Mt. Sneffels Press, a Colorado Micropress » American Flying Broomstick

The American Flying Broomstick Web Pages Moved

dave — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 03:23:38 +0000

The AmericanFlyingBroomstick.com Web Pages Consolidated into MSP

As part of an ongoing “look and feel” consolidation, the web pages for www.americanflyingbroomstick.com have been placed onto the Mt. Sneffels Press server. All the information is intact, including the videos. You can go to the AFB pages directly or you can navigate by using the menu bar at the top of the page. Hover the mouse over “Projects” and you can click on “Flying Broomstick,” which has all the links. As usual, you can order any of the three books in the series via our catalog page.

The “Technology” page has been bumped up a notch to be its own “Project” page. I get questions all the time about doing this and that. You’ll find the answers on the Technology page.

And the “Weather Station” is also its own project. It took several hours of work to get the weather station info to upload properly, but I finally persuaded WordPress to do an “include,” which means the page always contains the latest data. That meant a plug-in to permit “including” some php code. If that sounds technical, it is!

In the past I had a couple earlier pre-broomstick books online and took them down to reduce expenses. Now that I’m consolidating on this site, I will re-post them. The two books are in the “About” series: About Dan and About Phillip. Watch for them!

If you find any problems (stray links or other disconnects), please alert me via a comment to this post. Thanks!

Experiment: New Broom Intro Video

dave — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 03:12:18 +0000

This is an experiment. Randy Cassingham made a very nice video introduction for me to put on the www.americanflyingbroomstick.com home page. And he did a great job! But I did it on a day that my bipolar illness had taken me way, way down. So, I thought I’d try something a little different:

The production values stink, but I would like some feedback on the concept. The video is much shorter and hopefully more entertaining. So, compare it with the old one here: (Be careful–the volume on this second video is much louder.)

Remember, the production values are much better for the second, so think about content, length, humor, etc. Tell me what you think by commenting using the box below.

The old video has been viewed literally hundreds of times, but has not resulted in hundreds of sales. Help me define a video that turns the merely curious into bona fide broomsters!

Diehard Fan Loves Flying Broomstick Series

dave — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 05:02:14 +0000

Reader Chelsey, shown here in a Facebook photo, loves the American Flying Broomstick series

It’s nice to get fan mail. I guess it’s the best part of being an author—learning that other people get as much fun out of the books as I had writing them. Here’s a comment from Chelsey, a young man who lives in Denver:

“Bravo again! I just finished book 2 and can’t wait to snag book 3! I just can’t put them down once I start reading! The books not only make me wish I could fly a broomstick, but as a life-long resident of Ridgway that has since moved away, it is like taking a trip home. It is especially enjoyable to personally know the characters; it often makes all the laughs that much more enjoyable! I spent a large amount of my reading time laughing or chuckling. I think my girlfriend thought I was a little nuts at first because I would just randomly break the silence of the room in tear-jerking laughter! Thanks for all the hard work Dave! Great books! Now its on to book 3! Any plans for a book 4? Best Regards, and Safe Brooming, Chelsey”

I remember Chelsey when he was in high school several years back. He led the team from our tiny little high school that entered a solar-powered car in a national race. He’s a ham radio operator, too. Sharp guy!

Well, regarding Book 4, I have the idea—see the chapters in Book 3 that take place in Manchester, England and you’ll see what it’ll involve. But right now I’ve decided to try my hand at a full-blown fantasy with the working title of The Unexpected Traveler, so Book 4 will be put off a bit.

Find out what Chelsey’s enjoying so much—buy your copy of The Story of the Great American Flying Broomstick today!

At Last! Broom 3 is on the American Flying Broomstick site!

dave — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 05:11:32 +0000

The cover art for Broom 1

One would think, given that Broom 3 has been out for awhile, that I’d have the American Flying Broomstick site up to date. Well, it is now, only three and a half months after I announced it here on this site. At least I can say that I’ve been updating things on the website. (I’m devoting most of my free time to my all-new fantasy book, The Unexpected Traveler.) So click on the image or click here to see the updated American Flying Broomstick website. Oh, rats, I’ve got to do a video too!

Something to Send to a Friend

dave — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 01:45:23 +0000

Do you love the Broom books? Want to spread the word to your friends? Click on the image for a pdf of a flyer.

Hey, all Broom lovers! Give me a hand!

Do you love the Flying Broomstick books? Would you like to show something to a friend? Then click on the image to open a pdf of a flyer you can print and hand out. Help me spread the word! Together we’ll soon reach the tipping point where word of mouth spreads on its own.

People new to the broom phenomenon are signing up for the free e-mail chapter-a-week for the first Broom book, Genesis. And those who buy the hardcopy books rave about it. I love the fan mail—keep it coming! What I’m hearing is that you’re finding the books funny and enjoyable. I’ve been told they’re so realistic that if someone saw me flying one for real, they wouldn’t bat an eye.

But those free chapters each week only cover the first book. To enjoy the second, you’ll either have to order the hard copy or else read it on Kindle. And the third book is now available—the best yet. Order your copy today!

Many have said they don’t have the time to sit with a book, but they enjoy their free chapter a week. That’s fine! But there are 117 chapters, so it’ll take over two years. Why not order the hardcopy and slip it in your briefcase. Then you can read a chapter here and there at your convenience. Or, of course, there’s Kindle. Books 1 and 2 are on Kindle, and Book 3 will be soon.

