News (blog) | Anthony J. Rapino

Goodbye, Google Friend Connect

by Anthony Rapino on February 21st, 2012 No Comments

I imagine you’ll see posts like this more and more, the closer we get to March 1st, as that is the date Google has decided to cut off all non-blogger users from their Google Friend Connect service. At this time, everyone you follow through Google Friend Connect that does not use blogger will disappear from your reader stream. Kaput! They were, of course, nice enough to present an alternate method of staying in touch with your Google friends: Google Plus.

I decided to go a different route. Firstly, because I don’t much appreciate the strong-arm approach they’re using to usher people to Google Plus; secondly, because I don’t find Google Plus to be an effective social medium. I’m already a member, and I have plenty of people in my circles, but when I post both there and on Facebook, it’s always on Facebook I get the most interaction. I know this isn’t everyone’s experience across the board, but it’s enough to keep me from relying on it to announce when I have new posts available on my site.

Instead I decided to go back to an old friend: NetworkedBlogs. It’s run through Facebook (where a lot of my traffic comes from already), it has a similar widget to Google Friend Connect, and it’s easy to use.

The one major drawback as I see it is that for those of you who use Google Reader, Networked Blogs does not add my blog back to your reader. At least…I don’t think it does. For you, I have the little RSS subscription buttons located at the top of every post (please note, you have to click the “News-Blog” link and view multiple entries to see the RSS button. If you are only viewing one post, the RSS button is not visible). You may want to subscribe through the RSS feed if you want to continue seeing my posts in a reader.

So, my wonderful readers, minions, and friends, I’d sure love it if you could follow me with the new NetworkedBlogs widget. If you do, I’ll add an extra entry to the BIG GIVEAWAY, which yes…is still going on! If I happen to owe you any other entries, or you do anything on the list for new entries, be sure to comment and let me know. The drawing will happen this Sunday, and I’ll announce the winner on Monday.

The End

by Anthony Rapino on February 17th, 2012 7 Comments

Thank you to everyone who has followed along during the past two weeks of my blog tour. I’ve had a great time writing guest posts for all the blogs involved; it’s been a blast! But, alas, I think everyone needs a break from my constant rambling.

My last guest post is available on Gef’s site, Wag the Fox. The post in entitled “Genre-Bending.”

The giveaway is still open; I’ll accept entries for another few days.

If you’re on the fence about purchasing my collection, Amazon has a “look inside” feature as well as a sample that can be sent directly to your Kindle. Or, why not read some of the free fiction available through my site.

Here are the blog posts from my tour, in case you missed any:

The Moon Hill Blog Tour

2/6/12: Bloody Bookish. http://bloodybookish.com

2/8/12: Chandara Writes. http://chandarawrites.blogspot.com

2/10/12: Calling Shotgun. www.ringkeeper.blogspot.com

2/13/12: Ghosts in Parentheses. http://barrynapierwriting.wordpress.com/

2/15/12: Cate Gardner’s Official Site. http://www.categardner.net/

2/17/12: Wag the Fox. http://waggingthefox.blogspot.com/

Free Kindle Ebook, Today Only

by Anthony Rapino on February 15th, 2012 4 Comments

Today’s guest post is on Cate Gardner’s site, and is entitled “Riding Wind Gusts.” Frankly, I’m surprised she posted it. It defies all logic, which I guess was the point. Please enjoy.

If you’re not familiar with Cate’s work, you best get familiar. Her most recent release for which she had her own blog tour is Theatre of Curious Acts. (I have to make one of these awesome book pages. Love it.)

Finally, if you’ve been waiting to pull the trigger on my new collection Welcome to Moon Hill, for the next 24 hours you can get it for free! That’s right, free. Of course, while it may be free to visit Moon Hill, leaving is a whole other story.

Ghosts in Parentheses

by Anthony Rapino on February 13th, 2012 3 Comments

Today’s stop for the Moon Hill blog tour is Barry Napier’s Ghosts in Parentheses. Stop by for a glimpse of the “Coffee-Fueled Insanity Rocket.” Thank you, Barry, for letting me visit your site. As a bit of cross-promotional karmic booster shot, I’d like to mention that Barry’s novel, Everything Theory: Cold Compass, is available in both print and ebook formats. You should go buy it! “So say we all.”

Oh, by the way. The first person that can tell me where the quote “So say we all” comes from gets a free copy of Welcome to Moon Hill. (No cheating! Google will give you syphilis.)

Boom.

Shotgun!

by Anthony Rapino on February 10th, 2012 6 Comments

Today I visit the magically awesome Laurita on her home turf: Calling Shotgun. In my guest post, Truth in Fiction, I discuss the inspiration for my story “Stanley” and give you, good readers, a free look at the story in question.

Once you’ve visited Laurita (remember to wipe your feet!), come on back here and enter the big giveaway. You can win a DVD, signed magazine, graphic novel, and more. Entering is a simple matter of selling me your soul…or, you know, becoming a member of the schizo squad.

Some of you may have earned entries with even knowing it! Go read the rules and message/comment to let me know how many entries (Asylum Points) I owe you.