Weird weather

It felt weird this morning when I had the pups out, just as the sun was supposed to be coming up, like something was impending.  If I was where I grew up, I could count on a heavy storm in a few hours, but not here.  It’s taken a long time to get used to the fickle nature of the weather where I live right now, and reading the weather from the feel of the air is a lot harder here.  Probably because I didn’t grow up here.  In any case, it feels like rain, but I don’t think we’re going to get any.  That violent spring storm impinging on my senses is going to wimp out as soon as it hits the mountains, and we won’t get nothing.  You watch.

And if I’m talking about the weather, then you know nothing much is going on right now in my office.  I’m actually starting to work on the world book, which I think is scheduled for a 2011 release.  Not sure, so don’t quote me.  I’m looking forward to this as I can play with a new set of tools and still tell a story.  Variety.  I hate to get bored.

I hope the weather is kind to you all today.  It’s funky out there . . .

First of the “promos!”

I don’t do very many interviews these days, but my publisher sends me the odd request timed around a book release.  Now that we are in the two-week “chute” they will start to show up.  Here is the first! I talked to Joanna Dykhuis from Schuler Books and Music, Lansing MI, where I will be Feb. 27, 3 p.m. (schulerbooks.com) Witches are a Piece of Cake.

My Superbowl weekend went great, and though I’m not a big football fan, I did watch the game with Guy and Thing Two.  Made pretzels.  Ate too much.  (grin)  Pre-game events included shopping, and I picked up a small piece of luggage I’m anxious to try out.  Got my nail appointment set.  Found two new pairs of black pants and discovered the magical world of “Hem them while you shop.”  I think I’m almost good to go.  (laugh)

–Kim

And so the long winter starts to end

It’s cold outside, and wet and rainy.  But it’s Friday!!!!!  And that’s a good thing.

I’ve been cranking for two weeks (including weekends)  trying to get the website switched over to dreamweaver and my internet life to a new machine/operating software.  There were formatting issues, navigation issues, learning a new operating system issues, and then software issues.  Those darn banners and scrolling images soaked up about a week all on their own, but figuring it out forced me to learn the new photograph touch-up program that I’m going to need while on tour, so I didn’t begrudge it.  And when the pictures from the signings are taken, the webpage will go up in hours, not days.

Then there was the email issue, which I farted around with for two weeks in limbo while I paid someone else to handle it, until they finally gave up Monday and told me they couldn’t do it and to bring in both machines into the store where someone else “might” be able to shift the data in a few days.  Right.  Like that was going to happen.  True, I wasn’t able to move most of it because five years of stuff is a lot to move (which is why I wanted to pay someone to do it) but I got by, and I’m on one machine now, not two, and things finally are starting to balance again.

I’ve not written a word in two weeks, and I’m dying here.  Monday is going to be . . . interesting.

Mark your calendar

Early heads up that I’ll be over at Bitten by Books February 16th for an all-day jaw session.  I want to try to keep the conversation to romance/relationships in the series, but I’ll take anything.  -grin-

The snow is just about gone here, and my puppies are happy.  Website is working, and the Geek guy gave up.  Data can not be moved due to incompatibility of the two systems, so now I’m moving everything by hand.  Jeez, I could have done that myself two weeks ago and had it done by now.  (gripe, gripe, gripe)

Black Magic Sanction Tour Ts

Last print run of these will be February 14th, and then they will be gone.  I’ve done tour T’s since the Outlaw Tour, and this year we have some original art by Jon Jennings featuring the Alcatraz island.  These are not Cafe Press products, but something that Guy and I put together and ship from our own kitchen table.  I love seeing these at the signings, and wearing one will get you into the “family photo” for each store.  (Not to mention a huge grin from me!)

Powells, Portland OR

I’m not going to copy and paste the ordering info again, so just jump on over to the website where it’s detailed out.  http://www.kimharrison.net/MailBox.html

-Kim  (who’s getting excited about the tour!!)

First Chapter of Black Magic Sanction

Ackkk!

Here it is, the first chapter of Black Magic Sanction for your sneak-peek pleasure!  It’s a day late because of me, not the publisher, but I’ve finally got it up for you to enjoy at the website.

I’ve got a busy day planned, but the website re-vamp is almost done.  Check out the new scrolling banners at the individual book pages showing the foreign edition covers.  ;-)  I put them up as I find them, so let me know if there’s one you’ve seen that’s not up there.

–Kim

Snow

Friday I watched the weather, hoping for snow.  I feel pretty safe hoping for snow.  Rock Hill has got some funny elevation, and most times developing weather splits and goes around us.  Friday was no exception. and all of Friday, I watched snow and ice move around a 40 mile section of map like it was . . . an island in a ice flow.

But Saturday I woke up to about an inch of the white stuff overlayed about a quarter inch of ice.  The dogs didn’t know what to make of it, and we had a puzzled ten minutes outside because nothing smelled right and no one knew where to pee.  (laugh)

But here’s a picture of it, because it’s not going to last.  I’m surprised it’s lasted this long.

Also, I put up a page for Antonio’s NaStyRoMo, so if you are so inclined . . .  (laugh)  http://kimharrison.wordpress.com/antonios-nastyromo/

–Kim

The details on the BMS short will probably land in my mailbox today.  If it’s soon enough, I’ll have a PS for you. 

Dudes!

Now that’s some weather!  Will we get snow tomorrow?  I doubt it.  (laugh)  But I wouldn’t be surprised if we get ice.  Lots of ice.  You watch.  There will be no toilet paper or bread on the shelves by noon today.

So . . . my Geek Guy is still looking into how to move my email identities without losing everything.  I’m hopeful, but I am asking the difficult, not just the impossible.  Impossible, they can do.  difficult is harder.

The website, though, is up right now apart from the Halloween pages and a bit of the older tours (and rolling banners, which I’m working on this weekend.)  I’m going to be taking the old website out of the system today, which means the new one is going to go k-fluie when its crutch is removed.  We’ll see just how good I was in separating the two.  (manic laughter)

Oh!  And Monday, baring we get an ice storm that shuts us down, I should have another chunk of BLACK MAGIC SANCTION to share with you.  Whoo-hoo!

–Kim

Erg. Slight slow down

If you were here yesterday, you knew that I was moving my Internet life to another machine.  Data isn’t a big problem, and most moved great.  E-mail, however.  (They told me it could be done, but when I ask them to do it, they have problems.)  The Guy is coming back out today or tomorrow.  See, I knew it wasn’t going to be as easy as they promised me.

So I’m in limbo today and tomorrow.  It feels like I’m in a rewrite stage of life, where the next few days are going to have to be rewritten come Monday.  (grin)

New website is up, however, right next to the old one, which is making things really weird as I go through and debug it.  Some pages aren’t working, some are taking you to the old site.  Soon as I finish putting up new pages, I’ll blow the old one away, so if you find things that aren’t working, DON’T TELL ME YET!  I’m working on it.   (laugh)  You shouldn’t see much of a difference, but if the navigation has “bits & bobs” instead of Extras, you’re there.  I feel so bad for Guy.  He’s been a widower the last week or so as I prepped for this, and now when I’m trying to fix things.  I miss him.

–Kim

Wish me luck

Seriously.  Wish me luck.  I’m moving my entire Internet today to a new computer/new software before my old one dies.  So if I’m down and out of contact for a day or two, you’ll know why.  But I hope not.  (Ayiieeeee!)

–Kim

Thanks, Guys!!!  I’m not going to answer you all individually today because it would say just about the same thing, but I did read all your posts.    –Kim