Grave Distractions Publications Blog

Cyber Monday Deals

2011-11-27T17:52:00.001-08:00

It's Cyber Monday and have we got some deals for you. These offers are good Monday 28 Nov 2011 only. Get 'em while you can.

Print Editions 25% Off

These print editions are 25% off the regular list price at our printing partner CreateSpace's site. Use code H8N6WJCJ at checkout to get your savings:

Faith for a Dark Saturday

Graves of the Golden Bear

Prior Knowledge

Skullduggery: 45 True Tales of Disturbing the Dead

Walking with the Widow's Son

99 Cent Kindle Editions

No coupon needed! These Kindle titles will be 99 Cents all day Monday!

Faith for a Dark Saturday

Holidays with Sundae: Conversations with My Cat

Northwoods Conspiracy

Peter Peacock Passes

Skullduggery: 45 True Tales of Disturbing the Dead

Spirits of the Border: School Spirits

When Darkness Falls

Thanks again for supporting independent publishing this Cyber Monday!

Sample Chapter from Carrie Kirkpatrick's Goddess Enchantment Magic and Spells Volume One

2011-10-11T10:34:00.000-07:00

If you've been looking for a sample from Carrie Kirkpatrick's Goddess Enchantment: Magic and Spells Volume 1 Goddesses of the Seasons, look no further. Here's an exclusive excerpt from Scrib'd.
Goddess Enchantment, Magic and Spells Volume 1: Goddesses of the Seasons

Sample Chapter from Astrologia Vedica by Dean Dominic De Lucia

2011-10-11T10:03:00.000-07:00

In another new digital release from Dean Dominic De Lucia, Astrologia Vedica: A Treatise on the Predictive Astrology of Rishi Parashara, the world of Hindu based astrology is examined. The existence of cultural differences are implicit in the presentation of Vedic astrology in the Western world. The ancient Vedic writers did not treat Vedic astrology in an experimental, challenging way, nor is the Western mindset inclined to passively accept.

An understanding of the nature and origin of Vedic astrological knowledge is fundamental to its adaptation in the West, and in this the book Astro Vedica shines uniquely. In addition, the book’s traditional approach has been supplemented by insights from modern, Vedic astrological writers. Part One of the book introduces concepts on the origin of Vedic astrology which are new to the West, the system of disciplic succession, perspectives on astrological determinism and destiny. In Part Two the component factors of astrology are introduced, such as the characteristics of the signs of the zodiac, the nature of the planets, stellar astrology and the characteristics of the planets in the signs as well as in the different houses. The last part of the book brings it all together and teaches practical interpretation.

Uncover the mysteries of the zodiac under the aegis of Vedic astrology.

We hope you enjoy this sample chapter from Mr. De Lucia's book!

Astrologia Vedica: A Treatise on the Predictive Astrology of Rishi Parashara

Sample Chapter of The Graves of the Golden Bears by Risk Osmon

2011-10-11T09:52:00.000-07:00

Here's an exclusive Scrib'd sample chapter of Rick Osmon's new release The Graves of the Golden Bear: Ancient Fortresses and Monuments of the Ohio Valley.

The Graves of the Golden Bear: Ancient Fortresses of the Ohio Valley

New Release Hollow Earth in the Puranas

2011-10-11T09:46:00.000-07:00

Hollow Earth in the Puranas is the first of two new digital releases from hollow Earth theorist, mystic, and Vedic astrologer Dean Dominic De Lucia. The digital edition include two additional chapters that are not found in the traditional print format. At the bottom of this posting is an exclusive Scrib'd sample chapter.

Synopsis: One area which has been largely overlooked by the Western researcher in folk, paranormal, and earth mystery matters, is that of the Hindu traditions, specifically, the Vedas and the Puranas. These incredible works speak of an ancient time, a time of "gods" and "demons" interacted with, married, abducted, and went to war with human beings. "Hollow Earth in the Puranas" seeks to open these traditions to a Western audience. Is it possible than entire civilizations have developed far underneath our planet's soil? Could the surface of Earth simply be a shell hiding beings and cultures alien to us? The Vedic and Puranic accounts clearly answer the questions by describing how the "ancient ones" came from inside a hollow Earth. The author makes striking parallels between the aforementioned ancient Hindu texts and modern eyewitness accounts of those coming in contact with the creatures and mysteries that lay just below our feet.

