Marketing Monday - Up Wish Creek

Hello again.  It's time for another Marketing Monday here at The Writing Spectacle.  Unfortunately, being the unmotivated person I am at the moment, UP WISH CREEK has been free since Saturday and this is the first time I've done anything to promote it.  It's a good book and deserves more attention than I've given it.  UWC is the third book in the Once Upon a Djinn series, but it's not the last book.  (It seems like a lot of people stop at this book and don't go on to finish the series.  If that's the case, you're really missing out on the spectacular end.)

Anyway... 

From now through Wednesday, UP WISH CREEK is absolutely free.  (Always free with Kindle Unlimited.)  Get your copy of this snarky, paranormal mystery today!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LVU03BV

Sometimes Jo wishes she had a different occupation. Too bad wishes don’t work that way.

Sunday Update - Week 17

Hello!  It's Sunday morning and I'm running late again.  On the upside, I feel like a got a good night's sleep for a change, so let's go...

I did some writing this week!  Yay!  It was only one day and only about 1300 words, but it's a start.  No editing.  No marketing.  I did start a freebie thing for UP WISH CREEK yesterday, but I haven't marketed for it yet.  Still, I've moved a few copies even without marketing, which tells me my other marketing efforts are doing something out there.  Yay.

I did some reading, as you can see from yesterday's post.

I also did some baking.  I made a chocolate oil cake with strawberry jelly and vanilla frosting.  Except I didn't have enough powdered sugar for the frosting.  I tried 'making' powdered sugar using my little food processor.  It wasn't nearly as fine as I hoped it would be and the frosting is gritty.  Oh, well.  Live and learn.  I also ended up doing stuff chicken breast for Easter, which turned out super yummy.  

On the activity front, I did something 5 out of 7 days.  I took 3 walks for 2.4 miles.  I weeded and did other garden stuff for 2.5 hours.  Unfortunately, I just stepped on the scale and bleh.  Weight: 176 even.  :shrug:  I feel good, so that's really the point, isn't it?

In the gardening realm, all the beds have been weeded.  (A couple already need to be weeded again, but that's how weeding goes.)  I planted all the seeds in the cedar bed - 3 packages of mixed wildflower seeds and one package of marigolds.  I think I'm already seeing some of those come up.  I also planted an old seed packet of basil that I found when I cleaned out my junk drawer.  We'll see if those even bother to come up.  Additionally, I planted some volunteer trees.  It's been a green time here at Sanderson Acres, lemme tell ya.

Speaking of cleaning the junk drawer, I did that.  I threw out some stuff and organized the rest.  Considering I've been meaning to do that for months now, I'm calling it a win.  Now, I really need to reorganize the storage cupboard.  Maybe today.  Maybe not.

On a cooler morning, I went into the woods along the road and attacked some vines that had escaped my snippers.  Those are dying nicely now, tyvm.  That will probably be my last venture into the woods until fall.  The ticks are out.  I had three on me already this month.  None of them bit me, but just seeing them is enough to warn me away.

Speaking of ticks, Hubs sprayed the lawn.  Die evil bastard bugs.  

Okay, I think that's about it.  Have a great day wherever you are and here's to a productive week for us all.  :waves:

Saturday Reading Wrap-up - 4/26/25

Sorry I'm late.  I mean, it IS still Saturday, so I'm not as late as I was last week.  (You know, when I didn't post at all?)  Anyway, here's the wrap-up:

I finally picked up some new ebooks this week.  I got an urban fantasy, a regular SF, a humorous SF, and a dystopian SF.  No new hardcopies.

Books Read:

15) Dr. No by Ian Fleming (4/26/25) - action/hard boiled crime - 5 stars. Not new to me or underappreciated.  Picked it up for 25c at a thrift store.
Review: "Excellent story!"

14) Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (4/20/25) - dystopian - 5 stars.  Not new to me or underappreciated.  I picked this one up in June of 2024 for 25c from a thrift store.
No review.

