My “reading challenge” postings (12/6/10 and 12/7/10) have produced plenty of wonderful surprises. Here are some comments about the surprises and a few of my observations.

I began by suggesting (perhaps somewhat tongue-in-cheek) that I would dare to limit myself to a self-imposed “reading challenge” for 2011 that would include a mere half-dozen authors and titles; moreover, I would limit myself to “first-rate novels from the 18th through the 21st centuries featuring crimes, detection, and punishments.” Then, after posting my off-the-cuff list of novels by Hogg, Collins, Dostoevsky, Hammett, Eco, and Waters, I invited bloggers to offer their own suggestions for other authors and titles.

(Note: The Moonstone, which I have begun, is an absolute treasure! The congenial narrative style is particularly commendable.)

First, I am pleased with the eclectic suggestions, all of which will be accumulated, sorted, and republished in my revised “reading challenge” (coming soon!)—an adjustable list that will certainly keep me entertained and challenged throughout 2011.

(Note: I would remind everyone that the polls remain open, and I look forward to other bloggers’ nominations for their half-dozen lists.)

Second, I am surprised by the advice implied in many of the suggested authors and titles that I need to expand upon my definition of what constitutes a novel of “crime, detection, and punishment.” Clearly, when eagerly embraced titles like Gilgamesh, The Iliad, Njal’s Saga, and Our Mutual Friend have been suggested, my rather traditional understanding of “crime, detection, and punishment” must be reconsidered.

Now, with all of that having been said, what kinds of “crimes” and “punishments” do you find particularly well represented in books (including fiction, drama, poetry, nonfiction, etc.), especially in texts that readers may not normally think of when making their lists of crime stories?

After my three-month “retirement” from activity at Novels, Stories, and More, I wish to announce my return to activity.

Researchers in Scotland have uncovered dozens of previously unknown works by the pioneering science fiction writer Jules Verne.

Although Verne died in 1905 his novels such as “Around the World in 80 Days,” “A Journey to the Center of the Earth” and “Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea” have remained hugely popular, making Verne the second most translated author of all time.

This is not the first time that new works by Verne have been discovered – in 1989 his great grandson uncovered the unpublished manuscript for “Paris in the 20th Century” in a locked safe.

Authors with new book releases are gaining exposure by turning to blog tours more and more, says online publicist Diane Saarinen. Instead of physically traveling from bookstore to bookstore, authors are scheduling virtual online tours where their new novels or memoirs are featured in popular book blogs.

“An author might be scheduled to appear in anywhere from eight to eighteen blogs.

Self publishing is on the rise. The number of self published book authors is up 181 percent from 2009, according to Bowker bibliographic company. Arizona author Charles G. Irion of Irion Books LLC is part of this growing trend.

As technology progresses, so do the standards and expectations of publishing.