December 30, 2012

What are you doing for New Year's Eve?

As for me ... I'll be flying! Back to NYC from England. I'm sure I won't make it to midnight after traveling all day, but I'm going to do my best. And I figure, whatever time I fall asleep, it's already midnight somewhere!

So what are you doing for New Year's Eve?

December 23, 2012

Merry Christmas!

To all of you who celebrate the holiday, I hope you have a wonderful Christmas.

I'll be offline for the next couple of days, spending the holiday with my husband and daughter in Oxford, UK. I really like this city -- it's quite bustling, and the food has been surprisingly good!

So stay tuned for more posts in a few days, plus I'll add in some Oxford photos.

In the meantime, enjoy the holiday and drink a toast to Hope and Jake. :-)

December 21, 2012

Colorful Notting Hill

Walked through the Notting Hill neighborhood this afternoon. What a fun place! Tomorrow morning I head to Oxford and will post a few more photos from there.

I hope all of your holiday preparations are going well. I had a bit of a rough last few days, to be honest. For reasons totally out of my control, I was terribly sleep deprived. So in story 5 that I'm currently writing, I decided to add in a scene where a character is sleep deprived!

Here are 3 photos of Notting Hill ....

Colorful Portobello Rd.

A shop window

Fun antiques for sale

December 20, 2012

Train to London in the morning

In the wee hours of the morning tomorrow, I'll be boarding the train to London -- or Londres, as they say here in Paris -- but my stay in London town will be brief. The next morning I take another train to Oxford to go see my daughter, who is a student there.

I'm sure I'll be inspired by all the twists and turns of the cobblestone streets: entirely different in character from Arcadia in The Pandora Chronicles, but mysterious nonetheless. I'm excited to see a new city and will post a few photos.

In the meantime, here are trois photos of Paris. More soon!




December 17, 2012

Lunch, taxes & Gerard Depardieu

I'm in Paris right now, and today I had lunch with a friend who has lived here for about 14 years. It was really interesting to learn about the changes in France since the new Socialist president, Hollande, was elected.

Since we talk about entertainment here on maggiewatersbooks, I wondered if you had heard about Gerard Depardieu's caper -- my friend told me about it. Apparently the super-famous French actor is so upset about the super-high tax rates on super-rich people here starting in 2013, he's threatening to give up his French passport.

The actor has already moved to Belgium to avoid the new tax rate: 75% on incomes over 1 million euros/year (which is about $1.3 million). That tax rate sounds incredible, but did you know that's what the U.S. tax rate was back in the 1950s? Granted, times have changed. There wasn't a euro back then, of course. and $1.3 million was worth a lot more then than it is now. Not that I would know, of course, but you get the idea.

Depardieu has paid about $190 million in taxes over the past 45 years, and he says he employs 85 people. Seems like he's already done his fair share, don't you think?

Oh, and I had a delicious coquilles St. Jacques for lunch. With a baguette, of course.

Connecticut murders: Taking a moment

I feel so much pain for the people who lost their children and loved ones in that shooting in Connecticut. It's been hard for me to concentrate on anything since then.

My last post mentioned a feeling of optimism in the air for 2013. After an event like this, it's difficult to feel optimistic about anything, right? I've felt a mixture of anger and grief that's hard to put into words.

So I'll sign off this post by saying that all of those dear children and adults who were killed in Connecticut are in my heart and mind today, and they will be for days and weeks -- even years -- to come.

December 15, 2012

Thinking of all of you during the holidays

I'll be posting a bit less frequently the next couple of weeks, but never fear: I'm thinking of you and am working feverishly on the next two stories in The Pandora Chronicles.

This is going to be a great holiday season, don't you think? I can already feel the optimism in the air for a great New Year.

I'll be back on the blog in a jiffy ... as soon as I recover from my red-eye flight and the ensuing jet lag!


December 14, 2012

Red eye, that's for sure

Anyone else have trouble sleeping on planes?

I'm TERRIBLE at it. While I'm excited to go on vacation today, I'm sort of dreading the whole red-eye-flight-thing. I just can't sleep on planes.

I'm sure it'd be better in first class, with all those reclining seats and blankies and Champagne.

I'm in coach, and proud of it. But I'll be tired upon arrival.

Ah, well, c'est la vie.

December 12, 2012

My first video review!

I was so excited to see my first video review on Amazon for "Pandora," the first story in The Pandora Chronicles.

