Tag Archives: the yeti

Character Profile -The Yeti

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NAME: The Yeti

OTHER NAMES: None.  Only referred to as “The Yeti.”

OFFICIAL TITLE: International Fuzzy Monster War Criminal

BIOGRAPHY: Hailing from the frozen wastelands of Siberia, the Yeti was the leader of a group of yetis who believe that there should be no fun or entertainment of any kind in the world whatsoever.  “From the day you are born, you should do nothing but stare at the dirt until its time for you to return to it,” is an old yeti proverb.

To be fair, there are many progressive yetis in the world who embrace science, technology, entertainment and more. Many yetis have spoken out against The Yeti’s quest to impose old fashioned yeti ways on the world.

Oh, and it should be noted that yeti related discussions tend to become confusing as every yeti goes by the name of, “The Yeti.”

This particular yeti is a dangerous one.  In early 2015, he circumvented the Bookshelf Battle Compound’s security system, bested security chief Bookshelf Q. Battledog, and took Bookshelf Q. Battler and the Bookshelf Battle Blog hostage for over a month.

Luckily, BQB was able to best the Yeti in a best two out of three roundhouse kick to the face competition.

Relying on his scientific training, BQB built cold storage prison cell in his basement, where the Yeti currently resides (voluntarily as of mid-summer 2015).

Oddly enough, after being around BQB for awhile, the Yeti began to embrace entertainment.  He has been free to go for quite some time, but makes up excuses that he’s still a prisoner so that he continue to watch BQB’s television and eat all his snacks.

When questioned about this, the Yeti feigns a continuing hatred for entertainment and a love of boredom, then proceeds to binge watch TV shows when no one is looking.

Sometimes he even does it when people are looking, such as on Scandal night, a weekly tradition in BQB HQ in which all characters report to the couch to watch the Kerry Washington hit show.

The Yeti pretends as though this is a terrible punishment, but then watches the program intensely anyway, often interrupting to ask questions about the plot and what other movies/shows the actors have appeared in.

And he also eats the seven-layered dip brought by Alien Jones.

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Bookshelf Q. Battler on Facebook

By:  The Yeti, International War Criminal/Fuzzy Snow Monster

The Yeti, Uninvited Correspondent

The Yeti, Uninvited Correspondent/BQB’s Nemesis

Obligatory roar.

What is this, this Facebook nonsense that you pathetic Americans insist on foisting onto the world?

I got on to my super charged Commodore 64 and here’s what I found:

“Oh look at me, I’m eating a burrito for lunch!  Let me take 507 photos of it and post them immediately.”

“Oh, yes, my smelly child said something adorable today.  Allow me to tell you all about it in excruciating detail.”

“I spent my morning shopping for sandals.  Aren’t I the incorrigible one?”

“Here’s my polarizing political opinion.  Disagree with me and you are the devil!”

“When it comes to candy, I’m for it!”

“Look, my dog is adorable.”

“Ahh, here’s me with a drink in my hand.  I am such a free spirit!”

“PATOOIE!” says this Yeti.

As you non-Yetis are aware, I was from Siberia.  (At least I was, until my sworn enemy Bookshelf Q. Battler imprisoned me deep below the bowels of the Bookshelf Battle Compound for my International Yeti War Crimes.

(There was an incident.  I tried to take down the Bookshelf Battle Blog to prevent it from spreading awesomeness across the globe.  I believe the only forms of entertainment that should be consumed are Olga’s Stewstravaganza and my book, 101 Ways to Ration Your Toilet Paper).

Anyway, Facebook is just another dumb example of evil American capitalist exploitation.  Sure, you all laugh and trade pictures of your lives on it, but Zuckerberg will have the last laugh when he uses your info to declare himself Emperor of the World.

Until then, I suppose you could check out Facebook.com/bookshelfqbattler – BQB’s Facebook Page 

Like it and you’ll get BQB’s nonsense directly into your feed, though why you’d want to read more of that jerk face’s ramblings I don’t know.

Yes yes, you all have fun on your blogs and social media and so on, living carefree lives while ignoring the plight of smelly yetis everywhere.

All I want to know is how you all share your damn vacation photos and mundane anecdotes all day long without passing out from the boredom.

Want to know how we used to punish people in the Siberian gulag?  We showed them our vacation photos and told them mundane anecdotes!

