“If you want something you’ve never had, you’ve got to do something you’ve never done!”
An old friend (‘old’ as in long-time, not years – right DD?) inspired this blog. She has a lot to offer the world but doesn’t believe it.
So, I’ll say again…
“If you want something you’ve never had, you’ve got to do something you’ve never done!”
I wanted to publish a book; I had to become an author, a publisher and a marketing expert (still a way to go with that last one!) It was tough, very tough (and still is), but I wanted it that badly I made it happen.
I now want to help rescue Australian Standard-bred horses. But how, on earth, do I do that from a boat in France?
I love these boys with all my heart
I’ll keep writing. My next book is about two very sore bottoms, five ‘four-legged’ friends, one tent and a heart-warming, hysterical story.
Noel and I spent a few months riding along the Bicentennial National Trail of Australia. We adopted (rescued) five scared, scatty horses and set off with a tent and not much else.
A percentage of proceeds, from this story, will be donated to the SPPHA (The Standard Pleasure and Performance Horse Association), who do a fantastic job in re-homing retired trotters that are otherwise, set to be put down. Trotters which are usually young, worn out, badly treated and have so much to offer.
Whether it is something close to your heart, naked cartwheels (see previous blog!), or taking those first tentative steps to putting yourself out there and earning money with work you are in control of … take those steps…. if you want something you’ve never had, you’ve got to do something you’ve never done…
In the meantime you can read of our adventures on the high seas here.
‘I like stripping’ and ‘naked cartwheels!’ Just what is going on? Has my blog taken on a new, raunchy category….?!
My stripping comment was due to us ‘stripping’ the inside of the boat, but it wasn’t to make room to do naked cartwheels!
Use your imagination! (Image courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net)
The ‘undressed-aerobics’ is a comment from someone who has purchased both our books. And I quote.
‘My partner started reading as soon as your books arrived (two minutes ago), and twenty pages in she is laughing. Thanks Jackie, I will now be ignored for the rest of the day as my partner dives into this tale of the heart and adventure, and the only thing I will hear from her is “what are you making for lunch” and “ha ha ha I so get that”. I could do naked cartwheels through the house NOW and she would not notice me, she’s only thirty pages in and I can’t wait for my go!’
Writers live for these kind of comments. It pays for the endless twenty-hour days, the worry, the stress while putting yourself ‘out-there’ to be judged.
So hug an author, leave or review or drop them a line… it’ll mean more than you’ll ever know.
I’ve neglected the part of my blog that I dedicate to positive thoughts, so here’s a few…
I could choose to moan about:
The weather (it got really chilly today), but the nip on my cheeks is refreshing.
The rather large steel water tank sitting right in the middle of our half-demolished boat – but it means we are another step closer to finishing the renovations.
The mess I am living in (it’s a work-site) – but its kind-of fun and a great excuse for not doing any housework!
The forty-five minute cycle to the supermarket – but it’s keeping me fit and healthy
I am in charge of how I feel and today I choose happiness. Enjoy your day, every day!
Choose happiness and have fun. Learn to laugh at life’s little challenges! (‘Tash, my great friend and I giggle a lot!)
Last month I published my second book. Then I started a marketing frenzy and I found that I had no time to do what I want – write!
Image courtesy of imagerymajestic at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
All I seemed to do was read about writing. So I took action. First, I read some more! And I found two sayings that struck a cord with me:
“No one has time, we make time.”
And
“Time is a created thing. To say ‘I don’t have time,’ is like saying, ‘I don’t want to.’” Lao Tzu
I want to write – and I want to make time, so I did!
Image courtesy of jesadaphorn at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Here’s my seven highly effective habits:
1. I set my alarm and got up two hours earlier each day. I can write a lot in two hours. (There’s no one around to interrupt either).
2. I write for one hour before going to bed, after dinner, after TV (yes, I like the diversion of TV), when everyone else is in bed and not bothering me.
3. I calmed down my marketing strategy from boiling to simmering.
4. I decided to quit being a part of some FaceBook groups that are currently not helping me in what I want to achieve, they were just using my time. I can rejoin them later.
5. I adjusted my FB settings on most of the other FB groups to ‘no notifications’ so my email account stopped becoming clogged up, and I stopped becoming constantly diverted.
6. I drew up a weekly schedule of visits to FB groups that I wanted to continue being a part of. There are two groups I look at daily and the rest I look at once or twice a week (not on weekends).
7. I stopped reading everything, joining everything, commenting on everything and trying to be every-where.
Image courtesy of jesadaphorn at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
The results:
I feel in control of my time.
I control FB it no longer controls me.
I am doing what I actually want to do – write.
I am no longer a headless, unproductive chicken. (Well, I am still a bit manic – as an aside to all this, I am learning French, renovating a boat and setting up a training business – phew!)
The proof will be in the pudding. My next book is about a journey with five horses, my husband and a tent. An unsuccessful journey that will leave you laughing hard, and crying harder… a percentage of proceeds will be going to a charity that rescues horses.
We’re tearing the inside of our boat apart. The two cabins are badly designed. Currently there is a three-quarter double bed and a three-quarter single bed.
At the very least we can rearrange the walls for a big (walk-around) double and a grand single or, I am hoping, another double.
This morning there is stuff everywhere, we have to live in half the boat now. Eighteen-and-a-half metres divided by two isn’t very much! It’s not so much the smaller space, but we’ve had to cram 18.5 metres of ‘stuff’ into the other half!
Wrecking the place!
Now we are sleeping and eating in the lounge (not at the same time), luckily the galley is a good size. The wheelhouse is the store room.
We’ve done this before on other boats and in houses, and instead of getting stressed and worrisome about moving everything around and living in a work-space, I am enjoying it.
Two cabins and lots of thinking!
