We're having a cold front .... it is all relative you know. I don't think it hit 90 yesterday and is supposed to stay below 100 today. For Texas in July, that's a cold front. Rain would have made it perfect, and we did have rain .... I counted 5 drops!
I fell off the no-smoking wagon, but I'll climb back on it. I went 3 weeks - which is the longest that I've gone before. I'm aiming for a month this time .... maybe I'll go beyond that, but I'd love to go a month. Maybe that would be enough for me to finally make it. Keep your fingers crossed. I can tell you that the toughest part has been trying to write - I always took smoking breaks as "thinking" breaks, it's when I came up with my best ideas - like the opening line of the current WIP. I've got to find something else to use for those breaks. But, I haven't written a word in the last three weeks. Won't get that charm this Saturday at the Yellow Rose meeting. *sigh*
Reading a great book - Instant Gratification by Jill Shalvis. I am loving it!!!!!
Oh, and before I forget - for those of you interested - Jason Evans is having another Flash Fiction contest on his blog. Here is the information if you are interested in participating.
I'm writing to announce a very special Clarity of Night Contest short fiction contest beginning July 8th! Jaye Wells, the debut author of the cool and successful novel RED-HEADED STEPCHILD, is joining me as co-host! The contest is in her honor.
Compete for a signed copy of RED-HEADED STEPHCHILD. Compete for eternal bragging rights. Compete for cold, hard cash!! (Well, Amazon gift certificates...as good as cash.) $170 dollars in prizes will be awarded.
The contest will open on Wednesday, July 8th and will be open for one week. As with past contests, the limit is 250 words. Any genre or form is welcome so long as it is inspired by the "In Vino Veritas (Truth in Wine)" photo. Rules have been posted here: http://clarityofnight.blogspot.com/2009/07/in-vino-veritas-truth-in-wine-short.html
What are you reading, and how are you liking it so far?
Showing posts with label reading. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reading. Show all posts
Monday, July 06, 2009
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Yada Yada
I think Mother Nature has PMS. Shorts Monday, leggings Tuesday, shorts Wednesday, leggings Thursday - up and down temps all over the place. Sheesh. And the pollen - I generally like the temps in Spring, but I always get hit with the pollen.
Nick? Come on y'all, didn't you recognize the reference? It's Nick from Casablanca. I know Bebo recognized it, 'cuz it's one of her favorite movies.
And as for your weekend, most of you had just about as much fun as I did! What gives? Jeanne is the only one that did something interesting. I've got to get my jollies somewhere.
Not a whole lot going on. I haven't written or read, and I have deadlines looming on both. The book I'm supposed to read is for a contest, and it's due by April 18. And the writing? Well, at the writer's group, we get charms for writing - and I want one!!!! The next meeting is the 11th, so I got to get a move on. I'm also taking an on-line workshop through the group - it's called "Sizzle 101" and is being taught by Blaze author Jennifer LaBrecque, one of my favorite writers.
Here's the description:
The two-week course will cover sensuality vs. sexuality, creating sexual tension, awareness, steps to intimacy, the emotional component, engaging all five senses, and moving beyond tab a into slot b.
I'm really looking forward to it. It's my first on-line workshop, so I'm still not quite sure what is expected of me.
Anyway, that's just about it for now. Hope you are having a great hump day!!
Nick? Come on y'all, didn't you recognize the reference? It's Nick from Casablanca. I know Bebo recognized it, 'cuz it's one of her favorite movies.
And as for your weekend, most of you had just about as much fun as I did! What gives? Jeanne is the only one that did something interesting. I've got to get my jollies somewhere.
Not a whole lot going on. I haven't written or read, and I have deadlines looming on both. The book I'm supposed to read is for a contest, and it's due by April 18. And the writing? Well, at the writer's group, we get charms for writing - and I want one!!!! The next meeting is the 11th, so I got to get a move on. I'm also taking an on-line workshop through the group - it's called "Sizzle 101" and is being taught by Blaze author Jennifer LaBrecque, one of my favorite writers.
Here's the description:
The two-week course will cover sensuality vs. sexuality, creating sexual tension, awareness, steps to intimacy, the emotional component, engaging all five senses, and moving beyond tab a into slot b.
