As you may have noticed, yesterday I did not post a "Happenings In The Outhouse" post.
Frankly, there are two reasons for this: first, I'm still editing Straight Razor and I do not have any new news to report.
The second reason?
Last Sunday night, I was taken by ambulance to the ER. I honestly thought I was having either a heart attack or stroke, but it ended up being a seizure brought about by a medication I was taking.
I have low platelets, and on the 20th my platelet count was around 15,000 (normal starts at 150,000). I was given a steroid medication to help boost the platelets. Sunday night, my whole left side seized up and ended up passing out on the floor. Before I knew it, the ambulance was taking me to the ER. This whole week I've been recovering (no, I'm still not 100% but I'm much better than before) and not giving it 100% on edits.
Next week though, I plan on ramping up with edits.
My April 1st deadline still may not be a reality but I'm working at it.
I am so thankful for the community I live in. It may be a small town, but big in heart.
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Friday, February 20, 2015
Trying my hand at Google Play / Happenings In The Outhouse 20-Feb-2015
For several months, I have not been exclusive with Amazon. Not for any of my titles.
However, of all the publishing platforms, I'm in, one still remains.
The Google Play Book Store.
From what I've read, it's not easy to upload into the store. And, from what I've seen so far, it is not easy at all.
In the simplest terms, you need an EPUB file of your book to upload. I created one. It was rejected. Not sure why.
But I will keep trying . . .
I am roughly halfway through this round of edits for Straight Razor. I gave myself a self-imposed deadline of April 1st. At the rate I'm going, I may not make it.
Then again, I might.
I just have to keep at it.
However, of all the publishing platforms, I'm in, one still remains.
The Google Play Book Store.
From what I've read, it's not easy to upload into the store. And, from what I've seen so far, it is not easy at all.
In the simplest terms, you need an EPUB file of your book to upload. I created one. It was rejected. Not sure why.
But I will keep trying . . .
I am roughly halfway through this round of edits for Straight Razor. I gave myself a self-imposed deadline of April 1st. At the rate I'm going, I may not make it.
Then again, I might.
I just have to keep at it.
Friday, February 13, 2015
Thank you Mr. Edison / Happenings In The Outhouse 13-Feb-2015
I'm sure by now we've all heard the stories about Thomas Edison, the man who invented the incandescent light bulb. After failing 10,000 times, someone asked him about how he dealt with the failures.
"I didn't fail 10,000 times," he said. "I found 10,000 ways not to create the light bulb."
Or something like that.
At work yesterday, there was an opportunity in my department (at my day job) for at least three people to do a year-long training, much of it in the field. I apologize I will have to be a little cryptic at this point, for I cannot disclose the company nor the details of the opportunity. Over fifty people applied for this opportunistic position. Only a handful were chosen to be interviewed.
A young lady I know was quite upset she was not chosen for this--BTW, I did not apply for this opportunity, for it required a lot of travel commitment, and I did not see it as a move I should be taking in my career.
Anyway, the lady asked me what more she could do next time to be chosen.
This struck me as odd, for I have had a complete turnaround in my thinking over the past few years. Over fifteen years ago, I spent a lot of time querying agents, the vast majority of which rejected me outright. I felt like a failure, even though I kept writing and kept querying, all without any positive results.
Hence the reason I pursued the indie publishing arena. Instead of waiting for someone to pick me, I have picked myself.
Choose yourself, as James Altucher says quite often on his blog and podcasts.
So that's what I did. And that's what I do.
Is that what everyone should do? I don't know. Sorry, that's the best answer I can come up with. I don't know.
"I didn't fail 10,000 times," he said. "I found 10,000 ways not to create the light bulb."
Or something like that.
At work yesterday, there was an opportunity in my department (at my day job) for at least three people to do a year-long training, much of it in the field. I apologize I will have to be a little cryptic at this point, for I cannot disclose the company nor the details of the opportunity. Over fifty people applied for this opportunistic position. Only a handful were chosen to be interviewed.
A young lady I know was quite upset she was not chosen for this--BTW, I did not apply for this opportunity, for it required a lot of travel commitment, and I did not see it as a move I should be taking in my career.
Anyway, the lady asked me what more she could do next time to be chosen.
This struck me as odd, for I have had a complete turnaround in my thinking over the past few years. Over fifteen years ago, I spent a lot of time querying agents, the vast majority of which rejected me outright. I felt like a failure, even though I kept writing and kept querying, all without any positive results.
Hence the reason I pursued the indie publishing arena. Instead of waiting for someone to pick me, I have picked myself.
Choose yourself, as James Altucher says quite often on his blog and podcasts.
So that's what I did. And that's what I do.
Is that what everyone should do? I don't know. Sorry, that's the best answer I can come up with. I don't know.
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Book review of "Guest of Honor" on Kim Cox's blog
Kim Cox is an accomplished author of paranormal romance and suspense.
She recently posted a positive review of my novella Guest of Honor on her blog. Please click here for a full copy of the review.
She calls it a "short read with a surprise ending." Also, one of my favorite quotes, "hang on to your seat and enjoy the ride."
Again, here's the link to her full review of Guest of Honor.
Be sure to also check out her various book series at Kim Cox Author.com
She recently posted a positive review of my novella Guest of Honor on her blog. Please click here for a full copy of the review.
She calls it a "short read with a surprise ending." Also, one of my favorite quotes, "hang on to your seat and enjoy the ride."
Again, here's the link to her full review of Guest of Honor.
Be sure to also check out her various book series at Kim Cox Author.com
Friday, February 6, 2015
Slow and steady wins the race / Happenings In The Outhouse 06-Feb-2016
You've heard the old adage: slow and steady wins the race.
I just received my statements from Amazon this week and there's one thing I noticed when I compared them to last year's statements. I doubled my income through Amazon. Now, I haven't even added the income I made through Kobo and Smashwords (the latter is where I'm also publishing into Barnes and Noble and the Apple iBooks store, as well as many other outlets).
Not bad.
It still won't even pay a single mortgage payment, but I'm making progress. I am NOT quitting. I'm in this for the long haul.
The way I see it, I'm building a foundation for a publishing empire. Instead of throwing a bunch of stuff together, I'm constructing the best stories I can.
One story at a time.
Sure, I may be slow when compared with others, but who cares? I don't.
I just received my statements from Amazon this week and there's one thing I noticed when I compared them to last year's statements. I doubled my income through Amazon. Now, I haven't even added the income I made through Kobo and Smashwords (the latter is where I'm also publishing into Barnes and Noble and the Apple iBooks store, as well as many other outlets).
Not bad.
It still won't even pay a single mortgage payment, but I'm making progress. I am NOT quitting. I'm in this for the long haul.
The way I see it, I'm building a foundation for a publishing empire. Instead of throwing a bunch of stuff together, I'm constructing the best stories I can.
One story at a time.
Sure, I may be slow when compared with others, but who cares? I don't.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)