TANSTAAFL Day 12, 4 days to go — And a free picture released under Creative Commons BY

Posted on by accordingtohoyt

I have no idea where this rumor came from that I was going to have cute bats in this post. We’re not Ecuadorians. We don’t chase our politicians with bats. For one they might bite the bats and infect them with something, poor bats.

THE GOAL IS $50,000

the counter stands at: $28,173.84 USD(Updated at least every 8 hours, more often if i happen to be here.)

IT ENDS JULY 16TH.

Still inching up like an inch worm. No, I am not going to post inch-worm pictures! What’s wrong with you people?
On the serious side: THANK YOU! TO EVERYONE.

The reason I’m doing this:

I have worked for …. 15? 16 years at this blog, providing new content ALMOST every day (A bit less through the crazy move, though that was a lesson in what not to do, I guess) for…. very little. Even after you guys got me to put up a donation button, the most I ever got in a year was 4k, and lately it’s been around 2k, counting the commission from Amazon.

Now, I know times are tough (here too) but since the reason I started the blog didn’t work out, (the intersection between those who read my fiction and those who read my blog is sliver-thin) and since I’ve put my family through contortions, on weekends and vacations and all because “I have to put up a post.” I figured I owed it to them, more than to myself, to get something back for my effort.

Also, I’m trying to do too much in too little time.

I’m trying to get a fund that will allow me to hire (mostly friends) to do some of it for me, so I can both write more and make more money, which in turn will (maybe) allow me to get through what’s staring us in the face. (And it ain’t pretty.)

THE INCENTIVES AND TIERS:

Tier 1– $10 or more – A shout out on my blog, all with all other the supporters, by name, in one massive “Thank you” post. [Jokey or offensive names will not be included at author’s discretion.]

Tier 2– $25 or more – Email jpg of certificate with funny fish saying “I Was Carped at according to hoyt.com” and a Certificate of being a member of Hoyt’s Huns, cultural wars sapper battalion, in good standing.

Tier 3– $60 or more – Exclusive ebook collection of USAian stories. (Including a new, original, never published story.) Estimated delivery August 2023

Tier 4– $100 or more – Your name will appear in a mass death/other mass event/list in one of Sarah’s books. [estimated delivery up through July 2023. All indie books, as no others are guaranteed.]

Tier 5– $150 or more – A sound file of Sarah saying “Moose and Squirrel.”

Tier 6 – $250 or more – Will send a signed copy of trade paperback Gentleman takes a chance and one large postcard with book covers, also signed. (USPS- continental US only. All others, let’s talk.) [estimated delivery Sept 2022]

Tier 7 – $350 or more – Three signed books (of our choice), plus two extra items from “Sarah’s Garage”, (also of our choice) which might very well be a small rubber fish. (You’ve been warned.) USPS only. Continental U.S. only [estimated delivery Sept 2022]

Tier 8 – $500 or more – Personalized tuckerization. You will become your very own zany character, with at least a line or two of dialogue, and physical description. Physical safety and life of character not guaranteed. If you perish, it will NOT (repeat not) be in a mass death event or a list of other kinds.  [estimated delivery up through July 2023. All indie books, as no others are guaranteed.] [Jokey or offensive names, descriptions and personalities will not be included at author’s discretion.]

Tier 9 – $1000 or more – A CHOICE OF:

Option 1 -Will read the first 10 pages and outline of your novel and provide timely critique, with the understanding that I am not infallible. (A skype, zoom or other video call to discuss the work for an hour or so.) [estimated delivery Winter 2022 – Spring 2023]

Option 2 – Large box of ten signed books, plus items ranging from a con badge, to a mini dinosaur skeleton or a print of Sarah’s original art, or other items from Sarah’s garage. USPS only. Continental U.S. only [estimated delivery Sept 2022]

Option 3 – Signed copy of Sarah’s old copyedited or page-proof manuscripts. [estimated delivery Fall 2022] (5 limit.)

Tier 10 – $5000 or more – You will become a major character on one of my books, and I’ll try to reflect your appearance, and chosen personality.  [estimated delivery up through July 2023. All indie books, as no others are guaranteed.] [Jokey or offensive names, descriptions and personalities will not be included at author’s discretion. You don’t get to have someone else be an offensive character. (Sorry!) Your actions will be altered to serve the plot if needed.] – Limit 5. (You’ll be informed if this has been claimed, and given a chance for a refund or of a comparable reward.)

