Saturday, June 11, 2011

oh my stars, another giveaway!

Long-time readers may be aware that this site is not run for commercial purposes at all (that is to say, I don't run any outside ads) though as a citizen of the planet Earth I do interface with commerce from time to time and as such will occasionally talk about businesses or products that I find particularly delightful.  I am also aware that I have turned a good many of you onto becoming drooling, mindless zombie addicts of a site called JetPens, which features stationary products from Asia, and...well, I'm sorry, but it's not going to get much better.  (I myself have a relapsing remitting course of the disease.)

A few days ago, Brad from JetPens e-mailed me and said that he'd noticed that I, you know, enjoyed JetPen products (to put it somewhat mildly) and wanted to send me some samples to try out, as well as a gift to pass on to my readers.  I said, hmm, I don't know, I don't really have strong feelings about pens and stationery and nerd stuff like that but OH OK FINE SEND 'EM OVER.  I told him that much of my readership was medical, and as such, my interest were pens that were precise, smudgeproof, in colors reproducible by photocopy, and preferably retractable.  He sent me a few, and to be honest, I haven't really tried the others yet, but that's because the first pen I grabbed was this one.

THIS ONE:


OK, so before you tell me, let me save you the time.  I KNOW IT'S PURPLE.  That's the one he sent me, so that's the one I'm showing you.  It comes in other colors too, so don't, you know, freak out yet.  There's more freaking to be had a few paragraphs down.  Anyway, my childhood pediatrician wrote with a purple pen through the entire decade I was with his practice (I believe it was a purple Pilot Precise V5, now that I think of it--funny that I can remember that, but I DO) so, you know, it's a legitimate choice.  My pediatrician was a delightful gay man with a diamond earring who practiced out of an office in Greenwich Village and who smoked cigarettes in his office--sometimes while we were sitting there, holding his ashtray for him--so I'm not saying it's an orthodox choice, but I loved my Pediatrician and I love purple pens so there you go.

Anyway, let's get down to brass tacks.  It's called the Pilot FriXion Ball Knock Retractable Gel Ink Pen in 0.5mm point.  Why does it have so many parts to its name, like a member of British royalty?  UNCLEAR.  But it's a gel pen.  It's retractable.  The ink is waterproof and (I read somewhere) "alcohol proof."  It writes well.  But let the pen speak for itself.





Holy shit, guys, it's an erasable gel pen!  I DIE.  I'd had erasable pens in the past--they were something of a fad when I was in, oh, I want to say the fifth or sixth grade.  But this erasable pen is nothing like those sad, sticky, ballpoint pens of yesteryear with their unweildy grey gum erasers packed onto their readily displaced pen caps.  First of all, the ink is phenomenal.  Smooth, dark, rich, no globs.  Just like the best gel ink pens.  Secondly, the eraser is amazing.  It's not like a pencil eraser at all--it doesn't leave all those little eraser bits to brush away.  I think the erasing process actually works by friction (oh, I get it...FriXion!  Ah!) and it's the heat produced by the eraser rather than rubbing off bits of ink and paper itself that make the line disappear.  But it does erase, and it erases well, as you can see above.  How does it work?  Do I look like some kind of scientist?  I don't know.  Therefore, it is MAGIC.

OK, now for the bad part.  First of all, I'll probably never use this pen at work, because, well, I don't think you should write anything in the medical record that could be erased.  It doesn't erase just from touching it, mind you, but it's possible, over time and with a lot of rubbing, that the line may fade.  So that's one.  But remember, I work at a hospital--if you don't work at a hospital, or if you use pens for anything that's not archival, I really don't see any problem with it.

Secondly, I think that it is somewhat temperature sensitive, due to the aforementioned erasing capability.  I think that if you subject the erased ink to temperatures below - 10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit), the erased lines may reappear.  But that could actually be kind of fun--I'm going to do an experiment later on and write a Super Secret Spy message for Cal that he can expose by sticking it in the freezer.  It'll be like Freaky Freezies--remember those gloves with the designs that would appear when you went out in the cold?  Anyone?  The '80s?  Yes well...they were cool.  Also, for the opposite reason, they don't recommend you leave the pen in a hot car, or on a tar roof in the middle of the summer or what have you.  These are all limitations, yes, but for most people, under most normal working circumstances, it is a really, really cool pen.