Hollow Earth in the Puranas is a must have for those interested in Hindu traditions as they relate to hollow Earth theory, "Fortean" experiences, and cryptozoology.

Hollow Earth in the Puranas

New Release Graves of the Golden Bear:Ancient Fortresses and Monuments of the Ohio Valley

2011-10-11T07:40:00.000-07:00

We'd like to announce the release of Rick Osmon's first book, The Graves of the Golden Bear: Ancient Fortresses and Monuments of the Ohio Valley in digital editions. Amazon Kindle and Barnes and Noble Nook editions were released on Columbus Day. Other major eBook formats may be found at this title's Smashwords listing. A print edition will be issued before the end of the year. For current availability, please visit The Graves of the Golden Bear book page on our website.

Synopsis: What if our history books are wrong and Columbus wasn't the first European to set foot in North America? The Graves of the Golden Bears will challenge some of your core historical beliefs. From the earliest maps of the Gulf of Mexico by the Spanish explorers to the beginning of the 20th century, claims were made that a Welsh prince named Madoc brought thousands of colonists to North America centuries before Columbus. Though those claims were debunked, the claimants denigrated, and much of the evidence was lost or destroyed, some deliberately, the story lives on. Through shrewd and thorough investigation, this book shows that there is high probability and substantial documentation that four different countries knew the stories were true in general even if errant in details. None of those governments were or are yet willing to acknowledge the truth of such a mass immigration. This book tells why. In doing so, it also reveals some of the most appalling political intrigues in history. Prevailing and opposing political and religious doctrines are dissected and the reasons for such a huge, longstanding, and base coverup explained.

Using colonial era maps, modern computer and satellite imaging technology, historical accounts, official documents, archeological reports, and through collaboration with several other researchers the author found the sites of more than forty five ancient fortresses. In addition to the fortress sites that were known by the beginning of the 21st century, the author adds three more that were previously undocumented. The use of satellite imagery allows comparison of the strategic placement of the Ohio Valley fortresses and other ancient structures to those of the British Isles. The correlations of these sites are far greater than chance.

Also described in this text are artifacts, engraved stones, coins, arms, armor, and skeletal remains of Old World origin found in the greater Ohio, Tennessee, Chattahoochee, Virginia's New River, and Mississippi valleys. Forward by Scott Wolter, author of The Hooked X: Key to the Secret History of North America

New Release Spirits of the Border: The History and Mystery of Arizona

2011-10-10T22:55:00.000-07:00

We're happy to announce the latest installment of Ken Hudnall's Spirits of the Border series has been released for the first time in digital editions. In Spirits of the Border: The History and Mystery of Arizona, multiple paranormal event listings are presented for over 50 Arizona cities. Tourists and locals are bound to find haunted tales no matter where they are in the region. Stories of lost treasures, bigfoot sightings, UFO, and secret government underground bases are also included in this edition. The digital edition is perfect way to take your passion for the paranormal any where you go. This title as been released for Amazon's Kindle and Barnes and Noble's Nook. Other major eBook formats maybe found at this title's listing on Smashwords. Click the book link above for current availability information.

Spirits of the Border: The History and Mystery of Arizona includes paranormal tales from the following cities. Ajo, Ahwatukee, Alpine, Anthem, Bisbee, Bullhead City, Caldwell, Casa Grande, Chandler , Chinle, Cochise, Dardanelle, Douglas, Dragoon , El Frida, Flagstaff, Florence, Fort Bowie , Fort Huachuca, Fountain Hills, Gilbert, Glendale, Globe , Goodyear, Grand Canyon National Park, Holbrook, Jerome, Kingman, Lake Havasu, Magnolia, Maricopa County - East Mesa, Mesa, Nogales, Oatman, Oracle, Patagonia, Peoria, Phoenix, Pinal - Dudleyville, Prescott, San Manuel, Scottsdale, Sierra Vista, Tempe, Tombstone, Tucson, White River, White Mountains, Wickenburg, Williams, and Yuma.

