We are very fortunate here in Kentucky - we have a very long fall.
In Ohio, they've already got inches and inches of snow. (Shudder!) Fall is over, winter is already entrenched. The north wind is already chilling Lake Erie and the shoreline. The Alberta Clipper and Siberian Express winds aren't far behind.
Here I've got a few more weeks to get hay in the barn. Even then the roads will stay fair (as in open and dry) for the most part. It is time for me to look at the next 3 months and ask what I want to accomplish.
We got a cord of wood today, oak and ash, plenty to keep the fire going all winter if I want. I don't usually have a fire every night - or during the day - unless I'm working on something, or having company over. My parents get chilled easily, so I like to start a fire when they will be over. Right now, the new wood is in the fireplace and it is burning slow, clean and fragrant.
I hate to sound like a city-girl, but I LOVE manufactured fire logs. The ones made out of pressed coffee smell the best. I can put one of those in to start, for a fire that burns 4 hours. Then I can let it burn out, another hour to cool, and shut the flue.
My first priority is a barn full of hay. The second will be 4 bales of straw for Chicken World. The last thing I want to make those birds do is spend a winter in mud. So 4 bales will cover the ground to a depth of about 4 inches. Raising the floor above the water line. The birds will be cold, but they will be dry.
On winter days when it's wet and nasty outside, I will let the flock loose in the barn. They will scratch around in the horse stalls, fluffing the shavings. Handy creatures, chickens, all that scratching gets rid of bug larva, and any spilled grain. The rodents have less to eat, so they are bolder, which feeds the cats. That's why I want to keep a few chickens. But more than a dozen is crazy-making.
I'm already looking into the holidays - which isn't something I usually do until last minute. Last year, with my husband in and out of the hospital I was barely functional. I holed up here in the house and hardly left. (This year, while still stressful, isn't quite as traumatic...knock on wood.) The Christmas tree wouldn't have happened, except my sister decorated it after Thanksgiving Dinner.
I'm going to take Thanksgiving week off, hoping to get some seasonal decorating done - as well as Christmas. IMO a perfectly decorated house has a harvest theme that ties in with Christmas. Lots of fruit and evergreen decorations that can stay up longer than the Christmas tree. Not that I have any hope of perfection...I've just got goals. LOL (If you believe that I've got some land in Florida to sell you.)
This has turned into an unexpectedly pleasant evening.
One digression: I'm going to need to move the couch closer to the fireplace. (All fantasy/historical writers take note!) Fires need to be tended, constantly. Logs must be turned every few minutes in order for them to burn evenly. Some wood pops - sending sparks out in arcs, the narrow modern hearth is only possible because we use firescreens. Otherwise carpeting would catch fire all the time.
So if you have characters spending a pleasant evening on a bear-skin rug in front of the fire - trust me - they are going to spend as much time tending the fire as each other. Either that or the fire will go out and they will freeze. And don't get me started on what a 'roaring' fire would do - it will send out sparks. The bearskin would be up in flames, totally ruining the mood.
Oops!
Monday, November 14, 2011
Sunday, November 13, 2011
University of Perversion
If just one thing can come from the horrendous criminal activity at Penn State, let it be that the 'glamour' comes off of the ego-driven world of College Sports.
"Son Was Afraid to Say 'No'"
Of course the child was afraid - Paterno and Sandusky were given God-status. They were men with unlimited status and power in the world of College Sports. Obviously they weren't shy about exploiting it, either.
There wasn't anyone who would refuse them anything. Penn State certainly didn't - look at the near riots because someone dared nail them for their crimes. So how could children stand up to those men?
It seems to me that there is way too much money spent on college sports. Yes, I like to watch an occasional baseball or football game. However, my preference is to watch them as games - fun and exciting for the kids who play. The whole 'bread and circuses' mentality is revolting.
The industry that sucks in kids, churns out egotistical athletes and often cripples them, does not deserve the worship it gets. (Or the money thrown at it.) The mad culture of multi-million dollar sports contracts are the feeding ground for the corrupt, the drug-addicted, the gambler and now the child-rapist.
Colleges are industries of higher learning. Yes, industries - I've been to college it's a racket. Overpriced books, pitiful living conditions, insane instructors, the loan-sharking and crushing debt that students must put up with.
Most high schools teach a very limited few and warehouse the rest - inner-city schools are the worst - I went to one. There isn't enough money in the state budgets for the schools that need money. Why not? Because it goes to college sports.
Why don't we cut 75% of the money out of college sports and...I don't know...spend it on Education, maybe?
The country needs educated and intelligent citizens. It doesn't need ignorant, egotistical, emotionally-crippled, drug-addict men who rape children in the name of Sports.
Take their money, take their power - give it to those who will use it for the common good.
They abused what they were given, take it from them.
It's OUR tax dollars.
I'll get off my soap-box - for now.
"Son Was Afraid to Say 'No'"
Of course the child was afraid - Paterno and Sandusky were given God-status. They were men with unlimited status and power in the world of College Sports. Obviously they weren't shy about exploiting it, either.
There wasn't anyone who would refuse them anything. Penn State certainly didn't - look at the near riots because someone dared nail them for their crimes. So how could children stand up to those men?
It seems to me that there is way too much money spent on college sports. Yes, I like to watch an occasional baseball or football game. However, my preference is to watch them as games - fun and exciting for the kids who play. The whole 'bread and circuses' mentality is revolting.
The industry that sucks in kids, churns out egotistical athletes and often cripples them, does not deserve the worship it gets. (Or the money thrown at it.) The mad culture of multi-million dollar sports contracts are the feeding ground for the corrupt, the drug-addicted, the gambler and now the child-rapist.
Colleges are industries of higher learning. Yes, industries - I've been to college it's a racket. Overpriced books, pitiful living conditions, insane instructors, the loan-sharking and crushing debt that students must put up with.
Most high schools teach a very limited few and warehouse the rest - inner-city schools are the worst - I went to one. There isn't enough money in the state budgets for the schools that need money. Why not? Because it goes to college sports.
Why don't we cut 75% of the money out of college sports and...I don't know...spend it on Education, maybe?
The country needs educated and intelligent citizens. It doesn't need ignorant, egotistical, emotionally-crippled, drug-addict men who rape children in the name of Sports.
Take their money, take their power - give it to those who will use it for the common good.
They abused what they were given, take it from them.
It's OUR tax dollars.
I'll get off my soap-box - for now.
Book Review - Iron Shoes
Iron Shoes by J. Kathleen CheneyMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Good story about the Irish Fair Folk in the USA. A clean, well-written romance I enjoyed reading.
View all my reviews
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Filed Under - 'Don't Do it Again'
Just got back from the E-town flea market where I dropped off a truckload of chickens. (Yes, they were in cages. LOL)
Spent an hour chasing them down this morning. Thank God I had sense enough to lock them into the barn 2 days ago when they congregated on their own. Otherwise I'd STILL be out there with the chicken hook and a net.
This was my first experiment with raising chickens for meat. Out of 3 dozen birds there were only 11 left. What a waste of effort and money! Not going to do this again, unless I end up having to raise our own food. (Hope it doesn't come to that!) If that happens I've got a hatchet, I won't starve.
What am I going to get out of this? 3 dressed birds. So it wasn't a total loss - these birds just cost me $20 each. (rolling eyes)
Over the summer they've crapped all over the barn. Everything needs swept and raked. I hope they didn't have lice...well all chickens have lice, it's just a matter of how many lice.
This week I'm going to sell the drakes to my friend at the Chinese restaurant. That will bring the duck population down to 3, a drake and 2 hen ducks.
The chicken population has been halved - all that's left are the hens. The red hens are going next, which should leave me with 6 Dominques, (2 roosters & 4 hens), 2 Barred Rock hens and 2 Brahma hens.
I might sell the Dominques and get a few more Brahmas. They are a larger, meatier bird that should dress out better than the skinnier Barred Rocks.
There isn't any money in eggs, unless I get like $4 a dozen. At $3 a dozen I'm paying for feed. Meat birds are throwing good money after bad (as they say.) Ducks are my money makers...one hen can hatch 3 batches of 12 to 25 ducklings a year. With 6 duck hens I can make $200 a year in profit. Should I raise them, I get about $7 a drake, and $5 for 2 ducklings.
The dumbest thing I ever did was switch from Moscovie ducks to chickens.
Live and learn.
Spent an hour chasing them down this morning. Thank God I had sense enough to lock them into the barn 2 days ago when they congregated on their own. Otherwise I'd STILL be out there with the chicken hook and a net.
This was my first experiment with raising chickens for meat. Out of 3 dozen birds there were only 11 left. What a waste of effort and money! Not going to do this again, unless I end up having to raise our own food. (Hope it doesn't come to that!) If that happens I've got a hatchet, I won't starve.
What am I going to get out of this? 3 dressed birds. So it wasn't a total loss - these birds just cost me $20 each. (rolling eyes)
Over the summer they've crapped all over the barn. Everything needs swept and raked. I hope they didn't have lice...well all chickens have lice, it's just a matter of how many lice.
This week I'm going to sell the drakes to my friend at the Chinese restaurant. That will bring the duck population down to 3, a drake and 2 hen ducks.
The chicken population has been halved - all that's left are the hens. The red hens are going next, which should leave me with 6 Dominques, (2 roosters & 4 hens), 2 Barred Rock hens and 2 Brahma hens.
I might sell the Dominques and get a few more Brahmas. They are a larger, meatier bird that should dress out better than the skinnier Barred Rocks.
There isn't any money in eggs, unless I get like $4 a dozen. At $3 a dozen I'm paying for feed. Meat birds are throwing good money after bad (as they say.) Ducks are my money makers...one hen can hatch 3 batches of 12 to 25 ducklings a year. With 6 duck hens I can make $200 a year in profit. Should I raise them, I get about $7 a drake, and $5 for 2 ducklings.
The dumbest thing I ever did was switch from Moscovie ducks to chickens.
