So I got a call from iUniverse.com marketing this week. They never used to call. I have been published since 2001, that's a long time. In the last 12 months I have gotten about 4 calls asking if I want to be on some joint advertising with other authors.
I sell advertising for a living right now, so I listen. I have had about 3 different reps call. The last one had a lot of noise in the background; I guess it was a call center. She was nice and when I said I wanted to set up my novel for the Kindle platform I was transferred. Then I was put on hold and then, I was told that books published prior to 2008 aren't set up for e-pub.
Now my novel is still available as a print on demand, but I didn't argue with her about why it wasn't possible. I have learned that the call centers don't have enough knowledge of the process to educate me.
I will just wait until I finish my current novel and see how I might get both up. I am very pleased to report that I got about 8 pages added this week. I was so in the zone a few nights ago and everything flowed. I do hope this is the beginning of a trend!
Friday, December 31, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Kindled by their love!
I forgot to mention my best Christmas present! Blair, Marquel and Bill got me a Kindle e-reader loaded with the Catholic Bible, The Help and To Kill A Mockingbird (not the book but an analysis, as they said the book wasn't available) to start.
I marvel at how thin and light weight it is. I am really looking forward to spending time in Bible study with my Kindle and reading more. I also wanted to have a Kindle before I sign up to have my novel "Marquel" available on e-book platforms.
In a few weeks I will head to NYC for a writer's conference. I hope learn more about the state of the book publishing. I was watching CBS's Sunday Morning program about an award-winning book jacket artist who felt he had about 5 to 10 more years before the reading public moved to more electronic readers.
Isn't that really the fun of book shopping? Reviewing the cover and then flipping the book over to read the synopsis. And then I thought about my own cover art and how well it communicates the story in a simple picture. I was told an artist in Shanghai had developed the cover and I could use it or supply my own. A graphic artist friend had also worked up a cover for me and I had paid her for the work, but I was mesmerized by how well this artist a world away had captured my novel's essence. I asked my publisher for the artist's name and email, as I wanted to thank him or her, but it was never supplied.
Anyway, I realize that promotion and sales are the true purpose of what might have been considered a dust jacket's protective function, but a great cover can also "kindle" emotion and enhance the story.
I marvel at how thin and light weight it is. I am really looking forward to spending time in Bible study with my Kindle and reading more. I also wanted to have a Kindle before I sign up to have my novel "Marquel" available on e-book platforms.
In a few weeks I will head to NYC for a writer's conference. I hope learn more about the state of the book publishing. I was watching CBS's Sunday Morning program about an award-winning book jacket artist who felt he had about 5 to 10 more years before the reading public moved to more electronic readers.
Isn't that really the fun of book shopping? Reviewing the cover and then flipping the book over to read the synopsis. And then I thought about my own cover art and how well it communicates the story in a simple picture. I was told an artist in Shanghai had developed the cover and I could use it or supply my own. A graphic artist friend had also worked up a cover for me and I had paid her for the work, but I was mesmerized by how well this artist a world away had captured my novel's essence. I asked my publisher for the artist's name and email, as I wanted to thank him or her, but it was never supplied.
Anyway, I realize that promotion and sales are the true purpose of what might have been considered a dust jacket's protective function, but a great cover can also "kindle" emotion and enhance the story.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Now the hard work begins!
We had a wonderful Christmas with our girls and son-in-law. We did the rounds of family visits from the 24th to the 26th and it's such a blessings to have most of our parents here to share in the memories.
This holiday we enjoyed smaller groups and more quality time with everyone. It was different from prior celebrations where "the more the merrier" was the norm. In a way, it was comforting to know our circle of family and friends have lots of people in their lives.
As we finish 2010 it is time to reflect on what we want to accomplish in the coming year and count our blessings for the past 12 months. I can say that my diagnosis of Meniere's Disease this summer was more of a blessing that a problem. While I had a severe attack that was scary at first, I have excellent doctors who have helped me with a diet and medication that have made the disorder tolerable.
Eating a 1500 mg low sodium diet, taking an anti-viral medication daily and learning how to self-balance the crystals in my ears when dizziness occurs is far easier to deal with than many other illnesses. Yes, the ringing in my ears is on-going (which I have lived since about third-grade) but I am so grateful my overall health is in good order.
This realization made me prioritize what's important and what makes me happy. Of course my husband and children are my heart, as are our family, but I had neglected writing as I developed my sales career. Sales gave me a chance to enjoy copywriting, but now I will devote more evenings to writing the second book that I dedicate to our youngest daughter, Blair. The first novel is named after her sister, Marquel. Both novels are works that honor our daughters' names but they are not about the girls. Interestingly each is an extension of me; each with a life of their own.
