Wow! I can't tell you how shocked and gratified I am to see that CCLaP's newest original book, the essay collection 99 Problems by Ben Tanzer, has been downloaded almost 200 times now in just its first week of release, far and away a new record for ebooks put out by the center; and that it's generated almost $200 in voluntary payments in that first week as well, which to give you a comparison, is the same amount that Ben's previous book with CCLaP, Repetition Patterns, has made in an entire two years. And even better, the promotional story-map that was created at Google Maps to help publicize the book has been checked out an incredible 700 times in its first week, and with an average of 50 new people still stopping by each day. Ben and I are both grateful for all the attention the book has so far received, and I really encourage you to keep telling your friends about it, and to make a mention at your blog, Facebook account, Twitter feed and the like.

And even more good news -- critical praise for 99 Problems has been appearing in record amounts this week as well. Here's a roundup of the most interesting things people have been having to say about it in the last seven days:

--Ryan Bradley at online magazine "Big Other" did an interview with Ben last week, calling him in his introduction "certainly one of the kindest, most supportive writers I've met out there in the ether."

--Our old pal Josh Spilker of Impose magazine also did an interview with Ben, saying in his own introduction, "If I want to think of sharply written stories that capture a humorous reality of the day-to-day I think of Ben Tanzer."

--CCLaP friend and all-around good guy Pete Anderson of "PeteLit" posted a few thoughts about the new book, calling it "[a]nother winner from Ben's fertile imagination, and maybe the best thing he's written yet."

--Author Mel Bosworth was similarly impressed, saying at his Goodreads review of the book, "This, to me, is Tanzer at his absolute best....writing about himself in an addictive prose that'll keep your eyes moving so quickly they'll sweat."

--And speaking of Goodreads, author Mickey Hess said in his own write-up there, "99 Problems delivers a sophisticated juxtaposition in reverse, a fascinating and exhilarating literary marathon." (And by the way, of six ratings now posted at Goodreads, the book is still maintaining an average score of 4.83 out of 5. If you're a fellow GRer, I do hope you'll have a chance soon to chime in yourself.)

--And finally, big CCLaP supporter Lori Hettler, moderator of "The Next Best Book Club" (the largest discussion group of the entire two-million-member Goodreads system), had a lot of amazing things to say about the book at the official TNBBC blog, saying among other things that "[t]he words run across the page, smooth and effortless," that "Ben manages to make me wish I was a runner," and admitting that she thinks she might have a little crush on him. Join the club, Lori!

And don't forget, by the way, that this weekend Amazon finally approved the official Kindle version of 99 Problems, which you can now purchase there with the click of a button for a mere $4.99. I've been hearing from a ton of Kindle owners in the last week about when this would be available, so I hope that you all will take advantage of it, now that it's here. Thanks again for all the interest and enthusiasm you've been showing this latest book by CCLaP, and I will of course keep you all updated regularly on the latest; and needless to say, if you haven't downloaded a copy yet for yourself, I encourage you to do so as soon as you have a chance.