Author: Dan Harris

Writer of stories that haven't happened yet. 10% Sci, 90% Fi. Author of The Unity Sequence: ASCENSION POINT (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009TCE6G4) & VENUS RISING (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C9PF35G)

No (Extra) Taxes For Me!

On By Dan HarrisIn Self-Publishing, Writing3 Comments

(Warning: only interesting to writers planning to self-publish on Amazon.com, CreateSpace, etc. And maybe not even to them.)

A quick follow-up post to yesterday’s tax-related reblog – I can confirm the process of applying for an EIN over the phone went exactly as David laid out in his post on Catherine’s blog.

I called the number this morning, and had a very pleasant 7-minute chat with a nice IRS lady. (I couldn’t tell if she was from Philadelphia or just lives/works there, because I am the crappest at American accents.)

After a few questions very similar to those I was expecting, I became the proud owner of an Employer Identification Number (EIN). I then promptly updated my KDP, CreateSpace and Smashwords accounts, because it pays to be prepared, and I’d rather not risk giving the IRS any of my money even temporarily if I can avoid it.

Now I just need to publish and sell some books, and watch all* of the money roll trickle in!

* Instead of 70% of the money because 30% was withheld for tax reasons. Get it? Yup, I told you it wouldn’t be that interesting.

 

So I’ve Changed the Name of the Blog

On By Dan HarrisIn WritingLeave a comment

The sharp-eyed amongst you will have noticed that the words at the top of the page, and indeed in your browser tab, have changed. To prepare for the upcoming publication of my first novel and ensuing global domination, it’s time to LOOK MORE PROFESSIONAL. So I’ve registered the domain dan-harris.net and am now using that for the blog.

If any of you lovely folks has bookmarked the old address, sailingthevoid.wordpress.com – thanks! And also, that link will continue to work. WordPress will cleverly redirect it to the new domain.

That’s all for now. Hope you’re having a great Friday.

On By Dan HarrisIn WritingLeave a comment

Even though this post from Catherine is exaclty 6 months old, I’ve only just read it, and its very much worth reblogging! For the last couple of days I’ve been looking into the hideous process required to stop U.S. e-book vendors from withholding 30% of your royalties for tax reasons. It looked grim, but this ‘just a phone call’ method seems much more civilised, and people seem to be having consistent success with it. I’ll be giving it a whirl in the morning. Night, all.

Kim Stanley Robinson’s 2312

On By Dan HarrisIn Reading, Sci-Fi and FantasyLeave a comment

This is definitely on my to-read list, even though near-future SF always makes me feel slightly wistful and sad that I’ll be dead before the end of the 21st century.

“In this way, 2312 is able to be more than just a simple story. It’s a future history, a dream of all the complicated ways we might muddle through as a species, spreading out into space without ever really fixing all the old problems that have nearly extinguished us again and again.”

Review is at io9 here.

Guess Who’s Back-back-back. Back Again-gain-gain.

On By Dan HarrisIn Sci-Fi and Fantasy, WritingLeave a comment

Hi, everybody!

(“Hi, Dr. Nick!“)

So I’m back. Successfully married, finger be-ringed, and lovely fiancee has seamlessly morphed into lovely wife. And after a week in scorching 35C/100F degree sunshine on our honeymoon, I am… slightly tanned!

(Nothing makes me more obviously Welsh than my skin. We… we don’t tan. As a race.)

Me, after a sunny two-week holiday, as tanned as I ever am. Note the skin-tone now matches a normal Caucasian male.

What does this mean? Well, it means we’re on the home straight to the release of my first novel, the book I’ve been rambling about for months, ASCENSION POINT. And – like Usain Bolt crushing the anchor leg of the 4x100m relay to complete his double-triple goldmedalathon – I’m going to make it a good one.

Read more…