Live and learn.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Scrivener - the Word Processor for Writers
Like all writers, I've got a hard drive full of puzzle pieces - notes, photos, quotes, character sketches, plot points, calendars and so forth.
Referencing them is a chore - but what day did that even happen? And what was that character's motivation again??
A few days ago I saw a post on 'The Passive Voice' blogs about a program for writers called Scrivener. It is a converted Mac program - which will tell you that it is heavy on the visuals.
Literature and Latte.com is the home of this curious creature - a combination database and word processor that will 'print' a document to e-Pub or PDF OR it will keep all your research in a single file.
For example: The Dark Harbor Series
I have photos of the Harbor, the Iroquois, Mother of Sorrows Church scattered on my hard drive. I also have notes on haunted places in Ashtabula - Chestnut Grove cemetery and the Great Train Disaster. I've got sites saved, somewhere on my messy Favorites or Bookmarks in 3 different browsers.
Scrivener allows me to paste ALL that information under 'Research' which has a cute little cork board where all this stuff is visible at a glance.
I've only had this marvelous toy for a few days. Long enough to spend a couple hours sorting the Dark Harbor series notes into something I can actually GET when I want it.
What if I had the cover art, advertising blurbs, author bio of all my books on a cork board where I could see it, cut it and paste it? Wouldn't that make it easier than clicking through folders, thinking 'where DID I put that?'
Even if it proves to be too unwieldy for finishing up a novel, a cork board is a great place to store ideas, darlings, web addresses and photos.
Oh, yeah the cork board becomes an outline as soon as you click a different button, and I can move scenes around by drag and drop. I can also label chapters 'first draft,' 'revised draft,' or 'final draft' so I can see what needs work and what is farther along.
All this and a bag of chips - for the reasonable price of $40.
I'm in love!
Referencing them is a chore - but what day did that even happen? And what was that character's motivation again??
A few days ago I saw a post on 'The Passive Voice' blogs about a program for writers called Scrivener. It is a converted Mac program - which will tell you that it is heavy on the visuals.
Literature and Latte.com is the home of this curious creature - a combination database and word processor that will 'print' a document to e-Pub or PDF OR it will keep all your research in a single file.
For example: The Dark Harbor Series
I have photos of the Harbor, the Iroquois, Mother of Sorrows Church scattered on my hard drive. I also have notes on haunted places in Ashtabula - Chestnut Grove cemetery and the Great Train Disaster. I've got sites saved, somewhere on my messy Favorites or Bookmarks in 3 different browsers.
Scrivener allows me to paste ALL that information under 'Research' which has a cute little cork board where all this stuff is visible at a glance.
I've only had this marvelous toy for a few days. Long enough to spend a couple hours sorting the Dark Harbor series notes into something I can actually GET when I want it.
What if I had the cover art, advertising blurbs, author bio of all my books on a cork board where I could see it, cut it and paste it? Wouldn't that make it easier than clicking through folders, thinking 'where DID I put that?'
Even if it proves to be too unwieldy for finishing up a novel, a cork board is a great place to store ideas, darlings, web addresses and photos.
Oh, yeah the cork board becomes an outline as soon as you click a different button, and I can move scenes around by drag and drop. I can also label chapters 'first draft,' 'revised draft,' or 'final draft' so I can see what needs work and what is farther along.
All this and a bag of chips - for the reasonable price of $40.
I'm in love!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
First Book Signing - Nov 12, 2011
Yep - that's right.
I'm doing my first book signing in E-town. This is really strange feeling. I got a hair cut and my eyebrows done today to get ready.
Now I've got to figure out what to wear.
I'm doing my first book signing in E-town. This is really strange feeling. I got a hair cut and my eyebrows done today to get ready.
Now I've got to figure out what to wear.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
How Times Have Changed
The Fate of the LA Cafe
There was a time when Bridge Street was known as the Barbary Coast of the Great Lakes. The yacht club posted a sign: "Do Not Go On Bridge St. After Dark!"Which was back in the days when there were 10 or 11 bars - and a couple of little shops - and Bridge Street was the Skid Row of Ashtabula.
How times have changed.
Now Bridge Street is the center of Ashtabula's commerce and tourist trade. The Harbor is only vital area in a dying city.
The LA Cafe` is one of the last bastions of the 'Old Harbor.' In the 80's it was the Circle J - with the same reputation it has now - the rowdiest bar on Bridge Street. Trouble flowed from there like water from a sewer - the Saturday Night Fights featured knives, tire irons and chains as blood feuds played out on the sidewalk and into the street.
So you can imagine my amusement at the video above.
It has taken 100 years for Bridge Street to shed it's unsavory reputation.
I'm very glad to see this.
But I still think it's hilarious.
Holy Paperbacks - Captain Marvel!
I know, I know - Ms Kitty is giddy. Haven't been hitting the catnip, I swear!
Signed for 20 copies of 'Let's Do Lunch' yesterday and am still feeling the buzz. Sold and signed the first copy to the new owners of the restaurant - The Old Vault Deli is the actual place.
This is one of those cute little places that sticks in the mind because it is so small and the food is good.
The new owners and the former owners were there yesterday when I presented the book to Sofia.
I'm more interested in telling a good story than standing in the spotlight. Still it is a lot of fun to sit in the restaurant and think of my characters acting out the story. I've got a few reservations about how the book will be received, but I've not heard any complaints yet.
Signed for 20 copies of 'Let's Do Lunch' yesterday and am still feeling the buzz. Sold and signed the first copy to the new owners of the restaurant - The Old Vault Deli is the actual place.
 |
| The Deli on the Square in E-Town |
The new owners and the former owners were there yesterday when I presented the book to Sofia.
I'm more interested in telling a good story than standing in the spotlight. Still it is a lot of fun to sit in the restaurant and think of my characters acting out the story. I've got a few reservations about how the book will be received, but I've not heard any complaints yet.
Monday, October 31, 2011
I Have a Plan - Really
Now that 'Let's Do Lunch' is officially on sale, I've got time to do a bit of planning.
My editing project is almost finished. NaNoWriMo starts tomorrow.
I've got a few more things to do - StM needs to be a paperback - that should be smoother than LDL because the file isn't as old and was copy-edited.
I've made progress at home, too.
Been getting rid of paper clutter that goes back to...are you ready for this?...1979.
Holy Paper cuts, Captain Marvel! That's - 4 decades! Scary, isn't it?
This is what I pulled from the paper basket yesterday:
Yes, the first flyer from the first Harbor Happening!
Is that crazy or what?
I told you I had a boat load of paper hidden around my house. I wasn't kidding. It is going to take a very long time to sort through it.
I think I'm going to scan a lot of it, save it to PDF files and post it to Facebook and a few other places. That way other people can find it and use it.
My editing project is almost finished. NaNoWriMo starts tomorrow.
I've got a few more things to do - StM needs to be a paperback - that should be smoother than LDL because the file isn't as old and was copy-edited.
I've made progress at home, too.
Been getting rid of paper clutter that goes back to...are you ready for this?...1979.
Holy Paper cuts, Captain Marvel! That's - 4 decades! Scary, isn't it?
This is what I pulled from the paper basket yesterday:
Is that crazy or what?
I told you I had a boat load of paper hidden around my house. I wasn't kidding. It is going to take a very long time to sort through it.
I think I'm going to scan a lot of it, save it to PDF files and post it to Facebook and a few other places. That way other people can find it and use it.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
'Let's Do Lunch' - the Paperback!
It's true!
As of today - "Let's Do Lunch" is on sale here, as a trade paperback, with nice BIG print! I'm thrilled!
Now can I bug all my friends until they buy it? (Evil Ms Kitty asks slyly.)
No, that's not what it means. (K. A. Jordan replies.)
I can buy copies and sell them at craft shows and flea markets. I can have book signings. I can do all the things 'real' authors do to
In about a week, the book will be on Amazon.com - in the general population of books. As a reminder - here is the blurb:
Restaurant owner Lindsey Bennett is caught between two men, one will tease her, the other will use her; both are capable of killing.
A business owner at the mercy of her employees, Lindsey Bennett owner of the restaurant "Let's Do Lunch," finds her employees have no mercy. When Lindsey drops everything to be her injured mother's caregiver, relying on her sister to run the restaurant proves to be a mistake. Lindsey's trusted cook quits, the new cook changes the menu, her sister hires a waitress who can't run a register and money comes up missing. When a bug gets in a customer's food, Lindsey could lose it all! Somebody should get fired. Once she's back in charge, Lindsey finds that hiring is easier than firing.
More problems arise with the men in her life. Her new chef Brandon Pendleton – smart, sexy, fast living: he's the life of every party. Sergeant Kevin "Tag" McTaggart – handsome, aloof, this wounded warrior's blue eyes see into the depths of her soul. One will tease her until she gives up all her secrets. The other is out to use her and her restaurant.
Surrounded by criminals, deceived on all sides, and catapulted from crisis to crisis, can Lindsey stay focused? Her restaurant and her life are at stake.
More problems arise with the men in her life. Her new chef Brandon Pendleton – smart, sexy, fast living: he's the life of every party. Sergeant Kevin "Tag" McTaggart – handsome, aloof, this wounded warrior's blue eyes see into the depths of her soul. One will tease her until she gives up all her secrets. The other is out to use her and her restaurant.
Surrounded by criminals, deceived on all sides, and catapulted from crisis to crisis, can Lindsey stay focused? Her restaurant and her life are at stake.
I can put into words just how cool this is!
Monday, October 24, 2011
Organized? Who, Me?
I am one of the millions of people who lost their jobs. Yet I've got a full time job just taking care of my family, the house, the farm and my writing. Add to that some family health issues and you have utter chaos.
I've been struggling to put everything in order and in good repair - in and out of the house. I've succeeded in a few areas: the house, the barn and the grounds. Where I'm having the most trouble is in maintenance.
I'll bet I'm not the only person out there who has this problem!
While I'm not a hoarder, I could become one easily, it runs in the family. So the place is cluttered with lots of stuff. We aren't knee deep in it - yet - but I can see it coming.
