Happy Birthday, Jane!

Can you believe it? A year ago today, I officially became a published author when I uploaded Vampire Assassin (Jane #1) to Amazon KDP. It's crazy how time flies. Since then, I've published four more books in the Jane series (and am working on another), as well as two books for Blood of the Dragon and several short stories. It's so weird to think that it's only been a year. I've learned so much in such a short time and made some absolutely amazing friends and mentors. A huge thanks to all the MyWANA folks, especially Kristen Lamb, who gave me some priceless tips on using social media effectively, and Debora Geary, whose suggestions helped Vampire Assassin really take off. If you haven't read the series, VA is free!

Anyway, on to the fun stuff! In honor of Jane's birthday, I'm going to have a little party. And what's a party without party favors? Two lucky people are going to win some very awesome prizes.

• One winner will receive a $50 Amazon (or B&N) gift card and a signed copy of both volumes of Jane* (Jane, vol 2 will be out by the end of April).
• Winner #2 will receive the entire Jane collection in the ebook format of their choice, including the as-yet-unreleased Blood Moon (Jane #6)

So how do you enter? It's easy peasy. Just make a comment below. Make sure you include your email somewhere in there, especially if you post anonymously. You get two entries if you comment and tweet about the giveaway (include @_samanthawarren so I'll know). The contest will be open until 8pm ET on April 1st (that's tomorrow, and my uncle's birthday and April Fool's Day... hmm... chocolate crickets anyone?).

*They can opt for the ebook collection instead, if preferred. The printed books are available for US participants only. 

Happy Bunny is Happy

Shh... no one tell Samantha, but I'm hijacking her blog. She won't know. My name is Bunny Boop. Please, don't laugh. It wasn't my choice. Ms. Warren got me from another woman who had named me Black Betty. Thank God she changed it. Every time she would call me that, she would start singing! Oy vey! Luckily, she eventually dropped the Black and then Betty turned to Betty Boop and the rest is history, as they say.

Whoever invented cardboard is awesome.

 So why am I hijacking Stealing Starships today? Well, it's almost Easter, right? Around Easter, it seems everyone is thinking bunnies and people buy them up like crazy. Sure, I'm bunnies are cute, but they're not hamsters. People don't seem to realize that. We don't require a ton of effort, but we're not fish. Heck, even fish need some attention. But if you prepare and treat us right, we're wonderful pets. Here are some tips so you can enjoy your fuzzy friend to the fullest.

1. We DO need a cage. I've heard that some people advocate for letting their rabbits roam free throughout the house all the time. I can honestly say this isn't fun. Sure, it's a blast to go crazy and race all over the place every now and then, but we do need a place to call home, where we can decorate how we want (aka: poop everywhere and rearrange the furniture). Don't get mad at us when we poop inside our cage. That's how we mark our territory. We promise not to poop in other places (usually). And keep us indoors if possible. Our wild counterparts may be outdoor animals, but we fare much better inside instead of a hutch in the yard. Plus, it can get lonely and scary out there.

In addition to my cage, I have a pet fence to give me plenty of room to run
in a safe area away from tasty electrical cords.

2. We can be litter trained. While we may poop all over our cage, we want to keep our pee contained. If you provide us with a little box full of shavings or other material, we're quite content peeing in there to make it easier for you to clean. We're easily trainable, especially if you throw some hay in the box too. We like to multitask, after all.

3. Unlike some animals, we need fresh food and water all the time. We like to eat when we want to eat, and we're pretty good at regulating our diets on our own. Restricting our food and water will often cause us digestive issues and make us lose our appetites. Not good.

4. We need our space. While we may look cute and cuddly, we're not like dogs and cats. Well, maybe we're more like cats. We want to be left alone most of the time. We don't like being manhandled by children. We don't make good pets for little kids. Older children are more our style, as long as they can give us alone time. It will take us awhile to warm up to you, and even then, some of us just don't like to be held. We're happy to hang out near you and let you pet us occasionally, but don't force us to endure hours of attention. It stresses us out.

