Of rain and writing

Today we have been blessed with a good old downpour of rain.

Today I had lunch with Julie, and as the rain started we had to move our table inside the restaurant, then when we finished , make a run for it- me back to the car, Julie back to her flat. On my way back from Julie's in Cubelles I felt trapped as the water rose in the drains -even raising some manhole covers about a foot above their settings - and closed the underpasses under the train line, but eventually found one I could get through and got home safe and fairly dry.  Since then it has been raining on and off, pouring and showers. We love it - the cats on the other hand don't and they took shelter on their jungle-gym.

Books update:

• Magia del Camino - Victoria is working like a trouper on the translation and hopes to finish sometime in December. We are then thinking of having a Spanish book-launch.  I love the way my words read as translated by Victoria, and know it'll be a great read (if you speak Spanish of course).

• Das Winner - I spoke to Michael today who is just over a third of the way through translating Winner. Luckily he's really enjoying the task as we ll as the story. HE hasn't read past the parts as he translates them and is looking forward to finding out the rest of the story. He's also got his mum to read what he has translated (Michael is originally from Germany) and she too is enjoying the story and wants more... Michael's also pointed out a few tips in a possible edit (second edition) of Winner, which I am currently working on.

•  Take Two - I had a quick chat from Janey today who has been reading Take Two, having rushed and bought her copy as soon as it went on general sale- she reported that she has already been in tears, and is loving the follow up to Winner.

• The Key -I must ashamedly admit that work on the new project has currently stalled.  I've been so busy editing and promoting the other books and setting up the HoT website (still under construction!), as well as settling back into my school timetable etc etc, but intend to get back to it this week. I've also been let down by a second possible illustrator, so if you can draw and fancy seeing your work in my kids book(s) let me know...

Arrival

Today we've been out shopping for new clothes for our upcoming holiday, and then when we got back on the doorstep was the first copy of my latest novel: 'Take Two'. So not only was the shopping trip great fun and so rewarding there was a super 'prize' on the mat when we got home.

 

So now there are three published books in the House of TulStig collection. Life is wonderful and truly surprising - I never, ever thought that I would publish one book let alone three, and I'm still in the process of writing another. 

Now my job is to give it a final proof- work has already started on that, before releasing it for sale.  If I have time before we  go away at the weekend I will do it, but if not it will be joining me on-board the Costa Favolosa for a little light work whilst we cruise the Adriatic. Tony had suggested I leave it until we get back and have a complete break, but I know that there are some of you out there waiting to find out the fate of the characters in Winner. The Diva in me is saying 'Oh but my public require it'!!! 

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And today's photo challenge prompt - BLACK AND WHITE 

                    So who of you could have guessed:

Vinci- and he really is upside down - he takes up this position when he wants a tummy tickle, which is quite often.

More promo

What fun last night Tweeting like a nutter during 'X-Factor' to promote 'Winner'. Doing a bit of the same last night, but the whole system seems a little slow. Thanks to Mr Brennan for helping out too -where were the rest of you Tweeters?

Been working on the Website again today - enjoying the creative process of putting pages and idea  together, but a bit scared about putting together the 'shop' part. Janey's agreed to be UK distribution for HoT products, just as well as there are already some on their way to Sussex.

As well as promoting all my own stuff I want to promote other Indie authors- anyone up for putting their products on my guest page? and how about an interview?

There's also going to be a News / blog type page giving out all the HoT news and anything related.

At the moment I am so tied up in the promotion and website set up that I'm rather neglecting the writing- there just aren't enough hours in the day- well there are but i guess I'm just not utilising them best. I'm really enjoying the 'other' creative processes at the moment, and then I'll have a holiday -after that I'll be getting back into the writing groove for sure.

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And today's photo prompt -something I do most weekends- well that'll be a visit to the Passeig maritime (Seafront) for a little drinkie: 

BTW - The glass is crooked.

Promo....

HouseofTulStig
I've spent most of the afternoon working on a webpage for House Of TulStig. Happy with it so far, but adding techno gadgets to make it the best ever.  Honestly this is just the front page and just the start:

 Any comments / all comments muchly welcomed. 

Winner.
Tweeting during XFactor like a mad thing. Either going to get noticed or annoy everyone big time -but hey that's getting noticed too. If it helps sell even just one more book it's well worth it. Here's a selection:

Nick Brennan ‏@NickTB

See what REALLY goes on behind the scenes of #Xfactor #TheXFactor http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/HouseofTulstig

 Mark Tullett ‏@TulStigM33

#TheXFactor - Joey sang for his Nana and look where that got him - #Winner - This summer's must read - http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/HouseofTulstig

Nick Brennan ‏@NickTB

“@TulStigM33: #TheXFactor - Bounce would probably go just one better - #Winner - The incredible novel by MT - http://www.lulu.com/spotlight

 

The Key
Having had some great feedback for the first chapter of the book from selected readersI am very happy. One 'reviewer' read it to her young son at bedtime, and he loved it and wants more... so I'd best get writing. 

