Will Blog 4 Food

When I first started writing this blog back in January I had previously written four blog post about my experience in the publishing program at PSU and my experiences in marketing at Ooligan Press. I liked doing that. I felt good to have something I had written published again, even if it was only on one lowly blog read by a few people at most. When I was doing that it was only once a week and that was hard enough, for this class it's twice a week. It's hard. But the thing that I enjoy about it is that it forces me to write, period. I have always been someone that does better when I have a writing deadline or assignment. I've always been a better employee than a student and I always struggle with writing for myself day-to-day. But when there is a deadline, well it's got to be done, right?

I don't know if I will continue to blog after I finish this class and graduate. But, I have started to think about creative ways to blog and more importantly, I've discovered food blogs. I can't believe it took so long for me to find them, but now that I have I am thrilled. There are blogs from home cooks trying out recipes, and writers giving their "food sense", to industry insiders sharing their own informed opinions. Then of course there are the food reviewers. Not all of these are good and there is a little part of me that thinks: who do these people think they are? Who cares what they have to say about a restaurant? Who made them experts? But then I think of all of the possibilities that blogs present to me. I doubt that I can make any money with a blog about food, but I would love doing it nonetheless.

I've always struggled to figure out how to do what I love (cooking) and making a living. I considered becoming a chef (even got accepted to culinary school) but in the end I came to the conclusion that restaurant kitchens aren't the place that I want to cook. I like cooking at home for my friends. I like making what I want and then having those that I love give me feedback. For awhile I thought that I would open a restaurant but then I decided I really didn't want to turn into a complete jerk (as some restaurant owners are prone to.) So, now I am graduating with a degree in writing and book publishing and my eyes have been open to the possibilities of food writing simply for pleasure and the practice of writing and then we will see where that takes me.

New Era Un/grid Micropub Sustainability

"...as I welcome Brent Lank, a very successful writer and publisher. So, Brent in the midst of the collapse of the publishing industry over the last decade why do you think you have been so successful?" I don't really care for these types of dated interviews, but it was Amazon after all and they were the only oldmedia still in business.

"A lot has to do with marketing and using the newest technologies to connect to readers and as a way to market myself. Taking advantage of the opportunity the demise of the old publishing model offers is also a part of it."

"What do you mean by 'taking advantage'?"

"What I'm saying is that when New York was still the hub of publishing, when the conglomerates were making the deals and decisions, and of course, because of the advent of the new integrated un/grid technology, I could not have become the successful publishing author that I am today." As soon as I finished speaking the blogcaster from Amazon Media lobbed another one my way.

"So, what's your take on the impact of the 2016 100mile law and how it limits the hard copy production of books." asked the blogcaster.

"Well, by the time the price of gas finally came down to $14 a gallon and most of the media conglomerates and traditional means of publishing, distribution, and book selling collapsed, it made sense for us to make some drastic changes. The Supreme Court said that hard copies must be printed within 100 miles of where they are bought and sold. Additionally, that number of oldbooks can be printed is now dictated by the number of electronic sales for any given market. Ninety-eight percent of all people now read newmedia or newbooks."

"So, in your local market only two percent of books are oldbooks? Doesn't that make them more expensive? Something only collectors can afford?" the blogcaster leaned in as if she would be able to better hear me though her monitor.

"I love a great physical book as much as the next person. But now that newmedia and newbooks are so inexpensive and since almost everyone is connected to the un/grid, surely this localized, micropub culture we have instituted in the wake of Depression2 is far more sustainable than that bloated bygone model that made oldbooks so cheap."

"But what about those that aren't connected, are there no books for them at all?" she asked me?

"There are programs in place to help those people and you must take into consider all of the jobs that micropresses have created because of the 100mile law. And just think about how many people are writing and publishing these days. Look at all of the collaboration that goes into projects like my own Brainstorms."

"Isn't a lot of this just vanity publishing?" her eyes gave away the subtle sarcasm in her voice.

"Not with the project that I am working on. With the aid of aiEditor 3.0 (vastly improved in its subtle comprehension of language) I can get chapters and other pieces of writing out in hours or days. You have to spend some time working with the software before you go live but once you feel comfortable it opens up great opportunities for reader feedback and collaboration. I can't tell you what a great response I am getting from my subscribers and..."

