JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I've been waiting for you.
JOE: I don't always start at the crack of dawn. I have been up but my back is bothering me. I think I overdid my exercise or did something wrong.
CALLIOPE: Sorry to hear it. Hope it mends soon. What did you accomplish yesterday?
JOE: I sent out some more announcements as well as a news release to my local paper.
CALLIOPE: Any writing?
JOE: I was afraid I might not get to it, but I did manage to write another chapter of Marital Property.
CALLIOPE: What about?
JOE: This was a counseling session where my couple discusses their progress.
CALLIOPE: Are they making any?
JOE: As a matter of fact they are. They are starting to pay more attention to each other.
CALLIOPE: Any stumbling blocks?
JOE: I don't know if it is exactly a stumbling block, but their sex life is not what they would like it to be. It came up in the session and they were given some more assignments to spark things up a bit in the bedroom.
CALLIOPE: That sounds like an interesting sort of homework.
JOE: It is, but it can also be a bit scary to reveal parts of yourself you have been keeping secret.
CALLIOPE: Do you mean body parts?
JOE: No, I mean emotional parts. I guess I better see how they are doing.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Conversations with Calliope
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JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I enjoyed reading your announcement for The Pastor's Inferno yesterday. How are you today?
JOE: Well, thank you. Yesterday I went up to visit Aunt Lucille who is in grave condition and will probably die in the next day or so. I'm not sure she recognized us. But at least we got to see her one last time.
CALLIOPE: You sound resigned.
JOE: We all are. She has had a good life and told us she was ready to "get the show on the road."
CALLIOPE: Did you have time to work on anything yesterday?
JOE: I did. I was quite busy in fact. I wrote a newspaper column for Saturday. I also worked on a eulogy for Aunt Lucille which she asked me to deliver at her funeral.
CALLIOPE: Any time for working on your books?
JOE: Remarkably, yes. I redesigned my web sites in keeping with marketing information I have been learning and published them. I also sent them to all my contacts who have expressed an interest in my writing.
CALLIOPE: You have been busy. Any work on Marital Property?
JOE: Unfortunately I ran out of time before I got that far. I plan to get back to it today. I did write a chapter on Monday, a family scene around the dinner table.
CALLIOPE: How do you plan to proceed from here?
JOE: I will get back to my regular schedule of working on marketing in the morning and writing in the afternoon. The publication of The Pastor's Inferno has energized me. I'm ready to go.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I enjoyed reading your announcement for The Pastor's Inferno yesterday. How are you today?
JOE: Well, thank you. Yesterday I went up to visit Aunt Lucille who is in grave condition and will probably die in the next day or so. I'm not sure she recognized us. But at least we got to see her one last time.
CALLIOPE: You sound resigned.
JOE: We all are. She has had a good life and told us she was ready to "get the show on the road."
CALLIOPE: Did you have time to work on anything yesterday?
JOE: I did. I was quite busy in fact. I wrote a newspaper column for Saturday. I also worked on a eulogy for Aunt Lucille which she asked me to deliver at her funeral.
CALLIOPE: Any time for working on your books?
JOE: Remarkably, yes. I redesigned my web sites in keeping with marketing information I have been learning and published them. I also sent them to all my contacts who have expressed an interest in my writing.
CALLIOPE: You have been busy. Any work on Marital Property?
JOE: Unfortunately I ran out of time before I got that far. I plan to get back to it today. I did write a chapter on Monday, a family scene around the dinner table.
CALLIOPE: How do you plan to proceed from here?
JOE: I will get back to my regular schedule of working on marketing in the morning and writing in the afternoon. The publication of The Pastor's Inferno has energized me. I'm ready to go.
(Fireboat)
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Conversations with Calliope
Good morning Calliope. I told you I would share my announcement of The Pastor's Inferno availability. Here it is. Back to our regular programming tomorrow.
The Pastor's Inferno Now Available
About The Pastor’s Inferno
Some novels are designed to distract the reader from his or her daily routine. Others are meant to lead the reader to understand the human condition a little better. This is a novel of the second sort.
The Pastor’s Inferno is a fictional account of a priest’s journey from denial to changing his life in a quest for redemption. Father John Spador learns how to confront his behavior and its consequences as well as his motivations and relationships. His story shows how an otherwise ordinary person can become lost to his demons and then work toward redefining his life.
The Pastor’s Inferno is an insight into the mind of an abusive priest and explores why a priest might become abusive as well as what he might do about it. This story should have special importance for Catholic priests, the laity and hierarchy as well as those of other faiths touched by clergy sexual abuse. It will also appeal to readers interested in understanding the darker side of the human condition and how to approach it. Paperback and e-book copies are available at: http://www.booklocker.com/books/3312.html
Paper: $14.95
E-book: 8.95
About the Author
Dr. Langen has been a psychologist for many years, experienced in working with sexual abuse survivors and perpetrators. He has lived in a seminary and monastery, chronicled in his memoir, Young Man of the Cloth. He has also published a book of life observations, Commonsense Wisdom for Everyday Life. For more information please contact:
Sliding Otter Publications
About The Pastor’s Inferno
Some novels are designed to distract the reader from his or her daily routine. Others are meant to lead the reader to understand the human condition a little better. This is a novel of the second sort.
