Category: Getting Published

100, Getting Published, Interview, Medium, Mental Health, Mutants, Playlists, Poetry, support your locals, Work In Progress

What’s new?

fivesixer

Hey all! It’s been too long, hasn’t it? I’d love to say I have a good excuse, but of course I do not. A certain pandemic made me lazy. Let me catch you up to speed on what’s been going on (believe it or not, things have happened).

  • I did an interview with Fevers Of The Mind, an incredible supporter of the #WritingCommunity. Quick-9 Interview with Norb Aikin
  • My Twitter account was hacked in February, and I lost the entire thing. Over 5k followers, which is a magic number in the Twitterverse. And switching the link on WordPress from the old account to my new one was absolute hell, because a couple plugins here were not complying in any way. But it’s finally changed and functional now…I shaved my head to avoid tearing my hair out.
  • I’m sure I’ve done some other stuff, but my mind is still trying to un-jello itstelf at times.
  • I did submit a new manuscript, World By Design, to a few small presses. Fingers crossed it gets picked up.
  • And most recently, I joined Medium and published a poem on Put It To Rest, which I’m really proud of. It contains a few tiny Easter Eggs into my life and how anxiety has affected me during the pandemic. Stagefright

Of course, Mutants is still available in my shop and on Amazon, but you’d rather have a signed copy, right? So glad I got the PayPal option in my shop fixed. I’ve got a couple copies left before I have to replenish, and there’s also one copy of 100 remaining before it’s gone for a long, long time (make of that what you will).

So what’s new with y’all? Tell me something good. Hit me on Twitter at @aikinnorb and hashtag it with #somethinggood. I don’t know why I’m doing this, but my community engagement sensibilities are suggesting maybe I should.

Ok, since I’ve already wasted enough of your time today, let’s get to the good stuff…my favorite part of these things, the playlist. And how about a stage fright/medium themed one, just cuz that’s kinda how I roll, right?

  • The Band, “Stagefright”
  • Jimmy Eat World, “The Middle”
  • Radiohead, “Exit Music (For A Film)”
  • Modest Mouse, “Dark Center Of The Universe”
  • Bee Gees, “Man In The Middle”
  • Flickerstick, “You’re So Hollywood”
  • Arrested Development, “Mama’s Always On Stage”
  • Stealer’s Wheel, “Stuck In The Middle With You”
  • Atmosphere, “Between The Lines”
  • Steely Dan, “Parker’s Band”

Hey, thanks for your time! I know I say it every time, but I promise to not be a stranger so much anymore. Of course, that depends on whether or not I have things to talk about, and I kinda sorta did before, but I’mma try to be better and keep y’all in the loop when new stuff happens, ok? Love you guys! Peace!!

Getting Published, Holidays, Mental Health, Mutants, Playlists, Poetry

Your Mutants Pre-Orders Are Here!

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Yo yo!! I’ve been waiting for this day for like, forever, because what else is there to do when pretty much everything’s shut down and you’re sittin’ on promises of books to people? I’m happy to announce that the pre-orders for Mutants are finally here!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAqYbwkB4Qa/

I would’ve had them a bit sooner, but they were delivered on Saturday; when packages that are too big to fit in my mailbox, they sit in the mail room and our building’s office staff (bless them…they’re wonderful ladies) puts a little note in your mailbox. But the office is closed on weekends, and with Monday being a holiday, I had to wait til today. But whatevs y’all…they’re here! A big lotta new book smell in the apartment right now!

I know I know…”So when am I getting my book?” That’s what I’m here to tell you. I know I said mid-May, but I didn’t anticipate shipping to take as long as it did (self-pubbed books aren’t eligible for Amazon Prime shipping if they’re sold to the author). Give me a few days to annotate them all; unfortunately I’m a kinda busy guy right now with physical therapy for my shoulder 2x a week, and tomorrow is another follow-up with my doc (things are going kickass, if you’re wondering…glad I had the work done and there’s no pain; now I’m in the stretch run, which is the strengthening part…grueling at times, but the results are there and it’s worth it). I’m hoping to mail them out by June 3rd or 4th, but please don’t be pissed at me if it takes me a few more days to get them out…believe me, I wanna be done with this and get this book in your hot little hands ASAP!!

Since these are quarantine/lockdown times, I don’t have much else to say. Let’s drop a shipping playlist and get on with our day. Sound good? I can almost hear y’all nodding your heads from here.

