I’ve received an outpouring of reviews from my relatives about the Bright and Bishop family history book I wrote. I loved that they told me they learned things from the book about our ancestors that they didn’t know. The book wouldn't have been possible if the relatives hadn't shared their stories and pictures with me. What is important about this book is the fact that future generations of each of the nine Bright children belonging to John and Veder Bright, my grandparents, will now have a book to educate them about the past. I don’t think I omitted anything of importance. At least, I hope I didn’t. Now we can proudly look back and say these are the people who made us who we are today; honest, hard working and people our children and their children can be proud of.
One of the bits of neat information I came away with that I knew vaguely before I wrote the Bright and Bishop family history book was that I have a very talented cousin. We have an artist in the family, Gene Foust. Thanks to the Internet I can tour his art gallery. I’d like to pass on the websites for this talented impressionist artist so you can take a look at his collection of works, too. The online store for Gene’s original paintings is at http://www.etsy.com/shop/foust If you could use a new landscape painting or a print please shop at Gene Foust’s store. He has been selling online for a number of years and has a BA from Truman University. His landscapes are reasonably priced and very colorful. Believe me when I tell you it will be hard to choose just one.
http://www.genefoust.blogspot.com/ is the site of impressionist artist, Gene Foust’s blog. Gene shows how some of the paintings he has worked on changed to the finished product. Addresses are included to reach the sites where you can purchase one of these paintings.
Http://www.fineartamerica/genefoust is an online art gallery that sells Gene’s landscape paintings. Two pages of fine art that will dress up any room in your house. An investment in this fine impressionist artist's paintings in our day may be a Antique Roadshow treasure in a few years.
I’m thinking there is still a generation of baby boomers and older folks that remember going to a one room school house. It’s fun to remember back to those days of a simpler time when all 8 grades shared one room with one teacher. The Bushwhacker Museum in Nevada, Missouri has a book on the history of school houses in Vernon County, Missouri where I went to school. The book is titled “Readin’ Ritin’, ‘n’ ‘Rithmetic” The story of Vernon County’s Country Schools complied by Neoma Forman and belongs to the Vernon County Historical Society. I purchased a copy sometime back and found the book very helpful while writing my family history book, complete with pictures of my mother and some of her siblings.
For sometime, a couple of my friends worked on and researched the school in Story County, Iowa that they attended. The completed project is a book about Milford Township Consolidated School titled “Milford Township And Proud Of It” written by Dale Hughes and Jurine Moore. This is a 354 page book, 91/2 x 11 inches laser pages with 702 pictures. There is a CD version available, too. For information on how to purchase this book or the CD to bring back memories of school days in Story County, Iowa, contact Milford’s Coordinator Jurine Borton Moore at 319 361 3300
Last but not least is news about the restructuring of my online bookstore. It is complete. I had so many books on the front page it was confusing. Now there are several pages of book shelves. Click on the tabs in the menu and go to the genre of your choice or look at them all. The site has my bio, a page of accomplishments and one with book reviews. My blog is posted on another page. There is a mapsite that shows where my books sell across the United States.
The bookstore is set up with paypal buttons under each book. The books are reasonably priced, signed by the author and in 12 font which is a larger print that is reader friendly. Shipping is fast since the inventory is at my home, and I order the books from print by demand. Take a look at the newly remodeled bookstore at http://www.booksbyfaybookstore.weebly.com
Monday, March 12, 2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
Paypal Censorship Update from Smashwords
This message was sent to me from Smashwords - a site where I sell my books and ebooks. Everyone has a right to read what they want to, and every author the right to write the genre that suits them. Those that don't care for books with adult content don't buy them. That's their choice. I fit in the don't buy column and mention that often in my blogs. Those who like the stories I write can attest to the fact my books don't have adult content. That is a preference for me and my readers. Having stated that as an author and a person who loves to read other author's works, I don't understand that paypal thinks it has the right to put a censorship on this particular fiction genre. Those who want to write or buy adult content books have the right to make that choice. If paypal succeeds at a censorship for this genre, what other genres or websites would they try to conform to their personal belief. So read what Smashwords has to say about the problem and protest at the websites mentioned below if you want to participate in the discussion.
________________________________________
PAYPAL CENSORSHIP UPDATE
________________________________________
In case you haven't heard, about two weeks ago, PayPal contacted Smashwords and
gave us a surprise ultimatum: Remove all titles containing bestiality, rape
or incest, otherwise they threatened to deactivate our PayPal account. We engaged
them in discussions and on Monday they gave us a temporary reprieve as we continue
to work in good faith to find a suitable solution.
