Web Site Woes (or Desperate Measures for Desperate Times)

So you all know by now that the new book is out.  A Mystery in the Mailbox is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and on Kindle.  The point of writing the book was to share with the general public a project I’ve been working on for over 20 years and to inspire others to do the same thing I’ve been doing. 

The fact is anyone can do it from beginning to end.  I tell them exactly how I did it.  I tell them where to find what they need, what supplies to obtain, and every single thing I did.  But I admit, I had years to develop this system.  Some people won’t have the patience to build their own database or create their own record-keeping templates.  So I decided to make my database and templates available for download for a small fee. 

All I needed to do was put a shopping cart on my web site and an automatic download would be available to all who wanted it. 

I have now spent two weeks struggling with the e-commerce portion of my web server in an attempt to make everything work.  So far, all I’ve really accomplished is testing the limits of my frustration before a total nuclear implosion!

In an effort to make the database available to those who might want it before the “Easy shopping cart and instant download” actually work, I posted instructions on my web site for mailing a check and receiving the database by e-mail.  I suppose I should have thought of that sooner, especially for those who despise using credit cards, but better late than never!

Don't worry.  Once I get the darned shopping cart thing working, I’ll post a web site update.

"A Mystery in the Mailbox" now available!

Many years, many volunteer copy editors, one book editor, one agent, and lots of work have finally culminated in the latest offering, A Mystery in the Mailbox.  It's a new year, and I was determined to start it by finally putting out this book for reader consumption.  Be forewarned, this is not your typical non-fiction book.  It's a great story that's part autobiography, part how-to, and a huge dose of inspiration.  I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy the read!  

A Mystery in the Mailbox is now available at Amazon.com.

Ringing in the New Year Right?

This time last year, I was sitting in the living room, sipping a glass of wine after un‑decorating the tree.  I was convinced that I wanted to start the New Year fresh.  Perhaps starting with fewer chores to accomplish would set the tone for a really good year.  That plan didn’t quite work out as I would have liked.  2013 turned out to be a year of personal turmoil.  I can take a hint.  My Christmas tree is still fully loaded as I take my first halting steps into 2014, and I have populated my to-do list with all the items I was unable to cross off in 2013.

 

The first thing on my list is completion of a book that has been languishing in my unfinished stack since my agent passed away suddenly in 2010.  That task will be removed from the list in short order, since the manuscript and the cover art have been submitted for review, and the finished book will most likely be for sale by mid-January.  I hope that starting the year off with publication will set the tone for 2014.  One of these years I will pick the right beginning that will herald the coming of a very good year.

What are you doing to start off 2014 on a positive note?