Self-Publishing Scares Author from Bantam Books- Really?

 

Well we have made it to end of another work week and here it is, Saturday morning and I am wide awake at 5:15am.  I will say that this week has been exceptionally busy, I've had two job interviews, and I’m doing final book edits to make sure that this book due out will be without any blemishes and doing my motherly/wifely duties to keep the home fires burning.

You know, speaking of books and publishing, I had the oddest thing happen to me yesterday. I was speaking with a gentleman, who has been published by Bantam Books, on line in regards to traditional publishers and authors that fear those who self-publish, that they will be the new way of publishing because of all they have to go through to get their stories to the shelves. Their strength will grow in numbers because of what they will learn in the industry. Hummm??? I can't see how, the crap that an author of a self-published book goes through it mind bending, stressful and the author is generally the one that does the writing, checking, re-checking, web page building, cover designing, book signing scheduling, oh and we can't forgot the ever dreaded marketing, that in itself is a pain in the royal butt. And if you think the marketing part is bad, let’s not forget about the costs that come out of your pocket. Ouch!

A traditional publisher, you write your query, you send it in with a few chapters of your story, if they like it you sign a contract - then you wait for them, they don't have to wait for you, they do the marketing, they set up the book signings, they edit the heck out of it and do whatever tweaking is needed to be done Etc.. Etc.   So my question is - What the heck is the problem? All that comes to mind is the first two lines of the song - "Slow Ride by Foghat"  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcCNcgoyG_0 (smile, this song was a song that a band played at the Adak talent show I speak about in my book. You will find it in Chapter 19.  Nothing like rockin out with a cup of coffee so early on a Saturday morning - Hope I don't wake the kids. Bigger Smile) Ok, I'm sure it's not that simple, but the concept is very appealing to me vs. having the control and all the headaches that come with it when you publish on your own.

I'd love to be one of the authors who have had the pleasure of finding a publisher that didn't want to always change things or talk money constantly. The first time a publisher was interested in my work the very first thing they mentioned was that I had to sign over my rights to it, meaning, they could change and do what they wanted to my story and my cover so that it would be appealing to a large group of readers. I immediately was shocked - I wasn't upset over the possible cover change comment, but how can a company sit there and say they wanted to change some of the writing in my story. All I heard was that they want to change my life to please the readers? You can't and I won't be dishonest for the sake of making money, or for any other reason. The things in my book are my life experiences. I also chose not to write with forty dollar words that you would have to look up every time you turn a page. It didn't mean that I don't have a large vocabulary, I just wanted people to feel like they were walking beside me and seeing through my words that with the good came the bad and I'm proud to still be on this earth to tell it. In one short sentence to describe my thoughts behind my writing my first book - I just wanted to be me, not someone’s dancing chicken.

They didn't like that and so the deal was dead. I decided that I wasn't going to stop there. I self-published and very proud of myself that I did. Funny thing, now I am getting calls that publishers are interested in my Fictional book that I have completed titled "Deemed Crazy", yes it is edgy, yes much of the story was inspired by things and people that have crossed my path throughout my life, but then the fun came in when I got to write freely, and why? It's a work of Fiction - A mystery, suspense, hang on the edge of your seat thriller. (And no animals where physically hurt while writing this story - You'll have to read the book to understand that statement) With my newest writing adventure, I guess I can see why I don't have a problem with signing with an actual publisher and forgoing the self-publishing world is that "Deemed Crazy" is all fiction, but could, in some sick way,  really happen and I don't have this moral obligation to stay true to my story, as I did with my personal story of my life "Through the Barracks Window: A Time of Waves." Everyone has a story to tell. My first story was originally written and I only wanted just a few copies to be printed for my family. I never had any intentions of selling it to the world or trying to be rich.  It was the uplifting words from Mr. Webber, that inspired me to publish it for the public which in turn led to my quest to raise funding and awareness for Veterans who suffer the from "Gulf War Illnesses." 

