S. Evan Townsend's Blog, page 133

Still Freelancing . . .

I may have bitten off more than I can chew.  I currently have three freelance projects pending.  One is pretty much finished but I was letting the subject look it over before I send in the final version.  He's supposed to get it back to me tonight.  In a few minutes I'm, I hope, interviewing a hay expert (I do a lot of writing about agriculture due to where I live) which is the second interview for a second project.  After that I can write the story.  And finally, I'm doing a year-end wrap up thing that means I'm talking to lots of people, including big corporations you've heard of.  Dealing with corporations is painful because they always want to control the message.  So you end up going through their PR people.  One is going to email me answers rather than let me talk to someone.  And I have one guy who is just simply not returning my calls.  It's very stressful.  My deadline is the 13th but I've been working on this story since November 26th.  But people will not get back to me in a timely manner.  My stress level then goes through the roof.

I'm hoping once I get all three stories done I can take the rest of December off.  At least that's my hope.  I know if any new assignments come I will take them.  I love to write and I love to learn about stuff so freelancing is nearly the perfect job for me.  Just wish it paid more.

Sunday Six: The Secret

Today's Sunday Six from Chapter Nine of Book of Death :


Ernestine caught me in a vulnerable moment, our sweat-damp skin clinging as we cuddled in bed in Vali's apartment over the garage.
"Peter?" she whispered.
I grunted something sleepily.
"You can't tell anybody."
I opened my eyes, turned, and looked at her.  "Tell anybody what?"

Rock Killer Free

Today (December 1st) and tomorrow, Rock Killer is free on the Kindle or the Kindle app on your favorite device.  This book is my best reviewed novel with six five-star and two four-star reviews.

Here's the back-of-the-book blurb:
Space Resources, Inc. (SRI) mines asteroids for the riches a populated Earth needs without degrading the planet. Yet there are those opposed to progress in whatever its form such as the Gaia Alliance, a front group for eco-terrorists. During a violent attack on the Moon, the terrorists steal an exploration ship, arm it, and rename it the Rock Killer. Charlene "Charlie" Jones of SRI security is trying to infiltrate the Gaia Alliance's cabal to find evidence linking them to the murder of her fiancé. But a run-in with the law threatens to reveal her identity to the dangerous men of the Alliance. Simultaneously, SRI Director Alexander Chun is traveling to the asteroid belt to bring a kilometer-long nickel-iron rock back to Earth orbit to mine for its valuable metals. Following him and his multi-national team is the Rock Killer. Without armaments, millions of miles from help, Chun must stop those who threaten him and the lives of his crew

Sensual Blogging Award

Well, my good friend Sare has nominated me for something called the  Sensual Blogging Award which I think is just an excuse to link between people's blogs.  So here's the deal:

When nominated for the Sensual Blogging Award the blogger must:
1) Visit and thank the blogger who nominated you.
2) Acknowledge that blogger on your blog and link back.
3) Answer 7 sensual questions
4) Select some nominees and notify them on their blogs.
5) Copy and paste the award on your blog.

Now anyone who knows me knows I don't take orders well.  I have this rebellious streak.  So I've done #1, #2, I'm about to do #3, I'm not gonna do #4, and I don't exactly understand what they mean by #5 unless it's put the picture above on my blog.

So here's the seven sensual questions:

1. Most romantic memory: When Rose asked Jack to draw her in the nude wearing only her huge blue diamond.  I squealed like a 15-year-old girl.  But then again, I was one.

2. Most sensual music: "Kill the Wabbit" by Michael Maltese and Richard Wagner. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nI9Nbt7oJG0

2. Most sensual season: Wabbit season.  Or duck season. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-k5J4RxQdE

4. Favorite flower: Amorphophallus titanum or the "Corpse Flower."  Love those carnivorous plants.

5. Favorite fruit: Citrus sinensis or the "Sweet Orange" (no snark, I love oranges, orange juice, orange flavored anything pretty much.  Arby's had an orange creamsicle shake for a while, oh my god, it was amazing except when they screwed it up and it then tasted like sour milk).

