It didn't take long -- just 2 days -- for my newly published book to filter through to Amazon, where you can now buy it for the merest price of $7. And of course free shipping for Amazon Prime members.

Now to put this in perspective for all you fine parents out there who want your children growing up smart and literate, you probably can't get a babysitter for $7/hour any more. And, hoping they actually take to it, my book ought to keep them quiet for a few hours. So, you can call this a very good bargain, yes?

Plus, with The 7 you start planting the seeds of lessons that will develop through the course of the series. And this amounts to a very good thing, unless you have a moral objection to stories with pixies and talking moles and such. In which case, you might look for another way to have your $7 care for your children. I won't be offended.  ;)

The 7 was indeed published today, and I'm all ready for a STAMPEDE of fans. But since that starts with a few lucky kids making me an even luckier writer by finding the story, liking it, and sharing it with their friends, I invite you to try it out for the very mere price of $7.

Today it is only online through my web store, but in a few days it will be on Amazon and will of course have free shipping for Amazon Prime members. You can also have bookstores and libraries order it through traditional distribution channels, however it could take a few weeks to show up in their systems.

Importantly, I'm inviting fans to contribute art inspired by the story to its website at www.The7BookSeries.com. One of the book's original illustrations (drawn by one of my youth artists) is on the site already.

Can't wait to have you give it a go and leave your feedback on Amazon about how you liked it!  ;)

Short of any surprises, looks like I'm on target for publishing "The 7" this week. The goal is June 21, 2012, as this is precisely 6 months before the end of the world (you know ... Mayan calendar and all that), and as our heroes enter the Master's Cave, they indeed discover that our world faces a coming Tribulation, and they must decide if they want to contribute to a different kind of outcome.

For clarity: the Mayan calendar has nothing to do with the book besides me having a fun target date for publication.

Importantly, the final version sets the illustration plan for the entire series. I looked to 7 young artists each to do one illustration for the book. As the series progresses and the heroes age, artist ages will go up as well. Though with each book, I'll look for a NEW set of 7 artists. So the goal is to have 49 illustrations by 49 artists after 7 books are finished.

I will soon have a site up specifically for this series of books as well, so kids can come and ask questions and read about its development. Also so they can see about contributing art for future books when we're ready for that stage.