In lots of ways. Firstly, I was hoping to finally see James Martin in the flesh, and couldn’t believe my luck when I saw he was scheduled to appear at an event just outside my hotel in London, this weekend coming. Then, less than a week before I go, I read that he is no longer expected to attend. I missed every one of his book-signings, as I wasn’t well enough to travel, so I guess I’m not destined to see him in person. It would be funny if there were a post on James Martin’s website that said, “Thank goodness I’m not going to that event in London, so I won’t run into that strange woman that mentioned me in her Blog! Scuppered her again, mwah-ha-ha (evil laugh)!”

Secondly, you may remember that I mentioned Kindred Spirit magazine had expressed an interest in doing an interview (earlier in the year). I love holistic therapy, so was quite excited about this – as I’d heard nothing from them, I decided to take a chance and contact them personally (rather than through the publisher). I got an email back to say that they had wanted to do an interview, but they’d heard nothing back, so went ahead without me. They are doing a huge article on ME/CFS, so it would have been a great opportunity for me…obviously, it wasn’t meant to be, but I was very disappointed. As you know, I’ve found it almost impossible to get any exposure for the book, so I’m kicking myself that we missed out (or I would kick myself but, with my luck, I’d probably miss!)

I haven’t had a response from the letters I sent to WHSmith and Tesco yet, but it’s early days. I also haven’t got a new digital camera or the photos from the Borders signing yet, so I haven’t updated the gallery (although I have updated my Facebook gallery…still addicted!)

I apologise for the miserable post, but I’ve still got cold and a mouth infection, so I’m feeling sorry for myself…and worried that I won’t have recovered in time for my trip (the first holiday-type-thing I’ve had in years)!!!

…is read their books and take responsibility for the errors. They don’t rely on copy editors, proof-readers or friends. So, any errors contained within the book are my fault and my fault only. Why do I say this, considering it’s not like me to admit that I’ve done something wrong? Well, I had an email from an author (I won’t give her name, but she is what I would class as a ‘proper’ author) gently reprimanding me for not checking my own work, and telling me that authors are responsible for their own out-put. So, not only can I not string a sentence together in real life, I can’t do it in writing, either!!! Let’s add this lesson to the many things that I’ve learned during the past few months.

Back to what I was originally going to post when I got up this morning (well, mid-morning): the book club (last of the Karma-related activites in my diary). I was quite nervous by 7.25pm, and I needn’t have been – everyone was really friendly. I did have something prepared, but they were happy just to ask questions, so I was glad to go with the flow. It was like chatting amongst friends, and I enjoyed it, once I got over my nerves. I hope I didn’t disappoint them. I’d love be part of a group like that, but my CFS means that I’m very unreliable, and I’d feel so guilty if I couldn’t attend a meeting – that’s what I love about the internet: it gives me the freedom to be me, without the restrictions I have in my every day life.

Just a quickie. As I regularly tell people, I haven’t read Karma, in case I see something I want to change – given that it was more or less published ‘as written’, without the aid of an Editor. This morning, I was forced to look at the book, in order to select a few passages to read at the book group this evening. I saw so many little errors (which should have been picked up at the copy editing stage) that I wanted to cry! I admit to being somewhat of a perfectionist (well, as much as a scatterbrain like myself can be) so it really got me down – I don’t know if the book I was reading from was one of the early proof copies, or one that has hit the shops, but I can’t bring myself to check! I was really disappointed (and a bit embarrassed) by these errors, but then I got a text that said, “Think of all the people that have enjoyed the book.” That actually made me feel a lot better.

Still dreading having to read out loud…reminds me of school assemblies!

As you know, I thoroughly enjoyed being a featured author on a couple of book-related sites on the internet. I was able to sit, at my laptop (usually in my pyjamas), and answer the questions that were thrown at me, in my own time (writing and re-writing the answers until I was happy with them). Tomorrow, I’m doing it without the safety ‘net (ie the internet), as I am visiting my local library’s book club, where I will mingle with real people rather than virtual ones and I will be expected to answer their questions without the aid of a ‘delete’ button.