  • La Dispute, “A Letter”
  • Blink-182, “Here’s Your Letter”
  • The Tea Party, “The Messenger”
  • Atmosphere, “Postal Lady”
  • Joe Cocker, “The Letter”
  • American Football, “Letters And Packages”
  • Macy Gray, “The Letter”
  • Modest Mouse, “From Point A To Point B (∞)”
  • Cake, “Open Book”
  • Radiohead, “The Daily Mail”
  • Hail Mary Mallon, “Mailbox Baseball”
  • The Get Up Kids, “Red Letter Day”
  • The Postal Service, “The District Sleeps Alone Tonight”

Alright friends, enemies, lovers, and haters…that’s all I got for y’all today. Two weeks ago it was snowing with zero visibility; today it’s 88° and my 12″ oscillating fan has decided to die on me, so please have mercy on my soul if I sweat to death after making dinner and attempting a nap in this swamp-ass-inducing change in the world’s atmosphere. Stay strong friends; we’ll be able to get together soon, I hope. Peace, wear a mask and wash your hands, and know that I love you.

Getting Published, Mental Health, Mutants, Playlists, Poetry, support your locals

It’s ALIVE!! (And so am I.)

fivesixer

Hey friends!! I know I know, it’s been too long, but listen: I have good reasons and good news. Hear me out.

When we last left off way way too many months ago, Mutants had been pulled from Amazon because there were a lot of layout issues and one big copyright (or lack thereof) concern. It was being worked on and then I had to add content to make it big enough to be printable I guess; I don’t know how that works even though I’ve learned a lot in the last few months. I sent in what I thought was my final draft…and waited.

At the end of 2019, my publisher went ass-up and closed shop, leaving me and other authors in limbo. Not really a cool time to do it, but then again there’s never a good time for something like that I guess. I’ll forever be grateful to Sarah Fader and Eliezer Tristan Publishing for taking a chance on my poetry and other associated writings for sites like Stigma Fighters and The Good Man Project, but honestly I didn’t take the news very well and kinda hoped there’d be another solution to saving everything and helping out everyone who was in the middle of the publication process, like me. And there was not, unfortunately.

So I was on my own as far as what to do with not only Mutants, but 100, because they were eventually gonna get taken off Amazon and IngramSpark. I wasn’t ready for this at all, and it seemed very daunting to do it all myself…it took me baby steps to piece together what I was doing.

What complicated matters even more was having shoulder surgery in February…a torn rotator cuff. I’m still recovering and rehabbing it (and will be for a few more months), but I’m out of my sling for good. Needless to say, for a few weeks I didn’t wanna do a damn thing. I didn’t even wanna think about books or writing or blogs or what have you. Throw in this COVID-19 stuff, and holy hell it’s amazing how depressing everything’s become…you can’t even turn on the TV with every company under the sun blasting you with commercials about how it’s affecting them, and not you. Just one little slice of the bizarre times we’re living in these days.

But the good news is I finally started chipping away at Mutants, editing the bejeezus outta it, and figuring out self-publishing. My man Aaron J. Smith put up with me way too much trying to get the cover wrap dimensions right after the page count kept fluctuating with each little tweak and turn and I had to do to get the copy down to the right size (and throw in a font change as well; my bad!), but we got it fixed up proper and I’m hella grateful for that.

So, the best news is this: Mutants is now back up and ready for you!! In both Kindle (updated, with the new material) and in paperback!! I know…it’s about damn time!!

Here’s the deal: Everyone who pre-ordered it back in September or October or whatever, your annotated copies will be going out in the first week or two of May, depending on how long it takes me to get them and scrawl on the first bunch of pages. I haven’t forgotten about you and I’m mad sorry I haven’t kept you all up in the loop as much as I should’ve. Please forgive me; I promise, this book is worth the wait.

I’ll also be opening a new round of pre-orders very soon in my Shop here associated with this very blog. I’m gonna hafta fix a few things, and the price is gonna be a little higher because there’s more content and it’s a bigger book than originally planned, unfortunately. I don’t make the rules, y’all. KDP wants a certain amount of pages, so I try to do what works.

Sooooo….YAY!!! I’m officially a second-time author again!! Next on the docket is getting 100 back in circulation, but that’s gonna take some time I think; the manuscript has been fixed to take care of a couple layout issues I missed in editing, and I’ll need another cover for it (still mulling my options). Then getting set up on IngramSpark so I can reach libraries and the big (or pretty much only) bookstore again. From there on, who knows? This whole COVID-19 lockdown has everything in flux. My first wish is that you’re all safe and healthy. My second wish is that a tiny portion of your stimulus money goes toward purchasing my book!