And, you know, I would give it away to you, my readers, only Cal has claimed it for his own, and therefore I have to give away this other thing, which is even better.




I have waxed rhapsodic about the Uniball Signo RT UM-138 pens before (I believe Brad noted that they were "my favorite," which is pretty close to accurate), and he sent along this 8 pack in all colors to give away to one lucky reader.




You may have noticed that I had to substitute a black Pilot G2 in 0.38mm point for the original black one that came in the pack, because SOMEONE (I suspect Cal) got into this pack before I could and now I can't find the black pen.  But I think I have a new black Signo RT UM-138 lying around somewhere from a previous JetPens foray, so if I find one of those, I'll sub it back in.




I'm also going to throw in, because it's going to be fitting for the rules of the giveaway, one free copy of my book.  It's OK if you already bought a copy, you can give it to a friend, because you're just that generous, and, might I mention, good-looking.  (I would like to point out, of course, that July 1st fast approaches, and there may well be no better gift for the new intern or resident in your life than this book, which many are calling "the new 'House of God'.")  How can you qualify for this fantastic giveaway?  I'm so glad you asked.

I've been doing promotion for my book.  And I'll not lie to you: it's hard.  Book promotion is one of those things that involves lots of time and energy and connections (and, let's be honest: money), and as a first-time author, albeit with a lovely and hard-working team behind me at my publisher who are doing a wonderful job, getting the word out about a book when you're not a Big Name can be difficult, especially in a choked summer market.  To be honest, it feels at times like wearing a sandwich board reading "WE BUY GOLD" in the middle of Midtown Manhattan next to a Sbarros as everyone rushes by avoiding eye contact.  There might be more that I could be doing, or should be doing, but the thing of it is, writing and this book is not my sole career.  So there's only so much time I realistically can spend, you know, pimping myself.

I've been thinking a little bit about guerrilla marketing, which is to say modes of marketing that involve unconventional and imaginative (and often interactive) devices rather than just, you know, a pile of cash to buy ads or shelf space.  Nowadays, I'm sure that using social media could be a big part of that kind of marketing approach.  So.  Here's the dizzle.

Think of some novel and imaginative way to get the word out about my book, which, in case you haven't been paying attention, is called "This Won't Hurt a Bit (and Other White Lies)."  If you're doing something online, do try to link to a site that sells the book, and/or the book website.  DON'T SPEND ANY MONEY TO DO THIS, I'm not telling you to go broke, I just want your help in trying new approaches and new avenues.  Also, don't break any laws.  (No murder, you guys.)  The aim is to not just to increase awareness of the book, but to get people to want to read it.

Use your blogs, use your Twitter accounts and Facebook, make a funny video on YouTube, whatever.  Just don't make it so that people are less likely to read the book after your efforts, you dig?  So do some novel publicity, something new and different that we haven't seen before, and then tell me about it.  You can e-mail me, with a link or a picture (preferred, so I can keep better track), or you can tell me on Facebook or Twitter.  (I am @scutmonkey on Twitter, and I friend all comers on Facebook, so go ahead, just ask.)  I will look at all the entries, most likely share them, and pick the most effective one by...oh, you want to say July 11th?  That's a month from now, that gives you enough time, right?  The winner gets the pens and the book and a personal thank-you note from me on my personal embossed stationery, which is something that I have now because I am a grownup, dammit.




Spread the word!  These pens need a good home!  Also the books, think of all the poor, orphaned books out there that need nice warm shelves or night stands to sleep on!  WON'T SOMEONE PLEASE THINK OF THE BOOKS?

Go!  Fly!  And thanks!

