New Beginnings & Rough Starts

Good morning!

Long time no blog (sorry about that)... 

So I'm one of those people that feels like I get a "fresh start" twice a year-- at the beginning of a new year and on every birthday. On both of these occasions, I reflect on my life and both the areas where I'm doing well and where there is room for improvement. After all, a big part of the human experience is learning from our mistakes so we can become better people.

January 2022 was a good example of this attitude. I had so many ideas and plans! But, as often happens, things didn't go according to plan...

In my last post of 2021, I shared my plans for "Penniless January." The basic idea was to try to make it through an entire month without spending money on anything other than my basic bills (for example: housing and utilities). I even stocked up on groceries ahead of time-- with an emphasis on shelf stable foods. Unfortunately, I over-looked one big bill that was due in January-- my car insurance. This bill alone through my entire budget off.

***

2022 came in with a roar here on the Oregon coast. We experienced several back to back winter storms complete with heavy rain and exceptionally strong winds. We even got a little snow (which is rare)! There were several nights that I lay in bed listening to the rain pounding against the windows of my house, and I could feel the wind tugging and pulling at the walls of my little old house. 

I woke up the morning after one of these storms to discover that one of the smaller trees in my yard had been knocked over by a wind gust. Fortunately, it fell away from the house. But, it was partially leaning against my wooden fence. I was worried that the continued weight would damage the fence, so I felt like I had no choice but to go outside-- in the freezing rain-- to deal with the tree situation.

 

Initially, I hoped I might be able to salvage the tree. But, upon close inspection, I realized that it had snapped at the base. So my only choice was to chop up the tree and get the weight off of the fence. The problem was that I don't own a chainsaw. Technically, I could have used a credit card to buy one, but that would have tanked my "Penniless January" experiment. Instead, I used the tools I had on hand: long handle pruning shears and a hand saw.

 

 As an added complication, I have fibromyalgia... So, me standing out in the freezing rain while sawing away at a downed tree was a really bad idea. It took me three days to chop up the downed tree. I'd go outside for 20-30 minutes at a time and work until my pain levels got unbearable. Then I'd go back inside, change into dry clothes, take a pain pill, and rest. Once the medication kicked in, I'd go back outside. Fortunately, by the third day the rain had stopped. Plus, my neighbor saw me working and offered to loan me his power saw. What a difference it made! I was able to get more done in an hour with the power saw then I'd gotten done in two days with my wimpy tools!

 

***

 

My other January plans included posting blog posts more often. I know I don't have much of an online following, so it can be easy to neglect my blog. WordPress was advertising a program called "Bloguary" so I signed up. The basic idea was that they'd send bloggers daily emails with a line of text that was supposed to inspire us to write a blog about it-- then tag it #Bloguary.

 

Once again, I had great intentions. It seemed like a fun idea-- and I could really use the inspiration. The problem was that my reaction to most of the supposedly inspirational email messages was "Eh." 

 

I did save a few-- which I intended to write about-- but I never did. For example:

 

"What is your favorite quote and why?"

 

***

 

There were other January projects, but you get the idea. I began the new year full of ideas and plans, but so far each and every one of them is off to a rough start. Don't get me wrong-- I'm still trying! For example, I'm still plugging away at my finances with the goal of paying off my debts and achieving modest financial freedom. I'm also continuing to work on editing my novel, "The Other Mae," with the goal of releasing the Beta Reader edition by the end of the year.

So, I'm still plugging away at my New Year Resolutions and goals. It's just that I've been feeling discouraged because so far nothing has gone according to plan so far this year... 

On the flip side, there have been a few positive surprises. For instance, I've been pet sitting as a "side gig" for a number of years. Most of my clients are people I know-- co-workers, neighbors, and friends. But, back in 2019, I signed up with Rover to try to pick up a few more clients. Once the pandemic hit in early 2020, I stopped receiving booking requests. Flash forward two years and people are starting to transition from working at home back to traditional work places. Since January, I've been receiving lots of requests for drop-in pet visits and dog walks while my clients are at work. 

 

 

 

I've always loved animals so pet sitting is the perfect side job for me. I enjoy visiting with and looking after the animals. Plus, it allows me to continue "social distancing." Aside from an initial "Meet and Greet" with new clients, it's usually just me and the dogs or cats. I also like being able to reassure my clients that their pets are being well cared for while they're at work-- so they have one less thing to worry about.

 

As an added bonus, I have several regular clients that live fairly close to me. This allows me to work on creative projects at home-- like editing my novel-- then take a break to go look after a client's job. It's a perfect balance!

***

 

Well, this post is getting pretty long-- I guess that's what happens when you don't post an update for a few months. Oops!

