I have been internet less for almost a week now. Part of that was because the hotels we stayed in did not offer internet. The other half came from the fact that our map said there was a road when there was not, and we took a locals advice and became somewhat lost in the Cambodian jungle. But more on that to come over on Unleash (as soon as the pictures finally load up on Flickr that is).
But imagine my delight when I finally log in and check how the Iceland book is doing, and find out that it is number 3 in Kindle books on Iceland.
No reviews yet. Holding my breath and hoping that when they do come in they are good!
My newest Chasing Summer is out on my rude awakening to the truth about monkeys. Now when I see a tourist on the side of the road squeal in delight upon seeing a monkey, inwardly I sneer at their naivety. Cute, but oh so …. well… MEAN!
It is finished! And can be found here: Iceland: A Stormy Motorcycle Journey. I am ecstatic that it is finally out, and I am rather proud of myself too! The temptation to keep tinkering until it was “perfect” was strong. So I figured better to let a less than perfect book go out than never finish a book. Because nothing will ever be perfect! Someone will always find a problem with it. And in the end, I’m proud of it and that is all that I can do!
There has been little activity here on the blog front (or over on Unleash for that matter) for two reasons, both of them exciting for me. The first was the visit of my parents, and the other is that the past week (since they left) I have been putting the Iceland book together. I hope that today will be the final round of uploading and fixing of typos (each time I think that I am though and proudly pass the book off to be checked someone finds more!).
Until then I leave you with Bangkok Underwater, the next Chasing Summer article and the account of us hitting the floods on the way to get my parents at the airport.
There are 3 choices, but now it is down to number one or two. Please head over to Unleash Your Adventure and cast your vote on which cover you like best for my Iceland book!
I wish I had a picture from that day, but as my camera is not water proof I decided to leave it behind, and given the circumstances of what occurred, I think that was a rather intelligent decision! Perhaps the only one of the day!
So instead I leave you with a picture from the day before, when I could swim and the ocean was calm. What a difference 24 hours can make!
We are staying one week in Khao Lak, Thailand. The German has the opportunity to work remote on a project that requires about 100 hours and so we have decided to split it up into one week on the beach, and then one week in Bangkok. This means I get one week to write, and only write. My Iceland book is now off to editors (yes plural, I have decided to go with swapping services, so it goes through a series of them before it is finally finished) and I do not think it makes any sense to tinker with it until it is back. So that means I have one week to start a new project.
And my mind suffered a giant brain freeze of fear.
I honestly thought once I worked my way through the Iceland book starting a new project would be easier. I had done it before. Now it was time to start again. I do not even have work or other commitments pushing in on me like last time.
And not so.
So I did what most writers do, I let myself feel like I was working because I was on writer’s sites.
And found out I should feel afraid, because everyone does.
Mhairi Simpson just wrote a post that could have been taken out of my head, (including fighting the battle of fat, because that has been struggle for me since moving to Germany) and over on Writer UnboxedCarleen Brice talks about Writing Through Doubt, and how she still is afraid despite the success of her first novels and even having them made into TV movies.
And finally, if they do not convince you it is normal, then check out Elizabeth Gilbert’s TED talk. Love her or hate her (and we writers need to accept that there will alway be people in both camps about us, and stop letting that stop us!) I find this to be a great pep talk. And now I am off to write!
For anyone doubting the quality of self published work, they need look no further than Romi Moondi. I discovered her by accident. New to Smashwords as both a self published wannabe and an e book reader (I swore I would never convert, but you try lugging books around on a motorcycle, not counting the quality of trade ins, and see how fast you sell out to a wireless device that holds an entire library with replenishments a wireless connection away!) I wanted to try some freebies first.
Since I am working on travel accounts first, I did a search for freebies under travel in Smashwords. Most, even though they were free, did not appeal. This did not bode well for self publishing. But Moondi’s Awkward Memoirs From Actual India had a good looking cover and a description that intrigued. (So yes, even “free” means you need to invest some time, because my time itself is worth money to me. I live with a German don’t forget.)
I was hooked. She had me snorting out loud. And forking over my money for The Book Of Awful.
You know a book is going to be great when the first line (which is a dedication) has you giggling already:
To my parents: for not letting me wear a real bra or whorish makeup ‘till age eighteen, and for keeping me in the house after dark…for AN ETERNITY. All that time not dating helped me realize I like to write. Thanks.
The rest of the book goes on to help readers feel better by showing them how much worse life could truly be. Sometimes the humor is twisted, but it is always laugh out loud.
I can not wait until her Year Of The Chick comes out.
And if you are debating free, take Neil Gaiman’s wise words into account, free is like getting a book out of a library, or borrowing from a friend. It can introduce your work to readers who otherwise would have been afraid to fork out the cash. (And yes Gaiman is on the list of author’s whom when I met in real life I creeped out by going all weirdo speechless around. Lucky for me his creepy and awkward fans rank in the thousands, and I blend in, unlike other authors I wont mention).
