Random chit-chat

[Amy]

In my Instafreebie thingy I've had emails from two people stating they didn't receive the book. Now, as they haven't got back to me after I emailed them I wonder if they haven't checked their junk mail folder and my email it sitting there with the book...

[Amy]

I'm also trying not to be concerned about one or two email addresses that have downloaded my book. My concern is that they're going to take the file and distribute it for free elsewhere. I don't know how much of a problem that is with Instafreebie. I'm not a trusting person, I'm slightly paranoid and usually expect the worst.

[Erica]

I completely understand Amy. I am paranoid too. I feel that most people won't go for no name free books sites though for risk of viruses. Or at least I hope not.

[Amy]

Let's hope that's the case. I'd still like to find a paying market for my work. Of course if I win a jackpot on the lottery I won't mind so much...

[Erica]

That's my plan too!!! Haha

[Prakash]

Hi there
My short story books are available on Kindle for free on 1st and 2nd August.
Seeking some honest reviews or feedback. Your efforts will be highly appreciated.

[Carole]

Just found this blogpost- http://jeyranmain.com/2017/06/book-to...

[Erica]

Prakash wrote: "Hi there
My short story books are available on Kindle for free on 1st and 2nd August.
Seeking some honest reviews or feedback. Your efforts will be highly appreciated.

[bookcover:Life in Shackles|..."

Grabbed my copies! I am a bit behind on my TBR list, but I will leave you reviews when I finish them.

[Erica]

Carole wrote: "Just found this blogpost- http://jeyranmain.com/2017/06/book-to..."

Very nice! Great reminder for us all. :)

[Prakash]

Thanks Erica !

[Amy]

Back from our "holiday" now. What can I say, I'm knackered. It rained for practically the entire two weeks and it felt cold. I couldn't get comfortable. The seats on the sofas were so wide I needed two cushions and two pillows to support my back. I ate more painkillers than I really wanted to. We did 9 trips in 8 days to get out and about and the rest was shopping and trying to relax. I did hardly any reading. I did no sewing other than mending things. I think I knocked out a random paragraph in Notes on my phone and that was all the writing I got done. While we were away we booked next year's holiday to cheers ourselves up. Came back home to see blue skies and warmer weather. It took us 9 hours to drive there. It was only supposed to be 4.5 hours. Apparently everyone travelling on that day was hugely delayed on the UK roads.

Dad's estate still hasn't been settled. He's been dead over a year. The solicitor says this is normal. Anyone my husband speaks to at work says, nah 6-12 months is what so and so's will took to execute.

I'm still not selling any books. I get excited if I see a single ebook sale once a month. Over 500 people downloaded Modified in the instafreebie thing, but there are of course no reviews and no-one has bought book 2. If you use mailchimp to send out to mailing lists you have to put a valid home address down. I work from home, I do not have a business address and I'm in no position to pay out for a PO Box. So I've decided the mailing list thing is not for me.

Needless to say, I'm angry at most things, too tired for someone who has just got back from a holiday and intensely worried about my future. More with my main business than my writing, because I'm resigned to the fact that I'm never going to sell books anyway. But my main business is becoming more of a financial liability than a viable prospect.

How's everyone else doing?

[Margaret]

I'm sorry, Amy, I hope things look up soon. I know how disappointing and frustrating it can be to save and plan for a holiday and have it be less than what you'd hoped for. Poor weather always puts such a damper on things. Stay strong!

[Amy]

Thanks Alex and Margaret. I'm sure it'll be fine. Eventually Dad's estate will be settled and I can move on from that. I'll either close my business, it'll pick up, or I'll reconcile myself to it merely breaking even and eventually I'm sure I'll sell a whole two books a month.

Did you know... the flies we expected to find whilst staying on a dairy farm bite. Vicious little buggers. Was expecting flies, wasn't expecting them to bite.

[Amy]

They bit me through my trousers. I think when I had bare legs I was knocking them off too quickly for them to bite. The moment I had trousers on and couldn't feel them, they'd sit there and dig in whatever that needle-like thing is they use and have a damn good go at me. Evil buggers.

[Amy]

Anyway, I'm looking forward to staying in a thatched cottage next year. Stupid really, you can only see the roof from the outside. Apart from that, what's the appeal? I'm not sleeping on it! But it's a thatched cottage!

[Amy]

It looks really nice. Bigger, washing machine and dryer, so we won't need to take as many clothes. And it has a dishwasher, so no-one will have to wash up. And I'm going to see Stonehenge.

