The Experiment

I woke up this morning with an idea for my shiny, new blog at www.jenniferlynnalvarez.com. (I'm posting this here in case you are interested in participating in this experiment). You have probably heard of the movie, Julia and Julia? It's about a woman who cooked a Julia Child's recipe every day for a entire year and blogged about the process.

I am setting up my own challenge!

I am going to do one thing every day to promote myself as an author. This will include promoting, The Pet Washer (published last month), and seeking publishers/agents for Dead Girls Don't Cry. I am going to document this laborious process for my own record and for the public record.

This challenge will accomplish the following:

1) Force me to be accountable for my goals

2) Keep track of all my ideas and actions in one place

3) Connect with writers and readers

4) Encourage others and receive encouragement

5) Exchange marketing ideas

6) Showcase the life of a writer--the rejections, the successes and the work of it!

Please click HERE to view the new blog and subscribe to join me on this journey!!

(I will make every attempt to keep my posts short because we are all busy!)

Now--true to form, you need to know what I did today to promote myself. You will be shocked to learn that it included MATH! Egads, I have never enjoyed math (except for geometry!)

Today I registered The Pet Washer with Nielson BookData UK. They are a global information services company. They work with publishers large and small all over the world and keep records on 16.2 million titles. They supply libraries, publishers and bookstores with the most comprehensive global database in the world. Books are ordered using a sophisticated search engine which helps book buyers make informed decisions.

I contacted them for the first time on 12/26/11. Today is January 9, 2012. It took them about two weeks to register my publishing company, Dreamcatcher Books. Today I uploaded my product data and book jacket .jpg file. This is when I had to do the math. Nielson BookData is a British company, so they use different units of measurement. I should say, WE use different units of measurement in America than they do so I had to convert everything.

Being American, I have never worked with millimeters. The Pet Washer is 8 inches by 5.2 inches with a .5 inch spine. Now I know that it is also 203.2mm by 132.08mm with a 12.7mm spine!! It weighs 10.4 ounces or 295 grams (I rounded). I hope I did this right but I also had to convert the price to pounds (why do they measure their money in our weight system--it's confusing enough!!). So my $10.99 USD book costs 7.14 pounds in the UK. (I hope the exchange rate I Googled is correct!)

I successfully included my book in the catalog--barring any emails from the help desk at Nielson pointing out everything I probably did wrong. This is serious business, they have the most accurate title database in the world and I'm winging it! But that's what I'm finding in this indie publishing business--there is a lot to learn. I'm doing the best I can. I'm also seeking a publisher for my next book because this is often too much work!!

This morning, I should have worked on my book. Instead I converted inches to millimeters. But I'm not complaining, well I am, but I'm not unhappy. Everyday is exciting after you publish a book. Everyday I have hope that I will reach outside my own circle of friends and grow. I didn't have that hope when my book was trapped in my hard drive!

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Craigslist

I am a huge fan of Craigslist!

I see no reason to hold a garage sale anymore. I have not been able to sell anything for a fair value (to me) at a garage sale. I've spent 6-8 hours with a garage full of stuff, only to make $200. Maybe's it's user-error, but I just don't have any luck, even with foot traffic.

I find that your average garage sale customer is looking for fantastic deals only. The professional customers are looking for the same. There is something about putting your cute sofa on your lawn that transforms it from furniture into junk. I think garage sales scream, "Junk for Sale!" And everyone knows that after 2pm, it's all going to Goodwill anyway (at least that's what I do.)

I think garage sale customers often believe they are doing YOU the favor and you should almost just give them your stuff for free. The exchange of money becomes a polite gesture rather than a business deal.

Not so with Craigslist!! 

If you haven't tried it--you must. I use it for all items worth $10 and up. Everything else goes straight to Goodwill and I spend my Saturdays with my family instead of haggling over pennies. 

This is how Craigslist works for me. I take a photo and post my item. I generally price it for half of what I paid if it's in good shape (unless it's electronics--then I go lower).

Within a few days, it's sold. Often, it only takes hours.

Here are some examples.

Trendy dog carrying purse--$20. Sold in 2 hours.

10 year old TV--$45. Sold in one hour.

Plastic toy workbench--$10. Sold same day.

Five year old, heavily used portable crib--$40. Sold in two days. 

Bedroom set, $1000--sold same day for $750.

Rustic coffee table--$75. Sold in four days and received $45 more dollars to deliver it 16 miles away. 

Plastic, faded outdoor playhouse--$150. Sold for $120 same day.

Brand new double-stroller--$200. Sold for $200 same day.

We've also sold cars and dirt bikes and many other things that I can't remember. 

