In more book news, some twitter link led me to this article at the Digital Reader about Walmart actually carrying a self-published book. As many of you know, chain stores like Walmart and Target sell a lot of physical books. It's always good for an author's sale to have their work on those shelves. Great news for indie authors.
If you walk into a book store, you know they have all the highly publicized books right up fronts, often with their own displays. Huffington Post but together this list of The 9 Most Talked-About Books of 2015 (So far). I'll probably read one of those for sure, maybe two.
As a charter member of IWSG, I found this post amusing and also pretty much spot on. It really is a kind of a pick up as it lists Four Things Writers Can Stop Stressing About Right Now. Does the list make sense to you.
Another interesting note was the Smithsonian Article about how scientists are excited about all the artifacts they're finding as ice melts in Yellowstone. Apparently, there are so many things appearing that they can't keep up. Ice preserves things like wool, animal hides and other things that they can't learn about from fossils.
On a fun in the neighborhood side of things, we had a rabid raccoon in the backyard. By the time our friend arrived with his gun to shoot it, the poor thing had staggered into a brush-filled woodland area beside our property and we couldn't find it. Now we're keeping an eye on all the wildlife that make their homes around us. Lots of groundhogs, a few skunks, squirrels, and the domesticated ones that often roam free. My youngest son once had to get rabies treatment for a dog bite. I wouldn't want anyone to have to through that.
I'm getting back to editing this week, a part of writing I used to dread but now it's my favorite part. My goal is to get two more books to my publisher by the end of the year so there's lots to be done.
Are you reading or have read any of those 9 books listed by Huffington? Did that article about stress relieve your mind on anything? Do you even buy books at stores like Walmart or Target? Even had a run-in with a rabid animal?
Hi Susan - I love Stephen's cover reveal and Salem's Daughters sounds a fascinating read. I have plenty of books to read and my own set of 9 or more ...
ReplyDeleteI most definitely not like to have a run in with a rabid animal ... your poor son - how very unpleasant for him .. glad he's ok now. Take care .. cheers Hilary
Thanks, Hilary. He had two shots right into the dog bite on his ankle. He was only 8 at the time.
DeleteYes Susan to congrats to Stephen, sure to be a success.
ReplyDeleteHope your editing goes well and you get your two books published.
Wonderful post to read.
Yvonne.
I'm working on it, Yvonne. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteSorry your son had to go through rabies treatment. Hope you find the raccoon soon.
ReplyDeleteWill check out what I shouldn't be stressing about.
The raccoon probably died on its own by now so I'm not worried about it, only what it infected.
DeleteI enjoyed that article about writers and stress. For the most part, I agree with everything stated there...except for the part about me not needing a lakeside cabin. I'm pretty sure I do need that.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with your editing! Can't wait until I reach that stage again.
And congratulations to Stephen!
We all need a lakeside cabin at least part of the year.
DeleteI read one of the nine books - THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN - and loved it!
ReplyDeleteI don't usually buy books at Walmart/Target, but I occasionally buy them at Costco.
I heard good things about it. I'm waiting for the library to have it.
DeleteWe had a rabid fox in our neighborhood this past spring. They killed it though.
ReplyDeletePublishers pay bookstores top dollar for those displays up front.
I can only wish my publisher could afford to do that.
DeleteI haven't read any of the books on that list. I feel a little out of the loop! Congrats to Stephen! Good luck with your editing. :)
ReplyDeleteYou're so busy that you have a good excuse.
DeleteI don't think I've ever bought a book at Wal-mart. I'm more of a bookstore kind of guy. But I'm sure having your book in Wal-mart would be great for sales. Having our books in the local chain bookstore has been incredible for sales.
ReplyDeleteI once had to help my friend trap a non-rabid raccoon. He put it in a cage in his trunk and drove it out into a field to release it, and it got car sick ALL over his trunk. It. Was. Hilarious.
