Now
playing
A
monthly diary of current postings and quick train of thought entries
|
|
March
2021
The April edition
of A
Parkside View will be out by this upcoming
weekend.
Are you signed up
for it?
If not, why not?
Great content from Bob, with a lot of it never previously released.
News and stories from around Backpackville. And, it’s free.
All you need to
do is send us an e-mail, or use one of our social media pages
to send a message. We’ll contact you and finish all the details
to get you registered.
A Parkside View,
Volume 6, Issue 4, coming your way.
Did
you like Knives Out? (Of course,
you did. We all did.) Looks like we have two more projects springboard
from the original, this time they’ll be coming to Netflix.
Maya Rudolph in
a project with Danny McBride and a robot apocalypse? I’m in.
The
Mitchells vs. The Machines
coming to Netflix in late April.
Shadow
and Bone
is coming to Netflix in April. (Looks like
Netflix is a bit busy.)
The
release of The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard
has been moved up. Look for it in June.
With much of Sheldon’s
major childhood moments fixed in time already, this
great renewal for a quality show likely
means we are going to be seeing some really heavy material in
the near future on Young Sheldon.
A look at the
upcoming Mare of Easttown.
We’re nearing the
end of March, and with it the end of our anniversary celebrations
around Backpackville. Hopefully you’ve been enjoying some of
the fun…
* We had special
offers on A
Parkside View: Volumes 3 & 4 and
January
Resolutions. The Kindle editions of
both of these titles were on sale for a limited-time in March.
And you can still check out the paperback and Kindle editions
today…
A
Parkside View: Volumes 3 & 4
at Amazon (paperback)
January
Resolutions
at Amazon (paperback)
- 
* In addition to
the Kindle offer involving A Parkside View: Volumes 3 &
4, the prices for both the Kindle and paperback editions
of the book were reduced. You can find out more about all twelve
of Bob’s released works here on the web site as well as his
author page at Amazon…
Writing
& Books
Bob’s
author page at Amazon
* The March issue
of A
Parkside View was released featuring
three new essays. The April edition will be out later this week.
If you are already signed up, fantastic, thank you for the support
and interest. If you aren’t signed up, don’t miss another issue…
it’s easy, just send us an e-mail or a message on our social
media pages.
Thanks for stopping
in during the Eighteenth Anniversary of In My Backpack.
We’re grateful for your time and attention, as well as your
feedback, purchases, sharing of news and more. Keep stopping
in, and don’t forget to tell your friends.
Some places are
offering free
lamination of your vaccination card.
“I
think I hate them most because…”
“Wrong
answers only”
Two links and one
essay…
Finally! Wellington
Paranormal—spun from the original movie version of What
We Do in the Shadows—is about
to hit U.S. televisions.
Grandmaster
returning? Could be. Jeff Goldblum is apparently
in Australia, and Marvel has reached a point with such great
lead and support characters that crossovers and new appearances
are almost a certainty on projects.
“Why
are there 76 trombones?”
1 – If you use
Kindle, check out the offer on Bob’s latest release, January
Resolutions. In a limited-time deal,
it is currently available for its lowest Kindle price to date.
Continuing until March 26th, this is just one of the Special
Offers available as part of the web site’s
anniversary.
2 – Visit The
Attic. More than five dozen essays have been added to Backpackville
just this calendar year. Hundreds are stored away, going back
to the early days of the In My Backpack web site.
3 – Get ready
for the release of the April edition of A
Parkside View by signing up to receive
it. The monthly newsletter from Bob is currently in the middle
of its sixth volume. It offers a combination of new and old
material in every edition. Are you getting it each month?
4 – Head on over
to our social media pages. Like them. Follow them. Share the
posts.
Published in November
of 2020, January Resolutions is the latest release
and twelfth title from author Bob Hocking.
Beginning today,
there is a Special
Offer available for a limited time on the
Kindle edition of January Resolutions. This continues
until March 26th.
Tomorrow, a Special
Offer begins involving the Kindle edition
of January
Resolutions. The offer makes the title
available to add to your Kindle library for its lowest price
to date. It’s a rolling, limited-time offer, with the best price
near the beginning. This deal continues until March 26th.
