writing a book - Where am I gonna sell it?

With the depressing news that Borders is closing all stores and Alana's post in homage to the impending fate of bookstores, I wrote a note to Barnes and Noble a few days ago with an idea for how bookstores could be transformed. After reading it over today some of these ideas seem far fetched, but I really don't want to see them all disappear! Oh, well.

Dear Barnes and Noble,

I have a suggestion...
I love bookstores and am sad to see them on the decline. I know people love to shop, peruse, sample and browse in bookstores. Unfortunately many are going home and buying their books online or doing it from their e-readers right in the store! They do this because choosing a book online is clumsy and frustrating. People like to see all the possiblities without waiting for the internet to pull up the next view. Bookstores have sections and the employees have great suggestions.

So here is my proposal:
Bookstores need a makeover. The atmosphere must cater to the new customer. Have one or two copies of books displayed for shoppers to sample. Also keep a few copies of bestsellers for sale. Keep the coffee shops and expand the seating, encourage browsing. Keep hosting author readings and signings/photo ops. Add computers stations and outlets for shoppers to charge their devices.

Here is how to make money:
Get a commission on sales of books you house. You are advertising for them, get paid for it. You can also be an outlet for hard copies of books that can be ordered. And there's opportunity to host book club meetings and reading groups. Finally, you could become a paid membership book club with discounts (like costco) with a daily admission charge for non members.

I'd hate to see bookstores go away completely. Let me know what you think!
Sincere reader,
Tara Tyler
http://www.taratylertalks.blogspot.com/

and then, a day later, one of my favorite WD bloggers, Jane Friedman, posted 4 responses/predictions about the circumstances of bookstores from actual writers. (i guess i'm just a virtual writer, ha ha)

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this changing media. Maybe I'll send my next letter to Starbucks - they already sell music, they're definitely opportunists!

I know what's wrong with the world!

I haven't had a good rant in a while so here goes...
We have war, we have government problems, we have fighting and brutality, we have arguing and strikes. Do you know why? No one wants to compromise!

We believe this way and they don't so they have to do it our way or go somewhere else. No one wants to budge. They won't give an inch. I have to have everything I want and you are insignificant. ULTIMATE SELFISHNESS!

And it's not about overlooking or acceptance. There's way too much of that. It's about making sacrifices for others so things can get done. It's about showing the other side that we do care about what they want. It works in every level of strife.

• From kids fighting over a swing on the playground - take turns and share, children. 
• To teens fighting with parents - parents make the rules, but they should let the teens have input and know they are heard - how else will they learn? and they will respect them for it.
• From a couple spatting - you never do this for me, well you never do that for me.
• To the Houses arguing over legislature. I bet if they dealt with one issue at a time, they could get a lot more done. But they drag things out by adding crap on top of crap! They should try to pass a big piece of pork all by itself - that's transparency.

Then there's the world. So many differing opinions, religions and beliefs. There is a difference between evangelism (teaching) and terrorism (force by fear). Unfortunately some people cannot be reasoned with.

So now that we know what is wrong with the world, what can we do to fix it? We try to understand our history to learn from our mistakes. It's an age old problem, and still no one is willing to step up and be the first to give a little.

Why are our students behind? part 2

The first reason was probably the least significant. In fact I'd say it's more of an excuse. Especially after reading this article. Which leads to reason...

NUMBER TWO: Apparently our students are behind as soon as they begin. We are playing catch up. In the above article there were studies comparing individual states with each other and trying to take diversity and wealth into consideration. Our top state at the time, Massachusetts, still fell short compared to other countries.

 In my school district foreign languages are being introduced in first grade now. Great! And it looks like they are trying to get more math and reading started earlier. But our teachers need to gain more knowledge to spread more knowledge. The requirements are going up, but we are still behind because the rest of the world is always a step ahead.

NUMBER THREE: Attitudes. If parents complain about teachers and homework, the kids will do the same. Respect is a key component of education and it's dwindling. Teachers and education don't seem to be valued enough. "Why do we have to learn this stuff?" "Don't those teachers know we have busy schedules?" "How can they treat my kid this way?" "Why can't I use my ipod?"

It's a shame when some parents can't or won't put in the time and effort it takes to make their kids study and work and go farther. Kids who lack attention at home seek it at school. And at the other end of the spectrum I've seen a trend where kids are pampered and feel entitled. Self esteem is important, but they need to make mistakes to figure things out. You can't do everything for them.

