tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post6519231800821806490..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: Marketing into an increasingly annoyed readershipJanet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-47523612286610169582016-06-29T01:16:22.281-04:002016-06-29T01:16:22.281-04:00I like post it notes for marking passages I want t...I like post it notes for marking passages I want to come back to for reference. Bookmarks last forever, though. I love bookmarks. I keep lots of them because I always have more than one book going.Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-73410685816382448852016-06-29T01:12:22.241-04:002016-06-29T01:12:22.241-04:00Heidi,
Sharing is one of the things that does hel...Heidi,<br /><br />Sharing is one of the things that does help. When God started putting me in the path of women who had lost babies so I could talk to them, it helped. I could tell them this is what you can expect. It gets better. Yes, have another baby. No, it never stops, but you can go on and you'll be happy again.<br /><br />It opened the wounds again for me, but it was part of the healing process to be able to talk to them as no one else could and answer their questions.Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-14494760616906806392016-06-29T00:57:13.860-04:002016-06-29T00:57:13.860-04:00CynthiaMc said: "I don't use bookmarks. I...<b>CynthiaMc</b> said: "<i>I don't use bookmarks. I find post it notes work better...</i>"<br /><br />Am thinking that the next convention I go to, instead of handing out bookmarks, I hand out pre-printed Post-its. Those things get stuck to everything! <br /><br />Speaking of marketing, (and if I can get a govt grant to fund it), I was thinking of putting my books in the freebie bags at the next convention.<br /><br />Normally, when one goes to an SFF convention (think WorldCon or World Fantasy; in this case, SwanCon), one gets a bag full of book swag. Usually, many of these books end up on the Freebie table for anyone who wants a second or third copy. But a lot of people take these books home and eventually read them.<br /><br />So I'm thinking, one of my books in every bag.<br /><br />But it's not the same book.<br /><br />Some of the bags will have Book 1, another Book 2 and the rest Book 3.<br /><br />It would be fun to see how long it takes for people to notice. <br /><br />May also put a sticker on each book letting ppl know I'm at the convention and if they can find me, I'll sign the book for them. I know I'm more likely to read a book if I've met the author and have a lovely chat.<br /><br />It's all about making that personal connection. <br /><br /><br />P.s.: My mother is from Appalachia. This gives me rights to use y'all, even though I'm more south than, well, all y'all.<br /><br />P.P.s.: All the Pacific Islanders here use "yous" (plural of you) and it drives me nuts. But then, English is not their first language.Her Grace, Heidi, the Duchess of Knealehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17818060864422019573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-37065661838608933262016-06-29T00:54:03.490-04:002016-06-29T00:54:03.490-04:00Julie, glad you shared your story. These stories d...<b>Julie</b>, glad you shared your story. These stories do help others. My grandmother told of her isolation and loneliness when Aunt Patty died as a baby. Nobody knew what to do, what to say, so they did nothing. That was probably the hardest thing about Aunt Patty's death.<br /><br />When I lost my first one I felt so isolated and alone until other women started sharing their stories. (Subsequent babies still hurt, but not as much.)<br /><br />When my cousin lost one of hers (an 11-year-old), she says it was the stories of others that helped her get through this sudden and tragic loss.<br /><br />When you hear others' stories, you don't feel so alone in your grief.Her Grace, Heidi, the Duchess of Knealehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17818060864422019573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-83775039404588666692016-06-28T21:52:52.232-04:002016-06-28T21:52:52.232-04:00Julie: Animals are incredible for putting people a...Julie: Animals are incredible for putting people at ease. Animals are living, breathing beings that need care and companionship - and they don't judge. Mr. Barrett's program sounds perfect.<br /><br />Lennon: Julie knows what she's talking about. And you've already got the key - to listen. Sometimes people just need to be validated, to be treated like a person, to be heard. And, as Julie says, to have someone there. And if they need more than that, steer them towards a professional - their doctor, a help line, someone who's been trained to help them in that way.<br /><br />There've been many times in my life when I've regretted something I've said, but I've never regretted a minute of listening to someone who needs to be heard.BJ Muntainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12977414826388000094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-79722726030357797352016-06-28T20:41:01.337-04:002016-06-28T20:41:01.337-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-80623812520915285812016-06-28T20:34:59.237-04:002016-06-28T20:34:59.237-04:00Julie - Thanks for sharing your story. I remember...Julie - Thanks for sharing your story. I remember it from before but hadn't connected it to the auction bit. I work with a gal who went through something similar. I always want to learn more how to talk (...listen) to ones who are having a tough time. So, thanks for sharing. Lennon Farishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03570629350169504234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-84640735964156634382016-06-28T19:54:08.452-04:002016-06-28T19:54:08.452-04:00BJ
