CHARACTERED PIECES: best stories ever, says me.
A few of you know how unbelievably happy I am to say this. The rest of you will likely get tired of me saying this: my story chapbook is now officially available for preorder! Books will ship around November 16th.
All preorders will receive a copy of the book, along with the following:
- A (very) personal inscription. Note the specific name you would like the inscription made out to in the PayPal comments area. Also, note my use of the word “very;” I warn you: you may be disturbed by what I write. If you would rather a flat-signed, or “clean” copy, note that in the PayPal comments area as well.
- A picture of me signing the book (so there are no Antiques Roadshow conflicts 90 years from now)
- As part of the made up LUNGS FOR READERS program, each preorder will smell of delicious ACID cigars. Trust me, even if you don’t like cigars, you’d love the smell of ACIDs. Imagine if cinnamon and Italian food had a veal baby*. Think of this, too: OW Press is mailing these out in the middle of Winter (where I am, anyway), meaning that I have to sit outside, freezing, to bring you the smell of these cigars. My pain, your gain.
- Whatever other fun stuff I can find to cram between the book’s pages
That's all the bulleted aspects above and 63 pages of some quite fantastic writing. How much? you ask. $6. And shipping is included. Seriously, OW Press and I don't make any profit on this (unless hundreds of copies find their way into the world). You are buying love. Money goes back into making more books.
PREORDER HERE, at the OW Press Charactered Pieces page.
For more general information on Charactered Pieces, take a look at my info page, here.
Preorder now. I only get to touch the books once, so I can't personally inscribe after the initial round of inscriptions. Unless we meet awkwardly in public somewhere. Hint: I'm the guy in the trench-coat...
Also, don't forget to subscribe to my RSS Feed. I don't only whore myself, as you've seen here. Check my archives; I post interesting stuff too.
*Drew Estates (the makers of ACID cigars) don't endorse me in any way. They goddamn can if they want to, though. This is an official offer: I will become (continue to be?) a Drew Estates whore if I get some free cigars.
Um, 231 posts. This aint spam it's just promotions.
!
No, no, and no! Caleb's a great writer! Support him!
oh. Jesus, get off my shit! It looked like spam to me!!
didn't help that there were two of these threads......Just sayin.
Brentinlouis Wrote: What was that rule about being intentionally annoying?
Um, 231 posts. This aint spam it's just promotions.
where can you see how many posts he has? i can't see that....
Brentinlouis Wrote: What was that rule about being intentionally annoying?
In your profile, noob!
nat ah!
Brentinlouis Wrote: What was that rule about being intentionally annoying?
Just wondering if this ships outside the US. like Sweden perhaps 
Haven't heard about this, but i'll support a fellow writer.
Congrats, Caleb!
Levi, seriously, do your research! ThirstyG is a long-time and beloved member of this site and a great writer. This is wonderful news!
Is that shipping to the UK covered too, or did I just rip you off? I didn't think about it till it converted it into pounds.
"What cha readin' fer??"
Levi, seriously, do your research! ThirstyG is a long-time and beloved member of this site and a great writer. This is wonderful news!
gahh! Ok, Ok. I get it.
Brentinlouis Wrote: What was that rule about being intentionally annoying?
No worries Levi. You have to go buy 2 copies now, minimum. 
This is a great collection. Caleb is somebody I've know for years now, via intensives here and workshops. You can't beat the quality of work here for a lousy $6. OWC is doing some great work.
Peace,
Richard
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Thanks all.
Yeah, sorry about the spam-appearance. Mirka let me know that promotions aren't allowed in blogs. I didn't know. That post has since been removed.
But here in this thread, I can be all whore as far as I know.
As far as overseas shipping, yeah OW Press will do that. Sure, they might lose a bit of money in those cases, but the important thing is to get the words into people's hands. Politicians may say stuff like that, but I truly mean it.
As I've said elsewhere, I'm excited for this. I'll be sticking a banner in my signature, Caleb.
You are a prized human. Thanks so much for the support. I am really excited for you (everyone) to read this collection. I know sometimes people have to put on a happy face when promoting their stuff (did Palahniuk really like Haunted? I mean, really?). But with this book, I am truly, honestly excited.
Everyone who preordered Charactered Pieces:
You likely received a refund notice from PayPal. There was a problem with the ordering system, which is being addressed.
Please know that Charactered Pieces is still going as promised. Please, though, if your money was refunded by PayPal, re-purchase using the link below (I have had the buy-it-now button updated). I know this is a hassle. Such is the life of a small operation.
