this morning, i sent out a mass email to just about everyone i know. this is what it said.

As many of you know, I've been working on my first book for about a year now. Today, July 31st, it is scheduled for release in the US -- it was released slightly earlier in the UK.

The title of the book? "The Rough Guide to Blogging." Rough Guides, a division of Penguin Books, is known for their excellent travel books but have recently ventured out into pop culture and other genres. The blog book is technically a "computer" book but trust me, it's non-technical and is focused more on the impact, back story, and function of blogs. There will be no math on this exam. My first print run is 15,000 copies. Ideally, it'll go into more print runs and then yearly editions.

But before that can happen it needs to get off to a blazing start and do well. A book like this will hardly rocket to the top of the New York Times book list (it contains no dog-centric stories, people you'll meet in heaven, or chicken soup), but it can have a good lifespan in its own right.

Basically what I need you to do, if you're so inclined, is to support the book. If anyone you know mentions the word "blog," or anything that even remotely sounds/rhymes like "blog," feel free to shamelessly promote the book. If you happen to work for someone or know people who could hook me up to write, review, interview, showcase, teach, etc about blogging, feel free to say that you conveniently know a personable blog expert. I'm also available for weddings, birthday parties, and the occasional non-denominational bar mitzvah.

In addition, if it isn't too much of an imposition on your wallet, you can also buy the book. I am working on my "personable and encouraging autograph messages" now so when I see you I'll be more than happy to sign the book and pose for cheesy pictures. You can say you knew me when.

While ordering through Amazon is fabulous (and many of you already have, thank you), walking into an actual bookstore to (loudly) request "The Rough Guide to Blogging by Jonathan Yang" is even better. Buying it in a bookstore helps to create buzz. Plus it's just more fun all around.

Also, when in any actual physical bookstore, feel free to re-arrange my book and put it cover side out on the shelf. My book has a wonderful cover depicting an eskimo (yes, an eskimo) and a pink colored title band. Eye-catching and quite fashion forward, even if it wasn't my preferred cover choice. I also do things like covertly change all monitor display windows to my book's Amazon page when in Apple stores. But that's just me.

Link to the book's Amazon page: Rough Guide to Blogging on Amazon

The book's companion blog (feel free to email me any good blog articles, events, that you see): www.jonyang.org/blog

Anyway, thanks for being my friend, thanks for your time. Tell your friends, tell your families, tell everyone. "Blog or Die, 2006"

(If you weren't able to concentrate long enough to read this email in its entirety, shame on you. But I still like you, don't worry.)