Book of Madness! PREORDER

Preorders are now available from select retailers: 

https://books2read.com/u/bp7lxz

The Book of Madness does not simply contain fear of the unknowable things in the void-it cultivates it. Its pages do not rest. They breathe. They wait. They remember. Every word etched within it gnaws at the fragile boundary between knowing and unraveling, pulling at threads that were never meant to be touched. It does not teach, it reveals-and what it reveals is not meant for anything that still hopes to remain whole. You stare into the void, and the void stares back.
Featuring stories by:
Rowan J. Sandoval
MJ Pieloor
Subham Rai
R.J. Butler
T. A. Jenkins
William J. Lince Jr.
Jack Dowden
Lindsey Betty
Dwain Campbell
Nenad Pavlovic
Michael Bertolini
David Greske
Paul Lonardo
Norman Goodman
Geoff Holder
Nick Manzolillo
Natalia Plos
Nicole Duffeck
Josh Fisher
Kiz V.J. Moncrieff

Book of Madness will be available on August 1, 2026

Americans still opt for print books over digital or audio versions; few are in book clubs

By William Bishop for the Pew Research Center

Digital books have grown in popularity over the past decade, but more Americans still read books in print than in digital formats.

Overall, 75% of U.S. adults say they have read all or part of at least one book in the past 12 months, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in October 2025. While book reading is widespread, the survey also shows that participation in book clubs is much less common.

Print books remain on top

Print books still dominate in the U.S., but use of e-books and audiobooks has grown over the past decade

Print continues to be the only book format used by a majority of Americans. Roughly two-thirds of adults say they have read a physical book in the past 12 months, according to our October survey.

Much smaller shares say they have read an e-book or listened to an audiobook in the past year.

How book reading habits have changed over time

The overall share of Americans who have read a book in the past year has remained fairly stable since we first asked this question in 2011.

But there have been some changes in how Americans read books. The share of adults who have read a print book in the past 12 months has declined from 72% in 2011 to 64% in October 2025.

Digital and audiobooks, by comparison, have become more widely used. About three-in-ten adults (31%) now report reading an e-book in the past year, up from 17% in 2011. Audiobooks have seen similar growth, with use of this format more than doubling in the same period.

But these changes have slowed in recent years. There has been little change in the overall share of Americans who read books – or in the formats they use – since we last asked these questions in 2021.

How book reading differs across demographic groups

Majorities of Americans across demographic groups say they’ve read a book in the past 12 months, according to our October survey. Still, there are some differences both in overall reading habits and in the formats Americans use:

College graduates are more likely than non-college grads to have read a book in the past year. Around nine-in-ten adults with a bachelor’s degree (88%) say they’ve read a book in the past 12 months. This drops to 78% among those with some college experience and 60% among those with a high school education or less. This pattern holds across all formats of book-reading.

Americans under 50 are more likely than older adults to read e-books and audiobooks. For example, 41% of adults under 30 say they’ve read an e-book in the past 12 months. By comparison, a third or fewer of those from older age groups say this.

White Americans are most likely to read print books, while Asian Americans stand out in their use of e-books. About two-thirds of White adults say they’ve read a print book in the past year, compared with smaller shares of Black, Hispanic and Asian Americans. When it comes to e-books, 42% of Asian Americans say they’ve read one in the past year, compared with around three-in-ten White, Hispanic and Black adults.

Women are more likely than men to say they’ve read a book in the past 12 months. This pattern extends to print and e-books.

How many books do Americans read?

While most Americans have read at least one book in the past year, how many they read varies widely. As of October 2025:

38% of U.S. adults say they read one to five books in the past year

13% read six to 10

10% read 11 to 20

14% read more than 20

And 25% of Americans say they read none.

Few Americans are members of a book club

Book clubs are not a common activity for most Americans, according to the recent survey. Only 7% of adults say they have participated in a book club in the past 12 months, according to our October survey.

Women are more likely than men to say they have done so (10% vs. 5%).

Draft2Digital... and other changes

 Draft2Digital just announced pretty harsh and limiting new practices. They will be charging a one time $20 new account fee and a $12 annual operating fee if you don't have at least $100 in sales in a 12 month period (after D2D takes their percentage, of course). This will make it difficult for indie publishers and self publishers to get into the business side of writing, and will negativity impact publishers that use them for some of their distribution: Mpresentspublishing only does about $3/month in digital sales after paying authors and printers so, in the near future, we'll be pulling out of Draft2Digital.  This will mean a change in store availability and we apologize for any inconvenience; but we can't, in good conscience, support a company that has taken such a negative stance toward the authors that look to them. Novels have already moved in an effort to make them more physically available, so this mostly applies to digital sales.

At the same time, Barnes & Noble is placing a minimum price on books in an attempt to stem the massive flood of AI generated books that sell cheaply in order to be more profitable. While I think this is the wrong way to go about things, I can appreciate sellers doing everything in their power to stem the bleeding caused by unwanted AI content.

Ingram Spark, who handles most of our print distribution and will be taking over our ebook distribution, has been dropping their fees (they used to charge a lot for changes, but that, at the very least, is a thing of the past). There are other fees, such as converting print books to ebooks and vice-versa, that most authors won't ever encounter (they don't charge to set up an account, for example), and those fees aren't new. A side benefit to moving everything to IS, M Presents products are available on Amazon where most people shop (even though it costs less to buy directly from the publisher, but I digress)!

Aside from banning authors for reasons that don't make a lot of sense, Amazon KDP isn't charging any new fees.

If anything changes, this post will be updated.

Beyond the Mountains of Madness: The Final Push

 Do to scheduling, this is the final session of Beyond the Mountains of Madness 

Available for Pre-order!