“Muah ha ha!  Confess to your crimes against Siberia or I’ll tell you about that Diet Coke I spilled on myself and show you photos of the lasagna I ate for dinner!”

Foolish Americans.  The fine videos provided by Paint Drying Media are the only form of American entertainment I like.

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Fit Nerd Trains the Yeti – Changing Your Relationship with Food

Fit Nerd!

Fit Nerd!

Hello Bookshelf Q. Battler’s 3.5 readers.

Fit Nerd here.  Used to be fat.  Lost a ton of weight by watching all my favorite sci-fi shows while I was on the treadmill.  Wrote a book about it. Now I’m a total big deal.

I’ve trained many of your favorite celebrities.  I’ve molded them, shaped them, and turned them from piles of human shaped cottage cheese to finely chiseled works of art for your viewing pleasure.  You’re welcome.

BQB EDITORIAL NOTE:  Bookshelf Q. Battler here.  He’s not the real Fit Nerd. The real Fit Nerd lives in Malibu.  The man writing this column is a tiny version of Fit Nerd I produced by putting a copy of Fit Nerd’s book on my magic bookshelf. He’s not that bright and hasn’t bothered to ask why he’s only three inches tall yet so I’m just going with it.  I’ll turn it back to him now.

Bookshelf Q. Battler recently provided me with my greatest challenge to date: take a ridiculously fat yeti and turn him into mean lean hairy machine.

Can I do it.  Of course?  I’m Fit Nerd.

BQB’S EDITORIAL NOTE:  I don’t think he can do it.  The Yeti is the most stubborn sack of crap I’ve ever encountered in my entire life.  I just feel bad for introducing my furry nemesis to a Western diet based on stuffed crust pizza and bacon infused generic cola.  Back to Fit Nerd.

I recently sat down with The Yeti to discuss his situation.

Q.  The Yeti.  BQB’s mentor, Dr. Hugo Von Science, has determined that you’re two hundred pounds overweight.  You hit the scales at an even grand even though scientifically speaking, a yeti of your height should only be eight hundred pounds.  What gives?

A.  ROAR!  BEGONE TINY NERD MAN!

Q.  It’s affected your life, hasn’t it?  BQB worries about you.

A.  HE JUST WANTS ME AT MY FIGHTING WEIGHT SO HE CAN CHALLENGE ME TO ANOTHER BEST TWO OUT OF THREE  ROUNDHOUSE KICK TO THE FACE COMPETITION!

Q.  I doubt that.

BQB EDITORIAL NOTE:  That’s a fair assessment.  Back to Fit Nerd.

Q.  The Yeti.  I’m looking around the basement dungeon BQB has you locked up in.  I see pizza boxes.  Ice cream cartons.  Chicken buckets.  I’m fairly certain I saw you freebasing a pixy stick when I walked in.

A.  ROAR!  WHO IS TINY NERD MAN TO JUDGE ME?!

Q.  I’m not here to judge you, The Yeti.  I’m here to train you.  I’m here to be your friend.  So tell me, why are you doing this to yourself?

A.  ROAR?

Q.  No roar.

A.  ROAR.  I DON’T KNOW.  IT’S LIKE FOOD IS THE YETI’S FRIEND…IT’S ALWAYS THERE FOR THE YETI!

Did you catch that, BQB’s 3.5 readers?

Let me repeat it for you.

“It’s like food is the Yeti’s friend.  It’s always there for The Yeti.”

I know how that damn international war criminal snow monster feels.  Before I became Fit Nerd, I was just Orville.

And it was like food was Orville’s friend.  It was always there for Orville.

Delicious food.  It really is always there, isn’t it?  There it is, all yummy and waiting for you.  Ready to comfort you whenever you want it.

Food never tells you no.  A meatball sub never says, “Sorry, I have a headache.”  That hot fudge sundae?  It isn’t going to leave you for someone else.

Sure, you may have lost friends, even lovers along the way, but that bag of chips is always ready to curl up on the couch with you for movie night.

We attach a feeling of emotional comfort to food simply because in a life where opportunities are few and disappointments are many, food’s always there.  It’s that donut on the way to work.  It’s sitting in that vending machine in the break room.  It’s across the street at that restaurant you love to go to for lunch.  It’s at that fast food place you keep telling yourself you’re going to drive by on your way home but you never do.

