It’s MMPB Day, plus #giveaway!

by Posted on

News Flash: The lucky book winners are Kitty R, Suzy Huyler, and RD. Congratulations, folks, and please check your email!

Edith/Maddie writing on a dark October morning.

So much the better to have something to celebrate, and today it’s the rerelease of not one but two of my hardcovers from last year!

Yes, Murder Uncorked and Christmas Mittens Murder, which includes my novella “Murderous Mittens,” are now both available in mass market paperback (MMPB).

“Murderous Mittens” presents the origin story of widowed forty-something Cece Barton’s connection with fictional Colinas in northern California wine country. The novella also features an appearance by Cam Flaherty, the organic farmer from my Local Foods Mysteries. Cece helps solve a murder, her first case, with a guiding assist from Cam.

In Murder Uncorked, Cam has moved from Pasadena to her twin sister’s town and is managing a wine bar, Vino y Vida – and wouldn’t you know it, she gets involved in solving another homicide.

I’m delighted to have both books now available in a format more accessible to many readers. The rerelease comes just in time to catch up on the series before Deadly Crush, book two in the series, releases the week after Thanksgiving!

With any release, though, comes the box of books, otherwise known as inventory. Don’t get me wrong, I love that my publisher sends me a box of my own released book (and with two releasing the same day, two boxes). That said, my office isn’t big and my house doesn’t have much storage space, so I am awash in books!

With a goal of reducing that inventory a bit, I’ll send three commenters each a set of both new paperbacks. If you’ve already read the books, you can give them to someone who hasn’t.

Readers: What format do you prefer to read in? As an aside, at a dinner party last week I met a man who insisted listening to an audiobook wasn’t reading. None of us could convince him otherwise. What do you think?

Unknown's avatar

Published by Edith Maxwell

Agatha Award -winning author Edith Maxwell writes the historical Quaker Midwife Mysteries (Beyond the Page) and short crime fiction. As Maddie Day she writes the Dot and Amelia Mysteries, the Country Store Mysteries series, the Cozy Capers Book Group Mysteries, and the Cece Barton Mysteries (all from Kensington Publishing). She lives north of Boston in an antique house with her beau and cat Martin, where she writes, gardens, cooks, and wastes time on Facebook.

99 Thoughts

  2. I work in an Indy bookstore so I am duty bound to say I prefer physical books- but I do actually prefer trade paperbacks. Mass market paperbacks are so useful for traveling though!

    Like

  4. Wow yes listening to a book is reading. I do it on the way to work. I prefer to read on my kindle. Especially when I’m traveling and working. I always have a book available.

    Like

  5. I prefer a paperback or even my kindle. I find I don’t really follow audiobooks. I am a visual person an prefer the written words.

    Like

  6. Edith,

    Yaaay for MMPB release of both books!

    Simply by definition, listening to an audio book isn’t reading. One uses your ears, one uses your eyes. However, it isn’t up to me to decide what form getting your stories (or anyone else’s) into the minds of more readers. Audiobooks aren’t for me, but if someone wants to “read” that way, who am I to quibble?

    I don’t know if I have a particular favorite format to read based on the format alone. I guess that my favorite format depends on how much money I have to spend on a book at the time it comes out.

    And while I have copies of both books, I would happily pass along these copies to other people should I be one of the lucky commenters. Either to people in the book club or to others in my life.

    Like

  8. For me, due to some health issues, I read paperbacks. Even if not for those reasons, I think holding the book while reading is the only way for me. Call me old school, but after all today I just past another year by. 🙂 I think that audio books are definitely reading and the choice of many. I think they would be cool, but with no way to hear them but on the computer also makes them harder to read for me.

    Fortunate enough to have read MURDER UNCORKED and can’t wait for the opportunity to read CHRISTMAS MITTENS MURDER.
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

    Like

  10. I do both reading hard copy and on Amazon kindle, but really prefer hard copy. I don’t do audio but I can see where it has its place. Hmmm, good question about whether that should be considered “reading”, I’m leaning towards no because actually seeing words is reading BUT they’re books he’s listening to!

    Like

  12. Congrats on the releases!!

    I prefer audio for my reading pleasure. I do use my eyes to read books (usually on my iPad) but that’s when I’m prepping a manuscript for recording into an audiobook.

