Tag Archives: writing

Aug 04 2015
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One a Day Post Challenge

State of the Bookshelf: The Home Stretch of the One Post a Day Challenge

Hello 3.5 readers,

Internationally known awesome person Bookshelf Q. Battler here.

I can claim to be “internationally known” because according to my WordPress stat map, this Antarctica resident is clicking the crap out of this blog:

God bless you, Mr. Tuxedo

God bless you, Mr. Tuxedo

As 3.5 of you might recall, I announced at the beginning of this year that I would be undertaking a one post a day for a year challenge.

Time flies when you’re overextending yourself because here we are, with less of this year ahead than behind, and I have yet to miss one day of posting despite repeated and insufferable Yeti attacks.

Stupid Yeti

Stupid Yeti

Has it been worth it?  The numbers don’t like.  My WordPress, Twitter, and Google Plus Followers are all up and, if you’ll indulge me with some shameless begging, anything you could do to keep those digits on the upswing would be appreciated.

So what’s next?

None of this is set in stone, but here’s where my mind is at the moment:

1)  Finish out the one post a day for a year challenge – I’ve come this far, I have to finish.  One post a day until the end of the year.  Then, no matter what happens next, I’ll at least be able to say I did that.  It does help.  The more you put yourself out there, the more interest occurs.

2)  Spread the Indie Karma – If you follow @bookshelfbattle on Twitter (another plug), you may have noticed that I’ve been on a “plug indie books/authors” kick lately.  That’s because I’ve been looking for indie books/authors, not to mention bloggers, that catch my eye and spreading the good will.  I’m hopeful that by putting positive vibes out into the universe, the universe will eventually return that positive energy to me tenfold.

3)  Keep Alien Jones Going – Heavy is the head that wears the burden of being an alien race’s chosen one.  I didn’t ask for this burden, but the Mighty Potentate has spoken and designated me as the writer whose fiction can keep the spread of reality television at bay.  The MP forsees that my books will draw so much interest that people will have zero interest in shows about makeovers and/or beautiful people acting like dummies (unless they do so in a fictional manner.)  To that end, the MP’s emissary, Alien Jones, will keep answering your questions.  All summer, he’s been on a hot streak, where a week has yet to go by without him having a question to answer.  He might not answer your question in the week it is asked, but I like to bank a few ahead to keep the streak going.  He’s helped 19 authors so far, and that’s so many more than I envisioned when I, as a blogger who claims to own a magic bookshelf, put it out there that I have an alien buddy taking your inquiries.  So please, keep the questions coming.

4)  Pop Culture Mysteries – That’s an even longer discussion.  Here goes:

  • A Second “Spin-Off” Blog –   Cheers begat Frasier.  Buffy begat Angel.  Bookshelf Battle begat Pop Culture Mysteries.  Is it wise to divide my attention between two blogs?  I’ve thought about that a lot.  I don’t know for sure.  If you run two or more blogs, give me some input.  Part of me thinks Bookshelf Battle and Pop Culture Mysteries should stick together to keep the hit rates high on one blog.  Another part is leaning toward Pop Culture Mysteries deserving its own home, a blog that with an ongoing story that will coincide with books featuring our resident Pop Culture Detective, Jake Hatcher.
  • Finish Writing Season One on Bookshelf Battle – I’m thinking Hatcher’s Case Files (where he investigates a Pop Culture Question and in doing so, often lets the readers in on information about his past and present lives (i.e. before and after the long nap) will be packaged into a season.  Each season will end with a book that I’ll put out on Amazon, if Mr. Bezos will have me.
  • Where Season One is Headed – Thus far, it’s mostly been about setting up the main characters.  I anticipate by the end of the season, we’ll learn that during World War II, Jake obtained, “something” that a nefarious ne’er-do-well wants, and so the first Jake Hatcher book will be about how he acquired that something (and more importantly, how Jake punched Adolf Hitler in the face to get it).
  • This Season Isn’t Set in Stone – What you’re reading on Bookshelf Battle is essentially Jake’s rough drafts.  The stories may very well change as Jake and I exchange notes through Ms. Donnelly, and as Jake remembers more info.  Once this season is in the can, the finished, polished posts will start appearing on the spin-off blog.  Once this season is finished, Jake and I move to the pressing business of getting his first novel out.

