M.J. Fredrick's Blog, page 76

Bargains

Not really, but what a cute picture

Last night a coupon code was floating around Twitter–$3 off any ebook at Kobo.com. I hemmed and hawed, because I've never bought from there, so tried a couple of books that were under $3, thinking at least that way I wouldn't be wasting money.

I ended up buying a dozen books (at least) for under $5, and several had been on my wishlists. Only three cost anything after the coupon, and those were under a dollar. Now to find time to read…

This AM I bought the Glee Volume 4 soundtrack because it was on sale from Best Buy. I'm thinking about buying the soundtrack from Back Up Plan as a download from Amazon, but wonder if someone will have it on sale Friday.

I've been going to the website www.bfad.com looking for advance news of Black Friday ads. I'm mostly just curious, and haven't seen anything great. I did see Office Max will be having a laser printer for $50. I bought mine 2 years ago from them.

I'm following Amazon Lightning Deals on Twitter. Last year I got Young Frankenstein for $3, and a couple of other deals that I discovered this way.

Are you anxious about seeing the upcoming bargains to lure us this season?

Goals for the Week of Thanksgiving Break

 

Okay, this is a bit early, but these goals encompass the entire holiday.

1)      Finish NaNo novel

2)      Do pre-edits on STTA

3)      Enter DLB in Rita and send off books

4)      Mail a copy of a book to a prize winner

5)      Go see Harry Potter

6)      Buy Cindi's boys' presents

7)      Buy all out-of-town gifts.

8)      Work on promo idea for Natalie and me

9)      Time with Mom

10)   Enjoy Thanksgiving

11)   Clean house

12)   Decorate for Christmas, though I'm toning it down this year

13)   Catch up on magazines from September

14)   Finish reading 2 books that I've been reading for-ev-er.

15)   Grocery

 

That's PLENTY, right?

 

 

Color

We have interest in my MIL's house, so keep your fingers crossed. Once we sell it, we're going to buy a new car. The dh has been driving her car because we don't want a car payment right now, and it's a piece of junk. Poor guy.

I want an FJ Cruiser. I know, not the best on gas, but we were thinking about a Cooper and decided it's just too small. We like road trips, and the Cooper won't serve our purpose.

The problem I have with the Cruiser is the colors it comes in. The dh says it doesn't matter because I won't see the colors, but yes I will. The yellow and blue are too bright, I don't want a white car, and a black one is just stupid in Texas. The 2011s have army green (which I love) and brick, but we want a used one.  I told the dh maybe we should get a hard-top Wrangler instead, because I LOVE the green ones, but he doesn't like them.

I'm picky about colors in purses, plates, couches–I'll put up with what I have unless I find exactly what I want.

What about you? Are you picky about color?

Glee

I enjoyed the songs in last night's GLEE but I'm becoming confused and a bit frustrated by the show. Remember last season when they needed to have a bake sale because the principal wouldn't pay for a bus that Artie could ride? And this year suddenly they have the budget for a wall of lights and rain/water on the stage for practices? (Also, is that water act really practical for sectionals?) Someone on Twitter said that GLEE this year is like its own fanfic, and I'm inclined to agree. It's not taking itself seriously, which is fine, but then you have the Kurt storyline, which seems to want us to take it seriously. (Also, I'm a little worried for Kurt after last night's threat.) So, confusing.

I've not bought a song yet this year, though I liked this week's and last week's music, just not enough to download. Makes me sad.

Are you still watching? What do you think?

Reviews

Have you seen the Hawaii Five-0 bingo game in EW? You get to cover  a square for a high-speed car chase or if Alex O takes off his shirt or if Kono gets her butt kicked…funny. Last night I dreamed Alex O was my dad. I was very upset by this, because he's 10 years younger than me, and who would want a dad that hot?

I've been getting decent reviews, for which I'm very grateful, but most of the reviews for Sunrise point to the same plot point as taking away some of their enjoyment of the book. Now I wish I hadn't included it. I could have worked around it. I wish I'd seen that as a problem. (I thought a completely different plot point would be the problem!)

In a review for Breaking Daylight, one person wrote that she wished I'd gone into more detail when the hero realized he loved the heroine, deeper into his head. Now, I wish I'd done that, too.