I'm really looking forward to it. It's my first on-line workshop, so I'm still not quite sure what is expected of me.
Anyway, that's just about it for now. Hope you are having a great hump day!!
Monday, March 16, 2009
Cue Jaws Theme
Monday, Monday, Mondaymondaymondaymonday .....
My version of the Monday Jaws song ..... yeah, I'm weird like that. Anway, here it is Monday again, and ain't we all soooooo happy? Whatever. Another week, another strange temps in Baileyexas. We'll be close to 80 on Monday, and throughout the week, except for Thursday I think, when we'll sink to around 65, and then back up again. YoYo!!!! After the sinuses adjusted, I actually had a good weekend. Spent Saturday with the girls (and one guy) at the Yellow Rose meeting. Wonderful presentation by Rosemary Clement-Moore, ate lunch, then over to Barnes and Noble for her booksigning. Yes, I spent too much money. Yeah, I hate myself now, but ... Anyway, Rosemary writes YA - her latest book is the third in a series titled "Highway to Hell". I bought it. I also bought the first one. Will try for the second at another time. It has been years since I've read YA. Um, probably since I was a YA. LOL Yes, we had books then ... and no, they weren't carved in stone. Sheesh.
So that was pretty much the high-light of my weekend. How was yours?
And since we haven't done this in a long time - what are you reading? I have a whole stack of books to choose from, not sure what to start on next.
Oh, and since St. Patrick's Day is Tuesday, there will be a blog that day and then not another one until Friday.
My version of the Monday Jaws song ..... yeah, I'm weird like that. Anway, here it is Monday again, and ain't we all soooooo happy? Whatever. Another week, another strange temps in Baileyexas. We'll be close to 80 on Monday, and throughout the week, except for Thursday I think, when we'll sink to around 65, and then back up again. YoYo!!!! After the sinuses adjusted, I actually had a good weekend. Spent Saturday with the girls (and one guy) at the Yellow Rose meeting. Wonderful presentation by Rosemary Clement-Moore, ate lunch, then over to Barnes and Noble for her booksigning. Yes, I spent too much money. Yeah, I hate myself now, but ... Anyway, Rosemary writes YA - her latest book is the third in a series titled "Highway to Hell". I bought it. I also bought the first one. Will try for the second at another time. It has been years since I've read YA. Um, probably since I was a YA. LOL Yes, we had books then ... and no, they weren't carved in stone. Sheesh.
So that was pretty much the high-light of my weekend. How was yours?
And since we haven't done this in a long time - what are you reading? I have a whole stack of books to choose from, not sure what to start on next.
Oh, and since St. Patrick's Day is Tuesday, there will be a blog that day and then not another one until Friday.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Reading Crisis?
This article was in the Dallas Morning News. I don’t know which day or what page, as it was cut out and brought to work, where I got my hands on it. Read it and tell me what you think?
Is reading really making a comeback in the U.S.?
And are we sure it was in a crisis to begin with? Wonders David Ulin
Is reading making a comeback in the United States? That’s the finding of “Reading on the Rise,” a study released this month by the National Endowment for the Arts concluding that literary reading among adult Americans has gone up 3.5 percent over the last six years.
The endowment considers this significant because its last reading survey, in 2002, reported such a precipitous drop in literary reading that it was titled “Reading at Risk.” The 2002 study showed that in the 10-year period beginning in 1992, adult readers fell from 54.0 percent of the population to 46.7 percent.
So does the new report mean we’ve turned a cultural corner? The key phrase in the report is “literary reading,” which the endowment defines as “novels and short stories, plays or poems.” As in previous years, nonfiction was left out of the loop. Such a definition is unconscious of its own elitism, the idea that literary reading is different from (read: better than) any other kind.
In a recent essay in The Nation, William Deresiewicz argued that the NEA has played into the tendency of so-called literary mandarins – the critics and scholars – to see themselves as “the Last of the Readers,” a beleaguered cultural elite. His response to the 2002 survey’s finding that “only” 96 million American adults engaged in literary reading? “Ninety-six million American adults engage in literary reading!”
