No real post today, since I spent all day getting an EIN to stop Amazon withholding 30% of my royalties, and sending the required forms to Amazon.

As an author, if you haven't already done this, you should! Following these instructions on Catherine Caffeinated, the process of getting an EIN is quick and painless! The most difficult part for me was finding the right time to make the call, and psyching myself up for it! (I hate phoning people, and this was my first international call ever!)

However, EIN in hand, I went to save my W-8BEN form to I could print it from my daughter's printer, only to find Internet Explorer has an issue which means it won't save pdf files! (Yes, I know, other browsers. I have my own reasons for choosing Internet Explorer, and I don't want to get into the browser debate, thanks.)

Considered briefly swapping the printer over, remembered it was out of ink anyway, then had the brilliant idea to buy a new printer! (The old one was on it's last legs, so it seemed a waste to buy ink for it when a new printer isn't much more.)

Bought new printer, then took over an hour to set it up. (Why are these things never simple?), printed out my forms, took them all the way to the post office, and realised I'd left my wallet at home! It was around 4pm by now, and I wasn't sure I could be bothered going all the way home, then back, that day.

Luckily, I found the $2.60 I needed in the glove box, so the letter got sent, and I didn't have to deliberate over whether to spend the extra $40 to pay for express post. (OK, only kidding on that bit, didn't even consider that much for express!)

So it's done! Hopefully soon I won't be giving Amazon that extra 30% for much longer! If you've been putting this one off too, I suggest you read the article. It's so simple, you'll be kicking yourself for not doing it sooner!