GOING POSTAL

I love getting to know my readers on a personal level. Never have I referred to my readers as fans. To me, readers are friends I have yet to meet in person.

Fans are different, or so I like to believe. For example: I am a HUGE fan of Johnny Depp, which means I will never know him on a personal level, and, thankfully, my husband is kind enough to overlook my slight obsession. :)

Kelly, a reader I met on Wattpad back in 2011, is awesome! She has my full admiration. Allow me to explain. Kelly lives in Singapore. We have exchanged emails for quite some time. Back in September, she mentioned ordering one of my books through a site.

It was a pirate site. I told her how pirates worked, and thanked her for her support. Granted, authors make zero royalties through pirating sites. However, Kelly got the book she wanted in a reasonable time.

KUDOS to those pirates! They provided excellent customer service.

When I told Kelly, she could order the books directly through me at a much cheaper price, which included autograph and poster. She was delighted. 

*shakes head* If only I had known what it would entail.

     

      Kelly ordered Desired Nights. I headed to the post office and got the rates for shipping. One of the options was by paddle boat, and it would take up to three months! 

      We exchanged laughs about Jaws and bad weather. In the end, we chose shipping by air.

The first time I shipped the book, I put a little surprise in the package. A handmade fairy book mark, and an autographed poster that matches the book, The Secrets of Albion Falls.

On November 5th, 2013, I got a call from customs. I forgot to claim and add a value to the bookmark. Bad Sass, I know!

My logic?

What good is a surprise when there is a list written on the outside of the package?  I told them what it was and tried to pay over the phone. 

It did not work.

Kelly did not deserve an extended delay. Nervously (because that's who I am), I quickly put another package together, without the bookmark, and shipped it right away. Then I gave my sincerest apologies. 

It was and is unfair to delay any shipments.

Bad … bad Sass! I am a strong believe in customer service, and I don't like disappointing friends.

Over the next few weeks, we exchanged virtual teas. Kelly sent me virtual hot chocolate and hugs, during the ice storm. 

The ice storm video links are below.

Video 1

     Video 2

     Video 3

    Video 4

We chatted about the different ways we celebrate Christmas, and sent New Years wishes to one another… sadly, no mail arrived to either home. :(

On January 8th, 2014 Kelly sent this email.

Hi Sass~~

*Tea party~* ;P

Need a little help from u... erm.. Is there like any tracking available for the book you've sent me? Cos I still haven't received it yet.. Sorry for the trouble yet again… sorry really sorry....

Sending u lots of and hugs~ & hot choco too~

      My response?

      Sass Cadeaux

      Are you kidding!!! Oh my Goddess this is crazy! I'll look into it and get back to you. xoxox
 

      I rushed to the post office and explained everything. The ladies were helpful. They began a full investigation and warned that it may take a couple of days. 

      On January 10th, I received this message.   

Sass!!! I just received the book!! Sorry for the trouble I made u went through. Thank you so much! It's awesome! I'm so happy n excited I received. Hee Happy happy so happy! Lots of hugs! Tytyty

Attached were pictures and awesome stickers. 
      
Kelly is a blast to chat with, and I love knowing her! She is a blessing, as are all my readers. :)
 

      The postal investigation continued. 

      It has to. 

      There is a book, bookmark and poster floating somewhere in customs. :)

      So why entitle this blog, Going Postal when clearly there is a happy ending?

      Well my friends, to this day I have yet to receive the first package I sent. Normally, I would be upset, and would inquire about the investigation daily. No ... not red faced or calling people names. However, a strong letter and follow up phone calls would be added to my daily regiment, but they are not.

      Why?

      How can I be upset when I have readers like Kelly? 

      It is impossible! 

      She got her book and poster.  She is happy, and we continue to have our virtual teas. We share life stories, and, you know what? I learned a long time ago that if it wasn’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have any luck at all.  

      With readers like Kelly, I am blessed, and I would rather cherish my blessing than pray for luck.

      Wishing you all the BEST adventures in reading and in life,
     
      Sass

      )O(

What Is Nanowrite

November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).

NaNoWriMo is a fun and challenging approach to creative writing. For some, like me, it can be stressful at times, but you have not lived until you have loved, lost, felt rejection, and have stressed … right?

Oh how I hope I am right. :)

It is for ANYONE who has ever thought about writing a novel. Here’s alittle more about how it all works.

