Friday, March 25, 2011

Health Insurance... Editing... & the Unexpected

So I recently had to stop wearing contacts because of an issue with what's called Corneal Infiltrates. Which those can lead up to ulcers in my eyes requiring surgery. I was prescribed an eyedrop that cost $20. I was supposed to use it for five days and they were supposed to go away. They didn't. So when I went back, she prescribed another eyedrop for me. Now this is where I get a bit upset. Health insurance is the biggest scam on the planet. I pay almost $100 a month for health insurance for JUST ME through my job. And with insurance the new eyedrops cost me $70 for this tiny itty bitty bottle!!! I'm like are you kidding me???? $70 just because its a steroid?! GAH! Such a rip off!

Ah!!! My edits are almost done and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed the process this time around. I didn't have to struggle through alone. My editor is the best! She totally helped me through the process and made it a bit easier on me. And since I can hardly stand to edit, that's saying alot! :D Thanks, Rie! You're the best!

The unexpected... A really close friend of mine was diagnosed with breast cancer last year. She had to have a mastectomy about a month and a half ago. And now that she's healed from that she's supposed to start chemo. But she was delayed another week because of the horseback riding lessons she and I signed up for. The reason I say this is because she's a bit more advanced than me in regards to riding so the trainer allowed her trot and canter the horse. Now for those of you who don't know the reason a cowboy wears chaps isnt because it's mad sexy, it's because its a necessity when you ride as much as they do. When the horse is running and you're posting, your leg is constantly rubbing against the stirrup leather strap. This can cause chafing and lead up to abrasions and rubbing the skin right off. Unfortunately, this happened to her and she is unable to start chemo until it heals. Hopefully it heals quickly because in the three months from the time of diagnosis to the actual surgery, the cancer grew and also spread to her lymphnodes. I just want my friend to be okay again. She's the kindest, sweetest, most amazing person I have ever met. I pray for her as much as I can because a person like her doesn't deserve this to happen.

That really makes you stop and think about life and the little things we complain about or the things we take for granted. I love her like a sister and I really can't imagine her not being around.

Goodnight, my beautiful people.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Silver Publishing... Editing...

Well, I do have to say that I am so far enjoying my experience with Silver Publishing. They have accepted my novel Swift's Temptation and a short story called Fragments of a Unicorn's Soul. Silver Publishing definitely has a more hands on approach than Dreamspinner did. Don't get me wrong, I love Dreamspinner Press, but I do like the fact that Silver Publishing has actually reached out to me and expressed more than a passing interest in my story.

I spent an hour on the phone between talking about the story and just talking about other things in life with the editor. She's a really funny, yet sarcastic, person and I like her. Although she has wrecked my brain! LOL. She finally sent me back the edits and oooohhhhh weeeeee! It's way more than Touch Me Gently. >.< I did expect a lot but holy cow!

A good portion of it does make sense, and I fully intend on making most of the changes being asked. However, there are some that are just nitpicking IMO. Little things that I don't think make or break a story. However, who am I to say that? I'm not the editor! lol. I've given the edits a once over so far, accepted or rejected the basic changes and left the major stuff for the second look. With all of the requests made, it seems almost like I may have to re-write a good portion of the story. I have to look more closely at the longer notes and go from there I suppose.

I can't wait to see the cover though. :D That's hopefully very soon. And I am still waiting to hear from them regarding the short story that they accepted.

I do have another story I'm working on that just needs editing before I can submit it. Although I will be submitting that back to DSP, especially since Silver isn't accepting Paranormal stories and it's a shifter story. Oh, big surprise there, ne? In my defense though, I've ALWAYS loved shifters stories. It has nothing to do with Twilight. I loved the books, but after the movies came out, I can't stand the whole series. *shudders* For many, many reasons.

Well, off to catch some zzzzs. Work tomorrow and more editing. >.< Also need to shoot off a brief email to my editor (wow... there's a word I didn't think I'd say) before I log off for the night.

Goodnight, everyone!

Friday, March 4, 2011

And the Nominees Are....


I found out a couple of days ago that I was nominated for the 2011 TLA Gaybies!! Wow! What an honor! To be chosen out of hundreds of different authors and books! I can't believe it!

The link to vote is: 2011 TLA Gaybies Voting

You can vote as often and many times as you want, so vote now and often! :D