Minnesota Historical Society Press announced today the official launch of a new digital imprint of short form e-books called MHS Express. MHS Express titles will include essays on regional topics, as well as excerpts from recent or forthcoming MHSP releases and original e-book shorts. Prices for MHS Express releases, which range between 25-80 pages, will range between 99 cents to $2.99 and will be available from all major e-book retailers. Two MHS Express titles were released this past fall, an essay on the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862 and an e-book original released before the election on the debate over Minnesota voter identification. Four MHS Express titles, all excerpts of existing MHSP fiction and nonfiction releases, have just been released, with another MHS Express title scheduled for release in May.

"We just wanted to bring short segments of relevant topics to people's attention," Alison Aten, MHSP marketing manager, explained, "Sometimes there's a timely topic -- like the Minnesota Voter ID on the ballot in November -- and we don't have time to publish a full-length book."