Author: Sharon

Proof ordered.

To the folks who asked if I had thought about CreateSpace/Lightning Source, the answer is — yes.  But, Amazon is slowing down delivery of Lightning Source books (discussion here), because, um, they can.  And CreateSpace is owned by Amazon and I’d really rather not put all of my eggs in Amazon’s basket (plus, I want to list on BN, too).  So, Lulu looked like a good compromise position.  I note and will look at Booklocker — thank roseaponi for the link — but not this evening.

In other news, the Cat Eating Machine (aka the vacuum cleaner) and I have concluded our bidness.  I note that Scrabble headed for the high ground, as is her habit, but Mozart — Mozart has apparently read Hex’s paper, published in the Journal of Proper Feline Behavior, in which he argues that a Supreme Disregard for the antics of the Cat Eating Machine ultimately nets more points of Cool, and has taken up this new philosophy.  He remained in his cat hammock — asleep — even though I vacuumed right under him.

Pretty dern Cool, I say.

Tomorrow, I have an appointment in town with a person who I hope can (and will) answer my Very Simple Question, then to the gym, and home again.

Who’s got something exciting planned for Monday?

Progress on the Book Presently known as George
53,427 of 100,000 OR 53% complete

“That,” he said in a fierce whisper, “is mine.”

 

Well, I did a lot of learning yesterday, and I need to order a proof copy of the completed book from lulu.  My, my, aren’t they expensive?  And clever, too!

For those playing along at home, if you’re willing to do your own fulfillment, it really is worth your time to seek out a local printer and order up 200 (or wherever their Big Price Break Point lies).  Depending on the number of pages and extra goodies in terms of color that you want, you ought to be able to easily halve lulu’s price per.

The “distribution to Amazon, BN, and others!” requires the purchase of a “distribution package” — I haven’t tracked down how much that is, but the cost of that is added on top of the manufacturing cost of each book.  The manufacturing cost of Barnburner (130-page digest-sized perfect bound) at the moment stands at $4.48.  That goes directly to lulu.  If I (the, yanno, author/production department) want a piece of the action, I need to add $$ on top of that.  Plus whatever other extra costs are hidden in the small print.  Which starts to add up to an expensive little mystery novel.

So, that!

Regarding the Big List of Words, as requests seem to have petered out, and that’s Some Big list, I’m freezing requests NOW.  Steve and I will be thinking about how to proceed in a sanity-preserving manner.  I expect we’ll break the list down into little lists and post them as can.  Our intent is to at least begin before the end of the year.

This morning, the Cat Eating Machine and I have some bidness to conclude; I’ll order in that proof.  After lunch, it’s all George, all the time.

Hope everybody has a good day!

Scattered day, much thinking, small writing. I suspect that I will write one more chapter, so that I’ve achieved a Certain Point, then print out and read what’s here.

I did go to the gym today and meet with the trainer. I now have a workout routine! I did half of said workout routine today, as part of the training. My stomach muscles? Are really pissed off at me. I’m committing to three days a week — Monday, Wednesday, and Friday — an hour each day, even if I have to wimp out on the strength-building machines at first, and finish out the hour on the treadmill or the bike.

Go, me.

The other thing of note that I did today was order a new alarm clock. This was unexpectedly time consuming. Who knew buying a clock would be so hard? All I wanted was a dual alarm atomic clock with a thermometer. After much shopping and reading of reviews and specs, I compromised with a SmartSet Dual Alarm Clock Radio with Jumbo 1.3-Inch LED Display and Time Projector (Silver). You may ask, and reasonably, Why did you buy a clock that projects the time? And I would be forced to say, It came with.

Maybe there’ll be a way to turn it off.

In other news, I am exploring ways to offer print books to people who want them. To that end, I will be doing a tour of Lulu and seeing how much of a strain it will be to upload Barnburner as my Test Case.

Anybody who’s used Lulu have any advice/insight/warnings?

Progress on the Book Presently known as George
52,213 of 100,000 OR 52% complete

“Enough! We dream as one! Now, let us go and gather what is needed.”

I’ve got a bunch of stuff to do today, so you’ll have to amuse yourselves.

