roarah - thanks for that link - interesting perspective. I also read another article about B&N transformation. It's a fascinating dilemma when a company has to cannibalize itself to survive - e-readers vs. print, printed checks vs. debit card, CDs vs. iTunes, etc. I'm actually part of a company that has been going through this. I work for what was a technology start-up that got acquired by a 100+ year old publisher. It's fascinating to be in the middle of the transformation.

Thanks for the heads up! I didn't realize the third Clifton book was out. Jeffrey Archer is a very good author--he's the one who got me interested in reading, back in the mid-1980s. If you have never tried his books, read "Kane and Abel" (not the Biblical ones). It was made into a great miniseries in the 1980s, starring Peter Strauss and Sam Neill. Also "Prisoner of Birth" is exceptionally good.

I've loved the Stephanie Plum series, as well. Lately, though, she seems to be "phoning them in", so to speak. They've lost their lustre for me. I remember reading the early books and laughing out loud, plus they also had good story lines. Now it seems it's one or the other. I will definately check out the link, though. Thanks for sharing.

Publishing is not an easy task unless you decide to use a vanity press. But aside from the travails of the publishing world....I would suggest that you first actually compile the book. I don't mean this as negative advice but more a reality check. It takes constant personal discipline to produce a tome of any size. Carving out time in each day...or whatever writing schedule you chose...demands that you actually sit down and write during that time period. The first few hours...maybe even days...it seems an easy task but as experience has taught me...it can become a demanding uphill battle at some point in the process. Complete the book. Compile and categorize the illustrations. Create a complete package. Decide what you're willing to sacrifice in the impersonal editing process. And then start the journey of looking for an agent and a publisher. Look for current editions of "Novel & Short Story Writer's Market" and "Writer's Market" They're sold on line as well as in most large book stores. They're excellent informational/tool sources for answers to all your questions. Most of all...good luck. It's a sometimes daunting task but a very rewarding one if you're truly motivated and stick to it. I've been down this road and I can say with a certainty that the first time you see your name in print you'll forget all about the rocky road it took to get it there. But...I can't guarantee you that it'll be easy. It's not. Not by a long shot.