I'm Montany Bound

So the directions for the hounds of hell and the tub sea monkey tribe have been left for the best friend who will be dog and house sitting while we're gone. Each instruction sheet ended with the same sentence. "And for God's sake, no chumming!"

She was also instructed to turn the hose on the fanatical JW lady who won't leave me alone. (Check here and here and here for the saga. Something interesting for you to read while I'm gone for a week.)

Speaking of something interesting to read, here's two back posts to reminisce on while I'm visiting the parental units in the Treasure State.

Ahhhhhhhh

One For the WTF Files

I'll be attending a rodeo on July fourth while we're out there. I'm looking forward to it. Did you know that kids in high school gym classes in Montana can take rodeo? Roping, bull riding, all of it. First of all, I would so take it and am pretty sad that I never had the opportunity. Second of all, what all would you have to know as a gym teacher in Montana? That's some exhausting curriculum.

Talk to you all when we get back!

I Love My Motorcycle

Man, what a night. Why do I wait so long between rides? It's the best damn therapy money can buy. Right up there with chocolate.

Packing for Montana continues. Here's hoping we get everything we need in and follow the new baggage regs for flights. If a suitcase is over fifty pounds it will cost $125 dollars - each way. Nothing like taking it up the tail pipe for over packing. Which I am notorious for. (See here for an example.)

Anywho. It was a gorgeous night for a ride. If I hadn't stopped for a box of Nutty Buddies on the way home I would have kept on riding. I didn't want ice cream soup with a dash of peanuts soaking its way through my pack, so coming home was the best option.

After a day of packing and laundry I couldn't have ended it better.

So, any special unwinding practices you care to share?

RWA and Digital Publishing

So I've been reading the fallout over the RWA's stance on digital/e-publishing for the past few days. I've only been a member for a little over a year. I joined just in time to witness the dissipating mushroom cloud that hung in the air after the definition of romance eruption. And like all nuclear detonations, the repercussions of that little gem are still reverberating.

I don't plan on addressing the contests or the marginalization (perceived or real) of epublished authors within the organization. Or the theories that epublishing is not accepted because erotic romance sells very well in ebook format. Others have taken that tack and done them justice.

I'm the first to admit that I don't know all the facts of the current situation. Nor have I read up on the RWA bylaws, and perhaps I should. I have read the president, Diane Pershing's, letter to the membership in the RWR every month. Her tone in some of those recent missives is at best condescending to a segment of RWA members.

I've made it no secret that I plan on moving my writing career towards e-publishing with no real motivation to break into the large NY scene in the near future. Each individual has their own ideas on how to take care of their career. I have mine.

Such a diverse group of writers in the RWA will never agree on everything, but I believe there is at least one point all members will rally behind. Education. And this is where I find a big hair in my taco with the current BOD and the president of the organization

They are not making the effort they should to educate their members on this issue.

I don't care what stance a person takes on epublishing. It's a legitimate business model, it's not. Whatever. Digital rights in publishing and ebooks are already a major issue. It's here now. Even if the BOD and a segment of the membership do not wish to acknowledge it.

Just look at eHarlequin. Or go to ARebooks and search by publisher. Authors from recognized NY publishing houses are having their works published electronically. And have been for some time.

Which, by extension of definition, makes it a legitimate concern for the BOD of RWA. Even if RWA wants to turn a blind eye to the entire epublishing industry - which in my extremely humble opinion is a gargantuan mistake - it is still not offering much help to authors in understanding their digital rights, ebooks, contracts, pitfalls, piracy etc.

There are many others more qualified to expound on the low overhead of selling digital copies of print published books and the low royalty percentage that goes to the author for those sales. But even I can see the danger of allowing that precedent to go unchallenged and keeping authors in the dark about this increasingly important portion of their contract.

So even if members wish to dismiss a business opportunity for their writing that is growing exponentially, digital publishing has already breached the mainstream. There's no going back. And RWA at the BARE MINIMUM should offer long range, forward-thinking education to its members as soon as possible just to catch up.

Free For All

Okay people. I'm neck deep in volunteerism this week and have had little time to blog. So like Caddy Day at the pool, anything goes.



I offer you an open thread. Carte blanche to say whatever you want. From me to you. Just try not to leave any doody in the pool. Enjoy!

Annoying Endearments

There are a few endearments that bother me and can jerk me out of a story when I read them. The first is baby. It irks me to no end. The other one is kitten. I've seen it used in a few stories, and for some reason it bugs the crap out of me. Just gut reactions with no rational reason for it. Hubby also makes me cringe.

Any endearments that annoy you?

Can You Believe It?

The Jehovah's Witnesses came back! They were just here. I, in polite but no uncertain terms, told them not to darken my door ever again.

The woman had the audacity to tell me that I asked her to come back. Now, what person in their right mind would ask the JW's to come back? Seriously? Who? Especially at nine o'clock in the morning! If you've been following the saga,(here and here) you know I definitely did not.

So now some delusional zealot is out there unleashed on the unsuspecting populace, knocking on doors in her sensible shoes, and pestering others.

Hmmm. I'm okay with that, I've taken my share of abuse. It's time to spread it around a little. In fact, I gave her Vicki and Natalie's addresses, and told her they would love to sit and chat with her.

Well, gotta go. I'm too busy laughing evilly and rubbing my hands together to type any more. Have a good weekend!

Thanks, Megan!

Thanks for posting the interview of us, Megan. It was a generous thing to do for a newbie like me. You're a class act!

My muse

My muse has become a fleeting, emaciated little thing in the past few months. Vaporous and free formed. I barely get a whisper as it flits through a room and then disappears like a wisp of smoke.

I really wish it were a three hundred pound guy squatting on my shoulder. Strappy wife beater tee shirt, stanky cigar stub, plumbers crack and all. Nudging me every few minutes to check on my progress.



How's your muse shaping up?

All Skate. All Skate.

Life has gotten a bit hectic recently. Well, really, the entire month of May was hectic and on the crazy side. I'm not complaining. Life is how you view it. Burden, gift, conundrum, fantasy, reality, grind, free fall, journey, chore. Whatever you want. It's all up to you. Don't look to me for answers. You can bet your sweet bippy I wouldn't be sitting here typing blindly to the outer limits of cyberspace if I had any.

The only thing I can offer is to transport you back to a simpler time. A time of feathered hair, Aqua Net, and a plastic comb in your back pocket. A time of Pac Man, MTV, roller rinks and parachute pants. Blue eyeshadow, valley girls and trans ams. It's an all skate, people, and the kings of the rink are in full swing.

Secret Confessions II

I love a good Argentine Tango.