Tuesday, October 19, 2010

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Some good things happened over the last seven days.  I shared a book signing table with Jon Sprunk, author of Shadow's Son at Barnes and Noble in State College on Sunday.  We had a great time.  Jon shared many great insights and his impressions of where the future for authors and books might be leading.  If you haven't heard of Jon yet, you will some day.  His first book is terrific and the second one will be released in June.  Expect to see an interview here closer to his release date. 
Bad things are of a more personal nature.  If someone had asked me what appliance I couldn't do without I might have had to think about it.  Well, less than a year ago I had to have my washer serviced and it was frustrating waiting for the parts to arrive.  Five days ago my dryer lost its will to dry the mega loads of laundry I do on nearly a daily basis.  I don't like laundry to pile up and do at least one load a day.  Now horror, as it piles up, as I hang it about the house and on the meager lines outside.  There's little daylight left when I get home from work.  Repairman came today and said it couldn't be fixed until Friday!  (Insert curse words here!)
And the ugly?  I didn't make my writing goal again though I did better than last week.  About 5K for the week and the next week is very busy also.  I need chained to my computer chair.
So this week, I'm going to be more reasonable with my goals.
1.)  I'm going to write no less than 8K this week.  I really, really mean it.
2.) I'm going to continue making the contacts for my blog tour around the upcoming release of Beyond the Gate.
3.) I'm going to put together a list of reviewers I would like my publisher to send this book out to.  There are many online reviewers I think could really help promote my book who were overlooked for the last one.
And one last thought on this week's report.  I want to thank everyone at B&N for their kind welcome.  James, the Community Relations Manager, was especially helpful.  Jon and I had a great time.  I also want to thank the customers who talked to us and some even bought our books.  Two ladies bought my book on their Nooks.  Exciting.
Have you ever done that? Met an author at a book signing and then downloaded their book on your ereader? How many of you are expecting an ereader for Christmas?  I hope you all get them.

12 comments:

Helen Ginger said...

I'm trying to decide what to get for Christmas. My husband has suggested either an iPad or an iPod. I'm debating. I'm thinking an iPod.

I would hate to be without a washer. I've been without one when we were inbetween houses. Do not want to do that again.

You can do 8,000. You can!

Jemi Fraser said...

Being without a washer is a nightmare for sure! I hope it doesn't take long to fix!!!

I got a Kindle for my birthday and I'm loving it :)

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Jemi, I'm glad to hear you like the Kindle. I'm leaning that way.
I have the cheapest model of iPod, Helen, and I love it. But I wouldn't turn down a gift of an iPad.

Helen Ginger said...

How's your word count going?

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Thanks for asking. I'm rolling with 2K but my editor emailed me yesterday and said final read through for Beyond the Gate will be coming to me this weekend and I only have seven days. It's going to interrupt but at least I'll be doing writing business.

Helen Ginger said...

Seven days! Yikes. Sounds like a sleepless week.

RaShelle Workman said...

Popped over from Alex's blog. So sorry about your dryer. I can't stand laundry, but if I didn't have the option of a dryer . . . the horror. Glad it's going to be fixed in a few days.

And congrats on your book signing. It sounds like a lot of fun. =D

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Glad the B&N signing went well. I really scaled back on my store appearances this year. And I do want an ereader, preferrably an ipad.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Helen, the edits are interfering with my sleep. That and catching up on laundry. LOL

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

RaShelle, I finally got my dryer fixed late Friday. Of course, the pdf of my book arrived for a final read through on the same day. Yikes!

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I want an ipad too, L.Diane, but I won't send back a kindle or nook gift either. Hope you get what you want.

Helen Ginger said...

Susan, you need paper clothes. Long ago there was a fad of paper clothes - made from recycled yellow pages. Wearing them maybe twice and throw them out.