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!

A Cambodian beastie:

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.

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!

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 Unboxed Carleen 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!

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).

In my defense authors are like movie stars to me!