1 Marketing in the publishing business is a joke. When you realize YOU have to pay expenses involved in a book signing (most publicity), parking, gasoline, overnights, hotels, meals, etc. and get at most 15% of the sale price (more likely 10%) you'll find that with a book priced at $35 you're going to have to sell 50 a day to break even. Only the very biggest publishers cover expenses of a book tour, and then only if you're a million-seller. It;s easier to harass book stores and get them to stock a few, then tell everyone you know about the book and watch the sales on Amazon.com. Happy days.

2 No, no: this is flacking for other people, not myself. Paid gig, just to take care of the bills as I finish the manuscript. When the books comes out I'll do my promos from home, thank you very much. I might post the first and second chapter here, though. You know what they told us about dope dealers when we were young: the first time, it's free. It only starts costing money once you're hooked . . .