Not so much getting published as extreme publicity. The publishers of Wild Animus are giving away goodness knows how many copies of the author's book - free - with free shipping thrown in too. Take a look at this:

http://www.bookcrossing.com/freebook

Nell, I keep looking at Bookcrossing and wondering whether to get into it. Can you recommend it?

This publicity venture looks mighty expensive to me. I wonder how it’s being funded?

Dee.

Dee, I became a member a couple of years ago and was very taken with it for a while. For me it was something to do with the concept of making the whole world a library and leaving books for people to find - the actual act makes one feel a little like a shoplifter in reverse - and of course it's brilliant when the finder logs it in on site and you get an email about it, and sometimes a review. The idea of keeping track of the books can be disappointing as there's only about a 12% chance of the finder logging it - unless things have improved - and if it happens the first time it may stop there and you never hear about it again. But sometimes a book will turn up out of the blue, and that's great. I used to like to leave a book in a place appropriate for its title or the cover image - I left john Mortimer's Clinging to the Wreckage on top of one of the remaining supports of the tragic West Pier, and Three Men in a Boat in a boat on the seafront. I liked the creativity of it, and a lot of trading goes on too, even between continents, and the members all seem so altruistic and generous. Good book reviews too. Since I discovered WW I've spent less time there - I've had less time for reading actual books too, and consequently less books to release or trade. It's one of those sites - like WW - that can become addictive.

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It does look expensive, but if you read the info you'll see that these are preview books that they print for publicity to booksellers etc., so they're probably printed on cheaper paper, or at least produced more cheaply than usual. But to offer free shipping too is amazing. Someone wants to make the author's name rather badly I'd say. Maybe he's a millionaire and just wants to be a famous author.

Nell, I love that idea of leaving books where their titles might put them. How wildly romantic.


Of course, it could go too far, such as leaving 'American Psycho' in an abbotoir, or 'the joy of sex' in a prostitutes bedroom.

Ok, so I'm being silly, but its a great idea no less.



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I hasten to add that I have never visited either of the above named places, and really hope I never will.

There were a few apt releases - I left Goldfish by Raymond Chandler at the entrance to the Aquarium, The Kiss by Kate Chopin, underneath the Kiss Wall, Love of Fat Men by Helen Dunmore, outside the gym, and Adolf Hitler, My Part in his Downfall, at the War Memorial. It satisfies some weird instinct of mine - maybe it's conceptual art!

Further to the fake dragon story in the news section - which seems to belong on this forum - I think this is the link:

Dragon in a jar

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Isn't it beautiful?

Nell, I find that idea wonderful, and really think you should incorporate it into a story. I see a lady leaving books, and then coming across other books and slowly realising that someone else (a man perhaps) is doing the same thing. Slowly they are drawn towards a meeting...but what will happen?



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The dragon is beautiful...but what if it isn't a fake?

Anyone seen Reign of Fire? Chilling.

James, it sounds far too romantic for me - my characters tend to escape my clutches and rush off to behave badly in all sorts of different ways!

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Re. the dragon, it would be wonderful if it wasn't a fake. As someone said of the Loch Ness Monster - I hope it's true, and I hope to God they never find it.

So maybe some strange force is directing which books she reads to steer her ever closer to her doom…

That little dragon is exquisite.

Dee

I've just been reading a short story set in the British Library where two people communicate through book titles. They keep ordering books for each other from the stacks, sending little messages in the titles, what a great idea.

As for Book Crossing, I've signed up. I'm running out of bookshelves at home, but even so, I don't know how many I can bear to part with! If anyone's on the District Line tomorrow morning and fancies a read, you might just pick up what I leave behind!

Katie

Katie, don't forget the labels, and if you can print out a little sticker saying 'Free Book' to pop on the front - you can find them on the site - it makes it less likely that it will be left there. Happy Bookcrossing!

Yes, was thinking the idea could be developed to be quite sinister. If you don't want to use it, do you mind if I do? I'm always on the look out for a good story idea.

James x

James, it was your idea, go right ahead! (And it was sweet of you to ask.)

Don't forget to post it on here when it's finished.

Dee

But of course