Perry Thomas Books

BOOKS have always been a big part of my life. How about yours?

That’s one of the reasons for this web site. I’ve written a lot of books, and I’d like to share some of them with you.

Many of my books were written not in English but in another language used in a country on the other side of the world. Most likely you’re not much interested in those books . . . even if you could read them.

All of my other books are in English. Yet you may still find it hard to read them because they aren’t readily available. That’s another reason for this web site.

My latest two books are From Slave to Governor: The Unlikely Story of Lott Cary and Good News from Indonesia: Heartwarming Stories from the Land of the Tsunami, both published by Parson Place Press in May 2010 and November 2008, respectively. (Both books also marked new releases in 2011 -- one of them in a less-expensive print version, the other in Kindle and Nook formats.)

Lott Cary rose from slavery in Virginia to become the governor of Liberia. This exciting new paperback is based on long-overlooked historical sources, as well as on-the-spot research in West Africa.

Do you like a hero story? a real-life story? a story of quiet courage and dogged determination? Then From Slave to Governor is the book for you!

In recent months and years there's been a lot of bad news from Indonesia--earthquakes, tsunamis, communal unrest. Yet there's also a lot of good news from Indonesia, if you know where to look for it.

Do you like inspiring stories? true stories? heartwarming stories? Then Good News from Indonesia is the book for you!

The problem is, you may not be able to just walk into a book store and pick up a copy of one of these new books of mine. Oh, the book store people can get them for you all right, but they may have to go online in order to do that. So why not go online yourself and buy my books at a better price?

Do us both a favor by clicking on the name of the publisher; through their web site you'll find it easy to order my latest books. You’ll get a great read at a bargain price. I’ll get the privilege of introducing you to some of the most interesting people I’ve ever known . . . or known about.

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WHY is it hard to find my books, if I’ve written so many of them?

Because book publishing is a business, not a charity.
Because it’s hard these days to find a publisher. (To tell you the truth, it’s always been hard, but it’s gotten even harder now.)
Because even if you find a willing publisher and see your book in print, that publisher isn’t likely to keep it in print for very long unless it sells as fast as Harry Potter . . . or almost that fast.

The truth of the matter is, most of my books in English are now out of print. Yet you can still find them if you know where to look. For instance, here are my two most recent books before From Slave to Governor and Good News from Indonesia:

Exploring Church History: 20 Centuries of Christ’s People - World Publishing (now a part of Thomas Nelson) released this one in 2005 as a book that “illuminates church history in a fascinating manner century by century.”

Ways We Worship - Barron’s Educational Series (in New York) published this one in 1997 as “a thoughtful introduction for children to the beliefs, practices, and history of the world’s major religions.”

If both of these rather recent books are already out of print, then how do you find them?

Go to a web site such as half.com, abebooks.com, or alibris.com. When I did that, I found that Exploring Church History is still available for any amount from about three dollars up (plus shipping and handling). Ways We Worship can be purchased for about a dollar up (plus S & H). The copy you buy may be used, but on the other hand it may be almost like new; check it out.

Two pitfalls to watch for:

My book isn’t the only one out there entitled Exploring Church History; make sure you get the book by Perry Thomas.
“Perry Thomas” isn’t the only name under which my books have appeared. Many of them (especially those in another language) have been published with other names. When you buy Ways We Worship, for instance, you’ll note that a different author’s name is listed.

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As you can tell, going OUT OF PRINT can be a big problem for a writer of books. Sometimes, though, the problem gets solved in an unexpected way.

More than three decades ago I wrote a great book for teen-age readers (as well as for adults), and succeeded in getting it published. It’s a coming-of-age biography of a great American. In due time this book was about to go out of print, when another publisher picked it up and reissued it . . . and it’s still in print today!

The title of this long-running book? To Be the First: Adventures of Adoniram Judson, America’s First Foreign Missionary.

As you might expect, you can find this lively biography listed on web sites that offer second-hand books. But when you do, you’ll be buying the earlier printing of To Be the First (and perhaps a well-used copy of it at that). If you want to make sure of getting a brand-new book, visit the ACE School of Tomorrow web site.

You’ll find To Be the First listed alphabetically for only $9.85 (plus S & H).

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How about ALL MY OTHER BOOKS?

Give me time. I’m not a web master, just a beginner. To tell you the truth I don’t know much about an author’s web site as yet. With the help of friends, I’m making it up as I go along.

I do know, though, that there are more than a dozen other good books of mine already out there, and little by little I’ll cue you in on how to find them. If you’re curious, you can find some of them right now by clicking this quick link to a list of them on Barnes and Noble, ISBNDB.com, and BookFinder.com.

Later on you may be able to download more “perrythomasbooks”, or buy them as e-books. Others may become available in the general book market, as I’m still actively writing and looking for publishers.

You must be interested in books, or you wouldn’t have found my web site. Thank you for your visit! If you want to contact me, e-mail

Cordially,

PERRY THOMAS

P. S.: If you live in the Triangle area of North Carolina, and/or if you’re interested in classical or semi-classical music, check out my web column in the online edition of the trendy tabloid magazine Raleigh Downtowner. The column is called “Bach on a Budget,” and it tells about the many free concerts and recitals in our area.