Food never fails you.  It’s never going to tell no.  It will never turn you down.  It isn’t too busy for you.  It doesn’t get embarrassed by you, or grow apart from you.  You’ll never walk to your mailbox one day and find an envelope full of divorce papers signed, “Chili Cheese Fries.”

You pay your money.  Your taste buds are tickled.  You experience momentary relief from whatever’s troubling you.

THE YETI:  ROAR!  WHAT’S WRONG WITH THAT?  ROAR!

I’ll tell you, Yeti.

Food was never intended to be your friend.

It was intended to be your fuel.

What would the ancient cavemen eat?  Leaves.  Berries.  Fruit.  Vegetables.  Meat from the occasional hunted animal.  Humans were never meant to eat a lot to begin with.

Alas, somewhere along the line, man tamed the world and in many regions, the problem for many individuals has moved from there being too little to too much.

And it seems like every day companies are coming out with a new treat geared toward taking money out of your wallet and put fat on your ass, isn’t it?

Stuffed crust pizza.  You heard me.  Someone decided that there isn’t enough cheese on the pizza and put more cheese in the crust.

Oh!  And you can get dipping sauce for your pizza.  That’s right.  There’s already sauce on your pizza and then you take your sauce covered pizza and dip it into more sauce.

Did I mention there are places that will serve you a sandwich where the “bread” is actually two pieces of chicken?

Don’t even get me started on milk shakes.  Seriously, just skip them altogether and just sew a second human to yourself.

THE YETI:  OR A SECOND YETI!

Or a second yeti.

Don’t get me wrong.  No one should starve themselves.  Everyone should eat a healthy diet and what is a normal calorie intake will vary as different people have different body types.  Your doctor can help you figure out how much you need to eat if this is a concern for you.

THE YETI:  ROAR!  THIS IS EASY FOR TINY NERD MAN TO SAY BUT WHEN I TRY TO STOP, I HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO LOOK FORWARD TO!

I hear you, Yeti.  I do.

Before I became Fit Nerd, I tried and failed at a lot of weight loss programs.  Many were run by insufferable, perpetually perky fit people who you could tell never knew what it was like to be unhappy, or unpopular, or to have nothing but that bag of barbecue chips and a Dr. Who marathon to look forward to.

BQB EDITORIAL NOTE:  From hereon, Attorney Donnelly advises me that for legal purposes, Fit Nerd’s favorite show has to be Mr. Spacewarper

As I was saying, there are a lot of people who have no idea what’s it’s like to be a person with nothing to look forward to but a bag of barbecue chips and a Mr. Spacewarper marathon.

They’ll tell you to find something else to look forward to, something else that will make you happy but let’s be honest.  Had it been that easy, you’d of never turned to a life of pounding down ring dings two at a time to begin with.

What I can tell you is that as bad as you think you have it now…it can get worse.

Think you’re unhappy now?  Imagine how you’ll feel with:

  • Diabetes
  • Heart Disease
  • Risking a heart attack or stroke
  • Increased pressure and/or pain in your knees/joints
  • Being confined to a wheelchair
  • Or worse, dying too soon.  (Well, I suppose you won’t feel anything then.)

THE YETI:  HOLY YETI CRAP!  THIS IS GETTING TOO HEAVY FOR A NERD BLOG!

Agreed.  My point?  Only happy people think the unhappy can snap their fingers and poof, all problems are gone instantly.

The Yeti, it is my sincere hope that once you drop two hundred pounds of unsightly yeti fat, you’ll become a new yeti.  A changed yeti.

I hope you’ll find a new lease on life.  Maybe you’ll get out more.  Maybe you’ll find your special someone that melts your ice cold yeti heart.  Maybe you’ll find a worthwhile cause to get behind and stop being a fuzzy international war criminal.

But I also can’t promise you that after you’ll lose the weight, you won’t remain the same angry, miserable, depressed ginormous furry a-hole that you’ve always been.

BQB EDITORIAL NOTE:  Yeah.  I can.  He’ll still be a furry a-hole.

The Yeti - International War Criminal/Exceptionally Hairy A-Hole

The Yeti – International War Criminal/Exceptionally Furry A-Hole

What I can promise you is that your health will improve and let me ask you this – is it better to be unhealthy and miserable or unhealthy and miserable?