How do I keep this operation afloat? By selling hardcopy books, of course! So give me a hand and order copies for yourself and your friends. If you’re the kind of person who enjoys the books, I’ll bet your friends will too.

Broom 3 is Here!

dave — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 03:58:58 +0000

The third book in the Flying Broomstick series is here! Order today!

The long-awaited third book in the Story of the Great American Flying Broomstick series is here. Entitled FOG at the Crossroads, it tells the amazing story of the loss and recovery of the Holy Grail.

The official launch date is Saturday, October 3rd at the Regional Mensa Convention in Reno, Nevada. I’ve been invited to give a 90-minute talk about flying broomsticks, similar to what I presented at the 2008 Mensa National Convention in Denver. But you can order the book today.

Here’s the blurb:

“Book 3 in the American Flying Broomstick series starts with a bombshell. The tiny Fraternal Order of the Grail (FOG), the group that has safeguarded the Holy Grail for two millennia, has misplaced it. The Keeper, Reggie Baker, moved the Grail to its new secret repository and then died while walking his dog—before he could tell the other brethren where he’d put it! The loss causes a rift between powerful American brother Hal Bender and the English branch centered in London, and Dave is caught in the middle. Dave makes haste to London to organize FOG’s new young novices to find the Holy Grail—by using flying broomsticks, of course. But the media is full of rumors that FOG will take back the Power that enables broomsticks to fly. And the sinister Plasma Vortex organization is after Dave’s wand so they can use its power for extortion and general mayhem. FOG at the Crossroads records Dave’s high adventure in the American West and in Southern England. Come along for the wild ride!”

Check it out and order today. See our catalog for order information.

Reader Savors Broom 1

dave — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 03:43:53 +0000

Here’s a comment from Pam:

My mom bought the first two Great American Broomsticks as a gift for me at [ARRL Amateur Radio] Field Day. I started reading #1 Sat night and had to be very firm with myself to go to bed so I could get back to the mesa the next morning. I finished up this afternoon (Mon.) I love the first person style and am trying to decide whether to save book two for a day or two so I can savor book one longer—or if I just won’t sleep tonight!

I’ll be watching for #3. Thanks for writing them and thanks to my mom for being sharp enough to snag them for me.

Thanks for the kind words, Pam. And Broom 3 is now ready for order!

Oh my! I qualify!

dave — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 03:35:05 +0000

I had a blast at last year’s Mensa national convention in Denver, selling every copy of Broom 1 and Broom 2 that I had with me. And I’m looking forward to speaking by invitation at the Mensa Regional Convention in Reno on October 3rd. About flying broomsticks of course!

But I never thought I could become a member.

I told those who urged me to take the test that I didn’t see any point in paying $40 to take an exam I knew I’d fail.

Well, good friend Randy Cassingham mentioned in his This is True weekly newsletter that even old SAT scores can be used to qualify. Hmph…I took the SAT in high school back in 1969. I couldn’t find a copy of my score. But I did run across my Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores from 1978 when I was in the Air Force and wanted to start a Masters program in Electrical Engineering.

And my scores qualified. So…my application for Mensa went off today.

Something I thought would never happen!

Broom 3 Days Away from Availability

dave — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 04:36:02 +0000

The third book in the American Flying Broomstick Series, FOG at the Crossroads, will be available within days.

At last! It’s here! The third book in the series, The Story of the Great American Flying Broomstick, Book 3: FOG at the Crossroads, is just about here. I received the proof from the printer last week. Everything is as it should be. And the print run should be here this week or next. As soon as it is, I’ll put a “Buy Now” button in the catalog.

Here’s the blurb for the new book:

Book 3 in the American Flying Broomstick series starts with a bombshell. The tiny Fraternal Order of the Grail (FOG), the group that has safeguarded the Holy Grail for two millennia, has misplaced it. The Keeper, Reggie Baker, moved the Grail to its new secret repository and then died while walking his dog—before he could tell the other brethren where he’d put it! The loss causes a rift between powerful American brother Hal Bender and the English branch centered in London, and Dave is caught in the middle. Dave makes haste to London to organize FOG’s new young novices to find the Holy Grail—by using flying broomsticks, of course. But the media is full of rumors that FOG will take back the Power that enables broomsticks to fly. And the sinister Plasma Vortex organization is after Dave’s wand so they can use its power for extortion and general mayhem. FOG at the Crossroads records Dave’s high adventure in the American West and in Southern England. Come along for the wild ride!

So watch this space for availability!

The official launch will be at the Regional Mensa Convention in Reno, NV, in early October, but unofficial availability starts as soon as I receive the print run.

Broom 2 Now Available on Kindle

dave — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 02:46:52 +0000

Book 2, "The Missing Wand," is now available on Kindle

Book 2 in the Flying Broomstick series, or, more formally, “The Story of the Great American Flying Broomstick Book 2: The Missing Wand,” is now available on Kindle. Click on the image to be taken to the Amazon Kindle website where you can download it to your Kindle via Whispernet for only $6.95. Check it out!

The Kindle seems to be the next great “thing” in publishing. It’s easy as pie to upload the content and I can make corrections to the text if those turn out to be required. It’s straightforward to use—my 84-year-old mother uses one.

That makes both Broom 1 and Broom 2 available on Kindle, each for $6.95. I dropped the price to something very affordable (although, to be truthful, if you can afford a Kindle, you can afford more for my books!) and I still make more money per copy than selling print editions via Amazon. I will be publishing Broom 3, “FOG at the Crossroads,” via Kindle as soon as I have it ready to go to the printer. Stay tuned!