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James Patterson announces "continuous publishing plan"

Publishers Weekly has reported that best selling author James Patterson, disatisfied with the limitations of publishing only 18 or 20 books a year, has left his long-time publisher Little, Brown and launched his own continuous publishing venture.

Matters apparently came to head, Publishers Weekly reported, after a confrontation between Patterson and his publisher in which Little, Brown told the author that they simply had no more printing or binding capacity and could not add any more of his titles to their list.

Following heretofore secret development in conjuction with Intel, the noted chip maker, Patterson has developed the Patterson Plot Transfer Chip or PPTC which can be implanted in the cerebral cortex and wirelessly receive 24 hour a day, 7 day a week transmission of endless James Patterson plots. No sooner will the reader (now known as the recipient) finish an adventure of the Womens Murder Club then an episode of Michael Bennett will begin.

The chips will be provided free with a 2 year contract which can be obtained at a wireless phone kiosk in any mall. You can then proceed to the nearby Piercing Pagoda to have your PPTC installed in your brain.

In announcing the program, a Patterson spokesman said, "Now, readers will no longer have to bother with Sue Grafton, Mary Higgins Clark or any of those other book-a-year people who keep you waiting endlessly for the next volume."

As a result of the departure of Mr. Patterson Hachette Book Group, which owns Little, Brown announced layoffs that will probably total 60% of the staff. Hachette is expecting write-offs amounting to nearly $4 a share and will announce a loss for the entire fiscal year ending in June.

Mr. Patterson was reportedly en route, followed by several busloads of his co-authors, to his new world headquarters in Boca Raton, Florida.

Weekly Special--woof if you like dog mysteries

This Week's Special is the first in a new series from a popular writer who has heretofore featured cats in her mysteries. Now she's turned to a character who discovers that she can hear what dogs are thinking. Find out what your dog really thinks in the Weekly Special along with 20% savings and free shipping.

Weekly Special for Kids--an encyclopedia of baby animals

Our Weekly Special for Kids is a book full of both delightful illustrations and a whole lot of info as we look at baby animals from puppies and piglets to puggles and poults. You can pick up this wonderful volume at a 20% savings with free shipping, but only if you order this week.

What you told us about ebooks

Last week we asked readers to tell us about ebooks and take a short survey. Boy, did you respond--over 100 folks chimed in.

The sample was split right down the middle on owning an ereader and not. Among those not owning one, many were quite passionate about their devotion to the printed book.

For those who owned an ebook reader, two thirds had a Kindle with another 15% with a Nook and the rest divided among iPads, Sony Readers and others.

Many in the sample were suprised by the idea that using the Kindle locked them into ebook purchases from Amazon.

We have further details of the survey as well as background information on various ebook alternatives on the website.

The survey is still open if you'd like to contribute your thoughts.

Our thanks to the many customers who took the time to write to us about ebooks.

Come celebrate with Nancy on April 2

On Saturday, April 2 we'll be celebrating publication of Nancy Martin's Sticky Fingers, the second in her Roxy Abruzzo series set right here in Pittsburgh.

Please join us if you can. If you can't and would like a signed copy of Sticky Fingers, even a personalized one, please pre-order now.

Hallie Ephron visit MLB with a new suspenser, April 10

Hallie Ephron will be at MLB on Sunday, April 10 at 2 pm. She'll be here with her new novel of suspense, Come and Find Me.

Come and Find Me is at once a virtual and a real thriller. This fresh plot involves a computer executive who lives as a recluse while carrying out her thriving security business in a virtual world. When her sister goes missing, both must come together without destroying a life worth living. Only genius plotting and brilliant characters can pull this off from the pen of a writer from the MIT neighborhood.

In addition to her novel writing, Hallie is also the author of several how-to guides for aspiring mystery writers. She also reviews books for the Boston Globe.

Please let us know if you can join us for Hallie's talk and signing.

Lisa Scottoline, April 18

It's April so it's time for Lisa Scottoline's annual visit to MLB. She's here with a powerful new book, Save Me, perhaps the best thing she's written. Naturally, she'll be accompanied by TastyKakes to the delight of her audience.

We're holding the talk and signing at the Oakmont Carnegie Library on Monday, April 18 at 7 pm. Admission is $5 or free with purchase of the book, Save Me. We are aware that the event is on the first night of Passover but unfortunately weren't able to arrange another date.

Spring is here (?), so are April staff picks

Well, Spring may not really be here but our April Staff Picks are ready to show you the way to great reading. We have a full assortment of books for every taste. Why not take a look and see if anything tickles your fancy.

New Arrivals

Quite a pile of New Arrivals as the April books begin to arrive in force. Expect even more on Monday.

Among the new arrivals are a Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear, Rosemary Harris's latest gardening mystery, Slugfest, a brand-new Carolyn Hart. Also, new books by Jonathan Kellerman, Sara Rosett, Carola Dunn and many others.

Jean M. Auel has published Land of Painted Caves, a sixth book in her Children of Earth series that began with the classic Clan of the Cave Bear.

We have received Nancy Martin's latest Pittsburgh mystery, Sticky Fingers, and we've got signed copies. If you're in the area please join us for Nancy's publication party on April 2.

On the British New Arrivals front we've got some new Graham Hurley, featuring Portsmouth's DI Faraday. Also, Rebecca Tope, known for her Costwolds mysteries with housesitter Thea Osborne, wrote an earlier series of novels featuring undertaker Drew Slocombe and his extended family. Three of the books have been recently reissued.

We've also got a beautiful reissue of Bulldog Drummond, first publshed in 1920. This collection of stories introduced the title character, a demobilized WW I officer seeking adventure as an early form of PI. Delightful period pieces.

Signed first editions

What's on the website now

Here's what you can find at www.mysterylovers.com:

Find us on Facebook

We're over the 1,000 fan mark. How cool! Glad so many of you like to stop by our page.

Come visit us at facebook.com/mysterylovers where you can join the 1,060 folks who are already our fans.

Upcoming Events

April 2 - Nancy Martin
April 10 - Hallie Ephron
April 18 - Lisa Scottoline
More events...

Go out there and enjoy that early spring weather, if you have any

Richard, Mary Alice and the MLB Staff

Did we mention that we won a Raven Award?

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