In an industry such as the e-book publishing world it’s sometimes difficult to remember that even though you’re sitting in your pajamas in front of your computer, you still have to be professional. Now that can be difficult and sometimes damn near impossible when you’re working via-email with editors and such that don’t quite get back to you as soon as you would like or appear to have an attitude when they do. However, if you’re trying to write books as a living and not just some fun hobby, you need to remember which side your bread is buttered. Which sometimes requires a hell of a lot of strength when dealing with an abstinent editor or a difficult publisher.

Sure I much like many an author out there, have had my fair share of troubles. I once had an editor who had a million excuses why she wasn’t responding to my e-mails and completing the editing on my ms. Trying to stay professional, I went to the publisher who in my opinion wasn’t the most receptive in helping me out. It was frustrating and I actually got to a point where I hated my own story simply because of the negative vibes surrounding it. However, I didn’t use my blog as a weapon to torpedo my publisher or the editor. That would have been career suicide on my part. Which is why I don’t understand how other authors can rant so openly on their blogs about problem editors, publishers, etc.

Wouldn’t it be better to rise above the steady stream of crap that is taking place and be as professional as possible? Throwing a temper tantrum on line where anyone can read it, is in my opinion, setting yourself up for failure. Believe it or not, the book industry is small and everybody knows everyone. Make public waves and you run the risk of having yourself black balled by publishers who will see you as difficult and not worth their time. That’s not to say that you can’t express your frustrations to your publisher, but in a professional way.

Thankfully, for me, I rode the bad wave and when the project was over, I was assigned a new editor, who has been a joy to work with. I have to think that if I’d aired my dirty laundry in a public forum, I probably would have been dropped by the publisher and branded as being difficult to work with. But then that’s just my opinion.

There’s so much going on right now I’m starting to wonder if I’m coming or going. Over the weekend I received 1st round edits on my Loose ID story Sophie’s Secret. The tentative release date is November 11th. I also finished up the WIP I was working on with fellow author Amanda Young and have sent it to her for approval and final touches. Which is code for she’s going to raunch it up some…lol. I’m really excited about that project and can’t wait to get it subbed and accepted somewhere.

Also, I’ve finished writing my romantic suspense entitled Northern Lights, but after some tough love from my critique partner and fellow author Liz Craven, I realize I still have some work to do. However, her advice can only make the story stronger so when it does get subbed somewhere it will hopefully be accepted too.

Ideas are cultivating for what my next project is going to be. After writing two romantic suspense stories and keeping both relatively tame in the bedroom, I might be due for another erotic romance…we’ll have to see.

In the meantime, I’m off to start my training at my new ‘real job’ today. That too is something I’m excited about becuase it’s not an office job pushing papers, but something completely different than I’ve ever done before. Wish me luck!!!

That’s the final diagnosis for the kidney disease I have. From what my doctor telles me it’s an autoimmune disorder where essentially my immune system has went haywire and is now attacking my kidneys.

While he isn’t 100% sure he does believe it was initially triggered by some sort of virus. Since I have two children in school I’ve had plenty of colds over the years, some worse than others, so it’s quite possible he’s right. The diesease progresses slowly and while there is no cure there is treatement to slow the progression and hopefully keep me out of renal failure.

I have to say, I am glad to have an answer even if it wasn’t what I wanted to hear. I’m very much a person who likes to know what I’m facing. I also have hope that at some point in the future sciene will find a cure.

While they can’t understand what I’m going through my friends have all be extremently supportive and for that I’m thankful. I also have a great doctor who is being vigilant in prescribing the correct combination of drugs to help with the diesease yet give me the least amount of side effects.

And now that I know, I can put this behind me and move on with more important things in my life, like my children. Still, I’d very much love to hear from other’s out there who have this type of kidney diesease, so if you happen to have stumbled across my blog, please drope me a line.

No, I didn’t sub another manuscript for consideration by a publisher. Though that would be cool. Unfortunately, this waiting is much more important than that. As some of you may have noticed I’ve been a bit absent over the last few days. Well, on Friday I underwent a kidney biopsy so that my doctor can determine exactly what it is that’s causing my kidney problems. I spent the days that followed laying in bed, rest and being waited on by my husband and kiddos. I’m feeling much better today as I prepare to head off to work, but now the real waiting begins.

Two weeks! Yep, you heard me, I have to wait two weeks for my test results. So keep your fingers crossed and hope for the best because it would be anything from scar tissue from an infection to a degenerative kidney disease that could result in my need for a transplant down the road. I’m going to try and busy myself by finishing a manuscript I’ve been working on and keeping busy with work and kids. Hopefully the 25th will get here before I know it and I’ll have my answers.

Catch me over at Marianne Arkins blog today. I’ll be talking about balancing real life with writing, or organization as I call it.

http://www.reading-writing.blogspot.com/

For months we’ve been hearing about how horrible the economy is, how the housing market has collapsed and sky high oil prices are sending the value of the dollar down and inflation soring. I thought I was seeing a bit of it with not so great sales, but recent events have proven to me that we are in a repeat of the late 70’s early 80’s housing collapse and recession.

I work part time for a pool and spa dealer and yes I’ve noticed that sales have been down this year, but more so, so have my hours and paycheck. Now take into consideration rocketing food prices (Milk nearly 5 dollars a gallon, bread nearly 4 for a single loaf) and for the first time in a long time I’m faced with some tough decisions. Our budget simply can’t comply with all that is asked of it and the extras are having to go by the wayside. No more eating out, no more weekend trips to places. No more morning Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks iced coffees. While we’re probably still better off than many, we like so many others have finally felt the impact of the situation. For now we’ll do our best to try and weather the storm, but I hope that things take a turn for the better sooner rather than later.

So like I said on Friday we spent the weekend in York Pennsylvania at the Holiday Inn for the Fairlane Club’s National Meet. OMG was it hot. Our 69 Torino doesn’t have air conditioning, so riding over and back was a little on the hot side. We spent Friday in Gettysburg at the museum learning about the biggest battle of the Civil War. Then we went back to York and checked into the hotel. Dinner was an experience that night. We decided to go out for dinner and after a few failed attempts we landed at Hooters. Hubby and gameboy love their wings (and the sights of course). Well let me tell you it was the worst service I’d been given in a long time. We waited 10 minutes and watched people come in after us get waited on before us. I finally had to say something. Then the waitress took our drink order and never brought us our drinks. She came back to take our meal order and I had to say “Um…I thought you were getting us our drinks.” Horrible, horrible service. Hubby assures me that not all Hooters service is as bad as that. I guess I have to take his word for it.

Anyway, Saturday was the big event. The car show and meet. It was 90+ degrees in the parking lot and dollbaby wasn’t having any parts of it. So, she and I spent nearly the entire day in the hotel’s indoor swimming pool. She made friends with a 14 year old girl named Alexandra (Alex for short) who spent all afternoon playing with her. Then hubby and gameboy came to the pool in the late afternoon and got in. Of course all that pool time wore dollbaby out and she was asleep by 8:30 that night. Hubby and gameboy went to the awards banquet and came back with a 3rd place trophy for his division. Sweet!!!

Of course Sunday we got up and drove home. Again hot as hades both outside and inside the car. I think we were all glad to be home in the air conditioning, but looking back on this weekend we’ll be able to say that we had a good time.