13) Diamonds are Forever by Ian Fleming (4/16/25) - action/hard boiled crime - 5 stars.  Not new to me under unappreciated.  Got this for 25c from the thrift store.
Review: "Wow. I'm so glad I picked this up to read. I know I saw the movie at some point, even though I don't remember it. The book is so much better than any of the movies I do remember, though. Less fantastic and more down to Earth, the way a good gritty crime novel ought to be. This book is awesome and I'm looking forward to reading more of the James Bond novels."

No DNFs.

Currently reading... the urban fantasy ebook I picked up.  I just opened it, so no clue how it's going to go.  Tune in next time.  

What have you been reading lately?

Thursday This n That

 Mmm, coffee.

I started writing again yesterday.  A new book.  I know I know I know.... I have scads of unfinished manuscripts weeping from the neglect they've suffered, but when an idea strikes, it's best to just run with it.  Okay, maybe not best, but it's certainly easier.  I'm all about easy.  Anyway, I got about 1300 words down, so I've got that going for me.  We'll see what today brings.  And who knows, maybe I can cobble something I've already written into this.  That'd be good.

My baby tree project is going well.  Out of the scads of seeds I harvested last fall and planted either then or recently, I have 4 dogwoods.  Nothing else came up.  Live and learn for next fall.  On the other hand, I rescued a bunch of volunteer seedlings from around the outside - 4 cedars, 3 redbuds, and 2 oaks.  They're in pots now.  We'll see how they do.  I also have a boatload of volunteer elms that will either have to be dug up and replanted or pulled and thrown out.  They're not in optimal places to have a tree.  

Did you hear the news about the toddler who wandered away from his home in AZ only to be found by a dog 7 miles away?  Yay for the dog.  My suspicious mind wonders, though, how a 2 year old made it seven miles on foot.  Was he snatched and let go?  Was he dumped like a unwanted dog?  Sure, he could've just been a tot on a mission, but like I said, I'm suspicious.

Today, my bird-a-day calendar has a tern feeding its baby a tasty fish.

Earlier I heard a single yip out there in the darkness.  I'm guessing fox.  Coyotes have a tendency to move in a group and when one goes, they all go.  Foxes are more solitary.  On the other hand, neither of them are generally one yip kind of critters.  Since all I have is that one yip to go on, all I can do is guess.

They came and fixed my phone again.  This time, the tech called afterward and it was one I've worked with before.  He said to call him directly next time, and bypass the whole mess that is BS customer support.  And there will be a next time because they can't be bothered to replace what is constantly failing with stuff that actually works.  (He didn't say most of that - only to call him.  I don't want to get him in trouble.)  Anyway, he also said that part of the problem is because someone has been cutting their fiber optic cables.  Most likely they're looking for copper to steal and sell.  Morons.

I'm back to walking more regularly again.  The other night, I saw two rabbits chasing each other around and around.  Bunnies!  So cute.  I mean, they were adults, but still... BUNNIES!  And adult rabbits generally produce even cuter bunnies.  Yay.

No wonder bunnies are associated with Easter.  Spring = Easter. Spring = Rabbits.  Therefore, Easter = Rabbits.  It's simple math.  ;o)

Okay, that's it for me.  I need more coffee and I should probably think about doing something constructive.  Have a great day!

Wondering Wednesday

This morning, I spent some time wondering when they stopped just giving the tetanus vaccine in a tetanus shot.  I'd heard a while back that they were packing other vaccines in with the tetanus vaccine, which to me seems like a dirty trick for people who only want a tetanus shot.  I'm naturally suspicious of shit like that.  Anyway, I did some research to see if my facts were right and sure enough, they can/do pack other vaccines in there.  Diptheria seems to be the bug of choice, but there can also be whooping cough, hepatitis, and flu vaccines in with your tetanus shot.  This is why I am hesitant to go get a freakin' tetanus shot.  If I think I need a shot for tetanus, because I ran afoul of rusty metal somewhere, I do not want them pumping me with other stuff.  

I've been replanting trees that I find in the garden beds - cedars, redbuds, and oaks so far.  I wonder if they'll all live.  And if they do... I wonder if I need a license to sell trees in the state of MO.

I wonder why Sawyer and Finn won't let us sleep through the night.