At least if you’re healthy and miserable, you can stew over your misery while taking a walk, riding a bike, or doing a myriad of fun activities.

THE YETI:  ROAR!  TINY NERD MAKES SENSE!  THE YETI NEVER THOUGHT OF IT THAT WAY! ROAR!

Hell, you might even beat BQB at a best two out of three roundhouse kick to the face competition.

BQB:  Impossible.

Happiness?  That’s up to you to figure out, if that’s even possible.  All I can tell you is that it’s better to be healthy and unhappy than it is to be unhappy and unhealthy.

I lost weight and was still unhappy for a long time until I filled the hole in my life with my Fit Nerd books, guest spots on various talk shows, celebrity training, and my phat Malibu beach house.  Weight loss won’t make you instantly happy.  It will definitely make it easier to search for and work toward your happiness but happiness is a state of mind you have to find on your own.

It’s also relative.  You’ll be happier as a miserable yet skinny yeti than you are as a miserable fat furry bastard.

BOTTOMLINE: As bad as you think you have it now, it can get much worse if you allow your excess yeti weight to remain.

My time’s up Yeti.  Think about what I’ve said and I’ll be back.  We’ll talk about setting goals, exercise, and who knows?  I might convince BQB to let you into his kitchen to prepare some delicious/nutritious smoothies.

BQB:  Unlikely.  Why did I ever agree to this?

Fit Nerd Trains the Yeti is an ongoing health and wellness column for the Bookshelf Battle Blog.

Attorney Donnelly advises:

“Readers (3.5 or otherwise) should by no means construe Fit Nerd’s words as advice that they should necessarily follow.  This is just a general health discussion.  Fit Nerd is talking about tactics that worked for him but they may or may not work for you.  If you are experiencing health and/or weight issues, consult your doctor, especially before beginning any sort of health and/or weight loss program/regimen/routine etc.  Bookshelf Q. Battler takes no responsibility if you take Fit Nerd’s advice and something goes wrong.  For Christ Sakes, people, this columnist is a damn fictional nerd with zero health related credentials.  Stop being so litigious already.”

Image courtesy of a shutterstock.com license.

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Don’t Be Bookshelf Q. Battler’s 1000th Follower

Obligatory roar.

Stupid Yeti

Stupid Yeti

The Yeti here.  International War Criminal, Mythical Furry Monster and Bookshelf Q. Battler’s Sworn Enemy.

While Uber Nerd BQB strives to make the world interesting, I, The Yeti, work to make it as boring as my homeland, the frozen wasteland of Siberia, where getting an extra toilet paper ration is the most exciting thing that ever happens.

I’ve momentarily escaped from the clutches of my captor, Bookshelf Q. Battledog (Head of BQB HQ Security) to get on my Commodore 64, which, if you ask me, is where technology should have stopped.

All of these iPads and iPhones and iWhatevers.  Blah.  Too stimulating for the senses.

Anyway, last I checked, BQB had 999 followers as of a few minutes ago.

Whatever you do, please don’t be his 1000th follower.  It will go to his head and he will keep writing his nonsense forever.

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And Now a Message from The Yeti

Hello pitiful 3.5 readers.

The Yeti - Back by Unpopular Demand

The Yeti – Back by Unpopular Demand

This is the Yeti, former occupier of the Bookshelf Battle Blog, now prisoner in Bookshelf Battle HQ basement, from which I am only released on Thursday nights to watch Scandal with Bookshelf Q. Battler and the weird short alien man.

First, let me say, “ROAR!”

Second, let me tell you that I am guilty of nothing but good taste.  I tried to direct you 3.5 people away from Bookshelf Q. Battler’s lame pop culture obsessions and feast your eyes on lesser known gems, such as my beloved Olga’s Stewstravaganza Part 2: Electric Stewgaloo.

You must watch Olga’s Strewstravaganza Part 1 first as you will be hopelessly lost if you try to wade your way into Part 2 without taking in the breathtaking splendor of Part 1.

But you clowns ignored me and follow @bookshelfbattle on Twitter and now I am defeated by the many roundhouse kicks that were delivered by the amazing Bookshelf Q. Battler straight to my Yeti face.

Perhaps I am a glutton for punishment, but allow me one last chance to reason with you people.

Don’t mark your calendars for May 15.  That’s the day when BQB’s story, “Bookshelf Q. Battler and the Meaning of Life” begins right on this horrendous excuse for a blog.

