Catherine Bybee's Blog, page 35
June 19, 2011
2nd Update of
A few days in… So, what's up with Texas? Okay… this is one big-ass state. It's dry – huge and I really didn't see a whole lot to write home about. And I know I'm gonna hear a bit of slack.. but the drivers were rude on the road. Coming from a California driver, that's saying something… "baging on myself here" –
Sooooo… Louisiana is one beautiful state. I have my kids on gator-watch 2011. Water is everywhere… bayous and rivers. We ate alligator… fried, and yes, it tasted like chicken. It's hot… humid, but so amazing to see. Now we need to find a place to park our RV so we can see the city on New Orleans.
1900 miles from home in only 5 days... yeah, we're crazy!
Follow me on facebook and twitter for pictures and updates on our road trip of 2011.
Sooooo… Louisiana is one beautiful state. I have my kids on gator-watch 2011. Water is everywhere… bayous and rivers. We ate alligator… fried, and yes, it tasted like chicken. It's hot… humid, but so amazing to see. Now we need to find a place to park our RV so we can see the city on New Orleans.
1900 miles from home in only 5 days... yeah, we're crazy!
Follow me on facebook and twitter for pictures and updates on our road trip of 2011.
June 18, 2011
A few days in...
Oh, the wanderlust of my family. We all climbed into the 31 foot tin-box we call an RV… Or the 'Big Rolling Turd' we robbed from the movie RV with Robin Williams, and headed East.
As some of you know I in So. California and we've had a very cool winter. Snow a couple of times, which is unheard of, and rain to the point where our water rates really should go down now (yeah right! Like that's gonna happen) – Anyway, I digress…
Here we are, on the road again. It's the beginning of day three and we woke about 100 miles outside El Paso Texas. Yeah, that's like 800 miles in two days. We have been driving about 8 hours a day… give or take. The speed limit out here in Podunk nowhere is 80. *bug eyes* - And we found the heat.
New Mexico along the 10 freeway is about the most boring stretch of road we've driven. There is truly nothing to see or do along the way so far. Our intention is to drive a lot in the desert Southwest and slow down about the time we hit San Antonio Texas where we want to hit the Alamo.
The rolling house is holding up well this trip. Considering it's a brand new RV it should… but we've had plenty of issues in the recent past. The frig didn't work on one trip, the slides on another… a fuse went out that took away the electrical system and we couldn't locate the fuse which was buried under a bunch of batteries under the rig… So having a fully functioning RV is a blessing.
The real test will be if the family can get along for the entire time we are traveling. We take turns driving, the hubby and I… though he does most of it. The kids play games, watch TV and bitch a lot… grin. We stay in nowhere places that we wouldn't even consider stopping in if we were at home. But hey, gotta do what ya gotta do.
Well, this vacation update will have to live inside my laptop for a little while, cuz here in Podunk Nowhere the internet connection isn't strong enough to even check my email, let alone update my blog…
Follow me on facebook and twitter for updates.
TTFN
As some of you know I in So. California and we've had a very cool winter. Snow a couple of times, which is unheard of, and rain to the point where our water rates really should go down now (yeah right! Like that's gonna happen) – Anyway, I digress…
Here we are, on the road again. It's the beginning of day three and we woke about 100 miles outside El Paso Texas. Yeah, that's like 800 miles in two days. We have been driving about 8 hours a day… give or take. The speed limit out here in Podunk nowhere is 80. *bug eyes* - And we found the heat.
New Mexico along the 10 freeway is about the most boring stretch of road we've driven. There is truly nothing to see or do along the way so far. Our intention is to drive a lot in the desert Southwest and slow down about the time we hit San Antonio Texas where we want to hit the Alamo.
The rolling house is holding up well this trip. Considering it's a brand new RV it should… but we've had plenty of issues in the recent past. The frig didn't work on one trip, the slides on another… a fuse went out that took away the electrical system and we couldn't locate the fuse which was buried under a bunch of batteries under the rig… So having a fully functioning RV is a blessing.
The real test will be if the family can get along for the entire time we are traveling. We take turns driving, the hubby and I… though he does most of it. The kids play games, watch TV and bitch a lot… grin. We stay in nowhere places that we wouldn't even consider stopping in if we were at home. But hey, gotta do what ya gotta do.
Well, this vacation update will have to live inside my laptop for a little while, cuz here in Podunk Nowhere the internet connection isn't strong enough to even check my email, let alone update my blog…
Follow me on facebook and twitter for updates.