I wonder why granulated sugar doesn't break down in frosting and remains gritty.  You'd think that the wet of the frosting would soften those granules, but it doesn't.  

I wonder why male cardinals feed female cardinals. 

That bright 'star' I keep seeing in the morning... I wonder if it's just Venus shining really brightly.  I wonder why it does that.

I wonder why some birds don't seem to have the hang of their own songs.  One bird out there is singing his song perfectly and another bird is singing it off key and missing some notes.  I wonder if he's young or defective.

I started writing again this morning.  I wonder if I'll finish this one.

Is there anything you're wondering this morning?

Monday Update - Week 16

 Since yesterday was a holiday, here's a Monday Update...

No writing or editing.  Yes, I have been thinking about writing, but that's usually only when I'm trying to get some sleep.  I did some marketing for SLEEPING UGLY, which was free last week, but I didn't move as many as I would've liked.  :shrug:  I forgot to set anything up for this week.  We'll see if that changes.

I did some reading, but I forgot to post my Saturday Reading Wrap-up.  I'll do a two-weeker this Saturday.

No baking this week.  Yeah, I meant to make a cake for Easter, but that didn't get done.  I did make some awesome stuffed chicken breasts for dinner yesterday, which went into the oven, I maybe that counts. Or maybe that just counts for next Sunday's update.  Derp.

On the activity front, I started the week gangbusters, but then dropped to nada.  So, yeah, 4 days of activity - mostly weeding gardens and stuff like that.  I did one hard target walk, which brings my total mileage for the year to 6.55 miles.  That's kinda pathetic, but I'm not whipping myself over it.  I'm doing other active things.  And my gardens are starting to look good, so yay.

Speaking of gardens, I got the shade bed and the cedar bed weeded.  (Okay, Hubs did most of the cedar bed, but it's weed-free now.)  Then I planted the seeds I had intended for the cedar bed.  I also bought some more seeds to go in there, which I'll try and get to today.  If the rain is actually finished.  

Speaking of plants, I have 4 viable dogwood trees in pots.  They're only about 3 inches tall, but they've each got two leaves beyond the seed leaves and one of them is working on a second set of leaves.  Also the two cedar trees - Cecile and Clyde - are doing well, with plenty of new growth.  

And the rain... Oh holy crap did it rain.  Sploosherama big time.  The dogwoods and the cedars are currently hanging out in the sunroom.  I didn't want them to drown, poor things.  

Okay, I think that's it for the news of last week.  I need to get motivated this morning, but my gumption won't turn over.  It sputters and dies every time I try it.  ;o)

Have a great day and if you're motivated, feel free to drop a comment.  

Happy Easter

Happy Easter for those who celebrate.  For those who don't, Happy Bunny Day.  Enjoy whatever fits your chosen faith today.  Us?  We're chilling out and hiding from storms.  We'll eat something fun later - either French Dip sandwiches or stuffed chicken breast.  I haven't decided and Hubs' doesn't care.  

Anyway, here's a pic I snapped of the Easter Bunny taking a break after a long night of hiding eggs and chocolate treats*.  As you can tell, he's bushed, but satisfied.

Let's give him a hand for all his hard work. YAY!

*Not rabbit raisins. 

Thursday This n That

:yawn: :stretch:  Good mornin'.  I actually woke up early today, but I couldn't get to sleep last night, so I'm draggin'.  :slurp coffee:

And now Finn wants lots of attentions, so I'm petting and trying to type. With a tail in my way. rofl

Finn's really no small cat by anyone else's standard. He's 13-14 pounds of sleek feline, but next to Sawyer, he's my widdle bebe.  It's not his fault his adopted brother is a moose.

Our phone is out again.  Stupid BS.  Their supposed to be out to fix it again on Friday.  I harangued the phone girl to make sure they actually fix it this time instead of slapping a bandaid on it.  We'll see.  It's going out like every other day.  Then it comes back, then it goes out, then it comes back.  The other day it went out in the middle of a call to Mom.  It's a bit ludicrous that in this day and age we can't get reliable phone service.