Honestly, what does BQB know about life?  If it isn’t at the bottom of a bottle of Dew of the Mountain then that loser knows nothing about it.

Next, I urge you to not mark your calendars for June 1.  That’s the day BQB’s Project X will land on this blog’s runway.  He claims its a project so awesome that he doesn’t want to share too much about it at this time.

Let’s face it.  He’s probably going to shave me on a live podcast.

Actually, that would probably be delightful.  Summer’s on the way and all this fur is a bitch come July.

So do mark your calendars or don’t.  I don’t care.  But as you cheer on your false prophet, the incredibly dimwitted BQB, know that he is exceptionally mean to Yetis.

Why, he doesn’t even let me hold the remote during Scandal.

In conclusion, Yetis love Scandal.

We really do.

Yeti picture courtesy of a shutterstock.com license.

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A Very Important Yeti Related Press Conference

BOOKSHELF Q. BATTLER:  All right then.  Settle down now.  I know you’ve all come to hear the exciting JORNALnews, but there’s no need to act like a bunch of uncouth barbarians, is there?

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen of the press.

In early March, due to a pathetic performance of his duties, Bookshelf Q. Battle Dog, Head of Bookshelf Battle Headquarters Security, failed miserably in his mission to secure the premises and allowed my arch enemy, The Yeti, to enter.

Upon spying the intruder, I did what any civilized gentleman would do.  I challenged him to a best two out of three roundhouse kick to the face competition.  Whoever landed two direct kicks to the opponent’s face first would be allowed to stay.

The Yeti, who is more intelligent than his poor grooming habits would have you think, made use of a loophole by kicking me in the face with both feet at the same time.  Amazingly, he still managed to do it roundhouse style.  Two feet on my face in one turn allowed him to remain in my compound and take me as a hostage and my abode as his own.

The Yeti, as you may recall, believes that all should leave a bland, boring life – one free of excitement and intrigue.  I, on the other hand, with my witty stories and fabulous posts, spread joy to the hearts of my 3.5 readers everyday.

Don’t believe me?  Just read this review of my blog written by a total stranger I have absolutely never met before:

The Bookshelf Battle Blog doesn’t completely suck.

Sincerely,

Not Bookshelf Q. Battler’s Aunt Gertie

Thank you Stranger Who is Not Aunt Gertie.

Shortly after determining that The Yeti was, in fact, a Cheater Cheater Pumpkin Eater, I challenged him with another bet.  I wagered that I could get 4,000 followers on twitter.  If I got them, he had to leave.  We never negotiated what he’d get if I failed because, you know, he’s a stupid yeti.

The Yeti, confident that I could never acquire such a cornucopia of followers, took that action.  Today, I am proud to say I have 4000 followers.  4008 the last time I checked.

The Yeti has now been defeated, my honor restored, and Bookshelf Battle HQ is once again secure.

I will now take your questions.

REPORTER #1 – BQB, Joe Fakenamer for Who Cares Digest here.

BQB:  A fine publication.

REPORTER #1 – Now that you have proven that you are, in fact, better in every way than The Yeti, will you cast him out of Bookshelf Battle HQ as promised?

BQB:  No.

GASPS ALL AROUND

BQB:  Joe, we as writers need to be professional and courteous to everyone, even our worst critics.  The Yeti, who once lived in Siberia and shared a tent with three hundred other Yetis, has become used to American culture.  Frankly, he’s a pampered Yeti know and I can’t just send him out on his own.  I will allow him to stay at BQB HQ indefinitely.

REPORTER 2 – Emily Hotchkiss of Woogy Waggy Times here.  What would you say to critics who claim you’re a two-bit hack who just uses “The Yeti” as a prop for when you’ve run out of things to say in during your ill-advised one post a day challenge.

BQB:  I’d say they’re not inaccurate.

REPORTER #2 – Huh?

BQB:  What?

So there you have it folks.  The Yeti will now live in the basement and I will begin the long process of having a team of 1000 hair removal experts remove all of the hair from the remainder of the compound.

Continue to tune in as hi jinx are likely to ensue when two mortal enemies live under the same roof.

Newspaper graphic courtesy of Vasco Soares on openclipart.org

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Game of Yetis on Wattpad

Dear 3.5 Readers,

I hate to call it fan fiction, but I suppose there’s no other label.  Game of Yetis is basically me just goofing around and having fun with my favorite TV show.

