Five Quick Q&A

I’m back with more questions from blog readers about RVing, what’s happening in our lives since we hung up the keys, and all kinds of other things. While I try to answer all questions individually, I also share some here occasionally.

Q. You mentioned buying smoked fish in yesterday’s blog. I know you had an Orion smoker at one time because we bought ours based on your review, and we love it. Do you still have yours, and if so, have you ever tried smoking fish in it? My brother smoked a bunch of mullet in his last week and it was delicious.

A. Yes, we still have our Orion, though it doesn’t get used as often as we would like. As for smoking fish in it, no, we have not tried that yet. We may have to give it a shot one of these days.

Q. I downloaded your friend TW Robinson’s book about self-publishing that you talked about in yesterday’s blog, and it was an eye-opener. I know you used to do some self-publishing seminars, Nick. Since you are in Florida and he is in Alabama, is there any chance of you and TW getting together and putting one on? I’d drive anywhere in the Southeast to attend.

A. I always loved presenting seminars at RV rallies and Life on Wheels, but these days I don’t know how I could ever find the time. I am sure TW keeps pretty busy, too, so I don’t see that happening.

Q. Okay, you convinced me to buy an Oculus 3D headset and I am amazed by it so far. I downloaded the Wander app you recommended and the free roller coaster one. That one gave me motion sickness, which I remember you talking about. Have you tried it again with the same results? Is there any way to overcome it?

A. I have not tried the rollercoaster app again, but those who are more experienced with virtual reality tell me the secret is to work your way up to it a little bit at a time, stopping the moment you begin to feel any discomfort and trying again later.

Q. I just finished The Hard Years, and I think Tinder Street is your best series yet. When will the next one be out?

A. I am working on the next John Lee Quarrels book now, then a Big Lake and then the fifth Tinder Street book. I hope to have all three out within the year, but we also have some traveling planned, so I can’t promise that for sure.

Q. Have you stayed in touch with many of the people you knew from your fulltiming days? I seldom see any mention of any of them.

A. We are still in touch with some of our friends from those days, but others, not so much. Occasionally someone passing through the area will stop in for a visit, or if we are near any of them in our travels, we try to touch base. E-mail and Facebook make it easy to stay connected.

And finally, here’s a chuckle to start your day from the collection of funny signs we see in our travels and that our readers share with us.

It’s Thursday, so it’s time for a new Free Drawing. This week’s prize is an audiobook of Adam Gaffen’s Into the Black: Tales from the Cassidyverse. Science fiction fans are going to love this one, as Kendra Cassidy’s dream to drag humanity to the stars, as well as the dreams of her crew are revealed. It’s an old-fashioned whodunit, with an extra dose of interplanetary politics thrown in for good measure.

To enter, click on this Free Drawing link or the tab at the top of this page and enter your name (first and last) in the comments section at the bottom of that page (not this one). Only one entry per person per drawing please, and you must enter with your real name. To prevent spam or multiple entries, the names of cartoon or movie characters are not allowed. The winner will be drawn Sunday evening. Note: Due to the high shipping cost of printed books and Amazon restrictions on e-books to foreign countries, only entries with US addresses and e-mail addresses are allowed.

Thought For The Day – I’d give up sarcasm, but that would leave eye-rolling and middle finger waving as my only forms of communication.