A Toast

You might have noticed I made a few changes to the blog. Yeah I know blogs are not as popular as they used to be but metaphorically speaking I am married to the venue. I believe through blogging I found my true writing voice as well as a large chunk of my reading audience. Abandoning it simply is not an option for me (I sort of tried the last year or so and it called to me like a siren in the night) and if I am not going to stop I might as well embrace it and try to build it stronger.

The old title reflected not only my goals but my original objective. To take y'all along on my journey toward publication. However I soon realized there were plenty of other bloggers far more qualified and more adept at educating and highlighting the path to publication. So I fell into storyteller mode and began sharing my experiences, opinions, and warped takes on life. I figured if I couldn't teach ya''' anything I could at least entertain you. 

Yes, I have achieved my original publication goals of seeing my name on the spine of a novel. Technically speaking THE FEEDSTORE CHRONICLES was not a novel, but TWISTED ROADS is pure fiction so upon its release next month that last rung I originally transcribed is met.

No, My journey is not complete. I am still, and hopefully forever will be, growing as an author. I have not gotten that huge advance from a New York publisher, but times have changed and I perfectly happy with my smaller Indie publisher. Should a book take off I am poised to make more than I ever would with one of those New York houses and while it would be nice to have their clout , marketing, and prestige there is no guarantee they would put those things behind me or that they would lead to more book sales. I know people who got that contract and are no longer writing because they never sold. and I know people who self-published or landed an Indie deal like myself that are now on best seller lists the world over.

There is more than one way to climb a ladder.

Back to the new title. Yes only a few days ago I blogged about this whole bacon thing getting out of hand. Don't get me wrong I do enjoy a nice crispy slice of bacon, but it is not my favorite meat. Bacon is however the glory of the meat world and while I debated the name Beef, Beer, and Books simply did not have the same ring.

I also pondered Meat, Mead, and Manuscripts but not only did that sound rather medieval it was also technically off since mead is not really beer and manuscript really is not the correct term for any of the published books I read.

So here we are together at Bacon, Beer, & Books. To that end I am going to create a new blog series. Not to appear at any regular schedule but whenever the mood strikes me. I think I will simply title this series THE MEAT and in each post I will rave about a delectable cut of meat I've sampled (I will share recipes when possible), paired with a beer I've sampled recently (yes I am a beer snob) and a book worthy of recommendation.

There will still be the regular slate of absurd slice of life stories, of me poking fun of myself and those around me so I hope y'all will keep reading and keep giving shout outs on Twitter, Facebook and wherever people gather. Because while I know it is unlikely I'll ever get he amazing amount of hits I once did, it is nice when I know people are out there reading.

So I raise a beer in your honor ... Y'all make this an endeavor worth doing.

No Joke

Happy April Fool's Day. Today marks this blog's 7th 6th birthday. (Leave to a mathematician to correct me. Sir Stephen Parrish has pointed out I've only been blogging 6 years. Well it feels like 7 to me). Seven Six years. Given that internet time is much like dog years I think that makes this particular blog rather old. So much has happened these last seven years that in many ways it seems like a lifetime ago I started this journey.

Not as many people stop by as once did but I want think each of you who take time to read and comment whether it be every post for only occasionally.

This is going to be one of those rambling, a bit of everything posts that has no great them, message or even direction.

##################

So the other day our supervisors calls us into the break room and informs us that someone has apparently been masturbating in the bathroom stalls because the custodians have been complaining about suspicious stains on the walls.

No, I am not kidding.

All I got to say is somebody is WAY more excited about coming to work than I am.

#################

Now that I start typing I realize I might have a theme after all.

I've wnated to share this story despite the fact my son will be appalled if he finds out I did.

Zalen is 10 now.  Here he is taking a flying leap into about a foot of water at Palo Duro Canyon.

His is my quiet, deep-thinking child. As well as a budding soccer star. He doesn't talk a lot but when he does you better watch out because you never know what is coming because just as in the picture he lets his true thoughts fly.

A kid in his class got stitches so on the way from school he begins grilling me about stitches. As with most conversations with 10 year old boys the chat took a bathroom humor direction when he said, "What if someone had to get stitches in their wiener?"

