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Publishing a Book

3/30/2017

I published my first book! Ok, actually mommy published a book, and this was my first time helping with that. She wanted it to be a special experience for me since this is a “first” for me. Really, I didn’t do anything. I just stood there and looked pretty while she did it. But she was thrilled to have me there with her while she did it. She got her proofreads back early, so she published Metamorphosis, Book Two of The Earthside Trilogy on Monday. Mommy insists on self publishing now, because she said too many publishers have gone under, and because she doesn’t need other people unable to handle their own affairs or with selfish motives screwing up her creative vision. She says that self publishing gives her more freedom, and that nobody can screw it up but her.

Ok!

But 100% control also means 100% responsibility, so she’s been on the computer every night doing that follow up work that publishers usually do with updating websites, publicity, applying for the copyright, etc. It’s a lot of steps, but that’s alright. She has some promotion coming up for the first book in that trilogy weekend after next, so she published and updated everything just in time for that. Plus, she just beat an explosion in her work load as they go into their busiest time of year at her day job. Talk about timing!

It’s been exciting to help her with this! If you want to know more about the book, you can click the italicized link above, or you can check out her website and blog.

That’s all today. Take care. Have a Happy Friday tomorrow and a wonderful weekend!

Luv,

Bubbles

Language Lessons

3/24/2017

We really need to work on mommy’s linguistic skills. I can’t believe she expects us to talk in English when she can’t understand basic “conurese.” Case in point: it took two days of turning my cage newspaper into confetti before she finally got that I didn’t like the chew toy she put in my cage. That’s right, two days. And here she is a writer and all. What did she think I was doing, prepping for a birdy party? Then again, I could have been. There’s no party like a birdy party, and a birdy party’s alright!

Talking sense into mommy isn’t the only adventure we’ve had this week. Daddy has bronchitis. This pollen hasn’t been kind to him. Plus, he can’t take off work because they have stuff going on that he has to be there for, so he’s had to go in sick. Poor daddy. We’re all trying to help him out. Hopefully, he can get some rest and recovery this weekend. At least it’s Friday and that can happen, right?

So that’s what’s happening in our corner of the world these days. I hope you’re all doing well. Take care. Have a happy Friday and a wonderful weekend.

Luv,

Zack

Snow Day - An Anipal Land Short Story

3/14/2017

Hi everybody, we have a treat for you today. Mommy wrote a short story today that she thought you'd enjoy. The winter weather has a lot of us down, and she had this idea for a funny story to brighten your spirits.

She does intend to write a longer Anipal Land story that features more of our Twitter pals, but until then, I hope you enjoy this short tale of our silly trio and an unusual delivery man!

Snow Day – An Anipal Land Short Story

“Bubbles, why are you hiding in your happy hut?” Chloe asked.

Bubbles poked her pretty blue face out of the snuggly hut. “I’m scared. There’s white stuff falling out of the sky.”

“It’s just snow,” Zack said.

“I want mommy and daddy.”

“They’ll be home soon,” Chloe said. “The news report said the work places are closing.”

DING DONG!

“What’s that?” Bubbles withdrew into her hut.

“Special delivery for Zack, Chloe, and Bubbles.”

“Must be my Anipal delivery,” Zack said. “I ordered some parts for the birdhouses outside.”

“Parts?” Chloe asked.

“I’m making a fortune renting them to the outside birds.”

“Zack, those are decorative!” Chloe said.

“Well, they’re functional now, and I can raise rent if I can get WiFi in them.” Zack opened the front door to a large snowman standing on the porch.

“Hi handsome birdy!” the snowman asked.

“Hey!” Zack said. “Do you have my Internet stuff?”

“That’s a strange looking delivery man,” Chloe said.

“That’s no delivery man,” Bubbles said. “It’s the Abominable Snow Man!”

“Ha ha ha! I knew I’d find you, Bubbles! It was only a matter of time!”

Zack looked at Bubbles. “What’s this?”

“What it’s about is that Bubbles abandoned me!”

“I was adopted last summer!” Bubbles quivered in the entryway. “Besides, you always left me cold and soaky wet when you petted me. I didn’t like it! I told you that, but you still soaked me.”

“Now I have you my Blue Beauty! Now I’ll love you and pet you and call you Boom Bird!”

“Boom Bird?” Zack asked.

“She’s my sister, and I say you leave her alone!” Chloe rushed forward, delivering a chop to Snowy. She was rewarded with a laugh and soaky wet feathers.