Speaking of the Coronavirus, how about we end this celebration with a little quarantined playlist? Hold it now…hit it!

  • REM, “You’re In The Air”
  • Mudhoney, “Touch Me I’m Sick”
  • Deftones, “Dai The Flu”
  • Pearl Jam, “Wash”
  • Anti-Pop Consortium, “Dystopian Disco Force”
  • The Verve, “Drugs Don’t Work”
  • Pink Floyd, “Breathe”
  • Mudhoney, “Here Comes Sickness”
  • Anti-Pop Consortium, “We Kill Soap Scum”
  • Atmosphere, “Breathing”
  • Modest Mouse, “Bury Me With It”
  • Soul Coughing, “So Far I Have Not Found The Science”

Alright friends, ex-lovers, best friends with lovers, and so on and so forth…I have other things to do now while the nation figures out this whole pandemic situation. Time to get on with my bad self and start spreading the word about this new book thing I just birthed out into the universe. Peace y’all…stay well and stay safe!

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_EZ3aIj168/

100, Eliezer Tristan Publishing, Getting Published, Mutants, Playlists, Poetry

The year of 100…and more!

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Yes yes y’all! I can’t believe I haven’t written a post here since May, and I’m ashamed, but I wanted to enjoy the summer and still keep busy some, so a few things got left behind, and that’s ok. Why? You’ll find out in a few seconds or so, depending on how fast you read.

When I left off in May, I’d just come home from an amazing trip to Hartford (and surrounding areas), CT. I’ve made friends that we barely go a day without talking to each other, and helping each other out when one of us needs it. Again, I’m very grateful for them. And I know I left off “Part 1” with the intention of following it up, but really all that would’ve entailed would be me bitching about traveling and NYC, and I’m kinda glad I didn’t because it would’ve been an angry rant and a slur on an otherwise awesome experience.

So, where are we now? Back in June, I celebrated the one-year anniversary of 100 coming out, and since then it’s been a journey of reminiscing many different experiences I otherwise may not have been able to share with so many excellent people along the way. I’m a published author! I still can’t believe it. And I can’t thank everyone who has supported me in this whole thing enough.

Also, if you haven’t heard, I recently had two poems published in an anthology: Fevers of the Mind, Issue 2: In Memoriam , which was a treat. “No And No” and “Everything Is Terrible And I Think You Know Why” are from the early stages of my current work-in-progress and might be some of the more accessible items from it. And intertwined with that, is this:

Yep…on September 1st I became a 2-time published author. You can’t become a doctor twice; just more of one. You can’t become a professional athlete twice (unless you play two sports). The point is, getting published once is hard enough; doing it twice means you’ve climbed that mountain again and stuck a brand new flag in it. And here’s the kicker: it’s already available for your Kindle, and when the paperbacks are ready I’ll be selling Limited Edition annotated copies for $15. Don’t worry…I’ll let you know when the sale goes live!

Mutants is only meant to be a teaser. The actual follow-up to 100 is titled Also Mutants, and it’s a direct continuation of where I was once 100 was finished. This time around, it was actually completed within a hundred days and also won Best Poetry Collection again at Writing.com’s Quill Awards. I imagine it’ll come out some time next spring, whenever I finish off my WIP. Even though there are a couple items from it in Mutants (and some older pre-100 ones as well), I like having a solid stash just so I can feel like I’m always working.

So, as maybe you can tell, although I’m occasionally bad at showing emotions, I’m stoked about this and what’s coming up. For now, besides the Kindle, you can get a dope bookmark in my shop (and props to my man Aaron J. Smith for rockin’ the cover images right)…

 

Ok, well, I think I explained most of everything I wanted to. Go out and buy some of the new stuff and some of the old stuff too at the shop button above this entry. It’s better than getting my book from Target or Walmart (which you actually can if you’re shopping online). If you buy my stuffs from me, your money goes right to me instead of a shitty corporation. Remember that!

Let’s end this joyride in a little celebratory Anniversary playlist, aight? Aight.

