Home Again- Lots to Do

I'm home again after being gone for a week, and my top writing priorities are three articles for the North Star, the quarterly publication of the North Country Trail Association. Unfortunately, I don't get any money from any of those. I had anticipated one article for this issue, but the editor is very sick, and they asked me to step in and cover a couple more things this time. I need to get my program schedule listings up to date ASAP too. Lots to keep me busy... more income from it all would be good.

New Computer, No Time

It's real... I have my new laptop. But, I'm also getting ready to leave town for a week. It will be going along, but I'll be hiking and attending a conference. There will be some writing taking place, but it will all be pretty frantic.

I'm just glad that the computer is ready to go. I think I've got all the critical stuff loaded on it. And if I don't.... well, most critical things turn out to be not so critical if there is nothing you can do about them.

How Chained to the Keyboard?

My laptop computer (only 3 years old) died completely on Monday. Not good timing. Is there ever good timing for this?

Frankly, I haven't done any real writing all week. My desktop, that I used to think was speedy, feels like a tortoise, and I can't make myself sit there and wait for it.

I used to say that my brains flowed out the end of a pen onto paper, and I wasn't sure I could make the transition to using a computer keyboard. Although I was a good typist, a typewriter was never my preferred method to write. However, I quickly adapted to a keyboard-- a long time ago.

Now, this week, I can't make myself write by hand. A new laptop is ordered and I should have it today or tomorrow.

Positive Feedback Feels So Nice

My newspaper column ran on Saturday. This title was "sKumquats and InYourFace vs My www." I occasionally write funny entries, and this was one of them.

A few months ago, I started putting my email address at the end of the column, and yesterday I received an email from a total stranger. She says, "I just wanted to tell you that I am a lady 67 years old and I totally agree with your artical [sic]." She asked me to help her find some people to hike and paddle with. I can do that!

Later in the day I had to go grocery shopping. Not my favorite activity. As I was returning the cart, a man in a truck called out, "Hey, are you Joan-Get-Off-The-Couch?" I said, "yup, I suppose I should recognize you." He went on to say that he just reads the column and likes it a lot. He recognized me from the picture of me they run with the column each time.

There is nothing more pleasing to the ears of an author than to be told that people like your writing!

See Ludington Daily News Column- July 2011

Product Review at Shared Reviews

I managed to get two new reviews written for Shared Reviews this week. They are:
Detroit Electric Scheme- Mystery, History, Action which is a book review of a really good new mystery, and
Your Best Look Modest Swimsuit Fits Well, Looks Nice, reviewing a swim suit I snagged on an end-of-season closeout.

Shared Reviews has now pushed their site overhaul off by another month to September 1, but there is a sneak preview on one of those corner peel tabs anywhere on their site. There is more detail presented in their blog, at The Official-Official, Really Official, Absolutely Official New SR Launch Date.

Use this link if you would like to sign up at Shared Reviews. I made $42 last month. Admittedly, I am one of the highest earners due to having a lot of content, and achieving a high rank. Nevertheless it is a legitimate place to write online. Almost all kinds of content are welcome.

Program Scheduled in October

I'll be giving the program "The North Country Trail and the Kitchen Sink" in Irons, Michigan on October 15. This is for the Spirit of the Woods Chapter of the NCTA Annual Meeting.

Sharing my adventures with friends is always fun, and this should be a little bit different crowd than the other local showings. If you are in north-central Michigan on that date, feel free to come. There will be a short hike, picnic dinner, short meeting, and the program-- all for free.

Book sales and signing.

Casual West Side Gang

We had a small group last night- some of our folks were away or had company. The Arts Center also forgot to open the building for us, so we went to the cottage of the facilitator. It made for a nice cozy setting and was a fun change of pace, I thought.

There were just six of us, all "girls." One person was new. She is enthusiastic about our group and seems as if she will fit right in.

I read chapter 13 of News from Dead Mule Swamp. I always get suggestions for how to make it a bit better. The biggest frustration is that it's hard for people who haven't heard all the chapters to understand what has gone on before and to know if more explanation is needed on certain points, or if they are just lost because of missing chapters, or the two week time gap between readings.

Everyone else had poetry. We do have some very good poets.