Sam Hilliard's Blog, page 6

Hike Club

As the last horizons of summer beckoned, and the faculty began their annual march back to campus, getting a jump on the weekend not only seemed like a good idea, it seemed urgent. And I listened to experience.

On Monday high alert status ensues, a seven week long period where the nights and weekends after work are not really my own. In place of dreams, technical problems from the days before brawl for their slice of what's left of my subconscious mind. This era of heightened awareness...

Mr. Wizard is surly

Every tenant in the building received a note from the landlord this week about "The Situation". But this situation was even more embarrassing than the "actor" from Seaside by way of somewhere-else-not-sure-but-it-isn't-New-Jersey.

Anyway here's an excerpt of the missive about the plumbing disaster of the past week:

The following items will clog the plumbing:

1) Grease

2) Large food waste items

3) Baby wipes

4) Female hygiene products

5) Kitty Litter

6) Drano

7) Long hair

Paper towels.

Now I...

Trendy

Note to self: car starters do wear out. Fortunately, it's only a problem when starting the car. Unfortunately a bad starter means car will not move.

Second note to self: Renew Triple A plus membership.

Third note to self: Should I have bought the Versa? Nah.

Unexpected note

A nice review came via Jeremy Warach at his site. Thanks to Jeremy for taking the time to read The Last Track. Or check out his vignette section where he conveys some pretty interesting ideas across in a very short entries.

Virtual tour wrap

Since publishers hate paying for hotel accommodations and many authors are too neurotic to wait in security lines these days, 2010 just might be the year of the virtual book tour. Instead of actually meeting people face to face, authors interact with readers via the feisty proxy that is the Internet, appearing on a number of sites over the course of several weeks as a guest blogger, reviewer or interview subject. No exception around these parts.

See, the first virtual book tour for The Last...

Electra Watch 1 Week Later

Late last week, Electra, one of the founding members of the Cat Army, exhibited some very disturbing symptoms that necessitated a midnight run to an emergency vet. Of her fourteen years, thus far she has has only had one real medical situation–eleven years ago. And I've been pleasantly spoiled by her good health and pointy nose in my ear every morning since.

For the first time she didn't wake me up in the morning, wasn't scratching the door when I returned from work. She sat in the middle of t...

Overcorrection

A few weeks ago, started experiencing headaches and serious eye strain. More than an hour at the keyboard and objects near or far appeared blurry. Eye drops and a fistful of generic Advil swapped aches and strain for heartburn and watery eyes. Relief lasted until the symptoms returned, and usually quickly. Being preternaturally stubborn, this self medication cycle of denial went on for awhile, until reading became too painful for any length of time.

Then I remembered I had the same eyeglass...

Issue 115 Page 51 Mystery Scene Magazine

Stopped by Barnes and Nobles today and found this in the magazine section:

Besides interviews and reviews with thriller and mystery writers, Mystery Scene Magazine is the go to place for mystery fans about upcoming events and releases. So check it out!

Adios Vacation

Whenever a vacation ends, it evokes the same feelings when attending funeral services for a distant relative does. Just like the departed, vacations always pass too quickly and I regret not knowing them better while I had the chance.

In all, a productive break from the day job–largely because of what I tossed to the curb. Shredded reams of old paperwork in the home office. Donated clothes that stopped fitting–or how I learned that light beer did not discourage blubber accumulation, only that i...

A Book and a Chat

Much thanks to Barry Eva at A Book and a Chat for a live podcast interview this Thursday night. Barry is everything an author wants in an interviewer: personable, prepared, humorous and able to navigate the unexpected hiccups. Definitely made me look a lot more amusing and interesting than in real life.

And I got this cup:

Download the Book and a Chat podcast interview

Listen at BlogTalkRadio – Across the Pond