We got the car stuck in a ditch on holiday this year.

[Carole]

On tv today- they said thatched cottages are the latest rage in the UK. I think they must be quiet and cozy. Sorry you had a crappy trip- it's nice to come home, isn't it.
Everybody is busy with back to school- all sales are a bit off. I'm not even trying to push the books other than a putting them on for free on Kindle (Michael's books). Mine are heavily advertised with parents for the school year, then I will push them for the holidays. Put up some creative stuff on Facebook- like need a break from the daily grind, get a Tequila and my book, fill a bath and let the kids scream. Aim to the audience right now. Most people are exhausted from too much fun and need "me" time.

[Amy]

Apparently there's a 25 year wait to have your thatched roof replaced. Not enough raw materials and skill around. Saw that in a documentary a few years ago. Don't know if it's true.

I may have to switch genre. I'm not getting anywhere with whatever it is I'm writing. Doesn't matter what time of year it is.

[Amy]

I barely drink any more. I did have some port on holiday.

[Anna]

So sorry to read your troubles, Amy. I just hope things will get settled re your father and then maybe you can see what to do and which way to go. Running a business is not easy; I know from experience. But if you like it...

Thatched cottages - latest rage? Love it, Carole! Been going strong for centuries. Not that they had week-long holidays back then!

As for sales - hmm... a trickle is the best I can manage.

[Amy]

I suspect that's the case.

[Margaret]

End of summer sales have been slow for me, as well. Things will pick up in the fall when people start looking for cozy, inside entertainment :)

[Carole]

Anna Faversham wrote: "So sorry to read your troubles, Amy. I just hope things will get settled re your father and then maybe you can see what to do and which way to go. Running a business is not easy; I know from experi..."

It was a feature on the news here, tonight. They said there is a resurgence for the style- and people are putting them on newer homes. Interesting story. The guy ( the thatcher) said there was a a two year wait to hire him. I wish I could go there and see them- it looked charming.

[Aislinn]

I love thatched cottages. There's something so delightful about them.

Amy - there's ways around putting your home address on your newsletter. I, for one, put the PO Box of the company I used to work for in Qatar. You can also get virtual PO Boxes and all kinds of things. Hope that helps.

[Amy]

Thanks Aislinn, I saw I could use a PO Box. Until I'm debt free which isn't a small debt that a lot of people have it's a stonking mortgage sized one on top of two stonking mortgages-I cannot set up any more regular payments for anything. Right now I'm just this wide-eyed deer standing in the middle of the road paralysed by the oncoming headlights. Any month now I'll get my inheritance and it'll all be a horrible distant memory.

[Anna]

That's good news, Carole (new homes with thatched roofs). They do look nice and if the fashion will provide work in a skilled job, that has to be good.

Anyone want to start a business training thatchers?

[Aislinn]

Sorry, I should have been more clear. When I said 'virtual PO Box' I meant a free service like viabox: https://www.viabox.com/

[Amy]

Aislinn wrote: "Sorry, I should have been more clear. When I said 'virtual PO Box' I meant a free service like viabox: https://www.viabox.com/"

Thanks, there must be a UK equivalent. I'll look into it. There's another promo I could do, but again I need to use mailchimp and it needs an address of some kind.

[Amy]

OK I've found a UK PO Box thing that may not cost anything until someone sends me something, which I'm really not expecting FFS!

[Amy]

I was tempted by another book promotion requiring me to mail out to my mailing list. I do have one with 540 people on it, small compared to others. The Instafreebie thing has lapsed now, so I don't get to add any more email addresses unless I pay $20 a month.

The promotion wanted $10 to join, not that bad. It's for .99 books and runs for 5 days. I'm having a can't be bothered moment. I'm trying to set up a PO Box so my emails don't have to have my home address listed. I wasn't expecting that last time. PO Box is in the works. However looking at it, genre wise I think I'm excluded. Which leads me to be relieved, because I'm tired and really can't be bothered!

And I still have a freaking short story to finish which actually has a deadline attached. I was going to get to that today.

[Aislinn]

I've joined a few of those kinds of promos. Some have been amazing, others not so much.

[Amy]

I've just done a free book one which I think is where my mailing list came from. I'm in another free book one now, but like I said won't be adding to my mailing list because instafreebie lapsed. I'll be happy paying for promotion when my main genre becomes thriller/horror rather than erotica. It'll be easier to find options.

