Back to basics, and beyond…

On occasion, we must revert to something we've previously known, and hopefully learned from, to transcend into something new.  Of late, I've been struggling with editing "Back Track" mostly due to stubborn physical limitations not behaving. It's those times I take advantage of to review, to re-learn if you will, things of past which at the time were of hope and encouragement to me. Much of that is poetry and it is well known I'm a huge fan of Poe. He's famous for his romantic sonnets of length, and for his darkness of epic forms, but he was also quite insightful into human nature.  My vintage 1975 reprint of the original copy write from 1938 of “Complete Tales & Poems of Edgar Allan Poe” serves me well when I need a Poe fix. The spine bends from overuse and  the pages are worn, yellowed, and quite fragile. It’s one of my most prized books.

In “The Masque of the Red Death”, in true eloquent Poe fashion, he flamboyantly tells the tale of the Prince Prospero, obviously a man of means and wealth.  The stately Prince was paranoid of the plague known as Red Death.  Resolute to make certain he escaped this bloody, unforgiving, instantaneous death, he built himself an ornate walled seclusion, a castle of sorts, to segregate himself.  But, being alone in his ostentatious magnificence had it‘s drawback, so he decided  to throw the grandest of balls, face masks and all.  After much lacing of fine garb, decorative masks, heavy flowing robes of fine cloth, and spirited party with his august guests, entry of a gaunt, polarizing figure brings everyone to a standstill.  Prince Prospero was at first startled amid gasps, then became angry with a fiery, red furrowed brow and demanded this intruder be revealed and disposed of, violently.  Before anyone could take such action, they were vaporized by the exact plague Prince Prospero had built his seclusion to escape the grasp of. 

It’s a short story, one of my favorite kind, but tells the moral of no matter how we try to shield ourselves from the outside world and counter influences to our detriment, we can’t always escape the evil. What to do, then? Live everyday to the fullest! I’m working on doing just that. I always wonder, if we knew today could be our last on this earth, what would we do? What is most important for us to leave as our legacy? All I’ve ever really wanted was for people to say…”she was a nice person”.  And, that I love music.  And reading.  And writing… :)

I get by with a little help from my friends…

A very special thank you to my special “Refreshments” pal Tracy Nichols.  He’s a busy man what with working “Management By Design” in Mesa, AZ.  He took the time to send me some rare “Refreshments” recordings of shows they did way back when…ah, to have known and loved them when they were playing together.  Sadly, I didn’t discover the bands music until long after the band members had parted ways.  A truly magical foursome that made some awesome music together.  That kind of magic is rare, and a true gift.  Thank you ever so much, Tracy! I’m enjoying my new CD’s of music that truly soothes my soul  :)

Hugs to everybody today, my fellow Poe admirers!  If you’re not yet a Poe admirer, I hope you will get yourself some Poe to engulf in.  It’s what I turn to when nothing else will quench my literary thirst.  If Poe isn’t your genre, you can download “Bright Lights, Money & Show Biz, Honey” today at Smashwords.  Use coupon code GL37U to get a free copy in any form suitable for your reading pleasure and I hope you enjoy.  I’ve officially said adios to exclusive rights with Amazon, although my books are still available there, I’m no longer exclusive.  “Random Encounters” is also available at Smashwords and I’m working on other outlets as well, but at the moment don’t see a need to go to the trouble.  Smashwords has every available version, so if you need Kindle, Nook, Reader, or a simple PDF to download to your computer, it’s there.  Amazon still has the Kindle for PC if that suits your fancy.  Click on the links to the right side of the page to take you there.  I also have the old fashioned book (with pages!) at my website along with a PDF version as well.  So many choices! I hope one suits your reading pleasure.

 *Hugs* ~ K

A Proper THANK YOU!