January
Resolutions
Kindle page at Amazon
January Resolutions
is Bob’s twelfth released book. Containing more than five dozen
pieces on its pages, the essays weave into the subjects of frosty
northeast weather and attempts at self-improvement that the
title would suggest. Bob also veers off on his usual meanderings
to consider other thoughts, such as how nothing lasts forever,
the origins of coffee, the benefits found when must-have whoopie
pies aren’t all that must-have, the civics test for United States
citizenship, and what might happen if you drove an ice cream
truck through the side of a circus tent into a calliope.
January Resolutions
is available in both paperback and Kindle editions. Look for
it today (and don’t miss out on the Kindle offer).
January
Resolutions
paperback at Amazon
Bob’s
author page at Amazon
I’m
looking forward to see Godzilla vs. Kong.
(EAGERLY looking forward to it, though the collection of films
leading to it have been uneven.) The more I see the younger
actors involved in this project though, the more I’m convinced
that in about twenty years people will be astonished all of
them were in this cast.
Resident Alien…
my vote for best show currently on television… has
been renewed for a second season.
“‘…Failure
to Respond…’”
We start today off
with something important…
Most people know
I use Amazon for self-publishing. I have done A LOT of research
whenever presented with choices involving publishing my work,
and have never made a decision lightly. It can be a very personal
process that involves several factors, and there are pros and
cons to any action.
To this day, I still
investigate options and conditions every time I work on a project
that finds me turning toward the path of self-publication. Some
of the biggest concerns for me have regulalrly involved e-book
options, distribution possibilities, and international availability.
For me, CreateSpace, and now Amazon along with Kindle Direct
Publishing, checked the most boxes. It was the best option for
me. Other authors have other concerns, do their research, and
many decide to utilize other opportunities.
Many people ask
about it at times, in a way that suggests they believe authors
face easy choices, have lots of options, and that their personal
version of a negative should be shared by everyone. Many times
they do so as if there are clear lines between either using
Amazon or supporting local businesses, that those lines should
be the only focus, and that the decision should be clean, simple,
obvious and leave no room for debate.
It’s not easy.
For writers... for
authors… publication involves tremendous obstacles, hurdles
and decisions. And we make them based on what opportunities
fit our needs while presenting the best opportunities.
When it comes to
the article I’m about to share though, I present that rant because
it isn’t about being for or against Amazon, or recognizing the
closing doors of small businesses. As the owner of The Raven
says in the article: “It’s not that we’re anti-Amazon, but we’re
pro-bookstores and pro-community.”
Absolutely none
of these actions lessen the needs of small, community, neighborhood
booksellers. These places are absolute treasures, and I hope
you can recognize them and support them.
Read
this article. It does a really great job
-- thank you, Casey Cep and The New Yorker -- of explaining
why small businesses (specifically in this case, a bookshop)
need to charge a bit more, and why that can be so important
to your community.
Two essays to close
out the post…
“A
million miles behind me”
“The
possible trigger for insomnia”
Today, I want to
share some details about upcoming book projects.
I actually have
received a few questions about this in recent weeks, so I grabbed
a notepad and had good intentions of making a full list. I stopped
when I hit two dozen different ideas, varying from ones that
are just notes on scraps of paper with a fairly cohesive central
thought to those where I’m deep down the rabbit-hole in progress.
In the end, I’ve
got six projects that are moving along right now where I feel
good about sharing a bit (or at least saying they exist)…
For
2021…
You
may never get published (Horror stories and thoughts to help
you try anyway) – This effort developed from the
series of writer’s workshops I’ve been presenting for years.
Many of the sessions were designed as a split between prepared
materials to open followed by a segment for questions and discussion
to close. The book was one I thought I had finished a first
draft on, until…
…I began assembling
the different chapters and files into full manuscript. During
the process of pulling it together, I found myself increasingly
frustrated with it. The best way I can describe it is that I
really felt it was lacking the fun, positive exchanges I had
experienced with people during the workshops.
A lot of what I
had written I wanted to completely re-write. So, I did. But
first, I put the whole project aside so I could step away and
come back with a fresh perspective. And I’m very happy with
the new results.