The blogcaster spoke just loud enough to cut me off in the middle of my sentence. "Well, thank you for coming on and sharing your view with me. Good luck with endeavors. And with that I'll say farewell. Please join me tomorrow for my interview with Governor Cruise. We will talk about his plan to make intergalactic history a part of high school curriculum."

A Niche Market

I have done a little bit of exploring when it comes to publishing companies. What I have found is that there is no “one” company that I would absolutely “kill” to work for. So, instead of writing about a particular company I think I will write about what kind of company I would like to work for or better yet what kind of company I’d like to help create.

In the spring of 2007 I took a capstone class at Portland State University called, Youth Gender and Sexuality Minorities. I was not new to these topics or the issues that go along with them. I am a gay man myself and so have a certain amount experience and empathy for these issues. Yet, the aspect of this class that I was most taken with were the issues of gender identity. I feel that I am very comfortable in my own gender, but for some reason the issue of gender identity resonated with me a great deal. At the end of the term the instructor asked us all what we would take from the class into our future. After thinking on this a bit my response was—I want to be able to produce books—educational, fiction, poetry, text, manuals, picture books, young adult, etc—which speak to the experience of transsexual and transgendered people, their families, the medical profession, policy makers, and the public in general.

There are several publishers that speak to and print books marketed to the LGBT community, but it seems there is still a lack of books that speak directly to the trans community and individuals. Alyson Books is one of those companies. In the fall of 2007 I took Denis Stovall’s class, Introduction to Publishing. One of the most important aspects of this class is that you and there rest of the members of a small group develop a mock press. One of the first things that must be done is a discussion of what kind of press the group is interested in developing. I saw this as a chance to begin my desire to produce and publishing books for this relatively small and very specific audience. To my surprise my group overwhelmingly supported my idea and so, Open Door Press was conceived. Open Door Books will deliberately help to create and cultivate books and other information which members of the trans community will be able to read about themselves and others like them who much of society is unable to embrace. So, I hope to work for a publishing company like this—or even to create it.

Ah, Now he's Spoiled

When I was sixteen I moved to southern California to live with my mom and step-dad. My parents divorced when I was very young and Douglas(the step-dad) came into our lives not too long after. To make a long story short, there were custody issues, court battles, and a kidnapping (not as dramatic as it sounds.) Suffice to say sometimes I lived in Kansas and sometimes I lived in California.

Shortly after I arrived in California I went out and looked for a part-time job. I found one the Sporting Goods and Toy Department at Sears. It was a great job, I made both an hourly wage and commission on the sales. Like many people, on my breaks I would go wonder around in the mall.

One day while browsing the aisles of Waldenbooks I found myself in the Self-Help or Psychology section. I came across a book that struck my interest. I was called The Best Little Boy in the World by Andrew Tobias. I looked through it, and then, I stole it.

I stole it because it was a memoir about a young man coming out of the closet. I stole it because I didn't think that the cashier would sell it to a sixteen year old. I stole it because I didn't want anyone to know that I too might be gay.

When I got home I went to my room and read the book. It changed my life. I suppose I had been dealing with my sexuality for most of my life, but Tobias's book revealed a new world to me. I had always understood that I had a physical attraction to males. I had even had some sexual experiences with other boys. But I had no idea that this could actually impact how I may live my life. I had always thought that I would still marry a woman and have kids. I never understood that men could have relationships with each other. The concept of being a homosexual or gay was very different to me than being a fag--something that other kids had called me since fourth grade.

I knew that I should throw the book away, but I didn't. Since it revealed so much to me I wanted to hold on to it. I locked it my suitcase and stuck it back in the closet. About a week or so later I came home after school and work to find my mother in a really bad mood. She had found the book. I was caught. My secret was out of the closet and after that day things would never be the same as they were before.

