**The Time Cellar** A book by our very own DFW!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

I've been hearing about this book around DU, and it sounded intriguing, so I bought a copy, and WOW.

For starters, here is the first sentence: "For the record, if there ever is one, the body in my basement with the pitchfork sticking out of its back isn't mine."

Well. That's all it took. I started reading it around 9:30 p.m. one night recently, and I didn't (rather, I couldn't) put it down till I was finished at around 1:00 a.m.

The plot is beautifully done, the characters are believable, and the story flows like, well, wine! Wine is one of the central themes and even if you don't know anything about it, it doesn't matter. The story is completely compelling. There is also time travel which is fantastic and takes you off to some very interesting places and people. There is also suspense and romance. It's wonderful!

I strongly recommend this wonderful book.

I hope DFW will sell many many copies, along with a screenplay.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

1. Some great reviews of the book on Amazon

I'll have to check it out.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Yeah, I saw those...

They were great and in line with how I felt too.

[Frosty1]

32. Link?

[DFW]

37. Try this:

http://www.amazon.com/books-used-books-textbooks/b?node=283155

In the search field up top, type in The Time Cellar and hit enter. That should do it.

There is also a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/thetimecellar?ref=br_tf

[Frosty1]

42. Thank you!

I just purchased a copy. Looks interesting.

[DFW]

43. I hope you aren't disappointed.

Let me know!

[Ron Obvious]

3. Looks very interesting.

I've added it to my Amazon queue.

For what it's worth, the one bad review on Amazon said it was a wonderful book but that the Kindle formatting was all screwed up. Well, that's no reason to give the book a one star review in my opinion.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. Yeah, I thought WTF???

I got the good old-fashioned paperback!

It IS interesting! DFW really did his homework, and if you read it, you'll get my meaning.

[Ron Obvious]

5. I just noticed that he gave himself a 5 star review!

But at least he identified himself and got into a discussion with the Kindle complainer as well.

I'll look forward to reading it.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. How cool (ha) that he did that for himself!

It's a great read!

[DFW]

8. I did indeed do that

It was the only way to make a general comment to potential readers, and as long as I had to give myself a rating, I wasn't about to say I sucked! Besides, I read what I had wrote several times through to make sure it was something I would want to read if it had been written by someone else.

[SwissTony]

14. That annoyed me too.

I always read the one-star reviews. Often they contain useful information about the limitations of a product but others relate to items such as Kindle or how slow the delivery was, not the quality of the product itself.

[DFW]

16. In fairness, the guy did give the Kindle download a second chance

He just gave up 48 hours too soon. The problem was fixed within 2 days of his last post, but apparently, he gave up. Giving the story itself the one star just for a technical glitch seemed a little harsh, but dem's da rules, so I just let it slide.

[DFW]

9. And it was less than 2 days later that the Kindle problem was solved.

The problem was the downloading format. Kindle downloads have to be in Word, not pdf, and they hadn't explained that to my people in Dallas who were doing the tech end for me.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

20. If I re-download it will that fix the formatting?

I enjoyed the book so much I didn't let the goofy formatting really bother me, but I'd like to read it again without that glitch.

[DFW]

22. Hmmm, got me there

When did you download it? If the date was before the last of the negative comments by that one guy on Amazon, then you should definitely try again. If it was later than 2 days after I said it was fixed, then it isn't fixed after all, and all the kind people (yourself included) who downloaded it since have been going easy on me by not telling me.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

24. I downloaded it right after you first told us about the book.

So, probably long before the problem was noted. I didn't mention it at the time because I didn't think it was that big a deal; after all, all the words were there. I suppose I should have said something but I didn't want to be a party pooper.

[DFW]

25. You were too kind

That other guy let me have it with both barrels. Kinda my fault to some degree, as I should have had my people in Dallas download it themselves so they could test the result before I let people know about it. But Kindle should have let US know, too, that we should never have used a PDF file, and that only Word would work properly.

[antiquie]

29. I read it on Kindle and was quite pleased.

Last edited Tue Feb 24, 2015, 06:06 PM - Edit history (1)

The chapter changes did not waste space and the novel was properly edited -- both problems I've frequently encountered with Kindle books.

It is a very enjoyable, well-written story. (IMHO)

edit to add: downloaded October 27, 2014.

[DFW]

30. Thanks Antiquie

That gives me the go-ahead to continue to recommend it to others in Kindle form. And our resident Ocelot can go get her version updated as well!