 The Source by Michael Bertolini, with commentary by Alan Dark, is available for PRE-ORDER right now from Smashwords, link below. It is a Horror Thriller with some clear nods to H.P. Lovecraft and the wider Cthulhu Mythos while maintaining its own feel. Be sure to check it out, the E-Book will be available on July 1st, 2026 while the Print book will be available for purchase July 4th, 2026. 

Also, if you pre-order the e-book RIGHT NOW from Smashwords the price is only $2.99, but if you wait, the price will increase to $3.99 in June and $4.99 once it releases in July.

👉  Pre-Order THE SOURCE on Smashwords 👈

Alone Against The Static, Version 2, Call of Cthulhu Solo Actual Play

 Some of it is rough (thanks GIMP for your cropping "excellence") but hopefully enjoyable. And it's under an hour! Remember to Like and Subscribe, it's a free way to support the channel, enjoy.

Authors: Survive your first Book Festival

 By IngramSpark 

Book conventions, fairs, and festivals are popping up everywhere these days! No matter what kind of book you've written, there's a group of fans out there just waiting to dive into something fresh and exciting. These events are fantastic opportunities for both readers and authors. Readers absolutely love meeting their favorite authors and stumbling upon new books. Meanwhile, authors get the chance to showcase their work and grow their author brands.

Some of you may be seasoned pros at these events, but if you're a newbie just starting out, you might be curious about what to expect. We've put together a handy list to get you ready. Even if some tips seem like common sense, it's easy to overlook the basics when you're off on a new adventure!

Be Sure to Pack

• Copies of your book(s)

Plan accordingly based on the type of convention you're attending when deciding how many to bring. Bring enough books, but don't overcrowd your table. Just a few at a time on your table will do. It’s a great way to show that your books are popular and flying off the table.

If you have an entire book series, bring copies of all the books, as many readers are looking for the immersive experience a series offers. If one book draws them in, they're likely to want to buy the whole series.

• Freebies/Swag

People love free stuff! Not only will this attract readers to your table, but it'll also help spread the word about you and your work long after the convention. The more unique your item, the more people will want it! 

Choose your swag based on what works for your budget. If you're feeling a bit fancy, you might go for magnets with your book cover or pens with your website on them. For a more budget-friendly choice, consider printing stickers that feature your book cover, quotes, pictures of the main characters, or fun sayings related to your book or genre.

Offer a way to explore your work for free, whether it's your latest book or other titles you've written. Print bookmarks or postcards with a QR code that lets them dive into your excerpts online. 

• A Guestbook/Sign-up Sheet

If you have a newsletter, make it easy for visitors to sign up right at your table.

• Pens and Markers

People are definitely going to want signed copies of your books, so make sure to pack a bunch of pens or markers that you like using. It's always a good idea to have extras, just in case.

• A Payment Processor

Attendees are looking for hassle-free payment options at these events, and you want to be able to accommodate several types of payment. Consider secure, seamless payment methods such as Stripe, Square, or PayPal. 

Be sure to offer at least one payment method that doesn't rely on Wifi, just in case there are issues in a venue full of people using Wifi.

• The Basics

Comfortable shoes

Water bottle and basic snacks

Power bank for recharging your electronic devices

Book stands/easels

If you're planning to attend events like this to promote your book, make sure readers can easily find your title online after the festival by improving your book's discoverability.

Stand Out in the Crowd

If you find yourself with a table or booth among a sea of other authors, you'll want to make sure you stand out and grab people's attention!

Make Sure Your Table is Eye-Catching

Use a table cover that shows off your brand and includes the colors of your book cover(s). Aim for a look that's cohesive, classy, and unforgettable.

Try using an online design tool like Canva or Adobe Express to create some fun and colorful visuals for your table. At the very least, make sure you have a sign that clearly shows the price of your book(s).

Showcase your latest release front and center, and display your other books in a fun and creative way, like fanning them out or using a few small book easels. 

If you have a book trailer, keep it running on a loop on a laptop or iPad. It doesn't have to be fancy or professionally made, it just needs to grab people's attention and pull them in.

Post your banners or balloons higher than attendee's heads so that your table is easier to find in a room full of people.

Offer Interactive Activities

Set up a photo opportunity related to your book, like a photo booth, frame, or themed backdrop. And if you're in costume, folks will probably love snapping a picture with you.

Have a game that visitors can easily participate in such as a short trivia challenge about themes related to your book or spinning a wheel for a chance to win some special swag.

Be Approachable and Available

One of the things people will remember long after the event is how you presented yourself and interacted with others. Be sure to smile and chat with people as they pass by. Instead of overwhelming them with details about your book right away, show them that you're friendly and approachable.

You don't have to go all out in what you wear, but it might be fun to wear something that matches the vibe of your table. Try to incorporate the colors from your book cover or decor in your look.

Put your best foot forward to share your book (and yourself) with those who are curious. It's not just about selling books; it's also about making connections and growing your brand.

Polish up your sales pitch—people are more interested in a quick, exciting glimpse of your book rather than the whole backstory. Try sharing a fun, two-sentence teaser for those curious to learn more. 

If you get the chance, hop onto any panels happening at the convention! It's a great way for potential readers to spot you, get to know you better, and be drawn to your table.

Give Them a Special Incentive to Buy

Offer special promotions or discounts just for the event

Use IngramSpark’s Share & Sell purchase links to offer special prices on your books just for those attending. Place a sign next to your books with a QR code and a friendly note inviting them to scan and buy now. Also, have some postcards or bookmarks with a QR code for readers to take home, so they can easily purchase more of your titles later.

Hopefully this info helps you feel more comfortable and confident about attending your first conference or book event. Think of it as a fun opportunity rather than a challenge, and you'll find it's a great way to boost your confidence, make new friends, and naturally increase your book sales