simon g.'s Comments
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Dec 31, 2009 | recommended: 7 | comments: 91
in reply to a comment by simon g.
simon g. Dec 31, 2009, 4:51pm EST
I know, I know, Im digging away.
Dec 31, 2009 | recommended: 7 | comments: 91
simon g. Dec 31, 2009, 4:49pm EST
For anyone interested, here is my end of the year comment about the past decade

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/op-ed/decade+breathing+easier/2394184/story.html

Sheeesh, I forgot how to do a link. Anyway there it is.
Dec 31, 2009 | recommended: 7 | comments: 91
simon g. Dec 31, 2009, 4:44pm EST
Ooops. I forgot the big one. GET MARRIED. Again. To um...what's her name? Oh yeah,

Brenda.

YAY!!!
Dec 31, 2009 | recommended: 7 | comments: 91
simon g. Dec 31, 2009, 4:41pm EST
Im with Judi I guess, 2009 was not at all a bad year. Got a great job, moved in with my true love, got a lot of work done on a couple of WIPs.

Next year? Well, I never ever plan more than three months ahead, so I cant really say. Maybe finish my new non fiction, and start shopping it. Ugh. Get through my first year at the new job, after which I am off probation, and can start behaving like the wise ass nobody knows I am yet.
Dec 30, 2009 | comments: 6
simon g. Dec 31, 2009, 12:20am EST
Candace

The book Where We Stand: A Surprising Look at the Real State of Our Planet, AMACOM (Publishing arm of the American Management Association) 2007. It came out in late September and sold OK through Christmas, but I got almost no marketing help from the publisher. The book is controversial, since it has an optimistic view of environmental trends. I got lots of help from folks at Gather, and if you look at the Amazon page, you will recognise some Wombat reviewers. My Amazon ranking made it into the low thousands, but it never really caught on, despite a number of radio interviews, a CSPAN segment etc.

1400 pre-reliease is great, and it sounds like your publisher is doing a good job. I should warn you about the return situation with book publishing, if you dont know about it. Bookstores order lots of books, and pay for them and they count as sales. Then, if they dont sell them, they return them, and your sales figures actually can go down with time. It is a crazy system, and writers all hate it, but thats how it is. Hopefully you wont deal with this, if your publisher marketing dept (get to know your publicist, she will be your best friend for months) is on its toes.
Dec 29, 2009 | recommended: 6 | comments: 314
in reply to a comment by Jamie C.
simon g. Dec 30, 2009, 9:30pm EST
Yeah Jamie. You're right. I better stay away. That way we can stay friends.
Dec 29, 2009 | recommended: 6 | comments: 314
in reply to a comment by Jamie C.
simon g. Dec 30, 2009, 8:50pm EST
I have a question abot AVATAR. Are there any actual human chicks in it, or just that alien broad with the weird eyes? I only saw the trailer, and I gotta tell you, it didnt ring my bell. I mean whats up with that female humanoid type?
Dec 30, 2009 | comments: 6
simon g. Dec 30, 2009, 8:19pm EST
Well, Candice, despite the title, you did well to join the Wombats. What to do next is exactly what we are about. As I mentioned, I did have a non fiction book published, spent a good three months doing nothing but publicity and promotion, and sold a tad more (just a tad) than 26 books. Now I have two new WIPs going. One is another non fiction, and the other is a fiction, that I pretend is just for fun, but....who knows, right?

Anyway, Judi and Jamie and Beth and Pat and Lisa and Dale and Ken etc. are all great at giving positive feedback, encouraging progress, and helping out both on and offline. We have writing contests that help focus your mind on where you want to go. So... dont quit yet. The fun is just starting.
Dec 29, 2009 | recommended: 6 | comments: 314
in reply to a comment by James R.
simon g. Dec 30, 2009, 1:23pm EST
Me too James. Brenda gave me hicken soup and oranges, and I am waiting to see what happens next. So far, so good. Or not.

Abbie H. - *snork. Never thought of that.
Dec 29, 2009 | recommended: 6 | comments: 314
in reply to a comment by Beth H.
simon g. Dec 30, 2009, 12:57pm EST
Who me? *Looking around innocently

Actually no Beth. But sometimes think I might try my hand at writing.

