The Economy Stikes Again

The worst thing to happen! 

It started off like any other day, I dragged myself from my cozy bed, had a cuppa coffee, checked email and tried to wake up.  Nothing new.  Then my teenager decided that she HAD to go to the mall.  This is when the day took a turn.  Contrary to what may be believed, I am not very social in person.  The idea of going to the mall is sometimes overwhelming.  It’s the crowds, it’s the noise, it’s the pain in the patoot people that crawl right up your butt in line thinking that’s going to help get to the front of the line quicker.  Umm, hello?  Its’ not.  I can’t tell you how many times I have turned around and said to someone “Dude!  Can you take a step back?”  When my hair is being fluffed around my face due to their BREATHING on me, I tend to get grumpy.  It embarrasses my children to no end. 

So my daughter, the smart thing that she is, decides to bribe me with the purchase of a bag of Harry and David Gummy Bears.  Yup.  She had me with the word Harry.  I agreed to a journey out to the God forsaken mall.  Oh goody.  Can you hear the sarcasm?  We get to the mall and make a stop at Abercrombie, and then one at American Eagle and then the Apple Store, and finally two door down is Harry and David.  I get all giddy and excited.  One of the best things about the H&D store is that you walk in and the smell hits you.  It’s chocolate, it’s candy, it’s gummies.  Aaaaahhhh, I love that smell.  I skip over to the storefront and the world falls at my feet. 

My lovely, wonderful, favorite store in the world…..is closed….forever.  It’s an empty shell of dark space and dust.  I stand there in abject sadness.  My hands and face pressed longingly against the glass, looking inside where there is now nothing but a few forgotten scraps of cardboard.

I was pulled away from the glass by my daughter.  I dragged my feet and hung my head through H&M and Forever 21.  My daughter finally disgusted with me, said she was ready to go home.  “Geez, mom.  It’s only a store,” she admonishes. 

Yes.  But it was the only H&D store around.  There are no others anywhere near us.  At least I can still order on line.  I double-checked to be sure.  I knew H&D were having financial issues, so there was a small worry that they were gone entirely but thankfully that is not the case.  I am sad my little store of heaven on earth is gone, but so very thankful they are not gone entirely.  

Boo!

A Writer's Life as a Mother

I get asked now and then (all the time) how do I find the time to write?  See I'm a wife and mother of two, so this is one of those questions that people ask out of honest wonder.  The easy answer is that I don't find time, I make the time.  Like currently it's summer and that means two/three days a week I am spending about two and a half hours of my evening at the softball field for my nine year old.  I'm also scheduling in Driver's Ed for the sixteen year old.  I am also gearing up for the dance season that begins in a few weeks, and I am gearing up to another year of horse riding.  What that means is that when we finally get home at night, I am usually cramming food into everyone as fast as possible, then cleaning up, and doing my nightly "chores".  By the time I get the house settled down its pushing ten o'clock and the night is over....or is it? 

Let's face it, most evenings regardless of the "plans" end up about the same.  Whether there is dance class or softball or horseback riding or nothing at all.  The night finally settles down at about ten.  So, that is when I make time to write.  I have wired my brain to gear up at night.  I will sit down and do administration work or editing work or if I am feeling creative I will start something new.  I know that I have at the very least an hour at the most several hours, depending on the day of the week.  I am more apt to stay up later on a Monday that I am on Thursday. 

Why don't I use my mornings?  Well, because I'm tired.  I am so not a morning person.  I'm grumpy.  I don't want to talk, think, or even open my eyes, so there is not much in the way of creative going on at that time of day.  I finally catch my stride around eight in the morning but before that, forget it. 

My lunch hour I usually use as a time for writing, or connecting on line with other writers or checking out blogs or whatnot, but this summer I have changed that.  I have been taking my lunch hour for myself.  This has had the effect that I don't have as much time to be "social" on-line which I miss, but instead of staying inside at my computer, I am going to the park to read or to walk or to just find time for myself that I don't usually get.  So far I am enjoying the sun. It wont be here much longer so I better soak it up while I can as I don't see my park days continuing throughout the Ohio winter. 