I believe the majority of parents care and want their kids to succeed. Looking at these survey results gives me mixed emotions. To sum it up: Parents will pay for improvements and better teachers that are paid according to performance and wouldn't mind if their kids became teachers. Great. But how do you rate a good teacher? Not with test scores or grades. New teachers are usually given more challenging classes. You can't force students to succeed. There's only so much a teacher can do. How do you judge how hard a teacher is trying and how much they care about their students? I wouldn't mind being graded by my students - as long as they didn't know they could affect my pay! (revenge!)

Kids are a reflection of their parents. Famous Mom Curse: "I hope your kids are just like YOU!"

Why are our students behind? part 1

As a teacher and a parent I am worried about the future of our educational system and its effect on our place in the world. I believe there are 3 main reasons students seem to be "falling behind."

NUMBER ONE: Stop relying on our international  rankings! The US is ranked:

• 33rd in Reading. We're below MEXICO!
• 27th in Math. Better.
• 22nd in Science. Top 25, woo hoo?

These numbers aren't very comforting. This is because the United States is different than the rest of the world! I love this article. We should not be compared to the world without considering the differences between our countries.These facts should be taken into consideration that most other countries in the world do not have to worry about. 

• Consider that 11% of students in the US are ESL - that means English is their SECOND LANGUAGE! and that was 7 years ago! In the rest of the countries, the students and teachers speak the same language. I couldn't find any statistics otherwise because I'm sure it's not worth tallying.
• Our immigrant friendly cities are bringing our national average down and our poverty levels up. We welcome everyone to our free country and and want them to succeed. We, as a nation, love to help others. You can't put love and effort into statistics. And we should not be downgraded for it.
• No child left behind - I agree with this in that I don't want anyone to fail. But we cannot lower our standards to make sure those who need more time are pushed through. It doesn't do anyone any good. And it is hurting our average.

As Wisconsin goes, so goes the country?

I don't go political very often, but this is getting ridiculous! And it only seems to be getting worse.

What a mess! The GoVERNments of our country, states and cities have taken our money and squandered it. Flushed it into their own schemes, not being held accountable and now we're stuck paying more to fix it!

We scrimp and save and take pay cuts and layoffs. We pay more taxes and pick up the slack for our own kids' educations when the tax money runs out. Don't ask me to buy girl scout cookies this year - I can't afford it! (I'll never find $3.50! the couch cushions.)

So across the nation we have elected new faces. We are so hopeful that someone new will have an answer.

Then we don't like the answer. "Sorry we wasted all your money. Now we have to cut, cut, cut and tighten 'OUR' belts so we can function."

Now turn to Wisconsin. Governor Walker was elected by people who wanted a change. (Sound familiar?) The state legislature majority was also converted and the majority support the Governor. (Again, this really rings a bell!) The Governor seems to want his state to succeed and has worked with the congress to come up with a solution - he has found a way to cut spending, but it happens to be from his opposition's purse.

I had to look really hard to find out what exactly this bill does that is causing such a fuss. From my extensive googling, most of the articles just ranted and raved and emphasized, "Look at all the protestors, they're camping out, they have quippy signs," etc. Not much facts about the bill.

I really don't think the protestors (and possibly the people reporting about them) understand fully WHY they are against this bill, other than - "Darn that governor for trying to mess with my union."

Unions are not the same as they were when they started. They were necessary at their inception and made many outstanding improvements. But today, their membership is on the decline. And Ohio is the next in line to amend the Government/Union liaison. Then Indiana and more? It's a relationship that needs updating.

To show I'm not trying to be biased about the bill, I give you The Huffington Post, a liberal paper. At the bottom of a lengthy article dramatizing the protests, I found their description of the contents of the Wisconsin bill. I highlighted the good parts.

"But when voters elected Walker, an outspoken conservative, along with GOP majorities in both legislative chambers, it set the stage for a dramatic reversal of Wisconsin's labor history.

Under Walker's plan, state employees' share of pension and health care costs would go up by an average of 8 percent. The changes would save the state $30 million by June 30 and $300 million over the next two years to address a $3.6 billion budget shortfall.

Unions still could represent workers, but could not seek pay increases above those pegged to the Consumer Price Index unless approved by a public referendum. Unions also could not force employees to pay dues and would have to hold annual votes to stay organized.

In exchange for bearing more costs and losing bargaining leverage, public employees were promised no furloughs or layoffs. Walker has threatened to order layoffs of up to 6,000 state workers if the measure does not pass.

Wisconsin is one of about 30 states with collective bargaining laws covering state and local workers.

Walker has argued the concessions are modest compared with those suffered by many other Americans. Democratic opponents and union leaders say his real motive is to strike back at political opponents who have supported Democrats over the years."

