Amazon discontinued the ability to create images using their SiteStripe feature and in their infinite wisdom broke all previously created images on 12/31/23. Many blogs used this feature, including this one. Expect my archives to be a hot mess of broken book cover images until I can slowly comb through 20 years of archives to make corrections.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Here, There, Everywhere

So, I think it's time we sat down and had The Talk.  The one where Wendy discloses why her blogging has been all over the frackin' place the past several weeks.  But first....

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I wanted to make sure to point any aspiring writers here at the Bat Cave towards Harlequin's online So You Think You Can Write conference.  If you're interested in writing for Harlequin (and, more importantly, keeping Wendy in category romance), this is a great opportunity to hob-nob with editors, get feedback and advice. 

The conference runs from November 7 - 11.  Be sure to check it out.


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I just got back from a trip home to Michigan.  I spent time with the folks, had a fabu dinner out with Big Sis, saw my niece and nephew....neither of whom are Lemon Drop, but still cute as the dickens all the same. 

This trip also explains why y'all got a bunch of reviews in the past week or so.  I hit a major slump in October, which means Wendy Got Back Logged.  Well, being held captive on an airplane where the film was Mr. Popper's Penguins (::shudder::) - pretty much meant Wendy did nothing but read.  I had two books finished before I even landed in Michigan, and finished a third while I was home.  3 books, in 5 days.  That's not a personal best for me, but pretty dang close. 

Still, I need to get some reviews to Sybil soon or she's going to take out my knee-caps.  My category romance back-log on the Sony Reader has hit Epic OMG! levels.

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So why the slump and why the spotty blogging?  Well, for those of you who have been following my work-related misadventures, the "reorg" is in full swing.  I was transferred to one of our larger branch libraries on October 22.  I worked three whole days and then took a week off for my Michigan trip.  Which means I'm still trying to find my groove.

I'm the type of person who pretty much kicks ass in a rut.  Oh, how I lurve me a rut.  Right now, my rut has been back-filled and I've been given a teaspoon to dig a New Rut. Which is a trick, because I still have my responsibilities from My Old Job (you know, the kick ass Wendy Helps Maintain Adult Fiction For 30-Some Libraries one) plus new responsibilities for The Modified Job (public service at the branch - which entails reference work, programming, collection management, the general business of running said branch etc.).

In a nutshell, I'm two people now. 

On the bright side, everybody has been really great - and patient with me while I flail about like a half-dead fish.  I'm at a library with a great staff, it's a community I'm familiar with, I just haven't quite figured out My New Normal yet.  I do need to get my stuff together though, because much more of this and I suspect people will begin to lose patience with me.

But it's tough for me, because I feel like I'm half-assing just about everything right now, which naturally spills over into my blogging and reading.  Sigh, I'll figure it out.  Eventually.  I mean, I always do.  In the meantime though, it's going to be bumpy around here....

9 comments:

LoriK said...

Good luck settling in at the new job. I know that can be tough, but I'm sure you're up to the task. After all, you're Librarian of the Year.

Sunita said...

(((hugs)))

Good luck with the transition. Glad to hear your colleagues are helping rather than hindering, and I know you'll have it figured out soon.

We'll be here whenever you check in. :-) And keep reading! You made much better use of your plane flight than I did (I too was terrorized by those penguins).

Alie said...

New is scary, but can be exciting too. Good luck!

JamiSings said...

I still wish they would've sent you to my teeny tiny branch instead. We need a load more paper back romance novels! It's pretty much the only thing our homebound patrons read and our collection is seriously suffering. Plus the repeated requests for more "ethnic" romance heroes and heroines that have been ignored. If you were here instead of there I could just put you in front of our rounder for romances, fall on my knees, and beg you "WENDY! PLEASE use your Super Librarian powers to fill this!"

Plus I'd finally have someone here I could talk about romance novels with!

Phyl said...

You've been busy! And it sounds like quite the roller coaster. I'm glad, though, that the folks at your new job will help you settle in. I look forward to those reviews coming in!

nath said...

Hey Wendy! Glad you had a great trip! Now, you're really ready to attack the new job :)

It takes time to get used to it and find your groove, but I have no doubts that you will! Go for it, Wendy!

Wendy said...

Maybe Jami has the right idea - I just need to channel my Super Librarian powers! (Also, Jami - I have heard your pleas, in fact I need to order paperbacks next week!)

Now that I'm back from my vacation, and have an honest-to-goodness regular work schedule, I think it's just a matter of time. Here's hoping the chicken minus head feeling passes soon.

JamiSings said...

Yay! Because the lack of new fiction of any sort at this branch is driving us all nuts.

SarahT said...

Best of luck adjusting to the change. It's tough digging yourself out of a rut, especially when a lot of crap seems to come at the same time.

I hope November is a better month for you.