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rolanniWe're looking at embracing some near-and-mid-term challenges here at the Cat Farm -- have I mentioned this?
No, I think I haven't.
Well.
First, and most near-term -- the day-job and I will be parting company as of close of bidness on Thursday, July 28. This is prompted by a whole buncha things, but most pressing is the fact that both of my jobs have been expanding their demands over these last almost-five years, to the point where I had to Choose One, or resign myself to providing diminished performance at both.
Since I never actually learned how to do a bad job on purpose, the diminished performance option was Right Out, which left Choose One, and, honestly -- there was never a contest. I'll miss my faculty and various colleagues and acquaintances around the campus, but not as much as I would miss being able to do my art on my terms.
So, once again with the following of the bliss. Joseph Campbell's got to be right one of these days.
Now, one of the reasons that we can undertake this particular challenge at this time is -- you guys. That's right -- give yourselves a hand.
Why?
Because you've supported our work in the most gratifying and concrete way imaginable -- you bought books.
You bought a lot of books.
Last royalty period (that would've been the royalties paid in October), Fledgling earned out -- that means that we don't owe the publisher any money to pay back the advance; that we get a piece of the action from every book that's sold. However, Fledgling didn't just earn out -- it earned out handsomely. Enough so that we could get ahead on mortgage payments and salt away another piece of change, into, like, savings.
This royalty period -- the statements arrived yesterday, accompanied by a check. This royalty period, Fledgling continued to earn; Saltation earned out, and! (especially near to my heart -- thank you all!) Mouse and Dragon earned out.
We got to -- not quite kill, but almost kill -- the Monster Bill that accrued while we were waiting for Meisha Merlin to catch us up on what we were owed.
Since the day-job is going away, savings becomes living money.
That's a little tight, but doable, if we're careful. The echapbook sales are moving briskly. We of course expect that stream to diminish, but hope that it will continue to flow, Steve and I being subscribers to the Every Little Bit Helps school of economics. We're still working on those stories for subscription, however the mechanism for that finally shakes out -- that's a line from one of those stories-in-the-making, up there in the title bar.
What else?
Short-mid-term challenge -- We still do need to move -- to a smaller place, in a more populated area. Country living's for you hearty young folk. I'm holding out for Old Orchard Beach/Saco/Biddeford. I may have to adjust my sights, but -- not yet.
Oh, and of course, we're back on the Freelancer's Health Plan -- Don't Get Sick -- and what used to be called Major Medical (aka pay all medical expenses unless something Terrible Happens, but have the advantage of paying all medical expenses at the insurer's negotiated rate. Yes, it's an idiot system, but we love it. Eh.) But, to be fair, the day-job's health insurance was headed in that direction, too -- to the point where health insurance coverage was a consideration in decision-making, but not a major consideration.
That's where we are, on this sunny, breezy and green Friday in Maine, and hoping you're as at peace with your world as I am, with mine.
And?
Only twelve more working days 'til school's out.
No, I think I haven't.
Well.
First, and most near-term -- the day-job and I will be parting company as of close of bidness on Thursday, July 28. This is prompted by a whole buncha things, but most pressing is the fact that both of my jobs have been expanding their demands over these last almost-five years, to the point where I had to Choose One, or resign myself to providing diminished performance at both.
Since I never actually learned how to do a bad job on purpose, the diminished performance option was Right Out, which left Choose One, and, honestly -- there was never a contest. I'll miss my faculty and various colleagues and acquaintances around the campus, but not as much as I would miss being able to do my art on my terms.
So, once again with the following of the bliss. Joseph Campbell's got to be right one of these days.
Now, one of the reasons that we can undertake this particular challenge at this time is -- you guys. That's right -- give yourselves a hand.
Why?
Because you've supported our work in the most gratifying and concrete way imaginable -- you bought books.
You bought a lot of books.
Last royalty period (that would've been the royalties paid in October), Fledgling earned out -- that means that we don't owe the publisher any money to pay back the advance; that we get a piece of the action from every book that's sold. However, Fledgling didn't just earn out -- it earned out handsomely. Enough so that we could get ahead on mortgage payments and salt away another piece of change, into, like, savings.
This royalty period -- the statements arrived yesterday, accompanied by a check. This royalty period, Fledgling continued to earn; Saltation earned out, and! (especially near to my heart -- thank you all!) Mouse and Dragon earned out.
We got to -- not quite kill, but almost kill -- the Monster Bill that accrued while we were waiting for Meisha Merlin to catch us up on what we were owed.
Since the day-job is going away, savings becomes living money.
That's a little tight, but doable, if we're careful. The echapbook sales are moving briskly. We of course expect that stream to diminish, but hope that it will continue to flow, Steve and I being subscribers to the Every Little Bit Helps school of economics. We're still working on those stories for subscription, however the mechanism for that finally shakes out -- that's a line from one of those stories-in-the-making, up there in the title bar.
What else?
Short-mid-term challenge -- We still do need to move -- to a smaller place, in a more populated area. Country living's for you hearty young folk. I'm holding out for Old Orchard Beach/Saco/Biddeford. I may have to adjust my sights, but -- not yet.
Oh, and of course, we're back on the Freelancer's Health Plan -- Don't Get Sick -- and what used to be called Major Medical (aka pay all medical expenses unless something Terrible Happens, but have the advantage of paying all medical expenses at the insurer's negotiated rate. Yes, it's an idiot system, but we love it. Eh.) But, to be fair, the day-job's health insurance was headed in that direction, too -- to the point where health insurance coverage was a consideration in decision-making, but not a major consideration.