While I'm not ready to endorse my sources - after all I might not be able to keep it up - I can talk about the methods.
One thing I've been taught is to break things down into steps. I also wrote S.O.P.s for ISO9000 quality control. Never figured out how to put it into action in my life. I've always muddled through using paper calendars and making notes to Office Calendar.
This time - I've made up some 3"x5" cards with my weekly chores on them. Breaking up the work load into days of the week. Just one or two chores a day instead of trying to do them all on Saturday and Sunday. There is a card for each horse, too.
Meal planning is where I'm the least organized. So I eat a lot of fast food (don't we all?) and carry a lot of extra weight.
I know for a fact that 'dieting' isn't going to work for me. It needs to go deeper than that - a life style change is required but not all at once. Not while I'm carrying a stress load of 10 on a daily basis.
I sat down last night and wrote the things I usually cook on index cards. There are about 15 different meals. That require varying amounts of cooking time. I've got 'fast' food in the freezer for backups - fish sticks and shaved steaks. As time goes on I'll add another card or two, seasonal stuff.
The cards are merely there to jog my memory, not run my life. Rotating chores, rotating meals, so I'm not stuck thinking 'what's next?' or 'when was the last time I did that?'
This experiment has been going on for two weeks. I keep adding to it - this week I divided the house into zones. Instead of trying to clean the entire house in a day, I have a month and every room gets a turn.
In just 14 days the bathroom is cleaner, the kitchen is cleaner. The dishes are done on a regular basis - and most importantly - my kitchen sink is clean and shiny.
This just might work.
Stay tuned.
I've been struggling to put everything in order and in good repair - in and out of the house. I've succeeded in a few areas: the house, the barn and the grounds. Where I'm having the most trouble is in maintenance.
I'll bet I'm not the only person out there who has this problem!
While I'm not a hoarder, I could become one easily, it runs in the family. So the place is cluttered with lots of stuff. We aren't knee deep in it - yet - but I can see it coming.
While I'm not ready to endorse my sources - after all I might not be able to keep it up - I can talk about the methods.
One thing I've been taught is to break things down into steps. I also wrote S.O.P.s for ISO9000 quality control. Never figured out how to put it into action in my life. I've always muddled through using paper calendars and making notes to Office Calendar.
This time - I've made up some 3"x5" cards with my weekly chores on them. Breaking up the work load into days of the week. Just one or two chores a day instead of trying to do them all on Saturday and Sunday. There is a card for each horse, too.
Meal planning is where I'm the least organized. So I eat a lot of fast food (don't we all?) and carry a lot of extra weight.
I know for a fact that 'dieting' isn't going to work for me. It needs to go deeper than that - a life style change is required but not all at once. Not while I'm carrying a stress load of 10 on a daily basis.
I sat down last night and wrote the things I usually cook on index cards. There are about 15 different meals. That require varying amounts of cooking time. I've got 'fast' food in the freezer for backups - fish sticks and shaved steaks. As time goes on I'll add another card or two, seasonal stuff.
The cards are merely there to jog my memory, not run my life. Rotating chores, rotating meals, so I'm not stuck thinking 'what's next?' or 'when was the last time I did that?'
This experiment has been going on for two weeks. I keep adding to it - this week I divided the house into zones. Instead of trying to clean the entire house in a day, I have a month and every room gets a turn.
In just 14 days the bathroom is cleaner, the kitchen is cleaner. The dishes are done on a regular basis - and most importantly - my kitchen sink is clean and shiny.
This just might work.
Stay tuned.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
State of the Croft
'Let's Do Lunch' -
I have sent in the corrections to the first proof. A second proof should be on it's way. I don't think I'll find any more typos in it. So may as well say the First Run of 20 copies should be in hand by Halloween.
As soon as I have copies in hand, I'm going to look into ways to promote the book locally. There may be a book signing or two in my future. Or I might take it to a craft fair - having cards with Smashwords Coupons to either give away or sell at a discount.
Sales are stalled - which is disappointing. I thought after the spectacular July we had things would start chugging along. Not a chance. There have been 6 sales at full price. Which is better than a dozen sales at Dollar Dreadful prices.
'Swallow the Moon' - now a Dollar Dreadful
The interior is 50% finished for the paperback. The cover is ready. As soon as I get the interior finished it can go to Create Space to be printed.
This book is going to be promoted on the Ashtabula websites as well as locally. I'm looking to have it finished by the first of the year.
Meanwhile, sales of 'Swallow the Moon' have doubled. (snicker) Last month I sold 2 copies, this month I've sold 4 (with 1 return). The price is currently $.99 - until the end of October, unless there is a sudden surge in sales.
I've heard from one reviewer who has the book in que to read and review. However, though I've sent out 33 free copies, 9 to reviewers, some way back before the book was first published in July - there have been only a couple reviews.
'Doyle Road Bridge' - I. C. Talbot collection
I've got 30% of this finished. There are about 10 more stories to go in it.
Impressive Bravado -
I really got bit in the tush by the old formatting of this story. It took 3 'nukes' to get all the formatting errors out. Then I uploaded the Amazon Master to Smashwords which gummed up the distribution channel. The story is going out as a freebie with an ISBN because it 'sold' 82 copies on Barnes and Nobel which might have fueled the rash of sales I enjoyed this summer.
It is worth trying this again - this time knowing it will take 6 months to get any feedback. Having a freebie is a 'tried and true' sales technique that doesn't stick in my craw.
The Chicken Project -
While the girls are still producing eggs on a regular basis - I have no time to take the eggs to market. There are about 6 dozen in the fridge. I need to start giving them away.
I've still got at least a dozen roosters running all over the place. I need to sell them, or something. I'd like to eat the dratted birds, but Hubby won't eat a fresh bird. I can't bring myself to kill them. It's a problem.
The laying flock also needs to go. I've just got too many chickens. They are great looking birds in great shape. But they are eating me out of house and home.
The New Website -
This project is dead in the water. When I read the contract, there was no mention of the services promised beyond the splash page. There was a page of disclaimers that made this a major concern.
I've got a real problem with a company that has a full page of 'fine print' and one line of 'services' on the previous page. It looks suspicious. At best it is careless, the company is more interested in protecting themselves from client than in providing services.
Besides the fact I'm 'over-the-hill' -
I'm desperately trying to get organized. I've joined something called "Flylady" to help coach (or coax) me into getting my sh!t together. After years of family health problems - Hubby is still in and out of the hospital - I'm chronically disorganized and nearly stressed to death.
I may write a full blog post on this in the near future. I now have an office - outside the home - in an effort to get my writing projects finished. It has been priceless to get a few hours of focused time for my writing. I would still be struggling to get 'Let's Do Lunch' into print if I hadn't taken this space.
So that's what's happening in my little section of the world.
How is your fall going?
Sunday, October 16, 2011
A Half-Century? Seriously?
Yes, really.
Today is my birthday - I'm a half-century old.
I only feel that old in the morning - getting up can be a bitch some days. Lately, with all the chaos, my brain feels much older than my body. Not a good feeling at all.
Screw that.
It's not the age, it's the mileage, and trust me, this body has a lot of wear and tear. This year I had my first tangle with cancer - skin cancer - a small spot that wouldn't heal. Had it removed and all is well. Still, it scared the hell out of me.
I've got two published novels - and they sell a few copies here and there. I've still got the old mare, the dogs and my husband. I've been married for 10 years and lived through some very hard times.
I think it is utterly fascinating to watch 'Occupy Wall Street' after seeing the protests against the Vietnam War and for Civil Rights. The hippies are gathering because this is all about the Republican tax cuts financed by cuts in social services.
There may be a 'Conservative Movement' after this, but I doubt it. We are seeing the end of the GOP's perceived power. The people are rising up against the government's refusal to do anything for them.
I'm very happy to see it happen this year. It has renewed my faith in the Cosmic Balance.
Happy Birthday to my cousin and me!
Today is my birthday - I'm a half-century old.
I only feel that old in the morning - getting up can be a bitch some days. Lately, with all the chaos, my brain feels much older than my body. Not a good feeling at all.
Screw that.
It's not the age, it's the mileage, and trust me, this body has a lot of wear and tear. This year I had my first tangle with cancer - skin cancer - a small spot that wouldn't heal. Had it removed and all is well. Still, it scared the hell out of me.
I've got two published novels - and they sell a few copies here and there. I've still got the old mare, the dogs and my husband. I've been married for 10 years and lived through some very hard times.
I think it is utterly fascinating to watch 'Occupy Wall Street' after seeing the protests against the Vietnam War and for Civil Rights. The hippies are gathering because this is all about the Republican tax cuts financed by cuts in social services.
There may be a 'Conservative Movement' after this, but I doubt it. We are seeing the end of the GOP's perceived power. The people are rising up against the government's refusal to do anything for them.
I'm very happy to see it happen this year. It has renewed my faith in the Cosmic Balance.
Happy Birthday to my cousin and me!
Friday, October 14, 2011
The Game of Musical Dogs
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| Frizbie the Bitchen' Frizzy |
Often animals come into our lives in different ways.
Frizzy is a little white fluffy dog, kinda cute, in that lapdog way. Since he's been here he has learned a proper Terrier bark. Not his normal high-pitched, ear-piercing yap, but a deeper bark that sounds exactly like Trouble. It is uncanny.
He's the only dog in the bunch who is utterly clueless. I've got two Jack Russel Terriers and a JRT, Mini-pin, Chihuahua and Beagle mix. All three are much smarter than Frizzy.
For instance - Mocha the Mutt wants on my lap, but a dog is already there. She goes looking for his favorite toy, or a chewy, gets up on the couch, plays with it to get his interest, then drops it to the floor.
The other dog is supposed to jump after the toy, so Mocha can curl up in my lap.
JR will simply look at her, unless it is his ball. Then he HAS to get it.
Trouble fell for this trick - over and over - until he figured it out. Now he will get up if he's in the mood to play. Otherwise he stays put.
