One more day, then it's back to work

Another Thanksgiving for the record books. The beauty about dysfunction is that a dysfunctional-family gathering is never boring. For the first time in my adult life, I overslept on turkey day and got the bird in the oven an hour later than I wanted. Nobody seemed to notice that the first course of turkey was a little medium rare.
I learned a very valuable lesson tonight as well. If you're going to have a group of people at your new apartment, it might be a good idea to invest in a plunger before the festivities. That saves a trip to Wal-Mart at 9 p.m. after you discover that someone did not take their leftovers home with them.
OK, so tonight, my 20-year-old son is spending the night in anticipation of Black Friday. Personally, I've never ventured out of the house on Black Friday. But Grant wants me to go jeans shopping with him at 6 a.m. What's a mother to do? Like a fool, I said "yes." Dang. People have died during an early bird attempt to obtain a Tickle Me Elmo.
I just know I am going to bed tonight, only to have nightmares of getting caught up in a stampede that would rival a 1979 Who concert. I'd hate to think I may have to deck a middle-aged woman over a pair of Wranglers. It's more likely I'd find it necessary to pummel some fool for being rude.
In any event, I'd better get some rest. Without a doubt, it's going to be a bumpy ride.

Another Thanksgiving is upon us

Just a few thoughts:
• The Pilgrims claimed they came here for escape religious persecution. Let's get real. Everyone knows they actually came here for Black Friday deals.
• Here's to plenty of turkey and projectile eating. I may be getting older, but I can still dodge a glob of pre-chewed green bean casserole when I have to.
• My Thanksgiving is a reality show waiting to happen.

Have to get up in a few hours and get the turkey in the oven. Hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Is signing books alone something like drinking alone?

     OK, so I'm sitting on my living room floor, signing a box of books for Dave at Paper and Ink. All alone. I could be signing them in my underwear and no one would know. But no, I wouldn't do that because that would be entirely too weird, even for me.
     There are only about 50 books left. Tomorrow I will go to MLAD on Jefferson Street and order more. Owner Mark Levans says it'll only take about a week.
     I do want to thank everyone who's purchased a copy of the first edition, for their support. This book sincerely was a labor of love ... one that I wanted to share with everyone. That's saying something, considering I used to get poor marks in school for my inability to share. Huh. Come to think of it, I also often "failed to show control," I "didn't respect the property of others," I "ran with scissors" and I "ate paste." No, wait a minute. That last one was David Watson.
    Thought for the day: If you eat paste, do your butt cheeks ultimately ... naw, I'm not going to go there.
In any event, there will be more books, so remember that Calamity and Courage would make a great Christmas gift!

First edition almost sold out after only two weeks!

There were times during the writing of Calamity and Courage that I felt like having a pity party and inviting all of my friends to share my misery. A year with very little income had turned me into a big ol' baby.
Writing is a crap shoot. You never know exactly how your work will be received. Well, thanks to all of you who purchased a copy of Calamity and Courage, I'm not a baby anymore, which is good, considering the diaper thing will come soon enough. I keep telling my son his penance for borrowing money over the years and not paying me back is that he will get to change my diaper when that time comes.
Anyway, today I will order the second printing of books. So those of you who get that limited, first-edition copy, hang onto it. In due time, you might be able to double your money when you sell it on E-Bay.

Just email me at virginalleypress@gmail.com and we'll talk.

Calamity and Courage, the 1913 Tiffin Flood book, selling like hot cakes

Calamity and Courage, about the 1913 Flood in Tiffin, Ohio, has been out about two weeks and already it's about to go into its second printing. Once I get a marketer, it should really take off. Settling into a marketing strategy for an ADHD writer is like ... what was I saying? ... oh, I know, it's like ... hmm, I think I'll paint the kitchen yellow ... oh, I was talking about marketing ... LOOK! SQUIRREL!!

There now is a possibility that the book may be expanded into a another dimension, but that's something about which, thus far, I've been sworn to secrecy. If the next project goes as planned, it will be worth the wait.

Right now I'm just trying to get back on track with my Plan B. I'm writing for two universities, and I've got a few other irons getting hot in that proverbial fire. Of course the books are top priority, even though I had originally intended that my next book would deviate from being historical in nature. Unfortunately, that project did not materialize, so I'm back to doing what I do best — taking my readers back in time.

There's still time to order a first edition of Calamity and Courage. Just send $35 to: Virgin Alley Press • Box 14 • Melmore, OH 44845. They also are available at Paper and Ink in downtown Tiffin, across from the Courthouse.