Guest Blog Post Means You Could Win a Free BOOK!

I got to guest post on Chuck Sambuchino's Guide To Literary Agents Blog (part of WritersDigest.com) today, even though I don't have an agent. I wrote 7 Things I've Learned So Far, all my knowledge of writing to date. ALL OF IT. And if you comment on that blog post in the next two weeks, you could win a free print copy of BETA TEST. (Yes, I still happily pimp my first novel, not just KALI.) (You can only win if you're from the U.S. or Canada.)

Speaking of KALI--hopefully big doings for that book in a couple of days as I swoop into Chicago to attend WorldCon.

Try a Sample Chapter of KALI

Sure, you can visit the Amazon page for KALI: The Ghosting of Sepulcher Bay and view a sample page or more.

But if you're prefer, here's a link to a PDF file that includes the entire first chapter! Take look at what Kali would look like if it were a print book.

KALI is OUT!

Here's some big news... My new book is out.


It's called Kali: The Ghosting of Sepulcher Bay, my first foray into the world of YA (that "young adult" in case you missed the crappy movie with Charlize Theron). It's the tale of a 15-year-old girl named Kaliope "Kali" Stergakos who has a severe ghost problem. In that they happen to possess her body when she sleeps. And that's not even the worst thing she's got to deal with.

This book is exclusively available at Amazon for the Kindle. At some point I'll go into why I decided to essentially become my own publisher with this book (part of the reason: I love this book, and I think other people will too). And why I went with Kindle Direct Publishing as the platform to start with. Eventually, I will likely expand the book to other ebook platforms, but that's a few months away.

So, please, if you own a Kindle ebook reader, or any devices that supports the Kindle reader software – an iPhone, iPad, Android phone, even a full-fledged computer running Mac or Windows, they all have Kindle software available—I hope you'll give KALI a try. At only $2.99 I think it's priced right and if you like some rollicking good teen adventure with some ghostly chills, it should be just your ticket.

The Summer of BETA TEST Marketing Begins! ONLY 99₵!

Hey, remember when I wrote that book, BETA TEST, and it went on to become a big-ass best-seller? Good times.

Of course, now it's time for BETA TEST's second act! (Not a sequel. God no. I don't have a sequel. Yet.) I mean it's time for the SUMMER OF BETA TEST MARKETING!

Starting tomorrow, I launch a blog tour (thanks to Bewitching Blog Tours) aimed squarely at letting the world know, once again, that there's a funny, scary, thoughtful novel out there full of adventure and romance and dinosaurs. And a platypus.

As part of this SUMMER OF BETA TEST MARKETING CAMPAIGN EXTRAVAGANZA (I changed the name just now), my publisher at Hadley Rille Books is dropping the price on ebook versions of BETA TEST to only 99 measly cents! That's right, for less than a buck you can put this novel on your Kindle or Nook. 

So I ask you—spread the word. Repost, retweet, re-status-update this info. Even more important, if you have read BETA TEST, write a review of it for me on Amazon or Good Reads.

And by the end of the summer, I promise, I'll have something else out there for your reading pleasure. 

BETA TEST in Binghamton!

A reminder -- tonight at 6:30, I'll sign copies of BETA TEST for anyone who wants to stop by RiverRead Books at 5 Court Street. There are copies at the store now, and I'll be there to scribble on them all you want. I may even do a reading if people want that. 

Meanwhile, yesterday I had a fantastic interview with Bill Jaker of OFF THE PAGE on WSKG Radio. Bill's the best book interviewer ever, I swear, he was asking me questions that were astounding me -- he found depths to my writing I didn't even know. We even got a write-in question from someone in my old home town of Hornell. If you want to hear the full 45 minutes of my pontificating about the innerworkings of my book -- with lots of SPOILERS -- you can listen to it online at http://wskg.org/episode/beta-test. 

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 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!

BETA TEST Hits Barnes & Noble

While 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. 

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!

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. 

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

Eric Griffith. Hadley Rille, $28 (278p) ISBN 978-0-9839531-1-1

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.)

Reviewed on: 10/31/2011

So Many Ideas!

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

Pukey

They say write what you know. So I just wrote a scene involving a dog throwing up.