S.K.S. Perry's Blog, page 24
June 29, 2011
My Words of Wisdom from the last two days.
There's simply nothing I can't accomplish when I can scrape together enough money to pay someone else to do it!
A sigh is the body's response to the fact that you know what they just asked you to do is bullshit, but you're going to have to do it anyway.
A sigh is the body's response to the fact that you know what they just asked you to do is bullshit, but you're going to have to do it anyway.
June 28, 2011
Me: Platoon Senior, report! Recruit: 54 of 52 recruits pr...
Me: Platoon Senior, report!
Recruit: 54 of 52 recruits present and accounted for Sgt!
Me: Really. 54 of 52.
Recruit: I mean 52 of 54, Sgt.
Me: Are you sure?
Recruit: Yes, Sgt. *Looks confused* Unless you know something I don't.
Me: Well, I know how to count, for one thing. There are only 52 recruits in this Platoon.
Recruit: So I shouldn't wait here for the other 2 then Sgt?
Me: Tell you what; you wait here for them while the rest of us go to dinner. If they don't show up in 15 minutes, then make your own way to the mess hall.
Recruit: Yes, Sgt.
Me: The rest of you, you have 25 minutes to eat and be back in the shacks standing by your beds, go!
Recruit: 54 of 52 recruits present and accounted for Sgt!
Me: Really. 54 of 52.
Recruit: I mean 52 of 54, Sgt.
Me: Are you sure?
Recruit: Yes, Sgt. *Looks confused* Unless you know something I don't.
Me: Well, I know how to count, for one thing. There are only 52 recruits in this Platoon.
Recruit: So I shouldn't wait here for the other 2 then Sgt?
Me: Tell you what; you wait here for them while the rest of us go to dinner. If they don't show up in 15 minutes, then make your own way to the mess hall.
Recruit: Yes, Sgt.
Me: The rest of you, you have 25 minutes to eat and be back in the shacks standing by your beds, go!
June 27, 2011
Me: Why did you join the military? Recruit: I've been try...
Me: Why did you join the military?
Recruit: I've been trying to grow a beard for a few years now with no luck, and I heard you can grow a beard in the navy.
Me: Yes, the navy is well known for its magical beard growing properties.
Recruit: Well, I'm thinking of remustering to the air force, eventually.
Me: You realise you can't have a beard in the air force?
Recruit: *hesitates* I have since reconsidered my decision to join the air force.
Recruit: I've been trying to grow a beard for a few years now with no luck, and I heard you can grow a beard in the navy.
Me: Yes, the navy is well known for its magical beard growing properties.
Recruit: Well, I'm thinking of remustering to the air force, eventually.
Me: You realise you can't have a beard in the air force?
Recruit: *hesitates* I have since reconsidered my decision to join the air force.
June 26, 2011
Dumb Recruit Moment
I introduced myself to the new recruits today. I'm sure they'd tweet all about it but I took away their cell phones:
Me: "You, why is your ball cap on backwards?"
Recruit: "Um...it's cool, Sgt?"
Me: "You either turn that hat to the front, or I'll turn your head to the rear."
Recruit: *Removes ball cap completely.*
Me: "You, why is your ball cap on backwards?"
Recruit: "Um...it's cool, Sgt?"
Me: "You either turn that hat to the front, or I'll turn your head to the rear."
Recruit: *Removes ball cap completely.*
June 25, 2011
Sales Figures of a Self-Published Nobody
Most of this is cross-posted from a comment I made on
![[info]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1380451598i/2033940.gif)
jimhines
post about his sales figures, but here goes:
I put Darkside and Waking the Dead up in April. Currently I'm only selling at Amazon and Smashwords. Darkside sold about 120 copies at Amazon in April, then dropped to about 30 in May, and seems to be tracking at about the same for June. All of those sales were through Amazon. It sold an additional 2 copies at Smashwords. Waking the dead has sold far fewer copies, but I attribute that (hopefully) to the fact that when I first posted both books the formatting was horrible. (I didn't realize this until I had time about 2 weeks later to actually download them myself and check them out.) Since reformatting both books, the sales of Waking the Dead seem to be tracking those of Darkside fairly consistently.
