We're OFF!

I won't relax until I figure out what I've forgotten, and that can't happen until we're on the road. I did remember that after looking at all the 70's/50's temperatures, I added warmer stuff, but then my husband said it's been 100 degrees in Victoria Falls, so I went back and added another pair of shorts and some lighter weight tops. My checked bag slid in under the weight requirement according to our bathroom scale. Haven't weighed the big one that we're leaving in Cape Town.

I got a contract offer for Hidden Fire yesterday, but too late to sign and mail the paperwork until I get back. That'll be with Cerridwen Press.

Finished going over the major changes to When Danger Calls and turned that back to the editor. No time for a line-edit read, but I can do that later. Also, I think that's what the copy editors do.

So -- posts will be sporadic at best, but keep checking.

Down to the Wire

Today is it. If it's not done, it's not likely to happen. Far too many clothes are spread out over the house. By tonight, they'll have to be gleaned and culled. I'm now dealing with all the last minute things that you can't do ahead of time, and hoping there aren't TOO many I've forgotten about. Paper and mail canceled. (Can you imagine what it's going to be like to get a month's worth of holiday catalogs when we get back?) Neighbor's kids checking front porch and driveway for notices and those pesky throwaway papers, etc. Inevitable arguments about what's appropriate attire with my husband. We WILL be in public a great deal of the time, after all.


Got my second round manuscript from Five Star. Have to do a side-by-side to see what she changed, since she sent a clean copy. Don't think it will happen today, but I'll try as long as I have to be home until the DHL guy shows up. Too bad they didn't come yesterday; I actually had some time. But that's the way it is, it seems. When you have time for stuff, the stuff isn't there, and when you don't have time, you get the stuff.

Posts will be sporadic from here on, but check back.

Counting Down To South Africa T minus 1

Whew!
Had a FANTASTIC time at the book signing, even if there were a couple of glitches. In this case, things worked in my favor. The bookstore didn't have my books in stock, so I got my stash from my car and sold from those. Since these were leftovers from a previous signing at another store, I have already received royalties for the sales, since that bookstore bought them from the publisher. I purchased the excess at a substantial discount. I'll get paid by yesterday's bookstore for the cover price minus a percentage. I come out ahead on the bottom line, always a good thing. The people were great, got to chat with a bunch of authors, and even met some 'on line' folks who have seen me on various writing loops. And there was chocolate.

My own ditz moment: I splurged on a herbal neck wrap thingie you heat in themicrowave. The vendor was near our signing site, and offered a discount and extra eye mask to authors. I figured it was a nice treat and would help alleviate some of the neck strain from stress and hours at the keyboard. Of course, when I got home it was nowhere to be found. The receipt was in the bag, so I didn't have any way to contact the vendor to see if someone returned it to him. I posted a message to my fellow authors, and was VERY pleasantly surprised to find that the Barnes & Noble rep found the bag when she was clearing things out, and Roxanne St. Claire found my name on the receipt, and gave it to Catherine Kean to return to me. Thanks, fellow authors for being supportive in EVERY possible way. I won't be using it for the plane trip--far too heavy to deal with, but I'll have it waiting when I get home.

And...the good news! I found two reviews in my Google Alerts this morning.

http://www.fmam.biz/reviews/nov07.shtml#startingover

http://www.fmam.biz/reviews/nov07.shtml#whatsinaname

Have to turn in my galleys for Hurricane Breeze today. And laundry. And errands, since I'll have to be home tomorrow because my replacement keyboard is due to arrive and I have to sign for it. Was supposed to have happened two weeks ago, but ...

Counting Down To South Africa T minus 2

Book signing today. It's a fund-raiser for the Adult Literacy League, and there will be over 20 local authors signing at the Altamonte Mall.

Yesterday, the publisher and cover artist and Wild Rose Press bent the house rules a bit and created a new cover for Hurricane Breeze. So much better, don't you think? The dog is more obvious, and the heroine isn't a belly-dancer. Thanks, RJ and Nicola!