  • Boxstep, “Second Wedding Anniversary”
  • Deftones, “Anniversary Of An Uninteresting Event”
  • deM atlaS, “Bad Days Are Over (feat. Atmosphere)”
  • Pearl Jam, “Hail, Hail”
  • Oasis, “The Importance Of Being Idle”
  • The Get Up Kids, “Red Letter Day”
  • DMX, “Party Up”
  • The Roots, “The Next Movement”
  • My Bloody Valentine, “I Can See It (But I Can’t Feel It)”
  • Taking Back Sunday, “New American Classic”
  • Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, “Do You Love Me?”
  • Braid, “Always Something There To Remind Me”

That’s all I got for you cats today. Stay tuned for more details as soon as I get them, and if you don’t hear from me for a bit just nudge me and I’ll have a sweet excuse lined up, I’m sure. Til then, stay safe and remember I love all y’all. Peace!

 

100, Eliezer Tristan Publishing, Getting Published, Interview, Playlists, Poetry, Selfie-ishness, support your locals

Just your average Friday workday…

fivesixer

Hello again, friends! Second time this week I’m up in here…must be something goin’ on, right? Well, I teased only a little in the last entry and just now on the ol’ Instagram machine…

https://www.instagram.com/p/BvUize2BX4C/

So yeah, shenanigans don’t stop just because St. Patrick’s Day has passed. That’s me, with the laptop I’m typing on right now open on this tab, with a copy of my book 100, only there are a flurry of pink Post-It flags sticking out of it (to go along with some of the blue ones I’ve used before). What’s going on?

Well, I’ve finally set up my own reading event with the Cortland Free Library! It’s literally taken me as long as the book’s been out to do it. I dropped off a copy there as soon as I had one, and I guess they had to send it to their “central processing area” for “verification” or something. After months of waiting, the Summer Of Norb ’18, and watching other Eliezer Tristan Publishing authors doing signings and newspaper interviews and whatnot, I reached out again to the library (only after I requested a book they didn’t have and had to get from another branch). One of the women (kinda cool that they know me when I walk in) mentioned my messaging them as I was checking out, and, well, check this out…

Wherever they shipped out my book to, turns out they still have it. Soooooo, they went the traditional route and ordered one for the library! And she said they’d be getting back to me soon about setting something up during April’s National Poetry Month!! Finally, boom goes the dynamite!

But here’s where I fucked up…she gave me two dates to choose from: one in early April, and one toward the end. And I knew Easter was super late this year, but I didn’t even think about looking at the calendar or anything…I just told her either one was great and I’m mad appreciative. She replied with Tuesday, April 23rd…great! I went to mark it down on my calendar and…ohhhhh shit, Easter is the Sunday right before. Usually I visit my mom in WNY that weekend, and we don’t usually know how long I’ll stay until we get closer to the date and it’s time for me to book the trip. It’s bad enough I missed her birthday last year because I was on my Pacific Northwest tour…but a holiday followed by Dyngus Day (the best Polish holiday of the year)? Hoping she’ll be ok with me having to go home either Easter morning or the following Monday. We’ll talk about it soon, I’m sure.

Anyway, I’ve got a public event coming up!! First one in Cortland! Cannot believe it and I cannot wait…it’ll be an excellent tune-up for my trip to Hartford, CT in May. It’s been quite awhile since I performed in public (not counting the karaoke I did during the holidays last year). Gotta shake the nerves off and sweep away the dust bunnies and get used to speaking out loud again. I’ll be fine. Wish you could be there! Being stoked about it is the best way to overcome the social anxiety that’ll set in and quell the nerves that will no doubt tell me to cancel. It’s a BFD, and I’m gonna rock it y’all!

In other news, I’m also a little worried. Funny story: I cancelled my doctor’s appointment for a checkup in January, because we got a metric shit-ton of snow and I wasn’t going out in that. Rescheduled it for February, but on that day it was super cold with 70+ MPH winds, and of course I wasn’t goin’ out in that either. So in one sense, it’s actually kinda a good thing that I’ve put this off…I woke up one day about two weeks ago and my right shoulder was stupid pissed at me and didn’t wanna comply with the rest of my body.

I tried a TENS unit. I tried a CBD rub on it. I tried arthritis aspirins and those heat patches with menthol or whatever’s in ’em. Nothing worked. I hadn’t done anything out of the ordinary to cause the pain and weakness I was experiencing, so I started to get a little concerned. I have a high tolerance for pain, yet this had me wondering if I should try to move up my appointment or complain at the ER.