New Release Spirits of the Border: The History and Mystery of El Paso del Norte

2011-10-10T22:45:00.000-07:00

Since October is the spookiest month of the year, we're continuing to release digital conversions of Ken Hundall's Spirits of the Border series. Ken's series is an invaluable guide to ghost hunters and paranormal enthusiasts alike. Each volume allows the reader to explore the supernatural side of places in Southwest. This volume examines the paranormal underbelly of El Paso. Cities steeped in history usually go hand in hand with tales of the supernatural. El Paso is no exception to that rule. From UFOs to lost treasure and mysterious places to ghost stories, this is a fabulous guide to the city and the surrounding area. The digital edition is perfect way to take your passion for the paranormal with you as you explore the history and mystery of El Paso. This edition is now available for Amazon's Kindle and Barnes and Noble's Nook. All other major eReader formats can be found at our Smashword's listing. Links may be found at The History and Mystery of El Paso del Norte book page at the Grave Distractions Publications site.

New Release: "Spirits of the Border: Lone Star State"

2011-10-06T07:31:00.000-07:00

We'd like to announce the release of Ken Hudnall's Spirits on the Border: The History and Mystery of the Lone Star State. Each volume of Spirits on the Border allows the reader to explore the supernatural side of towns in the Southwest. In this edition, multiple paranormal event listings are presented for over 260 Texas cities. Tourists and locals are bound to find haunted tales no matter where they are in the region. This is the definitive paranormal overview of the Lone Star State. At over 187,000 words, you will have a Texas sized book on your hands! The digital edition is perfect way to take your passion for the paranormal any where you go. This book is available in multiple eBook formats. Visit our this book's web page to find out more!

Spirits of the Border: The History and Mystery of the Lone Star State includes entries from the following cities:Abilene, Acuff, Albany, Alexander, Alice, Allen, Alpine, Alton, Alvin, Amarillo, Andrews, Angleton, Anson, Aquilla, Arlington, Austin, Avinger, Balch Springs, Ballinger, Banana Bend, Bandera, Bangs, Batson, Baytown, Beaumont, Beeville, Belton, Big Sandy, Big Spring, Blooming Grove, Boerne, Bold Springs, Borger, Brady, Brazoria, Brazosport, Bridgeport, Brownsville, Bryan/College Station, Buffalo Gap, Burkburnett, Cactus, Caldwell, Canyon, Carrizo Springs, Carrollton, Carthage, Cason, Cedar Hill, Celburne, China Spring, Christoval, Coahoma, Colorado City, Comal County, Combes, Commerce, Conroe, Coppell, Corpus Christi, Corsicana, Cotulla, Crosby, Dallas, Dekalb, Del Rio, Denton, Diboll, Donna, Dumas, Duncanville, Eagle Pass, Earth, East Bernard, East Columbia, Edgewood, Edinburg, Egypt, Eldorado, Elgin, Elwood, Ennis, Eola, Euless, Farmers Branch, Files Valley, Fischer, Floydada, Fort Davis, Fort Hood, Fort Stockton, Fort Worth, Fredericksburg, Freeport, Galveston, Garland, Gatesville, George West, Georgetown, Gilmer, Goliad, Gonzales, Granbury, Grand Prairie, Haltom City, Hamilton, Hargill, Harker Heights, Harlingen, Haslet, Helotes, Hemphill, Hempstead, Henderson, Hereford, Hidalgo, Hillsboro, Hockley, Houston, Hudson, Humble, Huntsville, Hutchins, Hutto, Iowa Park, Irving, Jacksonville, Jasper, Jefferson, Junction, Kalgary, Keller, Kerrville, Kilgore, Killeen, Kingsville, La Feria, La Grange, La Marque, Lajitas, Lake Jackson, Lampasas, Laredo, League City, Levelland, Liberty, Lindale, Littlefield, Llano, Lockhart 1, Lockhart 2, Longview, Los Chisos Mountains, Lubbock, Luckenbach, Luling, Luther, Marathon, Marfa, Marion, Marshall, Matador, Maxdale, Maypearl, Mcallen, Mckinney, Mesquite, Mexia, Midland, Mineola, Mineral Wells, Mission, Monahans, Monte Alto, Montgomery, Moody, Mount Pleasant, Nacogdoches, Nederland, New Braunfels, Noack, North Richland Hills, Oakalla, Odessa, Olney, Olton, Paint Rock, Palestine, Pampa, Paris, Pasadena, Pearsall, Pecos, Peyton Colony, Pflugerville, Pharr, Plainview, Port Aransas, Port Isabel, Port Neches, Possum Kingdom, Post, Presidio, Princeton, Ransom Canyon, Refugio, Richardson, Richmond, Rio Grande City, Rio Hondo, Roby, Roma, San Angelo, San Antonio, San Benito, San Juan, San Marcos, San Patricio, San Perlita, Santa Ana, Santa Maria, Santa Rosa, Saratoga, Schulenburg, Scottsville, Seabrook, Sealy, Seguin, Seminole, Shafter, Shallowater, Sherman, Skidmore, Snyder, Southlake, Spring, Springtown, Stanton, Sterling City, Sulphur Springs, Sunnyvale, Sweetwater, Tennyson, Terlingua, Texarkana, City, The Colony, The Woodlands, Thurber, Tomball, Trinity, Turkey, Tyler, Uvalde, Valley Mills, Victoria, Waco, Waxahachie, Weatherford, Weslaco, West Columbia, White Oak, Whitehouse, Wichita Falls, and Wimberly.