The thing is, I have awesome editors, who also didn't see these things as a problem, but maybe I can submit my next ms to some reviewers before I submit to a publisher

Secrets

So my heroine has a secret and I'm wondering when she should reveal it. I'm reading a secret baby book and the reader knows, but the hero doesn't. It's causing some tension as I'm wondering when she's going to reveal it and what his reaction will be when he finds out.

I'm wondering if I should let my readers in on the heroine's secret earlier, and let them feel the same tension, and maybe have some questions about the heroine's motivation at the same time.

Does that work for you? Knowing a secret that the character is keeping from the other main character?

Goals for the Week Before Thanksgiving Break

Hallelujah! We finally get a break. I know, I know, I get summers off, but this year has been really stressful as far as paperwork, and these kids aren't as advanced as other classes I've taught. I thought having a student teacher would help, but not so much.

So. Five more days.

1)      Get observed. My VP emailed to say he'd be in this week. Well, we're testing Tuesday and he can't observe Friday because it's the day before a holiday. I'm only teaching social studies at this point—my student teacher does the rest. I emailed back telling him what times I'd be teaching. He could wait until December, I'm thinking.

2)      Stay caught up on NaNo. I wrote 4000 words on Friday because I was alone. Barely managed the right amount yesterday because the boy was writing too and his process disturbs my process like a LOT.

3)      Two arts and crafts shows with Mom and BB. The timing stinks because I am BROKE. We have an offer on my MIL's house, though, so yay!

4)      SPN Sisters blog Monday and guest blog on CJ England's blog on Friday. Only one is written L

5)      Tutoring

6)      Celebrating one teacher's birthday at lunch Friday.

7)      Keep up the house.

I've caught up on NaNo and am almost to the halfway point. Woot!

NaNo Day 12

I realized yesterday and today that I may have to rearrange my scenes. I THINK the midpoint of the story should be when my hero realizes he has more connections to the town and doesn't really have the desire to leave. The first half he needs to feel more trapped by the choices that landed him here, and the second half, I think, will be him coming to terms with the way his life will change once he commits to staying here. That sounds right, doesn't it? And then the last turning point will be when he's sure he wants to stay, but one of the reasons for him to stay is not such a sure thing anymore.

I never usually think in terms of turning points, but when you write so much in such a short time, I think it becomes clearer.

I just have to tell you–that review at All About Romance from yesterday caused the biggest jump in sales for Sunrise, more than any of my blog tours or anything, in one day. Trippy!

Okay, I took today off. My goal for the next 2 days is to write 500 words, do housecleaning for 15 minutes, repeat, until I'm caught up on NaNo, at least. Oh, and also nap.

Thursday

NaNo is kicking my butt. Look at my calendar! Ugh! Today was the first day of tutoring. The kids love it. I'm WIPED.

I have 2 more weeks with my student teacher, and so far I haven't gotten as much time off as I expected to get. And I'm supposed to get observed by my principal next week. He's going to have to watch me do social studies because that's all I'm doing.

I got a great review from All About Romance–my first from them! Gulp!!!

Okay, to dinner and NaNo. I took tomorrow off to catch up.

Goals for the Second Week of NaNo

Yes, I am alive. It's been a hell of a week. I didn't realize it was the end of the grading period because it was only five weeks long instead of six, so was scrambling for grades. Didn't sleep Tuesday because my hand hurt so took off Wednesday afternoon to sleep. My hand still hurt, so Thursday night I went back to the doctor after our parent night. I won't tell you what happened but my hand hurt like OMG on Friday, so I took another half day, doped myself and slept. Then yesterday was a booksigning at my school district's Academic Arama. Sold 6 books, 3 to one person J Came home and crashed, then went to dinner, went by Mom's, then typed in the words I'd written longhand during the 6 hours of the booksigning. I'm a full day behind on NaNo, but this week should be easier. I'm taking Friday off, and two days are testing, plus my student teacher now has 3 subjects.

So, this week:

1)      Catch up on NaNo. You know I got 7000 words in before I had the heroine's POV? Also, almost 1/5 of the way in and not much has happened in the way of romance. Wondering if maybe it will be a Superromance instead. Of course now they're expanding word count again.

2)      Faculty meeting

3)      Tutoring begins

4)      Grocery store

5)      Library

6)      SPN blog

7)      Another guest blog

8)      House

I think that's it. I hope that's it.