A little background first: it’s the same shoulder I broke twice in high school. The first time was before a wrestling meet my junior year, and it was diagnosed as a minor rotator cuff tear. That summer after a football practice before my senior year, I couldn’t lift my arm again. I saw a sports doctor, and he revealed the crack in my socked that looked as if it was starting to fuse. Therefore, a 2x broken shoulder. Nice. And that was like 25+ years ago. My thinking was this is some scar tissue building up, or maybe a pinched nerve.

Nope. The direct quote from my doctor’s email: “Your x-ray shows some spurring in the joint that could be due to tendonitis.” Well, that sounds fantastic. My choice was to either see a specialist, or have him do a cortisone shot (and I opted for him doing the shot). Now I wait to get another appointment with him (he’s a good doc and has few openings, and the nurse I spoke with didn’t want to make me wait a month to see him). It’s not life-threatening or anything, but it’s certainly affecting me and makes being upright more painful than usual (the only time is doesn’t hurt so much is when I’m laying down, but that’s obvs no way to go through life). Let’s hope it doesn’t come to surgery, and let’s also hope this “spurring” thing doesn’t decide to start happening in my other joints as well. I don’t need that and neither do you need me telling you about it, ya hear?

Alright…let’s reel this back in and take back some of the excitement from earlier this entry, k? I’mma scour my iTunes library and hit you with a reading playlist for today to set your weekend up. You’re with me, and I’m with you…let’s do this!

  • Reggie & The Full Effect, “The Fellowship Of The Bling (Featuring Hungary Bear)”
  • Weezer, “El Scorcho (Live at Reading Festival, 1996)”
  • Atmosphere, “Hockey Hair”
  • Guns N’ Roses, “Catcher In The Rye”
  • Nirvana, “Lounge Act (Live At Reading)”
  • Beastie Boys, “Shake Your Rump (Reading Festival ’98)”
  • The Beatles, “Helter Skelter”
  • Blur, “On Your Own”
  • The White Stripes, “We’re Going To Be Friends”
  • Elvis Costello & The Attractions, “Everyday I Write The Book”
  • Son, Ambulance, “A Book Laid On Its Binding”
  • Blur, “Black Book”

Ok, well, I think that’s it for now…time to watch the UB Bulls in the NCAA tournament and figure out some dinner.  Remember, I’m ready and available to be hit up for your interviews, podcasts, general nonsense, and speakeasies. Us people who write gotta stick together, keep pushing everyone up, and keep doing them damn thangs we’re doin’. Have a kickass weekend y’all!

100, Eliezer Tristan Publishing, Getting Published, Interview, Mental Health, Playlists, support your locals

Let’s talk!

fivesixer

Hello all you fine purveyors of this wondrous wedge of fancy internet cheese! Today’s entry will be short, as it’s your from-time-to-time reminder that yes, I am available for print and web interviews, podcasts, appearances, and all forms of pimpin’ myself out to the general population for the sake of 100, talking about mental health, and generally being #NorbAF in a world that wants to cram everyone into certain boxes.

This morning greeted us with the arrival of an interview I did recently with Hawk & Young about precisely nearly everything I just mentioned in the previous paragraph. I really enjoyed doing it and I hope you feel the same when reading it…you can find it here at Interview of Norb Aikin.

Hope you don’t mind me being proud of or sharing my accomplishments. It’s a big deal to some and a bigger deal to me, because I honestly haven’t felt this good about practically anything in a long, long time before this happened. I made something tangible that is out and circulating around the world…something that isn’t just a website or a blog entry or a poem that sits in a notebook on my shelf. It’s real, and I have to support it. I know a lot of writers call their books their “baby” and I’m kinda not down with that analogy but whatever works for them is fine and I get it; I don’t have kids to be proud of and I’m not a pet owner but this is something I’ve done that’s become bigger and better beyond my wildest (and modest) expectations and you’re gott-damm right I’mma celebrate it as much as I can (without, hopefully, makin’ y’all sick of me). I’m just trying to make the best use of my time now with something I do better than mostly everything else I’ve done in life. Let me have this!! 

Ok, my mini-rant is over, so let’s break outta here on this beautiful Sunday with a little conversational playlist, aaa-iiight?

