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Post by bill on Jan 11, 2023 2:19:49 GMT
Rex - I spend some time planning out my revision.
My stepbrother Pat passed away last week. I almost rushed down there (he was in the hospital in El Paso) but he died too quickly. I'll go for his service in a few weeks. Really sad as he was only 50.
I go to Rhonda's this weekend to go see the Buddy Holly Story at the Boulder Dinner Theater. Looking forward to getting away and visiting with her.
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Post by Admin on Jan 11, 2023 17:05:34 GMT
I didn't realize you had a stepbrother. I'm really sorry for your loss. Rhonda sounds excited about your visit.
I've been working on projects. I have a report to get ready for the lawyer. This year they are making me turn in a financial report. I didn't expect that so I'm stressing but he sounded like it was something I could do. I'll give it a try. It will be an annual thing now. I'll see how it goes. I'm determined that this year will be a year of productivity.
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Post by Admin on Feb 5, 2023 18:45:52 GMT
Did you get accepted to present at the conference. I can't remember if you told me.
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Post by bill on Feb 9, 2023 3:40:31 GMT
I did not. They asked if I wanted them to keep the proposals on file to be considered for next year and of course I said yes. I don't know if that was a good thing or if I should have reviewed and then resubmitted, but I think they were well done so I'll let them slide and see what happens. If I have another idea or two I may submit more just to give myself a better chance, we'll see.
I thought I had posted an update in here a week or so ago. Ugh, my mind! I have an editor reviewing Grim Mansion and want to get it polished for the conference. She will also help with my query letter and synopsis. I want it ready to send after the conference and then I plan to start querying agents with it at that point.
Right now I'm working on the Vetrix series. I've done some revising in book 5 and some writing in book 6, which is where I'm at right now. I just want to get as much as I can done before I get my edits back and turn all of my focus on Grim Mansion.
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Post by Admin on Feb 14, 2023 16:35:47 GMT
Connie is still in Topeka. Healthwise, she's bouncing up and down. has a turn for the better then a relapse. Sharon is spending as much time with her as possible. I got my DAR certificate in the mail. i'm going to try and get into the DAR genealogy records.
I'm doing more art than writing at this point but looking forward to establishing time for writing. I attended a zoom meeting conducted by Holly All the moderators were there. I very much enjoyed puttimg faces with names and getting a feel for their personalities
my period key doesnt seem to be working I may have to move my computer needs higher up on the priority list.
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Post by bill on Feb 15, 2023 21:28:42 GMT
Oh goodness! No period key, lol. That's kind of a necessity!
I'm doing some work on Vetrix book 6. I don't have 5 completed but think I need to understand better how this story is going to end to write pieces of it, so I've been planning/outlining and will write on book 6 for the next two weeks. I should have my edit back for Grim Mansion by the end of February so I want to spend March, or as much time as I need, to revise it and polish blurb, synopsis, and query letter. PPWC will be here in no time!
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Post by Admin on Feb 19, 2023 17:25:57 GMT
Still busy with art projects. I got my professional wood burning kit yesterday. I'll be setting up a place to work and beginning to practice. I'll get Joshua set up on hi tobii so he can practice while I work. Sharon is home for a few days . She'll go back to see Connie on Tuesday unless something happens.
I'm not sleeping very well so I'm physically tired but working anyway. I need to start pulling taxes stuff together. I'm going to try and get it sent off the first week of March. That would be such a load off.
I don't have much going on with the writing. My bedroom is utter chaos and I think I'm avoiding cleaning. I'll tackle that problem this week.
Hope all is well with you. You sound busy and that is good.
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Post by bill on Feb 25, 2023 21:00:50 GMT
I just received the following in an e-mail: Dear Bill Bush, Congratulations on your selection for a 2023 Pikes Peak Writers Conference scholarship:) Award: Full Conference (not including Thursday)
I was not expecting that! I applied last year and received a half scholarship. I wasn't going to apply this year because I'm not as in dire straights as I was last year, but I saw a post last month that they still had money available so I applied. This is such a relief!
Did you decide if you're going?
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Post by Admin on Feb 26, 2023 3:49:20 GMT
I haven't decided. I'm really happy for you. What a wonderful surprise. I will go look at the workshops to see if anything interests me. Josh and Sharon are really happy for you.
I'm being productive just not on writing. Still being drawn by art. I need to find something that helps me pay for my expenses. March 1st I'm going to be immersed in numbers. Going to pull my taxes together and mailed and get my discover card downloaded for the judge. I hate having somebody looking over my shoulder. I know that Joshua needs to not be taken advantage of but it makes me feel as if I'm a non-entity.
I'll go the Pikes Peak website and give it a look. Its not what it used to be. If the contest was still there, I wouldn't have hesitated.
