Monday, December 19, 2011

Kindle gets BETA TEST!

Fire up your Amazonian ebook readers, kids! BETA TEST is officially available for Kindle right now. (We're working on some formating issues, but nothing that should impact enjoyment. Go forth and download.

BTW, the cost? Only $2.99. Buy it for a reader you love. Or TWO. 

UPDATE: BETA TEST is now available for order or pre-order on Amazon.co.UK and Amazon.ca (for United Kingdom and Canada, respectively), as well!

BETA TEST Guest Blog with Kat Archer

I was very lucky to make a dear friend at WorldCon in 2009 in Montreal. Katrina Archer is a another grad of VP, but from a different year, and yet all of us from year XI consider her one of us, one of us, one of us. She's a writer and software engineer and project manager in the world of video games and hell, she once worked at Pixar long enough to get her name on patents they filed, which I find unspeakably cool. She also speaks French, which is sexy as hell, and invaluable when you're in Montreal, not because people there don't speak English, but they like you more if you have a French-speaker with you. She also caught H1N1 that year, which sucked.

Maybe 2009 was just better for me. It was also the same year I pitched BETA TEST to my publisher, so it has a lot of significance. Which brings me around today: Kat featured me in a guest post on her blog, where she has a feature called Prime Writing to showcase authors. Take a look! She even blew up the book logo big on the top of the page. 

Friday, December 16, 2011

BETA TEST Hits Scalzi's Big Idea!

There exists on the Web a page where my name now share space with authors like N.K. Jemisin and Richard Kadrey and S.M. Stirling. It's because author John Scalzi -- author of OLD MAN'S WAR, president of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), and sometimes instructor at my old workshop alma mater of Viable Paradise -- let me guest post on his widely read blog called Whatever today, as part of his ongoing "Big Idea" series for showcasing new authors with new books. I got to pontificate about the idea of BETA TEST, where it came from, and how I sat on it for years. Scalzi introduces me by saying: 

Not every writer comes up with an idea and immediately moves on it. Some let the idea sit and develop — or let life get them to a point where they’re ready to take it on. Take Eric Griffith and his novel Beta Test. The idea was there, but were the conditions ripe for the writing? Griffith explains when he knew when it was time to take Beta Test to gold master.

You should read the rest of what I had to say and tell your friends. My thanks again to John Scalzi!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

BETA TEST Hits Barnes & Noble

BN ScreenWhile I work on getting the local store to set something up, at least nationwide people can pre-order BETA TEST on Barnes & Noble, starting today! Amazon's also got it ready for pre-sales. Both are still only showing the hard cover, but eventually the trade paperback and Kindle/Nook ebook versions will join it. I'll keep you posted.

Also, for those of you who don't live in my old home town, the radio station I worked at as a teen did a nice interview with me for their morning Newsmaker's show. You can find it online -- skip ahead to the -8:45 time stamp to get to me and skip the stuff that comes first. 

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

BETA TEST in the TIMES!

Okay, it's not the New York Times, but I'm glad the Ithaca Times wrote about me and BETA TEST today, with just a week to go until the book is out. They didn't get it all correct (book should be out before Dec. 20, and I didn't meet my publisher through Viable Paradise), but I'm okay with some revisionist history for the sake of publicity. Go read it now!

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

A Blog Post about BETA TEST's "Actors"

The wonderful Jennifer Wylie allowed me to guest blog on her site today. You should go read all about how I "cast actors" in the roles in BETA TEST so I can, essentially, figure out who the hell they are. 

Monday, October 31, 2011

The First Review of BETA TEST

The first review of my first novel is out for the first time! Enjoy what PUBLISHERS WEEKLY has to say about my book, which is out in December and you should order multiple copies to give as gifts. To everyone.
Beta Test
Griffith offers up an unusually lighthearted apocalyptic tale. Thousands of people around the world abruptly disappear, including Sam Terra’s mother and the woman he thought he could love. Sam seeks answers, accompanied by his obnoxious friend Melvin and his childhood pal Paulie, and gradually uncovers secrets that in other hands could have led to a deep philosophical exploration of humanity’s place in the universe. Instead, Sam’s adventures border on the absurd as he travels from New York to California to Australia while the world at large inexplicably ignores the insanity thrust upon it. The humor can’t quite hide the lack of finesse in the writing, but with the focus on escapism, Griffith’s stylistic awkwardness isn’t as big a stumbling block as it otherwise might have been. (Dec.)