In other words, there’s a whole lotta reading going on. I agree with Deresiewicz; 96 million is a lot of readers, a veritable army of the written word.
Not surprisingly, reading rates go up according to level of education: 68.1 percent of college graduates identify as readers, compared with 39.1 percent of high school graduates and 18.5 percent of those who never went to high school. And consider ethnicity – 55.7 percent of whites, 42.6 percent of blacks and 31.9 percent of Hispanics meet the NEA’s “literary reader” criteria.
This is important because “Reading on the Rise” correlates its findings to a broader context, framing reading in terms of moral value. “Reading is an important indicator of various positive individual and social behavior patterns,” the report informs us, adding that “previous NEA research has shown that literary readers attend arts and sports events, play sports, do outdoor activities, exercise and volunteer at higher rates than nonreaders.”
Setting aside the question of whether reading is, or even should be, good for you, these sorts of comparisons suggest a disturbing subtext, in which a certain kind of reader makes a better grade of citizen – literary eugenics, in other words.
David Ulin is book editor of the Los Angeles Times
Me:
Literary reading? Doesn’t reading non-fiction such as biographies, current events, politics and the such make a person a more rounded individual? I mean, as a writer of fiction, I’m happy to see that the reading of fiction is up, but I have to wonder how the numbers would be changed if non-fiction were to be included. Would the conclusion that reading was in a crisis be the same if non-fiction were added to the mix? I don’t think so. What about you?
Is reading really making a comeback in the U.S.?
And are we sure it was in a crisis to begin with? Wonders David Ulin
Is reading making a comeback in the United States? That’s the finding of “Reading on the Rise,” a study released this month by the National Endowment for the Arts concluding that literary reading among adult Americans has gone up 3.5 percent over the last six years.
The endowment considers this significant because its last reading survey, in 2002, reported such a precipitous drop in literary reading that it was titled “Reading at Risk.” The 2002 study showed that in the 10-year period beginning in 1992, adult readers fell from 54.0 percent of the population to 46.7 percent.
So does the new report mean we’ve turned a cultural corner? The key phrase in the report is “literary reading,” which the endowment defines as “novels and short stories, plays or poems.” As in previous years, nonfiction was left out of the loop. Such a definition is unconscious of its own elitism, the idea that literary reading is different from (read: better than) any other kind.
In a recent essay in The Nation, William Deresiewicz argued that the NEA has played into the tendency of so-called literary mandarins – the critics and scholars – to see themselves as “the Last of the Readers,” a beleaguered cultural elite. His response to the 2002 survey’s finding that “only” 96 million American adults engaged in literary reading? “Ninety-six million American adults engage in literary reading!”
In other words, there’s a whole lotta reading going on. I agree with Deresiewicz; 96 million is a lot of readers, a veritable army of the written word.
Not surprisingly, reading rates go up according to level of education: 68.1 percent of college graduates identify as readers, compared with 39.1 percent of high school graduates and 18.5 percent of those who never went to high school. And consider ethnicity – 55.7 percent of whites, 42.6 percent of blacks and 31.9 percent of Hispanics meet the NEA’s “literary reader” criteria.
This is important because “Reading on the Rise” correlates its findings to a broader context, framing reading in terms of moral value. “Reading is an important indicator of various positive individual and social behavior patterns,” the report informs us, adding that “previous NEA research has shown that literary readers attend arts and sports events, play sports, do outdoor activities, exercise and volunteer at higher rates than nonreaders.”
Setting aside the question of whether reading is, or even should be, good for you, these sorts of comparisons suggest a disturbing subtext, in which a certain kind of reader makes a better grade of citizen – literary eugenics, in other words.
David Ulin is book editor of the Los Angeles Times
Me:
Literary reading? Doesn’t reading non-fiction such as biographies, current events, politics and the such make a person a more rounded individual? I mean, as a writer of fiction, I’m happy to see that the reading of fiction is up, but I have to wonder how the numbers would be changed if non-fiction were to be included. Would the conclusion that reading was in a crisis be the same if non-fiction were added to the mix? I don’t think so. What about you?
