The Creation Gardening Book Is Almost Done. The Lost Dutchman's Goldmine Is Next

I finished most of my work on Creation Gardening, so I will be completing The Lost Dutchman's Goldmine now.

The last two stages of each book are:

1. Norma Boeckler inserts her artwork.
2. Janie Sullivan does the finishing work for Amazon and Kindle.

Some other books, new, old, and very old, are in the plans, but Dutchman will be completed before anything else is started.

I appreciate how people encourage me to complete each title. That really makes a difference.

 The Lost Dutchman's Goldmine:
Luther's Biblical Theology of the Word

Publishing in 2016

One donut to rule the world,
and in the cafe bind them.

One thing I learned in playing chess was this - the opening moves determine the rest of the game.

Early in 2016 my wife and I decided that the extra job at Walmart was counter-productive. Not knowing what was ahead, I decided to trust the shaky teaching business and get more book publishing done.

Teaching was volatile, but the time invested in publishing meant that a lot of titles were published or re-edited for Amazon and Kindle e-books. Three more new titles are on the way:

1. Creation Gardening
2. The Lost Dutchman's Goldmine
3. To Be Announced.

Toward the end end of 2016, some things were clear -

• My author's page at Amazon had a lot more titles on it.
• Interest in traditional Lutheran doctrine and practice was growing.
• People really wanted more titles to read.
• Almost all my time is spent in teaching theology, which is both fulfilling and enjoyable.

The Grateful Dead, no longer producing - for which I am grateful - taught me one thing. Instead of jealously guarding their so-called music, they gave it away to any and all, assuming the fans would still buy their work. Publishing against apostasy is not the road to riches, but the lure of financial rewards diminishes with age. 

My classmates have said in their Facebook posts, "I don't need one more thing in my house. Do me a favor and take something with you each time." So I do that with books. Most of my library has been given away, including my most favorite titles, so others can enjoy them. In the same spirit, some of the best Lutheran books were given to me to distribute, and they energized the reading of a number of laity who really appreciated them.

As planned, Thy Strong Word serves as a library of Lutheran doctrine for many laity. The errors of Church Growth and Universal Objective Justification are laid out - with a vast collection of sound and foul doctrinal quotations. At the time I thought, "Why not share my explorations of Lutheran theology with a thousand or so of the most informative quotations, listed with the citations, for easy kelming and sharing?" That is exactly what people have enjoyed and used.

I use Kindle Unlimited, which means anyone with a $10 a month subscription can download all the Martin Chemnitz Press titles for free.

"Two things I regret. One - wearing this Presbyterian get-up.
Two - Brett starting that Ustream worship service."

Lutheran laity have been the mainstay of everything. Brett Meyer and his extended family got the Ustream services going, long ago, and we are still far ahead of most congregations. ELDONA asked me about how to set up services in 2016, and I was glad to point out what worked best for us. 

The best insights and questions come from Lutheran laity. I hear positive things from laity all the time, and I answer almost immediately. Many insights and questions are worked into book and blog publishing. 

The jabbering, hostile hordes of UOJ Stormtroopers are silent now. They do not even use my public email address to send their pointless insults, which make such good fodder for posts. I miss the fetid, alcohol-driven ravings of the Fox Valley WELS circuit - really.

I seldom hear from clergy at all. One is in Australia, our dear friend Dr. Lito Cruz. A couple of men are Lutheran pastors in the USA. On Facebook I have about 500 LCMS friends, which suggests they enjoy reading my posts. Opponents have unfriended me (sob) and I have eliminated synod-minders, who think it is their job to toss stink-bombs.

Irony - the former LCMS Synod President is still my Facebook friend, but the great reformer, the current SP, Matt the Fat, unfriended me faster than a New York minute. The bloggers who helped him defeat Kieschnick and get re-elected are now forbidden to write about Lutheran doctrine - lest the LCMS kick them out. 

The threat of expelling pastors for discussing LCMS doctrine and practice - without permission from His Holiness - would have prevented Matthew Harrison Hisself, failed doctoral candidate from ever becoming the Synod President.

God willing, the apostates will keep handing me material to publish, since everyone else is afraid to go beyond correcting each other about the proper colors for a given liturgical season.

The future of Lutherdom in America.

The future is now in Canada.

Schedule Change - Creation Gardening Is Next

Norma Boeckler designed this cover,
with a photograph from her garden.

My Moline classmates and Facebook friends have been commenting on the posts about roses and asking for the gardening book, so I am finishing Creation Gardening as quickly as I can. The Lost Dutchman's Goldmine will be completed later.

The gardening book will be in full color, including the interior, and available at the author's price.

Norma Boeckler has published a number of books 
and is now helping others complete theirs.

Now on Amazon - Introduction to the Christian Faith

Introduction to the Christian Faith - Print Edition.
Introduction to the Christian Faith - Kindle E-book Edition

I am moving most of the Lulu books over to Amazon. This is the Amazon author page for Gregory L. Jackson. The author page needs some revising, but that will have to wait.

This book was originally published with the current title as the subtitle, the sub-title as the title. Although that causes a bit of confusion, the fact is, the Net picks up on the main title, so I decided to feature the substance of the book, a basic book about the Christian Faith.

For those who like Kindle for their mobile devices and quoting, the best approach is to get Kindle Unlimited for $10 a month and download all the Kindle books you want, even mine, for that tiny sum. $10 a month covers every book listed under Kindle Unlimited - and include all mine in that category.

