Squished Frog Blog

Thanks for the Help

2012-11-03T11:08:00.001-04:00

I'm giving away hundreds--hopefully thousands--of copies of the KALI ebook yesterday and today and have to thank some people and sites for helping spread the word:

Jen Meyers! https://mobile.twitter.com/jmeyersbooks/status/264728790335365122

Free ebooks Daily! https://twitter.com/FreeEbooksDaily/

Free Kindle Books and Tips: http://www.fkbooksandtips.com/2012/11/02/4-free-kindle-book-offers-3/

Kindle nation Daily! http://kindlenationdaily.com/

The eReader Cafe! http://www.theereadercafe.com/2012/11/fridays-extra-batch-4-kindle-freebies-1.html

I'll list more as I catch 'em. Thanks for the help.

A Trip to the World of Fantasy (Con), and a Free KALI!

2012-11-01T21:15:00.001-04:00

I know, I know, worst blogger ever. I used to be good at this stuff, I swear. But now there's something to tell:

ITEM! Tomorrow I leave for Toronto Canada and at 4:30pm I'll be reading from my books at WORLD FANTASY CON! If you want to hear my voice read my words, then you should come. Of course, it helps to have paid $200 to be a "member" of WFC, but hey.

ITEM! Tomorrow and through Saturday, KALI: THE GHOSTING OF SEPULCHER BAY is free. That's right, just like I did a couple months ago to coincide with the WorldCon show in Chicago, I'm giving KALI away during WFC. Mostly though, it won't be con-goers grabbing it, but people on the Internets who see the link and like YA ghost stories. So, if you're so inclined, spread the word. I'll be your biggest fan.

ITEM! My other book, BETA TEST, is still only 99 cents on Amazon Kindle. But for how long?? I dunno. Seriously, no idea.

ITEM! I need to go to sleep. I gotta drive to Canada tomorrow. Glad I was able to get the safe open and get my passport out.

Last Day of Worldcon, Last Day of Free KALI

2012-09-01T08:51:00.002-04:00

I've been at Chicon 7, this year's Worldcon sci-fi/fantasy show, for a couple of days and it's been a whirlwind. Which is no surprise, it always is. Today is my last day here and it's a biggie -- this afternoon at 4pm I've got a reading! So if you are here in Chicago attending the show, please stop by.

It's also the last day I'm GIVING AWAY KALI. That's right, the books' been free for a couple days and will continue to be a free Kindle download until Midnight (Pacific Time) tonight. So if you want to give the book a download, now's the time to do it.

Guest Blog Post Means You Could Win a Free BOOK!

2012-08-28T09:55:00.001-04:00

I got to guest post on Chuck Sambuchino's Guide To Literary Agents Blog (part of WritersDigest.com) today, even though I don't have an agent. I wrote 7 Things I've Learned So Far, all my knowledge of writing to date. ALL OF IT. And if you comment on that blog post in the next two weeks, you could win a free print copy of BETA TEST. (Yes, I still happily pimp my first novel, not just KALI.) (You can only win if you're from the U.S. or Canada.)

Speaking of KALI--hopefully big doings for that book in a couple of days as I swoop into Chicago to attend WorldCon.

Try a Sample Chapter of KALI

2012-08-23T22:11:00.005-04:00

Sure, you can visit the Amazon page for KALI: The Ghosting of Sepulcher Bay and view a sample page or more.

But if you're prefer, here's a link to a PDF file that includes the entire first chapter! Take look at what Kali would look like if it were a print book.

KALI is OUT!

2012-08-20T20:44:00.001-04:00

Here's some big news... My new book is out.

It's called Kali: The Ghosting of Sepulcher Bay, my first foray into the world of YA (that "young adult" in case you missed the crappy movie with Charlize Theron). It's the tale of a 15-year-old girl named Kaliope "Kali" Stergakos who has a severe ghost problem. In that they happen to possess her body when she sleeps. And that's not even the worst thing she's got to deal with.

This book is exclusively available at Amazon for the Kindle. At some point I'll go into why I decided to essentially become my own publisher with this book (part of the reason: I love this book, and I think other people will too). And why I went with Kindle Direct Publishing as the platform to start with. Eventually, I will likely expand the book to other ebook platforms, but that's a few months away.

