I’m sitting here a little disappointed because the first 50 people who register for the RNConvention get to have a special VIP brunch with Jimmy Thomas and some other hunks. Anya and I were all set to start registering as soon as it opened at 3:00 PM on Saturday. But they changed it to tonight, at the same time church starts. Bleh. Anyway…onward.
Formatting for Print
After fighting so long with page numbers on the print version of Vampires’ Curse, I finally got it to work! So while it was still in my mind how to do it, I went ahead and formatted Soul of a Vampire. So I’ll be publishing both of them on CreateSpace pretty close together. Anya has to work on the print cover of SoaV first. She pretty much has VC done…she was just waiting on me to tell her how many pages it was going to be.
Writing
I finally started on the book I’m co-writing with my husband. Right off the bat, we disagreed on something. He wanted more description about the MC’s feelings before he has an accident. I think I started it right and that it doesn’t need anything else. So I stopped writing if for a little while. Then I picked it back up and didn’t change anything. I can always add more later if hubby still feels like it needs more. I ended up writing 560 words, but I would have liked it to be more.
Health
I’ve been faithful to my workouts, going to the gym 3-4 days a week. But I need to add cardio. I’m going to order some Chaco running/walking shoes because since I’ve been wearing my Chaco sandals, no shoe feels good on my feet anymore, even my Tone-Ups. When I walk on the treadmill at home, I could wear my sandals, I guess. But at the gym, they expect you to wear appropriate shoes. Since I found an extra $112 I didn’t know I had, I can buy those shoes. 🙂
lauralynnelliott.com 
I’m looking forward to seeing the print version of Vampires’ Curse.
Emma, Anya always does such a good job on my covers. I expect no less from this one. 🙂 And I hope I finally got it formatted correctly. I spent hours on it. *crosses fingers*
Formatting sucks.
I was wondering if you were going to make Soul of a Vampire into a paperback. I remember you having trouble with page numbers and blank pages before a chapter (to make all chapters start on the right).
LOL I’m sure you and your husband will work it all out. He should keep in mind that you’ve had experience with this by now, 😉 but it never hurts to add too much which can be deleted later if it needs to be. I’d rather delete than go back and write scenes. I’m lazy when it comes to doing revisions.
Wow. Awesome to hear how much you’re working out. The right shoes can make all the difference.
I try to make all my full length novels into paperback. And I have two compilations in paperback. Now that I’m out from under the vanity press that printed A Rocky Path, I need to get that one done at CreateSpace, too. I still haven’t decided about The Gnome. It’s a little less than 40K, so it’s 10K short of technically being a novel, but it might be long enough for a paperback. Do you remember Barbara Cartland. She used to write historical romance, and they were so short, I could read them in a couple of hours. Now that I look back on them, I realize they were probably novellas.
We will work it out. He told me I was the writer, so I could do it like I wanted. But I want him to be happy with it. It’s a good thing we are both easy going. 🙂
Yes, I really need to get those shoes. I can’t walk on the treadmill if my feet hurt.
Great job on your goals…it has to be so exciting to see your books in print. 🙂 I need to follow your example and start working out more. I’m hoping to get a treadmill for my writer cave that I can store in the closet when it’s not in use. Have a great week!
It’s always exciting to get that first shipment of books. Well, actually, just getting the proof is exciting. 🙂
My treadmill is actually in my writer cave. LOL
I can’t wait to see the cover–Anya’s are always so fitting for your novels.
I hear you completely about shoes–I stand on concrete floors all day at the day job, which means no stilettos for this middle-aged lady! Comfortable shoes are very important. 🙂
Too bad about maybe not getting into the brunch with the hunks–those poor hunks don’t know what they’ll be missing, do they?
I’ll be following your co-writing with interest. Hubby and I can write work articles together, but I’m not at all sure about fiction. . .
Anya always reads my books as I write them so she can get the feel of the story. It helps her design the right cover.
If I wear my Chacos over the weekend, I can wear heels to church on Sunday with no problems. But if I go around in flip flops all day Saturday, then the heels hurt my feet. Weird, huh?
I’ve never had any desire to co-write with anyone. But this whole story was my husband’s idea. And it was such a good one, I had to write it for him. 🙂
Aww. Sorry you missed your chance for the VIP brunch. But I’m sure you’ll have a ton of fun at the next RNConvention. Ah, the co-writer thing hits early. You know what? You can nip that in the bud real fast. Remember that saying, “Don’t get it right, get it written.” Adding the emotions can come during edits, that is if he still wants them added. Good job this week. Keep it up!
Oh, but I didn’t miss the chance! Even though I registered an hour and a half after the registration opened, I STILL was one of the first 50. I don’t know how, but….
I think hubby will bow to my experience. But I’m going to go back later and see if it needs something else. 🙂
You are accomplishing lots Lauralynn, good for you. I hate it when I disagree with the hubs, I’m ‘anything for a quiet life’ mostly, where he’s ‘I know best’ most of the time, which works for him 90% of the time. But if I’m certain about something I stick to my guns. I guess once the first draft is complete, you’ll both read through it and discuss the re-writes together anyway. Hope it goes well for the week ahead. X
Thanks, Shah! Hubby and I don’t disagree much. And he wasn’t really insistent about the scene, but I want him to be happy with the book. And like you said, it can always be changed in edits. 🙂
Great progress!! I am impressed by those who know how to format their own work….I am sure I could learn, but so far, I’ve had Create Space do it for me.
(Well, it was Booksurge when I last did it).
Here’s MY ROW 80 CHECK-IN POST
Thanks, Laurel! It’s really not hard at all to format for print. The worst part is getting the page numbers to work. That’s what stumped me, but I realized what I was doing wrong. I’m glad I finally got that fixed!
Great job on your goals and YAY for being one of the first 50 for the conference! I am so wishing I could go but I don’t know if I could swing it. I will have to see if there is a deadline for registering (not the first 50 thing. Just registering in general.) If the deadline is out far enough maybe I can save my pennies! (the convention prices are great, but ugh, plane tix prices suck!)
Thanks, Kat. I haven’t checked plane tickets yet, so I don’t know how much they would be. Sometimes SW airlines has good pricing, but I’m going to check all flights. If you book really early, the flights are usually cheaper.
I think the registration price (hotel, classes, food) is a great deal. I couldn’t believe the price is all inclusive. I’m not sure what the deadline is, but if it doesn’t tell on the site, maybe you can email them. It might depend on how many are coming. It might fill up.
Well done on all your achievements!! I can’t imagine what it is like to see your writing in print….very exciting!!
Thanks, Em! Seeing my writing in print feels great. 🙂