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Sunday, May 25, 2009
Happy 2009 All! (And, yes, I realize that the year started almost five months ago but I've been busy! ;-)
Just the standard recap for those of you who are new: The Nitpicker's Guides were published from 1993-1997--one a year, each in the fall of the year. There was supposed to be a Nitpicker's Guide for Star Wars, released one month before Phantom Menance in May of 1998. Unfortunately, there were some lawsuits in the industry over copyright infringement on "media tie-in" products. While the lawsuits had nothing to do with the Guides (and in fact, some industry lawyers had even used the Guides as an example of what was legal), the publishers all fled.
Here's the rundown:
Zarks.net still goes well. At this rate, I should be paid back on my initial investment by the end of this year. More at zarks.net.
I'm still writing! Last year, I put out Still Whispers (which is a rehearsal of some of the things that I think I've learned over the last 50 years.) You can learn more about that at philfarrand.com. (By the way, all my new books will be available as Creative Commons licensed .pdfs on the site. They are FREE for non-commercial use.)
I plan to finish my new book, That Fated Shore, by sometime in July 2009. And I'm planning to give away the first 100 printed copies (postage paid). More to come on that.
So...my days are filled with computer consulting, meals with friends, time with my wife, daughter and son-in-law and writing. And, hopefully, in the next ten years, there will be more writing and less computer consulting!
As always, you can reach me at chief@nitcentral.com . Bear in mind, however, that I only check this email address once a week--usually on Saturday or Sunday. And please, put "FOR THE CHIEF" in the subject line somewhere so I don't accidentally throw away your email as junk mail!!
Now...it is virtually impossible to keep a website going with the human touch and for that I rely on my moderators, a courageous group of non-paid, valiant, wonderful individuals who are kind enough to share the vision of Nitpicker Central and keep it alive while the chief is off pursuing the dream of writing again. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate them and the indisputable fact that they are sustaining Nitcentral.
And so, it is with deep appreciation that I say a huge public thank you to the magnanimous and magnificent Moderators of the Nitpickers Guild. (Who, by the way, are automatically eligible for free copies of any book that I self-publish.)
United We Nitpick!
Phil