I've started the process to make MEDICINE ROCK available in e-format. There are many advantages to finally taking this step including more profit per sale for me, but more importantly, a cheaper way for readers to access it.
Next book will be e-format almost instantly! The world of publishing is changing so rapidly that I'd be wary to invest in any hard-copy publisher! iUniverse isn't offering eformatting at this point. When they did, briefly, they were overwhelmed with the result!
I've been adoring Isabel Allende's writings...passionate, historical, human. Also reading Confessions of an Igloo Dweller, by James Houston, an account of living with Inuits in Northern Canada in the 1940's. Fascinating.
One result of this amazing journey of writing a book is my expanded knowledge of writing styles, and of books in general (65,000 a year published in the U.S. alone). This beautiful spring I'm having a challenging time choosing between gardening and reading and writing. Lovely to have such exciting choices! May your life contain wonderful choices as well!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
VIGOROUS SEEDS
A few weeks ago I received a lovely letter from a woman whose son died 45 years ago. She found my book on the web and wanted to buy a copy. Bless her heart, and the heart of her husband, who partnered her in that tragedy, whatever it was. Her note echoes the knowing that the children are never forgotten; our memories of them keep their energy circulating in some magical way while we remain on the planet.
I am reading Paula, by Isabelle Allende. Every page I devour, wondering how I'd missed Isabelle's wonderful passion, memory and imagination. I am so thrilled she has written so many books, sharing her extravagant heart with all of us. Then I found her website: it was like returning to a luscious restaurant I'd come to love.
She has inspired me in a period of dimished imagination. One of the impressions she shared in this morning's reading was how Paula, her daughter who is so slowly dying in the book, planted vigorous seeds while passing through others' lives. I would like to think that is my mission as well: planting fertility through my writing and being. This is not only a humble hope, but a prayer in gratitude for the seeds I have received and nurtured from others.
Isabelle writes 9 hours a day once she has begun a book. She always begins a new book on January 8. She describes going into her space, lighting incense and candles, and inviting the spirits to gather and offer their energies to her efforts. I found this so affirming of my own process with Medicine Rock, and also quite revealing about my current dry spell. My writing room is continuously cluttered, now a shared room with my dear husband's desk, bureau, fliers, guitars, etc., and my own bureau, dirty clothes hamper, and "business" clutter of day to day life flung out on my desk. This space arose out of need for a family member to have a bedroom, and we at first hoped it would be adequate. And it is, for business, or busy-ness, but not really for inspiration. So I'll be developing a space in another part of our little compound that feels serene, private and encouraging.
She also describes a wonderful ritual to bring in new energy (p. 269) that involves washing the space with a peculiar, odorous solution, beginning from the back of the area to the door, and out the door, then washing again from the entry back into the rest of the space. These seemingly innocuous rituals, done in good faith, can work wonders in our lives. I know this from years of embracing them. And I suggest them on this page to encourage others. Writing is not only personal, not only mechanical, but transpersonal.
Remembering this has freed my creative fires. We writers are working magic; don't forget. We touch even strangers, transforming raw materials of life to Divine Light.
I am reading Paula, by Isabelle Allende. Every page I devour, wondering how I'd missed Isabelle's wonderful passion, memory and imagination. I am so thrilled she has written so many books, sharing her extravagant heart with all of us. Then I found her website: it was like returning to a luscious restaurant I'd come to love.
She has inspired me in a period of dimished imagination. One of the impressions she shared in this morning's reading was how Paula, her daughter who is so slowly dying in the book, planted vigorous seeds while passing through others' lives. I would like to think that is my mission as well: planting fertility through my writing and being. This is not only a humble hope, but a prayer in gratitude for the seeds I have received and nurtured from others.
Isabelle writes 9 hours a day once she has begun a book. She always begins a new book on January 8. She describes going into her space, lighting incense and candles, and inviting the spirits to gather and offer their energies to her efforts. I found this so affirming of my own process with Medicine Rock, and also quite revealing about my current dry spell. My writing room is continuously cluttered, now a shared room with my dear husband's desk, bureau, fliers, guitars, etc., and my own bureau, dirty clothes hamper, and "business" clutter of day to day life flung out on my desk. This space arose out of need for a family member to have a bedroom, and we at first hoped it would be adequate. And it is, for business, or busy-ness, but not really for inspiration. So I'll be developing a space in another part of our little compound that feels serene, private and encouraging.