I said, "Most boys do get stitches in their wiener when they are circumcised."

We ride a  few miles down the road in silence before he says, "Why do boys get circumcised?"

I explained that not all boys do but that it is a cultural thing done for both religious reasons as well as hygiene.

A few more miles of silence.

"Why don't they circumcise dogs."

I kind of chuckled and said there is no need. Dogs take care of their business and keep things cleaned themselves.

Again silence until Zalen states matter of fact, "Well, they should at least circumcise show dogs."

I'll never watch Westminster the same.

###################

Following those two stories is probably not the best introduction, but still I want to share the cover of my next book with y'all.

 

TWISTED ROADS will be released in May though my publisher still has not determined the exact date.  I'm excited to share the story. Even more excited than I was THE FEEDSTORE CHRONICLES. I think because this story is pure fiction. A creation purely of my mind rather than a creative retelling of events. Long before I starting this blog I had the dream of seeing my name on the cover of a novel. This book fulfills that dream.

Satisfaction without staining the walls, or painful surgery. 

Thank y'all for traveling the twisted road with me these past 7  6 years.

Five Great Ones

This blog is 5 years old today. I guess that means it is ready to head off to kindergarten and learn to play well with others.

I want to thank you for taking time to stop by here and read my eclectic mix of posts over the years. You guys have been life savers, motivators, confidants, so-conspirators and most importantly friends overs these past 5 years.

I don't post as often as I used to, but y'all have truly made my world a better place.

THANK YOU.

Racing Ahead

Those of you who follow me on Facebook or twitter have already know some of this but I know some of you don't so I want to share some potentially exciting news with y'all.

But I wouldn't be a very good writer if I hopped straight to the exciting part so let me give you the whole story.

Three or four weeks back, I got wind of a casting call for a new reality television show. The producers of this show were looking for 12 unique romance writers and 12 avid romance readers. The casting call had a list of 5 or 6 questions so I answered them and emailed in my response.

A few days later I hear from the producer. She wants me to expound upon a few of my original answers.

A couple of emails followed. Then a phone conversation.

A phone conversation that was went very well and has me very excited about my chances. I wish I could share more but I can't at this point but man am I stoked about the possibilities before me.

*********************************

In other news I recently read a fantastic YA book called The Scorpio Races. I'd heard plenty about the talents of the author, Maggie Stiefvater but still I was surprised by the quality of the prose. Here is the blurb as it appears on Amazon.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Shiver and Linger comes a brand new, heartstopping novel.

Some race to win. Others race to survive.

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. 

Some riders live.

Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.
Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn't given her much of a choice. So she enters the competition - the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

As she did in her bestselling Shiver trilogy, author Maggie Stiefvater takes us to the breaking point, where both love and life meet their greatest obstacles, and only the strong of heart can survive. The Scorpio Races is an unforgettable reading experience.


 
****************************************

And for you poetry fans out there please take a moment and check out this blog written by my good friend Adam. Adam is an extraordinary young man of 23 that is wise beyond his years. He is a seminarian from my church and I can't wait until he is a full-fledged priest because he will writing some spectacular homilies.

Truth be told I'm not a huge poetry guy. I do not always connect with the words of poets but there are few whose prose speaks to me. And as I write this I think the quality that make me connect with these few is TRUTH. The Walking Man who often frequents this blog and Adam write is such a way that it makes me feel as if I am peering into their soul seeing not what they want to show me but he truth hidden in the shadows. I like that as the that often leads to me discovering something about myself I'd never thought of or at least never admitted.

Help Find Haley

I first met Ray Wilson several years ago. When I say met I mean i began bantering back and forth with him on twitter. Unlike most Internet friends I have met Ray actually lives in my town. After months of conversation 140 characters at a time we finally met in person, by happenstance in the grocery store aisle.

Ray is a computer guru, a singer, a writer, and a businessman, but most importantly he is a father. right now Ray is hurting so I am asking all of y'all as friends of mine to help out this friend by watching this video and sharing it wherever you can.

I know firsthand of the miraculous impact of social media and the Internet. It is my fondest wish that Ray will soon realize that healing as well. Please spread the word.