Anyway... I saw a news story yesterday about a toddler that had wandered away from his (her?) home in the Grand Canyon area of AZ.  He was found about 7 miles away by a rancher's dog, who led the kid back to its place.  That rancher was out and saw his dog coming home with a kid in tow.  Wild.  Anyway, the tot's fine and the dog is being hailed as a hero.  Not sure how a toddler gets out and wanders 7 miles, but there it is.

I cut my hair yesterday.  Whacked it short because it was irritating me.  I butchered the holy hell out of it.  But I didn't notice until after it dried.  I think I can fix it.  If not, it'll grow out.  Thankfully, I didn't cut it so short it looks like mange.  ROFL

Every morning for the past week or so, I've seen a weird 'star' rising in the east.  When I first saw it, it was about 6am, but it's rising earlier every day.  This morning, I saw it peeking through the trees at 5:27.  I searched online to see if I could figure out what it is, but no luck.  It's not the space station.  It might be like Venus and a couple other planets rising in a line so they look like one big bright light, but that doesn't make sense to my brain.  :shrug:  

Okay, with distractions, it's taken me over 30 minutes to write this and I really need to get my morning marketing done.  Have a great day wherever you are and if you feel inclined, drop a comment about whatever little things are sparking you today.

Marketing Monday - Sleeping Ugly

 Sleeping Ugly... I resemble that title this morning. Blerg.  You might've already heard the story of how this book came to be, but for those who haven't...  Way back when I was a teenager, I stumbled out of my bedroom one morning and there was my middle brother, who was home on leave from the USAF.  He took one look at me and, without even a 'how do you do' said "You're not Sleeping Beauty, you're Sleeping Ugly."  Ah, brothers.  Flash forward a few decades and that memory floated to the surface followed by the idea for this book.  

Anyway, Sleeping Ugly is on freebie starting today and going through Friday.  You know the drill. 

Now through Friday, get SLEEPING UGLY absolutely free.  (It's always free with KU. This is for non-subscribers.)  Get all the snarky goodness of this paranormal mystery today!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GM24Q48

Sunday Update - 2025 Week 15

 Wow, it's Sunday again.  Whoda thunk it?

Anyway... It was a week.  No writing or editing again this week.  I did the marketing thing because DE was on freebie, but I only did marketing M-W-F. Tuesday and Thursday were neglected.  Derp.  Tomorrow, Sleeping Ugly goes on freebie.  I need to prepare for that, I guess.  I'm unmotivated.

I did a boatload of reading last week.  4 books finished.  Woot.

In baking news... well, there isn't any.  Which is probably good for my lard butt.  I had planned on making a pizza, but then I lazed out and did french bread pizza instead.  

Despite being a toad in every other aspect of my life, I did do some active things this week.  There was only one day where I didn't really do much of anything.  The other days, I walked, gardened, sawed, or cleaned.  I walked 2.4 miles this week, which is my best week this year for walking.  After stepping on the scale this morning, I'm glad I decided to get back on the walking regimen.  Weight: 176.6.... ooph.

Speaking of gardening, I finally cleared out my shade bed.  Three astilbes survived the neglect and I still have one lily of the valley in there.  Everything else died over the two years of not really weeding in there.  :sadface:  Today, I tackle the cedar bed - which hasn't had anything planted in it for years, but I have plans to rectify that.  As for the already planted stuff, I have 4 glads coming up.  Also 4 of the dogwood seedlings look like they might make it :fingers crossed:.  The potted cedars are looking fine and both have plenty of new growth.  None of the other tree/shrub seeds are doing anything.  I think I might have a couple of volunteer redbuds in the yard, so I'll try to transplant those into pots.  I know I have volunteer elms and cedars.  I'm loathe to try and grow elms after The Tragedy of Elmer (wherein the deer ate him as soon as I put him in the yard).

In other news, there is no other news.  Life is rolling along and I'm rolling with it.  What's up with you?

Saturday Reading Wrap-up - 4/12/25

Hello again.  This was a banner week for reading.  I don't think I've read this many books in one week in years.  Yay.  And reading this much means I'm now only 7 books behind schedule.  Woot.

No new books acquired. I'm out of unread ebooks, though, so I need to rectify that.