The Pastor’s Inferno is a fictional account of a priest’s journey from denial to changing his life in a quest for redemption. Father John Spador learns how to confront his behavior and its consequences as well as his motivations and relationships. His story shows how an otherwise ordinary person can become lost to his demons and then work toward redefining his life.
The Pastor’s Inferno is an insight into the mind of an abusive priest and explores why a priest might become abusive as well as what he might do about it. This story should have special importance for Catholic priests, the laity and hierarchy as well as those of other faiths touched by clergy sexual abuse. It will also appeal to readers interested in understanding the darker side of the human condition and how to approach it. Paperback and e-book copies are available at: http://www.booklocker.com/books/3312.html
Paper: $14.95
E-book: 8.95
About the Author
Dr. Langen has been a psychologist for many years, experienced in working with sexual abuse survivors and perpetrators. He has lived in a seminary and monastery, chronicled in his memoir, Young Man of the Cloth. He has also published a book of life observations, Commonsense Wisdom for Everyday Life. For more information please contact:
Sliding Otter Publications
Monday, January 28, 2008
Conversations with Calliope
.JPG)
JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. What news?
JOE: Excellent news. I received the bound galley of The Pastor's Inferno on Saturday.
CALLIOPE: How did it look?
JOE: Excellent. I couldn't find any problems. Even the cover surpassed my expectations and came out perfectly.
CALLIOPE: Congratulations. Now what?
JOE: I have already been busy finalizing arrangements for it to be listed on the BookLocker Website. It is also be listed at Ingram for distribution.
CALLIOPE: What did you have to do to finalize it?
JOE: I had to list basic information such as would be included in a News Release. It wasn't hard to find the information to include. But I was so excited I kept making typos. I finally got a clean copy and sent it off.
CALLIOPE: When will it be available for sale?
JOE: I think in a matter of a few days. I will post an announcement here instead of our usual conversation when the book is ready for sale.
CALLIOPE: I can't wait. Did you get a chance to do any writing over the weekend?
JOE: I must admit I spent most of it on marketing, specifically spiffing up my websites. However I did write the bedroom scene I was talking about last week for Marital Property.
CALLIOPE: How did it turn out?
JOE: I was pleased with it, but must admit that my attention was mostly focused on getting The Pastor's Inferno into circulation.
CALLIOPE: What's on the docket for today?
JOE: I have some more work to do on the web site and on preparing for sales. I will try to work in a chapter of Marital Property this afternoon. See you tomorrow.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. What news?
JOE: Excellent news. I received the bound galley of The Pastor's Inferno on Saturday.
CALLIOPE: How did it look?
JOE: Excellent. I couldn't find any problems. Even the cover surpassed my expectations and came out perfectly.
CALLIOPE: Congratulations. Now what?
JOE: I have already been busy finalizing arrangements for it to be listed on the BookLocker Website. It is also be listed at Ingram for distribution.
CALLIOPE: What did you have to do to finalize it?
JOE: I had to list basic information such as would be included in a News Release. It wasn't hard to find the information to include. But I was so excited I kept making typos. I finally got a clean copy and sent it off.
CALLIOPE: When will it be available for sale?
JOE: I think in a matter of a few days. I will post an announcement here instead of our usual conversation when the book is ready for sale.
CALLIOPE: I can't wait. Did you get a chance to do any writing over the weekend?
JOE: I must admit I spent most of it on marketing, specifically spiffing up my websites. However I did write the bedroom scene I was talking about last week for Marital Property.
CALLIOPE: How did it turn out?
JOE: I was pleased with it, but must admit that my attention was mostly focused on getting The Pastor's Inferno into circulation.
CALLIOPE: What's on the docket for today?
JOE: I have some more work to do on the web site and on preparing for sales. I will try to work in a chapter of Marital Property this afternoon. See you tomorrow.
(My Uncle Dick's Diamond Jubilee of his priesthood)
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Conversations with Calliope
JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Good. I have been very busy exploring Internet marketing for my books.
CALLIOPE: What did you learn yesterday?
JOE: More valuable information about layout and use of websites and email.
CALLIOPE: Where did you learn that?
JOE: Surfing as well as a live phone seminar by Armand Morin yesterday afternoon.
CALLIOPE: Did you have a chance to do any writing yesterday?
JOE: No. The whole day was taken up with learning about marketing.
CALLIOPE: Aren't you afraid you will lose your momentum for writing Marital Property?