Travis

Pink Dragon Poop

I'm not a shy guy. Public speaking has never bothered me but today I'll admit to a few butterflies. As I type this I am about 4 hours away from speaking at a local civic organizations monthly luncheon. I've spoken to writers groups, a few book clubs and even taught writing classes to both kids and adults, but this is my first general assembly type of talk.

My idea to forgo a written speech and speak off the cuff seemed like a good idea as recently as last night, but this morning I'm feeling a tad more dubious over that decision, after Lettuce Is the Devil my secopnd favorite personal creed is Baffle 'em with Bullshit. I sure hope it works this time.

Speaking of bullshit, tomorrow morning me and the talented poet known as THE WALKING MAN, Mark Durfee are engaging in a blog swap of fantastical fecal fun. Hope you check out our B.S. laden posts.

In other guest post and blogging news, I danced with dragons yesterday while giving out a few tips on writing memoirs.

And today, I have the honor of making the talented Deborah Elliott-Upton blush over at the Sleuth Sayers blog.

Stop by and say high to these fine ladies if you get the chance.

From a Flame to a Fire

Let's go back in time 6 maybe 7 years. That is when I first dipped my toes into the waters known as social media. It started with a few blogs. (reading them, not writing them) Most notably the famed and ever fabulous Miss Snark.

Miss Snark's blog was written by a literary agent. It was a beacon of truth and light in a swirl of confusion and lots of we writers flocked their like alcoholic moths to neon beer sign. We were thirsty for the plain spoken knowledge she dispensed. Sadly Miss Snark hung up her blogging stilettos back in  '07 but the archives remain a treasure trove of information. I wish the great Snarky One would return and offer her take on the state of publishing, e-books, indies, and self-publishing, but I'm sure she's off with Killer Yapp and George Clooney soaking up sun and avoiding general nitwittery.

Like I said, many writers hung out there and most if not all of my early blogworld friends came from there. Some are still around but others have vanished disappeared. Many who were unpublished at the time have gone on to sign with agents and see their books printed.

As the years have gone by my social media network has grown and expanded to include many folks who are not writers, but I'd guess that a full 60-70% of those I interact with are writers. and talented writers at that so a huge proportion of those have one or more books available for purchase. Once upon a time I tired to buy every book written by every online friend I have. Regardless if it was a genre I'd normally read or a subject I cared anything about. 

But as the list of people I call friend grew and the talent of those people blossomed that got harder and harder to do. I've finally given up and only buy the books that interest me or that I can give as gifts to someone else who I think will really like it. I do at times feel guilty when I do not buy a friend's book, so I still try and do my part helping them promote. I might mention the title with a  link on my blog, or tweet about it. Share the cover via Facebook, let them guest blog at my place or whatever else I can think of.

In less than two weeks my first full length book will be released and I will finally join my crowd of talented friends. Of course I'd love for everyone of y'all to buy a copy but I understand not everyone finds bulldog masturbation stories funny. So I guess what I'm saying is don't feel guilty if you fall in that camp. Writing is subjective and there is no story or book that pleases everyone. But even if THE FEEDSTORE CHRONICLES isn't your cup of tea I'd be quite ecstatic if you mention its release to your cousin Larry, the crazy guy down at meat market, or the hillbilly that lives next door.

Feelin' Good Again

Thanks to all of you who chimed in here and on Facebook or twitter about my last blog post. Y'all have helped re-energize my feeling toward both this blog and blog in general.

Speaking of being re-energized I was fortunate enough to be invited to a celebratory dinner for Anita Howard last night with better than a dozen other local writers. Many of which are multi-published and I have gushed about on here before so this time I'm not going to list them all. Y'all may remember my recent post about Anita and her novel Splintered landing a contract.

Hanging out with other writers always gets me pumped up, but last night while talking about the upcoming release of my book , The Feedstore Chronicles one of my writing friends described the book to another as "Sedaris with a twang." Given that I love Sedaris I found the statement quite flattering.

Sticking with the whole "feeling re-energized" them of this post let me give you an update on status of The Feedstore Chronicles.

I still do not have an exact release date but the publisher liked the revisions I did so the book is now at the lay-out stage and cover art is being designed. I am told the book will be out in time for an upcoming speaking engagement I have in November.

