I decided to give it a go!

I don't have high hopes of completing, but I've never taken part before, so NaNoWriMo here I come...

I don't know what I'm doing on there, but I finally found the widget above, how does it work, does it update itself??

Thank you for your lovely comments on yesterday's post!

Re boot required

I haven't posted since February. February? Is that really right? I'm checking. Can't be.
I can't believe it.

What have I been doing?
Really, I haven't been productive.
I've read a few books. I have finished writing a children's book. I have painted 1 picture. Just 1. Tut.
I painted it in summer, it was so hot I had to have a wide brimmed hat on.
Here it is, I put it in my living room. It cheers me up as it reminds me of the lovely (though brief) summer we had.

I have had all my short stories rejected, but considering I have only sent out 4 or 5 in the last six months, that's hardly surprising.

I had a problem with my very grumpy black cat upsetting the neighbour's cat. Amazingly this seems to have been resolved. I changed her food from biscuits to we sachet food. She seems to be happier, so maybe she was grump because of her tummy?
She's purring away, most of the time. So if I decide to have a halloween jaunt, I could take my trustee black cat with me! :)

Today I have re booted myself. I have been on my laptop all day. I started at 9. I stopped for a couple of tea breaks, and I made tea for everyone at 5pm. Apart from that, I have been sat here all day. My neck's aching now. (very worried about the double chin, but that's another story)

Anyway, today I have spent the day playing around with CreateSpace, I have decided to get a copy or two of one of my books. So I have done that, but now have to wait 24 hours for it to be approved or whatever it is they do.

'The Marmalade Plot'  It's a childrens book for age 7-10, about an alien who comes to stay. It's under the umbrella of 'The Xanlean Exchange' so with possible options of expanding the story with further tales.It's a story I sent to publishers some time ago, but on getting nowhere, I put it away and forgot about it.
This week I have been reading and editing it, I like it after all, so it's going to be my first printed book -  with some formatting errors. Hehe, never mind.

It has been very frustrating I re-uploaded the file about six times, the formatting kept going haywire, and it still isn't right, one or two chapter headings are in the wrong place. I have grown impatient and have submitted it anyway. Maybe it's my works programme, when I save as a doc, it just loses all sense of reason and doubles in size and moves my headings.
Oh well. I enjoyed making the cover at least. I can't wait to buy a copy even if it's not perfect.

In fact I can't wait for the email to say it's approved.
I will post again tomorrow, I want to show you the cover!

With so many writers self publishing now, I feel I'm being left behind, so after this I am going to take the plunge ever deeper and publish my precious teen novel. I've decided there's nothing to lose.



After selfishly waffling about my self, I want to ask, how are you all?
I hope you're all well and enjoying your writing!

Ooh and a bit of Halloween fun with Haiku competition, thank you, OldKitty!!

The KDP adventure!

      I have been wondering whether to go ahead and publish my Teen Sci-Fi novel on Kindle, as it is  now well over twelve years since it began life as an idea. It has ventured out to numerous different publishers over the years, with one or two promising comments, but the majority of standard rejections. I have also tried agents, again just the standard 'no'. So, is it really so important to me to be published by a traditional publisher? I keep asking myself this, as I'm sure many of us do.

    Anyway, I decided to just have a go and see how easy/difficult it would be and had the bright idea of putting a short 750 word children's book on.  Well that took me all of yesterday. I put the painting I did ages ago on as the book cover, and all has gone ok. Apart from the fact that it looks really 'home made'. I also have no idea how anyone would find the book, apart from me telling everyone it's there of course. I can't seem to get it in a category other than 'juvenile-general' and 'juvenile-bedtime/dreams', neither of which seem quite right!??

   But I've done it now. At first I was proud of myself just for figuring out the basics, then I was all scared about the fact that it's there for the world to see, and now I'm feeling a bit...deflated.

   

Here it is,
TUMBLY MOUSE SNEAKS OUT OF HIS HOUSE (Please excuse home-made cover)


I felt ridiculously cheeky asking for money for the story, but I don't really know what the done thing is!
It will be free to download on SUN 24th FEB, if anyone would like a quick read, or have children in need of a bedtime story. Sorry there's no pictures in it, that's a whole new ball game!

 Eeeek!

How do you feel about KDP? Have you had good experiences? I am a complete novice here, I don't even have a kindle (only the PC version).
As for putting the novel on there, I'm still undecided, it means so much to me and it's a scary world. :/

Overheard Conversations

I know a lot of short stories (or even longer ones) have come from a little tit-bit of overheard conversations, so it's always good to have an ear out!

Anyway, this is one I heard the other day at the supermarket:

Checkout lady says to customer:

"Hello, Happy New Year!"

Grumpy Old Man:

"Yes, Happy New Year." (Said without feeling)

Checkout Lady:

"Did you have a good time?"

Grumpy Old Man:

"No"

Checkout Lady:

"Oh, that's a shame."

Grumpy Old Man

"Yes we went away."

Checkout Lady:

"Oh, that's nice."

Grumpy Old Man

"Not really, there was only a double bed in out hotel room."

Checkout Lady (Looking a little wary):

"Oh."  (Meaning, please don't tell me any more)

Grumpy Old Man:

"Well I don't like sharing a bed, the wife takes up most of it, so I couldn't sleep."

Checkout Lady (trying to be positive):

"Aw.Well at least you got away for a little break."

Grumpy Old Man:

"Well, it was a waste of time, I put up with it for two nights, then we came home early."

Checkout Lady:

"Oh dear." (What else to say? She didn't want to sympathise)

Thankfully he was done then with his shopping and was on his merry way . The poor lady on the checkout looked at me as if to say, "I wish I hadn't asked!"

I mean, his poor wife! Imagine a husband announcing such a thing, his wife's holiday is cut short because he doesn't want to sleep next to her!

What a grump. He made Victor Meldrew look like a charming romantic.

I hope your' new year is off to a better start! :)

Happy New Year !

Just wanted to wish everyone all the best,
I hope this New Year brings all good things your way!
:)
xx

Here's Mischa doing her bunny impression, getting practice in early -it's not Easter yet!