Happenings & Procrastination

Hi!

So my children's book has made it into the hands of one publisher. I recieved the SASP back so now I know they at least have opened the envelope. I've sent it to a total of three publishers so far. I've got five more lined up for investigation. I'm antsy though and impatient and I want to published the book now on Lulu.com or Cafepress.com but then who would see it? How To books seem to sell better in the POD than fiction from what I've seen. But if I get rejected by everyone that's the path I'm going down. My writing doesn't seem to go over well with companies...lol. Does that mean I'm a terrible writer?? Let's hope not.

In other news I made Bee pins for my Etsy Shop.

I love the sparkly bling! I'm really getting into the Sculpey projects. I have Flower Monster Pins too but no pictures to share yet. Sorry. Next time, I promise. Today I went to my favorite craft store AC Moore and got some new supplies for even more Flower Monster items. My Etsy shop is going to be a million items very soon.

I actually spent some time gussying up my Cafe Press Shop too. New items, new images and all of them pretty. Even www.karenkalbacher.com got a new portfolio added. I keep telling myself I'm going to update everything weekly but I am the queen of procrastination. I am supposed to be:

1. Writing a short story--currently that's what I got on the computer to do.
2. Finishing the rewrite of my latest novel
3. Cleaning out my car--I've been doing that once since last March, ha!
4. Recopying some of my old stories--for some reason I used to type in all CAPS.
5. Going to Europe--ha I'm broke.
6. Marrying a very wealthy septuagenarian with a nasty cough.
7. Taking over the world.
8. Retired and Living in Brazil.

Okay, no more 'supposed to bes,' I'm going to go back to writing my short story. Have a good night everybody.

My Flower Monster Book is Done!---Now What??

Since I gave up procrastination for Lent, I just powered through the thirteen illustrations needed to complete my children's book. Day before yesterday I hardcore borrowed black ink from my dad by using his fancy all in one printer to photocopy the 'mock-up' of my book. I even added one color page each to give an idea of what the colors would be like.

Here is a tantalizing sneak peak of the wonder that is my latest attempt to become a famous author:

Hee! It's so cute! Um, anyway, next step is sending them out to the big bad publishers...Not that they're either big, or bad but it's how I feel. I'm all nervous to send something I'm in love with out to someone who is seeing it for the first time. I've been getting a lot of positive feedback from people who have seen the completed project so I should just stop sweating it and send it out. The only thing to fear is...rejections slips! Or the never hearing from them again...Bum bum bum.

Also I have some new Flower Monster dolls in the works. Their faces are sewn on and I finally-I had to go to three stores-got some decent purple felt for their heads. Expect to see an expose on how I made them later on in the week.

In personal news, I have no idea what size my bike is and now will have to break down and go outside to the storage area and measure the tires. It's a 1984 Huffy in red 'n' tan. It formally had a basket, bell and those floofy things that stick out of the handle bars. All have since vanished mysteriously. I decided I needed to start riding again to keep my weight just the way it is, although perhaps a little tighter around the thighs and realized I needed new tires. Yes, that's right, I am going to ride a bike designed for a seven year old from the mid-80s. Jealous yet? No? Well it has a banana seat! I know, right? Awesome.

Okay, more on the Flower Monster Book as I bite the bullet and write letters of introduction and *gasp* mail out the manuscripts. Plus FM Dolls! And if you're good at making product shots, please God, email me tips. Me+Digital Camera=Not Even Close to Awesome Pictures.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

This is as Close as it Gets to Friday, Folks.

Yeah okay, it’s Sunday and I said I would post a blog every Friday…Um sue me. When I update with less then a month in-between it is a good time to be had by all! So the illustrations for the Flower Monster Project are well on their way to completion. I have 4 illustrations left to do based on the original outline. I maybe adding one or two because I think my current count might end me up at 13. Not that I’m superstitious or anything but you never know when some bored fundamentalist person with triskaidekaphobia is hanging around counting the pages of children’s book on their search for fear. Yeah I said triskaidekaphobia. Look it up on Wikapedia or better yet, work it out from the context…lol. (Psst, I love Wicapedi.)

The pins are up on my Etsy shop. I’m damn proud of them. I wish people could see how they glisten in real life. Unfortunately I am still incredibly crappy at taking fabulous product shots. Also in the good news category, I took my illustrations thus far to my parents and got rave reviews from my mom and her friend Tony. So I’m tempted to put an illustration up here soon and see what’s the what with people who don’t already like me…and/or are related.

See you later in the week as I again attempt to post a blog on time.

oh and I love the internet because when I put in 'triskaidekaphobia' this nifty graphic came up:

(But that means I lied when I said there would be no pictures this week! Argh!~Pretend I didn't say that and just slowly walk away from the blog...see you next Friday...or as close to Friday as I can get...)