Books Read:

12) Islands in the Sky by Arthur C. Clarke (4/11/25) -  science fiction - 4 stars.  New to me - I don't think I've read anything by Clarke before - but not underappreciated. Picked this one up at the thrift store for 25c.
Review: "This was an interesting enough story, but there was no real plot. It's just the tale of a 16-yr old boy's short time at a space station of the future. Things happen and he reacts to things. I was expecting something a little more exciting, I guess. All in all, I did enjoy the story, though."

11) Murder by the Script by Lisa Pevey (4/8/25) - cozy mystery* - 5 stars.  Not new to me, since this is the fourth book of this series I've read in the past few weeks.  I got this one for free, which prompted me to buy the first three books.
Review: "Another fun installment of this series. I really enjoyed it. The characters are all just as awesome and quirky as they were at the start. I loved the plot. It's just good, clean fun all the way around."

10) Festive Fonts and Fowl Murder by Lisa Pevey (4/7/25) - cozy mystery* - 5 stars.  Not new to me or underappreciated, but I'm sure it could always use more readers.  I picked this one up at full price with the first two after getting the 4th one for free.
Review: "Another fun installment of this series. I'm really enjoying reading them all. In this one, the stakes are higher because Buck's in trouble, which makes it fun. And like all good cozies, it all works out in the end. Yay."

9) The Modigliani Scandal by Ken Follett (4/6/25) - suspense - 5 stars.  Neither new to me nor underappreciated.  I mean, it's Ken Follett, after all.  I got this one from a thrift store for 25c.
Review: "I wasn't sure this was going to be all that great a book when I first started it, but man, was I ever wrong. It's not the kind of work most people know Ken Follett for, but it's pretty brilliant. The final twist really sealed the deal on this being a five-star read for me. Like I said... brilliant."

No DNFs.

Currently reading... I finished the SF last night with minutes to spare before bedtime, so I didn't start anything else.  I don't know what's next.  I have tons of unread books to chose from, though.  

What was on your reading list this week?

Friday This n That

 Yeah, yesterday got busy first thing and while I did mean to post, it was later by the time I remembered.  Sorry about that.

One of the things I was busy with was Wallyworld.  Man, was it busy in there yesterday morning.  It's usually pretty quiet on a weekday morning, so not sure what was up with that.  Some old dude clipped my elbow with his cart and didn't even say excuse me or sorry or anything.  As I said on FB, I hope all of his Depends have a manufacturing defect.  Anyway, I loaded my cart with groceries - including all kinds of meat - and made it out of there for just over $200.  I take that as a good sign.  There aren't any specific prices I can point to - other than whole turkey breasts for 97c a pound, which could be due to Easter's approach - to show that things are getting better, but I'm optimistic.

The weather's gotten nice here.  I'm trying to walk every day.  2 days in a row so far.  Woot.

We were without phones again.  On the third day, I finally called the phone company - because apparently no one else does that but me.  They said it wouldn't be fixed until the 14th.  As I was headed out yesterday, I crossed paths with a Brightspeed truck coming into the neighborhood and the phone was fixed by the time I got home.  Dial tone!  Yay.

The birds are being really LOUD this morning.  Looking for love and all that.  It's like a big, avian single's bar out there right now. Bow chicka bow bow.

Speaking of love, Hubs saw a baby squirrel yesterday.  Yep, it's about that time when mama squirrels kick their babies out of the hole.  Which ought to remind one that after bow-chicka-bow-bow comes waa-waa-waa, so if you want the first and not the second, there are things that prevent that from happening.  Use one or several.

DYING EMBERS is still free, but only through the end of today.

And that's it for me today.  What kinds of this n that things are it for you?

Freakin' Wednesday?

 Oh my gah... it's freakin' Wednesday?  Where did Monday and Tuesday go?  Holy crap.  

Okay, so Monday... Dying Embers went on freebie.  Go snag a copy.  

And Tuesday...?  We voted. 2 tax increases, a property tax cessation for old people thing, and some dude was running unopposed for commissioner of something.  I voted no on the tax increases - natch - yes on the property tax thing, and I didn't bother voting for the dude I didn't know.  As of this morning, one tax increase passed, one failed, the cessation thing was approved, and the dude probably got elected but I wasn't paying attention to him.