Of course, I don't have Jim's legitimate author reputation to help bring notice to my work, although oddly enough the whole fiasco with the theft of Darkside and it's posting at Amazon probably helped with that. And of course, Darkside is priced at .99 cents, and Waking the Dead at $2.99. (Jim's are priced slightly higher).
Bear in mind, too, that Darkside has been available for free at my website for a few years now, both to read online and in pdf/doc/rtf/microsoft reader format. I've had over 1200 email requests for Waking the Dead which I assume means that at least the same amount have read Darkside. It's also available as a free download on several other sites.
Obooko actually keeps track of downloads, and Darkside has been downloaded 369 times to date. That's interesting to note because it took it over two years to reach 200 downloads, yet it's garnered an additional 169 downloads in the 2 1/2 months since I put it up for sale at Amazon. I put Waking the Dead up on Obooko in April, and it has 194 downloads in that same time period, which tells me it's tracking on Obooko better than Darkside is. I have no idea how well similar sites are doing, but if I'm getting this many downloads from just this one site I'm hoping they're doing well also.
Of course it would be nice if they were all sales, but hey.
jimhines
post about his sales figures, but here goes:I put Darkside and Waking the Dead up in April. Currently I'm only selling at Amazon and Smashwords. Darkside sold about 120 copies at Amazon in April, then dropped to about 30 in May, and seems to be tracking at about the same for June. All of those sales were through Amazon. It sold an additional 2 copies at Smashwords. Waking the dead has sold far fewer copies, but I attribute that (hopefully) to the fact that when I first posted both books the formatting was horrible. (I didn't realize this until I had time about 2 weeks later to actually download them myself and check them out.) Since reformatting both books, the sales of Waking the Dead seem to be tracking those of Darkside fairly consistently.
Of course, I don't have Jim's legitimate author reputation to help bring notice to my work, although oddly enough the whole fiasco with the theft of Darkside and it's posting at Amazon probably helped with that. And of course, Darkside is priced at .99 cents, and Waking the Dead at $2.99. (Jim's are priced slightly higher).
Bear in mind, too, that Darkside has been available for free at my website for a few years now, both to read online and in pdf/doc/rtf/microsoft reader format. I've had over 1200 email requests for Waking the Dead which I assume means that at least the same amount have read Darkside. It's also available as a free download on several other sites.
Obooko actually keeps track of downloads, and Darkside has been downloaded 369 times to date. That's interesting to note because it took it over two years to reach 200 downloads, yet it's garnered an additional 169 downloads in the 2 1/2 months since I put it up for sale at Amazon. I put Waking the Dead up on Obooko in April, and it has 194 downloads in that same time period, which tells me it's tracking on Obooko better than Darkside is. I have no idea how well similar sites are doing, but if I'm getting this many downloads from just this one site I'm hoping they're doing well also.
Of course it would be nice if they were all sales, but hey.
June 24, 2011
What I'm obsessing about now...
As some of you may know (like anyone who’s ever read my blog before) I’m currently a basic recruit instructor in the Canadian Forces—what most of you would (incorrectly) call a Drill Sergeant. That’s right; I’m that sadistic bastard in all the movies that tortures the recruits in boot camp--like Gunny Sgt Hartman in Full Metal Jacket. (And we all know what happened to him.)
Normally, any recruit who joins the Canadian Forces is sent to St. Jean, Quebec for recruit training. I, however, work at Naval Reserve Training Division (NRTD) in Borden, Ontario. NRTD was initially set up to train Naval Reserve and Air Reserve recruits. However, as the CF had a big recruiting push on NRTD was eventually tasked to train Army, Air Force, and Navy Regular Force recruits as well—sort of like a satellite school for St. Jean to handle their overflow.
Well, apparently the Canadian Forces now has all the military members it needs, because not only has recruiting dropped drastically, but we’re cutting back—especially in Reserve Force numbers.