I can't thank those enough who have preordered. You are amazing. Truly, I am so unbelievably unhappy about the confusion, but I will do everything I can to make sure this is the final hiccup.
Re-order: http://www.outsiderwriters.org/publications/caleb-j-rosss-charactered-pi...
...so what if we preordered and DIDN'T get a refund notice? Any need to panic?
No need to panic in that case. If you preordered and did not get a refund notice, then I would have sent you an email or PM indicating that you don't need to panic, and that the order will go on without a hitch.
I've had the privilege of reading this collection, and it's some really wonderful, twisted stuff that sticks to your ribs and puts a grin on your face. And at that price, this is obviously a labor of love. (Or labour of love, for those across the pond.) Buy it. Or the kitten gets it.
Only four days left to preorder Charactered Pieces: stories and receive all of the following cash and prizes:
- Free shipping
- A (very) personal inscription. Note the specific name you would like the inscription made out to in the PayPal comments area. Also, note my use of the word “very;” I warn you: you may be disturbed by what I write. If you would rather a flat-signed, or “clean” copy, note that in the PayPal comments area as well.
- A picture of me signing the book (so there are no Antiques Roadshow conflicts 90 years from now)
- As part of the made up LUNGS FOR READERS program, each preorder will smell of delicious ACID cigars. Trust me, even if you don’t like cigars, you’d love the smell of ACIDs. Imagine if cinnamon and Italian food had a veal baby. My friends over at ArtJerk.net are going to help me stink up the books
- Whatever other fun stuff I can find to stuff between the book’s pages
Order here, from the publisher, OW Press (though, the PayPal payment will come to me)
So far, preorders have greatly exceeded my expectations. I anticipated a few unfortunate souls would feel obligated to order due to familial or neighborly relation. But, damn, I must have relayed pity to an entire town at some point in my past. I’ve got so many wonderful people not only wanting to read my stuff, but willing to pay for the opportunity. I am going to make it my mission to be sure each reader is satisfied. It starts with the bulleted gifts above. I’ve even got a head start on the inscriptions (to be transcribed once I get a hold of the books):
It ends with house-calls and roses (or does it end there…? If my wife is reading this, then yes, it does end there).
As part of the Charactered Pieces: stories preorder, I promised to fill every copy with the delicious smell of ACID cigars, as part of the completely made up Lungs for Readers program. The experiment semi-failed, as most of the books instead acquired the nasty smell of burnt paper and stale smoke. Lesson learned. Though still, the books are special, containing, in addition to the 'dive-bar' flavor, VERY personal inscriptions, limited numbering, and random bits of trash I've been meaning to toss. You're welcome, readers.
Take in the shenanigans above, set to the sweet sounds of Cecada and helped by my friends at ArtJerk.net.
Thanks to everyone!
You can buy Charactered Pieces: stories at Amazon.com or direct from the publisher.
very cool bro
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Caleb and I sat down a couple days ago to sink a few cold ones and discuss Charactered Pieces, his short story collection. This is the second in what may become a series of such impromptu interactions with authors, called [Blank] und Questions Asks. In this case the blank was filled in with [Beer]. And impromptu it was, using the video function on my tiny point-n-shoot still camera. Enjoy!
I gots mine in the mail today and shall be reading forthwith!
I got my copy today!!! Im so happy the inscription was brilliant. I told my Mum she could read the message but not the book. Im afraid if she does read it she wont let me hangout at The Cult.
Caleb you're a star, Im starting your book tonight after work.
Thank you all!
Im 4 stories in and I love it, you are NOT getting my copy back!
haven't gotten mine yet...booo...maybe it's in the mailbox right now
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You guys may like this. I'm trying out a Blog Tour to help Charactered Pieces.
Here's the details:
Tune up your virtual groupie van. I'm hitting the wwwD.O.T for a blog tour to promote Charactered Pieces: stories.
Blog Orgy Tour oh9-ohohoh10
promises to be a beautiful bastardization of legitimate blog posts and self-serving salesy talk, the likes of which will leave you itchy and raw.
What is a blog tour? It's a way for authors with no actual-tour budget to use the term "tour" when describing their marketing plans.
Why a blog tour? The concept seems fun. I'm going to make stops at various personal and writing-related blogs, offering posts about Charactered Pieces, about me, and about writing in general, that will both promote my chapbook and honor the integrity of each blog I visit. These aren't gimmicky advertisements. They are cleverly disguised advertisements.
