Category: Uncategorized

I’m starting to get my toes wet a bit with some minor book-related networking/marketing. I’ve re-upped my NaNoWriMo account and I think I’m going to actually attend some write-ins this year. I’ve got cover images finally updated at Amazon for all my books there instead of half; there was some sort of confusion between my printer and Amazon, but it’s worked out (for now). I got linked to Goodreads a couple weeks ago, and I just got my account linked into my existence as an author, so I’ve got a proper Author profile page there now. I’ve had a profile on BookTour for a while, but since I’m not on a book tour … yet … that’s no big thing. I’ve been joining (artist and) author groups on facebook.

And presuming I don’t absolutely hate the proof of Worth 1k — Volume 2 that UPS should be delivering any time now, I’m going to order a couple dozen of each of my books and start schlepping them around town to try to get in any independent bookstores that will take them. Oh, and if I can get that order delivered in time (perhaps not likely, at this point, without great shipping expense), I’ll be selling them at the Art Walk. Otherwise, it’s just the ones I already have on hand (mostly UTFBF Books 1 and 2), which might be okay, too.

I’ve got to get myself Marketing more, though. It isn’t writing books or printing books that sells books, it’s Marketing. F_ck. I’m not a fan of Marketing, but it simply has to be done. Sources keep suggesting that I “write a popular blog” as part of my online marketing campaign… but I’ve just gone through and turned all commenting off again, on account of I only ever get SPAM comments (and am not a fan of comments and commenting, anyway)… Which is not particularly conducive to having a popular blog, I suppose; people like to be part of a “community” and blogs are “supposed to be” a discussion or forum or sorts. Bah. Maybe after I convert my blog to a Wiki.

kitten showed up out of nowhere yesterday, as though to distract me or soften me in light of the otherwise ongoing (yesterday) breakup/sorting-out Mandy and I were going through. Alas, I am still alergic to kittens, no matter how cute and/or abandoned they may happen to be. Everyone keeps telling me the problem with the kitten is that it’s “feral” but I’m pretty sure the problem is that it’s “feline” — and I like to breathe and to see. I played with it some tonight, and my left eye is pretty sure it wants to quit. Or at least strike until animals are banned from its workplace (my eye socket).

Anyone want a cat?

What else? Uhh… Well, I’m typing this on my iPhone again. It’s significantly more convenient to carry the phone I was going to bring with my anyway to bed with me, and then to use it to go through emails and websites and even perhaps make a post such as this. Heck, the “iPod” software is playing me music through the speaker; what’s missing?

((Actually, the browser has some weaknesses. Esp. re: multitasking. If I were to switch to my email (maybe even just iPod), it is likely to simply lose what I’ve types here.))

I miss Sara.

I’ve been waking earlier the last few days. It’s starting to catch up with me -which is good, on account of I start a new, slightly earlier shift at work in a week and a half. I’ve got to get used to getting up earlier. Perhaps I’ll get back to a point of being a morning person instead of a running-out-the-door person. My oft-tested preference is to be able to wake comfortably about three full hours prior to having to be wherever I’m due. School, work, whatever, it’s someone else’s idea that I be there at a particular time, and if given three hours to prepare for it, any day can be a good day.

Mandy and I will no longer be continuing to “try” having a relationship. I just don’t seem to feel anything for her (that I am aware of at this time), and happiness is the only feeling I’m really sure about being able to sythesize. That and, apparently, it’s inappropriate to use someone for sex who loves you and wants a real, lasting, and meaningful relationship. Fine. My hand still works.

I still miss Sara.

Ooh, I got the editing, layout, and cover design done for Worth 1k — Volume 2. I got the PCN code for it Monday morning at 6:30 and uploaded the book to my printer by 8:45AM. Hopefully everything will come out wonderfully on the proof and hopefully I’ll be able to get a big order of books printed and delivered before First Friday – Heath and I are planning on setting up a table out there to sell chainmaille, book, and art. You should come. Or just buy the stuff online.

Alright, I’ve got to sleep. I’m sure I’ve forgotten something, but at least I took the time to post, eh?

Man o man. I was going to make a post about how I’ve been having a relatively good week (with re: my general emotional status), and how even though I’m working today (I normally have Fridays off), it’s going to be a good day. Alas, from the news in the next room (and confirmed online), the news that Al Gore won the Nobel Peace Prize wafted into my ear. Okie-dokie.

So.

No idea what to say any more. Flabbergasted.

(Should still be a good day, though, eh?)

I should probably ought to get a computer with a proper keyboard to write this, instead of pecking it out on my iPhone, but I already bring the iPhone to bed with me, and I’m already in bed… So that’s that, I suppose. Anyway, so:

Updates.

My life doesn’t suck. I have a stable job that doesn’t stress me out most of the time, my boss recently commended me on not working too fast, because literally every other person in the department has cost the company money while trying to exceed production goals. I decided a couple/few months ago that to avoid stress I’m better off just trying to do my best on every booking and maintain a steady pace of work; like driving, you don’t really get that much ahead by driving agressively and ignoring the rules.

I got another book edited, laid out, and set up with my new printer. I know Dragons’ Truth is a few years old and has been available through Cafepress, but it’s good to be doing it “right” now. You can order it through any book store, and it’s listed at most online retailers along with my other three books. I’ve been working on getting Worth 1k — Volume 2 together and online this month (maybe this week; I just need to finish tweeking the cover and the end matter), and then I’m going to do a big order of books to take around to all the independent booksellers in town and see about getting on store shelves. If I can get myself to actually do that, it’ll be as big a step as anything else I’ve done re: books. For some reason, it’s harder for me than writing them.

My grandfather is sick and only getting worse. This week my younger brother, Heath, has driven him to California to see the ocean for the last time. As fast as I’m told his skeleton is being eaten by the cancer, there won’t be much left of him for very long. Doesn’t mean he won’t just keep on keepin’ on, of course. It’s difficult for me, emotionally, to be aware of it all- as is to be expected, I suppose. Death and pain and loss are life, too. I expressed some of this better in W1k-v2, I think.

I’m a terrible friend. This isn’t news to my friends, but it’s fairly accurate. I feel useless. Inept. Flabbergasted, at times. Friends in hospitals, friends getting surgeries, friends facing depression, friends going through life changes, trying to turn their lives around, and me? Where am I? Not there, often silent or worse: self-centered and needy. And when I think about this very deficit, my reaction tends to be to distance myself further, to move to silence, and that is a very difficult force to work against.

Financially, I am either digging myself into a hole or investing in the future of my publishing company. Sometimes it’s hard to tell whether I’ve simply got an expensive hobby or I’m terrible at business. Could be both, I suppose. In roughly 7 months of business so far, on $1.99 in revenue, Modern Evil Press has had a net loss of nearly $2k so far. On wait, that’s just the books. With art sold and art supplies in the same period, the revenue goes up to about $186 and the loss stays about the same. The trick, I suppose, is in finding an audience for my books of at least 1,000 folks, eh? On well. Or switch to art and give up on writing.

Giving up: now there’s something I can get behind.

I still exist.