5. Like cats, we like cheap toys over expensive ones. Give me a ball of straw, a pillow, a stuffed animal, or a blanket and I'm a happy camper (except I hate camping). I'll spend a good half an hour rearranging my blanket to make it just the shape I want it. And you know what I like better than my blanket? A magazine and a phone book. Stop laughing, I'm serious. It's so much fun to rip the magazines to shreds. Same with the phone books, though I love curling up on mine for a nap. And boxes. I love me a cardboard box. They provide a hiding place I can chew on. Heaven, if you ask me.

My favorite place to nap: on top of the phonebook

6. Please get us fixed. This is very important. It's not just to keep us from breeding. We are very susceptible to cancers and getting us fixed will prolong our lives. Samantha has been very lax about that, even though she plans on getting me fixed. Prod her a bit and make her get moving on it, would you? Thanks.

So there are a few tips I have on raising a rabbit to be happy and content like I am. And if you do get a rabbit and realize it's not the pet for you, don't let it go in the woods. We're not wild animals anymore. We can't fend for ourselves. We will die. Shelters take rabbits, too. Do us a favor and give us a chance at a happy life.

This has been a PSA from your loveable local rabbit, Bunny Boop. I'll now give Samantha her blog back and let her bore you with human stuff. 

It's Not My Fault!

Borrowed from Obscure Star Wars Photos

Oh, Han Solo, how we adore thee. Who could fail to love that dashing face and atrocious clothing? But I digress. Today we're discussing Han's favorite phrase:

It's Not My Fault

Back in 1977, the world laughed when Han uttered these words (repeatedly). The ship would break, bad things would happen, and Mr. Solo would adamantly insist that none of it was his fault. To be fair, most of it wasn't.

Today, "It's not my fault" seems to be running rampant in society. No one ever wants to take the blame for anything. "I can't get a job because of the economy", "It's the (choose the party you don't belong to)'s fault the country is messed up", "I blame my parents for the way I am" (Ok, so I use that one a lot). It's all about the blame game these days. Heck, even in mmos (massively multiplayer onlne roleplaying games), I see it everywhere. "We lost that match because the game was poorly designed/we were undergeared/everyone but me sucks." No one ever says "Wow, those guys were good." 

So what's my point? I have two of them, actually. The first is we need to take responsibility for the things we do have control over. I'll use the government as an example: It's no one party's fault. We're all in this together. If it's ever going to work, it has to be a joint solution and everyone needs to put aside their inability to accept any part of the fault and start looking for a real answer to the problem. 

Second, and the thing I most wanted to point out, is Sh*t Happens. Thank you Forrest Gump for that lovely smiley face to go with it. Sometimes, bad things happen. Sometimes things don't go as planned. And it's no one's fault. It just is. You can't do anything to change it. You can't stop it. You just have to deal with it. Trying to find a place to lay the blame does nothing but cause you stress and annoy those around you.

Suck it up, Buttercup.

Take it on the chin.

Roll with the punches.

Just deal with it.

I can't think of anymore fun cliches, but sometimes life is not going to hand you roses. Sometimes it'll just be a big pile of thorns, and maybe it's not your fault, but if you spend all your time trying to lay blame elsewhere, you'll get nowhere. 

Have you noticed/been affected by the "blame game" mentality that seems to be sweeping the world these days? What is your favorite "Roll with the punches" cliche? Do you have any advice on how to do just that when things get tough?

Sneak Peek: Blood Moon

Happy Sunday! I was trying to come up with a fun post idea on this lazy chilly morning and thought, Hey, maybe my readers would like a little glimpse into the next Jane book. So here you go, folks. A tiny peek at Blood Moon. Enjoy!