A New Writing & Publishing Education Model

At the University of Baltimore the Creative Writing and Publishing Arts masters program not only incorporates publishing oriented classes into the curriculum but culminates in a publication of, “poetry, fiction, essay, or memoir, that the [students] not only write[s], but also design, and produce. “ The stated goal of the program is to produce graduates that can live a life of writing but are also “strong candidates for careers in teaching and publishing.” At the University of Melbourne the stated goal of the Masters in Creative Writing, Publishing, and Editing, is to, “demonstrate[s] the links and shared skills between writer, editor and publisher as well as between fiction and non-fiction writing.”
Both of these schools have created programs that fundamentally benefit writers. Over the course of a career a writer is likely going to learn many important facts about the publishing industry, but how much easier would it be to get started if a writer to had a more all-encompassing understanding of the business to begin with? At universities that have both a creative writing program and publishing program it makes sense for them to start working closer together. Writers should take several publishing classes; have the opportunity to participate in any publishing labs, and to intern at local presses. At universities that have creative writing programs but no publishing programs it would benefit the student if the school began to incorporate publishing oriented classes in to the program of study. For a writer to have the chance to study book publishing gives that writer a better understanding of the industry that he is trying to enter and a better understanding of his role in that industry.

Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy

I have bought because of an marketing e-mail campaign. Specifically through Amazon and Zappos, two of my favorite online retailers. Usually it has to do with a "free shipping" promotion or some kind of great discount. It doesn't happen very often but I am certainly willing to admit that these campaigns work for me. I love shopping online. Zappos is especially close to my heart. I think it's amazing that I can order a pair of shoes at noon on one day and then have them at my door the next day. And to top it off, if I don't like the shoes or they don't fit, I can just mail them back for free. I calculated my the amount that I spent in '08 and I spent more than $200 at Zappos. I'm sure that if I looked into it I would find I had spent a similar amount at Amazon.

All in all I have to say that at least with online store that I like e-mail marketing works for me.

Writer, publisher, writing, publishing

As I quickly approach the end of my time in the publishing program at Portland State University I have just a few more hurdles before I can call myself a graduate. First, I need to pass the two classes that I am taking this term. Second, write a final essay and finally, defend my portfolio in front of my graduate committee. The topic that I have been assigned for my graduate essay is: What can publishing programs do that creative programs can't? Discuss the value to creative writers of an education in publishing.

Like many people who end up in the publishing industry, I am a writer. I discovered the program and was immediately attracted to the idea of going into publishing (or at least studying it) because I believed that as I continue to find myself as a writer it could only benefit me to understand the business of publishing. Like many outside of the publishing industry I didn't know a whole lot about the book biz. The extent of my knowledge began an ended with the notion of an editor. "Of course I would be a great editor," I thought. Yet, I had no real understanding of what that meant. And I certainly had no concept of the process of acquisitions, marketing, design, or publicity.

It is because of the time that I have spent in the publishing program that I now have a real understanding of how the industry works as a whole (at least in theory.) I have a sense of the of publishing history dating back to Gutenberg's printing press in the 13th century. I've learned how t he internet is changing the industry today as much as the printing press did over five hundred years ago. I have learned about the many different stages that go into the publishing of a book and hopefully I have learned how I can better market and present myself and my writing to both publishers and the public at large.

What do you writer's in publishing think?

Too Many Email Accounts?

So, I have four e-mail accounts. The main one that I use is my Yahoo! account. This is the account that I use for most of my correspondence and bills. I think that I have had this particular account since 2002. I also have three different Gmail accounts. I have one that I use for this blog and class, one that is connected to a few bills and a couple different social networking sites, and one that I opened with the intention of switching over to from my Yahoo! account, but haven't. Of these four accounts I check the Yahoo! account almost daily. The other accounts are checked once or twice a week.

Three of the four accounts have some form of my name attached to them and one doesn't so that I can be anonymous if I like. I think that my first email account was with Hotmail. If I remember correctly I had it from around '94 to '02. I got rid if it because I got way too much spam and the spam filters on Hotmail were crap.

Wow, I think that I could consolidate down by at least one account, but I probably won't

Oops, I totally forgot my student e-mail account that I have with Portland State. I mostly use this for my Ooligan correspondence. I also have an e-mail account for the internship that I doing with Graphic Arts, and then there are the accounts associated with the books that I do marketing for at Ooligan....

The Fun Part of Marketing

When a press is getting ready to publish a book there are a lot of things that have to happen. One of those things happens to be writing the back cover copy that will be one of the things that may sale the book. So, I though it would be fun to share a little bit of that process. The first thing that needs to happen is that the manuscript should be read. I'm sure for a lot of marketers actually reading about what you are trying to sale isn't always possible. Fortunately for me, as a student, I had the time to read Lincoln's Daughter. So, then the task is how best to sum up the book and hopefully get people to buy it. Here is what I started off with for the back copy of the book:

The year is 1964 and Sarah, the only daughter of Abraham Lincoln, is ready to meet her father.