That's where we are, on this sunny, breezy and green Friday in Maine, and hoping you're as at peace with your world as I am, with mine.
And?
Only twelve more working days 'til school's out.
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Writing versus Working for somene else
Date: 2011-06-17 11:38 pm (UTC)I have worked 49 years full time, since my Mother had her first heart attack and then the whole time I was married and divorced raising 3 very worthwhile children.
It's an interesting time for me right now. I also have small savings and other smallish income so I am not retired rich, but live within a budget.
It feels wonderful. Swimming, gardening, taking art appreciation classes, seeing friends, not just living via e-mail. Reading.
I wish you joy in your near and not so near life changes.
One joy is sleeping in until, say, 7:30 a.m. I recommend it.
no subject
Date: 2011-06-18 12:20 am (UTC)It's wonderful, in any case, that you can hug Art and squeeze him and call him George.
no subject
Date: 2011-06-18 12:35 am (UTC)It's curious that your library doesn't pull new-in-good-shape books out of the booksale for processing, like the one I work at does *scratches head* They could save quite a bit of money doing that!
no subject
Date: 2011-06-18 12:40 am (UTC)Free at last, Free at last ...
Date: 2011-06-18 12:58 am (UTC)Day Job
Date: 2011-06-18 01:44 am (UTC)Late to the news...
Date: 2011-06-18 03:25 am (UTC)I am absolutely thrilled to know you have been able to dump the aggravations of the day job! I promise, as others have done, to keep buying books - in multiple formats.
Happy to hear that ebooks are making an impact on yout income stream.
no subject
Date: 2011-06-18 03:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-06-18 04:38 am (UTC)If I'd the guts, I'd leap. But I want to be pushed.
Good By Day Job!!
Date: 2011-06-18 07:13 am (UTC)Being tech challenged I managed to log into the Live Journal on the same entry every day for the last week and so missed leaving a comment for some time. Have to say one of my favorite chapbooks, as many have said, is "Veil of the Dancer" with Natesa/Inas one of my most favorite characters. I always thought of it as being written, not at all in fairy tale language, but as having been translated into English in the style of whatever flowery Arabic type written language they wrote in on that planet. Sorry, can't help you on data bases. It's very mean to leave Steve off. Also I hope you can find somewhere else to buy clothes and shoes. That Canadian outfit seems like they need a serious re do of their systems. Mozart in his summer shorts is so adorable. Wondering if the other cats will also get their summer haircuts.
But the best news I've had in a very long time is that us fans are buying so many books and short stories that you all can spend full time writing. That's so wonderful.Yay!!!
C. and Gus who was admiring Mozart's summer clothes.
PS. The Live Journal folks have finally fixed the ads so that now they have sound again. Thanks Live Journal Tech People!
no subject
Date: 2011-06-18 12:08 pm (UTC)Wow. Binjali!
Date: 2011-06-18 12:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-06-18 05:03 pm (UTC)Binjali!
You remind me of my first harp teacher when she gulped and quit her part-time clerical job, the better to schedule her lessons,
rehearsals (she was with the Pit Orchestra at the Kennedy Center),
and gigs.
Yay!
Lauretta@ConstelaltionBooks
no subject
Date: 2011-06-19 12:31 am (UTC)isabellaG from sidernee.
no subject
Date: 2011-06-19 02:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-06-19 06:59 am (UTC)That we will (hopefully) get more of Liad in addition is just an extra bonus. :)
I've been doing my part to get you additional readers -- I've been writing a novel with a main character whose personality I can only describe as "would have made an excellent Delm of Korval", and most of my cheerleaders had no idea what I was talking about! I envy them: they get the experience of reading all the books for the very first time ...
no subject
Date: 2011-06-19 10:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-06-19 09:53 pm (UTC)Right before Christmas, an arrythmia was discovered, meaning that the heart problem was Rather More Urgent than the doctors had at first understood, and on January 12 Steve was admitted to Eastern Maine Medical Center for cardiac catheterization and angiography. No blockages were found, so a pacemaker was implanted. He's now on a regimen of rehabilitation exercises, and continuing with the drug therapy.
In March, my mother-in-law, the sole caretaker of my father-in-law who has many, many health problems, including dementia, went into the hospital for tests and routine gallbladder removal. Long story short, she went into cardiac arrest at the recovery facility, had open heart surgery was for some weeks in a coma, and is now in a rehab facility, having completely lost control of her life. She will assuredly never live again in the house she spent most of adult life in; her husband of more than 50 years is in another care facility, and unless she gets over her (entirely justifiable) anger at the situation in which she finds herself and does the damn' exercises, she's going to be wheelchair-bound, herself.
. . .and what these things have taught me is this: The Universe doesn't give a fuck what we plan, or what we want. We are responsible for our own happiness, and our happiness will be short-term. There is no such thing as "safety" there is no such thing as "when I have time enough". There is no time but right now, and no certainty that the word I just finished typing will be followed by another.
It's now or never, is what I learned.
And never is closer than any of us think.
...best push in me, Kris.
no subject
Date: 2011-06-19 10:26 pm (UTC)It's a good one. And there's not much there, at the core, that I haven't told myself at one time or another, especially over these last few years. And still I hem and haw.
I'll get there. Soon, I hope.
no subject
Date: 2011-06-19 11:05 pm (UTC)All the best on the move south. Don't forget Brunswick - it's a great town, and has some excellent places to eat. Very centrally located.
no subject
Date: 2011-06-23 02:46 am (UTC)Here's a pic of my sweet boy looking as satisfied as I hope you are. May health stay good and sales keep working their way up.
(Still hoping for another book in the Carousel Tides universe.) But looking forward to Ghost Ship!