This holiday we enjoyed smaller groups and more quality time with everyone. It was different from prior celebrations where "the more the merrier" was the norm. In a way, it was comforting to know our circle of family and friends have lots of people in their lives.
As we finish 2010 it is time to reflect on what we want to accomplish in the coming year and count our blessings for the past 12 months. I can say that my diagnosis of Meniere's Disease this summer was more of a blessing that a problem. While I had a severe attack that was scary at first, I have excellent doctors who have helped me with a diet and medication that have made the disorder tolerable.
Eating a 1500 mg low sodium diet, taking an anti-viral medication daily and learning how to self-balance the crystals in my ears when dizziness occurs is far easier to deal with than many other illnesses. Yes, the ringing in my ears is on-going (which I have lived since about third-grade) but I am so grateful my overall health is in good order.
This realization made me prioritize what's important and what makes me happy. Of course my husband and children are my heart, as are our family, but I had neglected writing as I developed my sales career. Sales gave me a chance to enjoy copywriting, but now I will devote more evenings to writing the second book that I dedicate to our youngest daughter, Blair. The first novel is named after her sister, Marquel. Both novels are works that honor our daughters' names but they are not about the girls. Interestingly each is an extension of me; each with a life of their own.
Monday, December 20, 2010
The Gray Swan
Friday last week hubby and I managed to see a late showing of the "Black Swan." Natalie Portman was amazing! And I am not generous with praise; her metamorphosis to the Black Swan provoked me.
Darren Aronofsky's visual story-telling made me ponder the white and black swan in us all. The ballet director kept telling Portman's character that it was easy to be a white swan, but more difficult to become the black swan. To achieve perfection and become the black swan required her to release her inhibitions and let go. Yet the black swan also represented a dark side and we don't consider perfection to be dark, most of us strive to be better which we believe to be light. So is it really more difficult to go to the darker side of ourselves or maintain the facade of the white swan?
The human mind is a complex machine that spins these white and dark issues into comfortable grays that allow us to live. Brilliance requires this balance for sustainability and Portman herself chose to live in the shadows of her character to bring us this on screen experience. To the talented artists who straddle white and black, I pray that you can enjoy the subtle grays that provide rest and joy after a day's labor. You bring us pleasure through your gifts and in return, know you are loved by your audience though we're often in the dark.
Darren Aronofsky's visual story-telling made me ponder the white and black swan in us all. The ballet director kept telling Portman's character that it was easy to be a white swan, but more difficult to become the black swan. To achieve perfection and become the black swan required her to release her inhibitions and let go. Yet the black swan also represented a dark side and we don't consider perfection to be dark, most of us strive to be better which we believe to be light. So is it really more difficult to go to the darker side of ourselves or maintain the facade of the white swan?
The human mind is a complex machine that spins these white and dark issues into comfortable grays that allow us to live. Brilliance requires this balance for sustainability and Portman herself chose to live in the shadows of her character to bring us this on screen experience. To the talented artists who straddle white and black, I pray that you can enjoy the subtle grays that provide rest and joy after a day's labor. You bring us pleasure through your gifts and in return, know you are loved by your audience though we're often in the dark.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Remembering Ruby
Okay, I haven't written or blogged in many days. I did write the family holiday newsletter and have mailed it to our family and friends (which at last count was 120). I continue to expand our communication to the friends of our children and the family members on my husband's side and my family.
My mother-in-law told me once that I was the matriarch of the family. So I looked it up on www.dictionary.com just for the heck of it. We all know basic definitions, but to really grasp the meaning, I love to look things up.
ma·tri·arch –noun
1. the female head of a family or tribal line.
2. a woman who is the founder or dominant member of a community or group.
3. a venerable old woman.
I don't why but when I read # 3 I thought it said vunerable. So then I looked up:
ven·er·a·ble –adjective
1. commanding respect because of great age or impressive dignity; worthy of veneration or reverence, as because of high office or noble character: a venerable member of Congress.
2. a title for someone proclaimed by the Roman Catholic Church to have attained the first degree of sanctity or of an Anglican archdeacon.
3. (of places, buildings, etc.) hallowed by religious, historic, or other lofty associations: the venerable halls of the abbey.
4. impressive or interesting because of age, antique appearance, etc.: a venerable oak tree.
5. extremely old or obsolete; ancient: a venerable automobile.
Wow Ruby, I feel really great to have a likeness to #2, but #4 and 5...
So it made me think about my mother-in-law, who passed away in February 16, 2001. Ruby loved people very deeply, almost a fault. It's hard to explain, but she had a challenging youth that set the stage for her life. She lived in her own world much of the time and managed her household as best she could. Her sons and grandchildren were her life. She was a very loving soul who gave from her heart. Her heart was big and she was always weighing out what was fair for all and she dearly loved the holidays. And could she shop!