PayPal tells us that their crackdown is necessary so that they can remain in
compliance with the requirements of the banks and credit card associations (likely
Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, though they didn't mention them
by name).
Last Friday, I sent the following email to our erotica authors and publishers:
https://www.smashwords.com/press/release/27 Then on Monday, I issued an update,
and announced we would delay enforcement of PayPal's guidelines so we and PayPal
could continue our discussions: https://www.smashwords.com/press/release/28
THE PROBLEM:
PayPal is asking us to censor legal fiction. Regardless of how one views topics
of rape, bestiality and incest, these topics are pervasive in mainstream fiction.
We believe this crackdown is really targeting erotica writers. This is unfair,
and it marks a slippery slope. We don't want credit card companies or financial
institutions telling our authors what they can write and what readers can read.
Fiction is fantasy. It's not real. It's legal.
THE SOLUTION:
There's no easy solution. Legally, PayPal and the credit card companies probably
have the right to decide how their services are used. Unfortunately, since they're
the moneyrunners, they control the oxygen that feeds digital commerce.
Many Smashwords authors have suggested we find a different payment processor.
That's not a good long term solution, because if credit card companies are behind
this, they'll eventually force crackdowns elsewhere. PayPal works well for us.
In addition to running all credit card processing at the Smashwords.com store,
PayPal is how we pay all our authors outside the U.S. My conversations with
PayPal are ongoing and have been productive, yet I have no illusion that the
road ahead will be simple, or that the outcome will be favorable.
BUILDING A COALITION OF SUPPORT:
Independent advocacy groups are considering taking on the PayPal censorship case.
I'm supporting the development of this loose-knit coalition of like-minded groups
who believe that censorship of legal fiction should not be allowed. We will grow
the coalition. Each group will have its own voice and tactics I'm working with
them because we share a common cause to protect books from censorship. Earlier
today I had conversations with the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), The
American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE) and the National
Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC). I briefed them on the Smashwords/PayPal
situation, explained the adverse affect this crackdown will have on some of our
authors and customers, and shared my intention to continue working with PayPal
in a positive manner to move the discussion forward.
The EFF blogged about the issue a few days ago: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/02/legal-censorship-paypal-makes-habit-deciding-what-users-can-read
Today, ABFFE and NCAC issued a press release: http://www.scribd.com/doc/83549049/NCAC-ABFFE-Letter-To-PayPal-eBay-re-Ebook-Refusal-2012
I will not be on the streets with torch in hand calling for PayPal's head, but
I will encourage interested parties to get involved and speak their piece. This
is where you come in...
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
Although erotica authors are being targeted, this is an issue that should concern
all indie authors. It affects indies disproportionately because indies are the
ones pushing the boundaries of fiction. Indies are the ones out there publishing
without the (fading) protective patina of a "traditional publisher" to lend them
legitimacy. We indies only have each other.
Several Smashwords authors have contacted me to stress that this censorship affects
women disproportionately. Women write a lot of the erotica, and they're also
the primary consumers of erotica. They're also the primary consumers of mainstream
romance, which could also come under threat if PayPal and the credit card companies
were to overly enforce their too-broad and too-nebulous obsenity clauses (I think
this is unlikely, but at the same time, why would dubious consent be okay in
mainstream romance but not okay in erotica? If your write paranormal, can your
were-creatures not get it on with one another, or is that bestiality? The insanity
needs to stop here. These are not questions an author, publisher or distributor
of legal fiction should have to answer.).
All writers and their readers should stand up and voice their opposition to financial
services companies censoring books. Authors should have the freedom to publish
legal fiction, and readers should have the freedom to read what they want.
These corporations need to hear from you. Pick up the phone and call them.
Email them. Start petitions. Sign petitions. Blog your opposition to censorship.
Encourage your readers to do the same. Pass the word among your social networks.
Contact your favorite bloggers and encourage them to follow this story. Contact
your local newspaper and offer to let them interview you so they can hear a local
author's perspective on this story of international significance. If you have
connections to mainstream media, encourage them to pick up on the story. Encourage
them to call the credit card companies and pose this simple question, "PayPal
says they're trying to enforce the policies of credit card companies. Why are
you censoring legal fiction?"
Below are links to the companies waiting to hear from you. Click the link and
you'll find their phone numbers, executive names and postal mailing addresses.
