Category Archives: News

News about Stillpoint Digital Press books, authors and other offerings

Murder Comes to the Stillpoint

Death in a Fair Place
Death in a Fair Place by W. L. Taylor

Stillpoint Digital Press announces the publication of its first murder mystery, Death in a Fair Place by W. L. Taylor.

Set on the idyllic campus of a glossy prep school in Northern California, this fast-moving detective novel involves intrigue, scandal, and, of course, murder most foul — right on school grounds. When the head of the prestigious Pemberley Oaks School is found dead in the school’s memorial redwood grove, the list of suspects includes just about everyone with a connection to the school — faculty, staff, parents, and teachers. It is up to Detective Bill Felkin to dig past the privileged, sophisticated veneer and discover the truth.

Taylor, who worked in independent schools for many years, says about completing his first novel, “Being a fan of murder mysteries, the idea came to me to write a detective story that takes place on a private school campus. After I came up with the germ of the idea for the book seven years ago, I paid attention to the old adage — write about what you know — and that provided me with a wealth of material.”

Death in a Fair Place is now on sale at StillpointDigital.com, as well as Amazon, Apple, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and most other ebook outlets.

The Sound and the Fury: Audiobook Fun

I’ve just finished one of the more enjoyable projects I’ve worked on in a long time — creating an audiobook for Janet Morris’s A Man and His God. Handling the narration, the recording, and all of the post-production, that was fun. But getting to do all of that with a novella that I’d loved when it first came out as part of Robert Asprin’s Thieves’ World shared-universe fantasy series and then launched Morris’s own Sacred Band of Stepsons series? That was a blast! Continue reading The Sound and the Fury: Audiobook Fun

The Next Big Thing Blog Hop

Risuko
Risuko

Ken Schneyer tagged me for this meme in his own post last week.

I’m a bit late posting this… Been madly finishing work on an audiobook and trying to care for my very flu-felled wife. But here’s my response!

What is the title of your book?

Risuko. That’s Japanese for “Squirrel,” which is the protagonist’s nickname.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

A couple of places:

First of all, I read an article about a war widow in sixteenth-century Japan who set up a  school (of sorts) that trained young girls to be kunoichi  (female assassins, spies and bodyguards), all under the guise of being shrine maidens (miko) — something like the Shintō equivalent of novice nuns.[†] I’d always been fascinated with the Japanese Sengoku (civil war era), so when I read that, I thought, Wow! There’s a story someone should write! A while later, I had an image of a girl climbing a tree… and realized that someone should be me.

The other thing that got this started was reading the Harry Potter books with my kids, loving them, and thinking, Now, what about these has to be fantasy? As I’ve been writing Risuko, my intent has been to write a story that feels like a fantasy — but isn’t. Continue reading The Next Big Thing Blog Hop

Seven Gods of Luck Giveaway — Two Days Left to Sign Up!

There are just two days left to sign up for our Goodreads.com giveaway of fifteen copies of The Seven Gods of Luck to Goodreads users:

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Seven Gods of Luck by David Kudler

The Seven Gods of Luck

by David Kudler

Giveaway ends December 07, 2012.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

 

Seven Gods of Luck — Goodreads Give-away!

We wanted you to be the first to know — we’re giving away fifteen copies of The Seven Gods of Luck to Goodreads users:

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Seven Gods of Luck by David Kudler

The Seven Gods of Luck

by David Kudler

Giveaway ends December 07, 2012.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

 

Lend Me Your Ears: Stillpoint Produces Audiobooks

Confessions of a Sex Maniac
and The Seven Gods of Luck
now available as audiobooks
(Visit Stillpoint’s page on Audible.com or see below for details)

When I started Stillpoint Digital Press, my intention was to focus on the growing field of ebook production and distribution.

A funny thing happened on the way to the iBookstore. Actually, several funny things.

Continue reading Lend Me Your Ears: Stillpoint Produces Audiobooks

Interested in more information about the Seven Gods of Luck?

Netsuke (carved ivory belt ties) of the Seven Gods of Luck
Netsuke (carved ivory belt ties) of the Seven Gods of Luck (© 2012, David Kudler)

Do you want to know more about the tradition of the Seven Gods of Luck? Here’s a great page rom the online A to Z Photo Dictionary of Japanese Buddhist Statuary:

    The Shichifukujin 七福神 are an eclectic group of deities from Japan, India, and China. Only one is native to Japan (Ebisu) and Japan’s indigenous Shintō tradition. Three are from the Hindu-Buddhist pantheon of India (Daikokuten, Bishamonten, & Benzaiten) and three from Chinese Taoist-Buddhist traditions (Hotei, Jurōjin, & Fukurokuju). In Japan, they travel together on their treasure ship (Takarabune) and visit human ports on New Year’s Eve to dispense happiness to believers. Each deity existed independently before Japan’s “artificial” creation of the group. The origin of the group is unclear, although most scholars point to the Muromachi Era (1392-1568) and the 15th century. Today, images of the seven appear with great frequency in Japan. By the 19th century, most major cities had developed special pilgrimage circuits for the seven. These pilgrimages remain well trodden today, but many people now use cars, buses, and trains to move between the sites.
    >>READ MORE

Click the link to read more of an excellent discussion of the history and traditions related to the Shichi Fukujin, with lots of wonderful pictures!
Continue reading Interested in more information about the Seven Gods of Luck?

Seven Gods of Luck Available Now!

The Seven Gods of Luck – Now Available!

Limited-Time Special Offer:
Print, Ebook and Audiobook for $23.95 $9.99!

Stillpoint Releases Classic Folktale

November 1, 2012 – Stillpoint Digital Press announces the release of the fifteenth anniversary edition of the picturebook retelling of the classic Japanese folktale, The Seven Gods of Luck by David Kudler with illustrations by Linda Finch. Set during O-Shogatsu, the Japanese New Year festival, The Seven Gods of Luck is a magical holiday tale of generosity rewarded.
Continue reading Seven Gods of Luck Available Now!

Thanks for helping us choose our cover!

Thanks to all of you who voted and who shared your wonderful insights regarding the cover for The Seven Gods of Luck! Here’s the final design (which has been uploaded to the printer–we’re waiting, again likely children before the holidays, for what we hope and trust are the final proofs):
Continue reading Thanks for helping us choose our cover!

Seven Gods Cover Art – A Poll

I need your help!

So I’ve been working away to prepare The Seven Gods of Luck for simultaneous release as an ebook, a paperback, and an audiobook. Great fun! It’s almost ready…

Except for one thing — the cover.

I’ve been assuming that we’d be using a cover very similar to the one designed for the original edition:
Continue reading Seven Gods Cover Art – A Poll