Ninjas (in Japanese, shinobi) were more than assassins. They were also the spies and undercover agents of medieval Japan. When working for others, ninjas were masters of infiltration, stealth, and disguise, but shinobi didn’t employ these techniques only in the service of others. Stealth and concealment were a way of life in shinobi villages, and made their way into the design of ninja homes as well. During my trip to the Iga Ninja Museum last June, I had the opportunity to tour a replica ninja house, and to see a demonstration of its unique architectural features. Today, I’m sharing a little about the technique of concealed
Read moreMonth: January 2016
Writing a Business Plan for Your Book: Post-Release Marketing
Welcome back to our ongoing series on “How to Write a Business Plan for Your Book.” In case you’ve missed any part of the series, I’ve added links to the previous installments at the end of the post. Today we resume our discussion of the third section of the business plan (Marketing Strategies) with a look at marketing “after the party’s over” – how to plan your marketing efforts for the period after the book’s initial few weeks in release. The third section of the business plan contains your plans and strategies for marketing the book, and serves as a marketing road map.
Read moreIt’s Full of (Sea) Stars
Sea stars (sometimes called “starfish,” even though they’re not actually fish) rarely do well in home aquariums. Many species starve to death, either quickly or over extended periods, which is unfortunate because sea stars are fascinating creatures to watch, and often brilliantly colored, too. I’ve tried to stay away from acquiring sea stars, because I don’t like bringing home creatures that won’t thrive in my aquarium. For a while, I had a thriving population of micro-brittle-stars (which measure 1-2 inches in diameter, from arm to arm). Sadly, I lost them due to an unexpected (and largely unpreventable) salinity shift a couple of years ago.
Read moreFor Love of the Japanese Vending Machine
During my research trip to Japan last summer, I fell in love with vending machines. No matter where you go in Japan, you’re likely to find an assortment of large, well-lit machines selling everything from beverages to toys…and I do mean everything. We even saw one selling ladies’ underwear. On a public street. (And NOT in a questionable district.) It’s difficult to walk a block in Japan without passing a vending machine–or two, since they usually seem to appear in pairs–and every train or subway station platform has at least one set. The drink selection in vending machines depends on the company that owns and
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