Once
in a Lifetime – While I can’t share all of the
details, I can say this is planned to be the final entry into
the Strange
and Unexpected series of travel efforts.
(It will be the fifth book published as part of the increasingly
incorrectly named Travel Trilogy. Previous efforts have been:
Strange
and Unexpected: Backpack on the Road – Volume One: Florida
-- Strange
and Unexpected: Backpack on the Road – Volume Two: California
-- Strange
and Unexpected: Backpack on the Road – Volume Three: Las Vegas
-- Something
Old, Something New: Savannah to Orlando.)
At the current time,
three different adventures are being gathered together for this
effort. Of the three, only one involves material that has been
previously shared. (That would be Seattle in 2013.)
Untitled
novel – I honestly have no clue if this one will come
together in time to release during 2021. But, I did reach a
point where I was happy enough with one of my manuscripts that
I think setting aside a traditional publishing route and moving
ahead with a self-published novel is a realistic approach.
Untitled
special project – I’m not ready to share much about
this work-in-progress, except to say it falls into a specialized
passion project realm that will be different from anything I’ve
done so far, likely will be a one-time effort, and most certainly
will have a specific audience. I’ve been slowly chopping away
at this idea, adding a bit here, taking away a bit there, and
giving it some form. I think it’s going to be something ready
for release before the end of the year.
No clue on actual
publication dates for any of them. More on each coming soon.
For
2022…
A Parkside
View: Volumes 5 & 6 – Hard to believe, but
yeah, it’s actually nearing time to begin bringing together
the next collection of material from the monthly newsletter.
Pretty straightforward.
All of the essays that debuted on the pages of A
Parkside View, along with all of the
From the Backpack pieces that were brought out of the archives
for the newsletter, will be assembled from these two volumes.
The In
My Backpack nineteenth anniversary project(s)
– We’ve always celebrated things slightly askew around here.
It started with Time
Just Drifts Away in 2012 to recognize
nine years of In My Backpack hijinks. Then, in 2017 after fourteen
years, the festivities involved two sperate efforts, Life
Won’t Pass Me By and Conversations.
As of right now,
I have no clue if this work will involve a single book or two.
(Or, heck, three or four. You never really know until you get
to the destination.) What I do know is there will be releases
in 2022, and this project will be part of them.
Over the next few
days, I’m going to share details about some of the things taking
place behind-the-scenes around here. First up… interviews.
I have always loved
conducting interviews. Over the years, for a variety of reasons,
I’ve had the great pleasure of conducting hundreds of interviews
with people. Many have been kind enough to allow me to post
material here on the web site. I appreciate that, and I’m also
grateful that many of those people have agreed to allow me to
use the material in published works. (A few have even participated
in new efforts for the books.) Check out the interviews we’ve
had at Backpackville here…
In
My Backpack
Interviews
I’m really pleased
to say that we are going to see interviews returning to The
‘ville. I’m hoping that the return will be a big one, with efforts
turning into frequent additions to the web site. As of right
now, I’m working on two different ideas…
One is a project
I’m tentatively calling Take Five. The idea is to ask five basic
questions. Quick for participants, quick for reading, and hopefully
a lot of fun.
The other is a return
to the deeper projects that had developed over time around here.
Some background and details formed into an introduction, and
then an expanded conversation.
Things
are still developing in all areas of the interview projects, but
I do hope we might have some things to add (and perhaps even share)
before the end of March.
1 – A
Parkside View: Volumes 3 & 4
– The Kindle edition is in the middle of a limited-time price
drop. Head to the Kindle store (or Amazon page) and check
it out. Offer continues until March 12th.
2 – A Parkside
View: Volumes 3 & 4 – At
the beginning of March, both the paperback
and Kindle editions received a price drop.
3 – Available
only at In My Backpack – A combination
package featuring the paperback edition of Life
Won’t Pass Me By. Between now and
the end of April, you can pair that book with a paperback
edition of Conversations,
Thirty
Days in November or Title
Town. In addition to the two books
(both signed and personalized if you wish), also included
is a special picture of the Life Won’t Pass Me By
cover, signed by both Bob and the artist, Jay Gillen. As if
that wasn’t enough, shipping may be included (depending on
the location).