New Release: Spirits of the Border: The History and Mystery of Northeast Texas

2011-09-23T11:04:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we uploaded our first digital offering of Ken Hudnall's Spirits on the Border series, The History and Mystery of Northeast Texas on Smashwords. Each book in the series is an invaluable guide to ghost hunters and paranormal enthusiasts alike. This volume allows the reader to explore the supernatural side of towns in Northeast Texas. With multiple paranormal event listings in over 75 cities, tourists and locals are bound to find haunted tales no matter where they are in the region. The digital edition is perfect way to take your passion for the paranormal any where you go.

Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Diesel eBooks, iBooks, and Sony's eReader store will have this title available within the next few weeks.

New Kindle Release: Wm. Michael Mott's "Caverns, Caldrons, and Concealed Creatures 3rd Edition"

2011-09-20T13:35:00.000-07:00

Grave Distractions Publications is proud to announce the publication for Amazon's Kindle of the third edition of the cult classic Caverns, Cauldrons, and Concealed Creatures is the first book of its kind to examine the striking similarities between folklore, religious, mythic, "new age," fictional, and first-hand eyewitness and historical accounts of anomalous beings, entities, cryptids, hidden civilizations, and related anomalies. The expanded third edition includes hundreds of new pages, 4 new chapters, and dozens of new and additional images!

Drawing from scientific facts, folklore, comparative mythology and eyewitness/anecdotal sources, it is demonstrable that the structure of our planet, the history of our species, the underlying truths disguised as our myths, legends, folklore and " pop culture " imagery, are not quite what we have been led to believe. The Earth itself is much more complex in structure than we have realized, and our species has perhaps experienced, through the ages, encounters and conflicts with "others"— non-human intelligences or beings of various types who have seldom been our friends. Memories and accounts of these encounters have come down to us in the form of folklore and mythology, often viewed with superstitious terror or awe through the conditioned lenses of religions, religious interpretation or "folk traditions." Such encounters are continuing today.

The theories put forth in this book are based on two types of evidence: very strong circumstantial evidence based on folklore, mythology, religion, legends, archeology, geology, and related areas, and first-hand or witness accounts, both ancient and modern. Often these two areas of source material or even anecdotal evidence overlap.

It is possible that these various phenomena and beings are in fact modern representations of those who have traditionally been considered fairies, gnomes, trolls, nagas, djinn, "aliens" and their "magic" is a technology of such antiquity, advancement and complexity that it is, to our limited understanding, "magical." With UFOlogy, cryptozoology, Fortean phenomena, and all the rest, we are in fact seeing, perhaps even participating in, an ongoing contemporary " update of "folklore," which is in actuality the way our human minds attempt to gather, categorize, assimilate, comprehend and decipher (as well as "cover up" with terror-masking simplifications) the very REAL evidence for the existence of such beings and their ongoing yet seemingly inexplicable activities.

From ancient myths to modern experiences from credible witnesses, it is ALL folklore, and ancient folk traditions may contain much more truth than has previously been believed, just as "forteana" and related topics do today. Once we make the leap of understanding that the creation of folklore is part of the process of comprehending these mysteries, and even may be caused by them, the whole picture of our culture, literature, fairy-tales, Jungian archetypes, and so on takes on an entirely different light. The creation of folklore, based on very real " others " and their parasitical or otherwise peripheral activities, has become an instinctive, mind-protecting function for the collective human mind.