On a trip to New Salem, IL, Will Studebaker finds himself trapped in a blizzard. He wakes up in 1833, where he soon comes face to face with Abraham Lincoln, the subject of his life’s work. In Lincoln’s Daughter, the final volume of the Lincoln Out of Time trilogy, author Tony Wolk weaves together the story of Lincoln’s life as a young man with the story of a daughter searching for her fathers.

After coming up with my version of the copy it's time to meet with the marketing and editing team and, uh, "get their opinion" of it. Not always a fun process, but necessary none the less. Finally, after what seems like an eternity of the group debating it, tearing it apart, and generally finishing off any of your beliefs that you're a decent writer, it's all put back together again. Here is the final version of the text that is on the back cover of Lincoln's Daughter.

It's 1964 And Abraham Lincoln's daughter, Sarah, daydreams about meeting her father. Mer mother, Joan, met Lincoln nine years earlier when he was transported to 1950s Evanston, Illinois, from his own time and place for a day. When Sarah's stepfather, Will, a Lincoln scholar, doesn't return home from an overnight trip, Sarah and her mother have no way of knowing that he has gone back in time to 1833 in the same, mysterious way Lincoln came forward in time. The two grow more and more nervous while waiting for him to come home. A stranger's phone call and the discovery of an abandoned car will push daughter, mother, and their old dog, Rusty, away from home in search of Sarah's stepfather.

Sarah's journey has just begun.

Marketing Marketing Marketing

Looking over some of the websites of publishers that seem to be directed primarily towards the consumer I think it's pretty obvious that this is just another marketing tool. It's about giving the consumer more information about both books and authors. It's a way to get consumers to become fans and to get them involved in a community built up around an author, a book, or a series of books.

It seems highly unlikely that these websites are designed to actually foster direct sales from the publisher to the consumer. In my review of several websites that allow someone to buy a book directly form the publisher there were absolutely no discounts being offered. As a matter of fact at the Simon and Shuster site they have links to other online bookstores for you to buy the books. It's hard to believe that they really expect consumers to purchase directly from them.

Rediscovering the Spirit of Copyright Law

Copyright is a way of creating an artificial monopoly for authors and inventors as a means to promote creative activity for the greater good of society as a whole. This monopoly is meant to be temporary. Yet we have seen the time allotted to authors, inventors, and media corporations extended to what seems far outside the range of anything that is primarily to the benefit of society as a whole. If I live to be seventy years old this particular blog will be protected under copyright law until 2123, that’s 113 years from now.

It is highly likely that corporations and the media conglomerates will continue lobby our government officials to extend copyright protection to infinity. It is easy to imagine at time when copyright monopoly will keep literature, music, art, and movies out of the public domain for 500 years and upwards. This will be tragic for society and the creation of culture to come. If this does happen, then the spirit behind the origins of copyright law is dead. Simply put, copyright law cannot take precedence over technological innovation. It is incredibly important for the world to reevaluate the importance of the original philosophy behind intellectual property and copyright law and how we can reacquire a healthy and vibrant public domain.

Perhaps, it is technology that will force us to do this. With the advent of the internet, legally or illegally, users are de-commodifying much of culture. Peer-to peer file sharing is good for creative artist because it lowers the cost of production, marketing, promotion, and distribution. Media companies should consider the possibilities of the internet's promise as a means for creative new ways to make profit. They should learn to capitalize on the changing technology and begin to let go of out dated business models. If artist and corporations wish to still be a part of this economy, then they must construct new models that benefit not only their own personal bank accounts but enrich and promote creation of new artistic works to the advantage of society as a whole.

Having a vital public domain and ensuring that laws continue to favor innovation over copyright for copyright’s sake is incredibly important. The Congress and the Court should not encourage media companies in pursuit of creating an oligopoly of information, distribution, and technological innovation.

Is There a Neighborhood Bookstore Around Here?