JOE: No. When I started it, I made an agreement with myself that I would take breaks as necessary to work on getting The Pastor's Inferno moving. In between efforts, I have had time to write. However sometimes publishing efforts take priority. I expect The Pastor's Inferno to be available very soon and want to be ready to promote it.
CALLIOPE: Why the urgency?
JOE: With my other two books, I did not do anything of note by way of promotion and my corresponding sales (or lact thereof) were predictable. I think I am about ready to make at least a little money. I have come to realize that people can't buy my books if they don't know about them.
CALLIOPE: What have you been doing specifically?
JOE: Revising my websites and ways to get people to them have been my chief priorities. To get back to your earlier question, I am not worried about losing steam for Marital Property since I have an exciting chapter ready to write. Now I'm off to visit Aunt Lucille. I hope to write the chapter in question when I get back.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Good. I have been very busy exploring Internet marketing for my books.
CALLIOPE: What did you learn yesterday?
JOE: More valuable information about layout and use of websites and email.
CALLIOPE: Where did you learn that?
JOE: Surfing as well as a live phone seminar by Armand Morin yesterday afternoon.
CALLIOPE: Did you have a chance to do any writing yesterday?
JOE: No. The whole day was taken up with learning about marketing.
CALLIOPE: Aren't you afraid you will lose your momentum for writing Marital Property?
JOE: No. When I started it, I made an agreement with myself that I would take breaks as necessary to work on getting The Pastor's Inferno moving. In between efforts, I have had time to write. However sometimes publishing efforts take priority. I expect The Pastor's Inferno to be available very soon and want to be ready to promote it.
CALLIOPE: Why the urgency?
JOE: With my other two books, I did not do anything of note by way of promotion and my corresponding sales (or lact thereof) were predictable. I think I am about ready to make at least a little money. I have come to realize that people can't buy my books if they don't know about them.
CALLIOPE: What have you been doing specifically?
JOE: Revising my websites and ways to get people to them have been my chief priorities. To get back to your earlier question, I am not worried about losing steam for Marital Property since I have an exciting chapter ready to write. Now I'm off to visit Aunt Lucille. I hope to write the chapter in question when I get back.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Conversations with Calliope
JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you this morning?
JOE: Excited. I got an email from BookLocker saying my bound galley of The Pastor's Inferno is in the mail. It looks like I am very close to production.
CALLIOPE: Are you ready?
JOE: Not quite. But I would rather have the book and be ready than be ready and not have it. I have an announcement and a news release ready.
CALLIOPE: Do you plan to share these?
JOE: Yes. When the book is available. I will make sure you get a copy.
CALLIOPE: So what else is on your agenda?
JOE: I am still pursuing publicity and marketing information. I found some good information from Armand Morin yesterday about setting up a website for maximum sales. Some things I had not thought about. He has a webinar this afternoon which I am planning to listen to.
CALLIOPE: What's up for today other than the webinar.
JOE: This morning I plan to look over my website and plan some changes. I will write another chapter of Marital Property in the early afternoon.
CALLIOPE: Did you write yesterday?
JOE: Yes. I got another chapter done. I have the next few planned as well. The next scene takes place in the bedroom after they exchanged their caring days lists.
CALLIOPE: Will it be a sexy scene?
JOE: I hope so, but you know how lovers can be. I'm not sure they are quite back to being lovers yet anyway.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you this morning?
JOE: Excited. I got an email from BookLocker saying my bound galley of The Pastor's Inferno is in the mail. It looks like I am very close to production.
CALLIOPE: Are you ready?
JOE: Not quite. But I would rather have the book and be ready than be ready and not have it. I have an announcement and a news release ready.
CALLIOPE: Do you plan to share these?
JOE: Yes. When the book is available. I will make sure you get a copy.
CALLIOPE: So what else is on your agenda?
JOE: I am still pursuing publicity and marketing information. I found some good information from Armand Morin yesterday about setting up a website for maximum sales. Some things I had not thought about. He has a webinar this afternoon which I am planning to listen to.
CALLIOPE: What's up for today other than the webinar.
JOE: This morning I plan to look over my website and plan some changes. I will write another chapter of Marital Property in the early afternoon.
CALLIOPE: Did you write yesterday?
JOE: Yes. I got another chapter done. I have the next few planned as well. The next scene takes place in the bedroom after they exchanged their caring days lists.
CALLIOPE: Will it be a sexy scene?
JOE: I hope so, but you know how lovers can be. I'm not sure they are quite back to being lovers yet anyway.
(Nineteenth century printing press- Genesee Country Village, Mumford, NY)
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Conversations with Calliope
.JPG)
JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I expected you a little earlier.
JOE: I was on my way but stopped by my email and found a tele-seminar on web marketing by Armand Morin and decided to listen to it.
CALLIOPE: Ah. Did you learn anything?
JOE: Yes. He has quite a bit for sale but did give away some free information on getting people to my website and having something to offer once they get there as well as how to convert prospects to sales.
CALLIOPE: Sounds worthwhile.