Be polite, respectful and professional, and encourage your friends and followers
to do the same. Let them know you want them out of the business of censoring
legal fiction.
Tell the credit card companies you want them to give PayPal permission to sell
your ebooks without censorship or discrimination. Let them know that PayPal's
policies are out of step with the major online ebook retailers who already accept
your books as they are. Address your calls, emails (if you can find the email)
and paper letters (yes paper!) to the executives. Post open letters to them
on your blog, then tweet and Facebook hyperlinks to your letters. Force the
credit card companies to join the discussion about censorship. And yes, express
your feelings and opinions to PayPal as well. Don't scream at them. Ask them
to work on your behalf to protect you and your readers from censorship. Tell
them how their proposed censorship will harm you and your fellow writers.
Visa:
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=V+Profile
American Express:
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=AXP+Profile
MasterCard:
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=MA+Profile
Discover:
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=DFS+Profile
Ebay (owns PayPal):
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=ebay+Profile
_________
________________________________________
PAYPAL CENSORSHIP UPDATE
________________________________________
In case you haven't heard, about two weeks ago, PayPal contacted Smashwords and
gave us a surprise ultimatum: Remove all titles containing bestiality, rape
or incest, otherwise they threatened to deactivate our PayPal account. We engaged
them in discussions and on Monday they gave us a temporary reprieve as we continue
to work in good faith to find a suitable solution.
PayPal tells us that their crackdown is necessary so that they can remain in
compliance with the requirements of the banks and credit card associations (likely
Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, though they didn't mention them
by name).
Last Friday, I sent the following email to our erotica authors and publishers:
https://www.smashwords.com/press/release/27 Then on Monday, I issued an update,
and announced we would delay enforcement of PayPal's guidelines so we and PayPal
could continue our discussions: https://www.smashwords.com/press/release/28
THE PROBLEM:
PayPal is asking us to censor legal fiction. Regardless of how one views topics
of rape, bestiality and incest, these topics are pervasive in mainstream fiction.
We believe this crackdown is really targeting erotica writers. This is unfair,
and it marks a slippery slope. We don't want credit card companies or financial
institutions telling our authors what they can write and what readers can read.
Fiction is fantasy. It's not real. It's legal.
THE SOLUTION:
There's no easy solution. Legally, PayPal and the credit card companies probably
have the right to decide how their services are used. Unfortunately, since they're
the moneyrunners, they control the oxygen that feeds digital commerce.
Many Smashwords authors have suggested we find a different payment processor.
That's not a good long term solution, because if credit card companies are behind
this, they'll eventually force crackdowns elsewhere. PayPal works well for us.
In addition to running all credit card processing at the Smashwords.com store,
PayPal is how we pay all our authors outside the U.S. My conversations with
PayPal are ongoing and have been productive, yet I have no illusion that the
road ahead will be simple, or that the outcome will be favorable.
BUILDING A COALITION OF SUPPORT:
Independent advocacy groups are considering taking on the PayPal censorship case.
I'm supporting the development of this loose-knit coalition of like-minded groups
who believe that censorship of legal fiction should not be allowed. We will grow
the coalition. Each group will have its own voice and tactics I'm working with
them because we share a common cause to protect books from censorship. Earlier
today I had conversations with the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), The
American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE) and the National
Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC). I briefed them on the Smashwords/PayPal
situation, explained the adverse affect this crackdown will have on some of our
authors and customers, and shared my intention to continue working with PayPal
in a positive manner to move the discussion forward.
The EFF blogged about the issue a few days ago: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/02/legal-censorship-paypal-makes-habit-deciding-what-users-can-read
Today, ABFFE and NCAC issued a press release: http://www.scribd.com/doc/83549049/NCAC-ABFFE-Letter-To-PayPal-eBay-re-Ebook-Refusal-2012
I will not be on the streets with torch in hand calling for PayPal's head, but
I will encourage interested parties to get involved and speak their piece. This
is where you come in...
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
Although erotica authors are being targeted, this is an issue that should concern
all indie authors. It affects indies disproportionately because indies are the
ones pushing the boundaries of fiction. Indies are the ones out there publishing
without the (fading) protective patina of a "traditional publisher" to lend them
legitimacy. We indies only have each other.
