I just learned something from a fellow writer that may be of real interest both to readers and writers.

For readers, HarperCollins of London has created an online community called Authonomy that is “much more than a community of book lovers.”

For writers, and directly benefiting readers in search of new voices, Authonomy is “on a mission to flush out the brightest, freshest new writing talent around.”

If this is of interest to you, by way of exploring Authonomy, please check out my first novel BEGINNER’S LUKE, described by Apex Reviews as a “mind-bending journey through the mind of the ultimate iconoclast,” at

http://authonomy.com/ViewBook.aspx?bookid=1647

If you register on Authonomy (which is free and simple to do), you’re eligible to “Back the Book” by clicking on this option at the right of BEGINNER’S LUKE’s webpage. This will put BEGINNER’S LUKE on your bookshelf. With BEGINNER’S LUKE (or your own book!) on enough people's bookshelves, HarperCollins will consider the book for publication.

BEGINNER’S LUKE has already transcended the dreaded “slush pile” once before. In 2005 a respected New York publisher, whose authors feature a National Book Award finalist in addition to dozens of prestigious award winners, made an offer for the six-volume BEGINNER'S LUKE Series, which was selected out of nearly 8,000 manuscripts.

Having declined this offer in favor of an experiment in self-publishing that has yielded thousands of online readers for the first three books of the Series, I’m now willing to begin considering additional offers. What better way than to do so from a position of strength, with a show of popular support?

Please “Share the Adventure!” by backing BEGINNER’S LUKE today at

http://authonomy.com/ViewBook.aspx?bookid=1647