"Cluck: Murder Most Fowl" is ranked #2, just under " The Stand" on Amazon UnSpun. How long will this last?  Who knows, but I'm savoring my number two position under "The Stand" while it lasts.  The Stand is one of the first horror novels that I ever read, and it has been re-read on occasion since.  There's no need to go into an in-depth review, because everyone knows The Stand already, and even if you didn't like it (i.e., you're a mutant or a communist or both), you have to respect the importance of this novel. Cluck, which is also important to me (because I wrote it) is now second to The Stand in a reader-ranked list titled "Favorite Horror Novels."

Interestingly, Stephen King has a copy of my book (most likely in a tube of tin with a plastic liner, lid, and hands-free sanitary foot pedal).  I managed to get it to him through a friend who is "once removed" from the successful Maine writer, and was well-warned that it was likely to be ignored.  You never know, though ... maybe he'll read it, endorse it, and allow me to keep my position of honor for a while longer.  It could happen.  Regardless, this is making me very happy because even if it is some beta-system-statistical anomaly, my book is right there!  I mean, The Stand?  I am having a moment.

... (moment passing) ...

Okay, so now that the moment has passed and I've had a cup of coffee, I realize that this really is a statistical anomaly.  UnSpun is a user-driven site run by Amazon.com, and it's still in beta.  I'm not sure how the rankings are determined, but it's got nothing to do with sales.  There's no scientific data to back that up other than: The Stand has sold zillions of copies, and Cluck has not.  

Either it's an anomaly to be proud of, or I'll be getting larger royalty checks ... only time will tell.  For now I'm going to continue to revel in my limited (beta) glory.  At least until someone else posts a favorite horror novel that is ranked somewhere in between mine and Mr. King's.  Or, you could go to Amazon UnSpun and vote for Cluck ... after all, it's Penultimate.  

I used to throw pottery, long ago.  Mostly in art classes at school, because I didn't own a wheel or a kiln, but I loved the process of it.  I used to paint, and was moderately good at it.  I've been successful writing, but on a very small scale ... perhaps with some more commitment on my part, I could make enough of a living with words that I could let everything else go.

With an increasingly decreasing economy, it's hard to turn your back on a decent day job (and I should point out that I really like the company I work for, and the people I work with).  But when that life takes away from your passions, and still only barely pays the massively-inflating bills, what does one do?  Asking for more money is one option, although it is a slippery slope further into corporate lockdown.  

To date, Cluck has won three awards:

(*Cluck was a finalist in this award ... apparently you get to count 'finalists' and 'runner ups' as wins. The world is strange).

The book has also earned glowing independent reviews from the following legitimate review sources:

It's also received eight reviews on amazon, with an average rating of 5 stars.  Now, here's my beef: of those eight reviews, only TWO of them are from friends and family.  The problem is, that everyone assumes that the first ten reviews are from your friends and family, and they summarily ignore them.  So ... I'm asking for reviews, please.  I know a lot of people have read Cluck, loved it, written me about it, told their friends about it, and are helping to build a miniature fan base of zombie-chicken-lovers.  Thank you, I really appreciate that.  In fact, it's what convinced me to write a sequel (which I originally said I would never do).  It is also because of you that I can prove Rachel Donadio of the NY Times Book Review wrong by selling more than a  few hundred copies of my independently published book ... though just barely.

To put an even finer point on it: it is very hard to get "real" book reviews when you are independently published.  If you think that the NY Times Book Review is the only "real" source (many do), then it is impossible.  How do we, the indies, do it?  We beg for reviews from our readers.  On amazon.  Please? You can't see me, but I'm on my knees.

Are you a fan?  Please post a review.  Are you friends and/or family?  If so, please consider posting your obligatory 5-star reviews, because until you do people will ignore the real ones. Didn't like Cluck?  Well, I suppose even you should post a review (despite your evident lack of perspective and/or taste).  Haven't read Cluck yet?  Well here's the link: Buy it. Love it. Review it.  (please?)