...for me to get my act together re: the new site, I thought I'd post some recent emails from Trotteristas.

This one, from a demented pair in Australia (keep reading):
"Barry Trotter books rule! Though it is rather disturbing to consistantly find them in the children's section... [I agree. They should be kept in a lead-lined vault, with a sign reading, "Warning: Sex Jokes."--MG] You've done a really good job on them, congrats! So, is there going to be a Barry Trotter and the Fourth Book? Hope so! Can't wait to read it!

Inspired by you and our own success with internet parody fanfiction, we made our own Potter parody! It started off as a simple story on fanfiction.net, but it grew into so much more when, most likely on a sugar high, we thought "hey, this would make a great role play game!" Thus, Hogwarts School of the Brave and the Ignorant (4 days without a murder!) was born! We'd be honered if you'd take a look! The URL is here.
Probably our fave bit in your books is the school volcano. I mean, what the (insert interobang here). Gotta love randomness to fix plot holes! :D
Anyways, that's all that comes to mind currently.
~M & N-N"

Thanks, you two. I hope that you are not attacked by any funnel-web spiders. I tried the link, but couldn't figure it out. Can I read it without creating an account?

And just this morning another fan writes, "i love your books however inappropriate. Barry Trotter is my favourite overall. sarcasm is my life. When and IF i grow up i want to be just like you [Oh, God, don't DO that to yourself! Please!--MG] that or a starving musician, its a hard choice...your books are an inspiration to all of us who love being synical and those who cant spell. in short i am writing to you on behalf of the literate world for writing barry trotter and breaking the chain of "potter lovers" . sir my hat is off to you,
thanks for your time and for not running away crying/screaming,

Thanks, T. I DID run away crying/screaming, but I do that all the time. My wife came in and gave me a cold compress and a hypodermic in the neck and I was fine. I suggest you go for musician. You may starve, but the groupies make up for that.

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This recently came through my in-box:

"I demand that you stop writing the Barry Trotter series. Close barrytrotter.com How can you make fun of the Harry Potter series? If I was old enough, I would sue you.

Ben The Barry Trotter HATER"

How could any author not be utterly charmed by this? Such passion--and for BOOKS. Yay, Ben! Go get 'im, fella! If all readers were as devoted as Ben obviously is, all of us writers would be better off.

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The Artful Writer has a wonderful set of terms used by Zucker/Abrams/Zucker (the people behind Airplane! others) in crafting their comedy. Kate passed it on to me, and I thought some of you might find it useful.

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Sweet Jesus, this Mikegerber.com revamping is taking a long time. But it will be worth it, I think.

In the meantime, this post on Dooce.com made my wife cry with laughter. And Bob Harris has some excellent things to say about "America We Stand As One" (via Tiny Revolution).

Oh, I almost forgot: near-Doctor Jules Lipoff has a piece in the Voice. Check it out!

Now, back to writing my book. And playing guitar. And eating figs.

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...over at Tiny Revolution. I want that Venn Diagram on a T-shirt.

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Check out this funny site, where you can listen to the work of rapper "Y2Khai, the Loc'd Out Asian."

Perhaps someday we will all be Loc'd out.

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Ladies and gents, this is how it should be done...I give you The Old Negro Space Program.

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