The clang of metal rang through the hills behind the ranch. Anyone within earshot must have wondered when they were ported back to fourteenth century England and why anyone was fighting in the dead of night. I panted as I lowered my sword and raised a hand for respite, trying desperately to catch my breath. An image of Ado's last moments flashed in front of my eyes and I gritted my teeth. Shaking my head to clear the thought, I glared up at Felipe.

"Please tell me again why you're making me learn to use such an archaic weapon?"

He was stretching in front of me, his own sword nestled snuggly in the sheath by his side. "It is important you know as many forms of defense as possible. You never know when you'll need to use something that isn't going to blow a huge hole in the side of a building."

He flashed me a glimpse of his perfectly white teeth and I melted at his winning smile. He was lucky he was cute. Sighing, I raised my sword again and squared off. "Alright, let's do this."

Felipe's grin grew and he slid his sword from its home, bringing it arcing around and toward my head in one swift motion. I barely got my own weapon up in time to block the blow and I could feel the vibrations through my arms as the two swords met.

A loud buzzing noise brought a premature end to our bout. Scowling, Felipe lowered his sword and plucked the cell phone from his hip. "Yes?"

"Hey man, it's Jax. I need your advice on something."

"I'm a little busy at the moment. Can it wait?" Felipe rolled his eyes, ready to hang up the phone.

"Yeah, I guess." I could hear the stress in Jax's voice through the phone and gave Felipe my best 'your friend needs you' look.

My wonderful husband opened his mouth to argue with me, then sighed and rolled his eyes again. "Hang on. I'll be back there in a few."

Jax's tone perked up noticably. "Thanks man. I'll be on your porch."

Felipe closed the phone and glared at me. "You just don't want to spar anymore."

I smiled and wrapped my arms around his waist, letting the flat of the sword slap playfully against his backside. "Well, that is definitely an added bonus. But he sounded upset. And it won't hurt to take a break. We've been out here for over an hour."

"Alright, alright. I'll see you back home soon." He kissed my forehead and disappeared into the trees surrounding the field where we sparred.

I plopped down into the grass, gazing up at the moonless night. The stars shone brightly, but without the moon, it was dark outside, even to a vampire. A glimpse of light drew my attention and I watched the little glowing ball bounce up and down as it grew bigger. It followed the path through the woods from the house and I could easily see the shadow behind it, even from that distance. I waited where I was, resting my head back into the soft pillow Mother Earth provided, examining the heavens above. The light grew bright enough where I had to squint until it suddenly went out. As it did, I felt the grass move beside me and heard a snort as someone settled down.

I let my head flop to the side, raising an eyebrow at the scrawny boy. It took me a minute to remember he couldn't see my raised eyebrow. "What's up, Robbie?"

He let out a soft sigh before answering. "Oh, nothing."

I laughed a little. "You're out here in the middle of the night when I know you're afraid of the dark, and you have a pretty big frown on your face. What's up?"

The young man turned his head and glared at me. I shot him a grin that he couldn't see before he turned back to look at the stars. He was quiet for a bit and I didn't push.

Several minutes had passed before he spoke. "Jane, how do you deal with it?"

"Deal with what?" I knew exactly what he was talking about, but I needed to hear him say it first.

"It." He had a hard time getting the words out, but once he wrapped his mind around what he was trying to say, they flooded out. "You know, death. Losing someone so close to you, losing someone who means more to you than the world. He was my best friend, he was my mentor. He was like my father. I never had a dad, but when he took me on as his assistant, he didn't just treat me like I was an employee or a grunt. I've seen the way the other assistants were treated. He didn't treat me like that. He was always there for me whenever I needed him. Even when I didn't want him to be. He was..."

His voice broke and he turned over, burying his face in his arm as sobs wracked his body. I sat up and placed a hand on his shoulder, waiting until his tears receded enough so he could hear me. Finally, he sat up and wiped his face.

"Sorry, Jane. I didn't mean to do that."

