S.L. Baum's Blog, page 2
January 15, 2014
30 days of "Making an Effort" - #OOTD
I'm documenting my #ootd for 30 days - because sometimes a girl needs to prove to herself that she is worth the effort!
Today, I forgot that the kids were getting out of school an hour earlier than usual (it's a Wednesday thing). I was a sweaty mess from the treadmill, when the realization hit me, so I took a quick shower. Thankfully, I didn't need to wash my hair - that would have doomed kiddo #1 to have to stand outside of her HS much longer than usual, waiting for me to finally get there.
When I got out of the shower, I glanced at the clock and saw that I had no more than 20 minutes to get my butt (okay - my whole body) ready and out the door, so I could begin my daily round of offspring retrieval. So after drying off, I stared at my closet for a moment before deciding to wear a simple black dress - one piece of clothing, a time saving decision. A belt, a necklace, a pair of flats, my rings, and a watch were quickly put on and then I started on my make-up. After that, I ran a curling iron down my hair (I use it more or less as a flat iron, with a bit of a wave at the ends, on most days).
A quick side note about make-up: About 10 years ago, after the birth of my 3rd kiddo and after I'd been (more or less) a stay home mom for three years, I started doing a quick 5 minute make-up job to myself on most days. It just made me feel better about myself. I remember once when my younger sister was over my house - I had to leave to pick-up one of my kiddos from school so I ran into the bathroom to slap on a little bit of make-up. She asked why I would bother, unless I had somewhere to go afterward. I told her that those 5 minutes make me look better outside and then I felt a little better inside. Maybe it is stupid, vain, whatever - I don't really care. I do know that when I put a little bit of effort into how I look, it improves how I feel.
20 minutes later and... Success! I was ready in time. As I left my closet, I glanced in the mirror and thought, "This ended up being a pretty cute outfit, and I am wasting it." I was only going to get the kids from school. After driving to all 3 schools and retrieving all 3 kids, I planned to walk up to the Dutch Bro's window (a treat for the kids - plus I recently discovered that I love Chai latte from there)... and then later tonight I'm going to get take-out for dinner (school fund raiser). No one important was going to see me in my cute outfit. But then I thought, "I'm going to see me. My family is going to see me. That's important!" And maybe my attitude about spending 5 minutes on my face needs to be expanded to spend a minimum of 20 minutes (more if I need to dry my hair) on my whole self.
I saw an article on the internet lately about a man "dating" his wife (putting some extra effort into their marriage)… an then another one where a woman noted that particular article and stated that she could spend more time and effort on her appearance (just to please her husband)… but I think I could put more of an effort into myself, just to PLEASE MYSELF… to remind myself that I'm worth that effort! And guess what… when I put that effort into myself I bet Hubs will end up noticing, and in turn that seems like it might have a positive effect on our marriage as well. Who knows? But I'm doing it either way. So here is day one.
Side note: I am 43 - so this whole "taking a good, posed picture of myself" is not a skill that has been cultivated. I am also not promising to keep a clean closet for 30 days - lets not get crazy. And I fully realize that this blog has a whopping 37 followers (and only 36 on my Instagram), so I know I could get away with slacking off on this promise to myself and no one would call me out on it. So this really is just for me! Here's to the next 30 days of #ootd (outfit of the day - for those who don't know - I just figured it out myself last year)!
Today, I forgot that the kids were getting out of school an hour earlier than usual (it's a Wednesday thing). I was a sweaty mess from the treadmill, when the realization hit me, so I took a quick shower. Thankfully, I didn't need to wash my hair - that would have doomed kiddo #1 to have to stand outside of her HS much longer than usual, waiting for me to finally get there.
When I got out of the shower, I glanced at the clock and saw that I had no more than 20 minutes to get my butt (okay - my whole body) ready and out the door, so I could begin my daily round of offspring retrieval. So after drying off, I stared at my closet for a moment before deciding to wear a simple black dress - one piece of clothing, a time saving decision. A belt, a necklace, a pair of flats, my rings, and a watch were quickly put on and then I started on my make-up. After that, I ran a curling iron down my hair (I use it more or less as a flat iron, with a bit of a wave at the ends, on most days).
