Obligatory New Year's Newsletter
No book review today, folks
Happy New Year!
I planned on doing a somewhat longish newsletter post today about the public domain and copyrights. In the U.S., all works (published and unpublished) after March 1, 1989, are protected for 70 years from the date the author dies. It’s different for different countries, though.
But then I thought that topic would be much too boring to begin the new year. So instead of give you a list of resolutions that I probably won’t keep, I thought I would let my subscribers know the changes I’ll be making to the newsletter.
I’ve decided to stop thinking about ways to make this Substack a paid newsletter and just keep it unpaid. All the ways I can think of … except for the gatekeeping the past articles … are lame. And require a lot of work, which is even more lame.
Newsletter posts will now go out every other week again. I made this decision because I think my readers are getting reading-fatigue with a once a week email. I know I’m getting fatigue. Tbh, I think I’m a lot funnier if I get a break in between, too.
The short book reviews will continue. But to balance it out, I will be reading a book and then a short story alternatively.
The Happenings section will continue happening. Long-time readers know this is where I put what’s happening with my blogging and writing. For those readers who signed up to get crafting tutorials or recipes, you can see what’s new in this section.
I don’t have a #5. Then why did I make a #5? In Korea (and China), #4 is like 13 in America. It’s bad. That’s because the number 4 in Chinese (where a lot of words in Korean is based from) is the same word for death. And I really don’t feel like my new year starting off with bad luck, so I didn’t want to have only 4 items.
Okay, I really do have a #5. I mean #6. I am returning pictures of Joe and Meow. If I feel like doing any work, I might replace all the newsletter posts on Substack with their pictures. (But work is lame, so this might not happen any time soonish …_) If you want your pet to be featured, please send them to me!
The Promos
This newsletter, I am promoting Game Plan by B.P. Stevens.
From the Amazon site:
Mason Carter has been relentlessly trying to solve the murder of his sister, which has landed him and his family in more life-threatening trouble than he could have ever imagined.
This time, he has found himself imprisoned under false accusations orchestrated by Arthur Beauford. Mason is freed with the help of his friend Lydia and an unexpected ally. His release, however, is part of a sinister plan.
As if Mason hasn't been through enough, there is an assassination attempt on him before he can leave the police station.
Grab your copy of Game Plan today!
Also, Death Roll by Robert Blain
From the Amazon site:
As Andrew Schlakier navigates the length of the state in search of the suspect, each new revelation peels back layers of a deeply disturbed personality and a litany of crimes. It culminates in a shocking discovery that’s almost too gruesome for the private investigator to comprehend. The motives for the suspect’s acts are murky but one thing is crystal clear – no one is safe until this person is tracked down and stopped.
Happenings
These past few weeks, I’ve been reorganizing my websites and writing a bunch of new posts. I’m not ready to announce the Valentine’s Day stuff yet, but I wrote an article about how to air fry a bagel if you want a quick breakfast. In two weeks, I will have a lot more work (there’s that annoying work again) done, including both Bosch Legacy season recaps.