susurration

This Monday Thing

annetta.ribken@gmail.com — Mon, 14 Nov 11 08:05:00 UT

When you work for yourself, the days of the work week are typically a blur. It doesn't really matter what day of the week it is; time is dictated by deadlines and there are no such things as weekends or days off. Still, Monday retains its distinct flavor no matter what.

Monday and I don't really get along.

I'm not sure why that is. Maybe it's because I never know what's up its sleeve. Because Monday can be a tricksy bugger.

***

This Monday will include a trip into the Out in order to ship the first bunch of autographed copies of "Athena's Promise". Then it's back to the desk for some editing on an ongoing project and reading in preparation for a couple more. Busy is good.

I used to do preparatory reading on the computer, and trust me when I say that's very tiring on the eyes, in spite of my beautiful flat screen monitor I bought at a garage sale for $5. (Best garage sale find EVER.) I was lucky enough to inherit a Generation I Kindle, and clever enough to figure out how to convert a document to read on said Kindle (thank you, Mobi Creator!) So now, part of my job entails reclining on the sofa or snuggling in bed and reading.

Heh. Rough, I know. :) Don't hate.

Reading on a Kindle is actually a great tool for editing purposes. I have found errors I might not see on a computer screen, and it also gives me a better idea of when a reader might put down a story. Very valuable info.

***

Tomorrow I have an appointment to give blood. It's the holiday season and they need it. I can make more. :)

Updatery in Short Form

annetta.ribken@gmail.com — Mon, 7 Nov 11 06:30:00 UT

Time flies when you're having fun, and also when you're working your ass off. Sometimes I really miss blogging every day, but micro-blogging on Facebook seems to have taken its place. It really is a matter of time management -- it's a lot easier to throw up a simple "status" update than to write out a whole blog entry, and honestly, my life is a lot more boring than the days when I worked at the hotel and had something to blog about every day.

That has its good and bad side, right?

Anyway, you might wonder what I've been up to (or, maybe you have a life and really don't, heh!) since the last time I blogged here. Of course, there's work -- I've edited quite a few books, novellas and short stories, both for Etopia Press and as a freelancer. I love it.

Then, I had a visit from Muffin and the GirlChild, and that was amazing. I had so much fun, although I have come to the conclusion I am way too old to chase after a three year-old. Holy schmolies, that kid ran my ass off. It was a blast.

Then, I finally released Athena's Promise. (Autographed print copies can be ordered here). You can also see the fabulous trailer crafted by Rebecca Treadway if you visit this link. To say I've been over the moon at the reception is an understatement. And relieved, to be honest. I've already begun work on the sequel, "Athena's Chains", and I'm really excited about that.

It has been quite a journey, and I've learned a lot along the way. I've always been one to march to my own drummer, and the "indie" path seems to suit me. It's not easy, and it's taken a lot of work, but it has been a wonderful experience.

Things have been going well. I'm almost afraid to say that out loud. Heh.

Meltdown and Serial Killers

annetta.ribken@gmail.com — Fri, 5 Aug 11 10:12:00 UT

Although I knew it was going to hit, I was really expecting it to hit AFTER the wedding. So, imagine my surprise when I woke up earlier this week from crying in my sleep with the inability to stop.

Of course, this freaks me out because when this happens I never know if it's a Big Break or just a Glitch in the Matrix. The jury is still out -- but the time between the wailings is increasing, so I'm taking that as a good sign. There is residual irritability.

And if you're thinking of saying something like, oh, just concentrate on the wedding, and think of all the happy things, STFU. It's obvious you do NOT know ANYTHING about depression, and I don't need to hear it. Clear?

Okay, then. Let's proceed as if.

****

Last night, I'm minding my own business when there's a knock at the door. Not only is it dark, it's after 11 and I just know it's a serial killer and rapist coming after me. I also know it takes an act of desperation for someone to knock so late. So I answered the door.

It was a very thin, slight man with a dead car in my driveway. He asked if I could jump it, and I said...aalllright. I figured I have at least 100 pounds on him, so if he tried anything, I could take him down. Easy.