To all of our fallen military personnel for protecting our liberty and rights. I have several family members who dedicate themselves to preserving our lives from the evils that exist within our world.  The evils are many, they are vicious barbarians and would destroy us (remember 9/11) in a heartbeat.  I'm grateful to those past and present who have put their own lives in jeopardy to protect our freedoms.  May God keep you all in his care. 

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Next up:  The times they are a-changin...last week I was saddened to have to give up Big Red in favor of a smaller ride more conducive to my changing physical limitations.  It took me a while to mull over the decision, but I finally emotionally let go of my heart throb Big Red and am confident she will go to a new caring home.  I've never been so emotional about an automobile.  In the past, whatever it was as long as it got me from point A to point B and beyond and back home again, I was satisfied.  It was merely a mode of transportation.  I truly fell in love with that big truck and it was hard to let her go.  But, my new little Jeep is parked out front and although it's odd to look out my upstairs window and see it there instead of Big Red, I'm getting used to it.  Went out for a couple of errands yesterday and had no trouble getting in and out of it.  My right arm, which I had to overuse to pull myself up into the big truck, has stopped aching so it's already worth the trade :)

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As promised, a review of "Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers" show in Spokane Tuesday night.  Having gotten a temporary fix seeing Roger solo in Spokane back in February, I was so in need of a full band show, and they did not disappoint!  The setlist was long...filled with lots of favorites including several from the newest release "Unida Cantina" along with some old favorites as well.  A raunchy, crowd pleasing "Girly" and rousing version of "Blue Collar Suicide".  The audience didn't disappoint either, Roger even commented that he was surprised to have such an enthusiastic crowd on a Tuesday night in Spokane.  What...they expected lackluster??? We are a rabid crowd of fans!  I've seen the same fans at shows there for 8 years now, many I can greet by name and others we simply nod and acknowledge each others presence.  It's a comfortable, homecoming feeling that this band and their magical charisma has created among us.  It's one of the reasons I fell in love with them.  Roger says and it is true, RCPM fans are the best rock n' roll audience in the world! Met up with Sandy, another rabid long time RCPM fan and we spent the evening with lots of laughs and most fun, at the front of the stage (barricade) singing and swaying to the music.  We had a birds eye view of JD and Roger and their awesome guitars!  What fun! :)

Local band "Buffalo Jones" opened with their signature sound and got us ready to rock in grand style. These guys are so fun on stage!  They are one of my favorite indie bands and can't wait to hear all about their four city mini-tour opening up for RCPM on the road! It's their first time out on a road trip as a band.  I wish I could have stalked them the whole way!  I could write a book about that.  Oh, wait...I already did :D


Thanks to Chris and my friends at KPND radio, Sandpoint, for giving me the meet and greet package which not only came with some schmoozing with the band before the show, but a really cool Roger Clyne "Mexican Moonshine" flask.  It's awesome!  It was nice to get to chat with the band and give hugs to all, except for P.H. who I spotted escape on the elevator right before the band came out.  It's ok, I know P.H. is somewhat of a recluse and I respect his privacy.  RCPM are the most humble, personable band I know and I thank them for their graciousness and for the great music.  It was a memorable evening all the way around! 

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On the writing front:  I have definitely decided to sever my exclusive ties with Amazon.  I will offer both of my e-reader books "Random Encounters" & "Bright Lights, Money & Show Biz, Honey" for free before my current contract period is up, then they'll be for sale only (no more freebies through KDP Select)  through Amazon and lots of other e-reader outlets so if some of you have missed out because you have a Nook or Reader device, they will be available mid-June.  Meantime, I'm almost finished editing "Back Track" and will soon make the giant leap of getting a proof copy to move on to the next step.  Still need a cover, but I have a few very talented artists to choose from to do that.  

Virtual hugs all around today, but especially hugs to our military.  Thank them for putting themselves in harm's way to protect our wonderful freedoms and way of life.  Without them, I probably would be censored and not able to do this.  The Lhasa is snoozing and I have a notion I'll be getting ready for a bbq today without any help.  That's ok, I'm persnickety (ok, anal...) about preparing food so I'd rather do it myself.  

