E-books

After posting yesterday about a brief chat with friends about e-books, another friend sent me this link.  The article is about a woman who is now worth millions. Her first attempts were put out as e-books and she garnered over a million in sales. A book company noticed. One of her books is signed for movie rights. I think the lesson might be - try anything. Keep writing and believing in yourself and put your stuff out there. No matter what.

I'm also wondering whether this is the way e-books is going. It seemed such an upstart. But if enough of us read.....

Life is amazing.

PS - I'm writing again. Gonna close now and write some more. Whoo hoo!

http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/story/2012-01-03/amanda-hocking-self-published-author/52345642/1

Thank You

I'm sorry to put up two posts in one day....

But I had to thank you. I don't know why you're reading my blog. The stats are frightening, in a way. Forty-five hits in one day. The hits have been growing fast and furious and I don't know why.

I am honored that you take the time to read this little thing. I hope it gives you some hope. I hope it makes you smile. I'm glad you're here.

Life is sharing.

Energized

Spent the last hour or so on Skype with friends from Ireland. My gosh, just seeing them and hearing their voices gave me such a jolt. Like one of the caffeine drinks. Red Bull or some such. I even want to write. Good grief.

We spoke long of friendship and fidelity and the holiday season. But then we got down to brass tacks, so to speak. We spoke of writing and ebooks and ipads and such. We spoke also of blogs and I enthused about how much fun I have and how grateful I am that I've got this blog.

They are thinking about doing the ebook thing. I harbor similar thoughts on dark days. In fact, once I have a 'real' book in my hands, stitched (or glued) and bound, then I'll consider ebooks. Or if 2020 comes and I'm still not 'published.'

Right now, it's not a publisher's fault. It's mine. 'Sorrysorrysorry' is done. I should be sending it out. I should have sent it out two months ago.

It is the work of sending that is holding me down. I think. I sometimes find I lie to myself. I think it's the work. Though I am not unfamiliar with work. I've worked since I was twelve. First job was at a medical answering service across the street from my house. When the owners would go out in the evenings, they'd ask me to watch the system. It was fun. There was a box and you had to put cords into the hole that corresponded to the rings. I never got a true emergency call, thank goodness. But it was an adventure for a twelve-year old.

The problem with sending my MS out is this. I've got to find my list of publishers, I've got to find the name of a contact at each publisher. This is the hard part. After that, I've got to personalize my cover letter and send it out.

My friends say I need a PA. What are they saying? What on earth is wrong with me? I have spent my career being a PA. Shees! You'd think I'd be able to PA myself, wouldn't you? 

*heavy sigh*

I am going to my list now. I'll let you know what happens. Oh oh. I've got to look at 'Blue' to see what chapters to send out for critique. It's that time of the month again. 

Dawdling. Procrastinating. Switching chores. *sigh*

Life is peculiar

Picture Her Face

I'm going to a writers' retreat this coming week-end. I really shudder about things like this for I'm not comfortable with spending an entire week-end with my own thoughts. *g*

Yet, I am glad I signed up, for I know I need to kick-start my writing. I don't care if I am in pain, blast it all, I want to write.

I was reading something tonight about an expectant mother picturing the child in her womb. I don't think I ever did that. I just expected my children to be gorgeous. *g* But for a writer, I think it most helpful.

I don't have the gift of drawing but I have found I can draw. Enough to suffice. I intend to spend the week-end drawing Kathleen. And Kaspar. And perhaps Sir Giddly. Though I really do have a good image of that wondrous dragon. He is so over-the-top glorious!

I'm considering changing Kathleen's name, too. Now, I went to a lot of trouble 'finding' her name. It felt good and right. But now, I'm not so sure. I'm thinking of Marina. Some say the name is from the god of war, Mars. That seems quite appropriate for my little heroine. Some say it's 'from the sea.' Which also could work. But I think I'll imagine Mars standing behind her. Oh - that's a neat image.

That would mean Bryan would have to be changed, too. I can do that. We'll see.

Happy New Year - sorry to have not said so at the beginning. It will be. I promise!

Life is imagination.