So, please, if you own a Kindle ebook reader, or any devices that supports the Kindle reader software – an iPhone, iPad, Android phone, even a full-fledged computer running Mac or Windows, they all have Kindle software available—I hope you'll give KALI a try. At only $2.99 I think it's priced right and if you like some rollicking good teen adventure with some ghostly chills, it should be just your ticket.

Listen to me Live (with Tamaria)

2012-08-10T12:52:00.004-04:00

I recorded an interview about BETA TEST -- and my upcoming new launch, coming soon! -- on Live with Tamaria! We had some technical difficulties,but you know... that's just what life is. Technical difficulties, with occasionally getting things done. Listen to it here.

The Summer of BETA TEST Marketing Begins! ONLY 99₵!

2012-06-21T16:31:00.001-04:00

Hey, remember when I wrote that book, BETA TEST, and it went on to become a big-ass best-seller? Good times.

Of course, now it's time for BETA TEST's second act! (Not a sequel. God no. I don't have a sequel. Yet.) I mean it's time for the SUMMER OF BETA TEST MARKETING!

Starting tomorrow, I launch a blog tour (thanks to Bewitching Blog Tours) aimed squarely at letting the world know, once again, that there's a funny, scary, thoughtful novel out there full of adventure and romance and dinosaurs. And a platypus.

As part of this SUMMER OF BETA TEST MARKETING CAMPAIGN EXTRAVAGANZA (I changed the name just now), my publisher at Hadley Rille Books is dropping the price on ebook versions of BETA TEST to only 99 measly cents! That's right, for less than a buck you can put this novel on your Kindle or Nook.

So I ask you—spread the word. Repost, retweet, re-status-update this info. Even more important, if you have read BETA TEST, write a review of it for me on Amazon or Good Reads.

And by the end of the summer, I promise, I'll have something else out there for your reading pleasure.

Talking Books with Students and Librarians

2012-04-06T09:29:00.001-04:00

It's four months since BETA TEST came out and this month things got interesting in areas I never expected. Locally I've been approached to come talk about the book with a college class and with librarians!

The first group is the Science Fiction and Religion class at my ol' alma mater, Ithaca College. I'll go in for a couple of classes later this week. I will be forced to confess my lack of "belief" in a diety and wholesale ignorance of 90% of scripture, then we can dive right into just how BETA TEST touches on religion anyway, because that's how I do.

Second, I'm gonna speak in may with a group of librarians from the South Central Regional Library Council who are reading the book as part of their monthly discussion series! And later this year I'll be heading home to Hornell to talk to the library there, too. (That's the library I used growing up, where I once read so many books in one summer I won a plane ride over the Canisteo Valley, and later read all the 87th Precinct novels they had on hand. Good times.)

If you've got a bookstore, class, library, or group that wants to talk BETA TEST with the author, I bet he'll show up. Hell, even if it's by Skype.

Just a Suggestion (from Downtown Books) - Beta Test

2012-04-05T14:51:00.001-04:00

Wow! I had no idea this was coming out. Chris at Downtown Books & Coffee--the one guy there I haven't met in person--gave BETA TEST a rave review in his weekly video recommendation! Thanks, Chris!

And I'm very glad you got over you aversion to my chapter titles, which are indeed all movie titles. It took me hours to pick them out.

BETA TEST only 99₵!

2012-03-31T15:05:00.001-04:00

It's no April Fool Joke -- For this weekend only, BETA TEST is only99₵ in ebook format for Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble Nook! This goes for all the books from my publisher, Hadley Rille Books. Check out the whole list, and get some great reading super cheap before the prices go back up to normal.

BETA TEST in Binghamton!

2012-03-21T11:14:00.001-04:00

A reminder -- tonight at 6:30, I'll sign copies of BETA TEST for anyone who wants to stop by RiverRead Books at 5 Court Street. There are copies at the store now, and I'll be there to scribble on them all you want. I may even do a reading if people want that.

