Category Archives: Books

Author, Books, Creative Writing, Ramblings, Writing

Free Books

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Early this year I contacted a publisher. I was inquiring about pricing for their editorial services. While I could not afford the fees he and I stayed in touch through email and the like.  Last week he contacted me about an upcoming e-book he was putting together. It will be a collection of short stories from various authors. He wanted to include some of my short stories.  I maintain the copyrights.

It will be available for free to download. The publisher will be eating the entire cost for the art, editing and formating the book so no profit will be made. I won’t see a dime for this but there are still positive reasons out there. As a new author, who is trying to break out, any free publicity is a good thing. People will get to see my works, have ways to contact me and also see what is on the table as far as WIP. The book will be shared by other publishers and editors. They might see something they like or know someone who could use one of the stories. That is another win. Finally when I write my query letters at least now I can place in the body of it that I have something in print.

One person told me that if I am not getting paid it seems pointless. I am not taking that route. I have to start somewhere. Even if that means one short story at a time.

Blog, Books, NaNoWriMo, Writing, Writng frenzy

NaNoWriMo Virgin

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I am a NaNoWriMo virgin who is ready to be deflowered. This will be my first year to attempt the month long frenzy of writing 50K words in November. The writers I associate with have inspired me to do so. My friend Erica had her book printed for winning NaNo and we were all so proud of her. Also my Twitter buddies Ami and Ruth have been encourage me all week long and we have not even started this event. Thank you ladies. So between all the tips I have been given this is how I will prep for NaNoWriMo 2011

1-I review books for Booksneeze and authors who request it. I finished reviewing the two that were on desk. The month of November I will not review to save time.

2- I am a member of two book clubs, one of which I run. I will put on the reading dock books I have either read or books that are super duper small. This will save me time for my writing. Those reviews will be done in December.

3- As a blogger who posts 2-3 times a week I need to plan in advance. I have made a list of 14 topics to talk about. At this moment I have 11 that are in draft mode.

4-I tend to write all my stories and books in long hand first. But this time around will use my laptop to save on the writing.

5-I have listed 30 plots to include in the book with subdivisions for some of them. That way each day I will already have a topic on hand. The goal will be to write 2K words per day or as close to it. This will help if I get behind, the holidays or if I just need a day off. ( Great tips from Ruth)

6-I will schedule a time each day to do this and try to keep on track.

7-I have some writing buddies who will support and encourage me through the month as I will do for them.

Now the real issue of me not being able to accomplish this will be my fibromyalgia. When I do a writing frenzy for 3-5 days my hands will freeze up and go numb on me. This results in not being able to use my hands for a few days. So I have to time this well and try to pace myself. My primary goal is to accomplish the word count. But at the end of the day my ultimate goal is to have a great time writing along side others who are joining in this adventure. Even if I don’t finish I will have a story on paper that I been meaning to upgrade from a short story to a novel. The frame work will be up there for me to work on.

I am so stoked. Who’s with me?

Blog, Bonding, Books, Family, memories, Men

Nesting….. Man style

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My home has a sunroom in the back. When we first looked at this house I was soooo excited to see this and mentally made plans in my head. Then we moved in and well that thought just got tossed out like yesterday’s trash. Instead my husband has made it his office. Lining the walls are shelves bursting full of books. This is not surprising since we are both avid readers. In the corner is his desk where he does his work.

In the beginning it was mostly used to be a TV room for the whole family to gather, enjoy and spend time together. While that is still the case it is not the main use for this room. Instead my husband and son have nested deeply in this space. My son will use it for his gaming which I can’t blame him since the sound system is pretty AWESOME. Once the window pane doors are closed you can barely hear him in there. He will also do his school work and reading. My husband between his books, computer and desk has his weights located in the sunroom. Our treadmill is located in the corner so that is my main use of this room.

However, I have been told not to clean this area for I might just toss something away that is of need to them though the disarray of the room makes me shiver and mutter to myself. But I knew then that it was THEIR room when I walked in to get something and they both stopped, looked at me and mentally said “What?”. I did not realize I had to obtain permission to enter the dungeon or man cave as you will and clear it with the natives in advance. How silly of me. There are times I really don’t want to know what they are doing.

But the more I thought about this room being taken from me the more I was okay with it. For in that room is a man and his son bonding in ways I can’t possibly imagine. The conversations that stop midway when I open the door makes me think that. Something about them sharing a moment with each other even if its my husband telling my son advice on the game he is playing or my son telling his dad something he learned that day makes me feel good on the inside. There is so much going on in this world. Our family is not perfect by any stretch but knowing that they are forming memories for down the road gives me a good warm fuzzy feeling. So if nesting deep in a room that I first coveted as mine is what it takes, so be it. Let them nest.