TTFN
June 13, 2011
Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'
Yes folks, it's that time again... RV time. I'm friggin' crazy but with the kids out of school the open road is callin'.
I have no less than 12 paperbacks and my Nook with plenty more titles downloaded into it. The Southwest desert is really boring when driving through. I'll try and post a few times while we're gone to let you know how many times the RV broke down, or how often I 'threatened' to leave the kids in a rest stop. We have no real destination... just East.
I have no less than 12 paperbacks and my Nook with plenty more titles downloaded into it. The Southwest desert is really boring when driving through. I'll try and post a few times while we're gone to let you know how many times the RV broke down, or how often I 'threatened' to leave the kids in a rest stop. We have no real destination... just East.
June 8, 2011
Summer Reading!
I placed a poll right over here ---------------------->
I'm sure there are plenty of more genres I could post asking about what you plan to read this summer. I tend to pick up a lot more Harlequins in the summer, mainly because we hit the road in the RV, or Big Rolling Turd as my kids call it. Reading short books while camping or driving forevah is a great way to pass the time.
I'm a winter paranormal reader. Kinda weird I know, but that's just when I pick up the dark work.
Romantic Comedy is a summer thing for me.
Historicals are all year long.
So, what about you? Do you have a reading season?
I'm sure there are plenty of more genres I could post asking about what you plan to read this summer. I tend to pick up a lot more Harlequins in the summer, mainly because we hit the road in the RV, or Big Rolling Turd as my kids call it. Reading short books while camping or driving forevah is a great way to pass the time.
I'm a winter paranormal reader. Kinda weird I know, but that's just when I pick up the dark work.
Romantic Comedy is a summer thing for me.
Historicals are all year long.
So, what about you? Do you have a reading season?
May 31, 2011
Agents for today's authors
With all the changes in publishing, small press, e-press, self publishing and everything Amazon... where are agents going to be in the entire process ten years from now? At this point, I do see where a good agent is going to help an authors carrier, help open doors, help get proposals read by people who can publish them. But the days of only having your work published because you landed an agent first are behind us. I know that certain houses only want agented queries. They don't want a slush pile the size of Mt. Saint Helen's before she blew her top, but will it stay that way?
Seems to me a lot of really good authors are branching out on their own. Self publishing for an author has always been considered a vanity publication. A book not wanted by a reputable publishing house put out by an author. Now authors are looking at the digital market as a way to ensure a steady income for years to come. An agent isn't going to help this process. A good editor now... that is a different monster.
Here is what I predict... not that you really care, but I hope my words make you think a little outside the box. Agents might need to diversify their portfolio in the very near future. They might have to figure out a way to be useful to an author determined to self publish good work. The standard for an agent is that no money exchanges hands from the author to said agent until a manuscript is sold. Anything less and the agent is one you need to stay away from. But a good agent is also a good editor. Many times, they are the first editor. So isn't is plausible for an agent's job for a self published author to be that of an editor and perhaps a coordinator or cover art and formatting? I see a new title for an author assistant. Where the job description is editing, cover art, formatting and uploading to Amazon and websites selling digital books.
Years ago when digital books starting hitting the market many big publishers didn't think it would have the impact on the market that it does today. Now, many of them are starting their own digital imprints, asking for unagented queries... To me, this means that an agent might be left out.
Tell me, dear reader, where do you think agents will be in ten years? How do you think their role will change?
Seems to me a lot of really good authors are branching out on their own. Self publishing for an author has always been considered a vanity publication. A book not wanted by a reputable publishing house put out by an author. Now authors are looking at the digital market as a way to ensure a steady income for years to come. An agent isn't going to help this process. A good editor now... that is a different monster.
Here is what I predict... not that you really care, but I hope my words make you think a little outside the box. Agents might need to diversify their portfolio in the very near future. They might have to figure out a way to be useful to an author determined to self publish good work. The standard for an agent is that no money exchanges hands from the author to said agent until a manuscript is sold. Anything less and the agent is one you need to stay away from. But a good agent is also a good editor. Many times, they are the first editor. So isn't is plausible for an agent's job for a self published author to be that of an editor and perhaps a coordinator or cover art and formatting? I see a new title for an author assistant. Where the job description is editing, cover art, formatting and uploading to Amazon and websites selling digital books.
Years ago when digital books starting hitting the market many big publishers didn't think it would have the impact on the market that it does today. Now, many of them are starting their own digital imprints, asking for unagented queries... To me, this means that an agent might be left out.
