Monday, November 24, 2008

Best to Order Through Amazon....for now

Hey everyone - just wanted to let you know that major bookstores will have Party Across America on shelves by Dec. 17th. However, if you want to get it before Xmas - order it through Amazon.com. Amazon is shipping the book within a day and it's a couple of bucks cheaper - like $10.50 instead of $12.95 (the Barnes & Noble cost).

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Which Celebrations Deserve to Crack the Top 101?

As soon as I landed this book deal, I just knew that this blog would prompt discussion and suggestions about what acutally deserved to be in the top 101. I fully prepared myself for comments like "I can't believe that so-and-so isn't in the book!"

You know what, bring it on! The publisher wants a second edition of Party Across America. The second edition will include events from the original version ( Burning Man, Kentucky Derby, Tour De Fat, Mermaid Parade, St. Patty's Day in Savannah, Over The Line, Halloween in NYC ), but I will add about 15-20 new extravaganzas. So please, let me know what should be considered!

Try to keep these few things in mind:
1. It has to be a public party ("my buddy Dave's Memorial Day Barbeque Bash" doesn't qualify)
2. It has to be an annual event that happens in the SAME PLACE each year
3. It has to have an intangible quality of energy - something that people rally around and look forward to all year long

Please provide some stuff to back up your suggestion - how many people go? how long has it been going on? what's it like to be there?

If it ends up in the book you will get a contributing credit

The Party Version of 1000 Places to See Before You Die?

There have been a couple of "pre-release" news articles written about Party Across America and they've all said that it's like the party version of 1000 Place To See Before You Die. I guess I can see the parallels, but as the bias author, I have to respectfully disagree.

1000 Places To See Before You Die pretty much lists each place and gives a super brief description of each. This book is more like a Lonley Planet or any other guidebook - it provides complete guidance, including where to stay, hotel prices, when to buy tickets, local public transportation, what to pack, and tons of party tips. I guess it's nice to be compared to such a successful book, but I just feel like 1000 Places to See is more of a list than an actual guidebook. Anyone agree?

Has the election changed our attitudes?

Whether you voted for Barack Obama or John McCain, one thing has become quite clear. This country is ready to move out of the black hole that we've been in for quite some time. I am a total believer that the attitude of a depression or a recession is self-perpetuating. The worse we think things are, the less we spend, and the further we sink. The news media daily doom and gloom sessions have only pushed these great United States lower and lower.

Your 401K plan will bounce back! Housing prices will rebound - we need to relax and have some fun. I'm not trying to sell books - I'm trying to sell the United States! We live in a truely amazing place and we need to take advantage of it. The best way to do this is to take our limited time on earth to celebrate our existance. After all, when we're all old and grey, we will look back on certain times and experiences in our life and smile - now is the time to make those memories.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

PROMO VIDEO

The Samples play Party Across America party

The Samples came over, checked out the book, and decided to play a few tunes