We didn't really talk much. I'm not in the mood, and he didn't seem to be in the mood, either. I pulled the car out, we hooked it up, and despite over a half hour of fiddling around, his car just was not cooperating. He asked if I had a phone book so he could call a tow. I said...aaalllright.

My intention was to come in the house, grab the phone book and let him peruse it outside, but he followed me inside. I'm a little nervous, I don't mind saying. Athena was no use at all. She hid under the bed.

I called the GC so if I was attacked, she could call 9-1-1 right away. She knew something was wrong immediately, and started asking 20 questions.

Are you okay?

Not really.

Is there someone in the house?

Yep.

Is it Jehovah's Witnesses?

Nope.

Well now I'm nervous.

Call me back in ten minutes.

The guy (I had not asked his name, there was really very little conversation) then said, well, I'll have to wait until the morning because nobody's open yet. Is it okay if I leave the car here?

Sure.

Thanks for your help.

No problem. Good luck.

He left, but a couple of seconds later he knocked on the door again.

You've been so kind, and I hate to bother you, but can I get a lift home?

What was I gonna say? No? Walk in the 90 degree heat in the middle of the night? Aaalllright.

He grabbed a potty chair and two bags from his car, and off we went. In silence.

Well, I had to say something. So I started a conversation.

He was just back from a deployment in Afghanistan. He has a daughter three years old, and her way of acting out when he left was to quit potty training (hence, the potty chair). I apologized for my standoffishness, and explained a person in my position has to be extra careful, especially around here. Safety first, you know?

I said, as long as you're not going to kill me for the three bucks in my wallet, we're cool. He kinda chuckled but didn't say anything. I said, dude, this is the part where you say you don't want my three dollars and you're not going to kill me. He laughed again. I took that as a positive.

We arrived at his house, and he thanked me again. No problem. He took his stuff out of the back seat, then stopped, took a 20 out of his wallet and tried to give it to me. Please, he said. I didn't realize until you talked about the safety stuff, but you really went above and beyond so please take this.

No way.

He really was insistent, but no way in hell was I taking his money. Just pay it forward, I told him.

So. I wasn't killed, and I wasn't raped, so it's all good.

****

The GC cracked me up when I called her on the way home, in the dark, with no idea how to get back to my house (I found it. Easy-peasy). She said, I don't know why I even asked if it was Jehovah's Witnesses.

Me either. When have you ever seen a JW after dark? They don't come out after dark because the demon monkeys might eat them. Besides, what makes you think I can't handle JWs? I have a voodoo doll hanging in my window.

Well, it was funny at the time.

****

Now I have to go run some errands, finish up some work...doo dah, doo dah.

Gearing Up

annetta.ribken@gmail.com — Mon, 1 Aug 11 09:05:00 UT

Ah, Monday. You are never going to be my favorite day of the week.

****

So, Qin and I spent our last session talking over his goals and the best way for him to continue improving his conversational English. Since he has no one he can practice with in China (it's considered the height of arrogance to overtly speak English, as if you're styling yourself as better than everyone else) I recommended that he watch as many movies and TV shows as he could, in English with Chinese subtitles. Because really, he has the vocabulary, he has the gist of syntax, he just needs to spend a chunk of time in a totally English-speaking environment and I'm positive it will all click. I mean, even when he's visiting here, his parents speak only Chinese. He's had a hard row to hoe.

This segued into a discussion about The Walking Dead, True Blood, Game of Thrones and ultimately to LOTR. He loves the movies, never read the books, so I spent the better part of an hour filling in the blanks. We talked about Boromir, Faramir, what happened between Gandalf and Saruman, what went on in the Shire until Sam, Pippin, Merry and Frodo returned, how Bilbo found the Ring -- it was so cool, and I surprised myself at the amount of details I was able to remember. Which shouldn't be a surprise, I guess, since I've read those books about a thousand times. Heh.

"Maybe next year," his father said to me when I left. I sincerely hope not, because that would mean Qin has not been able to secure a position -- so, as much as I would love to repeat this again next year, I hope hope hope that's not the case, for Qin's sake.

We take so much for granted in this country. So much.

