Sandra Fitzgerald's Blog, page 5

Taxing Red Tape

As some of you may be aware, I've begun the roller coaster journey of hair pulling, patience testing, scarier than hanging your cotton undies on a clothes line in the middle of a very public caravan park process of self- publishing. 

Some like to think of us and Indie Authors, others . . .  as certifiably insane. 

Me? I tend to sway both ways. Especially where the IRS are involved. Now just to clarify here: Everyone I have spoken to directly regarding the very taxing issue of Tax, have been great. Fantastic. In need of an extended lunch break this Friday for oozing so much awesomeness. 

The confusion, for me, came when I learned that we need to fill out a form or two for tax exemption. And acronyms like TIN, ITIN, 8W-BEN, W8-BEN and EIN started being thrown around so freely that I began to subtly slide off my chair, hoping my laptop wouldn't notice my mysterious disappearance - opting to hide under the desk for a change instead of rocking in the fetal position in a dark corner. 

I mean, gosh, I only wanted to share some words with a few people.

Anyhoooo . . . 
The forms are okay, easy enough to read. It's the explanation booklet that is the hard part. So, when I was able to uncross my eyeballs, I started to email around to all my co-writing buddies asking - okay - crying for help for fear that my brain might explode. After all I am only a girl trying to get a few words out on epaper. It really shouldn't be so hard.

And Low and Behold . . . . IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE!!!
Shocker.

The very cute and endearing - not to forget incredible story writer and teller -  Matt Sayer shared a little old link with me . . . and introduced me to the blinding glorious-ness of catherinecaffinated. So much is she - they - I felt the need to share this nugget of the golden verity with you. 
This here is the link Matt passed on that helped me to no end: 
http://catherineryanhoward.com/2012/02/24/non-us-self-publisher-tax-issues-dont-need-to-be-taxing/

This site explains that you don't need to get an TIN or ITIN to become exempt. You can do this with an EIN, which is a much easier process. However, you do need an ABN registered as a 'Sole Trader' to use an EIN.  Confused? It's okay, follow the link and all will be revealed.

*** Remember all paperwork needs to submitted to the place you wish to publish through e.g. KDP, smashwords, etc. not the IRS.

Now before you go and get all excited, it is a couple of years old and some of the deets have changed since the original posting. However if you follow the guidance of these two very wonderful people and scroll through the hundreds of comments you'll get through it. 
And still have hair when you get done. 

Hooraah!

 You can check out Matt's books at http://loquasia.blogspot.com.au  or 
http://www.amazon.com/Guerrilla-Internet-Matt-Sayer-ebook/dp/B00ICECYUA 

Happy writing  :)

Awww . . . .It's so pretty . . . .

 All the stars are blinding!!!!

Check out my Five Star rating for my debut novel.
Thank you so much for the wonderful review.
(insert tears here)
Amazon Kindle:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LKMGP4M

It's Here! It's Here! . . . again . . . but for real this time.

         
 I know I teased you with a little of this . . .  And some of this too . . . 

Because, lets face it . . . these chicks are seriously funny.


And I'm really, really sorry for being so mean . . .




. . . . I am. But I did give you these . . .












. . . Lots and lots of these.

But then I had trouble with . . . 








Lots and lots and lots of trouble . . .  But now that's all over and I can give you THIS . . . It's out . . . now . . . For real this time . . . I promise. Available only on Amazon Kindle 
for now . . .http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LKMGP4M




I'm totally doing this again . . . 

Writing Group Challenges Hurt My Brain and Make Me Blush!

A couple of times a month I catch up with with my writing group and we talk about words and all stuff wordy.... and stuff.
It's an interesting mix of men and women of many different ages and ideals. Varying backgrounds and personalities makes for a funny afternoon. 

Once a month we choose a random topic that we write a short story about and read them out, and share them on line.
Given that there are a few mature people in the group and the fact that I seem to be hardwired towards the smexy, my short story challenges aren't always . . . . um . . .you know . . . easy to share without glowing a rather attractive shade of tomato. In my defense I do try to keep them clean. 
Okay, as clean as I can.


This months topic was 'Rattling Chains'. It was a fun challenge, but I found it hard to come up with something remotely interesting that doesn't involve ghosts, cemetery's or convicts. 