    I’m sorry your dinner companion was so obstinate. The “is listening to a book the same as reading it?” debate has been a hot-button topic on social media for some time now. I have to disagree with the commenter above who goes “simply by definition” that reading only happens with the eyes. In Merriam-Webster (the preferred dictionary resource for North American audiobook narrators), the definition for “read” mentions nothing exclusively done with the eyes. Here’s the first definition of “read:”
    1
    a
    (1)
    to receive or take in the sense of (letters, symbols, etc.) especially by sight or touch
    (2)
    to study the movements of with mental formulation of the communication expressed
    read lips
    (3)
    to utter aloud the printed or written words of
    read them a story
    b
    to learn from what one has seen or found in writing or printing
    c
    to deliver aloud by or as if by reading
    specifically : to utter interpretively
    d
    (1)
    to become acquainted with or look over the contents of (something, such as a book)
    (2)
    to make a study of
    read law
    (3)
    to read the works of
    e
    to check (something, such as copy or proof) for errors
    f
    (1)
    to receive and understand (a voice message) by radio
    (2)
    UNDERSTAND, COMPREHEND

    You’ve hit a sensitive topic for me. Insisting that reading is only done with the eyes pushes us toward the realm of ableist thinking. Why exclude anyone from the category of “reader“ of a book if they don’t use their eyes?

    Like

  13. it depends on the book – some i like to read the hard copy and some i listen to. But for reading – it is definitely a physical book and never an e-book.

    Like

  14. Congratulations! My preference is having a physical book in my hands. But, I am coming around to ebooks. I like the instant gratification of ebooks 😉. Audiobooks are not the same as reading. If I am going to listen to something, it will be music!

    Like

  15. I vastly prefer physical books. I know an ebook is more portable but I find myself not being able to concentrate on a screen as well (though I have trying more and been getting a bit better on that.) Paperbacks are my #1 because they’re smaller so I can fit more on the shelves, and cheaper so I can buy more books.
    I don’t see how an audiobook doesn’t count. Personally, my mind wanders, but what about the people who’s eyesight doesn’t allow them to read print? Why should they go without books? Or learning pronunciation by hearing the word instead of seeing it. I would think audiobooks would be helpful for kids struggling with learning to read. Listening may work better for them, or they could listen and follow along in print to associate the letters on the page with the words they’re hearing.

    Like

  16. Congratulations, Edith. Personally, I like the trade paperback size. Looks good on the shelf, easy to hold.

    Any way you consume the story is “reading” as far as I’m concerned.

    Like

  17. As a person with a vision disability, ebooks that I can enlarge and audiobooks are the only way that books are available to me. The ableist view that these are somehow less valid means of consuming literary content needs to stop.

    Like

  18. I prefer a trade or mass market paperback. Audiobooks are good too but I am usually multitasking so I tend to miss details.

    Like

  19. A book is a book no matter the form. HOWEVER I prefer audio/CD as I feel you tend to get more out of it by hearing the readings/exoressions. It doesn’t feel the same though as holding an actual book 📚

    Like

  20. I prefer trade paperbacks because they are easier to hold and have wider margins which facilitates easier reading. I love audio books for long drives, but seldom have time to listen to them otherwise. Also, they are more expensive.

    Like

  21. Congratulations, Edith. I think listening is a different form of taking in information. But who cares? One is still enjoying a book and the more ways there are to enjoy books the better.

    Like

  24. My, what a hot topic! I prefer a physical book, hardback, trade or mass market, but do use a Kindle as well, especially when traveling. I’m the kid that read the same cereal box every morning, just to be reading! I am not an audio book fan, but it is personal. I cannot just listen, so must multitask and we all know that does not really work, so either I miss too much of the audio or I get so engrossed I don’t pay attention to whatever else I am doing. Almost drove off the road the last time I listened while driving! That being said, when my mom lost her vision, audio books were a huge blessing. Each to their own as far as I’m concerned. Congrats on the dual release! Love Cece Barton!

    Like

  25. Kindle or paper for me. I tried audio, but found myself following rabbit holes in the story. Not in a bad way – not plot holes, but my mind played what if. By the time I followed the string, I’d lost the thread. Is audio reading? Absolutely! Who among us didn’t start our reading career to the sound of our parents’ voices.

    Like

  26. I listened to mysteries to and from school (English professor) every day or any time I was in the car. As an octogenarian, I need now to focus absolutely on the road so have stopped. No I prefer books with large enough print for easier reading.

    Like

  27. I love audiobooks (assuming the reader is good; occasionally, you hit a truly bad one, but that’s rare). If I could, I’d listen to everything, but it’s just too slow. So I always have an audiobook going and another book I’m reading on my Kindle. Nothing against paperbacks or hardcover books (I’m happy to get them from the library or as gifts), but I’m into ridding myself of objects these days, not collecting them. The Kindle is wonderful for taking everywhere I go, and if I don’t have it, I read on my phone. YES, by the way, listening to an audiobook is a form of reading–I agree with you all, Edith and Dru and others.