A quick side note about make-up: About 10 years ago, after the birth of my 3rd kiddo and after I'd been (more or less) a stay home mom for three years, I started doing a quick 5 minute make-up job to myself on most days. It just made me feel better about myself. I remember once when my younger sister was over my house - I had to leave to pick-up one of my kiddos from school so I ran into the bathroom to slap on a little bit of make-up. She asked why I would bother, unless I had somewhere to go afterward. I told her that those 5 minutes make me look better outside and then I felt a little better inside. Maybe it is stupid, vain, whatever - I don't really care. I do know that when I put a little bit of effort into how I look, it improves how I feel.
20 minutes later and... Success! I was ready in time. As I left my closet, I glanced in the mirror and thought, "This ended up being a pretty cute outfit, and I am wasting it." I was only going to get the kids from school. After driving to all 3 schools and retrieving all 3 kids, I planned to walk up to the Dutch Bro's window (a treat for the kids - plus I recently discovered that I love Chai latte from there)... and then later tonight I'm going to get take-out for dinner (school fund raiser). No one important was going to see me in my cute outfit. But then I thought, "I'm going to see me. My family is going to see me. That's important!" And maybe my attitude about spending 5 minutes on my face needs to be expanded to spend a minimum of 20 minutes (more if I need to dry my hair) on my whole self.
I saw an article on the internet lately about a man "dating" his wife (putting some extra effort into their marriage)… an then another one where a woman noted that particular article and stated that she could spend more time and effort on her appearance (just to please her husband)… but I think I could put more of an effort into myself, just to PLEASE MYSELF… to remind myself that I'm worth that effort! And guess what… when I put that effort into myself I bet Hubs will end up noticing, and in turn that seems like it might have a positive effect on our marriage as well. Who knows? But I'm doing it either way. So here is day one.
Side note: I am 43 - so this whole "taking a good, posed picture of myself" is not a skill that has been cultivated. I am also not promising to keep a clean closet for 30 days - lets not get crazy. And I fully realize that this blog has a whopping 37 followers (and only 36 on my Instagram), so I know I could get away with slacking off on this promise to myself and no one would call me out on it. So this really is just for me! Here's to the next 30 days of #ootd (outfit of the day - for those who don't know - I just figured it out myself last year)!
January 14, 2014
Concord Road Blocks
I've been pretty darn good at putting myself on a writing schedule for the last year. I give myself a goal month and try my hardest to finish the writing, editing, beta reading, and revising periods of each new novel in a timely manner... but things do not always go as planned for me.
After releasing LUSH in April of 2013 - I promised HUSH in October, and I delivered!
But between those two novels, I said that The Eve of Destruction (The Immortal Ones - book four) would be finished in June... I had to push to July.
I'm doing it again. I'm giving in to the creative voice in my head that says, "Not everything can go as planned!"
I promised CRUSH in February... I even put it in writing... I was planning on a Feb 28th release (in my head - I hadn't made the actual date public yet). But I woke up this morning and realized that I would not be able to deliver. There are truths about Concord that I didn't even know about until I woke up this morning, and in order to get those truths into the novel I will have to work them in and change some things... because not everything can go as planned. So, I am sorry to have to make you wait longer. My new date is March 28th... I'm giving myself another month to make sure that I am able write the story that wants to be written (and not just a story that will make it out in a timely manner).
In advance, I thank you for your patience. Bluebell has some things to figure out...
MARCH 28th 2014
After releasing LUSH in April of 2013 - I promised HUSH in October, and I delivered!
But between those two novels, I said that The Eve of Destruction (The Immortal Ones - book four) would be finished in June... I had to push to July.
I'm doing it again. I'm giving in to the creative voice in my head that says, "Not everything can go as planned!"