JOE: I thought so. The more I read, the more I realize how complex a subject this is. But at least I'm working on it.
CALLIOPE: Keep going. How about writing?
JOE: I finished another chapter about Dennis and Cynthia discussing her Caring Days list. They are both optimistic about their prospects at the moment.
CALLIOPE: Do you think it might just be momentary hope?
JOE: We shall see. The plot may thicken before things get resolved one way or another.
CALLIOPE: Another mystery?
JOE: You probably know better than I do how it will turn out.
CALLIOPE: I don't know for sure but I have some ideas. So do you and so do your characters.
JOE: I guess it will be a joint project including all of us. I can't wait to see what we all come up with.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I expected you a little earlier.
JOE: I was on my way but stopped by my email and found a tele-seminar on web marketing by Armand Morin and decided to listen to it.
CALLIOPE: Ah. Did you learn anything?
JOE: Yes. He has quite a bit for sale but did give away some free information on getting people to my website and having something to offer once they get there as well as how to convert prospects to sales.
CALLIOPE: Sounds worthwhile.
JOE: I thought so. The more I read, the more I realize how complex a subject this is. But at least I'm working on it.
CALLIOPE: Keep going. How about writing?
JOE: I finished another chapter about Dennis and Cynthia discussing her Caring Days list. They are both optimistic about their prospects at the moment.
CALLIOPE: Do you think it might just be momentary hope?
JOE: We shall see. The plot may thicken before things get resolved one way or another.
CALLIOPE: Another mystery?
JOE: You probably know better than I do how it will turn out.
CALLIOPE: I don't know for sure but I have some ideas. So do you and so do your characters.
JOE: I guess it will be a joint project including all of us. I can't wait to see what we all come up with.
(Group effort)
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Conversations with Calliope
JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Did you sleep in today?
JOE: No. I was up early as usual. I was looking at my email and followed up several links on Internet marketing. I just now decided to take a break.
CALLIOPE: Quite noble. Glad you remembered me.
JOE: I did want to update you on my efforts.
CALLIOPE: Don't keep me in suspense.
JOE: Yesterday I spent most of the morning and some of the afternoon pursuing marketing and publicity resources. It's a long process.
CALLIOPE: What did you do in the afternoon?
JOE: I took a break to strung my guitar. I haven't been able to play it for years due to arthritis. However, it seems better now for some reason. I thought I would give the guitar another chance.
CALLIOPE: A little creative expression not related to writing might be good for your writing related creativity.
JOE: My thoughts exactly. It will take a while to get back into practice.
CALLIOPE: Did you write yesterday?
JOE: Yes. I did another chapter of Marital Property. This time a discussion of Dennis's Caring Days list. Today will be a discussion between the couple of Cynthia's list.
CALLIOPE: They sound pretty cooperative lately.
JOE: I have a sense that things will not remain peaceful, but we shall see. Back to the grind.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Conversations with Calliope
JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. What's new today?
JOE: I'm still savoring yesterday.
CALLIOPE: What happened?
JOE: I had a nice conversation with my brother in Hawaii. It's hard to find him due to the time differences.
CALLIOPE: I'm glad you finally caught up with him. What's happening on the literary front?
JOE: I developed quite a list of resources for reviews and publicity. Now all I have to do is track them down. I have found that some are available at various libraries within driving distance.
CALLIOPE: How about writing?
JOE: I finished another chapter of Marital Property about things my couple would like each other to do for them.
CALLIOPE: For example?
JOE: I thought you knew everything that came into my head.
CALLIOPE: Not quite? I know what I send your way for consideration. I don't know what inspirations you choose to follow.
JOE: Oh. I'll give you one example from each spouse. Cynthia wanted Dennis to tell her which of her paintings he liked best. Dennis wanted Cynthia to draw a beach scene for him.
CALLIOPE: Sounds rather tame.
JOE: Baby steps usually are. They are trying to reconnect and are not really sure what each other are willing to do. I think that is why they are starting with very small requests. Besides, that is what their counseling homework consisted of.
CALLIOPE: An what about today?
JOE: I plan to follow up on some of the leads I found this morning and this afternoon will write about my couple discussing their lists of what they would like from each other. Time to get started.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Conversations with Calliope
JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Fine. I have been quite busy over the weekend despite football.
CALLIOPE: Oh?
JOE: On Saturday, I finished another chapter of Marital Property.
CALLIOPE: Was that it for the weekend?
JOE: No. Yesterday I worked on my next chapter about caring days.
CALLIOPE: What's that?
JOE: A couple exercise where each comes up with a list of little things their spouses can do to show they care.
CALLIOPE: Where did you get that idea?
JOE: I'm not sure. But it is something I used when I was doing marriage counseling. It was helpful, even if just to see if spouses cared at all about each other. If they couldn't come up with anything, I concluded they either had no imagination or little hope for their relationship.