5)  Writer’s Waterfall – This isn’t meant as a brag, but while some people have writer’s block, I have writer’s waterfall.  I have so many ideas and so many half-written novels I don’t know where to begin.  Sometimes, you have to just pick something and go for it.  I have other ideas I want to work on, but I have limited time, so I can only work on one idea at a time.  Presently, it looks like Jake’s it.  His stories are creative, fun, and best of all, they have a structure that aids story telling.  Ms. Donnelly gave a brief outline of Jake’s entire life in Enter the Blonde, so the rest of the series is essentially one man remembering the details and filling in the blanks.  He’s telling his life story just like you might tell yours to someone listening.

Speaking of, thanks for listening, 3.5 readers.  Will I ever fulfill the Mighty Potentate’s faith in me?  I don’t know, but you 3.5 have at the very least provided me with an enjoyable way to spend my free time.

Have I laid out a good course of action for the road ahead, 3.5?  Provide me with your copious input, both good, bad, and indifferent.

Sincerely,

Bookshelf Q. Battler

Blogger-in-Chief

Bookshelf Battle Blog

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Aug 03 2015
3 Comments
The Tao of Bookshelf

Introduction – The Tao of Bookshelf

Hello.

Our noble blog host, Bookshelf Q. Battler, aka BQB

Our noble blog host, Bookshelf Q. Battler, aka BQB

I’m World Renowned Poindexter, Reviewer of Books, Movies, and Assorted Cultural Happenings and Champion Yeti Fighter, Bookshelf Q. Battler.

You might know me from my blog, bookshelfbattle.com, a site read by as many as 3.5 readers.  One of them is my aunt but let’s be honest, not every blogger can hold their extended relatives’ attention.

Hard to believe I know, but I wasn’t always an astoundingly impressive entertainer of 3.5 individuals.

Truth be told, I used to suck like a Hoovermatic attached to a diesel engine.

(I’m using the word ‘suck’ in the context of ‘not doing very well’ and not, you know, the other more derogatory meaning.)

Recently, there was a hashtag game on twitter (follow me @bookshelfbattle and join in the fun!) called, “My Regrettable Super Power.”

I put down that I have 20/20 hindsight.

And I really do.

BEHOLD, THE UNCANNY HINDSIGHT MAN!  Able to see exactly what he SHOULD have done at the EXACT moment when it’s TOO LATE to do anything about it.

Millenials, put the phones down for a minute and let’s talk.  No, ok put down the iPad too.  OK then…hey, hey…the laptop? Yeah shut that off please.

Finally, now we can really have a dialogue and…look I’m not going to talk over the X-BOX just hit pause.  And turn the TV off.

OK so back to what I was saying…Jesus Christ.  Seriously?  Are you seriously Netflixing Orphan Black on the toaster right now?

Why would the toaster company even put a screen in the toaster?  Fine.  Just keep it on low volume.

Millenials, you know how your mother told you to stay away from that guy Larry?  You know, the one who doesn’t have a job, always bums money off you, and comes up with longwinded arguments as to why it’s really YOUR fault that he keeps sleeping with other women behind your back?

Yeah.  Mom isn’t trying to ruin your life by chasing Larry away.

She’s speaking with a voice of experience.  She remembers dating Raul, another guy who, like Larry, didn’t have a job, always bummed money off of her, and always explained to her why it was her fault that he slept around.

As POTUS would say, “Let me be clear.”

I’m not old.  I’m just a bit older than you all.

But do you want to know why people age?

Because if we could take what we know now and apply it in young bodies, we’d damn well take over the friggin’ universe.

I’m not kidding either.  That old man feeding the ducks that you walk by everyday?  Sure he seems like a sweet old gent but give him a youth elixir and he will take his 80 or 90 years of knowledge gained about the world and use it to take everything over.