Monday, January 19, 2009
Focus
When I first began taking care of mom, well make that mom and dad, I was reading a lot and writing was great. Then dad died and I had to spend more time with mother. Still, I was reading and maybe not writing as much, but writing. As things progressed with mom, I still read, but the writing began to fall to the wayside. I always thought “when this thing with mom is over, I’ll have all the time in the world to write”. Yeah. Mom passed and everything stopped; reading, writing, creativity, etc. Oh, there were moments of creativity – it wasn’t all gone, but it became a chore, not a love. Suddenly I had all of the time, but nothing was really there. I kind of expected that, I was grieving after all. But as time went on, it didn’t change. At first I thought it was my eyes, and part of it turned out to be – bifocals. Still, didn’t change much. Then the bipolar diagnosis and the medication; some things changed, but the flow of creativity, the focus for reading – still MIA. It reminds me a little of the classic Twilight Zone episode called Time Enough at Last. I’ll stop for a few minutes to let you follow the link and read the synopsis. Ready? Okay, that’s me, I have time enough at last, but my “glasses” are broken, or something is broken and I don’t know exactly what. I do know that I need to start reading – that reading feeds my creativity. I know that I need to start writing – even if it is just this blog, because any form of writing is an improvement right now. I also know that I have to find Bailey Stewart again. That’s what I meant about getting back to MySpace, diving into what made her work. Because Bailey Stewart is my key, my way back to the creativity. Everything is there, waiting. And I’ll find it again.
Monday, January 05, 2009
New Year?
New years, new years resolutions, goals, hopes, dreams – whatever you want to call them. Did you make one this year? I kinda did. I resolved to be better. Just better. Well, maybe more organized. I want to read again. Write. Create worlds for the characters that are clamoring to live outside of my head. At least, I hope they want out of my head. I hope they’re not just yelling for the heck of it, you know? ‘Cuz that would make me a nut case, or something. Hush Bebo!!! Answer emails – now that would be nice. I’m getting really terrible at that. Send out thank you notes for the Christmas surprises – you know who you are, and yes, I’ll thank you, personally, in an email. Honest. Blog again – visit my old friends. Find my old friends. LOL
But mostly, read. I miss that. I really miss getting immersed in a good book, losing myself in the story, whether it be romance or mystery, fantasy, history – I don’t care, just read.
So, what do you want out of this new year?
And yeah, that's my baileyboo!!!
But mostly, read. I miss that. I really miss getting immersed in a good book, losing myself in the story, whether it be romance or mystery, fantasy, history – I don’t care, just read.
So, what do you want out of this new year?
And yeah, that's my baileyboo!!!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
It's Only Wednesday ...
You know, a blank page looks awfully lonely when you’re sitting here staring at it hoping that magical words would appear on the screen. But guess what? No matter how long you stare, nothing happens. Soooo, you have to put your fingers on the keyboard and just start typing, you know? And even then, magic doesn’t always flow from the fingertips to the screen. You gotta think. What if I’m too tired to think?
Waiting for the next cold front to appear. It’s supposed to hit this weekend. I say cold front ‘cuz that’s what they call it. I call it a cool front. Not supposed to get out of the 60s. But hey, it beats the 80s.
Bought Jill’s latest book “To All a Good Night”, and Loreth’s latest one “Manhunter”. Now I just have to read them. LOL I don’t know why I’m still in this reading funk. Or should I say “not reading” funk. There has never been a time in my life when I wasn’t reading, but since mom died I haven’t really been able to sit down and read a book. Go figure. I suddenly have time to read at my leisure, but my leisure doesn’t want to cooperate.
Hmmmm, what other inane dribble can I send your way? Um, not a dang thing, darnit!!
Okay, so I’ve said what I’m supposed to be reading. What about you? What’s on the TBR pile right now?
Oh, and no, I didn’t make this one – but I thought it was really funny.
Waiting for the next cold front to appear. It’s supposed to hit this weekend. I say cold front ‘cuz that’s what they call it. I call it a cool front. Not supposed to get out of the 60s. But hey, it beats the 80s.