I bought another mid-size suitcase to handle conference supplies. However, when I look at the "packing room(s)" I can't imagine how everything will fit. One way or another, it'll have to, I guess. We'll have to be more organized, and pack for the various phases of the trip. We have our 17 day tour, then 5 nights on our own in Port Elizabeth, and then the conference in Cape Town. I've officially signed over my membership duties until I get to the conference. Since I won't have my Five Star edits until tomorrow, I've actually got about a day and a half with "free" time to deal with the trip. Maybe it's time for those lists.

Counting Down To South Africa T minus 3

Worked on the galleys for Hurricane Breeze yesterday. Found some typos, some clunkers. Nothing terribly major. I tried to "like" my cover a little more, but it's not going to happen. I mentioned it to my editor, but they don't normally revise covers. What do you think? Can you find the dog? Rottweiler was definitely NOT in the description I gave the cover artist. And I said the heroine was a 'free spirit' not a belly dancer. At any rate, most of the bigger houses don't give author input; I'm spoiled because Cerridwen Press does.



Let's see -- yesterday's other glitches. Not too bad. I had to get the frames of my glasses fixed/adjusted. On the way back, I was waiting at a stop-sign controlled intersection for the car that had arrived shortly before I did to make up his mind and get going when there was a rather loud bump and a jolt. The driver of the car 2 cars behind me had lost control (it was raining) and hit the car behind me, pushing it into mine. With mixed thoughts, I decided to let the two of them decide what they wanted to do, because it was raining and I didn't have any significant damage to my rear bumper, and it wasn't worth filing a claim for a little dent. Not to mention I didn't have the hours it would take to get someone 'official' on the scene.

Counting Down To South Africa - T Minus 4

Still with the medical issues -- but this time I get the ditz award. After dealing with the interminable phone system of the insurance company (all voice activated; can't even punch in numbers), I discovered -- not to my surprise -- the malaria medication prescribed wasn't covered by insurance, and relatively costly $10/pill. However, it didn't seem to leave us much choice, so I called the doctor's office and left a message with the nurse to approve the prescription.

When I went in for my appointment (annual physical and to get my tetanus and hepatitis shots for the trip) , we spent a lot of time discussing all the 'just in case' medications, all the other malaria options, and how marvelously healthy I am overall. We decided that another medication, although it has to be taken daily, would be a viable option and was much cheaper out of pocket if the insurance company didn't approve.

So, armed with my handful of prescriptions, I left and made a stop at the PO Box for work. Of course, today there were a respectable number of envelopes, so that added to my work 'to do' list. I stopped at the pharmacy and dropped of the prescriptions and came home to tackle what needed to be done. My cleaning service hadn't shown up; a call verified that although we'd confirmed it twice that yesterday was to be the last cleaning, they had it as the first session they were to skip. So much for that -- only irritation was that if I'd known, I wouldn't have put off a lot of things, like piling clothes and stuff all over the place to start the pre-packing chores.

I went about my routine, still with little to do until I heard from editors as far as writing goes, although I was busy enough with trying to get all the marketing things in order. I really hoped someone else would write the back cover and flap copies, but no, it's up to me. I got my cover for Hurricane Breeze -- was not all that excited about it. They put the heroine on the cover dressed in a belly-dancer outfit, and the dog is peeking out from under the billowing white fabric looking almost -- well, I won't go there. I didn't even realize it was a dog until someone else pointed it out. But they don't have an approval process like Cerridwen Press does, so that's that. It's a short story, so it's not like the cover will be on a bookshelf anywhere. I'll try to post it tomorrow (I am on my laptop now -- another long story causing more delays).

Then, about 9:30 PM, I got the galleys. Will have to deal with those ASAP, and my When Danger Calls editor said she LOVES my book, and will try to have the next edits on Sunday. I'm leaving Tuesday. Monday will be packing and running around picking up all the things we realize we don't have. Guess it goes on my husband's laptop, and I'll work while he's sleeping.

