Emerges briefly from the haze

I'm nearly done with mid-terms. After this, the normal load of studying and writing papers will seem like nothing. My brain is tired and I don't like college anymore--which is usually how I feel after a marathon of studying like this.


I'm also preparing to release Fassen Files. This weekend I'll be formatting it, so ignore any bad words you hear coming from my home. I'm sure one of the kids probably turned the TV up too loud or something. Because it certainly won't me a cursing at Amazon or Smashwords' Meatgrinder program. I am behind schedule, but if all the forces of the universe cooperate, it should be out by the end of next week, which will still be October. Sort of.



Confession? I have great hopes for Fassen Files. Not because it's a better book than Sing, but it should have a broader appeal. In truth I'm pleased that SING is selling at all. Since July I've sold enough copies to buy a few new chew toys for Story and a couple of more eBooks (though my husband pointed out that it sort of defeats the purpose of making money selling eBooks if one just turns around and uses that money to buy more eBooks. The man clearly doesn't understand how this works). Granted, it isn't very much, but it's enough to make me want to try again.

I'm always hesitant to explain Fassen Files . If I tell people it's about a woman who found a psychic dog, they look at me funny. Like I don't know how cliched it sounds. In truth, the book is light, fun fiction, bordering on chic-lit, but not exactly, science fiction, but not exactly, and a love story, but only sort of (okay, more than sort of, but no more hints). It even has bad guys and spies and espionage (sort of). In the broadest terms possible, it's about the human animal connection, the "what-if" of our relationships with our dogs and how they change our lives. I want people to read this book and look at their own dog and briefly entertain the idea that he might just know a little more than they thought previously.

In case you need any convincing, here's a testimonial from a total stranger I met in my kitchen this morning:  
     
"Hello sir. Have you had a chance to read Mary O Paddock's newest book yet?"

"I'll have you know I stayed up until three am reading Fassen Files, and not just because my wife wrote it. If people like dogs and sci-fi they're going to love this book." *


So there you go. An unbiased, unsolicited opinion. No money changed hands for this endorsement. Though he might have gotten a kiss or two.


I'll have more to say over the weekend. So don't go away . . .

*True story.