Here you can follow the blow-by-blow account of my attempt to transform myself into a (regularly) published author.

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Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Book Sales

Today was a bit unusual in that I had two sales from separate sources on the same day. I'm shipping a copy of North Country Cache to Amazon, and a copy of Would You Dare? on an independent order.

Amazon is so terrible for small publishers that I almost lose money every time I get an order through them. But I feel that I have to keep the book there for credibility. Several people have written good reviews there, as well, which I think might help a bit.


Monday, March 28, 2011

Ludington Daily News Column- March 2011

My monthly news column, "Get Off the Couch," was due by noon today. Turned in on time! This column has been running for over four years now, with good local enthusiasm. Every year, in March, I've reviewed some books by people who get off the couch.

This year, I re-read and reviewed two old favorites: North With the Spring by Edwin Way Teale and Beyond Your Doorstep by Hal Borland. Here is the opening:

Old Standbys for Any New Naturalist

It’s that month of mud where green is mostly hoped-for. Once again, I find solace in books. This year, I pulled out two old favorites by writers of a passe status, those called naturalists. To be considered academic these days, a specialty is required. If you take up zoology, perhaps you will study the bacteria which inhabit the mites that live only on the eyelashes of dogs. I think I’d rather take the dog– bacteria, mites, eyelashes and all, and go for a walk...
These columns are not available on-line, unless you subscribe to the Ludington Daily News. One collection of columns is currently available as an e-book, called Get Off the Couch with Joan, at Smashwords.


What am I Doing?

Against my better judgment, I'm starting another blog. This one has a specific purpose: to serve as an author blog, and a sort of accountability/credibility "thing."

More and more of my time is being spent writing. Some is creative, some is purely for money, but perhaps after six decades of life, I'm beginning to focus on one activity. Maybe. One can write about anything and still avoid focus, right?

So over the next few days I'll be trying to get this blog set up. Expect posts about writing of all kinds, and shameless promotion of scribblings.

Posts with dates older than this one have been migrated in from other places where they were posted, but which belong here.