We won’t always have our health and if we do, time will catch up with us eventually… we won’t always be able to do this.
So, we laugh when the mattress becomes a live animal and refuses to be folded in half to go out the hatch.
We giggle when we walk around in circles, picking up ‘stuff’ and putting it back where it came from.
We snort with mirth, when I moved one set of shelves into another room that Noel was trying to empty.
The corridor, part of which will become the main cabin (with ensuite of course!)
This is fun – these are happy days – these are days to enjoy. They make me smile.
Van Morrison sang about it and I could relate to those words today.
“When you don’t need an answer there’ll be days like this When you don’t meet a chancer there’ll be days like this When all the parts of the puzzle start to look like they fit Then I must remember there’ll be days like this”
Noel and I have been quite anti-social lately, what with trying to get the outside of Rouge Corsair painted prior to winter setting in.
So, a shopping day with our friends, Kim and Lorna from MV Sunflower, was just what we needed to re-connect with civilisation again.
Aiguillon is a little over seven kilometres away. So, after a shaky start, (bike tyres….grrrr), we set off on four bikes of differing vintage, wrapped in hats and scarves, blowing fogging breaths.
On arrival, to get our bearings we sipped a delicious coffee watching the French-way unfold around us. The barman serving wine at 10 am with a cigarette in his hand. The impassioned shouting was just part of everyday conversation, and welcoming smiles.
Smart shopping
Noel and I had several items to find, which of course, meant the hardware. But, this time was different. I’ve never had so much fun in a hardware shop.
The ‘hooks’
We needed some L-shaped doohdads. Basically, metal hooks to hold up timber rods. Our curtains are going to tuck into these rods, at the bottom.
We could buy four in a packet for 5.55 (Euros) per packet. As we needed twenty-four we started to think of other solutions.
With Kim, Noel and I, scratching our heads, things started to improve. We found a packet with more hooks in them. They were a different metal, but useable, for 3.55 Euros. But then we spotted the pick ‘n’ mix.
The items were in baskets, loose, individual. I found a guy to help, as there were no visible prices, and he explained. There were three sized bags and each bag had its own price – the smallest bag was 2.55 Euros. We could put anything we liked in the bag, as long as it seals, all contents would be 2.55.
At this point we all grinned, rubbed our hands together, and said, ‘They have no idea what we are capable of!’
“As long as the bag shuts – it will cost 2.55 (Euros)”
We packed the bag with enough hooks and spares, to do several boats.
What was going to cost us around 35 Euros, ended up costing 2.55 Euros! (Plus extras!)
Rewards
With fresh baguettes, ham and cheese we lunched in the town square. The smoking cafe owner offered us a table and chairs; everyone who passed-by smiled, ‘Bon Appetite.’
Loaded up! Great fun!
With a cheap supermarket, a charity shop and a hardware, all visited (some twice!) with loaded bikes, and big grins we cycled back to our boats. The cooling afternoon and falling winter leaves accompanied us home. The sweet smell from the apple orchards and the sounds of humming tractors was carried along the breeze to round off a perfect day.
When it’s not always raining there’ll be days like this
When there’s no one complaining there’ll be days like this
When everything falls into place like the flick of a switch
Well my mama told me there’ll be days like this
When you don’t need to worry there’ll be days like this
When no one’s in a hurry there’ll be days like this
When you don’t get betrayed by that old Judas kiss
Oh my mama told me there’ll be days like thisWhen you don’t need an answer there’ll be days like this
When you don’t meet a chancer there’ll be days like this
When all the parts of the puzzle start to look like they f it
Then I must remember there’ll be days like thisWhen everyone is up front and they’re not playing tricks
When you don’t have no freeloaders out to get their kicks
When it’s nobody’s business the way that you want to live
I just have to remember there’ll be days like thisWhen no one steps on my dreams there’ll be days like this
When people understand what I mean there’ll be days like this
When you ring out the changes of how everything is
Well my mama told me there’ll be days like this
Oh my mama told me
There’ll be days like this
Oh my mama told me
There’ll be days like this
Oh my mama told me
There’ll be days like this
Oh my mama told me
There’ll be days like this
It’s funny when a harmless comment someone makes keeps you awake all night – but more importantly it makes you think.
Let me briefly explain, I’ve embarked on a Cover Wars competition, where my book cover is alongside four other covers and people (hopefully) vote.
I received a message last night saying, “I don’t usually like this sort of voting,” she also said, “I voted as I believe in your work, your journey and your story, usually I feel compelled to vote for a friend rather than on the strength of their work.”
And she is so very right. And, this really made me think.
I am often up at all hours, thinking, writing, marketing…
Today when I posted a reminder to vote (as requested by the FB page admin), I explained WHY I was doing this. I receive help with marketing if my cover wins. Let me tell you, marketing on your own, when you really have no-clue, is tough, very tough.
But, immediately, I received thank-you messages and lovely emails saying that, now, it all makes more sense.
The problem I have is that, I KNOW in my mind what is happening and I merrily assume everyone else does! (Just ask my husband!)
So, to explain. I’m not egotistical by nature, but the truth is, for a day or two I did become a little narcissistic! However, with this comment and a bit of thought (at 2 am!) – I realised I am quite happy if you don’t want to vote or if you click on the link and prefer another cover – fair dos and all that. The other Authors have worked just as hard!
But what I am, is an author that is alone. I write, I edit, I publish and I market. I have lovely support from friends and family (and a paid editor) but what I don’t have is a team of publishers and marketers…. it is all little ole’ me.
In beautiful locations the work doesn’t stop!
I do this ‘stuff’ to help let people know that there is a book out there they may want to read. I am never going to be rich doing this – but maybe I can give someone a little enjoyment and perhaps cover my costs one day.
Jackie Parry - author 