Tanks for the memories

I filled my car with gasoline yesterday. A week ago I would have thought this was nothing to blog about, but after cruising past a number of empty gas stations I found one which didn't seem to be too crowded. I thought perhaos the shortage was easing, but it turns out they didn't want cars cluttering the place up while they waited. I was told to go to the back of the line over there. When I circled round behind the other cars in the station, I was told with dissapointment that he had already asked me to go to the end of the line. I finally made out what he meant, the front of the line was across the street and about a block away. I wondered how to get to the back of the line, but he devined I lived in the area and had me be creative through back streets. Despite my bad sense of direction I made it, really only had to wait a half hour. I'm very lucky, today odd and even rationing starts, depending on your license plate. You can only refill if the last digit of your license matches the day. There have been several studies indicating it doesn't help ease shortages or waiting, and none that I know of indicating that it does, but it's one of those things politicians do.

Amazon is instituting a new online wine store. This raises many questions. If you download wine to your kindle, will the screen get sticky? And is red or white better with mysteries? How about science fiction?

Dagwood Bumstead didn't win the election.

I voted for Dagwood Bumstead for president yesterday. It was a protest vote, since New York State was already considered a done deal by both sides.

How do you like my new cover and title?

Ty Johnston: life on the written page: Talking novels and talking sandwiches with science fiction author David Weisman

Ty Johnston: life on the written page: Talking novels and talking sandwiches with science fiction author David Weisman

This is my first rafflecopter giveaway, so it's kind of experimental. Since the prize is a single book, I'm not giving extra tickets for retweeting or blogging the raffle. Just visit rafflecopter, add Absorption to the wish list on your Amazon profile, then drop by and say a quick hello here. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Beginning of a long road

Although publishing my book is the end of a long road, it is also just the beginning. Now I have to market it, and the book above is the best, most specific, and most up to date book for selling e-books for the Kindle on Amazon's site. I'll bet most of the people reading this have better instincts for it than me, because I'm a ferocious introvert, but I love my book as if it were my baby and I have no other children. Right now it seems to be outgrowing it's baby clothing, so I'm getting a new cover. That's the first thing 8 Hours advised me to look at.

The End of the Road!

It's been a long journey, but my book is now live on Amazon! I want to thank everyone who has given me great reviews already, and hope that more of you will join them. If you review books for the Kindle on Amazon, please ask me for a review copy!

A Writer's 2011: Some Highlights

Happy New Year, writers and would-be writers! As you prepare to get a fresh batch of literary masterpieces on paper for the new year, these are some of writer/editor/book reviewer Erin O'Riordan's articles from the year past to provide inspiration.

January: My Favorite Weird Fiction of 2010

February: Attracting More Reviews For Your Books

March: Great Books For Women's History Month

April: Review of The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson

May: Review: The Strangest Book I've Ever Read

June: The Art of the Anagram

November: Two Articles for Aspiring Writers