I promised CRUSH in February... I even put it in writing... I was planning on a Feb 28th release (in my head - I hadn't made the actual date public yet). But I woke up this morning and realized that I would not be able to deliver. There are truths about Concord that I didn't even know about until I woke up this morning, and in order to get those truths into the novel I will have to work them in and change some things... because not everything can go as planned. So, I am sorry to have to make you wait longer. My new date is March 28th... I'm giving myself another month to make sure that I am able write the story that wants to be written (and not just a story that will make it out in a timely manner).
In advance, I thank you for your patience. Bluebell has some things to figure out...
MARCH 28th 2014
January 2, 2014
Accountability
I surrender - I am no good at updating a blog!
With Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and a Website as well... the blog suffers. Not sure why, but probably for the same reason that I have a bunch of half filled and/or empty journals. The idea is wonderful. I'm just no good at the follow-through.
But... I've seen these word-count-thingies (yes, that is a technical word) on other writer's sites and thought... "What a great way to hold yourself accountable for your work." And if nothing else, it will at least keep my readers informed of my progress while I work on future stories.
So, they are installed; here, on my blog, and also on my website < --- one of these days I'll just combine the two.
Now you can help with my accountability and yell at me to, "hurry up and get that book done on time!" I may not respond well to the yelling though... just an FYI.
Cheers to the New Year!
SL
With Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and a Website as well... the blog suffers. Not sure why, but probably for the same reason that I have a bunch of half filled and/or empty journals. The idea is wonderful. I'm just no good at the follow-through.
But... I've seen these word-count-thingies (yes, that is a technical word) on other writer's sites and thought... "What a great way to hold yourself accountable for your work." And if nothing else, it will at least keep my readers informed of my progress while I work on future stories.
So, they are installed; here, on my blog, and also on my website < --- one of these days I'll just combine the two.
Now you can help with my accountability and yell at me to, "hurry up and get that book done on time!" I may not respond well to the yelling though... just an FYI.
Cheers to the New Year!
SL
August 13, 2013
A Good Cover... and the Importance of Branding!
When I self published my first novel in June of 2010, I jumped into the deep end of the pool with no floaties on and I had no idea how to swim. It wasn't the best idea, but somehow I survived.
A Chance for Charity (The Immortal Ones) was released to the eBook world with a crappy cover, which produced a barely audible whisper. I didn't know much - I just knew that after sitting on my computer for a year, it was time for Charity to get out there. Thank goodness for the Amazon Kindle Forum. Somehow I stumbled upon the numerous threads and landed in the right one... no... the best one! The other authors and the readers I met in the forum taught me how to swim.
I think one of the most important lesson I learned was that I wasn't just writing a series of novels, I was creating a BRAND.
THE EVOLUTION OF A CHANCE FOR CHARITY...
JUNE 2010 - Cover number one. I will start off by saying that I absolutely LOVE the photograph that I used on the cover of this first one. My husband took it during one of our many trips to Telluride. But I can look back now and admit that there is NOTHING about it that says it is a YA Paranormal book. It doesn't speak to anyone. The design looks childish and very few copies were sold with this cover. But this first cover lead me to my next one - which was only slightly better...
AUGUST 2010 - Cover number two was designed to look like the one that I created using the Cover Designer at CreateSpace (the Print on Demand website that I use for the paperback copies of my novels). It is a slightly different font than the one I created there... but the design is the same. I still used the photograph of Telluride, because, like I said, I love it. This cover was more successful for me but only slightly. It didn't take me long to realize that it had to go. I needed to appeal to the Young Adult audience.
JANUARY 2011 - Cover number three came about because I knew a change had to happen or I would never reach the audience I was striving for. Charity was steadily increasing in sales, but as I worked on the sequel and experimented with covers for Book#2, I just couldn't see the "Setting Photographs" working toward a brand. I searched stock photo websites and decided that this faceless girl reminded me of Charity. So I went with it. I designed it on my own, getting many opinions as I experimented, and ended up with this one. It worked well and sales continued to rise.
MARCH 2012 - Cover number four is a result of learning that a series must be branded. The 3rd cover did a great job - it grew the fan base of The Immortal Ones. But as subsequent books were released, I wasn't happy, they just didn't feel cohesive to me. You must have a uniform look when marketing a series of books. I attempted to stick with the illustrated covers and released 2 novels and a novella with illustrations... but they just never felt quite right. It was while I was in Telluride during a ski-trip with my family that inspiration hit me once again and I went in search of a recognizable brand. This is the final cover I created for Charity...