I posted the first part on Wattpad, mainly out of an experiment to discover the process of posting something over there.

I had no cover other than the “House Bookshelf” banner from the GOT sigil creator.

But it turns out, it’s fairly simple to put up a story.

Even better, I was able to pull it up on my phone – it felt very “e-bookish” and for good or ill, seeing something I wrote in a mobile digital format, no matter how trivial, caused that little old self-publishing bug to sink its teeth into me that much harder.

Crap.  I might actually have to start doing some work around here.

We’re 5 parts in on Game of Yetis here on bookshelfbattle.com, but should you desire to read Game of Yetis while out on the town (and let’s be honest, if that urge hits you, you must be on a real lousy day), then head on over to Wattpad:

Game of Yetis on Wattpad

Join House Bookshelf!

Join House Bookshelf!

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State of the Bookshelf – 4/17/15

Ladies and gentlemen, loyal 3.5 readers, and Aunt Gertie – Machovka-Writing Thank you for joining me in this, my latest “State of the Bookshelf” report.

Before I begin, I’d like to point out that as of this post, I am 5 followers away from meeting the Yeti’s demand of 4000 Twitter followers.  I’m sure those 5 stragglers will come my anyway any moment now.

For those new to the blog, Bookshelf Battle Headquarters was invaded in March by “The Yeti.”  The Yeti believes everyone should live a bland, boring life and is therefore my arch enemy, as I am on a mission to spread badassery to the masses.

You folks cared about me so much that you only allowed me to struggle in the clutches of a foul abominable snowman for a month and a half until reaching his ransom demands. That’s not sarcasm.  I appreciate the follows.  I thought you people would just leave me to the Yeti’s devices forever, so a month and a half isn’t bad.

Now, onto the State of the Bookshelf.

I’m in the middle of a one post a day for 2015 challenge.  Let’s check the stats:

2014 (Started in June, did not really begin blogging in earnest until June and then only did it once in awhile, occasionally letting weeks or more go by with nothing):

VIEWS: 4,658

VISITORS: 3,264

2015 (As of April 17, 2015, after approximately 3.5 months of blogging once a day, and often more than once a day):

VIEWS: 8,531

VISITORS: 5,055

ANALYSIS:  I think the obvious takeaway is that blogging regularly works.  In a little over one quarter, I’ve doubled the views I received last year, and I have close to 2,000 more visitors. Ultimately, I’ve beaten the pants off of my 2014 results and the year is far from over. Are these stats good?  I have no idea.  If you know about website stats, feel free to enlighten me please.  Any advice is helpful.

PROS:

  • I’m building an audience.  At least I hope I am.  The whole goal of this has been to build a following that I can (no offense) one day sell books to.
  • I’m flexing my writing muscles and learning new things everyday.
  • It makes me happy to have a creative outlet, albeit a small one.

CONS:

  • With the daily posts, I can barely find time to work on said book.  This is a real chicken vs. egg scenario.  I’m building an audience with no book to sell them, but I need an audience before I shell out all the money needed to polish a book and make it professional looking.  (Oh yeah, and I also need to write it).
  • I hate to admit this one, but there are times when I feel I am sacrificing quality for quantity.  Once in awhile, I’ll look over posts and see errors I missed and feel mortified.  I consider myself a professional, or at least am striving to be one.  I’m not the type of author who is like, “What?  Give me a break!  It’s just a typo!”  No.  I’m the author who says, “I’m sorry.  I failed you, noble reader.  Please direct all well-deserved wrath my way.”
  • Unfortunately, when you’re pushing out daily content in a rapid manner, those mistakes are inevitable.  If you see one, let me know.  Don’t worry about being rude.  My skin is thicker than an alligator’s hide.

On that last point, I’m considering this a building year. At my core, I’m a businessman.  I know we don’t like to mix “business” and “art” but I have a tendency to take a business-like approach to all life’s activities.

In short, I put out what I get in.

Say you want in on the lemonade business.  Do you buy an entire lemon orchard and rent a store the size of a Wal-Mart?  Do you hire 500 employees?  Do you produce 1,000 tanker trucks full of lemonade?