Tell me, dear reader, where do you think agents will be in ten years? How do you think their role will change?
May 25, 2011
I have to laugh...
Some of you know that I'm writing another full length time travel... and because I love the MacCoinnichs so much, I thought I'd go ahead and write Simon's book. While the plot twists in my head and I spin things on the page, I laugh every time I start to write, "Simon said." I mean... hello! As an author I've been told that a reader doesn't see the word said in a book. I can agree with this to a point, but with a my hero's name being Simon, I'm guessing my reader is gonna laugh quite a bit if I say "Simon said" too often.
Your thoughts?
Your thoughts?
May 23, 2011
I suck!
Yes... you heard me, I suck! Apparently, so do you... why? Because we're both here after May 21st.
All day on the 21st I sang these words.. "It's the end of the world as we know it... and I feel fine!"
Yep, the end of the world came and went and I'm still here. This means one of two things...
One: The guy who predicted the Rapture was full of shit (say it isn't so)
or
Two: I suck... and I'm one of the ones left behind.
Hence, I suck... cuz surely the old guy wasn't wrong again.
*big sigh*
Your thoughts?
All day on the 21st I sang these words.. "It's the end of the world as we know it... and I feel fine!"
Yep, the end of the world came and went and I'm still here. This means one of two things...
One: The guy who predicted the Rapture was full of shit (say it isn't so)
or
Two: I suck... and I'm one of the ones left behind.
Hence, I suck... cuz surely the old guy wasn't wrong again.
*big sigh*
Your thoughts?
May 12, 2011
Lizzy is being interviewed... Free Read
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Lizzy from Redeeming Vows is being interviewed over at Reading Between the Wines Blog today. I'll be giving away one digital copy of Lizzy and Fin's story to one lucky winner. So come on over and comment to earn a chance at winning.
Lizzy from Redeeming Vows is being interviewed over at Reading Between the Wines Blog today. I'll be giving away one digital copy of Lizzy and Fin's story to one lucky winner. So come on over and comment to earn a chance at winning.
May 9, 2011
Author Beware
I love a good cause... I can't help it. I always want to help others and it will probably be the death of me. I'm an ER nurse in my day job. Sticking my nose in people's faces before I even know their name... "Hello, what's your Emergency today... Oh, your child stuck a bead up his nose?" I don't always ask the hard questions like... "How did your two year old get his hands on such a small object, or where were you when..." no, I just go about my job extracting said bead and moving on. The parent feels bad enough. No need for me to roll my eyes.
Now... as an author, sometimes that bead is toxic and authors come across this bead without knowing what they're getting into. They send their work to a publishing agency, get the nod, and think... "Yeah, I'm going to be published." Then things go bad.
The publisher can't make payroll - Can't return email - Can't respond to loop comments from their authors. Books are released without warning... Things go from bad to worse.
Do your homework folks. Not all publishers are the same. I'm part of a loop called RRPImplosion. So if you're a Red Rose Published author who is experiencing the same thing I've described above, and are trying to figure out what to do... come on over. We're a support group. We promise you nothing but offer support and advice to help you get your hard earn work back.
Here's the gig... A bad publisher is worse than no publisher at all. Trust me, I know. And bad e-publishers give e-publishing a bad name... and that's not good for any of us!
Now... as an author, sometimes that bead is toxic and authors come across this bead without knowing what they're getting into. They send their work to a publishing agency, get the nod, and think... "Yeah, I'm going to be published." Then things go bad.
The publisher can't make payroll - Can't return email - Can't respond to loop comments from their authors. Books are released without warning... Things go from bad to worse.
Do your homework folks. Not all publishers are the same. I'm part of a loop called RRPImplosion. So if you're a Red Rose Published author who is experiencing the same thing I've described above, and are trying to figure out what to do... come on over. We're a support group. We promise you nothing but offer support and advice to help you get your hard earn work back.
Here's the gig... A bad publisher is worse than no publisher at all. Trust me, I know. And bad e-publishers give e-publishing a bad name... and that's not good for any of us!
May 6, 2011
Get a life, people.
I just had to post this after I saw it. I remember when Kilt Worthy was first released... I had a couple of people come up to me and say... "You might not want to tell everyone about this, people will talk and you help out at the school." "Your the scout leader, do you want the parents knowing..."
*rolls eyes*
*rolls eyes*
