Is your name on this list?

My book has been published and has been available on Amazon for a couple of months. I just got my first piece of fan mail from Cindy in Virginia. Thanks, Cindy. I figured I'd put a link to Amazon on my blog.

I ordered 200 copies for distribution on Saipan, but they are on the slowest boat ever. It's been over eight weeks, and they are still not here. Hopefully, they'll arrive within the next couple of weeks.

I'm planning on giving a copy to all the people who helped in one way or another. If your name is on this list, you have a gift copy coming from me.

Jayvee Vallajera, Frances Demapan, Carol Danelius, Houdin Dehnad, James Oh, David Yamartino, Sarah Johnson, Anne Erhard, Mark Robertson, Cinta Kaipat, Walt Goodridge, Randy Clark, Jeff Turbitt, Senator Maria Pangelinan, Jeff Schorr, Bob Coldeen, Michael Ernest, Angelo Villagomez, Jaleh Slominski, Ed Propst, Annette Donner, Don Bader, Bud Carroll, Robert T. Torres, Joseph Kevin Villagomez, Kirk Johnson, Velin Saramov, and Daniel Lamar.

If your name is Oprah, and if you contact me, I'll send you a copy too.

I wish I had gotten copies before JP passed away.

Book Cover Completed!

Here it is! The designers have completed work on the cover of my new book, "World Peace, a Blind Wife, and Gecko Tails." I'm very happy with it. I though the designers were very creative to depict a fairly complex title. The next step is the interior layout design, and then printing. I was hoping it would be out by Thanksgiving, but it looks like it will be a bit later.

New Poll

This may be the first poll in the CNMI blogosphere that actually has some real world value. Okay, so granted, that value is only to me, but that's a start.

Help me out. I've got two choices on the table for the title to the book I've completed. The book is a collection of my columns from the Saipan Tribune.

Here is what the book is about (from the back cover). Believe me, it took a long time to figure this out, but your comments helped formulate the description.

This eclectic collection of stories and insights from an eye surgeon in the South Seas combines wit, wisdom, care and compassion to make you laugh out loud and invite you to ponder life’s big questions. Expect to gain perspectives that will lead you to healthier, richer, more meaningful living.

If you have other suggestions for titles, fire away. The purpose of a title is to accurately reflect what's inside, and to get someone to pick the dang book up. The shorter, the better, which is where my current choices are a bit weak, but the columns are so diverse that I haven't been able to come up with just one or two words.

Your opinion matters to me, so let me know your thoughts. And vote! The poll is there on the right.

I Need Your Help

I seem to be on a blogging hiatus for the past week. My apologies to those of you who have left comments recently and to which I haven't responded. I was gone to Guam for two days this week to update myself on some retinal surgical techniques with a visiting retinal specialist from California. I left my driver's license in Saipan so I couldn't rent a car as I had planned, but thanks to the helpfulness of fellow travelers, friends and strangers, I managed to get almost everywhere I needed to be and spent only $10 on taxi fare.

Here is where I need your help. I've moslty been busy this past week putting the finishing touches on a book I've been working on. It's titled "World Peace, a Blind Wife and Other Intriguing Matters," from a Goofball Eye Surgeon in the South Seas. It's a collection of about 50 of the most popular columns I've written for the Tribune over the past few years. If you like my writing, I need your help. I need some testimonial "blurbs" that will go on the back cover and in the first few pages. I'd like to invite you to provide a blurb for the book. If the publisher prints the blurb, it will include your name and other identifying data (your blog, the name of your business, your URL, etc.). Just let me know how you prefer it to appear.

Usually these sort of blurbs are just a few sentences long, and give your general impression of the book or author. Some blurbs include why you liked the book and why you would recommend it. Just pick up any book and turn to the back cover and you'll get a good idea. It's there to help a person decide if they want to read it.

If you aren't from Saipan and haven't seen my columns (or if you need to refresh your memory), I can send you an excerpt from the book (click on "About Me" over on the right for my email address). If you are ready, send me a blurb by email, or leave it as a comment here.

My deadline for these is Friday. I appreciate your help.