30 Years Ago Today

Thirty years ago today, Michael Guzman was given the death penalty as his punishment for the savage, cold blooded murder of Julie Ann Jackson.   The sentence was undone 4 years later.  But the jurys' courage that day is to be commended and should be remembered.  That jury understood the outside pressures but did the right things anyway.

Today I obtained a photo of that day, of that moment, from the Albuquerque Journal.  That photo is the final piece I was waiting for to complete my book.  Tomorrow the book goes to the formatter and then hopefully the day after that it goes on line.  Then a week or two after that it will be a real three dimentional book.    Like Carly Simon said, "the anticipation is keeping me waiting."

A Book Trailer is the Way to Go

Looks like I'd better consider producing a video book trailer. That's what everybody does now, when they have a book to sell.    I might have an advantage that perhaps other writers do not have, in that I have previously produced videos.  But I have never made a book trailer before, so we shall see.  My specialty which is being funny, doesn't really lend itself to a crime book and thus my dilemma.  I am willing to take suggestions.  Please send them in.  Thank you, I'll be waiting by my computer.

Kindle Board Says Avoid Indies

Today, as I am madly trying to learn anything and everything that I can about Kindle,  I came across a discussion board that was trying to get Indies banned from Kindle.  They're serious.  They don't want Indie's to be listed down at the bottom where it says "customers who viewed this also viewed".  
They don't want to be tricked into accidently reading someone that is not mainstream.  They also want the reviewed process to be severely restricted so that they don't have to read a bunch of glowing reveiws from the author's family.

It's kind of disheartening.

Facebook Page is Up

Well, it took me muy (spanish for abuncha) time but now I've kinda, sorta got my ETA (Escaping the Arroyo) facebook page up.  I had to change to timeline to do it. Man, I hate change.  It took the longest time to get me to use a microwave. 

They found the picture that I want to use at the Albuquerque Journal and now I just have to wait for permission from the editor to be allowed to publish it in my book.  In fact, that's kind of what is holding the book up.  Waiting for the picture.  Til Tuesday.  Then when I get it (if I get it) I've still got to send it to the Kindle formating guy.  I know, I know, I could do it myself and I'm sure that one day I will, but I'm learning too much stuff right now and my brain is running out of room.  Anyways, as soon as I get it formatted then I'm going to upload it on to Kindle and then, and then, Well, and then, I don't know.  But I'm excited to find out. 

I'm relatively sure that (still) no one is reading my blog but I will continue to publish it daily (if I can remember) as it makes me feel like I'm doing something positive.

Today I went to Guru M L Briggs.  She had a lot of helpful ideas as usual.  Main thing is just to get it done.  Oh Lord, I'm trying.  Need to get my author's pic and bio.  Seems boring to me but maybe someone will be interested.  I asked for my first review today and he told me he couldn't do it, he was too busy.  Still it felt good to ask.  I'll be asking a whole heck of a lot more people next week . . . when it's up on Kindle . . . I hope, I hope.

Also went to hearing today re: guzman.  he is still trying to do the habeas corpus deal.  he's still bumming everyone out.  i hope one day that ends.  it is too painful for the victims.

Overwhelming is what it is

Today, I had the best of intentions.  I went to my criminal investigations class and then zipped home to finish up the stuff I need to finish up to finish up my book.  (is that too many finishes?)  Anyways the very first thing I see when I look at my email is that convicted killer Michael Guzman is making inroads in his habeus corpus quest to obtain another trial.  That bummed me out. 

Then I called the Albuquerque Journal about using one of their photos for my book and they told me I had to have the exact date of the paper and name of photographer.  Ok.  So I zip down  to the library, found the info on the picture and called the librarian back with the details and now she's checking.   I wait. 

Then I'm still waiting for an answer from the isbn people on how to use their product , but so far no response. 

Finally, I'm getting around to doing more research on what I need to do, which is:   A. getting the book published on Kindle, and B. Finding a way to get people to read it.

We'll see how far I get.

my first blog

Hello  . . .  I know no one is reading this, but I have to start somewhere.  I'm hoping to get my first book on Kindle this week, which would be amazing.  There are so many other things I need to do and at least 80% of them I don't what they are yet.  Oh, well. 

Anyways, for all of you that aren't reading, my first book, Escaping the Arroyo, is right around the corner.  It's exciting that it is almost ready for prime time.  I had no idea it would take this long or be this much work.  That's just as well though, because then I would never have done it.