So, now it's Wednesday and we're all caught up, I guess.

Today, I am thoroughly unmotivated to do any marketing.  I need a shower.  The cats... okay, just Sawyer... were spastic last night so I didn't get much sleep.  What sleep I did get was sometime this morning, so I got out of bed late which is part of the unmotivational problem.  And I have about a half hour before my morning call to Mom.  (Yes, I call my mommy almost every morning.  She's 84, so there are a finite number of days left to call her, and plus, I like talking to her.)

Sometime around 11 last night, whilst Sawyer was trying to dig his way through Hubs dresser... pat pat pat pat ad infinitum... I snapped and threw my pillow at him. Scored a direct hit, scared the holy hell out of him, and sent him running for under the bed.  I felt really really bad about it.  He spent quite a while under there and once I ascertained that he was physically unharmed, I got some sleep.  Until about 1-ish when he decided it would be a good time to play with a jingly ball.  He batted that sucker all over the house, running after it and jumping on it... jingling all the way.  Oh what fun it is to... nevermind. That went on for a couple hours.   

Today, I'm supposed to do more marketing, as I previously indicated.  I'm also supposed to go grocery shopping.  I'm not sure either of those things are going to happen, and if they do, there won't be much zip in any of it.  :yawn: :stretch: :blah:

And I just remembered our phone is out again and I forgot to call the damn phone company.  !@#$%!

I need a coffee IV.  Just stick the needle in a vein and let the coffee drain in.

What are you up to today?  Hopefully, y'all have more oomph than I do.

:wander off in search of gumption:

Sunday Update - 2025 Week 14

 Yeah, yeah... I woke up late.  And yes, I've said before that I need to write these things ahead of time and get them scheduled, but we both know I'm not going to do that, so here we are.

Anyway, it was a week.  No writing, no editing.  I did think about writing, so that's a step in the right direction, but no actual words on paper yet. 

Last week's marketing effort was sorta blasé.  Thus, I only moved 28 copies of UNEQUAL.  Starting tomorrow, Dying Embers is on the freebie rotation.  I'll try to do better marketing that and see if I can't generate some interest.  Something's working because I am seeing a smattering of sales for books marketed previously.  Nothing spectacular, but better than nothing, and I appreciate every page read.  (Reviews would be nice, too, but beggars can't exactly be picky.)

Oh, yeah, I started working on a cover for the new book.  It's not horrible.  I don't hate it.  Then again, I don't love it either, so I have more work to do.  Personally, I think it turned out too bright and soft, like a chick lit cover instead of a gritty crime novel.  I really need to set everything up again and take another round of pics while it's still super-gloomy outside.  It might be the lightbulb.  I think it's a soft-white instead of a bright white.  :scuttles off to change bulbs:

Anyhoo... I did read a bunch last week.  I finished 3 books and made it halfway through another book.  I should finish that one today.  Right now, though, I've only finished 8 books this year, which leaves me 10 books behind schedule.  :shrug:  I'll either make that up or I won't.  

No baking this week.  It's not like my Ever-Widening Ass™ needs baked goods.

Speaking of the EWA™, my activity level sucked this week. I only got in a couple days where I did anything other than sit on said body part.  One day I did some woods work and the other day I went for a walk.  :throws confetti:  Weight: 174.8

One reason my activity sucked was the weather.  We've had some torrential rain crap move through in waves.  I think we've gotten about 6-7 inches of rain over the last 3 days.  And today we're supposed to get SNOW.  How is that even possible???  Stupid weather.  I moved all my baby trees inside for the duration.  Here's hoping Wrenegade leaves them alone.  

Yes, we still have that silly bird in the garage.  Although, maybe not so silly considering the rain and the cold.  He's a helluva lot better off than his free range counterparts right now.

Okay, I think that's it for me today.  I need more coffee and another cigarette.  Have a great day wherever you are.  :hugs:

Saturday Reading Wrap-up - 4/5/25

 Oops.  I plum forgot it was Saturday and that I had a post to do until just now.  I'm addle-headed lately.  Anyway, here goes...

