I spent last weekend with the brilliant bloggers at fightlinker.com. Their amazing productivity rather shamed my poor performance. So after so many months away, I'm back. Here are a few updates:

1. Apparently, my book is helping to inspire David Spina, who plays for the ECHL Premier 'AA' Hockey League. If he makes it to the majors, I intend to take credit.

2. I was honored to win two American Library Association Awards. It was nominated as one of the best books of the year. It was also selected for the 2008 Alex Awards, as one of the top ten books for young adults.

3. I am currently in the process of researching my next book about mixed martial arts. Expect to hear more from me soon. And when I say soon, I mean, in about two-three years!

Posted by Matthew Polly at 1:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I wandered into a Barnes & Noble today and was delighted to find American Shaolin at the front of the store on the table for Father's Day Deals (20% off).

It got me to thinking...

Because so many readers have requested signed copies of American Shaolin, I decided to set up a paypal account and figured out shipping costs.

If you are interested for yourself or for The Old Man (June 17), simply email me (matthew@mattpolly.com) and we can work out the details.

The book lists for $26. I can mail anyone in the U.S. a signed and inscribed copy for $24. Canada for $25. And England, well, $26. (Sorry, mates.) Any other countries will require specific calculations.

This will be a one-time limited offer, because my editor is expecting the proposal for my next book yesterday. Since I'm still undecided, all suggestions are welcome.

As the Shaolin monks say, "May the Buddha Bless you."

Best,
Matthew Polly

PS If you'd prefer to purchase directly, click on the image below:

Posted by Matthew Polly at 5:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

It seems the world of acupuncture has discovered American Shaolin. Ostenzen.com put up a rather amazing post with all my videos and a link to the interview I did on the Leonard Lopate show. I still haven't figured out how to do that.

Posted by Matthew Polly at 10:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Many people come up to me and ask what tips I have for them when they are doing a kung fu photoshoot in a suit in the middle of Times Square. Until Saturday I didn't know quite what to tell them except to say that my brother is on the police force and they should leave me alone.

But thanks to The Times of London and their wonderful photographer, Shahar Azram, I now have some advice.

First it is very important when performing flying kicks in a suit that you wear the knee-length dress socks. Sure, they are less comfortable, but no one wants to see your pasty white calves. Second, always apply a little hair gel. It gets windy out there on Broadway and 44th, especially if your flying kicks are, like mine, fast as lightning. Third, unbotton the top botton. Otherwise the suit bunches up and it makes it look like you've got a gut.

Hope that helps.

Posted by Matthew Polly at 10:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Most people in NY publishing consider Powell's in Portland to be one of the best, most innovative independent bookstores in the country. Frankly, I have to agree, because they wrote a wonderful review of my book and made it one of their staff picks.

Gerry and Michal: you are innovative; you are the best. I hope you'll invite me to read at your amazing store.

Posted by Matthew Polly at 7:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Steve Ersinghaus finds the conversation wonderful and the dialogue "planted" with irony. Thank you, Steve.

Posted by Matthew Polly at 7:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

As I continue my baby steps into the wild world of writing for free, I continue to hold onto the crutch of making my posts about other blogs that have mentioned "American Shaolin." (Narcissism is a terrible disease.)

In that spirit, this one is a shout-out to werethylacine, who is the first blogger to use a quote from my book as an epigram. She also referred to it as "very-worth-reading." That along with the fact that she goes to art school and plays D&D makes her the trifecta.

May her "lot of like" with the boy in her life turn into love.

Posted by Matthew Polly at 6:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)