You never knew that did you?  You know how in Jurassic Park all the dinosaurs were genetically engineered to be female to keep them from breeding?

God came up with shit like arthritis and glaucoma to keep your nana from becoming a god damn international warlord player pimp with all the information she’s learned through eight decades of the trial and error process that is life.

My Aunt Gertie would become an iron fisted dictator if she could figure out how to work the TV remote. It's the 'on' button, Gert...

My Aunt Gertie would become an iron fisted dictator if she didn’t have to take a nap every twenty minutes.

Now, because I’m an exceptionally vain nerd, let me repeat.  I’m not old.  I’m not even middle aged.

But, I have collected a lot of knowledge, that while it’s too late for me to bank on, it’s not too late to help out folks who are just starting out in life and getting a handle on this whole adult thing.

Or is it ever too late?  You know what, for you older folks, you might learn a thing or two as well.

Young or old, it doesn’t matter.  I feel the really important thing to take away from this is that you should visit my site often and click on a lot of the buttons and shit so I can have a better case to explain to the publishing industry why I’m a total badass.

Did I say that?  Scratch that.  What’s important is that once in awhile, you check out “The Tao of Bookshelf” and see if there’s any advice that I, Bookshelf Q. Battler, can provide to help your life suck less.

Attorney Donnelly advises that there is no guarantee that taking BQB’s advice can make your life suck less.  If anything, it might make your life suck more.  You know what?  Don’t listen to anything he says.  Please don’t sue him. He only has 3.5 dollars.

Images courtesy of a shutterstock.com license.  Thank God shutterstock had pictures of BQB and Aunt Gertie available.

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Aug 02 2015
3 Comments
Ask the Alien

Ask The Alien – 8/02/15 – Java Davis, The Road Trip Writer

Greetings Earth Losers!

The Road Trip Alien

The Road Trip Alien

Another Sunday and that means another installment of “Ask the Alien,” the only column where a) a representative of the most intelligent species in the universe does what he can to raise Earth’s intelligence levels and b) another fiction author is supported, thus striking another crucial blow in the battle against reality television.

Scripted media is where it’s at and my boss, the Mighty Potentate, hates any kind of TV show that features words in the title like, “Who Wants to Be a Blank…” or “Something Something Wars” or “Blank Makeover.”

This week’s question comes from Java Davis, The Road Trip Writer.

Java is a modern day Jack Kerouac of sorts, traveling the open road and sharing stories and photos of his journeys, as well as his love of coffee.

He reminds me of Voro Chabadox, the only alien to visit every planet in the universe, fueled only by Starbucks (we have them out here too.)

In his book, Flying with Chabadox, Voro claims that he actually reached the edge of the universe, only to find a giant sign on an insurmountable wall that read, “There’s nothing to see here.  Go away.”

All kinds of theories abound about what’s behind the great end of universe wall.  I’ve deduced it’s a locale where the answers to the greatest mysteries of life are kept.  Other aliens argue it’s where the afterlife is located.  The Mighty Potentate is certain it’s where all your socks go when they go missing, as well as your lost keys, cell phones, and other stuff you swear you just put down a second ago and now for the life of you can’t find anywhere.

Perhaps we’ll never know what’s behind that wall, but at least fellow traveler Java has shared what he’s learned on the open road.

He’s also authored a number of books, all of them conveniently laid out here.  Java does one thing that I rarely see indie authors do and that’s offer a large print edition of his books.

The Mighty Potentate will appreciate that.  He doesn’t like to admit it but he just had his 999,999th birthday and once we aliens start pushing a million, the old visual receptors aren’t what they used to be.

(Don’t tell him I said that.  You know, his penchant for vaporization and all.)

Of particular interest to self-publishers might be Java’s non-fiction book, On Becoming a Dinosaur.  Java used to be a typesetter, an occupation that was replaced by desktop publishing, and so he explains how that all came about and his adjustment to his career becoming obsolete.

It happens to the best of us, you know.  As a hyper intelligent alien, I have impeccable foresight, and can advise you all that this whole Internet craze will one day be remembered as quaint once the neural implants start but whoops, I’ve said too much.

