After almost two weeks of silence from me — my apologies — I finally have a sane moment to update the blog.

As in trial by frustration, not testing new products.

The first week of July I experienced some rather disconcerting imaging and monitor problems that would have the monitor pixelate, freeze and thereby blocking any interface with the computer. The problem would only resolve by doing a hard restart of the computer. Two phonecalls to Support.com garnered not much difference, although usually the staffers there are excellent. Through various tweakings and proddings into areas I know little about, I determined I had a monitor problem. Purchased a new monitor through Dell, and while I was breaking the budget decided to smash it beyond recognition and purchase PhotoShop Creative Suite 4.

The software arrived the middle week of July. Did me no good whatever because by then the monitor had pretty much lost all reliability and I was working from the laptop — not an ideal situation, given the amount of work I do.

Finally the new monitor arrived last week. Relief. The backlog of paperwork and commissions and email to be downloaded could all be attended.

Except that the following day some minor pixelation once again occurred. And then the dreaded Blue Screen of Death that evening when Gary attempted to play Battleground Europe.

Hours of downloading new drivers and fussing and report reading ensued. Everything appeared stable. Until the following morning when the entire problem repeated. This time the system reported that it is in fact a video card problem. So new monitor was completely unnecessary, and now Thursday the new viedo card arrives and, please the gods, this entire frustrating state of limbo can come to a halt. Even now, writing this blog post, I’m hoping the system doesn’t just up and choke.

Thursday, however, will come.

A subject it would seem that has caused me some consternation this past week, mostly, I suspect, of my own doing.

First there was an incident that occured at my recent book signing (more about the signing further on) wherein a gentleman came up to the table as I was engaged in discussion with several other people. He picked up a copy of Shadow Song, looked at the cover, read the back, opening the book and read the first few pages, flipped further, read more. When most other people left he asked the price. I told him. He asked if he should pay at the desk. I responded yes and reached out to take the book so I could sign it for him.

At that point he lay the book back on the table, a smile on his face, not of particular amity, and asked, “Self published?”

Now normally I have no problem answering this question, but there was something about his attitude, his posture, that put me on the defensive and I stupidly (and to my shame and detriment) said no. He then opened the book to the copyright page, noted that it was published by Five Rivers in Neustadt, saw my business cards and commented that the publisher and I both lived in the same village. I replied that indeed yes the publishing house was my own, but that this was not vanity press, to which he rebutted, “Nonsense,” and walked away.

He’d read the first few pages of the novel and was prepared to buy the book. Yet the moment it occurred to him I was an indie author the novel suddenly became anathema. And likely my reluctance to admit my independence further cemented his dim view of indie publishing.

This continued to eat at me all weekend, as will become apparent ….

And then Sunday there were comments on a listserve to which I subscribe, peopled by fellow authors and editors, regarding the lack of credibility in self-publishing. One person went so far as to say, “But for a newbie with fantasy fiction, I think it’s a pipe dream unless the author has a huge extended family,” and “I’ve seen plenty of self-published fantasy novels. Their authors show up regularly on usenet touting their wares, and I’ve yet to see a self-pubbed effort that would have passed muster in the commercial marketplace.”

And for some reason that complete dismissal rankled more than was rational. All I could think was, I also have read a great deal of traditionally and self-published work that doesn’t pass muster, commercial marketplace or no. Why completely dismiss one entire segment and legitimize another? This kind of completely biased, ignorant, unreasoned logic simply is a bafflement to me.

The book signing at Chapters in St. Catharines went well, despite a not auspicious beginning.

Gary and I used the GPS feature on our Blackberrys to navigate to our destination. Did you know that when you arrive at your destination, the very snooty AI tells you to make a U-turn, go back out to the street and start all over again? We did this, faithfully following the alleged omniscience of that perfect British voice, not once, but twice, until finally it dawned on our rather thick and trusting brains that the AI lady had a hitch in her programming, that we were in fact at the correct Chapters location, that there wasn’t some other mall or street to which we should direct ourselves, that yes, this sign does say Chapters, and yes, this is in fact 285 Geneva Street, stuff your U-turn and klaxon alarm.

Problem One solved. Problem Two was about to occur when I arrived in the store. The table was all set up. Great. I got myself settled, only to realize none of the 200 bookmarks I’d shipped had been handed out as bag stuffers prior to the event. Thanks.

A quick glance around the store. Not a single one of the six promotional posters I’d shipped had, well, been posted. Once again — thanks.

And then a small reorganization of the books on the table only to realize there were only a few copies of Shadow Song, that none of the copies of And the Angels Sang were available. Kevin Windsor, kind friend who had come to the signing, and curator of Lundy’s Lane Museum, went in search of the event manager to inquire after the missing books, returned with the information, “This is all the books they have.”

Temper, temper, Lorina. Do not ignite. Do not launch.

I nabbed another staff member, explained the situation, and assured her they did in fact have the books because not only did I pack the box myself, but I had received shipping confirmation through Canada Post. She kindly explained she was far down the food chain, but would make an inquiry. Within 15 minutes she returned with an armful of books, somewhat miffed with her seniors, and commented that the books had been shelved, which was a good thing. We do want the books to sell, but when the author arrives the books should be to hand for the signing.

After that, however, the signing went well. Several people came zooming in specifically for the event, snatched up their signed copies, dashed to the cash desk, and raced back out into the pouring rain. Others happened by, engaged in delightful conversation, walked away with my books.

At the end of the afternoon I’d sold about half of the stock of Shadow Song and And the Angels Sang, and all my stock of From Mountains of Ice. Got to have a long visit and chat with Kevin Windsor, whom I’d not seen in a decade, and had an opportunity to meet an aspiring author, Olaniyi Akande.

This frustrating period came to a pleasant interlude the evening of the book signing on Saturday. My cousin, Deb Rupcic of Tastea Teas, invited Gary and me to a barbeque at her home. Now, Deb and I only recently reacquainted, having somewhat of a disfunctional extended family, and have rediscovered our childhood delight in one another after amost 40 years. The evening was made even more perfect by the attendance of my uncle, Norm Broadbent, his lovely lady, Liz, Deb’s husband whom I’ve only recently come to know, Frank, her brother whom I haven’t seen in easily 20 years, Rob, and his companion, Mark, and Deb’s son, Christopher whom I’ve never met.

There was great conversation, laughter, food and an all too swift departure for the village of Neustadt and the end of Gary’s week of holidays.

This week marks a return to the normal work-a-day schedule here at Five Rivers, the resolution of our technical problems, and the clearance of tasks and paperwork.

Five Rivers’ books are now available at the following Indigo chain stores:

Chapters, Bayers Lake Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia

World’s Biggest Bookstore, Toronto, Ontario

Chapters, 2225 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario

Chapters, 285 Geneva Street, St. Catharines, Ontario

Indigo, 1250 Brant Street, Burlington, Ontario

Chapters, Stoneroad Mall, Guelph, Ontario

Smith Books, Heritage Mall, Owen Sound, Ontario

Coles, Orangeville Mall, Orangeville, Ontario

Chapters, 419 King Street West, Oshawa, Ontario

Chapters, West Edmonton Mall, Alberta

online through booksellers worldwide