Anyhoo, I came up with this and thought I'd share with you just because I can. It's okay, don't be scared, it's not going to scar you brain. 
Unless you think it sucks. 
Then I guess I was wrong and it will. 


Click on the tiny tiny period to go to the link: _
 
Have a happy happy day :)

Yours For The Reading

They're finally here.
I know!
I'm excited too! So, without further ado . . . 

May I present . . .  Drum roll please . . .  OVER 5000 FREE WORDS!!! Maggie's Five

by Sandra Fitzgerald
Tap here: _
Hope you enjoy them. I can't wait to hear your thoughts
Cheers
Sandra :)

LET'S MAKE THIS A LITTLE MORE INTERESTING!

Maggie's Five
Copyright © 2013 Sandra Fitzgerald


A love that's meant to be. 
A shattered heart that struggles to heal. 
A soul that needs to find its way back from the 
bottom of a bottle.




With the release of 'Maggie's Five' getting closer 
by the day, 
I thought it would be fun to make the coming event more exciting.

So, Lets play a game.

It's called  LIKES  for WORDS.
(Do you like it? I may have made it up.)

The way to play is simple.  
The more 'likes' I get, the more 'words' you get. 

Get your friends on board! 
Poke me, prod me, as long as you 'like' my post, you will get those precious vowels and consonants. 
I'll even throw in a couple comas and full stops in for the fun of it.

Please, if you fine you have the urge ;), leave me a message here, Facebook 
or send a tweet.
I'd love to hear from you.

Allow me to get the ball rolling with some freebies.


Maggie's Five
Copyright © 2013 Sandra Fitzgerald

‘When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.’

What if I prefer to drink mine with a side of Tequila? A pill chaser?

What if I told you to go suck those very lemons until your face puckered so tightly you couldn't see?
Then maybe, just maybe you could begin to appreciate what it’s like to be me.
The one left behind after everything has been shredded away.
Leaving you bloody and raw.

And worse - alone.

Maggie’s Five is the story of a young woman’s journey through her five stages of grief.
 After the tragic loss of her husband and two children,
Maggie falls into a downward spiral of self-loathing and destruction.
 She’s introduced to a world of alcohol, drugs and meaningless sex.
Which creates a numbness that she relishes,
until she realizes there is a reason to start living her life again.

Until becoming reacquainted with Maggie,
Luke didn't think it was worth the effort to overcome his demons.
Finding Maggie gives him the motivation to move forward
and chance his heart with love.
Now all he needs to do is convince Maggie to do the same.


Prologue


My name is Maggie Cartwright.

I live in the same suburb as you, up the road, just around the corner. My house is not unlike yours, it’s modest in size, brick, has windows and furniture, a driveway, plants in the garden.

My family is not unlike yours either, made up of a husband and two daughters, though you may have boys, or one of each. The point is that you’re happy. You have a happy full life filled with all the trimmings that we take for granted. Those very trimmings that we think we appreciate; but don’t realize until it is too late that we have missed the true meaning of, by the barest of margins.

Not because we intended to, no of course not. We don’t make conscious decisions to not truly appreciate the good, but because of the various complex tangles and weaves our lives form as they grow and develop. We get busy with work, distracted by arguments, caught up with activity.

Because of life itself.

I’m Maggie Cartwright, and this is my story, but I’ll warn you now, my journey may not have the happily ever after you dream of.  

Hello and Welcome

Okay, so firstly let me say . . . Oh my God!

This is my first of . . . all of this, so be patient and kind with me because I'm bound to make at least a hundred mistakes.
I'm really excited to share with you my first novel - 'Maggie's Five' . It's about a young woman who finds herself drowning in booze, drugs and a sexy bad man after the loss of her family.  

The story is based on 'Maggie's Five' stages of grief. And yes there is a smexy good guy in  there too ;) Luke.
Ahh the lovely Luke . . . 

I don't want to give much away at the moment, she's not quite at the publishing stage but pretty darn close. 
I have the manuscript back from my editor (amazingly with NO spelling errors) and have to hash out all the bits and pieces.  Then finalise the front cover.
It kinda looks like the beautiful redhead with the tag lines 'Maggie's Five' & 'A love Story'
but with more fan flow billowing out her hair. 
Don't know if you can ever have too much hair billowing . . . 

I hope to get it out soon.

Cheers
Sandra