Throughout our oral and written history as a species, folktales and folk traditions have either hinted at or indicated the reality of this "hidden world" which surrounds us. The furtive and parasitical nature of this "alternate reality" leaves no doubt as to the intrinsic hostility of these "others," or at best, the indifference that some of their "racial types" or subspecies exhibit toward humankind.

This book has been previously published in a First Edition, an expanded Second Edition, and now is offered EXCLUSIVELY in a greatly-expanded, magnum opus 3rd Edition presentation by Grave Distractions Publications with introductions by Brad Steiger, Micha Hanks, Brian J Allen, and Dean de Lucia. Not only is this visually and textually stunning digital version more expansive and complete; it is considerably less costly than its printed predecessors. New chapters, artwork, photographs, maps, and introductions are joined by substantial data and observations added to each section of the book, as well as a greatly-expanded appendix featuring the possibly non-human-generated imagery discovered by Richard S. Shaver, recorded in solid rock, and evidence of an ancient civilization that once existed on our planet.

This text is available in other eBook formats. Visit the Caverns, Cauldrons, and Concealed Creatures page at the Grave Distractions Publications website for the availabilities.

New Relase by Brian J Allan: The Believers: A Reinterpretation of Mystical and Religious Phenomena

2011-09-19T06:04:00.000-07:00

In our second eBook release this weekend for paranormal and esoteric author Brian J Allan, The Believers: A Reinterpretation of Mystical and Religious Phenomena we see the next step in a logical progression of research and inquiry: are the "spiritual" and "religious" matters that humanity espouses or embraces intimately connected to, or part of, the paranormal and anomalous realm? Is this part of a greater reality which is not only quantum in the micro- and macro-level, but also a source of manipulative intelligences, some of which are greater than our own? Some people seem destined to be used by these manipulative forces for destructive ends; others seem doomed to be dupes. Brian examines all of this with his characteristically crisp insight and rapier wit, and as always, his research is factually impeccable. This is a very important book, and one that should reside on the shelves of every student of comparative religion, mythology, Forteanism, Ufology, and the paranormal. Brian compares cults, religious practices, relics, and personalities to their paranormal counterparts.

Grave Distractions Publications has converted this text from the original print to various eBook formats. As of today it is available on Smashwords and at Barnes and Noble's Nook store. Releases for Amazon's Kindle, the iBookstore, and Sony eReader will be in the upcoming weeks.

New Relase from Brian J Allan: The Barriers of Belief

2011-09-19T05:55:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, Grave Distractions Publications released the first of two books by paranormal and esoteric author Brian J Allan. "The Barriers of Belief explores the hair-thin line separating supposed extraterrestrials from virtually all the supernatural creatures found in myth and legend. The difference, where it exists, is based solely upon the perceptions and beliefs of the individual and the context in which the encounter occurs. It should be made clear from the outset that while this is not a book concentrating solely on alien abductions, it does describe situations where ordinary human beings have been placed in situations where the lines separating objective reality and fantasy become permeable.

The Barriers of Belief, contains several first hand investigations conducted by the author, also suggests that the mind numbing horrors so graphically described in the works of HP Lovecraft may be founded in the multiverse that surrounds our own version of reality. While the possibility of extraterrestrial interference cannot of course be ruled out, traditional folklore is replete with accounts that, if left in their context, describe contact and interaction with trolls, bogarts, ogres, fairies, elves, the sidhe, goblins, demons and many other entities inhabiting the very fringes of perception."

This text has been converted from traditional print to various eBook formats by Grave Distractions Publications. As of today it is available on Smashwords and at Barnes and Noble's Nook store. Releases for Amazon's Kindle, the iBookstore, and Sony eReader will be in the upcoming weeks.

This Tragic Earth:The Art and World of Richard Sharpe Shaver is Now Available in eBook Formats

2011-09-16T11:44:00.000-07:00

Hot off the eBook presses this week: This Tragic Earth:The Art and World of Richard Sharpe Shaver by Wm. Michael Mott. Take a look into the writings and works of pulp era author Richard Sharpe Shaver. Shaver was convinced that a previous society had inhabited the Earth and left libraries of images held within common rocks. Marketed in pulp magazines as the "Shaver Mysteries", Richard spent his adult life trying to convince people of the validity of his rock books. The text contains 190 pictures, the text from Shaver's manuscript of This Tragic Earth, and a number of articles published by Shaver. This text is exclusively available in eBook formats by Grave Distractions Publications presently at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords

GDP Inks Deal with Paranormal Author Brian J Allan

2011-09-16T11:06:00.000-07:00

To end the week off with a bang, we've inked a deal with paranormal and esoteric author Brian J. Allan to publish a number of his books in eBook formats. Brian has been a contributor to The Fortean Times and is the editor of the UK's Paranormal Magazine. We're excited about having Brian as part of the Grave Distractions family and will be posting more information about his titles at the Grave Distractions Publications website early next week.

