Day Two European Trip

Friday, October 21

Woke at 4 am. Can't do much at that time of morning, so I rolled over and tried to go back to sleep. Didn't work. We finally got up around six and took our showers. I walked into the huge bathroom with it's old claw-footed tub, no shower curtain. I tried to be careful and keep the water from going all over that room, but it was a total loss. It took me about fifteen minutes to soak up the two inches of water off the floor. How expensive could it be to buy shower curtains? Come on! As I was finishing up I realized there was a drain in the far corner of the room and I could have "swept" it toward it and maybe not ended up with a backache. Of course my wonderful hubby managed to take his shower without getting a drop on the floor.

We went down to the resturarnt. Lots of cold cuts, hard bread, cereals and pasteries. We had decided to go out and find a hot breakfast when one of the waiters told us to go into the next room is that is what we were looking for. Since it was free we decided to check it out. Okay, more like it. They even had American style toast. Stomach full, we left for a day walking Venice.

I know you don't want to sit here for an hour reading our every step, so, I'll condense the day.

A gondola ride was out of the question since a cold front had come in during the night. It was windy and a bit cold on the waterfront. We took a water taxi to the stop closest to St. Mark's Basilica. Nice walk, the architrcture is really beautiful in Venice. Some buildings older than America. The Basilica was packed, people standing shoulder to shoulder. We left thinking we'd come back later, but never made it. Venice has too much to see and do in only a day. We walked to the Bridge of Signs and crossed over to see the infamous prison. Depressing place, to say the least. Next was Marco Polo's house. As affluent as it was for the time, I'd have to say it didn't look all that comfy. Toilet sitting by the bed waiting for late night urges looked something short of a throne, the bed draped in what looks a lot like modern day curtains. Okay, except for all the gold spun into the material.

We stopped for dinner (yeah we skipped lunch) at a place on the main strip. The food was to die for, the price wasn't. It ended up costing us 134 Euros. A Euro breaks down to about $1.45. You do the math. But again, the food was sooo good. I almost didn't mind the cost. (Almost.)

We shopped some of the street vendors. Masks, jewelry, some fake, some real. As the sun set we went back to the hotel and watched a little TV that we couldn't understand a word spoken. Just before we turned in for the night we found an English speaking channel but it was all news.

Time for bed. Tomorrow we have to drag those suitcases to the water taxi then to some business square where we'll catch a bus to the ship.

My Trip to Europe

As requested by some of my friends, I will start posting a day by day of my trip to Europe.
Thursday October 20:
Got up early (You all know how I hate morning) and helped drag suitcases to the car. Off to the airport. Oh joy, 23 hours in three planes and same amount of airports. Flights to Dallas and NYC were eventless (thought the flight out of NY was late one hour). Now the trip from NYC to Italy was a nightmare. The plane was filled with a sports card company taking their employeres to Europe for a week (all young male yuppies). Over 90% of them drank their way to Europe. They were loud and rude to the poor steward. Asking every thirty minutes what the score was in the ball game. They were from Texas. We landed in Milan, Italy and made a mad dash to catch a scheduled train (the train station is below the airport) for a two hour ride to Venice. We got there one minute before train left. When they say it leaves at seven a.m., believe it. Europe is seven hours ahead of us here in New Orleans. So what would be two in the morning here, was nine a.m. in Venice. The city was alive and bustling...awake. My luggage was not the only thing dragging the cobbled streets. The Hotel Continental was only two blocks away from the train station, thank God. Hubby and I booked this hotel because it was one of very few who had a lift (elevator). We walked into the marble lobby. Only way I can describe it is I think they carved that room out of a very large block of marble and cut out window space. Whew. Beautiful, but geesh, a bit over-done. Turns out it was built a few centuries ago as a home. Anyway, the bellman took us to the lift, we got off and walked to our left, then to our right, up four steps, turned left, down fours steps, down a long hall, two more steps. Okay, getting out of there without a map was hard that first day. Anyway. The bellman flung open the windows, then the shutters. OMG We are on the Canal. Gondolas passing by, men singing, some yelling. Know what? I didn't care. I crashed and didn't wake up until four the next morning.