I wrapped an arm around his shoulder and pulled him close to me. "Don't ever be sorry about that, Robbie. Losing someone you love dearly is one of the worst things you could ever go through. I thought losing Steven was going to kill me. Oddly enough, I guess it kind of did." I frowned at that thought, then shook my head. "Anyway, what you're going through right now is normal. Don't ever be ashamed to feel that kind of pain. Don't try to hide it, and don't try to make it go away. It will get better with time, but it's necessary to grieve for those you've loved and lost. Don't let anyone ever tell you it's not."

He sniffled and I'm pretty sure he wiped his nose on my shirt. I tried my best not to gag or yell at him. "But Felipe and Jax never cry. They were like statues at Father Bellini's funeral."

He pulled away and crossed his arms, a look of pure anger on his face. I brushed his cheek with my finger, wiping away some of the tears. "They were, that's true. It was all they could do to keep from killing anyone who spoke to them. They locked their anger and hurt inside, and it was almost destructive to both of them. But they both wept, as well. They wept privately, where few could see. And they both still suffer greatly, but they're finding ways to deal with the hurt. Sometimes their ways could be better," I said as I glanced toward a splintered tree at the edge of the woods. "But they're trying and learning."

Robbie sighed again and drew up his knees to wrap his arms around them. I rested my chin on his shoulder and my forehead against his ear. We sat there for awhile in the still night, listening to the sounds of the dark and watching the stars. A light wind came up and rustled the grass. On the brief gust of air, I noticed a smell--one we had been taught to be aware of and keen to. One that we were supposed to kill.

What You See When You Look At Me

Today's post comes from a talented author, Uzuri M. Wilkerson. Uzuri's book Sweet will be out soon. In preparation, she is doing a blog tour with Positively Published. Enjoy her wonderfully insightful post!

  

What You See When You Look At Me

I am a writer. I cannot be any more specific than that because I write across genres. My first major publication is paranormal fiction. I have other novels in various stages of edits, saved away on my hard drive and in stacks of pages in my office. They are urban fiction and chick-lit, thrillers and young adult. I don’t classify myself as one type of writer.

I, therefore, shouldn’t be surprised when others do. During one of my many spiels about my forthcoming publication, this particular person looked on in astonishment while I described the general plot of Sweet. He shook his head in amazement.

“It’s funny because you don’t seem like someone who would write that. You don’t look like that’s what you’re into.”

I had nodded slowly as I took that in.

“Well,” I informed him, “I do.”

I assume it was because of the color of my skin. Supernatural content is for nerds, which I am. I guess you mostly picture pasty-skinned, greasy-haired, bespectacled stereotypes raising their hands in Trekkie salutes whenever possible. I do have glasses but believe me when I say I’m no nerdy stereotype.

Even so, I do enjoy supernatural fiction. From television shows to movies to books. There is just something about suspending your beliefs in this grounded reality of ours and becoming engrossed with what if? Books really are a gateway through which to escape the mundane and often mad world we live in.

For me, if I really enjoy something that I am watching or reading, I will envision myself kicking ass alongside the main characters. I find it much easier to insert myself into supernatural fiction, especially if there is action abound. That doe-eyed little kid who actually believes in the implausible still lives inside of me. Maybe that’s why it wasn’t so hard for me to give it a stab, no pun intended.

I can agree that I may not share the attributes of my fellow paranormal writers. With my curly Afro and laid-back persona, it’s no wonder people are surprised to find that I am a writer. I tell you this: it’s just that, a persona. There are many sides to me that I am able to express through words. It’s easier that way. Many of my main characters turn out to be young, Black females because of that slightly conceited part of me that wants the action to happen to me directly. This is what life would be like if I were dating a vampire. Or if I were on the run from an assassin. Or living in a housing development in Boston. I wouldn’t trade that for the world.