GDP to Provide eBook Conversions for Ken Hudnall

2011-09-15T10:40:00.000-07:00

Grave Distractions Publications has entered into an agreement with author and talk show host Ken Hudnall to provide print to eBook conversions for Mr. Hudnall's catalog. Military veteran, Captain Ken Hudnall, was an instructor in urban warfare at the United States Army Infantry School and is the author of 40 plus books, including the award winning Manhattan Conspiracy series. The first in the series was written in 1992, but was a chillingly accurate portrait of the terrorist attacks on New York City in both 1993 and 2001. He has appeared on CNN, FOX News, Coast to Coast AM and other major networks as a special consultant in urban warfare. In addition to his works of fiction, he has written extensively on the issues of unidentified flying objects and national security. Ken also hosts a nightly talk show on the Soup Media Network that deals with the paranormal, conspiracies, and the unexplained. Ken currently lives in El Paso, Texas with his wife. To find out more about Ken, visit his author page on our website.

Ken's first eBook release, When Darkness Falls, was released earlier this week on various eBook platforms. When Darkness Falls is a paranormal thriller that deals with the residents of a small New Mexico town who are caught up in the machinations of immortals.

Heather Carver "Walking with the Widow's Son" Book Signing

2011-09-15T09:41:00.000-07:00

GDP author Heather Carver will be signing copies of her book, Walking with the Widow's Son this Saturday at Nashville's Corinthian Masonic Lodge from 10am to 3pm. The Lodge is located at 1400 Eastland Ave, Nashville, Tennessee 37206. Heather has appeared at a number of Masonic functions promoting Walking with the Widow's Son over the past few months. A portion of the proceeds from every sale of her book also goes to a Masonic charity.

About Walking with the Widow's Son: Often misunderstood, Freemasonry has been the center of conspiracy theorists jabs and speculations of horrifying rituals. Author Heather Carver endeavors to demystify the nature and practices in Freemasonry in Walking with the Widow's Son. Drawing from her experiences as the wife of a Past Lodge Master, Carver uses easy to understand prose and examples to make the history and observances of Freemasonry accessible to everyone. This text is perfect for the wives, children, and friends of Masons who wish to have a better understanding of the Craft.

GDP Welcomes Wm. Michael Mott

2011-09-15T09:30:00.000-07:00

Mr. Grave would like to welcome Mike Mott to the Grave Distractions Publications family. This week we've published four of Mike's books in eBook formats: Caverns,Cauldrons, and Concealed Creatures, Pulp Winds, The Pulsifer Saga: Omnibus Edition,and This Tragic Earth:The Art and World of Richard Sharpe Shaver. We'll be posting individual book information on our blog, but stop by Mike's author page on the GDP website or his Facebook fan page Mottimorphic Musings: The Writing and Art of Wm. Michael Mott for more information about Mike and his work. Welcome aboard Mike!

Carrie Kirkpatrick to Appear on Sky TV's "The Moore Show"

2011-09-15T09:19:00.000-07:00

GDP author Carrie Kirkpatrick will be appearing on Sky TV's "The Moore Show" this Friday night to discuss her Goddess Enchantment: Magic and Spells book series. To find your local listing for this TV appearance, click on the Moore Show link above. Her first book, Goddesses of the Seasons takes you through the Wheel Of The Year, incorporating both traditional and fresh new ways to celebrate the Fire Festivals, the Equinoxes and the Solstices. In the second volume, Goddesses Love, Abundance and Transformation introduces the Goddesses that can help you to transform your life and manifest the love and abundance that you desire.