Monday, September 26, 2011

So Many Ideas!

Too Much Coffee Man writes a book. Wish it was that easy!


Friday, September 23, 2011

Book Store Gripes

I spend a lot of time at bookstores, but mostly in their cafe's writing. Then perusing shelves, wondering why I bother and how on earth any book I write could ever be seen past all the noise....

But it's much worse for those who work there. Check out this list from the fired employees of some dead Border's store somewhere <via GalleyCat>. It's a riot. Because it's true. Especially the Nicholas Sparks comment.


Thursday, September 22, 2011

Murray, We Hardly Knew Ye

Last night, my neighbor, who I don't really know, came to the door of my house looking for his cat. Said feline, a male named Murray, had been missing two days. (I found out today, looking at the poster they put up looking for him, that he was hyperthyroid and had missed a couple pills while being missing and "might not be doing well.")

I use the word "was" because, well, Murray died.

I was going to go back outside and tell him, and his girl-friend who was hanging the posters, that I didn't find Murray in my garage. I made it to my porch in time to see people across the street come out and tell the girl-friend that they'd seen the cat dead on the sidewalk a couple days ago. I don't know any more details than that.

What I did see was the girl have a huge breakdown, sobbing and clutching both her boyfriend and those other neighbors, as the news of cat's death struck home. It was horrible. I slunk back into my house rather than look like some leering ghoul.

I'm no cat person. I like cats, but can't imagine having an animal that generally disdains humans. I've known some pretty great cats in my day, in fact I'd even count Murray among them, because that feline was damned friendly. Maybe too friendly. I worried about that.

And moreso, I wondered: Why is this cat here?

Object lesson in it all, hopefully learned by my neighbors, who still have a female cat who also hangs around my front door to say hi, and maybe learned by anyone who reads this: KEEP YOUR DAMN PETS INSIDE.

Guess what? You might think "Aw, he wants to be free to roam!" but you are the human. You set the rules. Just like no Labrador has to be 150+ pounds just because you think, "Aw, he's always so hungry though, and besides, he's big-boned!" no cat you consider a pet needs to go outside. Period. Especially in a neighborhood like mine with lots of vehicle traffic, not even 100 yards from the busiest road in town.

And if you must, walk the cat on a leash. I don't care if you look like the entire toolbox, you tool. You want the pet? Take responsibility. I feel your pain at the loss of an animal... but I feel far more pain for the kitty who probably died horribly, because you were lazy.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Thursday, September 15, 2011

I'm Back!

You probably didn't know I was gone, but if you are one of the three people on earth who likes to bitch that I don't blog anymore.... well, Squished Frog Productions is back. I'll make a habit of it. Meanwhile, don't forget to check out my rambling on Facebook and Twitter. And dammit people, be careful out there.

Monday, August 22, 2011

An Open Letter to US Airways about Customer Service @USAirways

US Airways, I don't have much choice but to fly with you... you're one of the two airlines that flies out of my local airport, and I like to support it, plus I am cheap and hate to pay for parking in other cities.

All that said, while I acknowledge that airlines are easy targets these days...we should have a chat about customer service. Let's use my own experience as an example.

Take, for instance, yesterday, Sunday August 21st. I started my day leaving Reno. I dutifully checked my not-very-large suitcase when I got my boarding pass, and did not once complain that you charged me an extra $25 for the privilege of having my luggage accompany me in your cargo holds. I know airlines have it tough. Like I said, I'm lazy and don't want to drag the suit case through four airports and drop it on people's heads when I try to get it in the overhead.

So when the plane is not even boarding and the worker at the gate for flight 521 from Reno to Phoenix starts checking bags FOR FREE (because a computer told him there might not be room for them all), I'm a little pissed.

Fast forward several hours...