Web 2.0: "a trend in the use of World Wide Web technology and web design that aims to facilitate creativity, information sharing, and, most notably, collaboration among users." - Wikipedia

Markham Hislop's Novel 2.0: applying the principles of Web 2.0 to the novel,beginning with my book, Rensby.

This web site is a new take on a very old form of literature, the novel. Usually, a person reads a novel, enjoys it, then throws the book in a closet. Tout fini! All done!

But now "The End"marks the beginning of the Novel 2.0 experience. You, the reader, are invited to continue the creative process. I am asking readers to expand the story on this web site,to use modern multimedia to take the tale of RCMP Inspector Mike Rensby in directions I could never imagine. To interact collaboratively with thousands of readers all over the world. To create something totally new, different, more interesting.

Here's how it works and how you can join the creative process:

1) Buy and read Rensby. The book is a stand-alone novel in the traditional sense. You can download a digital version or order a printed copy.
2) Then you create art that expands on the story, characters and themes in Rensby. Submit that art for publication on this site. Formats can be found on the Site Navigation to the left. This is your chance to be published! You can submit one creation or many.
3) Enjoy the work of your fellow readers and artists. I'm excited as I look forward to the many creations, in many different media, to be posted on this site.
4) Interact with me and other readers and artists on the forums, my blog and email. The creative process is fun! Join the excitement as often as you like!

Over time, with the collaboration of many, many reader/artists like yourself, we will use the foundation of Rensby to flesh out a story, characters and a community in ways that are not possible in the novel format. We may, in the process, re-define what the modern world means by "novel."

How you use this web site is up to you. Maybe just reading the novel is enough. If you enjoyed the story, browsing the reader creations will be like a big bonus section of the novel. Perhaps you'd like to interact with me and other readers, making comments or asking questions on the forums. Lastly, I hope you will be compelled to create, to join the community of readers who want to delve even more deeply into the world of Rensby.

However you choose to participate, we look forward to getting to know you. And I hope you really, really enjoy Rensby!