People do judge a book by its cover... it took me six months to realize that I was putting out a product that didn't appeal to my intended market. That was a bad idea. And while my first attempt to design covers specifically for the YA audience was more successful than my covers with a photograph of Telluride, I still wasn't hitting my mark.
It took me almost two years to realize that creating a consistent and recognizable brand was exactly what I needed for readers to immediately know that the product they were looking at belonged to me...
SL Baum.
My unsuccessful attempt at branding...
This is why I needed a change. The covers were not consistent... they were not a BRAND.
THE
IMMORTAL
ONES
a clearly recognizable brand.
A Chance for Charity (The Immortal Ones) was released to the eBook world with a crappy cover, which produced a barely audible whisper. I didn't know much - I just knew that after sitting on my computer for a year, it was time for Charity to get out there. Thank goodness for the Amazon Kindle Forum. Somehow I stumbled upon the numerous threads and landed in the right one... no... the best one! The other authors and the readers I met in the forum taught me how to swim.
I think one of the most important lesson I learned was that I wasn't just writing a series of novels, I was creating a BRAND.
THE EVOLUTION OF A CHANCE FOR CHARITY...
JUNE 2010 - Cover number one. I will start off by saying that I absolutely LOVE the photograph that I used on the cover of this first one. My husband took it during one of our many trips to Telluride. But I can look back now and admit that there is NOTHING about it that says it is a YA Paranormal book. It doesn't speak to anyone. The design looks childish and very few copies were sold with this cover. But this first cover lead me to my next one - which was only slightly better...
AUGUST 2010 - Cover number two was designed to look like the one that I created using the Cover Designer at CreateSpace (the Print on Demand website that I use for the paperback copies of my novels). It is a slightly different font than the one I created there... but the design is the same. I still used the photograph of Telluride, because, like I said, I love it. This cover was more successful for me but only slightly. It didn't take me long to realize that it had to go. I needed to appeal to the Young Adult audience.
JANUARY 2011 - Cover number three came about because I knew a change had to happen or I would never reach the audience I was striving for. Charity was steadily increasing in sales, but as I worked on the sequel and experimented with covers for Book#2, I just couldn't see the "Setting Photographs" working toward a brand. I searched stock photo websites and decided that this faceless girl reminded me of Charity. So I went with it. I designed it on my own, getting many opinions as I experimented, and ended up with this one. It worked well and sales continued to rise.
MARCH 2012 - Cover number four is a result of learning that a series must be branded. The 3rd cover did a great job - it grew the fan base of The Immortal Ones. But as subsequent books were released, I wasn't happy, they just didn't feel cohesive to me. You must have a uniform look when marketing a series of books. I attempted to stick with the illustrated covers and released 2 novels and a novella with illustrations... but they just never felt quite right. It was while I was in Telluride during a ski-trip with my family that inspiration hit me once again and I went in search of a recognizable brand. This is the final cover I created for Charity...People do judge a book by its cover... it took me six months to realize that I was putting out a product that didn't appeal to my intended market. That was a bad idea. And while my first attempt to design covers specifically for the YA audience was more successful than my covers with a photograph of Telluride, I still wasn't hitting my mark.
It took me almost two years to realize that creating a consistent and recognizable brand was exactly what I needed for readers to immediately know that the product they were looking at belonged to me...
SL Baum.
My unsuccessful attempt at branding...
This is why I needed a change. The covers were not consistent... they were not a BRAND.
THEIMMORTAL
ONES
a clearly recognizable brand.
July 30, 2013
If you would like to be notified of New Book releases or ...
If you would like to be notified of New Book releases or Major Giveaways please...Subscribe to SL Baum's newsletter
Click the link above or fill out the form below. #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; } /* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */
Notification of New Books
and other fun stuff by SL Baum* indicates requiredEmail Address * First Name Last Name Email Format
htmltextmobile '+msg+'
Click the link above or fill out the form below. #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; } /* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */
Notification of New Books
and other fun stuff by SL Baum* indicates requiredEmail Address * First Name Last Name Email Format
htmltextmobile '+msg+'
July 29, 2013
Wow - I'm Lame!