With writing, my real voice is able to shine through. I’m quite aware how reserved I appear in everyday life. Only a few are afforded a peek of my more silly side. The one who dances and laughs out loud and lip-syncs (and real sings) songs as she bops around the house. Self-consciousness and daily fears usually stand in the way. I worry that I will be stuck at the same job for another year where I feel like a very tiny piece in the cog and am only acknowledged when someone needs something that they won’t do themselves. I have to be reminded of my less than stellar love life that is nothing to write home about. I don’t eat healthy enough. I don’t exercise daily. I’m told to look to the positive that is happening to me, in order to see past the negative. It doesn’t work. What can I say? Scorpios are born-pessimists. My only real release is through writing, where I get to swear like a sailor, write intense fight scenes, and describe naughty things.

So, how does it feel to hear someone is surprised to find I enjoy supernatural? Well, it is surprising. As I go around, trying to drive interest in my book, I find there are a lot more people who look like me that are into the supernatural. Of course, my own brother is a prime example as he was probably the first to introduce me to vampires and things that go bump in the night. But when talking with people, I found I came across two types: the ones who were excited by the prospect and the ones whose eyes glazed over at the thought of yet another vampire book. They’d had enough of the hype. Over time, however, I have discovered that the former far outweighs the latter. People are still into a good sci-fi story. What is it about the supernatural that appeals to readers? Personally, I like the idea of creatures with superhuman abilities. Who wouldn’t want to become invisible at will or teleport or move objects with their mind? You would never have to work for money again! I kid!

The point is: we’re out there. The dorky stigma associated with fantasy and supernatural is no longer as prevalent as it used to be. People are proud to be Team Edward or Team Jacob, Gryffindor versus Slytherin (I’m Ravenclaw, by the way), fangbangers and the like. This can be explained by the evolution of literature and trends. As time passes, these stories become more ingrained with our own realities. They take place in modern settings, with relatable, flawed characters, dealing with issues that you and I know about firsthand. These trends all merge together to make it easier for a wider audience to feel included in this form of fiction.

As with real books, where you can’t always judge it by its cover, the same rule can be applied to people. That brown-skinned, Afro-ed lady behind her computer may just be into the same thing you are.

So what about you? What do people see when they look at you? Do you show your true self to the world, or is it only fully revealed in the words you write? 

UZURI M. WILKERSON graduated from Wellesley College in 2005. There, she studied film with a concentration in screenwriting. After finishing school, she eventually moved back to novels, where she found more freedom for her expression. Sweet came into fruition after a lifetime love affair with the supernatural. It was only a matter of time before she took her own stab at the genre. She currently resides in Boston, Massachusetts.

To learn more about Uzuri Wilkerson and to read more about her upcoming novel Sweet please visit her website. To reserve your autographed copy of her debut novel and to enter for your chance to win a $25 VISA gift card, visit www.azizapublishing.com and learn about the Sweet photo contest or to reserve your autographed copy of “Sweet”.

What Does It Really Mean To Be Human?

This vampire can bite me any day.

Being Human is a fantastic show about a vampire, a werewolf, and a ghost who all cohabit and try to fit into humanity. If you've never seen it, it's on Netflix. You can thank me later, probably days from now since you'll be watching all the episodes back to back. There are two versions to Being Human, though. It originated in the UK and was reproduced in the US. I started out watching the US version, but I prefer the UK version. Maybe it's the accents, or maybe it's something else I noticed between the two.

It seems that over in Britain, they have no issues whatsoever with casting women who are somewhat, shall we say, round? None of these lovely ladies are fat by any means, but they are more soft around the edges to what I'm used to seeing on American television. Clearly, the American casting director realized this. Let's take a look, shall we?

Sally

Annie

Annie/Sally: One of the three main characters. She's the ghost. Lenora Critchlow plays Annie in the UK version, Meaghan Rath is Sally. Both are gorgeous girls, but Annie is clearly much fuller in the face. Sally is so stick-thin, I want to feed her a Poptart.

Nina/Nora: Love of George/Josh's life. I won't ruin it aside from saying that.

