NOT YET

It's scary how many months can pass.

I'M SCARED . . . OF A MOUSE

I admit it -- I'm frightened by a mouse.

When my computer began acting erractically, I knew there were significant problems with the CPU, but I suspected also that the mouse might be responsible as well. Sent my CPU off to the repair shop, hoping for the best.

After the CPU came home again, some of the same problems re-appeared. The logical move might have been to purchase a new computer mouse. If you're over the age of six, you've already learned that usually things are not as simple as they seem.

'Way back when we were newly marrieds we bought a second-hand Nash car. Soon after purchase it became apparent that the old radiator was leaking. Late summer the radiator had to be filled with water every time we stopped for gasoline. That was back in the days when most gasoline stations had attendants who pumped the gas and cast an eye over your car to see what other services you might need (and be willing to pay for).

One beautiful autumn afternoon the attendant noticed that the old cap on the radiator was rather loose and poorly-fitting. "Why don't you folks get a new cap for your radiator?" he queried. "Might keep you from having to fill the radiator all the time."

Seemed a harmless suggestion. A new cap cost only pennies. Done.

That's when the trouble started. The old cap had been a safety valve. The new cap fit very tightly, Pressure in the water system found other outlets -- eroded metals in the radiator, worn rubber hoses, other weak places in the system. Trying to avoid the purchase and installation of a new radiator, we replaced hose after hose, part after part, in our attempt to keep the blasted Nash running.

Winter came early that year. If the radiator wouldn't hold water, it certainly wouldn't hold anti-freeze. No matter how cold, every night my husband came home, he drained the radiator from the bottom. Allowing what water remained to freeze overnight would have been a final blow to the radiator. Every frigid morning he had to refill the radiator before he drove off to work.

Mercifully, there are things from the past that you cannot remember, such as how long it was through that bitter winter before we were able to manage to acquire alternate transportation.

I'm scared . . . of a mouse. Buy a new mouse for my old computer? When electrical engineers try to explain electricity to students, they sometimes use the analogy of water. Who knows what damage might ensue if a new, technologically-enhanced mouse began sending signals into an old, worn CPU, erractic impulses charging through time-weakened connections.

Disaster.

WHO WON THE PRIZE ???

I wouldn't have done it, except for being so frustrated at the delays. I read about a chocolate recipe contest in The Leavenworth Times. I sent a recipe by e-mail, but at the bottom, the place for the name of the person who was submitting the recipe, my fingers typed in the name "Emilye Yancey," my pen name. I thought I would get an electronic acknowledgement, and when that didn't happen, I decided, oh, well, the recipe had vanished into the atmosphere.

So one day the phone rings, and I hear my husband say, "There is no one named Emilye living at this number."

But The Leavenworth Times did want to talk to Emilye Yancey, to tell her that the chocolate recipe had won Second Prize!

Even if my madcap mystery isn't out, Emilye Yancey has already gotten something published in 2010.

FLASHLIGHTS AND WHISTLES

The flashlight/whistles are here!

Just took delivery of the flashlights that are also whistles in time for Hallowe'en. The color of the light is appropriately red -- one end is the light, the other end is the whistle. There's a keychain ring on the light end, which makes it easier to blow the whistle end.

Of course, the book, "It's Scary, Going Back Home," is still a long way from publication, but what the heck, it's hard to get all the necessary steps done in any logical order. It will be worth the wait.

I'll be seeing some of you at the Great Manhattan Mystery Conclave. If you see me first, be sure to ask me for one of the "It's Scary, Going Back Home" flashlights/whistles.

ISBN, CIP and PCN ?

Alphabet soup, it is.

Every book has to have an ISBN, a CIP and a PCN. Look for yourself on the verso page of any recent book. (The verso page is also called the copyright page, and it's the reverse of the title page.)

ISBN is an International Standard Book Number. The CIP block is the "Cataloging in Publication information. And the PCN is a Preassigned Control number issued by the Library of Congress.

There is no "one-stop" shopping opportunity here -- each piece of information comes from a different source.

Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention the EAN barcode.

All the Quotes I Need

It's been a slow process, but I've gotten permissions now for all the quotes I need.

In fact, I've received a belatedly reply from the Watertown (South Dakota) Public Opinion. I say belated because it arrived several weeks after my request, and after I had obtained the number I needed (one for every chapter). The Watertown quote would have been perfect as it refers to computer thieves stealing identities over the internet.

I'm waiting now for a final report from one of my editors, and then the manuscript will be in the hands of a book designer (although that part has really already been done).

It's Scary, having to wait so long to actually get a book into print.

Designing Covers

I'm so excited -- the front and back covers for It's Scary, Going Back Home, are taking shape. We spent a lot of time this afternoon looking at options, considering type faces, colors, design elements, all the pieces that go into producing a spectacular front cover.

Next week I hope to be talking to a book designer, you know, the person who can convert ordinary Word files into a language the book manufacturing machines can understand.