 

 

As for my next publication - it's going to be a wild ride and I'm ready for the challenge. Coming soon to a Book Shelf, Kindle, Nook, near you....
"Deemed Crazy" If you could get away with committing the ultimate crime of revenge - would you

Hope you all have a great weekend and enjoy yourselves to the fullest. Until next time - Blog ya later Alligators.

Beware of Banking Fees - Update

G

ood Morning Everyone. Since my last posting "Beware of Banking Fees" a lot has happened that I wanted to update you on. As you remember the problem I was facing was with several overdraft fees on my personal account that was never overdrawn.  I had tried to rectify the problem with a call to the customer service 800 line, only to be told - there was nothing they could do. Now I would have to say with the challenges that I have experienced in my life over the past twenty years, minor things can weight just as heavily as major things that come up during day to day experiences. I would prefer to avoid confrontation, but if I feel like a cat in a room full of rocking chairs, confrontation is almost guaranteed until I feel I am getting a complete and honest answer.

Now if you haven't had the pleasure of seeing me react when I find out I am being lied to or had been lied too it can't be a very intense moment that if my head could spin around and around - it would, but that is another blog post for another day as I don't want to shake up a perfectly good Thursday. On that note I'm going to move away from the lying  topic and get back to my this banking saga. I decided that I was going to once again get  a face to face meeting with someone from customer service to see what their answer would be this time. The next morning my day was anything but routine. The bus never came to pick up my kids so that meant I was their ride. I got myself together forgetting many important details, Hair, makeup, matching clothes, etc., etc., etc., and we headed out the door by 6:59am. As we headed on our way to take my oldest son to the High School and my younger son to the Vocational School to the next town, because at this point he had missed the shuttle from the High School to get him there for his 7:25 class, my cell phone began ringing. Immediately my heart started to pound with excitement - it's my sweetie, but his call was not one of speaking sweet nothings to me, he wanted me to bring him his other work boots as he was working with asphalt and didn't want to get tar and stuff on his new boots. By this point I had almost forgotten that I set into my mind that I was going over to the bank to address what I feel is a way banks try to scam people in this drowning economy.

I got the kids to school, when back home and got the boots, and now I am falling into a funk that I just want to go home and do nothing - remember I hold a Doctorate's in Procrastination. (smile). The traffic was getting backed up due to the morning rush and the gas tank was reading lower than I'd like, yet somehow I found the ability to get my mind back on track. I arrived at the bank two minutes before they opened, which gave me time to plan out what I was going to say rather than come off as some demanding ranging mother that didn't have time to do her hair or make-up. (I'm surprised I wasn't arrested for indecent exposure from the neck up - hahaha).

So there I stood in the lobby, oversized work out pants that were all stretched out, a jacket that looked like my pen had taken it upon its self to randomly write on it, my hair crazier than Reverend Jim on the 80's sitcom Taxi, and I was sporting a blank and very pale canvas color to my face that could have landed me a roll on the AMC series "Walking Dead", and this is NO LIE! I was a walking horror story. There wasn't one sign that this girl had been asked to pose for Playboy as Miss August. I still have my letter. There was only one customer in the bank that was standing at the teller window and took a look at me and then quickly looked away so that he wouldn't turn to stone. I'm telling you, I am one scary mother, no pun intended, in the morning that even I don't look into a mirror until at least after 7:30am.

 

I will have to say that the customer service lady met me with smile, but I can just envision what she was thinking.  She asked me to come into her cubical and we both looked over my account on her computer screen. Her screen was displaying the same information as mine - never been overdrawn.  her explanation was that the computer - I so love how people blame inanimate objects, saw the debits of the day and then the deposit on that same day so it believed that I didn't have the money when it implement the charges before the credit posted. It was all I go do to refrain from going into one of my sarcastic modes where I say - "AUH DUAH! HELLO! DO YOU HEAR YOURSELF! FUDGE!!!!!"

