It seems that e-publishing history is being made out there as we write/read. A couple of guys – Michael Betcherman and David Diamond have come up with a way of making people like reading a new format of novel – via e-mail.

The ‘book’ is called The Daughters of Freya – this is a cult whose members (all women) believe world peace will come through having sex with strangers. It’s a thriller/mystery which is played out through emails between journalist Samantha Dempsey and the rest of the cast. It all started just a few months ago and word of mouth has spread to such a degree they’ve got the UK Guardian reviewing it (‘once I'd read the first couple of emails, I was hooked’ – Jane Perrone) as well as various other big global papers. Paula Brooks at the Vancouver Sun apparently said ‘Conventional publishers, read and weep.’

What you do is go to the site and read the preview which includes the first three emails, along with author bios, reviews and reader testimonials. If you like what you see, pay your US$4.99, and from then on you’ll get your regular fix: 4-5 a day over the three weeks it takes for the ‘real-time mystery to unfold’.

It works on Palm Organisers too – the emails can be downloaded to these arguably sad devices. In fact, the Palm Organiser club interviewed Michael Betcherman, they were so excited. (If you don’t think they're tragic, go to the home page of this site).

You gotta love ‘em – these guys had a zero budget, but unshakeable confidence in the fact there had to be a way of doing e-reading that would work. It certainly appears to: ‘75-80% of readers rate the book at 4 or better on a scale of 1-5, and many reported that they experienced "withdrawal symptoms" when the book ended’. Betcherman is no couch potato though: if you’re thinking of making a quick buck on a similar scheme from the comfort of your own home, check out his bio.

I think that I, not being a huge fan of the mystery genre, will stick to the always stimulating read I get from dodgy pharmaceutical spam e.g:

VlAG devouring Jeremy's back, he slung it by a strip of fibre from the ClAL though it took a fortnight. SHOP that gleaming pistol, Bishop obeyed without demur. Blood bubbled him.

The dragoon glared at the doctor and then at his prisoner. ‘Pah!’ for VERY REASONABLE PRlCES. Just try us and you will in trifling with such a golden opportunity as this. He stiffened - not be disappointed!

See what I mean? I’m thinking of packaging it and syndicating. Ker-ching! Baby, I can smell the money.