She also describes a wonderful ritual to bring in new energy (p. 269) that involves washing the space with a peculiar, odorous solution, beginning from the back of the area to the door, and out the door, then washing again from the entry back into the rest of the space. These seemingly innocuous rituals, done in good faith, can work wonders in our lives. I know this from years of embracing them. And I suggest them on this page to encourage others. Writing is not only personal, not only mechanical, but transpersonal.
Remembering this has freed my creative fires. We writers are working magic; don't forget. We touch even strangers, transforming raw materials of life to Divine Light.
Monday, February 7, 2011
IUNIVERSE SENDS ITS BEST
Padding softly in new snow to the mailbox I didn't expect an envelope from IUniverse. It wasn't an advertising sized envelop, but a money-sized envelope, the kind that you tear the perforation and voila, there's a check.
I saved it till last as I tore apart the other correspondence. What was I expecting? Not a thing. What was I hoping? That somehow, someone had purchased a hundred books, and this was my quarterly royalty statement. And what was it? Well, it was a statement, for the IRS, declaring my earnings of $28 and some odd cents.
What does that represent? About twelve books! I chuckled, gently acknowledging my grandoise self and gratefully accepting what was declared.
In the meantime I'm sending out a couple of freebies to people who are great blessings on the planet. One is Bette LaDuke, Sun Bear's first wife, and mother of Winona. Bette is an amazing artist whose focus has been earth healing and the celebration of women throughout her long career. I can always spot one of her posters: bright colors, strong people, or wonderful animals pulsing with life.
The second one going in the mail today is to Medicine Story, whom I met many many years ago in a meadow in the Trinity Alps. He was playing piano on an old upright standing in the weeds! It was a glorious afternoon, capped off by a little fire and storytelling for the many children gathered at that lodge. He is currently working to have Leonard Peltier freed from prison, after 35 years. Leonard is suffering from cancer and needs to return home before he passes.
Both of these folks received my inquiries with graciousness, and welcomed the book. I am thrilled to share it with them. I'll also donate a copy to the silent auction at a retreat I'll be attending later this month to raise money for a scholarship fund.
In the meantime, I've enrolled in a writing class at the University to keep nudging my awareness as I put fingers to keyboard and mind to ether to create new poems, short stories, and to continue pieces of the next book!
I saved it till last as I tore apart the other correspondence. What was I expecting? Not a thing. What was I hoping? That somehow, someone had purchased a hundred books, and this was my quarterly royalty statement. And what was it? Well, it was a statement, for the IRS, declaring my earnings of $28 and some odd cents.
What does that represent? About twelve books! I chuckled, gently acknowledging my grandoise self and gratefully accepting what was declared.
In the meantime I'm sending out a couple of freebies to people who are great blessings on the planet. One is Bette LaDuke, Sun Bear's first wife, and mother of Winona. Bette is an amazing artist whose focus has been earth healing and the celebration of women throughout her long career. I can always spot one of her posters: bright colors, strong people, or wonderful animals pulsing with life.
The second one going in the mail today is to Medicine Story, whom I met many many years ago in a meadow in the Trinity Alps. He was playing piano on an old upright standing in the weeds! It was a glorious afternoon, capped off by a little fire and storytelling for the many children gathered at that lodge. He is currently working to have Leonard Peltier freed from prison, after 35 years. Leonard is suffering from cancer and needs to return home before he passes.
Both of these folks received my inquiries with graciousness, and welcomed the book. I am thrilled to share it with them. I'll also donate a copy to the silent auction at a retreat I'll be attending later this month to raise money for a scholarship fund.
In the meantime, I've enrolled in a writing class at the University to keep nudging my awareness as I put fingers to keyboard and mind to ether to create new poems, short stories, and to continue pieces of the next book!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
BREWING
I was heartened recently to read a comment by Maya Angelou that her book "Only a Caged Bird Sings" took six years to write, and three of them passed before putting fingers to keyboard. I resonated with this because as I press the keys to begin another book, I find the jungle of my mind too present, and the characters' voices somewhat distant, like distant relatives I've never met.
At this point I have opening paragraphs in first person, one in omniscient voice, and two in third person, as I feel out the flavor of this new plot. MEDICINE ROCK was relatively easy to know who-what-where-why and when: my life, my time frame, a sequential journal to follow, etc. But the new one is pure fiction, multiple layered, and there's a lot to "flesh out," as they say (horrible phrase, must have come from drawing).
