Tag: Amie’s Posts’

I can’t believe I’m sitting here trying to not cry–in my defense I’ve got a HORRIBLE cold (thanks son) and PMS (which I can’t really blame on anyone).  We’ve been out here for what? Four years now?  A lot has changed.  We’ve come a long way, baby.  And I hate good-byes, I hate endings, but the online community has changed a lot and it’s not like you can’t stalk us find me & my amigas elsewhere LOL

I’m also taking some time off from SFC & my personal — in part because every time I think my dayjob might be slowing down so I can catch my breath, it just picks back up again.  And trust me, you will get NO complaints from me over having job security.  Not with two teenage boys.  Writing-wise I have two shorts planned for a pub this year and that’s about it.  That’s all I have time for … in part because with the economy the way it is, I have to go with what keeps a roof over my head and right now, that’s the day job.

So if you see me on twitter, bitching about my kid, gimme a shout out. In the mean time, peace, love and tattoos!

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*PS I have no clue what happened to that MOTHER EFFING SIDEBAR! *glares* Will fix when my head isn’t so full of cold medicine.

I have so FREAKING MUCH To do today! Are you tired of hearing me say that? Heee! Cuz I’m tired of saying it. Some interesting rambly stuff via Twitter
A) You can follow the #DBW hash to keep up with the Digital Book World (Conference?) Didn’t know about this but/so I’m guessing it’s a conference. Lots of interesting food for thought re: book pirates.
B) Speaking of Book Pirates I Googled a friend’s name last night and discovered links to illegal downloads of her books….ON FACEBOOK!
C) One of her books had been “Read” almost 5000 times. (assuming this was a MMPB that sells for 6.99 and my friend gets 8% royalty on each sale of that book, she just lost $2750.00).

Happy Release Day Feisty!

D) I have no answers for piracy but one thing I DO wish would happen (as effective as it probably would be) is that when sites like Facebook/Blogger discover links to illegal downloads, they would ban the users. Same for file-sharing sites who discover users posting links to illegal downloads.

E) Speculating, after a quick discussion w/Jackie Barbosa, I kind of wonder if we’re about to see the demise of the hardcover book as we know it?  (Thanks to epublishing and piracy?).  As I remember, King’s first book sale was paperback and paperback used to be where it was at, then (again as I recall from The History of Writing 101), a couple of things happened (namely the buyout/conglomeritization – yes I made that up – of not just publishing houses, but dare I say, America (yes I hear you Alan Jackson…)  as they were bought out by giant corporations who sported names like SONY and CBS) and publishing became even more of a business with the powers that be wanting bigger profits.  And they paid big name authors a LOT of money to keep them around.  Not to dig too deeply into the issue (because honestly, this ISNT what I was going to blog about today) but usually those hardcover releases from BNYTBSA (Big NYT BestSelling Authors) don’t make publishers much if any of a profit…which brings me to

F) If something makes you no money, why publish it (in that particular format?)*

Since I’m rambling…you can ramble too–about anything regarding my blog post–or not!

P. S. Some pimpage on Branding … and an interview w/Seth Godin

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*I am one of those rare creatures who a) buys books pretty indiscriminately. If I want it, it’s mine regardless of format.  I see nothing about paying 12-14 bucks for a Trade PB (admittedly my eyes are getting older and MMPB is getting a little harder to read. I actually put a book BACK and didn’t buy it because the print was too small ) Or paying 16.00 for a YA Hardcover

Sooooo I’ve been working on editing a five year old manuscript — and if you follow me on Twitter then you’ve probably already picked up on this.  I have to admit, it’s definitely a love/hate thing I’ve got going on.

LOVE the story, but find myself cringing at times over word choices and possibly weak motivations and of course, the good old second guessing is running rampant.  Currently mulling over the second chapter, which is from the hero’s POV, and debating how much of it can be cut because five years after the fact, a lot of it feels….uhhhh extraneous (my big word of the day).  I’m sort of afraid that I’ll find LOTS of uhhhh extraneous stuff as I go through this. 

On top of which there is the challenge of rewriting the heroine in third person (from 1st).  It’s enough to make a grown man weep.  Flipping from first to third is …uh CHALLENGING.  But I’m also discovering that what works in first, doesn’t work in third.  I think in the end, I’ll end up with a much better story–thanks in part to the distance five years gives you–but in the mean time, there will be much… *eyeballs photo of choice* and drinking.  Lots and Lots of Drinking.  Alcohol even.  And Tears.  And I think when it’s all over, I deserve…A NEW TATTOO!!!!!!! :bounce:

Since this is just me rambling….tell me, how do you reward yourself after completing an especially…onerous task? Oh look another big word! LOL

Sorry ya’ll I meant to do this yesterday and ended up editing most of the day! Then tried to pick a  winner via Random.org and kept getting me or Karen! LOL   And I”m on the netbook so if this looks REALLY screwed up, forgive me!  I’ve chosen two winners–KATE R and CECILE.  Please email me at amie at amiestuart dot com with the email address you’d like your gift card emailed to!

CONGRATS LADIES!