Random Tunage and Authorganza

This is what happens when I should be writing fiction. A random tune takes over, drowning out my characters and their woes. I have no choice but to seek my guitar, jot down the chords, and hunt for my trusty mini-cassette tape recorder.  But what if my chocolate lab has chewed the thing to bits?!

Have no fear, cell phone apps are here.

Gone are the days where I have to call myself at home, wait for the voice mail to kick in and then sing / hum a little ditty that is haunting me. No more will my husband have to sift through those messages, shaking his head and muttering about his deranged wife. Now I just record the rotten tune with an app…any kind of voice note / voice recorder will do. (Tip: download one that saves files in WAV format if you want to share your recordings online. If you have one that saves to GP3 format, you could also download a free GP3 converter.)

Here's the tune that refused to let me get any writing done tonight: badadada tune  Yeah, it needs lyrics, a bridge, and loads of other stuff, but at least it's out of my head. Whoot!

AUTHORGANZA TIME

And now for something completely different. I had a blast at the Strathcona Chapters Authorganza event, featuring a bunch of Alberta authors each Sunday in November – dans la store, signing books. I had a grand time hanging out with the authors on the second floor, Erika Knudsen with her vampire/witchy tales(www.erispublishing.com) and Nadine Gordon, a dreamwalker and psychic medium (www.nurturingenergy.com). Not only were these ladies right up my paranormal obsession alley, they were masters at table displays and had signage to DIE for.

Here's a pic of Erika's setup:

Certainly put my table to shame:

Beyond the sign envy, I also met, Jim Yih and Patricia French – two business types with a series of financial planning books (www.jimyih.com).

I joked with Jim about re-marketing their material with a Grim Reaper mascot and a whole gothic, death and taxes motif. I'm hoping he jumps on the idea. I even have a slogan for the Financial Reaper – Reap your rewards…..or Invest now – cause you can't take it with you. The puns spring eternal.