To that end, NRTD Borden will effectively shut down as of end September 2011.
On Saturday, 25 June 2011, what will most likely be the very last recruits ever to train at NRTD Borden will begin arriving and officially commence recruit training on Monday. In the past we have traditionally trained 6 platoons of 60 recruits each over the summer months. This summer there are only 3: The Battle of Vimy Ridge Platoon; The Battle of the Atlantic Platoon, and Casa Berardi Platoon. Of those, Casa Berardi Platoon (the Franco course) only has 17 recruits.
On Sunday I will meet the recruits of Vimy Platoon. (Or more correctly, they will meet me.) After 6 years of being a recruit instructor (4 at NRTD) this will undoubtedly be the last recruit course I ever teach. When I took this position I thought it would be something I could do until I retired. (I actually retired from the Reg Force after 25 years and joined the Reserves specifically so I could continue to work in recruit training.) I can honestly say that even with the ridiculously long hours, heavy workload, physical hardship, and mental stress that come with being a recruit instructor, it has been the most rewarding job of my career. Now, it seems, I’ll have to find other work.
Most of the staff has already moved on to other, more long-term employment, and while I’ve been guaranteed work until at least March of 2012 I’ve also applied for other, more secure positions. I had a job interview on Wednesday for a position that starts ASAP, which means if I get it I probably won’t even finish this recruit course. Of course the whole thing leaves me conflicted: on the one hand I hate to not finish what I’ve started, and to leave my co-workers in a lurch; but on the other I have to take care of myself and my family.
Right now, life is just a little too complicated. (Hey, this is just my job situation—I won’t bore you further with everything else that’s going on!)
Oh, and I’m this close to finishing the first draft of Tasha, and all the fun that entails.
So, um, what’s the point of all this you may ask?
I have no idea, other than sometimes it helps to sort things out if I write them down (and share them with the world, apparently).
That, and to remind all of you that if anyone has a few million dollars kicking around they don’t need, I’m still up for spending it for you.
Normally, any recruit who joins the Canadian Forces is sent to St. Jean, Quebec for recruit training. I, however, work at Naval Reserve Training Division (NRTD) in Borden, Ontario. NRTD was initially set up to train Naval Reserve and Air Reserve recruits. However, as the CF had a big recruiting push on NRTD was eventually tasked to train Army, Air Force, and Navy Regular Force recruits as well—sort of like a satellite school for St. Jean to handle their overflow.
Well, apparently the Canadian Forces now has all the military members it needs, because not only has recruiting dropped drastically, but we’re cutting back—especially in Reserve Force numbers.
To that end, NRTD Borden will effectively shut down as of end September 2011.
On Saturday, 25 June 2011, what will most likely be the very last recruits ever to train at NRTD Borden will begin arriving and officially commence recruit training on Monday. In the past we have traditionally trained 6 platoons of 60 recruits each over the summer months. This summer there are only 3: The Battle of Vimy Ridge Platoon; The Battle of the Atlantic Platoon, and Casa Berardi Platoon. Of those, Casa Berardi Platoon (the Franco course) only has 17 recruits.
On Sunday I will meet the recruits of Vimy Platoon. (Or more correctly, they will meet me.) After 6 years of being a recruit instructor (4 at NRTD) this will undoubtedly be the last recruit course I ever teach. When I took this position I thought it would be something I could do until I retired. (I actually retired from the Reg Force after 25 years and joined the Reserves specifically so I could continue to work in recruit training.) I can honestly say that even with the ridiculously long hours, heavy workload, physical hardship, and mental stress that come with being a recruit instructor, it has been the most rewarding job of my career. Now, it seems, I’ll have to find other work.
Most of the staff has already moved on to other, more long-term employment, and while I’ve been guaranteed work until at least March of 2012 I’ve also applied for other, more secure positions. I had a job interview on Wednesday for a position that starts ASAP, which means if I get it I probably won’t even finish this recruit course. Of course the whole thing leaves me conflicted: on the one hand I hate to not finish what I’ve started, and to leave my co-workers in a lurch; but on the other I have to take care of myself and my family.