I dunno about you, but I’d probably start with a few pitchers and a card table at the end of my driveway.  I’d hone my lemonade making skills, be encouraged by neighbors who find my lemonade to be delicious, and work toward scraping a few bucks together for a small storefront.

That’s my longwinded way of saying that this year I’m building the Bookshelf Battle audience. Next year, the audience (I believe) will be here and I’ll have to shift my focus from quantity to quality.  That will mean blogging less, spending more time on fewer but higher quality posts and get my butt in gear on that long dreamed of novel. And (keeping my fingers crossed) maybe even investing a few bucks in the blog.

Top idea on my mind?  Getting some artwork of The Yeti, Alien Jones, and Yours Truly, Bookshelf Q. Battler.

Next year I’ll be shuffling through this year’s posts, revamping and polishing the ones that have made the cut and building a portfolio that will hopefully increase traffic.  Meanwhile, the posts that were just daily filler will have to go the way of the dodo.

Thank you for being patient with me.  Put up with occasional lameness this year and this site will blow your socks off with an industrial hairdryer in 2016.

Let me leave you with one final “Pro vs. Con.”

PRO:  We live in a brave new world where technology allows writers to hold the fate of their careers in their hands.

CON:  Years ago, I accepted the fact that success as a writer was akin to success at winning the lottery.  Those people who threw caution to the wind and made the pursuit of that ticket their life’s work are admirable but the idea that a nobody like me would trot off to NYC or LA and sweet talk big wig media types into selling my writing was about as likely as Fast and Furious 7 winning an Oscar (although it totally should!)

It was easy to say, “Well, I’m not one of those beautiful people who can go to a cocktail party and schmooze publishers and agents into thinking I’m a genius, so I guess it’s the average life for me!”

I can’t say that anymore.

When I look in the mirror, I see the man who’s standing between me a successful writing career.

And that guy’s really pissing me off lately.

Thanks a lot, technology.

Writing graphic courtesy of Machovka on openclipart.org

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Game of Yetis – Part 5 – House Bookshelf

Previously on Game of Yetis:

PART 1 – House Bookshelf – Lord BQB hides out from the War for the Iron Throne, coming up with various excuses as to why he’s been unable to assist various claimants to the throne all the while positioning himself to declare allegiance to whoever emerges as the victor. Alas, a complication in his plan arises when a band of Yetis under the control of Lord Yeti abscond with his supplies of snacks and Dew of the Mountain.

PART 2 – House Yeti – Lord Yeti of House Yeti, the ruler of Yetifell, a territory North of the Wall, where abominable snowmen love to frolic because it is ridiculous cold, mocks his son Yetyrion, calling him a dwarf because he is 6’5″ (which is really short for a Yeti).

PART 3 – House Bookshelf – The usually not so easily rattled Lord BQB is enraged when he discovers that his supply of Special Edition Code Red Dew of the Mountain has been stolen by dirty yetis in the employ of Lord Yeti of House Yeti. Unable to purchase an army of eunuchs because Daenerys Stormborn bogarted them all, he turns to his trusty banner men. Alas, they were only in it for the Dew of the Mountain and now Lord BQB must fight this battle alone.

PART 4 – House Yeti – Lord Yeti is aghast when he spies white walkers on their way to Yetifell.

And now Game of Yetis continues…

“This journey has been agonizing, Maester Monty.  I’m not sure if I can put up with this any longer.”

Maester Monty wiped beads of sweat off his brow and stopped to rest.  The old man was out of breath and felt feint.

“I didn’t say stop, Monty,”  Lord BQB said as the Maester set down the rickshaw he’d used to carry his Lord from the shores of Casterly Rock all the way to Riverrun.  “I’m just saying, you know, all of these bumps along the road.  They’re very unsettling and causing me to spill my…what did you say this clear, tasteless liquid was called again?”

“Water, sir,”  Monty replied as he heaved the handles of the rickshaw onto his decrepit shoulders and marched forward.

“Blech,”  Lord BQB as he took a swig from a jug.  “Disgusting.  We must recover my Special Edition Code Red Dew of the Mountain without delay.  Mush, Monty, Mush!”

“Mushing sir,”  Monty replied.

They continued along the King’s road for hours until a question popped into Maester Monty’s mind.

“My Lord, if I may be so bold, why have you never married?”

Lord BQB bit into an apple and winced.

“Yuck,”  Lord BQB said, ignoring the question.  “People really eat these things, Monty?”