I have one more update to share. I've been a vendor on Etsy since 2011. Unfortunately, my online sales have been nose diving for a while now. I think the problem is that my shop and the items I have for sale "get lost in the shuffle." There are so many people selling crafts on the website. Plus, you have to pay extra for advertising if you want your items to show up in the first few pages of search results. So between the listing, advertising, and sales fees, I have to sell a lot to cover the monthly fees.

 

Since the start of the pandemic, the type of stuff I sell-- handmade crafts and books I wrote myself-- just haven't been selling. I think most people have been in "survival mode" and mostly spending money on essential stuff (like groceries). While I understand where they're coming from, this has meant that my Etsy shop has been in the red most months.

Then I received an email this morning from Etsy informing sellers that they're increasing the % of the sales fee...

I've come to the conclusion that I need to have a liquidation sale then put my Etsy shop in "vacation mode" for a while. There's a good chance that I'll end up closing my online shop eventually. But, for now, I need to try to sell my remaining stock then wait and see. 

So, starting tomorrow (February 26th), most handmade crafts and crafting supplies will be 50% off. Autographed copies of my books will be 30% off.

 

 

www.etsy.com/shop/ReprievesCorner

***

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog post and for supporting my creative pursuits. I really appreciate it!

 

~ H. S. Contino

 

Welcome Fall!

 Good morning,

Here on the Oregon coast we've transitioned into the time of year where it's necessary to wear layers. It tends to be chilly in the mornings, warm up to t-shirt weather during the afternoons, then get overcast and chilly again overnight. The result is a bunch of people constantly adding and removing layers of clothing as needed. (LOL)

Nature's Fall Color Show...

 

It's also the time of year that I start planning my holiday shopping. I've always been an introvert and large crowds give me anxiety, so I like to shop early. It's also always a relief to have the shopping done ahead of time.

Since I'm sure I'm not the only one that takes this approach to gift shopping, I like to start running early sales and other promotional offers in my online Etsy shop, Reprieve's Corner. Beginning October 1st, I've marked everything in my shop 30% off. This includes everything-- my hand painted signs, hand made jewelry, hand sewn plush toys, autographed copies of my books, and even my new clay art!

 

 Save 30% Shop Wide!

I've also been lining up fall and winter in-person markets. As everyone knows, we're still in the middle of a pandemic, so it won't be a normal holiday shopping season. Some events have already been cancelled. Others are still being planned with plenty of restrictions in place to try to keep everyone healthy.

I'll be posting more in the next few weeks as I line up in-person markets. If you're local (southern Oregon coast) and here about an upcoming market, please feel free to send me a message. I'm always open to suggestions!

Meanwhile, I hope everyone is enjoying watching the leaves change colors and having an excuse to sip more warm beverages while snuggling in our warmest sweaters!

Happy reading!

~ H. S. Contino

Florence Festival of Books Follow-Up

Good morning! 

Earlier this month I wrote about the upcoming Florence Festival of Books. The event is usually annual, but it was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic. I was excited to return this year. (Fun fact: the 1st annual Florence Festival of Books was in 2011-- which was the year my first book was published. As a result, I can proudly say that I've attended every year!). 

 

 

This year got off to a bit of a rough start. It was stormy on the Oregon coast Friday night. I'm such a light sleeper that the strong winds and heavy rains woke me up several times. Fortunately, by Saturday morning the storm was letting up. It rained off and on during my drive to Florence, but it cleared up about an hour after the festival opened. 

 

 

I knew when I signed up that this year's festival would be different. In fact, for the week leading up to the event, I half expected to receive a message saying it had been cancelled. We've been experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases on the Oregon coast over the past few months (mostly due to the Delta variant). But, they decided to go ahead with the event while implementing several safety efforts. 

 

If you look closely, you might recognize the author in the lower left  photograph.

 

In addition to requiring everyone (both vendors and visitors) to wear masks inside the Florence Events Center, they limited the number of booths. If I remember right, they said there was 1/3 less booth this year than in past years. This allowed them to space out the tables which made it easier for participants to practice social distancing. They also had hand sanitizer stations set up throughout the building.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Despite advertising the event through all of the regular channels, this year's book festival didn't draw as many visitors as it usually does. Given the circumstances, this wasn't surprising; but, if I'm being brutally honest, it was still disappointing. 

I'm incredibly grateful to the people that did attend the event. I enjoyed chatting with the visitors to my booth. Since I wrote two books on local history, I tend to catch the attention of fellow history enthusiasts. This inevitably leads to interesting conversations! I also enjoyed catching up with several of my fellow west coast authors.

Baby book's 1st book festival...

 

I'm looking forward to next year's Florence Festival of Books. Fingers crossed that the world has returned to "normal" by then!

Happy reading!

~ H. S. Contino

Liquidation Sale (Save up to 50%!)

 Good afternoon,

I usually try to put a positive spin on my posts, but the truth is that the past year and a half have been incredibly difficult. In addition to my writing and running my home-based crafting business, I usually have a part time job. Book and crafts sales can vary a lot from month to month, so it's good to have a steady source of income. Unfortunately, I lost two jobs last year due to the pandemic.

Once again, I tried to remain optimistic. I used my additional free time to catch up on projects around my house, make new craft inventory, and work on editing the manuscripts of two novels.

Understandably, with everything that has been going on over the past year and a half, people have mostly been spending their money on essentials. And for most people this doesn't include books or handmade crafts. As a result, my sales have nose dived.

 

 

With all of this in mind, I've decided to have a liquidation sale in my Etsy shop, Reprieve's Corner. From now through August 1st, 2021, all of my crafts and craft supplies are 50% off and autographed copies of my books are 10% off. Free shipping on orders of $35 or more (US only).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's hoping that from now on things start looking up!

As always, thank you for reading and for supporting my creative efforts. I really appreciate it!

~ H. S. Contino

"Alternatives" Pre-Orders!

The view from my computer desk.

Good morning! It’s shaping up to be a gorgeous day here on the Oregon coast.

Once again, I’ve been neglecting this blog, but I had a good excuse. I received the proof copy of my novel “Alternatives” in January and I’ve spent the months since then painstakingly working my way through edits and revisions. I’ve also been corresponding with my beta-readers to apply their recommended changes to the manuscript.

The good news is that I’m almost ready to release the final edition of the novel into the world. Phew! I’ve been working on this project consistently for nearly two years, so getting so close to the finish line feels like a huge accomplishment.

They always advise writers to “write the story that you want to read”— and that’s exactly what I did. As one of my beta readers told me, this “book is so you”! The novel is soft sci-fi (science fiction without a lot of hard science or “techno-babble”). There’s also a strong romantic story line. Being a “me” book there are quirky characters and lots of pets. I also intentionally incorporated several references to the Oregon coast, sci-fi TV shows and movies, and pop culture. And an acoustic guitar makes a cameo! It’s basically a mash-up of most of my favorite things

Brand new proof copy...

 

Just a few changes...

Proof copy several months and many edits later...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now that I’m getting close to the finish line, I’ve created a list of people that would like to pre-order a copy. This will also help me figure out how many copies to order from my publisher. Please message me if you’re interested in purchasing a copy. (Details: paperback, 400 pages; signed by the author; $15 per copy plus shipping).

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate the support!

~ H. S. Contino

PS– Due to the pandemic, I’ll be mailing out the signed copies of my book. I’ll have them available for sale through my Etsy shop, Reprieve’s Corner. Eventually, I’ll be returning to selling books in person at local craft fairs, farmers markets, and book fairs. I’ll also be lining up some book talks– eventually. But, for now, the case numbers in this area are still to high for me to feel safe hosting an indoor event.

2020 Blow… Out Sale!

Good morning and welcome to my blog. Thanks for stopping by!

Okay, let’s face it: 2020 has been a major challenge for all of us. Between the world-wide pandemic, job losses, natural disasters, and nose-diving economies around the world, it’s been rough.

On a personal level, I was furloughed from my day job in March then officially let go in July. In late September, I applied for and was offered a new position which I started in mid-October. Things finally seemed to be looking up; then I overheard part of a phone call between my new boss and a co-worker– who had the call on speaker phone– about things “not working out” with me. After only a month on the job, they let me go– while I was home sick and the day before Veteran’s Day. (How’s that for honoring veterans? Letting the only veteran on staff go the day before the holiday intended to honor them).

I’m not the only one that has been struggling. I have many friends who also lost their jobs due to the coronavirus (either during the shutdown in March or later when businesses re-opened with limited capacity). I have other friends who have been battling major illnesses and disease. One friend’s husband had a major stroke this suffer, but he survived. Another friend’s husband had a major heart attack, but he didn’t make it. Fortunately, he lived long enough for his family to come to the hospital to say goodbye.

So, like I said, it’s been a rough year!

In an attempt to simultaneously increase the sales in my online Etsy shop and make the holidays more affordable for the many people out there that are struggling financially this holiday season, I decided to run two big sales:

Starting today, ALL of my handmade crafts and crafting supplies are 50% off of their regular prices. And, all of my autographed books are 25% off (personalized messages available).

I’m calling it my 2020 Blow… out sale (since this year seriously blows)!

Sale runs through December 23rd, 2020.

Please, feel free to check it out:

Reprieve’s Corner 2020 Blow-Out Sale!

As always, thank you for taking the time to read this blog post. I appreciate the support– especially during such trying times. I read somewhere that 2020 was the year that “people came together while staying apart.” While we all practice “social distancing” to slow the spread of the coronavirus, we have the opportunity to come together virtually through social media, blogs, and other online activities.

Wishing everyone health and happiness during this unusual holiday season. Fingers crossed that 2021 is better– for everyone!

Until next time…

~ H. S. Contino

Staying Constructive During the Pandemic

Salutations!

Well, it’s officially September which means that it’s been a full year since I first started working on my novel “Timelines.” This time last year, I pulled out a spiral notebook and started jotting down my ideas about the story. Then, in October, I sat down at my computer and started writing it.

The rough draft for “Timelines” came together quicker than any other writing project that I have ever worked on. I was thrilled when I had a completed rough draft within 3 weeks– which is the equivalent of warp speed for me!

The next step was to set the manuscript aside so, when I returned to it to start the long, agonizing process of editing it, I would be able to view it with fresh eyes.

Amazingly, I succeeded in writing another novel manuscript a month later which I’m tentatively calling “This Forgotten Life.” I chose the word “amazing” because I have always struggled to complete drafts. I’m really good at getting ideas and starting rough drafts, but I usually run out of steam mid-way through a project and then struggle to finish it.

I initially began editing “Timelines” during the winter, but I only had a limited amount of time to work on it, and I didn’t make much progress. Then, in March, most of the country shut down due to COVID-19.

Like the majority of workers, I was furloughed from my job at a local library. I remained in email contact with my supervisor, who reassured me for months that I still had a job whenever things returned to normal. But, even after the library re-opened for a limited number of hours per week, they didn’t need me to come in. Then, on July 31st, I received an official letter informing me that they were letting me go.  

While it’s been an incredibly difficult year, I have attempted to stay busy and focus on constructive tasks to get through it. I’ve completed several home projects including painting the ceiling in my attic office/studio/spare bedroom. Since we’re living through such stressful times, I wanted something cheerful and fun. And, since I use the space to do a lot of writing, painting, and crafting, I wanted the room to be inspirational. So, I chose a blue skies with clouds theme. What do you think?

 

To make the project even more fun– and to amuse my nieces and nephew when they come to visit– I added stencils of different animals, plants, and bugs. So, when you’re in my attic you can play the game where you look for shapes in the clouds.

 

I had so much fun painting my attic ceiling! I already had glow in the dark stars and planets, so I added some stencils with glow in the dark paint. The result: during the day the room is blue skies and clouds and then at night the stars and planets are visible.

 

 

 

I’ve also been plugging away at editing my “Timelines” manuscript. For the past six months, I have worked on it for anywhere from thirty- minutes to several hours nearly every day.

Slowly but surely, the story is coming together. I’m currently on the 7th draft. For the first few, I read through the manuscript on my computer and made changes. For this draft, I printed everything out and I’ve been attacking it with a colored pen. Then, one chapter at a time, I’ve been making these changes in the computer version.

My current plan is to go through two more drafts– one where I highlight sections based on the type of content (dialogue, action, backstory, etc) in an attempt to make sure the story is “balanced.” Then, I plan on reading the story out loud from start to finish (which can help identify problem areas).

Once I’ve completed these steps, I’m going to release a “Beta Reader Edition” of the novel. Since I’m working with such a limited budget and I don’t have the backing of an established publisher for this project, I don’t have the money to hire a professional editor. So, instead, I plan on putting the novel out there and encouraging people to read it and then provide me with feedback.

What have you been doing to stay positive and/or constructive during the pandemic? Feel free to leave a comment.

Stay healthy everyone and thanks for reading!

~ H. S. Contino

 

Etsy Sale!

Good morning,

Like many people around the world, the ongoing coronavirus crisis has had a big impact on my finances. Under normal conditions, I have three jobs (one traditional and two freelance). I work part time at a local public library, I write and sell my books (which includes giving book talks and history lectures), and I run a handmade craft business (which includes selling items both online and at local markets). 

Since mid-March, all three of my jobs have come to a screeching halt. Technically, I still have books and crafts listed online; but, people have been more focused on purchasing staples and paying their basic bills.

In an attempt to (hopefully) get more online sales, I’m running several promotions through June 25th in my Etsy shop, Reprieve’s Corner:

25% Off Autographed Copies of My Books

30% Off of All Handmade Crafts and Craft Supplies

50% Off of items in my Clearance Section

Additionally, I’m offering free shipping on orders of $35 or more (US customers only).

Please, feel free to check out my Etsy shop and take advantage of these discounts.

http://www.Etsy.com/shop/ReprievesCorner

Thank you! Stay healthy everyone!

The New Normal: Life During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Hello!

I’ve been debating on writing a new blog post for over a week. We are living in incredibly challenging and difficult times. Like the majority of people around the world, I have been living in “self-quarantine” for the past few weeks.

On March 23rd, Governor Kate Brown issued a formal executive order instructing Oregonians to stay at home as much as possible to prevent (or at least slow down) the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). I find it comforting to know that our elected officials here in Oregon are looking out for the best interests of our citizens. I have been receiving regular email updates from the governor’s office and several other elected officials (on both the state and federal levels). I appreciate our elected officials keeping us updated on the situation and the words of comfort that they include in their messages. In particular, the idea that “we’re all in this together.”

However, like most people, I have been experiencing a great deal of anxiety, stress, and grief while witnessing the unfolding crisis. For me, it has been heartbreaking to check the news reports as the number of people infected by the virus (both in the United States and around the world) keeps increasing rapidly. My heart breaks for the family and friends of the people who have died during the pandemic.

As I was typing that last sentence, I received a notification on my phone that the number of coronavirus cases around the world is now over one million. One million. (And, that’s just the confirmed cases. There have been reports of a widespread shortage of tests).

I’m sure that I’m not alone in feeling overwhelmed by such depressing news. The lives of millions of people around the world have been turned upside down by the current crisis. In addition to the fear of becoming ill, people are worried about paying their bills now that only people with jobs that are considered “essential” are still working. Worst of all is the uncertainty. There are so many unknowns– how long will the pandemic last? How bad is it going to get? When will things finally start to improve? When will be able to resume our “normal” lives?

In an attempt to counter-balance all of these negative and stressful thoughts, I’ve been attempting to “look for the good.” In addition to staying informed about the unfolding crisis, I’ve also been keeping an eye out for positive news. The following are a few of my favorites so far:



Online Story Time

With most schools and public libraries closed, many organizations have been posting online recordings of people reading children’s books. Two of our local libraries, Coos Bay Public Library and North Bend Public Library, have been posting videos on Facebook and YouTube:

https://youtu.be/FGUA4S7DA8Q

https://youtu.be/NI8AAklT7E8


For space/NASA/science enthusiasts, you can watch astronauts read stories from the International Space Station:

Storytime From Space

And, local coffee shop “So It Goes” has been receiving media attention for their quirky online storytime sessions:

So It Goes to Host Daily Storytimes for Kids During Covid-19 Closures 



Communities Coming Together

I’ve also been enjoying reading online articles about things that people have been doing to help encourage their communities during these challenging times. For instance, some people are putting up Christmas lights to add some cheer:

People Are Putting Their Christmas Lights Back Up to Spread Cheer During Coronavirus



My personal favorite, people are participating in the “teddy bear hunt.” It’s a fun “social distancing” idea based off of the children’s book “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” by Michael Rosen. The basic idea is to place a stuffed bear in a window that is visible from the street. Then, when families are out walking, kids can look for and count the teddy bears they see.

‘It’s Like a Silent Visual Message.’ How Social Distancing-Friendly ‘Bear Hunts’ Are Uniting Neighborhoods Amid Coronavirus

Most of the stuffed animals in my personal collection (I have a healthy inner child!) are either cats, dogs, frogs, or dragons. However, I do have one teddy bear that my niece gave me a few years ago. It’s now in a window beside my desk. (I had to place the bear higher in the window due to the fact that I have mischievous house cats!).






Some of the other fun ideas that I’ve read about were part of a discussion in our local Nextdoor forums. Since it’s unlikely that communities will be able to host traditional egg hunts this Easter, people are placing pictures of Easter eggs in their windows. Once again, families on walks in their neighborhoods will be able to search for and count the eggs they see.

Other people are hanging hearts in their windows to provide a message of hope to their community:

‘You are not alone’ — Paper Hearts in Windows Gives Message of Hope 

***

The ideas above are just a few of the heart warming stories that I’ve read about over the past few weeks. We may be living in trying times and unable to get together physically (due to social distancing), but there is a silver lining to this worldwide crisis. People are finding ways to come together as a community (on both a small and large scale) in order to encourage and support each other. We really are in this together.

What are other ways that people are coming together and supporting each other during this crisis? Feel free to share ideas and links to online articles in the comments section.

Hang in there everyone! Sending you “social distancing” cyber hugs!

~ H. S. Contino