Several Smashwords authors have contacted me to stress that this censorship affects
women disproportionately. Women write a lot of the erotica, and they're also
the primary consumers of erotica. They're also the primary consumers of mainstream
romance, which could also come under threat if PayPal and the credit card companies
were to overly enforce their too-broad and too-nebulous obsenity clauses (I think
this is unlikely, but at the same time, why would dubious consent be okay in
mainstream romance but not okay in erotica? If your write paranormal, can your
were-creatures not get it on with one another, or is that bestiality? The insanity
needs to stop here. These are not questions an author, publisher or distributor
of legal fiction should have to answer.).
All writers and their readers should stand up and voice their opposition to financial
services companies censoring books. Authors should have the freedom to publish
legal fiction, and readers should have the freedom to read what they want.
These corporations need to hear from you. Pick up the phone and call them.
Email them. Start petitions. Sign petitions. Blog your opposition to censorship.
Encourage your readers to do the same. Pass the word among your social networks.
Contact your favorite bloggers and encourage them to follow this story. Contact
your local newspaper and offer to let them interview you so they can hear a local
author's perspective on this story of international significance. If you have
connections to mainstream media, encourage them to pick up on the story. Encourage
them to call the credit card companies and pose this simple question, "PayPal
says they're trying to enforce the policies of credit card companies. Why are
you censoring legal fiction?"
Below are links to the companies waiting to hear from you. Click the link and
you'll find their phone numbers, executive names and postal mailing addresses.
Be polite, respectful and professional, and encourage your friends and followers
to do the same. Let them know you want them out of the business of censoring
legal fiction.
Tell the credit card companies you want them to give PayPal permission to sell
your ebooks without censorship or discrimination. Let them know that PayPal's
policies are out of step with the major online ebook retailers who already accept
your books as they are. Address your calls, emails (if you can find the email)
and paper letters (yes paper!) to the executives. Post open letters to them
on your blog, then tweet and Facebook hyperlinks to your letters. Force the
credit card companies to join the discussion about censorship. And yes, express
your feelings and opinions to PayPal as well. Don't scream at them. Ask them
to work on your behalf to protect you and your readers from censorship. Tell
them how their proposed censorship will harm you and your fellow writers.
Visa:
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=V+Profile
American Express:
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=AXP+Profile
MasterCard:
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=MA+Profile
Discover:
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=DFS+Profile
Ebay (owns PayPal):
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=ebay+Profile
_________
Monday, February 27, 2012
New Amish Book Just Released
I’ve had some busy long days working on editing my book and designing a cover. As soon as I knew the book was in print, I posted on websites to announce the book’s release. I have a list of buyers that like to know first. Some have emailed me several times wondering how soon I’d have the book done. I don’t like to put all the buyers names together and email one message so I email them one at a time. Gives me a chance to personalize the messages. These are buyers that have come to know me through my writing and other interests. We have struck up a Internet friendship.
This book is fourth in the Nurse Hal Among The Amish Series titled As Her Name Is So Is Redbird. One of the buyers said she finds my Nurse Hal to be the most realistic convert to Amish she has met. I think there is a compliment in that statement. I’ve succeeded in writing such descriptive characters that this reader feels as if she knows them. Each book does get easier to write since I already have the characters developed but coming up with new story lines is the challenge.
Now this book is for sale in Amazon in paperback ISBN 0982459548 and as soon as I can get to it on my bookstore website http.//www.booksbyfaybookstore.weebly.com. For ebooks look in Kindle, nook and smashwords. Also, the paperback is on ebay for a month and maybe longer if sales are good.
Here is the back of the book:
If spring is a season of rebirth and love, Hallie Lapp’s farm, at first glance, seems to be the place to be. What she didn’t see coming after the birth of her daughter, Redbird, was an abandoned baby dropped off in her buggy as part of the Safe Haven law. She couldn’t imagine a runaway girl, Annie Hosteller, showing up on her doorstep, either. Once Nurse Hal is forced to meet the scary men from the Hosteller compound life isn’t the same for the Amish community for months to come. In the middle of the night, Joseph Hosteller sends his sons to search for his daughter and her newborn infant. They beat up Amish farmers, cut off their beard and their wives hair. More violence is threatened if Joseph Hosteller’s daughter and baby aren’t returned to him. Bishop Bontrager warns everyone to stay home and protect themselves from home invasions in the middle of the night. Nurse Hal fears what will happen when the Hostellers find Joseph’s daughter, Annie, and her baby are at the Lapp farm. What harm will come to Nurse Hal and her family when the Hostellers invade their home?
