Attention, Men: Books Are Sexy!

NY Times ^ | August 2, 2025 | Maureen Dowd

[Lazamataz]

Hope you enjoy it! I suspect you will. 😊

[BiteYourSelf]

I got it for FREE for joining Kindle Unlimited for three months for ten bucks.👍

[RinaseaofDs]

If I do love it, and I suspect I will, then you better put the writing cap on, because we’ll need more.

By the way, I think it would be an interesting thread if you detailed what your publishing journey has been like.

There are NOT a lot of centrist and conservative voices in the culture these days. There are stirrings, but there is still not some very well moneyed interest that has the attitude of ‘I don’t care about the ideology as long as it makes money.’

I suspect that Hollywood is down because its usefulness as a laundering tool and the demise of USAID have both diminished its usefulness.

I don’t think we are out of ideas. I think we are short on non co-opted cultural channels.

[Lazamataz]

If I do love it, and I suspect I will, then you better put the writing cap on, because we’ll need more.

I'm already on the sequel. Starting slow, will pick up speed.

By the way, I think it would be an interesting thread if you detailed what your publishing journey has been like.

Absolutely! In fact, in short order, I plan a thread (probably in association with Caiphas) with tips and tricks on formatting documents for publication on Amazon Kindle.

Later -- and you have given me a great suggestion -- I can write an 'overall experience' thread.

There are NOT a lot of centrist and conservative voices in the culture these days. There are stirrings, but there is still not some very well moneyed interest that has the attitude of ‘I don’t care about the ideology as long as it makes money.’

Curiously and by chance, I got introduced to a very close relative of John C. Wright, who is quite conservative and is a Hugo- and Nebula-award winning science fiction author.

I'll likely get an introduction to the man, but the relative is an author in her own right, and is successful too.

In the meantime, she has let me know about a distribution mailing list called Based Books (Based being a term conservatives use, 'based in reality'). Apparently it's reserved for conservatives and sent to conservatives. I've passed muster, have been admitted, and I'll be utilizing this mailing list in September. It should increase my organic (non-friend, non-relative) sales greatly.

Also: I was careful to avoid too much by way of politics in my writing, but at least there was no liberalism.

I suspect that Hollywood is down because its usefulness as a laundering tool and the demise of USAID have both diminished its usefulness. I don’t think we are out of ideas. I think we are short on non co-opted cultural channels.

Hollywood is also on its last legs. Within 3 to 10 years anybody will be able to create their own movie with AI.

[Ciaphas Cain]

Within 3 to 10 years anybody will be able to create their own movie with AI.

That could be a good thing or a bad thing. There is something to be said about real flesh and blood talent, and practical effects. It doesn't have to be the "best" talent or effects. I've done some filmmaking and there is a lot of good to be said about non-professional actors (and low-budget effects). Make it too digital though and that takes a considerable amount of heart and soul out of a production.

There is a reason why the original Star Wars trilogy is still so beloved now almost fifty years after it was released.

[Lazamataz]

I was mostly pinging you about combining our experience when I create the How To Publish On Kindle thread.

But I appreciate your perspective about DIY movies, too. 😊