I miss my manuals

I used to consider myself pretty savvy when it came to electronic gadgets, but no more. Case in point, this morning I was having some trouble with my new iPod Nano and could not figure out what I was doing wrong. So I ended up calling my d-i-l for help. She gave me a suggestion (which didn't work, but it set me on the right path and I did eventually figure out what I was doing wrong.) still, I was rather frustrated. At one time, I'd have flipped open a manual and read through it to figure things out, but no more. Now we have "help" screens.

I hate that. Yes, the entire manual is there. Yes, you can "flip" through it and read it. But it's not the same. In the past, when I got a new gadget, one of the first things I did was open the manual and read it. (Yes, I'm one of *those* people.) I love manuals. I love paging through them and finding new nuggets of information. I love being able to solve things on my own. Now I have to figure out what I don't know so I can enter the question in the "search" box. Half the time, I don't know what I don't know so I ask the wrong question - or the search engine comes up with stuff that isn't even close to what I need.

Yes, I know online manuals are better for the environment. They are more available, supposedly easier to use, and save the cost of printing, paper, shipping, etc. And I do try to be as green as possible in my consumer driven life so I know they are better all around.

But I miss my manuals.

Promo Overkill

I am on several promotional type loops - 63 at last count. These are places where you can promote your books, but also stick around and chat, exchange ideas, all sorts of things. They like to have authors join in and talk about their books, but also stay and join in the discussions. What they don't like is someone who stops in only when they have a book coming out. And I can understand that to a point.

But as a writer, I don't have unlimited stretches of time to devote to these sites. If I spent all my time chatting on the loops, I'd never get any writing done - and that's what I am. A writer. Not a chatter. So I participate as much as I can to stay active while not being the sole provider.

Then there are those authors who go overboard. There is one author who is apparently on many of the same loops I'm on (which is not unusual). And I am so sick of seeing her promos that even if I was interested in her books (and I was at one point), I wouldn't buy them now. I'm getting at least two promos a day from each of the lists we share and that's way too many. One day, I counted five on one list alone - for the same book. And before you ask, no it was not separate blurbs or excerpts. It was the same "Look at what this reviewer said about my book" over and over again. My delete key got ample exercise.

It was kind of like the recent political commercials and the mute button on my remote. I am just so sick of this promo that I don't even open them anymore. I just hit the delete key. There's a promotion company out there that's doing the same thing. They are flooding all the lists with their client's stuff - which is may sound like a good thing if you're their client - but I know a lot of people who as soon as they see the name of this promotion company, they hit the delete key. So their methods are not working as far as I'm concerned. I know I'd never use them because of that.

So how do you find that balance between lurking and overkill? What makes a good promotion? And what turns you off so much, you hit the delete key without even thinking?

Coming Out

My new work is now on the "New Arrivals" page at Ellora's Cave. "Anticipation" is a contemporary erotic Quickie - less than 60 pages of hot, hot, hot. But don't look for my name on the cover. This one was done by my alter-ego - Victoria Allen.
Blurb (and if you click on the title below, it will take you to the "buy" page):

Anticipation By Victoria Allen
While growing up, Marielle Jameson's best friend was her neighbor Ben Carson. But Mari ran with the popular crowd and Ben was a nerd. Then life intervened and they lost touch. Now Ben is back, and he is most definitely not a nerd. Their reunion is hot, heavy and full of promise. Can Ben pull Mari out of the slump she's fallen into? And can Mari trust Ben not to break her heart? The answer to both is yes, although figuring out their future will take some work. But, as Ben says, "Anticipation is half the fun.

Best Laid Plans, Part II

So, the long weekend is over. Hubby is back from his trip and now life can get back to normal. I got a bunch of cleaning done, went to my dentist appointment (on the right day), sat with d-i-l a little just because we both needed it, went to the family outing, and even managed to get some actual writing work done.

Over a hundred pages of editing and rewriting to be exact. When I complained to one of my friends that I was having a difficult time taking the "journey" out of the story, she told me to be extreme. Take the whole thing out and rewrite from there. Except that means going back to chapter one in a 400 page story. But I tried. Unfortunately, it wasn't going well. And now I think I figured out why. I am trying to force this story into a genre it wasn't originally intended for. I wrote it as a fantasy with romantic elements. The publisher wants it to be a romantic fantasy.
What's the difference, you ask? A lot. In the first, the story is about the heroine and her journey, both the physical one and the emotional/psychic one. It is about her learning how to use her powers for the good of all and how not to fall into the abuse of power that is a slip over to the (if you'll forgive me, Mr. Lucas) dark side. A romantic fantasy focuses on the relationship between the hero and heroine. It is more about "them" than "her" and the fantasy part of the story is secondary.

So now, I go back and rewrite again. And if that means missing the sale, so be it. The story is what it is - a fantasy first and foremost.

Does that make me a diva? Some would say so because I'm not writing what the publisher wanted me to. In actuality, I am more than willing to make changes. I'll make changes all over the place. But I am unwilling to completely rewrite all 400 pages into a different genre. Why?

Because that's another story. And I've already got ideas for that one. :)

The best laid plans...

Several months ago, my husband signed up to go to a conference this weekend. Three and a half days away from home. I'd have gone along, except he was going with a friend so I stayed home.

