S.J. Reisner's Blog, page 94

Contemplate This On The Tree of Woe!

"Contemplate this on the tree of woe." – Thulsa Doom (Conan the Barbarian)

Hmm. What shall we contemplate today? Today I'm actually contemplating labels and how restrictive they are. Everyone is always trying to attach their own definition to subjective self-labels in such a way that it excludes some and includes others based on personal viewpoint (and who we get along with – or not). This makes me wary of labels and makes me want to define myself in broad, sweeping terms, or by usage of such ...

Goals

I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel on OTS #2 though admittedly I think it won't be out until midsummer at the rate I'm going. But all is not lost. Good things are happening and I've actually sold some experimental fiction (in short format). I'm not sure when or how that will turn out but I'll keep you all up on that as it progresses. My Neighbor Enslaved is also underway. I'm expecting a summer release there, too. It looks like the distribution through the online dealer i...

Updates & Good Stuff

Okay – so I did some web stuff recently to improve this site and I probably ought to share it. First, I added a FAQ page. Second, I fixed the contact form (a personal website is no longer required and it won't ask you how you want me to contact you).  I actually tested it and it works. Next, I added my Goodreads badge. That was one of those things I've been meaning to add for a few months now. It's finally been added.  I also added (a few weeks back) the subscribe by e-mail option powered by ...

Domesticating A Writer

I am many things, but I'm not domestic. Sure, my inner Martha Stewart raises her hydra head every now and again (maybe once a year if she's been nurtured properly) but it's not normal for me. This morning I had to get up extra early because we had the Comcast guy come to the house to fix an Internet issue. (He's still there and it's almost two hours later, btw.) So I'm walking around the house and I'm noticing dust and just how much I really need to do some spring cleaning. The dust is...

Feast of Wadjet!

Happy Feast of Wadjet everyone! May you be infinately blessed.

So tomorrow night we're holding an initiation ceremony, which means I need to clean the temple tonight.  I did wait until the last minute because it's spring and spring in our house generally means lots of hairballs and tufts of black kitty fluff everywhere. (Shaving next month!)

In writing news – All my titles on Kindle (and some paperbacks) are now also available through Amazon Germany (in English). You can get them in the UK...

It's a Walmart World

A situation at my day job earlier inspired this post. Just for a minute I'd like to explain to the gentle corporate big-wigs what happens when we try to impose Walmart economics on small service businesses.

First and foremost, we are a Walmart world! We want high quality services and goods for low-low prices. There is a very real concern here and let me see if I can explain it in a way where the math is minimal but the average American can wrap their head around this simple economic truth.

So w...

Better Day

Today is a much better day. I'm not feeling nearly as bitchy and confrontational and as long as I stay far away from industry news I should be fine. Last night I gave myself an attitude adjustment. I had a glass of wine while watching Nurse Jackie and United States of Tara, I played a few hands of Jeweled Solitaire and Mahjong, and didn't do anything else. I think I just needed a down night. When you burn the candle at both ends, down days are not optional.

I'm thinking tonight I might...

Publishing Stuff

I had a whole post about how to gather an audience as an indie in a time where readers are having a hard time wading through the vast avalanche of books (both Indie and traditional press).  I had some scathing comments about the state of publishing and how desperation to cling to a waning market has caused big publishers to try and spread the word and convince readers that if it's not published by a "gatekeeper" then it's awful. I really disagree with this because I think READERS are the...

Monday, Monday

That 1966 song by The Mamas and the Papas is running through my brain. Heh.  And yes, I had to look it up – I'm not *that* old, that was about six years before my time.

Anyway, enough of that. I didn't post yesterday because I had a lot of fun stuff to do with the garden and I had to clean up the carpets. The cat fluff (we have two long haired cats) all over the carpets and the kitty hairball stains from just this past week are a sure sign that spring is here. Time to get the kitties shaved...

Garden Updates

So I've mentioned the garden here and there this week, but I haven't been giving blog readers the bulk of my tales like I did my Facebook friends. They've been getting pictures and updates while my blog readers have just been getting a few tidbits here and there (minus my cloning post).

Here are some garden pics for you. The basil is in pots and I need to cut it back a little (pesto anyone?).  It went surprisingly well from the hydroponic garden to soil. I thought for sure the relative...