When Ann travels…

This is how I roll!

Given I tend to make 2-3 long haul RT long haul trips a year, I’ve got my routine down to a bit of a science.  Although I usually am fortunate enough to fly business class, I do make the (very) occasional coach class flight – and I’m looking at a 13+ hour flight tomorrow with Emirates to Boston.  Fortunately, I think the world of Emirates and there’s no one else I’d rather be making the flight with.  I’ve secured my favorite seat (first bulkhead, directly in front of the bulkhead = no one behind me) and have fingers crossed that seat showing next to me will remain open so I can spread out.  So, what does my carry on contain?

1.  First and foremost, my Beats.  I hate most noises, so these are essential for cutting out most sounds.

2.  Ear plugs – yup – I double up!  You never know when the screaming baby is going to be seated near you, so I pack these just to be safe.

3.  Disposable socks (an unused pair usually left over from a previous flight).  Put on over socks – discard after flight.

4.  Hand sanitizer.  Sharing germs for that many hours?  Seems necessary!

5.   iPad mini loaded with books.  I never know what I’ll feel like reading – so, I have 5-6 books to choose from.

6.  Eye mask.  Although my entire flight tomorrow is during daylight hours, I might want a snooze.

7.  Pack of Kleenex (for inevitable spills and needs that arise).

8.  Spare shirt (for when I arrive).

9.  Fleece jacket/pashmina.  It can get cold, or I can use my jacket for a pillow.

10. Laptop for writing.  I usually manage a decent writing session on these types of flights.  I’m hoping for a little over 2,000 words tomorrow.

11.  Podcasts/relaxation app.  Sometimes you just want to zone out.  Podcasts are perfect for this, as is the Pzizz sleep app.  Even though it’s very rare for me to sleep while sitting up, the Pzizz app is a great way for me to kind of zen out for as long as I want (you can set the time that you want it to run).

12.  E-gate card (I skip those lines whenever possible!)

Keep those fingers crossed for an upgrade tomorrow!!!

1 Year: Room 702.

So, it’s been one year since I released Room 702.

As you might be aware, things did not go how I thought they would.  I didn’t have the sales I expected.  I did not reach my goal.  I did learn a lot, but I’m stuck wondering how to feel.  Do I feel successful?  Yes and no.  My last minute effort to trigger book sales (the KDP Select free e-book dates) was in line with my ambition and the feedback I’ve received for the book is almost all positive, but my sales are much (much!) lower than I expected them to be.

What happens next?

Honestly,  I don’t know.  When I first published, I thought, “I will give this book a year and then let it go.”  And now, I don’t know.  I have a few things lined up, but is a year enough time?  Didn’t I get into this knowing that it’s about the marathon and not the sprint?  Does the book have enough momentum to carry itself?  Isn’t there time to market Room 702 along with my six other books and work on my new projects?  Another part of me says I should at least carry on until I break even.  Additionally, given that I’ve actively thought about this book every day for over a year, marketing the book is a difficult habit to break.

Either way – I feel I should say, “Happy Anniversary, Room 702!  Thanks for all that you’ve taught me.”

Out of the habit.

Preach it, Snoop.

I’ve been on a temporary hiatus from my book (mostly due to work, preparing blog posts, life, and general excuses).  I hate it when this happens, because it takes me FOREVER to get back into the groove of writing.  I’m very much a creature of habit and when my schedule gets interrupted it’s difficult for me to bounce back.  Looking at the next few weeks, it appears life will make it tough for me to get into the final push of my work in progress, but I’m going to try.  I have two very long flights where I’m hoping to get some serious work accomplished.

Not a real post.

Book review: Farewell Trip.

In my ongoing review of grief books, I struggled this week to get through Farewell Trip.

Good parts?  At first blush, it’s a creative take on the widow story.  I enjoyed the use of first person.  There was a clever title (the dead husband is named Trip).

The bad?  Neither the protagonist nor the dead husband are particularly lovable.  Like, they are kind of terrible people (they both cheated on the other, but neither would admit to this).  I also think, even as someone who loves expletives in her own life, the use of the word ‘fuck’ is well overused.  Awkward, stilted writing between the various timelines doesn’t help the story, it considerably hurts the flow of the novel.

The weird?  The marriage didn’t strike me as particularly solid, good, or worth writing about.  The couple, who are childless – by choice – have some fundamental issues about communication (on everything from career, to affairs to having children).  And since one of the characters is dead, there is no way to resolve this issue.  Additionally, the book actually calls out and sort of knocks on P.S. I Love You, which got me wondering – am I allowed to do that?!

I forced myself to finish – not really caring what happened to the widow and not seeing resolution of any kind.  There were some really lovely moments, but not enough to overcome for the awkward story.

I’ll also put this books on the list of, ‘This was traditionally published?!?’ and ‘It took two people to write this?’

Avoid.

In which I relate to John Green.

“John Green is crying again. Not because he’s sad, really. More like the way parents weep at weddings and at high school graduations. This sudden, unstoppable rush of happy tears has become so common for the 36-year-old author as he watches the filming of his 2012 novel The Fault in Our Stars, that it’s now a bit of a running joke. “John Green cries all the time,” says director Josh Boone, laughing. “This set basically has no testosterone whatsoever.”

– recent EW article

Here’s the thing – I get it.  If my novel was ever adapted for screen or television it would be the very best moment of my life.  To see my characters and creative efforts come to life would cause emotions to constantly run over.  Seriously, the one meeting I had with a producer for Confessions of a Teenage Band Geek was enough to make me feel like I was floating.  I vividly remember waltzing through New York with a smile big enough to split my face.   The high lasted for days.  So, go ahead John Green – cry if you feel like it.  I got your back.