CALLIOPE: Very interesting. Did you get anything else done?
JOE: I did some work on marketing and publicity. On Saturday I refined my announcement and news release. Yesterday I worked on developing a list of publicity resources with the help of the Ross and Ross book, Complete Guide to Self Publishing.
CALLIOPE: Did you come up with much.
JOE: Yes. Quite a list. Most of the resources are rather expensive. My next task is to find a library which has them hand. That's one of my jobs for today. Off to work.
(Nearing sunset- St. Thomas, USVI)
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Conversations with Calliope
JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today.
JOE: I am feeling less frenetic than I have felt in the past few weeks.
CALLIOPE: On what account?
JOE: On account of having The Pastor's Inferno at the printer as we speak.
CALLIOPE: Are you taking a little vacation?
JOE: No. I have been working on publicity. Yesterday I completed a news release and an announcement for The Pastor's Inferno.
CALLIOPE: Any writing yesterday?
JOE: In addition to the release and announcement, I finished another chapter of Marital Property.
CALLIOPE: What do you think will be the fate of your couple?
JOE: I am inclined to think they will save their marriage. But I don't know for sure. I just write what you bring into my head and am following my characters to see where their story takes them.
CALLIOPE: Sounds like an adventure. How about today?
JOE: I am leaving soon to visit Aunt Lucille in her new digs at Brothers of Mercy Nursing Home. I am hoping to write another chapter of Marital Property today.
CALLIOPE: Better get to it.
JOE: Right you are.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today.
JOE: I am feeling less frenetic than I have felt in the past few weeks.
CALLIOPE: On what account?
JOE: On account of having The Pastor's Inferno at the printer as we speak.
CALLIOPE: Are you taking a little vacation?
JOE: No. I have been working on publicity. Yesterday I completed a news release and an announcement for The Pastor's Inferno.
CALLIOPE: Any writing yesterday?
JOE: In addition to the release and announcement, I finished another chapter of Marital Property.
CALLIOPE: What do you think will be the fate of your couple?
JOE: I am inclined to think they will save their marriage. But I don't know for sure. I just write what you bring into my head and am following my characters to see where their story takes them.
CALLIOPE: Sounds like an adventure. How about today?
JOE: I am leaving soon to visit Aunt Lucille in her new digs at Brothers of Mercy Nursing Home. I am hoping to write another chapter of Marital Property today.
CALLIOPE: Better get to it.
JOE: Right you are.
(Nina replica at full sail)
Friday, January 18, 2008
Conversations with Calliope
JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: A little disconcerted. I signed up for a bulletin board which I thought was a writers' forum. It turned out to be a cesspool of viruses which invaded my computer.
CALLIOPE: What did you do about it?
JOE: Fortunately I have a couple good antivirus programs which I used to scrub my computer. I think it is clean again but will run them again to be sure.
CALLIOPE: Did you get anything accomplished yesterday?
JOE: Yes. I completed my contract with Booklocker and the files are on the way to the printer. Next is a bound proof.
CALLIOPE: Sounds exciting.
JOE: It is. I am glad to get that finished. I was prepared for some fiddling with the PDF for the cover, but none turned out to be necessary. I guess the time I spent developing it was worth it.
CALLIOPE: But no work on Marital Property?
JOE: No. The viruses hit just as I was about to do some writing. I plan to get back to it today. I did some work yesterday and today developing an announcement and News release for The Pastor's Inferno and plan to have them ready to go when the book is ready for distribution.
CALLIOPE: You sound prepared.
JOE: I am. After a sigh of relief, it's back to work.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: A little disconcerted. I signed up for a bulletin board which I thought was a writers' forum. It turned out to be a cesspool of viruses which invaded my computer.
CALLIOPE: What did you do about it?
JOE: Fortunately I have a couple good antivirus programs which I used to scrub my computer. I think it is clean again but will run them again to be sure.
CALLIOPE: Did you get anything accomplished yesterday?
JOE: Yes. I completed my contract with Booklocker and the files are on the way to the printer. Next is a bound proof.
CALLIOPE: Sounds exciting.
JOE: It is. I am glad to get that finished. I was prepared for some fiddling with the PDF for the cover, but none turned out to be necessary. I guess the time I spent developing it was worth it.
CALLIOPE: But no work on Marital Property?
JOE: No. The viruses hit just as I was about to do some writing. I plan to get back to it today. I did some work yesterday and today developing an announcement and News release for The Pastor's Inferno and plan to have them ready to go when the book is ready for distribution.
CALLIOPE: You sound prepared.
JOE: I am. After a sigh of relief, it's back to work.
(Cereus- new growth)
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Conversations with Calliope
JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you this morning?
JOE: Good, thank you. I had a productive day yesterday.
CALLIOPE: What did you accomplish?
JOE: First I designed an announcement for The Pastor's Inferno which can be used either on line or in print.
CALLIOPE: Quite versatile. What else did you do?
