22 West Express
Volume II, Edition 2
October 2007
Hello Readers,
Big news Today. If you haven't heard, the first message within Sin and Vengeance has been decoded. The contest leader, Stephen Welch, is pictured with me at right. Don't give up! The contest isn't over! Stephen is only halfway there.
There is a great article in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette today about Stephen and the contest. It should be very helpful if you are working on the contest.
There's much more on this in the right hand column.
Work on my next book, A Demon Awaits, is progressing. I'm planning the release for October 2008, but right now I'm ahead of schedule. I'm searching for an illustrator for the cover - don't worry, Sarah will be putting it all together. If you know someone with exceptional illustration skills, please send them my way.
I hope you like the new photo in the header. It's from a family trip to the mountains around Stowe Vermont. It was our first trip there and certainly not our last!
The Taking Stock tour is beginning to wind down. My next event is Friday, October 19th at the Barnes & Noble in Warwick, RI. There will be 14 other authors there signing books and talking with readers.
I'll also be at the Crimebake writer's conference on November 11th and a few more book groups before the tour is complete. It would be great to see you at an event or to add your book group to my schedule!
There are now 40 pictures in the Taking Stock photo gallery if you're interested.
And the winners are...
The winner of the September drawing is Beth F. She hasn't responded to her email announcement yet, so Beth, if you're out there, dig into your email box. If Beth hasn't responded by November 1, we'll draw 2 winners then.
There is a running list of winners on the contest page if you're ever curious to know who's winning all those books.
Thanks for reading,
CJ
Inside this Issue:
Contest Corner: A kinder, gentler clue
CJ with Computer Scientist, Stephen Welch
If you've been to the website lately, you've seen this picture of me with Stephen Welch. Stephen is holding a bottle of 2005 Proprietary White from Westport Rivers.
It was great talking with him when we were done taking photographs. He shared some stories about how he followed the clues to the message. Steve didn't use any fancy computer skills to solve the puzzle. He worked it out the same way I've heard others are doing it, using a pencil and counting.
Two suggestions came out of our discussion. First, use highlighter instead of pen in your book. You can still read through it later. Second, it is ok to photocopy a couple of pages that you are working on and write on the copy. Also, the new version of the book is MUCH easier to work with!
Talking about the contest with Stephen was a strange experience for me. I encoded that message 2 years ago and I've never spoken it aloud to anyone (still haven't). But seeing it in Steve's email message startled me.
There is no one else that I can talk to about all the clues and hints I've left behind. It was a really great release for me to let out all those comments I've been holding back all this time.
I hope that more of you can have that conversation with me soon! Steve's all alone out front until then.
Newsletter Contest
If you're getting this forwarded from a friend, make sure you subscribe to the newsletter to be eligible for the free monthly drawing!!
Have you seen the article in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette? If you haven't you're missing a good clue to the Hidden Code Contest. This one isn't hidden or encoded. It's right out in plain view.
We took about 20 photographs to get this shot and I mixed it up a little, giving different clues in many of them. I like the photo that Christine chose. If you can figure out what we're looking at, it should really help you to narrow your search.
If you were standing behind us when we took this photo, your search would be over!
Good Luck!!!
© 22 West Books 2006.
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