Flights of Fiction now available for Kindle and Nook

I've got some good news today. 

 

Flights of Fiction

 is now available for the Kindle and the Nook.

 The links for all versions - including signed copies - are on the right sidebar.

Now for some less exciting news.

Like many writers, I started blogging to support my writing - networking with other writers and hopefully building a small fan base. Unfortunately, I seem to be spending more time lately on blogging, including visiting and commenting on the blogs I follow, then I am writing.  I'm sure this is due to some serious inefficiency on my part but until I get a better handle on my time management, I need to make a change. 

This will be my last regular Friday blog. Starting next week, I'll be posting and visiting on Monday and Wednesday only.  I hope you'll continue to visit me on those days.

Looking ahead to this weekend,

I want to send a

Happy Father's Day 

to my favorite dads.

From right to left:

my dad, my husband (my sons' dad), and my sons (my grandkids' dads).

I love you all.

I'll get to wish my dad a Happy Father's Day in person - he's coming for the weekend. How about you? Any Father's Day celebrations? Any other fun plans for the weekend?

Riddles for Today:

1 - There is a clerk at the butcher shop, he is five feet ten inches tall and he wears size 13 sneakers. What does he weigh?
2 - Before Mt. Everest was discovered, what was the highest mountain in the world?
3 - How much dirt is there in a hole that measures two feet by three feet by four feet?

(answers on Monday)

Book Signing for Flights of Fiction - Okay, It Was Fun

Well, I made it through my (our) first book signing. And, yes, it was fun.

Our host bookstore put us in a lovely reading room with chairs and low tables all around, a very comfortable setting.  We had a nice assortment of refreshments (which added to the comfort level) and a beautiful cake.

Although, if you look closely at the top, you can see the cake had slipped slightly off its foundation due to a quick stop on the way from the bakery. 

We did the traditional cake cutting with all the participating authors. You'll notice they only trusted us with small plastic knives. 

The readings went well. Each author read about a page from their story. I didn't flub up too much on mine.

Then came the signing part. Since there weren't a lot of large tables, several of us simply signed at the low table near where we were seated (we were scattered through the room, among the guests).  Those with books to be signed just followed a line that wove through the room past each author. It was a little awkward but worked well enough.

  

For a little while, things were sort of a blur. People handed me books and I signed them. I even remembered to sign my pen name instead of my real one.

Things finally slowed down when the bookstore ran out of copies to sell.  How's that for a book signing problem? 

Was it perfect? Not quite. I wish the signing part had been slower so I could have really thanked everyone who bought a book. I wish I'd had more time to talk to people who came to support me. And I feel bad because there were a couple good friends who deserved very special "signings" and in the rush, I couldn't think of the right words.

But all in all, it was a really good night.

My thanks to the Western Ohio Writers Association - especially Gery Deer, who organized this event - for being such a great group to work with and learn from.

So...how was your weekend?

Joke of the Day: The nuns at a small convent were happy to learn that an annonymous donor had left his modest estate to them. Each nun was given $50 in cash to give away as she saw fit.  

Sister Catherine Ann decided to give her share to the first poor person she saw.  She looked out the window and saw a man leaning against the telephone pole across the street, and he looked very poor indeed. 

She immediately left the convent and walked toward the man. He had obviously known better days. The good nun felt he had been sent by Heaven to receive her offering.  

She pressed the $50 into the man's hands and said, "Godspeed, my good man."  

As she left, the man called out to her, "What is your name?"  

Shyly, she replied, "Sister Catherine Ann."  

The following evening, the man returned to the convent and rang the bell. "I'd like to see Sister Catherine Ann," he said.   

The nun at the door answered, "I'm sorry, but I cannot disturb her right now. She's in the chapel. May I give her a message?"   

 "Yes," said the man gleefully. "Give her this $100 and tell her Godspeed came in second at Churchill Downs."

My First Book Signing.

Okay, I'll admit it. I always thought my first book signing would be for my own book. You know, my novel, with my name on the cover and everything. It would have to be a novel because I didn't write anything else. Not short stories. Certainly not poetry.

Then I joined the Western Ohio Writers Association and soon I was doing pieces for our Beatnik Cafe (public readings), trying poetry, writing short stories.  And lo and behold, it was a short story that was published first. Mine along with ten others in the anthology, Flights of Fiction.

Our launch party is tonight, 7:00 to 9:00 at Blue Jacket Books in Xenia, OH. Ten of the eleven authors in the book will be there. We'll each read a page from our story. We'll sign books (hopefully). We'll meet and greet and mingle.

I'm a little nervous.

Our public readings are different. I always write something especially for those, something that will be easy to read aloud. The events are laid back. Casual. Free.

If someone is buying our book - spending their hard earned money - are the expectations different? Do I suddenly need to look/act/sound like a professional author?  What should I say? What should I wear?

What should I write when I sign?  If someone wants all ten of us to sign a book, do we move off the title page or squeeze on there together like a get well card being passed around an office?

What if I forget and sign my real name instead of my pen name?

Maybe I'm a lot nervous.

Any suggestions? Tips? Kind words of support?  (Try to keep the snickering to a minimum.)

I'll tell you how it went on Monday.

If I'm not here, assume the worst.


Groaner for the Day:  (it's been a while since I've given you a real groaner)

King Ozymandias of Assyria was running low on cash after years of war with the Hittites.  His last great possession was the Star of the Euphrates, the most valuable diamond in the ancient world. Desperate, he went to Croesus, the pawnbroker, to ask for a loan. 