GDP Publishes Charity Project in The Blook

2011-03-22T09:18:00.000-07:00

A number of authors have joined forces to raise money for the Shepherd of the Hills children's home in the Philippines and the Gaia Center. GDP has published an anthology of works called The Blook. Author Jean Victoria Norlock had the vision for the project and the following authors will be lending their talent to the work: Lucien Clausse, Nancy Gosse, Jacob Israel, Brian Kannard, Rev. Dr. Carol Kilby, Sonja Myriel, Cher Lyn, Jean Victoria Norloch, Rick O’Shields, and Rev. Korey Tuttle. To find out more about The Blook, click on this link.
Below is an excerpt from The Blook.

The Blook Excerpts

GDP Does Digital Conversions for Author Norma Tillman

2011-03-22T09:11:00.000-07:00

Norma Tillman, Private Investigator

Grave Distractions Publications is happy to announce that we are in the process of converting Private Investigation 101 and The Adoption Searcher's Handbook by Norma Tillman, Private Investigator. Ms. Tillman specializes in finding and reuniting families & friends, and locating missing heirs. Norma has appeared on many national and local television shows including Oprah, The View, The Nancy Grace Show, CNN, and NBC speaking about her cases. Recently, Norma was interviewed by the Fab Over Fifty website about finding long lost friends. Private Investigation 101 and The Adoption Searcher's Handbook are already available in various eBook formats at Smashwords and for the Nook. Editions for the Kindle, Sony eReader, and the iPad will be available within the next few weeks.

GDP to Provide Support for the Miraculous Templar Cigar Company

2010-12-22T08:29:00.000-08:00

Grave Distractions Publications is happy to announce that we will be doing marketing and support services for the Miraculous Templar Cigars in Los Angeles. Cigars smokers will find the Dominicans run mild to medium with a woodsy/toasty undertones. Currently the cigars are available in select test market locations and distribution will be expanded over the next few months. The company's website is under beta testing and will be up and running in the next few weeks. Until then, become a fan on their Facebook page for updates about the line.

Miraculous Templar Cigars Announcement

Bad Writing Movie Trailer

2010-12-19T23:07:00.000-08:00

Looks like Bad Writing the Movie trailer could be either very funny or very painful to watch. According to the movie's website, there will be a very limited release. Everyone might have to wait to see Bad Writing on Netfilx.

Can Digital Technology Actually Save Retail Bookstores?

2010-12-19T16:03:00.000-08:00

NPR ran an article on their website this week entitled "End Of Days For Bookstores? Not If They Can Help It", that brought into question the chances for independent bookstores continuing their existence in a digital age. With Borders posting a $74 million loss just in the third quarter of this year, what chance is there for the independent book sellers? The 2000 pound gorilla sitting in the living room of eBook sales cutting into print profits also makes the outlook for independents grim. With all of the gloom and doom the article's summary was, "All bookstore owners know that the digital future is now. It's up to them to work it in a way that keeps their doors open and their shelves filled with actual books."

Like the mechanic said after taking a look at your broken radiator hose, "there's your problem"...The problem facing most retailers is paying for the big three operational costs: inventory, facility related costs, and labor. In order to make a profitable retail venture, one must exceed the investments in each of these areas. (I realize this is no great revelation to those who have run retail businesses, but bear with me for those unfamiliar with retail operations.) The catch-22 of retail operations is that one is always guessing. A retailer has "X" amount of square footage to fill with "Y" amount of inventory. The guessing game is which inventory to buy and in what quantities one fills that space with. The more items one has in their inventory, there is a greater chance a customer will find something in one's store to purchase. The flip side is that the more items one has for sale, the more square footage one needs to display those products. The more square footage one has, there are higher facility related costs.

The big box chains, like Borders and Barnes and Noble, made the gamble that having tons of inventory in large stores would increase sales to a point their stores could be profitable. Smaller independent booksellers either have to specialize in a niche market or make very good inventory guesses with smaller square footage. Should either category of booksellers find they're not coving their big three operating costs, efforts were made to increase sales through: price reductions, loyalty programs, books signings, and other promotional endeavors. Due to the encroachment of eBooks and other digital editions on print sales, there is little chance in the future that the increasing sales tactics will cover the big three operational costs.

If increasing sales isn't the answer for independent bookseller to survive in the digital age, there must be a dramatic reduction in one or more of these "big three" cost factors. To achieve cost savings in one of these areas, booksellers are going to have to create of fusion of the comforts an old fashioned bookstore with the digital age.