[Hekate]

7. Thank you, Peggy; I'll be sure to look it up.

[DFW]

10. Thanks Peggy!!!!!!!!!!

Last edited Tue Feb 24, 2015, 06:34 AM - Edit history (1)

Before putting the book on Amazon, I had sent copies to some of my more well-known acquaintances to see if if I could get some nice quotes, and did I EVER get some!! People like Howard Dean, Stan Lee and Adrian Cronauer (the real one, not Robin Williams) chimed in, and their comments are on the back cover. Adrian liked my opening line, too. Dr. Ruth helped encourage me to write the book, but she was prohibited from giving me a public plug by her PR contracts--86 years old, and still worrying about stuff like that! Stan Lee went right ahead, and Howard, as always, is his own man.

But it's also gratifying to get nice comments from my "mortal" friends.

When I was asked to give the "genre" that applied to my book, I had problems. It is a historical-Science fiction-hobby-suspense-romance novel. How the hell was I supposed to condense THAT into one category? Kirkus Reviews called it my "strange uproarious novel." But they also said, "enthusiastically recommended," so I was happy with that.

Neil Nyren, chief editor of Random House-Putnam, warned me that luck was a huge factor in whether or not a book became a best-seller, and most great books never get any recognition at all. I'm no J.K. Rowling, and even the Harry Potter series almost went unpublished, since she had to go through over 20 agents before one decided to try to sell her first book. That's over 20 agents whose professional judgment was sharp enough to cut them out of $100 million worth of commissions. Something like the DECCA Records agent who turned down signing the Beatles because "guitar groups were on their way out." Neil said he would read my book, but other than that, no major publisher is even aware of my book, and no major agent wanted to play with it. Apparently new authors are almost always S.O.L. with agents these days anyway, and I don't have the time to pursue this as a career. 25/8 day job, and all.

So I'm in this for the fun, and the likelihood of a financial reward for an unknown author is little and none. So, my biggest reward is knowing I provided some people with a good time--and not just "Ro-BAIR" and Thomas Jefferson.. So far, it looks like I succeeded at that, if nothing else. I'll be curious to hear if anyone else on DU feels the same way...............

[druidity33]

11. I'll get my library to shelve it...

if you PM me the publishing info.

[DFW]

12. Be glad to!

First I gotta figure out what you mean by publishing info

[auntAgonist]

46. Perhaps they are referencing the ISBN number? n/t

[DFW]

47. Here are the ISBN numbers:

Soft cover: 9781-59967-971-6 (this is what is available on Amazon)

Hard Cover: 9781-59967-970-9 (this is only available from the Ivy Press in Dallas)

Let me know if that helps!

[druidity33]

49. yup, thanks... they only order hardcovers.

But i am a PATRON of renown, so they'll put it in their catalog. Especially if no one else in the system has it. Looking forward to reading it. I love time travel books...

Good Luck!

[DFW]

50. Then they'd have to go to the Ivy Press

Be aware that there are several publishers around the world who go by that name. I know of one associated with Princeton University, and one in England. This one is the one at 3500 Maple Avenue in Dallas. Some of the internet listings have the old address of 100 Highland Park Village, but they moved downtown a few years ago. I think the fax numbers still work, maybe the phone numbers, too, I don't know.

[druidity33]

51. noted, thanks. nt.

[panader0]

44. My heartiest congratulations DFW!

[DFW]

45. Thanks, Panader0

The chance of any unknown author, no matter how good the critical acclaim, of hitting it big is almost nil. However, it is fun giving a few smiles and a few afternoons or evenings of entertaining escapism to people. Plus, letting my own imagination of what it would be like to meet Thomas Jefferson run free...it was worth it just for that!

[SwissTony]

13. I asked DFW for a link to his book

and he was kind enough to provide one. I bought my copy (it arrived Saturday) and I'm going to start reading it today! I also promised to review it on Amazon (one star, DFW, if you don't come up with the money ). I'm sure he'd appreciate it if others did the same.

And I just about wet myself reading that first sentence.

[DFW]

15. I'm putting a fund aside............ n/t

[Scuba]

17. I'm going to ask my PUBLIC library to get a copy. Thanks DFW and thanks Peggy!

[DFW]

18. Now THAT would be way cool!

Maybe I'll pass through some day and sign it!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

19. It's quite good, isn't it?

I read it and enjoyed the heck out of it. The writing is funny and clever, and I think he managed to work around some of the major dilemmas of time travel. Well done, DFW!

[Grey]

21. I bought the book and

really liked it. Ripping good read as they say.

[DFW]

23. Wow, thanks!

Always good to hear that from the real world out there

[DFW]

26. Peggy--how's THIS for timing?

Just today, a fax showed up in my office in Dallas. It was from the Zürich branch of one of the major German-language publishers, and they are asking about who might have authority to sell them the German-language rights to the book (!!!!!!!).

I will talk to them tomorrow. I hope Ro-BAIR likes Fondue and chocolate!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

27. Wow, that is amazing timing!

Thanks for the heads-up, BTW...