I have this blog... I mean - it's here - I own it - I am the administrator of it, the author of the posts, and the one who checks it out every once in a while... my "while" has overextended itself.
Basically - I've ignored my poor blog. I've neglected it. I am a bad (lame) blog owner.
To be fair, I have been finishing a book. I tend to become all consumed when I am in the throws of a climactic scene. Oh wait... that sounds bad. I'll just say I was preoccupied. I know, I know, I didn't ignore Facebook. But I can give FB five minutes of my time and then walk away... Okay, that's a lie and we all know it. Once you get on FB you are sucked into a time vortex. Pictures of misspelled tattoos and cute cats and shamed babies are more than enough to keep me clicking on yet another link. FB is bad...
Oh hey - are you following me on Facebook? You totally should.
So, about this book I was writing... it is finished. The Eve of Destruction (The Immortal Ones - Book Four) is now available on Amazon, B&N, and Smashwords (I am still waiting on Smashwords to approve me for their "premium" catalog - which opens up iBooks, and Sony, and Kobo ect). Here is the cover... I love it...
Now I have another book to finish... the second book of my YA dystopian. So expect more lameness from me. I'm going to attempt not to be - but I make no guarantee. I gave that up years ago... when you say "I promise" to a child and then do not follow through it teaches you a lesson. So as a mom of three - I do not solemnly swear to make sure the blog is attended to on a more regular basis. As I say to my kids... "We'll see. I can't promise anything." But I'll try. I can always try harder!
I won't say I'll try my best, because only losers talk about their best, winner go home and do something with the Prom Queen... or so says Sean Connery in The Rock. I've seen that movie waaaayyyy to many times (I proudly proclaim).
Basically - I've ignored my poor blog. I've neglected it. I am a bad (lame) blog owner.
To be fair, I have been finishing a book. I tend to become all consumed when I am in the throws of a climactic scene. Oh wait... that sounds bad. I'll just say I was preoccupied. I know, I know, I didn't ignore Facebook. But I can give FB five minutes of my time and then walk away... Okay, that's a lie and we all know it. Once you get on FB you are sucked into a time vortex. Pictures of misspelled tattoos and cute cats and shamed babies are more than enough to keep me clicking on yet another link. FB is bad...
Oh hey - are you following me on Facebook? You totally should.
So, about this book I was writing... it is finished. The Eve of Destruction (The Immortal Ones - Book Four) is now available on Amazon, B&N, and Smashwords (I am still waiting on Smashwords to approve me for their "premium" catalog - which opens up iBooks, and Sony, and Kobo ect). Here is the cover... I love it...
Now I have another book to finish... the second book of my YA dystopian. So expect more lameness from me. I'm going to attempt not to be - but I make no guarantee. I gave that up years ago... when you say "I promise" to a child and then do not follow through it teaches you a lesson. So as a mom of three - I do not solemnly swear to make sure the blog is attended to on a more regular basis. As I say to my kids... "We'll see. I can't promise anything." But I'll try. I can always try harder!
I won't say I'll try my best, because only losers talk about their best, winner go home and do something with the Prom Queen... or so says Sean Connery in The Rock. I've seen that movie waaaayyyy to many times (I proudly proclaim).
April 30, 2013
The Immortal Ones - a new possible (future) novella
So... I put up a poll on my FB page. You should weigh in and give your opinion...
After I release - The Eve of Destruction - I thought I might explore another one of my characters. It was pretty fun to dive into Elizabeth's world when I wrote - Of Fire and Brimstone - and I'd love to do it again. I've had different emails and messages in the last couple of years since - A Chance for Charity - was released, from people wanting the next book to feature more of their favorite character.
Please visit the page and weigh in... who would YOU like to read more about?