To keep open and surrendered to the process, I've enrolled in a non-fiction course at the University of Montana. The text is "The Elements of Story: Field Notes on Nonfiction Writing," by Francis Flaherty (an editor at the NY Times). I haven't begun the class, but the book has been nudging my sleeping metaphors and raking through similes. For example, a character that is essentially passive needs to talk that way! Now in my galloping style of writing, that might have happened just because I can empathize with victims who hate making decisions and thrive on others' directions for their lives. But bringing this device to consciousness will ensure I make this a point, instead of a random act of dialogue.
I bought the book, used, through Amazon. I enjoyed leafing through it briefly to see it was in great shape. But later I ran into highlighting right where I would have underlined, so I guess the book's previous owner and I are "on the same page!" On a closer leafing through I note no more yellow lines; she must have given up, and just started writing!
A "purely fiction" class wasn't available, but so much is transferable that I'm impatient to start the first class. In the meantime I'm being reminded that my point of view is unique, that my sense of timing, choice of words, and how the plot is ultimately fashioned will lead to a reading adventure no one else could possibly write, but many others can deeply appreciate.
Publication date? 2017? Well, truth be known, I've already chewed on this bunch of characters, the setting and the plot for more than a year. But really, who's counting? Not them. Not me. Maybe my readers; but they'll have other great books from other artful writers in the meantime!
At this point I have opening paragraphs in first person, one in omniscient voice, and two in third person, as I feel out the flavor of this new plot. MEDICINE ROCK was relatively easy to know who-what-where-why and when: my life, my time frame, a sequential journal to follow, etc. But the new one is pure fiction, multiple layered, and there's a lot to "flesh out," as they say (horrible phrase, must have come from drawing).
To keep open and surrendered to the process, I've enrolled in a non-fiction course at the University of Montana. The text is "The Elements of Story: Field Notes on Nonfiction Writing," by Francis Flaherty (an editor at the NY Times). I haven't begun the class, but the book has been nudging my sleeping metaphors and raking through similes. For example, a character that is essentially passive needs to talk that way! Now in my galloping style of writing, that might have happened just because I can empathize with victims who hate making decisions and thrive on others' directions for their lives. But bringing this device to consciousness will ensure I make this a point, instead of a random act of dialogue.
I bought the book, used, through Amazon. I enjoyed leafing through it briefly to see it was in great shape. But later I ran into highlighting right where I would have underlined, so I guess the book's previous owner and I are "on the same page!" On a closer leafing through I note no more yellow lines; she must have given up, and just started writing!
A "purely fiction" class wasn't available, but so much is transferable that I'm impatient to start the first class. In the meantime I'm being reminded that my point of view is unique, that my sense of timing, choice of words, and how the plot is ultimately fashioned will lead to a reading adventure no one else could possibly write, but many others can deeply appreciate.
Publication date? 2017? Well, truth be known, I've already chewed on this bunch of characters, the setting and the plot for more than a year. But really, who's counting? Not them. Not me. Maybe my readers; but they'll have other great books from other artful writers in the meantime!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
TRAILER ON YOUTUBE
In a few days my little "trailer: will be up on YouTube...it's brief, sweet, and gives a little taste of MEDICINE ROCK. Now I'm working on an "interview with the author" to post in the next few weeks.
And I'm dreading sorting through all the little slips of paper that comprise my tax receipts to quantify the investment I've made in the book this year. OH, and income, of course! I hope I can show a little profit, since in Montana three years without a profit dictates that one must then pay taxes on all the deductions one has taken. Dreadful thought.
I am continually chewing on the next book...and have signed up for a writing class for 6 weeks at the University to stir up the pot. Also have a writers' group started to meet monthly to share, critique and support each other. I actually looked in to securing a Masters' in Fine Arts (Creative Writing) at UM, but felt out of my league when I visited the website, looked at the cost, and thought of the time investment, including driving to Missoula multiple times a week. That's a feather in my cap I probably will not pursue!
I've sold two books in the last month...and now my contract has expired that gave bookstores their money back if they don't sell books. I didn't feel I could renew it at this point. But there's still fish in the sea, and I'll keep fishing.
And I'm dreading sorting through all the little slips of paper that comprise my tax receipts to quantify the investment I've made in the book this year. OH, and income, of course! I hope I can show a little profit, since in Montana three years without a profit dictates that one must then pay taxes on all the deductions one has taken. Dreadful thought.
I am continually chewing on the next book...and have signed up for a writing class for 6 weeks at the University to stir up the pot. Also have a writers' group started to meet monthly to share, critique and support each other. I actually looked in to securing a Masters' in Fine Arts (Creative Writing) at UM, but felt out of my league when I visited the website, looked at the cost, and thought of the time investment, including driving to Missoula multiple times a week. That's a feather in my cap I probably will not pursue!
