Two by Two

I received my author copies of Killer Career and already they’re marching out two by two. On a normal day, I lug a laptop computer, a tote bag and purse with me to work. On these Killer Days, I add to the mix two copies of Killer Career. I’d bring more but the 300 page books get heavy along with everything else.

On my lunch break I drop them off at the post office. Today, one is going to Robert W. Walker, another to Austin S. Camacho for providing terrific back cover blurbs. Yesterday, I sent a few out for reviews, tomorrow will be two copies to a friend who already received her own copy and now wants to share Killer Career with others.

You might ask why I don’t do this on weekends when it’s easier to get to the post office in the car. Actually, I did drop off nine filled bubble envelopes last Saturday and will probably bring more the next.

I don’t like to wait and I don’t like to make others wait, so as the need arises, Killer Career is marching out two by two.

The official release date is August 15, but Killer Career is available for pre-order, on & off line.

Publisher: Choice One Publishing
isbn#978-0-9819916-0-3

Reviewers, Blog Book Tour, Reader

I've got quite a few reviewers lined up for Killer Career and hope to get some feedback soon.

There are only two days left to fill on my blog book tour. I'll be posting the links to the tour stops when I get it all set up. Very soon I'll need to think up some witty things to say on the blogs I visit. The last stop, which will be for an entire week, will be on http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/ when I tell everyone the process of getting Killer Career published.

Anyway, I thought I had the Microsoft Reader conversion figured out until I discovered that the Reader program doesn't support Microsoft Word 2007, though it's the same company. It uses Microsoft 2003 like most of the world. So, even when I set my document to compatibility mode for 2003, I got weird error messages. Now I'm trying to use my old computer with Word 2003 on it to see if the program will work there. So far the old one is getting hung up on adding the cover art. It doesn't have much room. That's why I usually just let the DH use it for surfing. Nothing's easy.

I did get to go to Mount Prospect Saturday night where they had a doings called a Block Party on their main street, with food booths, tables and bands. The DH and I met some fun people to sit with and had a great time.

KILLER CAREER NOW AVAILABLE AT MOBIPOCKET

I'm happy to announce Killer Career is making its way along the Internet. I've found several sightings. Of course, I had to print out each and every page I discovered and add all of them to my special folder as keepsakes.

Anyway, the first ebook offering of Killer Career, mobipocket edition, is available for order right now, is over at
http://www.mobipocket.com/en/eBooks/eBookDetails.asp?BookID=208914&Origine=6314

For Pre-Order links of the paperback version to date, with more to come, check out http://choiceonepublishing.com/.

If you haven't gone over there yet, you're missing out on seeing what a sexy villain looks like.
Later on, more about the good guy will be up on that site.

Money

A lot of us authors say we're not into the writing business to make money. That has to be true, judging from the data on how much authors make from books compared to the time spent writing them, as well as the time and money spent promoting them.

Still, it helps to get some of it back. I just got my author copies of Killer Career this week and sold three of them at work. It's not a lot of money, but it did feel good to have the money coming in instead of going out.

The downside is I have to go to the bank and deposit it. That's not hard to do, but putting the money into the bank isn't all. I also need to keep track of what's what. Today's deposit is subject to Illinois sales taxes, so I'm putting it in my checking account. That will remind me at the end of the year that 10 per cent is due the State of Illinois. Come December, that amount may change, as Cook County is repealing the tax increase then. That means I'll have to remember to charge less in taxes on whatever date in December it rolls back, also I'll need to fill out two separate sections in the business sales tax form.

There are other downsides to bringing in money for books. I should be happy I'm getting money, but I don't like having to keep track of it. Still, it goes with the territory.

Gee, I'd hate to be a bestselling author. What a hassle that would be. Only kidding.

Continuing on with the frenetics at Acme

I'm continuing on with my frenetic happenings at Acme. The link is http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com if you want to see what I'm up to.

Thanks,
Morgan

A POST OFFICE IN MY FUTURE

My author copies arrived today. After the DH and I picked them up at my brother's house, I couldn't get anything accomplished. I had to check every box to make sure my babies were okay and that someone else's babies hadn't been substituted. Okay, I didn't go over every book, but I did peek inside the first two or three rows in each box and all appears to be well. They did survive the ride over.

Anyway, I was admiring the babies so much and so distracted, I couldn't do lots of the things I still need doing, like getting letters ready to send out for reviews, and lots more, way too much to mention.

Anyway, I hope to get one or two letters ready during the week, but Saturday is the target day for dropping off the main bulk of them. Watch out, post office, here I come!

Crazy times

I'm not posting as much here lately because I've got so much going on. It's been kind of organized bedlam lately. All sorts of summer doings to attend. I don't want to disappoint the DH by not partipating, though it takes time away from the production of Killer Career.

All kinds of kinks for Killer Career being worked out, since I want my baby to be perfect.

In the works is a Blog Book Tour, which I plan to start on August 15. When it's all finalized, I'll be posting the topics and sites here.

Gotta go to a birthday party now.
Morgan

KILLER CAREER Already at Barnes & Noble.Com

Just for the heck of it, I went over to Barnes and Noble.com and searched for Morgan Mandel

Killer Career Came Up!