We would take the kids and do lunch and hit as many mall stores as possible. Ruby also ordered from catalogues and my dear father-in-law was her wrap-master. He was delegated to do most of the gift wrapping as she did the majority of shopping. They were a team and like many couples who live long enough to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary, they had their ups and downs but they were solid in their commitment to one another.
I was blessed to spend many hours with Ruby during the days her sons and my father-in-law would hunt. She shared her childhood remembrances, the joy and pain. I loved her as I do my own my mother.
The morning she passed away my father-in-law had called an ambulance as she wasn't breathing. They worked on her both at the house and on the way to the emergency room. My husband went to pick up his father and I headed to the ER. I had hoped to speak with her and when I got to the waiting room, the doctor came out to tell me she had passed away. I asked to see Ruby one last time. They agreed, but apologized that she was still hooked up to all the equipment they had used to attempt to revive her. I was glad her sons and husband were spared. It was as though she had passed the torch to me and I thank God I had the chance to pray over her and touch her hand one last time as she made her way to heaven.
Merry Christmas Ruby, I am going shopping today and I know you will be with me in spirit. I miss you. We all do.
Love, Emily
My mother-in-law told me once that I was the matriarch of the family. So I looked it up on www.dictionary.com just for the heck of it. We all know basic definitions, but to really grasp the meaning, I love to look things up.
ma·tri·arch –noun
1. the female head of a family or tribal line.
2. a woman who is the founder or dominant member of a community or group.
3. a venerable old woman.
I don't why but when I read # 3 I thought it said vunerable. So then I looked up:
ven·er·a·ble –adjective
1. commanding respect because of great age or impressive dignity; worthy of veneration or reverence, as because of high office or noble character: a venerable member of Congress.
2. a title for someone proclaimed by the Roman Catholic Church to have attained the first degree of sanctity or of an Anglican archdeacon.
3. (of places, buildings, etc.) hallowed by religious, historic, or other lofty associations: the venerable halls of the abbey.
4. impressive or interesting because of age, antique appearance, etc.: a venerable oak tree.
5. extremely old or obsolete; ancient: a venerable automobile.
Wow Ruby, I feel really great to have a likeness to #2, but #4 and 5...
So it made me think about my mother-in-law, who passed away in February 16, 2001. Ruby loved people very deeply, almost a fault. It's hard to explain, but she had a challenging youth that set the stage for her life. She lived in her own world much of the time and managed her household as best she could. Her sons and grandchildren were her life. She was a very loving soul who gave from her heart. Her heart was big and she was always weighing out what was fair for all and she dearly loved the holidays. And could she shop!
We would take the kids and do lunch and hit as many mall stores as possible. Ruby also ordered from catalogues and my dear father-in-law was her wrap-master. He was delegated to do most of the gift wrapping as she did the majority of shopping. They were a team and like many couples who live long enough to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary, they had their ups and downs but they were solid in their commitment to one another.
I was blessed to spend many hours with Ruby during the days her sons and my father-in-law would hunt. She shared her childhood remembrances, the joy and pain. I loved her as I do my own my mother.
The morning she passed away my father-in-law had called an ambulance as she wasn't breathing. They worked on her both at the house and on the way to the emergency room. My husband went to pick up his father and I headed to the ER. I had hoped to speak with her and when I got to the waiting room, the doctor came out to tell me she had passed away. I asked to see Ruby one last time. They agreed, but apologized that she was still hooked up to all the equipment they had used to attempt to revive her. I was glad her sons and husband were spared. It was as though she had passed the torch to me and I thank God I had the chance to pray over her and touch her hand one last time as she made her way to heaven.
Merry Christmas Ruby, I am going shopping today and I know you will be with me in spirit. I miss you. We all do.
Love, Emily
Friday, December 10, 2010
Deadline day
So today I was supposed to take the day off and I just managed to sleep in and work because a deadline required me to answer emails.
I managed to write our family Christmas letter and pick up some plush fleece to use for a dress-up costume I have to make for our bartender-actress older-daughter. She and her fellow wait staff dress for seasonal holidays and I always get word just hours before she has to wear it, that I am to sew it. My skills are very limited, but being a Project Runway junkie, I accept the challenge as I know Tim Gunn would encourage me to "make it work." And since we are headed to her show tonight along with 10 of hubby's teacher friends, I decide to drop off the materials for her review.
Now my husband and I have been talking all week about getting to the French restaurant (where his co-workers have reservations) in time for the "early bird menu." We aren't senior citizens, but we are talking teacher salaries, so we are on a mission.
Along the way, my husband decides we need cash. I remind him we have a credit card for dinner, our ticket's are comp'ed for this one performance and the $20 dollars we have between us is enough for a glass of wine at intermission.