Leave it to opposition (no matter who it is) to fabricate ulterior motives. "Their REAL agenda is to GET US!" Get over yourselves! Be part of the solution!

It looks to me like the Unions are blindly leading their members out of fear to protest. The democrats in this instance are hiding out like fugitives. These cowards are holding back democracy. They should be ashamed of themselves. They aren't standing up for anything. Their stubborn, misconceived example reminds me of a six-year-old, "If I don't get my way, I'm gonna run away or cry about it." Let's see how long they can hold their breath!

The Pity Party is Over

Sometimes I curse the sign of Scorpio I was born under. I am soooo dramatic!

But hold on...Did you know astrological signs might have changed? or not...? I don't know who I am anymore.

Either way I had a bad day yesterday. Looking back, I wanted to slap myself! Wah wah - What was my problem!? So I can't work (and am not again today). Maybe I'm not supposed to. Then I got obsessed with blogging. I made a mistake and I fixed it but still worried about it all day! What a waste! Everything I touched turned to "arrgh!"

So I am vowing to be positive today. I have a backup plan. I cannot control some things in my life, so I will just deal with it.

Have a good day!!! Or else!!

What the world is reverting to?

I feel the world is going in reverse. How can things like this happen? Pirates? Really!?

Having freedom of religion has sheltered us from any real persecution and made us lazy. I salute and appreciate the brave Christians who go out to spread the Good News to the world and are truly persecuted. (see verse of the week! how coincidentally appropriate)

If the least you can do is give money to your church mission effort - do it!

Deal with it

I wasted spent a lot of time today reading about the whiny blogging teacher. I've read many responses as well. Most opinions similar to mine. She has a point, but she shouldn't have complained about it to the world. She made a bad move to publicly voice her private inability to deal with the apathetic students that we all have to deal with. She must not have thought or cared about the consequences. Since a teacher is a prominent example to the very youth she despises, that makes her unacceptable as a teacher.

Being a high school teacher myself, I know where she is coming from. I have posted about similar topics concerning the overly pampered next generation and parents' inability to speak up and make tough calls - and be the parent! grow up and too big for our britches (and it's not all parents, but the few bad ones leave the lasting impressions.)

And then I found another article, proving the point - this is scary! where are their parents?
I've heard this from fellow teachers all over, "We should get hazard pay!"

Eyes opened

I never realized how hard it is to write. No, that's not right. I mean I never realized how hard it is to write to be published. Writing is easy, but there are few who would pay to listen, the way I rant.

As with most areas of life, I believe people have natural gifts for certain things that others have to work at. Like some authors are born with the ability to write a wonderful novel on the first try and people flock to buy what they create. Then there are those who repel most readers and should never own a pen. The majority have to work hard to get the story written then tirelessly edit the flaws.

I fall in the majority - I have good stories and ideas but have to work hard to perfect them. I recently put up my "Broken Branch Falls" on the writing website, Absolute Write Water Cooler, for critique. Boy did they let me have it! I was dribbling over here and fumbling over there and hit a few fouls out in left field! (like those mixed sports metaphors?) But the advice and pointers are very helpful. I'd rather hear it now and fix it, than keep looking for an agent/publisher and getting rejected. And I can use the words of wisdom when it comes time to edit "Pop Travel" which I'm almost finished with.

The luckiest people get paid for their talent - easy money. What is your gift?

My Favorite Vday Movies

I am not a romantic but many of my friends are. I just can't sit through a sappy love story, especially if it has a sad ending. But I do have a heart. Here are my favorite romantic comedies of all time:

1. "What's Up, Doc?" 1972 (Barbara Streisand and Ryan O'Neal - I liked the follow up too, "The Main Event" 1979)
2. "French Kiss" 1995 (I love Kevin Kline! and Meg Ryan is in it too)
3. "Housesitter" 1992 (more faves: Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn)
4. "The Holiday" 2006 (I love Cameron Diaz and Jude Law!)
5. "You've Got Mail" 1998 (How does Meg Ryan end up with all the good parts!)
6. "Pretty Woman" 1990 (no comment necessary)
7. "Failure to Launch" 2006 (Matthew McConaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker)
8. "The Wedding Singer" 1998 (some may not like Adam Sandler, but this was a good one & Drew Barrymore is awesome, "50 First Dates" 2004 was good too)
9. "Bridget Jones Diary" 2001 (Renee Zellweger and unassuming Colin Firth)
10. "Working Girl" 1988 ("Sometimes I sing and dance around the house in my underwear. Doesn't make me Madonna. Never will.")