JOE: I wrote part of another chapter of Marital Property consisting of a counseling session regarding communication. I will finish this chapter today.
CALLIOPE: Anything else planned for today?
JOE: You mean other than a dentist appointment?
CALLIOPE: Yes. I mean writing.
JOE: I think I will adapt my announcement to be used as a press release. Again I plan to design one to be used for print as well as online outlets.
CALLIOPE: Good. How is the marketing coming along?
JOE: Slowly. I am exploring options, focusing on ones which don't cost me a fortune.
CALLIOPE: Wise idea.
JOE: I thought so. I had better get going before the day wastes away. See you tomorrow.
(Sails- Replica of the Nina)
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Conversations with Calliope
JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I missed you yesterday.
JOE: It was one of those days. I started the day with posting my latest column and writing a newsletter for the mental health clinic and board.
CALLIOPE: No word on the cover for The Pastor's Inferno?
JOE: Not yet. I am still waiting to hear if it is in final form. I did get another chapter of marital Property written. I also had some calling to do about various arrangements for my health insurance.
CALLIOPE: Sounds busy. I'm glad you got to do some actual writing. Is it hard to switch gears among projects?
JOE: It wasn't yesterday. I had quite a bit of energy and seemed to be able to move from one thing to another without much difficulty.
CALLIOPE: What's on the table for today.
JOE: I just got back from a mental health meeting. This morning I plan to work on marketing, probably starting with plans for a press release/announcement for The Pastor's Inferno.
CALLIOPE: Anything else.
JOE: Yes. This afternoon I plan to write another chapter of Marital Property. I have a counseling session planned for my couple.
CALLIOPE: Is that hard to write?
JOE: Not for me. I have conducted plenty of them so it shouldn't be too hard.
CALLIOPE: Well don't let me keep you.
JOE: Okay. Back to work.
(Charlotte Train Trestle- Rochester, NY)
Monday, January 14, 2008
Conversations with Calliope
JOE: Good morning, Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning, Joe. I missed you on Saturday.
JOE: I missed visiting too. I immediately got engaged in working on my cover for The Pastor's Inferno and spent the rest of my time available on it. In the afternoon I was at a pre-cruse party and on Sunday I visited Carol's Aunt Lucille in a nursing home in Buffalo.
CALLIOPE: How's Aunt Lucille doing?
JOE: She has been doing pretty well for being 86 and having congestive heart failure requiring a CPAP machine for breathing. Yesterday she was quite unstable and was found to have pneumonia on top of everything else and was trasferred to Sisters Hospital.
CALLIOPE: Doesn't sound good.
JOE: It doesn't. But she has bounced back many times when it looked like she wouldn't. It's hard to tell, but we are all waiting.
CALLIOPE: Keep me posted. How about the publishing.
JOE: I am learning the printer's requirements a little at a time. I finally got a good copy of my cover composed in Pagemaker and transferred to PDF. Now I will have to see if it is finally ready for production. I am hoping to head in that direction soon. I also had to fill out a questionnaire with Ingram categories for listing and a 40 word description for them. I feel production is not far off.
CALLIOPE: How do you feel about it.
JOE: Thrilled. It's about time I got to this point. I have been working on some ideas about publicity and marketing and will share them with you when they are more developed.
CALLIOPE: What about Marital Property.
JOE: Unless some crisis develops with The Pastor's Inferno, I plan to get back to Marital Property this afternoon. At least I don't have anything scheduled.
CALLIOPE: It will be good to get back to actual writing.
JOE: I'll say. I am much more comfortable writing than with wrestling with publishing programs. Well, off to work.
CALLIOPE: Good morning, Joe. I missed you on Saturday.
JOE: I missed visiting too. I immediately got engaged in working on my cover for The Pastor's Inferno and spent the rest of my time available on it. In the afternoon I was at a pre-cruse party and on Sunday I visited Carol's Aunt Lucille in a nursing home in Buffalo.
CALLIOPE: How's Aunt Lucille doing?
JOE: She has been doing pretty well for being 86 and having congestive heart failure requiring a CPAP machine for breathing. Yesterday she was quite unstable and was found to have pneumonia on top of everything else and was trasferred to Sisters Hospital.
CALLIOPE: Doesn't sound good.
JOE: It doesn't. But she has bounced back many times when it looked like she wouldn't. It's hard to tell, but we are all waiting.
CALLIOPE: Keep me posted. How about the publishing.
JOE: I am learning the printer's requirements a little at a time. I finally got a good copy of my cover composed in Pagemaker and transferred to PDF. Now I will have to see if it is finally ready for production. I am hoping to head in that direction soon. I also had to fill out a questionnaire with Ingram categories for listing and a 40 word description for them. I feel production is not far off.
CALLIOPE: How do you feel about it.
JOE: Thrilled. It's about time I got to this point. I have been working on some ideas about publicity and marketing and will share them with you when they are more developed.