Here, draw a stickman.

Thanks to Kristine Smith for the link.

Sigh. Instead of clarifying matters, this afternoon’s meeting muddied them further. Must seek advice elsewhere. Honestly, ask a simple question…

Tomorrow! Back to the gym and a date with the trainer.

Tonight! Lunch. And a glass of wine.

Definitely, a glass of wine.

Progress on the Book Presently known as George
51,814 of 100,000 OR 51.8% complete

The chin lowered, black eyes wide now. “Maybe you blind,” Anna said. “Maybe you stupid.”

The List, as of 9:30 a.m. EDT, September 22, 2011. I make it to be 136 words/phrases/names so far.

a’nadelm
a’thodelm
a’trezla
aelantaza
Aelli
Aelliana Caylon
al’bresh venat’i
al’kin chernard’i
Anthora yos’Galan
Arin Gobelyn
balent’i kalandon
balent’i tru’vad
binjali
Cantra yos’Phelium
cha’leket
Chapelia
cha’trez
Chane dea’Judan
chernubia
chiat’a bei kruzon
Cho sig’Radia
ckrakec
Clonak ter’Mulen
coab minshak’a
conselem
Cris Gobelyn
Daav yos’Phelium
dea’Gauss
delm
delmae
denubia
dramliz
dramliza
dri’at
Dulsey
Dyk Gobelyn
Efraim
eklykt’i
eldema
eldema-pernard’i
entranzia volecta
Er Thom yos’Galan
fa’vya
Flaran Cha’menthi
galandaria
ge’shada
gigneri
Glavda Empri
Grig Tomas
Gylles
i’lanta
ilania frrogudon palon dox
illanga kilachi
Inas Bhar
indra
Iza Gobelyn
Jabun
Jan Rek ter’Astin
Jela
Jelaza Kazone
Jen Sar Kiladi
Jethri Gobelyn
Jon dea’Cort
Juntavas
Kamele
Kareen yos’Phelium
Karsin Pelnara
Kestra
Khatelane Gobelyn
Kilon pel’Meret
Korval
l’ganin brat’a, vyan se’untor
lazenia spandok
Liad
Liaden
lisamia keshoc
Luken bel’Tarda
Megelaar
Mel Gobelyn
melant’i
menfri’at
mirada
Miri
misravot
Mizel
nadelm
Natesa
Nelirikk
nidj
Norn ven’Deelin
Nova yos’Galan
nubiath’a
onagrata
Paitor Gobelyn
palesci modassa
Pat Rin yos’Phelium
pel’Kana
Phobai
prena’ma
prethliu
Priscilla Delacroix y Mendoza
qe’andra
qua’lechi
Ran Eld Caylon
relumma
Ren Zel dea’Judan
Samiv tel’Izak
Seeli Gobelyn
Shadia ne’Zame
Shan yos’Galan
Sheriekas
Sinit Caylon
Tayzin
ter’Fendil
Thawla
Thawlana
Theo Waitley
thodelm
tra’sia volecta
Trealla Fantrol
Trelu
va’netra
Val Con yos’Phelium
Valcon Berant’a
Valcon Melad’a
van’chela
Vandar
Voni Caylon
yos’Galan
yos’Phelium
Yxtrang
zaliata
Zam
zamir
zerkam’ka
zhena

I’ll do another compile of the Big List of Words tomorrow morning. I’m thinking we’re going to have to break the pronunciation project down into manageable chunks. Will need to think about this.

In the meantime, I am pleased to announce that at (long, long) last, George has broken 50 grand. We have half a book, ladies and gentlemen!

. . .but still no title.

Well. It’s not the longest time a book has gone without a title. Agent of Change got its title when I sat down to type the submission draft. And several books have had perfectly good titles that morphed during the writing process — the working title for Scout’s Progress was Mouse and Dragon, after all. Which was a Perfectly Fine Title (obviously), but just a little…off for that book. Happily, a Flash of Brilliance(tm) occurred.

…will wait for Flash of Brilliance(tm).

And write another 50,000 words in a line.

