I'M INJURED

[jenni_blog]

Couldn't go to work today. Yesterday I did something to my back and today I can hardly move. It's awful...I can't bend down at all and it's difficult to even turn. I remember reaching down to grab a file from a lower shelf at work yesterday and when I stood up my back hurt on the right side and in the centre, over the spine. I was okay the rest of the day, but it was nagging me. Then when I got off the bus and was crossing the road, it seized! I mean it was like a sharp pain that just grabbed me in the middle of my back. I almost couldn't walk the rest of the way across, but I managed to make it. Thank god Eddie was there with the car to pick me up, but it took me awhile to lower myself into the seat, until the spasm was over. In the kitchen I was spasm-ing over and over. Eddie rubbed Voltaren on it and I took an extra-strength Tylenol.

I slept okay, but it's now stiff and sore and so are my legs! I don't know WTF it is. I am not used to being injured and in pain and I can't tell what this is...I would think probably muscular, but I really don't know. I've never had anything like this in my life. The only injury that's ever happened to me is a torn tendon in my left arm a few years ago.

But thank god I can spend a few minutes at a time at the computer. I have to get up and walk around, though, otherwise my back feels like it wants to seize. I know I am a big baby. I am just not used to pain.

:(

Comments

[sophiamoon.livejournal.com]

darling, a back can hurt like hell. You're not a big baby if you just want to lie down and pretend the world doesn't exist.
(never had any real back pain until a few months ago... oh boy,I became the world's No 1 painkiller fan in the country)

Hope it won't take long to get better. *hugs*

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

*LOL* I have heard that back pain can be quite bad.

Despite resting most of the day I still have some pain. I guess it will take a few more days' rest (if I can get some).

Thanks for your concern and kind words. :)

[sophiamoon.livejournal.com]

Good it's not so bad anymore. And yes, try and take some rest.

You're very welcome. :-)

(and I saw a very nice surprise at Goodreads... oh wow)

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

Oh good! I wanted to tell you. Once I've finished reading it, I'll go back and comment further. I'm sure I will want to say something else about it. :)

[sophiamoon.livejournal.com]

I had to read it at least 5 times, I'm that happy with it. :-)

For some reason there's 2 versions of Ravages on goodreads, one with and one without the cover. Would it be possible to transfer your review to the version with cover, because it seems there's were readers have put it as to read? (and hopefully your review might make one or two of them curious)
But only if it's not too much of a bother.

Thanks so much! :-)

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

There are two versions of Ravages on goodreads? I didn't even notice that, and I was feeling sad that there was no picture of the cover. I was thinking that if I was a computer-knowledgeable person I would put a cover in to fill the empty space. Of course, I will put my review in the other version. And I'd love to read other reviews if there are any yet. :)

[sophiamoon.livejournal.com]

It find it very confusing and have no idea how it happened or how to change it. But here's the version with picture:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11962139-ravages

A couple of people have it on their list, but you are the first (and so far only) reviewer. But with the amount of m/m stuff coming out, the fact that I'm totally unknown and Ravages (not a short or easy story) having been on sale for less than a month I need to be very patient.

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

Okay, I have added my review to the version of Ravages with cover! :)

It is true that it is a 'new' book on the market. So many people read the classics, and books that have been out for years, and review them after such a long time...but I think it's a very good idea to promote a new story. I mean, it has to be done.

I've 'friended' George Martin on LJ (the 'A Song of Ice and Fire' author) and even though his series of books is wildly popular, he still has to go out and promote the latest one. He's been travelling the USA making stops at tons of bookstores to autograph copies, and he's been visiting all the festivals like Comic Con and the rest! It must be exhausting. So anything you can do to self-promote, I'd encourage you to do it, even if you hate it!

If I can help, I will. Please let me know if there are any other sites I can visit and leave a review. :)

[sophiamoon.livejournal.com]

Thanks a bunch! (weird thing is, I saw it on the update page (picture and all) but not here http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11962139-ravages No idea why, really)

I know, promoting your work is almost more time consuming than the actual writing.
As soon as my Totally E-Bound title is out (November) I can ask around for a blog tour (writing something on other writers' blogs and asking them to do the same for you) TEB has dozens and dozens of writers, and quite a few of them in the m/m genre. They won't mind if I mention Ravages as well.

m/m romance and erotica doesn't do anything in the mainstream market/press. (at most it's written about as a curiosity, straight women doing gay porn, but no serious reviews about individual titles) And book tours are only for those who are already best sellers.
What I can do, I try to do.

