I try to write a blog post here about once a week week. Sometimes I hit that mark, sometimes I fall short depending on how busy I am, and occasionally I crank out two or three. I thought I’d take a minute to share with you about these locations.
Earlier today I wrote a quick post on the website of the podcast I recently started with my friend, TomTrimbath. Together, we have taken on the topic of all-things Writing On Whidbey Island — which is the name of our show, or WOWI for short. We’ve realized that there is a considerable collection of writers here on the island, along with other things having to do with writing, and we wish to present its unique character. Tom and I pop up at different places here on the island, explore different writing related topics, and host conversations (not a hard Q&A) with other authors and people in the writing arena.
I blog about my experiences as a musician at BagpiperDon.com. I also write about Zombie movies and books … because, well, ZOMBIES!
And last but not least, I of course post right here at The Biscotto – A Bakers Blog. I write about my culinary creation process, experiences as a writer, and give kitchen tips … among other things.
And for what it’s worth, it is currently 12-cents off of the price I offered it for before … BUT … I would prefer that you do not buy it at this very minute. WHY?!?
I Plan To Hold A FLASH SALE SOON
What’s a Flash Sale??? …
If you would like to get my book for a reduced price, this is a great opportunity! Message me and let me know that you want in on my Flash Sale. I will message you back and let you know when I plan to hold this secret-sale — yes, you will get the inside skinny! In return, I ask that you read my book and write a review — hopefully a favorable one — on the site where you buy my book.
Best, Don
PS — Here’s some sneak-information … It looks like I will be able to discount my book around 50%. I’d like to go further, but that’s all I’m allowed. I may also discount the e-book on Amazon and on Smashwords. ALSO NOTE, so far as I know if you buy my book on Amazon you can get a free copy of the e-book.
Yesterday — late in the afternoon — I jammed to the library as closing time quickly approached …. MY MISSION: Upload the updated manuscript for my book in preparation for the Flash Sale I plan to hold late this month.
My debut recipe book, “Make Your Own Darn Good Cookies“, published on 26Oct2018. For the past year I’ve stayed staunchly attentive for any and all errors to be found in my tome of tasty treats. Yesterday was the big day! Yesterday was when I fixed my inexact “exactally”. Yesterday was when I fixed all the metric mistakes caused by my careless copy-&-pasting. Yesterday was when I deleted the asterisk that lead*. Yesterday was when I atoned for the flour mis-measurement in my Peanut Butter Biscotti recipe. It was also when I changed the cover from gloss to matte, which is supposed to have better market appeal, but in the big picture that really isn’t a big deal.
*to nowhere.
What … you don’t dress like this when you go to the library?!?
The clock was ticking close to 5PM. The lethargic upload status on my computer screen predicted completion on a Tuesday following infinity.
AND THEN IT HAPPENED!!!
I successfully uploaded my mitigated manuscript to (click here to read about The Amazon River) and skated out the doors right as the learned establishment was closing. Oh yes, I avoided the wrath of the Library Aids who had to work on a Sunday. Indiana Jones himself couldn’t have done better!
Returning home, I couldn’t have been more calm … cool … and collect. I donned my Keds and cardigan sweater, and settled in for some dinner accompanied by the next DVD in my TBW stack. As the screen flickered in front of my face I found myself content … serene … one with myself and at peace in the universe … Fred Rogers himself couldn’t have done better!
AND THEN IT HAPPENED!!!
No good deed goes unpunished. My phone gave a ding indicating a new email. It was from (click here to read about The Amazon River). Surely not a big deal, they’re just messaging me to say that my corrected manuscript had gone through and the new version of my book had launched …
NOPE!
Okay, I’m tired of this blog post — it’s been fun, but I suspect it’s dragging on for you, too — so I’ll cut to the chase…
My local tribe of Library Aids ….. what, you don’t believe me?!?
It seems (click here to read about The Amazon River) has one problem or another with my book. I’m not clear what it is, and from their emails I’m not entirely sure that they are either. I’m doing what I can to get my book relaunched before they said they might take it down all together. I’ve emailed them, I’ve chatted with online help, and I’ve called them. I’m about to go outside to launch a carrier pigeon followed by starting a smoke-signal fire while Library Aids play their tribal drums (recent photo above). I’m doing everything I can to cooperate with (click here to read about The Amazon River) and get things back on track. I am frustrated but optimistic that they are working to this end, too.
ALL THAT SAID …
IT IS MY SINCERE HOPE that all of this tomfoolery is worked out before the Flash Sale I’ve planned to hold — which is coming up SOON! If you want to get in on my Flash Sale — GREAT — Please Email Me ASAP 🙂 If you’re not familiar with what a Flash Sale is, it’s like this ….. I’ll message you and let you know when the secret sale time will be. During that limited time the price of my book will be greatly reduced. In return, I ask that you read my book and post a review on the site you bought it from — hopefully a positive review. It’s that simple!
… Don …
PS — What a waste of time … I really don’t need extra headaches. It was not my intention to start an international incident and offend The Gods Of (The Amazon River). When this is all done I might be impeached.
