I'm Walking Away Happy

I have decided not to continue on with Dorrance Publishing for The Outdoor Adventures of Charlie and Kaylee series Footprints because I'm unsatisfied with the level of service provided. Do not worry, the book will still come out but this course of action offers several opportunities such as recreating illustrations that I'm not overly fond of. I'd like to do a new cover as well.

There are many advantages from making this decision. It wasn't an easy one because the last time I talked about wanting to stop using their services they wouldn't refund my money. They said that it could be turned into a POD for $900 but they wouldn't refund my all of my money.

I called my credit card company as I was recommended to by a fellow author and learned that if you're using a credit card and making payments that you can only dispute the last 60 days.

The publishing company will never give you a full refund because they have provided some services. The credit card company will not go after them because the publishing company did provide service. It doesn't matter if they did a good job or not it is the simple fact that they did provide a service.

I was angry with Dorrance for the lack of professionalism. They proudly display 90 years of being in business. I explored my options and let it sit on a back burner while I thought about things. Unfortunately, I just can't be angry with the whole situation as other might be.

Why can't I find anger out of this whole situation? If I hadn't chose Dorrance then I wouldn't be on Facebook, and I wouldn't be on Twitter, and I wouldn't have  I Am Normal.. If You're Bipolar as an Ebook out, I wouldn't have turned my total lack of confidence in my illustrating ability into a semi-amateur status.

The best course of action to take with Dorrance is ask that their services in money be taken off my "deposited balance" and credit the rest back to me onto my credit card. I will request a cancellation reference number and a cancellation letter to be sent to me. They then will have 30 days to credit my card or my credit card company will go after them.

My reasons for discontinuing service are that they didn't provide a level of editing that they should have. There shouldn't be any errors on the 1st proof sent, and there shouldn't be more errors on the 2nd proof. (I was trying to happy with their services at that moment but wasn't), and they don't pay attention to what they're supposed to be doing when it comes to illustration insertion.

I researched them, don't think I didn't because I did and most of the complaints were that people couldn't pay anymore so Dorrance stop the book production. Rightly so. I didn't see anything about the level of service provided.

Great things have come from trying to use their publishing company. Maybe I can find someone to do my illustrating for me based on the illustrations I've done. Personally, I've wanted a professional to be the illustrator but it wasn't a consideration due to lack of monthly income. I'd have some advertising money to do some advertising for I Am Normal... If You're Bipolar Ebook or maybe I'll turn them into PODs so everyone can buy a book.

Endless options as I walk away happy. :)

It May Not Be Shiny Items For Sale

My original blog was about my prized collectibles, but I'm looking at selling them so I can turn the ebook I Am Normal... If You're Bipolar into one that you can hold in your hands. I wanted to sell ebooks then reinvest. I had a goal of selling 5 000. This amount would've enabled production of several books for one year. Globally it's attainable if you have capital to use for marketing purposes. 

I need to invest in my venture so I've decided to sell my collectibles.

I love the Share Shed because of the amount of things that I've found that people don't want. It's almost crazy so I thought I'd share what I've found and some things I've purchased at 2nd hand antiquey stores.

This wall is behind my computer desk. The fan came from a second hand store in Quesnel, BC

Oriental vases on the top shelfy and on the bottom shelfy are cups. Can you see Porky Pig?

This plate is a Centennial Canadian plate from 1867 to 1967.

I found this at a Share Shed. For Sale $35 CAD

This is a 1961 Los Angeles and California plate.

Found at the Share Shed. For Sale $45 CAD

Look it's Queen Elizabeth's Coronation back in 1953.

Can you believe I found this at the Share Shed? For Sale $15 CAD

Here's Smitty's celebrating Mother's Day 30th Anniversary.

For Sale $40 CAD

Here is Prince Charles and Princess Di's Wedding commemoration.

You can't really tell that the glass is King George VI 1937.

Both found at you guessed it! The Share Shed.

Prince Charles and Diana tea cup $15 CAD

King George VI $25 CAD

Have you seen a cup like this ever? Only at the Share Shed.

Need I say more?

The double handled container was from the Share Shed.

The creamer is hand painted and I bought it super cheap at Clinton's Emporium.