So there you have it, if you ask me, you can't "find" time to write.  If it's that important, then MAKE the time. 

ctny

The end of an Era - Harry Potter

First, just as an FYI, the latest addition to my anthologies publications: Serve in Heaven, Reign in Hell has been released.  My contribution to this book is a short story titled, Consequences.  Snaps to the artist for the cover work as I have to say it is quite wonderful.

Book Blurb from Amazon:  From Christopher Marlowe's Dr Faustus to Becca Fitzpatrick's Hush, Hush, tales of angels and demons are endlessly fascinating to us mere mortals. Promises of a utopian afterlife and temptations of riches beyond our wildest dreams, angels and demons can offer us our hearts' desire - but there's a price to pay whether we pick the damned or the divine. The stories in this collection explore both Heaven and Hell - and a few places between - bringing the reader avenging angels, devious devils, and tempted mortals. - Naomi Clark

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1617061301

Sadly my Harry Potter clock has now been disabled as the time has run out...sorry you missed it. 

As of this Friday (July 15, 2011), the long awaited final installment to the Harry Potter films will release.  Unless you have been living under a rock, you know this already.  I spent the weekend preparing for this event by watching the series from the beginning.  Yes, all the way back to the Sorcerer’s Stone.  I only made it through “The Order of the Phoenix” but I plan on watching the last two this week before going to the theater. 

I think back to where I was when this series came out (2001) and I realize, holy heck that was a long time ago.  We took my daughter to see this movie for her end of the school year treat for kindergarten.  She’s now a Junior in high school!  We made our way through all the books, not once but twice, (once for each child) and I have to admit, they are still one of my favorite series books ever.  Yes, there are some inconsistencies.  Yes some of the writing isn’t perfect.  My thoughts?  So what? This series has captivated the world.  Me included.  Seriously, what is there not to love?  I may have to re-read the series again just because. 

In case you were dying to know, my favorites in the series:  Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire, Half Blood Prince, and then the Deathly Hallows. 

Where will I be this weekend?  Do you even need to ask?

Yay!  I can’t wait and yet I'm a little sad to see it all end.  How funny is that?

ctny

Independence Day

In 1775, the people in New England (America) began fighting the British for independence. On July 2, 1776, Congress secretly voted for independence from Great Britain. The Declaration of Independence was published two days later on July 4, 1776. The actual first reading in public of the Declaration of Independence was held on July 8, 1776. The Delegates finally began to sign the Declaration of Independence on August 2, 1776.

For so many people, Independence Day is an extra day you get off from work, go see a parade, have a family picnic/cookout, and get to see fireworks.  I take part in all of these things every year. 

But…I also remember what the actual point of the holiday is.  I remember all the lives lost for my freedom.  I remember all the sacrifices people have made so that I can enjoy the freedoms and rights that I have today.  Do I make a point of remembering and giving thanks only because I come from a military family?  Sometimes, I think that is exactly why. 

Every day people from other nations come to our country so that they might enjoy the same freedoms that we have fought for.  What our soldiers died for.  I have found that so many people I talk to about the 4^th of July see only food and the lazy day.  Ask some of the children around you and see what they say the holiday is for.  You will be surprised, no, you will be shocked to learn that most of the children and a lot of the adults forget what Independence day means.  How sad is that?

So to all American's I give a heartfelt and sincere:

So what does the 4th of July mean to you?

ctny

Silver Maples anyone?

We finally had a few days without rain and what does that mean?  Outside work!  I would say BOOO! But I actually like being outside.  And working outside is fine by me as long as it’s not strenuous and backbreaking work.  We live out in the “country” on a lovely lot of acreage consisting of yard and several acres of forest surrounding the yard.  Sounds lovely right?  It is…in general.  The trees of the forest are pine trees and silver maple trees, tons of silver maple trees.  Full grown and huge.  Oh, there are a few white and pink crab apples here and there, but otherwise its pine and maple. 

Silver maples are a nice shade-producing tree.  A little on the branchy and root side, but the leaves are pretty which is where they get their name. 