Java has been a fan of Pop Culture Mysteries, a blog serial that Bookshelf Q. Battler is currently working with hardboiled detective Jake Hatcher on turning into a book.

Personally, I wonder when the Alien Jones book is coming because, you know, it’s not like my epic life as a space traveling warrior/diplomat/servant of the Mighty Potentate could ever be fodder for a fantastic book that would blow the minds of BQB’s 3.5 readers or anything.

Don’t worry.  I’m not bitter.

But in addition to dropping some pop culture dimes to BQB’s gumshoe, the Road Trip Writer was also concerned enough about how to help indie authors learn how to consult my genius brain that he asked:

Dear Alien Jones, how does an indie author go about engaging with your alien self?

May you continue to wow us with tales of your cross country travels, JD.

Thank you for stopping by with your question.  The answer is as easy as checking out the weekly after column blurb below:

Alien Jones is the Intergalactic Correspondent for the Bookshelf Battle Blog, on a mission to raise Earth’s collective intelligence levels one question at a time. Do you have a question for the Esteemed Brainy One? Tweet it to @bookshelfbattle on Twitter, leave it in the comments on bookshelfbattle.com, or stop by Bookshelf Battle on Google Plus. If he likes your question, he might even promote your book, blog, other project in his answer.

Image courtesy of a shutterstock.com license.

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Aug 01 2015
11 Comments
Ask the Alien

Free Promo Do-Over – Free Promo Saturday

Oh alright.

Promote anything you want in the comments below all day Saturday…

…and you don’t have to swear fealty to the Mighty Potentate at all.

Just don’t tell him I said that.  I don’t want to be vaporized.

(Those who do hail the Mighty Potentate will get a promotional tweet as well though.)

ALL HAIL THE MIGHTY POTENTATE!

ALL HAIL THE MIGHTY POTENTATE!

Gee whiz, asking your 3.5 readers to pledge allegiance to an alien overlord goes over like a lead balloon around here.

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Jul 31 2015
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Ask the Alien

Free Promo Friday (With a Catch)

Attention Pitiful Humans,

Know ye, Earth creatures, that I, the Mighty Potentate, declare the following:

  • This Friday, July 31 and this Friday only…
  • You may plug whatever you want to plug in the comments section below.  Books.  Blogs.  Whatever.
  • Bookshelf Q. Battler reserves the right to not allow it, especially if you’re book is titled “Hooray for Hitler!”
  • Share a link to your books, blogs.  Share a blurb what it’s all about…

BUT – THE CATCH…

At the end of your comment, you must swear fealty to the Mighty Potentate.

A simple, “ALL HAIL THE MIGHTY POTENTATE!” shall suffice, but feel free to get creative.

ALL HAIL THE MIGHTY POTENTATE!

ALL HAIL THE MIGHTY POTENTATE!

For those 3.5 readers just tuning in, the Mighty Potentate is the Supreme and Unquestionable Ruler of A Planet the Name of Which is None of Your Beeswax.

He of Great Potentostitude is the boss of Alien Jones, author of “Ask the Alien.”  The MP has declared Bookshelf Q. Battler to be the chosen one, the individual whose exceptional fiction writing skills will surely prevent reality television from sweeping across the universe.

Boy howdy, does the Mighty Potentate hate Reality TV.  Don’t even get him started.

Thus, the MP has assigned AJ to aid BQB in the promotion of his blog.  Alien Jones cannot rest until Bookshelf Q. Battler is a famous writer.

So go forth, promote your stuff in the comments below, and remember, you have to say, “All Hail the Mighty Potentate” or some reasonable facsimile thereof.

Remember, a column that plugs you as an author and your books and blogs is possible if you ask Alien Jones a question.

Image courtesy of openclipart.org

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Jul 22 2015
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Self Publishing

Pop Culture Mysteries: Sneak Peak of Operation Fuhrerpunschen

shutterstock_193545215Before he became BQB’s Pop Culture Detective, Jake Hatcher was a down and out boxer forced by the evil Mugsy McGillicuddy to take a dive, thus tanking his chance at the big time, not to mention his budding romance with singer Peaches LeMay.