Frizzy hasn't figured it out yet. He falls for it every time. So he doesn't get a lot of lap time. No sooner does he settle in than Mocha will dig up something interesting and toss it to the floor.
Poor dumb Frizzy - he hasn't got a chance. The Jacks are too smart for him.
If I hold still, they will play musical dogs all day. Some times I will watch TV and have a different dog in my lap every time I look down. It's a little disconcerting.
Company gets the same treatment. You sit down, you have a lap, therefore you will have a dog in your lap in short order.
My mother can't sit down without having a dog on each side of her. She gets aggravated at Trouble because he always wants to lick her face. (I can't stand it either, I've seen them wolf down horse turds. No dog is going to lick my face.)
JR is the worst one for Mom to deal with because he's the heaviest and he leans on her. She doesn't want to pet him, but she doesn't have much choice.
Oddly enough she never tells the dogs to get off the couch.
I tell them 'off' quite often, only Mocha slinks away like she's been punished. But she's dominant anyways, she needs to be told.
This canine ritual comes in handy when you have company. If the person is upset about something - they will have a dog to pet and they will calm down.
It never fails.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
The Face of a Mouser
That bright-eyed look is how he got his name. I took one look at that face and knew what I had in my arms.
Trouble - aka 'little booger' - as in 'what're you up to now, you li'l booger?'
First a bit of history - terriers are varmint dogs. They were bred to kill rats, small game and dig varmints out of the ground. Back in the days of the Plague, ratting dogs were prized. They are better rat catchers than cats. My first terrier - Rowdy was a pit bull/schnauzer who understood about 200 words, including 'get the rat' and 'take it outside.'
Jack Russel's are always up for a hunt or a game of ball all day, every day. They've got the prey drive of a barnyard terrorist. A Jack that doesn't want to play is sick. (This bit of knowledge saved Trouble's life when he came down with Parvo.)
Now that the weather has changed, we have mice in the house. You would think that with four small dogs, two of them Jacks, there wouldn't be a problem. But mice are stupid.
For the last two weeks, I've been hearing a mouse and seeing droppings. I've even spotted the dratted rodent scampering across the floor. He's always gotten away.
Last night he was all over the living room. I called the dogs twice, but JR's back is bothering him. He's my old Jack, the one who cleared the house of mice and the barn of rats the first time we had problems. He's the only one who knows what 'get the mouse' means.
It was just getting light, my coffee was brewing when I heard the mouse. I had Mocha the Mutt at my feet while I read my e-mail. The mouse was flopping around under the corner cabinet.
I called Mocha to follow me as I investigated. She stuck her nose under the cabinet and started to bay. (Of the 8 breeds she's got in her background beagle is one of them.) Trouble and the Frizzy came over to see what she was baying about.
Once Trouble started digging at the tile, I knew it was under there. So I started emptying the cabinet. When I could move the cabinet - Trouble threw himself into the corner.
There was a scramble, a moving shadow and a snap.
Trouble vanished (I assumed with the mouse) the other dogs were left to sniff around. I put them outside.
There was no sign of Trouble.
The whole point of having a varmint dog is that the dead varmints go in the trash. Now, how do I tell Trouble that he was a good dog and take his prize away?
This was Trouble's first legitimate trophy. But I didn't want him to eat it, because I've got poison out, or worse yet, leave it somewhere I couldn't get it.
Without the other dogs around, it was easier. Once I found Trouble, under my bed, I was determined he wasn't going to leave that carcass to rot under there. A few 'go outside' commands later, he was holding the mouse in his mouth, and out from under my bed.
Now what?
I did the only thing I could think of - I offered him a cookie.
"Wants a cookie?"
Mouse spilled from both sides of his jaw. Those bright eyes looked at me and his head tilted to one side. He walked with me to where I keep the treats.
I dug out a big one - showed it to him.
"Wants a cookie?"
Tilted head - the dilemma presented itself. He couldn't take the cookie with a mouse in his mouth.
I put my hand under his jaw, put the cookie in the right place.
"Wants a cookie?"
His little black tail wagged once. He slowly let go of the mouse, and very politely took the cookie.
Now that's a good dog!
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Friday, September 30, 2011
TEASER ALERT! Part II
I've shown you the first photo - now here is the second photo!
Are you ready?
This is the Suzuki Hyabusa - one of the most deadly motorcycles in the world.
It is infamous for being the leading cause of death of Marines stationed in the US.
So we have a very pretty, but relatively harmless reptile - and a fast and deadly motorcycle.
What happens when we put them together? I'll show you tomorrow!
Are you ready?
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It is infamous for being the leading cause of death of Marines stationed in the US.
So we have a very pretty, but relatively harmless reptile - and a fast and deadly motorcycle.
What happens when we put them together? I'll show you tomorrow!
TEASER ALERT!
Yes, my friends I've got an announcement for YOU!
While I'm not a liberty to reveal anything YET - stay tuned to this channel!
Here is your first hint!
While I'm not a liberty to reveal anything YET - stay tuned to this channel!
Here is your first hint!
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| This is a color variation of an albino Burmese Python |
Monday, September 26, 2011
Are Indie Books Winding Down? - Maybe So
Since I'm in the middle of writing my 3rd novel 'Tempest in a Teapot' I've not had the time for blogging. I've seen quite a bit that I want to comment on.
Indie Publishing
Some say it's the industry's first shake down - others 'just another summer slow season.' What you see depends on who you are.
I think it is a trend.
The Word on the Indie boards is that sales are very slow. Many Indies are talking about packing it up. Other's are throwing their books into the Dollar Dreadful Ghetto just to bump some numbers.
There are, of course, hundreds of newbies for every 'dropout.' Alas for the Indies - back-list continues to appear. So readers are picking up their favorite authors.
It's not just Dean Wesley Smith, Kristine Katherine Rusch, Bob Mayer and Andre Jute dusting off their old books. It's EVERYONE with a lick of sense and a few out-of-print published books in storage.
It is the law of supply and demand in action. When there wasn't a supply of 'known' authors, the 'un-known' did very well for themselves. Now with the flood of 'name' authors with new and back-listed titles the average Indie is not able to compete.
This may well lead to the deepening of the pool of Dollar Dreadful e-books. If Indie books aren't able to compete on the level playing field with quality, cheap prices may be all they have.
The Christmas Season
The Christmas Season looms - millions of i-Pads, Kindles, Kindle-tablets, Nooks, Color Nooks, mini-Nooks, Sony readers packed with Harry Potter books, and the stalwart Kobo are waiting to be shipped to stores for Black Friday.
I predict that Black Friday will be the big sales boost to e-books as it always is for retail. It might take a week for it to echo out, but that is the day for every Indie to hold out for.
Enjoy it, my friends, because it's going to be the last hurrah for the Indie Author.
This next wave of sales is going to signal the end of the Indie Author Boom. By this time next year there will more back-list titles than Indie titles. That will the end of the Indie 'Revolution' because the supply of back-list will meet the demands of readers.
The Indie market will pop, like all bubbles.
Stay tuned.
Indie Publishing
Some say it's the industry's first shake down - others 'just another summer slow season.' What you see depends on who you are.
I think it is a trend.
The Word on the Indie boards is that sales are very slow. Many Indies are talking about packing it up. Other's are throwing their books into the Dollar Dreadful Ghetto just to bump some numbers.
There are, of course, hundreds of newbies for every 'dropout.' Alas for the Indies - back-list continues to appear. So readers are picking up their favorite authors.
It's not just Dean Wesley Smith, Kristine Katherine Rusch, Bob Mayer and Andre Jute dusting off their old books. It's EVERYONE with a lick of sense and a few out-of-print published books in storage.
It is the law of supply and demand in action. When there wasn't a supply of 'known' authors, the 'un-known' did very well for themselves. Now with the flood of 'name' authors with new and back-listed titles the average Indie is not able to compete.
This may well lead to the deepening of the pool of Dollar Dreadful e-books. If Indie books aren't able to compete on the level playing field with quality, cheap prices may be all they have.
The Christmas Season
The Christmas Season looms - millions of i-Pads, Kindles, Kindle-tablets, Nooks, Color Nooks, mini-Nooks, Sony readers packed with Harry Potter books, and the stalwart Kobo are waiting to be shipped to stores for Black Friday.
I predict that Black Friday will be the big sales boost to e-books as it always is for retail. It might take a week for it to echo out, but that is the day for every Indie to hold out for.
Enjoy it, my friends, because it's going to be the last hurrah for the Indie Author.
This next wave of sales is going to signal the end of the Indie Author Boom. By this time next year there will more back-list titles than Indie titles. That will the end of the Indie 'Revolution' because the supply of back-list will meet the demands of readers.
The Indie market will pop, like all bubbles.
Stay tuned.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Killing the Sacred Cows - One Got Away
I pulled up my RSS feed yesterday - wondering what I was going to find in Dean Wesley Smith's folder.
It was an installment of 'Killing the Sacred Cows of Publishing' - I rubbed my hands together with glee. Then I noticed it was the AGENT Myth.
I dropped every thing I was doing to read it.
For me, as I said many, many times - it started with #QueryFail. My first, and I hope my last, glimpse into the mind of the Slush Pile Bees - who ridiculed and sneered their way into my brain forever.
They had nothing but contempt for the people who created their jobs. It was a level of unprofessionalism that I've never seen before - and I've seen some very bad shit.
However, DWS had some really good advice:
I'm slowly working my way backwards from a global marketing campaign to a local one. Just like my friends at Year Zero, I'm going ahead with readings on the local level, while having the books out globally.
To that end, I will be reading part of 'Swallow the Moon' at Moonlight Serenity Bath Products the second Saturday in October.
Unfortunately, I won't have any paperback books to sell. But I might be able to collect email addresses so I can send out notice when I have them.
It was an installment of 'Killing the Sacred Cows of Publishing' - I rubbed my hands together with glee. Then I noticed it was the AGENT Myth.