Click on the photo, and you'll be able to watch it!

Minna Bryant -- who also won my contest to have a character named after her in story 5 -- posted it. That is sooooo awesome!

Minna, if you're reading this, stories 5 and 6 will be coming to Kindle in Jan. :-) I know, I need to write faster. Thank you so much!



Oxford, I'll be there soon



Vacation is just TWO DAYS AWAY.

Anyone else feel like they need one? Whew, do I ever!

Even though I'll be on vacation, I'll still post here -- and I will be writing more adventures for Hope and Jake. Expect two new stories in The Pandora Chronicles to be published in January 2013.

Going away someplace -- anyplace, really -- makes you look at things differently when you come home. The last time I went on vacation, I came back super energized and wrote a story in just one week. I'm sure this vacation will do the same for me.

This trip starts in Paris and then on to London and Oxford. I've never been to Oxford before, so that'll be a wonderful surprise. I've see it portrayed in a lot of BBC Mysteries, like "Morse" and "Inspector Lewis." All those cobblestone streets and mysterious corners may make it into Hope and Jake's next episode of Pandora. :-)

What's fun about traveling at this time of the year is seeing all the holiday decorations. I'll try to take some good photos of the lights and post them here.





December 11, 2012

How my Monday turned out GREAT

Yesterday was drizzly and ugly here in NYC. The temperature was nice -- around 60 -- but I couldn't enjoy it because I was caught between using the umbrella to hold off drizzle and feeling a bit idiotic, or not using it and getting slowly soaked as I walked a few blocks. Sigh.

And then, even though I was wearing boots, I slipped off a curb and jammed my left leg. Which then meant that I couldn't go to the gym after work, which I REALLY wanted to do.

So there I was, feeling sorry for myself when I got home, and then my husband walked in with a box.

"I think this is for you," he said.

I examined the box and noticed that it had his name on it.

"It's addressed to you," I said. "How do you know it's for me?"

"I just do."

So I opened it up, and I was sooooo happy to see ...

a Kindle Fire!

He bought it for me as an early Christmas present because of the success of The Pandora Chronicles and to celebrate my upcoming stories: the rest of Pandora, of course (can't leave Hope and my readers hanging!) and a new series I'll be publishing starting in February. 

I feel very special. What a great hubby I have.


December 10, 2012

My top 5 books of 2012

Not all of these books were published in 2012, but I just happened to READ them in 2012. :-)

Here they are, with no. 1 being my favorite. What are your favorite reads from 2012?



5. The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

 
4.  A Moveable Feast, by Ernest Hemingway



3. The $100 Startup, by Chris Guillebeau


 2. Half Broke Horses, by Jeannette Walls


 1. Maus: A Survivor's Tale, by Art Spiegelman

December 9, 2012

If it's Sunday, I must be writing

I hope you're all having a great weekend.

Today, I have a to-do list a mile long, but it definitely includes writing. Here goes:

- Buy cat food and litter
- Go to gym
- Start packing for upcoming trip
- Write for 2-3 hours on story 5 of The Pandora Chronicles
- Have a freshly made juice at some point in the day (I love our new juicer, I really do)
- Go to bed early

What does your Sunday look like?

December 8, 2012

Free eBook today, just for you!

Today, Dec. 8, you can download Pandora for free! It is the year 2050, and for more than 20 years, suburbanites of Arcadia have suffered tremendous grief and loss every autumn, when the annual plague descends for its three-month run. The Pandora Chronicles tell the story of Hope, an 18-year-old woman who is determined to find the cause -- and cure -- for these plagues. Her father is already dead, and she almost lost her life, too. Who will survive? Will she discover the answers she seeks? Follow the story as it unfolds in each episode. Read Story 1: Pandora (The Pandora Chronicles Short Story Series)

December 7, 2012

Get a free eBook today!

Today and tomorrow, Dec. 7 and 8, you can download Pandora for free! It is the year 2050, and for more than 20 years, suburbanites of Arcadia have suffered tremendous grief and loss every autumn, when the annual plague descends for its three-month run. The Pandora Chronicles tell the story of Hope, an 18-year-old woman who is determined to find the cause -- and cure -- for these plagues. Her father is already dead, and she almost lost her life, too. Who will survive? Will she discover the answers she seeks? Follow the story as it unfolds in each episode. Read Story 1: Pandora (The Pandora Chronicles Short Story Series)

December 5, 2012

Amazing writing day

I wasn't supposed to write today, but I did.