Progress on the Book Presently known as George
51,013 of 100,000 OR 51% complete

“I see it!” he said, looking to Udari. “Brother, I see what your eyes saw! Even a man of action might admire the tiny cock, fire in his eye and one wing trailing.” He slapped his thighs again.

So far today, I’ve collated a Really Big List of Words; kept an appointment for an annual examination; dropped the everyday crescent necklace off at Day’s Jewelers to have the magnets re-attached (again! it’s just barely possible that the magnets are too strong for the chain); hit the gym for half-an-hour of gentle exercise and while there made an appointment with a trainer for Friday mid-morning for evaluation and a training routine; posted a splinter that didn’t make it into Ghost Ship, had lunch with Steve, finished the laundry, and now! I’m going to get with George.

My g0odness, you can get a let of useful stuff done when you don’t have a day-job!

Progress on the Book Presently known as George
49,947 of 100,000 OR 49.9% complete

“I hear our brothers at prayer,” Udari said.

As of Right Now, this is the list for requested pronunciations. I admit to being a little baffled by some of the requests. I mean, honestly, folks — there are thousands of people named Priscilla and Inas living in the world today, hundreds named Miri, and Theo isn’t exactly unknown. Delacroix y Mendoza? Real-world, right-now names, possibly rare in combination, but I’m not willing to bet on that. And Waitley is a proud tribe.

Beyond that, I believe that a few of the words requested are misspelled. I may be wrong, but I’d appreciate a recheck and a cite. I’ve marked the questionable entries with a line of ?s.

List updated Wednesday, September 21, 2011, 1:28 p.m. EDT

********

a’nadelm
a’thodelm
a’trezla
aelantaza
Aelli
Aelliana Caylon
al’bresh venat’i
al’kin chernard’i
Anthora yos’Galan
Arin Gobelyn
balent’i kalandon
balent’i tru’vad
binjali
Cantra yos’Phelium
cha’leket
cha’trez
Chane dea’Judan
chernubia
chiat’a bei kruzon
ckrakec
Clonak ter’Meulen
coab minshak’a
conselem
Cris Gobelyn
Daav yos’Phelium
dea’Gauss
delm
delmae
denubia
dramliz
dramliza
dri’at
Dulsey
Dyk Gobelyn
eklykt’i
eldema
eldema-pernard’i
entranzia volecta
Er Thom yos’Galan
fa’vya
Flaren Cha’menthi
galandaria
ge’shada
Glavda Empri
Grig Tomas
Gylles
i’lanta
ilania frrogudon palon dox
illanga kilachi
Inas Bhar
indra
Iza Gobelyn
Jabun
Jan Rek ter’Astin
Jela
Jelaza Kazone
Jen Sar Kiladi
Jethri Gobelyn
Jon dea’Cort
Juntavas
Kamele
Kareen yos’Phelium
Karsin Pelnara
Kestra
Khatelane Gobelyn
Kilon pel’Meret?????
Korval
l’ganin brat’a, vyan se’untor
lazenia spandok
Liad
Liaden
lisamia keshoc
Luken bel’Tarda
Megelaar
Mel Gobelyn
melant’i
menfri’at
mirada
Miri
misravot
Mizel
nadelm
Natesa
Nelirikk
Norn ven’Deelin
Nova yos’Galan
nubiath’a
Paitor Gobelyn
palesci modassa
Pat Rin yos’Phelium
pel’Kana
prena’ma
prethliu
Priscilla Delacroix y Mendoza
qe’andra
qua’lechi
Ran Eld Caylon
relumma
Ren Zel dea’Judan
Samiv tel’Izak
Seeli Gobelyn
Shadia ne’Zame
Shan yos’Galan
Sheriekas
Sinit Caylon
Tayzin
ter’Fendil
Thawla
Thawlana
Theo Waitley
thodelm
tra’sia volecta
Trealla Fantrol
Trelu
va’netra
Val Con yos’Phelium
Valcon Berant’a
Valcon Melad’a
van’chela
Vandar
Voni Caylon
yos’Galan
yos’Phelium
Yxtrang
zaliata
Zam
zerkam’ka
zhena

Scrabble accepts your best wishes for her ninth birthday and continued good health.

She will now resume her nap.

Honestly, humans. . .