*Hugs* ~ K

Transitions

I find myself more in an observant mode these days than a participative one.  I've spent a lot of time the last few months watching, rather than doing.  I've spent the better part of my life in the middle of things, whatever those things were at the time.  I'm very social, I love to be around people, and I wanted to belong in whatever environment I've been in.  More lately, I find I don't have that need to belong anymore and I'm not sure why. Perhaps it's the aging factor, or perhaps I've evolved (as we all do) and simply no longer have the desire to be in the spotlight. 

For example, I used to compulsively make sure I logged into Facebook every day, scanned all the goings on and added my comments, yahoo's, smilies, encouragement...whatever was needed to let others know I support them in whatever their current endeavors are, up or down.  It was important to me to let friends know I'm there for them, even if only in spirit, sans physical presence.  Now days, I may get to Facebook twice a week and I'm ok with that. I don't feel the need to be present there anymore than that and it's not that I don't value all of my Facebook friends, on the contrary. I hold all of you very dear to me as there are many of you that I only keep in touch with through the social network, or wouldn't have met up with at all if not for it. So, I'm very grateful for the opportunity to know so many lovely people.  Don't we all value the "want to" relationship over the "have to" relationship? I think so.

Another...I used to feel the pressure to blog every week, as that's what all of the experts say an author needs to do in order to establish their voice and platform. At one time, that was very important to me and I followed it religiously, even blogging up to twice a week to keep in touch.  Now...I don't feel the pressure to do that and I'd rather blog when I really have something to say, not just talk to keep my name out there in the blogosphere. So, if I'm absent from here periodically it's not because I don't love you and miss you all terribly, it's that I don't have anything pertinent to say and I don't want to waste my time or yours on babbling. Don't get me wrong...I love to ramble! I'm also very good at it, but I don't want to wear out my welcome on that front.  There is rambling galore in my poetry anthology "LifeLoveLust" if you're of the persuasion to read more of that.

Happnins'...

Another thing I've previously not done, not regularly that is, which is to use slang when writing in a proper format.  I find it rather whimsical, though, and am doing it more these days.  I guess I'm more relaxed :) 

Technological happnins' - I'm sending the old HP to the graveyard later today and hookin' up my new one. The old work horse has been limping along for a while now and its time to let it go. It's a long time coming and I'm a little anxious about the transition from 2003 Word to Works.  I think it will all transfer over with my thumb drive, but I'm keeping the old one right here for a bit, just in case...newfangled stuff scares me!

Beautiful sighting happnins' - Spring is sublime in the Pacific NW! We've got beautiful clear sunny days with highs in the 60's to low 70's, which is average for us.  Soon, though, June will be here and we'll slip right into the heat of summer and I'll be turning on the a/c to get me through those short months.  Heat is one of lupus' worst enemies, so I stay inside with the a/c during the hot months. Let me know if ya'll will be traveling to my neck of the woods this summer.  The lake is beautiful!

Stalker happnins' - My favorite musical hunks will be here on Tuesday 5/22.  Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers are back at Knitting Factory Spokane with our local guys Buffalo Jones opening up for them again.  It's a great combination!  Makes the Sugar Momma proud those boys have come so far and are strongly at the helm of their own touring.  Yes, touring! They are going on a four city tour with RCPM to open up for them on this leg of their tour ending up in Ft. Collins, CO.  Rock on!

That's about all of the rambling I have for today.  Next week, I'll give a complete review of the show, of course, and any other new updates.  I've just about made the decision to sever my exclusive ties with Amazon, so I'll give more details on that.  There will definitely be abundant free days of downloads before that contract period is up, so you'll have plenty of chances to download some free reading.  I'm progressively editing "Back Track" and will have some new news on that front. 

Have a beautiful day! Hugs all around here, except for the Lhasa.  We're on the outs as he's made a habit of digging in the planter that holds my Mother's Day roses...

