Another Writer-ly Day

I'm in a rut. I can't stop working on writing stuff. Today I got on a chat with Kindle Direct Publishing (again) because I couldn't find Island Dreams on my Bookshelf which is where you publish or republish your titles. Once I had that squared away, I spent most of the afternoon reloading Island Dreams to Kindle Create (seen here) because it was one of the manuscripts lost when my original version crashed. So I had to redo the title page, the copyright page, the Dedication (to the dive guys who taught us to scuba dive), the "Books by this Author" page and the Acknowledgements.

 

Then I went back onto my Bookshelf page to republish it with the individual ISBNs and my name as publisher. Luckily I had this jpeg (photo) of the cover because that's the only one I didn't have GetCovers design for me. I hired an editing/formatting service which I ended up not liking because I didn't have control over things. But somehow I ended up with a jpeg so I could crop it for the eBook and use the whole thing for the paperback. This is the only cover that I can't change the blurb, author bio, or author photo on. I don't like that either, but it is what it is.

 

It was so warm today (38 degrees!) that a lot of the snow in the backyard melted. The snow and ice on the birdbath melted a lot too. You can see the sled tracks from the neighbors' fun sledding last night. They must start high up on the hill to get up the speed to slide all the way across their yard into mine. Well, it's actually one yard. There's their half and my half. It's a duplex, you know.

 

Before I started all the writing stuff this morning I drew a gratitude journal page for yesterday. I'm posting it because it has the final Freebie Friday totals on it. The free downloads total is 9,415 audiobooks! Takes my breath away.

 

The first shipment of copies of Anneke's Legacy came today. Twenty-five books in one carton is heavy. I gently rolled it from the porch into the house and then picked it up to carry it to the table. Before supper I sat with a pen, bookmarks, and "Autographed Copy" stickers and got them all signed, bookmarked, and stickered so they're ready to be sold. My book storage area is nearing capacity. I don't know where I'll put them if I write too many more books. Not downstairs, that's for sure.

 

Then I decided I wanted to paint instead of draw so I painted this Hydrangea. I like it. It looks kind of like the teacher's example and I like the leaves, especially the two in front. 

 

I had a phone call with GBB this morning about the Midwest Book Review. She's gotten reviews of her two books from them and uses them in publicity. I thought about sending in one of my books but then I read that they don't want your books if you don't have distribution. Which I don't have. Amazon doesn't count because bookstores and libraries can't order from Amazon because they only charge Retail. One of the reasons I'm republishing my books is so that I can widen distribution so they can be accessed by bookstores and libraries. I looked into a national contest too but shied away for the same reason. I'll keep researching.

While I watched Finding Your Roots on PBS tonight I knitted a few rounds on the Melt the ICE Hat but not enough to warrant a new photo. Besides I need to consult the pattern to see where I need to start decreasing for the pointy top.

Yesterday the light over the stove and two of the (many) clocks in the kitchen's batteries ran out. All on the same day! So I had to re-battery the clocks and replace the light bulb. I was happy to have spares so I didn't have to run out for supplies. 

--Barbara