Read:
I opened up my email this morning to see that Seth Godin is launching a new book, sans traditional publisher.

And I really want a copy. Here’s why:

Seth is the ultimate new-wave marketing guru. I’m taking his marketing class on Skillshare, and it’s fascinating. But what got me really excited about the announcement of his new book is the approach he’s taking to marketing it. Instead of working within the traditional top-down framework of getting a book from author to publisher to retailer to reader, he’s selling direct to the readership he’s built through his blog.

And he’s doing a very smart thing—incentivizing people to buy a 3-pack of the book at a discount, so that they can share it with others. He’s calling this horizontal distribution (which is similar to word-of-mouth) and hoping that person-to-person sharing will be enough to make his ideas, and his book, go viral.

Here is his book page and video. I’m really interested to see if it works. And in the meantime, who wants to split a 3-pack of books with me?

Eat:
You know when you eat something insanely delicious on a trip, and then spend the next two years thinking about it? Yeah, I’ve been thinking about the Hot Chick on a Stick from Fast Eddie’s in Alton, Illinois for more than two years. It is so good.

Source.

I was finally reunited with my delicious Chick on a Stick soul mate last weekend. I would like to say that I enjoyed a few wings, had a beer, and left feeling comfortably satisfied. But, no. That’s not at all what happened.

We ordered 6 orders of Chick on a Stick (with 6 wings on each), a hot dog, a bratwurst sandwich, a basket of peel-and-eat shrimp, and 6 beers. For just three people.

It wasn’t really our fault, because they’ve kept their prices the same for nineteen years. So our total bill was under $20. I think we can agree that it would have been financially irresponsible not to stuff myself silly.

So, since I don’t know when I’ll get back to Fast Eddie’s again, I’m putting out a call to action. Anyone who can produce the recipe for the spice rub they use on the chicken will receive a reward of one million dollars ($1,000,000.00). Yes, one million real American dollars*.

Drink:
One of my favorite editors ever (and a former colleague), Christine Dore, shared a great recipe for a Rye Apple Pie cocktail on her blog this week. It’s the ultimate fall drink: rye whiskey, apple cider, a splash of vanilla, and cinnamon. Makes me feel warmer just thinking about it.

Go check it out on her blog—you need this drink to start off your October! (Oh, and she’s also a fabulous book editor. Take a look at her work here.)

*For purposes of this Agreement, the term “real American dollars” shall mean fake Internet dollars that have no value whatsoever.