Croesus said, "I'll give you 100,000 dinars for it." 

"But I paid a million dinars for it," the King protested.  "Don't you know who I am?  I am the king!"

Croesus replied, "When you wish to pawn a Star, makes no difference who you are."

Thank You's and Blogfests and Funnies, Oh My!

Happy Hump Day

My hump day post has to serve as a multi-purpose blog this week.  

First, I need to thank everyone for their good wishes on the release of Flights of Fiction on Monday, especially those who ordered a copy. I really appreciate your support.

For those who asked about an e-version, Flights of Fiction will be available in e-format in early May. I don't have an exact date from the publisher but I will certainly make an announcement here as soon as I know. 

Next I want to tell you about a very cool new blogfest from the Ninja Captain, Alex Cavanaugh, and friends.

I love one day blogfests (no A to Z challenges for this kid), especially when movies are involved. This one should be lots of fun. Get the details and sign up here.

 I also want to mention that I'm going to be off line for the next week. I'm going on a little vacation with some dear friends.  I'll be back with you on Friday, April 26.  Try to stay out of trouble while I'm gone. 

Now for your hump day funnies.

 Here are some actual label instructions found on consumer goods. 

On a Sears hairdryer -- Do not use while sleeping.

 (but that's the only time I have to work on my hair.) 

On a bag of Fritos -- You could be a winner! No purchase necessary. Details inside.

 (the shoplifter special?) 

On a bar of Dial soap -- "Directions: Use like regular soap."

 (and that would be?) 

On Marks & Spencer Bread Pudding -- "Product will be hot after heating."

(huh?)

 On packaging for a Rowenta iron -- "Do not iron clothes on body."

 (but wouldn't this save me time?) 

On Nytol Sleep Aid -- "Warning: May cause drowsiness."

 (well, I certainly hope so)   

 On a Japanese food processor -- "Not to be used for the other use."

 (now, somebody out there, help me on this)  

On an American Airlines packet of nuts -- "Instructions: Open packet, eat nuts." 

 (oh, good grief)

 On a Swedish chainsaw -- "Do not attempt to stop chain with your hands or genitals."

 (Oh my Lord..was there a lot of this happening somewhere?)

Oh, don't worry, I've got your weekly "aw".

How about this one?

I know you said it.

 

Okay, that's it. Did we get you over the mid week hump and on the slippery slope to the weekend?  Good. Did you have a favorite?

 

Take care. See you next Friday. 

Thought for the Day:

I'm praying for my hometown of Boston and for everyone affected by yesterday's tragic events.

 

Flights of Fiction - Release Day

 It's FLIGHTS OF FICTION's Release Day.

Oh yeah, I'm jazzed.

I'm also delighted to be in such fine company.  The Western Ohio Writers Association (WOWA) is a wonderful group of talented authors and I'm proud to be part of the group and of this anthology.

Flights of Fiction came into being in rather an unusual way. Instead of a book in search of a publisher, this was a publisher in search of a book.  Handcar Press, an independent author imprint of Loconeal Publishing, LLC, wanted to do an anthology of stories based in southwest Ohio.  A representative from Loconeal reached out to Gery Deer, the founder of WOWA, and asked if we'd be interested in contributing. Gery grabbed the opportunity and ran with it.

Eleven stories were selected for the anthology.  Gery contributed the introduction, in which he points out that his story didn't make the cut. 

Here's a blurb on Flights of Fiction:

Pull up a comfy chair and lose yourself in eleven original stories set in and around the southwest Ohio region. Written by just a few of the talented authors from the Western Ohio Writers Association, these soon-to-be classic tales let you follow one man’s tragic story at the end of the world in “Dead of Winter”; experience a night at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in “Nose Art”; and get lost in a haunting image from the past in “Tabitha’s Portrait,” plus many more. From detective tales to a trek into the mysterious world of wrestling, Flights of Fiction has something for everyone.

Sound good?

One little note - If you would like to purchase Flights of Fiction (bless your little heart), the "Buy Now" button on the right will take you to Paypal to purchase it directly or you can click on the cover image to buy it on Amazon. If you use the Buy Now button, I'll cover the shipping and you'll receive a signed copy.

So, that's what's new and exciting in my world today. What's going on in yours?

Headline of the Day:

What were the chances?

More About Flights of Fiction

Following the cover reveal on Monday, a few people have asked me how Flights of Fiction came about, and since there's nothing I'd rather talk about right now...well, except for my exceptional grandchildren but I try to maintain some control in that area, which isn't easy they're all bright, talented, beautiful...oh, right - Flights of Fiction. (Sorry.)

Flights of Fiction is a collection of stories set in Southwest Ohio, written by Southwest Ohio authors. More specifically, by members of the Western Ohio Writers' Association. We're a pretty eclectic bunch and this anthology certainly reflects that. The stories include fantasy, suspense, horror, romance, and mystery. Mine's a mystery. The cover was also designed by one of our members.

The title? That's in honor of Dayton, Ohio, the birthplace of aviation. Yeah, I know, the first flight took place down in North Carolina, but Orville and Wilbur Wright designed and build that first airplane in their bicycle shop right here in Dayton.

On Monday, I'll have the links up and more information on our release and our local launch party.

In the meantime, do you have any plans for this weekend? Hope it's a great one.

Thought for the Day: 

A clear conscience is often the result of a fuzzy memory.

 

?????