It again looks closer to spring out my windows. The snow has almost melted away. I sowed my bedding plants last week in pots and have a few tomatoes peeking through. I’m ready to plant garden as soon as I can. This book is done, and now I have to work on the next one before I wind up in my own birthing clinic, our barn.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Is It a Robin Or a Chicken
I'm sitting at the computer by the dining room window. In hindsight putting the computer there may have been a mistake. With most of the lawn showing, I keep glancing out to see if I might spot a robin or at least a rabbit. I know it's too early by the calendar, but I can hope. The dense fog makes it hard to see, but I think the only animals prowling in my yard are not rabbits but cats and the birds not robins but chickens. All this window gazing makes it hard to concentrate on business. The Amish book I'm working on is coming along but slower than I'd like, and that is mostly my fault.
Have you ever gotten wrapped up in a book's characters until you feel as if you know them especially in a series where you read about the same ones again and again? I hear comments like that all the time from my readers about the characters in my books. Somehow, when I'm writing a book I feel like I'm in the characters heads as the story flows. Except with this one, I outlined the story to have a sad ending for one of the characters. I for one am not fond of sad endings like the ones that Nicholas Sparks uses. However, his endings are very effective and a surprising shock. Having said that, I'm a fan of Mr. Sparks works and pay close attention to how he writes his books to see why his writing style makes him popular.
Now I'm starting the sad part near the end of the book and watching for a robin/rabbit in procrastination. I wound up rooting for one of the characters, wishing she could keep her new way of life with a future ahead of her, and all the time I knew what I had to do. As the author, her fate is in my hands. So I compromised with myself. I will write the sad chapter, and after that write one more chapter with a funny feel better outlook to show that life does go on no matter what. My hope is to leave the readers laughing instead of sad at the end of the book and again wanting another book. In a recent email from one reader, she writes she hopes I keep writing my Nurse Hal Among The Amish series until Nurse Hal has grandchildren. That might take awhile. Nurse Hal just had her first baby in this book which is the fourth in the series. It won't be long until I'm ready to publish then I'll wait to find out how the readers liked this story titled "As Her Name Is So Is Redbird".
My twitter follower count has picked up over the last few months. I stock pile the twitter emails for a week or two and answer them all at once with follows and messages. That brings me more followers. It certainly is a good way for me to advertise my Amish and Mystery series. My challenge is trying to get in titles and sales places with the limited amount of characters. I'm getting followers in England now. Amazon opened up Kindle to England last year and several other countries since then. My books are selling in the UK. Maybe that's why they hunt for me on twitter. MyEnter.Net follows me on twitter. If anyone else wants to follow me my address is
http://www.twitter.com/booksbyfay
I'm still working on my author site at http://www.writersownwords.com/booksbyfay
I see that Google search is picking up some of my entries from the writersownwords site. I didn't think it would hurt if I take my time entering summaries for the book list. That way I'm stringing the advertising out. Take a look at my picture if you have time on the home page. It's actually two pictures I put together and did a little painting in Photo shop to blend the two. One is southern Missouri north of Cabool, Missouri in a fall rain, and the other with the Amish buggy is in southern Iowa on highway 63.
Okay now I best get back to work before I actually do see a robin. That might be a good excuse to take the rest of the day off and celebrate spring way ahead of everyone else. Enjoy this wonderful winter and have a Happy Valentine Day.
Have you ever gotten wrapped up in a book's characters until you feel as if you know them especially in a series where you read about the same ones again and again? I hear comments like that all the time from my readers about the characters in my books. Somehow, when I'm writing a book I feel like I'm in the characters heads as the story flows. Except with this one, I outlined the story to have a sad ending for one of the characters. I for one am not fond of sad endings like the ones that Nicholas Sparks uses. However, his endings are very effective and a surprising shock. Having said that, I'm a fan of Mr. Sparks works and pay close attention to how he writes his books to see why his writing style makes him popular.
Now I'm starting the sad part near the end of the book and watching for a robin/rabbit in procrastination. I wound up rooting for one of the characters, wishing she could keep her new way of life with a future ahead of her, and all the time I knew what I had to do. As the author, her fate is in my hands. So I compromised with myself. I will write the sad chapter, and after that write one more chapter with a funny feel better outlook to show that life does go on no matter what. My hope is to leave the readers laughing instead of sad at the end of the book and again wanting another book. In a recent email from one reader, she writes she hopes I keep writing my Nurse Hal Among The Amish series until Nurse Hal has grandchildren. That might take awhile. Nurse Hal just had her first baby in this book which is the fourth in the series. It won't be long until I'm ready to publish then I'll wait to find out how the readers liked this story titled "As Her Name Is So Is Redbird".