Bought Jill’s latest book “To All a Good Night”, and Loreth’s latest one “Manhunter”. Now I just have to read them. LOL I don’t know why I’m still in this reading funk. Or should I say “not reading” funk. There has never been a time in my life when I wasn’t reading, but since mom died I haven’t really been able to sit down and read a book. Go figure. I suddenly have time to read at my leisure, but my leisure doesn’t want to cooperate.
Hmmmm, what other inane dribble can I send your way? Um, not a dang thing, darnit!!
Okay, so I’ve said what I’m supposed to be reading. What about you? What’s on the TBR pile right now?
Oh, and no, I didn’t make this one – but I thought it was really funny.
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
I Won't Read, don't make me ....
Yep, got that right, for some reason I just can’t make myself read. It’s not like I don’t have anything on the shelves TO read. Far from it. I have two of Jill’s books – the last two Blazes Flashpoint and Flashback, plus Saskia Walker’s newest one that she so graciously sent me, Reckless (waving at Saskia). We won’t even mention the LOAD of books I bought a couple of months ago. Did you read that right? Two Jill Shalvis books sitting unread! I know, scary. I just can’t get into the mood, or whatever is required to read. No writing either (hey JJ, I know I owe you something, I promise its coming!!). I don’t know if it’s the summer blues, my birth sign isn’t in align with the moon, my underwear’s too tight? I don’t know, and I don’t like it. There was a time that it was hard to find me without a book in my hands. I miss reading. I miss writing. I don’t miss rithmetic though …
So, be that as it may (does anyone really know what that means?), I’ve got to get reading. What do you do to help yourself do something that you aren’t in the mood to do? Is there some trick that you have, some special incantation that you throw to the universe? Help me out folks!!
In the meantime, I received this really heartfelt email from Lis. It seems that there are these twins that really need foster care. They need TLC and a lot of attention. Can’t you find it in your hearts to help them out? I’ve signed up for Wednesday’s, I figure it’s the least I could do. And once you look into their sad faces, you too will be unable to turn them away. Please, won't you help foster them?
So, be that as it may (does anyone really know what that means?), I’ve got to get reading. What do you do to help yourself do something that you aren’t in the mood to do? Is there some trick that you have, some special incantation that you throw to the universe? Help me out folks!!
In the meantime, I received this really heartfelt email from Lis. It seems that there are these twins that really need foster care. They need TLC and a lot of attention. Can’t you find it in your hearts to help them out? I’ve signed up for Wednesday’s, I figure it’s the least I could do. And once you look into their sad faces, you too will be unable to turn them away. Please, won't you help foster them?
Monday, April 14, 2008
Book Addict
My name is Bailey Stewart and I’m a book addict. For about 2 years I have been on the straight and narrow, like a good book addict should. But on Saturday, April 12, I fell off the book mobile. I went to Borders. I had a gift certificate from Christmas that I had saved to buy the new Jim Butcher book.
I was only going to buy it and a non-fiction book or two. Yeah, and an alcoholic is only going to have one drink. I ended up spending about $175. Yes you read that right. Of course, a few were hardcovers which do cost more, but still … It really all started a couple of days ago when I was having a conversation with a customer. Somehow the subject of my history degree came up and she asked if I’d read any good history books lately. Ummm, no? I haven’t touched non-fiction for a couple of years. So I decided to correct this and pick up a couple of non-fiction tomes. Yeah, and there’s nothing mentally wrong with Brittany Spears. I did buy some fiction other than the Dresden book: Annette Blair’s My Favorite Witch and The Scot, the Witch and the Wardrobe; Lucy Monroe’s Three Brides for Three Bad Boys; Barbara Pierce’s Naughty by Nature. Also, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: In Extremis by Ken Goddard, and a novel about Robert Frost, who is my favorite poet.
But it’s the non-fiction that I’m looking forward to reading.
So, how about you? What book did you buy last? What are you reading now? What book are you most looking forward to reading? Fiction vs. Non-fiction?