So that means I'm 6 weeks or so out from release. Now comes the part where I begin to be and plead.

Those of you who read are writers and read this blog realize that most of the marketing these days falls upon the shoulders of the author, even if you are being published by one of the big 6, the old-time publishers. I have no qualms about marketing myself. I'm not scared to stand on a street corner and shout, to scale a tall building, or whore myself in any other way possible, but chances are I'd be arrested for panhandling if I stood on the corner with a sign, be confused for King Kong and get shot down if I climbed up a building, and you can;t sell what you can;t give away so prostituting myself is a no go as well.

But I do have friends here in the blogosphere. So I'm asking, begging, pleading with y'all ...

Who wants to let me do a guest post? 

Who is willing to interview me on their blog?

Host a giveaway for a signed copy?

Wrestle an angry emu on YouTube while wearing a Feeedstore Chronicles t-shirt?

Get me the email address and contact person at your local feedstore? Or farm and ranch type establishment?

Pimp The Feedstore Chronicles out on twitter, Facebook, Google +?

Yeah, I know I'm asking a lot, but it could be worse it's not like I'm asking you to reenact the bulldog masturbation scene, or disclose the seediest of your youthful transgressions. No, those things are left to the book, but I do plan to give away a Texas themed prize package to at least one person. Details to come, but I promise it will be a fun-filled prize package worth at least a case of Shiner Bock and Steak dinner. All who help THE FEEDSTORE CHRONICLES, even in a small way will be eligible.


If you are interested in helping send me an email at travis AT traviserwin DOT com.


I'm gonna leave y'all with a mighty fine song by a fellow Texas which matches how I'm feeling today.

.

The Ma Bell of Social Media

Is blogging dead?

Well, obviously it's not dead. I mean here both you and I are. So perhaps the better question is ... is blogging bleeding out and gasping for its last breath?

To that I have no concrete answer.

Facebook, Twitter, and Google + have certainly changed the face of social media. They appear to be where all the cool kids are hanging out these days.

I have been blogging for 4 and a half years now. Long enough to have access to some interesting stats, that only serve to dilute the question of blogs still being viable in today's crowded field of social media.

Since August is the most recent month I have complete data for let's use it.

In August of 2007 -- 3635 unique visitors stopped by my blog. During that months I posted 19 times. 269 comments were left on the various posts. This averages out to 191 hits/14 comments per new post.

August 2008 -- 6178 unique visitors landed at my blog. I posted 23 times and received 518 comments were left. This averages out to 269 hits/23 comments per new post.

August 2009 -- 2684 unique visitors stopped by to read the 13 posts I created. 265 comments were left.
This averages out to 206 hits/20 comments per new post.

August 2010 -- 1811 visitors stopped by. I posted a measly 10 times but still received 279 comments.
This averages out to 181 hits/28 comments per new post. 

August 2011 -- 9488 visitors stopped by. I posted 21 times, but despite all those people only 154 comments were left. This averages out to 452 hits/7 comments per new post. 


The five biggest months for visitors to this blog are


June 2011 -- 14,810
March 2011 -- 10,480
August 2011 -- 9488
May 2011 -- 8726
January 2009 -- 8250

January 2011 -- 8218
October 2010 -- 8188 February 2011-- 7870

December 2010 -- 7476
November 2010 -- 7214


As you can see 9 of my 10 biggest months have came within the last 11 months. (the one anomaly, January 2009, was when my house burnt down and my name was championed far and wide by my awesome friends) So you might think Hey, your numbers are as high as they've ever been. Blogging at least your blog is stronger than ever.

And yet, I feel as if One Word is hooked to life support and Jack Kevorkian just walked into the room. Not only is comment participation way down but so is my drive to create new posts. I often feel as if I've already said everything I can in this venue. I enjoy twitter and Facebook though to be honest Google + still confounds me.

A large number of my hits these days land here by accident after a Google or Bing search. I suppose I have an impressive ranking or my blog would not appear near the top of these searches but I'm sure most of these people take one look and hit the BACK button rather than sticking around to read.

