Monday, June 18, 2012

You Are Number 6

I realized today that at work I am Number 6! I am by no means comparing my new workplace to The Village or myself to The Prisoner, but the realization reminded me of this excellent show.


Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Follow Me on Twitter... If You Dare!

It's really not much of a challenge. I'm brand-spanking new to Twitter, so bear with me.
But here is a promise: if you follow me, I will follow you.

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Back to Smashwords

After giving Amazon's KDP Select Program a try for several months, I've decided to put my stuff back up at Smashwords. In a few days, everything should start showing up at various other online bookstores (B&N, iTunes, etc.).

The KDP Select Program allows for 5 days of free promotions within a 3-month period in addition to potentially paying out for Amazon Prime members "borrowing" enrolled titles. I've had a single instance of someone borrowing one of my titles, so the free promotions are really the only benefit I've seen.

I still love Amazon to death, but the return business following free promotions has dropped to almost zero in a very short period of time. Now, granted, simply being free on Amazon gets the books and short stories noticed, but I have a feeling that the majority of people downloading are people who download a lot of free content and whether or not they ever get around to reading what they've downloaded for free is questionable. This is not a complaint, just an exercise in logic. Hopefully there will be some benefit in this return to general exposure and expansion of choice.

Saturday, June 2, 2012

The Big Change: Phase 2

I am more than happy to report today that, shortly after I posted my progress report yesterday, I received a firm job offer.

It only took me a month and a half to land a job, and I suppose I shouldn't raise a single word of complaint, but I was shocked by the lack of response from employers. I didn't expect to get every job I applied for, but I thought I was at least worth a look in some of the cases. Apparently not. Or maybe it's just a fact of the economy we live in. I must say, though, that OfficeTeam and Olsten Staffing were particularly helpful to me in my search.

Anyway, I am now gainfully employed. That's what matters and what moves my family and I into Phase 2 of the Big Change. Now that I can prove to the US government that I have an income and can support my family, I can start taking steps to sponsor my wife's visa. Doing this over a long-distance triangle, with potential language barriers, and a number of high price tag filing fees to add to the stress of getting it right the first time simply means that I'll need to get it right the first time.

I've found that most people here in the States are unaware of how potentially difficult it is to sponsor a foreign spouse's visa. Everyone just assumes that if you're married it's automatic. I wish.

Friday, June 1, 2012

The Blood Solution: Progress Report 9

Approaching Infinity: Book Three
Word Count: 74,600
The Goal: 90,000


I am so close to finishing. 90,000 words is the new, tentative goal. In the end, the count may prove to be higher, but certainly shouldn't be lower.

It's been a bit difficult to concentrate this last week. I'm waiting for news that will determine the near future for my family and me. Hopefully that news will come soon, be positive, and we'll be able to move forward. (Despite the sanity-eroding efforts of the not-so-little cockroaches that haunt me in my sleep...)