Category: support your locals

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, 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/

Homies, Mutants, Playlists, Poetry, support your locals, Work In Progress

So what’s up with Mutants?

fivesixer

Hey friends! So here I am, again, begging forgiveness for not updating this fancy blog slice of internet cheesecake in a long time. I have good reason though, even if I’m the only one who understands it and isn’t critical of it. I’d planned on doing it once I got my author copies of Mutants, but that hasn’t happened yet. Instead, I’m left to tell you all the hows and whys. Put your shoes on and pay attention.

The e-book came out in September and you can get it here for your Kindle or other associated apps. I’m mad proud of it because it’s a short little mishmash of poems from the true 100 follow-up, Also Mutants, along with some newer items from my work in progress as well as an older poem or two. As a whole, this little book in my opinion is way better than 100, but who am I to judge?

Being the impatient bastard that I am, I bought a copy of the paperback once it hit Amazon because I couldn’t wait for author copies, and I wanted to see the finished product. I was antsy because unlike the first time I went through the publication process, there was no rush and no “You need to do this and this and this NOW!” atmosphere around it. I approved the cover wrap, but never got a chance to see the insides to make sure everything was ok. And therein lies the problems.

There are a couple pages where the title is there, but the poem is on the next page. And there are a couple poems that aren’t spaced the way I’d prefer, because of the size of the font or the book itself. I wish I’d known this before I started pimpin’ it.

So, my publisher pulled it from Amazon, obvs, since it’s not up to my specs (oh, and there’s also no Copyright disclaimer © in there!). I know Eliezer Tristan Publishing is going through some restructuring and change right now, so I’m still waiting on having the layout fixed and approved by me. Hopefully by this coming Friday I’ll have more answers.

To the people who have already ordered and paid for annotated copies, I’m really sorry for the holdup. I can assure you it’s not me, and I truly can’t wait to get this into your hands…but I also want it to be the flawless little chapbook I imagined when I was like “Hey, time for another book!”. So there’s that y’all.

In other news, I’m really excited for a couple other projects I’ve either taken part in or will be as soon as I can get my head put on in the right direction! I have a piece in the Leonard Cohen-inspired Avalanches in Poetry collection, and my name sits beside so many of my favorite indie poets who work a lot harder than I do. I’m honored to be in there along with them.

I’ve also been submitting to my friend Kristin Garth’s online collaboration, Pink Plastic House. I’m not ready to tell you what’s in there or why; all I can say is because.

So, I’m still working and still trying to be amazing, but now you know why I’m falling a little short. I’m confident things’ll turn around soon, because I can’t fathom going into Thanksgiving (my favorite holiday) having not satisfied the people who matter most (those who care enough to get the limited annotated copy of Mutants, along with family and close friends).

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4VyFd4B7Qq/

Whether I am or I am not a “big deal” (and believe me, I don’t think I am, or at least not so much as I think some of the others in the #WritingCommunity are), the work doesn’t end. With the Notre Dame game on in the background, let’s jam to a proper Mutants on-its-way playlist!

  • Our Lady Peace, “Waiting”
  • Deftones, “Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want”
  • Coldplay, “The Hardest Part”
  • Spoon, “WhisperI’lllistentohearit”
  • INXS, “The One Thing”
  • Pearl Jam, “Don’t Gimme No Lip”
  • Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, “Far From Me”
  • Jay-Z feat. Mary J. Blige, “Can’t Knock The Hustle”
  • Blur, “Trouble In The Message Centre”
  • Green Day, “Nice Guys Finish Last”
  • Money Mark, “Information Contraband”
  • My Bloody Valentine, “I Can See It (But I Can’t Feel It)”

Alright y’all…time to leave you alone so I can do my thing. Thanks for listening. I’ve got leftover pizza in the fridge and my appetite is getting strong. Peace, I appreciate the slack given, and don’t forget to support your locals and indies! Mad love my friends…I’ll catch you back up again soon.

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, Homies, Mental Health, Playlists, Poetry, Road Trip!, Stigma Fighters, support your locals

Surprises! Good times!

fivesixer

Hey hey!! What’s up y’all? Just poppin’ in to share a bit of good news I’ve been slackin’ on. I’ve got some treats up my sleeve and I’m finally feeling comfortable and able to speak on them…

I’ve been asked to attend an Eliezer Tristan Publishing event on May 17th at the Barnes & Noble in W. Hartford…how dope is that? I get to meet some of the recently-published authors, hang out a bit with them, read a little from 100 for those in attendance, and hopefully sell/sign a few copies. And it’s worth noting that I have a history with Connecticut…I had an aunt that lived there and would fly my brother and I down every summer to stay for a week at her condo, until she died of cancer in the early 90’s. Her brother moved down there too at some point, and bought a small but cute little house, but he passed a few years ago and it was up to my mom, my brother, and I to clean out the place and get it ready to be sold (I don’t wanna go into detail, but it was a gory scene). And then I lost that same brother about 2-1/2 years ago. My head turns into a roller coaster rethinking all of these memories and details.