I dropped every thing I was doing to read it.
Series Note: I am now working on updating each chapter and putting together this book, finally, after over 100,000 words that started back in 2009. So I am updating each chapter and putting it up here now for those who have not seen them.
I understand that. I can't stomach the propaganda any more myself.
However, since I started this series, agents and what they are doing in publishing has changed dramatically. In fact, things have changed so dramatically since I started this book concerning agents, I am not, repeat, not going to include the agent posts as reprints here.
Why? Can’t stomach it is why...
For me, as I said many, many times - it started with #QueryFail. My first, and I hope my last, glimpse into the mind of the Slush Pile Bees - who ridiculed and sneered their way into my brain forever.
They had nothing but contempt for the people who created their jobs. It was a level of unprofessionalism that I've never seen before - and I've seen some very bad shit.
However, DWS had some really good advice:
My Suggestion of What to DoThe publishing business is changing so fast and so quickly, I doubt agents will be of value to most writers in two years.So just do it yourself for two years.It has changed. Agents have gone from being the God-like Gatekeepers to being con-wo/men who will take your money for something you can do better yourself - like self-publish.
I'm slowly working my way backwards from a global marketing campaign to a local one. Just like my friends at Year Zero, I'm going ahead with readings on the local level, while having the books out globally.
To that end, I will be reading part of 'Swallow the Moon' at Moonlight Serenity Bath Products the second Saturday in October.
Unfortunately, I won't have any paperback books to sell. But I might be able to collect email addresses so I can send out notice when I have them.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
I Hate Math – Here's Why
The dreaded science of Mathematics again raises it's ugly head as Dean Wesley Smith makes the case for the $4.99 Indie Novel.
Good GAD! The Indie roof may fall in. The culture of the 'Dollar Dreadful' has become entrenched - so I doubt even DWS's persuasive voice can be heard above the din. The pressure to sell low is difficult to resist when you're head is in the Indie Ghetto. There it's all about numbers. Selling 1k books gets you into the '1k Sales a Month Club' and $350 in royalties. But if you raise your price to $2.99 you can make $2050.
Dean's got a heck of a point.
Add up the cost of rent, electricity, Internet and add the day-to-day cost of living - $.35 an e-book just doesn't cut it for anyone except a hobby writer or someone with a 'Comet' type book. There are 'Comets' out there – but they appear to be burning out.
Even for a hobby writer - cover art and a copy editor can set you back $300 to $500 per book. You must sell 1430 books at $.99 to pay back a $500 investment. Maybe you don't mind. But for the low-end that's not a lot of payback at $.99. More reasonable is selling 245 books at $2.99 to pay back that $500 in vestment.
Something is wrong when you see a $.99 sale and cringe inside.
To be comfortable in my own skin, I've got 'Let's Do Lunch' for sale at $3.50 and 'Swallow the Moon' is $4.95 therefore 'Impressive Bravado' a short story is $.99.
These prices are fair in the Real World.
In the Indie Ghettos these prices are very high. At this point you have to ask yourself - to whom am I marketing this e-book? Ghetto mentality comes from a culture. Every forum has a culture – every social network has a culture. The culture of the Dollar Dreadful is deeply entrenched in the Indie Ghettos.
The reasoning behind the Dollar Dreadful.
The Indie Ghetto is a mishmash of newbie writers with skill levels that vary so wildly that 'established writers' blow up about them on a regular basis. In this Goodreads.com forum, called 'Robust' member Larry started this topic: Wannabees Threaten E-Book Market Growth.
"ARRGH! My hope is that EBooks will prove to be the salvation for all the authors that turn out quality books, but failed to meet the marketing parameters of traditional publishers at any given moment. BUT...
That potential could easily be destroyed by wannabees who have no idea of plot structure, grammar, punctuation or genre guidelines. For those who haven't a clue, each genre has certain parameters that must be followed in order to appeal to faithful readers. Those who fail to do so risk a monumental waste of time by producing an unsaleable work. If that were the only problem, it wouldn't matter, but it's not the biggest problem.
That potential could easily be destroyed by wannabees who have no idea of plot structure, grammar, punctuation or genre guidelines. For those who haven't a clue, each genre has certain parameters that must be followed in order to appeal to faithful readers. Those who fail to do so risk a monumental waste of time by producing an unsaleable work. If that were the only problem, it wouldn't matter, but it's not the biggest problem.
He's looked at the Dollar Dreadful and has nearly blown a gasket. I have nothing but empathy for Larry on one hand – and utter outrage at his arrogance on another. Some of what he says is true.
"The wannabees feel they don't have to conform to the well-established genre guidelines. Guidelines that have evolved over decades to meet the demands of readers rather than the plot structure whims of wannabees who are endeavoring to create anarchy out of a respected profession that stems to the days of Homer and beyond."
True – the average Dollar Dreadful is a book that doesn't fit within Genre Guidelines. But, to be fair, it is damn hard to find said Guidelines in print anywhere besides on Harlequin or a related site.
Where he starts annoying me is the part about 'evolved over decades' which implies that the mysterious Literature Fairy has made them Sacred. NEVER to be changed.
What REALLY chaps my tush is 'a respected profession that stems from the days of Homer and beyond.' Obviously, Larry wasn't online for '#queryfail – when agents heaped ridicule and scorn upon the writers' custom crafted queries.
When the gatekeepers hate you, you are NOT being respected. So, unfortunately, your Ivory Tower of Sacred Literature falls apart – from within. This is where the rebellion began, with sneering slush-pile bees guarding publishers in their Ivory Towers.
The oldest professions aren't respected.
The pulp fiction tradition is that of the fresh and different. Yes, it's not yet 200 years old, that's because it is the product of fast printing and cheap paper. Or in this case – no paper. Like the Penny Dreadful of the last century or so – the Dollar Dreadful has its place in pop-culture – not in Art & Literature.
So what does this have to do with pricing? I'm not sure. I've digressed from self-publishing to self-worth. Maybe it's because I'm a newbie – trying to break out of the Indie Ghetto. But I see the Dollar Dreadful as springing from the compost of literary bullshit, into the arms of pop-culture who is embracing it.
Money talks!
PS – Buy my book, 'Swallow the Moon.' It is a kick-ass ghost story – filled with creepy, scary moments that will make you shiver – and a couple of sizzling scenes that will warm you back up.
Swallow the Moon – Profile Page with sample chapters and links.
Thinking About Local Markets
It's a small world - in many ways the Internet has made the world much smaller. My e-friends are scattered all over the globe. The readers of this blog are everywhere. (Which may be a blessing and a problem when the Great Migration takes place.)
I've been concentrating on marketing to e-reader owners all over. I've had some success, the numbers are trending up. What I haven't done is look to my own backyard for readers.
Now that I'm on the Square, things look different. I have hundreds of people I can see and talk to, face to face. People I never thought of as my customers, but who would be interested in a book written about a local restaurant. I've done no outreach to them at all.
Last weekend I did a sales push. I talked to a dozen people FtF and sent out many tweets and re-tweets. I even dropped a Smashwords code on Twitter to see if anyone would pick up the book.
I sold 4 books - and I know who I sold them to - FtF customers.
I wasted an enormous amount of time tweeting and re-tweeting. Time I could have spent talking to people who live around here. The shear volume of tweets ensures that some will be missed - unless you sit with the software open and read EVERY tweet.
The MAIN drawback: Twitter is just another Indie Writer's Ghetto.
I had nearly 200 followers in a couple of weeks - they were all other writers or services geared to writers.
Except the Restaurant software company who advertised 'The Best POS' software. That cracked me up!
Twitter is pushed as a marketing tool - some people say it is THE Marketing Tool of the 21st Century. Everyone has an agenda - and expects others to get in line.
Frak that - I've got more work to do that I can handle already. Learning yet another fast-paced culture is too much of a pain to do right now.
The Kindle and Nook boards are filled with people who push the Dollar Dreadful - which is a wonderful thing for readers on a budget. But quality varies radically from book to book. The downward pressure on prices has made it nearly impossible to sell a book on those boards at a reasonable price.
But for the locals - $3.50 for 'Let's Do Lunch' was a BARGAIN. Even $4.95 for 'Swallow the Moon' was welcomed as a reasonable price for an interesting story.
Every writer is different - we must all play to our strengths. So for now, I will look to the local FtF marketplace for my readers.
While I'm doing that - I'm going to be re-building my web platform. (Re-building or refining? Not sure, taking it to the next logical level for sure.)
I've been concentrating on marketing to e-reader owners all over. I've had some success, the numbers are trending up. What I haven't done is look to my own backyard for readers.
Now that I'm on the Square, things look different. I have hundreds of people I can see and talk to, face to face. People I never thought of as my customers, but who would be interested in a book written about a local restaurant. I've done no outreach to them at all.
Last weekend I did a sales push. I talked to a dozen people FtF and sent out many tweets and re-tweets. I even dropped a Smashwords code on Twitter to see if anyone would pick up the book.
I sold 4 books - and I know who I sold them to - FtF customers.
I wasted an enormous amount of time tweeting and re-tweeting. Time I could have spent talking to people who live around here. The shear volume of tweets ensures that some will be missed - unless you sit with the software open and read EVERY tweet.
The MAIN drawback: Twitter is just another Indie Writer's Ghetto.
I had nearly 200 followers in a couple of weeks - they were all other writers or services geared to writers.
Except the Restaurant software company who advertised 'The Best POS' software. That cracked me up!
Twitter is pushed as a marketing tool - some people say it is THE Marketing Tool of the 21st Century. Everyone has an agenda - and expects others to get in line.
Frak that - I've got more work to do that I can handle already. Learning yet another fast-paced culture is too much of a pain to do right now.
The Kindle and Nook boards are filled with people who push the Dollar Dreadful - which is a wonderful thing for readers on a budget. But quality varies radically from book to book. The downward pressure on prices has made it nearly impossible to sell a book on those boards at a reasonable price.