    Like

  28. Any way a person can enjoy a book is reading. If you prefer to listen or have no other choice but to go audio because of physical limitations, it counts. He probably doesn’t consider my ebooks real books but I’d have limited reading ability without them. He needs to be more empathetic.

    Like

  29. I prefer hard copy but appreciate the availability of ebooks and audio for both vision related issues and financial reasons.

    Like

  30. I prefer a paperback book. It fits anywhere usually ( most bags), it doesn’t need to be charged, & my favorite, I can read while soaking in the tub.

    Like

  31. I can understand how that gentleman feels, because I will read only paperback books or hardcover books. I read both regular print and large print books. I like to read in a cozy, comfortable spot with a cup of tea. I may eventually succumb to ebooks, but it hasn’t happened yet!

    Like

  34. I prefer print or E books. My mind wanders with audio. Also unable to multitasking as some do with audio

    Like

  35. I believe it is reading. I listen to a lot of audiobooks. However, my preferred choice is reading paperbacks or hardcovers. I like having the physical book.
    Marlene

    Like

  37. I prefer print books, hardcover or paperback. I like listening to audiobooks in the car, especially on trips. Congratulations on your new release.

    Like

  38. Ebooks are easiest for me, but audiobooks are great for trips. It’s not quite the same as really reading, though.

    Like

  40. An audio book is akin to being read TO instead of reading. My preference is a tangible old fashioned book with paper pages. I have a library in our home and it is filled with all kinds of those tangible books, yours are very much included in that inventory. I have my fingers crossed that I will win a set. I’ve been in the hospital twice this year and in the emergency department several times for extended periods. Books are my salvation. Congratulations on having them now available in a more affordable format.

    Like

  41. Congrats on the releases. Different forms for different likes.

    I primarily read ebooks from my local libraries because I’m retired and I can’t afford to buy books at the rate I read. Occasionally I’ll purchase an ebook in a series I like if my library doesn’t get it. With ebooks I can have several available depending on what I feel like reading. I can change the font, the font size, line spacing etc so I can set the ebook up to my personal reading preferences.

    I consider audiobooks reading. Personally I don’t use them because they immediately put me to sleep, as do podcasts and long YouTube videos. I sure couldn’t listen to one while driving.

    I enjoyed reading everyone’s comments about their own preferences. It’s nice there are options for most of us.

    Like

  42. I prefer an actual paper book. I can see both sides of the debate as to whether audiobooks is actually reading. On one hand, they are not using their eyes in reading the words. On the other side, they are hearing all the words to the story. It is one of those questions people will continue to debate. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.

    Like

  43. I prefer a print copy since I am a visual learner and like the feel of the paper between my fingers. Ebooks are good for when I travel, which I don’t do as much as I used to. I love audio books for when I do online busy work. I do consider audio books reading because I picture the words in my mind.

    Like

    2. I prefer physical books. Nothing better than a book in my hand. I also enjoy reading on my nook and kindle. I like listening to audio books on long road trips.

      Like

  44. I love all three but I use my kindle to read most of time since I can adjust the font and is lightweight. Because I can’t sit and read all day I started listening to books a couple years ago. I really had to work at my listening skills! I get the most out of a book by reading by kindle or traditional book. They are alk wonderful!!!
    Congrats on two releases!!! I have read all of your series except the CeCe Barton series. That is on my TBR list.

    Thank you for the hours of entertainment!

    April Sesin
    Maine

    Like

  45. I love a print book the most. However I also like audio books. I am usually listening to an audio book when driving or doing things around the house. I sit down with a print book every day too! I have not gotten into e reading because I feel like I am already looking at a screen too much. I understand the convenience of them though.

    Like

  46. I read real books, ebooks and listen to audiobooks. I consider them books. For people with sight issues listening is how they read.

    Like

  47. Books! Something to hold in my hand and keep! Books are friends. My Daddy taught me that at age 5 when he started taking my sister and I to the library weekly and I won the most read books in first grade–202 (and our address was 202 West Pierce). I never go anywhere without carrying a book. I use my kindle and books on it when traveling or for novellas only issued in eBook form. We used to listen to audiobooks when traveling or going back and forth to work. I think they are considered real books. Whatever. I like them all and always have. I would love your books and love to learn how Cece got there. And n ow another one! Cool! Thanks!

    Like

  48. I prefer physical books. Nothing better than a book in my hand. I also enjoy reading on my nook and kindle. I like listening to audio books on long road trips.

    Thanks for the chance!

    Like

Comments are closed.