I was only going to buy it and a non-fiction book or two. Yeah, and an alcoholic is only going to have one drink. I ended up spending about $175. Yes you read that right. Of course, a few were hardcovers which do cost more, but still … It really all started a couple of days ago when I was having a conversation with a customer. Somehow the subject of my history degree came up and she asked if I’d read any good history books lately. Ummm, no? I haven’t touched non-fiction for a couple of years. So I decided to correct this and pick up a couple of non-fiction tomes. Yeah, and there’s nothing mentally wrong with Brittany Spears. I did buy some fiction other than the Dresden book: Annette Blair’s My Favorite Witch and The Scot, the Witch and the Wardrobe; Lucy Monroe’s Three Brides for Three Bad Boys; Barbara Pierce’s Naughty by Nature. Also, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: In Extremis by Ken Goddard, and a novel about Robert Frost, who is my favorite poet.
But it’s the non-fiction that I’m looking forward to reading.
So, how about you? What book did you buy last? What are you reading now? What book are you most looking forward to reading? Fiction vs. Non-fiction?
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Winter Wonderland ... Not!
Cat Marsters/Kate Johnson is doing a really great thing over at her blog. Please go over and check it out.
Seamas is a shithead. (You know Bubba is in trouble when I call him by his proper name.) He keeps going over to the tree and pulling at the lights. While I’m sitting here. Like I don’t exist. I’ve yelled at him three times already. Now he’s coming over to me to try to kiss up. Good luck.
North Texas can’t decide what the temperature ought to be. Monday it didn’t leave the 40s and Tuesday it was almost 70. It’ll be near the 70s most of the week. I wasn’t sure how to dress for work Tuesday morning since we started out in the 30s.
I’ve been on a Christmas movie kick on the weekends. One of the channels is showing back-to-back tacky made for TV movies and I’ve been inhaling them, no matter how stupid they are. I just finished The Shalvis’ “The Trouble With Paradise” (and will be reviewing it soon) and I’m not sure what I’ll start on next. What are you reading?
Seamas is a shithead. (You know Bubba is in trouble when I call him by his proper name.) He keeps going over to the tree and pulling at the lights. While I’m sitting here. Like I don’t exist. I’ve yelled at him three times already. Now he’s coming over to me to try to kiss up. Good luck.
North Texas can’t decide what the temperature ought to be. Monday it didn’t leave the 40s and Tuesday it was almost 70. It’ll be near the 70s most of the week. I wasn’t sure how to dress for work Tuesday morning since we started out in the 30s.
I’ve been on a Christmas movie kick on the weekends. One of the channels is showing back-to-back tacky made for TV movies and I’ve been inhaling them, no matter how stupid they are. I just finished The Shalvis’ “The Trouble With Paradise” (and will be reviewing it soon) and I’m not sure what I’ll start on next. What are you reading?
Monday, November 05, 2007
It's Me
Sunday’s movie: Transformers (4 stars)
For months I thought I had a problem reading. I’ve been reading Sasha White’s “Lush” on the computer, and although I’ve been enjoying it (especially the second story), I keep having problems finishing it. Then Loreth Anne White’s “Seducing the Mercenary” came in the mail Friday and I’m almost half-way through it. What’s the difference? One is on the computer, the other in my hands. I wasn’t having a problem reading, I was having a problem with ebooks. I thought that buying the laptop would help me with this problem, but when I get on the computer I want to play games, IM, etc. – everything except read. So I apologize to Sasha, who was hoping for a review. I should have bought the book when I saw it in the store. I’m just not an ebook reader, I have to come to terms with that. I don’t think, even for the Shalvis, that I’m going to be able to read anything longer than a short story on the computer. And now that I’m on book restriction (I can’t buy any books at all), that’s going to really hurt.
