Thursday This n That

Sometimes I like to share books on Facebook that I haven't read and probably won't purchase, because they look interesting to me and I think some of my friends might enjoy them. And invariably someone will say 'tell me what you think of it when you're done' and I feel bad because I never really intended on buying it.  Not because I don't want to but because the budget does not allow for me to buy all the books I'd like to.  So, instead of buying books I can't afford to, I share them on FB as a way of supporting the author so they can keep on writing and maybe someday I'll be in a position to buy their books. 

Despite my love of birds, I really don't like parrots.  It's a long story, but suffice it to say I lived with one for nearly 3 years and that was quite enough thank you very much.  I only mention this because today's bird of the day is parrots - again.  For the second time this week.  The last one, I had to put a sticky note over the bird's face because it was creeping me out.

I really need to cut my hair.  I'm starting to look like a sheepdog.

Today's the last day of November.  I'm sure all y'all probably knew that, because you're on the ball and stuff, but it came as a total surprise to me.

I know tomorrow is the first of December, but I am totally not ready to think about Christmas.  Ho Ho NOT.  Maybe it's the fact that it hasn't gotten cold here yet.  It's been in the sixties for the most part.  Hell, I was out fishing the other afternoon in a t-shirt.  Gorgeous day.  And so not 'put me in the holiday mood' weather.

I just noticed that in my pen/pencil cup is an NMU pencil, unsharpened and probably 26 years old.  I think it's the only thing left I purchased while I was in college.  The t-shirt wore out.  The mugs got broken.  But I still have my pencil.

Well, that's it for me.  What have you got for me this morning?

PSA and Rant

If you're a writer... hell, if you're in any kind of business where you present marketing materials to the world... proofread your stuff before it hits the public eye. 

It goes without saying that your books should be proofread.  Over the course of 65 to 150 thousand words, though, you're bound to miss something here or there.  With those words, do the very best you can. 

In a marketing materials, generally the shorter the better.  But let's say, for the sake of argument, you're putting out a blurb of like 250-500 words.  Surely, you can proofread that to perfection.  Surely.  And if you can't, then get someone else to do it.  Get several someones.  Something.

I just read such a blurb for a person trying to sell their book on how to sell books.  Not a damn comma in the whole thing.  And there should've been.  Trust me.

I've seen ads in the local paper.  Maybe 20 words?  With misspellings.  Now, sure, these aren't for writing services, but still.  You're touting your restaurant as being an upscale alternative in the area?  Then make your ad look like you gave a damn.  If you spell Wednesday like Wensday it looks like you don't care.  How can I then trust you to care whether my fork is spotless or whether your employees wash their hands?  :shudder:

Hell, I've seen misspellings and typos in the damn news.  Argh.

These are things that ought to be proofread to within an inch of their existences.  But no.  And people are getting paid to write that stuff, which really offends the hell out of me.

Yes, yes.  This pot is calling the kettle tarnished.  If you consider these blog posts as marketing materials, that is.  I've warned y'all before.  I don't proofread the blog, for the most part.  If I see an error, I fix it, but other than that, blog posts are on their own.  Non-marketing FB posts are on their own, too.  Sometimes, I'm just a person, jotting my thoughts down for the world to see. 

My blog posts probably make my editor cringe sometimes.  I can almost imagine her up there shouting "COMMAS, B.E., COMMAS".  :shrug: 

This has been a Public Service Announcement... that sort of turned into a rant.  :shrug:  Do the world a favor and proofread your marketing materials.  Please. 

Sunday Update - Week 47

Well, here we are again with another Sunday which means another Sunday Update. 

I haven't written a stitch.  I know I was all jazzed about DH3 and everything, but the jazz ran out and now I'm stuck with the thought that maybe I should spend December editing instead of writing, so I can hit my production schedule this year.  Yeah, yeah, I'm one of those writers who can't seem to write when I'm not enthused.  Not necessarily the best business plan, lemme tell ya.

I had a sale this week (still having it thru today) and although the advertising didn't pay for itself yet, I'm seeing sales. Here's hoping a bunch of people picked up the books for Kindle Unlimited and haven't started them yet, so I'll see a cascade of page reads over the next couple of weeks.

I did read a lot this week, but it was all one book.  I'm slowly making my way through The Wishsong of Shannara.  And remembering why I stopped reading the Shannara books after this one.  I mean, it is kind of a let down after Elfstones, in my opinion.  And then there's the thing with Allanon, who is my favorite character out of the first three Shannara books.  I'll probably finish it this week and move on to one of the books waiting on my Kindle. 

Fishing was kind of a bust this past week.  The weather wasn't right or something.  Too windy... too sunny... too warm or not warm enough... I dunno.

We had Thanksgiving, of course, which is just the two of so not really a big hoopla.  Hubs made an amazing turkey, naturally.  I made an amazing pumpkin cheesecake.  We were both very thankful for each other and the life we have together.  I talked to the Kid and to Mom, so it's all good.   I have a boatload of turkey leftovers, so today I'll be making a pot pie.  Next week, I'll be making soup or fricassee or something.

I busted a hump on the work stuff this past week.  Loads of spreadsheets to rework.  Also all good.

