[Tim Murphy]

Here's an article on E-books, a good one: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-574...carouselMain.0

Because I am a financial planner and a poet, I've seen a lot of publishers' closely guarded financial statements. It costs not much more to publish a cook book or a dog training book which can sell tens of thousands of copies than to publish a poet who will sell 500 copies. The difference is just paper and shipping. I think one of the bravest guys in the world is Alex, who has founded Able Muse Press to bring us really good poetry. I don't see Alex' financial statements, but I know what he's up against.

The most shocking thing to me in this article is that Borders owed Penguin $41 million when they filed for bankruptcy. That's a pretty big trade credit! The Sullivan/Murphy Beowulf is published by Penguin's parent, Longman/Pearson, whose president for literature is a hunting buddy of mine. If Barnes and Noble goes down the loss will be graver by far. Today I am going to go spend some money on books.