I then figured my writing buddies and I could have a mini-retreat here at my place. The five of us with nothing to do all weekend but eat, write, eat, have fun, write, watch TV and enjoy ourselves. All four were gung ho and we made plans. Then life stepped in. The economy forced looking for jobs or school activities for those with children. The upshot was, it all fell apart and we had to cancel the retreat weekend.

So all that was left was that I make the best of it by myself. Three and a half days to do nothing but write. Wow. All that time. I could get so much done.

Except that I ended up spending most of yesterday on promos for my new quickie coming out with Ellora's Cave next week. And today was taken up by appointments and family issues that had to be taken care of. And tomorrow, I just found out on Wednesday, will be taken up with more family stuff (as in my brother throwing a birthday party for my mother - if I don't go, the guilt trip will last into my next three lifetimes). Which leaves tonight and Sunday.

So I've been working. And making headway. But it is interesting how a weekend that was going to be totally devoted to working is half over and I've barely gotten anything done. Good thing there's no deadline on this manuscript! Though, if there were, it wouldn't be a problem. I've never missed a deadline in my life and, hopefully, never will. That would go against everything I am and believe in.

But, as I've seen this weekend, the best laid plans often change with little or no notice.

It pays to be flexible.

Veteran's Day

In the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month...

Originally, this was a day to celebrate the end of a war. Today, we celebrate those who fight for us. I wish we could do away with such a day. That there would be an end to the horrors of war. I wish....

Today, I honor my father who was a soldier, a cop, a farmer, a cook, a writer, a man who will live forever in my memory. The following is a poem of his taken from his book "Memories Along the Tuscarora". He wrote it in 1988 about the WWI veterans, but dedicated it to all soldiers.

"The Old Veteran"

Seventy years ago, he was young and proud.
Now he lives in the home, just one of the crowd.
Does anyone remember what happened this day?
Does anyone care as they go on their way?
Yes, he remembers the uniform he wore
As he fought in a battle on a distant shore.
His country's flag, he remembers with pride.
He remembers the men who fought by his side.
Ah, it is all past now, an many forgot
that he was a hero, believe it or not.
He carried that flag in Balleau Wood
And on November the eleventh, with it he stood.
One of the proud victors of that war.
He remembers this and so much more.
He remembers his friends who died over there.
No wonder he weeps for someone to care.
So give him a smile as you pass him by.
If you have the time, hold his and and try,
try to imagine him when he was there.
Try at least to show that you really care.
Ture, other wars were fought since then
And other heroes there have been,
but that does not lessn his duty there
of keeping our country so free and fair.

John Reisinger (1926-2000)
c 1988

Books, TV and Movies

I started watching a new show on TV last week - "Legend of the Seeker". The story is based on a fantasy series by Terry Goodkind. While I've not read the books, my middle son has. They are among his favorites and since he and I tend to like the same kinds of books, I assume I'd like them as well. Based on his recommendation, I'm looking to read them - eventually. In the meantime, I'm enjoying the story on TV, although I do understand it is not true to the original books.

But then, what stories made from books are?

There is no way to put all the information from a book into a movie or TV show. For one thing, the film would be far too long or would be boring beyond belief. Take, for instance, the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The movies were incredible. But ask how many people read the books. I've tried. Several times. I never finished them. But I enjoyed the movies. Or the Harry Potter books and movies - there is a lot of "stuff" in the books that never makes it to the screen, yet both are immensely entertaining.

Does it take anything away from the story to have parts cut when making it into a movie? For the most part, I'd have to say no. If you've never read any of the Harry Potter stories, only watched the movie, you still know the basics of the story. You know the problems Harry faces, the things he has to face and overcome. And you know how the story comes out (eventually). But I do believe you're missing the richness of the full story by not reading the books. Yes, you will know the story, but only the highlights. In the Tolkien trilogy, I didn't enjoy the books, but they contain a wealth of information that's not in the movies. One should at least make the attempt to read the story that goes with the media.

One thing I do recommend, though, is, if possible, read the stories *after* you've seen the movie or TV show. I've done it the other way several times and never enjoyed the movie as much as I did when I saw it first, then read the book(s). I've heard this from others as well. "The movie wasn't as good as the book." "They cut out too much."

And that takes us back. In order to make a movie fiscally viable and popular, you can't put in everything that's in the book. It's a shame, but it is an unfortunate fact.

But if enjoying a movie or show leads you to pick up a book, and another, and another, then that's all good.

Writer's Blog Block

I've been trying to figure out what to blog about - a lot. So much so, that I haven't blogged for many days. It's almost like writer's block. I've been writing - or, rather, editing a lot. Working on my manuscripts. Working on promos. Working on new stories and old. I've been journaling every day. I've even been working on a new website.

But blogging? For some reason, I seem to have a mental block against this, even though I know it's a great place to promote my work and see and be seen. It's a good place to put down my thoughts about writing and and how it affects my life.

So why do I have such a problem? Could it be because I spend so much time writing or working on writing activities that this one tiny area my brain rebels and says "enough"?

Who knows. I do know I'll try to be better. Yeah, famous last words. Kind of like exercising and dieting - the intention is there, it's the execution that comes up lacking. But I am determined. So, we'll see how I do.

This is the first day of the rest of.... my blog. :)

Have a good one everyone.

Vote

I am most definitely not a political person, but, this is a history making day so be a part of history. Find your polling place and go out and vote.

'Nuf said. :)