I wonder if there is a single person out there that reads this blog regulatory that is not also on my Facebook or twitter. (possibly Alex Keto?) Alex, if you or others are out there and fit in this category please let me know.

I know several of you have blogs that I do not visit or comment at as often as I sued to and mostly that is because i spend my time on twitter and Facebook communicating with you there. 

I'm not telling y'all that I'm quitting. I'm not ready to pull the plug just yet, but the idea has tickled my brain in the last year or so.

Blogging has done better than say MySpace which is more like the smoke signal of social media than the land line but still I wonder how much longer the medium will be around.

I'd love to hear y'alls take but just the fact you are here reading means that like me you are still willing to pet a dinosaur at least occasionally.

Czech Please

Blogging is like exercising. The longer you go without doing it the harder it is to get back in the groove.

But I've decided to challenge myself and post a new blog every single day in August. Can I do it? Hell if I know, but I'm gonna try and this spot is sort of my cleansing, info dump of all the things I've meant to blog in recent weeks but simply have not made the time to do so.

***************

I recently took a trip to Oklahoma City and while I plan to share a few of those sights and experiences let me say that was I not a dedicated and faithful husband and father I could very well be writing this update from the Czech Republic.

You see the World Cup of softball was going on in Oklahoma wile we were there and many of the countries were staying at our hotel. The Czech girls, one in particular were strikingly beautiful and that accent, well had she asked I just might have defected.

The Japanese girls were staying on my floor and it's no wonder the USA women beat them in the final because those Japanese players stayed up half the night making all kinds of damn noise.

My 20th class reunion is this weekend. Last night I partook in the pre-party mixer and had a blast. Several of my former classmates commented that they regularly read this blog as well as anything else I have out and available, but the highlight was when my old buddy Marcos Martinez (see I told you I'd give you kudos) walked up and handed me a beer. Not any beer I might add but an ice cold Shiner Bock. Marcos, who I hadn't seen or spoken to in 20 years said, "Here man, I bought this Shiner for you because I know its your favorite from always reading your blog and Facebook posts."

*****************

I recently finished reading blog pal Charles Gramlich's western story collection Killing Trail on my nook. Like Charles I cut my reading teeth on Louis L'Amour and along with the great original short stories Charles included a fine essay about Mr. L'Amour and his influence. If you have an e-reader and love a good western I highly recommend you purchase Killing Trail.


*******************


You know how clerks at the store use that felt marker to check you money. A yellow mark is supposed to mean it's legit and a black mark means it's fake? Well, I got to wondering where those marks go? I mean I never get a fifty that has dozens of yellow marks on it, so I did a google search and while I never discovered the answer to my original question I did find out those pens are nearly worthless.

The pens check for starch in the paper and given that money is made mostly of cotton it has none so a bogus bill made from starchy paper will turn the ink of the pen black. But most counterfeiters these days take small denomination bills and bleach them and then print a larger denomination so the pen will show it as a legit bill even though it is not. Also any paper even a plain sheet of computer paper will show as legit according to the pen if you first spray it with hairspray. And real money will show as fake if you use spray starch in it so I guess the moral of this story is keep your cash away from your ironing.

*****************

I am sick of summer. It's been miserable hot and dry here this year. Right at 2 inches of rain since January 1st. The lakes are drying up making fishing bad, the electric and water bills are soaring, now that Game of Thrones and Treme are over there isn't a damn thing worth watching on TV.

So Fall needs to hurry the hell up. I'm excited about football. My beloved Huskers are in a new conference ready to show Phats and the Big 10 boys what real competition is all about, The Saints very well could be better than their Super Bowl season, and since I wrote something close to a jillion High School profiles for Top O' Texas football magazine I even pumped for some real Friday Night Lights action. And Boardwalk Empire.

Thank God for HBO, good, reads, Shiner Bock beer, and of course football.

Sex Scenes With Travis

 Don't get excited by that title. Okay so most, if not all, of you probably shuddered more than tingled at the mental imagery of the title. Nevertheless this blog is not a peak into my bedroom. Instead, it is a peak at a friend of mine. And trust me, she is a hell of a lot prettier than me so the view is much better.

I have long been a fan of Betsy Dornbusch's blog which has one of the best titles in all of the blogosphere ... Sex Scenes at Starbucks. 