For months I thought I had a problem reading. I’ve been reading Sasha White’s “Lush” on the computer, and although I’ve been enjoying it (especially the second story), I keep having problems finishing it. Then Loreth Anne White’s “Seducing the Mercenary” came in the mail Friday and I’m almost half-way through it. What’s the difference? One is on the computer, the other in my hands. I wasn’t having a problem reading, I was having a problem with ebooks. I thought that buying the laptop would help me with this problem, but when I get on the computer I want to play games, IM, etc. – everything except read. So I apologize to Sasha, who was hoping for a review. I should have bought the book when I saw it in the store. I’m just not an ebook reader, I have to come to terms with that. I don’t think, even for the Shalvis, that I’m going to be able to read anything longer than a short story on the computer. And now that I’m on book restriction (I can’t buy any books at all), that’s going to really hurt.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Bored
I have absolutely nothing to blog about. It’s been one of those weeks, you know, when I could use a bear. A goose. Big hairy spider and a dead husband walking. That’s part of the problem with living alone, I have no one to blame for eating all of the cookies, except for myself. (Did I mention they were the chocolate chip cookies that I’d baked for Jill? – yeah, she knows, I’m forgiven … I think) If only the cats would act out – back talk me, give me funny things to talk about, but no – they stick to cat stuff, nothing out of the ordinary. Darn it. So I guess it’s time for that “I’ve got nothing to blog about” subject – Whatcha reading? I have a stack, no make that stacks, of books next to the bed.
That's my post, and I'm sticking to it.
That's my post, and I'm sticking to it.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Pre-Orders
Have you ever wondered what pre-orders mean to an author. I did, so I asked. The print run is decided by the preorders from the major bookchains and Amazon. Once the pre orders come in to the publisher, that’s how they determine how many to print, which is the print run. The higher the print run, the better the author is doing, and the better an author is doing, the better the publisher treats them, etc. Some authors, those on the highest tier of the writerstratasphere, automatically get high-print runs. They include Nora Roberts, Jayne Ann Krentz, Debbie Macomber, etc. But most authors are in that middle section, that gray area where it also depends upon how much the editor/publisher likes them that determines the print run. Of course, the higher the print run, the more books the author is likely to sell. Have you ever gone to the bookstore to buy your auto-buy and notice that that particular author only has about 2 or 3 books on the shelf? That doesn’t always mean that the others sold out, it could also mean that only 2-3 books were ordered based upon the lack of pre-sales. Sort of like how well a movie does in the theaters may determine how many copies of a movie Blockbuster buys to put on their shelves. A movie that tanked doesn’t lend itself to the likelihood of a lot of rentals. Same with books; a book that doesn’t garner a lot of pre-orders/publicity isn’t likely to engender a lot of confidence in the bookstore as to whether it will sell or not, hence low orders from the publisher for their shelves. Why am I telling you all of this? Because we as readers need to support those authors who sit in that middle and lower section of writer hierarchy. If you have an author that you like who isn’t in that upper rung, who doesn’t seem to have a lot of books at the stores – then start pre-ordering their books. This is also especially true for those just starting out. That’s why I always try to pre-order books. I like to support “my” authors.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Entertain Me
I’m a little better. I managed to get the flowmeter up to 150 on Saturday, previously it was only going to about 100. For those of you unfamiliar with asthma, a flowmeter measures the amount of air that you’re moving – it should be in the 200s. My energy level is a little better too. Not great, but better. I haven’t been reading because I’ve not been able to keep my eyes open long enough. I’m hoping to spend Sunday reading.
I’m taking one of Michele’s suggestions on yesterday’s post – I’m going to let you entertain me. I have several movies that, while not necessarily my favorites, are movies that I can play over and over again – like background noise. I know when to stop what I’m doing to catch a favorite scene, for example. Here is my list of 5 movies that I can do this with, in no certain order:
Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
Volcano
The Mummy
While You Were Sleeping
Independence Day
So, what about you? Give me your list.
I’m taking one of Michele’s suggestions on yesterday’s post – I’m going to let you entertain me. I have several movies that, while not necessarily my favorites, are movies that I can play over and over again – like background noise. I know when to stop what I’m doing to catch a favorite scene, for example. Here is my list of 5 movies that I can do this with, in no certain order:
Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
Volcano
The Mummy
While You Were Sleeping
Independence Day
So, what about you? Give me your list.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Egads!
I'm working with the boss Thursday morning
This has been a warning from the My Boss is a Perfectionist System
We now return you to your regular blogging.