Honorable Mentions:
"When Harry Met Sally" 1989
"Two Weeks Notice" 2002
"Clueless" 1995
"Doc Hollywood" 1991
"Roxanne" 1987
"As Good As It Gets" 1997
"How to Marry a Millionaire" 1953

And almost any B&W movie with Cary Grant, Ginger Rogers or Clark Gable...

 (from "Once Upon a Honeymoon")

Historic moment

Egypt has freed itself.

Long live democracy!

"Egypt is free!" article

I consider myself blessed to be born in America at this time of prosperity. I am fortunate that I didn't have to go through the hardships of ancient times, the revolutionary war, the civil war, and so on. So many of us live in a bubble - we take so much for granted and squander it!

Now I pray my children realize and appreciate what they have - they sure don't know it now!
And I pray it isn't taken from them.

On the job training

I am currently a substitute teacher. I enjoy what I'm doing. I would like to have a class of my own again, but even math teaching jobs are scarce around here...

As I think about my resume, I've had many diverse jobs and have learned a lot from each one. Here are a few examples:

• hostess and waitress - these jobs are way harder and more disgusting than they look and the hostess usually gets tipshare from the waiters, and people are stingy! average tip today should be 20%
• retail - the perks were good and the work wasn't so bad, but I like to help people. please don't leave random items around the store - someone has to put that away, you know!
• temp and administrative assistant - boring! office work was feast or famine - hurry I need it in an hour or nothingness. But I used my down time to sharpen my computer skills, update my resume and make invitations for parties and such =). Companies really need to be more efficient.
• tutor and teacher - kids need respect and self esteem. I felt best when I could help them understand. I still do. I also wish more parents took the initiative to stay involved in their kids' business. (some places were better than others, that's life)
• wife and mom - I do my best and make my kids try to do their best.
• writer - I have chosen the worst time to be a writer. There are tons of good writers all looking for a break. With book publishing in transition, it's harder than ever to make it. They are much more selective. I will just have to try harder to tell a good story.

What I've enjoyed the most is all the wonderful people I've had the privilege of working with. And I'm looking forward to more!

How do you present yourself?

I'm tired of putting on makeup and fixing my hair. How bout you?

When I started applying makeup, I couldn't go out in public without it. I felt naked.

After having my third child, I quit fixing myself up for daily activities. That lasted about a year or two.

Now-a-days I have vitiligo (white patches) and heavy under eye circles. I have to use cover up to go out in public or I look like a freak. For work and going out to something special I apply more, but most of the time it's just the cover up and my glasses.

Have you changed your makeup habits?

Read, Read, Read

I finally finished one of the many books I've been reading! I got it for xmas so that's pretty good.
Numb by Sean Ferrell.
Two words: Woooah & Rubberneck-ish
I recommend, BUT must be ok with frequent random blood and depressing realities of life.

I love to read, a good story. A good story to me is one I am surprised by or makes me feel something (humor is also a necessary ingredient). I've had to ditch reading some books because they were just too predictable. That's why I like Stephen King, Michael Crichton, Janet Evanovich and Piers Anthony. Yes, I'm a reader of all genres. And I know I can trust these established names. I've read and enjoyed many others and if I make it through one I buy another from that author. I'm hard to please. My time and money are too spent so it's hard to take a chance on an unknown.

Book I've given up on: The Guy I'm Not Dating by Trish Perry
Books I'm trying to get into: Next by Michael Crichton, The Home for Broken Hearts by Rowan Coleman, and (on my ipad) Prince of Thieves by Chuck Hogan
Book I'm enjoying, but it's sooo long: Duma Key by Stephen King
Book on my wish list, but I need to finish one of these others before I get it: The Pericles Commission by Gary Corby

No wonder it's so hard to make it as an aspiring author (trying to please picky people like me!)
But I'm not in it for the money and fame. I just want to tell a good story (see above for definition).

So now that I have one down I can start the other one I got for xmas, Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I hope I can finish it before the movie comes out. (I know, everyone else has already read it, another reason I asked for it. It must be good!)

Strangely familiar

So I'm back on facebook and have had a great time building up my friends again. I did have one person question who I was (can you imagine? the nerve! just kidding!)

