Writing: On track with 100 pages done on final edits Years of Stone. Still shy one blog post for the week, but that's doable. Working on guest blog by March 15 and beta read by March 20.
Community. So far behind on GoodReads. Did twitter this week. Twittered. Can't make the f2f writers' group today (the very large one), but that's OK. Participate in WIPpet Weds today. Maybe?
Marketing. Had to recategorize and resort my mailing lists (the new Excel didn't save all my work, or I'm not smart enough for this new version). Sent out my first 'personalized' e-mail to first two groups. Wow! What a response to hear from folks I haven't written to for a while. This was really grand, just to share the news of Standing Stones now out there. There's a bounce in my book sales too, though I really didn't expect that. I'm answering e-mails through the week and will catch up by tomorrow for a second targeted e-mailing. I do hate asking people to either buy the book or review the book, but everyone who responded to me seemed excited to learn about the publication -- and didn't see the release on FB or other e-mails. Interesting marketing strategy.
Also going down to a second local bookstore today to drop off books. Pretty straightforward process here, though I'm wondering if most indie bookstores do this for self-published authors -- 40%/60% commission split on commission; check in monthly; now on list for signings.
I'm still wondering if other writers use e-mail as a marketing tool. Will do more research here. I did ask if people wanted to be kept on my mailing list. People said, "Yes!"
About Women's History Month. Not so sure I can find a poem today, but this is the picture I'm remembering from Turkey. This shows the kitchen of a small restaurant we found in Ankara. The day was cold and snowy. We had just walked our feet off at the state museum in Ankara, drooling over Neolithic sculptures (lots of female goddesses). These women welcomed us inside with hot tea and fresh bread (and kindly consented to have their picture taken). What a celebration of Turkish hospitality and culture. Why is this part of women's history? It's what we do -- make beauty out of simple acts.
 |
| Zenger Pasha (Camp 2004) |
I count on my Goodreads being out of date. I want to add all the books I've ever read, but that will take me years.
ReplyDeleteBut... if I don't keep my Goodreads COMPLETELY up to date, and I run into an author who asks "Have you added my book to your Goodreads yet?" I can honestly say "Oh, I haven't yet...I'm so behind on Goodreads!"
Your comment made me smile, but GoodReads brings together a rather interesting community of readers. I sure agree for I too am behind on my reading -- and that doesn't count those wonderful books I've added to the TBR lists.
DeleteGood read. Life has a few interesting facets, one of them, a mental game of whack a mole. I hope next round would produce more fruit for you.
ReplyDeleteBy the way the picture reminds me of aboriginal women of past generation, well my father's generation. Smoking geese, fish, stork, ducks, and cooking bannock on stick.
Thank you for your good wishes. Sometimes I think we live such privileged lives that we forget the work previous generations of women have done.
DeleteYour welcome.
DeleteIn my region, gathering wood was once a woman's task, along with cleaning the kills, tanning the hides, preserving the meat.
I was raised by my late grandmother. She told me that life back then was hardships of the northern canadian bush, she told me one tale that sent goose flesh up my spine and something about a cannibalistic giant creature with no lips and finger tips.
Fascinating! My grandfather called me up one afternoon (we were living in northern California then). He taught me how to skin out a deer, not a skill your average English teacher has! But Book 3 (currently in research phase) will be partly set in northern Canada, near Hudson's Bay. I will keep your story in mind.
DeleteI concur not an skill for English teacher, still not bad, its very rare to read about white women skinning and cleaning a kill.
DeleteIf I remember correctly there was one superstition in regards to stacking dry fire wood in a certain way. if it tumbles the certain way, someone would die.
I have a GoodReads page. I haven't been there in over a year. It's semi-permanently relegated to the "when the kids are grown and I live a gypsy life again" file...
ReplyDeleteI just haven't needed it, or found the time to explore there. Things to write, things to plot, things to edit, people to love and to raise.
I love your Turkish story, and especially that bit about women making simple things beautiful. That's - well, simply beautiful.