Random Thoughts Showing 16,051-16,100 of 17,689

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Thanks May. I just cannot believe the book has actually been accepted.

[Allison]

Wooooooohoooooooo! WTG, Margaret :)

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Thanks Allie. :D

[Ace]

Margaret wrote: "If nobody minds I'll just sit here for a moment and squee loudly.

MY BOOK HAS BEEN ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION!!!

*breathes heavily*"

Fantastic, well done Margaret...

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Thanks Ace. :)

[Andrew]

Margaret wrote: "If nobody minds I'll just sit here for a moment and squee loudly.

MY BOOK HAS BEEN ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION!!!

*breathes heavily*"

That's fantastic, Margaret. Well done!

[Mark]

Margaret wrote: "If nobody minds I'll just sit here for a moment and squee loudly.

MY BOOK HAS BEEN ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION!!!

*breathes heavily*"
Congratulations Margaret well done.

[happy]

Margaret,

Let me add my congratulations

WAY TO GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Thank you Andy and Mark. :)

I've calmed down a little this morning.

[Andy]

nice one Margaret! made up for you

[Tamara]

Congratulations, Margaret! I'm excited for you.

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Thanks happy. :)

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

I'm a little sad at the moment. Part of my youth died today with the passing of the actor Paul Darrow.

His Kerr Avon in Blake's 7 was a huge part of my teenage years.

[Adrian]

Great work Margaret.

Now comes the hard part.

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Adrian wrote: "Great work Margaret.

Now comes the hard part."

Thanks Adrian. Which hard part? I've just discovered that trying to write and interesting and engaging blurb for the book's back cover is harder than actually writing the book!

[Adrian]

There's lots of hard parts but the hardest is staying on the shelves long enough to make a splash. Here are some thoughts that might amuse you: https://adriandeans.wordpress.com/201...

[Adrian]

I actually love writing blurbs (I've done a few now). The secret is the first line. What is the overriding trigger/reason/motivation for the action in the book? Identify that and you are halfway there. For example, much of the action in my crime thriller Straight Jacket is inspired by the personality of the protagonist (and narrator) - a very arrogant lawyer with an overactive sense of justice, so the first line of the blurb was one of the lines from his internal monologue:

'If God is too indifferent, or too non-existent to take care of His creation, then clearly it's up to Me.'

The blurb then went on briefly not so much to summarise the action but to encapsulate the main two characters and their motivations/problems, and then wrap it up with something that gives a transcendent taste of the story without giving anything away. But once you get the first line right - a hook that drags the reader kicking and screaming towards the checkout desk - the rest of the blurb writes itself.

[Marilyn]

Wonderful, Margaret! Very happy for you!

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Adrian wrote: "There's lots of hard parts but the hardest is staying on the shelves long enough to make a splash. Here are some thoughts that might amuse you: https://adriandeans.wordpress.com/201......"

That post contains a lot of excellent advice. Thanks Adrian.

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Marilyn wrote: "Wonderful, Margaret! Very happy for you!"

Thanks Marilyn. :)

[Linda]

I have been bombarded on Facebook by comments about the Keto diet. But comments and recipes are all I get. For RAISING ARIZONA fans, comments and recipes 'won't do a thing for college tuition' or slimming the waist line. Speaking of RA, Mr. T and I were tooling along the free way in our genuine antique Jeep pick-up when smoke started rolling out from under the hood. He stopped and we looked Ed, Hi and Nathan, Jr., as we exited our Jeep. I was on the slope side of the road shoulder and looked oh so elegant trying to maintain a standing posture going down hill toward the ditch. Mr. T was screaming, "Don't fall!" but made no effort to help me climb back up the hill. The engine did not explode, and there was no fire, fortunately. Fortunately, my trip down to the ditch and back up the hill did not re-injure either foot, but it tore up my special shoes!

[Marilyn]

I just saw on the TV news that there is snow in Queensland! Where exactly it didn’t say. Here in So California it continued to rain thru May and that is VERY unusual.

[Ace]

Marilyn wrote: "I just saw on the TV news that there is snow in Queensland! Where exactly it didn’t say. Here in So California it continued to rain thru May and that is VERY unusual."

That would be Stanthorpe Marilyn, it snows almost every winter there.

[Marilyn]

I guess I should google it. I always thought Queensland as being tropical.

[happy]

Marilyn wrote: "I just saw on the TV news that there is snow in Queensland! Where exactly it didn’t say. Here in So California it continued to rain thru May and that is VERY unusual."

