Ok, wow, several things here... since I've been MIA:
1) Forever Nocturne's October Issue is now available here.
2) Tomorrow is election day -- WOOT!
3) I was fired from my job two weeks ago for being off work too long due to my sciatic nerve being pinched. Did my bosses know of my situation? You betcha! Did they know about pre-existing conditions? You betcha! Was it "willful abandonment" like they claim, even though they stated they were terminating my position? Absolutely not! Does that make it wrongful termination? Damn straight! Fun, fun, fun. I shall be a very busy girl over the next few months.
4) Phenix Ink has officially begun screenprinting, starting with The Boneyard. The website is under construction at this time.
5) I'm still working on kindread clothing. Lots of drawings to work on and finish.
6) However, I am still not able to work. The doctor has yet to release me back to the working world, which sucks because I really need to find a new job since my previous employers are such jackasses.
7) eBay, eBay, eBay... ahem.
8) Why can't Hollywood make something that ISN'T a freakin' remake of something?
9) Brooke Shields is not following Tim Gunn's Guide to Style in those VW commercials. C'mon Brooke, get with the program. Weren't you a model?
10) I'm considering a new show. It's called "BK & Jinxie's World" and may appear on a YouTube channel near you, starring Big Daddy and myself.
11) I'm such a dork.
12) If I don't wrap this up soon, it'll be November 4th.
13) is my fav number so we'll stop with that and say that I hope to have a new self-published book out before the end of this year, if I can manage it, and I will also be querying one or two others.
Peace,
Jinx
Ok, so mom's in the hospital with another freakin' blood clot, but this time it's in the left leg. WTF? Updates will follow on my blog.
For some strange reason, my 3-day novel was returned to me, with a sticker that states "needs custom form." Um, I took it to the Post Office. Why didn't they tell me I needed this stupid form? I swear, ever since my family stopped working there, the place has gone to hell in a hand basket. Kidding. Oh well, while I did complete the novel, it of course needs work. Next year I'll be sure to have the correct form for mailing, whatever the hell that is.
I have begun the query process for Wolf's Bane: Moon Cycles. I'm excited about it. I have new ideas for the second book right now, which is about half written. The kids I work with have inspired me on many levels. One in particular gets to venture out to the ruins with me. I think she enjoys it.
I'm off to see my mom in the hospital now, and find out what exactly is going on with her.
Jinx
AHA! I think I found the font again! No, wait, this isn't it either. Damn.
Alrighty then, so I've moved some stuff around, changed a couple of synopses, and was contemplating a flash intro, but I can't figure out how to change the photo on it like I did with the rest of the website. Go figure. This is one of the many projects I've been working on today.
I painted my master bath (had to tear down the old towel rack and fill in the holes first), put together a shelf for the master bath to attach to the wall, and I've been working on my literary critique on The Lottery by Shirley Jackson for my criticism class. No, I have not started the 15-pg. thesis that is due on the 21st. Yes, I know that is one week away. It takes me roughly 7 hours to research and write a research paper with annotated bibliography. I will begin work on the thesis Sunday or Monday so I'm not pulling a 21-hour job with it. I've decided not to take any classes next term (they're only 8 weeks) because school is out and I am entirely too busy with the kids doing life skills and mentoring. I'll start back up in August. The delay in classes will allow me time to finish editing Wolf's Bane: Moon Cycles. Then I can query like crazy this fall. I've learned a great deal about writing this last year or two through writer friends, author and agent blogs, and just by writing continuously. I've watched my writing style change over the last two years. I'm hoping it's for the better.
Right now, I have no towel racks in my bathroom.
Yesterday was my 39th birthday. =) I ate a piece of my birthday cake for dinner. It was yummy!
Tomorrow, I am hosting a birthday party for a beautiful 9-year-old client with her family. Yes, this is what I do for a living. Not exactly 'hosting birthday parties', but enabling the family time for them because they all live apart from one another. I'm very excited about it. I bought the birthday cake and ice cream today. I am not excited about the transport, though. It will take about three hours before AND after the party. However, I am giggling in silent rapture about the fact that I have to pick up one of the clients from my previous place of employment.
I'm hoping I have Thursday and Friday off this week so I can work on my papers.
And on that note, I'm going to go work on my literary critique, as well as my WIP (Work In Progress).
Peace,
Jinx
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Know that I have an extremely odd sense of humor before reading the following note, which was written a few weeks ago and spurred by numerous blog entries of agents and editors. =) Now, if I can just figure out where in the hell I found that font, all would be well in the universe! Seriously, it's not in my choices here. WTF?
This is a blog of sorts, even though I have one connected to this site, which I keep forgetting about until I run across it in the address window. Too many blogs, too little time to blog. I'll probably just stick to the one I keep linking to on blogspot: Jinxie's Babbling Blogs. Oh wait, they're all titled that.
Oh, let's see, what else? There are strange noises in the jungle that is my backyard; however, Moon, the not-so-mute malamute is actually being... well, mute. Here's a photo of her:
Ok, back to Dusk of Death. I think I only have one chapter left to write. The final chapter is already written. Who knows? Those pesky demons keep not wanting to die! Actually, I'm still trying to figure out how to kill this last one. He's being rather difficult. Why in the world I gave him a sword is beyond me. I hate writing sword fight scenes! He's on his knees right now. Best go finish him off. =)
Peace,
Jinx
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A brief note from NL Gervasio:
First and foremost, please understand that while self-publishing may be a red flag for a good number of agents and publishers, I am ever the perfectionist when it comes to writing, editing, and formatting my work for publication. I literally cringe when I see a misspelled word or a punctuation error. It's distracting and I hate being distracted when I read. In some writing forums, I have been called a Grammar Nazi by those who think grammar is not important in the publishing world and use the excuse of "Shakespeare or Poe didn't have to follow the rules," (guess what, you're not Shakespeare or Poe, and I've done a thesis on both) and I accept the honorary title with a smile on my face, which has recently been changed to "Grammar Shaman." Sweet!
Please do not judge me based on the fact that I have self-published two titles (I know you are Googling me--hehe--which will lead you right to Published.com). There is a world of difference between an author who self-publishes and one who chooses to use a vanity press. I self-pubbed for friends and family who relentlessly hounded me about wanting to read one particular story, and I thought it would be nice to give them a perfect bound copy. Besides, vampire novels are a dime a dozen, and I will readily admit that they are not my best, as they were produced early in my exploration of becoming a novelist (try 10 years ago). The process it takes to become a "published" author is a daunting one, and I would never compare the two.
By the way, no one should EVER "publish" with PublishAmerica! I researched that one, and have steered many people away from them. DON'T DO IT! It's a vanity press, as are iUniverse, Xlibris, and Authorhouse, to name a few. You are not "published" when you go that route; you are printed, just like me and my Lulu.com, only mine was cheaper---MUCH cheaper.
With that said, I am working hard, researching, trying to find that "right" agent for other novels I have completed or are in the process of completing (there are several). Who knew so much time would be involved in researching agents? I have spent many an hour doing just that, much to the dismay of my husband. I have left some helpful hints for such research on my forum here and on my blog.
Please feel free to have a look around. After all, that's what the site is here for, right? I have put this all together myself. I'd love to hear what you think of it. Any of the email addresses in the Contact section will do.
Thank you,
NL Gervasio (aka Jinx)