Only slightly a little bit late, I’ll begin with a big thanks to Candy’s of Candy’s Monsters (you have visited her site, right?) for the Dr. Horrible’s Blog Award nomination. She awarded it way back at the end of June, and I am only just now getting around to fulfilling my duties as recipient. I’ll get to answering the requisite questions and awarding my own nominations in a bit. First news.

News

• I’ve had some work-related developments, which is part of why I’ve been slightly incommunicado. I’ve frequently mentioned the pursuit of paying work as a major detractor of my blogging time over the past couple months, but, really, so is the attainment of it. Anyway, had a couple small contract jobs, and the possibility of larger ones. More on that down the road, if it pans out. In any case, I’m dangerously close to actually supporting myself as a writer.
• And it’s mostly thanks to a free bumper sticker I stuck on my laptop! Best $0.00+ S&H I’ve ever spent! So on that note, if you need office supplies, check out Vistaprint. I wait for their promotions so I can get the things I want for free; it seems that the least I can do is point some paying clients their way.

•  The second draft of my book is officially underway. Now that I’m starting to make some connections and actually get paid, it’s time to turn some of my energy back towards longterm goals. I’m calling Draft 1.5 due to the many changes that are being made to it.
• I have had quite a bit of fun lately. I got to spend time with my fairly cool extended family in Prescott this Fourth, and carpooled there with my lovely girlfriend, who’s from a nearby town. Speaking of cool, it was a relief to get out of Phoenix for a bit. This weekend we went out to Mill Ave. in Tempe for a combined birthday celebration of two close friends. I’m not much for the bar scene, but I had an awesome time with some good friends. I work a lot, what with this “self-employed” stuff, and it’s great to take some time off now and then and really enjoy life.

Bigger News

I’ve just launched a site, NextGreatAmericanBlog.com, where young people (under 30) can express their views on whatever issues interest them. The selection criteria are rigorous and there is no pay, but there is the reward inherent in having your opinions and insights up next to other intelligent people. Great ideas gain weight from good company. If you’re interested in writing for NGAB then please let me know!

The only post up right now is mine, it’s called New Americana, but there will be more content from at least a dozen different young professionals in the near future. I can’t tell you what, exactly, it will be, because it’s mostly up to them. I feel comfortable using the following words to describe it now, however: Awesome, interesting, entertaining. I’ve got some great people on board and I’m excited to see what they’re going to create with their space–and you should be too!
 

And Now the Award Stuff

Step One:

Thank the nominating committee…
I’ve already done that, of course, but thanks again, Candy! For those of you unfamiliar with her, Candy Korman is a fantastic indie author and quite successful freelance writer.

Step Two:

Announce the big news at CitiesoftheMind…
Well, here it is, I said, here it is.

Step Three:

Answer the three Dr. Horrible Blog Award mini-interview questions.
a) If you ran the world, what would you outlaw immediately?
I’m not really too big into laws. . . Genocide, I guess? Yeah, genocide. That’s gotta go, man.
b) Men: Boxers or Briefs? Ladies: Do you prefer Boxers or Briefs? [I added that last one in the name of gender equality.]
Boxers.
c) If I won the Nobel Prize who would I thank?
Why is this in the first person? It makes me feel like I just asked myself what sort of underwear I prefer. Anyway, I suppose I’d thank whatever poor dude they mixed me up with. A million dollars and a plaque, hell yeah.

Step Four:
Nominate three bloggers so they can carry the Dr. Horrible torch on its way.

This is hard. I’ve been so very absent from the blogging world.

Well, Alexis Jenny over at Bunny Ears & Bat Wings springs to mind. She pops into my mind any time I get a blog award, though. Still, she’s my first nominee, if she can find room for it with all of her other awards. She’s a great writer, and she certainly has that tinge of madness that comes with the potential for greatness.

Second off, Jo Eberhert, over at The Happy Logophile who shares my love of urban fantasy, and everyone should check out her alchemical blend of personal anecdotes and flash fiction.

There are certainly other people who deserve awards, and I might bestow others some time when I have more time. Today is not that day, however. Cheers and such!

Related articles

• Dr. Horrible’s Blog Award (candysmonsters.com)
• Review of CandysMonsters.com (citiesofthemind.org)
• New Americana (nextgreatamericanblog.com)
• Blog Reviews + Why Prominent Ads in Your Blog are Bad (citiesofthemind.org)
• The Trick To Keeping The Big Picture In Mind While Working Out All The Details (ollinmorales.wordpress.com)