Monday, September 14, 2015

Interesting Things Abound

Today I have lots of tidbits. Let's start with the cover reveal and pre-order link for Stephen Tremp's upcoming release, Salem's Daughters, a paranormal mystery. A couple of my favorite genres there. Congrats to Stephen.

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?

41 comments:

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

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 ...

I 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

nashvillecats2 said...

Yes Susan to congrats to Stephen, sure to be a success.
Hope your editing goes well and you get your two books published.
Wonderful post to read.
Yvonne.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Sorry your son had to go through rabies treatment. Hope you find the raccoon soon.
Will check out what I shouldn't be stressing about.

M.J. Fifield said...

I 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.

Best of luck with your editing! Can't wait until I reach that stage again.

And congratulations to Stephen!

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

I read one of the nine books - THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN - and loved it!

I don't usually buy books at Walmart/Target, but I occasionally buy them at Costco.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

We had a rabid fox in our neighborhood this past spring. They killed it though.

Publishers pay bookstores top dollar for those displays up front.

Christine Rains said...

I 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. :)

A Beer for the Shower said...

I 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.

I 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.

betty said...

Stephen'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.

betty

Pat Hatt said...

Ugg, hopefully that raccoon gets found quickly and no more animals show up rabid. Good luck editing away.

Stephen Tremp said...

Susan, 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.

Jay Noel said...

I will probably read Go Set a Watchman, against my better judgement.

Rabid 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.

Chrys Fey said...

I'm a big fan of black cats so I love Stephen's cover!

Rabies treatment? Yikes! But I'm glad he's okay. Good luck with your editing and your goal!

Robin said...

Interesting 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?

Rabies. I hope you find that raccoon soon and put him out of his misery.

cleemckenzie said...

The 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.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Thanks, Hilary. He had two shots right into the dog bite on his ankle. He was only 8 at the time.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I'm working on it, Yvonne. Thanks for stopping by.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

The raccoon probably died on its own by now so I'm not worried about it, only what it infected.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

We all need a lakeside cabin at least part of the year.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I heard good things about it. I'm waiting for the library to have it.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I can only wish my publisher could afford to do that.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

You're so busy that you have a good excuse.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

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.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I'm going to read Girl on the Train too at some point, betty. My TBR list has so many on it.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

It is that time of year, Pat. Rabid animals are about.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

You're very welcome, Stephen.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

They do usually hiss at you if you corner them. Seeing them in the daylight is a big clue to the illness.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

It was a rough treatment and done over the course of a few days.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Pretty sure the raccoon would have died by now. We're watching for his victims now.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I was thinking about something good coming out of the unusual weather too, Lee, but I didn't mention for fear of controversy.

Gwen Gardner said...

The 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.

The Happy Whisk said...

What made it go from your dread to favorite bit?

Unknown said...

I 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.

Sorry 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.

J E Oneil said...

The poor raccoon. How sad :(.

I've read a couple of those most talked about books. A couple I couldn't really understand why they were the most talked about...

Jemi Fraser said...

Rabies and its treatment are awful! Hope they find the raccoon.
I hope I get to the point where editing is my favourite! I'd rather draft all day long :)

Karen Jones Gowen said...

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!

Tammy Theriault said...

Good luck with editing!! A raccoon...ugh those cute but vicious creatures! Congrats to Stephen. The cover is great!!

Nick Wilford said...

Congrats to Stephen. Good news for Jamie. I wonder how my local supermarket would react if I asked them to stock my self-pubbed book...

I 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!

Jo said...

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.

Heather R. Holden said...

Congrats to Stephen! His book sounds great.

And 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!

Arlee Bird said...

the story about stress is essentially the story about life period. These are excuses that can be used about anything we do.

Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out