****

Now, we gear up for the wedding. I am so glad it's a small affair, although having a big crowd in which I could become lost has its appeal, I can't help but say. I am really looking forward to seeing my girls -- even my extra daughters will be there, and I AM SO STOKED ABOUT THAT!! Omg. I can't wait to hug and squeeze every single one of them. It will be like old times, and much Joy will be had by all. EPIC.

But I can't lie; the highlight of the entire she-bang will be Muffin in his little suit and tie. I will probably never recover from the Kewtness Overload. Heh.

That means I have a ton of shit to do between now and the departure date. Oy.

****

The other night, I stayed up until 3am reading over journal entries from three years ago. I'm not sure that was a really good idea, but then I'm pretty stupid from time to time. In my defense, I will say sometimes, you have to take a look at where you've been in order to see not only where you're going, but how far you've come.

Also -- holy shit. I was pummeled pretty bad. Totally a hot mess of epic proportions. I am actually amazed I'm even alive today, to be perfectly honest. It was just one thing right after another. How the hell did I survive that?

I have no clue. One foot, then the other. How else?

I am so thankful I blogged through it and why I'm blogging again. Without those entries, I think I would have lost all that time completely. I know blogging helped, and so did the support of all the wonderful people who stood behind me through that time. I will never be able to express my gratitude to you. You know who you are.

That part of the blog is still private, but I may take it back out to the public at some point. I'm just taking it carefully at this point, for obvious reasons those of you who walked with me will understand.

Some things are better, some are still the same. At this point, that's amazing from where I started so I'll count that as a win.

****

I think I might be a workaholic.

****

Well, like I said, I have a ton of stuff to accomplish so I'd better get on it. Updates as they happen.

<3

Ends and Beginnings

annetta.ribken@gmail.com — Sat, 30 Jul 11 21:31:00 UT

This July has been the busiest one on record for me. The best part has been a repeat of the tutoring of a Chinese student in conversational English I did last year. It has been an amazing experience. Qin is working toward getting accepted in a PhD program here in the states, and it wasn't until he asked for help with a number of emails and correspondence that I realized just how bright this kid is. He is a research scientist who wants to specialize in neuroscience. He has seven publications on his research and scored in the top 30 of 1000 students on one of his final tests.

His English has improved, which is a great relief to me. Since he has no one to practice with consistently in China, I was afraid he'd lose all the progress we made last year. Think about it. This kid only gets to speak English 30 days once a year. Because he works so hard, he is quite fluent and his memory is astonishing.

It has been a blast. He's funny, smart and very kind. After we finished tweaking out some of his emails to professors, he stood and bowed to me with one hand in a fist pressed against his other hand. I didn't know what that meant, and he sat and did it again, with this disarming smile and warm eyes. I still didn't get it -- and he said, "This is a gesture we use in China to express gratitude. Because I don't have the words to tell you how grateful I am." Last night he told me, "You are the best teacher I've ever had."

I'm really going to miss him, and I'm not sure what's up for next year. He's really concerned about his accent and syntax, but I told him look, you only get to speak English for thirty days once a year. You spend a couple of months here, and it will be as if a switch goes off in your brain. Click! You already have everything inside your head right now. You just need exposure.

He nodded. "That's what I want." He grinned.

I hope he receives everything he hopes for. He's a great person and it has been my honor to have a small part in his life. The Universe truly blessed me with this gig.

****

The copy work has dropped off, but that worked out great for me since the editing work has blown the roof. I guess all the work of the last couple of years is starting to pay off. I am booked solid for August after a chock-full July; September slots are filling up. I'm a little panicked about August since I have a wedding to attend (YAY!) but I'll make it happen, no matter what it takes. So far, I have fabulous clients who are willing to work, and by the end of the year there will be approximately 20 publications for which I've edited on the market. w00t! A few shorts, most of them novels, covering a wide variety of genres. Romance, YA, dystopia, horror, epic fantasy -- a smorgasbord. :) When I get a hot minute I'll have to start posting links.

I also have steady copy work from the couple of clients I've kept, one of which has a huge project that needs to be completed in the next six weeks or so. Very challenging, but you know I can't resist a challenge.

