Warning for all internet users

Hey everyone. I had a really nasty experience the past few days, our router got hacked, regardless of the fact that we now have the best anti-virus program out there. While our router was hacked, it was impossible to go unto the internet and I am sorry that I didn’t respond to emails or blog posts.

As a warning to others, there are two messages doing the rounds on the internet at the moment. We are not sure whether this contributed to our router being hacked, or if this was a problem on it's own, but please be careful. They pop up when you want to access the internet.

• Your internet browser is outdated. Please upgrade (recommended).
• Your flashplayer is outdated. You must upgrade.

If or when you see these messages, do not click on it. Go to task manager (CTRL + ALT + DELETE). We had a specialist IT guy come in to fix the problem, which can be costly, but rather safe than sorry, right?  

 

We now have a great anti-malware program as well, just in case. The IT guy is figuring out a way to stop our router from being hacked again. So please people, be safe out there. 

Our Beautiful Child by Annalisa Crawford Cover Reveal

Title: Our Beautiful Child

Author: Annalisa Crawford

 Release date: 10^th June 2014

       Publisher: Battered Suitcase Press

“The Boathouse collects misfits. Strange solitary creatures that yearn for contact with the outside world, but not too much. They sit, glass in hand, either staring at the table in front of them, or at some distant point on the horizon.”

… so says the narrator of Our Beautiful Child. And he’s been around long enough to know.

People end up in this town almost by accident. Ella is running away from her nightmares, Sally is running away from the memories of previous boyfriends and Rona is running away from university. Each of them seek sanctuary in the 18th century pub, The Boathouse; but in fact, that’s where their troubles begin.

Ella finds love, a moment too late; Rona discovers a beautiful ability which needs refining before she gets hurt; and Sally meets the captivating Murray, who threatens to ruin everything.

Three women. Three stories. One pub.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I live in Cornwall UK, with a good supply of beaches and moorland right on my doorstep to keep me inspired. I live with my husband, two sons, a dog and a cat.

Despite my location, I neither surf nor sail, and have never had any inclination to try. I much prefer walking along a deserted beach and listening to the waves crashing over rocks. For this reason, I really love the beach in the winter!

Links:

Website // Blog // Twitter // Facebook // Pinterest  // Add to Goodreads

Thank you for always being supportive

Today I feel like the luckiest woman in the world. Thank you to all of the great people that commented or provided a kind email of help and support on my post from yesterday. An even bigger thank you to those who offered to help me with names of great editors. You guys really saved me from making a big boo-boo.

Thank you to the blogging community for being so awesome and supportive. I would not be able to function without you, trust me.

Can I get away with only using beta-readers or am I crazy?

I'm feeling a little conflicted today and I need your help, please. I have recently read a few books about self-publishing and some of the authors mention that you should have your work professionally edited, no excuses. Others suggest using critique groups and even beta-readers to get your story into publishing shape. A very small few say that you should reshape your novel so that you are happy with it and proud to put it out into the world.

I wanted to use beta-readers to tell me what they liked and hated about the story. But do I want fellow writers to think my work is a joke, no. So, do you think one can get away with only using beta-readers, or am I being stupid?

I can't afford professional editing. My budget only covers professional formatting and e-book + print covers. When I say budget, of course what I mean is that I'm still working to make the money.

Books I have read/are still reading 

• Ditch the Publisher (Finished)
• Indiestructable (Finished)
• Secrets of successful writers (Finished)
• Write good or die (Finished)
• The naked truth about self-publishing (Still reading)
• Indie Author Survival guide (Still reading)

Anybody have any suggestions or further book recommendations? Thanks.

The music really helps

When it comes to editing, I usually find the creativity leaving me. Mostly because I'm supposed to think with my logical mind to see things clearly. So, I tried to listen to a different type of music than when I write. I tried classical music and it really works for me. Something about the clarity and beautifully harmonious sound of the instruments really sooth me and it helps the editing a lot. Even opera music helps and I have come to really love it, along with classical music. In general I have a very diverse taste in music and books, so this is right up my alley.

The thing about family

When it comes to family we all have a different opinion or idea about it. Me? I love my family even though they drive me crazy and we end up arguing all the time. The thing that gets to me the most is that we never see eye to eye. I am always construed as the irresponsible one and dreamer.

But, having said all that, my family is always there for me when I need them. When I am at the end of my rope and I'm lying in a puddle of nothing but self-pity, my family comes along, picks up all the pieces and try to get me back on my feet. We don’t always get along and we are so different from one another it's ridiculous, but when we need each other, we are always there for one another.

When I told my family that I wanted to self-publish, I thought they would protest after so much had gone wrong for me, but they didn't. Instead they were super supportive and encouraged me to give it my all. For some strange reason they thought I could make it work and gave me their blessing. 

When things go right

Today is a great day for me. Why? Because today I woke up knowing exactly what I want to do with the rest of my life. I have been feeling really lost since I quit my awful job last year and having been unemployed for almost a year. But now, for the first time in my life I have the opportunity to have a say in my employment status. How you ask? Because I am going to be my own boss. I have committed myself to becoming a self-published writer.

I know what most of you think "You can't make a living off that when you are starting out and an unknown writer." Well, I am currently broke and sponging off my family, so when I'm self-published at least I will be doing something that I have been wanting to do for the last 7 years. Yep, that is how long I have been working on this book. I will be doing a job I love and would find stimulating.

For a long time I have been in denial of this fact, but I am a creative person with a creative personality. I want to wake up each morning knowing that I am living my life the way I want to live it and doing the things I love. For me life is too short and after that horrid job from last year, I couldn't see or imagine myself going back to any kind of job I was not passionate about.

Right now I am still helping out my brother and I have even been flexing my entrepreneurial muscles by offering to take over my family members' chores for a fee. Hey, I have to make money some way. Every penny I am making I am putting towards my potential book expenses like a cover, formatting, etc. Unfortunately I cannot afford professional editing, no matter how much I save. I will ask a few people to read my MS and get their input and try and make the manuscript as perfect as I can. I know many of you don't approve, but this is the best I can do at this point.

The best thing about working for my brother and doing chores is that I get to have lots of revising and editing time. This weekend I got a lot of editing done, which left me sporting a stupid grin all weekend. And yes, we might be adults, but my mom still makes us do chores. It keeps us humble.