CALLIOPE: What about Marital Property.
JOE: Unless some crisis develops with The Pastor's Inferno, I plan to get back to Marital Property this afternoon. At least I don't have anything scheduled.
CALLIOPE: It will be good to get back to actual writing.
JOE: I'll say. I am much more comfortable writing than with wrestling with publishing programs. Well, off to work.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Conversations with Calliope
JOE: Good morning, Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning, Joe. How are you this morning?
JOE: Pretty good. I am near the final steps of having The Pastor's Inferno published.
CALLIOPE: What remains?
JOE: Uploading the cover. It is a bit hard setting up the format. Harder in fact than the text. I was hoping I would receive a template but I am still waiting for it. I have the cover ready to go based on what I could figure out. I did it in Word, Publisher and Pagemaker. They all have their own ways and advantages.
CALLIOPE: Sounds complicated. Did you get any actual writing done yesterday?
JOE: No. I just worked on the cover. I am hoping to have it finished and submitted today.
CALLIOPE: Will you get back to writing today?
JOE: I hope so. I have a chapter of Marital Property partly finished and would like to at least complete it today.
CALLIOPE: A little slow going, isn't it?
JOE: Yes. But for right now, I would like to get The Pastor's Inferno done so I can concentrate on Marital Property.
CALLIOPE: I hope things settle down soon.
JOE: I think they will. By Monday, I expect to be back in a better routine.
(Yellow hibiscus- St. Maarten)
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Conversations with Calliope
JOE: Good morning, Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning, Joe. Missed you yesterday.
JOE: I'm glad you noticed. I was quite busy with two evaluations, one in Williamsville, as well as finalizing my book cover.
CALLIOPE: Great progress. What else is going on?
JOE: A surprise in the medical department. I don't think I told you that I went to my recorder group on Sunday. I have been unable to play recorder for the past six years due to my rheumatoid arthritis. I have been doing percussion. On Sunday, while driving over, I noticed that my hands felt particularly loose and ended up playing for three hours straight.
CALLIOPE: To what do you attribute this remarkable turnaround?
JOE: I'm not sure. I know there are flareups but I have not had this level of flexibility since I started having difficulty. Not even Enbrel helped, at least with flexibility. I started taking red yeast rice for cholesterol a couple weeks ago. I don't know if it is just a coincidence, but I am dramatically improved. I am also much more flexible typing and can work much faster than I could before. I guess that's the big news.
CALLIOPE: Good. I hope it keeps up. What's planned for today?
JOE: My daughter, Sue, is taking me out for breakfast for my birthday what was on Sunday. Then I will work a little more on the cover and possibly get it sent in later today.
CALLIOPE: Anything planned for Marital Property?
JOE: Yes. I started a chapter on Tuesday but there were too many distractions. I plan to finish it today.
CALLIOPE: What's it about?
JOE: Strange you should ask. It involves a structured communication process called Vesuvius, after the volcano. It is designed to prevent eruptions or at least minimize them.
CALLIOPE: Does it work for your couple?
JOE: It's a little soon to say. They are still in the middle of the conversation. I guess I better get back to work so I have time to find out how they do.
(Statue- Charlotte Beach, Rochester, NY)
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Conversations with Calliope
JOE: Good morning, Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning, Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Good. I think I am making progress with my publication of The Pastor's Inferno.
CALLIOPE: What's happening there?
JOE: I received word that my text has been received. There were a few minor formatting errors which I think have been corrected. I am waiting to hear about that as well as getting a template for my cover.
CALLIOPE: Sounds exciting?
JOE: It is. In my haste, I deleted the references to Dante's Inferno. Then I received information from people in a publishing forum about how to find material not requiring permission due to being published a long time ago.
CALLIOPE: Now what?
JOE: Nothing. I received mixed reviews from my readers on including the quotes in the first place and have decided to leave them out.
CALLIOPE: Sounds settled. What's up for today?
JOE: I am having lunch with my daughter for my birthday which was a couple days ago. I also have a writers' meeting tonight. This morning I will get to work on Internet marketing for The Pastor's Inferno. I plan to work in a chapter of Marital Property this afternoon. I have been a bit sidetracked with publishing concerns.
CALLIOPE: It seems you are trying to do a lot at once.
JOE: True, I suppose I could have waited until The Pastor's Inferno was in print before starting work on Marital Property. However I have produced 175 pages of Marital Property which would not be written if I had waited.
CALLIOPE: Do you find the juggling a problem?
JOE: Not usually. Sometimes it takes me a bit to reorient myself, but I think I tend to thrive on having several projects in the works at once.
CALLIOPE: But only writing one at a time?
JOE: Correct. I don't think I could concentrate on writing two books at once. At least one would suffer. Well, back to work.
(Barbary apes grooming- Gibralter)
Monday, January 07, 2008
Conversations with Calliope
JOE: Good morning, Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning, Joe. A little late this morning, aren't you?
