A Little Something Different: My Query Needs Comments

I published a fiction book, an erotic romance, on my own last year. I’m a decent writer, and my main reason for writing the book was to address integrity and what dog fanciers believe. Who wants to read that? so, I made it an erotic romance. You write what you know. I paid to publish it, and I learned, after publishing this, that because of Amazon, many emerging writers self-publish However, marketing is expensive. I’ve sold under 1,000 books. I can’t really tell how many because many get sold on kindle.

I started learning about getting an agent, as the publishers who will market your book only deal with agents. You need a 3rd party to advocate for you. But you also need what we call ‘beta readers’ to read your stuff before you ask an agent to represent you, so your book ‘makes sense’. Yes, I am looking for beta readers.

The book I am currently looking for an agent for is also an erotic romance, but a more serious book. The main character is a guy. The book stretches from the time he was a child, hustling in Africa to help raise money for transportation costs for himself and his brothers to overseas schools where they all have scholarships until he attains his Ph.D, in his early 30’s. One of the things Daler is asked to sell is a piano. He had been intrigued by a broken piano at his school, and he decided to buy it and learn to play.

As a teenager, he became besotted with a woman who is the granddaughter of the man who bought his father. That’s important. He is the child of trafficked parents: slaves. Yes, in 1950s Africa, people were still trafficked mostly from southern India, on a small scale. Another important thing is that these people identify as Sikhs, mostly because Sikhs don’t recognize caste, which continues to be an issue among Indians. I chose them to be Sikh for a number of reasons, but mostly because like Jews, they are ‘others’ wherever they go. Being Christian is cultural as well as religious, with a different set of values from people who are not. Although Sikhs believe in 1 god, they do not believe in heaven, but in reincarnation.

So, the male character, Daler, seduces this older woman, a Jewess, who is the granddaughter of the man who bought his father. She is there because her father had become Daler’s father’s partner, but the African business is so marginal, it’s not worth him even traveling back to Africa every few years. He’s brought his daughters for the last time. Daler is ready to drop out of school and go to the USA with Morgana, but she tells him he is not in love and for his own mental health, he must get perspective and he must stay in school because his future won’t be Africa.

He continues his schooling, but to get studio time to play piano, he has to minor in music. He’s become very good, and his teacher sends him to a recording studio so he can earn extra money. Others hear him play, they form a band, get a hit record…and of course, are rock stars. Daler knows success can be fleeting, so remains in school. He still wants Morgana, but his parents want him to marry a Sikh. He does. It’s not a love match, but it is what it is. He continues his schooling, to perform, to invent, and has two children, but things are never right with his wife, who is of a different social class and was educated in a convent.

This group has many hit records, but Daler has also learned the music business, and it has changed a lot in the two decades. Also,his small town in Africa has also grown into a large city. Lots of changes.

There are lots of arguments, but as Daler attains his Ph.D., he decides to divorce and find Morgana. He does, but they are now adults and Morgana is still pragmatic.

What Consumers can do about Climate Change

I’m posting this because—although it is over 30 years old…nothing has changed. People want governments to do something about CLIMATE CHANGE. As long as people demand purchasing junk—with packaging that doesn’t bio-degrade, we’re fucked. That’s right.

A community group that gives away free food recently asked ‘the community’ to donate reusable bags. I suggested that people who want free food bring their own bags. If the group quit giving out bags, people would learn. They didn’t understand that although we all might provide reusable bags—it doesn’t mean people remember to bring their bag.

One person actually responded that she didn’t know where her next meal is coming from, & couldn’t be bothered to be an environmentalist.

Boo hoo. In my community, within less than a mile, there are several places to get free food. Yeah, you might have to wait in line—BUT IT’S FREE!!!! People aren’t embarrassed to be entitled.

I remember seeing this video, and looked it up to see if I could share it.

We are in a climate change crisis. I am not over reacting. Unless we make drastic changes to how we consume and how we protect the natural environment, I bet in less than 30 years, most of the USA will be uninhabitable. For real. My academic background is in environmental science. It’s hopeless —-due to human stupidity and laziness.

I know, I know. What will my recycling or being aware do to make an impact? Right—it’s a cultural mindset. We need to share this video and ask parents, particularly, what they teach their children about waste and being environmentally responsible.

Do wildfires bother you? How about drought so severe you can’ get drinking water from your kitchen tap? How about flooding caused by intense storms. Are you one of those who can’t remember to keep a bag in your pocket, or in your car? Do you pay for your child’s private school because you believe they’d get a better education than at a public school? Then, do you arrive 20 minutes before school lets out and allow your car to idle so your child doesn’t have to walk two blocks?