Just the above items (not including the vehicles) sold for a total of $1305 and each only took minutes of my time (other than the delivery). It would take me 6.5 Saturdays to make that much money doing garage sales, and I'd have to sell a ton more than 8 items!

My items sell so quickly because the customers on Craigslist are looking online for the exact items I have for sale. They know that potentially thousands of people are shopping at the same time, which produces a real sense of urgency. They want to purchase their items before anyone else does--so they call immediately and set up an appointment with me. Most of my customers arrive with the exact change for the item. Items over $100 may draw some haggling, but that's to be expected.

Both parties generally leave the transaction feeling like they got a good deal. Every customer I've had has been kind and grateful--and I have felt the same way. My items are not perceived as junk. Craigslist customers are savvy to tricks. I photograph my items as they are with no big "production". It's a high-class garage sale, but one that puts real dollars in your pocket and real savings in your customer's as well!

Be safe though! I never meet anyone alone at my house or at their house if I'm delivering an item. I bring my husband.

The second side of Craigslist is the purchasing side. I've had just as much fun and success buying things from Craigslist. Recently, my brother and I fixed up our dad's apartment. He needed a breakfast table. I checked Craigslist, found a solid oak, round table, and we picked it up that day for $40. The cheap tables at WalMart were all over $150.

The unspoken benefit of Craigslist is that it's green. Anytime you can buy something you need used or sell your item rather than junk it--you're helping the environment. You're also buying local and helping your neighbor. Not to mention--it's FREE (unless you use paypal and then there is a small fee--thanks for pointing that out Chris!).

All and all, it's a win-win website and I'm grateful for it!

(I have no affiliation with Craigslist or any of its employees--I'm a natural cheerleader when I find something I like!!)

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'Twas the Night Before Christmas!

They say the Recession officially ended in 2009....hmmmm, not so sure about that. The average U.S. income has continued to drop, combine that with inflation, the re-distribution of wealth, lower home values and we have a lot more "poor" people in 2011 than we had in 2009. 

I believe this poem is still relevant so I'm re-posting it. I'm happy to say that 2011 has been better for us than 2008, 2009 or 2010. We have a long way to go though. We've had "just enough" for the last twelve months. Enough is enough they say and it's true. Having too little is pure misery, having too much is unnatural and having enough is just perfect!

(This poem was originally posted on 12/24/2010 and it no longer reflects our exact circumstances.)

'Twas the Night before Christmas 

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the home

Not a bill had been paid, not even the loans.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with fear

That Saint Nicholas would not be visiting this year.

Soon the children were nestled all cold in their beds

While visions of propane danced in their heads.

And Papa in his sweats and I, in my gown,

Settled onto our sofa at the side skirts of town.

When out on the roof there arose such a fray,

I thought it was bankers come to take our house away.

Across to the window I flew like a bird,

Only bankruptcy could save us now, I had heard.

The moon on the beads of fresh fallen rain,

Gave the lustre of dreaming to my over-stressed brain.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But eight tiny workers and a big job for next year!

My husband climbed out, so lively and quick,

And signed the sub-contract, lickety-split.

More happy than ever, his workers let out a cheer

They would have jobs for the coming new year!

Now Christian, now Brian!

Now Mario and Rick!

On Daniel, on Ryan!

On, Lionel and Nick!

To the top of the porch!

To the top of the wall!

Paint away! Paint away!

Paint away all!

As dry leaves that before the Recession flew,

When they meet new work, they rise anew.

Up to Ukiah the painters they flew

With a truck full of ladders and my husband too.

And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The sound of a ladder and my dog saying "woof".

As I drew in my head and was closing the shade,

My husband came down with the money he'd made.

He was dressed all in white from his head to his toes,

Except for the paint that splattered his clothes.

A bundle of toys he had slung on his back

And some new boots for me and a treat for the cat

His eyes, how they twinkled, and he looked extra tall.

He was home for Christmas and with presents for all.

His red, little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the paint on his whiskers was like fresh, winter snow.

Some pink chewing gum he held tight in his teeth,

And he blew a huge bubble the size of a wreath.

He had a rugged face and muscles to boot,

They rippled when he laughed, and he was so cute!

He was happy and proud, jolly like an elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.

A wink of his eye and a whisper in my ear,

Let me know that things would be better next year!

He spoke no more words but allowed me to see,

As he filled all the stockings for our whole family.

And laying a finger on top of the knob,

He opened the door in search of more jobs.

He sprang to his truck, sent his workers a text,

And away they all flew from one job to the next.

But I heard him exclaim, 'ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Recovery to all and to all a good night!"

 

My hubby!

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