TGIF… really! TGIF!

I have never been so glad to see Friday. If Friday were a material object, my arms would be wrapped tightly around its neck.

I have a new appreciation for the acronym TGIF!

My morning started off productive, but my computer system was running somewhat slow. So, I decide to delete some old files and especially the old programs that are no longer being used.

Stupid idea!

Not only did I delete a gazillion old files, but apparently I deleted some vital files that allowed my network to operate correctly.

From 9:30 am to 3:30 pm I tried to fix the problem myself. Yes, myself. I know. I know. You don’t have to say it. I realize that my attempt to be a computer tech caused the problem in the first place. And, yes, I was made aware later when sitting on the phone with tech support for over 30 minutes that I did a whole lot more than simply delete vital network files.

At any rate, by 4 pm, I was back up and running.

Still, an entire day in the can. Totally wasted. Now that just really stinks!

TGIF! TGIF! TGIF!

Monday will be a new day, Lord willing, and I will be refreshed and ready to go full force. And I promise to [try to] leave the techy stuff to the techy crew!

Rethinking Friday the 13th

I’ve never been superstitious (part from the occasional air cross sign when seeing a black cat dart in front of the car…you know…just in case) nor have I paid much creed to the whole eeriness or back luck of Friday the 13th. Well, that is, until today.

I am beginning to rethink the whole stigma just as tad.

Let me rewind the tape of the day.

I started enjoying my day working from my home office. The brightness and crisp smell of the unseasonably warm Mississippi spring day gave me a motivating boost. My grandson (3 years) is with me today. Spending time with my favorite little person while working with some amazing people –who wouldn’t love it?

I am in the middle of work. My mind is enthralled with a new novel I am now blessed to be representing. My train of thought jumps the track when the Umi City rocket ship enters my office. The young pilot is also carry an old walking cane that transforms him into a wizard and me into what-ever-it-was-he-said-I-am-now! How cute! I take my lumps from his newly casted spell and he returns to Team Umizoomi.

It’s okay. I needed to refill my coffee anyway.

I take a phone call, or three. I get busy and then remember… my coffee. Where’s my cup? I’ve been drinking out of that cup all day. You know. The cute blue one. It has Smashwords printed on it. The one that came in the promo package. Yeah, that’s the one. I cannot find it anywhere. Oh…yep. Now I remember. I warmed my coffee in the microwave. Silly me!

I settle back at my desk and I hear it. “I need help!” I go to see what my little man needs. As any proud Gran Gran would, I help him after he has went t-t in the potty all by himself. Good job!

I take another call and my little man settles to engage in an adventure with Mike the Knight. I sit back in my chair. “Gran Gran! My pants! Graaannnn Graaaan!”

Hmmm. The little man has now gone “horrible” by himself. Yes, I am still proud, but there’s no way I am excited about being a part of the clean up crew. Thank God I caught him before his pants were all the way up.

The next couple of hours are quiet and productive. Only the occasion sweep-through for a quick hug and an “I love you, too!”. Precious angel!

It really has been quiet. Too quiet.

I get up to investigate.

Apparently, the little man is really into this new independence thing. He didn’t quite make it to the potty this time and tried to change without me knowing. As a typical three-year-old who is easily distracted by new and interesting things, he did a lot more than just try to change his own clothes.

It seems that if you wet an entire roll of toilet paper in the toilet and then pinch of chunks of the wet mess, it is totally fun to throw. I almost fell out cold when I walked in the room to see wet blotches all over the floor and walls.

I am cleaning up the art work. He is standing there, his expression is part scared, part proud, and part hopeful mixed with suck-up! “Want help?”

Okay…I made it through. Nap time. Ahhh!

Let’s see how the rest of this Friday the 13th goes. I’ll let you know later; I have to take another call!

Kim Welborn, Christian Taylor’s Bloodline

Working at McGraw-Hill is different from the types of publishers we seek for Kim’s new novel, but Kim is able to draw from her experience in the industry, especially her understanding and access to promotion resources, to make her work the best it can be.