Of course, all this work means the revisions on Pallas are at a standstill, but I'm okay with that for the moment. I have a goal, and I'm working toward it -- I'm hoping by the end of August I can start work on her again and get her out in the world. This statement could lead me into a really long discussion about the state of the publishing industry and how it's impacting my career decisions, but I'm too tired to go into that tonight.

****

I had a really bad moment over Momma's birthday, but Sporkfest provided the best distraction. The wedding is coming up, and I'm excited/apprehensive/excited about that, although Momma will be heavy on my mind as I watch my beautiful daughter walk down the aisle while her equally beautiful sister stands as maid of honor.

I'm preparing myself for the fallout after the wedding. 'Cause, you know. Three years the 22nd. Um. Let's not talk about that right now, k? Thanks.

****

Tomorrow night will be the last tutoring session, then I have to start getting ready for the wedding. I have my dress, shoes, one-half of the underpinnings; mani/pedi was accomplished today, so all I have to worry about is a bag, packing and getting the car ready. After the wedding, I'll try to breathe. Because breathing is good. Heh.

On The Hamster Wheel

annetta.ribken@gmail.com — Tue, 12 Jul 11 21:23:00 UT

Two queries, two rejections. And so it goes. Sent two more out. The quest continues. It's all good.

Today felt like there was a rip in the space/time continuum. Nothing really went right. And I felt a little weepy. Which, considering this time of year, is not really surprising. I wonder if I will ever get over the summer of 2008.

But, trying to look ahead and keep on trucking.

***

A book club purchased eleven copies of "Not Nice and Other Understatements" in March and today I received a message they were meeting tonight to discuss it and wanted to hook up via Skype to speak with me. I was flattered, flabbergasted and nervous. Unfortunately, there were technical problems and it didn't happen, but the woman who set it up told me she will contact me tomorrow to give me feedback. I think this is beyond fabulous. Apparently it sparked some heated debate. Also fabulous. It was meant to be disturbing, so it looks like Mission Accomplished. Heh.

I'm really interested in what they had to say.

The reviews on Amazon remain all 5 stars, which is gratifying. And some of them are from people I don't know. Heh.

Sales have been slow until recently -- they've picked up a bit and I'm really encouraged by that. I guess patience *is* a virtue.

****

I don't like to speak of clients usually, but I have had problems with two of them today which have really chapped my nuts. I don't understand people, I really don't. I'd just like to say to Client Number One, I have copies of every email I receive and send. So please, don't tell me I haven't answered yours when I have the email right frikken' here.

Client Number Two -- the situation is my fault because I gave you a second (and third) chance. Treating me like I'm stupid is not a smart move on your part. Oh, and your passive-aggressive shit ain't gonna fly, either. Buh bye.

And that's all I'm saying about that.

Thankfully, the good clients outweigh the problem clients.

****

I'm hoping when I wake up tomorrow it truly is Wednesday and not Monday dressed in Wednesday's clothes. 'Cuz I'm over that crapola.

One Down. Probably a Million to Go

annetta.ribken@gmail.com — Sat, 9 Jul 11 07:48:00 UT

I sent out my first query yesterday.

It is nerve-wracking.

Being the self-proclaimed Queen of Flash, you would think a short query letter would be easy for me. You would think a short synopsis would be easy, as well. You would be incorrect.

There are a gazillion articles out there about how to write the perfect query. I've read about a fahzillion. Nothing stuck in my head when I started to write my own. So, instead of worrying about it, I did the best I could and let it rip. Either they like it or they don't, but in the meantime I have to finish the revision and move on.

So, I'ma forget it's even out there and do what I have to do.

***

I'm tutoring again this year and it's going great.

Searching

annetta.ribken@gmail.com — Fri, 8 Jul 11 12:19:00 UT

All work and no play, but I knew July was going to be this way. I probably won't have time to take a breath until after the GirlChild's wedding. Then, it will be time for Hermit Mode. Really early in the year for that transition, but overdue, IMO. Heh.

In between assignments and editing, I am researching agents and publishers. Once I have AP right where I want her, I shall send her out into the cold, cruel world and see what I can see. In the meantime, I'll start work on Athena's Chains, the second installment of the Adventures of Pallas and try not to think of Athena's Promise Out There.

