Free Porn - The Aftermath

Well that didn't take long. It took about 18 hours between my last blog post titled 'Free Porn' and my first hit from someone searching for something similar. I imagine it was because they had something specific ( "7/24" matched the time of the post ) in their search that allowed them to get to my blog so quickly. But even so, that's still pretty quick. Can you imagine how disappointed they were when all they got was a picture of me looking like a saddo magician and two peppers kissing?

Watch out next week for my blog post called "Best Book In The World - Buy It Now".

Free Porn

There is so little to report it is a little embarrassing to even consider a blog post but I feel I owe my reader some output.

So, you'll have to put up with a crappy clip show of a post (and a really spammy title, just as an experiment).

Book Stuff
Bit of a distribution delay; apparently the text on the title page was too near the edge. So much for buying a copy, seeing it was fine and approving it. I could scream 'racket' but I won't. I'll believe that this was a safe precaution to avoid issues at the distribution printer. But having to get another pointless proof? Well...

I've dipped my toe into some Google Ads in advance of distribution. Quite good fun, quite enlightening. I'll do more when things are ready to rock on Amazon.

Set up a Facebook page for the book. Go now, become a fan! I've got a design for a Facebook Ad ready to go too.

I've also integrated a PayPal cart into The Beatle Man website for buying signed copies. Two sales so far, thanks guys! **

Photo Stuff
A lovely weekend on Islay didn't yield too many photo ops due to some dodgy old weather, but was quite pleased with what I did get. You should all go to Islay, its fab. Many thanks to A&M.



click to download full size

I finally got round to trying my new black backcloth too. It went quite well for a first time. Here's a new portrait for you all to hurl abuse at (if you haven't already on Facebook).

For old times sake, I shot some veg.

The new lens is a real peach. But the f2.8 one would have been better for:

Had a rather fun (but challenging) shooting the dress rehearsal of a stage musical at the Kings in Edinburgh. Was very different and great fun roaming round an empty theatre. Discovered that auto-ISO would be a very useful feature in low light. Excuse no. 1 for a new body. Thanks to Scott for letting me have a go.

Puzzles

Not long now until season two of Bimbogami is nearly there. Most of the puzzles are in the can and MorFF is busily coding the new improved site. We'll be going for a full synchronised launch so the teams can have a good battle. Should be fun.

** Late breaking news, that's 3 signed copies now! One is off to the US...

Schrödinger's Documentary

I generally don't do much in the way of TV review or commment but I've seen a couple of things recently that have given me a notion I feel compelled to share.

Last night I watched a 'documentary' called "Willie's Wonky Chocolate Factory". I got pretty much what I expected. A posh guy (somewhat engaging, bit annoying) and his travails to grow and make chocolate. But on occasion it went a bit off-piste with sections of the show that were much more like a cookery show.

Overall it made sense. The guy was trying to punt his chocolate as an ingredient and was therefore using the show to advertise this. But it did very much seem like the inclusion of his 'cookery' slots were very much a condition of the show.

But because of this the show very quickly begun to lose credibility. We see him on the phone trying to get more money from the bank. We see a clip of him (from next week's show) trying to sell the chocolate to Selfridges and being asked "How do we get the message across that this can be used an ingredient?" Hello?

How can these supposed difficuilties be real when the intrusion of the 'reality' TV crew clearly has, in itself, a material impact on the outcome?

Now, I'm not saying that this family didn't have any difficulties but by allowing itself to be an advert for the product, the show can no longer be a true reflection of what (or what could have) happened. This isn't necessarily a bad thing if the story is interesting enough but this collusion between filmer and filmee must surely be done in an open and honest way.

Hopefully at some point in the shows to come, Willie will be up front with someone and just say "Look, all this is on TV, what better advertising do you want?"

Next week, Channel 4 come and talk to me about my book and how interesting it would be if everyone bought it. While I drone on about the difficulities of the creative process and how hard it is for new authors to get noticed.

Slow, Slow, Quick, Quick, Slow

Slow
Progress on Terra Exitus is very slow. Got off to a flyer but then things got quite busy workwise and I have ground to a halt. I hope to pick it up again this week. Even if I get something down I'l feel a bit better.

Slow
The Beatle Man should be available on Amazon in a couple of weeks or so. It seems to be taking an age so time, in this sense, is moving very slowly.

Quick
As mentioned above, things have got quite busy of late work-wise. Despite the impact on writing this is generally a positive thing as, in truth, I'd been betting a little bored. Now I'm getting picked up by the scruff on Monday morning and flung to Friday night. Coupled with some travelling and weeks are flying by. Which doesn't stack up against point #1, but hey, things don't always have to make sense.

Quick
It's the 2nd March. How did that happen?

Slow
Not being doing much photography either. Not had the time or the weather so output has slowed to a drip. That said, photo usage is on the up, last week saw quite a few magazine covers, book covers, posters etc. Must do another photo usage post. Hoping to get some good photos next weekend when I go to Islay.