Digital Book World Conference 2012

I'll be blunt; it's a good thing I didn't go to the DBW conference last week. With some of the sheer stupidity being spouted, I would have thrown my drink in someone's face (best-case scenario), or I would have decked someone and spent the night in jail for assault and battery (worst -case scenario).

Needless to say, I kept my eye on the Twitter feeds and other folks blogs for news all week. Here's some of the highlights.

Best Original Tweet Award goes to @DigiBookWorld: "Heard at #dbw12: Self publishing costs publishers $100 million in opportunity”

Best Response to Best Original Tweet? @pablod: "LOL self-pub is the new piracy!"

These publishers HAD the opportunity; they rejected the opportunity. If you reject the opportunity (And I do mean literally reject it. Would you like to see my files?), that's your own damn fault, publishers! 'Cause guess what? I've discovered there is a market for zomromcom (that's zombie romantic comedy for the uninitiated). May the zombie hamsters eat you for lunch!

Here's some links to blogs reviewing DBW12:

Social Times talks about the panel on Strategies for Social Engagement.
Bookmasters has links to several bits of news that came out of DBW12.
Bob Mayer and Jenn Talty have DBW Day 1 and DBW Day 2 to review.

And if all this short-sightedness just pisses you off, like it did me, go read Bob's take on why vampires and zombies are illogical and stupid. Oh, and why they shouldn't glitter either. I write this stuff, and I still found Bob funny as hell.

Songs I've Been Listening to a Lot Lately

Publishers can't understand why writers like me are leaving them in droves. Seriously, folks, What Have You Done for Me Lately?

Budweiser Super Bowl Commercials: Part III

For when you're tired of the bad calls and the instant replays:

Budweiser Super Bowl Commercials, Part II

I know I've posted this one before, but it 'bares' repeating as the second funniest Budweiser commercial.

Budweiser: The Extra Point

For Tess St. John, a replay of my favorite Super Bowl commercial of all time:

The Force Is With You

After yesterday's post, you knew I HAD to post the original.

The Dogs Strike Back

Normally I don't post on Tuesday, but remember last year's VW Superbowl ad? Here's a sneak preview of this year's!

(Special thanks to Jesse Petersen of Married with Zombies fame for the link!)

The Apple De-Evolution

Apple made their announcement Thursday regarding their dedication to education, and to that end, their creation of iBook Author. Lots of folks have commented much more thoroughly on the subject of Apple's asinine End User License Agreement, especially over at The Passive Voice.

Yet, someone I know, who's normally a very savvy businessperson, said, "I don't understand the big deal. Apple created iBook Author. They should get to say how it's used."

Um, no. Let me put this more simply.

Let's say you are a carpenter. You build birdhouses for a living. In fact, you have a reputation making the coolest birdhouses ever.

You need a new drill. Black & Decker** comes along and says, "Hey! We'll give you a drill for free. But you must sell your birdhouses through us, and only us, and we get 30% of the retail price you charge. The only way you don't have to pay us is if you give away your birdhouses for free."

Or you can pay Craftsman $100 for a new drill, and sell your birdhouses at all the cute, little boutiques, all the garden centers, and the flea market down the street for whatever agreement you make with each retail store.

In the long run, which way expands your distribution channel? Which way gives more people the opportunity to see and buy your birdhouses? Which way will make you more money?

Get the difference, now?

** No offense to the good folks at Black & Decker. They make fine tools, and to the best of my knowledge, their legal department has a clue.

Rest In Peace, Miz Etta. . .

Soundtrack for Blood Magick

I'm one of those people who listens to music while writing. Sometimes, I simply need sound to create a particular mood. Mozart for emotion and introspection. Madonna or Prince for a really hot sex scene. G'n'R or Aerosmith for action.

Over the last eight years, I've put together a specific playlist for each novel I've written. Here's the soundtrack I put together for Blood Magick (Bloodlines #1):

Man, I Feel Like a Woman by Shania Twain
Who Do You Think You Are by Spice Girls
Angel by Sarah McLachlan
How Soon Is Now? by Love Spit Love
Defying Gravity by Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenowyth
Transylvanian Concubine by Rasputina
Sooner or Later by Madonna
The Continental by Prince & the New Power Generation
Sympathy for the Devil by the Rolling Stones
Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen
Breathe (2 AM) by Anna Nalick
7 by Prince & the New Power Generation
Love Song for a Vampire by Annie Lennox
Say You'll Be There by Spice Girls