Meanwhile, yesterday I had a fantastic interview with Bill Jaker of OFF THE PAGE on WSKG Radio. Bill's the best book interviewer ever, I swear, he was asking me questions that were astounding me -- he found depths to my writing I didn't even know. We even got a write-in question from someone in my old home town of Hornell. If you want to hear the full 45 minutes of my pontificating about the innerworkings of my book -- with lots of SPOILERS -- you can listen to it online at http://wskg.org/episode/beta-test.

BETA TEST coming to Binghamton NY!

2012-03-07T10:25:00.001-05:00

Two stops for me around Binghamton, NY, this month -- first on March 20th I'll be heading to the studios of WSKG radio, the local NPR powerhouse that serves up content along the entire southern tier of New York state, to be on OFF THE PAGE, the show that interviews local authors! It'll air live at 1pm, and repeat in the evening at 7pm, so tune in if you're in New York. I'll post a Web address later that'll feature the streaming online version of the interview.

Then the next night, March 21st at 6:30, I'll sign copies of BETA TEST for anyone who wants to stop by RiverRead Books at 5 Court Street. Can't wait! See you there.

Kindle gets BETA TEST!

2011-12-19T12:16:00.001-05:00

Fire up your Amazonian ebook readers, kids! BETA TEST is officially available for Kindle right now. (We're working on some formating issues, but nothing that should impact enjoyment. Go forth and download.

BTW, the cost? Only $2.99. Buy it for a reader you love. Or TWO.

UPDATE: BETA TEST is now available for order or pre-order on Amazon.co.UK and Amazon.ca (for United Kingdom and Canada, respectively), as well!

BETA TEST Guest Blog with Kat Archer

2011-12-19T10:07:00.001-05:00

I was very lucky to make a dear friend at WorldCon in 2009 in Montreal. Katrina Archer is a another grad of VP, but from a different year, and yet all of us from year XI consider her one of us, one of us, one of us. She's a writer and software engineer and project manager in the world of video games and hell, she once worked at Pixar long enough to get her name on patents they filed, which I find unspeakably cool. She also speaks French, which is sexy as hell, and invaluable when you're in Montreal, not because people there don't speak English, but they like you more if you have a French-speaker with you. She also caught H1N1 that year, which sucked.

Maybe 2009 was just better for me. It was also the same year I pitched BETA TEST to my publisher, so it has a lot of significance. Which brings me around today: Kat featured me in a guest post on her blog, where she has a feature called Prime Writing to showcase authors. Take a look! She even blew up the book logo big on the top of the page.

BETA TEST Hits Scalzi's Big Idea!

2011-12-16T11:46:00.001-05:00

There exists on the Web a page where my name now share space with authors like N.K. Jemisin and Richard Kadrey and S.M. Stirling. It's because author John Scalzi -- author of OLD MAN'S WAR, president of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), and sometimes instructor at my old workshop alma mater of Viable Paradise -- let me guest post on his widely read blog called Whatever today, as part of his ongoing "Big Idea" series for showcasing new authors with new books. I got to pontificate about the idea of BETA TEST, where it came from, and how I sat on it for years. Scalzi introduces me by saying:

Not every writer comes up with an idea and immediately moves on it. Some let the idea sit and develop — or let life get them to a point where they’re ready to take it on. Take Eric Griffith and his novel Beta Test. The idea was there, but were the conditions ripe for the writing? Griffith explains when he knew when it was time to take Beta Test to gold master.

You should r ead the rest of what I had to say and tell your friends. My thanks again to John Scalzi!

BETA TEST Hits Barnes & Noble

2011-12-14T15:16:00.001-05:00

While I work on getting the local store to set something up, at least nationwide people can pre-order BETA TEST on Barnes & Noble, starting today! Amazon's also got it ready for pre-sales. Both are still only showing the hard cover, but eventually the trade paperback and Kindle/Nook ebook versions will join it. I'll keep you posted.

Also, for those of you who don't live in my old home town, the radio station I worked at as a teen did a nice interview with me for their morning Newsmaker's show. You can find it online -- skip ahead to the -8:45 time stamp to get to me and skip the stuff that comes first.

BETA TEST in the TIMES!

2011-12-07T13:00:00.001-05:00

Okay, it's not the New York Times, but I'm glad the Ithaca Times wrote about me and BETA TEST today, with just a week to go until the book is out. They didn't get it all correct (book should be out before Dec. 20, and I didn't meet my publisher through Viable Paradise), but I'm okay with some revisionist history for the sake of publicity. Go read it now!