[Judy]

Amy wrote: "Back from our "holiday" now. What can I say, I'm knackered. It rained for practically the entire two weeks and it felt cold. I couldn't get comfortable. The seats on the sofas were so wide I needed..."

I'm sorry to hear about the awful weather, Amy. We look forward to summer all year and it often turns out to be a disappointment. Here in Lake George, NY, the summer has been cold and often rainy, lots of mosquitos. When you get a good day, like today, you try to make up for the rest.
Stiff upper lip about the career and book sales, one foot ahead of the other, persistance and learning more pay off.

[Amy]

Thanks Judy.

[Erica]

I can't believe all the people pouring into the St. Louis area for eclipse 2017! Wish I could have traveled to the path of totality, but I don't trust my 2 year old enough not to look. I figured 99.6% eclipsed from home would be good enough. :) I am excited to journal the experience for future books. Is anyone else in a viewing path?

[Amy]

In the UK I've read we'd get a partial eclipse. It's completely overcast. So, um, nope.

[Erica]

We are hoping skies stay clear here. There is a chance for overcast skies later. I hope not. Especially for people who traveled internationally!

[Amy]

I remember the last one in 1999. It was a total eclipse. That one was visible and utterly eerie. All the birds stopped singing.

There was either an eclipse or something else where one of our astronomers Sir Patrick Moore was up in a plane somewhere ostensibly to get a good view. Cloudy. Didn't see a thing. He died in 2012 and you could tell from what he said in the plane he was more than a little miffed that he'd missed his last chance of seeing whatever it was. Pretty sure it was an eclipse.

[Judy]

Erica wrote: "I can't believe all the people pouring into the St. Louis area for eclipse 2017! Wish I could have traveled to the path of totality, but I don't trust my 2 year old enough not to look. I figured 99..."

My 3 year old granddaughter had special glasses for a viewing in Troy, NY, not exactly on the direct path, but (according to her mom) she did see the moon in front of the sun.

[Erica]

Very cool. I am glad she was able to experiece it. My 4 year old had a blast! It was a great teaching opportunity. The eclipse created a haunting looking haze where I live. The birds stopped singing and the crickets began chirping. At one point, I pulled out my Indian flute and played a bit. A hummingbird came right over to me while I was playing and stayed for about 3 minutes until it started thundering. I will definitely be heading south in 2024 to try to be in the path of totality.

[Judy]

that's interesting about the birds and crickets; you must have been closer to the eclipse than we were (Long Island)..there was plenty of sunshine, it seemed more filtered during the eclipse..

[Erica]

We were about 15 minutes north of the path of totality. I would have gone south but was worried my 2 year old might look. Since it happened in the early afternoon she was taking a nap and I was able to enjoy it with my husband and 4 year old. Still a neat experience to even see a partial eclipse.

[Carole]

I can still recall the one I saw when I was five or six. We watched it in a puddle, on the ground no special glasses. It was awesome. The next one will pass over our area.

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

Hello All,

Popping in to say I'm sorry I've been much less verbally supportive than usual. Been pressing the Like buttons, but not been my usual chatty self. An illness flared up months ago and it's painful. That in addition to my bone and joint pain makes it difficult for me to get anything done, even sleep. All this has increased my anxiety and worsened my depression.

I read all the posts daily and am doing my best to keep up with the group. I continue to read and post reviews here and on Amazon, though I think I'm reading slower than usual.

I miss you all and hope you don't forget me.

Hugs, Sam

[Theodore]

Sam (Rescue Dog Mom, Writer, Hugger) wrote: "Hello All,

Popping in to say I'm sorry I've been much less verbally supportive than usual. Been pressing the Like buttons, but not been my usual chatty self. An illness flared up months ago and it..."

Hey, Sam...hang in there. Sending good thoughts your way.

[Anna]

I noticed you'd gone quiet lately, so we do miss you, but it's so nice to know you're keeping in touch by reading what we natter on about. I hope things will improve. Read happy books!

[Carole]

Feel better soon and listen to Anna- read happy books.

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

Theodore wrote: "Hey, Sam...hang in there. Sending good thoughts your way...."

Thank you very much Theodore. Hugs

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

Anna Faversham wrote: "I noticed you'd gone quiet lately, so we do miss you, but it's so nice to know you're keeping in touch by reading what we natter on about. I hope things will improve. Read happy books!"

Thank you Anna! Great advice! I'll take it! Hugs

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

Carole wrote: "Feel better soon and listen to Anna- read happy books."

Thank you Carole! Yes, I agree! Hugs