6. Best gift received: My wife brought me an Arbys Orange Creamsicle Shake.

7. Love is… never having to say you're sorry.

So, there you have it.

 

Rock Killer for Free!

Coming up this weekend, the 1st and the 2nd, my highly reviewed novel Rock Killer will be free on the Kindle.  If you don't have a Kindle there are free Kindle apps for all sorts of devices.  This is your chance to read this book that's been called "as if Tom Clancy wrote science fiction."

(Almost) No Snow

(Anyone who knows me knows I'm a bit of a weather geek.  So that will probably come through on this blog from time to time.  Sorry.)

Here it is November 28th and we've had nearly no snow.  We got just a light dusting yesterday morning but it quickly melted under the dual assault of rain and temperature.  Now the forecast for the rest of the week is for rain.  Lots of rain.  This is very unusual for this part of Washington State.  What is more typical is some snow, then days of overcast during which the snow slowly melts, then another dump of snow which then slowly melts.  And that continues until March.  Oh we might have a big bunch of snow that'll last a week or three.  But this year it's been rain and fog.  I hate fog.

How's the weather where you are?

Adepts Series Trailer

I've yet to embed a video in this blog because, well, I don't know how.  So I decided it was time to learn.  So, here is the book trailer for the three Adept Series books:
Wow, that was easy!  I have to admit, for a free service, Blogger is pretty good.  Only thing I don't like is the shape of the window which I don't seem able to change.

Sunday Six: The Suit of Armor

Today's Sunday Six from Chapter Eight of Book of Death :

The woman who had initially screamed did so again and jumped out of the way as a third suit of armor came in the back door, swinging its flail over its head.  Wynter couldn't stop in time and the ball hit him right in the temple with a sick, moist crunching sound.  Blood jetted in all directions from the impact, hitting me in the face and chest.  Wynter made a sound of anguish that I hoped I never heard again as he was knocked against a wall, his skull caved in, and I didn't want to imagine what was gushing from the wound.

I ducked and shot an airbolt at the suit.  That knocked it back a bit and dented the supposedly priceless metal, but it still kept coming.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

You know, the internet is an interesting thing.  You might be reading this in Kazakhstan in which case it's probably tomorrow and you don't have Thanksgiving anyway.  But that's okay, you can still be thankful for all that you have.  And eat turkey.  So happy thanksgiving!

Oh, don't forget the stuffing!

BCS Playoff System

I hate (hate hate) the BCS college football system for choosing a national championship.  And I think a lot of other folks do to.  And in response, the BCS is talking about going to a limited BCS playoff system but it's still going to be based on BCS rankings which, frankly I don't understand (e.g., how can Boise State be undefeated yet not in contention for a national championship?).

So I'd like to see a full blown playoff.  There are eleven conferences in BCS football.  (I guess the independents would have to join a conference to participate, sorry BYU).  Take the winning team from each conference and the two highest BCS ranked teams that are not conference champions as "wildcards."  You now have 13 teams.  Give the #1 ranked team a bye, play six games, and you have six winners.  Play three games and you have three winners.  Plug in the #1 team (against the lowest ranked team still standing), and you have four teams.  Two more games and you have your BCS championship match.

That's twelve total games (and there's 35 bowl games right now).  If we can't fit 12 playoff games into 35 bowl games, we've got a problem.

This would make bowl games mean something other than bagging rights.  This would up the excitement level for BCS football.  This would make winning a conference more important than ever.  And this would mean a team like Boise State could prove themselves outside their weak conference.  The only downside is that could mean a lot of games for some teams, potentially four post-season games for a 16-game season which is a lot for college ball.

It also means we'll probably have to tighten up bowl eligibility beyond a .500 season.  Which isn't a bad thing.