A car sick raccoon sounds like something that would happen in a a comedy show. Or maybe on one of those dates Bryan was talking about today.
DeleteStephen's book does sound interesting and I do like the cover for it. I looked at the 9 talked about books; I have heard a lot of people liking the Girl on the Train; might have to read that this year. Yes, I did buy a book at Wal-Mart as a Christmas gift for someone, but I don't think I have bought any for myself to personally read.
ReplyDeletebetty
I'm going to read Girl on the Train too at some point, betty. My TBR list has so many on it.
DeleteUgg, hopefully that raccoon gets found quickly and no more animals show up rabid. Good luck editing away.
ReplyDeleteIt is that time of year, Pat. Rabid animals are about.
DeleteSusan, thanks for the shout out! I haven't read any of these books but The Girl on the Train and Being Mortal are on my TBR list.
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome, Stephen.
DeleteI will probably read Go Set a Watchman, against my better judgement.
ReplyDeleteRabid raccoon? Yikes. That freaks me out. I've come across wild possums and raccoons that hissed at me. Doubt they were rabid, but I'm pretty sure I broke the world record for sprinting each time.
They do usually hiss at you if you corner them. Seeing them in the daylight is a big clue to the illness.
DeleteI'm a big fan of black cats so I love Stephen's cover!
ReplyDeleteRabies treatment? Yikes! But I'm glad he's okay. Good luck with your editing and your goal!
It was a rough treatment and done over the course of a few days.
DeleteInteresting stuff does abound! I didn't know that about Walmart. That's not the first place I go when I'm thinking of book buying, but... it all helps, right?
ReplyDeleteRabies. I hope you find that raccoon soon and put him out of his misery.
Pretty sure the raccoon would have died by now. We're watching for his victims now.
DeleteThe melting ice is a paleontologists Nirvana! Well, at least something good's coming out of all this crazy weather. Just downloaded Stephen's book. Looking forward to a witchy-cat read. Sorry about the rabid raccoon. Hope other critters in your area don't come down with that.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about something good coming out of the unusual weather too, Lee, but I didn't mention for fear of controversy.
DeleteThe ice melt in other parts of the world are revealing lots of things too. Pretty exciting stuff. I'll go check out Huffington's list. Thanks, Susan.
ReplyDeleteWhat made it go from your dread to favorite bit?
ReplyDeleteI read Jamie's return to indie publishing on smashwords. Very exciting about her news with the Walmart deal. Before my kindle I used to get my fave books from Walmart and Target because they'd be marked down from the list price.
ReplyDeleteSorry about your son and the raccoon. My son was chased home from the school bus stop by a fox. He cried the whole way and couldn't get his key in. Scary moment for him and us but lucky no bites.
The poor raccoon. How sad :(.
ReplyDeleteI've read a couple of those most talked about books. A couple I couldn't really understand why they were the most talked about...
Rabies and its treatment are awful! Hope they find the raccoon.
ReplyDeleteI hope I get to the point where editing is my favourite! I'd rather draft all day long :)
When I was a kid I used to be so afraid of rabies, maybe from seeing movies like Old Yeller. Interesting links here, I'll go take a look!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with editing!! A raccoon...ugh those cute but vicious creatures! Congrats to Stephen. The cover is great!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Stephen. Good news for Jamie. I wonder how my local supermarket would react if I asked them to stock my self-pubbed book...
ReplyDeleteI think I got over most of the things on the list. Well, I still don't think I'm good enough, but it helps to know most others feel the same!
Scary thought having a rabid animal around. Your poor son, what a terrible thing to have to go through apart from the fear of what could happen. Hope you catch it soon and that it hasn't infected anything else.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Stephen! His book sounds great.
ReplyDeleteAnd wow, a self-published book actually got stocked at Wal-Mart? Never expected that to happen. Awesome!
How scary about that rabid raccoon, though. Yikes!
the story about stress is essentially the story about life period. These are excuses that can be used about anything we do.
ReplyDeleteArlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out