Rubber Band Theory Part 2

Well, I really didn't think that putting a book out as FREE promotion would work. My first novel in the Sabrina Strong series went free and there were a lot of hits on it. I was able to see that during that non-selling portion it went to #200. I don't count it as anything but people grabbing a free-bee. But some good results happened.

One was that within about a week the other books were selling, not just in the US, but in the UK, Canada, and apparently in Denmark--I guess that's what "De" means in the Amazon area on Novel Ranks. And I sold numerous copies of the ebooks at regular price.

Secondly, I finally got a few more reviews. And these were nice reviews from one person who FINALLY got what I was doing with the series. Sheesh. You'd think I have to have a few pages in the beginning to explain to people who are dense as to why each book goes the way it does! Anyway, she gave me excellent reviews and I thank her for that.
Some times you experiment and things don't work. And then other times they work out pretty good. This is an example of when something can work. And since I have a publisher who has ways of getting the word out better than I could (without the money to back it up), I've found that the books are selling well. Better than I could have imagined, and I'm happy about that.

Last week the weather got so warm and gorgeous, I set aside my writing, and enjoyed it. How many times can one say they sat outside in shirt sleeves and shorts in the middle of February in northern Illinois enjoying 60's. I wanted to sun myself, and I got a little caught up with some yard work as well.

This week reality kicked back in and we're back to where we should be in temperatures, but I know it will be short lived because all the spring-time birds are back, including the sand hill cranes, which don't usually make it until March. So, now that I've no real excuse to not work, I'm gradually trying to get back into the swing of it. Had a few ideas pop into my brain this morning for my current WIP, and although these were good I see I need to ponder and mull about them. And I'm hedging on continuing where I am at in the story, because there are later scenes  coming up that have me chomping at the bit to write, and some have been written into a separate document, and maybe these notes I've made could become new scenes. This book is going together like a patchwork, I guess. Nothing wrong with that, as long as the end result is seamless.

Well, that's all I have for this installment.

Oh, nearly forgot. I was feeling under the weather, yesterday. Early morning, I sneezed and felt it in the back of my throat. I knew that if I didn't act on it I'd get hit full blown with something, so I took an aspirin--just one--and later had my tea infused with elderberry, and had another cup later on as well. I had chills throughout the day and resisted this urge I have to clean. It's a burst of energy (I don't know if anyone else experiences this at all, in my case I want to clean the house). I knew if I spent my energies on doing that, I'd become sick for sure. I think it's your body trying to ward off whatever, and if you don't stay home, and rest, you will be screwed! I stayed in my office/room and I had to double up my layer of clothing (put on yoga pants underneath my sweats and two shirts plus a Dickie underneath the sweatshirt). I kept wiping down places where I'd touched, used a different toothpaste from my husband, and hope he doesn't catch whatever I had.
This morning I was much better, and although I know I'm not quite 100% I'm still better than I was. I do believe that the claim on elderberries is spot-on. I've used it whenever I felt I was coming down with something, and so far, this year, I haven't caught a cold or the flu--and I drive a transit bus where just about any germ can come from anyone who gets on the bus. Even if you can't gather and dry the elderberries yourself, the already made form is available in some stores where health food, etc. is sold. I take the tea from the elderberries I gathered and dried and put them into a Ball jar and store it in the fridge. Supposed to last at least a year. At least until they come ripe again in late August!

Okay, now I'm done. Have a good writing week!

The Rubber Band Theory

Hey, all. Just a quick update.
The last few days have been uncharacteristically warm for February. I mean in some areas there were 70's reported. We got to middle and upper 60's. Yesterday was a perfect day, we did a little yard work, and mostly spent it outside. My husband grilled steaks. We never have done that in February (yeah, those of you who have a patio and grills out the door, I don't want to hear from). Dennis had it all planned out, almost anticipating it would be that warm.

As a result of warm weather, I've got spring fever. You can believe what you want. I get lazy. I some times need a nap in the middle of the day--yesterday definitely. I couldn't concentrate on much. Thus, the WIP is suffering, but I'll get back into it one of these days.

Tomorrow "Party to a Murder" will be available to read--if you've purchased--or buy and read.

Ascension has been free for a few days.

Seems to be kicking up some dust in its wake. Have a few sales because of it. I don't like free promotions, but seems desperate times require it. Since this title has been out there for a while, I guess it won't hurt. I hope not, at any rate. As a result the ratings on Amazon have been good. I've finally made it into the top 10 in "vampires" and "psychics". Big whooptee-tee. Still waiting for the 20th review. I just hope it won't be as bad as last one. Some people are just annoying even when they review.

Other than this, I'm just enjoying the weather while it holds. We will see winter return again. I just hope we don't get snow. The spring birds are already here, so I'm thinking if we can hold on for a few more weeks, into March, we might get through it like a thief in the night.

All for now. Have a good week!

Inspriation

Hi, gang. Well this week was all about inspiration. For my WIP, and just life in general. I've stumbled across a lot of these beautiful thoughts on Pinterest and wanted to share. You might find a few that hit you just right, so here we go. Enjoy!

(This last one is sooo true for both Dennis and I)

Have a good week!

DREADED TAXES

No. I don't mean dreading to do taxes. That's the easy part. The hard part is getting tax forms sent to you. I don't have an operational printer, thus all their lovely PDF forms are no good to me.

They say you can get forms at "most libraries, post offices, or tax services". You ever try that? I think the people who grab them grab about ten at a time as soon as they come out. I think they may camp out at the post office waiting for these forms like people do for the newest hot phone or gadget they don't need, because by the time we try and find one, they're out.

Oh, and don't get me started I live in ILLINOIS. People have moved OUT OF THE STATE because it sucks more than it used to. We'd love to move, but just can't at this time. But wishing and doing are two different things, right?

Oh, yes. Sure. Go on line to the dot gov place and try skimming through all the garbage and try and figure out what forms you need, where they are, and think you've found it, and by golly, you've got the PDF form again.Thanks! Doesn't help ME!!!

Trying to get tax forms sent to you is like trying to squeeze water from a rock. I was finally able to find the place to send away from federal forms and booklet to be mailed to me, like I have always done. But Illinois is a different story. I guess they're too poor to send these things to you by mail any more.

You've heard that the state is in this flux of head bashing between the governor and the gate keepers who don't want to budge. Well, I don't give a flying crap about their ideas and politics. Dennis and I have always tried to do the right thing by filing every year. He has always checked the box which asks if you want forms sent to you next year.

THEY NEVER COME!!!

Dennis said that he had ordered forms in past years, but the number they provided this year wasn't it. He hunted back and found the phone # for ordering from a past year booklet on the back, he had to go back to 2014, I think before he found it. The current #'s they give you are closed, or aren't what we want.

Yeah. Got these things ordered now. My blood pressure came down decidedly, thank you. The form we needed for Health Care came this year, too, OH JOY!!! For some reason it wasn't sent last year and we got  notice from IRS telling us we needed to fill that out before we could see any of the return we were due. That took about a month and a half once we got the form, filled it out and sent it back to them. We wrote it off as never seeing the money, but it finally came. This year at least this form was sent to us.

Tea time, I think, after folding laundry. But first...

Here's a funny video from Marx Brothers film. Something to do with taxes. Or Taxes?
I gotta uncle lives in Taxes