A number of bookstores have done this with an Espresso Printing Press. Espresso type machines have formed the backbone of the print on demand industry. With the size of a 1970's Xerox station, the Espresso can print out a prefect bound book in a matter of minutes. The ability to print a book in-house dramatically reduces the need to invest in inventory. A bookseller also has access to thousands of more books, via on line catalogues, than they could have ever previously stocked on their shelves. Bookstores would need a fraction of the space in which they operate in now. The space savings would translate into lower facility costs and higher profits after the initial equipment was amortized out. With an investment of around $120,000 the Espresso technology could be the savior for independent bookstores to survive in the digital age.

One model for an Espresso fueled independent is selling used books. The thought of selling used books is anathema to most new book retailers. However, there are merits to creating an Espresso fueled used book store. Let's say that Joe's Books decided tomorrow to buy an Espresso Machine, and has a five year lease on his retail space. Joe still has all of his old inventory on hand and starts taking books in trade from his customers. To keep the math simple, for every $2 retail trades Joe takes he will give $1 in store credit. With every trade Joe is increasing his inventory and reducing his existing inventory's cash costs. Joe might even give bonus credit to customers that bought new books printed on his brand new Espresso Machine as a loyalty component to his services. With enough savvy book trades, Joe's cash outlay for inventory will approach zero. Joe's customers have the experience of browsing the shelves for books and they can still buy new books via the Espresso printing process.

Another profit enhancer for Joe is taking special orders. Let's say there is a book festival in town next month. Joe contacts one of the publishers that will be represented at the festival. He offers to print all of the stock the publisher will need for festival selling at near wholesale costs. The publisher reduces his transportation costs for shipping books to the festival site. The publishing company comes away with an ace in the hole for dealing with our independent. Joe can print additional copies for the publisher during the weekend's festivities to cover any out of stocks. Everyone wins and our independent bookseller stays in business for another day.

The Espresso fueled bookstore model is not without its disadvantages. One could lose an entire days worth of sales with a downed machine. Plus the initial investment in the equipment is daunting for many independents. Customers might not take to the thought of going into a bookstore that is more like a Kinkos than a their traditional conception of a bookseller.

No matter if Espresso printing technology is the answer to bookseller's woes, a paradigm shift has to happen on the retail end of the book trade. The universe of publishing has changed dramatically over the last year and the trickle down to brick and mortar stores was inevitable. With these changes, the retail book industry should be looking for pioneers instead of licking their wounds. If the industry does not look for innovations, independent and big box booksellers are destine to go the way of the dodo.

Senators Whine Over Working Through Christmas Break

2010-12-17T09:12:00.000-08:00

While politics does not enter into the usual topics I discuss on this blog, some things are simply too outrageous to not comment on. I read an article today about the Senate possibly having to work over their usual Christmas break. The response I would have expected from some of our elected officials would have been along the lines of, "Well that stinks, but it's our job". I was wrong.

The article quoted two Senators as follows:

"... Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl of Arizona to accuse the Democrat of Grinch-like behavior, saying it was not possible to stay in session "without disrespecting one of the two holiest of holidays for Christians."

South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint was quoted as saying, "What's going on here is just wrong. This is the most sacred holiday for Christians."

I hope the Senators that are bawling about working over the break don't have to go out to their local grocery store on Christmas Eve for eggs and toilet paper. Or maybe Senator DeMint is carving his Christmas goose and gashes his hand open and needs stitches. I wonder if he would think the doctors or nurses manning the emergency rooms didn't want to spend Christmas with their families? Maybe Senator Kyl hears a scuttle at the chimney early Christmas morning. Bounding wide eyed downstairs to meet Santa, the honorable Senator is met by a burglar. I'm sure he wouldn't bother the police with a 911 call out of respect for the holidays. That's not to mention all the troops in Afghanistan what will have bullets whizzing past them on Christmas Day. If no one ever let the Senate in on this little secret, Al-Qaida doesn't celebrate Christmas...

For the millions of Americans that will work this Christmas Eve or Christmas day as active duty military personnel, fire fighters, police officers, doctors, nurses, retail employees, cabbies, air traffic controllers, small business owners, or anyone else performs their job duties during the holidays; it's obvious to us that our representatives are clearly out of touch with reality and their constituents. We'll go on working through "the Christmas break" and smile because it does stink to work over the holidays, but it's our job.