My writing career started with a typewriter in high school, then an electric one, and eventually a computer. I'm a fast typist, but computers are like a fancy typewriter for me. I can easily edit, cut and paste, delete whole sections, change the name of a character through an entire book with a few clicks. That's how I managed to finish and publish 3 books and a short story.
Then came zoom meetings and social media. All I can say is GET HELP! I don't mean right now, I'm fine, now, really, because I got help. I am about to run a virtual launch party for my recently released book, The Netahs, Down in the Valley, book 2. I did my homework and decided to use Eventbrite to gather attendees and emails, and then set up a Zoom account to run the event on. I got the ball rolling, then called my beautiful daughter who works remotely and is very tech savvy. She has been an immense help. Not only does she know how to connect everything like a Zoom link to an Eventbrite notice, but she has helped me set up my meeting space with the proper lights and sound. Her music and theater background may have helped with that, too. There were days when I thought I should just go ahead and shave my head because I'd been so ready to yank out all my hair! My daughter came to the rescue. What's that? You don't have a daughter/son/grandson to call? Don't worry. There are resources out there. Check your local library, maybe they have teens who volunteer to help tech dunces get around on their computers. Community colleges run classes. But seriously, call anyone you know who is younger than you. They will know and probably be happy to help. Feeling superior to your elders is a good mood boost for them! It's not too late to register and attend my event. Click on the links above to register. However, if you are a Denver local, you have another chance to help me celebrate. I'll be at the Barnes & Noble at 960 Colorado Blvd. on May 19 from 1-3 pm. You can pre-order your books to be signed, and come meet me, ask me questions, tell me what you think of The Netahs! Go to: www.barnesandnoble.com/s/the%20netahs/_/N-8q8. Hope to see you there. Leave your dunce cap at home. I think they're no longer PC.
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Three small things we can do to help our big planet.
It often feels overwhelming and like there's nothing an individual can do to help our environment. I'm here to offer some good news. We have all read about the preponderance of and damage caused by plastics in our environment. As individuals, we can try to remove plastics from our grocery and on-line purchases. Carry refillable water bottles, use cloth grocery bags, order from companies that use compostable packaging. That's helping. We know that methane is a huge by-product of garbage dumps, worse than cow farts! The methane is created by organic materials breaking down. As individuals, we can stop throwing food scraps into the garbage. Better yet, save them in air-tight containers and compost them in your vegetable garden, or if you don't have that, find a composting operation that will collect them! High Country Conservation does that in Summit County, and Denver has several programs: https://www.scrapscolorado.com, and https://www.compost-colorado.com/. That helps. We know that water is a limited resource in the West. As individuals, we can plant xeric gardens. We can remove lawns and plant native wildflowers and meadows to support native insects and wildlife, and campaign with your neighbors to allow this with your HOA! That helps. How do you care for our planet? We're in this together, even the Netahs! Don't forget, you only have 8 days left to Register for the Netahs Virtual Launch party, April 28. Lisa Kaniut Cobb can't wait to meet you! Fantasy is made up, but research lends credence, and that helps immerse my readers into the fantasy. See previous blog!
My continuing research into wolf re-introductions in Colorado has made me curious how people and wolves coexist in other places. I know, for instance, that there have been wolves in the upper peninsula of Michigan for decades, as they were never extirpated like in the west. There are also wolf packs in Canada. My question: What is the ratio of people/wolf in those areas? How often do they encounter each other? If anyone has more information for me, I'd appreciate links and connections in the comments section below. This is all part of my research into animal and human behavior which will enrich my stories. Thank you for your help! I was once asked at an author event; do you have to do research for your fantasy stories? The short answer is yes. The bigger question is what exactly do I research?
First, I love words. When I come across new ones in my reading, whether it's a fantasy novel or the NYT, I look it up. For instance, last week I had to look up extirpate versus exterminate. The difference between the two is that with extirpate, there are still specimens of a species somewhere else, but not in the area under discussion. So you can extirpate wolves in Colorado, but they are not exterminated, because they survive in Montana and Michigan. Second, I don't know that much about wild animals. I research what they eat, how they live, where they live, what their mating rituals include, how many young they have and when and how often. When do they drop antlers, or are they called horns? Do they molt? My information comes from academic websites, national parks, and local newspapers. Those details get peppered into scenes I write for a more realistic portrayal. But you write fantasy, you say! Yes, but I want to get it right when I say that the bear hibernates at a certain time of year, so that I can then decide that my Netahs don't have to hibernate, because they build more permanent homes. Why is that important? That is one advantage to being a Netah! Finally, when it came time to market my book, The Netahs, Down in the Valley, book 2, I had to learn a lot of new skills. I discovered where and when to post news; what kind of information is welcome in different places. I've learned how to set up an Eventbrite event and do a zoom presentation, I practiced reading my own prose out loud for an audience. I had to decide who to contact and who my readers are. That's all research. Are you one of my readers? If you haven't already registered for my Virtual Launch Party, it's only 15 days away (4/28). Don't miss the fun, satisfy your curiosity, win prizes. Can't wait to see you. |