When Jake tries to escape his past by enlisting, he gets a second chance at the greatness he missed out on when he’s recruited by General George S. Patton, President Roosevelt, and Pre-CIA Agent Carmichael to take on the most daring mission in the history of warfare:

Infiltrate Das Fuhrerbunker and punch Adolf Hitler in the face before an equally skilled puncher sent by the Russians can.

Why?  Assassination attempts by his own men have left Hitler paranoid in the final days of World War II.  He’s banned all staff from carrying weapons, leaving him the only armed individual in the bunker.

No guns.  No knives.  Nothing.

Thus, Uncle Sam needs a man whose weapon is his fist.

Is this a viable novel idea?  Would you want to read a book about Hitler getting punched in the face?

The first three proposed chapters and outline of the rest:

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Outline of Rest 

Tear it apart, 3.5 Readers.  Be brutal and let me have it.

By the way, the Mr. Devil Man sneak peak was well received by the 3.5 and I plan on working on that too.  Ultimately, I hope to put both out.

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Jul 20 2015
3 Comments
Pop Culture Mysteries

Pop Culture Mysteries: BQB’s Working On It

Hello 3.5 Readers.

WOMAN: I'm scared! OPERATOR: Because there's a man in your house? WOMAN: No because BQB hasn't posted any new Pop Culture Mysteries yet!

WOMAN: I’m scared!
OPERATOR: Because there’s a man in your house?
WOMAN: No because BQB hasn’t posted any new Pop Culture Mysteries yet!

Bookshelf Q. Battler here.

Funny thing about being an aspiring writer.

Literally no one respects the process.

Here’s how my past week has been.

BQB:  Uh, HELLO?!  Can everyone leave me alone?  I’m trying to write a whimsically fun story about a private dick who woke up after a 59 year nap and now solves mysteries related to popular culture!

EVERYONE:  BAH HA HA HA! F*&K YOU AND DO OUR BIDDING, SLAVE!

Here’s hoping there will be more free time in the week ahead.

My problem has never been one of writer’s block.

I have too many ideas.  I just never have enough time.

But I know I have to pick one and this seems like a good one, with a structure that fits my life.  I can post pieces of a mystery, form an ongoing story, and then hopefully manage to produce a book at the end of the season.

Until next time, 3.5.

Photo courtesy of a shutterstock.com license.

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Jul 16 2015
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BQB and the Meaning of Life

Bookshelf Q. Battler and the Meaning of Life – Parts 6-13

By now, BQB’s fearless 3.5 readers have devoured BQB and the Meaning of Life Intro and Parts 1-5, and are now chomping at the bit to find out what happens next.

Settle down, 3.5.  Settle down.

Your wait is over:

Part 6 – The Return of Bookshelf Q. Battler – Our humble blog host wakes up in the hospital to discover Aunt Gertie (one of his 3.5 readers) was one of the only 3.5 people who missed him while he was dead due to a tragic bout with a chronic case of Lightning Infused Toaster Pastry Toilet Death.  Dr. Goetleib informs BQB this condition is more common than you’d think.

In fact, a group of well-intentioned celebrities recently recorded a PSA about LITPTD.

Part 7 – The Butt Pillow – The tiny inhabitants of BQB’s magic bookshelf, the shelf that fuels the fire of a blog beloved by 3.5 readers, apologize for the chicanery that got their caretaker injured.

Part 8 – Troublesome Characters – BQB considers transferring ownership of the magic bookshelf to fantasy author Joel L.L. Torrow, known throughout the literary world as the writer who bumps off a dozen characters a day before breakfast.

Fun fact – Joel recently sat down with BQB for a Q and A session about Joel’s epic fantasy series, A Dirge of Murder and Betrayal.

Don’t forget BQB’s review of Torrow’s series.

"I think I found them!"

“I think I found them!”

