Amazon.Com Orders

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Good news / Bad News.  The good news is I received 2 orders off Amazon.com for Lessons In Stalking.  The bad news is, the books are still at the printers so I have no way to fulfill the orders.

I'm not quite sure how it works.  I think Amazon alerts the customers and then just holds on to the orders until I have the book to ship to them (Amazon).  I need to catch up with my printer.  She was supposed to fax me the final corrections on Friday but I didn't receive them.  Once I approve the corrections, my understanding is that it's 20 days from that time that I will have the book in hand. 

I am so behind on pre-publicity for the book it gives me a headache to even think about it.  I have done nothing--zip, zero, nada--in terms of even thinking about arranging a launch party.  Luckily, my good friend and PR goddess Pamela Cable has offered to help me.  I just need to get it scheduled on my calendar. 

The cat book is very close to done, although I have no idea if or to what extent I'd be involved in any rewrites or reorganization of materials.  I'm going to spend the rest of today on it and I should have the final three chapters ready to submit tomorrow.  One thing I don't know is when they plan to release it.  It would obviously be a great gift book for Christmas but that's a really fast turnaround, considering they still have to find photos, obtain permissions, complete layout, etc. 

The remainder of my week will be spent writing bankruptcy articles and organizing myself for a magazine writing class I'm teaching this Saturday through UNC-G.  Never a dull moment.

Okay, Speaking Can Be Like, Hard. You Know?

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I gave a 30-minute speech on Wednesday to my Toastmaster's group.  The speech was the "stock" speech I deliver at job clubs and business luncheons in the area with tips for being a more successful speaker. 

Overall, I was pleased with how the speech went and how it was received.  However, it was pointed out that while I have excellent control over not saying "um" or "ah," I do have the verbal tic of saying "Okay" and "You know?"

I knew I had these so it's no great surprise.  Still, it was a little bit like having cold water throw on me to have someone else point out my flaws.  But everything for a reason.  I have 4 months to get these tics under control until I present at NSA University.  So I've asked Blair to help me and point out every time I say "okay" or "you know," even in casual conversation. 

"Do I get to throw things at you when you do it?" he asked.

Yes, he's a joy to live with.

But this is an alert for family and friends as well.  Yell or blow a whistle at me or something every time you hear me say "Okay" and "You know."  I'm thinking of setting up a charity jar and putting a dollar in it every time I mess up.  I am loath to part with money so perhaps that will do the trick.

You know?

Outline Approved (Whew!)

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Received an e-mail yesterday evening that my outline for the cat book was approved and "they loved it."  Thank you, God!  A few minor revisions, but nothing major.  She didn't set a new deadline so I've self-imposed one on myself--revisions to first three chapters completed by this Friday, remaining three chapters completed and submitted by next Friday.  And I'm sure there will be tweaking and revisions after that. 

The past few days I've been working on other projects - I completed a draft of an article due in October, bid on a few jobs on Guru, sent out some queries, etc.  And I was surprised at how much I missed  working on the cat book, stress and all.  I really enjoy focusing on one big project.  That's part of the reason I'm stressing about doing a stellar job on this book.  One, I want anything with my name on it to be quality, but also because they put out a number of these type books and I'd love to work on another one. 

I did land a new Guru assignment.  I will now be writing articles on....bankruptcy.  I know, what a hoot!  Me, who can't add 2+2 without using a combination of fingers and a calculator.  But there's a a company that helps people straighten out their credit and they're launching a magazine for the "average Joe" on how to have good credit, tips for avoiding bad credit, what bankruptcy is, how it affects you, etc.

I applied for the job because in my former position at the Women's Resource Center we held workshops on credit counseling and I'd seen the toll bad credit could take on a person's life and just overall attitude.  So I applied, thinking I could write the touchy-feely articles.  Instead, I've been assigned to explain the new bankruptcy laws coming out in October!  I spent most of yesterday reading about bankruptcy and it's much more interesting than I ever would have thought.  I never before really knew the difference between a Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filing. 

And these new laws are scary. For example, if you file, your expenses aren't based on actual prices but rather on pre-determined "allowable expense" limits.  So if you live in an area where the price of housing has skyrocketed and your mortgage or rent payment is higher than the "allowable expense," too bad for you. (Don't I sound at least a little bit like I know what I'm talking about?)

Anyway, my last two new assignments are for writing about cars and bankruptcy.  Soon I'll be writing PR for Republicans and my transformation to the Dark Side will be complete.