Lauren/Rebecca: Aidan's love interest in the first series. Whoops, she becomes a vampire. How'd that happen? Ok, so this one isn't as obvious until you see the show and see their body types. Guess you just have to watch it now.

Cara/Cafeteria Girl: I haven't watched the US version in awhile, so I can't remember if cafeteria girl makes a comeback later in the series, but I do know who her character is in the UK version. Cara plays a fairly big part in certain episodes.





Those are just a few of the women who have been "thinned out" in the American version of Being Human. Have you ever noticed this in a show that's been redone lately? What do you think of it?  Does it bother you?

*All images from Being Human Wikia

Happy St. Paddy's Day!

It's St. Patrick's Day, a day when we love to dress up in green, eat corned beef, and get drunk off our arses. For most of us, that's about the extent of what we know (or care to know) about St. Paddy's Day, but in case you're curious, here are a few more facts.

• The real St. Patrick wasn't even Irish. He was British. At the age of 16, he was kidnapped and sent to Ireland to tend sheep, where he eventually became a Christian. *
• St. Patrick supposedly banished snakes from Ireland, but in reality, Ireland never had any snakes to begin with.*
• On St. Patrick's day, more than 13 million pints of Guinness will be consumed.*
• Corned beef, typically thought of as Irish, is really old English. An Irish St. Paddy's day meal may consist of boiled bacon (a full joint, not the strips), cabbage, and potatoes.
• Syracuse, NY holds the largest celebration per capita, drawing about 100,000 people to the annual parade.

*Borrowed from National Geographic

Jar Jar Binks: Awesomeness in Disguise?

No, I'm not really that insane. I still think Jar Jar is possibly one of George Lucas's biggest mistakes. Not only was he the most obnoxious creature ever created, he could be considered a racial slight. But that's a whole other blog topic.

Today I want to talk about an article I read that one of my guildmates pointed out. This person very eloquently sums up why the Star Wars prequels (The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith) may indeed be better than the originals, including the addition of the highly flawed Jar Jar Binks.

I won't quote it all, but it's here if you want to read it in full, which you should. The gist of it is that the reason the prequels are so much better is because they are more complex.

"A New Hope," "The Empire Strikes Back," and "Return of the Jedi" reflect the Cold War milieu in which they were created, offering up a comforting us-vs.-them story told in bold strokes lacking nuance, complexity, or intellectual ambiguity.

And it's true. If you think about it, you know very clearly who the good guys and bad guys are. (Except Boba Fett. I know he has a softer side that he hasn't shown yet.) Luke, Leia, and even Han are all clearly good at heart. Vader and the Emperor, not so much.

The prequels, in contrast, offer a completely different tale. The good guys are the ones in charge, and the good guys are the ones who inevitably let evil take control (kudos to George Lucas for giving Jar Jar the big hand in that). The prequels are scary for today's American, because they show us a possibility for our future. I personally liked the prequels anyway. They may be slightly cheesy, but they offer new insight into the Star Wars universe. This article made me look at them in a new light.

Did you read the article? What did you think about the prequels before you read it? Did it make you look at them in a different light?

What's Your Obsession?

I'm not a hoarder;

I'm a collector.

 For some, it's ceramic cats on shelves. Others prefer teacups or baby dolls, but almost everyone I know collects something. It's the accumulation of stuff that is near and dear to our hearts, whether we realize it or not.

Ms. Evil collects creepy felines
Image courtesy of Wikia

You may know exactly what it is you collect, but you may be thinking "I'm not a collector." Look around you, though. Do you find that certain items just manage to multiply? Maybe you have an inordinate number of old cell phones. You don't use them anymore. You don't need them. But you're loathe to get rid of them. Maybe it's boxes of tea (I have those).

