The end of bookstores?

So this past weekend I had a mixed experience, part sad and part happy. You see, I went to a Borders store. It seems they are the latest victim to the economic trouble or perhaps the latest victim to the rise of the online reality. If you haven't heard Borders bookstores are closing.

So the sad is because I love bookstores. Big giant mega stores like Barnes and Noble (where as a kid I though it would be the most awesome job to work at Barnes and Noble - around all those books every day). I also love quaint street corner local bookstores (where I have met favorite authors, got great recommendations from the staff, and felt at home enough to pull up a chair and browse a potential purchase).

I love the stores and I love actual books. I love the feel of the paper, the sight of the large daunting stack of things to read by my bed. I have read books on an electronic reader, and there is a thrill of being able to carry something so little with some many stories - and being about the purchase a new title without leaving the house. But I have to wonder ... is this the demise of the paper page?

The happy part of me was elated at the thought of being able to purchase tons of new reading possibilities for cheap. Not that I don't already have a stack of at least ten plus books already lined up to read...no seriously, I need to start making some headway on that. My stack keeps growing with new purchases but it doesn't shrink quite as fast.

My favorite Borders was in Norman, Oklahoma. It had the perfect mix of selection, seating, music, and an awesome staff and cafe. Still to this day (although I guess no more) when we are in Norman we swing by Borders to browse and usually make a purchase.

So Borders this toast is for you! And Borders staff thank you so much for the memories.

Query letter

Well today I finally sent my first query letter out into the big world of cyberspace. My plan had been to send a whole bunch at a time but as I had multiple tabs open in multiple Internet windows I realized the sometimes multi-tasking can have it's drawbacks. I realized the by trying to send a whole bunch at one single time I wasn't able to focus on any particular letter. Since this was my chance to make a first impression I need it to be a good one ... No a great one.

So my new plan is to send out one letter a day and perhaps more on the weekend. That way I can tailor each to the appropriate person and make sure I include all the requested items.

They say it takes several weeks to get a response (several as in 4-6 not 1-3). They also say that you are most likely to receive a whole lot of form letter rejections. Both of these I understand - yet am totally freaked out by. Wish me luck! Oh and some patience and some perseverance :)

Harry Potter

Really there are two things I want to post under this topic...both of which coincidentally have to do with Harry Potter and my husband.

First, after many failed attempts to go to a movie together, we decided and followed through on watching Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2. As I am sure I don't need to say it - the movie was fabulous. Much like the books. We had a blast. Now I knew I would like the movie; I had read all the book and like many was a huge fan. Husband on the other hand is not much into fiction but he has been wonderful enough to go with me and watch all the movies...although part 1 we actually rented rather than watched in the theater. So this was an extra treat to watch the culmination of the story in the theater. If you haven't seen it - stop reading this blog and go watch it now.

The second story relates to a book I was reading recently. To set the stage I am a huge Twilight fan and also a fan of writers like Amanda Hockling, who also writes vampire romance novels. So I had just finished a vampire romance novel awns my husband asked - what's your book about. My response was something to the effect of "well this girl meets this boy who turns out to be a vampire. They fall in love and other vampires try to kill her.".

His response was at first incredulous then it became "hey I have a good idea for a book it's about a boy named Parry Hotter. He is a young wizard who goes to a wizard school called Wogharts and he has to fight Moldavort". You get the idea :)

Back in Oklahoma

So I don't know if I mentioned in my last post that I was in Oklahoma - but I'm back...for the second time in a month I am back in my home state. I am here to teach a class for my normal 9-5 job. The cool thing about that is I got to fly on the corporate plane. Very Awesome! The bad thing is that I have people back at the home office asking me to do real work while I am gone. So I thought I would have evenings free to work on the final edits ( only 35pages to go! ). Instead I have to do more work. At least like that job also.

I did start reading a new book; it's called "Dancing to the Precipice" by Caroline Moorehead. Its about a woman in France who witnessed the Revolution and other major events that happened around that time. So far it's excellent! Well that's all for now, I have to find someplace to eat before the sidewalks get rolled up and then get back to work.

Oklahoma trip

Well I may be the only person who knows about this blog but I will still try to keep it going. We went to Oklahoma for the 4th of July. It was a great trip. We didn't see family or even do anything most people would consider exciting. But it was a great trip.

I spent some time working on my revisions. I was able to get past the part that had me stuck. The argument between Luc and Athena. It has been hard for me to try and work in dialogue. I think I realized that I have been reading a lot of non-fiction recently...well both non-fiction and historical fiction. Both of which have a lot of facts and not always as much dialogue. But then I got a comment that there wasn't enough dialogue. And I began to think of my favorite fiction books (fiction books are really my love, they are just so fun to read). That's when I realized that when I am adding to the edits I need to be certain to add in dialogue.

Anyway all that to say it was a happy and productive holiday...just 49 more pages of edits to get through and then it's down to the really scary part - sending query letters...

Arguments

So I have written the full novel and had it edited. Some of the comments suggested adding more dialogue and expanding certain areas. I am trying to do so but the problem I am having is relate to the dialogue. There is a scene I am expanding on where my two main characters -Athena and Luc - are having an argument. It's difficult because I generally try to avoid arugments in real life. It's also hard to portray an angry argument when I don't feel angry. So I am procrastinating.

Making it a little more complex is that I have the idea for a new novel...and right now I want to think more about that book than the one I am trying to finish. Blah - guess I can't put it off forever.

Welcome

So it's my first post on my new blog...exciting and scary. I don't know if anyone will even ever look at this blog but I figure I should get one started. You see I've written a book - a novel titled "The Ending Dark". At least that's the title at the moment.

Its about a girl who travels to Paris to study abroad. It's her first trip out of the country, outside of the state even. And it's the start of a big adventure. In Paris she meets a handsome man - who as it turns out is one of her professors...and happens to be cursed.

I have a draft written and even have had it edited...now it's just down to making some changes based on the suggestions I received and writing a query letter...gulp! I hope to cronicle my journey to becomming published (fingers crossed on that) on this blog. I will try to keep up posts but I am admittedly bad at emails so this will be something of an adventure. Anyway thanks for stopping by and enjoy.