However I didn't say anything and just kind of shook my head in disbelief that I was even sitting there listening to this. When she looked up at me after typing on her keyboard, she said something that completely shocked me - I have reversed all but two charges Mrs. Bolin, and the reason for that is a check that was written to you for $150.00, was returned today and that is what produced the additional charges after the fees you have been trying to fix. But the fees you got today were not overdraft fees that were return check fees. With that, I was content. I was finally given a straight answer.

So as you have probably guessed by now, our account is now in good standing - knock on wood. Phew! I'm relieved that this drama is behind me and I have learned a lot. When all else fails and it is physically possibly, always try to resolve a problem in person. Never try to use e-mail or texting as you can't tell what a person is feeling through their words and unless they state what the emotion is one can jump to false assumptions. Calling on the phone is convenient, but can still lead to stress as the persons tone could be nothing like their body language and again you could take their tone in a negative way, but it just might be the way the person is. I'm glad I went with my instinct and chose to go back in. I am also happy to report that the maker of the bad check - they paid me in cash and paid for the fees. So what had started out as a morning without my routine, feel back into a regular schedule and I completed the rest of my tasks for the day without any problems.

Thanks so much for listening and remember, always be mindful of your money. Know where it is going, why it is going there and who is trying to get you to part with it. Have a wonderful day everyone and I'll blog you later.

 

P.S. My fictional mystery, suspense thriller titled "Deemed Crazy" is in it's final stages to be ready for print. I can't wait. I have really enjoyed stepping outside the box and write in a genre that year ago only read. Again, thanks for sticking with me and can't wait to share more blog stories on topics that people have sent in.

 

"BEWARE OF THE BANKING FEE SNOWBALL EFFECT!"

 

Hello and Happy New Year to one and all. I know it has been a few days since my last post, but to know me is to know that I can't go to long without something to bring to the attention of the numerous people who grace our planet. So as you can tell by the title of today's blog, something or someone in the banking system set me off today. Yes, I am going to use myself for today's topic. For the past 9 years I have been banking with SunTrust Bank. I have to say, that I am very pleased with how the bank, that used to be called Crestar has made some fantastic changes to their banking products, with the best one being ATM cash deposits that will post on that days business until 8:59pm. Holy Crap that is awesome! Last night was the first night I ever used it and it was FANTABULOUS! As much of my deposits are small amounts of cash here and there for my crafting business. Cash works for me and now it works even better if I get paid after the bank closes.

My gripe is with M&T Bank. My husband opened an account with them about two years ago because the company he works for has an account with them and was told that he should because any employees being paid more than a specified amount, have to have an account to deposit the remaining funds in. For example, say the bank had a cut off that they would not fully fund any checks over $900.00 that anything after that amount had to be deposited. Hum???? I understand that there are employers in this world that don't always have the funds in the account to cover payroll until a large deposit comes in from where it may be coming from, but I've been a teller before and you can see how much is in the account from which a check is being drawn from and if the funds are or are not available to be paid out.

Now, the company my husband works for goes out of their way for their employees and as a courtesy will cash the checks for their employees if they wish. Whoa hold on...Relax, they only have about 20 on the payroll, if it were anything more I'd be yelling hold on right along with ya. Smile. So now, we have the actual company owner going over to the bank and cashing checks, so why in the Hell would a bank enforce a set amount, that clearly all of the paychecks go over, and not allow all the checks to be fully cashed if an employee chose to have it that way? This was a red flag for me, but this really isn't the spark that set my undies a blaze, it was a conversation that I had with Laura, a customer service phone rep about our checking account that had been charged for overdraft fees on an account that was never overdraw until they assessed two $38.50 fees. OUCH!!! AND FOR WHAT!!!!!