But for the locals - $3.50 for 'Let's Do Lunch' was a BARGAIN. Even $4.95 for 'Swallow the Moon' was welcomed as a reasonable price for an interesting story.
Every writer is different - we must all play to our strengths. So for now, I will look to the local FtF marketplace for my readers.
While I'm doing that - I'm going to be re-building my web platform. (Re-building or refining? Not sure, taking it to the next logical level for sure.)
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Stepping Up
Marketing is a strange business.
I've been trying to form a marketing plan - and I find that I've got a couple of pieces missing.
These aren't large pieces, but they have made my marketing efforts piecemeal, instead of straight forward and seamless. I've got books here and there, this blog, Face Book, Twitter, myspace, wordpress, Goodreads AND the books.
So putting up a webpage, which I can do myself, would be a tremendous hassle. (Yeah, just what I need, another item on my already-full plate.) I can't imagine trying to sit down and do 15 or 20 hours of coding on top of the Uttter Chaos my Real Life has become.
So, I need a splash page, or a web-site of some sort to get all this organized so people can find my books and my links all in one place.
I've been trying to form a marketing plan - and I find that I've got a couple of pieces missing.
These aren't large pieces, but they have made my marketing efforts piecemeal, instead of straight forward and seamless. I've got books here and there, this blog, Face Book, Twitter, myspace, wordpress, Goodreads AND the books.
So putting up a webpage, which I can do myself, would be a tremendous hassle. (Yeah, just what I need, another item on my already-full plate.) I can't imagine trying to sit down and do 15 or 20 hours of coding on top of the Uttter Chaos my Real Life has become.
So, I need a splash page, or a web-site of some sort to get all this organized so people can find my books and my links all in one place.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
The "Luridly Controversial" K. A. Jordan
Found on Goodreads Robust thread: The Nastiness of the Boards and Genre Dominated by Women.
"Have you seen Kat Jordan's luridly controversial analysis of the nastiness of the boards and genre dominated by women?"
OMG - here we go!
I have been outed - once and for all time - by the 'Man of All Trades' Andre Jute. (In case you are asking "Andre who?" here is the link to his 'Cool Main Press.') and a short bio.
Andre Jute was trained as an economist and a psychologist at various universities of erstwhile sound reputation. He’s been in and out of publishing all his life as a writer, typographer, editor, publisher and management advisor. Copyright © Andre Jute 2011
It is hardly lurid! I'm not stupid enough to insult the entire female gender for the sins of a few Queen Bees. The problem is that I understand them in a left-brained fashion that sounds godawful.
It started innocently enough.
Andre wrote this little number: 'Have the "Luvvies*" Taken Over Books?' Where he (unfairly to my mind) skewered a post by Stacia Kane Being Published Changes Everything.
(I'm sorry, the train of thought leads us to a large number of links.)
Stacia Kane said this:
“The fact is, when you decide to become a writer you give up some of your personal freedoms. When you sell your first book you give up even more. There’s no getting around that, and there’s no changing it. You can no longer say exactly what you think exactly the way you think it at all times. You can no longer assume that only the people you’re familiar with are reading your blog or your tweets. You no longer have the luxury of an opinion, honestly, on a lot of things.”
To boil this down into the nutshell of Internet ManSpeak: "Drink the damn Kool-ade and shut the frak up."
I agree with her, 100% percent. There is just one problem with this - I can't do it. Never have been able to.
So when Jute replied: "That’s a state of affairs that should embarrass anyone who calls himself a writer.
A writer is an intellectual.
The best intellectuals are measured by the number and stature of their enemies.
A writer, and particularly a novelist, is simply not worth the name if she creeps around fearing she’ll offend an agent — and agent! a sales representative! — or some other thin-skinned writer incapable of debating points robustly."
I thought then (and think now) he was working from a Male Dominated industrial model that is as obsolete as the Literary Fiction culture of the 1960's. (Which did produce genius like Harlan Ellison, a man who still measures himself by the number and stature of his enemies.)
Today's Trade Publishing culture is different.
"In a Female dominated business – ‘Fitting In Without Making Waves’ is a requirement. Otherwise the rest of the ‘tribe’ turns on the interloper and refuses to let her in.
Alpha Males will work together with common goals, they growl and snarl at each other and are okay with that.
Queen Bees kill their rivals."
Look at Mary W. Walter's "Talent Killers" post that got her permanently blacklisted by ALL agents. Of course she's Indie now - but at the time it was one of those "You Will Never Work In The Publishing Industry Again" events. (My link to her blog goes RIGHT to that post.)
I'll bet that men like Jute and Ellison inslutted (my slip is showing) insulted people right and left, only to work with them a year or so later. (Well, maybe not in Jute's case - rumor has it there were Hit Squads after him.)
The point is two men can fight and be friends ever after. Two women fight and it is poison in the Kool-ade. To quote Kane again: "I hate to sound like a bitch here, but why should I help you, in that case?"
If the story had been "The Empress's New Clothes" it would have ended with the entire village put to death to save face.
That's a fact, Jack! - I mean Jute.
Ms Kitty
Here's a link started by some poor soul who should have just drank the fraking kool-ade.
OH MY - Look who popped up just before the thread got shut down. (Gales of Giggles.)
"Have you seen Kat Jordan's luridly controversial analysis of the nastiness of the boards and genre dominated by women?"
OMG - here we go!
I have been outed - once and for all time - by the 'Man of All Trades' Andre Jute. (In case you are asking "Andre who?" here is the link to his 'Cool Main Press.') and a short bio.
Andre Jute was trained as an economist and a psychologist at various universities of erstwhile sound reputation. He’s been in and out of publishing all his life as a writer, typographer, editor, publisher and management advisor. Copyright © Andre Jute 2011
It is hardly lurid! I'm not stupid enough to insult the entire female gender for the sins of a few Queen Bees. The problem is that I understand them in a left-brained fashion that sounds godawful.
It started innocently enough.
Andre wrote this little number: 'Have the "Luvvies*" Taken Over Books?' Where he (unfairly to my mind) skewered a post by Stacia Kane Being Published Changes Everything.
(I'm sorry, the train of thought leads us to a large number of links.)
Stacia Kane said this:
“The fact is, when you decide to become a writer you give up some of your personal freedoms. When you sell your first book you give up even more. There’s no getting around that, and there’s no changing it. You can no longer say exactly what you think exactly the way you think it at all times. You can no longer assume that only the people you’re familiar with are reading your blog or your tweets. You no longer have the luxury of an opinion, honestly, on a lot of things.”
To boil this down into the nutshell of Internet ManSpeak: "Drink the damn Kool-ade and shut the frak up."
I agree with her, 100% percent. There is just one problem with this - I can't do it. Never have been able to.
So when Jute replied: "That’s a state of affairs that should embarrass anyone who calls himself a writer.
A writer is an intellectual.
The best intellectuals are measured by the number and stature of their enemies.
A writer, and particularly a novelist, is simply not worth the name if she creeps around fearing she’ll offend an agent — and agent! a sales representative! — or some other thin-skinned writer incapable of debating points robustly."
I thought then (and think now) he was working from a Male Dominated industrial model that is as obsolete as the Literary Fiction culture of the 1960's. (Which did produce genius like Harlan Ellison, a man who still measures himself by the number and stature of his enemies.)
Today's Trade Publishing culture is different.
"In a Female dominated business – ‘Fitting In Without Making Waves’ is a requirement. Otherwise the rest of the ‘tribe’ turns on the interloper and refuses to let her in.
Alpha Males will work together with common goals, they growl and snarl at each other and are okay with that.
Queen Bees kill their rivals."
Look at Mary W. Walter's "Talent Killers" post that got her permanently blacklisted by ALL agents. Of course she's Indie now - but at the time it was one of those "You Will Never Work In The Publishing Industry Again" events. (My link to her blog goes RIGHT to that post.)
I'll bet that men like Jute and Ellison
The point is two men can fight and be friends ever after. Two women fight and it is poison in the Kool-ade. To quote Kane again: "I hate to sound like a bitch here, but why should I help you, in that case?"
If the story had been "The Empress's New Clothes" it would have ended with the entire village put to death to save face.
That's a fact, Jack! - I mean Jute.
Ms Kitty
Here's a link started by some poor soul who should have just drank the fraking kool-ade.
OH MY - Look who popped up just before the thread got shut down. (Gales of Giggles.)
Sunday, September 4, 2011
"Impressive Bravado" - Horse Mystery
Dr. Katie McCarty DVM, is called in to assess the 'mutilation' of a horse. She finds a crazy woman who calls herself a 'Horse Whisperer' running a barn full of teen-aged girls and young stallions. This is a recipe for disaster - luckily Dr. McCarty's there when it strikes.
I don't know why I haven't announced the release of this short story. I just noticed that many of the little links and fussy little things I did to promote the others has simply not been done for this.
Click here for 'Impressive Bravado' on Smashwords
Click here for 'Impressive Bravado'
on Kindle.Click here for 'Impressive Bravado' on Barnes and Nobel.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Everybody Has An Opinion
Don't writers get enough crap from people - now the guys who do graffiti are at it.
I feel like Rodney Dangerfield - writers don't get no respect.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
E-Books - Marketed as Gift Cards
http://www.rosannedingli.com/scratchie-card.phpThere are many, many reasons why Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Katherine Rusch are my heroes.
This is only one of them.
Dean and Kris came up with the idea of using gift cards to sell e-books to bookstores. They posted it for everyone to share - see the link to the post. Click here for details.
Over on Linked-In there are several of us on Laphroaig Writers (Laphroaig is an obscure brand of Scotch) who kick around ideas. In fact this little group has gone from e-publishing clueless to e-published and experimenting with ALL kinds of things. It's been wonderful fun.
Right now, Laphroaig writers are working with these gift cards. Some are using them for sales, others as giveaways. I want to offer samples locally during the upcoming vendor's nights on the Square. I might as well hock books AND e-book gift cards.
September 1, 2011 update.