Where are the tour stops? Great question, hypothetical reader. See the poster below, or visit the dedicated Blog Orgy Tour page for all the stops. Also, as a bonus for die-hard groupies, some guest posts will contain notes regarding specific stories from Charactered Pieces. There are seven stories (eight if you count the acknowledgments, which is written in a story-like way), so there are seven author notes to track. A full list appears at the bottom of the dedicated page.
Some dates may change. It happens. But on the plus side, some dates may be added. If you want your blog to be consider for a stop, PM me.
Stop #1 of the Blog Orgy Tour is now live. Quite a stop it is, too. Pela Via and I had an internet back-and-forth about things writing-related. She took pics of herself with a copy of CP, and I wrote a flash Pela Via-esque piece (at the end of the interview). Truly fun.
Read it here (my blog) or here (Pela's blog)
Tomorrow's stop: Mel Bosworth's Blog
Also, some of you may know Jason Kane or Justin Holt, they are members here. Anyway, Jason wrote a fantastic review for their site, Oxyfication.net.
Stops #s 2 and 3 are now live:
#2 is at Mel Bosworth's blog I post about the power of a single story to open up an author's entire catalog. Prove you're a good groupie and head over now.
#3 is at Nik Korpon's blog. I might get a tattoo. Read about ithere, you filthy, filthy groupie.
Then read about other skin deformities (sesame sauce-blistered skin, for example) in my chapbook, Charactered Pieces. Only $6 for a print copy, or $2 for a PDF eBook version.
See all of the rest of the stops here.
This might sound stupid, but were you always thirsty gerbil on here?
Cause I remember that club we were in that I can't talk about, but your username was always Caleb J Ross, with the same avatar. Am I just totally out of touch?
| adj | facebook | an american atheist| warmed and bound |
you're out of touch ant, but i think he's used that avatar at lots of places
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Cause I remember that club we were in that I can't talk about, but your username was always Caleb J Ross, with the same avatar. Am I just totally out of touch?
Yep, always thirstygerbil here. I use that Avatar everywhere an avatar is needed. I usually stick with thirstygerbil or variations of Caleb J Ross as my username.
There's no cool story behind the avatar. I just took a clock and superimposed it on a green apple. It looked cool and is square, so I kept it.
Well alright then.
| adj | facebook | an american atheist| warmed and bound |
Blog Orgy Tour stop #9
Today, wickerkat is kind enough to post a blog at his website as part of the Blog Orgy Tour.
I offer a few words on how a writer's physical setting can affect his narrative setting. Read it, here: http://whatdoesnotkillme.com/2009/12/22/caleb-ross-charactered/
This tour continues to be amazing for me. Hopefully, it is amazing for you as well.
Come on you slackers. You're just going to spend that money on crack, pot, beer, whores, Taco Bell and/or bad music. Support your fellow artist.
Man, now I want some Taco Bell. And a whore.
Peace,
Richard
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It really is a fantastic collection of stories and short pieces. Caleb's got a great unique voice that I think would fit in well with most people's reading choices. BUY IT!
Today is another double-header, sending me from the literary and artistic haven for poets, writers and artists known as Troubadour21 to the subterranean bloke's room populated by Bukowski, Kerouac, Carver, and Waits known as Bukowski's Basement (I think Bukowski contributes more than is 1/4 of the rent to get his name on the sign).
At Troubadour21, a full story from Charactered Pieces is posted. This one called "Refill," which originally appeared in the now defunct Green Muse Review. This story is a personal one, semi-autobiographical, yet despite what that description implies, it isn't boring.
Over in Bukowski's Basement, I talk a bit about my secret dream of being a barstool stereotype. It's not secret anymore. The post also acts as the final installment of my Author Notes, this one about the non-fiction piece, "A Chinese Gemini." Fitting, the piece spends some time in a bar.
The Blog Orgy Tour is winding down. But I promise that these final days just might be the best. I've got an AMAZING review coming from Craig Wallwork's blog; a bit on my note-taking process at Jason Kane's blog; I help some writers at Medialysis; I promote scribbling in books at LitDrift; I have a top five list at Deckfight; and last A FULL WEEK OF FREEDOM BLOGGING AT 3AM MAGAZINE. Click here for links to all the upcoming stops.
You want to be a part of it all. Contact me. I'll swing by and mess up your blog, too.
I'm not sure how many this would entice, but Charactered Pieces is now available at Prospero's Books in Kansas City. If local, go there to support this fantastic bookstore. I get there as often as I can.
Some pics, one of the outside, and one of the basement (where much of their merchandise is kept)
spam? ban? Please?
Brentinlouis Wrote: What was that rule about being intentionally annoying?