Christian Taylor’s Bloodline is modern day YA mystery/fantasy novel in which seventeen-year-old Christian Taylor finds out that he is a descendent of Jesus and with this knowledge comes unique powers, perilous risks, and the spark of a supernatural battle between good and evil. Bloodline is the first title in a series of Christian Taylor titles.

Look for samples coming soon!

Shyla Lukens, Just Payin the Rent

I am excited to be working with Shyla in pitching Just Payin the Rent, a chick lit mystery sprinkled with humor and quirky cast of characters.

Jessie Billows works as a full time maintenance worker in her apartment complex.  The perk is she gets free rent; the downside is now there has been a murder. Filled with lively tenants, a British Detective, her best friend Trish, and the hot shop owner Eddie, Jessie is sure to find herself in the middle of an adventure. 

Shyla’s debut novel, Enraptured, will be released soon. Keep up with the progress at Solstice Publishing.

Connect with Shyla at www.authorshylalukens.com.

Salutations

I find that I am never at a loss when it comes to receiving queries that are generic in nature. However, this is one of my major pet peeves. It makes me grumpy just to see it. Especially, the queries that begin with “Dear Editor”.

I am a literary agent, not an editor. Regardless, I do have a name and I so love when authors take the time to find and use it when querying me!

Just my little rant for the day. I think I’ll take a double shot of strong coffee and see if there are any professional queries in the mass pile.

Coming May 2012

An Agent’s Point of View (Second Edition) will be released May 19, 2012. I am excited about this edition. While the basics of what writers need to know to obtain and keep an agent is the primary focus of the book, this edition goes a step further by including many areas that writers (new and seasoned) tend to overlook. There is also a chapter on etiquette and even a chapter dedicated to common mistakes writers tend to make.

Available as an e-book compatible with most e-readers, including Kindle and Nook. If you are still kicking it old school, a PDF version is available.

Look for more news and reviews to be posted. If you are a reviewer interested in a review copy, contact RWHI.

Preorder requests can be sent to Red Writing Hood Ink with the preferred format (ePub, mobi, PDF). Invoices sent via PayPal.

Interesting how the “net works”

Recently I posted available rights to client’s new project and am now receiving an influx of requests to purchase the book. Amazing, isn’t it, the way social media and networking sites distribute news! Now if these requests are a slight indication of how well this book will fair without marketing, I am going to be even more excited when the release notice materializes. And, believe me, I am pretty darned excited about this project already!

Happy weekend, don’t forget that we lose an hour to daylight savings time Sunday (feel free to sleep in an extra hour on Monday…tell ‘em I said you can!), and grab a book or a Kindle and relax!

Sprinkle with a little kindness

I remember the days when manners where a vital element of good business. What has happened? Or maybe there is some odd cosmic something-or-other being spread through the air today making people cranky. Whatever it is, I pray it passes soon!

Personally, when I am communicating with others (verbal and print), I try my very best to be polite and thoughtful, whether I am dealing with a friend, a colleague, an author, an editor or a publisher. You get the idea.  “Please,”  “thank you” and “you are welcome” are powerful but underused words. Plus, what about the whole flies and honey thing? If you are from the south, like me, you know that a buttered biscuit is much better than dry toast!

I believe that manners matter. I want a courtesy revival!

How about you?

Welcome…

Red Writing Hood Ink is an editorial and literary services agency. We represent some of the industry’s most talented fiction and nonfiction writers.

A word is dead when it’s said, some say. I say it begins to live that day. ~Emily Dickinson, 1872

What we do…
RWHI is a literary agency and editorial services business. Writers, see our disclaimer on editorial services prior to requesting a quote.

For editorial needs, RWHI specializes in taking your rough draft and turning it into a perfected manuscript ready for submission. A few of RWHI services include:

• Ghostwriting
• Query/Proposal Reviews
• Editorial

RWHI is dedicated to its clients and to helping them succeed.

DISCLAIMER: RWHI adheres to the AAR Canon of Ethics. Services provided are in no way associated with our literary clients. Editorial services are not related to book doctors or manuscript editing services whereby a fee is charged in conjunction with representation. If your book is edited by RWHI, we cannot, in turn, offer literary representation.