No Wednesday Reads, and an Upgrade Fail

I’ve been reading, just not enough to finish a book this past week. At least I will have something to report next week. And if I’m smart, I’ll read a novella after I finish and have TWO books to report. In any case, I’m about 14 books behind schedule. At my rate, I doubt I’ll ever catch up. Which is a shame. I have SOOOOOOO many books I want to read!

But hey, I’m getting my revisions done. That’s the important thing right now.

You know how I loathe change, right? Well, one of my apps changed and I am not happy.

I track my distance walking on the Nike+ Run app (FYI—I use the FitBit to track steps I take all day, which is inaccurate when it comes to recording the distance). I didn’t use the Nike app for everything it offered, just the simple stuff. Like the GPS when I walked, adding in my treadmill walking, and sharing it all on Facebook (I don’t post a lot there, so it was something and it was also a good motivator for me). I also enjoyed seeing the badges I earned, and seeing which walk was the farthest or fastest, and the routes I took on those days I walked outside. It was fun stuff. Okay, fun for me. If it’s not fun for me, I’m liable not to do it, you know?

Well, Nike changed their app. It’s now Nike+ Run Club. I lost all the badges. Lost which walks were the farthest or fastest. Lost the routes I took. Worst of all, I can’t seem to find a way to share my walk on Facebook. In other words, the app is USELESS to me. It took away all my motivators. Worse: it took away my fun.

I’m not the only one unhappy with this change. Apparently people lost their coaches, plans, and mileage on their shoes (I didn’t even know that was a thing). The new app is getting a big fat ONE in ratings. Makes me wonder exactly what Nike had hoped to accomplish with this upgrade. It certainly wasn’t to make their current users happy, because they aren’t. Not by a long shot.

So now I’m looking for another app to track my walking via GPS (one that will post my walks on Facebook), because I don’t like the new Nike app anymore. I just have a feeling it may take me awhile before I find an app I like.

Man, I hate change! It’s so time consuming! Ugh!

So… Do major upgrades make you as crazy as they do me? Please, I can’t be the only one. Share one with me.

Stacy

Traveling, Footy, Fan Girling, and Ugh

I’m spending a long time in the car today without access to my phone. Why? Because we’re using it for the GPS—Waze. Have you ever used that app? I think I like it better than the Garmin. Plus, people will report when they’ve spotted the police, as well as accidents or hazards in the road. Kind of stuff that comes in handy when you’re traveling.

Anyway, won’t have my phone, so I won’t be able to check messages or this blog. I tried to use my laptop and connect via the hotspot on the way to Austin, but trying to read anything on the laptop screen when the sun is shining on it is pretty much impossible. That, and the laptop just gets me HOT. I have enough trouble with hot flashes as it is.

Of course, driving north, I might want some warmth, huh? I’ve heard it was kind of cold back home. Guess I’ll find out soon enough.

Weather in Austin was WONDERFUL, though. Sunny and warm. The warm probably wasn’t so good for the footy players, but I enjoyed it. As for the tournament…

My daughter’s team won their first game, lost their second game just as time ran out, and got their socks knocked off in their third game by the eventual winners of their division (although my daughter was kind of proud that they scored the most points against that team – 12). They performed much better as a team this year than last, when they lost all their games and scored a total of 1 point. Yeah, you read that right.

Oh, and my daughter did NOT break her foot again. Just don’t ask about her ankle. I know I’m afraid to.

While in Austin I was able to meet up with Meg Gardiner Saturday for dinner. She’s not only one of my favorite authors, we went to the same high school, having graduated the same year, even. We lived a couple of blocks from each other (my parents and her mother still do!), but never hooked up in school (although our sisters were friends). We met several years ago when she was in Dayton for a book signing (she was living in England at the time). Since then I’ve been stalking following her via her blog and Facebook. J And I’ve read ALL her books. You should too. They’re great reads.