4 – January
Resolutions – Later this month, the
Kindle edition of Bob’s latest release will be available at
a special price.
A
Parkside View for March has been released.
Make sure you’re receiving Bob’s monthly newsletter.
Back in a couple
of days…
At some point today,
the Kindle edition of A
Parkside View: Volumes 3 & 4 will
be available at a special price. This limited-time offer is
part of what Amazon calls a countdown deal.
Beginning today
by 11pm Pacific Standard Time, the book will be available for
$0.99. It will climb by a dollar roughly every 36-hours, returning
to it’s regular $4.99 late on March 12th.
So… add the book
to your library… but do it as quickly as you can once the sale
begins.
Just a new essay
for today…
“Why
I don’t try new things”
According to Amazon,
the Kindle offer involving A
Parkside View: Volumes 3 & 4 begins
tomorrow. But, it may be later in the day when the sale price
goes active.
The March issue
of A
Parkside View will be out this weekend.
Are
you a Crash Bandicoot fan? New game, designed
for mobile devices, is set for release at the end of this month.
Universal Orlando
is planning to add a third theme park area, with associated
entertainment and more. Few details are available for specifics
about attractions and such, with Epic Universe expected to open
in roughly four years. For now, there is word that construction
is ramping back up.
I was stunned when
Disney came to the mall. I think my first visit to a Disney
Store in the mall of my hometown was roughly thirty years ago.
It was incredible. Seemed like a perfect fit. Of course, times
are changing, and Disney never sits still when it comes to restructuring,
reorganizing, and reimagining its retail offers. About five
dozen stores in the US are set to close
this year.
Melissa McCarthy
and Octavia Spencer are bringing Thunder
Force
to Netflix. New film arrives in April.
Jemaine Clement,
Taika Waititi and Bret McKenzie… quite a run from New Zealand
to the incredible
projects they’ve been bringing to audiences.
“The
price of technology we can’t live without (or live with)”
Backpackville
2003 ~ 2021
The
In My Backpack Anniversary
March 2003… first
essays put into place on March 8, 2003. A bit of work and testing
was handled ahead of that debut. And A LOT of changes have come
in the years since.
Eighteen years.
(And there was much rejoicing.)
This month we’ve
got a few things going on as part of the celebrations. Here’s
a rundown…
The price for both
the paperback and Kindle editions of A
Parkside View: Volumes 3 & 4 have
been reduced. From
Amazon, you can now add the paperback edition
to your collection for $14.95, and bring it to your Kindle library
for $4.99. (Discounts at other online booksellers may differ.)
But hold on if you don’t have the Kindle edition already, because…
Another promotion
with A Parkside View: Volumes 3 & 4 will be taking
place between March 5th and 12th, where the Kindle edition will
be on sale.
Continuing with
the celebratory sale idea, you can find the Kindle edition of
January
Resolutions on sale between March 19th
and 26th. (Amazon
link for January Resolutions.)
And then we have
a really special offer available for the months of March and
April, which can only be found here at In My Backpack.
It’s a package deal…
- 
- 
- 
Get the paperback
edition of two books, Life
Won’t Pass Me By along with a choice
of Thirty
Days in November, Conversations
OR Title
Town… with both books signed. PLUS,
you’ll receive an autographed image of the Life Won’t Pass
Me By cover signed by Bob and the artist of the cover,
Jay Gillen. Two autographed books, a signed collector’s piece,
AND shipping, for $25.
There are a few
restrictions, mainly involving shipping, so check out the Special
Offers page for more details on all of these
great deals.
Phew.
And that’s just
a start of the celebrations.
Throughout the month
of March, we’re going to be sharing some information on new
projects, making announcements about some terrific things that
are going on, and adding some new material.
In a few days, the
March issue of A
Parkside View will be out. This month,
four essays will be a part of the release. If you haven’t signed
up, send an e-mail or a message now. It’s free to do, painless,
and comes with a monthly delivery of information about Backpackville
and material from Bob.
And that’s about
it for today.
Get ready for Special
Offers on several of Bob’s books. Check out his Amazon
Author Page for details on all his published
titles. Make sure you sign up for A Parkside View.
We’ll see you in
a day or two!
|
|
-