On November 1, participants begin working towards their goal. The goal is to write a 50,000-word novel in 30 days.

Approximately 1666 words per day.

YIKES! If I were a superstitious person, I would veer far away from the last 3 digits. However, I am not superstitious nor am I meeting my daily word count. :(

I am currently 10,000-words behind, but that is all right because NaNoWriMo is not a race.

Besides, anyone who knows me knows I will not run unless I am being chased, and I have to be scared. :)

NaNoWriMo is much more than a writing challenge. It is an amazing community of friendly people striving toward similar goals. There are pep talks, writing friends (buddy’s), on-line and local write-ins, and so much more. 

For me, it is also a therapeutic and freaking scary adventure!

Since this is my first time attempting the challenge, I wanted it to be a complete month of firsts. Do things I had never done before.

Therefore, I have chosen to write a YA fantasy novel entitled, Imperceptible. 

Why choose that title?

Well, it is my belief that we all (at one time or another) have felt invisible. So why not write about it?

I have attempted YA before; however, the rules consumed me so much that it stifled my creativity. I second-guessed every from the premise to the names of the characters. 

In the end, I could not stand the story.

This time I am writing the story with the rules in mind, but they are not in control.

My characters are. :)

Another first, one character is based off a good friend and loyal reader whom I have yet to meet in person.

We met a few years back on Wattpad. Deepest thanks to the internet and Wattpad for bringing us together!

Another terrifying first is a certain character based off the writer (me). Talk about a painful challenge. I mean … we all have qualities we do not like about ourselves. Add my unusual childhood, and who wouldn’t want to be invisible?

So why write a blog when I am 10,000 words behind and there are only nine left in this challenge?

Well, it’s simple really. I wanted to let you know that I’m still here, I’m still reading and writing, and I wanted to say if you were considering NaNoWriMo.

Go for it!

I hope to see you there next November! Add me to your writing buddy list and we’ll share a few laughs.

Brightest blessings,

)O(  

Lucky Rain

Are you superstitious? 

I used think superstitions were silly old wives’ tale that parents used to “scare” their kids into behaving well.

My mother was extremely superstitious, everyday she would chime out some kind of warning or reminder. Below are some that I will never forget. 

☞ An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

☞ If a black cat crosses your path, you will have bad luck.

☞ Break a mirror and you will have bad luck for seven years.

☞ Eat your crust. It is good for you and it is the best part of the bread.

☞ If you eat raw potatoes, you will get worms.

☞ It is bad luck if a bird flies into your house.

☞ Never put new shoes on a table. If you do, you are welcoming death into the   family.

☞ Don’t walk under a ladder.

☞ If you kill a spider, it will rain.

☞ If you spill salt, you must throw some over your left shoulder to avoid bad luck.  

☞ If you swallow your gum, it will stick to your ribs.

☞The number 13 is bad luck. I don’t know why, she never explained it.

☞ Never EVER open an umbrella in the house.

☞ If a bird poops on you, you will have good luck.

 

Why blog about superstitions when I have two deadlines just around the corner?

Last night, while at my son’s football practice, a mom was blessed by a bird. Yep … it pooped on her.  

Immediately, I said, “That’s a sign of good luck.”

Then my mind screamed, Why would I say that? Why is it good? Oh my God, I have become my mother!

For the remainder of practice, I continued to wonder.

❧ How did those superstitions begin?

❧ Who were those old wives’?

❧ And, were they drinking when they started those tales?

Today, I dug a little deeper and found (some) reasonable answers.

The bird bomb is “apparently” a one in a million shot. Nearly the same odds as picking winning lottery numbers.

Did it rain luck or did that bird decide it wanted to be a quarterback and that mom was the receiver?

It makes sense since we were at a football practice. Maybe the bird was wrapped up in the excitement of the scrimmage?

Personally, if it was raining luck, I don’t think it’s the kind of luck I would want. 

I think a horseshoe would be much better than a bird bomb.

That is, as long as the horseshoe is not flying at my head. :)

Which brings me back to my original question, are you superstitious? 

If so ... do you think it was lucky rain, and should that mom buy a lottery ticket?

If it is lucky then oh how I wish my truck could talk and give me the winning numbers. 

The birds have been blessing my truck with luck daily!

Do you recall any "warnings" that are not on the above list? If so, please share.

As always, comments and feedback are welcome with open arms and closed umbrellas (when indoors)!