It was so neat to talk to her and I’m so glad we were able to finally get together (I tried when I discovered she was in Santa Barbara the same time I was in March 2014, but it didn’t work out).

This is going to be a busy week for me, and one that won’t involve a lot of writing. After we get home on Tuesday, we get to leave bright and early on Wednesday for the first of my pre-surgery appointments, when I get another EKG and echocardiogram. But the not-so-fun thing is the heart catheterization on Thursday. Supposed to determine how much they’ll cut me during surgery (if I have any heart blockages or something like that). Since I have appointments on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, we’re just staying up in Cleveland Wed & Thu nights. I’m hoping we’ll be able to leave early enough on Friday so we can make the Wayne HS football game at 7pm. I’d like to go to the game. We’re still undefeated!!

Oh, and in case you were wondering, it’s about a 3-hour drive (depending on traffic). I can’t imagine what that drive will feel like in November. **groan**

I think that’s what scares me the most: how much pain will I feel? I don’t want to get hooked on pain meds or anything like that. I hate taking pills!

Still… I feel the same facing this surgery as I did when I was pregnant with our first born. Not looking forward to all the pain, but knowing there was no way around it. J

Thanks for sticking around. I’ll reply to comments (if any) eventually (probably Tuesday). Happy Monday!

Stacy

Getting Busy with Promotion (or at least TRYING)

I’m getting ready for my next convention, which is Dragon*Con. No, I’m not going to be on any panels (I did request to be a guest and was graciously turned down), but they do have an area where people place their promotional stuff.

I was going to put some postcards of My Sunny Vampire on this table, but now I have two books (yay!), which meant making a decision. Should I create a postcard for Bite Me, I’m Yours OR should I create a postcard that has both books on it? After careful deliberation (and some much welcome feedback), I went with a postcard featuring both books. I contacted Maria Zannini (of Book Cover Diva) for some help and she came up with something my brain never would have dreamed about! What do you think of this postcard?



This is the front!



This is the back!

I think it will be eye-catching and hopefully will generate some interest in my books. Not that a lot of Dragon*Con fans are romance readers, but hey, some are! Like me!

Do any of you have problems finding stuff to read? Well, there are a couple of FREE ways you can find books to your liking. One is The Fussy Librarian. Just sign up for their daily newsletter, let them know the types of books you’re interested in, and each day you’ll receive a different list of books to your liking. I signed up because I planned on advertising and wanted to see what I would be getting for my six bucks. They only list books that have gotten good reviews, so if you request to advertise and your book doesn’t pass the test, you get your money back. Mine passed the test, and I was included in the July 6 newsletter, but alas, no sales. I’ll give it another try with my next book (or if My Sunny Vampire goes on sale). I have noticed some books that look interesting, but I really MUST stop buying! At least until I’ve dwindled down my stack of books to read.

Another other free way to find books is through the Novel Engagement app. Novel Engagement is a book discovery app, focused exclusively on romance novels, that helps readers discover new romance novels and connect with authors. You can download the following apps:

Apple Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/novel-engagement/id858586481?mt=8

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.RWA.gcm.push

Eventually, their website http://www.novelengagement.com will also feature this app (or whatever). I’m looking forward to that coming up so I can see what it looks like since I do not have a smart phone…yet.

But that may happen sooner than later. You see… My husband brought home an iPhone 4 so I can get used to using one. I only have myself to blame for this. I mentioned that I just MIGHT have to break down and get one, especially since they come in handy at conventions (using their apps to keep track of the panels) and I’d be able to communicate online easier (i.e. e-mail and Facebook) while away from my computer.

Hubby told me to get our daughter to help me load apps on the phone (which is only set up for wi-fi at the time, I will not upgrade my phone just yet). I called him a chicken, because he knows how much I just LOVE change! Hahaha! Yeah, that’s sarcasm there. He didn’t disagree.

So… How do you find books to read? Do you peruse bookstores (online or physical) or rely on word of mouth only?

 

Have a great Monday (if it's possible!)

Stacy