Psst... Wanna Buy A Cat Book?

The dining room table, also known as "Marketing Headquarters"I am deep into marketing for Who Moved My Mouse and by marketing I mean I am sending out postcards night and day. Our local post office has volunteered to rename itself the DENA HARRIS POST OFFICE. Stamp prices will remain at their current prices because I am single-handedly buying enough stamps to support a nationwide price moratorium. I dream of sticky labels in my sleep. It's a lot. 

But is it worth it? That's the big unknown. I've seen my Amazon rating bounce around from the 2 millions to the 50,000's and everywhere in between, but that can often be the result of as little as three book sales at once. The Random House page where the book is listed is also at aMy author copies have arrived! higher ranking, which I'm hoping means indie bookstores are ordering the book. The more pre-orders I get, the more my publisher likes me and will ask me to write another book. Buy the book! Buy the book! Buy the book! =) 

There's no turning back. I have 1500 more postcards sitting on my table that need to find a home. I'm currently investigating whether or not it's worth it to mail out to public libraries or if what everyone gets from me for Christmas this year is a postcard. (Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus and he loves cats.) 

On a high note, my publicity rep in the UK e-mailed to say that WMMM will be appearing in part in the Daily Express, a national paper and she is lining up a writing assignment for me with a national UK cat magazine. Fun! 

Let's not forget who the star is, okay? How 'bout some too-nah love?Today is more postcards and labels and stamps... oh my! It's kind of fun in a draining, what-have-I-gotten-myself-into kind of way. 

I'd take a day off, but I wouldn't want the people at the post office to worry.

Cheers,

Dena

You Have GOT to be Kidding Me...

Attention writers of the world: When you have a good idea, guard it with your life. 

About two weeks ago, I was going through old notebooks and found an idea scribbled down for a cat book. A funny idea. An idea that made me say, "Hey, I'd forgotten all about that! That could work!" 

Instead of immediately stapling the idea to my forehead as I should have done, I put the slip of paper on top of my "to go through and deal with" pile on my desk. Only yesterday, when I went through the pile, guess what? Exactly. No little slip of paper. 

Which would be bearable, IF I could remember what the idea was. Which I can't. I have racked the brain. Nothing. 

Which could mean the idea wasn't that great to begin with. Obviously, if it was memorable, I'd remember it, right? 

But now I have that gnawing sensation at the back of my mind that whispers, "This was the one. This was the idea for the next book."

I'm desperate enough that I'm going to be pawing through my recycling bin later today. Maybe it dropped off my desk and fluttered down into there. It's odd for me to lose something. Even though I have piles of work around, they are organized piles and not many of them. I can usually put my hands on anything I need with no problem.

Come back, little cat book idea. Come back! I need you. 

Perhaps Medication Would Help

Today's blog post is more for my benefit than yours. I don't know if we're in some weird phase of the moon or if perhaps latent ADD has kicked in, but scattered is the only word to describe my mental processes these days. I have an abundance of "stuff" begging to be checked off the list but I'm paddling with one oar and going in circles. I thought maybe taking a little breather to just sit back and list what needs to happen in my life might calm me down and provide a little focus.

Dena's "I Must Be In Control & Do Everything Or Die Trying" List

Arts Council - Type and submit Membership/Fundraising committee notes, follow-up with member on hosting radio show, prepare press release, friend on FB fan page

Blue Ridge Relay - 208 mile race starts this Friday! To buy: headlamp, socks, travel pillow DO LAUNDRY! Bring: sheet, cash, towel, blanket, pillowcase, video recorder, reflective vest and light, notebook/pen, travel games, extra shoes...

Animal Protection Society/Western Rockingham Chamber of Commerce coffee - The APSRC is hosting a chamber coffee this Thursday from 8-9 AM at the Hunter House Bed & Breakfast (my neighbors!). I'm the rep for our group. WED: pick up bagels at Panera. Buy regular coffee to make. Check with B&B about using their coffeepot. Buy orange juice, fruit. Review recent stats of animals helped for mini-speech as coffee host. 

Book Promotion: Finish going through Twitter pals to send postcards to. Arrange blog tour. Compile list of people willing to write reviews and send to publicist. E-mail nice woman who has been waiting over a week for my response about appearing on her pod cast. 

Decide what to write for my next book. (No, I can't even think about it now. My brain will explode.) 

November Speech - I'm a guest speaker in November at the international Cat Writer's Association in NY. Haven't started on my talk and quite a bit of research is involved. Yeah. Also, contact hotel and make sure room has Wi-Fi capabilities

Buy plane ticket. Flying to Chicago in October to visit my sister and then will drive back to NC with my Mom, her cat, and her overweight Maltese who is afraid of the car. Call sister & mom to coordinate arrival/departure dates.

Answer e-mails - Friends and clients are waiting for responses. Book project for client is on hold. Must. Do. Now.

Dinner: Needs to sit in fridge at least an hour to mix flavors and will take about 30 minutes to make. 

Okay, all of the above needs to happen before Thursday at 2:30 PM. After that, I'm gone to Blue Ridge to test my legs against some hills. Thanks for letting me vent. I feel calmer seeing it all written out. Now it's just a matter of focusing and going down the list one by one, until everything is done. 

Deep breaths,

Dena