

on May 22, 2008 1:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Kimberly Swan of DarqueReviews wrote a nice review of Cluck: Murder Most Fowl. A brief excerpt:

"Mr. Knapp entertains readers with a well-written and detailed world that has many twists, turns and horrors to experience along the way. While zombie chickens may not be at the top of your list of interests, the bizarre nature of this story will keep readers turning the pages to see where it will lead. It's an unusual tale that falls more on the light side of horror than anything else, and it's one that anyone who reads it won't soon forget."

Wait, if I put on my marketing hat, I can make that event better:

"Mr. Knapp entertains readers with a well-written and detailed world that ... will keep readers turning the pages to see where it will lead. It's an unusual tale ... one that anyone who reads it won't soon forget."

Wait, I can do even better than that:

" ... well-written ... will keep readers turning the pages ... it's one that anyone who reads it won't soon forget."

Seriously though, stop by and read the entire review.

Choking the Zombie Chicken

knappy

on May 21, 2008 6:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

My recent post about Hot Women Thinking Men Who Read Zombie Chicken Books Are Hot created a flood of traffic to this blog - which isn't surprising, really, because the photo (legally purchased stock art, by the way) is pretty darn fantastic.

Needless to say, conversations among friends eventually led to enough jokes about "choking the chicken" that I was inspired. But not to choke the chicken--that would be weird.

Rather, I was inspired to list sexually loaded terms relating to chickens, zombies, or (preferably) both.

So put on this T-shirt and join in the fun. I'm leaving comments wide open for as long as I can stand it to make it easy for everyone to contribute. I'm also starting a discussion about it on BlogCatalog, and I'll add the better ones here.

In fact, if you have particularly clever ones, why not make it into your very own cartoon?

Note: Ironically, Cluck itself is much less banal than most of the silly discussions that arise because of it. The book is serious literature. No really.

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This blog is here to promote Cluck, and also to help the world laugh a little. "Cluck" is a Book. An award-winning book. Support a starving artist and buy ten copies today!