I’d intended to spend this past Sunday working on covers for the six upcoming titles needing them. Instead, I was viciously attacked by a sinus headache that took me down as though I were made of tissue paper.

Yep, wadded me up and tossed me in a corner.

What a way to start my week.

Winter arrived here in West Texas, with a bit of snow, freezing temps and today, wind. Yay. Not.

In spite of it, we’ll be loading up here in a few hours to trek to the city and purchase doors, primer, paint and counter top that will be my desk top for my office. Carpeting may or may not follow next week.

What I’m skirting around is the fact that I’ve gotten jack all done towards finishing Arcane Solutions up. My Story Tamer’s been busy with visiting relatives, so the final edits for The Silent One are on temporary hold.

The very last thing I needed was a Kithran slinking up to purr about a blonde and her very interesting planet. Damn Kithrans.

I did try to shove him into a closet, but he’s bigger than I am. There are battles I can’t win, and this was one of them. Roughly 4k later, he’s agreed that I may have a break.

[glances over shoulder] I’m not sure my idea of ‘a break’ and his match up.

Also, something I’ve kept meaning to mention is that Smashwords announced it has brokered a distribution deal with Amazon.

Opting in means an author/publisher receives 42.5% of the retail instead of 35% distributing directly through Amazon. Smashwords standard take is 15%. If that’s what their percentage is on this deal, then Amazon is receiving 42.5%.

Which means a 50/50 split of sorts now.

Better. Of course, we’re having to wait to see how Amazon is going to handle our titles already directly distributed through them that have been opted in through Smashwords. Be silly to issue another ASIN for them, but I know we want that 42.5% over that 35%.

So we’ll see how that all shakes out.

And I’ve run out of things to say. Laters.

Well, I closed down with 25, 019 for my word count on Arcane Solutions last night. Pretty good!

Writing has begun for the day, with not enough to mention yet. But I haz excerpt!

Nick shook his head. “Self defense classes? I guess that’ll be good if you get mugged. By humans.”

“My instructor’s an ex-Marine, dude.”

“Then he should be teaching you how to handle a gun. That would a lot more useful against vampires, Cordi.”

“Hey, did you not see me head butt that vamp? It totally worked. Go, Marines!”

He laughed. “You got lucky, Cordi.”

“Uh-uh. I did what Jeff taught me to: I surprised him.” The supernatural superiority complex was beginning to irritate the piss out of me.

Rolling his eyes, the shifter suddenly bent, grabbed my left ankle and dumped me on my ass. “Ow!”

“Surprise works both ways, Cordi,” he said, grinning down at me.

“Jerk.” I obviously needed a lot more instruction.

I am totally awesome because today is my birthday and it’s the most awesome day in the year.

Do you know why it’s the most awesome day in the year?

Because it’s Superhero Veterans Day!

That’s right: yours truly was born on the day set aside to honor the warriors upon whose backs this country was built and is kept safe.

Our superheroes – the real life kind.

Let me tell you, real superheroes rock far more than the comic book types because they became superheroes the hard way, and by choice. No radioactive spider bit them; they didn’t suddenly develop super powers during their angsty teenage years.

Nope, it was all the hard way for them. Saying ‘thank you for your service’ doesn’t seem like quite enough, though I know they appreciate it.

My personal superheroes include two grandfathers (both deceased), an uncle who fought in Vietnam and a brother who currently serves in the Navy.

I’ve made a wish for my birthday. Grant it and help those who’ve served.

More ways you can honor and help our warriors:

The Wounded Warrior Project

The Not Alone Fund

Operation Ebook Drop

Soldiers’ Angels: Project Valour-IT (Go, Team Navy!)

Freedom is Not Free

 I’m in for Team Navy, or my brother would probably disown me.

From the Soldiers’ Angels website: Project Valour-IT helps provide voice-controlled/adaptive laptop computers and other technology to support Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines recovering from hand wounds and other severe injuries.  Items supplied include:

I just learned about this via Twitter and think it’s an awesome way to show some support for our warriors!

You can get the information here.

I opted in, as has my buddy, JC Montgomery.

Will you?