David Lubar's Blog, page 50

The drive to succeed

Rough week for travel. All car trips. (West Orange, NJ today. Just got back from State College, PA.) But I get to listen to the witty repartee of the radio personalities who kill the time between traffic reports. On the bright side, no airports.

Discounts, part 2

Okay, since nobody reads blogs on Sunday, and, based on the total lack of comments, nobody cares how publishers can ream writers by means of deep discount clauses, I figured I'd stick the promised example here. These are actual figures from a royalty statement. (Writers are also often reluctant to share figures. I think this is a mistake. Especially since most of what we hear is rumors and third-hand information.)

For a paperback book, consider these two figures for the previous 6-month perio

I Miss Writing

It really hit me this morning. (I was on my way to my 4th day of schools near Columbus.) I miss writing. I can do revisions and little bits of writing when I'm traveling, but I'm craving those long sessions -- weeks in a row -- where I do nothing but write. That's when a book can become the center of my universe. The road is great. I'm loving the schools I've been to these last two or htree months. But there's a gap in my world.

Now blogging, I can always manage to fit in...

Deep thoughts that should not be discounted

Do you hear that scream? The cry of anguish, dismay, and confusion? It happens every April and October when publishers send out royalty statements, and authors cry, "WTF?" The loudest cry comes from new authors, who had no idea how badly the deep-discount clause in their contracts sucks. I've blogged about this before (and you need to read this) , trying to explain how the clause gives some publishers an incentive to sell your books for less. Seriously, they make more money by giving a lar

Threw the look-through glass

I did it. I tossed my transparencies. For the past twelve years, I've needed an overhead projector for my school assemblies. I've lugged my whopping ten-pound ring binder all over the country. Last week, on my trip to New Albany, OH (the same trip that completed the winter travel challenge), I left home without it. I have to say, I'm loving Powerpoint.

Spice it up

I just realized that David M. Gill's brandy new book, Soul Enchilada makes a great culinary pairing with my new story collection, The Battle of the Red Hot Pepper Weenies. Is there a third title out there that would complete the meal? Any cerveza books? A nice salsa title? The floor is open for suggestions.

Puzzled?

Author Eric Berlin is running a a week-long puzzle event to celebrate the release of his latest crunchy mystery, The Potato Chip Puzzles.

I'm running to Columbus tomorrow. (Okay, I'm actually flying. But my flights often involve runs, walks, rides, and waits.) Yes, I just got back from there. But it was worth it for me to fly home on Thursday so I could enjoy two full days with my family and my coffee pot. I'll be in Ohio for 4 full days, but then I get to come home and make bacon. Literal

The Weight

I pulled into Nazareth an hour late. The flight gods have a sense of humor, but I guess they also have a bit of mercy in their hearts. My flight from Columbus to Detroit was fine. My final flight of all, bringing me home after the end of the challenge, seemed like ti would be fine. We taxied to the runway. The captain told us we were #6 for departure. Then he said we didn't have enough luggage, and had to go back tot he gate for 100 pounds of ballast. As the full plane of passengers excha

Made it!

The travel challenge is complete. I'm off to a school very soon, so I don't have time right now to properly thank you folks for your participation. But I couldn't have made it without you.

One touchdown away from victory

The winter travel karmic mojo flight thingee is nearly complete. When I land in Columbus this afternoon, I will have reached all of my winter destinations. (For those who haven't been following along, this trip was rescheduled due to a rare January snow storm that blanketed Ohio and Pennsylvania.) I am amazed that I got where I'm going, but I guess it is a testimony to the forces you folks mustered. (Or the mustard you forced, or whatever.)

I thoroughly enjoyed my last trip. What amazed me