OK -- back to the ditz award. (Can you tell my brain isn't working efficiently). At about 4:45 PM yesterday, I'm in the middle of sending someone an email and mentioning that I hope there are no bad side effects to the malaria meds. At this point, it dawns on me that I FORGOT TO MAKE SURE I GOT THE TETANUS AND HEPATITIS SHOTS I went to the doctor for in the first place. I'd even made sure to tell them to put it on my appointment notes so they'd have the stuff available. Of course, they forgot, too -- but it was my fault. Luckily, they were open until 6:30 so I buzzed back, got the shots, stopped and picked up the meds, came home and had a stiff drink before dealing with all the candy monsters who came by. More than we've had in years, but I have some chocolate left, thank goodness.

Counting Down To South Africa T minus 5

The yellow fever decision has been made, for better or for worse. Our South African contacts felt confident that as long as the passport isn't stamped in Dakar, since it's a refueling stop and we don't get off the plane, there was no real need for a yellow fever shot.

After an extensive internet search, I found a listing for places that give travel immunizations, including yellow fever. One was in a building I drive by on my way to absolutely anywhere. Nothing is EVER in our neighborhood, so this was a very exciting piece of news. If the shots were convenient, then maybe we'd do it anyway.

Of course if something seems too good to be true, it usually is, and when I called for more information, the gentleman said, "Oh, we don't have an office there anymore." (Can you say, 'Update your website, bucko?") The nearest was about a 40 minute drive. I decided to make the appointment and wait for my husband to get out of his meeting to see what his thoughts were. The fact that it would cost well over $300 for the two of us tipped the scales, and we are bravely venturing into our journey without yellow fever immunizations.

Another deciding factor -- I went to the Thorlo outlet and the salesman has relatives in Cape Town and they travel that route often and nobody's ever checked on yellow fever immunizations on a refueling stop.

Next up: malaria. I've mentioned the tour company changed its policy, and now we need malaria meds. Finding out you're supposed to start taking them the week before travel was daunting, because that was yesterday. However, the nurse called back to verify how long we'd be gone, and the pills are taken once a week, and it's a week before you get to a possible malaria location, not before you get on the plane, so that gives us time (and the pharmacy time to get the pills) because although everything we've read says, "no malaria in South Africa", it's a possibility at one of the game preserves, and we don't get there for at least 5 days after our arrival.

I have my annual physical this afternoon -- we'll see what the doctor says.

Last night's workshop was fun -- not heavily attended, but those who were there wanted to learn about writing, and we had a great interactive session. The Barnes & Noble store didn't get my books in, but that's another story -- the signing is Saturday, and they promised them by then. If not, I have copies in my car. Always.

Counting Down To South Africa T minus 6

Yesterday was right up there in the stress department. We spent most of the day trying to get an answer (or at least the same answer from any two sources) on how to interpret the you do not need yellow fever immunizations for South Africa unless your travels include destinations in the yellow fever belt tidbit in the travel information. Until yesterday, we were under the impression we were in the clear. We've had several friends travel to South Africa and none had to be jabbed. However, there was concern that since we refuel in a potential yellow fever country, we might have to have the shots anyway.

Further research merely added to the confusion. One place said you HAVE to have the shots. But they need 10 days to take effect, and we're leaving before then. Another said they give the shots, but have no appointments until we leave. Our county health doesn't give them anymore. And on and on, and of course, by now it's 5 PM and nobody's in the offices.

I sent an email to the conference coordinator in South Africa. He investigated with the South African medical folks, and responded this morning:

According to Medi Travel, a consultancy here, you do NOT need a yellow
fever jab if you stay on the plane. If you disembark, you are then
potentially at risk because there are day-time biting mosquitoes in the
area, and so would require a jab. (You will probably find that the
flight attendants spray the cabin with insecticide shortly before
departure to ensure that any stowaways are zapped - marginally less
unpleasant than the jab!).

