Although you can buy most anything from Amazon, the book industry is particularly under its hegemony.I have to admit that I enjoy browsing there, and often dream of the books on my wishlist.I suppose that’s why I was pleased to see that Nightmares with the Bible is now available for preorder on Amazon.I like to give updates for those interested, and the proofs have just arrived.There’s kind of an inevitability to seeing your book on Amazon, a prophecy almost.It now exists out there somewhere on the internet.I do hope that it might stir some interest in Holy Horror, but like that book it will miss its sweet spot of a release before Halloween.That means it also misses the fall catalog.The next one comes in spring, and who’s thinking of horror then?Something all publishers of horror-themed books know is that minds turn toward these topics in September and October.Just look at the seasonal sections of stores.
Horror films come out all year long, of course.Halloween, however, serves as an economic lynch pin.People spend money on being afraid in the early fall.By mid-November thoughts have moved on to the holiday season and the bright cheer of Christmas.Holy Horror arrived days after Christmas two years ago, and although I was delighted to see it, I knew we’d missed the boat for promotion and by the time it was nearing the backlist at the next Halloween it was old news.That doesn’t dampen my enthusiasm for the books, of course.It just means they won’t get the attention they might have had.
Nightmares with the Bible is about demons.Primarily demons in movies, but also a bit of a history of how they develop.There’s a lot of academic interest in the topic at this point in time, so hopefully it will get checked out of academic libraries that will make up its primary home.According to Amazon you get five dollars off the exorbitant price if you order it there.Although it’s standard practice in the industry, I’ve always disagreed with “library pricing.”It comes from presses publishing too many books, I suspect.Since few of them are pay dirt they have to recoup their costs by overcharging for the rest.Nightmares with the Bible is reader friendly.It’s non-technical and, I hope, fun to read.Amazon seems excited about it (it’s an illusion, I know, but one for which those of us who do this kind of thing live), and is happy to take preorders.Have your library order one, and if you do, be sure to check it out.