  • Mudhoney, “Between Me & You Kid”
  • The Flaming Lips, “Talkin’ ‘Bout The Smiling Deathporn Immortality Blues (Everyone Wants To Live Forever)”
  • Girlpope, “That’s A Good Question”
  • Elliott Smith, “I Can’t Answer You Anymore”
  • Moneen, “What Did You Say?…I’m Sorry, My Eyes Are On Fire”
  • The Tragically Hip, “Hot Mic”
  • Atmosphere, “Say Hey There”
  • The Get Up Kids, “Conversation”
  • A Tribe Called Quest, “Can I Kick It?”
  • Deftones, “When Girls Telephone Boys”
  • The Strokes, “Ask Me Anything”
  • Aesop Rock, “Kill The Messenger”

Ok y’all…and just so you know, that playlist is random based on the songs I can shuffle through my iTunes library (first come, first posted), so don’t read anything more into it than what it is, kay? Thanks. Now, there’s a Sabres game coming on soon so I’m gonna get away from here for a little bit. Remember: Please like and share the Hawk & Young interview on your social media vice(s) of choice and remember that I’m always here for you whenever/wherever you need me (physical and mental state willing)…your boy over here has a book to promote and can use all the help you can give! Thanks, and peace!!

100, Eliezer Tristan Publishing, Getting Published, Holidays, Homies, Mental Health, Playlists, Poetry, Road Trip!, Stigma Fighters

Back Home: The Thanksgiving Edition

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Hey everyone! Hope you’ve had an enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday with friends, family, and loved ones…and you haven’t made life a living hell for them or the poor souls in retail on Black Friday (and having spent my entire life in customer service and retail management, believe me when I say there’s a special place in hell for you if you have). I got back this afternoon from a week at my mom’s back in Western New York, spending time with her and some friends, and while I’m thankful for being able to have done so, it’s also nice again to be back home where I can sleep in my own bed and get back into my routine here (until Christmas comes around next month and I’m back out on the road!).

And what a week it was! Both my beloved Sabres and Bills had some big wins. I spent some time with the homies down at Matty’s Pub, watching the UFC (or is it MMA? I have no clue. [Side note: Outside of a few highlight clips on SportsCenter, I’ve never seen UFC or MMA before…and I’m very clueless about it other than the general premise of watching two people beat the everlovin’ outta each other. So with those expectations and those only in mind, I was not disappointed.]). Matty’s Pub was also the venue of choice for Sunday’s Bills game (where there was also a brawl) but more importantly, this picture hung of my late brother who was a staple behind the basement bar until he passed two years and one week ago today.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bqnop9qH8mA/

Let’s see…what else? I had a run-in with the Subway at the Greyhound station in Syracuse because they made me a breakfast wrap they were incapable of ringing me out properly for, and after informing me I’d basically have to pay double for something other locations have made easily for me in the past and told me I couldn’t use my “Tokens” or whatever their loyalty program is now, got really shitty with me when I told them I didn’t want it (seriously, how much of a corporate hardship is it to slap steak/egg/cheese inside a sun-dried tomato wrap??)…and when I complained to their ownership group about it, got nothing more than an “Ooops, sorry about that, but we talked to the employees and it won’t happen again!”…uhhhh….ya damn right it won’t, cuz I have zero confidence now in your business practices and customer relations (especially when combined with your substandard food offerings in an area where my choices are Subway, Dunkin’, and the in-house bodega with no better selection than the vending machines). So yeah, that sucked.

But…mom and I took 2nd place in Pub Trivia (thanks to a colossal tie after the final question that necessitated a wild stab at the overtime question) on the quote-unquote Biggest Party Night Of The Year. After dinner some of my brother’s friends (ok, I can stop calling them that, because they’re my friends too now) came out for karaoke, where things proceeded to get loud and rambunctious (of course). [Side Note: This is the same place my brother took me to for my 40th birthday, where a very Crown-and Coke’d me vociferously complained about the karaoke DJ not having any Beastie Boys songs in his catalog.] While I am proud to announce that the DJ has made tremendous strides in his offerings, I cannot say with the same enthusiasm that my performance Wednesday night was as exciting.

But hey, fun is fun, am I right? My only regret is that I didn’t get a recording of me doing “Sabotage” also, where my boy said, and I quote, “You’re scaring people.”

Thanksgiving itself was low-key…just mom and I and some turkey and her stuffing (my favorite, and if you say anything other than stuffing in general is your idea of “the best part of Thanksgiving Dinner”, then you’re a cop) and football and me on the couch in my pajamas from morning ’til night. It’s hands-down my favorite meal of the year, along with Second Thanksgiving (the midnight raiding of the leftovers). And Friday was pretty low-key as well, or at least it was until I was tagged in a Facebook post from my publisher announcing the arrival of the Stigma Fighters Anthology Vol. 4 launch on Amazon…which she says is dedicated to me (!!) and not only includes my very first online submission for them, but also three poems that aren’t in 100. How #NorbAF and #dopeAF is that??

