Matt Severnson has assembled a team of hard-working, quasi-geek individuals to build a revolutionary website for a northern Michigan city. The system becomes a big hit despite the group members' idiosyncratic traits. Fast food addiction, incessant sexual tension and heated bingo competition constantly distract the team. While the opportunity arises to build the first nationwide, government-sponsored high-speed Internet portal, the issue comes second to Matt's relationship with Katy, the team's co-leader. They cannot hate each other enough to halt their steamy romance, but they can't love each other enough to share anything but a fish dinner.

The Developers mixes the insane and obscene with technology, romance and pop culture. But while the book's web development group tries to make its mark on the virtual world, it encounters pre-eminent issues that will soon be shaping the Internet of the future: Are individuals losing their remaining privacy due to the World Wide Web? Will online social interaction eventually replace in-person gatherings as a necessary means?

Latest News

Literary agent list (updated 11/10/08)

November 10, 2008 - As I attempt to find an agency to pitch my new book, I thought it might be a good idea to list some of the agents I have contacted. At this stage, I've run into issues where companies have listed communication methods, but they don't seem to follow through. I hope that my list will save the time of others who are attempting to find representation.



Preview 'The Developers' via Google Books

September 30, 2008 - Google just recently announced the release of its Google Books Preview program. Publishers and developers can easily create a preview window and slap it on whatever website they want. I've added this to my website to give readers a chance to check out "The Developers" in a fairly easy manner.



Big Baltimore book events at the end of September

September 23, 2008 - I have two more book appearances this month, both during the last full weekend in September. I'll be at both the Baltimore Book Festival and Baltimore Comic-Con.

Locations

If you have been to this page before, you probably know that I used to have a list of bookstores where you could purchase The Developers. Unfortunately, that is no longer possible because I have no clue what stores are carrying the book now.

The bad news is that if you ask me about a specific store, I really don't have a clue. The good news is that there's a chance the book is available near you. You can enter most chain book stores, ask for The Developers and at the very least, they'll be able to find it in their online inventory.

But if not, have no fear! You can also purchase from Amazon.com.

There is a catch, however, with Amazon.com, as you can purchase books from would-be reviewers who are basically gobbling up advance copies to sell online. I don't make a cent from these purchases, so if you do buy my book, or any other, from Amazon, I would recommend purchasing from a reputable seller ... like Amazon. Even if it's a couple of dollars more, most authors would prefer you buy from them and share it with 10 other people than buy from someone who conned them out of a book in the first place.

About the author

Ben Woods is a technology and humor columnist who is published on various websites, including WHAS-11 in Louisville, and ihigh.com, a high school web portal. He worked in the newspaper business for eight years and has been published in a variety of printed publications.

A Purdue University graduate with a Communication degree, journalism concentration, and English minor, Woods currently is a developer for Integrated Marketing Solutions in Baltimore. With experience both as a writer and a computer programmer, Woods can relate highly technological ideas to the masses with ease and in a satirical way.