"NO!" He says, we need cash "in case." So we stop at one ATM and its not working. We drive 5 more miles and we come to an ATM that has a line of people waiting and a drive-thru that is still open, but we drive around the building back to the ATM. The line at the ATM is down to a woman getting money, one woman behind her and soon my husband. I glance down to look at a picture that our youngest sends my cellphone and then back to hubby and he's gone! What the...
A line is forming again and much, much longer. Our oldest sends a text that she is resting before her performance and just leave the fabric inside her house. Now I am wondering what my husband is doing and where he is?
Next thing I know he is walking to the car with these forms and proudly exclaims he went inside the bank, AND signed up for a SAVINGS ACCOUNT! I am wondering if he remembered the cash? And he proudly explains the great percentage and such ... blah, blah.
So we drop off the fabric and now we are racing to dinner and he groans, "we have to be there at 6:30, remember!" Like my quick stop would cost us a full price meal to which I remind him that I am not the one who decided to open a last minute SAVINGS ACCOUNT!
I managed to write our family Christmas letter and pick up some plush fleece to use for a dress-up costume I have to make for our bartender-actress older-daughter. She and her fellow wait staff dress for seasonal holidays and I always get word just hours before she has to wear it, that I am to sew it. My skills are very limited, but being a Project Runway junkie, I accept the challenge as I know Tim Gunn would encourage me to "make it work." And since we are headed to her show tonight along with 10 of hubby's teacher friends, I decide to drop off the materials for her review.
Now my husband and I have been talking all week about getting to the French restaurant (where his co-workers have reservations) in time for the "early bird menu." We aren't senior citizens, but we are talking teacher salaries, so we are on a mission.
Along the way, my husband decides we need cash. I remind him we have a credit card for dinner, our ticket's are comp'ed for this one performance and the $20 dollars we have between us is enough for a glass of wine at intermission.
"NO!" He says, we need cash "in case." So we stop at one ATM and its not working. We drive 5 more miles and we come to an ATM that has a line of people waiting and a drive-thru that is still open, but we drive around the building back to the ATM. The line at the ATM is down to a woman getting money, one woman behind her and soon my husband. I glance down to look at a picture that our youngest sends my cellphone and then back to hubby and he's gone! What the...
A line is forming again and much, much longer. Our oldest sends a text that she is resting before her performance and just leave the fabric inside her house. Now I am wondering what my husband is doing and where he is?
Next thing I know he is walking to the car with these forms and proudly exclaims he went inside the bank, AND signed up for a SAVINGS ACCOUNT! I am wondering if he remembered the cash? And he proudly explains the great percentage and such ... blah, blah.
So we drop off the fabric and now we are racing to dinner and he groans, "we have to be there at 6:30, remember!" Like my quick stop would cost us a full price meal to which I remind him that I am not the one who decided to open a last minute SAVINGS ACCOUNT!
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Blackberry, A Writer's Friend
Well the prior blog post was written in Outlook on a note. I couldn't cut and paste it into blogspot for some reason, but at least I could retype it easily. I am able to copy and past chapters I write on the Blackberry into Word, which is a major convenience! So lunch or downtime can be a writing opportunity.
We went Wednesday night to see "The Nutcracker." We had never seen it before and our friend's daughter was in this performance. I always get teary-eyed watching young people perform; they are so full of life and immersed in the moment.
The show concluded after 9 pm and I needed to still renew a client, so my husband drove me to the beach restaurant client at 11 pm where we both grabbed a bite and I took care of the ad copy before we left. We got home close to midnight and I was tired enough to sleep for a change.
_________________________________________________________________
Tonight we have my office Christmas dinner to attend. I spent the day working on ads and proofs. I am taking Friday off, so I am hoping to write some then.
Our youngest daughter informed us that she got invited to a major celebrity/producer's Christmas party in LA. She is so well connected that it just amazes us all. God has big plans for her! It is our prayer that both of our girls will find fulfillment in their work and that their relationships blossom in support and love.
We went Wednesday night to see "The Nutcracker." We had never seen it before and our friend's daughter was in this performance. I always get teary-eyed watching young people perform; they are so full of life and immersed in the moment.
The show concluded after 9 pm and I needed to still renew a client, so my husband drove me to the beach restaurant client at 11 pm where we both grabbed a bite and I took care of the ad copy before we left. We got home close to midnight and I was tired enough to sleep for a change.
_________________________________________________________________
Tonight we have my office Christmas dinner to attend. I spent the day working on ads and proofs. I am taking Friday off, so I am hoping to write some then.
Our youngest daughter informed us that she got invited to a major celebrity/producer's Christmas party in LA. She is so well connected that it just amazes us all. God has big plans for her! It is our prayer that both of our girls will find fulfillment in their work and that their relationships blossom in support and love.
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