Part 9 – The Game is Afoot! – Diminutive versions of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson come to BQB’s aid, even though theirhelp is not wanted (a fact BQB expresses vigorously.)

Concerned that BQB has lost his vigor, Holmes vows to solve, “The Case of the Missing Bookshelf Caretaker’s Testicles!”

Part 10 – Sell-Out – Utilizing his legendary powers of deduction, Holmes determines that BQB lost his mojo and quit on his dream of becoming a scribe when his ex-girlfriend Blandie yanked out his heart and used it as a hacky-sack.

BQB's ex-girlfriend, Blandie. Literally, this was the expression she had on her face throughout the entire course of her whirlwind romance with BQB.

BQB’s ex-girlfriend, Blandie. Literally, this was the expression she had on her face throughout the entire course of her whirlwind romance with BQB.

BQB left writing for the business world, taking a low-level, go nowhere assistant job at ridiculously boring conglomerate known as Beige Corp, the world’s premiere producer of beige products and accessories.

We try not to bust on Beige Corp too hard as they’re one of the Bookshelf Battle Blog’s top sponsors.

“What if I’d spent the time working toward a business career that went nowhere on a writing career I’d of actually loved?”

It’s a question that muddles our resident nerd’s mind all the time.

Part 11 – A Most Annoying Manner – Bookshelf Q. Battledog leads our heroes to a clue as to how to find the meaning of life.

Part 12 – War in Pango Tango – The answer to the BQB’s question lies in the mind of The Great Guru, the wisest nerd in the entire world, who gained his wisdom by reading every book ever written.  Alas, his lair is located at the top of an enormous mountain situated in the middle of an island plagued by civil war.  Ironically, the Pangonians and the Tangonians have been shooting, bombing, and hacking each other to pieces for twenty years due to a feud over which side is more peaceful.

Part 13 – Young Duffer – BQB and the Incorrigible Monroe have a heart to heart.

Copyright (c) 2015 Bookshelf Q. Battler.  All Rights Reserved.

Attorney Donnelly advises: Any resemblance to real individuals or characters in other literary works is intended for parody purposes only and not to take anything away from those fine works.  Also, said alleged resemblances are probably just imaginary and you made them up in your head.

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Jul 15 2015
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Uncategorized

Alien Jones on a Hot Streak

Alien Jones

Alien Jones

Bookshelf Q. Battler here to talk about my intergalactic correspondent, the one, the only, the pantsless Alien Jones.

The Esteemed Brainy One has been on a roll lately.

He of the Amazing Gray Matter has had a question from a different self published author to answer every Sunday for the past four weeks, and there’s already one in the cue for this Sunday.  That’ll make five weeks of AJ goodness.

On top of that, since his column began earlier this year, he has amassed quite an impressive list of author promos.

3.5 readers, I never asked to be the chosen one of an unnamed planet’s Supreme and Unquestioned Overlord.  When Alien Jones showed up at the Bookshelf Battle compound and informed me the Mighty Potentate had sent him on a mission to help me get my writing career off the ground, I was truly humbled.

Alien Jones’ Mission?

To:

A)  Answer questions from self-publishing authors in his “Ask the Alien Column.”

The Mighty Potentate, Supreme and Unquestionable Ruler of a Planet the Name of Which is None of Your Beeswax

The Mighty Potentate, Supreme and Unquestionable Ruler of a Planet the Name of Which is None of Your Beeswax

This mission stems largely from the Mighty Potentate’s utter disgust with Earth’s reality television and a fear that these horrid shows will one day permeate the airwaves of every television in the universe (including the Potentate’s home planet) if more fiction and/or scripted media is not produced to stem the tide.

Thus, by enlisting Alien Jones to write for my blog, the Mighty Potentate hopes:

B)  Earthlings will read his answers and become smarter.  Increased intelligence=increased aversion to shows about models deciding which handbag to buy, or which billionaire to marry, or dudes running pawn shops, or catching fish, or pawning their fish.

Here’s a chicken vs. the egg scenario: Does reality tv make Earthlings dumber or do we produce and consume so much reality TV because we’re so dumb in the first place?