We have found alternatives to the plastic gift-card. Paper card stock works just as well. Just rub a little candle wax over the code before you paint it.
This is an example: Click here for scratch card.
This is only one of them.
Dean and Kris came up with the idea of using gift cards to sell e-books to bookstores. They posted it for everyone to share - see the link to the post. Click here for details.
Over on Linked-In there are several of us on Laphroaig Writers (Laphroaig is an obscure brand of Scotch) who kick around ideas. In fact this little group has gone from e-publishing clueless to e-published and experimenting with ALL kinds of things. It's been wonderful fun.
Right now, Laphroaig writers are working with these gift cards. Some are using them for sales, others as giveaways. I want to offer samples locally during the upcoming vendor's nights on the Square. I might as well hock books AND e-book gift cards.
September 1, 2011 update.
We have found alternatives to the plastic gift-card. Paper card stock works just as well. Just rub a little candle wax over the code before you paint it.
This is an example: Click here for scratch card.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
This Space For Rent
No, that's just the title of this blog.
However, I have found a cubby in an old hotel in Elizabethtown where I will take my writing. I'm just too easily distracted here at the house.
Going to the library helped a great deal, last year. So I'm going to take it one step further. The goal to start working a 9 to 5 day, at a desk, in an office.
We'll see if this helps make me more productive. And if not, I'll be back in the groove to get a job.
However, I have found a cubby in an old hotel in Elizabethtown where I will take my writing. I'm just too easily distracted here at the house.
Going to the library helped a great deal, last year. So I'm going to take it one step further. The goal to start working a 9 to 5 day, at a desk, in an office.
We'll see if this helps make me more productive. And if not, I'll be back in the groove to get a job.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Freebie Friday At Webbie's
This week at Webbiegrrl's Writing, my favorite one-woman blizzard is hosting 'Freebie Friday.'
And for the FIRST TIME EVER - "Swallow the Moon" is being offered for FREE.
Catch the code on her page here and take a look at the other books she's showcasing this week.
And, as always, if you'd like to support HER there is a link for that as well. Click here for the link to "Coming Home Dicky's Story" a post-apocalypse Rom-Com.
And for the FIRST TIME EVER - "Swallow the Moon" is being offered for FREE.
Catch the code on her page here and take a look at the other books she's showcasing this week.
And, as always, if you'd like to support HER there is a link for that as well. Click here for the link to "Coming Home Dicky's Story" a post-apocalypse Rom-Com.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Jobs And The Economy - A Rant
The sad fact is that America has the best government money can buy. And buying it is getting easier and easier all the time. As the limits on corporate campaign spending are shunted aside, the 'We-are-people' corporate Frankenstein monsters are dumping barrels of cash into the political system.
More and more often, I'm seeing things like this – Big Corporations whining for tax breaks on billions of dollars made elsewhere. Click here for the latest. This is money they want to pay to the top-tier executives – billions in bonus money – but can't because they would have to declare this money as earnings and pay taxes.
(Insert violin music here.)
The manufacturing boom of the 20th Century was a one-time-deal.
Sorry to say it, but it's the truth. The Age of Steel is over. As the national economy continues to unravel, and it will, people are going to have to go back more than 100 years to rebuild our crumbling nation.
Detroit, Ashtabula and Braddock are three population centers who illustrate this best. Braddock has been abandoned and is falling down. Ashtabula is getting there, fast.
Detroit has hundreds of square miles of abandoned buildings. Neighborhoods were torn down, a 'Green Belt' of sorts is struggling to emerge from the ruins. Most importantly, a core group of people are going into business for themselves.
Let that be a lesson for all of us.
At one time (1800's) the American Dream was to come to America and open a shop of some kind. Breweries, clothing stores, tailor shops, butcher shops, grocery stores, hot dog stands, mercantiles, cabinet shops, boat builders and that's just off the top of my head.
People didn't come to America to work for someone else.
They came to work for themselves.
How times have changed, eh?
Now people in America haven't a clue how to operate a business.
They just want a JOB.
ANY job will do.
My beef with the current mentality is that ONLY a big corporation counts as 'a person' and gets pampered and petted. People don't really count any more. We just get higher taxes and higher medical costs (when the toxic waste of Corporate America had a hand in making us sick.)
The GOP touts their helping 'Job Creators' but what they mean are people rich enough to afford a nanny, a housekeeper, a gardener and maybe a poolboy to help keep their McMansion looking good.
That's not going to change. Congress and the Senate have been bought and are smart enough to STAY bought. They will not betray their corporate Masters. State level government is the same, just a smaller scale.
So, we are looking at a nation in decay. Infrastructure, like roads, bridges, power lines, sewers, rail road tracks, schools and hospitals are only used by humans. The non-breathing corporations (click here for explanation) who run the country don't need anything except a post office box in the Bahamas.
Now, before you jump either off a bridge, or into a bottle – Listen Up!
For the last 50 years, there's been something else going on, under everyone's radar. Lately, it's sprung up in the shape of windmills and solar power, visible for the first time on TV. Google Farmer's Markets to see one of the areas of the economy that has gone GREAT guns because of the Tobacco Death Tax.
AND if you are a writer or part of the writer's support industry, an Indie publisher, vendor, editor, cover artist, marketing guru or even someone who bought and read an Indie book, guess what?
YOU ARE PART OF THE REVOLUTION, TOO.
As much as the Brain-Washed Scions of the Trade Publishing (paper) Industry are screaming about the un-washed rabble at the door, Indie books are selling. There was a pent-up demand for fresh stories, and back-list books. Indies are scouring the Internet for help with editing, cover art, marketing and production.
Things have changed and will change some more.
Fasten your seat-belt.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Hard Drives CAN Be Orderly
I have to give April L. Hamilton credit for being the first to tell me to organize my hard drive.
Correction - not just TO do it, but HOW to do it. If you have any aspirations of being self-published (or like me a sneaking suspicion that you are going to end up DIY publishing) learn all you can from April's Indie Publishing Guide.
Build on that base,you will be able to tackle the needed tasks without too much trouble. (Sorry, that was a WHOPPER of a lie.) DIY publishing is a bitch. April will keep you from walking into it clueless.
The first thing I did was make a folder called "Books" then I made another named "Irene" to put Mom's stories in. She's got over 350, so they need their own space. Inside the "Books" folder I have "Advertising", "Books Published", "Covers", "Manuscripts", and "Works In Progress".
(I've written that sentence 3 times, it STILL doesn't look right. Damn commas anyways. My brain treats them like numbers and I'm number dyslexic.)
In order to get an handle on Mom's stories, we divided them into 17 Volumes. There is at least one volume of kids stories, and an entire novel, or 2. The Index is 7 pages long.
I also have a folder for "Advertising" in My Pictures to keep that stuff in order.
My point is a simple one - sort the files into some kind of order. There is nothing worse than wanting to fill out an email for a reviewer and have to dink around on your hard drive for an hour looking for the stupid file that was in the way 2 days ago. Where is the banner ad? and how the hell did I lose my Bio this time?
My personal rule of thumb on sorting files: If there is more than 1 screen, sort it! At least have 1 folder named "Backup" or "Old" for out-of-date materials. There is nothing like spending an hour looking for a banner ad, then posting the wrong one because the names were nearly the same.
The really neat part of this was after I sorted a bunch-a-crap files I found I could do the same thing with my spreadsheets. They are now in their own folder, sorted into sub-folders by topic. I have "Farm", "Projects" and "Books" folders.
Now, I'll let you in on a BIG LIFESAVER TIP - back the whole directory up on a flash-drive or a memory stick. I've got both. I back up my files to all kinds of places on the web, too. Google Docs, ever heard of that? It is the BEST place to stash a backup file. I've got G-Mail which gives me space for my critical files.
Another place I stash backups - my MP3 player. It has all my music (backup #1) all the photos I can't live without (backup #2) and the Master Docs of all my books (backup #3).
If I could just organize my TIME. (sigh)
Progress, not perfection.
Correction - not just TO do it, but HOW to do it. If you have any aspirations of being self-published (or like me a sneaking suspicion that you are going to end up DIY publishing) learn all you can from April's Indie Publishing Guide.
Build on that base,
The first thing I did was make a folder called "Books" then I made another named "Irene" to put Mom's stories in. She's got over 350, so they need their own space. Inside the "Books" folder I have "Advertising", "Books Published", "Covers", "Manuscripts", and "Works In Progress".
(I've written that sentence 3 times, it STILL doesn't look right. Damn commas anyways. My brain treats them like numbers and I'm number dyslexic.)
In order to get an handle on Mom's stories, we divided them into 17 Volumes. There is at least one volume of kids stories, and an entire novel, or 2. The Index is 7 pages long.
I also have a folder for "Advertising" in My Pictures to keep that stuff in order.
My point is a simple one - sort the files into some kind of order. There is nothing worse than wanting to fill out an email for a reviewer and have to dink around on your hard drive for an hour looking for the stupid file that was in the way 2 days ago. Where is the banner ad? and how the hell did I lose my Bio this time?
My personal rule of thumb on sorting files: If there is more than 1 screen, sort it! At least have 1 folder named "Backup" or "Old" for out-of-date materials. There is nothing like spending an hour looking for a banner ad, then posting the wrong one because the names were nearly the same.
The really neat part of this was after I sorted a bunch-a-crap files I found I could do the same thing with my spreadsheets. They are now in their own folder, sorted into sub-folders by topic. I have "Farm", "Projects" and "Books" folders.
Now, I'll let you in on a BIG LIFESAVER TIP - back the whole directory up on a flash-drive or a memory stick. I've got both. I back up my files to all kinds of places on the web, too. Google Docs, ever heard of that? It is the BEST place to stash a backup file. I've got G-Mail which gives me space for my critical files.
Another place I stash backups - my MP3 player. It has all my music (backup #1) all the photos I can't live without (backup #2) and the Master Docs of all my books (backup #3).
If I could just organize my TIME. (sigh)
Progress, not perfection.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Look What I Found!