Perhaps you can take a look at Manic Readers? That's here: http://www.manicreaders.com/index.cfm?disp=bookdetail&bookid=16484

Any of your own LJ's that's suitable?

You're of such a great help. *hugs*

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link to Manic Readers. I joined it and left my review there.

And of course I sometimes review books in my own LJ and will leave one for Ravages there too! As well as on my Dreamwidth and my fic journal! Great idea!

Hey...anything I can do to help a writer that I actually CAN do something for, I will! XD

[sophiamoon.livejournal.com]

Looks great! Thanks so much! :-)

You have a fic journal?

This helps, no doubt about it. Small presses and starting niche writers for a great part depend on word to mouth advertisement and individual readers doing reviews or even mentioning a title. With low sales (most titles don't even get past 100 sold copies) every extra reader counts.

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! :) Glad to do it. :)

Yes, I have a fic journal that is set up as a comm and f-locked because I am scared of certain ppl reading my slash stuff. So you have to join it and it has hardly any members, therefore I don't know if putting a review there would do any good. There is someone there who is not a friend of this LJ, though, so perhaps I should anyway. ;)

I agree that any little bit helps. I am sure it does. One person tells another, and so on and so on. Even writers who are famous today started from nothing, and I do believe that a combination of luck and hard work can do something to promote a story to readers. Otherwise, without the word of mouth as well as some promotion, how would readers ever know about a story they might like?

Btw, I've already had a comment from mentioning 'Ravages' on my LJ. The person would love to read it but is unable to buy it. That's a shame, but at least the interest was there. :)

[sophiamoon.livejournal.com]

I understand what you mean. Fandom friends know about who I am as an original fic writer, but the other way around? Not so much. Though I'm realistic enough that's simply a matter of time. But then, I can't change my writing history, and the only way to avoid any risk is not publishing, or if I do publish, keep as quiet as possible (and even then...)

The hardest is getting my work outside the close circle of flisters to those who are simply interested in a particular story. Word to mouth is still the best way to do that.

I've read it on your LJ. I'm more than happy to send her a copy. I just need a mail address and to know if she accepts attachments. I'd tell her myself, but I don't want to come across as some kind of creepy stalker.

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

Oh for sure. I have too many friends, relatives and co-workers who are on all the sites and the last thing I need is my boss reading something...*shudders*. It feels a bit hypocritical, but still...it's more because they wouldn't understand and I wouldn't feel like talking about it with them. :(

Okay, for sure I will ask for her e-mail address, or not ask her outright, but just enquire if she would like a copy in .pdf or something. She's a journalist herself, and an avid football fan who would be very interested, I think, in 'Ravages'. :)

[sophiamoon.livejournal.com]

I totally understand. In some way it's much easier to let the world know I'm a lesbian with a wife and kids (I've done that most of my life), than tell even friends outside fandom I write a certain kind of stories.

A journalist and football fan and interested in Ravages?
Feel free to give her my sophia moon mail address
sophia_moon at hotmail dot com

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

LOL...OK, will give her that! :)

[(Anonymous)]

I have to admit I'm feeling somewhat embarrassed to pounce on anyone showing even remote interested in my novel and ask "Want to read it? Want to say a few words about it when you've read it?"
But it guess it comes with the job. ;-)

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

For sure it comes with the job. It's about finding that audience and once you have them, you'll probably always have them. And they will become great promoters for you too. :)

[sophiamoon.livejournal.com]

It's not the part of the job I enjoy the most, this embarrassing pouncing on anyone who looks remotely interested in my novel. ;-)

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

LOL...of course not. It must be quite embarrassing. But it's very necessary, so you will have to suck it up and make yourself do it. :)

[sophiamoon.livejournal.com]

It just had to happen to me, both not actually liking the whole stuff that comes after being published and having the philosophy that a story is only really finished when the reader reads the words and interprets them.

Hey, I should write aboyt that in my writer's blog.

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

That sounds like a good subject for your writer's blog!

[sophiamoon.livejournal.com]

I seriously consider writing it sometime this week.

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

Yes, and she has said she would love to read Ravages in .pdf format. So I gave her your e-mail addy and said you'd love to hear from her. :)

[sophiamoon.livejournal.com]

Wonderful. :-)

She's very welcome.