In honor of the release of her new, erotica Sci-Fi romance LOST PRINCE, SALT ROAD SAGA Book 1

 

Yes, Ainsley is Betsy's pseudonym, but don't tell anyone ... it's a secret. 

Ownership of Art

Betsy Dornbusch

Even before the moment of conception, ownership of art shifts. Ideas aren’t single entities but a amalgamation of concepts stimulated by the world around us. Or, in smaller words for the short bus types: There ain’t nothing new under the sun. Art can’t happen in a vacuum. The moment an idea forms it’s already belonged to other people, rather in the manner a Long Island Iced Tea is the sum total of its parts, except more, oh so much more. Anyway, the point is, get over yourself already. Your idea is not your own. It never was and it never will be.

I spend a lot of time at thinking and trying for Original. (True story: my eye doc told me to stare out the window often to keep me from getting eye strain. I was all, “Dude. I’m a writer. That’s what I do.”) Maybe some writers just barf their brilliance onto the page; not so much me. It often feels like Day One of Genesis. (When does “and on the seventh day she rested” come in, huh? I know very few writers who take a day off, like, ever.) But what we’re actually doing is making connections between all the disparaging bits of things we know and think we know and the requisite Wikipedia misinformation.

But it’s so solitary to sit and stare that the influences of the past isn’t always obvious. So we think this ugly baby is ours and ours alone. I liken it to that point in the evening where you’ve hit your stride with drinks and you walk to the bathroom and people are looking at you and you’re thinking “Dude, I’m all catwalk.” But you’re actually just staggering drunk. At this stage we really have no idea what we’re doing or what led us to this point.

Then reality sets in. We make the transition of putting our words out there in front of people. It’s worth noting that this stage is a spike in sharing; here, we’re actually asking people to influence our work. Hey. We’re writers. Nobody every said we were smart. Or sane. Or sober. So for the love of God let these readers be a decent beta or a critique group.

And then the editor takes it. We might not be asking, but we’re going to get more influence anyway, whether we like it or not. I pray you get a good one.

And then, finally, readership. Hopefully the sort that pays rather than pirates. (Don’t pirate, people. You’re not as cute as Jack Sparrow, I promise.)

And here’s where the sharing really comes into play, because all along, while you thought this thing was yours, you’ve had to make room for the reader. They are going to drip your story through their own crusty coffee filter. Nothing you can do about it. Just make sure you don’t overfill the water tank.

*eye color figures somewhat prominently in LOST PRINCE. I kind of did it as a joke. There, trivia you know that no one else does.

Visit Sex Scenes at Starbucks to find out more about LOST PRINCE, read an excerpt, and learn about the author. http://betsydornbusch.com

Buy the book at Whiskey Creek Press

The only thing that’s kept Alaric, the so-called Lost Prince of Calixte, from giving into his grief over his beloved homeworld is the thought of revenge against the man who betrayed his people. But he couldn’t be more wrong about Haydn, who actually saved two thousand Calixten soldiers from certain death and secreted them on an inhospitable planet. There, they’ve launched a fledgling rebellion against the Coalition that rules six galaxies, including the lucrative Salt Road. They only need their prince to lead them.

Alaric needs a pilot to get him to his soldiers, someone too desperate to betray him. Katriel, a hotshot deserter pilot enslaved to Haydn by debt, is perfect for the job. But neither Katriel nor Alaric realize how the battle over Calixte binds them closer than blood, and when they find out, their collision will send shockwaves through the universe.

Popping In

I remember the good old days when I had the time, energy, and inspiration to blog 5 or 6 days a week. Of course then i was simply a dreamer, a wanna be writer.Some of those dreams have come true and with every one that does my time dwindles away.

I'm not complaining so much as I am explaining my absence not only at this blog but yours as well. Soon my freelancing football gig will end for the year, and my Lettuce Is The Devil proposal package will be polished and in the hands of my agent so I hope to do better.

I've also been promoting Whispers by doing a few interviews around the blogosphere.

Today I'm at ONE THE FRONT PORCH :musing of a southern belle talking about french prostitutes, and who would win in a showdown between Andy Taylor and Matt Dillon.

