Memorial Day Weekend

This Memorial Day hits a little harder than usual after so many losses last year. Hold your loved ones tight, remember those you've lost, and enjoy life this weekend.

Keeping Cool and Paying the Cafe

Our A/C has been running pretty consistently this week, and we have a month to go before it's officially summer. If you're a writer having trouble staying cool during a heatwave, now's definitely the time to hang out at Starbucks or any other cafe to stay cool. Yeah, I know it's a cliche, but for us older folks, keeping cool is a necessity!

But make sure you're reimbursing the cafe. My rule of thumb is $3-5 per hour you're there.

Caffeinated drinks can dehydrate you, and sugary drinks don't help with your waistline. I often buy a large ice tea and a bottle of water from the cafe. I also plan to visit for breakfast or lunch. Why? Because 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. are generally the hottest time of the day.

I know this may seem silly, but temperatures are rising around the world. No one's going to be immune from the effects. So take care of yourself and stay cool.

Read the TOS!

With more and more third parties breaking into book distribution, many of their Terms of Service ("TOS") are turning into out-and-out rights grabs. Writers looking to release need to watch their asses very carefully.

More specifically, watch out for ugly TOSs from parties promoting distribution of audio books based on their own AI narrators. I know I've been looking into AI narrators because I can't afford a live person to narrate one of my novels. The free AI audiobook production offers make me nervous because invariably there's a clause buried deep in the TOS claiming they have the right to modify and distribute your audiiobook files for the life of the copyright.

That's a damn hefty fee to pay for what is allegedly freeware.

Intellectual property ("IP") is the new money maker for capitalists. Don't get me wrong. If you created the IP, you should have the right to capitalize on it. Unfortunately, reality means there are jerks who will do anything to trick you out of your property. Even the invisible, imaginary crap in your head.

So before you sign up for anything AI-related or otherwise, do an in-depth read of the TOS. Your writing career depends on it!

Music I've Been Listening to Lately

These girls knew how to get a party started!

Blessed Sleep

After getting up early through the weekend to talk to the artist in Bulgaria who's working on the special Justice project and early medical appointments the last two days, I crashed hard last night. Bella and Blaze even cooperated. No bark-laden roughhousing occurred until after I got up.

Twelve and a half hours of solid sleep did me good. Now, if I can stick to my current schedule...

It should be possible with Genius Kid used to being on day shift at his new shop.

I got the notice from the USPS that the first boxes have arrived to their backers. Yay! Next step is to format and print out labels for the remaining boxes. Unfortunately, I may have to do that late at night. Otherwise, I have two furry helpers climbing on kitchen chairs and volunteering their assistance.

Nope, the kitchen table wasn't the safe space I thought it would be. I really need to get my desk cleaned off before the next Kickstarter so I have some decent work space, and I can close the door.

Crazy Week and It's Only Monday

I spent the weekend filling boxes with loot from last year's Kickstarter. It will be a relief to have my living room and office back. DH asked why I wasn't sitting on the floor, which has been SOP for years when I was mailing Christmas presents to out-of-state nieces and nephews.

Needless to say, I dared him to sit on the floor. He quickly learned that if a human is on the floor, it's a signal to Princess Bella to drag all her toys over to you and place them in the open boxes. Some of my backers almost ended up with Kongs.

I'm still putting together the paperback for Queer Eye for the Super Guy. The re-write of Spells and Sleuths is finished and edits have started. And I need to finish the two short stories that were the part of the Kickstarter stretch goals so the audiobooks can be recorded.

There are surprises in the works for the Justice series' tenth anniversary. I really, really hope the readers of that series love the things in the works. My artist is doing some wonderful artwork for the projects.

Best of all, I had my annual mammogram this morning. For the last five years, it's been like sitting on a grenade. Has the cancer taken hold in the other breast? I've already had a lumpectomy, several needle biopsies, and a core sample. 

To my relief, the radiologist said everything looked good. Which means I'll be off tamoxifen at the end of June and I can drink during a writers' retreat I'm going to in July in Oregon. Like I told a few friends, it's not that I'm a huge drinker. I just don't like choices being taken away from me.

Actually, it's the second best thing. Genius Kid and the Grandpuppy are on their way here. Which means it'll be a Cincinnati chili and Long Johns week, too.

Music I've Been Listening to Lately

I remember dancing to this in the clubs.

It's Going to Be a Busy Weekend!

Three boxes filled with Death in Double Mocha arrived this afternoon. Yep, they arrived a week early to my shock and surprise.

That means between cleaning the house before GK arrives for leave late Monday/early Tuesday and spotting for the booth during the Flag City Phantoms game Saturday night, I need to pack up 70 Kickstarter reward boxes.

I'm so not complaining! The movies I wanted to see in March and April are rolling into streaming so I'll be watching those while packing, taping, and slapping mailing labels on those boxes.

Yay! I can't wait!

Music I've Been Listening to Lately

We're all too sexy for this song!

May the Fourth Be with You!