I've always claimed I wasn't a collector until one day I looked around and realized my socks wouldn't fit in my sock drawer anymore and I had more notebooks than one human could possibly use. Pens, especially colored ones, seem to be falling out of random places and why on earth do I need so many paperclips? So I stand here before you today and proudly declare:

I AM A COLLECTOR

In creating this blog, I also realized I collect pictures. My camera has so many of them, it takes forever to load up. Maybe it's time to do a little camera cleaning. 

A very, very, very small sampling of my super awesome sock collection

A small collection of notebooks. There's even one hanging on the wall!

A few of my Star Wars toys. Notice how Boba Fett outnumbers the others?

Have you discovered that you're an unintentional collector? What odd items tend to accumulate around you? Do you have any intentional collections?

Updates and More!

I know I'm a day late, but I was a bit under the weather yesterday (where did that phrase come from? How do you get under something so abstract as the weather?). But I have great news!

First, Jane #6 is coming along peachy and it even has a title and *wait for it* A COVER. Thanks to the wonderful Kalen O'Donnel, Blood Moon is now just waiting on lazy ol' me. Check this baby out! Kalen is the one who did Til Death as well.

And because you all have been so wonderful and supportive with Jane, I decided it was time you got real, professional covers instead of the homemade ones done by moi. So Kalen was nice enough to redo the entire series! Feast your eyes on these beauties!

It'll take me awhile to get them all updated everywhere, but there's a sneak peek! And here's a little inside info on Blood Moon: Donovan isn't the only new character! He's getting a new friend to serve as trusted companion and anchor in times of strife. So stay tuned for Blood Moon!

Recipe: Corned Beef Brisket

It's now March, and with the coming of March, my thoughts turn to green socks, leprechauns, and the most wonderful food to come out of Ireland (though apparently there is some debate as to whether the Irish can be credited with this delicious creation). I know St. Paddy's Day is still a ways away, but if you want to make your own corned beef to avoid the exorbitant cost of buying in the store, you have to get started now. I found the delicious recipe below here and plan to try it out just as soon as I can run to the local Amish store to grab some of the ingredients I don't have laying around. I also plan on chopping the ingredients down a bit. I don't have an 8-10 lb brisket handy.

*Note: This recipe doesn't use sodium nitrate, so the beef won't have that signature pink color. It's not necessary and may be a bit healthier without it, but if you want that color, you'll need to add some "pink salt".

Ingredients
1 8-10lb brisket
4 garlic cloves, peeled and cut in thirds

Brine
2 qts water
1 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup white vinegar
4 tbsp sugar
3 bay leaves
1 tsp peppercorn
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1 pinch ground cloves

Simmering Liquid
Water to 3/4 side of brisket
1 tsp peppercorn
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1/2 tsp whole allspice
1/4 tsp whole cloves
4 garlic cloves, sliced

1. Combine all brine ingredients. Bring to boil, then cool completely.
2. Place brisket in large roasting bag or tupperware container. Cover with the cooled brine and add the 4 garlic cloves (from the top of the list).
3. Tie bag tightly or seal container with lid. If in a bag, place in a large pot in case it leaks. Refrigerate for a week, turning the brisket on occasion to make sure it marinates completely.
4. Remove brisket and discard the brine.
5. Rinse meat, place in large pot and cover 3/4 of the way with water.
6. Add Simmering Liquid ingredients and bring to boil. Skim off any foam that floats to the top.
7. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, for 3-4 hours. Add vegetables (cabbage, carrots, potatoes, onions) in the last hour.


Let the nom-noming commence! Have you made your own corned beef before? How did it come out? Do you have any suggestions for newbs like me?

What To Do!

I hate rap, with a passion, but I finally found a song I like!

I feel for this kid and completely understand where he's coming from. I have way too many clothes and have to do laundry almost every day! And my internet keeps cutting out, making it very difficult to watch the super cheap movies on Netflix and play video games at the same time.

What are some of your first-world problems? Come share your pain and we'll commiserate together!

