Haven't blogged in a while, I know. Apologies. Only ... well, I haven't had much to blog about. Just been busy. Anyway, my website got a major facelift, so if you haven't checked that out you should. Also, I'm not sure this will go through RSS feeds that people already have saved, so basically this is a test.
Quick Question About Content On Your Website
Occasionally I'll get what is essentially spam from people asking to post content on my website. I imagine most people with blogs get the same kind of thing. And I imagine most people usually just mark those emails as spam. I usually do.
Until I decided, hey, why not respond to one and see what happens?
from: Ryan Atkin <ryan@pink-dog.eu> reply-to: Ryan Atkin <ryan@pink-dog.eu> to: robert@robertswartwood.com date: Tue, Dec 23, 2014 at 6:52 AM subject: Quick question about content on your website robertswartwood.com
Hey,
I hope you don't mind me contacting you today but I just have a few quick questions,
Would you be interested in sparking up a mutually beneficial relationship with me over some content submissions for your site?
We are basically looking to place a short and sweet 500 word article on your website, with a link pointing to a page on my clients website, followed by a payment for your effort.
Let me know if you are interested and we can get things moving.
Thanks!
Ryan Atkin
Digital Outreach Agent
My response:
from: Robert Swartwood <robert@robertswartwood.com> to: Ryan Atkin <ryan@pink-dog.eu> date: Tue, Dec 23, 2014 at 2:24 PM subject: Re: Quick question about content on your website robertswartwood.com
Hi Ryan,
I'm very interested. Do you pay in Bitcoins? I require Bitcoins.
Best,
Robert
After no response (and after I remembered I had even sent the email), I decided to try again:
from: Robert Swartwood <robert@robertswartwood.com> to: Ryan Atkin <ryan@pink-dog.eu> date: Tue, Jan 6, 2015 at 3:45 PM subject: Re: Quick question about content on your website robertswartwood.com
Hi Ryan,
I haven't heard from you since your first correspondence. I'm still very interested in having a short and sweet 500 word article on my website. Of course, I prefer payment in Bitcoins. Bitcoins or Pogs. Please let me know.
Best,
Robert
And, surprisingly, still new response.
But don't worry, people -- I will get that content.
And I will get those Bitcoins.
Or Pogs.
Or Bitpogs.
Hmm. Think I just came up with a new business idea.
Let me email Ryan about putting it on other people's websites.
R.I.P. Jesus Gonzalez
My good friend Jesus Gonzalez passed away this morning. He had been in the hospital for the past several weeks. I even had a chance to see him last week, and he ... did not look good. But then I heard over the weekend he was showing signs of improvement. I thought, Great! Then this morning I received a voicemail from Brian Keene. Even before listening to the voicemail I had an awful feeling I knew what the call was about. It was great knowing you, Jesus. You were the best.
Not familiar with Jesus? Read this.
Eleanor and Neverland
Two new books have just been released into the wild that you should definitely check out.
Jason Gurley is a relatively new name that has been making a big splash everywhere. He's one of the best graphic designers in the business (I mean, hey, look at that beautiful cover!), and he's already making a big name for himself in the world of science fiction. In fact, Hugh Howey says Jason will be a household name someday. Believe it. His latest novel has just come out, what many are comparing to Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane. It's called Eleanor and it's available now exclusively at Amazon.
Douglas Clegg is a great writer and good friend, and while it's not new per se, his novel Neverland has just be reissued with a snazzy-looking cover. You want quality horror fiction? Doug writes some of the best horror fiction out there, so grab Neverland at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo while the grabbing's good.
XOM-B Digital Sale
Just what the banner there says. XOM-B, the new novel by my friend Jeremy Robinson, which is usually $12.99, is currently $2.99 on all digital platforms for a limited time, including Kindle. What's XOM-B about? Oh, you know, just zombies and robots and the end of the world, the usual. I've already read the book (well, listened to it) and it kicks ass. Really, this is a great deal, and you don't want to be left out. Check out the book trailer and more buy links here.