The End of a Long Week

Someone, at least, is reading this blog, because right after I published yesterday's takedown of Microsoft, I got a little popup on my PC, telling me that Microsoft wants my opinion. Coincidence? I don't believe in coincidences. So, I completed their little survey, and when it asked if Microsoft could contact me for further info, I said, "Sure!" (They won't.)

I actually watched The Microsoft Demon change one of my Word files in real time. I often have a couple of docs open at once because I'm copying and pasting, and when I went back to one of them, Microsoft had retitled it something like, "8645", and now even that is gone. So, now I'm diligent in saving everything to my hard drive, rather than letting MS dump my files into OneDrive. Oh, I get it--it wants me to buy a new PC with Windows 11--but sorry, Bill; I can't afford a new PC.

I think Microsoft's apps would be ideal for a dementia sufferer. They'd never know any of their files were gone. Stress-free!

The big news of the week is that my book blogger and I finally reached a meeting of the minds. She'd told me she had no record of any article I'd written; you know, the one she raved about and offered to publish in one of her magazines; and I replied that I could resend it to her if she had "misplaced" it. (No, I didn't use actual quotation marks.) Well, guess what! She found it! I don't know WTF was going on there, but supposedly it'll be in the January issue...now. The thing is, I was so frustrated, I no longer even care, but it's the principle of the thing.

I also mentioned a while back that I'd splurged and purchased three inexpensive book promos. The first two were complete busts, although BookRaid sent me a sticker! "Bestseller"! that I can, theoretically, post on my website. Apparently, 43 clicks and no sales equals bestseller status. Cool. 

The third promo I'd scheduled, with LitRing, was quite an eye-opening experience. They belatedly informed me that there was some kind of "glitch" and that my ad wouldn't be run on the date requested, but for sure it would run on November 7. Well, I got the November 7 newsletter and my book wasn't in it. DON'T GO WITH LITRING. That's three strikes. First, no confirmation of my purchase; second, my ad was rescheduled without my consent, and worst of all, my ad didn't run at all. Think they'd give me my money back? (Don't think too hard--they won't.) Naturally, I shot them an email, asking what's up. Bastards. They'd better get back to me. As my book blogger would gladly inform them, I can be a persistent asshole.  

As far as my anthology, technically I could publish Book 1 now. The cover is done, the paperback formatting is right, as far as I know; the ebook formatting is right (as far as I know). Unfortunately, the blurb I'd written for it is--you guessed it--gone. So, I'll need to recreate it...somehow. I think I had a really good idea for it, but I have absolutely no recollection of what that was. I've considered the notion that I'm cursed. It's possible. Although I can't imagine what I've done to deserve a hex being placed on me. 

It occurred to me that I haven't shared my GetCovers design. Look, it's mediocre at best, but one has to factor in my exhaustion with the whole process to understand why I'm just accepting it. 

One could say, if they were being nice, that it's "quirky". True, it has no gleam; it's dull-looking as dirt. But the colors are nice! And after all, it was me who chose the stock photo. I bet I was the easiest mark of all the marks GetCovers has dealt with. I just looked at it; said, "okay", and that was that. And I'm generally really picky about design. 

Weirdly, every cover in their portfolio is bright and shiny. Did that cost extra? That option was never offered to me. If anyone asks, I'll just say I was going for the watercolor painting effect. Kind of a knockoff Monet.

Book 2 will have the woman in a red dress--for contrast (LOL).

Because it's the weekend and I won't be hearing back from GetCovers 'til Monday, I'll give my formatting another once-over, maybe take a stab at RE-writing my blurb, then just kick back. 

This whole process doesn't even come close to matching my excitement in publishing Running From Herself. Where it will match, though, is in the absence of sales. 

I may have a touch of dementia myself, because I've almost already forgotten about it.