Military Romance Author
by Kimberly A. Cook (Twitter@ WarriorTales)
It’s been a wacky week and month, so I thought this Friday we all needed to see how others struggle to get their careers off the ground. No matter what our vocation, we all have to try things and fail to get where we want to be. Check out how these actors missed out on a prime role, but went on to bigger and better parts. Happy Quirky Friday!
http://youtu.be/isjB4sMLzxc
by Kimberly A. Cook (Twitter@ WarriorTales)
Yesterday in Portland, Oregon we broke a temperature record, 88 degrees! After two cold summers back to back courtesy of La Nina and the wettest March on record this year, its welcome. Since the amazing crop of moss was finally pried off my patio by the power washer, it seems like summer may actually arrive before July 28th this year.
The early morning dawn is always awake with possibilities and hope. When I looked out and saw one of my favorite roses opening a fresh bloom yesterday, I hurried outside to take a picture. It got me daydreaming about summer and summer reads.
The rose is near my favorite lawn swing and thoughts of curling up on a warm afternoon with a book made me consider making a top three reading list for this summer.
Perhaps I should make a short list of books with three specific goals in mind. Granted I am reading all the time, but I felt pondering this assignment would be a good brain exercise. So here are the three categories; one book on writing you have on a bookshelf but have never read, one epic fiction book you loved and will re-read and last but not least, a new book you have never read.
My list is still in the making, but there are some contenders. For epic fiction re-read it’s a toss-up between The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher and The Far Pavilions by M.M. Kaye. Never read craft books on my shelves could be either A Writer’s Coach by Jack Hart or Story by Robert McKee. (There are a ton of writing books on my shelves, so give me a break if everybody but me have read these two.)
Brand new reads? Let me walk my fingers across the piles of books throughout my house. Rather like bon bons stored in the freezer, there are always new books to read in my home, in addition to the ebooks stacking up on my Nook. So think about a simple summer book reading list of your own. What choices would be on your summer three list?
by Kimberly A. Cook (Twitter@ WarriorTales)
When the going gets tough, Percy gets going. Seems this affable cat is outnumbered by a pack of furry ferret friends. Old Percy wanted to nap and the ferrets were up for games. One of my Army roommates had a ferret named CB and a cat named kitty. CB, named for the Climax Blues Band, liked nothing better than curling up in my loafers or playing in kitty’s litter box.
We were a strange but happy group of roommates. CB also taught me to always check my shoes before putting my feet in them. For those who love ferrets or can relate to Percy’s stress after a tough week, check it out! Happy Quirky Friday!
by Kimberly A. Cook (Twitter@ WarriorTales)
When our smart phone crashes, the ebook reader’s battery dies, the laptop gets a virus and desktop computer files become corrupted, what can a writer do? Grab a pen and paper and sprint for a used bookstore. Sometimes the gadgets go voodoo and we need to reboot our writer selves.
While ebooks are growing, they don’t carry all book titles and will never have some treasured books. Go old school and hunt down actual physical books. Refresh our inner bibliophile with the smell and tactile pleasures of caressing an actual ink on paper oldie but goodie. Saturday I had the chance to visit Cover to Cover, a used bookstore in Vancouver, Washington. They’ve been on my radar for a while and I finally made the trek.
Greeted by Smedley, the famous host, the calm and organized atmosphere set my nerves to serene and the cup of hot chocolate from the espresso bar helped. Bookseller Mel Sanders has created an inviting home for readers and searchers. Several customers came in during my stay looking for those books the “big retailers don’t carry anymore.” The helpful and friendly staff were happy to assist folks on a treasure hunt.
Smedley is more interested in crinkly packages that might contain cat treats and purses. Seems he has one devoted fan who brings hidden treats, so he acts like a TSA agent whenever a purse gets close. Sir Smedley leaves no bag behind.
Wandering the well-organized aisles I managed to find seven books which had to go home with me. Where else can you find everything from a French and English Dictionary to Sun Signs For Writers?
We writers can get geeked out with the new, latest, bright shiny thing and forget the days when Shakespeare used nib, ink and parchment. One of the many great things about being a writer is all our manufacturing equipment is with us at all times, grey matter engaged.
When the voodoo crazies hit your creative equipment or you need to unplug from your desk chair, find a local haunt with used books and explore. If in Vancouver, Washington, stop by Cover to Cover Books & Espresso at 6300 NE St. James, Road, Suite 104-B from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Give Smedley a salute; he is named after a General. Or visit his staff web page at www.covertocoverbooks.net
So take a clue from Smedley, find a used bookstore, acquire a comfy chair and cuddle up with a book. Smedley has staff the rest of us can only dream of having and he stays off the computer. Smart cat!
by Kimberly A. Cook (Twitter@ WarriorTales)
There is nothing quite as cute as kittens. Combine kittens with an open floor plan and you never know what they’re going to find. On this Quirky Friday let’s take time to savor cute kittens, a guinea pig and a very motivated mouse. Remember to play. Happy Quirky Friday!
By Kimberly A. Cook (Twitter@ WarriorTales)
It’s been a wild and wooly week for e-books and it’s barely Tuesday. The Digital Book Mobile was in Gresham yesterday and Portland, Oregon today, promoting getting e-books from the library.
http://youtu.be/JkKi_MNztlY
Then I stumbled upon this video about the challenge libraries are having with traditional publishers to get e-books into the libraries. http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/video?id=8619132&pid=8619131
Yesterday Microsoft pumped $300 million into Barnes & Noble for a 17.6% share of the Nook, making B&N’s shares rise 85%. Can’t wait for what happens today.
Next came this CNN Money article quoting Alan Krueger, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers citing a study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Speaking at Columbia University he said,
“The United States has the ‘best educated 60-year-olds’ in the world’ but is in the middle of the pack when it comes to its 30-year-olds.”
What else does that mean for e-books? Ladies and gentlemen I give you the Baby Boomers. Our eyes are shot, we’re trying to downsize our stuff and save money for retirement. E-books were made for the “best educated 60-year-olds in the world” because we like to read and we can’t do mixed martial arts cage fighting anymore, our knees can’t take it.
My Mom has two boomer daughters and she is hunting Wi-Fi hot spots when she’s not using her home Wi-Fi with her Kindle Fire. Ease, portability and low-cost rule with e-books. There is a huge future e-book market with Baby Boomers, besides the digital natives growing up on integrated media. If you’re a Baby Boomer writer, e-books are our future.
For us Baby Boomer aspiring romance authors, the future of e-books is astronomical. Check out the latest stats from the Romance Writers of America about the romance industry http://www.rwa.org/cs/the_romance_genre/romance_literature_statistics Then realize romance readers are early adopters of technology and we have been snapping up e-books like free cupcakes. Check out buying and pricing habits here http://www.rwa.org/cs/readership_stats
In the meantime, we better get our hands on those 30-year-olds. They need to read and get college degrees. I’d like to retire from the day job before I turn 90!
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