Yesterday I was at This Writing Life talking about writing and motivation.

I'm going to be stopping by a few more blogs so I'll keep y'all posted on my whereabouts and I'll try to stop in and visit y'all as well.

Get It For Your KIds but Make Sure You Read It As Well

Some months ago I was lucky enough to score an advanced readers copy of this book.

I loved the book and finished it all too quickly because I simply couldn't put it down. At 38 I'm far older than its intended audience but I connected with Joshua right off the bat. Here is a description of the book I stole from Amazon.

Joshua Reed is used to moving around since his dad became an Army recruiter and the Vietnam War broke out. But their newest home, in the mountains of Pennsylvania, feels special somehow. Josh has started to make a new friend, his dad has finally allowed him to get a dog, and Jack-with his strange glowing ears and the way he seems to understand Josh's feelings-is like no other dog Josh has ever seen. But in Vietnam-era America, conflict is never far away-even on the homefront. When a local boy is killed overseas, the town turns on the new army recruiter. And when a few late-night disturbances all point to Jack, it will be up to Josh to fight for his dog, his family, and his new home.

Beyond the fact that the story captivated me I loved the book for it's ability educate and shed light on a time and mindset that few kids today have thought about. Given the first person POV Danette did an outstanding presenting the dilemma from several different angles. I passed the the book to my boys (8 and 10) and they loved it as much as I did.

Danette is a blog friend of long standing and while I've enjoyed her previous books, me & jack is one of those titles that I am eager to stand on the roof top and shout about. 

Pappa Bear

Father's Day is fast approaching.

I feel somewhat obligated to point this fact out since Dad's Day doesn't garner to same hoopla or media push as Mother's Day. Of sure we get a few sales in our honor. On things like lawnmowers, power tools, and rototillers. Things to make us do more work.

Why don't they slash the price of vacuum cleaners and washing machines for Mother's Day?

I'll tell you why. Because women would get pissed if we bought them those things. No we get force fed jewelry commercials and spa packages.

Here at the post office mail picks up in the days preceding Mother's day. Thick pink and other pastel colored envelopes color the mail as sons and daughters mail off profession of their maternal love and thanks.There is no spike in mail for Father's Day.

I'm not bitter, or even fishing for a father's day present myself. Just stating the obvious.

Actually this year I am giving my wife a present. Two days of rest and relaxation as me and my boys are headed camping for the weekend. Hopefully the fish will be biting and the temps will not get to high above 100.

******************

I would like to thank to two particular father who had absolutely nothing with my own entry into this world.

Charles Posey and Charles Gramlich both showed my e-book Whispers some love in recent blog posts and I thank them for helping spread the word.

Should you wish to pick up your own copy of Whispers you can do so here or here for the low sum of 99 cents.

****************

And speaking of Dad's, the main character in Christopher Moore's novel A Dirty Job is a hilarious one.

I'm a big fan of Moore's brand of quirky macabre humor and A Dirty Job novel only added to my fandom.

From Bookmarks Magazine

It's certainly original. Even the harshest critic can't begrudge Christopher Moore his vivid imagination, satirical plots, and humor. Like a good sleight-of-hand artist, Moore builds up a huge reserve of goodwill to pull off his most demanding trick yet: laughing at death.

So you getting your dear old pop's anything exciting. Might I suggest a book or three? There is always a starving author  out there ready to share a good tale.

Read A Dirty Job? What did you think?

Time Keeps Marching

Tomorrow is this blog's 4th anniversary.

Four years in the grand scheme of things is not long and yet so many things have happened ... and not happened.

When I started this blog I was fresh back from a week long writer's workshop. I was in the midst of a series of back and forth phone calls with a prominent literary agent. I was certain that after 6 long years of writing my time was at hand. That New York and the world would soon agree I had the talent to be a real life, genuine author.

Well. here I am, four years later and while there have been some successes over the years, a half dozen calls from other agents over the years, if I am truthful the powers that be in New York are no closer to granting me access than they were then. The business side of writing has gotten harder of anything and now e-books and self-publishing has the entire industry in a confused tizzy.

