...don't choke on them.
If you missed my exciting blog talk radio show this morning, don't feel bad. We only gave away $6,000,000 in cash and a few Hawaiian getaways!
Thank you so much to author Denny Griffin for having me on his show. If you did miss it, you can listen to it by clicking here.
It was definitely fun to do, though sometimes it can still be difficult to be open about my life struggles, as it can be for many of us. It's not that I am ashamed about some of my experiences, but advertising them is another story. Last time I walked up to a girl and used the line, "I was homeless, can I buy you a drink?" It didn't go over so well. Have you ever seen a girl laugh so hard that she snorted an entire pitcher of beer up her nose in 3 seconds flat?
I spent some time here the other day with an author who has come up with a completely novel concept (no pun intended). Steve Grogan's book "Vegas Die" is set to come out next week. I am excited that we are having an author signing with him on Saturday, March 15. While the premise of the book itself is intriguing (Old time Vegas mobsters die, Mayor #1 suspect!), the interactive part of the book is a totally awesome concept. How can a book be interactive, you ask? Well, Stephen and his publisher, Harvey Addison, have hidden a dagger worth $25k somewhere in the Las Vegas valley, and there are clues riddled throughout the book as to it's whereabouts. Talk about a genius marting plan. Read a book, find $25,000. You can bet I will be out there diggin holes in the desert trying to find it!
Be well.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
An A for effort
Well it's not everyday you realize what a moron you are. Today was just that for me.
In trying to install a few new shelves to rearrange our book displays, i began my mission at Lowes, trying to find some brackets that would allow me to install the shelves we already have. Of course, they do not sell what we needed. After brainstorming with myself for a few minutes, I decided the next best option was to buy some wood and cut the shelves myself, to the exact size we needed them.
I meandered over to the lumber section where I quickly spotted the right type of wood. They had two choices, first were four sheets of 4ft x 2ft boards, in which I would have sufficient wood for 4 shelves. Option two were two sheets of 4ft x 4ft, in which I could make 6 shelves. You do the math.
After dragging these heavy 4ft x 4ft boards through the store and the checkout line, I got them to my brand new chevy equinox, and quickly realized they would be a tight fit. Rather than walk the 50 feet to have the boards either cut, or tied on to my roof, I used my knowledge of angles to wedge the boards into the back of my SUV, realizing after the fact that the were scraping along the plastic in my new car.
For the life of me, I will never understand why you are able to get items into a tight fit, and then you can never get them out. Like if you put your head between cage bars at a zoo, and then can't get it out. Seems to defy the laws of physics.
Once back at the store, the boards would not come out of my car. I pried and angled and did everything possible, but there was no way they were coming out. So to cut to the chase, when our owner, Pam, walked up, she inquired as to why I had a handsaw out, sawing boards in half in the back of my new car. I had to explain that in my stupidity, I was not trying to cut the shelving in the back of my car, rather, I was simply trying to get the freakin boards out.
I have never heard her laugh so much in my life.
Well maybe tomorrow I will do something smart to make up for my lapse of intelligence. On a positive note, I was able to salvage and cut 4 shelves from the existing wood!
Be well.
In trying to install a few new shelves to rearrange our book displays, i began my mission at Lowes, trying to find some brackets that would allow me to install the shelves we already have. Of course, they do not sell what we needed. After brainstorming with myself for a few minutes, I decided the next best option was to buy some wood and cut the shelves myself, to the exact size we needed them.
I meandered over to the lumber section where I quickly spotted the right type of wood. They had two choices, first were four sheets of 4ft x 2ft boards, in which I would have sufficient wood for 4 shelves. Option two were two sheets of 4ft x 4ft, in which I could make 6 shelves. You do the math.
After dragging these heavy 4ft x 4ft boards through the store and the checkout line, I got them to my brand new chevy equinox, and quickly realized they would be a tight fit. Rather than walk the 50 feet to have the boards either cut, or tied on to my roof, I used my knowledge of angles to wedge the boards into the back of my SUV, realizing after the fact that the were scraping along the plastic in my new car.
For the life of me, I will never understand why you are able to get items into a tight fit, and then you can never get them out. Like if you put your head between cage bars at a zoo, and then can't get it out. Seems to defy the laws of physics.
Once back at the store, the boards would not come out of my car. I pried and angled and did everything possible, but there was no way they were coming out. So to cut to the chase, when our owner, Pam, walked up, she inquired as to why I had a handsaw out, sawing boards in half in the back of my new car. I had to explain that in my stupidity, I was not trying to cut the shelving in the back of my car, rather, I was simply trying to get the freakin boards out.
I have never heard her laugh so much in my life.
Well maybe tomorrow I will do something smart to make up for my lapse of intelligence. On a positive note, I was able to salvage and cut 4 shelves from the existing wood!
Be well.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Two Minutes for Slashing
So Pamela, the owner of Cheesecake and Crime, has been encouraging me to start writing a new book. I actually have started about ten different books , but just have not had time to cultivate the stories. This newest venture, however, may have some real possibilities.
It will be the beginning of a mystery series revolving around an ex-hockey player. The first working title is "Two Minutes for Slashing." We will see where the story takes me.
March will be an exciting month for us here at the store. We have five author signings set up, a booth at the annual "Wine Walk" at the Venetian, and Faberge easter egg decorating classes all going on. Should keep us busy. Check our website for more information regarding those events.
Speaking of websites, Mob historian and author Denny Griffin, sent me this link today: http://www.selfpublishersplace.com/
This is a website dedicating to promoting and selling self published books. If you are a self published author, or are sick of all the agent and publisher rejection letters, check this site out.
Thats all for now. Be Well.
It will be the beginning of a mystery series revolving around an ex-hockey player. The first working title is "Two Minutes for Slashing." We will see where the story takes me.
March will be an exciting month for us here at the store. We have five author signings set up, a booth at the annual "Wine Walk" at the Venetian, and Faberge easter egg decorating classes all going on. Should keep us busy. Check our website for more information regarding those events.
Speaking of websites, Mob historian and author Denny Griffin, sent me this link today: http://www.selfpublishersplace.com/
This is a website dedicating to promoting and selling self published books. If you are a self published author, or are sick of all the agent and publisher rejection letters, check this site out.
Thats all for now. Be Well.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Finally....
Joe has a blog! I guess an author without a blog is kind of like a pianist without feet. Sure you can still play, but the tones don't resonate without the sustain pedals! Okay, that analogy may be a little off the mark, but you get my point.
Welcome to my blog, a spot that I will vent and fume, rant and rave, and generally let my feelings be known to all. The two rules that I live by, and I will try to stick to, are no politics, and no religion.
Instead I will spend more time discussing our store, Cheesecake and Crime, disputing posts by Pamela Mains, our store owner, and generally spinning my own top on anything that strikes my fancy.
Enjoy!
Welcome to my blog, a spot that I will vent and fume, rant and rave, and generally let my feelings be known to all. The two rules that I live by, and I will try to stick to, are no politics, and no religion.
Instead I will spend more time discussing our store, Cheesecake and Crime, disputing posts by Pamela Mains, our store owner, and generally spinning my own top on anything that strikes my fancy.
Enjoy!
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