I did a human interest story on Billy Jack Bar...BJ<br /><br />I did a human interest story on Billy Jack Barrett who is the head of the horse program at the Air Force Academy. They have a strong program that works with PTSD sufferers and wounded vets and their families. One of the great things is when the soldiers and their families get to go riding together because all limitations are gone when everyone's on a horse.<br /><br />For the PTSD people it's the horses who work their magic. They won't open up to the therapists a lot of times, but they get to working with the horses and then they gradually start talking to each other. They form a bond with each other and let down. They let it all out and the healing can begin.<br /><br />It's a tremendous program.<br /><br />Marcus Lutrell, Lone Survivor, keeps a service dog. He also went back to the country to his horses. Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-26628813406357200872016-06-28T19:27:02.403-04:002016-06-28T19:27:02.403-04:00Julie: Depression sucks. I'm so glad you made ...Julie: Depression sucks. I'm so glad you made it through that terrible time, because we'd all be much poorer for never knowing you. Thank you for still being here.<br /><br />Your friend is lucky to have you. Sometimes it's our darkest moments that help us help our friends through theirs.<br /><br />For me, it's been my dogs and faith that God has something better planned for me that's kept me going. The dogs have kept me grounded, giving me a need to be here to take care of them, and the faith keeps me moving towards the future.BJ Muntainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12977414826388000094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-30714231122109435102016-06-28T19:04:45.288-04:002016-06-28T19:04:45.288-04:00When I was in high school one of my classmates com...When I was in high school one of my classmates committed suicide. We were all stunned. He was an only child. His parents were devastated. All these years later I still think of him and wonder if there was anything I could have done.<br /><br />One of my niece's best friends tried to hang herself and lingered in the hospital for weeks. None of us saw it coming. Over 10 years later her friends still ask themselves what they could have done.<br /><br />I work in Behavioral Health. Sometimes we hear of one of former patients committing suicide. The nurses and techs always wonder if there was anything more they could have done.<br /><br />Bottom line - no matter how unloved you may feel at any given moment, there are more people than you think who care a great deal about you. Don't do that to them.CynthiaMchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12175917641033760408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-86583802467207367602016-06-28T18:44:18.892-04:002016-06-28T18:44:18.892-04:00Julie, far from dragging it down, you've lifte...Julie, far from dragging it down, you've lifted me up with your story of a miracle. I'll say a prayer for your friend.<br /><br />And I totally agree about breaking the trust. At the end of a book, I need closure. Period. Beth Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02447148196867821907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-82082477594997379942016-06-28T18:33:22.162-04:002016-06-28T18:33:22.162-04:00Back on topic, I'm curious about the comment t...Back on topic, I'm curious about the comment the story sells the book, not the author. I think I've read everything by Agatha Christie. I used to wait anxiously for the next Jude Devereaux romance to come out. <br /><br />One author I won't promote. I loved her first book except she left the reader dangling, wondering what happens next. Couldn't wait for her second one and she took five years to write it. It's not a G.R.R. Martin book, these are pretty simple fantasies. Then she cuts off with another cliffhanger and that's it. I would read another of her books ever. Never again. I don't care if it was a completed five book series and they released them all at once. She's broken her trust with me.<br /><br />Sometimes it is the author.Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-81972334228337436382016-06-28T18:08:13.995-04:002016-06-28T18:08:13.995-04:00Not so fast, Colin! Keep your paws off my Dixie D...Not so fast, Colin! Keep your paws off my Dixie Dupree bookmark. While I don't go hunting them, I accept them with a smile. <br /><br />Alabama's 2-cents here - y'all is 2nd person plural. All y'all is 3 or more. And the apostrophe goes between the y and all because it takes the place of the o and u that fell off along the way.<br /><br />Congrats, Jenn! And anyone else I may have missed in the chaos that has been my life of late.<br /><br />Looking forward to a totally unscheduled 3-day weekend! Wahoo!CynthiaMchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12175917641033760408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-47012108076086154702016-06-28T17:40:07.982-04:002016-06-28T17:40:07.982-04:00Julie, I do remember this story, though I could re...<b>Julie,</b> I do remember this story, though I could read it over and over again (hope that doesn't sound morbid), b/c there's such a message of hope at the end.<br /><br />This is your Dad saved you via an auction story - although I don't recollect if you had mentioned it like that before. No matter, the message is what's important, and the way you shared it!<br /><br />No apologies, like Adib said. Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-5768348820245074242016-06-28T17:39:23.576-04:002016-06-28T17:39:23.576-04:00Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary pro...Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. There are always better days ahead if person can just get through the darkness, whatever it takes to do that.<br /><br />Now, let's move on to something less depressing. I'm sorry for dragging the post down.Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-14257074768727014422016-06-28T17:31:23.481-04:002016-06-28T17:31:23.481-04:00Julie: Adib beat me to it, but that's because ...<b>Julie</b>: Adib beat me to it, but that's because great minds think alike. Thank you for telling your story. Maybe it helps someone right now. I'm certainly going to remember this should (Lord forbid) I ever have to deal with such a situation.Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-7343090140464797422016-06-28T17:24:32.472-04:002016-06-28T17:24:32.472-04:00Julie, thank you so much for sharing that with us....Julie, thank you so much for sharing that with us. It was not a downer at all and you have nothing to apologize for.Adib Khorramhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03836332867898941638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-67613594317955882292016-06-28T17:19:11.848-04:002016-06-28T17:19:11.848-04:00Anyway, I was so exhausted. The nightmares were so...Anyway, I was so exhausted. The nightmares were so persistent. I sat in a corner most nights, knees tucked up under me and staring at the door, waiting for the demons. <br /><br />The first time I tried to commit suicide it didn't work, obviously. I couldn't find the bullets.<br /><br />The second time I took too many pills. I spent the night puking my guts up.<br /><br />The third time I got it just right. I had just drifted off to sleep when some friends stopped by. Two couples we knew were going out to dinner and got to talking. One of them said, "Has anyone talked to Julie lately? Let's stop by for a minute and see how she's doing."<br /><br />I was already out, but they got me up and walking. Made me throw up. Got coffee down me. And that was that. I'm such a failure!<br /><br />Not long after that, my dad went to an auction and bought a box of history books. I think I mentioned this before and thought it was a flea market, but it was an auction because he bought something else at the auction at the same time. Anyway, he knew I loved history about the old west and found this box of books and bought it. He looked through them all, added a few others he'd bought and sent them to me.<br /><br />One night while I was curled up in the corner, watching the door, I decided to try to read. I reached down in the box that was next to the chair and there was an Edgar Cayce book. One chapter was about suicide. He described a gray landscape devoid of all joy where souls of suicide victims stayed until they returned. A suicide victim is destined to repeat whatever circumstances caused them to take their life until they get through without the suicide. I thought, "My God. I can't do this once. I am not doing it again."<br /><br />It didn't make everything better, but it closed that escape hatch.<br /><br />Sometime after that, I was trying to sleep in the front bedroom. I was exhausted. I hadn't slept in days. My eyes closed and the nightmares started immediately. Without even thinking about it, I said, "Jesus, give me peace." <br /><br />I was instantly filled with warmth and peace and fell into a deep, restful sleep. It wasn't a prayer. I was mad at God. I had begged and prayed to God to save her, but he ignore me. <br /><br />Then I started repeating that each night and I was given peace and sleep. Eventually, I did return to the bible and God. I started healing.<br /><br />I called Dad later and thanked him for the Edgar Cayce book. He said there wasn't one in the box. It was all history books. <br /><br /><br /><br />During this time, I'd try to talk to people, but you could see they were uncomfortable, so I'd shut up. They'd pat my hand and say they knew then turn away. They'd tell me to get over it. Be strong. Tell me about someone else who lost five children. <br /><br />If you know someone who's depressed, talk to them. Let them talk to you. Don't assume they're all right. Keep checking on them. Get them through the valley. Sometimes they're going to need professional help, but sometimes they just need a friend. They just need someone to listen to them.<br /><br />Sorry to be such a downer.<br />2/2Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-23250605111152193682016-06-28T17:17:50.549-04:002016-06-28T17:17:50.549-04:00All right, I've been mulling over how to tell ...All right, I've been mulling over how to tell this story without being too maudlin. I wasn't going to post this. Most of you know my story. Some of you don't. I wasn't going to post this, but I got a panicked call from a friend last night. I mean a seriously desperate call, one you lie awake wondering what you're going to find when you try to call in the morning. With that in mind, I decided to post this, because there may come a day when these thoughts cross your mind or you have to deal with someone entertaining these thoughts.<br /><br />When my daughter died, my mother-in-law came to the hospital and the first words out of her mouth were, "I knew you were going to kill that baby."<br /><br />When a baby is born premature and doesn't make it, the mother always thinks, what could I have done differently? They always blame themselves. So, she just confirmed what I had already been feeling.