My twitter follower count has picked up over the last few months. I stock pile the twitter emails for a week or two and answer them all at once with follows and messages. That brings me more followers. It certainly is a good way for me to advertise my Amish and Mystery series. My challenge is trying to get in titles and sales places with the limited amount of characters. I'm getting followers in England now. Amazon opened up Kindle to England last year and several other countries since then. My books are selling in the UK. Maybe that's why they hunt for me on twitter. MyEnter.Net follows me on twitter. If anyone else wants to follow me my address is
http://www.twitter.com/booksbyfay
I'm still working on my author site at http://www.writersownwords.com/booksbyfay
I see that Google search is picking up some of my entries from the writersownwords site. I didn't think it would hurt if I take my time entering summaries for the book list. That way I'm stringing the advertising out. Take a look at my picture if you have time on the home page. It's actually two pictures I put together and did a little painting in Photo shop to blend the two. One is southern Missouri north of Cabool, Missouri in a fall rain, and the other with the Amish buggy is in southern Iowa on highway 63.
Okay now I best get back to work before I actually do see a robin. That might be a good excuse to take the rest of the day off and celebrate spring way ahead of everyone else. Enjoy this wonderful winter and have a Happy Valentine Day.
Monday, January 30, 2012
I've Upgraded
When we have a day like this one, I should be outside enjoying the warmth, but here I am trying out my computer. I finally gave up dial up and got high speed on Friday. For months I've had connection problems. The problem was so bad that for the last three months it was as if I didn't have dial up and to the point that I couldn't download my book file on the website to be printed. I had the computer in the repair shop to get checked over, and it came back with the same problem. In the last few days, I'm finding high speed internet faster just as people kept telling me, but it has its own bugs. The connection comes and goes, too. So far I haven't found anyone who can tell me why. Guess as with the higher speed working faster this problem makes me speed up so I get done with what I need to do before the connection is gone.
In the meantime, I've stayed busy doing what I like to do best and that's writing. The last of November I finished the family history and tree book I wrote for my family. This last weekend now that I have high speed I was able to download that on the website and make the book cover. The book is ready to sell and this afternoon I shipped out several.
While I formatted the family book in November, I entered the NaNoWriMo 50,000 word contest and finished just before the end of the month. I must say it was ify toward the last whether I'd make the deadline. Now all I have to do is edit that book and print it when I have time. There were close to 500 contestants in my area and only 37 wrote enough words to be a winner.
I've been working on my next Amish book. I'm getting well along on that. Several readers have emailed me to find out how I'm coming with the book. It's nice to know they like what I write. The last email said, I've read many Amish books, and I like yours the best because the characters seem so real." Makes me think I'm doing something right.
I had an email from a Internet based book publisher recently. After seeing some of my books, he wanted me to sign up with him. After all this time, a publisher noticed my writing and asked me. Several years ago I would have been delighted, but circumstances have changed now. I emailed back that I was doing just fine on my own. Thanks anyway.
Now I'm working on an author website. Have a lot of work to do yet but it's at Writersownwords.com/booksbyfay. Readers will be able to read my blog and about my books plus see where they can buy the books, and there's always my Booksbyfay Bookstore to look at on www.booksbyfaybookstore.weebly.com.
In the meantime, I've stayed busy doing what I like to do best and that's writing. The last of November I finished the family history and tree book I wrote for my family. This last weekend now that I have high speed I was able to download that on the website and make the book cover. The book is ready to sell and this afternoon I shipped out several.
While I formatted the family book in November, I entered the NaNoWriMo 50,000 word contest and finished just before the end of the month. I must say it was ify toward the last whether I'd make the deadline. Now all I have to do is edit that book and print it when I have time. There were close to 500 contestants in my area and only 37 wrote enough words to be a winner.
I've been working on my next Amish book. I'm getting well along on that. Several readers have emailed me to find out how I'm coming with the book. It's nice to know they like what I write. The last email said, I've read many Amish books, and I like yours the best because the characters seem so real." Makes me think I'm doing something right.
I had an email from a Internet based book publisher recently. After seeing some of my books, he wanted me to sign up with him. After all this time, a publisher noticed my writing and asked me. Several years ago I would have been delighted, but circumstances have changed now. I emailed back that I was doing just fine on my own. Thanks anyway.
Now I'm working on an author website. Have a lot of work to do yet but it's at Writersownwords.com/booksbyfay. Readers will be able to read my blog and about my books plus see where they can buy the books, and there's always my Booksbyfay Bookstore to look at on www.booksbyfaybookstore.weebly.com.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Is It Still Fall?