JOE: Maybe later than you expected. However, I had to go to Rochester this morning for a visit related to a hospital study at the University of Rochester on the relationship between rheumatoid arthritis and the flu shot.
CALLIOPE: I see. Commendable of you. What's new in the writing department?
JOE: Glad you asked. I followed through on my decision to eliminate the quotes from Dante's Inferno.
CALLIOPE: So references to the Inferno are just gone? Do you think that's a loss to your book?
JOE: Hold on. They aren't entirely gone. I put in several references in the text without using direct quotes. Two of my reviewers of The Pastor's Inferno were enthusiastic about the quotes and two found them distracting. So it seemed like a toss up and I am happy with my decision.
CALLIOPE: Then what?
JOE: I spent most of Saturday working on the manuscript and formatting it appropriately with my changes. I managed to send it in by email Saturday afternoon.
CALLIOPE: Congratulations. What's the next step?
JOE: I am waiting for them to review it and send me a template for the book cover which is pretty well completed as well.
CALLIOPE: So now it's just a matter of waiting and completing the final steps?
JOE: That's about it. Now that it's finished, I will get back to working on Marital Property and getting serious about marketing and publicity.
CALLIOPE: Good luck.
JOE: Thanks. I think I might need it. It seems like a whole new adventure.
CALLIOPE: Do you have some place to start?
JOE: I have two books and some internet information. I'm ready to start. Talk with you tomorrow.
(Sunset on Lake Erie- Dunkirk, NY)
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Conversations with Calliope
JOE: Good afternoon, Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good afternoon, Joe. I thought you might be away.
JOE: No. I'm still here. Yesterday and today have been quite busy.
CALLIOPE: How so?
JOE: There were some communication problems about my Medicare Advantage program. It took me a while to get them straightened out, but I think it is finally settled.
CALLIOPE: Anything else going on?
JOE: Yes. I called Norton about my request for permission to use quotes from Dante's Inferno.
CALLIOPE: What did you discover?
JOE: They sent out a contract on Thursday. When I asked the nature of the contract, I learned that they wanted a fee of $200 to use 163 lines.
CALLIOPE: So, what do you think about that?
JOE: Not much. I think it is rather steep although I have not dealt with such permissions before. I decided to delete the quotes and publish the book without them. My only regret is that I wasted a month waiting to hear from them.
CALLIOPE: Where do things stand now?
JOE: I submitted my text just now to BookLocker. I am expecting a cover template so I can fill in my own cover material. It's exciting to be finally getting on with it.
CALLIOPE: Good luck. I hope the process goes smoothly.
JOE: So do I. Now I have to send out a post to remind my writing group of our meeting on Tuesday night. Talk with you on Monday.
(Cover design for The Pastor's Inferno)
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Conversations with Calliope
JOE: Good morning, Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning, Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Good. But I was pretty busy yesterday.
CALLIOPE: Doing what?
JOE: I had planned to get to work on my writing. However, I got waylaid by negotiations about health insurance and flight arrangements for February getting back from San Juan.
CALLIOPE: Is everything settled?
JOE: I hope so.
CALLIOPE: Did you do any writing?
JOE: I wrote a blog for Saturday which I need to post this morning. I also did some editing on Young Man of the Cloth and only have one more chapter to do.
CALLIOPE: Any progress on permissions for The Pastor's Inferno?
JOE: No. I sent them an email but so far no reply. I think I will call them today.
CALLIOPE: Frustrating isn't it?
JOE: Yes. I think people are still in their year end slump, but I hope they get back to work soon. I am anxious to get my book in print.
CALLIOPE: It is frustrating. Sometimes you have to be a pest.
JOE: You're right. I think I'll get at it right now.
(Reconquista Banner- Vigo, Spain)
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Conversations with Calliope
JOE: Good morning, Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning, Joe. Ready for a new year?
JOE: I believe I am.
CALLIOPE: What did you do yesterday?
JOE: Not much of anything. I remember reading about crop rotation and that sometimes a field is left fallow for a growing season to restore itself.
CALLIOPE: You're not going into hibernation for several months?
JOE: No. Just for yesterday. I thought I would let my mind rest and not tax it.
CALLIOPE: I guess I can live with that. What are your plans for today?
JOE: First I have a column to write about context for my life.
CALLIOPE: Where did that come from?
JOE: A talk by Steve D'Annunzio on Sunday. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. If I have a sense of where I am headed and why I am doing what I am doing, I will be much more focused. I guess you could say I just spent yesterday thinking about this and today I will write a column about it.
CALLIOPE: Sounds good. Anything else planned?
JOE: I finished another chapter of Marital Property after we chatted on Monday. I plan to finish another today about my two main characters in a counseling session.
CALLIOPE: Do you expect fireworks?
JOE: I don't expect them, but you never know. I guess I had better get on with it and see.
(Butterfly Museum- Niagara Falls, Ont.)
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