<br /><br />She kept yammering. The church lady with her was aghast. I didn't say anything. Finally, a friend who was with me told Vickie's friend to get her out before she threw her out. <br /><br />So, the seeds were planted. My daughter was dead and I had killed her.<br /><br />Don was a longhaul truck driver. He stayed home a couple of weeks, but then he had to go back to work. I got a job and pretended to be normal. But when I was alone, and I was always alone, madness was a constant companion. The demons ruled the night.<br /><br />I got all the chores done before dark. I forgot to eat unless someone reminded me or Don was home. I got down to 85 pounds and I normally weigh 129 pounds. I wasn't trying to lose weight, I just didn't remember to eat.<br /><br />One night I was taking laundry into the bedroom and I saw Mirinda lying on the bed in her white christening dress and that little white bonnet. I <i>knew</i> she couldn't be there, but there she was. I threw the clothes in the air, screamed and slammed the bedroom door. The bathroom was next to the bedroom. I always made sure to use the bathroom before dark after that and didn't go down the hall. I lived in the front part of the house.<br /><br />In the hospital I had cried over and over "I want my baby." I would cry myself to sleep saying that. So, I started having dreams. There was a knock on the door and I'd answer it. There were three hags at the door. The one in the middle was holding a small dirt-covered bundle. She'd hold it out to me and I realized it was a baby in a christening dress. It was Mirinda. Then they'd laugh and say, "Here's your baby, dearie."<br /><br />As soon as I'd go to sleep I'd have the same nightmare. I had to take massive amounts of sleeping pills to get some sleep. I'd go days without sleeping because I was afraid to. My obstetrician wouldn't make an appointment to see me, but he'd prescribe pills out the ears. I had another obstetrician urge me to sue him because the delivery had been botched, I had retained part of the placenta and he didn't know it and wouldn't schedule follow up appointments, and I was very sick afterwards. I could have died. I was afraid the lawyers would start blaming me for stuff like they usually do and refused.<br />1/2Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-14672678206584978252016-06-28T16:59:28.391-04:002016-06-28T16:59:28.391-04:00Colin - agreed. Yall is now the standard per Colin...Colin - agreed. Yall is now the standard per Colin's proclamation. <br /><br />BJ - I'll bet they sold a lot of glass. Book jingles - the next big thing. Beth Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02447148196867821907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-83696034066359571612016-06-28T16:50:16.426-04:002016-06-28T16:50:16.426-04:00Brigid, I was going to bring up the y'all alte...Brigid, I was going to bring up the y'all alternative "youns" as well. I grew up in Pittsburgh, where youns was the plural of you. Glad to hear it is still in use.<br /><br />I used to get all uptight and squirmy when people talked about marketing. Now that I understand about building relationships with people on a real, personal level, my views have changed. I still don't want to call it marketing though. 😬<br /><br />Thanks for posting the link to the cat herding video. It's the best, even if I don't know what they are selling. <br />I love being part of this community. At the very least, I will never be at a loss for reading suggestions. And I plan to let all the folks from my mentor group know that not only can we buy each others' books, we can also ask our libraries to buy them! HuzzahPanda in Chiefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14160375490647791433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-889836303171705742016-06-28T16:17:26.715-04:002016-06-28T16:17:26.715-04:00Thanks, BJ. I'll go ahead and write those revi...Thanks, BJ. I'll go ahead and write those reviews.InkStainedWenchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07248786662965579123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-73347508694104939232016-06-28T15:47:17.643-04:002016-06-28T15:47:17.643-04:00Oh, Joseph, I have several books on writing. Those...Oh, Joseph, I have several books on writing. Those are just the ones I consider important right now aside from the dictionaries and thesauri. Anything by James Scott Bell is good in my opinion and I have that book. <br /><br />Gary Corby is very good and he's a refreshing change from the regular mystery. Kind of like Hillerman was a nice adventure into something different. I've been semi listening to Hinterland lately, which is a Welsh mystery show. It's interesting, kind of noir.<br /><br />Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-53347672894122224342016-06-28T15:42:47.525-04:002016-06-28T15:42:47.525-04:00Beth: A few hundred years ago, "thee" wa...<b>Beth</b>: A few hundred years ago, "thee" was indeed the 2nd person singular pronoun, and "ye" was the 2nd person plural. For the 21st century, though, I propose we keep "you" as 2nd person singular, and adopt "yall" (no apostrophe to avoid confusion) as 2nd person plural.<br /><br />That's my contribution to making English easier. ;)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-35975994808631748972016-06-28T15:31:06.054-04:002016-06-28T15:31:06.054-04:00Colin, I tried in a blog post once suggest y'a...<b>Colin</b>, I tried in a blog post once suggest y'all as the second person plural pronoun of you, but a historian informed me that you is plural and the singular second person pronoun is actually "thee." Beth Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02447148196867821907noreply@blogger.com