And hey, it’s not just me that’s in this amazing collection…I’ve met and/or became friends with quite a few of these people in a very busy and incredible 2018 so far, and it’s worth much more than your time to check out their stories and how we’re all trying to do our part in combating the stigmas surrounding various mental illnesses.

So yeah, it’s been a week y’all! I’m so thankful to have so many exceptional and amazing people in all the many facets of my life who care about me and do beautiful things and kick so much more ass than they even know. For that, I think it’s time to bang out a good ol’ Thanks and I love you playlist! Hit it!!

  • The Tragically Hip, “Courage (For Hugh MacLennan)”
  • Filter, “The Best Things”
  • The Get Up Kids, “Holiday”
  • Mike Doughty, “Thank You, Lord, For Sending Me The F Train”
  • Death Cab For Cutie, “Autumn Love”
  • Franz Ferdinand, “Come On Home”
  • The Killers, “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love To Town”
  • Uncle Tupelo, “I Got Drunk”
  • Hey Mercedes, “Our Weekend Starts On Wednesday”
  • The Black Keys feat. RZA, “The Baddest Man Alive”
  • Hail Mary Mallon, “Grubstake”
  • The Hollies, “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother”

I understand this playlist may mean very little to you, but it means a lot to me and that’s kinda what counts…my blog, my rules! Anyway, that’s where I’m at…I’m off to take advantage of a couple Writing.com Cyber Monday deals and say what’s up to some friends there. Hope you’re all well, and if not you know where to find me. Much love, friends!

Eliezer Tristan Publishing, Getting Published, Mental Health, Playlists, Poetry, Work In Progress

“Politics” and More Good News!

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What’s good homies? Here’s your reminder to (if you haven’t already) get out and VOTE!! In honor of Election Day in the US I posted yesterday a brand new video reading of “Politics”, which is from the current notebook I’m drawing words into, World By Design. I hope you’ll take the minute and a half required to check it out.

Of course, the big news lately around these parts has been Barnes & Noble picking up my book! Big thanks to the homies at Eliezer Tristan Publishing for getting that hooked up!! That’s one more venue for you to purchase your copy of 100 at (and here’s how)…

Yes, it’s still crazy…and no, it hasn’t really sunk in yet that at some point I’ll be on shelves possibly all over the place. If you’re in a B&N, ask for it by name. Make them order it. If you get it from Amazon, PLEASE, review it!! And if you’ve gotten it from me or ETP, let us know! Take a pic with it so we can share it on Instagram and Twitter, yo! We’re spreadin’ the word through word of mouth, ya know? And if ya got a podcast or access to a newspaper, my laptop is open for business via interviews and whatnot. Just let me know where to send the press release, k?

One more thing I’ve been up to…I just submitted another new article to a very prominent Mental Health Advocacy site (not gonna name it yet cuz I don’t wanna jinx it). Fingers crossed…may take a month or so to find out, but #ItsOKMan (there’s your hint, I suppose).

Alright y’all…let’s kick out a little “Get Out And Vote” (and other things) playlist then!

  • The Band, “When I Paint My Masterpiece”
  • The Smiths, “Shoplifters Of The World Unite”
  • Radiohead, “Electioneering”
  • My Chemical Romance, “Disenchanted”
  • Bob Dylan, “Masters Of War”
  • Rage Against The Machine, “Voice Of The Voiceless”
  • Bruce Springsteen, “The Ghost Of Tom Joad”
  • Anthrax, “I Am The Law”
  • Pearl Jam, “Do The Evolution”
  • Saul Williams, “List Of Demands (Reparations)”
  • The Replacements, “Unsatisfied”
  • Atmosphere, “Commodities”

Ok…I guess we’re done here. Remember: VOTE MOTHERFUCKERS! And when you’re done, send Amazon/B&N reviews…it’s important from a business stance I’m told. More reviews on Amazon get you better advertising and search results, or something. And after that, take a nap or reward yourself with something nice…you’ve been a good adult today! Peace…much love to you all.

100, Getting Published, Playlists, Road Trip!

NO SLEEP TIL…PORTLAND!!!