I've sold two books in the last month...and now my contract has expired that gave bookstores their money back if they don't sell books. I didn't feel I could renew it at this point. But there's still fish in the sea, and I'll keep fishing.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
THE E-REVOLUTION
About mid-November my book consultant from IUniverse called to offer me the opportunity of paying them $300 to transfer my manuscript into e-format and make it available to the major e-book outlets. I wasn't able to plunk down that much money at the time, so I waited. Now that I can cough it up, I called him back. Opps, nice try, so cigar. Apparently they had such a huge response to the first offer that they are 6-8 weeks behind and were told to stop taking orders.
He confirmed a rumor I'd heard that, after the first of the year, REALLY MAJOR changes will occur in the publishing industry, ones that we poor readers and authors will experience also, thanks to that trickle-down effect! He wouldn't elaborate. He did "lock in" the price, so when the e-book offer becomes available again, I'll be on board.
He also suggested it would cost $6-12 to download, and I'd get 50% royalties. (No postage and shipping deducted, obviously.) That was sweet to hear.
I just received the gift of a tiny purple MP-3 player and discovered I can download a free audio book from DRM-free tracks at emusic.com/machspeed. It seems about every three months there's a new electronic/virtual learning curve to master. They're coming fast and furious. I sat next to a young woman at church Sunday who had a Kindle. I could feel my "desire body" pulsing to have that thing for an hour and mess around with it!
It's quite likely that my next novel, chap book or poetry book will never see paper, and I'll transfer it to the web myself. In the meantime there's some good old fashioned writing to do!
He confirmed a rumor I'd heard that, after the first of the year, REALLY MAJOR changes will occur in the publishing industry, ones that we poor readers and authors will experience also, thanks to that trickle-down effect! He wouldn't elaborate. He did "lock in" the price, so when the e-book offer becomes available again, I'll be on board.
He also suggested it would cost $6-12 to download, and I'd get 50% royalties. (No postage and shipping deducted, obviously.) That was sweet to hear.
I just received the gift of a tiny purple MP-3 player and discovered I can download a free audio book from DRM-free tracks at emusic.com/machspeed. It seems about every three months there's a new electronic/virtual learning curve to master. They're coming fast and furious. I sat next to a young woman at church Sunday who had a Kindle. I could feel my "desire body" pulsing to have that thing for an hour and mess around with it!
It's quite likely that my next novel, chap book or poetry book will never see paper, and I'll transfer it to the web myself. In the meantime there's some good old fashioned writing to do!
Saturday, December 4, 2010
DRIBBLES AND DROPS
I had the rare pleasure of an old friend calling me and requesting three copies of the book! We had a wonderful lunch together in Missoula, after several years of absence. She plans on giving the book at Christmas! I had helped her birth her two daughters a number of years ago, and one of them lunched with us and brought her son, a bright, relaxed, almost three-year-old.
NEW TRAILER ON YOUTUBE: Should be out in a week or two. Very simple. Another little presence on the web for folks looking for me. Plan on making another one over the holidays. My granddaughter will interview me and she can post it to YouTube.
A local "Wiccan" bookstore requested three more copies of the book, has sold two. I took credit instead of cash, her merchandise is so lovely. The store's name is Between the Worlds. She's a brave woman given the climate in our valley.
And this weekend my book is once again at Lava Hot Springs, Idaho.
Missoula's Hastings Book Store is interested in a reading, imagine that! After Christmas I'll make yet another drive north to Missoula and see how that goes.
Hoping my readers enjoy the "Going Within" time, and celebrate Winter Solstice with friends and animals!
NEW TRAILER ON YOUTUBE: Should be out in a week or two. Very simple. Another little presence on the web for folks looking for me. Plan on making another one over the holidays. My granddaughter will interview me and she can post it to YouTube.
A local "Wiccan" bookstore requested three more copies of the book, has sold two. I took credit instead of cash, her merchandise is so lovely. The store's name is Between the Worlds. She's a brave woman given the climate in our valley.
And this weekend my book is once again at Lava Hot Springs, Idaho.
Missoula's Hastings Book Store is interested in a reading, imagine that! After Christmas I'll make yet another drive north to Missoula and see how that goes.
Hoping my readers enjoy the "Going Within" time, and celebrate Winter Solstice with friends and animals!
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