The reasons I'm attempting a legacy publisher over self-publishing are many, and I have arrived at this course of action after much pondering. I would self-publish, but I don't have the distribution or the platform to really get my name out there. I have to establish myself first. Then, in the future, if I wish to self-publish (and I probably will) I will (hopefully) have a large audience.

That's the basic plan.

If AP comes back rejected a number of times with no nibbles, I will probably try to figure out why she was turned down, fix it, and self-publish anyway.

I know there's the perfect place for Pallas out there somewhere. I just have to find it.

IPS1 Is In The Books

annetta.ribken@gmail.com — Tue, 5 Jul 11 17:44:00 UT

The Intergalactic Pretendacon Sporkfest 1 officially ended today.

It was a very full four days of hanging with my writer peeps, and it was a lot of fun. Two of our members had to leave due to health concerns, and that sucked, but just seeing them at all was fabulous. We are already making plans for the next Sporkfest.

In the meantime, I'm freakin' slammed with work, and totally exhausted. As an introvert, long exposure to people is very wearing, as much as I love the people involved. I figure I'll be recovered just in time for the wedding, then I get to experience a similar situation all over again. But, it's perfect timing because after the wedding I plan on hitting an early hermitage period. Heh.

The one great thing about talking with other writers is it has helped me see a bigger picture and I received some advice on how to transform my workload, which right now is a combination of writing non-fiction with fiction and editing, to something favoring the fiction a little bit more. The way things are looking right now, I might be able to pull that off and it would be awesome. It's just a matter of flipping the switch and taking baby steps. I'm at least going to try. When two people whom you respect so much tell you that you could write circles around them if you went that way, well, it's very encouraging.

One of the people visiting is also a professional Tarot card reader. You know, I try to stay away from that stuff because I normally never hear anything good. Plus, I don't want to know what's coming at me. Really. Makes me nervous. Plus, most people aren't very good at it. I've only met a couple. And this person was one of them.

It was very different from a "traditional" card reading. She used a spiritual deck instead of the usual deck with images of swords, skull and dark towers, and it was quite fascinating. Of course, I watched three other people go first. Heh. Wasn't at all sure I wanted to put myself there.

I'm glad I did. She was dead-on with her comments, to the point of freaky. It made me look at some ongoing issues and contemplate how that's all working for me and the best way to resolve them and move on. Looks like the wedding could be an opportunity for that. *sigh* No sporking allowed. That's the down side ;)

In the meantime, I have to get organized. Tonight I start the tutoring gig and I'm excited about that. Tomorrow I'll evaluate, prioritize, and get to work.

No rest for the wicked. Heh.

Birthday and Sporkfest

annetta.ribken@gmail.com — Fri, 1 Jul 11 09:40:00 UT

Today is Momma's birthday. And that's really all I'm going to say. People have told me it gets better the more time passes. No. No, it really doesn't.

I wouldn't even have poked my nose out of bed today, truly, except for Sporkfest.

It's so weird the things that happen to save your life.

***

The First Annual Intergalactic Pretendacon Sporkfest (A Very Serious Writing Conference) is the brainchild of four writers who have been in close contact via Facebook for at least a year. Actually, it all started with Adam Levine and The Voice.

First off, earlier this spring I found out Adam Levine, of Maroon 5 is playing the Fair St. Louis July 3rd for free and I was thinking of going, even though I can't stand the heat, the people, and my back is kicking up fits. But Maroon 5?! Adam Levine?! OH, I was going to try, anyway.

The Voice is a musical competition on television (and you know I'd be all over that) in which four coaches choose a team of singers without seeing them first -- they just hear them. From their team, the contestants are eliminated until there's only one standing, and that one is crowned "The Voice". You can catch it on Hulu or On Demand, if you're interested. For the record, I picked the winner from the first audition. Heh.

The coaches are Christina Aguliera, Cee Lo Green, Blake Shelton and Adam Levine of Maroon 5.

I love Maroon 5, and I think Adam is deliciously adorable.