And I'm sure Ro-BAIR loves Fondue and chocolate!

Congratulations, and may this only be the start of many such inquiries!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

28. cool, thanks for the heads up!

[hunter]

31. Best wishes...

.

[cwydro]

33. K and r

[Kali]

34. it was a blast, I recommend it too!

just a fun read and good story. Great premiss for the time-travel and errr can I say "banking and purchasing" with out giving too much away?

plug for at least two other DU authors, nolabear and NRaleighLiberal as well

NRaleighLiberal's tomato book is beautiful - I would say get it even if you don't garden or like tomatoes! it is that pretty

nolabear also wrote a novel, it is a little deeper but still "fun" and great characters

do we have any others?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

35. Hey, Kali, thanks for chiming in!

I'm not aware of any other authors here.........except for one of the photographers who did a book last year about water falling over things. I'll have to check to see how he spells his name; it's tricky!

It's called "Dreams Of Falling Waters." Our author is regnaD kciN, and I guess the way to find him is to check in the photo group or send him a PM or something.

[Kali]

38. I will check it out!

thanks!

nick danger is from a great comedy group, firesign theater

Nick Danger, Third Eye

about a minute into this you see where the backward spelling comes in

[DFW]

48. The Firesign Theater!!

I played "Beat The Reaper" and won about 13 years ago (for real--long story).

I mentioned that in a short speech I was asked to give about it a few months later, and got a compliment on the speech from, of all people, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, who was in the audience. Maybe Justice Breyer listened to the Firesign Theater, too, in his day, who knows?

[DFW]

40. I have nothing but admiration for anyone who manages to write a "deeper" novel.

I can't imagine the concentration that must go into putting together a book like that. I just didn't have the time, and it didn't feel like me trying to go that route. Anything in the realm of "The Poisonwood Bible" will probably remain outside my grasp forever.

[elias49]

36. Is linking to, say, Amazon against the rules?

Just curious, because I think it would be beneficial.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

39. I've never heard that it's against any rule.

But most folks know how to find things there.



You just plug in the name of the book in their search engine, and voila! There it is.

[merrily]

41. Great book review, CP. Please consider cross posting in GD and the Reading & Writing Group.

Congrats to DFW for his book and to you for your tantalizing review.

[hunter]

52. This book is wonderful!

[DFW]

53. Thanks, Hunter!

It's always a big relief to me that anyone who took the trouble to read it is glad he/she did.

[MrMickeysMom]

54. DU be like...

… talented!!!

Thanks for the review, Peg! It makes me want to read it, and I'm generally a non-fiction geek reader!

[DFW]

55. No two ways about it, non-fiction, it ain't!

However, if you think it might be fun to have an informal chat or two with Thomas Jefferson, you might want to try it for that alone

[kiva]

56. Bought, downloaded, and looking forward to reading it.

To DFW and anyone who had a version with glitches...last week I bought a book by Jodi Taylor - another time travel book actually - and there were many run together words (and she also got some bad reviews based on formatting). A couple of days later she posted this on Facebook...I tried it and it worked like a charm:

Jodi Taylor
March 2 at 8:38am ·

Dear readers - for those with formatting issues on their Kindles please switch your settings so that when Amazon sorts it out you'll get the amended version. Go to amazon - Manage your content and devices - Settings - switch 'Automatic book update' to 'on'.

I am just keeping my Kindle set on 'update' now in case it happens with future books.

And to DFW - congrats, I'm looking forward to reading your book.

[DFW]

57. After that one reader had problems with it

I had my friends back in Dallas get with Amazon to find out why. The problem turned out to be simple. When you download a book to Kindle, never use pdf. Only Word. That appears to have soled the problem. If you have any issues, PLEASE let me know. I can't get to work on a problem if I didn't know there is one.

By the way, I'm of the old-fashioned school when it comes to books. I like to have it in my hand and take it with me. When I was offered the option of an e-Book by Amazon, I said why not? Then they asked about pricing. I had no idea. I did see that many e-Books were priced at a couple of dollars under the print version. The print version is priced at something like $1.75 over the production cost, but since all it cost to make the Kindle version work was a couple of hours on the phone with the USA, I priced it at $1.99, which I have to split with Amazon. This turned out to be way low, but I'm not in this for the money, anyway, so I left it. There's no way I'm going to recoup the cost of getting this thing into production unless Random House and/or some film studio comes calling to buy the rights. If THAT happens, the pricing will be out of my hands, but until then, since Kindle seems to a big thing in the English-speaking world these days, $1.99 it is. My wife is after me to record the audio version for when it gets picked up and made a worldwide household name. My wife is a very optimistic person. Like my day job would ever permit me the two weeks off I'd need to get THAT done!