Dale’s Comments (group member since Sep 15, 2017)

Dale’s comments from the Navigating Indieworld Discussing All Things Indie group.

Thanks, Ben!

Alex wrote: "Thanks for the share, Dale, I can provide a copy for review, let me know where you'd like me to send it and your preferred format. In all honesty I must say that though you don't need to have read the previous books in the series to enjoy this one, the events of previous books are mentioned (I don't know if you have read the other books) ."

I'll send you my email address via private message. I haven't read the other books yet, but I don't mind mentions of the previous ones so long as the current story doesn't depend too much on them. If it does, I can always start with the first book instead. Thanks!

Alex wrote: "Hi, everyone, I'm doing a cover reveal today as I have just received the files for my new book and would really appreciate any shares you can spare the time for https://alexrcarver.wordpress.com/..."

Shared on my FB author page. Great cover! If I beg for an el cheapo ebook review copy, would you give me one? In return, I'll post a review here, on Amazon, and on my blog alongside an author interview with you.

Thanks once again, folks. I've been trying to get some rest, although it's difficult. I didn't go to work this week, at any rate.

They're doing a couple of simple procedures right now, one to tweak the TIPS (basically to open up the shunt a bit to improve blood flow, not that it was that bad to start with), and one called BRTO: Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration, which sounds a bit like the "epidermal tissue disruptor" from Disney's The Rescuer's Down Under but isn't really all that bad. The idea is to scar over the varices so they (presumably) won't start bleeding again.

Elina wrote: "My first ever novel "The Gate Run" is now published! Yey!"

Congratulations!

Thank you again, everyone. Right now they're running a bunch of tests, mostly so the transplant team has all the latest in the event that they need it. It's not likely to go that far right now, though. We expect she'll be out tomorrow. They might want to tweak the TIPS, which possibly could be done outpatient, unless they decide to just do it while she's here, but that's a band-aid procedure, not a terribly big deal.

Thank you again, everyone. Due to a rotten internet connection at the hospital, I haven't been able to post any updates until now. So here's the story (with apologies for medical terminology; if you need an explanation, feel free to ask).

The second endoscopy indicated that the bleeding had come from at least one of the gastric varices that had formed and started bleeding back in 2014, which was treated by a TIPS procedure (basically, insertion of a shunt to direct some blood flow around the liver). She hasn't had any problems with this since then, but possibly her more recent medications caused this new bleeding.

Because the varices are involved, she was transferred last night to the University of Maryland Medical Center, where the TIPS was performed and where they have a top-notch transplant center. At this point I am not convinced she needs a liver transplant right now, but that's one of the things that's been mentioned simply because she is at risk for another bleeding episode. It may still be possible to reduce the risk by appropriate changes to her medication, but unfortunately she has afib, which means they need to have her on some kind of blood thinner to reduce the risk of stoke.

Today will be a battery of tests. She may be released either today or tomorrow, but we're unclear on what the treatment plan will be. Two weeks ago, her hepatologist said her meld score was 7, the lowest possible, putting her at the bottom of the transplant list, and the plan was simply to monitor her. But now . . . I guess we'll see.

I went with Goddess Fish Promotions. The schedule is now filled. Here's the final list:

February 19: Long and Short Reviews - Guest Post
February 20: Edgar's Books - Interview, and Two Crazy Ladies Love Romance - Interview
February 21: Stormy Nights Reviewing and Bloggin' - Book Review
February 22: The Reading Addict - Guest Post
February 23: Bookaholic - Book Review
February 26: Readeropolis - Interview
February 27: Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews - Book Review
February 28: It's Raining Books - Interview
March 1: Sharing Links and Wisdom - Guest Post
March 2: Straight From the Library - Interview

Note: Some of these links are for the actual page on which I'll be appearing. Those pages are not live yet and will give you "page not found" errors if you navigate to them before the day indicated.

Thank you, everyone. She's doing a lot better by now. The bleeding has stopped and her bloodwork is looking good. They want to do a second endoscopy tomorrow to see how things are on the inside. At this point, they're blaming all this on a blood thinner she was taking. Obviously she's not taking that anymore...

See my "Ice on the Bay Virtual Tour" topic under the "Shout It Out: Promotions" folder. I'll post updates there as we go along.

Kathy's back in the hospital: an episode of gastric bleeding that looks a lot like what she suffered in 2014 (not that anyone here knew about that, I don't think). Things are going reasonably well and we'll get through it, but this is our fourth time here since October and we're both really tired of it...

Thanks, Carole!

Anna Faversham wrote: "You put me to shame, Dale.

Thanks for sharing this and all the best for Ice on the Bay. Good title."

Thank you. But I can't take much credit. I just paid the money for the promotion (which, believe me, was hard to do because I just don't have a lot to throw around right now). After that, it's mostly just a matter of providing the materials and participating in each day's events. I'll keep everyone posted on how it works out.

Four more stops have been added. I'll update the schedule later, when I have a few spare moments.

I can never find words for such loss, but you are both in your thoughts and prayers, Carole.

Hey, I just noticed, not only did I win the Editor's Choice for 9/9/2017, they also gave me an honorable mention for my story on 9/2/2017!

That's another one I really liked, although it ended up feeling a bit clipped because I was running out of room and had to trim some words.

For a minute there, I thought you were talking about something real. :-P Sounds very topical!

The itinerary is coming together. Here's what we have so far:

February 19: A guest post at Long and Short Reviews (http://www.longandshortreviews.com/)
February 20: An interview at Edgar's Books (http://edgarbooks.blogspot.com/) and an interview at Two Crazy Ladies Love Romance (https://twocrazyladiesloveromance.blo...)
February 21: A book review at Stormy Nights Reviewing and Bloggin' (https://stormynightbloginandreviwing....)
February 22: [open]
February 23: A book review at Bookaholic (http://www.ourtownbookreviews.com/)
February 26: [open]
February 27: A book review at Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews (http://lauries-interviews.blogspot.com/)
February 28: [open]
March 1: A guest post at Sharing Links and Wisdom (http://sharinglinksandwisdom.blogspot...)
March 2: [open]

I've posted this to my FB event, too.

One of the blogs I subscribe to passed along this notice of a short story competition being run by A Writer's Path. They are offering prize bundles that include cash and writing services. Looks pretty good to me, especially since the entry fee is only $10.00 per story. I don't know if I'll have time to prepare an entry. I might. but I though I'd pass it along for others who might be interested.

Thank you!

Thank you both! I didn't even know until I saw your posts here.

I was rather fond of that rattlesnake, too. ;-)