That's it for me today.  How was your last week?

Saturday Fishing Report - 11/25/17

Hello again and welcome to the Saturday Fishing Report.

Well, it's a report.  Not much to report, though.  I went out twice last week.  Caught doodley-squat.  Unless you count a little green sunfish - one each time.  They're little fighters and they're super pretty, but neither of them was big enough to eat.

I tried a whole bunch of different lures, as well as my stand-by worms.  I did different retrieve rates.  I jiggled.  I shimmied.  I set the worm at all different depths.  Nada.  And I could SEE the fish jumping, so I know they're in there.  :shrug:

From the other local fishing reports, I'm not the only one having a rough time finding fish.  Oh, sure, they're catching more than I am, but they're in boats and can fish at depths I don't have access to.  And they're still not catching the fish one would typically find at this time of year. 

I am enjoying the lovely weather, though.  Except for the wind.  The wind is a bit nasty.  It almost took my hat yesterday, but I caught it before it went in the lake.  I might've gone in after it.  I love that hat and I don't think I could find another one like it after all these years.

Well, here's hoping the fishing is better next week.  I'm not holding my breath, though. 

Have an awesome week, whatever you're doing.  See ya next time.  =o)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here's Hans the Turkey to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving.  May your plates and your hearts be full today.  And may your stomachs not be so full as to make you regret how full your plates were.  ;o)

Thursday This n That - Two Days Early

Since Thursday is Thanksgiving here in the US, I decided to move the this-n-that post to today. 

I just got faked out by the cat.  She was sitting in the corner acting like something was totally interesting and looking all over like it was getting ready to attack her (or she was getting ready to attack it).  Total kwazy kat.  So, we both go over there, turn on the big light, and look - thinking perhaps it was a spider or a cricket.  Nothing.  Hubs goes on about his business, as do I.  A minute later, we look and the cat is gone.  He guessed she went to the bedroom when we weren't looking.  I posited she was pointing out a rip in the fabric of time and space, and that's where she went.  He's probably right, but my answer was more fun.

The above is probably why some people believe cats can see ghosts, btw.  Crazy-ass animals.  LOL

Despite my assertion that I would not be raking leaves this year, I did rake leaves.  Hubs mulched most of them, but I needed the exercise, so I raked them to where he was mulching them.  Now we have nothing more to rake, which kaputs my outdoor exercise routine.  Guess I'll just have to start raking the trails in the woods again.  I've got to do something - my ever-widening ass is getting out of hand again.

Despite my assertion that fishing is exercise, it's not really exercise.  Not since the lake came back up anyway.  Last year I had the opportunity to walk all over the place and fish.  Now, not so much.  Stand here, sit there, walk a little. 

Crap.  I just remembered something I was supposed to do yesterday that I didn't.  You see, I had a bunch of spreadsheet come in that needed work and I was wrapped up in that, so I didn't get the thing I was supposed to do yesterday done.  No excuse, but I really better go do that. 

What's on your this n that today?

Sunday Update - Week 46

It's Sunday.  I have coffee. 

I did write a little this past week.  Not much and nothing to jump up & down about, but it's words.

I sent a book off to my editor.  She'll have it back to me on Dec 15th.  Working with that timeline and expected workload with this book, I'm setting a tentative release date as February 12th.  Could be sooner, but probably not.  Could be later, but I don't anticipate by much.

Meanwhile, I have Early Grave to edit and Sleeping Ugly to edit and this Dennis Haggarty Mystery to write.  There's my 2018 in a nutshell.

I spent some time trying to think of a title for DH3.  In keeping with the theme of the previous two books, I have the following ideas: Malice Aforethought, Self-Inflicted Wounds, Involuntary Manslaughter, Apparent Suicide, and Malicious Intent.  I know.  Meh.  Self-Inflicted Wounds gives me an awesome idea of where the story might go.  Malicious Intent sounds the best, I think.  It may be none of those.  As I'm doing my genealogy, I'm paying special attention to Death Records to see if any of them give me title ideas.  So far, no.  Bronchial pneumonia, nephritis, or 'run over by a wagon' just don't have the right rings to them.

This week I have a sale on Dying Embers and Fertile Ground - 99c or .99p each (I remembered to add in the UK this time).  They'll go on sale the 21st and be back to $2.99 on  Monday the 27th.  I also snagged some advertising, so we'll see how that goes.

I did some fishing, but it was unproductive.  Nice mental breaks, but no fish worth mentioning.

Did some reading, but only finished one book - The Boomerang Clue by Agatha Christie.  Fun book.  Right now, I'm in the middle of The Wishsong of Shannara by Terry Brooks.  I read this years ago, but I don't remember much of it, so it's like reading a new book. 

This past week was filled with trying to tackle my to-do list, upon which are many many cleaning tasks.  And as I get one done, I find another I need to do, so it's like the perpetually growing to-do list.  But sooner or later, it will all get done. 

This year, Hubs is mulching the leaves instead of us raking them.  So at least there's not that on my list.  He's about half done.  I'd help, but I hate the lawn mower and the feeling is mutual. 

That's about it for me today.  What's up in your world?  Did any of you release a book this week?  :hint hint, nudge nudge: :cough:deb:cough: