Sequels, Coby Tablet & Retribution

Monday, December 10, 2012



Christmas is approaching at a gallop and with it thoughts of all the things that have to be done, even those I don’t want to do. Part of our celebration involves dark fruit cake, which most Jamaicans love. It’s something I’m good at making, so of course, there are rumblings from my friends about bake sessions. Don't let the plainness of it fool you. The rum, wine and fruits pack quite a punch.

Of course, there are the shopping sessions—and no, I don’t plan on any reckless spending—to cover the holiday period. I might be strange, but I dislike grocery shopping, which is another thing that seems to take up a LOT of time and is majorly stressing for me.

Those who drop in regularly here know I’m working on the sequel to Distraction. That’s taking up a fair bit all of my time because I’m behind schedule with that. I like the look of the cover as it’s shaping up. It does a good job of telling what the story is about, which is as it should be. More to come on that soon.

Last week, I did the usual and took the plunge on a Coby internet tablet before I did all my research. Needless to say, I’m already regretting that decision. I haven't been able to figure out why Amazon won't allow me to download the Kindle App for Adroid - that's not available on this side of the world - and yet my Kindle works worked just fine. This has been a major source of frustration for me. I could mention the fact that Google Play won't let me add another device and seems hellbent on me adding the Adroid Apps I want to my phone, instead of the non-existent tablet I'm using to download the stuff. :(

I’ve been wanting to replace my Kindle, but the local suppliers are highway robbers. The same model that’s online for the equivalent of $18,000.00 Jamaican dollars is being sold here for $37,000.00. There’s no way I’d consider that for a minute. Neither would I think about buying the older model Kindles for way more than the online price. I know suppliers have to pay shipping and importation costs, but still…

I’ll be lying low this week, putting the final touches on Retribution, which was my 2009/2010 NaNo project (can’t remember which year for sure and I’m too lazy to check). NaNo has been good to me, but I haven’t been able to finish in the last couple of years, which is just as well anyway, considering the number of unfinished books I have under my belt. 

Enjoy the run-up to the holidays. For me, anticipation is three-quarters of the fun.

23 comments:

  1. Hate electronic issues-- very aggravating! Your sequel sounds great though!

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    1. Aggravating describes my misadventures perfectly.

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    1. Yup it's now 92 Jamaican dollars to one US dollar, but still, some of our merchants are way out there in terms of pricing.

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  3. It's too bad about your Kindle. I hope you get it sorted soon.

    I'm trying to make fried plantains--a recipe not too common in Northern Mexico but popular down South. But, I love them and really want to learn.

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    1. My son knows how to make them. He learned when he visited some friends down in Costa Rica. It's common to eat plantains at every meal. Almost.

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    2. Fried plantain is good anytime! Nowadays, I don't fry them - too much oil and all that. I grease a plate and do them in the microwave.

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  4. I've never been a fan of fruit cake but I would most certainly try yours, you can't go wrong with rum, wine and fruit! Sorry about your kindle though. I don't have any trouble out of mine because I don't own one. (; And my golly, 37K,! o_o crazy.

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    1. Hi, Elise,
      Fruit cake does have all the right ingredients! The Kindle has been both a blessing and curse since I got it.

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  5. Sorry to hear about your Kindle. It's frustrating with our electronics make things more difficult instead of easier.

    Enjoy your holidays!

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    1. True that. It's frustrating when things don't work as they should.

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  6. How frustrating! Maybe if you took a trip to Miami you could save enough to pay for everything and still have money left. I hate things like that. The biggie here is I can fly from here to Houston, change planes, and continue to any other city cheaper than I can drive to Houston and fly direct from Houston on that same plane. Doesn't make sense.

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    1. Hey, Carol, isn't life just like that. We're hampered by things that don't make a lot of sense.

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  7. Something in common - I don't like grocery shopping.

    Hope you'll find a way to your hands on a Kindle that's equally the same cost there.

    Looking forward to the cake.

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    1. If reading off the screen wasn't so hard on the eyes and the body, I wouldn't even think about another Kindle. Take care.

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  8. I hope you find a cheaper Kindle. And good luck on the writing front.

    I'd like to try that fruit cake!

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  9. Hi Joy. Ah, Coby tablet eh? Don't you hate it when you invest in new technolgy and it doesn't deliver. Instead of upgrading my Kindle (I still read Kindle on my netbook) I bought myself a new smart phone - the Samsung Note 11. ABSOLUTELY ADORE IT! It's nearly as big as a Kindle and the screen is deliciously clean.
    Why don't you put up your fruit cake recipe for the Holiday Spirit Blogfest?
    All the best for Retribution.
    On covers, another blogger/RFW friend who is a cracker at book covers, and I are going to run a book cover blogfest, where you can send your book cover for critique. Helps to promote your books too. Can be a published cover.

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    1. Thinks that don't work as I think they should make turn me off fast. I've put it back in the box. :( That Galaxy sounds sweet!

      You do have some fun ideas. I'll be popping in.

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  10. Ooh that's bad. I bought myself the Samsung Galaxy tab and I am nuts about it. Especially since it's perfectly happy to be a little computer AND a kindle at the same time. :-D

    And no, you're not nuts. It's sort of becoming a running joke in my family that I avoid grocery stores, especially this time of the year. (Summer/Christmas vacation in a sea-side town).

    Good luck with Retribution!

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    1. Sounds good, Misha. I dunno why Amazon thinks Jamaica is at the back of beyond. :D The shopping thing is daunting when you take the crowds into consideration and all.

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  11. Wow! What about an iPad? Or is that like $100,000?

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  12. Joy, you're not strange. Most people don't like grocery shopping, including me. But fruitcake? We had one every year when I was growing up, but I could never handle the taste or the texture. My husband loves them though. :)

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