Right now, life is just a little too complicated. (Hey, this is just my job situation—I won’t bore you further with everything else that’s going on!)
Oh, and I’m this close to finishing the first draft of Tasha, and all the fun that entails.
So, um, what’s the point of all this you may ask?
I have no idea, other than sometimes it helps to sort things out if I write them down (and share them with the world, apparently).
That, and to remind all of you that if anyone has a few million dollars kicking around they don’t need, I’m still up for spending it for you.
June 21, 2011
What's up with that?
I was walking home the other day and I came across an interdimensional portal, so I stepped through—and ended up in this crappy place! I mean, the animals don't even talk, chocolate makes you fat, and you actually vote in your dictators here.
June 17, 2011
Book sales and self-promotion and other stuff that make me feel pushy
So Darkside and Waking the Dead are still selling reasonably well at Amazon.com and .uk. Oddly enough I haven't sold a single copy at Amazon.de, but then the Germans apparently aren't noted for their sense of humor. (That's my theory and I'm sticking to it.)
I haven't really sold much at Smashwords either, so I guess they were right when they said that Amazon's market is about 2000 times what theirs is.
I guess what I really need now are reviews. Well, I could still use a boatload of sales, but reviews would be nice, too, and they're free.
So if you've read either, and you liked them, please post a review.
If you thought they sucked, keep it to yourself.
I know where you live.
I haven't really sold much at Smashwords either, so I guess they were right when they said that Amazon's market is about 2000 times what theirs is.
I guess what I really need now are reviews. Well, I could still use a boatload of sales, but reviews would be nice, too, and they're free.
So if you've read either, and you liked them, please post a review.
If you thought they sucked, keep it to yourself.
I know where you live.
Time flys--and you can't do a damn thing about it.
Back in the late 70's and early 80's when I made my living as a professional drummer I could have told you the makeup of even the most obscure band, who produced their album, who their agent was—heck, I probably could have even told you what they had stipulated in their Rider.
Cut to today, where I just read the article "Polaris long-list announced."
Of the 40 bands/singers on the list I only recognised a couple, and couldn't even tell you what song they're famous for.
To make matters worse, I didn't even know that the Polaris award is actually the sixth annual independent Canadian music award. I only read the article in the first place because I thought it was about the Polaris Sci-Fi/Fantasy Convention in Toronto running from 15-17 July.
Damn.
Cut to today, where I just read the article "Polaris long-list announced."
Of the 40 bands/singers on the list I only recognised a couple, and couldn't even tell you what song they're famous for.
To make matters worse, I didn't even know that the Polaris award is actually the sixth annual independent Canadian music award. I only read the article in the first place because I thought it was about the Polaris Sci-Fi/Fantasy Convention in Toronto running from 15-17 July.
Damn.
May 21, 2011
Sure, but I'm still not on Wikipedia.
My first author interview ever is up at http://freebookreviews.blogspot.com/ . Um…that is to say that they interviewed me, not that I interviewed an author, which I suppose I could do if I wanted to, and I’d probably be really good at come to think of it…but I digress.
Anyway, they specialise in reviewing self-published independent authors, although oddly enough they never actually reviewed Darkside, but interviewed me nonetheless.
On a related note, I’m totally surprised now that The Rapture didn’t occur today, because I’m thinking my being interviewed just has to be a sure sign of the Apocalypse.
That, and it would be just my luck to be interviewed the day the world ends.
By the way, you can now read Darkside and Darkside: Waking the dead at Smashwords in just about any electronic format you can think of here:
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/sksperry
Anyway, they specialise in reviewing self-published independent authors, although oddly enough they never actually reviewed Darkside, but interviewed me nonetheless.
On a related note, I’m totally surprised now that The Rapture didn’t occur today, because I’m thinking my being interviewed just has to be a sure sign of the Apocalypse.
That, and it would be just my luck to be interviewed the day the world ends.
By the way, you can now read Darkside and Darkside: Waking the dead at Smashwords in just about any electronic format you can think of here:
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/sksperry
