Today I'm happy about......

[CrazyHorse]

It's for a site pass to get onto that scary nuclear site up in Cumbria. He did say he was not going to smoke anything while out there just in case.
This seems odd to me. I mean what else is there for a young single lad to do over in Amsterdam for a long weekend?

[Worthy4England]

It's for a site pass to get onto that scary nuclear site up in Cumbria. He did say he was not going to smoke anything while out there just in case.
This seems odd to me. I mean what else is there for a young single lad to do over in Amsterdam for a long weekend?

I dunno, but I suspect they have a test for it, to ensure it's all gone OK.

[thebish]

had a very hot and sweaty day in the garden sawing and shredding and hacking back brambles...

at 4-ish - had enough - was wondering how to cool down... then - doh! - I remembered I live by the sea! so - hopped on the bike - got free parking right on torquay seafront (cos they are nice to bikers - even on bank holiday monday) - toddled off into the see... ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! relax!

there's summat very relaxing about floating on your back in the sea - not moving - eyes closed.. it's like having your own massive flotation tank...

anyway - very refreshed and mellow now!

[Bruce Rioja]

^^ I do hope you didn't have your flotation tank trunks on whilst in the sea?!

[thebish]

^^ I do hope you didn't have your flotation tank trunks on whilst in the sea?!

I've never been in a flotation tank - are there special trunks? I did have wetsuit on which does give a bit of added buoyancy...

[Bruce Rioja]

^^ I do hope you didn't have your flotation tank trunks on whilst in the sea?!

I've never been in a flotation tank - are there special trunks? I did have wetsuit on which does give a bit of added buoyancy...

Well I assume that there's a special Kayak, so special trunks are simply a natural extension.

[Gooner Girl]

My brothers back from Africa today! Yippee! It's only been 3 weeks but I've missed him!

[Gooner Girl]

Collapsed on the sofa with the dog in front of the footy after training the kids then a short but intense hills session with John in the gathering gloom of the fields beyond our athletics track. Knackered! We go back to inside training in couple of weeks, it's getting so dark and we aren't posh enough down here to have a floodlit proper track (or indeed much in the way of streetlights in the village...)

[thebish]

I am leaving money in my will for one of these!!

[TANGODANCER]

Happy receiving a cheque for $20-39 from the publishers. Considering the absolute pittances books produce it's rather a small amount but at least I sold some books.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Happy receiving a cheque for $20-39 from the publishers. Considering the absolute pittances books produce it's rather a small amount but at least I sold some books.

What have you published TD?

[TANGODANCER]

Happy receiving a cheque for $20-39 from the publishers. Considering the absolute pittances books produce it's rather a small amount but at least I sold some books.

What have you published TD?

Three fantasy/fiction novels, MORO, CHRISTIANO and THE SWORD OF SALADIN, LLS. If you want to have a look, just type the titles in the search panel on http://www.lulu.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Happy receiving a cheque for $20-39 from the publishers. Considering the absolute pittances books produce it's rather a small amount but at least I sold some books.

What have you published TD?

Three fantasy/fiction novels, MORO, CHRISTIANO and THE SWORD OF SALADIN, LLS. If you want to have a look, just type the titles in the search panel on http://www.lulu.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Very good. I've dabbled with the idea of writing a book (as have millions I suppose), and I actually committed some words to virtual paper. I know I can write, my problem is a lack of plot - I haven't got anything I can believe in enough to give me a storyline that will sustain me... so well done with getting something finished - because even if it's complete and utter garbage (not that I'm saying your's are) at least you got something finished.

[William the White]

Happy receiving a cheque for $20-39 from the publishers. Considering the absolute pittances books produce it's rather a small amount but at least I sold some books.

I once received a royalty payment of £7.50 (minus my agent's 10%) for a broadcast of a TV play (produced by BBC) by a cable company in Alaska. I can at least say - with truth - that my work has been broadcast in the USA.

[TANGODANCER]

Happy receiving a cheque for $20-39 from the publishers. Considering the absolute pittances books produce it's rather a small amount but at least I sold some books.

I once received a royalty payment of £7.50 (minus my agent's 10%) for a broadcast of a TV play (produced by BBC) by a cable company in Alaska. I can at least say - with truth - that my work has been broadcast in the USA.

Lulu are an American self-publishing concern Will. I wrote my books a few years ago ( I'd probably make a few changes if it were now) and I've only had about $50 in returns because you only get about £1 per book sale. I did get one or two very good reviews though and enjoyed the experience. Might do another one of these days.

[Bruce Rioja]

Happy receiving a cheque for $20-39 from the publishers. Considering the absolute pittances books produce it's rather a small amount but at least I sold some books.

I once received a royalty payment of £7.50 (minus my agent's 10%) for a broadcast of a TV play (produced by BBC) by a cable company in Alaska. I can at least say - with truth - that my work has been broadcast in the USA.

Lulu are an American self-publishing concern Will. I wrote my books a few years ago ( I'd probably make a few changes if it were now) and I've only had about $50 in returns because you only get about £1 per book sale. I did get one or two very good reviews though and enjoyed the experience. Might do another one of these days.

Have you no ships on the go, Tango?

[TANGODANCER]

Have you no ships on the go, Tango?

No Bruce. With four completed they take up a fair bit of space and I'm plucking up courage to suggest another to the admiral, but not yet. Here are a couple of pics of the last one.

[Montreal Wanderer]

Happy receiving a cheque for $20-39 from the publishers. Considering the absolute pittances books produce it's rather a small amount but at least I sold some books.

I once received a royalty payment of £7.50 (minus my agent's 10%) for a broadcast of a TV play (produced by BBC) by a cable company in Alaska. I can at least say - with truth - that my work has been broadcast in the USA.

Authors here get 'royalty' payments from the government as a way of reconciling authors' rights with the public's right to access information freely. If your material is in one of several libraries and people borrow or photocopy it a record is kept. We are send cheques which reflect the amount of usage. I suppose some authors do quite well but my books generate a cheque of some $50 once every three years. That won't keep the wolf from the door. If I knew which libraries were used (it's a secret) I'd borrow my books all the time to up the payment...

[Dujon]

Blimey, that's not much of a return for effort expended. I once wrote an article for a local monthly amateur radio magazine which translated to about 4½ magazine pages. That was in the mid '70s when a dollar bought a bit more than it does now. I received about $75 from the publisher. The only research necessary was satisfied by my own small library so cobbling the item together was mainly a matter of writing and not buzzing around like a blue tailed fly seeking information.

Mark Cox from this site (SOTWA) self published a couple of books. Whether or not he broke even I have no idea. Like LLS I've considered writing a novel but the resources that might well be required and the cost if I went the self publishing route has so far defeated my original eagerness.

[Montreal Wanderer]

Blimey, that's not much of a return for effort expended. I once wrote an article for a local monthly amateur radio magazine which translated to about 4½ magazine pages. That was in the mid '70s when a dollar bought a bit more than it does now. I received about $75 from the publisher. The only research necessary was satisfied by my own small library so cobbling the item together was mainly a matter of writing and not buzzing around like a blue tailed fly seeking information.

Mark Cox from this site (SOTWA) self published a couple of books. Whether or not he broke even I have no idea. Like LLS I've considered writing a novel but the resources that might well be required and the cost if I went the self publishing route has so far defeated my original eagerness.

The expenses are reduced these days, Dujon. Your book would be set in digital format and a copy would only be printed if someone ordered it. Called POD or Print On Demand. That's how Lulu works.