Right away my friend Lori and I are watching this program together over Facebook and chatting about the contestants and drooling over Adam. There may been some mention of licking his tattoos. Heh.

In the course of conversation, Lori mentioned a couple of times of coming to visit me and catching the concert. I thought that was a fine idea; we'd been tossing the possibility of hooking up since I began editing her book, "Make or Break" (releasing this fall by Etopia Press, yay!) We finally decided a better idea had never been thought of in the free world, and began making plans.

Enter Joe Haines, a friend of mine since 2004 and a friend of Lori's, and he said hey! That's a great idea! My wife and I are due for a road trip...we're coming too! AND THEN, Patti Larsen, another fab friend for whom I've been editing said you know what? I just booked a flight and I'll be there, too!

And so the First Annual Intergalatic Pretendacon Sporkfest (A Very Serious Writing Conference) was born after about ten minutes of labor. We have t-shirts and everything.

At this point I'm so thrilled I'll get to meet my friends in person I don't even care if I see Adam Levine. Sorry, Adam. Maybe next time.

I'm sure this will be an Epic Weekend I will long remember.

****

In the meantime, I'm working like a crazy person trying to get everything due cleaned up so I can actually have a couple of days off. I'll be sure to take lots of pictures.

For now, I am off and running, cleaning the cat box and writing about the thyroid until my peeps arrive. Heh.

Viva la Sporkfest!

Wow.

annetta.ribken@gmail.com — Wed, 29 Jun 11 21:30:00 UT

Have I really not blogged here since February? Wild.

The good news: "Athena's Promise" is completed and been to a few beta readers. Better news: they love it. Even better: the revisions won't take much at all. The ending buggered me up, but I was able to finally work through it. I'm not totally happy with the end, so it will take some tweaking out. But for the most part, I am really happy I finished it.

Now, the hard part will be finding time to do the clean-up. I applied for and was accepted as an editor at Etopia Press, and after I finished AP I decided not to take on any new clients for copy work. That lasted about a hot minute. Of course, when I made that decision the copy work came flooding in. I'm caught in a Catch-22 scenario.

I'm also repeating my tutoring gig with my Chinese student in July. I'm thrilled to death about this, and conceivably I could take a month off copy work, teach my student and work on revising AP and start the second book, "Athena's Chains". BUT...the copy work I say "no" to now could bite me in the ass later when I really need it.

Add to that a total of eight novels in the hopper to edit for Etopia and three freelance projects and I'm about ready to lose my damned mind.

Further complicating the picture is the decision of what to do with AP. Self publish? Indie press? Try the legacy route? I'm so confused. There are pros and cons to every choice, and it's making me nuts.

Two of my authors and an old friend are traveling here for the First Annual Intergalactic Pretendacon Sporkfest (A Very Serious Writing Conference) to meet and write and party and talk over Very Serious Writing Issues. I am so thrilled about this I can hardly stand it. I'm excited and overwhelmed that three people whom I've never met in person are traveling so far -- one from Minnesota, one from Colorado and one from Prince Edward Island! -- to meet me. (I have blood family members who haven't bothered to go through that much trouble. Which, as things have turned out, is mighty fine with me.)

I can't wait.

And, the cherry on top of the sundae is the Girl Child's wedding this summer. I'll get to see her, Little Bean and best of all, my MUFFIN!! That will be a fabulous time, and I even have a pretty new dress with matching shoes. (That's a big deal, believe me, especially since I work at home and usually in my pj's or as close as I can get to it. Heh.)

So, the plate is full, a lot of decisions to be made and a lot of work to do. It's all good.

Recovery

annetta.ribken@gmail.com — Thu, 3 Feb 11 16:48:00 UT

So, we all survived the snomageddon and the icepocalypse and today, the sun actually came out. It was just a tease, actually, since the bitter Artic cold has moved in and believe me when I tell you THAT'S suckage of the highest order. I won't detail the body parts that are protesting, because it's most of them, and let's just leave it at that.