November has been one hell of a month for me.
1. My chance to work and learn from a publisher was dashed.  I'm over that, though.
2.  Now here is the heartbreaker.  Sapphire Blue Publishing is closing their doors at the end of this month.  Sapphire Blue was my publisher.  To say I'm down in the dumps is an understatment.  I loved being one of their authors.  Maria and Tina made me feel like part of a family.  They always took time to answer any question I tossed their way and never made me feel stupid for asking.
They gave us back our rights and the rights to the cover art (at no cost to the author). 
What next?  To be honest, I'm not sure.  I'm a writer.  I will write.  But will I sumbit again?  I'm thinking of hiding myself away and writing like a fool.  Writing until I have something great enough for one of the big guys in New York.  Am I good enough?  I don't know.  I want to be.  My heart is there.  I have the determination.  Talent?  That is to be seen, I guess.
Time to give myself my hour of pity party time.  Then back to work. 

Feeling Blue

I'm a nice person. I don't speak badly of people and those I don't care for I simply walk away from. I've aways felt there is a place for everyone in this world. So when someone who doesn't know me treats me badly, I am a bit confused. I felt bad for someone I know, someone who had a bad experience with her publishing company. So silly me, I thought I could step in and try to help. Maybe I could get her on good footing and give her the company she wanted. This has caused a site set up to warn people against bad publishers/agents to come back at us with a warning about us. I guess these people think there is no way you can come back from a bad experience, having good intentions and a good publishing plan, and trying to do something good. Am I walking away. No. Am I upset. Yes. But I can say they called attention to something on the Web site I hadn't noticed and I will voice my opinion on it. The only comment I'm going to make on this is I'm trying to do something good here. I will not put up with dishonest actions toward anyone who submits/signs with this publisher. My word is my bond. I have a good reputation and would like to keep it. So I have something to protect here. I'd just like to have a chance before I'm made into the bad guy.

New Position

I've been looking for something to challange me, but not to the point that I wouldn't have time to write. I was talking to Linda Daly, CEO of LSP Digital. She used to be my publisher until she ran into a rough spot that lasted for the last couple of years. Problems with a couple authors, problems with people trashing the company and her name. I never understood any of it. Linda had always been honest with me. She fulfilled every promise she made. And when things starting getting bad, she released me from my contract to find another publisher. I did move on, but I always felt a little bad, as if I'd deserted Linda in bad times. We remained friends. Well, before I got sidelined, as I said, I was talking to Linda and before I even thought about it, I said, "Linda, if you need some help, I"m here. Who knows, we could do big things with this little company."

I'm not sure where that came from. I mean it wasn't something I'd been thinking about doing. Anyway, Linda was thrilled with the idea and asked if I'd like to be the Director of Operations. I had no idea what that envolved, and said so. She's, at this moment, typing up a list of what my duties would be. I can cross out what I don't agree to, and it's not a contract. I can leave at any time.

Those of you who know me, know I'll give it everything I have to do a good job. I've told Linda what I'll put up with, and what I won't. Not just from her, but the authors who sign with LSP Digital. I don't officially start until January 1, 2012.

Wish me luck or just shake your head. At least I'm up for something new,  I'll keep you updated.

Tags: director of operations lsp digital, lsp digital, new job

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Great Reads

I've had a slow week of writing and when that happens I read. I re-read Erica Spindler's Watch me die Saturday and Sunday, then on Moday I re-read Blood Vines by Erica. I can't say enough about these books. Great, edge of your seat, don't want it to end read. I could go on, but I think you get the drift. These are really great reads. Suspense with just enough romantic touch to make you smile and enough suspense to make you cheer when the bad buy bites the dust. Watch Me Die is available in hard back and eBook. Blood Vines is available in paperback and eBook. Want a great read? Then pick up either Watch Me Die or Blood Vines, or why not both?

Too Much

I seem to be in one of those phases where I have too much to do and too little time.  A friend suggested I sit down and list everything I do in a day and how much time it takes to do them.  Right.  I'll fit that into everything else I have to do.  I guess I could spend less time online, but everyone needs a little chat time with other humans even if it's the faceless "friends" we have online.  I could hire a housekeeper for two days a week and save about eight hours, but I have no idea where that money would come from.  I refuse to give up any hubby time.  And TV time is really hubby time, since we spend most of our down time in front of the TV.  I sometimes share my hubby time with writing time, since I have a laptop and can work and stop if he gets in the mood to talk.  And since I'm talking about time management, I guess I should close off and get back to my word count goal for the day.  See ya in a couple of days.