Together over the phone we were both looking at our account on the computer. She went on to indicate to me that my check that I had made a deposit with had been placed on a one day hold. Of course you all know what my next response was - WHY!? I was informed that ANY PAPER checks can be held up to 5 working days and that I should consider direct deposit. Why, when this is an account only used if my husband makes more than then the bank will cash in his paycheck and we have four ACH debits for this account - which is an automatic payment that is drawn from our account on a set series of dates every month. Knowing the funds in the account were running lower than usual due to short work weeks for the last three weeks I decided to transfer the funds from my VA deposit in our SunTrust account (That is our primary account for everything under the sun) to cover all the pending payments. But the joke was on me, and I didn't find it funny in the slightest when I got up this morning and saw red numbers instead of black ones for our bank balances in the M&T account. I had specifically asked the teller if the funds would be available the day I had made the deposit if I write a check or should I go to my own bank and cash it first. She assured me it would be available because it was deposited before 2:00pm.  Here's a question for you...do you think what she told me was true?  If you answered yes, you are so very wrong.

But the shocking part still had nothing to do with being overdrawn as my statement does not show that at any time that any transaction that came against our account caused us to be overdrawn, The shocking part is that these so called fee's have been charge against us twice in less than a week, and WE WERE NEVER OVERDRAWN!! Three days ago I had gone in there for the same reason as  today.  That was only one fee and they reversed it as they could not explain why it was there, but as for today’s fee’s, I have already been informed that I was S.O.L. (Shit out of luck) even though there is no reason again for the fees to be there! Lovely hua? Somehow I feel like I have been set up so that the bank can skim some cash from me and I am just some pawn in the whole deceptive plan. Yes, I agree, that was a bit dramatic, OK, so I’m not a pawn, but I Just don’t have a good feeling about any of this and with this economy…something is very wrong.

Of course Laura didn’t say those exact words - that I was S.O.L., her words feel into place like this, “I’m sorry there is nothing I can do for you, Might I suggest going back to the bank where this happened.”  Hum, like I haven’t already tired this? Do you think I like trying to handle matters like this over the phone? I’d rather be face to face with some, then go ahead and try to feed me long lines of BS – good luck. And what makes this worse when you’re being charge $79.00 - getting another $79.00 for two ACH’s that drafted, ten days before they were due, on an account that I didn’t know was overdrawn until after the 2:00pm cut off time so any funds deposited now won’t be available until tomorrow.

Want to know what Laura’s answer was for the new style ACH deception in the world? “I can’t tell you how many customers are dealing with this same type of problem. I get calls about this all the time. Companies are processing payments earlier than when customers have indicated they can be withdrawn from their accounts.” Wow how flippen sad. Her answers were not what I wanted to hear. It all sounded more like one excuse after another with nobody willing to take responsibility that clearly an error had been made somewhere. Needless to say, I thanked her for her time and nicely indicated that I would no longer be doing any business with them. That the account will stay open only because it has to, but the money will be immediately removed after each payday.  

So to all of you out there who entrust the banks to be the guardian of your hard earned money, do your best to check you accounts frequently – daily if it makes you feel better, I know it makes me feel better. Check for fees and don’t take the answer “The payment posted before your check did on the same business day. It is all a matter of timing and the computer is in charge of it.” If you hear that – FIGHT IT! Computers make mistakes, because the computers cannot operate without the information provided by a human hand. If I was the cause that my account was overdrawn, then fine I earned the fee but accounting to my statement, I had enough money to cover all the debits that were posting to my account, yet for some reason the snowball effect took over my account and turn into a raging avalanche.

 

Just watch out for yourselves people, read the fine print and question anything that doesn’t look right, because sometimes the simple mistakes, that you think won’t be a problem, can have costly consequences, that again makes money for your bank. To quote my husband in regards to banking issues like this, “they got to make money somehow.” To me the next thing I will be dealing with is the agonizing math problem in my head that with the $158.00 in bank fee’s that I’m stuck with that at $3.00 for a gallon of milk, I could have purchased 52.66666 gallons of milk or I could have filled my truck up with gas. CALGON TAKE ME AWAY!!! UGHGHGH!!! 

 

Thanks so much for taking the time to read my words as I vented away the negative event of my day. I promise to be livelier in my writing endeavors. Thanks so much for stopping in and keep sending those emails…I love hearing from you. If you have a topic that you’d like me to write about just send it to my email address and I’ll do my best to talk about it.  Until next time – Blog ya later alligator.