There is so much going on at IWSG group. The newletter! The anthology, Parallels: Felix Was Here, and the IWSG site is signed up for A to Z Challenge. Are you?
Why so glum, chum? Well, lots to worry about this month. The fall of another small press, Samhain, last week, as I mentioned in my Monday's post has me worried. But what can I do about it? Nothing except keep on working on my next book. I hope to have the major plotting done by the end of the weekend. This is the second in my next space opera romance series.
"The universe is made of stories, not of atoms." Muriel Rukeyser
Speaking of A to Z, that brings me my next worry. Only a month until April and I haven't started my posts yet for A to Z. Good news, I'm going to only post once next week and spend some time working on them. Of course, my daughter is home for spring break so who knows how that will go.
I helped my husband with another big paint job over the past two weeks so it has put me behind on some of my writing work but the next two days are catch up days for me.
On the optimism side, the bulbs are pushing green shoots up through the ground. It's been balmy outside. I put my snow boots away. And Mother Nature answered. The forecast is for 2-3 inches of the cold, white stuff Thursday night.
"Snow and adolescence are the only problems that disappear if you ignore them long enough." Earl Wilson
And a fun fact from The Old Farmer's Almanac:
Austin, Texas is home to North America's largest urban bat colony."
Do you have your A to Z posts ready yet? How sick of snow are you? What is your insecurity this month? Do you know any good publishing news?
52 comments:
Congratulations Susan on getting your next book on Amazon. And i'm sure you'll get inspired for your A-Z posts. At least I don't have that to worry about!!
How brave of you to do A to Z, I've just returned to the support group after a long absence.
Snow? What snow? We had snow the past two years, but barely got a dusting with ice this year.
I have my subjects picked out for the IWSG in April, but I haven't written them up yet.
We've had a strangely mild winter, only dipping below freezing once for a couple of days. Everything's blooming now. I just hope we had enough rain and cold weather to keep the grasshoppers from getting out of control this spring.
Enjoy your daughter's visit. You can always do the other stuff later.
Very sad about that publisher. JH Moncrieff was one of their authors.
Awesome the book is on Amazon. Will have to check the iBookstore.
No A-Z for me this year. Have to get cracking on some other stuff.
Have fun visiting with your daughter! Maybe you can work on those A-Z posts together?
I heard about Samhaim. It's so sad for all their authors and employees.
I have a theme for A to Z worked out, but no posts started yet.
Congrats on the new book!
Urban bats...that sounds cool.
That is scary news about Samhain - that was a publisher that seemed to be doing everything right, too.
Congrats with your book on Amazon! Our February has been very pleasant weather and after the snow of January, it was a nice break (not that we got that much snow and not that I had to be out in it, LOL :) That is sad about the publisher, seems the way of the world these days, but still sad. I have most of my letters for A/Z mapped out and three posts written. I need to get cracking and get them all done as we'll be moving at the end of March and definitely want them done by then. Thankfully its a simple theme with lots of pictures so should go smoothly once I get motivated to do them :)
betty
I have a couple of posts written for a-z but I really need to get a move on. Really.
You have been busy! Congrats on the latest Warriors of Gaviron. Have a great week. I'm also busy preparing my A to Z posts.
Congratulations! You have a busy schedule and that's okay as long as you are enjoying it. Good luck on A to Z. I'll see you around.
Shalom,
Patricia
This weather roller coaster is crazy, huh? On Sunday I was on my bike and it was 65. Today? Snow, wind, and a high of 10 degrees. And I just started writing my A to Z posts yesterday.
This weather roller coaster is crazy, huh? On Sunday I was on my bike and it was 65. Today? Snow, wind, and a high of 10 degrees. And I just started writing my A to Z posts yesterday.
I'm still in a little bit of shock about Samhain. We have our lilies and daffodils coming out already. They're in for a shock when the snow falls tomorrow!
Soon there will be no small publishers left. the weather sure likes to screw with us these days
Congrats on Warriors of Gaviron being in Amazon! And good luck with prepping for A to Z!
Congrats on the new book! We actually had a heavy snowfall today while I was driving back from work. It doesn't seem to have settled though, thank goodness. I'm also beginning to worry about my lack of A to Z posts - I've got a lot going on the next couple of weekends and during the next few weeks, but I'm hoping to at least have some down by the end of next week. But we have a whole month to go, so I guess we shouldn't be worrying too much yet :) (although I'm sure the time will fly by!)
Hi Susan - such good news your 3rd book is up on Amazon; the A-Z will get done ... take care and yes Spring will be here soon - we've had hail and some snow today ... such is life - cheers Hilary
Congratulations on your book. I too was concerned with Samhain's announcement. It's sad to see small business forced out by large business. The consumers are the ones who suffer when niche markets dry up. As a consumer, I dread losing the variety small businesses provide.
It's sad to see small presses going out of business!
Congratulations on your book!
Another new book! There can never be too many, so congratulation. Those bulbs are wonderful metaphors, aren't they? Each spring I'm so grateful for the reminder that all things are cyclic and can be beautiful.
Congrats Susan on your next book. Good luck with the sales on Amazon.
Yvonne.
We've had no snow so don't miss it. Haven't any great publishing news right now, but packing up my house is going well! Congrats on the book!!! Not sure I'm doing A to Z this year, yikes! Thanks for the visit to my blog!
No snow here but being from Michigan I actually miss it. I love the four seasons.
Yes, with the daughter home you might be a little occupied. Good luck with getting your posts done. And I really hope the forecast is wrong. I hate that white stuff.