So, I'm feeling better now, although I suppose I should still call the local clinics I unearthed from an Internet search yesterday and see if there's any chance I can get the shot this week. If nothing else, having that certificate will guarantee nobody will ask. It will be my good deed for all the others on the plane who didn't get one.

Meanwhile, I have to work on all the 'Ancillary Materials' the publisher wants for When Danger Calls -- those pesky cover blurbs, jacket copy, author quote sources, bio ... and probably more, but I haven't opened that file yet.

Counting Down To South Africa T minus 7

What's been going on:

I was interviewed by another blogger -- check it out: http://www.annycook.blogspot.com
Or the direct link to the post, for when it scrolls down the page.

My Point of View handouts are printed.

And now, back to my normal panic. After a relatively calm weekend, it's time to get back info countdown mode for real.

A week! I definitely have to start a list. I found out I had one of my all-to-frequent ditz moments when I sent my 22 chapters of When Danger Calls to my editor. Like forgetting to hit 'attach' before hitting 'send.' So, whether or not she works on weekends, she couldn't have looked at my changes and answered my questions. I sent it last night at around 10 PM. Hope she has a chance to look at it.

I also touched base with one of my writing research sources (Thanks, Major Tom!) who gave me some ideas for things to put into the scene where my editor said, "Show these 7 minutes on the page, please). So much for trying to duck around writing combat scenes, things I know little about.


List thoughts.

My husband has accepted responsibility for investigating if we're going to need yellow fever shots. I still have to get more socks, but we got him some shoes more appropriate for the closing banquet at the conference. I went through our American Express charges. Ouch! Packing. Money. Work. Of course, the Treasurer wants to be prepared for the report he has to give at the conference board meeting. Who's got the data he needs? Who do you think. There go a few more hours. Arrange a ride to and from airport. Lights on timers. Water heater off. Turn off hoses to washer & dryer. Air conditioner off. All doors locked. Paper and mail stopped. Transfer bookmarked URLs to husband's laptop. Compare packing notes -- we don't both need camera cables to download pictures, do we?

Counting Down To South Africa T minus 8

Yesterday was surprisingly calm. Since I'd sent Hidden Fire to my Cerridwen editor, I closed the door on that one, and crossed it off the list (well, I would have, if I'd actually written my list yet). Late yesterday (which was early today for her, because she's in Australia), she said she was backlogged and wouldn't get to it for at least two weeks. So -- no worries, as she would say. It's in her hands, and I won't even think about it (much) until I get back.

I didn't hear from my Five Star editor about the first 22 chapters of When Danger Calls. I had some questions for her, and didn't want to keep going until I heard from her. Being a weekend, I don't know if she works or not, so I put that project on hold as well. Which left me time for some much-needed food shopping.

Couldn't do anything about clarifying if we actually should get the yellow fever shots or not because all the medical places are closed on the weekend. I'd rather not if it's not needed, but it's not worth being stranded somewhere because I don't have the requisite slip of paper some official decides I need to get back into the country.

I worked on my Point of View handouts for Tuesday night (anyone in central Florida -- come see me at the Barnes & Noble in the Altamonte Mall), did some critique work and watched a little television. Almost caught up with what I taped last week.

Now I can start making the silly little decisions -- what do I pack, how much, or would it be easier to buy it there? Money. Our travel documents hit us with some minor surprises, like airport fees required to get out of the country -- $60 US in cash, exact change, per person. Yikes. And our side-trip to Victoria Falls has a whole different set of currency rules. No credit cards, and a whole page of how things work in that country. I'm so geographically challenged, I didn't even begin to think it was another country when my husband added the side trip.

I only hope my Wild Rose Press editor gets my galleys for Hurricane Breeze to me in time to give them a fair read.