So ... we had our first book signing for the group's 2014 anthology on Thursday. It was great! The best book signing we've ever had. Lots of people showed up, the authors behaved wonderfully, and the cookies were delicious. We met our sales goal and surpassed it. In fact, we basically sold out. Only have two books left. I'm pleased. It's how I've always thought signings should be: people laughing, talking, eating cookies, and buying books. What more could you ask?
However, it left me exhausted, and only today have I felt better. My loss of endurance really annoys me. Well, no use complaining. I think overall I am better. I'm hoping I improve more. Greedy of me, eh?
I have plenty of projects that I want to spend some energy on. Murder by the Mile is the major one, but I've been thinking of publishing an anthology named Blackbirds. An invitation only anthology that will focus on darker stories and poems, infused with sensuality and ... for the lack of a better word ... power. I don't know if I can find enough material to fill a book, though. I have one story already chosen: "The Beasts of France" by a friend of mine. And another friend has several poems that will work well. I have a couple of poems and one twisty murder mystery. But that's hardly enough. About 15 pages in all, and I'd need about 100 pages filled. Anyway, we'll see how it goes. Naturally, if you have any dark and sensual short stories or poems and would like to be in anthology, let me know. I would love to have them.
And a friend of mine is interested in publishing another book with me. I've started work on it. I'm hoping for a publication date in September. We'll see how that goes. It mostly depends on my health because he has the material.
Also, I want to start slowly exercising. I won't regain what I've lost if I don't push myself a little more each day. Nothing drastic, of course -- not that my body would let me do that, anyway. But progress, progress, progress.
Here's the truth: No one can get me out of park except me. Do you know the opposite of park?
It's drive.
This week I want to:
- Walk each day.
- Write a page a day in MBTM.
- Edit and place a page a day in my friend's book.
- Household chores. I have have have to vacuum my house before it becomes filled with dust dunes.
- Writers group meeting Saturday. Need to write a program for it.
And that's my week. Hope you have a great one. Or decent one. Or a survivable one at the very least. I'm rooting for ya.
7 comments:
I'm so glad the book signing turned out so well. I'm certain the preparatory work and the related stress took a toll on your stamina. Sometimes you just need to use the lower gears to help pull you out of the mud. D, D1, and D2 all work in the proper context.
Darker stuff? I may have some poetry from years gone by that might fit. I'm not sure exactly where it is now, but I'll look.
Lower gears ... I think there's an excellent metaphor lurking in that idea. Thanks.
Love to see your darker poetry, Jean.
I'm rooting for you too, Stephen!
Congrats on the booksale and, frankly, public events are draining even when you're healthy and there's no telling what kind of 'con crud' you've picked up from all of the people. I think it sounds like you're doing great only taking a weekend to recuperate. {{hugs}}
I have (gasp!) a dark short story that might, maybe, work. It's been self published, though (a buck at online retailers and free on my blog, all proceeds going to charity) but if you're interested, I'm delighted to submit for consideration. I don't know *how* dark you're going here, but SID, I think, would be a decent addition to an anthology, but ENDORPHINS is good, too, just not quite as dark. Anyway, if you want to see either, let me know and if not since they're too twisted or because they're already out there, that's totally cool. {{{hugs}}}
Yes, I've love see both, Tammy!
If you're familiar with the Creations anthologies, then you know the language requirement. For content, think Lovecraft, Doyle (Challenger), Frost ("The Witch of Coos"), MacLeish ("You, Andrew Marvell"), Stoker (DRACULA), etc. Not as much steampunk, but with that flavor. I guess. Really, Blackbirds is sort of floating right now, but the idea keeps grabbing me at odd times.
I read SID and ENDORPHINS, and I'd like to use ENDORPHINS if Blackbirds becomes a book. And maybe SID, too, as the book develops.
Both are good and creepy.
I'm so glad the signing went well. I'd have been wiped out, too, and I didn't have a heart attack this year. Well, not a real one. There have been times on the road I thought I was going to!
I love the idea for the anthology. Any chance of releasing it around Halloween? Not this year, probably. It sounds like a lot of work. I don't think I have anything to contribute. I wrote a short story last fall about a guy who murders a high-end prostitute in Venice, but I don't really think it would be classified as dark, and off the top of my head it's the only possibility I can think of.
Post a Comment