“Indeed sir.  They’re considered most healthy.”

“The shame of it, Monty,”  Lord BQB said.  “The dirty yeti eating my slim jims while I’m forced to waste away on water and apples like a flea bottom beggar.”

“Yes, but the question sir?”

“Oh yes,”  Lord BQB said as he stared at the setting sun.  “If you must know, Monty.  I am partial only to a particular type of woman…one that is difficult to locate.”

“Elaborate, sir?”  Monty asked, as he struggled to not collapse under the rickshaw.

“I like big women.”

“Oh my lord,”  Monty said.  “Surely there are many fine corpulent ladies throughout the Kingdom that you might choose from.”

“No no no,”  Lord BQB said as he tossed the apple core at Monty’s head.  “I don’t mean big in that way, though this Lord has nothing against a bit of junk in the trunk as it were.  No, Monty, I prefer women tall in stature.  My whole life I’ve waited for a beautiful extra tall amazon to sweep me off my feat, provide me with all of the love and care that I deserve, and most importantly, be willing to hack my enemies to pieces.”

“That will be a tough woman to locate indeed, my Lord.”

Join House Bookshelf!

Join House Bookshelf!

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Game of Yetis – Part 4 – House Yeti

Previously on Game of Yetis:

PART 1 – House Bookshelf – Lord BQB hides out from the War for the Iron Throne, coming up with various excuses as to why he’s been unable to assist various claimants to the throne all the while positioning himself to declare allegiance to whoever emerges as the victor. Alas, a complication in his plan arises when a band of Yetis under the control of Lord Yeti abscond with his supplies of snacks and Dew of the Mountain.

PART 2 – House Yeti – Lord Yeti of House Yeti, the ruler of Yetifell, a territory North of the Wall, where abominable snowmen love to frolic because it is ridiculous cold, mocks his son Yetyrion, calling him a dwarf because he is 6’5″ (which is really short for a Yeti).

PART 3 – House Bookshelf – The usually not so easily rattled Lord BQB is enraged when he discovers that his supply of Special Edition Code Red Dew of the Mountain has been stolen by dirty yetis in the employ of Lord Yeti of House Yeti.  Unable to purchase an army of eunuchs because Daenerys Stormborn bogarted them all, he turns to his trusty banner men.  Alas, they were only in it for the Dew of the Mountain and now Lord BQB must fight this battle alone.

And now Game of Yetis continues…

It was the best drink that ever rolled across Lord Yeti’s tongue.

Not because it was particularly succulent…or even delicious.  He’d had better.

The Dew of the Mountain tasted so good to Lord Yeti because it was the property of his sworn enemy, one Lord Bookshelf Q. Battler.

“Father,” Yetyrion said.  “Why do you despise Lord BQB so?”

Lord Yeti grunted and sipped from a chalice filled to the brim with fizzy goodness.

“Is it because Lord BQB is ridiculously handsome?”  Yetyrion asked.

“What?”  Lord Yeti said.  “No.”

“Do you hate Lord BQB because he is exceptionally clever?”

“Lord BQB clever?”  Lord Yeti asked.  “Please.  I’ve seen yeti droppings with more wit and wisdom than that hack.”

“Jealousy then is it?”  Yetyrion asked.  “You’ve been bitten by the green eyed monster is a God among men?”

“Did Lord BQB write these questions for you?”  Lord Yeti asked.

“No,”  Yetyrion replied.  “Umm…maybe.  No.  No he didn’t.”

A hundred roars filled the castle walls, warning the supreme ruler that trouble was afoot.  Lord Yeti walked the spiral staircase all the way to very top of Castle Yeti, which overlooked the frigidly arctic wasteland that sprawled its way north of The Wall.

“Why have you roared an alarm?”  Lord Yeti asked.

“My Lord,”  the commander of the banner yetis said.  “Look!”

Lord Yeti peered through a spy glass to see a thousand white walkers trudge their way toward Castle Yeti.

It was a sight so unusual that Lord Yeti dropped his chalice of pilfered Dew of the Mountain, allowing it to spill all over the stone floor below.

Yetyrion finally made his way up the staircase to the rooftop, only to find his father and a band of awe struck yetis.

“What’d I miss guys?”

Yeah I know.  It's a bear.

Yeah I know. It’s a bear.

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