“You soaked my sister!” Bubbles said, her cheeks glowing pink. “How dare you!”

“You can’t stop me!” Snowy reached a frozen arm toward Bubbles. “I’ll pet you whether you like it or not!”

Whirrl –

“What’s that?” Snowy dripped as he looked down at Zack, holding mommy’s blow dryer. “What are you doing?”

“I’m Mister Heat Meiser; I’m Mister Sun,” Zack sang as Snowy melted on the porch. Soon, all that was left was a puddle and a head. Bubbles walked up to Snowy.

“All you had to do was be nice, Snowy. I might have let you pet me briefly. But you’ve provoked my brother and soaked my sister, and now you have to learn better.” She jerked his carrot nose off and whacked him on the head, sending it booming down the porch steps in a splat. “That’s why it’s not worth it to be a jerk!”

“Now I get it,” Chloe said, dripping in the entryway. “Boom Bird!”

“That’s right, I boom” Bubbles ran to snuggle Zack, hearts floating from her head. “Thanks Zack!”

“I’ve gotta look out for my sisters,” he closed the door and blew Chloe dry, leaving her feathers fluffy and warm. “I think I’ll let daddy get my parcels from now on.”

“Good idea,” Bubbles said. They jumped as the garage door lifted. “Hurry! Back to the cages!”

They rushed to the den, tucking into their cages just as mommy and daddy walked in the house.

“Hi guys, we’re home early!”

They beeped their approval.

“I wonder what happened out there,” mommy said. “There’s a huge puddle on the porch, and why is my hair dryer in the entryway?”

“I was wondering why we got Internet cable from a company called ‘Anipals Inc.’” daddy said.

Zack, Chloe, and Bubbles cackled, happy that mommy and daddy were home.

THE END.

Chatter With Chloe!

3/10/2017

Hi everybody, it’s time for another edition of “Chatter With Chloe.” Today, I’ll give you the hot gossip taking place in our corner of the world.

Today’s top of the news is that mommy’s next book is in the hands of the handlers. The beta/proofreader is working on systematically breaking it down for corrections, consistency, and finalizing, and the cover artist is hard at work on creating a visual representation of this tale. The cover should be read early next week. Look for mommy to start some pre-publication promotion of Metamorphosis – Book Two of The Earthside Trilogy soon. And if you wonder about Book One, then you’re in luck! It’s available for FREE on Smashwords for “Read an Ebook Week.” Click this link to grab your free copy before midnight on Saturday. Her mystery novel, Move, is also free this week there too. Click here if mystery is more your thing. Smashwords accounts are free and easy to set up, and you can get them in any ebook format – plus, the apps for most of them are free for phones or tablets, if you don’t have an ereader.

Ok, that’s my sales plug. On to other news: mommy’s co-worker finally admitted that she’s expecting in September. We all said “ooh!” because that means mommy suspected her coworker was pregnant about the time she got pregnant. Mommy says that when you work in an office, you learn the signs. She understands why they don’t tell before the 12 week mark (because of fear of losing it), but she wishes they were comfortable admitting it in those first days when they really get sick. It would be nice for her to know that carrying around that HUGE mug of coffee is probably making her coworker gag. We should be respectful and helpful as much as we can.

On that note, mommy joked that she should become a psychic. I predict she’d be broke. Guessing who the villain really is on Arrow and that her coworker was making the bathroom dash because she was pregnant spoke more to the power of observation than to any mental abilities. She’s a writer with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She’s been taught to notice stuff.

Daddy’s keeping busy too. Looks like he has some website work coming up soon, which he likes, but is work. He’s keeping things rolling. Daddy’s a low key guy and hasn’t had the workplace shenanagins like mommy has lately. Actually, he is, but he ignores it. Daddy’s a computer guy and has to focus on keeping things running rather than that drama. And he’s a guy. A good one, too. We love our daddy.

Zack and Bubbles are also doing well. Zack is his usual sunny self; playing, dancing and alternately embracing and escaping Bubbles affections. Bubbles is still a spunky girl, too. She loves her new cage, and has started giving mommy kisses. That’s sweet of her. She’s always been attached to daddy, and it’s nice to see her sweetening up on mommy. But mommy has also been playing with her more too, which helps. They’re connecting, as well they should because they’re both silly!

So that’s what’s happening in our nest. I hope all of you are doing well. Take care. Have a Happy Friday and a wonderful weekend!

Luv,

Chloe

Publishing a Book

Language Lessons

Snow Day - An Anipal Land Short Story

Chatter With Chloe!

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