Nervous? Yep – for several reasons:

I don’t know what to wear (none of the fashion mags have done a feature on what authors are wearing these days, and I can’t get away with PJs).
I feel uncomfortable being ‘centre of attention’.
Sometimes, I can’t string a sentence together, particularly when tired…or nervous!

Still, like everything else, it’ll be an experience. I’m sure the group will be a friendly bunch and I hope they’ll be gentle with me.

That’s all from me, for now, except to say that you can read my thoughts on Rod Glenn’s Sinema by clicking on the link to your right and clicking on ‘Reviews’. I’ll let you know how the library event goes.

I finally got into the outside world today, after a week indoors, and it’s cleared my head enough to enable me to write a post! I think yesterday’s lovely sports massage helped too!!!

As you know, I’ve been contemplating the merits of entering various competitions for writers, and trying to weigh up whether the benefit outweighs the cost. I decided that, given my so-slim-they’re-size-zero chances of winning, I thought it best not to bother. That was until I had an email from the organiser of the RNA Award to remind me that the closing date was only two weeks away – now this was not an email encouraging me to enter, but a simple reminder, based on the fact that I’d sent an enquiry to ask if my book was even eligible. I decided that it was karma that this message arrived, so duly packaged up the requisite four books, and sent them off today. The cost equated to £29.96 (four books) and almost £8 in postage – I’m sure that big publishers enter for their writers, but this doesn’t happen for me. Maybe if I ever become a proper writer…

I’ve been discussing ‘cover quotes’ with another author online (y’know where one writer will write a comment on another writer’s book cover, praising the content). My publishers have encouraged me to find someone to do that for my own book, but I didn’t know how to go about it. There were a number of web articles I came across which promised this…for a fee. Spookily, that very same day, I had an email from a local author by the name of Rod Glenn, asking me if I’d consider looking at his manuscript with a view to commenting on it. I received it today, and can’t wait to start reading it, despite it being of a genre I don’t usually read. The more eagle-eyed among you will notice that there is a link to Rod’s site to the right of this blog, and there are details of his book, Sinema, on there.

And the reason for the the obscure title to this posting: I’m desperate to find out where my former hairdresser went to, after leaving the salon in which she worked. It’s not that I’m nosey (ok, I am a bit nosey) but she was a fabulous hairdresser and my mam misses her skills dearly. So, if you’re out there Alison from Prudhoe, get in touch via the contact me form and let us know if you’re still hairdressing!

Rather than scale the mountainous ironing pile, I decided to concentrate on activities I could do from the sofa: enquiring. I got an email this morning from the customer service department at WHSmith who gave me some different information from what the previous contact told me: apparently, each store manager has a local budget with which they can stock local books. However, this is at the discretion of the manager. All I can do is ask, so I’ve got a letter ready to send to WHSmith. To follow up from a previous post, I also have a letter of enquiry to send to Tesco’s book buying department, so I may finally discover what it takes to be included in their stores – I’ll keep you posted as to the outcome…of the enquiring, not the ironing (that’ll be there for months).

I had to check out eBay to find out a) if Karma sold and b) for how much. It did sell, and for the bargain price of 70p! Thank goodness it didn’t have a signature – it might’ve only sold for 30p, had it been defaced in this manner!!! I hope the seller actually enjoyed the book, as it certainly wasn’t a good investment…

I’m hoping to get a new digital camera soon, since the kind folks at Fuji are allowing me to trade-in my broken one, so the gallery might get an update once that arrives. I still haven’t used up the film on my disposable camera, so you’ll have to wait a little while longer to see my Borders photographs (that reminds me, I finally located Ron’s email address, so was able to thank him for letting me do the signing. Hope they sold the remaining books.)

Having conquered my addiction to e-Bay, I still look on the site from time to time, but don’t buy often. I was idly browsing this morning and came across the first copy of Karma that I’ve ever seen on eBay. The seller is local (<5 miles away, according to the site) and I was SO tempted to ask the seller what they thought of the book. So, if you haven’t bought a copy yet, you have just over an hour to get your hands on a very cheap second-hand (sorry, previously loved) copy!