One day, I'm baking bread and making soup and the next I'm putting meat on the grill. I'm pretty sure I know how a squirrel thinks and feels. For the last six weeks I've been trying to beat cold weather by getting my outside projects done before the real cold sets in which has me neglecting letter corresponding, twitter entries and my blog. The switch between the warm days and windy, cool, dreary days keeps me guessing about what plants to cover and what needs brought inside. That's why the squirrels scurry from one place to another so fast. They aren't sure when to take winter's coming serious.
I have to confess I got out of most of the garden cleaning except when my husband asked me to decide if he could pull some plants. I ventured into the garden long enough to say yes or no and went back to my flower beds; cleaning, digging bulbs and picking flower seeds for next year's crop. Hubby cleans the garden off, but he doesn't bother the flowers anymore. Last time he weeded the flowers in August while I was away, he proudly showed me a clean portion of bed minus my twenty year old rare yellow violet. Looks like the plant had time to make seeds which have sprouted so I may luck out. In that case so did he. Hardy marigolds are still in full colorful bloom in front of my porch. I look at that row of flowers and the garden, now bare soil, and wish it was already time to start over again.
We delivered the spring's crop of lambs and goats to Kalona Salebarn. I ate my favorite peanut butter cream pie which the Amish waitress teasingly offered to bring me before the meal. I resisted and ate light so I could enjoy the pie. Came home with one more rabbit. Now we think the stork may make a visit any day. It's a repeat trip for that stork. A month ago a hen hatched 12 chicks in between hay bales in the loft. Just what we didn't need when we're preparing for winter.
To my delight, a walnut tree I planted from seed produced a five gallon bucket full of walnuts. This morning, I picked the walnuts up and stored them in the stock trailer to dry. That is the go to place for green tomatoes to ripen and to hide walnuts. I lucked out this time. The neighbor's squirrels didn't find the walnuts before I got them picked up. Now let's hope those curious creatures don't get into the stock trailer right away. A real cold snap might signal them to carry off my walnuts.
Since the middle of August most of my computer time has been spent writing my mother's family story and tree. That has meant hours of interviewing aunts, uncles and cousins on the phone and with emails. The emails I copied into the story, but I had to take fast, sketchy notes as the aunts and uncles talked for an hour or two at a time. Those had to be transcribed as soon as I was off the phone while the stories were fresh in my mind.
The research has been fun and time consuming. I found much documented on the internet about my ancestors that was interesting to me. I've added notes about them in the family tree. I think the cousins children and great grandchildren will enjoy history like the French and Indian War and the Civil War when they realize they had relatives involved. Not to mention changes in transportation from walking to cars and kerosene lamps to electricity. I've been told my grandmother said she wished she'd had modern conveniences when her children were little. She was probably thinking about eight hour wash days bent over a scrub board using lye soap, washing for a family of eleven.
The relatives response to my writing this family project has been great. I've been bombarded with old photos to place in each of the nine siblings stories and a favorite family recipe. I'm thankful my mother was a saver of all things; a 1937 hospital menu, Dad's draft notice, and so many other things that documented the time of events. Best of all, this enterprise has brought me closer to cousins I played with when we were children. Now I'm looking forward to a visit in the spring from three cousins which is one more reason to wish winter away.
The cousins are curious about how I'm coming with the book. I don't think they realize all the information I've put into this 200 plus page story. I'm looking forward to getting done and on to another Amish book about Nurse Hal. November is national novel writing month (NaNoWriMo). I only have a few days to meet my self imposed October 31 deadline with this book and on to the next book in November. If I'm not ready by November that's all right, because my writing this family book will be a legacy for my family's future generations.
Besides I can't stay at the computer all the time. Friday afternoon, I'm going to the Keystone Nursing Care Center where I worked. There is going to be an activity about Lincoln Highway History by speaker, Mike Kelly. My parents operated one of the gas stations on the highway in Benton County for almost 30 years, but few people realize that a station has been in that spot from July 1931 to October 1987. I have gathered my pictures and information to share to bring some attention to my parents gas station. More on that later.
November 13th I've been invited to Keystone's St. John Lutheran Church to man a table at Elder Health Fair. My information is Alzheimer's disease. Along with handouts furnished by the Alzheimer's Office in Cedar Rapids, I'll be giving away one of my books on the subject "Open A Window". I can't miss an opportunity to educate people about this disease that has no cure. If you'd like a book that educates Alzheimer's caregivers go to my book store at booksbyfaybookstore.weebly.com or Amazon. If you like the ebook form go to Amazon's Kindle store or B&N nook store.
