Monday, April 29, 2013

Monday Mishmash 4/29/13

Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:

  1. My Kindle is dying :(  Twice last week, I turned on my Kindle to find a big black bar across it. Luckily, resetting the Kindle made it go away, but I'm afraid this is a sign that it's going to die.
  2. Family Expo  I had a great time at the Family Expo yesterday, hosted by State Representative Rosemary Brown. Thanks to everyone who came and chatted with me about my books.
  3. Editing  I'm editing a few of my books this week before I get more client edits at the start of the new month. Wish me luck, please.
  4. BEA shopping  I may have bought some new outfits for BEA. :)
  5. Onesie cupcakes  I'll be making onesie cupcakes for my sister's baby shower next month. I really hope these come out cute.
That's it for me. What's on your mind today?

71 comments:

  1. I'm going to BEA but only for Saturday. Still can't wait!

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  2. The big black bar has been appearing on my Kindle occasionally, too. Hitting the back page button makes it go away ... so far ... but I suspect the same thing you do. My Kindle has reached old age. :(

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    1. Mine's 3 years old now. I haven't tried hitting the back page button. I'll try that before I reset it next time. Thanks!

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  3. TWO COMMENTS??? I'm usually way down. Interestingly, someone is going to a baby shower here, which is provoking a Twitter debate as they are definitely NOT an English thing. Like Proms.... now such a feature of school life in this country. Make sure you post pics of the cakes!!!

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    1. LOL. It's early and rainy here. I suspect people are sleeping in. ;)

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  4. There are no ereaders in Egypt, so I recently bought a tablet and then had to download software so it would read ebooks. But I expect the tablet to last longer than an ereader would. Good luck on your edits and have a great time at BEA! :-)

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  5. Oh sometimes my Kindle does that. Not sure how to reset though. :( I got an ipad as back up..lol good luck with editing and have fun at BEA. :)

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    1. You just hold the power button until it goes off and then for an additional 20 seconds. You have to time it though or it won't reset. It's very picky.

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  6. Hi Kelly,
    I don't own a Kindle yet or Smartphone but these are on my list to get this summer. I have just finished teaching another group of talented students, so the only thing on my brain is grading for the next week or so and then more of my own writing time....YAY!

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    1. Congrats. Good luck with the grading and writing.

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  7. I love my Kindle and would be so mad/sad if it went down. Hope you can get it fixed or even better get a new one.

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  8. My Kindle froze last week when I was reading a PDF someone sent me. It wouldn't even turn off like normal, but after about 45 seconds for pure panic, I tried to turn it off again, which worked, and it's been fine since then. But I feel your pain -- dying Kindle = BAD!
    So cool about participating in the Family Expo! Were you allowed to see your books, too?

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    1. What's up with Kindles lately?

      Yes, my books were on display and I got to talk to people about them. :)

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  9. Oh, no! Can the Kindle be repaired?

    Good luck with the edits.

    Of course, a girl needs new outfits for BEA. :)

    Have a nice week.

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    1. I don't think it can, Beverly. Apparently this is common when they're about to go.

      Oh, definitely needed new outfits. It comes with the territory. :)

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  10. Ooh, is it the newer or older Kindle? I have the newer Nook, but still have the older Kindle. Dang that thing stinks. I REALLY want the new Kindle. Looks amazing. I wonder if yours is still under some sort of warranty?

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    1. Older Kindle. The 3G. It's about 3 years old now.

      I'm thinking I'll get the Kindle Fire when this one goes for good.

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  11. Shopping and BEA, both very fun things :) I hope your kindle figures itself out, but if it goes it's kind of a nice excuse to get a new one...

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    1. Yes, and I've been wanting the Kindle Fire, so it's not all bad.

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  12. My Kindle is dying, too. No black bar, but most days it won't charge at all, and when I can finally get it to charge, it only charges about halfway. Makes me very sad :(.

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    Replies
    1. It's like there's something going around with Kindles lately. Everyone's having issues with them.

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  13. Will you take photos of the cupcakes and post them? I've been having this thing these days where I like to look at really tasty things because, though I won't eat them, it sure is fun to fantasize while having a visual. Creepy?

    LOL

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    1. Well, they aren't edible, Diane. They're made with baby clothes but they are made to look like cupcakes.

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  14. Can we see photos of the cupcakes?

    This week I'm getting back to my novel (real life keeps getting in the way, or at least it has done for the last couple of weeks), also returning to a play I've got half finished.

    Have a great week.

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    1. I'll post some pictures when they're finished. :)

      Have a wonderful week.

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  15. I hope your Kindle was just having an off day and isn't really dying. Be sure to post pictures of the onesie cupcakes.

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    1. I hope so two, but it's happened a few times now.

      I'll post pictures soon.

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  16. Which kindle is this. I have fire but I also have an older version which I hoped to pass on one of my girls. Good luck with editing coz Immortals is coming your way.

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    1. It's the Kindle 3G so it's about 3 years old now.

      I'll be finished in time for Immortals. No worries. I'm dying to read it!

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  17. So jealous! I wish I could be a fly on the wall at BEA. (But then I guess I couldn't carry any books. Unless I was a fly with super-strength. ANYWAY.)

    Good luck with the editing! Bummer about the kindle, but think of it as a good excuse to get a shiny new one ;)

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    1. LOL, Kiersi! It killed me that I couldn't go last year. I'm very excited to finally make it there.

      Yes, it is a good excuse to upgrade.