Since the sun was shining, I figured it was a good time to clean the ice off my car. It took me almost an hour. First was the layer of snow, then about three inches of grainy sleety ice gunk, then a sheet of ice glaze. Good gawd, what a mess. I wanted to make sure to get it off of the hood, the roof and the trunk because that shit flying off the back of the car while traveling could kill someone, and I'd be responsible. So it all had to go. And it did, eventually, although I busted my ice scraper to bits.

I need minions.

At least it was good exercise.

****

Speaking of exercise, I've been tracking my calories and stuff on Livestrong in an attempt to get a handle on this winter weight. (Well, okay - winter/spring/summer/fall weight.) I'd lost fifteen pounds just before the holidays then promptly put them right back on. There's something about being snowbound that stimulates the appetite, and it's been suggested it might be a Vitamin D deficiency. I take a vitamin, but it might be time to pump up the Vitamin D and see if that helps.

I don't care what I look like, mind. But I will say thinking of me a great deal smaller really freaks me out, so I try not to think about that and just concentrate on getting to a weight where I actually *feel* better.

****

In writing news, things are coming along. I worry a little bit about the future, but don't we all?

"Learning the Hard Way" was accepted by TheShortestStory.com for broadcast. I am so beyond chuffed about this! They thought the story was "great work" and they have a special artist in mind to read it and are very excited about it. So am I! I mean, I almost peed a little. Heh.

And Joshua Guess, author of "Living With the Dead" has asked me to write a short story based in his universe to release with his second volume, tentatively titled "Bitter Season". I'm really thrilled about this, too. I suppose you could call it "fan fic", but I really, REALLY loved his book (available for the Kindle on Amazon and also on his LWtD blog) and I am really honored he asked me to participate.

I'm hoping it jump starts some more sales of "Not Nice", which have been rather slow. I know it's a marathon, so I'm not really too bunged up over that, and I also know I should get more material out there. I'm working on that.

In the meantime, I am now traveling vicariously through Australia and writing twisted and demented articles about Top 5 Valentine's gifts, drinking songs and gruesome deaths. I love it. Heh.

SnOMG

annetta.ribken@gmail.com — Tue, 1 Feb 11 15:15:00 UT

WOW.

Nasty here, very nasty and looks like it's supposed to get worse. We've already gotten about an inch of ice, and the next wave is up to 12" of snow and winds to 45mph which spells disaster for the power lines. Ameren has 420 of their people on deck and 800 more from 5 other states to handle the problems. The National Guard is on standby for assistance, and certain parts of the area have already been declared in states of emergency. A few counties northwest of us are expected to get up to 24" of snow (but no ice).

They saw this monster coming, and for the last two days people have been swarming Walmart and other grocery stores for supplies. I mean, Walmart was cleaned OUT. Places like Sam's ran out of milk (what is it about milk and a Snopocalypse, anyway? So weird). Salt has sold out. A record number of generators have been sold. It's madness.

The superlatives used on the news include "horrific", "a storm of historical proportions", and "catastrophe". Personally, I feel this is irresponsible reporting, because even for a veteran of many a snowstorm (and this one is classified as a "blizzard" because of expected whiteout conditions) I caught the panic fever myself. I had no candles, so I went out yesterday morning at the beginning of the icing to get some. $70 worth of groceries later...well, you know how it is.

I did feel better after talking with a clerk in the dollar store who was from Michigan. We spoke about much worse conditions up north, and how everyone here was in panic mode. Of course, we all remember July 2006 when the power was out for 6 days for me and weeks for others, and later that same year some people went weeks without power during the winter. I guess the powers that be learned their lesson and a lot more emergency plans have been formed since that time.

One result of the hair-raising news reports is the roads here are just about deserted. The local mall is shut down, and from what I hear a lot of businesses shut down except for essential services. I can't really see the main road from my house, and I certainly am not going one step out the front door if I can help it. I've peeked to take pictures, but even just taking one step out I almost fell on my ass.

I can tell the bitter cold is coming on down because my back is killing me. I've charged up the Kindle and the cell phone in case the power indeed goes out, I have my snuggie, a flashlight, and toilet paper. I'm good to go.

Wild AND crazy.

In a Lull

annetta.ribken@gmail.com — Fri, 21 Jan 11 17:44:00 UT

Because, you know, that's how freelancing is.

