Newsletter (Fall 2007)

Dear Friends,

It's been a long, hot, yet exciting summer for Ex Machina Press. After Silent Voices: Volume Three received Honorable Mention at the New York Book Festival, we thought there would be a lull in activity for us. On the contrary, we're just getting started with two more book festivals, a couple of publication announcements, and more news about the submission call for Silent Voices Volume Four!!
 

Silent Voices Volume Three reviewed in Poetic Diversity

But let's start things off with a nice review. The latest issue of Poetic Diversity reviewed Silent Voices: Volume Three. Check it out:
http://www.poeticdiversity.org/main/columns.php?recordID=1157&date=2007-08-01

Now that you got a little glimpse, drop on by our Bookstore. All volumes are now available on Barnes and Noble and Amazon.com. Whenever you purchase a copy, be sure to write a review. We do hope you enjoy what these authors have to offer.
http://www.exmachinapress.com/books.htm
 

Staff Publication Announcements: "Big Brown Bag" by Mark D' Anna and "The Grandmaster" by Peter A. Balaskas

Life has been busy for our staff. Ex Machina Press will publish its first author: Mark D'Anna's short story collection Big Brown Bag:

The stories in Big Brown Bag offer not just a world, but worlds. They are a little humorous, a little surreal, sometimes painful, but always hopeful. Here are twelve stories peopled by small boys who can’t keep their arms and legs on; old men obsessed with dead celebrities; young men obsessed with themselves; war veterans deeply in love with ghosts; old ladies mildly in love with anonymous waiters; a pregnant woman who unexpectedly finds herself un-pregnant; and, of course, Santa Claus.

Here is what people are saying about Big Brown Bag:

"Mark D'Anna is one of those rare writers who arrives fully formed with his first collection, as if he's been on our book shelves for years and we somehow missed him. Big Brown Bag is a stirring debut filled with rich characters who know much about darkness and love -- perhaps too much -- and want to let you in on their secrets. These are stories about people walking a razor's edge and D'Anna, a rich, new voice that needs to be heard, is never afraid to let them slip off."
-- Tod Goldberg (author of Simplify)

"Mark D¹Anna's Big Brown Bag is a wonderful debut of short stories, quick, wry, teetering on the edges of the real and the surreal, comedy and violence, balance and madness; opening to depth when it seems most accessible, mystery when it holds reality up to our faces. Its characters are ordinary people in weird circumstances and weird people in ordinary ones, caught in webs of love and the macabre, people who struggle with choice and the future the way the rest of us struggle with our pasts. It¹s just plain fun to read."
-- Chuck Rosenthal (author of The Heart of Mars)

Copies will be available at our Bookstore (as well as Amazon and Barnes and Noble) toward the end of the month, but you can pre-order your copy at Mark D'Anna's website:
www.markdanna.com
 

Chief Editor Peter A. Balaskas has made his publishing debut with his short novel: The Grandmaster

Welcome to the Wagner Institute for Mental Treatment and Investigations. Since 1966, Dr. Johann Wagner has guided his team of paranormal investigators and psychologists in solving supernatural crimes and unlocking the secrets of the human mind. But now a horror from his past has come back to destroy not only Wagner, but everything he has built. Wagner once used his paranormal powers to escape the horrors of the Holocaust, but can his aging mind and body stop the terror that has returned to claim him?
Here is what people are saying about "The Grandmaster"

The Grandmaster is a cleverly concocted novella combining tragedy and hope from the bleakest sadness and intolerable cruelty to an unconditional kindness." Bookpleasures.com

"The Grandmaster is a remarkable story that illustrates both the depths of depravity humanity is capable of, as well as the boundless strength of the human spirit."
Clubreading.com

Grandmaster is an exceptional view on the horrors of the Holocaust. This is truly a rambling tale of the mind and the paranormal realm. Definitely a holocaust story within it own rights. This book is a fascinating read! Ghostwriter Literary Reviews

You can purchase a copy of "The Grandmaster" through Bards and Sages Publishing -- www.bardsandsages.com/grandmaster. Copies are available at Amazon and Bards and Noble.

Ex Machina Press appears at Santa Barbara Book Festival AND West Hollywood Book Fair (Sept 29-30, 2007)

Ex Machina Press will appear at the 9th Annual Santa Barbara Book Festival (9/29) and the 6th Annual West Hollywood Book Fair (9/30). For location and times, check out their websites:

• Santa Barbara Book Festival

• West Hollywood Book Fair

These festivals will mark the appearance of Big Brown Bag. And, as usual, we will hold a free raffle for Barnes and Noble gift cards. So, drop on by and say hi.
 

Submission Call for Silent Voices: Volume Four Continues Until November 10

It's been only a month and already we have 200 submissions for Silent Voices: a creative mosaic, Volume Four. So, be sure to submit your best works to us (especially for the $300 Prize contest) on our Submission Page. To get a good idea what we are looking for, purchase a sample copy of any volume of Silent Voices:
http://www.exmachinapress.com/books.htm



We can never say this enough: thank you all very much for your support and patronage. Take care and stay cool, wherever you are. :))

Best,

Your Ex Machina Press Staff

Ex Machina Press, LLC
www.exmachinapress.com

If you want to be added or taken off our mailing list, send the subject heading “Please add” or “Please remove” to Exmachinapab@aol.com.
 

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Aug 2006 • Jan 2007 • May 2007 • Fall 2007 • Winter 2007