22 comments:

  1. Anonymous7:46 PM

    abchao.com is plugging you! Beach book pick! Yay!

    Julia

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yes, I saw! She's such a super lady! (Fargo voice.)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous10:45 PM

    If I social networked, I would plug you also! (hence the anonymous). For charting I online order the Pilot P-500 extra fine. Cant find it in the stores. The gray camo design is a bonus:D Will have to the jetpen website but hate to order without trying!
    Super lady, oh yah! Love her website!
    Loved the book Michelle!
    Julia

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous11:53 PM

    hi michelle! just read your book and enjoyed it thoroughly! coincidentally, came across this op-ed about doctorhood and mommyhood. would be interested to hear your thoughts! http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/12/opinion/12sibert.html?ref=opinion
    - jhl

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous5:15 AM

    Japanese stationery? Awesome!! totally random but I squee everytime someone mentions anything remotely Asian as I am totally 'n irrevocably addicted to Asian shows....particularly Korean n Japanese dramas!! Just.So.Darn.Good!! told ya soo random!! lulz

    ReplyDelete
  6. Just bought those pens to use for the last days of boards studying. Loved the book, I bought copies for my 2 roommates to read after the boards :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous3:47 PM

    Do your kids have a special water/pool t shirt they wear in the pool or is it just a regular shirt?

    ReplyDelete
  8. They are those swim shirts made out of that nylon material--cuts down a lot on sun exposure!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Love your site and book!

    Damn you for the pen porn...

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous12:29 AM

    I live in Asia, and the erasable Pilot pen has been around for a couple of years already! :D

    ReplyDelete
  11. Moppie11:15 AM

    NO WAY JOSE!!!! Did you use Doctor Joe as your ped???? Fond memories of the office....

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous12:45 PM

    Michelle,

    Have you or your publisher talked to Costco??? They mention books in their Connections magazine, besides selling them in their locations!

    Thanks

    Sine Nomine

    ReplyDelete
  13. Moppie,

    YOU KNEW DR. JOE? He was the best! I know I didn't stay in Peds, but whatever propelled me to enter the field in the first place was partially fueled by him.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Moppie5:17 PM

    Yup, he was my ped too. It traumatized me when I graduated from peds and had to see a grown up doctor who looked so doctory.

    Unfortunately, I heard Dr. Joe passed away quite a number of years ago :(

    ReplyDelete
  15. Yes, he did, it was very sad. Wish I had gotten a chance to talk to him before I graduated from med school.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous7:39 PM

    I enjoy your blog, and also would appreciate hearing your thoughts (perhaps a blog post?) on the recent nytimes op-ed "Don't Quit This Day Job" by Dr. Karen Sibert, an anesthesiologist. The overly-simplified message I read from it was that female physicians who are mothers, and particularly those in primary-care fields in under-resourced settings, are wasting taxpayers' money by choosing to work part-time, and perhaps should have chosen to not enter into the field of medicine. Perhaps it was my dismay at the critical tone (rather than supportive tone) she had towards fellow physicians who are mothers, but I thought it was odd that she specifically mentioned physicians working in primary-care fields in under-resourced settings, when she is clearly not doing that herself (and thus has a different frame of reference for that aspect). Since your blog and your book focus significantly on motherhood and medicine, I think it would be very helpful to readers for you to address the points and the opinions that Dr. Sibert brought up, whether to affirm them or to bring up counter-opinions.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Here's a link to my response, which went up yesterday afternoon:

    http://bit.ly/jo2t4U

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous10:48 AM

    have you ever read any of Kevin Kelley's stuff?
    Check out his sites for marketing ideas. One of the founders of Wired magazine.

    www.kk.org

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous9:20 PM

    I live in Singapore and does popular in Singapore sells the uniball signo rt pen ? In many colours?

    ReplyDelete
  20. I really wish I had found your blog earlier. Totally would have loved to win some cool pens and book signed by you! =)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Your book has new chapter with good morals thanks for share it format for book review.

    ReplyDelete
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