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Yes yes y’all! What’s happenin’? The flight is booked, the couch has been made available, and come September 6th I’ll be in Portland, OR for the Eliezer Tristan Publishing launch party! The West Coast Summer Of Norb Tour is in full effect…don’t get a late pass; be on the go with me!

From Portland I’m heading to Seattle to sightsee and chill with a friend. I’d love the idea of swinging down to Vegas to meet some people I know there and then to Cali for a day or two or three, before trippin’ back with a stop at Indiana for more people, and then heading home before I plot the East Coast trip.

My life is mad wicked crazy right now.

You can’t front on that.

So hey, hook me up with your city and let’s hang out, West Coasters! Tell me where and when in September is good…I imagine I’ll spend a few days in Seattle after the 8th, so name your options and let’s see what happens!

In the meantime…let’s bang around to a little West Coast playlist, alright? Alright.

  • Interpol, “Heinrich Maneuver”
  • Modest Mouse, “The World At Large”
  • Nirvana, “Lounge Act”
  • Soundgarden, “Room A Thousand Years Wide”
  • Jawbox, “Breathe”
  • 7 Year Bitch, “You Smell Lonely”
  • Alice In Chains, “Grind”
  • Felt, “Bass For Your Truck”
  • Beastie Boys, “High Plains Drifter”
  • Pearl Jam, “Hard To Imagine”

That’s my word, individuals doing your own things. Peace, and don’t forget to get at me if you want me to read in your city yo. Much love…ttyl.

100, Getting Published, Playlists, Road Trip!, support your locals

The “Summer Of Norb” Tour Continues!

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Hey folks! What’s happenin’? So much goin’ on lately…I don’t even know where to begin! Just got back from spending another week hangin’ out at my mom’s…

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl0wSYLA20X/?taken-by=fivesixer

…because birthdays are good and oh also there was a little matter of catching up with some friends and signing some books. Played a round of miniature golf with an old friend and her adorable little daughter, ate tons of WNY staples (Sahlen’s hot dogs, chicken wings, Bison chip dip, etc.), dropped off a copy of 100 at the Arcade library, and took in many of the familiar sights and sounds of home.

Along the way, there was no shortage of good news!

I finally received word that my website is (for the most part) complete and ready for your viewing! Norbaikin.com has links to this blog, my Writing.com portfolio, my publisher’s site, Amazon’s 100 link, and other assorted goodies…and we’re in the process of setting up the means to buy signed copies of the book directly from there. How sweet is that?

And if you’re disappointed that I didn’t get to see you this past week because you don’t live close, fear not! Eliezer Tristan Publishing (located in Oregon) is having their launch party on September 8th…West Coast, here I come! Forty-three years after I invaded the eastern portion of the United States and set up shop in NY, I’m finally getting over to the left side of the country. Besides Portland, Seattle is on the itinerary as well…and if you want me to make a stop in your city and it has a bookstore, cafe, or other venues interested in hosting a slightly irreverent and occasionally aloof poet from the part of NY hardly anyone talks about (but when they do they’re talkin’ proud) then you need to get at me so we can set somethin’ up! I promise I’ll try to be as well-behaved as I possibly can be.

So yep, that’s been my life for the past week or so…couch-surfin’ at mom’s and talkin’ books and gettin’ tatted up at a longtime friend’s tattoo shop…

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl84v5Vg2xj/?taken-by=fivesixer

For those curious, “Na Zdrowie!” is basically a Polish toast, and Doug is my brother who passed away almost two years ago. It was important to me to have a way to remember him that we could both appreciate, and having the work done by someone we both knew well was imperative. It was one of his favorite things to say when hoisting up another shot (usually Jack Daniels Fire), with the other obviously being “Drink up, fuckers!” While we may not have always been raised proper or right, we were raised fun and mom’s still proud.

Alright, how about a launch playlist? It’s my favorite part of each entry!

  • T. Rex, “Spaceball Ricochet”
  • Atmosphere, “The Arrival”
  • Pearl Jam, “Light Years”
  • Beastie Boys, “Intergalactic”
  • The Who, “I Can See For Miles”
  • Jimmy Eat World, “77 Satellites”
  • Something Corporate, “The Astronaut”
  • Aesop Rock, “Bring Back Pluto”
  • Radiohead, “Subterranean Homesick Alien”
  • Smashing Pumpkins, “Rocket”

I think that’s all there is to say for now…thanks to everyone I’ve had the pleasure of spending time with this week, whether talking writing or reminiscing or just being. Peace! I’ll catch up with all y’all again soon!