Bragging to make myself feel better

because it has really sucked.

Due to our vacation catastrophe, everything has snowballed to the point where rent was late, things are getting shut off, and we had only $40 for groceries and diapers. Maggie has been wetting the bed at night, so sadly a fifth of our food budget had to go towards that. We are literally going to be eating some combination of eggs and hotdogs at every meal. >.< It's made me very upset tonight.

And to top it off, Maggie has been a maniac all day. Literally. Kicking me and laughing as I spank her...! She wrinkled my brand new book by stomping on it.

Speaking of my brand new book! I won it! That's where my bragging comes in. There was a 150 word ghost story contest on a relatively new author's site that I entered and won second place. I was totally shocked, never even expected to place, just did it as a practice exercise.

So I won a signed copy of the author's new book, author "swag", and a 1 hour skype date where I can ask her any questions or ask for any help. The swag was one of those rubber bracelets, a pen, a bookmark, a sticker and a tattoo. My skype meeting is next Friday evening, and I have no idea what I'm going to talk to her about but I'm excited anyways.

As far as the writing goes...I've shelved my elemental story for now. I just can't make it like it is in my head. I'm actually trying my hand at short romance so I can learn more about writing before I tackle it again. Erhm....erotic romance. :p Don't laugh!

I joined a website of self-published and traditional published romance authors for help. I've shared a tiny bit of my work, but actually got a few compliments. Which is like, huge, you have no idea. I'm so convinced I suck at everything so badly that studying won't even help me. But one very prolific author said I had a natural voice, that she liked what she'd seen so far, and to keep it up.

So IF I finish this story, and IF I can do all the stuff involved in self-publishing, you and I are gonna have to have a release day party. :p I have a lot to do yet of course. Finish the story, edit it myself, make a cover, format the ebook myself, make author page on Amazon and set up payment etc. If you're coming to visit in the next couple months I'll wait until you get here, if not, we'll have to do it over the phone or something. Over the phone, with alcohol and deserts or something lol.

So when ARE you coming to see us?!?

I hope it's okay that I bragged a little bit. It's literally the only happy thing I have right now, and you're pretty much the only person who would give a crap.

Love you sis, I hope things are a lot better for you guys than they were a few days ago. /hugs