Bucking Hell!

Ah puns, you make me giggle.  (*post title).

Some things never change.  Not only have I NOT done anything I vowed on my New Years' Resolutions List, but I have done things in the space of 30 days I didn't even know I was considering.  Even though they might have been on the back-burner of my mind.

So... let's get to the 'bucking' point, shall we?

Even though I knew full well at the age of 15 what the term 'vanity publishing' was, and even though I went straight on through my 20's and 30's and (eeep, almost all my 40's now) denouncing every 'self-publishing' advertisement that screamed at me from the pages of various writing magazines, I have gone and done it.

I'm just so contrary, me. But you can rely on me to buck a trend - even (actually especially) if the trend is self-imposed.

I'm the same with housework (that's a 'trend', right?)  It's there; it screams and expands and demands attention, so I do my level best to ignore it.  How dare it demand of me - don't I have better things to do with my life? Damn right!

So, Vanity Publishing.  It's always had a bad press (ha) and in a similar fashion to the very misunderstood microwave, I think it's now about time we started to embrace it. *ANALOGY ALERT*  In true Cooper-fashion, I have had enough of spending my precious time standing over a pan into which I've carefully and blended and chopped; added to, stirred, folded, creamed, and pureed to a pulp - watching expectantly as  little bubbles begin to surface, the aroma intensifying and embracing the kitchen (of my mind, keep up, keep up) only for the gas to turn off right at the crucial moment. It's upsetting.  It's demoralising.  It's soul-destroying, frankly. And as I've been standing at this metaphorical 'cooker' for the past 10 years, watching my lovely little dishes simmer and just reach boiling point before... well, you know... the gas... I've decided to soddit and just stick it in the microwave instead.  It pretty much does the same job in a hundredth of the time, does NOT melt the brain and if anything comes out tasting weird, then I've only got myself to blame.

I don't feel desperate. Even though I've published under a pseudonym (D A Cooper) which is more in case of any future representation problems.  I don't feel like I've let myself down; but I do feel oddly liberated. Like a mother Starling having just eased her little fledglings out of the stale nest they've been cooped up in for far too long, and I'm just excited to see how far they can fly now. 

Technology is a wonderful thing.  I usually embrace all things technical, after all, if it's been invented why the heck not use it?  And although I shall continue to buy proper, published, printed books in ink on paper, I shall also be downloading the occasional e-book once I have my shiny new tablet-thingy (oh I'm all up with the latest jargon, me) and relishing in how far we've come since Dickens' day.

Things are looking bucking good for the first month of the New Year - I now resolve they shall stay that way!

I'm going to be published!

...Okay, not in a whole book kinda way, but in a proper, print-on-paper - in a proper National glossy magazine.... and not until the June issue (which is out 5 May if you'd like to add it to that week's grocery list) but enough of the *although*s - this IS FAB NEWS!  My first ever feature and I'm going to be PAID for it and everything!
*Unless you count the years I spent writing features for Trade magazines about Shrink Wrapping and packaging machinery...and I never got this excited about those.  Oh, apart from the one I wrote about the Cadbury's Creme Egg line we installed - which I was VERY proud of - entitled  "Eggs-pertise by *name of company*". 

The piece is going to appear in IT'S FATE! Magazine and I couldn't have done it without my on-line spirit-sister, Deborah Durbin.

It's about the time my Dad predicted the date.. yes DATE - he'd die when he was reading my cards - without knowing what it meant.  And not only that, but he kind of popped back the day before his funeral and gave me a sign - which I'd asked him to do the night we said our farewells.

And I don't want to spoil the excitement for you, so that's all I'm saying.  I'm very encouraged.  The Editor said it was a "lovely account" and I'm delighted!

Plus, the subbing for GROUNDED starts here.....well, Tuesday to be precise.  As previously reported, I have finished, slept on and now, after my ever-supportive little soul-sister, Keris Stainton who kindly read, said she thinks this is going to be "the One" and that she "loved"  this, my 2nd Teenage book, I have the confidence to start making enquiries to Agents. 

So in all, a pretty good place to be, I'd say.