Grudgingly yours,

~ K

Happy Birthday!

I have many birthday wishes on F/B and in e-mails and I'm a little overwhelmed by how many kind, caring people I have in my life, in whatever form it is.  To me, to take even a few seconds to type a message is very touching to me and I'm so appreciative of all of your thoughts. I'm humbled so many care :)

On that note...as I age each year (and you can all keep guessing, no one but my dear Mother knows my exact age and sometime she forgets!) I hope that a little bit of that aging wisdom somehow creeps in and I learn from the past.  Learning from mistakes and all that jazz.  To wit, there is a fierce battle going on locally over a recall of mayor and some city council members that has turned into one of the ugliest name calling, mud slinging, power grabbing sparring that I've ever witnessed.  People staunchly fighting for their belief that their ideal of our local government is the one, true correct way.  I'm thankful I don't live within the city and have to make a choice. I can sit on the sidelines and watch as they bicker and insult each other.  It gives me pause to think of how we treat each other as human beings.  We all have emotions, tender feelings that get hurt when our belief system is questioned and judged by others.  In the heat of battle, it's difficult to remember that we are all significant to others. We are someone's daughter, son, mom, dad, brother, sister, best friend, domestic partner, etc., we all deserve to be treated with respect and kindness.  Differ in opinions, that can't be avoided, but do so with respect for the other person's opinions.  It pains me to see people making enemies of those who long after the current rift is settled, will still have to live and work in the same community.

This is my birthday wish: Can't we all just get along?  If you disagree, do so but do it in a respectful manner and exercise your right to further your cause, but don't drag others through the mud to make your point. One thing my illnesses have taught me: You never truly know what it is like to walk in another's shoes.  When you meet up with someone, don't assume how they are by physical appearances.  You never know what struggles they are going through, what hurts they are trying to heal, or what hurdles they are trying to jump. Kindness.  That's what I'd like today.  Practice it and hug somebody! I'm giving birthday hugs to everybody today, so if you cross my path today...lookout! Happy Birthday to me! :)

Reflectively yours,

~ K

Hit Me With Your Best Shot

And you'll see that like a weeble, I wobble but I don't fall down. Remember those little round bottom toys for toddlers? So cute.  They are appropriate for human comparison.  We get knocked down by life's one-two punches that are swung our way, or sometimes people try to bring us to our knees and we feel deflated.  For me, I need something brain stimulating to bring me out of a funk, which I've been about halfway in for a bit now. A very beautiful soul gently reminded me this week:  it is our choice.  We can allow the judgment and opinions of others to bring us down, or we can turn and walk the other way refusing to be affected by the world's fodder.  Smile, nod, and go on our way :-D   In that spirit, let's move on...

***

Baby, What A Big Surprise

As much as I covet my exclusive relationship with Amazon, I have personal experience of their imperfection.  On two separate occasions, I've received an order of books only to find...it was not my books! I got another author's shipment, and I assume they got mine.  Makes me wonder what someone else who unexpectedly received something new to read thought of it, or if it got tossed.  I kept the ones I got, thumbing through them before adding them to the bookshelf. I'm not much into origami but it has a beautiful cover, and the one about how Greek mythology relates to the stars is a happy accident that is on the future to read list. Everything happens for a reason...


Another surprise...Foolishly, I had never downloaded one of my own books from Amazon so last week when I was offering it for free, I decided to see what one gets with a download.  Boy oh boy! It's amazing to me how that proof went through me dozens of times, and two other unbiased and cold read editors and still, there were some errors.  Needless to say, I am correcting that as well.  The downside to corrections is, once uploaded to Amazon with a new manuscript, the book is not available while Amazon checks it for accuracy.  

***

 

Hello New Day

Inspiration...I find it in the simple things.  Music, of course. My dog's smile (Yes! He does!), the snow capped mountains in the breathtaking view behind where I live, a reflection of myself in the frigid water of the lake.  I do go look at the lake, I just don't go in it...for those of you familiar with my water phobia.  Maybe someday I'll try to overcome that, it's just not on the front burner at this time. I need to finish editing a book! 