In my rediscovery I learned a couple of things about FB:

1. You find out that more people remember you than you might have thought. I am daring to ask more and more people (like from high school and even elementary school) and they are accepting me. Either they remember me or they just like to have more friends. I'm hoping they remember me, because I remember them!
2. This probably doesn't surprise you, but I have found that the majority of us (people on the planet, or people in my little world, take your pick) go through the same stuff - sickness, not wanting to exercise, hating the dinner humdrums, trouble with kids, loving their families, supporting each other, etc. It's comforting to know I'm not alone.
3. One revelation that shook me bittersweet - a ton of my friends, old and new, now live in the Atlanta area. I wish I was one of them! I miss that town! Some day? We'll see what's in the cards on that one. At least I can visit a bunch, since my parents still live there.
4. I even have a famous friend who seems to be an motivational speaker. I need to find out more about what she does but she has like over 5000 friends!
5. My favorite thing is seeing that my friends haven't changed very much. They all still look great! And their kids are adorable too!

I wish I had more hours in the day to keep up with all this stuff!

American Idol 2011

I have a very positive outlook on this season! I love the judges and the contestants.

I had withdrawal after boycotting last season - I refused to watch Ellen. She was not qualified. They turned the show into a circus.

This year it's like they started over. I'm so happy to be back watching it! =0

Mark Twain say WHAT?

I believe in free speech. Even when I don't like what others may say, as long as it's legal. That is one of the founding principles that makes us a great nation.

Today, it seems like you can't say anything without offending someone. People are way too soft, taking everything personally, getting their wittle feewings hurt (was that insensitive?). I know some people are just mean and want to hurt and that ain't right. But that isn't what I'm talking about here. I'm talking about nit picking and revising to make things sound nicer.
And rewriting history is not going to help.

I call it Extreme Politically Correctness. If you haven't heard, there is a new edition of Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn being published with the "N" word being removed, which he used about 200 times. Apparently someone thinks the schools shouldn't expose students to it. "That word doesn't exist, children." Why don't we just remove all the offensive and disgusting things that have happened?

Once again the extremists are leading the apathetic masses. Reality is unpleasant. Life is messy. There is evil in this world!

It is our job to teach children how to deal with it, not sweep it under the rug!
Part of growing up is admitting past mistakes and learning from them - in history and personally. We need to stop trying to make everything nice and pleasant and perfect - LIFE ISN'T PERFECT!

I love Stephen Colbert, I don't always agree with him, but he takes the extremes and shows people how ridiculous they are. Here is Colbert on the revised Huck Finn, the rest of the article is the proponent of the revision.

baby toys

It's hard to believe babies are real when you first have one. They seem more like dolls. The oversized heads and eyes, the supple skin and wispy hair. They're so precious, you just want to cuddle them all day. Until the cute and sweet gives way to the stinky, weepy, needy (and happy and sneezey- no no no!) stuff.

I remember the baby phases - finally he can eat baby food, finally he can feed himself, finally he can sit up, finally he can crawl - oh no he can crawl! etc. But most of what I remember is on the changing table - endless diapers. Or the letting them cry and put themselves to sleep - so hard, and what a relief when you make it through. The cute moments, though fleeting, help us get through the exhausting, difficult times.

And then all of a sudden they are little people. The chubby, innocent babies disappeared.

How do they know?

I do not like computers to think for me. Sometimes it can be helpful, like facebook suggesting names of people I might know if I start to write part of the first name or MS Word underlining misspelled words (so I don't look like an idiot for my sister to correctify me).

What I don't like is when a program automatically corrects me. Computers don't know no slang! They ain't programmed for funny abbrevs. They git on my nerves! Then I have to go back and rewrite the dumb computer's correction - I wanted to spell it that way! (And I have to yell at the computer, even though it doesn't hear me, it's therapeutic!) The worst "helper" I've come across so far is on my crazy ipad. When I type it offered words it thought I might want to use and if I just kept typing it put the words it suggested instead of what I wanted! I turned that "help" off real quick! STOP HELPING ME!

Just another useless invention to dumb people down and make them lazier. Go look it up! They're making it harder and harder to explain to kids why they have to go to school - my computer does everything for me - what else is there to learn? and what else is there to invent?

just when you thought it couldn't get worse

At least I didn't think it could get worse. I'm talking about the dress code in high school. The short shorts have always been a problem. Especially with that first glimpse of warm weather. But I'm not even talking about skin displays, it's winter!

Leggings and jeggings with backsides sticking out - blech! Even on the skinny girls - it's NOT ATTRACTIVE!!! They look like they're headed for the bunny slopes with the furry boots (which are cute). I much preferred the sweatpants and pajama bottoms lazy look. I mean, everything is clothed, but it is still indecent. I did some on line research and most sites agree - do not wear leggings with short shirts! Cover up that butt! (I was going to put a picture, but you don't want to see that.)

Mothers? Fathers? Does this not bother you? Put your foot down! It is probably best I don't have girls...