I've not tried the boiling method, but I do microwave woods pretty regularly... my microwave is an old one I found at the local Habitat for Humanity store for $20... it's a big one from Montgomery Wards.... I generally use the defrost cycle so it doesn't get so hot... I'll run blanks for about 3 minutes, let them cool for 30-45 minutes and then repeat... it can take half a day to dry smaller pieces... but you can also burn the wood if it's soft... BTDT... it does stink when you do that.
I do more bowls and pepper mills now than pens, so I'm more likely to be drying a bowl blank... I rough turn it, then microwave to dry it, then finish turn... seems to work for me. Pepper mills, I generally bore them to size and let them sit for a while to dry... then re-bore and turn to shape.