Congratulations! You don’t really give a shit about climate change & don’t care at all that your child is in for a hellish adulthood due to water shortages, excessive heat, and influxes of refugees fleeing habitat loss.

The government can’t do anything. Face it. People in 2020—21, people are balking at getting vaccinated and wearing masks. They are screaming about PERSONAL CHOICE. What do you think will happen if plastic bags?are outlawed? Or cars that idle for more than five minutes? What if the government starts charging you for creating too much garbage because you refuse to recycle? God forbid, we should teach real environmental science in our primary schools and children start asking their parents how they decided to have more than two children.

We’ve already lost so much habitat and species. In North America, wild honey bees are an endangered species. Hard to believe that so many people claim a religion.

On my Soapbox Again

Office of Press Relationspress@usaid.gov

Yesterday, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. announced nearly $100 million in new humanitarian assistance for Lebanon. This assistance from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Department of State will help people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and its compounding socioeconomic impacts on the Lebanese people. The funding will also support Syrian refugees sheltering in Lebanon.

With the $41 million of USAID funding, the United States will provide urgently needed food assistance, health care, protection, and water and sanitation support to communities, including those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Importantly, this also includes food assistance to help 400,000 vulnerable Lebanese beneficiaries. Along with funding provided by the U.S. Department of State, this support brings total U.S. humanitarian assistance in Lebanon to more than $372 million in Fiscal Year 2021; in response to COVID-19, the humanitarian impacts of the August 2020 explosions at the Port of Beirut, and the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis.

The United States is the single largest donor of humanitarian assistance in Lebanon. With so many compounding emergencies in the country and region, including a growing economic crisis, the United States is deeply concerned about the continuing increase in humanitarian needs, and urges other donors to step up to provide much needed support to save lives.

Humanitarian assistance in Lebanon to more than $372 million in Fiscal Year 2021; in response to COVID-19, the humanitarian impacts of the August 2020 explosions at the Port of Beirut, and the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis. The United States is the single largest donor of humanitarian assistance in Lebanon.

Aug 5, 2021 & yet, according to an AP article in the Chicago Tribune 10/8/21..”Lebanon’s politicians & bankers have  stowed wealth in offshore tax havens..” Does this make any sense? We could afford single payer if w stopped giving ‘humanitarian aid’ to corrupt politicians & dictators. WE DO NOT TIE AID TO IMPROVEMENT IN SOCIAL INDICATORS,  or RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS & RULE OF LAW.

An Old Lady With First World ‘Problems’

My TV stopped working. One minute, I was watching the news, the picture froze (often does—as I have antenna TV). Then, it went black.

I changed the batteries in the remote several times, but , ah, no. The TV was broken. My last TV was an old clunker that lasted over 30 years until the sound went out. In fact, I joked with an insurance salesman, who wanted me to insure the contents of my house for something like $50,000. I told him the only things of value were the computers, and if someone broke in and stole my TV—(huge, got picture in picture for when we wanted to watch more than 1 NBA game a a time), and carried it down the stairs, I’d be overjoyed. The guy laughed and replied, “Yeah, and since we replace like with like, and they don’t make them anymore, YOU get a flat screen TV!”

Well…the sound went out. It was the end. You know, they don’t repair broken appliances anymore—only if it’s the controls. That’s why we hold onto the damn things until electronics recycling day. There’s going be an end to how much landfill space we want to take up instead of actually maintaining our natural environments—getting quite precious.

This flat screen wasn’t even 5 years old. My sister had given it to me. She gave me another TV (my father’s—he died last year & she had it). Good news—it worked/bad news, she lost the remote. Well, it’s easy enough to get a universal remote, right?

So..I went to Target & got a cheap remote. Under $7. But then, I had to program it. I followed the instructions, and it was a bitch, because I didn’t know there might be a 1 minute delay before it showed on the TV screen.

Ok, it’s programmed now. How do you change channels? It won’t let me press a channel number. Or actually, I can, but nothing happens You have to press ‘On” then ‘Menu’ then ‘Ok’, then scroll. It tool me forever, but then, if I went passed a channel, it wouldn’t go back. I had to run through all the channels—-slowly—until I got to what I wanted. I decided this was ridiculous. I went to trouble shooting, & the instructions said, “Not all (buttons) work on all TVs.” What?

So, I ordered a new Toshiba remote off Amazon. I really hate using Amazon because I prefer to keep local store in business (& although Target is national—they employ local people) (so does Amazon, for delivery—but they do a horrible job—just tossing packages at o doors knowing damn well they might be damaged or stolen). Well, at least I didn’t have to reprogram the Toshiba remote…and I can scroll backwards.