Cover Reveal — A Vampire Wedding

I’m thinking my newsletter bombed. Not many people opened it (only 22.5%), so not many people saw my awesome cover. I really must work on those subject lines. Apparently mine aren’t exciting enough (cause if they were, people would have opened my newsletter, right?). But is it possible to make them exciting without sounding spammy? Hmmm…

Anyway, hopefully I’ll get a better response here (and on Facebook and Google +) regarding my cover reveal. So are you ready? Really? Then scroll down…

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A little more…

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Here it is!

 

Isn’t it awesome? When I found the picture I knew right away it was perfect. However, the shape wasn’t right for a cover. J Mick Consulting (a friend of hubby’s) did a wonderful job in making it work.

I’ve received the edits back from my editor (first round, anyway) and I’m currently making the necessary changes. I would really like to have this novella available by June 1st, but I’m afraid to put it out there for pre-sale. What if I screw up? What if it’s not ready? I really don’t think I need to add more pressure on myself. If it goes to my formatter (hubby) before then, then I might reconsider the pre-sale thing. I hear it helps to gain interest. How? I have no idea. I personally don’t pre-order much. Probably because I’m afraid if I pre-ordered it, then I’d go and order it again when it released. Because I’m dumb like that.

Good news! Big Red is home. Dell replaced the hard drive, wireless card, heatsink (whatever the heck that is) and reinstalled the operating system (which means, yeah, I have to add all my software—again!). I sure hope that fixed it. I’ll find out once I can actually start using it again. Hubby has to add Word & Excel (Big Red doesn’t have a CD/DVD and I’m not techy enough to figure out how to install it otherwise).

But it’s back. It’s back! It’s BACK!! I’m really happy. This past week I remembered why I wanted to replace the HP. Ugh.

Here’s a honey funny to end the week. I keep a grocery list by the toaster for anyone to add what they need from the store (when I get around to actually shop, that is). The other day I had opened my last bottle of iron tablets so I wrote the following on the list: Iron, 65 mg. The next day I noticed a new entry: Gold, 1.3 lbs.

Yeah, I laughed.

So… Do you live with a cut up, too? Sometimes I can only shake my head.

Have a great weekend! It’s Hubby’s birthday on Sunday. Columbus friend is coming over on Saturday to cook lasagna. I’m making a cake. Should be fun!!!

Stacy

A Honey Funny

My husband’s brain sometimes doesn’t think right. Case in point:

When the Steelers won Super Bowl XL, he went on line to purchase t-shirts and whined they only came in extra-large. It took me a second to realize what he was seeing. I said you mean Super Bowl XL? Yeah, he slapped his head. Yeah, I cracked up.

Well, last night he did it again.

He told me he was looking in the mirror and wondered when he got a shirt from the USO.

I looked at his scarlet and gray shirt…

with the letters…

O S U.

I cracked up!

Yeah, he eventually realized his mistake.

But ain’t it great he SHARES this stuff with me? I mean, he didn’t HAVE to tell me.

Man, I love that guy!

 

So... Have you ever seen things not quite the way they are?

Happy Friday.

 

Stacy

One Crazy Conversation

While at dinner last night, my husband was entitled to a dessert with his meal. I told him that if he didn’t want his whole dessert, he could get the strawberry cheesecake cookie and we’d split it. He looked at me as if I were nuts.

When it came time to get his dessert, I asked him what he picked.

HUBBY: Whatever you want.

ME: I told you what I want.

HUBBY: Then tell the waitress.

ME: Why can’t you?

HUBBY: Because then there’s no chance I’ll get it wrong. I read “Wives 101.”

ME: What is “Wives 101”?

HUBBY: The book written by hundreds of successful husbands.

ME: Don’t you consider yourself a successful husband?

HUBBY: Sure. I read the book.

And that’s what dinner conversation is like with my hubby (at times). That man sure knows how to crack me up!

Have a great Monday!

Stacy

 

San Antonio - "Hey isn't that the woman I almost killed?"

We arrived in San Antonio on Tuesday. It rained all day on our drive from Branson. It also rained all day on Wednesday, so we spent the day at the movie theatre. Watched “Gravity” and “Captain Phillips.” First one was good (we saw the non-3D version), but the second one was intense! My emotions were all over the place with that one. What a great movie.

Still, with the weather the way it was, I was beginning to wonder if we’d ever see the sun again (dramatic, aren’t I??). We got LUCKY. Thursday was GORGEOUS!

We were staying at a hotel only about a mile from The Alamo, but, not knowing the area, we drove (and paid for parking). While looking for a parking lot, my husband almost hit this woman (I told him to watch out, but he apparently hadn’t heard me). She screamed. He yelled he was sorry. She yelled, "What, are you crazy?" He yelled back that he was a crazy guy.

We parked and headed to The Alamo. The place has changed A LOT since 1982. I’m talking about inside the shrine. I just don’t remember it having so much stuff on display. In fact, I remember (and so does my husband) it being rather empty! Also, the Woolworth that used to be across the street is no longer there. Now, it’s Ripley’s Believe it or Not. Of course, it still seems strange how this landmark is in the middle of downtown San Antonio.

As we sat outside and contemplated our next move, my husband said “Hey, isn’t that the woman I almost killed?” She was standing not that far from us, taking a picture of The Alamo. He asked where we were going next. I said the Riverwalk. He got up and said, let’s go this way (in the direction away from the woman). My daughter and I laughed and called him a chicken.

At the Riverwalk, we decided to take one of the boat tours. When we finished our tour and decided what we wanted to do next, my husband pointed at a boat driving by “Hey, isn’t that the woman I almost killed?” Sure enough, it was. My daughter and I laughed, but we made sure she didn’t see us.

We walked the path and not ten minutes later my husband said, “Hey, isn’t that the woman I almost killed?” She was getting off her boat tour (at a different spot than where we took ours) and thankfully across the river. After my daughter and I finished laughing, I said, “If we see her at Hard Rock (which was our ultimate destination), I’m going to wonder what’s going on!” Then my daughter found the restrooms across the river and needed to use it. My husband said, “Sure, get us closer to her!” I said, “Let’s hope she remembers the car more than she remembers the driver.” Luckily, that was the last we saw of her. But what the heck! I mean, what are the odds we’d see that same woman over and over? Weird…

We found Hard Rock and I got my magnet. My daughter got her shot glass. We did not eat there, though. Instead, we wanted to eat at a place local to the area and found a BBQ place next door. We even got a table by the river. We all ordered the brisket sandwich. Man, that was one goooood sandwich. If you ever find yourself on the Riverwalk and want a good place to eat, I highly recommend The Country Line Riverwalk.

Today we head on up to Austin. Nothing else planned. But Saturday and Sunday is the USAFL Nationals (the purpose of our trip). My daughter plays two games on Saturday and at least two games on Sunday (she’s playing on the Sacramento team as a free-agent). We’re hoping the rain stays away. I didn’t bring any rain gear and we only have one umbrella!

Here are the latest links to Lyrical Press’s Celebrate Paranormal Month:

October 16: There was no post, so I didn’t screw up by not updating Wednesday’s post!
October 17: http://lyricalpress.com/2013/10/17/celebrate-paranormal-month-amy-lee-burgess-inside/
October 18: (will update when I get the link)

Happy Friday! And please send my daughter some good luck. She’d like to play more this year than she did in last year’s Nationals.

Stacy

Convention, Swag, and a Funny (and maybe a rant thrown in)

I had a really nice time at the Lori Foster Reader/Author Get Together. I mainly hung out with author Nickie Asher and had lots of fun with her. It was also nice seeing lots of writer friends and meeting new readers (somehow, hanging with someone made it a whole bunch easier to do). I might have even generated a couple of sales. Whoo hoo!

Sadly, I didn’t take many pictures. Oh…except this one from a boardroom ran by some writers (mainly Darynda Jones, Robyn Peterman, and Macy Beckett - there were others, but those are the authors I remember).

 

 

They had some condoms for the taking (don’t know why but I’m sure it had to do with someone’s book) and by the last day, they got used as balloons. Had lots of fun batting them back and forth across the table.

And you thought they only did strange stuff at RT? Ha ha!

What’s really great is that next year I’ll be attending as an AUTHOR and I’ll be able to sit during the book signing and not sign any books! J (In case you didn’t get the joke, that’s because my books will only be available digitally.) I’ll be able to sign something, though (provided people are interested), I just haven’t decided which way to go. Probably book cover cards or something like that. Book marks would seem strange to give away, because where are you going to put them on your e-reader?

Doesn’t mean I won’t have them, because I still plan on taking some to Dragon*Con and I’ll probably have leftovers. There, I’d rather promote myself instead of just my book. Still need that moon shot, though. Next chance: June 23 (which also happens to be my mother’s birthday). Here’s hoping the weather cooperates. Apparently, the moon will. I heard that’s when it’s closest to Earth. Ooh, BIG moon shots. I’m almost drooling.

Hey, want to see something funny?

My husband loves his Diet Coke. When we go to a restaurant, he usually asks for a Diet Coke, a refill for that Diet Coke, and a refill for the refill (he downs them pretty quickly). Our local Bob Evans knows to just give him 3-4 at a time. Well, when we were up in Michican, we visited the Bob Evans near our hotel and he pretty much ordered that every morning. On the third morning, the waitress wised up and gave him this.

Notice the straw? Yep, that was included. We all had a nice laugh.

Would you believe he finished it? Of course he did. He felt he had an image to uphold.

Have you noticed some blogs seem to have only Google+ comments? I really do NOT want to have to remember another sign-on just to comment, so I won’t comment. Is there some reason you can’t have multiple sign-ons? Have you heard if blogger is changing? I sure hope it’s not! Because if that’s the case, I might as well switch to Word Press. I already have an account with them.

So tell me, what’s your beverage of choice for breakfast? Mine’s coffee with LOTS of cream. Yum!

Stacy

 

 

Traveling Can Be Funny

Yep, the husband took another business trip to Kentucky (along with a co-worker, who used to be my co-worker and is our friend), and I again followed him down here. When a different friend pointed out I was actually SAVING money (by not using my own electricity and water), well, how could I NOT go?

Granted, I had some things to accomplish before I would take the trip. Namely – finish decorating the Christmas tree, sending out the Christmas cards, and get my parents' presents mailed (since they live in California and I'm not visiting during the holidays). Well, I accomplished that and more – got ALL my Christmas shopping done. Yay!

(**pats self on back**)

Okay, so how is that all funny? Well, it's not. But this is:

We had to stop for gas on the way down, so the husband did that and filled up. When we headed back to the freeway, something was clunking against the car. My husband looked in all the mirrors (basically wondering if he ran over someone – he said, later, he pictured the guy holding on for dear life). I told him the gas cap was hitting the side of the car (no I didn't see it; the cap was on his side). He groaned. Our friend and I laughed (and laughed and laughed).

He hates it when I'm right. So now I'm wondering if he'd rather he ran over someone. Hmmm…

Ah, but it doesn't stop there. Last week our friend complained about her room. Said the crack in the door was so wide, you could see through it (in this, my husband jokingly said anyone peeking in would probably get sick), so she got another room, where she never did get any hot water (in this, she jokingly blamed my husband for stealing it all). When it came time to make reservations for this trip, my husband told her he thought long and hard, but was getting a room at the same place (pretty much saying – tough toenails).

She got him back, though, when they were getting ready to leave for the manufacturing plant and the car was all covered in frost (yeah, it was that cold down here). My husband said it wasn't a problem, his friend went out there and cleaned the windows. She told him she thought long and hard, but decided to stay indoors (they crack me up).

Still, there's more. When checking in, she made sure to get a room on a different floor (no more unseated doors or cold water), but when she went to blow dry her hair, it only spit out a little bit of air. I asked her was it set on LOW. She said she didn't realize it had settings until after using it for 40 minutes when she accidentally hit the switch and the air came out faster. Yeah, I cracked up. She did, too. Good thing, or I wouldn't be sharing this with you all.

Yep, you can have fun on business trips, even when you aren't there for the business!

As for my writing project, got lots accomplished. I'm taking this awesome, free class through the RWA University, and it's given me some great pointers, which I've already put to good use. I can't wait until I'm finished and give this story back to my daughter to read. I hope she notices all the improvements (I certainly am anyway!).

Oh, I do have a mini-poll, if you don't mind answering. Book 1 is originally titled "The Uncommon One." I'm thinking of changing the title to "Bite Me, I'm Yours." If you want to know what the story is about, you can always read the query (on the tab, above). Anyway, do you think that title sounds better? That maybe it's more sellable? It's really starting to grow on me, but I'd hate to get attached and find out it sucks.

Thanks so much. I'll be checking back later tonight (I won't have internet until I get home). Have a super-duper Friday!

 

Perspective

About five years ago I played softball. My position was catcher. Now, it had been years (30) since I had played, but I knew how the game was played. And I loved to play. Besides, I worked out. Or so I thought.

Needless to say, the day after the first game, I could barely walk. Getting in and out of the car was torturous and I had to use my hands to lift my legs inside.

My husband laughed at me.

Fast forward to this past weekend.

My husband walked 12 miles on Sunday (that's not a typo). When he returned from his walk, we went to dinner. After dinner, we went back to the truck. He struggled to get into the vehicle, using his hand to lift his leg, then grabbing onto the steering wheel to haul his ass into the truck.

I laughed at him.

Guess it's all in the perspective.

Or…payback's a bitch!

A Honey Funny

This morning, as I was pouring the cereal into my bowl, I noticed a small bottle on the counter with a lid that said "Fat Free". Wondering what was in the bottle, I picked it up. It was Tylenol gel caps. I thought it was a strange thing to put on a pill bottle, so I figured the gel caps must now be fat free.

I get the milk from the refrigerator. The cap on the milk is one of those "push and turn" child-proof types. What was Kroger doing to their milk now? Don't they want kids to get into it? That's when I looked at the "Fat Free" cap again.

Apparently my husband switched the caps last night (since he takes his pills with milk). Didn't know if I should be worried or not. I decided to laugh instead. When I told him what he had done, he said "Oh! That's why it was so hard to put the cap on the milk," and laughed along with me.

I'm sure glad Kroger isn't putting child-proof caps on their milk. What a pain to get off!! But should I worry about my husband? This is the same man who, after the Steelers won Super Bowl XL, stated he wanted to get a Super Bowl shirt, but they only came in extra large. After I busted out laughing, I had to explain to him that the XL wasn't for the size.

He knew that - he truly did. Just not at the moment he wanted to buy the shirt!

Life is never dull with him around!