FACEBOOK PAGE - CLICK HERE
After I release - The Eve of Destruction - I thought I might explore another one of my characters. It was pretty fun to dive into Elizabeth's world when I wrote - Of Fire and Brimstone - and I'd love to do it again. I've had different emails and messages in the last couple of years since - A Chance for Charity - was released, from people wanting the next book to feature more of their favorite character.
Please visit the page and weigh in... who would YOU like to read more about?
FACEBOOK PAGE - CLICK HERE
April 22, 2013
Website Overhaul
Overhaul - great sounding - labor intensive - perfectly accurate word...
So being an Independent Author comes with a few "perks" that the mega-cool traditional writers are somewhat exempt from...
I just had a new release... so that means that EVERYTHING must get updated... FB pages, Blog, Twitter account background (yeah - I just realized that I haven't done that yet), and my website. So I went to my website this morning - intending just to upload a pic and a blurb - but realized that some changes needed to be made... because I hit this little button that said "add columns" but what it really meant was "screw with the proportions of the columns so badly that your current layout will no longer work."
Then I decided that it was an old looking layout anyway and should be updated... thank goodness for pre-made templates on hosting websites because I found one that I thought was quite lovely and decided to go with that - but then I had to upload a cover photo (yeah - I know - I need to fiddle with it - no more time today) - and then I had to delete some stuff - and then I had to add some more - and then an HOUR had passed and I hadn't even realized it. I need to give it another couple of hours for tweaking - but I don't have that time today... sooooooo, yeah, well, http://slbaum.com is in the process of being updated and will soon look great :D
In the meantime you can still visit it... I'm thinking of adding some more interactive pages over there... who knows...
http://slbaum.com/Home_Page.html
So being an Independent Author comes with a few "perks" that the mega-cool traditional writers are somewhat exempt from...
I just had a new release... so that means that EVERYTHING must get updated... FB pages, Blog, Twitter account background (yeah - I just realized that I haven't done that yet), and my website. So I went to my website this morning - intending just to upload a pic and a blurb - but realized that some changes needed to be made... because I hit this little button that said "add columns" but what it really meant was "screw with the proportions of the columns so badly that your current layout will no longer work."
Then I decided that it was an old looking layout anyway and should be updated... thank goodness for pre-made templates on hosting websites because I found one that I thought was quite lovely and decided to go with that - but then I had to upload a cover photo (yeah - I know - I need to fiddle with it - no more time today) - and then I had to delete some stuff - and then I had to add some more - and then an HOUR had passed and I hadn't even realized it. I need to give it another couple of hours for tweaking - but I don't have that time today... sooooooo, yeah, well, http://slbaum.com is in the process of being updated and will soon look great :D
In the meantime you can still visit it... I'm thinking of adding some more interactive pages over there... who knows...
http://slbaum.com/Home_Page.html
April 10, 2013
LUSH - a new Serial - by SL Baum
Look for LUSH on AMAZON - 4/19/13
Bluebell has spent the last twelve years of her life at Training Tech, the government-run boarding school all children are required to attend. Now that she's seventeen she is fully prepared for Incorporation; a time when females and males are allowed to mingle again, for the first time since they were toddlers. It is also the day she must endure Citizen Branding - the mandatory searing of a mark into the flesh of the left wrist of all new Citizens. O for fertile, X for infertile. The fate of every Citizen, male or female, is determined by the results.
Bluebell knows that a Citizen’s duty is to live for the glory of Concord, just as she was taught. But the frantic dreams and hazy memories that haunt her make her different, and the questions she cannot deny threaten to turn her world upside down.
LUSH is the start of a Serial (not just a Series). As the beginning book it sets you up in the LUSH world and asks a lot of questions, many that are not immediately answered. The follow-up novel is due October 2013... where the story continues.
Soooooo - What does that mean... start of a Serial (not just a Series)??Well, think of any Television Show... Can you watch it this week if you missed the last week (or two) and will it still make sense - or will you be lost because there was something last week that is vital to this week? Do story lines carry over and start on one episode, but aren't resolved for another episode or two?