I spent the day at a conference surrounded by doctors and researchers. And since I didn't understand a lot of what they were saying -- like, most of it -- I worked on story no. 5! I didn't have a computer with me, so I did it the old-fashioned way: longhand, with pen and paper. Kind of quaint, you know?

Actually, it was a very inspiring and stimulating environment to be around all these MDs and PhDs, since The Pandora Chronicles stories deal with a medical catastrophe.

To be in a room with 100 people whose sole professional goal is to cure cancer? That doesn't happen every day.

Hope, Jake and the rest of the characters in The Pandora Chronicles have an adventure in store for them in story 5, so stay tuned!

We have a winner!

The other day, I said that the first person to comment on my post would have a character named after them in Story 5.

We have a winner!

Thank you and congratulations, Minna Bryant -- whose full name is Minerva. Both names are beautiful, and very exotic sounding. Perfect for Pandora Chronicles fiction.

In Story 5, you'll see a character named Minna or Minerva, whichever one seems to fit best.

It's great to get input from readers in real time like this. Keep the comments rolling in!

December 4, 2012

10 reasons to love Hope


Hope, an 18- (almost 19) year-old woman, is the main character in my short story series The Pandora Chronicles. Here are 10 reasons to love Hope:
  1. She's smart.
  2. She's driven.
  3. She cares about something bigger than herself.
  4. She puts herself at risk in order to find the truth.
  5. She's sometimes afraid and is wiling to admit it.
  6. She's strong, but she knows she can't do everything alone and asks for help.
  7. She enjoys moments in life that she can, such as the time she and Jake spend riding bikes.
  8. She feels grief very deeply.
  9. She wants to help people.
  10. She has a health problem but doesn't let it stop her from doing anything.
Get to know Hope, for free! This Friday and Saturday (Dec. 7 and 8), you can download Pandora free on Amazon Kindle. Mark your calendar, and I'll certainly remind you. Thanks, and happy reading.

Free in 3 days! Pandora

And the countdown continues!

Starting this Friday, Dec. 7, for two days I'll be offering Pandora, the first story in The Pandora Chronicles Short Story Seriesfor free!

Mark your calendar for Dec. 7 and 8, so you remember to download a copy for yourself, and send one to a friend, too. 

Have the popcorn ready with lots of butter and salt, and get ready to enjoy a mini movie for the mind: Pandora.

December 3, 2012

Fireworks on Monday? Why not?!

It's a gorgeous Monday here in NYC. Sure doesn't feel like December, since it's about 60 degrees.

Some people have asked me why I'm not trying to get my works published via the traditional publishing route.

I have a simple answer for that: I don't have time.

I want to write and then share what I write with readers like you. If I waited for a traditional publisher to discover me ... well, it could happen (and it still might), but that industry is so complex, I wouldn't have any idea how to navigate it.

And there's another reason, which I wrote about a few days ago. I love being part of the digital publishing revolution. The Internet has opened doors to self-publishing, so even by writing and publishing this blog post I'm doing something that couldn't have happened before the WWW.

How are you a part of the digital publishing revolution?
  • Do you read books by self-published authors? 
  • Do you read individuals' blogs? 
  • Do you write a blog or eBooks, yourself?
Then yes, you are part of the revolution!

Lots of people are now able to share the beauty and creativity they have inside. Thinking about that reminded me of Katy Perry's song, "Firework." Enjoy!

December 2, 2012

Free in 5 days ... Pandora

Starting this Friday, Dec. 7, for two days I'll be offering Pandora, the first story in The Pandora Chronicles Short Story Seriesfor free!

Mark your calendar for Dec. 7 and 8, so you remember to download a copy for yourself, and send one to a friend, too. 

Get the popcorn ready with lots of butter and salt, and get ready to enjoy a mini movie for the mind: Pandora.

December 1, 2012

Be a character in Story 5

It's Saturday, and I'm in a great mood because I'm working on Story 5 in The Pandora Chronicles today. It starts in a very dark place for our Hope, and that's all I'll say right now except ...

If you are the first person to comment on this post, I'll name a character after you. Just tell me what name you want me to use (only genuine names, not something X-rated or anything like that, OK?). And then you'll see him/her in Story 5 when it's published soon.

Be a part of the action and suspense. Post a comment below and name a character in my next story!

OK, back to writing for me ... and THANKS!