I'm not sure if orders can be taken yet, but it looks like they can! Here's the link if anyone wants to try:

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Killer-Career/Morgan-Mandel/e/9780981991603/?itm=1


If you do order, be sure to let us know how you like it.

Morgan Mandel

Is that Funny, or What?

Catch the second comment on the top post at http://choiceonepublishing.com. Is that funny, or what? Goes to show it's a small world.

Morgan

Dressing your husband? What does it mean?

Check out She dresses her husband at http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com and let us know your thoughts here,there or both places.
Thanks,
Morgan Mandel

Letting Go of Baby

Last night I checked over the second proof for Killer Career and had to make a tough decision. Should I let my baby walk on her own two feet or hold onto her longer? I'm calling her a girl, since that's what's on the cover.

I'd already restrained baby once when I'd found little things here and there that weren't exactly right. Was it time for her to face the world?

Knowing she has to sink or swim sooner or later, I clicked the box to approve the proof and let go of baby. Now she's on her own, but she'll be visiting me with plenty of author copies to make available for reviews, family and friends, as well as special doings which require me to bring her along. I know I can never really let go of her, although I do hope she can stand on her own merits and make a name for herself.

For more about Killer Career, if you haven't done so already, please go to http://choiceonepublishing.com

Choice One Publishing Co.

Please check the current posts at Choice One Publishing Co. http://choiceonepublishing.com for info about my soon to be released romantic suspense, Killer Career.

You'll also find an image of the villain, plus an excerpt from the first chapter.

As always, comments are welcome here or there.

Thanks,
Morgan

Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip, IL

All over the news in our area is a horrific true story about unfeeling employees who actually dug up the remains of people buried at Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois, dismembered them and hid them elsewhere. The bodies of some of these loved ones may likely never be recovered. This secretive scheme was done so the plots could be sold to others.

My heart goes out to the families of these loved ones. For more about this travesty, here's the link to the story in the Chicago Tribune. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-090529-burr-oak-cemetery-pictures,0,2332072.photogallery

If it doesn't come up for you, just go to www.chicago.tribune.com.

This is the sort of thing you might read about in a horror story, but to think it actually happened in real life is dumbfounding. I wonder what makes people do such things. Is money that important?

Scary Hide and Seek Story

While listening to the radio this morning, I heard a story abut a little girl who was playing hide and seek. Nobody could find her because she had such a great hiding place. The family then decided to have their dog look for her. She was discovered safe and sound in a drawer under the dryer. I was glad to hear of the happy ending.

Not to trivialize the event, but I can't help drawing analogies to what some authors do. They write great novels which remain hidden in great spots, like online, at distributors, in book catalogs. Nobody can find these books. That's because the authors don't market.

Writing takes time and effort, but so does promoting. Don't hide something you should be proud of. Get out there and let people know about it.

What about you? Do you write and hide it or do you promote? If you do promote, what methods do you use? Please share.

The Hesitation Waltz is over at Blood Red

Find out what the Hesitation Waltz is all about at The Blood Red, http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com

Hint - It's not a dance.

As always, comments are welcome, here or there.

One More Time

I got the proof for Killer Career, and wouldn't you know it, I just had to find stuff that I wanted to fix. It'll cost me a bit more, but it's worth it not to be bugged about stuff I know is wrong. Okay, it's just little stuff, but little stuff sometimes means a lot.

So, a little more delay, a little more money, but hopefully all will end well. That's what matters.

It's no fun being a picky person. (G)

Check Out Last Chance

Hi Gang,
If you wish, please hop over to http://makeminemystery.blogspot.com and read about my last chance.
Thanks,
Morgan

Book Signing Today at Frontier Days Marketplace

If any of you are near Arlington Heights, please stop by and say hi. I'll be autographing Two Wrongs and Girl of My Dreams Saturday and Sunday from 10-6 at Recreation Park in the Frontier Days Marketplace in Booth 124 at Frontier Days.
I'm also handing out invitations for my book launch party for Killer Career for
August 16, 1-4pm. at the Arlington Heights Historical Museum, 110 W. Fremont,
Arlington Heights, IL. (You don't need an official invitation to come. It's
just good for a reminder to stick on your refrigerator or somewhere)

Other signing at the booth are romantic suspense author, Margot Justes, YA author, June Sproat and contemporary Western romance author, Debra St. John.

As most of you already know, Two Wrongs is a romantic suspense, Girl of My Dreams is a romantic comedy and the upcoming release, Killer Career is a romantic suspense.

Hope to see some of you over there.

Morgan Mandel

Let the Fun Begin!

Fortunately, we were set free from work today at 3:00. Now I can catch up on a few things before heading over to the Festival tonight to see a rock band called ARRA at the Frontier Stage.

We have some DVDs at home from the library. We may just be able to watch one or two before we go, since the band doesn't start until 9:15. Or, we may want to get pver there a bit early and eat desert, though we shouldn't.

Last night I had a hamburger at home, but at the Festival I could't resist a DQ Reese Peanut Butter Cup Blizzard. They've got pies, cheese cake, ice cream, brownies, and Blizzards. I wish I could eat them all,but I'm being bad enough! I have no willpower when it comes to good food.

What about you? Do you cave in and eat special treats at special events?

Catching My Breath

See why I'm catching my breath at http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com
Thanks,
Morgan