Serials are series of television programs and that rely on a continuing plot that unfolds in a sequential episode-by-episode fashion. Serials typically follow main story arc that span entire season or even the full run of the series, which distinguishes them from traditional episodic television that relies on more stand-alone episodes. Serials keep the full nature of the story hidden and reveal elements episode by episode to keep viewers tuning in to learn more. (I paraphrased that from Wikipedia)
Examples of SERIAL TELEVISION
24
LOST
Heroes
True Blood
Examples of EPISODIC TELEVISION (a traditional series)
CSI
House
Fringe
E.R.
Yes the episodic shows still have continued story arcs at times - but for the most part they are wrapped up at the end of the hour (with occasional small cliff hangers).
THE IMMORTAL ONES - is a SERIES (it is episodic)
LUSH - is a SERIAL (it will be unfolding)
I am a believer in full disclaimer... the second book in the LUSH serial will be out in October of this year. If you'd rather buy the whole season of 24 on DVD than watch it a week at a time... you might want to wait (before I tangle you up in the LUSH world - C'mon - enter the web).
Bluebell has spent the last twelve years of her life at Training Tech, the government-run boarding school all children are required to attend. Now that she's seventeen she is fully prepared for Incorporation; a time when females and males are allowed to mingle again, for the first time since they were toddlers. It is also the day she must endure Citizen Branding - the mandatory searing of a mark into the flesh of the left wrist of all new Citizens. O for fertile, X for infertile. The fate of every Citizen, male or female, is determined by the results.
Bluebell knows that a Citizen’s duty is to live for the glory of Concord, just as she was taught. But the frantic dreams and hazy memories that haunt her make her different, and the questions she cannot deny threaten to turn her world upside down.
LUSH is the start of a Serial (not just a Series). As the beginning book it sets you up in the LUSH world and asks a lot of questions, many that are not immediately answered. The follow-up novel is due October 2013... where the story continues.
Soooooo - What does that mean... start of a Serial (not just a Series)??Well, think of any Television Show... Can you watch it this week if you missed the last week (or two) and will it still make sense - or will you be lost because there was something last week that is vital to this week? Do story lines carry over and start on one episode, but aren't resolved for another episode or two?
Serials are series of television programs and that rely on a continuing plot that unfolds in a sequential episode-by-episode fashion. Serials typically follow main story arc that span entire season or even the full run of the series, which distinguishes them from traditional episodic television that relies on more stand-alone episodes. Serials keep the full nature of the story hidden and reveal elements episode by episode to keep viewers tuning in to learn more. (I paraphrased that from Wikipedia)
Examples of SERIAL TELEVISION
24
LOST
Heroes
True Blood
Examples of EPISODIC TELEVISION (a traditional series)
CSI
House
Fringe
E.R.
Yes the episodic shows still have continued story arcs at times - but for the most part they are wrapped up at the end of the hour (with occasional small cliff hangers).
THE IMMORTAL ONES - is a SERIES (it is episodic)
LUSH - is a SERIAL (it will be unfolding)
I am a believer in full disclaimer... the second book in the LUSH serial will be out in October of this year. If you'd rather buy the whole season of 24 on DVD than watch it a week at a time... you might want to wait (before I tangle you up in the LUSH world - C'mon - enter the web).
March 29, 2013
Ingtagram
.ig-b- { display: inline-block; } .ig-b- img { visibility: hidden; } .ig-b-:hover { background-position: 0 -60px; } .ig-b-:active { background-position: 0 -120px; } .ig-b-48 { width: 48px; height: 48px; background: url(//badges.instagram.com/static/images/ig...) no-repeat 0 0; } @media only screen and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2), only screen and (min--moz-device-pixel-ratio: 2), only screen and (-o-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2 / 1), only screen and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 2), only screen and (min-resolution: 192dpi), only screen and (min-resolution: 2dppx) { .ig-b-48 { background-image: url(//badges.instagram.com/static/images/ig... background-size: 60px 178px; } } [image error]
So... I'm on Instagram... Whenever I go to Telluride I'll post pictures :)
Username: slbaum
But, be warned, also lots of pictures of my day to day life...
kids
dogs
house
new shoes
You know how it is :D