The point is: I’m seeking to recapture good Connecticut memories.

I don’t think that sounds unreasonable! I was going through and dealing with a lot of my own physical and MH-related shit at the time of my uncle’s passing. And I have so so so many great memories of my aunt, grandmother, and great aunt on road trips to CT. This time, however, will be different, and I’m proud and humbled to have been asked to be on the bill.

Now, lemme tell you about some of the other authors that I know’ll be along for the show. I honestly don’t know who is responsible and deserving of the headlining spot…I know it’s not me, because there are a few native CT’ers that are reading. So besides me, in no particular order…

That’s a lineup you can’t front on! I’m like the weakest link, the poetry guy who’s seen too much of the world’s ugliness and just bitches about it through free-verse…I don’t quite belong with these warriors (ok, maybe I’m selling myself a little bit short, having dealt with my own bullshit as far as MH goes). If you’re in the New England area, you should come! You’re gonna learn stuff, meet amazing people, and get signed copies of books that really mean something to you! May 17th, at the Blue Black Square B-to-the-and-to-the-mawfuggin’-N. Come get some!! 7-9pm!! Will we bring treats? I dunno. Maybe. Probably not, but that shouldn’t discourage you from coming anyway.

Speaking of which, what I need from a lot of all y’all is to buy some t-shirts and #NorbAF swag! Travelin’ ain’t cheap, and you know you’d look sweet-ass sweet in one of my t-shirts! When you’re done here, make sure you click on my shop so you can fill your Easter Baskets up with the incredibleness of signed books, t-shirts, pins & stickers, and more. Don’t be scared. It’s a shitty time to be alive in some respects, but there’s also been no better time in history to celebrate, stoke, and encourage the works of Creatives since we’ve (ok, most of us) have been alive and functioning.

Also, hey! I went to my local library today to pick up a book I reserved online and they were like “Hey, yeah, sorry we haven’t responded to you Facebook message yet, but we sent your book to our central processing location and they still have it, but we ordered another copy…are you still interested in having some event during April’s National Poetry Month?” Oh hell fucking yes, y’all! (I did not say that, as I am so much more publicly respectful.) Just waiting on the details.

And, speaking of appearances, my publisher is working on the B&N at the McKinley Mall for a reading or appearance of some sort. No details yet, but you know y’all will be the first to know! Can’t wait to have a sweet and proper homecoming where my mom can come by and my friends and family can get some signed books and we can hang out a little! Super excited about the possibility! Now I just need to set something up at the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library and I’ll feel all that much more legit. Let’s make something happen, BECPL!!

Ok, I think I’ve done what I set out to do. Let’s end this mumbo-jumbo with a playlist about talking and speaking and all that, so I can post this and take a nap, k?

  • Geto Boys, “Talkin’ Loud Ain’t Sayin’ Nothin'”
  • Wilco, “Speak Into The Rose”
  • Oasis, “Talk Tonight”
  • Beastie Boys, “Make Some Noise”
  • Finch, “Letters To You”
  • Jimmy Eat World, “What Would I Say To You Now”
  • John Lennon, “Nobody Told Me”
  • The Killers, “Somebody Told Me”
  • Geto Boys, “And My Word”
  • De La Soul, “Transmitting Live From Mars”
  • The Dave Clark Five, “Catch Us If You Can”

Alright you fun-ass people…I’ve got dinner goin’ and it’s about time I paid attention to it. You know I love all y’all, so please don’t hesitate to share this with your people (I know some of my people will, or at least I hope they do). Respect!

 

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, Apparel, Eliezer Tristan Publishing, Photos, Playlists, support your locals

The Merch Update!

fivesixer

Holy crap…it’s been over a month since I last stopped by here? My bad y’all, but I’ve been kinda busy between the holidays and getting all this special goodness ready for you guys…I think the merch shop is about as complete as it can be for now.

So to recap, there are books and stickers and t-shirts and buttons and bracelets. All at affordable prices and under normal circumstances will ship ASAP. PayPal and most major credit/debit cards accepted! Sorry though; I don’t set any of the shipping charges or taxes…not my job unfortunately.