Spring comes every year at our house and the maples leaf out very beautifully.  Then…..they seed.  Little tan seed helicopters dance down from the trees……in waves.  So many of them that on a windy day it looks like it is snowing.  In fact once they reach the ground they blanket the grass in mounds that you literally have to wade through.  They come in storms and leave a mess like you wouldn’t believe.  We mow and we sweep and we rake up the little buggars and still I see them spinning happily on the wind. 

Although I admit that some days its fun to watch their topsy-turvy decent to the ground, I am still always amazed at what damage and work a tiny seed can cause when multiplied by thousands. 

Bring on the summer.  I am sick of the seeds….

ctny

Things I didn’t realize

I’m a writer (in case you didn’t know).  When I began this “life” I thought being a writer meant that you wrote.  Whether it was stories or articles or books or whatever, but in the end, you wrote.  I had no idea that you also needed to be an editor, a critiquer, and in the end a salesman.  Who knew? 

So, first I have to say, that I am not a salesman.  One of my part-time jobs when I was a teenager was to try to get people to RETAIN the services that the company I worked for provided, at the small price of $50 a year.  What I didn’t know when I took the job was that it was a sales job.  I hated that job.  I sucked at that job.  I didn’t hold it even a year before I resigned my post and ran screaming somewhere else.  It took a few years to figure out that the reason I was so bad at that job was because I thought the service I was trying to sell was a stupid waste of $50.  I couldn’t sell, aka retain, people to the service because I didn’t believe in it. 

The other problem is that I am not a social being.  I know most of you reading this would never realize it, but I’m not.  I’m a shy introvert.  Surprise!  My comfort zone is behind a computer where I don’t have to see facial expressions or try to interpret body language.  A “no” in writing is so much easier to take than a “no” to my face. 

What does this all have to do with writing?  Well if I was only trying to write for myself that it wouldn’t matter at all, but because I am trying to write for the public it does.  Yes, I have to write a good story, no a great story, one that I believe in.  If I don’t believe in it, who else will?  How can I sell it, if even I think it sucks?  Then I need to get out of my comfort zone and sell it.  Sometimes by computer, but sometimes over the phone or even face to face. 

I’m struggling very much with this part of it.  I know what I need to do.  I do.  Really.  I will walk into a bookstore in which I want to try to get my book shelved.   Then I get in front of the manager or whoever and I just smile and then………choke.  Its terrible as then I’m so upset at not getting the shelving and at myself for failing and then trying to work myself up to doing it again….horrible. 

However, this is not all bad news.  I’m getting better.  I am forcing myself out of my comfort zone.  I am forcing myself to move forward because I want something more than my fear can hold me back.  If they say no, to my face, then they say no.  There are other stops, other avenues, and other stores to try.  I focus on that, instead of the failure. 

So anyone struggling with sales in any way, shape, or form, my advice?  Get out of your comfort zone.  Force your fears back and do all that you can for yourself.  You are the only one that’s going to.

ctny

End of a Blog Tour

Now that my blog tour is officially complete, I wanted to thank everyone that hosted me on my tour, took the time to read and review Shadow Dancer, as well as all the people that followed and commented.  Thank you, truly, sincerely.

I was asked just this morning what I thought of the whole blog tour thing.  Did I think it was helpful?  Did it get me new readers?  New fans?  New Followers?  The answer to all these questions is, yes.  The blog tour did its job of getting Shadow Dancer’s title out there for more people to see.  The blogs were fun and different and silly and entertaining all at the same time.  Each one was different which was what I was hoping for.  I am also the happy recipient of several new followers on my blog and twitter.  Plus, I received several lovely emails from new fans (Yay!).  I wont know if my book really had any increase in sales, but even if it didn’t, I am certain I received several, due in large part to the blog tour.

It was definitely work, but it was the good kind of work.  I actually enjoy my book and the characters, so having to immerse myself in Shadow Dancer to create the blogs and answer the interview questions was no hardship for me.  It was fun.  Time consuming and thought provoking, but fun all the same. 

Will I do one again for future titles?  Oh yes. 

What did you all think of the tour?  Where there posts you liked more than others?  Were there posts that were just…eh?  What are your thoughts in general?

ctny