The Indie Pricing Dilemma

There are three things in life that I don't like discussing most of the time: politics, religion, and ebook prices. All three are very hot topics that people get irate (and sometimes downright nasty) about. On occasion, however, something will bug me so much that I feel the need to speak out, such as when people blame the president (any president) for the state of this country (while forgetting that we are a democracy, not a dictatorship) or when people claim the First Amendment gives them the right to be a jerk (no, it doesn't). So when I read an article by Dean Wesley Smith today about raising indie ebook prices, I felt the need to chime in.

I will preface by saying that DWS does say (repeatedly) that the pricing system he laid out is just his opinion and every writer/publisher must do what is right for them. That is absolutely true. What works for one may not work for another. There are several reasons I do not agree with the extent to which he raised prices, however.

Here is his suggested list.  Please note that this entire discussion is about fiction and does not take into account any research that would typically be done for non-fiction.

As you can see, it is quite extensive. Ginormous, really. And overcomplicated. Now for my issues.

Let's start with the lowest bracket. Under 3000 words, he suggests charging $1.49. 3000 words is approximately 10 pages. A dollar and a half for 10 pages? That's excessive. I won't publish anything under 3000 words unless it's free. 3000 words is about 3 hours worth of work, max. It's really easy to embellish a story and bump it up to 6000.

DWS has three brackets between 6k and 15k. I think that's overcomplicated, not to mention overpriced. I like to keep everything in that range at $.99. It just doesn't make much sense (with Amazon, anyway) to go to $1.99 with the 35% royalty rate. I consider anything that short to be a sample of my work, really, and why would anyone want to pay $2 for a sample? I can see going $1.99 for things 10k-15k, though. 15k-30k should fall about $2.99. That's approximately 50-100 pages worth of reading and took a serious amount of effort to write, edit, and format. At the 70% royalty rate, an author will easily make $2 per sale. 30k-50k should be $3.99 and over 50k should be $4.99. I would argue that above 100k you could go even higher, but I wouldn't suggest anything over $7.99.

DWS's numbers put indie publishers on the same level price-wise as traditional publishers, which I think is just shooting ourselves in the foot (feet?). We have a distinct advantage over traditional publishers: We make more money. Royalty rates received by traditionally published authors are really low, around 15% if the publisher is generous. So on that $2.99 book, they'd make all of 44 cents. We can afford to price lower, which is only one of the reasons to keep our prices under $5.

The lower prices will entice more readers. No, I don't mean entice them to buy our books alone. I mean it will encourage people to read more. The lower prices of ebooks and the increased availability of free reading apps and cheap ereaders will (in my oh-so-humble opinion) encourage people to read more. Youth these days are very tech-minded and I know quite a few who would not otherwise read pick out a book on their new iPhone app and start devouring it. Raising prices up to where the books match the price of a good lunch will only discourage new readers.

In line with keeping books affordable, the lower priced books will entice those who are on a tight budget to buy while the books that come in above the $5 mark will likely fall in the borrow (or steal) category. I've lived on a tight budget the majority of my life and when it comes to books, I will definitely borrow the more expensive ones, or simply put them on a "wish list", in which case they usually get forgotten. However, if I see a book that looks really interesting and falls under $5, I'll definitely sample it and most likely buy it. Honestly, I've bought way too many books that I shouldn't have, but I've enjoyed most of them and I'm happy to support my fellow indies.

So my pricing is as follows (I use discretion with each book based on other factors, of course):
Under 3000: Free
3000-15000: $.99
15000-30000: $2.99
30000-50000: $3.99
Over 50000: $4.99

Those are just a few reasons why I think indie prices shouldn't try to compete with those of traditionally published books. We have an opportunity to share our books with those who may not necessarily have access to them otherwise and encourage new people to read. Why bleed our readers dry when we benefit so much from their support?

What did you think of DWS's article on pricing in 2012? As a reader, how do ebook prices affect your buying choices? As a writer, do you follow a specific pricing model?