I was reading tweets today, and found a gem Indie Reader a website that is targeting READERS not writers.
The one thing that I've always found just plan strange is the amount of time that Indie Authors spend spamming/marketing to EACH OTHER and not to readers.
I mean it, how weird IS that?
Hanging in the Indie Ghetto is great for making friends, but I hang out with people who don't read my genre at all. No offense, but I can't imagine Andre Jute reading 'Swallow the Moon' on his Kindle.
I'm just not his type, or Allen, Jason or Nigel's type. I hang out with too many writers of other genre.
So where do you go to find readers? Amy and her crew may have a solution. They were mentioned on a site (was it NYT?) that gave them some pointers.
So I've decided to give them a plug, and a space on my Links list.
The one thing that I've always found just plan strange is the amount of time that Indie Authors spend spamming/marketing to EACH OTHER and not to readers.
I mean it, how weird IS that?
Hanging in the Indie Ghetto is great for making friends, but I hang out with people who don't read my genre at all. No offense, but I can't imagine Andre Jute reading 'Swallow the Moon' on his Kindle.
I'm just not his type, or Allen, Jason or Nigel's type. I hang out with too many writers of other genre.
So where do you go to find readers? Amy and her crew may have a solution. They were mentioned on a site (was it NYT?) that gave them some pointers.
So I've decided to give them a plug, and a space on my Links list.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
'The Help' A Book Review
The Help by Kathryn StockettMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a great look at the Civil Rights Era from the inside of a small town.
I lived in Huston Texas in the early 1980's and I was floored by the attitude of the people there.
Reading this book reminded me of how far we have come, and how far there is yet to go.
View all my reviews
Monday, August 15, 2011
Little Things Add Up
There are so many little things that need my attention in any given day.
Little dogs (5 this week), little cleaning, little cooking, various little computer tasks (6 computers last count) and a bunch of e-books to market. This is all part of living on a little farm.
There are also little victories.
Today's accomplishment is a small one, but a good one. My discarded scene from "Let's Do Lunch" has been viewed 99 times this month. This came about because I used it for #SampleSunday which garnered 50 some hits. Hot Damn! Tag McTaggart gets his day in the spotlight!
Very soon, I will be holding this book in my hand.
Yahoo!!
Little dogs (5 this week), little cleaning, little cooking, various little computer tasks (6 computers last count) and a bunch of e-books to market. This is all part of living on a little farm.
There are also little victories.
Today's accomplishment is a small one, but a good one. My discarded scene from "Let's Do Lunch" has been viewed 99 times this month. This came about because I used it for #SampleSunday which garnered 50 some hits. Hot Damn! Tag McTaggart gets his day in the spotlight!
Very soon, I will be holding this book in my hand.
Yahoo!!
Thursday, August 11, 2011
The Big Reveal!
This is the cover from Create Space. Clean lines, bright colors and a modern look.
I'm busy putting this cover to work. I expect it to be displayed on all vendor sites in 3 days or so.
Let's Do Lunch
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Tinkering With Posts
I took a look at my blog today, noticed that E-Book Pricing was a hot topic.
But you know what? There wasn't a label for it, nor were any of the posts linked.
My apologies!
There are 30 tweets of the first pricing post - I suspect that I've missed out on a hell of a lot of other tweets because I didn't get the posts linked.
Now they are all linked together, properly.
I've been neglecting this site - well the organization of this site - in my quest to market my novels. I feel this simple change will benefit my readers. I will keep tinkering until I get this right.
But you know what? There wasn't a label for it, nor were any of the posts linked.
My apologies!
There are 30 tweets of the first pricing post - I suspect that I've missed out on a hell of a lot of other tweets because I didn't get the posts linked.
Now they are all linked together, properly.
I've been neglecting this site - well the organization of this site - in my quest to market my novels. I feel this simple change will benefit my readers. I will keep tinkering until I get this right.
Monday, August 8, 2011
New Cover!
At long last I have a great cover for 'Let's Do Lunch!'
I would post it here, but it is a PDF not a jpeg, so we are out of luck.
However! I have approved the cover and the interior design. It is only a matter of time before I have a proof in my hands.
Odd phenomena --
'Let's Do Lunch' continues to get hits on Smashwords. The book usually sells in the middle of the month, not at the first of the month. But all month long it gets steady hits and sampling from the Smashwords page. I had thought that since it got 132 downloads in the Smashwords July promotion that traffic would slow down. It hasn't.
Another thing I find odd is that I can't find 'Let's Do Lunch' on the Women's Fiction list. It used to be on page 5 of the 'search by ratings.' No longer.
'Swallow the Moon' is on the first page of Smashwords, Women's Fiction best sellers. I find this odd because I sold a lot more copies of 'Let's Do Lunch' during the promotion.
'Swallow the Moon' is number 42 on the Smashwords 'Must Buy' list on Goodreads.
I'm THRILLED to announce that 'Coming Home - Dicky's Story' is #2 on the same list! Go Sarah!
I would post it here, but it is a PDF not a jpeg, so we are out of luck.
However! I have approved the cover and the interior design. It is only a matter of time before I have a proof in my hands.
Odd phenomena --
'Let's Do Lunch' continues to get hits on Smashwords. The book usually sells in the middle of the month, not at the first of the month. But all month long it gets steady hits and sampling from the Smashwords page. I had thought that since it got 132 downloads in the Smashwords July promotion that traffic would slow down. It hasn't.
Another thing I find odd is that I can't find 'Let's Do Lunch' on the Women's Fiction list. It used to be on page 5 of the 'search by ratings.' No longer.
'Swallow the Moon' is on the first page of Smashwords, Women's Fiction best sellers. I find this odd because I sold a lot more copies of 'Let's Do Lunch' during the promotion.
'Swallow the Moon' is number 42 on the Smashwords 'Must Buy' list on Goodreads.
I'm THRILLED to announce that 'Coming Home - Dicky's Story' is #2 on the same list! Go Sarah!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
An Adventure in Printing
At noon on Tuesday, I got the message from Create Space. My covers were ready for approval.
They both were very nice, even though they were on opposite sides of the spectrum. The first was dark and colorful, a bit of elaborate font and good artwork.
But the second concept was MUCH better. Very simple, modern with just a hint of e-pulp fiction to it. There was just 1 problem. It was a 'fine dining' restaurant - bow-tied waiters with towels over their arms.
SO close, but a total miss!
I suggested a change, (get rid of the window and the waiters) sent them the photo of the Deli and will hope for the best.
The interior also came in. The first thing I noticed was the font matched the cover I wasn't going to use. Then I realized I gave them the wrong front matter.
They said I get 80 changes. I sincerely hope I won't need them all.
They both were very nice, even though they were on opposite sides of the spectrum. The first was dark and colorful, a bit of elaborate font and good artwork.
But the second concept was MUCH better. Very simple, modern with just a hint of e-pulp fiction to it. There was just 1 problem. It was a 'fine dining' restaurant - bow-tied waiters with towels over their arms.
SO close, but a total miss!
I suggested a change, (get rid of the window and the waiters) sent them the photo of the Deli and will hope for the best.
The interior also came in. The first thing I noticed was the font matched the cover I wasn't going to use. Then I realized I gave them the wrong front matter.
They said I get 80 changes. I sincerely hope I won't need them all.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
The Next Step - Printed Books
Yes, I'm going to kill some trees. I've signed up for Create Space to put 'Let's Do Lunch' out as a paperback, with 'Swallow the Moon' right behind it.
It was a bit pricy for my non-existent budget, but well under $1k.
I would have done it myself, but the manuscript has been through so many word processors I wasn't able to get all the hidden codes out. Even after I pasted 'unformatted text' there were STILL strange little things going on.
Since 'Swallow the Moon' doesn't have these problems, and I have a cover, I'll do that one myself.
The 6x9 template looks good. I'm going for a sans-serif font because I like them better. They either are larger or they look larger on paper. The large page size should keep the page count within reason, which keeps the printing cost down.
The 'Design Team' at Create Space seems to be a nice, knowledgeable bunch. They will allow for 80 changes to the manuscript before there is a fee. But, as thoroughly as we went over that poor manuscript, I doubt we will find anything.
The cover team has a large framework to work with. They have the blurb, the photo of the Deli, my suggestions and my blessing to have fun and get a little 'pulp fiction' vibe going if they want.
Why I am doing this?
Mary W. Walters – it's all her fault. She wrote about The Author As Publisher which got me to thinking. (Danger, Will Robinson, danger!)
Print on demand publishing is the next step. This is the logical time for me to take that step. I've got 16 volumes of Mom's short stories staring at me. I’m sure she's going to want at least 1 printed on paper.
It was a bit pricy for my non-existent budget, but well under $1k.
I would have done it myself, but the manuscript has been through so many word processors I wasn't able to get all the hidden codes out. Even after I pasted 'unformatted text' there were STILL strange little things going on.
Since 'Swallow the Moon' doesn't have these problems, and I have a cover, I'll do that one myself.
The 6x9 template looks good. I'm going for a sans-serif font because I like them better. They either are larger or they look larger on paper. The large page size should keep the page count within reason, which keeps the printing cost down.
The 'Design Team' at Create Space seems to be a nice, knowledgeable bunch. They will allow for 80 changes to the manuscript before there is a fee. But, as thoroughly as we went over that poor manuscript, I doubt we will find anything.
The cover team has a large framework to work with. They have the blurb, the photo of the Deli, my suggestions and my blessing to have fun and get a little 'pulp fiction' vibe going if they want.
Why I am doing this?
Mary W. Walters – it's all her fault. She wrote about The Author As Publisher which got me to thinking. (Danger, Will Robinson, danger!)
Print on demand publishing is the next step. This is the logical time for me to take that step. I've got 16 volumes of Mom's short stories staring at me. I’m sure she's going to want at least 1 printed on paper.
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A Very Old Memory
After school at West Junior High I took the bus to West 5th Street. I checked in at the Leeward, where Opal was working behind the bar, ta...