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and so to today's photo challenge - AT NIGHT: 

A view from our double doors - Vinci in the garden...

Returns

Julie came home today. I met her at the airport, caught up on her holiday news and passed on the VnG gossip. Like her cats I am really pleased to see her home - I always miss my best playmates.

This afternoon I spent a good couple of hours putting together a promotional video for  The Magic of the Camino - [great idea from Nick] complete with background music and voice-over by yours truly. Then as I tried to save it I got an error message that it couldn't be saved. Slightly miffed, to say the least, yet I'm sure my next attempt when  I return to this project will be even better. 

I also spent a bit of time 'messing about' with the programmes to create a new website, but couldn't quite catch the creative urge. Project shelved until later.  

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And to today's photo challenge. 

The prompt today is NATURAL. 

So here is one of my natural stones 

My Lemurian Crystal and a couple of others from my box of stones. 

General Updates...

This morning Tony was at the dentist for an update on his teeth (or lack of). He now has to wait until next week to get a temporary set fitted ready for our holiday next weekend.

After Tony's appointment and a bit of shopping I had a lunchtime drink with some of my chums from work, and even surprised Sue by holding Lilly and calming her down. It is well known I don't do babies!

This afternoon after a much needed siesta a little bit of writing.

So here are the updates for my works in progress and the published ones.

HouseofTulStig Webpage
I now have the domain and have been playing around with building a website. I have to admit to having got a bit stuck. Not quite sure what I want it to look like, and want it to be right before I go live with it. This is possibly a project for after our hols ... any suggestions, helpful hints etc all welcomed...


The Magic of the Camino
I'm still promoting the book through Facebook. The school I work for has included a link on their page, and now I've well over a hundred 'likes' of the MOTC page. Next week there is a draw for two free copies of the book which has helped the promo no end.
The translation to Spanish is going well. Victoria is currently translating chapter 29. I'm hoping for a Christmas publishing date.

Winner
Sales are stalled at the moment, and I have to admit I've not down a lot of promotion, but intend to start a big push this weekend during 'The X-Factor' as suggested by Nick. It will be a twitter bonanza. If you're on twitter I'd love for you to join in and help with the push. Watch out for hashtags: #JoeyFischer #Winner #PopSensation all attached to the hashtag of the programme. I fyou are willing and able I'd be so pleased if you could use any of these hashtags creatively, and/or just retweet what I'll be putting out. 
Watch out for a Facebook innovation too.... 

Michael is still busy translating this one into German. Publication date probably in the new year.

Take Two
Still waiting on the proof copy to arrive in the post. Once it's here I'll be checking it thoroughly, revising what's necessary and setting up for sale. Then I'll be popping out  the promos for that too. 

The Key
Chapter Two is under way - And part of the secret is revealled as Aaron steps up at lunchtime at Nana's. Who knows where this story will take me, but I do have a good feeling about it. 

So I guess that just about is a round up of my writing projects. One thing  I do know is that there will be a blog-like page on the new website which will have all these updates. 

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And so on to today's photo challenge. The prompt is 'Every Day' 

Techno, Techno, Techno

No limit -  2 unlimited

Thought I'd start things off slightly differently - We loved this song back in the day, and as I get techno advanced I was thinking of it again today.

As many of you will remember I was a little panicked a while back when I got my first android phone- well of course, just like everyone else, I love it now. My latest addition to the phone, thanks to advice from Julie, is VIBER - A free programme for making free calls and texts (SMS) mobile to mobile all across the world. SO if you haven't got it yet, but have an android, i-phone, windows phone, blackberry go to your phone download store (I use Play store) and download it and we can chat for NOTHING!! A a back up I also have WhatsApp, but this is just free texts (SMS) internationally- which is a great back up service and something I used loads whilst on the Camino back in June. 

 So that was the phone techno'd.

I've been looking around for an Internet hosting site as I want to set up a professional site for House of Tulstig' and upgrade 'Tulstig.net'. I think I've got that sorted now, but it's all so complicated with so much jargon I have to look up so many things.

As well as getting a new website host I downloaded a new website creation programme which I've spent the last few days messing around with. Frustration has been followed by 'Ahh' moments as things fall into place in my head -Still not quite got the hang of it all yet but getting there.

One way I want to improve the websites is to get moving images on them -Flash programmes. So 've been checking into those too. I think I've found a pretty simple to use one ofn the web and during the wek will have a go on its test software.

So all in all watch this space for a new 'House of TulStig' and 'WWW.Tulstig.net' with new features. I may even give our personal site a complete overhaul.