As I finish reading Lynne Tillman's Bookstore: The Life and Times of Jeanette Watson and Books & Co. I can't help but wonder what the future of the independent bookstore will be. The description of the store is very romantic. Some sections came and went depending on who the book buyer was (sometimes there was a fly-fishing section, other times Books & Co. had a great philosophy section.) Jeannette was dedicated to promoting authors and hosting readings and events at the store. She threw parties, sponsored joint events with the Whitney Museum, and even tried her hand at publishing. She created a salon-like atmosphere that drew many very loyal patrons. Yet, after twenty years, for a number of reasons, the institution that was Books & Co. closed it's doors. The story is not only filled with information regarding Books & Co. but with interesting and relevant narratives from: writers, artist, actors, publishers, CEO’s, socialites, and bookstore owners. Tillman’s book reveals the romance and magic of this New York institution as well as exposing the day-to-day difficulties of managing a bookstore.



Recently, a Portland bookstore, 23rd Avenue Books, closed after being in business for twenty-nine years. It was a very small store and had a selection that didn't particularly appeal to me. But they had readings there and events there. And I'm sure that if there was a particular book that I wanted I could have gotten it through them. But instead I chose to go to Powell's or much worse (right?) Amazon.



I admit I feel a little guilty because even though this was my neighborhood bookstore, and I walked by it on an almost daily basis, I rarely went in, and I don't know if I ever bought a book there. Honestly, it didn't capture my attention like a Powell's or one of the larger bookstores tend to. It was too small and I was never able to "get lost". If for some reason I did go in to look for a particular book i never found it, and I'm not one to order something from a store, especially when I can order it online. I tend to want it when I want it.



So what gives an independent bookstore a chance at success? How can small neighborhood bookstores appeal to enough people to cancel out the selection and price that larger bookstores can offer to the consumer. What level or type of service will a shopper choose over cheaper and a more varied selection? And perhaps most importantly how can an independent bookstore convince consumers that shopping with them is to the benefit of their families and communities. These are just a few of the first questions that someone will need to answer before they hope to open a successful independent bookstore.

Don't Fear the Challenge

Popular consensus seems to be that Amazon and the possibility of it's dominance in the bookselling, publishing, and printing industries is all in all a really bad thing. There is a part of me that agrees. When one company can control pricing, distribution, supply, etc., etc., etc,. in the long-run it's bad for the consumer and the economy in general. Having said that, what Amazon is doing is using technology and ingenuity to help create a new buisness model in the publishning and bookselling industires. It behooves everyone involved in publishing to begin to really make changes in the way books are published, distributed, priced, and sold.

Is it the reponsibility of consumers to choose supporting a local biusness rather than buying a product at a better price? Isn't that sort of a privelage for those that can afford to make that choice? If someone only makes 30k a year and support a family of four shold they pay $4 for a gallon of milk at the local gracery store rather than $2.50 at Walmart? Don't get me wrong, I don't always like the way these large corporations do buisness, but change is inevitable. Smaller companies (and large corporations for that matter) must divise ways to compete. Perhaps, it's not a matter of cheaper prices, maybe it's better service or a unique selection.

The music industry has seen a great deal of change in the way music is sold, distributed, and priced in the last few years and now the publishing industry is dealing with this as well. Like the iPod there will be more and more consumers using devices like Kindle to do their reading, it is inevitable. So, now the rest of the industry needs to catch up with Amazon and for new companies to emerge into the market. I think this is a very exciting time to be entering the publishing industry. So much change is at hand, and I for one look forward to participating in the creation of a new publishing model.

A Self-Publishing Future?

As I prepare to gradate in March and am putting my portfolio together, I have been doing a little research into short-run, self-publishing options. I found several different options where I may be able to have just a few copies of my portfolio printed without spending a lot of money. The first place that I found that seemed promising was Blurb.com. I was drawn to this site because it offers the chance to use a template to put together a pretty professional portfolio at a decent price. I didn't get to terribly far into the process before realizing the format is too restrictive for my purposes. A little more investigation has lead me to a few other short-run printers that allow the user to upload files to be printed rather that working with templates. Lulu.com is a good example of such a company.
Doing the research for having my portfolio got me to thinking about self-publishing in general. Though in the past, self-published books have gotten a bad rap in the publishing industry it is apparent to me that in the future there will be more and more writers that will choose to self-publish. There are bound to be writers like myself that will complete similar programs of study as offered at Portland State University and Ooligan Press. These writers and others are developing the skills now to self-publish professionally edited, designed, marketed, and hopefully, well-written books. Even those that don't study publishing have more and more resources and opportunities to circumvent the traditional publishing model and present their writing to the world. Paul Young's novel, The Shack, originally self-published has gone on to sell 3.8 million copies.