So, yeah, I'm working with the boss on Thursday morning. Can't you tell I'm excited? I like him, but not to work with. He's picky, a perfectionist and he makes me nervous. I make more mistakes when he's around than I would in a month or two. I don't do things the way he does and trying to remember how I'm supposed to do it, well it's just frustrating. On the bright side, I do start my new anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medication that morning too. Maybe they'll conteract each other? I apologize for yesterday - I had a minor meltdown Tuesday night and couldn't post. I thought about mom's birthday, Christmas, New Years as days that would get me, but I never considered Valentine's Day and how lonely I would feel. No card, no rose, no mom. Even through the fog of Alzheimer's last year, she somehow remembered to have Bebo buy me a rose. So yesterday pretty much sucked. Big time. I spent the morning getting enrolled in our low-income medical program, saw a doctor, got hooked up with drugs, had three vials of blood withdrawn and in a couple of weeks I should be seeing a psychiatrist. Then maybe Bailey will be a happy camper again. I've had a very hard time since mom died - being clinically depressed when I began taking care of my parent's didn't help much. Not having any medical care for the last 7 years wasn't a good thing either. It's one of the reasons I've had a hard time getting the house in order, and it's also interfering with my writing. Major no no. When you're depressed you have periods of high energy and then periods where things that you normally enjoy don't interest you; hence the writing and then not writing, reading and then not reading.
On the writing front - weeeellllll, my readers may have fits, but I'm thinking of changing the direction of the story. Brandy, quit throwing things at me; Glenice? Yeah, you and what army; Jeanne, I think my cats can take yours; Susan, yeah, they could probably take yours too. I'm getting to know my characters and, well, they're not happy with the story line. Imagine that - like they think it's their story or something. Of all the nerve. No, really, I think (and Bebo too) that the direction I'm leaning towards is a good one. We'll see, I haven't decided yet.
I'd better get to bed now - I have "you know who" in the morning and I don't want to be a slug.
Sorry I haven't been a good blogging buddy either. I think I mentioned that I'm filling in for someone at work and I've been working every day this week. Things will be back to normal (as normal as I can get) after the weekend.
This has been a warning from the My Boss is a Perfectionist System
We now return you to your regular blogging.
So, yeah, I'm working with the boss on Thursday morning. Can't you tell I'm excited? I like him, but not to work with. He's picky, a perfectionist and he makes me nervous. I make more mistakes when he's around than I would in a month or two. I don't do things the way he does and trying to remember how I'm supposed to do it, well it's just frustrating. On the bright side, I do start my new anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medication that morning too. Maybe they'll conteract each other? I apologize for yesterday - I had a minor meltdown Tuesday night and couldn't post. I thought about mom's birthday, Christmas, New Years as days that would get me, but I never considered Valentine's Day and how lonely I would feel. No card, no rose, no mom. Even through the fog of Alzheimer's last year, she somehow remembered to have Bebo buy me a rose. So yesterday pretty much sucked. Big time. I spent the morning getting enrolled in our low-income medical program, saw a doctor, got hooked up with drugs, had three vials of blood withdrawn and in a couple of weeks I should be seeing a psychiatrist. Then maybe Bailey will be a happy camper again. I've had a very hard time since mom died - being clinically depressed when I began taking care of my parent's didn't help much. Not having any medical care for the last 7 years wasn't a good thing either. It's one of the reasons I've had a hard time getting the house in order, and it's also interfering with my writing. Major no no. When you're depressed you have periods of high energy and then periods where things that you normally enjoy don't interest you; hence the writing and then not writing, reading and then not reading.
On the writing front - weeeellllll, my readers may have fits, but I'm thinking of changing the direction of the story. Brandy, quit throwing things at me; Glenice? Yeah, you and what army; Jeanne, I think my cats can take yours; Susan, yeah, they could probably take yours too. I'm getting to know my characters and, well, they're not happy with the story line. Imagine that - like they think it's their story or something. Of all the nerve. No, really, I think (and Bebo too) that the direction I'm leaning towards is a good one. We'll see, I haven't decided yet.
I'd better get to bed now - I have "you know who" in the morning and I don't want to be a slug.
Sorry I haven't been a good blogging buddy either. I think I mentioned that I'm filling in for someone at work and I've been working every day this week. Things will be back to normal (as normal as I can get) after the weekend.
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