Here in Utah, we had the second wettest May on record - less than 1/2 in from the record.

One nice thing about all the rain is that May was much cooler than average - a lot of the snow is still in the mountains, so flooding probably won't be an issue this year.

We seemed to have moved back from Seattle - I hasn't rained yet in the month of June :)

[Marilyn]

Our lawn is very green, more so than usual. That’s because rainwater has lots of nitrogen. No need to buy it at the nursery. When you get enough rain it’s free!

[Adrian]

Queensland is a really big place. The very south, in the mountains, gets snow quite regularly, and yet the very north is close to the equator.

It's a diverse land we live in.

[Adrian]

As a (very minor) litterateur, I was invited to be a judge of the local literary festival (the Central Coast Five Lands).

I have to say I was VERY impressed with the standard submitted by amateurs. No wonder it's so hard to get published these days.

Further reason for you to feel chuffed Margaret?

[Bobby]

Margaret wrote: "If nobody minds I'll just sit here for a moment and squee loudly.

MY BOOK HAS BEEN ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION!!!

*breathes heavily*"

Damn....im a friend of a real, live author!! Well done Margaret, first round is on me!!

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Adrian wrote: "As a (very minor) litterateur, I was invited to be a judge of the local literary festival (the Central Coast Five Lands).

I have to say I was VERY impressed with the standard submitted by amateurs..."

Oh yeah. I have not had the usual publishing experience. Submitted my book to a publisher. They liked the story but wanted a rewrite. Rewrote it, expecting to get it rejected. It was accepted instead. I nearly fell off my chair when I opened the email. And then for them to tell me they want to release for their Christmas selling period! Well, my flabber was well and truly ghasted!

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Bobby wrote: "Margaret wrote: "If nobody minds I'll just sit here for a moment and squee loudly.

MY BOOK HAS BEEN ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION!!!

*breathes heavily*"

Damn....im a friend of a real, live author!! W..."
LOL. Thanks Bobby. :D

[Adrian]

That's a very unusual experience (presuming the publishers aren't your family or best mates). All I can say is you must be very talented (especially if that's your first novel). It took me 15 years to get a yes, and I still get plenty of nos despite four books published - mostly to fabulous reviews.

Publishing is getting harder and harder so you've done very well indeed. (And for any other budding authors out there, a publisher asking for a rewrite is definitely something to be excited about. Even if they eventually say no, it means you were close and need to keep plugging away.)

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Thanks Adrian.

I know so many good writers who are getting knocked back. It was such a shock to get accepted.

I didn't really believe it until I had the signed contract back.

[Linda]

Way to go, Margaret!

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Thanks Linda.

[Betsy]

Congratulations, Margaret!

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Thanks Betsy.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Haven't read back to see if Margaret mentioned it. Have been missing in action again. Sorry. This time (and I hate having to share, it's just that I am a mod so have to give my excuse..death in the family (father-in-law) and all that stuff that comes with it. Funerals, clearing out property etc..

I have not had much to do with social media at all. Just log into Facebook to check up on things such as live bull sales (which has to do with us as farmers).

So, forget I just told you all that. I definitely didn't want sympathy. Just wanted to share my very genuine excuse for vanishing.

Righto, back to the conversations....:-)

[Bobby]

You were...and are...missed. welcome back.

[May]

Here’s to managing our life events...knowing we are cared for & by friends near & far!! Hugs from NH

[Jane]

Ditto!

[Andrew]

Sorry for your loss, Terri, and welcome back.

[happy]

Terri,

No matter what the reason, you are missed - my sympathies for your loss

Welcome back!!!

[Adrian]

She said no sympathy guys so get on with it.

I'm reading Thomas of Hookton again. Damn your genius Cornwell!

[Ace]

Terri, my condolences to you and family.

[happy]

I would like to wish all those who reside in the USA - A Happy Independence Day! Enjoy the Fireworks and Bar-b-que!

For everyone else - Happy 4th of July :)

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Just seen news footage from South Carolina where a fireworks store caught fire.

[happy]

Wow - right now it is hailing - I hope it doesn't affect tonight's show

[Andy]

how good was that! First Aussie and now the Kiwis, what a wonderful Monday morning wake-up that must be for all my antipodian friends :)

[Adrian]

Enjoy your tinny luck for now and prepare to be smashed in the Ashes!