Tier Insane – $25000 or more – My husband and I will travel to a city in the continental US and have dinner with you and your plus one.  (Continental US only.) – Limit ONE. [Delivery up to July 2023.] (You’ll be informed if this has been claimed, and given a chance for a refund or of a comparable reward.)

ALL TIERS INCLUDE ALL PREVIOUS TIERS EXCEPT FOR THOSE THAT ARE NUMBER LIMITED.

If you want to be thanked/mentioned by a name different from your regular one, please email to: bookpimping at outlook dot com.

TO DONATE:

DONATE TO ACCORDING TO HOYT TAANSTAFL DAYS (The previous words are a link!)

FOR CHECK DONATIONS:

Sarah A. Hoyt

Goldport Press

304 S Jones Blvd #6771

Las Vegas, NV  89107

THIS IS PINNED TO THE TOP OF THE BLOG. THE DAILY POST APPEARS BELOW THIS.

On today’s picture: It’s called babysitter. It came to me fully formed. And I have NO IDEA why. It’s true one of the kids spent three months claiming to be a robot (How did you KNOW it was younger son?) but that was long ago. Anyway, here it is:

This Picture was created by Sarah A. Hoyt and is released under CC BY

CC BY-active link to explain rights.

SEE? Absolutely NO BATS…..

WHAT? WHERE DID THAT COME FROM? SABOTAGE! TREASON!

Fine, whatever. If that’s the way you want it, go bananas already!

Just remember, bats are our frens, not our fudz.

Happy now?

43 thoughts on “TANSTAAFL Day 12, 4 days to go — And a free picture released under Creative Commons BY”

  1. When our first one was born, I hatched a great and nefarious plan to get her into airplanes early, so when she got old enough we could do flight sims together (in the Navy two-seat doctrine, the back-seater is the Officer in Command). Lots of airplane toys, a plushie Spitfire, and Dad’s Pitch/Yaw/Roll game. (You hold the baby up and demonstrate pitch, roll and yaw, while calling them out. From there you can do coordinated turns, side slips, and pretty much any basic flight maneuver that does not require a full inversion. No hammerhead turns, sorry.)

    My plan was partially successful: she’s decided she loves bats…

      1. Yeah. We made it to the Moody Gardens a couple of weeks before her 4th birthday, so she was still able to go for free. Their rainforest pyramid had a big giant fruit bat section.

        She was absolutely enthralled by them.

        May not get my RIO out of it, but I’m ok with that 🙂

    2. I feel your pain. As a devoted Star Trek and B5 fan I tried to addict my daughters to those things as early as possible. One likes Star Trek although she is a DS9/ Voyager fan (it was on when she got home from high school) She also is familiar with B5. Both however are MASSIVE Star Wars fans, particular of the prequel and sequel trilogies. The shame…

  3. OK somehow the Bats are exceeding the cuteness quotient of the Cats/Kittens. That should NOT be possible, but the tickled bat and the banana eating bat (obviously a fruit bat) are really appealing.

      1. OK I buy that, combined with the dog/fox like face they’re pretty appealing. Unlike some of their smaller cousins with less appealing facial features.

        1. I concur. That bat out cuted my void kitty, I would not think that possible…

    1. Cool. In Old English, the words used for “bat” can be “decorated mouse” or “fluttering mouse.” (And greyhame, like Gandalf Greyhame, was a kenning for wolf.)

  5. I knew this place was batty. [Very Very Big Crazy Grin While Flying Away Extremely Fast]

    1. Seveneth door on the left, in the corridor that’s the fifth door on the right.

      The glyphs are just there to scare you off and were painted by some of the more belladverse folks

  12. DONATE TO ACCORDING TO HOYT TAANSTAFL DAYS (The previous words are a link!)

    D’oh! It’s amazing what I can do when I read the instructions.

      1. I took it that therandomtexan was “kicking himself/herself” about not seeing how to donate. 😉

  15. Donation completed at link.
    This is one of my daily must read (4 total). Absolutely love the thought provoking essays, stories and insights. The community and the wild sidebars are perhaps even more enjoyable.

    So much value, can’t donate as much as is reasonably due, but must do something from the ‘beer money’ fund.

  16. Perhaps I am simply sleepy and pre-caffeinated, but I keep reading that as HOLY TAANSTAFL DAYS, which I suppose are USAian holidays…

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