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Post by bill on Mar 19, 2023 21:59:46 GMT
I'm behind. I had a good trip to New Mexico visiting family and celebrating Pat's life. It was hard, super hard, but worth the trip and something I desperately needed to do. Hopefully life will be somewhat normal for a few weeks leading up to PPWC.
Grim Mansion - I received my edits back so I'm deep into revision. I think this is the best story I've written so far. Now if I can just get an agent interested enough to read it. I hope to finish the revision this week and I already have the query letter, blurb, and synopsis written. I'm hoping my editor will help polish those as well.
Journeys Into Possibility - The PPW anthology is set to release on Friday so I'm super excited about that. I need to spend some time talking about and promoting it. The authors involved are donating one of their books and we're putting them together with the anthology for a silent auction item at the conference.
It's a Mixed up Christmas - I got beta reads back and revised. My goal was to get it under 7,000 words (I'm only a couple hundred over), because I wanted to submit it for the PPW anthology next year. I just noticed last week that last year's anthology was limited to 6,000 words. Not sure where I got 7,000 at but I don't think I can trim it that much. I'm really, really happy with how it's turned out. Not sure what I'll do with it at this point but would like to get it published somewhere.
Hope all is going well on your end! I need to come visit sometime because it feels like it's been forever.
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Post by bill on Mar 26, 2023 22:52:05 GMT
I'm struggling. So many changes and with Pat passing away I am dealing with heavy bouts of tiredness, depression, lack of vision.
Journeys into Possibility - the anthology came out this week. It's exciting but I'm having trouble caring, to be honest.
Grim Mansion - I'm making my way through edits. did quite a bit last week and hope to get more done this week. Hopefully I'll get them finished this week but we'll see.
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Post by Admin on Mar 27, 2023 14:09:48 GMT
I wrote this nice newsy post and lost the entire thing. I'll try again later today. I hate it when I have to retype something. Just know we love you. Door is always open and if you want, I can always drive over and meet you for lunch somewhere. Love you
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Post by bill on Apr 2, 2023 22:29:20 GMT
Thank you. This week was a little better.
Journeys into Possibility - The anthology released last week and I received my copy of the book. It was exciting to see my story right in the middle of all these others. I look forward to meeting some of the other authors at PPWC in a few weeks.
Grim Mansion - I've been heavy into revision and am almost done. I like the changes I've made and I think it's a better, strong story. My editor is looking over my query letter, blurb, and synopsis to prepare them for PPWC. I have a pitch and read and critque set up, so keeping my fingers crossed.
PPWC - I volunteered again to moderate and turned in my preferences. I have few authors/agents targeted that I want to visit with so I'm going to try to do better this year at mingling. I always do a little but as an introvert I don't do near as much as I wish I could. We'll see how it goes.
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Post by bill on Apr 9, 2023 23:00:47 GMT
Grim Mansion - I spent a week trying to figure out how to tie two items in my story together. I think I finally have it figured out and am working on the revision. It isn't major, now that I have it figured out. I should have it done before I go to Susan's on Thursday (at least I hope it works out). Friday is her birthday. Then I want to put it into Grammarly to find any errors and then see if my dad will proofread. I received feedback from my editor on my query letter, synopsis, and blurb so I've made those adjustments. I plan to pitch at PPWC and am hoping someone will want to read it so I want it polished. If not, I will start querying.
Marketing - I worked on my email list and setting up books on Bookfunnel so I can give them away. I've ignored the email list for too long and want to start making it a priority. My goal is to send one email out a month and to add one new subscriber a month. I figure with small steps I can starting making it a habit that I can grow eventually.
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Post by Admin on Apr 17, 2023 13:55:32 GMT
I figured out how to get back in here. I couldn't find it and my mind blanked but last night I remembered. Sorry, it must seem like I've been lost in action. Sharon is having a rough time. Connie's situation is becoming more visible and they are having to face the fact that her diagnosis is not hopeful. Sharon is looking for an apartment to move to in Emporia. She would have more independence and be closer to her family. She would have access to public transportation and she needs that. I can't run her into town every day.
I'm working on projects but not getting much writing done. My mind is working on stories but I'm not getting them put down like I should. Life is still too cluttered here. My dream of having more me time has not panned out.
I love the new puppy but she's a stinker. Full of energy and back-talk. She makes me laugh, tho, and that is good. Joshua is playing bingo every other Thursday. He loves going into town with Jessica without me. He's got a new hobby of collecting coins. He's passionate about it. Tickles me to see him so focused on something.
Your PPWC is coming up. I know Rhonda will be glad to see you. Once again, sorry for vanishing off the boards. Just couldn't find it.
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