The NYC Pitch Conference

What can I say except... wow. I went to the 2010 NYC Pitch & Shop writers conference and I had a great time. I met some very talented people who also happened to be very nice and a lot of fun. I wish it didn't have to end so soon, but I have to admit I was exhausted by the time it did end. I was lucky because the editors of two publishing houses indicated that they wanted to see more of my manuscript. I'm keeping my fingers crossed! Anyway, like I said, it was a wonderful time and I could feel my atrophying creative muscles come back to life. It was great!

Marketing, marketing, marketing

You know, I just LOVE beating that dead horse! I've been so busy trying to market my novel, Chickenhawk, that I haven't been able to write much of anything new. Oh, don't get me wrong, I've started plenty of things (short storys, articles, fiction and non-fiction books), but I haven't been consistant and I haven't finished anything. Three marketing things I'm doing are:

1. Participating in the L.A. Book Festival via Authorsden. They'll put three copies of my novel on their shelves at the festival, and hand out copies of my promotional bookmarks to attendees.
2. My publisher, PublishAmerica, is sending five copies of my novel to Random House. I have no illusions about the results of this, but I figure that for the opportunity to be read by someone at Random House it's worth the money I paid.
3. I'm participating in the NYC Pitch and Shop next month, in which I will have the opportunity to pitch my novel to several agents; as well as shop it around to various publishers. Again, I feel that the possibilities outweigh the costs.

Anyway, I'm going to have to cut this stuff out and get back to writing, but it's so hard...! Wish me luck!

Foreclosure Looms...

Hi,
Well, today I answered the foreclosure summons I received on the 16th of January. Everyone involved at the courthouse was very nice. I have never been this close to losing my home and yet I am filled with a profound sense of calm... it can only be God, because I really can't afford to be homeless, and there are times when I ask myself inwardly if I shouldn't be more afraid, more panicked... my daughter even mentioned it today. The entire family feels this warm sense of calm in the face of our foreclosure... it's weird. No, no, we haven't given up or resigned ourselves to losing our home, we still intend to give it our all in the attempt to save our home (such as the Answering of the Foreclosure Service today), but I think that we have all really placed this in God's hands.

And so it goes...!

Okay, I'm getting ready to leave work. I'm beat... tired... Not from the job, but from the rigors of life. I usually enjoy a good fight, but the constant battles I've been engaged in for the past three years have taken their toll... and I'm tired. I don't really see a way out of my current dilemmas, and I was ready to just stick my head in the sand and just call it a night. But I have maybe one more idea... maybe I can make something happen to save me financially... we'll see. But it's not just finances... there have been family illnesses, deaths, the deaths of friends and acquaintances - too many - , negative family drama, my own failing health, the non-interest in my novel, the recent failure of a job interview, and so many more things... like the possible foreclosure on my home, the loss of my car... ah well, everyone's got problems and I guess I should stop whining about mine. Thanks however, to those of you (if there's anyone out there at all) that have stopped to read my words. Take care and God Bless. Ciao.

Scary stuff!

Earlier this week I received a letter from a law office stating that unless I pay off my house in FULL, it will go into foreclosure! I'm at a loss... I have to admit that I don't know what to do!

Poor Christmas

Ah-h-h... well, this is going to be a poor Christmas for me and my family. I'm having money trouble, but in this economy, who isn't? A good thing is that my kids are all grown up now so a lot of the pressure I used to feel to buy them stuff for the holidays is minimized. This year everyone gets a card, a hug, kind words, and a warm, home-cooked meal. This all sounds so good, it's almost hard to believe that in the old days I'd go nuts with all the shopping, card mailing, decorating and stuff... not having any money can be kinda liberating - ya know? I still harbor pangs of guilt at not being to at least buy them something, but I assuage that guilt with the knowledge that it honestly can't be helped, and that it's not their or my birthday anyway. Putting the Christ back in Christmas should be the priority, and it's a shame that it took this long to better see that. It's Jesus' birthday afterall, and it's He who should be getting all the gifts... gifts of praise, love, faith, peace, harmony... and charity. Once again, please don't forget those less fortunate than you. Merry CHRISTmas and God bless.

Have a happy...

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday, and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. May all of your hopes and dreams come true, may all of yours needs be fulfilled. Please don't forget those less fortunate and remember them in your prayers... and please... write!