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February is a great month for the EMS reader. Paramedic Peter Canning and Lt. Michael Morse have both published new books.
I have a copy of Responding from Lt. Michael Morse, author of Rescuing Providence, on my nightstand.
I just downloaded the Kindle edition of Mortal Men: Paramedics on the Streets of Hartford by Peter Canning.
I am looking forward to reading both books.
You can find these and other titles by paramedics in Medical Author Chat book store (Amazon affiliate program)
In this episode of the Medical Author Chat podcast I talk to Clif Castleman, WEMT, about The Comprehensive Guide to Wilderness First Aid. We discuss his background as an Eagle Scout, American Red Cross instructor, volunteer EMT, and degree in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management from Penn State University. Clif is a founder of the Center for Wilderness Safety and also works as a safety ranger with the National Park Service in Virginia.
The Comprehensive Guide to Wilderness First Aid is a compact book meant to fit in a first aid kit and be accessible and easy to understand by the reader. The book and the Wilderness First Aid course are used by Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, SAR professionals, Sierra Club leaders, and outdoor enthusiasts.
We also discuss Clif’s process for writing the book and his experience publishing with Lulu.com.
Buy the book, take a course, and learn more from any of these links:
WFABook.com
RestockYourKit.com
WildSafe.org – Center for Wilderness Safety
Facebook.com/WFABook
Noted book author and marketing expert Seth Godin wrote a post recently, Advice for Authors part 1 and 2. If you are an aspiring book author it is certainly a post worth reading.
He writes, “Blog mentions, on the other hand, matter a lot.”
He does not mention podcasts. I am not sure how much podcasts matter for authors and book sales. I can tell you that Amazon affiliate sales (through my links) of books by authors interviewed on this podcast are low. For most books my affiliate sales are probably in the single digits. A few titles have achieved low double digit sales. What I don’t know is how often a podcast plants a seed for later mention.
If you are an author do podcast appearances matter? Have they helped your sales?
If you are a podcast listener does hearing an author on this or other podcasts influence your purchasing decision?
The market for books by paramedics and EMTs is a micro niche. Maybe 10 books sold through a podcast for this niche is significant. I am not sure.
If you are looking for book ideas I added an Amazon book store recently, EMS Books for your Kindle.
Happy New Year!
A few days ago I read about the 12 n ’12 Reading Challenge on the Books on the Nightstand Blog.
Are you ready for a 2012 reading challenge. These are my ideas, but you are welcome to come up with your own 12 n ’12 reading challenge.
1. 12 books written by paramedics
2. 12 EMS World or JEMS continuing education articles
3. 12 books written by authors from your service area
4. 12 books about the history of your city, region, or state
5. 12 books from any genre on an eReader
6. 12 books from any genre in hardcover or softcover
7. 12 chapters in your paramedic or EMT textbook
8. 12 journal articles on a hot topic like capnography, airway management, or pain management
9. 12 blog posts from the archives at theEMTSpot.com, theHappyMedic.com, or the AmbulanceDriverFiles.com
10. 12 books in a 2nd language
11. 12 books on leadership, management, or teaching
12. 12 books on computer programming, accounting, or graphic design
What are your ideas for a 12 n ’12 challenge?
Millions and millions of the Kindle Fire were opened on Christmas morning. I have been enjoying my Kindle Fire
Three ways to get the most out of your Kindle Fire.
1. Check out Digital Books from your local or regional library. I check out books, including new releases, from the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium. I receive an email when a book I have held is available and ready for download. The link takes me to Amazon and I can download the book to my Kindle device or Smartphone with the Kindle App.
2. Select one Kindle book for free each month. I used this feature to read the first two books in the Hunger Games triology. In early January I will be eligible to download my next free book. Browse Kindle eBooks
3. Download a free app everyday from the Amazon android app store. One of my daily website visits is the Amazon android app store. A paid app is offered for free everyday. I have downloaded some of my favorite apps, like the ad free version of TripIt, and on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day I was able to download interactive books, Charlie Brown Christmas and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, for my kids. Browse the Amazon Android App Store
Between the free apps and cost free library downloads my Kindle Fire will have paid for itself in early 2012.
How are you getting the most out of your Kindle Fire?
Responding, the second book, from EMT and author Michael Morse is now available at EmergencyStuff.com. There is not a Kindle version available yet but I imagine it will be available soon.
Mr. Morse is the author of the phenomenal book, Rescuing Providence
Listen to a previous episode of the Medical Author Chat about Rescuing Providence.
If you have already read Responding I would welcome a review post for the Medical Author Chat.
Thanks.
An alert reader notified me of this spectacularly titled new book: Stuck Up! 100 Objects Inserted and Ingested in Places They Shouldn’t Be. This might be the perfect holiday gift for the paramedic in your life that swears they have seen it all. It is also a celebration of the human imagination.
Enjoy!
Compilation of Steve Berry’s Lighter Side of EMS column from JEMS magazine.
We are All Weird 
For example, there is a micro niche of books by authors who are also medical professionals. There is an even narrower slice of authors that are also paramedics. This blog and podcast are primarily aimed at the group of weird book readers, that like me, seek out and enjoy reading books by paramedics and learning about those books. The Social Medic, David Konig, even included one of the books he heard about on this blog in his 2011 EMS Holiday Gift Guide.
Thanks for reading and listening to the Medical Author Chat podcast. Thanks for being weird.
Happy Thanksgiving.
A colleague is looking for books about EMS in Latin America. Do you know of any?
My Kindle Fire arrives today!