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  18. Ugh. Hopefully your Kindle will last a lot longer. I occasionally have it turn on to a blank screen, but then it turns on like normal when I turn it on again. I have an older Kindle too and hope it hangs on for a while. But if not, I want the new Kindle paperwhite with the book light. I like to read outside or in bed at night and the regular kindles are great for outside and with the book light I can take care of the reading in bed.

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    1. I heard the new Kindle Fire (not the original Kindle Fire) is made to be used outdoors. If I get one, that's the one I'd want.

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  19. I hope your Kindle resusitates and lives for a long time! I love my Kindle, especially at night when I need something new to read and can get it within a minute! <3

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  20. Oh no! Kelly's Kindle can't be dying :-(

    But I'm glad you had fun shopping for new clothes. That's always a pick-me-up :-)

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    Replies
    1. Yes, it is.

      So far today, my Kindle's been behaving.

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  21. Good luck with that Kindle! It might give you an excuse to spring for the latest Kindle Fire!

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  22. First, if all else fails on the Kindle front, you can use the web app for your laptop, I know it's not the same or as portable, but it's at least a temporary fix when you're at home.

    I use the web app when I'm at home, I don't like reading from my phone because I prefer something more substantial, though I'm still one of the rare few who still primarily reads print books, and the few ebooks I have are nonfiction or cookbooks, and I know lots of people prefer nonfiction in print, but outside dictionaries and study guides, I'm not as picky about nonfiction ebooks, and since most of my ebooks are on the Kindle platform, I'm still debating which one I'd buy. For now, the web app will have to do for me.

    Second, I too am jealous about not being able to attend BEA, or NYC period, just the airfare is cost prohibitive, never mind tickets, even at the current discount, and of course the hotel fees and SOME personal shopping budget.

    There really needs to be a program designed to help authors share the cost of traveling to events, more people would be able to afford to attend if we had more access to flexible travel.

    Third, please do share those cupcakes if they come out as intended, it is hard to present food well, as someone who loves to cook and bake will tell you,

    Trust me, non-foodies, food styling is NOT frivolous, and can make or break even the best cookbooks, since aesthetics matters AS much as well-tested, proven to WORK recipes.

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    1. The cupcakes aren't edible. They are made with baby clothes. ;)

      I spend my day editing and writing on my computer, so I need a print book or Kindle for reading for enjoyment. The difference in screens makes a difference in my relaxation level.

      I know what you mean about the cost of BEA. I'm only going for two nights because I can't afford more than that. It's so expensive. Luckily we can take the train into the city to avoid the cost of a flight or gas.

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    3. Typos...

      Oh, must've misread that. Sorry.

      Still, for food that's meant to be eaten, good photography and food styling really can make or break cookbooks as much as the recipes in them.

      Or by extension, craft books, that show you how to make fake food look real.

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  23. Oh, an aside-

    I still prefer my fiction to be in print book form. I really appreciate that tactile experience of a book I don't need electronic device to experience, or is limited to indoors, given that few e-readers outside Kindle can be read outdoors at all, even if you're NOT in direct sunlight.

    That said, I'm trying to be more open to ebooks since many authors start out in eBook only land for various reasons, and as a writer I truly get and respect that, but as a reader, I still prefer print, and I'm not a harried working parent, just to put this in perspective.

    No offense intended, Kelly.

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    1. I prefer print books, too, but I'm running out of room to put them and the Kindle helps with that.

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    2. I agree. I had to get a lot of my craft books in ebook form because I too face the print book storage problem.

      Plus books like "The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published"(Formerly titled: Putting Your Passion into Print) are HUGE in print, having it as an ebook is more convenient, well except the times I can't access the net.

      So what you're reading is key to what you get it on. Most cookbooks are print because it's nice to refer to recipes without a device, and save precious toner for printing manuscripts to edit...

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    3. I'd imagine cookbooks on an ereader can be tricky—hard to hunt down the recipe you're looking for.

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  24. The cupcakes sound cute! Good luck with your edits and I hope your Kindle is okay. :)

    ~Jess

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  25. Sounds like time for a new Kindle. So what are the new clothes you got?

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    1. Yes, it will definitely be time soon.

      I bought some really amazing new tops, one for each day I'll be at BEA. :)

      Delete
  26. My first Kindle had the bars all of a sudden and wouldn't reset. Amazon replaced it for me. I've had my current one in a sturdy case for years. Even though it's a few years old, I love it.

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    1. I have mine in a case, too. I've had it for 3 years though, so I don't think Amazon will replace it for me. I'll try calling them before I give up on it though. It's been okay for two days now. Fingers crossed!

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  27. Oh no! Not a dead Kindle! How can that happen? I'm going to check mine right away. Good luck with that replacement. You never know what Amazon might do for you.

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    1. Thanks, Lee. Dare I say my Kindle has been okay for two days now? Maybe it was just sick? LOL

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  28. Onesie cupcakes how cute! My Kindle freezes all the time. Wish I knew how to make it easier to operate!

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    1. Hmm, now I'm starting to think this is normal and it's not dying.

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  29. Bet you Kindle is dying from over-use, Kelly. Gave its life for the best cause!

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  30. I got a Kindle for Christmas and I love it! I use it like my phone. Not just for reading ;) Good luck with your Kindle.

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  31. Sorry for your Kindle! I hope it'll last for a while before dying for good, I hope it's just something that went wrong!

    About BEA, wow! I would love to attend some time!

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  32. I'll assume onesie cupcakes are bite sized varieties?

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    Replies
    1. LOL They are adorable but totally not edible. Unless of course you like eating baby clothes. ;)

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