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Back on January 1st, 1998, I began
writing a book that was intended to share a message. Before then, I was an avid reader and had
written short articles, but had never attempted a project like writing a
book.
After six months of work, I finished a manuscript
which was given the working title of “On The Head Of A Pin”. Then I began the even more difficult
work of getting that manuscript published.
After several more months, lots of research, and
finally signing up with a Literary Agent, the book was contracted to a
small publisher in Daytona Beach, Florida. That was the good news. The bad news was that I had to give
them all of the rights to the story, which I later found out one should
NEVER do.
For over a year, “On The Head Of A Pin” was
available only in a proprietary e-book format, which could only be viewed
on a PC type computer. Then it was
released in an early form of “Print On Demand”. But it was available in print, and I
did everything that I could to get it in the hands of readers.
After a couple of years, my late first wife, Linda,
and I met some people who were really active in a community interested in
Angels. While the book was more
about enlightenment than Angels, they took an interest in it and made
several suggestions for ways to make it more popular. One of these was a new name, another
was the addition of a resource list in the back of the book, and the last
was what picture should be on the cover.
While I was a bit concerned about the suggested
name, “Angels On Assignment”, I was not aware of another series of books,
which was already in print, and very popular, with that same name. However, I approached the publisher
and they agreed to adopt the changes.
So, with the new title and cover, which really did
not fit the story, or the message, I continued trying to get the message
out to as many people as possible.
Prior to that name change, Linda and I had met a
motion picture producer, who became very interested in the story, but was
concerned about my contract with the publisher, and dubious about whether
he would be able to negotiate a deal with them. And this proved to be a problem that
lasted longer than the producer’s interest in the project.
Finally, in the first half of 2007, the publisher
decided to downsize their catalog, offering to release any author who
wanted their rights back on their book.
I jumped on this opportunity, deciding that I might do better by
using the improving technologies to republish it myself.
However, life got in the way of my progress in doing
that until now. Everything from
the demands of my day job to the passing of Linda to beginning a
wonderful new life with my second wife, Janie, has delayed my work on
this book.
So, why am I writing this now, near the end of June
2011?
Because this week, in both Kindle and Nook formats,
the message of my book is once again available. But, once again it is available with a
new name, “Angels At Play”, and with a new cover.
“Angels At Play” really describes the majority of
the characters in the story and how they exist in the Universe. They are Angels, they know how and why
the Universe was created, and they know the pleasant and unpleasant
aspects of it all. But, with all
of that, they are still playful and fun.
They play games, watch movies, and even pull pranks on one
another.
The cover makes use of a parody design that I
developed as a publicity item, and which turned into my logo.
Now, “Angels At Play” is not only my website name,
it is also the name of the book and the graphic that you see on the
cover.
If you have read “Angels At Play”, in either of its
earlier incarnations, please go out to Barnes & Noble and/or Amazon
and leave a review.
However, if you have never read this book, please
consider buying “Angels At Play” in Nook
or Kindle format. Then, if you would, please do me the
great favor of leaving a review.
Thank you very much for visiting. Here's
wishing you another perfect day.
Mike Howard
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