Other than all that, how’re things with you? Hope you’re well, and warm, or comfortable and cool, or whatever makes you feel good. Let’s party with a little merch playlist…

  • Public Enemy, “Politics Of The Sneaker Pimps”
  • Oasis, “The Girl In The Dirty Shirt”
  • Nirvana, “Radio Friendly Unit Shifter (live)”
  • NWA, “Express Yourself”
  • My Chemical Romance, “It’s Not A Fashion Statement, It’s A Death Wish”
  • Saves The Day, “Sell My Clothes, I’m Off To Heaven”
  • Atmosphere, “You Played Yourself”
  • The 1975, “Menswear”
  • Beck, “Mixed Bizness”
  • Radiohead, “Fake Plastic Trees (live)”

Ok, all you fine, fantastic people…check out the new and improved shop (which also features new lower prices on signed books yo!!). I promise I’ll try to say what’s up around here a little more often…til then, keep an eye out on the Instagram and Twitter feeds and just for fun, here’s my ma sportin’ the freshest t-shirt of 2019…

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs02IYjn3CV/

Miss you guys…peace!

100, Eliezer Tristan Publishing, Playlists, support your locals

Your Credit Is Good Here!

fivesixer

Hey slackers! (Okay, so I’m the slacker.) I’ve got a fun little announcement to make…finally updated this website to accept credit card payments through PayPal to get some autographed copies of 100. What that means is you don’t need a PayPal account to make a purchase…but your purchase goes into my account and I get paid directly once I get the book and sign it for you. I think that sounds like a good deal, don’t you?

If you were on the fence about getting 100 and were leery about the whole PayPal thing, fear not now! It’s just like entering your card number on any other website you shop at…and I know your ass shops, cuz I can tell by your shoes and the hoodie under your winter jacket this unseasonably chilly autumn. They ain’t from around the here you call “here”.

So in honor of this moderately astonishing occasion, let’s waterslide into the weekend with paid playlist, shall we not?

  • Sunny Day Real Estate, “100 Million”
  • The Flaming Lips & Stardeath and White Dwarfs, “Money (feat. Henry Rollins)”
  • Blur, “Bank Holiday”
  • Nine Inch Nails, “1,000,000”
  • Elton John, “Look Ma, No Hands”
  • Emerson, Lake & Palmer, “Lucky Man”
  • Radiohead, “Nude” (“Big Ideas”)
  • Saves The Day, “Sell My Clothes, I’m Off To Heaven”
  • Matthew Good, “She’s In It For The Money”
  • Wilco, “Poor Places”
  • James Brown, “Papa’s Got A Brand Bag”
  • Gorillaz, “Hallelujah Money (feat. Benjamin Clementine)”

Ok, I’m done with this. Wanna wish my man Adam a happy birthday…I still consider you and DMFM my closest B-Lo friends, brothers, and I love you both.

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Time to go I think…maybe figure out some dinner and whatever else to do with the rest of my night. And hey, I’d be honored if y’all told me what you think so far…of the book, or what I’m up to, or whatever else is going on! The comment section is open for business up in here! Hope you people have a fantastic weekend! Peace.

100, Eliezer Tristan Publishing, Playlists, Selfie-ishness, support your locals

Have a new entry, you all!

fivesixer

Hey people! Just checking in…hope you’re all well!I know the quick math tells me I haven’t been here in a long time, but today I wanted to write something for my Writing.com blogging friends, which I haven’t visited in a longer time. That’s ok, right? I get some kinda reprieve, yeah? Thought so. 😄

And I also needed to exercise my right to actually bang away words on a keyboard. I wrote a blog entry, which you can find right here…some Johnny Carson stuff and in there I talk about how he was my inspiration growing up, and how his television format related to my blogging experiences. Carson laid a foundation for me, and it not only paid off for me, but was a piece of the puzzle that got me to where I am now.

I also give some good blogging advice, but blogging is what you feel. It’s your space, and I’m not gonna tell you how to run it. I just tell you how I ran with things.

So with that said, let’s move into a quick movin’, two-blog-entries-in-two-days, random-ass iTunes playlist you…and you…and ok you but not you, and definitely not you, but you’re cool. Let’s go.

  • Beastie Boys (Live With The Biz), “Groove Holmes”
  • Fiona Apple, “Fast As You Can”
  • Helmet, “Iron Head”
  • Geto Boys, “Life In The Fast Lane”
  • Deftones, Rocket Skates”
  • Reggie & The Full Effect, “Ain’t Gettin’ Paid To Dance”
  • Poe, “Hello”
  • Wilco (live), “I’m The Man Who Loves You”
  • Pearl Jam (live), “Go”
  • Ramones, “Strength To Endure”
  • Queens Of The Stone Age, “Lightning Song”
  • The Replacements, “Can’t Hardly Wait”

I love you all and thank you so much for your continued support. Give it up for Eliezer Tristan Publishing  Give it up if you’ve already supported and are sick of my shit! And give it up if you can relate.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpSFz3Qh51C/

Silly stupid honored, y’all. Still don’t have the appropriate words for it,, but I’ll be back when I do. I love you guys.

 

PS…Ok, shameless plug and all, but get you and your friends, families, and homies some signed books from me!! Alright, peace yo.

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

The “Summer Of Norb” Tour Continues!

fivesixer

 

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…

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…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…

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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!