PPS — According to Wikipedia “The Amazon River in South America is the largest river by discharge volume of water in the world, and by some definitions it is the longest.”
Okay, we’ve been keeping this kind of quiet, but here it is … PODCAST
Tom Trimbath and I have started a PODCAST!
It’s TRUE — Tom and I have started a PODCAST. Take 1-part portable recording gear and add 2 guys energetic about writing, and mix with a look at all-things-writing as it pertains to Whidbey … and you get “Writing On Whidbey Island“* — or WOWI!
(*Present web location, subject to change)
Our show is new — presently we have about half-a-dozen recordings, each around 40 minutes long. Three of these have been interviews with Whidbey Island authors. Our show is not a hard Q&A, it’s a conversation about the topic we pick — a guest talking about their book, a bookstore owner discussing their approach to the book business, online marketing, you name it! This month Tom and I have 2 recordings tentatively scheduled — here’s what’s coming up!PODCAST
October 12th — Maribeth Crandell’s Latest Book
The 14Sep2019 copy of the Whidbey News-Times presented an article on Maribeth Crandell and her second book “Hiking Close to Home“. In her latest book, Maribeth presents all the hikes here on Whidbey Island. Her approach has included not only features of the hikes, which ones are wheelchair accessible, and also which ones you get reach using the local bus service — which is free by the way! That Saturday she was presenting her book at the Coupeville library — she and her book sounded interesting so I attended! Maribeth was passionate about her topic and full of character — and at the end of the presentation I invited her on WOWI. She will be holding another release party a few weeks following in Anacortes — if you’re local, don’t miss it! PODCAST
October 28th — 1st Year Publishing Lessons Learned
Our guest for our October 28th recording will be ….. ME! A week ago Tom pointed out that my first book “Make Your Own Darn Good Cookies” was published one year ago on Amazon. Since then I’ve presented my book, published the Amazon and Smashwords e-book versions, started my next book projects, and learned more than a few things I didn’t know before. Tom suggested that we discuss the experiences, lessons, and tips of a writer (me) the first year into being a self-published author. *Stammer*Stammer* … uh … now that I think about it, YEAH, there are things that I can share. I’m looking forward to talking with Tom about it and sharing with our listeners! PODCAST
Now, a few more things about WOWI
Tom and I live on opposite ends of Whidbey Island. For our WOWI podcast this is a blessing and a curse. The ‘curse‘ is that it is inconvenient to get together, so our recordings don’t take place on a regular schedule. The ‘blessing‘ is that we have to coordinate our schedules when we are going to be at the same end of the island. This helps us to meet with myriad authors, writers groups, bookstore owners, ETC here on Whidbey Island. We’ve worked this into the character of the show — recording in different places, featuring some of the audioscape of our beloved island in the background. So far we have recorded outdoors, and the weather is beginning to turn on us. We will soon be looking for indoor locations that will host us. If you are a business this may work to your favour because we always say where we are recording from — for the use of a warm room, a little bit of electricity, and perhaps a few other comforts, we will GLADLY plug your Whidbey Island business! PODCAST
For the past number of weeks I have used every minute available to study a part of WWII/D-Day history for my current book project. I’ve checked out nearly everything available from my library, clicked on countless weblinks, listened to 2 audiobooks, watched videos, and worked the indexes of nearly a dozen books. It’s been a fascinating study, I’ve learned loads, and even grown to where I seriously need a break from this focus. All of this has been to write 2 short essays for my next book — which is intended to be a fundraiser for a veteran’s group I am a member of. Last night I finally had a break-through! RESEARCH
Bill Millin landing on Sword Beach.
Yesterday I must have hit a critical mass in my research — I finally completed 1 of these 2 writings! These 2 essays are on Bill Millin — a Scottish soldier who was asked by his Brigade Commander to defy the stipulations of the British Army and play his bagpipes during the Normandy invasion. The playing of bagpipes on the battlefield had been officially ceased after WWI due to the high rate of loss of these soldiers. On D-Day Bill Millin wore a kilt and carried no modern weapon short of a small traditional knife called a sgian dubh. He play near the shoreline as his fellow commandos fought. He never got shot or injured. Later he learned from captured German snipers that they didn’t target him because they thought he had gone mad! Millin and his Brigade along with other Allied forces then moved inland. First liberating the port town of Ouistreham then relieving the 6th Airborne Division who had captured strategically important bridges over the Caen Canal and River Orne.
Glider infantry of the 2nd Battalion, Ox & Bucks Light Infantry, of the 6th Airlanding Brigade, 6th Airborne Division, in Normandy 1944.
WOW — weeks of research and I can now sum that up in one long paragraph! In any case … for the last number of things to accomplish and complete this book, this aspect has been the most daunting. I thought I would write the longer essay and then shorten it to what I wrote last night, but it seems I’ve gone the other way around — now I can build the long one off of the short one!
The rest of the project is downhill from here — last night’s development was a big relief & an IMPORTANT Step Toward Completion! RESEARCH
I blog about my experiences as a musician at BagpiperDon.com. I also write about Zombie movies and books … because, well, ZOMBIES!
The 14Sep2019 copy of the 