Which reminds me. How busy are you these days?
Dec 29, 2009 | recommended: 6 | comments: 314
simon g. Dec 30, 2009, 10:58am EST
Judi,

I will come to your rescue. Yes, its a slow day in the gummint, even though I am (technically) working.
Dec 29, 2009 | recommended: 6 | comments: 314
in reply to a comment by Jamie C.
simon g. Dec 30, 2009, 10:56am EST
Moi ?? Pillow fight? pajamas?? could you be more specific, please?
Dec 29, 2009 | recommended: 6 | comments: 314
simon g. Dec 30, 2009, 6:49am EST
BTW Laurie, your mention of the criminal background check brought back fond memories of when I first moved to the astonishing Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It was so much fun contacting the police departments of all the places I had lived in, in order to prove that I had never (well, hardly ever) been arrested. I really had a ball when it came to explaining the Pennsylvanian culture to the Questura in Milan. Yes, a real ball.
Dec 29, 2009 | recommended: 6 | comments: 314
simon g. Dec 30, 2009, 6:44am EST
Hi Laurie, from one morning person to another.

Now then Ms. Candice. I will add my welcome. Im thrilled to see another published non fiction author here. Yes. I am one too. And like you, I became fabulously wealthy from the 12 figure sales of my book. Well... OK, not. But I did almost break even.

And since no one else has, I must warn you that I am very shy (especially with women) and therefore you need to be very nice and gentle with me. Some of the wonderful ladies here might suggest that not everything you see here is, um... how to put this...actually real. Dont believe it. Wombats never lie. They write fiction. Which is not the same thing. At all.

We will be expecting your application form, waiver, photo album, and check with your next post.
Dec 29, 2009 | recommended: 6 | comments: 314
in reply to a comment by Wanda H.
simon g. Dec 30, 2009, 6:31am EST
OMG, Wanda, are you telling us you never signed the waiver??!! Oh brother, you are in trouble now. I guess I will have to send you the waiver extension form, which must be filled out 30 days in advance before you get it. Oh dear, this is dreadful.
Dec 29, 2009 | recommended: 6 | comments: 314
in reply to a comment by simon g.
simon g. Dec 29, 2009, 4:05pm EST

Well, Jamie, that would still put me ahead of the majority of my gender. As Im sure you agree.
Dec 29, 2009 | recommended: 6 | comments: 314
simon g. Dec 29, 2009, 2:19pm EST
Lovely article, Sia, as would be expected from you.

It really has been quite a ride hasnt it? I think what I most admire about the Wombats is the sense of continual growth. None of us are kids (not even Jamie, any more, sniff), and some of us (me in particular) are getting on a bit. And yet, in the two and half years since the founding, there has been a great deal of personal and professional growth, all of it shared amongst us.

I think about Brenda and I standing on the checkout line, holding a copy of Woman's World, turning to the featured story, and seeing Jill's name, and just feeling... proud.

And hearing Brenda call out from the other room "Simon!!!, Jamie got a five book deal!!" and basically going insane and jumping and yelling and grabbing the computer.

And so on, for Lisa, and Judi and Pat, and for you, Sia, as your blog took off into prime time.

And now Rachael has a baby, and I have a kitten (well, some percentage of one anyway). Ken has a publishing company. We have changed jobs, left jobs, had kids go off to college, other kids get born, parents, friends and relations pass on, and of course we have documented our constant struggles against mother nature and the weather.

The purpose of a family is to grow, as a group, and to help each individual grow as well. I know I have grown a lot, thanks to the Wombats, and if I keep going at this rate, I will reach adulthood in the next decade.

So, here's to more growth in the coming year. More contracts, more great opportunities, more contests, more writing and editing and publishing and marketing. And of course, what its all about, (and just to get a bit maudlin), more love.

Oh yeah, what drew me in? Judi's smile, Pat's encouragement, Brenda's wit.
What kept me here? Dancing with you, Sia.

And with Wendy, and .... well, you know, everyone.
Dec 24, 2009 | recommended: 5 | comments: 301
simon g. Dec 28, 2009, 5:47pm EST
Jamie

Glad you made it back OK. We had such a terrible (traffic wise) trip to NY last Wednesday, that we decided to skip trying to get back yeserday. So we left this morning. A very romantic trip. Traffic was fine, the weather was great. We did have one small issue though. Brenda came down with a stomach virus as we left the Lincoln Tunnel, and was upchucking every 20 minutes for the rest of the trip. Like I said, romantic.

Anyway, she is better now, but still wore out and in need of sympathy. Poor baby.
Dec 24, 2009 | recommended: 5 | comments: 301
in reply to a comment by ~Sia McKye~
simon g. Dec 25, 2009, 10:20am EST
Sia

I am very moved. Thank you, and a Blessed Christmas to you.
Dec 21, 2009 | recommended: 5 | comments: 306
in reply to a comment by Laurie C.
simon g. Dec 22, 2009, 4:32pm EST
Great news. Congratulations, and all the best. New jobs are great.
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