But that is not to say I regret starting this blog, or chasing this dream of publishing a novel. I simply have to write and tell stories. It is who I am and as far as this blog and you all, the people I have met and continue to share life with on nearly a daily basis. Well, outside of my wife and boys y'all have been the biggest blessings in my life.


Y'all were there when we needed help, an encouraging word. It is through this blog that I have learned to trust my voice and take chances with my writing. It is through this blog that I finally saw Plundered Booty published in Deadly By the Dozen.



I guess what I am saying is thank you to all of you. The writer's who commiserate with me on the ups and downs,a nd provide me with a wealth of great stories to read. The photographers who stun me with their ability to capture stories in a single shot. The sports fans who cheer, rib, and goad me throughout the various seasons. The friends both here local and worldwide who take the time to comment on my plethora of absurdity.

Thank y'all for 4 great years and an outlet for my brain drippings.

Stat

Not long ago I noticed Blogger had added a stats feature to the dashboard. It tracks stats all the way back to sometime in May of this year so I suppose they added this feature then. Today I thought I'd share a few things I've learned from the data which covers the last 5 months or so.  

Sorry for the screwy formatting but cutting and pasting the info from the stat button has things a bit askew.

Pageviews today 198

Pageviews yesterday 278

Pageviews last month 8,008

Pageviews all time history 27,050

I truly appreciate each of you for taking the time to visit my blog.
Top Referring URLs http://twitter.com/ 164 http://www.google.com/reader/view/ 138 traviserwin.blogspot.com 82 http://davidcranmer.blogspot.com/ 40 http://thegoatslunchpail.blogspot.com/ 39 http://dawnanon.blogspot.com/ 36 http://drilleraa.blogspot.com/ 35 http://twitter.com/pwheeler_agent 32 http://happycat7.blogspot.com/ 28 http://www.blogger.com/profile/09420879160702098979  28 Top Search Keywords kielbasa 111 travis erwin 78 travis erwin blog 75 invisible tree house 47 bus falls off bridge 32 bone pickers 26 little debbie oatmeal creme pie 23 quanah parker quotes 22 crab cracker 17 original marlboro man 16 Pageviews by Countries United States 18,750 Canada 1048 United Kingdom 845 South Korea 718 Germany 699 Netherlands 537 Russia 532 Ukraine 210 Australia 164 India 161 TOP POSTS Rim Shot Apr 6, 2010, 20 comments  1335 Pageviews A harrowing post where I am accused of stuffing my pants while detailing my escape from the milk maid. Dust Bowl Daddy - A My Town Monday Post Feb 16, 2009, 48 comments  978 Pageviews A MTM post about Woody Guthrie and the dust bowl era here in the Texas Panhandle. Saddle Up -- A My Town Monday Post Feb 2, 2009, 37 comments 597 Pageviews Another MTM post. This one about the original Marlboro Man. Throw Me A Rope Dec 10, 2009, 27 comments 546 Pageviews A cute little story about the time I taught a group of 4th and 5th grade Catholic school student about serial killers. Quanah Parker - A My Town Monday Post Jun 2, 2008, 28 comments  540 Pageviews More MTM fun. A few details about the legendary Comanche Chief. Crime Doesn't Pay - A My Town Monday Post Jul 11, 2010, 12 comments  400 Pageviews An old time crime spree here in the Texas Panhandle. The Bone Pickers - A My Town Monday Book Review May 12, 2008, 32 comments  299 Pageviews A review of the definitive fiction work regarding Amarillo. Tasty Novels, Fatty Livers, and A Sweet Patch of F... Jul 13, 2010, 23 comments  275 Pageviews A guest post written by the talented and lovely Sarah Hina. Creatile Dysfunction Jul 30, 2010, 30 comments 250 Pageviews One of my personal favorites, about the magic of Viagra. Faithful Friday - Kissing off Religion Sep 17, 2010, 27 comments If I am not mistaken a pageview is not attributed to an individual post when a visitor comes to the home URL. So I think the reason these post rank so high as they match up the the list of search terms that most often bring visitors here from google, bing, or the other search engines. Whatever the story. I'm glad so many of stop by to pay me a visit.  200 Pageviews The post detailing the event that made me shun organized religion for nearly two decades.