(We may think we’re smart but we’re comparatively dumb compared to the highly accomplished aliens of Alien Jones’ homeworld, the name of which the Mighty Potentate refuses to publicize out of a fear that Hollywood suits will invest in and unlock the secrets of interspace travel so as to deliver shows about Kim Kardashian throughout the cosmos.)

C)  Alien Jones’ witty commentaries will bring more eyes on my work, thus attracting Hollywood suits to turn my ideas into movies and TV shows, thus reducing air time for reality TV.

D)  AJ’s promos of other self-published authors will also help promote more fiction and veer the public’s attention away from reality TV.

REALITY TELEVISION SHOWS THAT MOST OFFEND THE MIGHTY POTENTATE

1)  So You Want to Be an Emu Farmer?

2)  Schmuck House (Twelve people of various backgrounds live together in a house for a year and compete to be the biggest schmuck)

3)  Hot Women Go Shopping and Carry Purse Dogs and You Really Want to Marry Them Until They Start Talking

4)  Body Odor Wars

5)  Cactus Trimmers

6)  Hoarders vs. Preppers

7)  Hoarders vs. Preppers vs. Zombies

8)  Hot Dog Stand Intervention (A world renowned hot dog cooking expert travels the world helping hot dog cart vendors upgrade and pimp out their hot dog carts)

9)  Rabid Badger Island (10 idiots are dropped off on an island with a rabid badger.  Who will survive?  Who will be eaten by a rabid badger?  Alliances will be made and loyalties tested.)

10)  Mr. Outdoorsman – (This week, Mr. Outdoorsman survives in the wild for three weeks drinking his own fluids and consuming nothing but bugs and grass only to realize he’s not lost, he was in his own back yard the entire time and his house is five feet away).

Is there a point to this post?

Yes.

If you’re a self-published author, be a sport and ask Alien Jones a question.  He’ll come up with a witty answer, promo your book, your author blog, page, etc.

In addition to being promo’d on bookshelfbattle.com, BQB always tweets a link to AJ’s column on Twitter, and posts a link on his Bookshelf Battle Google Plus page.

Do you have anything to lose?  Not really.  If you decide you despise Alien Jones’ promo of your work, no problem.  Just bring it to BQB’s attention and AJ’s promo of your work will be vaporized.

That hasn’t been a problem yet though.  Every author so far has been pretty pleased.

I’d love it if this could become a thing, like getting parodied on SNL, you know you’ve made it in the self publishing racquet if the little green guy answers your question.

What can your question be about?  Anything.  Some people get elaborate.  Some make it simple.  You can be funny and witty or serious, whatever.  Several authors have picked subject matters that are discussed in their books but that’s up to you.

Think of it this way.  One day when your book sells a million copies, Jimmy Fallon will demand you come on the Tonight Show and do an outrageous bit with him.  Asking the Alien a question is like practice for your big day.

Needless to say, the Esteemed Brainy One always reserves the right to NOT answer your question or NOT promo you.  It hasn’t happened yet but, you know, if your book’s called “Hooray for Hitler!” we’re going to take a pass.

As always, thanks for reading 3.5 readers.

Let’s keep this Alien Jones hot streak going.

Sincerely,

Bookshelf Q. Battler, World Renowned Poindexter, Reviewer of Books, Movies, and Assorted Cultural Happenings, Champion Yeti Fighter and Blogger-in-Chief for the Bookshelf Battle Blog

Green alien image courtesy of a shutterstock.com license.

Gray alien image courtesy of openclipart.org

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Jul 11 2015
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Pop Culture Mysteries

My Favorite Hatcher Quote Thus Far…

Dames.  It’s like the nicer you are to them, the more they want to knock you over the head.  I swear, one day I’m going to do something nice for a female and when she replies with nothing more than a “thank you,” I’m going to be so shocked that I’ll drop stone cold dead from a heart attack.

– Jake Hatcher, Pop Culture Mystery Detective

Pop Culture Mysteries:  The Wrong Guy – Part 6

To be fair, I assume there are women who feel the same way about the men in their lives.

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