So there you have it. That's what the squirrels and I have been doing this fall.
I have to confess I got out of most of the garden cleaning except when my husband asked me to decide if he could pull some plants. I ventured into the garden long enough to say yes or no and went back to my flower beds; cleaning, digging bulbs and picking flower seeds for next year's crop. Hubby cleans the garden off, but he doesn't bother the flowers anymore. Last time he weeded the flowers in August while I was away, he proudly showed me a clean portion of bed minus my twenty year old rare yellow violet. Looks like the plant had time to make seeds which have sprouted so I may luck out. In that case so did he. Hardy marigolds are still in full colorful bloom in front of my porch. I look at that row of flowers and the garden, now bare soil, and wish it was already time to start over again.
We delivered the spring's crop of lambs and goats to Kalona Salebarn. I ate my favorite peanut butter cream pie which the Amish waitress teasingly offered to bring me before the meal. I resisted and ate light so I could enjoy the pie. Came home with one more rabbit. Now we think the stork may make a visit any day. It's a repeat trip for that stork. A month ago a hen hatched 12 chicks in between hay bales in the loft. Just what we didn't need when we're preparing for winter.
To my delight, a walnut tree I planted from seed produced a five gallon bucket full of walnuts. This morning, I picked the walnuts up and stored them in the stock trailer to dry. That is the go to place for green tomatoes to ripen and to hide walnuts. I lucked out this time. The neighbor's squirrels didn't find the walnuts before I got them picked up. Now let's hope those curious creatures don't get into the stock trailer right away. A real cold snap might signal them to carry off my walnuts.
Since the middle of August most of my computer time has been spent writing my mother's family story and tree. That has meant hours of interviewing aunts, uncles and cousins on the phone and with emails. The emails I copied into the story, but I had to take fast, sketchy notes as the aunts and uncles talked for an hour or two at a time. Those had to be transcribed as soon as I was off the phone while the stories were fresh in my mind.
The research has been fun and time consuming. I found much documented on the internet about my ancestors that was interesting to me. I've added notes about them in the family tree. I think the cousins children and great grandchildren will enjoy history like the French and Indian War and the Civil War when they realize they had relatives involved. Not to mention changes in transportation from walking to cars and kerosene lamps to electricity. I've been told my grandmother said she wished she'd had modern conveniences when her children were little. She was probably thinking about eight hour wash days bent over a scrub board using lye soap, washing for a family of eleven.
The relatives response to my writing this family project has been great. I've been bombarded with old photos to place in each of the nine siblings stories and a favorite family recipe. I'm thankful my mother was a saver of all things; a 1937 hospital menu, Dad's draft notice, and so many other things that documented the time of events. Best of all, this enterprise has brought me closer to cousins I played with when we were children. Now I'm looking forward to a visit in the spring from three cousins which is one more reason to wish winter away.
The cousins are curious about how I'm coming with the book. I don't think they realize all the information I've put into this 200 plus page story. I'm looking forward to getting done and on to another Amish book about Nurse Hal. November is national novel writing month (NaNoWriMo). I only have a few days to meet my self imposed October 31 deadline with this book and on to the next book in November. If I'm not ready by November that's all right, because my writing this family book will be a legacy for my family's future generations.
Besides I can't stay at the computer all the time. Friday afternoon, I'm going to the Keystone Nursing Care Center where I worked. There is going to be an activity about Lincoln Highway History by speaker, Mike Kelly. My parents operated one of the gas stations on the highway in Benton County for almost 30 years, but few people realize that a station has been in that spot from July 1931 to October 1987. I have gathered my pictures and information to share to bring some attention to my parents gas station. More on that later.
November 13th I've been invited to Keystone's St. John Lutheran Church to man a table at Elder Health Fair. My information is Alzheimer's disease. Along with handouts furnished by the Alzheimer's Office in Cedar Rapids, I'll be giving away one of my books on the subject "Open A Window". I can't miss an opportunity to educate people about this disease that has no cure. If you'd like a book that educates Alzheimer's caregivers go to my book store at booksbyfaybookstore.weebly.com or Amazon. If you like the ebook form go to Amazon's Kindle store or B&N nook store.
So there you have it. That's what the squirrels and I have been doing this fall.
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