A quantum game of two halves by Cally Phillips

I am delighted to report the epublication of my 2004 play CHASING WAVES.

Two men. One box. The possibilities are limitless. Forget everything you’ve learned and enter a whole new world where we question, along with two characters who may or may not be Wittgenstein and Schrodinger, Who are we? What is language? What's in the box? And most importantly: What is the box? In the year that Higgs Boson may or may not be found, Chasing Waves melds the issues of quantum physics with the possibilities of using quantum theory in a dramatic context, bringing a whole new level to absurdist drama.

Once you’ve dealt with formatting issues (and I have to say the whole process has been a lot easier this time around than with my previous ebook novels BRAND LOYALTY and THE THREADS OF TIME) the ebook format is perfect for plays. Playscripts are always expensive to buy and near impossible to get mainstream published in the first place AND without the constraints of printing costs, it’s possible to put LOTS of extras in. Chasing Waves was an unusual project in that it was as much about process as performance and featured open rehearsals, for which a decent amount of printed material was generated to help audience understand the process. This is included in the ebook along with other resources used to help actors and audience alike. And on top of that – if that’s not enough for less than the price of a cup of coffee (so I’m told in some parts of the world… I would NEVER pay £2.50 for a cup of coffee) there is the unpublished 1995 play BENITO BOCCANEGRA’S BIG BREAK which sort of sparked off the whole dramatically absurd journey that became Chasing Waves.

It's available both in Kindle format and epub

The play is reviewed here by Jan Needle (fellow Authors Electric writer) which leads me to the other half of this quantum post…. This month the indie ebook review site (currently a prototype ) should go live- on 21st Feb to be exact. Earlier posts have alluded to the concept but it’s time to make it a reality. The site aims to fill a gap which Authors Electric cannot do (no criticism intended, just trying to add value!) – give full length reviews for ebooks. The site will feature professional writers using a peer review system where books they have enjoyed get positive reviews. The hope is to build a place where people can go when they want to find a really good indie read amongst the masses of ‘product’ out there on the market place. Reviews on eretailer sites have a varied press…. Anyone can write one and so they can become subject to the criticism of either being positive simply because written by family and friends or negative because written by people with axes to grind or no critical capacities at all. Indie e book review hopes to develop and retain a level of critical quality that can be achieved by reviewers being professional working writers, thereby giving the reviews a stamp of authority enough to encourage folks to buy the book!

At the moment the experience of setting this up for me is rather like some demented game of Chinese Whispers where I am trying to match up potential reviewers with ebooks. I need about 5 more committed regular reviewers ( writing monthly or bimonthly reviews of 300 words, plus ‘occasional’ reviewers helping out as and when they come across a ‘gem.’) I didn’t think this would be such a task as I reckoned that since everyone says they are reading much more on their Kindles, they must be finding gems all over the place and when you’ve liked a book, writing 300 words on it is hardly a chore but most writers appear to be busy busy busy at the moment. I appreciate that but it would really help me if the odd one of you here who reads contemporary fiction (literary, general, thriller or crime) would engage with the site. That’s as close to begging as I get. I think it’s a good idea. I really think it could benefit us all. Certainly in setting up this site I've come across 4 incredible books that I'd never have found let alone read otherwise. That's got to be a good thing.

So my challenge to you fellow Electric Authors is as follows:

What is the best ebook you’ve read in 2011? Tell us by writing a 300 word review of it and emailing it to indieebookreview@btinternet.com And while you’re doing that, send links to your own ebook so that I can get it into the (soon to be patented) Chinese Whispers review system and get your work a review as a reward for all your hard work! Paraphrasing Masterchef – homework doesn’t get easier than this. Think of it less as homework and more as marketing and just write that review. Please. And if you are, or know of any professional writers who have the time to write regular reviews for the site - point them my way. Thanks.