…for HELL in a handbasket!
Thursday went from relatively calm to that in 2.3 seconds. I’ve been working on placing some advertising for Engineers Week (yes, they have their own week – can you believe that? It’s February 17-23, so be sure and hug an engineer that week. If you can stand to get that close to one, that is haha) and so I’ve been busy talking to ad folks most of the week. What I’ve found is – they really want to talk to you if you’re going to spend a small fortune with their publication. 😀
I did talk to a lady with the Los Angeles Times who was so nice to talk to! Of course, she was at the local Dallas office and not actually IN Los Angeles, but you know, that was okay too. In fact, everyone I’ve talked has been super. It’s rather…refreshing.
It’s a good thing I have super organizational skills. Because I’ve talked to every publication in Southern California I think. hehe I was surprised to discover that not on publiation does a special focus on Engineers Week. Our local newspapers and business journals do that sort of thing. I’ve been putting everything I find out in stacks by state and then by publication. And then I add it all on this very gigantic spreadsheet in Excel.
I know. This is thrilling information, isn’t it?
But as I was filling out all this information, I got to wondering. What sort of people end up being Director of Advertising? Or an Account Executive? I wanted to do an in-depth interview with them to see what led them there and if they enjoy their job and if they do any other interesting work on the side. You know, like us writers who work full time jobs and write part-time.
I’m SO not a people-person (I can’t stand the general populace to be quite honest) so I know talking to people on a daily basis is not for me.
Anyway. Went to lunch with my friend. We were in search of Kincaid’s Hamburgers but never found it, sadly. We think it’s gone. Instead, we ended up at a Chinese place, which wasn’t exactly what I had my mouth all set for. I’ve been craving a big drippy cheeseburger for days. I still haven’t got it.
Afterward, we drove through and affluent neighborhood in Fort Worth called Westover Hills. He was showing me all the multi-million dollar houses. And WOW they were gorgeous. I mention a very affluent neighborhood in my book (which is also next to a country club) but I needed to see it to make the reference more plausible. Even if it is just a reference, I still want to get it right.
As we drove through the narrow black top streets, seeing this gigantic houses that were two and three stories (and the Rolls in the back), four car garages, iron gates across the driveways (and even SOME had their own guardhouse at the gate!), I wondered… what do these people do for a living? Where do they get their money? Is it old Fort Worth money? Or are they up and coming entrepeneurs? My friend said that most of them were probably CEOs, presidents of companies, maybe even a senator or two (with a guardhouse!).
I’m not sure I’d want to live in a house that big (two toilets is about all I can stand to clean), but it sure is nice to dream about it.
And so… it’s FREE BOOK FRIDAY – in case you forgot. I want to know… what do YOU dream about? Something big like a fancy house? A car? A boat? Or maybe it’s something simple…like a nice pair of shoes. Or a dress you’ve been eyeing in the shop window.
Post your comments here and if you want to be in the drawing for Melissa Schroeder’s The Accidental Countess, post that too. Contest closes at midnight CST and I’ll draw the name Saturday morning and announce the winner. 🙂
I dream about taking a wonderful vacation. The last vacation I had was 5 years ago.
I also dream of the day when my dinning room set I ordered and paid for in the middle of December would come in or the furniture store would just tell me they can’t get it and give me my money back.
please add my name for the drawings for FBF and The Accidental Countess 😀
I dream of my own house, with the library set up so I can write in peace and a lovely garden in which to work early in the morning and late at night while the stories percolate.
I dream about a “dream home” with a seperate movie room and a library and fireplace just off of the master bedroom.
Please enter me in both drawings.
I dream about getting more than five hours of sleep in a row…ahhh, bliss!!!
I also dream of owning a villa surrounded by sun-drenched fields in Tuscany, and going on a no-holds-barred (all access to archives) research trip to England.
Not too much to ask!
:lol:hi mel!
i see you hobnobbing with the uppers! lol yeah if you had one of those homes then you’d have a maid to clean toilets! lol i can see you now holding our pinky out while sipping tea! lol
mine is simple as i want to walk in my CFM heels again. lol
I dream about a holiday in some warm place.
Please enter me in both drawings.
I dream of getting my house clutter-free (been here 35 years) and having one room big enough to make into a library for my books.
Please enter my name to FBF and The Accidental Countess.
I dream about taking a vacation with my husband, he’s always at work and I’d love to sometimes see some more of him..I found a lovely place in Greece, the Santorini Islands.
Please enter me in both drawings!
I’m dreaming of a good night’s sleep and also getting to sleep in the next morning!
I’m also dreaming of a house with a library so I can display all of my books!
Please enter in the book drawings.
Hey, nothing wrong with engineers, LOL! I hug one daily!
I dream of being completely out of debt, a new home, and a love-filled life.
I dream of one day having my WIP published, and having kids!
I dream of winning the lottery so I can build a new house for my parents. Also so they don’t have to work anymore. Then with the left over money I would use it to go to college. 😆 Yeah I’m kinda a big shooter I know…=)
Please enter me for the drawing of The Accidental Countess
I dream about getting a nice inheritance or winning the lottery. Then I could take a wonderful vacation to Europe with my family and pay off some of some of my boy’s college loans.
And please enter me in both contests.
I dream of lots of things… a vampire or two… maybe a shapeshifter… OH… LOL… you meant a reality type dream…
Well then, a restaurant style kitchen in my home, win the lottery and travel the world, etc.
I forgot, got caught up in my dreams… Please enter me in the contests. Thank you!
Hi, Mik! I dream about owning a house in Southern California–4-bedroom Craftsman, decorated in Arts & Crafts style. And of course, publication! d:)) (Y’know, you wouldn’t have to clean those bathrooms yourself!)
I dream about winning the lottery to help all my family & friends. I would like to be able to travel some. Bascily dream of not living paycheck to paycheck.
I dream about winning the lottery and then buying all of the Barnes & Noble stock in the world until I own them all. Muh-Ha-Ha-Ha! Please enter me in the contest for the copy of The Accidental Countess. Thank you.
Caitlin 😈
Please include me in the drawings!! It was icy here this morning. Just enough that in this area of Miss. all schools let out early! doesn’t take much frozen stuff for everything to close!! My dream is that I get to travel some before I lose my teeth and have to use a walker!!!:D:D:D:D I really want to go to New Orleans and see the sites, that is what I dream of!:lol:
I dream about being weaned off the ventilator.
Please enter me in the drawing for The Accidental Countess. 🙂
I love these! And made me think of a thing or two I had dreamed about – the lottery, vacations.
Some of your responses really made me chuckle 🙂
I dream about winning the lottery so I can buy my dream home and get me a new car. Plus all the books that I want. lol
I dream of a beautiful home with a round room that has a comfortable window seat all the way around. The round room would be attached to large library/office where the creative juices would flow. Of course, I would be extremely successful with enough money to keep me comfortable. Each year would not be complete without a visit to England, Ireland and Scotland. Not too much to dream for, right? 😆
i used to dream of beautiful men and sex, and romance on a deserted island, inow dream my own bed without a kid in it
Financial security throughout my lifetime…with enough to leave substantial amounts for my children.
I dream about a little house in the Keys with a nice little porch overlooking the water. Yup that would be a nice place to write everyday indeed.
I’d love to win one of your drawings!! I haven’t read any of Melissa’s books yet. Dreams: health and happiness!!
A house in the Texas Hill Country with acreage and maid service