A Blog Post about BETA TEST's "Actors"

2011-11-22T10:30:00.001-05:00

The wonderful Jennifer Wylie allowed me to guest blog on her site today. You should go read all about how I "cast actors" in the roles in BETA TEST so I can, essentially, figure out who the hell they are.

The First Review of BETA TEST

2011-10-31T11:57:00.002-04:00

The first review of my first novel is out for the first time! Enjoy what PUBLISHERS WEEKLY has to say about my book, which is out in December and you should order multiple copies to give as gifts. To everyone.

Beta Test

Eric Griffith. Hadley Rille, $28 (278p) ISBN 978-0-9839531-1-1

Griffith offers up an unusually lighthearted apocalyptic tale. Thousands of people around the world abruptly disappear, including Sam Terra’s mother and the woman he thought he could love. Sam seeks answers, accompanied by his obnoxious friend Melvin and his childhood pal Paulie, and gradually uncovers secrets that in other hands could have led to a deep philosophical exploration of humanity’s place in the universe. Instead, Sam’s adventures border on the absurd as he travels from New York to California to Australia while the world at large inexplicably ignores the insanity thrust upon it. The humor can’t quite hide the lack of finesse in the writing, but with the focus on escapism, Griffith’s stylistic awkwardness isn’t as big a stumbling block as it otherwise might have been. (Dec.)

Reviewed on: 10/31/2011

So Many Ideas!

2011-09-26T08:51:00.001-04:00

Too Much Coffee Man writes a book. Wish it was that easy!

Book Store Gripes

2011-09-23T09:23:00.000-04:00

I spend a lot of time at bookstores, but mostly in their cafe's writing. Then perusing shelves, wondering why I bother and how on earth any book I write could ever be seen past all the noise....

But it's much worse for those who work there. Check out this list from the fired employees of some dead Border's store somewhere <via GalleyCat>. It's a riot. Because it's true. Especially the Nicholas Sparks comment.

Murray, We Hardly Knew Ye

2011-09-22T15:33:00.001-04:00

Last night, my neighbor, who I don't really know, came to the door of my house looking for his cat. Said feline, a male named Murray, had been missing two days. (I found out today, looking at the poster they put up looking for him, that he was hyperthyroid and had missed a couple pills while being missing and "might not be doing well.")

I use the word "was" because, well, Murray died.

I was going to go back outside and tell him, and his girl-friend who was hanging the posters, that I didn't find Murray in my garage. I made it to my porch in time to see people across the street come out and tell the girl-friend that they'd seen the cat dead on the sidewalk a couple days ago. I don't know any more details than that.

What I did see was the girl have a huge breakdown, sobbing and clutching both her boyfriend and those other neighbors, as the news of cat's death struck home. It was horrible. I slunk back into my house rather than look like some leering ghoul.

I'm no cat person. I like cats, but can't imagine having an animal that generally disdains humans. I've known some pretty great cats in my day, in fact I'd even count Murray among them, because that feline was damned friendly. Maybe too friendly. I worried about that.

And moreso, I wondered: Why is this cat here?

Object lesson in it all, hopefully learned by my neighbors, who still have a female cat who also hangs around my front door to say hi, and maybe learned by anyone who reads this: KEEP YOUR DAMN PETS INSIDE.

Guess what? You might think "Aw, he wants to be free to roam!" but you are the human. You set the rules. Just like no Labrador has to be 150+ pounds just because you think, "Aw, he's always so hungry though, and besides, he's big-boned!" no cat you consider a pet needs to go outside. Period. Especially in a neighborhood like mine with lots of vehicle traffic, not even 100 yards from the busiest road in town.

And if you must, walk the cat on a leash. I don't care if you look like the entire toolbox, you tool. You want the pet? Take responsibility. I feel your pain at the loss of an animal... but I feel far more pain for the kitty who probably died horribly, because you were lazy.

Pukey

2011-09-16T20:11:00.001-04:00

They say write what you know. So I just wrote a scene involving a dog throwing up.

Sad Image for Book lovers

2011-09-16T10:43:00.001-04:00

Taken at a Borders, of course.