There aren't enough eyes to look at all the beautiful women in the world.

As some of you know, I'm engaged in a five-year plan. I'm experimenting with a bunch of different ways of promoting myself and my books--the book fair was one idea--in order to figure out how an independently-published author such as myself can make a living without having to keep his day job.

I know it sounds quixotic, and lord knows I've been told often enough that a writer shouldn't concern himself with such things and simply content himself with writing. More on that some other time, but suffice to say that no one with a day job is going to write The Man Without Qualities or Against the Day. At least not in a single lifetime.

Whew. Usually, the word "whew" gets an exclamation point, but frankly, I'm just too tired. A period will have to do.

The 19th annual Independent and Small Press Fair ended this afternoon, and I spent two wall-to-wall book days talking to editors, designers, publishers, typographers, pornographers and even readers. Oh yeah, lots and lots of readers.

I learned an interesting fact today from one of the keynote speakers at this morning's publisher breakfast. Publishing consultant Mark Levine noted that just over 250,000 books were published from 1900 through 194. Almost 250,000 books were published in 2004 alone.

December 2 and 3, just two weeks from now, I will have a table at the Independent and Small Press Book Fair, which has been held for 19 consecutive years.

The Nineteenth Annual Independent and Small Press Book Fair will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, December 2nd, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, December 3rd.

The Fair will take place in the landmark building of the General Society Library of Mechanics and Tradesmen, at 20 West 44th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues, in Manhattan.

Admission to the Fair continues to be free, though a one dollar donation is encouraged.

Rick Whitaker, the curator of a monthly reading series at Sip--and a terrific writer too--has invited me to read on Wednesday September 27 at 8 PM.

Sip is located on Amsterdam Avenue between 110th and 109th streets.

The fabulous Hungarian Pastry Shop is still there, a block away, and so is V&T Pizza, for those of you who love your baked ziti.

I'll be reading with another author--I'll add those details as I learn them.

I hope we pack Sip to the gills.