What are the simple things you're doing today to enjoy and appreciate life? The Lhasa and I are going to make a dump trip today...I will definitely brew up something in the Keurig...I've got a stack of reading to catch up on, and...oh, yeah...back to editing "Back Track".  It will be done soon, I vow!  Right now, I'm gonna go put on a pot of bean and ham soup. It's overcast here in North Idaho today and some hot bean soup will help warm my rickety bones! Where's your inspiration today? Get some and report back! :) 

The first person to post artists to go with the headings which are song titles, gets a free book of their choice, autographed of course. Oddly and surprisingly, "LifeLoveLust" is selling on Amazon with next to no advertising. Perhaps there are other ramblers out there who appreciate some modern day poetry and prose.  

Hugs all around! Share them. It'll make you smile :)

Now playing: "Banditos" RCPM ~ "Live At Billy Bobs"

Musically yours, 

 *Hugs* ~ K






P.S. I have tried several times to correct fonts here, but I can only assume Blogger is having 'one of those days'.  I've noticed it before but it will correct itself after a while.  Nevermind...I give up! 

"Random Encounters" for "Nada"

Thanks to RCPM fan boarderb for this great song. The video is a little shaky, but the audio is perfecto! My daily connection to the music and the moral of the story is: You can't beat free! Nada. Nothing. Zilch. Zero pesos to download "Random Encounters" today at Amazon .  Download it to your e-reader, tablet, desktop...whatever you have to read on, it's free today! Enjoy :)

Please don't forget to click the "like" button if you haven't already. As mentioned before, the goal is to move up in the Amazon  rankings and every click whether it be on the "like" button and/or by downloading the e-book, helps move me up in the rankings. Mostly, I hope you enjoy the story.  Just a reminder...this is erotic romance. It starts out from the first page with a sizzling encounter and evolves into a tender love story about a women who, when the story begins is a little confused, then finds her way in the maze of emotions in life.  Let's move on...

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Once again, there is much conversation this past week on the internets :) about self-publishing.  We are still clearly greatly divided in our positions and there doesn't seem to be a middle ground. I've yet to encounter either authors or other professionals in the business (agents, editors, publishers) who don't have a staunch opinion either way.  People are either for, or against, and the bickering that goes back and forth is almost childish. It looks to me like the professionals are nervous.  They continue to disparage those of us who have taken the step to self publish instead of waiting for a publisher to pick us up and take a chance on our books.  The talk ranges from being impetuous and impatient, to writing rubbish that wouldn't have a chance with a publisher anyway.  The criticism citing poorly written to offensive content.  Content opinions aside (i.e., one person's trash is another person's treasure) I don't believe a poorly written book would make it anywhere!  People are not about to hype the story if they weren't able to understand it due to poor grammar, spelling, or point of view inconsistencies. There are many self published authors with success at Amazon . A good example: "A Howl In The Night" by JK Brandon. A self-published novel that is #10 in the Amazon rankings. It gives the rest of us hope that we might just appear on that first page of best rankings, which is definitely something to work diligently at achieving.  Poor grammar, spelling, or other negatives in a book won't make it past the first round, so I'm not worried about not making the cut for those reasons.  I write stories with engaging plot, likeable characters, and almost always have a happily-ever-after.  Some short stories are dark, but those will only be seen in my upcoming short story anthology which is currently taking a back seat to "Back Track".  Some poetry is dark and is available in "LifeLoveLust". As for "Back Track", I'm almost finished editing and then I'll be searching for a cover.

