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!!