Creamer on right for sale $10 CAD

The glass bottle with oriental peacock and the vase from, you guessed it! The Share Shed.

I found this postcard at Spences Bridge second hand store.

I found this postcard at Spences Bridge second hand store.

Do you like this one? It's from the same place.

The silver plate is of British Columbia and the different things that happen in the province.

Look it's Popeye in a book! Bought it at Clinton Emporium.

The brown lid container is of English decent with hunters wearing red jackets on horses racing.

It's a Snoopy lunch box. I had to have it, I was denied as a child. Just kidding. :)

Metal British Columbia Map Plate $25 CAD

These are different encyclopedias from 1950's and newer but definitely not 2000's.

It's the policeman from McDonald's! Super old Tim Horton's to go cup.

The hats, from the Share Shed, actually all of it is from the Share Shed.

Books that every man should know; how to do things, travel books, boy/male fiction/non-fiction.

All of it from the Share Shed.

Except the bottom row which is the McDonad's collectable Batman and Robin movie cup collection.

Everything else, Share Shed.

These are all classic novels. The bottom three are older than the 60's.

Herbie, that book if you can believe it is about the comic strip cartoon that was created during the war.

There was a newspaper article inside that talked about it and on the other side of the paper it talked about Kilroy and his famous graffiti. At the Share Shed no less. 

My favorite section!!!! Walt Disney. Do you see the Black Cauldron series and the movie to go with it? Someone left it at the Share Shed! Donald Duck was found at Value Village in Kamloops.

It's Stitch! He was lost but now he has a home. :)

All the books are for girls/women how to's and fiction.

The Share Shed provided me with all of these resources. I'm now fully equipped to deal with menopause. lol.

The Ultimate Collection! Do you see THE DISNEY WAY? And you wonder why I am the way I am. lol

I have such similar business ethics, it's rather silly.

Do you see the Mickey Mouse and friends cover? That's a 1968 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse LP!

Someone tossed in the pile. I couldn't believe it.

There are Disney cup "mats" and a watch.

George went to Disneyland and all he left at the Share Shed was this cup.

I bought the Disneyland Mickey Mouse coffee cup from Clinton Emporium.

The Mickey visor was from the Share Shed.

Behind the visor not that you can see it is a plastic Mickey Mouse doll. Well loved but the big deal is that his eyes look to the sky. Clinton Emporium had this treasure.

If it wasn't for the Share Shed I wouldn't have had the opportunity to own girls sewing machine!

The Mickey Mouse standing on the base is a cookie stamp from Clinton Emporium.

There are two books that are Mickey Mouse and they aren't the same as the old or new versions.

All from the Share Shed. I usually pick out only china that's made in England.

Could I be any luckier? Share Shed!

Most of these figurines are from the Share Shed.

For Sale: Best Offer for all LPS

Look I'm living the 80's all over again. Culture Club anyone?

Some women to look up to.

Oh look, there at a "kissable" level. SO teenagerish. :)

Share Shed.

A Disney DVD player, Disney Trivia game, Mickey Mouse binder. Left at the Share Shed.

The bottom is an old dollhouse that taught me how to create a foreground, background and floor

for my Comic Strip Drawing correspondence course I tried to take. I found it at the Share Shed.

This plate is worth lots of money. How do I know? I saw Lefort dishes on the Antique Roadshow.

This plate originated from France and I found it at the Share Shed.

For Sale $100

This is so retro! Wallpaper fabric molded into a plate.

Share Shed was its home before me. For Sale $50

This is the back of the plate.

And the ultimate kicker! Double sided even!

Can you believe I found it at the Share Shed?

It's about 4 feet by 3 feet wide.

For Sale $150 CAD

Shipping won't be included due to prices.

What can I say about recycling? I love it and I'm all for it!

I'd be willing to sell some of my treasures if Canadian Pickers would drive Highway 97 from Vancouver to Canim Lake. Well they could take a plane and land in Williams Lake or Kamloops. Barkerville (remember the Gold Rush?) is near Quesnel, which as the crow flies,  is not that far at all. I live in Canim Lake, British Columbia and there's a back route to Barkerville. It may be an old road but it's a road trip worth taking :)

Hello Canadian Pickers?