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It's a beautiful sunny day in the Pacific Northwest! I perfect time to get out with your e-reader and soak up some sun while taking in a great story and don't forget to give random hugs today! I met up with an old acquaintance yesterday while out and about and the hugs were warm and wonderful!  The Lhasa is out on the back deck taking in the morning sunshine with a dog nap. I may join him later with something soothing from the Keurig and a good book :)

Confidently yours, 

 *Hugs* ~ K

"More Than Words"

My fondness for combining music with prose is well known.  After all, music is prose. Lyrics organized with music in an expressive fashion. It's soothing and calming.  I admire those talented enough to put both words and instruments together. For now, I'll stick with just the words :)

 

Lines I wish I'd written:

"Once upon a midnight dreary, which I pondered, weak and weary" ~ Poe, "The Raven"

"I remember him as if it were yesterday, as he came plodding to the inn door, his sea-chest following behind him in a hand-barrow—a tall, strong, heavy, nut-brown man, his tarry pigtail falling over the shoulder of his soiled blue coat, his hands ragged and scarred, with black, broken nails, and the sabre cut across one cheek, a dirty, livid white." ~ Robert Louis Stevenson ~ "Treasure Island"  (I love long sentences!)

"The owner was a small nervous guy and he backed away into the point of the triangle and was standing with his backside against the cash drawer" ~ Lee Child, "Running Blind"

Poe is notorious for his epic prose, much of it dark just like his most notable "The Raven". Stevenson's "Treasure Island" is a staple in classic novel history.  Lee Child is a modern day rambler after my own heart. I love how he gives such eloquent description to set up the scene, yet with words that are easily used in everyday life.  No dictionary required.

"Death is life's stop sign"

"A few cops and media looking at KC like it was a hot day and she was a cold beer"

"Brackett had a hedgerow of gray hair that stood as erect as a regimen of eager recruits"

The above are just a few examples of some great writing by David Bishop in his novel, "The Beholder". David is skilled at painting a picture with words. I'm envious of those writers who can give the reader a vivid image with few words, as Poe, and also of those who write protracted, comma filled sentences that fills the mind with an unforgettable image, as in Stevenson. David Bishop does a little bit of both while conjuring up a plot that is edgy, the characters memorable, in a story which takes some macabre twists that will keep you turning the pages.  This is one of my highly recommended reads of 2012.  Get yours at Amazon and you can also visit David at his Facebook page to get to know more about a male author who so succinctly writes a female character, which I find is a most fascinating talent.  He also looks pretty normal for someone who writes such chillingly gruesome details of grisly murders.

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Giving It All Away

Why do authors give away their books on Amazon? We don't make any money on those that we offer for free, that's why they're usually for a short period of time, one day or possibly a weekend.  Through Amazon's KDP Select program, authors do get paid for those books borrowed through the KDP Select program, but on the day(s) we have a free day, we don't get paid for that, so why do it? Well... each download, whether on a free day or if the book is borrowed under the KDP Select program, or purchased at the e-book price, is tallied and the more downloads the book gets, it moves it up in the Amazon best sellers rank. What that does is, moves the book up on Amazons pages and is added to the 'items other customers buy' category, which all leads to more readers and more sales.  So, in the spirit of moving up in the Amazon listings, I'm offering "Random Encounters" free next weekend on Sunday, April 22. I'll give a little reminder before then so everybody can get their copy of a steamy, sensuous yet touching, romantic story of a woman finding her place in a most unusual fashion. 

Meantime, if you could visit my Amazon pages  and click on the "like" button for both "Random Encounters" and "Bright Lights, Money & Show Biz, Honey" I would be much appreciative.  It will help move the books up in the rankings.  If you are moved to download and read, that would be awesome too! :-D

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The Lhasa got me up at 6:00 AM on a Sunday to go outside.  He's now comfortably snoring on his blankie and here I am wide awake.  Guess I'll be productive and get chores done early.  That'll leave me some time to get the baseball game in  (Mariners are playing .500 ball!) then later get something cozy from the Keurig and curl up with some great reading. What are you doing today? Whatever it is, hug everybody! I will and am sending virtual hugs to you all as well. 

Relaxingly yours,

~ K