No new books this week, but I have a boatload of previously acquired books to read, so it's all good.  

Books Read:

8) A Murder in Cursive by Lisa Pevey (4/3/25) - cozy mystery* - 5 stars.  This is book two, so no new to me, even if it could be better appreciated. Picked this up at full price with books one and three after snagging book 4 for free.
Review: "This second book was even better than the awesome first book of the series. A fun and twisty cozy mystery with enjoyable characters, an interesting plot, and a satisfying end. Yay!"

7) The Ebony Swan by Phyllis Whitney (4/1/25) - romantic suspense - 5 stars.  Neither new to me nor underappreciated.  Snagged this hardcover edition from the thrift store for $2.  I didn't realize at the time that I already had a paperback copy of this I'd read 10 years ago.
Review: "Phyllis Whitney is a comfort read for me. I read as many of her books as I could get my hands on as a teenager in a rural community. Somehow I missed this one. It's as good as all the others I remember. She nailed romantic suspense early in its inception. The tortured hero, the strong - but uncertain - heroine, the tangled web of lies and deceit and mystery. All culminating in a satisfying resolution and a happily ever after. :happy sigh:

Second reading... I guess after almost 10 years, I'd forgotten I read this, so I read it again as if I'd never read it before. I still agree with everything I said then."

6) The Riddle-Master of Hed by Patricia McKillip (3/29/25) - fantasy - 4 stars.  This title was new to me, but I loved the author as a teen.  Picked this up at a thrift store for 25c.
Review: "When I picked this up at a thrift store, I had no clue it was the first of three. (It's not on the cover, but it is on the back. I should've looked closer.) It's an awesome book full of magic and mystery and adventure... and of course, riddles... but it ends without anything really getting solved. Which is frustrating. Now I have to hunt down the other two books if I want to see what happens. =op"

DNFs:

No DNFs this week.  Yay!

Currently reading... an old suspense by Ken Follett.  It must be one of his earlier works - first published in the 1970s - and it's okay.  Nothing to write home about, but I'll finish it and let y'all know.

What's on your reading list for this week?

Labor of Love

What happened to Tuesday?  :shrug:  

Anyway, it's Wednesday.  There's really not much going on in my life right now.  I did spend a couple hours yesterday setting up for cover photos and then taking a bunch.  And then doing a mock-up of a cover.  They're pretty good pics, but I'm still not 100% in love with them.  I'll try something else today.  

Being self-published means wearing a lot of hats.  Not only am I a writer, I'm also an editor, a marketer, a cover artist, PR... chief cook and bottle washer.  It's kind of tiring sometimes.  Ya know?  And all of this for a paycheck that would make a mouse starve.  It's a labor of love, I guess.  

One really big upside to this is I don't answer to anyone else.  (Good thing, too, because if I was working for someone and not making money at it, I'd quit or they'd fire me.)  The cover choices?  Mine.  Wording?  Mine.  Ideas?  Mine.  Stand or fall, it's all on me.  It's kind of freeing.  I don't have anyone breathing down my neck pushing for me to get the book out.  Okay, so that's both a negative and a positive sometimes, but on the whole, this is a pretty good gig.

I mean, seriously.  I work when I want.  I write what I want.  I don't have to pay anyone a percentage of anything.  If I want to hire someone to do cover art or marketing or editing for me, I have that option and I still have creative control... mostly.  

Of course, working for myself by myself means I don't often have the scratch to hire someone to do anything for me.  I mean, I made $25 last month, and I was excited about it, but that don't put food on the proverbial table. $25... I spent that much on stuff at the thrift store to make the cover I'm working on.  Oh well. :shrug:  Labor... of... love.  Damn it.  ;o)

That being said, I'm not sure if I'd recommend this vocation to anyone.  Of course, if you're inclined to be a writer, you won't need recommendations and cautionary tales won't stop your drive to write.  If you're inclined to be a PUBLISHED writer, you'll make it happen, no matter the hurdles.  You do you.  

I do me - all the time.