I did A to Z once and got so stressed that I now hide. :) Best of luck figuring out your posts! And congrats on your third book being available!
I love your quote and yes most definitely I do not like the cold or the snow and I often scratch my head wondering why I am living in the Midwest. Lol. My insecurity is completing book research when it scares me to read it. I have taken off a week from the research and am finally sleeping again. Unfortunately I have to go back to it. Happy Wednesday and good luck catching up.
Didn't see that news coming about Samhain. They were regular recruiters at our local writers conferences.
And enjoy your daughter's visit. My son will be home in March for spring break too. Looking forward to it. :)
Um, ducking behind the computer, I didn't actually get enough snow this year. (sorry)
But, bulbs coming up are beautiful!
I hope you enjoy your daughter's visit!
Love the quotes today, especially that one about stories making up the universe. :)
And Congratulations on your newest book!
Congrats on your new book.
I'm not taking part in the A-Z this year except through the IWSG website. But I know from having done it in previous years, that those posts have a way of getting done in time. Best wishes, Susan.
Love the quote. Wishing you much success.
Juneta @ Writer's Gambit
Love the quote. Wishing you much success.
Juneta @ Writer's Gambit
Congratulations on your new release, Susan! It's sad when a company goes out of business. But there will always be publishers out there. With someone as talented as you, I'm sure you'll always have a publisher wanting your work.
I am WAY behind on everything. But, that's okay. We will get it all done...or we won't.
I had the screen door open the other day and tonight it dropped down to 28. BRRRR.
It's still March!
One step at a time! You'll get in your groove!
Heather
I have a theme and topics for each day for #AtoZChallenge, but nothign written yet. I'm way ahead of the last two years - those had no theme, and I pantsed the topics each day! Still was fun!
We still don't have snow here in Norfolk, UK, although it tried its hardest yesterday. The weather's too changeable for anything to lie long. Meanwhile I'm trying to do five AtoZ posts a week since the last week of Feb, and today I'm on the tenth and eleventh. Only trouble is, of course, I'm doing the easy ones at the moment. Sigh. Then again, I'm doing Camp Nano in April as well, so there's good reason to get sorted out!
This month I think I'm going to go A-Z crazy. So much to think about. Last year was my first A-Z and the day after it was done, I began outlining my A-Z for this year. The posts aren't done, but I know what I'll be doing for each day. Now I need to get to work on that.
I think I need to take one day a week, and start preparing some of those posts, especially since I signed up to be a minion this year and I'm going to be away for one weekend.
I'm skipping the A to Z again this year because I'm already overwhelmed with existing tasks and responsibilities. Maybe next year...
The closing of Samhein and the dropping of the mystery line by my own publisher Five Star is disconcerting to say the least. I see lots more changes on the horizon, and that makes me a little nervous even though I tend to think change is a good thing.
I was really shocked to hear about Samhain this week. Even though small presses have been closing down more and more lately, I don't think I ever expected that one to. So sad!
Also, best of luck with your A-to-Z posts! I've never been brave enough to participate in this challenge, so I can only imagine how much of a time-suck it is to type up so many posts for it...
The closing of presses are very sad. Bookstores too. I wish I could save them all.
Good luck with A to Z. I thought of taking part but I'm doing NaPoWriMo (writing 30 poems in 30 days) again and a favorite poem anthology, sharing 30 poems everyday for the month of April, for National Poetry Month. Plus, I'm doing a blog tour then too. Busy, busy.
Congrats on your latest publication and already being on to the next one. Presses closing is worrying but we can't do much except keep writing. Still not sure about A-Z, we were going to be away in April but not now. Need an idea!
Bravo on your new release! Happy and thrilled for you. As for A-Z, I haven't even thought of what I'm going to post either. Hope March doesn't flow by too quickly.
Yes, Congrats!! My daughter is coming home for spring break, tomorrow~ Hang in there and be proud of all you are doing! Woohoo on green shoots and I love the quote at the end! I am happy March has arranged~ enJOY your daughter! ATB
I can't believe it's almost another A to Z challenge. One year I'll have to try it again. I would like to see snow sometime. I'm in So. Cal and we've probably had about 2 weeks of winter. I actually kind of miss it. I lived in cold climates when I was a kid, so I know what it's like. I know it's hard much of the time, but I do miss it. I guess we always want what we don't have.
Have fun with your daughter! We've got another two months of possible heavy snow since winter really hits us now, but it's been 50s here the last week, so we'll see what happens next.
Good luck with the A-Z challenge. It's right around the corner!
I love the quote you posted! Isn't that the truth?
I had not heard about that publisher, but according to stats collected by Barnes & Noble, paperbacks are gaining ground on e-books and the popularity of adult coloring books is driving steady gains in merchandise diversity among bookstores in general. Given all the fluctuating trends in the publishing industry I wouldn't be surprised if yo-yos made a comeback;-)
Now that snakes and such have come out of hibernation, I wonder what they'll do next week when winter is expected here in Arizona :-)
Congrats on the new book!
J.H. Moncrieff was with Samhain press, I read the news over at her blog.
See you on the A to Z circuit!
I don't understand the idea or practice behind writing alll the A/Z posts seventeen months ahead of time. Where is the fun of that? Or really, even the challenge? It's just pre-planned posts. Boring.
Congratulations on the book!
The only way I can safely do the A to Z challenge would be to preplan posts so commenting on other people's blogs wouldn't overwhelm me.
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