1.  Still working on Her Heart’s Desire before I go back to The Earl’s Inconvenient Wife.

Since I’m doubling up on books I’m getting ready for publication, it’s taking me longer to get back to writing.  I’ve done no new writing in almost a month because I have been focusing strictly on rewriting and editing.  Yes, it does drain me of my energy, even though I have an editor and proofreaders to help me out.  I can’t rush this stage because I want the books to be as polished up as they can be.

I might put aside the editing for tonight when I take my kids to the park so I can do some actual writing.  Writing helps to relax my mind, if that makes sense.  I’m feeling restless from not doing any writing.  So if I take a break from all the editing, maybe I can come back to everything tomorrow feeling refreshed.  We’ll see. 

2.  Got the idea for the next giveaway!

Thanks to Kesia Sanez who mentioned that I could have you guys vote on whether Dave and Mary are guilty when I take them to court for pain and suffering.    I think I’ll go through a “trial” which will be presided by Rick Johnson since he’s a judge (and how fitting since I’m about to release Her Heart’s Desire where he’s the hero).  So over the next couple weeks, I’ll be running through a court hearing with witnesses (other characters) as I sue Dave and Mary for needless pain and suffering (and for tarnishing my good name since I did not kidnap Dave).    It should be a lot of fun.

After everyone gives their sides, it’ll be up to you to decide if Dave and Mary are guilty or innocent of the charges being brought against them.  When you cast your vote, I’ll put you into the giveaway. 

3.  I’ve been getting complaints about the story blog.

I don’t know how many of you know about the 500 words a day blog I set up where people can read one of my copyright protected stories.  Due to having my stories stolen twice in under a year, I can’t do any first drafts.  All first drafts have to be written offline to protect those stories. 

Based on feedback I’ve gotten, I now realize that the idea I had for the story blog was a bad idea.  I will make an announcement on that blog that I will get rid of it.  There’s no sense in spending time doing something that isn’t working.

4. Speaking of stuff that isn’t working, at the end of this month, Bargain Books for Your Nook will have to go as well unless someone wants to take it over.

Rose Gordon and I plan to make an announcement on the blog either at the end of this month or early next month.  Since it launched in late December, we’ve been getting less and less hits on it.  Now we’re lucky to get 25 people taking a look at it.  That’s a far jump from the 200 we used to get.  So obviously, the blog isn’t working.  I don’t know if someone else can take it over and make it work or what, but I have a hard time finding books to put up on that blog due to authors pulling out of B&N to join Amazon Select’s program.  Also, some authors complain it’s not doing them any good to be on the blog because they aren’t getting the boost in sales they were hoping for from being featured.  So yeah, it’s not working.  If someone would be interested in taking it over, Rose and I can hand over the blog to them.  Maybe someone can make it work, but obviously, we can’t. 

5.  This probably should have been higher on the list, but I just remembered it.  I just read a site update on Smashwords that notified me (and everyone else) that they are having problems with uploading to B&N and Kobo. 

I have a lot of B&N readers.  I have more B&N readers than Amazon, Apple, Kobo, Sony, Diesel, etc readers.  It sounds like there has been a two-month delay in getting books to B&N, if I understand the site update right.  I can’t imagine asking my B&N readers to wait two months after I publish a book to be able to read it.  That’s why I won’t join Amazon’s KDP Select (because Amazon would require me to wait three months before putting my books elsewhere). 

So I will try my hand once again at uploading directly to B&N.  I was wondering if there is anyone with a Nook who would be willing to read my book to notify me of any formatting issues in it.  I would gift the book to you so you don’t have to buy it.  I do have a Nook and will go through the book myself, but I won’t be reading the book so I might miss something.  Last time, I ran into a crazy page break issue in the middle of a chapter.  I really want my formatting to be clean for you guys so the book is easy to read.  I’m going to pay someone to format the book for me as a precautionary measure, but I still worry an error will slip by, you know?

So I will take the first offer I get on someone who’s willing to read my next book on their Nook to check out the formatting.