I Have This Reoccurring Dream

Every night for the past week I have a dream that doesn't connect into reality. It's a good thing, I think. The temptation of putting thoughts into action is followed by a prayer to please take these thoughts away while in daylight hours. The thoughts go away, and off my brain goes into another array of thoughts.

I'm afraid of what would happen if I ever got so angry that I unleashed. So inside the bottle with a very tight seal is where it's kept. Rightly so, that it should be there. I know this is repeated exposure experience.

This dream starts out like in The Road to Elderado computer animated movie. Hulo and Tulo are lying on the wood floor in their cell on the ship with Hulo using rocks to show the route of intent.

"So, in the middle of the night we will rippy roo to town, go through the drive thru at Tim Horton's and order large triple triples' with sleevies. Then we shall take a left and park the jeep near the woods. We will put on our black ski masks, black gloves to match our black jacket, pants and shoes and make our way down the back trail. We will find a medium sized boulder and place it on top the hood of the red Toyota car, creating an indent."

This dream ends. A different one starts.

"So, in the middle of the night we will rippy roo to town, go through the Tim Horton's drive thru and order large triple triples' with sleevies. Then we shall take a left and park the jeep near the woods. We will put on our black ski masks, black gloves to match our black jacket, pants and shoes and make our way down the back trail. We will take our crow bars, smash the windows, and leave a medium sized boulder on top the hood of the red Toyota car, creating an indent."

This dream ends. Yet another occurs.

"So, in the middle of the night we will rippy roo to town, go through the Tim Horton's drive thru and order large triple triples' with sleevies. Then we shall take a left and park the jeep near the woods. We will put on our black ski masks, black gloves to match our black jacket, pants and shoes and make our way down the back trail. We will take our Crocodile Dundee Knife and slash the shop tarp walls in "X" like fashion. We'll use our crow bars to smash the windows, and leave a medium sized boulder on top the hood of the red Toyota, creating an indent."

This dream ends. The final dream before I wake up.

"So, in the middle of the night we will rippy roo to town, go through the Tim Horton's drive thru and order large triple triples' with sleevies. Then we shall take a left and park the jeep near the woods. We will put on our black ski masks, black gloves to match our black jacket, pants and shoes and make our way down the back trail. We will take our Crocodile Dundee Knife and slash the shop tarp walls in "X" like fashion, then create straight cut lines on the trailer wheels between the tire grooves. We'll use our crow bars to smash the windows, and leave a medium sized boulder on top the hood of the red Toyota, creating an indent."

I'm hoping that by writing this down will help elevate these dreams. You're probably wondering why I'm angry. We don't live in a time where women had no rights and where it was our husbands that did the talking. I feel angry that a company who values their business reputation would allow such a scammer to use their real estate company to provide rental property management services. When you hear "Remax" you think it's a great real estate company because of their slogan "Above the Crowd". At least I did.

Yes, I'm talking about my ridiculous property manager who told me that my husband had to talk to him about the broiler furnace heating system. When I looked at the place he told me that it wouldn't cost very much for the diesel oil heat. There was firewood in the back to build upon so that the broiler wouldn't have to be used. Then we moved in and the owners sold the firewood. The broiler system had a cracked pump, he said he was going to have it fixed. No certified professional showed up.

There are outdated propane tanks that were supposed to be replaced and there are no new propane tanks at this residence. We moved in here back in June, it's now February.

On several occasions, I talked to him about the excessive consumption of diesel fuel. He never did a thing about it. In December we purchased 235 liters of diesel oil and used it only to heat the floors. Most of the time we had it off and it lasted a month. The gas delivery guy told me that the consumption was too much and the owner had gone through 3300 liters of fuel. She never used any firewood. One month later my husband runs into him at the grocery store and tells the property manager that he should have sent someone out. Within 1 hour a non certified heating person comes out and fixes one issue but doesn't look for anymore problems. This is typical of this local plumbing and heating company. We ran out of diesel fuel in the middle of the night and no one has been out to fix the problem.

