Okay - the extended-extended hiatus was unplanned. Very unplanned.

I am going to be making an announcement sometime this week.

So, in the meantime, thank you for all your patience, and I apologize for pretty much going dark. That was never my intention.

Also, the voicemail number quit working, so I need to find a new one. Suggestions welcome.

~PJ~

This episode features:

1. An interview with my husband, Andrew

2. The new Guest Techie feature, with my first guest, Shaun Duke

3. The new Layman’s Tech feature, with topic Flash Drives

4. Heart attacks, angioplasties, and stents … oh, my!

Links

Shaun Duke
Young Writers Online
Promo: Chasing the Bard
Promo: Morevi Podcast
Promo: Tale Chasing

ETA: New article about stents 9-25-08

Apparently the voicemail number isn’t working.

I need to find a new service, I think. The new number will be posted here when I have it.

~PJ~

Just when you think you’re getting it together, life throws you body slams you like Hulk Hogan.

I was just recovering from post-con weariness and a nasty bout of con-crud, ready to hit the mic…when my husband had a heart attack in late August. Needless to say, a lot of things took backseat to getting him better. We were so fortunate that it was a mild heart attack, and he’s going to be fine.

In the meantime, our family has been playing catch-up (school, work, writing, podcasts, etc.) I had thought that I had posted a message here, but after receiving an email this morning, I discovered I hadn’t. Sorry about dropping off the radar like that.

Now, for some good news. My hubby is going to be okay and is back on track at work. The kids are fine and moving forward with school. I finished a short story that - with some polishing - I think I’ll be submitting. And I’m about to record a new episode this week! Yay!

Barring any more unexpected wrestling, Episode 2.3 should be out this weekend! In the meantime, how are all of you?

You can find the link –> HERE <-- . I play Julie.
:-) Go and give all of them a listen, and be sure to check out TaleChasing by Kimi Alexandre and Mur Lafferty’s links, Playing for Keeps and I Should Be Writing.

I caught ConCrud from Denvention - and have thus been unable to record anything. I think it’s letting up - so hopefully there will be a new episode up soon.

Hey, all!

I was going to have a podcast out before WorldCon. Then I was going to podcast from WorldCon.

Yeah, neither of those happened. However, once my brain cells are firing again, I’ll be putting an episode (maybe two!) up.

~PJ~

Tee Morris and Philippa Ballantine (whom I interviewed for Tech for Writers Episode 2.2) are teaming up to promote their new releases. Here’s the official story:

Award-nominated author and podcaster Tee Morris (United States) had announced on his podcasts a promotion he dubbed “Billi’s Crazy Eights”, its name coming from the release date (08-08-08) of his next novel, The Case of the Pitcher’s Pendant: A Billibub Baddings Mystery. He then discovered his Crazy Eights promotion coincided with award-nominated Fantasy author Philippa Ballantine (New Zealand) celebrating her birthday and the release of her next novel, Digital Magic. After some playful name-calling and serious brainstorming, these two authors are teaming up from their respective hemispheres for “Double Trouble” where their fans will visit Amazon.com on August 8, 2008 and send both books up the Amazon charts.

“Double Trouble is where Pip and I make 08-08-08 our day on Amazon,” says Tee. “On our respective podcasts and mailing lists, we’re asking our readers and listeners to buy The Case of The Pitcher’s Pendant and Digital Magic. Our goal is to get not one but two Dragon Moon titles into Amazon’s Top Ten lists.” Authors Scott Sigler and Seth Harwood accomplished similar feats on their own Amazon Days (Sigler on April 1, Harwood on March 16), but this promotion will be the first time two authors are working together to dominate Amazon’s charts. “Double Trouble just made sense to us,” Tee continues. “We’re currently collaborating on both our podcasts (MOREVI: Remastered and Chasing the Bard), both new titles are sequels to award-nominated books, and we work well together.” For Pip, this kind of promotion is important, considering her location. “There is strength in numbers, even if that number is two,” she jokes. “Tee and I are pooling our promotional resources together, and that will make a difference on August 8.” A good part of their promotion includes getting the date out across four podcasts, and encouraging their listeners to spread the word. “Podcasting allows authors to introduce works to a global audience and build a fan base,” Pip states. “This is particularly valuable to authors like me on the other side of the world. A promotion like this is not only innovative, but a great example to the publishing industry of podcasting’s potential.”

Tee Morris and Philippa Ballantine ask their fans to visit Amazon.com on August 8, 2008 at 8:00 a.m. PST-USA to place their orders for The Case of The Pitcher’s Pendant: A Billibub Baddings Mystery and Digital Magic. Additional information on the two authors can be found through their respective podcasts, The Survival Guide to Writing Fantasy (http://www.teemorris.com/blog/) and Whispers at the Edge (http://whispers.libsyn.com). Their voices can also be heard in the podcast novels MOREVI: Remastered (http://www.morevi.net) and Chasing the Bard (http://chasingthebard.com). Tee and Pip are available for interviews and invite you to to contact them through http://www.teemorris.com or http://pjballantine.net.

So, as a bonus, Tee and Pip are providing these two book as FREE .pdfs. Yes, you read that correctly! The links are as follows: