Letter To Newbie Writer.....

Dear Writer:
So you think you have a finished product and would like it published?  I have NO problem helping you out, and even pointing you in the right direction of editors, cover artist, and getting it formatted correctly.

But based on a recent wip that someone sent us, here are some basic guidelines:

1)  When you send me your MS, I expect a FINISHED product.
      a)  Finished=No spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors.
      b)  MS in either Word, RTF doc, or equivalent.  NOT a 'notepad'.
2)  I expect you to have done your homework and know basic publishing terms, such as Title, Bio, Dedication, or have at least some IDEA of what you want for in a title or cover art.
3)  I also expect you to know what size book you have in mind.  How many pages is it?  Do you want a hardback or paperback?  Do you want e-book?
4)  I expect you to have some sort of marketing idea.  Do you just want to hand out copies to friends and family, or do you want to do some local events?  If you live farther than 3 hours from me, I will NOT help you do this.  I can make suggestions, but I will NOT contact people in your area to set up signings.  I WILL, however, be happy to spotlight on my blog, and even share your links on social media.

I do not think those four criteria is too much to ask.  If you don't know what i'm talking about, then you are not ready to publish.  Do.  Your.  HOMEWORK!  ASK someone.  Google it.  Join a FB group or email an author.  We are always willing to help people learn the ropes.  Just, please don't learn the ropes and expect instant results?  When I decided to pursue publishing, it took me THREE YEARS of learning the basics, studying and reading, as well as asking questions.  I took every free workshop I could find, from blurb-writing to marketing, to writing good sex scenes.  I can help you find these workshops.

IF you have checked off the above criteria and think you're ready to publish, by all means, contact me.  Just know I will be more picky in the future about whom I help.

Sincerely,
Your Author Friend

Food For Thought....

So my son just posted this....

" I dont know anyone that is pro abortion, or have even heard of anyone being like "yay dead babies!!" 
My stance is I dont think the government should be involved in women's health rights. Period. 
I believe it is a life but still pro choice. 
Now this situation is tricky for me because I do think father's should be able to have a voice if they truly want it but in the same breath I dont think women should be forced to carry a baby they either may not want or their body can't handle. 

This guy is a POS tho. You can't just drug ppl because you disagree. 

Women shouldn't be forced to be incubators for others.

There's many reasons women get abortions other than simply not wanting it. Be it health reasons, domestic situations, etc. 
And pro lifers think its an easy decision for women when in most cases it's not at all."

AMEN Sammie:)

Maybe The Timing Could Have Been Better.....

Last week, everyone was up in arms over the BK/CBF debacle, and the nomination.  Next up, our UN Ambassador decides she wants to spend time with her family, and the media has jumped ship.

And also lost their minds!

"It wasn't leaked, so it can't be legit..."

"Ooooh, she's protesting the BK's swearing in!"

"Who in their right mind QUITS government?"

On one hand, this lady went from being governor of her state to UN Ambassador.  Maybe she's genuinely tired of all the crap that's occurred in the last ten years?  She has teenagers who need her.

On the other hand, maybe this is a way to get our fickle media's attention OFF the SCOTUS and on her?  Detraction seems to work....send out a tweet, make an announcement, and media spends hours dissecting every pause, nuance, punctuation, spelling, facial expression, body language....you name it....all to get 'the truth of the matter.'

In other words, there must be some kind of hidden message in everything people send out.

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, people....

Fuming.....

Last Friday, the world stopped and everyone was glued to the TV as the BK/CB-F hearing commenced.  

Some women relived their own horrific sexual assault events; others scoffed.

Some men scoffed; others stood behind the women who were yelling 'Crucify him!"

"It's hard to be a man these days..."

A friend of mine posted the following thought-provoking statement:

"I need parenting advice.

Am I supposed to tell my stepdaughters that if they go to a party, drink alcohol, and pass out they are signing a theoretical waiver stating they accept the consequences of anyone taking advantage of them? And if they don’t call the authorities directly after they are acknowledging no harm, no foul?
Also, am I supposed to tell them that at any point they can accuse someone of wrongdoing and expect swift consequences without question, proof or due process?

Am I to tell my sons and stepsons that any girl who shows up to a party and partakes in drugs and alcohol is fair game for their sexual desires? And if she doesn’t immediately turn them in they’ve obviously done nothing wrong and can continue with how they treat women at parties??
Also, do I tell them they are obviously guilty of any and all accusations against them without proof or due process?

While the case at hand is sparking the comments I’m seeing from both men and women, these comments are nothing new to see. “IF it happened, she had it coming.” “IF it didn’t, all victims who come forward are obviously liars who want money and attention.”
Victims can be men and women.
There’s such a thing as compassion without judgement until evidence is produced, or a non-biased decision is made. We all have our assumptions of who is true and who is a liar. The comment sections though..... 😞

Other victims are watching.

Your kids are watching, too."

What's MY position?  

On the one hand, I cannot believe anyone would seriously accuse someone of something that happened over 30 years ago, where it cannot be investigated, and people named say they have no knowledge of it....even if they were supposedly in the room!

I was mildly attacked in high school.  Yes, it traumatized me for a few days, but now, 30 years later, I spoke to the classmate who did it, and he apologized for the way he'd treated me.  There is no animosity between us.  Just because it is now 'okay' to rake him over the coals, will I do it?  No; he's not in the public eye and he's been through his own private hell.  No need to dredge that up.

Another FB friend posted, saying he apologizes if he ever acted inappropriately or touched anyone inappropriately in HS.  I teased him about the Band Camp incident my junior year, when he was dating my best friend.  Again, I've not forgotten it, but we were young and stupid, and he's been forgiven.

Are today's teenagers going to grow up, holding onto past hurts and grudges?  How can anyone grow?  BK's not the same person he was 37 years ago.....and neither am I nor either of the men mentioned!

On the other hand.....

I think D. F., the senator who had been given the information to begin with, ought to be the one ousted from her job.  This was supposed to be an ANONYMOUS report, and made with only the 'here's what happens; do you really want him on the bench?' kind of note attached.....and she's turned it into a political 3-ring circus.

This brings back to mind the C.T/A.H crap back in the 90s, and he was confirmed.  So my other question is, who in their right minds would ever run for public office if their HS yearbooks, childish pranks, and questionable teenage behavior can now be put under the microscope and be raked over the coals for it?

I fear we're heading into Stepfordville....God forbid anyone disagree with their neighbors; express an unpopular decision; get caught on social media smoking anything illegal.

Is that the kind of society you want?

For myself, I just pray that God puts the right people in power to save our country from ourselves.

Or the Rapture occurs and takes me away before WW3 or another civil war.

So This Just Happened.....

Forget Roy Moore.  This post is about a proposed Supreme Court Justice, BK, who has been under attack this week for something that happened when he was 17.

Woman claims she attended a HS party and he was drunk.  He pinned her to the bed and attempted to rape her.  ATTEMPTED.  At SEVENTEEN.  He's HOW OLD now???????

Forgive me.....where the hell was she with her accusations when he passed the bar?  Became a prominent lawyer?  Became a judge? 

Oh wait.....what was I thinking?  Now it's perfectly fine to paint yourself a victim if your attacker FORTY YEARS AGO is now running for public office......and has different political views.

Earlier, I posted a similar meme on my wall.....it had BK and his accuser in the background.  I noticed about 7pm that I had several notifications, and one blasted me for posting it.  Unfortunately, I cannot copy/paste the conversation, because the entire post has disappeared.  Basically, she said shame on me for offending sexual assault victims everywhere.

I apologized, then said I'd been sexually harassed in junior high and had been assaulted my junior year....but felt ZERO need to call out my attackers 40 years later.  I also said I would PM her later.

She chose to unfriend me.  I DID PM the other friend who disagreed, and she told me not to sweat it; she didn't feel slighted, and that we could still disagree and still be friends.

That's CLASS, folks.

Too Close To Home....

My heart breaks for my church, my parish, the people of my diocese today.

(Sept 8th)

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - A priest with ties to the Wabash Valley has been placed on administrative leave, accused of sexual misconduct happening decades ago.

According to the Catholic Diocese of Evansville, the claim was made against Father DF. (omission of name is mine, to protect SEO)

FD is prohibited from public ministry as the investigation continues but denies the claim. FD has served in several parishes, schools and missions in Vincenness, Montgomery and Bicknell.

According to Catholic Diocese of Evansville, FD has served in the following parishes, schools and missions:

- Rivet High School, Vincennes

- Sacred Heart, Vincennes

- Sts. Peter and Paul, Petersburg

- St. Peter, Montgomery

- St. Michael the Archangel and St. Patrick

- Blessed Sacrament, Oakland City

- St. Philip, Posey County

- St. John the Baptist, Vincennes

- St. Vincent de Paul, Vincennes

- St. Thomas, Vincennes

- St. Philip Neri, Bicknell

- St. Thomas the Apostle, Vincennes

- St. Francis Xavier, Vincennes

- St. Thomas the Apostle, Vincennes

- St. James, Haubstadt

Victims or anyone with information about cases of sexual misconduct are urged to contact police and the Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator at 812-490-9565 or toll-free at 866-200-3004.

Today in church, the vicar of the Evansville diocese arrived to let our parish know about the claim.

What jumps out immediately are two things:  This happened DECADES ago.  Where was this person when all the attention about priests behaving inappropriately 18 years ago?  FD has been a beloved priest and established community member for at least 12 years (that's how long I'VE known him!).  Secondly,  Secondly, I've observed him around people of all ages, and NOT ONCE has he EVER been 'inappropriate' toward anyone.  If anything, he could use some 'people skills'.....though when Fr. Benny was around, I did see the man lighten up and actually laugh.  I've even got a picture of him in his bathing suit.  And no, he was not wearing his collar.....just thought I'd throw that in!

I'm praying this either took place before he took his vows, or as a young priest, made an overly friendly gesture which was simply misconstrued.  Or this is a false memory.

Look at the hulliballoo over AG and the bishop at a Certain Person's (AF) funeral last week (again, initials are used to protect SEO).  Inside Edition claimed he touched her breast, and she 'acted uncomfortable', and 'not wanting to cause a scene'....'every woman knows this feeling'.

BUT.....if you watch the ENTIRE clip, her uneasiness wasn't due to the fact his hand was high on her waist....it was because of the bad joke about her name!  And their size difference didn't help.....if the man had his hand on her waist, it would have caused him to stoop, and then everyone would be saying he was looking down her dress.

Stop and think about it the next time you hug someone who comes up to your armpit.  Put your arm around them and see where YOUR hand lies!

I'm in no way condoning this behavior.  If it turns out our beloved priest IS guilty, then I stand corrected.  Isn't there a statute of limitations on DECADES, though?  If the man has been a model citizen, shouldn't that account for something?  Let God be his judge.

It's my understanding that with other priests, this has been going on up until the time they were caught.  That's different, and they should be brought to justice.

In the meantime, I'm praying for answers, for the upheaval in my church family, and for parishoners where were visibly upset and had to leave the service briefly this morning.

Sometimes You Just KNOW......

So I answered a call for vendors last Wed, getting two towns mixed up in my head.  Yes, that actually happens.

The organizer messages me, and asks what kind of books I write, so I tell her, at first thinking, "Oh, I've picked up a new reader."

But a second later, it hits me....I think my new 'friend' is the coordinator.  I immediately type back, "Is this in regard to the XYZ event?"  And realize I had the wrong town in mind.  I was thinking it was only half an hour away, but the actual town is an hour or so from us.  No problem; there's a fantastic restaurant I've not been to in over two years in that town.  I might even be able to convince the family to come over!

Second thought, maybe she's looking for more family-friendly vendors, so my 3rd message is offering to leave the adult stuff behind.

No response.  No vendor app in my email, even though I'm getting notifications from that thread which says she's sending them out.

At this point, I'm suspecting she's trying to find a way to let me down easy.  I set myself a deadline:  If I've not heard anything by the weekend, I'll tell her I've got another offer (closer) for that day.

I attend an event on Saturday, and meet the lady next to me.  I've never heard of her company, but when she mentions 'entered in the drawing if you try something on', I agree to be a guinea pig.  While I'm scooping my size 22 body into this 42 foundation garment, I notice her name tag.  She's the very organizer I'm getting weird vibes from! 

Later, she checks out my books, and I reiterate the fact I'll be more than happy to leave my KM books (save for WHH) at home.  She says she'll think about it.  I drove home and decided not to bother with her event.  I mean, who the hell has to 'think about' if you want a published author at your event?  Vendor fairs are always a gamble.  I've sold as many as 9 at a few, and as little as zero.  Normally, I sell at least 3-4.  This particular one is going to cost $40, and at the rate my sales are going, it's not worth my time and money to beg someone to include me.

Sunday evening, a PM pops up.  I see it's her, and instead of reading it first, I check my email.  Nothing, so I figure it's a 'Thanks but no thanks'.  I check the message. 

"Just don't think it would be a good 'fit' for you."

I type back a cordial, 'That's fine.  Thank you for letting me know."

I hit send and think, "Bitch."

I'm not mad or sad; I'm more indifferent.  After all, I'd already decided not to do it; it's just the fact she beat me to it, I think.

Rejection's never fun.

Now the question remains:  Do I unfriend her, or let her decide if my witty posts are worth it?  Maybe she'll change her mind next year and ask me again?

Yeah, I know.  Don't hold my breath.