These publications do not generate direct cash for me. I built in $1 profit for each one to keep prices low, as my personal email suggests - edlp - Every Day Low Prices. At the moment I am putting together three boxes of books to give away to people who showed an interest in my books and some classic Lutheran books.

The goal is to influence others to concentrate on reliable Bibles - like the KJV family - and the best Gospel theologians - Luther, Melanchthon, and Chemnitz.

Introduction to the Christian Faith
A sainted member of Bethany Lutheran Church asked me to write a book about the basics of the Christian faith, so that anyone could study it and get a Scriptural understanding of Christianity.

My other books are about specific topics, such as the efficacy of the Word and Creation. Introduction to the Christian Faith is more general and basic, centered on the Person and work of Jesus Christ the Savior.

Each section deals with Scripture and many include hymn quotations as well.

The print is large and the book is illustrated by Norma Boeckler.

The Next Two Books
I am finishing The Lost Dutchman's Goldmine and then completing Creation Gardening.

I am planning some shorter works in the future, on single topics, like commercialism in the church, the Heidelberg Disputation, 1518, etc.

Free and Low-Cost Books
I favor sending books to people at the astonishingly low author's price, especially in bulk. I can complete an order of various titles, various numbers of each book, in a few minutes. They arrive faster than Amazon promises. Introduction to the Christian Faith is only $3.50 at the author's price.

Those who want to order Christmas gifts might consider ordering via the author's price. Just send an email for an estimate  and mail a check to cover that amount plus shipping.

Free books are given away all the time, because some people have sent gifts to cover free books. The idea is to share printed books, which are kept for a long period of time, and let the Word of God take effect. Matthew 13 has a Parable about the Sower and the Seed, and Paul offered a similar analogy.

I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 1 Corinthians 3:15 KJV

Blogging for Books

 My favorite two questions are:
"You know Norma Boeckler?" and
"How did you get to know her?"

I started our chiropractor on his own personal blog. He posted a public lecture and then put the link on his Facebook page, as I suggested - for Search Engine Optimization.

A blog works best when refreshed often with new material. I appreciate clinical and alternative medicine, so I like to help the chiropractor, who has done wonders for my wife's pain.

One reader gave me the melancholy news that my Amazon links need plenty of work. I took a look when still short on coffee this morning and said to myself, "Oh bother." But I am steadily improving them.

One way readers can help is to post a review on that book's page. A retired librarian does this for me - he has always encouraged my work. The effect of posting reviews is to increase attention and Search Engine Optimization (SEO). The various social media work together to leverage what is on the Net, so 1 + 1 + 1 = 9.

Someone feels obliged to post nasty reviews, but that does not bother me. Bad reviews published on the Net are better than great reviews never posted.

To do this, go to the Gregory L. Jackson author's page, pick a book, and post a review at the bottom of that book's page. In effect, they are giving me a free website for what I do.

Norma has one, too, so stop at the Norma Boeckler author page. Reviewing her books will help get them around.

Current Plans
I am finishing The Lost Dutchman's Goldmine, studying the new Bibleworks 10, and fixin' to complete the Creation Gardening book.

Introduction to the Christian Faith: Jesus Priceless Treasure. Next on Amazon-Kindle

Yesterday I went through the Word file, page by page, twice, to improve Introduction to the Christian Faith for publishing through Amazon printed books and Kindle e-books.

I switched the title around because the first words of the title are featured in links, which indicates the intent of the book.

Going through the book again made me aware that Introduction to the Christian Faith is more of a basic learning tool for Lutherans who want a textbook on Lutheran doctrine, based on the ministry and teaching of Jesus the Savior - rather than the infallible lives and publications of various synodical saints.

The book could be used for a new members class or studied for the purpose of apologetics - "be ready to give a reason for the hope within you." The quotations are KJV, Luther, and Book of Concord.

Anyone who wants to check out the content can open this Jesus Priceless Treaure PDF, which can be downloaded and shared with anyone - free - no need to ask permission. I use DropBox for these free public links.

Budget

$120 - Proofing Editor.
$100 - Finishing Editor (who now has the file).
$100 - Promotional Copies.

$320 - Total


Next Books -

1. The Lost Dutchman's Goldmine will be finished next. DV - end of September.
2. Creation Gardening will be completed after The Lost Dutchman's Goldmine.
3. Jesus Lord of Creation is being proofed.

The Kindle Edition for Liberalism: Its Cause and Cure. Author's Prices for Books

Pastor Jackson,

Greetings to you. I have a couple questions about your newest 25th anniversary version of the Liberalism book, presently available on Amazon.

Are you planning a Kindle version?

How many copies are required to buy them directly from you at the $4 price?

I am in the process of reading Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant and find it excellent. I wish I had read it much earlier -- I'd have been strengthened and better prepared to make a defense of my faith.

Thank you.

In Him who saves us,

Answer

Thank you for your kind words.

Here is the Kindle link for Liberalism: Its Cause and Cure, but the page includes a price for the used copies - way up. The new printing is not so expensive!

This is the Amazon link for the new, printed edition of Liberalism: Its Cause and Cure.

I will send books at the author's price (any number above 1) to those who want them. There is a vast difference between the author's price and retail, so I would like to facilitate distribution rather than make a few more dollars. 

Most of my books have an author's profit (retail version) of $1 - same with Kindle. Obviously, Amazon takes a big chunk for itself, but the service is very handy for someone who wants to write without tying up thousands in print costs.

Gregory L. Jackson Author's Page on Amazon.