In the lull, I'm busy networking my heinie off, trying to get NN to fly like a bird. It's hard work, don't let anyone tell you different. From everything I've read, it's just as much work as if you have a publishing house behind you, only they have better distribution channels. I think the best advice I've seen is to release your baby, then start working on the next project. Oh, and networking the live-long day.

So, to that end, I'm plastered all over the place.

Goodreads

Facebook Fan Page

Amazon Author's Page

the Independent Author Network

Smashwords

LinkedIn

The Indie Book Collective

Twitter

Word Webbing

*phew*

****

I have been asked to contribute a short story to author Joshua Guess's March release of "Living With the Dead - Year 0ne" and I'm really exited for that. The outline is already done.

I'm also working on a short story called "Jack and the Dollhouse", although it's slow going.

"Athena's Promise" is in formatting hell. I'm trying out Scrivener for the PC so I can keep better track of where I am and where I need to go. I really hope to finish that off by April. Pallas will go the traditional route, so I need to think about agents and publishers. I may go with a small press, since daylight's burning and I don't want to be dead before it gets published, and I don't trust the climate with big houses right now. I know enough to know I'm not signing over all my e-rights, for one -- and the way things are, even if AP was picked up immediately (puh-leeze, I have a better chance of being struck by lightning and I know it) it would be at LEAST 2012 if not longer before it was released.

But, I don't have to make that decision yet. I have to finish the bitch, first. I know, I know. I'm sick of hearing about it too, believe me. *sigh*

****

It is bitterly cold, like in the ZERO range, and we just got socked by another big snowstorm with more on the way today and again Monday. Jeezum fecking cheeto, I haven't seen this much snow since I left New York, and my back HATES it. It might be time to start considering a slightly more temperate climate. Not this year, and maybe not next...but eventually.

****

Now, I'm actually going to relax and do something other than hunch over the keyboard. I'm hooked on "Gold Rush - Alaska" and I have some knitting to do.

Can you stand the excitement? Neither can I. Heh.

The Constants

annetta.ribken@gmail.com — Fri, 14 Jan 11 01:06:00 UT

Yeesh. Time tends to get away from me, so it does. Truth is, I write so much any more I don't really feel like blogging like I used to, and I miss it. And if I'm to be honest, I don't blog like I used to for a whole lot of other reasons. The GC and I were talking about this just tonight -- when I blogged on a regular basis, before Momma passed, I was pretty naive about a lot of things and didn't really realize how much of myself I put on the page and how it could be turned around by others to be used as a weapon. That has really changed things.

And I'm sad about that, because I miss blogging like I used to.

****

The reception for Not Nice and Other Understatements has been positive so far, and I've received a couple of offers to do interviews, and looking for some reviews to surface. I have to remind myself it's a marathon, not a sprint, and that the best thing I can do at this point is work on the next project and just keep going. This has become quite a balancing act, because the non-fiction continues to pick up speed, so finding time to work on the fiction endeavors continues to be...difficult.

No, no news on Pallas, and I have no good excuse for that. I do think there will be a lot of shifting around, and an adjustment of the underlying mythology to better set myself up, but I really do have to settle down at some point and finish it off.

The publishing world has and continues to change so much, with many more options now than when I started my writing career it fair makes my head swim. Traditionally publish or self-publish? Indie house or big house? Ebook or print? There are pros and cons to every option, and the more I read the more confused I get. The writers who seem to be making out like bandits are the mid-list writers with a backlist. I'm not a mid-list writer (yet) and I don't have a backlist (yet). So I guess I'd better work on that.

Which brings me right back to the circle of paying work or working on work which may end up being paying work. Heh.

****

Non-fic-wise, I'm working on a travel project which has taken me across Canada. I feel like I've traveled without even leaving my chair, and that's been fun. Right now, I'd love to visit Vancouver, but if I was to retire (haha) in true hermit writerly style, I'd like to live in the Yukon.

Next up is Australia and NZ, and I can't wait. It's good to love your job.

****

That's about it. Things are good, and that's good for a change. Keeping in mind change is the only constant, of course. :)