Conversations with Calliope- Dialogue with My Muse

(Gulls on City Island, NY)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Are you finished with your marketing challenge?
JOE: Not quite. My web site is back functioning well. There are a few refinements I would like to make such as adding my podcast and some keywords.
CALLIOPE: Is that your plan for today?
JOE: If I have time. This morning I am taking Carol for some outpatient surgery and then we will shop and have lunch. I'm not sure how much time that will leave me.
CALLIOPE: What's up for the next few days?
JOE: Carol and I are leaving for New York tomorrow morning and will be back Tuesday.
CALLIOPE: Anything special going on there?
JOE: We're just going to visit Carol's son who is just back from Germany after a stint in The Barber of Seville. We just thought it was time for a visit.
CALLIOPE: Anything planned?
JOE: No. We will play it by ear. But I will stay aware of opportunities to discuss writing and marketing.
CALLIOPE: Enjoy your trip.
JOE: We will. Talk with you on Wednesday.

Conversations with Calliope- Dialogue with My Muse

(Fishing Boat- Antigua)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Good. Before you ask, I didn't do anything literary yesterday other than to post my column.
CALLIOPE: You're forgiven considering the requirements of moving.
JOE: Thanks. I did spend some time working on my website.
CALLIOPE: What prompted that?
JOE: I have been reading about what makes for an effective sales site. I began to realize that although the site looked nice, it was too busy and difficult to navigate.
CALLIOPE: So how are the changes coming?
JOE: Quite well. I hope to finish and post the changes today.
CALLIOPE: Are you doing just Commonsense Wisdom?
JOE: No, I plan to revise Sliding Otter too but not today.
CALLIOPE: I'm surprised you had a chance to work on it.
JOE: I can't let my mind run entirely fallow while I am moving.
CALLIOPE: That's good thinking. When will I hear from you again?
JOE: I will be working in Leroy over the weekend. I'll try to contact you on Tuesday.

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Nice to see you up and about at this hour.
JOE: I had to get to the office to check on a few things before Carol left for work. Anyway, I am here.
CALLIOPE: What did you get done yesterday.
JOE: I worked on my website. In my study of marketing, I found that search engines detest duplicate content on websites. I had the same readings from my books on both websites. Rather than be eschewed, I made the necessary connections to http://www.commonsense-wisdom.com/ and http://www.slidingotter.com/. I think they are both working well but so far have not gotten much feedback.
CALLIOPE: Do you think your sites are the best they can be?
JOE: If you mean do I think they are as effective as they can be, it is only a matter of time and experience. I discovered in my reading that how you set up a site is a matter of trial and error depending on who ends up at your site. All you can do is try something to see if it works and then experiment once in a while to see if another approach works better. I wonder if all advertising and marketing is so idiosyncratic.
CALLIOPE: I don't know. But I do like your use of that nice Greek word at the end of your last sentence.
JOE: So I guess I'm on my own for the time being.
CALLIOPE: I guess so. What else have you been up to?
JOE: I sent out a couple news releases and plan to work on more today. I also discovered that one calls them news releases rather than press releases to honor the sensibilities of those not engaged in print publishing.
CALLIOPE: Its amazing what you learn when you start studying. What about writing?
JOE: I did start a new chapter but didn't have time to finish it.
CALLIOPE: What is your couple up to?
JOE: Creative sex. I left them in the bedroom so I better get back to them before they become too frustrated. Talk to you tomorrow.

(Nineteenth century bedroom- Genesee Country Village, Mumford, NY)

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.

(Nineteenth century printing press- Genesee Country Village, Mumford, NY)