In addition to writers self-publishing their works, short-run printing makes it possible for the emergence of micro-publishers. Ken Arnold Books is a great example of how individuals or small partnerships can develop and reinvent the publishing business model. Though these examples aren't the norm as of yet, it cannot be denied that the publishing industry is in the process of monumental change. It's exciting and a little frightening to be entering an industry at a time when such transformation and potential for innovation is possible. I look forward to participating in and discovering what the future holds for publishing and self-publishing.

Macmillan's Site Tromps Random House's

As I perused many different publishers websites I though about the various audiences they are trying to reach: readers, booksellers, authors, journalist, teachers, librarians, and those looking for publishing jobs. I looked at many different types and sizes of publishing houses: from small to large and from literary to religious. In the end, there were two sites that stuck out to me for different reasons. Let's start with the good one first.

I came to the Macmillan site via one of their imprints TOR books. I found this site because I wanted to look into the publisher of one of my favorite author's Charles de Lint. As I looked over the TOR site I discovered that they were an imprint of Macmillan and so I quikly moved over to their site. The thing that I liked right away were the drop down categories at the top of the page: books, authors, publishers, services. Right away there is easy access to the different books catagories, all of the author's that they publish in any of their imprints, all of the different imprints, and information for teachers, booksellers, and librarians. On the page itself is informatipn about a featured books, news and press releases, a book trailer, author tours and events, information for book clubs, and much more. Then if you just link to one of their imprints, such as TOR/Forge books, you find even more specific genre focused information: more book trailers, podcast, reading group guides, and links to their Facebook, Myspace and Twitter pages.
All in all I would have to say that they are doing a pretty good job covering most all of their bases over at Macmillan.

On the other hand, the Random House website left a lot to be desired. Though they try to appeal to many of the same audiences the organization of the site is just not as accessible. The top of the page does have drop down categories for books, authors, features, and newsletters and alerts, but the majority of links to specific information is found scattered throughout the sidebars and at the very bottom of the page. Additionally, there are no links to any imprints, only one book trailer, and too much moving around to see the things that were interesting to me. Fianlly, this may be a little nit-picky, but when I went to the book categories and look under gay and lesbian titles there were none listed. I found a drop down which allowed me to look through past months, and did find some titles, but honestly I found it to me a little silly to have a category without having a single title listed. Overall, I think that Random House needs to reorganize their website to make it more user friendly.

Job Market Worrisome for Graduating Publishing Student

As I start this last term of my graduate program I am stressed. Not only do I have a lot to compete in a short amount of time but at the end of it all I wonder if there will be any jobs out there for me. When I started this program I did so with the intention of earning my masters and getting out of the restaurant industry. Now, my worst fear is that I will become another waiter with a graduate degree. I suppose I should count myself lucky if I even end up having a restaurant job.

It seems that everyday news of the economy gets worse and worse. According to the U.S Labor Department 2.6 million jobs were lost in 2008--the worst job loss since 1945. The unemployment rate now sits at 7.2%, and you can be sure that is more than likely lower than the actual number.

I have actually considered postponing my graduation and taking a few extra classes in the Spring just to recieve additional student loans to live on. But, I know that isn't really a good plan. In December, while interviewing for an internship that I am doing this term, the head of the marketing and sales department asked, "Have you heard about the layoffs in the industry? So, what do you think you want to do with you publishing degree?" Ouch. The New York Observer reports that more layoffs are expected in the next three weeks at Crown, Knopf and the flagship Random House Publishing Group.

So, as I quickly approach a new chapter in my life I wonder what I will be doing with my degree. At this point, my hope is that I will be able to use my degree to get a job doing something, anything. I wonder how I can use the knowledge and skills that I have gained during my course of study to make a living. The publishing industry is most certainly going through some growing pains, so perhaps now is the time to be entering the industry. With an open-mind and a lot of creativity and innovation perhaps me and others just beginning their careers in publishing will have the chance to reinvent the industry.

Addendum: Ironically, as I finished writing this very lament filled post, a friend of mine called to say that the company that he has been in the plans to start for about two-and-a-half years is getting closer to taking off. This is good news for me because I have been promised a job a a newsletter coordinator and eventual editor of an online kids magazine and series of children's books associated with the company. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed.