The GRRRR!!!!!! thread Showing 801-850 of 1,404

[Amy]

I'll have to give that a go then. Thanks.

[Sam (Rescue Dog Mom, Writer, Hugger)]

Alex, I hope everything works out for you and your Mum. Money matters are the worst! Grr!!! Hugs

[Sam (Rescue Dog Mom, Writer, Hugger)]

Gosh, that is scary, Alex. I understand your concern for fire. Hope it is fixed cheap and soon. Hugs

[Christine]

Amy wrote: "Anyone who has the Radish fiction app please do me a favour just go to the app ..."

Done!

[Amy]

Thanks Christine really appreciate it.

Alex I can sympathise my husband always seems to be fixing something new in the house.

[Ben]

I got a good one. My hockey book apparently wasn't submitted early enough to make it into Ingrams Children's Advance catalog. You would think 2 months would be enough. $85 and now it won't be in until after xmas and after hockey season.

I hate Ingram.

[Anita]

Oh, no Ben. That is enough to P... off the Pope as the saying goes.

[Ben]

Anita wrote: "Oh, no Ben. That is enough to P... off the Pope as the saying goes."

Yeah. I'm just writing them a complaint email right now!

[Ben]

Alex wrote: "Ben wrote: "I got a good one. My hockey book apparently wasn't submitted early enough to make it into Ingrams Children's Advance catalog. You would think 2 months would be enough. $85 and now it wo..."

They are the world's slowest at answering emails. Normally 3 days to get a response out of them. Also, the world's slowest at printing my books and shipping them to me unless I pay for the world's most expensive print times & delivery.

If I could have nothing to do with Ingram Spark, I would drop my books from them in a heartbeat.

[Carole]

Yes, Createspace runs a better service and the books are made with better material too. I just think it's wise to spread yourself around.

[Anita]

The paper is different. I have discovered that not all 50lb paper is equal. That is why IngramSpark's spine width is more narrow than Createspace. Even though both use 50 lb. paper, Ingram's paper is a bit thinner. Hence, the books from CS are better. If someone has colored illustrations, I would suggest using the 70 lb. option that Ingram offers. Otherwise, the illustration can be seen through the paper.

[Carole]

That happened to me- It was horrible. I changed to the better paper.

[Carole]

It's always like that, Alex. When you lease expect it- wham a major expense.

[Carole]

When I moved into my first house forty years ago, we bought it because it had central air and Michael had bad asthma. He needed it. We put every penny into buying the house and had NOTHING extra. I mean nothing. It was late August and the air went- we didn't have a penny to fix it- Sears gave us our first credit card- an executive sat on the phone while I was sobbing and patiently filled it out with me. We had no credit anywhere- He green lighted it and Michael had air-conditioning a few hours later. When we brought Eric home from the hospital five years later- I had been dropped from my health insurance in my eighth month of pregnancy- there were no rules, I had preexisting conditions- it was a mess. It caused me to go into premature labor and we had our second son six weeks early. The hospital bills were astronomical. I officially had no insurance and no money to put oil in our burner. The morning after we brought him home, we woke up to the coldest January on record, I was getting the flu my husband already had and when you spoke in our house- you could see frost. I called Slomins- the oil company and said I had no money to fill the tank- I didn't even have a chance to say I had two kids. An hour later, our tank was filled. The owner said pay me when you can. I did pay it off- it took a while, but it showed me the generosity of the human spirit. Our business took off, soon after that and I hope I have continued the spirit of paying it forward. So, Alex, that what doesn't defeat us makes us stronger, and I think better. Adversity is the mother of success. Use your experiences and frustration and apply them to Inspector Stone or another character. Let nothing go wasted, even a negative experience.

[Carole]

Maybe it could be some form of sabotage from someone who wants him out of the way- for a promotion or something!!!

[Michael]

I gave away two free books as a result of a competition run by another writer. The winners' email addresses were sent to me and I gave them an Instafreebie link to my ebook. Ten days after I contacted the winners, both had downloaded the book. Two days after that two other people had also downloaded it. I ended the giveaway immediately. It suggests that one of the winners had passed on the link, which wasn't for them to give away. Disingenuous freeloaders I call them. Pity.

[Amy]

Gosh Carole out of a bad situation you had the fortune to have people help you out. That’s quite unusual for a company in my experience.

Alex in the mean time have you got more prices for the work? I can barely get workmen through the door when we need something done. They just don’t show up. I think one plumber I had booked in is over 20 years late. Guess he’s not coming.

Michael that kind of thing annoys me. Glad you ended the offer. The cheek of it!

[Amy]

As long as it’s a reasonable price, saving a few quid here and there isn’t worth it if you can get it done safely and quickly.

[Amy]

Tbh that sounds about right. I’m not an expert and we haven’t had our house rewired but I would expect the price to be in the thousands but below £5k

[Judy]

Carole wrote: "When I moved into my first house forty years ago, we bought it because it had central air and Michael had bad asthma. He needed it. We put every penny into buying the house and had NOTHING extra. I..."

Wow, Carole! What an experience! I'm glad that you emerged stronger than ever and that things turned around!

[Carole]

Things are constantly turning around- so much I feel like I'm on a loop-de-loop.We have good years and plenty of not-so-good years. The one thing I know, we used to say this all the time- it should get better by Friday. I had a dispatcher who worked in the house with me- I ran my business in the beginning from my kitchen. It was crazy- we'd be so busy we couldn't take a breather. He used to say that to me, knowing that by Friday everybody was going to leave and we'd have a break. So, now when things get rough, and they do- I think, it will get better by Friday.

[Judy]

Carole wrote: "Things are constantly turning around- so much I feel like I'm on a loop-de-loop.We have good years and plenty of not-so-good years. The one thing I know, we used to say this all the time- it should..."

I love that: better by Friday! I'll start using it.

[Amy]

Business is all the negative words you can think of at the moment. I'm still torn between toughing it out or quitting. If it was my second job, I'd quit and give myself a break. It's my only job and each week the amount of cancellations involved make me question the hours and money I put into it. I keep running the numbers. All the time I'm making a tiny profit I'll stick at it.

[Amy]

I have lost so many of my team over the years due to lack of business. That has had an effect on my income. My sales are scraping the floor. I'm tired. Other than helping the people have left, it doesn't have much going for it. I made less than £30 last week. It used to be a full time job with money to go with it.

[Carole]

Same boat. I feel like we have to evaluate the way we expected to live. Everything is going up in cost except anything I provide to clients- be it books or my day job. I think the days of conspicuous consumption are coming to an end.

[Amy]

When does it end? I have cut back on everything I can cut back on. I've even stopped playing the lottery (although I won £25 this week, one of my last weeks) We're eating the cheapest food. We barely go out (although two of us are going to the cinema tomorrow-haven't been in months.) My husband is capable of eating way more food than I put on his plate but I'm cooking precise amounts. People complain to me about the cost of their food bill, but then they confess they're eating the more expensive branded food. I've been buying the cheap own brand basic stuff for years.

I have to keep telling myself it'll be fine. But I'm terrified that I'll end up in a huge debt again trying to get our daughter through uni next year.

[Amy]

It's early days. I've only just cleared the mammoth debt. Maybe it'll be OK.

[Amy]

I didn't get the grades to go. I had a grant, but couldn't get into any of the London drama colleges. I got close, but they only really took me seriously after I lost 3st. Anyway, she'll get a loan for the tuition, but we won't get the full amount for the maintenance loan because of my husband's salary. She'll get around £4k for living costs, but the room alone is £5300 per year. Then there's books and food.

[Amy]

I think our bathroom will just have to fall apart on us. It needs fixing. But I reckon I'll need £5-£10k to get one child through the extras needed for uni. Then in 4 years we'll be thinking about it again for our son if he wants to go. It will clean out what is left of my inheritance, but at least I'll have managed to put them both through uni. Providing I manage to provide for the family on the money we have coming in. ugh If you'll excuse me I have to go and boil most of a 40p bag of pasta for their dinner... (moans)

[Amy]

Alex wrote: "Amy wrote: "I didn't get the grades to go. I had a grant, but couldn't get into any of the London drama colleges. I got close, but they only really took me seriously after I lost 3st. Anyway, she'l..."

I can see it working for some. If you're broke, you'll get the full tuition fees loan and the full amount of the maintenance grant and it is possible. Where the system doesn't work is with people in the middle. We earn a bit more (or he does) which means that we don't get the full maintenance loan. But just because he earns more than some people doesn't mean we have extra sitting around. Two mortgages on one house in an expensive area to live. Without this inheritance I'd be shafted.

Then don't have to start paying it back until they earn more than £25k a year either.

[Amy]

That would be nice! We just need to get through the next 8-9 years. My husband can retire and providing nothing catastrophic happens the mortgages get paid off in under 9 years. It’ll help. I wonder if the bathroom will last that long.

[Amy]

After a very frustrating day, I have typed up what I have of Iridessian Haunts episodes 5 and 6. That's not bad. I only published the first episode on 30th September. Tomorrow I need to write next week's episode of Missing Remnants or I'll be behind and Carole will miss Track (nods!)

[Amy]

Thanks Alex. I’ve just found an episode of Missing Remnants for next week in my notebook too. I’ve either just got to type it up and edit or I’ve already done that bit too. Getting ahead again. Just need people to see me. So very invisible. Promos starting tomorrow.

[Amy]

I am the invisible author.

[Amy]

I will no doubt at some stage call something The Invisible Author now.

[Amy]

It would have to be the horror paranormal for me too. I don’t do “normal” I just don’t understand it.

[Amy]

How do you mean lost one Alex? Did Amazon delete it?

CeDany I've joined groups only to find that I was the only person to post in a few months. What I found on Goodreads was a lot of categories relevant to me were dormant. Some of the others had a lot of rules. Some of them had no interest in hearing about a new author. And lastly some of them used too many flashing images and I found it completely off-putting and left due to impending headaches.

I have a stinking cold. I've had a bad throat for days and now finally I have the cold. Hopefully by the weekend I'll be better. Feel rotten,

[Amy]

Ugh. I wish they would explain themselves. Good job you’ve got others.

[Carole]

Was it mine, Alex? Everyday I see our numbers in reviews fluctuate constantly.

[Carole]

;)

[Amy]

Utterly unimpressed with the virus I've had for days. I haven't written anything since Wednesday. Thursday and Friday were spent sitting on the sofa generally failing at everything. I just about managed to to open boxes of convenience food to throw onto baking trays to cook for the family.

I've coughed so much I think I've dislocated a lung. I've downed so much cold medication I should be issued with company shares. I haven't had a cold annihilate my energy reserves like this in a decade.

Off you sod now, I've had enough.

[Carole]

Everybody's sick here, Amy. I sympathize. I had it three weeks ago. I was miserable.

[Amy]

Nah I need a holiday CeDany! Almost everyone has had it here too Carole. It’s rubbish! I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.

[Sam (Rescue Dog Mom, Writer, Hugger)]

Sending healing vibes to Amy & Carol. Hope you both feel better soon! Hugs

[Anita]

Alex--I ran into that same issue a few weeks back. What should have been my first clue was the terminology, a critic.

Being an ex-cop, I am attuned to reading words. As an example, 'and versus or', can make a huge difference in criminal charges. This individual's comments, and I can't call it a review because it wasn't, made it clear he/she didn't like paranormal books and didn't know diddly squat about police procedures.

[Anita]

I was fortunate on that one. I didn't have to make it public. It was a lesson learned on selecting sites to review a book. I have to agree, though, I have seen far too many negatives reviews from individuals who clearly are not a fan of the genre. Totally unfair to the author and they don't even seem to realize it, which is astounding. Anyway, that's my rant for the day.

[Amy]

Alex, Colin Dexter admitted he didn’t follow police procedure when he was writing his books. And boy is that true. Two people alone solving murder cases? Eh? Not that the Inspector Morse books were successful or anything. Er...

Worry not about people whose sole purpose in life is to pick holes in other people’s work.

[Amy]

Hmmm scratches chin contemplating the odds of experiencing a period of time where nothing bad happens... nope can’t do it, I’m off for a coffee. Hang in there Alex. Have they started work?

[Amy]

Ugh. At least you're next on their list. How long do they think it'll take?

[Amy]

That's not so bad. Of course I have a horror story of how our roof which should have taken a week to finish took 6 weeks because they were only working on our job on Mondays. It was the last big thing we had done on the house. I couldn't face anything else. I'm assuming you have a company and not a personal recommendation of an estate agent's boyfriend like I did! (Never again, how naive was I?)