The typical response I got was that the owner closed off most of her house and lived in approximately 10% of the house when I've tried to get some attention brought to the problem. So this is how I am supposed to live, apparently. The broiler furnace when it was on kept kicking out and it had to have the restart button pushed. The cracked pump, turns out that this the pump is supposed to keep the garage warm where the water pipes without heating tape around them is located. When it hit -36ish the pipes froze. I called the property manager and was told that he had to talk to my husband about it. My husband and I all ready had a heated discussion over calling and trying to get him to do something about the problem.

There is a wood pellet stove that was a source of heat but it's broken and the owner doesn't want to fix it. We looked it up online how much to fix, and it's cheap. The cost to heat the place would be cheaper because for $235 that will provide you with 490 liters of fuel and it lasts up to 50% longer. I called the property manager and told him that I wanted the wood pellet stove fixed. He told me that my husband had to talk to him. My husband and I all ready had a more heated discussion before I placed that call.

The kicker here is that because this is a rental and it has a deck, it is required by the insurance company that a railing be put around the deck. He hired his wife, his stepson and the three of them put up a two by four railing that looks like a fence and isn't insurance approve-able. A insurance approved deck is not allowed to have a four inch ball pass through any part of the railing. I could lay on the deck and slide off and I could climb through the middle part. If I was the owner I'd be extremely angry that this was attached to the house. It's a beautiful house except the heating problem.

Should I keep praying that these feelings should pass? I know, I know, I have to keep all inside.

Do you ever wonder why there are news stories about people going into their workplace with a rifle and doing unbelievable things? I don't. I know why. Repeated exposure.

Because a picture is worth a thousand words:

A Quarter of the Celebratory

Remember when I said that even small achievements needed to be celebrated because if you don't then how will you know when it's a big thing to celebrate? Well, I'd like to add that if you don't celebrate the big things, then it seems rather flat when a milestone is achieved. I did celebrate in a very small way the fact that I was going to make my goal date but never celebrated that it was available to the world.

I feel rather flat.  I've thinking about writing this blog for several days but time constraints have prevented me from doing so.

I was going to say that I once was a gymnast, because I was. I wasn't a great gymnast, I was okay. My talents were with vault and floor. I competed but never achieved levels that could take me onto the Olympics, although at one time I had hope until I watched the Olympics and saw how young they were and I was too old and too geographically challenged to even entertain such a notion. In a way I wish I could've been as talented as the gymnasts from the movie "Stick It" because that's what the celebration level should've been.

Maybe it's because I didn't celebrate with amplification that it doesn't seem real but on the other hand, I'm emailing Mental Health organizations with a link to amazon should state reality.

Deep down, I know that I have to be on TV and radio. Not even 2 days ago, CTV Toronto did a report on Mental Health in the workplace. Perfect timing on that eh? What is preventing me from calling? Tis the fear of being turned down/blown off or being asked to drive to the TV station which obviously isn't going to be in this little town and I have no money to do it. I think this is the main reason why I had created a business plan for The Outdoor Adventures of Charlie and Kaylee series to have an Author Tour. Now, I think that if I had a couple of thousand then I could fly to TV shows where there's large viewing audiences.

The sooner I sell 5000 ebooks the faster I can come out with hard covers. Why did I set a goal of 5000? Why can't I change that goal? I want to keep the goal because until 5000 is sold there really isn't a lot of financial viability based on my lack of income. Only have a quarter that I'm planning with remember?

It's only been a few days, and I know I should be calm, work at promotion methodically and not a full out drag race so I can burn out at the end.

I guess that's the thing about promotion, if you have the self-confidence, you'll fly like an eagle. But when you have fear nibbling at your toes, it takes a bit longer.

I shall plug away.

I'm Bipolar Enough Too...

I'm Bipolar enough to tweet, facebook, call the radio stations, newspapers, Bell and blog about my goal being reached. I'm so excited, I can hardly believe that one of my dreams is actually coming true. How long the road has been to get here. All worth the wait. Well, sort of. I wish I had the self confidence in 07 to send this out but you know what? Everything in due course.

February the 8th! That's the big day. I couldn't believe the radio stations and newspapers in my area don't know about Mental Illness Awareness Day. Well, maybe I should, they are rather small towns.

On the 8th I'll be emailing all the Mental Health organizations and telling them too :) I'm Bipolar enough to do that lol.